National
PM Narendra Modi releases book titled The Birds of Banni Grassland:
i. Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a book titled “The Birds of Banni Grassland” in New Delhi. The book was presented to the Prime Minister by the scientists of Gujarat Institute of Desert Ecology (GUIDE).
ii. The Birds of Banni Grassland is book 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.
About Gujarat Institute of Desert Ecology (GUIDE):
a) The GUIDE is located at Bhuj. For over 15 years it has been studying the plant, bird and marine life in the Rann of Kutch.
b) GUIDE’s research activities are linked in the study of understanding and addressing environmental, ecological and social problems.
29 June: National Statistics Day:
i. The National Statistics Day is being observed every year on 29 June 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.
ii. Significance of the Day: It is celebrated annually on the occasion of Birth anniversary of India’s eminent statistician Late Prof Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis.
iii. 2016 Theme: “Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare”.
Union Cabinet approves MoU between India and Tanzania in the field of water resources:
i. The Union Cabinet has approved signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Tanzania for bilateral cooperation in water resources management and development.
ii. Under this MoU, the areas of enhanced cooperation include techniques in water harvesting, groundwater and surface management and development and aquifer recharge.
CSIR launches India’s first anti diabetic ayurvedic drug BGR -34:
i. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has launched BGR-34, an anti-diabetic ayurvedic drug designed for type 2 Diabetes mellitus.
ii. The anti-diabetic ayurvedic drug BGR-34 has been jointly developedby National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) and Central Institute for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP).
Anti-submarine torpedo Varunastra inducted in Indian Navy:
i. Indigenously-built heavyweight anti-submarine torpedo Varunastra has been successfully inducted in the Indian Navy.
ii. 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.
Key Insights:
a) The Varunastra torpedo has been developed by Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), a premier laboratory of DRDO.
b) It is capable of targeting stealthy and quiet submarines, both in deep and littoral waters in intense counter-measure environment.
Torpedo: It is a self-propelled weapon with an explosive warhead. It is launched above or below the water surface and propelled underwater towards a target. It is designed to detonate either on contact with its target or in proximity to it.
International
Ethiopia, Bolivia, Sweden and Kazakhstan elected as non-permanent UNSC members:
i. 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).
ii. 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.
About United Nations Security Council (UNSC):
a) UNSC is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations (UN).
b) It is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security as well as accepting new members to the UN and approving any changes to its UN Charter.
c) Members: It consists of five permanent, veto-wielding members – China, Russia, France, UK and US along with 10 non-permanent members.
Expanded Panama Canal reopens:
i. Newly renovated and expanded Panama Canal was reopened by the Panamanian President, Juan Carlos Varela.
ii. The expanded Panama Canal will allow a new, much-larger generation of container ships to pass through the isthmus of Panama.
About Panama Canal:
a) The Panama Canal is an artificial 77 km waterway that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean.
b) The canal cuts across the Isthmus of Panama and is a key conduit for international maritime trade.
c) Strategically and economically it is one of the most important waterways in the world providing the shortest sea link between East Asia, North America and Europe.
d) Its opening in 1914 had provided alternative route to lengthy sea voyage around the southernmost tip of South America via the Drake Passage or Strait of Magellan.
Appointments & Resignations
NS Vishwanathan appointed as deputy governor of RBI:
i. The Union Government has appointed NS Vishwanathan as deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
ii. His appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) presided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
iii. NS Vishwanathan will shall have term will be for three years and will succeed Harun R Khan, who will superannuates on July 7, 2016 on turning 62.
About NS Vishwanathan:
a) Prior to this appointment, Vishwanathan was executive director in the RBI since April 2014. He was oversing banking and non-banking regulation departments.
b) Earlier he had served as Principal Chief General Manager in the Department of non-banking supervision at RBI. He also had served as a Director of Punjab National Bank (PNB).
Appointments of RBI’s Deputy Governors:
1. The RBI has four deputy governors – two from within the ranks and one commercial banker and an economist to head the monetary policy department.
2. Previously they were appointed by a panel headed by RBI Governor. But now they are appointed based on recommendations of the Financial Sector Regulatory Appointment Search Committee (FSRASC) headed by Cabinet Secretary that also includes RBI Governor.
3. Present Deputy Governors of RBI are the other being R Gandhi, S S Mundra) and Urjit Patel (an economist).
Sujoy Bose appointed as first CEO of NIIF:
i. The Union Government has appointed Sujoy Bose as the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF).
ii. His selection for the CEO of NIIF was recommended by a search-cum-selection committee under the chairmanship of Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das.
iii. Prior to this appointment, he was the Director and Global Co-Head of Infrastructure and Natural Resources at International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector lending arm of the World Bank.
About National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF):
a) 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.
b) It has been incorporated as a company under the Companies Act, 2013 and has been duly authorized to act as investment manager of the fund.
Awards & Honors
CAG Shashi Kant Sharma gets honorary professorship in China:
i. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India Shashi Kant Sharmahas been conferred with the honorary professorship by the Nanjing Audit University (NAU), China.
ii. China’s Nanjing Audit University is the only university which is recognized by the Institute of Internal Auditors.
About Shashi Kant Sharma:
a) Shashi Kant Sharmahas is a 1976 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Bihar cadre.
b) He had succeeded Vinod Rai as the CAG, supreme federal auditor of the country in May 2013 Prior to appointment as CAG he had served as secretary in the Union Ministry of Defence.
Short News
I. Ace Indian shooter Jitu Rai won silver medal at the ISSF (International Shooting Sport Federation) Shooting World Cup held in Baku, Azerbaijan. In the final match, Rai shot 199.5 score to bag the silver medal in men’s 10m air pistol. He pipped three-time Olympic champion Jongoh Jin of South Korea to win silver medal.
II. India’s 3-0 series win over Zimbabwe has seen them rise one spot to third in the latest ICC ODI rankings with 110 ratings points, ahead of South Africa on decimal points.
III. Former Olympic short track speed skating champion Oh Se-jong was killed in a motorcycle crash in Seoul on Monday.
IV. Sweden inaugurated a test stretch of an electric road in Sandviken to conduct tests with electric power for hybrid heavy transports on public roads. With this, Sweden becomes first country in the world to have electric road. The tests will be conducted on parts of road E16.
V. The 2016 Rio games will be the first Olympics after 112 years to host a golf event. Golf was discontinued in Olympics after being played in 1900 and 1904 but has been reintroduced for the 2016 and 2020 Olympics.
VI. The Assam Government (Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal) has granted district status to Majuli, a 400 square kilometres island in the Brahmaputra River. With this it becomes India’s first island district. With this erosion-troubled Majuli island will become the 34th district of Assam.
VII. Naga leader and founder of Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah), Isak Chisi Swu 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.
VIII. Ace Indian shooter Sanjeev Rajput has won the silver medal in men’s 50-metre rifle 3 position event of the ISSF World Cup held in Baku, Ajerbaijan.