6th June 2021
Honours & Awards
1. Thomas Vijayan won 2021 Nature TTL Photography Awards
- Thomas Vijayan of Kerala has won 2021 Nature TTL Photography Awards for his photo of an Orangutan clinging to a tree.
- The photograph is titled as ‘The World is Going Upside Down’
- He has been adjudged as the overall winner of the competition from over 8,000 entries
- Nature TTL:
- It is world’s leading online nature photography resource.
- It carries grand prize of 1,500 pounds (Rs.1.5 lakh).
- Thomas Easterbrook (UK) was crowned Young Nature TTL Photographer of the Year 2021
Banking & Finance
2. ICICI Bank partners SWIFT to offer instant cross-border inward remittances
- ICICI Bank has partnered with Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT) to offer the facility, ‘SWIFT gpi Instant’ for cross border inward payments.
- It will help overseas partner banks to send instant remittances on behalf of their customers to beneficiary in India
- It offers instant transfer of up to Rs 2 lakh personal remittance into the beneficiary account.
- ICICI is the 1st lender in Asia-Pacific and 2nd globally to offer SWIFT gpi Instant
National & International Appointments
3. Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari appointed Vice Chief of Air Staff
- Ace fighter pilot Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari has been appointed as the next Vice Chief of the Air Staff by Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC)
- He will succeed incumbent Air Marshal HS Arora who will superannuate on June 30, 2021.
- He presently commands Western Air Command, which is also known as the sword arm of the force, as it handles the sensitive borders with both Pakistan and China in sensitive areas.
- Air Chief Marshal: Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria.
National Affairs
4. PM Modi launches E-100 Ethanol Dispensing Stations in Pune
- PM Narendra Modi has virtually launched Pilot Project of E 100 ethanol dispensing stations at three locations in Pune, for the production and distribution of ethanol.
- Govt has reset the target to achieve 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2025, which was earlier set by 2030.
- Govt has released E-20 notification, directing Oil Companies to sell ethanol blended petrol with ethanol up to 20% from April 1, 2023; and BIS Specifications for higher ethanol blends E12 & E15
Schemes
5. India launches ‘Mission Innovation 2.0’ initiative
- India along with 23 nations have collectively launched Mission Innovation 2.0, alongside the Paris Agreement at the 2015 COP21 conference
- This new initiative was launched at Innovating to Net Zero Summit, hosted by Chile
- Purpose: To make clean energy affordable, attractive and accessible throughout this decade; To accelerate action towards the Paris Agreement, and Net zero pathways.
- It will be supported by new global Innovation Platform to strengthen confidence.
National Affairs
6. Govt approves release of PGI 2019-20 for States and UT
- Union Education Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has approved release of Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2019-20 for States and Union Territories of India
- The Index has 70 parameters to catalyse transformational change to ensure that the school education system is robust at every level.
- Punjab, Chandigarh, Tamil Nadu, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Kerala occupy the highest grade (Grade A++) for 2019-20
- It was first published in 2019 with reference year 2017-18
National Affairs
7. Report on ethanol blending in India 2020 to 2025 released
- PM Modi has released ‘Report of the Expert Committee on Road Map for ethanol blending in India 2020-2025’ on World Environment Day event
- The theme of the report is ‘promotion of biofuels for better environment’
- Report has been prepared by NITI Aayog in collaboration with Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
- Key recommendations have been made in this report to increase and augment the production capacity and utilization of ethanol blended petrol.
Important Dates
8. UN Russian Language Day: 6 June
- UN Russian Language Day is observed every year on 6 June as it coincides with the birthday of Aleksandr Pushkin, a Russian poet who is considered the father of modern Russian language
- It is one of the six official languages used by UN throughout the Organization
- The day was established by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2010
- Six official language has been assigned a day of celebration by UN’s Department of Public Information
Obituaries
9. Himachal BJP leader, Narinder Bragta passed away
- Himachal BJP leader, Narinder Bragta (68 years) passed away at PGIMER, Chandigarh due to COVID-19 complication.
- He was elected to the Vidhan Sabha for the first time in 1998 and remained the Horticulture Minister in the BJP regime led by Dhumal from 1998 to 2003
- He was a Member of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly for Jubbal to Kotkhai, which is a seat of Shimla from 2017 to 2021
- He previously served as MLA from 2007 till 2012.
Important Dates
10. World Pest Day: 6 June
- World Pest Day is observed on 6 June every year to increase public, government, and media awareness of the important role pest management organization plays in protecting public health.
- The Day was initiated by Chinese Pest Control Association and co-sponsored by Federation of Asian and Oceania Pest Managers’ Association (FAOPMA), National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and Confederation of European Pest Management Associations (CEPA).
- It is first observed in 2017
7th June 2021
National & International Appointments
1. Hitendra Dave appointed as CEO of HSBC India
- Hitendra Dave has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HSBC’s India operation
- His appointment is subject to regulatory approval and until then he will work as interim CEO.
- He succeeded Surendra Rosha.
- He was the Managing Director and head of Global Banking & Markets of HSBC India
- He joined HSBC in 2001 in the global markets business and rose through the ranks.
- HSBC is a British multinational investment bank and financial services holding company.
Important Dates
2. World Food Safety Day: 7 June
- World Food Safety Day is observed on June 7 every year to remind people of the need to have safer and healthy food for disease-free life.
- Theme 2021: ‘Safe food today for a healthy tomorrow’
- The day was declared by UN General Assembly in December 2018.
- First World Food Safety Day was held on 7 June 2019.
- Purpose: To draw attention and inspire action to help prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks, contributing to food security and sustainable development.
Schemes
3. Ladakh Lt Governor launches YounTab scheme for students
- Ladakh Lt Governor RK Mathur has launched ‘YounTab scheme’ for students in the Union Territory to encourage digital learning.
- Aim: To encourage digital learning, bridge the digital divide between connected and unconnected and mitigate the COVID pandemic disruptions.
- In 1st phase of the scheme, he distributed tablets to the students of 9 to 12 class.
- The scheme will cover over 12,300 students of 6th to 12th class from government schools.
Agreement
4. CBSE ties-up with Microsoft to introduce Coding as new subject
- Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has partnered with Microsoft to introduce Coding as a new subject for students of Class 6 to 8 and Data Science as new subject for Class 8 to 12 in the academic session 2021-2022.
- Both these new subjects are being launched in line with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
- Coding and Data Science curriculum will focus on building critical thinking, computational skills, problem-solving skills, creativity among students.
Agreement
5. NCSM ties-up with London Science Museum for ‘Hunt for the Vaccine’
- National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) has tied-up with Science Museum Group, London for an international travelling exhibition ‘Hunt for the Vaccine’.
- This exhibition will depicts the story of the global effort to find new ways to develop vaccines and look at vaccinations more broadly with a historical and contemporary view.
- NCSM:
- It is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Culture
- HQs: Kolkata.
- It was established in 1978.
National Affairs
6. Narendra Singh Tomar releases Model Panchayat Citizens Charter
- Union Minister of Panchayati Raj, Narendra Singh Tomar has released Model Panchayat Citizens Charter
- It has been prepared by Ministry of Panchayati Raj and National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj
- It is a framework for delivery of the services across the 29 sectors, aligning actions with localised Sustainable Development Goals
- Aim: To provide services to the people in a Time Bound Manner, Redressing Their Grievances and Improving Their Lives.
National & International Organizations
7. NTPC Ltd. joins UN’s CEO Water Mandate for Water Conservation
- NTPC Ltd, under Ministry of Power has become a signatory to UN Global Compact’s CEO Water Mandate, that focus on efficient water management.
- CEO Water Mandate: It is an initiative by UN Global Compact to assist companies in the development, implementation, and disclosure of comprehensive water strategies and policies, as part of long term Sustainable Development Goals.
- It also provides a platform for companies to partner.
- NTPC MD: Gurdeep Singh.
Science & Technology
8. DBT-NII receives trademark for India’s First Indigenous Tumour Antigen
- National Institute of Immunology (NII), DBT has receives ASPAGNIITM Trademark for India’s First Indigenous Tumour Antigen SPAG9, discovered by Anil Suri in 1998
- Anil Suri is heading Cancer Research Program at NII, DBT
- ASPAGNIITM is being used in dendritic cell (DC) based immunotherapy in cervical, ovarian cancer and will also be used in breast cancer.
- Immunotherapy is a new approach that exploits the body’s inner capability to put up a fight against cancer
National Affairs
9. Income Tax Department to launch new e-filing portal
- Income Tax Department is all set to launch its new e-filing portal ‘www.incometax.gov.in’ to providing convenience and a modern, seamless experience to taxpayers.
- It is taxpayer friendly portal, which is integrated with immediate processing of Income Tax Returns and quick refunds to taxpayers.
- All interactions and uploads or pending actions will be displayed on a single dashboard for follow-up action by taxpayer.
- It comprises free of cost ITR preparation software
National Affairs
10. Govt eases pension norms for families of deceased staff
- Govt has relaxed the norms for disbursing pension to families of deceased employees considering their urgent need of funds for their livelihood during COVID-19
- All the ministries have been told to disburse the provisional family pension immediately after receiving the claim with a death certificate under Rule 80-A of the Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 1972.
- This rule provided for payment of provisional family pension and also provisional death gratuity.
National Affairs
11. India and UK launch new workstream to promote industrial energy efficiency
- India and UK has launched new workstream to promote industrial energy efficiency under Clean Energy Ministerial’s (CEM)-Industrial Deep Decarbonization Initiative (IDDI) at 12th Chief Energy Ministerial (CEM)
- 12th CEM will start from May 31 to 6 June 2021
- CEM-IDDI is a global coalition of public and private organisations for low carbon industrial materials
- It is coordinated by UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
- Additional members: Germany and Canada.
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