Current Affairs 17 June 2020

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 17 June 2020, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2020 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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Top 20 Current Affairs of 17 June 2020

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Dharmendra Pradhan Launched Nation’s 1st “Indian Gas Exchange”, an Online Delivery-Based Gas Trading Platform

i.”Indian Gas Exchange (IGX)” has been launched on the lines of Prime Minister’s vision to provide clean, affordable, sustainable and equitable supply of energy to every citizen.
ii.Notably, IGX will work as a wholly owned subsidiary of the India Energy Exchange (IEX), which is India’s energy market platform.
Headquartered in New Delhi, IGX consists of 3 directors viz, Rajiv Srivastava, Rajesh Kumar Mediratta, Vineet Harlalka.
iii.Through IGX competitive price discovery will facilitate availability of gas at lower prices, without any government interference. However, the price of domestically produced natural gas is decided by the government. It will not be sold on the gas exchange.
Recently, Liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal owners, state-run Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) and Petronet LNG Ltd (PLL), have joined IGX.
About PNGRB:
Chairman– Dinesh Kumar Sarraf
Headquarter– New Delhi
About IEX:
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Rajiv Srivastava
Headquarter– New Delhi
<< Read Full News >>

Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) Launches Multi-Location Claim Settlement

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) under Ministry of has launched Multi-location claim settlement facility. This new facility has replaced the old using system of geographical jurisdiction for claim process.

• This facility will allow EPFO offices to settle online claims from any of its regional offices, across the country and all types of online claims – provident fund, pension, partial withdrawal and claims and transfer claims can be processed under this novel initiative.

<< Read Full News >>

India Builds First Ever Infectious Disease Diagnostic Lab

India builds the first ever Infectious Disease Diagnostic Mobile Laboratory with the support of the Department of Bio-technology as a part of Atma Nirbhar Bharat.
About the Laboratory:
i.The Laboratory was built within 8 days on receiving the chassis from Bharat Benz.
ii.The BSL-2 facility lab holds the Elisa, real-time Reverse Tranion Polymerase Chain Reaction(rRT-PCR) test and Bio chemistry analyser.
iii.The laboratory is capable of testing around 200 Elisa tests and 50 rRT-PCR tests per day.
About Atma Nirbhar Bharat:
i.The Indian government announced an economic package of Rs 20 lakh crore to achieve self-reliant India under the scheme Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan.
ii.Atma Nirbhar Bharat health reforms and Initiatives, The National Institutional Platform for One health by ICMR will encourage research and enable setting up of Infectious Disease Hospital blocks in every district and strengthen the lab network.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

India ranked 6th as nuclear weapons increased since 2019; US tops: SIPRI’s Yearbook 2020

i.In accordance with the “51st edition of SIPRI Yearbook 2020-Armaments, Disarmament and International Security” of Swedish think tank, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), The number of nuclear warheads in the Indian arsenal pegged at 150 in comparison to the 2019 report (on the basis of 2018) when India had 130-140.
ii.Following table shows the number of warheads of top rankers (as of January 2020):

*The deployed warheads of the US are more than Russia that is why the former has been placed at 1st rank.
About SIPRI:
Chair– Ambassador Jan Eliasson
Director– Dan Smith
Headquarter– Stockholm, Sweden
<< Read Full News >>

BANKING & FINANCE

Airtel Payments Bank launches ‘Suraksha Salary Account’ for MSMEs

i.Airtel Payments Bank launched ‘Suraksha Salary Account’ for the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). 
ii.The account will enable the MSMEs & other organisations to make cashless payments & provide financial security to their employees.
iii.Features of ‘Suraksha Salary Account’– No minimum balance required & 2 covers insurance cover included namely: Hospicash Insurance, Personal Accidental insurance cover among others
About Airtel Payments Bank:
Headquarters– New Delhi
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO)– Anubrata Biswas 
<< Read Full News >>

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

CBIC Chairman, M. Ajit Kumar launched ‘e-Office’ Application in all CGST  

i.The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, Chairman M. Ajit Kumar launched the e-Office application in over 500 Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) and customs officers across India, on 15th June at New Delhi.
ii.The e-Office is a Mission Mode Project(MMP) under the e-Governance of India. e-Office has been developed by the National Informatics Center(NIC), and supported by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG).
About CBIC:
Chairman- M. Ajit Kumar
Headquarter- New Delhi
About NIC:
Director General- Neeta Verma
Headquarter- New Delhi
<< Read Full News >>

India’s foreign exchange reserves cross $500 bn for the first time

In accordance with the weekly statistical data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), India’s foreign reserves crossed the $500 billion mark as the nation had forex reserves of $501.7 billion as of June 5, 2020 a rise of $8.22 billion in a week. 

• India’s forex reserves comprise foreign currency assets (FCAs), gold reserves, special drawing rights (SDRs), and India’s reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Key Points:
-The FCAs, the largest component of the forex reserves, increased by $8.422 billion to $463.630 billion.
-The value of India’s gold reserves decreased by $329 million to $32.352 billion.
-SDR value climbed by $10 million to $1.442 billion, the reserve position of the country with the IMF rose by $120 million to $4.278 billion.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS        

Deccan Development Society won the Biodiversity Award of Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation

i.On 11th June 2020, The Deccan Development Society(DDS), Hyderabad Based non-governmental organisation won the Biodiversity award 2020 and a grant of 40000 Euros (approx. Rs. 35 Lakhs) of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation for the contribution of DDS women in rehabilitation of degraded lands and to promote biodiversity.
ii.The award was announced in a teleconference by Olivier Wenden, Vice President and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
About Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation:
President– Prince Albert II of Monaco 
Vice President & CEO– Olivier Wenden
Headquarters– Monaco
About DDS:
Director– PV Satheesh
Headquarters– Hyderabad, Telangana
<< Read Full News >>

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS       

PM CARES Fund Trustees appoints SARC & Associates as Auditor

The Trustees of the Prime Minister’s Citizens Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) fund appointed SARC & Associates, New Delhi based Chartered Accountants as its auditors for the next three years.
About SARC & Associates:
Founder & Chairman– Sunil Kumar Gupta
Headquarters– New Delhi
<< Read Full News >>   

Kyrgyzstan’s Prime Minister Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziyev resigns 

On June 15, 2020 Kyrgyzstan’s Prime Minister Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziyev(52 years) resigned, amid ongoing criminal investigation into whether the government illegally sold radio frequencies. He was appointed as prime minister by President Sooronbai Jeenbekov after succeeding Sapar Isakov in April 2018.
Key Points
i.Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziev mentioned that the government may not work well  due to the uncertainty caused by the investigation as there is compelling work due to COVID-19 pandemic.
ii.He took a 2 week leave on May 27 so as to avoid interference with a corruption investigation over radio frequency resources.
iii.Currently, First Deputy Prime Minister Kubatbek Boronov coordinates the work of the Government.
About Kyrgyzstan
Capital– Bishkek 
Currency– Kyrgyzstani Som

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS    

CCI Approves Acquisition by MacRitchie in 91Streets, Ascent and API

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) approves acquisition by MacRitchie Investments Pte.Ltd.(MacRitchie) in 91Streets Media Technologies Private Limited(91Streets),Ascent Health and Wellness Solutions Private Limited(Ascent) and API Holdings Private Limited (API) under section 31(1) of the competition Act, 2002.
KeyPoints:
i.The proposed combination relates to acquisition of certain percentage of Compulsorily convertible debentures, preference shares or/and common shares of 91Streets, Ascent and API.
ii.It is a form of Financial investment for MacRitchie. It would provide an opportunity to invest and participate in the long term growth of the market for wholesale sales and distribution of drugs in India.
About CCI:
Formed– October 2003
Headquarters– New Delhi
Chairman– Ashok Kumar Gupta

ENVIRONMENT

500 Year Old Temple Found Submerged in Mahanadi River of Odisha

Deepak Kumar Nayak, Project Assistant of Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage(INTACH) with Rabindra Rana, heritage enthusiast of Odisha located the 500-year-old submerged temple in the Mahanadi river near Baideswar in Padmavati area, Cuttack.
i.The documentation project of a heritage site in the Mahanadi valley was launched by the INTACH Odisha in 2019.
ii.This is a pilot project of INTACH and the first of its kind study on any river in India.
About INTACH:
Chairman– L.K. Gupta
Headquarters– New Delhi
<< Read Full News >>

New fish species ‘Schizothorax sikusirumensis’ discovered in Arunachal Pradesh

On June 15, 2020 A new species of fish, ‘Schizothorax sikusirumensis’ discovered in Arunachal Pradesh by Dr. Keshav Kumar Jha, Associate Professor & Head, Department of Zoology, Jawaharlal Nehru College, Pasighat. The fish species is from genus Schizothorax.
Reason behind the name:
The fish was discovered from the junction of River Siku and Sirum near Gakang area under Mebo circle of East Siang District. This Fish lives in a submerged area.
Fish species discovered in the state in 2019
The fisheries and aquatic ecology research team led by Prof D N Das from Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) discovered 5 species of fish from the State.
Mystus prabini (discovered in Sinkin and the Dibang rivers in Lower Dibang Valley district); the Exostoma kottelati (discovered in the Ranga river in Lower Subansiri district); the Creteuchiloglanis tawangensis (discovered in the Tawangchu river in Tawang district); the Garra ranganensis (discovered in the Ranga river); and the Physoschistura harkishorei (discovered in the Dibang and the Lohit rivers in Lower Dibang Valley district).
About Arunachal Pradesh:
Capital– Itanagar
Chief Minister– Pema Khandu
Governor– B.D. Mishra 
National Park(NP)– Mouling NP, Namdapha NP

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day of Family Remittances 2020: June 16 

i.Every year on June 16 The International Day of Family Remittances(IDFR) is celebrated across the country. 
ii.The day recognises the migrants’ contributions(about 200 million migrants) to improve their family members(800 million) lives back home & to create a future of hope for their children. 
iii.Aim of the day– To raise awareness about the contributions of migrants to their families’ lives & their countries.
About IFAD:
Headquarters– Rome, Italy
President– Gilbert F. Houngbo 
<< Read Full News >>

Global Wind Day 2020 – June 15

i.June 15th of every year is observed as Global Wind Day to discover, encourage and create awareness about the renewable natural form of energy. 
ii.The European Wind Energy Association(EWEA) established the Wind Day in 2007.
About EWEA:
CEO– Giles Dickson
Headquarters– Brussels,Belgium
About GWEC:
CEO– Ben Backwell
Headquarters– Brussels, Belgium
<< Read Full News >>

STATE NEWS

Maharashtra signs 12 MoU’s with domestic and foreign companies for FDI worth over Rs 16,000 crores: Magnetic Maharashtra 2.0

i.Maharashtra signed 12 Memorandum of Understanding(MoUs) with 12 domestic and foreign companies for Foreign Direct Investment(FDI) worth over Rs 16,000 crores. 
ii.It is a part of the Magnetic Maharashtra 2.0 initiative. 
iii.The MoU was signed by Industries Minister Subhash Desai on behalf of the state government & by respective  global companies in the field of engineering, car and spare parts manufacturing, information technology, logistics, chemicals, and food processing.
About Maharashtra:
Capital– Mumbai
Governor– Bhagat Singh Koshyari
<< Read Full News >>

Manipur CM N. Biren Singh inaugurates three projects undertaken by PHED through VC

Manipur Chief Minister(CM) N. Biren Singh inaugurated three projects undertaken by the State Public Health Engineering Department(PHED) through Video Conferencing(VC) from the Chief Minister’s Secretariat Imphal. 
3 projects
i.Integrated Water Supply Project for Imphal Planning Area Phase-1 (9.53 million liters per day- MLD), Porompat, Imphal East 
ii.Integrated Water Supply Project for Imphal Planning Area Phase-1 (9 MLD) Iroisemba hilltop, Imphal West
iii.Imphal Sewerage Project Phase-1 (27 MLD), Lamphelpat, Imphal West
<< Read Full News >>

UP Govt Decides to Adopt Flatted Factory Model

i.On 11th June 2020, The Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA) of the Government of Uttar Pradesh decided to adopt the scheme of Flatted Factory Model, to ensure the availability of industrial land which means that non-polluting industries can operate in Multistoried buildings.
ii.The committee has set 5 acres as the minimum land requirement.
iii.Maximum plot area proposed for sub‐division and buy back shall not be more than 50% of originally allotted plot area & the minimum area proposed for sub‐division shouldn’t be less than 1000 square meter (sq m).
About UPSIDA:
Chairman– Alok Tandon
CEO– Anil Garg
Headquarters– Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
<< Read Full News >>

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched “Karmo Bhumi”, a job portal to help IT professionals

On June 9, 2020 West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched Karmo Bhumi, a job portal to help Information Technology(IT) professionals who have lost their jobs after the outbreak of COVID-19 and returned to the state. The portal will enable them to get employment in the state. 
Key Points
i.The portal acts as a medium between the professionals and IT companies in Bengal.
ii.It eliminates the need of middlemen who waste the money of job seekers. The main benefit of the portal is that the jobs will be readily available for job seekers.
iii.The portal can be accessed through http://karmabhumi.nltr.org
About West Bengal:
Capital– Kolkata
Governor– Jagdeep Dhankhar
National Park(NP)– Buxa NP, Gorumara NP, Jaldapara NP, Neora Valley NP, Singalila NP, Sundarbans NP

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