DAILY GK 25-30 JUNE
1.
INDIA’S FIRST, HYDROGEN-POWERED
TRAINS TO RUN FROM JIND DISTRICT OF HARYANA
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Indian Railways is set to introduce its first hydrogen train, expected to start operating from Jind district in Haryana by March 2024.
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The first prototype of the hydrogen train is scheduled to
run between the Jind-Sonipat (Haryana) Section of Northern Railway in the
fiscal year 2023-2024.
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India’s first hydrogen plant is being established near the
railway junction in Jind (Haryana) district, in order to support this
initiative.
2. GLOBAL STARTUP ECOSYSTEM REPORT 2023
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According to the Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2023 (GSER
2023) released by policy advisory and research firm Startup Genome, Indian
ecosystems continue to rise, with Bengaluru
(Karnataka) startup ecosystem has positioned to the 20th spot, moving two
places from 2022 and Mumbai (Maharashtra)
moved up five places to 31st position
and Delhi moved up two places to 24th position respectively in the
Global Startup Ecosystem list 2023.
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Silicon Valley remaining at the top ecosystem in the GSER 2023 followed by New York City and London tied at
2nd position.
3. BAL SAHITYA PURASKAR AND YUVA PURASKAR AWARDS 2023
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The Executive Board of the SahityaAkademi, India’s National Academy of Letters, an
autonomous organisation under the Ministry
of Culture chaired by MadhavKaushik, President, SahityaAkademi declared a
list of 22 recipients of its BalSahityaPuraskarand
20 winners of its YuvaPuraskar for the year 2023.
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The works were selected on the basis of recommendations made
by the Jury of 3 members each in concerned language in accordance with rules
and procedure laid down for the purpose.
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SahityaAkademiBalSahityaPuraskar
2023
an annual award established in 2010
for the most outstanding book by an
Indian author
4. FORBES WORLD’S MOST INFLUENTIAL CMOS LIST 2023
●
According to The Forbes
World’s Most Influential CMOs(Chief Marketing Officers). List: 2023, Harish Bhat, Brand Custodian of the
Tata Group, was ranked among the top 10 most influential CMOs for the 2nd consecutive year.
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The 2023 list, the 11th edition of Forbes’ top 50 CMO list,
is topped by William White, CMO of
Walmart(United States of America-USA) followed by Marcel Marcondes, global CMO of Anheuser-Busch InBev (Belgium) at
2nd spot and ConnyBraams, Chief Digital and Commercial Officer of Unilever
(England).
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In 2023, Morgan
Flatley, EVP (Executive Vice President), Global Chief Marketing Officer, and
Head of New Business Ventures at McDonald’s, inducted into the Forbes CMO
Hall of Fame 2023 Class. Morgan Flatley is the only inductee of 2023.
5. IIT KANPUR SUCCESSFULLY CONDUCTS TEST FLIGHT FOR CLOUD
SEEDING/ARTIFICIAL RAIN
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The Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K), Uttar Pradesh (UP) successfully conducted a
test flight/experiment for their cloud seeding project.
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It was a test of artificial rain through cloud seeding.
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Cloud seeding is the process of enhancing the
chance of precipitation by using different
chemical agents like silver iodide, dry ice, salt, and other elements.
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In the experiment, a Cessna aircraft of IIT-K was flown from
the airstrip of the Flight Laboratory of IIT Kanpur with cloud-seeding
attachments and came back to the Flight Lab airstrip, after successfully
completing the test ride.
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This achievement opens up possibilities for creating
rainfall in drought-prone regions of UP mainly Bundelkhand, and benefit
agricultural communities facing water scarcity.
6. ‘BHARAT IN PARIS’ CAMPAIGN
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Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh
Thakur flagged off Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) “Bharat in Paris” campaign with a short marathon of 7 km at the
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, Delhi.
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The “Bharat in Paris campaign” aims to create awareness and promote sports across India ahead of
the 2024Paris Olympics games.
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Paris Olympics 2024 is scheduled to be held from 26
July 2024 to 11 August 2024 in Paris, France.
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Paris 2024 Mascot: Olympic Phryge – based on the traditional small
Phrygian hats that the mascots are shaped after.
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Official Slogan: Games Wide Open(French: Ouvrons Grand les Jeux).
7. IAF CONDUCTED EXERCISE “RANVIJAY”
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The Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted Exercise ‘Ranvijay’ with a focus on integration,
in which day and night operations were carried out by combat aircraft including
Sukhoi Su-30MKI aircraft as part of integrated wargames to enhance the skills
of fighter pilots.
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The exercise was carried out in different air bases of the
CAC headquartered in Prayagraj, Uttar
Pradesh (UP).
8. UNODC WORLD DRUG REPORT 2023
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According to the 2023 World Drug Report released by the
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on the occasion of the
International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2023 (26th June
2023), globally around 296 million
people used drugs in 2021, a 23% increase over the previous decade.
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Based on the new data, the global estimate of people who inject drugs in 2021 at 13.2
million, an 18% higher than the estimates for 2020.
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The number of people who suffer from drug use disorders also
increased to 39.5 million, a 45% increase over 10 years.
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United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime
(UNODC):Headquarters– Vienna, Austria
9. WORLD BANK APPROVES USD 255.5 MILLION LOAN TO ENHANCE
TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN INDIA
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One of the World Bank’s institutions International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) granted a USD 255.5 million loan to India with a maturity period of 14 years,
including a grace period of five years, to improve the quality of technical
education and expand career opportunities for students.
●
The project will span five years and benefit around 275
government-run technical institutions, reaching over 3.5 lakh students
annually.
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World Bank:Established in 1944
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Headquarters- Washington,President- Ajay Banga
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World Bank’s Country Director for India – AugusteTanoKouame.
10. 1ST UNESCO–AL FOZAN INTERNATIONAL PRIZE
●
The 1st edition of UNESCO–Al
Fozan International Prize 2023 was conferred upon five exceptional young scientists from Argentina, Cameroon, China, Egypt and
Serbia during a ceremony at UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization) headquarters in Paris, France.
●
The winners:Dr
Federico Ariel ( Argentina),Professor
AbdonAtangana ( Cameroon),Professor
Qiaomei Fu
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DrHeshamOmran (Egypt),DrJelenaVladic ( Serbia)
11. KYRIAKOS MITSOTAKIS WINS GREEK PM
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KyriakosMitsotakis, leader of Greece’s centre-right New Democracy (ND-NeaDemokratia) party,
won the national election and secured a 2nd four-year term as the Prime
Minister(PM) of Greece.
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The ND party had earned over 40% of the votes, 158 seats out
of the 300 seats.
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Greece:Capital– Athens
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Currency– Euro
12. BOOK “DROUPADI MURMU: FROM TRIBAL HINTERLANDS TO RAISINA
HILLS”
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The new book titled “DroupadiMurmu:
From Tribal Hinterlands to Raisina Hills” authored by journalist Kasturi Ray illustrates the challenges
Murmu encountered on her path to success as India’s first president from a
tribal community.
13. INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST DRUG ABUSE AND ILLICIT TRAFFICKING
– JUNE 26 2023
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The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit
Trafficking, or World Drug Day, is annually observed across the globe on 26th
June to create awareness regarding the negative effects of drug abuse and
illegal trade.
●
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) has
announced the theme for 2023 as ‘People
first: Stop stigma and discrimination, strengthen prevention’.
14. GOI EXTENDS TIMELINE FOR LOAN/COMPLETION OF ETHANOL PROJECTS
TILL SEPTEMBER 30, 2023
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Government of India (GoI) has extended the timeline for the disbursement of loans for the completion of
ethanol projects up to 30 September 2023 in a move to strengthen ethanol
production in India under the ‘scheme for extending financial assistance to
sugar mills for augmentation of ethanol production capacity’.
●
The extended timeline for ethanol projects tends to boost
the agricultural economy, reduce fossil fuel dependency, save foreign exchange
on account of crude oil imports and reduce air pollution.
15. 1ST PSB TO LAUNCH UPI PAYMENTS TO MERCHANS VIA RUPAY CREDIT
CARDS
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Canara Bank became the first Public Sector Bank (PSB) in India to introduce the facility
of UPI (Unified Payments Interface) payments to merchants through RuPay Credit
Card, in association with NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India).
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This facility is made available at ‘Canara ai1’ Banking
Super App of the Bank.
16. JHULAN GOSWAMI, HEATHER KNIGHT AND EOIN MORGAN JOINS MCC
WORLD CRICKET COMMITTEE
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JhulanGoswami, former Indian woman cricketer, Heather
Knight, captain of the England women’s cricket team and Eoin Morgan, former
England Men’s cricketer have joined the MCC
(Marylebone Cricket Club) World Cricket Committee (WCC).
●
The trio has joined the committee ahead of its upcoming
meeting at Lord’s cricket ground in London, the United Kingdom (UK), known as
the Home of Cricket, which is owned by the MCC.
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MCC World Cricket committee is an independent body of current
and former international cricketers, umpires, and officials from across the
world.
17. DIRECTOR OF UN OFFICE FOR OUTER SPACE AFFAIRS
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United Nations (UN)
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed AartiHolla-Maini,
an Indian-origin satellite industry expert from the United Kingdom (UK), as the
Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).
●
AartiHolla-Maini will succeed Simonetta Di Pippo of Italy,
who served as the Director of UNOOSA from 2014 to 2022.
18. SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORLD GAMES BERLIN 2023
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Union Minister Anurag Thakur sends off Indian contingent of 198 special athletes to Special Olympics
World Summer Games 2023
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The Indian team won 202 medals (including 76 Gold, 75 Silver, 51
Bronze) in Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023 held in Berlin, Germany
from 17th June 2023 to 25th June 2023.
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2023 Mascot: Named as ‘Unity’, it represents
the emotions the athletes feel about the World Games: joy, togetherness, pride,
and excitement.
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2023 Motto: ‘unbeatable together’
19. MICRO-, SMALL, AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES (MSME) DAY 2023
– JUNE 27
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The United Nations (UN)’s Micro-, Small, and Medium-sized
Enterprises (MSME) Day is annually observed across the world on 27th June
●
On the eve of United Nations (UN)’s MSME Day (27th June
2023), the Ministry of MSME, Government of India (GoI) is celebrating ‘Udyami Bharat (Enterprising India) -MSME
Day’ on 27th June, 2023 at VigyanBhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
20. PM NARENDRA MODI’S VISIT TO THE USA
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During PM NarendraModi’s visit to the US, World’s leading
aircraft engine maker, GE Aerospace signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU)
with India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Washington to produce fighter jet engines in the country
for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
●
India and USA signed agreements – Artemis Accords and Joint Indo-US
mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2024, on cooperation in Space Research, which will take the bilateral
relations to a new height.
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As per the joint statement issued by PM NarendraModi and US
President Joe Biden, the United States and India announced a USD 2 million grant program for artificial intelligence
and quantum technologies.
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Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd (IFFCO) started
exporting the world’s 1st Nano liquid
Urea invented & manufactured indigenously in India by IFFCO to the USA
through signing an agreement with California-based Kapoor Enterprises Inc.
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He has become the first
Indian PM to address the joint meeting of the US Congress for the second
time. PM Modi previously addressed the Congress in 2016.
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He become the third Indian leader to make a state visit to
the country and the only Indian PM to address a joint session of the US
Congress twice.
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Boeing, an Aerospace and defense manufacturer in the United
States, has announced a USD 100 million
investment in infrastructure and programs to train pilots in India.
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In Egypt He was also conferred with the highest state honour
of Egypt, “the Order of the Nile” award, by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah
El-Sisi.
21. QS WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS 2024
●
According to the QS World University Rankings 2024 by
QuacquarelliSymonds(QS) released on 27th June 2023, the Indian Institute of
Technology Bombay (IIT-B), Mumbai,
Maharashtra, is the only Indian Institute featured among the top 150
Universities.
●
The global list is
topped by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge,
United States of America(USA) for the 12th time(2012 and from 2014 to 2024).
22. FOR THE 1ST TIME, RBI SLAPS FINE ON ALL 4 CREDIT BUREAUS FOR
NON-COMPLIANCE
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Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has fined all Four credit
bureaus,TransUnion CIBIL Limited,
Equifax Credit Information Services Private Limited, Experian Credit
Information Company of India Private Limited and CRIF High Mark Credit
Information Services Private Limited, for not maintaining accurate borrower
data following customer complaints.
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They have been subjected to monetary penalties by the RBI
due to their non-compliance with the Credit Information Companies (Regulation)
Act, 2005, and Credit Information Companies Rules, 2006.
23. NATIONAL INSURANCE AWARENESS DAY 2023 – JUNE 28
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National Insurance Awareness Day is annually observed on 28th June to raise awareness about
Insurance which offers a layer of protection to guard in various situations and
about the benefits of investing in an insurance plan.
24. WEF’S ENERGY TRANSITION INDEX 2023
●
According to the World Economic Forum(WEF) report titled
“Fostering Effective Energy Transition 2023”, published in collaboration with
Accenture, India is ranked 67th on the
Energy Transition Index (ETI) 2023.
●
ETI 2023, the list of 120 counties, is topped by Sweden with an ETI score 78.5 followed by Denmark (76.1) and Norway (73.7) in 2nd and
3rd rank respectively.
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Among the world’s 10 largest economies, France was the only
G20(Group of 20) country to feature among the top 10 of the ETI 2023.
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World Economic Forum(WEF):Headquarters– Cologny, Switzerland
25. 2023 GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS INDEX
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The International Institute for Management Development (IMD)
ranks India at 40th position
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The top 3 positions in the ranking were claimed by Denmark, Ireland, and Switzerland.
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India dropped 3 places to rank 40 which is an improvement from the
43rd position secured in 2019-2021
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Kuwait is the latest economy to join
the ranking, making its début in 2023.
26. UK POINTS OF LIGHTS AWARD
●
Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister (PM) of the United Kingdom (UK)
honoured Retired British Indian Shikh Soldier Rajindar Singh Dhatt (aged 101) with UK Points of Light award at
India Global Forum’s (IGF) annual UK-India Week 2023 reception at 10 Downing
Street, London, United Kingdom.
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He was awarded for his service in the British Indian Army
and coordinating”Undivided Indian
Ex-Servicemen’s Association” to help bring together British Indian war
veterans.
27. FRENCH DGA TEST FIRED V-MAX HYPERSONIC GLIDER TECHNOLOGY FOR
THE 1ST TIME
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The French Direction générale de l’armement (DGA–
Directorate General of Armaments), France
successfully conducted its first test firing of a V–MaX
(VéhiculeManoeuvrantExpérimental or experimental manoeuvring vehicle), a
Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) to develop new missile technology capable of
evading the most sophisticated air defences.
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A sounding rocket carrying the V-MaX HGV was launched from
the Biscarosse missile test site on the Bay of Biscay, southwestern France.
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Hypersonic gliders, a type of warhead for ballistic missiles
that can operate freely and glide at hypersonic speed, designed to carry a
nuclear or conventional warhead.
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The French HGV has the capacity to exceed Mach 5 (over 6,000 kilometres per hour
(Kmph)/3,730 miles per hour(mph)) and has been under study by major nuclear
powers for several years.
28. NATIONAL STATISTICS DAY 2023 – JUNE 29
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The day marks the celebration of the birth anniversary of
Professor (late) Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis (PC Mahalanobis), known as the “Father of Indian Statistics” and
recognises his notable contributions in the fields of statistics and economic
planning.
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The theme of
National Statistics Day (Statistics Day) 2023 is “Alignment of State Indicator Framework with National Indicator
Framework for Monitoring Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.
29. MAJOR CHANGES REGARDING TAX COLLECTED AT SOURCE (TCS) &
LIBERALISED REMITTANCE SCHEME (LRS)
●
The Ministry of Finance announced that there will be no
changes in the rate of Tax Collection at
Source (TCS) for all purposes under Liberalised
Remittance Scheme (LRS) and for overseas travel tour packages, regardless
of the mode of payment, for amounts up to Rs
7 lakh per individual per annum.
●
A threshold of Rs. 7
Lakh per financial year per individual in clause (i) of sub-section (1G) of
section 206C shall be restored for TCS on all categories of LRS payments,
through all modes of payment, regardless of the purpose:
●
Beyond the Rs 7 Lakh threshold, TCS shall be 0.5% for remittance for education financed by education loan; 5%
for remittance for education or medical treatment and 20% for others.
●
For the purchase of overseas tour program packages under
Clause (ii) of Sub-section (1G), the TCS shall continue to apply at the rate of
5% for the first Rs 7 lakhs per individual per annum.
●
20% rate will only apply for expenditures above Rs 7 lakh
per individual per annum.
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The changes in the TCS rates which were set to be
implemented with effect from 1st July
2023 will now come into effect from 1st October 2023 with the
above-mentioned modifications.
30. HURUN INDIA FUTURE UNICORN INDEX 2023
●
The Hurun Research Institute released the ASK Private Wealth
Hurun India Future Unicorn Index 2023, a ranking of India’s start-up ecosystems
worth at least USD 200 million
●
In 2023, India added
only three unicorn start-ups having a valuation of over USD 1 billion
compared to 24 (turned Unicorns from the list) in 2022 pointed at a distinct
slowdown.
31. 5TH UK-INDIA AWARDS 2023
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Former RajyaSabha member and India’s first-ever Olympic
medallist in women’s boxing, Mary Kom
(40 years old) has been honoured with
the India Global Forum (IGF) United Kingdom(UK) Special Award: Global Indian
Icon of the Year award (2023) at the 5th annual UK -India Awards (2023)
held in Fairmont Windsor Park, Windsor, UK.
●
She received the award from Indian High Commissioner to the
UK VikramDoraiswami and shared her remarkable 20-year journey filled with
dedication and unwavering commitment to the sport of boxing.
●
Indian filmmaker ShekharKapur,
nominated for Oscar for his film “Elizabeth: The Golden Age”, was honoured with
“IGF UK Special Award: Lifetime
Contribution to UK-India Relations”. The award recognised his contributions
to cinema in both countries.
●
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry
(FICCI – UK) was honoured with the “Business Promotion Organisation of the
Year(2023)” award.
32. INDIA’S AMBASSADOR TO WTO
●
The Government of India(GoI) extended the tenure of BrajendraNavnit as Ambassador and Permanent
Representative of India to the World Trade Organization (WTO) by 9 months beyond
28th June 2023 and upto 31st March 2024 or until further orders.
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World Trade Organization (WTO):Director-General- NgoziOkonjo-Iweala
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Headquarters- Geneva, Switzerland
●
Established – 1995
33. GREATER CHENNAI POLICE LAUNCHED INDIA’S FIRST ‘POLICE DRONE UNIT’
IN CHENNAI
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The Greater Chennai Police(GCP), a division of the Tamil
Nadu(TN) Police, launched the ‘Police
Drone Unit’, the first in India, for aerial surveillance in Chennai, TN.
●
The unit, has a total of 9 drones under three categories –
Quick Response Surveillance drones, heavy-lift multi-rotor drones, and Long
Range Survey wing plane.
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The drones are equipped with ANPR (automatic number plate registration) cameras which helps to
check vehicles registration data.
34. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PARLIAMENTARISM 2023 – JUNE 30
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The United Nations(UN)’s International Day of
Parliamentarism is annually celebrated across the globe on 30 June to celebrate
Parliaments and the ways in which parliamentary systems of government improve
the day-to-day lives of people across the world.
●
The day also marks the anniversary of the foundation of the
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the global organization of national
parliaments, founded on 30th June 1889.
●
The theme of International Day of Parliamentarism 2023 is
“Parliaments for the Planet”.