NATIONAL NEWS

Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) Method of Paddy Cultivation

• The Punjab government recently has set a target of five lakh acres to be sown under direct seeded rice (DSR) method of paddy cultivation this kharif season.

• The DSR target for this season is 2.5 times more than the previous season (2.12 lakh acres).

• The state government has identified varieties suitable for different agro-climatic zones of the state and made arrangements for their availability to the farmers.

• To encourage farmers to adopt the DSR method, the government has provided subsidy on seed drill, herbicides and weedicides.

• The state government has engaged experts from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and Agriculture Department to provide technical guidance and monitoring to the farmers.

• Direct Seeded Rice (DSR), also known as the 'broadcasting seed technique', is a water-saving method of sowing paddy in agriculture.

GeM to Organise District Level Buyer-Seller Workshops

• Government e-Marketplace (GeM), India's premier online procurement platform, is organising Buyer-Seller Workshops in all the 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh from 12 June to 31 August 2023.

• These workshops aim to enhance the understanding of GeM's functionalities among buyers and sellers in the state, as well as provide a platform to address any queries or concerns they may have.

• The Buyer-Seller Workshops are a significant step towards ensuring accessibility and participation from every corner of the state.

• GeM believes in empowering buyers and sellers in the remotest districts of Uttar Pradesh by providing them with the necessary knowledge and resources to leverage the benefits of the platform effectively.

• These workshops will serve as a platform to address queries, provide guidance, and discuss any issues faced by the users at the district level.

Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahna Yojana

• Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the 'Mukhya Mantri Ladli Bahna Yojana'.
• The Ladli Bahna Yojana 2023 was officially inaugurated by CM Chouhan, who took the initiative to deposit the first instalment of Rs 1,000 in the accounts of eligible women beneficiaries.
• This scheme was launched in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh with the primary objective of empowering women and providing financial assistance to them.
• The chief minister outlined plans to increase the monthly support to Rs 1,200, Rs 1,500, Rs 1,700 and eventually Rs 2,000, thereby increasing the financial assistance provided to beneficiaries.
• This scheme provides financial assistance to women in Madhya Pradesh.
• Under the scheme, an amount of Rs 12,000 per year ie Rs 1,000 per month is sent directly to the bank accounts of eligible women.
• The state government has allocated a budget of Rs 60,000 crore for the implementation of the scheme.

IICA And RRU Signed MoU

• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) and Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU).

• The objective of the MoU is to synergize the professional capabilities of IICA and RRU towards capacity building, education, research and consultancy in the areas of internal security, financial crime, law enforcement, corporate fraud and other subjects.

• The MoU also provides for exchange of knowledge and resources between IICA and RRU for conducting research, training and consultancy.

Girl Child Empowerment Mission (GeM)-2023

• NTPC Kanti launched Girl Child Empowerment Mission (GeM)-2023 as part of its CSR initiative.
• The program is a four-week residential workshop aimed at empowering 40 underprivileged rural girls from Kanti Block.
• This initiative is the first of its kind organised by NTPC Kanti.
• The primary objective of the GeM program is to provide academic training, skill development and overall personality enhancement to the participants.
• The program focuses on inculcating curiosity among the participants and developing better communication and social skills.
• By empowering underprivileged rural girls, NTPC Kanti aims to contribute to their holistic development and provide them opportunities for a better future.

BANKING

SAMCO Active Momentum Fund

• The SAMCO Asset Management Private Limited has launched India’s first actively managed momentum fund – SAMCO Active Momentum Fund.
• The SAMCO Active Momentum Fund’s new fund offer (NFO) runs from June 15-29, 2023.
• Investors seeking to employ a momentum investing strategy to achieve long-term capital appreciation can consider the SAMCO Active Momentum Fund.
• SAMCO Active Momentum Fund is an open-ended equity scheme following momentum theme with Benchmark Nifty 500 Index TRI.
• The Fund meticulously selects stocks with momentum characteristics such as breakouts, price leadership, and more, deploying a proprietary momentum-seeking algorithm.
• In Momentum investing, active management offers several unique advantages such as a wider investible universe, quicker rebalancing and hedging flexibility during periods of anti-momentum.
• The face value of each unit during the New Fund Offer (NFO) is 10, with a minimum application amount of Rs. 5,000 and multiples of Rs. 1 thereafter.

SPORTS

World Test Championship Title

• Australia beat India by 209 runs to win its maiden ICC World Test Championship title at the Kennington Oval in London.

• Australia became the first team to win all ICC titles.

• Australia batting first scored 469 runs in the first innings.

• In response, Team India was reduced to 296 runs and Australia got a lead of 173 runs in the first innings.

• Australia declared the second innings by scoring 270 runs and set a target of 444 runs in front of India.
• In response, the Indian team was reduced to 234 runs and lost the match by 209 runs.

French Open 2023 Men's Singles Final

• In Tennis, Serbian Novak Djokovic won the French Open 2023 men's singles final, clinching his 23rd Grand Slam title.
• Novak Djokovic has become the first man to reach the 23rd Grand Slam title.
• He won the title by defeating Casper Rudd in straight sets.
• The win gives Djokovic his third French Open title and surpasses Rafael Nadal's record for most title wins.
• He also became the first person to win all four Grand Slam events at least three times.
• In French Open tennis, World No 1 and top seed Iga Swiatek of Poland has won the Women's Singles crown.
• She defended her title against unseeded Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-4. This is her third French title in just 5 years.

FIH Pro League 2023

• The Indian hockey team beat Argentina 2-1 in its final FIH Pro League 2022-23 match in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.

• Akashdeep Singh and Sukhjeet Singh scored goals for India while Lucas Toscani netted the only goal for Argentina.

• With the win in this tie, India have further consolidated their top spot in the FIH Pro League 2022-23 points table with 30 points from 16 matches while Argentina is fifth in the table with 13 points from 14 matches.

• India now led second-placed Great Britain by four points in the FIH Pro League 2022-23 standings but the European team still has four games to play.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Chairman-Elect of Board of Governors of IATA

• IndiGo CEO, Peter Albers has been appointed as the Chairman-elect of the Board of Governors of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
• Peter Albers will replace Yvonne Manzi Makolo, CEO of Rwandair.
• IATA is a trade association of the world's airlines and has 300 member airlines, which account for 83% of total air traffic.
• It is headquartered in Montreal, Canada and works to promote the safe and sustainable development of the air transportation industry.
• It launched the "Fly Net Zero" initiative to achieve net zero carbon emissions from aviation by 2050.

Chairman of TransUnion CIBIL

• TransUnion CIBIL, India’s leading insights and information company, has announced the appointment of V Anantharaman as non- executive chairman.

• Anantharaman takes over from M V Nair, who steps down after more than 11 years as the Chairman.

• Anantharaman is an industry veteran who brings over three decades of experience in the financial services sector having led corporate and investment banking teams.

• He has also served as a senior advisor to the UK’s development finance institution British International Investment (formerly CDC).

DEFENCE

Bangladesh-US Joint Naval Exercise ‘Tiger Shark 40’

• The Joint Bangladesh-United States (US) Naval drill Exercise ‘Tiger Shark 40’ started at BNS Nirvik in Chattogram.

• Special Forces of Bangladesh Army & Navy and US Special Forces participated in this training exercise held under the management of Commodore Swords Command.

• It is to increase strategic capabilities of both the countries and to acquire mutual technical and procedural knowledge.

• Chattogram Naval Area Commander Rear Admiral Abdullah AL Mamun Chowdhury attended the event as the Chief Guest.

• The Special Warfare Diving and Salvage is an elite special operational unit of the Bangladesh Navy.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Day Against Child Labour

• World Day Against Child Labour is celebrated every year on 12 June.

• The day aims to inspire a global movement against child labour.

• The theme for World Day Against Child Labour 2023 is ‘Social Justice for All. End Child Labour!’

• The International Labour Organization launched this program in 2002 to address the issue of child labour at the international level.
• The day aims to inspire individuals, organizations and governments to combat child labour and work towards its permanent elimination.