Dear Readers, Here we have given the list of Important Weekly Current Affairs of 2nd week June 2020. Candidates those who are preparing for Upcoming SBI Clerk 2020 and other competitive exams can make use of it.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS
UN Russian Language Day
- UN Russian Language Day is observed annually on June 6. The event was established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 2010.
World Pest Day
- Every June 6 is World Pest Day or sometimes called World Pest Awareness Day.
- The day was created to raise awareness of how pest management helps preserve the quality of life for you and your loved ones.
World Food Safety Day
- The World Food Safety Day is celebrated every year on June 7 to draw global attention to the health consequences of contaminated food and water. Theme 2020 “Food safety, everyone’s business”
World Oceans Day
- June 8th is celebrated as World Oceans Day to remind everyone about the importance of oceans’ role in our everyday life. This year’s theme for World Ocean Day is ‘Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean’.
World Brain Tumour Day
- World Brain Tumor Day 2020 is observed on June 8 Since 2000, which also coincides with World Ocean Day.
World Accreditation Day
- World Accreditation Day (WAD) celebrated every year on June 9th to highlight the role of accreditation in trade and economy.
- The theme for WAD this year, decided by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) was, Accreditation: Improving Food Safety.
World Day Against Child Labour
- Every year on June 12, the World Day Against Child Labour is observed on June 12 in almost 100 countries all around the globe. This year theme will focus on the impact of crisis on child labour. COVID-19: Protect children from child labour, now more than ever.
International Albinism Awareness Day 2020
- June 13 marks International Albinism Awareness Day around the globe. This day is observed to educate everyone about the rights of people with albinism and celebrate them. The theme of the 5th anniversary of International Albinism Awareness Day is “Made To Shine.”
CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL
Govt sets up taskforce to examine maternal mortality rate, age of motherhood
- A taskforce has been set up by the government to examine matters pertaining to the age of motherhood, imperatives of lowering maternal mortality rate and improvement of nutritional levels, by the WCD Ministry.
- The 10-member taskforce will be headed under the chairmanship of Jaya Jaitly.
HRD Minister launches information booklet ‘Safe online learning in the times of COVID-19’
- Human Resource Development Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank launched the information booklet titled ‘Safe online learning in the times of COVID-19’ to raise awareness in students and teachers.
- HRD Ministry and NCERT are committed to ensure safe and secure online environment for children and teachers.
Nitin Gadkari launches national awareness campaign on Prevention of Human, Animal Mortality on Highways
- Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari launched national awareness campaign on Prevention of Human and Animal Mortality on Highways
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launches COVID BEEP, India’s first physiological parameters monitoring system for COVID-19 patients
- Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region, Jitendra Singh stated ‘awareness’ and not ‘anxiety’ is the key to fighting COVID-19. Launching COVID BEEP, COVID BEEP (Continuous Oxygenation & Vital Information Detection Biomed ECIL ESIC Pod) India’s first indigenous, cost effective, wireless physiological parameters monitoring system for COVID-19 patients.
Highest ever allocation of Rs. 1,01,500 crore made under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS during financial year 2020-2021
- A provision of 1,01,500 crore has been made under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in the current financial year 2020-2021. It is the highest ever provision of funds under the programme.
India to Launch First-Ever Coal Trading Exchange
- India is reportedly planning to open its first coal trading exchange on the basis of commodity or energy exchanges. The exchange will deal with proposed gas exchanges, power bourses, or commodity exchanges.
- This will probably lead to the end of Coal India’s new Fuel Supply Agreements (FSA) regime. However, Coal India Ltd is anticipated to be a dominant player in the coal mining sector as it has set a production target of one billion tons by the year
MoS Home G Kishan Reddy, 9 others named on new panel for freedom fighters
- The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has reconstituted a committee to look into the welfare of freedom fighters, with the minister of state for home affairs G Kishan Reddy as the chairman and nine “eminent freedom fighters” from across the country as its members.
BS-VI compliant vehicles to display green sticker
- The Government has mandated a one cm green sticker, providing registration details, in all BS-VI compliant motor vehicles. The order will come into force from October 1, 2020.
- Accordingly, a feature in form of a unique strip of green colour of 1 cm wide on top of the existing third registration sticker for the purpose of BS-VI vehicles of any fuel type i.e — for petrol or CNG, which have a light blue colour sticker and a diesel vehicle which is of orange colour sticker — will have a green strip of 1 CM on top has been mandated.
Centre allots Rs 4,000 cr to states under ”Per Drop More Crop”
- The Central government has allocated Rs 4,000 crore as annual allotment to states for the current financial year under ”Per Drop More Crop” component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY-PDMC)
Railways creates new world record by successfully running first Double-Stack Container Train in OHE electrified territory
- Indian Railways has created a new world benchmark by successfully running first Double-Stack Container Train in high-rise in Over Head Equipment electrified territory on Western Railway.
Govt constitutes Empowered Group of Secretaries to facilitate investment in country
- The Union Government has constituted an Empowered Group of Secretaries headed by Cabinet Secretary to facilitate investment in the country. The empowered group will assist investment in key sectors of the economy by identifying potential investors. It will also recommend sector-specific and geography specific incentive packages focusing on both domestic and foreign investors.
Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar launches Sahakar Mitra
- Sahakar Mitra: Scheme on Internship Programme, an initiative by National Cooperative Development Corporation launched by Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar.
NHAI becomes first construction sector organisation to go ‘Fully Digital’
- National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) under Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has gone ‘Fully Digital’, with the launch of unique cloud based and Artificial Intelligence powered Big Data Analytics platform – Data Lake and Project Management Software.
Shipping Ministry approves Revised cost estimates to augment Ship Repair facilities in Andaman & Nicobar Islands
- Ministry of Shipping has approved the Revised Cost estimate of an amount of 123.95 crore for augmenting Ship Repair facilities in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Petroleum Ministry sets up panel to inquire into Assam oil well disaster incident
- The panel, which also includes former ONGC chairman B C Bora and former ONGC director T K Sengupta, will submit its report within one month
- The Petroleum Ministry has constituted a three-member high-level committee to inquire into the blowout at an Oil India Ltd well in Assam and the subsequent fire that killed two firefighters and injured at least one. The panel will be headed by SCL Das
India-ASEAN Youth Dialogue 2020 Held Online Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
- During the third India-ASEAN youth dialogue that was held from June 8 to 10, India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) pledged to enhance cooperation in ways to effectively and constructively channelising youthful energy
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MoWCD
- Minister of Women and Child Development and Minister of Textiles- Smriti Irani
- Constituency- Amethi, UP.
NITI Aayog:
- Formulation– 2015
- Chairperson– Narendra Modi
- Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Amitabh Kant
NCERT
- Headquarters– New Delhi
- Director– Hrushikesh Senapaty
UNESCO
- Headquarters- Paris, France
- Head- Audrey Azoulay
MoRTH
- Minister for Road Transport & Highways of India and Shipping Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises- Nitin Jairam Gadkari
- Constituency- Nagpur, Mumbai.
MoDNE:
- Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region and Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Office; Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space- Dr. Jitendra Singh
- Constituency: Udhampur, J&K
Ministry of Home affairs
- Minister of Home Affairs: Amit Shah
- Constituency: Gandhinagar, Gujarat
- Minister of State: G. Kishan Reddy
- Constituency: Telangana.
Indian Railways:
- Headquarters:New Delhi, India
- Piyush Goyal (Minister of Railways)
- Suresh Angadi (Minister of State for Railways)
- Vinod Kumar Yadav (Chairman, Railway Board)
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
- Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Minister of Rural Development- Narendra Singh Tomar
- Constituency- Morena, Madhya Pradesh
NHAI
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Chairman: Sukhbir Singh Sandhu
Ministry of Shipping
- Union Minister of State for Shipping and Union Minister of State for Chemical and Fertilizers.- Mansukh L. Mandaviya
- Constituency-Gujarat
Ministry Of Petroleum:
- Minister of Petroleum and Natural gas- Dharmendra Pradhan
- Constituency :Rajya Sabha ,Madhya Pradesh
ASEAN:
- Headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia
- Chairman– Nguyen Xuan Phuc
CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL
India to rebuild 56 schools destroyed in Nepal’s 2015 earthquake
- The Indian Embassy in Nepal stated it will rebuild 56 higher secondary schools — replete with furniture and modern sustainable technology — which were destroyed in the powerful earthquake that hit the country in 2015.
- These schools will be rebuilt as part of the Indian government”s post-earthquake reconstruction works in Nepal with a grant of around Rs 184 crore (USD 24.4 million), the Indian embassy stated.
Bangladesh launches plasma network for COVID 19 treatment
- The Government of Bangladesh has launched an online network to facilitate plasma exchange between recovered patients of COVID-19 and those undergoing treatment for Corona infection in the country,Named ‘Shohojodha’
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Nepal:
- Capital: Kathmandu
- Prime minister: KP Sharma Oli
- Currency: Nepalese rupee
Bangladesh:
- Capital: Dhaka
- Currency: Bangladeshi taka
- Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina
CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING AND FINANCE
PhonePe launches domestic trip insurance with ICICI Lombard
- PhonePe, a digital payments platform, announced the launch of a comprehensive, industry–first domestic multi–trip insurance cover in a strategic partnership with ICICI Lombard, the non-life insurance company.
Irdai withdraws long-term third-party motor insurance for 3, 5 years from Aug 1
- The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (Irdai) withdrew the long-term motor third-party insurance package for three years and five years for four-wheelers and two-wheelers, with effect from August 1, 2020
CBIC launches Turant Customs for faceless clearance of imported goods
- The Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) launched its flagship programme, Turant Customs, at Bengaluru and at Chennai, paving the way for technology-supported faster Customs clearance of imported goods.
RBI moots comprehensive norms for sale of loans
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed a comprehensive set of norms for sale of loans by banks which could be either standard or sub-standard. The move is aimed at building a robust secondary market for bank loans that could ensure proper price discovery and can be used as an indicator for impending stress, the central bank stated.
To Boost Infrastructure spending, Centre infuses Rs 5,298 cr in IIFCL
- The government infused equity share capital of Rs 5,297.60 crore in the India Infrastructure Finance Company (IIFCL).
RBI proposes upper age limit of 70 years for CEOs, whole-time directors of banks
- The RBI has proposed an upper age limit of 70 years for CEOs and whole-time directors of banks and a maximum term of 10 years for those belonging to the promoter group, as part of the exercise to improve governance in the banking sector.
SBI relaunches Aadhaar-based online savings account opening facility
- The State Bank of India (SBI) relaunched its Aadhaar-based instant digital savings account facility for customers who want to open an online account using the Yono platform.
RBI constitutes Internal Working Group to review structure of pvt sector banks
- The Reserve Bank of India has constituted a five-member Internal Working Group to review the guidelines related to ownership, governance and corporate structure of private sector banks. RBI informed that RBI Central Board Director P K Mohanty will head the committee, which will submit its report by 30th September, 2020.
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ICICI Lombard
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- CEO: Bhargav Dasgupta
PhonePe
- Headquarters: Bangalore
- CEO: Sameer Nigam
IRDAI
- Headquarters: Hyderabad
- Chairperson: Subhash Chandra Khuntia
CBIC
- Chairperson: M. Ajit Kumar
- Headquarters: New Delhi
RBI:
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Founded: 1 April 1935
- Governor: Shaktikanta Das
SBI:
- Chairperson: Rajnish Kumar
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Tagline :Pure banking, nothing else” “With you- all the way” “A bank of the common man” “The banker to every indian”
CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATES
Plantation drive named “Thank Mom” started in Madhya Pradesh
- In Madhya Pradesh, a plantation drive named “Thank Mom” has been started on the premises of Social Justice and Disabled Welfare Directorate on World Environment Day.
Rajasthan CM Gehlot launches Online Labour Employment Exchange
- Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot recently launched the Raj Kaushal Portal and Online Shramik Employment Exchange through video conferencing.
Karnataka govt launches app for real time info on rains, flooding in Bengaluru
- The Karnataka government launched “Meghasandesha” App that would provide real-time information as well as forecast on rains, flooding and thunderstorm alerts in Bengaluru.
Bande Utkala Janani” gets state anthem status in Odisha
- The Odisha Cabinet approved a proposal to give state anthem status to ”Bande Utkala Janani”.
- This patriotic poem was written by Kantakabi Laxmikanta Mohapatra in 1912. It was the opening song of Utkal Sammilani during the fight for the formation of a separate province.
Tamil Nadu government cancels Class 10 and 11 exams
- Tamil Nadu cancelled Class 10 board exams scheduled to begin on June 15. Chief Minister E Palanisami declared that all students will be promoted due to the coronavirus pandemic.
World Bank lends Rs. 1,950 crore loans to W Bengal Govt for tackling COVID situation
- The World Bank has given 1,950 crore loans to the West Bengal Government for tackling COVID situation and developmental work in the State.
Gairsain declared summer capital of Uttarakhand
- Gairsain in Chamoli district was declared as the summer capital of
- The governor has granted her assent to declaring Gairsain the summer capital of Uttarakhand.
Himachal CM launches green belt development scheme for rural senior citizens
- Chief minister Jai Ram Thakur launched ‘Panchvati Yojna’ under which parks and gardens would be developed for senior citizens of rural areas in the state.
- The scheme is being implemented by the rural development department.
Uttar Pradesh govt. clears ordinance to prevent cow slaughter
- To protect cows and prevent their slaughter, the Uttar Pradesh government approved a draft ordinance, providing a maximum rigorous imprisonment of 10 years and a fine up to 5 lakh.
Andhra CM launches ‘Jagananna Chedodu’ scheme for tailors, barbers and washermen
- A scheme to provide financial assistance to barbers, dhobis (washermen) and tailors in the state was launched by Andhra Pradesh chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy.
- The scheme, christened as ‘Jagananna Chedodu (Handholding by Jagan)’, was unveiled by the CM transferring the cash into the accounts of beneficiaries.
Asiatic lion population in Gujarat rises to 674 in five years, up by almost 29%
- The population of Asiatic Lions in Gujarat has witnessed a massive jump in the last five years, from 523 in 2015 to 674 in 2020. The growth rate is a jump of almost 29%.
UP govt to launch state level sample collection campaign
- The Uttar Pradesh government is launching a state level sample collection campaign to find out the level of corona infection among the different sections of society. The campaign will run for one week in which various clusters of the society will be tested which includes delivery boys, newspaper vendors and other daily workers.
Maharashtra renames its environment ministry as ‘Environment and Climate Change Ministry’
- Days after being hit by cyclone Nisarga, Maharashtra has renamed its Environment Ministry as Environment and Climate Change Ministry. The department is handled by Shiv Sena MLA Aaditya Thackeray.
‘STREE’ Launched In Hyderabad To Support And Empower Women Against Domestic Violence
- Hyderabad City Security Council (HCSC) in association with Hyderabad City Police has launched the ‘STREE’The name reflects the vision – “She Triumphs through Respect, Equality, and Empowerment” (STREE).
Uttar Pradesh govt decides to adopt scheme of Flatted Factory Model
- In Uttar Pradesh, the State Government has decided to adopt the scheme of Flatted Factory Model which will ensure easy availability of land for industries, and in turn, generate employment also. In a high level meeting, it was decided by Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA) that flatted factories that means multi-storeyed buildings in which multiple non-polluting units can operate will be allowed.
Odisha Becomes First State to Get ISO Certification for Tribal Hostels
- Odisha has become the first state in the country to receive ISO certification for hostels meant for tribal students.
- The ST&SC Welfare Department had earlier launched the ‘Mission Suvidya’ project to provide all the tribal hostels of the state uniform standards of infrastructure, amenities and human resources.
UP CM Yogi inaugurates ‘Bal Shramik Vidya Yojana’ in Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched Bal Shramik Vidya Yojana, under which the children of the workers would be given financial assistance so that they can start their education as well as maintain a healthy life.
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Madhya Pradesh
- Capital: Bhopal
- Chief minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
- Governor: Lalji Tandon
Rajasthan
- Capital: Jaipur
- Chief minister: Ashok Gehlot
- Governor: Kalraj Mishra
Karnataka
- Capital: Bengaluru
- Chief minister: B. S. Yediyurappa
- Governor: Vajubhai Vala
Odisha
- Capital: Bhubaneswar
- Chief minister: Naveen Patnaik
- Governor: Ganeshi Lal
Tamil Nadu
- Capital: Chennai
- Chief minister: Edappadi K. Palaniswami
- Governor: Banwarilal Purohit
West Bengal:
- Capital– Kolkata
- Governor– Jagdeep Dhankhar
- Chief Minister– Mamata Banerjee
Uttarakhand
- Capital: Gairsain (Summer) Dehradun (Winter)
- Governor: Baby Rani Maurya
- Chief Minister: Trivendra Singh Rawat
Himachal Pradesh:
- Governor: Bandaru Dattatreya
- Capitals: Shimla (Summer), Dharamshala (Winter)
- Chief minister: Jai Ram Thakur
UP
- Capital: Lucknow
- Governor: Anandiben Patel
- Chief minister: Yogi Adityanath
Andhra Pradesh:
- Capital : Amaravati
- Governor: Biswabhusan Harichandan
- Chief Minister: Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy
Gujarat
- Capital: Gandhinagar
- Chief minister: Vijay Rupani
- Governor: Acharya Devvrat
Maharashtra:
- Capital: Mumbai
- Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari
- Chief Minister: Uddhav Thackeray
Telangana
- Capital: Hyderabad
- Chief Minister(CM): K Chandrashekar Rao
- Governor: Tamilisai Soundararajan
CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
RIL raises Rs 4,546.80 Cr from Silver Lake
- Reliance Industries raised Rs 4,546.80 crore from sale of further 93 percent stake to Silver Lake, taking the cumulative fundraising to Rs 92,202 crore that will help pare debt at the oil-to-telecom conglomerate.
Sebi approves regulatory sandbox framework for stock market ecosystem
- The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) approved the regulatory sandbox framework for the stock market ecosystem.
- The term is used for live testing new financial technology (fintech) solutions on customers, without having to be fully licensed, but under strict regulatory supervision.
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority to invest Rs 5,684 crore in Jio Platforms for 1.16% stake
- Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) will invest Rs 5,683.50 crore for a 16 percent stake in Jio Platforms.
Hero MotoCorp launches a fully-digital online sales platform called eShop
- Hero MotoCorp has launched a fully-digital online sales platform called The world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer has also introduced multiple digital after sales services.
Recykal in pact with UNDP, HCCB for plastic waste management
- Recykal, a digital technology company in the waste management space, has partnered with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB) for Project Prithvi, a joint initiative for developing sustainable plastic waste management practices in the country.
Global economy to shrink 5.2% this year due to coronavirus pandemic
- The global economy, which has plunged into a severe contraction, will shrink by 2 per cent this year due to the massive shock of the coronavirus pandemic and the shutdown measures to contain it, the World Bank stated. The coronavirus recession is the first since 1870 to be triggered solely by a pandemic, World Bank President David Malpass stated in his foreword to the latest edition of the Global Economic Prospect report.
Amazon Business launches ‘MSME Accelerate’
- Amazon Business, a platform that provides purchasing solutions for registered businesses to shop for business supplies on Amazon, has launched ‘MSME Accelerate’. This event will run till June 20.
Adani Green wins world’s largest solar project worth $6 billion
- Adani Green Energy Ltd has bagged a manufacturing-linked solar contract from the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) to develop 8 GW of projects. The transaction is valued at 45,000 crore, or $6 billion, according to a stock exchange filing.
Wipro, IBM collaborate to help clients accelerate their cloud journeys
- Wipro Limited, a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company, announced a collaboration with IBM to assist it’s customers to embark on a seamless and secure hybrid cloud journey.
Indian economy to grow at 9.5 pct in next fiscal, says Fitch Ratings
- After a contraction in the current financial year, India’s economy is forecast to bounce back with a sharp growth rate of 5 percent next fiscal, Fitch Ratings has stated. It has forecast a 5 percent contraction in the GDP in the ongoing financial year.
Customs duty hiked on bamboo imports from 10% to 25%
- Union Government has hiked Customs duty on bamboo imports by agarbatti manufacturers from 10 per cent to 25 per cent with immediate effect. Finance Ministry has stated that the decision has been taken to encourage use of domestic bamboo under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat scheme.
Apple becomes the first US company to hit $1.5 trillion market cap
- Apple has become the first US company to cross $1.5 trillion-mark in market cap as its valuation hit $1.53 trillion at over $352 per share.
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SEBI:
- Founded: 12 April 1992
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- Chairperson: Ajay Tyagi
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
- Headquarters: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Managing Director: Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
- Chairman : Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
Reliance Industries Ltd
- Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Chairman and MD: Mukesh Ambani
UNDP
- Administrator: Achim Steiner
- Headquarters: New York, United States (US)
World Bank:
- Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
- President: David Malpass
Amazon:
- CEO: Jeff Bezos
- Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, United States
Adani Green Energy Ltd:
- Founder: Gautam Adani
- Headquarters: Ahmedabad
Wipro:
- CEO: Abidali Neemuchwala
- Headquarters: Bengaluru
IBM:
- CEO: Arvind Krishna
- Headquarters: Armonk, New York, United States
Fitch Ratings:
- Headquarters: New York, United States
- CEO: Paul Taylor
Apple
- CEO: Tim Cook
- Headquarters: Cupertino, United States
CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOU
Tech Mahindra inks UN Global Compact on aligning recovery efforts with climate science
- Tech Mahindra Ltd. a leading provider of digital transformation, consulting and business reengineering services has signed a joint declaration with UN Global Compact urging governments to align their COVID-19 recovery efforts with the latest climate science.
ISRO signs MoU with ARIES To tackle space debris
- The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) recently signed an MoU with the Nainital-based Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) for cooperation in the field of astrophysics and Space Situational Awareness (SSA). The MoU will be useful “in safeguarding the Indian space assets from critical threats from space debris , ISRO stated.
India and Denmark sign MOU for developing cooperation between two countries in the power sector
- The Memorandum of Understanding on Indo-Denmark Energy Cooperation between the Ministry of Power, Government of the Republic of India and the Ministry for Energy, Utilities and Climate, Government of the Kingdom of Denmark to develop a strong, deep and long-term co-operation between two countries in the power sector on the basis of equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit.
Indian Air Force develops ‘Airborne Rescue Pod for Isolated Transportation’
- The Indian Air Force has designed, developed and inducted an Airborne Rescue Pod for Isolated Transportation (ARPIT) that will be utilised for the evacuation of critical patients with infectious diseases including COVID-19 from high altitude areas, isolated and remote places.
TCS iON partners with NSDC to accelerate skill development
- TCS iON, a strategic unit of Tata Consultancy Services, has partnered with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to provide its training partners access to digital skilling tools using TCS’ iON Digital Glass Room.
Empays Payment Systems, Mastercard partner to enable contact-free ATM cash withdrawals
- Empays Payment Systems India Pvt Ltd, has announced a partnership with Mastercard in a bid to launch ‘Cardless ATM powered by Mastercard’ in India.
NFL inks MoU with ITI Nangal for training of youth in 12 trades for employment
- National Fertilizers Limited, NFL, a Central Public Sector Enterprise Under Department Of Fertilizers, has started tying up with Industrial Training Institutes located near to its plants to train youth in various trades and to enhance the chances of their employability in heavy and process industry.
IFFCO signs MoU with ICAR for joint research, testing, validation of products
- Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Ltd (IFFCO) signed a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for collaborative research, testing and validation of different products through ICAR institutes and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), the cooperative stated.
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Tech Mahindra:
- CEO: C. P. Gurnani
- Headquarters: Pune
ISRO:
- Chairman– Dr. K. Sivan
- Formed– 1969
ARIES:
- The observatory was established on 20th April 1954 and reincarnated as Aryabhatta Research institute of Observational Science(ARIES) 22nd March 2004.
- Located– Nainital
Denmark
- Capital: Copenhagen
- Currency: Danish krone
- Prime Minister- Mette Frederiksen
TCS
- Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Managing Director(MD)– Rajesh Gopinathan
- Chairman- Chandrasekaran
NSDC
- Headquarters– New Delhi, India
- MD & CEO– Manish Kumar
- Chairman– A M Naik
Empays Payment Systems
- Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Ravi Rajagopalan
- Headquarter– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Mastercard
- Headquarter– New York, U.S.
- President and CEO– Ajaypal Singh Banga
National Fertilizers Limited:
- Headquarters: Noida
- Virendra Nath Datt (Chairman and MD)
Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Ltd:
- Headquarters: New Delhi, India
- S Nakai :Chairman
- U.S Awasthi: MD & CEO
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research:
- Director: Trilochan Mohapatra
- Location: New Delhi
CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATION
IIFL Finance ropes in Rohit Sharma as brand ambassador
- Non-Banking finance company, IIFL Finance has signed up cricketer Rohit Sharma as its brand ambassador.
- The company has launched 30-second message titled “Rohit Sharma Ki Seedhi Baat”, under its first-ever campaign #SeedhiBaat with Rohit Sharma, which is a public service message advising people on safety guidelines and rules to follow during lockdown to fight Covid19 outbreak.
L&T board reappoints AM Naik as non-executive chairman for 3 years
- Engineering and construction giant Larsen & Toubro stated its board has given nod for reappointment of A M Naik as non-executive chairman of the company for a period of three years from October 1, 2020.
Iqbal Wani appointed as judge of J-K High Court
- Javed Iqbal Wani has been appointed a judge of the common high court of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh.
Anil Valluri joins Google Cloud India as senior director
- Google Cloud has appointed Anil Valluri as senior director of its India unit.
- Valluri joins Google Cloud from NetApp where he was president of India and SAARC operations.
Nagarjuna Cement ropes in actor Varun Tej as brand ambassador
- Hyderabad-headquartered NCL Industries has signed Varun Tej Konidela, star of Telugu cinema, as the brand ambassador for its cement brand, Nagarjuna Cement.
Gargo International Proudly Presents Sonu Sood as its Brand Ambassador
- Gargo International, a Delhi-based Lubricant Company under the flagship of R.G. Group with the defining objective, quality & commitment has appointed Actor Sonu Sood as its brand Ambassador .
Lakshmi Vilas Bank appoints B K Manjunath as non-exec, independent director
- Lakshmi Vilas Bank (LVB) has appointed B K Manjunath as its non-executive and independent director. Manjunath is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and practising as a chartered accountant.
Alan Gemmell appointed British Deputy High Commissioner for western India
- Alan Gemmell is the new British Deputy High Commissioner for Western India responsible for all aspects of diplomatic engagements in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Goa. Additionally, he is appointed Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for South Asia to bolster UK trade and investment relations with the region.
Shri Shambhu S. Kumaran has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Philippines
- Diplomat Shambhu S Kumaran has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Philippines, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated. Kumaran is presently Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Morocco.
IDBI board approves appointment of Anshuman Sharma as Govt nominee director
- IDBI Bank stated its board has approved the appointment of Anshuman Sharma as government nominee director with effect from June 11.
Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta takes charge as Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command
- Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta, assumed charge as Chief of Staff, Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Visakhapatnam
4 candidates from Karnataka, 1 from Arunachal Pradesh elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha
- All four candidates from Karnataka were elected unanimously to the Rajya Sabha. The newly elected MPs include former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) Chief D. Deve Gowda, veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Bharatiya Janata Party nominees Ashok Gasti and Iranna Kadadi.
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IIFL Finance
- Managing director and Co-promoter- R Venkataraman
Larsen & Toubro:
- Head quarters: Mumbai
- Chairman:Anil Manibhai Naik
- MD & CEO: S. N. Subrahmanyan
Jammu and Kashmir
- Capital: Jammu (Winter), Srinagar (Summer)
- Governor: Satya Pal Malik
Google Cloud
- Managing Director- Karan Bajwa
LVB
- Headquarters: Chennai
- Tagline: The Changing Face Of Prosperity
Philippines:
- Capital: Manila
- Currency: Philippine peso
IDBI bank:
- Headquarters: Mumbai
- CEO: Rakesh Sharma
- Tagline :Banking for All,”Aao sochein Bada”
CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS
Javed Akhtar becomes only Indian to bag prestigious Richard Dawkins Award
- Veteran writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar is honoured to be named this year’s recipient of the Richard Dawkins Award.
- Akhtar became the first Indian to be given the honour for critical thinking, holding religious dogma up to scrutiny, advancing human progress and humanist values.
Indian Entrepreneur Renjith Kumar honoured with “NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal”
- Renjith Kumar, Engineer from Kerala and Indian Entrepreneur based in Virginia is honoured with NASA’s highest form of recognition for a non-governmental individual “NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal”for his service to NASA through executive leadership, engineering contribution, technical excellence and customer satisfaction.
First American Woman to Walk in Space Reaches Deepest Spot in the Ocean
- The first American woman to walk in space has become the first woman to reach the deepest known spot in the ocean.
- Kathy Sullivan, 68, an astronaut and oceanographer, emerged from her 35,810-foot dive to the Challenger Deep, according to EYOS Expeditions, a company coordinating the logistics of the mission.
Australian Honour for Indian musician Shobha Sekhar
- Shobha Sekhar has been chosen for the Medal of the Order for her service to the community and the country. Shobha Sekhar, founder of Kalakruthi, music organisation in Australia.
The Ramon Magsaysay awards, Asia’s version of Nobel Prize awards cancelled
- The Ramon Magsaysay awards, regarded as Asia’s version of the Nobel Prize, have been cancelled this year due to the global pandemic, the only third time the annual awards were disrupted in six decades.
Indian-American soil scientist Rattan Lal gets 2020 World Food Prize
- Eminent Indian-American soil scientist Rattan Lal has been named this year’s recipient of the World Food Prize for developing and mainstreaming a soil-centric approach to increasing food production that conserves natural resources and mitigates climate change.
Kathy Lueders to become first female head of human spaceflight
- Kathy Lueders, the first National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) official, who led the inaugural private crewed flight into space, has ascended to the position of the first female head of human spaceflight. NASA broke the news as it prepares to return people to the moon in 2024, as per the Reuters report.
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NASA
- Administrator: James Frederick
- Headquarters: Washington, DC, United States.
Australia
- Prime Minister: Scott Morrison
- Currency: Australian dollar
- Capital: Canberra
CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING
India loses 750 tigers in last eight years; MP, Maharashtra report maximum casualties
- As many as 750 tigers have died in the country in the last eight years due to poaching and other causes, with Madhya Pradesh reporting the highest casualties at 173.
Gujarat Tops India’s Food Safety Index, Followed By Tamil Nadu & Maharashtra
- Gujarat has topped among larger states in terms of food safety index, while Chandigarh tops among UTs. Goa leads smaller states as far as food safety is concerned, as per the details shared by FSSAI. Gujarat is followed by Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, stated the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which released the results of the second ‘State Food Safety Index’ to celebrate the World Food Safety Day during a webinar.
India ranks 168th on Environmental Performance Index
- India secured 168 rank in the 12th edition of the biennial Environment Performance Index (EPI Index 2020) that measured the environmental performance of 180 countries and was released by the Yale University and Columbia University.
MP becomes country’s top wheat procurer; farmers get Rs 25,000 crore boost
- Madhya Pradesh is set to pump in around Rs 25,000 crore into its rural economy by the time its all-time high wheat procurement draws to a close. This has made the state the country’s largest wheat purchaser in 2020-21.
India ranks 56th among 200 countries on Covid-19 safety assessment
- India has been ranked 56th out of 200 countries in a comprehensive report on safety and risk assessment of nations tackling Covid-19. According toDeep Knowledge Group, Switzerland is the safest country in the world for Covid-19, followed by Germany and Israel. South Sudan is the most dangerous.
Mumbai most expensive Indian city for expats, 19th most expensive in Asia
- India’s financial capital Mumbai has emerged as the most expensive city in the country for expatriates in terms of cost of living.
- According to Mercer’s ‘2020 Cost of Living Survey’, Mumbai is the 60th most expensive city for expatriates globally, while it ranks 19th in Asia.
QS World University Rankings, IIT Bombay is India’s top university
- Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings 2020-21 released. Notably, only three institutes from India managed to find a place in top 200 in QS World Rankings this year.
- The Indian institutes in the list are IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi and IISc Bangalore. It may be recalled that IIT Delhi was ranked 182 in 2019 and it fell down to 193 this year
NIRF Ranking 2020: IIT Madras, IISc Bangalore, IIT Delhi top 3 institutes
- Union Human Resource Development minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has released the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Ranking 2020.
- Every year, MHRD ranks the universities and institutions of India based on the pre-determined parameters. In the year 2019, IIT Madras had topped the list of higher education institutions followed by IISc Bengaluru and IIT Delhi
India retains 108th spot; no change in Fifa team rankings over Covid-19
- Indian football team has retained the 108th spot in the latest FIFA rankings issued as international football has been suspended since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
- Belgium remains at the summit ahead of France and Brazil, who complete the podium, while England and Uruguay continue to occupy fourth and fifth position respectively
3 DST institutes among top 30 Indian Institutions in Nature Index
- These are the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), Kolkata at 7th position, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangalore at 14th position and N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata at 30th position.
- Globally the top-rated Indian institutions in this list are Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), a group of 39 institutions at the 160th position and Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore at the 184th position.
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NTCA
- Chairperson– Prakash Javadekar
- Headquarter– New Delhi
MoEFCC
- Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises- Prakash Keshav Javadekar
- Constituency- Madhya Pradesh
FSSAI:
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Chairperson:Rita Teaotia
FIFA:
- President: Gianni Infantino
- Headquarters: Zürich, Switzerland
CURRENT AFFAIRS: SUMMITS AND CONFERENCE
FM Nirmala Sitharaman to chair 40th GST council meeting through video conferencing
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will chair the 40th GST council meeting through video conferencing. This meeting of the GST council will be for the first time after the nationwide lockdown and the council is expected to discuss the revenue shortfall and the compensation to states.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
IIT-Ropar’s machine to sterilise products using UV rays
- IIT- Ropar has designed a machine in which products can be sterilised using UV rays. The institute has also started consulting a Chandigarh-based manufacturing company Esspee Industries for its production.
IIT, Hyderabad researchers develops low cost and Artificial Intelligence-based test kit for COVID-19
- Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology-Hyderabad have developed a low cost and Artificial Intelligence-based test kit for COVID-19. These kits can give results in about 20 minutes.
Scientists develop indigenous nasopharyngeal swabs
- CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), Pune, has developed an indigenous NP swab for collecting samples from the throat cavity of COVID-19 patients.
ARCI develops Rare earth based magnetocaloric material for cancer treatment
- Scientists at the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), an autonomous R&D Centre of Department of Science and Technology (DST) has developed a rare-earth-based magnetocaloric material that can be effectively used for cancer treatment
23-yer-old Maharashtra boy makes world’s first ‘Internet-controlled’ robot to help Covid-19 patients
- A 23-year-old engineer from Maharashtra’s Thane has developed a first-of-its kind ‘Internet-controlled’ robot specifically to address the needs of hospitals treating COVID-19 patients. The gizmo, aptly called ‘Coro-bot’ independently dispenses food, water, beverages, medicines – and even some good advice – to Coronavirus patients without the needs for nurses, ward staff or other care-givers.
DIAT develops disinfectant spray to combat Covid-19
- The Defence Institute of Advanced Technology in Pune has developed a nano-technology based disinfectant spray to combat Covid-19. The formulation, which has been named Ananya, is effective in disinfecting all types of surfaces.
IIT-Guwahati students develop mobile app for contactless air travel
- A group of IIT-Guwahati students has developed a mobile application for seamless and contactless air travel not only during the current pandemic but also during non-crisis situations. The aim of the mobile app Flyzy, developed as per International Air Transport Association (IATA)
Health-tech startup, Arvi launches contactless thermal scanning kiosks
- Arvi, a health-tech startup has launched contact less thermal scanning kiosks amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Arvi kiosks use AI technology with deep learning to combine facial recognition and thermal screening to detect persons with high temperatures as well as those violating requirements to wear masks.
Kerala Startup launches mask disposal smart bin & UV light-based disinfection device
- VST Mobility Solutions, a Startup headquartered at Cochin, has launched an automated mask disposal machine as part of efforts to develop products helping to combat the Covid-19. The disposal device, named BIN-19, developed Chitra UV based face mask disposal bin technology from the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST)
DRDO develops ‘GermiKlean’ to sanitise uniforms of security forces
- Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a sanitizing chamber named ‘GermiKlean’ to sanitise uniforms of security forces. The sanitizing chamber has been set up at Parliament Street Police Station.
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ARCI
International Air Transport Association:
- Headquarters: Montreal, Canada
- Leader: Alexandre de Juniac
DRDO:
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Dr G. Satheesh Reddy, Chairman
CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS
2020 World Archery Field C’ships postponed to 2022 due to COVID-19
- The 2020 World Archery Field Championships in Yankton, USA, have been postponed until 2022 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yankton is also scheduled to host next year’s World Archery Championships.
Michael Clarke receives Order of Australia honour
- Michael Clarke has been honoured in the Queen’s Birthday list for Australia with the former cricket captain recognised for both his sporting career and community work.
- The 39-year-old, who retired from cricket in 2015, was appointed an Officer in the general division of the Order of Australia, the citation on the Governor General’s website stated.
Salwa Eid Naser, 400m world champion, faces two-year ban for missed drug tests
- Salwa Eid Naser, who ran the third-fastest 400m in history when winning gold at last year’s world championships in Doha, is facing a two-year ban after being provisionally suspended for missing three drug tests in a 12-month period.
Indian sprinter Gomathi Marimuthu banned for 4 years
- Indian athlete Gomathi Marimuthu is handed a 4-year ban by the Athletes Integrity Unit of the World Athletics. Gomathi won the gold medal in the women’s 800 m event at the 2019 Asian Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar with her personal best timing of 2 minutes and 2.70 seconds.
Russian high jumper Alexander Shustov given four-year ban over doping offence
- Alexander Shustov, the European men’s high jump champion in 2010, has been handed a four-year ban for a breach of anti-doping rules.
ICC approves replacements in test cricket, bans use of saliva to shine ball
- International Cricket Council, ICC has approved substitution in case a player shows symptoms of COVID-19 during a Test match besides ratifying the interim ban on using saliva to shine the ball. ICC has also re-introduced non-neutral umpires for bilateral series as part of its interim playing regulations to tackle the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- In the five new regulations, recommended by the Anil Kumble-chaired Cricket Committee, and ratified by the Chief Executives Committee (CEC), the teams will also be allowed an additional DRS call as home umpires will now be officiating in bilateral Test series.
India CWG champion lifter Sanjita Chanu cleared of doping charges
- International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has cleared India’s K Sanjita Chanu of anti-doping violation over charges brought up in November 2017 citing “non conformities” in the handling of her sample.
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AIU
- Head: Brett Clothier
- Headquarters: Monaco
ICC:
- Chairperson: Shashank Manohar
- Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- CEO: Manu Sawhney
IWF
- Headquarters: Budapest, Hungary
- President: Ursula Papandrea
CURRENT AFFAIRS: DEFENCE
GRSE delivers fifth ship in Fast Patrol Vessels” series to Indian Coast Guard
- Premier warship builder Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) delivered ICGS Kanaklata Barua, the fifth and final ship in the series of Fast Patrol Vessels (FPV) for the Indian Coast Guard. This is the 105th vessel delivered by the Defence PSU shipyard based on the banks of river Hooghly.
Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle Complex inaugurated at Visakhapatnam
- The Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) Complex was inaugurated at Visakhapatnam by Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain, PVSM, AVSM, VSM Flag Officer Commanding in Chief ENC. The DSRV Complex is designed to accommodate the newly inducted Submarine Rescue System with state of the art facilities to store the DSRV assets in a Rescue-Ready state.
IAF inducts indigenously developed pod ARPIT to evacuate critical patients from remote areas
- The Indian Air Force inducted an indigenously designed and manufactured pod called ARPIT (Airborne Rescue Pod for Isolated Transportation), which will be used for evacuation of critical patients suffering from infectious diseases like COVID-19 from isolated and remote areas.
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SAIL
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- CEO: Anil Kumar Chaudhary
GRSE
- Headquarters– Kolkata, India.
- Chairman and Managing Director (CMD)– Rear Admiral Vipin Kumar Saxena, IN(retd).
Indian Air Force:
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Chief of the Air Staff (CAS): Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria
CURRENT AFFAIRS: OBITUARY
Film Producer Anil Suri passes away after Covid-19 infection At 77
- Bollywood producer Anil Suri, passed away because of coronavirus. He was 77.
- He had backed films like Raaj Kumar-Rekha starrerKarmayogi and Raaj Tilak,
Former Delhi Police chief Ved Marwah passes away
- Former Delhi Police Commissioner Ved Prakash Marwah, who also served as Governor of three States, passed away in Goa. Marwah had penned a book, Uncivil Wars: Pathology of Terrorism in India
Former Santosh Trophy player Hamza Koya passes away in Kerala after Covid-19 infection
- Former Santosh Trophy player Hamza Koya passed away after undergoing plasma therapy for Covid-19 infection in Kerala. He was 61.
Former TN footballer Balasamy passes away
- Balasamy former Vice President of Chennai Football Association and assistant secretary of Madras United Club passed away.
Kannada Actor Chiranjeevi Sarja passes away
- Kannada star Chiranjeevi Sarja passed away. He died due to cardiac arrest.
World Champion Gymnast Kurt Thomas Passes Away
- Kurt Thomas, the winner of the first World Championship gold medal in the history of S. gymnastics, passed away.
Former Union Minister Arjun Charan Sethi passes away
- Former Union minister Arjun Charan Sethi passed away. He was 79.
- An eight-time MP from Bhadrak Lok Sabha constituency, Sethi was the Union Water Resources Minister within the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA authorities from 2000 to 2004.
Tamil Nadu: DMK MLA J. Anbazhagan died of COVID-19 disease
- In Tamil Nadu, the DMK MLA Anbazhagan died of COVID-19 disease. He was 62. He represented the Chepauk Assembly Constituency in Chennai. He was admitted into a private hospital in the city on 2nd of June as he was confirmed with the viral infection.
President of Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza, 55, passes away
- President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi died of heart failure just weeks after a crucial election to choose a successor to replace him after 15 years of autocratic rule over the Central African nation. He was 55.
Television actor Jagesh Mukati passes away
- Television actor Jagesh Mukati, who worked in shows like Amita Ka Amit and Shree Ganesh, passed away. He was 47.
SAIL director Atul Srivastava passes away
- Atul Srivastava, Director (Personnel), Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) passed away. Srivastava assumed charge as Director (Personnel) of SAIL on March 12, 2018.
Writer Jas Waters passes away
- Jas Waters, who wrote for shows like This is Us and Kidding, has passed away. She was 39.
Former Planning Commission Member Vaidyanathan passes away
- Former Member of the Planning Commission Dr A Vaidyanathan passed away. He was 88.
- Vaidyanathan was a professor at the Madras Institute of Development Studies and Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram.
Veteran Urdu poet Gulzar Dehlvi passes away at 93
- Veteran Urdu poet Anand Mohan Zutshi ‘Gulzar’ Dehlvi passed away . He was 93.
- He was the freedom fighter and a premier ‘inquilabi’ poet.
Vasant Raiji, India’s oldest first-class cricketer, passes away at 100
- India’s oldest first-class cricketer Vasant Raiji passed away at his residence in Mumbai. Raiji was 100 years old and is survived by his wife and two daughters.