NATIONAL:

India to host COP-14 of UNCCD.

• India will be hosting the 14th session of the Conference of Parties (COP-14) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) for the first time. COP-14 will be held between September 2 and 14 in Delhi.

Participants: It is expected that atleast 5,000 delegates from nearly 197 countries will be participating.

• The Centre launched a flagship project, part of a larger international initiative called the Bonn Challenge ahead of the COP-14. The flagship project aims to enhance India’s capacity for forest landscape restoration (FLR).

• The Bonn Challenge is a global effort to bring 150 million hectares of the world’s deforested and degraded land under restoration by 2020, and 350 million hectares by 2030.

COP-13 of UNCCD:

• The 13th session of the Conference of Parties (COP-13) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was held in Ordos, China. Around 113 countries had agreed to specify concrete targets with clear indicators, to rehabilitate more land and reverse degradation, which currently affects over a third of the world’s land resources.

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD):

Drafted: 17 June 1994

Signed: 14 October 1994

Location: Bonn, Germany

Parties: 197 (196 states + the European Union)

UNCCD aims to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term strategies supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS:

Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed is appointed as Pakistans Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence.

• Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed has been appointed as Pakistan’s Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence (DG-ISI), a powerful spy agency. He assumed his office on 17th June 2019.The Pakistan Army also announced a number of changes to postings of its top generals.

Lt. Gen. Hameed was appointed as Director-General of the ISI in place of Lieutenant General Asim Munir. Munir was transferred and appointed as Corps Commander Gujranwala. Lt. Gen. Munir was appointed as ISI chief in October 2018 after the retirement of his predecessor Lt. Gen. Naveed Mukhtar.

Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed:

• Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed is a three-star rank general in the Pakistan Army. He is currently the 24th Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence (DG-ISI).

• On April 12, the Pakistan Army promoted then Major General Hameed to the rank of Lieutenant General and appointed him Adjutant General at the General Headquarters (GHQ) later that month.

He was previously serving as the head of the Counter Intelligence wing in the ISI.

Indiabulls Housing appoints Chief Risk Officer after new rules.

• Indiabulls Housing Finance on Monday said it has named Naveen Uppal as Chief Risk Officer to comply with regulator National Housing Bank's direction. Uppal has been associated with Indiabulls Housing Finance for 12 years and presently heads Risk and Compliance. He'll directly report to the company's Vice-Chairman, MD and CEO or the board-constituted risk management committee of the company.

Paytm Mall names Rudra Dalmia as Exec Director, Board member.

• Paytm Mall has named Rudra Dalmia as the Executive Director and also appointed him to its board. Dalmia is an SRCC alumnus and has an MBA from Cornell University's Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management. "I welcome [Dalmia] to Paytm family...am proud to see him as a board member of Paytm e-commerce," Paytm CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma said.

SPORTS:

Eoin Morgan breaks world record for hitting most sixes in an ODI.

• England captain Eoin Morgan set the world record for most sixes (17) in an ODI, achieving the feat during his 71-ball 148-run knock against Afghanistan in World Cup today. The previous record (16 sixes) was jointly held by Rohit Sharma, Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers. Morgan also smashed the fastest World Cup hundred by an England player (57 balls).

NATIONAL:

Two female scientists Ritu Kridhal and Vanitha to head Indias 2nd Moon mission Chandrayaan-2

• For the first time, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has named two ladies researchers - Ritu Karidhal (as mission executive) and Muthayya Vanitha (as undertaking chief) - to head the India's second Moon mission Chandrayaan-2.

•  ISRO Chairman K Sivan reported that near 30 percent of the ISRO group chipping away at Chandrayaan 2 are ladies. Ritu Karidhal was alluded as the 'Rocket Woman of India'.

• She wound up popular with the dispatch of the MarsOrbiter Mission where she was the appointee activities chief.

Union Cabinet cleared NDIAC Bill, 2019 on institutionalised arbitration

• The Union Cabinet has cleared the New Delhi International Arbitration Center (NDIAC) Bill, 2019, which accommodates setting up of a free and self-governing body for institutional intervention.

• It additionally plans to get and move the endeavors of International Center For Alternative Dispute Resolution to New Delhi International Arbitration Center (NDIAC) with impact from March 2 this year.

• The Bill gives to supplant and nullify the NDIAC Ordinance, 2019. The proposed New Delhi International Arbitration Center is going by an administrator, who has been a judge of the Supreme Court or a judge of a high court or a prominent individual, having uncommon learning and involvement in the direct or organization of assertion.

Scientists places worlds highest weather stations atop Mount Everest

• Scientists from National Geographic Society and Tribhuvan University installed have installed two highest weather stations in the world in an expedition to Mount Everest that wrapped up in June 2019. The two weather monitoring stations are located at an altitude of 8,430 meters (27,657 feet) and 7,945 meters (26,066 feet). Also, three other stations have been set up across the Mount Everest.

• The setting up of the weather station aim to collect weather data. The data gathered from the stations will help scientists to understand how rising global temperatures impacts the rapidly melting glaciers.

• The nearly two month expedition involved a team of more than 30 scientists from all over the world, including 17 Nepali researchers. The team also collected the world highest ice core sample at 8,020 meters , which will help the scientists study the deep record of precipitation on the mountain and composition of the atmosphere during pre-industrial times.

• The project also reached another milestone of placing the world's highest helicopter-based lidar scan and the most detailed photogrammetric imaging, also with lidar scans, of the Everest Base Camp area and the entire Khumbu Glacier.

INTERNATIONAL:

India designated as guest country at Guadalajara International Book Fair in Mexico

• India designated as the Guest of Honour at the 33rd Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara (Guadalajara International Book Fair)in Mexico, the National Book Trust.

The book fair organized from November 30 - December 8,

India pavilion at the fair will showcase over 35 Indian authors and artists, along with 15 publishing houses.

• India displays a wide array of its rich and composite literary and cultural heritage through literary and academic activities comprising conferences.

Ancient and rare manuscripts including "Mahabharata" and "Ramayana" will be put on exhibition, along with photo books, handicrafts, and paintings.

The exhibition will run parallel to the book fair in the pavillion

They will feature art by 40 renowned Indian women artists including Arpana Caur, Paula Sengupta, and Seema Kohli.

• The "Festival of India" will showcase folk, classical and contemporary cultural programmes.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY:

RBI directed all the banks to grout ATMs to a structure to enhance security

• The Reserve Bank of India has requested that the banks guarantee their ATMs are grouted to a divider, column, or floor before September month's over, with the exception of those introduced in high verified premises, for example, air terminals.

•  The declaration accompanies a mean to improve security of the money candy machines. The ATMs will be worked for money renewal just with advanced One Time Combination (OTC) locks. All banks can likewise reveal a far reaching e-reconnaissance instrument at the ATMs. This will guarantee convenient alarms and fast reaction.

• Advisory group on Currency Movement (CCM): The RBI had set up a Committee on Currency Movement (CCM) in 2016. The advisory group was solicited to audit the whole extent from security of fortune in travel and submit reports in regards to that. According to the proposals recommended by the board, the Reserve Bank of India has now issued the guidelines gone for alleviating dangers in ATM activities and upgrading security.

DAYS AND MONTHS:

June month is celebrated as the LGBTQ Pride month

• June month is celebrated as the Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) Pride month all over the world. The LGBTQ pride month is celebrated to commemorate the anniversary of Stonewall riots at Stonewall Inn in New York, a gathering space for LGBTQ community during the 60s.

• It provides role models, builds community, and represents a civil rights statement about the contributions of the LGBT community. The month is observed by United States, United Kingdom, Canada. LGBT History Month originated in the United States. It was first celebrated in 1994.

• The commemoration of the month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.

• History: On June 28, 1969, police raided the inn, leading to the gay liberation movement in the US. 'Mother of Pride' Brenda Howard organised the first pride parade a year later.

SPORTS:

India remained at 101 in the latest FIFA Rankings, Belgium on Top

• The Indian men’s football team remained static at the 101st position in the latest FIFA rankings. India recently participated in King's Cup in Thailand, in which it lost one match and won the other in the tournament.

• Belgium remained to top the overall FIFA world rankings, followed by France, Brazil, England, and Portugal.

• The Indian team is at the 18th spot among the Asian countries. Iran has become the only Asian country to feature in the top 20 as they moved one spot to finish at the 20th rank.

About FIFA:

Full form: Federation International Day Football Association

Founded at: Paris, France

Founded: 21 May 1904

President: Gianni Infantino

Headquarters: Zürich, Switzerland

Membership: 211 national associations.

NATIONAL:

India to impose retaliatory tariffs on 29 US goods

• Ministry of Commercehas announced to impose retaliatory tariffs on US goods that will be effective from June 16 onwards. The retaliatory tariffs on 29 goods imported from the U.S. The Ministry initially decided to  impose tariffs in 2018. The decision is ahead of the meeting between Modi and Trump on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Japan.The move made by the trade ministry was approved by the Ministry of External Affairs.

• The tariffs will be applied on $220-290 million worth of goods that are imported from the US, and will have about the same impact as the tariffs imposed by Washington on India in 2018.

Ministry of Finance said that the Commerce ministry will release the official notification of the tariffs before 16 June.  

Why India is imposing tarrifs:

• In March 2018, the US imposed 25% tariff on steel and 10% import duty on aluminium. India was one of the major exporters of these items.

• Trarrifs on 29 major products ere impacted which includes Chickpeas, Bengal gram, Mansur dal, Boric acid, domestic reagents, apples, Binders for foundry moulds. India repeatedly asked for exemption from these higher tariffs, but US did not respond.

• On June 2018, India decided to retaliate by imposing duties but extended the deadline.

On 5 June 2019, the U.S. withdrew export incentives to India under its Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) programme. India was the largest beneficiary of GSP.

India ranks 141 in the 2019 Global Peace Index

• Iceland topped the Global Peace Index 2019 rankings which was released by Institute for Economics & Peace.  Since 2008, Iceland holds the most peaceful country in the world. India ranked 141 among 163 countries. In 2018, India ranked at 136th among 163 countries.

• Afghanistan ranked as the least peaceful country in the world. Th has replaced Syria, which is now the second least peaceful.

Parameters:

The Australian think tank ranked countries according to their level of peacefulness.

The analysis were based on three major domains:

1) the level of societal safety and security

2) the extent of ongoing domestic and international conflict

3) the degree of militarization

• Top/Bottom 5 countries:

The top five countries in the list are Iceland, New Zealand, Austria, Portugal, and Denmark.

The least 5 peaceful countries in the list are Iraq, Yemen, South Sudan, Syria and Afghanistan (ranked the least) remains the world's least peaceful counties.

INTERNATIONAL:

NASA's OSIRIS REx spacecraft creates new record

• NASA's OSIRIS-REx rocket entered its second orbital stage around space rock Bennu, called Orbital B on June 12, 2019. It broke its very own reality record for the nearest circle of a planetary body.

• In the Orbital B stage, the move set the rocket in a circle 680 meters over the outside of space rock Bennu. The past record was set by OSIRIS-REx on 31 December, 2018, when the rocket flew 1.33 km over the space rock's surface during Orbital A stage.

OSIRIS-REx:

•  The OSIRIS-REx rocket was sent to consider the space rock Bennu and return an example from its surface to Earth. The rocket is on a seven-year venture. The example of a crude space rock will enable the researchers to comprehend the arrangement of the Solar System over 4.5 billion years prior. Test gathering has been booked for summer of 2020. The shuttle is relied upon to convey the example to Earth in September 2023.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY:

India's FDI Inflows during the five fiscal years of the Modi Govt hit to $42 billions

• India ended up being the sub district's biggest beneficiary getting remote direct ventures worth $42 billion out of 2018. The interest in India billion with solid inflows in assembling, correspondence and money related administrations.

• As indicated by the report, FDI inflows have expanded by 3.5% to $54 billion. India pulled in over 77% of the all out remote direct speculations eventually arrived up toward the South Asian district. The development in India in cross-fringe merger and acquisitions (M&As) came to $33 billion of every 2018 from $23 billion per year back. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka rose to a record level, to $3.6 billion and USD 1.6 billion, individually, while Pakistan saw a 27% decrease in venture to USD 2.4 billion, the report read.

• A few nations received arrangement measures to advance and encourage venture with India To revise the model concession concurrence on open private associations in the port area.

•  The report featured that of the 5,400 extraordinary financial zones (SEZs) on the planet, more than 4,000 are in creating nations in Asia. China bested the rundown at 2,543 pursued by Philippines (528), India with 373, Turkey - 102, Thailand - 74 Korea 47, Malaysia - 45.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATION:

Narasimhan has been appointed as CEO of Reckitt Benckiser

• PepsiCo executive Laxman Narasimhan has been delegated as the CEO of the British shopper products goliath Reckitt Benckiser. He will succeed Rakesh Kapoor.

• Narasimhan will join Reckitt as CEO-assign and be designated to the board on July 16. He will continue his office and become bunch CEO on September 1. Narasimhan's underlying needs will be to concentrate on conveying outperformance particularly in the wellbeing specialty unit, and to drive the Lysol creator's arrangement to part the firm into two specialty units under a similar organization.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION:

Akshaya Patra was awarded the BBC World Service Global Champion Award

• The Bengaluru-based NGO Akshaya Patra has been granted the BBC World Service Global Champion Award for the program. The honor is exhibited at the BBC Food and Farming Awards in Bristol, London.

•  The honor perceives an undertaking or individual who is changing the way the world produces, forms, expends or considers sustenance to improve things.

• Akshaya Patra was chosen by a global board of judges from selections sent in by the World Service group of spectators around the globe. Different activities on the waitlist included UK philanthropy WRAP, and Food 4 Education.

OBITUARIES:

Poet and lyricist Pazhavila Ramesan passed away on 13 June

• Poet and lyricist Pazhavila Ramesan passed away on 13 June 2019 at Thiruvananthapuram. He was 83. He was debilitated for quite a while.

• Pazhavila Ramesan: Ramesan had gotten the 2017 Kerala Sahithya Akademi grant for generally speaking commitments. He composed verses for Malayalam motion pictures, for example, Njattadi, Aashamsakalode, Uncle Bun, Malootty, and Vasudha.

• He was co-manager of K. Balakrishnan's Kaumudi Weekly in the sixties. He worked at the State Institute of Languages in different limits till 1993.

• He is a beneficiary of different honors, Ramesan brought out verse accumulations, for example, Mazhayude Jalakam, Njan Ente Kadukalelikku, and Pazhavila Ramesante Kavithakal, other than accumulations of his compositions, for example, Ormayude Varthamanam, Mayatha Varakal, and Nervara.

SPORTS:

Peter Gilchrist won the 2019 Pacific International Billiards Championship

• Peter Gilchrist won the 2019 Pacific International Billiards Championship at the Yarraville Club in Melbourne, Australia. Peter Gilchrist defeated Kolkata cueist Kothari who had been on a roll winning the International Reventon Classic Snooker championship, a triple crown event of Australia and thereafter went on to display some outstanding billiards en-route the final.

Peter Gilchrist:

• Peter Gilchrist is an English-born Singaporean English billiards player. He has won the WPBSA World Championships in 1994, 2001 and in 2013.

• He has also represented Singapore in the SEA Games in 2009, where he won Gold for English Billiards Singles, and Bronze for the doubles.

• He also set the world record for highest break in billiards (1346) under modern rules, at the New Zealand Open Billiards Championships.

• In 2014, he scored his second 1000 break at the World Billiards Irish Open. He is the only player of the modern era who scored more than one 1000 points in tournament break.

NATIONAL:

ISRO unveiled plan to set up its own space station in seven years

• ISRO disclosed arrangement to set up its own space station in seven years. ISRO is to set up a little and a different space station. It won't be a piece of the International Space Station (ISS). The venture will be an augmentation of the Gaganyaan mission, which intends to send an Indian team to space in 2022.

• The heaviness of the space station will associate with 20 tons. ISRO's proposition will be sent to the legislature for endorsement by 2022 after the first Gaganyaan mission. the mission is taking a gander at 5-7 years to execute the program. The expense of the proposed space station was not unveiled.

• The International Space Station (ISS) is an association between European Space Agency, the United States (NASA), Japan (JAXA), Canada (CSA) and Russia (Roscosmos). It is the world's biggest global helpful program in science and technology.hina likewise plans to construct its very own space station.

YSRs Tammineni Sitaram took charge as Speaker of Andhra Pradesh Assembly

• The principal session of the fifteenth Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly as the senior chief of YSR Congress Party Tammineni Sitaram consistently chose as the Speaker of the Assembly. Boss Minister Y. S.

• Jagan Mohan Reddy praised Tammineni spoke to secure the parliamentary majority rules system.

• The fifteenth Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly's first session favored by the administration with chose lawmakers being controlled the promise of confirmation Protem Speaker S. Appala Naidu led the race for the arrangement of the Speaker which was proposed by 30 MLAs of YSRCP. Boss Minister experienced 23 MLA's and 3 MPs to surrender from YSRCP to the decision TDP.

About Tammineni Sitaram :

She is the fourth speaker of the gathering from Srikakulam area. Sitaram began his political vocation from TDP a six-time MLA from Srikakulam region's Amadalavalasa.

INTERNATIONAL:

New app to help students wishing to study in U.S

• EducationUSA launched an app in collaboration with the United States India Educational FoundationThe app is available on both Android and iOS platforms for free.The US embassy launched a mobile application that gives comprehensive and latest information about studying in the United States.

• The main aim is at students who may not be geographically centred in India

It helps students with information about studying in the country.The app EducationUSA launched in collaboration with the United States India Educational Foundation

• It is available on both Android and iOS platforms for free.

• The app act as the first point of information for students, parents, school counsellors and other interested users.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION:

Author Amitav Ghosh was conferred the 54th Jnanpith Award

• Author Amitav Ghosh was presented the 54th Jnanpith Award. He was granted for his commitment to the improvement of Indian writing in English at a service. The honor was introduced by the previous legislative leader of West Bengal Gopalkrishna Gandhi in New Delhi on 13 June. Amitav Ghosh is the principal English essayist to get this lofty Jnanpith Award

• Amitav Ghosh:  Amitav Ghosh is an Indian author. He is best known for his work in English fiction. In 2007, the administration of India granted him the regular citizen respect of Padma Shri. He likewise got the Israeli Dan David Prize, together with Margaret Atwood.

• His works and grants:  His book, The Circle of Reason won the Prix Médicis étranger which is France's top scholarly honors. His work 'The Calcutta Chromosome' won the Arthur C. Clarke Award for 1997. Additionally, his work 'Ocean of Poppies' was shortlisted for the 2008 Man Booker Prize. The book 'Stream of Smoke' was shortlisted for the Man Asian Literary Prize 2011.

Priyanka Chopra to be honoured with humanitarian award by UNICEF

• Indian actress Priyanka Chopra with the Danny Kaye Humanitarian Award at the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)Snowflake Ball in the month of December.

• The event will be held on December 3 in New York.She is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.She visited Ethiopia last month.She is known for her contribution to social causes .She will raise her voice for children’s education.

• India to raise awareness against child welfare.She is also to improve the education, health and safety of girl child in India.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY:

SEBI introduced enhanced disclosure guidelines for credit rating agencies

• The business sectors controller Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) presented upgraded revelation rules for FICO score offices (CRA). SEBI asked the rating organizations to reveal the likelihood of default for the backers they rate, agitated by the raters' reputation of distinguishing defaults or close defaults.

•  Explanation behind the move: Since the worldwide money related emergency in 2008, the validity of the rating organizations has been disintegrating a direct result of the irreconcilable circumstance that emerges from the way that they are paid by the guarantors to rate their protections and for their inability to minimization beset firms until they are very nearly chapter 11.

• The ongoing Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Ltd's (IL&FS) liquidity emergency among non-bank loan specialists in India has concentrated consideration again using a credit card rating offices.

DAYS:

World Blood Donor Day is observed on June 14

• The day is celebrated to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank blood donors. The theme is - Blood Donation and Universal Access to Safe Blood Transfusion

• The main aim is to use as a component of achieving universal health coverage. The theme encourages more people all over the world to become blood donors and donate blood regularly. It is an important occasion for all governments, national health authorities and national blood services to provide adequate infrastructures to increase collection of blood from regular unpaid blood donors.

• It helps to mobilize support at national, regional and global levels among governments and development partners to invest in, strengthen and sustain national blood programmes. Blood is treating the wounded during emergencies like natural disasters, accidents and armed conflicts.

It is essential, life-saving role in maternal care.

About World Blood Donor Day

•  Countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day on June 14.

•  Date: Friday, 14 June 2019

•  Observed by: All member states of the World Health Organization

SPORTS:

Indian team for Senior Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships announced

• Gymnastics Federation of India declared the Indian group for the Senior Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships It is to be held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from June 19 to 22.

• The four men and four ladies senior gymnasts chose for the esteemed competition after Sports Authority of India (SAI) consented to GFI's proposition of holding open preliminaries at IG Stadium. Men group includes Rakesh Kumar Patra (rings and parallel bars), Yogeshwar Singh (floor and vault), Debang Dey (wallop pony) and Arik Dey (level bar).

• Pranati Nayak (vault and pillar), Shraddha Talekar (uneven bars), Pranati Das (shaft) and Papiya Das (floor) are the ladies' cooperative individuals,. The Championships will be International introduction for Debang Dey in men's classification Papiya Das in ladies' area classification.

• This challenge likewise be critical introduction to the Gymnasts preceding the 2019 World Championships. It is the fitting the bill for the 2020 Olympics.

NATIONAL:

GST council to introduce new GST return system.

• GST Council decided to introduce a new GST return system to facilitate taxpayers.

The new plan is worked out to ease the transition to the new return system.

•  A prototype of the offline tool has already been shared on the common portal to give the look and feel of the tool to the users.

The tool is the same as that of the online portal.

There are three main components to the new return

one main return (FORM GST RET-1) and two annexures (FORM GST ANX-1 and FORM GST ANX-2).

The new return system (ANX-1 & ANX-2 only) will be available for trial for taxpayers to make themselves familiar.

About GST Council

•  GST Council decided to introduce a new GST return system to facilitate taxpayers.

A plan has been worked out to ease the transition to the new return system.

A prototype of the offline tool already shared on the common portal to give the look and feel of the tool to the users.

Cabinet approved the setting up of Defence Space Research Agency (DSRO).

• The Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the setting up of Defence Space Research Agency (DSRO), a new agency, which will develop sophisticated weapon systems. The approval aimed to To enhance the capabilities of the armed forces to fight wars in space.

Members of DSRO:

The agency will be headed by a Joint Secretary-level scientist. DSRO would constitute a team of scientists which would be working in close coordination with the tri-services integrated Defence staff officers.

Functions of DSRO:

DSRO will be entrusted with the task of creating space warfare weapon systems and technologies.

It would provide the research and development support to the Defence Space Agency (DSA).

About DSA:

Defence Space Agency (DSA)will constitute of members from the three services. The aim of setting up of DSA is to help the country fight wars in the space.

DSA is being set up under an Air Vice Marshal-rank officer in Bengaluru. It will be gradually taking over the space-related capabilities of the three forces.

ICAT released India’s 1st BS VI Certificate in Two Wheeler Segment.

• International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) released India’s first Type Approval Certificate (TAC) for Bharat Stage - VI (BS – VI) norms for the two-wheeler segment in New Delhi.

The certificate released and handed over by Director ICAT, Dinesh Tyagi to top officials of the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers). India’s first certification in the two-wheeler segment for the BS – VI

• They are the latest emission norms as notified by the Government of India.

• Norms of the ICAT - India’s 1st BS – VI Certificate in Two Wheeler Segment

The ICAT drive through many steps in providing assistance and support to the automotive industry for the development, optimization and calibration of engines and vehicles for complying with these upcoming emission norms.Bharat Stage norms are the automotive emission norms which the automotive manufacturers have to comply to sell their vehicles in India.

The norms are applicable to all two wheelers, three wheelers, four wheelers.

The Government of India decided to leapfrog from the exiting BS – IV norms to the BS- VI, thereby skipping the BS – V norms.

They are to be effective from 1st April 2020.

The vehicles will be sold and registered in India from 1st April 2020 onwards which comply to these norms. The norms are stringent and at par with global standards.I issued the approval for BS –VI norms to M/s Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles for the Heavy Commercial Vehicle segment. It is the first in its segment in India.

About ICAT

It is the testing agency authorized by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for providing testing and certification services to vehicle and the components vehicles in India.

It has the latest equipment, facilities, and capabilities to develop, validate, test and certify the engines and vehicles for the latest norms in the field of emission and many other facilities like crash lab, NVH lab, EMC lab and test tracks.

INTERNATIONAL:

Amazon clinches top spot in the world's most valuable brand ranking.

• Amazon clinched the world’s most valuable brand in cloud computing, consumer tech and movie production.

It is founded by the world’s richest man Jeff Bezos.

According to the 2019 BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands rankings, Amazon online retailer set its brand value quintuple in the past five years to reach $315.5billion.

It is undertaken annually by advertising holding company WPP.

The detailed study of Brand Z reveals firms financial data and draws on an extensive consumer survey to reach its conclusions.

Amazon expanded into grocery, healthcare, food delivery and, with its Alexa devices, even voice recognition. Amazon jumped from third to first place to eclipse Google.The brand of Amazon from 52 percent to $315 billion.

The company jumped from third place to first place and got the third position to topmost by replacing Google.

About Financial Market

• There are two online shopping namely Alibaba and JD.com Chinese website which are down its Chinese e-commerce operation. Huawei company got a sudden break down of telecom network equipment and smartphone maker poses security and spying risks. Huawei added 8 percent to its brand value in the past year to reach $26.9bn.Netflix was third among the global market and they obtained 65% to obtain its brand value of 34.3 billion.

About Amazon

Founder: Jeff Bezos

Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, U.S.

Services: Amazon.com, Amazon Alexa, Amazon Appstore, Amazon MusicAmazon PrimeAmazon Video

Revenue: US$232.887 billion - 2018

AGREEMENTS AND MOU’s:

NDMA conducts training programme for CBRN emergencies at Kandla Port.

• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is conducting a basic training programme at the Deendayal  Port Trust in Kandla, Gujarat. The five-day training programme, aimed at increasing the awareness and enhancing the preparedness of Seaport Emergency Handlers (SEHs) to respond to CBRN emergencies at the seaports, started on June 10, 2019.

• This is the fourth in a series of such programmes that will be conducted at various seaports across the country to enable SEHs to respond suitably till the arrival of specialised response teams. Earlier this year, three batches of SEHs were trained at Mangalore, Kochi and Navi Mumbai.

• CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) threats emanate at seaports due to arrival, storage and transportation of a large amount of chemical, petrochemical and other CBRN agents.

• The training programme is being conducted in collaboration with the Indian Ports Association (IPA), Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences (INMAS) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). This training programme will improve the CBRN safety at our seaports by enabling the SEHs to handle any CBRN emergency.

• The programme consists of lectures as well as field training, including live demonstrations of detection and decontamination including use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and mock exercises. Besides equipping the SEHs to handle CBRN emergencies, the training programme will also enable them to provide medical first aid and initial psycho-social support.

• Experts from stakeholder departments such as Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will train the participants.

• Around 50 participants representing various agencies responsible for operation and maintenance of the seaport are being trained on various aspects of CBRN emergencies. Another 200 working level staff will be sensitized on the subject in a half-day programme.

BANKS AND ECONOMICS:

RBI to infuse Rs.15,000 crore into financial system through the purchase of government bonds.

• The Reserve Bank of India is to infuse Rs.15,000 crore into the financial system through bond purchases on June 13.

Why the infusion:

RBI made the decision after assessing of prevailing liquidity conditions and also of the durable liquidity needs that are going forward.

RBI uses Open Market Operations (OMO) for injecting liquidity into the system through the purchase of government bonds (G-sec). Therefore, RBI is to conduct the purchase of  six G-sec under OMOs through multi-security auction using multiple price method.

What is G-Sec?

A government security (G-Sec) is a debt obligation of the Indian government to fund their fiscal deficit. The securities are tradable. G-sec is  issued either by the central or the state government. They are offered for short term as well as long term.

Multiple price-auction

In a multiple price-auction each successful bidder should pay the price stated bu the player himself. But, in case of uniform price auctions, all successful bidders should pay the cut-off price, that is, the same price at which the market clears the issue.

Open Market Operations:

Open market operations (OMO) refers to the buying and selling of government securities by the central bank, RBI in case of India, in the open market in order to contract or expand the amount of money in the banking system. The purchase of the securities will inject money into the banking system and stimulate growth, while sales of securities do the opposite and contract the economy.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS:

IV Subba Rao continues as secretary to Vice President.

• IV Subba Rao continues as secretary to Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu as per an order issued by the Ministry of Personnel.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the continuation of Rao

He is a retired IAS officer

He serves as secretary to the vice president on a contract basis

More about IV Subba Rao

He is a 1979 batch IAS officer

He belongs to Andhra Pradesh, Rao

He is retired from service in August 2015.

Tokayev sworn in as the President of Kazakhstan.

• Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has sworn in as the President of Kazakhstan. He was the interim president and hand-picked successor of Nursultan Nazarbayev. He won the election, which was held on 9 June, with 70.96% of the vote which was contested against six government-approved candidates.

Tokayev presidency aims to continue Nazarbayev’s policies aimed at improving the well-being of the people. He succeeded Nursultan Nazarbayev, who announced his resignation in March after 30 years in power.

This is the first time Kazakhstan gets its new president since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

BJP MP Virendra Kumar to be pro-tem speaker of Lok Sabha.

• Virendra Kumar, a seven-time MP from Tikamgarh in Madhya Pradesh chosen as the pro tem speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha.

• He was MoS in the ministry of women and child development He was also in the minority affairs ministry in the previous government.

• He is likely to be administered the oath of office at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on June 17, the day where newly elected Lok Sabha commences its first session.

• On the first two days, the new MPs will take the oath.

• The election for the speaker will be on June 19.

• He was elected to the 11th Lok Sabha for the first time in 1996.

• He became a member of the Standing Committee on Labour and Welfare.

• He served as a member and chairman of various committees.

• He studied a Ph.D. started his political career in 1977

• He became the convener of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Sagar district, Madhya Pradesh.

• He served a prison sentence of 16 months under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) in protest against the imposition of Emergency when he was associated with RSS.

• He was a minister of state in the previous Modi government.

 Definition of Pro Term Speaker:

• After the general election and formation of a new government, a list of senior Lok Sabha members prepared by the Legislative Section is submitted to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs

• He who selects a pro tem speaker.

• The appointment should be approved by the President.

Mekathoti Sucharitha appointed as the Home Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

• Sucharitha, A Dalit Women was inducted into the Congress by the late Dr Y S Rajashekara Reddy (YSR) spotted her during his historic ‘padayatra’ in 2003.

• Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy appointed Mekathoti Sucharita as the state home minister

• She is one among five ministers to be selected from SC community

• Her native is Poondla village near Bapatla and completed her studies at Phirangipuram, where her father was practising as a doctor.

• She vowed to maintain the highest standards of integrity and honesty in public life and thanked Chief Minister for reposing faith in her and promised that she would live up to the expectations.

About Y S Gagan Mohan Reddy

• Yeduguri Sandinti Jaganmohan Reddy, is an Indian politician

• He is serving as the 17th and current Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

• Party: YSR Congress Party

About Andhra Pradesh

• Chief Minister: Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy (YSR Congress Party)

• Governor: E. S. L. Narasimhan

DAYS:

International Day Against Child Labour observed on June 12.

• International Labour Organization (ILO) started to celebrate World Day Against Child Labour in 2002

Aim: To focus attention on the global extent of child labour and the action and efforts needed to eliminate it.

The 2019 theme is Children shouldn’t work in fields, but on dreams!

The day brings government employers and workers organizations, civil society, as well as millions of people from around the world to highlight the plight of child labourers.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by world leaders in 2015 to include a renewed global commitment to ending child labour.

Sustainable Development Goals and effective measures are take-ups in order to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour includes use of child labours by the year 2025 and to end child labour in all its forms.

ILO celebrates 100 years of advancing social justice.

The protection of children embedded in the ILO’s Constitution (Preamble). One of the first Conventions adopted by the ILO was on Minimum Age in Industry (No. 5, 1919).

8.7 target set by the international community calling for an end to child labour in all its forms by 2025.

About World Day Against Child Labour

Observances: UN, International Labour Organization

Frequency: annual

Called as: WDACL

Observed by: UN Members

SPORTS:

International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) re-branded as World Athletics.

• The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the international governing body for the sport of athletics, changed it name from IAAF to World Athletics. The members of IAAF council have approved the rebranding at an IAAF Council meeting held in Monaco on 8th June. The process to rebrand IAAF began on January 2018.

Purpose:

The new name and logo has been designed to represent the modern and positive face for athletics. Also, it aims to attract theyounger audience.

It will see the organisation take on its new name and a re-designed logo after the 2019 World Athletics Championship in Doha in October.

From the Origin:

IAAF was formed in 17 July 1912. When it was founded the name it had was International Amateur Athletic Federation. It was then changed to International Association of Athletics Federations in 2001.

The headquarters of IAAF is located in Monaco. IAAF has 215 member federations. The Current President of IAAF is Sebastian Coe. The CEO of IAAF is Jon Ridgeon.

NATIONAL:

MoSPI has proposed to set up a National Data Warehouse to leverage big data analytical tools.

• Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has proposed to set up a National Data Warehouse with an aim to leveraging big data analytical tools. This move is to further improve the quality of macro-economic aggregates. MoSPI also plans to introduce a legislative framework so that the National Statistical Commission (NSC) can function with independence and give holistic guidance for improving the national statistical system.

Significance:

• The move also lends its support to the system reforms that are currently ongoing. It will also ensure the responsiveness to the changing needs of society that are necessary.

• This proposed set up is necessary as there are increasing demands on the statistical system for the production of relevant and quality statistics.

National Data Warehouse for macro-economic aggregate:

• The Ministry also proposed to establish a National Data Warehouse on Official Statistics. Here, the technology will be leveraged for using big data analytical tools for further improving the quality of macro-economic aggregates.

• MoSPI has been criticized in some sections for the quality of macro-economic data.

Merger of merger of CSO and NSSO:

• Regarding this the government has recently merged the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) and the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) to streamline and strengthen the statistical system. The merger leveraged the strengths of the two organisations so that it can meet the increasing demands.

• The government use the statistical data to revise the GDP estimate would require concomitant changes in the sectoral data flows and associated regulatory framework in the data source agencies to facilitate the use of more macro modelling techniques.

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI):

Established on: 15 October 1999

Minister responsible: Rao Inderjit Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge)

It has 2 wings:

1)Department of Statistics

2)Department of Programme Implementation

• It is responsible for the development of the statistical system and maintains norms and standards in the field of statistics that involves concepts and definitions, methodology of data collection, processing of data and dissemination of results.

• MoSPI is concerned with coverage and quality aspects of statistics.

ASI declares Chaukhandi Stupa as of national important monument.

• A Monument and protected area of national importance by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Chaukhandi Stupa:

• Chaukhandi Stupa is a lofty mound of brick whose square edifice is surrounded by an octagonal tower. It was built to mark the place where Lord Buddha met his first disciples as he traveled from Bodhgaya to Sarnath.

• The Chaukhandi Stupa is said to be originally a terraced temple during the Gupta period, that • 4th to 6th Century.

• Govardhan,the son of Raja Todarmal gave the present shape to the Chaukhandi Stupa.He built an octagonal tower to commemorate the visit of Humayun,the great Mughal ruler.

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI):

• ASI was formed on 1861, headquartered at New Delhi, India. ASI is the premier organization for the archaeological researches and protection of the cultural heritage in India. It functions under the Ministry of Culture.

• ASI is responsible for the regulation of all archaeological activities in the country as per the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 and Antiquities and Art Treasure Act,1972.

India's First Dinosaur Museum Park inaugurated in Gujarat

• Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani inaugurated India's first Dinosaur-Museum-cum-Park in the Mahisagar district.

• It is set to give visitors a Jurassic Park kind of feel.

The museum is located in Raiyoli area in Balasinor exhibit remains of various dinosaurs and fossil records.

• Dinosaur Museum cum Park is the first park in the country and the world's third park.

Raiyoli area is the third largest dinosaur fossil site in the world and it is also the second largest dinosaur hatchery in the world, where thousands of eggs had been found.

About Dinosaur-Museum-cum-Park

• It is equipped with modern technology like 3D projection, virtual reality presentations, interactive kiosks and life-size dinosaur replicas.

• It has a total land area of 2.63 hectares. It is famous for displaying the evolution of dinosaurs on earth and probable reasons for their extinction.

It is a world-class tourism spot and prove useful to students as well as experts.

About Gujarat

Capital: Gandhinagar

Governor: Om Prakash Kohli

Chief Minister: Vijay Rupani

INTERNATIONAL:

Canada to ban single use plastics from 2021.

• Canada ban single-use plastics from the year 2021

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau planned to ban plastic bottles, straws and plastic bags clogging the world's oceans.

• Canada to lead to fighting against plastic pollution as the country with the world's longest coastline.

• Currently, 10 percent of plastics are recycled.

• A  million birds and more than 100,000 marine mammals worldwide suffer injury or death through the food chain.

• Plastic Straws, plastic bags, cutlery, plates among the items.

Around 180 countries reached a deal to reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in the world's oceans.

• Marine animals can become entangled in larger plastics - particularly cord, nets, and ropes from fishing.

Canadian government planned to decide single-use plastic products included ban of plastic bags, straws, cutlery, plates and stir sticks.

•  Around 3m tonnes of plastic waste thrown away each year at Canada.

About Canada

Capital: Ottawa

Governor General: Julie Payette

Prime Minister: Justin Trudeau

Singapore topped the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2019.

• Swiss-based International Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Competitiveness Ranking 2019 said Singapore has dethroned the US to become the most competitive economy in the world. Hong Kong stands second spot in the list. USA stands third followed by Switzerland and UAEand fourth and fifth respectively.

• Qatar entered the top 10. India ranked 43, one position higher compared to 2018.

Parameters considered:

• The ranking process considers a wide range of hard statistics such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), unemployment and government spending on health and education. IMD also used the soft data from an Executive Opinion Survey which covers other parameters such as social cohesion, globalization and corruption.

AGREEMENTS AND MOU’s:

PM Narendra Modi to meet Putin and Xi Jinping in sidelines to SCO summit.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping before the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. The announcement was made by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Its a reiteration:

• Prime Minister Modi is to reiterate his invite to President Xi to visit India for an informal summit in 2019. The first informal summit was held in Wuhan in 2018.

• The Ministry did not approve to hold a separate meeting between the Prime Minister with his counterpart from Pakistan, Imran Khan.

SCO Summit 2019:

• The SCO summit is to be held on June 14 in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic. It will be the first multilateral meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his re-election in the Lok Sabha election.

• The group will discuss issues related to terrorism, Afghanistan, regional security, multilateral dialogue and global scenario.

BANKS AND ECONOMICS:

State Bank of India introduces Repo Rate-Linked Home Loan.

• State Bank of India introduced repo rate-linked home loans.

SBI, the country's largest bank by assets home loans linked to the repo rate from July 1, 2019.

• There are 10 key new facts, repo rate-linked SBI home loan:

Key interest rate reduced to 5.75

Repo rate-linked home loan will make changes in the key interest rate by the central bank would be passed on directly to the customers.

Interest rates applicable to regular home loans are decided by the commercial banks on a time basis.

The Reserve Bank of India on several occasions in the past few months urged the commercial banks to transmit the rate cuts to the public.

State Bank of India benefit from the latest reduction in the repo rate has been passed fully to cash credit account and overdraft customers with limits of over Rs. 1 lakh.

After the move, the effective repo-linked lending rate (RLLR) for a cash credit and overdraft customers will be 8 percent. These changes will also take effect on July 1.

• The Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)lowered the repo rate by 25 basis points and switched to an "accommodative" stance from "neutral".

• The decision by the RBI to ease the monetary policy follows official data last month showing India lost its status as the fastest growing major economy to China.

RBI reduced the repo rate each in its policy reviews in February and April.

SBI has a share of around 35 percent in home loans and auto loans.

SPORTS:

Haryana, Maharashtra dominate third day of Youth men's & women's national boxing championship.

• Haryana and Maharashtra participated in the  third day of the 3rd Youth men's and women's national boxing championship in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand

Four boxers from Maharashtra entered the quarterfinals

Ankit Narwal-led Haryana boxers reached the last-eight stage.

Narwal, the 2018 Youth Asian Championship bronze winner in men's 60kg category

Haryana's Akshay Kumar won the game in the same way.

In the women's category, Haryana's Bharti and Poonam and  Bharti registered a hard-fought 3-2 win over Ekta Saroj of Punjab in which went down to the wire, while Poonam got the better of Assamese boxer Kimpa Boro.

Women's boxing between Manipur's Babyrojisana Chanu and Kerala's Aishwarya Raj PT 51kg category.

About Women's national boxing championship

AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships was held at KD Jadav Indoor Stadium at New Delhi, India

The event took place between 15 and 24 November 2018.

In the finals Mary Kom of India beat Ukrainian boxer Hana Okhota to win the gold,

She is the first woman boxer to win six gold medals in the AIBA World Boxing Championships

India debut flag in #WorldRaftingChampionship.

• India is making debut in the adventurous game of Rafting.

Former Prime Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports team played in World Rafting Championship which is taking place in Tuncelli.

There are 20 teams from 20 countries are challenging for the title.

President of Turkish Rafting Federation Fikret Yadimei expressed his excitement over hosting the World Rafting Championship.

The championship commenced on June 8 and will conclude on June 13.

About  International Rafting Federation

•It is the official umbrella International Sports Federation for national rafting organizations worldwide and administers all aspects of rafting sport worldwide.

•World Rafting Championships (WRC), European Rafting Championships (ERC), Pan American Rafting Championships, and the Euro Cup rafting series are governed by the IRF.

• It works closely with national organizations and government bodies by offering the only raft guide certification program accepted worldwide

Lewis Hamilton Won Canadian Grand Prix 2019.

• Lewis Hamilton won Canadian Grand Prix , the world of Formula One championship title 2019.

Lewis Hamilton, Robert Kubica and Daniel Ricciardo players who played various matches in championship and considered as star players.

• Hamilton won 78th career win in Formula One .

• He also fifth out of the seven races contested this season

• He secured seventh win at the 2019 Canadian Grand Prix and defeated Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)

About Canadian Grand Prix

Canadian Grand Prix is an annual auto race held in Canada since 1961.It is a part of the Formula One World Championship since 1967

First held :1961

Number of times held: 56

Most wins : Germany Michael Schumacher , Lewis Hamilton

About Lewis Hamilton

Nationality: United Kingdom

Entries: 236

Championships: 5 (2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018)

Win: 78

Rafael Nadal clinched the 12th French Open title by defeating Dominic Thiem.

• World number two Rafael Nadal clinched the 12th French Open title in 15 years in men's single category held in Roland Garros Stadium, France.

• He defeated world number four Dominic Thiem in the men's singles. The Spaniard won the match with a scoreline of 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1. The 33-year-old has now won 18 Grand Slam titles, two fewer than world number three Roger Federer.

• The champions of the 2019 French Open

• Men's Singles: Spain Rafael Nadal

• Women's Singles: Australia Ashleigh Barty

• Men's Doubles: Germany Kevin Krawietz / Germany Andreas Mies

• Women's Doubles: Hungary Tímea Babos / France Kristina Mladenovic

• Mixed Doubles: Chinese Taipei Latisha Chan / Croatia Ivan Dodig

2019 French Open:

• The 2019 French Open was held from 26th May-9th June

• Edition: 123rd

• Category: Grand Slam tournament

• Prize money: €42,661,000

• Surface: Clay

• Held at: Roland Garros Stadium, France.

NATIONAL:

Madhya Pradesh Cabinet passes resolution to increase reservation for OBCs to 27%.

• Madhya Pradesh Cabinet passed a resolution to increase the percentage of reservation quota for Other Backward Classes (OBC) from existing 14 percent to 27 percent.

• The move will lead to the reservation in the state breaching the Supreme Court-mandated 50 percent cap to reach 63 percent.

• Madhya Pradesh is the only state in the country to have a 27 percent quota for OBCs.

• Cabinet also increased to 3% the dearness allowance for employees

• About Madhya Pradesh

• Capital: Bhopal

• Chief Minister: Kamal Nath

• Governor: Anandiben Patel

INTERNATIONAL:

US terminated India's preferential trade status under GSP programme.

• Generalized System of Preference (GSP) is the largest and oldest US trade preference programme.

• India was the largest beneficiary of the GSP programme in 2017 with $5.7 billion in imports to the US given duty-free status.

• Reason for US withdrawing India’s GSP benefits:

• The move was taken on determining that India has not committed to provide “equitable and reasonable access to its markets” for the US.

• US’s trade imbalance with India,

• No access to Indian market for US dairy,

• Medical device industry and

• Issues related to data localisation norms.

• On March 4, Trump announced that the US intends to terminate India's designations as a beneficiary developing country under the GSP programme. The 60-day notice period ended on May 3.

AGREEMENTS AND MOU’s:

AAI signs with Boeing to improve airspace utilization.

• The Airports Authority of India (AAI) signed a technical assistance agreement with aerospace major Boeing. The agreement aims to develop an air traffic management roadmap which will improve airspace utilization and help maintain efficient aircraft operations. The AAI will use guidance in the modernization of the Indian National Airspace System (NAS).

The roadmap is expected to be developed within 18 months and it will be undertaken with a grant from the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).

In this project, Boeing will also work closely with Indian aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and other airspace stakeholders like the US-India Aviation Cooperation Program (ACP).

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS:

Ajeya Kallam appointed principal advisor to Andhra CM.

• Former Chief Secretary Ajeya Kallam was on Tuesday appointed as the principal advisor to Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. Kallam will be in the position for 3 years, with a monthly salary of ₹2.5 lakh, according to an order. Notably, Kallam retired as Chief Secretary in 2017, when N Chandrababu Naidu was Andhra CM.

DAYS:

World Environment Day - 5 June.

• World Environment Day (WED) is celebrated on the 5th of June every year, and is the United Nation's principal vehicle for encouraging awareness and action for the protection of our environment.

• First held in: 1974

• The theme for 2019 is "Beat Air Pollution".

• 2019 host nation is China.

• 2018:

• The theme for 2018 is "Beat Plastic Pollution". The host nation was India.

• Air Pollution facts:

• Approximately 7 million people worldwide die prematurely each year from air pollution, with about 4 million of these deaths occurring in Asia-Pacific.

NATIONAL:

ONGC became Indias most profitable public sector company.

• Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), India's top oil and gas producer, has toppledIndian Oil Corp (IOC) to regain the crown of being the country's most profitable public sector company.

• Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) reported a 34% jump in its 2018- 19 fiscal net profit to Rs.26,716 crore.

• Whereas, IOC registered a net profit of Rs.17.274 crore for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019.

• ONGC, in the previous two financial years, had lost the most profitable PSU tag to IOC. With its refining margins under pressure due to falling oil prices, IOC had also lost the title of being India's largest company by turnover tag to billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries in FY19.

• Reliance has been India's most profitable company for the fourth year in a row.

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC):

Founded on: 14 August 1956

Headquarters: New Delhi, India

Chairman & MD: Shashi Shankar

Owner: Government Of India

ONGC is an Indian multinational oil and gas company.

• It is a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the administrative control of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

• It produces around 70% of India's crude oil and around 62% of natural gas.

India has 20 health workers per 10,000 people: NSSO study.

• National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) data showed that India has 20.6 health workers per 10,000 people.

• This is less than the World Health Organization's (WHO) minimum overreach of 22.8 per 10,000 people.

• Distribution of health workers:

• This is uneven between the urban and rural areas.

• Rural areas with 71 % of India's population have only 36% of health workers.

• Delhi highest concentration of health workers followed by Kerala, Punjab, and Haryana.

• Public and private sector: The study has further notified that there is an uneven distribution of health workforce seen in public and health sector too.

About NSSO:

Founded on: 1950

Headquarters: Delhi

INTERNATIONAL:

Sri Lankan presidential polls to be held between 15 Nov and 7 Dec.

• The presidential elections in Sri Lanka would be held between November 15 and December 7, Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya has said, clarifying that according to constitutional provisions, the polls must be held one month before the end of the current President’s term.

President Sirisena's five-year term is scheduled to end on January 8, 2020. Sirisena was elected for a 5-year term on January 8, 2015, when he challenged the incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS:

SpiceJets Chairman and MD Ajay Singh was elected to the board of IATA.

• SpiceJet's Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh was elected to the board of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), less than three months after the airline joined the global grouping.

• Founder and former chairman of the now grounded Jet Airways Naresh Goyal, who was associated with the IATA for a long time, was a member on the previous board.

Board of IATA:

• The new board of the global airlines' grouping would be chaired by Lufthansa Group Chief Executive Officer Carsten Spohr, who took charge after the conclusion of the IATA annual general meeting at Seoul, South Korea.

• Spohr will be the Chairman of the IATA Board of Governors (BoG) for a one-year term. Other board members include Air Canada President and CEO Calin Rovinescu, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce and Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker.

• In March, SpiceJet became the first Indian low-cost carrier to take membership of the IATA, a grouping of around 290 airlines.

International Air Transport Association (IATA):

Formed on: 19 April 1945

Headquarters: Quebec, Canada

DG and CEO: Alexandre de Juniac

Membership: 290 airlines in 120 countries

• IATA is a trade association of the world’s airlines. IATA provides consulting and training services in many areas.

VP Sivakolundhu elected as Puducherry Assembly Speaker.

• Puducherry Deputy Speaker and Lawspet legislator VP Sivakolundhu was on Monday elected as the new Speaker of the Union Territory Assembly. The Speaker's chair fell vacant after Congress' V Vaithilingam stepped down on March 21 to contest the Lok Sabha elections from the lone Puducherry parliamentary seat. The Congress leader, Sivakolundhu, was the sole contender for the Speaker's post.

DAYS:

June 3 is celebrated as the World Bicycle Day across the globe.

• In April 2018, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared 3 June as International World Bicycle Day. The resolution for World Bicycle Day recognizes the uniqueness, longevity, and versatility of the bicycle, which has been in use for two centuries, and that it is a simple, affordable, reliable, clean and environmentally fit sustainable means of transportation.

• 2019 will be the second year when it will be celebrated after the UN General Assembly declared it in 2018 to acknowledge the uniqueness, longevity and the importance of the bicycle which is a simple, affordable, reliable and an environmentally friendly mode of transportation.

Aim:

• The day aims to promote the use of bicycles as a means of fostering sustainable development, strengthening education, including physical education, for children and young people, promoting health and tolerance, preventing disease, mutual understanding and respect, facilitating social inclusion and a culture of peace.

World Bicycle Day in India:

• In India, Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu had flagged off a cycling rally in Connaught Place in Delhi on the occasion of World Bicycle Day. It was also celebrated by cyclists in many other cities like Bengaluru and Mumbai.

NATIONAL

Gujarat traffic police to use laser guns to curb overspeeding

• The Gujarat governmenthas decided to equip the traffic police with 'laser guns'for detection of over-speeding by vehicles. The state police's traffic branch has purchased 39 such high-tech guns at a cost of Rs.3.9 crore.

• Five of these US-made devices will be given to the Ahmedabad city police, and every district police force will also be provided one of these guns.

A three-day workshop was organised recently at the Karai Police Academy here to impart training to over 200 traffic policemen on operating the device.

• Laser gun:The gun uses laser technology to detect the speed of a vehicle. It can record the speed of three vehiclessimultaneously in a second, even if the vehicles are a km away.The device is equipped to record speeds from 0-320 kilometre per hour.

• The speed gun is an online device which can send an e-memo to the owner with a photo of the vehicle. If required, the speed gun can also generate and print the challan offline on the spot.

It is also capable of recording videos of the over- speeding vehicles which will serve as proof if the vehicle owner confronts the police.

SC extends tenure of NCDRCs judicial member by one year

• Supreme Court May 29 extended the tenure of Justice V K Jain, a judicial member of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), which was expiring.

• A vacation bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Aniruddha Bose said the extension of tenure would be for one year or till the process of fresh appointment is completed.The bench was dealing with an application seeking an extension of Justice Jain's tenure.

• He had joined the Delhi Judicial Service on May 20, 1977, and was later appointed as a judge of the Delhi High Court on May 14, 2009.

He had demitted the office on May 14, 2014, after which he was appointed as a judicial member of the NCDRC.

Mississippi River flood becomes the longest-lasting in over 90 years

• Flooding in theMississippi River is on the record for being the longest-lasting in more than 90 years since the "Great Flood" of 1927.

It is due to relentless, record-breaking spring rainfall. In the month of June also, Mississippi River will continue to rise as runoff from snowmelt upstream in combination with rainfall runoff moves through the river system.

• Along several parts of the river, water levels have been at flood stage for nearly 4 months. It is the longest stretch of time since the Great Flood.

• The reason for this drastic flood is climate change, as planet is getting warmer which is resulting in rise of heavy downpours.

About the Mississippi River:

• It is the second-longest river and Chief River of the second-largest drainage system on the North American continent.

Source: Lake Itasca, Minnesota, United States

Mouth: Gulf of Mexico

INTERNATIONAL

Goldman Sachs to invest USD250 mn to construct one of its largest global workspaces in Bengaluru

• New York-based investment and financial services major Goldman Sachs have pumped in $250 million to construct one of its largest global workspaces in Bengaluru.

• Bengaluru workspace:Bengaluru, with 2,500 techies, is the second-largest engineering talent base of Goldman Sachs after New York. Goldman Sachs Service, Bengaluru has become one of the firm’s global centres of innovation focused on the development and application of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics to help solve business problems for our worldwide network.

• The investment bank has seen significant technology value-addition from Bengaluru during the past one-and-a-half decades, and software solutions developed in the city have been used in many business verticals. It has also undertaken automation of key services such as client onboarding.

ISS spacewalk successfully carried out for the 217th time by 2 cosmonauts

• Two Russian space agency Roscosmos' cosmonauts have successfully carried out the 217th spacewalk for International Space Station's support, maintenance and upgrade. The spacewalk, fourth for 2019, was done by Expedition 59 Commander Oleg Kononenko and Flight Engineer Alexey Ovchinin and lasted six hours and one minute.

• This was Commander Kononenko's fifth spacewalk and the first-ever for Ovchinin.The cosmonauts retrieved science experiments, install handrails on the Russian segment of the complex, and conduct maintenance on the orbiting laboratory.

• Roscosmos State Space Corporation:

Formation: 25 February 1992

Headquarters: Moscow, Russia

Administrator: Dmitry Rogozin

Parent organization: The Russian government

• It is responsible for the wide range and types of space flights and cosmonautics programs for the Russian Federation.

APPOINTMENT AND RESIGNATION

Former Flipkart Executive Sandeep Patil appointed as India Managing Director of Truecaller

• Former Flipkart Executive Sandeep Patil appointed as India Managing Director of Truecaller. He served as the head of consumer and commercial lending vertical at Flipkart until his new appointment with Truecaller.

Sandeep Patil will be leading business strategies to expand the company and increase its revenue.

• He will be supervising the teams based in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.

India is the largest market for Truecaller with 60-70% of global revenue and user base.

It has 100 million daily active users in the country.

About Truecaller

Headquarters: Stockholm

Founded: 2009

Founders: Nami Zarringhalam and Alan Mamedi

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa received baton of Chairman COSC

• Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa received the baton of Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee from outgoing Chairman COSC and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba,

• Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa will be the Chairman COSC with effect from May 31, 2019, consequent to relinquishment of charge by Admiral Sunil Lanba upon superannuation.

• Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, an alumnus of Rashtriya Indian Military College and the National Defence Academy, was commissioned in the Flying Branch of Indian Air Force in June 1978.  He is an experienced fighter pilot and a qualified CAT ‘A’ Flying Instructor with over 3000 hours of flying experience to his credit.

• The Air Chief Marshal has mainly flown the MiG-21 aircraft with flying experience across the entire spectrum of fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force.

Admiral Sunil Lanba is proceeding on retirement on May 31, 2019, after a distinguished career spanning over four decades.

BANKS AND ECONOMY

NCLT approved the the resolution plan of Tata Steel to acquire Bhushan Energy Ltd.

• The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) approved the resolution plan of Tata Steel to acquire debt-ridden Bhushan Energy Ltd. for about Rs.800 crore on 30 May. The principal bench of NCLT-Delhi also rejected objections from Bhushan Energy’s former promoter Neeraj Singal opposing Tata Steels’ bid.

• Resolution plan:Under the resolution plan, Tata Steel will offer an upfront payment of Rs.730 crore. It would also pay Rs.50 crore additionally to operational creditors of the company. Besides, Tata Steel would also infuse Rs.367 crore into the company as a part of equity infusion. A detailed order is still awaited in this matter.

• Acquisition of Bhushan Steel Ltd.:Bhushan Energy was a subsidiary of Bhushan Steel Ltd., which was also taken over by Tata Steel last May and later renamed as Tata Steel BSL Ltd.Tata Steel had offered Rs.35,200 crore in cash to acquire Bhushan Steel besides Rs.1,200 crore to creditors and convert the remaining debt owed to banks to equity.

• Earlier in June 2018, in this matter, NCLT had extended the insolvency resolution period for 90 days after the creditors failed to find a suitable buyer within the initial period of 180 days as mandated under the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

NATIONAL:

Madhya Pradesh to tentatively have new UNESCO heritage site

• Orchha town in Madhya Pradesh has a historical site with the Bundela dynasty architectural style.

• The Archaeological Survey of India included that heritage town of Orchha in a tentative list of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) world heritage sites. It was included in the proposal sent by the ASI to the UN body in April 2019.

• UNESCO’s rules state that to be a part of the World Heritage sites, the heritage or historical site must first be on the tentative list.

• After making it to that list, yet another proposal is sent to the UNESCO.

Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma launched a new project to boost medicinal plant cultivation

• Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma launched a new project to boost medicinal and aromatic plants cultivation named "Aroma Mission".

• "Aroma Mission" a project of Rs.18 crore launched to give importance for agriculture and allied sectors so that farmers earn the benefits from it.

• CM inaugurated a processing unit of essential oils and insisted institutions like CSIR-CIMAP to undertake more researches in this field.

• Broomsticks and bay leaves were categorized as 'Agro Forestry' items.

• Cultivation of lemon grass and citronella plant will be undertaken on 50-acre plots in every district of the state.

• Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) is a plant research laboratory of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

Telangana to set up countrys first 'Blockchain District' in Hyderabad

• Telangana released a draft blockchain policy to set up country's first 'Blockchain District' in Hyderabad. Telangana released a draft blockchain policy to set up country's first 'Blockchain District' in Hyderabad.

• It is aimed to create an ecosystem for major blockchain companies, start-ups for promoting research, innovation and industry collaboration. Telangana Government signed an agreement with Tech Mahindra to set up the Blockchain district in 2018.

• The draft was released by Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (IT E&C) Department. The main focus will be given to the sectors such as banking, financial services and insurance, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, government institutions and departments, logistics and supply chains.

• The incentives like access to investments, subsidies, tax credits will be rolled out to attract enterprises, Small and Medium Enterprises and startups. Other incentives include 25% subsidy on lease rentals up to 5 lakh per annum for the first three years of operations.

• 100% reimbursement of State Goods and Services Tax (SGST ) for the first three years for startups with revenue less than 5 crore and along with one-time grant of Rs.l0 lakh, 75% subsidy in travel fare when the founders attend global conferences and 25% reimbursement on Internet charges would be provided.

INTERNATIONAL:

India, Sri Lanka and Japan signed a deal to develop container terminal at Colombo

• Sri Lanka, Japan, and India signed an agreement to jointly develop the East Container Terminal at the Colombo Port on 28th May. The joint initiative is estimated to cost between $500 million and $700 million.

• The signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC)is significant, given that the countries had been negotiating the deal since last year with little success.

As per the agreement, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) retains 100% ownership of the East Container Terminal (ECT), while the Terminal Operations Company is jointly owned. Sri Lanka will hold a51% stake in the project and the joint venture partners will retain 49%.

• Aim: The ECT development project aimed at neutralizing the growing influence of China, which has poured money into the South Asian island nation under its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) infrastructure plan. The ECT is located some three km away from the China-backed international financial city, known popularly as port city.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATION:

Alapan Bandyopadhyay appointed as new Home Secretary for West Bengal

• Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee appointed Alapan Bandyopadhyay, an IAS officer of the 1987 batch, as the new Home Secretary for West Bengal. He succeeds Atri Bhattacharya .

• Alapan Bandyopadhyay was in charge of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises(MSME) Department with additional charge of Industry, Commerce and Enterprises Department.

• Ajit Ranjan Bardhan as the new principal secretary of the North Bengal Development Department (NBDD)Bardhan was earlier in charge of Youth Services and Sports department.

• Barun Kumar Ray, who was in charge of the NBDD with an additional charge of Jalpaiguri Commissioner was transferred as the Commissioner of Malda.

Choten D Lama, Secretary of the Panchayat & Rural Development Department (P&RD) was shifted to the Backward Classes Welfare Department with an additional charge of the Tribal department.

• Gyanwant Singh was appointed as the new ADGP (Law and Order).

Jayanta Kumar Basu was appointed as the director of the directorate of economic offences.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY:

RBI extended time window for using the RTGS for customer transactions

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced that the time-window for using theReal Time Gross Settlement System (RTGS) for customer transactions will be extended from 4:30 pm to 6 pm on all working days. It will be effective from June 1, 2019.

• The current RTGS service window for customer transactions is available to banks from 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. on a working day.

Transactions will now take place under three windows:

1.8 am to 11 am

2.11 am to 1 pm

3.1 pm to 6pm

• Charges for the transactions:

• There shall be no charge for transactions between 8 am and 11 am.

• A charge of Rs.2 will be levied on every transaction conducted between 11 am and 1 pm.

Rs.5 shall be charged for every transaction between 1pm and 6pm.

Standard Chartered launched Trade A1 Engine in partnership with IBM

• Standard Charteredlaunched Trade A1 Engine in partnership with IBM Standard Chartered in partnership with IBM has launched the Trade A1 Engine which will automate the high risk process of trade documentation.

• It will enhance client experience through increased operational efficiency and strengthened operational control.This newly launched Trade A1 Engine will replace the Traditional documentary trade consisting of millions of data elements in paper-based that to be reviewed through a largely manual process.

About Trade A1 Engine

• Conversion of non-digital shipping documents into machine-readable format enabled by Optical Character Recognition (OCR).

•The Identification and classification of document types from an initial pre-defined database.

• The Continuous Machine learning (ML) based on user re-classification / re-defining of data elements to further Improve accuracy.

• Natural Language Processing (NLP) capabilities to read and capture context from data in the documents.

Srei Equipment Finance ties up with Oriental Bank of Commerce to offer loans for purchase of equipment under a co-lending arrangement

• Srei Equipment Financetied up with Oriental Bank of Commerce to offer loans for the purchase of equipment under a co-lending arrangement.Srei Equipment Finance is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Srei Infrastructure Finance.

• The funds for the project will be sourced through a platform named iQuippo, a unique digital market place of Kanoria Foundation.It will help in loan origination, loan dues collection, auction of equipment, valuation of equipment and other facilities.

• The co-lending arrangement will include financing of construction, mining and allied equipment, medical equipment, commercial vehicles and farm equipment.

Motila Oswal AMC become the first Indian fund house to introduce WhatsApp transaction platform

• Motilal Oswal Asset Management Company (AMC) become the first Indian fund house to launch WhatsApp transaction platform for mutual fund transactions for new as well as existing investors.This enables investors to use WhatsApp to invest in any scheme from Motilal Oswal AMC.Investors can either invest lump sum or through SIPS.

• The platform works:

• An investor should add Motilal Oswal AMC number (+91 9372205812) to his/her contact list. Then on WhatsApp, type 'Hi' on the above number.

• After sharing the PAN details, the investor should share his/her mode of investment, fund, amount. Finally, authorize payment for the transaction through the payment link sent

DAYS:

Veer Savarkar was observed on 28 May

• Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's birth anniversary was celebrated on 28 May 2019. On this occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to VD Savarkar. He said that the nation will always remember sacrifices made by Veer Savarkar during the freedom struggle.

SPORTS:

Ivo Karlovic-Oldest Man to win a match at the French Open 2019 for 46 years

• Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic became the oldest man to win a match at the French Open 2019 for 46 years on 28 May. He beat Spain’s fellow veteran Feliciano Lopez in a first-round duel.

• Forty-year-old Ivo Karlovic became the oldest player to win a match at Roland Garros and defeated 37-year-old Feliciano Lopez to secure 7-6(4), 7-5, 6-7(7), 7-5 in three hours and six minutes to reach the second round at the clay-court Grand Slam for the sixth time.

• This was the oldest men’s match in combined age at Roland Garros during the Open Era, and the seventh-oldest match at a Grand Slam. Karlovic hit 35 aces and saved five of the six break points he faced to win his first match since Indian Wells.