15th June, 2024
Cruise Tourism Conference, Mukhya Mantri Nijut Moina, unsafe batches of MDH and Everest spices, unarmed Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, Ukraine, Adani Power Global Pte, Wholesale Price Index (WPI), Nagastra-1, “Divya Drishti”, “Truenat Platform, World Blood Donor Day, Olympic Esports Games”. Bhajan Kaur, Indian women’s Squash team, Kavli Prize, BHEL, Harpal Singh Bedi, The Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary
- The two-day India-IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association) Cruise Tourism Conference concluded in New Delhi.
- The Chief Minister (CM) of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced the new scheme Mukhya Mantri Nijut Moina (MMNM).
- The government of Rajasthan has recalled unsafe batches of MDH and Everest spices.
- A joint team of the United States (US) Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) Airmen supported by the US Space Force Guardians launched an unarmed Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs).
- World leaders met in Switzerland to discuss a peace roadmap for Ukraine.
- Adani Power (a subsidiary of Adani Group) has incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary named Adani Power Global Pte located in Singapore.
- The Ministry of Commerce and industry has India’s wholesale inflation, as measured by the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), surged to a 15-month high of 2.61% in May, up from 1.26% in April 2024.
- The Indian Army has received the first batch of Indigenous man-portable suicide drones also known as the 1st Indigenous Loitering Munition (LM), Nagastra-1,
- An AI tool named, “Divya Drishti” was developed by Ingenious Research Solutions, a startup founded by Dr. Shivani Verma.
- Indian Researchers have developed a platform for fast detection of Tuberculosis, the platform has been named as “Truenat Platform”, and it has been developed by Goa-based Molbio Diagnostics.
- World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) is annually observed across the globe on 14 June.
- The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has proposed the creation of “Olympic Esports Games”.
- Bhajan Kaur clinched India an Olympic individual quota in Archery, winning a gold medal in Paris Final Olympic Qualifier’ in Antalya, Turkey.
- The Indian women’s Squash team finished fifth and their men’s counterparts sixth in the Asian Team Squash Championships which concluded in Dalian, China.
- The Kavli Prize winners were announced, honoring the achievers in the field of astrophysics, nanoscience, and neuroscience.
- Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has secured two orders worth approximately ₹7,000 crore from Adani Power for setting up two supercritical thermal power plants in Raipur (Chhattisgarh), and Mirzapur (Uttar Pradesh).
- Veteran sports journalist Harpal Singh Bedi, who also served as the national Olympic contingent’s press attache in 2012 died after a prolonged illness.
- The Madhya Pradesh government has announced that The Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary will be the second home for cheetahs in India, after the Kuno National Park.
Table of Content
National News
- India-IORA Cruise Tourism Conference Concludes In New Delhi
- What: The two-day India-IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association) Cruise Tourism Conference concluded in New Delhi.
- Aim of the conference: The Conference aims to foster cooperation, knowledge sharing, and strategic partnerships to maximize the potential of cruise, coastal, and marine tourism within the IORA region.
- Tell me more:
- Organized by: Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), in partnership with the IORA secretariat and the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
- Participants: Officials and experts from the IORA Member States
Source: FICCI
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- The IORA was formed as an intergovernmental body to promote regional cooperation amongst the countries lying along the Indian Ocean. It was set up in 1997 and India has been the founding member of the IORA. - In 2015, the IORA was granted observer status in the United Nations General Assembly and the African Union. - Members of the IORA: At present, 23 countries are members of the IORA. These countries are India, Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, France, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Dialogue Partner of the IORA - The Indian Ocean Rim Association has 12 dialogue partners. They are China, Egypt, the European Union, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Current Chairman of the IORA - Member countries hold the IORA chairmanship for two years. Currently, Sri Lanka is the chairman for 2023-25. India will take over from Sri Lanka as the chairman for 2025-27. Permanent Secretariat of IORA: Mauritius |
State News
- Assam introduces ‘Nijut Moina’ scheme to curb child marriages
- What: The Chief Minister (CM) of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced the new scheme Mukhya Mantri Nijut Moina (MMNM).
- Why: To end Child marriage in Assam by promoting girl’s education.
- Tell me more (About the Mukhya Mantri Nijut Moina Scheme)
- Launched in: June 2024
- Total beneficiaries: Around 10 Lakh girls
- Budget: ₹ 300 crore per year, total outlay of ₹ 1,500 crore over a five-year period.
- Duration: 5 years
- How it will help in eliminating child marriage: The scheme aims to empower the girls of the state by promoting education amongst them by providing them the financial incentives (which can motivate them to go to schools) and support from the state government.
- Financial help:
- Girls in classes 11 and 12 will receive Rs 1,000 per month.
- Degree students will be entitled to Rs 1,250 monthly.
- Post-graduation students will receive Rs 2,500 monthly.
- Eligibility Criteria:
- The scheme is applicable only for girl students but those who are married are not eligible.
- The daughters of Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) of Assam are not eligible for the scheme.
- The girl students who are beneficiaries of the Pragyan Bharati Scooty Scheme will not be eligible for these monetary benefits.
- Girls must be enrolled in any government college to be eligible for this benefit.
Source: India Today
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About Assam - Chief Minister (CM) - Himanta Biswa Sarma - Governor-Gulab Chand Kataria - Wildlife Sanctuaries - Bherjan Bokajan Padumoni Wildlife Sanctuary, East Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary |
- Rajasthan recalls ‘unsafe’ batches of MDH, Everest spices
- What: The government of Rajasthan has recalled unsafe batches of MDH and Everest spices.
- Why: The state conducted its own tests and found a batch of Everest’s cumin powder and two batches of MDH spice blends to be unsafe.
- Tell me more:
- Past instances:
- In April 2024, Hong Kong suspended sales of three spice blends produced by MDH and one by Everest, saying they contained high levels of a cancer-causing pesticide ethylene oxide, triggering scrutiny by regulators globally.
- After Hong Kong’s move, Singapore also ordered a recall of the Everest mix, whereas New Zealand, the United States, and Australia have said they were looking into the issues. Britain has applied extra controls on all spices entering from India.
Source: NDTV
- After Hong Kong’s move, Singapore also ordered a recall of the Everest mix, whereas New Zealand, the United States, and Australia have said they were looking into the issues. Britain has applied extra controls on all spices entering from India.
- In April 2024, Hong Kong suspended sales of three spice blends produced by MDH and one by Everest, saying they contained high levels of a cancer-causing pesticide ethylene oxide, triggering scrutiny by regulators globally.
- Past instances:
International News
- USA conducted the launch of Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs)
- What: A joint team of the United States (US) Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) Airmen supported by the US Space Force Guardians launched an unarmed Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs).
- Why: This test launch is a regular activity meant to show that the Minuteman III missile works well and is safe, secure, reliable, and effective as part of the USA’s nuclear defense system.
Source: AFGSC
- Switzerland is hosting meet to discuss Ukraine peace roadmap
- What: World leaders met in Switzerland to discuss a peace roadmap for Ukraine.
- Why: In the year 2022, Russia has militarily attacked the Ukraine.
- The war has been going on since then.
- Tell me more:
- Total participants: Envoys from around 100 countries
- Russia was not invited to this meeting.
- U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris represented the United States and announced $1.5 billion in new U.S. assistance for Ukraine.
- India was represented by the Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Pavan Kapoor.
- The joint communique on the peace summit was issued at the summit’s conclusion.
- It was signed by 83 states and organizations.
- India, Indonesia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and South Africa all withheld their signatures from the peace document.
Source: India Today
- India, Indonesia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and South Africa all withheld their signatures from the peace document.
- It was signed by 83 states and organizations.
Banking and Economy
- Adani Power forms a subsidiary for investments
- What: Adani Power (a subsidiary of Adani Group) has incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary named Adani Power Global Pte located in Singapore.
- Authorized capital: 1000 Singapore dollars.
- Authorized capital is the maximum number of shares that a company is legally permitted to issue to its shareholders. It is the maximum amount of capital that a company can raise through the issue of shares to the shareholders
- The objective of the subsidiary is to invest in power, infrastructure, and related fields.
Source: Yahoo
- WPI inflation rises to 15-month high of 2.61% in May
- What: The Ministry of Commerce and industry has India’s wholesale inflation, as measured by the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), surged to a 15-month high of 2.61% in May, up from 1.26% in April 2024.
- Why (the contributing factors): The significant increase in food prices, which rose by 9.82% in May compared to -3.61% in May 2023, is a major contributor.
Source: Business Today
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About Wholesale Price Index (WPI): - WPI measures the changes in the prices of goods sold and traded in bulk by wholesale businesses to other businesses. - It is calculated and published by the Office of Economic Advisor, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. - WPI data is published monthly, with the index value representing an estimate of the price level for the month as a whole, rather than a specific date. - Analysts use the numbers to track the supply and demand dynamics in industry, manufacturing, and construction. - An upward surge in the WPI indicates inflationary pressure in the economy, and vice versa. - The quantum of rise in the WPI month-after-month is used to measure the level of wholesale inflation in the economy. How do you calculate WPI? - It is calculated by taking a weighted average of the prices of a basket of goods, with each item’s weight determined by its share of total wholesale sales. The basket of goods comprises three major groups: - Primary Articles (Weight 22.62%) - Fuel and Power (Weight 13.15%) - Manufactured Products (Weight 64.23%) - The prices of a total of 697 items are tracked under the 2011-12 series of the WPI, which includes 117 primary items, 16 items of fuel and power, and 564 manufactured products. |
Defence News
- Indian Army gets Nagastra-1, India’s first Indigenous suicide drone “Nagastra-1”
- What: The Indian Army has received the first batch of Indigenous man-portable suicide drones also known as the 1st Indigenous Loitering Munition (LM), Nagastra-1,
- They have the capability of precise strikes on enemy training camps and launch pads, minimizing risks to soldiers.
- Tell me more:
- Designed and developed by: Economics Explosives Ltd (EEL), a subsidiary of Solar Industries Nagpur (Maharashtra), in association with Z-Motion Autonomous Systems Pvt Ltd, Bengaluru, Karnataka, with over 75% indigenous content.
- Total Quantity: 480 drones
- Drones like Nagastra-1 with in-built warheads are known as kamikaze or exploding drones.
- These drones were first unveiled by the Indian Army in 2023, during a Niche Technology and Innovation display at the Manekshaw Centre in Delhi.
Source: India Today
- These drones were first unveiled by the Indian Army in 2023, during a Niche Technology and Innovation display at the Manekshaw Centre in Delhi.
Science and Technology
- Woman-led start-up develops AI tool that creates multi-faceted authentication system
- What: An AI tool named, “Divya Drishti” was developed by Ingenious Research Solutions, a startup founded by Dr. Shivani Verma.
- Specialty: The AI tool combines face recognition with unchangeable physical traits like walking patterns and skeletal structure, making biometric authentication more accurate and reliable.
- This approach enhances the accuracy of identification, minimizing the risk of false positives or identity fraud, and has versatile applications across diverse sectors including defence, law enforcement, corporate and public infrastructure,
- Tell me more:
- She established the company after winning the Dare to Dream Innovation Contest 2.0 organized by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- The Dare to Dream 2.0 contest is organized by DRDO to encourage innovators and startups in India to develop new technologies for defence and aerospace
- It has been developed under the technical guidance and mentoring of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence & Robotics (CAIR), a laboratory of the DRDO based in Bengaluru.
Source: Indian Express
- She established the company after winning the Dare to Dream Innovation Contest 2.0 organized by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- Indian researchers developed a platform for fast detection of Tuberculosis (TB)
- What: Indian Researchers have developed a platform for fast detection of Tuberculosis, the platform has been named as “Truenat Platform”, and it has been developed by Goa-based Molbio Diagnostics.
- Molbio Diagnostics is a company based in Goa, India, that manufactures medical diagnostic equipment.
- It has also received appreciation at the World Health Assembly.
- Tell me more (About Truenat platform)
- It is a handheld, battery-operated, real-time, rapid molecular test for the diagnosis of pulmonary, extrapulmonary, and rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis.
- They are the various forms of TB disease
- It can be deployed in health centres, labs, and fields.
- It delivers test results in less than an hour and can serve more than 40 diseases.
Source: The Hindu
- It is a handheld, battery-operated, real-time, rapid molecular test for the diagnosis of pulmonary, extrapulmonary, and rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis.
- What: Indian Researchers have developed a platform for fast detection of Tuberculosis, the platform has been named as “Truenat Platform”, and it has been developed by Goa-based Molbio Diagnostics.
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- Molbio Diagnostics are known for their innovative portable and battery-operated real-time RT PCR point of care testing system, which played a significant role in India’s COVID-19 screening efforts. - Molbio is also the first unicorn from Goa after an investment from Temasek, taking the company’s valuation to $1.6 billion. The company was founded in 2010 About World Health Assembly The 77th World Health Assembly will be held from 27 May to 1 June 2024. The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO) and is attended by delegations from all WHO Member States. The main functions of the World Health Assembly are to determine the policies of the Organization, appoint the Director-General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed programme budget. The assembly is held annually in Geneva, Switzerland |
Important Days
- June 14: World Blood Donor Day
- What: World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) is annually observed across the globe on 14 June.
- Organized by: World Health Organisation (WHO).
- The host country of the WBDD 2024 is Perú.
- The 2024 theme/slogan of WBDD is, “20 years of celebrating giving: thank you, blood donors!”
Source: WHO
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About World Health Organisation (WHO): - Director General- Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus - Headquarters- Geneva, Switzerland - Established in 1948 |
Sports
- IOC proposes creation of “Olympic Esports Games” to IOC Session
- What: The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has proposed the creation of “Olympic Esports Games”.
- Esports, short for electronic sports, refers to the competitive world of video gaming where individuals or teams compete against each other in various games, often in professional leagues or tournaments.
- It will be discussed during the 142nd IOC Session, which will be held during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 when the IOC Members will vote on this proposal.
- Tell me more:
- Need for inclusion of Esports: With the creation of the Olympic Esports Games, the IOC is taking a major step forward and is keeping up with the pace of the digital revolution.
Source: Olympics
- Need for inclusion of Esports: With the creation of the Olympic Esports Games, the IOC is taking a major step forward and is keeping up with the pace of the digital revolution.
- What: The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has proposed the creation of “Olympic Esports Games”.
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Background - The IOC’s first engagement with the esports community was the organization of the Esports Forum in 2018 in Lausanne, Switzerland. - It was then followed by the setting up of an Esports Liaison Group as a platform to engage with all the esports stakeholders. - This was later transformed into the IOC Esports Commission, chaired by IOC Member David Lappartient. - In 2021, the IOC developed the Olympic Virtual Series, the IOC’s first pilot venture in esports. - Building on the learnings from this Olympic Virtual Series, the IOC then launched the Olympic Esports Week in Singapore in June 2023, which brought together the Olympic and esports communities. - Following this success, in 2023, IOC President tasked the Esports Commission with studying the creation of “Olympic Esports Games”. |
- Bhajan Kaur Secures Olympic Archery Berth With Gold At Final Qualifier
- What: Bhajan Kaur clinched India an Olympic individual quota in Archery, winning a gold medal in Paris Final Olympic Qualifier’ in Antalya, Turkey.
- An Olympic quota refers to the allocated number of spots available for athletes from different countries to compete in the Olympic Games.
- Each sport has a specific number of total quota spots, which are distributed through various qualification events leading up to the Olympics
Source: Outlook
- Each sport has a specific number of total quota spots, which are distributed through various qualification events leading up to the Olympics
- India women finish 5th, men 6th in Asian Team Squash Championship
- What: The Indian women’s Squash team finished fifth and their men’s counterparts sixth in the Asian Team Squash Championships which concluded in Dalian, China.
- Men’s category results
- Rank 1: Malaysia
- Rank 2: Hong Kong
- Women’s category results
- Rank 1: Malaysia
- Rank 2: Hong Kong
Source: The Hindu
Awards
- 2024 Kavli Prize Announced in Astrophysics, Nanoscience and Neuroscience
- What: The Kavli Prize winners were announced, honoring the achievers in the field of astrophysics, nanoscience, and neuroscience.
- Tell me more (List of Winners)
- Kavli Prize in Astrophysics: David Charbonneau and Sara Seager (both have dual citizenship of Canada/USA).
- For discoveries of exoplanets and the characterization of their atmospheres.
- Kavli Prize in Nanoscience: Robert S. Langer (USA), Armand Paul Alivisatos (USA) and Chad A. Mirkin (USA)
- Kavli Prize in Neuroscience: Nancy Kanwisher (USA), Winrich Freiwald (Germany), and Doris Tsao (USA).
- received the prize for their contributions to our understanding of brain functions.
Source: Yahoo
- received the prize for their contributions to our understanding of brain functions.
- Kavli Prize in Astrophysics: David Charbonneau and Sara Seager (both have dual citizenship of Canada/USA).
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Kavli Prize - This biennial award, established by Norwegian-American philanthropist Fred Kavli (1927-2013). - Given by the US-based Kavli Foundation in partnership with the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters and the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research. - Each award includes a $1 million cash prize, a scroll, and a 7 cm diameter medal. - It was designed to be like the Nobel in the fields of astrophysics, neuroscience, and nanoscience |
Memorandum of Understanding
- BHEL secures Rs 7,000 crore orders from Adani Power for two power plants
- What: Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has secured two orders worth approximately ₹7,000 crore from Adani Power for setting up two supercritical thermal power plants in Raipur (Chhattisgarh), and Mirzapur (Uttar Pradesh).
- Tell me more:
- Plant capacity: 2*800 MW each
- Role of BHEL: BHEL’s responsibilities for both projects cover the manufacturing and supply of main plant equipment and related auxiliaries, as well as overseeing commissioning of the plant. The key equipment, such as steam generators, steam turbines, and generators, will be produced at BHEL’s Trichy and Haridwar plants.
Source: Money Control
Miscellaneous
- Renowned Sports Journalist Harpal Singh Bedi Passed Away
- What: Veteran sports journalist Harpal Singh Bedi, who also served as the national Olympic contingent’s press attache in 2012 died after a prolonged illness.
Source: Free Press Journal
- What: Veteran sports journalist Harpal Singh Bedi, who also served as the national Olympic contingent’s press attache in 2012 died after a prolonged illness.
- Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary is being developed as India’s second home for cheetahs
- What: The Madhya Pradesh government has announced that The Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary will be the second home for cheetahs in India, after the Kuno National Park.
- About Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary
- The sanctuary is spread across an area of 368.62 sq km, in the districts of Mandsaur (187.12 sq km) and Neemuch (181.5 sq km) in western MP, right on the border with Rajasthan.
- The Chambal River cuts the sanctuary into two almost equal halves.
- The Gandhi Sagar dam, constructed on the river in 1960, lies within the area of the sanctuary.
Source: Indian Express
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What is the Cheetah Reintroduction Project - The Cheetah Reintroduction Project in India formally commenced on September 17, 2022, to restore the population of cheetahs, which were declared extinct in the country in 1952. - The project involves the translocation of cheetahs from South Africa and Namibia to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. - The project is implemented by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, Wildlife Institute of India (WII), and cheetah experts from Namibia and South Africa. Along with Kuno, the other sites recommended for holding and conservation breeding of cheetahs in India, in controlled wild conditions are: - Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh - Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh - Shahgarh bulge in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan Mukundara Tiger Reserve as fenced enclosure |
About Anuj Jindal
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Anuj Jindal, the founder, is an ex-manager from SBI, with an M.Com from Delhi School of Economics. He also has a JRF in Commerce & Management and NET in HRM, along with more than 5 years of experience in the field of Education.
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