Daily Current Affairs For BPSC as on 17.06.2022

NATIONAL:

1. Kalika Mata Temple

Why in news – PM Modi to inaugurate the redeveloped Kalika Mata temple on June 18, 2022.

Key Points –

• Here, earlier stood the Hazrat Sadanshah Wali Peer dargah that was relocated to a space next to it in an ‘amicable settlement’.

About the temple –

• It is atop the Pavagadh hill in the Panchmahal district (Champaner town), Gujarat.

• The temple was rebuilt by Ashish Sompura who is building the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

• UNESCO has designated Champaner-Pavagadh as a World Heritage Site calling it the ‘only complete and unchanged Islamic pre-Mughal city’.

• In the 15th century, Sultan Mahmud Begda destroyed the shikhara of the temple.

2. U.S. to fund 3 Indian Research Institutions

Why in news – The United States has announced a funding of $122 million to prevent avoidable epidemics, enable early detection and rapid & effective response.

Key Points –

• Total funding - $122,475,000 over a period of 5 years.

• 3 institutions –

A. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

B. National Institute of Virology

C. National Institute of Epidemiology

3. Steel Slag Road

Why in news – Steel Minister Ram Chandra Prasad Singh inaugurated India’s first six-lane highway made of steel slag in Surat, Gujrat on June 15, 2022.

Key Points –

• Slag is a by-product of steel manufacturing.

• The 6-lane road of 1 km utilized around 1 lakh tonnes of processed steel slag from AMNS India steel plant in Hazira.

• It was jointly made with the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel (AMNS) India.

4. 5G Spectrum Auction

Why in news – Union Cabinet cleared a proposal on June 15, 2022 to auction over 72,000 megahertz (MHz) or 72 GHz, of airwaves with a validity period of 20 years.

Key Points –

• Auctions to start July 26, 2022.

• Auction to be held in the frequencies of 600 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1,800 MHz, 2,100 MHz, 2,300 MHz, 3,300 MHz and 26 GHz bands.

• Base price - Rs 5 lakh crore for the entirety of the spectrum.

• Payment can be made in 20 equal annual installments.

• Bidders can return the spectrum after 10 years provided they do not have any dues.

• India would start getting 5G services by March 2023.

INTERNATIONAL:

1. Malaysia to abolish mandatory death penalty

Why in news – Malaysia has agreed to abolish the mandatory death penalty for 11 offences and agreed on a substitute sentence.

Key Points –

• In May 2022, Zambia announced its plan to abolish the death penalty.

• Right to life and the right to live free from torture or cruel are protected under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN in 1948.

• Most executions (2021) – China > Iran > Egypt > Saudi Arabia > Syria.

• In India, death penalty is not mandatory for any crime.

REPORTS & INDICES:

1. World Competitiveness Index 2022

Why in news – Institute for Management Development (IMD) released the annual World Competitive Index (ranks 63 economies) on June 15, 2022.

Key Points –

• India’s rank - 37th (2021 - 43rd, a six-position jump).

• Top 5 - Denmark (1st), Switzerland (2nd), Singapore (3rd), Sweden (4th), Hong Kong (5th).

• Bottom 3 – Venezuela (63rd), Argentina (62nd), Mongolia (61st).

• 3 most important trends impacting businesses in 2022 –

A. Inflationary pressures (50%)

B. Geopolitical conflicts (49%)

C. Supply chain bottlenecks (48%)

• It uses four factors (334 criteria) to measure competitiveness. i.e., economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency and basic infrastructure.

SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:

1.India-ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting

Why in news - India hosted the two-day conclave (June 16-17) to mark 30 years of dialogue relations and 10 years of strategic partnership with ASEAN countries.

Key Points –

About ASEAN –

• Full form - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

• Established on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok by five countries i.e., Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

• Members - Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam. (10 countries).

• 1st ASEAN Summit - Bali, Indonesia (Feb 23-24, 1976).

• India, US, China, Japan and Australia are its dialogue partners.

• India - Sectoral partner (1992), Full dialogue partnership (1995), Summit level partnership (2002) and Strategic partnership (2012).

2. Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians

Why in news - The 8th edition has been started in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt to address climate change.

Key Points –

• Jointly organized by the House of Representatives and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

• Nagaland's first woman elected as Member of Parliament (MP) to Rajya Sabha S. Phangon Konyak represented India.

• She would say on 'Young MPs for Climate Actions'.

• There are 35,177 parliamentary seats globally but just 2.66% of these are held by young MPs.

IMPORTANT DAYS:

1. World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2022

Why in news – It is celebrated every year on June 17 which focuses on turning the degraded land into a healthy land.

Key Points –

• Theme - Rising up from drought together.

• Host Country - Madrid, Spain.

• UNCCD 2018-2030 Strategic Framework - to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) by 2030.

• Bonn Challenge - to bring 150 million hectares of degraded and deforested land into restoration by 2020 and 350 million by 2030.

• India for the first time hosted the 14th session of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in September 2019.

SECURITY:

1. Prithvi-II Ballistic Missile

Why in news - India has successfully test-fired Prithvi-II at Chandipur, Odisha on June 15, 2022.

Key Points –

• It is an indigenously developed surface-to-surface missile.

• Range - around 250 km and can carry a one-ton payload.

APPOINTMENTS:

1. Radha Iyengar Plumb

Why in news - Joe Biden nominated Radha Iyengar Plumb to the post of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.

2. Aarti Prabhakar

Why in news - Joe Biden to nominate Aarti Prabhakar as the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology (scientific advisor to Joe Biden). She would replace Eric Lander.

3. Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai

Why in news - Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai have been selected as the next chairperson of the Press Council of India (PCI).

FESTIVALS:

1. Literary Festival ‘Unmesh’

Why in news - Arjun Ram Meghawal inaugurated 3-day International literary festival in Shimla, HP on June 16, 2022.

Key Points –

• ‘Unmesh’ (celebration of expression) is the biggest international literary festival in the country so far.

• Organised by the Union Ministry of Culture and the Sahitya Akademi as part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.

• Booker Prize-winner Geetanjali Shree expressed her views on women’s writing in Indian languages.

2. Mango Festival 2022

Why in news - The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has organized an eight-day long mango festival in Bahrain to boost the export of Mangoes. 34 varieties of mangoes were displayed at the Al Jazira group supermarket.

STATES/UTS:

1. Ennum Ezhuthum Scheme

Why in news – TN CM MK Stalin launched the Ennum Ezhuthum scheme to bridge the learning gap that was caused due to the COVID pandemic among students aged below eight.

BIHAR:

1. Orientation program for Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)

Why in news – Hon’ CM Nitish Kumar inaugurated the orientation program of the newly elected representatives of PRIs on June 16, 2022.

Key Points –

• He addressed the training program of 2.5 lakh Panchayat representatives in a virtual manner.

• Construction of panchayat government buildings in 5200 panchayats was approved.

• For the first time in Panchayat elections 2006, provision of reservation was made for women, OBC, SC and ST categories.

• After liquor prohibition, the government started ‘Sustainable livelihood scheme’. In this, financial assistance of up to Rs 1,00,000 is being given to toddy producers and liquor makers.

2. Pulse Polio Campaign

Why in news – The campaign would run from June 19 to 23 (5 days).

Key Points –

• For this, 45,000 team have been formed.

3. Smart Prepaid Meter

Why in news – To improve the power revenue situation in Bihar and better electricity system, a plan to install smart prepaid meters is underway.

Key Points –

• An agreement was signed between North Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited and Secure Meters Limited.

• In addition to installing smart meters, Secure Meter Limited would also conduct energy audits.

• In 2nd phase, 26 lakh smart prepaid meters of electricity would be installed in rural areas 5 districts in 30 months.

• 5 districts - Sitamarhi, Sheohar, East Champaran, West Champaran and Muzaffarpur.

• In 1st phase, Bihar has installed 8,00,000 smart meters in urban areas and topped the list in the country.

• So far, 8,29,000 smart prepaid meters have been installed in Bihar.

4. Degraded Land in Bihar

Why in news – Centre for Science and Environment has included Bihar in the list of 14 states with rapid land degradation.

Key Points –

• In Bihar, in 15 years, 13% of the land got degraded.

• Rate of degradation in Bihar – 13%.

• Top states with more than 30% land degradation – JH (68%), RJ (62.0%), Delhi (61.73%), Goa (52.64%), GJ (52.22%).

• Top states with highest rate of degradation – Mizoram (188%), Punjab (80%), Arunachal Pradesh (47%).

POINTERS:

• Who has laid the foundation stone of the new Raj Bhavan building in Dona Paula, Goa - Ram Nath Kovind.

• Which company has launched an industry-first credit line service using its AI-powered chat capability on WhatsApp – CASHe.

• Which French company would buy 25% stake in Adani Group's hydrogen unit – TotalEnergies.

• Which government has built an oxygen production facility in collaboration with UNDP - Delhi Government.

• India's trade deficit widened to how much billion dollars in May 2022 - $ 24.29 billion.

• Who has inaugurated Jal Bhushan Bhawan and Revolutionaries' Gallery at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai – Narendra Modi.

• BRICS New Growth Bank (NDB) and who has signed an MoU to enhance bilateral cooperation and promote common development of BRICS countries - BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution (PartNIR) Innovation Center.

• Which country has recently lifted the 2-year covid visa ban on Indians – China.

• Under which scheme, India's first private train service has been flagged off - Bharat Gaurav.

• Recently, who has been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome - Justin Bieber.

 

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