NATIONAL:
1. Presidential Polls
Why in news - The Election Commission announced the date for the Presidential election.
Key Points –
• Election date - July 18, 2022. Counting of votes - July 21.
• President Ram Nath Kovind’s term ends on July 24.
• The electoral college will comprise 4,809 members — 233 RS MPs, 543 LS MPs, 4,033 MLAs of states and the UTs of Delhi and Puducherry.
• The total value of votes will be 10,86,431 (5,43,200 for MPs or 700 votes each and 5,43,231 for MLAs based on the 1971 Census.).
• Highest value of an MLA vote – Uttar Pradesh (208), Lowest – Sikkim (7).
• The MLAs of J&K are no longer part of the electoral college.
2. 4G mobile connectivity in Pangong Lake
Why in news - Reliance Jio became the first network to provide 4G mobile connectivity in and around the Pangong area.
Key Points –
• Jamyang Tsering Namgyal (MP from Ladakh) inaugurated Jio Mobile Tower at Spangmik village near Pangong Lake.
3. SMBSaathi Utsav
Why in news - WhatsApp India launched SMBSaathi Utsav to support small businesses adopting digital mediums such as the WhatsApp Business App to run their business.
Key Points –
• Pilot launch - Jaipur’s Johri Bazaar and Bapu Bazaar.
• India is home to approximately 6.3 Cr MSMEs accounting for 30% of the country’s GDP and employing over 110 million people.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Thailand makes marijuana legal
Why in news - Thailand becomes 1st Asian country to legalize marijuana (cannabis).
Key Points –
• For plantation, trading and medical use, smoking in public still remains a crime.
2.Indian patrol boats to Vietnam
Why in news - India handed over the 12 high-speed guard boats) to Vietnam on June 9, 2022.
Key Points –
• By Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the Hong Ha Shipyard, Vietnam.
• The deal was executed by Larsen & Tourbo.
3. Aegean islands demilitarisation
Why in news - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Greece to demilitarise islands in the Aegean Sea.
Key Points –
• Greece and Turkey are NATO allies.
About Aegean Sea
• The Aegean Sea is between the Greek and Anatolian Peninsulas between in the Mediterranean Sea.
• It connects to the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea by the Bosphorus and Dardanelles strait.
• It is also called White Sea.
• Islands - Kasos, Crete, Rhodes, Kythera, Karpathos, Gockeada and Bozkaada.
RANKS & INDICES:
1. QS World University Rankings 2023
Why in news - The 19th edition of QS World University Rankings 2023 was released on June 08, 2022.
Key Points –
• Top 3 - Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA) (1st), University of Cambridge (UK) (2nd) and Stanford University (USA) (3rd).
• Top 3 countries with most institutions - USA (201), UK (90) and China (71).
• 6 parameters are — Academic reputation (AR), Employer reputation (ER), Faculty-student ratio (FSR), Citations per faculty (CpF), International faculty ratio and international students ratio.
• A total of 41 Indian universities have featured in the ranking.
• India’s performance -
• OP Jindal Global University is the highest ranked private university for the third year in a row.
2. CRE8 Crypto Index
Why in news - CoinSwitch has launched the Crypto Rupee Index (CRE8).
Key Points –
• It is India’s first benchmark index to measure the performance of the Indian Rupee-based crypto market.
• It includes the top eight crypto-assets - Bitcoin, Ethereum, Binance Coin, Ripple, Cardano, Solana, Polkadot and Dogecoin.
• It represents over 85% of the total market capitalization of cryptos traded in the Indian rupee.
APPS & PORTALS:
1. CiSS Application
Why in news - The National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has launched the ‘CiSS application’ to rehabilitate Street Children.
Key Points –
• It was launched under the Baal Swaraj portal.
• (NCPCR) is a statutory body established under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005.
• Under the act, a Child is defined as a person in the 0 to 18 years age group.
FESTIVALS:
1. Kheer Bhavani Mela
Why in news - Kashmiri Hindus celebrated the Kheer Bhawani Mela temple at Tulmulla in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal on June 8.
Key Points –
• It is dedicated to the goddess Ragnya Devi.
2. Baikho Festival
Why in news - Assam celebrated Baikho festival for good rain and harvest.
Key Points –
• It is celebrated by Rabha tribes.
AMBASSADORS:
1. AR Rahman
Why in news - A R Rahman has been named the ambassador of the British Council's 'India-UK Together Season of Culture'.
SPORTS:
1. ‘Ironman Triathlon’
Why in news - Shreyas G Hosur (1st Indian Railways officer) completed world’s toughest triathlon on June 5, 2022.
Key Points –
• Venue - Hamburg, Germany.
• He completed the championship in 13 hours 23 mins 36 seconds.
• The event included swimming for 3.8 km, cycling for 180 km and a run of 42.2 km.
• He is Deputy Financial Advisor of South Western Railway.
BIHAR:
1. Khelo India Youth National Games
Why in news - Bihar gets first gold medal in Khelo India Youth National Games.
Key Points –
• Bhola Kumar (weightlifting) of Jehanabad has won the first gold medal for Bihar.
• He won in the snatch round with 127 snatches and 155 clean jerks.
2. Land Record Digitisation
Why in news – The deadline for land record digitization in the state extended by 4 years.
Key Points –
• Now, It would run till 2027.
• Budget for next 4 years – 97 crores.
• 28 records to be digitised.
• Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP) was started in Bihar in 2012.
3. Lalu Pathshala
Why in news – Former minister Tej Pratap Yadav aims to open ‘Lalu Pathshala’ on the birthday of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on June 11.
4. Bal Hriday Yojana
Why in news – 384 children have got a new life due to the scheme.
Key Points –
• Top beneficiaries – Patna (42), Vaishali (25) and Nalanda (24).
• Not a single child of Supaul and Purnia needed operation
• It was launched in February 2021 for the treatment of children suffering from the problem of hole in the heart.
• Operation is done at Sri Sathya Sai Heart Hospital, Ahmedabad in association with Prashanti Medical Services and Research Foundation.
5. Raj Bhavan's new website
Why in news - Governor Fagu Chauhan launched the new website of Raj Bhavan on June 9, 2022.
PLACES IN NEWS:
1.Kurkihar (Gaya)
Why in news – More than 200 statues of Buddha have been found at Kurkihar. It is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site.
Key Points –
• The statue of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva was stolen from Kurkihar in 2000.
• Currently in Milan (Italy), it would be returned soon to India.
POINTERS:
• Which state has become the first state to approve the Drone Policy - Himachal Pradesh.
• Which country has launched a crewed mission to build Tiangong space station – China.
• OECD has projected India's GDP growth rate to be what percent for the financial year 2023 - 6.9%.
• By which year has the European Parliament voted in favor of banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars - 2035.
• Which state wildlife board has recently approved 12 new conservation reserves and 3 wildlife sanctuaries - Maharashtra.
• By whom has the volume-IV of selected speeches named 'Loktantra Ke Swar' and 'Republican Ethics' have been released - Ram Nath Kovind.
• Who has launched India's first sports marketing book ‘The Winning Formula for Success’ - IISM.
• Who partnered with Mobisafar Services for banking services across India - Suryoday SFB.
• Which state held its first State Women's Conference on theme, 'Support and Celebrate' held – Meghalaya.
• Recently in which state the Indian Army has announced the opening of coaching centers for poor students? – Manipur.