NATIONAL:
1. 47th GST Council
Why in news – The 47th Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council’s two-day (June 28-29) meeting under the Chairmanship of Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman concluded in Chandigarh (earlier venue - Srinagar).
Key points –
• Important decisions taken –
• The decision would be effective from July 18, 2022.
• It did not take any decision on extending compensation to states beyond June 30 for revenue loss on account of GST implementation.
• GST Council would meet again in August, in Madurai, TN.
About GST Council -
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. NATO Summit 2022
Why in news - Leaders of the world’s largest defense alliance convened in Madrid (Spain) for the NATO 2022 summit from June 28 to June 30, 2022.
Key points –
• NATO plans to increase the number of high readiness forces to 300,000.
• Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership bid was accepted. (Turkey dropped its opposition).
• U.S. would permanently station the U.S. Army V Corps forward command in Poland.
• Georgia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and Ukraine were also invited.
• NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
About NATO –
• Full form - North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
• Military alliance among 30 member states (28 European and two North American i.e., USA and Canada).
• Signed on April 4, 1949 in Washington DC against the threat posed by the Soviet Union.
• In 2006, members pledged that every NATO country would dedicate 2% of its GDP to defence.
2. $500-mn aid for Wheat Purchases
Why in news - World Bank agreed on $500-mn aid to help Egypt fund wheat purchases as prices skyrocket because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Egypt is the world's largest wheat importer.
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. Gemcovac-19 Vaccine
Why in news – Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd said it is ready with 70 lakh dosages of its Gemcovac-19 vaccine.
Key points –
• It is India’s first indigenously developed mRNA vaccine against COVID-19 to get Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).
• Developed by Pune-based Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd. It is subsidiary of Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
• It is only the third mRNA vaccine to be approved for COVID-19 in the world after Pfizer and Moderna.
• mRNA vaccines are required to be stored at sub-zero temperatures. Gemcovac-19 can be stored at 2-8 degrees.
• mRNA vaccines trick the body into producing some of the viral proteins itself.
2. CAPSTONE Mission
Why in news – NASA’s CAPSTONE mission sent a small satellite (CubeSat) to a never-before-flown orbit around the Moon.
Key points –
• It was launched with the help of the private firm Rocket Lab from the Mahia Peninsula of New Zealand.
• Aim - To test different technologies in a lunar orbit called a ‘near rectilinear halo orbit’ (NRHO).
• ‘Getaway’ – NASA’s still-developing lunar space station.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. World Asteroid Day 2022
Why in news – It is celebrated globally on June 30 to raise public awareness about asteroid's hazardous impacts.
Key points –
• To mark the anniversary of the Tunguska event (in Siberia) (June 30, 1908) - Earth's largest asteroid impact in recorded history.
• Theme 2022 – ‘Small is beautiful’.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. K.K. Venugopal
Why in news – K.K. Venugopal has been reappointed as the Attorney¬General (Article 76) for a period of three months.
APPS & PORTALS:
1. Dak Karmayogi Portal
Why in news – Minister of Communications Ashwini Vaishnaw launched an e-learning portal ‘Dak Karmayogi’ on June 28, 2022.
Key points –
• It aims to enhance the competencies of about 4 lakh Gramin Dak Sevaks and Department of Post employees.
PLACES IN NEWS:
1.Po valley
Why in news – Italy’s worst drought in 70 years is badly affecting paddy fields in the river Po valley and jeopardizing the harvest of the premium rice used for risotto. Risotto is a northern Italian rice dish.
STATES/UTs:
1. Single-Use Plastic Buy Back Scheme
Why in news - Himachal Pradesh launched the scheme to purchase single-use plastic items from students of schools and colleges.
Key points -
• Monetary benefit - Rs 75 per kg to students.
• 3,000 Eco-clubs in schools and in 100 colleges under the National Green Corps program have been formed.
• Under Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, MoEFCC has banned manufacturing, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of identified single-use plastic will be banned from July 1, 2022.
BIHAR:
1. Bihar Assembly Configuration
Why in news - Four MLAs of AIMIM (All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen) have joined RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal).
Key points -
• Now, RJD has become the largest party in the 243-member Bihar Legislative Assembly (BLA).
• With this, the pre-poll opposition alliance in Bihar comprising RJD, Congress and Left parties has 115 members in the House.
• Ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has 126 members.
• Simple majority in BLA – 122.
Political Party |
MLAs in Assembly |
RJD |
80 |
BJP |
77 |
JDU |
45 |
INC |
19 |
2. Station Redevelopment Project
Why in news - Under the project, 12 stations of East Central Railway have been identified to be developed as a world-class station.
Key points -
• Identified Stations –
A. Sonpur division - Muzaffarpur, Begusarai and Barauni.
B. Samastipur division - Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, Bapudham Motihari.
C. Danapur division - Rajendranagar and Buxar.
D. Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay division - Gaya and Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Jn.
E. Dhanbad division - Dhanbad and Singrauli.
• To be completed by the end of 2024.
3. Amin Cum Revenue Employees Cadre Rules, 2022
Why in news – Amin and revenue staff in any district would be transferred at the level of Revenue and Land Reforms Department.
Key points –
• Rules were implemented from May 2022.
• Additional Chief Secretary of Revenue and Land Reforms Department would have the authority to transfer them.
• DM can no longer transfer Amin and revenue staff.
4. Bihar Caste Census
Why in news – The government would spend Rs 500 crore from the first supplementary budget for the financial year 2022-23 to conduct a caste census in the state.
POINTERS:
• India’s biggest private hospital, 2,400-bed Amrita Hospital is all set to open in – Faridabad.
• Which city will host Maharashtra’s first theatre festival dedicated to mental health – Pune.
• Which Asian country participated in the NATO Madrid summit for the first time – Japan.
• India’s funds in Swiss banks jumped by how much percent to over Rs 30 lakh crore in 2021- 50%.
• India and which another country/economic bloc has resumed negotiations for free trade agreement after 9 years - European Union.
• What is the rank of India in the Coursera Global Skill Report 2022 - 68th. (1st - Switzerland).
• Which bank announced $250 Million lending support for Indian start-ups - HSBC India.
• The government declared computer resources of which banks as ‘protected systems’ - ICICI, HDFC, NPCI.
• RBI suspended the license of which Co-operative bank - Millath Co-operative Bank.
• Who has been sworn in as Lokayukta of Karnataka - B S Patil.