NATIONAL NEWS

Government Jobs in 18 Months

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced recruiting 10 lakh personnel within the next 18 months (1.5 years) “in a mission mode”.

• It will be a significant step because the recruitment to government jobs was hampered following the COVID-19 pandemic.

• The government has reviewed the status of Human Resources in all departments and ministries and instructed on this mission.
• The majority of the selections would be in the railways, armed forces, the Central Paramilitary Forces, Goods and Services Tax (GST) departments, including customs and excise and administrative staff for government-owned banks and insurance companies etc.

Cabinet approves Agreement Among SCO member States

• The Union Cabinet has approved the Agreement signed among the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states on cooperation in the field of youth work among the authorized bodies of the member states of SCO.

• The agreement was signed by the Indian Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports.

• The objective of the agreement is to strengthen mutual trust, friendly relations, and cooperation among young people of SCO member States.
• The official working language of the SCO Secretariat is Russian and Chinese.

“Start-Ups for Railways”

• Raillways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has launched “Start-Ups for Railways” in New Delhi.
• Start-Ups policy aims to leverage innovative technologies developed by Indian Startups, MSMEs, Innovators and Entrepreneurs to improve operational efficiency and safety of Indian Railways.
• The policy which is part Indian Railways Innovation Programme. Through this platform, start-ups will get a good opportunity to connect with Railways.
• It will bring efficiency in the field of operation, maintenance and infrastructure creation through participation of very large and untapped startup ecosystem.

Elderly Lack Financial and Social Security

• A report was released by the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry on the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

• It was based on a survey of the involvement of 4,399 senior citizens and 2,200 caregivers across more than twenty cities.

• A national survey undertaken by HelpAge India revealed that almost half of the elderly population are economically dependent on their families for income.
• The survey showed that 52% of them have inadequate income, 40% did not feel financially secure, 57% have expenditures in excess of their savings and for 45% the pension amount was not enough for survival.
• It highlights the need to pay heed to the lack of social security for senior citizens in the country.

‘Kranti Gatha’

• On 14 June 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated ‘Kranti Gatha’.

• It is a newly created Gallery of Indian Revolutionaries inside an underground British - era bunker at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai.

• The new residence of the Governor will give new energy to the governance of Maharashtra.
• Mumbai Raj Bhavan is similar to the culture of Maharashtra which manifests courage, dedication, spirituality and the freedom fight.

Environment

• Government of India proposed to blend 20% of Ethanol in Petrol by 2025-26.
• Also 5% blending of Biodiesel in diesel by 2030.

Transport

• India's first six lane highway road made of Steel slag inaugurated at Surat,Gujarat.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians

• Egypt will host the Eighth Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in Sharm El Sheikh.

• The two-day conference is jointly organized by the House of Representatives and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

• Nagaland's first woman elected as Member of Parliament to Rajya Sabha S. Phangon Konyak is representing India at the Conference and discuss on the 'Young MPs for Climate Actions'.
• The conference provides a platform for young MPs from across the world to exchange learn and define common and innovative strategies to advance youth empowerment.

1st Asian Country to Legalise Cannabis

• Thailand became the first Asian country to legalize cannabis for medical use.

• Under decriminalization, it is no longer a crime to grow and trade marijuana and hemp products, or use parts of the plant to treat illnesses.

• The change has come after Thailand’s landmark 2018 legalization of medical cannabis.

BANKING

SBI Hikes Lending Rate by 20 BPS

• India’s largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) raised minimum rate for home loans to 7.55% which is effective from 15 June.

• The bank has increased its Marginal Cost of funds-based Lending Rate (MCLR) by 20 basis points effective 15 June.

• The MCLR on six months tenure will rise to 7.35% from the present 7.15%.
• One basis point is 0.01%.

CCI Approval

• Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the acquisition of "Air Asia India" by Air India.

• 'Omnicard' = First RBI licensed Prepaid Instrument to launch cashwithdrawal across all ATMs in India.

SPORTS

New Javelin Record by Neeraj Chopra

• Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra set a new national record of 89.30 metres at Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland.

• Neeraj Chopra won the silver medal with his throw at the event.

• Finland's Oliver Helander won the gold medal at the event with a throw of 89.83 metres.
• Neeraj Chopra is India's first-ever Olympic gold medallist in athletics and only the second individual gold medallist at Olympics.

Praveen Chitravel Sets New RecordF Pic

• In Athletics, Tamil Nadu triple jumper Praveen Chitravel set a new meet record of 17.18m at the National Inter-State Championships at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai.

• The previous inter-state meet record was held by Punjab's Arpinder Singh - 17.17m in Lucknow in 2014.

• Chitravel has qualified for the upcoming World Championships in Oregon.

• The entry standard for worlds is 17.14m. Chitravel's jump of 17.18m is third on the all-time India list.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

RBI Board of Directors

• The government has named Anand Mahindra, Ravindra Dholakia, Venu Srinivasan and Pankaj Patel as non-official directors on the central board of the RBI.

• They were appointed for a period of 4 years term.

• The RBI’s affairs are governed by a central board of directors.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

• World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is celebrated every year on 15 June.

• The primary goal of this day is to provide communities all around the world a chance to develop a better understanding of elder abuse and neglect by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic, and demographic factors that influence senior abuse and neglect.
• The theme for the year 2022 is “Digital Equity for All Ages”.
• The day was recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2011.

Global Wind Day

• Global Wind Day is observed every year on 15 June.

• The day is celebrated all over the world annually and it is marked as a day of discovering the possibilities of wind power.

• The purpose of the day is to increase public knowledge of wind energy and its uses.
• The theme for the year 2022 is celebrate to enjoy the benefits of wind energy and providing education to the individual about the power and potential of wind energy to change the world.
• In 2007, The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) organized the first Wind Day.