DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 25 JUNE 2020

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 25 JUNE 2020

1. LARGEST ECONOMY ON PPP BASIS FOR 2017

·        In accordance with the World Bank Data under the International Comparison Program (ICP), revealed by India’s National Statistical Office (NSO) of Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI), India has retained its position as the third-largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP) for 2017 as it accounted for 6.7% or $8,051 billion out of world total of $119,547 billion of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

·        India has followed China (16.4%) and the United States-US (16.3%) which ranked 1st and 2nd respectively.

·        It states that exchange rates between currencies are in equilibrium when their purchasing power is the same in each of the two countries.

·        For example- How much milk that Rs 75 can purchase in India and One Dollar can purchase in the US. On this basis (PPP) the GDP of India is measured.

2. COVID-19 TO PUSH ADDITIONAL 120 MILLION CHILDREN INTO POVERTY IN SOUTH ASIA

·        The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) released its first report titled “Lives Upended How COVID-19 threatens the futures of 600 million South Asian children” focusing on the South Asian region on the impacts of COVID-19 on children states that around 240 million children are classified as poor and the current COVID-19 situation will affect an additional 120 million children, a total of 360 million children will be pushed into poverty and food insecurity in the next 6 months.

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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 24 JUNE 2020

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 24 JUNE 2020

1. RS 3,000 CRORE FROM PM CARES FOR VENTILATOR SUPPLY

·        The Central Government is all set to allocate Rs 3,000 crore from the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES) Fund for supply of ventilators and for the welfare of migrant labourers.

·        Centre will spent Rs 2,000 crore in the procurement of 50,000 Made-in-India ventilators to Government-run Covid hospitals in all States/Union Territories (UTs).

·        Of the 50,000 ventilators, 30,000 are being manufactured by Bharat Electronics Ltd.

·        The remaining 20,000 ventilators are being manufactured by AgVa Healthcare (10,000), AMTZ Basic (5,650), AMTZ High End (4,000) and Allied Medical (350).

·        On the other hand, Rs 1,000 crore has already been released to States/UTs for the welfare of migrant labourers.

2. 1000 DISTRICT LEVEL KHELO INDIA CENTRES

·        The Ministry of Sports, government of India has decided to establish around 1000 district level Khelo India centers all over the nation to engage the former champions and to ensure a source of income for them in the sports.

·        To ensure the contribution of the former champions in the development of India’s sports sector while gaining livelihood through sports.

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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 23 JUNE 2020

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 23 JUNE 2020

1. PM MODI LAUNCHED RS 50,000 CR GARIB KALYAN ROJGAR ABHIYAAN

·        An employment -cum- rural public works Campaign for 67 lakh migrant workers titled “Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan (GKRA)” has been launched for 6 states viz. Bihar, Uttar Pradesh (UP), Madhya Pradesh (MP), Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Odisha, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the lines of the announcement made in Rs 20 Lakh crore Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.

·        The outlay of this campaign is Rs 50,000 Crores and the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) is the nodal Ministry for its implementation.

·        The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) ensures 100 days of employment per household in a year whereas GKRA is a one-time scheme of 125 days for providing employment to migrant workers who returned during the lockdown near their villages.

2. SC ON WRIT PETITION CONCERNING RULE OF LAW INDEX

·        The Supreme Court asked the government to treat a writ petition, for setting up expert panels to improve India’s performance in the Rule of Law Index, as a “representation” and to decide further action within 6 months’ time.

·        India was Ranked 69^th in the WJP Rule of Law Index 2020

·        The World Justice Project (WJP) is an international civil society organization with the stated mission of “working to advance the rule of law around the world”.

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Daily Current Affairs 21, 22 JUNE 2020

Daily Current Affairs 21-22 JUNE 2020

1. FRANCE COMMITS 200 MILLION EUROS TO SUPPORT INDIA’S COVID RESPONSE

·        France and India signed a credit financing agreement promising 200 million euros (Rs. 1709 crore) to support the social welfare system and India’s covid response.

·        The fund will be provided to India through the AFD, French Development Agency (Agence Française de Développement).

·        The programme focuses on the “Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana” to benefit the low income families and to ensure their social, health and economic wellbeing and their contribution towards the nation’s economic growth amid covid pandemic.

2. NEARLY 1% OF WORLD’S POPULATION FORCIBLY DISPLACED

·        In accordance with the annual report on displacement titled “Global Trends- Forced Displacement in 2019″ released by UN refugee agency- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in 2019, additional 11 million people were displaced where 2.4 million sought protection outside their country, and 8.6 million were newly displaced within the borders of their countries.

·        Five countries account for two-thirds (68%) of people displaced across borders: Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, South Sudan and Myanmar.

3. 1ST ONLINE AUTO RETAIL FINANCING : ‘CLICK TO BUY’ PLATFORM

·        Hyundai Motor India Limited(HMIL) partnered with HDFC Bank to offer industry 1st online auto retail financing on its end-to-end online automotive retail platform, ‘Click to Buy’ to the customers. 

·        HMIL launched ‘Click to Buy’, an upgraded version of end-to-end online automotive retail platform to provide a safe, contactless & convenient purchasing experience to its consumers after the COVID times.

4. INDIA’S 1ST FIRM TO HIT RS 11 TN MARKET CAP ON JUNE 11, 2020

·        Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) became the first Indian company to reach a market capitalisation of Rs 11 trillion, as the company was valued at Rs 11.15 trillion.

·        With this, RIL accounts for nearly 9% of the country’s total m-cap of Rs 138 trillion. Its stock on Bombay stock exchange (BSE) was record high at Rs 1,738.95. Notably the company’s share doubled since mid-March 2020.  

·        In dollar terms, RIL’s m-cap translates into $155 billion, making it the 54th largest company globally.

·        Mukesh Ambani became 9th richest in the world: Bloomberg Billionaires Index

5. URJIT PATEL APPOINTED AS THE CHAIRMAN OF NIPFP

·        The former governor of RBI Urjit Patel was appointed as the Chairman of National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP). 

·        He will start his 4year tenure on 22nd June 2020 succeeding Vijay Laxman Kelkar, former chairman of NIPFP.

·        NIPFP-The centre undertakes research, policy advocacy and capacity building in areas related to public economics and the institute assists the central, state and local government in formulating policies by providing an analytical base.

6. ‘SATYABHAMA’ PORTAL TO PROMOTE R&D IN MINING & MINERAL SECTOR

·        Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister for Coal &Mines has launched SATYABHAMA (Science and Technology Yojana for Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Mining Advancement) Portal, developed by National Informatics Centre (NIC), Mines Informatics Division.

·        Unlike the current system, where research proposals are physically submitted by scientists /researchers, the Satyabhama portal allows online submission of project proposal & also its status and use of funds can be monitored.

7. WORLD REFUGEE DAY 2020 – JUNE 20

·        The theme of this year is “Every Action Counts” to remind that everyone including the refugees can contribute to society in creating a world with equality and equity.

·        The first world refugee day was celebrated on 20th June 2001 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol help protect Refugees which contains the rights and the obligations of the refugees towards the host nation.

8. NATIONAL READING DAY 2020: JUNE 19

·        India celebrated the 25th edition of the National Reading Day to honour Kerala’s Father of Library Movement, Puthuvayil Narayana(P.N.) Panicker & his significant contribution to the reading culture which made Kerala’s universal literacy rate (100%) in 1990.

·        The day aims to encourage reading among students across the country.

·        The following week of June 19, 2020 will be celebrated as Reading week and reading month will be celebrated from June 19 – July 18, 2020.

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Daily Current Affairs 20 June 2020

DAILY GK C.A 20 JUNE

1. DR HARSH VARDHAN LAUNCHED INDIA’S 1ST I-LAB

·        In order to provide Covid testing access to rural inaccessible areas of India, the Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Health & Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan inaugurated and flagged off India’s first I-Lab (Infectious disease diagnostic lab) from New Delhi as a part of DBT-AMTZ COMManD [COVID Medtech Manufacturing Development] Consortia.

·        I-Lab is a mobile testing facility that has been created by the Andhra Pradesh Med-tech Zone (AMTZ) team with the support of Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under the National Biopharma Mission.

2. 69TH EDITION OF BP STATISTICAL REVIEW 2020

·        According to the 69th  edition of “Statistical Review of World Energy 2020”, which collects and analyses energy data for 2019 , released by UK (United Kingdom) based oil and gas company BP plc, India was the 2nd  major market after China to increase primary energy consumption in the year 2019. 

·        India’s position at total energy consumption: On the other hand, India’s energy consumption in 2019 was the third largest (34.06 EJ-an increase of 2.3%) only after China (141.70 EJ) and United States (94.65 EJ).

·        Despite, the rate of growth in energy consumption in the year 2019 has been slower than in 2018.

3. JSW CEMENT SIGNS SOURAV GANGULY & SUNIL CHHETRI AS BRAND AMBASSADORS

·        JSW Cement, a part of JSW Group, signed former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly the current president of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Sunil Chhetri, captain of India’s National Football Team & Bengaluru FC as their brand ambassadors for their marketing campaign Leaders Choice in West Bengal, Bihar and Odisha.

4. PIF BOUGHT 2.32% STAKE IN JIO PLATFORM

·        Reliance Industries Limited(RIL)’s Jio Platforms stepped into 11th deal with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund(PIF), who bought 2.32% stake in Jio Platforms for Rs 11,367 crores.

·        With this investment, Jio Platforms has raised Rs 115,693.95 crores(1.15 lakh crores) from leading global investors since April 22, which is the largest continuous fund raised by a company in the world.

·        This investment estimates the equity value of Jio Platforms at Rs 4.91 lakh crore & its enterprise value at Rs 5.16 lakh crore.  

·        With this investment, RIL holds 75.3% stake in Jio while 24.7% by the investors.

5. INDIA TO BECOME PRESIDENT OF UNSC FOR AUGUST 2021

·        India was elected unopposed for an 8th term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for two years (i.e.2021 & 2022) starting January 2021 by gaining 184 votes in the 193-member General Assembly. Along with India, Mexico, Ireland, Kenya and Norway were also elected. India was the only candidate for the lone seat from the Asia-Pacific category.

·        India will serve as the president of the powerful 15-nation UN body for the month of August, 2021 & once again it will serve as the president for 1 month in the year 2022.

·        Also India’s approach will be guided by “Five S’s”, as set out by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi viz: 

·        Samman (Respect) 

·        Samvad (Dialogue) 

·        Sahyog (Cooperation) 

·        Shanti (Peace), to create conditions for universal; 

·        Samriddhi (Prosperity). 

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DAILY Current Affairs 19 JUNE 2020

DAILY Current Affairs 19 JUNE 2020

1. FORMAL JOBS IN INDIA INCREASES BY 28.6%

·        According to the payroll data of EPFO (Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation), an organization tasked to assist the Central Board of Trustees, Employees’ Provident Fund, the formal employment in India saw an 28.6 % increase at 78.58 lakh in 2019-20 as compared to only 61.12 lakh added in 2018-19.

·        The main reason for this is the low withdrawal by EPFO ​​subscribers due to the government’s policy reforms such as implementing GST, allowing fixed income contracts as well as better returns on PF (Provident Fund) deposits.

2. INDIA ELECTED AS NON-PERMANENT MEMBER OF UNSC

·        India was elected unopposed for an 8th term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for two years (i.e.2021 & 2022) starting January 2021 by gaining 184 votes in the 193-member General Assembly.

·         Along with India, Mexico, Ireland, Kenya and Norway were also elected.

·        India was the only candidate for the lone seat from the Asia-Pacific category.

·        India will serve as the president of the powerful 15-nation UN body for the month of August, 2021 & once again it will serve as the president for 1 month in the year 2022.

·        The Presidency of the council will be held by each of the members in turn for one month. For June 2020 it is held by France.

3. ICICI HOME FINANCE LAUNCHES SARAL

·        ICICI Home Finance Company Limited(HFC) launched SARAL, a special affordable housing loan scheme to finance homes in urban and rural areas.

·        The beneficiaries are women, lower, middle income customers and economically weaker sections, with a maximum household income up to Rs 6 lakh per annum.

·        ICICI HFC offers interest subsidy of up to Rs 2.67 lakh per house for SARAL loan applicants up to the end of this financial year, under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)

·        ICICI HFC is a Housing Finance Company regulated by the Reserve Bank of India(RBI) and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ICICI Bank Ltd.

4. BANK OF BARODA TO FULLY DIGITIZE LENDING OPERATIONS

·        India’s 3rd largest lender, Bank of Baroda is set to fully digitise its lending operations including home, agriculture, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises(MSME), personal and auto loans.

·        Verification and issuance of new loans will take place through this digital platform & past loans will also be digitized to reduce costs and improve profitability.

·        The bank has recently completed its merger with Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank.

5. PRESIDENT OF 75TH UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

·        Volkan Bozkir(69) from Turkey was elected as the president of the 75th United Nations(UN) General Assembly.

·        He is the 1st turkish to hold this post.

·        He will hold the post for 1 year.

·        Volkan Bozkir will succeed Tijjani Muhammad-Bande when the annual session opens on September 15, 2020.

·        He won unopposed with the support of 178 UN member states by secret ballot.

6. “FIFTH STATE OF MATTER” IN SPACE

·        A team of scientists at US (United States) based Space agency NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)’s Cold Atom Lab (CAL), have found for the first time in space the evidence of ‘Fifth State of Matter’ (also known as Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC).

·        They believe that through this will help in solving some of the quantum puzzles of quantum universe the kernels of the universe can be solved and its origin can also be traced.

·        It is to be noted that, the existence of BEC was first predicted by great scientist Albert Einstein and Indian mathematician Satyendra Nath Bose, almost 100 years ago in early 1920.

·         This experiment has been done at the International Space Station (ISS).

·        There are four states of matter namely Solid, Fluid, Gas and Plasma. Plasma is the gaseous state, but it is ionized.

7. SUSTAINABLE GASTRONOMY DAY 2020 – JUNE 18

·        June 18th of every year is observed as the sustainable gastronomy day to celebrate seasonal ingredients and producers, preserve wildlife and culinary traditions.

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