NATIONAL:
1. My Pad My Right Programme
Why in news – NABARD launched the programme in Leh on 1st June 2022.
Key Points –
• It was launched by Nabard’s NabFoundation.
• For economic empowerment of rural women through menstrual hygiene.
• NABARD was established on 12th July, 1982 based on the recommendations of the Sivaraman Committee.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Canada to ‘freeze’ handgun ownership
Why in news – Canada to ‘freeze’ country’s importing, buying or selling handguns.
Key Points –
• Law name - Bill C-21.
• In 2020, it banned 1,500 models and variants of ‘assault-style’ firearms.
2. HIMARS Rocket System.
Why in news – USA to send advanced rocket system HIMARS to Ukraine.
Key Points –
• Full form - High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).
• Range - 50 miles (80 kilometres).
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. Centre hikes premium for flagship insurance schemes
Why in news – Central government has revised the premium rates for Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY).
Key Points –
• PMJJBY - From Rs 330 to Rs 436.
• PMSBY - From Rs 12 to Rs 20.
• Both schemes were launched in 2015.
• PMJJBY provides life insurance cover worth Rs 2 lakh to all account holders aged 18-50 years.
• PMSBY provides accident cover of Rs 2 lakh to account holders aged 18-70 years.
2. PM CARES for Children Scheme
Why in news – PM Modi on May 30 released the benefits under the ‘PM Cares for Children’ scheme.
Key Points –
• To support children who lost their parents in the pandemic.
• Rs 4,000 pm for the child's daily needs.
• When they become 23 years old, they would get the amount of Rs 10 lakhs.
• Ayushman Health Card for free treatment up to Rs 5 lakhs.
• PM CARES for Children Scheme was launched on May 29, 2021.
SECURITY:
1. Astra Mark-1
Why in news – Defence Ministry has signed a contract with Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) on 31st May for supply of the Astra Mark-1.
Key Points –
• Cost - Rs 2,971 crore.
• It is a beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile (AAM).
• Designed and developed by DRDO.
• Range- 110 Km, Speed – Around Mach 4.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Times Business Award 2022
Why in news - Young women entrepreneur Rashmi Sahoo won the award.
Key Points –
• She is director of Ruchi Foodline.
• The award was given in the category of ‘READY -TO-EAT’ brand.
• Award was presented by Bollywood actor and social activist Sonu Sood.
2. Sitara-e-Pakistan Award
Why in news - West Indies cricketer Daren Sammy was conferred with the Sitara-i-Pakistan Award.
Key Points –
• For his role in bringing international cricket back to Pakistan.
• In March 2020, he received the highest civilian medal of Pakistan, Nishan-e-Pakistan.
3. World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) Award-2022
Why in news - WHO has chosen Jharkhand for WNTD award-2022 for the state's efforts to reduce tobacco usage.
AGREEMENTS:
1. Gujarat and ‘Isha Outreach’
Why in news - Gujarat government inked an MoU with Isha Outreach (Sadguru) to conserve soil.
Key Points –
• Jaggi Sadguru’s 30,000 km (100 days) journey through Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East is an attempt to raise awareness on the importance of soil (‘Save Soil’ initiative).
• Gujarat became the 1st state to join this worldwide soil protection campaign.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1.National Education Ministers’ Conference:
Why in news - The two-day (2-3rd June) National Education Ministers’ Conference held in Gandhinagar Gujarat.
Key Points –
• Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has inaugurated this conference.
• Focus - Implementation of National Education Policy 2020 and leverage technology to minimise non-academic work of teachers.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Biodiversity Policy
Why in news - NTPC released Biodiversity Policy for conservation and restoration of biodiversity.
Key Points –
• It has signed a 5-year agreement with the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department for conservation of Olive Ridley Turtles.
• In 2018, it became a member of the India Business & Biodiversity Initiative (IBBI).
• NTPC (est - 1975) is India’s largest power producing company.
• NTPC became a Maharatna company in May 2010.
OBITUARY:
1. Krishnakumar Kunath
Why in news - Bollywood singer Krishnakumar Kunnath (KK) due to a cardiac arrest following a concert in Kolkata city on 31st May 2022.
SPORTS:
1. Men's Hockey Asia Cup 2022 (11th edition)
Why in news - South Korea won the fifth Asia Cup title by beating Malaysia 2-1 in the summit clash.
Key Points –
• Indian men's hockey team beat Japan 1-0 and clinched the bronze medal.
• Venue - Jakarta, Indonesia.
• Both India and Pakistan have won the tournament thrice.
STATES/UTs:
1. Telangana Formation Day 2022
Why in news – 8th Telangana formation day was observed on 2nd June 2022.
Key Points –
• India’s 28th state, Telangana, was founded on 2nd June 2014 after separation from Andhra Pradesh.
BIHAR:
1. Caste Census
Why in news – After an all-party meet, a decision was taken to conduct a caste-wise enumeration of its population in Bihar.
Key Points –
• All parties which have representation in the legislature attended the meeting.
• Three parties — the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) led by Mukesh Sahani, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) led by Chirag Paswan and ¬ Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party by Pashupati Kumar Paras — were not invited for the meeting as they have no representation in the legislature.
• Even within Muslims, the caste enumeration would reveal the sub-caste.
• Agreed to complete caste census in 9 to 10 months.
• Bihar would be the 2nd state to do so. (1st Karnataka).
• The last caste census in India was held in 1931.
• The Centre commenced the socio-economic and caste census in 2011 but the results were never made public.
2. NPGC plant goes fully commercial
Why in news – Bihar began getting 559 MW (present - 351 MW) additional power third unit of the Nabinagar Power Generating Company (NPGC) in Aurangabad began commercial operation on 1st June.
Key Points –
• NTPC runs the NPGC plant.
• NGPC project cost - 19,412 crore.
• Total capacity of the project - 1980 MW. (Bihar’s share - 1683 MW).
• Other states share - Uttar Pradesh (10%), Jharkhand (4%) and Sikkim (1%).
• NGPC is based on state-of-the-art ‘supercritical technology’.
• Units 1 and 2 (660 MW each) of the NPGC plant had begun commercial generation on September 6, 2019 and July 22, 2021 respectively.
3. Center for Monitoring of Indian Economy (CMIE) Report
Why in news – According to the CMIE report, the unemployment rate in the state has come down.
Key Points –
• Unemployment rate in May – 13.3%. (7.8% lower than April’s 21.1%).
• Unemployment in 2022 – Jan (13.3%), February (13.9%), March (14.4%), April (21.1%), May (13.3%).
• National level – 7.12% in May. (April – 7.83%).
4. Flood Management
Why in news – A workshop was organized in Patna on the topic of ‘Science and technology in flood management’.
Key Points –
• In Bihar, 73.6% area is affected by floods.
• Flood affected increased to 68 lakh hectares (earlier - 25 lakh ha).
• Flood affected district – 32. (Earlier - 25).
• IIAC Bangalore Prof. PP Majumdar said that with the use of technology, the potential damage from floods can be reduced by 29%.
5. Private Procurement of Wheat
Why in news – Private companies procured grains from farmers by paying more than MSP.
Key Points –
• Bihar government’s procurement target (2022) - 10 lakh tonnes @ Rs 2015 per quintal.
• Only 3521 tons were purchased.
• Private players are paying Rs 2000-2200 per quintal.
• 2021 target - 5 lakh tonnes (4.55 lakh tonnes procured).
• 2020 target - 2 lakh tonnes (5000 tonnes procured).
6. Flood Period Started on June 1
Why in news – Monsoon has entered India before date. The flood period has been fixed from June 1 to October 31.
Key Points –
• The flood period started 14 days in advance. (earlier – 15th June).
• Total – 153 days. (earlier – 139 days).
POINTERS:
• Who has recently launched an online portal to simplify the process of education program – NCTE.
• Tata Motors and Ford India have tied up with which state government to acquire Anand plant – Gujarat.
• Which state has launched Single Pick Cotton Pilot Project – Telangana.
• Para canoeist Prachi Yadav won which medal in Paracanoe World Cup - Bronze medal.
• Which insurance company has launched the savings life insurance plan ‘Bima Ratna’ – LIC.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 11th installment of PM Kisan Benefit of how many crore rupees - 21000 crores.
• In how many years the central government planned to cut power generation from 81 coal plants - 4 years.
• Who won India's first medal in IBSA Judo Grand Prix - Kapil Parmar.
• Which state has announced to give Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award again – Rajasthan.
• Which state has decided to spend 1000 crore rupees on sports sector infrastructure – Assam.