Current_Affairs_English_Study_PDF_-_June_2024_by_AffairsCloud_2_1.pdf

Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 1 This PAID PDF is provided by AffairsCloud’s dedicated team that works diligently to provide aspirants with high-quality content. We recommend you to purchase this PDF subscription and seize the opportunity to learn efficiently. Help Us to Grow & Provide Quality Service Click here to Download the CareersCloud APP Click here to Join the Telegram Channel Current Affairs Channel AffairsCloud Hindu Vocabs Suggestions & Feedback are welcomed [email protected] Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 2 Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 3 Current Affairs Study PDF – June 2024 Current Affairs for Competitive Exam Table of Contents NATIONAL AFFAIRS...................................................................................................................................................... 6 CABINET APPROVALS............................................................................................................................................... 6 PARLIAMENT NEWS................................................................................................................................................ 10 LAUNCHES & INAUGURATION............................................................................................................................... 14 OTHER NEWS............................................................................................................................................................ 21 STATE NEWS................................................................................................................................................................. 41 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS......................................................................................................................................... 44 VISITS............................................................................................................................................................................. 50 INDIAN VISITS.......................................................................................................................................................... 50 FOREIGN VISITS....................................................................................................................................................... 57 BANKING & FINANCE NEWS....................................................................................................................................... 58 BANKING NEWS....................................................................................................................................................... 58 RBI IN NEWS............................................................................................................................................................. 58 SEBI............................................................................................................................................................................ 73 LOANS ISSUED BY BANKS....................................................................................................................................... 77 AGREEMENTS & MoUs SIGNED.............................................................................................................................. 79 OTHER BANK NEWS................................................................................................................................................ 90 FINANCE NEWS......................................................................................................................................................... 96 ECONOMY & BUSINESS NEWS.................................................................................................................................. 103 MoU’s & AGREEMENTS............................................................................................................................................. 114 COMMITTEES & MEETINGS...................................................................................................................................... 125 SUMMITS, EVENTS & CONFERENCE........................................................................................................................ 128 INDEX........................................................................................................................................................................... 135 RANKING................................................................................................................................................................. 135 REPORTS................................................................................................................................................................. 162 AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS..................................................................................................................................... 175 APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS........................................................................................................................ 192 ACQUISITION & MERGERS....................................................................................................................................... 216 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY......................................................................................................................................... 222 DEFENCE...................................................................................................................................................................... 234 Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 4 EXERCISE................................................................................................................................................................. 234 OTHER DEFENCE NEWS........................................................................................................................................ 235 SPORTS........................................................................................................................................................................ 239 OBITUARY................................................................................................................................................................... 255 BOOKS & AUTHORS................................................................................................................................................... 260 IMPORTANT DAYS..................................................................................................................................................... 261 APPS & WEB PORTAL............................................................................................................................................... 322 ENVIRONMENT........................................................................................................................................................... 328 Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 5 NATIONAL AFFAIRS CABINET APPROVALS Cabinet Approvals on 19th June 2024 The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi approved the following on 19th June 2024. i.Central Sector Scheme “National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme” (N.F.l.E.S.). ii.Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme for the implementation of Offshore Wind Energy Projects. iii.Development of Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport(VNS), Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh(UP). iv.Development of an all-weather Greenfield deep-draft Major Port at Vadhavan in Maharashtra. v.Increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for Kharif Crops for Marketing Season 2024-25. Cabinet Approved National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme (N.F.l.E.S.): The Union Cabinet approved the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs(MoHA) for the National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme (NFIES), a Central Sector Scheme, with a financial outlay of Rs. 2254.43 crore for the period of 2024-25 to 2028-29. MoHA will provide the financial outlay of the scheme from its own budget. Components: The Cabinet has approved the following components under NFIES: i.Establishing the Campuses of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in India. ii.Establishing Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSLs) in India iii.Improvement of existing infrastructure of the Delhi Campus of the NFSU. Background: i.The enactment of the New Criminal Laws (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023) mandates forensic investigation for offences involving punishment of 7 years or more. This leads to a significant increase in the workload of forensic science laboratories. ii.The scheme has been approved to address the significant shortage of trained forensic manpower in Forensic Science Laboratories (FSL) in India. Benefits: i.The additional off-campuses of the NFSU and new CFSLs will support addressing the shortage of trained forensic professionals and reduce the case load/pendency of forensic laboratories. ii.This will also support the Government of India’s goal of achieving a high judgement rate of more than 90%. Viability Gap Funding Scheme for Implementation of Offshore Wind Energy Projects The Union Cabinet approved the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme for offshore wind energy projects with a total outlay of Rs.7453 crore. This includes Rs.6853 crore for the installation and commissioning of 1 gigawatt (GW) of offshore wind energy projects, 500 megawatt (MW) each off the coast of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu(TN), and a grant of Rs. 600 crore for upgradation of two ports to meet logistics requirements for offshore wind energy projects. Nodal Ministry: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). It will coordinate with various Ministries/Departments to ensure successful implementation of the scheme. Key Points: i.The VGF scheme is an important step to execute the National Offshore Wind Energy Policy, notified in 2015, to utilise the offshore wind energy capacity within the Exclusive Economic Zone(EEZ) of India Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 6 ii.The VGF support from the Government will reduce the cost of power from offshore wind projects and make them viable for purchase by the Distribution Companies (DISCOMs). iii.The projects will be implemented by private developers selected through a transparent bidding procedure. The Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (POWERGRID) will construct the power excavation infrastructure, which includes the offshore substations. Benefits: i.The 1 GW offshore wind projects will produce renewable electricity of about 3.72 billion units annually which will result in an annual reduction of 2.98 million ton of carbon dioxide(CO2) (equivalent emission for a period of 25 years). ii.It will also support the development of the initial 37 GW of offshore wind energy at an investment of about Rs. 4,50,000 crore. About the Viability Gap Funding Scheme: i.In 2005, The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the Scheme for Financial Support to Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Infrastructure (Viability Gap Funding scheme) as a Central Sector Scheme. ii.It is administered by the Department of Economic Affairs(DEA), Ministry of Finance(MOF). iii.The scheme provides financial support in the form of grants to economically desirable but commercially ineffective infrastructure projects under PPPs to make them successful. iv.The guidelines of the scheme were revamped in 2020, including higher VGF support of up to 60% of the Total Project Cost (30% by the Central and State Governments each) for the social sectors (Water Supply, Waste Water Treatment, Solid Waste Management and Health, Education) and up to 80% of the Total Project Cost (40% by the Central and State Governments each) for Pilot/Demonstration Projects in Health and Education sectors. Development of Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport(VNS), Varanasi, UP The Union Cabinet approved the Airports Authority of India (AAI)’s proposal for the development of the Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport(VNS) in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (UP). The estimated financial outlay of the project is Rs 2869.65 crore. The development includes the construction of the New Terminal Building, Apron Extension, Runway Extension, Parallel Taxi Track & Allied works. Green Airport: i.The Varanasi airport will be developed as a green airport to ensure environmental sustainability. ii.This will be achieved through energy optimisation, waste recycling, carbon footprint reduction, solar energy utilisation, and incorporation of natural daylighting and other sustainable measures throughout the planning, development, and operational stages. Details of the development: i.The passenger handling capacity of the airport will be enhanced to 9.9 Million Passengers Per Annum (MPPA) from the existing 3.9 MPPA. ii.The New Terminal Building with an area of 75,000 square meters (sqm) is designed for a capacity of 6 MPPA and for handling 5000 Peak Hour Passengers (PHP). iii.The development also includes the expansion of the runway to the dimensions of 4075m x 45m and the construction of a new Apron to park 20 aircraft. ‘Development of an all-Weather Greenfield Deep draft Major Port at Vadhavan in Maharashtra’ The Union Cabinet approved the construction of a Major Port at Vadhavan near Dahanu in Maharashtra with a total project cost of Rs.76,220 Crore(including the land acquisition component). The Project will be constructed by Vadhavan Port Project Limited (VPPL), a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) formed by Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) with a shareholding of 74% and 26%, respectively. Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 7 Vadhavan Port on completion, will be one of the top ten ports of the world. Details: i.The Vadhavan Port will be developed as an all- weather Greenfield major port in Vadhavan, Palghar District, Maharashtra. ii.It will include the development of Core infrastructure, Terminals and other commercial infrastructure in PPP mode. iii. A road connectivity between the Port and National Highways(NH) will be established by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) and a rail linkage to the existing rail network and the upcoming Dedicated Rail Freight Corridor to be provided by the Ministry of Railways. iv.The Port will have nine container terminals, each 1000 meters long; four multipurpose berths(including the coastal berth); four liquid cargo berths, a Ro-Ro berth, and a Coast Guard berth. v.The Project involves the reformation of 1,448 hectares of area in the sea and the construction of 10.14 km of offshore breakwater and container/cargo storage areas. vi.The Project will create a total capacity of 298 million metric tons (MMT) per annum, including around 23.2 million TEUs (Twenty-foot equivalents) of container handling capacity. Benefits: i.The project will help in the export-import of trade flow through IMEEC (India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor) and INSTC (International North South Transportation Corridor). ii.The facilities provided will promote PPP and handling of mainline mega vessels on international shipping lines between the Far East, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas. Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for Kharif Crops for Marketing Season 2024-25 The Union Cabinet approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated (14) kharif crops for Marketing Season 2024-25. Points to note: i.The increase in MSP of Karif Crops will have a financial implication of Rs 2 lakh crore for the government and entail a gain of Rs 35,000 crore to farmers over the previous year. ii.The highest absolute increase in MSP over the previous year has been recommended for oilseeds and pulses. Nigerseed recorded the highest (Rs 983 per quintal) followed by sesamum (Rs.632 per quintal) and thur/arhar (Rs 550 per quintal). iii.The expected margin to farmers over their cost of production is estimated to be the highest for bajra (77%) followed by tur (59%), maize (54%) and urad (52%). For the rest of the crops, the margin is estimated to be at 50%. iv.As per the 3rd Advance Estimates of production for 2023-24, total foodgrain production in the country is estimated at 3288.6 Lakhs Metric Ton (LMT), and oilseeds production is expected to reach 395.9 LMT. Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 8 MSP of the 14 Kharif Crops: MSP 2024-25 MSP Increase in 2024-25 over 2023-24 Crops Rs. per quintal Rs. per quintal Cereals Common 2300 117 Paddy Grade A^ 2320 117 Hybrid 3371 191 Jowar Maldandi” 3421 196 Bajra 2625 125 Ragi 4290 444 Maize 2225 135 Pulses Tur / Arhar 7550 550 Moong 8682 124 Urad 7400 450 Oilseeds Groundnut 6783 406 Sunflower Seed 7280 520 Soybean (Yellow) 4892 292 Sesamum 9267 632 Nigerseed 8717 983 Commercial (Medium Staple) 7121 501 Cotton (Long Staple) 7521 501 Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 9 PARLIAMENT NEWS Govt to Partially Implement New Telecommunications Act from 26th June 2024 On 21st June 2024, The Government of India(GoI), in exercise of powers given under sub-section (3) of section 1 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 (44 of 2023) has notified that the provisions of sections 1, 2,10 to 30, 42 to 44, 46,47,50 to 58, 61 and 62 of the said Act will come into force from 26th June 2024. The Act has repealed the 138-year old Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, the Wireless Telegraph Act (1933), and the Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act (1950). Note: However, the section 59 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, which deals with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Act, 1997 will come into effect later. Background: i.The Act was 1st introduced by the Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, as Telecommunications Bill, 2023 in the Lok Sabha (Lower House of the Parliament) on 18th December, 2023 during the winter session of the Parliament and was passed in Lok Sabha on 20th December, 2023. ii.Later, the Bill was passed by Rajya Sabha (Upper House) on 21st December, 2023. iii.The President of India, Droupadi Murmu gave assent to The Telecommunications Bill, 2023 on 24th December, 2023. Click here to more about Telecommunications Bill, 2023 Key Features: i.The new Act mandated that prior authorisation from the Government will be required: to provide telecommunication services, establish, operate, maintain or expand telecommunications networks or possess radio equipment. Note: The existing licences will remain valid for a period of their grant, or for 5 years, where the period is not specified. ii.As per the new Act, spectrum will be assigned by auction. But, in case of specified uses or purposes, it will be allocated on an administrative basis. The Act has defined certain conditions which comes under specified purposes or uses such as: national security, and defence, disaster management, weather forecasting, transport, satellite services such as DTH and satellite telephony, and public broadcasting services. iii.The Act allows the telecommunication may be intercepted on specified grounds such as: security of the state, prevention of incitement of offences or public order. iv.The Act has provision to amend the TRAI Act, 1997 which will allow individuals with minimum 30 years of professional experience to serve as the chairperson and minimum 25 years of professional experience to serve as members. v.The Act empowers the central government to appoint an adjudicating officer. He/ She must be the rank of joint secretary and above. The adjudicating officer will have power to conduct inquiries and pass orders against civil offences under the Act. It has provision that orders of the adjudicating officer may be appealed before the designated appeals committee within 30 days. vi.With the implementation of these notified sections of the Act, the Digital Bharat Nidhi will replace Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), which was established under Indian Telegraph Act, 1885. The new fund will allow the fund utilization for Research & Development (R&D). Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 10 About Ministry of Communications (MoC): Union Minister- Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (Constituency- Guna, Madhya Pradesh) Minister of State (MoS)– Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani (Constituency- Guntur, Andhra Pradesh) New Criminal Laws Effective from 1st July, 2024: DoPT On 21st June 2024, The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions(MoPPG&P) announced that 3 new criminal laws: Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita (BNS2) Act, 2023; Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita (BNSS2) Act, 2023; and Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Adhiniyam Act, 2023 will come into effect from 1st July, 2024. These 3 new criminal laws have repealed the British-colonial era laws: the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860; the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPc), 1973 and the Indian Evidence Act (IEA), 1872 respectively. The President of India, Droupadi Murmu gave assent to these 3 new criminal laws on 24th December, 2023. Note: On 19th June 2024, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) for the National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme (NFIES) with budget of more than Rs 2200 crore from FY25(2024-25) to FY29 (2028-29). Key Features BNS2 Act, 2023: i.The Act retains the provisions of the IPC which criminalises acts such as: rape, stalking and insulting the modesty of a woman, among others. It also increased the maximum age of the victim from 16 to 18 years, in case of gangrape. The new act will feature 358 sections, replacing the 511 sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). This new code introduces 20 new crimes, increases imprisonment sentences for 33 crimes, raises fines for 83 crimes, and mandates minimum punishments for 23 crimes. ii.The Act considers murder by a group of 5 or more persons on grounds of caste, language or personal belief as an offence. It has the provision of penalty for such crimes: life imprisonment or death, and with a fine. iii.The Act eliminates the sedition as an offence but, it retains certain aspects of sedition such as: to excite or attempt to excite secession, armed rebellion; to encourage the feelings of separatist activities or to endanger the sovereignty or unity and integrity of India. iv.The Act classified offences such as: kidnapping, extortion, contract killing, among others as organised crimes. These organised crimes are considered as punishable offence with penalties such as: death or life imprisonment and fine up to Rs 10 lakh or, imprisonment between 5 years and life, and minimum fine of up to Rs 5 lakh. v.The Act retains the age of criminal responsibility at 7 years. But, it can be extended to 12 years based on the maturity of the accused. Key Features of BNSS2 Act, 2023: i.The BNSS2 Act, 2023 repealed the CrPC, 1973. It governs the procedure for investigation, arrest, prosecution and bail for offence. The Act will contain 531 sections, an increase from the 484 in the CrPC. It modifies 177 provisions, adds nine new sections and 39 new sub-sections, incorporates 44 new provisions and clarifications, and includes timelines in 35 sections along with audio-video provisions. Fourteen sections have been repealed. ii.It is now mandatory to conduct forensic investigation for offences punishable with 7 years of imprisonment or more. Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 11 The BNSS2 allows up to 15 days of police custody, which can be authorised in parts during the initial 40 or 60 days of the 60 or 90 days period of judicial custody. This may lead to denial of bail for the entire period if the police has not exhausted the 15 days custody. iii.The Act has retain the provision of CrPC, 1973, under which, if an accused has spent half of the maximum imprisonment in detention, has the right to get bail. As per the BNSS Act 2023 this provision is not applicable to: offences punishable by life imprisonment and persons against whom proceedings are pending in multiple offences. It has also the provision that if a 1st-time offender has served 1/3rd of maximum sentence, then, he or she is entitle to get bail. iv.The Act has retain the provision of CrPC, 1973 which empowers the Magistrate to order any person to provide specimen signatures or handwriting but has also expand it to: finger impressions and voice samples. This provision of the Act is also applicable to a person who has not been arrested. v.The Act permits the use of handcuffs in various types of cases including, organised crime. Key Features of the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Adhiniyam Act, 2023: i.It repealed the Indian Evidence Act (IEA), 1872. It retains most provisions of the IEA, 1872 such as: confessions, relevancy of facts or burden of proof. The Act will encompass 170 provisions, replacing the original 167. It modifies 24 provisions, adds two new provisions and six sub-provisions, and repeals six provisions. ii.The Act retains the original classification of evidence i.e. documentary or oral. It classifies electronic records as documents. iii.The Act extend the definition of joint trial, in which a trial of multiple persons where an accused has absconded or has not responded to an arrest warrant. iv.The Act introduces new categories under secondary evidence are: Oral and written admissions and Testimony of a person who has examined the document and is skilled to examine the documents. About Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA): Union Minister- Amit Shah (Lok Sabha constituency- Gandhinagar, Gujarat) Minister of State (MoS)- Nityanand Rai (Lok Sabha constituency- Ujiarpur, Bihar); Bandi Sanjay Kumar (Lok Sabha constituency- Karimnagar, Telangana) DoPT Notified Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024; Effective from 21st June, 2024 The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (MoPPG&P), Government of India (GoI) in exercise of powers given under sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 (1 of 2024) has notified that all the provisions of the said Act came into effect from 21st June 2024. The Act aims to prevent unfair means in public examinations and common entrance tests held across India. All offences will be cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable under this Act. The Act consists of 19 sections across 6 chapters which deal with the various aspects of public examination to ensure transparency and credit of the exams conducted by public authorities. Background: i.The Act was 1st introduced by the Union Minister of State (MoS) Dr. Jitendra Singh, (MoPPG&P) as Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha (Lower House of the Parliament) on 5th February, 2024 during the Interim Budget session of the Parliament and was passed in Lok Sabha on 6th February, 2024. Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 12 ii.Later, the Bill was passed by Rajya Sabha (Upper House of the Parliament) on 9th February, 2024. iii.The President of India, Droupadi Murmu gave assent to Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 on 13th February, 2024. Features of the Act: Public Examination: Section 2(k) of the Act defines “public examination” any examination conducted by authorities specified under the schedule of the said Act or notified by the central government, these include: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Railway Recruitment Board (RRB), National Testing Agency (NTA), Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), and the Departments of the central government and their attached offices for the recruitment. Unfair Means: Section 3 of the Act outlines minimum 15 actions that amount using unfair means in public examinations “for monetary or wrongful gain”. It aims to prohibit collusion or conspiracy to facilitate indulgence in any unfair means, these include: Unauthorised access or leakage of question paper or answer keys. Assisting a candidate during a public examination Tampering with computer network or resources. Tampering with documents for shortlisting of candidates or finalising the merit list or rank of a candidate in public examination. Conducting fake examination, issuing fake admit cards or offer letters to cheat or monetary gain. Key points: The Act also prohibits disclosing exam-related confidential information before time and an unauthorised people from entering exam centres to create disruptions. All these offences are punishable under section 10 with imprisonment of minimum 3 years which may extend to 5 years, and a fine up to Rs 10 lakh. If he/she fails to pay the fine, an additional punishment of imprisonment shall be imposed, as per the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023(BNS2). Service Providers: Section 2(n) defines “service provider” to mean any agency, organisation, body is engaged by the public examination authority for the conduct of the public examination. It is mandatory on part of service provider to report to the police and the concerned examination authority, in case it found any person or group of persons or institution commits any offence or unfair means under section 3, 4 and 5 of the act. Failure to report such incidents will be considered an offence. It prohibits service providers from shifting the exam centre without permission from the examination authority. Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 13 Penalty: As per the section 10 (2) under Chapter III of the Act, an offence by a service provider will be punishable with fine up to Rs 1 crore and proportionate cost of examination will also be recovered from such a service provider. Service provider will also be barred from conducting any public examination for a period of 4 years. Organised crime: The Act defines organised crime as an unlawful act committed by a person or a group of persons to further a shared interest for wrongful gain in relation to public examinations. The Act has provision to punish persons who commits an organised crime with imprisonment between 5 years and 10 years, and a fine of minimum Rs 1 crore. Also, if an institution found guilty of committing an organised crime, its property will be attached and forfeited, and a proportionate cost of the examination will be also recovered from it. Other Keyfacts: i.The Act mandates an officer not below the rank Deputy Superintendent or Assistant Commissioner of Police will investigate the offences under the Act. As per Section 12 (2) sub section (1) of the Act, the central government may transfer the investigation to any central investigation agency. ii.The Act specifies that “candidates” would not be liable for action within its purview and would continue to be covered under existing administrative provisions of the Act iii.No action will count as an offence if it is proved that the accused had exercised due diligence. About Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (MoPPG&P): Union Minister– Narendra Modi (Lok Sabha constituency- Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (UP)) Union MoS– Dr. Jitendra Singh (Lok Sabha constituency- Udhampur, Jammu & Kashmir (J&K)) LAUNCHES & INAUGURATION Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences Launches PRAGATI-2024 The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has launched the Pharma Research in AyurGyan And Techno Innovation (PRAGATI-2024), an initiative to shape the future of Ayurveda. The launch took place on May 28 2024, at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, Delhi and inaugurated by Dr.Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary of Ministry of Ayush. The initiative aims to boost research and innovation in Ayurveda by fostering collaboration between CCRAS and the Ayurveda drug industry. The aim of CCRAS is to reach each stakeholder and therefore it started giving scholarships thereby enabling the students to understand the importance of research. Note: CCRAS is an autonomous body under the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy), Government of India (GoI), New Delhi, Delhi. Universal Sompo Launches ‘Insure Today For a Safe Tomorrow’ Campaign To Promote Awareness Universal Sompo General Insurance Company Limited has launched a new theme, ‘Insure today for a safe tomorrow,’ to raise awareness about the importance of insurance in safeguarding against unforeseen risks. i.It offers a wide range of insurance products, including motor, health, personal accident, fire, and burglary insurance. It is dedicated to ensure comprehensive protection for individuals, assets, and businesses. Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 14 ii.As part of an initiative called ‘Insurance for All by 2047,’ Universal Sompo collaborated with Maruti Suzuki Insurance Broking Private Limited to spread insurance awareness in Andhra Pradesh (AP). Under the theme, a free vehicle checkup was provided at Krishna district, AP. iii.It also includes key initiatives such as free vehicle check-ups, identifying and ensuring uninsured vehicles, educating the public about the benefits of property insurance and encouraging them to buy an on-the-spot insurance policy. Note: Universal Sompo General Insurance is a Joint venture (JV)of Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank (IOB), Karnataka Bank Limited (KBL), Dabur Investments, and Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. NITI Aayog Launched Two Initiatives under Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) to foster innovation On 10th June 2024, National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) launched the “AIM-ICDK Water Challenge 4.0” and the 5th edition of “Innovations for You” under its flagship program, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM). Both these initiatives aim to foster innovation and sustainability in India. The launch event was addressed by important dignitaries such as: Chintan Vaishnav, Director AIM, NITI Aayog and Soren Norrenlund Kannik-Marquardsen, Minister Counseller, Head of Trade Council in New Delhi (Delhi) & Regional Coordinator South Asia, Royal Danish Embassy. About AIM-ICDK Water Challenge 4.0: i.It is the 4th edition of the open innovation water challenge. AIM developed this initiative in partnership with the Innovation Centre Denmark (ICDK) at the Royal Danish Embassy in India. It aims to address the critical water-related challenges through innovative solutions. The Water Challenge encompasses the 5 S’s in the Green Strategic Partnership between India and Denmark – Skills, Scale, Scope, Sustainability, and Speed. ii.Under this initiative, the selected teams will constitutes the Indian cohort, which will participate in the global Next Generation Digital Action program. The selected teams will engage with young talents from leading universities and innovation hubs across 9 countries namely, India, Denmark, Ghana, Kenya, Korea, Tanzania, South Africa, Colombia, and Mexico. iii.The participants will have the opportunity to demonstrate their innovations at the Digital Tech Summit which is scheduled to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark from 30th October to 31st October, 2024. iv.The initiative allows entries under 2 tracks: One for, the students and the another one for, the young entrepreneurs. Participants under both these tracks should be under the age of 35. v.The application process will commence on 10th June 2024 and the last date of application is 20th June 2024. About 5th edition of Innovations for You: i.It is a coffee table book series which highlights the endeavors of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Entrepreneurs in India. ii.It features 60 entrepreneurs from various parts of India, each contributing towards the betterment of society through sustainable solutions. These startups focus primarily on areas like: recyclable and renewable materials, green energy, inclusive education, and advocacy for underrepresented communities and local artisans. Atal Innovation Mission (AIM): It is the flagship program of Government of India (GoI) launched in 2016, which aims to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship using digital tools under the aegis of NITI Aayog. About National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog): Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – B.V.R. Subrahmanyam Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 15 Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi Established – 2015 About Denmark: Capital- Copenhagen Prime Minister- Mette Frederiksen Currency- Danish Krone Army Hospital (R&R), Delhi Launches First-of-its-Kind Skin Bank Facility for Armed Forces The Army Hospital, Research & Referral (R&R), New Delhi (Delhi) opened a state-of-the-art skin bank facility, a first-of-its-kind to be established within the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS). This initiative is dedicated to managing and treating soldiers suffering from combat-related burn cases and other skin-related conditions among military personnel and their families. New Delhi-based premier AIIMS Burns Block and Safdarjung Hospital have both opened it’s skin banks in 2023. Key Features of the Skin Bank: i.A centralised hub for the collection, processing, storage, and distribution of skin grafts. ii.Enhances treatment options for military medical centers nationwide. iii.Staff includes plastic surgeons, tissue engineers, and specialised technicians. iv.The facility adheres to rigorous standards ensuring the safety and efficacy of skin grafts. MoJS launched E-flows Monitoring System to Monitor Ganga River Cleanup process Union Minister, C.R. Patil, Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) launched the Environmental flows (E-flows) Monitoring System to monitor the cleaning progress of the river Ganga. It was launched during a programme when the Union Minister was reviewing the progress of the cleaning projects under the Namami Ganga Mission in New Delhi, Delhi. It is developed by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) works under the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, as part of the Aviral Ganga component. This marks a major milestone towards ensuring the continuous and sustainable flow of the Ganga River. Key People: The launch event was attended by Dr. Raj Bhushan Choudhary, Minister of State (MoS) for Jal Shakti, Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary (Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation), Rajeev Kumar, Director General (National Mission for Clean-NMCG). About E-flows Monitoring System: i.It is an important part of the Platform for Real-time Analysis of Yamuna And Ganga and their tributaries(PRAYAG) portal which is a real-time monitoring centre for the planning and monitoring of projects, quality of river water, among others. ii.The portal includes online dashboards such as the Ganga Tarang Portal, Project Management Tool Dashboard and the Ganga Districts Performance Monitoring System. iii.The platform will offer real-time analysis of water quality of river Ganga, Yamuna and their tributaries, and monitors Namami Gange programme activities. iv.It will also monitor the performance of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) through the Online Continuous Effluent Monitoring System (OCEMS). Significance: The system will use the data from quarterly reports by the Central Water Commission(CWC) which will further help to monitor key parameters such as: in-flow, out-flow, and mandated E-flow across 11 projects along the Ganga main stream. Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 16 Note: In October 2018, the Centre Government mandated minimum E-flow for various stretches of the Ganga River to be maintained year-round. NMCG issued the flow specifications essential for preservation of ecological balance and to protect the aquatic life as well as to ensure sustainability amidst increasing water usage demands. About Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS): Union Minister- C.R. Patil (Lok Sabha constituency- Navsari, Gujarat) Minister of State (MoS)- Veeranna Somanna (Lok Sabha constituency- Tumkur, Karnataka); Raj Bhushan (Lok Sabha constituency- Muzaffarpur, Uttar Pradesh) Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh Launched “One Week One Theme” (OWOT) Campaign On 24th June 2024, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, MoS (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, Government of India (GoI) has launched “One Week One Theme” (OWOT) campaign which demonstrates the recent success stories of India in various streams of Science and Technology. During the launch of campaign, Union Minister Jitendra Singh underscored that the main objective of the Government of India (GoI) is to integrate the efforts of all Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) labs to reduce redundancy and optimize resources. The initiative “One Week One Theme” launched under CSIR which aims to make innovation inclusive for all. About OWOT campaign: i.The campaign is the brainchild of Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh and built on the backdrop and success of the “One Week One Lab” (OWOL) initiative launched in 2023. ii.While addressing the event, Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the objective of the initiative is to create awareness among citizens about the progress and development in Labs, underscored various benefits by generating new avenues and opportunities for employment, empowering stakeholders such as: Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Startups, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), scientists, researchers through collaboration with industry. MoUs Signed for Technology Transfers and Products Launches: During the event, various Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)’s were signed in the presence of Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh which includes around 24 technology transfers, and product launches. He outlined 8 themes which aims to empower farmers and common citizens by not limiting Science to labs but reaching out them to promote ease of living, which include: energy and energy devices; chemicals and petrochemicals, aerospace, electronics and strategic sectors; civil infrastructure and engineering, agriculture, nutrition and biotech, healthcare, Mining, minerals, metals and materials; ecology, environment, earth, ocean sciences and water. Key Points: i.He announced that the agenda for 2025 as One Week One Integrated Theme (OWIT). ii.He highlighted that the progress in the Deep-Sea mission, Aroma mission, millet economy, Bio economy and Next generation technology will eventually boos the Indian economy to grow faster and will help India to become the 4th largest economy in the world, from the 5th largest. About Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR): It is an autonomous body established in 1942. It is the largest publically funded multi-disciplinary Research & Development (R&D) organisation under the administrative control of Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), GoI. Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 17 President- Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi Director General (DG)- N. Kalaiselvi Headquarters- New Delhi MWCD Launches 100-Days Special Awareness Campaign on Women Empowerment The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) has launched a ‘100-days Special Awareness Campaign’ at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, Delhi to expand awareness and outreach on women-centric issues. The campaign was chaired by the Minister of State (MoS) for MWCD Savitri Thakur alongside Secretary Anil Malik. i.It was launched during the ‘National Workshop on Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP): Hub for Empowerment of Women (HEW)’, which will run from June 21 to October 4 2024. ii.The one-day workshop featured sessions on legal provisions, communication strategies, and counselling techniques for grassroots functionaries of SANKALP: HEWs which are operational in 693 districts across India. iii.These sessions have been designed to ensure the last-mile delivery of services and to enhance women’s participation in various developmental schemes. iv.Through the schemes like Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY); PM Awas Yojana Urban (PMAY-U); Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM); Poshan Abhiyaan, and Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), the 100-days special awareness campaign aims to amplify awareness on women empowerment. Union Health Minister JP Nadda Launched STOP Diarrhoea Campaign 2024 On 24th June 2024, Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda , the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India (GoI) launched the National STOP Diarrhoea Campaign 2024. The slogan of the campaign is: “Diarrhoea ki Roktham, Safai aur ORS se rakhen apna dhyaan”. During the event, key dignitaries released Information Education Communication (IEC) materials like logo, posters, radio spots and audio visuals for the campaign and also distributed Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) and Zinc (Zn) tablets to the children. Key Dignitaries: He was accompanied by Anupriya Patel and Jadhav Prataprao Ganpatrao, Union Ministers of State (MoS) for MoHFW. Background: Earlier, MoHFW launched Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF) initiative in 2014. It focused mainly on enhancing the Prevent, Protect, and Treat (PPT) strategy and increasing the use of ORS and Zinc. Now, MoHW has rebranded it as the STOP Diarrhoea Campaign. STOP Diarrhoea Campaign 2024: i.The main objective of the campaign is to achieve zero child deaths due to childhood diarrhea. The new strategy involves a 2-month long campaign with pre-positioning of 2 ORS packets and Zinc as a co- packaging to under-5 children. The previous diarrhea strategy involves a 2-week campaign with pre-positioning of ORS to under-5 children and limited IEC. ii.The MoHFW has outlined key focus areas of the campaign: strengthening health infrastructure, improving access to clean water and sanitation, enhancing nutritional programs, Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 18 promoting hygiene education. iii.The STOP Diarrhoea Campaign 2024 will be implemented in 2 phases such as: the Preparatory Phase will be implemented from 14th June to 30th June 2024. Whereas, the Campaign phase will be implemented from 1st July to 31st August, 2024. Note: India was the 1st country in the world to introduce the Rotavirus vaccine in 2014. About Ministry of Health and Family Welfare(MoHFW): Union Minister- Jagat Prakash Nadda (Rajya Sabha – Gujarat) Union Minister of State (MoS)- Anupriya Patel(Lok Sabha constituency- Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh); Jadhav Prataprao Ganpatrao (Lok Sabha constituency- Buldhana, Maharashtra) 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) Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 19 Union Minister Launches MSME TEAM Initiative & Yashasvini Campaign To Boost Online Trading of MSMEs Jitan Ram Manjhi, the Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) launched the MSME Trade Enablement and Marketing (TEAM) Initiative and Yashasvini Campaign to boost micro and small businesses trade using e-commerce and to support women entrepreneurs. The two initiatives were launched during the event of World MSME Day, ‘Udyami Bharat’ on June 27 2024 in New Delhi, Delhi. The Union Ministry of MSME also amending the MSME Development Act, 2006 to improve mechanisms for managing disputes related to delayed payments and to better address the evolving needs of the MSME sector. Key Points: The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (M/o MSME) has identified six pillars. They are 1. Formalisation and access to credit 2. Increased access to market and e-commerce adoption 3. Increased productivity through modern technology 4. Enhanced skill levels and digitalization in the service sector 5. Support to Khadi, Village, and 6. Coir industry to globalise them and empowerment of women, artisans, through enterprise creation, based on which the MSME-related initiatives are built. About MSME TEAM Initiative: i.It has been launched under the World Bank (WB)-supported Raising And Accelerating MSME Productivity (RAMP) programme and implemented by National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC). ii.This initiative boosts e-commerce access for MSEs (micro and small enterprises) via the government’s open e-commerce network Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) with an outlay of Rs 277.35 crore for the period of three years (2024-2027). iii.It aims to support Udyam-registered MSEs with catalogue development and onboarding on ONDC along with account management support in response to the challenges MSEs face in accessing e-commerce, like limited digital access, financial constraints, and lack of confidence in operating through digital platforms. It will provide financial assistance for onboarding, cataloguing, account management, logistics, packaging material, and design. iv.The initiative is expected to benefit 5 lakh MSEs with 50% of them being women-owned enterprises. v.Under this initiative, subsidies will be provided to MSEs for transportation and logistics and packaging including packaging designs. About Yashasvini Campaign: i.Yashasvini Campaign is an awareness campaign, which focuses on formalising women-owned micro enterprises in tier-2 and tier-3 cities and providing necessary support and assistance. ii.It provides capacity building, training, handholding and mentorship to the women owned enterprises. Note: MSMEs will play a key role in the movement towards Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat. About Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (M/o MSME): Union Minister – Jitan Ram Manjhi (Lok Sabha Constituency – Gaya, Bihar) Minister of State (MoS) – Shobha Karandlaje (Lok Sabha Constituency – Bangalore North, Karnataka) Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 20 OTHER NEWS 18th Lok Sabha: Narendra Modi takes Oath as PM for the 3rd term; along with 71 Ministers On 9th June 2024, Narendra Modi(73-year-old), leader of the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), was sworn in as the Prime Minister(PM) of India for the third consecutive term (2024 to 2029). Droupadi Murmu, President of India, administered the oath of office to PM Modi, along with 71 ministers, at a grand ceremony on the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, Delhi. Note: The new cabinet includes 30 Cabinet Ministers, 5 Ministers of State (MoS) with independent charge and 36 Ministers of State. 18th Lok Sabha Election Result(2024): BJP-led National Democratic Alliance(NDA) won the 2024 Lok Sabha general election with 293 seats, a much lower margin than predicted by exit polls. The opposition won a total of 234 seats out of 543. This marks Modi’s first time heading a coalition government. Points to note: i.PM Narendra Modi is only the second Indian PM after Jawaharlal Nehru to retain power for a 3rd five- year term. Modi previsouly served as PM of India from 2014 to 2019 and 2019 to 2024. ii. A total 11 members of the BJP’s allies have been included in the new council of ministers. Out of these 11, only 5 got Cabinet berths, 2 were appointed as MoS with independent charge and 4 as MoS. Number of Seats Won in the 18th Lok Sabha Election i. BJP remained the dominant party in the 18th Lok Sabha with 240 seats but was not able to achieve the 272-seats mark required for a simple majority. BJP previously won 303 and 282 seats in 2019 and 2014 respectively. ii.BJP has formed the government with the support of its two pre-poll allies, the Andhra Pradesh(AP)’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) led by Chandrababu Naidu (16 seats) and the Bihar’s Janata Dal (United) led by Nitish Kumar (12 seats). iii.The Indian National Congress(INC), a part of the 26-party alliance – Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc, won 99 seats compared to 52 it won in 2019. INDIA bloc as a whole secured 234 seats. Youngest and Oldest Candidates to win Lok Sabha 2024: i.Four candidates aged 25 years, Pushpendra Saroj and Priya Saroj from the Samajwadi Party (SP), Shambhavi Choudhary from Lok Janshakti Party (RV), and Sanjana Jatav from Indian National Congress (INC), became the youngest MPs in the 18th Lok Sabha (2024). Pushpendra Saroj won from the Kaushambi constituency, UP and Priya Saroj won from the Machhlishahr constituency, UP. Shambhavi Choudhary won from the Samastipur constituency of Bihar. Sanjana Jatav won from the Bharatpur constituency in Rajasthan. ii.Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) treasurer T.R. Baalu (aged 82) is the oldest MP of the 18th Lok Sabha. He has won the 2024 Lok Sabha Election from Sriperumbudur constituency, Tamil Nadu. He equals P. Chidambaram’s record of winning seven Lok Sabhal elections in T.N and has become the longest-serving DMK MP from Tamil Nadu Appointment of the Council of Ministers & PM: i.Article 74 in the Constitution of India states that there shall be a Council of Ministers with the PM at the head to aid and advise the President who shall, in the exercise of his functions, act in accordance with such advice. Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 21 ii.Article 75 of the constitution states that Prime Minister shall be appointed by the President and the other Ministers shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the PM. iii.As per the Constitution of India, the total strength of the council of ministers cannot exceed 15% of the total number of Lok Sabha MPs. With the current Lok Sabha having 543 members, the Council of ministers cannot have more than 81 members. Inclusions and Exclusions from the Cabinet i. 38 ministers of the previous Lok Sabha were replaced in the current cabinet. Smriti Irani, Anurag Thakur, Ajay Bhatt, Rajeev Chandrashekhar, Ashwini Choubey, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Meenakshi Lekhi, Arjun Munda and Vellamvelly Muraleedharan were removed from the Cabinet 3.0 list. ii. 34 ministers were retained in the Council of Ministers. These include Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitharaman, S. Jaishankar, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hardeep Singh Puri, Mansukh Mandaviya, Pralhad Joshi, Kiren Rijiju, Dharmendra Pradhan Arjun Ram Meghwal and Jitendra Singh were among leaders who were retained in the Council of Ministers. Composition of the Cabinet 3.0 i.PM Narendra Modi has retained Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman and Subrahmanyam Jaishankar of Home, Defence, Finance and External Affairs respectively in his new government. ii.It includes 27 ministers from Other Backward Classes, 10 from Scheduled Castes, 5 from Scheduled Tribes and 5 from minorities. v.There are also 33 first-timers in the ranks. Seven first -time ministers in the government belong to the allies. The new faces also include Suresh Gopi, the actor-turned-politician who became the first BJP MP from Kerala. Ministers included from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha i.The Council of Ministers has 13 members from the Rajya Sabha, while 57 are newly-elected MPs from the Lok Sabha. ii.Two of the new ministers of state – Ravneet Singh Bittu and George Kurian – are not members of either Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha and are required to become a member of Parliament within six months of their oath-taking. iii.Out of the 31 cabinet ministers, including the PM, eight are Rajya Sabha members. These Cabinet ministers are Jagat Prakash Nadda, Nirmala Sitharaman, S Jaishankar, Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Hardeep Singh Puri. iv.Sarbananda Sonowal and Jyotiraditya Scindia have been elected to Lok Sabha this time. v.The Rajya Sabha members who were included as Ministers of State are Ramdas Athawale, Ramnath Thakur, Banwari Lal Verma, Loganathan Murugan, Satish Chandra Dubey, Sanjay Seth and Pabitra Margherita. Cabinet berth distribution with NDA allies i.BJP’s ally, Janata Dal (United), got two cabinet seats in the Cabinet 3.0. They were Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh (cabinet minister) and Ram Nath Thakur (Minister of State). ii.Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi was sworn in as a cabinet minister. iii.Two Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders – Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu and Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar and one from the Apna Dal(S) party – Anupriya Patel – were allotted a berth in the Cabinet. Lok Janshakti Party’s Chirag Paswan was also part of the Council of Ministers. iv.Shiv Sena’s Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhava also included in the Cabinet. Republican Party of India leader Ramdas Athawale, JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy, and Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Jayant Chaudhary were among other that got place into the Council of Ministers. Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 22 Women Representation in the Cabinet 3.0 i.Seven women leaders were inducted into the Council of Ministers, with only two given cabinet berths. ii.Nirmala Sitharaman and Annapurna Devi were sworn in as cabinet ministers, while five women— Anupriya Patel, Sobha Karandlaje, Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Savitri Thakur, and Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya joined as Ministers of State. List of Ministers and their portfolio; Minister Party (Constituency) Portfolio Union Ministers (Cabinet Ministers) Prime Minister; Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; Department of Atomic BJP (Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh- Narendra Modi Energy; UP) Department of Space; All important policy issues; and All other portfolios not allocated to any Minister. Rajnath Singh BJP (Lucknow, UP) Minister of Defence Minister of Home Affairs and Amit Shah BJP (Gandhinagar, Gujarat) Minister of Cooperation Minister of Road Transport Nitin Gadkar BJP (Nagpur, Maharahstra) and Highways Minister of Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda BJP (Rajya Sabha -Gujarat) Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister of Agriculture and BJP (Vidisha, Madhya Farmers Welfare and Shivraj Singh Chouhan Pradesh-MP) Minister of Rural Development Minister of Finance and Nirmala Sitharaman BJP (Rajya Sabha- Karnataka) Minister of Corporate Affairs S. Jaishankar BJP (Rajya Sabha – Gujarat) Minister of External Affairs Minister of Housing and Manohar Lal Khattar BJP (Karnal, Haryana) Urban Affairs and Minister of Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 23 Power Minister of Heavy Industries H. D. Kumaraswamy JD(S) (Mandya, Karnataka) and Minister of Steel BJP (Mumbai North, Minister of Commerce and Piyush Goyal Maharashtra) Industry Dharmendra Pradhan BJP (Sambalpur, Odisha) Minister of Education Minister of Micro, Small and Jitan Ram Manjhi HAM(S) (Gaya, Bihar) Medium Enterprises Minister of Panchayati Raj Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan and Minister of Fisheries, JD(U)(Munger, Bihar) Singh) Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister of Ports, Shipping Sarbananda Sonowal BJP (Dibrugarh, Assam) and Waterways Minister of Social Justice and Dr. Veerendra Kumar BJP (Tikamgarh,MP) Empowerment Kinjarapu Rammohan TDP (Srikakulam, Andhra Minister of Civil Aviation Naidu Pradesh) Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi BJP (Dharwad, Karnataka) Minister of New and Renewable Energy Jual Oram BJP (Sundargarh, Odisha) Minister of Tribal Affairs Giriraj Singh BJP (Begusarai, Bihar) Minister of Textiles Minister of Railways, Minister of Information and Ashwini Vaishnaw BJP (Rajya Sabha – Odisha) Broadcasting Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya M. Scindia BJP (Guna, MP) and Minister of Development of North Eastern Region Bhupender Yadav BJP (Alwar, Rajasthan) Minister of Environment, Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 24 Forest and Climate Change Minister of Culture and Gajendra Singh Shekhawat BJP (Jodhpur, Rajasthan) Minister of Tourism Minister of Women and Child Annpurna Devi BJP (Kodarma, Jharkhand) Development Minister of Parliamentary Kiren Rijiju BJP (Arunachal West) Affairs Minister of Minority Affairs Minister of Petroleum and Hardeep Singh Puri BJP (Rajya Sabha – UP) Natural Gas Minister of Labour and Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya BJP (Porbandar, Gujarat) Employment and Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports BJP (Secunderabad, Minister of Coal G. Kishan Reddy Telangana) Minister of Mines Minister of Food Processing Chirag Paswan LJP(RV) (Hajipur, Bihar) Industries C R Patil BJP (Navsari, Gujarat) Minister of Jal Shakti Ministers of State (Independent Charge) MoS (IC) Ministry of Statistics and Programme Rao Inderjit Singh BJP (Gurgaon, Haryana) Implementation, MoS (IC) Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Culture MoS (IC) Ministry of Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, Prime Minister’s Office(PMO), Dr. Jitendra Singh BJP (Udhampur, J&K) Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy, and Department of Space. MoS (IC) Ministry of Law and Arjun Ram Meghwal BJP (Bikaner, Rajasthan) Justice Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 25 Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs MoS (IC) Ministry of Ayush Jadhav Prataprao Shiv Sena (Buldhana, Ministry of Health and Family Ganpatrao Maharashtra) Welfare MoS (IC) Ministry of Skill Rashtriya Lok Dal (Rajya Development and Jayant Chaudhary Sabha – UP) Entrepreneurship Ministry of Education Minister of State Ministry of Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada BJP (Pilibhit, UP) Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Ministry of Power Sripad Naik BJP (North Goa) Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Pankaj Chaudhary BJP (Maharajganj, UP) Ministry of Finance Krishan Pal BJP (Faridabad, Haryana) Ministry of Cooperation Republican Party of India Ministry of Social Justice and Ram Das Athawale (Rajya Sabha – Maharashtra) Empowerment Ministry of Agriculture and Ram Nath Thakur JD(U)(Rajya Sabha -Bihar) Farmers Welfare Nityanand Rai BJP (Ujiarpur, Bihar) Ministry of Home Affairs Ministry of Health and Family Anupriya Patel Apna Dal (Mirzapur, UP) Welfare and Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers Ministry of Jal Shakti V. Somanna BJP (Tumkur, Karnataka) Ministry of Railways Ministry of Rural Chandra Sekhar TDP (Guntur, AP) Development and Ministry of Pemmasani Communications S. P. Singh Baghel BJP (Agra, UP) Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 26 Husbandry and Dairying Ministry of Panchayati Raj Ministry of Micro, Small and BJP (Bangalore North, Medium Enterprises Shobha Karandlaje Karnataka) Ministry of Labour and Employment Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh BJP (Gonda, UP) and Ministry of External Affairs Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution B.L. Verma BJP(Rajya Sabha -UP) and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry of Ports, Shipping Shantanu Thakur BJP(Bangaon, West Bengal) and Waterways Ministry of Petroleum and Suresh Gopi BJP (Thrissur, Kerala) Natural Gas Ministry of Tourism Ministry of Information and L. Murugan BJP (Rajya Sabha – MP) Broadcasting and Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs Ministry of Road Transport Ajay Tamta BJP(Almora, Uttarakhand) and Highways Bandi Sanjay Kumar BJP(Karimnagar, Telangana) Ministry of Home Affairs Ministry of Rural Kamlesh Paswan BJP(Bansgaon, UP) Development Ministry of Agriculture and Bhagirath Choudhary BJP(Ajmer, Rajasthan) Farmers Welfare Ministry of Coal and Ministry Satish Chandra Dubey BJP(Rajya Sabha – Bihar) of Mines Sanjay Seth BJP(Ranchi, Jharkhand) Ministry of Defence Ministry of Food Processing Ravneet Singh BJP(Punjab) Industries and Ministry of Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 27 Railways Durga Das Uikey BJP(Betul, Madhya Pradesh) Ministry of Tribal Affairs Ministry of Youth Affairs and Raksha Khadse BJP(Raver, Maharashtra) Sports Ministry of Education and Sukanta Majumdar BJP(Balurghat, West Bengal) Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region Ministry of Women and Child Savitri Thakur BJP(Dhar, Madhya Pradesh) Development Ministry of Housing and Tokhan Sahu BJP(Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh) Urban Affairs Raj Bhushan Choudhary BJP(Muzaffarpur, Bihar) Ministry of Jal Shakti Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa BJP(Narasapuram, Andhra Ministry of Heavy Industries Varma Pradesh) and Ministry of Steel Ministry of Corporate Affairs Harsh Malhotra BJP(East Delhi) and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Nimuben Bambhaniya BJP(Bhavnagar, Gujarat) Food and Public Distribution Ministry of Cooperation and Murlidhar Mohol BJP(Pune, Maharashtra) Ministry of Civil Aviation Ministry of Minority Affairs and Ministry of Fisheries, George Kurian BJP(Kerala) Animal Husbandry and Dairying Ministry of External Affairs Pabitra Margherita BJP(Rajya Sabha – Assam) and Ministry of Textiles Note: George Kurian (Kerala) and Ravneet Singh (Punjab) who were neither a member of the Lok Sabha nor the Rajya Sabha were inducted into the cabinet. 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). Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 28 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. Note: Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (MoS) Independent Charge (IC), MoST, announced the grant of Mini Ratna status for CEL during the Golden Jubilee(50 years) celebration of CEL at its Ghaziabad campus in Uttar Pradesh(UP). Criteria for grant of Navratna Status: The Miniratna Category – I and Schedule ‘A’ CPSEs who have achieved ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ rating under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) system in three of the last five years, and have a composite score of 60 or above in the six selected performance parameters, namely, Net profit to net worth (25), Manpower cost to total cost of production/services (15) Profit Before Depreciation, Interest and Taxes (PBDIT) to capital employed (15) PBIT to turnover (15) Earnings per share (10) Inter-sectoral performance (20) Benefits: i.Navratna companies enjoy financial autonomy that allows them to make substantial investments without seeking government approval. ii.They can invest up to Rs. 1,000 crore or 15% of their net worth in a single project, and up to 30% of their net worth in a year, provided these investments do not exceed Rs.1,000 crore. iii.They can form joint ventures, establish subsidiaries, and can enter into strategic alliances both domestically and internationally. iv. They can make capital expenditure on the purchase of new items or for replacement, without any monetary ceiling. Criteria for Grant of Miniratna status: To qualify for Miniratna status, companies must meet the following criteria: For Miniratna Companies in Category I i.A company must have consistently recorded profits for the past three years. ii.It must have earned a pre-tax profit of at least Rs.30 crore in the last three years. For Miniratna Companies in Category II i.Companies must have made profits continuously in the last three years. ii.They should have a positive net worth. They have not defaulted in the repayment of loans/interest payment on any loans due to the Government. These public sector enterprises shall not depend upon budgetary support or Government guarantee. List of Navratna Companies S. No Company Name 1 Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) 2 Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR) 3 Engineers India Limited (EIL) Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 29 4 Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) 5 Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) 6 National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) 7 National Buildings Construction Corporation Limited (NBCC) 8 Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited (NLC India) 9 National Mineral Development Corporation Limited (NMDC) 10 Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) 11 Shipping Corporation of India Limited (SCI) 12 Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) 13 ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) 14 Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Limited (RCF) 15 IRCON International Limited 16 RITES Limited 17 Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) 18 National Fertilizers Limited 19 Central Warehousing Corporation 20 Housing & Urban Development Corporation Limited 21 Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL) Miniratna Category 1 S.No Company Name 1 Airports Authority of India 2 Antrix Corporation Limited 3 Balmer Lawrie & Co Limited 4 Bharat Coking Coal Limited 5 Bharat Dynamics Limited Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 30 6 BEML Limited 7 Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited 8 Braithwaite & Company Limited 9 Bridge & Roof Company (India) Limited 10 Central Coalfields Limited 11 Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited 12 Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited 13 Cochin Shipyard Limited (schedule A in July, 23) 14 Cotton Corporation of India Ltd 15 EDCIL (India) Limited 16 Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited 17 Grid Controller of India Limited (GRID-INDIA) 18 Goa Shipyard Limited 19 Hindustan Copper Limited 20 Hindustan Steelworks Construction Limited 21 HLL Lifecare Limited 22 Hindustan Paper Corporation Limited 23 HSCC (India) Limited 24 India Tourism Development Corporation Limited 25 Indian Rare Earths Limited 26 Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation Limited 27 Indian Railway Finance Corporation Limited 28 India Trade Promotion Organization 29 KIOCL Limited 30 Mazagaon Dock Shipbuilders Limited Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 31 31 Mahanadi Coalfields Limited 32 MOIL Limited 33 Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemical Limited 34 Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited 35 Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited 36 MMTC Limited 37 MSTC Limited 38 National Projects Construction Corporation Limited 39 National Small Industries Corporation Limited 40 National Seeds Corporation 41 NHPC Limited 42 Northern Coalfields Limited 43 North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited 44 Numaligarh Refinery Limited 45 Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited 46 Projects & Development India Limited 47 Railtel Corporation of India Limited 48 SJVN Limited 49 Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited 50 South Eastern Coalfields Limited 51 Telecommunications Consultants India Limited 52 THDC India Limited 53 Western Coalfields Limited 54 WAPCOS Limited 55 Central Electronics Limited (CEL) Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 32 About Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL): Chairman & Managing Director(CMD)– Sanjeev Singhal Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra Founded– 1934 About Central Electronics Limited (CEL): Chairman & Managing Director(CMD)– Chetan Prakash Jain Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi Established– 1974 BIS Introduces 2 New Standards IS 18590: 2024 & IS 18606: 2024 To Enhance Safety & Quality of EVs in India The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has introduced 2 new standards, IS 18590: 2024 and IS 18606: 2024, aimed at enhancing Electric Vehicles (EVs) safety and quality in India. These standards are applied to the L (2-wheelers), M (4-wheelers), and N (goods trucks) categories of EVs. It particularly focussed on the crucial components of the EVs (cars, buses, and trucks) such as the powertrain (including motor and transmission), and battery safety. With these new standards, the BIS now has 30 Indian Standards (IS) dedicated to EVs and their accessories, including charging systems. Note: BIS is the National Standards Body of India, operating under the Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution(MOCAF & PD). Key Points: i.These standards ensure vehicles meet stringent safety and performance criteria, crucial for fostering sustainable and efficient transportation solutions. ii.Recognising the growing popularity of E-rickshaws and E-karts, BIS also introduced IS 18294: 2023, which establishes safety standards for E-rickshaws and E-Karts. Setting these standards ensures the safety, and protection of both the drivers and the passengers, promoting the adoption of these eco-friendly vehicles. About the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS): BIS came into existence, through an act of parliament dated 26 November 1986, on 1 April 1987. Director-General(DG)– Pramod Kumar Tiwari Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi DoT Introduces New Mobile Number Series For Service & Transactional Calls The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has introduced 160 series for making service and transactional voice calls. It aims to help Indian citizens easily identify legitimate calls and reduce unsolicited calls from telemarketers using the 10 digit mobile numbers. This 160 series will replace the 140 series, which is currently used by telemarketers for making promotional, service, and transactional calls, but the 140 series will continue to be used for promotional calls. The new 160 series will provide a clear differentiation between legitimate service and transactional calls and spammers, making it easier for customers to manage their communication. It will be available for use by all Telecom Service Providers (TSP). The DoT has also proposed that telecom operators should use the Do Not Disturb (DND) feature of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to block unwanted promotional calls. Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 33 FSSAI & APEDA Jointly Develops ‘Unified India Organic’ Logo The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) have jointly developed a ‘Unified India Organic’ logo to replace the India Organic and Jaivik Bharat logos. The India Organic logo was used on organic products complying with the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) whereas the Jaivik Bharat logo was used on organic products certified by FSSAI. Key Points: i.The Unified India Organic logo was developed to bring uniformity and convergence in the implementation of Indian regulations by NPOP and FSSAI. ii.The trademark registration of the Unified India Organic logo is in progress and the details for its implementation are being developed. iii.The certification bodies will have three months transition time to implement the logo from the date the logo is notified. About Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has been established under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. Chairperson – Apurva Chandra Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – G. Kamala Vardhana Rao Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi About Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) The APEDA was established by the Government of India (GoI) under the APEDA Act passed by the Parliament in December, 1985. Chairman – Abhishek Dev Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi

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