Click the Image for Sample PDF
We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 28 June 2024, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2024 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.
Our Current Affairs June 2024 events will help you to get more marks in Banking, Insurance, SSC, Railways, UPSC, CLAT and all State Government Exams. Also, try our Latest Current Affairs Quiz and Monthly Current Affairs 2024 PDF which will be a pedestrian to crack your exams.
Read Current Affairs in CareersCloud APP, Course Name – Learn Current Affairs – Free Course – Click Here to Download the APP
We are Hiring – Subject Matter Expert | CA Video Creator | Content Developers(Pondicherry)
Click here for Current Affairs 27 June 2024
Click here for Affairscloud Hindu Free Vocabs telegram channel
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Receives Navratna Status; CEL Gets ‘Mini RATNA'(Category-1) Status
Department of Public Enterprises(DPE), under the Ministry of Finance(MoF), has granted the ‘Navratna’ status to Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL), a Central Public Sector Undertaking(CPSU) under the Ministry of Defence(MoD).
- Central Electronics Limited (CEL), a PSU under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science and Technology(MoST), has received the ‘Mini RATNA (Category-1)’ Status from the Department of Public Enterprises.
About Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL):
Chairman & Managing Director(CMD)– Sanjeev Singhal
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Founded– 1934
>> Read Full News
Jake Sullivan APNSA of USA visited India on 17&18th June 2024; Held 2nd iCET Meet with India’s NSA Ajit Doval
Jake Sullivan, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (APNSA) of the United States of America (USA) was on a 2-day visit to New Delhi, Delhi from 17th to 18th June 2024.
- Jake Sullivan and Ajit K Doval, NSA of India co-chaired the second meeting of the India-US initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) on 17 June 2024 at Hyderabad House, New Delhi.
About iCET:
i.The iCET was launched by PM Modi and US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the Quad Leaders’ Summit held in Tokyo, Japan on 24 May 2022.
- The inaugural iCET meeting was held in January 2023 in Washington, D.C., USA.
About the United States of America(USA):
President– Joseph Robinette Biden Jr.
Currency– United States Dollar (USD)
Capital– Washington, D.C.
>> Read Full News
MoE Launches National Campaign on ToFEI
The Ministry of Education(MoE), Government of India (GoI) as part of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), has launched a nation-wide campaign on Tobacco Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI)
- With regard to this campaign, Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy, MoE issued a detailed advisory to all States/UTs for complying with Guidelines of ToFEI as per the ToFEI Implementation Manual.
Note: The ToFEI implementation manual was launched on World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) (31 May 2024) will serve as a crucial tool in transforming all educational institutions across India into “Tobacco Free” zones.
ToFEI Implementation Manual Activities:
Here are key activities suggested for schools and their surrounding areas:
i.Display “Tobacco Free Area” and “Tobacco Free Education Institution” signage.
ii.Ensure no evidence of tobacco use on-premises like cigarette/beedi butts or discarded gutka/tobacco pouches or spitting spots.
iii.Post awareness materials on tobacco harms within the premises.
iv.Organise at least one tobacco control activity biannually (every 6 months).
v.Nomination of ‘Tobacco Monitors’ and their names, designations, and contact numbers are to be mentioned on the signage.
vi.Include “No Tobacco Use” guidelines in the institution’s code of conduct.
vii.Marking of 100 yards (300 feet) area from the outer limit of the boundary wall/ fence of the educational institute.
viii.Ban tobacco sales within 100 yards of any educational institutions.
ix.Conduct anti-tobacco pledges as per Annexure-III of the Implementation Manual of ToFEI.
Point to Note:
- According to Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) 2019, 8.5 percent of school students in the age group of 13 to 15 consume tobacco in different forms across the country.
- Tobacco use is one of the major causes of preventable deaths and diseases in India and accounts for nearly 1.35 million deaths every year in the country. India is also the second largest consumer and producer of tobacco. .
About the Ministry of Education (MoE):
Union Minister– Dharmendra Pradhan (Constituency: Sambalpur, Odisha)
Ministers of State (MoS)- Sukanta Majumdar (Balurghat, West Bengal)
MoS (Independent Charge (IC))- Jayant Chaudhary (Rajya Sabha, Uttar Pradesh)
BANKING & FINANCE
HDFC Bank Launched a Digital Investment Platform ‘HDFC Bank SmartWealth’
HDFC Bank Limited, India’s leading private sector bank, has launched ‘HDFC Bank SmartWealth’, a new digital investment platform designed to make wealth services accessible to every Indian.
- This platform aims to simplify and bring transparency to the investment process.
About SmartWealth:
i.Any customer with a savings account at HDFC Bank can register for SmartWealth. Only 1 account can be linked for all purchases and redemptions on SmartWealth.
ii.HDFC Bank SmartWealth incorporates cutting-edge technology and offers first-ever features which allow investors to make the right investment decisions and plan their financial journey.
- Using SmartWealth, investors can invest in mutual funds, bank deposits, stocks, and bonds for potentially superior returns without any inconvenience.
Key Features:
i.The SmartWealth Application (App) enables users to create SmartJars, which gives personalised portfolio plans that can be modified or paused anytime.
ii.Model Portfolios on SmartWealth suggest curated investment baskets based on 25 years of HDFC Bank’s expertise.
iii.The App features a smart, comprehensive dashboard with a holistic view of investments.
- It highlights the total market value, family wealth, Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) calendar, and detailed analytics.
iv.For users with a diversified portfolio, the App enables a Consolidated Account Statement (CAS), downloadable in just three clicks.
- This App generates automated statements (Transaction, Holding, and Capital Gain/Loss) giving a 360-degree portfolio reporting.
v.It also provides an enhanced experience with a virtual Relationship Manager (RM) for real-time assistance and personalised support.
Advanced Tools:
i.The portfolio rebalancing feature of SmartWealth prompts users to adjust their investments in volatile markets.
ii.The portfolio analytics feature analyses asset distribution to mitigate risk.
About HDFC Bank Limited:
It was incorporated in August 1994 and commenced operations as a Scheduled Commercial Bank in January 1995.
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– Sashidhar Jagdishan
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Tagline– We understand your world
SEBI Constitutes 15-Member Working Group to Review Derivative Trading Norms
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has constituted a working group to review derivative trading norms. The 15 members working group will be headed by G. Padmanabhan , former executive director of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
- This decision was taken in continuation of series of steps taken by the SEBI to tighten the retail Futures& Options (F&O) trading.
About the Working Group:
i.The other members of the working group will be the representatives from market ecosystems such as: exchanges, brokers, clearing corporations, mutual funds, a major corporate house, and academic experts in finance and risk management from the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).
iii.SEBI has outlined the Terms of Reference (ToR) for working group like; suggesting short-term and medium-term measures with the aim of enhancing investor protection in exchange Traded Derivatives (ETDs) and improving risk metrics and risk architecture of ETDs which will further enhance market development and regulation.
Key Points:
i.RBI Governor, Shaktikanta Das announced that the RBI along with SEBI is closely monitoring the surge in equity derivatives volumes which larger than the nominal GDP of India. It was announced during the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) held in June 2024.
- The number of F&O traders has increased 5 times in India.
ii.As per the Futures Industry Association(FIA), National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in India are now among the top stock exchanges worldwide in terms of number of derivatives contracts traded, which accounted for about 85% of global volume.
Note: On 21st June 2024, SEBI formed another committee with members from stock exchanges and brokerage firms reviewed the suggestions and comments submitted on the eligibility of F&O.
About Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI):
SEBI is the apex regulatory body for securities and commodity market in India. It was originally established as non-statutory body in April 1988. Later, SEBI was accorded the status of statutory body through SEBI Act, 1992 on 30th January, 1992.
Chairman- Madhabi Puri Buch
Headquarter- Mumbai, Maharashtra
PSB Signed MoU With Indian Army For Salary Accounts
Punjab and Sind Bank (PSB), an Indian public sector bank, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Army (IA) to offer a defence salary package with a host of facilities including free insurance cover.
- PSB has introduced banking solutions, special accounts and services for various segments, demonstrating its commitment to societal impact and sustainability.
Key Points:
i.The MoU provides the serving personnel, veterans and trainees with personal accident insurance (Death/Disability) cover up to Rs 1 crore and an air accidental cover of Rs 1.2 crore.
ii.The PSB Gaurav Bachat SB Salary account is designed to provide for the distinct banking requirement of serving and retired personnels.
iii. The product is also aimed to tap Agniveers enrolled in the Agnipath scheme, ensuring a comprehensive financial solution which aligns with distinctive needs of the segment.
iv.Through this product, the bank has also recognised the sacrifice of Veer Naari (spouse of a martyr) and provided them with benefits similar to pensioners.
Additional info:
i.PSB has introduced the PSB Pink debit card powered by RuPay for women during its 117th Foundation Day which was celebrated on June 24 2024.
ii.It also signed an MoU with Maruti Suzuki India for vehicle loans through their Digital Lending Platform ‘Maruti Suzuki Smart Finance’ and an agreement with Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Amritsar (Punjab) to promote academic research and industry interactions.
iii.It also launched a series of customer-centric digital offerings through its PSB UNiC App, designed to ensure secure and hassle-free Banking services.
About Punjab & Sind Bank (PSB):
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) – Swarup Kumar Saha
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 1908
Tagline– Where Service is a way of life
About the Indian Army (IA):
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) – General Manoj Pande
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Founded- 1895
‘Super.Money App’: Flipkart Launches New UPI App To Offer Financial Services
E-commerce platform, Flipkart has launched a Unified Payments Interface (UPI) app ‘Super.Money’ to offer payments, credit, deposits and other digital financial services.
- As part of the beta version, the app will be available for the first 1 Lakh users and its logo features a QR code and 5% cashback on various transactions including food and travel.
i.The Super.Money app aims to democratise access to financial services by leveraging UPI infrastructure, aligning with the government’s larger vision of financial inclusion.
ii.The app is now available in partnership with Axis Bank Limited, and it offers credit through Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Limited (USBL). It also offers coupons, scratch cards or coins for making UPI payments.
- DMI Finance and Credit Saison are other financial partners of Super.Money.
iii.The app’s superCard services will also provide 9% interest on the deposit annually with the launch of Super.Money app.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
India’s External Debt Rises USD 39.7 Billion Y-o-Y to USD 663.8 Billion: RBI Data
According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) official data released on 25th June 2024, India’s external debt at end-March 2024 was at USD 663.8 billion, saw an increase of USD 39.7 billion over its level at end-March 2023.
- The external debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio (which included both government and non-government debt) decreased from 19.0% (at end-March 2023) to 18.7% (at end-March 2024).
- RBI underscored if the valuation effect of US dollar and other major currencies such as: Yen, the Euro and Special Drawing Rights (SDR) which amounted to USD 8.7 billion were excluded then; external debt would have increased by USD 48.4 billion at end-March 2024 over end-March 2023.
Key Points:
i.As per RBI’s data, the government’s external debt and non-government sector’s external debt was at 4.2% and 14.5% of India’s GDP.
ii.The RBI data revealed that US dollar-denominated debt, with the share of 53.8%, again emerged as the largest component of India’s external debt at end-March 2024, followed by Indian Rupee (INR)(31.5%), Yen (5.8%), SDR (5.4%) and the Euro (2.8%).
- Also, loans with share of 33.4% remained with largest component of India’s external debt at end-March 2024, followed by currency and deposits (at 23.3%), trade credit and advances (at 17.9%), and debt securities (at 17.3%).
iii.It showed that as of March 2024, the general government debt increased by 11.5% Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y).
- While, the debt of the households and non-profit organisations serving the households decreased by 16.5%.
- Debt service (which includes both principal repayments and interest repayments) increased from 5.3% (at end-March 2023) to 6.7% of current receipts (at end-March 2024).
iv.As per RBI data, the outstanding debt of non-financial corporation(with 37.4%) has the highest share of India’s total external debt, followed by general government with share of 22.4% and other financial corporations with the share of 7.3%.
v.RBI data showed that long-term debt (with original maturity of above 1 year) was at USD 541.2 billion at end-March 2024 , which saw an increase of USD 45.6 billion over its level at end-March 2023.
vi.According to RBI data, the share of short-term debt (with original maturity of up to 1 year) in total external debt decreased from 20.6% (at end-March 2023) to 18.5% (end-March 2024).
- Also, the ratio of short-term debt (original maturity) to foreign exchange reserves decreased from 22.2% (at end-March 2023) to 19.0% (at end-March 2024).
vii.Short-term debt on residual maturity basis means debt obligations that include long-term debt by original maturity falling due to over the next 1 year and short-term debt by original maturity, accounted 42.9% of total external debt at end-March 2024 and stood at 44.1 % of foreign exchange reserves at end-March 2024.
About Reserve Bank of India(RBI):
Governor – Shaktikanta Das(25th Governor of RBI)
Headquarter – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established – 1 April, 1935
GRSE & German Firm Signed an Agreement To Construct Four Multi-Purpose Vessels
Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSU) Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Limited, has signed an agreement with Germany-based Carsten Rehder Schiffsmakler und Reederei GmbH & Co. KG to build and deliver four multi-purpose vessels each with a Dead Weight Tonnage (DWT) of 7,500 at a cost of approximately USD 54 million.
- The contract will be executed in 33 months, with an option of building another four ships.
Signatories: The agreement was signed by Commodore Shantanu Bose, (retd), director (shipbuilding) for GRSE and Carsten Thomas Rehder, Managing Director (MD) for the German shipping company in the presence of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of GRSE, Commodore P R Hari, (retired).
i.The vessels will be 120 metres long and 17 metres wide, with a maximum draft of 6.75 metres and each vessel with a single cargo hold to accommodate bulk, general, and project cargoes.
ii.The ships have been specifically designed to carry multiple large windmill blades on deck, and containers will be carried on hatch covers.
Note: For the first time, the GRSE exported the offshore patrol vessel CGS Barracuda to Mauritius in 2014. Later, the GRSE-built fast patrol vessel PS Zoroaster was exported to the Seychelles in 2021.
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
K-Pop Group SEVENTEEN Appointed UNESCO’s First-Ever Goodwill Ambassador for Youth
On 26 June 2024, Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), appointed SEVENTEEN, the South Korean (K-Pop) boy band with 13 members, as UNESCO’s first-ever Goodwill Ambassador for Youth, during a ceremony held in Paris, France.
- UNESCO and K-pop group SEVENTEEN launched a joint program called “Going Together – For Youth Creativity and Well-Being”, an ambitious joint grant programme for youth projects around the world.
- SEVENTEEN will contribute USD 1 million to finance this initiative.
About Global Youth Grant Scheme:
i.UNESCO and SEVENTEEN’s Global Youth Grant Scheme will support youth-led projects globally.
ii.The scheme focuses on addressing the challenges impacting the well-being and development of young people through music, arts, and sports.
iii.It will support project leaders aged 18 to 30, from diverse backgrounds and regions.
iv.As Goodwill Ambassadors, SEVENTEEN will participate in UNESCO’s campaigns and events, and promote UNESCO’s values during their performances.
Points to Note:
i.In 2022, SEVENTEEN launched the ‘#GoingTogether’ initiative with the Korean National Commission for UNESCO (KNCU), aiding in establishing new education centers in Timor-Leste and educational aid in Malawi.
ii.Through the UNESCO Youth Forum, UNESCO has created a direct line of communication between young people and leaders of its 194 Member States.
Note: The appointment follows SEVENTEEN’s participation in the 13th UNESCO Youth Forum held in Paris in November 2023 delivering a speech and performing live for the 1st time in France, reaching over 40 million online viewers.
Members of Seventeen(stage name): S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, The8, Mingyu, DK, Seungkwan, Vernon, and Dino.
Deputy CM Bihar Samrat Chaudhary Appointed as Convener of Reconstituted GST Rate Rationalisation Panel
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council has announced the appointment of Samrat Chaudhary, Deputy Chief Minister (CM), Bihar as new convener of the Group of Minister (GoM) of the reconstituted GST rate rationalisation panel.
- He will succeed Suresh Khanna, Finance Minister of Uttar Pradesh(UP) who has been serving as the convener of GST rate rationalization since October 2023.
Note: For the 2nd time, GST rate rationalisation panel was reconstituted.
Background:
i.Orginally, GST rate rationalisation panel was constituted in September, 2021 and was headed by Basvaraj Bommai, Chief Minister (CM) of Karnataka.
- Under his chairmanship, the panel had submitted an interim report to the GST Council in June 2022 and had recommended changes in tax rates for some goods and services to rationalize the levy.
ii.In January 2024, Janata Dal United-Bharatiya Janata Party JD(U)-BJP alliance formed government in Bihar and Samrat Chaudhary replaced Vjay Kumar Chaudhary as Finance Minister of Bihar.
- So, it was required to reconstitute the GoM on GST rate rationalization panel so as to include, Samrat Chaudhary in the panel.
Key Points:
i.According to the office memorandum, dated 27th February 2024, posted on GST council website on 21st June,the names of 7 member-GoMs including convener of the reconstituted panel are: Suresh Khanna, Finance Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mauvin Godinho, Transport Minister of Goa, Gajendra Singh, Medical and Health Services Minister of Rajasthan.
- It also includes: Chandrima Bhattacharya, Finance Minister of West Bengal, Krishna Byre Gowda, Revenue Minister of Karnataka, and K N Balagopal, Finance Minister of Kerala as members of GoM rate rationalization panel.
ii.The panel has been tasked to suggest the required rate rationalization and correction of inverted duty structure with the objective to simplify the rate structure, to review the GST exemption list and to enhance revenues from GST.
Note: At present, the GST regime has 5 broad tax slabs of 0%, 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%. A cess is levied on luxury and demerit goods which is the highest i.e. 28%.
About Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council:
GST Council is a constitutional body introduced through 101st Amendment Act, 2016 in the constitution. It was constituted under Article 279-A of the constitution.
Chairperson- Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Finance Minister (Rajya Sabha member- Karnataka)
Naveen Chandra Jha Appointed as New MD & CEO of SBI General Insurance
Naveen Chandra Jha has been appointed as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) of SBI General Insurance Company Limited. He was nominated by the parent company, State Bank of India (SBI) and succeeds Kishore Kumar Poludasu.
- Prior to this current role, he served as the Deputy Managing Director of SBI. He has been associated with the SBI since 1994 and has held several key positions during his tenure.
- He has also served as the Chief General Manager (CGM) of Amaravati Circle, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
- He has held various functional and operational roles, including Branch Management, Credit and Risk Management with a focus on Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Credit, Human Resources (HR) & Administration, and Retail Banking
Note: During the year ended on March 31, 2024, the bank infused additional capital of Rs 489.67 crore in SBI General Insurance Company Ltd.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
NASA Launches NOAA’s 4th & Final Weather Satellite ‘GOES-U’ on SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy Rocket
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) successfully launched the GOES-U (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite), the 4th and final satellite in the GOES-R series of advanced weather satellites for NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). The satellite is part of an $11 billion upgrade to the nation’s forecasting infrastructure.
- NOAA GOES-U was launched on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the United States of America (USA).
About GOES-U:
i.Once GOES-U is in a geostationary orbit (about 22,200 miles above Earth) it will be renamed GOES-19.
ii.The satellite’s solar array panels were successfully deployed, and the spacecraft is operating autonomously on its power.
iii.The new satellite will shift to the GOES-East position and replace GOES-16 in the mid-2025.
iv.GOES-U will provide data which are critical to protect the safety of people in the Western Hemisphere.
v.This will monitoring the weather over North America (including the contiguous USA and Mexico); Central and South America; The Caribbean, and The Atlantic Ocean to the west coast of Africa.
vi.GOES-U is making history by carrying the 1st operational satellite solar coronagraph called the Compact Coronograph-1 (CCOR-1).
- CCOR-1, a new space weather instrument, will image the outer layer of the Sun’s atmosphere to detect and characterise coronal mass ejections.
- It blocks the Sun’s bright light, allowing scientists to observe the solar atmosphere more clearly.
About GOES constellation :
i.GOES constellation of satellites supports the forecasters to predict space weather near Earth which will affect the satellite electronics, Global Positioning System (GPS), and radio communications.
ii.It is a collaborative NOAA and NASA program providing continuous imagery and data on atmospheric conditions and solar activity.
iii.It is build and launched by NASA and it is operated by NOAA.
About GOES-R:
i.GOES-R series plays a major role in providing continuous coverage of the Western Hemisphere. It also monitors the tropical systems in the eastern Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
- GOES-R Series Program is overseen by NOAA, through an integrated NOAA-NASA office.
ii.GOES-R series satellites are designed, built and tested by the Lockheed Martin.
iii.The instrument payload, the Advanced Baseline Imager and the ground system are provided by L3Harris Technologies.
Previous GOES Satellites:
i.The 1st satellite in the series, GOES-R, now known as GOES-16, was launched in 2016 and is currently operational as NOAA’s GOES-East satellite.
ii.GOES-S, now known as GOES-17, was launched in 2018 and now serves as an on-orbit backup.
iii.GOES-T, now GOES-18 was launched in 2022 and currently serves as NOAA’s operational GOES-West satellite.
Note : The lifetime of the current GOES-R series will extend into the 2030s. Until its successor, the Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) satellite system, which will be the first member and it is set to launch in 2032.
About the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA):
NOAA was created in 1970 as a science-based agency under the USA Department of Commerce.
Richard W. Spinrad is the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and the 11th NOAA Administrator.
Headquarters– Washington, DC, the USA
DRDO Handed Over Medium Range-Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket to Indian Navy
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Research and Development (R&D) wing under the Ministry of Defence (MoD), handed over the Medium Range-Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket (MR-MOCR) to the Indian Navy at a ceremony held in New Delhi, Delhi.
Key People: The MR-MOCR was handed over by Dr Samir Vankatpati Kamat, Chairman DRDO, to Rear Admiral Brijesh Vashistha, Director General of Naval Armament Inspection (NAI), Indian Navy.
About Microwave Obscurant Chaff (MOC):
i.The Microwave Obscurant Chaff (MOC) is a niche technology developed indigenously by DRDO’s Defence Laboratory in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
ii.The MOC obscures radar signals, creating a microwave shield around assets, and platforms, reducing radar detection.
iii.The MR-MOCR features special fibres (with a diameter of a few microns) with unique microwave obscuration properties.
iv.The rocket when fired, forms a microwave obscurant cloud in space, creating an effective shield against threats with Radio Frequency seekers.
Successful Trials:
i.The Phase-I trials of MR-MOCR were successfully conducted from the Indian Navy ships, demonstrating the MOC cloud blooming and being persistent in space.
ii.The Phase-II trials demonstrated a 90% Radar Cross Section (RCS) reduction, cleared by the Indian Navy.
About Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO):
DRDO was formed in 1958 from the amalgamation of the then already functioning Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical Development & Production (DTDP) with the Defence Science Organisation (DSO).
Chairman– Dr Samir Vankatpati Kamat
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
ENVIRONMENT
‘Dendrophthoe longensis’ & ‘Petrocosmea arunachalense’: New Plant Species Discovered in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and AR
Indian botanists identified 2 new plant species from the Andaman and Nicobar islands and Arunachal Pradesh(AR). The 2 new species are Dendrophthoe longensis and Petrocosmea arunachalense . The discoveries underscores the rich biodiversity of India.
About Dendrophthoe longensis:
A research team led by scientist Lal Ji Singh discovered a new plant species ‘Dendrophthoe longensis’ in Long Islands of middle Andamans, Andaman and Nicobar islands (bio-geographic hotspot of India).
i.Dendrophthoe longensis is an aerial stem-parasitic flowering plant species belonging to the mistletoe family Loranthaceae.
ii.It was found on the specific host plant – Mango (Mangifera indica) in the edge of evergreen forests, low land areas of tropical forests.
iii.The conservation status of the new species is assessed as ‘Endangered’ based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categories and criteria (IUCN, 2020)
- Indian Dendrophthoe are represented by 9 species among them 4 are from Andaman and Nicobar Islands of which 2 species are endemic to the region.
iv.The distribution of the plant species was recorded only from Sigmendera, Lalaji Bay and near the forest guest house of Long Island.
Petrocosmea arunachalense Discovered in AR
A team of researchers from the Arunachal Pradesh Regional Centre (APRC) of the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) has discovered a new plant species ‘Petrocosmea arunachalense’ from the cave from Mandala region of West Kameng district in Arunachal Pradesh (AR) (bio-geographic hotspot of India).
- The research details have been published in the Nordic Journal of Botany.
Research team: The discovery was led by Dr. Krishna Chowlu, Scientist-D, along with researchers Akshath Shenoy and Ajit Ray of APRC, Itanagar, AR.
About Petrocosmea arunachalense:
i.Petrocosmea arunachalense is an herbaceous plant species which belongs to the family Gesneriaceae.
ii.It is a very small herb, which is completely white with purple blotch and the plant has a hairy texture.
iii.It is only the second known species from the genus Petrocosmea in India.
iv.This discovery underscores the rich biodiversity of AR and the importance of ongoing conservation efforts.
Note: India has 4 biodiversity hotspots : Himalayas, Indo-Burma region, Western Ghats and Sundaland.
IMPORTANT DAYS
World Micro-, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) Day 2024 – June 27
The United Nations (UN) World Micro-, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) Day is annually observed across the globe on 27 June to raise awareness about MSMEs’ contributions to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Theme of MSME Day 2024 is “Leveraging Power and Resilience of Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) to Accelerate Sustainable Development and Eradicate Poverty in Times of Multiple Crises”.
Note: MSMEs account for 90% of businesses, over 70% of employment, and 50% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) worldwide.
Background:
i.On 6 April 2017, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/71/279, proclaiming 27 June of every year as Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) Day.
ii.The 1st ever World MSMEs Day was observed on 27 June 2017.
>> Read Full News
STATE NEWS
South India’s First Leopard Safari Launched at BBP in Karnataka
On June 26 2024, Eshwar Khandre, the Cabinet Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment, Government of Karnataka launched South India’s First and largest Leopard Safari at the Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
i.The safari is set up in a 20-hectare area that meets the strict rules of the Central Zoo Authority(CZA). Currently eight leopards have been released for the safari in the open forest area.
ii.It has been created at a cost of Rs 4.5 crore and the area is made up of undulating terrain with natural rocky outcrops and semi-deciduous forest.
iii.To avoid the increasing human-animal conflict, the cubs will be raised and shifted to the leopard safari to help visitors learn about these big cats and to protect the animals.
iv.The park recently held a groundbreaking ceremony to commence the construction of a skywalk and five new animal enclosures.
*******
Current Affairs Today (AffairsCloud Today)