Current Affairs 13th & 14th June 2021| Current Affairs News

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CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

International Albinism Awareness Day – Observed on June 13

• International Albinism Awareness Day is celebrated annually on June 13 to celebrate the human rights of persons with albinism worldwide.
• The theme of the day this year is #StrengthBeyondAllOdds.
• The reason for choosing this theme is to primarily highlight the good qualities of those with albinism across the globe.
• This year the theme also aims to shed light on how people with albinism are made to defy all odds and exceed expectations in all domains of life.
• This day is marked to raise and create awareness among people about albinism and the human rights of people with albinism.
• The reason for choosing this theme is to primarily highlight the good qualities of those with albinism across the globe.

World Blood Donor Day – Observed on June 14

• World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) is held on June 14 each year.
• For 2021, the World Blood Donor Day theme will be “Give blood and keep the world beating”. 
• The event was organized for the first time in 2005, by a joint initiative of the World Health Organization, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products, and to thank blood donors for their voluntary, life-saving gifts of blood.
• The message highlights the essential contribution blood donors make to keeping the world pulsating by saving lives and improving others’ health.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

Union Education Minister released AISHE 2019-20 report  

• Union Education Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ announced the release of the report of All India Survey on Higher Education 2019-20. 
• This Report provides key performance indicators on the current status of Higher education in the country.
• Shri Pokhriyal noted that in the last five years from 2015-16 to 2019-20, there has been a growth of 11.4% in the student enrolment.
• The rise in female enrolment in higher education during the period is 18.2%.
• He emphasized that the continuous focus given by the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on education of girls, women empowerment and empowerment of socially backward classes are well reflected by the increased participation of women, SCs and STs population in Higher Education as shown by the Report.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Naftali Bennett sworn-in as new Prime Minister of Israel

• Naftali Bennett was sworn in as Israel’s new Prime Minister, ending Benjamin Netanyahu’s 12-year hold on power and the political uncertainty that gripped the Jewish nation for months after inconclusive elections.
• Bennett, the 49-year-old leader of the right-wing Yamina party, took oath of office after the Knesset (Parliament) elected him as the 13th Prime Minister of Israel by approval with a razor-thin majority of 60-59 in the 120-member house.
• His government has 27 ministers, nine of them women.

About Israel:

• Capital: Jerusalem
• President: Reuven Rivlin
• Currency: Israeli new shekel

G7 leaders initiates Build Back Better World (B3W) to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative

• The Group of Seven richest democracies has sought to counter China’s growing influence by offering developing nations an infrastructure plan that could rival President Xi Jinping’s multi-trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative.
• The G7, whose leaders are meeting in south-west England, has been searching for a coherent response to the growing assertiveness of Mr Xi after China’s surging economic and military rise over the past 40 years.
• The G7 and its allies will use the B3W initiative to mobilize private-sector capital in areas such as climate, health and health security, digital technology, and gender equity and equality, the White House added.
• China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which Mr Xi launched in 2013, involves development and investment initiatives that would stretch from Asia to Europe and beyond.
• More than 100 countries have signed agreements with China to cooperate in BRI projects like railways, ports, highways and other infrastructure.

About G7:

• The Group of Seven (G7) comprises the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.
• As chair of G7, the UK invited India, Australia, South Korea, South Africa to the summit as guest countries.

Henri Marie Dondra named as prime minister of Central African Republic

• The country’s presidency stated that Henri Marie Dondra has been named prime minister of the Central African Republic (CAR).
• The appointment of the former finance minister came a day after former Prime Minister Firmin Ngrebada announced his resignation and that of his government following legislative elections.
• A former chief of staff to President Faustin-Archange Touadera, Ngrebada had been in post since early 2019 when he helped craft a February 2019 peace deal signed with rebel groups in Sudan that now appears on the verge of collapse.

About Central African Republic:

• Capital: Bangui
• President: Faustin-Archange Touadéra
• Currency: Central African CFA franc

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS

Madhya Pradesh state govt to introduced ‘Yuva Shakti Corona Mukti Abhiyan’

• In Madhya Pradesh, ‘Yuva Shakti Corona Mukti Abhiyan’ means free from corona with the help of a youth power campaign will be launched to make people aware about the COVID pandemic.
• Madhya Pradesh is now at number 26 in the country in terms of corona infection.
• At the same time, on the basis of the suggestions received from the various Crisis Management Committees, a new guide line will be issued in the state by June 15.
• In the Yuva Shakti Corona Mukti Abhiyan, college teachers and around 16 lakh students will be made aware of corona infection by learning Covid appropriate behavior and vaccination.
• This campaign will be run by the Higher Education and Technical Education Department in collaboration with the Public Health and Family Welfare Department.
• A mobile app has also been developed for effective real time online monitoring of the campaign.

About Madhya Pradesh:

• Capital: Bhopal
• Chief minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
• Governor: Anandiben Patel

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

India tie up with Russia as 4th biggest foreign exchange reserves holder

• India’s foreign exchange reserves crossed $600 for the first time.
• As on June 4, the foreign exchange reserves stood at $605 billion, almost tying with Russia as the fourth largest reserve holder in the world.
• While India’s forex reserve was $605.008 billion, Russia’s was $605.2 billion.
• It took just about a year for the reserves to rise by $100 billion, which has generally been the pace of accumulation since Shaktikanta Das became the governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in November 2017.

About Russia:

• Capital: Moscow
• President: Vladimir Putin
• Currency: Russian ruble

Flipkart begins drone delivery pilot for vaccines, drugs in Telangana

• E-commerce firm Flipkart stated it has partnered with the Telangana government to lead a consortium tasked with the development and execution of drone deliveries of medical supplies to remote areas under the ‘Medicines from the Sky’ project.
• Flipkart stated it will utilize learnings from its tech-enabled supply chain to deploy drones and enable deliveries of medical supplies.
• These efforts will be complemented with technologies such as geo-mapping, routing of shipments and track and trace of location it has developed over the years.

About Telangana:

• Capital: Hyderabad
• Governor: Tamilisai Soundararajan
• Chief minister: K. Chandrashekar Rao

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENT AND RESIGNATION NEWS

Finance Ministry official Anand Mohan Bajaj appointed in SEBI Board

• The Centre has appointed Anand Mohan Bajaj, Additional Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) as Member of the Board of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), which is the capital markets as well as commodity derivatives market regulator.
• The SEBI Board includes a Chairman, two members from amongst the officers of the Finance and Company Affairs Ministries; one member from the Reserve Financial institution of India and 5 different members of which at least three are to be whole-time members to be appointed by Central Authorities.

About SEBI:

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India is the regulatory body for securities and commodity markets in India under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
• It was established on 12 April 1988 and given Statutory Powers on 30 January 1992 through the SEBI Act, 1992. 
• Headquarters: Mumbai

IIT Kanpur professor appointed as honorary member of WHO body

• Dr Mukesh Sharma, a professor who is an air quality expert with the civil engineering department of IIT–Kanpur, has been appointed as an honorary member of WHO’s Global Air Pollution and Health Technical Advisory Group (GAPH-TAG). 
• Sharma has been associated with WHO, Geneva, International Council for Clean Transport, Clean Air Asia United National Environmental Program, Bangkok, and the World Bank.

About WHO:

• The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health.
• The WHO Constitution, which establishes the agency’s governing structure and principles, states its main objective as “the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health”.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

UNCTAD appointed Costa Rica’s Rebecca Grynspan as 1st Woman Secretary General

• The UN General Assembly approved the nomination of Costa Rican economist Rebecca Grynspan to head the UN agency promoting trade and development, the first woman and Central American to lead the Geneva-based organisation.
• Ms Grynspan is the first woman and central American to head the global body that deals with trade, investment and development issues.
• Ms Grynspan has previously held several high-level positions such as the under-secretary-general of the United Nations and Associate Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

About UNCTAD:

• The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development was established in 1964 as a permanent intergovernmental body.
• UNCTAD is the part of the United Nations Secretariat dealing with trade, investment, and development issues.
• Head: Acting Secretary-General; Isabelle Durant
• Headquarters location: Geneva, Switzerland

Akshay Kumar appointed as Brand Ambassador of Mylab Discovery Solutions

• Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar has been appointed as the new brand ambassador of biotechnology company Mylab Discovery Solutions.
• This announcement comes days after the Pune-based firm launched the country’s first COVID-19 self-test kit – CoviSelf. 
• The partnership with Akshay is aimed at creating awareness for Mylab’s products and kits such as CoviSelf and also to share educational content, according to the firm.
• On May 20, 201, MyLab Discovery Solutions had launched CoviSelf after receiving approval from the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR).

Nagraj Adiga elected in International Association of Ultrarunners Council

• Nagraj Adiga elected in International Association of Ultrarunners Council
• The pandemic caused the Congress to be virtual and elections were held online from May 22 onwards.
• For the Asia-Oceania representative, voting was held over a 24-hour period where a total of ten countries from the Asia and the Oceania region casted their online vote.
• Adiga, who was nominated for elections by the Athletics Federation of India, got elected by a margin of 7-3 against South Korea’s Gilsoo Park.
• Adiga works closely with AFI and with various Government bodies to promote health, fitness, and encourage budding sportspersons.
• Adiga, a runner himself, has encouraged ultra runners and has been the main sponsor for teams sent to World and Asia & Oceania Championships.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

Central govt honoured KLU with Green Champion award 

• KL Deemed to be University has been awarded “One District One Green Champion,” by the Government of India.
• The award is bestowed to the educational institutes for the contribution to the Swachh Bharat initiative by the Mahatma Gandhi National Council of Rural Education (MGNCRE), Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education of the Government of India.
• The framework for the award covered various parameters that included hygiene, cleanliness, usage of green & renewable energy, waste management, the green campus drive, besides observing post-COVID19 precautions and maintaining other social distancing norms.
• On the recognition, Er. Koneru Satyanarayana, President, KL University mentioned, “We take pride in contributing our bit in making India clean and Atmanirbhar.
• The award is a testimony to our commitment towards rending social responsibility with utmost sincerity.
• Providing a healthy and impactful environment conducive to enhance the overall development of the students is a key pillar of KL University’s methodologies.”

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPS & SERVICES

Ministry of Ayush Launches ‘Namaste Yoga’ App 

• On June 11, 2021, a mobile application called Namaste Yoga Launched by the Ministry of Ayush .
• On June 11, 2021, The Ministry of Ayush organised a curtain raiser event for the 7th International Day of Yoga, virtually.
• The event was organised by the Ministry of Ayush in association with Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY).

Aim :

• Raise Awareness about yoga and make it accessible for the larger community.
• Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Shri Prakash Javadekar and Union Minister of State (IC) for Ayush Shri Kiren Rijiju underlined the importance of the central theme of IDY 2021 “Be With Yoga, Be At Home” .
• The curtain raiser event also marked the beginning of a 10-episode series on various aspects of Common Yoga Protocol to be telecast on DD India.
• The series is produced by Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY).

About Ministry of Ayush :

• Founded: 9 November 2014, India
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Officeholder: Shripad Naik

About Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) :

• MDNIY is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India. It is the nodal agency for Planning, Training, Promotion and Coordination of Yoga Education, Training, Therapy and Research.
• Established : 1998
• Located at : New Delhi
• Officer In Charge : Dr. Ishwar V Basavaraddi

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SPORTS NEWS

French Open Tennis Title 2021 – Novak Djokovic and Barbora Krejcikova wins

• Novak Djokovic and Barbora Krejcikova win in The French Open Tennis Tournament 2021.
• List of Winners in French Open Tennis Title 2021 :

1. Men’s Singles- Novak Djokovic (Serbia)
2. Women’s Singles- Barbora Krejčíková (Czech Republic)
3. Men’s Doubles- Pierre-Hugues Herbert (France) and Nicolas Mahut (France)
4. Women’s Doubles- Barbora Krejčíková (Czech Republic) and Kateřina Siniaková (Czech Republic)
5. Mixed Doubles- Desirae Krawczyk (United States) and Joe Salisbury (United Kingdom)

Note :

• In Europe, this tournament is known as the Roland Garros Tennis Tournament.

Achievements of Djokovic :

• Djokovic has also become the first man in the Open Era to complete the career Grand Slam twice.
• He now has nine Australian Open, five Wimbledon, and three US Open titles to his name.
• This is Djokovic’s third title of the year.

Achievements of Krejcikova :

• Krejcikova has become the first player to win both the women’s singles and doubles event.
• Krejcikova has also become the first woman to win both the singles and doubles events at a Grand Slam since Serena Williams in 2016.
• She is the first woman from her country to clinch the French Open singles title since Hana Mandlikova in 1981.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES

1951 Asiad medallist and 1952 Olympics marathoner Surat Singh Mathur Passes away

• On June 11, 2021, India’s 1951 Asian Games marathon bronze medal winner and 1952 Olympian Surat Singh Mathur Passed away.
• He was 90.

About Surat Singh Mathur :

• Surat Singh Mathur was born in the Mohammadpur Majri village (Karala) of Delhi.
• Mathur became a special coach in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi in 1977. 

Achievements :

• Mathur is the first athlete from independent India to complete an Olympic marathon race, at the 1952 Helsinki Games.
• He completed the marathon in 52nd place in 2:58.92s.
• In the inaugural Asian Games in 1951 in Delhi, Chhota Singh won the gold while Mathur took the bronze medal.
• Mathur won two gold, one silver and one bronze in the National Championships.
• He was honoured by the Olympic Council of Asia during the inauguration of its headquarters in Kuwait City in 2009. 
• He was also a two-time National champion.

Noted Indian neurologist & Padma Shri recipient Dr Ashok Panagariya passes away

• On June 11, 2021, Noted neurologist and Padma Shri recipient Dr Ashok Panagariya Passed away.
• He was 71.

About Dr Ashok Pangariya :

• Dr Pangariya was the first Indian doctor to become DM in Neurology.
• He was known for his research on nerve cells and neuromyotonia.
• He was the Vice Chancellor of Rajasthan University of Health Sciences, Jaipur.
• He was a member of the Planning Board of the Government of Rajasthan.
• He headed the Neurology department of SMS Hospital in Rajasthan.

Achievements of Dr Ashok Panagariya :

• Dr. Panagariya was a recipient of prestigious Dr. B. C. Roy Award.
• He also received the fourth highest Indian civilian award and the highest Indian award in the medical category , Padma Shri in 2014.

Noted Kannada poet & Dalit Voice Siddalingaiah passes away

• On June 11, 2021, Noted Kannada poet, playwright and Dalit activist, Siddalingaiah Passed away.
• He was 67.

About Siddalingaiah :

• Siddalingaiah was one of the founders of the Dalita Sangharsh Samiti.
• He was the chairman of the Kannada Development Authority in 2006.
• He had also chaired the 81st Kannada Sahitya Sammelana (a premier gathering of Kannada literature) held in Shravanabelagola.
• He had also served as the member of the Karnataka Legislative Council and Chairman of the Kannada Development Authority.
• Siddalingaiah was one of Karnataka’s first prominent Dalit poets, and was popularly known as “Dalita Kavi”.

Achievements of Siddalingaiah :

• Siddalingaiah’s Ooru Keri, an autobiography, had won him the Sahitya Akademi Award.
• He is also a recipient of the highest literary award in Kannada, Pampa Award, presented by the State government.
• He also received Nadoja Award from Hampi University and Rajyotsava Award.

Daily CA On June 12 :

• The World Day Against Child Labour is an International Labour Organization-sanctioned holiday first launched in 2002 aiming to raise awareness and activism to prevent child labour. The themeof this year’s World Day Against Child Labour is “Act now: End child labour.
• Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay has launched its new Centre for Digital Heath – the first-of-its-kind in India. The ‘Koita Centre for Digital Health’ (KCDH) was launched with a generous contribution received from its alumni Rekha and Rizwan Koita, under the aegis of the Koita Foundation.
• India attended the G7 summit as a guest country along with Australia, South Africa and South Korea. All four countries are seen as critical partners of the G7 (the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, UK and Japan).
• A week-long Indian mango promotion programme began in Bahrainwhere 16 varieties of the fruit, including the three Geographical Indication(GI) certified ‘Khirsapati’ and ‘Lakshmanbhog’ from West Bengal and Zardalu from Bihar are being displayed.
• Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the Mukhyamantri Sishu Sewa Achoni scheme which will provide relief to children who have lost their parents due to Covid-19.
• Leading web aggregator Policybazaar mentioned it has got approval from regulator IRDAI to undertake insurance broking, a development that will help the company augment business and expand bouquet of services.
• Credit rating agency ICRA Ratings projected India’s gross domestic product (GDP) to grow at 5 percent in FY 2021-22.
• India’s export of agricultural and allied products in 2020-21 grew by 17.34 per cent to USD 41.25 billion, and this growth momentum is expected to be sustained in the current fiscal.
• Exports of India’s organic farm products surged 51 percent in 2020-21 beating Covid induced hiccups in the supply chain.
• State-owned Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) has emerged as the top performer among public sector lenders in terms of loan and deposit growth during the financial year 2020-21.
• The State Bank of India (SBI) has launched a collateral-free unique loan offering – ‘Kavach Personal Loan’. 
• HDFC Mutual Fund has announced the launch of HDFC Banking and Financial Services Fund, a new fund offer (NFO) for retail investors.
• Federal Bank has expanded its collaboration with Oracle and Infosys to provide improved customer experience through Oracle CX (Customer Experience) platform.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on June 10 raised the interchange fee on each financial transaction at an Automated Teller Machine or ATM.
• Ferrari has appointed technology executive Benedetto Vigna as its new CEO, as the Italian company begins its move towards electrification. Benedetto Vigna to take over as CEO from September 1.
• The Football Association (FA) have officially confirmed the nomination of Debbie Hewitt to become the organization’s new chairperson.
• Hindustan Unilever Limited has announced the appointment of Kedar Lele, currently chairman and managing director Unilever Bangladesh, to the HUL Management Committee as executive director, customer development with effect from July 1, 2021.
• The Mahindra Group announced the appointment of Pratap Bose as the Executive Vice President and Chief Design Officer to lead its newly formed Global Design organization.
• Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, President-elect of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, has appointed India’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador, K Nagaraj Naidu, as his Chef de Cabinet.
• The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) has roped in former Supreme Court Justice (Retd.) Arjan Kumar Sikri to chair the Grievance Redressal Board (GRB), formed as a part of the Digital Publisher Content Grievances Council (DPCGC). 
• India and Kuwait have signed a MoU that brings Indian domestic workers in the Gulf nation within the ambit of a legal framework that streamlines their recruitment and provides them with the protection of the law.
• From June 08 to June 09, 2021, the first edition of the 2 day Arab-India Energy Forum was held Virtually. It was under the co-chairship of India and the Kingdom of Morocco.
• The Indian Space Research Organisation has developed three types of ventilators, and has come forward to transfer the technology to industry for clinical usage as the country battles the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic.
• Nobel laureate Amartya Sen authored a book titled Home in the World. The book will be published in July by Penguin Random House.
• Aruna Tanwar has been awarded a wild card entry for the upcoming Tokyo Paralympic Games, which will make her the first Indian to compete in the global multi-para sport event, the national federation.
• On June 11, 2021, Padma Shri awardee environmentalist and Odisha’s former information commissioner Professor Radha Mohan Passed away.

 Daily CA On June 13 & 14 :

• International Albinism Awareness Day is celebrated annually on June 13 to celebrate the human rights of persons with albinism worldwide. The theme of the day this year is #StrengthBeyondAllOdds.
• World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) is held on June 14each year. For 2021, the World Blood Donor Day theme will be “Give blood and keep the world beating”.
• Union Education Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ announced the release of the report of All India Survey on Higher Education 2019-20. 
• Naftali Bennett was sworn in as Israel’s new Prime Minister, ending Benjamin Netanyahu’s 12-year hold on power and the political uncertainty that gripped the Jewish nation for months after inconclusive elections.
• The Group of Seven richest democracies has sought to counter China’s growing influence by offering developing nations an infrastructure plan that could rival President Xi Jinping’s multi-trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative.
• The country’s presidency stated that Henri Marie Dondra has been named prime minister of the Central African Republic (CAR).
• In Madhya Pradesh, ‘Yuva Shakti Corona Mukti Abhiyan’ means free from corona with the help of a youth power campaign will be launched to make people aware about the COVID pandemic.
• India’s foreign exchange reserves crossed $600 for the first time. As on June 4, the foreign exchange reserves stood at $605 billion, almost tying with Russia as the fourth largest reserve holder in the world.
• E-commerce firm Flipkart stated it has partnered with the Telangana government to lead a consortium tasked with the development and execution of drone deliveries of medical supplies to remote areas under the ‘Medicines from the Sky’
• The Centre has appointed Anand Mohan Bajaj, Additional Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) as Member of the Board of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), which is the capital markets as well as commodity derivatives market regulator.
• Dr Mukesh Sharma, a professor who is an air quality expert with the civil engineering department of IIT–Kanpur, has been appointed as an honorary member of WHO’s Global Air Pollution and Health Technical Advisory Group (GAPH-TAG). 
• The UN General Assembly approved the nomination of Costa Rican economist Rebecca Grynspan to head the UN agency promoting trade and development, the first woman and Central American to lead the Geneva-based organisation.
• Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar has been appointed as the new brand ambassador of biotechnology company Mylab Discovery Solutions.
• Nagraj Adiga elected in International Association of Ultrarunners Council
• KL Deemed to be University has been awarded “One District One Green Champion,” by the Government of India. The award is bestowed to the educational institutes for the contribution to the Swachh Bharat initiative by the Mahatma Gandhi National Council of Rural Education (MGNCRE), Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education of the Government of India.
• On June 11, 2021, a mobile application called Namaste Yoga Launched by the Ministry of Ayush .
• Novak Djokovic and Barbora Krejcikova win in The French Open Tennis Tournament 2021.
• On June 11, 2021, India’s 1951 Asian Games marathon bronze medal winner and 1952 Olympian Surat Singh Mathur Passed away.
• On June 11, 2021, Noted neurologist and Padma Shri recipient Dr Ashok Panagariya Passed away.
• On June 11, 2021, Noted Kannada poet, playwright and Dalit activist, Siddalingaiah Passed away.