National News
1. "The Urban Learning Internship Program (TULIP)" launched by Government of India
Government of India has launched "The Urban Learning Internship Program (TULIP)" to provide internship opportunities to fresh graduates in all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) as well as Smart Cities across the nation. The programme would also facilitate practical experience to the students of India and hence help in infusing fresh ideas and innovative thinking into the working of Urban Local Bodies and smart cities. This programme is an initiative of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Ministry of HRD, and Ministry of Housing and Urban Development
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs: Hardeep Singh Puri.
- Union Minister for Human Resource Development: Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank'.
- Chairman of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE): Anil D. Sahasrabudhe.
State News
2. Kerala becomes 1st state to provide free internet to poor
Kerala government has declared its ambitious broadband project "Kerala Fibre Optic Network (K-FON) project" for all the citizens below poverty line living in Kerala. They will get free high-speed Internet. Kerala will be the first state to provide free high-speed broadband to poor people. The estimated cost of project is Rs 1500 crore and it will kickstart from December 2020.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Chief Minister of Kerala: Pinarayi Vijayan.
- Governor of Kerala: Arif Mohammad Khan.
- Capital of Kerala: Thiruvananthapuram.
3. Chhattisgarh government starts “Spandan” campaign for police
Chhattisgarh Police have launched a special campaign “Spandan” to check mental stress and depression among their personnel by conducting interactive programmes and arranging counselling sessions, music and yoga therapies for them. The motive of the campaign is to prevent the force from depression and stress pushing them to take extreme steps.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh: Bhupesh Baghel; Governor: Anusuiya Uikey.
Banking News
4. RBI launches "Payments Infrastructure Development Fund"
Payments Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) has been created by the Reserve Bank of India to encourage acquirers to deploy Points of Sale (PoS) infrastructure, both physical as well as digital modes, in tier-3 to tier-6 centres and in north eastern states. In the newly launched fund, an initial contribution of Rs 250 crores will be made by the Reserve Bank of India i.e. covering half the fund, while the remaining contribution will be from card issuing banks and card networks operating in the country.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- RBI 25th Governor: Shaktikanta Das; Headquarters: Mumbai; Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata.
5. IndusInd Bank starts mobile-based current account opening facility
The IndusInd Bank has launched a mobile application based facility where customer can open the current bank account in a paperless manner in just a few hours. The app uses multiple application programme interfaces (APIs) which enable secured validation of KYC documents from authorised government platforms.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Managing Director & CEO of IndusInd Bank: Sumant Kathpalia.
- Chairman of IndusInd Bank: Arun Tiwari.
- Headquarter of IndusInd Bank: Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- The tagline of IndusInd Bank: We Make You Feel Richer.
Business News
6. CCI approves merger of Peugeot S.A & Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V.
The merger of Peugeot S.A (PSA) and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) has been approved by the Competition Commission of India (CCI). Peugeot S.A (PSA) is a publicly listed limited liability company incorporated in France. Headquartered in London, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) is a public company with limited liability and a global automotive group. PSA is an original equipment manufacturer and dealer of motor vehicles, passenger cars as well as light commercial vehicles.
Appointment News
7. Brajendra Navnit becomes India's new ambassador to WTO
India has appointed Brajendra Navnit as India's new ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO). He will be posted at the Permanent Mission of India (PMI) to the WTO in Geneva. He will replace JS Deepak at the PMI. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet also approved the appointment of Anwar Hussain Shaik for the post of Counsellor, at the PMI to WTO, Geneva.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- World Trade Organization Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
- World Trade Organization Membership: 164 member states.
- World Trade Organization Founded: 1 January 1995.
8. Rajeev Topno appointed as Senior Advisor to ED of World Bank
Senior bureaucrat Rajeev Topno has been appointed as the Senior Advisor to the Executive Director (ED) of World Bank, in Washington DC. He was presently serving as the Private Secretary to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi since 2014. He is a 1996 batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre. He has been appointed as the Senior Advisor to the Executive Director (ED) of World Bank for a period of three years.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- President of World Bank: David Malpass.
Awards & Rewards
9. Kritika Pandey wins Commonwealth Short Story Prize for Asia Region
Indian writer, Kritika Pandey has been honoured with Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2020 for the Asia region for her story "The Great Indian Tee and Snakes". The story is about a Hindu girl falling in love with a Muslim man and how these two young people are trying to navigate the idea of love in an era of hatred and prejudice. The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is awarded since 2012, for the best piece of unpublished short fiction.
Summits & Conferences
10. World Economic Forum to host Unique Twin Summit in 2021
The World Economic Forum will host a Unique Twin Summit in January, 2021 which would will be both in-person as well as virtual, hence connecting key global governmental and business leaders in Davos. The theme of the summit will be “The Great Reset”. "The Great Reset" is a joint initiative of the World Economic Forum and HRH The Prince of Wales. As a part of "The Great Reset" dailogue, the World Economic Forum’s digital platform "UpLink" will contribute by crowdsourcing innovations for the Sustainable Development Goals.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum: Klaus Schwab.
11. United Kingdom hosts virtual Global Vaccine Summit 2020
Virtual Global Vaccine Summit 2020 was hosted by the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. India was represented by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the summit. During the virtual summit, India pledged a contribution of 15 Million US Dollars to Gavi, the international vaccine alliance.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Chief Executive Officer of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance: Dr Seth Berkley.
Important Days
12. World Environment Day observed on 5th June
World Environment Day is observed globally on 5th June every year to raise awareness about protecting the environment and to remind people not to take nature granted. World Environment Day 2020 will be celebrated with the theme Biodiversity. World Environment Day is promoted by the United Nation and for 2020 Colombia will host the World Environment Day.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Union Minister of Earth Sciences: Harsh Vardhan.
Obituaries
13. Renowned lyricist Anwar Sagar passes away
Veteran lyricist and member of Indian Performing Right Society Limited (IPRS), Anwar Sagar passed away. He was remembered for his hit track Waada Raha Sanam from 1992 Akshay Kumar-starrer Khiladi. Anwar Sagar also worked with music directors like Nadeem-Shravan, Rajesh Roshan, Jatin-Lalit and Anu Malik.
Miscellaneous News
14. J&K Lt Governor launches salary tracker mobile app “MeraVetan"
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu has launched a salary tracker mobile app MeraVetan (Version-1) for government employees in order to provide Salary Related information to Employees. This application has been developed by the National Informatics Centre–J&K State Centre on the Android Platform to provide end to end computerization of JK Payment System (JKPaySys) application.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- NIC Deputy Director-General: Abhay Kumar (State Informatics Officer).
- NIC Established:1988.
- NIC Headquarters: Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir.
15. Government of India launches "Nagar Van" programme
Government of India has launched the "Nagar Van (Urban Forests)" programme with an objective of increasing the forest cover in urban areas. The programme has been launched with 200 corporations and cities across India and aims to develop 200 Urban Forests across India in next five years with the help of people’s participation and collaboration between Forest Department, Municipal bodies, NGOs, Corporates and local citizens.
