States Current Affairs

1. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani launched the 7th Economic Census

process 

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has launched the 7th Economic Census

process in the state. Economic Census process is carried out by  Union Ministry
of Statistics and Programme Implementation with the help of Common Service
Centres.  It will continue till 30th June 2020. The entire data will be compiled on
30th September 2020. The data of this Economic Census will be classified into
the village, taluka and district-wise to be developed into a National Business
Register.

2. Arunachal Pradesh signs a MoU with IUCN

Arunachal Pradesh signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with

International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) to red-listing of orchids.
Now Arunachal Pradesh has become the 1st state in the country to initiate the
International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) ‘red listing’ at the state
level.

Appointments 
3. Lt Col Yuvraj Malik appointed as the Director of the National Book
Trust 

Lt Col Yuvraj Malik has been appointed the Director of the National Book Trust
(NBT) on deputation from the Indian Army. He replaced Sahitya Akademi-
awardee writer Rita Chowdhury. National Book Trust (NBT) works under the
Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).

Agreements
4. Indian Railways’ SCR zone signs MoU with SBI 

The South Central Zone of the Indian Railways has signed an MoU with

the State Bank of India. According to the MoU, the doorstep banking facility will
be provided at 585 Railway Stations of the South Central Zone. The “doorstep
banking” facility will enable direct pickup of earnings from the railway stations
and will save the complex activity of cash movement through cash safes by
trains.

5. IIM-Indore signs MoU with TikTok provides short video modules

The Indian Institute of Management, Indore has signed an MoU with the video
sharing platform “TikTok”. The MoU will facilitate the production of short video
modules for students and trained professionals.

6. World Bank & GoI signs MoU for loan of Assam Inland Water
Transport Project

World Bank & GoI signs MoU for loan of  $88 million of Assam Inland Water
Transport Project. The loan agreement seeks to modernize the Assam’s
passenger ferry sector by improving the infrastructure and its services. The
government ferries are operated by the Assam Shipping Company (ASC) while
the terminals and terminal services are provided by the Assam Ports Company
(APC) in the state of Assam. The $88 million agreement will provide technically
better designed terminals and energy-efficient vessels to make the ferry
services more efficient, modern and safe mode of river transport system.

Ranks & Reports

7. Henley Passport Index 2020 Henley Passport Index 2020 has been
released. The ranking report is based on data from the International Air
Transport Association (IATA).

Key findings of the Index

  The list was topped by Japan. Japan has been topping the Index for three years
continuously. Japan can access now 191 countries.
 Japan was now followed by Singapore, Germany, and South Korea.
 The Indian passport ranked 84th, along with Tajikistan and Mauritania.
 Afghanistan (107) was among the world’s worst passports.
 The top 10 most powerful passports for 2020 are Japan, Singapore, South Korea,
Germany, Italy, Finland, Spain, USA and UK, Luxembourg, Denmark.

Defence
8. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flags off 51st K9 VAJRA-T gun

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off 51st K9 VAJRA-T Gun from Larsen &
Toubro (L&T) Armoured System Complex at Hazira in Gujarat.The gun weighs
50 tonnes and can fire 47-kilogram bombs at targets up to a distance of 43
kilometres.

Summits and Conferences

9. India to host SCO heads of govt meeting later this year 

India to host the 19th Edition of Shanghai Cooperation Organization

(SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting 2020.The meeting is held
annually at the Prime Minister’s level.

Awards 
10. Acclaimed Sindhi writer Vasdev Mohi will be honoured with 29th
Saraswati Samman. 

Acclaimed Sindhi poet and writer Vasdev Mohi has been selected for the
prestigious Saraswati Samman. He has been selected for his short stories
collection:- Chequebook, published in 2012. He has also received the Sahitya
Akademi Award.
11. Indian scientist Sakya Singha Sen awarded “Merck Young Scientist
Award 2019

Indian scientist Sakya Singha Sen from National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-

NCL) Pune, has been awarded “Merck Young Scientist Award 2019” for doing
remarkable research in chemical science. This award is instituted by Merck, a
science and technology company operating worldwide. Sen and his research
team specializes in main group chemistry and involves in the synthesis of
compounds with main group element and their catalytic application.

Miscellaneous
12. 1st edition of Krishi Manthan hosted begins in Gujarat

1st edition of Krishi Manthan– the largest Food, Agri-business and Rural
Development Summit of Asia begins in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.  This summit is
organized by Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. It is an exclusive
platform for industry, academia, and policymakers to share ideas, knowledge,
and expertise to create solutions.