GK Update 1 July 2021

01 July 2021
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01st July 2021 Daily GK Update: Read Daily GK, Current Affairs for Bank Exam

Here is the Daily GK Update of 01st July 2021 covering the following news headlines: SUKOON, Mumbai Samachar, Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar, Toronto International Women’s Film Festival, Global Startup Ecosystem Index.

Daily GK updates are incorporated with the important news that made the current affairs headlines for banking or other competitive exams. Daily GK Update is the complete bag of the important news that held all day long. One should have complete knowledge about banking terms, current affairs news, etc. So, here is the GK update of 01st July 2021 to help you prepare the Current affairs part. After reading this section, you can successfully attempt Current Affairs Quiz.

Top 15 Daily GK Updates: National & International News

Here is providing below the top 15 important Daily General Knowledge GK 2021 updates with national & international news

Appointments News

1. Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari to be new IAF Vice Chief

• Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari will be the new Vice Chief of Indian Air Force succeeding Air Marshal Harjit Singh Arora.
• Air Marshal Chaudhari is currently serving as commander-in-chief of the IAF's Western Air Command (WAC) that looks after the security of the country's air space in the sensitive Ladakh sector as well as various other parts of north India. Air Marshal Arora retired from service and Air Marshal Chaudhari is likely to take charge of the new assignment.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Air Chief Marshal: Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria.
• Indian Airforce founded: 8 October 1932.
• Indian Airforce Headquarters: New Delhi.

2. Amitabh Kant gets 1-yr extension as Niti Aayog CEO

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has extended the tenure of NITI Aayog Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Amitabh Kant, by one year till June 30, 2022.
• This is for the third time that Kant’s tenure has been extended. Mr Kant was first appointed as the CEO of the federal policy think tank on February 17, 2016, for a fixed two-year term.
• The 1980 batch IAS officer was given an extension for the first time till 30 June 2019, after his tenure was to expire in February 2018. Again he was given two years extension till June 30, 2021.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• NITI Aayog Formed: 1 January 2015.
• NITI Aayog Headquarters: New Delhi.
• NITI Aayog Chairperson: Narendra Modi.

Ranks and Reports News

3. India ranked at 10th position in ITU’s Global Cybersecurity Index 2020

• India has been ranked as the 10th best country in the world in the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2020, released by International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
• The GCI 2020 is the fourth edition of the annual index and ranked 194 countries. The GCI measures the commitment of countries to cybersecurity at a global level.
• India ranked at 10th position, with 97.5 points to rank among the top ten best countries in the world.
• The United States has topped the GCI 2020.
• The United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia is tied on the second position
• Estonia was ranked third in the index.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• International Telecommunication Union Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland;
• International Telecommunication Union Founded: 17 May 1865;
• International Telecommunication Union Head: Secretary-General; Houlin Zhao.

4. India ranked 20th in Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2021

• India stands at the 20th spot among the top 100 countries that have been ranked in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2021 by Startup Blink. The country was in the 17th spot in 2019, after which it slid six spots down and stood at 23 in 2020.
• According to the report, India needs to better its infrastructure and Internet speed in order to further strengthen its start-up ecosystem.
• India currently has 43 of its cities listed in the top 1000, globally, with Bengaluru(10th), New Delhi (14th) and Mumbai (16th) in the top 20.
• Like last year, the US, the UK, Israel, Canada and Germany are in the top five spots this year too and continue their lead.

Awards News

5. 'Decoding Shankar', wins at Toronto International Women’s Film Festival

• Freelance filmmaker Deepti Pillay Sivan’s most touted documentary, "Decoding Shankar" about the life and career of the celebrated musician Shankar Mahadevan, recently won the Best Film Award in the Documentary section (Best Biographical) at the Toronto International Women Film Festival, 2021.
• The 52-minute docu-film released a few years ago is a sketch of the life of the prolific musician focusing on how he balances his career as a singer, music composer, and teacher. The film gives interesting tidbits about his family life and shares interesting moments about his passion for cooking.

6. Odia poet Rajendra Kishore Panda bags Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar

• The Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar, the national award instituted in memory of late poet laureate Kuvempu, has been awarded to renowned Odia poet Dr. Rajendra Kishore Panda for the year 2020.
• The prestigious award carries a cash award of Rs 5 lakh, a silver medal, and a citation. Founded in 1992, Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Trust instituted this national annual literary award in 2013 in the name of Kuvempu to recognize litterateurs who had contributed in any language recognized by the Constitution of India.

Sports News

7. Indian-origin American Abhimanyu Mishra becomes youngest ever chess Grandmaster

• Indian-origin American Abhimanyu Mishra has become the youngest-ever chess Grandmaster in the world. At 12 years, four months and 25 days, he obliterated the long-standing record held by Sergey Karjakin, who was 12 years and seven months old when he attained the title.
• Three years ago, India’s R Praggnanandhaa had almost surpassed him but missed the opportunity by a whisker.

Important Days

8. National Postal Worker Day: 01 July

• The National Postal Worker Day is marked every year on July 1 globally in recognition of the contribution made by postal workers in our society. The day is a unique opportunity to say ‘thank you not only to postmen but also to all delivery personnel, as online shopping has become a lifeline for many of us.
• The day was initiated by a popular postal service provider from Seattle, the United States of America in 1997 to felicitate and honour the co-postal workers for their dedication.

9. National Chartered Accountants Day: 01 July

• National Chartered Accountants Day or CA Day is celebrated on July 1 every year. This day is celebrated to commemorate the finding of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) by the parliament of India in 1949.
• Every year on the day of the establishment of the ICAI, CA Day is celebrated to honour the Chartered Accountant.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Institute of Chartered Accountants of India Headquarters: New Delhi.
• President of ICAI: CA Nihar N Jambusaria.

10. National Doctors’ Day: 01 July

• The National Doctors’ Day is organized on 01 July annually in India by the Indian Medical Association (IMA).
• The day is celebrated to honour the great physicians and help us understand the importance of doctors in our lives and value them, to offer them our respects by commemorating one of their greatest representatives.
• The day commemorates the birth anniversary of the second Chief Minister of West Bengal, Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy who was born on July 1, 1882, and died on the same date in 1962.

Obituaries News

11. Editor of ‘Sudharma’ Sanskrit Daily, K.V. Sampath Kumar Passes Away

• Editor of ‘Sudharma’ Sanskrit Daily, K.V. Sampath Kumar has passed away. He, along with his wife, was selected for the Padma Shri honour from the Government of India in 2020 for his contribution to the field of Literature & Education.
• He has also received several awards like the Siddarudha award, the Shivaratri Deshikendra Media award, the Abdul Kalam award and others.
• Sampath Kumar's father Pandit Varadaraja Iyengar had launched 'Sudharma' in 1970. Sudharma is the only Sanskrit Daily in the world, printed and published from Mysuru. 

12. Filmmaker Raj Kaushal passes away

• Filmmaker Raj Kaushal, who directed movies like “Shaadi Ka Laddoo” and “Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi”, passed away. He was married to actor-TV presenter Mandira Bedi.
• Apart from direction, Kaushal had also produced filmmaker Onir’s 2005 acclaimed drama “My Brother… Nikhil”, starring Sanjay Suri and Juhi Chawla.
• His last directorial was the 2006 thriller, “Anthony Kaun Hai?”, starring Arshad Warsi and Sanjay Dutt.

Miscellaneous News

13. India's oldest running newspaper, Mumbai Samachar, turns 200

• On July 1, India’s oldest running newspaper, Mumbai Samachar, will enter its 200th year. The Gujarati newspaper, with its office located in an iconic red building at Horniman Circle in Mumbai’s Fort area, was first published in 1822.
• It was founded by a Parsi scholar Fardoonji Murazban, who had experimented with various other publishing options before landing on this successful print run.
• Formerly called Bombay Samachar, in Gujarati, the paper has always run as Mumbai na Samachar. It started as a weekly edition, primarily covering the movement of goods across the sea and other business news, such as the sale of property, and passed through several hands until bankruptcy turned it over to the Cama family in 1933.

14. J&K Chief Secretary inaugurates helpline "Sukoon"

• J&K Chief Secretary, Arun Kumar Mehta, inaugurated SDRF first Battalion’s 24×7 mental health helpline ‘SUKOON’ at its headquarters. This initiative, launched by SDRF First Battalion Kashmir in collaboration with Mission Youth J&K and Tourism department, will guide the caller to avail services of clinical psychologists, therapists, counsellors and psychiatrists.
• ‘SUKOON’ is a mental health helpline initiative (toll-free number 1800-1807159) to offer guidance to persons (or their well-wishers) who are experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, panic attack, PTSD, adjustment disorder, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse, mental health emergency and pandemic induced psychological stress.

15. Lt Governor launches "HAUSLA- Inspiring her growth" in J&K

• Lieutenant Governor J&K, Manoj Sinha has launched the “HAUSLA- inspiring her growth”, a comprehensive programme for Catalysing Women Entrepreneurship in UT.
• The priority of the government is to reduce the gap between women and men entrepreneurs, in a systematic manner and to encourage women who are currently engaged in various professions so that they too can become a part of the ‘Hausla’ program.
• The intent of the innovative initiative is to empower Women as vital drivers of the overall development process in the UT by identifying & empowering Women Entrepreneurs as role models, providing them with markets, networks, training & continuous support and subsequently building an ecosystem to inspire other local women entrepreneurs.

All the Best BA’ians for the Bank exam!

GK Update 30 June 2021

30 June 2021
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30th June 2021 Daily GK Update: Read Daily GK, Current Affairs for Bank Exam

Here is the Daily GK Update of 30th June 2021 covering the following news headlines: 'itat e-dwar', NATRAX, European Space Agency, FATF grey list, ISSF World Cup shooting, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

National News

1. Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad launches 'itat e-dwar'

• Union Minister for Law & Justice, Communications and Electronics & IT, Ravi Shankar Prasad has formally launched the e-filing portal of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), ‘itat e-dwar’, in New Delhi.
• The newly developed e-Filing Portal would enable the parties to file their Appeals, Miscellaneous Applications, documents, paper books, etc., electronically. The portal will enable the online filing of appeals, applications and documents by various parties.
• According to Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, the launch of the e-filing portal of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), should be seen as a larger narrative of transformation the country is undergoing through the digital medium.

2. Centre inaugurates Asia's longest and world’s fifth-longest High Speed Track

• Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Prakash Javadekar has inaugurated NATRAX- the High-Speed Track(HST) in Indore which is the longest such track in Asia. NATRAX, developed in an area of 1000 acres of land, is a one-stop solution for all sorts of high-speed performance tests for the widest categories of vehicles from 2 wheelers to heavy tractor-trailers.
• Launching the world-class 11.3 km High-Speed Track, Javadekar stated that India is destined to become a hub of automobiles, manufacturing, and spare parts.
• The NATRAX centre has multiple test capabilities like measurements of maximum speed, acceleration, constant speed fuel consumption, emission tests through real road driving simulation, high-speed handling and stability evaluation during manoeuvred such as lane change, high-speed durability testing, etc. and is a Centre of excellence for Vehicle Dynamics.

3. PM Modi Launches Japanese-style Zen Garden and Kaizen Academy

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated a Zen Garden and Kaizen Academy at Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA) premises in Ahmedabad. These two new initiatives are part of PM’s vision of creating a ‘Mini-Japan’ in Gujarat.
• The newly launched Zen Garden in Ahmedabad will showcase several elements of Japanese art, culture, landscape and architecture.
• The Zen garden features a statue of Lord Buddha. The garden is built in partnership with the Japan Information and Study Centre at AMA and Indo-Japan Friendship Association (IJFA), Gujarat, supported by the Hyogo International Association (HIA), Japan.

International News

4. European Space Agency to hire first disabled astronaut

• The European Space Agency will hire and launch the world’s first physically disabled astronaut. It received 22000 applicants for this recruitment call. ESA is developing technologies for para-astronaut. It will give a message to the world that ‘Space is for everyone’.
• European Space Agency is facing tough competition from private players and other space agencies for launching commercial satellites. Amazon founder Bezos will become the first man to go into space on his own rocket in July 2021.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• European Space Agency is an intergovernmental organization of 22 member states;
• European Space Agency was established in 1975 and headquartered in Paris.

5. China turns on world's 2nd-biggest hydropower dam

• The Government of China officially turned on the first two generating units of the Baihetan Dam, the world’s second-biggest hydroelectric dam, to start generating energy. The Baihetan Dam is set up on the Jinsha River, in southwestern China.
• The dam is a 289-meter-tall (954-foot-tall) double-curvature arch dam, having 16 generating units.
• Each unit will have to generate a capacity of 1 million kilowatts, making it the second biggest in size after the “Three Gorges Dam” opened in 2003 on the Yangtze, with 22.5 million kilowatts of generating capacity.
• Through the Baihetan Dam, the Chinese government aims to curb surging fossil fuel demand by building more hydropower capacity.
• Both the dams have been built by the state-owned Three Gorges Group Corp., the world’s biggest investor in hydro, solar and wind generation.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• China Capital: Beijing.
• China Currency: Renminbi.
• China President: Xi Jinping.

6. Philippines included in FATF grey list

• Philippines has been included in the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). FATF has released its grey list of jurisdictions that will be subjected to increased monitoring. In addition to the Philippines, Haiti, Malta, and South Sudan have also been added to the grey list.
• Now, these jurisdictions will be required to submit progress reports to the FATF thrice a year. The Philippines was removed from the blacklist of FATF in 2005. It was previously included in FATF’s blacklist in 2000. 
• FATF grey list is the list in which jurisdictions under increased monitoring are placed. If a jurisdiction is placed under increased monitoring, this means that jurisdiction is committed to resolving strategic deciencies within agreed timeframes.
• Jurisdictions under the FATF grey list actively work with FATF to address strategic deciencies in their regime to fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Philippines President: Rodrigo Duterte.
• Philippines Capital: Manila.
• Philippines Currency: Philippine peso.

Appointments News

7. Shambhu Nath Srivastava appointed as the chairman of IFUNA

• Justice (Retd.) Shambhu Nath Srivastava, a former judge of Allahabad High Court and former chief Lokayukta of Chhattisgarh, has been appointed the chairman of the Indian Federation of United Nations Associations (IFUNA).
• Indian Federation of United Nations Associations, a non-profit organisation to promote objectives of the United Nations and its specialised agencies. IFUNA enjoys special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the UN.

Sports News

8. Shafali Verma becomes youngest Indian to make debut in all formats

• Opener Shafali Verma has become the youngest Indian cricketer to make a debut in all formats, when India took on England in the first ODI in Bristol. She took 17 years and 150 days to make her debut in all formats.
• She has become the fifth-youngest cricketer overall in the list of all format debuts. The list is topped by Afghanistan's Mujeeb Ur Rahman at 17 years and 78 days is the youngest player to play all formats, followed by former England wicket-keeper Sarah Taylor. Australia’s Elysse Perry is third on the list, followed by Mohammad Amir.

9. Indian shooter Rahi Sarnobat wins Gold at ISSF World Cup shooting

• India’s Rahi Sarnobat clinched the gold medal in the women’s 25m pistol event at the ISSF shooting World Cup. She is the first Indian to win one silver and two bronze medals in the ongoing tournament.
• She scored 591 out of a maximum of 600 in the qualifying stage. France's Mathilde Lamolle won a silver medal in the final. Russian Vitalina Batsarashkina won the bronze medal. Indian shooter Manu Bhaker finished at 7 positions.
• This is the last competition before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. ISSF World Cup 2021 is being held in Osijek, Croatia. 

10. ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 to be held in UAE

• ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, originally slated to be held in India, will now be shifted to the UAE. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which holds the hosting rights of this year’s event, will inform the International Cricket Council (ICC) in this regard. The T20 World Cup was postponed last year due to the pandemic.
• The BCCI will remain the hosts of the event, which will now be held in Dubai International Stadium, the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the Sharjah Stadium, and the Oman Cricket Academy Ground, from 17 October to 14 November 2021.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Secretary of BCCI: Jay Shah.
• President of BCCI: Sourav Ganguly.
• Headquarters of BCCI: Mumbai, Maharashtra; Founded: December 1928.

11. Anshula Rao first woman cricketer to get dope ban

• Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Anshula Rao became the first women cricketer to be handed a four-year ban after failing the dope test. She was handed the ban by the panel of the National Anti-Doping Agency for faking a dope test which dates back to July 2020.
• Earlier she was also found guilty of consuming a banned anabolic steroid '19- Norandrosterone. The U-23 cricketer has taken part in several BCCI organised domestic tournaments. She last took part in the 2019-20 U-23 event organised by the governing body.

Important Days

12. International Asteroid Day: 30 June

• International Asteroid Day is observed globally on 30th June every year. International Asteroid Day aims to raise public awareness about the asteroid impact hazard and to inform the public about the crisis communication actions to be taken at the global level in case of a credible near-Earth object threat.
• In December 2016 the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/71/90, declaring 30 June International Asteroid Day in order to “observe each year at the international level the anniversary of the Tunguska impact over Siberia, Russian Federation, on 30 June 1908, and to boost public awareness about the asteroid impact hazard.”

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) Director: Simonetta Di Pippo.

13. International Day of Parliamentarism: 30 June

• International Day of Parliamentarism is observed globally on 30 June every year. The International Day of Parliamentarism is a time to review the progress that parliaments have made in achieving some key goals to be more representative and move with the times, including carrying out self-assessments, working to include more women and young MPs, and adapting to new technologies.
• The Day was established in 2018 through a United Nations General Assembly Resolution. This day also acknowledges the formation of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the global organization of parliaments that was established in 1889.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Inter-Parliamentary Union Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
• Inter-Parliamentary Union President: Gabriela Cuevas Barron.
• Inter-Parliamentary Union Founded: 1889.
• Inter-Parliamentary Union Secretary-General: Martin Chungong.

Books and Authors News

14. CJI NV Ramana release a book titled "Anomalies in Law and Justice"

• Chief Justice of India Justice NV Ramana has released former Supreme Court judge RV Raveendran’s book "Anomalies in Law and Justice". 
• The book is an attempt to explain to the layman that the law and the legal system is still evolving and that it requires more critical thinking to resolve issues that have persisted in the system for a long time. The book covers procedural as well as substantive law relating to civil procedure, electoral reforms and the alternate dispute resolution mechanism.

Obituaries News

15. National Award-winning cinematographer and director Sivan passes away

• Mollywood’s veteran cinematographer and director, Sivan passed away recently. The ace cinematographer rose to fame in the Malayalam film industry with the photographs, he took for a film titled Chemeen.
• He has won a National Award three times in his career. His popular films include Abhayam, Yagam, Keshu, Kochu Kochu Mohangal, Oru Yathra, etc.

All the Best BA’ians for the Bank exam!

Updates 20 and 21 June 2021

21 June 2021
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20th and 21st June 2021 Daily GK Update: Read Daily GK, Current Affairs for Bank Exam

Daily GK updates are incorporated with the important news that made the current affairs headlines for banking or other competitive exams. Daily GK Update is the complete bag of the important news that held all day long. One should have complete knowledge about banking terms, current affairs news, etc. So, here is the GK update of 20th and 21st June 2021 to help you prepare the Current affairs part.

Top 15 Daily GK Updates: National & International News

International News

1. Ebrahim Raisi wins Iran’s 2021 Presidential Election

• Ebrahim Raisi has won the 2021 Iranian presidential election, winning 62 per cent of the vote with about 90 per cent of ballots counted.
• The 60-year-old Raisi will succeed Hassan Rouhani in August 2021, to begin his four-year term. He is also the Chief Justice of Iran since March 2019.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Iran Capital: Tehran;
• Iran Currency: Iranian Toman.

Appointments News

2. Montek Ahluwalia named member of World Bank-IMF High Advisory Group

• Former Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia was named a member of a high-level Advisory Group formed by the World Bank and IMF.
• The group will be jointly led by Mari Pangestu, Ceyla Pazarbasioglu and Lord Nicholas Stern. The group was formed by the World Bank and IMF in the face of the dual crisis posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change.
• Mari Pangestu is Managing Director for Development Policy and Partnerships, World Bank. Ceyla Pazarbasioglu is Director, Strategy, Policy and Review Department, International Monetary Fund. The group will also include Gita Gopinath. Gita Gopinath as an Economic Counsellor and Director of the Research Department at the IMF.

Economy News

3. PAN to be declared ‘INOPERATIVE’ if not linked before June 30, 2021

• The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) had recently extended the deadline to link Permanent Account Number (PAN) with Aadhaar number to June 30, 2021, due to the difficulties posed by the ongoing Covid pandemic. So now as the deadline is fast approaching, here are some guidelines which must be kept in mind.
• As per the new Section 234H of the Income-tax Act 1961, which has been recently introduced during Budget 2021, the PAN cards which are not linked to Aadhaar after June 30, 2021, would be declared “inoperative”, as well as a penalty of Rs 1,000 may also be imposed. On the other hand, the person will be considered as an individual without a PAN card.

Ranks and Reports News

4. Ease of Living Index: Bengaluru 'most liveable' city

• Bengaluru has been named as the most liveable city of India, in the Ease of Living Index 2020, released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).
• The Ease of Living Index 2020 is part of the report titled State of India’s Environment 2021. Bengaluru is followed by Chennai, Shimla, Bhubaneshwar, and Mumbai, as the top five best cities respectively.
• The report focused on four parameters to determine the ease of living index score of each city, which are: quality of life, economic ability, sustainability and citizens’ perceptions.
• Each city was rated out of 100 in all parameters.
• The Ease of Living Index 2020 is the second edition of the index after the first one was launched in 2018.

5. India ranked 51st in terms of Money Deposited in Swiss Banks

• According to ‘Annual Bank Statistics of 2020’ released by Swiss National Bank (SNB), the Central Bank of Switzerland.
• India with Swiss Francs (CHF) 2.55 billion (INR 20,706 Crore) has been placed at 51st place in the list of foreign clients’ money in Swiss Banks during 2020. The United Kingdom (UK) topped the list with CHF 377 billion, followed by the US (152 billion).
• India was ahead of countries like New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary, Mauritius, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in terms of foreign clients' money in Swiss banks.
• Funds held by Indian individuals and firms in Swiss banks rose over 2.55 billion Swiss francs (over Rs 20,700 crore) in 2020 marking the highest level in 13 years.
• The figures stood at a record high of nearly CHF 6.5 billion in 2006, after which it has been mostly on a downward path, except for a few years including in 2011, 2013, and 2017, as per the Swiss National Bank (SNB) data.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams: 

• Swiss National Bank Chairman of the Governing Board: Thomas J. Jordan;
• Swiss National Bank Head Offices: Berne, Zurich.

6. India’s Rank 120th in Sustainable Development Report 2021

• According to the 6th Edition of ‘Sustainable Development Report 2021 (SDR 2021)’ released by Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), India with a score of 60.1 has been placed at 120th rank out of 165 countries.
• Finland topped the Index followed by Sweden & Denmark.
• For the 1st time since 2015, all countries have shown a reversal in progress in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. SDR 2021 has been written by a group of authors led by Professor Jeffrey Sachs, President of the SDSN and has been published by Cambridge University Press.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams: 

• Sustainable Development Solutions Network President: Jeffrey Sachs;
• Sustainable Development Solutions Network Headquarters: Paris, France & New York, USA.

Books and Authors News

7. Amitav Ghosh’s new book ‘The Nutmeg’s Curse

• Jnanpith Awardee and renowned author Amitav Ghosh's authored a book titled, 'The Nutmeg's Curse: Parables for a Planet in Crisis'. It is published by John Murray.
• The book talks about the history of the influence of colonialism on the world today, through the story of the nutmeg.
• In 'The Nutmeg's Curse', Ghosh discusses that the nutmeg's journey from its native Banda islands sheds light on a widespread colonial mindset of exploitation of human life and the environment, which is present even today. Some of Ghosh's other notable works include the Ibis trilogy and 'The Great Derangement' among others.

8. Naveen Patnaik releases Bishnupada Sethi's 'Beyond Here and Other Poems'

• Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik released a book of poems ‘Beyond Here and Other Poems’ written by senior bureaucrat Bishnupada Sethi. It is a collection of 61 poems that are a reflection of a spectrum of experiences of life, perception of death and philosophical contemplation.
• Noted writer Haraprasad Das has written the preface. The cover design of the 161-page book has been made by eminent artist Gajendra Sahu. Sethi, Principal Secretary in the Information and Public Relations department has written several poetry and other books including ‘My World of Words’ and ‘Beyond Feelings’.

Sports News

9. Max Verstappen wins 2021 French Grand Prix

• Max Verstappen (Netherlands-Red Bull) has won the 2021 French Grand Prix. This race is the seventh round of the 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship.
• With this win, Max Verstappen has 131 points and now leads Lewis Hamilton (119 points) in the Formula One drivers’ title race, after seven matches. Lewis Hamilton (Britain-Mercedes) stood second and Sergio Perez (Mexico- Red Bull) stood third.

Important Days

10. International Day of Yoga: 21 June

• United Nations celebrates International Day of Yoga globally on 21 June every year to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practising yoga.
• Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India. The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness.
• Recognizing this important role of Yoga, this year’s commemoration of the International Day of Yoga focuses on “Yoga for well-being” - how the practice of Yoga can promote the holistic health of every individual.
• India proposed the draft resolution establish the International Day of Yoga and the proposal was endorsed by a record 175 member states. Recognizing its universal appeal, on 11 December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga by resolution 69/131.

11. International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice

• International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice is observed globally on 21st June. This day bring awareness about solstices and equinoxes and their significance for several religions and ethnic cultures.
• The International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly on 20th June 2019 within Resolution A/RES/73/300.

12. World Music Day: 21st June

• World Music Day is observed globally on 21st June every year. This day is celebrated to honour amateur and professional musicians.
• Over 120 countries celebrate World Music Day by organizing free public concerts in parks, streets, stations, museums and other such public places. The aim of celebrating World Music Day is to provide free music to everyone, and also to encourage amateur musicians to showcase their work to the world.
• World Music Day was founded by France’s Minister of Culture, Jack Lang and also Maurice Fleuret, a French composer, music journalist, radio producer, arts administrator, and festival organiser, on the day of the summer solstice in Paris in 1982.

13. World Refugee Day celebrated on 20 June

• World Refugee Day is observed every year on June 20 to respect and honour the courage and resilience of refugees across the world.
• The United Nations observes this day to honour the refugees who have been forced outside of their homes. The day aims to build understanding and empathy for refugees building their lives in countries new to them.
• This year the theme for World Refugee Day is 'Together we heal, learn and shine'. The United Nations has stated that the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic has made it evident that we can only succeed by standing together. The UN has called for the greater inclusion of refugees in the healthcare system across the world.

Obituaries News

14. DPIIT Secretary Guruprasad Mohapatra Passes Away

• Guruprasad Mohapatra, the Secretary in the Department of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), has passed away due to COVID-19 related complications.
• Before being appointed as DPIIT secretary in August 2019, Mohapatra served as Chairman of the Airports Authority of India (AAI). He was a Gujarat cadre 1986 batch IAS officer, who had earlier served as joint secretary in the Department of Commerce.

Miscellaneous News

15. World’s Third-Largest Diamond Unearthed in Botswana

• A 1,098-carat diamond has been discovered in Botswana, by Debswana Diamond Company, a joint venture between the government of Botswana and the South African diamond company De Beers.
• The newly discovered diamond is believed to be the third-largest gem-quality stone ever to be mined in the world. The stone has been presented by Debswana Diamond Company to the President of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Masisi.
• The largest diamond to be recovered to date is 3,106 carat Cullinan stone in South Africa in 1905, followed by the 1,109 carats Lesedi La Rona unearthed by Lucara Diamonds in Botswana in 2015.