NATIONAL:
1. 5G Test Bed for Army
Why in news - IIT-Madras along with the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) would establish a 5G test bed at the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering in Indore.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Sri Lanka’s 21st Amendment
Why in news - Sri Lankan cabinet passed 21st Amendment to curtail powers of the President.
Key Points –
• It would annul 20A to the Constitution which gives unfettered powers to the President and would strengthen the Parliament.
• The 20th amendment (20A) enhanced the executive powers of the President in an unprecedented way.
• Powers pertaining to governance and cabinet ministers would be handed over to the Prime Minister.
• It would reduce the Presidency to a ceremonial position.
2. Emergency in Pakistan's Punjab
Why in news - Pakistan’s Punjab province has decided to declare an ‘emergency’ following a spike in cases of sexual abuse to deal with rape cases.
3. Same - Sex Marriage Ban Allowed
Why in news - An Osaka court on Monday ruled that Japan’s ban on same sex marriage was not ‘unconstitutional’.
ECONOMY:
1. Black Swan Event
Why in news - RBI has spoken about the possibility of capital outflows of $100 billion (around Rs 7,80,000 crore) from India in case of a major global risk scenario or a ‘black swan’ event.
About Black Swan Event -
• It is a rare and unpredictable event that comes as a surprise and has a significant impact on society or the world.
• The theory was put forward by Nassim Nicholas Taleb in 2001.
• It was popularised by Taleb’s 2007 book – The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable.
• Examples - 2008 global financial crisis, fall of the Soviet Union, 9/11 attacks.
• Covid-19 pandemic is not a black swan event.
2. Payments Vision 2025
Why in news – RBI has unveiled the Payments Vision 2025 document with intent to increase e-payments.
Key Points –
• Theme: E-Payments for Everyone, Everywhere, Everytime (4Es).
• Activities to be taken up - Integrity, Inclusion, Innovation, Institutionalisation and Internationalisation.
• It seeks a three-fold jump in the number of digital payments.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Prime Minister’s award for outstanding contribution for promotion of Yoga
Why in news - On the occasion of International Yoga Day, the AYUSH ministry has announced the award for 2021 to two individuals and two organizations.
Key Points –
• Individuals - Bhikkhu Sanghasena (Ladakh), Marcus Vinicius Rojo Rodrigues (Brazil).
• Organisations – ‘The Divine Life Society’ (Uttarakhand), the British Wheel of Yoga (United Kingdom).
• Sanghasena is the founder of the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre in Leh.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. National Yoga Olympiad 2022
Why in news - Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the National Yoga Olympiad 2022 and quiz competition in Delhi on June 18, 2022.
Key Points –
• Held from June 18 to 20, 2022.
• Organized by the Ministry of Education and NCERT.
• Theme – ‘Yoga for Humanity’.
• 600 students from 26 states and UTs participated.
• NCERT started the national yoga Olympiad in 2016.
REPORTS & INDICES:
1. ‘Most Valuable Global Brands Report’
Why in news - The Kantar BrandZ’s ‘Most Valuable Global Brands report’ was released recently.
Key Points –
• Top 3 – Apple ($947.1 bn), Google ( $819.6 bn), Amazon ($705.6 bn).
• The combined value of the world’s Top 100 most valuable brands - $8.7 trillion (23% increase).
• Louis Vuitton is the 1st luxury brand that ranked No.10
• Indian brands in top 100 –
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Gustavo Petro
Why in news - Gustavo Petro (defeated Rodolfo Hernández) to become the first leftist president of the country. Recently, leftist leaders won in Peru, Chile and Honduras.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Spiny Horntail
Why in news - Rare dragonfly Spiny Horntail spotted in Kerala for first time in Kottiyoor forests of Kannur.
Key Points –
• It is endemic to the Western Ghats and was discovered in Maharashtra earlier.
PLACES IN NEWS:
1. Kaliningrad
Why in news – Lithuania banned the transit of goods that are sanctioned by the European Union to Russia’s Kaliningrad region across its territory.
BIHAR:
1. Caste Census
Why in news – The General Administration department gave detailed information about structure caste census.
Key Points –
• Eight levels have been arranged for the census.
• Additional Principal Counting Officer - Additional Collector, District Welfare Officer or District Statistical Officer.
• Sub-Divisional Counting Officer - Sub-Divisional Officer.
• The supervisor has to ensure that no house, town or area is left out of coverage.
• Other workers - Teachers, clerks, MNREGA workers, Anganwadi workers and members of the Jeevika group.
2. Record Sale of Laddus
Why in news – There has been a record sale of Naivedyam in Patna's Mahavir temple.
Key Points –
• For the first time in the history of the temple, one lakh kg of Naivedyam was sold in a month.
• April 2022 - 1.19 lakh kg, May 2022 – 1.17 lakh kg.
• After Tirupati Balaji Temple (Andhra), Mahavir Temple, Patna has the highest sale of laddus.
• Naivedyam is being sold since 1992.
3. Cultivation of Exotic Vegetables
Why in news – The government has decided to promote the cultivation of exotic vegetables used in salads.
Key Points –
• Agriculture department to set up nursery at Chandi (Nalanda) and Desari (Vaishali).
• Plants would be given to the farmers at half the price (50% grant).
• Plants to be planted - Capsicum, Cherry, Tomato, Seedless cucumber, Cauliflower and pickled vegetables.
4. State Dam Safety Organization (SDSO)
Why in news – SDSO would monitor all the dams and barrages of Bihar.
Key Points –
• Water Resources department has formed a team of 56 officers and employees.
• It would work under the Chief Engineer of Central Design, Research and Quality Control.
• It would monitor 27 dams and 5 major barrages
• It was formed central dam safety act 2021.
5. Monica Khanna
Why in news – Captain Monica Khanna’s quick-thinking saved the lives of around 185 passengers on board the SpiceJet flight (Patna to New Delhi) that caught fire shortly after takeoff on June 19, 2022.
POINTERS:
• ‘Gaia Mission', which was in news recently, is associated with which space agency - European Space Agency (ESA).
• Which institute released a report titled 'Payments Vision 2025' – RBI.
• Which country has proposed to organize a joint border operation named 'Solidarity-2023' for SCO member countries – China.
• Glischropus Meghalayanus, which was recently discovered in Meghalaya, belongs to which species – Bat.
• Who has inaugurated the renovated Shri Kalika Mata Temple - PM Narendra Modi.
• Asia's longest-toothed Bhogeshwar elephant found dead due to natural causes in which tiger reserve - Bandipur Tiger Reserve.
• Recently, who has become the president of the top chess organization of Bengal - Dibyendu Barua.
• The National Conference on Cyber Security and National Security has been organized in which city - New Delhi.
• Who has taken over as the OVL Director (Finance) recently - Anupam Agarwal.
• Who has recently become the first female foreign minister of North Korea - Choe Son Hui.
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