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JUNE (WK 2) 2020 CURRENT
AFFAIRS
INDIAN AFFAIRS
• CSIR and Atal Innovation Mission sign a Letter of Intent to foster Innovation in India.
-This partnership will support world class start-ups through CSIR Incubators under AIM initiatives and jointly
work on new models of innovation, including setting up of CSIR Innovation Parks.
-It also stimulates innovation and research in the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) industry by
CSIR in collaboration with Atal Research & Innovation for Small Enterprises (ARISE), an initiative of AIM.
• Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh launched Street Vendor Registration Portal
http://www.mpurban.gov.in/ and “Mukhyamantri Shahri Path Vyavasayi Utthan Yojana” and transferred Rs
300 crore to the urban local bodies.
• The Cabinet of Odisha chaired by Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister of Odisha approved the proposal to
give the status of State anthem to “Bande Utkala Janani”, a poem written by Kantakabi Laxmikanta
Mohapatra in 1912.
• Karnataka Revenue Minister R.Ashoka launched Meghasandesha App & Varunamitra web portal to provide
real-time information and alerts on weather, rainfall, and flooding in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara
Palike(BBMP) jurisdiction.
• Rajasthan Chief Minister(CM) Ashok Gehlot launched the Online Shramik Employment Exchange, ‘Raj
Kaushal Portal’. The portal is developed by the department of Information and Technology(IT) and Rajasthan
Skill & Livelihoods Development Corporation(RSLDC) through video conference.
o Purpose- To ensure employment for migrant workers from other states and assure unemployed persons
who are available to work in industries that face a labor shortage.
• Madhya Pradesh has started a plantation drive named “Thank Mom” on the premises of its Social Justice
and Disabled Welfare Directorate on World Environment Day. As per the instruction from Commissioner
Renu Tiwari, a variety of plants such as Neem, Guava, Mango, Moonlight, Parijat and Tulsi were planted with
a plate in the name of each employee’s mother.
o On the theme ‘Time for Nature’, online and offline programs were organized in all the districts to
focus on conservation of biodiversity across the state.
o Each employee has been insisted to plant one tree in a year and they should take care of their plant.
• UP govt. clears “Cow Slaughter Prevention (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020” to prevent cow slaughter. The
ordinance has amended the Uttar Pradesh cow slaughter act, 1955. This proposed law provides a maximum
rigorous imprisonment of 10 years and a fine up to Rs 5 lakh.
• Andhra Pradesh (AP) Chief Minister(CM) Yeduguri Sandinti(YS) Jagan Mohan Reddy launched the ‘Jagananna
Chedodu’ scheme to provide financial assistance to tailors, barbers and dhobis(washermen). Under the
scheme, Rs 10,000 per person was provided to 2.47 lakh washermen(82,347), barbers(38,767) and
tailors(1,25,926).
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• The Maharashtra cabinet chaired by its Chief Minister (CM) Uddhav Bal Thackeray has approved a proposal
to rename the state’s Environment Ministry as ‘Environment and Climate Change Ministry’ with the aim to
play an active role in climate change mitigation.
• Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani announced the phase 2 and phase 3 of the Saurashtra Narmada Avtaran
Irrigation (SAUNI ) scheme (inaugurated in 2016 by Prime Minister Modi in Gujarat) to fill 115 dams with
Narmada water by August 15,2020 and March ,2021 respectively in GandhiNagar,Gujarat.
• Himachal Pradesh (HP) Chief Minister (CM) Jai Ram Thakur launched ‘Panchvati Yojana’ for the senior
citizens of rural areas of the state. Under the yojana parks & gardens will be established in every
development block with mandatory facilities under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee
Act (MGNREGA) 2005, Scheme of Rural Development Department. About 100 such parks will be developed
in different parts of the state during FY 2020.
• The Uttarakhand forest department has opened state’s biggest biodiversity park in Haldwani on 5 June
2020, on the occasion of World Environment Day, to encourage conservation of flora, especially medicinal
plants. The park named “Uttarakhand Forest Research Wing Biodiversity Park” spread across 18 acres.
• The highest ever allocation of funds worth Rs. 1,01,500 made under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in the current Financial Year(FY) 2020-2021. A sum of Rs.
31,493 crore has already been released in 2020-21, which is more than 50 percent of budget estimation of
current Financial Year 2020-21.
• Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister(CM) Yogi Adityanath launched ‘Bal Shramik Vidya Yojana’ for 8-18 years
old children, who are child labourers instead of being in school, through video conference.
o Aim of the yojana– To educate orphans and worker’s children or child labourers & ensure their healthy
life.
o Financial assistance– This scheme provides financial assistance of Rs 1000 per month(pm) to boys, Rs
1200 pm to girls & children studying 8th, 9th and 10th will be given Rs 6000 per annum along with a
monthly incentive.
• Odisha became the first State in India to receive prestigious ISO (International Organization for
Standardization) 9001:2015 certification for its 44 tribal hostels of Keonjhar (32 hostels) and Sambalpur (12
hostels) districts improving their overall infrastructure and standards under Mission Suvidya. The
certification is an example of the transformation targets set under the state’s 5T(Technology, Transparency,
Teamwork, Time and Transformation) framework.
• Hyderabad City Security Council (HCSC) along with Hyderabad City Police launched “She Triumphs through
Respect, Equality, and Empowerment(STREE)”, a programme to support and empower women victims of
domestic violence and abuse. To promote a common platform for all women to join together and work with
police to deal with issues related to women’s safety and security.
• Punjab CM Amarinder Singh launched mobile based app ‘Ghar ghar nigrani’ app through video conference
to conduct house-to-house surveillance in the state to eliminate the COVID-19 pandemic.
• FSSAI State food safety index for 2019-20 released during webinar; Gujarat, Goa, Chandigarh topped. It was
announced during a webinar conducted on the occasion of “World Food Safety Day” on June 7, 2020 on the
theme “Food Safety is everyone’s business”. FSSAI also released an e-handbook on “Eat Right during COVID-
19” for citizens.
• Dr. Jitendra Singh launched COVID BEEP, India’s first physiological parameters monitoring system for COVID-
19 patients. “COVID BEEP” is an acronym for Continuous Oxygenation & Vital Information Detection Biomed
ECIL ESIC Pod.
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• Western Coalfields Ltd opened 3 new coal mines for Rs 849 cr; 100 MT coal production target by FY26-27.
The three mines are Adasa Mine, an underground to open cast mine, in Nagpur Area of Maharashtra, Sharda
underground Mine in Kanhan Area and Dhankasa underground mine in Pench Area of Madhya Pradesh.
• Govt changes public procurement rules, more preference to local suppliers. The objective behind this is to
promote ‘Make in India’ and making the country self-reliant.
• The Department of Agriculture Cooperation & Farmers’ Welfare (DAC&FW) has allocated Rs. 4000 cr to the
state governments under PMKSY- PDMC which focuses on the effective use of water at farm level through
Micro Irrigation technologies viz. Drip and Sprinkler irrigation systems. For Micro Irrigation Fund a corpus of
Rs. 5000 crore has been created with NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development).
o PMKSY: This scheme was formulated on July 1, 2015 with an outlay of Rs. 50,000 crore in five years for
extending the water coverage for irrigation under focusing “Har Khet ko pani” and improving water use
efficiency aiming at “More crop per drop”.
• Diversion of forests for non-forestry projects: Govt. of India. 11,467.83 hectares (114.68 square kilometre)
forest lands were diverted for non-forestry projects throughout India. According to the Union Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate change annual report 2019-20 the diversion was for 932 non-forestry
projects under the Forest (Conservation) Act (FCA), 1980.
• In a big boost to the ‘Skill India’ initiative of the Government of India, National Fertilizers Limited (NFL),a
Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) works under the Ambit of Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, has
signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) Nangal (Punjab) to
train youths in 12 trades under Dual System of Training Scheme.
• The Department of School Education and Literacy under Ministry of Human Resource Development(MHRD)
has collaborated with Fit India(flagship programme of sports ministry) under the ”Ek Bharat, Shrestha
Bharat” initiative to produce a series of special films to promote 10 indigenous sports of India.
o Aim of the series– To create awareness about indigenous games & the culture and heritage of their
respective states.
• Indian government extended its health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya
Yojana (AB-PMJAY) for migrant workers facing unemployment, across states. In this regard, the
implementing agency of AB-PMJAY, National Health Authority (NHA) is coordinating with the states to
identify the eligible beneficiaries under the scheme so that e-cards will be issued to them.
o AB-PMJAY: Launched on 23rd September, 2018, it provides health cover of up to Rs 5 lakhs per family
per year, for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to over 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families
(about 53 crore beneficiaries). It is a cashless and paperless scheme implemented by NHA. CEO of AB-
PMJAY and NHA– Dr Indu Bhushan
• Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain, flag officer commander in chief of the Eastern Naval Command (ENC)
inaugurated a Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) complex in Vishakapattanam.
• Gir Sanctuary Gujarat’s Asiatic Lion population risen to 29% in 5 years; “Poonam Avlokan” survey. The
population of the Asiatic lion at the Gir sanctuary in Gujarat was surveyed with the help of Poonam Avlokan
exercise, which showed an increase in the Lion population to 29% in 2020 from 27% in 2015 Also, the
distribution area of the lions was also increased to 36% from 22,000sq Km in 2015 to 30,000 sq Km in 2020.
• The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) launched a flagship programme, “Turant customs”
at Bengaluru and Chennai to have a technology-supported faster clearance of imported goods for the ease
of doing business & is expected to be completed by December 31, 2020.
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• Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister inaugurated a Sahakar Mitra
Scheme on Internship Program (SIP) an initiative of the NCDC (National Cooperative Development
Corporation). Young professionals will be working with the NCDC under the scheme with paid internships to
develop leadership and entrepreneurial skills through the cooperatives by playing the role of FPO (Farmer
Producer Organisation). Under the scheme, each intern will receive financial support for a period of 4
months.
• Ministry of Shipping has approved the Revised Cost estimate of Rs. 123.95 crore for the project “Extension
of Dry Dock-II at a marine dockyard including supply, installation and commissioning of Dry Dock Pumps and
accessories in Port Blair, South Andaman” for augmenting Ship Repair facilities in Andaman & Nicobar
Islands. The project envisages extension of existing dock length by 90 meters by August 2021.
• First in the world: Indian railways created a benchmark by setting a new world history on the successful
running of the first Double-decker Container Train with a contact wire of 7.57-metre height. In the high rise
Over Head Equipment (OHE) electrified territory on the western railway from Palanpur and Botad stations in
Gujarat.
• The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
becomes the first Organisation in the Construction Sector to become fully digitalised utilising the cloud and
artificial intelligence powered by the Data Lake, a Big Data Analytic platform and Project Management
softwares.
• MP becomes India’s largest wheat procurer in the year 20-21 surpassing Punjab. Rs 25,000 crore introduced
to boost farmers. MP also produced the most wheat about 30 million tonnes this year.
• The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray and Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare,
Science & Technology, Earth Sciences Dr Harsh Vardhan jointly launched the state-of-the-art Integrated
Flood Warning System (I-FLOWS) – Mumbai. The system monitors the flood activities by providing early
warning in the city during high rainfall and cyclone events by as early as 3 days in advance.
o It was developed by India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Indian Institute of Tropical
Meteorology (IITM) functioning under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
• National Green Tribunal has directed Gujarat based chemical company Yashashvi Rasayan Private Ltd to
deposit Rs. 25 crore. NGT has imposed this penalty for the incident of blast at the company after the blast in
Dahej plant.
• Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the 18th Bench of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) for the Union
Territories (UTs) of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh through a Video Conference on 8 June.
• The Tamil Nadu Government has scrapped public examinations for the Tenth Standard this year due to the
looming Covid-19 situation. In an order, the government has said all the students have been declared
promoted to the next classes.
• 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.
• Machine to dispense mask and sanitizer installed at Patna railway station.
• The Central Railway zone of the Indian Railways has launched a body-screening facility “FebriEye thermal
cameras” at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Mumbai, Maharashtra,
to scan passengers for COVID-19 symptoms and ensure contactless entry.
• Online waste exchange website of Andhra Pradesh Environment Management Corporation (APEMC) has
been launched by the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
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• “Raj Kaushal Portal” and “Online Shramik Employment Exchange” has been launched by the Rajasthan
Goverment. The “Raj Kaushal Portal” aims to improve availability of opportunities for the migrated workers
and hence acts as a bridge between industry and labourers. The “Online Shramik Employment Exchange”
comprises of data of over 12 lakh migrant workers including registered workers of planning offices and
building and other construction boards.
• Aimed at enhancing farmer income, Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) and Government
of Himachal Pradesh have entered into a strategic partnership to boost cultivation of Saffron and Heeng in
the country.
• National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has digitally signed an MoU with Rotary India
Humanity Foundation under the guidance and support of Ministry of Human Resource Development
(MHRD). The MoU has been signed for e-learning content telecast for class I to XII over all NCERT TV
channels.
• Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has mandated a strip of green colour for BS-VI vehicles of any fuel
type. The order will come into force from October 1, 2020.
• Indian government’s ambitious Bharamala Project may get delayed by four years due to the COVID-19
pandemic, as per ratings agency ICRA. The first phase of Bharatmala was supposed to be completed by
2021-22 but now it may only be completed by 2025-26 due to delays caused by nationwide lockdown to
contain coronavirus pandemic.
• Kerala government cancels Sabarimala Temple annual festival.
• Ladakh Lieutenant Governor R K Mathur released the first video on Yoga Asanas in Ladakhi, in Leh. Ahead of
International Yoga Day on June 21, the National Research Institute for Sowa Rigpa (NRISR), Leh has made a
video on Yoga Asanas in Ladakhi language. It is the first video on yoga made in Ladakhi language based on
the common yoga protocol of Ministry of Aayush. The theme for this year’s International Yoga Day is “Yoga
at Home and Yoga with Family.”
• Karnataka government has decided to ban online classes for the students up to 5th standard in the State.
• Haryana government will construct 1,000 water recharge bores in underground water deficient areas of the
state to recharge underground water with rainfall. 90 percent of the cost of the bore will be borne by the
government and 10 percent by the farmers.
• Coimbatore becomes Koyampuththoor as TN changes English names of 1,018 places.
• The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has become the first of its kind in the construction sector to
go fully digital.
• In Gujarat, Gujarat Council on Science and Technology GUJCOST has started a unique initiative of Digital
learning classes for teachers to help them use digital technology in a better way.
• Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has partnered with the Common Service Centre to provide
the facility to submit Digital Jeevan Pramaan for EPS pensioners. 65 lakh pensioners can submit Digital
Jeevan Pramaan closer to their residence.
• The Indian Navy has inducted the Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) Complex to provide rescue
cover to submarines on the east and west coast of India.
• Centre has directed all the 8 North Eastern States to set up e-office in a stipulated timeframe. The
announcement was made by Union Minister of State for Personnel, PG and Pensions Dr. Jitendra Singh. The
e-office project will be a cardinal pillar of Digital India.
• Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath has launched ‘Bal Shramik Vidya Yojana’ to educate child
labourers in the state. This scheme has launched, on the occasion of the International Child Labour
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Prohibition Day. The government will give monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,200 to selected
boys and girls, respectively.
• The Uttar Pradesh Government is to make the TrueNat Machines available in all 75 districts to test COVID-
19. The ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) had approved the machines to conduct COVID-19 tests
earlier.
• In Uttar Pradesh, the State Government has decided to adopt the scheme of Flatted Factory Model which
will ensure easy availability of land for industries, and in turn, generate employment also.
• Madhya Pradesh government gives ‘corona warriors’ status to Divyang Anganwadi workers. These divyang
Anganwadi workers are playing an important role in the state during the ongoing Corona crisis.
• The Government of Jammu and Kashmir recently launched the Poultry Policy, 2020. The Jammu and Kashmir
Government has announced Rs 50 crores of subsidy per annum to establish broiler farms and its allied
activities.
• The country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) announced said its entry level small car Alto has
become the best-selling model for the 16th year in a row clocking sale of 1.48 lakh units in 2019-20.
• The Archaeological Survey team has recently claimed that a 500 year old temple that submerged in the
waters of Mahanadi resurfaced. The Mahanadi River that changed its course 150 years due to flooding had
submerged the Padmabati village where the temple is located. However, Gopinath Deba Temple was visible
as it is the tallest of all. The temple is called “Mastaka”.
• Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan has approved the opening of four new Kendriya Vidyalayas. Human Resource
Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank informed this. Four Kendriya Vidyalayas are KV SSB
Champawat, Uttrakhand, KV Railway Dangaopossi, Jharkhand, KV Madhupuri, Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh and K
V Sumerpur, Hamirpur, Uttar Pradesh. Now the total number of Kendriya Vidyalayas have reached to one
thousand 239 in country.
• Madhya Pradesh is set to pump in around Rs 25,000 crore into its rural economy by the time its all-time high
wheat procurement draws to a close. This has made the state the country’s largest wheat purchaser in
2020-21.
• A week after being hit by Cyclone Nisarga, Maharashtra has renamed its Environment Ministry as
Environment and Climate Change Ministry.
• Raja Parba, Odisha’s three-day unique festival celebrating the onset of monsoon and the earth’s
womanhood has begun.
• National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) organizes ONLINE NAIMISHA 2020 Summer Art Program from 8th
June 2020 to 3rd July 2020.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
• The Embassy of India and the Central Level Project Implementation Unit (CLPIU) of the Ministry of
Education, Nepal signed 7 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) for re-building 56 higher secondary
schools.
• To promote strategic intervention in the power sector, a MOU was signed between India and Denmark.
• India, China hold top military-level talks in Maldo, Ladakh amid May 2020 standoff.
• The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has started Yoga practice for its officers to make them physically and
mentally fit at a time when Coronavirus is spreading rapidly in the country.
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• The Government of Bangladesh has launched an initiative named ‘Shohojodha’, which is an online network
to facilitate plasma exchange between recovered patients of COVID 19 and those undergoing treatment for
Corona infection in the country.
• The Health Ministry of South-Pacific nation, New Zealand has declared that the nation has become free from
“Coronavirus”.
• The Sri Lankan parliamentary election has been finally decided for 5 August 2020. The new date to conduct
election comes after elections were postponed twice because of the COVID-19 crisis.
• Three months after banning foreigners from entering India due to coronavirus situation, the Centre lifted
curbs on entry of five categories of foreign nationals to India–those who wish to come to the country on
account of family emergencies and could not come due to the lockdown imposed to curb COVID-19.
• The United Kingdom’s economy shrank by record 20.4 percent in April, amid strict lockdown to combat
COVID-19, revealed official data on June 12, 2020.
• Facebook has joined hands with Microsoft, Google, Twitter and 14 other tech giants for a new initiative
called ‘Project Protect’ to help combat child sexual abuse and exploitation online. Facebook will lead this
initiative.
• India would be sending a tri-service military contingent to participate in the Russian Victory Day Parade on
June 24, 2020. The Russian parade was supposed to be held on Victory Day on May 9 but got delayed
because of COVID-19.
INDEX
• As per the report of Deep Knowledge Group’s safest country in the world from covid- 19, India ranked 56th
position in a list of 200 countries, while Switzerland has been found to be the safest place on earth from the
ongoing covid-19 pandemic followed by Germany and Israel. While South Sudan was ranked at 200th
position.
• The Union Minister of Human Resource Development (HRD) Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has virtually
released 5th edition of National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Ranking 2020, which accounted
5805 institutes for the ranking based on 10 categories namely- Overall, Universities, Engineering, Colleges,
Management, Pharmacy, Medical, Dental Architecture, and Law.
o The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras (Tamil Nadu) has topped the list of ‘overall ranking’
category with a score of 85.31 followed by Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru and Indian Institute of
Technology Delhi.
• QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) is a global education analyst that released the 17th edition of the QS World
University Rankings 2021.
QS World University Rankings 2021 ( TOP 5)
o 2021 2020 Institution Country
o 1 1 Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT) USA
o 2 2 Stanford University USA
o 3 3 Harvard University USA
Indian Institutes Ranking in Top 200. This year only 3 Institutions from India were among the top
two- hundred ranks.
IIT Bombay grabbed the top spot at rank 172
IISc Bengaluru was at the 185th spot
IIT Delhi was ranked 193 in the globe.
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• Mercer released its 26th Annual Cost of Living Survey 2020. From India, Mumbai city has been ranked 60th
most expensive city globally and also 19th in Asia. Mumbai is the only Indian city ranked in the top 100.
Hongkong tops the list globally.
o Mercer’s 26th annual Cost of Living Survey will help employers navigate non-native packages, essential
due to uncertainty from the COVID-19 pandemic and consider alternate forms of international
assignments to sustain overseas operations. The survey includes over 400 cities throughout the world;
this year’s ranking includes 209 cities across five continents.
• In accordance with the Nature Index 2020 ratings, 3 autonomous institutions of the Department of Science
& Technology (DST), Government of India ranked among top 30 Indian Institutes. The Nature Index 2020
ratings has been globally topped by Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), China while India’s Council of
Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is on 160th position globally but stood first among Indian
institutions.
Top 3 Institutions (Global)
Rank Institution
o Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), China
o Harvard University, United States of America (USA)
o Max Planck Society, Germany
• Amazon’s Jeff Bezos Richest Man in the World; Ambani at 12th Position: Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has emerged as the richest person in the world with a total net worth of $150 billion
after he added almost $35 billion to his net worth so far this year. Bill Gates is the second richest person
having total net worth of $115 billion. The total net worth of Ambani is 57.2 billion.
• The Union Minister of Human Resource Development, Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, virtually released
‘India NIRF Rankings 2020’ of Institutions of Higher Education on 11 June 2020 in New Delhi.
List of top Institutes in each category
Overall – Indian Institute of Technology Madras
University – Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru
Engineering – Indian Institute of Technology Madras
Management – Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad
Colleges – Miranda House, Delhi
Pharmacy – Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi
Medical – All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
Architecture – Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
Law – National Law School of India University, Bengaluru
Dental – Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, Delhi
• Nature Index table 2020 has been released placing India at 12th rank globally in science research output.
USA secured the first position followed by China, Germany, United Kingdom and Japan.
o In the tops institutions list, CSIR bagged 160th rank, followed by IISc (184th).
o Nature Index is a database of research articles published in an independently selected group of 82 high-
quality science journals.
o It is compiled by Springer Nature with headquarter at London.
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REPORTS
• U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) appreciated State Department’s 2019 Annual
Report on International Religious Freedom to improving religious freedom conditions abroad. As per the
report India was termed as “country of particular concern’(CPC) for engaging in, tolerating systematic, and
ongoing religious freedom violations including the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, continued
enforcement of cow slaughter and anti-conversion laws, and the November Supreme Court ruling on the
Babri Masjid site. Therefore USCIRF recommends CPC designation for India in this report.
• The International Labour Organization and the UNICEF have released a report on Child Labour. The report
has been released under the title Title: COVID-19 and Child Labour: A Time of Crisis, A Time to Act
• The report says that millions of children are to be pushed to child labour due to COVID-19 crisis.
• The report also says that the children already in laborious activities might end up working longer hours.
• According to the report, COVID-19 will increase poverty that will eventually drive the increase in child
labour.
• The report predicts that 1% increase in poverty will lead to 0.7% increase in child labour.
BANKING & FINANCE
• The State Bank of India (SBI) has relaunched ‘SBI Insta Saving Bank Account’,an Aadhaar-based instant digital
savings account for customers using the Yono platform, which will offer a complete paperless and instant
digital savings account opening with just PAN and Aadhaar number.
• RBI has drafted documents for public comments titled ‘Draft Framework for Securitization of Standard
Assets’ and ‘Draft Comprehensive Framework for Sale of Loan Exposures’ till June 30, 2020.
o The guidelines applicable to all Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding Regional Rural Banks);
All India Financial Institutions [National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD),
National Housing Bank (NHB), EXIM (Export-Import) Bank, and Small industrial Development
Bank of India (SIDBI)]; and, all Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) including Housing
Finance Companies (HFCs).
o Guidelines include the recommendations of the Committee on Development of Housing Finance
Securitisation Market in India chaired by Dr. Harsh Vardhan and the Task Force on the
Development of Secondary Market for Corporate Loans chaired by Thothala Narayanaswamy
Manoharan, which were set up by the Reserve Bank in May, 2019.
• Flipkart-owned digital payments platform PhonePe along with ICICI Lombard, the non-life insurance
company launched ‘first of its kind’ travel insurance, domestic multi-trip insurance .The cost of the insurance
is Rs 499/year.It provides 365-day protection & covers all modes of transport.
• India becomes 2nd nation to have contact-free ATM cash withdrawals; Empays Payment Systems partners
with Mastercard.
o This cardless ATM (automated teller machine) will enable the users to withdraw their money
just by scanning a (Quick Response) code on the mobile phone, using their banking app.
o It should be noted that Empays is authorised by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as a national
payment system.
o Earlier, AGS Transact Technologies Limited (AGSTTL) has developed ‘touchless’ (based on QR
code) solution for cash withdrawals at ATMs.
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• ePaisa entered into a partnership with First Alliance Bank (Z) Ltd in Zambia, Africa, to provide mobile point
of sale (mPOS) solution to small and medium enterprises and other businesses. ePaisa will be the solution
provider for First Alliance Bank(FAB), which will further provide it to businesses across Zambia.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has restricted People’s Co-operative Bank located in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
(UP) from granting fresh loans and accepting deposits for six months from June 10, 2020, due to its weak
financial position in exercise of powers vested in it under sub section (1) of Section 35 A of the Banking
Regulation Act, 1949 read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. The bank is barred from
selling, transferring or disposing any of its properties or assets. Also no withdrawal of amount across all
savings account or current accounts or any other account of a depositor will be allowed from the co-
operative bank.
• On June 12, 2020, India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has set up a 5-member internal
working group (IWG) headed by its Central Board Director Prasanna Kumar (PK) Mohanty to review
ownership guidelines and corporate structure for private banks in light of recent developments in the
banking sector. The committee is due to submit its report by 30th September 2020.
• Capital markets regulator Sebi imposed a total penalty of Rs 15 lakh on three entities for indulging in
fraudulent trading in illiquid stock options on the BSE.The regulator has levied a fine of Rs 5 lakh each on B D
Suppliers, Burlington Barter Pvt. Ltd and Chunchun Ispat Pvt Ltd.
• The Forex Reserves of India are increasing and are to hit 500 billion USD soon. In May 2020, the Indian Forex
Reserves touched an all time high of 493 billion USD.
• Long-term package motor insurance products that offer third party (TP) and own damage (OD) for two-
wheelers (five year policies) and four wheelers (three years) will be withdrawn from August 1, 2020.
o The insurance regulator (IRDAI) said in an order that the distribution of package policies has its
challenges due to affordability factors for a large section of vehicle owners.
o This means that customers won’t be given an option to buy OD covers for a long-term basis.
• The State Bank of India (SBI) relaunched its Aadhaar-based instant digital savings account facility for
customers who want to open an online account using the Yono platform.
• The RBI has proposed an upper age limit of 70 years for CEOs and whole-time directors of banks and a
maximum term of 10 years for those belonging to the promoter group, as part of the exercise to improve
governance in the banking sector.
• India’s forex reserves have now crossed the $ 500 billion mark, according to the data released by the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• India Infrastructure Finance Company (IIFCL) said the government infused equity share capital of Rs 5,297.60
crore in the company on March 30. This infusion has increased the paid-up equity share capital of IIFCL to Rs
9,999.92 crore against the authorized share capital of Rs 10,000 crore.
LOANS
• According to the Chief Minister (CM) of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee, the World Bank (WB) has granted
loan worth of Rs. 1,950 crore to the state for tackling coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and developmental
work. Out of the total amount, Rs. 1,100 crore will be allocated for creating Industrial infrastructures and
the balance Rs. 850 crore will be spent for various Social-Welfare schemes.
• Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank) has provided a line of credit (LOC) of $215.68 million to the Malawi
government for drinking water supply schemes and other development projects includes supply of irrigation
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network, tobacco threshing plant, cotton processing facilities and construction of a new water supply
system from Likhubula river in Mulanje to Blantyre.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
• The US International Development Finance Corporation (USIDFC) is planning to invest 350 million USD in
sectors of finance, health infrastructure, renewable energy and food security in India.
• Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has collaborated with non-
banking financial companies (NBFCs) to push sales in the rural areas where demand recovery is expected to
be quicker than urban areas. More than 35% of Maruti’s total sales come from rural markets.
• Amazon Business has announced ‘MSME Accelerate’ which will run till 20th June. On Amazon.in/Business,
MSME Accelerate will feature selection, deals, discounts, and savings to help small businesses kick start
operations as they cater to new demands.
• Tech Mahindra signs UNGC Initiative to reduce CO2 emissions; Target to raise renewable energy to 50% by
2025.
o -Through this joint declaration, Tech Mahindra aims to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
and energy conservation by using new-age technologies like internet of things (IoT), artificial
intelligence and block chain.
o -Tech Mahindra also reaffirms its commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions with
fairer transition from a grey to a green economy.
• Recykal, a digital technology company in the waste management space collaborated with United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) and Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd (HCCB) for Project Prithvi, a
joint initiative for developing sustainable plastic waste management practices in the country.
• Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) iON, unit of TCS, partnered with the National Skill Development Corporation
(NSDC) to provide its training partners access to the TCS iON Digital Glass Room, a web-based digital
education platform.
• Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Ltd (IFFCO) signs MoU with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research
(ICAR) for joint research, testing and validation of different products through ICAR institutes and Krishi
Vigyan Kendras(KVKs).
• Government has rolled out filing of NIL GST monthly return in FORM GSTR-3B through SMS. This will
improve ease of GST compliance to more than 22 lakh taxpayers.
• Traders’ body CAIT launched a campaign to boycott Chinese goods with an aim to reduce India’s imports of
products manufactured in the country by USD 13 billion by December 2021.
• The Government of India has raised the Customs duty on bamboo imports from 10% to 25% with immediate
effect. The decision to increase the Customs duty on bamboo imports was taken to encourage the use of
domestic bamboo under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
• Tata AutoComp Systems announced that it has tied up with US-based Tellus Power Green to set up electric
vehicle charging stations in the country.
• US based tech-giant Apple Inc’s market capitalization surpassed $1.5 trillion, making it the first U.S.
Company to reach that mark.
• Global hospitality major Marriott International said its home delivery service will now be available in more
cities through an agreement with food aggregator Zomato.
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• Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund announced Vodafone Idea Ltd has made an interest payment of about Rs
103 crore and that the amount will be distributed among investors in proportion to their holdings in the
segregated portfolios.
GROWTH RATE
• Indian GDP to contract 5% in FY21: S&P Global Ratings.
• The rating agency “S&P” has kept India’s sovereign rating at “BBB-” along with a stable outlook.
• The Washington based multilateral lender, World Bank in its latest edition of the Global Economic Prospect
(GEP) June 2020 analytical chapters reports states that India’s growth is contract by 3.2%(so growth is -3.2%)
for FY20-21 .It was lower from 4.2% which forecasted in FY2019-20 at the end of March 2020.
• India’s economy is predicted to -7.3% for FY 21 due to 2nd wave of COVID-19:OECD’s June 2020 EO
• According to the report ‘Global Trade Update 2020’ released by the United Nations Conference on Trade
and Development (UNCTAD), the value of international trade in goods fell by 5% in the first quarter (Q1) of
2020 and is expected to plunge further by 27% in the ongoing second quarter (Q2) due to the
unprecedented effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
o It has also forecasted a 20% annual decline in trade for the year 2020.
ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS
• The US(United States) private equity company Silver Lake partners announced an investment of Rs 4,546.80
crore for an additional 0.93 % stake in Jio Platforms, a subsidiary of Asia’s richest man Mukesh Ambani-
controlled Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL).
• Bharti International (Singapore) buys additional 6.3% stake in Robi Axiata from NTT Docomo.
• Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Limited (IL&FS) has completed the sale of its 50% stake in Gujarat
International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City). These stakes were bought by the Gujarat Urban Development
Company Ltd (GUDCL), on behalf of the Gujarat government, at an amount of Rs 32.71 crore.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
• Poet and writer Javed Akhtar becomes the first Indian to receive Richard Dawkins Award 2020.
• Indian Entrepreneur Renjith Kumar honoured with “NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal”.
• Indian Musician Shobha Sekhar, the founder of Kalakruthi a music organisation in Australia receives the
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Queen’s Birthday 2020 for her service to Indian music and
dance.
• 76-year-old Indian-American Soil scientist, Dr. Rattan Lal received the 2020 World Food Prize Laureate
(250,000 USD – Rs. 1.89 crore) for developing and mainstreaming a soil centric approach to increase food
production that conserves natural resources and mitigates climate change. He was born in 1944 in Karyal,
West Punjab, India.
o World Food Prize is also referred as ‘Nobel Prize in the field of agriculture’ or “Nobel Prize for
Food and Agriculture.”
• Former NASA Astronaut & Geologist Kathy Sullivan becomes 1st Woman to Reach Deepest Point of Ocean.
Kathy Sullivan, the first American woman to walk in space achieves another record after 25 years becoming
the first woman to reach the ocean’s deepest point.
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• A Manila, Philippines based foundation that gives out Ramon Magsaysay Award announced that the awards
are being cancelled due to COVID-19.
• HCL Technologies, a leading global technology company, has received a 2020 Rising Star Award from
Pegasystems Inc., the software company empowering digital transformation at the world’s leading
enterprises.
• International News Media Association (INMA) has awarded The Hindu Group at the Global Media Awards
2020.
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNS
• The Gargo International, the delhi based lubricant company under the RG group appoints Sonu Sood as the
brand ambassador in January 2020 & praised him now for his support works for the migrants and went live
with their TVC starring Sonu Sood.
• Board of United Trust India (UTI) Mutual Fund appointed Imtaiyazur Rahman as Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) of the UTI Asset Management Company (AMC).
• Pankaj Tripathi, Bollywood Actor, was appointed as the brand ambassador of Patna’s Khadi Mall by the
Government of Bihar.He will also promote the usage of Khadi product. The Khadi Mall in Patna is India’s first
ever Kadhi mall & it was inaugurated by Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar in November 2019.
• President Ram Nath Kovind has appointed senior Kashmiri lawyer Javed Iqbal Wani as a Judge of the Jammu
and Kashmir High Court.
• Anil Valluri appointed as senior director for Google Cloud India.
• Toy manufacturer Funskool India announced the elevation of R Jeswant as its Chief Executive Officer with
immediate effect.
• Google has announced that it has appointed Prabhakar Raghavan as the head of Search and Assistant.
• Lakshmi Vilas Bank (LVB) on Wednesday said it has appointed B K Manjunath as its non-executive and
independent director.
• Shambhu S. Kumaran has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of the Philippines.
• Private sector lender HDFC Bank said that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the re-appointment
of Kaizad Bharucha as the executive director of the bank for a period of three years with effect from 13 June.
• Attorney General K.K. Venugopal is all set to get a one-year extension. Mr. Venugopal’s three-year tenure
comes to an end on June 30.
• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that Kathy Lueders will be its first
female director of human spaceflight.
SUMMIT & CONFERENCE
• The 3rd India-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) youth dialogue 2020 regarded the youth as
“vehicles of change” who are playing a pivotal role by leading the fight against the pandemic. The Central
elements of ASEAN-India strategic partnership are effectively and constructively channelizing the youthful
energy, education and skill development.
• The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts hosted a four day virtual fair for around 200 Indian Exporters.
The exporters were mainly from the industries of fashion jewelry and accessories. The four-day fair that was
conducted online focused on markets such as Europe and United States.
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• Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered the inaugural address at the 95th annual plenary session of Indian
Chamber of Commerce (ICC) on June 11, 2020 through video conferencing.
COMMITTEE
• Asian Development Bank (ADB) has constituted an 8-member high-level panel of leading experts in
economics, finance, and health, moderated by ADB Vice-President Ahmed M. Saeed, to help ministers,
central bank governors, and other senior officials identify solutions for Southeast Asian economies to tap
into to quickly recover after the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
o It is to be noted that the ADB has allocated $20 billion financial response to its 68 members to
help fight the pandemic and reboot its economy after months of lockdown. (ADB):
Headquarters– Mandaluyong, Philippines. President– Masatsugu Asakawa.
• G Kishan Reddy MoS Home Affairs as Chairman for the New Panel for Welfare of Freedom fighters.
• A 3-member high-level committee was formed by the Petroleum Ministry to inquire the disaster at Oil India
Ltd well in Assam. The panel will be headed by Director General of Directorate General of Hydrocarbons
(DGH), SCL Das other members include former ONGC(Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) chairman BC Bora
and former ONGC director T K Sengupta.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
• IIT-Guwahati’s students develop mobile app “Flyzy” for seamless and contactless air travel. The aim of the
mobile app is to provide contactless boarding, keeping in mind the easier baggage drop, manageable parking
and better shopping experience.
• IIT Mandi researchers develop make high efficiency masks from waste plastic bottles.
• Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-BHU) have developed an anti-microbial five-layered
face mask.
• The Researchers of IIT Kharagpur have developed an Artificial Intelligence based cyber-physical system to
monitor social distancing in public places.
• According to the research work published in the Journal of Alloys and Compounds, a team of Scientists from
the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI) has
developed a magnetocaloric material (a rare-earth-based material that can be heated or cooled by applying
or removing a magnetic field) that can be used in the treatment of cancer.
• ARPIT (Airborne Rescue Pod for Isolated Transportation) by the Indian Airforce (IAF) for the evacuation of
critical patients with infectious diseases from high altitude area, isolated and remote places.
• According to the research published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics, a team of scientists led by
the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS) in Gottingen (Germany) have discovered a new
planet named KOI-456.04 & its host star called Kepler-160 by using Kepler Space Telescope.
• A 23-year old Thane engineer, Pratik Tirodkar, founder of a start-up PNT Solutions, Dombivali developed the
world’s 1st ‘Internet-controlled’ robot named ‘Coro-bot’ to address the needs of the hospitals treating
COVID-19 patients.
• The Defence Institute of Advanced Technology(DIAT), Pune developed “ANANYA” water based disinfectant
spray with nanotechnology assisted formulation. This can be used by the general public and healthcare
workers and can be used for individual and large scale purposes.
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o ANANYA: The toxicity level of the spray is negligible to humans and it stays effective for more
than 24 hours.
• GRSE delivered 5th & final ship in FPV series, ICGS Kanaklata Barua; 4th FPV to be exported to Seychelles
Coast Guard.
• According to the study published in Astronomy & Astrophysics journal, a team of Scientists from the
Observatoie de Paris, PSL (Paris Sciences et Lettres) University in France, have witnessed a birth of a new
planet around a distant star called ‘AB Aurigae’ for the first time in human history by using photographs of
the SPHERE (Spectro-Polarimetric High-contrast Exoplanet Research) instrument on the Very Large
Telescope (VLT) of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Chile.
• Kerala Startup VST Mobility Solutions, has launched Internet of Things(IoT) based(facility that works without
any human touch) automated mask disposal machine “BIN-19” & “UltraViolet(UV) SPOT”, a UV light-based
multipurpose disinfector in association with Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and
Technology(SCTIMST).
• Shri Rajesh Bhushan, the officer on Special Duty of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched a
National Healthcare Supply Chain Portal Aarogyapath (https://www.aarogyapath.in) to provide real-time
availability of critical healthcare supplies with the involvement of manufacturers, suppliers and customers.
• The sanitising dry heat treatment chamber “GermiKlean” – developed by Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by Saveer Biotech Limited to sanitise the uniforms of
the security forces.
• Flipkart has launched a voice assistant in its grocery store Supermart to enable consumers discover and buy
products easily using voice commands. The voice-first conversational artificial intelligence (AI) platform has
been built by Flipkart’s in-house technology team with solutions that are capable of understanding
vernacular languages such as Hindi, e-commerce categories and products, and tasks such as searching for a
product, understanding product details and placing an order.
• Warship builder Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) delivered the ‘ICGS Kanaklata Barua’
on 9 June. It is the fifth and final ship in the series of Fast Patrol Vessels (FPV) for the Indian Coast Guard
(ICG).
• China’s unmanned submersible ‘Haidou-1’ has dived to a depth of 10, 907 meters at the world’s deepest
ocean point. Haidou-1 sets a new record for the country during which high-definition images of the
geological environment and samples from the deep sea were collected.
• Kerala Startup VST Mobility Solutions partners with SCTIMST to launch IoT based used mask disposal smart
bin and UV light-based disinfection device.
• A new study stated that Saturn’s largest moon Titan is now expanding from Saturn at a rate 100 times faster
than scientists had previously predicted. This speed of drifting is about 4 inches every year.
• Researchers at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) have developed a new low-cost and
low-tech required test for the COVID-19 testing. This test is known as Reverse Transcription nested PCR (RT-
nPCR) test.
• The private spaceflight company, SpaceX successfully launched its latest batch of 58 Starlink internet
satellites into the orbit, in a rideshare mission.
• The Union Health Ministry has recently included Remdesivir as a part of investigational therapy and updated
Clinical Management Protocol of COVID-19 patients.
• Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) signs MoU with Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational
Sciences (ARIES), Nainital for Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Astrophysics cooperation.
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• National Institute of Pharmaceuticals Education and Research (NIPER), Guwahati signs MoU with Hindustan
Antibiotic Limited, Pune for mass production of 3D printed antimicrobial faceshields.
• Twitter has launched new test feature called ‘Fleets’ in India on the lines of Instagram or Facebook stories
feature. This will allow users to post messages for 24 hours.
• Myanmar military ‘Tatmadaw’ is all set to use Facebook to provide ‘accurate’ news to people countering
misinformation.
• Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will organize online ISRO Cyberspace Competitions 2020 for
young minds in the country. iT will involve drawing competition for Class 1 to 3 students, model making
competition for Class 4 to 8 and Essay competition for Class 9 and 10.
• Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Researchers have developed new drug molecules against the protozoa
that causes amoebiasis. Amoebiasis or amoebic dysentery is a disease caused of Entamoeba histolytica
protozoa. According to WHO, Entamoeba histolytica is the 3rd leading cause of death in the world.
SPORTS
• The World Archery (WA) and Yankton organising committee decided to postpone the 2020 World Archery
Field Championships which was scheduled on september at the National Field Archery Association(NFAA)
Easton Yankton Archery Centre(NEYAC), the world’s largest archery centre until 2022.
• AIU banned India’s 800m runner Gomathi Marimuthu, Tamil Nadu’s Track and Field athlete for 4 years due
to doping.
• Former Russian high jump champion Alexander Shustov of Russia banned for 4 years for doping.
• The 33-year-old Ukrainian lightweight boxing champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk also known as “The Nail”
announced his retirement. He was born on 15th April 1987 in Kharkiv, Ukraine.
• India remains at 108 in FIFA rankings, Belgium tops.
• International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has cleared India’s K Sanjita Chanu of anti-doping violation over
charges brought up in November 2017 citing “non conformities” in the handling of her sample.
OBITUARY
• Former Union Water Resources minister Arjun Charan Sethi passed away at 79.
• The President of Republic of Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza passed away at the age of 55 due to cardiac arrest
at the hospital in Karuzi, eastern Burundi. Burundi: Currency– Burundian Franc
o Capital– Gitega (Political Capital); Bujumbura (Economic Capital)
• Olympic gymnast Kurt Bilteaux Thomas, First American to bag gold in the Gymnastic World Championship
passed away at 64.
• Manchester United’s former defender Tony Dunne passed away at 78.
• The former member of the Planning Commission, advocate of data quality and economist, Dr. A.
Vaidyanathan passed away at the age of 88 in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
• India’s oldest first-class cricketer Vasant Raiji, a right-handed batsman passed away at 100 due to old-age at
his residence in Walkeshwar in South Mumbai.
• Veteran Urdu poet & freedom fighter Anand Mohan Zutshi ‘Gulzar’ Dehlvi passed away at 93 due to cardiac
arrest at his residency in Noida after his recovery from COVID-19.
• Television Actor Jagesh Mukati passed away due to breathing issues.
• The former member of the Planning Commission, A. Vaidyanathan passed away.
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• Actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in his Mumbai apartment. According to Mumbai police, he had
committed suicide. Indian think tank NITI Aayog had signed him to promote Women Entrepreneurship
Platform.
• Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) Director, Atul Srivastava passed away. Srivastava assumed charge as
Director (Personnel) of SAIL on March 12, 2018.
• Veteran Urdu poet Anand Mohan Zutshi ‘Gulzar' Dehlvi (93 years) passes away in Noida due to coronavirus.
BOOKS & AUTHORS
• Writer and Columnist Shobhaa De’s new collection of stories titled “Lockdown Liaisons” a book reflecting
the impacts of COVID-19 on human lives published by Simon & Schuster India. They released the 1st ebook
titled “Leaving and Other Stories” under Lockdown Liaisons on May 30, 2020.On the 2nd week they had
released the ebook titled “No Love lost and Other Stories”. On the 3rd week they had released the ebook
titled “Wedding Cancelled and Other Stories”.
IMPORTANT DAYS
• Every year on June 8 World oceans day, the theme of 2020 is “Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean”.
• World Brain Tumor Day 2020 – June 8.
• World Accreditation Day 2020 – June 9. The Theme of World Accreditation Day 2020 is “Accreditation:
Improving food safety”.
• Green Mizoram Day 2020: June 11.
• June 12 of Every year is observed as the World Day Against Child Labour which was launched by the
International Labour Organization (ILO) in 2002 to focus on the global extent of child labour and the steps to
be taken to eliminate it. Theme of 2020: “COVID-19: Protect children from child labour, now more than
ever”.
o ILO: Director General– Guy Ryder,Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
o About UNICEF:Executive Director– Henrietta H.Fore, Headquarters– New York, USA
• International Albinism Awareness Day 2020 – June 13. The theme of International Albinism Awareness Day
2020 is “Made to Shine”.
• World Blood Donor Day observed on 14th June. Theme: Safe Blood Saves Lives.
• World Wind Day celebrated on 15th June.
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