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The Union Cabinet on 30th June 2021 approved a viability gap funding support of up to ₹19,041 crore for the implementation of the BharatNet project through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in 16 States. The project will be extended to all inhabited villages beyond the gram panchayats in 16 States — Kerala, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
About BharatNet BharatNet is a government-owned telecom infrastructure project for the establishment, management, and operation of the National Optical Fibre Network for connectivity to all 250,000-gram panchayats in the country, covering nearly 625,000 villages. Sources : PIB
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 Recognizing the importance of Statistics in day-to-day life and to popularize its use, the Government of India has been celebrating birth Anniversary of the legendary Statistician, late Prof. P. C. Mahalanobis, on 29th June, as “Statistics Day”. The theme selected for the “Statistics Day” 2021 was Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) - 2 (End Hunger, Achieve Food Security and Improved Nutrition and Promote Sustainable Agriculture).
About late Prof. P. C. Mahalanobis The renowned scientist was born in Kolkata on June 29, 1893. This year’s National Statistics Day celebration marks the 128th birth anniversary of the Professor. He was the founder of the Indian Statistical Sciences (1931). About Mahalanobis model The Second Planning commission Plan focused on the development of the public sector and "rapid Industrialisation". The plan followed the Mahalanobis model, an economic development model developed by the Indian statistician Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in 1953. The plan attempted to determine the optimal allocation of investment between productive sectors in order to maximise long-run economic growth. Sources : PIB Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight tested a New Generation Nuclear Capable Ballistic Missile Agni P from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam island off the coast of Odisha on 28th June 2021. Agni P is a new generation advanced variant of Agni class of missiles. It is a canisterised missile with range capability between 1,000 and 2,000 kms. The Agni-P will enter service as a two-stage, solid propellant missile. Both stages will have composite rocket motors and guidance systems with electro-mechanical actuators.
Sources : PIB  27th June 2021 celebrated across the India on occasion of 183rd birth anniversary of bankim chandra chattopadhyay. One of the most and celebrated writers the country has ever seen, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee was born on June 7, 1838, in Naihati, Bengal Presidency, British India. He is the man behind our National Song - Vande Mataram, which originally was a Sanskrit stotra glorifying India as a mother goddess. The song was written to encourage and inspire the freedom fighters during the Independence Movement.
Sources : PIB NATRAX- the High Speed Track(HST) inaugurated on 25th June 2021 in Indore which is the longest such track in Asia. NATRAX, developed in an area of 1000 acres of land , is a one stop solution for all sorts of high speed performance tests for widest categories of vehicles from 2 wheelers to heavy tractor trailers. The NATRAX centre has multiple test capabilities like measurements of maximum speed, acceleration, constant speed fuel consumption, emission tests through real road driving simulation, high speed durability testing, etc. and is a Centre of excellence for Vehicle Dynamics. with NATRAX inauguration India gets Asia’s longest and world’s fifth longest High Speed Track for automobiles.
About High Speed Track(HST) HST is used for measuring the maximum speed capability of high-end cars like BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Tesla etc. It is one stop solution for all sorts of high speed performance tests, being one of the largest in the world. It can cater to widest category of vehicles. Vehicle can achieve max speed of 375 Kmph on curves with steering control. Sources : PIB Union Minister of Finance participated in the Global Investors Roundtable organised by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) through video conference which witnessed participation from some of the largest foreign investors. The event provided investors with an opportunity to engage with the Union Finance Minister to discuss potential investment opportunities and deliberate on the role of ongoing policy reforms that will enable greater Ease-of-Doing-Business in India.
About US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) Established : 2017 The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) is a non-profit organization, with the primary objective of strengthening the India-US bilateral and strategic partnership through policy advocacy in the fields of economic growth, entrepreneurship, employment-creation, and innovation. Sources : PIB  The International Day of Yoga has been celebrated annually on 21 June. Yoga is a physical, mental and spiritual practice which originated in India. This year considering the COVID-19 Pandemic led situation, most of the events will take place virtually, promoting the main theme of this 2021 “Be with Yoga, Be at Home".
About International Day of Yoga (IDY) Recognized Day on : 21 June Established year : 2015 2021 Theme : Be with Yoga, Be at Home The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 21st June as the International Day of Yoga (IDY) in their resolution adopted on 11th December 2014. Since 2015, this Day has been observed all over the world in ever-growing numbers of participants. The Indian Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, in his UN address in 2014 initiated the 21st June for International Day of Yoga (IDY). Sources : PIB Organized : Ministry of Defense
European Union(EU) and India conducted a joint naval exercise from 18-19 June 2021 in the Gulf of Aden. The exercise was based on the scenario of an anti-piracy operation. It included cross-deck helicopter landings, complex tactical evolutions at sea, live firing, a night-time joint patrol and a naval parade in the high seas off the coast of Somalia.
Sources : PIB Quality Council of India (QCI) launches Indian Certification of Medical Devices (ICMED) Plus Scheme further features to the ICMED Scheme that had been launched for Certification of Medical Devices in 2016. The ICMED 13485 PLUS, as the new scheme will undertake verification of the quality, safety and efficacy of medical devices. The ICMED 13485 PLUS Scheme was launched Virtually on 18th June 2021. ICMED 13485 Plus has been designed to integrate the Quality Management System components through witness testing of products with reference to the defined product standards and specifications. This is the first scheme around the world in which quality management systems along with product certification standards are integrated with regulatory requirements.
Indian Certification of Medical Devices (ICMED) Scheme The Quality Council of India (QCI) launched the ICMED Scheme for Certification of Medical Devices in 2016. Sources : PIB The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India here today signed a $484 million loan to improve transport connectivity and facilitate industrial development in the Chennai–Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor (CKIC) in the state of Tamil Nadu. The project is key to providing seamless road connectivity across industrial clusters, transport gateways and consumption centers, and help reduce logistics and production costs for CKIC’s targeted industries to boost their competitiveness.
About Chennai–Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor (CKIC) CKIC is part of India’s East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC), which stretches from West Bengal to Tamil Nadu and connects India to the production networks of South, Southeast, and East Asia. ADB is the lead partner of the Government of India in developing ECEC. About Asian Development Bank (ADB) Established : 1966 Headquarter : Manila, Philippines The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a regional development bank established in 1966 which is headquartered in Manila, Philippines. A resolution passed at the first Ministerial Conference on United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific(ESCAP) in 1963 with initiative to become reality. Sources : PIB A three day virtual Conference of BRICS Network Universities on the theme of electric mobility was inaugurated at IIT Bombay on 16th June 2021. IIT Bombay is the lead institution of India for the BRICS Network University. This conference is part of the engagements that India is hosting under the education stream during its Chairship of the 13th BRICS Summit this year. experts from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa will talk about various aspects of electric mobility like traffic management, hydrogen technology, hybrid vehicles, lithium-ion batteries and linkage between e-mobility and livelihoods. students, researchers and faculty from the BRICS Network Universities of the five member countries are expected to participate in the conference.
About BRICS Network University BRICS Network University is a union of higher education institutions of the five BRICS member countries, formed with the objective of enhancing educational cooperation in general, and especially in the realm of research and innovation. About BRICS Established : 2009 Headquarter : It doesn't have headquarter The first BRIC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held in 2006 among China, Brazil, Russia and India on the sideline of the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly, which drew the action plan for BRIC cooperation. In 2009, the first BRIC Summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia. In 2011 South Africa invited to join BRIC and officially enlarged to include 5 countries and changed into BRICS. Sources : PIB The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister of India has approved the proposal of Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) on "Deep Ocean Mission", with a view to explore deep ocean for resources and develop deep sea technologies for sustainable use of ocean resources. Deep Ocean Mission with be a mission mode project to support the Blue Economy Initiatives of the Government of India. Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) will be the nodal Ministry implementing this multi-institutional ambitious mission.
The Deep Ocean Mission consists of the following six major components:
Sources : PIB Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare attended the 42nd session of FAO Conference virtually. conference highlighted by Indian agriculture performed well during the COVID-19 pandemic as it registered an all-time high production of foodgrains at 305 million tonne as well as in exports during 2020-21, contributing to the global food security.
About Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO) The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security. It was founded in October 1945. About FAO Conference The Conference is the supreme governing body of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Comprising all FAO Members meets in regular session every two years. Its main functions are to determine the policies of the Organization, approve the budget, and make recommendations to Members and international organizations on any matter pertaining to the purposes of FAO. The Conference also elects the Council. About FAO Council The Council is the executive organ of the Conference. It exercises powers delegated to it by the Conference and meets at least three times between regular Conference sessions. The Council comprises 49 Member Nations each elected by the Conference for a three-year term with one-third of the membership standing down each year. Sources : PIB The 44th Goods & Services Tax(GST) Council met under the Chairmanship of Union Finance Minister through video conferencing on 12th June 2021. The Council in its meeting has decided to reduce the GST rates on the specified items being used in Covid-19 relief and management till 30th September 2021.
About GST Council Established : 2016 Chairman : Union Finance Minister Goods & Services Tax Council was constituted with One Hundred and Twenty-Second Amendment Bill, 2016. GST Council is a constitutional body for making recommendations to the Union and State Government on issues related to Goods and Service Tax. The GST Council is chaired by the Union Finance Minister and other members are the Union State Minister of Revenue or Finance and Ministers in-charge of Finance or Taxation of all the States. Sources : PIB As part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Ministry of Culture organised a special ceremony at Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh to mark the birth anniversary of renowned freedom fighter Shaheed Ram Prasad Bismil.
About Ram Prasad Bismil Pt. Ram Prasad Bismil, born on 11th June, 1897 in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh was amongst the most notable Indian revolutionaries who fought against British colonialism. He wrote powerful patriotic poems in Urdu and Hindi under the pen name of Bismil from age of 19. He formed the Hindustan Republican Association with leaders like Bhagat Singh and Chandrasekhar Azad and participated in the Mainpuri conspiracy of 1918, and the Kakori conspiracy of 1925 with Ashfaq Ullah Khan and Roshan Singh to protest against the British Rule. He was martyred at Gorakhpur Jail on 19th December, 1927 just aged 30, for his role in Kakori conspiracy. While in jail, he wrote ‘Mera Rang De BasantiChola’ and ‘Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna’ which became the anthem for freedom fighters. Sources : PIB Union Education Minister on 10th June 2021 released the report of All India Survey on Higher Education 2019-20. This Report provides key performance indicators on the current status of Higher education in the country.
Key features of All India Survey on Higher Education Report 2019-20
Sources : PIB India participate in G7 Summit on 12 to 13 June 2021 in virtual format. UK currently holds the Presidency of the G7 and has invited India, along with Australia, Republic of Korea and South Africa, as Guest Countries for the G7 Summit. The theme for the Summit is ‘Build Back Better’ and the UK has outlined four priority areas for its Presidency. These are
About G7 summit The Group of Seven (G7) is an inter-governmental political forum consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. Its members are the world's largest IMF-advanced economies and wealthiest liberal democracies. Sources : PIB Established : 2005
The 31st edition of India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) between the Indian Navy and the Royal Thailand Navy is conducted from 09 – 11 June 2021. Towards reinforcing maritime links between the two countries and with an aim of keeping this vital part of the Indian Ocean safe and secure for international trade, the two navies have been undertaking CORPAT bi-annually along their International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) since 2005.
Sources : PIB Chairman : NITI Aayog and Piramal Foundation
NITI Aayog and Piramal Foundation on 8th June 2021 launched Surakshit Hum Surakshit Tum Abhiyaan in 112 Aspirational Districts to assist district administrations in providing home-care support to Covid-19 patients. The Abhiyaan is being part of a special initiative in which local leaders, civil societies and volunteers work with district administrations to address emerging problems across key focus areas of the Aspirational Districts Programme. Surakshit Hum Surakshit Tum Abhiyaan will be led by district magistrates in partnership with local NGOs, which will enlist and train over 1 lakh volunteers to connect with patients. Piramal Foundation will work with district magistrates to support the training of NGOs and volunteers. About Piramal Foundation Piramal Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Piramal Group founded in 2006 as Non-Governmental Organisation(NGO). The foundation undertakes projects under the four broad areas – healthcare, education, livelihood creation and youth empowerment. Sources : PIB  Word Food Safety Day celebrated on 7th June 2021 to draw attention to the fact that food is not only an agricultural or trade commodity but is also a public health issue. This year’s theme ‘Safe food today for a healthy tomorrow’ stresses that production and consumption of safe food has immediate and long-term benefits for people, the planet and the economy.
About World Food Safety Day Recognized Day on : 7th June Established year : 2019 2021 Theme : Safe food today for a healthy tomorrow the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed a resolution was adopted on December 20, 2018 that every 7th June would be World Food Safety Day. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) jointly facilitate the observance of World Food Safety Day. Food safety is a shared responsibility between governments, producers and consumers. Everyone has a role to play from farm to table to ensure the food we consume is safe and healthy. Through the World Food Safety Day, WHO works to mainstream food safety in the public agenda and reduce the burden of foodborne diseases globally. Sources : WHO Developed by : Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd
The induction of ‘322 Dega Flight’ was held on 7th June 2021 in INS Dega. With the induction of these helicopters got a major boost towards enhancing the capabilities of the force in pursuit of the maritime interests of the nation. These helicopters, built by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd as part of “Atma Nirbhar Bharat”. Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan On 12 May 2020, Prime Minister of India raised a call to the nation giving a kick start to the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan (Self-reliant India campaign). Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan or Self-reliant India campaign is the vision of new India with the aim to make the country and its citizens self-reliant in all senses. Union Education Minister on 6th June 2021 approved the release of Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2019-20 for States and Union Territories of India. The Government has introduced the Performance Grading Index with a set of 70 parameters to catalyse transformational change in the field of school education.
About Performance Grading Index (PGI) Established : 2019 Implemented by : Department of School Education and Literacy The schemes initiated by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL). The PGI is a tool to provide insights on the status of school education in States and UTs for their performance and critical areas for improvement. The PGI for States and Union Territories was first published in 2019 with reference year 2017-18. Sources : PIB  World Environment Day is celebrated annually on 5 June for encouraging awareness and action for the protection of the environment. Since its beginning in 1974, World Environment Day has developed into a global platform for raising awareness and taking action on urgent issues like marine pollution, global warming etc.
About World Environment Day The UN General Assembly designates 5th June 1972 as World Environment Day, marking the first day of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Sources : Worldenvironmentday The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) meeting under the Chairmanship of Ministry of Defence on 4th June 2021 has approved proposals concerning for construction of six Conventional Submarines under Project P75(I) under the Strategic Partnership (SP) Model. This project envisages indigenous construction of six conventional submarines equipped with the state-of-the-art Air Independent Propulsion system at an estimated cost of Rs 43,000 crore. This would be one of the largest ‘Make in India’ projects and will serve to facilitate faster and more significant absorption of technology and create a tiered industrial ecosystem for submarine construction in India.
About Defence Acquisition Council Chairman : Minister of Defence Reforming the National Security System in February 2001, a separate, dedicated body for Defence Procurement is set up as Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) . The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) is the highest decision-making body headed by Minister of Defence approves the proposals concerning Capital Acquisitions of various equipment for modernisation and operational needs of the Armed Forces Sources : PIB The Governor of the Reserve Bank of India has announced that the Policy Repo Rate will remain unchanged at 4% and the Reverse Repo Rate too will remain unchanged at 3.35% in RBI’s bi-monthly monetary policy meeting.
About Monetary Policy Committee The Monetary Policy Committee is responsible for fixing the benchmark interest rate in India. The meetings of the Monetary Policy Committee are held bi-monthly. The committee comprises six members - three officials of the Reserve Bank of India and three external members nominated by the Government of India. The Governor of Reserve Bank of India is the chairperson of the committee. The Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 was amended by Finance Act (India), 2016 to constitute MPC which will bring more transparency and accountability in fixing India's Monetary Policy. Repo Rate Repo rate is the rate at which the Reserve Bank of India lends money to commercial banks. Reverse Repo Rate the RBI borrows money from banks when there is excess liquidity in the market. Sources : PIB |