22nd June, 2024

1. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has extended the licence of Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
2. The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 has been enacted by the Indian government.
3. The Ministry of Education has established a high-level committee to enhance transparency and fairness in the National Testing Agency’s (NTA) examination processes.
4. Chad has become the first country in 2024 and 51st globally to eliminate a type of Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) i.e. gambiense form of Human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness)
5. The 67th meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council recently concluded with a significant decision. It has approved $736.4 million in funding for 34 projects related to environmental conservation.
6. The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has introduced a new thematic index called the Nifty India Tourism Index
7. Private equity firm WestBridge Capital has divested a 1.7% stake in the AU Small Finance Bank for ₹845 crore through an open market transaction.
8. Markets regulator SEBI has issued an order restraining JM Financial Ltd from acting as a lead manager for public issues of debt securities until March 31, 2025, in a case of alleged irregularities in a public issue of non-convertible debentures (NCDs).
9. The 2024 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report has been released by the World Bank.
10. The “India’s DeepTech Dawn: Forging Ahead” report, was released by National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM), sheds light on the Indian DeepTech startup landscape.
11. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is working with the Indian Space and Research Organization (ISRO) to train an Indian astronaut for an International Space Station (ISS) trip
12. As per Ministry of Science and technology, India’s share in the global space economy is set to rise significantly by 2030.
13. Recently the Paavo Nurmi Games 2024 was hosted at Paavo Nurmi Stadium in Turku, Finland.
14. Recently the Stepan Avagyan Memorial 2024 Chess Tournament was hosted in in Jermuk, Armenia.
15. On June 21, the International Yoga Day is celebrated, a global event promoting health and well-being
16. On 21 June every year, the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) celebrates World Hydrography Day to raise awareness about hydrography and how it plays a vital role in improved knowledge of the seas and oceans.
17. World Music Day is celebrated on June 21 every year.
18. The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) and Mastercard India have signed a MoU to collaborate on enhancing cyber-resilience in India’s financial sector.
19. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh assumes charge as Chairman of the IIPA for third time
20. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary has been appointed as the convenor of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on GST rate rationalisation.
21. UN chief António Guterres has warned about the rise of malicious and illegal cyber activities through “Cyber Mercenaries

National News

1. DGCA extends the licence of Maharishi Valmiki International Airport of Ayodhya
   • What: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has extended the licence of Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
   • The license has been extended for a period of 5 years.
     • In December 2023, DGCA had granted an six months licence to the Valmiki International Airport.
   • Tell me more:
     • The Airport was developed by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) at cost of Rs 350 crore.
     • In January 2024, Ayodhya Airport was recognized as an “International Airport” and was named “Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhyadham”.
       Source: ANI

2. The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 come into force
   • What: The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 has been enacted by the Indian government.
     • The bill was passed from the Indian parliament in February 2024
     • However, the act has come into effect on June 21, 2024
   • Why: It was enacted by the government to bring greater transparency, fairness and credibility to the public examination systems (likely to counter the problem of paper leak)
   • Tell me more:
     • The act is applicable on the exams conducted by central government and it’s affiliated agencies (UPSC, SSC, NTA, Banking exams, Railways etc.).
     • It lists 15 actions that amount to using unfair means in public examinations.
     • Stricter Punishments: The Act prescribes a minimum three-year jail term, extendable to five years, for individuals caught leaking exam papers or tampering with answer sheets. Offenders will also face fines of up to Rs 10 lakh.
     • Non-Bailable Offences: All offences under the Act are classified as cognisable and non-bailable, meaning authorities can arrest individuals without a warrant and they cannot seek bail as a right.
     • Accountability for Service Providers: Examination service providers who possess knowledge of a potential offence but fail to report it can be fined a hefty Rs 1 crore.
     • Targeting Organised Crime: Senior officials within service providers who knowingly participate in or facilitate such activities face a minimum three-year sentence, potentially extending to 10 years, along with a Rs 1 crore fine.
       • Examination authorities or service providers involved in organised exam malpractice can be imprisoned for a minimum of five years and a maximum of 10, with the same Rs 1 crore fine.
     • Protections for the Innocent: The Act offers some protection to individuals who can demonstrably prove that the offence was committed without their knowledge and that they tried their best to prevent it.
       Source: Hindustan Times
   • Ministry of Education forms Committee to Recommend Examination Reforms By NTA
     • What: The Ministry of Education has established a high-level committee to enhance transparency and fairness in the National Testing Agency’s (NTA) examination processes.
     • Tell me more:
       • Committee Chair: Former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief Dr. K Radhakrishnan will lead the seven-member panel.
       • Mandate: The committee will recommend reforms to the examination process, enhance data security protocols, and improve NTA’s structure and functioning.
       • The committee aims to submit its report within two months.
         Source: Law Beat

International News

1. Chad joins other countries in eliminating sleeping sickness
   • What: Chad has become the first country in 2024 and 51st globally to eliminate a type of Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) i.e. gambiense form of Human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness).
     • (NTDs) are a diverse group of conditions mainly prevalent in tropical areas, where they disproportionately affect people living in impoverished communities.
   • To date, WHO has validated the elimination of the gambiense form of HAT in seven countries: Togo (2020), Benin (2021), Ivory Coast (2021), Uganda (2022), Equatorial Guinea (2022), Ghana (2023) and Chad (2024).
   • India has eliminated NTDs like guinea worm, trachoma, and yaws.
   • Global Initiatives to eliminate NTDs: London Declaration, and Kigali Declaration on NTDs; World NTD Day (30 January)
     Source: Africa News

2. 67th Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council approves $736.4 million funding
   • What: The 67th meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council recently concluded with a significant decision. It has approved $736.4 million in funding for 34 projects related to environmental conservation.
   • Tell me more (About the major projects):
     • Great Green Wall: This landmark initiative aims to enhance climate resilience and improve land health across Africa’s Sahel region.
     • Sustainable Cities Integrated Program: A new program to promote sustainable urban development spanning 20 countries to catalyze urban system transformation.
     • Launch of Coral bonds: The money will be raised via the coral bonds to conserve the corals.
     • Projects in India: India secured funding for two significant projects:
       • Enhancing biodiversity conservation to meet global targets, focusing on expanding protected areas and community-led conservation practices with a funding of $6.7 million.
       • Conservation and sustainable management of wetlands, forests, and grasslands along the Central Asian Flyway, to secure the population of migratory species along the Central Asian Flyway in India. It received $10.7 million as funding.
         • The projects is implemented by the UNDP along with Indian Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change acting as the executive agency.
           Source: GEF

Banking and Economy

1. NSE launches The India Tourism Index
   • What: The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has introduced a new thematic index called the Nifty India Tourism Index.
   • Why: This index has been launched to track the performance of stocks within the travel and tourism industry.
     • The index will aim to capture the performance of travel and tourism-related stocks within the Nifty 500 Index.
       • NIFTY 500 is India’s stock market index. It contains the top 500 listed companies on the NSE.
   • Tell me more:
     • Base Date: April 1, 2005
     • Base Value: 1,000
     • Constituents: The index currently comprises 17 stocks, including companies like InterGlobe Aviation (Indigo), Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), Easy Trip etc.
       • The index can comprise a maximum of 30 stocks.
       • Also, no single stock can weigh more than 20%.
     • The weight of each stock in the index is based on free-float market capitalization.
       • It is a method to calculate the market cap of an underlying index by multiplying the price by the number of outstanding shares, excluding shares held by promoters, or government
     • The index will be reconstituted semi-annually (twice a year) (companies in the index can change) and rebalanced quarterly (the weightage of each company can adjust).
       Note: As per NSE, the travel and tourism industry contribute $199.6 billion to the Indian GDP.

       Source: Hindu Business Line

2. WestBridge Capital sells 1.7% stake in AU Small Finance Bank
   • What: Private equity firm WestBridge Capital has divested a 1.7% stake in the AU Small Finance Bank for ₹845 crore through an open market transaction.
   • After the stake sale, the shareholding of WestBridge Capital has declined to 2.07% from 3.82%.
     Source: CNBC TV18
3. SEBI bans JM Financial from managing debt public issues
   • What: Markets regulator SEBI has issued an order restraining JM Financial Ltd from acting as a lead manager for public issues of debt securities until March 31, 2025, in a case of alleged irregularities in a public issue of non-convertible debentures (NCDs).
     • A lead manager for public issues of debt securities plays a crucial role in managing the issuance process. Specifically, they coordinate and oversee the issuance of debt securities (such as bonds or debentures) on behalf of the issuing company.
   • The SEBI clarified that the restriction only applies to public issues of debt securities and does not affect JM Financial Ltd’s (JMFL) other activities, including equity issues.
     Source: News18

Report and Indices

1. Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report has been released by the World Bank
   • What: The 2024 Global Gas Flaring Tracker Report has been released by the World Bank.
     • Report is compiled with the help of World Bank’s Global Flaring and Methane Reduction (GFMR) Partnership.
   • Why: It provides an authoritative and independent measure of worldwide gas flaring.
     • Gas flaring refers to burning of the natural gas associated with oil extraction.
   • Tell me more:
     • Global Gas Flaring Volumes: Global gas flaring in 2023 has increased by 7% from 2022 leading to a rise of 23 million tonnes of CO2 emissions.
       • Gas flaring in 2023 was responsible for releasing approximately 381 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents
     • Major Contributor: Russia, Iran, Iraq, USA, etc.
       Source: World Bank
2. “India’s DeepTech Dawn: Forging Ahead” report, released by NASSCOM
   • What: The “India’s DeepTech Dawn: Forging Ahead” report, was released by National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM), sheds light on the Indian DeepTech startup landscape.
   • NASSCOM is an Indian non-governmental trade association and advocacy group that primarily serves the Indian technology industry.
     • DeepTech startups leverage advanced technologies like AI, Blockchain, and Augmented Reality (AR)/Virtual Reality (VR) to create novel solutions for complex problems, often combining multiple technologies to redefine or create new markets.
     • Ex: Agnikul, GalaxyEye, Sarvam AI
   • Tell me more:
     • Global Ranking: Despite having the 3rd largest pool of DeepTech startups, India ranked 6th among the top 9 DeepTech ecosystems in the world.
       • India currently has 3600+ DeepTech startups.
     • Funding Trends: Funding in Indian DeepTech startups declined by approximately 77% in 2023. Despite this, AI-backed DeepTech startups demonstrated resilience, with 86% of them securing funding.
       • Indian DeepTech startups have raised a cumulative $10 Bn in the last 5 years
         Source: NASSCOM

Science and Technology

1. Nasa to train Indian astronaut for ISS
   • What: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is working with the Indian Space and Research Organization (ISRO) to train an Indian astronaut for an International Space Station (ISS) trip.
   • The two space research organisations will also be working on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), in a bid to boost Indo-US space collaboration.
   • The two space research organisations are also preparing to launch highly advanced satellite NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) that will map the Earth’s surface twice every 12 days as part of efforts to combat climate change.
     Source: Firstpost

2. India’s share in global space economy to rise 4 times by 2030 in comparison to 2021
   • What: As per Ministry of Science and technology, India’s share in the global space economy is set to rise significantly by 2030.
   • In 2021, the Indian space industry contributed 2% to the global share. However, this is expected to increase to 8% by 2030 and further soar to 15% by the year 2047.
   • This remarkable growth is attributed to a major policy decision that opened up the space sector to private participation, allowing nearly 200 space startups to emerge in just two years.
     Source: PIB

Sports

1. Highlights of Paavo Nurmi Games 2024
   • What: Recently the Paavo Nurmi Games 2024 was hosted at Paavo Nurmi Stadium in Turku, Finland.
   • Tell me more (Highlights)

Source: Sportstar

2. Highlights of 2024 Stepan Avagyan Chess Tournament
   • What: Recently the Stepan Avagyan Memorial 2024 Chess Tournament was hosted in in Jermuk, Armenia.
   • Tell me more:
     • Rank 1: Indian Grandmaster (GM) Arjun Erigaisi won the title.
     • Rank 2: Sevian Samuel from the USA
     • Rank 3: Tabatabaei M. Amin from Iran
     • Note: With this victory, India’s No. 1 Arjun became the World No.4.
       Source: Sportstar

Important Days

1. June 21: 10th International Yoga Day
   • What: On June 21, the International Yoga Day is celebrated, a global event promoting health and well-being.
   • Tell me more:
     • Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the main International Yoga Day 2024 celebrations from Jammu and Kashmir.
     • Theme: This year’s theme was “Yoga for Self and Society.”
     • UN Recognition: The United Nations proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga in 2014. The day aims to raise awareness worldwide about the benefits of practicing yoga, emphasizing physical and mental health.
     • Yoga’s Origin: Yoga is an ancient practice that originated in India. The word “yoga” comes from Sanskrit, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness.
     • Background:
       • In December 2014, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution proclaiming 21 June of every year as the International Day of Yoga.
       • The 1st ever IDY was observed on 21 June 2015.
       • Note: The resolution establishing the IDY was proposed by India and endorsed by 175 member states.
         Source: Live Mint

2. June 21: WORLD HYDROGRAPHY DAY 2024
   • What: On 21 June every year, the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) celebrates World Hydrography Day to raise awareness about hydrography and how it plays a vital role in improved knowledge of the seas and oceans.
   • The theme for 2024 is “Hydrographic Information – Enhancing Safety, Efficiency and Sustainability in Marine Activities” 
     Source: PIB
3. June 21: World Music Day
   • What: World Music Day is celebrated on June 21 every year.
   • The theme for this year’s celebration has not been officially announced yet, but last year’s theme (2023), ‘Music on the Intersections’, was a resounding success.
     Source: Indian Express

Memorandum of Understanding

1. CERT-In and Mastercard India Sign MoU to Enhance Cyber-Resilience in the Financial Sector
   • What: The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) and Mastercard India have signed a MoU to collaborate on enhancing cyber-resilience in India’s financial sector.
   • Why: This partnership aims to leverage the shared expertise of both entities in cybersecurity incident response, capacity building, and advanced malware analysis.
   • Tell me more (How they will enhance the cybersecurity)
     • By conducting training Programs and Workshops
     • The entities will share relevant cyber threat trends, technical information, threat intelligence, and vulnerability reports to strengthen the information security of India’s financial sector.
       Source: Mastercard

Appointments

1. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh assumes charge as Chairman of the IIPA for third time
   • What: Dr Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space and MoS Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, has taken up the position of Chairman at the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) for the third consecutive term.
     • He has been serving as the Chairman since the year 2020.
       Source: PIB

2. Bihar Dy CM to be convenor of GST rate rejig panel
   • What: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary has been appointed as the convenor of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on GST rate rationalisation.
   • He will replace the Finance Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Suresh Khanna.
   • The seven-member GoM aims to suggest necessary rate rationalization, simplify the rate system, review GST exemptions, and enhance revenues from Goods and Services Tax (GST).
   • This marks the second reconstitution of the panel, which was originally set up in September 2021 under then Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.
     Source: Economic Times

Miscellaneous

1. Cyber Mercenaries
   • UN chief António Guterres has warned about the rise of malicious and illegal cyber activities through “Cyber Mercenaries”.
   • About Cyber Mercenaries
     • Cyber mercenaries are described as a person, group of persons, or private actors that are hired to carry out cyber offensive or defensive operations to take action on particular cyber networks and infrastructure.
     • These enable spying on networks, computers, phones, or devices connected by the internet.
     • Use of cyber mercenaries is considered as a ‘grey zone’ activity due to absence of agreed international conventions regulating the domain.

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