National Headlines
Assam CM Sarma launches Sishu Seva Achoni for COVID-19 Orphans
Assam chief minister, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has dedicated Chief Minister Sishu Seva Scheme to the service of the beneficiaries and handed over the cheques of financial assistance to few beneficiaries who lost both their parents due to COVID.
It may be noted that under the scheme an amount to the tune of Rs. 7,81,200 would be parked in the bank as fixed deposit in the name of each beneficiary.
The State government would give Rs. 3500 per month per child including Central government support of Rs. 2000.
For children below 10 years and adolescent girls with no guardian, the State government will take steps to house such children in one of the child care institutions and provide adequate funding towards their upkeep including educational expenditure.
Orphaned adolescent girls will be given accommodation in suitable and reputed institutions to ensure their sensitive care and proper protection. One such institution is Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya residential schools.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- Assam Governor: Jagdish Mukhi;
- Assam Chief Minister: Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Assam gets its seventh national park with Dehing Patkai
The Assam Government has decided in its recent cabinet meeting to declare Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary as the 7th National Park of the state.
The newest national park, popularly known as Dehing Patkai Rain Forest, has unique floral and faunal diversity, which was recognized by the state government in 2004 when 111.19 square kilometres of the area was notified as Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary.
The area is home to hoolock gibbon, elephant, slow loris, tiger, leopard, clouded leopard, golden cat, fishing cat, marble cat, sambar, hog deer, sloth bear, and several bird species including the endangered state bird, the white-winged wood duck.
The state now has the second-highest number of national parks in the country. Madhya Pradesh and Andaman and Nicobar Islands have nine national parks each.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- Assam Governor: Jagdish Mukhi;
- Assam Chief Minister: Himanta Biswa Sarma.
International Headlines
Russian navy building first fully stealth warship
Russia is building the first naval ship that will be fully equipped with stealth technology to make it hard to detect.
The hull of the Mercury naval corvette dubbed project 20386 has already been built and the vessel is expected to be delivered to the navy next year. The warship will be armed with cruise missiles, anti-aircraft missiles and artillery.
The naval ship is capable of searching for and destroying submarines. Stealth technology can make military assets such as ships and planes harder for radar to detect.
While Russia has used stealth technology, such as a radar-absorbing coating into some of its navy vessels, they have not had full stealth technology.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- Russia President: Vladimir Putin.
- Russia Capital: Moscow.
- Russia Currency: Russian Ruble.
El Salvador becomes first country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender
El Salvador has become the first country in the world to grant legal tender status to bitcoin. The use of bitcoin as legal tender will become law in 90 days.
El Salvador’s economy heavily relies on remittances and so those who are working abroad can send money back home in bitcoins.
The use of bitcoin will be totally optional. It will bring financial inclusion, investment, tourism, innovation, and economic development to the country.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- El Salvador Capital: San Salvador; Currency: United States Dollar;
- President of El Salvador: Nayib Bukele.
Appointments
Facebook names Spoorthi Priya as grievance officer for India
Facebook has named Spoorthi Priya as its grievance officer for India, the company said on its website. This move comes close on the heels of the new Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, coming into force last month.
According to the new government guidelines, social media companies with over 50 lakh users have to appoint a grievance officer, nodal officer and a chief compliance officer. All three personnel will have to be residents of India.
Facebook-owned messaging platform WhatsApp appointed Paresh B Lal as the grievance officer a few days ago.
WhatsApp, Facebook, and Google had shared information on their compliance officer, resident grievance officer, and nodal contact person with the government on May 29. Two days after the new IT rules kicked into action.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- Chief Executive Officer of Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg.
- Facebook Headquarters: California, US.
RBI approves re-appointment of GC Chaturvedi as part-time Chairman of ICICI Bank
Private lender, ICICI Bank, has received RBI’s approval for the re-appointment of Girish Chandra Chaturvedi as the part-time Chairman of the Bank.
He will be the part-time chairman of ICICI Bank for a 3-years tenure starting July 01, 2021, on extant terms and conditions.
Last year, the bank’s shareholders approved the re-appointment of Chaturvedi as non-executive (part-time) Chairman of the Bank effective from July 1, 2021.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- ICICI Bank Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- ICICI Bank MD & CEO: Sandeep Bakhshi.
- ICICI Bank Tagline: Hum Hai Na, Khayal Apka.
Centre extends LIC Chairman M R Kumar’s term till March 2022
The appointments committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the extension of the tenure of MR Kumar as the Chairman of state-owned insurance company Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC).
Now under the extended term, Mr. Kumar will serve on the post till March 13, 2022. Earlier his term as LIC chairman was supposed to end on June 30, 2021.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- LIC Headquarters: Mumbai;
- LIC Founded: 1 September 1956.
Mahesh Kumar Jain gets two-year extension as RBI Deputy Governor
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the re-appointment of Mahesh Kumar Jain as the Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for two more years with effect from June 22, 2021.
The three-year term of MK Jain as RBI Deputy Governor was to end on June 21, 2021. Currently, Michael Patra, M Rajeshwar Rao, and Rabi Sankar are the other three serving RBI Deputy Governors.
Ferrari appoints Benedetto Vigna as new company CEO
Ferrari has named Benedetto Vigna as its new company CEO, taking over from interim chief John Elkann.
Vigna currently serves as the president of STMicroelectronics’ Analog, MEMS, and Sensor Group, and is a member of the company’s executive committee. Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian luxury sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- Ferrari Founder: Enzo Ferrari;
- Ferrari Founded: 1947, Maranello, Italy;
- Ferrari Headquarters: Maranello, Italy.
Debbie Hewitt appointed Football Association’s first chairwoman
England’s Football Association named corporate executive and former RAC chief, Debbie Hewitt as its first woman chair, ending months of speculation over Greg Clarke’s successor following his exit over inappropriate remarks.
The FA, which was formed in 1863 and has been working to become more inclusive, launched its ‘Pursuit of Progress’ initiative in 2018. FA is the governing body of football located in England.
K Nagaraj Naidu named to lead UN bureaucracy for a year
Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, K Nagaraj Naidu was named chef de cabinet by the incoming UN general assembly president, Maldivian foreign minister Abdulla Shahid.
He was appointed for the duration of one-year tenure to lead the world body through its return to normalcy as countries strive to bring the pandemic under control.
Naidu is India’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, and he will be on loan from the Indian government to the United Nations for a position that is comparable to the Indian prime minister’s principal secretary, who oversees the cabinet bureaucracy; also something like the chief of staff to the US president.
Thales appoints Ashish Saraf as Vice-President and Country Director for India
French defense and aerospace group, Thales announced the appointment of Ashish Saraf as Vice-President and Country Director for India with effect from June 1, 2021. He succeeds Emmanuel de Roquefeuil who takes up a new role as the VP and head for Thales in the Middle East.
He will lead the company’s India business and will be responsible for its strategic growth in the country across all of its markets, further strengthening local teams, collaborations and innovation.
Prior to joining Thales, Saraf served as the president and head of the region for Airbus Helicopters – India and South Asia where he led Airbus’ Helicopters’ sales, services, training, innovation, industrial partnerships, and government relations functions across the civil, and military markets in the region. Thales group builds electrical systems &provides services for aerospace, defense, etc.
Economy
ICRA projects GDP growth of India at 8.5% in FY 2022
The domestic credit rating agency ICRA has projected the gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of India for the financial year 2021-22 to 8.5 per cent year-on-year.
It expects the gross value added (GVA) at basic prices (at constant 2011-12 prices) to grow at 7.3 per cent in FY2022. ICRA is Gurgaon based credit rating agency, owned by Moody’s Corporation.
Defence
Indo-Thai CORPAT Begins in Andaman Sea
The 31st edition of the India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) kicked off on June 09, 2021, in the Andaman Sea.
The three-day coordinated patrol between the Indian Navy and the Royal Thai Navy is being conducted from 09 to 11 June 2021.
From the Indian side, an indigenously built Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Saryu, is participating and from Thailand Navy, HTMS Krabi is participating in CORPAT, along with Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both navies.
The CORPAT exercise is being conducted between the two navies bi-annually since 2005, along their International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).
CORPAT builds up understanding and interoperability between navies and develops measures to prevent and suppress unlawful activities like Illegal Unreported Unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug trafficking, maritime terrorism, armed robbery and piracy.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- Thailand Capital: Bangkok;
- Thailand Currency: Thai baht.
Ranks and Reports
QS World University Rankings 2022 released
The London-based Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) has released the QS World University Rankings 2022 which compares and ranks Universities from across the globe on various parameters.
Eight Indian universities have found a place among the best 400 global universities in the QS World University Rankings 2022, released on June 09, 2021.
However, only three Universities namely the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, IIT-Delhi, and IISc Bangalore feature among the top 200.
Top Indian University
- IIT-Bombay is ranked as the best University in India with a rank of 177. It is followed by IIT-Delhi (185) and IISc (I86).
- The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has also been adjudged as “world’s top research university, achieving a perfect score of 100/100 for Citations Per Faculty (CPF) indicator, which measures research impact.
- This is the first time that any Indian institute has scored a perfect 100 in research or any other parameter.
Top University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has topped the ranking for the 10th year in a row.
- MIT is followed by the University of Oxford in the second position. Stanford University and the University of Cambridge shared the third spot.
United States Tops Bitcoin Investment Gains in 2020
The US traders have benefited the most in Bitcoin Investment Gain in 2020, with a profit of $4.1 billion, according to the latest report by Chainalysis, a blockchain analysis company based in Manhattan, New York. Chinese traders stood second, with a profit of $1.1 billion.
India has been ranked at 18th spot with a profit of $241 million, among the top 25 countries, in Bitcoin investment gains 2020.
Auckland tops Global Liveability Index 2021
New Zealand and Australian cities dominated the Global Liveability Index 2021 published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
Auckland has been ranked the best on liveability rankings due to the ability of New Zealand city to contain Covid-19 faster.
Japanese cities of Osaka and Tokyo grabbed second and fourth place and Adelaide, Australia spot 3rd place on EIU’s Global Liveability Index 2021. living conditions remained worst in the Syrian capital Damascus.
Business News
BharatPe acquires loyalty platform PAYBACK India
Merchant payments and financial services provider, BharatPe has acquired a multi-brand loyalty platform, PAYBACK India, to help its 6 million offline merchants roll out rewards and loyalty programs for customers.
The acquisition is expected to give an exit to American Express and ICICI Investments Strategic Fund, which hold 90% and 10% stake respectively in the entity.
PAYBACK India will continue to function independently, after the acquisition. The deal is expected to be worth $30 million, an individual aware of the discussions told Mint on condition of anonymity.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- Chief Executive Officer of BharatPe: Ashneer Grover;
- Headoffice of BharatPe: New De
Awards News
Zimbabwean novelist Tsitsi Dangarembga wins PEN Pinter prize 2021
Tsitsi Dangarembga, the Booker-shortlisted Zimbabwean writer who was arrested last year in Harare while protesting against corruption, has been awarded the PEN Pinter prize, praised for her “ability to capture and communicate vital truths even amidst times of upheaval”.
Dangarembga was also shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize for her work, This Mournable Body.
Established in 2009, PEN Pinter prize is given in memory of Nobel-laureate playwright Harold Pinter.
The annual award is given to an author who, the website specifies, must have “a significant body of plays, poetry, essays, or fiction of outstanding literary merit, written in English.”
India’s Tillotama Shome wins Best Actor award at UK Asian Film Festival
Indian actress Tillotama Shome has made the country proud by winning the Best Actor award at the 2021 UK Asian Film Festival (UKAFF). Tillotama won the award for her role in the film Raahgir: The Wayfarers.
The film has been directed by Goutam Ghose. The UK Asian Film Festival (UKAFF) 2021 was the 23rd edition of the annual event. Apart from Tillotama, filmmaker Goutam Ghose has also won the Best Director award at the UKAFF.
The film Raahgir: The Wayfarers, stars Adil Hussain (Lakhua), Tillotama Shome (Nathuni) and Neeraj Kabi (Chopatlal). It is a story of three strangers, living on a daily wage basis, who cross each other’s path accidentally on a journey and develop a strong bond.
RS Sodhi conferred with Asia Pacific Productivity Champion award
The Managing Director of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (Amul), R.S. Sodhi, was conferred with the regional award as Asia Pacific Productivity Champion from Asian Productivity Organization (APO), Tokyo, Japan in recognition of enhanced productivity and efficient milk supply chain.
He is the first Indian to have received the prestigious award, in the last 20 years. The award is conferred to eligible individuals who have significantly contributed to advancing the productivity movement in the Asia-Pacific region and those in a specific member economy of the APO.
The APO regional awards are conferred every five years and each country can nominate only one candidate out of all nominations. Every five years only five regional nominees receive the award. Sodhi received the award on behalf of 3.6 million dairy farmers.
Sports News
Sunil Chhetri surpasses Argentina’s Lionel Messi
Sunil Chhetri surpasses Argentina’s Lionel Messi and he has become the second-highest active international goal-scorer with 74 strikes.
He made this record in a joint preliminary qualifying round match for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup. He is currently behind Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (103) in the active international goal-scorer list.
Chhetri also helped India register its rst win in six years in World Cup qualiers. Chhetri is just a goal away from entering world football’s all-time top-10. Sunil Chhetri is an Indian professional footballer. He is popularly known as Captain Fantastic.
Chris Broad to be match referee for World Test Championship final
ICC Elite Panel match referee, Chris Broad will oversee the World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and New Zealand, scheduled to commence at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton from June 18.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the officials for the match. ICC Elite Panel’s Richard Illingworth and Michael Gough will be the on-field umpires.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- Chairman of ICC: Greg Barclay.
- CEO of ICC: Manu Sawhney.
- Headquarters of ICC: Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Sehwag launches cricket coaching website ‘Cricuru’
Indian star cricketer Virender Sehwag has launched an experiential learning portal for Cricket coaching named CRICURU.
CRICURU is India’s first AI-enabled coaching website, to offer a personalised learning experience for the younger players. The website can be accessed at www.cricuru.com
The curriculum for each player has been developed personally by Virender Sehwag along with former Indian Player and Batting Coach of the Indian Cricket team Sanjay Bangar (2015-19).
Young players will be able to learn to play cricket through master classes by 30 player-coaches from across the globe like AB de Villiers, Brett Lee, Brian Lara, Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Harbhajan Singh, Jonty Rhodes, who will share their experience and learning with users.
BharatPe becomes ICC’s official partner till 2023
Lending and digital payments startup, BharatPe has announced that it has inked a three-year-long deal to become an official partner with International Cricket Council (ICC).
As per the agreement, BharatPe will promote the association across broadcast and digital platforms, as well as execute in-venue brand activations at all the ICC events until 2023.
The key tournaments include the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (Southampton, UK 2021), Men’s T20 World Cup (India, 2021), Men’s T20 World Cup (Australia, 2022), Women’s World Cup (New Zealand, 2022), U19 Cricket World Cup (West Indies, 2022), Women’s T20 World Cup (South Africa, 2022), Men’s Cricket World Cup (India, 2023) and World Test Championship (2023).
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- Chief Executive Officer of BharatPe: Ashneer Grover;
- Headoffice of BharatPe: New Delhi;
- BharatPe Founded: 2018.
- Daily Current Affairs in English 11 Sep 2022 – Useful for all Competitive Exams
- Hindu Editorial with Vocabulary: Sep Month – Day 10
- 11 Sep 2022 Daily Current Affairs in Hindi – सभी प्रतियोगी परीक्षाओं के लिए महत्वपूर्ण
- 10 Sep 2022 Daily Current Affairs in Hindi – सभी प्रतियोगी परीक्षाओं के लिए महत्वपूर्ण
- Hindu Editorial with Vocabulary: Sep Month – Day 9
- Daily Current Affairs in English 10 Sep 2022 – Useful for all Competitive Exams
