National News
1. CBIC launches flagship programme "Turant Customs"
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has launched its flagship programme "Turant Customs". Turant Customs is a mega reform for the ease of doing business. The programme has been launched at Bengaluru and Chennai to take a leap forward to take advantage of the technology for faster Customs clearance of imported goods.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Chairman of Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs: M. Ajit Kumar.
2. Tech Mahindra signs UN Global Compact Initiative to curtail emissions
Tech Mahindra has signed a joint declaration with UN Global Compact and hence joined 155 global companies in calling for policies to build resilience against future shocks by supporting the activities targeted to hold global temperature rise to within 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, in order to reach net-zero emissions before 2050. Tech Mahindra seeks to reduce carbon footprint and emissions by moving towards a zero-carbon resilient economy. It will achieve its objective with the use of new-age technologies such as internet of things, artificial intelligence and blockchain.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Tech Mahindra: CP Gurnani.
- Executive Director of the United Nations Global Compact: Lise Kingo.
3. Union Minister Jitendra Singh launches "COVID BEEP" app for COVID-19
Union Minister Jitendra Singh has launched ‘COVID BEEP’ app, India's 1st indigenous wireless physiological parameters monitoring system facilitated for COVID-19 affected patients. "COVID BEEP" stands for Continuous Oxygenation & Vital Information Detection Biomed ECIL ESIC Pod. ‘COVID BEEP’ has developed by Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) medical college, Hyderabad in collaboration with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad and the Department of Atomic Energy.
4. IAF develops rescue pod "ARPIT" for evacuation
Indian Air Force has indigenously designed, developed and manufactured an Airborne Rescue Pod for Isolated Transportation (ARPIT). This pod will help for the evacuation of critical patients with infectious diseases including COVID-19 from high altitude area, isolated and remote areas. The system has been formed as a lightweight isolation system made from aviation certified material.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Air Chief Marshal: Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria.
- Indian Airforce founded: 8 October 1932.
- Indian Airforce Headquarters: New Delhi.
International News
5. New Zealand declares itself free from "Coronavirus"
The Health Ministry of South-Pacific nation, New Zealand has declared that the nation has become free from "Coronavirus". The announcement was made when the last person who was being monitored for coronavirus was released from isolation and regarded as recovered. Hence, New Zealand has announced to lift all the coronavirus measures that were implemented in the country and move to national alert level 1 from midnight on 9 June 2020.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Prime Minister of New Zealand: Jacinda Ardern.
- Capital of New Zealand: Wellington.
State in News
6. Manipur CM N. Biren Singh inaugurates "Plant Health Clinic"
Chief Minister of Manipur N. Biren Singh has inaugurated "Plant Health Clinic" at the Directorate of Horticulture and Soil Conservation, Imphal. The aim to open the clinic is to boost the economic growth of Manipur through agriculture and horticulture. Along with the clinic, the Chief Minister also launched a mobile soil testing laboratory van.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Governor of Manipur: Najma Heptulla.
- Keibul Lamjao National Park is a beautiful place, located in the Bishnupur district of the state of Manipur. The only floating park in the world, located in North East India, and an integral part of Loktak Lake.
7. Andhra Pradesh launches online waste exchange website "APEMC"
Online waste exchange website of Andhra Pradesh Environment Management Corporation (APEMC) has been launched by the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. The website was launched on the occasion of World Environment Day. Andhra Pradesh has become India's first state to launch waste exchange website. Through this platform, state government seeks to protect environment by covering 100% safe disposal of toxic waste, proper tracking, scrutiny as well as audit of waste.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh: YS Jagan Mohan Reddy; Governor: Biswa Bhusan Harichandan.
8. Rajasthan Goverment launches "Raj Kaushal Portal"
"Raj Kaushal Portal" and "Online Shramik Employment Exchange" has been launched by the Rajasthan Goverment. The portal has been developed by the department of Information and Technology (IT) and Rajasthan Skill & Livelihoods Development Corporation (RSLDC). The "Raj Kaushal Portal" aims to improve availability of opportunities for the migrated workers and hence acts as a bridge between industry and labourers.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Chief Minister of Rajasthan: Ashok Gehlot; Governor: Kalraj Mishra.
9. "Gairsain" becomes summer capital of Uttarakhand
Gairsain in Chamoli district has been formally declared as the summer capital of Uttarakhand. The announcement was made after the assent from the governor Baby Rani Maurya was received in order to declare Gairsain the summer capital of Uttarakhand. Also, the declaration of a summer capital in the region is expected to expedite the development of the hilly areas.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Chief Minister of Uttarakhand: Trivendra Singh Rawat; Governor: Baby Rani Maurya.
10. Odisha cabinet gives state anthem status to “Bande Utkala Janani”
The state cabinet of Odisha has adopted "Bande Utklala Janani" or Glory to mother Utkala as the anthem of Odisha through video-conferencing. The anthem has been written by Kantakabi Laxmikanta Mohapatra in 1912.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Chief Minister of Odisha: Naveen Patnaik; Governor: Ganeshi Lal.
11. MP launches urban street vendor welfare programme
Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan has started Street Vendor Registration Portal http://www.mpurban.gov.in/ and "Mukhyamantri Shahri Path Vyavsayi Utthan Yojana" and transferred Rs 300 crore to urban local bodies.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Governor of Madhya Pradesh: Lal Ji Tandon.
- Bandhavgarh National Park is in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. This biodiverse park is known for its large population of royal Bengal tigers, especially in the central Tala zone.
Science and Technology
12. 'Coro-bot' to reduce physical contact with COVID-19 patients
A robot named as 'Coro-bot' has been developed by an engineer from Thane district of Maharashtra, in order to reduce the physical contact of care-givers with COVID-19 patients. Instrumentation Engineer, Pratik Tirodkar developed the 'Coro-bot' to cut away the requirement of physical contact of nurses and ward boys with the patient as they confronts a great risk while working in the COVID-19 hospitals. The robot 'Coro-bot' will be operated by a special app from any location in the world based on the idea of Internet of Things (IoT).
Awards News
13. Javed Akhtar becomes 1st Indian to receive Richard Dawkins Award
Poet, lyricist and writer Javed Akhtar has honoured with the prestigious Richard Dawkins Award for 2020. He became the 1st Indian to be given the honour for critical thinking, holding religious dogma up to scrutiny, advancing human progress and humanist values. The award recognises a distinguished individual from the field of science, scholarship, education, or entertainment, who publicly proclaims the values of secularism and rationalism and upholding scientific truth.
14. Kiran M. Shaw named EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2020
Executive Chairperson of Biocon Ltd, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has been named EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2020. She was picked from among 46 award winners from 41 countries and territories vying for the world title. She is the first woman entrepreneur from India and the third Indian to win the title in the award’s 20-year history.
Miscellaneous
15. IIFL Finance signs Rohit Sharma as brand ambassador
India's Non-Banking Finance Companies, India Infoline Finance Limited (IIFL) has signed Rohit Sharma as its first-ever brand ambassador. The company has launched 30-second message titled “Rohit Sharma Ki Seedhi Baat”, under its first-ever campaign #SeedhiBaat with Rohit Sharma, which is a public service message advising people on safety guidelines and rules to follow during lockdown to fight Covid-19 outbreak.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Chairman & Independent Director of IIFL: S. Sridhar.
- Headquarters of IIFL: Mumbai, Maharashtra.
