14 June 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

14 June 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

1. Government reduces ESI contribution rate to 4 per cent

• According to Ministry of Labour and Employment, The Union government has reduced the rate of the contribution made by employees and employers under the Employees' State Insurance (ESI) Act from 6.5% to 4%.
• This includes 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%).
• It will benefit 3.6 crore employees and 12.85 lakh, employers.
• The new rate will be effective from the 1st of next month.
• Similarly, reduction in the share of contribution of employers will reduce the financial liability of the establishments leading to improved viability of these establishments.

Note:

• The ESI Act 1948, under the labour ministry, covers employees with salary up to Rs 21,000 (earlier-Rs.15000).
• Benefits provided under the ESI Act are funded by the contributions made by the employers and the employees.
• It will facilitate further enrolment of workers under the ESI scheme and bring more and more workforce into the formal sector.

Source: AIR News

2. FDI flows to India grew 6% in 2018 to 42 billion: UN report

• According to UN report, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to India grew by 6% to 42 billion dollars in 2018, with strong inflows in the manufacturing, communication and financial services sectors, and cross-border merger and acquisition activities.
• The report ranked India among the top 20 host economies for FDI inflows in 2017-18.
• The World Investment Report 2019, released by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Foreign Direct Investment inflows to South Asia increased by 3.5% to 54 billion dollars.
• India has historically accounted for 70 to 80 per cent of inflows to the subregion.
• The growth in cross-border Merger & Acquisitions for India to 33 billion dollars in 2018 was primarily due to transactions worth 16 billion dollars in retail trade, which includes e-commerce, and telecommunication.

Source: The Economic Times

3. RBI to infuse Rs 12,500 crore into the financial system through bond purchase

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will infuse Rs 12,500 crore into the financial system through bond purchases under the Open Market Operation (OMO).
• The RBI uses open market operations (OMO) for injecting liquidity into the system through the purchase of government bonds (G-Sec).
• Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have invested USD 1 billion in Indian debt markets so far in June.
• The OMO will take place on June 20, taking the total infusion so far in June to 27,500 crores, as against OMO purchases worth Rs 25,000 crore in May.

Source: Business-Standard

4. Amazon clinches top spot in the world’s most valuable brand ranking

• US retail giant ‘Amazon’ has moved past hi-tech titans Apple and Google to become the world's most valuable brand.
• According to Kantar’s 2019, Top 100 BrandZ report, the brand value of Amazon surged by 52% to USD 315 billion.
• Amazon jumped from third to first place to eclipse Google - which slid from first to third place with Apple holding on to the second spot.

Source: CNBC.com

Important Days

5. World Blood Donor day being observed today

• The World Blood Donor Day is being observed across the globe on 14th June every year to raise awareness of the need for regular blood donations to ensure the quality, safety and availability of blood and blood products for patients in need.
• This year the theme is ‘Blood Donation and Universal Access to Safe Blood Transfusion’, as a component of achieving universal health coverage.
• The day also strongly encourages more people to donate blood so that the donor population does not decline and patients requiring transfusion have timely access to safe blood.
• The slogan - Safe Blood for All - has also been adopted.

Note:

• World Blood Donor Day is one of eight official global public health campaigns marked by the World Health Organization (WHO).
• The host country for World Blood Donor Day 2019 is Rwanda.

National Affairs

6. Arjun Munda launches ‘E-Governance initiatives for ST Welfare Schemes’

• Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda has launched the “e-governance initiatives for ST Welfare schemes” at a function organized by Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• A power point presentation on these new e-governance initiatives was made on the occasion.
• Shri Munda applauded the teamwork efforts of the Ministry of Tribal affairs for these-governance initiatives for Scheduled Tribes Welfare schemes.
• As per the “SabkaSaath, SabkaVikas and SabkaVishwas”, these e-governance initiatives will serve their purpose of the betterment of tribal communities across the nation.

Source: PIB

7. PM Kisan Pension Scheme: Farmers' contribution to be Rs 100 per month

• Farmers will have to contribute 100 rupees per month under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Kisan Pension Yojana’ that seeks to provide a minimum fixed monthly pension of 3,000 rupees on the attainment of 60 years.
• The central government will also contribute an equal amount to the pension fund to be managed by the LIC (responsible for the pension payout).
• The government in its cabinet meeting had approved a separate pension scheme for farmers with an aim to cover 5 crore beneficiaries in the first three years.
• Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar urged the states to start enrolling farmers in the age group of 18-40 years besides taking measures to create awareness about the scheme.
• There will also be an online grievance redressal system for complete transparency.

Source: AIR News

Obituaries

8. Poet, lyricist Pazhavila Ramesan passes away

• Poet and lyricist Pazhavila Ramesan (83-years) passed away at a private hospital, Thiruvananthapuram.
• Pazhavila Ramesan was a recipient of Kerala Sahithya Akademi Award for overall contribution.
• He had also penned songs for films like Asamsakalode, Malooty, Uncle Bun, Vasudha and others.
• Ramesan had also served as the director of Kerala Bhasha Institute for a long time.

Source: Business Standard

Appointment

9. Reckitt Benckiser names PepsiCo executive Laxman Narasimhan its new CEO

• Reckitt Benckiser (British consumer goods giant) named PepsiCo executive Laxman Narasimhan as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
• Narasimhan was serving as PepsiCo's global Chief Commercial Officer.
• He will be joining the company as CEO and will be appointed to the board on July 16.

Science & Defence

10. India successfully launches the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV)

• India has successfully conducted the maiden flight test of its indigenously developed fired Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) off Odisha Coast, developed by DRDO.
• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) carried out the trials from Dr Abdul Kalam Island in the Bay of Bengal.
• While it can be used to launch small satellites at a much lower cost, it will be used for launching long-range cruise missiles.
• It will help in the development of a hypersonic cruise missile system.

Source: Business-Standard

11. ISRO to launch India's own space station to send more humans to space

• According to ISRO chief K Sivan, India is planning to launch its own space station which will enable the agency to send more humans to space when executed.
• India will not join the International Space Station.
• A space station is a spacecraft capable of supporting crew members, designed to remain in space for an extended period and for other spacecraft to dock.
• The weight of the space station is likely to be 20 tonnes.
• Currently, there is only one fully functioning space station in Earth's lower orbit, the International Space Station and astronauts conduct different experiments in it.
• The mission will also be an extension of the Gaganyaan project implying that there will be several phases to the human space mission project.
• The Union Government has sanctioned ten thousand crore rupees for this Mission, which is being guided by the Gaganyaan National Advisory Council that has eminent scientists and persons as members.

Source: AIR News

Summits and Conferences

12. Dr S. Jaishankar to attend CICA Summit in Dushanbe

• Dr S. Jaishankar (External Affairs Minister) will attend the two days 5th Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, CICA, Summit in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
• During the Summit, CICA Leaders are likely to deliberate on the existing and emerging issues of common concern to the members and underline implementation of confidence-building measures for developing Asia into a prosperous, secure and peaceful region.
• The theme of the 5th Summit is "Shared Vision for a Secure and More Prosperous CICA Region.
• The Summit will adopt a Declaration covering issues of cooperation within CICA.

Note:

• CICA is a pan-Asia forum for enhancing cooperation and promoting peace, security and stability in Asia.
• India is a member of CICA since its inception and late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had participated in the first CICA Summit held in 2002 in Almaty.

Source: AIR News

Honours & Awards

13. JNU to confer alumni award to Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman & S Jaishankar

• Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) will confer the distinguished alumni award to the two Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
• Executive Council of the JNU University approved a proposal in this regard.
• The two ministers will be awarded during the third convocation of JNU to be held in August this year.
• Ms Sitharaman had completed her MA and M Phil degrees while Mr Jaishankar completed his M Phil and doctoral research form JNU.
• According to JNU, their highly distinguished career and achievements have made the university very proud and they are a great source of inspiration for JNU students and researchers.

Source: The Hindu

13 June 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

13 June 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

1. PM Modi reaches Kyrgyz capital Bishkek to attend SCO summit

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Bishkek (capital of Kyrgyzstan) to attend the meeting of Council of Heads of States of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
• Presidents, Prime Ministers (8 member countries) and 4 head of states as observers are participating in this multilateral international forum.
• The China-led SCO meets once a year and adopts decisions and guidelines on all important matters of the organisation.
• Prime Minister Modi had also attended the last CHS meeting in Qingdao (China) on 9-10th June 2018.

Note:

• In July 2015 in Ufa, Russia, the SCO decided to admit India and Pakistan as full members and both the countries officially joined SCO as full members during the Astana Summit in 2017.
• Afghanistan will also be one of the focus areas in the summit.

Source: AIR News

2. UAE and Germany reaffirm joint commitment to fight against terrorism

• The United Arab Emirates and Germany have reaffirmed their joint commitment to fight against terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms.
• A Joint statement issued in Berlin at the end of the two-day visit of Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Germany.
• The two sides agreed on rallying efforts on counter-terrorism issues, exchanging of expertise and information on combating terrorism and strengthening individual training and capacity-building in that regard.

Source: AIR News

Important Days

3. International Albinism Awareness Day observed on 13th June

• The International Albinism Awareness Day is being observed on 13th June with an aim to end multiple forms of discrimination that is faced by people who suffers from albinism.
• The theme of the 2019 International Albinism Awareness Day is ‘Still Standing Strong’.
• Albinism is a rare, non-contagious, genetically inherited difference present at birth, and it is still profoundly misunderstood, socially and medically.

Source: Un.org

Obituaries

4. Veteran journalist Rajanath Singh 'Surya' passes away

• Veteran journalist and former Rajya Sabha MP Rajanath Singh ‘Surya’ (82-years) passed away after a brief illness in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
• A staunch RSS leader Mr Surya had worked in various newspapers and he was a well-known columnist.

National Affairs

5. Amitabh Bachchan pays off loans of 2,100 Bihar farmers

• Megastar Amitabh Bachchan (76-year) helped to clear outstanding loans of over two thousand farmers from Bihar.
• Bachchan called on some of the farmers to his residence and donated the amount at the hands of his children Shweta and Abhishek.
• The farmers from Bihar who had outstanding loans picked 2,100 of them and paid off their amount with an OTS with the bank.

Note:

• Earlier, Mr. Bachchan had supported 1,398 farmers from Uttar Pradesh and 350 from Maharashtra by paying off their loans.

Source: Indian Express

6. Cabinet approves Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill 2019

• Union Cabinet has approved the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill 2019 to replace Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Ordinance 2019.
• This will enable UIDAI to have a more robust mechanism to serve the public interest and restrain the misuse of Aadhar.
• After the amendment, 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 so provided by a law made by Parliament.
• For the convenience of the general public in the opening of bank accounts, the proposed amendments will allow the use of Aadhaar number for authentication on a voluntary basis as an acceptable KYC document.
• The Bill will be introduced in the ensuing session of Parliament.

Source: AIR News

7. Cabinet approves Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers' Cadre) Bill 2019

• The Union Cabinet has approved the introduction of Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers' Cadre) Bill 2019.
• It will allow filling up of more than 7,000 existing vacancies by direct recruitment in Teachers' cadre.
• The amendment will also ensure providing 10% reservation to Economically weaker section.
• The move is expected to improve the teaching standards in the higher educational institutions by attracting all eligible talented candidates belonging to SCs, STs, Socially and Educationally Backward Classes and economically weaker section.
• The bill will replace the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers' Cadre) ordinance 2019 and will be introduced in the forthcoming Parliament session.

Source: AIR News

8. Union Cabinet extends the President’s rule in J&K for another six months

• The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the extension of President’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir for another six months (from 3^rd July).
• President's rule is the suspension of state government and imposition of direct central government rule in a state.
• Jammu Kashmir has been under President's rule since 20^th December 2018.
• According to Election commission, Assembly elections in J&K will be held after Amarnath Yatra ends in August 2019.

Note:

• Under Article 356 of the Constitution of India, if a state government is unable to function according to constitutional provisions, the Central government can take direct control of the state machinery.
• Subsequently, executive authority is exercised through the centrally appointed governor, who has the authority to appoint other administrators to assist them.
• Chhattisgarh and Telangana are the only states where the president's rule has yet to be imposed.

Source: Indian Express

Appointment

9. China appoints Sun Weidong as new envoy to India

• China has appointed veteran diplomat Sun Weidong (former envoy to Pakistan) as its new envoy to India.
• He will succeed Luo Zhaohui, who has been appointed as Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.
• Currently, Sun Weidong is the Director General of the Policy and Planning Department of the Foreign Ministry.

Source: Business Standard

10. Kassyam-Jomart Tokayev takes oath as the new president of Kazakhstan

• The career diplomat Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (66-year) took the oath of office as the new president of Kazakhstan during a ceremony at the Palace of Independence in the capital, Nur-Sultan.
• He was acting president following the surprise resignation of Nursultan Nazarbayev (78-years) in March 2019.
• The transition comes amid rising dissent in Kazakhstan.

Note:

• The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the head of state, commander-in-chief and holder of the highest office within the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Source: Economic Time

Sports

11. Indian team for Senior Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships announced

• Gymnastics Federation of India (GFI) has announced the Indian team for the Senior Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships to be held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (19th to 22nd June 2019)
• The four men's team comprises Rakesh Kumar Patra, Yogeshwar Singh, Debang Dey and Arik Dey.
• Pranati Nayak, Shraddha Talekar, Pranati Das and Papiya Das are in the women's team.

Source: AIR News

12. Indian men's archery team secure Olympic quota for the 2020 Tokyo Games

• Indian men's archery team (Tarundeep Rai, Atanu Das and Pravin Jadhav) secured the Olympic quota for the 2020 Tokyo Games.
• Indian team storming into the quarterfinals of the World Championships with a 5-3 win over Canada in the Netherlands.
• This is for the first time after 2012-London Olympics that Indian men could secure a team quota.

Source: AIR News

13. Badminton star Lee Chong Wei retires after cancer battle

• Malaysian badminton star Lee Chong Wei (36 years) announced his retirement after Cancer battle.
• Lee Chong Wei (three-time Olympic silver medallist) was diagnosed with early-stage nose cancer last year but despite intensive treatment in Taiwan.
• Lee was ranked first as a singles player for 199 consecutive weeks from 2008 to 2012.
• He collected a swathe of honours but never won a world or Olympic title.

Source: The Hindu

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