Affairscloud 2019

Current Affairs June 2019
PDF Capsule
Current Affairs PDF 2019
Current Affairs for Competitive Exam

Current Affairs for Competitive Exam
Contents
INDIAN AFFAIRS .............................................................................................................................................................................. 3
Cabinet Approvals...................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Schemes ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Launches & Inaugurations ................................................................................................................................................... 13
Festivals ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Other News Related to Indian Affairs .............................................................................................................................. 16
STATE NEWS .................................................................................................................................................................................. 26
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS ........................................................................................................................................................ 36
VISITS ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 44
Indian Visits .............................................................................................................................................................................. 44
Foreign Visits ............................................................................................................................................................................ 45
BANKING & FINANCE .................................................................................................................................................................. 49
RBI in News................................................................................................................................................................................ 49
Technology in Banking.......................................................................................................................................................... 60
Other News Related to Banking & Finance .................................................................................................................... 62
MoUs & AGREEMENTS IN NEWS .............................................................................................................................................. 74
COMMITTEES IN NEWS............................................................................................................................................................... 76
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES ....................................................................................................................................................... 83
INDEX ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 96
Rankings ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 96
Reports......................................................................................................................................................................................104
BUSINESS & ECONOMY .............................................................................................................................................................108
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS ....................................................................................................................................................122
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNS ...................................................................................................................................................136
ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS ....................................................................................................................................................149
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ........................................................................................................................................................150
DEFENCE ........................................................................................................................................................................................155
ENVIRONMENT............................................................................................................................................................................160
SPORTS ..........................................................................................................................................................................................161
OBITUARY .....................................................................................................................................................................................173
BOOKS & AUTHORS ...................................................................................................................................................................177
IMPORTANT DAYS .....................................................................................................................................................................179
STATIC INFORMATION FROM CURRENT AFFAIRS .........................................................................................................192
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INDIAN AFFAIRS
Cabinet Approvals
Cabinet approved hike in rates of scholarship under National Defence Fund

In the first meeting of Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved major changes in
the PM’s Scholarship Scheme under the National Defence Fund. The Cabinet has increased the rates of
scholarship from Rs 2,000 per month to Rs 2,500 per month for boys and Rs 2,250 per month to Rs 3,000 per
month for girls.
Key Highlights
i. The scope of the PM’s Scholarship has also extended to the wards of State Police officials who were martyred
during the terror and naxal attacks.
ii. The quota for wards of state police officials will be 500 in a year and Home Ministry will be the nodal ministry
for scholarship to state police officials.
iii.This has been implemented under scheme of ‘Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme (PMSS)’ for
encouraging technical and post-graduate education for the widows and wards of the deceased and ex-service
personnel of Armed Forces, Para Military Forces and Railway Protection Forces.
Cabinet approved Rs 3,000 pension for small traders

Cabinet meeting chaired by PM Modi has approved to give monthly pension of Rs 3,000 to small traders,
businessmen, and shopkeepers after they attain the age of 60 years. The aim is to provide universal social
security to all shopkeepers, retail traders and self-employed persons a monthly pension under Pradhan Mantri
Kisan Pension Yojana (PM–KPY).
Key Highlights
i. All small shopkeepers, self-employed persons and retail traders who have Goods and Services Tax (GST)
turnover below Rs 1.5 crore and also aged between 18 years to 40 years are eligible under the scheme.
ii. this decision will benefit 5 crore small traders in the upcoming three years. The person eligible under the
scheme can enrol through the Common Service Centre. Those who are 18 years of age have to invest only Rs 2
per day.
iii. Those person who have attained 29 years of age will have to make a monthly investment of Rs 100 and those
who have attained the age of 40 years will have to make a monthly investment of Rs 200.
Cabinet approved the extension of PM-KISAN Yojana to all eligible farmers

The newly formed Union Cabinet has given its consent for the extension of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman
Nidhi Yojana ((PM-KISAN) to all eligible farmer families, irrespective of the size of their landholding. Earlier, it
was applicable to farmers having two hectares of land. The extension will include additional of 2.5 crore farmers
which will led to rise its coverage to 14.5 crore farmers. The outlay of the revised scheme will be Rs 87,217.50
crore for 2019-20.
Other Approvals:
• The Cabinet also cleared pension schemes Pradhan Mantri Kisan Pension Yojana for farmers. It will
provide a minimum fixed pension of Rs 3,000 per month to farmers above the age of 60. The scheme
will cover 5 crore small and marginal farmers in the first three years. The outlay will be Rs 10,774.50
crore.
• Farmers can also make their contributions to the fund from the PM-Kisan Yojana.
About Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana:
It is an income support scheme, launched in February 24. As per this, households with agricultural landholdings
smaller than two hectares were eligible to receive Rs 6,000 annually as direct benefit transfers from the Centre.
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Cabinet approved a new initiative to control FMD and Brucellosis to support livestock rearing farmers
On May 31, 2019, The Cabinet, first since the outcome of the 2019 Lok Sabha election, approved a new initiative
to control Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis to support livestock rearing farmers The FMD and
Brucellosis is a common threat among livestock like cow-bulls, buffaloes, sheeps, goats, pigs etc.
Key Points:
i. The Information and Broadcasting Minister, Prakash Javadekar announced that the initiative will benefit the
crores of farmers and improve the health of livestock.
ii. The Cabinet sanctioned Rs 13,343 crores for the implantation of the initiative. For the Financial Year 2019-
20, Rs 2683 crore was allocated.
iii. In FMD, the scheme covers vaccination to 30 crore bovines (cows-bulls and buffaloes), 20 crore sheep or goat
and 1 crore pigs at six months interval along with primary vaccination in bovine calves.
iv. The Brucellosis control programme will cover 100% vaccination coverage to 3.6 crore female calves (4-8
months of age).
v. If a cow or buffalo is infected with FMD, the milk loss is up to 100% which lasts for 4-6 months whereas in the
case of Brucellosis the milk output reduces by 30% in the entire life cycle.
vi. Brucellosis can cause infertility in animals. Its infection can be transmitted to the farm workers and livestock
owners.
Central Government approved to set up DSRO

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved to set up
the Defence Space Research Agency (DSRO), a new agency which will develop sophisticated weapon systems
and technologies. It will enhance the capabilities of the armed forces to fight wars in space.
Key Points:
i. The agency will consist of a team of scientists. They will work in close coordination with the tri-services
integrated defence staff officers.
ii. It will provide research and development support to Defence Space Agency (DSA).
iii. DSA is being set up in Bengaluru, Karnataka under an Air Vice Marshal-rank Officer. It will eventually take
over the space-related capabilities of the three forces namely Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force.
iv. Central government has set up agencies to tackle space and cyber warfare along with Special Operations
Division to address the need for special operations required to be carried out in India and abroad.
About CCS:
It is the final decision-making body on senior appointments in the national security apparatus, defence policy
and expenditure, and generally all matters of India's national security. It is chaired by the Prime Minister of India
and includes Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Defence, Minister of External Affairs and Minister of Finance.
Cabinet Approvals on June 12, 2019

On June 12, 2019, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi took a stock of decisions
on various proposals. The details of the cabinet approvals are as follows:
Approval of “The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Bill, 2019″
The Cabinet approved the introduction of a Bill namely “The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in
Teachers’ Cadre) Bill, 2019”. It addresses the long standing demands of persons belonging to Scheduled Castes
(SCs)/ Scheduled Tribes (STs) / Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs) and ensure their rights
envisaged under the Constitution. It will also ensure to provide 10% reservation to Economically Weaker Section
(EWS). The Bill will replace “The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre)
Ordinance, 2019”.
Key Points:
• It will allow to fill up more than 7000 existing vacancies by direct recruitment in Teachers’ Cadre with
200 point roster and ensure compliance of the Constitutional Provisions of Articles 14, 16 and 21.
• It will ensure full representation of SCs/ STs/SEBCs and EWS in direct recruitment in teachers’ cadres.
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• It is expected to improve the teaching standards in the higher educational institutions by attracting all
eligible talented candidates belonging to SCs/STs/SEBCs and EWS.
• It will consider the University/ College as one unit restoring earlier reservation system based on 200
point roster. ‘Department / Subject’ will no longer will be treated as one unit.
• The unit for reservation of posts in direct recruitment in teachers’ cadre will be the
University/Educational Institutions and not the Department.
Cabinet cleared fresh bill to ban instant triple talaq
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar announced that Cabinet approved a fresh
bill to ban the practice of instant triple talaq, Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2019. It
will replace Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Second Ordinance, 2019. It stated that triple
talaq is punishable with imprisonment of 3 years and a fine. It also provides for payment of subsistence
allowance to married Muslim women and dependent children.
Key Points:
• The Bill will ensure gender equality and gender justice to Muslim women.
• It will protect the rights of married Muslim Women and prevent divorce through the practice of ‘Talaq-e-
biddat’ by their husbands.
• It empowers the woman by providing her a chance for hearing before the accused is released on bail.
• It will be introduced in the Budget session of Parliament which begins on June 17, 2019.
Cabinet extended President’s rule for 6 more months in J&K
A meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the extension of
President’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) for six more months beginning July 3, 2019 under article
356(4) of the Constitution of India.Key Points:
• The rule has been continuing in Jammu and Kashmir since June 20, 2018 and the present rule was
supposed to expire on July 2, 2019.
• This will be the last extension of the central rule in the state. The Election Commission (EC) has issued a
statement stating that elections in J&K would be announced after the annual Amarnath Yatra beginning
on July 1, 2019.
Approval of “New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2019”
The Cabinet approved the “New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC) Bill, 2019” to promote ease of
doing business in India. It is a positive step in establishing an independent and autonomous regime with a well-
defined structure for institutionalized domestic and international arbitration. The aim is to make India as the hub
of International Arbitration.
Key Points:
• It provides to set up an independent autonomous body for institutional arbitration and to acquire and
transfer the undertakings of International Centre For Alternative Dispute Resolution (ICADR) to New
Delhi International Arbitration Centre (NDIAC) w.e.f a specified date March 2, 2019.
• It will replace the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Ordinance, 2019, promulgated by the
President on March 2, 2019.
• It will revoke New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Ordinance, 2019 and save all the actions done
or taken under the Ordinance which will be deemed to have been done or taken under the provisions of
this Bill.
About NDIAC:
NDIAC will be headed by a Chairperson, who has been a Judge of the Supreme Court or a Judge of a High Court or
an eminent person, having special knowledge and experience in the conduct or administration of arbitration, law
or management. He will be appointed by the Central Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of India.It
will also have 2 Full-time or Part-time Members from amongst eminent persons having substantial knowledge
and experience in institutional arbitration in both domestic and international and 1 representative of a
recognized body of commerce and industry as a Part-time Member. The Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs,
Ministry of Law & Justice, Financial Adviser nominated by Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance and
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the Chief Executive Officer of NDIAC will be ex-officio Members.

Aims and objectives of NDIAC
• Bring targeted reforms to develop itself as a flagship institution for conducting international and
domestic arbitration.
• Provide facilities and administrative assistance for conciliation, mediation and arbitral proceedings.
• Maintain panels of accredited arbitrators, conciliators and mediators both at national and international
level or specialists such as surveyors and investigators.
• Facilitate conducting of international and domestic arbitrations and conciliation in the most professional
manner.
• Provide cost effective and timely services for the conduct of arbitrations and conciliations at Domestic
and International level.
• Promote studies in the field of alternative dispute resolution and related matters, and to promote
reforms in the system of settlement of disputes.
• Cooperate with other societies, institutions and organisations, national or international for promoting
alternative dispute resolution.
Approval of “The Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Amendment Bill, 2019
The Union Cabinet approved “The Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Amendment Bill,
2019”. It will facilitate smooth and speedy eviction of unauthorised occupants from Government residences. The
vacant residences will be available for allotment to eligible persons on maturity of their turn in the waiting list.
Key Points:
• It will replace “The Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Amendment Bill, 2017”.
• It seeks amendments in Section 2, Section 3 and Section 7 of the Public Premises (Eviction of
Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971, by inserting clause (fa) before clause (fb) in Section 2, a new section
3B below section 3A of Section 3 and a new sub-section 3A below sub-Section (3) under Section 7 of the
Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971.
• It will enable the Estate officer to apply summary proceedings for eviction of unauthorised occupants
from residential accommodations and to levy damage charges for accommodation held during the period
of litigation.
Approval of “The Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2019”
The Union Cabinet approved “The Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2019”. It will help to restructure the Dental
Councils. The representation of Central Government members and elected members will not be made mandatory
in the Dental Councils.
Key Points:
• It will amend the following clauses of the Dentists Act, 1948:
• Membership of the Dental Council of India under clause (f) of section 3.
• Membership of State and Joint State Dental Councils under clause (b) of section 21 and clause (b) of
section 23 of the said Act.
Approval of “The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019”
The Union Cabinet approved “The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019”. It will ensure
transparency, accountability and quality in the governance of medical education in the country and will
replace “The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Second Ordinance, 2019”.
Key Points:
• It provides for supersession of Medical Council of India (MCI) for a period of 2 years w.e.f. 26.09.2018.
The Board of Governors shall exercise the powers and functions of MCI as assigned under the Indian
Medical Council (IMC) Act, 1956.
• The number of members in the Board of Governors will be increased from 7 to 12.
Approval of “ The Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019”
The Union Cabinet approved the draft of “The Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019”. It will
replace “The Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019”.
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Key Points:
• It sought to extend the period for reconstitution of the Central Council from an existing period of 1 year
to 2 years. The tenure of the Board of Governors may be extended for a further period of 1 year with
effect from May 17, 2019.
• It will help the Central Council of Homoeopathy in exercising the powers and performing the functions of
the Council.
Approval of “The Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019”
The Union Cabinet approved “The Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019”. It will replace “The
Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019”. It is aimed to make Aadhaar people friendly.
Key Points:
i. The decision will enable the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to have a more robust mechanism
to serve the public interest and restrain the misuse of Aadhar.
ii. No individual will be compelled to provide proof of possession of Aadhaar number or undergo authentication
for the purpose of establishing his identity unless it is provided by a law made by Parliament.
iii. For the convenience of the general public to open bank accounts, the proposed amendments will allow the
use of Aadhaar number for authentication on a voluntary basis as acceptable KYC document under the Telegraph
Act, 1885 and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.
The salient features of the amendments are as follows:
• Provides for voluntary use of Aadhaar number in physical or electronic form by authentication or offline
verification with the consent of Aadhaar number holders.
• Provides for use of 12 digit Aadhaar number and its alternative virtual identity to conceal the actual
Aadhaar number of an individual.
• Gives an option to children who are Aadhaar number holders to cancel their Aadhaar number on
attaining the age of eighteen years.
• Permits entities to perform authentication only when they are compliant with the standards of privacy
and security specified by the Authority; and the authentication is permitted under any law made by
Parliament or is prescribed to be in the interest of State by the Central Government.
• Proposes deletion of section 57 of the Aadhaar Act relating to use of Aadhaar by private entities.
• Prevents denial of services for refusing to, or being unable to, undergo authentication.
• Provides for establishment of Unique Identification Authority of India Fund.
• Provides for civil penalties, its adjudication, appeal thereof in regard to violations of Aadhaar Act and
provisions by entities in the Aadhaar ecosystem.
Approval of “The Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill, 2019”
The Union Cabinet approved to introduce a Bill, namely, “The Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Bill,
2019”. It will replace “The Special Economic Zones (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019”. After the amendment of
sub-section (v) of section 2 of the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Act, 2005, a trust or any entity notified by the
Central Government will be eligible to be considered for grant of permission to set up a unit in Special Economic
Zones.
Approval to 2 months extension to Committee for Sub-categorization within OBC in Central list
The Union Cabinet has accorded ex-post facto approval for the extension of the term of the Commission to
examine the issue of Sub-categorization of Other Backward Classes (OBC), by two more months i.e. upto July
31, 2019. This is the sixth extension to the commission. It’s term had expired on May 31, 2019.
Key Points:
• In order to have equitable distribution of benefits amongst the OBC Castes/Communities, a Commission
was set up under article 340 of the Constitution to examine the issue of sub-categorization within Other
Backward Classes in the Central list.
• The extension of the tenure of the commission will enable evaluation on the issue of Sub-categorization of
OBC’s in the Central list based on wider consultations with various stakeholders. It will enable the
commission to submit a comprehensive report on the issue.
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About Union Cabinet:

It is chaired by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. It consists of senior ministers, called ‘cabinet
ministers’, junior ministers, called ‘ministers of state’ and, rarely, deputy ministers.
Cabinet Approval with Foreign Countries on June 12, 2019

The Union Cabinet driven by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi cleared the agreement with foreign countries
on 12th June 2019. The details of the agreement are as follows:
Cabinet approves Intimation of Letter of Intent between India and Costa Rica in the field of Biotechnology
The Union Cabinet, driven by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, given approval with respect to stamping
of Lotter of Intent (LOI) among India and Costa Rica in the field of Biotechnology.
The LOI has been set apart to work out the inspiration for the joint exertion for Innovation in Science and
Technology Diplomacy to propel a strong imperative plan in the domain of biotechnology guidance.
Cabinet okays MOU between India and Bolivia in the field of Railways
The Union Cabinet gave its ex-post facto approval to the a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in
March 2019, between India and Bolivia on Bioceanic Railway Integration Corridor Project cooperation.
Key points:
The agreement covers exchange of information, expert meetings, seminars, technical visits and implementation
of jointly agreed cooperation projects between the two sides.
Cabinet approves MOU between India and Finland on cyber security
The Union Cabinet was apprised about a MoU signed in January, 2019, between India and Finland on the
cooperation in the area of Cyber Security.
The agreement will help the two parties in creating closer cooperation for exchange of knowledge and
experience in detection, resolution and prevention of security related incidents.
Cabinet approves MOU between India and Russia in the field of Railways
The Union Cabinet gave its approval for signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation
between Research Designs and Standards Organisation, under the Ministry of Railways, India and Railway
Research Institute, Russia and Research and Design Institute for Information Technology, Signalling and
Telecommunication on Railway Transport, Russia.
Key points:
• The MoU was signed in April, 2019.
• The signing of the MoU will helps in facilitate and promote bilateral cooperation on exchange of
information, expert meetings, seminars, technical visits and implementation of jointly agreed cooperation
projects.
Cabinet approves MOU between India and Thailand in the field of Astronomy
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has endorsed the agreement on the
Astronomy / Astrophysics / Atmospheric Science signed between India and the Thailand.
The objective of the MoU is to strengthen and encourage cooperation between the two countries on new
scientific research, human resource development through increased scientific interaction and training, joint use
of scientific infrastructure.
Union Cabinet approves agreement with Kyrgyzstan
Cabinet approves MoC between India -Kyrgyzstan on Research Work on Biology and Medicine
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Modi has endorsed a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC)
between India and Kyrgyzstan for collaborative research work on High Altitude Biology and Medicine.
Key points:
• The MoC helps on shared research deal with High Altitude Biology and Medicine and going for further
improvement and reinforcing of common connections in science and drug, particularly in high elevation
science and medication.
• It also helps in comprehension the physical and mental picture of trooper framework at high height by
Yoga practice, herbals and neutraceuticals in Indian and Kyrgyz patches/populace.
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Cabinet clears India-Kyrgyzstan MoU on legal metrology

The Cabinet has also approved a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of Legal Metrology between India
and Kyrgyzstan. The MoU will be signed on the sidelines of the upcoming SCO summit on June 13and 14, 2019 .
Key points.
i. Under the proposed pact the two sides will exchange information and documents relating to legal metrology,
develop a training programme for officials and non-officials dealing with the subject.
ii. The two sides also share experience in carrying out of metrological supervision in mutual settlements between
goods producers and consumers.
Cabinet approves signing and ratification of investment treaty between India- Kyrgyzstan
The union cabinet endorsed the signing and ratification of investment treaty between India- Kyrgyzstan which
will increase investment flow between India and Kyrgyzstan and protection to investors of both countries.
Cabinet Approves MoU Between India and Kyrgyzstan on cooperation in the field of Health
The Union Cabinet, driven by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the proposal of the Ministry of
Health & Family Welfare for signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Health &
Family Welfare of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic in the field of Health.
Key points:
The Memorandum of Cooperation covers Strengthening of healthcare systems; Non-communicable diseases,
communicable diseases and anti-microbial resistance; Development of hospital management systems and health
information systems Hospital Management; Maternal and child health; Medical Researches; Exchange of
experience in transplantation; Improving capacity of human resources in the field of health; Exchange of
information and experience in the field of regulation of pharmaceuticals & medical devices circulation; Exchange
of experience and information on good practice of clinical trials of medicines and medical products; Integrated
surveillance of diseases; Arranging visits for the experience exchange among physicians, nurses and IT-
specialists; Exchange of experience on e-health; Providing opportunities for health specialists to receive training
and professional development at the “India-Kyrgyz Center for Information Technologies” with further
internships in the Republic of India; Health Tourism.
Central Government granted the approval to set up of e-Foreigner Tribunal (e-FT) in Assam
Central Government has permitted to set up e-Foreigner Tribunal (e-FT) in Assam. It is a quasi-judicial
authority which assesses the question of authenticity of a person's citizenship. It should be set up by July 31,
2019 when the final list of National Register of Citizens (NRC) is published. The people left out in the final NRC
can challenge their exclusion through these tribunals.
Key Points:
i. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of e-FT Mission is Anand Prakash Tiwari.
ii. It will help in effective monitoring and resolution of cases registered with Foreigner Tribunal.
iii. It will help to strengthen the Judiciary in the disposal of cases and assist the Police organization in faster
detection, prosecution and detention.
iv. The main aim of the project is to maintain a statewide biometric and biographic data in order to capture the
illegal migrants’ data to computerize data flow for all the stakeholders. Along with this, it will also help in the
legalization of eligible beneficiaries for welfare schemes.
Cabinet approved Rs 13,343 crore for the National Animal Disease Control Programme
Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Sanjeev Kumar Balyan in a written reply in Lok
Sabha informed that the Cabinet approved Rs 13,343 crore for the National Animal Disease Control
Programme for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis for the next 5 years. Central government will
bear the entire cost of vaccination for animals. The scheme aims to eradicate FMD and brucellosis diseases fully.
Key Points:
i. For the Financial Year 2019-20, Rs 2683 crore was allocated.
ii Animals will be identified using unique animal identification ear tags and the programme comprises of
deworming of targeted population of livestock twice a year as one of its activities.
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iii. FMD control programme provides 100% vaccination coverage of cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, and pigs at 6
months interval in the entire country and in Brucellosis control programme, 100% vaccination coverage is given
for female cattle and buffalo calves (4-8 months of age) is given once in a lifetime.
About FMD & Brucellosis:
The disease of FMD and brucellosis are common among the livestock like cows, bulls, buffaloes, sheep, goats and
pigs. If a cow or buffalo gets infected with FMD, the milk loss is up to 100% which could last for four to six
months. In case of Brucellosis, the milk output reduces by 30% during the entire life cycle of animal and also
causes infertility among the animals.
Cabinet approved bill to fine people with Rs 10,000 for blocking ambulances
On June 24, 2019, The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the bill to fine
people with Rs 10,000 for blocking ambulances. The rule is the part of Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill.
Key Points:
• The Bill was approved as several cases were reported where ambulances were stuck for hours either due
to agitation on roads, traffic or due to a minister's visit, which sometimes caused patients to lose their
lives.
• The proposals were based on the recommendations of transport ministers from 18 states and they were
assessed by the Standing Committee of Parliament.
• The Bill also introduced other amendments. Aggregators violating driving licences will be fined up to Rs 1
lakh, for over-speeding penalties will be charged in the range of Rs 1,000- 2,000, driving without
insurance will fetch Rs 2,000 as fine, driving without helmets will attract Rs 1,000 fine and 3-month
suspension of licence.
• As per the new provisions, guardian/owner shall be deemed to be guilty and there will be a penalty of Rs
25,000 with three-year imprisonment and cancellation of registration of the Motor Vehicle.
• For traffic violations, the fine would be Rs 500 instead of Rs 100, disobedience of the orders of authorities
will attract a minimum penalty of Rs 2,000 instead of Rs 500, Penalty for unauthorised use of vehicles
without a licence would be Rs 5,000 and driving without a licence will fetch the same amount, those
found driving despite disqualification would be fined Rs 10,000. Penalty for dangerous driving was
increased to Rs 5,000 from Rs 1,000, while drunken driving under the proposed new law would attract a
fine of Rs 10,000.
• If aggregators were found violating licensing conditions, they will be charged a sum of up to Rs 1 lakh,
overloading of vehicles would attract a penalty of Rs 20,000, those not wearing seat belts would attract
Rs 1,000 fine and those not wearing helmets while driving two-wheelers would be charged a penalty of
Rs 1,000 and their licences will be disqualified for three months.
Schemes
‘E-Governance Initiatives for ST Welfare Schemes’ launched by Shri Arjun Munda, Union Minister for
Tribal Affairs
On June 12, 2019. The Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Shri Arjun Munda launched “E-governance initiatives
for ST Welfare schemes” at a function organized by Ministry of Tribal Affairs in presence of Smt. Renuka Singh
Saruta, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, Ms. Anusuiya Uikey, Vice Chairperson of National Commission for
Scheduled Tribes (NCST), Shri Ramesh Chand Meena, Chairperson of The Tribal Cooperative Marketing
Development Federation of India (TRIFED) and Shri Deepak Khandekar, Secretary, Minister of Tribal Affairs.
Key Points:
i. e-governance initiatives will work for the betterment of tribal communities across the nation.
ii. The Ministry has developed 2 online portals namely DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) Tribal
(https://dbttribal.gov.in/) and NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation) Grants Online Application & Tracking
System (https://ngograntsmota.gov.in/) to ensure e-Governance in the implementation of welfare schemes for
Scheduled Tribes (STs).
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iii. There are 3 main modules in DBT Tribal portal for Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Scholarship. Data Sharing
module is mainly meant for sharing beneficiary-data by States. In Communication module, the States have facility
to upload documents and raise query. DBT data uploaded by States is used for faster release of funds. Monitoring
module has facility of Management Information System (MIS) reports & Dashboards.
iv. Under Fellowship scheme and Grievance Module, it has also developed a module for verification of students
by Universities and Colleges for all stakeholders including beneficiary students in 3 Central Sector schemes and
Institutions.
v. The NGO portal is developed to implement the scheme of Aid to Voluntary Organizations working for the
welfare of STs.
vi. It is fully revamped and redesigned with simplified Application form, Inspection Report and Fund Processing
module and has been re-opened for FY 2019-20 for NGOs and States for online application.
Farmers contribution to be Rs 100 per month to PM-Kisan Pension Yojana

On June 13, 2019, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare announced that farmers in the country are
expected to contribute Rs 100 per month under the Pradhan Mantri (PM) Kisan Pension Yojana. It seeks to
provide a minimum monthly pension of Rs 3,000 on the attainment of 60 years of age. The central government
will also contribute an equal amount to the pension fund.
Key Points:
i. Pension Fund will be managed by the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC). It will be responsible for the pension
payout.
ii. The Pension Scheme will provide social security to small and marginal farmers.
iii. With an entry age of 18 to 40 years, it aims to cover around five crore beneficiaries in the first three years.
iv. In order to attain complete transparency, the government will set up an online grievance redressal system.
v. Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar chaired a meeting with
Agriculture Ministers of all States and Union Territories via Video Conference and urged them to roll out the
programme at the earliest.
About PM- KISAN Yojana:
PM- KIsan SAmman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) yojana is an income support scheme for farmers. It is a 100% central
sector scheme which will give farmers Rs. 6000 per year in 3 equal instalments. From 01.04.2019, the scheme
has been extended to cover all farmers, the total beneficiaries will be 14.5 crores.
'Adarsh Station scheme’ developed 1,103 railways stations

On June 21, 2019, Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal in a written reply to a
question in the Rajya Sabha stated that under Adarsh Station Scheme (ASS), of the 1,253 stations which were
identified for development, 1,103 railway stations were developed. Modernisation and upgradation of railway
stations in Indian Railways are undertaken from time to time under various modernisation schemes such as
Model Station Scheme, Modern Station Scheme and Adarsh Station Scheme.
Key Points:
i. The remaining stations are planned to be developed by 2019-20.
ii. 68 stations were identified for soft upgradation and all stations were upgraded in the year 2018-19.
iii. The work of redevelopment was in progress at Gandhinagar (Gujarat) and Habibganj (Madhya Pradesh)
stations. Contracts for redevelopment were awarded for Gomtinagar, Charbagh (Uttar Pradesh) and Puducherry
(Union Territory of Puducherry) stations.
iv. A separate policy was made for the development of stations under the Station Redevelopment Programme
through Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation Limited (IRSDC).
Around 2.22 crore villagers received Digital Education under PMGDISHA

On June 27, 2019, Electronics and Information Technology Minister Mr. Ravi Shankar Prasad announced that
around 2.22 crore villagers were given Digital Education under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta
Abhiyan (PMGDISHA). The government has enrolled 636 training partners.
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Key Points:
i. More than 2.30 crore beneficiaries had enrolled under PMGDISHA and after the training, 1.34 crore were duly
certified by authorized third party certifying agencies.
ii. The target of the government is to make one lakh digital villages. In order to fulfill it, it has collaborated with
Railways to lay the Optical fibre network at the gram level.
iii. Common Service Centres (CSC) were increased from 80,000 to 3.5 lakh.
iv. If Government finds any fraud regarding the number of rural people trained under the PMGDISHA, tough
action would be taken against them.
v. It has prepared a draft 100-days action plan which includes National Policy on Electronics 2019 — new
schemes to the Cabinet; National Policy on Software Products 2019 — launch of Registry; Digital India Infoway
(National Government Network and National Knowledge Network 2.0); National Mission for Natural Language
Translation – proposal to Cabinet (to overcome barriers across major Indian languages); and Personal Data
Protection Bill – to Cabinet.
About PMGDISHA:
It was started in February 2017 with an outlay of Rs 2,351.38 crore. It is an extension of National Digital Literacy
Mission and Digital Saksharta Abhiyan between 2014 and 2016 in which 53.67 lakh persons were certified. The
implementing agency for the PMGDISHA is Common Service Centre e-Governance Services India (CSC-SPV).
Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana scheme, 81,03,196 houses were approved
On June 27, 2019, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri announced
that 81,03,196 houses were approved under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) scheme. 47,57,987 houses
are at stages of construction and 26,07,913 houses were completed or occupied.
Key Points:
i. Central Assistance of Rs. 51,113 crores was released under the PMAY(Urban) and the assistance was met
through Budgetary Resources as well as Extra Budgetary Resources (EBR).
ii. State Level Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (SLSMC) under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary of the
concerned State/Union Territories reviews the progress of implementation of the Mission ‘Housing for All by
2022’ at the State level.
About PMAY:
PMAY is an initiative by the Government of India in which affordable housing will be provided to the urban poor
with a target of building 20 million affordable houses by 31 March 2022. It has two components: Pradhan Mantri
Awas Yojana (Urban) (PMAY-U) for the urban poor and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) (PMAY-G/ PMAY-
R) for the rural poor.
Central Government approved pilot scheme on fortification of rice and its distribution through PDS
Union Minister Smriti Irani of Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry stated that based on the
information received from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, the Department of
Food and Public Distribution, central Government approved the centrally sponsored pilot scheme on fortification
of rice and its distribution through Public Distribution System (PDS).
Key Points:
i. Distribution of Financial assistance: It is up to 90% in the case of North-Eastern, Hilly and Island States and
up to 75% for the rest of the States.
ii. Fortification: It is a complementary strategy to fight malnutrition under which the addition of key vitamins
and minerals such as iron, iodine, zinc, vitamins A & D to staple foods such as rice, wheat, oil, milk and salt are
done to improve their nutritional content. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) formulated a
comprehensive regulation on fortification of food namely ‘Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of Foods)
Regulations, 2016’.
iii. Finalization: The Recommended Dietary Allowance for Indian population was finalized by the National
Institute of Nutrition (NIN) based on the recommendations of the Expert Group. It is based on individual
variability and nutrient bio-availability from the habitual diet.
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Launches & Inaugurations

Shri Prahalad Singh Patel , Minister of State for Culture & Tourism inaugurate ‘Unknown masterpieces of
Himachal Folk Art’, exhibition in New Delhi
The Minister of State for Culture & Tourism, Shri Prahalad Singh Patel inaugurated exhibition "Unknown
Masterpieces of Himachal Folk Art”, at National Museum, New Delhi.
Key points:
i. The exhibition is organized by the National Museum, New Delhi and Home of Folk Art of Tribal,
Gurugram .
ii .More than 240 artifacts will be displayed. Out of this 230 objects belong to the personal lifetime collection
of Late K.C. Aryan.
Government launched Swachh Survekshan 2020 League

On June 6,2019, Union housing and urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched Swachh Survekshan
2020 League in New Delhi. It will be a cleanliness assessment of cities and towns in India on quarterly basis. It
will be integrated with Swachh Survekshan 2020, the 5th edition of the annual cleanliness survey of urban India
to be conducted between January - February 2020.
Swachh Survekshan 2020 League
i. It is aimed at “sustaining the on ground performance of cities along with continuous monitoring of service
level performance on cleanliness”.
ii. It will be conducted in three quarters (April- June, July – September and October- December 2019) and will
give equal weightage to every quarter based on cities updating their progress on online MIS (Management
Information System) and citizens.
iii. The purpose of quarterly cleanliness assessment is that many cities and towns slip back once they get a
decent ranking on cleanliness levels in annual sanitation survey exercise Swachh Survekshan.
India's first Dinosaur Museum inaugurated in Gujarat

On June 8, 2019, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani inaugurated the new Dinosaur Museum-cum-Park
at Raiyoli village in Balasinor town of Mahisagar district.
This is the first such park in the country and also the world's third park which exhibits remains of various
dinosaurs and fossil records.
Key points:
i. 3D projection, 360 degrees virtual reality presentations, interactive kiosks, gaming consoles are the facilities
equipped with the museum.
ii. The ten galleries of the museum exhibit the history of dinosaurs, which existed 65 million years ago, from
origin to extinction.
iii. The Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd created the whole infrastructure of the museum.
iv. Raiyoli is familiar as it is the third largest fossil site and the second largest dinosaur hatchery. It contains
several dinosaur fossil and egg finds in the 1980s.
v. The state Government will allocate 10cr financial assistance to tourism to promote the site.
Central India got its First Sikh Museum in Raipur, Chhattisgarh

On June 7, 2019, Central India got its First Sikh Museum in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The museum Shri Guru Teg
Bahadur Sikh Museum is located at Gurudwara Gurusingh Sabha in Guru Nanak Nagar. It was inaugurated by
the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Bhupesh Bagel on the 'Shahidi Divas' of the fifth Sikh Guru, Arjun Dev.
Key Points:
i. The museum has a library and visitors are illuminated about the ten Sikh gurus and other personalities related
to the religion.
ii. They can read books on Gurus and on Sikh religion. They can enlighten themselves about the community's
history by watching movies in the home theatre of the museum in its 5,000 square feet premises.
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World’s largest multi-stage, multi-purpose scheme Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project inaugurated in
Telangana
On June 21, 2019, The first phase of the world's largest multi-stage, multi-purpose scheme Kaleshwaram Lift
Irrigation Project (KLIP) worth Rs 80,000 crore was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Telangana
Chandrashekar Rao at Medigadda in Jayashankar-Bhupalpally district near the borders with Maharashtra and
Chhattisgarh. It was inaugurated in the presence of Governor of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, ESL
Narasimhan, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan
Reddy. The cost of the project is expected to rise to Rs 1,00,000 crore on its completion.
Key Points:
• It is constructed by Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL).
• The project, built across Godavari river, has become the world's biggest in terms of capacity with 3
Barrages, 1531 km of Gravity Canals, 203 km of Tunnels, 20 Lifts, 19 Pump houses and 20 Reservoirs
with total capacity of 147 TMC water irrigating 37 lakh acres.
• It will provide irrigation facility for two crops in a year to 45 lakh acres and will supply 40 TMC of water
to the ambitious Mission Bhagiratha drinking water supply project.
• Approximate 16 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) will support industries.
• It will see at least 2 TMC of Godavari water lifted daily to the Medigadda Barrage and then transported
via six more levels to Konda Pochamma Sagar Reservoir, which is located approximately 60 kilometres
from Hyderabad.
• The biggest lift schemes in the world, till date, are the Colorado lift scheme in America and the Great
Manmade River in Egypt.
Go Tribal campaign by Tribes India launched in New Delhi

On June 28, 2019, “Go Tribal Campaign” by Tribes India was launched by Minister of State for Tribal
Affairs, Smt. Renuka Singh in the presence of Shri R.C. Meena, Chairman, Tribal Cooperative Marketing
Development Federation of India (TRIFED), Shri Deepak Khandekar, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs and
Shri Pravir Krishna, Managing Director, TRIFED in New Delhi.
Key Points:
i. TRIFED organized this event to institutionalize collaborations and partnerships with different organizations to
promote tribal products.
ii. Tribes India in association with Amazon Global Marketing launched TRIBES India products globally through
Amazon platform.
Festivals
Two-day Yoga Mahotsava celebrated in New Delhi
On June 1, 2019, As a Curtain Raiser for International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2019 which is celebrated on June 21,
a two-day Yoga Mahotsava was inaugurated by Shri Rajeev Kumar, Vice-Chairman of Niti Ayog at New Delhi.
The Yoga Mahotsav-2019 was organized by Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) under Ministry of
AYUSH(Ayurvedic, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy). The theme of IDY 2019 in India
is “Yoga for Heart”.
Key Points:
i. 2 Applications ‘Yoga Locator’ and ‘Bhuvan App’ related to IDY 2019 were launched by Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha,
Ministry of AYUSH.
ii. Yoga Locator is a map-based location app. It will enable yoga instructors to register themselves and reach out
to large number of people.
iii. Bhuvan App, designed in collaboration with ISRO(Indian Space Research Organization), provides geo time
location and documentation.
iv. Three special sessions were organized as a part of the event.
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• Know about Yoga was organized for the Yoga enthusiasts. Historical, medical and educational prospects
of Yoga were discussed with the participants in detail.
• My self-experience in Yoga-A Motivational Journey , an exclusive session was organized by seeing the
participation of huge number of youngsters
• Celebrity Sessions– a specially scheduled session was a part of the event.
5 Cities shortlisted for IDY 2019:
Centre shortlisted 5 cities for IDY 2019 namely Delhi, Shimla, Mysore, Ahmedabad and Ranchi. Names of these
cities were sent to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to finalize the venue of the main function to be held on June
21. This will be the first mega public event after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister for the second
consecutive term.
About IDY:
The United Nations declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga in 2014. The first IDY was organized
at Rajpath in New Delhi on June 21, 2015 in which representatives of 191 countries participated. In 2016, the
main event was held in Chandigarh, in 2017 it was held in Lucknow and in 2018, it was held at Forest Research
Institute, Dehradun. 2019 Theme for IDY as per UN is “Climate Action”.
Elephanta Festival kicked off in Mumbai

Elephanta festival, a two day festival of art and culture organized by Maharashtra Tourism Development
Corporation (MTDC) held on Elephanta-Gharapuri (island), Mumbai to promote tourism and culture in
Maharashtra. The festival was inaugurated by tourism minister Jaykumar Rawal on Gateway of India.
Key points:
i. The theme for this year is ‘Swarang’
ii. Elephanta caves located on this island are UNESCO world heritage sites. They are a collection of cave
temples mostly dedicated to Lord Shiva.
iii. The Elephanta festival was started in the year 2012 to celebrate the heritage and culture of the city.
Annual festival of Kheer Bhawani Mela celebrated in J&K

On June 10, 2019, Annual festival of Kheer Bhawani Mela on Zeasht Ashtami was celebrated in Jammu and
Kashmir (J&K). Hundreds of Kashmiri Pandit devotees assembled and prayed at the famous Ragnya Devi temple
in Ganderbal district in J&K. It is one of the biggest religious functions of the Kashmiri Pandits.
Key Points:
i. Zyestha Ashtami is celebrated by Kashmiri Pandits across the country and outside as the day marks the
commencement of annual pilgrimage.
ii. During Mela Kheer Bhawani, over 60,000 Kashmiri Pandits from various parts of India and abroad visited 5
famous temples of Tulmulla in Ganderbal district, Tikker in Kupwara, LaktiporaAishmuqam in Anantnag, Mata
TripursundriDevsar and Mata KheerbhawaniManzgam in Kulgam district in Kashmir valley.
iii. The mela has become the symbol of communal harmony. Muslims in the locality make all the arrangements
for the devotees like setting up of stalls for flowers and other offerings.
3rd edition of Namaste Thailand Festival 2019 concludes in New Delhi

A two day event of Namaste Thailand Film Festival 2019 concludes its third edition at Select Citywalk in New
Delhi. It was organized by Royal Thai Embassy with an aim to strengthen bilateral ties and increase cultural
exchange between India and Thailand. The festival was inaugurated by the Ambassador of Thailand to India, H.E
Chutintorn Gongsakdi.
Key highlights:
i. The 1st edition of Thai film festival was inaugurated in 2017 to celebrate the 70 years of Indo-Thai diplomatic
relations.
ii. The festival featured stage performances by Thai artistes including Thai folk-jazz band Asia-7.
iii. It featured a series of Thai craft activities including mulberry paper mini umbrella making, fan painting, body
paint, and button badge making along with the traditional Thai cuisines.
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23rd edition of 4-day Sindhu Darshan Festival held at Sindhu Ghat Shey in Leh
A four-day event of 23rd Sindhu Darshan Festival 2019 celebrated at Sindhu Ghat Shey in Jammu and
Kashmir's Leh from 24 to 27 June 2019.
Key points:
i. Organizers: The festival was jointly organized by Sindhu Darshan Yatra Samiti (SDYS) and Ladakh Phanday
Tsogspa.
ii. It was inaugurated by Skyabje Choskyong Palga Rinpoche.
iii. Aim: The day celebrated with the aim to promote national integration and celebrate unity in diversity and it
was first started in 1997.
iv. It was marked by a holy dip in the Indus River and the colorful cultural programme performed by cultural
troupes from different parts of the country.
Other News Related to Indian Affairs
IAF AN-32 Aircraft went missing with 13 people in Assam

On June 3, 2019, IAF AN-32 Aircraft, taken off at 12.27 pm from Jorhat, Assam headed towards Mechuka in
Arunachal Pradesh went missing with 13 people. The AN-32 was inducted into the IAF in the 1980s.
Key Points:
i. The Aircraft consisted of 8 crew members, including 6 officers led by a Wing Commander and 5 passengers.
ii. The ground agencies had last contacted the aircraft at 1 pm following which the contact was lost.
iii. The search operations from air and ground parties of Indian Army have been undertaken. On the air, sources
like C-130, AN-32 aircraft, two Mi-17 of IAF and Indian Army ALH helicopters were employed. On the ground, the
Indo-Tibetan Border Police(ITBP), Border Roads Organization(BRO) and the state police were deployed.
iv. Similar cases were registered in 2009 and 2016. In June 9, 2009, an IAF AN-32 had crashed over Rinchi Hill
near Heyo Village, West Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh, which killed 13 personnel and the biggest IAF AN-32
crash took place on July 22, 2016 when the aircraft went off the radars over the Bay of Bengal which killed 29
people.
Haryana High court declares of entire animal kingdom as ‘legal entities’

On June 2, 2019, The Haryana High court (HC) declared the entire animal kingdom, including avian and
aquatic, as a legal entity having rights of a living person. The verdict of Punjab and Haryana HC comes a year
after Uttarakhand HC passed similar order to protect and promote greater welfare of animals.
Key points:
i. This decision was taken by Justice Rajiv Sharma.
ii. By invoking article 21 of the constitution the court stated that the animals can no longer be treated as objects
or properties.
iii. The court also declared all citizens throughout Haryana as persons in loco parentis (meaning – in place of a
parent) giving them the responsibility to protect animals.
iv. The court also directed the state government to ensure that no animal shall carry weight or load in excess of
the weights prescribed.
v. It also bans the use of animals for drawing vehicles where the temperature exceeds 37°C (99°F).
MoHFW organized National Workshop for Population Research Centers

On May 30, 2019, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare(MoHFW) organized a two-day National
Workshop for Population Research Centers (PRC) in New Delhi. It focused on the various features of the
flagship schemes of the Health Ministry for simultaneous supervision.
Key Points:
i. Ms. Preeti Sudan, Secretary(HFW) released the Rural Health Statistics (2017-18) and a Compendium of
Studies Conducted by the PRCS (2017-18) in the presence of Shri Manoj Jhalani (Additional Secretary &
Mission Director), Shri D K Ojha, Deputy Director General (DDG-Stats.) along with other senior officers of the
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Ministry and representatives from state PRCs.

ii. MoHFW has set up the network of 18 PRCs over 17 major States and Union Territories.
iii. The scheme started with establishment of 2 PRCs in 1958 at Delhi and Kerala. During 1999, it was expanded
to 18 PRCs with the latest inclusion of PRC, Sagar. Among them, 12 are attached to various Universities and 6 are
in research institutions of national repute.
iv. The flagship program of Health Ministry, Ayushman Bharat has two components- Health and Wellness
Centers (HWCs) for Comprehensive Primary Health Care and Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY)for
secondary and tertiary Health care. These both components deliver Health Care services to the people who live in
rural and urban areas. In this case, PRCs can provide critical research based inputs to strengthen these initiatives.
About PRCs:
i. The PRCs were established to undertake research projects relating to family planning, demographic research
and biological studies and qualitative aspect of population control, with a view to gainfully utilize the feedback
from these research studies for plan formulation, strategies and policy interventions of ongoing schemes.
ii. They are also involved in other studies given by Ministry such as Concurrent Evaluation of NRHM conducted
by the Ministry throughout the country during 2008-09, large scale sample surveys of the Ministry like District
Level Household Survey (DLHS), National Family Health Survey (NFHS) and Longitudinal Ageing Study in India
(LASI), All India study on “Rapid Appraisal of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)Implementation in 36
Districts of 20 States of India”. They also monitor important components of NHMProgramme Implementation
Plans.
Fee for SC/ST candidates joining vocational training waived off

The ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India announced that fee for SC/ST
candidates who join vocational training under Jan Shikshan Sansthans (JSS) have been waived off.
i. This decision was taken by the Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dr. Mahendra Nath
Pandey at the senior officials meet.
ii. The decision intended to strengthen the skill development and benefiting the underprivileged sections of
society.
iii. The decision follows the recent reforms brought in January 2019 such as decentralization of powers for JSSs-
giving more accountability and independence to the district administration, Training of Trainers to develop the
capacity through NSTIs (National Skills Training Institutes)
About JSS:
Jan Shikshan Sansthans (JSSs) are established to provide vocational training to non-literate, neo-literate, as well
as school dropouts by identifying skills as would have a market in the region of their establishment.
Dr Harsh Vardhan reviewed the status of Nipah virus disease in Kerala

Dr Harsh Vardhan,Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare(MoHWF), reviewed the status of Nipah Virus
Disease(NVD) in Kerala along withMs. Preeti Sudan, Secretary (HFW) and the Ministry officials.As of now, 15
people are under observation in the state.
Key Points
i. Since June 4, 2019, Strategic Health Operation Centre (SHOC) at National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)
has been activated and it is coordinating activities for Nipah containment.
ii. District Control Room was set up in the Collector Office. The Helpline No. is 04842425200.
iii. On June 7, 2019, the Health Minister of Kerala, Smt. K KShailaja met the Union Minister of Health & Family
Welfare Dr. Harsh Vardhan to discuss the status and preparedness of the State for containment and management
of Nipah Virus Disease.
iv. The Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR) has permitted the Kerala Government to establish a regional
Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3) laboratory in Kozhikode district. The estimated cost for the project is Rs. 8 crores.
v. Nipah virus is transmitted from animals to humans and then spreads through people to people contact, causing
respiratory illness.Its symptoms include fever, muscle pain, headache, fever, dizziness and nausea.
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I&B Ministry instituted AYDMS to be given to commemorate International Yoga Day

To recognise the contributions made by media in spreading awareness about Yoga and for promotion and
commemoration of International Yoga Day which is held every year on June 21, The Ministry of Information
and Broadcasting (I&B) headed by the Minister Prakash Javadekar instituted a new award called Antarashtriya
Yoga Diwas Media Samman (AYDMS) from year 2019. It will be awarded to Media Houses engaged in Print
Media and Electronic Media including Television & Radio.
Key Points:
i. 33 Sammans under Three categories will be conferred.
• 11 Sammans will be conferred in 22 Indian languages and English under category “Best Media Coverage
of Yoga in Newspapers”.
of Yoga in Television”.
of Yoga in Radio”.
ii. The duration of the coverage for AYDMS will be from 10th June- 25th June, 2019.
iii. Tentatively, the award ceremony will be held in July, 2019.
iv. AYDMS will comprise a special medal, plaque and trophy and a citation.
v. Six-member jury will assess contribution of Media in popularising of Yoga.
India & Portugal to set up National Maritime Heritage Museum in Lothal

On June 8, 2019, Government of India announced that it will join hands with Portugal to set up maritime
museum near ancient Harappans civilization at Lothal in Gujarat. It will be a similar model of the museum
which is at Lisbon, Portugal administered by the Portuguese Navy.
Key points:
i. In March 2019, The foundation stone of the museum was laid down by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
ii. It will be built in a public-private partnership (PPP) model. It will display India’s rich heritage of inland
waterways, trade through the water route, ancient shipbuilding and navigational technologies developed by
India.
iii. It is going to be implemented by the Union Ministry of Shipping through its Sagarmala programme with
the support of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Gujarat State government, Indian Navy and number of
stakeholders.
ASI declared Chaukhandi Stupa as Monument of National Importance

On June 10, 2019 , Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has declared Chaukhandi Stupa as a “Monument of
national importance”. The ancient Buddhist site situated in Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh.
Key points:
i. Construction: It is said that Chaukhandi stupa was a terraced temple constructed between 4th to 6th century
of the Gupta period.
ii. Stupa’s Significance: It was built to mark the site where Lord Buddha and his first disciples met when
traveling from Bodh Gaya to Sarnath.
iii. Shape of Stupa: It was given by the Govardhan, the son of Raja Todarmal.
iv. Excavations site: During excavations Some Buddha and other statues were founded at Chaukhandi Stupa.
Background: Section 4 of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 empowers the
Government to declare ancient monuments or archaeological sites which are of historical, archaeological or
artistic interest and which have been in existence for not less than 100 years as of national importance.
MHA allows all states to setup Foreigners Tribunals

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India empowered district magistrates in all States
and Union Territories to set up Foreigners Tribunals (FTs). In this regard, it has amended the Foreigners
Tribunals Order, 1964 by the Foreigners Tribunal Order, 2019. It is to decide whether a person staying
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illegally in India is a foreigner or not. The power to constitute Foreigners tribunal was only with the central
government earlier.
Key points:
i. It allows all States and Union Territories to constitute their own FTs, earlier it was applicable only to Assam, to
address the citizenship of a person.
ii. It allows the individuals to approach Tribunals if they didn’t find their name in the final list.
About Foreigners Tribunals
They are quasi-judicial bodies to determine if the person staying illegally is “foreigner” or not. Recently, Ministry
of Home Affairs sanctioned around 1,000 Tribunals to set up in Assam in the wake of publication of the final NRC
(National Register of Citizens ) by July 31, 2019.
Election Commission grants national party status to NPP

The Election Commission of India granted the National party status to National People’s Party(NPP) led
by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma. It becomes the first Party from North East region to get this
tag.
Key points:
i. With this tag, it becomes the eighth national party in the country among All India Trinamool Congress,
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), BSP, CPI, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Indian National Congress (INC) and
NCP parties.
ii. It has fulfilled eligibility criteria as laid down in paragraph 6B (iii) (the party is recognized as State party in at
least four States) to become a national party.
iii. It is getting status of the state party in four states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya and
Nagaland.
iv. Meghalaya CM’s father and former Lok Sabha Speaker, late Purno Agitok Sangma has founded the party
in 2013.
v. Eligibility criteria: As per the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, a political party
should be recognized as a national party if candidates of the party secure at least 6 percent of votes which is
polled in four or more states in Lok Sabha election or assembly elections.
Clean Drinking water to all by 2024: Centre

On June 11,2019 , The minister of Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat announced that central Government
committed to provide clean drinking water to all citizens by 2024, which is one of the poll promises given by
the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Key points:
i. The ministry assured that there are over14 crore households will be benefitted by the plan.
ii. Present Status: Now only 18 per cent of rural households have accessed drinking water.
iii. Drinking water coverage: This is less than 5 percent in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal,
Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha, while Sikkim ha 99 per cent.
iv. Recently, The scheme “Nal se Jal” launched by the Jal Shakti ministry, which aims to provide drinking water
by 2024.
v. Background: During 17th Lok Sabha election campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to
create integrated ministry to deal with water related issues.
Bancha became the first solar kitchen only village in India

Bancha in Betul district of Madhya Pradesh became the first village in India to have zero wooden stoves.
There was no use for Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders as all 75 houses relied on solar-powered stoves to
meet their cooking needs. The solar-powered stoves were developed by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)
Mumbai. The project of installing plates, solar-powered batteries and stoves in all the houses was started in
September 2017 and was completed by December 2018.
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Amasebailu becomes Karnataka’s first solar-powered Gram Panchayat

On June 11,2019, Amasebailu in Kundapura Taluk of Udupi district has been named as the Karnataka’s
first solar-powered Gram Panchayat.
The allocation of fund between the Centre and State Government in the ratio of 30:20 , and the rest given by the
Panchayat and charitable organizations.
Key points:
i. About 1858 houses connected with the solar power at a total cost of 2.13 crore .
ii. The lamps have the guarantee up to five years while the faulty one replaced by guarantee period.
Japan will invest Rs 13,000 crore in North-East in infrastructure projects

On June 12, 019, The Government of Japan has decided to invest an amount of 205.784 billion Yen, nearly Rs
13,000 crore in several ongoing as well as new infrastructure projects in the North-East Region. This was
announced after a meeting which the Development of North-East Region (DoNER) Minister Dr Jitendra
Singh had with the Japanese delegation led by Ambassador Mr Kenji Hiramatsu.
Key Points:
i. Japan will invest in projects like Guwahati Water Supply Project and Guwahati Sewage Project in Assam,
Northeast Road Network Connectivity Improvement Project spread over Assam and Meghalaya, Northeast
Network Connectivity Improvement Project in Meghalaya, Biodiversity Conservation and Forest Management
Project in Sikkim, Sustainable Forest Management Project in Tripura, Technical Cooperation Project for
Sustainable Agriculture & Irrigation in Mizoram, Forest Management Project in Nagaland.
ii. The contributions of Japan in the development and transformation of the North-East in the last 3-4 years were
appreciated by the Minister of DoNER.
DGT partnered with Cisco & Accenture for skilling programme

On June 14, 2019, Directorate General of Training (DGT), under the Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship (MSDE) joined hands with Cisco and Accenture, private sector companies, to skill youth for
digital economy through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). The implementation partner is Quest Alliance.
Key Points:
i. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in the presence of Dr. K. P Krishnan, Secretary, MSDE by
DGT’s Director General Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, Shri Harish Krishnan, Managing Director, Public Affairs and
Strategic Engagements, Cisco India and SAARC, Ms Kshitija Krishnaswamy, Director, Corporate Citizenship,
Accenture in India and Shri Aakash Sethi, CEO, Quest Alliance.
ii. Nearly 15 lakh students across all the ITIs in India can use the digital learning module via the Bharat Skills
portal.
iii. The program consists of tailor-made curriculum with modules for digital literacy, career readiness,
employability skills and advanced technology skills such as data analytics, and a blended learning model enabled
by a combination of online self-learning via the Bharat Skills portal and in-classroom modules.
iv. The initial phase is the classroom training programme. It is rolled out across 227 ITIs in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat,
Bihar and Assam and will deliver more than 240 hours of training to impart critical 21st century skills, including
digital literacy and digital fluency. The online module is optimized for mobile phones. It will enable on the-go
self-learning and the toolkit will include train the trainer resources.
v. Cisco will provide access to Networking Academy courses directly to ITI students.
BSF and BGB agreed to increase coordinated patrols

On June 15, 2019, Border Security Force (BSF) of India and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) signed
a Joint Record of Discussion at the48th Director General (DG)-level talks which concluded in Dhaka,
Bangladesh. It was signed between DG, BSF, Rajni Kant Mishra and DG, BGB, Major General Md Shafeenul Islam.
Both sides agreed to undertake joint efforts to bring down the killing incidents to zero. They will increase the
coordinated patrols in the areas vulnerable to cattle and narcotics smuggling, educate the border population
about the sanctity of International Border (IB) and prevent criminals from crossing the IB.
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Key Points:
i. Both sides agreed to implement Coordinated Border Management Programme (CBMP) to curb the danger of
trans-border crimes.
ii. They agreed to pursue and share real-time information including a preliminary questioning report as
applicable about the persons apprehended with smuggled items.
iii. They agreed to resolve the pending issues regarding development works including single row fencing of
integrated check posts and land customs stations within 150 yards of IB by joint verification or re-verification of
appropriate levels at the earliest.
iv. They agreed to declare new areas as crime free zone in phases. The proposed area within Sarail region or
Tripura Frontier may be formalized in the first phase.
v. The next DG level conference will be held in New Delhi during the first week of November, 2019.
Lucknow builds its first road from plastic waste

In an environment-friendly initiative, Lucknow constructs its first plastic waste road. The Lucknow
Development Authority (LDA) has started using plastic waste to construct roads as a pilot project. This
environment-friendly road is being constructed as a trial from Gomti Nagar Police Station to Indian Institute of
Management (IIM) Lucknow.
Key points:
i. The LDA will follow all the road-making guidelines set by the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) for the
construction.
ii. Mixed plastic waste increases the durability of roads by 40 to 50 per cent. About 8-10 per cent of plastic waste
mixed in coal tar and it will be durable for a longer time.
For the First time, India opens water clinic for Elephants in Mathura
India has opened its first specialized hydrotherapy treatment centre for elephants suffering from arthritis,
joint pain and foot ailments. It is situated in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.
It is a collaboration of Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and the NGO (Non-Governmental Organization), Wildlife
SOS.
Key points:
i. The jumbo hydrotherapy centre: It is near the Wildlife SOS’ Elephant Conservation and Care Centre (ECCC),
which has over 20 rescued elephants.
ii. State-of-the-art modern facilities: It includes wireless digital X-ray, laser treatment, dental X-ray, thermal
imaging and ultrasonography to treat injured, sick and geriatric elephants.
iii. The jumbo pool: It is situated 11foot deep and has 21 high-pressure jet sprays that help in massage the
elephants’ feet and body and increase blood circulation of the elephant.
A young entrepreneur from Surat turns Udhana railway station into India's first Green Railway Station
Viral Sudhirbhai Desai, a young entrepreneur from surat launched an initiative to change Udhana railway
station in Gujarat into India's first green and clean railway station like Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus.
Key points:
i. Objective: In order to achieve the mission of 'Clean India-Green India', Desai installed oxygen bomber and
over 1700 air purifying plants at the station and also painting has been made by him for environmental
protection on the wall of the station.
ii. Support: It is given by organizations of Chhadyo and Archroma as well as Udhana Station Director CR Garuda
for this initiative.
iii. Homage to soldiers: To pay tribute to the soldiers slain in the Pulwama attack, Memorial has been made at
the station and trees were planted in the name of the martyrs.
iv. About 23,000 trees and 38 tree guards distributed to the people for tree plantation and environment
protection by Desai and his organization, ‘Hearts at Work Foundation”.
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Union Govt developed a National Strategic Plan to end TB by 2025

On June 24, 2019, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Health, and Family Welfare Minister stated that the Government
has developed an ambitious National Strategic Plan to end Tuberculosis (TB) by 2025.
Key points:
i. As per the Global TB report, India accounts for 27.4 lakh new TB cases annually which are 204 per lakh
population for the year 2017.
ii. India ranks 35th in the world in terms of TB cases per lakh population.
iii. In 2018, Over 5 lakh 62 thousand patients were cured of TB.
iv. The Vision is of a TB free India is zero deaths, disease, and poverty due to tuberculosis.
v. The Goal is to achieve a rapid decline in the burden of TB, mortality, and morbidity. The requirements for
moving towards TB elimination in India have been arranged in four strategic areas of Detect, Treat, Prevent &
Build.
Odisha CM releases Flood Hazard Atlas for effective management of flood

On June 22, 2019, The State Government of Odisha released a Flood Hazard Atlas for efficient management of
flood in the state. It was released by the Odisha Chief Minister (CM) Naveen Patnaik.
This is jointly prepared by the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) of ISRO(Indian Space Research
Organization) and Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDAMA) analyzing data relating to flood
from 2001 to 2018.
Key points:
i. The data shows crop around 8.96% (13.96 lakh hectares) of land is being affected by flood every year in
Odisha.
ii. Eight out of 30 districts such as Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghapur, Balasore, Puri, Jajpur, Khordha, and
Cuttack districts are more flood-affected districts. 77% of Bhadrak and 70% of the Kendrapara district have been
categorized as flood hazard.
iii. Disaster-prone areas of the state could be identified and proper planning made through the atlas to tackle the
calamities
iv. The CM directed the water resources department to ensure all breaches in the embankment is closed and the
Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRF) and Fire Service Organisation to stay prepared with boats and other
rescue equipment.
v. Odisha has managed several disasters include cyclonic storm Titli in 2018-19 and extremely severe cyclonic
storm Fani in 2019.
Central Government move to set up Krishi Vigyan Kendras to double farmers' income by 2022
The Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar announced that central Government
has decided to use digital technology in rural India to double farmers' income by the year 2022.
For this, the Government has set up 713 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) and 684 Agricultural Technology
Management Agencies (ATMA) at district level in the country for dissemination of technologies among the
farming community.
Key points:
i. Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Analytics, and Block Chair Technology, Internet of Things(IoT), etc are the
technologies which will be used.
ii. The space technology helps to forecast agricultural output, agro-meteorology and land-based observations,
horticulture assessment and management, drought assessment and monitoring system.
iii. The government has set up an Inter-Ministerial committee and suggested a strategy to achieve the goal by
2022.
iv. About 100 mobile apps have been compiled by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) which will
provide valuable information regarding farming, sending crop related advisories through SMS to the farmers
developed by the state's Agricultural Universities, ICAR, and Krishi Vigyan Kendra.
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v. Apart from this, the information will be given to the farmers through Publicity Campaign, Kisan Call Center,
Agri-Clinic and Entrepreneur's Agri-Business Center, Agriculture related Exhibition, Kisan SMS.
Japan gifts Imphal Peace Museum to Manipur built on WWII memories

On June 22, 2019, Japan gifted Imphal Peace Museum to Manipur to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of
Imphal, one of the fiercest battles of the Second World War, at Maibam Lokpa Ching popularly known as Red
Hill (about 20 km southwest of Imphal). The inauguration was attended by Manipur Revenue minister Karam
Shyam, Japanese Ambassador to India Kenji Hiramatsu, High Commissioner of United Kingdom Dominic Asquith
and TNF Chairman Yohei Sasakawa among others.
Key Points:
i.It is funded by a private, non-profit grant-making organization based in Japan named The Nippon
Foundation (TNF).
ii.The Museum is the symbol of reconciliation between Japan & Britain and Japan & India. It will act as a living
memory of the fiercest war with a message that history changes and will make the world learn from the past.
iii.The main attraction of the museum is a framed calligraphy by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan with the
word ‘Peace’ or ‘Heiwa’ in Japanese which means an unfaltering hope for a peaceful future.
About the Battle of Imphal 1944
Battle of Imphal took place in the region around the city of Imphal (Manipur’s capital) from March to July 1944.
Japanese armies with an attempt to destroy Allied forces at Imphal invaded India, but were driven back into
Burma (Myanmar) with heavy losses. The Battle of Imphal together with simultaneous Battle of Kohima (also
known as Stalingrad of the East) on the road by which encircled Allied forces at Imphal were relieved, was the
main turning point of the Second World War’s Burma Campaign. About 70,000 Japanese soldiers, alongside those
of Indian National Army (INA) of Subhash Chandra Bose, died in battles with British-led Allied forces in areas
around Imphal and Kohima. The last of these battles was fought at Red Hill in Imphal.
Government schools to introduce Self Defence Training for girls under Samagra Shiksha
Integrated Scheme for School Education ‘Samagra Shiksha’ was launched by the Department of School
Education and Literacy which comes under the Ministry of Human Resource Development. It will be effective
from the academic year 2018-19. Activity of Self Defence training for girls comes under Samagra Shiksha.
Key Points:
i. This scheme was launched to ensure the safety and security of girls keeping in mind the rising number of
crimes against girls and women.
ii. Training will be given to girls of class VI to XII of Government Schools.
iii. It will also be given in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) which are residential schools and to those
girls belonging to disadvantaged groups.
iv. States will be given funds through the Nirbhaya Fund under Ministry of Woman and Child Development,
Government of India or with other State Government schemes for three months at Rs. 3000/- per school per
month.
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu to have its own disaster response force by September 2020
The Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, a religious pilgrimage atop the Trikuta hills in Reasi district of Jammu &
Kashmir(J&K) will get a dedicated in-house disaster response force by September 2020.
Key points:
i. The MoU (Memorandum of Understanding ) was signed between the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board
(SMVDSB) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to impart advanced disaster management training
to the shrine board staff in batches to prepare a dedicated disaster response force for the shrine.
ii. They are planning to train 180 employees by September 2020 to build the temple's own disaster response
force.
iii. An emergency operation centre will also set up as part of its disaster preparedness by the shrine board.
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MHRD unveiled a five-year vision plan EQUIP to transform higher education

On June 28, 2019, The Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Human Resource Development
(MHRD) released a five-year vision plan named Education Quality Upgradation and Inclusion Programme
(EQUIP) to transform higher education with the help of more than 50 initiatives.
Key Points:
i. It was released in accordance with the decision of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to finalize a five-year
vision plan for each Ministry.
ii. The report was prepared by the Experts covering the ten areas and different initiatives were suggested to
transform the higher education sector.
iii. It set various goals like to double the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education and resolve the
geographically and socially skewed access to higher education institutions in India, upgrade the quality of
education to global standards and position at least 50 Indian institutions among the top-1000 global universities
etc.
Details of the group with focus area and group head:
Group Group Focus Chairman
No
1. Strategies for expanding access Shri Hasmukh Adhia, Chancellor, Central University Gujarat
2. Towards global best Dr. K. Kasturirangan, Chancellor, Central University of Rajasthan &
teaching/learning process former Secretary, Dept of Space; former Chairman - ISRO
3. Promoting Excellence Shri Pawan Goenka, Chairman, BoG, IIT Madras
4. Governance reforms Prof M S Ananth, Chairman, National Testing Agency (NTA)
5. Assessment, Accreditation & Prof Surendra Prasad, former Director, IIT Delhi
Ranking systems
6. Promotion of research & Dr. Vijaya Raghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser to PM
innovation
7. Employability & Shri Ajit Balakrishnan, former Chairman, IIM Kolkata
entrepreneurship
8. Using Technology for better Prof Deepak Pathak, Chairman, NIT Goa & Prof IIT Bombay
reach
9. Internationalisation Shri Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog
10. Financing higher education Shri. Kris Gopalakrishnan, former CEO, Infosys.
Rs 450 crore National Mission on Natural Language Translation to be tabled before Union Cabinet
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) will put forward the proposal of National
Mission on Natural Language Translation with an outlay Rs 450 crore for next 3 years before the Union
Cabinet. It is one of the key missions identified by the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology and Innovation
Advisory Council (PM-STIAC).
Key Points:
i. The IT (Information Technology) Ministry is the lead agency for implementation of the mission along with the
Ministry of HRD (Human Resource Development) and Department of Science and Technology.
ii. The proposal is part of the 100-day action plan formed by MeitY on the instructions of the Prime Minister
Narendra Modi.
iii. The Mission is aimed to make science and technology accessible to all by facilitating access to teaching and
researching material bilingually-in English and in one’s native Indian language.
iv. Apart from language translation, the other missions include Quantum Frontier, Artificial Intelligence (AI),
National Bio-diversity Mission, Electric Vehicles, BioScience for Human Health and deep ocean exploration.
About PM-STIAC:
The PM-STIAC is an overarching body that identifies challenges in certain areas of science and technology.
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Flow of raw sewage into river Ganga will be stopped by 2022

On June 28, 2019, Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, in a national conference, exhibition
and awards ceremony ‘Innovative Water Solutions’ in New Delhi announced that the flow of raw sewage into the
Ganga river will be fully stopped by 2022.
Key Points:
i. States of Uttarakhand and Jharkhand have already achieved this and they have promised to make Ganga fit for
holy rituals by December 2019.
ii. Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) was asked to find out the portion of
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds spent on water issues.
iii. Ernst & Young (EY)-ASSOCHAM report titled “Think-Blue” Effective Water Management: Integrating
Innovation & Technology was released during the event.
iv. India is ranked 122nd in the World in terms of contamination.
India &China vow to seek Mutually Acceptable Solution to Boundary Issue

On June 27, 2019, The two sides of India and China have agreed to come to mutually acceptable, reasonable and
fair solutions to their thorny boundary issues.
Key points:
i. Now special representatives appointed by both China and India (From India, NSA(National Security
Adviser) Ajit Doval and from China State Councilor Wang-Yi)in order to rework the framework for the
settlement of boundary.
ii. In the Jammu and Kashmir region, the Indian Territory is with China is around 38,000 sq kilometers. There
was a so-called China-Pakistan boundary agreement which was signed on 2nd March 1963 with Pakistan and
China.
iii. Pakistan violated this agreement and ceded illegally 5,180 sq kms of Pakistan occupied Kashmir to China.
All gram panchayats Broadband Connectivity under BharatNet by March 2020

On June 27, 2019, Electronics and IT Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad stated that all gram panchayats(GPs) in the
country will be connected with the high-speed broadband under BharatNet project by March 2020.
Key points:
i. Aim: To provide hassle-free high-speed broadband connectivity to 2.5 lakh gram panchayats across India.
ii. Present status: Under the project, 128870-gram panchayats have been connected with optical fiber to date.
iii. Phase-I: Under phase 1 of BharatNet project,1 lakh gram panchayats were connected by the Government and
it was completed in December 2017.
iv. Phase-II: It is under implementation and 2 lakh GPs are targeted to be completed by March 2020.
v. Cabinet approval: on July 19, 2017, The Union Cabinet approved a modified strategy for implementing
BharatNet.
About the BharatNet project
i. It is being funded by the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).
ii. It was set up for improving telecom services in rural and remote areas of India.
The objective is to facilitate the delivery of e-governance, e-health, e-education, e-banking, Internet and other
services to rural India.
President's rule in J&K extended for 6 more months

On June 28, 2019, The Union Government given its approval for the extension of President's rule under article
356(4) of Indian Constitution InJammu and Kashmir(J&K) for six more months beginning July 3, 2019.
Key points:
i. Union home minister Amit Shah has moved a statuary resolution in Parliament to extend President’s rule by
another six months.
ii. Background: Under Article 92 of the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution the state was under Governor’s rule
on J&K on June 20, 2018, then President’s rule in December 2018.
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The Lok Sabha also cleared the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
The amendment of the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004, extends 3 percent reservation to people living
on the international border in the state. The reservation will benefit about 3 lakh 50 thousand people living in 70
villages of Kathua, 133 villages of Samba and 232 villages of Jammu.
STATE NEWS
IMD issued ‘Red-colour’ warning for Delhi due to rise in temperature
On May 31, 2019, India Meteorological Department (IMD)issued ‘Red-colour’ warning for Delhi-NCR with as
the temperature had reached 46.8 degree Celsius, the highest since May 2013. It forecasted that the heat waves
in central and northwest central India including Rajasthan will continue to hit maximum temperatures and they
are expected to reach 50 degree Celsius.
Key Points:
i. The IMD has 4 color-coded messages which are green, yellow, amber and red. Green indicates normal
conditions whereas red symbolizes extreme weather situations. Amber indicates to be prepared and Yellow
indicates awareness on bad weather conditions.
ii. The maximum temperature of 49.6 degree Celsius was recorded in Sri Ganganagar, Western Rajasthan and
Prayagraj (Earlier-Allahabad) recorded 48.6° Celsius, the highest in 25 years.
iii. The MeT department has predicted that heat waves will severely hit over parts of the northwest, central and
adjoining east and peninsular India in the next 4-5 days. Temperatures in the southern peninsula will remain 2-3
degrees above which is considered normal.
Rs 384 crore sanctioned by Bihar Cabinet for old age pension scheme
On May 31, 2019, Bihar cabinet chaired by the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar sanctioned Rs 384 crore for old
age pension scheme under the Chief Minister Old Age Pension Scheme for financial year 2019-20. Under this
scheme, people in the age group of 60-79 will get Rs 400 per month and people aged above 80 will get Rs 500 per
month as pension with the total beneficiaries being 36.50 lakh.
Key Points:
i. Altogether, the cabinet approved 18 decisions.
ii. Rs 384 crore was sanctioned from the Bihar Contingency Fund(BCF) to the people aged over 60 who do not
receive any salary, pension, family pension or social security pension either from central and state government.
iii. It increased the corpus of the Bihar Contingency Fund to Rs 8020.04 crore from Rs 350 crore till March 30,
2020.
iv. Along with this, the hike was given in ex-gratia payment to the families of polling personnel who died during
election duty. If the personnel died in a violence, armed attack, blast, etc while performing election duty, he
would be given Rs. 30 lakh against the existing Rs. 15 lakh. Rs 15 lakh would be given to personnel suffering
from permanent disability against the existing Rs. 7 lakh. The payment would be shared by the Centre and State
government in 50:50 ratio.
v. It permitted to set up one dispensary each in 38 district court premises with the creation of 5 posts which
includes a medical officer, nurse, pharmacist and lower division clerk in each dispensary.
vi. It sanctioned the release of Rs. 33 crore for salaries to teachers under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rs. 103
crore for the construction of sewage treatment plant at Danapur and Rs. 46.25 crore for Phulwarisharif under the
Namami Gange project.
vii. The proposal to declare the post of Shram Kalyan Padadhikari(Supervisor) was approved and hereafter, as
per the amended rules, the schemes of ‘Har ghar nal ka jal’ worth less than Rs 2 crore for a ward is to be cleared
by executive engineer.
viii. Approval was given to transfer 3 acres of land to Bardhaman Ayurvigyan Sansthan, Pawapuri for the
establishment of model health institute to give healthcare under Ayurvedic system.
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ix. 5 acres of government land would also be provided for the establishment of Sashastra Seema Bal camp,
12th battalion, at Pathamari in Thakurganj block of Kishanganj district.
Assam govt hikes parental income limit under fee wavier to Rs 2 Lakhs
Assam govt has increased the parent’s annual income limit of students eligible for fee wavier scheme up to post
graduation level from Rs 1 Lakh to Rs 2 Lakh. This was announced by Assam education minister Siddhartha
Bhattacharya.
This scheme does not cover private colleges and universities in Assam. Children of parents working in state and
central government are not eligible for this.
Rajasthan Government banned advertisement and sale of e-cigarettes; Increased financial aid under
‘Aapki Beti’ scheme
On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day(May 31), Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced the ban
on advertisement, production, distribution and online or offline sale of e-cigarettes in the state. This was a part of
Congress party’s manifesto for Elections 2019.
Key Points:
i. This was done to discourage the youth from tobacco addiction.
ii. The government has also constituted a committee to do a detailed study on the rising use of e-cigarettes.
iii. Though the e-cigarettes are banned in the state, sale of tobacco products and cigarettes are allowed.
‘Aapki Beti’ Scheme:
i. It has increased the financial assistance given to school girls under the ‘Aapki Beti’ scheme. For girls studying
in class 1 to 8, it is hiked to Rs. 2,100 from Rs. 1,100 and for the girls in class 9 to 12, its hiked to Rs.
2,500 from Rs. 1,500.
ii. Girls under the Below Poverty Line (BPL) whose mother or father or both have passed away get annual
financial assistance under the ‘Aapki Beti’ Scheme of the State Government.
iii. Along with this, the hike has been given in ex-gratia payment to the families of polling personnel who died
during election duty. It has been increased to Rs. 20 lakh from Rs. 15 lakh.
Punjab to ban Online Food Delivery without Hygiene Rating

Punjab has announced that it is going to ban online food delivery without hygiene ratings. This was
announced by the health minister Brahm Mohindra under Tandarust Punjab mission. A timeline of 3
months has been provided for compliance after which no online food will be delivered without hygiene ratings.
The hygiene ratings will be provided as per the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines.
Telangana state formation day observed on June 2

Telangana Formation Day is observed annually on June 2 to mark the official formation of the state after its
bifurcation from Andhra Pradesh in 2014. It is the youngest state of India. This year marks the fifth Telangana
State Formation Day.
i. A number of cultural events, sports, and social events lined up in the state as part of the celebration. It became
the 29th state of the country after the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act was passed in the Parliament.
Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief K Chandrashekar Rao was elected as the first Chief Minister of the state.
ii. Telangana is bordered by the states of Maharashtra to the north, Chhattisgarh to the east, Karnataka to the
west, and Andhra Pradesh to the east and south.
Satish Chandra Verma appointed as Advocate General of Chhattisgarh

The government of Chhattisgarh has appointment Sathish Chandra Verma as it’s new Advocate General(AG)
with immediate effect succeeding Kanak Tiwari. He was previously working as Additional Advocate General of
the state. He has been appointed by the Governor of Chhattisgarh after exercising the powers conferred by Clause
(1) of Article 165 of the constitution of India.
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Free rides scheme for women’s in Delhi

Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal has announced free rides in Delhi metro and Delhi Transport
Corporation (DTC) for women to ensure safety and make transport with higher fare affordable. This project
will cost Rs 700 crores to the Delhi government. This subsidy is to be optional and planned to be implemented
in two or three months.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh requested Prime Minister to declare 550th Parkash Parb as
National Tolerance Day
i. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare the 550th
Guru Nanak Prakash Purab as National Tolerance Day cited the Sikhism founder’s message of love and
compassion.
ii. Parkash Utsav of Guru Nanak Dev( also known as Guru Nanak Jayanti), celebrates the birth of
the first Sikh Guru and Sindhi Community Guru Nanak.
iii. This is one of the most sacred festivals in Sikhism, or Sikhi and Sindhis celebrated on November 12.
V.P Sivakolundhu elected as Puducherry Assembly Speaker

Deputy Speaker of Puducherry Assembly V.P Sivakolundhu has been unanimously elected as speaker of
Puducherry assembly after congress’s V Vaithilingam stepped down from the post.
ii. V Vaithilingam stepped down on March 21 to contest the Lok Sabha election from the lone Union Territory
seat, which he won with a margin of 1,96,802 votes against his nearest rival K Narayanasamy of All India NR
Congress.
iii. V.P Sivakolundhu is the only independent candidate who filed nomination on behalf of the Congress-DMK
alliance.
iv. Congress member MNR Balan (Oulgret Constituency) has been appointed as Deputy Speaker.
Ajeya Kallam appointed as Principal Advisor to Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jaganmohan Reddy

On June 4, 2019, Ajeya Kalama, Retired IAS officer and Former Andra Pradesh Chief Secretary, was appointed
as Principal Advisor to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy.
Key Points:
i. He holds a rank of Cabinet Minister and heads the Chief Minister’s Office(CMO).
ii. He is authorized to call for advice from the departments and all advisors of the government are accountable to
him.
iii. Initially, the term of appointment will be 3 years with a fixed remuneration of Rs 2.5 lakh per month.
iv. Along with this, the government has issued orders to create 9 posts in the office of the Principal Advisor.
Haryana cabinet approved changes in state job recruitment rules

On June 4,2019, The Haryana government Cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar,
relaxed the state job recruitment rules in Group B posts such as such as teachers and educational supervisors
and Group C, D posts.
Key points:
i. As per the amendment selection of the candidates will be purely based on written exam, socio-economic
criteria and experience.
ii. The total marks for the post comprises 100 marks, including 90 for written exam and 10 for socio-
economic criteria and experience.
iii. The cabinet decided to grant five extra marks for first time candidates taking police exam and also
decided to give 10 per cent extra marks to widows, orphans and people from denotified tribes, besides those who
do not have an immediate family member in any government job.
iv. The cabinet also approved the amendment in Haryana Development and Panchayats Department (Group
C) Field Officers Rules, 2012.As per this amendment the educational qualification for the post of 'gram
sachiv'(village assistant)changed from matriculation to graduation.
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Madya pradesh Cabinet passed resolution to increase reservation for OBCs to 27%
On June 3, 2019, The cabinet of Madya Pradesh (MP) state Government passed the resolution to increase the
reservation quota for OBC (Other Backward Class) from the current 14 per cent to 27 Per cent. The
resolution will be taken in the monsoon session of the state assembly.
Key points:
i. If this resolution implemented , Madhya Pradesh will become the only state in the country to have a 27 per cent
quota for OBCs.
ii. The move will breaches the 50 per cent cap set by the Supreme Court in the Indra Sawhney case judgment.
iii. The MP government passed an Ordinance on March 9 to implement the quota. However, the Madhya Pradesh
High Court had stayed the Ordinance on March 19.
Justice Prashant Kumar Appointed as Acting Chief Justice Jharkhand High Court
Justice Prashant Kumar is appointed as the Acting Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court following the
appointment of the present Acting Chief Justice D N Patel as the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court.
Haryana Govt Withdraws EPBG Quota for accommodating EWS reservations

Haryana government has issue an order to withdraw Economically Backward Persons in General Caste
Category (EBPG) reservation since Economically Weaker Sections reservation (EWS) came into effect. EWS
comes under Constitution 124th Amendment Bill, 2019 passed by the parliament to
allow 10% reservation for economically backward sections in the general category in government jobs and
academic institutions in January.
Uttarakhand’s minister for parliamentary affairs and finance Prakash Pant passed away
Uttarakhand minister Prakash Pant passed away at the age of 58 in US where he was taking treatment
for cancer. He is from Pithoragarh. Panthanded over his portfolios to CM before leaving to US.
Justice Dhirubhai Naranbhai Patel sworn in as Chief Justice Of Delhi High Court
On 7th June 2019, Justice Dhirubhai Naranbhai Patel, sworn in as Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court.His
oath of ceremony is administered by lieutenant governor of Delhi, Anil Baijal.
KeyPoints:
i. He Succeeded Justice Rajendra Menon, who retired after 2 decades of service.
ii. He was recommended by Supreme Court Collegium for the appointment as Chief Justice of the Delhi High
Court.
His working experience:
i. He enrolled as an advocate and practiced at the high court of Gujarat where he was appointed as a Special
Counsel of the state of Gujarat in other high courts and then elevated as an Additional Judge of the Gujarat High
Court on March 7, 2004
ii. After that he worked in Jharkhand High Court.
Andhra Pradesh CM appoints 5 Deputy CMs in Cabinet

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister(CM) Jagan Mohan Reddy appointed 5 Deputy CMs in a full 25-member
Cabinet,one each from Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Backward Classes (BC), Minority and Kapu
communities.
Key Points:
• The decision was taken in a meeting of the YSR Congress Legislature Party held at CM’s residence.
• The 5 Deputy CMs- Pamula Pushpa Sreevani, Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose, Alla Kali Krishna Srinivas, L
Narayana Swamy and AmzathBashatook oath at a ceremony held near the State Secretariat in Velagapudi,
Amravati on June 8, 2019.
• With this, Andhra Pradesh became the first state in India to have 5 Deputy CMs.
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CBI permitted to enter the state

On June 6, 2019, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister (CM) Y S Jaganmohan Reddy permitted the Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI) to enter the state without seeking general consent from the state government. The State
Home Department cancelled the orderissued by the former CM Chandrababu Naidu's government.
Key Points:
• The former government had withdrawn the 'general consent' to the CBI to conduct raids and carry out
investigations on central establishments in the state in November 8, 2018.
• The previous order was cancelled under the provisions of Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police
Establishment Act, 1946.
Mekathoti Sucharitha appointed as the Home Minister of Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister (CM) YS Jaganmohan Reddy appointed Mekathoti Sucharitha, aged 45, a
representative from Prathipadu (SC) reserved constituency in Guntur district, as the Home Minister of Andhra
Pradesh. She became the first Dalit woman home minister of Andhra Pradesh after the formation of Telangana.
Key Points:
i. In 2009, for the first time, CM’s father late YS Rajasekhara Reddy had appointed P Sabita Indra Reddy as first
home minister of united Andhra Pradesh.
ii. A two-time Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) and wife of Dayasagar, an Indian Revenue Service (IRS)
officer posted as Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals), Mumbai, was assigned the home and disaster
management portfolio.
iii. Sucharitha, who hails from Poondla village near Bapatla, completed her studies at Phirangipuram in Guntur
and holds a BA in Political Science (1990).
Goa cabinet approves 10% quota for economically backward sections

On June 10, 2019, The Goa cabinet chaired by the Chief minister Pramod Sawant approved the amendment
of 10 percent reservation for economically weaker sections of a general category in education and employment.
The state cabinet also assured the reservation for Muslims and Christians, who are not covered under the
quota.
Key points:
i. Currently, reservation for ST, SC, OBC , persons with disability, ex-servicemen having 2%,12%,27%,4%,2%
respectively.
ii. The Parliament had cleared the reservation bill in January 2019 with the qualification criteria of those
with income below Rs 8 lakh per annum considered as a weaker section of the society. However it excluded
those with having 5 acres or more agriculture land, residential flat of 100sqm and above, the residential plot of
83.6 sqm and above, and residential plot of 167.2sqm and above.
iii. The Union Government of India introduced the OBC reservation from 1993 while the quota for OBC in Goa
started in 1996 with the reservation of 19.5%. Then it was increased to 27% in 2014.
Veteran Tamil playwright and actor ‘Crazy’ Mohan, aged 67, passed away in Chennai
Renowned Tamil playwright and comedy actor Mohan Rangachari, popularly known as ‘Crazy’ Mohan, passed
away at Kauvery Hospital in Chennai, Tamil Nadu after he suffered a major heart attack. He was 67.
Key Points;
i. He was born on October 16, 1952, in Tamil Nadu. His play ‘Crazy Thieves in Palavakkam’ became popular and
gave him the name ‘Crazy’ Mohan.
ii. He qualified as a mechanical engineer at the College of Engineering, Guindy in the 1970s. During this time, he
wrote the first script for “Great Bank Robbery” for an inter-collegiate contest.
iii. He started his own drama company ‘Crazy Creations’ in 1979. In 1983, he made his film debut as a writer for
K. Balachander’s “PoikkalKuthirai”, which was based on Mohan’s own play “Marriage Made in Saloon”.
iv. The popular plays of the actor include “Chocolate Krishna”, “Satellite Saamiyar”, “Marriage Made in Saloon”
and “Return of Crazy Thieves”, among others. He also produced popular comedy serials, which include “Crazy”,
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“KalyanathukkuKalyanama” and “VidathuSirippu”.

v. Along with Kamal Haasan, he became popular in multiple Tamil comedies which include “SathiLeelavathi”,
“Michael Madana Kama Rajan”, “Apoorva Sagodharargal”, “AvvaiShanmugi”, “Panchatanthiram”, “Vasool Raja
MBBS”, “Tenali” and “Pammal K Sambandam”.
vi. He was the recipient of the “Kalaimamani” award conferred by the Tamil Nadu government for excellence in
the field of art and literature.
Former Puducherry Chief Minister and DMK leader R.V. Janakiraman passed away
RV Janakiraman, a former Chief Minister of the union territory of Puducherry and leader of Dravida
Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) passed away in Puducherry.
i. He died at the age of 79 due to age-related illness. He was from Alathur in Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu.
Karnataka Government Launches “Pink Sarathi vehicles”

On June 9, 2019, The state government of Karnataka launched “Pink Sarathi vehicles” for women safety. This
was launched by the Chief Minister of Karnataka, H.D.Kumaraswamy. The vehicles were procured by
the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) under the ‘Nirbhaya’ scheme.
Key points:
i. The BMTC will use the 25 vehicles which are fitted with GPS and Public announcement systems to attend
to the grievances of women passengers in city Buses.
ii. Under the ‘Nirbhaya scheme’, BMTC has received Rs.56.07 crore from the central Government.
iii. The state government has also taken up various measures for the safety of women passengers.
About Nirbhaya Fund
It is an Indian rupee 10 billion corpus announced by Government of India in its 2013 Union Budget to protecting
the dignity and ensuring safety of women in India.
First meeting of Andhra Pradesh cabinet approves several key Decisions

On June 10,2019, The new cabinet meeting chaired by the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan
Reddy has been approved some key decisions.
i. The cabinet approves hike of old age pension from 2,000 to Rs 2,250.
ii. It approves salaries of Aasha workers (health workers in rural areas) from Rs.3,000 to Rs.10,000 per month
and also increased the salary of community health workers under the Tribal Welfare Department from current
Rs 400 to Rs 4,000 a month.
iii. It gives nod to increase 27 percent IR (Interim Relief) increment to the government employees in the state.
iv. The cabinet decided to form the committee over the termination of contributory pension scheme (CPS) for
State government employees.
v. It also decides to implement “YSR Rythu Bharosa” from 15th October to pay Rs.12,500 per annum to farmers.
vi. The Cabinet has also discussed on Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) with State
Department merger.
UP Cabinet approved key decisions

On June 11, 2019. The cabinet meeting of Uttar Pradesh (UP) Government approved several key decisions. The
following decisions were made:
i. The Senior Citizen pension was hiked by the Government. For the citizens between the age of 60 to 79, it was
hiked from Rs 400 to Rs 500 per month. The pension for people over 79 years of age was already Rs 500.
ii. It permitted to allow micro-breweries in state and necessary amendment in the rule was done. License fee was
increased and a capacity of 2.1 lakh litre of production is allowed in a year.
iii. Age limit of Post Graduate Institute (PGI) doctors was increased by two years. It is 37 years from 35 years. All
India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is under construction in Raebareli and will be completed by 2020.
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Kerala Sahithya Akademi awardee, Poet and lyricist Pazhavila Ramesan passed away at the age of 83 in
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Pazhavila Ramesan, Poet and lyricist passed away at the age of 83 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He hailed
from Perinadu in Kollam district of Kerala.
i. He worked as the co-editor in K. Balakrishnan’s Kaumudi Weekly.
ii. He worked as the Director at the Kerala Bhasha Institute (State Institute of Languages).
iii. He penned Pazhavila Rameshante Kavithakal, Mazhayude Jalakom and Njan Ente Kadukalilekk (poetry
collections); Ormayude Varthamanam, Mayatha Varakal and Nervara (essays). He wrote lyrics for a few
Malayalam film songs including those from the films Njattadi (1979), Aashamsakalode (1984), Uncle Bun (1991),
Malootty (1992) and Vasudha (1992).
iv. He won Kerala Sahithya Akademi award in 2017.
Bihar Government launches Mukhyamantri Vriddha Pension Yojna

On June 14,2019 The state Government of Bihar launched Mukhyamantri Vriddha Pension Yojna for poor
people above 60 years of age which is effective from April 1, 2019.This was launched by the Bihar Chief
Minister Nitish Kumar.
Key points:
i. Under the Mukhyamantri Vriddha Pension Yojna, Poor people above the age of 60 years will get Rs 400 per
month and those people above the age of 80 years will get Rs. 500 per month.
ii. Retired government employees will not covered under the scheme.
iii. The state government had allocated fund of Rs 18,000 crore for the scheme.
Green Mizoram Day celebrated on June 11, 2019

In Mizoram, Green Mizoram Day was celebrated throughout the state on June 11, 2019. Chief Minister of the
state Zoramthanga planted saplings at the premises of the Assam Rifles headquarters in Aizawl. This day has
been observed since June 11, 1999.
Key Points:
i. The day was observed with the distribution, planting trees and taking pledge to work for green environment
and maintain ecological balance.
ii. Over 38.46 lakh saplings were distributed among the people for planting between 1999 and 2018.
Bihar Cabinet approved the proposal to punish children who abandon their elderly parents
Bihar Cabinet led by the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar approved the proposal seeking provisions to punish
children who abandon their elderly parents. They could face jail time over charges of abandonment.
Key Points:
i. The proposal seeking provision was submitted by the Bihar Social Welfare Department.
ii. The cases will be lodged on the complaints of the parents. They will be registered under the non-bailable
section.
Assam Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary launched State Transport Corporation's Chalo app
On June 14, 2019, Assam Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary launched the State Transport
Corporation's Chalo app for Guwahati. It will help the travellers to know about the live arrival time of their bus.
Key Points:
i. He also launched a transport map for the State Transport bus network in Guwahati developed by Chalo.
ii. Assam became the first state in India to have a state-wide smart transport solution and common mobility card
for its commuters.
iii. Free travel was announced for Divyangs, freedom fighters and meritorious students of the state in State
Transport buses.
iv. The Chalo app is developed by the Zophop Technologies Pvt Ltd, a technology-driven transport solutions
company.
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Encephalitis, heat-wave claim 100 lives in Bihar

In Bihar, More than 100 children have lost their lives due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) and heat
wave. The total toll due to AES has been pegged at 104 including 17 deaths in Muzaffarpur.
i. National Human Rights Commission ( NHRC)has issued notices to the Union Health Ministry to review the
situation prevailed in Bihar.
ii. Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan held a meeting with the stakeholders taking measures including
setting up first line treatment facilities and 100 bedded ICU for pediatrics unit.
iii. The centre also decided to deploy high level team to be sent to Bihar immediately for undertaking the
necessary groundwork for setting up a state-of-the-art multi-disciplinary research center at Muzaffarpur.
iv. Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar had announced an ex-gratia package of Rs 4 lakh each to families of the
children who died.
About Encephalitis:
The toxic substance in lychee causes Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES),locally known as Chamki Bukhar,
which is a form of brain fever that happens due to the inflammation of the brain.
Uttar Pradesh state cabinet gives approval to 6 proposals

On June 18,2019, The Uttar Pradesh state cabinet chaired by the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath approved six
Proposals including the one to convene the state Assembly's Monsoon Session from July 18,2019.
Key points:
i. The cabinet has also gave its assent to a proposal regarding the formation of Gorakhpur Zoological Park with
the cost of Rs 181.82 crore. It would be called as Ashfaqullah Zoological Park.
ii. The Umbrella Act has also been approved through which 27 universities across the state will come under one
Act. At present, 27 private universities in the state are governed by their own acts.
iii. The state cabinet approved the formation of education tribunal. The tribunal will comprise a chairman, two
vice-chairmen and several other members. A total of Rs 6.15 crores will be spent on this and it will help in
resolving disputes in the education sector.
iv. The Cabinet has sanctioned Rs 30.34 crore for building a college named after Mahant Avaidyanath in
Gorakpur.
v. The Government has also set a target to plant 22 crore saplings by August 15,2019, for which saplings will be
provided across the state free of cost.
NPCI tie-up with Telangana to offer MeeSeva service portal

On June 18, 2019 The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) of Mumbai signed an agreement with
the state Government ofTelangana. This is to offer a mode of payment options like UPI (Unified Payments
Interface ) Collect Request, RuPay Debit and Credit Cards to the users of the ‘MeeSeva’ portal of the Government.
Key points:
i. The portal offers 150 government services and in 2018, it crosses 100 million transactions.
ii. The partnership will help the people of Telangana to get the benefits of debit and credit card payment network
in India and it will be a true Make in India collaboration.
iii. NPCI, which runs the UPI, RuPay, is also in the process of enabling a Quick Response (QR) code-enabled
payment mechanism as an additional feature on the MeeSeva portal, which will be available both online and
offline.
Rajasthan Government to give unemployment allowance to unemployed graduates up to Rs 3,500 per

month
Rajasthan government will provide unemployment allowance up to Rs 3,500 per month to the unemployed
youths having graduation or equivalent degree in the state. They will get the benefit of the Chief Minister Yuva
Sambal Yojana. The applicants should be natives of Rajasthan to be eligible for this benefit.
Key Points:
i. The scheme has been implemented from February 2019.
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ii. Male applicants will receive Rs 3,000 per month. Women and differently-abled applicants will receive Rs 3,500
per month.
iii. The amount will be given to the candidates for two years or until they get employed.
Maharashtra government announced scheme for smokeless kitchens ‘Chullah-free and smoke-free
Maharashtra"
The project named "Chullah (wood-fired stove)-free and smoke-free Maharashtra" will be launched by
the Government of Maharashtra. The announcement was made by the Finance Minister of Maharashtra, Sudhir
Mungantiwar in his Budget speech on June 18, 2019.
Key Points:
i.A pilot project is aimed at providing smoke-free environment in the kitchen for women.
ii.It will target the women who are not benefited under the Ujjwala or any other LPG (Liquefied petroleum gas)
distribution scheme.
iii.It will be implemented in Naxal- affected areas as well as the districts where farmer suicide rate is high.
Justice V Ramasubramanian sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court
Judge of Telangana High Court, Justice V Ramasubramanian sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Himachal
Pradesh High Court.He succeeded Chief Justice Surya Kant.
KeyPoints:
i.His Oath taking ceremony was administered by Governor Acharya Devvrat.
ii.Apart from Telangana High Court earlier, he served as an Additional Judge of the Madras High Court from July
31, 2006 and as permanent Judge from November 9, 2009.
iii.Then he served Andhra Pradesh High Court from April 27, 2016.
Justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan sworn-in as the second Chief Justice of Telangana High Court
Acting Chief Justice of Telangana High Court, Raghvendra Singh Chauhan sworn-in as the second Chief
Justice of Telangana High Court in Hyderabad. He succeeded Chief Justice T.B. Radhakrishnan in April, 2019
and sworn in as acting Chief Justice.He hails from Rajasthan.
Key Points:
i. His Oath taking ceremony was administered by Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan.
ii. Chief Secretary S.K. Joshi , initiated the swearing-in ceremony while the Registrar General of Telangana High
Court A. Venkateswar Reddy read out the warrant issued by President Ramnath Kovind.
Government of Bihar bans tree-felling

Under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, The State Government of Bihar recently issued an order banning
felling of trees, citing increasing pollution and heatwave.
Key points:
i. The order came after the increasing pollution in the cities of Patna, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, and others in
the state.
ii. The heatwave claimed 90 people in Gaya, Aurangabad and Nawada districts.
iii. Now the permissions granted to cut trees for development works, have become null and void.
iv. The government took a decision after the indiscriminate felling of big, old trees in Capital Patna during the last
few years for the construction of roads and buildings and more than 2,200 trees have been chopped in the last
two-and-a-half years.
v. Now anyone wants to remove a tree for any development project would have to translocate it & the Engineers
have been asked not to cut trees while building or expanding roads.
Rajasthan’s BJP Chief Madan Lal Saini passed away at AIIMS, Delhi
On June 25, 2019, President of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Rajasthan unit Madan Lal Saini, aged 75,
passed away at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. He was diagnosed with infection in
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lungs.
Key Points:
i. He hailed from Sikar district of Rajasthan.
ii .He was a former Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)
volunteer and held various posts in the Bhartiya Kisan Morcha.
iii. Saini was appointed as the chief of the Rajasthan unit of the BJP in June 2018. He was also a member of Rajya
Sabha.
Justice PK Saikia appointed as Chairperson of Lokayukta in Arunachal Pradesh

On June 27, 2019, Justice Prasanta Kumar Saikia (Retired) was sworn in as the Chairperson of
the Lokayukta in Arunachal Pradesh. The oath was administered by Governor Dr. B D Mishra at Durbar Hall in
Raj Bhawan in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh in the presence of Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Deputy Chief
Minister Chowna Mein, other ministers and officials. He became the first Lokayukta of the state.
Key Points:
i. Mr. Yeshi Tsering, a retired IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officer, was sworn in as the Member of the
Lokayukta.
ii. On March 4, 2014, Arunachal Pradesh assembly had passed the Lokayukta Bill to establish the anti- corruption
ombudsman in the state.
iii. The chairperson and members will hold office for a term of 5 years or till they attain 70 years of age.
Haryana launches Krishi Kiosk for farmers

On June 28, 2019, Om Prakash Dhankar, Haryana agriculture, and farmers’ welfare minister launched ‘Krishi
kiosk’ for farmers at Panchkula, Haryana.
Key points:
i. The kiosk comes under state’s ’‘Digital Kisan Suvidha’ plan, will give farmers information about government
schemes and also help them file claims under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana’ Scheme.
ii. It has been connected with the Deputy Commissioners' offices of the state, and a telephone facility has also
been made available for farmers, who in turn could give information through telephone.
iii. Awareness: ‘Suchana Rath’ facility has introduced through which farmers will be encouraged to not burn
crop residue and instead sow it in the fields through using a scientific method.
iv. App: Kisan Haryana App’ has also been designed for Farmers to get information on all schemes.
v.Book: The book titled “‘Agri Scope” has also launched by the State Government.
West Bengal introduces free crop insurance scheme Bangla Shashya Bima for farmers
On June 28, 2019, West Bengal Government launched a crop insurance scheme, Bangla Shashya Bima
(BSB) for the 2019 'Kharif' season to protect farmers from losses due to natural disasters and provide a steady
income in case of unstable market prices.
Key points:
i. Tie-up: The scheme was launched in collaboration with Agriculture Insurance Company of India (AIC).
ii. Cost-free: The crop insurance scheme would be "free of cost for farmers" as the state government would pay
the entire premium.
iii.Insurable crops: It includes Aman and Aus paddy, jute and maize under the scheme.
iv. The scheme is applicable for farmers in 15 districts include Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Purba Bardhaman,
Paschim Bardhaman, Purba Medinipur, Malda, Hooghly, Nadia, Murshidabad, Cooch Behar, Birbhum, Purulia,
Dakshin Dinajpur, North 24 Parganas, and South 24 Parganas.
Well-known Telugu writer Abburi Chaya Devi passes away at 86

Famous Telugu story writer, Abburi Chaya Devi passed away due to cardiac arrest. She was 86. She hails from
Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh.
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Key points:
i. She was born on 13 October 1933, has served as a council member of Kendra Sahitya Academy during the time
period of 1998 to 2002.
ii. She received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2005 for her book 'Thana Margam.' and 'Evarni Chesukonu’book is
another popular one.
iii. Some of her popular stories are ‘Bonsai Bathuku’, ‘Prayanam Sukhantam’, ‘Akhariki Aidu Nakshatralu’, and
‘Wood Rose’.
iv. She had worked as a librarian at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi.
Tamil Nadu Government appoints K Shanmugham as new CS and JK Tripathy as DGP

On June 29, 2019. Tamil Nadu Government appointed K Shanmugam as Chief Secretary (CS) of the state
succeeding Dr. Girija Vaidyanathan.JK Tripathy was appointed as the Director General of Police (DGP)
succeeding TK Rajendran.
Key Points:
i. Shanmugam, a Tamil Nadu cadre IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officer of 1985 batch, was posted as
Additional Chief Secretary of Finance Department to the government. He is a native of Salem district, Tamil Nadu.
ii. JK Tripathy, a 1985 batch IPS (Indian Police Service) officer and a native of Odisha, currently serves in Tamil
Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board as DGP/Chairman. He has held various responsibilities including
that of DGP, Prisons and Commissioner of Police in Chennai and Tiruchirapalli in his career over 3 decades.
iii. They will hold the office for 2 years
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Puerto Williams named as the World’s southernmost city
Puerto Williams in Chile has become the southernmost city in the world after getting it’s status upgraded to city
category. Previously, the southernmost city was Ushuaia in Argentina.
India, US, Japan and Australia for ASEAN-led architecture mechanism

India, US, Japan, and Australia came together to support ASEAN-led architecture mechanism for a rule-based
order to promote free, open, prosperous and inclusive indo-pacific region in a meeting held at Bangkok,
Thailand. This move is to counter China’s military expansion into the Indo-pacific region.
Key points:
i. ASEAN is an association of 10 countries which include – Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand, the
Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.
ii. India, US, Japan and Australia and several other countries are it’s dialogue partners.
iii. ASEAN region comprises of about 1.85 billion people and their GDP is estimated to be $3.8 trillion.
iv. Number of other issues were also discussed in the meeting such as connectivity, counter terrorism, and
maritime cooperation for a peaceful and prosperous Indo-pacific region.
First UAE Permanent Residency issued in Abu Dhabi

Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) Of UAE has issued the first permanent residency – Golden
Card, in Abu Dhabi as a part of Investors Permanent Residence System implemented under the UAE Cabinet’s
Resolution No. 56 for 2018. It aims to attract investors, exporters, and students who meet their criteria.
Key points:
i. The first Golden card was given to UAE-based businessman, LuLu Group chairman M.A. Yusuffali. He has a
net worth of $4.7 billion and ranked as the richest person in UAE by Forbes.
ii. Brigadier Saeed Salem Al Shamsi, Executive Director of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners
Affairs in Abu Dhabi, awarded the first permit.
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iii. UAE has also announced that about 6800 investors with 100 billion Dirhams worth of investment will be
provided with Golden Card in the first batch.
Social Media Profiles to be included in U.S visa application

According to a new immigration rule in US, the visa applicants are now required to provide social
media details dated back to five years from the application date, to enhance the screening process of the
applicants and ensure national security. This affects nearly 15 million people per year.
Key points:
i. The data required under the new rule include social media profiles links, phone numbers, email IDs for the
past five years.
ii. Previously, social media information was required only for persons who have visited countries with terrorism.
Now it is mandatory for all visa application including immigrant form DS-260 and non-immigrant form DS-
160.
iii. If in any case, the applicants are not using social media they can say no but will face serious consequences if
found to be a lie.
Estonia, Niger, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia, Vietnam elected to UNSC as Non-permanent
Members
On June 7, 2019, Estonia, Niger, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia and Vietnam were elected to United
Nations Security Council(UNSC) as Non-permanent Members for a 2-year term beginning January 1, 2020.
Key Points:
• The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) had held elections for 5 non-permanent members of the
Security Council in the General Assembly hall. UNGA has 193 members.
• In the African and Asia Pacific category, Vietnam secured192 out of 193 votes while Niger and Tunisia got
191 votes each.
• In the Latin America and Caribbean category, St. Vincent and the Grenadines was elected as it had
secured 185 votes. El Salvador, which was in the group, got only 6 votes.
• In the Eastern European States category, Estonia got 111 votes whereas Romania secured 78 votes.
• Georgia and Latvia secured only one vote each.
• As a Member State had to get the required 2/3 majority of 128 votes to be elected, a round of restricted
ballot was undertaken to select a winning State from among Estonia and Romania. Estonia was selected
with 132 votes.
• The Security Council has 15 members - 5 permanent members namely China, France, Russian Federation,
the United Kingdom& the United States and 10 non-permanent members who are elected for two-year
terms by the General Assembly. At present, 10 non-permanent members are Belgium, Cte d'Ivoire,
Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Indonesia, Kuwait, Peru, Poland and South Africa.
‘National Strategy for Wellbeing 2031’ adopted by the Cabinet of UAE

On June 9, 2019, The Cabinet of United Arab Emirates (UAE)adopteda 12-year strategy ‘National Strategy for
Wellbeing 2031’during its meeting at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi. It will be chaired by Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.
Key Points:
i. The newly adopted strategy has 2 objectives:
• To make UAE a world leader in quality of life by launching 90 new projects that will improve the physical,
psychological and digital health of future generations.
• To promote an integrated concept of well being by supporting UAE Vision 2021 and UAE Centennial
2071.
ii. ‘National Strategy for Well being 2031’is the development of the first 'National Well being Observatory' to
support the policy making process.
iii. It is based on a national framework of 3 main levels namely individuals, society and the country. It comprises
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of 14 components and 9 strategic objectives, which help in enhancing people's well being by promoting healthy
and active lifestyles, promoting good mental health and adopting positive thinking.
iv. Along with the formation of a National Wellbeing Council to manage and coordinate the national strategy, it
will monitor a number of indicators of wellbeing in the UAE, submit regular reports to the UAE Cabinet, propose
training programmes for government employees and launch of the Academy of Wellbeing future generations.
African Union suspends Sudan, Demands civil Administration

The African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council has announced that it has suspended Sudan’s participation
in all AU activities until productive establishment of Civilian Government in the country.
The decision was taken at the Peace and Security Council meeting held in Addis Ababa.
The suspension comes after Sudan’s military launched a brutal attack on protesters in the capital, Khartoum.
Key points:
i. AU body warned that further action will be taken place if power is not transferred to civilian authority , a
demand of pro-democracy protesters.
ii. The military leadership had taken control over the country after ouster of Sudan President Omar al-
Bashir in April 2019 after months of mass protests.
About African Union:
i. It is pan-Africa continental union consisting of 55 countries.
ii. It is headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
iii. It was founded in May 2001 launched in July 2002 in South Africa.
iv. It has official bodies such as Peace and Security Council and Pan-African Parliament.
First Arctic train service launched by Russia

On June 6,2019 , Russia has launched its first tourist train service passing through Russia’s arctic region. It
begins a journey from Saint Petersburg station to Norway with 91 passengers aboard.
Key points:
i. The train has been named as Zarengold ("The Tsar's gold" in German).
ii. It has two restaurant cars and the trip will be expected to take 11 days.
iii. The tourists will get off the train at Murmansk, and continue by bus to Kirkenes in Norway before ending
their journey with a boat trip to Oslo or by air to the island of Spitsbergen.
iv. The passengers came from seven countries including the US, Germany, Norway and Russia for the inaugural
journey.
v. The train is expected to run twice next year and four times in 2021.
vi. By new trading routes, Russia wants to become the top economic and military power in the Arctic region.
Gandhi peace rally held in Saudi Arabia

On Jue 7,2019 , To mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Indian Embassy organized the
‘Gandhi Cycle Rally for Peace’, inSaudi Arabia. The rally was organized in association with the Diplomatic
Quarter Authority and Saudi Cycling Federation.
Key points:
i. The rally was flagged off by the Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr.Ausaf Sayeed.
ii. The Saudi nationals, diplomats, Indian Diaspora attended the rally.
iii. This was the first time this kind of rally held in Diplomatic Quarters in Riyadh,Saudi Arabia.
El Salvador Legislative Assembly Declares “Forests as Living Entities”

The Legislative Assembly of El Salvador has recognized forests as living entities on the World Environment
Day( 5th June, 2019).Its citizens will now be required to preserve forests and respect them as more than just
property.
Key points:
i. Since 1960s, El Salvador has lost about 85 % of its native forests and the planet as a whole have lost about 80
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percent of its native forests.

ii. A coalition in El Salvador named “Yes for the Rights of Nature” (Sí por los Derechos de la Naturaleza), has
environmentalists and social leaders called for recognizing forests as living entities.
India designated as guest country at Guadalajara International Book Fair in Mexico

India has been designated as the guest country in the 33rd Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara
(Guadalajara International Book Fair), in Mexico. The nodal agency, under the Ministry of Human Resource
and Development claimed it to be the largest book fair in the Spanish speaking world.
i. The fair will be organised from 30th November to 8th December, 2019.
ii. Indian Pavilion will show case the Ancient and rare manuscripts including “Mahabharata” and “Ramayana”
along with photo books, handicrafts and paintings in the event.
iii. The exhibition will also feature art by 40 renowned Indian women artists including Arpana Caur, Paula
Sengupta, and Seema Kohli.At the same time another event, titled "Festival of India" will showcase folk, classical
and contemporary cultural programmes.
iv. Indian films like "Dangal", "Chennai Express" and "Omkara" will also be featured in the film festival that
will be organised at the Mexico International Book Fair.
Canada to curb single use plastics from 2021

On June 10, 2019, The Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced to ban single use
plastics from 2021. The products which are expected to be banned are cotton swabs, cutlery, plates, straws,
bags and drink stirrers. The goal of the government is "Zero plastic waste (from) coast to coast". This is done
to reduce ocean waste.
Key Points:
i. The estimated figures show that one million birds and over 100,000 marine mammals die or get injured when
they get caught in plastic or ingest it.
ii. The decision was made following the establishment of an Ocean Plastics Charter at the G7 conference 2018.
Venezuela to roll out three new banknotes due to Hyperinflation

On June 12, 2019, The Venezuelan government announced that it will issue new banknotes due to racketing
hyperinflation which eroded the currency’s value.
The central bank of Venezuela will release new Banknotes of 10,000, 20,000 and 50,000
bolivar denominations.
Key points:
i. The decision aims to control the prevailing hyperinflationary situation that reached more than 1.3 million
percent and strengthen the payment system and commercial transactions in the country.
ii. The highest bill in circulation was 500 bolivar note before the announcement.
iii. The largest denominations banknotes is worth about Rs.560 ($8)which is more than the minimum wage of
40,000 bolivars.
iv. The country’s President Nicolas Maduro removes five zeroes off the currency and prices in August 2018.
Ireland plans to ban sale of petrol and diesel cars from 2030
In order to combat greenhouse gas emissions, Ireland Government decided to ban the sale of new petrol and
diesel vehicles by 2030 as part of a major strategy to protect the environment. This is one of 180 measures the
Irish government published in the ‘Climate Action Plan’.
Key points:
i. The “Climate Action Plan” also includes the elimination of non-recyclable plastic and higher fees on the
production of materials that are difficult to recycle.
ii. The country hopes that by the time the petrol and diesel vehicle ban is introduced in 2030 there will be
950,000 electric vehicles on Irish roads. To this, the government decided to invest in a nationwide charging
network.
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iii. The Irish Government’s objective is to transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient society and put the
country to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
iv. Besides the ban of the sale of new fossil fuel cars, the government decided that it would stop granting National
Car Test (NCT) certificates to such vehicles by 2045.
Indian high commissioner Riva Ganguly Das visited Indo-Bangladesh Friendship Bridge 1
On June 16, 2019, Riva Ganguly Das, High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh visited the construction of
the India-Bangladesh Friendship Bridge 1 (Feni Bridge/ Maitree Setu) and land port in Ramgarh upazila of
Khagrachhari, Bangladesh.
Key Points:
i. The construction of the bridge over Feni River had begun in 2017 and is expected to be completed by April
2020. It will connect Tripura with Chittagong port of Bangladesh.
ii. Its foundation for construction was laid down jointly by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2015.
iii. The cost of construction of the bridge is more than Rs.82 crores. It is being constructed by National Highways
Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) of Union Ministry of Road and Transport highways
(MoRTH).
iv. Land port in Ramgarh will serve as a link between India and the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. It will
ease export-import procedure of businessmen and also reduce unemployment.
v. Feni Bridge/ Maitree Setu will improve economy of hill tracts and the communication & trade of Bangladesh
with Tripura and other regions in India.
WHO launched a new tool to handle AMR named “AWaRe”

On June 18, 2019, The World Health Organization (WHO) launched a global campaign named “AWaRe” urging
governments to adopt a tool to reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), adverse events and costs.
Key Points:
i. It is developed by the WHO Essential Medicines List.
ii. It classified antibiotics into three groups – Access, Watch and Reserve.
iii. The aim is to increase the proportion of global consumption of antibiotics in the Access group to at least 60%
and to reduce the usage of the antibiotics at risk of resistance from the Watch and Reserve groups.
iv. On June 19, 2019, The AWaRe campaign – ‘AdoptAWaRe, Handle antibiotics with care’ was officially
launched by the Ministers of Health of The Netherlands and Indonesia and WHO Assistant-Director General
Hanan Balkhy, at the second ministerial conference on AMR in Noordwijk, The Netherlands.
India extended $15 million grant to Niger to organize the AU summit

India extended $15 million grant to Niger to organize the African Union (AU) Summit scheduled from 7-8 July,
2019 in Niamey, Niger. It was symbolically handed over to Mrs. Lamido Ousseini Bala Goga Salamatou, Deputy
Foreign Minister, Government of Niger in the presence of Mr Mohammed Saidil Moctar, Minister and Special
Advisor to the President of the Republic of Niger by Ambassador of India to Niger Shri Rajesh Agarwal at a
ceremony held on 17 June 2019, in Niamey.
Key Points:
i. Niger will be hosting the AU Summit for the first time and it is expected to launch the historic African
Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
ii. In Niamey, India is establishing Mahatma Gandhi International Convention Centre (MGICC) under grant
assistance in order to mark Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary (October 2, 2019).
iii. Since 2009, Bilateral relations between both countries have expanded after the opening of the Indian
Resident Diplomatic Mission in Niamey. India has also provided Lines of Credit (LoC) worth $96.54 million to
Niger for projects in transport, electrification, solar energy and potable drinking water.
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Facebook confirmed the launch of cryptocurrency ‘Libra’ in 2020

On June 8, 2019, Facebook confirmed that it will launch a blockchain-powered stable-
coin ‘Libra’ in 2020 through the release of white paper. It will be a form of digital money backed by a reserve of
assets. It will be governed by the independent Libra Association, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
Key Points:
i. The head pf the project is David Marcus. He has served as the president of PayPal and head of Facebook
Messenger.
ii. Facebook introduced Calibra, a new Facebook subsidiary. It will provide financial services so that users may
participate in the Libra network.
iii. Libra Association has 27 partners which includes venture capital firms, nonprofit organizations, crypto firms,
and massive corporate financial, telecommunications, and technology service providers like Coinbase,
Mastercard, Visa, eBay, PayPal, Stripe, Spotify, Uber, Lyft, and Vodafone.
Indian Navy executes Operation Sankalp in the Gulf of Oman to undertake maritime security
On June 21, 2019, India Navy launched “Operation Sankalp” in the Gulf of Oman. It is to recheck Indian flagged
vessels operating through the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman following the maritime incidents in the region.
Key Highlights:
i. Deployment of Warships: Indian Navy has deployed (Indian Navy Ship)INS Chennai and INS Sunayna in the
region to undertake maritime security operations.
ii. Aerial surveillance: It is also undertaken by Indian Navy aircraft in the area.
iii. To check the movement of ships in the Gulf region, Information Fusion Centre - Indian Ocean Region
(Gurugram) keeping a close watch on the region.
iv. Background: The Operation was launched after the escalation of tension in Gulf of Oman, where two oil
tankers were attacked and four tankers off the United Arab Emirates. The incident has since heightened tensions
between Iran and the United States. The US (United States) blamed Iran which denied the allegations for the
incident.
Country’s first iron ore mine discovered in Bangladesh

On June 19, 2019 India’s first iron ore mine was discovered at Isabpur village in Dinajpur of Bangladesh. The
discovery was done by the Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB).
Key points:
i. At a depth of 1,330 feet, a 400-foot thick iron layer was discovered and it is extended over an area of 6-10
square kilometers.
ii. Percentage of iron: It is 60 in the mine, which is higher in quality in comparison to other iron ore mines in the
world.
iii. Other countries: Canada, China, Brazil Sweden and Australia which comprises less than 50 percent of iron.
iv. Other sources: The discovery site also found to have contained other minerals such as copper, nickel and
chromium and limestone at a depth of 1,150 feet.
v. The GSB’s first drilling was done in 2013 and they started second time in April 2019.
vi. Benefits: With this discovery in Bangladesh, economic and employment opportunities will enhanced in the
country.
Saudi Arabia became the first Arab country to get FATF membership
Saudi Arabia became the first Arab country to get full membership of the Financial Action Task
Force (FATF). With this, the number of permanent members in the group accounted to 39.
Key Points:
i. The membership was admitted into the global money laundering watchdog after the group’s Annual General
Meeting in Orlando, Florida where FATF celebrated its 30th anniversary of its first meeting which was held in
Paris in 1989.
ii. Saudi Arabia had received an invitation from FATF in 2015 to join as an “observer member”.
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Five countries from Asia and Central America had no cases of Malaria in 2018: WHO
According to the report by World Health Organization (WHO), Four countries from Asia includes China, Iran,
Malaysia and Timor-Leste and one country from Central America, El Salvador had malaria-free cases
in 2018 and the report confirms that world is on a track to reach malaria elimination by 2020.
Key points:
• The E-2020 progress report, which is launched in 2016 by the WHO covering 21 countries & spanning
five regions.
• E-2020 initiative: 2019 progress report shows that China and El Salvador reported no cases for the
second consecutive year while Iran, Malaysia, and Timor-Leste had zero cases of malaria for the first time
in 2018.
• Malaysia reported zero cases in 2018, which is a major achievement from 5,194 cases in 2010 to 85 cases
in 2017.
• Iran had more than 1,800 cases in 2010 which decreased to zero in 2018.
• Timor-Leste had disease rate from a high of 223,002 cases in 2006, to 95 cases in 2016, to zero cases in
2018.
• The 21 countries identified by WHO on the basis of 3 factors include trends in malaria case incidence
between 2000 and 2016, Declared malaria objectives of affected countries & Opinions of WHO experts.
• In May 2019, Algeria and Argentina were identified as malaria-free by WHO
• According to WHO's World malaria report 2018, about 60% of fatalities accounted among children under
five years caused 266,000 of all malaria deaths worldwide.
• India (4 per cent) which is progress in reducing its malaria cases in 2017 compared to 2016 (24 %
reduction), Nigeria (25 per cent), Democratic Republic of the Congo (11 per cent), Mozambique (5 per
cent), and Uganda (4 per cent) were accounted for nearly 50 per cent of all malaria cases worldwide.
Mexico became the first country to ratify the trade deal to replace NAFTA
On June 19, 2019, Mexico became the first country to ratify the trade deal to replace 25 year old North
American Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA). The new trade deal is known as known as the United States-
Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
Key Points:
i. The USMCA (NAFTA 2.0) has been modified to include changes for automakers, stricter labor and
environmental standards, intellectual property protections, and digital trade provisions.
ii. US President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexico’s then-President Enrique
Peña Nieto had signed the deal in November 2018 but it still needs to be ratified by all three governments.
iii. The USMCA was ratified with 114 Senators voting in favor and 4 against it.
UAE’s Financial Intelligence Unit launches UN-developed anti money laundering platform ‘goAML’
On June 23, 2019, The United Arab Emirates’ Central Bank in Abu Dhabi announced that its Financial
Intelligence Unit (FIU) launched a new reporting platform ‘goAML’ (global operations Anti-Money Laundering).
It is developed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to curb organised crimes.
Key Points:
i. With this, it became the first country in the Gulf to launch this platform.
ii. In order to avoid penalties, all financial institutions in the UAE must register on the new platform by June 27,
2019. More than 900 entities including, banks, insurance companies and money exchange centres, are required
to register on the platform.
iii. This platform will help FIU to prevent money laundering, financing of terrorism and other illicit financial
activities.
iv. ‘goAML’ was developed by UNODC as a strategic response against financial crime, as advised by the
Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.
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Nepalese nationals must have a visa to enter India via Pakistan, China, Hong Kong and Macau
The Nepalese Embassy in New Delhi issued a notice stating that Nepalese nationals must have a visa if they are
entering India from Pakistan, China, Hong Kong and Macau. This was done to increase security in the country.
Key Points:
i.It also notified that Nepalese nationals who travel to Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait,
Oman, Bahrain and Lebanon are required to acquire No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the respective Nepalese
Embassies.
ii.A traveller must submit an application to the respective embassy along with relevant documents, including
employment permit, ticket and visa of the destination country, in order to get the NOC.
iii.As per the data from Nepal foreign ministry, there are 4 million Nepalese working and studying in India.
India’s candidature for non-permanent seat of UNSC received Asia-Pacific Group’s unanimously
endorsement
The Group of Asia-Pacific at the United Nations unanimously endorsed India’s candidature for a non-
permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). This will be for a two year term 2021-2022.
This was informed by India's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Syed
Akbaruddin. Every year, 5 non-permanent members are elected for a 2 year term.
Key Points:
i. 55 Member states extended the support to India which included Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Pakistan,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Oman, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Papua
New Guinea among others.
ii. India served as a non-permanent member of the UNSC for seven terms, recent one was in 2011-12.
iii. Five permanent members of the Council are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Russia extends ban on EU Food Imports till December 31, 2020

On June 24, 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to extend the ban on food imports like
meats, dairy products, fruits and vegetables from the European Union (EU) till December 31, 2020.
Key Points:
i. In 2014, Russia had imposed an official ban on a wide range of imports from the EU and other countries in
retaliation for international sanctions over Moscow’s role in the Ukraine crisis.
ii. This has affected Russian economy by pushing up food prices.
Saudi Arabia increased India's Haj quota by 30,000

Saudi Arabia increased India’s Haj quota by 30,000 which was the third hike in 3 years. It was increased from
1,70,000 to 200,000. With this, more Indians will get a chance to visit annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, a city
in Hejazi region of Saudi Arabia. The issue discussed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Crown Prince of
Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman in the ongoing G20 Summit in Osaka Japan.
Key Points:
i. Background: In 2017, Saudi Arabia increased India's Haj quota by 35,000 and in 2018, it was hiked by 5,000
and the Haj subsidy provided by the government was withdrawn following the Supreme Court order of 2012. It
also allowed women to go on Haj without 'Mehram' or male companion.
ii. Bilateral meeting: India discussed regarding the cooperation in trade and investment, energy security and
counter-terrorism with Saudi Arabia. Both leaders spoke about the need for greater tourism and more flights. PM
also accepted the invitation of Saudi Arabia to be one of the main guests at an International Conference in late
2019.
iii. Haj: It is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca. It is the holiest city for Muslims.
As per Mercer's Survey for 2019, Mumbai among the top 20 most expensive cities in Asia for expatriates
As per Mercer's 25th Annual Cost of Living Survey which was conducted in March 2019, Mumbai was
considered as India's most expensive city. It was included in the list of top 20 most-expensive cities in Asia for
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expatriates as its residential housing prices were the highest in the world. 8 out of the top 10 of the most-
expensive cities in the world for expatriates were Asian cities. 209 cities were ranked in the list.
Key Points:
i. Costliest Cities in world: The costliest city in the world was Hong Kong for the second consecutive year. It
was followed by Tokyo, Singapore and Seoul. Other cities in the top ten list were Zurich (5), Shanghai (6),
Ashgabat (7), Beijing (8), New York City (9) and Shenzhen (10).
ii. Least Expensive Cities: The world's least expensive cities for expatriates were Tunis (209), Tashkent (208),
and Karachi (207).
iii. Indian Cities: Mumbai fell 12 spots and was ranked 67th position. New Delhi stood at 118th place, Chennai
was ranked 154th position, Bengaluru at 179th position and Kolkata at 189th place.
iv. Reasons for price rise: Factors like currency fluctuations, cost of inflation for goods and services and
volatility in accommodation prices, resulted to the overall cost of expatriate packages for employees on
international assignments.
VISITS
Indian Visits
Overview of Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Trutnev’s visit to India
Mr. Yury Trutnev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to
the Far Eastern Federal District along with his delegation visited India from 15-19 June 2019. The delegation
included senior officials from the Russian Ministry for Far East Development, Far East Investment and Export
Agency, representatives of Russian regions, industry representatives and academia.
Reason for the visit
The visit was undertaken to help both sides to prepare for the visit of Prime Minister to Vladivostok, Russia to
participate in the 5th edition of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) as the Chief Guest of the event which is
scheduled between September 4 and 6, 2019. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his two-day visit to Bishkek to
attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, had held a bilateral meeting with Russian
President Vladimir Putin and accepted his invitation to be the Chief Guest at the EEF.
Meeting with Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Trutnev met Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi and
discussed ways to strengthen ties between the two nations and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to
Vladivostok for the EEF. They spoke of increasing Indian investment in the Russian Far East.
Meeting with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval
Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mr. Yury Trutnev met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in
New Delhi. They agreed to work together to promote their bilateral economic engagement in the Russian Far
East.
Meeting with Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan
Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mr. Yury Trutnev met Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas
Dharmendra Pradhan in New Delhi. They discussed issues related to energy cooperation between the two
countries.
• It provided an opportunity to explore bilateral cooperation in the sectors of Diamond-processing,
Petroleum and Natural Gas, Coal and mining, Agro-processing and Tourism which have been identified as
the priority areas for development in the Russian Far East.
• They decided to further widen the scope of their economic partnership in the sectors of energy, Arctic
region, transfer of technology, joint projects under 'Make in India' initiative and manpower.
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Other Meetings
• Russian Deputy Prime Minister met Dr. Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog and held talks with
him.
• He attended a round-table discussion involving representatives of leading Indian Universities to foster a
closer partnership between Indian and Russian Far Eastern Universities in the field of science and
education.
• In Mumbai, he interacted with prominent Indian industry representatives and held meetings with Indian
companies having business interests in the Russian Far East. India has started investing in Russia and 3
more companies from India have expressed interest to invest in the far east besides Tata Power, KGK
Diamond among others
Foreign Visits
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Visit to Maldives and Sri Lanka

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Visit to Maldives
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited the Republic of Maldives on June 8-9, 2019 at the invitation of Mr.
Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President of the Republic of Maldives to strengthen the bilateral ties, reflecting the
importance India attached to its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. This was the first overseas visit of the Prime
Minister after his re-election. PM was received at Male airport by Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid.
List of MoU’s signed between Maldives and India:
6 Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) were signed between Maldives and India.
Name of the MoU Signatory from Indian Signatory from
Side Maldivian Side
MoU for Cooperation in the Field of Vijay Gokhale, Uza. Mariya Ahmed Didi,
Hydrography between Indian Navy and Foreign Secretary Minister of Defence
Maldives National Defence Force
MoU on Cooperation in the field of Health Sunjay Sudhir, Abdulla Ameen,
between GoI and GoM Ambassador of India Minister of Health
MoU for the Establishment of Passenger and Sunjay Sudhir, Aishath Nahula,
Cargo Services by Sea between Ministry of Ambassador of India Minister of Transport and
Shipping, GoI and Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation
Civil Aviation, GoM
MoU for Cooperation in Customs Capacity Sunjay Sudhir, Ahmed Numan,
Building between the Central Board of Ambassador of India Commissioner General of
Indirect Taxes and Customs of India and the Customs
Maldives Customs Service
MoU between National Centre for Good Sunjay Sudhir, Dr. Aly Shameem,
Governance, Department of Administrative Ambassador of India President/ Chairman, Civil
Reforms and Public Grievances and Maldives Service Commission of
Civil Service Commission on Training and Maldives
Capacity Building Programme for Maldivian
Civil Servants
Technical Agreement on Sharing White Sunjay Sudhir, Brigadier General Abdul
Shipping Information between the Indian Ambassador of India Raheem Abdul Latheef,
Navy and the Maldives National Defence Vice Chief of Defence
Force Force
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NCGG and Maldives Civil Services Commission signed MOU on Training and Capacity Building
On June 8, 2019, India’s leading civil services training institution, National Center for Good Governance(NCGG)
and Maldives Civil Services Commission signed an MoU to train 1000 Maldives civil servants over the next 5
years.
Key Points:
• NCGG will be the nodal institution for designing and implementation of customised training modules
taking into account the requirements of the Maldives Civil Services Commission.
• The training program will be given in public administration, e-governance and service delivery, public
policy and governance, information technology, best practices in fisheries in coastal areas, agro-based
practices, self-help group initiatives, urban development and planning, ethics in administration and
challenges in the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Maldives will nominate suitable civil servants in the senior, executive and middle management levels as
per agreed timelines.
• The NCGG will assist the Civil Services Training Institute, a subsidiary of Maldives’ Civil Services
Commission, to develop training programmes and materials and to organise the exchange of experts as
needed by the Commission.
• Entire expenses related to the training program will be borne by the Ministry of External Affairs.
• NCGG had trained 28 Maldives Civil Servants in April 2019. This encouraged the two countries to take the
collaboration forward.
• In 2019, NCGG has successfully conducted training programs for civil servants of Bangladesh, Myanmar,
the Gambia and Maldives.
PM Modi and President Solih inaugurated India-built Coastal Surveillance Radar System
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih jointly inaugurated Coastal
Surveillance Radar System(CSRS) which was built by India.
Key points:
• CSRS is the primary sensor for Integrated Costal Surveillance System which contributes in creating a
network of information to maritime domain awareness in the strategic Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• The inauguration was significant as China viewedMaldives as key to its Maritime Silk Road project in
the Indian Ocean.
• They also jointly inaugurated the composite training facility of the Maldives National Defence Force
in Maafilafushi and the coastal surveillance radar system by a remote link.
• India has an older version of these radars in Seychelles, Mauritius and Sri Lanka.
PM addressed Maldives Parliament
Prime Minister addressed the Maldivian Parliament, The People’s Majlis. He highlighted the following points:
• India will contribute to the conservation of one of the Maldives’ oldest and iconic Friday Mosque, also
known as Hukuru Miskiy,a historic landmark made up of coral stones.He called to combat terrorism.
• For the first time,India will begin passenger cum cargo services directly connecting the Indian mainland
with the Maldives from Kochi via Kulhudhuffushi to Male.
• He expressed his happiness on Maldives’ work towards sustainable development. Maldives had also
become a part of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
• He stressed on the principle of inclusiveness.India’s vision and commitment for the Indian Ocean in the
form Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) was a blueprint for cooperation in the Indo-
Pacific region.
Other Facts:
• PM presented the bat autographed by Indian World Cup Squad to Maldives President. It was signed by
the whole Indian team participating at the 2019 ICC World Cup.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with the Maldives’ highest honour “Rule of Nishan
Izzuddeen” by the President of Maldives. “The Most Honourable Order of the Distinguished Rule of
Nishan Izzuddeen” is the Maldives’ highest honour accorded to foreign dignitaries.
• iHe calledon Maldives Vice President Faisal Naseemduring his visit to the country.
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• He also met the Maldives’ former presidents Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and Mohamed Nasheed, and held
fruitful discussions to strengthen the friendship between the two countries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Visit to Sri Lanka
Prime Minister Modi visited Sri Lanka on June 9, 2019, at the invitation of Mr. Maithripala Sirisena, President
of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. On the second leg of PM’s first foreign visit to Sri Lanka, he was
received by the Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Bandaranaike International Airport.
PM Modi met Sri Lankan President Sirisena
PM Modi met Sri Lankan President Sirisena and they discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest. The two sides
agreed that terrorism is a “joint threat” that needs collective and focussed action. A banquet was hosted in
honour of PM by Sri Lankan President. Modi became the first foreign leader to visit Sri Lanka after the Easter
attacks in April.
PM stressed on close economic and strategic cooperation
PM Modi stressed on close economic and strategic cooperation between India and Sri Lanka. They held
discussions on issues like unity in efforts for eradicating terrorism, maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region
and cooperation in economic development.
Discussion on the expansion of economic relations
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe paid special
attention to strengthening and expanding economic ties between India and Sri Lanka.
• They exchanged their ideas on creating future economic opportunities.
• They focused on global terrorism and collective actions need to be taken regarding counterterrorism
measures.
• PM assured the Sri Lankan leader India’s full support to strengthen the bilateral relationship through
people-oriented development projects.
Other Facts:
i.PM Modi planted a sapling of an evergreen Ashoka tree at the Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena’s
residence.
ii. Sri Lanka President Sirisena gifted a Buddha statue in meditation posture to PM Modi. It is one of the best
sculptures in the Anuradhapura era. The original statue was sculptured between the 4th and 7thcenturies A.D.
iii.PM Modi visited St. Anthony’s Shrine, Kochchikade and paid tribute to the victims of Easter terror attack.
iv.PM interacted with members of the Indian Community at India House in Colombo and highlighted the role
played by the community in strengthening bilateral relations.
v.PM also met the Leader of Opposition and former President, Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa and held talks with him.
Overview of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visit to Bhutan

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar visited Bhutan from 7th to 8th June, 2019. This was his first two-day trip
after assuming charge of the Ministry of External Affairs. Highlights from the External Affairs Minister visit to
Bhutan
i. Jaishankar met the King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
ii. He was received by his Bhutanese counterpart Tandi Dorji. He holds talks on issues of mutual interest on the
development partnership, the upcoming high-level exchanges, economic development, and hydro-power
cooperation.
iii. During his visit, Jaishankar also met Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering and discussed the key
elements of the bilateral ties.
Overview of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kyrgyzstan

PM Modi arrived in Bishkek for SCO summit
On June 13, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan for the Shanghai Cooperation
Organisation (SCO) summit. It was the first multilateral engagement after his re-election. He discussed about
the global security situation, multilateral economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges and topical issues of
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international and regional importance. The SCO Summit was followed by the bilateral component on the visit to
Kyrgyz Republic.
Prime Minister Modi, Kyrgyzstan President Jeenbekov jointly inaugurated India-Kyrgyz Business Forum
On June 14, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral meetings with the President of Kyrgyzstan
Sooronbey Jeenbekov. They jointly inaugurated India-Kyrgyz Business forum and asked their business
communities to explore the untapped potential for deepening bilateral relations between the two countries.
Key Points:
i. Both countries gave a final nod to the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) and the bilateral
investment treaty. It will help in creating a proper atmosphere for the bilateral trade.
ii. The three catalysts for the growth of bilateral trade and investment opportunities are proper atmosphere,
connectivity and business-to-business exchanges.
India And Kyrgyzstan signed 15 Agreements
15 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) were signed between India And Kyrgyzstan in the presence of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi and President of Kyrgyzstan, Sooronbey Jeenbekov. They agreed to celebrate 2021 as
the year of cultural and friendship between the Kyrgyz Republic and India.
The following agreements were signed:
i. Joint declaration between India and the Kyrgyz Republic on strategic partnership.
ii. Road map on trade and economic cooperation between the Republic of India and the Kyrgyz Republic for the
five-year period (2019-2024).
iii. Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) between India and the Kyrgyz Republic.
iv. Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation between National Security Council Secretariat of India and
Office of the Security Council of the Kyrgyz Republic.
v. Protocol to amend Article 26 of India-Kyrgyzstan Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA).
vi. Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of health.
vii. MoU between Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Kyrgyz-India Mountain
Biomedical Research Centre.
viii. Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between National Security Guards of India and National
Guards of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic.
ix. Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between National Defence Academy of India and Kyrgyz
Military Institute of the Kyrgyz Republic.
x. Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between High Altitude Warfare School (Gulmarg), Indian
Armed Forces and Joint Mountain training Centre of the Armed Forces of the Kyrgyz Republic.
xi. Memorandum of Cooperation between Export-Import Bank of India and the Investment Promotion and
Protection Agency of the Kyrgyz Republic.
xii. MoU between India and the Kyrgyz Republic on cooperation on Information and Communication Technology.
xiii. Memorandum of Understanding between Ministry of Consumer Affairs of India and Ministry of Economy of
the Kyrgyz Republic on cooperation in the field of Legal Metrology.
xiv. Memorandum of Understanding between Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS)
of India and National Institute of Strategic Studies (NISS) of the Kyrgyz Republic.
xv. Memorandum of Understanding between YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Himachal
Pradesh and Kyrgyz National Agrarian University (KNAU).
India granted 200 million dollar line of credit to Kyrgyzstan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi granted 200 million dollar line of Credit (LoC) to Kyrgyzstan. It will ensure
India's increasing participation in business, development and economy of Kyrgyzstan. He invited Kyrgyz
businesses to invest in India as the country has a huge market and is determined to become a five trillion dollar
economy in the next five years.
PM called for global efforts to eliminate terrorism
Addressing the Plenary Session of SCO Summit at Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan, PM Modi called for global conferrence
to eliminate terrorism from its root. He also called for International Conference Against Terrorism. Through
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the Bishkek Declaration, the member States urged the international community to strengthen global cooperation
to tackle terrorism without politicization and double standards.
India, Kyrgyzstan prepared 5-year road map to increase bilateral trade
India and Kyrgyzstan prepared a 5-year road map to increase bilateral trade apart from DTAA and bilateral
investment treaty. Both countries urged the business communities from both countries to explore the untapped
potential in various fields. Kyrgyzstan provides good opportunities for Indian businessmen in the field of textiles,
railways, hydro power, mining and mineral explorations.
Kyrgyzstan President gifted Traditional Hat and Coat to PM Modi
During the visit for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, Kyrgyzstan President Sooronbay
Jeenbekov gifted a Kalpak, a traditional Kyrgyz hat and a Chapan, a traditional coat from Kyrgyzstan to Prime
Minister Narendra Modi. He also presented him a Samovar, a traditional container to heat or boil water.
India and Uzbekistan explored joint economic projects ahead of SCO Summit
Uzbekistan, Central Asian State besides Kazakhstan, visited Gujarat on June 13-14 , 2019 and a delegation from
Gujarat visited Uzbekistan's Andijan region which is being developed as a business hub, on June 10, 2019. It
consisted of the officials of the Ministry of Tourism of Gujarat, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (FICCI), Industries Commissionerate, representatives of pharmaceutical, energy, innovation industries,
as well as start-up companies to study the areas for developing mutually beneficial cooperation. Andijan region
and Gujarat State are partner regions. The Partnership Agreement between them was signed in October 2018.
The purpose of the visit of the Indian delegation was to further expand cooperation between Andijan and
Gujarat.
Meetings with other delegation
Meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping and discussed ways to further strengthen the
bilateral relations between the two countries. They vowed to work together to improve the economic and
cultural ties.
Meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin
PM Modi held a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and they reviewed all aspects of bilateral
relations to further boost the strategic relationship between India and Russia. Various subjects pertaining to
India-Russia relations were discussed and the key focus was given to defence and energy. They also reviewed
trade and investment ties. Modi thanked the Russian President for his support for the AK-203 Kalashnikov rifles
manufacturing unit in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh which is a joint venture between India and Russia.
Meeting with Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani
PM Modi met Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on the sidelines of the SCO summit. They discussed the role
being played by India towards an inclusive peace process in Afghanistan and shared their perspectives on the
situation
BANKING & FINANCE

RBI in News
As per RBI, Bank frauds reached unprecedented Rs 71,500 crore in 2018-19

The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) has reported that bank frauds have been reached to Rs 71,500 crorein 2018-
19 with over 6,800 cases. In 2017-18, 5,916 cases were reported by banks which involved Rs 41,167.03 crore.
• RBI’s data reported that in the last 11 fiscal years, 53,334 cases of fraud were reported by banks
involving the amount of Rs 2.05 lakh crore
The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) has reported that bank frauds have been reached to Rs 71,500 crore in 2018-
19 with over 6,800 cases. In 2017-18, 5,916 cases were reported by banks which involved Rs 41,167.03 crore.
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Key Points:
• RBI’s data reported that in last 11 fiscal years, 53,334 cases of fraud were reported by banks involving
the amount of Rs 2.05 lakh crore.
• The frauds were classified and analyzed for 13 sectors namely gem and jewellery, manufacturing and
industry, agriculture, media, aviation, service and project, discounting of cheques, trading, information
technology, export business, fixed deposits, demand loan and letter of comfort
• The Central Vigilance Commission(CVC), an anti-corruption watchdog, undertook the analysis and
published a report on top 100 frauds. It focused on the modus operandi, amount involved, type of lending
(consortium or individual), anomalies observed, loopholes that facilitated perpetration of the fraud
concerned and the systemic improvement required to plug the gaps in the system and procedures.
• Central agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) are also
the investigating agencies for bank fraud cases.
Data regarding bank fraud cases as per RBI:
Sl. No Fiscal Year Number of cases Amount in crore
1. 2008-09 4,372 Rs. 1,860.09
2. 2009-10 4,669 Rs. 1,998.94
3. 2010-11 4,534 Rs. 3,815.76
4. 2011-12 4,093 Rs. 4,501.15
5. 2012-13 4,235 Rs. 8,590.86
6. 2013-14 4,306 Rs. 10,170.81
7. 2014-15 4,639 Rs. 19,455.07
8. 2015-16 4,693 Rs. 18,698.82
9. 2016-17 5,076 Rs. 23,933.85
RBI initiated Financial Literacy Week from June 3-7, 2019

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has initiated Financial Literacy (FL) Week from June 3-7, 2019. The theme
of the event is “Farmers” and how they benefit by being a part of the formal banking system. Financial Literacy
Week is an initiative of RBI to promote awareness about financial products and services, good financial practices,
going digital and consumer protection..
Key Points:
i. The booklet FAME (Financial Awareness Messages) provides basic financial literacy messages for the
information of general public.
ii. Financial literacy content for five target groups’ viz. Farmers, Small entrepreneurs, School children, Self
Help Groups and Senior Citizens that can be used by the trainers in financial literacy programmes was
developed by RBI.
iii. Three Audio Visuals viz, “Basic Financial Literacy”, “Unified Payments Interface” and “Going Digital” was
also designed for the benefit of general public.
iv. Two Posters, “UPI (Unified Payment Interface)” and “*99# (Unstructured Supplementary Service
Data)”explain the concept of digital payments space.
v. Pictorial booklets describing savings and banking concepts was published under the title ‘Raju’ and the role
and functions of the Reserve Bank was explained under the title ‘Money Kumar’ .
Nilekani-led committee recommended 24×7 RTGS & NEFT, elimination of all charges
The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) appointed 5-member panel led by Nandan Nilekani recommended measures
like 24×7 Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) and National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) facility, duty-free
import of Point-of-sales(POS) machines and elimination of all charges in order to promote digital payments in
India.
• Policy recommendations were made to all major regulators such as RBI, Securities and Exchange Board
of India (SEBI) , Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) and Department of
Telecommunications (DoT) with the objective to reduce cash based payment
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The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) appointed 5-member panel led by Nandan Nilekani recommended measures
like 24×7 Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) and National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) facility, duty-free
import of Point-of-sales(POS) machines and elimination of all charges in order to promote digital payments in
India. Policy recommendations were made to all major regulators such as RBI, Securities and Exchange Board of
India (SEBI) , Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) and Department of
Telecommunications (DoT) with the objective to reduce cash based payments.
Major Recommendations:
• The panel recommended that there should be no convenience fee on payments made to government
agencies by customers and suggested payment systems to use machine driven online dispute resolution
systems to handle complaints.
• It recommended an appropriate mechanism to monitor the digital payment systemsand make aggregated
information based on blocks, and PIN code available to all players on a monthly basis to facilitate
necessary adjustments.
• Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) and interchange fees should be determined by the market.
• The Interchange on card payments should be reduced by 15 basis points (0.15%) which will increase the
incentive for acquirers to sign up merchants.
• The current import duty of 18% on POS machines should be reduced to Nil for a period of 3 years to
facilitate adequate expansion of acquiring infrastructure in the country.
• Internationalization plan for Indian Payment Systems such as RuPay and Bharat Interface for Money
(BHIM) Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to ease remittances into India and to help Indian travelers make
payments abroad was suggested.
• The government should continue the current scheme to refund the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) for
small value transactions (under Rs 2,000) beyond December 2019 for another 2 years.
• It recommended large scale usage of common and interoperable mobility cards by public across different
transit options.
RBI amended its norms on banks’ exposure to large borrowers

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) amended its norms on banks’ exposure to large borrowers with a view to
reduce the concentration of risk and align them with the global norms. It will help in lending to Non-Banking
Financial Companies (NBFC) in an effective way and invite scrutiny on the structure of these entities.
Key Points:
i. The modified ‘Large Exposures Framework’ (LEF) provides exclusion of entities connected with the
sovereign from the definition of a group of connected counterparties.
ii. As per the revised norms, the sum of all the exposure values of a bank to a single counter-party should not be
greater than 20% of the bank’s available eligible capital base at all times. In exceptional cases, the board of banks
is allowed an additional 5% exposure to the bank’s available eligible capital base.
iii. With regards to connected counter-parties, the sum of all the exposure values of a bank to a group of
connected counter-parties should not be greater than 25% of the bank’s available eligible capital base at all times
iv. Under the LE Framework, exposure to a counter-party includes on and off-balance sheet exposures included
in either the banking or trading book and instruments with counter-party credit risk.
v. On exposures to NBFCs, the banks’ exposures to a single NBFC are restricted to 15% of their eligible capital
base.
RBI formed panel led by Nandan Nilekani recommended to rope in local retailers to act as cash points
The Reserve bank of India(RBI) formed panel led by Nandan Nilekani has recommended to rope in local
retailers and business correspondents to act as cash points in semi-urban centers. These will act as the primary
source of cash in semi-urban centers and will replace ATMs (Automated Teller Machines).
Key Points:
i. The Committee proposed the Cash In Cash Out (CICO) network. It is a network of cash disbursement points
where a customer can seamlessly convert digital money to physical cash using interoperable mechanisms such as
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QR code and Aadhaar-enabled payment channels.

ii. This model will help in the accomplishment of New Delhi’s vision of a digitally-driven cashless economy.
iii. As per the committee, the ease of converting digital credit to physical money plays a major role in the next
step towards financial inclusion.
iv. As per the RBI’s data, in last one year, 30 of the 49 banks have reduced nearly 1000 active ATMs and they
have on-boarded nearly 6.4 lakh new Point-Of-Sale(PoS) retailers.
v. It has recommended the banks to make Merchant Discount Rates (MDR) more competitive by making the
pricing mechanism market-led against the fixed system.
Second Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy Of RBI 2019-20

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced its second Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy Rates for 2019-20 in
Mumbai on June 6, 2019. The three-day policy review meeting by the six members of Monetary Policy
Committee (MPC) was headed by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das with the members Dr Chetan Ghate, Dr Pami
Dua, Dr Ravindra H. Dholakia, Dr Michael Debabrata Patra, Dr Viral V Acharya. The next monetary policy
statement is scheduled from August 5-7, 2019.
Highlights of the meeting:
The following announcements were made in the meeting:
In a rare 6-0 majority, Repo rate was reduced by 25 bps under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) to 5.75 per
cent for third time in a row. It fell below 6% for the first time in 9 years since September 2010.
Current Policy rates
Repo Rate 5.75%
Reserve Repo Rate 5.50
Marginal Standing Facility(MSF) Rate 6.0%
Bank Rate 6.0%
Reserve Ratios:
Cash reserve Ratio(CRR) 4%
Statutory Liquidity Ratio(SLR) 19%
• RBI changed the policy stance to accommodative from neutral.
• RTGS and NEFT charges were waived off to promote digital transactions.
• A panel to review ATM charges and fees levied by banks was set up.
• It insisted to issue draft guidelines for ‘on tap’ licensing of small finance banks by August.
• It flagged sharp slowdown in investments, moderation in private consumption growth as concern.
• Average daily surplus liquidity in the system stood at Rs.66,000 crore in early June.
• Foreign Exchange Reserves stood at $421.9 billion on May 31, 2019.
RBI Releases Report On Benchmarking India’s Payment Systems

On June 4, 2019, The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released a report on “Benchmarking India's Payment
Systems”. It provides a comparative position of the payment system ecosystem in India. RBI in its monetary
policy statement in July had stated that benchmarking India’s payments systems was necessary. As a result, the
report was released.
Key Points:
• RBI had undertaken an exercise of benchmarking India's Payment’s system compared to the payment
systems of advanced economies, Asian economies and the BRICS nations.
• The analysis was conducted under 41 indicators. It covered 21 broad areas including regulation,
oversight, payment systems, payment instruments, payment infrastructure, utility payments,
Government payments, customer protection and grievance redressal, securities settlement and clearing
systems and cross border personal remittances.
• As per the Report, India has a strong regulatory system and robust large value and retail payment
systems, which have contributed to the rapid growth in the volume of transactions in the payment
systems.
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• The country is required to take further efforts to bring down the volume of paper clearing and increase
acceptance infrastructure to enhance digital payments.
• It pointed out that India is strong in areas like having necessary laws and cash in circulation per capita.
But weak in few parameters like decline of usage of cheques, share of card payments in payments
systems and value of card payments to quantum of cash in circulation.
• The relatively high level of cash in circulation offered scope for higher level of digitization of payments
and the decline in cheque usage had been slow.
• The digital payment of utility bills is very low. However, the Bharat Bill Payment System, an integrated
interoperable bill payment system which commenced operations on October 12, 2017, is expected to
facilitate digital payment of utility bills like electricity, telecom, direct-to-home, gas, and water.
• It stated that India is a "leader" in regulating costs of payments systems, number of debit cards issued
and automated teller machines.
RBI raised the Retail Inflation Forecast for April-September FY20 to 3-3.1%
RBI raised the Retail Inflation Forecast marginally to 3-3.1% for the first half of the current fiscal due to raise
in food prices mainly vegetables. It forecasted risks to inflation trajectory from monsoon uncertainties,
unseasonal spike in vegetable prices, crude oil prices, financial market volatility and fiscal scenario.
i. In the first bi-monthly policy, it had forecasted that the retail inflation will be hovering in the range of 2.9-3%
for six months till September.
ii. For the second half of this fiscal, October-March, it has been cut to 3.4-3.7% as against RBI's previous
projection of 3.5-3.8%.
RBI removed charges for RTGS and NEFT transactions

The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) has removed the charges levied on Real Time Gross Settlement
(RTGS) and National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) transactions to boost digital payments.
Key Points:
i. At present, the banks levy minimum charges for transactions done through RTGS system for large-value (Rs 2
lakh and above) instantaneous fund transfers and NEFT System for other fund transfers (below Rs 2 lakh).
ii. The RBI has decided to set up a committee headed by Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Indian Banks
Association(IBA) to examine the scope of Automated Teller Machines(ATM) charges and fees. The committee is
supposed to submit its recommendations within two months of its first meeting and the composition & terms of
reference will be issued within a week.
About RTGS:
RTGS is the continuous (real-time) settlement of funds transfers individually on an order by order basis (without
netting). ‘Real Time’ means the processing of instructions at the time they are received rather than at some later
time; ‘Gross Settlement’ means the settlement of funds transfer instructions occurs individually. The minimum
amount to be remitted through RTGS is Rs 2 lakh. There is no upper ceiling for RTGS transactions.
About NEFT:
Under this Scheme, individuals, firms and corporates can electronically transfer funds from any bank branch to
any individual, firm or corporate having an account with any other bank branch in the country participating in
the Scheme.
As per the RBI website, the structure of charges that can be levied on the customer for NEFT is given below:
♦ Inward transactions at destination bank branches (for credit to beneficiary accounts): Free, no charges to be
levied on beneficiaries
♦ Outward transactions at originating bank branches – charges applicable for the remitter
• For transactions up to Rs 10,000 : not exceeding Rs 2.50 (+ Applicable GST)
• For transactions above Rs 10,000 up to Rs 1 lakh: not exceeding Rs 5 (+ Applicable GST)
• For transactions above Rs 1 lakh and up to Rs 2 lakhs: not exceeding Rs 15 (+ Applicable GST)
• For transactions above Rs 2 lakhs: not exceeding Rs 25 (+ Applicable GST)
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RBI Issued Fresh Prudential Framework For Resolution Of Stressed Assets

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued new NPA guidelines "Prudential framework for resolution of
stressed assets" to deal with bad loans, as the previous circular that was issued by RBI on Feb 12, 2019 rejected
by Supreme Court. The new framework will replace the all the previous models. The directions have been issued
in terms of the provisions of Section 35AA of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, for initiation of insolvency
proceedings against specific borrowers under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC).
Key highlights:
• RBI has mandated the lenders to review the accounts within 30 days of default and initiate a resolution
plan or Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) process before the default, in comparison to the Feb 12
circular which stated to initiate resolution or restructuring of loans even if the default was recorded for a
single day.
• Lenders have been given complete discretion to design, implement resolution plan.
• Lenders should follow a board-approved policy for resolution of bad loans.
• Mandatory to sign Inter-Creditor Agreement (ICA) by all lenders, which will provide for a majority
decision making criteria.
• The earlier norm of 100 percent approval from creditors is also changed. ICA shall now provide any
decision agreed by lenders representing 75 percent by value of total outstanding credit facilities and 60
percent of lenders by number shall be binding upon all the lenders.
• Lenders must resolve over Rs 2000 crore NPA account within 180 days.
• Lenders will have to make 35 percent provisions--first 20 percent for 180 days and then an additional 15
percent if no resolution is found within 365 days.
• Lenders shall submit a weekly report of instances of default by all borrowers (with aggregate exposure of
Rs 50 million and above) by close of business on every Friday, or the preceding working day if Friday
happens to be a holiday.
• For borrowers with exposure between Rs 1,500 crore and Rs 2,000 crore, the new norms will be
applicable from January 1, 2020, while for loans up to Rs 1,500 crore will be announced in due course.
• RBI also warned that any action by lenders to conceal the actual status of accounts or evergreening the
stressed accounts, will be subjected to stringent supervisory/enforcement actions.
Fincare SFB, Kookmin Bank added in second schedule of RBI Act

Fincare Small Finance Bank and Kookmin Bank have been included in the second schedule of the Reserve Bank of
India Act, 1934. Both banks can now broad-base its lines of funding and liquidity facilities.
i. They can issue certificates of deposits and get access to interbank borrowings at competitive interest rates.
ii. They can also get deposits from new sources such as governments, public sector undertakings, corporates,
mutual funds, insurance companies and other market participants.
iii. Fincare SFB, earlier Disha Microfin, was one of the 10 entities to receive the Small Finance Bank licence from
the RBI in September 2015 and commenced banking operations in July 2017.
RBI to create foreign exchange trading platform for retail participants

On June 6, 2019, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced to set up foreign exchange trading platform for
retail participants. This is to create market infrastructure as it ensures fair and transparent pricing for users of
foreign exchange like Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) exporters & importers and individuals.
Key Points:
• The trading platforms are developed by the Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL) and are tested
by the users. The platform is an extension of CCIL’s FX(Forex)-Clear which is used for large-volume inter
bank trading.
• It will be available to the users for transactions from early August 2019 and the circular on operational
guidelines for the platform will be issued by the end of June 2019.
• In October 2017, RBI had issued a discussion paper to set up a foreign exchange trading platform for
retail participants which would provide access to the customers to an electronic trading platform
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through an internet-based application on which they can purchase/sell foreign currency at market
clearing prices.
• The foreign exchange trading platform will show the customer rates of all banks in one place. The
customer can choose the most competitive rate and buy forex. The customer’s bank will debit the money
from his or her account and settle with the forex providing bank.
• The minimum tradeable amount is $1000 and they are issued in the multiples of $500 thereof.
• At present, the facility will be available only for dollars, but later more currencies will be introduced.
• Once the trade is done, the ticket generated will reflect the interbank rate, mark-up, and the net rate.
Trades can be done for same-day delivery (cash), next-day delivery, or spot delivery (T+2), and interbank
rates will reflect accordingly.
• RBI also decided to widen the gambit of Small Finance Banks(SFBs) to get more customers in order to
extend the banking facilities for all.
e-Money share in India’s payment systems reaches 21.5%:RBI

According to new report “Benchmarking India’s Payment Systems” released by Reserve Bank of India(RBI)
stated that the share of e-Money in India’s payment systems raise to 21.5 per cent in 2017 from 0.8 per cent in
2012.
Key points:
i. India was next to Japan and the US in 2017 with respect to e-Money transactions of Rs 3,459 million.
ii. The report noted that demonetization plays an important role to provide the better position of the payment
system in India compared to other countries.
iii. India has 26 per cent of online transactions using e-Money, next only to China.
iv. ATM deployment between 2012-2017 grew at a compound annual growth rate of 14 per cent.
v. At the end of 2017, India had 2,22,300 ATMs which dropped to 2,21,703 as on March 31, 2019.
vi.Debit and credit card payments made up 29.9 per cent of India's payment systems volume in the year 2017.
RBI relaxed leverage ratio for banks to 3.5%

On June 6, 2019 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) relaxed the Leverage Ratio (LR) for banks to 3.5%. This is
done to help them in order to expand their lending activities. The LR is reduced to 4% for Domestic
Systemically Important Banks (DSIBs).
About LR:
LR is defined under Basel-III norms, Tier 1 Capital as a percentage of the bank's exposure. It was introduced for
banks post financial crisis of 2008. The minimum requirement for LR set by Basel Committee on banking
Supervision (BCBS) is 3%. Banks have been required to publicly disclose their Basel III leverage ratio on a
consolidated basis from 1 April 2015 quarterly. LR is one the 4 indicators under the RBI’s Prompt Corrective
Action (PCA) framework and an important supplement to the risk-based capital requirements.
Sashakt Committee recommends RBI’s changes in Inter-Creditor Agreement (ICA) framework

Sashakt Committee headed by Punjab National Bank non-executive Chairman Sunil Mehta has stated that the
new guidelines of RBI regarding the mandation of Inter-Creditor Agreement (ICA) framework is a right move
to resolve non-performing assets (NPAs or bad loans).
i. In the first week of June 2019, RBI has issued revised guidelines for resolution of stressed assets
named “Prudential framework for resolution of stressed assets”, which has mandated the lenders to review
the accounts within 30 days of default and initiate a resolution plan or Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC)
process before the default, among others.
ii. The mandation of ICA enables the lenders to have a resolution framework outside of the IBC (Insolvency and
Bankruptcy Code, 2016).
About Sashakt Committee:
In 2018, the government had constituted a committee led by Sunil Mehta to resolve NPAs. The committee had
come out with ICA for Resolution of Stressed Assets and was executed by 35 banks and financial institutions.
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Members:
Besides Mehta, the other members of the Sashakt Committee include State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman Rajnish
Kumar, Bank of Baroda Chief Executive S. Jayakumar and SBI Deputy Managing Director Venkat Nageswar.
Recommendations:
1. The panel has recommended that bad loans of up to Rs 50 crore will be managed at the bank level, with a
deadline of 90 days.
2. For bad loans of Rs 50-500 crore, banks will enter into an ICA, authorising the lead bank to implement a
resolution plan in 180 days, or refer the case to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).
3. For loans above Rs 500 crore, the panel has recommended its resolution through an independent asset
management company (AMC) supported by institutional funding through an Alternative Investment Fund (AIF).
RBI eased regulations for BSBD Accounts

Nation’s apex bank Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has relaxed the regulations for Basic Savings Bank Deposit
(BSBD) Accounts aka “no-frills” accounts as a part of the financial inclusion drive.
i. Now, the BSBD account holders will get a cheque book and certain minimum facilities, free of charge by the
bank. Also, there will be no requirement of maintaining a minimum balance in lieu of such additional facilities.
ii. Previously additional facilities for these accounts attract the requirement of maintaining a minimum balance
and other charges.
Facilities:
1.Four withdrawals from ATMs in a month, a deposit of cash at a bank branch, and ATM Card or ATM-cum-Debit
Card.
2.No limit on number and value of deposits that can be made in a month in BSBDA.
RBI formed a committee headed by VG Kannan, IBA Chief to review ATM pricing
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) constituted 6-member committee headed by VG Kannan, Chief Executive of
Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) to review ATM pricing. It will review the existing interchange fee and pricing
structures to reduce prices for customers on Automated Teller Machines (ATM) transactions with a broader
objective to improve rural penetration of teller machines.
Key Points:
• It will submit its report within two months from the date of its first meeting.
• The other members of the panel are National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) Chairman Dilip Asbe,
State Bank of India (SBI) banker GK Nair, Director of confederation of ATM industry K Srinivas, Housing
Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) banker S Sampath Kumar and Tata Communications and
Payment Solutions Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sanjeev Patel.
• The panel will review the overall patterns of usage of ATMs by cardholders and assess the impact, if any,
on charges and interchange fees. It will assess the entire gamut of costs in respect of the ATM ecosystem
and make recommendations on the optimal charge/interchange fee structure and pattern.
• In order to deal with the increased cost of operating ATMs, banks and white-label ATM operators
(WLAOs) want the RBI to raise ATM interchange fee from Rs. 15 to Rs. 18 for cash withdrawals and card-
to-card fund transfers, and from Rs. 5 to Rs. 8 for other non-financial transactions.
• According to RBI guidelines, the savings bank account holders can make 5 free transactions in a calendar
month after which they will be charged a particular amount for each transaction that varies from bank to
bank.
NPAs decreased to 9.30% in FY'19, below RBI estimate

As per the Crisil report, the overall non-performing assets (NPAs) stock has declined at a great pace to 9.3% in
March 2019 in comparison to the 11.5% in March 2018. This decline is more than the RBI's (Reserve Bank of
India) estimate.
i. This shows a positive sign of recovery from the Non performing asset load as the NPA ratio of both public
and private sector banks showed a half-yearly decline, for the first time since March 2015.
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ii. The decline is supported by the RBI’s asset quality review and also with the enactment of the bankruptcy law
for resolving the cases.
A penalty of Rs.11.25 lakh imposed on ZipCash, Yes Bank by RBI

On june 12, 2019 ,The Reserve Bank of India slapped a monetary penalty ₹11.25 lakh each on Private sector
lender ‘Yes Bank’ and Online Wallet Service ,’ZipCash Card Services’ for violating PPI norms pertaining to
issuance and operation of PPIs.
The fine imposed in exercise of powers vested under Section 30 of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act,
2007, for non-compliance of regulatory guidelines.
As per RBI, Bank frauds worth Rs. 2.05 lakh crore reported in the last 11 years
Central bank of the country, the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) data revealed that 53,334 fraud cases worth Rs.
2.05 lakh crore hit the banks in India in the last 11 fiscal years i.e, between 2008-09 and 2018-19. The highest
number of cases were reported in ICICI (Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India) Bank, State
Bank of India (SBI) and HDFC (Housing Development Finance Corporation) Bank.
Details of Indian Banks with fraud cases and amount:
Sl No Name of the Bank No of cases Amount in crore

1. ICICI Bank 6,811 Rs 5,033.81
2. SBI 6,793 Rs 23,734.74
3. HDFC Bank 2,497 Rs 1,200.7
4. Bank of Baroda 2,160 Rs 12,962.96
5. Punjab National Bank 2,047 Rs 28,700.74
6. Axis Bank 1,944 Rs 5,301.69
7. Bank of India 1,872 Rs 12,358.2
8. Syndicate Bank 1,783 Rs 5830.85
9. Central Bank of India 1, 613 Rs 9041.98
10. IDBI Bank Ltd 1,264 Rs 5978.96
11. Standard Chartered Bank 1,263 Rs 1221.41
12. Canara Bank 1,254 Rs 5553.38
13. Union Bank of India 1,244 Rs 11,830.74
14. Kotak Mahindra Bank 1,213 Rs 430.46
15. Indian Overseas Bank 1,115 Rs. 12,644.7
16. Oriental Bank of Commerce 1040 Rs 5,598.23
17. United Bank of India 944 Rs 3052.34
18. State Bank of Mysore 395 Rs 742.31
19. State Bank of Patiala 386 Rs 1178.77
20. Punjab and Sind Bank 276 Rs 1154.89
21. UCO Bank 1081 Rs 7104.77
22. Tamilnad Mercantile Bank 261 Rs 493.92
23. Lakshmi Vilas Bank Ltd 259 Rs 862.64
24. State Bank of Travancore 274 Rs 694.61
25. Jammu and Kashmir Bank Ltd 142 Rs 1639.9
26. The Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI) 9 Rs 671.66
27. Dhanlakshmi Bank Ltd 89 Rs 410.93
28. Vijaya Bank 639 Rs 1,748.9
29. Yes Bank Ltd 102 Rs 311.96
30. Paytm Payments Bank Ltd 2 Rs 0.02 crore
Details of Foreign Banks with fraud cases and amount:
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Sl No Name of the Bank No of cases Amount in crore

1. American Express Banking Corporation 1,862 Rs 86.21
2. Citi Bank 1,764 Rs 578.09
3. Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation ( 1,173 Rs 312.1
HSBC) Bank
4. The Royal Bank of Scotland Plc 216 Rs 12.69
RBI asked banks to grout ATMs to a wall, pillar, or floor in order to increase security
On June 14, 2019, The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) asked the banks to grout Automated Teller Machines (ATMs)
to a wall, pillar, or floor bySeptember 30, 2019 in order to mitigate risks in ATM operations and increase
security. Exceptions were given to the ATMs installed in high secured premises such as airports as they have
adequate CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) coverage and are guarded by state/central security personnel.
Key Points:
i. The measure was adopted by the RBI after the recommendations made by the Committee on Currency
Movement (CCM) which was formed in 2016.
ii. All the ATMs will be operated for cash replenishment only with digital One Time Combination (OTC) locks.
iii. To ensure timely alerts and quick response, banks are instructed to roll out a comprehensive e-surveillance
mechanism at the ATMs.
iv. If banks fail to adhere the instructions, they will be liable for a regulatory action including levy of penalty.
As per RBI, Digital transactions will rise four times by 2021

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) stated that the digital transactions till March 2019 witnessed tremendous
growth and they will rise by four timesfrom Rs 2,069 crore in December 2018 to Rs 8,707 crore in
December 2021.
Key Points:
i. RBI Report stated that in 2018-19, total digital transactions in volume terms recorded a growth rate of 58.8%.
In 2017-18, growth was 50.4%.
ii. Digital transactions in value terms grew by 19.5% during 2018-19. In 2017-18, it was 22.2%.
iii. 82.8% of digital transactions were accounted by Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) transactions. Retail
component of digital transactions excluding RTGS customers and interbank transactions accounted for a volume
growth of 59.3% in 2018-19 against 50.8% growth in 2017-18.
iv. RBI expects volume of cheque-based payments to be less than 2% of the retail electronic transactions by
2021.
v. Volumes under Unified Payments Interface (UPI) registered the highest growth at 799.5 million in March 2019,
4.5 times the volume in March 2018.
vi. The volume of cards in point-of-sale (PoS) transactions rose 30.1% during 2018-19 and in value terms, by
30.2%. During 2018-19, debit cards grew by 19.5% and 16.3% in volume and value terms and credit cards rose
at 25.4% and 31.4% in volume and value respectively.
RBI launches new complaints portal for filing online complaints against banks, NBFCs
On June 24, 2019, The Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das has launched a Complaint Management
System (CMS) for lodging complaints against banks and NBFCs (Non-Banking Financial Companies) on its
website. The online portal aims at improving customer experience in timely redressal of grievances.
Key points:
i. CMS, a software application accessible on desktop as well as on mobile devices, which designed to file
complains online and it sends acknowledgment receipts directly to the customers' mobile numbers.
ii. The public can use the portal (https://cms.rbi.org.in), to lodge complaints against any regulated entity with a
public interface such as commercial banks, urban cooperative banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs)
which would be directed to the appropriate office of the Ombudsman/Regional Office of the RBI.
iii. RBI also plans to introduce a dedicated Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system for tracking the status of
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complaints.
iv. The processing of complaints has been digitalized with the launch of CMS.
RBI panel led by U.K. Sinha suggests Rs.5,000 crore stressed asset fund for MSMEs
On June 25, 2019, The Reserve Bank released the report of the expert committee under former SEBI (Securities
and Exchange Board of India) chairman U K Sinha on measures for the economic and financial sustainability of
the MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises).
Key points:
• FOF(Fund of Funds): Inorder to support Venture Capitalists or PE (private equity) investing in the
MSME sector, the committee recommended the formation of government-sponsored FoF of Rs 10,000
crore.
• Distressed asset fund: It also recommends the creation of a distressed asset fund of Rs 5,000 crore for
small enterprises. The fund will operate on the lines of the Textile Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS)
which makes equity investments that lead to reviving the sick&Debt-burden units.
• SIDBI’s role: It stated the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), which is responsible for
the development of the MSME sector.
• It recommended revising the collateral free loan limit to Rs 20 lakh which also apply to loans sanctioned
under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) and to Self-help group (SHG).
• The government has notified a procurement policy wherein PSUs(Public Sector Units)& government
departments have to make 25 percent of their procurement from MSMEs through government e-
marketplace (GeM) portal.
RBI issued guidelines for setting up of an FBAs for administering “significant benchmarks”
On June 26, 2019, The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a regulatory framework for setting up of financial
benchmark administrator (FBA) for administering ‘significant benchmarks’ in the markets for financial
instruments.
Key points:
• Significant benchmarks: It means any benchmark notified by the central bank taking into consideration
its use, efficiency, and relevance in domestic financial markets and the benchmarks administered outside
India do not fall under the norms.
• RBI’s authorization: Without obtaining the authorization of the Reserve Bank, FBA will not administer a
‘significant benchmark’.
• FBAs: It will be incorporated in India as a company that will maintain a minimum net worth of Rs 1crore
at all times.
• The function of FBAs: It ensures significant benchmark' is designed to be an accurate and reliable
representation of the referenced (specified) financial instrument and data used for the administration
based on an active market involving transactions then it submits the report to RBI.
• The guidelines are based on the report by RBI’s executive director P Vijaya Bhaskar on June 28, 2013, and
the committee formed after the global benchmark rates like the Libor, Euribor of European Union, etc
controversy.
RBI recommends Commercial Banks to adopt Education Loan Scheme

On June 24, 2019, India's central banking institution, The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has advised all Scheduled
Commercial Banks to adoptEducation Loan Scheme which is formulated by Indian Banks’ Association (IBA).
Key points:
i. Model Education Loan Scheme: The IBA scheme circulated to all member Banks including State Bank of India
(SBI) for providing financial support to meritorious students for pursuing higher education in India and abroad.
Salient features of the Scheme include
i. Loan up to Rs 10 lakh for study in India and upto Rs 20 lakh for study abroad.
ii. Collateral free loans upto Rs 7.5 Lakh under the Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Education Loans (CGFSEL).
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iii. No Margin for a loan up to Rs 7.50 Lakh.

iv. Repayment period of 15 years.
v. One Year Moratorium for repayment after completion of studies in all cases.
vi. Moratorium taking into account spells of unemployment/under employment say two or three times during
the life cycle of the loan.
vii. The moratorium for the incubation period if the student wants to take up a start-up venture after graduation.
RBI sets average base rate at 9.18% for NBFC-MFI borrowers for the quarter beginning July 1, 2019
On June 28, 2019, The Reserve Bank of India set an average base rate of 9.18% for Non-Banking Financial
Companies (NBFCs) and Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) to be charged from their customers. It will be charged
for the quarter beginning July 1, 2019.
Key Points:
i. On February 7, 2014, the Apex bank in a circular had informed the NBFCs and MFIs regarding pricing of credit
on the last working day of every quarter.
ii. It sets the average base rate on the basis of average of base rate of the 5 largest commercial banks.
iii. The rate was reduced for Q2 (9.18%) from 9.21% in Q1 FY2020.
Payments related Data to be stored only in India: RBI

On June 26, 2019, The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its frequently asked questions (FAQ) section stated that
the data related to payment transactions must be stored in systems of the country and if any information is
processed abroad, it should be deleted from their systems and brought back to India not later than one business
day or 24 hours from the payment processing, whichever is earlier. The clarification was sought by the Payment
System Operators (PSOs) on the issue of data localization.
Key Points:
• Applicability: It is applicable to all Payment System providers authorized / approved by the RBI to set
up and operate a payment system in India under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
• Details of the data: The data should include end-to-end transaction details and information pertaining
to payment or settlement transaction that is gathered / transmitted / processed as part of a payment
message / instruction.
• Cross border transaction data: A copy of the domestic component may be stored abroad, if required,
for the data consisting of a foreign component and a domestic component.
• SAR: The System Audit Report (SAR), from a CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) -In
empanelled Auditor, should inter-alia include Data Storage, Maintenance of Database, Data Backup
Restoration, Data Security, etc.
• Limit: There is no limit on processing of payment transactions outside India if so desired by the PSOs.
• Background: In April 2018, RBI had issued a directive on ‘Storage of Payment System Data‘. It had
advised all system providers to ensure that within a 6 months period, entire data relating to payment
systems operated by them is stored in a system only in India.
Technology in Banking
Oracle launches Crime Mitigation solution for smaller banks
A multinational software firm based in the United States, Oracle announced that it has introduced a new tool that
will help small &mid-sized banks to tackle fraud.
Key points:
i. The Oracle Financial Services “Anti Money Laundering Express Edition(AMLXE)” is designed to detect,
investigate, and report suspected money laundering and terrorist financing activity.
ii. It targeted at smaller banks that have to comply with regulatory norms with a limited budget.
iii. It uses new architecture principles which offer quick deployment on premise or on cloud infrastructures
allowing firms to transition to their future states faster and at reduced implementation costs.
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iv. The solution includes an in-built library with scenarios that have the ability to detect money laundering
behaviors.
v. The solution designed to allow visual scenario configuration, reducing coding overheads, and enabling easy
adaption to ever-changing compliance demands.
FundzBazar launched 'Selfiewala KYC' feature for first-time mutual fund investors
FundzBazar, an online mutual fund investment platform launched by Prudent, launched 'Selfiewala
KYC' feature for the first-time mutual fund investors. Through this platform, investors can complete their KYC
(Know your Customer) process from their home or office using mobile or laptop in just a few minutes.
Key Points:
i. This feature allows the investors to carry out the IPV (In-Person Verification) by uploading a video and a selfie
which in turn speeds up the KYC process and saves time.
ii. In order to complete the KYC details, following 5 steps should be followed:
• Upload and enter Proof of Address, Date of Birth.
• Upload PAN Card.
• Take and upload a clear video of face, speak the name and show Address Proof.
• Take and upload clear Selfie.
• Download Signature Declaration form, sign it and upload it.
iii. In order to avail this feature, investors need to sign up and register on FundzBazar which is available on the
website and FundzBazar Android Mobile App.
An educational Programme “Digital Sakhi” Launched by L&T Financial services in Tamilnadu

A non-banking financial institution L&T Finance Services Ltd. (Larsen & Toubro Financial Services) recently
launched “Digital Sakhi”, an educational program aimed at financial inclusion of rural women in Villupuram
District, Tamilnadu.
Key points:
i. This initiative comes after the successful implementation of a similar program in Maharashtra, Odisha
and Madya Pradesh.
ii. LTFS (L&T Finance Services Ltd. ) in association with Sri Aurobindo Society, will train 40,000 people in
using digital modes of payment.
Max Life Insurance Company launched ‘My Protection Quotient’ Tool

On June 10, 2019, Max Life Insurance Company launched a unique proprietary tool named ‘My Protection
Quotient’ (MyPQ) to ensure financial protection in the country. Max Life Insurance Company is one of the fastest
growing life insurance companies in India.
Key Points:
i. It is a smart tool designed for individuals to provide financial protection and to promote awareness and
importance of term plans in protecting the financial future of families.
ii. It helps the consumers to measure their preparedness for their life stage goals and gives protection against
unplanned eventualities of life. The final output will be a quotient reflected on a scale of 100. Score from 0-25
indicates extremely poor financial protection, 25-50 reflects a poor score, 50-75 a moderate and 75-100
indicates a reasonable quotient.
iii. It had earlier launched ‘India Protection Quotient’ survey in association with Kantar IMRB to understand
where India stands with regards to life and term insurance ownership.
iv. Max Life Insurance Company has dedicated 6th of every month as ‘Protection day’ and MyPQ was launched on
Second protection day.
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Other News Related to Banking & Finance
Fitch certified long-term ratings to six banks at ‘BBB-‘ with stable outlook
International rating agency Fitch Ratings certified long-term Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) to six banks.
Key Points:
i. It affirmed the long-term IDRs to State Bank of India(SBI), Bank of Baroda(New Zealand), Punjab National
Bank(PNB), Bank of Baroda (BOB), Canara Bank and Bank of India(BOI) with ‘BBB-‘ a stable outlook.
ii. The rating of IDBI Bank’s long-term IDR was certified at ‘BB+’.
iii. As the banks are likely to receive extraordinary government support as a result of high systemic importance
and majority government ownership, the long-term IDRs were given to SBI, BOB, PNB, Canara Bank and BOI.
iv. The five banks were also given the Viability Ratings (VR).
v. BOB’s VR is maintained at Rating Watch Negative (RWN) and the VR of Canara Bank was downgraded to ‘bb-‘
from ‘bb’ as the bank’s core capital position was not compared with its weak asset quality and earnings.
vi. Fitch estimated that the ratio of the loan of the bank had declined to 10.8% in 9 months of FY19 from 11.5% in
the fiscal ended March 2018. The capital infusion of over $14.5 billion in FY19 by the government helped the
banks to raise capital position of the banks.
vii. After Fitch affirmed long-term IDRs, the shares of SBI and PNB rose in the stock exchanges.
ADB and MIGA to expand Development Finance in Asia and Pacific to increase the flow of private sector
investment
On May 30, 2019, The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
(MIGA), the political risk insurance arm of the World Bank Group, have agreed to expand Development Finance
in Asia and Pacific to increase the flow of private sector investment.
Key Points:
i. They signed a Cooperation Agreement which will be effective for 3 years from signing. It replaced the
previous agreement signed between them.
ii. This was signed in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs).
iii. It will help to encourage more private investment in developing countries.
ADB Approved $350 Million Loan For Chhattisgarh Road Improvement Project
On May 31, 2019, Asian Development Bank(ADB) approved $350 million loan to rehabilitate and upgrade
two state highways and 23 major district roads totaling about 850 kilometers in Chhattisgarh. It will improve
the connectivity and access to basic services and livelihood opportunities in the state.
• The total cost of the project is $521.69 million. The state government will provide $171.69 millionOn
May 31, 2019, Asian Development Bank(ADB) approved $350 million loan to rehabilitate and
upgrade two state highways and 23 major district roads totaling about 850 kilometers in Chhattisgarh.
It will improve the connectivity and access to basic services and livelihood opportunities in the state.
Key Points:
• The total cost of the project is $521.69 million. The state government will provide $171.69 million.
• Chhattisgarh, rich in natural resources, is the largest producer of minerals like coal and iron ore.
• As per the data of 2011 census, poverty levels in the state were at 38% of the population.
• The number of registered vehicles have doubled from 2.1 million in 2009 to 4.8 million in 2016.
• Earlier, ADB had extended loan amount of $180 million for 1,700 km state highways (Closed in 2012) and
$300 million, granted in 2012, covered additional 916 km state highways.
• The project is estimated to complete in mid-2024.
Two-wheeler loan named ‘Sabse Khaas Loan’ launched by L&T Finance

Indian multinational conglomerate, L&T Finance, a subsidiary of L&T Finance Holdings, launched ‘Sabse Khaas
Loan’ for two-wheeler customers.
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ii. This scheme provides burden-free and low-cost finance for two-wheelers eliminates the need for
hypothecation of the vehicle to the financier over the tenure of the loan.
iii. This loan is for a financially forsighted customer who spends their hard-earned money smartly.
iv. Borrowers can choose 3different EMI periods– 6, 12 and 18 months with the interest rates between 7.99
percent and 8.99 percent.
Prices of SGBs for 2019-20 fixed at Rs 3,196 per gram

The Government has fixed the price of Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs)-Series I for 2019-20 at Rs 3,196 per
gram with settlement date June 11, 2019. They will be opened for subscription from June 03 to June 07, 2019.
Key Points:
i. In consultation with RBI, the Government has decided to allow a discount of Rs 50 per gram from the issue
price to those investors who apply online and the payment is made through digital mode. To them, the issue
price is Rs 3,146 per gram of gold.
ii. RBI has published a calendar for issuance of SGBs for the first half of the current financial year.
iii. SGBs will be issued every month from June 2019 to September 2019.
About SGBs:
It was launched in November 2015 with an objective to reduce the demand for physical gold and to shift a part
of the domestic savings used for the purchase of gold into financial savings. They are denominated in units of one
gram of gold and multiples thereof. The minimum investment in the bonds is 1 gram with a maximum limit of
subscription of 500 gram per person per fiscal year (April-March). Maximum limit of subscription is 4 kg for
Individuals & Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) and 20 kg for trusts and similar entities per fiscal. The annual
ceiling will include bonds subscribed under different tranches during initial issuance by the government and
those purchased from the Secondary Market.
Tamil Nadu Gets $287 Mn Loan From World Bank For The State’s Health System Reform Programme
On June 4, 2019, The Government of India, Tamil Nadu and the World Bank signed a $287 million loan
agreement for the state’s Health System Reform Programme in New Delhi. It is aimed to improve the quality of
health care, reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and fill equity gaps in reproductive and
child health services.
Key Points:
• The agreement for the Project was signed by Sameer Kumar Khare, Additional Secretary, Department of
Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, on behalf of the Government of India, Beela Rajesh, Secretary,
Health and Family Welfare Department, on behalf of the Government of Tamil Nadu and Hisham Abdo,
Acting Country Director, World Bank India, on behalf of the World Bank.
• Tamil Nadu has been ranked third among all Indian States in the NITI Aayog Health Index.
• The State’s maternal mortality rate has declined from 90 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2005 to 62
deaths in 2015-16 where as infant mortality has declined from 30 deaths per 1000 live births to 20 in the
same period.
• The state government has a growing burden of NCDs. They account for nearly 69% of deaths. Therefore,
the Tamil Nadu Health System Reform Program will support the State Government to develop clinical
protocols and guidelines; achieve national accreditation for primary, secondary and tertiary-level health
facilities in the public sector; strengthen physicians, nurses and paramedics through continuous medical
education; strengthen the feedback loop between citizens and the state by making quality and other data
accessible to the public.
• The programme will aim to strengthen physicians, nurses and paramedics through continuous medical
education; strengthening the feedback loop between citizens and the state by making quality and other
data accessible to the public.
ICICI Bank launches center in Bengaluru exclusive for MSME

Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India (ICICI) launched a dedicated center in Bengaluru to
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provide hazel free services to small business owners and startups. Sandeep Batra, Executive Director, ICICI
Bank along with Mr. Viral Rupani, Retail Business Head – South, ICICI Bank inaugurated the center.
Key points:
i. The center provides various services which include working capital loans of up to Rs. 20 crore, business loans
(based on GST returns) of up to Rs. 1 crore, instant overdraft facility of up to Rs. 15 lakh, extensive trade
solutions and cash management services, and others.
ii. The center also provides legal and valuation desk to help customers in resolving challenges related to
collateral for various loans.
GDP growth forecast lowered to 7% from 7.2% for FY20

The RBI’s MPC lowered its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast to 7% from 7.2% for FY 20 due to
slowdown in domestic activities and escalation in global trade war.
i. In the April monetary policy, the growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2019-20 was projected at 7.2% -
in the range of 6.8-7.1% for the first half of the fiscal and 7.3-7.4% for the second part - with risks evenly
balanced.
ii. Data for January-March quarter 2018-19, indicated that domestic investment activity has weakened and
overall demand has been weighed down partly by slowing exports.
Static Information:
♦ Repo Rate: It is the rate at which RBI lends money to commercial banks.
♦ Reverse Repo rate: It is the rate at which RBI borrows money from commercial banks.
♦ Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR): The share of net demand and time liabilities (deposits) that banks must maintain a
cash balance with the Reserve Bank.
♦ Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR): The share of net demand and time liabilities (deposits) that banks must
maintain in safe and liquid assets, such as, government securities, cash, and gold.
♦ Bank Rate: It is the rate at which the Reserve Bank is ready to buy or rediscount bills of exchange or other
commercial papers for the long term.
♦ Marginal Standing Facility Rate (MSF): The rate at which the scheduled banks can borrow funds from the
RBI overnight, against the approved government securities is termed as MSF.
Ashok Leyland partnered with Suryoday Small Finance Bank for vehicle loans
On June 4, 2019, Ashok Leyland, Hinduja Group flagship firm, partnered with Suryoday Small Finance Bank to
provide vehicle loans.
Key Points:
i. Under this partnership, Suryoday Small Finance Bank will provide end-to-end financial solutions to the
customers of Ashok Leyland for auto loans across India.
ii. The strategic financing partnership agreement was signed for 3 years.
Bajaj Finserv &Motherhood hospitals ink partnership to provide Life care finance facility
On June 4,2019, Indian financial services company Bajaj Finserv inked partnership with Motherhood
hospitals, a national network of women &child hospital to provide Life care finance facility.
Key points:
i. Through this partnership, patients at all motherhood hospitals can avail Life Care Finance (LCF) from Bajaj
Finserv that converts their medical bills into an EMI loan without interest.
ii. The hospital also offers an EMI financing option to patients for pregnancy care, fertility care; gynaecology,
advanced laparoscopy surgery, neonatology, pediatrics, fetal medicine, cosmetology and radiology.
About Motherhood hospitals
i. Motherhood is a speciality hospital chain that provides comprehensive women & child care.
ii. it has a national network of 12 hospitals located in seven cities. They are in Bengaluru (Indiranagar,
Sarjapur Road, Hebbal, HRBR Layout, Banashankari), Chennai (Alwarpet), Pune (Kharadi), Mumbai (Kharghar),
Coimbatore, Indore and Kolkata.
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YES Bank conducts e-auction for forest produce

Yes Bank has conducted the first e-auction of forest produce in Dhanora Mahasangh in Maharashtra under
its Tech for Change initiative where the bank work with the government and corporate to create technology-
based solutions which have a social impact. It is a joint effort of Yes Bank with its fintech partner, Sparsh
Technologies.
i. The expected throughput is about Rs 40 crore per annum.
ii. Taluka Gramsabha Mahasangh Dhanora is a federation formed by 32 villages and 80 gram panchayats have
come together as part of this initiative.
Tata Mutual Fund launched India’s first mutual fund side pocket
On June 6, 2019, Tata Mutual Fund launched the side-pocketing (segregated portfolio) option to set aside its
troubled investment in Dewan Housing Finance Limited(DHFL). They were created for 3 schemes namely
Tata Corporate Bond Fund, Tata Medium Term Fund and Tata Treasury Advantage Fund. This is India’s first
formal use of the side pocketing provisions which was introduced by Securities and Exchange Board of India
(SEBI) in December 2018.
Key Points:
• The investors are allowed to redeem their investments in 3 schemes without any exit load till June 14,
2019.
• Tata mutual fund house has already suspended subscription in 3 schemes and more fund houses are
expected to use the side-pocketing facility in the coming days.
• Investors redeeming their units after June 14, 2019 will get redemption proceeds based on the Net Asset
Value (NAV) of the main portfolio. They will continue to hold the units of the segregated portfolio.
• As on April 30, 2019, Tata Corporate Bond Fund had a 28.21% exposure to DHFL, Tata Medium Term
Fund had a 14.60% exposure and Tata Treasury Advantage Fund had a 3.77% exposure.
• Nearly 24 mutual funds across 165 schemes have Rs. 5,336-crore exposure to DHFL as per April, 2019.
About Side Pocketing:
Side pocketing is a procedure introduced by SEBI allowing Asset Management Companies (AMCs) to separate out
a section of their portfolio corresponding to the bad debt held by them. Investors receive units in the segregated
portfolio and these units are held separately. No further inflows are allowed into the side pocketed component of
the fund. Investors can redeem these units when money is recovered from the bad debt. It requires an
amendment of the Scheme Information Document (SID). Since this amendment constitutes a ‘fundamental
change of attribute,’ investors have to be given a 30 day exit load free window to leave the fund.
Paytm Payments Bank ahead of major banks in digital transaction target with 501.16 crore digital
transactions
Paytm Payments Bank with 501.16 crore digital transactions for the financial year 2019-20 was ahead of
major banks including HDFC Bank, Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India (ICICI) Bank and
Punjab National Bank in digital transaction target set by the Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology (MeitY).
Key Points:
i. It is only behind the State Bank of India (SBI) which has the highest target for digital transactions.
ii. Only 5 banks have received a target of more than 100 crore transactions. They are HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis
Bank,Punjab National Bank and Union Bank of India.
iii. In FY 2018-19, Paytm payments bank had crossed the target of 354 crore transactions and recorded 393
crore digital transfers. It has a market share of 19% and 32% respectively in terms of mobile banking and Unified
Payments Interface (UPI)transactions.
iv. It processes over Rs 3 lakh crore worth of digital transactions on an annual basis.
v. In terms of deposits, it has more than Rs 500 crore deposits in savings accounts as of April 2019. It is largest
among the payments bank in India.
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State Bank of India to introduce repo-linked home loan product from July 1
On June 7, 2019, State Bank of India (SBI) announced to introduce repo-linked home loan product from July
1, 2019. It has become the first bank to offer this facility.
Key Points:
i. The home loans up to Rs 75 lakh will be priced at 2.65% over the repo rate of 5.75% resulting in the interest
rate of 8.40%. At present, it offers home loanslinked to its marginal cost of funds at 8.55%.
ii. SBI also reduced the interest rate on Cash Credit Account (CC) and Overdraft (OD) customers with limits above
Rs 1 lakh, after the RBI reduced the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.75%.
iii. At present, the effective Repo-Linked Lending Rate (RLLR) for CC/ OD customers is 8%whereas for savings
deposits above Rs 1 lakh the new rate is be 3%.
iv. In March, SBI had linked all CC accounts and ODs with limits above Rs 1 lakh to the repo rate plus a spread of
2.25%. For above Rs 1 lakh, it had set its savings deposit rates to 2.75% below the repo rate.
Foreign Exchange Reserves of India increased by $1.8 billion to $421.8 billion

As per the data of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Foreign Exchange (Forex) Reserves of India increased by
$1.875 billion to $421.867 billion in the week ending May 31, 2019.In the previous week, the forex reserves
rose by $1.99 billion to $ 419.99 billion.
Key Points:
i. The foreign currency assets rose by $1.946 billion to $394.134 billion.
ii. The foreign currency assets, which is a major component of the overall reserves, include the effect of
appreciation/depreciation of non-US units like the euro, pound and yen held in the reserves. They are expressed
in terms of dollars.
iii. As per RBI’s data, gold reserves fell by $62.9 million to $22.958 billion, the Special Drawing Rights (SDRs)
with the International Monetary Fund(IMF) declined by $2.3 million to $1.443 billion and the country's reserve
position with the fund also declined by $5.3 million to $3.331 billion.
iv. Forex reserves were the highest in the week of April 13, 2018 resulting to $426.028 billion.
Kotak Mahindra Bank was penalized with Rs 2 crore by Reserve Bank of India for not meeting ownership
rules
Reserve Bank of India has penalized Kotak Mahindra Bank with Rs. 2 crores for not furnishing details about
the shareholding of its promoter and its plans for complying with stake dilution norms.
i. RBI has mandated the bank to reduce its promoter shareholding to 20 percent by December 31, 2018, and
to 15 percent by March 2022.
Centre has extended the Rs 1.6 Billion aid to Nepal for Rebuilding Earthquake-hit Houses
Indian government has extended the financial aid of 1.6 billion Nepalese rupees to Nepal for the rebuilding of
houses in Nuwakot and Gorkha districts, which were damaged in the devastating earthquake in 2015.
i. The cheque for the same was handed over by India’s ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri to Finance
Secretary of Nepal Rajan Khanal.
ii. India is maintaining its commitment regarding the completion of post-earthquake reconstruction projects in
the Himalayan nation.
iii. As of now, India has granted Nepal a total of 4.5 billion Nepalese rupees under the housing reconstruction
projects.
iv. India has also partnered with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Office for
Project Services (UNOPS) for providing socio-technical facilitation to the house owners to ensure that they
rebuild their homes as per Nepal government’s earthquake resilient norms.
Background
In February 2016, India and Nepal inked Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for USD 100 million grant to
support reconstruction of 50,000 private houses in the earthquake effected districts of Nepal.
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IDBI Bank and Max Bupa sign Bancassurance corporate agency agreement
On June 1, 2019, Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) Bank and Max Bupa, a Standalone Health
Insurer (SAHI) signed a Bancassurance corporate agency agreement. For the first time, IDBI Bank became a
on-boarded corporate agent for Max Bupa under open architecture.
Key Points:
• Max bupa will provide a wide range of health insurance products and digital first propositions to IDBI
bank's 20 million customers spread across its 1800 plus branches.
• IDBI Bank is focused to increase the Fee Income through Third Party distribution.
• The products are IDBI Max Bupa Suvidha Health Plus, IDBI Max Bupa Loan Secure and IDBI Max Bupa
Sehat Suraksha.
• Max Bupa will provide the services like preauthorization of cashless claims within 30 minutes and access
to 'Point of Care' desks at leading hospital chains across the country.
• Max Bupa will design a digital ecosystem for the customers of IDBI bank.
• It will also install 'Infinity', a proprietary digital platform. Through this, the customers of IDBI Bank can
purchase the product of their choice instantly and access their policy documents at the bank branch.
• Any Time Health (ATH) Machines, a completely automated, technology based models will be installed
by Max Bupa at IDBI Bank branches across the country. It will allow customers to avail health assessment
and purchase a policy instantly under 3 minutes.
ZestMoney in partnership with Digit Insurance to offer EMI insurance

On June 13, 2019, ZestMoney, a Bengaluru based digital lending startup, in partnership with Digit
Insurance announced to offer EMI (Equated Monthly Installment) insurance to the company’s five million
customers. The aim of the partnership is to relieve its customers of debt in case of unforeseen circumstances.
Key Points:
i. The policy will cover EMI cost in the cases of hospitalization, death or permanent disability.
ii. The insurance product, designed for ZestMoney’s customers, will be available while applying for a loan on the
digital platform.
iii. The credit limit can be availed by signing up on the 100% digital loan application platform and can be used to
shop online and in-store across all ZestMoney partners including Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, MakeMyTrip and
Xiaomi.
Exim Bank signed $245 million loan agreement with Ghana & Mozambique for agricultural and railway
projects
On June 13, 2019, The central bank of the country, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) notified that Export-Import
Bank of India (Exim Bank) will provide Line of Credit (LoC) worth $245 million to Ghana and Mozambique for
agricultural and railway projects. The agreement is effective from June 3, 2019. Under the LoC, the terminal
utilisation period is 60 months after the scheduled completion date of the project.
Key Points:
i. Exim Bank will grant the LoC worth $150 million to Ghana and $95 million to Mozambique.
ii. Ghana will utilize the amount to strengthen agriculture mechanisation services centres while Mozambique will
finance it in the procurement of railway rolling stock including locomotives, coaches and wagons.
IRDAI hiked third party insurance premium for Small-Medium Cars from June 16, 2019
On June 4, 2019, The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) hiked the Third
Party (TP) motor insurance premium for small and medium private cars by 12-12.5% for 2019-20. The rates
are applicable from June 16, 2019. TP premium for two-wheelers and heavy vehicles was also increased. These
powers which are provided to IRDAI are mentioned under Section 14 (2) (i) of the IRDA Act, 1999.
Key Points:
i. Two-wheelers with engine capacities between 150cc and 350cc witnessed the highest percentage increase at
21.11%. Rates were increased from Rs 985 to Rs 1,193. For two-wheelers between 75 cc and 150 cc, it hiked TP
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rate by 4.44% to Rs 752.

ii. There was a hike of 12% in private cars below 1000 cc engine to Rs 2,072 and 12.50% increase to Rs 3,221 for
cars with an engine capacity of 1000-1500 cc.
iii. For goods carriers with Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) up to 7,500 kg, TP premium was hiked from Rs 14,390 to
Rs 15,746, for vehicles with GVW between 7500 kg to 12,000 kg, the rate was hiked from Rs 24,190 to Rs 26,935
and for vehicles between 12,000 kg to 20,000 kg, it was increased from Rs 32,367 to Rs 33,418.
Edelweiss and Bank of Baroda tied up for MSME loans

On June 12, 2019, the Bank of Baroda (BoB) and ECL Finance, the flagship non-banking financial company of
Edelweiss Group, signed an agreement to form a strategic partnership to explore co-lending opportunities.
Key Points:
i. They will offer loans and expertise for the growing needs of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), self-
employed and priority sector groups.
ii. They will provide timely delivery of credit to customers at a significantly lower cost.
ADB sanctions Rs 1,650cr infra projects in Tripura

On June 16, 2019, The Asian Development Bank(ADB) has approved a project submitted by Urban Development
Department (UDD) of Tripura amounting to Rs. 1650 crore for overall infrastructure development of seven
district headquarter towns of Tripura.
Key points:
i. The fund is meant for development of piped water supply, underground drainage, underground sewage or
scientific septage management, roads with pavement.
ii. The ADB will give 80 per cent of 1650 crore as grant-in-aid and the state Government of Tripura will have to
repay back only 20 per cent loan in due course of time.
iii. The seven district headquarters include-Khowai (Khowai), Ambassa(Dhalai district), Dharmnagar(North
Tripura), Kailashahar (Unakoti), Udaipur (Gomati), Bishramganj (Sepahijala), Belonia (South Tripura) ,where the
plan will be implemented.
SEBI tightened rating guidelines to enhance standards

On June 13, 2019, The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued stricter norms for rating agencies
to enhance standards. This move comes after a series of defaults at Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services
Limited (IL & FS) in 2018.
Key Points:
i. SEBI will prepare and share standardized and uniform probability of default (PD) benchmarks for each rating
category for one-year, two-year and three-year cumulative default rates, for the short run and long run and it will
be disclosed on the website of each credit rating agency.
ii. It introduced disclosure of rating sensitivities in its press releases. It will help the end-users to understand the
factors that would have the potential to impact the credit worthiness of the entity.
iii. Rating Agencies will have a specific section on rating sensitivities in each press release explaining broad level
of operating and financial performance levels that could trigger a rating change - upward and downward.
iv. Rating agencies should make meaningful disclosures regarding liquidity using simple terms such as superior
or strong, adequate, stretched or poor, with appropriate explanations.
v. They should assign the suffix 'CE' (Credit Enhancement) to rating of instruments that have explicit credit
enhancements.
Jammu and Kashmir Bank brought under RTI, CVC guidelines

The Board of Directors (BoD) of Jammu & Kashmir Bank under the chairmanship of the bank's Interim
Chairman and Managing Director (MD)R.S. Chhibber decided to bring the bank under Jammu and Kashmir
(J&K) Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2009 and the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) guidelines with
effect from June 17, 2019.
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Key Points:
i. The decision was taken after receiving directions from the State Government, which owns 59% of the bank's
shares, in order to improve the governance and bring transparency & accountability in the functioning of the
bank.
ii. BoD decided to arrest any further slippage of accounts to Non Performing Assets (NPA) by initiating strong
action against wilful defaulters.
iii. This move is implemented after Parvez Ahmed was removed as the Chairman of the J&K Bank for alleged
corruption, nepotism and favouritism.
iv. BoD directed to strengthen the technological framework. It includes migration of its core banking solution
Finacle 10 and further strengthening of the early warning and alert generation systems. This is to boost the
digital vision of the bank.
Max Life Insurance launched 'Max Life Smart Term Plan'

On June 20, 2019, Max Life Insurance Company Limited, one of the country's leading life insurance companies,
launched customizable 'Max Life Smart Term Plan'. It will offer customers the flexibility to customize their own
protection solution through the selection from a wide range of benefits and features.
Key Points:
i. It will provide options of choosing from multiple premium payment term- Single payment, payment for limited
term of 5, 10, 12 and 15 years in addition to the 'pay till 60' and regular pay options.
ii. It offers seven types of death benefits to customers to choose for their protection needs.
iii. Max Life Smart Term Plan covers a total of 40 critical illnesses under accelerated critical illness benefit.
iv. It comes with add on Max Life Waiver of Premium Plus Rider. It provides a waiver for all future premiums
under the policy. This will help to create a customised protection solution for each customer.
v. It will also provide a 'Premium Back Option' on a term product till the age of 85 for the consumers.
IDBI Bank and Tata AIG Signed Bancassurance Corporate Agency Agreement
On June 19, 2019, Indian banking giant, Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) has signed a
bancassurance agreement with Tata AIG General Insurance Company Ltd to provide Tata AIG’s suite of P&C
(Property and Casualty (insurance)products.
Key points:
i. Tata AIG’s products will now be available in IDBI bank’s 20 million customer base spread across its 1,850-plus
branches.
ii. The product portfolio comprises Tata AIG’s flagship health (Medicare), motor, personal accident, home
content, critical illnesses, Locker, SME(Small and medium-sized enterprises)and travel insurances.
iii. This tie-up comes after IDBI Bank and Max Bupa Signed Bancassurance Corporate Agency Agreement.
iv. In rural & semi-urban areas IDBI Bank has a strong presence.
v. Through this partnership, Tata AIG will deepen the penetration of its product offers and enable more
customers to access their risk solutions anytime, anywhere.
Flipkart revamps MSME seller financing programme ‘Growth Capital’

E-commerce firm Flipkart has revamped its Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) seller financing
programme ‘Growth Capital’ in order to empower MSMEs across the country. The program enables financial
inclusion and independence for MSMEs who operate online.
Key Points:
i. The changes will allow more than one lakh sellers to avail credit at competitive interest rates from 10 Non-
Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) and banks with an approval time of one day and disbursal into the sellers
bank accounts within 48 hours.
ii. The average loan size is Rs 7 lakh. But sellers can take loans up to Rs 3 crore with interest rates at 9.5%. The
tenure on term loan and credit line options is 1 year.
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iii. Financial partners for the programme are State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Axis Bank, Aditya Birla Finance,
Tata Capital, Flexiloans, Small Industries Development Bank of India, LendingKart, Indifi and Happy Loans.
NHB issued stricter norms on HFCs’ capital adequacy ratios

The National Housing Bank (NHB) has tightened the norms on leverage and capital adequacy ratio for
Housing Finance Companies (HFCs). It mandated the HFCs to reduce their total borrowings in a phased manner
to not more than 12 times( at present 16 times) of their Net-Owned Funds (NOF) as on March 31, 2022. Life
Insurance Corporation (LIC) Housing Finance is the only HFC to have the highest leverage ratio of 14 times of
NOF.
Key Points:
i. The Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) for HFCs is increased to 13% by March 2020, 14% by March 2021 and 15%
by March 2022. Tier I capital should not be less than 10% (6% at present).
ii. Changes will not impact large HFCs like Housing Development Finance Corp. (HDFC), Repco Home Finance,
Indiabulls Housing Finance and Dewan Housing Finance, which are capitalized above 15%. LIC Housing Finance
and PNB (Punjab National Bank) Housing Finance have capital adequacy ratio below 15%.
iii. HFCs cannot accept fixed deposits of not more than three times their NOF. But if a HFC has obtained credit
rating for its fixed deposits not below the minimum investment grade rating complying with all the prudential
norms, it may accept public deposits not exceeding three times of its NOF.
Canara Bank updated the rules for cash deposits and withdrawals
Canara Bank has issued new rules for its customers regarding cash deposits and withdrawals effective from July
1, 2019. The customers of the bank can deposit cash in Savings bank account up to Rs 50,000 for free only thrice
a month and the fourth transaction will be charged. This is done to encourage digital transactions and it
coincides with transaction charges on National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) and Real Time Gross
Settlement (RTGS) being waived off complying with Reserve Bank of India’s guidelines from July 1, 2019.
Key Points:
i. From the fourth transaction or for cash deposits over Rs 50,000, there will be a service charge of Rs 1 per
thousand, with a minimum of Rs 50 and a maximum of Rs 5,000 plus GST (Good and Service Tax).
ii. For current account/overdraft/open cash credit account holders a minimum Rs 100 will be charged on the
withdrawal of Rs 5 lakh or more in a month.
iii. Service charges will not be applicable to pensioners, senior citizens, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana
beneficiaries and zero balance account holders.
Federal Bank raises Rs 300 crore through a private placement of Basel III compliant Tier II bonds
Kochi based Federal Bank announced that it has raised Rs 300 crore through Basel-III compliant bonds for
improving their risk management techniques and to address the growing risks.
Key points:
i. The plan was taken by credit investment and raising capital committee of the bank.
ii. The committee allotted1000 rated, Basel III compliant, unsecured, redeemable, non-convertible tier II bonds
having a face value of Rs. 10,00,000 each, with an option to retain oversubscription of up to 2,000 rated Basel III
Compliant bonds aggregating to Rs 300 crore and the capital was raised on the private placement basis.
iii. The bonds have the tenure of ten years with the coupon rate of 9.75 percent per annum.
iv. Shares of Federal Bank Ltd were the last trading in BSE at Rs.103.9.
About Basel III:
Basel III is an international regulatory accord that introduced a set of reforms designed to improve the
regulation, supervision and risk management within the banking sector.
Maruti Suzuki inks partnership with BOB for dealer financing

Automobile manufacturer in India, Maruti Suzuki signed 'Preferred Financier’ MoU(Memorandum of
understanding) with Indian multinational, public sector Bank, Bank of Baroda(BOB) to improve credit for
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dealership inventory financing.

Key points:
i. The alliance with Bank of Baroda will allow Maruti Suzuki to easy financing opportunities to dealers as well as
customers.
ii. The dealer inventory financing will work in line with the Bank of Baroda’s product program of Supply Chain
Finance.
Government of Jharkhand to get $147 Million Loan from World Bank

On June 25, 2019, To provide basic urban services to the people and help improve the management capacity of
the urban local bodies (ULBs) in Jharkhand, The World Bank approved a $147 million loan agreement to the
state.
Key points:
i. The State Government will invest in urban services such as water supply, sewerage, drainage, and urban roads
and also strengthen the capacity of the Jharkhand Urban Infrastructure Development Company (JUIDCO).
ii. Urban population growth in nine districts of Jharkhand is above India's overall urbanization pace of 2.7
percent.
iii. Jharkhand Municipal Reform Programme will strengthen the urban services in the state and also be a boost to
economic growth.
Wilful Defaulters in State-Run Banks increased by 60% in 5years

On June 24, 2019, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that the number of wilful defaulters in
nationalized banks has risen 60% in five years to March 2019.
Key points:
• A number of wilful defaulters: The figure stood at 8,582 at the end of FY19(fiscal year) against 5,349 at
the end of FY15.The silver lining is about Rs.7,600 crore has been recovered from those defaulters.
• In PSBs(public sector banks), out of 9856 wilful defaulters, 960 accounts from Punjab National bank
followed by Union Bank of India and Central Bank Of India.
• In Private sector banks, Axis Bank reported the maximum number of defaulters.
• As at March 2019, PSBs filed suits for recovery in 8,121 cases however it recovered about Rs.3.59-lakh
crore over four fiscal years (FY16 to FY19)
Measures were taken by the Government
• SARFAESI Act,2002(Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security
Interest): Action against 6251 cases under the provisions of the SARFAESI Act has been initiated.
• FIR (First information report): It has been registered in 2915 cases.
• ‘4Rs’ strategy(Recognition, Resolution, Recapitalisation, and Reforms,): As per this strategy, gross
NPAs(Non-Performing Assets) of PSBs decreased to Rs.8.06-lakh crore at the end of March 2019 against
Rs.8.95-lakh crore at the end of March 2018,
• SEBIs’ action (Securities and Exchange Board of India ): It debars wilful defaulters &companies, from
accessing capital markets to raise funds.
World Bank commits $31.58 mn loan for Uttarakhand Public Financial Management Strengthening
Project
On June 26, 2019, The Government of India, the State Government of Uttarakhand and the World Bank signed a
tripartite Loan Agreement of$31.58 million (about Rs 221 crore) for Uttarakhand Public Financial Management
Strengthening Project. This will help improve the State’s ability to manage its Financial Systems and lead to
Better Utilization of Development Resources.
Key points:
i. The loan agreement was signed by Sameer Kumar Khare, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic
Affairs, Ministry of Finance on behalf of the central government, Savin Bansal I.A.S, Additional Secretary, Finance
of Uttarakhand on behalf of the Govt of Uttarakhand and Shanker Lal, Acting Country Director, World Bank India.
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ii. The Project will benefit the citizens of Uttarakhand by enhancing accountability in public finances including
administration of tax and non-tax revenues.
iii. It will also help the people of Uttarakhand to access a better quality of public services in the areas of cash and
debt management, planning and budgeting, appraisal and monitoring of high-value projects and public audit.
iv. The $31.58 Million Loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), has a 5year
grace period, and a final maturity of 11 years.
Government reduced the ESI contribution rate to 4% from 6.5%

On June 13, 2019, the Government reduced the Employees State Insurance (ESI) contribution rate to 4%from
6.5%. This will benefit 36 million workers and 1.28 million employers and will lead to an estimated annual
saving of around Rs 5,000 crore for firms. The reduced rates will be effective from July 1, 2019. The Central
government through the Ministry of Labour & Employment decides the rate of contribution under the ESI Act.
Key Points:
i. The Labour Ministry stated that there will be a reduction of 1.5% in employers’ contribution to 3.25% from
4.75% and 1% reduction in employees’ contribution to 0.75% from 1.75%.
ii. In 2018-19, 12.85 lakh employers and 3.6 crore employees contributed Rs 22,279 crore towards the ESI
scheme.
iii. Reduction in the share of contribution of employers will reduce the financial liability of the establishments
leading to improved viability of these establishments and will enhance Ease of Doing Business.
iv. The Employees’ State Insurance Act 1948 (the ESI Act), administered by the Employees’ State Insurance
Corporation (ESIC), provides for medical, cash, maternity, disability and dependent benefits to the Insured
Persons under the Act.
v. The ESI Act 1948 under the labour ministry covers employees with salary up to Rs 21,000.
MobiKwik partnered with Max Bupa to launch ‘shampoo-sachet’ health plan

MobiKwik, a mobile payments service provider, partnered with health insurer Max Bupa to launch “shampoo-
sachet” concept in the insurance sector. It will offer mini medical insurance products with premiums as low as
Rs 20. The partnership enables financial inclusion by making pocket size health insurance solutions available
through the Mobikwik platform.
Key Points:
i. Max Bupa and MobiKwik launched a HospiCash plan which has an annual premium of Rs 135.
ii. It provides daily cash allowance of Rs 500 for up to 30 days during the hospital stay. There is an inbuilt
accident insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh. The higher variants with annual premium of Rs 225 and Rs 400 will
provide cash allowance of Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,000 per day respectively.
India and World Bank sign USD 400M loan agreement to eliminate TB
On June 28, 2019, The World Bank and the Government of India signed a loan agreement of $400 Million for
the Program Towards Elimination of Tuberculosis(TB), which kills approximately half a million people in India
every year. The program will cover nine States of India.
Key points:
• The Loan Agreement was signed by Mr. Sameer Kumar Khare, Additional Secretary, Department of
Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance on behalf of the Government of India and Mr. Shanker Lal, Acting
Country Director, on behalf of the World Bank.
• It will also support the government's National Strategic Plan to end TB in India by 2025.
• Diagnostics and management of drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) will be improved.
• Financial incentives provided to the private sector care providers for reporting cases of TB and ensuring
that their patients complete the treatment regimen.
• Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) will be given to the patients for acquiring the critical nutrition needed
during treatment.
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The $ 400 Million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a 19-year
maturity which includes a 5-year grace period
India inks loan pact worth of $328M with World Bank for Andhra Pradesh
On June 28, 2019, The World Bank, Government of India and State Government of Andra Pradesh signed a loan
agreement worth of $328 million with the World Bank (WB) for improving health services of Andhra Pradesh.
Key points:
i. The Loan Agreement was signed by Mr. Sameer Kumar Khare, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic
Affairs, Ministry of Finance, on behalf of the Government of India and Mr. Shanker Lal, Acting Country Director,
World Bank on behalf of the World Bank.
ii. It will help improve the health care of the citizens of Andra Pradesh, especially pregnant women(93%), who
now opt for institutional deliveries in the state and those at risk of non-communicable diseases(60% burden)
like hypertension, diabetes and cervical cancer.
iii. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) loan has a 23.5-year maturity and
includes a grace period of 6-year.
Indian Crypto Exchange Koinex Shuts down its operation

India’s Largest cryptocurrency exchange, Koinex(Mumbai) terminating its digital asset trading services and other
crypto-related operations citing regulatory uncertainty and disruption.
Key points:
i. Problem: It was facing problems with its payment services and gateways, along with non-crypto related
transactions like payment of salaries, rent, and purchase of equipment.
ii. It started its digital assets exchange services in August 2017
iii. Record: It executed over 20 million orders, and recorded $3Biilion+ in trading volume on its platform so far.
iv. Background: In April 2018, the country’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), barred banks from
serving companies dealing in crypto currency exchanges.
v. Similar Shutdown: Earlier in 2019, two other exchanges operating in the country, Coindelta & Coinome also
stopped offering crypto trading services.
India signs $250 million World Bank loan to develop Rajasthan’s Roads and Highways
The Government of India, Government of Rajasthan and the World Bank signed a $ 250 Million Loan
Agreement for Phase II of Rajasthan State Highways Development Project.
Key points:
i. The Loan Agreement was signed by Mr. Sameer Kumar Khare on behalf of the Government of India and Mr.
Shanker Lal, Acting Country Director (India) on behalf of the World Bank.
ii. It will be used to support the construction, upgradation, improvement, and maintenance of 766 kms of state
highways and district roads.
iii. It will also focus on enhancing the institutional of Rajasthan State Highways Authority and strengthen the
capacity of the Public Works Department which is responsible for about 70 percent of the state’s road network.
iv. It will help leverage private capital of around US$45 million through a public-private partnership model.
v.The loan from International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a 25-year maturity
including a 5-year grace period.
Forex reserves of India increased to a record high of $426.42 billion

As per the data from the apex bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Foreign Exchange Reserves (Forex/ FX
Reserves) of India reached a life-time high of $426.42 billion after it was increased by $4.215 billion in the week
to June 21, 2019. The reason for hike in reserve was due to increase in Foreign Currency Assets (FCA). Till date,
the highest Forex reserves were recorded in the week to April 13, 2018, accounting to $426.028 billion.
Key Points:
i. FCA: They were increased by $4.202 billion to $398.649 billion and included the effect of
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appreciation/depreciation of non-US units like the euro, pound and yen held in the reserves.
ii. Gold reserves: It remained unchanged at $22.958 billion.
iii. SDRs: Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) increased by $4.2 million
to $1.453 billion. Reserve position increased by $9.6 million to $3.354 billion.
Government lowers interest rates on Small saving schemes by 0.1% for September quarter
The Union Finance Ministry, Government of India reduced the interest rate on small savings schemes by 0.1
percent (10 basis points) for the July-September quarter.
Key points:
i. The schemes include Public provident fund (PPF), National Savings Certificate (NSC), Kisan Vikas Patra(KVP),
Sukanya Samriddhi Account, Senior Citizens Savings Scheme(SCSS).
ii. PPF&NSC: For the July-September quarter, PPF and National Savings Certificate will fetch an annual interest
rate of 7.9% as compared to 8% earlier.
iii. KVP: Kisan Vikas Patra will yield 7.6 percent with a maturity of 113 months. At present, the interest rate on
KVP is 7.7 percent and maturity is 112 months.
iv. The girl child savings scheme: Sukanya Samriddhi Account will offer 8.4 percent from 8.5 percent.
v. SCSS: Senior Citizens Savings Scheme will offer 8.6 percent from 8.7percent.
vi. Term deposits of 1- 3 years will offer an interest rate of 6.9 percent will be paid quarterly, while the five-year
quarterly pegged at 7.7 percent and for recurring 7.2 percent from the existing rate of 7.3 percent.
$250-m loan pact signed by India and World Bank for Rebuild Kerala initiative
On June 29, 2019, The Government of India, State Government of Kerala and World Bank signed a loan
agreement of $250 million (Rs 1,725 crore) for the Kerala Resilient Programme.
Key points:
i. Development Policy Loan (DPL): The loan agreement was signed by Sameer Kumar Khare on behalf of the
government, Manoj Joshi, Additional Chief Secretary, Finance, Kerala and Junaid Kamal Ahmad, Country Director,
World Bank India.
ii. This will enhance the state’s resilience against the impact of natural disasters and climate change.
iii. The aid will support Kerala with improved river basin and water infrastructure operations management,
water supply and sanitation services, resilient and sustainable agriculture, enhanced agriculture risk insurance,
improved resilience of the core road network, etc.
iv. Of the total loan, $160 million will be given on ‘easy terms’ with interest of less than 1.5% with a repayment
period of 30 years. For the balance amount, the interest will be 4% and the repayment period will be 20 years
plus a moratorium of five years
MoUs & AGREEMENTS IN NEWS

Agreement between India and Marshall Islands for Exchange of Information notified
The Agreement between the Government of India and the Government of the Marshall Islands for the Exchange
of Information with respect to taxes was signed on 18th March, 2016 at Majuro, the Republic of the Marshall
Islands. The Indian-Marshall Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA) was notified to the gazette of India.
Key points:
i. The agreement provides framework for exchange of Information in tax matters which helps in tax evasion and
tax avoidance.
ii. It provides information like banking and ownership between two countries for tax purposes.
IRSDC signed a Tripartite Agreement with SNCF and AFD

Indian Railway Station Development Corporation (IRSDC) entered into a Tripartite
Agreement with French National Railways(SNCF)and French Development Agency(AFD). Under this
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agreement,a grant up to 7 lakh euros will be provided to boost capacity building for railway station
development program in India.
Key Points:
i. It was signed in the presence of Suresh Angadi, Ministerof State of Railways, and Jean Baptiste
Lemoyne,Ministerof State for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Alexandre Ziegler, Ambassador of France in
India and other senior officers of French Embassy and Indian Railways.
ii. AFD, a French agency, will finance up to 7,00,000 EURO, through French National Railways (SNCF)-Hubs and
Connexions as a Technical Partner to IRSDC.
iii. There will be no financial liability on IRSDC or on Indian Railways.
Korean Ambassador to India Bong-kil Shin signed agreement with BMVSS and launched 'Jaipur Foot
Korea'
On June 24, 2019, South Korean Ambassador to India Bong-kil Shin launched a collaborative initiative between
South Korea and Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) named 'Jaipur Foot Korea'. An
agreement was also signed by the Korean Ambassador with BMVSS to provide assistance in prosthetic limbs
sector.
Key Points:
i. Korea will grant financial and technical assistance for research and development collaboration in the med-tech
sector in the area of prosthetic limbs, bionic arms, 3-D printing-based Flat foot solution and mobility solutions.
ii. It will provide opportunities to the Korean med-tech students to join the various prosthetic fitment camps in
various countries and participate in certificate programmes offered by Jaipur Foot.
iii. It will provide overseas development assistance and grants from the Government of Korea and donations
from private institutions and corporations from Korea to India.
MoU signed between MCA and SEBI for data exchange

On June 7, 2019, A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Ministry of Corporate
Affairs (MCA) and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for automatic data exchange in order to
tackle the rising instances of fraud.It was signed by Shri KVR Murty, Joint Secretary, MCA and Smt. MadhabiPuri
Buch, Whole Time Member, SEBI in the presence of senior officers from both the organizations.
Key Points:
i. It will facilitate the sharing of data and information between SEBI and the MCA on an automatic and regular
basis.
ii. Along with this, SEBI and MCA will share any information available in their respective databases on request
for the purpose of carrying out scrutiny, investigation, inspection and prosecution.
iii. Information like the details of suspended companies, delisted companies, shareholding pattern from SEBI and
financial statements filed with the Registrar by corporates, returns of allotment of shares, audit reports relating
to corporates will be shared.
iv. A Data Exchange Steering Group was set up as a part of this initiative. It will meet periodically to review the
data exchange status and take steps to improve the effectiveness of the data sharing mechanism.
v. The move comes amid alleged frauds being investigated by SEBI and the MCA into Fortis Healthcare and
Religare Enterprises Ltd and the brokers of National Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL).
MoA signed between Ministry of Shipping and IIT Kharagpur to set up CICMT
On June 26, 2019, A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed between Ministry of
Shipping and IIT (Indian Institute of Technology),Kharagpur to set up Centre for Inland & Coastal Maritime
Technology (CICMT) at IIT Kharagpur. CICMT is the first of its kind centre in India with the focus on
indigenisation of ship designing, building and testing.
Key Points:
i. The MoA was signed by IIT Kharagpur Director, Professor Partha P Chakraborty, and Joint Secretary in the
Ministry of Shipping, Kailash Kumar Aggarwal in the presence of Shipping Minister Mansukh L Mandaviya in New
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Delhi.
ii. The cost of the project is Rs.69.20 crore and it is funded under Sagarmala programme. The funding for the
project is for 5 years after which revenues generated from the end users will be used.
iii. At present, 4 European countries namely Germany, the Netherlands, Russia and Belgium have model testing
facilities for ships.
iv. CICMT, under the Make in India initiative, will focus on ship design for coastal or inland waterways,
shipbuilding technology and structural design, transport systems & logistics, cryogenic cargo handling,
green/renewable energy harvesting from coastal and inland waters and automation and artificial intelligence
(AI) for maritime operations.
v. It will provide technological support, testing, research and experimentation facility to agencies involved in
inland water transport, shipbuilding, ports etc.
About Sagarmala programme:
♦ It is an initiative by the government of India to enhance the performance of the country's logistics sector.
♦ Launched: July 31, 2015
COMMITTEES IN NEWS
Kasturirangan Committee submitted the draft National Education Policy to the new Union HRD Minister
Ramesh Pokhariyal
The K. Kasturirangan Committee has submitted the 484-pages draft report of National Education Policy to the
new Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal. The report on the National
Education Policy has been put on the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD)’s website for
suggestions from the public till June 30.
Key Highlights
i. The Committee has recommended renaming Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) as
Ministry of Education (MoE).
ii. The Draft National Education Policy 2019 is based on the foundational pillars of five components of Access,
Equity, Quality, Affordability and Accountability.
iii. The Kasturirangan Committee has also recommended major changes in the curricular and pedagogical
structure with Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) as an integral part of school education.
iv. The committee also proposed for the extension of Right to Education Act, 2009 to cover children of ages 3 to
18 instead of 6 to 14 years.
v. The committee has also recommended a 4-year integrated stage-specific B.Ed programme for teachers which
will be the minimum degree qualification.
vi. The committee has also recommended forming a new apex body Rashtriya Shiksha Aayog (RSA) which will
be headed by the Prime Minister.
Draft National Education Policy 2019 Submitted By Dr. Kasturirangan Committee

A committee headed by Dr. Kasturirangan submitted draft national education policy 2019 to Union Human
Resource Development Minister, Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ and Minister of State for HRD,
Shri Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre in New Delhi to rename Minister of Human Resource Development to Minister of
education.
i. For promoting Indian and classic languages three new national institutes for Pali, Persian, and Prakrit and
an Indian Institute of Translation and Interpretation (IITI) are recommend.
ii. Rashtriya Shiksha Ayog, an apex body is proposed to implementation all educational initiatives and to
coordinate efforts between the Centre and the States.A committee headed by Dr. Kasturirangan submitted draft
national education policy 2019 to Union Human Resource Development Minister, Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal
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‘Nishank’ and Minister of State for HRD, Shri Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre in New Delhi. Draft Education policy
is build on four pillars: Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability, and Accountability. The following are the proposals
recommend by the committee:
• Renaming Minister of Human Resource Development to Minister of education.
• For promoting Indian and classic languages, three new national institutes for Pali, Persian, and Prakrit
and an Indian Institute of Translation and Interpretation (IITI) are recommend.
• Rashtriya Shiksha Ayog, an apex body is proposed to implementation all educational initiatives and to
coordinate efforts between the Centre and the States.
• National Research Foundation is proposed to be set up for creating strong research culture across
higher education.
• Mission Nalanda and Mission Takshashila will be re-structuring all Undergraduate programs in the
country.
• For all science graduates 2 year common course and the next 3 year to specialize as doctor, nurse or
dentist.
• Dentist and nurse to be given lateral entry into MBBS course. Common exit exam for all MBBS which
also serve as an entrance to PG courses.
• No fee regulations for professional courses. 50% of students to get scholarship and 20% to get full
scholarship.
• All the education institution to be treated on par as not for profit activity.
Central Government Reconstitutes Eight Key Cabinet Committees

On June 6, 2019, Under the Transaction of Business Rules, the Central Government has reconstituted eight
key Cabinet Committees. These include -Appointments Committee, Committees on Accommodation, Economic
Affairs, Parliamentary Affairs, Political Affairs, Security, Investment and Growth and Cabinet Committee on
Employment and Skill Development.
Key points:
• Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has Prime Minister. Shri Narendra Modi and Shri Amit Shah,
Minister of Home Affairs.
• Cabinet Committee on Accommodation will have Shri Amit Shah (Minister of Home Affairs), Nitin
Jairam Gadkari(Minister of Road Transport and Highways; Minister of Micro, Small & Medium
Enterprises.) Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, (Minister of Finance; Minister of Corporate Affairs) and Shri
Piyush Goyal, (Minister of Railways, Minister of Commerce &Industry).
• Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs will have Prime Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh, Minister of
Defence Shri Amit Shah, Minister of Home Affairs Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport
and Highways; Minister of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises Shri D.V.Sadananda Gowda, Minister of
Chemicals & Fertilizers Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Finance; Minister of Corporate Affairs Shri
Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister of Agriculture &Farmer Welfare, Minister of Rural Development: and
Minister of Panchayati Raj. Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister of Communications and Information
Technology; and Minister of Law and Justice. Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Minister of Food Processing
Industries. Dr. Subrahamanayam Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of
Railways, Minister of Commerce &Industry Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State (Independent
Charge) of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Minister of Steel.
• Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs will have Shri Amit Shah, Minister of Home Affairs. Smt.
Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Finance; Minister of Corporate Affairs Shri Ramvilas Paswan, Minister of
Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister of Agriculture
&Farmer Welfare, Minister of Rural Development: and Minister of Panchayati Raj. Shri Ravi Shankar
Prasad, Minister of Communications and Information Technology; and Minister of Law and Justice Shri
Thawar Chand Gehlot, Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment Shri Prakash Javadekar, Minister of
Environment, Forest & Climate Change; Minister of Information & Broadcasting Shri Prahlad Joshi,
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs; Minister of Coal and Mines.
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• Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs will have Prime Minister,. Shri Amit Shah, Minister of Home
Affairs. Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways; Ministry of Micro, Small and
Medium Enterprises. Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Finance; Minister of Corporate Affairs Shri
Ramvilas Paswan, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. Shri Narendra Singh
Tomar, Minister of Agriculture &Farmer Welfare, Minister of Rural Development: and Minister of
Panchayati Raj. Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister of Communications and Information Technology; and
Minister of Law and Justice Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Minister of Food Processing Industries. Dr. Harsh
Vardhan, Minister of Health & Family Welfare; Minister of Science & Technology; and Minister of Earth
Sciences, Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Railways, Minister of Commerce &Industry Shri Arvind Ganpat
Sawant, Minister of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprise Shri Prahlad Joshi, Minister of Parliamentary
Affairs; Minister of Coal and Mines.
• Cabinet Committee on Security has Prime Minister ,Shri Rajnath Singh, Minister of Defence Shri Amit
Shah, Minister of Home Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs. Dr.
Subrahamanayam Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs.
• Cabinet Committee on Investment and Growth will have Prime Minister, Shri Amit Shah, Minister of
Home Affairs. Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari,. Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Minister of Micro. Small
and Medium Enterprises Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs. Shri Piyush
Goyal, Minister of Railways & Minister of Commerce & Industry.
• viii.Cabinet Committee on Employment & Skill Development will have Prime Minister. Shri Amit
Shah, Minister of Home Affairs. Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs Shri
Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister of Agriculture &Farmer Welfare, Minister of Rural Development: and
Minister of Panchayati Raj. Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Railways & Minister of Commerce & Industry
Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, Minister of Human Resource Development Shri Dharmendra Pradhan,
Minister of Petroleum &Natural Gas: and Minister of Steel Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, Minister of Skill
development & Enterpreneurship Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, MOS(I/C)Labour & Employment Shri
Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of State(I/C) of the Ministry of Housing &Urban Affairs; Minister of
State(I/C) of the Ministry of Civil Aviation; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and
Industry.
PM Narenrdra Modi Reconstituted NITI Aayog

On June 6, 2019, Prime Minister of India,Narendra Modi approved the reconstitution of government’s policy
think tank, National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog. It is scheduled to meet on June 15 for
the first time after Modi government won a second term, chaired by the prime minister.
Key points:
• Rajiv Kumar was retained as the Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog whereas economist Bibek Debroy, a full-
time member,was dropped from the team.
• V K Saraswat, Ramesh Chand and Dr V K Paul will continue as the members of NITI Aayog.
• Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah was appointed as one of the ex-officio members of the NITI Aayog, along
with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Agriculture and Rural
Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.
• Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot,
Railways Minister Piyush Goyal, and MoS (Independent Charge) for Statistics and Programme
Implementation Rao Inderjit Singh were named as special invitees.
• The name of Amitabh Kant, who was the NITI Aayog CEO during the first term of Modi government, was
dropped out from the list.
• The council comprises of all chief ministers, lieutenant governors of union territories, several union
ministers and senior government officials.
• The fifth meeting of NITI Aayog's Governing Council, scheduled to be held on June 15, 2019, will discuss
various issues concerning water management, agriculture and security.
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About NITI Aayog:

NITI Aayog is the premier policy think tank of the central government and it provides both directional and
policy inputs to the government. The policy think tank was set up in 2015, replacing the planning
commission.
NGT formed panel to discuss plea seeking ban on plastic packaging

The National Green Tribunal(NGT) has formed a panel to look into the needs for further norms to restrict the
use of plastic packaging of food products. This was formed after a plea to seek ban on the plastic packaging of
food products.
Key Points:
i. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel formed the panel.
ii. The panel comprises of the representatives of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Bureau of
Indian Standards (BIS), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Directorate General of Health Services
(DGHS).
iii. The nodal agency for coordination is FSSAI and it is required to furnish its report to the tribunal within three
months by e-mail.
iv. The move has come after a petition was filed by NGO Him Jagriti Uttaranchal Welfare Society seeking ban on
the use of use of plastic bottle and multi-layered/plastic packages /pet bottles.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh formed committee to work on modalities of revising pension under
OROP
On June 14, 2019, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh formed a committee to work on modalities and methodology
on the implementation of the next revision of pension to over 25 lakh ex-servicemen and widows under One
Rank One Pension (OROP) Scheme.
Key Points:
i. The newly constituted committee is headed by the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA), Shri Sanjiv
Mittal and consists of representatives from the three services.
ii. It will submit its report in a month.
iii. OROP was implemented by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government during its first term with
effect from July 1, 2014.
Centre constituted committee headed by Kirit Parikh, an economist, to review LPG marketing
To review the existing marketing structure of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in India, the Central Government
constituted a five-member committee headed by economist Kirit Parikh. This move is seen as an effort to bring
in more private players and it was a long-standing demand for companies like Reliance Industries.
Key Points:
• The other members of the panel include the former petroleum secretary GC Chaturvedi, former Indian Oil
chairman MA Pathan, IIM Ahmedabad director Errol D’souza, and a joint secretary in the petroleum
ministry.
• Private players are eligible to operate as parallel marketeers of LPG as per LPG (Regulation of Supply and
Distribution) Order, 2000.
• The newly constituted committee will look into the issues related to definition or quality standards of
LPG being marketed.
• It is expected to submit its report by July 31, 2019.
• As of April 1, 2019, the LPG coverage in India was at 94.3%. It was increased from 56% in 2014.
• The 3 Oil-Marketing Companies (OMCs) Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation, and
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation have 265.4 million active LPG customers in the domestic category and
they are being served by 23,737 LPG distributors.
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A high-level expert group presented their suggestions to achieve $5 trillion economy target: NITI Aayog
In order to make India a $5 trillion economy, expert panel for macroeconomics and employment suggested ways
to achieve the target during an interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Session is organized by The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, think tank of the
government of India on 'Economic Policy - The Road Ahead’ which saw participants of over 40 economists and
sectoral experts.
Key points:
• The group stressed the Government on improving the functioning of the public sector banks and
accelerating the pace of exports and employment generation.
• The group gave their views on the opening of doors for foreign direct investment (FDI) in the bank and
insurance sector, accelerating the disinvestment process and better management of water resources.
• Before the first full Budget of the Modi 2.0 government, all the participants and economists participating
in this meeting gave their suggestions to achieve growth.
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the first full budget of the new government on July 5,
2019, in the Lok Sabha.
• N Chandrasekaran (Chairman, Tata Sons), T V Narendran (Global CEO and MD, Tata Steel), Anil Agarwal
(Chairman, Vedanta Resources), Sanjiv Puri (Chairman and MD, ITC), and Vijay Shekhar Sharma (CEO,
Paytm) are present along with other industrialists.
• Bimal Jalan (former RBI Governor), Shankar Acharya (former Chief Economic Adviser), Surjit Bhalla
(former PMEAC member), Vikram Limay (CEO, NSE), Sonal Varma (Chief Economist, Nomura), Shekhar
Shah (DG, NCAER), and Bibek Debroy (Chairman, EAC-PM) were also present in the meeting
CPWD constituted a 7 member core group for the implementation of vision document
The Central Public Works Department (CPWD), which comes under the ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
(MoHUA), constituted a seven-member core group chaired by Additional Director General (training &
research) M K Sharma to prepare a roadmap for implementation of a five-year "vision document" (STVD) as
directed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The other members of the group are C K Verma, lndu Gural
Chaudhary, Harish Kumar, Naimuddin, Manish Kumar and Rajesh Kumar.
Key Points:
i. The core group has been asked to submit its report within 15 days.
ii. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a recent meeting with secretaries had directed every ministry to prepare a
five-year Vision Document (STVD) within a month.
iii. Every ministry will prepare a 21-day impactful agenda and ensure cabinet approval, if needed, minister's
approval, financial arrangement and ensure that it is achieved in 100 days.
iv. The Core group will suggest a roadmap with clear action plan indicating specific milestones and timelines on
the issues on which action is to be taken in future and it will post the progress to Director General Prabhakar
Singh on a daily basis.
v. MoHUA has nominated its Additional Secretary Sanjay Murthy as nodal officer to prepare a roadmap for the
vision document at the ministry level.
BDC under EAC-PM headed by Professor Bibek Debroy submitted its report
Beekeeping Development Committee (BDC) under the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime
Minister (EAC-PM) headed by Professor Bibek Debroy submitted its report to the Prime Minister on June 26,
2019. It was framed with the objective to identify ways of advancing beekeeping in India.
Recommendations:
The recommendations made in the report are as follows:
• To recognize honeybees as inputs to agriculture and consider landless Beekeepers as farmers.
• Plantation of bee friendly flora at appropriate places and engage women self-help groups in managing
such plantations.
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• Institutionalize the National Bee Board and rename it as the Honey and Pollinators Board of India under
the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. It should involve in beekeeping through multiple
mechanisms such as setting up of new Integrated Bee Development Centres, strengthening the existing
ones, creating a honey price stabilization fund and collection of data on important aspects of apiculture.
• Recognition of apiculture as a subject for advanced research under the aegis of Indian Council for
Agricultural Research (ICAR).
• Training and development of beekeepers by state governments.
• Development of national and regional infrastructure for storage, processing and marketing of honey and
other bee products.
• Simplify procedures and specify clear standards for ease of exporting honey and other bee products.
• Beekeeping should not be restricted to honey and wax only. Products such as pollen, propolis, royal jelly
and bee venom should be also marketable which can greatly help Indian farmers.
• India has the potential of about 200 million bee colonies as against 3.4 million bee colonies.
• As per data from National Bee Board and Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, India’s efforts to
improve the state of beekeeping have helped to increase the volume of honey exports from 29.6 to 51.5
thousand tonnes between 2014-15 and 2017-18.
• As per the data from Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), in 2017-18, India was ranked eighth in
the world in terms of honey production (64.9 thousand tonnes). China was ranked first with a production
level of 551 thousand tonnes.
About EAC-PM:
Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister is a non-constitutional, non-permanent and independent body
constituted to give economic advice to the Government of India, specifically the Prime Minister. It advises the
Prime Minister on economic issues like inflation, microfinance and industrial output.
Centre constituted panel for better coordination among ministers

On June 23, 2019, Central Government has formed a committee for coordination among the Ministry of
Petroleum and Natural Gas(MoPNG), the Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate
Change(MoEFCC) and the state governments after a tug of war between the two ministries. The panel formation
will help in speeding up hydrocarbon exploration-related clearances.
Key points:
i. Members: The newly formed committee will have P K Sinha, Cabinet Secretary as chairman and secretaries of
home, petroleum and environment ministry, a representative from the NITI Aayog & and chief secretaries of
petroleum-producing states as members.
ii. Background: There are differences between the two ministries on whether exploration should be treated as
mining.
iii. Issues: onshore and offshore projects under Discovered Small Fields (DSF) and Open Acreage Licensing
Policy(OALP) are stuck with the MoEFCC and MoEF objected the companies involved in exploration state that
exploration activities be considered as a temporary vegetation change.
About OALP:
It permits investors to select the exploration blocks on their own without having to wait for the formal bid round
from the Government.
About DSF
It is based on Hydrocarbon exploration and licensing policy. It provides a uniform license for exploration and
production of all forms of hydrocarbon.
Standing Group Of Secretaries Constituted on Resolving E-commerce Issues: Piyush Goyal

On June 21, 2019 Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal stated that a Standing Group of Secretaries
(GoS) has been constituted for ensuring inter-ministerial coordination on resolving issues related to e-
commerce.
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Key points:
i. Chairman: The committee formed under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry
and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ramesh Abhishek.
ii. Draft national e-commerce policy: It has been drafted and placed in public domain. The 42-page draft
addresses six broad issues of the e-commerce ecosystem such as data, infrastructure development, e-commerce
marketplaces, regulatory issues, stimulating domestic digital economy and export promotion through e-
commerce.
Government forms 18-member working group headed by Ramesh Chand, NITI Aayog member, to revise
current series of WPI
On June 27, 2019, Government formed a 18-member working group headed by Ramesh Chand, member of NITI
(National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog, to revise current series of Wholesale Price Index (WPI)
with base year 2011-12 and come up with a new Producer Price Index (PPI). The other members of the panel
include 4 officials from National Statistical Office, 2 from Ministry of Finance, 1 from Department of Agriculture, 1
from RBI, 1 from Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas and 1 from Department of Consumer Affairs. The non-
official members of the group include State Bank of India chief economist Soumya Kanti Ghosh, economist Surjit
Bhalla, and Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council member Shamika Ravi, among others.
Key Points:
• The nodal office for the group is the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal
Trade (DPIIT).
• The revision of the base year 2011-12 will help to describe a more realistic picture of the price situation
and its impact on people. It will draft a roadmap to switch over from WPI to PPI.
• The panel will review the commodity basket of the current series of WPI and suggest additions/deletions
of commodities in the light of structural changes in the economy witnessed since 2011-12.
• It will examine the existing system of price collection in particular for manufacturing sector and suggest
changes for improvement to decide on the computational methodology to be adopted for monthly
WPI/PPI.
• The current series of WPI with 2011-12 as base year was introduced in May 2017.
Background:
In 2014, The government had formed a committee under Professor BN Goldar to devise a PPI after the Reserve
Bank of India began considering consumer price inflation as a better gauge of inflation than WPI. The panel had
then said that the primary objective of shifting from WPI to PPI is to do away with the bias of double counting in
WPI and to compile indices that are conceptually consistent with the National Accounts Statistics for use as
deflators.
About Base year:
It is a specific year against which the economic growth is measured. It is allocated a value of 100 in an index. It is
changed periodically to take into account the structural changes which take place in the economy. The first
official estimates of national income were computed by CSO (Central Statistics Office) with the year 1948-49 for
the estimates at constant prices.
About WPI:
It is computed by the office of the Economic Advisor in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry and it is released
monthly. The items in WPI are divided into 3 categories namely, Primary articles, Fuel & Power and
Manufactured products. It does not include services.
About PPI:
PPI measures the average change in the price a producer receives for his goods and services sold in the domestic
market and exports. It shows the pressure on inflation from its origins as it does not include taxes like WPI does.
Centre constituted a 3-member panel to resolve differences between solar and wind power players
On June 27, 2019, Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy (Independent Charge) R K
Singh approved the formation of a three-member dispute resolution committee with members M F
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Farooqui, former Heavy Industry Secretary, Anil Swarup, former Coal Secretary andA K Dubey, former Sports
Secretary to resolve disputes between private solar & wind power developers and public sector Solar Energy
Corporation of India and National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) beyond contractual agreement.
i. India aims to achieve 175 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity by 2022 as part of its climate
commitments. Out of 175 GW, 100GW will be received from solar projects and rest from the wind power
projects.
High-Level Group headed by Dr. Surjit S. Bhalla constituted for Trade and Policy
The Union ministry of commerce had constituted a high-level advisory group headed by economist Dr. Surjit S.
Bhalla, member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council on Foreign trade policy for ways to boost
India’s share and importance in global merchandise and services trade.
Key points:
i. Tax reforms: The panel has recommended to cut down the corporate tax rate and to set a target to
double the exports(goods and services)to $1,000 billion by 2025.
ii. Elephant Bonds: The Committee has recommended Elephant Bonds as a specialized security product
providing funds towards Long Term Infrastructure.
iii. Financial reforms: The suggestions made by the group also includes reforms in Financial Services
Framework for making India a preferred destination for financial services.
About Elephant Bonds
These are the 25-year sovereign bonds in which people declaring undisclosed income will be bound to invest 50
percent. The fund, made from these bonds, will be utilized only for infrastructure projects.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES

6th round of India-China Bilateral Dialogue on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation held in New Delhi
On June 3, 2019, 6th India-China Bilateral Dialogue on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation was held in New
Delhi. The Indian delegation was led by Shri Indra Mani Pandey, Additional Secretary (Disarmament &
International Security Affairs) and the Chinese delegation was led by Ambassador Fu Cong, Director General,
Department of Arms Control of Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Key Points:
i. Both the countries exchanged their views on various issues of mutual interest related to disarmament, non-
proliferation and arms control.
ii. Ambassador Fu Cong invited the Indian delegation to Beijing for the next round of consultations which was
accepted by India.
iii. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit Beijing in September before the informal summit which will be
held between the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
iv. The first informal summit between Indian Prime Minister and Chinese President was held in April, 2018 at
Wuhan, China.
Health ministry chaired the meeting to review the status of Revised National Tuberculosis Control
Program (RNTCP) held in Delhi
On June 4, 2019 Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr.Harsh Vardhan held high level meeting to
review the status of Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) held in New Delhi.
Key points:
i. At the meeting the ministry directed all the officials to take necessary step as “Mission Mode” to
eliminate TB(Tuberculosis) .
ii. The mission includes all stakeholders to come together to made India free of tuberculosis by 2025.
iii. The ministry further suggested that innovative approaches should be taken to address TB.
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About Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program

i. The Government of India (GoI) launched the National TB Programme in 1962
ii. The Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP), based on the internationally
recommended Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) strategy, was launched in 1997
iii. It expanded across the country by 2006.
iv. In 2007, GoI introduced the Programmatic Management of Drug Resistant TB (PMDT) to combat drug
resistance and achieved full geographical coverage by 2013.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal addressed meeting of Board of Trade & Council
A joint meeting of the Board of Trade and the Council for Development and Promotion, organized by the
Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) was held in New Delhi.
Key points:
i. Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry and Railways has asked the industry and
export bodies to stop depending on subsidies and grants from the Central Government and make the
industry more competitive and self-reliant.
ii. This is the first meeting after Piyush Goyal became the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry following
Suresh Prabhu.
iii. The meeting was attended by many ministries such as Textiles, MSME Agriculture, Information
Technology, NITI Aayog and other Ministries of government.
15th Finance Commission held meeting with representatives of ADCs of Meghalaya

On June 4, 2019, 15th Finance Commission headed by the Chairman Shri N.K. Singh held meeting with the
representatives of Autonomous Development Councils (ADCs) of Meghalaya as part of its visit to the State.
There are 3 ADCs in Meghalaya namely the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, the Garo Hills Autonomous
District Council and the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council.
Key Points:
• The Commission was informed that the entire state is covered by the District Councils, except for a small
part of the area which is under the Shillong Municipality.
• Term of the District Councils is 5 years and the last elections to the ADCs were held in February, 2014.
• The autonomous district councils are governed by an Executive Committee. 243M (1) of the Indian
constitution made special provision that nothing in the part IX of the constitutions (provisions for
creating Panchayat) shall apply to the Scheduled Areas referred to in clause (1), and the tribal areas
referred to in clause (2), of the Article 244. The Sixth Schedule makes provision that these tribal areas
will be autonomous districts and be governed by Autonomous District Councils.
• Royalty collected by the State Government was shared between the District Councils and the State
Government in the ratio of 25:75 in respect of coal. Share of royalty in respect of other major and minor
minerals was in the ratio of 60:40 between the District Councils and the State Government.
• The revenue was barely sufficient to carry out their day to day administrative activities and primary
duties. There were no funds for development work.
• Meghalaya sought Rs 82,815 crore for five years from the 15th Finance Commission.
• The requirements projected by the Meghalaya government include Rs 62,870 crore for pre-devolution
revenue gap, Rs 15,609 crore for grants-in-aid for intervention in critical sectors, Rs 300 crore for grants-
in-aid for State Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), Rs 2,469 for grants-in-aid for upgradation of standard
administration Grants-in-aid for and Rs 1,567 crore for local bodies.
• The Commission assured to look into all the matters of the state. It has to review the debt level of the
centre and states, and recommend a roadmap; study the impact of GST on the economy; and recommend
performance-based incentives for states based on their efforts to control population, promote ease of
doing business, and control expenditure on populist measures, among others.
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Kazakh-Indian Investment Forum held in Ahmedabad

Kazakh-Indian Investment Forum was held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on June 7, 2019 to attract investments. It
was organized by the Embassy of Kazakhstan in India with the support of the Honorary Consulate of Kazakhstan
in the state of Gujarat Dilip Chandan, the National Company- Kazakh Invest and Jain International Trade
Organization.
Key Points:
i. The event witnessed the participation of the leaders of more than 30 Indian companies.
ii .Preliminary agreements were given during the B2B (business-to-business), also known as e-biz, meetings.
iii. Forum participants were provided with detailed information on business opportunities in Kazakhstan,
conditions, state support and competitive advantages for attracting foreign investments. Details of the priority
investment projects were also given.
iv. Indian companies were encouraged to participate in the implementation of investment projects in
Kazakhstan.
Fifth meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog held in New Delhi
On June 15, 2019, The fifth meeting of the Governing Council of The National Institution for Transforming
India (NITI) Aayog was held under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at
Rashtrapati Bhawan Cultural Centre, New Delhi. It was attended by the Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, 26 Chief
Ministers and the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Union Ministers and special invitees. This
was the first governing council meeting under the new Modi government. The guiding principle of Union
Government is “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwaas”.
Agenda of the Meeting:
On the Agenda, the following items were mentioned:
i. Rain-Water Harvesting.
ii. Drought Situation and Relief Measures.
iii. Aspirational Districts Programme – Achievements And Challenges.
iv. Transforming Agriculture: Need For Structural Reforms With Special Emphasis On:
• Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act
• Essential Commodities Act (ECA)
v. Security Related Issues with Specific Focus On LWE Districts.
Highlights of the Meeting:
i. The Prime Minister spoke on the common goal of achieving a New India by 2022.
ii. The goals set for the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi should be achieved by October 2, 2019 and he
insisted to begin the work to achieve the goals for 2022, the 75th anniversary of independence.
iii. Speaking about the newly created Jal Shakti Ministry, PM urged States to integrate their efforts towards water
conservation and management. The aim of the Government is to provide piped water to every rural home by
2024 and called for effective steps to tackle drought. Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, Gujarat and Karnataka
have adopted good practices in water conservation and rainwater harvesting. Some initiatives like
• The Jalyukt Shivarin Maharashtra made 11,000 villages drought free.
• Mukhya Mantri Jal Swavalamban Abhiyaan increased five feet in groundwater in 21 districts.
• Mission Kakatiya in Telangana irrigated 19 Lakh Acres.
• Sujalam Sufalam in Gujarat and artificial recharge scheme in Karnataka produced good results.
iv. Focus should be given to fisheries, animal husbandry, horticulture, fruits and vegetables in order to fulfill the
commitment to double incomes of farmers by 2022.
v. PM reaffirmed the commitment to combat Left Wing Extremism (LWE) and said that Naxal violence in
aspirational districts will be dealt firmly.
vi. The target to eliminate Tuberculosis (TB) by 2025 was mentioned and PM urged the States who have not
implemented Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (PMJAY) under Ayushman Bharat to implement it at the
earliest.
vii. Core agenda items in the agri-economy included the need to review the implementation of the Agriculture
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Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act and possible reform in the form of the Model APMC Act and explore
changes in the Essential Commodities Act (ECA). Emphasis was made in the need to undertake structural reforms
in agriculture including encouraging corporate investment, strengthening logistics and focusing on food
processing.
viii. The Council reviewed the implementation of the Aspirational Districts Programme through 49 key
performance indicators of human and social development.
ix. Focusing on the development of road and telecom infrastructure, PM said 11,000 km of roads were
constructed at a cost of Rs 18,000 crore of which 5,500 km of roads were completed. 2335 mobile towers were
installed and in next phase, 4072 towers costing Rs 11,000 Crore would be installed.
x. The Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that total transfers under various headings between
2011-12 and 2014-15 amounted to Rs 20 lakh crore. In the last 4 years, those were increased to Rs 41 lakh crore.
xi. Council decided to set up a high-powered committee on structural reforms in agriculture. It will consist of
state chief ministers and central ministers. They will prepare a blueprint for structural reforms in agriculture.
Goal to make India $5 trillion economy by 2024
Prime Minister said the goal to make India a five trillion dollar economy by 2024 can be achieved though it is
challenging. He urged the states to increase their economy by 2 to 2.5 times, which in turn would increase the
common man’s purchasing power. He called upon the Chief Ministers to study their State's export potential and
work on export promotion.
About the Governing Council of NITI Aayog
The Governing Council of NITI Aayog comprises the Prime Minister of India, Chief Ministers of all the States and
Union Territories with Legislatures and Lt. Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and four Union Ministers
as ex-officio members and three Union Ministers as Special Invitees.
Headquarters of Niti Aayog: New Delhi
Formation: January 1, 2015
2nd Meeting of India-Italy Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism was held in New Delhi
On June 13, 2019, The 2nd Meeting of India-Italy Joint Working Group (JWG) on Counter Terrorism was held
in New Delhi. It was co-chaired by Mr. Mahaveer Singhvi, Joint Secretary (Counter Terrorism), Ministry of
External Affairs and Mr Diego Brasioli, Principal Director for Security, Disarmament and non-Proliferation,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy.
Key Points:
i. They discussed the threats posed by terrorist entities globally and in their respective regions including cross
border terrorism and exchanged views on current counter-terrorism challenges including countering
radicalization, terror financing and misuse of internet for terrorist purposes.
ii. The threats arising from transnational crimes and money laundering were also discussed.
iii. They discussed the measures to deepen bilateral cooperation for countering terrorism and transnational
crimes through regular exchange of information, mutual capacity building efforts, sharing of best practices and
mutual legal assistance.
iv. The next meeting of the JWG will be held in Italy.
India hosting Intersessional meeting of Kimberley Process 2019

India will be hosting Intersessional meeting of Kimberley Process (KP) from 17th to 21st June, 2019 in Mumbai,
Maharashtra. Besides the meetings of different Working Groups and Committees of Kimberley Process
Certification Scheme (KPCS), two special forums regarding Diamond Terminology and Artisanal Mining – Small
Steps to Larger Outcomes will also held.
Key points:
Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS):
i. India is the founding member of KPCS and is the chair of Kimberley Process Certification Scheme for the
year 2019 with the Russian Federation as Vice Chair.
ii. It outlines rules that govern trade in rough diamonds.
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iii. Participants: At present, KPCS has 55 members representing 82 countries including European Union with 28
members.
iv. India had earlier chaired KPCS in the year 2008.
About Kimberley Process
i. It is international certification scheme that regulates trade in rough diamonds with aim of preventing flow of
conflict diamonds, while helping to protect legitimate trade in rough diamonds.
ii. It is joint initiative involving Government, international diamond industry and civil society to stem flow of
Conflict Diamonds.
iii. The Plenary meeting of Kimberley Process is scheduled to be held from 11th to 15th November 2019 in New
Delhi.
For the first time, India to host COP-14 of UNCCD in September 2019
To address the issues of land degradation and desertification, for the first time, India will host the 14th session of
the Conference of Parties (COP-14) of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in
September 2019. It will be held between September 2 and 13, 2019 at the India Expo Center and Mart, New
Delhi. COP-14 will review the reports submitted by COP to convention and look into the details like how they
carry out their commitments.
Key Points:
i. The conference will be hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India.
ii. 5,000 delegates from nearly 197 countries will be participating in the event.
iii. India will take over the COP presidency from China for the next two years till 2021 until the next COP. Last
Conference was held from 6-16 September 2017 in Ordos in the People's Republic of China.
iv. The 3 major Conventions of the United Nations (UN) are UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC), UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and UNCCD.
Flagship Project of India:
i. Ahead of COP-14 Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) Prakash Javadekar
launched a flagship project. It is a part of a larger international initiative ‘Bonn Challenge’. It will increase India’s
capacity for Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR).
ii. The project is implemented by MoEFCC in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN).
iii. During the pilot phase of the project, initial 3.5 years, it will be implemented in Haryana, Madhya Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Nagaland and Karnataka. It is aimed to develop and adapt best practices and monitor protocols for
country, and build capacity .
About ‘Bonn Challenge’:
i. It is a global effort to bring 150 million hectares of the world's degraded and deforested land under restoration
by the year 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030.
ii. India had joined the voluntary Bonn Challenge pledge at COP-13 (2015) in Paris. It had committed to restore
13 million hectares (MH) of degraded and deforested land by 2020, and an additional 8 million hectares (MH) by
2030. It is one of the largest pledges in Asia.
Second Edition of World Food India to be held in New Delhi from 1-4 November, 2019
On June 17, 2019, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Smt Harsimrat Kaur Badal announced
that World Food India (WFI) 2019, a biennial event, will be held at Vigyan Bhawan and Rajpath Lawns in New
Delhi from 1-4 November, 2019. It will be the biggest gathering of all global and domestic stakeholders in Food
Processing Sector. This will be the second edition of WFI, first was held in 2017.
Key Points:
i. The tagline of the event will be “Forging Partnerships for Growth”.
ii. Meetings were organized to discuss the investment opportunities available in India in the Food processing
industry and to sensitize the gathering about the participation in WFI 2019.
iii. WFI 2019 will comprise of top level seminars, investment opportunities, exhibitions, high level Chief
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Executive Officers (CEOs) roundtables, country sessions, B2B (business to business) and B2G (Business-to-
government) networking etc.
iv. The ministry targets to partner with at least 15 countries and participation from at least 80 countries.
v. Indian Food processing industry has grown and registered a growth of 11% which is twice the pace of global
industry.
10th edition of Regional GRIHA Summit 2019 was held in Nagpur,Maharastra

On June 15, 2019,The 10th edition of Regional Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) summit
,2019 was held in Nagpur, Maharashtra. Union Minister, Nitin Gadkari addressed this meeting.
Key points:
i. The theme of this year’s 2019 summit was "Transformation Strategies for Built Environment". This theme
was adopted to focus on impact of incorporating sustainability initiatives into functioning public buildings.
ii. The summit was organized with help of the Public Works Department (PwD) of the state Government.
About GRIHA:
i. It is rating tool that helps people assesses the performance of their building against certain nationally
acceptable benchmarks.
ii. It is given by GRIHA Council, a not-for-profit society jointly setup by The Energy and Resources Institute
(TERI) and Unon Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to promote green buildings in India.
20th Meeting of the FSDC chaired by Nirmala Sitharaman held in New Delhi
On Jue 20,2019 The 20th meeting on Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) was held in New
Delhi. This was chaired under the Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman.
Key points:
i. The meeting was also attended by Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das,
and Finance Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg among others.
ii. Current global and domestic economic situation and financial stability issues including those concerning
Banking and Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) were reviewed in the meeting.
iii. Consultations held on the progress to set up the Financial Data Management Centre (FDMC) and Computer
Emergency Response Team (CERT) to strengthen cyber security services in the financial sector &Suggestions of
Financial Regulators for Union Budget 2019-20.
35th GST Council Meeting held in New Delhi

On June 21, 2019, the 35th Goods and Service Tax (GST) Council Meeting was held in New Delhi. It was
chaired by the Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman and it was her first
meeting after assuming the office. It was attended by the Union Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs
Shri Anurag Thakur, Revenue Secretary Shri Ajay Bhushan Pandey, Finance Ministers of States & Union
Territories, Senior officers of the Ministry of Finance and State Governments. 12 Agenda items were discussed
during the Council meeting.
Highlights of the Meeting
Introduction of Aadhaar-enabled GST Registration
In order to ease the current process of GST registration and reduce the paperwork involved, GST Council
introduced a new system for verification of taxpayers registering themselves under GST. Aadhaar number shall
be linked to the GSTIN while generation. No other documents are required and authentication will be done using
One Time Password (OTP).
NAA tenure extended by two years
Tenure of National Anti-profiteering Authority (NAA) was due to end by 30 November 2019. GST Council
extended this tenure by two years, in order to enable it to take up all the pending cases. The authority can take
up new cases in future due to rate cut issues, indicating that the GST Council has plans for further rationalisation
of GST rates.
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10% penalty to apply for any delay in depositing profiteered amount

GST Council approved to levy 10% penalty for delay in depositing the profiteered amount by more than 30 days
against the current norm of levying a maximum fine of Rs 25,000. It will encourage timely compliance by the
taxpayer.
E-invoicing to start from January 2020
The Council decided to introduce electronic invoicing system in a phase-wise manner for B2B (Business to
Business) transactions from 1 January 2020. Using this system, no separate e-way bill will be required in case of
e-invoice. It will help to combat the menace of tax evasion.
E-ticketing made mandatory for multiplexes
Council approved the electronic ticketing system, for multiplexes, having multi-screens. This will help curb cases
of tax evasion and the use of black tickets that have been prevalent.
Rate cut decision on electric vehicles, chargers & leasing
The decision to cut GST rates for electric vehicles (to 5% from 12%) and electric chargers (to 12% from 18%)
were postponed to the next Council meeting. The matter was referred to the Fitment Committee for checking the
feasibility of the rate cut.
Solar power generating systems and wind turbines
The valuation rules for goods and services pertaining to solar power generating systems and wind turbines will
be placed before the next Fitment Committee. The suggestions made by this Committee will be placed before the
next GST Council meeting.
Rate cut for lottery put on hold
Group of Ministers (GoM) on Lottery submitted its report to the Council. After deliberations on the various issues
on rate of lottery, the Council recommended that certain issues relating to taxation (rates and destination
principle) would require legal opinion of Learned Attorney General.
GSTAT to be GST Appellate Tribunal
The GST council stated that Goods and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) will be the appellate authority
and will adjudicate on appeals arising from central and state tax authorities’ in-house dispute resolution system.
The states will decide the number of GSTAT required by them as a result of which there can be two tribunals in a
single state. It was decided to have a common State Bench for the States of Sikkim, Nagaland, Manipur and
Arunachal Pradesh.
For non-filing of GST returns, E-way bills to be blocked
The law stated that where the GST returns in GSTR-3B/ GSTR-4 is not filed for two consecutive tax periods, e-
way bill generation for such taxpayers would be disabled with effect from 21 August 2019, instead of the earlier
notified date of 21st June 2019.
Changes in laws and procedures
• The due date for filing GSTR-9, GSTR-9A, and GSTR-9C for the FY 2017-18 was extended by two months,
till 31 August 2019. The previous deadline was June 30, 2019.
• FORM GST ITC-04 relating to job work for the period July, 2017 to June, 2019 was extended till August
31, 2019.
• Last date for filing of intimation in FORM GST CMP-02 for availing the option of payment of tax under
notification No. 2/2019-Central Tax (Rate) dated 07.03.2019 was extended from 30.04.2019 to
31.07.2019
• Between July, 2019 and September, 2019, the new return system (FORM GST ANX-1 & FORM GST ANX-2
only) will be made available for trial for taxpayers.
• From October, 2019 onwards, FORM GST ANX-1 was made compulsory.
• Large taxpayers having aggregate turnover of more than Rs. 5 crores in the previous year have to file
FORM GST ANX-1 on monthly basis whereas small taxpayers to file FORM GST ANX-1 for the quarter
October, 2019 to December, 2019 in January, 2020.
• For October and November, 2019, large taxpayers will continue to file FORM GSTR-3B on a monthly basis
and will file FORM GST RET-01 for December, 2019 in January, 2020.
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• GST PMT-08. They will file their first FORM GST-RET-01 for the quarter October, 2019 to December, 2019
in January, 2020.
• From January, 2020 onwards, FORM GSTR-3B will be completely phased out.
7th India and Brunei Darussalam Foreign Office Consultations held in New Delhi
On June 24, 2019, The 7th Foreign Office Consultations between India and Brunei Darussalam was held
in New Delhi. The Indian side was led by Vijay Thakur Singh, Secretary(East) and Brunei side was led by Hajah
Siti Norishan Haji Abdul Ghafor, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brunei Government.
Key Points:
i. They reviewed bilateral relations between the 2 countries, including political, trade and investment, defence,
cultural & people to people contact and exchanged views on regional and multilateral issues.
ii. They agreed to explore cooperation in energy, health and pharmaceuticals, higher education and agricultural
sectors.
iii. The next round of Consultations will be held in Brunei on mutually agreed dates.
14th OIC summit held in Mecca, Saudi Arabia

• 14th Islamic Summit organized by Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit was held
in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It was hosted by Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud. The summit, titled
as “Mecca Summit: Together for the Future”, aimed at developing a unified stance on events in the
Islamic world.
• OIC appointed Yousef Aldobeay as its special envoy for Jammu & Kashmir
14th Islamic Summit organized by Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit was held in Mecca,
Saudi Arabia. It was hosted by Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud. The summit, titled as “Mecca
Summit: Together for the Future”, aimed at developing a unified stance on events in the Islamic world.
Key Points:
• The official agenda of the summit was to address current issues in the Muslim world and recent
developments in a number of OIC member states.
• It discussed the regional security issues surrounded by the tensions between Iran and the US and its Gulf
allies.
• It also focused on the question of Palestine- Islamophobia on countering extremism and terrorism and
adopted a comprehensive strategy to combat Islamophobia.
• OIC appointed Yousef Aldobeay as its special envoy for Jammu & Kashmir.
• It extended the support for people of Jammu and Kashmir and towards achievement of their legitimate
rights and called upon India to hold a referendum in J&K under the United Nations’ patronage.
• In a communique adopted during the summit, India slammed OIC for its reference to Jammu and Kashmir
as “unacceptable”. It stated that OIC had no locus standi in matters relating to J&K and it should refrain
from making such “unwarranted references”.
QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) held at Bangkok

The fourth Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) meeting was recently held in Bangkok, Thailand. It is an
informal strategic dialogue between the group of four countries – the United States, India,
Japan, and Australia. It was attended by senior officials of QUAD member countries.
Key Highlights:
i. Countries held a consultation on their collaborative efforts to advance a “free, open and inclusive Indo-
Pacific region”, maritime security and good governance and also discussed the initiatives taken by each country
to encourage transparent, principles-based investment in quality infrastructure.
ii. Meeting participants assured their support for ASEAN centrality and ASEAN-led regional architecture.
iii. hey also reassured their shared commitment to preserving and promoting the rules-based order in the Indo-
pacific region
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About Quad:
It was originally initiated in 2007 by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan but later disbanded after withdrawal
of Australia. However, it was revived again in 2017 in response to increased Chinese economic and military
power.
G20 Ministerial Meeting held in Japan

The G20 Ministerial meeting on Trade and Digital Economy was held on June 8 and 9, 2019 in Tsukuba
city, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.It is one of the eight Ministerial Meetings. Trade and Economy Ministers of the
Group of 20 major economies discussed the ways to reorder trade rules and finances in an era of technological
change and protectionism.
• The meetings of financial leaders was held in the southern city of Fukuoka and of economic ministers in
Tsukuba, near Tokyo. In order to reach a consensus on a range of issues to be endorsed by leaders, they
will meet on June 28, 29 in Osaka.
• The central bank governors and other financial regulators meeting in Fukuoka flagged risks from upsets
to the global economy as Beijing and Washington clashed over trade and technology.
• Japan hosted the G-20 summit for the first time.
• The G-20 group includes Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia,
Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United
States and the European union.
Indian Delegation for G20 Ministerial Meeting was led by the Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal
The Indian delegation for G20 Ministerial Meeting was led by the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry &
Railways,Piyush Goyal. He participated in the discussions related to increasing trade and cooperation to harness
the potential of digital economy.
• He held the meetings with US Ambassador to World Trade Organization (WTO) Dennis Shea, China's Vice
Minister of Commerce, Wang Shouwen and Australia's Minister for Trade, Tourism, and Investment,
Simon Birmingham.
• He also held bilateral talks with Minister of Trade and Industry for Singapore, Chan Chun Sing Minister of
Commerce and Investment for Saudi Arabia, Majid Bin Abdullah Al Qasabi; Minister of Trade and
Industry for South Africa, Ebrahim Patel, and Minister for Trade of the Republic of Korea, Yoo Myung-
Hee.
• He discussed on the developments in the global trade situation, WTO matters and digital trade.
• For the first time, Ministers of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and
Commerce participated in a joint session on Digital Economy at the G20 Ministerial Meeting.
• Piyush Goyal stated that countries must have the sovereign right to use their data for welfare of people,
and free trade advocacy should not necessarily lead to justification for free flow of data.
• India has started the exercise to formulate a national e-commerce policy and the 41-page draft e-
commerce policy addresses six broad issues of the e-commerce ecosystem data, infrastructure
development, e-commerce marketplaces, regulatory issues, stimulating domestic digital economy and
export promotion through e-commerce.
India emphasized to promote MSMEs in developing countries to boost domestic and global trade
Union Minister of Commerce, Piyush Goyal pitched to promote Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
in developing countries. They are important for job creation and promote trade in a sustainable manner.
• i.With Japan, he discussed the issues related with a proposed mega Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Regional
Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
• He held the bilateral meetings with his counterparts from various countries, including the UK, Japan,
Spain, Korea and South Africa and discussed ways to increase trade and investments.
• He also stated that free trade and investments will benefit developing countries when they remain
development centric.
• Critical linkage between financial and human capital was needed to recognize in order to promote trade
and investments in a sustainable and inclusive manner.
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• With Liam Fox, Secretary of State for International Trade, UK, he discussed the steps to provide further
impetus on trade relationship and facilitate more business and investment opportunities.
• MSMEs contribute around 45% in India's exports, about 25% to the GDP from service activities and over
33% to the manufacturing output of India.
G-20 note expects India’s economy to grow 7.3% in 2019, 7.5% in 2020
G-20 surveillance note expected that Indian economy will grow 7.3% in 2019 and 7.5% in 2020. This was
prepared by the staff of International Monetary Fund (IMF).
• It stated that the reforms to hiring and dismissal regulations would help incentivise formal job creation in
India and, if combined with an increase in female labour force participation would help absorb the
country's large demographic dividend.
• Global growth is projected to remain stable at around 3.6%. It will rely on weights shifting toward
countries with relatively higher growth rates, mainly G-20 emerging markets such as China and India.
G20 Finance Ministers meeting and Central Bank Governors meet held in Fukuoka, Japan
As a part of setting the stage for 2019 G20 Summit, to be held in Osaka, Japan, from 28-29 June 2019, a G20
Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meet was held in Fukuoka, Japan on 8-9 June. It was one of the 8
ministerial meetings taking place in Japan before 2019 G20 summit. This is for the first time that Japan is hosting
the G20 Summit & Ministerial Meetings at its eight different locations.
Objective of G20 Finance Ministers meeting and Central Bank Governors meet:
• Started in 1999, its objective is to discuss major international economic issues and to coordinate to
achieve the stable and sustainable growth of the global economy.
• For 2019, the leaders has set up "Priorities for G20 Finance Track in 2019" consisting of Global
Economy - Risks and Challenges, Actions toward Robust Growth and Response to Structural Changes
caused by Innovation and Globalization.
About Indian Delegation:
The Indian side was led by Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman which was
comprised of Subhash C. Garg, Finance Secretary & Secretary Economic Affairs, Dr. Viral Acharya, Deputy
Governor of RBI and other officers. This was her first overseas visit as the Finance Minister. She has raised the
following points:
• Issues relates to taxation and digital economy companies, and to curb tax avoidance & evasion.
• To contain international oil market to bring benefits to both the oil exporting and importing countries.
• Issue of economic offenders fleeing legal jurisdictions and calls for cohesive action against such offenders.
Key Highlights
Focus towards global growth
The focus was on increasing protectionism and its implication on global growth and trade as International
Monetary Fund (IMF) has cut its forecast for global growth from 3.6% to 3.3% in 2019.
Implementation of fair tax reforms to boost growth:
• The discussions were held regarding the fair tax reforms so that big companies pay their fair share and
support economies as global growth slows.
• Currently, countries are trying to lure companies by offering unsustainably and unfairly low tax rates as
an incentive.
• So, the G20 ministers wants that digital giants such as Amazon, Google and Facebook to be taxed where
they are headquartered, and instead implement taxes based on their revenue and number of users in
every market where they operate.
Call for the creation of “digital tax”
i.The ministers have called for the creation of a digital tax for multinational technology companies in order to
prevent tax evasion and to modernise policies. Its details will be finalized in 2020.
ii.Countries have agreed to set up a new tax model that is adapted to the digital economy.
iii.This initiative has two fundamental pillars:
• One based on ending with the principle of taxation according to the physical presence of the country.
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• Another aimed at stopping the tax competition and companies turning to countries with less tax
pressure.
About G20:
The G20 is made up of 19 countries and the EU. The 19 countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China,
Germany, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South
Korea, Turkey, the UK and the US.
2nd Global Disability Summit held at Buenos Aires,Argentina

The 2nd Global Disability Summit was held at Buenos Aires, Argentina from June 6 to June 8, 2019. The
objectives of the summit were to deliberate on issues across the world concerning empowerment and inclusion of
Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and to work out a mechanism for enabling them to live an independent and
dignified life.
Key Points:
i. Indian delegation was headed by the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Thaawar chand
Gehlot and it comprised of Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Smt
Shankutala Gamlin, Joint Secretary, DEPwD, Dr. Prabodh Seth and Shri Neeraj Semwal, Private Secretary to Union
Minister.
ii. The Global leaders at the summit expressed their commitments towards eliminating stigma and
discrimination against PwDs. They also committed to work towards promoting inclusive education, economic
empowerment, technology and innovation in assistive devices, data desegregation for them.
iii. On June 9 and 10, 2019,the Indian delegation also participated in the bilateral discussions with Government
of Argentina in order to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between 2 countries.
iv. The 1st Global Disability Summit, hosted by UK Department for International Development (UK DFID)along
with the co-hosts International Disability Alliance (IDA) and Government of Kenya,was heldat London, United
Kingdom (UK) in 2018.
About International Disability Alliance (IDA):
It is an umbrella organization focused on improving awareness and rights for individuals with disabilities around
the globe. It was created in 1999. At present, the Chairman of IDA is Ana Lucía Arellano.
PM Modi to attend the G7 Summit in France as a special invitee

French President, Emmanuel Macron has invited Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi to attend the 45th session
of the G7 Summit in Biarritz in France as a special invitee. The summit of the G7 group of countries scheduled to
take place from August 24 to August 26.
Key points:
i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accepted an invitation for the summit.
ii. The Seven (G7) countries are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United
States.
iii. France ‘s Minister of state for foreign affairs Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne is recently visting India for the first time.
iv. The G7 Summit 2018 (44th Summit) was held in Quebec, Canada.
16th Asia Media Summit held in Siem Reap Province, Cambodia

The 16th Edition of Asia Media Summit (AMS) 2019 was held in Siem Reap province, Cambodia from June 12
to June 14, 2019. It was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Cambodia, Samdech Hun Sen. AMS was held under
the topic “Media Digitalization Focusing on Developing Markets” and it gave a call to fight against fake news
and cyber-crimes.
Key Points:
• It was organized by Cambodian Ministry of Information in collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Institute for
Broadcasting Development (AIBD).
• The summit witnessed the participation of more than 600 media representatives from 42 countries.
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• An information ministerial meeting held on the sidelines of the summit agreed to launch Angkor Fake
News Initiative. It a year-long research project to find out appropriate measures to counter fake news.
• The participants discussed numerous approaches to combat fake news. It included strengthening
regulations and ethical standards, verification process of information, media literacy initiatives etc.
• The summit and pre-summit workshops addressed the concerns raised by digital media. It requested the
relevant authorities to make regulations to deal with anti-cybercrimes, fake news, and train people to
raise awareness and enhance media profession.
• The 15th AMS was hosted by India in 2018.
5th Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Summit held in
Dushanbe, Tajikistan
The 5th Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Summit 2019 was held
in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, from 14-15 June 2019. The theme of the 5th Summit is "Shared Vision for a Secure
and More Prosperous CICA Region”. India is a member of CICA since 1999. Late Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari
Vajpayee had participated in the first CICA Summit held in 2002 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar arrived in Dushanbe for CICA Summit
Minister of External Affairs, Dr S. Jaishankar reached Dushanbe to attend the 5th CICA Summit. CICA is a pan-
Asia forum to enhance cooperation and promote peace, security and stability in Asia.
External Affairs Minister addressed the gathering at 5th CICA Summit 2019
External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar addressed the gathering at 5th CICA Summit 2019. Following are the
highlights:
i. Terrorism is the gravest threat to the people in Asia. CICA members are its victims. Terrorists and their victims
must never be equated.
ii. CICA has always shown a strong commitment to combat terrorism and extremism and to adopt a
comprehensive strategy to combat terrorism.
iii. Support was seeked for the early finalisation of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism
(CCIT) which was proposed by India.
iv. He assured that India will continue to actively participate in the CICA Processes.
v. India-Central Asia 5 Ministerial dialogue will enhance further cooperations and stability across regions and he
assured that India will always support regional connectivity initiatives.
India’s Foreign Minister pitched for rules-based order in Asia and the world at large
While addressing at 5th CICA Summit 2019, India’s Foreign Minister Dr S Jaishankar pitched for rules-based order
in Asia and world at large amid emerging geo-political and geo-economic faultlines. He stated that CICA can
surely play a useful role in promoting peace, security and development in Asia. He assured India’s support to a
rule-based order in Asia but confronted unavoidable challenges such as terrorism, conflicts, trans-national
crimes and maritime threats. Indicating India as the link between Eurasia to Indian-Pacific Oceans, the Minister
pointed out that it is rooted in advocacy of SAGAR- Security and Growth for All in the Region. The issues of
sustainable development including the lack of energy security, low intra-regional trade and deficit of connectivity
should be sorted out.
Other Meetings
i. External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar met A K Abdul Momen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh and
Foreign Minister of Bahrain, Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Bin Mohamed Al Khalifa and had conversations with them.
He reviewed the recent progress made in bilateral ties with the respective countries.
ii. He met Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif and discussed issues of mutual interest. Meeting was held against the
backdrop of the US sanctions on Iran and Tehran's partial withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of
Action (JCPoA).
iii. He also met President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon and held talks with him.
iv. He met Vietnam’s Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh and discussed various aspects of India-Vietnam
relations.
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BIFAN 2019 to be held in Bucheon, South Korea

2019 Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) will be held in Bucheon City, South Korea from
June 27 to July 7, 2019. This is the 23rd edition of the film festival. This film festival is known as a Mecca of the
film culture.
Key Points:
i. 288 movies from 29 countries will be screened and the film festival will be inaugurated through Edgar Nito's
movie, “The Gasoline Thieves”.
ii. 4 Indian movies Gully Boy directed Zoya Akhtar, Andhadhun directed by Sriram Raghavan, Manikarnika:
The Queen of Jhansi directed by Radha Krishna Jagarlamudi (Krish) & Kangana Ranaut and a Tamil
movie, Super Deluxe directed by Thiagarajan Kumararaja, will be screened at the festival.
iii. Korean director Lee Eon - Hee, Japanese director Kaneko Shusuke and Korean actress Uhm Junghwa are the
jury members of the festival.
12th session of Conference of States Parties to Convention to Rights of PwDs 2019 held in New York
On June 12,2019, The 12th session of Conference of States Parties to the Convention to Rights of Persons
with Disabilities (CRPD) 2019 held at the UN(United Nations) headquarters, New York. Mrs Shakuntala Doley
Gamlin, Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under Ministry of Social
Justice and Empowerment participated in the conference.
Key points:
i. She emphasized the Government’s commitment to the implementation of UNCRPD (United Nations Convention
on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ) and SDGs(Sustainable Development Goals).
ii. She added that the main focus of India has been to create accessibility, provide aids and appliances and
rehabilitation services to meet psychosocial challenges, and finding IT solutions to make the lives of Divyangjans
more simple and satisfying.
iii. The commitment given by Gamlin also includes weightage given to disabled women, launch of sign language
dictionary, and building capacity of sign language interpreters, Establishment of National Institute of Mental
Health Rehabilitation for addressing issues of psycho social disabilities and disability sports facility and
development of a national early intervention programme for children of 0-6 years of age.
Overarching theme of the 12th session
Ensuring inclusion of persons with disabilities in a changing world through the implementation of the CRPD
3rd Indo-French cyber dialogue 2019 was held in Paris

On June 20,2019 ,The third Indo-French cyber dialogue 2019 was held in Paris,France. The meeting was co-
chaired by Henri Verdier, French Ambassador for Digital Affairs, and Upender Singh Rawat, Joint Secretary in
charge of e-Governance, Information Technology and Cyber Diplomacy at the Ministry of External Affairs.
Key points:
Cooperation in cyber security sector
i. To combat terror in cyber space, the two sides have decided to develop effective mechanism and coordinate
their efforts in cyber space.
ii. Consultations held on fight against cybercrime and the use of the Internet for terrorist purposes.
iii. The two sides affirmed their commitment to an open, reliable, secure, stable and peaceful cyberspace
iv. Fourth Indo-French cyber dialogue will be held in India.
The 32nd edition of ISTA Congress takes place in Hyderabad

An eight-day event of the 32nd edition of International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) Congress has started in
Hyderabad, Telangana. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and the Telangana government have
jointly hosted the event which is being held for the first time in South Asia.
Key points:
i. Inauguration: Kailash Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare inaugurated
the event.
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iii. Aim: Focusing on modern technologies to increase quality seed production and seed export-import policies.
iv. Partakers: Over 600 delegates including seed experts, policy makers and representatives of international
companies from nearly 70 countries like the UK, South Africa, New Zealand, Canada to take part in the event to
discuss developments in seed research and in technology related to seeds.
v. Exhibition and Workshops: Stakeholders & seed testing laboratories and associated organizations showcase
their products &services. Several pre and post-event workshops are also being held as a part of the event.
Meeting of Expert Working Group of Paris Pact Initiative of UNODC held in New Delhi
2 day Meeting of Expert Working Group on Paris Pact Initiative on Illicit Financial Flows deriving from the
trafficking of Opiates originating in Afghanistan was organised in New Delhi from June 27-28, 2019. It was
hosted by the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance with the support of United Nations Office on Drugs &
Crimes (UNODC). It was inaugurated by the Additional Secretary, Revenue Mr. Anil Kumar Jha.
Key Points:
i. The Meeting was attended by the representatives of the Member Countries of Paris Pact, Regional
Representatives of UNODC and Senior Officers of the Indian agencies like Directorate of Revenue Intelligence
(DRI), Directorate of Enforcement (ED) and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
ii. The experts from other countries and International Organisations shared their experiences/views.
iii. It featured on the technical assistance needs and new capabilities to increase understanding and disruption of
illicit financial flows.
iv. It resulted to improve country’s effectiveness in Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of
Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework as per Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards with respect to illicit
financial flows linked to drug trafficking.
Paris Pact Initiative:
Paris Pact is a group of 58 countries and 23 International Organisations affected with drug trafficking of Afghan
Opiates. Under the ambit of UNODC, Paris Pact Initiative has addressed the issue of drug problem related to
opiates originating in Afghanistan, both at policy and implementation level.
INDEX
Rankings
The Second Edition of “Healthy States, Progressive India” Report released by NITI Aayog
On June 25, 2019, The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog released the Second Edition
of “Healthy States, Progressive India” Report. It ranked States and Union territories (UTs) innovatively on
their year-on-year incremental change in health outcomes and their overall performance. It was developed by
NITI Aayog with technical assistance from the World Bank in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare (MoHFW).
Key Points:
• The Round II report focused on measuring and highlighting the overall performance and incremental
improvement over a two year period- 2016-17 and 2017-18.
• It was released jointly by Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog Dr. Rajiv Kumar, Member of NITI Aayog Dr. VK
Paul, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog Amitabh Kant and the Secretary of Ministry of Health &
Family Welfare Preeti Sudan.
• The states were categorized as Larger States, Smaller States and Union Territories (UTs) to ensure
comparison among similar entities.
• The Health Index was based on 23 indicators grouped into the domains of Health Outcomes, Governance
and Information, and Key Inputs/Processes. Each domain was assigned weights based on its importance
and was equally distributed among indicators.
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Categorization
i. The States were categorized on the basis of reference year Index score range-
• Front-runners: top one-third
• Achievers: middle one-third
• Aspirants: lowest one-third
ii. They were categorized into four groups based on incremental performance-
• Not improved (<=0 incremental change)
• Least improved (0.01 to 2 points increase)
• Moderately improved (2.01 to 4 points)
• Most improved (>4 points increase)
Categorization of Larger States on incremental performance and overall performance
i. Among Larger States, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra topped the list in terms of overall performance.
ii. Haryana, Rajasthan and Jharkhand emerged as the top three ranking States in terms of annual incremental
performance. They showed the maximum gains in improvement of health outcomes from base to reference year
in indicators such as Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR), Under-five Mortality Rate (U5MR), Proportion Low Birth
Weight among New-borns, Proportion of districts with functional Cardiac Care Units (CCUs), Proportion of ANCs
registered within first trimester, Proportion of Community Health Centres (CHCs)/Primary Health Centres
(PHCs) with Quality Accreditation Certificates, full immunization coverage, institutional deliveries, Proportion of
Specialist positions vacant at District Hospitals and Proportion of total staff (regular and contractual) with e-pay
slip generated in the IT (Information Technology) enabled Human Resources Management Information System.
Incremental Performance Overall Performance
Aspirants Achievers Front-runners
Not improved Madhya Pradesh West Bengal Kerala
Odisha Punjab
Uttarakhand Tamil Nadu
Uttar Pradesh
Bihar
Least improved --- Chhattisgarh Gujarat
Himachal Pradesh
Moderately improved --- --- Maharashtra
Jammu & Kashmir
Karnataka
Telangana
Most improved Rajasthan Haryana Andhra Pradesh
Jharkhand
Assam
Categorization of Smaller States on incremental performance and overall performance

i. In terms of overall performance, Mizoram was ranked first followed by Manipur.
ii. Tripura followed by Manipur were the top ranked States in terms of annual incremental performance.
iii. Manipur registered maximum incremental progress on indicators such as full immunization coverage,
institutional deliveries, total Case Notification Rate of Tuberculosis, Average Occupancy of a District Chief
Medical Officer for the last three years and Completeness of IDSP reporting of P and L forms.
Not improved Arunachal Pradesh Meghalaya ---
Sikkim Goa
Least improved Nagaland --- Mizoram
Moderately improved Tripura Manipur ---
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Most improved --- --- ---
Categorization of Union Territories (UTs) on incremental performance and overall performance

i. In terms of overall performance, Chandigarh and Dadra and Nagar Haveli were ranked first and second
respectively.
ii. In terms of annual incremental performance, Dadra and Nagar Haveli was ranked first and Chandigarh was
ranked second.
iii. These two UTs showed the highest improvement in indicators such as total Case Notification Rate of
Tuberculosis, Average Occupancy of an officer (in months) for 3 Key State posts for the last 3 years, Proportion of
Auxiliary Nursing Midwifery (ANM) positions vacant at Sub Centres, the Proportion of Staff Nurses positions
vacant at PHCs and CHCs, Proportion of MO (Medical Officer) positions vacant at PHCs, Proportion of total staff
(regular and contractual) with e-pay slip generated in the IT enabled Human Resources Management
Information System, Proportion of facilities functional as FRUs (First Referral Units), Proportion of districts with
functional Cardiac Care Units (CCUs), Proportion of ANCs registered within first trimester, Completeness of IDSP
(Integrated Disease Surveillance Project) reporting of P and L forms, and transfer of National Health Mission
(NHM) funds from State Treasury to implementation agency.
Not improved Andaman & Nicobar Delhi ---
Lakshadweep
Least improved --- --- ---
Moderately improved --- Puducherry ---
Most improved Daman and Diu --- Chandigarh
Dadra &Nagar Haveli
MHA released the rankings of Police Stations for 2018; Rajasthan tops the list
On June 25, 2019, The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) released the rankings of police stations for the
year 2018. It covered 15,666 police stations. 20% weightage was assigned to the police station’s infrastructure
and citizen feedback on performance of the police personnel posted at the police station and they were evaluated
on the basis of crimes against women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes & property related offences. The
scores were calculated based on the number of FIRs (First Information Reports) chargesheeted within 60 days.
Key Points:
i. The Kalu police station in Bikaner district of Rajasthan was ranked the best police station in the country. It
was awarded the first rank for its performance in crime prevention, investigation and disposal of cases, crime
detection, community policing and maintenance of law and order, women help desk facility, drinking water
facility and WiFi.
ii. Campbell Bay police station in Nicobar district of Andaman & Nicobar Islands was ranked second. It has
facilities like a separate women help desk, a child-friendly room, an IT (Information Technology) room and a
proper waiting room for the complainants and visitors.
iii. Farakka police station in Murshidabad, West Bengal was ranked third for its facilities like air-
conditioners, a gymnasium and playground that provides a comfortable environment for public-police
interaction, CCTV cameras, fire safety facilities and oxygen cylinders.
iv. Nettapakkam in Puducherry, Gudageri in Dharwad,Karnataka, Chopal in Shimla, Lakheri in Bundi, Rajasthan,
Periyakulam in Theni, Tamil Nadu, Munsyari in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, and Curchorem in South Goa were the
other police stations that featured in the top 10 rankings of 2018.
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Indians ranked 2nd among Bleisure Travelers Globally as per the study of Booking.com
Indians were ranked 2nd among Bleisure Travelers across 31 countries as per the study of Booking.com. In
2018, 72% Indian travelers extended their business trips. Bleisure is a new trend which means business and
leisure trips.
Key Points;
• Thai travelers were ranked 1st with 80%.
• Booking.com’s study revealed that Indian travelers were more than the global average (51%).
• The study was conducted in October-November 2018 among 53,492 respondents. It included 1,852
Indians across 31 countries who had travelled at least once in past 12 months.
• Two-thirds of Indian travelers, around 65%, travelled on domestic business trips. It was the highest,
globally ahead of Indonesians (62%) and Chinese (62%).
• More than half of Indian travelers, nearly 58%, reported that they had been on an international business
trip in 2018. It is more than double the international standard which is 25% and the highest among the
31 markets.
• 83% Indian business travelers rated business travelling 7 out of 10 or higher against 58% global
travelers who gave similar ratings.
• 76% Indian travelers reported that they enjoyed their travel destination compared to 56% of global
travelers.
• 55% expressed their concerns over the prospect of accommodations having received fake reviews and
misleading photos while 53% felt anxious about their personal details being stolen or no confirmation of
their bookings
India ranked 95th in 129 countries in new Gender Equality Index

India was ranked 95th among 129 countries in new SDG(Sustainable Development Goals) Gender Equality
Index with 56.2 scores. The gender gap index of the World Economic Forum had ranked India with 108.
Key Points:
• The index accounted for 14 out of 17 SDGs.
• The countries were ranked with a score out of 100. A score of 50 signified that a country is about halfway
to meet a goal.
• The ranking found that 1.4 billion girls and women living in countries got a “very poor” grade. The global
average score of the 129 countries, which represented 95% of the world’s girls and women, is 65.7 out of
100 (“poor” in the index).
• 2.8 billion girls and women live in countries that get either a “very poor” (59 and below) or “poor” score
(60-69) on gender equality. Only 8% of the world’s population of girls and women live in countries which
received a “good” gender equality score (80-89) and no country achieved an “excellent” overall score of
90 or above.
Top 10 Countries:
Rank Country Score
1. Denmark 89.3
2. Finland 88.8
3. Sweden 88.0
4. Norway 87.7
5. Netherlands 86.8
6. Slovenia 86.5
7. Germany 86.2
8. Canada 85.8
9. Ireland 85.4
10. Australia 85.2
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Bottom 10 countries:
Sl.No. Country Score
1. Sierra Leone 47.6
2. Liberia 47.3
3. Nigeria 46.1
4. Mali 46.0
5. Mauritania 45.0
6. Niger 44.9
7. Yemen 44.7
8. Congo 44.0
9. DR Congo 38.2
10. Chad 33.4
About India’s Ranking:
• The highest goal scores are on health (79.9), hunger & nutrition (76.2), and energy (71.8). Its lowest goal
scores are on partnerships (18.3, in the bottom 10 countries worldwide) with industry, infrastructure
and innovation (38.1), and climate (43.4).
• India scored 95.3 on the percentage of female students enrolled in primary education who are overage.
Some of India’s lowest scores on indicators include the proportion of seats held by women in national
parliaments (score 23.6, women made up 11.8% of Parliament in 2018). On seats held by women in the
Supreme Court (4%), India has a score of 18.2.
• On gender-based violence, indicators showed proportion of women aged 20-24 years who were married
or in a union before age 18 (27.3%), women who agreed that a husband/partner is justified in beating his
wife/partner under certain circumstances (47.0%), and women aged 15+ who reported that they “feel
safe walking alone at night in the city or area where she lives” (69.1%).
About SDG Gender Index:
The SDG Gender Index has been developed by Equal Measures 2030, a joint effort of regional and global
organizations including African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET), Asian-Pacific
Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and
International Women’s Health Coalition (IWHC).
Top 10 Countries:
Rank Country Score
1. Denmark 89.3
2. Finland 88.8
3. Sweden 88.0
4. Norway 87.7
5. Netherlands 86.8
6. Slovenia 86.5
7. Germany 86.2
8. Canada 85.8
9. Ireland 85.4
10. Australia 85.2
Mumbai ranked most congested city in the world, Delhi ranked 4th: Traffic Index 2018
On June 5,2019 ,The recent study “Traffic Index 2018”, analysis of current status of traffic mobility was
conducted .
Key findings:
i. According to the findings, Mumbai is the most traffic congested city among 403 cities in 56 countries with a
congestion level of 65 per cent , while New Delhi ranked fourth with a congestion of 58 per cent.
ii. The other top cities in the list of congested cities are: Bogota(63 per cent),Lima in Peru(58 per cent),Moscow
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in Russia(56 Per cent),Brussels (37 Per cent) ,London(37 Per cent) and Paris (36 per cent) .
iii. Top five most congested North American are in the list are: Mexico City (52 per cent), Los Angeles (41 per
cent), Vancouver (38 per cent), New York (36 per cent) and San Francisco (34 per cent).
World's most punctual airline tag won by Srilankan Airlines

Sri Lanka's state-run Srilankan Airlines has been named the world's most punctual airline by flight data
analysis company Flightstats.com. An extraordinary 90.5 per cent of SriLankan Airlines’ flights were on time
according to an analysis by Flightstats.
Key highlights:
i. his is the second consecutive time in less than 12 months that Sri Lankan has achieved this milestone.
ii. rlier it was won the tag in September 2018 with the punctuality rating of 91.37 percent.
iii. LATAM Airlines was in second place with 38,202 flights. All Nippon Airways was in third place with 29,536
flights. 8th was Singapore Airlines with 7,987 flights. Emirates was in 10th place with 12,615 flights.
India ranked 113 out of 176 countries in End of Childhood Index

According to the 3rd End of Childhood Index, a part of Changing Lives in Our Lifetime - Global Childhood Report
2019, India was ranked 113 in 176 countries on the wellbeing of children with 769 score out of 1000. The Index
was released on May 28, 2019 by ‘Save the Children’, a United Kingdom (UK) based non-profit organisation
which works for child rights.
Key Points:
• In 2018, India was ranked 116 among 172 countries.
• Countries were evaluated on 8 parameters on the well being of those up to 19 years of age namely child
mortality, malnutrition, lack of education, child labour, early marriage, adolescent birth, displacement by
conflict and child homicide. They were scored out of 1000.
• The Index was topped by Singapore with the score of 989 and 8 European countries figured among the
top 10. South Korea stood at the 10th position.
• The last rank was given to Central African Republic which scored 394.
• When compared with the neighbouring countries, India ranked fourth, behind Bhutan (98), Sri Lanka
(56) and China (36).
• In 2019, the rate of child marriage was reduced by 25% globally.
• Developed countries made more modest gains. The biggest score increases were witnessed in Latvia
and Estonia (both up 40 points from 927 to 967) and Lithuania (up 39 points from 934 to 973).
Top 10 Countries:
Rank Country
1 Singapore
2 Sweden
3 Finland
4 Norway
5 Slovenia
6 Germany
7 Ireland
8 Italy
9 South Korea
10 Belgium
Bottom 10 Countries:
Rank Country
167 Burkina Faso
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168 DR Congo
169 Guinea
170 Nigeria
171 Somalia
172 South Sudan
173 Mali
174 Chad
175 Niger
176 Central African Republic
Key facts about India:
• As per the Index, India had improved on child mortality from 39 deaths per 1000 live births in 2017. It
was 88 deaths per 1,000 live births in year 2000. It was reduced by 55%.
• More than 38% Indian children aged 0-59 months were stunted, it is the second-worst performance
compared to its neighbours after Pakistan (40.8%). China (6%) had the lowest rate in the region,
followed by Nepal (13.8%), Sri Lanka (17.3%), Bangladesh (17.4%) and Bhutan (19.1%).
• In India, every fifth child was out of school at primary and secondary levels and more than 11% in the 5-
17 age groups were child labourers.
• Child Marriage rate in India was down with 51% since 2000 and 63% since 1990. At present, there are
three million fewer teen births when compared to 2000 worldwide. India had cut the teenage birth rate
by 63% since 2000 and 75% since 1990. It accounted for two million fewer teen births in the country.
• Since 2000, India’s score has improved by 137 points. It scored 632 in 2000, compared to 769 in 2019.
India ranked 141 in global peace index, Iceland remains Peaceful

Australian think tank Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) released the report, ‘Global peace index
2019’stated that India ranked 141 among 163 countries on the Global Peace Index. Iceland topped the in the
list.
Key findings:
i. The ranking of India in 2018 was the 136th.
ii. Most peaceful: Iceland remains the most peaceful country in the world, a position it has held since 2008.
Other countries at top of the Global Peace Index (GPI) are New Zealand, Austria, Portugal, and Denmark.
iii. Least peaceful: Afghanistan is the least peaceful country in the world now replacing Syria, which is the
second least peaceful. South Sudan, Yemen, and Iraq comprise the remaining five least peaceful countries
iv. South Asian countries status: Bhutan (15th), Sri Lanka (72), Nepal (76), Bangladesh( 101) and Pakistan
(153) on the index.
About Global Peace Index (GPI):
♦ Established: 2007
♦ The GPI was founded by Steve Killelea, an Australian technology entrepreneur and philanthropist.
IIT-Bombay secured top position among Indian institutions in QS World University Ranking 2020
In the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Ranking 2020, The Indian Institute of Technology,
Bombay (IIT-Bombay) emerged as India's best institution. For the past three years, it has been securing the top
position among Indian institutes. It was followed by IIT Delhi andIndian Institute of
Science (IISc) Bangalore. These are the only three universities in India that made it to the top 200 universities
in the world.
Key Points:
i. The ranking comprised of world's top 1000 colleges which were divided on the basis of several factors
including subjects, location, study level, academic reputation, employer reputation, and research impact.
ii. IIT Bombay secured 152th rank, IIT Delhi secured 182th rank and IISc Bangalore secured 184th rank.
ii. IIT-Madras (271), IIT-Kharagpur (281), IIT-Kanpur (291) and IIT-Roorkee (383) are among the top 400
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institutes. IIT-Guwahati, was ranked 491 and the Delhi University was placed at 474th rank.
iv. O P Jindal Global University (JGU), established in 2009, became the youngest university to break into top
1,000 in the rankings.
v. Other universities figured in the rankings are Jamia Millia Islamia, Jadavpur University, Aligarh Muslim
University, Hyderabad University, Calcutta University and Mumbai University.
List of World's top 10 universities as per QS World University Ranking 2020:
Rank Name of the University

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
2. Stanford University
3. Harvard University
4. California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
5. University of Oxford
6. University of Cambridge
7. ETH Zurich - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
8. Imperial College London
9. University of Chicago
10. University College London (UCL)
India ranked 20th among the top capital importing countries by Knight Frank
Property consultants, Knight Frank in its Capital 2019 Report, assigned India with the 20th rank among the
top capital importing countries, globally. In terms of outbound cross-border investments, it was
ranked 30th. Cross-border capital flows into commercial real estate in India accounted to $2.6 billion and
outbound cross-border investments increased by 92% to $0.7 billion (Rs 4,893 crore) between the first quarter
(Q1) of 2018 and the first quarter 2019. Cross-border capital flows were due to geopolitical factors, prolonged
global economic cycle and interest rate in late cycle investment.
Key Points:
Globally, The United States (US) was the top capital importing country with an investment of $80.89 billion. It
also topped the list of capital exporting countries with an investment of $59.62 billion, followed by Canada
with $50.41 billion and Germany with $24.50 billion.
Singapore overtook Hong Kong as Asia-Pacific's top source for outbound capital. It had invested more than $4
billion in China, South Korea, the UK and Australia in January-March 2019.
iii. Singapore was the biggest capital source country for Indian commercial real estate between the first quarter
of 2018 and the first quarter of 2019 with investment of $704.14 million.
China was at the 6th position with an investment of $14.30 billion among the capital importing countries.
Between the first quarter of 2018 and 2019, the total outbound capital from Asia Pacific fell 34% to $57 billion
from $88 billion and stood at third position behind North America ($110 billion) and Europe ($104 billion). It
was due to the significant fall in outbound capital from China.
Top destinations of Cross-bound investments (Real estate) from Q1 2018 to Q1 2019:
Inbound with Investments ($ m)
1. Singapore 704.14
2. Australia 98.65
3. Japan 25.36
4. China 21.14
5. Hong Kong 11.11
Outbound with Investments ($ m)
1. UK 328.79
2. Netherlands 132.43
3. Germany 116.14
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4. US 71.1
5. Australia 67.63
Reports
India has 20 health workers per 10,000 people: NSSO study
A recent study based on the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) data, India has 20.6 health workers
per 10,000 people. This is less than the World health Organization’s (WHO) minimum overreach of 22.8 per
10,000 people.
Key findings:
i. Distribution of health workers: This is uneven between the urban and rural areas. Rural areas with 71% of
India’s population have only 36% of health workers.
ii. Delhi has the highest concentration of health workers followed by Kerala, Punjab, and Haryana.
iii. Public and private sector: The study has further notified that there is uneven distribution of health work
force seen in public and health sector too. More than 80% of doctors and 70% of nurses and midwives are
employed in the private sector.
Unemployment rate in India at 6.1% in 2017-18

According to a survey conducted by National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) between July 2017 and June 2018
covering 4.3 lakh people revealed that the unemployment rate was about 6.1% in 2017-18, highest in 45 year
since 1972-73.
Key points:
i. Unemployment was higher in urban areas as compared to rural.
ii. The unemployment rate in rural areas was about 5.3% while in urban areas it was about 7.8%.
iii. 6.2% males and 5.7% females are jobless in India.
iv. The unemployment rate is highest amount urban females at 10.8% followed by urban males at 7.1 % rural
males at 5.8% and rural females at 3.8 %.
Infant Mortality rate (IMR) in India falls but the pace of change slows
According to the sample Registration system (SRS), India’s infant mortality rate declined by 9 positions from 42
in 2012 to 33 in 2017. Madhya Pradesh and Assam had the worst IMR of 47 and 44 respectively
while Kerala and Tamil Nadu recorded the lowest IMR of 10 and 16 respectively.
Key highlights:
i. The rate has slowed down, but the pace of change appears to be downshifted when compared to the five years.
ii. This is a cause of worry for India that India’s IMR is even today worse than those of South Asian neighbours,
Srilanka, Bangladesh, Nepal.
iii. Among the states Odisha and Uttarpradesh showed the biggest improvement between 2012 and 2017.
iv. Neighbour countries doing worse than India were Pakistan and Myanmar which had a mortality rate of 66
and 43 respectively.
About IMR:
Infant mortality rate (IMR) is the number of deaths per 1,000 live births of children under one year of age.
3rd advance estimates of production of major crops for 2018-19 released by the Government
On June 3, 2019, The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare under the Ministry of
Agriculture & Farmers Welfare released the 3rd Advance Estimates of production of major crops for 2018-19.
The data was based on the feedback received from States and validated with information available from other
sources.
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As per 3rd Advance Estimates, the estimated production of major crops during 2018-19 is as follows:
i. Food grains production stood at 283.37 million tonnes, which was higher by 17.62 million tonnes than the
previous five years’ (2013-14 to 2017-18) average production of food grain.
Rice 115.63 million tonnes. (record)

(2017-18: 112.76 million tonnes)
Wheat 101.20 million tonnes (record)
(2017-18: 99.87 million tonnes)
Nutri / Coarse 43.33 million tonnes
Cereals (0.24 million tonnes higher than the average production)
Maize 27.82 million tonnes
Pulses 23.22 million tonnes
(2.96 million tonnes higher than the 5 years’ average production of 20.26 million
tonnes)
Gram 10.09 million tonnes
Tur 3.50 million tonnes
ii. Oilseeds: 31.42 million tonnes
Soyabean 13.74 million tonnes (1.77 million tonnes higher than past 5-year average production)
Rapeseed and Mustard 8.78 million tonnes
Groundnut 6.50 million tonnes
iii. Cotton production stood at 27.59 million bales (of 170 kg each)
iv. Sugarcane production stood at 400.37 million tonnes (record), which was higher by 50.59 million tonnes
than the average sugarcane production of 349.78 million tonnes.
Female labour force fell in India: Report

The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data published by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)
reported that female labour force declined in India in 2017-18. It is one among the world's bottom 10. In 2011-
12, India was placed at 12th from the bottom globally.
Ten countries with the lowest female labour force participation rate (%) in 2017-18:
Country Name Female LFPR (%)

Yemen 6%
Syria 12%
Iraq 12.4%
Jordan 14.1%
Algeria 14.9%
Iran 16.8%
Somalia 19.1%
Morocco 21.4%
Egypt 22.8%
India 23.3%
i. India’s female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) pointed out that three out of four women over the age of
15 in India were neither working nor seeking work.
ii. Bihar had the lowest rate of female workforce participation whereas the southern and eastern states did
better.
iii. The most common jobs for urban women were of garment workers, domestic cleaners and ‘directors and
chief executives’ among which 99% of were self-employed. Most rural women worked in agriculture-related jobs.
iv. The teaching profession made the top 10 most common jobs for women.
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v. As per the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates, during April-June 2018, the average employed
Indian woman worked for 44.4 hours per week as against the developing country average of 35-36 hours,
vi. Women performed the majority of unpaid household and care work in developed and developing countries.
vii. In rural areas, salaried men earned nearly 1.4 to 1.7 times of a female salaried employee. In urban areas,
salaried men earned 1.2 to 1.3 times a salaried woman.
31.4% of Indian children will be stunted by 2022: UN report

The report on Food & Nutrition Security (FNS) Analysis of India developed by UN (United Nations) World Food
Programme in partnership with Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) stated
that 31.4% of Indian children under five years will still be stunted by 2022.
Key Highlights:
• Reduction: Stunting in children in India under the age of five has reduced at a rate of about 1% per year
in the last decade.
• India must double its rate of progress to reach the target of 25% by 2022 set by the National Nutrition
Mission.
• Poor Vs High: Poorest wealth quintile has high rates of stunting (51.4%), among Children against
highest wealth quintile having (22.2%).
• Foodgrain yield: Over the last two decades, Food grain yields have risen 33% but are still only half of
2030 target yields. Despite having sufficient production of rice, wheat, and other cereals, the per capita
availability of these grains has not increased due to inequality, population growth, and food wastage.
• The stunting in children under 5years of age is the highest in Bihar (48%), Uttar Pradesh (46%),
Jharkhand (45%), and Meghalaya (44%).
• Only one in five children in Kerala and Goa (20% each) are stunted.
About Stunting:
Stunting is the impaired growth and development that children experience from poor nutrition, repeated
infection, and inadequate psychosocial stimulation.
As per UNICEF, 1 in every 5 boys married off before they turn 15

After the first-ever in-depth analysis of child grooms, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) study
revealed that an estimated 115 millionboys and men around the world were married as children. Of which 1 in
5 children (23 million) were married off before the age of 15.
Key Points;
• The data was collected from 82 countries on the basis of national estimates in the UNICEF global
databases.
• The study revealed that child marriage among boyes was prevalent across countries like the sub-Saharan
Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, South Asia, and East Asia and the Pacific.
• The Central African Republic had the highest number of child marriage among males which accounted
for 28%, followed by Nicaragua with 19% and Madagascar with 13%
• The total number of child brides and child grooms were 765 million.
• Among Girls, 1 in 5 young women aged 20 to 24 years old married before their 18th birthday, compared
to 1 in 30 young men.
• In India, the incidence of underage marriage in girls has been reduced. 14.1% girls in 15-18 age group
living in rural areas were married. New data from the Global Childhood Report 2019 revealed that there
has been a 51% reduction in child brides in India over the past 19 years. No research on the incidence of
child grooms existed as of now
Global Food Production affected by Climate change: Study

According to recently released research in the journal “PLOS ONE”, stated that Climate change is adversely
affecting the global production of crops such as wheat and rice. The research was based on study conducted by
scientists from the University of Oxford in the UK and the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. They used
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weather and databases of the crop to evaluate the impact of climate change.
Key findings:
i. 83% of calories produced by the World’s top ten crops such as wheat, barley, maize, oil palm, cassava, rice,
sorghum, rapeseed, soybean, and sugarcane.
ii. The study shows that a significant yield variation is caused by the Climate change ranging from a decrease of
13.4% for oil palm to an increase of 3.5% for soybean, which yields an average reduction of about 1 percent of
consumable food calories.
iii. The findings indicate that the effect of Climate change on food production is negative in Europe, Southern
Africa, and Australia, positive in Latin America, and mixed in Asia and Northern and Central America.
iv. Meanwhile, certain crops in Upper Midwest United States shows a positive yield by the exposure of climate
change.
India constitutes 12% of global internet users

According to the report on internet trends released by the venture capitalist Mary Meeker stated
that India ranks second by witnessing 12% world internet users (close to 455 million). China leads the chart
with 21% of global internet users while U.S (United States) placed third with 8%.
Key points:
i. Now the total internet users (3.88 billion)is more than half the world’s population.
ii. The growth in internet users in India was mainly driven by low price data plans introduced by Reliance Jio
Infocomm Ltd and cheaper smartphones.
iii. The report points out that, the number of people active online in 2018 was approximately 3.8 billion or 51%
of the world’s population compared to 2017 with 3.6 billion people or 49% of the world’s population.
iv. The report also states that Asia Pacific contributed the most number of internet users, 53% of the global
population, followed by Europe and Africa.
India will overtake China as world’s most populous country: UN report

On June 17, 2019 ,According to the 26th edition of the UN(United Nations) population estimates and projection
report, “World Population Prospects 2019” published by the UN's Department of Economic and Social Affairs
states that India is going to surpass China as the world’s most populous country by 2027.
Key points:
i. As per the report, India likely to add nearly 273 million people between 2019 and 2050.
ii. According to the World Population Review 2019, India currently ranks second in the index (out of 230
countries), with over 17 per cent of the world population.
iii. Previous UN projections had estimated that India will surpass China as the world's most populous country as
early as 2022.
iv. The report also stated that among the Southeast Asian counties, Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar have
witnessed a large net outflow of migrants between 2010 and 2020.
v. Nigeria with 733 million, the United States with 434 million, and Pakistan with 403 million are the three
countries will expected to get place after India and China.
India's data usage per smartphone is the highest in the world at 9.8GB per month
As per the Ericsson Mobility Report of June 2019 edition, India's data usage per smartphone was the highest
in the world at 9.8 Giga Byte (GB) per month up to December 31, 2018. It is set to double to 18 GB by 2024.
Indian smartphone users are willing to pay more than 66% premium for futuristic 5G services. Increased
numbers of LTE (Long Term Evolution) subscriptions, attractive data plans being offered by service providers
and young people's changing video viewing habits were the reasons for the data usage.
Key Points:
i. North East Asia stood at the second place with 7.1 GB per month and North America at third with 7 GB. West
Asia and Africa region had the lowest data consumption at 3 GB per month.
ii. The total smartphone subscriptions in the India region (including Nepal and Bhutan) will reach 1.1 billion by
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2024, with an 11% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). The total mobile broadband subscriptions in India are
expected to grow at a CAGR of 13% from 610 million in 2018 to 1.25 billion in 2024.
iii. The 4G LTE subscriptions in India will grow from 450 million in 2018 to 1.16 billion in 2024.
iv. Total mobile data traffic per month will grow from 4.6 Exabytes (EB) in 2018 to 16 EB in 2024.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY

CSO-GDP growth slips to 5.8% in Q4 in 2018-19
As per the data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the rate of gross domestic product (GDP) growth
in the January-March quarter of 2018-19 decreased to 5.8% as compared to the forecast of 6.5%. The economic
growth rate for the full 2018-19 financial year stood at a 5-year low of 6.8% in comparison to 7.1%.
Reason:
The reason behind the slip is the slowdown in the country’s key sectors like agriculture, industry and
manufacturing in the past nine months.
Highlights:
i. The country’s fiscal deficit in full 2018-19 stood at 3.4% of GDP.
ii. Spending was Rs 23.1 trillion, against the revised target of Rs 24.1 trillion.
iii. Gross value added (GVA) growth for FY19 came in at 6.6%.
iv. The sectors which registered growth GDP rate of over 7% in FY19 are public administration, defence and
other services (8.6 per cent), construction (8.7 per cent), financial, real estate and professional services (7.4
percent), ‘electricity, gas, water supply & other utility services (7 per cent).
v. The GDP data for the April-June and July-September quarters of 2018-19 had also be revised to 8 per cent and
7 per cent, respectively.
KVB to form venture with Centrum Wealth to provide wealth management services
Karur Vysya Bank Ltd (KVB) partnered with Centrum Wealth Management Ltd (Centrum) to form private
limited Joint Venture (JV) to provide wealth management services to its clients. KVB will hold 51% of the share
capital, Centrum will hold 45% and the remaining 4% will be held by the JV’s Staff.
Key Points:
i. There will be 5 Board of Directors, of which 3 will be from the bank.
ii. Centrum Wealth Management is a unit of Centrum Capital Ltd.
Horticulture production registered an upward growth at 314.87 million tonne in 2018-19

Horticulture production registered a rise to 314.87 million tonne in 2018-19 which was 1.01% higher than
horticulture production in 2017-18. In the previous year, the output was 311.71 million tonnes. The crop year in
India is from July-June.
Key Points:
i. The data was released by the Ministry of Agriculture in the Second Advanced Estimate (2018-19) of area
and production of various horticulture crops on May 31, 2019. It was compiled from the information received
from different States and Union Territories (UTs) and source agencies.
ii. As per the data, the area under horticulture crop registered an increase to 25.6 million hectare from 25.43
million hectare.
iii. The production of fruits was around 97.38 million tonnes in 2018-19 against 97.36 million tonnes of 2017-18.
iv. Vegetables production saw a rise of 1.6%, around 187.36 million tonnes.
v. Onion Production was around 23.28 million tonnes, slightly higher than last year. Potato production was
around 52.96 million tonnes, 3.2% higher than 2017-18, and Tomato production was around 19.66 million
tonnes, 0.5% lower than 2017-18.
vii. Spices Production was around 8.61 million tonnes, 6.01% higher than 2017-18.
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Government Met The Fiscal Deficit Target Of 3.4% For FY 2018-19

• Government has met the fiscal deficit target of 3.4% for the Financial Year 2018-19. The fiscal deficit
stood at 3.39% against the estimated rate of 3.4%. The data was released by the Controller General of
Accounts (CGA). It was met through a reduction in government spending, which also contributed to GDP
growth slowing to 5.8% in the fourth quarter of FY19.
• The fiscal deficit target was revised to 3.4% of GDP from 3.3% in the interim budget by the government
Government has met the fiscal deficit target of 3.4% for the Financial Year 2018-19. The fiscal deficit stood
at 3.39% against the estimated rate of 3.4%. The data was released by the Controller General of Accounts
(CGA). It was met through reduction in government spending, which also contributed to GDP growth slowing
to 5.8% in fourth quarter of FY19.
Key Points:
• For FY19, the fiscal deficit stood at Rs 6.45 trillion(Lakh crore), slightly above than the revised estimate
of Rs 6.34 trillion.
• The fiscal deficit target was revised to 3.4% of GDP from 3.3% in the interim budget by the government.
• The expenditure of the government was Rs 23.11 lakh crore, nearly Rs 1.5 lakh crore less than the total
revised budget size of Rs 24.57 lakh crore.
• The fiscal deficit data for April 2019, stood at Rs 1.57 trillion (22.3% of the full year target) compared to
24.3 % for the same period last fiscal year.
• The revenue deficit for the entire FY19 was 108.2% of the full year target, compared to 102% for FY18. It
excluded capital expenditure and capital receipts of the government.
• Total revenue for FY19 was Rs 16.66 trillion, about Rs 1.57 trillion less than the revised estimates of Rs
18.23 trillion. Net tax revenue for FY19 was at 88.7% of the revised full year target, compared to 97.9%
for the same period last year. Non-tax revenue slightly exceeded the full year target, compared to 79.6%
last year.
• Revenue expenditure was 93.8% of the full year target, compared to 96.6% for FY18. Capital expenditure
for the same period was 95.9% of the full year target, compared to 96.2% last year.
About CGA:
The information regarding accounts of the union government is released by the Controller General of Accounts
(CGA). Its statutory mandate (duties and functions) have been defined in the Allocation of Business Rules, 1961.
It works under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
Indian economy lost its spot as world’s fastest growing economy to China
Indian economy lost its spot as the world’s fastest-growing economy to China. As per Reuters survey, it
registered 6.3% annual growth in the January-March quarter, its slowest pace in six quarters. China recorded a
growth of 6.4% in the March Quarter.
Key Points:
i. Indicators like automobile sales, rail freight, petroleum product consumption, domestic air traffic and
imports registered a slowdown in domestic consumption.
ii. ICRA, a rating agency notified that corporate earnings registered a growth of 10.7% during January-March
quarter, it was a six-quarter low growth.
iii. As per economists, the prolonged phase of slower growth was due to stagnant rural wages, rising real interest
costs for manufacturers and reluctance to lend among banks and non-bank finance firms due to high defaults.
iv. Retail inflation for the past 6 months was below 3%.
ONGC overtakes IOC to become a most profitable PSU

India’s top oil and gas producer, ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) has become India’s most profitable
Public sector Undertaking after surpassing Indian Oil Corp (IOC).
ii. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019, ONGC reported a 34 percent jump its net profit to Rs 26,716 crore.
This profit is much higher than IOC’s (Indian Oil Corporation) reported a profit of Rs 17,274 crore.
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Key points
• Previous records: In the previous two financial years ONGC lost the profitable tag to IOC. IOC had in the
previous 2017-18 fiscal posted a record net profit of Rs 21,346 crore. But ONGC had a net profit of Rs
19,945 crore.
• Top Giant: Reliance has been India’s most profitable company for the fourth year in a row with its net
profit of Rs 39,588 crore in FY19. It is now India’s biggest firm in terms of revenue, profit, and market
capitalization.
GST collections crossed Rs 1 lakh crore mark for three consecutive month
The Goods And Services tax collection for May 2019 is Rs 1,00,289 crore, however, this is lesser than Rs
1,13,865 crore collected in April, an all-time high since the rollout of GST in July 2017. This is the third
consecutive time for GST to cross Rs 1 Lakh.
Key points:
i. GST grew 6.67% from Rs 94,016 in May 2018.
ii. Central GST is Rs 17,811 crore, State GST is Rs 24,462 crore, Integrated GST is Rs 49,891 crore and cess is Rs
8,125 crore.
iii. Rs 18,934 crore has been released to the states as GST compensation for the months of February-March,
2019.
iv. The revenue in May 2019 is 2.21% greater than the monthly average of GST revenue in fiscal 2018-19.
USA terminated GSP benefits from India

On May 31, 2019, US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation to withdraw Generalized System of
Preferences(GSP) scheme on $5.6 billion exports from India, effective from June 5, 2019. GSP allows emerging
countries to export goods to the US without paying duties. It offered duty-free market access to more than 3,000
items exported from India.
Key Points:
• India is the world’s largest beneficiary of GSP from 1970s.
• The US had announced the withdrawal of special duty benefits under the Generalized System of
Preferences (GSP) on March 5, 2019, effective from first week of May. But later it was postponed as India
would get new Government.
• As per a study by the Federation of Indian Export Organizations(FIEO), India’s global merchandise
exports for 2018 were $324.7 billion. It included $51.4 billion to the US. But only $6.35 billion of exports
from India to the US benefited from the GSP scheme. Such exports were covered under 1921 US tariff
lines.
• It also removed the exemption for India from application of the safeguard measures on Crystalline Silicon
Photovoltaic (CSPV) products and large residential washers effective June 5, 2019.
• India gained duty concessions of $190 million in 2017 under GSP.
Reasons for Withdrawal:
• Trade imbalance with India.
• Lack of reciprocity.
• No access to Indian market for US diary and medical device industry and market access sought for the
same.
• Tariff reduction on information and communications technology products.
• Robust intellectual property rights regime.
• Issues with proposed e-commerce policy and data localization norms.
Restoration of GSP benefits:
GSP benefits can be restored if India permits U.S. companies fair and equitable access to its markets. As per US
norms, a beneficiary country must meet 15 discretionary and mandatory eligibility criteria established by
Congress to qualify for GSP. These include providing the US with equitable and reasonable market access,
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combating child labour, respecting internationally recognized worker rights and providing adequate and
effective intellectual property rights protection. Earlier,
IOCL, BPCL and HPCL to form a Joint Venture for Kandla-Gorakhpur LPG pipeline project
On June 3, 2019, Indian Oil Corporation Limited(IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL)
and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited(HPCL) signed an agreement to form a Joint Venture(JV) in
New Delhi for laying the world’s longest Liquefied petroleum gas(LPG) pipeline from Kandla, Gujarat to
Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.
Key Points:
i. IOCL BPCL and HPCL will hold 50%, 25% and 25% equity holding in the JV Company respectively.
ii. The 2,757-km cross-country pipeline will connect 3 major States with the west coast and 2 refineries at
Koyali, Gujarat and Bina, Madhya Pradesh linking 22 LPG bottling plants in Gujarat(3), Madhya Pradesh (6) and
Uttar Pradesh(13) which are owned by 3 Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).
iii. Along with this, the pipeline will supply LPG to 21 more bottling plants in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya
Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh through road-bridging.
iv. After the completion of the project, single pipeline can transport up to 8.25 million metric tonnes of LPG per
year which amounts to about 25% of India’s LPG demand.
AAI (Airports Authority of India) signs technical assistance pact with Boeing
The National Airports body Airports Authority of India (AAI) signed technical assistance agreement
with American multinational corporate, Boeing to jointly develop a 10-year roadmap which will improve
flexible use of airspace, enhance communication, surveillance and help to maintain efficient aircraft operations.
i. This Project is being implemented with a grant from the United States Trade and Development Agency
(USTDA).
ii. The acting Director of USTDA, Thomas Hardy said that Boeing will be working with Directorate General of
Civil Aviation (DGCA), domestic airlines and airports operators and other airspace stakeholders such as the US-
India Aviation Cooperation Programme (ACP).
World Bank Cuts Global Growth Forecast For 2019 To 2.6% And It Retains India’s FY19 Growth Forecast
At 7.5%
Global growth forecast
On June 5, 2019, World Bank in its semiannual report “Global Economic Prospect (GEP)” slashed global
forecast for 2019 to 2.6% as compared to 2.9% in January this year.
India’s growth forecast
On June 5,2019 , World Bank in its report “Global Economic Prospects report” retained India’s growth
forecast at 7.5% for the next two Fiscal years , FY2019 and FY20 (April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020) as it also cuts
the global economic expansion by 0.3%.
The report stated that private consumption and investment will get benefited amid the reliable monetary policy
with inflation having fallen below the Reserve Bank of India’s target.
Key points:
• Growth projections for India made by different organizations varied by some point of scale
Global growth forecast
On June 5, 2019, World Bank in its semiannual report “Global Economic Prospect (GEP)” slashed global
forecast for 2019 to 2.6% as compared to 2.9% in January this year.
Key points:
• The report stated that Growth slowdown was because of deceleration in investments due to trade
tensions between US and China.
• IMF (International Monetary Fund) notified that the trade tensions between Washington and Beijing
decreased the global GDP by 0.3%.
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India’s growth forecast

On June 5, 2019, World Bank in its report “Global Economic Prospects report” retained India’s growth
forecast at 7.5% for the next two Fiscal years, FY2019 and FY20 (April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020) as it also cuts
the global economic expansion by 0.3%.
The report stated that private consumption and investment will get benefitted amid the reliable monetary policy
with inflation having fallen below the Reserve Bank of India’s target.
Key points:
Growth projections for India made by different organizations varied by some point of scale.
• UN (United Nations) downgraded India’s growth rate for the current fiscal year to 7 percent a cut of 0.6
percent and reduced the forecast for the next fiscal year by 7.1 per cent.
• IMF (International Monetary Fund) cut India’s growth projections for this year to 7.3 percent.
• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) projected India’s growth rate would be 7.2 per cent this year
and 7.3 per cent next year.
FDI In Services Sector Rose By 36.5% In 2018-19

According to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), the Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI) grew at 36.5% amounting to $9.15 billion in 2018-19. Services sector comprises of finance,
banking, insurance, outsourcing, R&D, courier, tech testing and analysis.
Key Points:
• In 2017-18, FDI of the service sector was $6.7 billion.
• FDI inflows contribute over 60% to the Gross Domestic Product(GDP).
• Between April 2000 and March 2019, service sector accounted for 18% of FDI in India
According to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), the Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI) in the services sector grew at 36.5% amounting to $9.15 billion in 2018-19. The services
sector comprises of finance, banking, insurance, outsourcing, R&D, courier, tech testing and analysis.
Key Points:
• In 2017-18, FDI of service sector was $6.7 billion.
• FDI inflows contributes over 60% to the Gross Domestic Product(GDP).
• Between April 2000 and March 2019, service sector accounted for 18% of FDI in India.
• Other sectors which recorded healthy growth in FDI inflows are computer software and hardware,
trading, automobile industry, and chemicals.
• For the first time in the last six years in 2018-19, the overall FDI inflows reduced at 1% to $44.37 billion
as foreign investments declined in telecommunication and pharmaceutical sectors.
• FDI in Chemical sector also declined in 2017-18 resulting in $1.30 billion investment as compared to
$1.39 billion in 2016-17.
As Per The GFI Study, India Lost $13 Billion In Revenue Collections Due To Trade Misinvoicing
According to a study by think-tank Global Financial Integrity (GFI), India lost $13 billion in revenue collections
due to trade misinvoicing in 2016. It amounted to 5.5% of total revenue collections.
Key Points:
• The GFI measured the losses by calculating illicit financial inflows and outflows for both import and
export under- and over-invoicing.
• The study estimated that the value of the trade gap for misinvoiced goods equaled to $74 billion or 12%
of the country’s total trade of $617 billion in 2016. Of the total estimated potential lost revenue of $13
billion, about $4 billion was due to export misinvoicing and nearly $9 billion was due to import
misinvoicing.
• The $9 billion in import misinvoicing was further broken down by uncollected value added tax ($3.4
billion), uncollected customs duties ($2 billion) and uncollected corporate income tax ($3.6 billion).
• In 2016, Indian imports at risk for high values of import under-invoicing were for edible fruits and nuts,
sugars, vehicles and cereals imported from the United States, Australia, South Africa and Ghana.
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• On the evaluation of the high-risk commodities and high-risk trade partners, GFI found that under-
invoiced imports of edible fruits and nuts were from Ghana, mineral fuels from Australia and South
Africa, Electrical machinery from China. They were highlighted as potential high-level risks for revenue
losses.
• Two-thirds of Indian imports which appeared to be most at risk for some degree of potential revenues
losses were the imports from China alone.
• GFI urged India to adopt a public registry of beneficial ownership information on all legal entities. It
considered using online tools for building the capacity of customs authorities to better detect
misinvoicing and take corrective steps in real time.
CII Unveiled New Index To Measure Fiscal Performance

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has launched a new Index to measure fiscal performance titled ‘Fiscal
Performance Index'(FPI). It uses multiple indicators to assess the quality of budgets presented by the Centre
and state governments.
Key Points:
• FPI has been constructed using United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Human Development
Index methodology. It comprises of 6 components.
• As per the new index, expenditure on infrastructure, education, healthcare and other social sectors are
considered to be beneficial for economic growth. In addition, tax revenues are considered as sustainable
sources of revenue for the government against the one-time income sources.
• The CII has used this index to analyze state and central budgets from 2004-05 to 2016-17. It observed
that in spite of the improvements, a reduction in the fiscal deficit between FY13 and FY18, the overall
performance of the budget remained steady with improvements only in FY16 and FY17.
• The analysis pointed out that the high income states like Gujarat, Haryana and Maharashtra which are
presumed to have good fiscal health because of low fiscal deficit to GDP ratio, did not perform well on the
composite FPI as a result of poor expenditure and revenue quality compared to other states. Other states
including, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have done well on the FPI because
of their good performance in revenue and capital expenditure indices.
6 main Components of FPI:
1. Quality of revenue expenditure: measured by the share of revenue expenditure other than interest
payments, subsidies, pensions and defence in GDP.
2. Quality of capital expenditure: measured by share of capital expenditure (other than defence) in GDP.
3. Quality of revenue: ratio of net tax revenue to GDP (own tax revenue in case of States).
4. Degree of fiscal prudence I: fiscal deficit to GDP.
5. Degree of fiscal prudence II: revenue deficit to GDP.
6. Debt index: Change in debt and guarantees to GDP.
Delhi Metro is the India's first project to receive power from waste-to-energy
Delhi Metro became India's the first ever project to receive power from a waste-to-energy plant. The Delhi
Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) started receiving 2 MW power from a 12 MW capacity waste -to-energy plant set
up in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh.
Key Points:
i. Since June, DMRC received the power from the facility, utilized at the Vinod Nagar Receiving Sub-station (RSS)
to meet the operational requirements of Pink Line of Delhi Metro.
ii. It will use approximately 17.5 million units per annum from the plant.
iii. The waste-to-energy plant was set up by East Delhi Waste Processing Company Limited (EDWPCL). It is based
on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) between the Delhi government and East Delhi Municipal Corporation
(EDMC).
iv. It is set up to process above 1,500 tonnes per day (TPD) of waste and generate 12 MW of green power. Along
with this, it will help to reduce over 8 million tons of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) over the life of the project.
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v. DMRC has also commissioned a facility at Rohini on PPP model with IL&FS Environmental Infrastructure &
Services Ltd (IEISL) for recycling of Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste with a capacity of 150 tons per
day.
India signed Rs 300-crore deal with Israel to buy more 100 SPICEbombs
On June 6, 2019, The Indian Air Force (IAF) inked Rs 300-crore deal with the Israeli government to buy more
than 100 SPICE bombs (Balakot bombs). The bombs were used to attack the Madrasa of Jaish-e-Mohammed in
Balakot, Pakistan, on February 26, 2019.
Key Points:
i. They will be delivered in the next 3 months as the deal has been signed under emergency powers.
ii. They are manufactured by Israeli defence firm, Rafael Advanced Defence Systems.
Business Confidence Index drops 9.1% in Q4 of 2018-19: NCAER

According to recent survey by National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), Business
confidence index (BCI) of India Inc slipped 9.1 per cent in the fourth quarter Q4of the financial year 2018-19.
Meanwhile, the Political Confidence Index (PCI) of businesses has increased by 12.1% on a quarterly basis
in Q4.
Business Confidence Index (BCI)
It is indicator of business sentiments across the Indian industry segments, compiled by NCAER.
It is made up of four components; all have equal weight in the computation of the index. They are,
i. Overall economic conditions will be better in next six months.
ii. Financial position of the firms will improve in next six months
iii. Present investment climate is positive
iv. Present capacity utilization is close to or above optimal level.
It plunged by 9.1 percent to reach 115.4 at the end of fourth quarter of the last fiscal, on a quarter-on-quarter
basis. On a year-on-year basis, the BCI plunged by 12.2 percent. BCI of consumer durables and consumer non-
durables sectors fell by 12.1 and 15.9%, respectively on a quarter-on-quarter basis.
Political confidence index (PCI)
It measures businesses’ expectations from government on managing economic growth, maintaining favourable
political environment and pushing economic reforms.
India’s GDP growth may expand to 7.2 per cent in 2019-20: Goldman Sachs
According to American multinational banking firm, Goldman Sachs , India’s economic growth is estimated to
rise to 7.2 per cent in 2019-20.It will be driven by lower oil prices, political stability and removal of
infrastructure bottlenecks. The report came a day after the policy review by RBI, in which policy rates were cut
by 0.25 per cent to increase growth.
Report highlights:
i. This is higher than the RBI's projection for a 7 per cent growth, on the "downside" because of non-bank lenders.
ii. Lending by non-banking entities grew at 26 per cent in third quarter of 2018 , which has slipped to 20 per cent
in the succeeding quarter .
iii. RBI’s (Reserve Bank of India) proposal for taking necessary steps to tackle the liquidity problems, and asset
liability mismatches will reduce the loan growth by the non-banking companies.
iv. The report further states that RBI likely to cut rate by 0.25 per cent once again in July-September 2019. If the
growth rises with the inflation central bank may go for policy tightening with two hikes of 0.25 percent.
Certification for BS-VI norms released for two-wheelers; Hero MotoCorp becomes the first two-wheeler
manufacturer to receive it
India’s first Type Approval Certificate (TAC) for Bharat Stage – VI (BS-VI) norms for the two-wheeler segment
has been released by International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT). BS – VI norms are the latest
emission norms notified by the Government of India, which have to be followed by the automotive
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manufacturers to sell their vehicles in India.

i. As of now, BS – IV exists but in order to curb the air pollution through vehicles the govt has jumped directly to
BS – VI norms by skipping BS – V norms, which will effective from 1st April 2020.
ii. Therefore, from 1st April 2020, only those vehicles will be sold and registered in India which will comply with
BS-VI.
iii. In 2018, ICAT issued the approval for BS –VI norms to M/s Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles for
the Heavy Commercial Vehicle segment which was also the first in its segment in India.
iv. Recently, Hero MotoCorp becomes the first two-wheeler manufacturer to receive BS6 Certification for
its Hero Splendor iSmart. It has received the type approval certificate from ICAT. It was fully designed and
developed by Hero at its Centre for Innovation and Technology (CIT) centre in Jaipur.
About ICAR
It is the premier testing and certification agency authorized by the Ministry of Road Transport and
Highways for providing testing and certification services to the vehicle and component manufacturers in India
and abroad.
Facebook launched its first interactive Game Show “Confetti” in India

On June 4, 2019, Facebook launched its first interactive Game Show “Confetti” in India. It was first launched in
the United States. It will challenge participants to answer pop culture trivia questions for a chance to win Rs 3
lakh as cash prize every day. The interactive game is exclusive to Facebook Watch.
Key Points:
i. The announcement on the launch of the interactive game was made on side-lines of Facebook’s Social
Entertainment Summit held in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
ii. It will go on air on June 12, 2019, from Wednesday to Sunday on Facebook’s dedicated video
platform ‘Facebook Watch’.
iii. It is already available in other countries of the world including Canada, the UK, Mexico, Thailand, Vietnam,
and Philippines.
iv. In 2018, Facebook had launched facebook Watch as its video-on-demand service in an attempt to take on its
rival YouTube. It allows users to enjoy videos from different genres in their personalized Watch Feed.
Imports from Pakistan to India declined by 92% in March 2019 to $2.84 million
Imports from Pakistan to India declined by 92% in March 2019 to $2.84 million due to the imposition of 200%
customs duties on all products after Pulwama terror attack.
Key Points:
• India had hiked the customs duty to 200% on all goods imported from Pakistan including cotton, fresh
fruits, cement, petroleum products and mineral ore on February 16, 2019. It had also revoked the MFN
(Most Favoured Nation) status which was given to Pakistan in 1996.
• The main commodities imported during month of March 2019 from Pakistan included knitted fabrics,
wool, articles of apparel and clothing, preparation of vegetables spices, chemicals, man-made filaments
and plastics.
• During January-March of 2018-19 fiscal, the imports from Pakistan decreased by 47% to $53.65 million.
• India's exports to Pakistan declined by 32% to over $171. 34million in March. However, the exports grew
by 7.4% to $2 billion during 2018-19.
• The main products exported by India are organic chemicals, cotton, nuclear reactors, boilers, plastic
products, tanning or dyeing extracts, cereals, sugar, coffee, tea, articles of iron and steel, copper and
footwear.
• As per Commerce Ministry’s data, the imports from Pakistan were worth$34.61 million in March
2018.Out of the $2.84 million imports in March, $1.19 million was accounted for cotton import by India
SEBI released a discussion paper for informant mechanism related to insider trading
On June 10, 2019, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) released a discussion paper for informant
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mechanism related to insider trading. The proposed amendments to the SEBI (Prohibition of Insider Trading)
Regulations, 2015 will provide absolute confidentiality with appropriate safeguards.
Key Points:
• Capital market regulator announced that genuine whistleblowers could get monetary reward up to Rs 1
crore as well as amnesty from regulatory action.
• Monetary reward for an informant would be subject to certain conditions. It would be in the case where
monies disgorged is at least Rs 5 crore.
• It will be paid from the Investor Protection and Education Fund (IPEF). The total amount of the
reward will be 10% of the monies collected but it will not exceed Rs 1 crore or such higher amount as
may be specified.
• The informant is required to fill a Voluntary Information Disclosure Form (VIDF) which must include
credible, complete and original information related to insider trading including those pertaining to
Unpublished Price Sensitive Information (UPSI).
• The informant is required to disclose the identity while directly submitting the VIDF. If an informant
wishes to submit anonymously, the VIDF must be submitted through a representative who should be a
practising advocate.
• It is compulsory for the informant to disclose the source of original information along with an
undertaking that the information is not sourced from any person related to SEBI.
• SEBI has suggested to set up Office of Informant Protection (OIP) which will act as a medium of
exchange between the informant/ legal representative and the board. Along with this, a hotline shall be
maintained by the OIP.
• OIP will look into the policy relating to receipt and registration of VIDF, deciding upon the issue of grant
of reward to the informant upon completion of enforcement action and other related matters.
• July 1, 2019 is the last date for submission of public comments on the consultation paper.
About Insider Trading:
It is the trading of a company's stock or other securities such as bonds or stock options by individuals with the
possession of UPSI. Usually, insiders are involved in insider trading through a proxy to whom the relevant
information is communicated.
FDI in India grew by 6% to $ 42 billion in 2018: UNCTAD

According to United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) World Investment Report
2019,released on June 12, 2019, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India grew by 6% to $42 billion in 2018.
The US was the world’s top recipient of FDI with $252 billion followed by China with $139 billion. India was
ranked 10th as an FDI recipient.
Key Points:
• The top three industry recipients were Manufacturing, Communication and Financial Services.
• In 2017, FDI was $40 billion and the growth was driven by Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A).
• The growth in cross-border M&As from $23 billion in 2017 to $33 billion in 2018 was due to transactions
in retail trade which accounted for $16 billion. It included e-commerce and telecommunication worth $13
billion.
• Announced greenfield investment were doubled to $56 billion in 2018, with projects in manufacturing
industries including automotive.
• There were 373 Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in India, of which 142 were still under development and
61 more were planned. Out of 231 SEZs in operation, 60% were specialized in Information
Communications Technology (ICT) related manufacturing and services.
• Globally, FDI slipped by 13% in 2018 to $1.3 trillion from $1.5 trillion in 2017, the third consecutive
annual decline. It increased by 2% for developing countries.
• In 2018, China received the highest foreign inflows among developing countries worth $139 billion.
• In South Asia, overall FDI inflows increased by 3.5% to $54 billion.
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• inflows to developing countries in Asia grew by 3.9% to $512 billion in 2018, with growth occurring
mainly in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia and other ASEAN countries as well as India and
Turkey. The Asian region remained the world’s largest FDI recipient, resulting 39% of global inflows in
2018, up from 33% in 2017.
• India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were considered among the top 10 most important sources of
FDI for 2019 to 2021 period.
• Outflows to Asia increased by 31% to $49 billion. Outflows to most major economies in the region
expanded, including those to China- up 12% to $10 billion, India- doubling to $3.2 billion and the
Republic of Korea -trebling to $4.8 billion.
DCC approved to impose penalty on Airtel, Vodafone Idea

The highest decision-making body of the Department of Telecom (DoT), Digital Communications
Commission (DCC) approved to levy penalties on Bharti Airtel Ltd and Vodafone Idea Ltd for denial of
interconnection to Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd when it had entered market in 2016.
Key Points:
i. In October 2016, Telecom Regulatory authority of India (TRAI) had fined Airtel and Vodafone with Rs. 1,050
crore each ( Rs 50 cr per circle for 21 circles) and for Idea ( Rs 50 cr per circle for 19 circles) it was Rs 950
crore. But as Vodafone and Idea merged ( August 2018) to form Vodafone-Idea, the new entity had to bear the
combined burden of Rs. 2000.
ii. Reliance Jio had complained that its subscribers were unable to call other networks as its rivals did not release
sufficient number of Points of Interconnect (PoI).
iii. The inter-ministerial panel of DCC has asked TRAI to review penalty amount worth ₹3,050 crore considering
the financial stress in telecom sector.
Indian Railways and REL signed MoU for modernisation of signalling system on four sections
On June 17, 2019, Indian Railways signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with RailTel Enterprises
Limited (REL), a wholly-owned subsidiary company of RailTel Corporation of India Ltd, to upgrade its signalling
system on 4 busiest sections. It includes Automatic Train Protection System with Long Term Evolution (LTE)
based Mobile Train Radio Communication System (MTRC) along with the provision of Electronic Interlocking
(indoor) wherever required. It was signed by the Executive Director of Signal Development (Railway Board),
Pradeep M Sikdar, Member (Signal & Telecom) of Railway Board, Kashinath, and CMD (Chief Managing Director)
of Railtel, Puneet Chawla.
Key Points:
i. The project will be implemented on the 165 route km on the Renigunta-Yerraguntla section of the South
Central Railway, 145 route km on the Vizianagaram-Palasa section of the East Coast Railway, 155 route km on
the Jhansi-Bina section of the North Central Railway and 175 km route on the Nagpur-Badnera Section of the
Central Railway.
ii. Estimated cost of the project is Rs 1,609 crore and it is expected to complete in 24 months.
iii. Automatic Train Protection System and LTE based MRTC helps to improve safety, reduce congestion in the
rail networks. It increases line capacity, improves punctuality and increases average speed of trains.
iv. The MTRC system will be installed using LTE backbone for communication between train running staff,
drivers, guards and control office.
Fitch reduces India growth forecast for FY20 from 6.8% to 6.6%
On June 17, 2019, Fitch reduced India’s growth forecast for the current fiscal year (FY20) from 6.8% to 6.6% due
to the slow down of manufacturing and agriculture sectors over the past years.
Key Points:
i. In the latest Global Economic Outlook, it retained its GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth forecast for the
fiscal 2020-21 at 7.1% and 7% for2021-22.
ii. GDP growth of India declined for the fourth consecutive quarter in January-March 2019, with the economy
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expanding by 5.8%. It was reduced from a cyclical high of 8.1% in the March quarter of 2018.
iii. In 2018-19, Indian economy grew at a 5-year low pace of 6.8%.
iv. By the end of 2019, Fitch expects the rupee to be around 70 to the US dollar and 71 by 2020.
v. It reduced the world growth forecast for 2020 to 2.7% from 2.8%. China's growth was forecasted at 6% from
6.1%. United States growth would be lower at 1.8% against 1.9%.
vi. Fitch expected the world economy to grow at 2.8% in 2019, down from 3.2% in 2018.
The US overtook China as India's largest goods trading partner in 2018-19

The United States (US) overtook China to become India's largest goods trading partner in 2018-19. Trade
surplus of India with the US declined to $16.8 billion from $21.2 billion for 2017-18.
Key Points:
i. Trade deficit of India with China was at $53 billion in 2018-19, down from $63 billion for 2017-18.
ii. India’s dependency on Chinese imports saw a decline to $70 billion from $76 billion in 2017-18, with over a
fourth increase in exports to $16.7 billion in 2018-19.
DBS Bank revised India’s GDP forecast for FY20 to 6.8% from 7%
On June 20, 2019, DBS Bank in its report on the Indian economy revised India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
forecast for the fiscal year 2020 to6.8% year-on-year (YoY) from 7% due to headwinds for exports amidst
challenging trade outlook.
Key Points:
i. Inflation rate was estimated at 3.8% for FY20 against 3.4% of FY19.
ii. The Reserve Bank of India’s policy stance was changed from neutral to accommodative resulting in the 75 bps
repo rate cut in one year.
SEBI sets up a working group headed by NSE Clearing Ltd to review margins on derivatives
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) framed a working group headed by NSE Clearing Ltd to
review the current framework of margins in the futures and options segment.
Key Points:
i. It will submit its recommendations to the Secondary Market Advisory Committee.
ii. The existing derivatives segment is increasing the costs of trading and it does not manage risk in an efficient
manner. In order to look into these details, the panel was formed.
iii. A collaborated study conducted by the Association of National Exchanges Members of India (ANMI) and the
consultancy firm Ernst & Young (E&Y) pointed out that costs of trading in derivatives in India were high when
compared to other leading markets. This made the institutional investors to trade Nifty Contracts on SGX
(Singapore Exchange Limited), Singapore instead of National Stock Exchange (NSE).
Skylark Drones and Throttle Aerospace Systems get DGCA nod to fly
On June 21, 2019, The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) gave its approval to Skylark
Drones and Throttle Aerospace Systems (TAS) of Bengaluru to launch its drones as they are compliant with
the NP-NT (No permission – No take-off) protocol under the “Digital Sky” regulatory framework for drones,
which came into effect on December 1, 2018.
Key points:
i. It will open the way for commercial use of drones (unmanned aircraft) for works such as agriculture, health,
and disaster relief and military operations. Both drones, also known as Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)
or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), are in the micro category which doesn’t require pilot licences.
ii. The Nano drones of less than or equal to 250 gms while the drones under the large category around 250 kg
weight were allowed to take off in December 2018.
NABCB gets APAC certificate for personnel certification bodies in Singapore

On June 21, 2019, Country’s Accreditation body, The National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies
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(NABCB), has got its international recognition for its accreditation programme for personnel certification bodies.
It was held in Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC) Annual Meetings 2019 in Singapore.
Key points:
i. For accreditation programme, NABCB signed the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) of the Asia Pacific
Accreditation Cooperation (APAC) based on the international standard, ISO/IEC 17024 ,which specifies criteria
for the operation of a Personnel Certification.
ii. Export Indian services and skills into global market now done by NABCB by stating that persons are certified
following international standards by the certifying bodies.
iii. This will help many professionals in India and particularly those who do not have formal education or
certificate programme.
iv. International recognition will be given to those who have ISO/IEC 17024 certificate with NABCB logo.
About NABCB
i. It is a constituent board of Quality Council of India, an autonomous body attached to the Ministry of Commerce
and Industry.
ii. It is responsible for the accreditation of certification/inspection bodies as per applicable international
standards under an international system of equivalence.
About APAC:
i. It was established on 1 January 2019 by the amalgamation of two former regional accreditation cooperations –
the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC) and the Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC).
ii. Its primary role is to manage and expand a mutual recognition arrangement (MRA) among accreditation
bodies in the Asia Pacific region.
IRSDC signed 2 MoAs to renovate 22 railway stations

Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation (IRSDC) signed 2 Memorandum of Agreements (MoAs)
on 'Railway Station Redevelopment' for the renovation of 22 railway stations.
MoA with MECON Limited
On June 21, 2019, IRSDC signed a MoA with MECON Limited (Formerly known as Metallurgical & Engineering
Consultants Limited). 8 railway stations including Andheri, Bandra Terminus, Ranchi, Chennai Egmore will be
redeveloped.
MoA with 2 other CPSEs
On June 20, 2019, IRSDC signed a MoA with two other Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) -
EPIL (Engineering Projects India Limited) and Bridge & Roof for the renovation of 14 railway stations including
Kolkata Terminal, Kanpur Central, Kalyan Junction, Ludhiana, Hyderabad and Udaipur City.
Key Points:
i. CPSEs will prepare detailed project reports on the development of 22 stations and act as Project Management
Consultant to IRSDC to implement the redevelopment program.
ii. 6 CPSEs have been selected by IRSDC for the redevelopment of 41 railway stations, MoAs of which will be
signed soon.
National Freight Index (NFI) launched by Rivigo Logistics

On June 20, 2019, In order to bring transparency in the road-freight marketplace, an Indian technology company
based in Gurgaon, Rivigo which owns 3,000 trucks 5,000 drivers launched the National Freight Index
(NFI) which will provide unrestricted access of live freight rates for different lanes and vehicles across the
country.
Key points:
i. In 2018, the Indian road freight market size is estimated at $150 billion to $160 billion, of which $130 billion to
$140 billion is full-truck load (FTL) market.
ii. The index shows truck rentals of 1,500 origin and destination locations (a minimum of 250 km) and 30 types
of trucks. Of these, around 1,000 locations account for 70 % of cargo movement.
iii. It is estimated that there will be a shortage of around 50 percent drivers by 2023.
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About NFI:
It is the barometer of the road freight market in India. It is based on Rivigo rate exchange, which gives a live spot
rate on over 7 million lane and vehicle type combinations in the country. The index is represented
in terms of actual freight rates condensed to Rupees per tonne-km and in terms of relative
movement with respect to a base month.
NTPC and PGCIL sign MoU to form a joint venture to enter Power Distribution Business
On June 21, 2019, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and PowerGrid Corporation of India
Limited (PGCIL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to set up a Joint Venture (JV) the National
Electricity Distribution Company Limited (NEDCL). It will undertake business for distribution of electricity in
distribution circles in various states and Union Territories (UTs) and other related activities
Key Points:
i. NEDCL will be owned by NTPC and PGCIL on 50:50 equity basis.
ii. JV was announced at a time when the existing reform scheme UDAY (Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana) has
been declared as a failure by several agencies.
iii. It will lead to the separation of content and carriage businesses in power distribution which means that the
infrastructure builder for power supply and the supplier to consumers would be two separate entities.
iv. These measures are suggested in the latest amendments to the Electricity Act, 2003 and they are yet to be
tabled in Parliament.
Tech Mahindra signed a contract with Airbus for cabin and cargo design engineering
On June 20, 2019, Tech Mahindra, an information technology firm, entered into a multi-year contract
with Airbus for cabin and cargo design engineering. The contract is aimed to capitalise on the specialised skills
and competencies in growing cabin engineering business over the next few years.
Key Points:
i. The partnership will strengthen the Tech Mahindra's aerospace engineering portfolio in areas like cabin
engineering and customer services.
ii. The financial details of the partnership were not disclosed by the firms.
According to FIEO, improvement in logistics, infrastructure will boost exports to $1 trillion in next 3
years
Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) has estimated that the focus of the government to improve
logistics, ease of doing business and modern trade infrastructure will boost exports of the country from current
$535 billion to $1 trillion in the next 3 years.
Key Points:
i. Initiatives like special focus on cutting logistics cost and time, further improvement in ease of doing business,
proper implementation of government policies for exporters and timely refund of taxes like Goods and Service
tax (GST) will result in the increase of exports.
ii. Reduction of logistics cost by 10% will help to raise the exports by 5-8%.
iii. Focus should be given on export of GI (Geographical Indication) products as they assure quality. Adequate
funds for marketing of these goods in order to push their shipments should be given by the Government.
iv. In order to develop logistics sector, it is important to focus on new technology, improved investment, skills,
remove bottlenecks, improve inter modal transportation, automation, single window system to give clearances,
and simplify processes.
NITI Aayog plans to convert three-wheelers to EVs by 2023 and 2-wheelers below 150cc by 2025
On June 21, 2019, At a meeting of the manufacturers and start-up Electric Vehicle (EV) makers called by National
Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, Government’s think tank, it planned for the transition to full
Electric Vehicles (EVs) for three-wheelers by 2023 and two-wheelers with an engine capacity less than 150 cc
(Cubic Centimeter) by 2025. It asked the conventional two and three-wheeler makers to suggest concrete steps
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towards transition to electric mobility keeping in mind 2025 deadline, within two weeks.
Key Points:
i. NITI Aayog was represented by Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Amitabh Kant.
ii. The meeting was attended by top officials of major two-wheeler manufacturers including Bajaj Auto Managing
Director Rajiv Bajaj, TVS (Thirukkurungudi Vengaram Sundram) Motor Co Chairman Venu Srinivasan, Honda
Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) President & CEO Minoru Kato along with SIAM (Society of Indian
Automobile Manufacturers ) Director-General Vishnu Mathur, and Automotive Component Manufacturers
Association of India (ACMA) Director General Vinnie Mehta.
iii. The conventional manufacturers such as Bajaj Auto, Hero MotoCorp, HMSI and TVS claimed that adoption of
EVs by 2025 would be "unrealistic" and "ill-timed" and it would derail auto manufacturing in the country and
start-ups like Revolt Intellicorp, Ather Energy, Kinetic Green Energy and Power Solutions and Tork Motors
wanted the adoption of EVs to happen faster.
iv. The think tank cautioned the industry that if necessary steps are not taken to address pollution issues, courts
would step in and look into the issues.
India the Lowest Cost Producer of Solar Power; beats China, UK, US among others
According to a report, “Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2018” by the International Renewable Energy
Agency (IRENA), India leads in producing solar power at lowest cost globally and is far ahead of other nations in
low average production costs.
Key points:
i. Even India beats China(cheapest manufacturer of everything,)it left behind the countries of the UK, Canada, and
France among others.
ii. India’s report: India has the lowest total installed cost for new utility-scale solar PV projects that were
commissioned in 2018 at $793/Kw(kilowatt), which is 27% lower than in 2017.
iii. High cost: Canada($2,427/kW) Russian($2,302/kW) Japan($2,101/kW) South Africa($1,617/kW) and
Australia($1,554/kW) are saw the highest cost of setting up solar projects.
iv. Low cost: China, Italy , France($1,074/kW) and Germany($1,113/kW) are saw the lowest installation cost.
Nagaland occupies the top position in the unemployment rate: NSSO Survey
According to the survey, “The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for 2017-18” by National Sample Survey
Organization (NSSO) huge variations among the states in terms of the unemployment rate. The overall
unemployment rate pegs at 6.1%.
Key points:
i. Top and Bottom: Nagaland has the highest unemployment rate among the states with 21.4% followed by Goa
(13.9%)and Manipur(11.6%), while Meghalaya has the lowest rate at 1.5%.Chhattisgarh and Sikkim also have
the lowest rates.
ii. Rural and Urban: Urban areas witnessed higher unemployment (7.8%) than the rural areas (5.3%).
iii. Male Vs Female: Females have the lowest unemployment rate (5.7%) in comparison to males (6.2%).
iv. Union territories: Nagaland still gets top in the list of union territories while Dadra and Nagar Haveli with a
low rate of 0.6%.
v. Goa and Kerala are high in female unemployment at 26.0% and 23.3%respectively, but their respective male
unemployment rates are three times lower at 8.1% and 6.2%.
CAD increased to 2.1% of GDP

On June 28, 2019, The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) stated that India’s Current Account Deficit (CAD) increased
to $57.2 billion or 2.1% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in FY19 as against 1.8% of 2018 which stood at
$48.7 billion. It was the highest in 6 years on due to higher trade deficit caused by high crude oil imports.
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Key Points:
• An increase in trade deficit to $180.3 billion for the year as a whole as against $160 billion in 2018 led to
the widening of the CAD in FY19.
• A lower trade deficit of $35.2 billion in the March quarter, compared to $41.6 billion in 2018 helped in
CAD contraction.
• Net services receipts increased 5.8% to $21.3 billion due to rise in net earnings from telecommunications,
computer and information services in the March quarter of 2019.
• Private transfer receipts decreased by 0.9% to $17.9 billion in the March quarter 2019.
• Capital account had a lower surplus of $19 billion for the quarter ended March’19 compared to net
inflows of $25 billion in March 2018 due to slowdown in the portfolio flows.
• The surplus in the capital account amounted to $54 billion in 2019 compared to net inflows of $91 billion
in 2018.
• The overall balance of payments resulted in a deficit of $3.3 billion compared to a surplus of $43.6 billion
in 2018.
About CAD:
The current account deficit is a measurement of a country’s trade where the value of the goods and services it
imports exceeds the value of the products it exports. The current account includes net income, such as interest
and dividends, and transfers, such as foreign aid, although these components make up only a small percentage of
the total current account. The current account represents a country’s foreign transactions and, like the capital
account, is a component of a country’s Balance of Payments (BOP).
FSSAI plans red color-coding label for sugary and salty foods
On June 27, 2019, As per the draft regulation issued by the Food Safety and Standards
Authority(FSSAI) (Labelling and Display regulation) of India Packaged food companies will be required to
label high fat, sugar and salt content levels on the front side of the package with "red-color-coding".
Key points:
i. Replacing old: This will replace the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011.
ii. Labelling regulations: Nutritional Information on calories (energy), saturated fats, trans-fats, added sugar
and sodium per serve should be mentioned on the Front of the Pack (FoP)labels.
iii. The food labels will also declare, per serve percentage contribution to Recommended Dietary Allowance
(RDA).
iv. Red-color coding norm: Mandatory red colour coding for products which are high in Fat, Sugar, and Salt.
This would be implemented in phases over a period of three years.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Flight Lieutenant Mohana Singh became the first IAF woman pilot to fly Hawk jets
Flight Lieutenant Mohana Singh became the first IAF woman pilot to become completely operational by day on
Hawk advanced jet aircraft. She landed the grueling 4 aircraft combat sortie at the Kalaikunda Air Force
Station in West Bengal.
Key Points:
i. At the training period, she was trained to fly air-to-air combat and air-to-ground missions.
ii. She has the experience of more than 500 hours of incident-free flying, of which 380 hours are on the Hawk Mk
132 jet.
iii. In June 2016, she along with two other women pilots Bhawana Kanth and Avani Chaturvadi had joined the
fighter stream.
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Rajasthan Health Department Conferred With WHO’s Award For Tobacco Control
The Medical and Health Department of Rajasthan was conferred with the World Health Organization’s
(WHO) Tobacco Control Award for 2019 in recognition of its achievements in the field of tobacco control. It
was presented on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day(WNTD) celebrated on May 31, 2019 in an event held in
New Delhi.
Key Points:
• It was received by Rohit Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Medical and Health Department of
Rajasthan.
• It was the only government body in country to receive the award for its tobacco-free initiatives.
• WHO had selected 33 institutions and individuals across world for this award. It included 5 organizations
from the South-East Asian (SEA) region namely India, Thailand and Indonesia. The 2 institutes selected
from India (in SEA region) were Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, New Delhi and Rajasthan’s Health
Department.
• Rajasthan Government had launched various initiatives against tobacco consumption. Health Department
with the help of other departments had developed tobacco-free premises near anganwadi centres,
educational institutions and health facilities to ensure that no tobacco product was sold within 100 yards
of these places.
• As a part of the initiative, on January 30, 2019 which is celebrated as Martyrs’ Day or Sarvodaya Day, 1.13
crore people took pledge against tobacco consumption at events held in 1.56 lakh government
institutions.
Ex-President Pratibha Patil awarded Mexico’s highest civilian award

Former president of India, Pratibha Patil was honored with the highest civilian award of Mexico termed “Orden
Mexicana del Aguila Azteca” (Order of the Aztec Eagle).
ii. The award was presented by Ambassador of Mexico to India, Melba Pria.
iii. She becomes the second Indian after the late President S. Radhakrishnan granted this honour.
Orden Mexicana del Aguila Aztec :
It is given by the Mexico Government to noteworthy people for strengthening the bilateral relations between
Mexico and other countries. Also, who has made a major contribution in various fields, service to their country or
its people.
About Pratibha Patil
♦ She had created history by becoming the first woman President.
♦ She was 12th President of India and was in office from 2007 to 2012.
Veteran Actress Sheela conferred with J C Daniel award

Veteran actress Sheela was conferred with Kerala’s highest J C Daniel award for her contribution
to Malayalam cinema at the Kerala state film award function at Nisagandhi auditorium in
Thiruvananthapuram. The award consists of 5 lakh cash prize, a citation, and a plaque.
i. In the previous years, Director Adoor Gopalakrishnan and lyricist Sreekumaran Thambi was honoured
with this award.
ii. The award committee was chaired by noted filmmaker K S Seethumadhavan.
iii. Sheela made her debut as an actress with MG Ramachandran(MGR)-starrer Tamil movie ‘Pasam’.
iv. She won the state award for the movie ‘Kallichellamma’ in 1969.
v. The actress also directed two movies named ‘Yakshaganam’ and ‘Sikharangal’ and authored the novel
‘Kuyilinte Koodu’.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Jal Shakti Minister, presented awards to the winners of Ganga Quest 2019
On June 5, 2019, In an event organized by National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) to celebrate World
Environment Day 2019, Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, presented the awards to
the winners of Ganga Quest 2019, a month-long online quiz organized for awareness and knowledge
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dissemination about river Ganga in the presence of Shri U.P. Singh, Secretary, and Shri Rajiv Ranjan Mishra,
Director General, NMCG along with other senior officials of the ministry.
Key points:
• The quiz had commenced on 22nd April 2019 (World Earth Day) and ended on 22nd May, 2019 (World
Biodiversity Day). It was organized by NMCG in partnership with Wild Life Institute of India, Tree Craze
foundation, GIZ and VA Tech WABAG.
• Nearly, 36,500 students participated in the competition from all over India. The competition was done for
four categories - up to class 8, class 8-10, class 11-12 and open for all.
• A cadre of self-motivated volunteers from the local communities, Ganga Praharis, created by Wild Life
Institute of India, was felicitated during the event for their work on biodiversity conservation and
cleanliness of the Ganga River.
• An Agreement was signed for Howrah, Bally and Baranagar & Kamarhati STP projects under Hybrid
Annuity based Public-Private Partnership(PPP) mode for West Bengal. It is the first project awarded in
West Bengal under the concept of One City One Operator through Hybrid Annuity based PPP mode.
• The project includes development of 3 new Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) of total 165 Million Litres
per Day (MLD) capacity – 65 MLD in Howrah, 40 MLD at Bally and 60 MLD at Baranagar&
Kamarhati,rehabilitation of existing 22 MLD STP in Bally, laying of 16 kms of sewerage
network, rehabilitation of existing pumping stations & associated infrastructure and Operation &
Maintenance of entire assets for a period of 15 years. It is assigned to VA Tech Wabag at a cost of Rs
592 Crore.
• During the event, 2 books published by ‘Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies’
on Biodiversity in Ganga River System and Improving conditions of water bodies in the vicinity of paper
and pulp industries in Ganga River Basin were released, along with two radio jingles on Water
Conservation created by National Water Mission.
Jay-Z is the World’s 1st Billionaire Rapper as per Forbes Magazine

As per Forbes Magazine, Jay-Z, whose real name is Sean Carter, was named as World’s 1st Billionaire Rapper. The
49 year older rapper, husband of the singer Beyonce, has the wealth of $1bn (£800m).
Key Points:
i. Forbes has estimated the wealth by adding various assets and then "subtracting a healthy amount to account
for a superstar lifestyle".
ii. He was born on December 4, 1969 in Brooklyn, New York, US.
iii. He made his debut in 1996 through the album “Reasonable Doubt”.
P Jayadevan Appointed as IOCL Executive Director for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry
P Jayadevan has been appointed as the executive director of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd for Tamil Nadu and
Puducherry succeeding R Sitharthan. He will be coordinating oil company. He was previously heading
Chairman's Secretariat at the corporate office, New Delhi. Prime Minister's Aadhaar Excellence Award was
awarded to him for his contribution.
Equator Prize 2019 announced by UNDP

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and partners announced the winners of
the10th Equator Prize 2019. It recognized 22 local and indigenous communities from across the world.The
winners were selected from a pool of 847 nominations across 127 countries in a four-stage selection process by
an independent Technical Advisory Committee of internationally renowned experts.
Key Points:
i. Winners will each receive $10,000 and the opportunity for two community representatives tojoin a week-long
summit in New York during the 74th United Nations General Assembly.
ii. They will be awarded at the Equator Prize Award Ceremony on 24 September 2019, at the Town Hall theatre
in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, US.
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Telangana-based NGO won UN’s Equator Prize 2019

The women sangams (groups) of the Deccan Development Society (DDS) bagged the United Nation’s Equator
Prize for 2019. They were selected for standing as ‘an outstanding example of a local, nature-based solution to
climate change and sustainable development.’ The six women farmers are Maisanagari Ratnamma,
BegariTuljamma, Chilkapalli Ansuyamma, Nagwar Sunandamma, Yerrolla Kanakamma, and Nadimidoddi
Anjamma.
Swachh Bharat Abhiyan initiative Reduced Groundwater Contamination

According to the study "Environmental impact of the Swachh Bharat Mission on Water, Soil, and Food" by
United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
shows Swachh Bharat has reduced groundwater contamination.
Key points:
i. The study showed that in terms of faecal contamination, non-ODF (Open Defecation Free) villages were, on
average 11.25 times more likely to have their groundwater sources contaminated (12.7 times more from
contaminants traceable to humans alone)
ii. 1.13 times more likely to have their soil contaminated.
iii. 1.48 times more likely to have food contaminated
iv. 2.68 times more likely to have household drinking water contaminated.
v. The study was released on the World Environment Day June 5 2019.
vi. Union Minister Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat stated that a WHO study conducted in 2018 estimated
that over three lakh lives will be saved by Swachh Bharat mission by the time India is Open Defecation Free.
Rihanna named as world's richest female musician with $600 million wealth
Singer Rihanna of age 31 is named as the world's richest female according to the Forbes magazine with an
estimated fortune of $600 million.She over took Madonna and Beyonce who topped the list previously. She is
from Barbados.
Tayari Jones Novel An American Marriage wins Women's Prize for Fiction
US Novelist Tayari Jones received Women's Prize for Fiction worth $40,000 for her novel An American
Marriage. The novel was praised by Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey. This is her fourth novel based on a
middle-class black couple torn apart by injustice. She also received Aspen Words Literary Prize for the same
novel.
Sunder Pichai, Adena Friedman to receive 2019 Global Leadership award

On June6, 2019, American multinational technology company ,Google's India-born CEO Sundar Pichai (46)
and NASDAQ ‘s (National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations) President Adena
Friedman (50) were chosen for the prestigious Global Leadership Awards 2019. They were chosen by business
advocacy group US-India Business Council (USIBC) for “catalyzing growth in the US-India commercial
corridor”.
About Global Leadership Award
i. It was instituted by Washington-based US-India Business Council (USIBC) since 2007.
ii. It is bestowed upon top corporate executives from the US and India whose companies play an important role
in nurturing growth in the US-India commercial corridor.
Rail Wheel Factory was awarded best performing Production Unit in the field of environment
On June 6 , 2019 ,According to the report on achievements of environment management of Indian railways ,
“Environmental Sustainability Annual Report 2018-19”, stated that best performing Production Unit in the
field of environment was awarded to Rail Wheel Factory, Yelahanka, Karnataka. The award was given on the
occasion of Environment Day.
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A 16 year old Climate activist Greta Thunberg wins Amnesty human rights award
Swedish teenage activist Greta Thunberg (16), has won the Amnesty International’s, “Ambassador of conscience”
for fighting against the peril of global warming.
About Ambassador of conscience award
i. It instituted in 2003.
ii. It celebrates individuals and groups who have furthered the cause of human rights by showing exceptional
courage standing up to injustice and who have used their talents to inspire others.
About Greta Thunberg
i. She is a Swedish teenage climate activist.
ii. She is known for having initiated the school strike for climate movement that formed in November 2018.
iii. She began protesting outside the Swedish parliament about the need for immediate action to combat climate
change in August 2018 last year.
iv. In March 2019, three members of the Norwegian parliament nominated Thunberg for the Nobel Peace
Prize In May 2019.
Former U.S President Jimmy Carter to be honoured with H. W. Bush Award for Statesmanship
Ex-President of United States of America (USA), Jimmy Carter (94) has won the inaugural George H. W. Bush
Award. He was awarded in recognition of his contributions to relations between the U.S. and China.
He will receive award at a private award ceremony which is scheduled on June 12 at the Carter Center in
Atlanta.
About George H. W. Bush Award
i. It instituted by George H. W. Bush Foundation.
ii. It is named after George H. W. Bush who was the 41st president of US from 1989 to 1993.
iii. It is given to people who made great contributions to the development of constructive and mutually beneficial
relations between the U.S and China.
About Jimmy Carter
i. Carter has served as University Distinguished Professor at Emory for 37 years.
ii. He is a former governor of Georgia from 1971 to 1975
iii. He also served as 39th president of United States from 1977 to 1981.
iv. Joint Communiqué on Establishment of Diplomatic Relations was signed on 1 January 1979 during his tenure.
Overview of Tony Awards 2019

2019 Tony Awards was the 73rd edition of Tony Awards held on June 9, 2019, to recognize achievement in
Broadway productions during the 2018–19 season. It was held in Radio City Music Hall, New York City.It was
hosted by James Corden.
Highlights:
• Hadestown, a musical about a young couple’s dark trip to the Underworld, was the most winning
production of the season by winning eight awards, including Best Musical.
• The Ferryman won four awards, including Best Play. Original musicals The Cher Show and Tootsie, the
revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, and the new play Ink each won two awards.
• 31-year-old actress Ali Stroker, won best featured actress for her outstanding role as Ado Annie in
Rogers and Hammerstein’s ‘Oklahoma!’ and made history by becoming the first actor in a wheelchair
to win a Tony Award.
List of winners:
Categories Winner
Best play “The Ferryman” by Jez Butterworth
Best revival of a musical Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!
Best musical “Hadestown”
Best revival of a play “The Boys in the Band” by Mart Crowley
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Best performance by an actor in a leading role Santino Fontana, “Tootsie”

in a musical
Best performance by an actress in a leading role Stephanie J. Block, “The Cher Show”
in a musical
Best performance by an actor in a leading role Bryan Cranston, “Network”
in a play
Best performance by an actress in a leading role Elaine May, “The Waverly Gallery”
in a play
Best book of a musical “Tootsie,” Robert Horn
Best original score (music and/or lyrics) “Hadestown,” Anaïs Mitchell
written for the theater
Best direction of a musical Rachel Chavkin, “Hadestown”
Best Direction of a Play Sam Mendes, “The Ferryman”
Best performance by an actor in a featured role André De Shields, “Hadestown”
in a musical
Best performance by an actress in a featured Ali Stroker, “Oklahoma!”
role in a musical
Best performance by an actor in a featured role Bertie Carvel, “Ink”
in a play
Best performance by an actress in a featured Celia Keenan-Bolger, “To Kill a Mockingbird”
role in a play
Best choreography Sergio Trujillo, “Ain’t Too Proud”
Best orchestrations Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose,
“Hadestown”
Best scenic design of a musical Rachel Hauck, “Hadestown”
Best scenic design of a play Rob Howell, “The Ferryman”
Best costume design of a musical Bob Mackie, “The Cher Show”
Best costume design of a play Rob Howell, “The Ferryman”
Best sound design of a musical Nevin Steinberg and Jessica Paz, “Hadestown”
Best sound design of a play Fitz Patton, “Choir Boy”
Best lighting design of a musical Bradley King, “Hadestown”
Best lighting design of a play Neil Austin, “Ink”
About Tony Awards:
• First awarded – April 6, 1947
• It was formed by a committee of the American Theatre Wing headed by Brock Pemberton.
• The award is named after Antoinette Perry, nicknamed Tony .
Amazon beats Apple and Google to become the world’s most valuable brand: Survey
According to the report , “BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brand ranking 2019”, compiled by WPP
research agency Kantar states that American multinational technology company ,Amazon has overtaken Apple
and Google to become the world’s most valuable brand at $315.5 billion.
Key points:
i. The brand value of Amazon grew 52% between 2018 and 2019, while Apple (2nd place) grew 3% to $309.5
billion, Google (3rd place )at $309 billion grew 2%.
ii. Microsoft is at fourth place with a value of $251bn.
iii. Google takes top rank in 2018.This year 2019, Amazon jumped from third to top to replace Google.
iv. Payments specialist Visa is at fifth place with $178 billion, while Facebook was the sixth with $159 billion.
v. For the first time, Alibaba (7th) overtakes Tencent (8th) to become the most valuable Chinese brand.
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Mahindra wins Gold Award in South Africa

On June 10,2019 , The automobile Giant Mahindra Group won the Gold Award in South Africa. It clinches the top
spot among 29 vehicle brands for the award.
Key points:
i. Mahindra Group received the Gold award from National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA).
ii. Satisfaction among its dealers and being fair and responsive in the way allocated vehicles to its dealers gave
the Mahindra group at the top honor.
iii. It has 60 dealers in South Africa.
Renowned English writer Amitav Ghosh honoured with 54th Jnanpith Award, 2018
Noted English Fiction writer Amitav Ghosh(63) received the country’s highest literary honour 54th Jnanpith
Award in New Delhi.The decision taken by the Jnanpith Selection Board chaired by Jnanpith laureate Pratibha
Ray. Former West Bengal Governer ,Gopalakrishna Gandhi ,who was the chief guest of the event presented the
award.
About Amitav Ghosh
i. Amitav Ghosh is one of the most prominent contemporary Writer who is famous connecting past with present
in relevant ways in his novels.
ii. Ghosh is known for his novels such as Shadow Lines, The Glass Palace, The Hunger Tide, River of smoke, Flood
of Fire.
iii. Amitav Ghosh is also recipient of the Padma Shri(2007) and Sahitya Akademi Awards.
Jnanpith Award
♦ It was instituted in 1961
♦ Jnanpith Awards is Indian literary award presented annually by the Bhartiya Jnanpith to an Author for their
outstanding contribution towards literature.
♦ The award given to the writer with a cash prize of Rs. 1.5 Lakh, bronze replica of ‘Sraswathi’
Manipur youth inducted into Facebook ‘Hall of Fame’ for discovering Whatsapp bug
A 22-year-old civil engineer, Zonel Sougaijam from Imphal east of Manipur was recognized by the social media
giant “Facebook” for discovering and reporting a WhatsApp bug that violated the privacy of a user.
Key Highlights:
i. Zonel Sougaijam was rewarded $5000 and also inducted into the Facebook ‘Hall of Fame’2019.
ii. Now he is at the 16th position in a rundown of 94 people in the 'Facebook Hall of Fame' 2019.
iii. The bug bounty program of Facebook where the user can report critical bugs which violates the privacy of
its users.
Seven Indian-origin Australians honoured

On June 11, 2019, seven Indian-origin Australians have been honoured for their outstanding contributions in the
field of medicine, music, education and finance in Australia. The winners include three women and four
men.
Key points:
i. About 1,000 Australians were honoured as a part of Queen’s Birthday Award ceremonies.
ii. In the field of Medicine, Jayashri Kulkarni , The Director of the Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre
and Winita Hardikar received Member of the Order of Australia (OAM).
iii. Artist Jayshree Ramachandran( Melbourne )also awarded Member of the Order of Australia
iv. Shashi Kant Kochchar for charitable initiatives and Arun Kumar for the service to the financial planning
sector were also awarded.
v. Krishna Dhana Nadimpalli (Canberra) for the service to multi-culturalism and Maha
Sinnathamby (Brisbane ) for the contribution to the property industry and the community received the OAM.
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Kohli only Indian among Forbes Highest paid athletes, Messi tops the list
Star Cricketer Virat Kholi remains the only Indian in the Forbes list of World’s highest paid athletes 2019 with
the annual earnings of $25millon(mn).He has slipped 17 spots (ranked 83rd on 2018) to be 100th in the list. The
list has been topped by the Barcelona and Argentina professional Footballer Lionel Messi with the annual
earnings of $127mn.
Key points:
i. The estimated annual earnings of $25mn consists $21mn from endorsements and $4mn from salary and
winnings.
ii. Cristiano Ronaldo (Football) ranked second while Neymar (Football) ranked third.
Dell tops the list of most trusted brand in India, while Amazon is most trusted Internet Brand: TRA
Research 2019
According to the report “Brand Trust Report, 2019”, by Trust Research Advisory (TRA), Dell tops the list as the
most trusted brand for 2019 in India. It is followed by automobile brand Jeep, and LIC (Life Insurance
Corporation of India).While largest E-commerce player Amazon has emerged as a most trusted internet Brand
ranked as 4th in the list followed by Apple iPhone at 5th position.
Key points:
i. Dell was ranked 6th position in 2018, while Samsung, which was 2018’s most trusted brand now at 6th position.
ii. Jeep makes the second spot with a great jump of 551 ranks from 2018.
iii. Amazon rised 53 ranks from 2018.
Priyanka Chopra awarded Danny Kaye Humanitarian Award by UNICEF

Indian actress Priyanka Chopra was selected for “Danny Kaye Humanitarian Award” by United Nations
International Children’s Fund’s (UNICEF) American chapter for her contribution to social causes and for being
a voice for children’s education. She will be presented with this award at UNICEF American chapter’s Snowflake
Ball which is to be held in December 2019 in New York.
About Priyanka Chopra:
i. She is the National and Global UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Child Rights in 2010 and 2016, respectively.
ii. She was part of the United Nation’s global “Girl Up” Campaign.
iii. In India, she is also associated with several NGOs (Non-governmental organizations) to raise awareness about
ways to improve the education, health, and safety of girl child in India.
Danny Kaye Humanitarian Award
It is named after actor-philanthropist Danny Kaye. He was American actor, singer, comedian, musician, dancer,
and philanthropist. He was first Goodwill Ambassador UNICEF appointed in 1954.
RIL, HDFC among 57 Indian companies get place in Forbes ‘Global 2000’
In a list of the ‘world’s 2,000 largest public companies’, compiled by Forbes magazine, Mukesh Ambani led
Reliance Industries leads the list of 57 Indian companies (71st rank globally). The overall chart has been
topped by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) for the 7th year in a row.
Key points:
i. For the consumer financial sector, American Express has topped while Housing finance major HDFC Ltd
(Housing Development Finance Corporation) ranked 7th (332nd globally). In Oil and gas sector, Reliance
Industries is ranked 11th globally, while Royal Dutch Shell has come on the top.
ii. 575 companies enlisted are from the US which marks its dominance as the country with the most Global 2000
companies. This followed by China and Hong Kong (309) and Japan (223).
iii. Some other Indian companies making it to the list are: HDFC Bank (209), ONGC (220), Indian Oil (288).
iv. The top ten companies are ICBC, JP Morgan, China Construction Bank, Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of
America, Apple, Ping An Insurance Group, Bank of China, Royal Dutch Shell and Wells Fargo.
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Bal Sahitya Puraskar & Yuva Puraskar 2019 announced by Sahitya Akademi
On June 14, 2019, Sahitya Akademi, which is announced annually, has selected the list of 22 writers for
the Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2019 and 23 writers for Yuva Puraskar 2019. The approval for
the selection of awardees was given by the Executive Board of the Akademi under the Chairmanship of its
President, Dr. Chandrashekhar Kambar in Agartala, Tripura. The Award in the form of a casket will contain an
engraved copper-plaque and a cheque of Rs.50,000.
Key Points:
i. The awardees were selected based on the recommendations made by the Jury of 3 members each in the
concerned language, in accordance with the rules and procedures. Awards were declared on the basis of
unanimous/majority vote of the Jury.
ii. For the Bal Sahitya Puraskar, which will be given on Children's Day, the Awards were related to books first
published during the five years immediately preceding the year of Award (between January 1, 2013 and
December 31, 2017).
iii. Yuva Puraskar awards were related to books published by an author who is 35 years of age and below as on
1st January 2019.
iv. Bal Sahitya Puraskar and Yuva Puraskar in Maithili were to be declared on a later date.
Winners of Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2019:
6 Children’s Poetry Books by authors including Vijay Sharma (Dogri), Naji Munauwar (Kashmiri), and Sanjay
Chaubey (Sanskrit), 5 Story Books by authors including Govind Sharma (Hindi), Mohammad Khalil (Urdu), and
Swmim Nasrin (Assamese), 5 authors for their total contribution in children’s literature, 1 FolkTale author
Lakhminath Brahma (Bodo language), 3 Novels by Chandrakanth Karadalli (Kannada), Salim Sardar Mulla
(Marathi), and Pawan Harchandpuri (Punjabi), 1 History book by Devika Cariapa (English) and 1 Play by R K
Sanahanbi Chanu (Manipuri) won the award.
Winners of Yuva Puraskar 2019:
11 Poetry Books including works by Anuj Lugun (Hindi), Sagar Nazir (Kashmiri), Anuja Akathoottu (Malayalam)
and others, 6 Short Stories by Tanuj Solanki (English), Ajay Soni (Gujarati), Keerti Parihar (Rajasthani) and
others, 5 Novels by Moumita (Bengali), and Salman Abdus Samad (Urdu) among others and 1 in Literary criticism
won the award.
Social activist Makarand Tilloo conferred with ‘Save Water Hero Award’
On June 11, 2019, Social activist Makarand Tilloo was conferred with ‘Save Water Hero Award’. He received
this award for his efforts to raise awareness about water conservation in the city. The award ceremony was held
in Pune, Maharashtra.
Key Points:
i. Makarand Tilloo, a Laughter Yoga trainer and motivational speaker by profession, started a campaign to save
water by replacing leaking taps with new ones.
ii. He was honoured by the HridayMitra Foundation in the presence of writer and philanthropist Ramchandra
Dekhane, Kothrud Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Medha Kulkarni and foundation president
Shrikant Mundada.
iii. Tilloo is the founder of a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) named Jalrakshak Prabodhini.
HridayMitra Foundation:
The HridayMitra Foundation is an organisation which aims to spread awareness about diseases as well as the
surgeries required to remedy them. It also runs a free helpline, offering people financial guidance and other such
services.
An 8-year old Indian girl honoured in UAE's waste recycling campaign

Nia Tony, an eight year old Indian girl was honoured during the 22nd edition of the Emirates Recycling
Awards in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) for her role in keeping the environment clean by collecting
paper wastes.
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Key points:
i. The campaign was organized by the Emirates Environmental Group (EEG), a non-governmental professional
working group based in UAE.
ii. The eco-warrior, Tony was honoured with Eco Champions of Recycling award for her role in saving the
environment.
iii. The campaign had different waste categories such as paper, plastic, glass, cans, mobiles and toners. She won
the paper section in the individual category for collecting a total of 14,914 kg of paper waste.
National Geographic Society Installed World’s Highest Operating Weather Stations on Mount Everest
On June 14, 2019 National Geographic Society scientists and researchers announced that they installed the
world's highest operating automated weather stations on Mount Everest, including five other automated
stations on other parts of the mountain.
Key points:
i. The other five weather stations that are located in the Mount Everest are in Balcony area (8,430 m), South Col
(7,945m) Phortse (3,810 m), Everest Base Camp (5,315 m) and Camp II (6,464 m).
ii. The weather station provides the real-time information about mountain conditions such as data on
temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed, and wind direction for the benefit of
researchers, climbers, and the public.
iii. An international team members from eight countries, including 17 Nepali researchers, climbers and story-
tellers, headed by the National Geographic Society and Tribhuvan University in partnership with Rolex,
conducted a two month scientific expedition to Mount Everest.
Chinese President Xi Jinping Awarded Kyrgyzstan’s Highest Honour

On June 14, 2019 , Chinese President Xi Jinping was conferred with Kyrgyzstan’s Highest National Award,
“Manas Order of the First Degree” in Kyrgyzstan.
Key points:
i. The award was presented by President of Kyrgyzstan ,Sooronbay Jeenbekov.
ii. Xi Jinping, who is on a state visit to Kyrgyzstan and to take part in two-day 19th SCO summit.
About Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
i. It is permanent intergovernmental international organization. It is Eurasian political, economic, and security
alliance and has been the primary security pillar of the region.
ii. Its main objective is military cooperation between member states. It is primarily centred on security-related
concerns of Central Asian members with main threats being terrorism, separatism and extremism. It also works
towards counter-terrorism operations, intelligence-sharing in Central Asia.
iii. It was established in 2001 and is successor of Shanghai Five mechanism (established in 1996).
Akshay Patra's school meals program wins BBC award

The Akshaya Patra Foundation (TAPF) ,a Non-governmental organizations (NGO) based on Bangalore that runs
school lunch programme across India has been awarded the BBC(British Broadcasting Corporation) “World
Service Global Champion Award” for the mid-day meal project. The award was presented at the BBC Food and
Farming Awards in Bristol in London, UK.
Key points:
i. An international panel of judges selected Akshaya Patra from nomination given by the audience around the
globe.
ii. The NGO started to provide mid-day meal almost 20 years ago,now it reaches to feed 1.75 million children all
over India.
About Akshaya Patra Foundation
i. It is an NGO in India was founded by Madhu Pandit Dasa in 2000.
ii. It runs with the mission of unlimited Food for Education and to ensure that no child is deprived of education
because of hunger.
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Suman Rao crowned as Miss India 2019

On June 15, 2019, A 20-year-old model, Suman Rao, a resident of Rajsamand, Rajasthan was crowned Miss India
2019. The ceremony was held at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Indoor Stadium, Mumbai, Maharashtra. She was
crowned by Miss India 2018 Anukreethy Vas from Tamil Nadu.
Key Points:
i. Born on November 23, 1999. Suman has the title of Miss India Rajasthan 2019 and will represent India in the
coveted Miss World 2019 which is going to be held in Pattaya, Bangkok in December 2019. She is pursuing a
Chartered Accountancy course from New Delhi along with B.Com.
ii. Shivani Jadhav from Chhattisgarh won Femina Miss Grand India 2019 title and Shreya Shanker from Bihar
won Miss India United Continents 2019 title.
44th Matri Shree Media Awards conferred upon 29 journalists

On June 17, 2019, Twenty-nine journalists from print and electronic media were honoured with 44th Matri
Shree Media Awards for the year 2019 for their contribution towards journalism. The award ceremony was
held in New Delhi.
Key points:
i. Namita(PTI (Press Trust of India ) Bhasha), Durga Pasad Mishra( PTI photo journalist), Agraj Pratap Singh
(UNI), Jitender Kumar (Univarta), Poonam Gaur (Navbharat Times), Ravi Bhushan Dwivedi (Sandhya Times) and
Kunal Kashyap (Punjab Kesari), Sandeep Ashwario Chief Cartoonist (Times of India) were among those
honoured with the awards.
ii. The winners received the Matri Shree Bharat Mata shield and a pen
iii. Working President of Punjab Kesari Delhi Swadesh Bhushan Jain and Chairman of the Committee Ashok
Aggarwal, Harish Chopra, Ankush Aggarwal, Chetan Sharma, Ramesh Bajaj, Vishal Rana and Kailash Agrawal
presented the shield to the winners.
iv. A social activist was also presented the Bharat Mata shield at the award function.
v. 'Badhai Ho' got the prize for best film.
vi. Adesh Gupta, Former mayor of North Delhi Municipal Corporation was also honoured for the contribution to
social service.
About Matri Shree Media Awards
i. It is a series of awards for outstanding performance in different areas of journalism and related fields awarded
in India.
ii.This award was established during the days of The Emergency (India) in 1975.
Nirmala Sitharaman and S Jaishankar to be honoured with 'Distinguished Alumni Award’

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) will honour Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs
Minister Dr S Jaishankar with'Distinguished Alumni Award'. This was decided by the Executive Council of
JNU. They will be awarded on the third convocation ceremony of the university, which will be held in August
2019. They will be the first recipient of this award.
Key Points:
i. Union External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar is an alumnus of JNU’s School of International Studies. He
completed his Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) as well as Doctoral Research from JNU. He is specialized in the field
of nuclear diplomacy from JNU.
ii. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is an alumnus of the University's School of Social Sciences. She earned
her Master of Arts (M.A) degree and she completed her M.Phil from School of International Studies.
Amazon emerges country’s Most Attractive Employer Brand for 2019:Survey

According to the report ,“ Randstad Employer Brand Research 2019 report(REBR) 2019” states that e-
commerce giant, Amazon India emerged as the country’s most attractive employer brand for the year 2019. It is
followed by Microsoft India (2nd) which emerged as the runner up and Sony India(3rd ).
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Key points:
i. The ranking was on the basis of financial health, utilization of latest technologies and a strong reputation.
ii. Others among the top most attractive employer brands in India for 2019 include Mercedes-Benz ( 4th), IBM
(5th ), Larsen & Toubro (6th ), Nestle (7th ), Infosys (8th), Samsung (9th ) and Dell (10th ).
iii. The REBR covered 75 per cent of the global economy with 32 participating countries and more than 2,00,000
respondents worldwide.
iv. For the Indian workforce, while choosing an employer ,salary and employee benefits continue to be the top
driver followed by work-life balance and job security.
v. The survey further notified that 55 per cent of Indians prefer to work for a large multi-national corporation,
while only 9 per cent preferred start-ups.
Maharashtra topped the USGBC list of Top 10 States for LEED in India
In the Second Edition of the United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) list of India’s top 10 states which
have maximum number ofLeadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified green
buildings, Maharashtra bagged the top slot with 334 LEED-certified green buildings. It was followed
by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu with 232 and 157 buildings respectively.
Key Points:
i. LEED is a widely used green building rating system which ranks states in terms of cumulative Gross Square
Feet (GSF) of certified space. They were ranked as on December 31, 2018.
ii. In the 1st Edition of the list, Tamil Nadu was ranked first with 118 buildings.
iii. Gopalakrishnan Padmanabhan is the Managing Director, Southeast Asia and Middle East, USGBC and Green
Business Certification Inc. (GBCI).
Rank State No. of LEED certified projects Certified GSF in Millions
1. Maharashtra 334 106,057,234
2. Karnataka 232 85,887,580
3. Tamil Nadu 157 58,809,553
4. Haryana 125 56,351,837
5. Uttar Pradesh 82 45,734,497
6. Telangana 91 40,609,702
7. Delhi 57 27,929,152
8. Gujarat 53 23,990,638
9. West Bengal 35 20,898,539
10. Rajasthan 19 9,221,494
Kolhapuri chappal gets GI (Geographical Indications) tag

World famous handcrafted footwear, Kolhapuri chappal gets a Geographic Indication (GI) tag from The
Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Mark. The tag was given to the states of Maharashtra and
Karnataka, covering four districts each.
Key points:
i. The four districts in Maharashtra are Kolhapur, Solapur, Sangli, and Satara and four districts in Karnataka are
Dharwad, Belgaum, Bagalkot, and Bijapur.
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ii.Benefits: Tagging will help artisans in Kolhapur make& market their products domestically and
internationally. It will also help these artisans to tackle attempts to copy or imitate the footwear brand illegally.
iii. Kolhapuri Chappal: Brand Kolhapuri came at the beginning of the 20th century when the footwear began to
be traded in Kolhapur. Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj encouraged production of Kolhapuri Chappal and opened 29
tanning centers during his rule.
About Geographical Indication
It is used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due
to that origin.
Dr Gaurav Nigam, an educationist, pediatrician and author, honoured with 'Innovative Research
Excellence Award 2019'
A well-known educationist, pediatrician and author, Dr Gaurav Nigam was conferred with the 'Innovative
Research Excellence Award 2019' by Lyonpo Ugyen Dorji, Minister for Labour and Human Resources of
Bhutan at the Asian Leadership Summit held at Thimphu, Bhutan. The event was organized by Global Leaders
Foundation.
Key Points:
i. He was conferred this award for his excellence in school education on the basis of his excellent performance,
splendid achievement and outstanding contribution towards the innovative development and research activities
in the field of school education in South Asian Region.
ii. He is the founder of iCare, an organization working in the area of new-age child health care and Intelligentsia,
a research-based play school.
iii. He is the author of the book titled 'Devil Inside My Mind'.
DD India channel will be broadcasted in Bangladesh & South Korea

On June 19, 2019, The Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry, Government of India signed the agreement
with Bangladesh and South Korea for DD (Doordarshan) India, an Indian English News and Current Affairs
Channel which is to be telecasted in those countries.
Key points:
i. The BTV World, a channel owned by Bangladesh TV and KBS World, an English 24x7 channel of the South
Korean government will be available in India on DDFree Dish, which has nearly 35 million subscribers across the
country.
ii. The decision comes from an MoU (Memorandum of understanding) signed between Prasar Bharati and
Bangladesh TV (BTV).
iii. This will help India’s relation with its South Asian countries.
Rachna Khaira of The Tribune won RedInk Award for 'Journalist of the Year 2019' for Aadhaar expose
Rachna Khaira of The Tribune News Service won RedInk Award for 'Journalist of the Year 2019'. The award
was bestowed for her expose on the functioning of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and its
Aadhaar data cache held in 2018.
Key Points:
i. The article was published in The Tribune edition dated January 4, 2018 and the leads provided in the article
became a part of Public Interest Litigation (PIL),
ii. At present, Khaira works for The Huffington Post.
iii. The RedInk Awards for Excellence in Journalism, founded by The Mumbai Press Club in 2010, awarded
the Lifetime Achievement Award for 2019 jointly to two retired senior journalists Dinu Ranadive (aged 94)
who retired from the Maharashtra Times, and photojournalist Sebastian D'Souza, who had served as photo
editor of Mumbai Mirror.
iv. The RedInk 'Star Mumbai Reporter' award for 2019 was given to Mid-Day reporter Ranjeet Jadhav.
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Malayalam film 'Veyilmarangal' won an award at Shanghai International film festival

In the 22nd Shanghai International Film Festival, Director Bijukumar Damodaran has received the Outstanding
Artistic Achievement Award for the film, Veyil Marangal (Trees Under the Sun).
Key points:
i. This is for the first Indian film to win a major award at the festival. The film was one among the 3,964 entries
submitted from 112 countries in the prestigious Golden Goblet Award competition.
ii. Actor Indians is playing the lead character in the film.
iii. The jury chairperson at the Fest was the Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan.
iv. It is Dr. Biju's second time at the fest, after featuring his film 'Aakasathinte Niram'(Colour of Sky) in 2012 at
Shanghai.
Sameer Gulati bags Rs. 3 lakhs for ‘world’s best coder’ at TechGig Code Gladiators 2019
In the 6th Edition of TechGig Code Gladiators 2019, an annual coding competition, Ex-champion, Sameer
Gulati won the title as 'world's best coder' and took home prize money of Rs 3,00,000, a trophy and a certificate.
The event was held at Reliance Corporate Park, Navi Mumbai.
Key points:
i. Technology themes: The event also hosted a total of 10 exciting technology themes include Artificial
Intelligence, Blockchain, Chatbots, Robotic Process Automation, Fintech, Software Testing, Location Services,
Amazon Alexa Skills, Internet of Things, and New Commerce.
ii. Registration:This edition saw over 2.6 lakh registrations(Of this, 21 per cent (55,633 out of 2,62,906) were
female coders) for the 87-day long coding competition.
iii. Vaishnavi crowned as the Best Female Coder.
Nirmala Sitharaman, Union finance & Corporate Affairs minister, among ‘100 Most Influential in UK-India
Relations: Celebrating Women' list
On June 24, 2019, To mark 'India Day' in the Houses of Parliament in London, United Kingdom (UK), Sajid Javid,
Home Secretary of UK, released the '100 most Influential in UK-India Relations: Celebrating Women' list.
Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister of India, Nirmala Sitharaman,was one among the 100 most influential
women driving the UK-India relationship forward.
Key Points:
i. It credited her for playing a "pivotal" role in the bilateral relationship between the countries as the former
Defence Minister of India and now as the finance minister.
ii. The list included Britain's Secretary of State for Defence Penny Mordaunt, along with other prominent names
such as Priti Patel, Baroness Sandy Verma, filmmaker Gurinder Chadha, Indian law firm chiefs Zia Mody and
Pallavi S Shroff, Apollo Hospitals' managing director Suneeta Reddy, Nasscom President Debjani Ghosh, Aarthi
Subramanian, Group Chief Digital Officer of Tata Sons and Ruchi Ghanashyam, the Indian High Commissioner to
the UK.
Nitesh Kumar Jangir ,an Indian Engineer won innovation award in UK

An Indian engineer, Nitesh Kumar Jangir, from Bangalore has won the Commonwealth Secretary-General's
Innovation for Sustainable Development Award 2019 in the “People” category in London, UK (United
Kingdom)for the creation low-cost neonatal breathing device named “Saans” for saving the lives of newborn
babies.
Key points:
i. The award was presented by Prince Harry, Youth Ambassador of Commonwealth and Patricia Scotland,
Commonwealth Secretary-General.
ii. Saans: It is breath supporting device used for tackling avoidable deaths of premature babies from Neonatal
Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS)and It is world’s first neonatal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
device powered in multiple ways through direct source electricity, including rechargeable battery, vehicle’s
electrical supply, etc.
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APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNS

India’s Anita Bhatia Picked up for Deputy Executive Director of UN Women
Anita Bhatia has been appointed by UN Secretary-General Antonio as the Deputy Executive Director of
the UN (United Nations) Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).
i. She has a famed career at the World Bank, serving in various senior leadership and management positions.
ii. Bhatia holds a BA in history from Calcutta University, an Master of Arts in Political Science in political science
from Yale University and a Juris Doctor in law from Georgetown University.
Anton Aditya Subowo re-elected as a president of Badminton Asia

i. Indonesia’s Anton Aditya subowo re-elected as a president of badminton
for another four year period.
ii. There were seven people selected as the vice-presidents. India’s Badminton Asia’s president Himanta Biswa
Sarma was one among them. Moosa Nashid from the Maldives named as its Secretary-General while Jassem
Kanso (Lebanon) appointed as Treasurer.
iii. 40 countries were voted for the posts of President, Vice President, and Secretary-General.
Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra given three-month extension in office

On May 31, 2019, The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has given 3-month extension in office to the
Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra up to August 23, 2019. He was supposed to retire from his service on May 31,
2019, after the completion of 2 years in office.
Key Points:
i. Sanjay Mitra is a 1982-batch IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officer of the West Bengal cadre.
ii. He was appointed as the defence secretary on May 24, 2017 succeeding G. Mohan Kumar.
iii. He has served as the secretary to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and as the chief secretary of
West Bengal.
iv. On Acting basis, he has also served as the chairperson of the Defence Research and Development
Organization(DRDO) for 3 months.
Arun Kumar, Senior Aviation Official to hold additional charge as DG of DGCA

Arun Kumar, additional secretary in the ministry of Civil Aviation was assigned with an additional charge as
the Director General (DG) of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). He assumed the charge on June 1,
2019, succeeding B S Bhullar who retired on May 31, 2019.
Key Points:
i. The Senior IAS (Indian Administrative Service) Officer will hold this position for 3 months or till the time a new
incumbent joins, whichever is earlier.
ii. Arun Kumar has experience in the aviation ministry over 5 years as joint secretary in areas like airports,
DGCA, international cooperations, Air India and other airlines.
Flipkart’s Sachin Bansal joins Ujjivan Small Finance Bank

Flipkart’s co-founder Sachin Bansal to join Ujjivan Small Finance banks as it’s an independent director from
June 1st. This step is taken in order to achieve the banks plan to upgrade itself as an state-of-the-art mass market
bank.Headquarters of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank – Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Eminent Consumer Brand Veeba foods appoint Shah Rukh Khan as its brand Ambassador for its new
brand “V-Nourish”
i. Popular consumer brand, Veeba foods make inroads into a nutrition segment with its new brand V-Nourish , a
nutrition supplement for kids above 5 years appoints Shah Rukh Khan as its Ambassador.
ii. The company has partnered with Shah Rukh Khan for V-Nourish’s launching campaign, “Real Ingredients and
Wholesome Nutrition for Shaitaan Ki Jaan”.
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iii. This supplement has 4 variants such as Choco-Cookie flavour, Strawberry flavour, Badam flavour and Kesar
Pista flavor.
The chief of Spicejet Ajay Singh elected to the board of IATA

i. India’s favorite domestic airline Spicejet’s chairman and MD Ajay Singh was elected to the board of
the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
ii. The new board would be chaired by Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr.
iii. Founder and former chairman of the now newly revived Jet Airways Naresh Goyal, was a member on the
previous board.
Nayib Bukele to be sworn as President of El Salvador

Nayib Bukele, a conservative businessman sworn in as the President of El Salvador, a small Central American
nation, by the speaker of National Assembly. He will succeed Salvador Sanchez Ceren, a leftist former guerrill.
RBI approved the appointment of Rakesh Makhija as Chairman of Axis Bank

On June 3, 2019, The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the appointment of Rakesh Makhija as the Non-
Executive (Part-Time) Chairman of Axis Bank for a period of 3 years, with effect from July 18, 2019, to July 17,
2022. He will succeed current Axis Bank Chairman Sanjiv Mishra, whose term will end on July 17.
Key Points:
i. In March, the board of Axis Bank had approved the appointment of Rakesh Makhija as the Chairman subject to
RBI clearance.
ii. In his career of over 4 decades, he was an active participant and contributor to the industrial and technology
sectors, in India and abroad.
iii. He was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director(MD) of Tata Honeywell Ltd. He has also held
a number of top management positions within the SKF Group.
National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajith Doval gets Cabinet rank with an extension of Five more years
The Government of India reappointed Ajith Doval as National security Advisor (NSA) for 5 years as well as given
upgraded position from the minister of state to a Cabinet rank.
i. This is for the first time that an NSA has been given cabinet rank.
ii. The reason for this recognition is that under Doval, who was earlier Minister of State, the 2016 surgical
strikes after the Uri attack and the 2019 Balakot strikes after the Pulwama terror attack took place.
About Doval
♦ He was appointed as NSA in 2014.
♦ He is a 1968-batch IPS officer and former chief of the Intelligence Bureau.
CAG Rajiv Mehrishi elected as external auditor of WHO

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, Rajiv Mehrishi is elected as external auditor of the World
Health Organization (WHO) for four years from 2020 to 2023. He takes the charge from the Supreme Audit
Institution of Philippines.
Key points:
i. He was elected in the 72nd World Health Assembly in Geneva with a majority of 90 votes out of 162 votes.
ii. Mehrishi is currently on the Board of Auditors of the United Nations (UN) and Vice-Chair of the UN Panel
of External Auditors (UNPEA).
Arun Kumar Sahu Appointed As the next High Commissioner of India to The Republic of Trinidad and
Tobago
On June 4, 2019, the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India announced the appointment of Arun
Kumar Sahu as next High Commissioner of India to The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. He is currently serving
as Deputy High Commissioner in the High Commission of India, Ottawa. He succeeds Biswadip Dey.
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Lt Gen PJS Pannu designated as Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence staff (operation)
On June 5, 2019, The Defence Ministry, Government of India appointed Lt Gen PJS Pannu as Deputy Chief of
Integrated Defence staff (operations) after Air Marshal Rajeev Sachdeva with effect from June 1. Priory he was
serving as the Deputy Chief Integrated Defence Staff (Doctrine Organisation and Training).
Key points:
i. He is an alumnus of Indian Military Academy and was commissioned into 22nd Battalion, The Maratha Light
Infantry (MLI) on December 1980 and commanded the battalion from May 1999 to February during operation
‘VIJAY’.
ii. He also held prestigious appointments in army force such as General staff officer grade1, Director in Military
operation directorate, colonel military secretary and Deputy military assistant to chief of army staff.
iii. He is also served in UN mission in Mozambique and sudan.
iv. He was awarded the Param Vishist Seva medal in 2018 and Arti Vishist seva medal in 2014.
Integrated Defence Staff (opearation):
♦ Formed on: November 2001
♦ Motto:Victory Through Jointness
♦ Minister responsible: Defence Minister
Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra appointed as IMD Chief

Cyclone man Mrutyunjay Mohapatra is appointed as the chief or Director General (DG) of India Meteorological
Department (IMD) for a period of five years. He earned his praises after accurate prediction during Fani cyclone.
He is from Bhadrak district of Odisha. He succeeds KJ Ramesh.
i. Prior to this, the 54 years old, named as “Scientist G” was serving as the Additional Director General in the IMD.
BSF Officer S S Chahar Posted As BSF Academy Head

S S Chahar, 1983-batch BSF-cadre officer is appointed as the Director of the Border Security Force (BSF),
Tekanpur , Madhya Pradesh - an Additional Director General (ADG) rank till 2021. He hails from Agra and
13th person to be elevated to this post. He has received honors like the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) and police
medals for meritorious and distinguished services.
Tijjani Muhammad-Bande elected as UNGA President

Nigeria’s Ambassador to the UN Tijjani Muhammad-Bande was elected as the President for 74th session of
United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). He will be succeeding Maria Fernanda Espinosa.
Key points:
i. He is the second Nigerian UNGA president after Joseph Nanven Garba.
ii. He stated that the major priorities will be implementation of the existing mandates and the 2030 Agenda with
particular focus on peace and security, poverty and education, zero hunger, quality education, climate action.
Gianni Infantino re-elected as FIFA President

Swiss–Italian football administrator Gianni Infantino has been re-elected as President of Federation
Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), a global governing body of football.
About Giannni Infantino:
i. He is a Lawyer from Valais region of Switzerland and Hold Italian Nationality.
ii. He was elected President of FIFA in 2016
iii. Prior to becoming FIFA President, he was the General Secretary of UEFA (Union of European Football
Associations) since 2009.
Azim Premji, founder of Wipro, to Retire as Executive Chairman of Wipro

The founder of Wipro, Azim Premji, aged 74, will retire as Executive Chairman of Wipro from July 30, 2019.
Although, he will retire from the Executive functions as Chairman and Managing Director, he will remain on the
board as Non-Executive Chairman for a period of 5 years from July 31 - July 30, 2024. His elder son, Rishad
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Premji, who is the chief strategy officer and a board member, will take over as Whole-Time Director and
designated Executive Chairman of the company.
Key Points:
i. The Chief Executive officer(CEO), Abidali Neemuchwala will be re-designated as CEO and Managing
Director(MD).
ii. The changes will be effective on July 31, 2019.
iii. Azim Premji, who served Wipro for 53 years, had won special Economic Times (ET) Award for philanthropy
in 2010 and ET’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013. The Azim Premji Foundation was the recipient of the ET
Corporate Citizen Award in 2006.
Pramila Jayapal first South Asian American woman to preside over US House
Indian-American Pramila Jayapal of age 53, a Democrat from Washington DC set record by becoming
first South Asian American woman to preside over the US House of Representatives as a temporary speaker.
She was first elected in 2016. The Congress holds about 17 Asian Americans, with 14 in the House and three
in the Senate.
Prayuth Chan-ocha elected as the Prime Minister of Thailand

Thailand Parliament, elected Prayuth Chan-ocha of Palang Pracharat party as Prime Minister for a second
term.He defeated Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, leader of Future Forward party by a margin of 500 to
244 votes.
KeyPoints:
i. His appointment will be announced official when crowned King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand endorse it.
ii. Prayuth Chan-ocha was a chief of staff of the Royal Thai Army from 2008 to 2009 and in 2009 he was
appointed honorary adjutant to the king.
iii. In 2010, he succeeded Anupong Paochinda as commander in chief and also headed the National Council for
Peace and Order (NCPO).
Former Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami has been appointed as BCCI’s electoral officer for
AGM
N Gopalaswami, former Chief Election Commissioner has been appointed as electoral officer to supervise the
BCCI's Annual General Meeting (AGM) that is to be held on October 22.
i. Committee of Administrators (CoA), which was appointed by the Supreme Court, met at the BCCI headquarters
to discuss the road map for the elections.
ii. The members of the Committee of Administrators (CoA) nominated by Supreme Court on 30 January 2017 to
look after the administration of the BCCI in order to implement Lodha Committee reforms are Vinod Rai,
Ramachandra Guha, Vikaram Limaye and Diana Edulji.
Romila Thapar elected to the member of American Philosphical Society

On June 6, 2019, The oldest learned society in the United States, American Philosphical Society (APS) has
elected Eminent historian and writer Romila Thapar as an international member at its Annual Spring
Meeting.
Key points:
i. She was among the 1,013 members elected to the society.
ii. She is Professor Emerita of history at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi.
iii. She is famous for her careful scholarship on the emperor Asoka, the epigraphy of the Mauryan period, and the
multiple historiographies surrounding the contested Hindu and Muslim history of Somnath.
Manpreet Vohra concurrently authorized as India’s next high commissioner to Belize

On June 8,2019, The present Additional secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs(MEA) and Indian
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Ambassador designate to Mexico ,had been concurrently authorized as the next High commissioner of India to
Belize with the house in Mexico city.
Key points:
i. He is a 1988-batch IFS(Indian Foreign Service) officer.
ii. He has previously served as India's Ambassador to Afghanistan, Peru and Bolivia.
iii. He previously served as Deputy high commissioner of India in Islamabad and Nairobi .
iv. He done a post-graduate diploma in international alternate and a certificate in diplomatic research from
Oxford.
v. He had served as Joint Secretary within the improvement Partnership department of the MEA in New Delhi.
Parvez Ahmed removed as chairman of J&K bank; R K Chibber appointed as interim chief
On June 8, 2019, The government of Jammu and Kashmir(J&K) has removed Parvez Ahmed as chairman cum
managing director of the bank .
The government also appointed executive president R K Chibber as interim chief.
The decision was come after the state vigilance department raided J&K Bank’s headquarters in Srinagar.
Key points:
i. In November last year State Accountability Commission headed by J&K Governor Satyapal Malik took a
decision that the J&K Bank will be treated as a Public Sector Undertaking after the disagreement with the bank,
which was accused of appointing employees on political recommendations.
ii. Parvez Ahmad was appointed in 2016 as the chairman of the bank.
iii. R K Chibber, who has served as chairman Grameen Bank and will be the first non-Kashmiri to get the
position of chairman in the Bank.
iv. J&K government having 59.3 per cent shareholdings in the bank.
Former IKEA Marketing Leader appointed as BharatPe Marketing Head

Delhi based Merchant service and UPI payments app, BharatPe has recently appointed Abhishek Singh as its
Chief Marketing officer.
Abhishek Singh played an important role in building World’s largest furniture retailer IKEA’s India setup in
August 2018 at Hyderabad,Telangana.
He previously worked as a marketing head in IKEA, IPL franchises and Tata Group.
About BharatPe:
i. It was founded by Ashneer Grover and Shashvat Nakrani
ii. It has established operations in 13 cities, serving over 8 Lakh merchants across Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad,
Pune, Mumbai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Indore, Bhopal, Nagpur, Chandigarh, Mysore, and Visakhapatnam.
Shri P. K. Sinha, Cabinet Secretary received 3 months extension in service

On June 7, 2019, The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the extension in service to Shri
Pradeep Kumar Sinha, a 1977 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS)officer of Uttar Pradesh, as Cabinet
Secretary for a further period of three months beyond 12.06.2019 or until further orders, whichever is earlier. He
was appointed in 2015 for two years.This was his third extension. He became the longest-serving bureaucrat in
the post in the last seven decades.
Key Points:
i. He will be in the office till September 12, 2019.
ii. He was earlier given two extensions till June 12, 2019. The first extension in 2017 and the second in 2018.
iii. He had succeeded Ajit Seth in 2015.
iv. He has served as secretaries in the ministry of Power and Shipping. Along with this, he has held several other
important positions in the central government and state of Uttar Pradesh.
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Yes Bank’s Former Interim MD & CEO Ajai Kumar, Independent director Mukesh Sabharwal quits
Ajai Kumar resignation
On June 10, 2019, Yes Bank’s Former interim Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive (CEO) Ajai
Kumarresigned from his position.
i. He became the interim chief following the exit of Rana Kapoor. However, he continued as a non-executive
non-independent director of the bank.
ii. He was appointed on the yes bank’s board in January 2016.
iii. He was the former Managing Director (MD) and Chairman at Corporation Bank.
Mukesh Sabharwal resignation:
On June 11, 2019, Yes Bank’s independent director Mukesh Sabharwal has also quit the board of Directors. The
former Defence Personnel has been on the board of the directors since April 2012.
IPS V.S. Kaumudi appointed as DG of BPR&D

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs for
the appointment of V.S. Kaumudi as the Director General (ADG level) of Bureau of Police Research and
Development (BPR&D) by temporarily downgrading the post to the level of Additional Director General (Level-
15 of Pay Matrix).
Key Points:
i. V.S. Kaumudi is a senior Indian Police Service (IPS) Officer of 1986 batch of Andhra Pradesh. At present, he is
working as the Additional Director General in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
ii. He succeeded Sudeep Lakhtakia, a 1984 batch IPS Officer.
iii. He is appointed as the DG of BPR&D for a period of 2 years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Tapan Ray, former Corporate Affairs Secretary appointed as MD of Gift City

Tapan Ray, former Secretary of Corporate Affairs was appointed as the Managing Director (MD)
of Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (Gift City), India’s first international financial services center. He
succeeded Ajay Pandey. Recently, he was also given the additional charge as interim Economic Affairs Secretary.
Key Points:
i. Tapan Ray, 1982-batch IAS officer of Gujarat Cadre, has held several key positions in the ministries of defence,
textiles, power, science and technology, and planning in the Government of India.
ii. With more than three decades of experience, he has served as the Principal Secretary of the Finance
Department, Government of Gujarat, Joint Secretary at the Department of Defence and was on the board of the
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
iii. Gift City is a project of Gujarat Government in partnership with Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services
Ltd (IL&FS) for developing India’s first global financial hub.
Sharad Kumar named interim CVC

On June 11,2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi headed selection panel has been named Sharad Kumar as
interim Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) for a term of four years or till he attains the age of 65.
The move comes after the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) KV Chowdary completed his tenure at anti-
graft body.
Key points:
i. Mr. Sharad Kumar was a former head of the National investigation agency(NIA).
ii. He was appointed as the Central Vigilance Commissioner on June 2018 and his tenure will end on
October 2020.
About Central Vigilance Commission
♦ Headquarter: New Delhi
♦ It is the apex vigilance institution. It was created via executive resolution (based on the recommendations of
Santhanam committee) in 1964 but was conferred with statutory status in 2003. It submits its report to the
President of India.
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♦ Composition: Presently, the body consists of central vigilance commissioner along with 2 vigilance
commissioners.
♦ Term: Their term is 4 years or 65 years.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev won Kazakhstan's presidential election

On June 11, 2019, the interim president,Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, aged 66, was elected as
Kazakhstan’s president with 70.76% votes. He won the elections among 7 candidates. He is the successor of
veteran ruler Nursultan Nazarbaye.
Key Points:
i. The Election Commission of Kazakhstan revealed that Amirzhan Kossanov of the Ult Tagdyry United National
Patriotic Movement received 16.02% votes, Daniya Yespayeva of the Ak Zhol Democratic Party bagged 5.2%
votes, Toleutai Rakhimbekov of the Auyl (Village) Party secured 3.2% votes, AmangeldyTaspikhov of the Kazakh
Trade Unions Federation got 2.07% votes, Zhambyl Akhmetbekov of the Communist People's Party
of Kazakhstan secured 1.82% vites and Sadybek Tugel of the Uly Dala Kyrandary (Eagles of the Great
Steppe) Public Association got 0.92% votes.
ii. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev belonged to Nur Otan party.
Nripendra Misra and P K Mishra to continue as PS, Addl PS to PM

On June 11, 2019, Nripendra Misra and Pramod Kumar Mishra were re-appointed as Principal Secretary
(PS) and Additional Principal Secretary(Addl PS)respectively to Prime Minister Narendra Modi with cabinet
minister rank. The approval was given by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) with effect from
May 31, 2019.
Key Points:
i. On May 28, 2014, Nripendra Misra, 1967-batch retired IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, was appointed as the
Principal Secretary to the PM. He had served in various departmentsof the government and in 2009, he retired as
the chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). He succeeded Pulok Chatterji in 2014.
ii. P K Mishra, a 1972-batch retired IAS officer of Gujarat cadre,had served as the Principal Secretary to PM Modi
when he was the chief minister of Gujarat between 2001 and 2004. He was the Secretary in the Ministry of
Agriculture between December 1, 2006 and August 31, 2008 and was also appointed as the chairman of the
Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission for a five-year-term after his retirement.
About ACC:
ACC decides the appointments to several top posts under the Government of India. The committee is composed
of the Prime Minister of Indiawho is the Chairman and the Minister of Home Affairs.
Virendra Kumar will be the pro-tem Speaker of 17th Lok Sabha

Virendra Kumar(65), was named as the Pro-tem Speaker of 17th Lok Sabha . He was the Member of
Parliament (MP) of Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) from Madhya Pradesh.
i. He was a seven -time member of Parliament.He won the Lok Sabha election from Tikamgarh constituency in
Madhya Pradesh.
ii. He was elected to 11th Lok Sabha for the first time in 1996 and became the member of Standing Committee on
Labour and Welfare, after that he was continuously re- elected to the Lok Sabha.
iii. Earlier, he served as the Union minister of state for women and child development and minority affairs.
iv. He will administered the oath in Rashtapati Bhavan on June 17.
About Virendra Kumar:
♦ He represents the Sagar constituency of Madhya Pradesh between 1996-2009.
♦ He was the Chairperson of Standing Committee on Labour and Member of General Purpose Committee.
Union Minister Thawarchand Gehlot named as leader of Rajya Sabha succeeds Arun Jaitley
Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Thawar Chand Gehlot was named as the leader of Rajya
Sabha succeeding former Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Arun Jaitley.
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About Thawar Chand Gehlot :

i. He was born in Nagda, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.
ii. Earlier he was elected to Lok Sabha as Member of Parliament for Shajapur from 1996–2009.
iii. He served as the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment from 2014 to 2019.
iv. He became a Rajya Sabha member in 2012 and was re-elected to Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh in 2018.
Some Facts:
♦ Gopalaswami Ayyangar was the 1st Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha.
Casio India roped Tiger Shroff as G-Shock Brand Ambassador

Japanese electronics firm Casio India announced that it appoints Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff as brand
Ambassador for its popular range of G-Shock watches across different touch points including television, media,
digital and social.
The company has partnered with Tiger Shroff for its launching campaign “ChallengeTheLimits”
V Ravi Anshuman designated as Part-time Member of SEBI

A recent order issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Government of India notified that V Ravi Anshuman has
been designated as a part-time member in the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for the period
of three years or until the age of 70.
He is currently working as a professor in Indian Institutes of Management, Bangalore.
About SEBI:
i. It is a statutory regulator for securities market in India established in 1988.
ii. Its mandate is to protect interests of investors in securities, promote development of securities market and to
regulate securities market.
iii. It is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi assumed charge as Commandant of Indian Naval Academy
On June 12, 2019, Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, AVSM (Ati Vishisht Seva Medal), NM assumed charge as
the 7th Commandant of Indian Naval Academy (INA). He succeeded Vice Admiral RB Pandit, AVSM, who
completed his tenure of over 15 months. (Assumed charge on February 19, 2018)
Key Points:
i. He has taken over as the Commandant of INA on the promotion to the rank of Vice Admiral.
ii. He is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasala, Defence Services Staff College Wellington
and US Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island.
iii. Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, a specialist in Communication and Electronic Warfare, has commanded IN
Ships Vinash, Kirch and Trishul. He had also commanded the Eastern Fleet from January 15, 2018 - March 30,
2019.
iv. He has served as the Additional Director General of Project Seabird and has held other important Staff
appointments like Director Naval Operations, Principal Director Network Centric Operation, Principal Director
Naval Plans and Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Policy and Plans).
ACC approved the appointment of CEA Krishnamurthy Subramanian and former MD and CEO of IDBI
Bank, B Sriram as part-time members of IBBI
On June 11, 2019, The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of the Chief
Economic Advisor (CEA) Krishnamurthy Subramanian and the former Managing Director (MD) and Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) of Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) Bank B Sriram as part-time members
of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI).
i. Krishnamurthy Subramanian, Professor in Indian School of Business (ISB) Hyderabad, was appointed as CEA
for a period of 3 years in December 2018.
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Bhola Nath Shukla designated as CMD of Mahanadi Coalfield Ltd

On June 13, 2019, According to the Personnel ministry, Government of India Bhola Nath Shukla has been
appointed as Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) for a period up to October
31, 2020. He is currently working as the Director (Technical) of Central Mine Planning and Design Institute
Limited. He succeeds Shri Rajiv Ranjan Mishra.
Padmaja appointed as India’s High Commissioner to Tuvalu

On May 15, 2019, the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, announced the appointment of Ms.
Padmaja as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Tuvalu with the residence in Suva.
She is currently serving as the High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Fiji and also serving (concurrently
accredited) as the High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Nauru. She succeeds Shri Vishvas Vidu Sapkal.
Denmark’s Inger Andersen appointed as UNEP’s Executive Director

On June 15, 2019, Inger Andersen, Denmark’s Economist and Environmentalist, took over as United Nations
Environment Programme’s(UNEP) Executive Director, headquartered at Nairobi, Kenya, for 4 years. She was
nominated for the post by United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres and approved by the
United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in February 2019. She succeeded Joyce Msuya of Tanzania.
Key Points:
i. Andersen was the Director General (DG) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) between
January 2015 and May 2019.
ii. She held various leadership roles at the World Bank as Vice President of the Middle East and North Africa, Vice
President for Sustainable Development and Head of the Consortium of International Agricultural Research
Centers Fund Council.
iii. She worked at the United Nations (UN) for 12 years.
Zuzana Caputova sworn in as first female president of Slovakia

On June 15,2019, lawyer and Anti-corruption campaigner, Zuzana Caputova(45) sworn in as
country’s Slovakia’s first female president. She defeated Smer-SD candidate Maros Sefcovic.
Key points:
i. She is the fifth president of Slovakia .
ii. She was elected in March 2019 with 58% of votes over Mr Sefcovic(42%).
iii. She was honoured with the Goldman Environmental Award in 2016 for her strong leadership regarding
the Pezinok landfill affair, Caputova.
D Sarangi re-elected as SRFI president, while Cyrus Poncha is the new Secretary-General
Debendranath Sarangi, an officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) of the 1977 batch was re-elected as
president of Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) while Dronacharya awardee and national coach Cyrus
Poncha was made secretary general. They were elected unopposed for a period of four years from 2019 to
2023.
Key points:
i. The SRFI also have Director of coaching, Dhiraj Singh and Former SRFI president N Ramachandran will be the
Patron of SRFI.
ii. Other office bearers elected unopposed are :
• Vice-Presidents: T R Narayanaswamy, K Rajendiran
• Joint Secretary: S Balasubramaniyan, Binod Kankaria
• Treasurer: K Harish Kumar
• Executive Commitee: V K Dabbas, Vinay Pandey, K P Balasubramaniam, Rajiv Reddy, A Dayanand Kumar,
Bhuveshwari Kumari.
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Ravinder Singh Dhillon elevated as Director (Projects) at PFC

On June 12, 2019, Mr. Ravinder Singh Dhillon took over the role of Director (Projects) in Power Finance
Corporation Ltd (PFC).He is currently serving as an Executive Director in PFC.
Key points:
i. Dhillon, an Electrical Engineer with Post Graduation in Power Systems from IIT Delhi has more than 34 years of
experience in various areas of power sector.
ii. Before joining PFC, Dhillon worked with Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. and Central Electricity Authority for 9
years.
iii. He also served as Director (Public Grievances) in PFC.
iv.He has been a Nominee Director of PFC on the boards of various private and state-sector power companies.
RBI appoints Rabi Mishra as Executive Director

On June 16, 2019, The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has promoted Odisha-born Rabi N Mishra as the executive
director (ED) after Rosemary Sebastian. Previously, Rabi N Mishra was the principal chief general manager of the
bank's risk management department.
Key points:
i. Mishra, a Ph.D holder in Monetary Economics hails from Mahendra Pur Shashan in Dhenkanal,Odisha.
ii. He will handle the newly-created specialized supervisory and regulatory cadre within the RBI.
iii. Also, he will be supervising cooperative banks and the Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs).
iv. There are 12 executive directors including the chief financial officers in RBI.
Hero MotoCorp appoints Yerry Mina as its new brand ambassador

On June 17, 2019, India's leading two wheeler company, Hero MotoCorp Ltd, appointed Colombian
professional footballer, Yerry Fernando Mina González(24) as its new brand ambassador.
Key points:
i. Yerry Mina have the record for most goals in a single World Cup by a defender at the 2018 FIFA (Federation
Internationale de Football Association )World Cup, France.
ii. Hero MotoCorp became the first Indian two-wheeler company to set-up a manufacturing base in Latin America
when it commenced operations at Villa Rica, in Cauca province, Colombia in 2016.It has a capacity of 80,000 units
of two-wheelers production.
Om Birla named as the new Lok Sabha Speaker by the NDA

A two-time Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) from Rajasthan's Kota district, Om
Birla, aged 56, was unanimously elected as the new Speaker of 17th Lok Sabha. 13 motions were moved in
support of Om Birla as the Speaker. His candidature as the Speaker was supported by all major parties including
Congress, All India Trinamool Congress (AITC or TMC), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Biju Janata Dal
(BJD).
Key Points:
i. He was elected as the speaker by pro-tem Speaker Virendra Kumar.
ii. A three-time Member of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from Kota South, Birla was born on November 23,
1962 and is an M.Com (Master of Commerce) student from Government Commerce College, Kota.
iii. He was elected to the Rajasthan Assembly for three consecutive terms in 2003, 2008 and 2013.
iv. He has served as the Parliamentary secretary with the rank of Minister of State in the Vasundhara Raje
Government between 2003 and 2008.
Shri Alok Vardhan Chaturvedi gets extension as Director General, Directorate General of Foreign Trade
(DGFT)
Shri Alok Vardhan Chaturvedi, IAS of 1986 batch of Bihar cadre gets extension as Director General (DG),
Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
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i. Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the extension beyond 18th June to 30th September.
About Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT):
• It is attached office of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
• It is headed by Director General.
• Headquarter – New Delhi
Shefali Juneja appointed to the post of Representative of India in the Council of ICAO
On June 21, 2019, As per the order issued by personnel Ministry, Government of India, Shefali Juneja, a 1992
batch officer of Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax cadre) was appointed as India's representative in the
Council of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) for a period of three years.
She is currently serving as the Joint Secretary in Ministry of Civil Aviation (MCA).
She will replace Alok Shekhar (IAS officer ) who named for the post in October 2015.
Former General Mohamed Ould Ghazouani wins presidential election of Mauritania

The electoral commission of Mauritania, a country in Northwest Africa, announced that the country’s ruling
party candidate and a former general and defense minister, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani (aged 62) of Union for
the Republic (UPR) party won the presidential election with 52% votes. He will succeed Mohamed Ould Abdel
Aziz.
i.Anti-slavery activist Biram Dah Abeid (Independent) stood second with 18.58% votes and Sidi Mohamed Ould
Boubacar (Independent), who is backed by the country's biggest Islamist party, stood third with 17.87% votes.
Mauritania held elections for the first time in 60 years
Mauritania held elections for the first time since it gained independence (28 November 1960) from France nearly
60 years ago. After independence, it was ruled by Non-elected military governments.
Qu Dongyu, the first Chinese national to head FAO

On June 23, 2019, China's agricultural deputy minister, Qu Dongyu(55) elected as the new director general of
the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) at Rome, Italy
Key points:
i. He won 108 votes, followed by Catherine Geslain-Laneelle of France (the first woman to run for the post, a
former head of the European Food Safety Authority)with 71 votes and Georgia's Davit Kirvalidze(a former
agriculture minister) with 12 votes in the first round of voting.
ii. The election held as the fight to eradicate world hunger is threatened by global warming and wars, as FAO has
sounded the alarm over rising food insecurity and high levels of malnutrition.
iii. He is also required to put policies in place now in preparation for feeding a world population which is
expected to increase from 7.7 billion people to 9.7 billion in 2050.
iv. Qu, a biologist by training, has 30 years experience, will have to support for small-holder farms and fisheries
to combat the ills of intensive farming, food waste, and poverty.
v. The FAO, which has over 11,500 employees around the globe, works closely with other U.N. agencies to
achieve the goal of a hunger-free world by 2030.
RBI Deputy Governor Viral Acharya resigns 6 months before his term ends
On June 24, 2019, Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Deputy Governor Viral Acharya has quit his role six months
before the end of his term. He was appointed as the RBI deputy governor by the government on January 23,
2017, for a three-year term.
Key points:
i. Acharya, who was in charge of monetary policy, will return to New York University as an economics professor
in August instead of February 2020.
ii. He had raised concern over the importance of RBI's independence in October 2018.
iii. The RBI is now left with three deputy governors N S Vishwanathan, B P Kanungo and M K Jain.
iv. Viral Acharya has co-authored research papers with former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan.
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Pankaj Razdan, CEO of Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance quits

On June 24, 2019, Pankaj Razdan stepped down from his position as the CEO(Chief Executive Officer) of Mumbai
based Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance (ABSLI). The present managing director(MD) of the retail arm of Kotak
Securities Kamlesh Rao will replace Razdan as CEO.
Key points:
i. Razdan also resigned from his other position as deputy chief executive officer of financial services firm, Aditya
Birla Capital.
ii. Razdan joined Aditya Birla Capital in 2007 and he took over as head of Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance in 2013.
iii. Before joining Aditya Birla Capital, Razdan was the CEO of ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund.
iv. He produced a Marathi film while work with Aditya Birla Group.
About ABSLI
Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance Company Limited (ABSLI) is a joint venture between the Aditya Birla Group and
Sun Life Financial Inc. It was founded in 2000.
World Archery appointed Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra to sort AAI trouble
On June 20, 2019, World Archery appointed Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra as an independent person
to sort out the ongoing trouble in the Archery Association of India (AAI).
i. AAI, headquartered at New Delhi, had violated the constitution by unanimously electing two parallel bodies in
Chandigarh and New Delhi.
ii. Abhinav Bindra will be part of the selection panel which consists of Indian Olympic Association (IOA)
secretary general Rajeev Mehta and a representative of Sport Ministry to select the national teams till a new AAI
body takes charge.
Amitabh Kant, NITI Aayog CEO gets a 2-year extension

On June 26, 2019, The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, Government of India has extended the tenure
of Amitabh Kant, CEO(Chief Executive Officer) of Government’s think tank NITI Aayog(National Institution for
Transforming India), by two years up to June 30, 2021.
Key points:
i. Kant, a 1980 batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre was appointed as CEO on February 17, 2016.
ii. He was Secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade(DPIIT) before serving as
CEO of NITI Aayog.
iii. He has played a key role in 'Make in India', 'Startup India', 'Incredible India’ initiatives.
Head of Amazon India, Amit Agarwal appointed as the Chairman of IAMAI

On June 25, 2019, Amit Agarwal, Amazon India Senior Vice-President and Country Head, was named as the
new Chairman of Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI). He succeeds Rajan Anandan, who was
the former Google India Managing Director (MD).
Key Points:
i. Dhruv Shringi, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Yatra was appointed as the Vice Chairman of
IAMAI succeeding Deep Kalra, Founder and Group CEO of MakeMyTrip.
ii. Satyan Gajwani, vice-chairman of Times Internet, was appointed as the new Treasurer of the IAMAI.
iii. Subho Ray will continue as the President of the association.
iv. The tenure of the new council is 2 years and the announcement on the new appointments was made at the
15th Annual General Meeting.
K Natarajan appointed as DG of ICG

Krishnaswamy Natarajan, 1984 batch officer, has been appointed as new Director General (DG) of Indian
Coast Guard (ICG). He succeedsRajendra Singh who will be retiring on 30 June 2019. At present, he is serving
as Additional Director General (ADG) of ICG’s Western SeaBoard.
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Key Points:
i. The flag officer had joined the ICG on January 18, 1984. He has a Masters Degree in Defence and Strategic
Studies from Madras University.
ii. He held various important command and staff appointments, both afloat and ashore. He served as the
Commanding Officer, ICGS Mandapam.
iii. His key staff assignments at ICG headquarters included- Chairman, Coast Guard Service Selection Board (SSB),
Principal Director (Policy and Plans), Principal Director (Projects), Joint Director (Operations), Coast Guard
Advisor (CGA) to Director General, ICG, Chief Staff Officer (Personnel & Administration) at Headquarters Region
(East), Chennai, Chief of Staff at Headquarters Region (West), Mumbai, Officer-in-Charge and Coast Guard
Training Centre, Kochi.
iv. He is the recipient of President Tatrakshak Medal (Distinguished Service) in 2011 and Tatrakshak Medal
(Meritorious) in 1996.
Samant Kumar Goel got appointed as RAW chief

As per the Personnel Ministry, Government of India, Samant Kumar Goel, a 1984 batch IPS(Indian Police
Service) officer of Punjab cadre appointed as chief of Research and Analysis Wing(RAW) for a fixed two-year
term. He is presently serving as Special Secretary in the RAW. He will succeed Anil K Dhasmana.
Key points:
i. He joined the RAW in March 2001.
ii. He is a recipient of the Police Medal for Gallantry and Police Medal for Meritorious Service.
iii. He is said to have played a key role in planning the Balakot air strike after the Pulwama terror attack in
Jammu and Kashmir and surgical strikes in Uri.
Arvind Kumar becomes new IB head

According to the Personnel Ministry, Government of India, Arvind Kumar(59), a 1984 batch IPS(Indian Police
Service) officer from Assam- Meghalaya cadre has been made the chief of Intelligence Bureau (IB) for the
tenure of two years. He is currently serving as special director in the IB. He will succeed Rajiv Jain.
Key points:
i. He has been working with the Intelligence Bureau since August 1991.
ii. He handled various desks including Kashmir and Naxal issues.
iii. He also served in the Indian Embassy in Moscow, Russia.
Author Amish Tripathi appointed as the Director of Nehru Centre in London

Author Amish Tripathi was appointed as the Director of Nehru Centre in London, which comes under the
Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). He succeeds Srinivas Gotru.
Key Points:
i. He has authored the best selling books like ‘The Secret of the Nagas’ and ‘Sita - Warrior of Mithila’.
ii. The Nehru Centre was founded in 1992 and Gopalkrishna Gandhi was its founder director.
Narinder Batra, IOA and FIH chief, elected as the member of IOC
On June 26, 2019, Narinder Batra, President of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and Fédération Internationale
de Hockey (FIH) was elected as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in the IOC Session. He
received 58 votes out of 62. With the election of 10 new members, the total number of IOC members rose to 105.
Key Points:
i. Batra became the first Indian to have the rare distinction by becoming a member of the IOC while heading a
National Olympic Committee and the international federation.
ii. With this, the number of Indians who are currently active members of the IOC raised to 2, first being Nita
Ambani, Reliance Foundation Chairperson, who was elected as an individual member of the IOC in 2016. She was
the first Indian woman to be elected to IOC.
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iii. Former IOA Secretary General Randhir Singh, an honorary member now, had served as a member of the IOC
from 2001 to 2014.
Sharad Kumar Saraf appointed as the new President of FIEO

On June 27, 2019, Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) elected Sharad Kumar Saraf as its new
President. He succeeded Ganesh Kumar Gupta.
Key Points:
i. He is the Chairman and Founder of Technocraft Industries (India).
ii. He had earlier served FIEO twice as Vice-President and Regional Chairman (west region) for 4 times.
iii. During his tenure as Vice President, he established Indian Exporters Grievance Forum to address exporters’
grievances through legal channels.
Sarada Kumar Hota took over as NHB MD

According to the Finance Ministry, Government of India, Canara Bank General Manager (GM)Sarada Kumar Hota
has assumed charge as the National Housing Bank (NHB) Managing Director for a period of three years. He
succeeds Sriram Kalyanaraman.
Key points:
i. Prior to the appointment, Hota served as the managing director of Can Fin Homes, a subsidiary of Canara Bank.
ii. NHB, which is now wholly owned by the Government.
PB Acharya sworn in as the Governor of Manipur

On June 27, 2019, Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya was sworn in as the Governor of Manipur. Justice
Lanusungkum Jamir of the High Court of Manipur administered the swearing in ceremony at the Darbar Hall of
the Raj Bhavan, Imphal in the presence of Chief Minister of the state N Biren Singh, his cabinet colleagues,
Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), top civil and police officers.
i. He is given the additional charge as the Governor of Manipur, in addition to his own duties as the Governor of
Nagaland in the absence (on leave) of Dr Najma Heptulla, Governor of Manipur.
ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

CCI approved Schneider Electric India, MacRitchie’s acquisition of L&T arm
On June 6, 2019, Statutory body of the Government of India, Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved
the acquisition Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T)’s of Electrical and Automation (EA) business by Schneider
Electric India Private Limited and MacRitchie Investments Pte. Ltd.
Key points:
i. In order to eliminate the competition concerns, the Commission has ordered the Acquires to reserve a part of
L&T's installed capacity to offer white labelling services to third party competitors.
ii. The facility will be available in respect of five high market share LV(Low Voltage) switchgears, which are
generally used together in LV panels.
iii. Under the white labelling services, the competitiors can take L&T products for selling under their own brand
for five years term.
Blackstone to acquire Aadhar Housing Finance

The world’s largest private equity firm, Blackstone group has inked a pact to acquire Aadhar Housing Finance
Ltd. It has bought 97.7 percent stake in Aadhar for about Rs 2,200 crore from controlling shareholders Dewan
Housing Finance Ltd (DHFL) and Wadhawan Global Capital Ltd (WGC).
Key points:
i. As part of the transaction, Blackstone has also infused Rs 800 crore into Aadhar Housing Finance.
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ii. Aadhar Housing Finance, which has asset under management (AUM) of $1.4 billion, while Blackstone has its
asset management of about $512 billion.
Microsoft’s GitHub takes over pull panda for code-review collaboration

On June 17, 2019, Microsoft owned GitHub announced that it has acquired US(United States)-based start-up Pull
Panda, a firm that creates code review tools for the platform for an undisclosed sum.
Key points:
i. Pull Panda previously offered its products include Pull Reminders, Pull Analytics, and Pull Assigner as a
subscription model. With this acquisition, all these products are now available for free at GitHub Marketplace.
ii. Microsoft announced its intentions to buy GitHub in June, 2018 for $7.5 billion, one of its largest acquisitions
till date.
iii. The acquisition would support automatic reminders, real-time insight into the effectiveness of a team's
process, make data-driven improvements and automatically distribute code across teams.
The merger of IndusInd Bank-Bharat Financial effective from July 4

The merger of Mumbai based Private sector lender ,IndusInd Bank and country's leading micro-finance
player, Bharat Financial Inclusion Ltd (BFIL) of Hyderabad will be effective on July 4, 2019.
Key points:
• The boards of IndusInd and BFIL decided that on July 4, the NCLT (National Company Law Tribunal
)Order will be filed by BFIL and IFIL with the Registrar of Companies.
• On June 10, 2019, The NCLT sanctioned the scheme of arrangement about BFIL, IndusInd, and IFIL
(Induslnd Financial Inclusion )and their respective shareholders and creditors.
• In October 2018, IndusInd Bank decided to merge with BFIL which was previously known as SKS
Microfinance.
• M R Rao, the current CEO of BFIL, will become the CEO of IndusInd Financial Inclusion Ltd (IFIL).
• The shareholders of Bharat Financial will get 639 shares of the bank for every 1,000 shares held.
• The Business Correspondent of BFIL will operate under IFIL and the Assets and liabilities of BFIL will be
merged with IndusInd's balance sheet.
CCI permitted for the merger of Indiabulls Housing Finance and Lakshmi Vilas Bank
On June 20, 2019, The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the proposed merger of
the Indiabulls Housing Finance withLakshmi Vilas Bank.
Key Points:
i. In April 2018, the board of Lakshmi Vilas Bank had announced its merger with Indiabulls Housing Finance in a
share-swap deal. The bank will get 14 shares of Indiabulls Housing Finance for every 100 shares they hold.
ii. The combined entity will be one among the top eight private banks in India by size and profitability, with a
net worth of Rs 19,472 crore, a loan book of Rs 1.23 lakh crore for the first nine-month period of 2018-19, and a
combined workforce of 14,302 employees.
iii. Its Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) will be 20.6%. It will have 3.5% Gross Non Performing Assets (NPA) and 2%
Net NPA in terms of asset quality
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

ISS spacewalk successfully carried out for 217th time
International Space Station (ISS) have successfully carried out 217th spacewalk by two
Russian spaceagency Roscosmos’ cosmonauts for support, maintenance and upgrade. The spacewalk was done
by Expedition 59 Commander Oleg Kononenko and Flight Engineer Alexey Ovchinin.
Key points:
i. The spacewalk lasted for about six hours and one minute.
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ii. This is the fourth expedition in the year 2019.

iii. This spacewalk is fifth for the commander kononenko and first for ovchinin.
IIT-Madras unveiled Data Platform to Improve efficiency of Government Infrastructure Development

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has launched a Data Platform of ‘Integrated Database on
Infrastructure Projects’ (IDIP) to improve the efficiency of Government Infrastructure Development. It will
help in effective decision-making among different stakeholders involved in the infrastructure sector. The
development partner for the project is Akara Research and Technologies.
Key Points:
i. It was launched on May 29, 2019 at the 15th World Conference on Transport Research (WCTR) held at IIT
Bombay in a special session on Public-Private Partnership(PPP) in Indian Transport Sector by Prof G Raghuram,
Director of Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore, in the presence of Prof Thillai Rajan A, IIT Madras,
Prof Swapnil Garg, Associate Professor, Indian Institute of Management Indore and Co-ordinator of
PPPINDIANET.
ii. Initially, IDIP’s focus will be on the road sector due to its highest allocation of funds among other projects and
highest private investment through PPP.
iii. IDIP will collect data from National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and
Construction) projects and other sources to cover projects undertaken by State and National governments along
with their PPP.
iv. The collected data will create visual analytics and data points to facilitate ease of decision-making to track
progress and monitor the projects.
v. Along with Road Sector, it will be gradually applied to Railways, Ports and Airports, Power, Transmission,
Water Supply, Sanitation, and Solid Waste management.
AYUSH Ministry launches an app to help people locate yoga centers, instructors
Ahead of International yoga day celebrated on June 21, the ministry of AYUSH has launched “yoga locator” – an
app to locate yoga events and centers providing training and instructor within the users range. This app is a map-
based application which allows the instructor to register themselves and reach out to users.
Google map launched new public transport features in India

On June 5,2019, A web mapping service, Google map launched three India-First features targeted at Public
transport users to access public transport quickly and easily.
It stated that Google map users now can see the bus travel times from live traffic data across 10 cities, get to
know the real time train status on the platform as well as get commute suggestions that combines public
transport and auto-rickshaws.
For the first time, China launched “Long March 11 rocket “, a rocket to space from a ship at sea
On June 5, 2019, For the first time, China’s National Space Administration (CNSA)successfully launched “Long
March 11 rocket “, a rocket to space from a ship at sea. It was launched from a platform on a large semi-
submersible barge in the Yellow Sea.
Key Points;
i. It carried on board a cargo of 7 rockets, including 5 designed for commercial use and 2 include experimental
payloads for space-based research.
ii. The 2 larger satellites, named Bufeng-1A and Bufeng-1B built by the China Academy of Space Technology in
Beijing, will monitor ocean winds to help improve weather forecasts.
iii. Other payloads included an Earth-imaging CubeSat, an experimental communications satellite called Tianqi-3,
China's first two Ka-band communications satellites, and a new satellite for China's Jilin-1 remote-sensing
satellite constellation.
iv. In recent years, China has made its space programme a top priority. It aims to become a major space power by
2030.
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v. With this achievement,China joined the U.S. and Russia as the 3 global powers with proven ability to launch
rockets into space from sea.
India successfully launched new Technology Demonstrator Missile in Odisha

On June 12, 2019, India successfully launched new Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) off
the coast of Odisha. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) had carried out the trials from Dr
Abdul Kalam Island in the Bay of Bengal. HSTDV will help DRDO to develop technologies for futuristic missions.
Key Points:
i. The test was conducted by the Premier Defence Research Agency in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath
Singh and Secretary (Defence Production) Ajay Kumar at the test firing range in Balasore, Odisha.
ii. HSTDV, developed by DRDO with help from Israel and the UK, will be mounted on a solid rocket motor to take
it to the required altitude. After the required altitude is reached and the Mach is achieved, the cruise vehicle will
be ejected out of the launch vehicle.
iii. It is a dual-use technology Project with civilian applications.
iv. It has a flight duration of 20 seconds at an altitude of 31 km.
US embassy launches ‘Education USA’ app for Indian students

In the event of Student Visa Day(June 12, 2019), an event that celebrates higher education ties between India
and the United States, The American Embassy has launched an app named “Education USA” to help Indian
students who wish to study in US(United States) Universities.
Key points:
i. The app was launched in collaboration with the United States India Educational Foundation and it is available
on both Android and iOS platforms for free.
ii. It gives comprehensive and latest information about studying in US.
iii. The app aims to help the students, parents, school counsellors and others who want to know the US higher
education.
For first time, scientists created groundwater maps meeting ocean

For the first time, Researchers at Ohio State University have created high-resolution maps of points around the
globe where groundwater meets the oceans. It gives important data points to communities and conservationists
to help protect drinking water and the seas.
Key Points:
i. The study was published in the Journal “Geophysical Research Letters” on June 3, 2019.
ii. The team of Ohio State University worked with researchers at the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration’s (NASA) Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the University of Saskatchewan in the research.
iii. The study found that nearly half of fresh submarine groundwater discharge flows into the ocean near the
tropics. The areas around the San Andreas Fault in California sends greater volumes of groundwater into the
ocean than regions that are tectonically stable.
ISRO to launch its own space station by 2030: ISRO Chief

On June 13, 2019, The Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) K Sivan announced that India will
have its own Space station by2030. This will help ISRO to send more astronauts to space. A space station is like
a habitable artificial satellite that is designed to remain in space and is capable of being inhabited by crew
members for an extended period of time.
Key Points:
i. The Project is an extension of Gaganyaan mission.
ii. The proposal to set up the space station will be sent to the central government for approval after India’s first
Gaganyaan mission by 2022.
iii. The project will be executed in 5-7 years and the proposed cost of the project is not disclosed.
iv. The space station will weigh nearly 20 tonnes and it will be used to conduct micro-gravity experiments.
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v. Initially, it will accommodate astronauts for 15-20 days in space and the station is expected to be placed at an
orbit of 400 km above the earth.
vi. Along with India, China also has plans to build a space station of its own.
vii. At present, there is only one fully functional space station in the Earth's lower orbit, i.e, the International
Space Station (I.S.A).
NASA to shut down Spitzer Space Telescope after 16 yrs in 2020

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration‘s (NASA) Spitzer Space Telescope will be shut down
on January 30, 2020 after 16 years of exploring the cosmos in infrared light. This was announced by the Jet
Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
Key Points:
i. It was launched in January 1983 as Infrared Astronomical Satellite to conduct the first infrared survey of the
sky. It was jointly developed by the United States, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
ii. Spitzer was originally built to last for a minimum of 2.5 year and by 2020 it will operate for more than 11
years beyond its prime mission.
iii. Spitzer is a small, transformational observatory. It captures infrared light, which is emitted by 'warm' objects
that are not quite hot enough to radiate visible light. In 2017, the telescope revealed the presence of seven rocky
planets around the Transiting Planets and Planetesimals Small Telescope (TRAPPIST) -1 star.
iv. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope will be launched in 2021 after the expiry of Spitzer’s Mission.
Scientists develop cancer cell detection ‘dots’ from coal in Assam

In Assam, A team of Scientists from CSIR-NEIST( Council of Scientific & Industrial Research-North East Institute
of Science and Technology) have developed a chemical process that turns ‘dirty’ coal into biomedical ‘Carbon
Quantum Dots (CQDs)’ which helps in detection of cancer cells.
For producing CQDs, cheap, low-quality and high-sulfur coals used by the team led by Binoy Kumar Saikia and
Tonkeswar Das for a patent of their chemical method.
Key points:
i. Carbon quantum dots: These are carbon-based nanomaterials with the size of less than 10 nm or nanometer
which are used as diagnostic tools for bio-imaging, especially in detecting cancer cells, for chemical sensing and
in optoelectronics
ii. The CQDs developed by the team possesses high stability, good-conductivity, low-toxicity, environmental
friendliness, and good optical properties.
Researchers from Japan developed a new type of cooling vest for sports athletes
Japanese researchers from Hiroshima University have developed a new type of cooling vest for sports athletes
which helps them to compete safely in sweltering summer conditions. The aim of the vest is to cool the athletes'
upper-body skin which can decrease heart rate and temperature of their neck and skin.
Key Points:
i. This will help the athletes of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be held in the hot and humid Japanese summer
where the ambient temperature is expected to be above 33 degrees Celsius,
ii. The cooling vest is filled with ice packs and features a collar that can also cool the neck.
iii. The Hiroshima University of Japan has collaborated with a Japanese sportswear company Mizuno to test a
new type of cooling vest.
SpaceX launched hefty rocket with 24 research satellites

On June 25, 2019, Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX) launched hefty rocket with 24 payload
military and scientific research satellites with a deep space atomic clock, solar sail, clean and green rocket fuel,
and even human ashes, including an astronaut.
Key Points:
i. The third flight of a Falcon Heavy rocket (first ordered by the military) was launched from NASA’s (National
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Aeronautics and Space Administration) Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, the US.
ii. The Defense Department mission will provide data to certify the Falcon Heavy and reused boosters for future
national security launches.
iii. NASA had signed up for the rocket along with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Air
Force Research Laboratory and the Planetary Society and Celestis Inc.
iv. The Falcon Heavy’s first-stage booster has nine engines each, for a total of 27 firing simultaneously at liftoff
from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. It was first launched in February 2018.
‘Bumble’ became the first Astrobee robot to fly under its own power in space
On June 14, 2019, National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Astrobee
Robot “Bumble” became the first Astrobee robot to fly under its own power in space. It will help researchers
examine new technologies in zero gravity and assist astronauts to perform routine work in the International
Space Station (ISS).
Key Points:
i.‘Bumble’ and a second Astrobee named 'Honey' were launched to the space station in April 2019.
ii.'Queen', a third robot, will be launched in July 2019.
Wind and solar to deliver half the world’s power by the year 2050: BNEF report
According to a report, “New Energy Outlook (NEO) report 2019 ”released by BloombergNEF, Wind and solar
power are the new power in two-thirds of countries around the world and they will make up almost half of the
electricity system by 2050.
Key findings:
i. The electricity demand set to increase 62 percent, which in turn will attract $13.3 trillion in new investment, of
which wind will take $5.3 trillion and solar will take $4.2 trillion.
ii. It forecasts that many nations can cut power sector emissions through 2030 in line with goals set in Paris
climate agreement, to limit the increase in world temperatures to 2 degrees Celsius.
iii. Wind and solar grow from 7 percent to 48 percent by 2050, while, coal in the global power mix will plunge
from 37 percent to 12 percent by 2050.
iv. Europe will take the lead to decarbonize its grid, with 92% of its electricity supply in 2050.
v.The U.S (United States) will get 43% of power by 2050, while India and China are still adding coal plants to
their grids.
NASA’s Curiosity rover detects high amounts of methane on Mars

On June 25, 2019, The US (United States) space agency, NASA’s ( National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
Curiosity rover has discovered the high amounts of methane gas on Mars that indicates life on the red planet.
Key points:
i. The measurement found 21 parts per billion of methane in the air, three times what was found during 2013.
ii. The finding came from the rover’s Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) tunable laser spectrometer.
iii. Curiosity rover has detected methane many times since its arrival on Mars in 2012.
ESA and NASA test Lunar Evacuation System to save the lives of Astronauts
American Space Agency, NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) astronauts tested a prototype
Evacuation System Assembly (LESA) designed by European Space Agency (ESA).It was tested as part of NASA's
NEEMO 23 (Extreme Environment Mission Operations) mission to assist in astronaut rescue missions on the
surface of Moon.
Key points:
i. Testing: It was tested under sea as the bottom of the ocean floor which is rocky, sandy terrain and warm salty
water bear much more similarity with the lunar surface.
ii. LESA: It is a pyramid like structure designed to be used by a single astronaut in the gravitational force of the
moon for the rescue purpose.
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iii. Recovery: In less than 10 minutes, astronauts can lift their crewmate on a mobile stretcher and get them on
their way to a nearby pressurized lander.
iv.Advantage: LESA can be transported like a golf caddy and placed close to the fallen astronaut.
BYPL, a power distribution company, launched energy saving app ‘Susthome’

BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL), a power distribution company, launched an energy saving behavioral
app ‘Susthome’. It is developed by BYPL and TERI-The Energy and Resources Institute, to bring about a
behavioural change in how consumers use electricity and it will track energy consumption patterns.
Key Points:
i.I n the first phase of a pilot project, selected cooperative housing societies in Mayur Vihar will use this app. In
the second phase, the initiative will cover around two lakh residential consumers.
ii. It has the potential to save nearly 72 MUs (Million Units) and over Rs 29 crore annually.
iii. BYPL has partnered with several private bodies like TERI, Panasonic India and Council on Energy,
Environment and Water (CEEW) to launch three ambitious and novel initiatives like the behavioural energy
saving app, green division concept and solar micro grids with battery storage.
Herbal drug to treat leucoderma developed by DRDO scientist Hemant Pandey

Hemant Pandey, a senior scientist from Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO),
developed ‘Lukoskin’, an herbal drug to treat leucoderma (also called 'vitiligo'), a condition in which white
patches develop on the skin.
Key Points:
i. For his achievement, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi awarded him ‘Science Award’ in May 2019. He had
also won Agri Innovation Award in 2015.
ii. Drug was manufactured and marketed by Delhi-based AIMIL Pharma Ltd.
iii. Mr Pandey heads the Herbal Medicine Division of DRDO’s Defence Institute of Bio-energy Research (DIBER)
at Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand.
DEFENCE
India scraped $500 mn arms deal with Israel

India scraped $500 million arms deal with Israel for the purchase of Spike anti-tank missiles from defence
contractor Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. This was done after Defence Research & Development
Organisation (DRDO) claimed that it could deliver an alternative with a partnership with VEM technologies Ltd
within two years.
Key Points:
i. The project was given to DRDO due to the fast progressive second stage of testing Man-Portable Anti-Tank
Guided Missile (MPATGM). MPATGM was successfully test-fired at the Ahmednagar range in September 2018.
ii. India’s deal with Israel for 321 Spike launchers and 8,356 missiles was initially struck in October 2014 after
the Defence Ministry selected Spike over the US-made FGM-148 Javelin. Later, it was scrapped in December 2017
in favour of DRDO.
iii. It was reauthorized in January 2018 after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to India. Rafael
opened a production facility in India with local partner Kalyani Group in August, 2018.
India successfully test-fired indigenously developed nuclear-capable missile Prithvi-II

On June 27, 2019, India successfully test-fired indigenously developed nuclear-capable missile Prithvi-II, a
surface-to-surface missile, from a test range off the Odisha coast. Prithvi is the first missile developed by the
Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Integrated Guided Missile Development
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Programme (IGMDP).
Key Points:
i. The trial was carried out from a mobile launcher from Launch Complex-III of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at
Chandipur, Odisha.
ii. The launch activity was carried out by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the Army monitored by the
scientists of the DRDO.
iii. The missile with a strike range of 350 km is capable of carrying 500/100 kg of warheads. It is powered by
liquid propulsion twin engines and uses an advanced inertial guidance system with maneuvering trajectory to hit
its target.
iv. Prithvi-II was also successfully test-fired on February 21, 2018 from the ITR at Chandipur, Odisha.
v. Prithvi, a nine-metre-tall, single-stage liquid-fuelled missile, was inducted into the armory of the Indian
defence forces in 2003.
Kharga Prahar exercise concluded in Punjab

A week-long exercise (27 May 2019 to 4 June 2019) between the Indian army and the Indian Air Force (IAF) –
Kharga Prahar concluded in Punjab. The exercise was undertaken by various units and formation of Kharga
orps. The key aspects of this exercise is to validate operational aspects and brought out many lessons to the
corps.
ICG inaugurated its 4th Subordinate Officers Conclave 2019 in New Delhi
On June 6, 2019, a two-day 4th Subordinate Officers Conclave 2019 organized by Indian Coast Guard (ICG) was
inaugurated by Rajendra Singh, Director General (DG) of ICG at ICG Headquarters in New Delhi. It focussed on
accountability in job profile, improving lifestyle for healthy living and integrating evolving technology in Coast
Guard operations, especially towards strengthening search and rescue organisations during cyclone and floods.
Key Points:
i. Among the armed forces, the subordinate officer's conclave is one of the unique initiatives. Here, the
suggestions and ideas of jawans are taken into consideration for running the force.
ii. DG Rajendra Singh conferred ‘Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak ’to Navik Vinod. The award was bestowed in
recognition of his exceptional courage, expert use of lifesaving techniques and selfless attitude displayed in
saving a precious life of a women drowning in to rough sea due to monsoonal weather conditions in pitch dark
hours near Gateway of India, Mumbai in 2018.
iii. On this occasion, A Coast Guard Benevolent Association App was launched. Through this app, the Coast
Guard Personnel can log on the site and apply for the required financial assistance online.
Maritime Information Sharing Workshop 2019 held in Gurugram

The two day event of Maritime Information Sharing Workshop 2019(MISW 2019) hosted by the Indian
Navy under the aegis of the Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR)held
in Gurugram,Haryana on June 12,2019.
Key points:
i. The workshop was inaugurated by Vice Admiral MS Pawar, Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff.
ii. Participation: It saw the participation of more than 41 delegates from 29 countries of Indian Ocean Region
(IOR) and beyond.
iii. Objectives: It was aimed at make aware of all participants about IFC-IOR .It was also aimed at promoting and
sharing regarding the security and safety challenges faced by IOR.
iv. Highlighted issues: Several talks regarding maritime challenges in Indo-Pacific region were discussed. It also
highlighted significance of maritime domain as well as the challenges faced by region such as piracy, maritime
terrorism, humanitarian assistance & disaster relief, human & drug trafficking as well as legal perspective of
combating these challenges.
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About Information Fusion Centre Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR)

i. It was launched in December 2018 by then Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at Gurugram.
ii. It was established with vision of strengthening maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region.
Armies of India and Myanmar carried out a coordinated operation ‘Operation Sunrise 2’
The armies of India and Myanmar carried out a three-week-long coordinated operation from May 16 in their
respective border areas named‘Operation Sunrise 2’. They targeted the militant groups operating in Manipur,
Nagaland and Assam to bust terror camps.
Key Points:
i. The armies coordinated with each other to bust camps of militant outfits. It included the Kamtapur Liberation
Organisation (KLO), NSCN-K (National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang), the United Liberation Front of
Assam (I) and the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB).
ii. Troops from the Assam Rifles also participated in this event.
iii. During the operation, six dozen militants belonging to these groups were captured and several of their camps
were destroyed.
iv. NSCN(K) militants had killed 18 army men in Manipur. Therefore, in June 2015, the Indian Army had carried
out an operation against them near the Indo-Myanmar border. Since then operations against militants are
actively undertaken.
v. Both sides might launch the third phase of the operation.
About "Operation Sunrise 1":
The first phase of "Operation Sunrise" was conducted three months ago (February 2019) along the Indo-
Myanmar border. The Indian Army targeted members of the Arakan Army which an insurgent group in
Myanmar. They were opposed to the Kaladan multi-modal transit transport project, which is viewed as India's
gateway to Southeast Asia.
ICG co-hosts 12th ReCAAP ISC capacity building workshop in New Delhi
Indian Coast Guard (ICG) co-hosted the 12th Capacity Building workshop in cooperation with the Regional
Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in
Asia (ReCAAP) Information Sharing Centre (ISC) in New Delhi. It began on June 19, 2019 and will conclude on
June 20, 2019. It is organized to deepen knowledge on issues related to piracy and armed robbery.
Key Points:
i. It was inaugurated by Additional Director General, Indian Coast Guard V SR Murthy along with Mr Masafumi
Kuroki, Executive Director of ReCAAP.
ii. 31 International delegates from 19 countries participated in the workshop. Along with this, officials from
national stakeholders like major ports, state maritime boards, state marine police, Directorate General of
Shipping and Indian National Ship-Owners Association also participated in the event.
About ReCAAP:
The ReCAAP is the first regional Government-to-Government agreement to deal with piracy and armed robbery
at sea in Asia. Currently, 20 countries are members of ReCAAP. India played an active role in the setting up and
functioning of ReCAAP ISC along with Japan and Singapore. Union Government has designated ICG as the focal
point within India for ReCAAP. India has also hosted this workshop in November 2011 at Goa and December
2017 at New Delhi.
Union Government Restored 'ration in kind' to military officers in peace areas

On June 18, 2019, The government of India has brought back the provision of 'ration in kind' to military officers
in peace areas by approving proposal given by the Ministry of Defence. The decision is taken by the new Defence
Minister Rajnath Singh.
Key points:
i. In 2017, The facility was withdrawn by the central government after the implementation of the seventh pay
commission.
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ii. All officers of the Armed Forces including those in peace stations will be getting ration now which was initially
applicable only to junior officers.
iii. Instead of the ration, defense officers in peace areas were paid Rs 96 as 'ration money allowance’.
Balakot airstrikes code named as ‘Operation Bandar’ by IAF

On June 21, 2019, The Indian Air Force mission to bomb a terrorist hideout in Pakistan's Balakot was
codenamed 'Operation Bandar’ (Monkey).
Key points:
i. The codename was also chosen by the IAF to maintain top secrecy for the operation which involved 12 Mirage
2000 jets crossing over into Pakistani territory to completely destroy a large Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in
Balakot.
ii. The name was possibly inspired by the fact that monkeys have always held a special place in India’s war
culture, as evident in Lord Hanuman’s exploits in Ravana's kingdom of SriLanka.
About Balakot strike
India carried out air strikes in Pakistan in early hours of February 26, 2019, destroying the biggest terror camp of
the Jaish-e-Mohammed and eliminating a very large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commanders and
groups of jihadis
Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurated Central Command Centre for Air Traffic Flow
Management
On June 22, 2019, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurated the Central Command
Centre for Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) at Vasant Kunj, New Delhi to ensure higher standards of
safety. It was inaugurated in the presence of the Chairman of Airports Authority of India (AAI) Guruprasad
Mohapatra, Board Members and senior AAI officials. India became the seventh nation to implement ATFM after
the US, Europe, Australia, South Africa, Japan, Brazil.
Key Points:
i. Central Command Centre- ATFM (C-ATFM) system will balance the capacity against the demand to achieve
optimum utilization of airport, airspace and aircraft.
ii. It merges the flight data from various subsystems like Air Traffic Control (ATC) Automation System, flight
updates and flight update messages.
iii. It is supported by 36 Flow Management Positions (FMP) at various airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai,
Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad among others.
Bharat Dynamics Limited signed a contract with Indian Navy for Rs 1,188 crore
Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) signed a contract with Indian Navy worth Rs 1,188 crore for the supply of
Heavyweight Torpedoes - Varunastra. The contract was signed by NP Diwakar, Director (Technical), BDL and
Nidhi Chhibber, Joint Secretary & Acquisition Manager (Maritime & Systems), Ministry of Defence, Govt of India
in New Delhi.
Key Points:
i. The contract will be executed over the next 42 months.
ii. Varunastra, a ship- electrically propelled underwater weapon, will be manufactured at BDL Visakhapatnam
Unit under collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
iii. The weapon system will use its own intelligence in tracing the target.
Indian Navy deployed anti-piracy patrol

Indian Navy has deployed its P-8 India(P-8I) long-range maritime surveillance aircraft for anti-piracy sorties
from Salalah in Oman to patrol the Gulf of Aden and other piracy prone areas. This is an expansion of its
Mission Based Deployments(MBD) in the Indian Ocean Region(IOR) to keep them safe.
Key Points:
• India has been conducting anti-piracy sorties in the Gulf of Aden since 2008.
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• P-8I long-range maritime surveillance aircraft has been operated for the second time in the region, first
being deployed in January.
• The P-8I is a long-range anti-submarine warfare, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft capable of
broad-area, maritime and littoral operations. It provides long-range Maritime Domain Awareness(MDA).
• In 2012, India had placed orders for 12 P-8I maritime surveillances and anti-submarine warfares from
the US for $2.2 billion dollar. It again placed an order for 4 more planes and these are used to carry out
extensive surveillance of the IOR and economic zones of the country.
• P-8Is have helped in the detection of Chinese nuclear and conventional submarines operating in the
Indian Ocean and waters close to India.
• Till date, Indian Navy has deployed 73 ships on anti-piracy patrols.
Army commissioned air quality monitor at Fort William as a part of ‘Go Green’ initiative
Army commissioned “Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS)”, an air quality monitor,
at Fort William Military Station, Kolkata, as a part of ‘Go Green’ initiative. It monitors air pollution on a real-
time basis.
Key Points:
i. It was commissioned by Lt Gen M M Naravane, General Officer, Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command.
ii. CAAQMS displays wind speed, direction, ambient temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, barometric
pressure, and rain gauge.
iii. It can be used by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board or any other local or international weather
monitoring bodies.
iv. The collected data can be monitored on the internet and collated into different desired formats.
Supersonic cruise missile BrahMos test-fired at Chandipur in Odisha

On June 4, 2019, the anti-ship version of Supersonic cruise missile BrahMos was test-fired from Complex-3 of
the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Odisha. BrahMos, with a strike range of around 290 km, can be
fired from land, sea, and air.
Key Points:
i. It is the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile with a high rate of precision and accuracy.
ii. It has been commissioned in the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force.
iii. It is a joint venture between the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and the Federal
State Unitary Enterprise NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM) of Russia.
Indian Navy successfully conducted ‘live mating’ of submarine rescue system DSRV
On June 2, 2019, The Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) based at Visakhapatnam, successfully
conducted the live mating exercise. It involved the transfer of personnel from the bottomed submarine, INS
Sindhudhvaj. It was inducted into the Navy by the former Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba in
December.
Key Points:
i. The live mating exercise is a historic achievement towards DSRV integration into the Indian Navy. It paved way
for the Indian Navy to emerge as a Submarine Rescue Provider in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
ii. The DSRV is equipped with sophisticated radar and a remotely operated vehicle (ROV).
iii. It is operated by a crew of three and can rescue 14 personnel from a disabled submarine at one time.
Army launched RODRA website to address veterans’ issues

Army launched an online platform, Retired Officers Digital Records Archive (RODRA) with an aim to
have better connection with armed forces veteran officers and family pensioners.
Key points:
i. The website provides facilities such as updating records, registration, and tracking of documents and
pension-related grievances, and communicating regarding various issues.
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ii. It will act as an interface between the custodian of officers' records, AG/MP 5&6 and veteran officers, next of
kin (NOK).
iii. The website saves manpower, stationery, and postal charges by discontinuing Pension Payment Order
(PPOs), which is now available in website itself.
INS Tarkash reaches Alexandria as part of the Overseas Deployment programme

As a part of the Western Fleet Overseas Deployment programme, Indian Navy Ship(INS),
Tarkash reached Alexandria in Egypt for three days visit.
Key points:
i. This visit to Egypt will seek to strengthen the ties between the two countries & increase the footprint and
operational reach of the Indian navy.
ii. Due to the geostrategic location, Egypt will provide the unique advantage of being at the crossroads of Africa,
Asia, and Europe and, all important sea lines of communication pass through the Red Sea into the Mediterranean
through Suez Canal in Egypt.
ENVIRONMENT
Mount Etna in Italy erupts
Europe’s highest volcano Mount Etna erupted spitting molten lava in the island of Sicily, Italy. It is
the largest of the three volcanoes present in Italy others being, Mount Vesuvius and Mount Stromboli. It was
added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage
Sites in June 2013.
New species of dung beetle found in Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh

New species of dung beetle Enoplotrupes tawangensis was found in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh. It
is shining dark blue in colour and bigger than most of the dung beetles. It measured up to 27 mm. It was
published in an international journal Oriental Insects.
Key Points:
i. They were examined by two scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)- Kailash Chandra and
Devanshu Gupta.
ii. Dung beetles belong to super family Scarabaeoidea and have clubbed antennae and pro-tibiae (pro-legs)
modified for burrowing dung inside the soil.
Ebola drug 'remdesivir' to protect against Nipah virus

An experimental Ebola drug 'remdesivir' is found to cure Nipah virus also according to the new
study published in Science Translational Medicine from National Institutes of Health scientists and
colleagues. The drug was developed by Gilead Sciences, Inc. in collaboration with scientists from the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Mount Sinabung erupts in western Indonesia

On June 9, 2019, Mount Sinabung volcano has been erupted spreading a column of ash at 7 km high in the island
of Sumatra in western Indonesia.
It erupted in 2010 for the first time and 2013 in second time. Mt. Sinabung is among 129 active volcanoes in
Indonesia.
596 new species include 224 of plants and 372 of animals discovered from India in 2018
Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have published the details about
documented 596 new species of flora and fauna from India of 2018 in Plant Discoveries 2018 and Animal
Discoveries 2018 .
i. Scientists and taxonomists have documented 372 new species of fauna(animals) which include 311
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invertebrates and 61 vertebrates.Then 224 new species of flora (plants) include seed plants, pteridophytes,
bryophytes, fungi and lichen.
ii. Kerala recorded the highest number of discoveries with 59 species. Similarly West Bengal recorded 38 and
Tamil Nadu recorded 26.
iii. According to the discovery of 596 new species, 31% of the plant species found in the Himalayas and the
Western Ghats left with 50% of the animal species.
Two new species of 'tweezer-beaked hopping rats' discovered in Philippines

Researchers from the ‘University of Utah or Utah Natural History Museum’, the University of Kansas, the
University of the Philippines, and Louisiana State University have discovered two new species of
the 'tweezer-beaked hopping rats' or ‘ shrew-rats’ on mountains in the Philippines' island of Luzon.
i. The new species are named ‘Rhynchomys labo and Rhynchomys mingan’. Rhynchomys is a
gene name,where rhyncos for snout and mys for "mouse".
Scientists discovered new species of ‘paddy frog’ from Northeast India

Scientists from Delhi University and the Wildlife Institute of India along with researchers from Indonesia and the
US found a new species of ‘paddy frog’ from Northeast India, primarily Assam.
i. The new species of ‘paddy frog’ has been named ‘aishani’. ‘aishani’ or aisani means Northeast in Sanskrit.
About Paddy Frogs
The frog belongs to the microhylid genus Micryletta, a “group of narrow-mouthed frogs that is primarily and
widely distributed in Southeast Asia, more commonly known as paddy frogs”.
In Arunachal, New tortoise species have been discovered

A team of herpetologists from the Forest Department and two NGOs (Non-Government Organization)-Help Earth
& Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) discovered two (one male and female) new species of tortoise In Yazali area of
the Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh.
The species is called Manouria impressa(Impressed Tortoises ) because of the ‘impressive’ orange-brown to
dark brown patches on its carapace.
Key points:
i. With this discovery, India now has 29 species of non-marine chelonians and five tortoises.
ii. The species inhabits moist primary forests of the hilly tracts of the Indo-Myanmar biodiversity hotspot.
SPORTS
Under-20 Eurasian Athletics Championship: Indian juniors bagged 5 gold, 3 silver medals
At the Under-20 Eurasian Athletics Championships held at Almaty, Kazakshstan, Indian juniors bagged 5
gold and 3 silver medals. The national teams from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Iran, India and Tajikistan
participated in a 2-day event held on May 29-30, 2019.
List of Winners:
Gold Medal Winners:
Sl.No Name of the winner Event Time/Distance
1. Gurvinder Singh 100m- Boys 10.42 seconds
2. Vikrant Panchal 400m-Boys 47.90 seconds
3. Florence Barla 400m-Girls 54.73 seconds
4. Sreekiran 800m-Boys 1:54.62
5. Rohit Yadav Javelin Throw 74.55m
6. Abdul Razak, Priscilla Daniel, Florence 4*100m Mixed Relay 3:30.58s
Barla, Vikrant Panchal
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Silver Medal Winners:

Sl.No Name of the winner Event
1. Abdul Razak 400m-Boys
2. Priscilla Daniel 800m-Girls
3. Sahil Silwal Javelin Throw
Chelsea crunches Arsenal to win Europa League title

Chealsea produced their best to win the UEFA Europa League 2019 by beating Arsenal 4-1 at the Baku Olympic
Stadium, Azarbaijan.
It is their fifth major UEFA European competition final, with only Liverpool winning more among eight
English clubs.
Liverpool smashes Tottenham Hotspur to win champions league trophy

Liverpool football team has beaten Tottenham Hotspur by 2-0 to claim 2018–19 UEFA (Union of European
Football Associations) Champions League for the sixth time in Madrid, Spain. It was the 64th season of the
tournament organized by UEFA, and the 27th season since it was renamed from the European Champion Clubs’
Cup to the UEFA Champions League.
Key highlights:
i. Now, Liverpool will play against Chelsea, the winners of the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League, in the
2019 UEFA Super Cup that will be held in August 2019 in Istanbul. The team is also qualified for the 2019 FIFA
Club World Cup to be held in December at Qatar.
Andres Ponce Ruiz Jr. becomes the Heavyweight Champion

Mexican-American professional boxer Andres Ponce Ruiz Jr. becomes heavyweight champion after beating
his opponent British professional boxer, Anthony Joshua at Madison Square Garden, New York.
ii. The win made Andres Ruiz the first Mexican heavyweight champion of the world.
iii. Ruiz also represented Mexico in two 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Sidharth Rawat won maiden ITF men’s Futures singles title

On June 2, 2019, Delhi based tennis player Sidharth Rawat defeated Japan’s Rio Noguchi with 7-5, 6-0 scores to
secure his maiden title in $25,000 International Tennis Federation(ITF) men’s Futures Tennis
Tournament held in Nonthaburi, Thailand. With this, he will improve the ATP (Association
of Tennis Professionals) rank of 510. His career-best rank was 430.
Key Points:
i. Sidharth credited his win to the coach Gaurav Sharma .
ii. Over the next fortnight, he will be competing in two $25,000 events in Hong Kong.
China to host 2023 Asian Cup confirmed by Asian Football Confederation (AFC)
Asian Football Confederation (AFC), confirmed that China will host the 2023 Asia Cup.This will be the second
time china is hosting the quadrennial continental tournament, after the 2004 edition.
i. Earlier Korea was competing with china for hosting rights but it took back to concentrate on securing the
hosting rights for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
ii. China ranked 74th in the FIFA's rankings and once qualified for the World Cup in 2002.
Sunil Chhetri becomes most capped Indian footballer

Indian professional footballer Sunil Chhetri has been named most capped football player. He surpassed the
former Indian captain Bhaichung Bhutia's 107 international matches. He has played today his 108 matches for
India.
Key points:
i. He has scored 69th goal for his side in King’s Cup football tournament in Buriram, Thailand.
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ii. He made his international debut in 2005 and scored his first goal against Pakistan.
iii. He is popularly known as Captain Fantastic, having scored the 2nd highest number of goals in international
matches among active players after Cristiano Ronaldo
iv. He currently plays club football for Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League.
French Open 2019

The 123rd Edition of French Open 2019, a Grand Slam Tennis Tournament was held from May 26- June 9, 2019
at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France. It included a prize money of €42,661,000 and comprised singles,
doubles and mixed doubles play.
List of Winners:
Event Winners Runners
Men’s Singles Rafael Nadal (Spain) Dominic Thiem (Austria)
Women’s Ashleigh Barty (Australia) Marketa Vondrousova (Czech
Singles Republic)
Men’s Doubles Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies Fabrice Martin and Jeremy Chardy
(Germany) (France)
Women’s Kristina Mladenovic (France) Duan Yingying and Zheng Saisai
Doubles Timea Babos (Hungary) (China)
Mixed Doubles Latisha Chan (Taiwan) Gabriela Dabrowski (Canada)
Ivan Dodig (Croatia) Mate Pavic (Croatia)
Other Facts:
i. Croatia's Ivo Karlovic, aged 40, became the oldest man to win a Grand Slam match against Spain's fellow
veteran Feliciano Lopez with 7-6(4) 7-5 6-7(7) 7-5 scores.
ii. Rafael Nadal became the first tennis player to win a single event 12 times. He registered the win with 6-3, 5-7,
6-1, 6-1 over Dominic Thiem.This was his 18th Grand Slam Title.
iii. Ashleigh Barty clinched her first Grand Slam singles title and became the first women's singles player since
Margaret Court in 1974 from Australia to win the Roland Garros title with 6-1, 6-3 scores.
iv. Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies became the first German pair to win a Grand Slam men's doubles title with
6-2,7-6 (7-3) scores.
About French Open:
♦ Official name: Roland-Garros
♦ Founded: 1925
2019 ITTF world Tour Hong kong open

The 24th edition of ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) World Tour Hong Kong open was held from
6th to 9th June 2019 at Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Hong Kong. The price money of the tournament was USD
175000. It comprises Men’s single & doubles and Women’s singles & doubles. It was founded on 2018.
Winners list
Events Winners Runners
Men’s Singles Lin Gaoyuan (China) Tomokazu Harimoto (Japan)
Women’s Singles Wang Yidi(China) Mima Ito (Japan)
Men’s Doubles Liang Jingkun and Lin Gaoyuan ( China) Jang Woo-jin and Lim Jong-hoon (South Korea)
Women’s Doubles Chen Ke and Mu Zi(China) Jeon Ji-hee and You Eun-chong(South Korea)
Key Highlights:
i. China claimed four gold medals at the tournament.
ii. Lin Gaoyuan of China emerged as the most successful player at the event.He secured the Men’s singles title
by beating no.2 seed Tomokazu Harimoto of Japan with 11-8, 7-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7 scores.
iii. Wang Yidi of China, last year under 21 women’s singles title winner secured her first ever ITTF World Tour
women’s singles title against Mima Ito of Japan with 11-3, 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 scores.
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iv. Liang Jingkun and Lin Gaoyuan, pair win their first Men’s Doubles
title by beating Korea Republic’s Jang Woojin and Lim Jonghoon, the no.3 seeds with 6-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-8
scores.
v. Chen Ke and Mu Zi, the no.7 seeds, won the Women’s Doubles final title against Korea Republic’s Jeon Jihee
and Yoo Eunchong with 9-11, 11-1, 11-4, 11-5 scores.
India’s swashbuckling all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, announced retirement from all forms of cricket
Indian cricket team all-rounder, Yuvraj Singh has announced retirement from all forms of cricket. He played 40
test matches, 304 ODI’s and 58 T20I’s. He hails from Chandigarh. He is an awardee of 2012 Arjuna Award and
2014 Padma Shri Award.
Career Achievements:
• He started his cricket career in the year 1995–96 and played Under-16.
• In the year 2000, India won Under-19 Cricket World Cup and Yuvraj won Player of the Tournament
award.
• He also won the Man of the Tournament in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and was the top
performer in 2007 ICC World Twenty20 in which India won the tournament.
• During 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, he became the first cricketer to take a 5-wicket haul and score a 50
in the same World Cup match.
• In Indian Premier League (IPL), he played for various team viz, Kings XI Punjab (2008–2010), Pune
Warriors India (2011–2013), Royal Challengers Bangalore (2014), Delhi Daredevils (2015), Sunrisers
Hyderabad (2016–2017), Kings XI Punjab (2018), Mumbai Indians (2019).
• He became the first all-rounder to score 300 plus runs and to take 15 wickets in a single World Cup.
• His Autobiography titled “The Test of My Life” was published.
Honours/Awards received:
• In 2012, Government of India conferred Yuvraj Singh with the Arjuna Award, India’s second highest
sporting award.
• In 2014, he was awarded with the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honour.
• In 2014, he was honored with FICCI Most Inspiring Sportsperson of the Year Award.
Lewis Hamilton won 2019 Canadian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) of United Kingdom won 2019 Canadian Grand Prix officially named as
theFormula 1 Pirelli Grand Prix du Canada 2019. It was held in Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec,
Canada.
i. It was a record seventh victory in Canada for Hamilton and the 78th of his career.
ii. Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc of Ferrari won the second and third position respectively in the 2019
Canadian Grand Prix.
About Canadian Grand Prix:
♦ First held in 1961.
♦ It has been part of the Formula One World Championship since 1967.
Track body IAAF to rebrand as World Athletics

International governing body for the sport of athletics, International Association of Athletics Federations
(IAAF) is to change its name as World Athletics.
The identity of the brand will be introduced in October, 2019 after one last edition of the world championships
in Doha, Qatar under IAAF.
Key points:
i. The decision was taken at IAAF council meeting in Monaco.
ii. IAAF president Sebastian Coe stated that the brand name 'World Athletics' builds upon the organization’s
restructuring and governance reform agenda of the past four years. It is to represent a modern, more creative
and positive face for the sport.
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iii. IAAF was founded in 1912 as the International Amateur Athletic Federation then changed that to
International Association of Athletics Federations in 2001.
Jemimah Rodrigues becomes third player from India to feature in Kia Super League
Young cricketer of India, Jemimah Rodrigues has become the third Indian woman cricket player to feature
in Kia Super League (KSL) after Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur.She will play in fourth and final
edition of the KSL.
i. She plays for Yorkshire Diamonds in Women's Super League.
ii. She represented India in 10 ODIs and 25 T20Is.
Sourav Kothari wins 2019 Pacific International Snooker Championship

Indian billiards player Sourav Kothari won the 2019 Pacific International Snooker Championship that held
in the Reventon Classic, in Melbourne, Australia.He defeated Tyson Crinis of Australia to win the title.
i. He won gold medal in 2014 Asian Billiards Championship and won bronze medal in 2011, 2014 and 2015
World Billiards.
ii. He won Arjuna award for Billiards & Snooker in the year 2016.
Veteran journalist and former BJP MP Rajanath Singh 'Surya' passed away in Lucknow
On June 13, 2019, Veteran journalist and former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament
(MP) Rajanath Singh 'Surya' passed away at his Gomtinagar residence in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh after a brief
illness. He was 82.
i. Before his death, he had expressed his desire to donate his body to the King George’s Medical University
(KGMU), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
ii. He was a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader, a well known journalist and columnist in Hindi
journalism and had worked in various newspapers.
iii. Born in Sultanpur district of Uttar Pradesh on May 8, 1937, Singh became a Rajya Sabha MP in November
1996 and retired in November 2002.
iv. He started his career in journalism with the Hindusthan Samachar, a multilingual news agency based in
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
v. He has served as the bureau chief of Aaj newspaper. He was the Assistant Editor of Dainik Jagran in 1988 and
has also served as the editor of Swatantra Bharat newspaper.
Indian junior women Hockey team clinched Cantor Fitzgerald U21 by beating Ireland
i. On June 4, 2019, Indian Junior women Hockey team clinched Cantor Fitzgerald U21 International 4-Nations
title by beating Ireland 1-0 in the final.
ii. The match was held at Dublin, Ireland.
iii. Mumtaz Khan is the highest goal scorer of this tournament.
iv. Gagandeep’s goal made the difference between the two sides, as India got 1-0 and took the title.
Malaysian Badminton legend, Lee Chong Wei announces retirement

Former World No 1, Malaysia’s badminton player, Lee Chong Wei aged 36 announced retirement after 19
years of a successful career that included the Olympic medals and 69 world titles. He made his decision after
doctor’s advice to ease off in order to avoid a relapse of the nose cancer. He hails from Bagan Serai, Perak,
Malaysia.
Title’s won:
• He won silver medal in Men’s singles event in 3 Olympic games viz, 2008 Beijing Olympic games, 2012
London Olympic games and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic games.
• He also won silver medal in 3 World Championship that held in 2011 London, 2013 Guangzhou and 2015
Jakarta and also won bronze medal in 2005 Anaheim.
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• In addition to this, he also won medals in Sudirman Cup, Thomas Cup, Commonwealth Games, Asian
Games, Asian Championships, Asia Team Championships, Southeast Asian Games, World Junior
Championships and Asian Junior Championships.
Honours Feliciated:
He was honoured with Member of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (AMN) (2006), Order of Merit of
Malaysia – DB(2009) and Order of Meritorious Service(PJN) – Datuk (2017). In 2018, a biopic was released
on his life named “Lee Chong Wei: Rise of the Legend”.
Australia and Qatar to participate in Copa America 2020

The South American Football Federation,CONMEBOL has invited the Australia and Qatar to take part in 2020
COPA America. The 2020 Copa America will be held jointly by Colombia and Argentina.
The announcement came the day before the 2019 competition kicks off in Sao Paulo in Brazil which facing
Bolivia.
Key points:
i. Qatar and Australia will join 10 South American nations in the 2020 tournament.
ii. Qatar and Japan are the guest teams at Copa 2019 scheduled to be held in Brazil.
iii.The 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2019 AFC Asian Cup champions host Qatar is making its Copa America debut
2019 tournament.
About Copa America
i. It was established in 1916
ii. It is international football competition is played between men’s national football teams of South American
Football Confederation (CONMEBOL).
India remain stays at 101st :FIFA ranking

As per latest list released by FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) World Rankings,
Indian football team remains at 101stposition and Belgium continued to top in the list.
Key points:
i. The top countries in the list are Belgium(1), France (2), Brazil (3), England(4) Portugal (5) Croatia (6)
Spain(7)Uruguay (8), Switzerland (9) and Denmark(10).
ii. Asian countries rank: Indian is at 18th position among Asian countries, followed by Iran (20th), Japan (28),
Korea (37), Australia (43) and Qatar (55).
About FIFA Ranking
i. It was first introduced in December 1992.
ii. It is a ranking system by FIFA in which teams of member nations of FIFA are ranked based on their game
results with the most successful teams being ranked highest.
Peter Gilchrist lifted Pacific International Billiards Championship title

Peter Gilchrist of Singapore defeated India’s Sourav Kothari (Kolkata) to win the 2019 Pacific International
Billiards Championship at the Yarraville Club in Melbourne, Australia.
Key points:
i. Multiple times world billiards champion Peter Gilchrist was at his best to defeat Sourav Kothari with 1500-
706.
ii. Kothari entered into the final of Pacific International Billiards after get the thumbing win over Dhvaj Haria in
Semi-Finals.
iii. Sourav Kothari defeated Peter Gilchrist of Singapore 1134-944 in 2018 WBL World Billiards Championship
title.
Overview of 2019 World Archery Championships held in Hertogenbosch, Netherlands

The 50th edition of World Archery Championships, 2019 also known as Hyundai World Archery Championships
held from June 10,2019 to June 16,2019 in 'S-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands. It comprises Men’s Individual,
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Women’s Individual, Men’s team, Women’s team and Mixed team.

Indian medal winners are listed below:
Event Name Winners Medal won
Women’s Compound mixed team event Raj Kaur ,Muskan Kirar Jyothi Surekha Vennam Bronze
Women’s Compound individual event Jyothi Surekha Vennam Bronze
Recurve men’s team Atanu Das ,Pravin Ramesh Jadhav,Tarundeep Rai Silver
Key Highlights:
i. South Korea topped the medal tally with 3 gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze. Chinese Taipei came second with 3Gold,1
Bronze.
ii. India won three medals,1 silver and 2 bronze.
iii. Indian men's archery team secured the Olympic quota for the 2020 Tokyo Games by entering into the
quarterfinals of the World Championships with a 5-3 win over Canada. After 2012 London Olympics,this is the
first time that Indian men could secure a team quota.
iv. Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Muskan Kirar and Raj Kaur combined to beat the Turkish team of Yesim Bostan,
Gizem Elmaagacli, and Ipek Tomruk by a score of 229-226..
v. Jyothi also clinched another bronze in individual event against world number two Yesim Boston of Turkey
with 10-9.
vi Indian men’s recurve team bag silver medal after 2-6 defeat to China.
Nihal Sarin wins blitz event at Asian Continental Chess Championship held in Xingtai, China
Nihal Sarin ,a 14-year-old Indian Chess Grandmaster has secured a win at the Asian Continental Chess
Championship in Xingtai,China in the blitz event.
Key points:
i. He scored eight points from nine rounds of the event which meant that he ended the tournament with a lead of
a full point.
ii. Sarin, who was recently crossed the 2600 Elo points mark to become the third youngest player.
iii. Vietnam GM Le Quang Liem secured the second spot and Indian Srinath Narayanan was placed third on the
list.
iv. India’s Karthikeyan Murali (6.5 points) Liem (7 points), SP Sethuraman (6.5 points), Srinath Narayanan (6.5
pts, 4th) and Abhijeet Gupta (6 points) qualified for the world cup, which will take place in Russia.
v. Dinara Saduakassova of Kazaksthan get the top prize with 7.5 points.
vi. Sarin, though, was not able qualify for world cup after he finished tied sixth before managing just an 11th
place finish in the tie-break.
vii. WGM R Vaishali had the best result among the Indians securing fifth place with her six points from nine
rounds.
India beats South Africa to win FIH Series Finals 2019

On June 16,2019, In the FIH (Federation Internationale de Hockey)Men’s Series Finals hockey tournament 2019,
India thrashed South Africa with 5-1 in a summit clash at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The
goals were scored in the 2nd, 11th, 25th, 36th and 50th minutes.
Key points:
i. With this win, India placed in the top five of the FIH World Rankings.
ii. Goals from Varun Kumar (2), Harmanpreet Singh (2) and Vivek Prasad witnessed.
iii. Manpreet Singh wins the Best Player of the Tournament Award, while Vivek Sagar wins the Best Junior
Player Award.
iv. Jonathan Klagus of USA gets the Best Goalkeeper Award.
v. Harmanpreet and Varun share the top scorer award along with Semen Matkovsky
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Joshna claims her 17th national title at the 76th Senior National Squash Championship, 2019.
Indian professional squash player, Joshna Chinappa won the national squash title for the record 17th time at
the 76th Senior National Squash Championship, 2019 held in Pune,Maharastra. Chinappa overcame her
Tamilnadu rival Sunayna Kuruvilla.
Key points:
i. Joshna Chinappa surpassed the record of 16 titles, which stood for 27 years held by Bhuvneshwari Kumari of
Rajastan who won the national titles from 1977 to 1992.
ii. Chinappa was up against the Sunayna Kuruvilla in the final with 11-5, 11-4, 7-11, 11-5 scores.
iii. She is a two-time Asian Games and Commonwealth Games medallist.
iv. Meanwhile, in the men's category, Mahesh Mangaonkar of Mumbai claimed the national crown against
Abhishek Pradhan 12-10, 11-7, 11-9.
v. Vikas Jangra of Rajasthan, Amitpal Kohli of Maharashtra, Saurabh Nayar of Chandigarh, Dalip Tripathi of West
Bengal, Vivan Khubchand of Delhi, Dushyant Jamwal of Delhi, Vijay Jaini of Haryana and Rajiv Reddy of Tamil
Nadu were also emerged winners in the other age group events.
Novak Djokovic, Naomi Osaka remain as World No. 1 in the tennis rankings
According to recently released “Women’s Tennis Association (WTA)” and “Association of Tennis
Professionals (ATP)” rankings, Naomi Osaka (Japan) and Novak Djokovic( Serbia) continued as world
number ones.
Key points
i. Naomi Osaka is just 252 points ahead of world number two Ashleigh Barty of Australia in the top 20 WTA
rankings.
ii. Novak Djokovic tops the chart in men’s ATP rankings ahead of Rafael Nadal of spain (French Open winner
2019) and former World number one Roger Federer of Switzerland.
Women’s Tennis Association (WTA)
i. It is the principal organizing body of women’s professional tennis and is restricted to women.
ii. The body governs WTA Tour which is worldwide professional tennis tour for women.
iii. It was founded in 1973
Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP)
i. It is the principal governing body of men’s professional tennis.
ii. It was founded in September 1972
Gary Woodland wins 119th US Open 2019 by beating Brooks Koepka

American professional golfer Gary Woodland(35) has won the 119th United States(US)open 2019 held at the
at Pebble Beach Golf Links, California.
He secured his first major career title after defeating two-time defending champion Brooks Koepka(US).
Key points:
i. Gary Woodland went pro in 2007 and briefly competed on the Nationwide Tour.
ii. Woodland has competed on the PGA (Professional Golfers' Association) Tour since 2009 and has four wins.
Punjab Police (Men) and Eastern Railway (Women) won 2019 Federation Cup trophies in Greater Noida
The 33rd Federation Cup Basketball Championship for Men and Women for the year 2019 was held at
the Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The Punjab Police (Men) and Eastern Railway
(Women) won the prestigious gold medals in the tournament. The tournament was held from June 12-16, 2019
and was organised by the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) and the Uttar Pradesh Basketball
Association (UPBA).
Key Points:
i. 9 teams from men's unit and 8 teams from women's unit participated in the event.
ii. Eastern Railway Women led by Libina MJ (28) and India's tallest women basketball player Poonam Chaturvedi
(26) defeated Tamil Nadu (TN) with 86-67 scores. TN's rising young star Dharshini Thirunavukkarasu had
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awarded 19 scores for her team.

iii. Punjab Police won over the physical Indian Army squad with 91-71 scores. Arsh Preet Bhullar got 24 points
and Amjyot added 20. For Army, Sunil Rathee (18) and Gopal Ram (16) were the top scorers.
iv. Arsh Preet Bhullar (Punjab Police) and Libina MJ (Eastern Railway) were named as Men and Women's Most
Valuable Player (MVP) respectively.
v. Teams from Income Tax (Men) and Kerala (Women) secured the third position.
vi. The top three teams received Rs. 1 lakh, Rs. 50,000, and Rs. 25,000 respectively.
IOC lifts sanctions against India to host international sporting events

On June 20, 2019, A non-governmental sports organization based in Lausanne, Switzerland, IOC (International
Olympic Committee) lifted its sanctions imposed on Indian Olympic Association (IOA) hosting international
sports events.
Key points:
i. The decision was taken after finally receiving a letter of guarantee from the Government that it will allow all
eligible athletes, sportspersons, and officials in events held in the country.
ii. The restriction imposed under points 2 and 3 of the IOC EB decision in relation to giving permission to host
sports events, lifted by the IOC.
iii. Background: Pakistan shooters were denied visa by the Indian government for participation in the
International Shooting Sport Federation Shooting World Cup 2019 that was held in New Delhi in the wake of the
terror attack in Pulwama, Kashmir.
Indian Gymnast, Pranati Nayak won bronze at 2019 Asian Artistic Gymnastic Championship held in
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Indian Gymnast, Pranati Nayak aged 23 won bronze medal in vault event at the 8th edition of Senior Asian
Artistic Championships in Buyant Ukhaa Sport Palace, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.She hails from West Bengal,
India.
i. Yu Linmin from China and Ayaka Sakaguchi from Japan won the gold and silver medal in the vault event.
Cricket Australia signs a multi-year partnership with HCL

Indian multinational information technology service, HCL Technologies (Hindustan Computers Limited, HCL)
has signed a multi-year deal with Cricket Australia (CA), the administrative body of Australian Cricket, which is
India’s third largest sports deal.
Accenture was working with Cricket Australia for a five-year deal from November 2013 before HCL.
Key points:
i. Under the partnership, HCL to become the digital technology partner of CA.
ii. HCL will help CA by engaging more fans, cricketers, fans, employees, and volunteers through digital experience
around the world.
iii. HCL also build CA's digital products, such as Cricket Australia Live App, cricket.com. au, bigbash.com.au, and
community cricket applications such as MyCricket and community.cricket.com.au.
iv. Cricket Australia’s fan following grew up to 20 million per year.
v. The sport of cricket has a fan base of over 2.5 billion passionate followers around the globe.
Fernando Torres, former Liverpool, Chelsea & Spain striker retired

Fernando Torres, former Liverpool, Chelsea & Spain striker aged 35 retired from football.He hails from
Fuenlabrada, Spain .
i. He started his career with Atlético Madrid. In 2007, he joined Premier League club Liverpool.
ii. In 2011, he left the club to join Chelsea for a British record transfer fee of £50 million.
Honors received:
• He was named in the FIFA World XI in 2008 and 2009.
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• Spain won the three tournaments from 2008 to 2012, with Torres scoring in the finals of both Euro 2008
and Euro 2012.
• In 2012, he won the Golden Boot for highest goalscorer.
• In 2008, he won Ballon d'Or third place
• In 2008, he won FIFA World Player of the Year third place
India's ace cueist Pankaj Advani clinched the 35th men's Asian Snooker Championship in Doha
India’s ace cueist Pankaj Advani, clinched the 35th men’s Asian snooker championship in Doha, Qatar.He
defeated Thai’s Thanawat Tirapongpaiboon.
i. He became the only one to win the Asian and World championships in all formats.
ii. He will take part in IBSF World Cup in Doha.
Indian women’s Rugby team scripted history in Manila

On June 22, 2019, The 26-member squad of Indian women’s Rugby team created a historic first international
15s win at Southern Plains Sports Field in Manila, Philippines. The victory came against Singapore to finish
third in the Asia Rugby Women’s Division 1 Rugby XVs Championship as India won 21-19 scores.
Key points:
i. China won the event with 68-0 scores against the Philippines.
ii. The tournament was one of the qualifying rounds for the 2021 Women's Rugby World Cup, which to be held in
New Zealand.
iii. Societe Generale, the financial partner of Rugby India supported the Indian team, which is participating under
the aegis of the Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU), the governing body for the sport of Rugby in India.
iv. India's Sumitra Nayak handed India the narrow win after kicking a penalty.
IOC inaugurated its $145 million new headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland

On June 23, 2019, The International Olympic Committee (IOC) inaugurated its 145 million Swiss
francs ($145 million) new headquarters named Olympic House in a ceremony held at the lakeside grounds of
Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland. It was inaugurated exactly 125 years after the Olympic Games were
revived.
Key Points:
i. The newly built headquarters was designed by architecture firm 3XN of Denmark.
ii. It is built on the site of the former headquarters and 95% of the old materials were reused and recycled.
iii. The signature feature of the new building is a central staircase which links the five Olympic rings. It brings
around 500 IOC employees under one roof.
iv. IOC members gathered in Lausanne to choose the 2026 Winter Games host among the candidates- Milan-
Cortina from Italy and Stockholm from Sweden.
v. Lausanne will host the 2020 Youth Olympic Winter Games.
Lewis Hamilton won French Grand Prix

On June 23, 2019, Five time Formula one (F1) world champion, Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes won the French
Grand Prix held in Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet, France with 187 points. Hailing from England, the United
Kingdom, this was his eighth straight win in the year 2019 and the overall winning streak raised to 10. It was
the sixth win of the season and 79th of his career.
Key Points:
i. He won the race over Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes (Finland) who secured 151 points.
ii. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari (Monaco) finished third, Max Verstappen of Red Bull (Belgium) was fourth followed
by Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari (Germany).
About French Grand Prix:
♦ It is one of the oldest motor races in the world as well as the first "Grand Prix".
♦ First held: 1906
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♦ Most win- Drivers: Michael Schumacher (Germany)

♦ Most win- Constructors: Ferrari
Indian women's hockey team won FIH Series by beating Japan

On June 23, 2019, Indian Women’s Hockey team won the FIH ( Fédération Internationale de Hockey) Women's
Series Finals Hiroshima 2019 after defeating hosts Japan 3-1 in the finals held at the Hiroshima Hockey Stadium,
Japan.
Key Points:
i. Indian team Captain Rani Rampal scored the first goal in the 3rd minute and Gurjit Kaur scored 2 goals at the
45th and 60th minutes.
ii. Japan’s Kanon Mori scored the goal for the team in the 11th minute.
iii. Rani Rampal was the best player of the tournament and Gurjit Kaur emerged as the top-scorer.
iv. The World No. 9 Indian team had qualified for the FIH Olympic Qualifiers 2019 on June 22, 2019 after
securing a place in the Final of the competition.
Swiss tennis star Roger Federer defeats David Goffin to win 10th Halle Open 2019 title
The 20-time Grand Slam champion, Roger Federer(37) of Switzerland defeats David Goffin (Belgium) to win
the 27th edition of the Halle Open 2019(also known as Noventi Open 2019) at the Gerry Weber Stadion in
Halle, Germany from 17 - 23 June 2019.
Key points:
i. Federer beat Goffin with7-6(2) 6-1 scores to win the Halle Open title for the 10th time and secure his 102nd
career singles title.
ii. Halle Open 2019 is a part of the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals)World Tour 500 series of the 2019
ATP Tour.
About Halle Open
It is a men's tennis tournament held in Halle, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Held since 1993, the event is
played on four outdoor grass courts
Girish Koushik of Karnataka became India’s 63rd Grandmaster
22 year old Girish A. Koushik of Mysore, Karnataka became India’s 63rd Grandmaster (GM) at the 37th Balaton
International Chess Festival in Hungary.
i. He completed his second GM norm at the 8th Llucmajor Open in Mallorca, Spain in May 2019 and third norm in
Budapest. The first GM norm was achieved in 2011 at the World Juniors.
ii. He became the third Grandmaster from Karnataka, after Thejkumar M S and Stany G A.
Sofia Kenin won the Mallorca Open Title 2019

Sofia Kenin of the United States won the Mallorca Open Title 2019 against Belinda
Bencic of Switzerland with 6-7 (2), 7-6 (5), 6-4 points in the finals. The 4th edition of the tournament was held
at Santa Ponsa Tennis Club in Mallorca, Spain, from 17 June to 23 June 2019.
i. This was her second WTA (Women's Tennis Association) singles title of the season.
ii. She claimed her first WTA singles title in the Australian Open 2019 held at Hobart, Australia in January, 2019.
IOC suspends Olympic status from AIBA

On June 26, 2019, International Olympic Committee (IOC) suspended the Olympic status from
the International Boxing Association (AIBA) and took over the responsibilities of the qualifying and final
tournaments for the 2020 Tokyo Games. In May 2019, IOC members had voted to support the executive board's
recommendation to suspend AIBA's Olympic status.
Key Points:
i. AIBA had created “very serious reputational, legal and financial risks” for the IOC and its American
stakeholders.
ii. AIBA has debts of about $17 million and it may be bankrupt in the near future. It is cut off from future income
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from Tokyo revenues.

iii. In 2018, IOC had started to investigate AIBA’s governance, debts and integrity of Olympic bouts after the
election of AIBA president Gafur Rakhimov, who is under United States federal sanctions for suspected links to
eastern European organized crime.
Chris Gayle of West Indies to retire from international cricket

West Indies batsman Chris Gayle, aged 39, will retire from international cricket after the home Test series
against India in August-September 2019. He was the captain of the team in the past and has won 2 T20 World
Cup titles with the Windies.
i. He is the second-highest run-getter in ODIs (One Day Internationals) for West Indies.
ii. He is the first batsman to hit 200 in a World Cup game and the only batsman to hit a triple century in Tests, a
double-century in ODIs and centuries in T20 Internationals.
iii. Gayle has played in 103 Tests, accumulating 7215 runs at an average of 42.19. In 294 ODIs he scored 10345
runs and in 58 T20 Internationals he scored 1627 runs.
Italy to host 2026 Winter Olympics

On June 24, 2019, In the final round of voting at the 134th session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)
in Lausanne, Switzerland, Italy’sMilan and Cortina d’Ampezzo won the right to host the 2026 Winter Olympics,
defeating Sweden’s capital Stockholm. Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo received 47 votes from the IOC members
and Stockholm secured 34 votes.
Key Points:
i. Italy will host the third Winter Games, after Turin hosted it in 2006 and Ski Resort Cortina hosted it in 1956.
ii. The organizational budget for the 2026 Winter Olympics is estimated at $1.7 billion. It is scheduled to take
place from 6 to 22 February 2026.
Marcus Trescothick of England announced retirement from professional cricket

The former England opening batsman, Marcus Trescothick, aged 43, announced retirement from professional
cricket. He will retire after the current county season ends which is Trescothick's 27th season.
Key Points:
i. In his career of 27 years, he played 76 Tests with more than 5800 runs with an average of 43.79 and 123 One-
Day Internationals (ODIs) scoring 4335 runs with an average of 37.37 since his debut for Somerset, a county in
South West England, in 1993.
ii. He holds a record for the most first-class catches (445) for the county.
India's junior Boxing women's team adjudged best in Black Forest Cup
India's junior Boxing women's team was won best team trophy in 5th Black Forest Cup held in Villingen,
Schwenningen, Germany. The team won 7 medals, including 5 gold.
Key Points:
i. Haryana’s Neha (54kg) claimed the honour of best boxer and Karnataka’s Anju Devi (50kg) claimed the honour
of promising player of the tournament.
ii. Tamanna (48kg), Anju, Neha, H. Ambeshori Devi (57kg), and Preeti Dahiya (60kg) won gold medals out of the
13-member Indian squad.
iii. India, Ukraine, Germany, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Hungary, Lithuania, Mongolia, Greece, and Poland participated in
the tournament.
Four archers included in TOPS scheme for the 2020 Tokyo Games
The Sports Authority of India's(SAI) Mission Olympic Cell has included four archers namely Archers Tarundeep
Rai, Atanu Das, Pravin Jadhav and Atul Verma in Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) for the 2020 Tokyo
Olympics.
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Key points:
i. The decision was taken by SAI Director General Neelam Kapur.
ii. The trio: In June 2019, Rai, Das, and Jadhav were part of Indian men's recurve team that had won a silver
medal in the World Archery Championships in Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, thus earning a 2020 Olympic quota.
Verma is a bronze medal winner in boys recurves in the 2014 Youth Olympics.
iii. Financial assistance: In order to support athletes from six different sports financial proposals worth Rs 34
lakh were also cleared.
iv. Financial support for training and participation in overseas tournaments of wrestlers Pooja Dhanda, Bajrang
Punia, Utkarsh Kale and Vinesh Phogat has also cleared.
About Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)
It is a flagship program of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports which is an attempt to provide assistance to
India's top athletes.
Central Railway and Union Bank of India emerged as champions of Youth hockey 2019
In the finals of the St Peters Youth Centre Open Hockey Tournament for 2019 held in Mumbai, teams
of Central Railway (Women) and Union Bank of India (Men) emerged as champions.
i. The Central Railway defeated Western Railway with 3-2 scores and Union Bank of India defeated Coorg XI by 2-
0 scores.
ii. Olympian Preeti Yadav was named as the Best player of the Tournament.
OBITUARY
Veteran industrialist Brij Mohan Khaitan passes away at 92
Brij Mohan Khaitan, a veteran industrialist passed away in Kolkata at the age of 92 due to old age ailments. He
recently resigned as chairman of Eveready Industries and McLeod Russel. He is also known as Evergreen tea
man of India. He hailed from West Bengal.
Veteran actress and singer Ruma Guha Passes away

Bengali singer-actress Ruma Guha Thakurta died at her Baliganj residence in Kolkata following old age-
related problems at the age of 84. She was born in 1934 in Kolkata, West Bengal.
ii. She is best known for her roles in hindhi and Bengali movies such as Ganashatru and Abhijan.
iii. She is the founder of the Calcutta Youth Choir (CYC), which played a important role in popularizing Bengal
songs. In 1974, the CYC, under her direction, won the first prize at the Copenhagen Youth Festival.
José Antonio Reyes a soccer star died

José Antonio Reyes former Arsenal and Spain player died in a car accident at the age of 35. He was former
Spain midfielder and won five Europa League titles and was part of Arsenal’s unbeaten “Invincibles” squad. He
also won 21 caps for Spain. He hailed from Spain.
Johansson champions league football architect died at the age of 89

Lennart Johansson who introduced Champions League during a 17-year reign as president of Union of
European Football Associations (UEFA) died at the age of 89 after a brief illness. He was the president of UEFA
from 1990 to 2007 and also served as vice president of FIFA. He is also known as Father of the Champions
League. He is from Stockholm, Sweden.
Actor and Padma Shri awardee Dinyar Contractor passed away aged 79 in Mumbai, Maharashtra
Actor and Padma Shri awardee(2019) Dinyar Contractor passed away aged 79 in Mumbai, Maharashtra due to
age-related illnesses. He was best known for his comic roles. He hailed from Mumbai. He was awarded the Padma
Shri in January 2019.
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Key Points:
i. He had appeared in the films like Baadshah, Khiladi, Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, Daraar and 36 China Town.
ii. He had been a part of shows like Khichdi, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, Hum Sab Ek Hain, Do Aur Do
Paanch, Dil Vil and Karishma.
iii. The theatre artist had begun his professional career in 1966.
iv. He had played in Gujarati as well as Hindi plays. He started working on television programs when Mumbai
Doordarshan launched their DD-2 channel in Mumbai with a Gujarati show titled “Aao Marvao Meri Saathe” and
other shows like “Adi Marzban”.
Dr. Patricia Bath inventor of Cataract treatment passes away at age of 76

Dr. Patricia Bath, pioneering ophthalmologist the first African American female doctor to invented a more precise
treatment for cataracts died at the age of 76 due to cancer. She is from Harlem in New York City. Bath have five
U.S. patents. She also authored more than 100 papers.
‘Czar of Indian Cuisine’ Jaspal Inder Singh Kalra died at 71

Jaspal Inder Singh Kalra known as Jiggs kalra, celebrated chef and culinary revivalist passed away at the age of
71. He has many titles like “Czar of Indian Cuisine” and “Taste maker to the Nation”. the Government of India
named him as advisor to the India Trade Promotion Organization in 1997.
Six-time Grammy-winning musician Dr John passed away at age of 77

Musician Malcolm John Rebennack died at the age of 77 due to heart attack. Dr John was nominated for 15
Grammy Awards and won six of them. He hails from New Orleans. He has recorded about 20 albums.
Laldingliana Sailo, former Doordarshan, All India Radio News Editor passed away at the age of 76
Laldingliana Sailo (76), the former Doordarshan and All India Radio (AIT) news editor, has passed away
in Aizawl at the age of 76.He hails from Aizawl
i. He is a senior Indian Information Service (IIS) officer.
ii. He was first inducted as an Field Publicity Officer under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in the
year 1972 and then first posted in Arunachal Pradesh Tawang.
iii. At the time of retirement he was a Director in the Directorate of Field Publicity for Kohima Region.
Veteran actor and playwright Girish Karnad passed away at 81

On June 10, 2019, Noted Actor, Writer and playwright Girish Karnad was passed away due to multiple-organ
failure in Bengaluru at the age of 81. He was a recipient of 1998 Jnanpith award and also Padma award for
literature.
Key points:
i. Girish Karnard was born on May 19, 1938, in Mathern, Maharastra.
ii. He worked in Bollywood and South Indian films. He made his acting and screenwriting debut at the film
Samskara , which won the President's Golden Lotus Award.
iii. Vamsha Vruksha, Ek Tha Tiger and Malgudi days are the some movies and TV serial which he played an
important role.
iv. He also served as the Director of the Film and Television Institute of India from 1974 to 1975 and the
Chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi
Veteran Journalist E Gopinath died at 88 in Chennai

E Gopinath, the eldest journalist of Tamil Nadu passed away at 88 in Chennai. He was also a Chief of news
agency ‘ANI’, Tamilnadu.
i. It is noteworthy that Journalist E Gopinath was on first general elections for Press Trust of India (PTI) of
Independent India and active till recently concluded 17th general elections.
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ii. He became the first journalist to interview both Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara and Cuban leader Fidel
Castro.
Sheetal Jain, film producer and Amitabh’s longtime secretary passed away.
Sheetal Jain, actor Amitabh Bachchan’s longtime secretary, and film producer passed away in Mumbai at the
age of 77.
i. He produced the film of Amitabh Bachchan and Govinda starrer ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ in 1998.
Renowned Indian-origin writer Ahmed Essop passes away

Noted author and former educationist of Indian origin Ahmed Essop has passed away in South Africa, at the age
of 88. He was born in India in 1931 then emigrated to South Africa.
Key points:
i. His 1978 book ‘The Haji and other Short Stories’ received the Olive Schreiner Award in 1979.
ii. Ahmed Essop is the author of several publications. His works were published by Staffrider and Raven Press
iii. He received the Lifetime Achievement Literary Award in 2018.
Slyvia Miles, Oscar-nominated actress passed away at the age of 94 in Manhattan, New York, U.S.
Sylvia Miles, American actress who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress twice
passed away at the age of 94 in Manhattan, New York, U.S.
i. She was born in Greenwich Village, New York, U.S.
ii. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performances in Midnight
Cowboy (1969) and Farewell, My Lovely (1975).
Former S. Korean first lady, feminist activist Lee Hee-ho passes away
Lee Hee-ho, a South Korean feminist &democracy activist and wife of the late South Korean president Kim Dae-
jung, passed away. She was 96. Lee Hee-ho was born on September 1922 in Seoul, South Korea.
Key points:
i. She was known for her women's rights activism in the 1950s by establishing activist and research groups and
also serving a senior role with South Korea’s YWCA(World Young Women's Christian Association ).
ii. She also took an active role in founding of the Gender Equality Ministry under Kim Dae-jung’s administration.
Franco Zeffirelli, Legendary 'Romeo and Juliet' Director dies at 96

The Italian legend director and two-time Oscar-nominee, Franco Zeffirelli passed away in Rome, Italy at the age
of 96.He best known for his film career. He earned his big hit with 1968 film of 'Romeo and Juliet' in which he
famously cast then-teenagers Leonard Whiting &Olivia Hussey. The film was earning four Oscar nominations.
Key points:
i. His other film credits include “The Taming of the Shrew”(196) and Hamlet(1990), 'Brother Sun, Sister Moon'.
ii. He was also known for his theater and opera direction.
iii. A director, screenwriter, and producer, Zeffirelli earned five David di Donatello Awards from Italy.
Mohamed Morsi, former President of Egypt passed away in Cairo, Egypt

Mohamed Morsi, former President of Egypt passed away at the age of 67 in Cairo, Egypt.He was born in El
Adwah, Sharqia Governorate, Kingdom of Egypt.
i. He was the 5th President of Egypt.He served the country from 30 June 2012 – 3 July 2013.
ii. A top figure in the Muslim Brotherhood who was the first democratically elected President in Egypt's modern
history, had been in jail since he was toppled by the military in 2013 after mass protests against his rule.
iii. His death sentence was overturned in November 2016 and a retrial ordered. He died during a court hearing
on 17 June 2019.
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Dronacharya awardee, veteran athletics coach N Lingappa passed away in Bengaluru

Veteran athletics coach N. Lingappa passed away at the age of 95 in Bengaluru, Karnataka.He is a resident of
Bengaluru.
i. He represented Mysore in National Games for seven years consecutively and qualified as a walker in the 1954
Manila Asian Games but the event was cancelled.
ii. He had trained several international athletes like D.Y. Biradar, P.C. Ponnappa (400m silver medallist at the
Bangkok Asian Games in 1970), Uday Prabhu and Ashwini Nachappa.
iii. He won a silver medal in 10 km walk in the first National Games held in Delhi in 1954.
iv. He was a coach of the Indian athletics team at four successive Olympic Games, three Asian Games and
numerous State and National-level meets.
Awards Received:
• In 1987, he won Karnataka State Dasara award,
• In 1994, he won Rajyotsava award,
• In 2002, he won Karnataka Olympic Association award for outstanding coach,
• In 2002, he won Kempegowda award,
• In 2014, he won prestigious Dronacharya award in recognition of his work as a coach.
Veteran Mridangam exponent, Thanjavoor Ramamoorthy passes away in Trichy, Tamil Nadu
Thanjavoor Ramamoorthy, Veteran Mridangam exponent and former top grade staff artist of All India
Radio(AIR) passed away in Trichy, Tamil Nadu. He was born in Trichy.
i. He was appointed as Artist of All India Radio by the British Government and later on served 42 years in Indian
Government as a mridhangam artist.
ii. He has been chosen into the “A” Grade Artist by the first panel committee.
Honours received:
i. In 1980, Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataga Mandram conferred the title “Kalaimamani”.
ii. In 1983, the Karaikudi Tamil Isai Sangam conferred a title “Isai Kadal”.
iii. In 2001, Trichy District Nalla Nidhi Committee has awarded “Kalai Peroli”.
iv. In 1997, Muthamil Peravai of Chennai conferred a title “Miruthangha Selvam”.
v. In 2014, he received the title “Vaadhya Padmam” conferred by the Brahma Gana Sabha, Chennai.
Veteran freedom fighter Mohan Ranade dies at 90

Veteran freedom fighter Mohan Ranade passed away in Pune, Maharashtra at the age of 90. He participated in
the Goa Liberation Movement. He was born in 1929 at Sangli in Maharashtra.
Key points:
i. In 1995, He was arrested by Portuguese Police and spent 14 years in prison in Lisbon. After the liberation of
Goa, he was released in 1969.
ii. He was inspired by leaders like Ganesh Damodar Savarkar and Vinay Damodar Savarkar.
iii. He was a lawyer by profession, was awarded the Padma Shri in 2001.
Swami Satyamitranand Giri Maharaj, a renowned seer, passed away at Dehradun in Uttarakhand
On June 25, 2019, A renowned seer, Swami Satyamitranand Giri Maharaj (Swami Satyamitranand), aged 87,
passed away at Dehradun in Uttarakhand after a prolonged illness.
i. He was born on September 19, 1932 in Agra, Uttar Pradesh as Ambika Prasad.
ii. He was the head of Bharat Mata Janhit Trust. He established Bharat Mata Mandir in Haridwar and Samanvaya
Seva Foundation to serve poor people from tribal and hilly areas by providing free education and medical
facilities.
iii. He was the recipient of Padma Bhushan in 2015
Noted humanitarian activist Jharna Dhara Chowdhury passed away

Jharna Dhara Chowdhury, Eminent social activist and secretary of the Gandhi Ashram Trust in Jayag, Noakhali,
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Bangladesh passed away due to old age complications. She was 81.
Key points:
i. She was born on October 15, 1938, at Lakshmipur of Bangladesh.
ii. She dedicated her whole life to the Gandhian way of peacebuilding, communal harmony and social justice.
iii. She was honored with Padma Shri in 2013, Jamnalal Bajaj award in 1998 and Ekushey Award, the highest
civilian honor in Bangladesh in 2015.
iv. She also received the Begum Rokeya Padak, Gandhi Seva Puraskar awards.
Oldest Freedom fighter Mohammed Baji passed away at 103

Noted freedom fighter, Mohammed Baji (Md Bazi) passed away Sunari Sahi in Nabarangpur district of Odisha.
He was 103.
Key points:
i. He was born on January 20, 1917, and he had joined the Indian National Congress in 1936.
ii. He had taken part in Mahatma Gandhi’s Satyagraha movement in 1940 and was active in the Sarvodaya
movement after freedom.
iii. He also joined the Quit India Movement and was held on August 19, 1942, and jailed for 30 months before he
was released on June 25, 1947.
iv. He was the chairman of Utkal Gandhi Smarak Nidhi.
Legendary Bengal cricketer Shyam Sundar Mitra passes away at 82

Bengal's former Ranji Trophy cricketer Shyam Sundar Mitra passed away at the age of 82.
Key points:
i. He was Born in 1936 and he was popularly known as ‘SS’.
ii. He was awarded the Karthick Bose Lifetime Achievement Award by CAB (Cricket Association of Bengal).
iii. He played his club cricket for Mohun Bagan(Football club) honored him with the Lifetime Achievement
honor in 2017.
Veteran Telugu actress and director Vijaya Nirmala passed away

Veteran Telugu actor-film Maker G Vijaya Nirmala passed away following a brief illness in Hyderabad. She was
75.
Key points:
i. She was born on February 20, 1946, in Tamil Nadu.
ii. Nirmala had over 200 films to her name with 25 each in Malayalam and Tamil, and the remaining in Telugu.
iii. In 2002, she holds Guinness Book of World Records as the female director with most films.
iv. In 2008, she received Raghupathi Venkaiah award from Andhra Pradesh government for her contribution to
Telugu cinema.
BOOKS & AUTHORS

A Book on World Cup by Ashis Ray launched by Tom Harrison
The chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board, Tom Harrison launched the book – Cricket World
Cup: The Indian Challenge, a book on world cup from Indian perspective by veteran broadcaster and
writer Ashis Ray. The book covers all the matches played by India since inaugural world cup 44 years ago and all
final and semi-final matches of all team.
i. The book has been launched during an event at the annual summit of the UK-based India Business Group at
the Institute of Directors in London.
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev to release an Autobiography titled ‘My Life, My Mission'
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev will pen an Autobiography titled ‘My Life, My Mission'. He will unveil the trials,
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tribulations, and triumphs of his life and provide insights into his childhood in his autobiography. It is being
published by Penguin Random House and expected to release in August 2019.
Key Points:
i. It will be co-authored with senior journalist Uday Mahurkar.
ii. It will describe the journey of the Yoga guru from a small Haryana village to international stage, about his
passion for yoga and good health, friends and foes, the Swadeshi Campaign and the journey of Ramdev’s venture,
Patanjali Group of Institutions, with a turnover of about Rs 12,000 crores.
Vinit Goenka pens new book titled “Data Sovereignty - The Pursuit of Supremacy”
The book, “Function of Data Sovereignty - The Pursuit of Supremacy” authored by Vinit Goenka, Author,
Secretary, Centre for Knowledge Sovereignty (CKS) and Member Governing Council- CRIS (Centre for Railway
Information Systems), Ministry of Railways, Government of India recently released in New Delhi.
Key points:
i. The book is on the aspect of data generation and consumption which rules the world.
ii. It encourages policymakers on data localization and creates awareness among the people of the country on the
potential of data and implications of data being exposed to outsiders.
iii. The book stresses the importance of acting fast to protect the country from becoming vulnerable to miss-use
of data with help of strong regulatory mechanisms and rules on data protection.
Veteran Actor Anupam Kher pens an Auto-Biography "Lessons Life Taught Me, Unknowingly"
Veteran Actor Anupam Kher, aged 64, has penned an Auto-Biography titled "Lessons Life Taught Me,
Unknowingly". It will be launched on August 5, 2019. It will look into the life and times of the actor.
Key Points:
i. The book will be published by Penguin Random House.
ii. Kher is the winner of two National awards, eight Filmfare awards and a BAFTA nomination. He is a recipient of
the Padma Shree Award in 2004 and Padma Bhushan Award in 2016.
iii. He has acted in more than 530 films in several languages, both in India and the West, 100 plays and numerous
TV shows.
BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi pens her first novel ‘The New Delhi Conspiracy’
Meenakshi Lekhi, a women politician(MP of Bharatiya Janata Party and spokesperson) has written her debut
novel titled ‘The New Delhi Conspiracy’.
Key points:
i. Ms. Lekhi is a Supreme Court lawyer by profession.
ii. The book is published by Harper Collins and has been co-written by Krishna Kumar who works with her.
iii. The novel talks about undercurrents of Delhi's political landscape and attempts to lay bare what is influencing
the course of the nation's political trajectory.
Former Navy Chief Admiral Sushil Kumar authored a book titled “A Prime Minister to Remember,”
released
Former Navy Chief Admiral Sushil Kumar authored a book named as “A Prime Minister to Remember-
Memories of a Military Chief” released. The book is published by Konark Publishers Pvt Ltd, New Delhi
Key points:
i. The book talks about his distinguished career in the Indian Navy during the Kargil War and Chairman of the
Chiefs of Staff Committee when Operation Parakram was launched after the terror attack on the Indian
Parliament.
ii. It also talks about the Admiral, who served with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee from 1998 to 2001.
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IMPORTANT DAYS
Global Day of Parents observed on June 1
Global Day of Parents is observed globally on 1st June to honor parents all around the world. It aims to celebrate
the parent’s selfless love to shape their children’s future.
i. First ever Global day of Parents was declared by UN general assembly in 2012 with resolution A/RES/66/292.
ii. Theme for this year – Honor your parents
World milk day observed on June 1

i. Annually, on June 1, the world celebrates Global Milk Day in a bid to spread awareness about the consumption
of Milk and the benefits of its nutrition.
ii. The theme for World Milk Day 2019 is “Drink Milk: Today & Everyday”.
iii. The theme intended to educate people about the importance of milk in our life and society.
iv. Since 2001, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) selected this date for the Global Milk Day to
celebrate the role of the dairy sector to economic development, livelihoods, and nutrition.
World Bicycle Day observed on June 3

World Bicycle Day is observed annually on June 3rd to promote the use of bicycle daily in this current era of
modern automobiles. The main aim of this day is to recognize the bicycle as a clean, affordable and environment-
friendly mode of transport.
Key points:
i. The first World Bicycle Day was celebrated by the United Nations on April 12th 2018.
ii. The man behind the celebration of this day is professor Leszek J. Sibilski, a member of Polish national cycle
team for ten years.
iii. Logo of this day is an image of white and blue colour with cyclist riding around the globe with the
inscription #June3WorldBicycleDay below.
International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression observed on June 4

International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression was observed on June 4. It aims to spread
awareness about the pain and sufferings faced by the children who are the victims of physical, mental and
emotional abuse.
Key Points:
i. On August 19, 1982, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) declared June 4 as International Day of Innocent
Children Victims of Aggression under the resolution ES-7/8 because a large number of innocent Lebanese and
Palestinian children became the victims of the aggressive acts of Israel.
ii. The 6 grave violations faced by children are recruitment and use of children in war, killing, sexual violence,
abduction, attacks on schools and hospitals and denial of humanitarian access.
iii. On April 2, 2019, a campaign “Act to Protect Children affected by Conflict” was launched by Ms. Virginia
Gamba, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict to create awareness
and implement action to protect children affected by war. It will be effective until the end of 2022.
June 5 Celebrated As World Environment Day

World Environment Day (WED) is observed on June 5 every year. It is celebrated to raise awareness about
environmental issues pertaining to our planet and the action to be taken to tackle them. The theme of the year is
‘Beat Air Pollution’. This day was observed for the first time in 1974 by the United Nations. World Environment
Day 2019 is being hosted by China this year with a theme of “Air Pollution”.In 2018, India was the host country.
Dzukou Valley of Nagaland becomes Plastic Free Zone on World Environment Day
On the occasion of World Environment Day, Nagaland’s scenic Dzükou Valley has become Plastic Free Zone. The
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declaration was made officially by Advisor of Youth Resources and Sports, Zale Neikha. The initiative was by
Southern Angami Youth Organisation (SAYO) to conserve and protect the environment.
Initiative taken by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting Shri Prakash Javadekar ahead of World Environment Day
• As a part of World Environment Day celebrations, Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and
Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar launched the #SelfiewithSapling
campaign and planted saplings in the premises of Environment Ministry, Paryavaran Bhawan, New
Delhi.
• He was accompanied by Minister of State in the Environment Ministry Shri Babul Supriyo, renowned
cricketer Shri Kapil Dev, Bollywood actors Shri Jackie Shroff and Shri Randeep Hooda and noted singer
Smt. Malini Awasthi.
• He also planted a sapling in the premises of Films Division in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The event witnessed
the participation of the top celebrities from the Film Industry.
• The ministry will soon launch an initiative called School Nursery across the country in which school kids
will plant a seed, nurture the sapling and on his/her annual result would take the plant to be a trophy.
Gujarat launched world’s first PM emissions trading scheme
On June 5, 2019, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani launched the world’s first Emission Trading Scheme
(ETS) for Particulate Matter(PM) to reduce air pollution. It is aimed to reduce particulate pollutants PM2.5 and
PM10 and incentivize the industrial units which cap their emissions. These industrial units will be attached to a
Continuous Emissions Monitoring System for effective compliance.
Key Points:
• The Gujarat Pollution Control Board(GPCB) will set a limit or cap on the amount of a pollutant that can
be emitted by the industrial units. The firms which need to increase their volume of emissions must buy
permits from those who require fewer permits.
• The permits are traded like any other commodity on the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange
Limited (NCDEX).
• In this system, the buyer has to pay a charge for polluting whereas the seller will be rewarded for
reduced emissions.
• The scheme was initiated in Surat by GPCB.
• ETS was designed with the help of a team of researchers from the Energy Policy Institute at the
University of Chicago (EPIC), the Economic Growth Center at Yale University and The Abdul Latif Jameel
Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL).
• It will be implemented across 350 industrial units in the city in a phased manner, with around 160 units
in the first phase.
• At present, the government has set a cap on concentration of emissions for each industrial unit at 150
microgramme per cubic metre (ug/m3). It is the 24-hour average for emission standard set by the
Central government for industrial units.
Song ‘Hawa Aane De’ launched to spread awareness about Air pollution
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) launched the song ‘Hawa Aane De’ to
spread awareness about Air pollution. It was launched by Secretary, Ministry of Environment C K Mishra
in New Delhi. The song is produced by MoEFCC in collaboration with Bhamla Foundation, Mumbai.
• It is written by Shri Swanand Kirkire, sung by Sunidhi Chauhan, Shri Shantanu Mukherjee Shankar
Mahadevan & Kapil Sharma and directed by Shri Romanchak Arora.
1 lakh kids under 5 years of age die due to air pollution each year: Study
• According to CSE’s State of India’s Environment (SoE) Report, air pollution killed one lakh children
under the age of five every year in India. It is responsible for 12.5% of all deaths in the country.
• The report stated that on an average, 8.5 out of every 10,000 children in India die before they turn five,
while the risk was higher for girls as 9.6 out of 10,000 girls die before five years of age due to bad
air.According to a report by Greenpeace, New Delhi is the most polluted capital city in the world.
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Book on endangered reptiles of Western Ghats unveiled

• Third book of the biodiversity series named “Reptiles of the Northern Western Ghats” was launched in
an event in Mumbai by Minesh Dave, President Transmission and Distribution in the presence of its co-
author and devoted conservationist, Professor Dr Satish Pande, director of Ela Foundation, along with
Vivek Vishwasrao, head – Estate (LG), Tata Power.
• This book covers details of over 123 endangered species of reptiles. It was launched by Tata Power
in association with Ela Foundation. It has details regarding different species of snakes, crocodiles,
tortoise, lizards and chameleons nestled in one of the world’s important biodiversity hotspots.
President Kovind reaffirmed commitment to cleaner, sustainable planet
President Ram Nath Kovind reaffirmed the commitment to a cleaner and sustainable planet. He stated that living
in harmony with nature is a part of the Indian ethos. Along with this, former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley
appealed people to plant trees.
Other Initiatives:
• Smt. Renuka Singh, Minister of State for Tribal Affairs, planted tree sapling on the occasion of World
Environment Day in the premises of Chhattisgarh Bhawan, Guest House, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.
• G Kishan Reddy, Minister of State for Home Affairs, planted sapling at the Border Security
Force(BSF)Headquarters, New Delhi.
• The Indian Navy formulated Environment Conservation Roadmap to reduce energy consumption
and diversify its supply. The Indian Navy Environment Conservation Roadmap (INECR) has specific
action plans. It covers the entire gamut of operations, maintenance, administration and infrastructure,
and community. Navy has pledged 1.5% of its ‘Works’ Budget towards renewable energy generation.
• A tree bank was inaugurated and around 3,000 saplings were planted at different locations of the
Jamshedpur steel city on the occasion of the World Environment Day.The bank has 10,000 saplings of 13
species, including neem, mango, and palm.
Some facts:
• 92 percent of people worldwide do not breathe clean air.
• Air pollution costs the global economy $5 trillion every year in welfare costs
• Ground-level ozone pollution is expected to reduce staple crop yields by 26 percent by 2030.
International Day for the Fight Against IUU Fishing observed on 5 June
June 5 is celebrated as the International Day for the Fight Against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated
(IUU) Fishing to promote awareness in combating IUU. The day was first celebrated in 2018. The day June 5
is chosen to mark the day on which Agreement on Port State Measures came into existence in 2016. The proposal
was endorsed by the Committee on Fisheries (COFI).
Maharana Pratap Jayanti observed on June 6th

The birth anniversary of Maharana Pratap Singh, a Rajput king of Mewar is celebrated as Maharana Pratap
Jayanti on June 6th. He is renowned as a true patriot who commenced the first war of independence. This year is
479th birth anniversary of great warrior.
World Food Safety Day 2019 Observed On June 7

The first-ever World Food Safety Day was celebrated on June 7, 2019. It was adopted by the United Nations
General Assembly in December 2018. The theme of the year is "Food Safety, everyone's business". On this
occasion, an event was launched in New York with a panel discussion.
Key Points:
i. It was celebrated by the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
ii. It highlighted that access to safe and nutritious food is the shared responsibility of governments, producers as
well as individuals.
iii. The initiative is linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) namely:
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• Goal 2: To end hunger, all forms of malnutrition, and double agricultural productivity.
• Goal 3: To prevent diseases and improve health and well being for all.
• Goal 12: To move towards sustainable practices of consumption and production.
• Goal 17: Strengthen global partnerships (including trade laws) to grow sustainably.
iv. In India,Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare(MoHWF)inaugurated the first-ever
World Food Safety Day being celebrated by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in the presence
of Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Ms. Preeti Sudan, Secretary
(HFW), Ms. Rita Teotia, Chairperson (FSSAI), Shri Pawan Agarwal, CEO (FSSAI) and Dr Venkatesh, DGHS. Dr.
Harsh Vardhanurged the people of India to make ‘Eat Right’ movement a ‘Jan Andolan’ with ‘Jan Bhagidhari’.
v. Heunveiled a statue of ‘Gandhiji on a Bicycle’ installed at the FSSAI complex.
vi. The 7 leading States/Union Territories Chandigarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and
Tamil Nadu were felicitated based on the ranking for the year 2018-2019 for their impressive performance.
vii. FSSAI has developed the first State Food Safety Index (SFSI) to measure the performance of States on 5
parameters of food safety namely Human Resources and Institutional Arrangements, Compliance, Food Testing-
Infrastructure and Surveillance, Training and Capacity Building and Consumer Empowerment.
viii. Golden Temple Street of Amritsarwas recognized as a ‘Clean Street Food Hub’.
ix. Dr. Harsh Vardhan launched a new-age, hand-held battery-operated device ‘Raman 1.0’ whichperforms rapid
detection (in less than 1 minute) of economically driven adulteration in edible oils, fats and ghee.
x. Along with this, ‘Food Safety Magic Box’, an innovative solution to take food safety to schools was launched.
xi. FSSAI instituted the ‘Eat Right Awards’ to recognize the contribution of food companies and individuals to
empower citizens to choose safe and healthy food options and a Web-resource online Library of FSSAI
accessed at www.fssai.gov.in/videolibrary was launched.
World oceans day observed on June 8

Annually on June, 8, The world celebrates Oceans Day to raise awareness of the challenges humanity facing to
protect the world’s ocean.
Since 2002, The ocean project has promoted and coordinated World Oceans Day globally .
In 2008, UN (United Nations) had designated 8th June as World Oceans Day.
World Brain Tumor Day observed on June 8

On 8th June 2019, World Brain Tumor Day was observed all over the world.
This day is observed on 8th June every year since 2000.
It aimed at creating awareness among the public about brain and also focuses on helping people suffering from
brain tumor.
Brain tumor is a cancerous or non-cancerous mass or growth of abnormal cells in the brain.
World Day against Child Labour 2019 celebrated on June 12

World Day Against Child Labour (WDACL) was observed on June 12, 2019. It was introduced to focus on the
extent of child labour worldwide and the efforts required to eliminate it. The theme for the year is “Children
shouldn’t work in fields, but on dreams!”. The International Labour Organization (ILO) describes the term
child labour as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity and that is
harmful to physical and mental development.
Key Points:
• In 2002, the ILO declared June 12 as the World Day Against Child Labour.
• The ILO marked its 100th anniversary in 2019 in advancing social justice and promoting decent work. The
protection of children is embedded in the Constitution of ILO (Preamble). One of the first Conventions
adopted by the ILO was on Minimum Age in Industry (No. 5, 1919).
• 2019 also marked 20 years since the adoption of the ILO’s Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention,
1999 (No. 182).
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• As per ILO, even today, 52 million children are in child labour. Child labour occurs in all sectors. 7 out of
every 10 children work in agricultural sector.
• It is trying to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UNSDG) Target 8.7. It
states: "Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and
human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including
recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms".
WDACL in India:
• In India, the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani inaugurated
the National Consultation Workshop on Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Rescue and
Rehabilitation of Child Labour in New Delhi. It was organised by the National Commission for
Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).
• Senior officials from Department of Labour & Employment, Department of Women & Child Development,
Department of Mines & Geology, Department of Legal Affairs and State Commissions for Protection of
Child Rights (SCPCRs) & State Nodal Officers from all the States and Union territories attended the
Conference.
• NCPCR is developing a Standard Operating Procedures on “Rescue & Rehabilitation of Children involved
in Child Labour”.
• The Ministry of Labour & Employment and V.V. Giri National Labour Institute (VVGNLI) in collaboration
with the ILO organised a 'Technical Consultation on Evolving Strategies to achieve the Sustainable
Development Goal, Target 8.7 and Elimination of Child Labour in India' in New Delhi.
• Heeralal Samariya, Secretary of Minister of Labour and Employment said that Multi-pronged strategy was
adopted by government to combat child labour. He stressed on the importance of implementation of the
various acts and rules to eliminate the child labour.
• Census 2011 of India depicted a decline in child labour. It has come down to 1.01 crore as compared to
1.26 crore in 2001.
• Apart from the quarterly newsletter 'Child Hope' of VVGNLI, a song on the elimination of child labour,
developed by the ILO and the video-clip on the elimination of child labour developed by the Child Labour
Division, Ministry of Labour & Employment was launched.
• The efforts taken by the central government in ratifying the ILO Conventions 182 and 138 were
appreciated by Dagmar Walter, Director of ILO, New Delhi.
• ILO Convention number 138 inter-alia prescribes that there should be a minimum age of entry to
employment which should not be less than the age of compulsory education or 15 years (relaxable to 14
years in the case of developing countries). ILO Convention 182 inter-alia, mentions the minimum age for
working in hazardous occupations as 18 years. As on date, 167 countries across the world have ratified
ILO Convention 138 and 179 countries have ratified ILO Convention 182.
International Albinism Awareness Day 2019 observed on June 13

On June 13, 2019, International Albinism Awareness Day was observed. The day is observed to preserve the
rights of persons with albinism and take efforts to ensure equal access for them to employment, education,
justice and good health. The theme for the year is "Still Standing Strong".
Key Points:
i. On December 18, 2014, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/69/170 to
observe June 13 as International Albinism Awareness Day with effect from 2015.
ii. Albinism is a genetic condition that causes very little or no pigmentation in the skin, hair, and eyes.
iii. The symptoms of Albinism are absence of color in the hair, skin, or eyes, lighter than normal coloring of the
hair, skin, or eyes and patches on skin that have an absence of color. It is accompanied by a number of vision
defects including nystagmus, amblyopia and photophobia.
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World Blood Donor Day 2019 observed on June 14

World Blood Donor Day 2019 (WBDD) was observed on June 14. It is celebrated by the World Health
Organization (WHO) to raise awareness of blood donation. The theme of this year’s campaign is blood donation
and universal access to safe blood transfusion, as a component of achieving universal health coverage. It
encourages people all over the world to become blood donors and donate blood regularly. The Slogan for World
Blood Day 2019 is “Safe blood for all”.
Key Points:
i. World Blood Donor Day marks the birth anniversary of Karl Landsteiner who was born on June 14, 1868. He
was a scientist who won the Nobel Prize for his discovery of the ABO blood group system
ii. First celebration was initiated and established on June 14, 2004 by the WHO and the International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
iii. The host country for WBDD 2019 was Rwanda and the global event was held in Kigali, Rwanda.
World Elder Abuse Awareness day observed on June 15

The World Elder Abuse Awareness day is being observed across the globe on 15 June every year. The theme of
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2019 is "Lifting Up Voices".
The purpose of this day is to provide awareness of the cultural, social, economic, and demographic processes
affecting elder abuse and neglect. This day was officially recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in
December 2011.
International Day of Family Remittances being observed on 16 June

On 16th June 2019, International Day of Family Remittances was observed all over the world.
This day recognize the contribution of migrant workers to their families and communities back home, and to the
sustainable development of their native countries.
Key points:
i. About one in nine people globally are supported by funds sent home by migrant workers
ii. The IFAD’s (International Fund for Agricultural Development) Governing Council in 2015 declared 16 June as
International Day of Family Remittances.
iii. The first International Day of Family Remittances was celebrated on 16 June, 2015.
World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2019 observed on June 17

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (WDCD) 2019 was observed on June 17. It is celebrated to
promote public awareness of international efforts to combat desertification. 2019 Theme of WDCD is “Let’s
Grow the Future Together”. Desertification is the degradation of land in various areas like arid, semi-arid and
dry sub-humid. It is caused by human activities and then by climatic variations.
Key Points:
i. It was declared by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 1995.
ii. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) celebrates 25 years of progress made by
countries on sustainable land management in 2019.
iii. The campaign slogan for 25th anniversary is "Let's grow the future longer".
iv. The 25th anniversary Convention on 17 June, 2019 was held in Ankara, Turkey. It was hosted by the
government of Turkey.
Sustainable Gastronomy Day 2019 observed on June 18

Sustainable Gastronomy Day was observed on June 18, 2019 across the world. It highlights the need to focus
the attention on the role that sustainable gastronomy can play.
Key Points:
i. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) designated to celebrate June 18 as Sustainable Gastronomy
Day through its resolution A/RES/71/246 adopted on 21 December 2016.
ii. Sustainable gastronomy plays a major role in promoting agricultural development, food security, nutrition,
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sustainable food production and the conservation of biodiversity.

iii. Observance of this day acknowledges gastronomy as a cultural expression related to the natural and cultural
diversity of the world.
International Picnic Day celebrated on June 18, 2019

On 18 June 2019, International Picnic Day was celebrated all over the world. It is a day to encourage people to
go outdoors and enjoy each other’s company.
International Picnic Day
i. The word “picnic” originated from the French language. It relates to informal outdoor meal. Picnic became a
popular time pass in France after the Revolution.
ii. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the world's largest picnic was held in Lisbon, Portugal.
iii. Charity events, school picnics and various types of group meals are held to commemorate this day.
International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict observed on June 19,2019
On 19th June 2019, International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict was observed all over the
world. This day aims to create awareness on the necessity to curb conflict related sexual violence, to honour the
victims and survivors of sexual violence throughout the world.
Key points:
i. In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly declared 19 June as the International Day for the Elimination of
Sexual Violence in Conflict.
ii. This day also honours people who have devoted their lives to fight against these crimes.
Autistic Pride Day is being observed on June 18, 2019

On June18, 2019 Autistic Pride Day was observed all around the world. It is to recognize the importance of pride
for autistics and understands it not as a disease but as a difference.
Key points:
i. Autistic Pride Day was initiated by Aspies For Freedom, a group that raises public awareness about autism
rights.
ii. Autism is a neurological developmental disability that affect the development of normal brain, hampers
communication, social interaction, cognition and behavior
iii. It is a lifelong condition which usually occurs in the first three years of life. The exact cause of autism is not
known.
International Day of Yoga 2019 observed on June 21

The 5th annual International Day of Yoga (IDY) was observed on June 21, 2019. There are two themes for
World Yoga Day 2019 , United Nation has declared theme as "Yoga for Climate Action" and Ministry of Ayush ,
India has declared theme for Yoga Day is " Yoga for Heart". The first International Day of Yoga was celebrated in
the year 2015 at RajPath in New Delhi. The day was declared by the United States General Assembly (UNGA). The
word 'yoga' was derived from Sanskrit, which means to join or unite, symbolizing the union of body and
consciousness.
International Yoga Day 2019 in India
• The main yoga day event was held at Prabhat Tara ground, Ranchi, Jharkhand. Prime Minister
Narendra Modi addressed the gathering and performed Yoga asana along with 40,000 participants.
• President Ram Nath Kovind participated in the Yoga day event organised at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu participated in the Yoga Day celebrations organised by Brahma
Kumaris at Red Fort, New Delhi.
• Speaker of Lok Sabha Om Birla practised Yoga along with the Members of Parliament (MPs) in the
Parliament House complex.
• The programmes were also held at Nehru Park, Lodhi Garden, Talkatora Garden, Yamuna Sports
Complex, Swarna Jayanti Park – Rohini and Dwarka Sector – 11.
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Prime Minister’s Awards for Outstanding Contribution for Promotion & Development of Yoga 2019
Prime Minister’s Award for outstanding contribution for promotion and development of Yoga were given
on the occasion of IDY 2019. On the occasion of the 2nd International Day in 2016, PM Narendra Modi had
announced the institution of awards for the promotion and development of Yoga. The Ministry of AYUSH
(Ayurvedic, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) developed the guidelines for the awards.
The selection for the awards was done among 79 nominations received under different categories. Two
committees were constituted namely Screening Committee for preliminary evaluation and Evaluation Committee
(jury) for the selection of the awardees. The winners are honoured with a trophy, a certificate and a cash award
each, valuing Rs 25 lakh.
The following were the recipients of the award:
Category Individual - International
It was conferred to Antonietta Rozzi of Italy. He is a practicing Yoga teacher from Lerici, Italy and has more
than 42 years of experience in the field of Yoga.
Category Organisation - International
It was conferred to Japan Yoga Niketan. It was established in 1980. It functions in association with Yoga
Niketan, Rishikesh, and S-VYASA Yoga University, Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Category Individual - National
It was conferred to Swami Rajarshi Muni of Life Mission, Gujarat. He is a practicing yogi from Limbdi, Gujarat
He was administered yoga deeksha by Swami Kripalvananda in 1971. He is the founder of the Lakulish
International Fellowship's Enlightenment Mission (Life Mission).
Category Organisation - National
It was conferred to Bihar School of Yoga, Munger. It was founded in 1964 by Sri Swami Satyananda Saraswati.
It is known for Yoga techniques developed through a synthesis of many approaches based on traditional
vedantic, tantric and yogic teachings in conjunction with contemporary physical and mental health sciences.
PM led 40,000 yoga enthusiasts at Ranchi, Jharkhand
Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed Yoga asana along with 40,000 participants at Prabhat Tara ground,
Ranchi, Jharkhand. Jharkhand’s Chief Minister Raghubar Das, Governor Droupadi Murmu, Union Minister of
State (Independent) for AYUSH Shripad Yesso Naik and Jharkhand Health Minister Ramchandra Chandravanshi
also shared the stage along with the Prime Minister.
Observance of IDY 2019 by other ministries
• The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern
Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr
Jitendra Singh participated in the Yoga Day activities at Satya Park, Loha Mandi at Narayana, New Delhi.
• ‘Yoga by Gateway’ themed 5th IDY, 2019 was celebrated at OYC lawns in the picturesque background of
Gateway of India at Department of Atomic Energy with a tagline of ‘Festival of Yoga and Wellbeing.’ It was
organised by Atomic Energy Recreation Club and led by President Shri Abhay Kumar. It was attended by
more than two hundred senior officers and staff of the Department of Atomic Energy led by Shri Sanjay
Kumar, Joint Secretary (Admn. & Accounts), Department of Atomic Energy.
• Union Minister of State for Shipping (IC) and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya led
hundreds of enthusiastic citizens and yoga practitioners in celebrating IDY 2019 in the Nehru Park, New
Delhi.
• Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh led thousands in practicing Yoga at majestic Rajpath with Rashtrapati
Bhawan, New Delhi.
• Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel from Animal Training School (ATS) located at Lohitpur
performed Yoga with dogs in Lohit valley of Arunachal Pradesh.
• The main function of Jammu region was held at K.K.Hakku Stadium in the winter capital city of Jammu
where Divisional Commissioner Jammu Sanjeev Verma led people performing Yoga Postures and Kriyas.
• Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar, Culture and Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh
Patel, Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Rameshwar Teli, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil
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Baijal, Chief Minister of Goa Dr Pramod Sawant and Chief Minister of Sikkim Prem Singh Tamang
practised Yoga at Rajpath, New Delhi.
• External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar participated in the IDY event with the diplomatic corps and his
Ministry officials at the Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra in New Delhi.
• IT and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal attended Yoga Day
Celebrations at Lodhi Gardens.
• Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan participated in the Yoga Day programme at Talkatora Garden
and Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi practised yoga at Patel Nagar. Sports Minister Kiren
Rijiju attended the event at Najafgarh.
• The Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot attended Yoga day event at Sangam
Vihar while Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani practised Yoga at Bijwasan.
• Human Resource Development Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank joined Yoga Day programme at
Burari, Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan at Civil Lines, Animal Husbandry Minister Giriraj Singh at
Vikaspuri, Skill Development Minister Mahendra Nath Pandey at Hari Nagar and Minister of State in the
Prime Minister’s Office Dr Jitendra Singh at North Block lawns and Karolbagh.
IDY in other countries
• IDY was celebrated on a grand scale at the Banga Bandhu stadium by the Indian High Commission in
Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• Prime Minister of Nepal K. P. Sharma Oli and Deputy Prime Minister Upendra Yadav participated in Yoga
Day celebrations at the city centre in Kathmandu, Nepal.
• In Sri Lanka, several events were organized to mark the IDY and it’s national television channel organized
a special programme on the occasion which included live telecast of the main Yoga programme held in
Ranchi, Jharkhand.
World Music Day celebrated on June 21, 2019

The world music day is being celebrated across the country on June 21, 2019. It is also known as Fête de la
Musique’ meaning “festival of music”.It aims to honor both amateur and professional musicians. The theme of
world music day 2019 is “Music at the intersections”.
Key points:
i. The first music celebration was initiated by French Minister of Culture, Jack Lang and Maurice Fleuret.
ii. The International Music day was first celebrated in Paris in 1982.
iii. This day is celebrated in 120 countries throughout the world.
Summer Solstice day is observed on 21st June 2019

On June 21, 2019, Summer Solstice day was observed. It is also known as the ‘June Solstice’. Summer Solstice is
the longest day of the year which is considered as the start of the summer season. The Google Doodle celebrates
the Summer Solstice in Northern Hemisphere to mark the beginning of the Summer Season 2019.
Key points:
i. The solstice marks the moment the planet’s axis is either titled towards the Sun or away from the Sun.
ii. In June, on the Summer Solstice, the Northern Hemisphere tilts towards the Sun while the Sun faces away.
International Widows Day 2019 observed on June 23

International Widows Day was observed on June 23, 2019. It is observed to address the issues that widows
and their children face in some countries.
Key Points:
i. Loomba Foundation initiated the International Widow's Day in 2005. It was on June 23, 1954, Shrimati Pushpa
Wati Loomba, mother of the foundation's founder, Lord Loomba, became a widow.
ii. On 23 June, 2010, the day was officially recognised in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and since
then it is celebrated.
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iii. The aim of the day is to develop resources and policy to empower widows and allow them to have access to
education, work, healthcare and lives free of violence and abuse.
United Nations Public Service Day is celebrated on 23rd June 2019

The United Nations Public Service Day is celebrated every year on June 23. The day celebrates the contribution
of public service in the development process and to value public service to the community.
Key points:
i. The United Nations Public Service Forum (UNPSF) 2019 will take place in the Republic of Azerbaijan from
24-26 June 2019, with the theme of 'Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through effective
Delivery of Services, Innovative Transformation, and Accountable Institutions’.
ii. The day was instituted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) by passing resolution 57/277 on
December 20, 2002.
International Olympic Day is celebrated on 23rd June 2019

Annually on June 23, International Olympic Day is celebrated all around the world. This day marks the birth of
modern Olympic games on June 23, 1894, at Sorbonne in Paris.
Key points:
i. First Olympic Day was celebrated on 23 June 1948 by 9 National Olympic Committees (NOC).
ii. Olympic Day Run is an international Olympic Movement activity promoting mass participation of sports held
in June organized by National Olympic Committees (NOCs).
At Gwalior Air Base, IAF commemorates 20 years of Kargil war

On June 24, 2019, The Indian Air Force(IAF) commemorated 20 years of Kargil war at Gwalior Air Base which
turned into a war theater with reforming some of the air operations in 1999.
Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa was the chief guest of the event.
IAF used Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft to reenact Tiger Hill attack and displayed aircraft used during 'Operation
Vijay' in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior during the event.
Five Mirage 2000, two MiG 21s and one Sukoi 30 MKI were showcased at the base. One of the Mirage 2000s
showcased the Spice bomb carrier which was used in the Balakot airstrike in February 2019.
Day of the Seafarer observed on June 25, 2019

On June 25, 2019, Day of the seafarer was celebrated throughout the world. The day recognizes the unique and
vital role of seafarers in the global community. The theme for Day of the Seafarer 2019 is, “Get on board with
gender equality”,
Key points:
i. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is calling on everyone in the maritime world and beyond to get
on board with this year's theme of gender equality and declare their support.
ii. June 25was declared as the Day of the seafarer in a resolution adopted by the 2010 Diplomatic Conference in
Manila to adopt the revised STCW (Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers
)Convention.
iii. The Day of the Seafarer was designated by International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in 2010.
iv. The resolution encourages governments, shipping firms, companies associated with sea trade and others, to
promote and uphold sea trade and seafarers through the Day of the Seafarer.
International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2019 observed on June 26
The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2019 was observed on June 26. The day is
observed to enhance the efforts to achieve an international society free of drug abuse and create awareness on
the problems caused by illicit drugs to the society.
Key Points:
• The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on December 7, 1987 decided to observe the day through
its resolution 42/112.
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• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) persuades the individuals, non-profit
organizations, the private sector, and the Member States to get involved in its social media campaign. It
launched the 2019 World Drug Report at the United Nations Secretariat in New York.
Highlights of 2019 World Drug Report:
• Globally, around 35 million people suffer from drug use disorders and only 1 out of 7 people receive
treatment.
• The surveys in India in 2018 and Nigeria in 2017 provided insights into drug consumption due to vast
demographics for the region. India accounted for 30% of the population in Asia alone.
• The survey in India was based on interviews with 5,00,000 people across the nation.
• Among the 271 million people who use any drug, 35 million people, nearly 13%, suffered from a drug use
disorder and the death toll was increased, with 5,85,000 deaths in 2017.
• The most widely used drug globally was cannabis. Nearly 188 million people used it in 2017.
• The rate of 15-64-year olds who injected drugs was four times higher in eastern and southeastern Europe
and in central Asia.
• Most of the world's opioids were produced in Afghanistan (263,000 hectares of poppy seed production)
and Myanmar (37,300 hectares) was the second largest producer.
Observance of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2019 in India
On the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot,
Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment launched “17th Run Against Drug Abuse” at JawaharLal
Nehru Stadium, New Delhi in the presence of Ministers of State for Social Justice & Empowerment Shri Krishan
Pal Gurjar, Shri Ramdas Athawale, Shri Rattan Lal Kataria, Secretary of Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment Smt. Nilam Sawhney and other dignitaries.
• They led the ‘Symbolic Walk’ with Band display.
• “Run Against Drug Abuse” is coordinated by Dr. Sunita Godara who is a 1992 Asian Marathon Champion
under the aegis of Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Govt of India. Tha annual event is supported
by the Nodal Agencies National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), Narcotics Control Bureau, Directorate
of Prohibition, Govt of Delhi, with the other Stakeholders- United Nations agencies and corporate
partners like Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), Indian Oil,
Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL), Petronet, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), ITS, Lovely Professional
University (LPU).
• The theme for the day in India is ‘Listen First’.
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture observed on 26, June 2019

On June 26, 2019, International Day in Support of Victims of Torture observed all over the world to remind
people that human torture is not only unacceptable – it is also a crime.
Key points:
i. In 1997, by resolution 52/149, the UN General Assembly declared 26 June as the International Day in Support
of Victims of Torture.
ii. This day aims to achieve total eradication of torture experienced by victims.
iii. The UN(United Nations) Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture that is administered by the United Nations
Human Rights Office in Geneva is a victim-focused mechanism that provides assistance to victims of torture and
their families.
World Hydrography day 2019 observed on June 21

World Hydrography Day (WHD) 2019 was observed on June 21. It is observed to publicise the work of
hydrographers and the importance of hydrography. It aims to increase the awareness about the protection of
safe navigation and marine life protection. The theme for WHD 2019 is"Hydrographic information driving
marine knowledge".
Key Points:
i. It was adopted by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and was first celebrated in 2006.
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ii. In 2005, The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) had adopted a resolution to celebrate WHD on 21 June
every year.
iii. 2019 marks the centenary of the first Hydrographic Conference at Trinity House, London. At the Conference,
representatives of 26 countries had discussed and agreed upon future technical cooperation in hydrography
which resulted in the establishment of the IHO in 1921.
BIMSTEC Day- 2019 celebrated in Dhaka, Bangladesh

On June 26, 2019, The BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic
Cooperation) member countries include Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, and Bhutan
celebrated the BIMSTEC Day- 2019 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Key points:
i. Dr. A K Abdul Momen, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh was the chief guest of the event.
ii. Bishwadip Dey, Acting High Commissioner represented India in the BIMSTEC founding day event.
iii. Secretary-General of BIMSTEC M. Shahidul Islam stated that BIMSTEC will be able to achieve further progress
in various sectors of cooperation and applauded the progress of BIMSTEC in 14 priority areas in the last 22 years
of its existence.
International MSME Day 2019 observed on June 27

International Micro, Small and Medium-sized (MSME) Enterprises Day 2019 was observed on June 27. It
aims to recognize the importance of Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in achieving sustainable
development goals, promoting innovation, creativity and sustainable work for all.
Key Points:
i. United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) through resolution A/RES/71/279 had adopted to celebrate this
date since 2017.
ii. International Trade Center, the United Nations launched its flagship report: “The SME Competitiveness
Outlook 2019: Big money for small businesses”.
International MSME Day 2019 in India
The Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises organized an international convention on the
theme “Indian MSMEs, Global Aspirations”in New Delhi. It was inaugurated by Shri Nitin Gadkari, Union
Minister for MSME and Road Transport & Highways at Hotel Eros in the presence of Shri Pratap Sarangi, MoS for
MSME and Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries.
i. As a part of the celebrations,The Second Edition of the International SME Convention 2019 will be held from
28 - 29 June 2019.
ii. 175 participants from 44 countries and ambassadors from 15 European, African and Latin American countries
will attend the SME (Small and medium-sized enterprises) convention.
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy successfully observed ‘ Swachhta Pakhwada’

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and institutions under it successfully observed Swachhta
Pakhwada (cleanliness fortnight) from June 1-15 2019. The campaign was inaugurated by Secretary, MNRE
Shri Aanand Kumar by delivering a lecture on the importance of Swachhata in life.
Key Points:
i. On June 4, 2019, the Minister participated in tree plantation drive in CGO Complex, New Delhi.
ii. MNRE undertook various initiatives like Shramdan (cleanliness drive), “Swachhata Pledge”, organization of
Seminar on Biogas/Biomass- Waste to Energy and other initiatives with an objective of disseminating the
message of Swachh Bharat widely.
Statistics Day 2019 observed on June 29

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation (MoSPI)
and Ministry of Planning, Rao Inderjit Singh inaugurated the 13th Statistics Day on June 29, 2019 at
VigyanBhawan, New Delhi in the presence of Dr. Bibek Debroy, Chairman, Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory
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Council, President of Indian Statistical Institute, Shri Pravin Srivastava, Chief Statistician of India-cum-Secretary,
Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation along with senior officers of Central/ State Governments and
other stakeholders. Thetheme for Statistics Day 2019 is “Sustainable Development Goals”.
Key Points:
i. The Prof. C.R. Rao Award 2019 was conferred to Dr. Subhra Sankar Dhar, Associate Professor, IIT (Indian
Institute of Technology), Kanpur for his contribution in the field of Statistics.
ii. It launched the revamped portal of Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), SDG
(Sustainable Development Goal) Dashboard, Baseline Report on SDGs and Study report on Revamping Project
Management Practices conducted by Project Management Institute (PMI).
iii. MoSPI will institutionalize Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis National Award in Official Statistics to recognize and
honour the outstanding contribution and meritorious work of Official Statisticians working in the Central
Government, State Governments and their Institutions.
About Statistics Day:
The Government has been celebrating the Statistics Day, to popularize the use of Statistics in everyday life and
sensitize the public as to how Statistics helps in shaping and framing policies. It is celebrated on the birth
anniversary of Prof. Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis who was born on June 29, 1893, in recognition of his
invaluable contribution in establishing the National Statistical System.
International Asteroid Day 2019 observed on June 30

International Asteroid Day was observed on June 30, 2019. It is aimed to create awareness about the asteroid
impact hazard. It also informs people about the crisis communication actions to be taken in case of a possible
near-Earth object threat.
Key Points:
i. The day was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) through resolution A/RES/71/90 in
December 2016 on the proposal of Association of Space Explorers,.
ii. The day marks the anniversary of the Tunguska impact over Siberia, Russian Federation, on 30 June 1908.
International Day of the Tropics 2019 observed on June 29

International Day of the Tropics was observed on June 29, 2019. It is observed to create awareness on
specific challenges faced by tropical areas and to highlight the important role that the countries in the tropics
play in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
i. Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi launched the first State of the Tropics Report on June 29, 2014. International
Day of the Tropics marks the anniversary of the report’s launch.
ii. The day was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) through resolution A/RES/70/267 on
14 June 2016.
International Day of Parliamentarism observed on June 30, 2019

The International Day of Parliamentarism was observed all over the world on June 30, 2019. This day celebrates
parliaments and the ways in which parliamentary systems of government enhance the day-to-day lives of people.
Key points:
i. The year 2018 marks the first celebration of International Day of Parliamentarism.
ii. The day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in its resolution A/RES/72/278 in
May 2018.
iii. This day also provides an opportunity to parliaments to take stock, identify challenges, and find ways to
address them effectively.
iv. It is also the date, in 1889, on which the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the global organization of parliaments
was established.
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STATIC INFORMATION FROM CURRENT AFFAIRS

Indian States
Assam:
♦ Capital: Dispur
♦ Chief Minister: Sarbananda Sonowal
♦ Governor: Jagdish Mukhi
Andra Pradesh:
♦ Capital: Amaravati
♦ Chief Minister:Y S Jaganmohan Reddy
♦ Governor: E. S. L. Narasimhan
Arunachal Pradesh:
♦ Capital: Itanagar
♦ National Parks: Mouling National Park, Namdapha National Park
Bihar:
♦ Capital: Patna
♦ Chief Minister: Nitish kumar
♦ Governor: Lalji Tandon
Chhattisgarh:
♦ Capital – Raipur
♦ Chief Minister – Bhupesh Baghel
♦ Governor – Anandiben Patel
Haryana:
Capital: Chandigarh
Governor: Satyadev Narayan Arya
Chief minister: Manohar Lal Khattar
Goa:
♦ Capital: Panaji
♦ Chief minister: Pramod Sawant
Gujarat:
Capital: Gandhinagar
Chief minister: Vijay Rupani
Governor: Om Prakash Kohli
Himachal Pradesh:
♦ Capital – Shimla
♦ Chief Minister - Jai Ram Thakur
Jharkhand:
♦ Capital – Ranchi
♦ Chief Minister – Raghubar Das
♦ Governor – Draupadi Murmu
J&K:
♦ Governor: Satya Pal Malik
♦ Capitals: Jammu (Winter), Srinagar (Summer)
Karnataka:
♦ Chief minister: H. D. Kumaraswamy
♦ Capital: Bengaluru
Madya Pradesh:
Capital: Bhopal
Chief minister: Kamal Nath
Governor: Anandiben Patel
Districts: 52
Maharashtra:
♦ Capital – Mumbai
♦ Chief Minister – Devendra Fadnavis
♦ Governor – Vidyasagar Rao
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Manipur
♦ Capital: Imphal
♦ Chief minister: N. Biren Singh
♦ Governor: Najma Heptulla
Meghalaya:
♦ Capital:Shillong
♦ Chief Minister: Conrad Kongkal Sangma
♦ Governor: Tathagata Roy
New Delhi:
♦ Capital – New Delhi
♦ Chief Minister – Arvind Kejriwal
♦ Governor – Anil Baijal Odisha
♦ Capital: Bhubaneswar
♦ Governor: Ganeshi Lal
Puducherry:
♦ Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry: Kiran Bedi
Punjab:
♦ Capital – Chandigarh
♦ Chief Minister – Amarinder Singh
♦ Governor – V P Singh
Rajasthan:
♦ Capital: Jaipur
♦ Chief Minister: Ashok Gehlot
♦ Governor: Kalyan Singh
Tamil Nadu:
♦ Capital: Chennai
♦ Chief Minister: Edappadi K. Palaniswami
♦ Governor: Banwarilal Purohit
Telangana:
♦ Capital: Hyderabad
♦ Folk Dance: Perini Sivatandavam or Perini Thandavam, Oggu Katha and Lambadi
Tripura
Capital: Agartala
Chief minister: Biplab Kumar Deb
Governor: Kaptan Singh Solanki
Uttarakhand
♦ Capital: Dehradun
♦ Chief Minister: Trivendra Singh Rawat
Uttar Pradesh
♦ Capital: Lucknow
♦ Chief minister: Yogi Adityanath
♦ Governor: Ram Naik
West Bengal:
Capital: Kolkata
Chief minister: Mamata Banerjee
Festivals:
Chhattisgarh:
♦ Festivals: Rajim Kumbh Mela, Bhagoriya Festival, Bhoramdeo Mahotsav Festival, ChakradharFestival, Goncha
Festival, Kajari Festival, Madai Festival
National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuary:

Andra Pradesh:
♦ National Parks: Sri Venkateswara National Park, Rajiv Gandhi National Park, Papikonda National Park
♦ Wildlife Sanctuaries: Coringa WLS, GundlaBrahmeswaram WLS, Kambalakonda WLS, Kolleru WLS,
Nagarjuna Sagar-Srisailam WLS, Rollapadu WLS etc
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Arunachal Pradesh:
♦ Wildlife Sanctuaries: D’Ering Memorial (Lali) WLS, Dibang WLS, Eaglenest WLS, Itanagar WLS, Kamlang
WLS, Kane WLS, Mehao WLS, Pakhui/ Pakke WLS, Sessa Orchid WLS, Tale Valley WLS
Assam:
♦ National Parks: Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Nameri
National Park, Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park
♦ Wildlife Sanctuaries: Amchang WLS, Barail WLS, Chakrashila WLS, Lawkhowa WLS, Marat Longri WLS,
Nambor WLS, Porbitora WLS, Pani-Dihing Bird WLS, Sonai Rupai WLS etc
Bihar:
♦ National Parks: Valmiki National Park
♦ Wildlife Sanctuaries: Barela Jheel Salim Ali Bird WLS, Bhimbandh WLS, Gautam Budha WLS, Kusheshwar
Asthan Bird WLS, Pant (Rajgir) WLS, Udaipur WLS, Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin WLS etc.
Chhattisgarh:
♦ National Parks: Indravati (Kutru) National Park, Kanger Valley National Park, Guru Ghasi Das (Sanjay)
National Park
♦ Wildlife Sanctuaries: Achanakmar WLS, Badalkhol WLS, Bhoramdev WLS, Sarangarh-Gomardha WLS,
Semarsot WLS, Sitanadi WLS, Tamor Pingla WLS, Udanti Wild Buffalo WLS, Pamed Wild Buffalo WLS,
Bhairamgarh WLS, Barnawapara WLS
Himachal Pradesh:
♦ National Parks - Pin Valley National Park, Inderkilla National Park, Khirganga National Park
Karnataka:
♦ National parks: Nagarhole National Park, Bandipur National Park, Bannerghatta National Park
Maharashtra:
♦ National parks – Chandoli National Park, Gugamal National Park, Nawegaon National Park,Sanjay Gandhi
National Park, Tadoba National Park.
Meghalaya:
♦ National Parks:Balphakram National Park, Nokrek Ridge National Park
♦ Wildlife Sanctuaries: Baghmara Pitcher Plant Wildlife Sanctuary, Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary
Rajasthan:
♦ National Parks: Mukundra Hills (Darrah) National Park, Desert National Park, Keoladeo Ghana National Park,
Ranthambhore National Park, Sariska National Park
♦ Wildlife Sanctuaries: Mount Abu WLS, Nahargarh WLS, Kesarbagh WLS, Sariska WLS, Van Vihar WLS, Sawai
Man Singh WLS etc.
Tamil Nadu:
♦ National Parks: Guindy National Park, Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, Indira Gandhi (Annamalai)
National Park, Mudumalai National Park, Mukurthi National Park
♦ Wildlife Sanctuaries: Cauvery North WLS, Chitrangudi Bird WLS, Indira Gandhi (Annamalai) WLS,
Kanyakumari WLS, Pulicat Lake WLS, Sakkarakottai WLS etc.
Telangana:
♦ National Parks: Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park, Mahaveer Harina Vanasthali National Park and
Mrugavani National Park
Tripura
National parks: Clouded Leopard National Park ,Rajbari National Park
Wildlife Sanctuary : Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary , Rowa Wildlife Sanctuary ,Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary
Ports:
Maharashtra:
♦ Ports – Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Mumbai Port
Indian Entities
NITI Aayog:
♦ Headquarters: New Delhi
♦ Formation: January 1, 2015
♦ Vice-Chairman: Rajiv Kumar
National Defence Fund
♦ Set Up – 1962
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NSSO:
♦ Founded on: 1950
♦ Headquarters: Delhi
♦ It works under the Ministry of Statistics of the Government of India.
Indian Air Force(IAF):
♦ Founded: 8 October 1932, India
♦ Role: Aerial warfare
♦ Attack: Jaguar, MiG-27, Harpy
♦ Fighters: Sukhoi Su-30MKI, Dassault Mirage 2000, Mikoyan MiG-29, Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21, HAL Tejas
♦ Chief of Air Staff(CAS): Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa
Indian Coast Guard (ICG):
♦ Motto: We Protect
NGT:
♦ Chairperson: Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel
ISRDC:
♦ ISRDC was incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 on 12 April 2012.
♦ Minister of Railways: Piyush Goyal
MSDE:
♦ Minister Incharge: Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey
Cisco:
♦ Headquarters: San Jose, California, US
♦ CEO: Chuck Robbins
Accenture:
♦ Headquarters: Dublin, Ireland
♦ CEO: David P. Rowland
BSF:
♦ Founded: December 1, 1965
♦ Motto: Duty Unto Death
Larsen & Toubro (L&T):
♦ Founders: Henning Holck-Larsen, Soren Kristian Toubro
♦ Headquarters: Mumbai
CVC:
♦ Commissioner: K.V. Chowdary
Edelweiss Group:
♦ Chairman & CEO: Rashesh Shah
Flipkart:
♦ Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka
♦ Founded: October 2007
♦ CEO: Kalyan Krishnamurthy
Maruthi Suzuki:
♦ CEO: Kenichi Ayukawa
Max Bupa:
♦ Parent Organization: Max India Limited
♦ MD & CEO: Ashish Mehrotra
MobiKwik:
♦ Headquarters: Gurugram, Haryana
♦ Founded: April 2009
♦ CEO: Bipin Preet Singh
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Patanjali Ayurved:
♦ Founded: January 2006
♦ Founders: Baba Ramdev, Acharya Balkrishna
NPCI
♦ COO: Ms. Praveena Rai
♦ Founded: 2008
Centrum:
♦ Founded: 1997
♦ Founders: Chandir Gidwani & Khushrooh Byramjee.
♦ Executive Chairman: Jaspal Bindra
IOCL:
♦ Chairman: Sanjiv Singh
BPCL:
♦ CEO: D. Rajkumar
ONGC:
♦ CMD: Shashi Shanker
♦ Headquarters: Vasant Kunj, Delhi
GST council
♦ Headquarters – New Delhi
♦ Chairperson – Nirmala Sitharaman (union finance minister)
HPCL:
♦ CEO: Mukesh Kumar Surana
AAI:
Headquarters: New Delhi
Founded: 1 April 1995
DPIIT:
♦ Parent Organization: Ministry of Commerce and Industry
♦ Minister In charge: Piyush Goyal
GFI:
♦ Headquarters: Washingtion DC
♦ Founded: 2006
♦ Founder: Raymond W. Baker
BDL:
♦ Headquarters: Hyderabad, Telangana.
♦ Founded: 1970
Indian Navy:
♦ Chief of the Naval Staff: Admiral Karambir Singh
♦ Navy Day: 4th December
Indian Railways:
♦ Founded: 8 May 1845
♦ Minister of Railways: Piyush Goyal
RailTel Corporation of India:
♦ Founded: September 2000
DGCA:
♦ Parent agency: Ministry of Civil Aviation
♦ Minister responsible: Shri Hardeep Singh Puri
NTPC:
♦ Founded: 7 November 1975
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PGCIL:
♦ Founded: 23 October 1989
FIEO:
♦ Founded: 1965
♦ Founder: Ministry of Commerce and Industry
♦ President: Ganesh Kumar Gupta
IOCL:
♦ Head quarters – New Delhi
♦ Chairman – Sanjiv singh
Rail Wheel Factory
Founded: 1984
Headquarter: Karnataka
Mahindra Group
CEO: Anand Mahindra
Headquarters: Mumbai
Sahitya Akademi:
♦ Founded: March 12, 1954
DGCA:
♦ Parent Organization: Ministry of Civil Aviation
♦ Minister responsible: Hardeep Singh Puri
IMD:
♦ Headquarters – New Delhi
♦ Founded – 1875 by Government of India
BPR&D:
♦ Founded: August 28, 1970
♦ Parent Agency: Ministry of Home Affairs
INA:
♦ Headquarters: Ezhimala, Kerala
♦ Founded: January 8, 2009
♦ Motto: Shaping future Naval Leadership
IBBI:
♦ Headquarters: Connaught Place, New Delhi
♦ Founded: October 1, 2016
♦ Chairperson: Dr M. S. Sahoo
Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd
♦ Headquarters: Sambalpur
♦ Founded on: 1992
SRFI:
Sport: Squash
Location: Chennai
Regional affiliation: Asian Squash Federation
PFC:
Owner: Government of India
It is an Indian financial institution, established in 1986. It is the financial back bone of Indian Power Sector. The
Company has been conferred with many prestigious awards, the latest of which is "KPMG-Infrastructure Today
Award 2008" for its contribution in development of power sector.
Hero MotoCorp
Founder: Brijmohan Lall Munjal
Founded: 19 January 1984
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IAMAI:
♦ Founded: 2004
ICCR:
♦ President: Vinay Sahasrabudhe
♦ Founded: 9 April 1950
BFIL
♦ Founder: Vikram Akula
♦ Founded: 1998
Housing Finance
♦ Founded: 1990
♦ Managing Director & CEO: Deo Shankar Tripathi
L&T
Founded on: 7 February 1946
Founders: Henning Holck-Larsen, Soren Kristian Toubro
IIT-Madras:
♦ Motto: Success is born out of action
♦ Chairman: Pawan Kumar Goenka
DRDO:
♦ Founded: 1958
♦ Motto: “Strength’s Origin is in Science”
♦ Chairman: Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy
Basketball Federation of India:
♦ Founded: 1950
HCL:
CEO: C Vijayakumar
Founded: 11 August 1976
Headquarters: Noida
Koinex:
Founders: Rahul Raj, Rakesh Yadav, Aditya Naik
Sector: Digital assets
NHB
Founded: 9 July 1988
FIEO:
♦ Founded: 1965
♦ Founder: Ministry of Commerce and Industry
BYPL:
♦ Founded: 4 July 2001
♦ CEO: P R Kumar
FSSAI:
♦ Chairman: Rita Teotia
ASSOCHAM:
♦ Founded: 1921
♦ President: B.K.Goenka
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Foreign Entities
UNGA:
♦ Headquarters: New York, US
♦ President: María Fernanda Espinosa
♦ Designated President: Prof.Tijjani Muhammad Bande(September 2019)
UNSC:
UNICEF:
♦ Executive Director: Henrietta Holsman Fore
UNODC:
♦ Headquarters: Vienna, Austria
♦ Executive Director: Mr. Yury Fedotov
UNCCD:
♦ Headquarters: Bonn, Germany
♦ Parties: 197 (196 States + European Union)
UNCTAD:
♦ Founded: 1964
♦ Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
♦ Secretary-General: Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi
USGBC:
♦ Headquarters: Washington DC
♦ Founded: 1993
ICAO:
Headquarters: Montreal, Canada
Founded: 1944
The International Civil Aviation Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It codifies the
principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of
international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth.
CNSA:
♦ Headquarters: Haidian District, Beijing, China
♦ Founded: April 22, 1993
♦ Director: Zhang Kejian
SNCF/ French National Railways:
♦ SNCF stands for Société nationale des chemins de ferfrançais.
♦ Headquarters: Saint-Denis, France
FAO:
♦ Headquarters: Rome, Italy
♦ Head: José Graziano da Silva
AFD:
♦ AFD stands for Agence française de développement.
♦ Headquarters: Paris, France
Mercer:
♦ Nature: Consulting Firm
♦ Headquarters: New York City, US
♦ CEO: Martine Ferland
BGB:
♦ Headquarters: Pilkhana, Bangladesh
♦ Type: Paramilitary
BMVSS:
♦ Headquarters: Jaipur, Rajasthan
♦ Founded: 1975
♦ Founder: D.R. Mehta
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ASEAN:
♦ ASEAN – Association of Southeast Asian Nations
♦ Headquarters – Jakarta, Indonesia
♦ Secretary general – Lim Jock Hoi
♦ Motto – one vision, one identity, one community.
Booking.com:
♦ Parent Organization: Booking Holdings
♦ Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands
♦ CEO: Gillian Tans
♦ Country Manager for India, Sri Lanka & Maldives: Ritu Mehrotra
OIC:
♦ Headquarters: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
♦ Founded: September 25, 1969
♦ Membership: 57 States
♦ It holds Islamic Summit once in 3 years.
♦ It has permanent delegations to the UN and the European Union (EU).
SriLankan Airlines
CEO: Vipula Gunatilleka
Hub: Bandaranaike International Airport
G20:
♦ Chairman: Shinzo Abe
♦ Formation: 26 September 1999
Save the Children:
♦ Headquarters: London, UK
Guadalajara International Book Fair:
♦ Inaugurated - 1987
♦ Organized by - University of Guadalajara
IOC:
♦ President: Thomas Bach
♦ Director General: Christophe De Kepper
♦ Founded: 23 June 1894, Paris, France
SCO:
♦ Headquarters: Beijing, China
♦ Founded: 26 April 1996
♦ Secretary-General: Vladimir Imamovich Norov
CICA:
♦ Established: September 14, 1999
♦ Secretariat: Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
BiFAN:
♦ Founded: 1997
♦ Prior to 2015, it was known as the Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival (PiFan)
World Health Organization:
♦ Established: April 7, 1948
♦ Director-General: Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
QS World University Ranking:
♦ It is an annual publication of university rankings.
♦ Publishers: Quacquarelli Symonds Ltd
Knight Frank:
♦ Founded: 1896
♦ Knight Frank India Chairman & MD: Shishir Baijal
Ericsson:
♦ Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden
♦ CEO: Börje Ekholm
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FATF:
♦ Headquarters: Paris, France
♦ Founded: 1989
♦ President: Marshall Billingslea
Fitch Ratings:
♦ CEO: Paul Taylor
Oracle:
Founded: 16 June 1977
Headquarters: Redwood City, California, U.S
Founders: Larry Ellison, Bob Miner, Ed Oates
Reuters:
♦ Headquarters: Canary Wharf, London, UK
♦ Parent Organization: Thomson Reuters Corporation
♦ CEO: James C Smith
Boeing:
CEO: Dennis Muilenburg
Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Goldman Sachs:
CEO: David M. Solomon
Headquarters: New York, New York, United States
Founders: Marcus Goldman, Samuel Sachs
Facebook:
♦ Headquarters: Menlo Park, California, United States
♦ Founded: February 4, 2004
♦ CEO: Mark Zuckerberg
USIBC
Founded: 1975
Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
Amazon:
Founder: Jeff Bezos
Founded: 5 July 1994
HQ: USA
Dell
♦ CEO: Michael S. Dell
♦ Headquarters: Round Rock, Texas, United States
♦ Founder: Michael S. Dell
Badminton Asia:
♦ Headquarters: Kulala Lumpur, Malaysia
♦ President: Anton Aditya Subowo
IATA:
♦ Founded: 19 April 1945, Havana, Cuba
♦ Headquarters: Montreal, Canada
♦ CEO: Alexandre de Juniac
FIFA:
♦ Headquarter: Zurich, Switzerland.
♦ FIFA (Federation of International Football Association) is the governing body of association football, fustal
and Beach Football.
♦ Currently there are 209 countries that have FIFA membership.
GitHub:
Founded: 2008
Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States
CEO: Nat Friedman
i. It is a web-based hosting service, mostly used for computer coding.
ii. It offers all of the distributed version control and source code management functionality of Git as well as
adding its own features
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Blackstone group
♦ CEO: Stephen A. Schwarzman
♦ Headquarters: United States(US).
SpaceX:
♦ Headquarters: Hawthorne, California, US
♦ Founded: 6 May 2002
♦ CEO: Elon Musk
NASA:
♦ Headquarters: Washington, D.C.
♦ Founder: Dwight D. Eisenhower
Eurasian Athletics Championships:
♦ Organizer: European Athletics Association.
♦ First held in 1934 in Turin, Italy every 4 years.
♦ Since 2010, it is organized every 2 years.
European Athletics Association:
♦ Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland
♦ President: Svein Arne Hansen
♦ Founded: November 1, 1969
UEFA Europa League:
♦ Founded: 1971
♦ Current champion: Chelsea
ITF:
♦ President: David Haggerty
Asian Football Confederation (AFC):
President - Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa
Headquarter - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
IAAF:
♦ Headquarters: Monaco
♦ Type of business: Sports governing body
CA:
CEO: Kevin Roberts
Headquarters: Melbourne, Australia
Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports (ACBS):
♦ President - Mr. Mohamed Salem Al-Nuaimi
♦ Headquarter - Doha, Qatar.
IOC:
♦ President: Thomas Bach
♦ Founders: Pierre de Coubertin, Demetrius Vikelas
♦ Founded: 23 June 1894; Paris, France
FIH/ International Hockey Federation:
♦ President: Narinder Batra
♦ Founded: 7 January 1924
AIBA:
♦ Founded: 1946
ILO:
♦ Founded: 1919
♦ Founder: Paris Peace Conference, 1919
♦ Director General: Guy Ryder
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD):
Formation – 1977
Headquarter – Rome, Italy
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International Maritime Organization (IMO):

♦ Head: Kitack Lim
♦ Headquarters: London
IHO:
♦ Headquarters: Monaco
♦ Founded: 21 June 1921
♦ Secretary General: Dr Mathias Jonas
BIMSTEC:
♦ Founded: 1997
♦ Secretariat: Dhaka, Bangladesh
Banks
ADB:
♦ Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Manila, Philippines
♦ President: Takehiko Nakao
♦ Founded: 19 December 1966
♦ Membership: 68 countries
MIGA:
♦ Headquarters: Washington DC, US
♦ Founded: 1988
♦ Parent Organization: World Bank
RBI:
♦ Governor: Shaktikanta Das
♦ Deputy Governors: BP Kanungo, N S Vishwanathan, Viral Acharya, and Mahesh Kumar Jain
ICICI:
♦ Head quarters – Mumbai
♦ Tag line – Hum Hai Na, Khayal Apka
♦ CEO – Sandeep Bakhshi
Bajaj Finserv
Headquarters: Pune
Parent: Bajaj Holdings & Investments Limited
Founder: Jamnalal Bajaj
Kookmin Bank:
Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea
CEO - Hur Yin
Fincare SFB:
MD & CEO - Rajeev Yadav
Headquarters – Bengaluru
Yes Bank:
CEO - Ravneet Gill
Tagline - Experience our Expertise
Paytm Payments Bank:
♦ Headquarters: Noida, Uttar Pradesh
♦ Chairman: Vijay Shekhar Sharma
♦ Tag line: Simplifying Payments for India
SBI:
♦ Chairman: Rajnish Kumar
♦ Founded: July 1, 1955
Max Life Insurance Company:
♦ Founded: 2000
♦ CEO & MD: Prashant Tripathy
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Kotak Mahindra Bank:

♦ Managing Director and CEO – Uday Kotak
♦ KMFL becomes India’s first non-banking finance company to be converted into a commercial bank.
CRISIL
♦ Former name: Credit Rating Information Services of India Limited
♦ CEO: Ashu Suyash
♦ Parent organization: Standard & Poor's International, LLC
IDBI Bank:
♦ Tag Line: Aao Sochein Bada
♦ MD & CEO: Rakesh Sharma
Max Bupa:
♦ Parent Organization: Max India Limited
♦ MD & CEO: Ashish Mehrotra
ZipCash:
♦ Founded:2007
ZestMoney:
♦ Founded: 2015
♦ Founders: Lizzie Chapman, Priya Sharma & Ashish Anantharaman
♦ CEO: Lizzie Chapman
Exim Bank:
♦ CEO: David Rasquinha
FundzBazar:
♦ Head Office: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
♦ Corporate Office: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Bank of Baroda:
♦ Headquarters: Vadodara, Gujarat
♦ Tag line: India’s International Bank
♦ CEO & MD: P S Jayakumar
Jammu & Kashmir Bank:
♦ Headquarters: Srinagar
♦ Tagline: Serving to Empower
Max Life Insurance Company:
♦ Founded: 2000
♦ CEO & MD: Prashant Tripathy
Tata AIG
♦ CEO: Neelesh Garg
NHB:
♦ Parent Organization: Reserve Bank of India
Canara Bank:
♦ Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka
♦ Chairman: T.N. Manoharan
♦ MD & CEO: R.A. Sankara Narayanan
♦ Tag line: Together we can
BOB:
♦ Headquarters: Alkapuri, Vadodara
♦ CEO: P. S. Jayakumar
♦ Founded: 20 July 1908.
KVB:
♦ Headquarters: Karur, Tamil Nadu
♦ Managing Director & CEO: Shri P. R. Seshadri
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SEBI:
♦ Chairman:Ajay Tyagi
DBS Bank:
♦ It was known as The Development Bank of Singapore Limited.
♦ Headquarters: Singapore
♦ CEO: Piyush Gupta
IndusInd Bank:
♦ CEO: Romesh Sobti
♦ Owner: Hinduja Group
Other Countries
Australia
Capital: Canberra
Currency: Australian dollar
Bangladesh:
♦ Capital: Dhaka
♦ Currency: Bangladeshi taka
♦ Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina
Belize
Capital: Belmopan
Currency: Belize dollar
Bhutan:
♦ Capital: Thimphu
♦ Currency: Ngultrum
Brunei Darussalam:
♦ Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
♦ Currency: Brunei dollar
Bolivia
♦ Capital: Sucre
♦ Currency: Bolivian boliviano
♦ President: Evo Morales
Costa Rica
♦ Capital: San José
♦ Currency: Costa Rican colon
♦ President: Carlos Alvarado
Cambodia:
♦ Capital: Phnom Penh
♦ Currency: Cambodian riel
Chile:
♦ Capital – Santiago
♦ Currency – Chilean peso
China:
♦ Capital: Beijing
♦ Currency: Renminbi
El Salvador
♦ Capital: San Salvador
♦ Currency: United States Dollar
♦ President: Nayib Bukele
Egypt
♦ Capital: Cairo
♦ Currency: Egyptian pound
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Finland
♦ Capital: Helsinki
♦ Currency: Euro
♦ President: Sauli Niinisto
France:
♦ Capital: Paris
♦ Prime minister: Edouard Philippe
Ghana:
♦ Capital: Accra
♦ Currency: Ghanaian cedi
Japan:
♦ Capital: Tokyo
♦ Currency: Japanese Yen
♦ Prime Minister: Shinzo Abe
Ireland
♦ Capital : Dublin
♦ Currency: Euro
♦ Prime Minister: Leo Varadkar
♦ President :Michael D. Higgins
Israel:
♦ Capital: Jerusalem
♦ Currency: Israeli new shekel
Indonesia:
Capital: Jakarta
Currency: Indonesian rupiah
Italy:
♦ Capital – Rome
♦ Currency – Euro
♦ Prime minister – Giuseppe Conte
♦ President – Sergio Mattarella
Kazakhstan:
♦ Largest City: Almaty
♦ Official Languages: Kazakh, Russian
Kyrgyzstan:
♦ Capital: Bishkek
♦ Currency: Kyrgyzstani som
Mauritania:
♦ Official name: The Islamic Republic of Mauritania
♦ Capital: Nouakchott
♦ Currency: Mauritanian ouguiya
Marshall Islands:
♦ Capital – Majuro
♦ Currency – United States Dollar
♦ President – Hilda Cathy Heine
♦ Prime Minister – Stefan Löfven
Mozambique:
♦ Capital: Maputo
♦ Currency: Mozambican metical
Myanmar:
♦ Capital: Nay Pyi Taw (Naypyidaw)
♦ Currency: Burmese kyat
♦ President: Win Myint
Netherlands
Capital: Amsterdam
Currency: Euro
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Nepal:
♦ Capital: Kathmandu
♦ Currency: Nepalese Rupee
♦ President: Bidhya Devi Bhandari
♦ Prime Minister: KP Sharma Oli
Niger:
♦ Capital: Niamey
♦ Currency: CFA franc, West African CFA franc
♦ President: Mahamadou Issoufou
Pakistan:
♦ Capital: Islamabad
♦ Currency: Pakistani Rupee
Portugal:
♦ Capital: Lisbon
♦ Currency: Euro
♦ Prime Minister: Antonio Luís Santos da Costa
♦ President: Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
♦ Capital: Port of Spain
♦ Currency: Trinidad and Tobago dollar
Russia:
♦ Capital: Moscow
♦ Currency: Russian ruble
Saudi Arabia:
♦ Capital: Riyadh
♦ Currency: Saudi riyal
♦ King: Salman of Saudi Arabia
South Korea:
♦ Currency: South Korean won
♦ Capital: Seoul
Slovakia
Capital: Bratislava
Currency: Euro
Prime Minister: Peter Pellegrini
It is a landlocked country in Central Europe It is bordered by Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east, Hungary to
the south, Austria to the west, and the Czech Republic to the northwest.
Thailand
Capital : Bangkok
Currency: Thai baht
Prime minister : Prayut Chan-o-cha
Tuvalu
Capital: Vaiaku
Currency: Australian dollar, Tuvaluan dollar
UAE:
♦ Capital – Abu Dhabi
♦ Currency – United Arab Emirates dirhams
♦ President – Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
♦ Prime Minister – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
USA:
♦ Capital – Washington, D.C.
♦ Currency – United States Dollar
♦ President – Donald Trump
Venezuela:
♦ Currencies: Venezuelan bolivar, Sovereign Bolivar
♦ Capital: Caracas
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Ministries of India
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare:
♦ Minister In-charge: Narendra Singh Tomar
Ministry of Tribal Affairs:
♦ Founded: 1999
Ministry of Labour & Employment:
♦ Minister In-charge: Santosh Kumar Gangwar (MOS independent charge)
Ministry of Defence:
♦ Founded: August 15, 1947
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas:
♦ Minister Incharge: Dharmendra Pradhan
Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MOFPI):
♦ Founded: 1988
MoHUA:
♦ Founded: 1952
♦ Minister In-charge: Hardeep Singh Puri (MOS independent charge)
Ministry of Human Resource Development:
♦ Founded: 26 September 1985
♦ Minister In-Charge: Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’
MHA:
♦ Founded: 15 August 1947
♦ Minister In-charge: Amit Shah
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation:
♦ Minister of State (Independent Charge): Rao Inderjit Singh
Ministry of Agriculture:
♦ Minister In-charge: Narendra Singh Tomar
Ministry of Jal Shakti:
♦ Minister In-Charge: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
Ministry of AYUSH:
♦ Full form – Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy.
♦ Headquarters – Delhi
♦ Headed by – Shripad Naik
Ministry of AYUSH:
♦ Founded: 9 November 2014
♦ Officeholder: Shripad Yesso Naik (MOS independent charge)
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways:
♦ Minister In-charge: Nitin Jairam Gadkari
208 | P a g e
Banking Terminologies
Lines of Credit (LoC)
Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
Financial Awareness Messages (FAME )
Unified Payments Interface(UPI )
Unstructured Supplementary Service Data(USSD)
Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM)
Merchant Discount Rate (MDR)
Large Exposures Framework (LEF)
Cash In Cash Out (CICO)
Marginal Standing Facility(MSF)
Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS)
National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT)
Automated Teller Machines(ATM)
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC)
Inter-Creditor Agreement (ICA)
Alternative Investment Fund (AIF)
Basic Savings Bank Deposit (BSBD)
white-label ATM operators (WLAOs)
Committee on Currency Movement (CCM)
Point-Of-Sale (PoS)
Complaint Management System (CMS)
Indian Banks’ Association (IBA)
Payment System Operators (PSOs)
System Audit Report (SAR),
Computer Emergency Response Team(CERT)
Anti Money Laundering Express Edition(AMLXE)
In-Person Verification(IPV )
My Protection Quotient’ (MyPQ)
Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs)
Viability Ratings (VR)
Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR)
Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR)
Marginal Standing Facility Rate (MSF)
Net Asset Value (NAV)
Cash Credit Account (CC)
Overdraft (OD)
Special Drawing Rights (SDRs)
Any Time Health (ATH) Machines
Credit Enhancement(CE)
Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises(SME)
Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR)
Public provident fund (PPF)
National Savings Certificate (NSC)
Kisan Vikas Patra(KVP)
Senior Citizens Savings Scheme(SCSS).
Pension Payment Order (PPOs)
Other Terminologies
Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme (PMSS)
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Pension Yojana (PM–KPY)
PM- KIsan SAmman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) yojana
Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA)
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)
Extra Budgetary Resources (EBR).
State Level Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (SLSMC)
209 | P a g e
Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY)

Adarsh Station Scheme (ASS)
Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)
e-Foreigner Tribunal (e-FT)
National People’s Party(NPP)
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
global operations Anti-Money Laundering(‘goAML’)
No Objection Certificate (NOC)
Eastern Economic Forum (EEF)
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
Rashtriya Shiksha Aayog (RSA)
Conference of Parties (COP-14)
Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV)
Transiting Planets and Planetesimals Small Telescope (TRAPPIST)
Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM).
Integrated Test Range (ITR)
Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV)
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Current Affairs June 2019

Current Affairs for Competitive Exam

Cabinet approved hike in rates of scholarship under National Defence Fund

Cabinet approved Rs 3,000 pension for small traders

Cabinet approved the extension of PM-KISAN Yojana to all eligible farmers

Central Government approved to set up DSRO

Cabinet Approvals on June 12, 2019

the Chief Executive Officer of NDIAC will be ex-officio Members.

About Union Cabinet:

Cabinet Approval with Foreign Countries on June 12, 2019

Cabinet clears India-Kyrgyzstan MoU on legal metrology

Farmers contribution to be Rs 100 per month to PM-Kisan Pension Yojana

'Adarsh Station scheme’ developed 1,103 railways stations

Around 2.22 crore villagers received Digital Education under PMGDISHA

Launches & Inaugurations

Government launched Swachh Survekshan 2020 League

India's first Dinosaur Museum inaugurated in Gujarat

Central India got its First Sikh Museum in Raipur, Chhattisgarh

Go Tribal campaign by Tribes India launched in New Delhi

Elephanta Festival kicked off in Mumbai

Annual festival of Kheer Bhawani Mela celebrated in J&K

3rd edition of Namaste Thailand Festival 2019 concludes in New Delhi

Other News Related to Indian Affairs

IAF AN-32 Aircraft went missing with 13 people in Assam

Haryana High court declares of entire animal kingdom as ‘legal entities’

MoHFW organized National Workshop for Population Research Centers

Ministry and representatives from state PRCs.

Fee for SC/ST candidates joining vocational training waived off

Dr Harsh Vardhan reviewed the status of Nipah virus disease in Kerala

I&B Ministry instituted AYDMS to be given to commemorate International Yoga Day

India & Portugal to set up National Maritime Heritage Museum in Lothal

ASI declared Chaukhandi Stupa as Monument of National Importance

MHA allows all states to setup Foreigners Tribunals

Election Commission grants national party status to NPP

Clean Drinking water to all by 2024: Centre

Bancha became the first solar kitchen only village in India

Amasebailu becomes Karnataka’s first solar-powered Gram Panchayat

Japan will invest Rs 13,000 crore in North-East in infrastructure projects

DGT partnered with Cisco & Accenture for skilling programme

BSF and BGB agreed to increase coordinated patrols

Lucknow builds its first road from plastic waste

Union Govt developed a National Strategic Plan to end TB by 2025

Odisha CM releases Flood Hazard Atlas for effective management of flood

Japan gifts Imphal Peace Museum to Manipur built on WWII memories

MHRD unveiled a five-year vision plan EQUIP to transform higher education

Flow of raw sewage into river Ganga will be stopped by 2022

India &China vow to seek Mutually Acceptable Solution to Boundary Issue

All gram panchayats Broadband Connectivity under BharatNet by March 2020

President's rule in J&K extended for 6 more months

Punjab to ban Online Food Delivery without Hygiene Rating

Telangana state formation day observed on June 2

Satish Chandra Verma appointed as Advocate General of Chhattisgarh

Free rides scheme for women’s in Delhi

V.P Sivakolundhu elected as Puducherry Assembly Speaker

Ajeya Kallam appointed as Principal Advisor to Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jaganmohan Reddy

Haryana cabinet approved changes in state job recruitment rules

Haryana Govt Withdraws EPBG Quota for accommodating EWS reservations

Andhra Pradesh CM appoints 5 Deputy CMs in Cabinet

CBI permitted to enter the state

Mekathoti Sucharitha appointed as the Home Minister of Andhra Pradesh

Goa cabinet approves 10% quota for economically backward sections

“KalyanathukkuKalyanama” and “VidathuSirippu”.

Karnataka Government Launches “Pink Sarathi vehicles”