CROSSWORD Current Affairs MAGAZINE JUNE 2023

ISSUE: JUNE 2023 By: KAPIL KATHPAL
CROSSWORD CURRENT AFFAIRS
PM MODI US VISIT
FINANCIAL INCLUSION DASHBOARD
RAZORPAY: TURBO UPI
COOPERATIVE POLICY 2023
MH-60R HELICOPTER MAIDEN FLIGHT
CSK WINS IPL 2023
NORTHEAST’S FIRST VANDE BHARAT
USEFUL FOR
BANK/SSC & OTHER
COMPETETIVE EXAMS
COMPLETE COVERAGE 1
PREFACE
Welcome to the June 2023 Month Edition of our Crossword Current Affairs Magazine
designed specifically for Bank Exams. Current Affairs play a significant role in bank
exams. Bank exams, such as the IBPS, SBI and RBI exams have a section dedicated to
Current Affairs which covers Current Events and Developments that have occurred
recently.
The current affairs section carries a significant weightage in bank exams, and scoring
well in this section can significantly increase your overall score. Current affairs help
you stay updated on the latest trends, policies, and regulations in the banking
industry.
Staying updated with current affairs is crucial for success in bank exams, as it can
help you score well, make informed decisions and improve your general knowledge.
In this edition, we bring you a detailed analysis of the current affairs of the June 2023,
covering a wide range of topics, including national and international news, banking &
economic developments, sports, science and technology, and much more. We have
carefully curated the content to ensure that you get the most relevant and up-to-date
information.
We have also included exam relevant practice questions and quizzes to test your
knowledge and help you assess your preparation.
We are confident that this edition of our Current Affairs Magazine will prove to be a
valuable asset for your exam preparation and help you achieve your career goals. We
wish you all the best for your upcoming bank exams and hope that this magazine will
prove to be an essential tool in your success.
Happy reading!
2
CROSSWORD CURRENT AFFAIRS MAGAZINE
for Students
A Message Jai Hind Future Bankers
I believe that every student is a unique individual
from the Desk with untapped talents and gifts waiting to be

discovered. You possess incredible abilities that
of Smriti Sethi are just waiting to be nurtured and unleashed

upon the world.
& Kapil Kathpal You are the architects of your own destinies.
Dream big, set goals, and work tirelessly towards
achieving them. Believe in your abilities, for you
have the power to shape your own future.
Take risks, step out of your comfort zones, and

embrace the unknown. It is in those moments of
uncertainty that you will discover your true
potential and uncover hidden strengths.
Remember, the journey of learning is not a sprint

but a marathon. Rome wasn't built in a day, and
your achievements will not come overnight.
Embrace the process, for it is in the day-to-day
efforts and small victories that greatness is born.
As we embark on this incredible adventure, I want

you to know that I am here for you, rooting for
you, and believing in you. My role is not only to
educate but also to inspire and motivate.
Together, let us defy limits, challenge the status
quo, and prove that anything is possible.
So, dear students, buckle up, for an exciting and
transformative journey awaits. The world is
waiting for you to make your mark, and I have no
doubt that you will exceed all expectations.
With great anticipation and enthusiasm

Your Mentors- Smriti & Kapil
3
ABOUT MENTORS
Kapil Kathpal is professionally a
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and
having 12 Years of working experience
in the Public Sector Bank in various
departments like General Banking,
Credit and Risk management Dept.
He has been finally
selected as SBI PO & IBPS PO and
once cleared UPSC CSE Mains.
He is the one of the Most Loved
and Leading General awareness
Educator of Bank Examinations and
associated with Unacademy since
2017.
He is having expertise in
Teaching Current Affairs, Banking
Awareness, and Interviews for Bank
exams, All 4 Subjects of JAIIB/DB&F
Exams and All Subjects of RBI Grade
B (Phase-II).
Kapil Kathpal along with his
wife Smriti Sethi is successfully
running 3 Very Popular YouTube
Channels {Studyniti, Bankersniti &
Globalniti} along with a very
successful Bank Exams Mock Tests
Website/Application named
“Studyniti” and recently also launched
Kapil Kathpal Current Affairs Quiz App “Crossword
Current Affairs” and having overall
Thousands of
Followers base of more than 6 Lakh+
across all the Platforms.
aspirants have been

selected from his
batch in various He is well known for his unique
style of motivating the aspirants.
banking exams He is having strong teaching
skills and can effectively
communicate complex
CLICK ICON
TO CONNECT concepts to learners.
4
ABOUT MENTORS
Smriti Sethi is one of the leading
educators for Reasoning and
Quantitative aptitude classes for
banking exams & a motivational
speaker.
She has been imparting free
online classes and have taken
Complete Concepts Classes of All
Topics/ Complete Syllabus (Prelims
& Mains Level) for Reasoning &
Quantitative aptitude of Bank Exams
on her Youtube Channel Studyniti.
Her Strategy & Motivational videos to

Clear the Bank Exams for the
aspirants on her Youtube Channel is
popular among Bank Exam aspirants.
She has cracked SBI PO, SBI
Clerk and LIC AAO exams and has
also launched the most affordable
platform with top-notch content for
banking exams under the name
Studyniti comprising both the
application and website for easing
the preparation for aspirants.
Through the
Studyniti Platform she has been doing
a great job for the past years in
supporting the banking aspirants and Smriti Sethi
Providing Quality Mock Test
Packages, Notebook Series (Daily She is one of the
Practice Questions) and various other
study materials. leading educators for
Reasoning and
She has been imparting free Quantitative aptitude
classes for banking
online classes and have taken
Complete Concepts Classes of
exams
All Topics.
Her Strategy &
Motivational videos to Clear the
CLICK ICON
Bank Exams for the aspirants on TO CONNECT
her Youtube Channel is popular
among Bank Exam aspirants. 5
TOPPER'S TALK
(A Journey of becoming
officer from a candidate)
I was able to answer

the Interviewer, each
and every question
with utmost ease no
matter how deep he
M A Kayum
went with the topic IBPS PO Canara Bank
Q. To whom you will dedicate your success?
I will dedicate my success to Allah for turning the wheels in a way that put
me in the right path to success. I believe what is in our hands is hardwork,
everything else is in his hands.
Secondly, my mother. She has been a best friend and mentor throughout my
life and supported me in everything. During the preparation phase she used
to figure out on her own whenever i was stressed while solving questions
and brought snacks and tea without even asking on the study table and
talked to me for hours to calm me down.
Lastly, I would dedicate my success to all my educators because of whom I
am an officer today.
Q. Out of all the subjects, how important do you feel Current

Affairs & Banking Awareness played their role in the banking
exam?
Game changers, as in Reasoning and Quants you can do only enough to get
a decent score but in GA you can score as much as you want. It only
requires strict discipline and daily revision.
BA also helps to score around 10-15 marks in Mains questions and turns out
Connect with Kapil Sir & Smriti Mam Level Up your preparation with:
@iamkapilkathpal @kkathpal Studyniti Notebook Series (20000+ Practice Ques) FREE

@smritisethi23 @studyniti_smritisethi Studyniti Annual Mock Test Series (Click to Buy)
6
to be very important in the Interview as most of the questions are asked to
test your knowledge of BA.
Q. How important was Kapil Sir’s guidance and Studyniti

mock tests in your preparation journey?
I would start this by saying that Kapil sir is the first and only educator i called
right after the final result got out and i told him that he is the reason why I
could achieve this feat.
I was fortunate enough that i got introduced to Kapil sir and Studyniti.
I found his CA video on YouTube and got hooked to it instantly. I still don't
understand how some aspirants say it's long. The most important thing is
that it isn't boring.
Kapil sir explains each and everything, whether it's banking awareness or
current affairs, with such detail that later the revision becomes extremely
easy.
Kapil sir is also a mind reader and a magician because I can guarantee that
whichever question he marked as important showed up in the Mains exam.
His honest talks and morning podcasts kept me motivated throughout the
entire journey and his live sessions during festivals with Smriti ma'am were
really great.
Kapil sir's explanation of the concepts of Banking awareness is fantastic. My

interview was conducted by the chairman of the panel and he didn't care that
i was a graduate of Biomedical Sciences. He went too technical with the
banking awareness and I was able to answer each and every question with
utmost ease no matter how deep he went with the topic which compelled
the entire panel to praise me after the completion of my interview right then
and there.
My preparation journey began in 2021 with the purchase of Studyniti's PDF

course and it's Mock test subscription was the only subscription i had as i
never felt the need to look for another one as i couldn't even finish them. The
questions are at par and sometimes tougher than the exam level.
Q. What are the few mistakes students commit while

preparing for GA?

7
Taking GA way too lightly. Aspirants need to understand that CA and BA are
every important subjects of the Mains exam and interview and your final
selection could very well depend on it.
You have to dedicate sufficient time to these subjects every day. Even
during Sundays, if you don't feel like studying the other subjects, you have to
revise your CA.
Never leave CA of even one day as it gets accumulated over time and
becomes very hard to cover.
Also students fail to realise the importance of attending the CA quiz which is
free for all at the end of the day.
Q. What would you advise the banking aspirants who wants

to prepare seriously for bank exams in 2023?
It's not becoming an officer that's difficult, it's the person you must become
in order to become an officer.
You have to become a completely different person.
You have to develop character beyond 99% of other aspirants.
You have to develop honesty and discipline and quality relationships and the
willingness and ability to work, sacrifice and set priorities.
Without that nothing is possible.

8
Level Up Preparation
Attempt Mock Tests & Practice Quizzes
for Bank Exams
Stay Up-To-Date
Latest news and events
from around the world
Attempt Daily Current
Affairs Quizzes
9
CROSSWORD
Table of
Contents
Pg.
Appointments & Resignations 11
Awards 19
Banking & Insurance 27
Books & Authors 50
Defence News 52
Festivals 61
Important Days 63
International News 73
Mergers & Acquisitions 82
MOU's & Partnership 86
National News 98
Science & Technology 134
Sports 139
State / UT News 149
Obituaries 160
Reports & Indices 164
Visits, Meetings & Summits 182
Current Affairs Cracker SHOTS 186
Static Awareness 203
Current Affairs MCQs 211
7
Appointments &
Resignations
Ashwani Kumar, Executive Director of
CAG Murmu re-elected as external
Indian Bank appointed as MD & CEO of
auditor of WHO for 4-year term
UCO Bank
Comptroller and Auditor General of India Girish

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC)
Chandra Murmu was re-elected as the external auditor
approved the appointment of Ashwani Kumar,
of the World Health Organization (WHO) for a four-year
Executive Director, Indian Bank as Managing Director
term from 2024 to 2027.
(MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UCO Bank
The election was held in the 76th World Health
Ashwani Kumar succeeding Soma Sankara Prasad,
Assembly in Geneva
who has been the MD & CEO from 2021 is set to retire
on 31st May 2023.
Sandeep Batra reappointed as ED of
ICICI Bank for 2 years
NTPC CMD Gurdeep Singh Gets Additional
Charge as CMD of NEEPCO
The board of directors of ICICI Bank has approved the

Gurdeep Singh, Chairman and Managing
re-appointment of Sandeep Batra as Executive
Director(CMD) of NTPC Limited has been given
Director(ED) of ICICI Bank for 2 years with effect from
additional charge as the CMD of North Eastern
23rd December 2023 to 22nd December 2025.
Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO),
following the retirement of the incumbent CMD P C
Recep Tayyip Erdogan Re–elected as Pankaj.
President of Türkiye for a third term

Hrithik Roshan appointed brand
ambassador for Zebronics TV
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was re-elected as the President

of Türkiye for his third consecutive term. An IT peripheral, audio systems, and lifestyle
He has been serving as the 12th President of Türkiye accessories company, Zebronics has signed actor
since 2014. Hrithik Roshan as the face of its range of Smart LED
TVs.

11
CROSSWORD CURRENT AFFAIRS BY KAPIL KATHPAL JUNE 2023
Sachin Tendulkar named ‘Smile Parminder Chopra becomes first woman

Ambassador’ for oral hygiene campaign head of Power Finance Corporation
for
Cricket Icon Sachin Tendulkar was named the ‘Smile

Ambassador’ Maharashtra’s ‘Swachh Mukh
Abhiyan’(SMA), a campaign to create awareness about
oral health and hygiene across Maharashtra, for a Parminder Chopra was appointed as the next
period of 5 years. Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Power
The SMA campaign has been conceptualised in Finance Corporation (PFC).
association with the Indian Dental Association (IDA) in Parminder Chopra is the first woman appointed as the
order to promote oral hygiene. Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of company.
IAS officer Ajay Yadav appointed as Argentina’s Celeste Saulo appointed as

MD of Solar Energy Corporation 1st female Secretary-General of World
Meteorological Organization
Ajay Yadav, an Indian Administrative (IAS) officer was

appointed as the Managing Director (MD) of Solar
Energy Corporation of India (SECI)
Ajay Yadav succeeded Suman Sharma, former MD of Prof Celeste Saulo, a leading meteorologist from
SECI Argentina, was appointed as the first female Secretary-
General of the World Meteorological Organization
She will succeed Prof Petteri Taalas of Finland, who has
CCI Director General Atul Verma gets
been the SG of WMO (for 2 terms) since 2016.
3-month extension Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of India
Meteorological Department, under the Ministry of
Earth Science, has been elected as the Third Vice-
President of WMO.
Dennis Francis of Trinidad and

The Government of India(GoI) has extended the tenure Tobago’s Elected as UNGA President
of Atul Verma as the Director General of the
Competition Commission of India (CCI) for three
for the 78th session
months beyond May 31, 2023.
Amarendu Prakash Takes Charge as SAIL

Chairman; Succeeds Soma Mondal
Dennis Francis, Trinidad and Tobago’s Ambassador to

the United Nations (UN), elected as the President of the
Amarendu Prakash took charge as the new Chairman
78th session of the United Nations General Assembly
of Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL), a Maharatna
(UNGA) in the General Assembly Hall.
Central Public Sector Enterprise(CPSE) under the
He will succeed Csaba Kőrösi of Hungary, President of
Ministry of Steel, He succeeds Soma Mondal, who
the 77th session of the UNGA.
retired from the post on April 30, 2023

12
Rajesh Kumar Anand VSM takes over as Kenichi Umeda appointed as MD of Suzuki
Air Officer-in-Charge Administration Motorcycle India
Air Marshal Rajesh Kumar Anand took over as the Air

Kenichi Umeda has been appointed as the new
Officer-in-Charge Administration (AOA).
Managing Director of Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd.
An alumnus of the National Defense Academy, the Air
Umeda succeeds Satoshi Uchida, who has completed
Marshal was commissioned as Air Marshal in the
his term as the Managing Director of the company,
administrative branch of the Indian Air Force.
Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt Ltd (SMIPL).
P Upadhyay INAS takes over as

Kalikesh Singh Deo appointed as
Director General of Naval Armament
president of NRAI
P Upadhyay, INAS has taken over as Director General of Senior Vice President Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo
Naval Armament (DGONA) from KSC Iyer. assumed charge as the President of the National Rifle
Upadhyay is an officer of the 1987 batch of the Indian Association of India
Naval Armament Service. He replaced Raninder Singh.
NRAI was established in 1951 with the objective of
promoting and popularizing shooting sports in India.
Prathapa Reddy took charge as The first speaker of Lok Sabha, GV Mavalankar was the
Chairman of APGVB founder president of NRAI.
PESB Recommended Sanjay Swarup as the

Next CMD of CONCOR
K Prathapa Reddy took charge as the Chairman of

Warangal (Telangana)-headquartered Andhra Pradesh
Grameena Vikas Bank (APGVB), Regional Rural Bank
sponsored by SBI, Operating in Telangana and Andhra Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB)
Pradesh. recommended Sanjay Swarup for the post of Chairman
He took charge from K. Praveen Kumar, the outgoing and Managing Director (CMD) of Container Corporation
chairman of APGVB. of India Limited (CONCOR)
V Kalyana Rama, the current CMD, is set to step down
from the role in September 2023.
J P Chalasani appointed as CEO of Suzlon
Anantharaman appointed chairman of
TransUnion Cibil
The board of members of Suzlon Energy has appointed

Credit bureau TransUnion CIBIL has appointed banker
J P Chalasani as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
V Anantharaman as non-executive chairman.
of the company with immediate effect.
Anantharaman takes over from Mr. M V Nair, who
He has replaced Ashwani Kumar
served as the chairman for over eleven years.

13
Ritu Kalra named Harvard’s vice president

ACC appointed Amit Agrawal as new CEO of
for finance and CFO
UIADI & Subodh Kumar Singh as Director-
General of NTA

Investment banking and financial management expert
of Indian-American origin, Ritu Kalra has been
The Appointments
Committee of the Cabinet

appointed as the vice president for finance and chief
financial officer at Harvard University.
appointed Amit Agrawal as Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) of Unique Identification Authority of India
(UIDAI) and Subodh Kumar Singh as the Director- Hyundai Signs Indian Cricketer Hardik
General (DG) of the National Testing Agency (NTA).
Pandya as Brand Ambassador for Exter
Amit Agrawal succeeds Saurabh Garg, whose two year
term has ended and was also appointed as Secretary,
Department of Social Justice and Empowerment
Subodh Kumar Singh will be replacing Vineet Joshi
Nitin Agarwal appointed as the New DG

of BSF Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has signed Indian
cricketer Hardik Pandya as the brand ambassador for
Exter, its sub 4 metre sports utility vehicle (SUV)
RBI Approved Re-appointment of PN

Vasudevan as the MD & CEO of Equitas
SFB
Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has
appointed Nitin Agarwal, an Indian Police Service (IPS)
officer of the 1989 Batch Kerala cadre, was appointed
as the new Director General (DG) of the Border Security
Force (BSF)
Nitin Agarwal will succeed Sujoy Lal Thaosen, who has
been holding the additional charge of BSF since The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the re-
December 2022. appointment of P N Vasudevan as the managing
director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) of
Equitas Small Finance Bank (SFB) for a 3-year term
Amitava Mukherjee gets 3 months with effect from July 23, 2023.
extension as CMD (additional charge) of
NMDC and NMDC Steel FSIB selected Ramaswamy Narayanan as
CMD, GIC Re
The Ministry of Steel has given 3 months extension to

Amitava Mukherjee, Director of National Mineral The Financial Services Institution Bureau (FSIB) has
Development Corporation (NMDC) Ltd to hold the selected Ramaswamy Narayanan, General Manager,
additional charge of Chairman & Managing Director General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re), as the
(CMD) NMDC and NMDC steel Ltd from 1.6.2023 to next Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of GIC Re.
31.8.2023 He will succeed Devesh Srivastav, the current CMD of
GIC Re

14
FSIB selected Rajeswari Singh Muni as CMD U Saravanan appointed as the CMD of
of NICL NFL
FSIB has selected
Rajeswari
Singh Muni, General
Manager & Director (GMD), United India Insurance, as U Saravanan was appointed as the Chairman &
the CMD of National Insurance Company Limited Managing Director (CMD) of National Fertilizers Limited
(NICL). (NFL)
She will succeed Suchita Gupta, the current CMD of Prior to the appointment, he was serving as the CMD of
NIC Madras Fertilizers Limited (MFL)
Kuwait re-elects Ahmad Nawaf al-

IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers elected as next
Sabah as Prime Minister
chief of IATA’s board of governors
Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah has been re-

elected as Kuwait’s Prime Minister following a decree Pieter Elbers,the Chief executive officer(CEO) of
(official order) issued by Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh InterGlobe Aviation Limited (IndiGo), has been elected
Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as the chair-elect of the International Air Transport
He served as the Kuwait National Guard’s deputy Association (IATA) Board of Governors.
commander from November 2020 till March 2022 and He will succeed the current chairman Yvonne Manzi
was first appointed as the Prime Minister on July 24, Makolo, the CEO of Rwandair, in June 2024.
2022.
Axis Bank appoints N. S. Vishwanathan Epson India signs Rashmika Mandanna as

as Part-time Non-Executive Chairman brand ambassador
Printer company Epson India has signed actor

The Board of Directors of Axis Bank approved the Rashmika Mandanna as its brand ambassador.
appointment of N. S. Vishwanathan, Independent The actress will collaborate with the company to
Director as the Non-Executive (Part-time) Chairman of promote its products in a multi-media campaign for its
the Bank for a period of three years ‘EcoTank’ printers this month.
Aalok Kumar appointed as ADB Bank’s Hasmukh Adhia appointed as Chairman of

High-Level Advisory Group GIFT City
Hasmukh Adhia, the Senior retired bureaucrat and

Aalok Kumar has been appointed as a member of the former Union Finance Secretary & Revenue Secretary,
Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) High-level Advisory has been appointed Chairman of GIFT City Ltd by
Group on Digital Technology for Development in Asian replacing Sudhir Mankad, former chief secretary of
countries with effect from May 1, 2023. Gujarat.

15
Swaminathan Janakiraman, MD of SBI Petteri Orpo, NCP Party leader elected as

appointed as Deputy Governor of RBI New Prime Minister of Finland
Parliament of Finland elected Petteri Orpo,
Appointments
Committee of the Cabinet (ACC)

conservative National Coalition Party (NCP) leader as
Prime Minister (PM) of Finland.
approved the appointment of Swaminathan
Petteri Orpo succeeded Sanna Marin of the Social
Janakiraman, Managing Director (MD) (Corporate
Democrats party, who served as the PM of Finland from
Banking and Subsidiaries) of the State Bank of India
2019-2023.
(SBI) to the post of Deputy Governor (DG) of the
Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
He will succeed Mahesh Kumar Jain, whose 5 years
Kyriakos Mitsotakis wins second term
tenure ends on June 22nd 2023.
as Greek PM
Catalin Predoiu, Justice Minister of

Romania appointed as Interim PM of
Romania
Kyriakos Mitsotakis, leader of Greece’s centre-right

New Democracy (ND) party, won the national election
and secured a 2nd four-year term as the Prime
Minister(PM) of Greece.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis served as the PM of Greece for the
Klaus Iohannis, the President of Romani has appointed first term from July 2019 to May 2023.
Catalin Predoiu, the Justice Minister of Romania as the
interim (Acting) Prime Minister (PM) following the
resignation of current PM Nicolae Ciuca
Aarti Holla-Maini of UK appointed as
Director of UN Office for Outer Space
Alibaba CEO Zhang Resigns to focus on Affairs
Alibaba Cloud Intelligence Group
Daniel Zhang Yong, the 51-year-old Chinese business United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres
executive, has announced his resignation as Alibaba appointed Aarti Holla-Maini, an Indian-origin satellite
Group Holding chairman and Chief Executive industry expert from the United Kingdom (UK), as the
Officer(CEO) and to focus on Alibaba Cloud Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space
Intelligence Group. Affairs (UNOOSA).
Eddie Yongming Wu, chairman of Alibaba’s Taobao Aarti Holla-Maini will succeed Simonetta Di Pippo of
and Tmall Group, is set to assume the role of CEO at Italy, who served as the Director of UNOOSA from 2014
Alibaba Group. to 2022.

16
DBS Bank India Appoints Rajat Verma as Rohit Jawa took charge as MD and CEO of
Managing Director of Institutional Banking Hindustan Unilever Ltd
Group
Development Bank of Singapore Ltd (DBS) Bank Rohit Jawa took over as the new Managing
appointed Rajat Verma as Managing Director(MD) and Director(MD) & Chief executive officer(CEO) of
head of DBS Institutional Banking Group, India. Hindustan Unilever Limited(HUL) following Sanjiv
Rajat will be succeeding Niraj Mittal. Mehta’s retirement.
Jhulan Goswami, Heather Knight and

Eoin Morgan Joins MCC World Cricket RBI approved Appointment of A P Hota
Committee as Federal Bank’s Part-Time Chairman
Jhulan Goswami, former Indian woman cricketer,

Heather Knight, captain of the England women’s
cricket team and Eoin Morgan, former England Men’s Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the appointment
cricketer have joined the MCC (Marylebone Cricket of AP Hota, independent director, as part-time
Club) World Cricket Committee (WCC). chairman of the Federal Bank for three years

17
Stay Up-To-Date
Latest news and events
from around the world
Attempt Daily Current
Affairs Quizzes

18
Awards &
Recognition
Jnanpith Award Konkani writer Damodar Mauzo received 57th
(The 57th edition) Jnanpith Award
Damodar Mauzo, an eminent Konkani writer and
Sahitya Akademi Award winner, received the 57th
Jnanpith Award from P S Sreedharan Pillai,
Governor of Goa, at an event held at the Raj
Bhavan, Panaji, Goa.
He is the 2nd konkani writer after Ravindra Kelekar
to receive the award.
Ravindra Kelekar was the recipient of the 42nd
Jnanpith Award.
Nilmani Phookan, an Assamese poet received the
56th Jnanpith Award.
Hypersonic IISc named Hypersonic Wind Tunnel After Late Prof

Wind Tunnel Roddam Narasimha
(Name in Honor)
Indian Institute of Science (IISC), Bengaluru, named
its 0.5 Diameter enclosed free-jet Hypersonic Wind
Tunnel after Late Professor Roddam Narasimha to
recognise his pioneering efforts in experimental
hypersonics in India.
He was awarded Padma Vibushan, the Second-
highest civilian award in India, in 2023 for his
contribution to work.
The cutting-edge wind tunnel technology
generates a circular air jet at hypersonic speeds,
capable of reaching Mach 10 (Mach 1 is equal to 343
meters per second)
IISc Bengaluru also has three supersonic and two
hypersonic wind tunnels in total. Two other
hypersonic wind tunnel facilities at ISRO and
DRDO.

19
NABH AIIMS Nagpur Becomes 1st AIIMS to Receive NABH

Accreditation Accreditation
(1st AIIMS )
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS) in
Nagpur, Maharashtra has become the first of all
AIIMS to be accredited by the National
Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare
Providers (NABH).
NABH is a constituent board of the Quality Council
of India (QCI), set up to establish and operate
accreditation programmes for healthcare
organisations.
Michel Batisse Jagdish Bakan, Ramanathapuram DFO, wins

Award UNESCO’s 2023 Michel Batisse Award
Jagdish Sudhakar Bakan, wildlife warden and
(UNESCO)
District Forest Officer (DFO) of Ramanathapuram
district, Tamil Nadu has been selected for United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO)’s 2023 Michel Batisse
Award for Biosphere Reserve Management.
He is the first Indian to win Michel Batisse Award.
NWO Spinoza Indian-origin scientist Joyeeta Gupta honoured

Prize with NWO Spinoza Prize 2023
Dutch Research Council has named Indian-origin
(2023)
Scientist Joyeeta Gupta, Professor of Environment
and Development in the global South at the
University of Amsterdam, as the recipient of the
2023 NWO Spinoza Prize, the highest scientific
awards in the Netherlands
RSL Christopher British Writer Paterson Joseph wins 2023 RSL

Bland Prize Christopher Bland Prize
British actor and writer Paterson Joseph has won
(5th edition)
the 2023 Royal Society of Literature(RSL)
Christopher Bland Prize (5th edition of the award)
for his debut novel titled “The Secret Diaries of
Charles Ignatius Sancho”.
The award carries a cash prize of 10,000 Pound
sterling.

20
ViE Award Bharat Biotech won ViE Award 2023 at World

(2023) Vaccine Congress Washington 2023
Bharat Biotech International Limited (Bharat
Biotech) won the Best Production/Process
Development Award at ViE Award 2023, the 16th
Annual ViE awards, during the World Vaccine
Congress Washington 2023
Bharat Biotech is the world’s first producer of
intranasal Covid-19 vaccine, iNcovacc. Its
intramuscular vaccine, Covaxin, is part of India’s
public vaccination programme.
UITP Awards Mumbai’s BEST received UITP Awards 2023 under

(2023) ‘Climate And Health’ category
Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport
(BEST) Undertaking, a civic transport and
electricity provider public body based in Mumbai,
Maharashtra, won the UITP (Union Internationale
des Transports Publics) Awards 2023 under Climate
and Health category for its project “BEST Green
Travel Initiative: Creating Sustainable Public
Transportation”.
Lokesh Chandra, General Manager of BEST,
received the award during an award ceremony
organized as a part of the UITP Global Public
Transport Summit held in Barcelona, Spain.
Award for BEST received award for excellence in smart
excellence mobility by FICCI
(Mobility)
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce
and Industry (FICCI) honoured BEST with an award
for excellence in the “smart mobility” category.
The award recognises the efforts of BEST towards
the transformation of bus transport undertaken by
BEST in the past 2 years.
BEST aims to convert the entire fleet to electric
buses and grow it to 10000 e-buses by 2026. The
fleet will double from 3219 to 7000 by 2023.
The entire fleet will be powered by renewable solar
energy. It has already procured the 700 MW of solar
energy that is needed to power its fleet.
Digital Tickets on NCMC and BEST Chalo App (E-
bus app):This offers mobile tickets, passes, live
tracking and live seat status.

21
Order of the England all-rounder Moeen Ali awarded Order of

British Empire the British Empire
England all-rounder Moeen Ali has been awarded
OBE (Order of the British Empire) for his services to
the game of cricket during the Queen’s birthday
honours.
He represented England for 225 matches across all
the three formats.
He retired from test cricket in September 2021 with
2,914 runs and 195 wickets from 64 Tests.
The Order of the British Empire was established by
King George V in 1917 to honour those who had
served in a non-combative role
European Essay Arundhati Roy Awarded the European Essay Prize

Prize 2023
Indian writer Arundhati Roy was awarded the 45th
(Lifetime
European Essay Prize for lifetime achievement by
Achievement) the Charles Veillon Foundation for the French
translation of her compilation of essays titled
“Azadi” (2021).
Roy will receive a prize money of CHF 20,000
(roughly Rs 18 lakh) at an award event on
September 12 in Lausanne, Switzerland.
European Essay Prize awarded by the Charles
Veillon Foundation since 1975, to honour a book or
the work of an author, to nourishing and spreading
the evolution of thought.
National Water Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar presents

Awards 2022 National Water Awards 2022 in New Delhi
Vice President (VP) of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar,
conferred the 4th National Water Awards, 2022 at
Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on 41 winners in 11
categories
The National Water Awards were launched in 2018

22
Rank Winner
Best State
1 MP
2 Odisha
3 AP & Bihar
Best District
1 Ganjam District, Odisha
2 Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu (TN)
3 Adilabad District, Telangana
Best Village Panchayat
Jagannadhapuram Village Panchayat, Bhadradri Kothagudem

1
district, Telangana
Kadavur Village Panchayat, Karur district, Tamil Nadu and

2 Manickal Village Panchayat, Thiruvananthapuram district,
Kerala
Kadegaon Village Panchayat, Jalna district, Maharashtra and

3 Mawkyrdep Village Panchayat, Bhoi Rymbong Block, Ri Bhoi
district, Meghalaya.
“Athi Uttam” by Geological Survey of India Training Institute

NABET (GSITI),under the Ministry of Mines, received
(Accreditation) accreditation from National Accreditation Board of
Education and Training (NABET) for its outstanding
Earth Science training.
Team from Capacity Building Commission (CBC),
NABET and Quality Council of India(QCI) awarded
the Certificate of Accreditation with the grading of
Athi Uttam following the on-site assessment.

23
“Governor of the Shaktikanta Das, the 25th governor of the Reserve

Year” Bank of India (RBI) has been honoured with the
(RBI) title the “Governor of the Year” at the Central
Banking Awards 2023 in London
He is the second RBI governor to be honoured with
the award after Raghuram Rajan, who received the
title in 2015.
Peace Prize of Salman Rushdie, an Indian born British-American

the German writer was awarded the 2023 Peace Prize of the
German Book Trade for his literary work and for his
Book Trade
resolve and positive attitude in the face of constant
(2023)
threat to his life.
The award ceremony will take place on 22nd
October 2023 in the Church of St. Paul in Frankfurt
am Main, Germany.
The 2022 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade
was awarded to Serhiy Zhadan, an Ukrainian
author and musician.
World Airline Skytrax 2023 World Airline Awards in Paris Air
Awards Show 2023, Paris, France, Star Alliance is named
(Skytrax 2023) the World’s Best Airline Alliance Award for
Singapore Airlines, and the Star Alliance Lounge at
Los Angeles(LA) International Airport wins the top
award as the Best Alliance Lounge for the 7th year.
The Star Alliance network which was established in
1997, is a global group of 26 airlines, including Air
India, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and South
African Airlines.
The Skytrax World Airline Awards are known as
“the Oscars of the aviation industry”, and are
decided through international customer voting.
4th Annual An Indian documentary film titled “When Climate
Health for All Change Turns Violent” has won a special prize in
the ‘Health for All’ category at the 4th Annual
Film Festival
Health for All Film Festival (HAFF) held at the
(HAFF) World Health Organisation (WHO) headquarters in
Geneva, Switzerland.
The only Indian among the winners, Vandita Sariya
directed the film which deals with gender-based
violence & climate change that runs for 4.32
minutes.

24
Iqbal Masih Lalitha Natarajan, Chennai based Lawyer-Activist

Award has been awarded the 2023 Iqbal Masih Award for
(2023)
the Elimination of Child Labour for her
extraordinary contributions to combat child labour.
Judith Ravin, the United States of America (USA)
Consul General presented the award to Lalitha
Natarajan at a ceremony at the U.S. Consulate
General in Chennai, Tamil Nadu
The Olympic The International Olympic Committee (IOC)

Order President Thomas Bach presented the Olympic
Order to the World Health Organisation (WHO)
Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus in an award
ceremony held at Olympic House in Lausanne,
Switzerland.
During the event, IOC has also honoured The World
Health Organisation (WHO) with the Olympic Cup
for 2021 in recognition of its exceptional
contribution to the success of the Olympic and
Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020
AI Fozan The 1st edition of UNESCO–AI Fozan International
International Prize 2023 was conferred upon five exceptional
young scientists from Argentina, Cameroon, China,
Prize
Egypt and Serbia during a ceremony at UNESCO
(2023)
headquarters in Paris, France.
The Prize consists of an award of US $50,000 for
each of the five laureates as well as a medal and a
diploma.
All winners of AI Fozan International Prize 2023
Dr Federico ARIEL (Argentina)
Professor Abdon ATANGANA (Cameroon)
Professor Qiaomei FU (China)
Dr Hesham OMRAN (Egypt)
Dr Jelena VLADIC (Serbia)
Bal Sahitya The Executive Board of the Sahitya Akademi

Puraskar chaired by Madhav Kaushik, President, Sahitya
(2023) Akademi declared a list of 22 recipients of its Bal
Sahitya Puraskar and 20 winners of its Yuva
Puraskar for the year 2023.
@iamkapilkathpal
@smritisethi23
@kkathpal
@studyniti_smritisethi
Studyniti Notebook Series (20000+ Practice Ques) FREE
Studyniti Annual Mock Test Series (Click to Buy) 2525
'Order of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded the

Nile' 'Order of the Nile,' Egypt's highest honor, by
(Egypt's highest
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi during a ceremony
honor) at the Presidential palace in Cairo
This is the 13th highest state honor conferred upon
Prime Minister Modi.
Governors Angela Bassett, Mel Brooks, and Carol Littleton are

Awards set to receive honorary Oscars at the 2023
(Honorary Oscars)
Governors Awards, the Academy of Motion Picture
Arts and Sciences during the 14th annual Governors
Awards taking place at the Fairmont Century Plaza
in Los Angeles.
The Academy will also be awarding Sundance
founding director Michelle Satter with the Jean
Hersholt Humanitarian Award.
Distinguished Droupadi Murmu, President of India conferred 85

Service Awards Distinguished Service Awards to serving and
(2023) retired Indian Armed Forces and Indian Coast
Guard (ICG) personnel for distinguished service of
an exceptional order during the Defence
Investiture Ceremony (Phase-II) held at the
Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, Delhi.
The 84 Distinguished Service Awards includes 52
Ati Vishisht Seva Medals (AVSMs), one Bar to AVSM,
three Uttam Yudh Seva Medals (UYSMs) and 29
Param Vishisht Seva Medals (PVSMs).

26
Banking & Insurance
TURBO UPI: RAZORPAY UNVEILS Banao Rich’ which represents its core focus
INDIA’S FASTEST ONE-STEP of being a complete solution provider.
PAYMENTS SOLUTION The tagline reflects its objective to
encourage customers to spend time and
make memories with their loved ones.
FDI EQUITY INFLOWS DIP 22% TO

$46.03 BILLION IN FY23: DPIIT DATA
Razorpay has launched India’s fastest one-

step UPI (Unified Payments Interface)
payment solution namely ‘Turbo UPI’
allowingcustomers of online merchants to
make UPI payments directly without
getting redirected to a third-party UPI app According to the Department for
during checkout. Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
This Solution was developed in partnership (DPIIT) data, the Foreign Direct
with National Payments Corporation of Investment (FDI) into India declined by
India (NPCI) And Axis Bank. 22% to $46.03 billion in FY23 as
YES BANK UNVEILS NEW LOGO compared to $58.77 billion during FY22.
The overseas inflows during the March
LAUNCHED ‘LIFE KO BANAO RICH’
2023 quarter increased by 40.55% to
CAMPAIGN TAGLINE
$9.28 billion.
Total FDI inflows, which include equity
inflows, reinvested earnings and other
capital, declined by 16% year-on-year (y-
o-y) to $70.97 billion in the last fiscal.
The FDI equity inflows declined in
January, February, and March in FY23 to
$4.05 billion, $2.85 billion, and $2.38
billion, respectively as against $6.4 billion
Yes Bank has unveiled a new logo and
in January 2022, $4.61 billion in February
brand identity.
2022, and $4.6 billion in March last year.
The tick has been transformed into a
Top Investing State:
soaring bird, representing the Bank’s
Maharashtra - $14.8 billion
current position of ‘soaring’.
Karnataka - $10.43 billion
The bank also launched an integrated
Delhi - $7.53 billion
campaign with the tagline – ‘Life Ko -

27
Top Investor in FY23

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Co. Ltd
Singapore $17.2 billion launched the first of its kind insurance
plan in the Indian life insurance
industry designed for Type 2 diabetic
Mauritius $6.13 billion and pre-diabetic individuals, named
‘Bajaj Allianz Life Diabetic Term Plan
Sub 8 HbA1c’.
US $6 billion As per the data of Bajaj Allianz Life,
India is referred to as the ‘diabetes
capital of the world’ with the diabetic
UAE $3.35 billion population in the country expected to
hit 69.9 million by 2025 and 80 million
by 2030.
Netherlands $2.5 billion The term plan will enable financial
security for pre-diabetic or Type 2
diabetic individuals whose HbA1c
(Haemoglobin A1c) is up to 8%.
Japan $1.8 billion
ADB LAUNCHES INDIA CPS FOR 2023-27
UK $1.73 billion
Cyprus $1.27 billion
Cayman island $772 million

The Asian Development Bank (ADB)
rolled out its ‘India Country Partnership
Strategy (CPS) 2023-2027: Catalyze
Germany $547 million
Robust, Climate resilient, and inclusive
growth’ to assist India in its efforts to
BAJAJ ALLIANZ LIFE INSURANCE
achieve sustainable, climate-resilient,
LAUNCHES INDIA’S 1ST INSURANCE
and inclusive growth for the next five
PLAN FOR DIABETICS
years.
The CPS is well aligned with India’s
national development priorities to be
achieved by 2047, when India marks
100 years of independence.
3 pillars of CPS:
Pillar 1: Accelerate Structure
Transformation and Job creation -

28
through convergence of logistics–industry–

urban–skilling programs, coupled with
support for Micro, Small, And Medium-Sized
Enterprises (MSMEs).
Pillar 2: Promote Climate Resilient Green
Growth
Pillar 3: Deepen Social and Economic
Inclusiveness: The social and economic
inclusiveness will be improved by Kiwi, a ground-breaking credit card
rebalancing ADB’s portfolio more towards platform, has launched its all-inclusive
human development in health, social ‘Credit on UPI’ customer solution
protection, and education; basic urban Kiwi, the first app in India to receive
services; and agriculture and rural certification from the National Payments
development. Corporation of India (NPCI), will enable
customers to experience “Credit on UPI”
YUBI PARTNERS WITH INDIAN BANK INDIA EMERGES AS TOP SOURCE

TO PROVIDE DIGITAL SUPPLY CHAIN COUNTRY FOR FDI INTO DUBAI
FINANCING FOR SMES
According to a report released by “fDi

Markets”, a service from United Kingdom’s
Yubi (formerly known as CredAvenue), has UK’s Financial Times Ltd, India is the top
partnered with Indian Bank to extend source country for Foreign Direct
digital supply chain financing solutions to Investment (FDI) in Dubai, United Arab
small and medium-sized businesses Emirates (UAE).
(SMEs). India is ranked among the top 5 source
Yubi is an online debt marketplace that countries for announced FDI projects and
connects borrowers and lenders for estimated FDI capital.
various credit products. Dubai is ranked No 1 globally for attracting
The partnership is expected to disburse Rs greenfield FDI projects in 2022.
1,500 crore within the first year. With 77.5 % of greenfield projects, the top
sectors by FDI projects from India into
KIWI: REVOLUTIONIZING CREDIT WITH Dubai in 2022 were software & IT services
UPI AND RUPAY CARDS (32%), business services (19%), consumer

29
products (9%), real estate (6%), and financial

services (5%).
The top sectors by FDI capital from India
into Dubai in 2022 were consumer
products (28%), software & IT services
(20%), communications (19%),
pharmaceuticals (8%), and business
services (8%). Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL) in
partnership with Myntra launched its first-
RBI & IIT MADRAS COLLABORATES TO of-its-kind co-branded digital fashion and
LAUNCH VOICE BANKING SOLUTION lifestyle credit card namely ‘Kotak Myntra
credit card’ which will be available on
MasterCard and RuPay networks and can
be applied for completely online.
Recent news about Cards:
The ‘Singara Chennai Card’ [National
Common Mobility Card (NCMC)] was
introduced by Chennai Metro Rail Ltd
(CMRL) in collaboration with State Bank of
India (SBI).
IIT Madras Research Park (IITMRP), not HDFC Bank, India’s largest private bank,
for profit company promoted by the launches Regalia Gold Credit Card, for
Indian Institute of Technology Madras travel and lifestyle needs.
(IITM) and IITM Incubation Cell (IITMIC) WYLD, the world’s 1st Social Currency
have joined hands with Reserve Bank Payment Card, was launched in Mumbai,
Innovation Hub (RBIH) to introduce Maharashtra, and was powered by San
voice-banking solutions to eliminate Francisco (California, USA)-based VISA Inc.
language barriers across India. Paytm in partnership with SBI Card and
The voice-based banking solution aims NPCI, launches the next-generation co-
at conducting basic banking branded RuPay Credit Card named ‘Paytm
transactions through voice-controls in SBI Card’ on the RuPay network.
Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and English, in the ‘MOOMARK‘: FIRST INDIAN PVT.
initial stage. DAIRY TO LAUNCH HEAT INDEX
Voice-banking will assist the illiterate LINKED INSURANCE PRODUCT
and the visually impaired in their
banking needs.
MYNTRA, KOTAK MAHINDRA BANK

LAUNCHES FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND DIGITAL
FASHION CO-BRANDED CREDIT CARD

30
Stellapps’ fintech arm mooPay Private According to the official data released by
Limited, in partnership with IBISA the Union Government, the Indian
Network, HDFC ERGO and Gramcover, Economy’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
has launched heat Index-based growth in Q4 FY23 is projected at 6.1%
insurance plan to provide financial year-on-year when compared to the 4.5%
compensation growth in Q3 FY23 and 4% in FY22.
Objective:- To mooMark dairy farmers in Sector-wise Growth in Q4FY23:
case of income loss due to a fall in milk
productivity during heat waves in summer. SECTOR GROWTH
In the first phase, mooMark includes this
insurance in its loyalty program,
covering approximately 7,000 farmers Service sector 6.9%
in 5 districts across 4 states, with a total
sum assured exceeding Rs 1.3 crore.
Agriculture 5.5%
MANAPPURAM FINANCE LAUNCHED
DIGITAL LENDING APP ‘MA-MONEY’
Manufacturing 4.5%
Construction sector 10.4%
Electricity, gas, water supply

and other utility services 6.9%
Manappuram Finance Limited launched
segment
a new digital lending platform named
‘Ma-Money’ to provide customers with
JP MORGAN RAISES INDIA’S FY24 GDP
all the financial products offered by
FORECAST TO 5.5%
Manappuram Finance under one
platform.
INDIA’S GDP GROWS AT 6.1% IN

Q4FY23 AND 7.2% IN FY23: UNION
GOVT DATA
JP Morgan raised its forecast for India’s

annual growth by 50 basis points to 5.5%
for fiscal 2024, following an increase in
India’s gross domestic product (GDP)
growth to 6.1% in the March quarter of
FY23 (Q4FY23).

31
IRDAI IDENTIFIED SBI LIFE AS THE

ACQUIRER-INSURER OF BUSINESS OF
SILIC
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released its

Annual Report 2022-23, a static report of
the Central Board of Directors on the
working of the RBI for the year ended
The Insurance Regulatory and
March 31, 2023 submitted to the Central
Development Authority of India (IRDAI)
Government in terms of Section 53(2) of
identified SBI Life Insurance Company
the RBI Act, 1934.
Limited (SBI Life) as the acquirer–insurer of
According to the second advance
the business of Sahara India Life Insurance
estimates (SAE) of national income
Co. (SILIC).
released by the National Statistical Office
This decision has been taken by IRDAI in
(NSO) the Indian economy is expected to
exercise of its powers under sub-section (2)
have recorded a 7.0% growth in real GDP
of Section 52B of the Insurance Act, 1938.
(Gross Domestic Product) in FY23 from
KARBON CARD LAUNCHED CARD++, 9.1% in FY22.
INDIA’S 1ST MOBILE BASED EXPENSE Overall, headline inflation increased to
MANAGEMENT CARD 6.7% in 2022-23 from 5.5% in 2021-22.
Inflation reached a peak of 7.8 per cent in
April 2022
The general government deficit and debt
moderated to 9.4% and 86.5% of GDP,
respectively, in FY23 from the peak levels
of 13.1% and 89.4% in FY21, respectively.
The gross fiscal deficit (GFD) of the
government declined from 6.75% of GDP
Karbon Card, a B2B (Business to Business)
in FY22 to 6.45% of GDP in 2022-23.
payment solution provider launched
India’s current account deficit (CAD) was
India’s first-ever mobile-based expense
at 2.7% of GDP during April-December
management card namely ‘Card++’.
2022.
Based on the mobile-first approach, it will
As per the International Monetary Fund
address the challenges faced by startups
(IMF), Global growth has slowed from
and Small and Midsize Business (SMB) by
6.2% in 2021 to 3.4% in 2022.
providing reliable and accessible expense
Global inflation increased to 8.7% from
solution
4.7% in 2021 and Global trade growth
RBI’S ANNUAL REPORT 2022-23 slowed from 10.4% in 2021 to 5.1% in 2022.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI):

32
According to the RBI annual report, the total In FY23, as per the assessment of bank
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows into group-wise fraud cases over the last
India reached a three-year low of USD 46 three years private sector banks reported
billion in FY23. the maximum number of frauds,
Top 3 FDI Flows in India in FY23: whereas the public sector banks
continued to contribute maximum to
FY23 (FDI IN USD the fraud amount
SOURCE/INDUSTRY
BILLION) 13,530 cases of bank frauds are identified
in 2022-23 involving an amount of Rs
30,252 crore
Singapore 17.2
Frauds on advances, which includes
wilful loan defaults have decreased in
the last two years from Rs 1.3 lakh crore
Mauritius 6.1
to Rs 28,792 crore in 2022-23. Close to
70% of the amount involved in total
bank frauds were in public sector banks
United States 6
Rise in RBI’s total income in 2022-23 by
47.06%:
SECTOR-WISE INFLOWS FY22 FY23

(CRORES) (CRORES)
Manufacturing 11.3
Income
(increased 1,60,112.13 2,35,457.26
by 47.06%)
Financial Services 6.8
Expenditure
1,29,800.68
(increased 1,48,037.04
Computer Services 5.6
by 14.05%)
Gross NPA ( Non-Performing Assets) as

share of total advances has reduced Surplus
from 15.5% in 2018-19 to 5.8% in the payable to
the Central
quarter ending December 2022. 30,307.45 87,416.22
Government
India’s merchandise exports at USD
(increased
450.4 billion recorded a growth of
by 188.43%)
6.7%in FY23 as compared with 44.6% in
FY22.
India’s merchandise imports at USD IFC & NABFID SIGNED MOU TO
714.0 billion recorded a growth of 16.5% DEVELOP PPP PROJECTS AND
in FY23. STRENGTHEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Gold imports at US$ 35.0 billion
declined by 24.2 per cent in 2022-23.

33
a 7.5 Crore Relationship Value and a

minimum savings bank account balance
(Average Yearly Balance) of Rs 50 lakhs.
Ultra-high-net-worth individuals
(UHNWI) are people with investable
assets of at least USD 30 million.
HNWI- 1 Million US$
International Finance Corporation (IFC), a

SBI LAUNCHES PROJECT KUBER IN
part of the World Bank Group, and BENGALURU
National Bank for Financing
Infrastructure and Development
(NaBFID) signed a MoU to develop a
pipeline of investment-ready public-
private partnership (PPP) projects in
infrastructure across India.
The initial projects are expected to
mobilize around USD 2 billion in private
State Bank of India(SBI), launched ‘Project
investment over the next few years in
Kuber’, which includes the establishment
national priority sectors, including
of four Transaction Banking Hubs and one
renewable energy, energy storage, urban
Corporate Salary Package Hub in
infrastructure, and others.
Bengaluru, Karnataka.
KOTAK PRIVATE LAUNCHES A A professional team will facilitate business
SAVINGS PROGRAMME ‘RÉSERVE‘ partners and customers in availing digital
FOR UHNIS AND HNIS banking services such as Yono Business, e-
Payments, Cash Management Products.
BOB LAUNCHES ICCW FACILITY FOR
CASH WITHDRAWALS USING UPI ON
ITS ATMS
Kotak Private Banking has launched a

savings programme named ‘Reserve’
exclusively for its UHNIs (Ultra High Net
Worth Individuals) and HNIs (High Net
Worth Individuals) comprising Bank of Baroda (BoB) launched the
entrepreneurs, business families, and Interoperable Cardless Cash Withdrawal
professionals. (ICCW) facility which would enable a
The savings programme Reserve is customer to withdraw cash using UPI
applicable for an individual who is having (Unified Payments Interface) from the -

34
bank’s ATMs (Automated Teller Machine) based platform for the settlement of
without using the physical debit card. interbank US Dollar transactions.
BoB became the 1st public sector bank These 6 Indian Banks are:- HDFC Bank,
to launch the ICCW service. ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Yes Bank and
Only two transactions were allowed per IndusInd Bank and JPMorgan’s own
account/day with a withdrawal limit of banking subsidiary at Gujarat
Rs 5,000 per transaction. International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City).
Under the pilot, the six Indian banks will
YES SECURITIES & WATCHYOURHEALTH open on-chain Nostro accounts with
PARTNERS TO OFFER INVESTMENT JPMorgan’s branch in Gift City.
SOLUTIONS TO HEALTHCARE Nostro Account –A nostro account, derived
PROFESSIONALS from the Latin word for “ours,” is an account
held by a bank in a foreign currency at
another bank.
Vostro Account:- A vostro account is an
account held by a foreign bank in the local
currency at another bank. Vostro accounts,
derived from the Latin word for “yours”.
YES Securities (India) Limited (YSL) is

partnering with WatchYourHealth (WYH) to
provide investment solutions to healthcare
professionals through the ‘Wealth- Where
Investments and Health Unite’ program.
YSL will provide free-of-cost demat and
trading accounts, financial planning
products
JPMORGAN PARTNERS WITH 6 INDIAN SIDBI SIGNS PACT WITH HDFC BANK TO
BANKS TO TRIAL BLOCKCHAIN-BASED OFFER FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS TO
USD SETTLEMENT MSMES
JPMorgan Chase & Co has joined forces with The Small Industries Development Bank
six leading Indian banks to launch a pilot of India (SIDBI) has signed a
program designed to test a blockchain - Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

35
with HDFC Bank Limited under which both RBI MONETARY POLICY ANNOUNCEMENT
entities will work together to provide
complete financial product and services to
the customers under MSMEs.
BAJAJ FINSERV LAUNCHES ITS MF

BUSINESS, BAJAJ FINSERV ASSET
MANAGEMENT LIMITED
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das announced

the second monetary policy of this
financial year on 8 June.
There has been no change in the repo rate
for the second time in a row.
After the meeting of the Monetary Policy
Bajaj Finserv Limited (BFS) launched its Committee, the RBI announced the
mutual fund (MF) business namely ‘Bajaj monetary policy, saying that the repo rate
Finserv Asset Management Limited‘ would remain unchanged at 6.5%.
following an approval for its MF Business Current monetary policy rates:
from the Securities and Exchange Board of
India (SEBI) in March 2023. Repo Rate 6.50%
This will be India’s 43rd Asset Management
Company (AMC), and 6th company to enter
the MF industry post-2021. Reverse Repo Rate 3.35%
WORLD BANK TRIMS INDIA’S GROWTH

FORECAST TO 6.3% FOR 2023 Standing Deposit
6.25%
Facility (SDF)
Marginal Standing
6.75%
Facility Rate
Bank Rate 6.75%

World Bank (WB) in its Global Economic
Prospects Report-June 2023 lowered India’s
Cash reserve ratio
growth outlook to 6.3% for 2023, a 0.3 4.50%
(CRR)
percentage point downward revision from
6.6% in January 2023.
For 2024, WB expects GDP growth rate at Statutory Liquidity
18.00%
6.4%. While for 2025 forecast, the growth Ratio (SLR)
rate is expected at 6.5%.

36
INDIA SUPPORTS AFRICAN UNION Insurance Regulatory and Development

TRANSITION MISSION IN SOMALIA Authority of India (IRDAI) granted the
WITH USD 2 MILLION Certificate of Registration (CoR) to Go
Digit Life Insurance Limited (Go Digit) to
carry out life insurance business in India.
The approval brings the total number of
insurers in the Indian life insurance
segment to 26.
Recent:
IRDAI forms 5-Member Committee
under Chairmanship of Pratima Murthy
Ruchira Kamboj, India’s Permanent
to Advice on Mental Health Cover
Representative to the (UN), presented USD
Acko, Credit Access Receives IRDAI nod
2 million to the United Nations Trust Fund
to Commence Life Insurance Business
in support of the African Union Transition
IRDAI Identified LIC, GIC & New India
Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
Assurance as Domestic Systemically
India had previously granted the African
Important Insurers (D-SIIs) for FY23
Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) USD 4
million. FLDG TO DEEPEN PARTNERSHIPS
ATMIS is crucial for developing a secure BETWEEN LENDERS AND FINTECHS
environment that allows for the prevention
of terrorism carried out by Al-Shabaab in
Somalia.
ATMIS was founded on April 1, 2022, in
accordance with Security Council decision
2628 (2022) and African Union Peace and
Security Council Communique 1068 of
March 8, 2022.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has
Objective: To assist in the implementation of
approved the First Loss Default Guarantee
the Somali Transitional Plan in order to fully
(FLDG) framework, allowing fintech to
transfer security responsibilities to the Somali
partner with banks and non-Banking
security forces and institutions by the end of
financial companies (NBFCs).
2024.
•he central bank has allowed a 5% default
GODIGIT GETS IRDAI APPROVAL TO
loss cover for bank-fintech deals.
CARRY LIFE INSURANCE BUSINESS
About FLDG
A first loss default guarantee is a lending
arrangement between a regulated entity
and a financial technology company or a
lending services provider, wherein the
latter agrees to compensate up to a
certain percentage of default in the loan
portfolio.

37
ADB TO FUND USD 130 MILLION LOAN

FOR HORTICULTURE IN HIMACHAL
PRADESH
The World Bank’s Board of Executive

Directors has approved a USD 148 million
loan to support West Bengal, India, in
Asian Development Bank (ADB) and The improving irrigation practices in rural
Government of India signed a USD 130 areas.
million loan for the Himachal Pradesh The loan will help the region
Subtropical Horticulture, Irrigation, and harness(utilize) the surface and
Value Addition Project to increase groundwater resources more effectively
agricultural productivity for agricultural purposes.
This project will help the farmers to The $148 million loan from the
increase the income and resilience to the International Bank for Reconstruction and
effects of climate change of at least 15,000 Development (IBRD) has a maturity of 11.5
farm households across 7 districts of the years with a grace period of four years.
state namely Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra,
Mandi, Sirmour, Solan, and Una. UAE EMERGES AS FOURTH LARGEST
Recent ADB in News: INVESTOR IN INDIA IN FY23
According to the Asian Development Bank
(ADB) Annual Report 2022, Pakistan got
loans of USD5.58 billion, making it the
largest recipient of ADB-funded
programs/projects in 2022.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has
announced the Innovative Finance Facility
for Climate in Asia and the Pacific (IF-CAP)
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has
program to accelerate climate change
become India’s fourth largest investor in
financing in the region.
the fiscal year 2022-23 following the
ADB, India signs a US$141.12 million Loan
successful implementation of the
Agreement for industrial corridor
Comprehensive Economic Partnership
development in AP.
Agreement (CEPA) between the two
WORLD BANK APPROVES $148M countries
LOAN TO WEST BENGAL FOR In 2023, UAE’s Foreign Direct Investment
(FDI) to India has risen to USD 3.35 Billion
ENHANCED RURAL IRRIGATION
which is more than tripled from USD 1.03
PRACTICES
Billion in 2021 to 22.

38
Savings Accounts, resulting in a hassle-free

Singapore was the largest investor in
process.
India with USD 17.2 billion investment in
It targets new-to-bank users above 18
FY23, followed by Mauritius (USD 6.1
years with valid Aadhaar and/or PAN
billion) and the US (USD 6 billion).
(Permanent Account Number).
IN A FIRST, IOB LAUNCHES ‘MY PNB LAUNCHES IVR-BASED UPI 123PAY,
ACCOUNT MY NAME’ FOR SB ACCOUNT FOR CUSTOMERS WITHOUT INTERNET
HOLDERS FACILITY
Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has launched Punjab National Bank, has become the first
first-of-its-kind in the banking sector ‘My public sector bank to launch an Interactive
Account My Name’ feature enabling its Voice Response-based Unified Payments
Savings Bank (SB) account customers to Interface solution, UPI 123PAY, in accordance
choose any easy to remember 7 with the Digital Payment Vision 2025 of a
Digit/Character Account Name as their cashless and cardless society.
account number with IOB. The UPI 123PAY Process: The customer needs
Under this feature, The account name can to dial the bank’s IVR number “9188-123-123”
be a combination of seven letters only or and choose the beneficiary to authenticate
seven numbers only or seven alphanumeric the UPI transaction.
characters Infrastructure Development Finance
Company(IDFC) First Bank, City Union
SIB LAUNCHES DIGITAL ACCOUNT
Bank(CUB) & National Securities Depository
OPENING PLATFORM ‘SIB SWIFTE’
Limited (NSDL) Payments Bank have gone
live on IVR payments.
RING PARTNERS WITH NPCI TO
INTEGRATE UPI PLUG-IN
South Indian Bank (SIB) introduces SIB

SWIFTe, a customer-centric digital account
opening platform that eliminates paper-
based documentation and on-boards
customers in five minutes for opening -

39
RING (Onemi Technology Solutions The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has
Private Limited), India’s leading digital opened its sub-office in Kohima,
credit platform, has partnered with the Nagaland, expanding its presence in the
National Payments Corporation of India northeastern region.
(NPCI) to integrate Unified Payments RBI now has a presence in Assam,
Interface (UPI) Plug-in capabilities into Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura,
RING’s existing digital services. and Nagaland.
This collaboration will enable RING to
provide ‘Scan & Pay’ choices to its PHONEPE LAUNCHES ITS PAYMENT
existing clients and new customers who GATEWAY WITH LIMITED-PERIOD
choose UPI as a payment method. FREE ONBOARDING FOR MSME
MERCHANTS
INDIA’S CPI INFLATION EASES TO 4.25
PERCENT IN MAY
PhonePe officially launched the PhonePe

Payment Gateway new MSME merchants
India’s retail inflation dropped to 4.25 by offering a limited-period deal of free
percent in May from 4.7 percent in April, onboarding with no hidden charges,
according to data from the Ministry of setup fees, or annual maintenance fees.
Statistics and Programme Implementation. This is in contrast to most payment
The consumer price-based index (CPI) gateways that typically charge a standard
inflation in May is lowest in 25 months. transaction fee of 2%.
It was for the second month in a row that Recent:
retail inflation remained within the Reserve PhonePe Introduces E-commerce
Bank of India (RBI)’s comfort zone of below Consumer App “Pincode” on the ONDC
six percent. Platform
KOTAK MAHINDRA BANK LAUNCHED
RESERVE BANK OF INDIA (RBI) OPENS
‘ACTIVE MONEY’ FACILITY TO EARN FD
REGIONAL OFFICE IN NAGALAND
LIKE INTEREST UP TO 7%

40
(KMBL) has launched a facility named India's wholesale price index (WPI)-based
‘Active Money’ or Flexi Fixed Deposit, inflation fell to its lowest level since
which provides Current/Savings Account November 2015 to -3.48 per cent in May
holders with fixed deposit (FD)-like In April, the wholesale inflation was -0.92
interest rates of up to 7% per annum. per cent.
Kotak Mahindra Bank offers (FD) interest The last time wholesale inflation was
rate between 2.75% to 7.20% for tenure lower was in November 2015, when it had
ranging from 7 days to 10 years. come in at -3.68 per cent.
INDUSIND BANK PARTNERS WITH RUSSIA’S SBERBANK LAUNCHES
WISE TO OFFER ONLINE INWARD INDIAN RUPEE ACCOUNTS FOR
REMITTANCE SERVICES TO NRIS INDIVIDUALS
IndusInd Bank announced its Russia’s dominant lender, Sberbank, has

partnership with Wise, the global launched Indian rupee accounts for
technology company which is individuals.
specializing in moving and managing Objective – To expand the range of foreign
money around the world. currencies available to reduce dependency
To offer online inward remittance on the US dollar and euro.
services to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) Sberbank has more than 100 million
residing in the (USA) and Singapore. retail clients and already offers deposits
Under the collaboration, IndusInd Bank’s in China’s yuan and UAE dirhams.
multi-partner remittance service
RBI IMPOSES RS 20 LAKH PENALTY ON
platform – Indus Fast Remit (IFR) will be
MANAPPURAM FINANCE
integrated with Wise Platform to offer
multi-currency inward remittance
service to NRIs.
INDIA'S WPI STAYS IN DEFLATION
ZONE, FALLS -3.48% IN JUNE
The Reserve Bank has imposed a penalty

of Rs 20 lakh on Manappuram Finance
for non-compliance with certain
provisions of the NBFC norms.

41
Along with KMPs the listed companies are

AMOUNT IMPOSED ON also now required to fill the vacancies of
directors within 3 months.
Rs 13 lakh Bombay Mercantile SEBI also directed the listed companies
Rs 13 lakh
Co-operative Bank not to fill vacancies of KMPs by appointing
a person in an ‘interim capacity’.
Rs 1.73 crore Rs 1.73 crore HSBC Bank
Recent News about SEBI:
SEBI allows FPIs direct access to
exchange-traded commodity derivatives
Rs. 10,000 Rs. 10,000 Manipur Rural Bank SEBI sets up Intermediary Advisory Panel
to be led by former ED S Ravindran
SEBI Introduces Norms to check
Rs 2 lakh Rs 2 lakh Tripura Gramin Bank misleading ads
EDUCATION LOANS REGISTER 17%
GROWTH IN FY23
Rs 5 lakh Rs 5 lakh Mizoram Rural Bank
SEBI – INTRODUCED 3 MONTHS

TIMELINE FOR LISTED ENTITIES TO FILL
KMPS VACANCIES
According to RBI data, the outstanding

portfolio under education loans grew 17%
at Rs 96,847 crore in the year 2022-23 as
against Rs 82,723 crore in the previous
year.
For the first time in five years, growth in
Securities and Exchange Board of India
education loans not only turned positive
(SEBI) has introduced a timeline of 3
but also registered a 17% surge in the last
months for ‘Listed Entities’ to fill up the
financial year ended March 2023.
vacancies of their Key Managerial Personnel
The Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) in
(KMPs) such as Chief Executive Officer, Chief
education advances stood at 7.82 percent
Financial Officer, Managing Director etc. to
of a total outstanding portfolio of ₹80,000
ensure smooth functioning of listed
crore at the end of the first quarter of
companies.
FY23.
An amendment to this effect has been
The priority sector education loans slow
made in the SEBI’s Listing Obligations and
only modest growth as they registered 0.9
Disclosure Requirements (LODR) regulations
percent growth in FY 23. In the previous
based on the consultation paper issued by
financial year, they decreased by 7
SEBI in February 2023.
percent.

42
COCHIN SHIPYARD WINS RS 580 FINO PAYMENTS BANK JOINS HUBBLE

CRORE ORDER FOR CARGO VESSELS MONEY TO INTRODUCE SPENDING
ACCOUNT
Wilson Shipowning AS, Norway, has

entrusted Cochin Shipyard with designing Fino Payments Bank Ltd. has partnered
and constructing 6 new generation diesel- with Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based fintech
electric general cargo vessels. company Hubble Money to introduce
The agreement was signed with an option India’s and world’s first spending account
for eight more such vessels. aimed at helping customers manage their
The 1st vessel of this 580 crore contract finances, track expenses, and earn
would be delivered by December 2024, and rewards on purchases.
the remaining vessels would be delivered This partnership is made under Fino
by March 2026. Payments Bank’s Fino 2.0 initiative to
strengthen its digital offerings and
RBI GOVERNOR SHAKTIKANTA DAS
enhance the overall customer experience.
LAUNCHED FINANCIAL INCLUSION
Users will earn an annual interest rate of
DASHBOARD ANTARDRISHTI
2.75% on the funds parked in the account.
MICROAFINANCE LOAN PORTFOLIO

INCREASED BY 22% IN FY23
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor,

Shaktikanta Das, launched a financial
inclusion dashboard named ‘Antardrishti‘.
The dashboard provides the necessary According to the data released by MFIN
knowledge to assess and track the (Microfinance Institutions Network), the
development of financial inclusion by Gross loan portfolio of the microfinance
recording relevant data. industry increased by 22% in FY23 to Rs 3.5
The dashboard, presently intended for lakh crore, serving 6.6 crore borrowers.
internal use in the RBI, will further facilitate The number of active microfinance loan
greater financial inclusion through a multi- accounts increased by 14.6% to 13 crore as
stakeholder approach. on March 2023.

43
82 NBFC-MFIs are the largest provider of UNION BANK OF INDIA LAUNCHED

micro-credit accounting for 39.7 per cent
FOUR BANK ACCOUNT SCHEMES TO
to total industry portfolio.
BENEFIT WOMEN, PENSIONERS & CHS
With a market share of 34% banks held
the second place followed by small
finance banks at 16.6%.
Regional Distribution:
In case of regional distribution, Bihar
replaced Tamil Nadu as the largest State
in terms of portfolio outstanding, followed
by Uttar Pradesh in third place.
East and North-East and South India Union Bank of India launched four bank
accounted for 63% of the total portfolio account schemes named Union Unnati,
under regional distribution. Union Samriddhi, Union Samman, and
NSE INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE Union SBCHS (SB Account For Co-Operative
Housing Society)
UNVEILS A NEW IDENTITY FOR GIFT
NIFTY WORLD BANK APPROVES $150-
MILLION LOAN FOR RESILIENT KERALA
PROGRAMME
NSE International Exchange (NSE IX)

unveiled a new brand identity/logo of
GIFT Nifty at International Financial The World Bank has approved a $150
Services Centre (IFSC) in Gujarat million loan to support the Resilient
International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) Kerala program to continue
in Gandhinagar, Gujarat under NSE IFSC- strengthening the state’s preparedness
SGX Connect Project. against natural disasters, climate change
This project will replace the existing SGX impacts, and disease outbreaks.
Nifty Futures & Options contracts, which The loan, from the International Bank for
was traded on the Singapore Exchange Reconstruction and Development
(SGX) to GIFT Nifty from July 3, 2023 (IBRD), has a final maturity of 14 years,
Injeti Srinivas, Chairman of the including a grace period of six years.
International Financial Services Centre
Authority (IFSCA) was the chief guest of IIM AND JAMMU SIGNS MOU WITH
the event. SIDBI

44
Indian Institute of Management (IIM), At the Paris Air Show 2023, India’s airline
Jammu and the Small Industries InterGlobe Aviation Ltd (IndiGo) ordered
Development Bank of India (SIDBI) signed 500 A320 aircraft, from French
a MoU on the 6th annual convocation of manufacturer Airbus scheduled to be
IIM at Jammu. delivered within the years 2030-2035.
As part of the IIM Jammu-SIDBI This deal stands 2nd to Air India which
partnership, projects would be launched made a deal of 470 aircraft with Airbus
to strengthen the entrepreneurial and Boeing Company in February 2023.
ecosystem in the country.
AXIS BANK’S ‘ONE-VIEW’: 1ST PVT
CREDIT CARD NPAS ROSE 25% TO BANK TO LAUNCH TO MANAGE
OVER RS 3,800 CRORE IN NINE MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS ON ITS MOBILE
MONTHS OF FY23: RBI DATA APP
In the first nine months of FY23, bad or Axis Bank launched its latest feature,
non-performing assets (NPAs) in banks’ One-View’ on its Axis Mobile Application
credit card segment jumped by Rs 765 making it the first private sector Bank to
crore, or 24.5% to Rs 3,887 crore introduce this new-age banking feature.
However, credit card NPAs made up just This feature will utilize the Account
2.16 per cent of the total credit card Aggregator (AA) ecosystem to create a
outstanding or loan exposure as of seamless banking experience for its
December 2022, a marginal increase customers.
from 2.11 per cent on March 31, 2022.
ADB APPROVES $295MN LOAN TO

INDIGO PLACES 500 AIRCRAFT A320 IMPROVE TRANSPORT CONNECTIVITY
ORDER WITH AIRBUS IN BIHAR

45
Mission (TNSRLM) to foster the growth of Self

Help Groups (SHGs) in the State and provide
them with vital financial support.
RBI IMPOSES FINE ON JAMMU AND

KASHMIR BANK, BANK OF
MAHARASHTRA, AXIS BANK
Asian Development Bank (ADB)

approved a $295 million loan to improve
transport connectivity in Bihar.
The loan amount will be utilized towards
widening and upgradation of around 265
kilometers of state highways, improving
transport connectivity and safety in
The Reserve Bank said it has imposed a
Bihar.
penalty of Rs 2.5 crore on Jammu and
The Central Government is contributing
Kashmir Bank for non-compliance with
$156.6 million for the same.
certain directions.
Recent ADB in News:
A penalty of Rs 1.45 crore has also been
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has
imposed on Bank of Maharashtra for
announced the Innovative Finance
non-compliance with certain directions
Facility for Climate in Asia and the
issued by RBI on Loans and Advances
Pacific (IF-CAP) program to accelerate
Statutory.
climate change financing in the region.
The RBI said a penalty of Rs 30 lakh has
ADB, India signs a US$141.12 million Loan
been imposed on Axis Bank. The lender,
Agreement for industrial corridor
it said had levied penal charges in
development in AP.
certain accounts for late payment of
ADB to Fund USD 130 Million Loan for
credit card dues though the customers
Horticulture in Himachal Pradesh
had paid the dues by the due date,
IOB INKS MOU WITH THE TAMIL NADU through third-party platforms.
STATE RURAL LIVELIHOOD MISSION
MANIPAL TECHNOLOGIES PARTNERS
WITH INDIAN BANK TO OFFER
CUSTOMISED BANKING SOLUTIONS
Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has signed a

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
with the Tamil Nadu State Rural Livelihood

46
Manipal Technologies Limited (MTL) has slapped a show cause-cum-demand

partnered with Indian Bank to promote notice on HDFC Life Insurance Company for
financial inclusion by offering an amount of Rs 942.18 crore.
customised banking products to This notice pertains to charges of wrongly
empower millions of underserved availing the input tax credit without the
individuals across India. underlying supply of services.
ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Co. also has
WORLD BANK APPROVES USD 255.5
been served a Goods and Services Tax
MILLION LOAN TO ENHANCE
show cause-cum-demand notice for Rs
TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN INDIA
492.06 crore
CANARA BANK BECOMES 1ST PSB IN

INDIA TO INTRODUCE THE FACILITY OF
UPI PAYMENTS TO MERCHANTS
THROUGH RUPAY CREDIT CARD
One of the World Bank’s institutions

International Bank for Reconstruction
and Development (IBRD) granted a USD
255.5 million loan to India with a
maturity period of 14 years, including a
grace period of five years, to improve the
Canara Bank became the first Public
quality of technical education and
Sector Bank in India to introduce the
expand career opportunities for
facility of UPI payments to merchants
students.
through RuPay Credit Card, in association
The project will span five years and
with NPCI (National Payments
benefit around 275 government-run
Corporation of India).
technical institutions, reaching over 3.5
This facility is made available at ‘Canara
lakh students annually.
ai1’ Banking Super App of the Bank.
HDFC LIFE INSURANCE RECEIVES GST
This facility enables the bank customers
DEMAND NOTICE OF RS 942 CRORE
to make UPI payments to merchants from
their RuPay Credit Cards.
Recent:
Canara Bank, in collaboration with the
Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH),
announced the launch of a new
customer-friendly service termed
‘Digitalised Submission of Form 15G/15H’.
The investigative wing of the Central RBI imposes Rs 2.92 crore penalty on
Board of Indirect Tax and Customs (CBIC) Canara Bank

47
WORLD BANK APPROVES USD 391 India under the project CHALK (Chhattisgarh
MILLION IN FINANCING FOR ASSAM Accelerated Learning for a Knowledge
AND TRIPURA Economy Operation)
It aims to benefit 4 million students,
particularly those from poor and
vulnerable communities.
KOTAK GENERAL INSURANCE
PARTNERS WITH ACTYV.AI TO PROVIDE
INSURANCE PRODUCTS FOR MSMES
The World Bank approved USD 391

million in financing to improve
healthcare services and economic
opportunities in India’s northeastern
states of Assam and Tripura.
The Assam State Secondary Healthcare
Initiative for Service Delivery Kotak Mahindra General Insurance Co.
Transformation (ASSIST) Project will Ltd (Kotak General Insurance) partners
receive USD 251 million to improve with actyv.ai, a AI-powered technology
access to secondary healthcare services. company, to offer customised insurance
The Tripura Rural Economic Growth and products to Micro Small and Medium
Service Delivery Project will receive USD Enterprises (MSMEs) in India.
140 million to promote socioeconomic
development and improve the lives of RBI CANCELS MAHALAXMI
tribal populations. COOPERATIVE BANK’S LICENCE;
WORLD BANK GRANTS USD 300M ALLOWS TO OPERATE AS NBFC
LOAN TO IMPROVE EDUCATION IN
CHHATTISGARH
The Reserve Bank of India instructed

Mahalaxmi Cooperative Bank (Dharwad,
The World Bank has approved a USD 300 Karnataka), to operate solely as a Non-
million loan, with maturity of 18.5 years Banking Financial Company (NBFC),
along with a grace period of 5 years, to effectively revoking its banking license
enhance the quality of education in granted on March 23, 1994.
government-run schools in Chhattisgarh,

48
RBI slaps penalties on Standard Chartered decreased to US$ 1.3 billion, 0.2% of Gross
Bank-India, 4 other entities Domestic Product (GDP) in Q4:2022-23
(Q4FY23) from US$ 16.8 billion (2% of GDP) in
Rs.26 lakh TransUnion CIBIL Limited Q3FY23
In the financial account, net Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI) at US$ 6.4 billion was
Standard Chartered Bank-
Rs 30 lakh higher than US$ 2.0 billion in Q3FY23
India
Net Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI)
recorded an outflow of US$ 1.7 billion amid
Rs.24.25 Equifax Credit Information the equity segment in Q4FY23
lakh Services Private Limited Net External Commercial Borrowings
(ECBs) to India recorded an inflow of US$
Experian Credit 1.7 billion, as against an outflow of US$ 2.5
Rs 25.75
Information Company of billion during Q3FY23
lakh
India Private Limited
CRIF High Mark Credit

Rs 25.75
Information Services
lakh
Private Limited
INDIA’S CAD NARROWS TO 0.2% OF GDP

ON MODERATION IN TRADE DEFICIT:
RBI’S BOP Q4FY23 DATA
According to the Reserve Bank of India data

titled ‘Developments in India’s Balance of
Payments during the Fourth Quarter
(January-March) of 2022-23’, India’s current
account deficit declined sequentially to
0.2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the
March 2023 quarter (Q4 of FY23) from 2% of
GDP in the December quarter of FY23.
India’s current account deficit (CAD) -

49
Books & Authors
Journalist, editor and writer,
Ramachandra Murthy Kondubhatla,
has authored a new book titled “NTR-A
Political Biography” which presents a
realistic picture of Nandamuri Taraka
Rama Rao(NTR), the star figure in the
discourse on cinema and politics in the
two Telugu States(Andhra Pradesh and
Telangana).
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National

President Jagat Prakash Nadda (JP
Nadda) released a new book titled
“Amrutkaal ki Ore”(Towards Amrit
Kaal), compiled by Shivanand Dwivedi
and K K Upadhyay, in New Delhi
India’s Finance Ministers — From

Independence to Emergency (1947-
1977) is the story of India’s
unforgettable finance ministers who
shaped India’s economy in the first 30
years after Independence authored by
Ashok Bhattacharya.
The 30-year period (1947 to 1977)
that the book covers has been
divided into three main parts-
Nehru and his finance ministers,
those under Shastri and Indira
Gandhi, and Indira Gandhi as her
own finance minister.

50
The new book titled “Droupadi

Murmu: From Tribal Hinterlands
to Raisina Hills” authored by
journalist Kasturi Ray illustrates
the challenges Murmu
encountered on her path to
success as India’s first president
from a tribal community.

51
Defence News
Indian Navy’s anti-submarine MH-60R
helicopter makes maiden landing on INS
Vikrant
Indian Navy’s MH-60 ‘Romeo’ (MH-60R)
helicopter, an anti-surface and anti-submarine
warfare, made its maiden landing on the
Indian Naval Ship (INS) Vikrant, an
indigenously designed and constructed
aircraft carrier.
MH-60R from the Naval air station INS Garuda,
Kochi, Kerala landed on the indigenously-built
aircraft carrier INS Vikrant in the Arabian Sea.
India carries out successful training launch of
MRBM Agni-1 From Odisha
India carried out a successful training launch
of a nuclear capable Medium Range Ballistic
Missile (MRBM), Agni-1 from APJ Abdul Kalam
Island in Odisha.
Agni-1 was fired as a user training launch by
Strategic Forces Command (SCF), which
control, manage and administer the nuclear
forces in India.
This medium-range Agni-1, is a 15 meter-long
missile, weighing around 12,000 kilograms, has
a strike range of over 700 kilometers and is
capable of carrying a payload of up to 1,000
Kg.
Agni Systems Agni-1 to 5 missiles are designed

52
& developed by DRDO.

It was first launched on 25th January 2002 from
Wheeler Island (nowAPJ Abdul Kalam Island),
Odisha.
NATO launches Arctic exercises 2023
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
countries have started multinational Arctic
Military Challenge exercise 2023, with a pledge
to defend their newest member, Finland, which
is hosting its first joint training in Rovajarvi
The 2023 Arctic Challenge Exercise (ACE 23) is
the sixth of its kind which Finland, Norway, and
Sweden have hosted together.
Indian Army’s Sapta Shakti Command
Conducted “Sudarshan Shakti 2023” Exercise
South Western (Sapta Shakti) Command of the
Indian Army conducted a 4 day exercise
“Sudarshan Shakti 2023” along the Western
borders in Rajasthan and Punjab.
Exercise ‘Sudarshan Shakti 2023’, was designed
to validate operational preparedness of the
Indian Army in a network-centric environment.
Shatrujeet Brigade (50th Independent Para
Brigade), which is a formation of Indian army
and the Western Command prominently took
part in the exercise named as ‘Sudarshan
Shakti’.
Indian Navy successfully engaged an
Underwater Target using indigenously
developed HeavyWeight Torpedo
The Indian Navy and Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully
engaged an underwater target with an indigen-

53
ously developed heavyweight Torpedo, named

Varunastra.
‘Varunastra’, the advanced Heavy-Weight anti-
submarine Torpedo, was inducted by the Indian
Navy in 2016
It is developed by the Indian Navy and the Naval
Science and Technology Laboratory (NSTL) of
DRDO.
The weight of the torpedo is 1.25 tonnes and it
can carry around 250 kg of explosives while
travelling at about 40 nautical miles an hour.
Sixth edition of India-Maldives Exercise

‘Ekatha’ begin in Maldives
The 6th edition of the annual Naval Exercise
‘Ekatha’ between India and Maldives was
scheduled to be conducted in Maldives.
The 5th edition was held in Maldives
Indian Navy divers and Marine Commandos
(MARCOS) went to Maldives to participate in
the exercise along with Maldives National
Defence Force (MNDF).
Indian Navy partners with QNu Labs to Procure

Quantum Encryption Systems
QuNu Labs Private Limited (QNu Labs) partners
with the Indian Navy for the procurement and
deployment of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)
based systems.
With this collaboration, Indian Navy becomes
India’s 1st agency to procure large-scale
Quantum-based encryption systems.

54
India Army signed its 2nd Procurement

Contract with Astrome Tech Pvt Ltd for
“Tactical LAN Radio systems”
Indian Army signed a contract with Astrome
Technologies Private Limited, Bengaluru based
start-up company to procure the indigenously-
developed “Tactical LAN (Local area network)
Radio” for reliable and interference-free
communication in remote and difficult terrain.
Tactical LAN Radio is a state of the art high
bandwidth backhaul wireless radio equipment
designed to provide reliable and fail-safe
communication.
1st ACTCM Barge of the series of LSAM 15 (Yard

125) delivered to Indian Navy at NAD (Karanja),
Mumbai
The first Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile
(ACTCM) Barge of the series LSAM 15

55
(Yard 125) has been delivered to the Indian Navy

(IN) at the Naval Armament Depot (NAD), Karanja,
Mumbai, Maharashtra.
WBIDC, FICCI, Amazon Jointly Hosts E-Export
Haat in West Bengal
West Bengal Industrial Development
Corporation (WBIDC), Amazon Global Selling
and Federation of Indian Chambers of
Commerce & Industry(FICCI) have jointly
organised an e-Export Haat at Silpa Sadan,
Kolkata, West Bengal
To help small businesses and entrepreneurs
from West Bengal expand their businesses
globally through e-commerce exports.
12th bilateral Joint Military Exercise “Ex
Ekuverin” started between India and Maldives
at Uttarakhand
The 12th edition of “Ex Ekuverin”, a bilateral joint
military exercise between the Indian Army and
the Maldives National Defence Force
commenced at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand
The 11th Edition of Exercise Ekuverin between
India & Maldives was conducted at Kadhdhoo
Island, Maldives from 06 to 19 December 2021.
MoD Approved Deal to Acquire MQ-9 Reaper
Drone from the USA
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the
highest decision-making body in the Ministry of
Defence(MoD), has approved the deal the
acquire the MQ-9 Reaper (Predator B) drones
from the United States of America (USA).
The deal involves the acquisition of 15 drones

56
for the Indian Navy for surveillance operations in its

area of responsibilities.
Indian Navy Launches Julley Ladakh outreach
programme to engage with youngsters and
civil society
Indian Navy Launched “Julley Ladakh” (Hello
Ladakh), an outreach programme to Ladakh
with an aim to increase awareness about the
naval service and to engage with youth and
civil society members.
Vice Chief of Navy Staff, Vice Admiral Sanjay
Jasjit Singh flagged off 5000km Motorcycle
Expedition from New Delhi on 15th June and it
will reach Leh on 28th June passing through
the states of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and
Jammu and Kashmir.
Indian Navy also conducts a band concert, a
Medical Camp and a football match between
the Navy and the Ladakh Football Club.
Defence Ministry signs ₹500 crore contract to

strengthen Indian Army’s communication
system
The Ministry of Defence signed a contract with
ICOMM Tele Ltd – Hyderabad for procurement
of 1,035 numbers of 5/7.5 Ton Radio Relay
Communication’ equipment containers for
Rs.500 cr in New Delhi
The Radio Relay containers help in addressing a
long overdue requirement of mobile
communication detachments of the Indian
Army and the delivery is scheduled to take
place from 2023-24.

57
DRDO, Indian Navy demonstrate transfer of

command and control of Tapas UAV
The Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Navy
collaborated successfully and demonstrated
the transfer of command and control
capabilities of the TAPAS unmanned aerial
vehicle (UAV).
The TAPAS took off from a remote ground
station to onboard Indian Naval Ship (INS)
Subhadra, 148 km from the Karwar naval base,
Karnataka.
The UAV was seamlessly (smoothly) flying
around an altitude of 20,000ft, Above Mean
Sea Level (ASML).
Tapas UAV developed by DRDO, is a Medium
Altitude Long Endurance (MALE)UAV.
It has a range of more than 18 hours and can
operate at altitudes of up to 28,000 feet.
It can carry payloads up to a maximum of 350
kgs.
It made its first flight at the Aero India 2023
held in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
INS Satpura represented Indian Navy at

Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo 2023 at
Indonesia
Indian Naval ship (INS) Satpura participated in
the 4th edition of Multilateral Naval Exercise
“Komodo” (MNEK 2023) held in and around
Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
INS Satpura participated in the exercise as part
of the Indian Navy’s deployment to ASEAN

58
(Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries.

MNEK is a biennial exercise, held every 2 years,
since 2014 between the Indian Ocean and the
Pacific Ocean.
The last edition (3rd) of MNEK was held in 2018
in Lombok Island, Indonesia from 4th to 9th
May 2018.
In Europe NATO begins its air drill -“Air
Defender 23”
North Atlantic Treaty Organization(NATO)
began its German(host) led air force
deployment “Air Defender 23” exercise in
Europe.
The exercise includes 250 military aircraft from
25 NATO and partner countries including Japan
and Sweden.
Training missions would take place over the
North Sea, the Baltic Sea and Southern
Germany.
"Air Defender” was conceived in 2018 to respond
to the Russian annexation of Crimea from
Ukraine
19th Ex Khaan Quest 2023
The 14-day long 19th edition of the Multinational
Peacekeeping Joint Exercise, Ex Khaan Quest
2023, was inaugurated by the President and
Commander-In-Chief of the Mongolian Armed
Forces Ukhnaagiin Khurelsuk at the Five Hills
Training Area in Mongolia.
Co-sponsored by MAF and United States Army
Pacific Command (USARPAC), it features
participation from military contingents and
observers from 26 countries, including Indian
Army (IA).

59
IA is represented by a contingent from the

Garhwal Rifles.
Indian Army conducted Exercise Agneyastra 1
in eastern Ladakh
Indian Army’s Northern Command conducted
“Exercise Agneyastra 1” in eastern Ladakh
India gifts missile corvette INS Kirpan to

Vietnam
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh announced the
gift of an indigenous in-service missile corvette,
INS Kirpan, to the Vietnam People's Navy.
IAF conducted Exercise “Ranvijay” focussing
integrated operations
The Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted Exercise
‘Ranvijay’ with a focus on integration, in which
day and night operations were carried out by
combat aircraft including Su (Sukhoi)-30s as
part of integrated wargames to enhance the
skills of fighter pilots.
Exercise Ranvijay was carried out in UB Hills and
Central Air Command Area of Responsibility
The exercise was carried out in different air
bases of the CAC headquartered in Prayagraj,
Uttar Pradesh (UP).

60
Festivals
Kheer Bhawani Mela 2023 organized in Kashmir
Every year on the day of Jyestha
Ashtami, Kashmiri Pandits visit Mata
Ragnya Devi Temple, also known as
Kheer Bhawani Temple, for darshan.
The Kheer Bhawani Mela is an
annual festival celebrated by
both Kashmiri Pandits and locals
of the Kashmir valley.
The festival is held on Jyeshtha
Ashtami and is considered
sacred by the Kashmiri Pandits
community.
Raja Parba Festival of Odisha: Celebration of

Womanhood and Earth
Raja Parba of Odisha, also known as
Swing Festival, is an annual 3 day
festival celebrated during the
month of Asadha dedicated to
honouring Earth and celebrating
womanhood.
The festival also marks the
beginning of monsoon.
The first day is celebrated as Raja
Sankranti or Pahili Raja, the
second day is celebrated as
Mithun Sankranti or Raja and
the third day is celebrated as
Bhudaha or Basi Raja (the day
after raja).

61
Wihu Kuh festival of Tangsa Tribe

The Wihu Kuh festival is
annually celebrated by the
Tangsa, a traditional tribal
community deeply rooted in
their agricultural traditions,
living mainly in the verdant
hills of Changlang district of
Arunachal Pradesh.
Wihu Kuh, translating to
“paddy transplantation
festival”, marks the
beginning of the
agricultural season and a
cultural exhibition that
enclose the spirit of the
Tangsa people.

62
Important Days
OBSERVED DAY INFO.
28 INTERNATIONAL International Women’s Health Day is

WOMEN’S observed across the globe annually
HEALTH DAY on 28th May
JUNE
THEME: “Our Voices, Our Actions,
Our Demand: Uphold Women’s
Health and Rights Now.”
29
WORLD World Digestive Health Day (WDHD)
DIGESTIVE is annually observed on May 29th all
HEALTH DAY over the world
JUNE “Your Digestive Health: A Healthy
Gut From the Start“.
INTERNATIONAL International Everest Day is annually

EVEREST DAY celebrated on 29th May to
commemorate the first-ever
summit of Mount Everest by Sir
Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and
Tenzing Norgay Sherpa of Nepal on
29th May 1953.
30
World Vape day is annually
WORLD VAPE
observed on May 30th across the
DAY
globe to raise awareness about the
JUNE
alternatives to the tobacco products
and highlight the safety of E-
Cigarettes

63
OBSERVED DAY INFO.
1 GLOBAL DAY OF
PARENTS
Global Day Of Parents 2023, Every
year on June 1st, this day is observed
as the Global Day of Parents.
JUNE
The United Nations General
Assembly formally declared this
day in 2012
2 INTERNATIONAL International Sex Workers Day,

SEX WORKERS' celebrated on June 2, is dedicated
DAY to all sex workers and aims to
JUNE
demand better working conditions
for them.
This day commemorates the
1975 occupation of Église Saint-
Nizier by sex workers to demand
their rights.
THEME: "Access to Justice".
3 WORLD BICYCLE World Bicycle Day is celebrated on

DAY June 3rd each year.
The history of World Bicycle Day
JUNE
dates back to April 2018 when
the United Nations General
Assembly adopted a resolution
THEME: “Riding Together for a
Sustainable Future.”
4 INTERNATIONAL International Day of Innocent

DAY OF Children Victims of Aggression is
INNOCENT celebrated on June 4 each year in a
JUNE
CHILDREN bid to lay emphasis on the rights of
VICTIMS OF children and protect children
AGGRESSION around the world from incidents of
violence, sexual abuse and terror

64
OBSERVED DAY INFO.
5 WORLD The United Nations (UN)’s World

ENVIRONMENT Environment Day (WED) is annually
DAY observed across the globe on 5th
JUNE June
5th June 2023 marks the
observance of the 50th World
Environment Day.
THEME: “Solutions to Plastic
Pollution”.
INTERNATIONAL The United Nations(UN)’s
DAY FOR THE International Day for the Fight
FIGHT AGAINST against Illegal, Unreported and
IUU FISHING Unregulated (IUU) Fishing is
annually observed across the globe
on 5th June
observance of the 6th
International Day for the Fight
against IUU Fishing.
6
World Pest Day, also known as
WORLD PEST
World Pest Awareness Day, is
DAY
observed annually on 6th June
JUNE The first-ever World Pest Day
was observed at the Beijing
Hotel, China on June 6th 2017.
7 WORLD FOOD The United Nations(UN)’s World

SAFETY DAY Food Safety Day(WFSD) is annually
observed across the globe on 7th
JUNE
June
observance of the 5th World -

65
OBSERVED DAY INFO.
Food Safety Day

THEME: “Food standards save lives”
8
WORLD OCEANS United Nations(UN) World Oceans
DAY Day is annually observed across the
globe on 8th June
JUNE THEME: “Planet Ocean: tides are
changing”.
WORLD BRAIN World Brain Tumour Day is annually

TUMOUR DAY observed on the 8th of June across
the globe
THEME– “Protect yourself- keep
away from stress.”
12
WORLD DAY World Day Against Child Labour,
AGAINST CHILD observed on June 12th, aims to
LABOUR inspire a global movement against
JUNE child labour.
THEME– “Social Justice for All. End
Child Labour!”
13
INTERNATIONAL The world is observing International
ALBINISM Albinism Awareness Day on June 13
AWARENESS DAY (Tuesday) in an United Nations
JUNE effort to stop the brutalities against
people with albinism.
THEME– “Inclusion is strength."
14 WORLD BLOOD World Blood Donor Day is observed

DONOR DAY on 14 June every year to raise
awareness about the urgency of
JUNE blood donations all over the world.
THEME– “Give blood, give plasma,
share life, share often.”

66
OBSERVED DAY INFO.
15 WORLD ELDER The United Nations(UN)’s World

ABUSE Elder Abuse Awareness Day
AWARENESS DAY (WEAAD) is annually observed
JUNE
across the globe on 15th June
THEME: “Closing the Circle:
Addressing Gender-Based Violence
(GBV) in Older Age Policy, Law and
Evidence-based Responses”.
ASEAN DENGUE Association of Southeast Asian

DAY Nations (ASEAN) annually
celebrates the ASEAN Dengue Day
(ADD) on 15th June
THEME: ASEAN’s Commitment to
Fight against Dengue.
WORLD WIND Every year World Wind day is

DAY observed on 15 June globally to
promote clean energy.
THEME: “The Wind in Mind" and
“Future Wind."
16
INTERNATIONAL The United Nations (UN)’s
DAY OF FAMILY International Day of Family
REMITTANCES Remittances (IDFR) is annually
JUNE
observed on 16th June
THEME: “Digital remittances
towards financial inclusion and cost
reduction.”
17
WORLD World Crocodile Day is observed on
CROCODILE DAY June 17 every year to spread
awareness about the conservation
JUNE
of endangered crocodiles and
alligators around the world.

67
OBSERVED DAY INFO.
WORLD DAY TO The United Nations (UN)’s World

COMBAT Day to Combat Desertification and
DESERTIFICATIO Drought is annually observed across
N AND the globe on 17th June
DROUGHT THEME: “Her land Her rights”.
18 WORLD It is observed every year on the third

FATHER'S DAY Sunday of June to commemorate
fatherhood and appreciates all
JUNE
fathers for their support and
contribution to society.
In 2023, World Father's Day falls
on 18 June.
THEME– “Celebrating the Greatest
Heroes of Our Lives.”
AUTISTIC PRIDE The Autistic Pride Day is annually
DAY observed on 18th June
Autistic Pride Day was first
observed in 2005 by Aspies for
Freedom, which is a community
that works for spreading
awareness about autism.
INTERNATIONAL International Picnic Day is

PICNIC DAY celebrated on June 18 every year.
19
JUNE
NATIONAL
READING DAY
National Reading Day is annually
observed across the globe on 19th
June to mark the death anniversary
of Puthuvayil Narayana Panicker (PN
Panicker), who is fondly known as
the Father of the Library Movement
in Kerala.

68
OBSERVED DAY INFO.

DAY FOR THE International Day for the
ELIMINATION OF Elimination of Sexual Violence in
SEXUAL Conflict is annually observed on 19th
VIOLENCE IN June
CONFLICT
DAY OF LIVING International Day of Living Together
TOGETHER IN in Peace is annually observed across
PEACE the globe on May 16 to promote
peace, tolerance, inclusion,
understanding and solidarity.
WORLD SICKLE World Sickle Cell Awareness Day is
CELL observed on June 19th each year to
AWARENESS DAY raise awareness about sickle cell
disease (SCD)
THEME: “Building and
strengthening Global Sickle Cell
Communities, Formalizing New-
born Screening and Knowing your
Sickle Cell Disease Status”
20 WORLD
REFUGEE DAY
The United Nations (UN)’s World
Refugee Day is observed annually
on 20th June
JUNE
THEME: “Hope away from home”.
21 INTERNATIONAL
YOGA DAY
The (UN)’s International Yoga Day is
annually observed across the globe
on 21st June
JUNE
21st June 2023 marks the
observance of the 9th
International Yoga Day.

69
OBSERVED DAY INFO.
THEME: “Yoga for Vasudhaiva

Kutumbakam”
WORLD World Hydrographic Day (WHD) is
HYDROGRAPHIC annually celebrated on 21st June
DAY THEME:“Hydrography–Underpinning
the Digital Twin of the Ocean”
WORLD MUSIC World Music Day is annually

DAY celebrated across the world on 21st
June
•2023 marks the 41st Anniversary of
the celebration of Fête de la
Musique.
THEME: Music at the Intersections
22 WORLD
RAINFOREST
DAY
World Rainforest Day is observed
every year on 22 June.
THEME: Conserve Restore
JUNE
Regenerate.
23 PUBLIC SERVICE United Nations Public Service Day is

DAY celebrated every year on 23 June.
On 20 December 2002, the
JUNE
General Assembly designated 23
June as United Nations Public
Service Day.
INTERNATIONAL International Widows Day is

WIDOWS DAY celebrated every year on 23 June.
Objective – To raise awareness
about the plight of widows
worldwide and to advocate for their
rights and well-being.

70
OBSERVED DAY INFO.
25 WORLD VITILIGO World Vitiligo Day is celebrated

DAY annually across the globe on 25th
June to raise awareness about
JUNE
vitiligo, a chronic skin condition that
causes the loss of pigmentation in
patches of the skin.
THEME: “Vitiligo: Looking into the
Future”
DAY OF THE Day of the Seafarer is celebrated

SEAFARER annually on 25 June to express
thanks to the world’s 1,5 million
seafarers serving on internationally
trading merchant ships
THEME: Our commitment goes on”.
26
INTERNATIONAL The UN General Assembly
DAY IN SUPPORT proclaimed 26 June as International
OF VICTIMS OF Day in Support of Victims of Torture
JUNE on 12 December 1997
TORTURE
WORLD World Refrigeration Day (WRD) is
annually observed across the world
REFRIGERATION
on 26th June to raise awareness and
DAY
understanding of the important role
that the refrigeration, air-
conditioning and heat-pump
industry
THEME: “Next Generation Cooling:
The Future is in our hands”
27 INTERNATIONAL
MSME DAY
The United Nations designated June
27 as (MSME) Day
THEME: “Future-ready MSMEs for
JUNE
India@100."

71
OBSERVED DAY INFO.
28 NATIONAL
INSURANCE
AWARENESS DAY
National Insurance Awareness Day
is annually observed on 28th June to
raise awareness about Insurance
JUNE
29
JUNE
NATIONAL
STATISTICS DAY
National Statistics Day is celebrated
on the birth anniversary
statistician P.C. Mahalanobis, on 29
of
June every year.
INTERNATIONAL International Day of the Tropics is

DAY OF THE observed globally on 29 June.
TROPICS The inaugural State of the
Tropics Report was launched on
29 June 2014

72
International News
India joins Centralised Laboratory Network
(CLN) for testing vaccines
India through its Indian Council of Medical
Research National Institute of Virology has
1
joined the Centralized Laboratory Network of
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness
Innovations (CEPI’s) which works to test
vaccines which can be used during a pandemic,
epidemic disease outbreak.
On May 30 2023, 5 new members based in
Africa and India joined the CLN network and
currently it has 15 partner facilities in 13
countries.
Visit of His Majesty The King of Bhutan
to India
His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck,
2 the King of Bhutan, visited India on an official
trip at the invitation of President Droupadi
Murmu.
India decided to increase its support for
Bhutan’s upcoming 13th Five-Year Plan (2023-
28), has agreed to an increase in the tariff on
the Chhukha hydroelectric power (HEP) project
India and Bhutan also agreed to work together
on developing the Kokrajhar-Gelephu rail link
project, which would be the first-ever rail link
between India and Bhutan.

73
The rail link project connects Kokrajhar in

Assam to Gelephu in Bhutan
India and Bhutan have planned to establish the
first integrated check post (ICP) along the
border in Jaigaon and Phuentsholing, the
busiest commercial hubs between the two
countries.
UNGA adopts resolution introduced by India
to honour fallen peacekeepers
The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA)
adopted draft resolution which was introduced
3
by India to establish a memorial wall to honour
fallen peacekeepers.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN
Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj revealed the draft
resolution which titled as ‘Memorial wall for
fallen United Nations peacekeepers’ at UN
General Assembly hall,United Nations
Headquarters in New York.
It was adopted by consensus and the resolution
was co-sponsored by nearly 190 UN Member
States out of 193 UN Member states.
World Bank launches its first road

safety project in South Asia
4 The World Bank launched its first road safety
4 project in South Asia with a USD 358 million
financing agreement signed in Dhaka with the
government of Bangladesh.
This project aims to improve road safety and
reduce fatalities and injuries from road crashes
in selected cities, high-risk highways, and
district roads.

74
The United States of America announces

its intention to rejoin UNESCO in July
The United States will rejoin UNESCO, the
United Nations cultural organization, in July
5
2023.
The move ends Washington's more than ten-
year dispute with the UN cultural agency after
the US left UNESCO on 31st December 2018.
‘FarmersFZ’ chosen by UN for food startup

‘Accelerator Programme’
A Kerala-based startup, Farmers Fresh Zone
6 (FarmersFZ), has been selected for the United
Nations (UN) Accelerator Programme hosted by
the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation
(FAO).
FarmersFZ has been included in a list of 12 agri-
food startups around the world for the UN to
develop business.
India, Australia includes 15 New Areas for

talks on CECA
India and Australia have decided to expand the
negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic
7
Cooperation Agreement (CECA) by including 15
more areas which have never been part of any
trade deal that India has been part of.
These areas include agri-tech, critical minerals,
space, sports, MSMEs, gender innovation and
competition policy, among others.
India and Australia have already implemented
an interim trade pact (Economic and
Cooperation Agreement) in December 2022.

75
Israel to release world’s first digital

government bond
The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) and Israel’s
Finance Ministry successfully completed the
8
proof-of-concept phase for a digital Israeli Bond
traded on a dedicated blockchain platform.
The development positions Israel to release the
world’s first digital government bond.
Remains of new species of duck-billed

dinosaur found in Chile
Remains of a species of herbivorous dinosaur
9 previously unknown in the southern
hemisphere have been discovered in Chile,
challenging long-held beliefs about the range
of duck-billed dinosaurs.
Measuring up to four meters (13 feet) in length
and weighing a ton, Gonkoken nanoi lived 72
million years ago in the extreme south of what
is now Chilean Patagonia.
Gonkoken nanoi, the fifth species of dinosaur
discovered in Chile, was actually found in 2013,
kicking off a decade-long investigation.
Members of the United Nations have
adopted the first-ever treaty to protect
marine life in high seas
10 The United Nations adopted the first-ever
legally binding international treaty to protect
marine life in the high seas.
Known as the Biodiversity Beyond National
Jurisdiction Treaty (BBNJ), or the High Seas
Treaty, approved by 193 U.N. member states,

76
imposes rules aimed at protecting the

environment.
It will be opened for signatures on September
20, during the annual meeting of world leaders
at the General Assembly, and it will take effect
once it is ratified by 60 countries.
Key points from the Treaty:
The treaty establishes a framework for “Marine
Protected Areas”.
It establishes standards and guidelines to
determine the environmental impacts of high
seas.
It creates a mechanism for transferring marine
technology to developing countries.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of
the Sea (UNCLOS), 1982 is an international
agreement that establishes the legal
framework for marine and maritime activities.
It is also known as Law of the Sea.
It divides marine areas into five main zones
namely- Internal Waters, Territorial Sea,
Contiguous Zone, Exclusive Economic Zone
(EEZ) and the High Seas.
It is the only international convention which
stipulates a framework for state jurisdiction in
maritime spaces. It provides a different legal
status to different maritime zones.
It provides the backbone for offshore
governance by coastal states and those
navigating the oceans.
It not only zones coastal states’ offshore areas
but also provides specific guidance for states’
rights and responsibilities in the five concentric
zones.

77
Estonia becomes 1st Baltic nation to

legalize same-sex marriage
4 Estonia’s parliament approved a law legalizing
11 same-sex marriage, making it the first central
European country to do so.
The law will come into effect in 2024.
Baltic states, the northeastern region of Europe,
includes the countries of Estonia, Latvia, and
Lithuania, on the eastern shores of the Baltic
Sea.
The Baltic states are bounded on the west and
north by the Baltic Sea, which gives the region
its name, on the east by Russia, on the southeast
by Belarus, and on the southwest by Poland and
an exclave of Russia
In 1991, their then popularly elected
governments declared independence from the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) with
overwhelming support.
The Baltic region is not rich in natural resources.
Though Estonia is an important producer of oil
shale, a large share of mineral and energy
resources is imported.
Agriculture remains important to the Baltic
economy, with potatoes, cereal grains, and
fodder crops produced and dairy cattle and pigs
raised.
The Nordic countries are a northern European
geographical region.
The area includes Denmark, Finland, Iceland,
Norway, Sweden, Greenland, the Faroe Islands,
and the Aland Islands.

78
Scandinavia, part of northern Europe, is

generally held to consist of the two countries of
the Scandinavian Peninsula, Norway and
Sweden, with the addition of Denmark.
IREDA participated in “Intersolar
Europe 2023″ exhibition in Munich
4 Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency
12 Limited (IREDA) participated in the three-day
“Intersolar Europe 2023″ exhibition held in
Munich, Germany
The inauguration of the pavilion was carried out
by Chief Managing Director(CMD), IREDA, Pradip
Kumar Das.
India and Belgium Sign Mutual Legal
Assistance Treaty for Investigations
4 India and the Government of Kingdom of
13 Belgium have signed a Mutual Legal Assistance
Treaty (MLAT), which allows Belgian authorities
to carry search warrants issued by Indian courts
and summon a person under investigation by an
Indian agency.
It will help investigators in getting evidence
from fugitives like Neeshal Modi, brother of
Punjab National Bank (PNB) scammastermind
Nirav Modi.
It is a mechanism whereby countries cooperate
with one another to provide and obtain formal
assistance in the prevention, suppression,
investigation and prosecution of crime to ensure
that the criminals do not escape or sabotage the
due process of law for want of evidence
available in different countries.

79
The Ministry of Home Affairs is the Central

Authority of India for dealing with requests for
mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.
Section 105 of the Criminal Procedure Code
(CrPC) explains the reciprocal arrangements to
be made by the Central Government with the
Foreign Governments with regard to the service
of summons/warrants/judicial processes.
India has so far signed MLATs with 46 countries.
China & Pakistan sign $4.8 billion deal
to build 1,200-megawatt nuclear power
4 plant
14
China and Pakistan signed an agreement of $4.8
billion to set up a 1,200-megawatt nuclear
power plant in Punjab province.
They would build a 1,200-megawatt Chashma-V
nuclear plant at Chashma in the Mianwali
district of Punjab.
Currently, Pakistan has 6 operating nuclear
power plants.
Pakistan’s total nuclear energy production is
1400 MegaWatt (MW).
Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (KANUPP) is the
first nuclear power plant in Pakistan.
3 MDBs, WHO launch health investment
platform to strengthen primary
4 healthcare
15
3 Multilateral Development Banks (MDB) — the
African Development Bank, European
Investment Bank and the Islamic Development
Bank have partnered with the World Health
Organization to launch the new Health Impact -

80
Investment Platform.
This aims to strengthen and invest in climate
and crisis-resilient Primary Healthcare Services
(PHC) in low- and low-and-middle-income
countries
The Platform was launched during the Summit
for a New Global Financing Pact in Paris, France.
It will provide Euro 1.5 billion to LICs and LMICs
in the form of loans and grants for PHC services,
for vulnerable populations and communities.
US decision to introduce in-country
renewable of H-1B visas
4 The Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC)
16 has welcomed the US announcement to start in-
country renewal of H-1B visas, saying it will
facilitate the movement of Indian IT
professionals and boost services exports.
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows
US companies to employ foreign workers in
specialty occupations.
It is designed to allow skilled foreign workers to
come to the United States and work for
American companies.

81
Mergers &
Acquisitions
Competition Commission of India
approves deal involving Manipal Group
Competition Commission of India (CCI), a fair-
trade regulator, cleared the proposed deal
involving Manipal Health Enterprises Pvt
Limited (MHEPL) and Manipal Education and
Medical Group India Pvt Limited (MEMG
India).
CPPIB Sells 1.77% Stake in Kotak
Mahindra Bank
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
(CPPIB) sold around 3.3 crore shares or 1.7 % of
the equity of Kotak Mahindra Bank
Limited(KMB)
The shares were sold at an average price of Rs
1855.64, the total deal value was Rs 6,123.6
crore.
LIC Raises Stake in SAIL to 8.6%
Life Insurance Corporation of India(LIC) has
increased its stake in Steel Authority of India
Limited (SAIL) by 2.001% (8.26 crore shares) at
an average price of Rs 66.18 per unit.
With this acquisition, LIC has raised its stake
from 6.68% to 8.68%.
4.54 % stake in CDSL is sold by BSE for ₹468
crore
Through an open market transaction BSE
divested a 4.5% stake in Central Depository
Services Ltd (CDSL) for Rs 468 cr.

82
BSE held 20% of the total equity shares of

CDSL as on March 31, 2023. Shareholding in
depositories is governed under the Sebi
(Depositories and Participants) Regulations,
2018.
Under regulation 21(1), a stock exchange is
allowed only to hold a 15% stake in a
depository. In January 2021, the market
regulator set a limit of 15% holding for
institutions which was reduced from 24%.
In February 2023, BSE sold 2.5 % stake in CDSL
Max Life Insurance picks 2.99% stake in

Capital Small Finance Bank for ₹49.5 crore
Max Life Insurance Company Limited (Max
Life), has picked a 2.99 % equity stake in
Jalandhar-headquartered Capital Small
Finance Bank (CSFB) for a consideration of Rs.
49.50 crore.
IRDAI has approved SBI MF to take upto 10%

share in ICICI Lombard
Insurance Regulatory and Development
Authority of India (IRDAI) gave its approval to
SBI Mutual Fund (SBIMF) to acquire upto 10%
of the total paid up equity share capital of
ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company
Limited(ICICI Lombard) through market
purchase.
TPG Investments exits Shriram Finance by

selling 2.65% stake
Private equity firm and a Leading Global
Alternative Asset Manager Texas Pacific Group
(TPG) sold its entire 2.65 % stake or 99.2 lakh
shares in Non-Banking Financial
Company(NBFC) Shriram Finance Ltd for Rs
1,390 crore through open market transactions.

83
CCI approves acquisition of stake by HDFC in

2 Insurers
Competition Commission of India (CCI)
granted its approval to Housing Development
Finance Corporation Limited (HDFC) to
acquire a certain stake in HDFC Life Insurance
Company and HDFC ERGO General Insurance
Company Ltd.
In both cases, the merged entity HDFC Bank
(after the effective date of the proposed
amalgamation) will hold over 50% of the
shareholding of the two insurance companies
HDFC sells 90% of its stakes in HDFC Credila
for Rs 9,060 crore
Housing Development and Finance
Corporation (HDFC) has sold its 90% stakes in
HDFC Credila Financial Services, a education
loan subsidiary of the (HDFC) to BPEA EQT
and ChrysCapital for Rs 9,060 crore.
Piramal Enterprises to sell entire 8.34% stake
in Shriram Finance
According to block deal data available on the
National Stock Exchange, Piramal Enterprises
divested its entire 8.34% stake in non-banking
financial company Shriram Finance for Rs
4,824 crore through an open market
transaction.
As of March 2023, Piramal Enterprises held the
stake-sale comprising Rs.3.12 crore shares
while Shriram Capital held 18%.
SBI to acquire 20% stake in SBI Pension
Funds from SBICAPS
The Executive Committee of the Central Board
(ECCB) of the State Bank of India (SBI) has
accorded approval for acquiring the entire
20% stake held by SBI Capital Markets
(SBICAPS) in SBI Pension Funds.

84
Currently, SBI has a 60% stake in SBI Pension

Funds, with the balance stake being held by
SBICAPS (20%) and SBI Funds Management
(20 %).

85
MOU's &
Partnership
PFC and RITES signs MoU for strategic
partnership for financing infrastructure and
logistics sector
Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES)
and engineering firm, signed a MoU with Power
Finance Corporation (PFC) to establish a strategic
partnership for financing infrastructure and
logistics sector projects in India and abroad.
The partnership aims to support projects in various
sectors such as water & sanitation, transport &
logistics, energy, communication, social and
commercial infrastructure.
NGEL & UPRVUNL Signed MoU to Develop

Renewable Energy Parks
NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL) signed a MoU
with Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam
Limited (UPRVUNL) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
To develop Renewable Energy Parks and Projects in
UP and to facilitate the Government of India’s
efforts towards energy transition.
Indian Navy & IMU signed MoU for Technical

Collaboration
Indian Navy and the Indian Maritime
University(IMU), headquartered at Chennai(Tamil
Nadu), signed a Memorandum of
Understanding(MoU) for Technical Collaboration.

86
Bajaj Finserv signed an MoU with Maharashtra Govt

to invest Rs.5000 crore in Pune
Bajaj Finserv, the non- banking financial company
signed a MoU with the Government of Maharashtra,
under which it will invest Rs.5,000 crore in Pune
(Maharashtra)
MNIT & NDSA signed MoU to set up India’s first-of-

its-kind National Centre for Earthquake Safety of
Dams
The Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT)
and the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA),
Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) had signed a MoU to
establish India’s first-of-its-kind National Centre for
Earthquake Safety of Dams
It will focus on studying seismic hazards, developing
new dams, and enhancing the protection of existing
ones.
In this regard, MoJS has approved a financial grant of
Rs 30 crore for establishing and running the centre
for the next 5 years.
MoU signed between Microsoft and Indian Govt to
train youth in digital and cybersecurity skills
A MoU has been signed between Microsoft and the
Directorate General of Training, Ministry of Skills
Development and Entrepreneurship, to train 6000
students and 200 educators at government-led
Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and National Skills
Training Institutions (NSTIs).
This training is being conducted under the
CyberShikshaa programme and will be expanded to
students and educators at 10 NSTIs for women.
French company Alstom to make 100 Vande Bharat
trains
French railway major Alstom has emerged as the
lowest bidder for manufacture and maintenance of
100 aluminum Vande Bharat train sets, valued at Rs
30,000 crore.

87
The basic manufacturing cost would be paid upon

delivery of the trainsets, while the remaining portion
of close to Rs 17,000 crore would be paid for
maintenance for a period of 35 years.
The train is pegged to have a speed capability of 200
km per hour.
Microsoft, AirJaldi launch connectivity program to
offer internet access to 5 lakh underserved people
Microsoft India and AirJaldi Network signed a 3-year
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide
internet access for underserved communities in 12
states.
Titled ‘Contentful Connectivity‘, the program aims to
expand access to high-speed internet and
meaningful connectivity in rural regions of India by
partnering with private, public, and non-profit
sectors.
Under this program, AirJaldi Networks will expand
into 3 new states namely, Telangana, Chhattisgarh,
and Odisha.
NHPC & Torrent Power signed MoU with
Maharashtra for pumped hydro projects
NHPC Limited (erstwhile National Hydroelectric
Power Corporation) and Torrent Power Limited
signed a MoUs with the Government of Maharashtra
for the development of pumped hydro storage
projects.
It is signed for the development of 4 pumped Storage
Projects aggregating to 7350 MW(megawatt), namely
Kalu – 1150 MW, Savitri – 2250 MW, Jalond – 2400 MW
and Kengadi -1550 MW and other Renewable Energy
Source Projects in Maharashtra.
Torrent Power signed a MoU with Maharashtra for 3
pumped storage hydro schemes of 5,700 MW
capacity in Maharashtra at an investment of Rs 27000
crore.
The projects will be executed over a period of 5 years.
These projects will be implemented in Karjat 3000 -

88
MW in Raigarh District, Maval – 1200 MW and Junnar –

1500 MW in Pune District of Maharashtra.
Bihar & AAI signs MOUs to construct new Civil

Enclaves at Darbhanga & Purnea Airport
The Government of Bihar signed two Memoranda of
Understanding (MOUs) with the Airports Authority of
India (AAI) for the construction of Civil Enclaves at
Darbhanga Airport and Purnea Airport in Bihar.
Under this MoU, the Bihar government will provide
undisputed land at free of cost to AAI for both the
airports.
BCI Signs MoU With Bar Council Of England & Wales

For Mutual Exchange Program Of Lawyers & Law
Students
The Bar Council of India (BCI) signed a MoU with the
Bar Council of England and Wales and the Law
Society of England and Wales.
For an exchange programme of Lawyers and Law
Students for mutual exchange of training & learning
amongst each other's jurisdiction.
TVS SCS wins UK Defence Ministry Contract for

supplying Land Rover Spares
TVS Supply Chain Solutions (TVS SCS) won the
contract from the United Kingdom Ministry of
Defence acting through its agent, Babcock Land
Defence Ltd, for the supply of spares, consumables
and accessories for the Land Rover Wolf Platform.
IICA and RRU sign MoU for academic and research

collaboration
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed
between Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA)
and Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU)
The objective of the MoU is to synergize the
professional capabilities of IICA and RRU towards
capacity building, education, research and
consultancy in the areas of internal security, financial

89
crime, law enforcement, corporate fraud and other

subjects.
LA Zoo to partner with Bihar Govt & WTI for gharial
conservation in Gandak
Los Angeles (LA) Zoo (California, the United States of
America-USA) is set to partner with the Government of
Bihar and the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) for the
conservation of Gharial (gavia), a fish-eating crocodile in
the Gandak River in West Champaran district, Bihar.
Kotak Life & DGR signed MoU to Provide
Employment Opportunities for Ex-Servicemen
Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company Limited
signed a MoU with the Directorate General
Resettlement (DGR), an Inter Service organization
under the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare to
offer employment opportunities to Ex-Servicemen of
the Defence Services.
Tata Steel signs MoU with Germany’s SMS group to
cut carbon emissions
Tata Steel Ltd and Germany’s SMS group GmbH
signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to
collaborate on decarbonisation of the steel making
process.
Under this MoU, Tata Steel and SMS Group will
undertake technical discussions and initiate actions
for conducting Joint Industrial Demonstration of the
EASyMelt (electric-assisted syngas smelter)
technology, developed by SMS group.
Tata steel aims to achieve net zero carbon emission
by 2045.
Assam Govt inks MoU with NFR and NRL for Hassle-
Free Rail & River Travel
Assam has signed Memorandums of understanding
(MoUs) with Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) and
Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) to ensure hassle-
free rail and river travel, and to expedite development
in the state.

90
RITES Ltd signs contract with National Railways of

Zimbabwe to supply diesel locomotives & open
wagons
RITES has signed Contract Agreements with National
Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) for supply of rolling
stock (3000 HP Diesel Electric Locomotives and High
Sided Open Wagons) valuing USD 81,175,500.
NHPC signed MoU with KSEB for development of
hydroelectric projects
NHPC Limited (erstwhile National Hydroelectric
Power Corporation) signed a MoU with the Kerala
State Electricity Board (KSEB), to set up a “design
clinic” for vetting of design of KSEB projects by NHPC.
Under this MoU, NHPC will provide consultancy
services to KSEB, as its Owner’s Engineer, to examine
and assess the design of the KSEB projects
NSE, Maharashtra govt & Moneybee Institute sign

MoU for investor-awareness programmes
National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE)
signed a tri-party MoU with the Department of Higher
and Technical Education, Government of
Maharashtra, and Moneybee Institute Pvt. Ltd. to
create awareness among the public about investing
in the capital markets.
Maharashtra became the first state to actively initiate
the financial literacy campaign under this MoU.
Airbnb and the Ministry of Tourism signed an
agreement to promote cultural tourism and
heritage stays
Online lodging hosting service, Airbnb has signed a
memorandum of understanding with India’s Ministry
of Tourism to showcase the country’s heritage and
promote cultural tourism.
•Airbnb will partner with the Ministry of Tourism in its
vision to promote inbound tourism as a part of its
‘Visit India 2023’ initiative.
Under the MoU, Airbnb will launch a dedicated ‘Soul -

91
of India’ microsite for the global audience showcasing

India’s rich culture and built heritage.
India, Philippines Sign MoU on FinTech Cooperation
The Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of
Finance (MoF), Government of India and the
Department of Finance (DOF), Government of
Philippines, signed a MOU on Financial Technology
(fintech) cooperation.
The MoU was expected to provide an institutional
framework for cooperation on three key areas of
digitization of payments, direct benefit transfer using
national ID, and financial inclusion.
UNDP partnered with DAY-NULM to empower

women entrepreneurs
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
partnered with the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-
National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) to
empower women to make well-informed career
choices in the field of entrepreneurship.
The 3 year project extendable beyond 2025, focused
on promoting entrepreneurship development and
accelerating enterprise growth will cover 8 cities in
the initial phase.
India, UNWTO ink pact to Enhance Cooperation in
Tourism
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed
between the Government of India and the United
Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) to
enhance cooperation and identify areas of mutual
interest.
BEL & HFCL signed MoU to leverage business
opportunities across multiple sector
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and HFCL Limited
(formerly known as Himachal Futuristic
Communications Ltd) signed a MoU to indigenously
develop and deploy emerging technologies and
technical solutions to address the requirements of -

92
Defence, Telecom and Railway sectors.

The non-exclusive MoU, signed for 2 years, aims to
promote ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India)
initiative and Make in India initiative.
Recent:
Bharat Electronics Ltd & Armoured Vehicles Nigam
Limited signs MoU to jointly address the
requirements of Indian Defence and Export markets.
BEL signs MoU with Emjay Control Systems to
Manufacture Electro-Mechanical Bollards
Bharat Electronics Ltd & Israel Aerospace Industries
signs MoU for domestic manufacture and supply of its
LORA (Long Range Attack) Weapon System for the
Indian Tri-services.
HAL signs MoU with Argentina firm for exploration
in aircraft
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Argentina’s
Fábrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA) have signed an
MoU to explore collaboration in the maintenance,
repair, and overhaul (MRO)of aircraft components,
systems, and structures during the Paris Air Show
2023.
DGR Signs MoU with Adecco Ltd. to Generate
Employment for Ex-servicemen
The Directorate-General for Resettlement (DGR)
under the Ex-Servicemen Welfare Department,
Ministry of Defence signed a MoU with M/s Adecco
India Private Ltd in New Delhi, Delhi to generate
employment for ex-servicemen.
The goal is to bring corporate companies and ex-
military on a common platform to generate job
opportunities for ex-military personnel in various
sectors such as IT, E-Commerce, Logistics, Telecom,
Aerospace and Defense etc.
GeM signed MoU with TANSTIA to increase GeM
Seller Base in Tamil Nadu
GeM (Government e-Marketplace) signed a
Memorandum of Understanding with TANSTIA (Tamil
Nadu Small and Tiny Industries Association) in -

93
Chennai to enhance the GeM seller base in Tamil Nadu.

During the last fiscal year, Tamil Nadu recorded the
second-highest growth in GeM procurement
amongst 36 States and Union Territories (UTs).
Indian Railways signed MoU with USAID/India to
Combat Climate Change
The Indian Railways and the United States Agency for
International Development/India (USAID/India)
signed a MoU to combat climate change and achieve
Indian Railways’ target of net-zero carbon emissions
by 2030.
According to the projected estimates, in order to
achieve Net Zero Carbon Emission, Indian Railways
would need an expected renewable capacity of
around 30,000 MW (megawatts) by the fiscal year
2029-30.
ONDC and Kerala Govt signed an agreement for
better market access to PSU products
Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) signed
an agreement with the Department of Industries and
Commerce of the Kerala state to increase access and
business opportunities in various sectors in Kerala by
facilitating digital transformation.
Nine PSUs have already signed an agreement with
ONDC and currently around 200 products of PSU’s
are available on ONDC platform.
Paytm Signs MoU With Arunachal Pradesh to
Develop Startup Environment
Paytm Payment Services Limited (PPSL) signed an
Memorandum of understanding (MoU) with
Arunachal Pradesh Innovation and Investment Park
(APIIP) to develop a startup environment for the
youth in Arunachal Pradesh.
To support the business of young people, Paytm
Incubation Centre will offer free credits through the
Paytm Startup toolkit and its product at a subsidized
rate to early-stage firms.

94
India and UAE signed a Mutual Recognition

Arrangement for Authorized Economic Operators
India and UAE signed a Mutual Recognition
Arrangement for Authorized Economic Operators
India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a
Mutual Recognition Arrangement for authorized
economic operators of both countries on the
sidelines of the 141st/142nd sessions of World Customs
Organization Customs Co-operation Council meeting,
in Brussels, Belgium.
The agreement is signed to promote greater trade
facilitation and ease of doing business between the 2
countries.
Infosys signs USD 454 million deal with Danske
Bank to accelerate its digital transformation
Infosys (Information Systems) has collaborated with
Denmark’s Danske Bank, by signing a deal valued at
USD 454 million for a 5 year period to accelerate its
digital transformation.
NHPC and GRIDCO signed a MoU for developing

Solar Energy Projects in Odisha
NHPC Limited signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with GRIDCO Limited (Grid
Corporation of Odisha) for the development of
pumped storage projects and renewable energy in
Odisha.
The MoU envisions setting up Self-identified PSPs of
at least 2,000 megawatts and renewable energy
projects (on-ground and floating solar projects) of at
least 1,000 MW in Odisha.
West Bengal govt ties up with Dun & Bradstreet for
MSMEs
Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) India has partnered with the
West Bengal government to issue Data Universal
Numbering System (D-U-N-S) Numbers to exporters
and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in
the state.

95
D&B assigns a unique 9-digit (D-U-N-S) number to a

specific MSME firm or an exporter which comprises
various financial health indicators and also captures
firmographic data, corporate relationships and credit
scores of a specific business entity.
MoA & FW Signed an MoU with Pixxel Space India

Pvt. Ltd. to Develop Geospatial Solutions
Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
(MoA & FW) has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding with Pixxel Space India Pvt. Ltd.
To develop geospatial solutions for the Indian
agriculture ecosystem on a free of cost basis using
Pixxel’s hyperspectral dataset.
The project will focus on crop mapping, crop stage
discrimination, crop health monitoring, and soil
organic carbon assessments.
L&T and BSNL Partner for Private 5G Network

Solutions
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Technology Services Limited
(LTTS) has partnered with Bharat Sanchar Nigam
Limited (BSNL) to provide private 5G (Fifth-
generation) network solutions for global enterprises
providing faster connection speed and lower latency.
Assam signs MoU with Caspian Equity to foster

Agricultural Productivity
Assam Rural Infrastructure and Agricultural Services
(ARIAS) Society has signed a MoU with Caspian
Impact Investment Adviser as an effort to strengthen
rural infrastructure, employment opportunities and
foster agricultural productivity in the State.
This partnership implements Assam Agribusiness
Investment Fund (AAIF), a contributory and
determinate investment trust, having a corpus of Rs
250 crores.

96
WHO, Global Citizen signed MoU to promote Health

for All
The World Health Organization (WHO) and Global
Citizen signed a MoU to collaborate on joint global
advocacy initiatives over the next three years to
promote and protect health for all people.
Under the MoU, both organisations agreed to
advance the priorities and objectives of WHO’s 13th
General Programme of Work (GPW13) and the health-
related aims of the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs).

97
National News
PM Narendra Modi flags off Northeast’s first
Vande Bharat Express
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi virtually
flagged off the Northeast region’s first Vande
1
Bharat Express which will connect Guwahati
(Assam) with New Jalpaiguri (West Bengal)
within 5 hours and 30 minutes.
This is the 19th Vande Bharat express of India.
Unemployment declines further to

6.8% in Q4FY23: 18th Quarterly PLFS by
NSO
2 National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of
Statistics and Programme Implementation
(MoSPI) released its 18th quarterly Periodic
Labour Force Survey (PLFS) bulletin for January-
March 2023 (Q4FY23).
As per it, India’s urban unemployment rate (UR)
in Current Weekly Status (CWS) terms for
persons aged 15 years and above declined to
6.8% during Q4FY23 from 7.2% in Q3FY23.
The unemployment rate was 8.2% during
January-March 2022.
UR in CWS among the male population in
urban areas declined to 6% as compared to
6.5% in Q3FY23.
UR in CWS among females also saw a decline
during Q4FY23 to 9.2% from 9.6% in Q3FY23.

98
State wise unemployment rate:

For all age groups, the highest UR was seen in
Himachal Pradesh (HP) which stood at 15.2%.
It is followed by Chhattisgarh at 12.5% in 2nd
place, and Jammu and Kashmir-J&K (12.4%) at
3rd place.
Bandra-Versova sea bridge will be named
after Veer Savarkar
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has
announced that Bandra -Versova sea route in
3
Mumbai will be named as Swatantra Veer
Savarkar Bandra- Versova Sagari Setu.
A new award “The SwatantryaVeer Savarkar
Shaurya Puraskar” will be given for incredible
bravery deeds in the state.
DGCA approved for night landing
facility at Kalaburagi Airport
Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has
4 approved the night landing facility at Kalaburagi
Airport, Karnataka.
It has a runway of 09-27 (3175m x 45m) and an
apron suitable to park 03 aircraft.
JSW Steel becomes 1st Manufacturer to

get CII’sGreenPro Ecolabel
JSW Steel Limited has become the First
5 Manufacturer to receive GreenPro ecolabel for
its ‘Automotive Steel’ products.
The GreenPro Ecolabel, developed by the
Confederation of Indian Industry(CII)’s Green
Business Centre, recognises the highest
standards of environmental sustainability and -

99
product performance in the Indian manufacturing

sector.
Cabinet approves Constitution and
Empowerment of IMC for Facilitation of
World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in
6
Cooperative Sector
On the lines of the Central Government’s plan to
expand the foodgrain storage capacities in
India, the Union Cabinet has approved the
constitution and empowerment of an Inter-
Ministerial Committee (IMC) for the facilitation
of the World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in the
Cooperative Sector.
The Government will infuse approximately Rs 1
Lakh Crore (Rs 1 trillion) for this plan in order to
increase foodgrain storage capacity by 700 lakh
tonne in the cooperative sector from about 1,450
lakh tonne presently to 2,150 lakh tonne in the
next five years by constructing a godown
capacity of 2000 tonnes in every block.
Pilot Project:
The pilot project of the plan would be
implemented by the Ministry of Cooperation in
at least 10 selected Districts of different
States/Union Territories by ensuring time-bound
and uniform implementation.
India has 65,000 agricultural cooperative
societies. Through the launch of the Grain
Storage Plan, the farmers were able to obtain up
to 70% of loans from these societies in addition
to storing their produce in the facilities.
India produces about 3,100 lakh tonnes of -

100
foodgrains annually, and current godown facilities

can store only up to 47% of the produce.
Cabinet approves establishment of
Regional Office of the UPU in New Delhi
The Cabinet has approved the establishment of
7 a Regional Office of the Universal Postal Union
(UPU) in New Delhi, Delhi.
This office would focus on UPU’s development
cooperation and technical assistance activities
in collaboration with UPU.
The Universal Postal Union, established by the
Treaty of Bern of 1874, is a specialized agency of
the United Nations that coordinates postal
policies among member nations, in addition to
the worldwide postal system.
Cabinet approves City Investments to
Innovate, Integrate and Sustain 2.0
(CITIIS 2.0) from 2023 to 2027
8
To further expand the Smart Cities Program, the
Union cabinet approved the ‘City Investments to
Innovate, Integrate and Sustain 2.0 (CITIIS 2.0)’
to 18 more cities which will run for a period of
four years, from 2023 to 2027.
CITIIS 2.0 is an initiative developed by the
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in
collaboration with the French Development
Agency, Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau, the
European Union, and the National Institute of
Urban Affairs.
The funding for CITIIS 2.0 will include a loan of
Rs 1,760 crore (EUR 200 million) from AFD and
KfW (EUR 100 million each) and a technical -

101
-assistance grant of Rs 106 crore (EUR 12 million)

from the EU.
3 Components of CITIIS 2.0:
Component 1:Provide financial and technical
support for climate resilience, adaptation, and
mitigation projects in up to 18 smart cities.
Component 2: Support all States and UTs on
demand. Assist in setting up/strengthening
State climate centers, creating Climate Data
Observatories, enabling climate-data driven
planning, and building capacities of municipal
functionaries.
Component 3:Strengthen climate governance in
urban India through institutional strengthening,
knowledge dissemination, partnerships,
capacity building, and research.
MeitY launches pilot project on Electronics
Repair Services Outsourcing
The Ministry of Electronics and Information
9 Technology (MeitY) launched a pilot project on
Electronics Repair Services Outsourcing (ERSO)
in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
It will run for three months on a trial basis with
five companies, namely Flex, Lenovo, CTDI, R-
Logic, and Aforeserve.
Through the ERSO scheme, India hopes to
capture 20% of the global repair service market
(in five years) which is currently valued at USD
100 billion.
At present, India’s revenue from repair services is
about USD 350 million which is likely to be USD
20 billion in the next 5 years.

102
Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya

inaugurates National Training Centre
for FSSAI
10 Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry
of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW)
inaugurated the state-of-the-art National
Training Centre for Food Safety and Standards
Authority of India (FSSAI) at Ghaziabad, Uttar
Pradesh
The new National Training Centre of the FSSAI
will provide structured instruction, practice, and
learning experiences to bridge the gap between
existing knowledge and desired knowledge in
the field of food safety and standards.
Dr. Mandaviya launched two books namely
Millets (Shree Anna) Recipes- A Healthy Menu
for Mess/Canteens and Healthy Gut, Healthy You
– Traditional Recipes with potential probiotic
benefits.
Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh
Shekhawat Launched Unified
Registration Portal For GOBARdhan
11
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of
Jal Shakti, launched the Unified Registration
Portal for Biogas/ Compressed Bio Gas (CBG)/
Bio CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) plants under
Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan
(GOBARdhan) scheme.
This portal will be a one stop repository to assess
investment and participation in Biogas/CBG
sector at pan India level.
The portal, developed by Department of Drinki-

103
-ng Water and Sanitation (DDWS) under the

Ministry of Jal Shakti
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri
launched a PM SVANidhi Mobile app
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Ministry of
12 Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched
the a mobile app “PMSVANidhi” for street
vendors to ease their loan application process
under the PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar
Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme.
The app was launched during the event
organised to mark the 3 years completion of the
Scheme, which was launched on 1st June 2020.
MoRTH allows e-Bank Guarantee,
Insurance Surety Bonds as bid
(MoRTH) has approved the acceptance of e-(BG)
13 and Insurance Surety Bonds as a bid security
and performance security in standard
documents of (EPC), (HAM) and BOT (Toll)
projects.
This decision follows recent amendments by the
Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance
in (GFRs) 2017 relating to inclusion of e-BG and
Insurance Surety Bonds as means to accept bid
security and performance security.
MoRTH allows e-Bank Guarantee,
Insurance Surety Bonds as bid
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
14 (MoRTH) has approved the acceptance of e-
Bank Guarantee (BG) and Insurance Surety
Bonds as a bid security and performance
security in standard documents of engineering,
procurement, and construction (EPC), hybrid -

104
annuity model (HAM) and BOT (Toll) projects.

This decision follows recent amendments by the
Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance
in General Financial Rules (GFRs) 2017 relating
to inclusion of e-BG and Insurance Surety Bonds
as means to accept bid security and
performance security.
BIS notifies 31 Indian standards related

to Ayush herbs and products
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the
15 national standard body of India, has recently
introduced 31 Indian standards pertaining to
Ayush herbs and products.
India's first carbon neutral village being

developed in Bhiwandi Taluka of Thane
district of Maharashra
16
India’s first carbon neutral village being developed
in Bhiwandi Taluka of Thane district, Maharashtra.
This initiative aims to minimize carbon emissions
and promote sustainable practices for a cleaner
and greener environment.
Along with the carbon-neutral village, 121 tribal
villages are being developed as model villages.
These model villages serve as examples for
sustainable development, showcasing effective
infrastructure, amenities, and improved living
conditions.

105
IIT Madras to set up its first overseas

campus in Tanzania
(IIT) Madras will set up its first International
17 campus in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
Zanzibar will be one of three campuses of IIT
which will be located outside of India.
The other campuses will be set up in Abu Dhabi
and Kuala Lumpur.
PM Narendra Modi Launched 2 Schemes
Amrit Dharohar and MISHTI Yojana to
revive wetlands and mangroves
18 (PM) Narendra Modi launched two schemes
named Amrit Dharohar Yojana and MISHTI Yojana
(Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and
Tangible Incomes) to revive wetlands and
mangroves across India.
Amrit Dharohar Yojan:- The scheme was launched to
conserve the existing Ramsar sites and achieve
sustainable ecosystem development through public
participation over the next three years
MISHTI Yojana:- The scheme envisages to
comprehensively explore the possible area for the
development of mangroves covering nearly 540 sq
km, spreading across 11 states and two union
territories over 5 years, starting from FY24.
Union Cabinet Approves Third Revival
Package For BSNL
The cabinet has approved the third revival
19
package for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) with
a total outlay of Rs 89,047.82 crore that includes
allotment of 4G/5G spectrum through equity
infusion.

106
The authorized capital of BSNL was increased

from Rs 1,50,000 crore to Rs. 2,10,000 crore.
The Union Government had approved the first
revival package for BSNL/Mahanagar Telephone
Nigam Limited (MTNL) in 2019 amounting to Rs.
69,000 Crore.
In 2022, the Government approved a second
revival package for BSNL/MTNL amounting to Rs
1.64 Lakh Crore.
The details of Budget and Spectrum allotment :
BAND SPECTRUM ALLOTTED BUDGETARY SUPPORT
700 MHz 10 MHz paired in 22 licensed service areas (LSAs) Rs. 46,338.60 Crore
3300 MHZ 70 MHZ IN 22 LSAS RS. 26,184.20 CRORE
26 GHZ 800 MHZ IN 21 LSAS AND 650 MHZ IN 1 LSA RS. 6,564.93 CRORE
2500 MHZ 20 MHZ IN 6 LSAS AND 10 MHZ IN 2 LSAS RS. 9,428.20 CRORE
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS RS. 531.89 CRORE
TOTAL RS. 89,047.82 CRORE
Cabinet announces hike in MSP for kharif

crops in 5% to 10% range
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
20 (CCEA) chaired by PM Narendra Modi has
approved the increase in the Minimum Support
Prices (MSP) for all mandated Kharif Crops for
Marketing Season 2023-24.
As per Third Advance Estimates for FY23, total
Foodgrain production in India is estimated at
record 330.5 million tonnes which is higher by 14.9
million tonnes as compared to FY22.

107
This is the highest increase in the last 5 year.
Union Cabinet approves continuation of

‘Exploration of Coal and Lignite Scheme’
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs,
21 chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has
approved the continuation of the Central Sector
Scheme called "Exploration of Coal and Lignite
scheme."
The scheme will be implemented from 2021-22 to
2025-26, aligned with the 15th Finance
Commission cycle, and will require an estimated
expenditure of Rs 2980 crore.
The exploration for coal and lignite under the
scheme is conducted in two broad stages: (i)
Promotional (Regional) Exploration and (ii)
Detailed Exploration in non-Coal India Limited
blocks.
An outlay of Rs 1,650 crore will be provided for
promotional (Regional) exploration and Rs 1,330
crore for detailed drilling in non-CIL (Coal India
Limited) areas.

108
Meta & MWCD launched Amrit

Generation Campaign to Empower
Youths
22
Meta (formerly known as Facebook) and the
Ministry of Women and Child Development
(MWCD) launched the Amrit Generation
campaign to empower and engage the youth of
India (age group of 16-18 years) to express their
aspirations and dreams for the future.
The campaign was launched by Union Minister
Smriti Irani
The campaign invites youths to showcase their
creativity and share their aspirations by creating
Reels on Instagram and Facebook using the
#Amrit Generation.
50 shortlisted entries will be invited to New Delhi
to interact with senior policymakers and industry
leaders and will also get an opportunity to visit
the Meta office in Gurugram (Haryana).
MeitY Notifies “IT Amendment Rules
2023”: Government-Appointed Fact-
Checker to Identify Fake News
23 The Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology (MeitY) notified the amendment of
the Information Technology (Intermediary
Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules,
2021 related to online gaming and spread of false
and misleading information regarding
government business.
The amended rules will be known as the
Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines
and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment -

109
-Rules, 2023 [IT Amendment Rules, 2023].

Govt disburses incentives for PLI Scheme
for Drones & Drone Components
The Civil Aviation Ministry has disbursed nearly Rs
24 30 crore to 23 beneficiaries during FY 2022-23
under the PLI scheme for manufacturing drones
and drone components
A provisional list of 23 PLI beneficiaries was
released on 6th July 2022; this includes 12 drone
manufacturers and 11 drone component
manufacturers.
Union Cabinet grants approval to LIGO-
India to build gravitational wave
Detector in Maharashtra
25
The Union Cabinet of the Government of India
headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi
approved the LIGO-India (Laser Interferometer
Gravitational-wave Observatory in India) mega
science proposal for research on gravitational
waves.
The LIGO-India project will establish a state-of-
the-art gravitational wave observatory in Hingoli,
Maharashtra in collaboration with the LIGO
Laboratory in the USA.
The LIGO project is piloted by the Department of
Atomic Energy(DAE) and the Department of
Science and Technology (DST).
The project worth Rs 2600 crore is estimated to
be built by 2030.
2 such LIGO observatories have already been
established in Louisiana and Washington in the
USA.

110
MUDRA Yojana completes 8 years, Rs

23.2 lakh crore sanctioned
Around Rs 23.2 lakh crore has been sanctioned
26 in 40.82 crore loan accounts under Pradhan
Mantri MUDRA Yojana since its inception back
in 2015.
About 68 per cent of accounts under the
scheme belong to women entrepreneurs and 51
per cent of accounts belong to entrepreneurs of
SC/ST and OBC categories.
PMMY was launched on 8th April 2015 by Prime
Minister (PM) Narendra Modi in New Delhi,
Delhi.
To facilitate easy collateral-free micro-credit of
up to Rs 10 lakh to non-corporate, non-farm
small and micro-entrepreneurs for income-
generating activities.
Types of PMMY:
Shishu – loans up to Rs 50,000
Kishore – loans above Rs 50,000 and up to Rs 5 lakh
Tarun – loans above Rs 5 lakh and up to Rs 10 lakh
MoPSW launched ‘SAGAR SAMRIDDHI’,

an Online Dredging Monitoring System
In a significant move to accelerate the 'Waste to
27 Wealth' initiative of the Ministry of Ports,
Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Union
Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched the
'Sagar Samriddhi' online dredging monitoring
system
This will help in making the seas and port clean.
With this, real time information on dredging will
be available.

111
This system has been developed by National

Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and
Coasts (NTCPWC) the technological arm of
MoPSW.
NTCPWC was established under the Sagarmala
program of MoPSW at IIT Madras with a total
investment of Rs 77 crore.
Centre takes 5 significant decisions for
strengthening Primary Agricultural
Credit Societies
28
Government of India has taken 5 more
important decisions revolving around Primary
Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), a basic unit
and the smallest cooperative credit institution
in India works on the grassroots level (gram
panchayat and village level).
These 5 decisions are:-
On the basis of mapping, PACS which are not
functioning as fertilizer retailers will be
identified and encouraged to function as
retailers.
PACS which are not currently functioning as
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samridhi Kendras
(PMKSK) will be brought under the scope of
PMKSK.
PACS will be connected with the marketing of
organic fertilizers, especially Fermented organic
Manure or Liquid Fermented Organic Manure or
Phosphate-enriched Organic Manure.
PACS can also be employed as drone
entrepreneurs for spraying fertilizers and
pesticides.

112
PACS will also be included as

wholesalers/retailers in this supply and
marketing chain of bio-organic fertilizers.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal

flagged off MV Empress, India’s 1st
International Cruise from Chennai
29 The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping &
Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal
flagged off India's maiden International Cruise
Vessel – MV Empress – from Chennai to Sri Lanka
in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
It is built at a cost of Rs.17.21 crores.
The modern cruise terminal developed at
Chennai Port is spread over an area of 2,880
square metres with an ability to host 3,000
passengers at a time.
The cruise service will go to three ports in Sri
Lanka, Hambantota, Trincomalee and
Kankekanturi.
Government of India constitutes Peace

Committee in Manipur under the
Chairpersonship of Governor, Manipur
30 The Central government has constituted a
peace committee in Manipur under the
chairmanship of Governor Anusuiya Uikey.
To facilitate the peace-making process among
various ethnic groups of the State, between
conflicting groups and strengthen social
cohesiveness, mutual understanding and
facilitate cordial communication.

113
NHDC to set up a pumped storage

project in Khandwa, MP
The Narmada Hydroelectric Development
31 Corporation (NHDC) will build a 525 MW
pumped storage project near Indira Sagar Dam
in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh using
the existing reservoirs of Indira Sagar and
Omkareshwar.
The project is expected to cost Rs 4,200 crore.
The Department of New & Renewable Energy,
Government of Madhya Pradesh, has awarded
the project to NHDC.
GeM to organise District level Buyer-
Seller workshops in Uttar Pradesh
Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is organising
32 Buyer-Seller Workshops in all the 75 districts of
Uttar Pradesh
These workshops aim to enhance the
understanding of GeM's functionalities among
buyers and sellers in the state,
MSDE Minister Dharmendra Pradhan
inaugurated ‘Project Gajapati to Gabon’
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of
33 Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
(MSDE) inaugurated Project Gajapati to Gabon
which is Gabon’s first Agriculture SEZ Project &
Power Transformers (T&D) Project from New
Delhi
The Centurion University would send the trained
farmers and research students of Gajapati
district to Gabon. The famers would teach on
how they are cultivating maize and wheat.

114
The project is a Joint Venture of the Government

of Gabon with Africa’s AOM Group as
implementing partner and Odisha’s Centurion
University of Technology and Management as
knowledge, training and technology partner.
•India has extended concessional loans of over
US$ 12.3 Billion to Africa and US$ 700 Million of
grant assistance with development projects in
various sectors.
Google, MeitY join hands to Enhance
G20-Stay Safe Online Campaign
Google announced a collaboration with the
34 Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology (MeitY) to enhance MeitY’s ‘G20-
Stay Safe Online’: A Campaign for Cyber Safety’
to create citizen awareness on online cyber
safety in India.
Under the collaboration, Google will work with
MeitY to amplify the ‘Stay Safe Online’
campaign through literacy programmes around
cyber safety
India-Bangladesh border to undertake

5 developmental projects each in
border areas
35 Border Security Force(BSF) of India and
Bangladesh’s Border Guards Bangladesh(BGB)
have agreed to initiate five developmental
projects to improve the ground conditions along
the India-Bangladesh border.
The five projects include the construction of a
bailey bridge, road repair, and the strengthening
of retaining walls.

115
Cyclone ‘Biparjoy’
The cyclone was named "Biparjoy" by
Bangladesh.
36 The World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
follows an alphabetical order for naming
tropical cyclones, with member countries
submitting names.
Bangladesh proposed the name "Biparjoy,"
which translates to "Disaster" in Bengali.
The next cyclone after Biparjoy will be named
‘Tej’ based on India’s suggestion.
Worldwide, there are six regional specialised
meteorological centres (RSMCs) and five
regional Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres
(TCWCs) mandated for issuing advisories and
naming of tropical cyclones.
IMD is one of the six RSMCs to provide tropical
cyclone and storm surge advisories to 13
member countries under the WMO/Economic
and Social Commission for Asia-Pacific (ESCAP)
Panel including Bangladesh, India, Iran,
Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar,
Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab
Emirates and Yemen.
Rajasthan tops in Wind Energy
Adoption during FY 2022-23
On the event organised as a part of the Global
37 Wind Day 2023 in New Delhi Bhupinder Singh
Bhalla, Secretary, Ministry of New and
Renewable Energy (MoNRE) felicitated
Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu for being
the top achiever during the FY 2022-2023.
The MoNRE joined the global celebration of -

116
Global Wind Day 2023 by organising the 1-day event

under the central theme – “Pawan – Urja: Powering
the Future of India”.
The government of India is committed to
achieving the target of 500 GW of renewable
energy capacity by the year 2030.
Wind energy will play a major role in achieving
50% of this target of achieving electric power
installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based
energy resources by 2030 and achieving Net
Zero by 2070.
RANK STATE HONOURED FOR
1 RAJASTHAN For achieving the highest wind capacity addition.
2 GUJARAT For achieving the highest wind capacity addition through open access.
3 TAMIL NADU For initiating the repowering of wind turbines.
Jettwings Airways, Northeast’s first

Airlines gets Approval for Flight
operations
38 Jettwings Airways, a Guwahati based airline
received the No objection certificate from the
Ministry of civil Aviation to operate as ‘Schedule
Commuter Air Transport Services‘ in the North
eastern regions of India.
With this, Jettwings becomes the first-ever
company from the Northeast region to start
airline operations in India.

117
VAIBHAV Fellowship Programme

announced to connect Indian STEMM
diaspora with Indian Higher
39
Educational Institutions
The Government of India has launched
VAIBHAV (Vaishvik Bharatiya Vaigyanik), a new
fellowship programme to connect the Indian
STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math
and Medicine) diaspora with Indian institutions.
The VAIBHAV programme will be implemented
by the Department of Science and Technology
(DST), Ministry of Science and Technology.
As a first step the Government is announcing
VAIBHAV Fellowship Call-2023.
It will facilitate academic and research
collaborations between Indian higher education
institutions and leading institutions abroad.
Footwear industry to comply with
Quality Control Orders from July 1, 2023
Union Minister Piyush Goyal interacted with the
39 representatives from the Indian Footwear
Industry in New Delhi, Delhi, and decided to
implement ‘Footwear Made from Leather and
Other Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2022’ on
24 footwear products (those made with rubber
and polymeric material and other components)
from July 1, 2023.
For 5 standards which have been revised
recently, it was also decided to give six more
months time to small industries for complying
with the order and accordingly, it will come into
force from January 1, 2024.

118
Micro units will get an additional year and

should follow the new norms from July 1, 2024.
BIS will reduce the Testing Charges for the
footwear products under the QCOs by 80% for
the government recognized start-ups and micro
units, having less than Rs 5 crore turnover
NITI Aayog, UN sign the GoI-UN

Sustainable Development Cooperation
Framework 2023-2027
40 A ‘Government of India – United Nations
Sustainable Development Cooperation
Framework 2023-2027’ (GoI-UNSCDF 2023-2027)
was signed between the National Institution for
Transforming India (NITI) Aayog and the United
Nations (UN) office in India.
GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027 was signed by the Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) B V R Subrahmanyam,
NITI Aayog and Shombi Sharp, UN Resident
Coordinator, India.
It is structured around four strategic pillars:
People, Prosperity, Planet, and Participation.
The framework focuses on six outcome areas
derived from above mentioned four interlinked
pillars.
These outcome areas are:- Health and WellBeing,
Nutrition and Food Security, Quality Education,
Economic Growth and Decent Work,
Environment, Climate, Water, sanitation and
hygiene (WASH) and Resilience, and
Empowering People, Communities, and
Institutions.

119
Heavy Industries Minister Mahendra

Nath Pandey Launches Dugdh Sankalan
Sathi Mobile App for Indian Dairy
41
Industries
Union Minister Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey,
Ministry of Heavy Industries unveiled the ‘Dugdh
Sanakalan Sathi Mobile App’ or ‘Milk Collection
Partner Mobile App’ from Mussoorie,
Uttarakhand for the Indian Dairy Industry.
It is designed and developed by Jaipur
(Rajasthan)-based Rajasthan Electronics &
Instruments Limited (REIL)
To address the key challenges in the milk
collection process which ultimately benefit the
milk producers and contribute to the growth of
the dairy sector.
Recently launched apps & Portals:
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched a
PM SVANidhi Mobile app
Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
Launched Unified Registration Portal For
GOBARdhan
Suniel Shetty launches food delivery app Waayu
MoHUA launches the ‘City Beauty Competition’
Sports Ministry Revised the amount of
boarding and lodging for Athletes and
officials by 66%
42 The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS)
increased the upper limit for boarding and
accommodation for Indian athletes and team
officials by almost 66%, from USD 150 to USD
250 per day.

120
This revision is applicable for Indian athletes and

officials participating only in international
competitions, under the Ministry’s Scheme of
Assistance to National Sports Federations
(NSFs).
Centre introduces ‘Y-Break-Yoga at

office chair’ for stress relief
The AYUSH ministry has introduced the Yoga
43 Break (Y-Break) protocol to assist professionals
in relieving stress, renewing their energy, and
improving focus.
This protocol includes a series of light practices
that can be easily incorporated into a short
break from work.
The protocol comprises few simple Yoga
practices which include ‘asanas’ (postures),
‘pranayama’ (breathing techniques) and
‘dhyana’ (meditation)
NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited

commissions 1 MW Rooftop Solar
Power Project at IIT Jodhpur
44
NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN), a
wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC, has
commissioned its first Rooftop Solar
Photovoltaic Project at IIT Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
The one MW Grid-connected Solar Project has
been implemented by NVVN under the RESCO
model, with Power Purchase Agreement
duration of 25 years.
The project is set up on the roofs of 14 buildings
inside the campus of the IIT.

121
MeitY joins hands with IITs to promote

R&D of Nanoelectronics
(MeitY) has joined hands with IITs (Indian
45 Institute of Technologies) to promote research,
development of nanoelectronics.
Nanoscale Research Facility at IIT Delhi is
organizing its “8th User Awareness Workshop on
Fabrication & Characterization Facility for
Nanotechnology”
INUP-i2i is being implemented at Centre of
Excellence in Nanoelectronics (CEN) at IISc, IIT
Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur and
IIT Guwahati
Government sets up panel to
recommend reforms in arbitration law
The Department of Legal Affairs under the Union
46 law ministry, has set up a panel to recommend
reforms in the Arbitration and Conciliation Act.
The committee would be led by former law
secretary T K Vishwanathan.
The committee has also been asked to
recommend a framework of model arbitration
system which is effective and economical and
caters to the requirements of the users.
GoI withdraws draft Live-stock and Live-

stock Products [Importation and
Exportation] Bill, 2023
47
The Government of India withdrew the draft of
the Live-stock and Live-stock Products
[Importation and Exportation] Bill, 2023, based
on the objections from the section of the people

122
including animal activists and religious groups.

This Bill was “re-enactment” of the present Live-
stock importation Act (1898), and Live-stock
Importation (Amendment) Act of 2001.
NHAI launches knowledge-sharing

platform for highways development
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
48 launched a ‘Knowledge Sharing Platform’ to
promote inclusive development of national
highways.
The portal is launched to encourage the
exchange of Knowledge and share innovative
practices by experts and citizens.
Department of Justice partnered with

NALSA, CSC for mainstreaming legal aid
via Tele–Law
49 The Department of Justice (DoJ) has partnered
with National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)
and Common Services Centres (CSC) electronic
governance (e-Governance) Service India Limited
for mainstreaming legal aid to the marginalized
communities through the system -

123
of Tele–Law.
Tele-Law was launched in 2017 as a pilot
programme with 1800 CSCs in 11 States.
Tele-Law means the use of communications and
information technology for the delivery of legal
information and advice.
The project initiates to connect citizens with
panel lawyers through video conferencing,
internet and telephone facilities identified in
1,00,000 gram panchayats.
Integrated Simulator Complex Dhruv
inaugurated by Defence Minister, will
enhance training of navy personnel
50 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the
Integrated Simulator Complex (ISC) “Dhruv“ at
the Southern Naval Command in Kochi, Kerala.
The ISC Dhruv hosts modern and advanced
indigenously-built simulators which will
significantly improve the practical training of
Indian Navy personnel.
BIS Releases Quality Standard IS 18267:
2023 for Agri By-Product Utensils
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has published
51 IS 18267: 2023 on ‘Food Serving Utensils Made from
Agri By-Products – Specification’, aimed at
reducing plastic pollution and promoting
sustainability.
The IS 18267: 2023 lays down the norms to make
disposable utensils free from harmful additives and
contributes towards environmental safety
The IS 18267: 2023 standard, emphasizes the use of
agricultural by-products, such as leaves and -

124
Recent:
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the
national standard body of India, has recently
introduced 31 Indian standards pertaining to
Ayush herbs and products.
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) license will be
mandatory for 24 footwear products from July 1,
2023.
PM Modi’s Yoga Day event at UN HQ
creates Guinness World Record
On the 21st of June, the Yoga event at UN
52 Headquarters in New York on the International
Day of Yoga created a Guinness world record for
most nationalities in a Yoga session.
The event was led by PM Modi in which 135
nationalities took part.
Earlier in the day, India created another
Guinness Record on the International Yoga Day
event. The Yoga program held in Gujarat’s Surat
hosted the largest gathering for a yoga session
at one place with 1.53 lakh participants.
Previously, Kota City of Rajasthan made a
Guinness record in 2018 when 1,00,984 people
participated in a Yoga Day session in one place.
North India's first Skin Bank
inaugurated at New Delhi's Safdarjung
Hospital
53 North India's first Skin Bank has been
inaugurated at New Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital.
It is a bank where deceased donors can donate
their skin which will be helpful in treating burns.
The skin can be donated within six hours of -

125
death and utilized for burns and trauma patients

after processing.
At present there are 16 skin banks in India of
which seven are in Maharashtra, four in Chennai,
three in Karnataka and one each in Odisha and
Madhya Pradesh.
MoAFW Minister Narendra Singh Tomar

launches PM Kisan Mobile App with Face
Authentication Feature
54 Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Ministry of
Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoAFW)
launched the PM-Kisan Mobile App with Face
Authentication Feature during an event at Krishi
Bhavan, New Delhi
It was launched under the scheme for income
support to farmers i.e. Pradhan Mantri Kisan
Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN).
With this app, farmers can complete e-KYC (Know
your customer) remotely by scanning their face
without OTP (One Time Password) or fingerprint.
India’s first, Hydrogen-Powered Trains to

run from Jind district of Haryana
Indian Railways is set to introduce its first
55 hydrogen train, expected to start operating from
Jind district in Haryana by March 2024.
•The first prototype of the hydrogen train is
scheduled to run between the Jind-Sonipat
(Haryana) Section of Northern Railway in the fiscal
year 2023-2024.

126
Women and Child Development Ministry

discontinued its Autonomous Bodies
RMK & CSWB
56 The Ministry of Women and Child Development
(MWCD) discontinued its two autonomous bodies,
Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) and Central Social
Welfare Board (CSWB), as well as its internal
division namely Food and Nutrition Board (FNB).
Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) was launched in 1993
to extend collateral-free credit to women in the
informal sector; it was registered under the
Societies Registration Act, 1860.
Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB) was formed
in 1953 as a charitable company, it was one of the
first efforts by the Indian government to build a
body on the principle of voluntarism, and aims to
function like a (NGO).
RMK and CSWB are among the six autonomous
bodies under the WCD ministry.
•The others being the National Institute of Public
Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD),
National Commission for Women (NCW), National
Commission for Protection of Child Rights
(NCPCR) and Central Adoption Resource Authority
Center grants approval for Kalaignar pen

monument in Bay of Bengal
The Union Ministry of Environment has granted
57 the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance, with
15 conditons, for the Tamil Nadu government’s
proposal to construct the Muthamizh Arignar Dr.
Kalaignar pen monument in the Bay of Bengal, off
the Marina beach in Chennai.

127
The PWD had proposed that the pen monument

would be 30-metre high and spread over 8,551
sq.m.
This project includes a pen pedestal, a lattice
bridge above beach and land and a pedestrian
pathway above sea.
The 7-meter wide bridge would be 290-meter
long over the land and 360-meter long over the
sea.
Officials of the PWD noted that IIT-Madras and
other experts would be consulted for the design
of the monument.
Google to invest 10 billion dollars in

India's digitisation fund and Amazon to
infuse another 15 billion dollar
58 Google is investing 10 billion dollars in India's
digitisation fund and opening of Google's global
fintech operation center in GIFT City, Gujarat.
According to Amazon CEO Andrew Jassy,
Amazon is one of the biggest investors in India.

128
Amazon has already invested $11 billion and with

an intention to invest another $15 billion bringing
the total to $26 billion.
India achieves milestone of 101 Million
Cubic Meters per Day of gas production
India has achieved the milestone of 101 Million
59 Metric Standard Cubic Meters per Day of gas
production.
Since India imports about 50 per cent of its
natural gas requirement, enhanced gas
production within the country will reduce import
dependence.
Amit Shah lays foundation stone of
‘Balidaan Stambh’ in Srinagar
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has inaugurated
60 the construction of the ‘Balidan Stambh’ in
Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.
The ‘Balidan Stambh’ is a part of the Srinagar
Smart City project and serves as a tribute to
martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the nation.
GoI extends timeline for
Loan/Completion of Ethanol Projects till
September 30, 2023
61 Government of India (GoI) has extended the
timeline for the disbursement of loans for the
completion of ethanol projects up to 30
September 2023 in a move to strengthen ethanol
production in India
This extension applies to all schemes that were
notified during the period from 2018 to 2021.
The central government provides financial
assistance in the form of interest subvention at a -

129
rate of 6% per annum or 50% of the interest charged

by banks, whichever is lower.
This benefit is applicable for a period of five years,
including a one-year moratorium.
Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of
Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying,
launched NANDI Portal
62
Parshottam Rupala , Union Minister of Fisheries,
Animal Husbandry & Dairying launched a NANDI–
NOC Approval for New Drug and Inoculation
System Portal at Krishi Bhavan in New Delhi to
timely process the applications and grant NOC for
veterinary drugs and vaccines.
The Department of Animal Husbandry and
Dairying (DAHD) developed this portal through
the (C-DAC)
Adani Group founder Gautam Adani
launches “Jeetenge Hum”
Adani Group has launched a campaign called
63 “Jeetenge Hum” to support the Indian cricket
team in the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
His ports-to-energy conglomerate gathered 1983
World Cup Cricket legends including Kapil Dev to
launch the 2023 World Cup winning campaign.
REC to provide ₹3,045 cr finance to
Bangalore Metro
State-run REC Limited will extend financial
64 assistance of ₹3,045 crore to Bangalore Metro Rail
Corporation Limited (BMRCL), for establishment
and development of metro lines under phase-II
project of Bangalore Metro.
With completion of Phase-II (72.09 km), the -

130
combined network of Bangalore Metro will be 114.39

km, with 101 stations.
PM Modi flagged off five new Vande
Bharat trains of the country
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flagged off five
65 new Vande Bharat trains from Rani Kamlapati
Railway Station in Bhopal.
Trains include Ranchi-Patna, Dharwad-KSR
Bengaluru, Goa (Madgaon)-Mumbai, Bhopal-
Indore and Bhopal-Jabalpur.
With the launch of the new five Vande Bharat
Express trains, the total count of the premium
trains has reached 23.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal
Launches New CSR Guidelines ‘Sagar
Samajik Sahayog’
66 The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping &
Waterways and Ayush Sarbananda Sonowal
launched ‘Sagar Samajik Sahyog’ the new
guidelines of Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR)
The rules would impact Projects and programmes
involved in the activities listed in Section 70 of the
Major Port Authorities Act, 2021.
Percentage Share Used for
78% For the social & environmental welfare of the community
To Sainik Kalyan Board at district level, National Maritime

20%
Heritage Complex and National Youth Development Fund.
Dedicated to project monitoring by the ports for

2%
implementation and monitoring of CSR activities.

131
PM Modi Visits to USA

Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi made a 5-day
visit to the United States of America at the
67 invitation of President of USA Joseph Robinette
Biden Jr (Joe Biden) and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.
So far, PM Modi has visited the USA 6 times (2014,
2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 & 2021) in his capacity as the
PM of India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the third
Indian Leader to visit the United States on a state
visit while the other two are Sarvepalli
Radhakrishnan in 1949 and Manmohan Singh in
2005.
Gifts Given by PM Modi to First Lady of USA:
The prime minister gifted the Bidens with an
exquisite sandalwood box, a first edition print of
the book The Ten Principal Upanishads from 1937,
and a 7.5 carat lab-grown diamond.
PM Modi also gifted a 'papier mache' box in which
the green diamond is placed. Known as kar-e-
kalamdani, Kashmir's exquisite 'papier mache'
involves sakthsazi or meticulous preparation of
paper pulp and naqqashi
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden and First Lady
Jill Biden presented Modi with a handmade,
antique American book galley from the early 20th
Century, according to the White House.
Joe Biden also gifted Prime Minister Modi a
vintage American camera, accompanied by an
archival facsimile print of George Eastman's
Patent of the first Kodak camera, and a hardcover
book of American wildlife photography.

132
The 7.5-carat weight represents India's 75 years of

independence and sustainable international
relations
The diamond is made using Carbon Vapor
Deposition (CVD), a technique that produces pure
diamonds.
It emits only 0.028 grams of Carbon per carat and
is certified by the Gemological lab, IGI. It bears the
hallmarks of excellence through the 4C’s: Cut,
Colour, Carat and Clarity.
Lab-grown diamonds are mostly manufactured
through two processes, High Pressure,High
Temperature (HPHT) method or Chemical Vapour
Deposition (CVD) method.
In the HPHT method, the seed, along with pure
graphite carbon, is exposed to temperatures
around 1,500 degrees Celsius and extremely high
pressure.
In the CVD method, the seed is heated to around
800 degrees Celsius inside a sealed chamber filled
with a carbon-rich gas. The gas sticks to the seed,
gradually building the diamond.
Mahatma Gandhi bust unveiled by PM

Modi in Hiroshima
PM Narendra Modi has unveiled a bust of
68 Mahatma Gandhi in the Hiroshima City of Japan.
The US conducted the world’s first nuclear attack
on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, destroying the
city and killing some 140,000 people.
Created by the renowned Padma Bhushan
awardee Shri Ram Vanji Sutar.

133
Science &
Technology
CHINA LAUNCHES SHENZHOU-16: First Chinese Civilian to travel to
FIRST CIVILIAN ASTRONAUT Space: Gui Haichao, a professor at
JOINS SPACE STATION MISSION Beihang University in Beijing.
FOR 5 MONTHS Mission’s commander: Jing
Haipeng, who is also making
history by becoming the first
Chinese astronaut to go into space
for a record fourth time.
The third is astronaut flight
engineer Zhu Yangzhu who is also
making his first journey into space.
China successfully launched the
NORTH KOREA 1ST SPY
Shenzhou-16 manned spaceship,
SATELLITE LAUNCH FAILS
sending three astronauts, including
the first civilian to its Tiangong
space station for a 5-month
mission.
It was launched onboard a Long
March-2F carrier rocket from the
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in
northwest China. North Korea’s attempt to put the
For the first time, China has country’s first spy satellite
included a civilian in its rotating “Malligyong-1 satellite” into space
crew for the space station. failed as the new satellite transport
The launch also marks the 475th rocket Chollima-1 lost propulsion
flight mission of the Long March and crashed into waters off the
carrier rocket series. Korean Peninsula’s western coast.

134
SPACEX LAUNCHED 52 STARLINK The Islamic Revolutionary Guard

SATELLITES TO PROVIDE GLOBAL Corps (IRGC) of Iran unveiled the
BROADBAND first Indigenously-made Hypersonic
ballistic missile, “Fattah” with a
range of 1,400 kilometers (km).
This missile was named by the
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei.
‘Fattah’ in Farsi language means
‘Conqueror’.
SpaceX (Space Exploration Recent:
Technologies Corporation), Kheiber, a new surface to surface
successfully launched a two-staged missile 4th generation of
rocket Falcon9 carrying 52 satellites khorramshahr ballistic missile
of Starlink Mission into circular Low launched by Iran
Earth Orbit about a distance of 540 DRDO SUCCESSFULLY FIGHT-
km above Earth from the
TESTED “AGNI PRIME” BALLISTIC
Vandenberg Space Force Base,
MISSILE OFF ODISHA COAST
California, USA.
This marks SpaceX’s 18th orbital
mission of 2023 and this is also the
35th re-flight of a booster in 2023.
This is also the 37th launch for
SpaceX in 2023
IRAN UNVEILS 1ST INDIGENOUSLY-

Agni Prime or Agni-P, a New
MADE HYPERSONIC MISSILE
Generation Ballistic Missile was
“FATTAH” successfully flight-tested by
Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO)
from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island
off the coast of Odisha.
It has a range between1000 to
2000 km (Kilometre) and was test-
fired for the first time in June 2021.

135
NASA’S TEMPO HIGH-RESOLUTION BHARAT META INDIA’S

AIR QUALITY CONTROL MISSION METAVERSE BY KIYA.AI AT
VIVATECH IN PARIS
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched

NASA’s Tropospheric Emissions: Kiya.ai, an India-based company
Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) specialising in Artificial Intelligence
instrument and emerging technology solutions
TEMPO slogan is ‘It’s about time,’ showcased its version of the
which focuses at TEMPO’s ability to metaverse called Bharatmeta at
provide hourly air pollution data. VivaTech event held in Paris 2023.
HAL HANDED OVER 100TH SU-30 MAHINDRA DEFENCE DELIVERED
MKI AIRCRAFT TO IAF & INDIA’S 1ST ARMADO ALSV TO
LAUNCHED 3RD LCA PRODUCTION INDIAN ARMY
LINE
Mahindra Defence Systems (MDS),

Defence Secretary, Giridhar a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Aramane, inaugurated the third Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) has
LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) started delivering the first units of
production line of Hindustan the Armado to the Indian armed
Aeronautics Ltd and handed over forces.
the 100th Sukhoi-30 MKI Repair The Armado is India’s 1st Armoured
and Overhaul aircraft to the Indian Light Specialist Vehicle (ALSV),
Air Force at HAL’s Nashik Division in designed and developed by
Nasik, Maharashtra. Mahindra.

136
The Armado has a claimed top In the experiment, an IIT-K’s Cessna

speed of over 120 kilometres per aircraft took flight from the
hour (kph) and a 0-60kph time of institute’s airstrip, reaching an
12 seconds, and has a payload altitude of 5000 feet.
capacity of 1,000 Kilogram (kg).
IUCAA DELIVERED SUIT
IIT KANPUR SUCCESSFULLY TELESCOPE TO ISRO FOR THE
CONDUCTS TEST FLIGHT FOR SOLAR MISSION
CLOUD SEEDING/ARTIFICIAL RAIN
The Indian Institute of Technology, The Solar Ultraviolet Imaging

Kanpur (IIT-K), Uttar Pradesh (UP) Telescope (SUIT), a space telescope
successfully conducted a test developed by Pune’s Inter-
flight/experiment for their cloud University Center for Astronomy
seeding project. and Astrophysics (IUCAA), was
It was a test of artificial rain delivered to the Indian Space
through cloud seeding. Research Organisation (ISRO) for its
The experiment was conducted ADITYA-L1 solar mission.
with due approval from DGCA SUIT is set to be one of the seven
(Directorate General of Civil payloads of ADITYA-L1, India’s first
Aviation). mission to study the sun.
Cloud seeding is the process of The main purpose of the telescope
enhancing the chance of is to study the Sun’s ultraviolet (UV)
precipitation by using different emissions and capture high-
chemical agents like silver iodide, resolution images of the Sun’s
dry ice, salt, and other elements. atmosphere, known as the corona
Initiated in 2017, IIT-K Cloud
DR JITENDRA SINGH LAUNCHES
Seeding Project is led by Professor
Manindra Agarwal of the THE GEMCOVAC® -OM, AN
Department of Computer Science OMICRON-SPECIFIC MRNA-BASED
and Engineering. BOOSTER VACCINE

137
•Union Minister of State (Independent

Charge) for Science and Technology Dr
Jitendra Singh launched the
GEMCOVAC® -OM, an Omicron-
specific mRNA-based Booster vaccine.
•India’s first mRNA vaccine has been
developed using the indigenous
platform technology by Gennova, with
funding support from the Department
of Biotechnology (DBT) and
Biotechnology Industry Research
Assistance Council (BIRAC).
•GEMCOVAC® -OM is the fifth vaccine
developed with support from Mission
COVID Suraksha implemented by DBT
and BIRAC under Atmanirbhar Bharat
3.0 package of Govt. of India for
accelerated development of Indian
COVID-19 vaccines.

138
Sports
Chennai Super Kings win IPL 2023

Chennai Super Kings won its 5th IPL
title.
CSK defeated Gujarat Titans by 5
wickets.
The final match was held at Narendra
Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The 2023 IPL was the 15th season of the
IPL.
AWARD NAME
ORANGE CAP (890) AWARD, MOST FOURS (84), MOST VALUABLE PLAYER OF THE SEASON,
SHUBMAN GILL
DREAM11 GAMECHANGER OF THE SEASON
PURPLE CAP (28) MOHAMMAD SHAMI
FAIRPLAY OF THE SEASON AJINKYA RAHANE
CATCH OF THE SEASON RASHID KHAN
LONGEST SIX OF THE SEASON (115M) FAF DU PLESSIS
SUPER STRIKER OF THE SEASON GLENN MAXWELL
EMERGING PLAYER OF THE YEAR YASHASVI JAISWAL

139
AWARD NAME
PLAYER OF THE MATCH DEVON CONWAY
CATCH OF THE MATCH MS DHONI
LONGEST SIX, MAXIMUM FOURS, MOST VALUABLE ASSET OF THE MATCH,

SAI SUDHARSAN
GAME CHANGER OF THE MATCH
ELECTRIC STRIKER OF THE MATCH AJINKYA RAHANE
Australia won 2nd ICC World Test

Championship 2021-23 by defeating
India
The Australia men’s cricket team captained by Pat
Cummins defeated Indian men’s cricket team
captained by Rohit Sharma by 209 runs in the finals
to win the 2nd edition of International Cricket
Council (ICC) World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-
23.
The finals of the ICC WTC 2021-2023 was held at The
Oval, London, the United Kingdom.
Australia batter Travis Head was adjudged the
Player of the Match (Finals) for scoring 163 runs off
174 balls in 1st innings.
Rank Team Matches Won Lost Drawn
1 AUSTRALIA 19 11 3 5
2 INDIA 18 10 3 5
SOUTH
3 15 8 6 1
AFRICA
4 ENGLAND 22 10 8 4

140
CATEGORY NAME
MOST RUNS JOE ROOT (ENGLAND)1915 RUNS IN 22 MATCHES
MOST WICKETS NATHAN LYON (AUSTRALIA) 83 WICKETS IN 19 MATCHES
Asia Cup 2023 to be held in Hybrid

Model in Pakistan & Sri Lanka
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) announced that
the 16th edition Asia Cup (Men’s Asia Cup 2023) will
be held in hybrid mode in Pakistan and Sri Lanka
from 31st August 2023 to 17th September 2023.
For the first time since 2008, Pakistan will host a
multi-nation cricket competition at home.
Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup 2022 held in Dubai,
United Arab Emirates (UAE) by defeating Pakistan
in the finals.
India beat Bangladesh to win

Women’s Emerging Asia Cup 2023
The India U-23 women’s team won the 2023
Women’s Emerging Asia Cup T20 title after
defeating Bangladesh in the final held at the
Mission Round Ground in Hong Kong.
While India’s Shreyanka Patil was named the Player
of the Series, as she was the highest-wicket taker.
India’s Aravindh Chithambaram wins

Dubai Open chess 2023
Aravindh Chithambaram of India wins 23rd Dubai
Open 2023 (Dubai Open Chess Tournament 2023) for
the second consecutive year which was held at Dubai
Chess & Culture Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirate
He was followed by Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan
at 2nd, and Arjun Erigaisi (India) at 3rd.

141
Indonesia Open 2023: Chirag Shetty and

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy Won Men’s
Doubles
Indian badminton players Chirag Shetty and
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy (World no 5) won the Men’s
doubles title at the Kapal Api Group Indonesia
Open 2023 (Indonesia Open 2023)
This was Satwik-Chirag’s first ever men’s doubles
title at the BWF World Tour Super 1000 event and
they also became the 1st doubles pair from India to
win a title at Super 1000 event
Championship Winner Runner
MEN’S SINGLES VIKTOR AXELSEN (DENMARK) ANTHONY SINISUKA GINTING (INDONESIA)
WOMEN’S SINGLES CHEN YUFEI (CHINA) CAROLINA MARIN (SPAIN)
SATWIKSAIRAJ RANKIREDDY AND AARON CHIA AND SOH WOOI YIK

MEN’S DOUBLES
CHIRAG SHETTY (INDIA) (MALAYSIA)
BAEK HA NA AND LEE SO HEE YUKI FUKUSHIMA AND SAYAKA HIROTA

WOMEN’S DOUBLES
(SOUTH KOREA) (JAPAN)
ZHENG SI WEI AND HUANG YA QIONG YUTA WATANABE

MIXED DOUBLES
(CHINA) AND ARISA HIGASHINO (JAPAN)
Novak Djokovic won his 23rd Grand Slam

title at French Open 2023
Novak Djokovic, Serbian professional tennis player,
won his 23rd Grand Slam title (Men’s singles
category) in the French Open 2023 also known as
2023 Roland-Garros, held at Court Philippe-Chatrier
in Stade Roland Garros, Paris, France.
Novak Djokovic defeated Casper Ruud of Norway in
the final of the French Open 2023 to win his 3rd
Roland-Garros (French Open) title.

142
CATEGORY WINNERS RUNNERS
MEN’S SINGLES NOVAK DJOKOVIC(SERBIA) CASPER RUUD (NORWAY)
WOMEN’S SINGLES IGA ŚWIĄTEK(POLAND) KAROLÍNA MUCHOVÁ (CZECH REPUBLIC)
IVAN DODIG (CROATIA) AND SANDER GILLÉ AND

MEN’S DOUBLES
AUSTIN KRAJICEK (USA) JORAN VLIEGEN (BELGIUM)
HSIEH SU-WEI(TAIWAN) AND LEYLAH FERNANDEZ(CANADA) AND

WOMEN’S DOUBLES
WANG XINYU (CHINA) TAYLOR TOWNSEND (USA)
MIYU KATO (JAPAN) AND BIANCA ANDREESCU (CANADA) AND

MIXED DOUBLES
TIM PÜTZ (GERMANY) MICHAEL VENUS (NEW ZEALAND)
13th Hockey India Sub Junior Men National

Championship 2023
Uttar Pradesh Hockey emerged as the champions
of the 13th Hockey India Sub-Junior Men's National
Championship 2023.
Its final was held at Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium,
Odisha.
Uttar Pradesh Hockey defeated Odisha Hockey
Association in the final.
Hockey Haryana defeated Hockey Madhya Pradesh
to secure the third position.

143
Long jumper Murali Sreeshankar finishes

third in prestigious Diamond League Meet
in Paris
The 24-year-old Indian long jumper and
Commonwealth Games silver medallist Murali
Sreeshankar secured third place at the Paris
Diamond League 2023 achieving a best jump of
8.09m in his 3rd attempt.
With this bronze medal, he became the third Indian
after Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj
Chopra and discus thrower Vikas Gowda to finish
on the podium in the Diamond League.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wins Spanish

GP 2023
The title for the 63rd edition of F1 (Formula One)
2023 Spanish Grand Prix (GP) was clinched by Red
Bull’s Max Verstappen (Belgian-Dutch racing driver).
He was followed by Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton
(British Racing Driver) at 2nd place and Mercedes’
George Russel (British Racing Driver) at 3rd rank.
Formula 1: Max Verstappen of Red Bull

Wins Canadian Grand Prix 2023
Dutch-Belgium racing driver Max Verstappen of
Red Bull won the Canadian Grand Prix 2023 title,
9th round of the Formula 1(F1) 2023 championships,
at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec,
Canada.
Indian Football Team defeated Lebanon to

win Intercontinental Cup
Indian Men’s Football Team defeated Lebanon in
the finals to win 3rd edition Hero Intercontinental
Cup at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar,
Odisha
The Intercontinental Cup 2023 was held in the
Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
Four teams India, Lebanon, Mongolia & vanuatu
have participated in the tournament.

144
EDITION HELD AT WINNER
1ST (2018) MUMBAI INDIA
2ND (2019) AHMEDABAD NORTH KOREA
3RD (2023) BHUBANESWAR INDIA
Egypt won SDAT WSF Squash World Cup

2023 in Chennai
The defending champion Egypt won the Sports
Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT)
World Squash Federation (WSF) Squash World Cup
2023 by defeating Malaysia in the finals.
SDAT WSF Squash World Cup 2023, the 4th edition
of Squash World Cup, was held at the Express
Avenue Mall, chennai, Tamil Nadu
India ranked third place jointly with Japan by
winning the bronze medal at the Squash World Cup
2023.
The Indian team lost to Malaysia in the semi-finals
IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships

2023
3 Indian boxers, Deepak Kumar, Mohammed
Hussamuddin and Nishant Dev, have won the
bronze medal at the 22nd edition of the
International Boxing Association (IBA) World Men’s
Boxing Championships (2023), held at the Humo
Arena in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
AWARDS WINNER
Best Team Award Uzbekistan
Best Boxer award Hasanboy Dusmatov, Uzbekistan
Best Judge and Referee Award Tamim Sultani (Afghanistan)

145
CATEGORY WINNER
Flyweight 51KG Deepak Bhoria
Light Middleweight 71 KG Nishant Dev
Featherweight 57 KG Mohammad Hussamuddin
RANK COUNTRY GOLD SILVER BRONZE TOTAL
1 Uzbekistan 5 2 2 9
2 Kazakhstan 4 1 0 5
3 Russia 2 0 4 6
India 0 0 3 3
12
Spain 0 0 3 3

146
be held from 27th February 2024 to 2nd March 2024 in

Calgary, Canada.
About Special Olympics Bharat:
Special Olympics Bharat is a sports body
representing India at the Special Olympics World
Games Berlin 2023.
The Indian team, represented by 198 athletes
participating across 16 sports events
Special Olympics World Games Berlin

2023
The Indian team won 202 medals (including 76
Gold, 75 Silver, 51 Bronze) in Special Olympics World
Games Berlin 2023 held in Berlin, Germany
The Berlin 2023, the 16th edition Special Olympics
World Games Berlin witnessed the participation of
7000 special Olympic Athletes from around 190
countries competing in 26 sports.
2023 Mascot: Named as ‘Unity’, it represents the
emotions the athletes feel about the World Games:
joy, togetherness, pride, and excitement.
MOTTO: ‘unbeatable together’
The next edition of the Special Olympics ‘Special
Olympics Canada Winter Games Calgary 2024’ will -
Khelo India University Games 2022 Held in

UP
Panjab University (Chandigarh) won the overall
championship of the 3rd edition of the Khelo India
University Games (KIUG 2022) held in Uttar Pradesh
(UP)
Panjab University topped the medal tally of KIUG
2022 with a total of 69 medals (26 gold, 17 silver and
26 bronze).
RANK UNIVERSITY TOTAL GOLD
1 Panjab University (Chandigarh) 69 26
2 Guru Nanak Dev University, (Punjab) 68 24

147
RANK UNIVERSITY TOTAL GOLD
3 Jain University (Karnataka) 32 16
4 Punjabi University (Patiala, Punjab) 34 12
5 Guru Kashi University 28 9

148
State/UT News
Odisha Cabinet approved various Proposals
including ‘Mo Ghara‘ Scheme
The Odisha Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister
(CM) Naveen Patnaik approved 18 important
1
proposals, including the new ‘Mo Ghara’
Scheme, (Government Housing Assistance in
Rural Area)’.
The scheme aims to provide financial
assistance to meet the aspiration of the lower
and lower-middle-income households of rural
Odisha.
Implementing Agency: ‘Mo Ghara’ will be
implemented through the Panchayati Raj (PR)
and Drinking Water Department, Government
of Odisha.
The beneficiary should be living in a kutcha
house or one pucca room with RCC roof and
the monthly income of the family should not
be more than Rs 25,000.
They should not have availed of any
government housing scheme of more than
Rs.70,000.
The monthly family income should be below
Rs. 25,000.
The family should not include a regular
government/Public Sector Undertaking (PSU)
employee or pensioner.
The family owns less than 5 acres of irrigated
land or less than 15 acres of non-irrigated land.

149
Under this scheme, a beneficiary can avail

housing loan of up to Rs. 3 lakh which can be
repaid in 10 years excluding 1 year moratorium
period in easy installments
•Scheduled caste(SC), scheduled tribe(ST), or a
person with disabilities (PwD) will get up to Rs
40,000 financial assistance for every Rs 1 lakh
loan to build or expand their house while others
can get up to Rs 30,000 financial assistance.
Goa Raj Bhavan launches first books

under Governor’s scheme to boost local
literary talent
2 Governor of Goa, P. S. Sreedharan Pillai, unveiled
the 5 books, published by Raj Bhavan in Goa
under ‘Nai Pahal’ scheme, in the presence of
Goan writer & Jnanpith Award winner Damodar
Mauzo.
The 5 books were authored by Sanjay Ramesh
Salelkar (Konkani), Pallavi Polekar (Marathi),
Advocate Manohar Adpaikar (Marathi) and two
book by Pachu Menon in English
Odisha CM launches ‘Odisha for Al, and

Al for Youth’ initiative
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has
3 launched the ‘Odisha for Artificial Intelligence’
and ‘Artificial Intelligence for Youth’ initiatives
The State Government has roped in an
international technology company for the
initiative. In the first phase, the initiative will be
implemented in Bhubaneswar, Puri and
Cuttack.

150
Maharashtra Cabinet approves Gender

Inclusive Tourism Policy
The Maharashtra cabinet has approved the
4 implementation of the ‘Aai’ (mother) tourism
policy under the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
The cabinet also gave a nod to women-run bike-
taxi services in some tourist destinations.
The Women Tourism Policy Cell will be created
under the Directorate of Tourism for the
implementation of the Aai policy and a five-
point program will be implemented as part of
the policy.
The five-point program includes the promotion
of women entrepreneurship, the creation of
infrastructure for women, prioritizing the safety
of women tourists, customizing products for
women tourists, and providing discounts to
women travelers.
Meghalaya sets up expert panel to
review reservation formula
The Meghalaya government has set up an
5 expert committee to review the 1972 reservation
policy in line with demands made by the
opposition Voice of the People’s Party (VPP)
whose leader is on an indefinite hunger strike.
Following the announcement, VPP MLA Ardent
Basaiawmoit called off his hunger strike that
lasted for over 200 hours.
The expert committee is mandated to review
the state reservation policy by obtaining views
from all stakeholders.
The 1972 reservation policy in Meghalaya allocat-

151
allocated 40 percent of reserved jobs to the Garo

tribe, 40 percent to the Khasi-Jaintia tribes, 5
percent to other tribes, and 15 percent to
candidates from the general category. However,
opposition parties, including the VPP, have been
urging the government to review and revise this
policy, claiming that it needs to reflect the current
population structure more accurately.
Tata Group to set up Rs 13,000-crore

Lithium Ion Battery Giga Factory in
Gujarat
6 The Tata Group will set up India’s first lithium-
ion cell manufacturing facility in Gujarat
through its subsidiary, at a cost of Rs 13,000
crore which will contribute to the development
of a thriving battery manufacturing ecosystem
in Gujarat.
The plant will have an initial capacity of 20GWh.
The plant will help generate direct and indirect
employment for some 13,000 individuals.
Uttar Pradesh government launches 15-

day mega registration drive for MSMEs
The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government launched a
7 15-day registration campaign for Micro, Small
and Medium Entreprises (MSMEs) in all 75
districts across UP.
More than 90 lakh MSMEs are active in the state
but only 14 lakh are registered.
In each district, the Directorate of Industries will
organize camps for the registration of MSMEs.

152
Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde

launches Asia’s largest cluster
development scheme in Thane
8
Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Eknath Shinde
launched Asia’s largest cluster development
scheme in Thane, Maharashtra for the collective
redevelopment of unauthorised and official
dangerous buildings in the urban areas.
Each beneficiary of the scheme will get a house
of 323 square feet.
In the 1st phase, 10,000 tenements will be built
using pre fab construction technology on an
area of 1,500 hectares, which will be the biggest
in Asia.
UP Govt launched “Nand Baba Milk

Mission” Scheme & Family ID Portal
under ‘One Family One Identity’
9
Scheme
Government of Uttar Pradesh (UP), launched the
Nand Baba Milk Mission scheme, to provide milk
producers the facility of selling their milk at a
reasonable price in villages through dairy co-
operative societies.
The scheme has been allocated a budget of Rs
1,000 crore.
There is a plan to set up 5 Dairy FPOs in 5
districts of UP as a pilot project in the Financial
Year (FY) 2023-24, in which women will also play
a major role.

153
Punjab Police launches OPS Clean

Punjab Police has launched a massive state-
wide operation named “OPS Clean” wherein 650
11 police teams comprising over 5,000 personnel
raided more than 2,000 locations across the
state
To keep a tab on activities of people involved in
the smuggling of commercial quantities of
drugs.
UP govt launches 'Elder Line' to give

shelter to elderly homeless
The 'Elder Line' 14567 service was recently
12 launched by the Uttar Pradesh Social Welfare
Department.
The initiative is the brainchild of Minister of
State (Independent Charge) for Social Welfare
Aseem Arun, who earlier headed the emergency
helpline 112.
Kerala launched a reward system for

reporting illegal waste roads
The Kerala government has launched a new
scheme to reward for reporting illegal waste
13
dumping on roads.
This scheme is a part of the ‘Malinya Muktham
Nava Keralam’ campaign to make the state
garbage-free.
The person who informs authorities of such
violations will be given Rs 2,500 (maximum) or
25 percent of the fine imposed on those
resorting to disallowed disposal of garbage.

154
Karnataka announces free bus travel

‘Shakti’ scheme for women
The Karnataka government has advised women
14 to apply for Shakti smart cards to avail the free
travel in state-run buses.
Madhya Pradesh Government adopts

Cooperative Policy 2023
The cabinet meeting chaired by Madhya
15 Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
approved the Co-operative Policy 2023, with an
aim to strengthen the cooperative movement
and create jobs in the co-operative sector.
This policy focuses on the preparation and
implementation of the public co-operative
partnership (PCP) model, which means
cooperative organisations would collaborate
with government entities.
Arunachal Pradesh CM launches app
called ‘Arunpol App’ of Arunachal
Pradesh Police
16 Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister “Pema
Khandu” launched an app called ‘Arunpol App‘
of Arunachal Pradesh Police and flagged-off an
Arunachal Pradesh Police(APP) awareness
generation vehicle Arun Pol Sewafrom the Civil
Secretariat, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh.
The app will help common people to register
complaints without coming to the police station
and helps the public with emergencies.

155
Assam launch WebPortal to check

illegal cattle transportation
The Animal Husbandry and Veterinary
17 Department of Assam launched a web portal for
cattle transportation aiming to prevent the
illegal transportation of cattle.
This system is prepared under the Assam Cattle
Preservation Act, 2021 will alleviate the
problems encountered in the transportation of
improved breeds of high milk-producing cattle
to Assam and help in preventing illegal
transportation of cattle.
MP CM inaugurated Mukhyamantri
Ladli Behna Yojna’s fund transfer
Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the Chief Minister of
18 Madhya Pradesh inaugurated the
‘Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahna Yojana‘ by
depositing an amount of Rs 1000 each in the
accounts of 1.25 crore women of the state
MP CM launched the Ladli Bahna Scheme to
strengthen the economic status of the women
and girls of MP.
Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren launches
Panchayat level Medicine shop scheme
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren
19 launched a ‘panchayat-level medicine shop’
scheme in Chatra district, Jharkhand, by
handing over the licenses to 21 educated youth
of rural areas to operate medicine shops in
panchayats.
The scheme aims to ensure the availability of
essential medicines in remote villages and to -

156
promote employment.
Under this scheme, medical shops will be
established in every village of Jharkhand and
provide essential and compulsory medicines to
the people
UP Government Launches ‘Polytechnic
Chalo Abhiyan’ to Motivate Technical
Education Among Youth
20 The Government of Uttar Pradesh launched
‘Polytechnic Chalo Abhiyan 2023’ to motivate
youths to pursue technical education and take
admission in polytechnic institutes.
It aims to enroll lakhs of youth in Government,
aided and private polytechnic institutes.
Karnataka Govt launched “Brand
Bengaluru portal”
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru
21 Development Minister, DK Shivakumar,
launched a portal ‘Brand Bengaluru‘ and
WhatsApp number for people to share
suggestions regarding the development of
Bengaluru.
Tamil Nadu Police Launches New

Scheme for Women Traveling Alone at
Night
21 The Tamil Nadu police have introduced a new
scheme called 'Pengal Pathukaaptu Thittam'
(Women Safety Scheme) in Chennai city
The scheme aims to provide safe transportation
for women who return from work between 10
pm and 7 am. It is operational every day of the -

157
week.
Women who feel unsafe while traveling alone at
night can dial helpline numbers such as 1091,
112, 044-23452365, and 044-28447701.
Rajasthan govt brings PCTS mobile app

to ensure better healthcare for
mothers, infants
22 The Medical, Health & Family Welfare
Department of the Rajasthan Government has
launched the Pregnancy, Child Tracking &
Health Services Management System (PCTS)
app to enable online tracking, reporting and
monitoring of the health of pregnant women,
obstetricians and infants.
PCTS was developed by the National Informatics
Centre(NIC) as an Integrated system for Health
information management system (HIMS).
The PCTS app enables ASHA Sahyoginis, who
are selected from the local community and
trained as frontline health workers in Rajasthan,
to efficiently reach women and infants in their
designated areas.
The IT department in Himachal Pradesh

has been renamed as the Digital
Technology Department
23 The Himachal Pradesh(HP) government has
renamed its Department of Information
Technology(IT) as the Department of Digital
Technologies and Governance and the approval
to this effect was given by the state cabinet of
HP.

158
Himachal Pradesh has become the first state in

India to have this nomenclature to transform
the state into a digitally advanced state.

159
Obituaries
PROFESSION ABOUT
Vellayani Arjunan, an eminent

WRITER scholar, writer, academician and
Padma Shri awardee passed
away in Thiruvananthapuram,
Kerala at the age of 90.
In 2008, he was honoured with
Padma Shri for his overall
contributions in various fields.
Balubhau Narayanrao Dhanorkar, a
member of the Indian National
POLITICIAN Congress (INC) and (MP – Lok Sabha)
from Chandrapur constituency,
Maharashtra, passed away at the
age of 47 in New Delhi
He began his political career
with Shiv Sena and served as
MLA (Maharashtra) from 2014 to
2019.
He was the only candidate for
INC to be elected as MP from
Maharashtra.
Ama Ata Aidoo, Ghanaian author,
AUTHOR poet and playwright famous for her
feminist ideals, passed away at the
age of 81 in Ghana, a country of
western Africa.
She published her first play “The
Dilemma of a Ghost” in 1965 and

160
PROFESSION ABOUT
became the first African woman to

publish a play.
She won the Commonwealth
Writers’ Prize for Best African
Book in 1992 for her novel
“Changes: A Love Story”
POLITICIAN Princess Mele Siu’ilikutapu
Kalaniuvalu Fotofili of Tonga , a
member of the Tongan Royal family
and a politician, passed away in
Auckland, New Zealand at the age
of 75.
She will be buried in Tonga at
the Mala’e Kula Royal Tombs.
She served as the 1st elected
female parliamentarian in Tonga
from 1975 to 1977.
ACTRESS Padma Shri Awardee and veteran
Actress Sulochana Latkar passed
away due to prolonged respiratory
illness in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Sulochana Latkar was awarded
the Padma Shri in 1999 for her
contribution to cinema.
She was also honoured with
Filmfare Lifetime Achievement
Award in 2004.
DIRECTOR A noted theatre actor and director,
Amir Raza Hussain has passed away
He was known for his large outdoor
stage productions like The Fifty Day
War (2000), based on the Kargil War
and The Legend of Ram (2004),

161
PROFESSION ABOUT
based on the epic RaJUNEana.

He was also the Creative Director
of the Stagedoor Theatre
company, established in 1974,
which has presented over 91
productions and more than 1,100
performances.
He has acted in super hit movies
‘Baahubali’ and ‘RRR’.
He will also be seen in the movie
‘Adipurush’
Husain was honoured with the
fourth-highest civilian award of
the Republic of India, Padma
Shri in 2001 by the Government
of India for his outstanding
contributions.
RUNNER Jim Hines, an American runner, the
first man to officially break the 10-
second barrier for 100m, died
In the 1968 Olympic Games held
at México, Jim Hines clocked a
hand-timed 9.9, which also
made him the first man to
officially break 10 seconds on
electronic timing and won his
first Olympic gold.
ANCHOR Gitanjali Aiyar, one of India’s first
English news presenters on national
broadcaster Doordarshan(DD)
passed away.
She worked with DD for over 3
decades since 1971 and was

162
PROFESSION ABOUT
awarded the best anchor 4 times.

She was honoured with the
Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini
Award for Outstanding Women
in 1989.
ACTOR Legendary theatre actor and co-
founder of Akshara Theatre, Jalabala
Vaidya passed away
Her theatrical life started in 1968
with ‘Full Circle’, a dramatised
selection of poems and stories.
She was awarded the Sangeet
Natak Akademi’s Tagore Award,
the Delhi Natya Sangh Award,
the Andhra Pradesh Natya
Akademi Honour, Honorary
Citizenship of the City of
Baltimore, USA.
POLITICIAN Hardwar Dubey, Member of

Parliament (MP) – Rajya Sabha from
Uttar Pradesh (UP), passed away
He was a member of the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and
was a sitting MP Rajya Sabha
from UP since November 2020.
He served as the Minister of
finance of the Uttar Pradesh
government 1991- 1992.

163
Reports & Indices
ILO report: Global unemployment fall to 5.3%,

low-income nations lag in Recovery
According to the International Labour Organisation
(ILO)’s 11th edition ‘World of Work’, the global
unemployment is projected to fall below pre
pandemic levels to 191 million, corresponding to an
unemployment rate of 5.3% in 2023.
In 2023, the global jobs gap is projected to at 453
million people or 11.7%, which is more than double the
unemployment count.
The global jobs gap of 453 million includes both the 191
million unemployed people and an additional 262
million who want employment but do not qualify as
unemployed.
Unequal Job Gaps:

Based on the report, in 2023, the low income countries
are facing the largest jobs gap rate at 21.5%, and the
rate in middle-income countries stands slightly above
11%.
Whereas the High-income countries register the lowest
rates, at 8.2%.
Unemployment – Low-income Countries Left Behind:
As per the report’s projection, low-income countries in the
Arab and African region will not be able to recover to the
pre-Covid levels of unemployment in 2023.

164
Unemployment rate in different region:
REGION UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
NORTH AFRICA 11.2%
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA 6.3%
ARAB STATES 9.3%
LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN 6.7%
NORTHERN, SOUTHERN AND WESTERN EUROPE 6.3%
CENTRAL AND WESTERN ASIA 7.8%
Formal job creation increased in FY23, Highest in

Maharashtra: EPFO Payroll Data Analysis
According to the Employees’ Provident Fund
Organization’s (EPFO) payroll reporting data analysis,
1.39 crore people found new formal jobs in India in
FY23 which means the number of net payroll additions
increased 13.2% Year-on-Year to 1,38,51,689 from
1,22,34,625 in FY22.
22% of the new jobs i.e. 30,28,978 lakh payroll
additions were in Maharashtra, across age groups and
sectors.
It should be noted that Maharashtra has topped every
financial year since September 2017, when the EPFO
began releasing payroll addition data.
The 22-25 age group bagged the most jobs at 36.24
lakh.

165
Maharashtra is followed by Tamil Nadu at 2nd place

with 14.05 net new payroll additions in FY23 recording
a 9.6% increase in formal job creation compared to
FY22.
Among the large states, Assam had the fewest formal
job creations at 64,432. This is, however, a 177%
increase compared to FY22.
THE Impact Ranking 2023
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Amrita University),
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, has emerged as the top
Indian university on the Times Higher Education(THE)
Impact Rankings 2023.
2023 Impact Rankings is the 5th edition of THE Impact
ranking.
Globally, Amrita University is ranked 52 among the 1,591
universities from 112 countries
Top 5 on the overall ranking:
RANK NAME OF UNIVERSITY COUNTRY
1 WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY AUSTRALIA
2 UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER UNITED KINGDOM
3 QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY CANADA
4 UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA MALAYSIA
5 UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA AUSTRALIA
@iamkapilkathpal
@smritisethi23
@kkathpal
@studyniti_smritisethi
Studyniti Notebook Series (20000+ Practice Ques) FREE
Studyniti Annual Mock Test Series (Click to Buy) 189
166
Top 3 Indian Universities on the overall ranking:
RANK NAME OF UNIVERSITY COUNTRY
52 AMRITA VISHWA VIDYAPEETHAM COIMBATORE, TAMIL NADU
101-200 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY(LPU) PHAGWARA, PUNJAB
SHOOLINI UNIVERSITY OF BIOTECHNOLOGY AND

101-200 BAJHOL, HIMACHAL PRADESH
MANAGEMENT SCIENCES
‘8th edition of India Rankings: National

Institutional Ranking Framework
According to the 8th edition of India Rankings 2023,
prepared by (MoE) based on parameters defined by
(NIRF), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras
(IITM), Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN), has topped the list for
the 5th consecutive time.
RANK INSTITUTE
1 (IIT) – MADRAS (CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU)
2 (IISC) (BENGALURU, KARNATAKA)
IIT (DELHI)
3
IIT BOMBAY (MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA)

4
5 IIT KANPUR (UP)

167
Tracking SDG7: 2.3 people use polluting fuel & 675

million have no electricity
According to the report titled “Tracking SDG7: The
Energy Progress 2023” around 2.3 billion people across
the globe are still using polluting fuels and
technologies for cooking and around 675 million
people did not have access to electricity in 2021.
The report states that the world is not on track to
achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 for
energy by 2030.
It is estimated that around 71% of the world’s
population had access to clean cooking fuels and
technologies in 2021.
The report stated that around 1.9 billion people across
the globe will not have access to clean cooking in
2030.
Globally, the access to electricity grew by an annual
average of 0.7% points between 2010 and 2021.
In 2010, 84% of the world’s population had access to
electricity. This increased to 91% in 2021.
More than 80% of those without electricity(around 567
million in 2021) resides in sub-Saharan Africa, similar to
the deficit in 2010.
“IEA report: Global Renewable Capacity Additions

to increase by 107 GW in 2023
According to Renewable Energy Market Update – June
2023 of International Energy Agency (IEA), the Global
renewable capacity additions are set to increase by 107
gigawatts (GW), the largest absolute increase ever, to
more than 440 GW in 2023.
Solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity, including both large

168
utility-scale and small distributed systems, accounts for

two-thirds of 2023’s projected increase in global
renewable capacity.
Global renewable capacity additions could reach 550
GW in 2024 in our accelerated case, almost 20% higher
than in the main forecast.
The utility-scale solar PV capacity additions (made up
mainly of capacity awarded in auctions) of India in
2022 reached to 14 GW, accounting for over two-thirds
of RE growth in India.
‘Best public transport in the world 2023’
According to a survey published by London (United
Kingdom) based global magazine ‘Time Out’, India’s
Financial Capital Mumbai was ranked 19th in the list of
‘Best public transport in the world 2023‘.
Mumbai is the only Indian city to feature in the list.
The city has also introduced the Chalo Pay app – a
pioneer for Indian public transport
Top 5 cities on Time out’s list:
RANK CITY COUNTRY
1 BERLIN GERMANY
CZECH
2 PRAGUE
REPUBLIC
3 TOKYO JAPAN
4 COPENHAGEN DENMARK
5 STOCKHOLM SWEDEN

169
Global Slavery Index 2023

According to the Global Slavery Index 2023, an
assessment of modern slavery conditions in 160
countries, released by Australia-based Rights group
Walk Free Foundation, 50 million people are globally
living in conditions of modern slavery in 2021, a 25%
rise over the last five years.
Among the G20 nations, India tops the list with 11
million people working as forced labourers, followed
by China, Russia, Indonesia, Turkey and the U.S.
⅔ of people in India were under modern slavery. Asia
and Pacific region has the largest number of modern
slavery with 29.3 million people
Around 46.9 million people are living in modern slavery
globally.
Top 5 Countries where Modern Slavery is more prevalent

and least prevalent:
MOST PREVALENT LEAST PREVALENT
1 NORTH KOREA 160 SWITZERLAND
2 ERITREA 159 NORWAY
3 MAURITANIA 158 GERMANY
4 SAUDI ARABIA 157 NETHERLANDS
5 TURKIYE 156 SWEDEN

170
Forbes' Global 2000 list

According to the Forbes' Global 2000 list, Billionaire
Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd climbed
eight spots to the 45th rank, the highest for an Indian
company.
A total of 55 Indian companies made it to the Global
2000 list, including Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
(ONGC), HDFC, Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), and
Tata Steel.
Ranking of top 3 companies in Global 2000 list
RANK COMPANY COUNTRY
1 JPMORGAN CHASE USA
2 SAUDI ARAMCO SAUDI ARABIA
3 ICBC CHINA
Ranking of Indian Companies in Global 2000 list
RANK COMPANY
45TH RELIANCE INDUSTRIES
77TH STATE BANK OF INDIA
128TH HDFC BANK
163RD ICICI BANK

171
CBIC releases National Time Release Study 2023

report
Vivek Johri, Chairman, Central Board of Indirect Taxes
and Customs (CBIC) recently released the National
Time Release Study (NTRS) 2023 report.
According to the report the average import release
time by customs authorities has decreased in 2023
compared to 2022.
The report states that the import release time has
declined by 20% for inland container depots (ICDs), 11%
for air cargo complexes (ACCs), and 9% for seaports.
In absolute terms, the import release time for seaports
is 85.42 hours, for ICDs is 71.46 hours, for ACCs is 44.16
hours, and for integrated check posts (ICPs) is 31.47
hours.
FAO Report: Food Outlook Biannual Report On
Global Food Markets
According to the ‘Food Outlook Biannual Report On
Global Food Markets’ report released by the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations
the global food bill was expected to rise to USD 1.98
trillion in 2023, up 1.5% from 2022.
The import bill for the group of Least Developed
Countries (LDCs) is predicted to decline by 1.5% in 2023
and that for net food-importing developing countries
(NFIDCs) to decline by 4.9 percent.
Global Gender Gap Index 2023

According to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF)
annual Global Gender Gap Report 2023 India has
closed 64.3% of the overall gender gap and ranked
127th out of 146 countries in terms of gender parity
India was ranked 135th in the 2022 Index.

172
Rank of Top 5 in Global Gender Gap Index 2023
RANK COUNTRY
1 ICELAND
2 NORWAY
3 FINLAND
4 NEW ZEALAND
5 SWEDEN
127 INDIA
India’s Subindex Ranks at Global Gender Gap Index 2023:
SUB INDEX RANK
ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION AND OPPORTUNITY 142
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT 26
HEALTH AND SURVIVAL 142
POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT 59

173
2022 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500 6 month

update
The report, featuring 500 most valuable non-state-
owned companies in India, was released by Burgundy
Private, Axis Bank’s Private Banking Business and
Hurun India.
Top 5 of Burgundy PVT Hurun India 500-Special Report:
RANK COMPANY VALUE (INR CR)
1 RELIANCE INDUSTRIES LIMITED (RIL) 16,37,327
2 TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES (TCS) 11,76,385
3 HDFC BANK 9,41,386
4 ICICI BANK 6,41,930
5 ITC 5,29,682
Top 3 most valuable unlisted companies
RANK COMPANY VALUE
1 SERUM INSTITUTE OF INDIA RS 92 LAKH CRORE
2 NATIONAL STOCK EXCHANGE OF INDIA RS 1.65 LAKH CRORE
3 BYJU’S RS 69,100 CRORE

174
Top 3 companies in terms of geographical distribution
RANK COMPANY
1 MAHARASHTRA (191)
2 KARNATAKA (63)
3 TAMIL NADU (44)
Top 3 companies in terms of biggest gainers (by percentage)
RANK COMPANY
1 JINDAL STAINLESS (213.3%)
2 LLOYDS METALS AND ENERGY (93.1%)
3 FINOLEX CABLES (71.1%)
Top 3 companies in terms of biggest gainers (by Indian Rupees in Crores)
RANK COMPANY
1 HDFC BANK (RS.1,07,730)
2 ITC (RS.97,323)
3 HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION (RS. 59,328)

175
11th THE’s Asia University Rankings 2023

According to Times Higher Education Asia University
Rankings 2023 the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in
Bengaluru has emerged as the highest ranked Indian
Institute. IISc is ranked 48th on the overall list.
The list is topped by China’s Tsinghua University,
followed by the Peking University of China in the 2nd
position
The 2023 ranking, the 11th edition of THE Asia
University Rankings
Among the 75 Indian Institutes featured on the list,
only 18 are featured in the top 200, while 4 are in the
top 100 and only 1 in the top 50.
India is showing a year-on-year increase in
participation with 71 universities in the rankings in
2022 and 63 in 2021.
The Asia University Rankings 2023: Asia’s Top 5
RANK INSTITUTION COUNTRY/REGION
1 TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY CHINA
2 PEKING UNIVERSITY CHINA
3 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE SINGAPORE
4 UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG HONG KONG
5 NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY, SINGAPORE SINGAPORE

176
The Asia University Rankings 2023: India’s Top 5
OVERALL
RANK INSTITUTE
RANK
1 (IISC), BENGALURU, KARNATAKA 48
JSS ACADEMY OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH, MYSURU, KARNATAKA

2 68
3 SHOOLINI UNIVERSITY OF BIOTECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES, BAJHOL, HP 77
4 MAHATMA GANDHI UNIVERSITY, KOTTAYAM, KERALA 95
5 IIIT, HYDERABAD (IIIT-H), TELANGANA 106
PM Modi becomes most popular leader of the

world with 75% approval rating
According to the Global Leader Approval Rating report
by US-based consulting firm Morning Consult, PM Modi
became the most popular leader in the world with an
approval rating of 75%.
Swiss President Alain Berset is second in the approval
rating.
US President Joe Biden ranks 8th in the approval
rating.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is ranked 13th
among 22 world leaders.
RANK LEADER (COUNTRY) RATING
1 NARENDRA MODI (INDIA) 75%

177
RANK LEADER (COUNTRY) RATING
2 ALAIN BERSET (SWITZERLAND) 60%
3 ANDRÉS MANUEL LÓPEZ OBRADOR (MÉXICO) 59%
4 ANTHONY ALBANESE (AUSTRALIA) 54%
5 GIORGIA MELONI (ITALY) 52%
Global Liveability Index 2023

According to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU)
Global Liveability Index 2023 released Vienna, the
capital of Austria, has topped the index as the world’s
most liveable city.
Copenhagen (Denmark) ranked second while
Melbourne and Sydney of Australia ranked 3rd and 4th
in the index.
EIU’s index ranks 173 cities across five categories:
stability, healthcare, education, culture and the
environment, and infrastructure.
Rank of Top Indian Cities:
RANK CITY
141ST NEW DELHI, MUMBAI
144TH CHENNAI
147TH AHMEDABAD
148TH BENGALURU

178
Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2023

According to the Global Startup Ecosystem Report
2023 (GSER 2023) released by policy advisory and
research firm Startup Genome, Indian ecosystems
continue to rise, with Bengaluru (Karnataka) startup
ecosystem has positioned to the 20th spot, moving
two places from 2022
Mumbai (Maharashtra) moved up five places to 31st
position and Delhi moved up two places to 24th
position respectively in the Global Startup Ecosystem
list 2023.
Silicon Valley remained at the top ecosystem in the
GSER 2023 followed by New York City and London tied
at 2nd position.
List of Top 5 in Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2023
RANK PLACE
1 SILICON VALLEY
2 NEW YORK CITY AND LONDON
4 LOS ANGELES
5 TEL AVIV
Forbes World’s Most Influential CMOs List 2023

11th edition of ‘The Forbes World’s Most Influential
CMOs List: 2023’ was released in which Tata group’s
brand custodian Harish Bhat ranked 10th as the most
influential CMOs (Chief Marketing Officer) for the 2nd
consecutive year.

179
Amir Tamim appoints Sheikh Mohammed as

Qatar’s new prime minister
Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has
appointed Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin
Abdulrahman Al-Thani as the country’s new prime
minister.
The decision to appoint Sheikh Mohammed, who was
the deputy prime minister, came after the amir
accepted the resignation of former Prime Minister
Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani.
National Energy Data: Survey and Analysis 2021-
22 Report Released by MNRE
The report titled National Energy Data: Survey and
Analysis 2021-22 was released
This report is produced by the Energy Data
Management Unit under the Bureau of Energy
Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power in collaboration with
NITI Aayog
By utilizing Indian coal conversion factors instead of
the International Energy Agency’s conversion factors, it
is revealed that the energy for the past six years was
actually 18% lower than previously reported.
The report indicates an 8% decrease in energy
consumption in the year 2021-22.
The share of electrification on consumption has
increased to 20.9%.
QS World University Rankings 2024
According to the QS World University Rankings 2024
by Quacquarelli Symonds released the Indian Institute
of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) is the only Indian
Institute featured among the top 150 Universities.
The global list is topped by the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, United States of
America(USA) for the 12th time (2012 and from 2014 to
2024).

180
The 20th edition of the QS World University Rankings

features 1,500 institutions across 104 locations
Top 5 University
RANK UNIVERSITY
1 MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (MIT), CAMBRIDGE, USA
2 UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, CAMBRIDGE, UK
3 UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD, OXFORD, UK
4 HARVARD UNIVERSITY, CAMBRIDGE, USA
Top 5 Indian Institutes
RANK UNIVERSITY
149 INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY BOMBAY (IITB), MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA
197 INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DELHI (IITD), NEW DELHI, DELHI
225 INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE(IISC), BENGALURU, KARNATAKA
271 INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY KHARAGPUR (IIT-KGP), KHARAGPUR, WEST BENGAL
278 INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY KANPUR (IITK), KANPUR, UTTAR PRADESH (UP)

181
Visits, Meetings &
Summits
G20 3rd Employment Working Group
GENEVA Meeting held in Geneva
The 3rd Employment Working Group
(EWG) meeting under the G20 Indian
Presidency was successfully held at the
International Labour Organization (ILO)
HQ in Geneva, Switzerland.
The 2nd EWG meeting was held at
Guwahati, Assam.
2nd meeting of G20 Development
KUMARAKOM Working Group held at Kumarakom
The 2nd Meeting of the G20
Development Working Group (DWG)
concluded successfully at Kumarakom,
Kerala
THEME: "Transformative Transitions
through Data for Development."
The 1st Meeting of the G20
Development Working Group was held
in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the
NEW DELHI first-ever National Training Conclave
for Civil Servants
(PM) of India inaugurated the first-ever
National Training Conclave aimed at
strengthening the training
infrastructure for Civil Servants across
India at an event held at International

182
Exhibition and Convention Centre,

Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, Delhi.
The Conclave was being hosted by the
Capacity Building Commission (CBC)
and is organised under the authority of
the National Programme for Civil
Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB) –
‘Mission KarJUNEogi.’
Piyush Goyal chairs 6th meeting of

NEW DELHI NTTM
The 6th Mission Steering Group
meeting of the National Technical
Textiles Mission (NTTM) was chaired by
Piyush Goyal in New Delhi.
It aims to catalyze research and
innovation in Technical Textiles in India.
1st Meeting of the Joint Committee

NEW DELHI of the India-UAE CEPA, concluded
successfully
India and the United Arab Emirates
(UAE) successfully held the 1st Meeting
of the Joint Committee (JC) of the India-
UAE Comprehensive Economic
Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in New
Delhi, Delhi.
The meeting was co-chaired by Union
Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of
Commerce & Industry (MoCI)and Thani
bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE’s Minister of
State for Foreign Trade.

183
Global DPI Summit 2023 held in Pune

PUNE Global DPI Summit 2023 was held as
part of the side event of the third
meeting of G20 (Group of Twenty)
Digital Economy Working Group
(DEWG) in Pune, Maharashtra.
Theme:- Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)
for Ease of Living, Ease of Doing Business
and Ease of Governance
Education Ministry to host 4th & final

PUNE EdWG Meeting under India's G20
presidency
The Education Ministry will host the 4th
and final Education Working Group
(EdWG) Meeting under India's G20
presidency in Pune
THEME: “Ensuring Foundation Literacy and
Numeracy, especially in the context of
blended learning”.
1. Edition:- Chennai
2. Edition:- Amritsar
3. Edition:- Bhubaneswar
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya addresses

MUMBAI the 8th Global Pharmaceutical
Quality Summit 2023 in Mumbai
The Union Minister for Chemicals and
Fertilisers and Health & Family Welfare
Dr Mansukh Mandaviya addressed the
8th Global Pharmaceutical Quality
Summit 2023 in Mumbai.

184
The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance

(IPA) successfully concluded the 8th
edition of the Global Pharmaceutical
Quality Summit.
THEME: ‘Patient Centricity: New Paradigm
of Manufacturing and Quality’.

185
Current Affairs cracker SHOTS
Appointments at a Glance
Recent Appointment Recent Appointment
External auditor of the World Health Organization Chandra Murmu
Executive Director(ED) of ICICI Bank Sandeep Batra
Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Power
Parminder Chopra
Finance Corporation
SAIL Chairman Amarendu Prakash
President of the 78th session of the United Nations
Dennis Francis
General Assembly (UNGA)
First female Secretary-General (SG) of the World
Prof Celeste Saulo
Meteorological Organization
CMD of Container Corporation of India Limited
Sanjay Swarup
(CONCOR)
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Unique Identification
Amit Agrawal
Authority of India
Director-General (DG) of the National Testing Agency Subodh Kumar Singh
Harvard’s vice president for finance and CFO Ritu Kalra
CMD (additional charge) of NMDC and NMDC Steel Amitava Mukherjee

Chief of IATA’s board of governors Pieter Elbers
Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of GIC Re Ramaswamy Narayanan
CMD of National Insurance Company Limited

Rajeswari Singh Muni
Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of National

U Saravanan
Fertilizers Limited

186
APPOINTED AS APPOINTED PERSON
Chairman of GIFT City Hasmukh Adhia
Director of UN Office for Outer Space Affairs Aarti Holla-Maini
MD and CEO of Hindustan Unilever Ltd Rohit Jawa
Recent Facilities Launched in Banks & Insurance Sector

BANK FACILITY
Yes Bank Life Ko Banao Rich
Razorpay Turbo UPI
State Bank of India Project Kuber
Kotak Private Banking Kotak Private Banking Reserve
Federal Bank I am Adyar, Adyar is me
EVOLVE (Electric Vehicle

Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) Operations and Lending for
Vibrant Ecosystem)
South Indian Bank SIB SWIFTe
Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank Vikas Ashadeep 400 days
Indian Overseas Bank My Account My Name
Reserve Bank of India Antardrishti

187
BANK FACILITY
Kotak Mahindra Bank Active Money
Union Unnati, Union Samriddhi, Union
Union Bank of India
Samman, and Union SBCHS
Axis Bank One-View
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) Dhan Vridhhi
Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance Company
Nishchit Pension Plan
Limited (ABSLI)
Recent Brand ambassador

BRAND PERSON
Maharashtra’s ‘Swachh Mukh Abhiyan’ Sachin Tendulkar
Zebronics TV Zebronics TV Hrithik Roshan
Hyundai Hyundai Hardik Pandya
Epson India Rashmika Mandana
Updated GDP Predictions List

ORGANISATION FORECAST
6.3% (FY24), 6.3% (CY 23), 6.4% (CY 24)
World Bank
MOODY’S 5.5% (FY23)
S&P 6% (FY24), 6.9% (FY25), 7.1% (FY 26)
IMF 5.9% (FY24), 6.8% (FY25)

188
ORGANISATION FORECAST
ADB 6.4% (FY24), 6.7% (FY25)
RBI 6.8% (FY23)
India Ratings 6.9% (FY23)
FITCH RATING 6.3% (FY24) , 6.5% (FY25)
FICCI 7% (FY23), 6.4% (FY24)
OECD 7.2% (FY23), 6% (FY24)
CRISIL 6% (FY24)
NSO 7% (FY23)
UN 6.7% (CY24)
SBI Ecowrap 5.5% (Q4 FY 23), 7.1%(FY 23)
Jp morgan 5.5% (FY24)
Confederation of Indian Industry 6.5-6.7% (FY 24)

189
Newly appointed PM & President

APPOINTED PERSON DESIGNATION
Recep Tayyip Erdogan President of Türkiye for a third term
Ahmad Nawaf al-Sabah Prime Minister of Kuwait
Catalin Predoiu Interim PM of Romania
Petteri Orpo Prime Minister of Finland
Awards Winner (JUNE 2023)

EXERCISE NAME HELD BETWEEN HELD AT
Western borders in
Sudarshan Shakti 2023 Indian Army
Rajasthan and Punjab
6th Ekatha India and Maldives Navy Maldives
First edition of the India,

France and the United Arab
India, France and the United
Emirates (UAE) Trilateral Gulf of Oman
Arab Emirates
Maritime Partnership
Exercise
25 NATO and partner
Baltic Sea and Southern
Air Defender 23 countries including Japan
Germany
and Sweden
4th edition of Multilateral
Makassar, South Sulawesi,
Naval Exercise “Komodo” ASEAN
Indonesia
Mlitary contingents and Five Hills Training Area in

19th Ex Khaan Quest 2023
observers from 26 countries Mongolia

190
EXERCISE NAME HELD BETWEEN HELD AT
Exercise Agneyastra 1 Indian Army Eastern Ladakh
UB Hills and Central Air

Ranvijay Indian Air Force Command (CAC) Area of
Responsibility (AOR)
Awards Winner (JUNE 2023)

AWARD WINNER
57th Jnanpith Award Konkani
Padma Vibushan Late Professor Roddam Narasimha
GreenPro ecolabel JSW Steel
NABH Accreditation AIIMS Nagpur
UNESCO’s 2023 Michel Batisse Award Jagdish Bakan
NWO Spinoza Prize 2023 Joyeeta Gupta
2023 RSL Christopher Bland Prize Paterson Joseph
Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and

UITP Awards 2023
Transport (BEST)
Governor of the Year award RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das
Order of the British Empire (OBE) Moeen Ali

191
AWARD WINNER
Order of the British Empire (OBE) Moeen Ali
European Essay Prize Arundhati Roy
Peace Prize of the German Book Trade Salman Rushdie
World’s Best Airline Alliance Star Alliance
Indian documentary film titled

Health for All
“When Climate Change Turns Violent”
2023 Iqbal Masih Award for the

Lalitha Natarajan
Elimination of Child Labour
Olympic Order Tedros Ghebreyesus
World Health Organisation Olympic Cup for 2021
Dr Federico ARIEL
Professor Abdon ATANGANA
1st UNESCO–AI Fozan International Prize Professor Qiaomei FU
Dr Hesham OMRAN
Dr Jelena VLADIC
Order of the Nile,' Egypt's highest honor Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Angela Bassett, Mel Brooks &

Oscars for Lifetime Achievement
Carol Littleton

192
National Water Awards 2022

List of winners in different categories
RANK WINNER
Best State
1 MP
2 Odisha
3 AP & Bihar
Best District
1 Ganjam District, Odisha
2 Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu (TN)
3 Adilabad District, Telangana
Best Village Panchayat
Jagannadhapuram Village Panchayat, Bhadradri Kothagudem

1
district, Telangana
Kadavur Village Panchayat, Karur district, Tamil Nadu and

2
Manickal Village Panchayat, Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala
3 Kadegaon Village Panchayat and Mawkyrdep Village Panchayat
Best Urban Local Body
1 Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh,
2 Indore Municipal Corporation, Indore, MP
3 Surat Municipal Corporation & NMalkapur Municipal Council

193
List of winners in other categories:
CATEGORY WINNER
Barauni Thermal Power Station,

Best Industry
Begusarai, Bihar
Best NGO Arpan Seva Sansthan, Udaipur, Rajasthan
Sanjeevani Piyat Sahkari Mandli Ltd,

Best Water User Association
Narmada, Gujara
Best Industry for CSR Activities HCL Technologies Ltd., Noida, UP
Bal Sahitya Puraskar and Yuva Puraskar Awards 2023

Table of Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2023:
AWARDEE LANGUAGE TITLE
SHORT STORIES
Jugal Kishore Sarangi Odia Jejenka Gapa Ganthili
Suryanath Singh Hindi Kotuk App
Gurmeet Karyalvi Punjabi Sachi Di Kahani
Mansing Majhi Santali Nene-Pete
D.K. chaduvula Babu Telugu Vajrala Vaana
Late Mateen Achalpuri

Urdu Mamta Ki Dor
(Posthumous)
Pratima Nandi Narzaree Bodo Gosaini Gwjwn Nwjwr

194
NOVELS
Powalmoni Aru Chichingar

Rothindranath Goswami Assamese
Duhxahaxik Abhijan
Shyamalkanti Das Bengali Eroplaner Khata
Vijayashree Haladi Kannada Surakki Gate
Tukaram Rama Shet Konkani Jaann
Perumazhayathe
Priya A.S. Malayalam
Kunjithalukal
Radhavallabh Tripathy Sanskrit Manavi
Udhayasankar Tamil Aadhanin Bommai

POETRY
Balwan Singh Jamoria Dogri Kanjkan
Akshay Anand ‘Sunny’ Maithili Ol Katra, Jhol Katra
Eknath Avhad Marathi Chhand Dei Aanand
Dholan Rahi Sindhi Vanganmal Ji Shaadi
STORIES
Sudha Murty English Grandparent’s Bag of Stories
PLAY
Madhusudan Bisht Nepali Bal Ekanki Natakharu
MEMOIR
Kiran Badal Rajasthani Tabran Ri Duniyan
Table of Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar 2023:

Short Stories
Jintu Gitartha Assamese Mon Mora Tora
Hamiruddin Middya Bengali Mathrakha
Sagar Shah Gujarati Get Together
Manjunayak Challur Kannada Phoo Mattu Ithara Kathegalu

195
Tanvi Kamat Bambolkar Konkani Shots
Bapi Tudu Santali Dusi
Monika J. Panjwani Sindhi Glamour
Ram Thangam Tamil Thirukarthiyal
Tauseef Bareilvi Urdu Zahan Zaad
POETRY
Mainasori Daimary Bodo Som, Jiu, Arw
Nighat Nasreen Kashmiri Lalli Nilvath Tchali Na Zanh
Ganesh Puthur Malayalam Achante Alamara
Swatahala Swataviruddh
Vishakha Vishwanath Marathi
Ubhe Kartana
Naina Adhikari Nepali Ghat-Pratightka Udgarharu
Sanddep Punjabi Chitt Da Jugraphia
Deilal Mahiya Rajasthani Atas Ro Olmo

196
PLAYS
Dheeraj Bismil Dogri Ahlada
HISTORICAL
Lords of the Deccan:

Anirudh Kanisetti English Southern India from the
Chalukyas to the cholas
CRITICISM
Johny Takkedasila Telugu Vivechani
NOVEL
Atul Kumar Rai Hindi Chandpur Ki Chanda
Obituary (JUNE 2023)

PROFESSIONS NAME
Padma Shri awardee &

Vellayani Arjunan
Eminent Scholar-Writer
Congress MP from Maharashtra Balubhau Dhanorkar
Ghanaian writer and feminist Ama Ata Aidoo
Tongan Princess Mele Siu’ilikutapu
Padma Shri Awardee and veteran Actress Sulochana Latkar
First Runner under 10 seconds in 100m Jim Hines
Renowned Doordarshan anchor Gitanjali Aiyar
Italy’s ex-Prime Minister and Media Magnet Silvio Berlusconi
Rajya Sabha MP Hardwar Dubey

197
Recent MOUs in Banking Sector

ORGANISATION OBJECTIVE
To provide complete
financial product and
Small Industries Development Bank of India & HDFC Bank
services to the customers
under MSMEs
To offer online inward
remittance services to Non-
Resident Indians (NRIs)
IndusInd Bank & Wise
residing in the United
States of America (USA) and
Singapore.
To foster the growth of Self

Indian Overseas Bank & Tamil Nadu
Help Groups (SHGs) in the
State Rural Livelihood Mission
State
To offer Customised
Manipal Technologies & Indian Bank
Banking Solutions
Recently launched apps & Portals:

APP/PORTAL LAUNCHED BY
App/Portal Launched by
PM SVANidhi Mobile app Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri
Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh

Unified Registration Portal For GOBARdhan
Shekhawat
Waayu Suniel Shetty
City Beauty Competition MoHUA
NANDI– NOC (No Objection Certificates)

Parshottam Rupala,Union Minister of
Approval for New Drug and Inoculation
Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
System Portal
MoMSME
CHAMPIONS 2.0

198
Books & Authors

BOOKS AUTHORS
Ramachandra Murthy
NTR-A Political Biography
Kondubhatla
Shivanand Dwivedi & K K
Amrutkaal ki Ore
Upadhyay
A Life Well Spent Satish Chandra
India’s Finance Ministers — From Independence to

Ashok Bhattacharya
Emergency (1947-1977)
Droupadi Murmu: From Tribal
Journalist Kasturi Ray
Hinterlands to Raisina Hills
Recent Ranking of India

LIST RANK ABOUT
Reliance Industries
Forbes' Global 2000 list JPMorgan Chase
(45th)
Global Gender Gap Index 2023 by
127th Iceland
World Economic Forum
2022 Burgundy Private Hurun India Reliance Industries
-
500 Limited (RIL)
11th THE’s Asia University Rankings (IISc), Bengaluru, Tsinghua University
2023 Karnataka (Chian)
Global Leader Approval Rating - Narendra Modi (75%)
Forbes World’s Most Influential CMOs

Harish Bhat (10th) William White
List 2023
Global Startup Ecosystem Report
Bengaluru (20th) Silicon Valley
2023
New Delhi,
Global Liveability Index 2023 Vienna (Austria)
Mumbai (141st)

199
Important Days
DATE DAY THEME OF DAY
Showcasing how dairy is reducing
its environmental footprint, while
World Milk Day
1 June also providing nutritious foods and
livelihoods
Global Day Of Parents -
International Sex Workers'
2 June Access to Justice
Day
Riding Together for a Sustainable
3 June World Bicycle Day
Future
International Day of
4 June Innocent Children Victims -
of Aggression
International Day for the
Fight against Illegal,
-
Unreported and
5 June Unregulated Fishing
World Environment Day
Solutions to Plastic -
Pollution
6 June World Pest Day -
7 June World Food Safety Day Food standards save lives
8 June World Oceans Day Planet Ocean: tides are changing
Protect yourself- keep away from
World Brain Tumour Day
stress
Accreditation: Supporting the
9 June World Accreditation Day
Future of Global Trade
10 June World Doll Day Embracing Diversity in Dolls
World Day Against Child Social Justice for All.
Labour End Child Labour!
13 June
International Albinism
Inclusion is strength.
Awareness Day
Give blood, give plasma, share life,
14 June World Blood Donor Day
share often
World Wind Day
15 June The Wind in Mind" and “Future Wind

200
DATE DAYS THEME OF DAY
ASEAN’s Commitment to Fight

ASEAN Dengue Day
against Dengue
15 June Closing the Circle: Addressing

World Elder Abuse Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
Awareness Day in Older Age Policy, Law and
Evidence-based Responses
Digital remittances towards
International Day of Family
16 June financial inclusion and cost
Remittances
reduction
World Crocodile Day -
17 June World Day to Combat

Desertification and Her land Her rights
Drought
Celebrating the Greatest
World Father’s Day
Heroes of Our Lives
18 June
Autistic Pride Day -
International Picnic Day -
Building and strengthening
Global Sickle Cell
World Sickle Cell Communities, Formalizing
Awareness Day New-born Screening and
Knowing your Sickle Cell
19 June Disease Status
National Reading Day -
International Day for the
Elimination of Sexual -
Violence in Conflict
20 June World Refugee Day Hope away from home
Yoga for Vasudhaiva
International Yoga Day
21 June Kutumbakam” – ‘Yoga for ‘The
2023
World is One Family
Hydrography – Underpinning
21 June World Hydrographic Day
the Digital Twin of the Ocean

201
DATE DAYS THEME OF DAY

World Rainforest Day
22 June Conserve Restore Regenerate
United Nations Public

-
Service Day
23 June

International Widows Day -
MARPOL at 50 – Our
Day of the Seafarer
commitment goes on
25 June
Vitiligo: Looking into the
World Vitiligo Day
Future
People first: stop stigma and
World Drug Day discrimination, strengthen
prevention
26 June International Day in
Support of Victims of -
Torture
Next Generation Cooling: The
World Refrigeration Day
Future is in our hands
27 June International MSME Day -
National Insurance
28 June -
Awareness Day
National Statistics Day -
29 June International Day of the
-
Tropics

202
Static Awareness
MONTHLY
ORGANISATIONS
President - Børge Brende
UNESCO:
Asian Cricket Council (ACC):
Founded - 16 November 1945
Founded - 1983
HQ - Paris, France
HQ - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Director-General - Audrey Azoulay
President - Jay Shah
World Health Organisation (WHO):
Food and Agriculture Organization
Founded - 7 April 1948
Founded - 1945
HQ - Geneva, Switzerland
HQ - Rome, Italy
Director General - Tedros Adhanom
Director-General - Qu Dongyu (China)
World Meteorological Organization
International Labour Organisation
Founded - 23 March 1950
Formed - 1919
HQ - Geneva, Switzerland
HQ - Geneva , Switzerland
Secretary-General - Professor Petteri Taala
Director-General - Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo
President - Dr Abdulla Al Mandou
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
International Energy Agency
Formed - 1949
Founded - 1974
HQ - Brussels, Belgium
HQ - Paris, France
Secretary General - Jens Stoltenberg
Executive director - Fatih Birol
IATA
United Nations:
Founded - 1945
Founded - 1945
HQ - Montreal, Canada
HQ - New York, United States
Secretary-General - António Guterres
GOVERNMENT ENTITY
International Olympic Committee:
Founded - 23 June 1894, Paris, France Container Corporation of India Limited
Founders - Pierre Coubertin and D. Bikélas (CONCOR):
Headquarters - Lausanne, Switzerland Formed in - March 1988
President - Thomas Bach HQ - New Delhi
Director General - Christophe De Kepper Unique Identification Authority of India
UNGA Founded in - 28 January 2009
Formation - 1945 HQ - New Delhi, Delhi
HQ - New York CEO - Amit Agrawal
Head - Csaba Kőrösi National Testing Agency (NTA):
UN World Tourism Organisation Founded in - 2017
Founded - 1946 HQ - New Delhi, Delhi
HQ - Madrid, Spain CEO - Subodh Kumar Singh
Secretary-General - Zurab Pololikashv Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited
World Economic Forum(WEF) Formed - 9th September 2011
Founded - 1971 HQ - New Delhi
HQ - Cologny/Geneva, Switzerland Chairman - Bhupinder Singh Bhalla

203
National Accreditation Board of Education and

CMD - Vivek Kumar Dewagan
Training(NABET):
Ministry of Defence:
HQ - New Delhi
Union Minister - Raj Nath Singh
Chairperson - Premendra RajMehta
Minister of State - Ajay Bhatt
CEO - Varinder S Kanwar
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Cochin Shipyard limited
Union Minister - Narendra Singh Tomar
Founded - 1972
(Constituency – Morena, Madhya Pradesh)
HQ - Kochi, Kerala
Minister of State - Kailash Choudhary
Chairman & MD - Madhu S. Nair
(Constituency – Barmer, Rajasthan)
Geological Survey Training Institute of India
Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways:
Formed in - 1976
Union Minister - Sarbananda Sonowal
HQ - Hyderabad
Minister of State - Shantanu Thakur
Ministry - Ministry of Mines
Ministry of MSME
DRDO
Union Minister - Narayan Tatu Rane
Formed - 1958
Minister of State - Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma
HQ - New Delhi
AYUSH ministry
Chairman - Dr Samir V Kamat
Formed in - 9 November 2014
Indian Navy:
Union Minister - Sarbananda Sonowal
Founded - 26 January 1950
Minister of state - Mahendra Munjapara
HQ - New Delhi
Ministry of Law and Justice:
Chief of Naval Staff - Admiral R. Hari Kumar
Minister of State (MoS) - Arjun Ram Meghwal
Indian Army:
(Constituency – Bikaner, Rajasthan)
Founded - 1895
Ministry of Women and Child Development
HQ - New Delhi
Union Minister - Smriti Irani
Chief of the Army Staff - General Manoj Pande
Minister of State - Krishna Raj
Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF):
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate
HQ - New Delhi
Change
Director General - Dr.Sujoy Lal Thaosen
Union Minister - Bhupender Yadav
NITI Aayog
Minister of State - Ashwini Kumar Choubey
Formed - 1 January 2015
Ministry of Electronics and Information
HQ - New Delhi
Technology
Chairman - Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Union Minister - Ashwini Vaishnaw
CEO - B.V.R. Subrahmanyam
Minister of State - Rajeev Chandrasekhar
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Founded = 1995
Union Minister - Piyush Goyal
HQ - New Delhi
Minister of State - Som Parkash, Anupriya Patel
Chairperson - Santosh Kumar Yadav
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
Bureau of Indian Standards
Union Minister - Nitin Jairam Gadkari
Founded - 23 December 1986
Minister of State - V.K. Singh
HQ - Manak Bhawan, Old Delhi
Ministry of Jal Shakti
Director General - Pramod Kumar Tiwari
Union Minister - Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
REC Limited
Minister of State - Prahalad Singh Patel,
Founded - 1969
Bishweswar Tudu
HQ - New Delhi

204
Directorate-General of Civil Aviation COMPANIES

HQ - New Delhi (NASA):
Director General - Vikram Dev Dutt HQ - Washington, D.C., United States
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India Administrator - Bill Nelson
Formed - 5 September 2008 Mahindra Defence System
HQ - New Delhi Incorporated in - 2012
CEO - G. Kamala Vardhana Rao HQ - SP Shukla
NVVN: Chairman - Mumbai, Maharashtra
Founded - 2002 Infosys
HQ - New Delhi Founded - 1981
CEO - Renu Narang HQ - Bangalore, Karnataka
Bharat Electronics Ltd Chairman - Nandan Nilekani
Founded - 1954 MD & CEO - Salil Parekh
HQ - Bengaluru Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and
Chairman & MD - Bhanu Prakash Srivastava Astrophysics
Universal Postal Union (UPU): Founded - 1988
Formed - 1874 HQ - Pune, Maharashtra
HQ - Bern, Switzerland Director - Prof R. Srianand
Director General - Masahiko Metoki SpaceX:
Power Finance Corporation Formed - 2002
Formed - 1986 HQ - California, United States of America
HQ - New Delhi Founder & CEO - Elon Musk
CMD - Ravinder Singh Dhillon Tata Steel
Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs Founded - 25 August 1907
Formed - 2008 HQ - Mumbai
HQ - Gurgaon, Haryana CEO - T. V. Narendran
DG & CEO - Praveen Kumar Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
NTPC Limited Founded - 1964
ESTD - 1975 HQ - Bangalore, Karnataka
HQ - New Delhi Chairman & MD - CB Ananthakrishnan
Chairman & MD - Gurdeep Singh RITES
NHPC Limited Founded - 1974
Founded - 1975 HQ - Gurgaon, Haryana
HQ - Faridabad, Haryana Chairman & MD - Rahul Mithal
Chairman & MD - Rajeev Kumar Vishnoi HFCL Limited
National Stock Exchange of India Limited Founded - 1987
Incorporated in - 1992 HQ - Gurugram, Haryana
Started operations - 1994 Chairman - Mahendra Pratap Shukla
HQ- Mumbai, Maharashtra Microsoft
Chairman - Girish Chandra Chaturvedi ESTD - 1975
CEO & MD - Ashishkumar Chauhan HQ - Washington, United States
Ministry of Tourism CEO - Satya Nadella
Union Minister - G. Kishan Reddy Astrome Technologies Pvt. Ltd:
Minister of State - Shripad Naik, Ajay Bhatt Formed in - 20th May 2015

205
HQ - Bengaluru, Karnataka
HQ - Mumbai, Maharashtra
Chairman - Prasad Laxminarayana Horabailu
CEO & MD - Dilip Asbe
CEO - Neha Satak
Non Executive Chairman - Biswamohan
QNu Labs:
Mahapatra
Founded - 2016
Life Insurance Corporation of India:
HQ - Bengaluru, Karnataka
Formed - 1st September, 1956
Co-Founder & CEO - Sunil Gupta
HQ - Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
FINANCE Chairperson - Siddharth Mohanty
PNB
World Bank
ESTD - 19 May 1894
Formed - 1944
HQ - New Delhi
HQ - Washington DC
CEO & MD - Atul Kumar Goel
Members - 189
Tagline - Name You Can Bank Upon
President - David Malpass
South Indian Bank
RBI
Founded - 1928
ESTD - 1 April 1935
HQ - Thrissur, Kerala
HQ - Mumbai
MD & CEO - Murali Ramakrishnan
Governor - Shaktikanta Das
Tagline - Experience Next-Gen Banking
Deputy Governors - T. Rabi Sankar, M.
Union Bank of India
Rajeshwar Rao, Dr. M. D. Patra, M. K. Jain
Founded - 11 November 1919
SEBI
HQ - Mumbai
Estd - April 12, 1988
MD & CEO - A. Manimekhalai
HQ - Mumbai
Tagline - Good People to Bank with
Chairman - Madhabi Puri Buch
IndusInd Bank
Indian Overseas Bank
Formed - 1994
Founded - 1937
HQ - Pune
HQ - Chennai, Tamil Nadu
CEO & MD - Sumant Kathpalia
MD & CEO - Ajay Kumar Srivastava
Tagline - We Care Dil Se, We Make You Feel
Tagline - Good people to grow with
Richer
International Finance Corporation
Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance
Formed - 1956
Founded - 2001
HQ - Washington, D.C.
HQ - Mumbai
MD - Makhtar Diop
MD & CEO - Gaurang Shah
The IRDAI:
Kotak Mahindra Bank
Founded in - 1999
Founded - 2003
Started Operation - 2000
HQ - Mumbai
HQ - Hyderabad, Telangana
MD & CEO - Uday Kotak
Chairperson - Debasish Panda
Tagline - Let’s Make Money Simple
Small Industries Development Bank of India
Asian Development Bank
Founded - 1990
Formed - 19 December 1966
HQ - Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
HQ - Manila, Philippines
Chairman & MD - Sivasubramanian Ramann
Members - 68
NPCI
President - Masatsugu Asakawa
Founded - 2008

206
Indian Bank MD & CEO - Sanjiv Chadha

Founded - 15 August 1907 Canara Bank
HQ - Chennai Founded - 1906
MD & CEO - Shri Shanti Lal Jain HQ - Bangalore, Karnataka
Tagline - Your Own Bank MD & CEO - K. Satyanarayana Raju
HDFC Life Insurance Tagline - Together we can
Founded - 2000 Kotak General Insurance:
HQ - Mumbai Founded - 1985
MD & CEO - Vibha Padalkar HQ - Mumbai
ICICI Bank MD & CEO - Suresh Agarwal
Founded - 1994 Razorpay:
HQ - Mumbai, Maharashtra HQ - Bengaluru, Karnataka
CEO & MD - Sandeep Bakhshi MD & CEO - Shashank Kumar
Tagline - Khayal Apka mooPay Private Limited:
Equitas Small Finance Bank Ltd: HQ - Bengaluru, Karnataka
Founded - September 5, 2016 CEO & MD - Rahul Mallick
HQ - Chennai, Tamil Nadu SBI Life Insurance Company Limited
Tagline - Here, Your money works towards Formed - 2000
better society HQ - Mumbai, Maharashtra
YES Bank MD & CEO - Mahesh Kumar Sharma
Founded - 2004 Tagline - Apne Liye.Apno Ke Liye
HQ - Mumbai, Maharashtra Bajaj Finserv Limited
MD & CEO - Prashant Kumar Headquarters - Pune, Maharashtra
Tagline - Experience our Expertise Chairman & Managing Director - Sanjiv Bajaj
Kotak Private: Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Co. Ltd
HQ - Mumbai, Maharashtra Formed - August 2001
CEO - Oisharya Das HQ - Pune, Maharashtra
UCO Bank MD CEO - Tarun Chugh
Formed - 6 January 1943 PhonePe:
HQ - Kolkata Founded - 2015
Tagline - Honours your Trust HQ - Mumbai, Maharashtra
Axis Bank Chief Executive Officer - Sameer Nigam
ESTD - 1993 Fino Payments Bank
HQ - Mumbai, Maharashtra Incorporated on - 2017
MD & CEO - Amitabh Chaudhary HQ - Navi Mumbai
Tagline - Badhti Ka naam Zindagi CEO & MD - Rishi Gupta
State Bank of India (SBI): Tagline - Qadar Aapki Mehnat Ki
Established in - 01 July 1955 NATIONS
HQ - Mumbai, Maharashtra
Chairman - Dinesh Kumar Khara Iran
Bank of Baroda Capital - Tehran
ESTD - 1908 Currency - Iranian Rial
HQ - Vadodara, Gujarat President - Ebrahim Raisi
Tagline - India’s International Bank

207
China: Estonia
Capital - Beijing Capital - Tallinn
Currency - Chinese Yuan Currency - Euro
President - Xi Jinping Prime Minister - Kaja Kallas
Bangladesh Belgium
Capital - Dhaka Capital - Brussels
Currency - Taka Currency - The euro
PM - Sheikh Hasina President - Alexander De Croo
President - Mohammad Shahabuddin Qatar:
Gabon: Capital – Doha
Capital - Libreville Currency – Qatari riyal
Currency - Central African CFA franc Emir of Qatar – Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad
President - Ali Bongo Ondimba Pakistan:
Philippines Capital - Islamabad
Capital - Manila Currency - Pakistani rupee
Currency - Philippine peso President - Arif Alvi
President - Bongbong Marcos PM - Shehbaz Sharif
Russia
Capital - Moscow
STATES
Currency - Rubel
President - Vladimir Putin Kerala
Republic of Türkiye: Capital - Thiruvananthapuram
Capital - Ankara CM - Pinarayi Vijayan
Currency - Turkish lira Governor - Arif Mohammad Khan
Romania: Manipur
Capital - Bucharest Capital - Imphal
Currency - Romanian Leu CM - Nongthombam Biren Singh
Greece: Governor - La. Ganesan
Capital - Athens Tamilnadu
Currency - Euro Capital - Chennai
PM - Kyriakos Mitsotakis CM - Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin
Bhutan Governor - R. N. Ravi
Capital - Thimphu Rajasthan
Currency - Bhutanese Ngultrum Capital - Jaipur
PM - Lotay Tshering CM - Shri Ashok Gehlot
Israel Governor - Kalraj Mishra
Capital - Jerusalem Himachal Pradesh
Currency - Shekel Capital - Shimla Summer, Dharamshala Winter
President - Isaac Herzog CM - Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
PM - Benjamin Netanyahu Governor - Shiv Pratap Shukla
Chile Madhya Pradesh
Capital - Santiago Capital - Bhopal
Currency - Chilean Peso CM - Shivraj Singh Chouhan
President - Gabriel Boric Governor - Mangubhai C. Patel

208
Assam Cash Prize - 11 Lakhs

Capital - Dispur Michel Batisse Award for Biosphere Reserve
CM - Himanta Biswa Sarma Management:
Governor - Gulab Chand Kataria Established in - 2005 given once every 2 years
West Bengal Prize - USD 12000
Capital - Kolkata 2021 winner - Sharon Wright of Australia
CM - Mamata Banerjee the NWO Spinoza Prize:
Governor - Dr. C.V. Ananda Bose Established in - 1995
Maharashtra Prize - 1.5 million euros
Capital - Mumbai
CM - Eknath Shinde PROGRAMMES
Governor - Ramesh Bais PM-KISAN:
Bihar Launched in - February 2019
Capital - Patna Benefit - Financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per year
CM - Nitish Kumar in three equal installments of Rs 2,000 each
Governor - Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar every four month
Uttar Pradesh Achievement - The 13th installment of PM-
Capital - Lucknow KISAN was paid to more than 8.1 crore farmers.
CM - Yogi Adityanath
Governor - Anandiben Patel UDAN Scheme:
Punjab Abbreviation - Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik
Capital - Chandigarh Initiated in - October 2016
CM - Bhagwant Mann Launched in - April 2017
Governor - Banwarilal Purohit Objective - Enhancing connectivity to remote
Karnataka and regional areas of the country and making
Capital - Bangalore air travel affordable.
CM - Basavraj Bommai
Governor - Thawar Chand Gehlot GOBARdhan:
Odisha Launched in - 2018 under the Swachh Bharat
Capital - Bhubaneswar Mission Gramin (SBM(G)-Phase II
CM - Naveen Patnaik Objective - To generate wealth and energy by
Governor - Ganeshi Lal converting cattle dung, agri residue and other
Goa organic waste into Biogas, CBG and bio
Capital - Panaji fertilizers. The scheme aims to contribute to
CM - Pramod Sawant India’s climate action goals especially towards
Governor - S. Sreedharan Pillai achieving net zero emission by 2070.
Arunachal Pradesh
Capital - Itanagar PM SVANidhi
CM - Pema Khandu Launched in - 1st June 2020
Governor - Lt Gen Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik Objective - To provide collateral free working
AWARDS capital loans of up to Rs 10,000 of one-year
Jnanpith Award: tenure to approximately 50 lakh street vendors
Started in - 1961 to help resume their businesses in the urban
Presented by - Bharatiya Jnanpith trust areas.

209
United Nations Development Programme

Founded - 1965
HQ - New York
Administrator - Achim Steiner
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban

Livelihoods Mission
Launched in - 2013 by restructuring the Swarna
Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana
Implemented by - Ministry of Housing and
Urban Affairs
Funding Ratio - 75:25 between center and
states for Normal, and 90:10 for difficult areas
Objective - To benefit the urban poor including
the urban homeless.

210
Current Affairs practice MCQs
Q1. Razorpay has launched India’s fastest Q5. Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Co. Ltd
one-step UPI (Unified Payments Interface) launched the first of its kind insurance plan in
payment solution to make UPI payments the Indian life insurance industry designed for
directly without getting redirected to a Type 2 diabetic and pre-diabetic individuals.
third-party UPI app during checkout. Name What is the name of the insurance plan?
the payment solution. [A]Bajaj Finserv Life Insurance Co. Ltd
[B]Bajaj Allianz Diabetic care
[A]Super UPI
[C]Bajaj Allianz Type 2 diabetic Life Insurance
[B]Turbo UPI
[D]Bajaj Allianz Life Diabetic Term Plan Sub 8
[C]UPI lite
HbA1c
[D]UPI ultra
[E]None of these
[E]None of these
Q2. Who was re-elected as the external Q6. Which ground-breaking credit card
auditor of the World Health Organization platform, has launched its all-inclusive
(WHO) for a four-year term from 2024 to ‘Credit on UPI’ customer solution?
2027? [A] Upwork
[A]Girish Chandra Murmu [B] Pepper Content
[B]Sandeep Bakhshi [C] Fiverr
[C]Rajeev Dogra [D] Kiwi
[D]Sonal Shrivastava [E] Toptal
[E]Pramod Bhasin Q7. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath
Q3. Where was the final match of IPL 2023 Shinde has announced that Bandra -
held? Versova sea route in Mumbai will be named
[A]Barabati Stadium after which person?
[B]Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium [A] Veer Savarkar
[C]Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Ground [B] Bhupendra Kumar Datta
[D]Narendra Modi Stadium [C] Chandra Shekhar Azad
[E]Nehru Stadium [D] Bhupen Savarkar
[E] None of these
Q4. Governor of Goa, P. S. Sreedharan Pillai,
Q8. Name the eminent Konkani writer and
unveiled the 5 books, published by Raj Bhavan
Sahitya Akademi Award winner who recently
in Goa under ‘Nai Pahal’ scheme. Which
received the 57th Jnanpith Award from P S
among these is not one of the authors of the 5
Sreedharan Pillai.
books?
[A] Damodar Mauzo
[A]Sanjay Ramesh Salelkar
[B] Nilmani Phookan
[B]Pallavi Polekar
[C] Praveen Dashrath Bandekar
[C]Manohar Adpaikar
[D] Ravindra Kelekar
[D]Ashok Kumar
[E] None of these
[E]Pachu Menon

211
Q9. Global Day Of Parents is annually [A] Suman Sharma

observed on which day? [B] Ajay Yadav
[A] June 1 [C] Bhupinder Singh Bhalla
[B] JUNE 31 [D] Atul Verma
[C] JUNE 30 [E] None of these
[D] JUNE 29 Q14. Every year on which day do Kashmiri
[E] JUNE 28 Pandits visit Mata Ragnya Devi Temple, also
Q10. Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) known as Kheer Bhawani Temple, for
has joined hands with which Indian darshan?
Institute of Technology to introduce voice- [A] Jyestha Ashtami
banking solutions to eliminate language [B] Bhairava Ashtami
barriers across India.? [C] Trilochan Ashtami
[A] IIT Mumbai [D] Sheetala Ashtami
[B] IIT Delhi [E] Syestha Ashtami
[C] IIT Madras Q15. The (IRDAI) identified SBI Life
[D] IIT Pune Insurance Company Limited (SBI Life) as
[E] IIT Kharagpur the acquirer–insurer of the business of
which Life Insurance company?
Q11. Recently PM Modi gifts ‘7.5-carat green [A] Aditya Birla SunLife Insurance Co. Ltd.
diamond’ to US First Lady that is certified [B] SBI Life Insurance Co. Ltd.
by the Gemological lab, IGI and bears the [C] Sahara India Life Insurance Co. Ltd.
hallmarks of excellence through the 4C's. [D] Shriram Life Insurance Co. Ltd.
Which among these is not a ‘C’ ? [E] TATA AIA Life Insurance Co. Ltd
[A] Cut Q16. Indian Navy has signed a
[B] Colour Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
[C] Carbon with which University for Technical
[D] clarity Collaboration?
[E] None of these
[A] Indian Maritime University
Q12. Which All India Institute of Medical [B] Samundra Institute of Maritime Studies
Sciences(AIIMS) has become the first of all [C] International Maritime Institute
AIIMS to be accredited by the National [D] National Maritime Institute
Accreditation Board for Hospitals & [E] Indian Institute Of Technology–Madras
Healthcare Providers (NABH)?
Q17. The Maharashtra cabinet has approved
[A] AIIMS, Bhopal
the implementation of the which tourism
[B] AIIMS, Raipur
policy under the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’?
[C] AIIMS, Nagpur
[D] AIIMS, New Delhi [A] Aai
[E] AIIMS, Jodhpur [B] Ai
Q13. Who was appointed as the Managing [C] Amma
Director (MD) of Solar Energy Corporation of [D] Maai
India (SECI)? [E] Aay

212
Q18.Which state government has set up an Q22. 2023 Impact Rankings is which edition of
expert committee to review the 1972 THE Impact ranking?
reservation policy in line with demands made [A] 3th
by the opposition Voice of the People’s Party [B] 4th
(VPP) whose leader is on an indefinite hunger [C] 6th
strike?
[D] 7th
[A] Meghalaya [E] 5th
[B] Himachal Pradesh
Q23. Bajaj Finserv, the non- banking financial
[C] Punjab company signed a MoU with the Government
[D] Jammu & Kashmir of Maharashtra to invest how many crores?
[E] Tamil Nadu [A] Rs.5,000 crore
Q19. Bureau of Indian Standards notifies [B] Rs.6,000 crore
Indian standards related to Ayush herbs [C] Rs 4,000 crore
and products. In which year Bureau of [D] Rs.2,000 crore
Indian Standards was founded? [E] Rs.3,000 crore
[A] 1986 Q24. Padma Shri Awardee Sulochana
[B] 1987 Latkar passed away at the age of 94 due to
[C] 1988 prolonged respiratory illness in Mumbai,
[D] 1989 Maharashtra. What was her profession?
[E] 1985 [A] Singing
Q20. Which General Insurance company [B] Dancing
partners with actyv.ai, a AI-powered [C] Acting
technology company, to offer customised [D] Doctor
insurance products to Micro Small and [E] Painting
Q25. International Finance Corporation
Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in India?
(IFC), a part of the World Bank Group
[A] Bajaj Allianz General Insurance
signed a MoU with which organization to
[B] Kotak Mahindra General Insurance
develop a pipeline of investment-ready
[C] List of General Insurance companies
public-private partnership (PPP) projects in
[D] Cholamandalam MS General Insurance
infrastructure across India?
[E] Liberty General Insurance
[A] Export Import Bank of India
Q21. The National Dam Safety Authority [B] NBFID
(NDSA), Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) had [C] SIDBI
signed a MoU with which National Institute [D] BARD
of Technology to establish India’s first-of- [E] None of these
its-kind National Centre for Earthquake Q26. Recently which bank has launched
Safety of Dams? ‘Project Kuber’?
[A] Malaviya NIT [A] Central Bank of India
[B] Maulana Azad NIT [B] Indian Overseas Bank
[C] Motilal Nehru NIT [C] State Bank of India
[D]Mizoram NIT [D] Kotak Mahindra Bank
[E] None of these [E] Punjab National Bank

213
Q27. YES Securities (India) Limited (YSL) is Q32. Recently Deepak Kumar has won the
partnering with which company to provide bronze medal in a Championship held at the
investment solutions to healthcare Humo Arena in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. He
professionals through the ‘Wellth- Where belongs to which sports?
Investments and Health Unite’ program? [A] Running
[A] OneAssist [B] Shooting
[B] WatchYourHealth [C] Swiming
[C] Kenko Health [D] Boxing
[D] SecureNow [E] None of these
[E] None of these Q33. What is the theme for World Brain Tumor
Q28. Which Indian actor has been appointed Day 2023?
as brand ambassador for Zebronics TV? [A] Protect yourself – keep away from stress
[A] Suniel Shetty [B] No Stress, Healthy Brain
[B] Alia Bhatt [C] Healthy Food and Eating
[C] Shah Rukh Khan [D] Health for All
[D] Akshay Kumar [E] None of these
[E] Hrithik Roshan Q34. Which organization has launched
Q29. Recently the Indigenously-made mission EVOLVE in a tie-up with the Niti
Hypersonic ballistic missile, “Fattah” has Aayog, World Bank, Korea-World Bank
been unveiled. What is the range of the partnership facility, and Korean Economic
missile? Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) to
[A] 1,400 kilometers finance MSMEs in the electric vehicles?
[B] 1,200 kilometers [A] NABARD
[C] 1,300 kilometers [B] SIDBI
[D] 1,100 kilometers [C] NHB
[E] None of these [D] EXIM Bank
Q30. RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das
[E] None of these
announced the second monetary policy of Q35. ICAI to Set up a Common Platform for
this financial year on 8 June. What is the Balance Confirmations. In which year the
present repo rate? Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
[A] 6.25% was formed?
[B] 6.75% [A] 1947
[C] 6.65% [B] 1948
[D] 6.50% [C] 1949
[E] 6.80% [D] 1950
Q31. National Statistics Day is celebrated on [E] 1951
the birth anniversary of statistician P.C. Q36. Which among these is not one of the
Mahalanobis, on which date? non-permanent members of the (UNSC)?
[A] 25 June [A] Algeria
[B] 26 June [B] Guyana
[C] 27 June [C] Republic of Korea (South Korea)
[D] 28 June [D] Sierra Leone
[E] 29 June [E] Zimbabwe

214
Q37. Who has won the title at Superbet Rapid Q42. Government of India has taken how
& Blitz Poland 2023, the 2nd event of the 2023 many more important decisions revolving
Grand Chess Tour(GCT), held at the Museum of around (PACS), a basic unit and the smallest
the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw, Poland? cooperative credit institution in India works
[A] Magnus Carlsen on the grassroots level (gram panchayat and
[B] Alexander Grischuk village level)?
[C] Jan-Krzysztof Duda [A] 3
[D] Lê Quang Liêm [B] 4
[E] None of these [C] 5
Q38. According to INDIA 100 2023 Brand [D] 6
Finance Report which is the Most Valuable [E] 7
Telecoms Brand? Q43. The Special Olympics World Games
[A] Airtel Berlin 2023 has been held. The next edition of
[B] Jio the Special Olympics will be held in which
[C] Vodafone Idea country?
[A] Canada
[D] BSNL
[B] Tunisia
[E] None of these
[C] Dubai
Q39. What is the theme of World Doll Day
[D] Lebanon
2023?
[A] Bringing joy to the world [E] None of these
Q44. The Central government has
[B] Dolls for happy child
constituted a peace committee in which
[C] Embracing Diversity in Dolls
place under the chairmanship of Governor
[D] Universal message of happiness and love
Anusuiya Uikey?
[E] None of these
[A] Tamil Nadu
Q40. (IRDAI) granted the Certificate of
[B] Kerala
Registration (CoR) to which Life Insurance
[C] Himachal Pradesh
company to carry out life insurance
[D] Uttarakhand
business in India?
[E] Manipur
[A] Go Digit Life Insurance Limited
Q45. A (MoU) was signed between (IICA)
[B] Max Life Insurance Co. Ltd
and a University. Where is the headquarter
[C] HDFC Life Insurance Co. Ltd
of IICA?
[D] Life Insurance Corporation of India [A] Tamil Nadu
[E] None of these [B] Kerala
Q41. A Memorandum of Understanding [C] Himachal Pradesh
(MoU) was signed between Indian Institute [D] Uttarakhand
of Corporate Affairs (IICA) and which [E] Manipur
Institute? Q46. WBIDC, FICCI, Amazon Jointly Hosts E-
Export Haat in which state?
[A] Rashtriya Raksha University
[A] Maharastra
[B] Raksha Shakti University
[B] Gujrat
[C] Indian Institution of Technology
[C] West Bengal
[D] National Raksha University
[D] Jharkand
[E] None of these
[E] Odisha

215
Q47. Asian Development Bank (ADB) and The Q52. Asian Development Bank to Fund a Loan
Government of India signed a loan of how for Horticulture in Himachal Pradesh. In which
much USD for the Himachal Pradesh year ADB was formed?
Subtropical Horticulture, Irrigation, and Value [A] 1969
Addition Project to increase agricultural [B] 1964
productivity? [C] 1965
[A] USD 120 million [D] 1966
[B] USD 130 million [E] 1967
[C] USD 140 million Q53. What was the theme of International
[D] USD 135 million Albinism Awareness Day 2023?
[E] USD 125 million [A] Inclusion is strength.
Q48. Which country has become India’s fourth [B] Strength Beyond All Odds
largest investor in the fiscal year 2022-23 [C] “Still Standing Strong
following the successful implementation of [D] dancing with renewed hope'
the (CEPA) between the two countries? [E] None of these
[A] Singapore Q54. RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das
[B] United States Launched Financial Inclusion Dashboard
[C] United Kingdom Antardrishti. Who is present Chief General
[D] United Arab Emirates Manager of RBI?
[E] None of these
Q49. LA Zoo to partner with an Indian State [A] Yogesh Dayal
Govt & WTI for gharial conservation. In [B] M. Rajeshwar Rao
which year the Gharial Conservation [C] M. K. Jain
Project was launched? [D] Rishi Gupta
[A] 2012 [E] Ashishkumar Chauhan
[B] 2013
Q55. Fino Payments Bank Ltd. has
[C] 2014
partnered with which Bengaluru based
[D] 2015
fintech company?
[E] 2016
Q50. Who was appointed as the new [A] CRED
Director General (DG) of the (BSF)? [B] Hubble Money
[A] Amit Agrawal [C] PayPal
[B] Subodh Kumar Singh [D] MobiKwik
[C] Vineet Joshi [E] Razorpay
[D] Saurabh Garg
Q56. Which state became the first state to
[E] None of these
actively initiate the financial literacy
Q51. Novak Djokovic belongs to which
campaign?
country?
[A] Algeria [A] Delhi
[B] Serbia [B] Tamil Nadu
[C] Slovenia [C] Kerala
[D] Switzerland [D] West Bengal
[E] Sweden [E] Maharashtra

216
Q57. How many military aircraft from 25 NATO Q62. Who has been re-appointment as the
are included in the “Air Defender 23” exercise? managing director (MD) and chief executive
[A] 240 officer (CEO) of Equitas Small Finance Bank
[B] 260 (SFB) for a 3-year term with effect from July
[C] 230 23, 2023?
[D] 250 [A] Srikrishnan Hari Hara Sarma
[E] 255 [B] Ashwani Kumar
Q58. In which year Raghuram Rajan received
[C] Prathapa Reddy
the title “Governor of the Year”? [D] Ramaswamy Narayanan
[A] 2023 [E] P N Vasudevan
[B] 2021 Q63. What is the theme of the International
[C] 2019 Day of Family Remittances 2023?
[D] 2017 [A] Recovery and resilience through Digital
[E] 2015 and Financial inclusion
Q59. The CM of Madhya Pradesh [B] Digital remittances towards financial
inaugurated the ‘Mukhyamantri Ladli inclusion and cost reduction
Bahna Yojana‘ by depositing an amount of [C] Integrating migrants into primary health
how much rupees each in the accounts of care
1.25 crore women of the state? [D] Raise further awareness on the
[A] Rs 1000 abnegation and sacrifice of migrant
[B] Rs 1100 [E] None of these
[C] Rs 500
Q64. According to a reply by the Reserve
[D] Rs 800
Bank of India In the first nine months of
[E] Rs 1500
FY23, bad or non-performing assets (NPAs)
Q60. Which company launched its in banks’ credit card segment jumped by
Payment Gateway new MSME merchants Rs 765 crore, or 24.5%, to how much crore?
by offering a limited-period deal of free
onboarding with no hidden charges, setup [A] Rs 3,887 crore
fees, or annual maintenance fees? [B] Rs 3,877 crore
[A] Paytm [C] Rs 3,787 crore
[B] PhonePe [D] Rs 3,778 crore
[C] PayPal [E] Rs 3,788 crore
[D] MobiKwik Q65. Which airline of India has ordered 500
[E] Airtel payment bank A320 aircraft, from French manufacturer
Q61. RITES Ltd signs contract to supply Airbus scheduled to be delivered within
diesel locomotives & open wagons. In the years 2030-2035?
which year RITES was founded?
[A] 1971 [A] Air India
[B] 1972 [B] AIX Connect
[C] 1973 [C] Jet Airways
[D] 1974 [D] Air India Express
[E] 1975 [E] IndiGo

217
Q66. Who has been appointed as the [A] Life Insurance Corporation Of India
interim (Acting) Prime Minister (PM) [B] National Insurance Company
following the resignation of current PM [C] HDFC Life Insurance Company Ltd
Nicolae Ciuca? [D] Max Life Insurance Company Limited
[A] Pieter Elbers
[E] SBI Life Insurance Company Ltd
[B] Daniel Zhang
Q71. The Wihu Kuh festival is annually
[C] Klaus Iohannis
celebrated in which state?
[D] Catalin Predoiu [A] Uttarakhand
[E] None of these [B] Arunachal Pradesh
Q67. Which state Government has launched [C] Bihar
‘Polytechnic Chalo Abhiyan 2023’ to motivate [D] Madhya Pradesh
youths to pursue technical education and take [E] Kerala
admission in polytechnic institutes? Q72. NSE International Exchange unveils a
[A] Arunachal Pradesh New Identity for Gift Nifty. Who was the chief
[B] Madhya Pradesh guest of the event?
[C] Himachal Pradesh [A] Ashishkumar Chauhan
[D] Uttar Pradesh [B] Injeti Srinivas
[E] Uttarakhand [C] A. Manimekhalai
Q68. (SEBI) has introduced a timeline of how [D] Ajay Banga
many months for ‘Listed Entities’ to fill up the [E] None of these
vacancies of their Key Managerial Personnel Q73. The World Bank has approved a loan of
(KMPs) such as CEO, CFO, MD etc. to ensure how much amount to support the Resilient
smooth functioning of listed companies? Kerala program to continue strengthening the
[A] 2 months state’s preparedness against natural disasters,
[B] 3 months climate change impacts, and disease
[C] 6 months outbreaks?
[D] 8 months [A] $130 million
[E] 4 months [B] $140 million
[C] $150 million
Q69. PM Modi conferred Egypt’s highest
[D] $160 million
state honour. This is which highest state
[E] $155 million
honor conferred upon Prime Minister Modi? Q74. The 14-day long 19th edition of the
[A] 11th Multinational Peacekeeping Joint Exercise,
[B] 12th Ex Khaan Quest 2023, was inaugurated in
[C] 13th which place?
[D] 14th [A] Indonesia
[E] 15th [B] Malaysia
[C] Mongolia
Q70. Which Insurance Company Limited
[D] China
(Max Life), has picked a 2.99 % equity stake
[E] Russia
in Jalandhar-headquartered Capital Small
Q75. Which among these is not a Centre of
Finance Bank (CSFB) for a consideration of
Excellence in Nanoelectronics where INUP-
Rs. 49.50 crore?
i2i is being implemented?

218
[A] IISc [A] 1998

[B] IIT Pune [B] 2000
[C] IIT Bombay [C] 1994
[D] IIT Delhi [D] 1996
[E] IIT Madras [E] 2001
Q76. Asian Development Bank (ADB) Q81. Which among these is not an
approved a loan of how much amount to autonomous body that comes under the
improve transport connectivity in Bihar? Ministry of Women and Child Development
[A] IISc (MWCD)?
[B] IIT Pune [A] NIPCCD
[C] IIT Bombay [B] NCW
[D] IIT Delhi [C] CSWB
[E] IIT Madras [D] NCPCR
Q77. Which bank became the first Public [E] CARA
Sector Bank in India to introduce the facility of Q82. Center grants approval for Kalaignar pen
UPI payments to merchants through RuPay monument in Bay of Bengal. Officials of the
Credit Card, in association with NPCI (National PWD noted that other experts and which IIT
Payments Corporation of India)? would be consulted for the design of the
[A] Bandhan Bank
monument?
[B] Federal Bank [A] IIT Pune
[C] Canara Bank [B] IIT Delhi
[D] IndusInd Bank [C] IIT Madras
[E] Yes Bank [D] IIT Indore
Q78. The Tamil Nadu police have introduced a [E] IIT Kharagpur
new scheme called 'Pengal Pathukaaptu Q83. Who has been appointed as the new
Thittam' (Women Safety Scheme) in which prime minister of Qatar?
city?
[A] Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
[A] Coimbatore
[B] Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman
[B] Madurai
[C] Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
[C] Chennai
[D] Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al
[D] Tiruchirappalli
[E] None of these
[E] Vellore
Q79. Who was named the Player of the Q84. Sahitya Akademi announced winners
Series in the India U-23 women’s team of of Bal Sahitya Puraskar and Yuva Puraskar
2023 Women’s Emerging Asia Cup T20? Awards 2023. Who got Sahitya Akademi
[A] Kanika Ahuja Yuva Puraskar 2023 in the English Stories
[B] Shreyanka Patil category?
[C] Kanika Patil
[A] Sudha Murty
[D] Anjali Mundhra
[B] Eknath Avhad
[E] Kajol Dagar
[C] Dholan Rahi
Q80. HDFC Life Insurance receives GST
[D] Tukaram Rama Shet
demand notice. In which year HDFC Life
[E] Priya A.S.
Insurance was founded?

219
1.
Q85. International Day in Support of 2. The skin can be donated within eight
Victims of Torture is celebrated annually on hours of death and utilized for burns
which date? and trauma patients after processing.
[A] 23 June 3. At present there are 16 skin banks in
[B] 24 June India of which seven are in Maharashtra,
[C] 25 June four in Chennai, three in Karnataka and
[D] 26 June one each in Odisha and Madhya
[E] 27 June Pradesh.
Q86. One of the World Bank’s institutions How many of the above statements are
International Bank for Reconstruction and correct?
Development (IBRD) granted a loan of how
[A] Only one
much amount to India with a maturity
[B] Only two
period of 14 years, including a grace period
[C] All the three
of five years, to improve the quality of
[D] None
technical education and expand career Q90. Education loans register 17% growth
opportunities for students? in FY23.
[A] USD 256.5 million
Consider the following statements:
[B] USD 255.5 million
1. According to RBI data, the outstanding
[C] USD 255.6 million
portfolio under education loans grew
[D] USD 252.5 million
17% at Rs 96,847 crore in the year 2022-
[E] USD 255.2 million
23 as against Rs 82,723 crore in the
Q87. China and Pakistan signed an agreement
previous year.
to set up a nuclear power plant of how much
megawatt in the Mianwali district of Punjab?
2. The Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) in
[A] 1,100-megawatt education advances stood at 7.82
[B] 1,200-megawatt percent of a total outstanding portfolio
[C] 1,000-megawatt of ₹60,000 crore at the end of the first
[D] 1,300-megawatt quarter of FY23.
[E] 1,400-megawatt 3. The priority sector education loans slow
Q88. Who has won the national election and only modest growth as they registered
secured a 2nd four-year term as the Prime 0.9 percent growth in FY 23. In the
Minister(PM) of Greece? previous financial year, they decreased
[A] Kyriakos Mitsotakis by 8 percent.
[B] Ludovit Odor [A] Only one
[C] Ioannis Sarmas [B] Only two
[D] Recep Tayyip Erdogan [C] All the three
[E] Ahmad Nawaf al-Sabah [D] None
Q89. North India's first Skin Bank has been Q91. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal
inaugurated. flagged off MV Empress
Consider the following statements: Consider the following statements:
1. North India's first Skin Bank has been 1. The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping &
inaugurated at New Delhi's Safdarjung Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda
Hospital. Sonowal flagged off India's maiden -

220
1. International Cruise Vessel – MV Empress – 1. Office (NSO) the Indian economy is

from Chennai to Sri Lanka in Chennai, expected to have recorded a 7.1% growth
Tamil Nadu. in real GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in
2. It is built at a cost of Rs.12.71 crores FY23 from 9.1% in FY22.
3. The modern cruise terminal developed at 2. Overall, headline inflation increased to
Chennai Port is spread over an area of 6.7% in 2022-23 from 5.5% in 2021-22.
2,880 square metres with an ability to host 3. The general government deficit and debt
3,000 passengers at a time. moderated to 9.4% and 86.5% of GDP,
How many of the above statements are respectively, in FY23 from the peak levels
correct? of 13.1% and 89.4% in FY21, respectively.
[A] Only one How many of the above statements are
[B] Only two correct?
[C] All the three
[A] Only one
[D] None
Q92. Meta & MWCD launched the Amrit [B] Only two
Generation Campaign [C] All the three
Consider the following statements: [D] None
1. Meta (formerly known as Facebook) and
Q94. World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan.
the Ministry of Women and Child
Development (MWCD) launched the
1. On the lines of the Central
Amrit Generation campaign to
Government’s plan to expand the
empower and engage the youth of India
foodgrain storage capacities in India,
(age group of 16-18 years) to express
the Union Cabinet has approved the
their aspirations and dreams for the
constitution and empowerment of an
future.
Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) for
2. The campaign was launched by Union
the facilitation of the World’s Largest
Minister Smriti Irani.
Grain Storage Plan in the Cooperative
3. The campaign invites youths to
Sector
showcase their creativity and share
2. The Government will infuse
their aspirations by creating Reels on
approximately Rs 1 Lakh Crore (Rs 1
Instagram and Facebook using the
trillion) for this plan in order to increase
#Amrit Generation.
foodgrain storage capacity by 800 lakh
How many of the above statements are
tonne in the cooperative sector
correct?
3. India has 56,000 agricultural
[A] Only one cooperative societies.
[B] Only two How many of the above statements are
[C] All the three correct?
[D] None
Q93. RBI’s Annual Report 2022-23 [A] Only one
Consider the following statements: [B] Only two
1. According to the second advance [C] All the three
estimates (SAE) of national income [D] None
released by the National Statistical -

221
Q95. RBI slaps penalties on Standard Q97. PM Modi gifts diamond’ to the US First
Chartered Bank-India, 4 other entities. Lady
Which of the following pairs is/are Consider the following statements:
matched correctly according to the above 1. Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi
statement? made a 5-day visit to the United States
of America at the invitation of President
Penalty on Standard Rs 30
A of USA Joseph Robinette Biden Jr (Joe
Chartered Bank-India lakh
Biden) and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.
2. PM Modi has visited the USA 4 times
Penalty on TransUnion Rs.24.25 (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 & 2021) in
B
CIBIL Limited lakh his capacity as the PM of India.
3. Prime Minister Narendra Modi became
Penalty on Equifax the fourth Indian prime minister to visit
Rs.26 the United States on a state visit while
C Credit Information
lakh the other two are Sarvepalli
Services Private Limited
Radhakrishnan in 1949 and Manmohan
[A] Only A Singh in 2005.
[B] Both B and C How many of the above statements are
[C] Only B correct?
[D] Both A and B [A] Only one
[E] None of these [B] Only two
Q96. India’s CAD narrows on moderation in [C] All the three
Trade Deficit: RBI’s BoP Q4FY23 Data [D] None
Consider the following statements: Q98. QS World University Rankings 2024.
1. India’s current account deficit (CAD) Which of the following pairs is/are
decreased to US$ 1.3 billion, 0.2% of matched correctly according to the above
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in statement?
Q4:2022-23 (Q4FY23) from US$ 16.8
billion (2% of GDP) in Q3FY23 Massachusetts
Globally topped
2. In the financial account, net Foreign A Institute of
by
Direct Investment (FDI) at US$ 6.4 Technology
billion was higher than US$ 1.7 billion in
Q3FY23
Second rank Stanford
3. Net Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) B
holder University
recorded an outflow of US$ 2.0 billion
amid the equity segment in Q4FY23 .
correct? Third rank University of
[A] Only one holder Oxford
C
[B] Only two
[C] All the three
[D] None

222
[A] Only A
[B] Both B and C
[C] Only B Stay Up-To-Date
[D] Both A and B
[E] None of these Latest news and events
Q99. RBI imposes fine on 3 banks. from around the world
1. The Reserve Bank said it has imposed a Attempt Daily Current
penalty of Rs 2.5 crore on Jammu and
Affairs Quizzes
Kashmir Bank for non-compliance with
certain directions.
2. A penalty of Rs 1.45 crore has also been
imposed on Axis Bank for non-
compliance with certain directions
issued by RBI on Loans and Advances
Statutory.
3. The RBI said a penalty of Rs 30 lakh has
been imposed on Bank of Maharashtra.
The lender, it said had levied penal
charges in certain accounts for late
payment of credit card dues through
the customers had paid the dues by the
due date, through third-party platforms.
correct?
[A] Only one
[B] Only two
[C] All the three
[D] None

223
Answers
1 B 19 A 37 A 55 B 73 C 91 B
2 A 20 B 38 A 56 E 74 C 92 C
3 D 21 A 39 C 57 D 75 B 93 B
4 D 22 E 40 A 58 E 76 B 94 A
5 D 23 A 41 A 59 A 77 C 95 B
6 D 24 C 42 C 60 B 78 C 96 A
7 A 25 B 43 A 61 D 79 B 97 A
8 A 26 C 44 E 62 E 80 B 98 C
9 A 27 B 45 A 63 B 81 C 99 A
10 C 28 E 46 C 64 A 82 C
11 B 29 A 47 B 65 E 83 B
12 C 30 D 48 D 66 D 84 A
13 B 31 D 49 C 67 D 85 C
14 A 32 D 50 E 68 B 86 B
15 C 33 A 51 B 69 C 87 B
16 A 34 B 52 D 70 D 88 A
17 A 35 C 53 A 71 B 89 B
18 A 36 E 54 A 72 B 90 A

224
FEATURES OF THE MAGAZINE
Comprehensive Coverage Structured Classification All trusted Sources Used

of Subjects of All Sections for Information
One & Only Score News in Focus Written in a Manner which is 20 Different Sections
Booster Easy to Remember Wide Coverage
Exam Oriented Available Online on Under Kapil Sir's Guidance

MCQs CROSSWORD App
CROSSWORD Magazine :
JUNE 2023 ISSUE
Design ©
225

CROSSWORD Current Affairs MAGAZINE JUNE 2023

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

CROSSWORD Current Affairs MAGAZINE JUNE 2023

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

ISSUE: JUNE 2023 By: KAPIL KATHPAL

CROSSWORD CURRENT AFFAIRS

from the Desk with untapped talents and gifts waiting to be

of Smriti Sethi are just waiting to be nurtured and unleashed

Take risks, step out of your comfort zones, and

Remember, the journey of learning is not a sprint

As we embark on this incredible adventure, I want

With great anticipation and enthusiasm

aspirants have been

Her Strategy & Motivational videos to

I was able to answer

Q. Out of all the subjects, how important do you feel Current

@iamkapilkathpal @kkathpal Studyniti Notebook Series (20000+ Practice Ques) FREE

Q. How important was Kapil Sir’s guidance and Studyniti

Kapil sir's explanation of the concepts of Banking awareness is fantastic. My

My preparation journey began in 2021 with the purchase of Studyniti's PDF

Q. What are the few mistakes students commit while

@iamkapilkathpal @kkathpal Studyniti Notebook Series (20000+ Practice Ques) FREE

Q. What would you advise the banking aspirants who wants

@iamkapilkathpal @kkathpal Studyniti Notebook Series (20000+ Practice Ques) FREE

Comptroller and Auditor General of India Girish

The board of directors of ICICI Bank has approved the

President of Türkiye for a third term

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was re-elected as the President

@iamkapilkathpal @kkathpal Studyniti Notebook Series (20000+ Practice Ques) FREE

Sachin Tendulkar named ‘Smile Parminder Chopra becomes first woman

Cricket Icon Sachin Tendulkar was named the ‘Smile

IAS officer Ajay Yadav appointed as Argentina’s Celeste Saulo appointed as

Ajay Yadav, an Indian Administrative (IAS) officer was

Dennis Francis of Trinidad and

Amarendu Prakash Takes Charge as SAIL

Dennis Francis, Trinidad and Tobago’s Ambassador to

@iamkapilkathpal @kkathpal Studyniti Notebook Series (20000+ Practice Ques) FREE

Air Marshal Rajesh Kumar Anand took over as the Air

P Upadhyay INAS takes over as

PESB Recommended Sanjay Swarup as the

K Prathapa Reddy took charge as the Chairman of

The board of members of Suzlon Energy has appointed

@iamkapilkathpal @kkathpal Studyniti Notebook Series (20000+ Practice Ques) FREE

Ritu Kalra named Harvard’s vice president

Committee of the Cabinet

Nitin Agarwal appointed as the New DG

RBI Approved Re-appointment of PN

The Ministry of Steel has given 3 months extension to

@iamkapilkathpal @kkathpal Studyniti Notebook Series (20000+ Practice Ques) FREE

FSIB has selected

Kuwait re-elects Ahmad Nawaf al-

Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah has been re-

Axis Bank appoints N. S. Vishwanathan Epson India signs Rashmika Mandanna as

Printer company Epson India has signed actor

Aalok Kumar appointed as ADB Bank’s Hasmukh Adhia appointed as Chairman of

Hasmukh Adhia, the Senior retired bureaucrat and

@iamkapilkathpal @kkathpal Studyniti Notebook Series (20000+ Practice Ques) FREE

Swaminathan Janakiraman, MD of SBI Petteri Orpo, NCP Party leader elected as

Parliament of Finland elected Petteri Orpo,

Committee of the Cabinet (ACC)

Catalin Predoiu, Justice Minister of

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, leader of Greece’s centre-right

@iamkapilkathpal @kkathpal Studyniti Notebook Series (20000+ Practice Ques) FREE

Jhulan Goswami, Heather Knight and

Jhulan Goswami, former Indian woman cricketer,

@iamkapilkathpal @kkathpal Studyniti Notebook Series (20000+ Practice Ques) FREE

@iamkapilkathpal @kkathpal Studyniti Notebook Series (20000+ Practice Ques) FREE