Daily Current Affairs 18th June, 2024
Daily Current Affairs 18 June 2024 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.
NATIONAL NEWS
Universities will be allowed to offer admissions twice a year on lines of foreign varsities: UGC
- Indian universities and higher education institutions (HEIs) will now be allowed to offer admissions twice a year on lines of foreign universities. The two admission cycles followed globally also will be July-August and January-February from the 2024-25 academic session.
- Biannual admissions will also enable the higher education institutes (HEIs) to plan their resource distribution, such as faculty, labs, classrooms and support services, more efficiently, resulting in a better functional flow within the university.
- At present, universities and colleges admit students annually in July-August every year. All HEIs follow the academic session that begins in July-August and ends in May-June.
Vice President Dhankhar inaugurates ‘Prerna Sthal’ in Parliament complex
- Rajya Sabha chairperson and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the ‘Prerna Sthal’ in the Parliament complex which now houses statues of national icons and freedom fighters that were earlier at different places on the premises.
- The ‘Prerna Sthal’ will inspire and motivate people, Dhankhar said, amid criticism by the Congress over the removal of the statues from their original places.
- The Congress claimed the decision to relocate the statues within the Parliament premises was taken by the ruling regime “unilaterally”.Its sole objective was to not have the statues of Mahatma Gandhi and B R Ambedkar, which have been traditional sites of democratic protests, right next to where the Parliament actually meets.
Urban-Rural Consumption Expenditure Differential Falls To 71% In 2022-23: Survey: MoSPI Survey
- The Survey on Household Consumption Expenditure by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has found that Rural India’s average monthly capital expenditure stood 71 percent lower than Urban India in the period from August 2022 to July 2023.
- The survey said that rural India on average, clocked a monthly Per capita consumption expenditure (MPCE of three thousand 773 rupees in the period under review.
- Urban India’s average estimated MPCE during the period stood at 6,459 rupees. The survey stated that in the 2022-23 period, Rural India spent 46 percent of its household consumption expenditure towards food.
- The average monthly per capita consumption expenditure in rural sector has risen more sharply by 40 percent in 2022-23 as compared to 2011-12 at real prices, while the MPCE in urban sector has risen 33 percent in the same period.
India Set to be the 6th Country to have its own Deep Sea Mission
- India set to be the 6th country to have its own Deep Sea Mission” says Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space and MoS Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, in New Delhi.
- Chairing a meeting to discuss the 100-day Action Plan of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized the importance of focusing on achieving a resilient blue economy to empower people dependent on the ocean and its energy for their livelihood.
- He highlighted that the Deep Sea Mission is not limited to mineral exploration but encompasses the development of ocean sciences, exploration of flora and fauna, and conservation of marine biodiversity.
- The Union Minister lauded the efforts of the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) in developing the Matsyayaan 6000, a submersible capable of diving 6,000 meters deep into the ocean. He directed officials to complete the first stage of harbor trials by September 2024 and subsequent trials by 2026.
Oracle partners with Tamil Nadu to empower youth with IT skills
- Oracle said that it has partnered with Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation to equip the state’s youth with IT skills and capabilities to enhance employment opportunities.
- Oracle’s specialized skills development program will be part of Naan Mudhalvan and will provide employment-linked skills development training to more than 200,000 students in the state.
- The students will be trained and certified on modern technologies from Oracle, including cloud, data science, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and blockchain. Since its introduction, more than 60,000 students representing engineering, arts, and science streams from over 900 colleges across the state have registered to participate in the programme.
Punjab police launch ‘Mission Nishchay’ in border villages to gather intelligence about demand and supply of drugs
- Punjab Police in association with the Border Security Force (BSF) and Village Defence Committees (VDCs) will carry out a one-week drive against drugs named Mission Nishchay’ in Fazilka district.
- They will reach out to residents of as many as 42 villages along the India-Pakistan border to gather actionable intelligence about the demand and supply of drugs.
- The idea is to instil a sense of community participation among inhabitants of border villages as we make efforts to curb the menace of drugs. The focus on youth and women to gather actionable intelligence about the demand and supply of drugs. Of the 553-km-long Punjab border with Pakistan, 108 km is in Fazilka district.
Malabar River Festival 2024: Kayaking Competition In Kerala
- Kerala’s Kozhikode is all set to host the Malabar River Festival 2024, featuring the prestigious International White Water Kayaking Championship from July 25 to 28. This highly anticipated event aims to showcase and promote white-water kayaking in the region, drawing attention from both local and international adventurers.
- Organized by the Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society, it features the International White Water Kayaking Championship, including events like Extreme Race, Boater Cross, and Giant Slalom.
- The festival also hosts activities such as MTB water rallies and water polo. It attracts over 100 national and international kayakers, aiming to boost tourism and showcase Kerala’s adventure sports potential.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
IAF contingent completes successful participation in Exercise Red Flag 2024
- The Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully concluded its participation in Exercise Red Flag 2024, an advanced aerial combat training exercise conducted by the United States Air Force (USAF) at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, from June 4 to June 14, 2024.
- This marked the second edition of Ex Red Flag 2024, a quarterly event aimed at enhancing the combat readiness and interoperability of participating forces.
- Exercise Red Flag 2024 saw the participation of air forces from multiple nations, including the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), Royal Air Force (RAF) of the United Kingdom, Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF), German Luftwaffe, and the host, the USAF.
- The contingent’s journey across the Atlantic was facilitated by IL-78 Air to Air Refuellers (AAR) for the Rafale fighter jets, while personnel and equipment were transported by the C-17 Globemaster aircraft.
International peace conference for Ukraine took place in Switzerland
- About 100 delegations from countries and international organisations attended the Switzerland-hosted Summit on Peace in Ukraine, aimed at crafting a path that many participants said could pave the way to ending Russia’s war on its smaller neighbour.
- The two-day diplomatic summit took place in the Burgenstock resort in Stansstad, Switzerland, and was attended by United States Vice President Kamala Harris alongside leaders from the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, and diplomats from many other nations.
- India is the only South Asian country that will attend the peace summit, according to a list of participating states released by the organisers. India will be represented by Pavan Kapoor, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs.
- The final document signed by 78 countries said the UN Charter and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty can and will serve as a basis for achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine
BANKING & FINANCE
MEA and SBI sign MoU to enhance digital payment services for migrant workers via eMigrate portal
- The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, and State Bank of India(SBI) to provide an additional digital payment services of the SBI through payment gateway called SBIePay to Indian migrant workers, Recruiting Agents (RAs) and other users of the eMigrate portal (https://emigrate.gov.in).
- Through implementation of this MoU, payment of various emigration related fee would be possible with NIL transaction charges for payment through UPI, credit/debit cards and NEFT through net banking of all Indian banks.
- Signing of this MoU would further facilitate and enhance the ambit of safe and legal migration of Indian migrant workers.
Reserve Bank of India bags ‘risk manager of the year award 2024’ by London’s Central Banking publication
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been awarded the “Risk Manager of the Year Award 2024″ by Central Banking, a renowned publication headquartered in London.
- This prestigious accolade highlights the RBI’s significant progress in cultivating a robust risk culture and heightened awareness, solidifying its essential role in maintaining the stability of India’s financial system.
- The RBI has been proactive in embracing financial technology (FinTech) innovations while mitigating potential risks. It established a regulatory sandbox, which facilitates controlled experimentation with new FinTech products and services.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Adani Defence and EDGE Group forge global partnership
- Adani Defence & Aerospace has signed a cooperation agreement with EDGE Group, one of the leading advanced technology and defence groups in the UAE, to establish a global platform leveraging the defence and aerospace capabilities.
- The agreement includes evaluating cooperation across core product domains, including missiles and weapons covering airborne, surface, infantry, ammunition, and air defence products, platforms & systems covering unmanned aerial systems (UAS), loitering munitions, counter drone systems, unmanned ground vehicles (UGV), as well as electronic warfare (EW) and cyber technologies.
- The agreement will also explore the establishment of R&D facilities in India and the UAE; setting up of development, production, and maintenance facilities of defence and aerospace solutions.
APPOINTMENTS
Petr Pellegrini sworn in as Slovak president
- Petr Pellegrini, Slovakia’s former speaker of the National Council, is sworn in as Slovakia’s 6th President.
- His victory in the runoff election solidified Fico’s influence, maintaining control over strategic positions in the government. Pellegrini, known for his advocacy of a strong state role, previously served as Parliament’s speaker and aligned closely with Fico’s policies.
- His presidency follows that of Zuzana Caputova, Slovakia’s first female president, known for her support of Ukraine during its conflict with Russia.
Cyril Ramaphosa Re-Elected South African President
- Cyril Ramaphosa secured his second term as South Africa’s president with the support of once rival parties that have agreed to join his African National Congress (ANC) in a new government of national unity.
- The ANC – which was forced to share power for the first time in 30 years after losing its majority in last month’s vote – still has to work out how to divide up the top cabinet jobs and overcome ideological differences with its new partners.
- The 71-year-old Ramaphosa won convincingly in a Parliament vote against a surprise candidate, Julius Malema, the leader of the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters. Mr. Ramaphosa got 283 votes against Malema’s 44 in the 400-member house.
AWARDS
India’s Siddhesh Sakore named Land Hero by UN agency
- Siddhesh Sakore, a farmer and the founder of AGRO RANGERS, from Maharashtra, has been named Land Hero by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).On the occasion of World Desertification and Drought Day, the UNCCD announced the names of 10 Land Heroes in a programme in Bonn, Germany.
- The UNCCD celebrated its 30th anniversary by recognizing 10 individuals from various countries, including Brazil, Costa Rica, Germany, Mali, Moldova, Morocco, the Philippines, the US, and Zimbabwe, along with Siddhesh Sakore from India.
- The UNCCD praised Sakore’s dedication to addressing the economic and environmental challenges faced by farmers in Maharashtra. Sakore highlighted the impact of economic crises, toxic chemical usage, and climate change on sustainable farming, stressing the importance of eco-friendly and cost-effective technologies.
OBITUARIES
Veteran sports journalist Harpal Singh Bedi passes away at 73
- Renowned sports journalist and Editorial Consultant of The Statesman, Harpal Singh Bedi, passed away at the age of 73 following a prolonged illness.
- Bedi began his career in 1980 as a sub-editor with the United News of India (UNI), eventually becoming the youngest Sports Editor in the agency’s history.
- Over a career spanning more than four decades, he covered numerous prestigious international sporting events, including eight Olympic Games, multiple Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Cups in cricket and hockey, and world and national championships in athletics and other major Olympic sports.
ENVIRONMENT
Scientists discover smallest ever great ape that only grew to size of human toddler
- Scientists have discovered a new species of great ape which lived 11 million years ago and only ever grew to the size of a human toddler, making it the smallest known to science.
- The now-extinct ape species, which has been named Buronius manfredschmidi, was uncovered at the Hammerschmiede fossil site in Bavaria. Roughly the same as a French bulldog, making the new species the “smallest known hominid taxon” (great ape).
- Researchers found partial remains of two teeth and one knee cap, or patella, whose size and shape are distinct from those of any known ape. They estimate that the full body size of the ape was around 10kg, making Buronius the smallest great ape ever discovered.