26th-27th June, 2023

1. India and Egypt have signed an agreement to elevate bilateral ties to ‘Strategic Partnership’.
2. India’s first hydrogen-powered train is expected to run from Haryana’s Jind district by the end of this year.
3. Union Minister of Power and New &Renewable Energy, R. K. Singh has released a report titled National Energy Data: Survey and Analysis 2021-22, at Shram Shakti Bhawan, in New Delhi.
4. Ministry of Women and Child Development has discontinued its two autonomous bodies, Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) and Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB), as well as the internal division Food and Nutrition Board (FNB).
5. India and UAE have signed Mutual Recognition Agreement for Authorized Economic Operators to streamline and expedite customs procedures, reducing administrative burden and costs for authorized businesses.
6. World Bank has approved a substantial loan of USD 255.5 million to India for improving the quality of technical education in government-run institutions in India.
7. IIT Kanpur has conducted test flight for cloud seeding.
8. Kerala has signed an MoU with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).
9. Arunachal Pradesh Innovation and Investment Park has signed MOU with Paytm Payment Services Limited (PPSL) to create a startup ecosystem for the youth in the northeastern state.
10. Himachal Pradesh has renamed the Department of Information Technology as Department of Digital Technologies and Governance.
11. US aircraft carrier and two guided missile cruisers visits Vietnam for 6-day friendship visit.
12. Institute of Management Development (IMD) has released the World Competitiveness Index 2023.
13. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has released the World Drug Report 2023.
14. Startup Genome (a policy advisory and research organization.) has released Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2023.
15. The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has launched a new insurance plan — Dhan Vriddhi.
16. Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) sells 2.07% stake for around Rs. 649 Crore in iron ore producer National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC).
17. Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance has launched new pension scheme ‘Nischit Pension Plan’.
18. Manipal Technologies Limited has partnered with state-owned Indian Bank to promote financial inclusion by offering customised banking products.
19. Infosys has signed $454 mn deal with Denmark Based Danske Bank to boost digital transformation.
20. EPFO has launched calculator for higher EPS pension additional contribution.
21. World Bank has announced Comprehensive Toolkit to Support Countries after Natural Disasters at a summit on New Global Financial Pact.
22. Greece’s New Democratic Party leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis has been elected as PM.
23. June 26– International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking or World Drug Day; Theme – “People First: stop stigma and Discrimination, strengthen Prevention”
24. June 27– World MSME Day
25. Sahitya Akademi has announced 22 winners for Bal Sahitya Puraskar and 20 winners for the YuvaPuraskar.
26. Harish Bhat (CMO of Tata Group) has been ranked 10th on Forbes list of top 50 Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs).
27. Busta Rhymes (American Rapper) has been awarded the BET Lifetime Achievement Award for 2023.
28. Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur has flagged off “Bharat in Paris” campaign at JL Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.
29. Diksha Dagar, Indian Golfer has won her second Ladies European Title at the Czech Ladies Open.
30. Sutirtha Mukherjee and Ayhika Mukherjee have won the women’s doubles title at the WTT Contender Tunis 2023.
31. Wanindu Hasaranga (Srilanka) becomes the first spinner and second overall player in history to take three consecutive 5-wicket hauls in One Day Internationals.
32. Google has launched a new search feature called Perspectives, which will provide users with a broad range of viewpoints on various topics.
33. Patches of snow in Utah’s mountains have turned pink due to watermelon snow.

National News

1. India and Egypt have signed an agreement to elevate bilateral ties to ‘Strategic Partnership’.
   • The agreement encompasses four key elements-
     • Political, defense and security cooperation.
     • Economic engagement
     • Scientific and academic collaboration
     • Cultural and people-to-people contacts.
   • Three Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) in the fields of agriculture, archaeology and antiquities, and competition law are also signed.
   • The PM Narendra Modi has been conferred with the ‘Order of the Nile’, the highest state honor of Egypt.

2. India’s first hydrogen-powered train is expected to run from Haryana’s Jind district by the end of this year.
   • India’s first hydrogen plant is being set up near the railway junction in Jind district.
   • Currently, hydrogen-powered trains are running only in Germany.
     Source: TOI
3. Union Minister of Power and New &Renewable Energy, R. K. Singh has released a report titled National Energy Data: Survey and Analysis 2021-22, at Shram Shakti Bhawan, in New Delhi.
   • The report is prepared by Energy Data Management Unit, set up under Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Power in collaboration with NITI Aayog.
   • The report contains extensive data compiled for the last six years, i.e., from FY 2016-17 to FY 2021-22.
   • Findings-
     • Energy supply to economy during last six years is actually less by 18%.
     • Lower energy consumption value by 8% in 2021-22.
     • Increased share of electrification on consumption side to 20.9%.

     Source: PIB

4. Ministry of Women and Child Development has discontinued its two autonomous bodies, Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) and Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB), as well as the internal division Food and Nutrition Board (FNB).
   • The closures are part of the rationalisation exercise by the Centre to shut down departments and sections that no longer have relevance in the current scenario.

5. India and UAE have signed Mutual Recognition Agreement for Authorized Economic Operators to streamline and expedite customs procedures, reducing administrative burden and costs for authorized businesses.

6. World Bank has approved a substantial loan of USD 255.5 million to India for improving the quality of technical education in government-run institutions in India.
   • The project will support around 275 government-run technical institutions in selected states across the country over next 5 years.
   • The USD 255.5 million loan has a final maturity of 14 years including a grace period of five years.
     Source: The Economic Times

7. IIT Kanpur has conducted test flight for cloud seeding.
   • Cloud seeding is a kind of weather modification technology to create artificial rainfall which could help fight dry weather and air pollution.
     Source: The Economic Times

State News

1. Kerala has signed an MoU with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).
   • ONDC is a private non-profit company (section 8 of companies act, 2013) founded in 2022 by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, to develop open e-commerce.
     Source: HBL
2. Arunachal Pradesh Innovation and Investment Park has signed MOU with Paytm Payment Services Limited (PPSL) to create a startup ecosystem for the youth in the northeastern state.
   Source: Economic Times
3. Himachal Pradesh has renamed the Department of Information Technology as Department of Digital Technologies and Governance.
   Source: Press Trust of India

International News

1. US aircraft carrier and two guided missile cruisers visits Vietnam for 6-day friendship visit.
   • USS Ronald Reagan, along with the guided missile cruisers USS Antietam and USS Robert Smalls have arrived Da Nang in Vietnam.
     Source: News on Air

Reports and Indices

1. Institute of Management Development (IMD) has released the World Competitiveness Index 2023.
   • Top country – Denmark
   • India’s rank – 40th
   • Rank in 2019 and 2021 – 43rd
     Source: The Economic Times

   
   
   
   
2. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has released the World Drug Report 2023.
   • The report highlights an escalating issue of drug use and the insufficiency of treatment services and interventions.
     Source: UN Press release

3. Startup Genome (a policy advisory and research organization.) has released Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2023.
   • Top ecosystems in the world-
     

     • Silicon Valley (1st rank)
     • New York City (2nd rank) and London (2nd rank)
   • Top ecosystems in India-
     • Bengaluru- 20th rank
     • Delhi- 24th rank
     • Mumbai- 31st rank

     Source: Times of India

Banking and Economy

1. The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has launched a new insurance plan — Dhan Vriddhi.
   • It is a non-linked, non-participating, individual, savings, single premium life insurance plan which offers a combination of protection and savings.
   • The plan provides financial support for the family in case of unfortunate death of the life assured during the policy term.
   • Features:
     • Policy Term- 10,15 or 18 years
     • Minimum and Maximum Basic Sum assured- Rs.1,25,000, No limit

     Source: Economic Times

2. Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) sells 2.07% stake for around Rs. 649 Crore in iron ore producer National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC).
   • LIC’s shareholding in NMDC has now reduced from now 11.69% to 9.62%.
     Source: Business Standard
3. Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance has launched new pension scheme ‘Nischit Pension Plan’.
   • This plan provides a 100% guaranteed corpus.
   • MD & CEO of Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance – Kamlesh Rao
     Source: Livemint
4. Manipal Technologies Limited has partnered with state-owned Indian Bank to promote financial inclusion by offering customised banking products.
   • The partnership will focus on building a sustainable network of corporate business correspondents (CBCs) to serve unbanked and rural areas.
   • The services will range from account opening, withdrawals, deposits, lead generation, opening FDs (fixed deposits), and applying for loans.
     Source: Business Standard
5. Infosys has signed $454 mn deal with Denmark Based Danske Bank to boost digital transformation.
   • Infosys will also take over the bank’s IT centre in Bengaluru for 13.6 Danish Krone (or Rs 16.3 crore) as a part of the deal.
     Source: Business Standard
6. EPFO has launched calculator for higher EPS pension additional contribution.
   • This excel-based calculator will calculate the dues that an employee has to pay to receive higher pension at the time of retirement.
   • The calculator can be downloaded from the Member Sewa portal of the EPFO.
     Source: The Economic Times
7. World Bank has announced Comprehensive Toolkit to Support Countries after Natural Disasters at a summit on New Global Financial Pact.
   • IMF has reached its target of making $100 billion in special drawing rights available for vulnerable countries.
     Source: World Bank

Appointments

1. Greece’s New Democratic Party leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis has been elected as PM.
   • Capital – Athens and Currency – Euro (EUR)
     Source: The Hindu

Important Days

1. June 26– International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking or World Drug Day; Theme – “People First: stop stigma and Discrimination, strengthen Prevention”
   Source: IE
2. June 27– World MSME Day
   • Theme of MSME Day 2023 in India – “Future-ready MSMEs for India@100
   • Theme by Global Council for the Promotion of International Trade (GCPIT)- “Building a Stronger Future Together”
   • #Brand10000MSMEs Network has been launched by GCPIT for MSMEs across the globe to connect, learn and grow together.
   • Ministry of MSME has held “Udyami Bharat-MSME Day” as part of World MSME Day at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
     Source: Business Standard

Awards

1. Sahitya Akademi has announced 22 winners for Bal Sahitya Puraskar and 20 winners for the Yuva Puraskar.
   • The winners will receive a cash prize of Rs 50,000 each.
   • Renowned children’s author Sudha Murty will be awarded Bal Sahitya Puraskar for her collection of stories titled ‘Grandparents’ Bag of Stories’.

2. Harish Bhat (CMO of Tata Group) has been ranked 10th on Forbes list of top 50 Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs).
   • William White (CMO, Walmart) has topped the list.
   • Morgan Stanley (CMO, McDonald’s) has been inducted into the Forbes CMO Hall of Fame 2023 Class.
     Source: HinduBusiness Line

3. Busta Rhymes (American Rapper) has been awarded the BET Lifetime Achievement Award for 2023.
   • The BET Awards is an annual awards ceremony that celebrates African Americans and other minorities in music, entertainment, and sports.
   • It is presented by the Black Entertainment Television (BET) network and has been held since 2001.
     Source: Economic Times

Sports

1. Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur has flagged off “Bharat in Paris” campaign at JL Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.
   • The campaign has been launched by Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to create awareness and promote sports across India ahead of the Paris Olympics games.
   • The 2024 Olympics will take place from 26 July to 11 August in France, at Paris.
     Source: News on Air

2. Diksha Dagar, Indian Golfer has won her second Ladies European Title at the Czech Ladies Open.
   • The Czech Ladies Open is a professional golf tournament on the Ladies European Tour, first played in 2019.
     Source: Sports Keeda
3. Sutirtha Mukherjee and Ayhika Mukherjee have won the women’s doubles title at the WTT Contender Tunis 2023.
   Source: Khel Now
4. Wanindu Hasaranga (Srilanka) becomes the first spinner and second overall player in history to take three consecutive 5-wicket hauls in One Day Internationals.
   Source: The Hindu

Miscellaneous

1. Google has launched a new search feature called Perspectives, which will provide users with a broad range of viewpoints on various topics.
   Source: Indian Express
2. Patches of snow in Utah’s mountains have turned pink due to watermelon snow.
   • Watermelon Snow is a natural phenomenon where the snow turns pink and red due to the presence of green algae bloom that thrives in cold, snowy situations.
   • Utah mountains are found in North America.
     Source: First Post

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