NATIONAL:
1. Empowering Women Entrepreneurs
Why in news - UNDP and National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) entered into a collaborative partnership.
Key Points –
• Aim - empowering women to make well-informed career choices in the field of entrepreneurship.
• Focus sectors - care economy, digital economy, electric mobility, waste management, food packaging etc.
• 3-year project (extendable beyond 2025).
• Coverage - 8 cities in initial phase. All the 4,041 statutory cities and towns.
• Today, women account for only 15% of the total entrepreneurs in India.
2. ISC “Dhruv”
Why in news - Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Integrated Simulator Complex (ISC) “Dhruv” at Southern Naval Command, Kochi.
Key Points –
• It is an indigenously-built simulator to enhance practical training in the Indian Navy.
• Purpose - to give real-time experience on navigation, fleet operations and Naval tactics.
• Simulators envisaged in the complex –
(a) Multi-Station Handling Simulator (MSSHS).
(b) Air Direction and Helicopter Control Simulator (ADHCS).
(c) Astronavigation Dome.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Ban on Holi Celebrations
Why in news - Pakistan's Higher Education Commission (HEC) banned Holi celebrations in universities.
Key Points –
• Reason - to check “erosion of Islamic identity”.
• “International Religious Freedom” (US report) 2022 had recommended Pakistan among the list of 12 nations, where there is a “concern for religious freedom”.
2. Modi, Biden Gift Exchange
Why in news - PM Narendra Modi exchanged valuable gifts with US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the White House.
Key Points –
• Gift for PM Modi from the Bidens –
(a) a handmade, antique American book galley
(b) a vintage American camera
(c) first edition copy of 'Collected Poems of Robert Frost'.
• PM Modi Gift to the Bidens –
(a) A special sandalwood box, handcrafted by a master craftsman from Jaipur.
(b) idol of Lord Ganesha and a Diya (oil lamp)
(c) 7.5-carat lab-grown diamond to First Lady Jill Biden
(d) Book “The Ten Principal Upanishads” published by Faber and Faber Ltd of London.
(e)Das Danam or Ten Donations –
3. Blacklisting Sajid Mir
Why in news - China blocked an Indo-US proposal at the United Nations to designate Pakistan-based Sajid Mir as a global terrorist.
Key Points –
• Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Sajid Mir is wanted for his involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
• He was to be blacklisted under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council.
• Mir was LeT’s operations manager for the attacks.
REPORTS & INDICES:
1. 17th Gender Gap Report 2023
Why in news - World Economic Forum released its annual Gender Gap Report.
Key Points –
• India’s rank – 127 (score - 0.643 or 64.3%) (2022 – 135th).
• India’s improvement - 1.4 percentage points and 8 positions.
• India has attained parity in enrolment across all levels of education.
Other Key Findings –
• Global gender gap score 2023 - 68.4% (improvement of 0.3%).
• At the current rate of progress, it would take 131 years to achieve full gender parity.
About Global Gender Gap (GGG) Index –
• Measures countries progress towards gender parity in four Key dimensions –
(a) Economic Participation and Opportunity
(b) Educational Attainment
(c) Health and Survival
(d) Political Empowerment.
• GGG index provides scores between 0 (complete imparity) and 1 (full parity).
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. INDUS X
Why in news - India-United States Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS X) was launched in Washington DC, USA on June 21, 2023.
Key Points –
• Aim - to foster collaboration and innovation between Indian and US defence startups for technological advancements.
• Co-organised by –
(a) Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), Ministry of Defence
(b) US Department of Defence (DoD)
• Hosted by - US-India Business Council (USIBC).
2. GE’s Jet Engine
Why in news - General Electric (GE) has signed an agreement with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to make fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Key Points –
• GE's F414 military aircraft engine powers fighters like the Boeing Super Hornet and Saab Gripen.
• The pact aims to build them in India for the LCA Tejas Mk2.
• India-specific version of the engine - F414-INS6.
• Thrust class - 22,000 lb or 98 kN and feature advanced technology such as Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC), the latest aircraft ignition and engine control system.
• Currently the LCA Tejas is powered by a single GE-404-IN20 engine developed in the 1970s.
• It laid to rest the “technology denial regime” imposed on India by the West, led by the US.
Value Addition -
• Only the US, Russia, the UK and France have mastered the technology and metallurgy needed to manufacture an engine that can power combat aircraft.
• Safran SA (France) and HAL have co-developed the Shakti engine for Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv and Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand.
• India’s Kaveri engine project was sanctioned in 1989 but it was not been found suitable for fighter aircraft (generated only 70.4 kN as against the targeted 81 kN).
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. National Florence Nightingale Awards 2022 and 2023
Why in news - Droupadi Murmu conferred the National Florence Nightingale Awards for the year 2022 and 2023 to the nursing professionals.
Key Points –
• 30 nursing professionals were awarded.
• Reason - Recognition for the meritorious services rendered by the nurses and nursing professionals to society.
• From Bihar (2023 award) – Ms. Gaytri Kumari (Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife category).
• It is given in honor of Florence Nightingale who is revered as the founder of modern nursing.
• It was instituted in the year 1973 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
2. 200 International Games
Why in news - Cristiano Ronaldo has received a Guinness World Record after reaching 200 international caps for Portugal.
Key Points –
• He becomes the first male footballer to play 200 international football matches.
• He played his 200th match against Iceland.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Treaty to Protect High Seas
Why in news - United Nations (UN) adopted the first-ever treaty to protect marine life in the high seas on June 19, 2023.
Key Points –
• Delegates from the 193 member nations approved the treaty without a single objection.
• Focus - biodiversity of international waters, outside the jurisdiction of any one nation.
• To be opened for signatures in New York for two years starting September 20, 2023.
• Come into force - after 60 countries ratify the agreement.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Hasmukh Adhia
Why in news - Hasmukh Adhia has been appointed as chairman of GIFT (Gujarat International Finance Tec) City.
Key Points –
• He replaced Sudhir Mankad in GIFT City.
• Also appointed as -
(a) Chairman and Director of the Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Ltd (GACL)
(b) Chairman and Director of the Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC).
About GIFT City –
• Full form - Gujarat International Finance Tec City.
• Location – Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• India’s first and only International Financial Services Centre (IFSC).
• India's first operational greenfield smart city.
BIHAR:
1. G¬20 Patna Meet
Why in news - Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar inaugurated the 2-day Labour –20 (L-20) summit of G-20 nations on May 22, 2023.
Key Points –
• Venue – Gyan Bhavan, Patna.
• President of the L20 summit - Hiranmaye Pandaya.
• Key themes - “Social Security & International Portability of Social Security Fund and Women and Future of Work”.
• Union Labour Secretary Aarti Ahuja also attended the meeting.
• Hiranmaye Pandaya is chairman of RSS backed trade union Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS).
• BMS is not a member of International Trade Unions Confederation (ITUC).
• Altogether 173 delegates from 28 countries are participating in the conference.
POINTERS:
• Who has been appointed as RBI Deputy Governor - Swaminathan Janakiraman.
• A Mesolithic-era rock painting has been discovered by an archaeologist at which place - Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.
• The Indian Army has concluded a massive military exercise “Agneyastra 1” at which place - Eastern Ladakh.
• Which group in US Senate will introduce a bill to add India to NATO Plus group - Senate India Caucus.
• Which state government launched 'Polytechnic Chalo Abhiyan' to motivate youths to pursue technical education and take admission in polytechnic institutes - Uttar Pradesh.
• In which country Indian Army is participating in 'Exercise Khsan Quest 2023' – Mongolia.
• Who has taken over as the new CEO of Alibaba Group - Eddie Wu.
• Recently who got the first Prof. Jayashankar Award to be conferred - Acharya N. Gopi.
• Nitin Gadkari laid the foundation stone of Bharat Mala Green Field Six-Lane Ring Road project in which state – Haryana (Kutail village, Karnal district).
• Which is the most valuable listed private company in India according to Hurun India - Reliance Industries.