Important Weekly Current Affairs PDF Download (June 22nd to 30th June 2024)

Dear Readers, Here we have given the list of Important Weekly Current Affairs of June 22nd to 30th June 2024. Candidates those who are preparing for Upcoming SBIClerk 2024 and other competitive exams can make use of it.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

• International Widows Day is observed all over the universe each year on the 23rd of June to draw attention to widows’ voices and experiences and galvanize the exceptional support they need.
• The United Nations Public Service Day is celebrated on June 23 of every year to celebrate the value and virtue of public service to the community; highlight the contribution of public service in the development process; recognize the work of public servants, and encourage young people to pursue careers in the public sector.
• Olympic Day Run or International Olympic Day is celebrated on June 23 all around the world.
• Every year on June 26th, the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2024 is commemorated to raise awareness about the impact and negative consequences that drugs have on society.
• World Asteroid Day, observed annually on June 30, is a global event aimed at raising awareness about asteroids and the potential hazards they pose to our planet.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING & FINANCE

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has imposed additional measures and surveillance to curb manipulation in the process involved in computing the opening price for a stock on the day of its listing following an initial public offering (IPO).
• Tata Communications has secured a $250 million sustainability-linked loan (SLL) from ANZ, DBS Bank, and Export Development Canada (EDC).
• The Indian government has requested the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to exempt sovereign funds from the recent tightened rules on investments in alternate investment funds (AIFs).
• Funds parked by Indian individuals and firms in Swiss banks, including through local branches and other financial institutions, fell sharply by 70% in 2023 to a 4-year low of 1.04 billion Swiss Francs (₹9,771 crore), annual data from Switzerland’s central bank showed .
• Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) chairman Deepak Mohanty announced that the regulator would introduce new life cycle fund options with up to 50% equity by September for NPS (non-government) subscribers.
• According to a report released by the State Bank of India (SBI),India has formalised Rs 26 trillion of its economy between FY16 and FY23, as the share of the informal economy fell to 23.7% from 25.9% during the 7-year period.
• The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has instructed life insurance companies not to market unit-linked Insurance plans (ULIPs) as investment products.
• The country’s biggest lender State Bank of India (SBI) paid a dividend of Rs 6,959 crore for the financial year 2023-24 to the government.
• SBI Mutual Fund announced the launch of the SBI Silver Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) and the fund of fund route to it- SBI Silver ETF Fund of Fund.
• India and South East Asian nation Cambodia are negotiating collaboration in Unified Payment Interface-based (UPI) digital payment to promote trade and tourism.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) received bids worth Rs 1.6 trillion from banks against the notified amount of Rs 1 trillion at the variable rate repo (VRR) auction, showing the high demand for cash from lenders due to tight liquidity.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has revised its priority sector guidelines to encourage banks to provide small loans in economically disadvantaged districts with low average loan sizes.
• China is pushing for Visa and Mastercard to lower their bank card transaction fees in the country to encourage spending by foreign visitors.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced an update to its ‘Database on Indian Economy’ (DBIE) portal.
• The government is considering a proposal to set up a separate bank for direct lending to the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to deepen credit flows to the under-penetrated sector and thereby boost economic activity and job creation.
• The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council has clarified that reinsurance and coinsurance are not considered as the supply of a service and hence are not liable for GST.
• As a part of the network expansion plan, State Bank of India (SBI) is planning to open 400 branches across the country in the current financial year.
• The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has proposed amendments to the Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Process regulations, to enhance efficiency and reduce costs, and sought stakeholder inputs by July 10, 2024.
• Five state-owned banks(UCO Bank, Central Bank of India, Punjab & Sind Bank, Bank of Maharashtra, and Indian Overseas Bank) are planning qualified institutional placements or QIPs in the second half of FY25 to reduce the government’s stake to comply with the Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (SEBI) mandate of a maximum 75% government holding.
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) will consider a proposal to tighten rules on the inclusion of stocks in the derivatives segment at its board meeting on June 27, 2024.
• Indian health insurer Niva Bupa Health Insurance Company Limited (Niva Bupa) plans to raise $360 million through an Initial Public Offering (IPO).
• Kotak Mahindra Bank plans to open approximately 175 to 200 new branches in the financial year 2024-25.
• One97 Communications (parent company of Paytm) has partnered with global travel aggregators including Skyscanner, Google Flights, and Wego to expand its presence in the travel segment.
• Canara Bank, one of the country’s prominent public sector banks, has issued a notice confirming the hacking of their official X handle.
• Several banks have sought clarity from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regarding the implementation of guidelines issued on March 6,2024 which mandate offering customers the option to choose from multiple card networks for credit cards.
• ICICI Bank’s market capitalization crossed the $100 billion mark for the first time.
• At the end of March 2024, India’s external debt was US$ 663.8 billion, an increase of US$ 39.7 billion over the end of March 2023.
• Travel booking platform ixigo has expanded its exclusive partnership with PhonePe to offer flight and bus bookings on the fintech platform’s app.
• Markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) revised its oversight framework for stock exchanges and other market infrastructure institutions (MIIs), defining the structure and responsibilities of various statutory committees to enhance governance.
• India’s current account recorded a surplus of $5.7 billion, equivalent to 0.6% of gross domestic product (GDP), in the January-March 2024 quarter.
• The Department of Financial Services (DFS) under the finance ministry instructed the State Bank of India (SBI) to form a committee on co-lending in May 2024.
• S&P Global Ratings retained India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast for the current financial year (FY 2024-25) at 8%.
• The State Bank of India (SBI) has raised Rs 10,000 crore through 15-year infrastructure bonds to fund projects in sectors like power, roads etc.
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has made it significantly easier for insiders to trade in shares of their companies by amending the Prohibition of Insider Trading (PIT) regulations.
• DBS Group expects India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth to be resilient at4% for the April-June 2024 quarter.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched an exclusive 2-hour window called ‘Finquiry’ for fintechs to visit the FinTech department of the RBI in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
• Action Construction Equipment Limited. (ACE), a prominent player in India’s construction equipment manufacturing sector, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bank of Baroda (BoB) to facilitate financing solutions for construction equipment businesses.
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has formed a working group to review derivatives trading norms with an aim of enhancing investor protection and risk management.
• While there has been an improvement in the overall credit quality of consumer credit, the Reserve Bank of India’s Financial Stability Report highlighted 3 areas of concern regarding consumer loans from non-banking finance companies (NBFC).
• The board of directors of AU Small Finance Bank Limited. approved plans to raise Rs 11,000 crore through equity and debt instruments.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), with the Government of India’s concurrence, has decided to put in place a revised framework on currency swap arrangement for SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries for the period 2024 to 2027.
• According to the RBI’s Financial Stability Report, the gross non-performing asset (GNPA) ratio of Indian banks fell to a 12 year low of 2.8% in March 2024 and is expected to reduce further down to 2.5% by the end of the financial year 2024-25.
• Indian private lender RBL Bank will raise up to Rs 6,500 crore ($779 million) through a combination of qualified institutional placement (QIP) of shares and debt sale.
• The National Council of Applied Economic Research’s (NCAER) Monthly Economic Review suggests that Gross domestic product (GDP) growth for 2024-25 (FY25) could range between higher than 7% and close to 7.5%.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) increased the Ways and Means Advances (WMAs) limits (or financial accommodation) of State governments and Union territories (UTs) by 28% to ₹60,118 crore from ₹47,010 crore (fixed in April 2022).
• Housing loan outstanding expanded at a faster pace even as the growth in the personal loan segment decelerated on a year-on-year basis in May 2024.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a monetary penalty of ₹29.60 lakh on The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) for non-compliance with specific RBI directions.
• Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) increased the threshold for the Basic Services Demat Account (BSDA) to Rs 10 lakhs from the current Rs 2 lakhs to boost participation of small investors in the securities market.
• The World Bank has approved a $1.5-billion loan to help India accelerate its low-carbon energy development.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

• In the fiscal year 2023-24, the government monetised assets worth ₹1.56 lakh crore under the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP), falling short of the target of ₹1.8 lakh crore.
• The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a comprehensive advisory circular focused on promoting gender equality within the civil aviation sector in India.
• The Government of India has sanctioned new Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) schemes to evacuate 9 GW of renewable energy (RE) power from Rajasthan and Karnataka.
• The Union Education Ministry has constituted a high-level committee of experts to ensure the transparent, smooth, and fair conduct of examinations.
• The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has set ambitious targets for the growth of Assets under Management (AUM) for the National Pension Scheme (NPS) in the fiscal year 2024-25.
• The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) is spearheading the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), aiming to achieve a production capacity of 5 million tonnes per annum of Green Hydrogen by 2030.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the ‘Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP)’ at Delhi Airport’s Terminal 3, aimed at enhancing the travel experience for Indian nationals and OCI cardholders.
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently addressed concerns regarding GST (Goods and Services Tax) assessments and issued updates following the GST Council meeting.
• Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram has announced that his ministry will scrutinize the forest clearance documentation related to the ₹72,000-crore infrastructure project on Great Nicobar Island.
• A high-level government committee has expressed concerns regarding delays in payments to companies participating in the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes.
• According to an analysis of the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) by the National Statistical Office (NSO), unincorporated enterprises in the manufacturing sector experienced significant declines between July 2015-June 2016 and October 2022-September 2023.
• The upcoming Union budget for FY25 is anticipated to include a proposal to issue sovereign green bonds amounting to approximately ₹25,000 crore to ₹30,000 crore.
• According to a senior official in the Ministry of Railways, the gross budgetary support (GBS) is likely to either maintain the same level as announced in the Interim Budget or potentially increase to Rs 2.6 trillion.
• India, as the Chair of the International Sugar Organisation (ISO), will host the global body’s annual sugar meet in New Delhi from June 25 to June 27.
• The Goods and Services Tax (GST), introduced on July 1, 2017, replaced 17 local taxes and fees across India.
• Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently reviewed the progress of the enhanced Automatic Train Protection System (ATP), Kavach 4.0, at Rail Bhawan.
• The Government of India has implemented stock limits on wheat across various entities including Traders/Wholesalers, Retailers, Big Chain Retailers, and Processors in all States and Union Territories.
• In 2023, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India delivered 16.5 million passport-related services, marking a significant annual growth of nearly 15%.
• The Comptroller and Auditor General of India inaugurated the ‘Chadwick House: Navigating Audit Heritage Museum’ in Shimla, marking a significant milestone in preserving and celebrating the institution’s rich legacy and contributions to India’s governance.
• Union Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy initiated a new round of auctions for mining rights in 21 blocks rich in critical and strategic minerals.
• India is hosting a significant global event in the sugar sector, the ‘ISO Council Meeting,’ in New Delhi from June 25th to 27th, 2024.
• The ‘India Africa Postal Leaders Meet’ took place in India from June 21st to 25th, 2024.
• Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, holding multiple significant portfolios, launched the “One Week One Theme” (OWOT) campaign.
• Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, along with Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Shri Satish Chandra Dubey, launched the 4th tranche of the auction of critical and strategic minerals at Scope Convention Centre, CGO Complex, New Delhi.
• Certain sections of the Telecommunications Act, of 2023 from 26th June 2024, will be enforced, focusing on public safety, emergency response, and regulatory enhancements.
• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways aims to implement satellite-based toll collection across all national highways in India in the coming years.
• The upcoming Union Budget is expected to introduce a reworked affordable housing scheme targeting Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Low Income Group (LIG), and Middle Income Group (MIG) in urban areas, according to sources from the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry.
• India’s nuclear power generation capacity is poised to cross 13 GWe by 2029, according to Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Department of Atomic Energy.
• The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), launched in 2015, is set to be revamped with new features.
• Parliament passed three new laws in its winter session: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023.
• The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) aims to construct 5,000 km of highways in the current financial year(2024).
• The Information & Broadcasting Ministry is addressing challenges raised by industry bodies regarding the mandatory self-declaration certificate (SDC) for advertisements.
• The Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CSIR-CIMFR) has launched its two-day workshop, CARING-2024, focused on coal gasification.
• The 73rd meeting of the Network Planning Group (NPG), held in New Delhi and chaired by Shri Rajeev Singh Thakur, Additional Secretary of DPIIT, focused on evaluating eight significant infrastructure projects.
• Additional Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar represented India at the three-day meeting of CLGF Annual Board in Colombo, Sri Lanka during 25th – 27th June 2024.
• The Director General of Railway Protection Force (RPF) Shri Manoj Yadava launched the mobile application-Sangyaan App, designed and developed by the Tech Team of RPF to provide in-depth information on three new Criminal Acts: the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) 2023.
• Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, will inaugurate two Geoportals in New Delhi.
• The One Week One Theme (OWOT) Campaign was inaugurated by Hon’ble Union Minister of State for S&T Dr. Jitendra Singh, alongside DG CSIR Dr. N. Kalaiselvi at India Habitat Centre, Delhi.
• The Union Health Ministry launched a dashboard that will aid the national, state and district health facilities in quickly monitoring compliance concerning Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) and taking action accordingly.
• The Central Railway has installed a floating solar plant of 10 MWp capacity in the Igatpuri Lake located in the Western Ghats, a first-of-its-kind initiative by the Indian Railways, senior officials stated.
• ITC has extended its ‘Climate Smart Agriculture’ programme to nearly 2 lakh women in the country.
• The Centre tweaked the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS),1995, to ensure that members with less than 6 months of contributory service can also withdraw funds.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

• External Affairs Minister (EAM) Jaishankar met Sri Lankan President Wickremesinghe and commissioned the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC).
• Srinagar, a City in Jammu and Kashmir has become the 4th Indian city to be recognised as a ‘World Craft City’ by the World Craft Council (WCC), 3 years after it was designated as part of the UNESCO Creative City Network (UCCN) for crafts and folk arts.
• Kozhikode in north Kerala, known for its rich cultural heritage, was officially declared as India’s first United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) ‘City of Literature’.
• Finland is the first country to start offering preemptive bird flu vaccinations to certain workers exposed to animals.
• The European Union (EU) has initiated a new investigation into Apple’s support for alternative iOS marketplaces in Europe under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
• Paraguay has become the 100th country to join as a full member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
• Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who holds the finance portfolio, presented a Rs 20,051 crore revenue deficit budget for the current fiscal even as he announced several sops for women, youths and farmers, among other sections, entailing an expenditure of more than Rs 80,000 crore.
• The Jharkhand Cabinet approved the ‘Mukhya Mantri Bahan Beti Maiqui Swabalamban Protsahan Yojana,‘ a financial assistance scheme for 45 lakh women in the state.
• The Telangana state cabinet has approved a proposal to waive up to 2 lakh rupees worth of crop loans for each farmer in the state by August 15, 2024.
• The Patna High Court set aside amendments passed by the Bihar legislature in 2023, which sought to increase reservation for Backward Classes (BC), Extremely Backward Classes (EBC), Scheduled Castes (SC), and Scheduled Tribes (ST) from 50% to 65% in educational institutions and government jobs.
• The Kerala Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution on June 24 to change the name of the state from ‘Kerala’ to ‘Keralam’.
• The Hemis Monastic Festival, also known as Hemis Tseschu, is an annual celebration of Tibetan Buddhism in Ladakh, India.
• The Telangana government is planning to set up ‘integrated residential campuses’, comprising Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Backward Class (BC), and minority residential schools, in all assembly constituencies.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

• In May 2024, e-WAY bill generation soared to 10.32 crore, marking the second-highest figure recorded since its introduction.
• Visakhapatnam Port has emerged as India’s top port for marine products shipments in FY24, handling 3,14,199 tonnes valued at ₹17,983.99 crore ($2,194 million).
• Mirae Asset Mutual Fund has introduced India’s first Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) focusing on the Electric Vehicles (EV) and New Age Automotive segment.
• The National Stock Exchange’s subsidiary, NSE Indices Limited, has launched a new thematic index called the Nifty India Tourism Index.
• The 53rd GST Council met under the Chairpersonship of Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi.
• In 2023, India experienced a remarkable surge in deep tech startups, solidifying its position as the third-largest hub globally for such ventures.
• Despite a significant surge in corporate profitability, listed firms in FY24 experienced a decline in dividend payouts.
• The Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) is set to issue a comprehensive clarification on the application of GST concerning corporate guarantees provided by related parties for loans from banks or financial institutions.
• India’s Steel Ministry is streamlining visa procedures for Chinese technicians and experts involved in The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) projects for speciality steel.
• GST Council proposes exemption for specific services offered by Indian Railways to the general public and intra-railway transactions.
• India’s coal consumption exceeds that of Europe and North America combined, marking a significant shift in global energy dynamics.
• Vedanta Ltd., led by billionaire Anil Agarwal, is contemplating its debut overseas bond issuance, aiming to raise at least $500 million.
• The finance ministry is poised to revise upwards its nominal gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for 2024-25 in the upcoming Budget, indicating robust economic expansion.
• Adani Green Energy, a prominent player in renewable power, has announced plans to invest Rs 2 trillion by 2030 to expand its capacity
• Exporters recently met with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to present their key requests and priorities ahead of Budget 2024, Aim for a 25% share by an Indian shipping line to potentially save $50 billion annually by 2030 reported by the Federation of Indian Export Organisations(FIEO)
• According to the data from GSTN, Uttar Pradesh (UP), Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra are the top states in filing GST returns every month, showcasing robust economic activity and compliance levels:
• A US District Judge, Margo Brodie, has rejected a proposed $30 billion antitrust settlement involving Visa and Mastercard, aimed at addressing fees charged to merchants who accept their credit and debit cards.
• Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced that Central Electronics Limited (CEL) has been granted “Mini RATNA” status (Category-1).
• The World Bank forecasts a significant slowdown in India-bound remittance growth, from 7.5% last year to 3.7% in 2024.
• Flipkart has introduced a beta version of its fintech app,super. money, available on the Play Store.
• UltraTech Cement, led by Kumar Mangalam Birla, has announced the acquisition of a 23% stake in Chennai-based India Cements Ltd (ICL) for Rs 1,889 crore.
• The Goods and Services Tax (GST) system in India has shown signs of stability, as evidenced by consistent growth in tax collections over its seven-year history.
• Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), a state-owned engineering firm, has secured a significant contract worth Rs 13,300 crore from Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) to establish a 1600 MW thermal power plant in Koderma, Jharkhand.
• GAIL (India) Ltd has revised its target to achieve net zero carbon emissions to 2035, advancing it by five years from the initially set goal of 2040. The board of directors of GAIL approved this advancement.
• The eight key infrastructure sectors’ growth rose 6.3 per cent in May2024 on healthy expansion in the production of coal, natural gas, and electricity, though the growth rate is lower than in April 2024.
• In a significant development for domestic fixed-income markets, Indian government bonds are now included in JPMorgan Chase & Co’s emerging markets bond index as of June 28, 2024.
• The interest equalisation scheme for exporters, which allows access to bank credit at a subsidised rate, will be extended only for the MSME sector beyond June 30, 2024 for two months till August, as per a government notification.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOUS AND AGREEMENT

• Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) has entered into a strategic partnership with Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Ltd (APEPDCL) to promote energy efficiency initiatives within the power distribution sector.
• The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, has partnered with Mastercard to enhance cybersecurity within the financial sector through cooperation and information sharing.
• Tata Steel and the Odisha government have embarked on a sustainable agricultural initiative aimed at reclaiming acidic soils in the state using industrial waste as soil amendments.
• The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in collaboration with the Australian Government, recently hosted a productive roundtable focusing on the outcomes of the Australia-India Critical Agriculture Skills Pilot Project.
• Tata Electronics has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with US-based chip design leader Synopsys to enhance process technology and foundry design capabilities at India’s first semiconductor fab in Dholera.
• The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and the University of Leeds, UK have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Joint Virtual Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Development (VCoE-SD).
• Sri Lanka is set to sign agreements with India and Japan to restructure bilateral debt, marking significant progress in its economic recovery efforts.
• State-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) to establish a small-scale Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant near the Hatta Gas Field in the Vindhyan Basin.
• The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying has signed an agreement with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for the upgradation of the Biocontainment Facility and associated repair works at the Chaudhary Charan Singh National Institute of Animal Health (CCSNAIH), Baghpat.
• Adani Defence & Aerospace has signed an agreement with Thales Group to manufacture rockets in India.
• Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Nokia to pursue 5G and next-generation collaborative research with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

• President Droupadi Murmu appointed Bhartruhari Mahtab, a 7-term Member of Parliament (MP) from Cuttack, as the pro-tem Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha.
• The government has appointed Atul Kumar Chaudhary as the new Secretary of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
• Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has appointed Manoj Jain as the new Chairman and Managing Director of the company.
• Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary has been appointed as the convenor of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate rationalisation.
• Bank of Baroda (BoB) has appointed Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal as its brand endorser.
• Amid the NEET-UG, UGC NET, and CSIR UGC NET cancellation and postponement, the Ministry of Education (MoE) has appointed retired Indian Administrative Officer Pradeep Singh Kharola as the new director general of the National Testing Agency (NTA) till the appointment of a regular incumbent.
• Paul Thomas, Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ESAF Small Finance Bank, has been elected as Chairperson of the board of Sa-Dhan.
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved a year’s extension in service to Tapan Kumar Deka, Director, Intelligence Bureau (IB).
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has appointed Arun Kumar Singh as an additional director on the board of Bandhan Bank.
• Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) announced the appointment of former Disney executive Gaurav Banerjee as its Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective on or before August 26,2024 pending regulatory approvals.
• Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda has been appointed as the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha.
• Global technology consulting and digital solutions company LTIMindtree has appointed veteran S N Subrahmanyan, (Vice-Chairman) as Chairman with effect from June 27,2024.
• Om Birla, a member of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and MP from Kota, has been re-elected as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
• A Balasubramanian has been reappointed as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Aditya Birla Sun Life Asset Management Company (ABSL AMC) for three years, starting from 25th July, 2024.
• Manish Kumar Gupta, a senior IAS officer of the 1991-batch AGMUT cadre, has been appointed as Principal Secretary (Home) by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
• Mark Rutte, currently the Dutch Prime Minister, will succeed Jens Stoltenberg as the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
• European Union leaders agreed to nominate Ursula von der Leyen of Germany for a second five-year term as president of the European Commission.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

• RailTel was honoured with the ET Government PSU Leadership & Excellence Award 2024 in the ‘Leadership in Digital Transformation’ category.
• Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Ltd. was honoured with the “Sustainable Governance Champion Award” at the Outlook Planet Sustainability Summit & Awards 2024.
• Sanjana Thakur has been named the overall winner of the 2024 Commonwealth Short Story Prize.
• Dr Usha Thakur was awarded the 12thVishwa Hindi Samman in a Hindi Samvad event organised by the Embassy of India in Nepal recognising her contribution in development of Hindi literature.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : ACQUISITION & MERGERS

• Axis Bank has decided to raise its shareholding in Max Life Insurance for an amount of up to ₹336 crore.
• The British telecom operator Vodafone sold 48.47 crore shares or 18% stake in Indus Towers for 1.7 billion euro (about Rs 15,300 crore) through an accelerated book building offering.
• Fairfax Group, led by Canadian billionaire Prem Watsa, sold a 9.7% stake in CSB Bank via its arm FIH Mauritius Investments.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING AND INDEX

• According to the Global Energy Transition Index 2024, released by the World Economic Forum (WEF)India has shown improvement by moving up to the 63rd position out of 120 countries
• Tata Group and Infosys have topped Brand Finance’s annual report on the most valuable Indian brands for 15 consecutive years.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS

• Talks on acquiring additional Kalvari-class (Scorpene) submarines for the Indian Navy have progressed, with state-owned Mazagaon Dockyard Limited (MDL) in advanced discussions for a potential ₹35,000-crore deal that will help boost India’s underwater strength.
• Indian Army engineers constructed a 150-foot suspension bridge in north Sikkim in less than 48 hours.
• Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington,Tamil Nadu (TN) and Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC), Mirpur, Dhaka,Bangladesh have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation concerning Military Education in the field of Strategic and Operational Studies.
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) handed over the Medium Range-Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket (MR-MOCR) to the Indian Navy at a ceremony held in New Delhi.
• Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders has been granted “Navratna” status by the Department of Public Enterprises.
• The 350th contract under the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), the flagship initiative of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) was signed with SpacePixxel Technologies Private Limited for the design and development of a ‘miniaturised satellite capable of carrying electro-optical, infrared, synthetic aperture radar, and hyperspectral payloads up to 150 kgs.
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully completed six consecutive developmental trials of High Speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) ‘ABHYAS’ with improved booster configuration from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha.
• Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sunayna entered Port Victoria, Seychelles, on 26 June 2024 as part of her long-range deployment in the South Western Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• Indian multi-role stealth frigate Indian Navy Ship (INS) Shivalik, mission deployed in the South China Sea and North Pacific Ocean, has reached Pearl Harbour in Hawaii to take part in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, which is the world’s largest naval exercise.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted the third and final landing experiment of its Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) ‘Pushpak’ at the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga, Karnataka.
• Biocon Biologics Limited. (BBL), a global, integrated biosimilars company and a subsidiary of Biocon Limited., has received approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to manufacture biosimilar Bevacizumab at its new, world-class, multi-product monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) drug substance facility at Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, one of the world’s most powerful operational rockets, blasted off carrying into orbit a new US satellite designed to help weather forecasters monitor massive solar storms.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

• India’s Neeraj Chopra made history again by winning the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw at the World Athletics Championships 2023 held in Budapest, Hungary.
• Max Verstappen notched his third consecutive victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, kicking off the triple-header race weekends with a dominant performance in Barcelona.
• Arvid Lindblad achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the youngest-ever winner of an F3 Feature race, highlighting his burgeoning talent in motorsport.
• Smriti Mandhana, renowned for her aggressive batting style, created history in Indian cricket during the recent ODI series against South Africa.
• Australia’s Pat Cummins has achieved a remarkable milestone in T20 World Cup history by becoming the first bowler to secure consecutive hat-tricks in the tournament.
• India’s recurve mixed team of Dhiraj Bommadevara and Bhajan Kaur displayed exceptional skill to secure a bronze medal in the Archery World Cup Stage 3.
• Jessica Pegula emerged victorious at the Berlin Open after a series of compelling matches, including a rain-interrupted semi-final against top seed Coco Gauff and a final against Anna Kalinskaya.
• Italian world number one Jannik Sinner secured his first grasscourt title by defeating his doubles partner Hubert Hurkacz 7-6(8), 7-6(2) in the Halle Open final.
• India concluded their campaign at the Under-17 Asian Wrestling Championships in Amman, Jordan, with an impressive tally of 11 medals: four gold, two silver, and five bronze.
• Anush Agarwalla, an Asian Games medallist, has been chosen by the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) to represent the nation in the dressage event at the upcoming Paris Olympics.
• The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has announced substantial cash awards for Indian athletes achieving medals at the Paris Olympic Games, scheduled from July 26 to August 11, 2024.
• Travis Head, the Australian opener, has ascended to the 1 spot in the ICC T20I Men’s Batting Rankings.
• In June 2024, Carlos Alcaraz clinched his first French Open title, making him the youngest male tennis player to win Grand Slam titles on all three surfaces: hard, grass, and clay.
• India clinched its second T20 World Cup title after beating South Africa by seven runs in the final at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES

• Donald Sutherland, the Canadian actor whose wry, arresting screen presence spanned more than half a century of films from M.A.S.H. to The Hunger Games, has passed away at the age of 88.
• Former Indian pacer David Johnson passed away at the age of 52 in a tragic incident where he fell from the balcony of his fourth-floor apartment in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• Senior photojournalist Nissar Ahmad, who was associated with The Hindu for 25 years, died of cancer in Srinagar at the age of 59.
• English statistician and one of the inventors of the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, Frank Duckworth passed away at the age of 84.
• Former Foreign Secretary Muchkund Dubey, who steered India’s foreign affairs establishment towards the end of the Cold War and the post-Cold War phase in the early 1990s, passed away.

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