The World Bank has approved a project costing Rs. 1,000 crore to advance rain-fed agriculture in the steep areas of Uttarakhand,  The watershed department will carry out the Uttarakhand Climate Responsive Rain-fed Farming Project.

• The initiative, which aims to lower greenhouse gas emissions, was offered to the World Bank for funding by the State government.
• The state government had proposed the project whose objective was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Additionally, it will encourage eco-friendly agricultural practices so that youth and farmers have an economically viable option.

Jyotirgamaya, a festival celebrating the brilliance of underappreciated performers, was launched in New Delhi by Union Culture Minister G. Kishan Reddy.

• Sangeet Natak Akademi organised this festival as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and on the occasion of World Music Day to highlight the talent of rare musical instruments from all across the country, including street performers and train entertainers.
• The festival aims to raise awareness among attendees of the need of preserving both the production and playing of rare musical instruments. Sangeet Natak Akademi’s effort to save India’s vanishing performing arts is unique.

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) unveiled its patented indigenous solar cook top, Surya Nutan, developed by the oil refiner’s Faridabad R&D centre.

• The product was demonstrated in the presence of the Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG) HS Puri; Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Giriraj Singh; Minister of State (MoS) for Commerce & Industry Som Prakash; MoS for Housing & Urban Affairs Kaushal Kishore, and Minister of Finance and Parliamentary Affairs of Uttar Pradesh Suresh Khanna.
• Surya Nutan will aid in reducing India’s CO 2 emissions drastically and keep our citizens insulated from the vagaries of the high international fossil fuel prices.

Minister of State for Tribal Affairs and Jal Shakti, Bishweswar Tudu inaugurated the 20th Folk Fair (National tribal/folk song & dance festival) and 13th Krishi Fair 2022 at Saradhabali in Puri, Odisha.

• The two fairs which aimed at preserving tribal culture and promoting innovation in agriculture respectively will continue for five days and conclude on 24th June.
• The objective of the 20th Folk Fair 2022 is to emphasize the importance of tribal culture and establish its originality and uniqueness. Through the fair, attempts are being made to help the groups and individuals from the tribal communities to showcase their talents in the preserve their culture.

A three-day international literary festival called “Unmesh” was held at Gaiety Theatre in Shimla. It was officially started, on June 16, 2022; by Union Minister of State for Culture, Arjun Ram Mehjawal.

• Unmesh Festival is bringing together around 425 writers, poets, critics, translators, and notable figures from 15 countries, representing more than 60 languages.
• During the festival, more than 1,000 books relevant to the civil rights movement have been put on display.
• Unmesh is a celebration of expression. This festival is India’s largest international literary festival till date.

Mo Bus, Odisha-based public transport service has been honored with a prestigious United Nations award, for their role and efforts in helping the world recover better from Covid19.

• Among the other winners of this year’s awards, were public service initiatives from Thailand, Ukraine, Brazil, Ireland, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Ireland, Panama, Philippines.
• Mo Bus service launched in November 6, 2018 and Bus fare Rs 5-55 (Non AC), Rs 5-70 (AC).

On the occasion of International Yoga Day, the AYUSH ministry has announced to give the ‘Prime Minister’s Award for Outstanding Contribution towards the Development and Promotion of Yoga’ for 2022 to two individuals and two organisations in recognition of their contributions in the space.

• Two individuals Bhikkhu Sanghasena from Ladakh, Marcus Vinicius Rojo Rodrigues from Brazil and two organisations, “The Divine Life Society” from Uttarakhand and the British Wheel of Yoga from United Kingdom have been chosen for award.
• They will also receive ?25 lakh as cash prize, a trophy and a certificate.

US-Canadian author, film-maker and Zen Buddhist priest, Ruth Ozeki has won the Women’s Prize for Fiction this year for her novel ‘The Book of Form and Emptiness”.

• Ozeki’s fourth novel, ‘The Book of Form and Emptiness’ tells the story of a thirteen-year-old boy who, after the tragic death of his father, starts to hear the voices of objects speaking to him.
• She was announced as the winner of the £30,000 prize at a ceremony in London, beating nominees including Elif Shafak, Meg Mason and Louise Erdrich.

Karnataka Bank has launched Online SB Account opening facility through ‘Video based Customer Identification Process (V-CIP)’.

• The facility enabled in the Corporate Website of the Bank, empowers any prospective customer to open a Savings Account through online process and complete KYC verification through a video call at their place of convenience.
• The end-to-end paperless digital process leverages the bank’s Application Programming Interface (API) that auto-fills the account opening form, validates PAN/Aadhaar number instantly and completes the Know Your Customer (KYC) process through a video call.

Life Insurance Corporation of India introduced a new plan Dhan Sanchay with effect from 14.06.2022 which is Non Linked, Non-participating, Individual, Savings Life Insurance Plan which offers a combination of protection and savings.

• It provides Guaranteed income Benefit during the Payout Period from the date of Maturity, and Guaranteed Terminal Benefit payable with the last instalment of GIB.
• The plan is available for a term of minimum 5 to maximum 15 years. Plan provides Level Income Benefit, Increasing Income Benefit, Single Premium Level Income Benefit .
• Maturity benefit shall be payable in the form of Guaranteed Income Benefit and Guaranteed Terminal Benefit. 

Funds parked by Indian individuals and firms in Swiss banks, including through India-based branches and other financial institutions, jumped to a 14-year-high of 3.83 billion Swiss francs (over Rs 30,500 crore) in 2021, according to annual data from Switzerland’s central bank.

• The rise in aggregate funds of Indian clients with Swiss banks, from 2.55 billion Swiss francs (Rs 20,700 crore) at the end of 2020, marks the second consecutive year of increase.
• India was placed at 44th place, ahead of countries like Poland, South Korea, Sweden, Bahrain, Oman, New Zealand, Norway, Mauritius, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Hungary and Finland.
• In BRICS nations, India stood below Russia (15th place) and China (24th), but above South Africa and Brazil.

The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) announced the IT resources of private sector lender ICICI Bank as critical infrastructure under Section 70 of the IT Act, 2000, indicating that any harm to it can have an influence on national security and any unpermitted person accessing it may be imprisoned for up to ten years, as per official notification. 

Meity identified IT resources of HDFC bank and UPI controlling organisation National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) as critical infrastructure in two other notifications.

Millath Co-operative Bank Ltd., Davangere, Karnataka, had its licence suspended by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), resulting in a capital shortage. As a result, the bank’s banking operations will come to an end at the end of the day.

• According to a press release from the RBI, the Registrar of Cooperative Societies in Karnataka has also been asked to issue an order winding up the bank and appoint a liquidator.
• The bank lacks sufficient capital and earnings potential. As a result, it violates Sections 11(1) and 22(3)(d) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, as well as Section 56 of the Act, according to RBI.

Equitas Small Finance Bank is set to launch kids’ savings account called ENJOI, on Father’s Day – 19 June, 2022.

• The SFB announced that this account introduces “young kids” to the financial world, encouraging them to develop an early habit of saving.
• ENJOI will allow kids of 0-18 years to open savings accounts under the supervision of their parents. Minors aged 10 and above will also get the option for a personalised debit card.
• To promote higher growth in savings, the account will offer 7 per cent interest for savings balances between Rs 5 lakh to Rs 2 crore. Upon written consent from parents, minors aged 10 and above can also avail of self-operating accounts with limited transaction limits.

Fitch Ratings has revised the Outlook to Stable from Negative on the Long-Term Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) of 9 India-based banks, while affirming their IDRs.

• As per Fitch Ratings SBI, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank Including nine Indian institutions stabilized from negative. Bank of Baroda (BOB), Bank of Baroda (New Zealand) Limited, Bank of India, Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Union Bank of India Among other institutions to get the upgrade.
• Fitch Ratings has upgraded the long-term issuer default ratings (IDRs) of 9 India-based banks from negative to stable while retaining their IDRs.

The biography of billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani, Adani Group chairman and founder, will hit the stands in October, announced Penguin Random House (PRHI) .

• Written by journalist-author R N Bhaskar, "Gautam Adani: The Man Who Changed India", claims to bring to light, for the first time, the unknown aspects of one of the richest men in the world.
• It will be released under PRHI's 'Hamish' imprint.

India on 24-06-2022 successfully test-fired the Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) from an Indian Naval Ship (INS) off the coast of Chandipur in Odisha.

• The VL-SRSAM, a ship-borne weapon system, is meant for neutralising various aerial threats at close ranges including sea-skimming targets.
• The launch of the system was conducted against a high-speed aerial target mimicking aircraft, which was successfully engaged. The flight path of the vehicle along with health parameters was monitored using several tracking instruments deployed by ITR, Chandipur.
• The test launch was monitored by senior officials from DRDO & the Indian Navy.

Shanan Dhaka, daughter of Sundana village of Rohtak, has secured the first rank in the examination for admission to the country’s first women’s NDA batch. 

• Shanan has secured 10th position in Boys’ examination and first position in Girls’ examination across the country.
• Selected for lieutenant, Shanan Dhaka, inspired by grandfather Subedar Chandrabhan Dhaka and father Nayak Subedar Vijay Kumar Dhaka, joined the army and chose to serve the country.

The Army Training Command (ARTRAC) has announced to establish a 5G Testbed at the Military College of Telecommunication at Mhow, Indore in association with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Madras.

• This will facilitate the Indian Army to use the 5G tech for its operational use, especially along its borders.
• This will give an impetus to the induction of systems, devices and equipment using niche technology and use of AI-based algorithms for enhancing the capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces.
• It will also promote collaborative and cooperative research and facilitate the exchange of ideas for the development of new technology.
• It will encourage students, faculties, and scientists to undertake research in 5G communications and the development of military applications.

In the Indian Coast Guard, a new air squadron known as 840 Squadron was established in Chennai, with an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mark-III aircraft as its first aircraft.

• In the presence of Inspector General AP Badola, Commander of the Eastern Coast Guard Region, the aircraft was greeted with the usual water cannon salute. This is the first time the defence force has deployed such a plane in the eastern region.
• The ALH MK- III is powered by two Shakti engines and is equipped with surveillance radar, electro optic pod, medical urgent care unit, high-intensity searchlight, infrared suppressor, heavy machine gun, and glass cockpit.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles MP, is on a four day visit to India from 20-23 June 2022. Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles received a guard of honour at Vigyan Bhawan premises.

• Marles was received by Defence minister Rajnath Singh.
• This is the first high-level visit from Australia after the formation of a new government under PM Anthony Albanese in May. 
• During the visit, Deputy Prime Minister Marles will also meet External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and engage national security and defence policymakers and personnel.

Indian Navy's stealth Frigate, INS Talwar is presently deployed for Op Sankalp commemorating the 3rd continuous year of Indian Navy's presence in the Gulf for protection of India's Maritime Interests.

An Innovative project called “National Initiative for Promoting Upskilling of Nirman workers (NIPUN) was launched on June 20, 2022 by Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri.

The NIPUN Project will be implemented by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), which is the nodal agency under Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE). The agency would be responsible for overall execution of training, candidate tracking and monitoring.

• The NIPUN Initiative was launched for skill training of 100,000 construction workers.
• It has been launched under the flagship scheme of “Deendayal Antyodaya-Yojana National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM)”.
• Under the scheme, construction workers will be trained through fresh skilling and upskilling programs. This move will provide work opportunities to them in foreign countries also.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) extended the deadline for implementing a number of the master directives it issued on the issuance of debit cards and credit cards. by three months, from July 1, 2022 to October 1, 2022.

• The following Master Direction provisions will now go into effect on October 1, 2022 the central bank announced in a circular.
• This decision was made after taking into account various comments from industry stakeholders.

The Reserve Bank of India’s Payments Vision 2025 document will aid in driving digitisation at the last mile and it shows the regulator’s intent and the road map to enhance the outreach for digital payments, say fintech firms.

• The central bank, which released the document last week, expects the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to register growth of 50% and more than 3x increase in the number of digital payment transactions by 2025.
• Over 26 crore digital payment transactions are processed daily by payment systems, of which UPI system itself processes more than two-thirds.
• Fintech firm BharatPe’s CEO Suhail Sameer said the regulatory emphasis on expanding the card acceptance infrastructure across districts and connecting the UPI with other modes of payments will make financial inclusion a reality for millions of Indians.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has extended the timeline for tokenisation of debit and credit cards by three months. Tokenisation can now be done till September 30, 2022.

• This decision was taken in consultation with stakeholders, in order to avoid disruption and inconvenience to cardholders.
• Earlier, June 30, 2022 was the last date for card tokenisation.
• Under the framework, RBI has directed cardholders to create “tokens” using card details. These tokens can be stored by merchants to process transactions in the future.
• Thereby, CoFT obviates the need to store card details with merchants and provides the same level of convenience to cardholders
• As of now, around 19.5 crore tokens have been created.

A Black Swan is a rare, unpredictable event that comes as a surprise and has a significant impact on society or the world.

According to a study by RBI Capital outflows to the tune of $100 billion (around Rs 7,80,000 crore) are likely to take place from India in a major global risk scenario or a black swan event.

There is a 5-per-cent chance of portfolio outflows from India of the order of 3.2 per cent of GDP or $100.6 billion in a year in response to a Covid-type contraction in real GDP growth or a GFC (global financial crisis) type decline in interest rate differentials vis-a-vis the US or a GFC type surge in the volatility index (VIX), the RBI study said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Vanijya Bhawan and launched NIRYAT portal in Delhi on Thursday. Vanijya Bhawan and NIRYAT portal is yet another important step towards citizen centric governance, the PM said. 

• Union Ministers Piyush Goyal, Som Prakash and Anupriya Patel were also present during the event. 
• PM said the current additions will enhance the existing physical and digital infrastructure being used to serve the citizens of the country. The country has been moving in this respect for the last 8 years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Centre for Brain Research and lay the foundation stone for Bagchi Parthasarathy Multispeciality Hospital at IISc Bengaluru.

• The Centre for Brain Research is a one-of-a-kind research centre dedicated to undertaking critical research in order to develop evidence-based public health treatments to treat age-related brain illnesses.
• The Bagchi Parthasarathy Multispeciality Hospital, with its eighty-two beds, will be built on the campus of IISc Bengaluru, assisting in the integration of science, engineering, and medicine at the prominent institute.

This World Sickle Cell Day (observed every year on June 19), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is highlighting information and resources focused on emergency department care for people with sickle cell disease.

• Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder that causes “sickle” shaped red blood cells that can stick together, blocking blood flow and oxygen from reaching all parts of the body.
• People with SCD can experience serious pain (also known as pain crises), anemia, infection, and other serious health problems that may require treatment by a healthcare provider. 

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated NCERT’s three-days National Yoga Olympiad 2022.

• The Yoga olympiad is being organised jointly by the Ministry of Education and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) from June 18 to 20, 2022.
• Addressing the inauguration event, Education minister said NCERT should include yoga in its curricular. As the mission of physical and mental well-being of the students is also envisaged in the National education policy.
• NCERT National Yoga Olympiad theme 2022 “Yoga for Humanity”.

Yoga Mahotsav was organised by the Ministry of Culture in partnership with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at Purana Qila in the national capital. The event was held as part of the celebrations for the International Day of Yoga 2022.

• According to the Ministry of Culture, the purpose of the event was to instil the everlasting value of cultural wellbeing among the people.
• The event drew around 500 participants, including officials from the Union Culture Ministry and foreign representatives from over 40 nations.
• The event began with the Saraswati Vandana being recited, followed by a yoga session led by instructors from the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga.

• Governments, shipping organizations, companies, shipowners and all other parties concerned are invited to promote and celebrate the Day in an appropriate and meaningful manner. 

The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution to designate June 24 as the International Day of Women in Diplomacy.

• The resolution invites all UN member states, organisations of the UN system, other international and regional organisations, civil society, academic institutions, associations of women diplomats and other relevant stakeholders to observe the International Day of Women in Diplomacy annually in order to promote the full and equal participation of women at all levels of diplomacy, reports Xinhua news agency.

• The designation of the International Day of Women in Diplomacy has been championed by General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid, who presided over the adoption of the resolution 

Every year International Olympic Day is observed on June 23. The day is celebrated for sports and health, where people associated with sports come together to promote and practice mass sports. 

History

• In the year 1948, doctor Gruss, a Czech IOC member, represented the idea of World Olympic day at the 41^st session of the International Olympic Committee in Stockholm, Sweden.
• The day is based on the idea of the Olympic movement. And it celebrates the founding of the IOC at Sorbonne Paris on June 23, 1894, where Pierre de Coubertin revived the Olympic Games.

Theme of The World Olympics Day 2022

The World Olympics Day 2022 would be celebrated with the theme " Together, For a peaceful World".

On June 21, 2022, over 6,000 people gathered at Stonehenge in Britain’s Wiltshire to celebrate the summer solstice, which is the longest day of year in northern hemisphere. The summer solstice is also known as midsummer or estival solstice. It occurs when one of the poles of Earth has its maximum tilt toward the Sun.

• People arrived at the spot to see sunrise directly behind the largest stone at World Heritage site in southwest England.
• This event was also live-streamed by English Heritage, running the site.
• To witness the summer Solstice, people saw the Sun glint over horizon at around 4.49 am local time.
• Tourists were allowed to gather at ancient stone circle, for the first time in three years, to celebrate summer solstice.
• On the summer solstice day, Earth’s tilt is maximum from the Sun.

International Yoga Day 2022: It is observed on June 21 to spread awareness about the benefits of yoga. This year it is the 8th edition of the International Yoga Day. 

• The main event of the International Yoga Day 2022 demonstration will be held at Mysuru, Karnataka.
• It will be led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
•  The theme of this year's Yoga Day celebrations is 'Yoga for Humanity' and around 25 crore people across the world are expected to take part in various events, doing yoga in unison towards better health and wellness for all.

Government has cleared the appointment of new chief justices in five high courts. Law and Justice Ministry has notified the appointment for Uttarakhand, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gauhati.

• Justice Vipin Sanghi of the Delhi High Court will be appointed as the Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court, while Justice Ujjal Bhuyan of Telangana High Court to Chief Justice of Telangana High Court.
• The Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court will be Justice Amjad Ahtesham Sayed of the Bombay High Court, while the Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court will be Justice Shinde Sambhaji Shiwaji of the Bombay High Court.
• The Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court has been named Justice Rashmin M Chhaya of the Gujarat High Court. 

The Union Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Rajeev Chandrasekhar inaugurated a National Conference on “development of Space Start-up Ecosystem” in India.

• Development of Space Start-up Ecosystem was held in Bengaluru.
• It was organised by Astronautical Society of India in collaboration with Indian Space Research Organisation, Indian National Space Promotion & Authorisation Centre, New Space India Limited, and Defence Research and Development Organisation.

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) approved the Draft GSR Notification for introducing Bharat NCAP (New Car Assessment Program), in a bid to bring safer cars for India.

• The New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) provides a mechanism, wherein automobiles in India will be accorded ‘Star Ratings’, on the basis of performance in crash tests.
• This programme will serve as a consumer-centric platform, and allow customers to use safer cars in the basis of Star-Ratings.
• It will promote a healthy competition among original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) across the country, to manufacture safer vehicles.

The Government of India hosted its first-ever National Logistics Excellence Awards in New Delhi today. Union Minister for Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal along with the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Shri Som Parkash Sharma gave away the awards in 12 categories.

• The National Logistics Excellence Awards aim to acknowledge the many logistics service providers in the country that have been able to display innovation, diversity and efficiency.
• With 169 entries and 12 categories for awards in its first edition, the Ministry of Commerce and Industries undertook a year-long process of identifying, categorising, and selecting qualified applications.
• An Expert Screening Committee of 18 diverse experts and a National Jury of 9 senior dignitaries was formed to make the final deliberations.

IAS officer Parameswaran Iyer was appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog . The Department of Personnel and Training announced his appointment. He will hold the office for a period of two years.

• Born in 1959, Parameswaran Iyer had joined the Civil Services in 1981 in Uttar Pradesh cadre.
• Parameswaran Iyer had held various prominent posts and led the World Bank-assisted Uttar Pradesh Rural Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation Project, popular as Swajal. 

Europe’s biggest startup conference, “Vivatech 2020” has recognized India as the “country of the year.” It is a tremendous honour for India to be named “country of the year” in Vivatech 2020.

• This is due to the contribution of the Indian startups to the world. This is the recognition of Indian startups.
• Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated the India pavilion at the technology exhibition Vivatech 2020, held in Paris, France. Around 65 start-ups from India are participating in Vivatech 2022 with government support.

The Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Department, Government of Odisha has been awarded first prize in the category “National MSME Award 2022 to States/UTs for outstanding contribution in the promotion and Development of MSME Sector” .

Kalahandi district has been awarded third prize in this category “National MSME Award 2022 to Aspirational districts for outstanding contribution in the promotion and Development of MSME Sector” as the sectoral development was in the line of award parameters.

While Bihar bagged second prize, Haryana stood third.

India ranks 4th in global gold recycling; recycled 75 tonnes in 2021: WGC. India has emerged as the fourth largest gold recycler in the world, and the country has recycled 75 tonnes in 2021, according to the World Gold Council (WGC) report.

India’s gold refining landscape has changed notably over the last decade, with the number of formal operations increasing from less than five in 2013 to 33 in 2021, according to the World Gold Council report.

• As a result, the nation’s capacity for organised gold refining has increased dramatically from just 300t in 2013 to an estimated 1,800t.
• The report said that recycling is an important component of gold supply, accounting for 11 per cent of the total Indian gold supply in the last five years.
• Key component for the recycling industry remains old bars and coins that people either sell or exchange for jewellery; which are estimated to make up about 10-12 per cent of the scrap gold supply.

The Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has amended the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for promoting telecom and networking products manufacturing, based on the feedback of stakeholders. For the promotion of design-led manufacturing, telecom department has invited applications from Design-led manufacturers others, to avail incentives under PLI Scheme for five years starting from April 1, 2022.

• DoT has extended the scheme by one year.
• It has announced an additional 1% incentive rate, over and above the existing rates.
• Existing PLI beneficiaries will have an option to select either financial year 2021-22 or financial year 2022-23 as first year of incentive.
• 11 new telecom and networking products has been approved to the existing list, on the basis of suggestions of stakeholders.
• Guidelines for PLI Scheme for Telecom & Networking Products have also been amended, in order to introduce Design-led Manufacturing along with additional incentive rates.
• Allocation for MSMEs has been increased from Rs 1000 crore to Rs 2,500 crore.

Gustavo Petro has become the first leftist President of Colombia. He secured 50.5% of vote in second round of the presidential election, which was held on June 19, 2022.

• Gustavo Petro was elected the first ever left-wing president of Colombia, after beating millionaire businessman Rodolfo Hernandez in a tense and unpredictable runoff election.
• Gustavo Petro is an environmental and human rights activist. He was a part of urban guerrilla outfit called M-19. M-19 was established in 1970. It sought to gain power by means of violence following claims of fraud in 1970 elections.

The Multinational Peacekeeping Exercise “Ex Khaan Quest -2022” was concluded on June 20, 2022 at “Peace Support Operations Training Centre” in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

• Ex Khaan Quest 2022 was conducted from June 06 to June 20, 2022.
• It provided a platform for sharing best practices and mutual learning amongst armies from 16 Nations.
• Indian contingent was represented by personnel from “LADAKH SCOUTS”. They participated in the field training and Command Post exercise.

Pakistan continued to remain in the ‘grey list’ of the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF), where it has been since June 2018, even though the terror-financing watchdog lauded the efforts made by Islamabad to reform its financial system and prevent money laundering and terror financing.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is expected to decide whether to take Pakistan off the ‘grey’ list at the end of its ongoing plenary session in Berlin.

Jammu and Kashmir will hold G20 meeting next year as India is to take presidency later this year.

• India will assume the G20 Presidency on December 1, 2022 from Indonesia, and will convene the G20 Leaders' Summit for the first time in India in 2023.
• The Jammu and Kashmir administration constituted a five-member committee for coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the 14th BRICS Summit hosted by China in a virtual format on June 23-24, 2022, at the request of President Xi Jinping.
 

• 14th BRICS Summit will be held in virtual mode, on June 23, 2022.
• The summit's theme is "Fostering High-quality BRICS Partnership, Introducing in a New Era of Global Development."
• Summit will bring together Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa and President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro.
• Negotiators from India seeks to ensure that any joint statement made out of this summit is neutral as well as look to prevent any attempts by China and Russia to use this platform to score a propaganda against the US and its allies.
• Indian side will also seek to delay China’s effort of expanding BRICS grouping by pushing organization to bring about criteria of adding new members.

The Gujrat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched the 17th ‘Shala Praveshotsav’, the drive to enrol students in primary schools in the state.

The three-day enrollment drive begins from Memadpur primary school in Vadgam taluka of Banaskantha district. Speaking on this occasion, Chief Minister Patel said that the dropout rate of students’ reduced drastically following the mass enrolment drives of the children.

• He said that the drop out rate has been reduced to just 3.07 percent from 37.22 percent in 2002.
• He said that the priority of the state government is to see that every child has access to education.
• According to official sources, the state officials including IAS and IPS officers and Members of Parliament and Members of Legislative Assembly will visit different schools of the state and enrol children in Class I.

Delhi Airport or Indira Gandhi International Airport has become the first airport in the country to run entirely on hydro and solar power from this month in a major step toward achieving the ambitious goal of becoming a Net Zero Carbon Emission Airport by 2030.

• Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), a GMR Infrastructure Limited-led consortium, which manages and operates the Delhi Airport, has signed a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with a Himachal Pradesh-based hydropower producing company for the supply of hydroelectricity for the airport until 2036.
• In 2015, the Cochin International Airport in Kerala became the first airport in the world to run solely using solar energy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to dedicate 100% electrification of the Konkan Railway (KR) route to India. He will flag off trains on electric traction from Ratnagiri, Margao and Udupi through video conferencing.

• Konkan Railway had electrified its 741km route from Roha, near Mumbai to Thokur in Mangaluru in March 2022.
• The 741-km network was certified for operating trains on March 28, 2022.
• It marked an important step towards green transportation of India’s biggest stretches of railway electrification.
• Konkan Railway being one of India’s biggest railway routes on Indian Railway network. On this route, train operations with electric traction will be implemented in a phased manner.

Reserve Bank of India has appointed Venkat Nageswar Chalasani, former Deputy Managing Director, State Bank of India, as a member of the Advisory Committee of Srei Infrastructure Finance Limited and Srei Equipment Finance Limited (SEFL).

RBI had constituted an Advisory panel under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Rules, 2019, to advise the Administrator of Srei in the operations of the financial service providers during the corporate insolvency resolution process.

• Chalasani has been appointed after R. Subramaniakumar retired from the Advisory Committee with effect from June 22, 2022,.
• Other members of the Advisory panel are T.T. Srinivasaraghavan, former Managing Director, Sundaram Finance Limited, and Farokh N Subedar, former Chief Operating Officer and Company Secretary, Tata Sons Limited.

Samant Kumar Goel's contract as secretary of the intelligence agency's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) was extended by the Centre on June 24 by another year.

Samant Kumar Goel is an IPS officer from the Punjab cadre class of 1984 and will hold the position of agency secretary through June 30, 2023. In June 2019, Samant Kumar Goel succeeded Anil Dhasmana as the Chief of RAW.

Former Punjab DGP Dinkar Gupta has been appointed as the new Director-General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA). He will hold the post of NIA Chief from 31st March 2024.

• As per the official order, the new NIA Director General, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet cleared the name of Dinkar Gupta, a 1987-batch IPS officer from Punjab. 
• Director General of CRPF Kuldiep Singh was given additional charge of the NIA in May last year after the retirement of Y C Modi.
• Having a Master's degree in police administration, Gupta has held the position of Director General of Punjab Police in 2019 and served at the post for two years and seven months. 

Shanghai-headquartered New Development Bank (NDB) of the BRICS countries has appointed former bureaucrat Dr D J Pandian as the Director-General of its India Regional Office in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), the bank announced.

• Pandian earlier served as the Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of the Beijing-based Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in which India is the 2nd largest shareholder after China.
• He was succeeded by former RBI Governor Urjit Patel in January. During his tenure at the AIIB, he was instrumental in securing USD 6.7 billion in funding for 28 projects in India, stated to be the highest project finance extended by the bank.

Ruchira Kamboj has been appointed as the next Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations. She is currently Indian ambassador to Bhutan. Ruchira Kamboj will succeed T S Tirumurti. She is likely to take up assignment soon.

• Ruchira Kamboj joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1987.
• She was All India women’s topper of 1987 Civil Services batch as well as topper of 1987 Foreign Service batch.
• She started her diplomatic journey in Paris, France. She was posted as the Third Secretary in Indian Embassy to France, during 1989-91.
• She has been Indian High Commissioner in South Africa, Permanent Representative of India to UNESCO in Paris, and Chief of Protocol in New Delhi.

Veteran photojournalist, R. Raveendran passed away at the age of 69. He was the recipient of numerous photography awards and is known for his iconic photo of Rajiv Goswami setting himself on fire during the Mandal agitation in the Capital.

• He has worked in AFP and ANI. He started his career as a teleprinter operator in AFP 1973 and then became a photographer.
• He was presently working with ANI as Photo Editor.

Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport bags the best regional airport in India and South Asia at the prestigious Skytrax World Airport Awards 2022.

• The award is handed out based on customer surveys which take place globally. Customers vote every year based on the services provided by various airports across the globe.
• According to the official release, from check-in to arrivals, transfers, shopping, security, immigration, to departures at the gates, the survey evaluates consumer experience across airport service and key performance factors.
• The event is looked at with great reverence as prominent people like CEOs, presidents, senior management from airports from different nations, take part. The year’s ceremony was held in Paris.

Hamad International Airport has been named as the World’s Best Airport for the second year running, announced at the 2022 World Airport Awards that were held at Passenger Terminal EXPO in Paris, France on 16th June 2022.

• Other major winners include Singapore Changi Airport, winning awards for the World’s Best Airport Staff Service and the World’s Best Airport Dining; 
• Istanbul Airport won the awards for the World’s Best Airport Shopping and as the Most Family Friendly Airport.
• Tokyo Haneda Airport won awards as the World’s Cleanest Airport, the World’s Best Domestic Airport, the Best Airport in Asia and the Best Airport PRM & Accessible Facilities. 
• King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh secured the award as the World’s Most Improved Airport.
• Nagoya’s Chubu Centrair International Airport was named the World’s Best Regional Airport; 
• Copenhagen Airport won the World’s Best Airport Immigration Processing award, 
• Zurich Airport repeated it’s success winning the World’s Best Airport Security Processing award.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the renovated Shree Kalika Mata temple at Pavagadh Hill in Gujarat’s Panchmahal district. At the temple, he also conducted Puja with customary customs. A ‘Dhwaja’ was raised at full mast atop the shrine by Mr. Modi.

• This majestic Mahakali temple’s sanctum sanctorum is composed of gold. It is one of the region’s oldest temples and draws a huge number of pilgrims.
• The Prime Minister told the crowd that this temple also represents Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Prayas.
• The Prime Minister thanked God for his good fortune in being able to visit the temple.

The Khuvsgul Lake National Park of Mongolia has been added to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves by UNESCO.

• This decision was taken during 34^th session of International Co-ordinating council of Man and Biosphere Programme.
• This programme is taking place in Paris, France.
• The Man and Biosphere Programme is an intergovernmental scientific program. It was set up in early 1970s by UNESCO.
• The primary aim of the programme is to establish a scientific basis for enhancing relationship between people and their environments.

The Global Skills Report (GSR) 2022 by Coursera states that India's proficiency in data science has reduced from 38% in 2021 to 26% in 2022, leading to a 12-rank drop.

• In terms of overall skills proficiency, India has slipped 4 places to be ranked 68th globally and 19th in Asia.
• However, the report reveals that India has improved its technology proficiency levels from 38 percent to 46 percent, improving its position by six spots.

The Speedtest Global Index released by network intelligence and connectivity insights provider Ookla showed that India recorded 14.28 Mbps median mobile download speeds in the month of May, slightly better than 14.19 Mbps in April.

• With this, the country is now three notches up in its global ranking and is at 115th position. 
• Norway and Singapore are on the top spots for global mobile speeds (median download speed of 129.40 Mbps) and fixed broadband speeds (209.21 Mbps)
• The African countries, namely Cote d’Ivoire and Gabon and Congo registered the highest growth in mobile download speeds and fixed broadband speeds respectively in the month of May, the report showed.

India is proposing a number of policies to encourage the establishment of carbon capture facilities by high carbon emission industries like steel, cement, and thermal plants.

• Production-linked incentive programmes, viability gap funding, or carbon credits could all be used to offer incentives.
• The government might issue carbon credits that can be exchanged on carbon exchanges or a PLI programme that would tie incentives to how much carbon is gathered and used.

The GSAT-24 satellite, built by ISRO for NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), was successfully launched by French company Arianespace from Kourou in French Guiana (South America).

• GSAT-24 is a 24-Ku band communication satellite weighing 4180 kg with pan-India coverage for meeting DTH application needs.
• It was the first "demand driven" communication satellite mission undertaken by NSIL post space sector reforms.
• NSIL, a Government of India company under the Department of Space, has leased the entire satellite capacity to Tata Play.

South Korea succeeded in its second attempt to place a satellite into orbit using a domestically built space rocket, a key step in the country’s ambitious plans for independent space development.

• Name of the the three-stage rocket is Nuri.
• It deployed several satellites into orbit after being launched from a space center on a small island in the southwestern coastal area of Goheung.
• The success comes eight months after Nuri’s maiden flight failed to place a dummy satellite into orbit when the rocket’s third stage malfunctioned.

Indian Institute of Technology Madras has developed a robot called to clean septic tanks and eliminate manual scavenging in India. It is all set to be deployed in field.

HomoSEP robot has been developed by a team led by Prof. Prabhu Rajagopal from IIT Madras, in association with IIT Madras-incubated start-up Solinas Integrity Private Limited. It is also supported by Safai Karamchari Andolan (SKA) NGO, which is dedicated towards eliminating manual scavenging in India.

• A total of ten robots are planned to be deployed across Tamil Nadu.
• Researchers are in touch with sanitation workers for identifying locations.
• Some locations in Maharashtra and Gujarat are also being considered.

The State Bank of India (SBI) and the Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare (DoPPW) of the Centre will collaborate to create an integrated pension platform in order to enhance the quality of life for seniors.

• At a two-day bankers’ awareness event in Udaipur, Rajasthan, SBI field personnel received training on pension policy revisions and digitization relevant to the disbursement of pensions to central government retirees.
• Special sessions on income tax concerns relevant to pensioners were arranged, and they were also taught about the digital means of presenting annual life certificates, according to a statement from the ministry of personnel, public complaints, and pensions. 

One Nation One Ration Card, ONORC scheme has now become operational in  Delhi and West Bengal. With this now the scheme is operational in 34 States and Union Territories covering  nearly 75 Crore beneficiaries of National Food Security Act,NFSA.

• Ministry of Consumer Affairs , Food and Public Distribution in  a statement said that  two remaining states -Assam and Chhattisgarh are targeted for integration under ONORC in next few months.
• The One Nation One Ration Card  is an ambitious plan and endeavour of the Department of Food and Public Distribution  to ensure seamless delivery of subsidised food-security entitlements to all beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act, 2013 irrespective of their physical location anywhere in the country.
• The objective of this programme is to empower all NFSA beneficiaries to be self-reliant for their food security anywhere in the country, through portability of their same existing ration cards to seamlessly lift their subsidised foodgrains.

Hockey India named the 18-member Indian Women's Hockey Team for the most-awaited FIH Women's Hockey World Cup to be held in Netherlands and Spain starting from 1st July to 17th July 2022.

• Indian goalkeeper Savita Punia has been named the captain of the Indian squad for the Women's Hockey World Cup 2022, while Deep Grace Ekka will be the vice-captain.
• India grouped in Pool B along with England, New Zealand and China will begin their campaign on 3rd July against nemesis England, to whom they lost the Bronze Medal in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

Legendary Australian cricketer Lisa Sthalekar has become the first woman president of the Federation of International Cricketers' Association (FICA). The 42-year-old former Australia captain was confirmed in the role at the FICA Executive Committee meeting held in Nyon, Switzerland.

• The Executive Committee meeting was held ahead of the FICA and World Players' Association Player Development Conferences and was the first in-person meeting of the group since the COVID-19 pandemic.
• She will take up a position that has previously been held by former South Africa batter Barry Richards, former West Indies all-rounder Jimmy Adams, and most recently by former England batter Vikram Solanki.

Entrepreneur Ranjit Bajaj, who earlier owned an I-League club, has been named chairman of advisory committee to assist the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) which is running the day-to-day affairs of All India Football Federation (AIFF).

• The 12-member advisory committee was appointed by the CoA to oversee the day-to-day matters of various departments of the AIFF.
• The advisory committee will send regular reports to all the members of the CoA for their information and approvals, if required.

Indian women’s Wrestling team has won five medals to claim Under-17 Asian Championship title with a total of eight gold at Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

• India lifted the title with a total of 235 points from eight golds, one silver and one bronze. Japan had to be content with the runners-up trophy with 143 points and Mongolia finished third with 138 points.
• In addition, the competitions in 3 weight categories of men's freestyle were also held and Parwinder Singh won Gold in 80kg while Narender won Silver in 71 kg.

Indian Men’s football team captain, Sunil Chhetri scored his 84th International goal against Hong Kong during the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup 2023 Qualifiers and equalled the record of Real Madrid and Hungarian Football Legend Ferenc Puskás.

• Sunil Chhetri has scored 84 goals in 129 appearances while Ferenc Puskás (died in 2006 aged 79) scored 84 goals in 85 international matches.
• Sunil Chhetri is the 3rd highest goal scorer in international football among active players, after Cristiano Ronaldo with 117 goals and Lionel Messi with 86 goals. He is also the highest active goal scorer from Asia and India.

Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra leads the Indian athletics team set to participate in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

• The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has named a 37-member squad with star sprinters Him Das and Dutee Chand making the cut through the women's 4x100 metres relay team.
• The Tokyo Olympics gold medallist will be the flag bearer in Birmingham as star sprinters like Hima Das and Dutee Chand booked their berth for the Games that will be held from July 28 – August 8.
• The selection committee picked up all the expected athletes for CWG with zero surprises. Out of 37 members, 18 are women. 

FIFA has announced the 16 North American cities that will host the World Cup in 2026. 

Eleven cities in the U.S., along with three cities in Mexico and two in Canada, will host the 48-team tournament, an expansion from the previous 32-team count. It will be the first time three nations have been appointed to host the World Cup. 

The U.S. locations are Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York-New Jersey area, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle. The sites in Mexico include Monterrey, Guadalajara and Mexico City, and Canada's locations will be Vancouver and Toronto.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the first-ever torch relay for the Chess Olympiad ahead of the 44th edition of the event, which is to be held in Mahabalipuram from July 28 to August 10.

• The international chess body, FIDE, for the very first time has instituted the torch relay, which is part of the Olympic tradition, but was never done in the Chess Olympiad.
• FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich handed over the torch to the prime minister who gave it to the legendary Viswanathan Anand.
• The torch will be taken to 75 cities in a span of 40 days before arriving in Mahabalipuram near Chennai. At every location, chess grandmasters of the state will receive the torch.

England's Matt Fitzpatrick had won the US Amateur at Brookline in 2013. He became the only second man to win a US Amateur and US Open on the same course.

After a thrilling three-man fight down the back nine at The Country Club on Sunday, Fitzpatrick fired a two-under-par 68 to finish on six-under-par 274 and defeat Americans Scottie Scheffler and Will Zalatoris by one stroke.

Fitzpatrick finished at 6-under 274.

He became the first Englishman since Justin Rose in 2013 to win the US Open.

Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra clinched his first top podium finish of the season by winning the javelin throw event at the Kuortane Games in Finland, beating reigning world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada.

• The 24-year-old Chopra’s opening throw of 86.69m turned out to be the winning distance. Trinidad and Tobago’s 2012 Olympics champion Keshorn Walcott was second with a first round throw of 86.64m.
• Peters was third with a best throw of 84.75m, which also came in the opening round.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has announced the Kerala Migration Survey 2022-23 to prepare a data bank on Malayali expatriates in different parts of the world. He was replying to the demand of some representatives of the Loka Kerala Sabha.

• Data bank will be prepared, because lack of data affected the government’s welfare measures for expatriates.
• As a part of the survey, a “Malayali Pravasi Portal” will be launched.
• This portal will be used to link Insurance and other welfare schemes for expatriates.
• An elaborate global registration campaign will also be held, to prepare the database.

To check the depleting groundwater level in the state, the Israel and Haryana government have agreed to work together in the field of integrated water resource management and capacity building.

• The joint declaration is a significant milestone as India and Israel are celebrating 30 years of full diplomatic relations.
• Water security has always been an important pillar of the bilateral relations.
• Under the agreement, Israel will share its most advanced and cutting-edge water technologies, expertise and know-how with the government of Haryana.
• Israel will work closely with all of its partners in India, in order to continue enhancing the strategic relations between both the countries.
• Through the joint declaration, Israel and government of Haryana expressed their willingness to strengthen existing relations in water management sector, improve public health in the region and preserve water resources in public water areas in Haryana.

A National Conference on Cyber Safety and National Security (Cyber Apradh Se Azadi – Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav) will be held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on June 19.

• The conference is being organized by Ministry of Home Affairs.
• The Union Minister for Home Affairs and Cooperation Amit Shah will be the Chief Guest at the conference.
• The conference is part of the efforts to create mass awareness for prevention of cyber crimes in the country.
• The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), in the MHA in coordination with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India in the run up to tomorrow’s conference had also organized functions at 75 places in different States/Union Territories on Cyber Hygiene, Prevention of Cyber Crimes, Cyber Safety and National Security under the banner “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” from June 8 to 17.

Scientists have discovered the world's largest bacteria variety in the mangroves of Guadeloupe -- and it puts its peers to shame, AFP reported.

• The world’s largest known bacterium has been recovered in Guadeloupe in the Lesser Antilles.
• This bacteria is about 2 centimetre in length.  The giant white bacterium was found lurking on the rotting leaves sunken in the swamp.
• This latest discovery is the first that is visible to the naked eye and it is in the form of white filaments. 

India ranked third globally for total renewable power capacity additions in 2021 with 15.4 GW, behind only China (136 GW) and the US (43 GW). According to a report, despite the Covid-19 pandemic’s promise of a global green recovery, this historic opportunity has been lost.

• The world is unlikely to be able to achieve important climate goals this decade, according to REN21’s Renewables 2022 Global Status Report (GSR 2022). This is because the global clean energy transition is not taking place.
• Despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, renewables saw a year of record growth in both investment and installation.

Union government has banned the use of ‘single-use plastic’ from July 1, 2022.  Single-Use plastic refers to plastic items which are used once and discarded. It makes the highest shares of plastic manufactured and used, ranging from packaging of items, to bottles, polythene bags, coffee cups, face masks, trash bags, cling film, food packaging etc.

• Gazette notification was issued by Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 2021, and announced the ban.
• It has now defined a list of items, that will be banned from July 2022.