National News
1. Five-year vision plan EQUIP finalised and released by HRD Ministry
i. The Department of Higher Education of HRD Ministry has finalized and released a five year vision plan named Education Quality Upgradation and Inclusion Programme.
ii. The Expert Groups have set the following goals for higher education sector:
Double the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education and resolve the geographically and socially skewed access o higher education institutions in India.
Upgrade the quality of education to global standards.
Position at least 50 Indian institutions among the top 1000 global universities.
Introduce governance reforms in higher education for well-administered campuses.
Accreditation of all institutions as an assurance of quality.
Promote Research & Innovation ecosystems for positioning India in the Top-3 countries in the world in matters of knowledge creation.
Double the employability of the students passing out of higher education.
Harness education technology for expanding the reach and improving pedagogy.
Promote India as a global study destination.
Achieve a quantum increase in investment in higher education.
Static/Current Takeaways Important For ESIC/EPFO Mains:
Union Minister of HRD Ministry of India: Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank'.
2. Govt cuts interest rate on small savings schemes
i. The GoI has reduced interest rates for small savings schemes by 10 basis points for the July-September quarter of the 2019-20 financial year.
ii. Some schemes that will fetch lower interest rates are Kisan Vikas Patra (7.6%), Public Provident Fund (7.9%), Sukanya Samriddhi Account (8.4%).
3. Haryana CM announces annual health assistance to 'loktantra senanis'
i. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced an annual financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to "loktantra senanis" or their spouse.
ii. Under this, they will be provided treatment at private or government hospitals. The term "emergency victim" on their identity cards would be replaced with "loktantra senani".
iii. "Loktantra senanis" are those people who were imprisoned during the 1975-77 Emergency under preventive detention laws.
Static/Current Takeaways Important For ESIC/EPFO Mains:
Haryana Capital: Chandigarh, Chief Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar.
Governor: Satyadev Narayan Arya.
Banking/Economy News
4. RBI allows ARCs to buy financial assets from peers
i. The Reserve Bank of India has allowed Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs) to buy financial assets from other ARCs. The transactions must be settled in cash between the 2 enitities.
ii. In view of amendment to the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Securities Interest Act, 2002, it has been decided to permit ARCs to acquire financial assets from other ARCs.
Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/IBPS RRB Mains:
RBI 25th Governor: Shaktikant Das, Headquarters: Mumbai
Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata.
5. RBI relaxes leverage ratio for banks
i. The Reserve Bank relaxed the leverage ratio (LR) to 4% for Domestic Systemically Important Banks (DSIBs) and 3.5% for other banks. This has been done to help them boost their lending activities.
ii. The reduced leverage ratio will be effective from the quarter commencing October 1, 2019.
iii. The leverage ratio, as defined under Basel-III norms, is Tier-I capital as a percentage of the bank's exposures.
Static/Current Takeaways Important For ESIC/EPFO Mains:
RBI 25th Governor: Shaktikant Das, Headquarters: Mumbai, Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata.
Agreements
6. India signs USD 400M loan agreement with World Bank
i. India has signed a loan agreement worth 400 million dollar with the World Bank to help treat and eliminate Tuberculosis from the country.
ii. The World Bank supported program will cover nine States and it will support the government's National Strategic Plan to end TB in India by 2025.
iii. Under the program, GoI provide Direct Benefit Transfers to patients for acquiring the critical nutrition needed during treatment.
Static/Current Takeaways Important For SBI PO/Clerk Mains:
World Bank Headquarters: Washington DC, USA; Established: 1944.
President: David Malpass.
7. First Resilient Kerala Program
i. The GoI, the Government of Kerala and the World Bank have signed the Loan Agreement of USD 250 million for the First Resilient Kerala Program.
ii. The program will focus on strengthening the state's institutional and financial capacity to protect the assets and livelihoods of poor and vulnerable groups.
iii. The New Program is part of ‘Rebuild Kerala Development Programme’ aimed at building a green and resilient Kerala.
Static/Current Takeaways Important For RRB NTPC/IBPS RRB Mains:
Kerala CM: Pinarayi Vijayan, Governor: P. Sathasivam.
Awards
8. IIT Kanpur honours Gopichand with honorary doctorate
i. IIT Kanpur honours India's chief national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand with honorary doctorate on the occasion of their 52nd convocation.
ii. Former President APJ Abdul Kalam and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh are past recipients of the honour.
Appointments
9. FIEO elects Sharad Kumar Saraf as new president
i. Exporters body Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) has elected Sharad Kumar Saraf as its new president.
ii. Sharad Kumar Saraf will replace renowned exporter Ganesh Kumar Gupta.
Important days
10. International Day of the Tropics : 29 June
i. The United Nations observe 29 June as International Day of the Tropics.
ii. The International Day of the Tropics celebrates the extraordinary diversity of the tropics while highlighting unique challenges and opportunities the Tropical nations face.
Static/Current Takeaways Important For LIC AAO/ADO Mains:
United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA. It was founded on 24 October 1945. Mr Antonio Guterres of Portugal is the Secretary General of the United Nations.
11. Statistics Day: 29 June
i. The GoI celebrates the Statistics Day to popularize the use of Statistics in everyday life and sensitize the public as to how Statistics helps in shaping and framing policies.
ii. The day is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Prof. P C Mahalanobis, on 29th June.
iii. Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation (MoSPI) announced that it will institute the Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis National Award in Official Statistics to recognise and honour the work of Official Statisticians working in the Central Government, State Governments and their Institutions.
iv. Theme of Statistics Day for year 2019: Sustainable Development Goals.
Static/Current Takeaways Important For LIC AAO/ADO Mains:
Minister of State (Independent Charge) of MoSPI: Rao Inderjit Singh.
Obituaries
12. Malayalam director Babu Narayanan passes away
i. Malayalam director Babu Narayanan passes away. He directed several Malayalam hits such as ‘Kudumba Vishesham’ and ‘Welcome to Kodaikanal’.
ii. Babu Narayanan was also part of the Anil-Babu duo that made several box office hits like Sthreedhanam, Pattabhishekam.
13. Writer Abburi Chaya Devi passes away
i. Telugu story writer and the Sahitya Akademi award winner Abburi Chaya Devi passes away.
ii. Some of her popular stories are Bonsai Bathuku, Prayanam Sukhantam, Akhariki Aidu Nakshatralu, and Wood Rose.
