Current Affairs Daily Digest – June 16 2020
1. ADIP scheme: First Distribution of Assistive aids to Divyangjan
Government of India organized the first ever ADIP camp. The camp was conducted to distribute free assistive aids to Divyangjans under the ADIP scheme.
The first camp to distribute free assistive aids was organized at Firozpur district of Punjab. The camp was organized by ALIMCO (Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India) operating under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
2. June 16: International Day of Family Remittances
Every year, the International Day of Family Remittances is observed on June 16 by the United Nations. The day is observed all over the world. This year the day is celebrated under the theme
Theme: Remittances are a lifeline
The day is celebrated to recognize the efforts of migrants living abroad and help improve the lives of their family members in their home countries. The first International Day of Family Remittances was celebrated in 2015.
3. India joins Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence
India joined the Global Partnership of Artificial Intelligence as a founding member. The other leading member countries that joined along with India are UK, USA, European Union, Australia, France, Canada, Germany, Mexico, Italy, Republic of Korea, Singapore, New Zealand, etc.
The Gee-Pay or GPAI-Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence is a multi-stake holder initiative that will guide development of Artificial Intelligence.
4. SIPRI Yearbook: Nuclear Weapons of India and China increases
The Swedish think-tank launched the SIPRI Yearbook, 2020.According to the yearbook, India and China have increased their nuclear arsenal as compared t0 2019. The report says that India is expanding its nuclear weapon stock pile and nuclear infrastructure.
5. Gail, Petronet join India’s first natural gas online trading platform
GAIL (India) Ltd. And Petronet LNG Ltd. joined India’s first natural gas online exchange on June 15, 2020. The announcement regarding the exchange was made by the Director of Indian Gas Exchange, Rajesh Kumar Mediratta. Both GAIL and Petronet are terminal owners of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG).
As per Rajesh Kumar Mediratta, with others such as Torrent Power, Manikaran Power and Adani Gas on board, the trading platform will help in reviving the stranded gas-fuelled power projects and will reduce subsidy and fertilizer prices.
6. Kathy Lueders become first female head of NASA’s Human Space Flight Program
Kathy Lueders has become the new Associate Administrator of HEO- Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate. This makes her the first female head of the human space flight program. NASA Administrator, Jim Bridenstine announced the news on June 12, 2020.
7. IBBI reconstitutes advisory panel on corporate insolvency resolution process
The insolvency regulator IBBI has reconstituted the Advisory Committee on Corporate Insolvency Resolution and Liquidation process. This panel, which would be chaired by Uday Kotak, Executive Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Kotak Mahindra Bank, comprises of 13 members besides the Chairman.
8. J&K: R R Swain appointed as new CID head
The Jammu Kashmir government appointed R R Swain, a 1991 batch JK cadre IPS officer awaiting orders of posting in the Home Department, as the new Intelligence Chief of the Union Territory.
Swain was appointed as the Additional Director General of Police CID. He replaced Dr B. Srinivas, a 1990 batch JK cadre IPS officer, who has now been posted as Commandant General Home Guards, Civil Defence, State Disaster Rescue Force.
9. ICICI Bank launches ‘Insta Flexicash’ paperless overdraft facility for salary accounts
Private lender ICICI Bank has unveiled a paperless facility that will enable its salary account customers to get approvals for overdraft (OD) instantaneously.
Titled as ‘Insta Flexicash’, the end-to-end fully digital service can be used on the lender’s internet banking platform. The product is being introduced at a time when consumption-linked retail credit growth has decreased. According to the latest data by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), retail loans increased just by 12% year-on-year (y-o-y) in April against 15.7% a year ago.
10. Minister Kishan Reddy launches GermiBAN in Hyderabad
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, G Kishan Reddy launched GermiBAN at AIC ALEAP We-Hub. The device launched has UV C and other B, C, D components, the patenting technology that kills surface and air microbes at 99.9 per cent, useful for isolation wards, quarantine centres, hospitals for killing viruses like corona.
11. Shri Santosh Jha appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Belgium
Shri Santosh Jha (IFS: 1993), presently Ambassador of India to the Republic of Uzbekistan has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Belgium. He will also be accredited as Ambassador of India to the European Union. He is expected to take up the assignment shortly.
12. Maya Nair appointed as Director & Chief Information Security Officer at CRISIL Limited
Maya R Nair has joined as Director & Chief Information Security Officer at CRISIL Limited, according to sources.
Prior to joining CRISIL Limited, Maya was the Chief Information Security Officer & Head IT Infrastructure at Lentra AI Pvt Ltd. She was associated with Reliance Capital Limited as Group Chief Information Security Officer, Idea Cellular as Head – Information Security and Reliance Jio as Head of Security Operations in past.
