Current Affairs in English – June 30 2022

National Events:

Kempegowda International Award:

SM Krishna , NR Narayana Murthy and Prakash Padukone have been selected for the first edition of the Kempegowda International Award .The award has been instituted by the Karnataka govt beginning in 2022 .
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai presented the awards on 27 June 2022 to mark the 513th Kempegowda Jayanti . The award carries a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh .

Ministry of Heavy Industries & Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship:

The Ministry of Heavy Industries ( MHI ) and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship signed an MoU to create a collaborative ecosystem for imparting skill development training in the capital goods sector .
The partnership is aimed at facilitating training in several engineering trades through Qualification Packs ( QPs ) developed by MHI related Sector Skill Councils .

CDRI & HQA:

Cabinet approved categorization of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure ( CDRI ) as an ‘ International Organization ‘. It also signed HQA with CDRI for granting it the exemptions under the UN ( Privileges & Immunities ) Act , 1947 .
Categorization provides an independent and international legal persona so that it can efficiently and effectively carry out its functions internationally .

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy:

Union Cabinet approved a Strategic Partnership Agreement signed between the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy , India and the International Renewable Energy Agency .The Agreement was signed in January 2022 .
The aim of the Agreement is to drive ambition , leadership and knowledge on green energy transitions based on renewable energy in India . It will help India’s energy transition efforts .

Ministry of Trade and Industry of the Government of the Republic of Singapore:

Union Cabinet approved an MoU between the Department of Science and Technology of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Trade and Industry of the Government of the Republic of Singapore .
It is on cooperation in the fields of Science , Technology and Innovation . It was signed in February 2022 . MoU will create an ecosystem that will promote innovation and entrepreneurship in both countries.

Ministry of Personnel & Pensioners ‘ Welfare:

The central government has revised pension , family pension and other compassionate benefits being given to the central government employees and their dependents under the 5th , 6th and 7th Central Pay Commission .
The Ministry of Personnel & Pensioners ‘ Welfare has issued revision of pension of pre – 1996 pensioners ( 5th CPC ) , pre – 2006 pensioners ( 6th CPC ) and pre – 2016 pensioners ( 7th CPC ) .

UK government:

The UK government partnered with leading businesses in India to offer 75 fully – funded scholarships for Indian students to study in Britain .
Companies like HSBC , Hindustan Unilever , Tata Sons are supporting the initiative to celebrate India’s 75th year of independence .
The British Council in India is offering 18 scholarships for women in science , technology , engineering and mathematics .

PSLV – C53:

Indian Space Research Organization launched the rocket PSLV – C53 , carrying three Singapore satellites . The launch vehicle lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota .
Six nano – satellites including those belonging to India’s two private space start – ups also went to space . PSLV – C53 is the second dedicated commercial mission of the New Space India Limited .

RAMP Scheme:

PM Narendra Modi launched the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance ( RAMP ) Scheme , Capacity Building of First – Time MSME Exporters Scheme and new features of the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme ( PMEGP ) .
He also addressed the Udyami Bharat Programme in New Delhi and said the Micro , Small and Medium Enterprises ( MSME ) sector accounts for almost one third of India’s economy .

ABHYAS:

India on 29 June 2022 successfully tested the indigenously – designed ABHYAS – a High – speed Expendable Aerial Target ( HEAT ) .
The test was carried out by the Defence Research and Development Organisation ( DRDO ) from the Integrated Test Range in Odisha’s Chandipur .
ABHYAS is developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment , DRDO .The aircraft is programmed for a fully autonomous flight .

Deregulation of the sale of domestically produced crude oil:

The Union Cabinet on 29 June 2022 approved the deregulation of the sale of domestically produced crude oil . This decision will be applicable from 1 October 2022 .
All Exploration and Production ( E & P ) companies will now be free to sell crude oil from their fields in the domestic market .
At present , the central government decides which state – run refinery gets how much crude from each producer .

PACS:

The Union Cabinet on 29 June 2022 approved the computerisation of 63 ousand functional Primary Agriculture Credit Societies ( PACS ) with an overall budget outlay of 2516 crore rupees .
The move will benefit 13 crore farmers . It will help in improving the outreach of the PACS as outlets for banking activities as well as non-Banking activities apart from improving digitalisation in rural areas.

NbS:

The National Institute of Urban Affairs ‘ Climate Centre for Cities ( NIUA C – Cube ) & World Resources Institute ( WRI ) India on 29 June 2022 launched India’s first national coalition platform for urban nature – based solutions ( NbS ) .
It was launched at the 11th World Urban Forum in Poland . Nature – Based Solutions are fast emerging as sustainable ways to address climate change induced challenges .

IN-SPACe:

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center ( IN – SPACe ) on 24 June 2022 authorised two Indian private firms to launch their payloads .It marked the beginning of private space sector launches in India .
These two firms are Dhruva Space of Hyderabad & Digantara of Bengaluru . The payloads of these firms would fly onboard PSLV – C53 scheduled to be launched on 30 June 2022 .

“Active Capital Asia – Pacific ( APAC ) -Rising Capital in Uncertain Times”:

Indian cities – Bengaluru , Delhi , Hyderabad and Mumbai – made it to the list of top 20 sustainable cities in the Asia Pacific region , according to a latest report .
The report , titled “Active Capital Asia – Pacific ( APAC ) -Rising Capital in Uncertain Times” has been released by property consultant Knight Frank . Singapore , Sydney , Wellington , Perth and Melbourne are the top 5 green – rated cities .

T – Hub ( Technology Hub ):

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on 28 June 2022 inaugurated Phase 2 of T – Hub ( Technology Hub ) in Hyderabad . The facility will support over 2,000 startups under one roof , with a total built – up area of 5.82 lakh square feet , making it the world’s largest innovation campus . The first T – Hub was launched in 2015 on the campus of IIT , Hyderabad , under the name of Catalyst .

International Events:

BRICS:

Two new countries – Iran and Argentina have applied to join the influential BRICS (Brazil , Russia , India , China and South Africa )grouping .
Both the countries applied for membership after the recent 14th BRICS Summit which was held from 23 to 24 June 2022 under the Chairship of President Xi Jinping of China . 1st BRIC summit : 16 June 2009 . Russia South Africa joined the group in 2010 .

International Asteroid Day : 30 June:

International Asteroid Day is an annual UN – sanctioned global awareness campaign event observed on June 30 .It is observed on the anniversary of the Tunguska event in 1908 when an asteroid levelled about 2,150 square kilometres of forest in Siberia .
International Asteroid Day aims to raise public awareness about the asteroid impact hazard . The theme for 2022 is ” small is beautiful “.