Important Days
World Oceans Day: 8 June
World Ocean Day is observed globally on 8th June every year. This day is observed to raise global awareness about the importance of the ocean in our lives and the ways through which we can protect it.
The purpose of the Day is to tell the general public of the impact of human actions on the ocean, develop a worldwide movement of citizens for the ocean, and mobilize and unite the world’s population on a project for the sustainable management of the world’s oceans.
“The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods” is the theme for World Oceans Day 2021, as well as a declaration of intentions that launches a decade of challenges to get the Sustainable Development Goal 14, “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources”, by 2030.
National
Assam govt names Raimona reserve forest sixth national park
Raimona in Kokrajhar district has become Assam’s sixth national park. The 422 sq ft wildlife habitat in Kokrajhar district adjoins the western-most buffer to Manas Tiger Reserve.
The five national parks that existed prior to the 422 sq. km Raimona are Kaziranga, Manas, Nameri, Orang and Dibru-Saikhowa.
The Pekua river defines Raimona’s southern boundary. Raimona is an integral part of the 2,837 sq. km Manas Biosphere Reserve and the Chirang-Ripu Elephant Reserve.
Such secured transboundary ecological landscape will ensure the long-term conservation of endemic species like the golden langur, the mascot of Bodoland Territorial Council, and endangered species such as the Asian elephant, the Bengal tiger, and varied other flora and faunal species it support
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- Assam Governor: Jagdish Mukhi;
- Assam Chief Minister: Himanta Biswa Sarma.
International
United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration: 2021-2030
The United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration has been officially launched, which will run from 2021 to 2030.
United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration will be co-led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO). It was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in a 2019 resolution.
Protection and revival of millions of hectares of ecosystems all around the world for the benefit of people and nature. This in turn will contribute to the achievement of all the Sustainable Development Goals.
A Multi-Partner Trust Fund has also been launched for the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Germany is the first country to provide funding of Euro 14 million towards this fund.
In order to support the launch of the UN Decade, a report has also been released which defines the need of having such a global restoration effort.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA.
- Mr Antonio Guterres is the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Maldivian minister Abdullah Shahid elected President of 76th UNGA
Maldivian foreign minister, Abdullah Shahid was elected President of the 76th United Nations General Assembly (PGA) with an overwhelming majority. He garnered 143 votes in favor with 48 against – that gave him victory by a three-fourths majority.
The post of the UN General Assembly President rotated annually among regional groupings. The 76th session (2021-22) is the turn of the Asia-Pacific group and this is the first time Maldives will be occupying the office of the PGA.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- President of the Maldives: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
- Capital of Maldives: Male; Currency of the Maldives: Maldivian Rufiyaa.
Appointments
Sanjeev Sahai to be new chairman of oil regulator PNGRB
Senior administrator and former power secretary, Sanjeev Nandan Sahai is set to take over as next chairman of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB). A search committee headed by V K Saraswat, Member (S&T), NITI Aayog, cleared the name of Sahai. Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board is a statutory body in India.
Sanjiv Nandan Sahai is a 1986 batch IAS officer of the Arunachal Pradesh-Goa- Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre.
He took over as Secretary in the Ministry of Power in 2019. He has also held several positions in the bureaucracy throughout his career, including five years as the Prime Minister.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board HQ: New Delhi.
Hitendra Dave appointed as HSBC India CEO
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd. (HSBC) announced the appointment of Hitendra Dave as Chief Executive Officer of HSBC India subject to receipt of regulatory approval.
He has been appointed as interim Chief Executive Officer effective June 7, 2021. Dave succeeds Surendra Rosha who will be moving to Hong Kong as the co-chief executive of HSBC Asia-Pacific.
Dave, who is formerly the head of global banking & markets of HSBC India, has almost 30 years of work experience in the Indian Financial Markets, of which the last 20 have been with HSBC.
He joined HSBC India in 2001 in the Global Markets business and has risen through the ranks to his current role as head of global banking & markets business, the dominant contributor to HSBC India’s PBT over the years.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- HSBC CEO: Noel Quinn.
- HSBC Headquarters: London, United Kingdom.
- HSBC Founder: Thomas Sutherland.
- HSBC Founded: 3 March 1865, Hong Kong.
Banking
RBI imposes penalty on BoI, PNB totalling Rs 6 crore
The RBI has imposed a penalty aggregating to Rs 6 crores on Bank of India and Punjab National Bank for contravention of norms, including one related to “Frauds – Classification and Reporting”.
A penalty of Rs 4 crores has been imposed on the Bank of India and Rs 2 crores on Punjab National Bank.
The bank had also conducted a review and submitted a Fraud Monitoring Report (FMR) dated January 1, 2019, pertaining to the detection of fraud in an account. In both cases, notices were issued to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on them for such violations of the directions.
NITI Aayog recommends privatization of Central Bank, Indian Overseas Bank
NITI Aayog has recommended divesting government stake in the Central Bank of India and Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) as part of the privatization initiative announced in the Union Budget.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her Budget speech, had announced privatising two public sector banks (PSBs) and one general insurance company in 2021-22.
As per the new PSE (Public Sector Enterprise) policy for ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, NITI Aayog is entrusted with the task to suggest names of PSUs in strategic sectors to be merged, privatized, or made subsidiaries of other PSUs.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- NITI Aayog Formed: 1 January 2015.
- NITI Aayog Headquarters: New Delhi.
- NITI Aayog Chairperson: Narendra Modi.
Business
NTPC Ltd. Joins UN’s CEO Water Mandate for Water Conservation
India’s largest power utility, NTPC Ltd, under the Ministry of Power, has become a signatory to the prestigious UN Global Compact’s CEO Water Mandate, which focuses on efficient water management.
The initiative also provides a platform for companies to partner with like-minded businesses, UN agencies, public authorities, civil society organizations, and other key stakeholders.
The CEO Water Mandate is an initiative by the UN Global Compact, designed to assist companies in the development, implementation, and disclosure of comprehensive water strategies and policies, to better their water and sanitation agendas as part of long-term Sustainable Development Goals.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- NTPC Chairman and Managing Director: Shri Gurdeep Singh;
- NTPC Founded: 1975.
- NTPC Headquarters: New Delhi, India.
World Bank approves $500 mn program to help boost India’s MSME sector
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a USD 500 million programs to support India’s nationwide initiative to revitalize the MSME sector, which has been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.
The MSME sector is the backbone of India’s economy, contributing 30% of India’s GDP and 4% of exports.
The USD 500 million Raising and Accelerating Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Performance (RAMP) Program is the World Bank’s second intervention in this sector, the first being the USD 750 million MSME Emergency Response Program, approved in July 2020 to address the immediate liquidity and credit needs of millions of viable MSMEs severely impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Ranks and Reports
THE Asia University Rankings 2021 released
Times Higher Education Asia university rankings 2021, three Indian universities secured positions in the top 100 list. IISc Bangalore, IIT Ropar and IIT Indore have secured ranks among the top 100 universities in Asia. Like last year, not a single Indian varsity made it to the elite top 10. IISc Bangalore ranked at 37th position.
IIT Ropar is placed at 55th rank and IIT Indore at 78th rank among the top 100 universities.
Tsinghua University, China has gained the first position in the Asia university rankings 2021. The second place is also secured by China’s Peking University. The third and fifth ranks have been secured by Singapore varsities. Whereas, the University of Hong Kong is at fourth rank.
Punjab tops performance grading index in school education
Punjab, which has improved its showing from the 13th position it attained in 2018-19, topped the charts this time among all the states and union territories with a score of 929 out of 1,000, followed by Chandigarh (912) and Tamil Nadu (906).
The performance grading index ranks the states on a set of 70 parameters relating to learning outcomes and quality, access, infrastructure and facilities, equity, and governance processes to catalyze transformational change in the field of school education.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- Punjab CM: Captain Amarinder Singh.
- Punjab Governor: V.P.Singh Badnore.
Defence News
US to hand over three MH-60 ‘Romeo’ multi-role choppers to India
The Indian Navy is set to receive its first set of multi-role helicopters as America is set to hand over three MH-60 Romeo helicopters to the force in the United States in July. The first batch of Indian pilots has also reached the US for training on the helicopters which would be arriving in India next year in July.
India and the US had signed over-Rs 16,000 crore deal to buy 24 MH-60 Romeo helicopters from Lockheed Martin in 2020 under fast track procedures on a government-to-government deal to hasten the process.
The 24 MH-60 Romeos would be equipped with multi-mode radars and night-vision devices as well as armed with Hellfire missiles, torpedoes and precision-guided weaponry.
The helicopters are designed to operate from frigates, destroyers, cruisers and aircraft carriers.
The choppers are designed for hunting submarines as well as knocking out ships and conducting search-and-rescue operations at sea.
India and the US are also working on finalizing a deal for buying 30 Predator drones to enhance the strike capabilities of the three defense forces.
Awards
Arunachal Pradesh’s Water Burial bags best film National Award
Arunachal Pradesh’s Water Burial has bagged the best film National Award on environment conservation at 67th National Films Awards 2021.
The film, which is directed by independent filmmaker Shantanu Sen.Water Burial is produced by AM Television.
Inspired by the popular Assamese novel Saba Kota Manuh, which is written by Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi, Water Burial is in Monpa dialect and has an intriguing storyline around a dark ritual of a local tribe in Arunachal Pradesh.
Sports
Oman to host inaugural FIH Hockey5s World Cup in 2024
Oman has been named as the host of the inaugural International Hockey Federation (FIH) Hockey5s World Cup.
The FIH said the men’s and women’s events will take place in Oman’s capital city Muscat in January 2024. The governing body said its Executive Board named Oman as host, after a recommendation from the organisation’s Events Bidding Task Force.
The FIH Executive Board announced the launch of the Hockey5s World Cup in 2019. The launch comes as Hockey 5s becomes an increasingly popular format of the sport, played on a smaller pitch and which has featured at the last two Summer Youth Olympic Games.
Useful notes for all competitive exams:
- Oman Capital: Muscat;
- Oman Currency: Omani rial.
Miscellaneous
Bengaluru international airport achieves net energy neutral status
The Kempegowda International Airport here has achieved net energy neutral status in the Financial Year 2020-21 as part of its sustainability goals.
Bengaluru international airport (BIAL) has been able to save nearly 22 lakh units of energy in the Financial Year 2020-21, enough to power nearly 9,000 houses for a month.
According to BIAL, these measures were achieved through solar installation at rooftops of utility buildings, car parks, ground-mounted solar installation at the airside, rooftops of cargo buildings and project offices.
It has also begun purchasing 40 million units of solar power through open access and wind power purchase through open access. Adoption of LED and optimal use of natural light contributed to energy-neutral status.
- 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
