DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: JUNE 20, 2018
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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: JUNE 20, 2018
Daily Current Affairs (June 20, 2018) like many other sections is inevitable and this also helps to score in the Banking awareness , Static GK and Financial Awareness sections. Remember, Banking Awareness and Static Awareness Questions are asked from the General Awareness section. This will also help you to ride your preparations for the forthcoming exams.
NATIONAL
Dhanush Artillery Gun Clears Final Trials
The indigenously upgraded artillery gun Dhanush has successfully completed final user trials and is ready for induction into the Army. Dhanush is an upgraded version of the Swedish Bofors gun procured by India in the mid-1980s.
The first phase of trials were conducted at the Pokhran and Babina ranges.
During the trials, the guns travelled extensively in towed/ self-propelled mode in desert and high-altitude terrains with each gun clocking over 1,000 km demonstrating their mobility.
It has been developed by Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), Kolkata based on requirements of Indian Army and manufactured by Jabalpur-based Gun Carriage Factory (GCF).
11th Common Review Mission Report Released
The Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey has released the 11th Common Review Mission (CRM) report of the National Health Mission.
The 11th CRM team visited 16 States/UTs, of which four were the North-Eastern States, six were High Focus States and six were Non-High Focus States.
As per the Report, India has registered a record 22% reduction in MMR since 2013,which is the highest percentage decline so far when compared to all the previous reductions in MMR as per the earlier rounds of SRS.
Maternal Mortality Ratio in India has declined from 167 in 2011-2013 to 130 in 2014-2016.
HRD Minister launches National Digital Library
The Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar has launched the National Digital Library to provide a platform for schools, universities, teachers, students and anyone who has a curiosity to learn.
The National Digital Library would become a single-window platform for all the educational needs. It will have 1,70,00,000 books in 200 languages.
All the government schools would be given library grant between ₹5,000 and ₹20,000 every year, depending on their size.
Piyush Goyal: Railways will become ‘net zero carbon emitter’ by 2030
Indian Railways will become a “net zero” carbon emitter by 2030. It was announced by Railway minister Piyush Goyal.
With the current action plans on anvil for 100 per cent electrification, coupled with renewable strategies, Indian Railways will become a net zero carbon emitter by 2030. He added that the electrification in 2017-18 has increased seven times.
The minister also said that the railways would procure around 100,000 additional wagons over the next five years, of which half of the wagon requirement will be by Coal India Limited.
The ‘Rail Contact 2018′ was organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in collaboration with the Railway Board.
Kaiga Generating Systems Sets New Record for Continuous Operation
India’s atomic power plant operator Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) announced its first 220 MW unit at Kaiga in Karnataka has set a new record of operating for 766 days continuously.
In a statement, NPCIL said the Unit 1 of Kaiga Generating Station (KGS) surpassed the earlier record of 765 days set by Unit 5 of Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS) in 2014.
The indigenously-designed reactor has been operating continuously since May 13, 2016, powered by domestic fuel. The NPCIL currently has 22 reactors with a total capacity of 6,780 MW in operation and eight reactors with capacity of 6,200 MW under construction.
Visva-Bharati University plans to set up Yoga village
The Visva-Bharati University (VBU), founded by Rabindranath Tagore, will set up a yoga centre inside the campus, named yoga gram (village). The centre is aimed at increasing awareness about yoga. The Visva-Bharati University is located at Santiniketan, West Bengal.
The Visva-Bharati has received Rs 5 crore grant from the central government.
The campus at Santiniketan will have several single-storied buildings, termed as kuthis (cottages) dedicated to different techniques of yoga.
INTERNATIONAL
Nepal, China sign eight deals worth 2.24 billion USD
Nepal and China has signed eight agreements worth $2.24 billion on the second day of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s visit. The signing ceremony took place at the Nepal Embassy in Beijing.
These agreements were reached between the two governments and private sectors where Chinese investors will put money on developing hydroelectricity, water resources, cement factories and fruit cultivation and farming.
US withdraws from United Nations Human Rights Council
The United States withdrew from the United Nations Human Rights Council accusing it of a “chronic bias against Israel”.
Nikki Haley, the US Permanent Representative to the United Nations announced the withdrawal.
Nikki Haley slammed Russia, China, Cuba and Egypt for thwarting US efforts to reform the council.
The United Nations Human Rights Council is a United Nations body whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world.The Council is made of 47 Member States.
BANKING AND ECONOMY
IRDAI Sets Up Panel To Review Norms For Marketing Firms
The Insurance Regulator Irdai has set up a 10-member panel to review norms related to insurance marketing firm (IMF) with an aim to increase insurance penetration in the country.
The new distribution channel of IMF was introduced in 2015 by Irdai, with the objective of increasing insurance penetration through an area–wise registration approach.
The committee, headed by Suresh Mathur (ED-IMF, Irdai), has been asked to revisit the IRDAI (Registration of Insurance Marketing Firms) Regulations, 2015.
IRDAI
Headquarters: Hyderabad
Chairman: Subhash Chandra Khuntia
Union Government collaborates with Google for flood forecasting
In an interesting development, the Union Water Resources Ministry has partnered with technology giant Google to generate flood warnings.
As per a report by One India, the Central Water Commission (CWC) has entered into an agreement with Google in order to effectively manage flood situations in India. Google has made remarkable progress in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and geospatial mapping.
CWC will be making use of these features and capabilities by Google to manage water resources, which will prove to be helpful in the field of flood forecasting and spreading the news among the masses regarding floods to ensure their safety.
True Balance partners with Bharat Bill Payment Operating Unit
True Balance, a Digital Wallet and Financial Services Platform has announced a tie up with Bharat Bill payment operating Unit (BBPOU), an RBI conceptualized system, to facilitate quick and easy bill payments.
The partnership with BBPOU will enable users to reap maximum benefits while making payments as well as gain an added advantage of True Balance features like Rate cutters, Smart alerts and One Tap Recharge.
The BBPS is a centralized bill payment system that allows users to use a single website or outlet to make multiple payments which may be repetitive like monthly mobile phone, gas and electricity bills.
APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS
Jammu & Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti Resigns
The People Democratic Party’s (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti has submitted her resignation as Jammu and Kashmir chief minister to state governor N N Vohra.
Mehbooba’s move came shortly after the BJP announced it was pulling out of its alliance with the PDP in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sikkim government appoints AR Rahman as its Brand Ambassador
Renowned music composer A R Rahman has been appointed as the Brand Ambassador of the Sikkim government.
Rahman will promote and project the state’s achievements nationally and globally.
The state government had earlier this year made Rahman its Brand Ambassador of tourism and business.
Sikkim, with its natural and pristine beauty, has over the last two decades emerged as a world famous eco-tourism destination, besides attaining a distinct identity as the first fully organic farming state of the country.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
Anukreethy Vas Crowned Femina Miss India 2018
Anukreethy Vas has been crowned Femina Miss India 2018 in a grand ceremony in Mumbai hosted by filmmaker Karan Johar and actor Ayushmann Khurrana.
Anukreethy Vas, who was previously crowned fbb Colours Femina Miss Tamil Nadu, beat 30 contestants to bag the top honour.
Meenakshi Chaudhary from Haryana was the first runner-up while Shreya Rao Kamavarapu from Andhra Pradesh secured the second runner-up position.
OBITUARY
Australian golfing great Peter Thomson passed away
The Australian golfing great Peter Thomson has passed away.
The first Australian to win the British Open, he claimed the title five times between 1954 and 1965.
IMPORTANT DAYS
World Refugee Day – June 20
The World Refugee Day is held every year on June 20th.
The theme for World Refugee Day 2018 is ‘Now More Than Ever, We Need to Stand with Refugees’.
It is to commemorate the strength, courage and perseverance of millions of refugees.
