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National – Across the India:

1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) to make India disaster resilient and reduce loss of lives.

 The first of its kind of national plan is based on the four priority themes of the “Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-30”.

 The themes are as follows:

Understanding disaster risk

Improving disaster risk governance

Investing in disaster risk reduction (through structural and non-structural measures)

Disaster preparedness, early warning and building back better in the aftermath of a disaster

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2. The Union Government and World Bank have signed a US 9.2 million dollar grant agreement for the Efficient and Sustainable City Bus Service Project.

 The grant agreement was signed under World Bank-Global Environment Facility (GEF) Programme.

 The aim is to improve the efficiency and attractiveness of city bus transport and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in select Indian cities.

3. Narendra Modihas emerged as one of the top 10 leaders of the world with his voice being heard on international fora.

 The statement was made by the Union minister Venkaiah Naidu.

 India is now recognized and respected worldwide and this happened because of the efforts given by PM Modi.

 

4. India on joined the Hague Code of Conduct (HCoC) against Ballistic Missile Proliferation as its 138th subscribing state.

 India joined it by notifying HCoC Central Contact, Vienna, through diplomatic channels.

 The HCOC is a voluntary mechanism that has built a broad international predisposition against ballistic missile proliferation.

5. India has been placed at 70th position in recently released 2015 Good Country Index (GCI).

 Indian ranked among 163 countries.

Top 10 Countries in 2015 GCI are Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, Canada, France, Austria and New Zealand.

 The Good Country Index (GCI) measure each country’s contribution to the common good of humanity and what it takes away, relative to its size.

 
6. Haryana Governmenthas launched Asia’s first ‘Gyps Vulture Reintroduction Programme’ at the Jatayu Conservation Breeding Centre at Pinjore.

 Chief Minister Manohar Lal launched it by releasing 2 captive bred Himalayan Griffons vultures in the pre-release aviaries close to the breeding centre at Pinjore.

7. PM Modi has drawn up 25-point Swachh roadmap.

Under this roadmap PM Modi has suggested 25 actionable points for promoting his flagship Swachh Bharat scheme.

Given below are some important points among all the 25 points:

Build more urinals in urban areas.

Prepare a bank of quotes of famous people.

Their views on sanitation and focus more on composting of urban waste.

8. India has been ranked second position as per 2016 Global Retail Development Index (GRDI).

A London-based business consultancy A T Kearney released the report.

India has jumped 13 positions from last year (2015) to rank second among 30 developing countries on ease of doing business.

9. Himachal Pradesh became the first state in the country to have a State Data Centre (SDC), designed using green data centre concept.

It was launched by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in Shimla.

It will offer 101 people-oriented services online through an integrated data base.

10. The Gujarat government has announced its first ever IT and Electronics Start-up Policy.

The policy will be applicable only to IT and electronics related start-ups.

It focuses on encouraging new ventures by providing them various incentives and subsidies.

11. The Delhi government has approved the first Solar Policy.

The motive of the policy is to make the Capital an environment-friendly solar city.

Government of Delhi has prepared the policy in consultation with the Dialogue and Development Commission (DDC) after extensive consultations with local and international experts.

12. Guwahati (Assam) became the first city in the country to have “Sihu” as its own city animal.

Gangetic River Dolphin locally in Guwahati is known as ‘Sihu’ and it is on the verge of extinction.

This comes after Kamrup metropolitan district administration declared Gangetic River dolphin as its official mascot.

 13. Union Home Ministry has decided to form new reserve battalion.

It will be named after Maharana Pratap and will be called Maharana India Reserve Battalion.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh announced the decision on the occasion of 475th birth anniversary of Maharana Pratap in Gogunda in Udaipur district.

14. India become the third largest oil consumer in the world.

The data was released by BP Statistical Review of World Energy.

According to review India has surpassed Japan to become the world’s third-largest oil consumer.

At present, with demand of 4.1 million barrels a day (bpd), India is the third-largest consumer behind the United States (19.39 million bpd) and China (11.96 million bpd).

15. Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways launched the report titled Road Accidents in India 2015.

As per the report, road accidents have emerged as a major public health problem in India where almost 5 lakh accidents occurred last year killing 146000 people.

The report was compiled by the Transport Research Wing.

 

16. The Union Information and Broadcasting ministry has framed a New Print Media Advertisement Policy.

The policy will help for Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP).

The objective of the policy is to promote transparency and accountability in issuing of advertisements in print media.

 

17. The Indian unit of search giant Google Inc and Tata Trusts have jointly launched ‘Internet Saathi’ program in Purulia district of West Bengal.

The program has been launched as a part of Google’s ‘Helping Women Get Online’ campaign.

The aim is to create awareness about the benefits of Internet among women in rural India.

 

18. Union Railways Ministry has flagged off Champaran Satyagrah Express train at a function in Motihari, Bihar.

The train was flagged off by Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu.

This train will run between Bapudham, Motihari to Anand Vihar, Delhi.

The train has been introduced to mark 100 years of the historic Champaran Satyagraha (movement) launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1917.

19. The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has launched a scheme for setting up of 1000 Mega Watt (MW) Wind Power Project.

It is connected to transmission network of Central Transmission Utility (CTU).

The aim of the scheme is to facilitate supply of wind power to the non-windy states at a price discovered through transparent bidding process.

20. The Union Ministry of Railways launched three passenger service initiatives.

The services are as follows:

Janani Sewa under which hot milk, hot water and baby food will be available at railway stations.

Optional catering services project

Children’s menu on trains’ scheme

These services were launched by Union Railways minister Suresh Prabhu on 8th June 2016 in New Delhi.

 

21. The Union Cabinet has given its approval for signing of 15 years contract for undertaking exploration and other developmental activities related to Poly-Metallic Sulphides (PMS).

The contract was approved between the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences and the International Seabed Authority (ISA).

22.  The Union Cabinet has given its approval for enhancement of retirement age of government doctors’ to 65 years to strengthen the healthcare sector in the country.

Union Cabinet has approved proposal forwarded by Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

 Also approved the age of Public Health and Non-Teaching Specialists of Central Health Service from 62 years to 65 years Doctors of General Duty Medical Officers (GDMOs) sub-cadre of Central Health Service (CHS) from 62 years to 65 years.

23. Railways flags off 1st time-tabled freight train.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has flagged off India’s first timetabled freight train, named ‘Cargo Express’, from Delhi to Bengaluru.

The move aims to reduce the delay and uncertainty over the time schedule for delivery of goods.

24. The United States (US) Senate (Upper House) has unanimously approved amendment to enhance military co-operation with India.

The amendment is done as part of National Defence Authorisation Act -2017.

Military co-operation with India will be for developing military doctrine, threat analysis, force planning, logistical support and intelligence collection and analysis.

 

25. Human Resource Development Ministry has launched Vidyanjali, a school volunteer programme in New Delhi.

Vidyanjali is an initiative under Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat, to enhance community and private sector involving government-run elementary schools across the country.

Through Vidyanjali, the government aspires to bring change in the quality of education in schools.

26. First batch of three female fighter pilots commissioned.

Creating history, the first batch of three female pilots – Avani Chaturvedi, Bhawana Kanth and Mohana Singh were inducted in Indian Air Force fighter squadron.

On successful completion of their training, the trio were formally commissioned by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

 
27. The Union Government has eased foreign direct investment (FDI) norms for nine sectors to give impetus to job creation and ease of doing business in the country.

A high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken the decision.

By easing the FDI norms, India becomes the most open economy in the world for FDI.

FDI Limits in some important sectors are:

Food products: 100% FDI

Defence Sector: 49% FDI

Pharmaceutical Sector: 100% FDI

Aviation Sector: 100% FDI

Animal Husbandry: 100% FDI

28. Union Government gave its final approval for setting up of a Greenfield Electronic Park which is a dedicated IT hub near Bhubaneswar.

It is to be set up under Electronic Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) scheme of the Centre, will come up on 203 acres of land.

 It will provide employment potential of 10,000 to 12,000 persons and common facilities for training, incubation and R & D activities to the interested entrepreneurs.

29. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has named a crater on Mars as Langtang.

It was done after one of the villages most affected by the devastating 2015 earthquakes in Nepal.

The Langtang crater on Mars is 9.8 kilometers wide and has scientific importance.

IAU is a collection of professional astronomers, at the PhD level and beyond, active in professional education and research in astronomy.

 30. Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa visited New Delhi on a three day visit to India

This is the fifth Visit to India by Nepal Minister

The two Nations signed nine agreements in areas of transport, connectivity and cooperation in the energy sector.

Thailand Prime Minister Chan-o-cha made visit to India and arrived in New Delhi starting from 16th June to enhance bilateral cooperation between two Nations.

31. Maharashtra Government has accorded minority status to Jews in the state.

This decision was taken as per the provisions of the Maharashtra State Minorities Commission Act, 2004.

Decision in this regard was taken at the state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai.

With this, Maharashtra becomes second state in the country to accord minority status to Jews after West Bengal.

32. The Assam Government has launched a unique initiative ‘Maitree Ek Gyan Yatra’ to link primary schools to high schools to colleges.

Initially, it will be launched at in Sivsagar district of the state and later will be implemented across the state.

The purpose of the programme is to change the mindset of the teachers, as in some places in states teachers of a school considered it below their dignity to teach the lower level students.

33. The Punjab government has launched a special fund “Mukh Mantri Punjab Hepatitis C Relief Fund”.

It was raised to provide free treatment for patients affected by Hepatitis C.

With this initiative, Punjab became the first Indian state to provide free treatment to confirmed cases of Hepatitis C.

The fund will have an initial corpus of 20 crore rupees.

34. The Union Cabinet has approved proposal of extending the deadline for implementing the Ujjwal DiscomAssurance Yojana (UDAY).

The deadline will be completing on March 31, 2017.

States shall take over 75% of ailing DISCOM (Power Distribution companies) debt as on 30th September, 2015 by 31st March, 2017 by issuing Bonds.

The UDAY scheme aims at bringing ailing power discoms to a state of operational efficiency, with state governments taking over up to 75% of their respective debt and issuing sovereign bonds to pay back the lenders.

35. The Union Cabinet has given its approval for a special package for employment generation and promotion of exports in Textile and Apparel sector.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken the decision in the Union Cabinet meeting in New Delhi.

According to the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) Scheme Reforms Union Government will bear entire 12% EPF Scheme contribution of the new employees for first 3 years. Provided they should earn less than 15,000 rupees per month.

 

36. Mercer’s Cost of Living Survey 2016 was released.

According to the report Mumbai was declared costliest city in India.

Asia dominates the top 5 of 2016 Cost of Living Rankings, with Hong Kong bagging the No. 1 spot, pushing Luanda, Angola to 2nd.

The survey includes 209 cities across five continents.

New York City is used as the base city for all comparisons and currency movements are measured against the US dollar.

Five Indian cities that are ranked in the list are as follows:

Mumbai – Rank 82

New Delhi – Rank 130

Chennai – Rank 158

Kolkata – 194

Bangalore – Rank 180

37. Union Government launches India’s first pilot programme.

It was launched to run two-wheelers on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in New Delhi to curb air pollution in cities.

The project was jointly launched by Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar at the CGO Complex CNG station.

38. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the ‘Smart City Mission’.

 

The Smart City Mission’ projects included 14 projects of Pune (Maharashtra) and 69 projects from 20 different shortlisted cities in the country to be implemented at a cost of 1,770 crore rupees.

39. Newly renovated and expanded Panama Canal was reopened by the Panamanian President, Juan Carlos Varela.

Panama Canal expansion project is also called as the Third Set of Locks Project.

The new lane of the canal runs for 77km.

40. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has inaugurated the 22nd meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council at Ranchi, Jharkhand.

 Agenda of the meeting was to review the progress of implementation of the recommendations made by last year Eastern Zonal Council of 2015 that was held at Patna.

41. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has flagged off a maiden train on 81-km railway line between Sonipat and Jind.

He explained the need to create infrastructure to promote growth and to meet future challenges.

42.  Majuli (Assam) got district status by the Assam Government.

It is a 400 square kilometres island in the Brahmaputra River.

 With this it becomes India’s first island district.

 

43. Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a book titled “The Birds of Banni Grassland” in New Delhi.

 It was presented to PM Modi by the scientists of Gujarat Institute of Desert Ecology (GUIDE).

 The book is based on environment and consists of a compilation of the research work, relating to more than 250 species of birds found in the Banni area of Kutch, Gujarat.

  44. The Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry has launched ‘Prashikshak’- an online teacher education portal for District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs).

It was launched by the Union HRD minister Smriti Irani in New Delhi.

It seeks to strengthen DIETs and bring quality teachers into the school education system.

 

45. The Union Railway Ministry has launched Nivaran portal.

It’s an online system for redressal of service related grievance of serving and former Railway employees.

46. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has inaugurated the newly constructed headquarters of Jharkhand’s special anti-Maoist force ‘Jharkhand Jaguar’ in Jharkhand’s capital city Ranchi.

47. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has launched a new scheme Kalinga Siksha Sathi Yojana.

The aim is to provide education loan at 1 % interest to students for pursuing higher studies.

 
 48. India was ranked at 105th position out of 130 countries globally on the 2016 Human Capital Index (HCI).

  It was released in the World Economic Forum (WEF) report by Geneva-WEF in the Chinese city of Tianjin at its Annual Meeting of New Champions which is also known as `Summer Davos’ summit.

Top 10 Countries in 2016 HCI: Finland (1st position), Norway (2nd), Switzerland (3rd), Japan (4th), Sweden (5th), New Zealand (6th), Denmark (7th), Netherlands (8th), Canada (9th) and Belgium (10th)

International – Across the Globe:

1. India and Morocco have launched the India-Morocco Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IMCCI) in Moroccan capital city Rabat.

 The IMCCI was jointly launched by visiting Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari and Moroccan Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane.

2. The world’s longest and deepest railway tunnel Gotthard Base Tunnel was inaugurated in Switzerland.

 The full service of twin-bore tunnel will begin in December 2016.

 The Gotthard Base Tunnel is 57-kilometer long and connects northern and southern Europe and also shortens travel time for many rail routes.

 It has overtaken Japan’s Seikan tunnel, which measures 53.9 kilometers, as the longest rail tunnel in the world.

3. Republican Party’s presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump is set to arrive in Britain on June 22, a day before Britons go to polls to decide whether to remain in the European Union (EU).

 He will come to the country on a whistle-stop tour of his golf resorts in Britain and Ireland.

 He will visit his golf resort in Doonbeg in Ireland by the time polls have closed.

4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani jointly inaugurated the Afghan-India Friendship Dam in Herat province in Western Afghanistan.

The dam was inaugurated during PM Narendra Modi’s first stop to Afghanistan as part of his five- nation tour which will also take him to Qatar, Switzerland, US and Mexico.

The Dam was earlier known as Salma Dam.

It is built on the river Chist-e-Sharif in western Herat neighbouring Iran and is earth and rock fill dam.

It is a multipurpose project built to generate 42 MW of power, irrigate 75000 hectares of land, water supply and other benefits to the people of Afghanistan.

 

5. India has become the co-chair of Working Group on Maritime Situational Awareness (WG-MSA).

 

It was decided under Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS).

For this, decision was taken through a consensus during the 19th Plenary Session of the CGPCS held in Mahe, Seychelles from 31st May to 3th June 2016.

 
6. India has managed to win crucial support from Switzerland for Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) membership.

Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann has announced his country’s support for India’s membership to the elite NSG.

NSG is a multinational body concerned with reducing nuclear proliferation by controlling the export and re-transfer of materials that may be used for development of nuclear weapons.

 
7. The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that Thailand has become the first Asian country to eliminate mother-to-child HIV transmission. 

Thailand’s Minister of Health was presented with the certificate of validation during a ceremony.

This took place on the eve of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS in New York.

8. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the joint session of the US Congress on 8 June 2016.

Earlier PM Modi was invited to speak at the joint session by House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan.

He addressed the congress during his second official bilateral visit to the US after his trip in September, 2014.

With this PM Narendra Modi became the fifth Indian Prime Minister to address a joint meeting of Congress.

 

9. The United States has recognized India as a major defence partner.

It will pave way to bring it closest US allies for defence related trade and technology transfer.

It was announced in the joint statement issued after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with US President Barack Obama in Washington.

Under this tie US will work towards facilitating defence related trade and technology sharing with India to a level commensurate with that of its closest allies and partners.

 
10. Pakistan has topped in the list of 19 countries figuring in the 2016 Malware Infection Index (MII) in the Asia-Pacific region. 

It was released by Asia-Pacific region was released by technology giant Microsoft in which India was placed at 8th position.

Top 10 Countries are Pakistan (1st), Indonesia (2nd), Bangladesh (3rd), Nepal (4th), Vietnam (5th), Philippines (6th), Cambodia (7th), India (8th), Sri Lanka (9th) and Thailand (10th).

11. India has joined a group of nearly 40 countries that have signed a on tax evasion and corruption.

Under this group countries are committed to automatically exchange information on beneficial ownership between law enforcement agencies and tax authorities of partner countries.

This initiative aims to develop a global standard for the automatic exchange of beneficial ownership data

 

12. The Global Peace Index (GPI) has been released by global think Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).

India was ranked 141 for year 2016 out of 163 countries, making it less peaceful country.

India has moved up two positions from 143rd rank in 2015 GPI.

Top 10 peaceful countries are Iceland (1st), Denmark (2nd), Austria (3rd), New Zealand (4th), Portugal (5th), Czech Republic (6th), Switzerland (7th), Canada (8th), Japan (9th) and Slovenia (10th).

Top least peaceful countries are Pakistan (153rd), Libya (154th), Sudan (155th), Ukraine (156th), Central African Republic (157th), Yemen (158th), Somalia (159th), Afghanistan (160th), Iraq (161st), South Sudan (162nd) and Syria (163rd).

GPI is an annual report published by the Sydney (Australia) based Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) since 2007.

 

13. NATO launches Joint Military Exercise “Anaconda-16”.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) launches it in Poland.

It is a part of NATO’s exercise program.

 
14. India, Japan and United States (US) navies have kicked off 2016 MALABAR trilateral naval Exercise near South China Sea.

This year it is the 20th edition of the naval exercise in which over 100 aircraft and 22 naval ships including a nuclear submarine are participating.

Aim of exercise is to increase interoperability amongst the three navies and develop common understanding of procedures for Maritime Security Operations.

15. Australian Great Barrier Reef rodent has become the first mammal species driven to extinction by human-induced climate change.

It is also known as Bramble Cay melomys.

It was revealed after researchers in extensive survey (searches) failed to find a single specimen from its only known habitat on a sandy island in far northern Australia.

The main reason for extinction Bramble Cay melomys is anthropogenic climate change.

Facts you should know: Bramble Cay melomys is a small rat-like (rodent) animal species in the family Muridae. It is Great Barrier Reef’s only endemic (found nowhere else) mammal species.

16. Norway has become the first country in the world to prohibit deforestation.

Norwegian Parliament had pledged to make government’s public procurement policy deforestation-free.

Norwegian Government has taken steps based on official recommendations of Norwegian Parliament’s Standing Committee on Energy and Environment as part of the Action Plan on Nature Diversity.

17. A small regional Florida bank, Stonegate Bank has made history.

The bank issued the first credit card that can be used in Cuba.

That could make it easier for Americans to travel and work on an island largely.

 
 18. Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena inaugurated Duraiappah Stadium in Jaffna.

The stadium was renovated by India.

The newly renovated Duraiappah Stadium has been named in honour of a former Mayor of Jaffna late Alfred Thambirajah Duraiappah.

19. A bronze statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose has been unveiled at the Indian cultural centre premises in Malaysia.

Nine Indian National Army (INA) veterans were present there.

20. Union Tourism minister Dr. Mahesh Sharma inaugurated the Ganges-Danube, Cultural Festival of India at Vigado Theatre in Budapest in Hungary.

The Minister also inaugurated Yoga workshop.

Hungarian artists, proficient in Indian art forms took part in the programme.

 

21. President Pranab Mukherjee made visit to three-nation tour to Ghana, Ivory Coast and Namibia.

Pranab Mukherjee has become the First Indian President to Visit Ghana and Ivory Coast.

He also became the second Indian President to visit Namibia after a gap of 21 years.

22. 2016 World Investment Report has been released.

As per the report, India ranks 10th in FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) inflows.

As per the report, India’s FDI inflows have increased to 44 billion dollars in 2015 as compared to 35 billion dollars in 2014.

Top 10 Countries are United States, Hong Kong, China, Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Singapore, Brazil, Canada and India.

23. Mahashangarh declared as the SARRC cultural capital for 2016-17.

Mahashangarh is the 3rd century BC archaeological site in Bogra, Bangladesh.

24. Nepal banned its citizens from working in strife-torn Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Libya.

The decision was made at a cabinet meet after 13 Nepali security guards were killed in a Taliban suicide bombing in Kabul.

25. China launched its first dark sky reserve in Ngari Prefecture, Tibet.

It was launched to limit light pollution and preserve sites for making astronomical observations.

 

26. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has elected Ethiopia, Bolivia, Sweden and Kazakhstan as the non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

 These newly-elected countries will have two-year term starting from 1 January 2016 till 31 December 2018.

 They will replace Spain, Malaysia, New Zealand, Angola and Venezuela.

27. Gudni Johannesson has won the Iceland’s presidential election.

 He was able to secure 39.1% of the vote.

 He will succeed Olafur Ragnar Grimsson.

 

28. Sweden inaugurated a test stretch of an electric road.

 The test was conducted on parts of road E16.

 It was based on the government’s goal of energy efficiency and a fossil fuel-free vehicle fleet by 2030.

29. Rodrigo Duterte was sworn in as the 16th President of Philippines.

He will have tenure of six years.

He was administered oath to the office by the Supreme Court justice at the Malacanang presidential palace.

30. Two women have been appointed as judges of Malaysia’s Islamic Shariah High Court for the first time in the history of the judiciary of the Muslim-majority country.

They are:

Noor Huda Roslan (40)

Nenney Shuhaidah Shamsuddin (41)

 

31. Exercise RIMPAC 2016, the Pacific military exercise, began on 30 June 2016 at Hawaii.

It will cover the Hawaiian Island and southern California.

The theme of RIMPAC 2016 is Capable, Adaptive, Partners.

26 nations including India, 45 ships, five submarines, more than 200 aircraft, and 25000 personnel will participate in the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise that is scheduled from 30 June to 4 August 2016.

Sports:

.

 1. The (IBC)was granted affiliation by the Commonwealth BoxingCouncil (CBC).

 The affiliation was unanimously endorsed by CBC.

 IBC is a licensing body for professional boxers in India which has Vijender Singh among others on its roster.

    2. World Number One tennis player Novak Djokovic from Serbia has won the 2016 French Open title in the men’s singles category.

He defeated Britain’s Andy Murray by 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 score.

It is his first French Open title and completed the career Grand Slam.

3. South Asian Games gold medalist Indian judoka Avtar Singh has qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

The game is scheduled to be held in August 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

He has qualified under 90kg weight category under the continental quota.

His current world Ranking is 79 with 182 points.

4. Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) is going to host the 2016 Junior Men’s hockey World Cup.

International Hockey Federation (FIH) made the announcement.

The junior hockey World Cup would be held from 8th to 18th December 2016.

They include defending champions Germany, Australia, Argentina, Belgium, Austria, Canada, Egypt, India, England, Japan, Korea, South Africa, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan and Spain.

 
5. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has banned former Russian World No. 1 tennis player Maria Sharapova for two years over doping charges.

The ban was imposed on her Independent Tribunal of ITF appointed under Tennis Anti-Doping Programme found that she had committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation.

It will commence on 26 January 2016.

  6.  Cristiano Ronaldo tops Forbes 2016 list of World’s Highest Paid Athlete. 

He is the first athlete to get this recognition.

The earning of Ronaldo has marked as 88 million US Dollars.

7. Saina Nehwal, Ace Indian shuttler has won the 2016 Australian Open Super Series Badminton tournament title in women’s singles category.

In the final match played at Sydney, she defeated Chinese Sun Yu by 11-21, 21-14, 21-19 score.

It was her first title of year 2016 season and overall second Australian Open title of her career.

She won her first Australian Open title in 2014.

 

8. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes driver from Great Britain has won 2016 Canada Grand Prix title of Formula One.

It was his second title of the season after winning 2016 Monaco Grand Prix in May 2016.

Canada Grand Prix was the seventh race of the 2016 season and was held at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.

2016 Canada Grand Prix are as follows:

1st position: Lewis Hamilton (Britain) of Mercedes.

2nd position: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) of Ferrari.

3rd position: Valtteri Bottas (Finland) of William.

4th position: Max Verstappen (Belgium) Red Bull.

5th position: Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes. Top Teams: Mercedes, Ferrari, William and Red Bull.

9. The Rio 2016 organizing committee revealed the official slogan for the first Olympic and Paralympic Games in South America – “A new world”.

It also unveils the medals, 52 days from the start of the quadrennial extravaganza.

Along with the Olympic torch, the medals and the mascots, the slogan plays a major part in creating the unique identity of each Olympic Games.

10. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg from Germany has won the 2016 European Grand Prix of Formula One.

Top 3 teams are Mercedes, Ferrari and Force India.

Positions attained by various Racers:

First Position: Nico Rosberg (Germany) of Mercedes team

Second Position: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) of Ferrari team

Third Position: Sergio Perez (Mexico) of Force India team

Fourth Position: Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) of Ferrari Team

Fifth Position: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) of Mercedes Team

 

11. The Indian mixed recurve team of Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das has won the silver medal at the Archery World Cup held in Antalya, Turkey.

12. 106 year old Aida Gemanque became the oldest Olympic torch bearer when she carried the flame in the Amazonian city of Macapa.

She is also called as extreme granny.

She broke the record formerly held by Alexander Kaptarenko, who was 101 when he took part in the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics relay.

13. The BCCI has suspended and issued show-cause notices to the top Goa Cricket Association officials.

They were were arrested for alleged misappropriation of organization funds.

GCA president Chetan Desai and secretary Vinod Phadke, who are also part of important committees of BCCI, along with treasurer Akbar Mulla were arrested earlier this week by police for alleged misappropriation of Rs 3.13 crore belonging to the organization.

  14. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed former spinner Anil Kumble as the head coach of Indian Cricket Team.

He will have tenure of one year.

The decision of his selection was taken in the BCCI working committee meeting in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh.

Earlier the Cricket Advisory Committee comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly and VVS Laxman had proposed his name after interviewing 57 candidates.

 

15. Lionel Messi, Ace footballer announced retirement from International Football after Argentina’s loss in Copa America final.

 Messi has been acclaimed with FIFA player of the year for 5 times, and has also won four Champions League titles and eight Spanish La Liga crowns with Barcelona.

 

16. Defending champion Chile won the 2016 Copa America Football tournament by defeating Argentina in a penalty shootout.

Following Awards has been given:

Golden Ball: Alexis Sanchez (Chile)

Golden Boot: Eduardo Vargas (Chile)

Golden Glove award: Claudio Bravo (Chile)

Fair Play Award: Argentina

17. Artemi Panarin, Russian hockey winger, playing for the Chicago Blackhawks, won the 2015-2016 Calder Memorial Trophy.

18. Ace Indian shooter Jitu Rai won silver medal at the ISSF (International Shooting Sport Federation) Shooting World Cup.

It was held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

In the final match, he shot 199.5 score to bag the silver medal in men’s 10m air pistol.

 

19. Anju Bobby George and Pullela Gopichand have been named as the members of Khelo India.

Khelo India is a national programme launched by the Union Government for the development of sports in the country.

20. The Argentina women’s team has claimed a record seventh International Hockey Federation (FIH) Champions Trophy title with a 2-1 win over reigning World and Olympic champions, the Netherlands, in the final at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre.

Various titles given as follows:

Best player: Carla Rebecchi (Argentina)

Best junior player: Maria Granatto (Argentina)

Best goalkeeper: Joyce Sombroek (Netherlands)

21. Sanjeev Rajput, Ace Indian shooter has won the silver medal in men’s 50-metre rifle 3 position event of the ISSF World Cup held in Baku, Ajerbaijan.

 He shot 456.9 points to win the silver medal.

 22. Amul, India’s largest food products marketing organization has become the official sponsor of Indian contingent to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which sells its product under the brand Amul has inked an agreement with Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

Amul will use its famous tagline, Amul Doodh Pita hai India to cheer the Indian contingent.

 

23. The Union Sports Ministry has granted recognition to Paralympic Committee of India (PCI).

It was granted after the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced temporary lifting of suspension on it.

This recognition gives a huge confidence boost to the several para-athletes who have qualified for 2016 Rio Paralympics.

 

24. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has become the first from the country to play in the Europa league competition.

Sameer Mon, the veteran sprinter of India, won gold in 100 meter dash in 10.60 seconds at the 56th National Inter-state Senior Athletics Championships in Hyderabad.

25. Sameer Mon, the veteran sprinter of India, won gold in 100 meter dash in 10.60 seconds at the 56th National Inter-state Senior Athletics Championships.

Awards & Recognition:

1. Indian-American scientist Arnab De in May 2016 received the prestigious Springer Theses award.

 He was awarded for his research in which he developed transgenic mice to study a critical tumor-suppressor called A20.

2. The President of India Pranab Mukherjee presented the Malti Gyan Peeth Puraskar for the year 2016 at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

 The award was conferred upon 15 teachers from Punjab for their rare contribution in the field of education.

 The awardees were facilitated with 1 lakh rupees cash, certificate of excellence, a Robe of Honour and a medal.

 The initiative was mainly taken to promote the quality teaching in the schools besides encouraging the hundred percent attendance of girl students in the government schools.

3. Two Indian-origin womenhave been named in the Forbes’ second annual list of America’s wealthiest and most successful self-made women.

 The list includes names of 60 most successful self-made women who have crashed ceilings through invention and innovation.

 Two Indian-origin women are Neerja Sethi and Jayshree Ullal.

 

4. Aditi Krishnakumar, an Indian woman author in Singapore, in fourth week of May 2016 won the ‘Scholastic Asian Book Award’.

 She was awarded for her 32000-word manuscript “Codex: The Lost Treasure of the Indus”.

5. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with Amir Amanullah Khan Award.

It is the highest civilian honour of Afghanistan.

The award was bestowed upon him at the inaugural function of the Afghan-India Friendship Dam (Salma Dam) by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

The award is named after Afghan national hero Amanullah Khan who championed the cause of Afghanistan’s freedom.

 
6. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, has been honoured by Russia with Order of Friendship Award. 

He was awarded for his special merits in strengthening peace, friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding between peoples.

7. Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya, an eminent Indian-origin professor has been awarded the prestigious Regius Professorship in Manufacturing by Queen Elizabeth II.

Bhattacharyya who is founder of Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG)

He has been awarded the Regius Professorship for his outstanding contribution in manufacturing.

 
8. Akhil Sharma, an Indian American author has won the prestigious 2016 International Dublin Literary Award. 

He received the award for his novel ‘family life‘.

The Award is organized and sponsored by Dublin City Council and at €100,000 is the world’s largest prize for a single novel published in English.

9. Tata Power Solar has bagged the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) award.

The award was given for rooftop solar power projects.

The company has won the award in the Channel Partner/EPC contractor category at the National Excellence Awards 2016 instituted by MNRE for the first time.

10. President Pranab Mukherjee has been presented National Order of the Republic of Ivory Coast.

It is the highest civilian award of the West African country.

The award was bestowed upon Pranab Mukherjee during his two days visit to Ivory Coast on the second leg of his three-nation African tour.

By receiving the award, he became the first Indian President to visit Ivory Coast.

National Order of the Republic of Ivory Coast is state honour awarded to those who have highly distinguished themselves to the service to the state.

  11. Canadian poet, novelist and environmental activist Margaret Atwood has been awarded with the 2016 PEN Pinter Prize.

She is a winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award and Prince of Asturias Award for Literature.

The PEN Pinter Prize is an annual literary award launched in 2009 by English PEN and was launched in honour of the late Nobel Literature Prize-winning playwright Harold Pinter.

12. Pune-based diabetes specialist Shashank S Shah was conferred with the Vivian Fonseca Scholar Award 2016.

The award was given by American Diabetes Association (ADA) for his pioneering research on diabetes in South Asia.

13. Mohun Bagan announced that it will honour country’s only Dronacharya football coach Syed Nayeemuddin with the Mohun Bagan Ratna. 

Nayeemuddin was chosen for the prestigious award for his overall contribution to the club and the country both as a player and as a coach.

Syed Nayeemuddin is an Indian football coach and former player.

14. Kerala Tourism won four awards at ‘FilmAT’ which is one of the biggest international film festivals dedicated to tourism, art and ecology in Poland.

Three of the honours were given to a single campaign.

‘Responsible Tourism’ initiative started by Kerala Tourism won three awards under categories of the Best Promotional Social Campaign, Protection of Nature, and Eco-Food categories respectively.

The tourism board’s ad film ‘The Great Backwaters of Kerala’ won the ‘Best Editing Award’.

15. Kannada film Thithi has won the Best Film and Best Script Writers Award at the ongoing 19th Shanghai International Film Festival in Shanghai.

The film was directed by Raam Reddy’s and it is about 3 generations reacting to the death of the oldest in the clan.

  16. IIT-Kanpur professor Sanjay Mittal has been awarded the twenty-fifth GD Birla Award for Scientific Research for the year 2015.

He has been bestowed with this award for his significant contributions have been in the area of Mechanics.

17. The 17th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards 2016 were presented on 25 June 2016 in Madrid, Spain.

The awards were presented by the International Indian Film Academy honouring the best Hindi films of 2015, as follows:

Best Film: Bajrangi Bhaijaan

Best Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Bajirao Mastani)

Best Actor: Ranveer Singh (Bajirao Mastani)

Best Actress: Deepika Padukone (Piku)

  18. National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) have awarded Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar with an Honorary Fellowship in the UK.

He was awarded for his contributions to world peace and culture.

19. Zubaida Bai, Indian social entrepreneur, in the fourth week of June 2016 was named among the top 10 Local SDG Pioneers for 2016.

 The 2016 Local SDG Pioneers is a part of the United Nations Global Compact’s Making Global Goals Local Business campaign.

20. Four Indian-Americans have been honoured with prestigious Great Immigrants: The Pride of America Award 2016.

Four Indian-Americans are:

Sunder Pichai: CEO of internet search engine giant Google.

Hari Sreenivasan: Broadcast journalist associated with the PBS NewsHour.

Vikram Malhotra: Associated with McKinsey.

Bharati Mukherjee: Award-winning author.

 

21. World Champion Viswanathan Anand was conferred the “Honoris Causa” Doctor of Science by Indian Institute Of Technology (IIT) during its 49th convocation ceremony.

He was bestowed with the degree by NITI aayog chairman Arvind Panagariya.

He was also the first recipient of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 1991–92.

In 2007, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, making him the first sports person to receive the award.

22. President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday presented the Dr. BC Roy national awards for 2008, 2009 and 2010 at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

These awards were presented on the occasion of National Doctors’ Day observed on July 1 to pay honour and tribute to India’s most famous physician Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy.

The awardees are as follows:

2010: Nikhil C. Munshi, O.P. Kalra, Tejinder Singh, Subash Gupta, Amrinder Jit Kanwar, Rajendra Prasad and Glory Alexander’

2009: H. Sancheti, Renu Saxena, Atul Kumar, A.K. Kriplani, Kanan A. Yelikar, H.S. Bhanushali, G.V. Rao, Moti Lal Singh, C.N. Purandare and C.V. Hari Narayan.

2008: Rajeshwar Dayal, Mammen Chandy, Neelam Mohan, Rohit V. Bhatt, Mohan Kameswaran, Harsha Jauhari, Gopal H. Badlani and Yash Gulati.

 

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Mergers & Acquisitions:

1. Tata Power Co. Ltd, the private power producer acquired renewable energy company Welspun Renewables Energy Pvt. Ltd.

Tata Power’s renewable energy unit Tata Power Renewable Energy Ltd (TPREL) has signed share purchase agreement to acquire Welspun Renewables Energy.

The transaction deal is sized at 9,249 crore rupees, which is considered as largest transaction in renewables space in India.

It will help Tata Power to grow its clean energy portfolio to 2.3 gigawatts (GW)

2. Technology services provider Tech Mahindra Ltd (TechM) has acquired UK-based digital transformation firm The BIO Agency Ltd for 4.5 crore pound(45 million).

Tech Mahindra will acquire 100 percent of shares of the company.

 
3. E-commerce major Flipkart and Royal Enfield have entered into collaboration.

Flipkart will sell complete range of accessories of Royal Enfield.

Appointments & Resignations:

1. Congress Party leader V Narayanasamy was sworn in as Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Puducherry.

He was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi.

The oath took place at a function held at the historic Gandhi Thidal in Beach Road.

2. Bollywood actress Dia Mirza was named as the ambassador for Swachh Saathi (student internship) programme.

The reason behind her selection is that she is an active campaigner and a youth icon for Swachh Bharat (Clean India) Mission to make country clean.

Swachh Saathi programme is a youth-based programme of Swachh Bharat Mission.

  3. Major General Per Lodin from Sweden was appointed as chief military observer and head of the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).

His appointment was approved by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

He will succeed Major General Delali Johnson Sakyi of Ghana whose two-year term completes on July 2, 2016.

4. Narendra Kumar Yadav, Chairman and Managing Director of Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) has resigned.

Now Director (finance) P K Purwar has been given additional charge of the CMD’s post.

  5. Peter Thomson, Fijian diplomat has been elected as President of 71st session of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Peter Thomson defeated Andreas Mavroyiannis of Cyprus by 94 to 90 votes, with one abstention.

By this, Peter Thomson becomes the first representative from the Pacific island states to get elected for the largely honorific post in the UN’s 71-year history.

Fact you should know: Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit was first and only Indian to serve as President of UNGA in 1953. She was also the first woman President of UNGA.

  6. Rakesh Ranjan Prasad, the senior-most Judge of the Manipur High Court Justice has assumed charge of the Chief Justice of the High Court.

He succeeded Justice Laxmi Kanta Mohapatra.

 

7. G Kalyanakrishnan, a famous scientist has taken charge as Chief Executive of Hydereabad based Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC).

He succeeded Dr. N Saibaba, who had retired on completion of two years of extended period of service.

The NFC is a major industrial unit of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), for the supply of nuclear fuel bundles and reactor core components.

 
8. Israel has been elected to chair a UN committee for the first time in the world body’s 71 years history.

Israel has got 109 votes in secret voting.

9. Ranu Langthasa was unanimously appointed as the chairperson of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) in Assam on 13 June 2016.

With this, she also became the first women chairperson to be appointed to the post since the formation of Autonomous Council in 1950s.

The NC Hills Autonomous Council can be described as a state in miniature having all the paraphernalia of a Government like Legislative, Executive and Judiciary.

  10. Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman, Bharti Enterprises, has been elected as the Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

The ICC World Council elected the new leaders at a voting held in Sao Paolo, Brazil.

He takes over fromT erry McGraw, Chairman Emeritus of S&P Global, who will subsequently become ICC’s Honorary Chairman.

He is the third Indian business leader to hold this position in ICC’s near 100-year history.

 

11. Hollywood actress Anne Hathaway was named as the Global Goodwill Ambassador for UN Women.

In her new role she will focus her efforts on injustices mothers around the world and also challenging issues like unpaid leave, wage gaps and a lack of access to affordable childcare.

12.  Founder and Chairperson of Reliance Foundation has been nominated as a candidate to be a new member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

 She is the first Indian woman to be nominated to the IOC.

 She is being considered in the category of volunteers who represent the IOC and Olympic Movement in their country.

The IOC is the supreme authority of the Olympic Movement headquartered at Lausanne, Switzerland.

 

13. Ruling AIADMK P Dhanapal was re-elected as Speaker of the 15th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.

 By this, he becomes first speaker to be elected for a consecutive second term in the state’s legislative history.

Pollachi V Jayaraman of ruling AIADMK was also re-elected as the Deputy Speaker of the legislative assembly.

 Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had proposed their names as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively.

  14. Virginia Raggi, a leading member of the populist anti-corruption Five Star Movement (M5S) was elected as Rome’s first female mayor.

She is also the first candidate from that party, M5S to be elected to Rome’s mayoralty.

 She won with 67% of the vote.

15. Ken Miyauchi has been appointed as the President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Japanese conglomerate SoftBank Group.

He will succeed Nikesh Arora who had stepped down from his position after the Chairman and CEO of Group Masayoshi Son wanted to remain at the helm longer than first planned.

SoftBank Group is a Japanese multinational telecommunications and Internet corporation established in 1981 in Tokyo.

 16. India Limited format’s Cricket Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been appointed as brand ambassador for Exide Life Insurance Company with immediate effect. 

The Cricketer will feature in the company’s marketing campaign Lamba saath, bharose Ki baat (Long term relationships build trust).

This is his first endorsement deal in the insurance category

17. World’s leading payments platform PayPal announced the appointment of Anupam Pahuja as the Managing Director (MD) and Country Manager for its India operations.

He also served as technical head for Asia pacific.

He will also be responsible for further strengthening of the company’s operations in the country.

18. Yasmin Sooka, a South African Indian-origin lawyer has been appointed to chairman of three member UN commission (committee).

She will monitor the human rights situation in South Sudan.

The committee was constituted by the United Nations Human Right Council (UNHRC) resolution 31/20.

 

19. Imad Khamis has been elected as the new prime minister of Syria by President Bashar al-Assad.

He replaces Wael al-Halqi who had held the post since August 2012.

20. Sujoy Bose has been appointed as the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF).

NIIF is India’s quasi sovereign wealth fund (SWF) formed to attract investment from both domestic and international sources for infrastructure development in the counry.

21. N. Srinivasan, former BCCI President and former International Cricket Council Chairman has re-elected as the president of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) for the 15th consecutive term.

Also, Mr. KS Viswanathan has been elected as a secretary of the TNCA for the 15th consecutive term.

 

22. Former India batsman Lalchand Rajput was appointed as the head coach of the Afghanistan national cricket team.

He will be joining the team for the Scotland, Ireland and Netherland tour.

23. D. K. Hota has been appointed as Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of Bharat Earth Movers Ltd. (BEML) with effect from July 1.

Prior to assuming his office, he was the Director (HR) on the board of the company.

 
24. N. S. Vishwanathan has been appointed as deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

 He will succeed Harun R Khan and will have term of three years.

Economics & Banking GK:

1. The Union Cabinet has given its approval for setting up the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB)as a Public Limited Company under the Department of Posts.
 

 It will have 100% Government of India (GOI) equity and shall be established with total expenditure of 800 Crore rupees.

 Now, the IPPB will obtain banking licence from RBI by March 2017 and by September 2017.

 IPPB will start operations in March 2017 in about 50 districts and will cover the entire country by the end of FY 2018-19.

 

2. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved for Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for Kharif Crops of 2016-17 season.

 The prices will come into effect from effective from 1 October 2016.

 The higher MSPs would increase investment and production through assured remunerative prices to farmers.

3. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its second bi-monthly monetary policy review for year 2016-17 has maintained status quo in key policy interest rate.

 

The policy rates were decided as follows:

Policy Repo Rate                                                   6.50%

Reverse Repo Rate                                              6.00%

Marginal Standing Facility Rate (MSF)             7.00%

Bank Rate                                                              7.00%

2. The World Bank released a report on Global Growth Forecast.

In this report the global growth forecast was decreased to 2.4% in 2016 and at 2.8% in 2017.

This happened mainly because of a slower than expected recovery in advanced economies and due to mediocre growth experienced by advanced economies, while low commodity prices, weak global trade and stilted capital flows also impacted.

According to the report, India will remain one of the fastest growing major economies, ahead of China, for the next three years.

3. The multilateral lending agency Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved 100 million dollars loan.

The loan is approved to strengthen a key irrigation system and improve water management in the Vennar sub-basin of Cauvery Delta in Tamil Nadu.

The loan supports both physical improvements and stronger water management to give significant boost to the lives of coastal communities who do not have sufficient irrigation water.

4. Axis Bank has launched India’s first internationally-listed certified green bond.

The aim is to finance climate change solutions around the world at London Stock Exchange (LSE).

The proceeds of the bond will be invested by Axis Bank in green energy, transportation and infrastructure projects.

Green Bonds, basically are debt instruments which help issuer to get capital while the investors receive fixed income in the form of interest.

 5. State Bank of India (SBI) and Spain’s CaixaBank have inked pact to provide loans to Indo-Spanish joint ventures and local enterprises. 

Under this agreement, they will expand banks’ guarantee transaction businesses.

They will jointly provide credit to Indian-Spanish joint ventures and Indian local enterprises.

 

6. IMF Releases 1.5 billion dollars to Sri Lanka.

 

International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved the loan to support the South Asian Island’s nation’s economic forum agenda.

  7. The markets regulator SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) has put in place a stricter KYC (Know Your Customer) norms and disclosure regime for Participatory Notes (P-Notes).

P-Notes are offshore/overseas derivative instruments (ODIs) issued by registered foreign institutional investors (FII) to overseas investors.

The aim of SEBI’s stricter KYC, disclosure norms is to make it tougher to use these offshore instruments that do not disclose the money-trail and details of their users.

8. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued guidelines called Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets (S4A).

The main aim of these guidelines is to strengthen the lenders’ ability to deal with stressed assets and to put real assets back on track of entities facing genuine difficulties by providing an avenue for reworking financial structure.

The RBI has formulated the S4A as an optional framework for the resolution of large stressed accounts.

9. A cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the takeover by State Bank of India (SBI) of several subsidiaries.

SBI wanted to take over five units that had been running at arms-length, as well as state-run Bharatiya Mahila Bank.

The merged entity will create a banking giant, which can compete with the largest in the world with an asset base of almost Rs 37 lakh crore, with 22,500 branches and 58,000 ATMs as on December 2015.

10. The Union Finance Ministry has announced that non-resident Indians (NRIs) can now open National Pension Savings (NPS) accounts online i.e. through eNPS if they have Aadhaar Card or Permanent Account Number (PAN) card.

Earlier, NRIs could open NPS accounts only through paper based applications by approaching Bank offices.

11. India’s largest public sector lender State Bank of India (SBI) has created a dedicated IT innovations and startup fund and have set aside Rs 200 crore for investment in promising startups.

The fund would be extending upto Rs 3 crore for any India registered company for promoting their business in India using information technology for banking.

12. State-run banking behemoth SBI has been named in a ‘Hall of Shame’ list of 158 banking and financial institutions globally that have invested billions of dollars in companies making cluster bombs.

State Bank of India (SBI) is the only Indian entity on the list, which includes global giants like JP Morgan, Barclays, Bank of America and Credit Suisse.

They invested over $28 billion in seven producers of cluster munitions between June 2012 and April 2016.

13. The Union Cabinet has approved setting up of Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) under Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for extending support to Startups.

This 10,000 rupees corpus fund will be established in line with the Startup India Action Plan, an initiative of Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) which was unveiled by Union Government in January 2016.

The FFS will be used for the contribution of various Alternative Investment Funds (AIF) registered with Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to extend funding support to Startups.

14. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released its much awaited ‘Vision-2018′ document.

It aims at building best of class payment and settlement systems for a ‘less-cash’ India.

It will be ensuring access to mobile banking services to even basic phone users.

15. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a 500 million dollars loan to build a bridge across the Ganga River in Bihar.

The loan funds will be used to build 9.8 km Road Bridge in Bihar on the Ganga River.

On completion of the project it will be the India’s longest river bridge.

16. The China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved first set of loans.

Total amount of loan is US 509 million dollars.

It is to finance projects in four countries; Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia and Tajikistan.

17. India Post opened up the ongoing scheme of customized printing of ‘My Stamp’ for individuals and corporate also.

Under the scheme an individual or a corporate entity can get their photo or logo printed inside the postage stamp at a price of 12 lakh rupees.

As per reports, this time there will be 5000 sheets comprising 60000 postage stamps.

These stamps can be used for general postal mail.

 

18. The Union Government has decided to enhance financial powers of its Ministries, Departments for appraisal and approval of Non-Plan Schemes or Projects.

Union Finance Ministry has issued a notification in order to expedite appraisal and approval process in the Union Government Ministries and Departments.

19. HDFC Bank launched SME Bank, touted as India’s full-fledged banking service for small and medium enterprises (SME).

The new entity would allow clients access full bouquet of services instantly on 24×7 basis over personal computers or mobile phones.

Bills – New & Amendments:

1. Assam Assembly has passed Assam Ease of Doing Business Bill, 2016 to facilitate ease of doing business in the state.

 The bill seeks to attract fresh investment in the state through an easy computerized clearance system.

 The bill has the provision for speedy processing of applications and issue of clearances for setting up industries.

 

2. The Election Commission (EC) has urged the Union Government to amend the electoral law Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951.

The reason behind this amendment is empower it to either postpone or countermand elections if evidence emerges of use of money to influence voters.

EC has asked Union Government to insert a new clause ‘58 B’ in the RPA, 1951 to allow adjournment or countermanding (declaring invalid) of election on the grounds of use of money power (bribery) in the affected polling areas.

3. Sri Lankan Parliament has passed the Right to Information (RTI) bill.

The bill aims at restoring transparency and good governance in the country.

The RTI bill seeks to give citizens access to public information which is in the possession, custody or control of a public authority.

4. The Union Cabinet has considered the Model Shops and Establishment (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Bill, 2016.

The Bill will be sent to States/UTs so that they will be able to modify their individual Acts, if they so desire.

The States/UTs can either adopt the Bill as it is or modify its provisions as per their requirements.

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU):

1. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in May 2016 signed a series of twelve agreements in Tehran. 

 The most important of these 12 agreements is the trilateral transit agreement between India, Iran and Afghanistan.

 In the deal, India offered to develop the Port of Chabahar in order to allow Indian goods to be exported to Iran, with the possibility of onward connections to Afghanistan and Central Asia.

2. The Union Cabinet has given its ex-post facto approval to the signing of MOU between the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of India (DGCA) and the French Civil Aviation Authority – Direction Generale de l’Aviation Civile (DGAC).

The motive of the MoU is:

 Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) for implementation and promotion of Standards and Recommended Practices of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

 The TCP will be beneficial for enhancement of expertise and skills of DGCA’s officers.

 Implementation of the cooperation between the two parties for imparting training of technicians, engineers, managers etc.

 

3. India and Tunisia on 2 June 2016 signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for co-operation in Information Technology and promotion of traditional handicrafts.

 The MoUs were signed after the delegation level talks between the two countries in the presence of Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari and Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid in Tunis.

 The two sides had discussion on bilateral ties focused on economic partnership and adding new areas of collaboration in IT and education.

 
 4. India and Singapore have agreed to enhance the scale of existing bilateral military interaction.

 Both the countries have decided to expand the interaction between the armed forces.

 The decision was taken at inaugural Singapore-India Defence Ministers’ Dialogue (DMD).

 The Dialogue was co-chaired by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his Singapore counterpart Dr. Ng Eng Hen.

 

5. India and United States (US) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to join the global terror database maintained by the Terrorist Screening Center (TSC) of US.

 Under this MoU, both sides will give each other access to terrorism screening information through designated contact points, subject to domestic laws and regulations.

 TSC is a multi-agency organisation administered by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) which consolidates several terrorist watch lists maintained by different US government agencies into single terrorist database on terror suspects.

6. India and Thailand have signed two agreements in culture and educational sectors to boost bilateral ties.

The agreements were signed in New Delhi during the three day official state visit of Thailand Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha to Indian.

Signed agreements are:

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India’s Nagaland University and Thailand’s Chiang Mai University.

Agreement for to extension of the Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) between both countries for 2016-19.

 

7. The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and India Ports Global Private Limited (IPGPL) have signed a MoU.

The MoU was signed for implementation of additional works on the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) in Myanmar.

As part of the MoU, both signatory parties will be implementing three additional works on the KMTTP at the estimated to cost 476 crore rupees.

3. The Union Cabinet has given its approval to the signing of a Protocol amending the Agreement between India and Belgium for avoidance of double taxation.

Decision in this regard was taken in the Union Cabinet meeting under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The amendment in the Protocol will broaden the scope of the existing framework of exchange of tax related information between the two countries.

 

4. India and Switzerland have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

It was signed to establish formal cooperation in the fields of skills development and vocational and professional education and training.

The MoU was signed between Switzerland’s State Secretary Mauro Dell’ Ambrogio and Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Rajiv Pratap Rudy in Winterthur.

5. The Colombian government and the leftist FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) rebels have signed a historic ceasefire and disarmament agreement.

It establishes a bilateral ceasefire and end to hostilities and the definitive laying down of arms.

  6. The CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CSIR-CIMFR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with coal supplying companies and power utilities.

 MoU was signed for quality analysis of coal supplied.

7. India has signed a memorandum of obligation in Tashkent to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

8. The Union Cabinet has approved MoU between Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC), Bhutan.

It will strengthen the existing relationship between UPSC and RCSC.

It will also facilitate sharing of expertise and experience of both the parties in the area of recruitment.

9. The World Bank Group has signed an agreement with the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

It was signed to collaborate on increasing solar energy use around the world with the goal of mobilizing $1 trillion in investments by 2030.

The ISA is a group of 121 countries led by India and is headquartered in India.

6. Telecom-to-energy conglomerate Reliance Industries (RIL) and India’s largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) have signed Subscription and Shareholders’ Agreement to set up payments bank.

As per the agreement, RIL will be the promoter with a 70 per cent equity contribution in the payments bank and SBI as joint venture will have 30 per cent equity contribution.

 

7. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has inked a MoU with Advertising Standard Council of India (ASCI) to check misleading advertisements in the food and beverages sector.

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Science & Technology:

1. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has successfully deployed the first experimental inflatable room attached to the International Space Station (ISS).

 The experimental inflatable room dubbed as BEAM (Bigelow Expandable Activity Module) was deployed after it was successfully expanded and pressurized.

2. Nine-coach Spanish train Talgo’s trialrunwas conducted on 29 May 2016 on the Bareilly-Moradabad route of Uttar Pradesh. It was conducted as part of the Railways’ strategy to increase the speed of trains.

 The trail run was conducted by a joint team of the Railway Design Standards Organization (RDSO) and Spanish train manufacturer Talgo.

3. According to a study by Indian researchers at major excavated site of Bhirrana, Haryana suggests that the Indus Valley Civilization is much older than thought before and climate was not only the cause behind collapse of Harappa civilization.
 

 The study was conducted by a research team from IIT Kharagpur, Institute of archaeology, Deccan College Pune, Physical Research Laboratory and Archaeological Survey of India.

 The finding was published in prestigious journal Nature Scientific report on 25 May 2016.

 The study of levels of Pre-Harappan Hakra phase was dated to be as old as 8000 years.

 

4. NASA scientists have located 39 unreported and major human-made sources of toxic Sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions that cause pollution.
 

 They used a new satellite-based method for locating them.

 The unreported emission sources were found in the analysis of satellite data from 2005 to 2014.

 These sources are clusters of coal-burning power plants, oil and gas operations and smelters notably found in West Asia, Mexico and parts of Russia.

SO2 is a known health hazard and cause of acid rain.

  5. A team of scientists from Harvard University (United States) has created a unique bionic leaf that uses sunlight (solar energy) to split water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen and hydrogen-eating bacteria to produce liquid fuels from CO2.

 This artificial photosynthesis device has been dubbed bionic leaf 2.0.

 The new system can convert solar energy to biomass with 10% efficiency.

 Its efficiency is much higher than the 1% seen in the fastest growing plants.

 

6. The world’s first 3D-printed aircraft THOR was unveiled by European aerospace company, Airbus at the International Aerospace Exhibition held in Schoenefeld, Germany.

The THOR is short for Test of High-tech Objectives in Reality.

It resembles a large, white model airplane but is windowless.

 

7. Rajasthan Government has launched mobile application RajVayu.

This app will share information about air quality index of Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje launched this app on the eve of World Environment Day (5th June).

By launching the app, now Rajasthan becomes first state in country to launch such app for sharing information about air quality index of cities.

 

8. Researchers at Assam Agricultural University have developed two rice varieties.

They are Ranjit Sub-1 and Bahadur Sub-1.

These were developed to get better yields under submerged conditions in state mainly Barak Valley.

9. The Union Ministry of Power has launched Surya Mitra mobile App.

It will serve customers in the field of renewable energy.

The app was launched by Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal at National Workshop on Rooftop Solar Power held in New Delhi.

10. Four elements on the Periodic Table get new names.

Meet nihonium (Nh), moscovium (Mc), tennessine (Ts) and oganesson (Og), the newest elements on the periodic table to receive names.

They were formerly known by their respective atomic numbers 113, 115, 117 and 118.

The elements were recognized by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, or IUPAC, the U.S.-based world authority on chemistry, on December 30, 2015. Their addition completed the seventh row of the periodic table.

11. Scientists using NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope have discovered a Jupiter-like circumbinary planet named Kepler1647b orbiting a system of two stars.

The planet was discovered by astronomers from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre and San Diego State University (SDSU).

KST is an unmanned space observatory launched in 2009 by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).

 

12. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), a Public Sector Power equipment manufacturer has commissioned 195 MW unit at Muzaffarpur Thermal Power Station in Bihar.

KBUNL is a joint venture (JV) of NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation) and BSPGCL (Bihar State Power Holding Company Limited).

The first 195 MW unit was commissioned in March, 2015.

BHEL is a power plant equipment manufacturer completely owned by Union Government.

Fact you should know: It is the largest engineering and manufacturing company of its kind in India.

 13. China has successfully launched a 23rd BeiDou Navigation Satellite. 

It was launched to support its global navigation and positioning network.

It was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China’s Sichuan Province on board of Long March-3C carrier rocket.

BNS is 2nd generation of the Chinese navigational system seen as rival to the US’s Global Positioning System (GPS).

14. NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has uncovered a mysterious solitary dwarf galaxy known as UGC 4879.

The galaxy is smaller and messier than its cosmic cousins and lacks the majestic swirl of a spiral or the coherence of an elliptical.

HST was launched in 1990 as an international cooperation space project between NASA and European Space Agency.

It is managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Its science operations are conducted by Baltimore based Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI).

15. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated Child Labour Tracking System (CLTS). The system was launched to keep a track of rescued child labour for their proper rehabilitation.

 

A committee headed by Chief Secretary for implementation of children’s demands will also be set up.

16. The “Help Age SOS App’’ was launched by Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi at Raj Nivas.

The app provides for an SOS-Save our seniors button to immediately reach to the counsellor desk of Help Age for rendering emergency help and assistance.

It has 24×7 functionality and aims at helping elders in distress at any given time.

 

17. Scientists for the first time in modern medical history have grown a living bone in the lab to repair large defects in the head and face of patient.

This medical breakthrough was achieved by a new technique developed by Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, professor at Columbia University.

18. Public sector aerospace and defence major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has unveiled indigenous Basic Trainer Aircraft (BTA) HTT-40 in Bengaluru.

The aircraft made its maiden flight recently the HAL Airport in Bengaluru in presence of Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

It was flown by Group Captain C Subramaniam and Group Captain Venugopal for about 10 to 15 minutes.

HTT-40 stands for Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40, a two-seater aircraft designed and developed indigenously by the HAL.

19. The Union Ministry of Power has launched ‘URJA’- Urban Jyoti Abhiyaan Mobile application for Urban Power Distribution Sector.

It was launched by Union Power minister Piyush Goyal on the side-lines of two day conference of Power Ministers at Cansaulim in South Goa.

It has been developed by Power Finance Corporation (PFC) on behalf of Union Ministry of Power.

The motive behind introducing the app is to enhance consumer connect with the Urban Power Distribution sector by providing information of IT enabled towns.

20. China’s Sunway TaihuLight supercomputer is the world’s most powerful supercomputer system.

It was revealed by 2016 edition of Top 500 list of supercomputers.

Sunway-TaihuLight can perform calculations with processing speed of 124.5 petaflops per second (Pflops).

It is world’s first system to surpass 100 petaflops.

 

21. The Union Government has banned use of potassium bromate (KbrO3) as a food additive as it is carcinogenic.

Union Health Ministry has taken the decision based on the recommendation of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

22. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is going to test indigenously developed scramjet engine technology based on air-breathing propulsion in July 2016.

The test will be conducted on test platform named Advanced Technology Vehicle (ATV) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.

The test platform ATV will comprise a scramjet engine hitched to a two-stage sounding rocket (RH- 560).

23. The Union Cabinet under Chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved mega auction of all available spectrum (more than 2300 Megahertz) across the seven bands.

This decision will pave way for the largest-ever spectrum auction in the country and could potentially fetch the exchequer about 5.5 lakh crore ruppees going by the reserve price.

The airwaves in the seven spectrum bands to be auctioned are 700, 800, 900, 1800, 2100, 2300 and 2500 MHz.

 

24. The scientists have developed d a microchip, named KiloCore.

The microchip that has 1000 independent programmable processors.

It is the world’s first 1,000-processor chip and has the highest clock-rate processor ever designed at the university level.

 

25. Scientists have developed a new stem cell-containing bio-ink.

It allows 3D printing of complex living tissues that may be used for surgical implants.

It was developed by scientists from the University of Bristol, England.

26. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has launched BGR-34.

BGR-34 is an anti-diabetic ayurvedic drug designed for type 2 Diabetes mellitus.

It has been jointly developed by National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) and Central Institute for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP).

It works by controlling blood sugar and limiting the harmful effects and toxicity of other drugs.

 
27. China has successfully launched its second Shijian-16 series satellite for space research and experiments. 

The first Shijian-16 satellite was launched in October 2013.

The satellite was launched on board of Long March-4B rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in Jiuquan, northwest China’s Gansu Province.

It was the 231st by a Long March rocket.

28. Indigenously-built heavyweight anti-submarine torpedo Varunastra has been successfully inducted in the Indian Navy.

With this India becomes one of the eight countries in the world to have the capability to design and build such anti-submarine torpedo system.

29. Ballistic missile Barak-8 was successfully tested from Balasore district of Odisha.

The missile was launched from test fired from launch pad no-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur.

The Barak-8 is India’s new surface to air missile which is developed jointly with the Israel.

 

30. The first squadron of indigenously designed and manufactured Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas was inducted into Indian Air Force (IAF).

State-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed over the first two Tejas aircrafts to IAF as part squadron at the Aircraft System Testing Establishment in Bengaluru.

31. India’s first integrated Defence Communication Network (DCN) was launched by Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in South Block, Delhi.

It will enable India Army, Air force, Navy and the Special Forces Command to share situational awareness for a faster decision-making process.

32. Scientists for the first time have found clear evidence that the thinning in the ozone layer above Antarctica is starting to heal.

Ozone layer in the atmosphere’s stratospheric layer comprises of Ozone (O3), an allotrope of oxygen.

It plays important role in blocking harmful ultraviolet radiation (UV) from the Sun.

Important Dates:

1. Every year World Environment Day (WED) is observed on 5 June.

The day is celebrated to raise global awareness to take positive environmental action to protect nature and the planet Earth.

2016 Theme for the days was Go Wild for Life (Zero tolerance for the illegal trade in wildlife).

The theme seeks to encourage conservation of all those species under threat and calls for taking action to help safeguard them for future generations.

Host for the 2016 celebration was Angola.

World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of United Nations Conference on the Human Environment 1972 which began in Stockholm.

2. The World Oceans Day is being observed globally on 8th June every year.

The motive behind this celebration is to raise global awareness of the current challenges faced by the international community in connection with the oceans.

The day also seeks to provide a unique opportunity to honour, protect, and conserve the world’s oceans.

2016 Theme for the celebration was “Healthy oceans, healthy planet that highlights main urgent need to curb the plastic pollution.

3. Maharastra Government to observe 21st of every month as Yoga Day.

This will be celebrated across all the schools, colleges, and universities.

Every district will set up a Yoga Day Committee to plan “Yoga Mahotsav”.

 
4. The World Day Against Child Labour is being observed annually across world on 12 June.

It is celebrated to bring awareness against child labour.

2016 Theme for celebrating the day was ‘End child labour in supply chains – It’s everyone’s business’ which focuses on child labour and supply chains.

5. The World Blood Donor Day is observed on 14 June to raise the public awareness about the need for safe blood donation.

Observance of the day seeks to spread awareness about the need for safe and secure blood supplies.

It also seeks to provide an opportunity to draw public attention to the importance of blood donation for saving lives.

2016 Theme for the celebration is “Blood connects us all” that highlights the common bond that all people share in their blood.

2016 slogan is “Share life, give blood”.

6. Every year June 20 is observed as World Refugee Day.

The day is celebrated to raise awareness of the situation of refugees throughout the world.

The day seeks to draw attention to the plight of refugees and also to celebrate their courage and resilience and renew commitment to solve refugee problems.

On this day, United Nations Refugee Agency (UNRA) also known as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) hosts various events and announces a theme for its campaign.

7. Every year 21 June is being observed as International Day of Yoga across the globe to spread awareness about practicing yoga.

2016 Theme for celebrating the day was “Connect the Youth”.

The year 2016 it is second edition of the International Day of Yoga.

This year’s observance highlights the important role healthy living plays in the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which were adopted by all 193 UN member states in 2015.

8. Every year 23 June is being observed as the United Nations Public Service Day by the United Nations (UN).

The day is celebrated to mark the invaluable contributions of public servants and administrators to build a better world for all.

This for the first time, the day is observed after the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (i.e. Sustainable Development Goals) were adopted by all member states of United Nations.

9. The Day of the Seafarer is being observed on 25 June every year.

The day is celebrated as an expression of thanks to the seafarers for their contribution to the economy and civil society of the world.

2016 Theme for celebrating the day was “At Sea For All”.

10. The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is observed every year on June 26.

The motive is to raise awareness of the major problem that illicit drugs.

2016 theme was “Listen First”.

11. The National Statistics Day is being observed every year on 29 June.

The motive is to create public awareness among people about the importance of statistics in daily life and in the process of planning and development.

2016 is the tenth edition of National Statistics Day.

2016 Theme is “Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare”.

Death:

1. Muhammad Ali, American boxing icon passed away. He was 74.

 He was struggling for 32-year battle with Parkinson’s disease in Phoenix, Arizona.

 He was former three times world heavyweight champion (1964, 1974 and 1978) who had record-setting boxing career, which had made him one of the best-known figures of the 20th century.

 He was also known globally for his civil rights activism.

 He was honoured as “Sportsman of the Century” and “Sports Personality of the Century”.

 Books written by him are My Own Story and The Soul of a Butterfly.

2. India’s first Mr Universe and body-builder Manohar Aich passed away in Kolkata, West Bengal due to age-related ailments. He was 104.

He had won the Mr. Universe title in 1952 and was nicknamed ‘Pocket Hercules’ due to his 4-feet, 11-inch frame.

He was also nicknamed “Bahubali”.

He was first Indian to win the title post-independence.

He had won the 1952 NABBA Universe Championships.

In 1950, he had won Mr. Hercules contest at the age of 36.

3. Amber Gurung, the Father of modern Nepali music and composer of the country’s national anthem passed away in Dhapasi. He was 79.

He was suffering from diabetes and Parkinson’s disease.

Gurung was composer, lyricist and singer.

He had composed Nepal’s National Anthem “Sayaun Thunga Fulka Hami” (written by Byakul Maila) and more than a 1,000 songs.

He had authored three books of lyrics and memoirs “Samaalera Raakha (1969), Akcharkaa Awajharu (2003)”.

He also had authored an anthology of essays and memoirs, Kahaa Gae Ti Dinharu (2006).

4. Legendary Canadian ice hockey player Gordie Howe passed away at Toledo, US. He was 88.

He was also known as Mr Hockey.

He had spent most of his career with the Detroit Red Wings, winning the Stanley Cup four times.

He was in the top 10 of scorers for 21 consecutive years and was named most valuable player six times before finally retiring in 1980.

5. T S John, Former Kerala assembly speaker has passed away at a hospital at Chertala in Alapuzha. He was (74-year).

He was suffering from old age related ailments.

John had served as a minister in the A K Antony cabinet.

6. Mudrarakshas, a renowned Hindi novelist and critique passed away in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. He was 82.

He passed away due to old age related causes.

He was distinguished Hindi writer, activist, thinker and cultural personality.

His write-ups invariably hinged on various vital social issues and causes.

Facts you should know: He was born as Subhash Chandra in Behta near Lucknow in 1931. He was rechristened as Mudrarakshasa by his teacher Dr Devendra when he had started writing.

7. Achyut Lahkar, veteran theatre personality, playwright and doyen of Assam’s mobile theatre movement passed away in Pathsala, Assam following a protracted illness. He was 85.

He was considered as the father of the Bhryamyman (Mobile Theatre of Assam).

He had given birth to mobile theatre in Assam in the 1960s.

He was awarded with Kamal Kumari National Award (1997), Mancha Prabhakar Award, Bhaben Barua Award and Braja Nath Sarma Award.

8. Inder Malhotra, famous journalist, editor and author passed away. He was 86.

He passed away following illness in New Delhi.

He had served as a resident editor of The Times of India and The Statesman.

In his journalistic career he had mapped the ebb and flow of the Indian politics under every Prime Minister of independent India.

He also received Ramnath Goenka Lifetime Achievement Award (2013).

9. Famous Television actress Ann Morgan Guilbert died after battling with cancer. She was 87.

She began her TV career in the 1960s, appearing on popular programmes such as I Dream of Jeannie, My Three Sons, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Partridge Family, Love, American Style, and The New Andy Griffith Show.

10. Manimala Devi, veteran Odia actress, passed away following a prolonged illness at Bhubaneswar, Odisha. She was 86.

Manimala ruled the Odia film industry in the 1960s as lead actress with her influential performances in various films.

11. Assam Pradesh Congress President (APCC) Anjan Dutta has passed away in New Delhi. He was 64.

He was undergoing treatment at AIIMS for past several days.

He served as the Minister and the Member of the State Legislative Assembly.

12. Jeppiaar, a renowned politician-turned-educationalist passed away following a brief illness at Chennai. He was 85.

He was the founder of Jeppiaar Educational Trust.

He was originally named as Jesadimai Pangiraj.

He was a pioneer in the setting up of private engineering institutions in Tamil Nadu and was the founder chancellor of Sathyabama University.

13. Guda Anjaiah, noted Telangana poet and lyricist passed away following a brief illness at Ragannagudem, Telangana. He was 61.

He played a key role in Telangana statehood movement by penning several songs which later found their way into films.

He was awarded with Sahithya Bandu Ratna award (1986), Rajini Telugu Sahithi Samithi Award (1988), Telangana Sahithya Puraskaram (2015) etc.

 
 14. Neil O’Brien, the pioneer of quizzing in India, passed away in Kolkata.

He was three-time nominated Anglo-Indian MLA in West Bengal and an educationist.

 
   15. Kavalam Narayana Panicker, veteran Malayalam theatre artist and poet passed away in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He was 88.

In 1961, he was nominated as Secretary of Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi.

He has written over 26 Malayalam plays, many adapted from classical Sanskrit drama and Shakespeare.

16. Isak Chisi Swu, the Naga leader and founder of Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) passed away in Delhi. He was 86.

 As a Naga leader he had led one of the worst insurgencies in the North-East India for almost three decades.

17. Xerxes Sapur Desai has passed away following a prolonged illness in Bengaluru. He was 79 years old.

 He was the founder of India’s largest watchmaker company ‘Titan Co. Ltd’.

 He also worked with Tata Press, Tata Chemicals, and Taj Hotels before setting up Titan in 1986.

18. K. G. Subramanyan, a renowned sculptor and painter passed away in Vadodara, Gujarat following a brief illness.He was 92.

He was awarded with Padma Vibhushan (2012), Padma Bhushan (2006) and Padma Shri (1975).

19. Dr. Ramchandra Chintaman Dhere, renowned Marathi literary scholar passed away after prolonged illness in Pune, Maharashtra. He was 86.

He was an Insightful scholar who has unraveled the Cultural linkage between the past and the present through his path-breaking literally research.

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20. Alvin Toffler, the Famous author of Future Shock, passed away on in Los Angeles, United States. He was 87. 

Toffler’s book Future Shock outlines people’s anxiety at the pace of social change in the 1960s.

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