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Manpreet Singh: Captain of men’s hockey team
- Hockey India has named Manpreet Singh as captain of the 16-member Olympic-bound men’s hockey team.
- Birendra Lakra and Harmanpreet Singh were named vice-captains.
- This will be Manpreet’s third Olympics.
- Under Manpreet’s captaincy, the Indian team won the Asia Cup in 2017, the Asian Champions Trophy in 2018, and the FIH Series Final in 2019.
Gujarat announces policy for electric vehicles
- The Gujarat govt has announced the policy for electric vehicles for the next 4 years.
- The state aims to witness 2 lakh electric vehicles on the roads in the next 4 years.
- With the new policy minimum of 6 lakh tonnes of carbon emission will be reduced.
- The policy also aims to establish additional 250 charging stations which will take the total number of charging stations in the state to 528.
NCLT approves Jet Airways’ revival plan
- National Companies Law Tribunal (NCLT) has approved the Jet Airways’ revival plan submitted by a consortium of London-based Kalrock Capital and UAE-based businessman Murari Lal Jalan.
- NCLT has given 90 days to the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Aviation Ministry to allot slots to the debt-laden Jet Airways.
- Jet Airways was grounded in April 2019.
ADB approves USD 940 million for Bangladesh
- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan package of $940 million for Bangladesh for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines.
- The package consists of a concessional loan of $470 million and a regular loan of the same amount.
- The loan is part of the ADB’s USD 9 billion Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility (APVAX) launched in Dec 2020 to offer rapid and equitable vaccine-related support.
India and Fiji sign MoU
- India and Fiji have signed an MoU for cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors.
- The MoU provides for cooperation in the fields of the dairy industry, rice industry, root crop diversification, water resources management, coconut industry, etc.
- It also provides for cooperation in the fields of agricultural research, animal husbandry, pest and disease, cultivation, etc.
Canopy Severance System developed
- A Canopy Severance System has been developed ab-initio at Armament Research and Development Establishment in association with High Energy Material Research Laboratory (HEMRL).
- It is for the indigenously developed LCA Tejas and Trainer Aircraft, HJT-36 Aircraft, and HTT-40 Aircraft.
- It provides safe passage by pre-weakening/severing the canopy to facilitate the smooth escape of the pilot.
Toycathon 2021 grand finale inaugurated
- Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani and Minister of State for Education Sanjay Dhotre virtually inaugurated Toycathon 2021 grand finale on 22 June 2021.
- The Toycathon 2021 is being organized jointly by the Ministry of Education in coordination with five other Ministries.
- 1,77,049 individual teams had submitted the ideas at Toycathon 2021.
Indian ships participate in passage exercise
- Indian Naval Ships Kochi and Teg along with P8I and MiG 29K aircraft are participating in a Passage Exercise with US Navy Carrier Strike Group Ronald Reagan, on 23-24 June 2021.
- The two-day exercise aims to strengthen bilateral relationships and cooperation by demonstrating the ability to integrate and coordinate comprehensively in maritime operations.
SBM Bank introduces Step Up Credit Card
- Paisabazaar.com and SBM Bank India have launched the Step Up Credit Card.
- It is a credit-builder product designed for consumers with limited access to formal credit, due to ineligible credit scores.
- It is the first product to be launched under Paisabazaar’s neo-lending strategy.
- It will help consumers with damaged credit or those with no credit history to steadily build their Credit Score.
Minda Industries to buy 51% stake in UZ Chasys
- Minda Industries will acquire a 51 percent stake in Uzbekistan-based automotive lighting manufacture UZ Chasys for around ₹58 crores.
- The company has won the bid to acquire a 51 percent stake in UZ Chasys in Uzbekistan for a purchase consideration of 83.1 billion.
- UzChasys specializes in manufacturing automobile headlights and lamps.
Assam to raise endangered turtles by 2030
- The Assam forest department has adopted a vision document to raise at least 1,000 critically endangered black softshell turtles by 2030.
- Black softshell turtles, the rarest of India’s 28 turtle species were believed to be ‘extinct in the wild’ till recently.
- Assam forest department has signed an MoU with two NGOs, Turtle Survival Alliance India and Help Earth regarding the same.
Chile to draft a new constitution
- Chilean President Sebastian Pinera has informed that the assembly will draft a new constitution for the country, replacing the one inherited from the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.
- It will hold its first session on July 4, 2021.
- The convention will consist of 155 delegates.
- They will have up to one year to submit a draft text, which must then be put to a popular vote in a referendum.
Launch of 25 Fit India Yoga centres announced
- Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports and Minister of the Ministry of Ayush, Kiren Rijiju has announced the launch of 25 Fit India Yoga Centres.
- Fit India Mission has identified and recognized 25 Yoga Centres as ‘Fit India Yoga Centres’ across the country.
- These Yoga centres, on June 21, 2021, were presented with a Fit India Certificate officially recognizing this association.
Great Barrier Reef to be on “in danger” list
- The Great Barrier Reef should be added to a list of “in danger” World Heritage Sites, as recommended by a UN committee.
- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation committee, which sits under UNESCO, informed that the world’s biggest coral reef system should be added to the list due to the impact of climate change.
MoD signs ₹583 crore contract
- The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) for the construction of two Pollution Control Vessels (PCVs) for the Coast Guard at a cost of about ₹583 crores.
- The ships, designed, developed, and built by GSL, are scheduled for delivery by November 2024 and May 2025 respectively.
- At present, the Coast Guard has three PCVs in Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, and Porbander.
Munishwar Nath: Acting CJ of Allahabad HC
- The Centre has notified the appointment of Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari as the Acting Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court.
- Justice Bhandari, the senior-most Judge of the Allahabad High Court, will be performing the duties of the office of the Chief Justice of the High Court.
- Justice Bhandari was appointed as Judge of the High Court of Rajasthan High Court on Jul 5, 2007.
QCI launches ICMED Plus scheme
- The Quality Council of India and the Association of Indian Manufacturers of Medical Devices (AiMeD) have added further features to the ICMED.
- ICMED is the scheme that was launched for certification of medical devices in 2016.
- ICMED stands for Indian Certification of Medical Devices.
- The ICMED 13485 PLUS will undertake verification of the quality, safety, and efficacy of medical devices.
EU to lift sanctions against Burundi
- The European Union (EU) has started the process of lifting sanctions against Burundi that stops financial aid to the Burundian government.
- In March 2016, the EU suspended its direct financial support to the Burundian government following the political crisis sparked by the controversial third-term bid of then-President Pierre Nkurunziza.
Odisha has all three species of crocodiles
- Odisha has emerged as the only state to have all three species of crocodiles.
- These are freshwater Ghadials at Satakosiya in Mahanadi, muggers in Bhitar Kanika National park, and saltwater crocodiles.
- Gharials were granted full protection by law and listed in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- Gharials, being different from muggers, do not harm humans.
South Africa’s Keshav picks 1st Test hat-trick
- South African spinner Keshav Maharaj has bagged a hat-trick against West Indies to hand a 158-run win to his team in the second Test in Saint Lucia.
- He became only the second South African bowler, and the first Proteas cricketer in more than 60 years, to take a hat-trick in Test.
- The only previous South African to take a hat trick in tests was Geoff Griffin against England at Lord’s in 1960.
Laurel: 1st trans athlete at Olympics
- Laurel Hubbard has become the first openly transgender woman to individually qualify for the Olympics, even though the Games have had an inclusion policy for trans athletes since 2003.
- She lifted a net weight of 628 pounds across two lifts to qualify and will enter the Games ranked 4th among women’s weightlifters weighing more than 192 pounds.
- She is the oldest weightlifting qualifier at 43.
Ons Jabeur: 1st Arab woman to win a WTA title
- Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur made history on 20 June 2021, when she became the first Arab woman to win a WTA title.
- She beat Russian Daria Kasatkina in the final of the grasscourt event in Birmingham.
- Jabeur’s victory means she has now won 28 matches on Tour for 2021, more than any other player apart from world number one Ash Barty who also has 28.
United Nations Public Service Day: 23 June
- United Nations Public Service Day is celebrated every year on 23 June.
- It recognizes that democracy and successful governance are built on the foundation of a competent civil service.
- On December 20, 2002, the United Nations General Assembly designated June 23 of each year as United Nations Public Service Day (resolution 57/277).
Verizon appoints Vijayaraman as VP and MD
- Verizon India, the global capability center of Verizon Communications Inc., has appointed Vijayaraman Subramanian as the Vice President and Managing Director.
- Subramanian takes over this role from Kalyani Sekar who moved to the US to take on a global leadership role within the organization.
- He has been with Verizon India since its inception in 2001.
IndoSpace launches two industrial parks
- IndoSpace, Everstone Group’s industrial and logistics real estate development platform has launched two parks, Vallam II and Oragadam III in Tamil Nadu, adding 118 acres to its portfolio.
- Both the industrial parks will cater to original equipment manufacturers (OEM) such as Yamaha, Hyundai, Royal Enfield, Nissan, Daimler, and Foxconn, which operate in the region.
Toyota signs MoU with ACMA
- Toyota Kirloskar Motor has announced signing an MoU with the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA).
- As per the MoU, Toyota will impart 131 training programs focused on principles of lean manufacturing, automobile, and electrified vehicle technologies, etc.
- The company will deploy trainers who are certified by the Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC).
- Read about MOU & Agreements here!
Merger of CRWC and CWC approved
- The Union Cabinet has approved to merge and transfer of all assets, liabilities, rights, and obligations of ‘Central Railside Warehouse Company Limited (CRWC) with its holding enterprise ‘Central Warehousing Corporation’ (CWC).
- CRWC is a Mini-Ratna Category-II Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE) incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 in 2007.
Agreement between India and Saint Vincent
- The Union Cabinet has approved an agreement between the Republic of India and Saint Vincent and The Grenadines.
- It has been approved for the exchange of information and assistance in collection with respect to taxes.
- It will strengthen India’s commitment to fighting offshore tax evasion and tax avoidance practices leading to the generation of unaccounted black money.
Bharti Airtel names Amrita Padda as CPO
- Bharti Airtel has appointed Amrita Padda as Chief People Officer to lead the company’s people strategy.
- Padda will join the company from October 1, 2021, and will report to Gopal Vittal, Managing Director and CEO, Bharti Airtel.
- Most recently, she was the Chief People Officer for Unilever Marketplace, their newly set up global business unit to transform Distributive Trade.
Moody’s cuts India growth forecast to 9.6%
- Moody’s Investors Service has slashed India’s growth projection to 9.6 percent for the 2021 calendar year, from its earlier estimate of 13.9 percent.
- It has released a report titled ‘Macroeconomics – India: Economic shocks from second COVID wave will not be as severe as last year’s.
- Indian economy contracted by 7.3 percent in fiscal 2020-21.
World’s first genetically modified rubber
- The world’s first genetically modified (GM) rubber plant was planted on the outskirts of Guwahati, Assam, on 22 June 2021.
- The GM rubber plant, the first of its kind developed exclusively for the northeast, is expected to thrive in the climatic conditions of the region.
- The plant has additional copies of gene MnSOD (manganese-containing superoxide dismutase) in it.
An instrument gives results on the solar corona
- An instrument onboard India’s Chandrayaan-2 mission has provided outstanding science results on solar corona and heliophysics.
- It is known that the corona consists of ionized gas at temperatures exceeding one million Kelvin, which is much higher than the photospheric temperature of 6000 K, the visible surface temperature of the Sun.
Glenmark gets USFDA nod for inhalation product
- Drugmaker Glenmark Pharma has received approval from the US health regulator for Arformoterol Tartrate Inhalation Solution.
- It is used to treat conditions like chronic bronchitis and emphysema, in the US market.
- The approved product is a generic version of Brovana Inhalation Solution, 15 mcg/2 mL, of Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Positive Impact Rating 2021 launched
- Three Indian business schools have been ranked as pioneering B-school in the Positive Impact Rating 2021.
- This year, only four business schools globally made it to the top of the “pioneering” list, of which three are from India.
- Among the three are SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (JPJIMR), XLRI – Xavier School of Management, and Goa Institute of Management (GIM).
2nd phase of the online safety programme launched
- CyberPeace Foundation and WhatsApp have announced the launch of the second phase of its ‘Cyber Ethics and Online Safety Programme’.
- The programme will be extended to Assam, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, and aims to reach 10,000 students on important topics related to cybersecurity and online safety.
- The programme will train teachers, parents, and students using a co-created curriculum.
Delhi notifies scheme for Covid victims’ kin
- Delhi Govt has notified a scheme to provide financial assistance to the families that lost a member due to COVID-19.
- Under the Mukhyamantri COVID-19 Pariwar Aarthik Sahayata Yojana, ₹50,000 ex-gratia will be given to every family that has lost a member due to COVID-19.
- Additionally, a pension of ₹2,500 per month would be given to the families that lost the sole earner due to pandemic.
Karnataka CM announces Rs 3000 relief
- Karnataka CM has announced one-time relief of Rs 3000 to 20,713 cinema and TV artists.
- An amount of 6.23 crore rupees will be transferred to all the identified artists through the Direct Benefit transfer platform.
- The state government has announced a financial package of 2050 crore rupees to date during the second wave of the Covid pandemic.
Tap water connections for rural households
- Karnataka government will provide tap water connections to 25 lakh rural households in 2021 under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
- There are about 91.91 lakh rural households and over 28 lakh households have functional tap water connection in the state.
- The Chief Minister has directed officials to provide 25.17 lakh rural tap water connections in FY 2021-22.
Agricultural Diversification Scheme launched
- In Gujarat, CM Vijay Rupani e-launched Agricultural Diversification Scheme-2021 on 22 June 2021.
- Under this scheme, tribal farmers will get fertilizer-seed assistance of Rs. 31 crores in which 45 kg of urea, 50 kg of NPK, and 50 kg of ammonium sulfate will be provided.
- Seeds of crops like maize, Bitter Melon (karela), Calabash (dudhi), tomato, millet, etc. are provided under this scheme.
Learning Management System launched in K’taka
- Karnataka CM B S Yediyurappa launched the state Learning Management System to promote digital learning in higher education, on 23 June 2021.
- The CM also launched 2500 smart classrooms and virtually distributed table PC to 1.55 lakh students.
- This smart learning management system will cover 430 govt first-grade colleges, 87 government polytechnics, and 14 Government engineering colleges.