NATIONAL:
1. 1000 years Old Jain Pillars
Why in news - Two 1000-year-old square pillars with sculptures of Jain Tirthankaras found in Moinabad village (Rangareddy district) Telangana.
Key Points –
• Pillar rock - One granite and another black basalt.
• 4 carved Jain Tirthankaras - Adinatha, Neminatha, Parshvanatha and Vardhamana Mahavira.
• Keerthimukhas - guardian of the threshold.
• Pillars has inscriptions in the Telugu-Kannada language.
Value Addition –
2. Underwater Tunnel
Why in news - Assam’s first underwater tunnel to come up under Brahmaputra soon.
Key Points –
• To connect Numaligarh and Gohpur.
• Northeast India’s first-ever rail-road tunnel under the Brahmaputra river.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1.“Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2023-24” Scheme
Why in news - Centre approved Rs. 56,415 crores to 16 States for giving a timely boost to capital spending by States.
Key Points –
• Approved by - Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.
• Allocation to Bihar – Rs 9640 crores.
Features -
• Announced in the Union Budget 2023-24.
• Special assistance to the State Governments in the form of a 50-year interest-free loan.
• Sanctioned amount – Rs. 1.3 lakh crore (for 2023-24).
• The scheme has 8 parts. (Part-I – largest, allocation - Rs. 1 lakh crore).
REPORTS & INDICES:
1. 35th Global Competitiveness Index 2023
Why in news – The ranking was released by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD).
Key Points –
• India’s Rank – 40 (2022 – 37th, slipped 3 spots).
• Top 3 – Denmark (1st), Ireland (2nd) and Switzerland (3rd).
Value Addition –
• First Published in 1989.
• Examine 4 factors –
(a) Economic performance
(b) Government efficiency
(c) Business efficiency
(d) Infrastructure
2. Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2023 (GSER 2023)
Why in news – The report was released by Startup Genome.
Key Points –
• Top 3 - Silicon Valley (1st), New York City (2nd), and London (3rd).
• From India (rank) – Bengaluru (20th), Delhi (24th) and Mumbai (31st).
Value Addition -
• Startups - They are companies in their early stages of operation, founded by entrepreneurs aiming to meet demand with innovative products or services.
• India has become the 3rd largest start-up ecosystem in the world after the US and China.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. IMA Award for Excellence
Why in news – Dr. K. Venugopal has been honored with the prestigious IMA (Indian Medical Association) Award.
Key Points –
• Category - community service.
• He is chief consultant in respiratory medicine at General Hospital, Alappuzha, Kerala.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. World MSME Day 2023
Why in news – It is observed on June 27 every year.
Key Points –
• Theme of MSME Day 2023 in India - “Future-ready MSMEs for India@100."
• Ministry of MSME celebrated “Udyami Bharat-MSME Day” on June 27, 2023 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
• Initiatives Launched –
(a) CHAMPIONS 2.0 Portal
(b) Mobile App for Geo-tagging of Cluster Projects and Technology Centers
(c) MSME Idea Hackathon 2.0
(d) MSME Idea Hackathon 3.0 for Women Entrepreneurs.
• It was established by the UN General Assembly in 2017.
Importance of MSMEs –
• As per UNCTAD –
(a) formal and informal MSMEs make up over 90% of all companies worldwide.
(b) 70% of total employment
(c) 50% of GDP.
• As per the MSME Ministry, in India –
(a) there are around 63 million MSMEs (2nd highest after China’s 140 million MSMEs).
(b) 30% of India’s GDP.
(c) over 40% of its exports
(d) created 110 million jobs.
Value Addition –
• India observes National Small Industry Day annually on August 30.
SPORTS:
1. Special Olympics World Games 2023
Why in news – India ended its Special Olympics 2023 campaign by winning 202 medals (76 gold, 75 silver and 51 bronze).
Key Points –
• Indian athletes notched 6 medals from the track events (2 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze).
• Motto - Nothing about us without us having a say.
• 9-day event (17 to 25 June 2023).
• Venue – Berlin, Germany.
• For the first time Germany hosted the event.
About Special Olympics –
• World's largest inclusive sports event.
• Participants - athletes with intellectual disabilities.
BIHAR:
1. Akshay Anand ‘Sunny’
Why in news – Sahitya Akademi has announced the Bal Sahitya Puraskar for 2023.
Key Points –
• Maithli language - Akshay Anand Sunny (Work - “Ol Katra Jhol Katra”).
• This is the first book written by him which was given Literary Cultural Committee and Maisam Yuva Puraskar in the year 2018.
POINTERS:
• Which has conducted “Ranvijay Exercise” focusing on integrated operations - Indian Air Force.
• Who has recently received an honorary doctorate in Britain - Shankar Mahadevan.
• Asian Development Bank will give a loan of US $40 million to which neighboring country – Bangladesh.
• Which country has agreed to provide market access to steel and aluminum products of India - America.
• Google will set up a 'Global Fintech Operation Center' in which state - Gujarat.
• Recently, the International Olympic Committee has organized the first 'Olympic e-Sports Week' in which country – Singapore.
• Recently, the central government has announced that all trucks will now need to have air-conditioned driver compartments starting with which year – 2025.
• Which Indian pair has won the WTT Contender Tournament in Tunis - Sutirtha Mukherjee and Ayhika Mukherjee.
• How many years of the Smart City Mission project have been completed recently - 8 years.
• Who is the author of the book "Finance Minister of India" - A.K. Bhattacharya.