NATIONAL:
1. CITIIS 2.0
Why in news - Union Cabinet approved the City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain (CITIIS) 2.0.
Key Points –
• Aim –
(a) City level - to promote circular economy with focus on integrated urban management.
(b) State level - Climate-oriented reforms.
(c) National level - Institutional strengthening and knowledge dissemination.
• It would run for 4 years (2023-27).
• By - Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
• Partners - French Development Agency (AFD), Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), the European Union (EU), and National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA).
• Funding –
(a) Loan of Rs.1760 crore from AFD and KfW.
(b) Technical assistance grant of Rs.106 crore from the EU.
• CITIIS 2.0 would supplement the climate actions under AMRUT 2.0, Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0, Smart Cities Mission, INDCs and COP26 commitments.
Value Addition –
• CITIIS 1.0 was launched jointly in 2018 by MoHUA, AFD, EU, and NIUA.
• Outlay – Rs 933 crore.
2. NABH Accreditation
Why in news- AIIMS Nagpur became the first of all AIIMS to receive the NABH accreditation.
Key Points –
• NABH - National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Health Providers.
• It means it is at par with the world’s leading hospital standards.
About NABH –
• Globally recognized for healthcare grade and service.
• Rigorous and comprehensive process to assess the hospital’s performance in various areas including patient care, safety, and organizational efficiency.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Climate Solutions: India (Hindi) Course
Why in news – The University of Edinburgh's Climate Change Institute has announced its first open access course in Hindi.
Key Points –
• Climate Solutions course is available in English, Arabic and Hindi.
• It was developed through a partnership with the Consulate General of India in Edinburgh, Scotland.
2. Arabsat Badr-8
Why in news – SpaceX successfully launched the Saudi Arabian TV broadcast and telecoms satellite Badr-8.
Key Points –
• It was built by Airbus Defence and Space based on its Eurostar Neo platform.
• The satellite also carries an experimental photonics feeder link called Teleo.
• Teleo is designed to provide space to ground optical communications at gigabit speeds.
• Arabsat’s fleet comprises 10 satellites across four orbital positions.
3. Shenzhou-16 Spacecraft
Why in news – China launched the Shenzhou-16 carrying 3 astronauts, including its first civilian, to its Tiangong space station.
Key Points –
• It was China’s 5th manned mission to a fully functional space station since 2021.
• Launched from - Long March-2F rocket, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the Gobi Desert.
Tiangong Space Station –
• Operated by - China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
• Built by China after the USA barred NASA from working with China.
• 3 modules –
(a) Tianhe core module (heavenly river)
(b) Wentian (quest for heavens)
(c) Mengtian (dreaming of heaven).
• It is expected to become the sole in-orbit outpost for scientific research after the end of operations for the International Space Station in 2030.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. 3rd G20 employment working group (EWG) Meet
Why in news – India organized the 3rd EWG meeting from 31st – 2nd June 2023 at ILO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
Key Points –
• 3 key priority areas for EWG 2023 –
(a) Addressing global skill gaps.
(b) Gig and platform economy and social protection.
(c) Sustainable financing of social protection.
• It is a G20 tradition to organize an EWG at the side-lines of the International Labour Organization (ILO)’s annual International Labour Conference at Geneva.
• G20 2023 troika - Indonesia, Brazil, and India.
About G20 –
• Informal organization comprising 19 countries and the European Union.
• Mix of industrialized and emerging economies.
• 1999 - First conference of finance ministers and central bank governors.
• 2008 financial crisis - It was determined that the G20 leaders will meet once a year from now on.
• The G20 finance ministers and central bank governors continue to meet on their own twice a year.
• The G20's work is split into two tracks i.e., finance track and Sherpa track.
ECONOMY:
1. Turbo UPI
Why in news – Razorpay has launched Turbo UPI in partnership with Axis Bank and the National Payments Council of India (NPCI).
Key Points –
• Benefit –
(a) Allow customers of online merchants to make UPI payments directly without getting redirected to a 3rd-party UPI app during checkout.
(b) Reduce potential payment failures.
• Turbo UPI can deliver a 5X faster payment experience.
• It came after Paytm launched a similar product called "UPI SDK", a software plug-in that a merchant can integrate with their payment gateway.
Value Addition –
• UPI transactions reached a record high to 889.81 crore in April 2023 (2.45% increase).
• NPCI target - 1 billion daily UPI transactions.
2. Lightweight Payment System
Why in news – RBI has conceptualised a lightweight payment and settlements system for emergencies.
Key Points –
• Dubbed as the “bunker” equivalent of digital payments, which can be operated from anywhere by a bare minimum staff in exigencies such as natural calamities or war.
• Independent of the technologies that underlie the existing systems of payments such as UPI, NEFT, and RTGS.
• Expected to operate on minimalistic hardware and software, and would be made active only on a “need basis”.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. CAG Girish Chandra Murmu
Why in news – CAG Girish Chandra Murmu re-elected as World Health Organization (WHO) external auditor.
Key Points –
• The election was held at the 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva.
• Tenure - 4-year term (2024 to 2027). (1st term - 2019 to 2023).
Value Addition –
• He is also the external auditor of
(a) International Labour Organization (2024-2027).
(b) Food and Agriculture Organization (2020-2025)
(c) International Atomic Energy Agency (2022-2027)
(d) Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (2021-2023)
(e) Inter Parliamentary Union (2020-2022).
• He is also a member of the United Nations (UN) Panel of External Auditors.
STATES/UTs:
1. “Aai” Tourism Policy
Why in news – Maharashtra approved the implementation of the ‘Aai’ (mother) tourism policy.
Key Points –
• A Women Tourism Policy Cell would be created under the Directorate of Tourism for the implementation of the Aai policy.
• A 5-point program would be implemented as part of the policy.
2. Mo Ghara Yojana
Why in news – Odisha announced Mo Ghara to provide financial assistance to lower and lower-middle-income households in rural areas.
Key Points –
• Benefit - A beneficiary can avail housing loan of up to Rs. 3 lakh which can be repaid in 10 years.
• Other housing schemes in Odisha - Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
BIHAR:
1. Armed Mining Police Force
Why in news – The state mines and geology department is set to have its own dedicated “Armed Mining Police Force”.
Key Points –
• Aim - to curb illegal mining activities in Bihar.
• Two dedicated battalions would be created on the lines of the Bihar Industrial Security Force.
• Mining police strength - 1,278 armed personnel.
• To create permanent outposts of mining police in Bhojpur and Bhagalpur districts.
• In Bhojpur and Bhagalpur, illegal sand mining activities are frequently reported.
POINTERS:
• According to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde, Ahmednagar city will be renamed after whom - Ahilyabai Holkar.
• India has emerged as a key source country for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in which city – Dubai.
• Who has taken charge as the MD of Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) - Ajay Yadav.
• Which railway zone has named train engines after the martyrs - Northern Railway.
• India and which country have held the 3rd Maritime Security Dialogue in New Delhi – Vietnam.
• French rail company Alstom will manufacture how many aluminum bodied Vande Bharat trains – 100.
• Which country has become the first country in the world to put health warnings on individual cigarettes - Canada.
• OPS Clean operation has been started by the police of which state – Punjab.
• Which is the most valuable football club according to Forbes magazine - Real Madrid.
• Who has become the first woman NCC cadet to complete the mountaineering course - Shalini Singh.