NATIONAL NEWS

Union Cabinet Approved PM-PRANAM Scheme

• The Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the PM-PRANAM Scheme.
• The scheme is aimed at incentivising states to use alternative, non-chemical fertilisers.
• The cavinet also decided to continue the current urea subsidy for three years starting FY23, with an outlay of Rs 3.68 trillion.
• The full name of PM PRANAM is Promotion of Alternative Nutrients for Agriculture Management Scheme.
• Reducing the subsidy burden on chemical fertilisers, which is projected to reach Rs 2.25 lakh crore in 2022-23 - 39 per centmore than last year's figure of Rs 1.62 lakh crore.
• 70 percent of the grant provided under the scheme can be used for asset creation related to technology adoption of alternative fertilizers and alternative fertilizer production units at village, block and district level.

DoT Announces ‘5G & Beyond Hackathon 2023’

• The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has been actively organizing Hackathons to foster the development of 5G products and solutions.
• These initiatives have led to the creation of innovative 5G products and solutions across various technological verticals.
• In continuation of these efforts, the DoT has announced the commencement of applications for the '5G & Beyond Hackathon 2023' from June 28, 2023.
• The primary objective of this hackathon is to identify cutting-edge ideas with a focus on India, which can be transformed into practical and effective 5G and beyond products and solutions.
• A total prize pool of Rs one crore will be distributed among one hundred winners of the hackathon.

Gujarat Government Signs MoU with Micron Technology

• Gujarat government signs MoU with US chip maker firm Micron Technology for semiconductor assembly and testing facility in Ahmedabad.
• The MoU was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnav.
• The semiconductor assembly and testing facility will be located at Sanand in Ahmedabad district.
• The Central Government will provide 50 per cent financial assistance towards the total project cost.
• The State Government of Gujarat will provide an incentive of 20 per cent of the total project cost.
• The Semiconductor Assembly and Test Plant will generate 5,000 direct employment opportunities.

17th Indian Cooperative Congress

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 17th Indian Cooperative Congress (ICC) on the 01 July at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.
• The National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) is organizing the two-day event with the theme "Amrit Kaal: Prosperity through Cooperation for a Vibrant India."
• The Indian Cooperative Congress aims to discuss various trends in the cooperative movement, showcase best practices adopted by successful cooperatives, and deliberate on the challenges faced by the cooperative world.
• An exhibition will also be held during the congress, showcasing various products of Self-Help Groups and NCUI Cooperative Education Field Projects under the banner of NCUI HAAT.
• The event is expected to connect approximately five crore members live during the congress.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Canada Launches 'Digital Nomad Strategy'

• Canada launched the "Digital Nomad Strategy" to address its skilled labour shortage, particularly in the tech industry.
• The strategy aims to attract talented individuals from around the world.
• The shortage of skilled workers, particularly in the tech industry, has prompted Canada to take proactive measures.
• The announcement was made during Collision's technical conference in Toronto.
• The strategy focuses primarily on the technology industry, recognizing its importance in driving innovation and economic growth.
• Foreign workers are allowed to stay in Canada for up to six months under the Digital Nomad Strategy.
• If digital nomads receive job offers during their stay, they have the option of extending their time in the country.
• The strategy aims to address the shortage of skilled professionals in Canada's tech sector.

BANKING

Canara Bank to Launch UPI Payments Via Credit Card

• Canara Bank has become the first Public Sector Bank (PSB) in India to introduce the facility of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments to merchants through RuPay Credit Card in association with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

• This facility is made available in the popular ‘Canara ai1’ Banking Super App of the Bank.

• Customers of the Canara Bank will now be able to make UPI payments to merchants from their RuPay Credit Cards also in addition to their bank accounts.

• Customers can link their Canara Bank RuPay Credit Cards to their UPI IDs.

• The transaction limits applicable for UPI transactions shall continue for UPI payments using RuPay Credit Card.
• This facility will further enhance digital payments and extend the UPI ecosystem.

SPORTS

Ladies European Tour Title

• 2-year-old left-handed golfer Diksha Dagar from Jhajjar, Haryana claimed her second Ladies European Tour (LET) title at the Czech Ladies Open at the Royal Beroun Golf Club.
• She became the second Indian woman to win a Ladies European Tour event
• Diksha had earlier won her maiden LET title at the Investec South African Women's Open in 2019 and was also part of the winning team at the Aramco Team Series in London in 2021.
• The Czech Ladies Open is a professional golf tournament on the Ladies European Tour, first played in 2019.

AWARDS & PRIZES

Sahitya Akademi Children's Literature Award 2023

• Priya A.S. Received the Sahitya Akademi Children's Literature Award 2023 in the Malayalam language for his novel "Perumazhayathe Kunjithalukal" (The Children Who Were Never Withered).
• This prestigious award recognizes the talent and creativity of Priya A. S. in the field of children's literature.
• In 2020, Priya A. S. also won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Children's Literature for the same novel, "Perumazhayathe Kunjithalukal".
• The Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2023 reaffirms Priya A. S.'s ability to connect with young readers and inspire a love of reading and storytelling.
• The novel takes inspiration from the devastating floods in Kerala in 2018.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Deputy Head of UNDP

• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has announced the appointment of Xu Haoliang from China as the new Undersecretary-General and Associate Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP).
• Xu Haoliang will succeed Usha Rao-Monari from India in this role.
• Xu has been serving as the UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support at the UNDP since 2019.
• Prior to that, from 2013 to 2019, he held the position of UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific.
• He has worked in various capacities within the United Nations, undertaking assignments both in the field and at headquarters in regions such as Asia-Pacific, Europe, and Central Asia.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Indian Author Rupa Pai Authored A New Book

• A new book titled "The Yoga Sutras for Children" by Indian author Roopa Pai was published by Hachette India.
• Roopa Pai's book,"The Gita for Children" was an award-winning bestseller.
• "Yoga Sutras for Children" focuses on uncovering the secrets of Patanjali's 2,000-year-old treatise on yoga.
• It aims to bring out the best in children by connecting yoga to their everyday experiences.
• This book explores Maharishi Patanjali's techniques for nurturing energy and attitude.
• The book includes black-and-white artwork by painter Sayan Mukherjee.

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Statistics Day

• National Statistics Day is observed annually on 29 June.
• It is to honour the contribution of Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in statistics and economic planning.
• Professor Mahalanobis, known as the 'Father of Indian Statistics', developed the Mahalanobis distance, a statistical measure to assess the difference between a point and a distribution.
• The program of National Statistics Day 2023 will be organised at SCOPE Convention Centre, SCOPE Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi.
• The theme is "Aligning the State Indicator Framework with the National Indicator Framework for Monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals".
• The theme highlights the importance of synchronising the indicator framework used by states with the national framework to monitor and evaluate progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

MISCELLANEOUS

Hemis Monastery Festival

• In Ladakh, two -day long annual Hemis Monastery Festival, known as Hemis Tseschu is being celebrated with great religious fervor and gaiety.
• It is a significant annual event celebrated in Ladakh, India.
• The festival spans over two days and is observed with immense religious fervor and joyous celebrations.
• The festival commemorates the birth anniversary of Guru Padma Sambhava, a revered figure in Tibetan Buddhism.
• Grand prayers, sacred mask dances and thanks for mural paintings are performed on the occasion.