India’s largest power utility, NTPC Ltd, has become a signatory of UN Global Compact’s CEO Water Mandate.
It is a UN Global Compact initiative which demonstrate commitment and efforts of companies to enhance their water and sanitation agendas in line with Sustainable Development Goals. It has been designed to assist companies in developing, implementing and disclosing comprehensive water strategies and policies. It provides a platform for companies to link with like-minded businesses, public authorities, UN agencies, civil society organizations etc.
This Indian government owned electricity board was formerly called as National Thermal Power Corporation Limited. It is engaged in business of generation of electricity and allied activities. NTPC was incorporated under Companies Act 1956 and is working under Ministry of Power. Headquarters of NTPC is located at New Delhi. Apart from electricity generation, it also undertakes consultancy & turnkey project contracts involving engineering, construction management, project management and operation & management of power plants.
Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, RK Mathur, launched the YounTab scheme for students. Under the scheme, about 12,300 tablets were distributed among them in Leh.
It is an initiative of Department of School Education. It was launched with the technical support of Information Technology Department. Under the scheme, 12,300 tablets with preloaded online and offline content like textbooks, video lectures and online class applications would be distributed among students from Class 6th to 12th in government schools. Scheme was launched as an attempt for long term technology infusion in education system.
This Union Territory is administered by India and is a part of larger Kashmir region, which is dispute between India, Pakistan, and China since 1947. Ladakh was established as separate UT on October 31, 2019 after Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act was passed. It is bordered by Tibet Autonomous Region in east, Himachal Pradesh in south, Jammu & Kashmir in west, and Xinjiang across the Karakoram Pass in north. It extends from Siachen Glacier in Karakoram range to Great Himalayas from north to south. Its eastern part comprising of uninhabited Aksai Chin plains is under Chinese control since 1962. Largest town in Ladakh is Leh followed by Kargil. Leh district comprise of Shyok, Indus and Nubra river valleys. While Kargil district comprises of Dras, Suru and Zanskar river valleys. It is the 2nd least populated UT in India.
Parliament of Denmark has approved plans for an artificial island which will house 35,000 people and help in protecting port of Copenhagen from rising sea levels.
This giant island would have an area of 1 sq mile and would be connected to mainland through ring road, tunnels and metro line. Plans include construction of a dam system across its perimeter. This dam will help in protecting the harbour from rising sea levels and storms.
Construction of island is facing opposition from environmentalists and it will have adverse effect on environment. Construction of island will lead to transportation of materials by road through large numbers of vehicles. About 350 lorry journeys will be required in a day through Copenhagen once the construction has started. Thus, environmentalists are raising concerns over moment of sediments at sea and is impact on ecosystem and environment. Following this, a case against the development of Lynette Holm has been filed before European Court of Justice by environmental groups.
Copenhagen is the capital city as well as most populous city of Denmark. City is situated on eastern coast of island of Zealand. Another portion of city is located on Amager which is separated from Malmo in Sweden by strait of Oresund. Oresund Bridge connects both the cities by rail and road.
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in collaboration with Microsoft to introduce coding and data science in school curriculum.
Both of these skilling subjects focuses on building critical thinking, computational skills, creativity, problem-solving skills and hands-on exposure to new technologies. Subjects will be launched in line with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Microsoft has designed supplementary handbooks for coding as well as data science in line with the NCERT patterns and structures. Books cover real-life examples with the aim of building exposure to ethical dimensions exposure to Microsoft MakeCode.
It is an open-source platform that can enable students to learn better in a gamified manner. It will cover students of all disciplines like languages, mathematics and social sciences. Apart from this, it will also build foundation for AI-based applications of data science.
An interdisciplinary field which uses scientific methods, algorithms, processes, and systems in order to extract knowledge and insights from structured and unstructured data. It then applies knowledge and actionable insights in broad range of application domains. Data mining, machine learning and big data are part of data science.
As per Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Centre, Indonesia’s Merapi volcano erupted four times with lava spreading to 1,500 metres from crater.
Merapi is considered as Indonesia’s most active volcano. It erupted four times and experienced 43 avalanche earthquakes. Mountain was belching thick white smokes as high as 50 meters above the mountain’s peak.
In Indonesian and Javanese language, Merapi means fire mountain. It is an active stratovolcano located on border of Central Java and Yogyakarta in Indonesia. The most active volcano, has erupted regularly since 1548. It is located near Yogyakarta city with population of 2.4 million. Several people live in villages on flanks of volcano as high as 1,700 metres which result into fatalities. It has been designated as one of Decade Volcanoes.
This province of Indonesia is located in middle of Java Island. Its administrative capital is Semarang. It is surrounded by West Java, Indian Ocean, Special Region of Yogyakarta, East Java and Java Sea. It is the third-most populous province in Java as well as in Indonesia after West Java and East Java.
It is a provincial-level autonomous region of Indonesia in south Java. It is bordered by Indian Ocean and share border with Central Java. Province is ruled by Yogyakarta Sultanate. Thus, it is an officially recognized monarchy within government of Indonesia. It a popular tourist destination and cultural centre.
Film Division is organising an online festival on environment called “Oasis of hope” on the occasion of World Environment Day 2021.
Oasis of hope festival will be organised on 5th and 6th June 2021 to mark he importance of world environment day (WED). It will celebrate the spirit of key words of WED namely, “REIMAGINE, RECREATE, RESTORE”. This 2-day festival will showcase films giving strong message on reviving environment and reimagining nature’s co-existence. It will also suggest several ways to restore inseparable relationship of human being and nature. Streaming will be done on Films Division website and Youtube channel.
Films under ‘green package’ include:
Kerala government has launched ‘Knowledge Economy Mission’ to boost job prospects in the state by supporting knowledge workers.
Initiative was announced in State Budget on June 4. It was being spearheaded by Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC) and they will submit a comprehensive project report before July 15.
Project will be launched to bring ongoing efforts of providing employment to educated people and support ‘knowledge workers’ under a single programme. A plan will be made to provide basic facilities and social security system for knowledge workers who are working close to their homes and interacting with employers. For implementation and funding purposes, ‘knowledge economy fund’ will be created. In order to promote skills & strengthen higher education system and for technological transformation, knowledge economy fund was hiked from ₹200 crore to ₹300 crore.
Kerala Digital Workforce Management System was set up by APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University. It has registered over 27,000 job aspirants so far. This system is a sub-mission of Kudumbasree Mission. It provides training to workers and executives of K-DISC and Additional Skill Acquisition Programme (ASAP).
Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has cleared a mega project to build six conventional submarines for Indian Navy. Decision was taken at DAC meeting chaired by Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh.
This project is one of the largest ‘Make in India’ projects. It will facilitate faster and more significant absorption of technology and help in creating a tiered industrial ecosystem for submarine construction. Apart from that, current dependence on imports will be reduced as this project will ensure greater self-reliance and dependability of supplies from indigenous sources.
DAC is highest decision-making body in Defence Ministry that decides on new policies and capital acquisitions for Army, Navy and Air Force as well as Indian Coast Guard. Defence Minister is the Chairman of Council. DAC was formed in 2001 following the recommendations of Group of Ministers on “Reforming National Security System” after Kargil War of 1999. It is the highest decision-making body on procurement in defence ministry.
World Environment Day (WED) is being observed on June 5 under the theme “Ecosystem Restoration”. It will be hosted by Pakistan.
Amid the ongoing covid-19 pandemic, which the world has been fighting for 1.5 years, WED has become more significant. Pandemic has shown how disastrous ecosystem loss can be. As the area of natural habitat for animal is shrinking pathogens like coronavirus are easily spreading. Thus, only healthy ecosystems can enhance livelihoods, counter climate change and stop collapse of biodiversity.
On the occasion of WED, UN kicked off “UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030)”, which is a global mission to revive billions of hectares of forests, farmlands, mountains ecosystem and marine ecosystem.
WED is celebrated on June 5 each year to encourage awareness and environmental protection. As United Nations says, this day provides us an opportunity to broaden basis for enlightened opinion and responsible conduct by individuals, communities and enterprises to preserve and enhance the environment. It is celebrated by engaging governments, celebrities, businesses, and citizens shift their focus on eradicating environmental issue.
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has increased overseas investment limit for local mutual funds.
It is an open-end professionally managed investment fund that attracts money from many investors to purchase securities. Both retail or institutional investors can invest in mutual funds. Benefits of mutual funds include economies of scale, liquidity, diversification, and professional management. However, these benefits come with fees and expenses. Primary structures of mutual funds are open-end funds, closed-end funds, unit investment trusts and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
ETF is a type of investment fund and exchange-traded product. They are similar to mutual funds. The only difference is, ETFs are bought & sold throughout a day while mutual funds are sold & bought on price basis at the end of specific day. ETF holds assets like currencies, stocks, bonds & currencies and commodities like gold bars.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR) got patent for black pepper micronutrient foliar formulation for which it had submitted application in 2013.
ICAR-IISR developed crop designer micronutrient foliar formulations for major spices like black pepper, turmeric, ginger and cardamom in a bid to overcome micronutrient deficiencies. It also seeks to meet physiological and metabolic requirements of spice crops.
Black pepper-specific micronutrient formulation was developed by a team comprising of three scientists- Dr. V. Srinivasan, Dr. S. Hamza and Dr. R. Dinesh. Micronutrient mixture of black pepper improves quality of produce. It is environment-friendly and is already popular among farmers.
Micronutrient mixture for black pepper was designed to fulfil requirements of black pepper crop by maintaining optimal ratio of secondary micronutrients such as zinc, magnesium and boron in leaf. This method is recommended for black pepper as a foliar spray during spike initiation as the monsoon begins. Application of black pepper micronutrient mixture enhances quality of produce and contributes to health of vines.
World Sustainable Development Summit was organised on June 4, on the eve of World Environment Day. Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar, addressed the summit and underlined the importance of water conservation by adopting conservation technologies and changing water use habits.’
World Sustainable Development Summit 2021 was held under theme “Redefining our common future: Safe & Secure Environment for All”.
According to the minister, availability of water is continuously declining and agriculture sector alone consumes 85 percent of available water. Thus, water conservation methods should be used in Agriculture to manage available water resources efficiently.
World Sustainable Development Summit is annual flagship event organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). Summit brings together political leaders, Nobel laureates, decision-makers from bilateral & multilateral institutions, scientists & researchers and media personnel to discuss issues related to sustainable development.
World Sustainable Development Summit aims to provide long-term solutions to benefit of global community by assembling different stakeholders on single platform.
World environment day is celebrated on June 5. It is a flagship day of United Nations to promote worldwide awareness and action on environment. This year, Pakistan is hosting the world environment day in partnership with UN Environment Programme (UNEP) under the theme ‘ecosystem restoration’.
SpaceX has again launched its 22nd resupply services mission called SpaceX CRS 22, using cargo Dragon 2 capsule, to International Space station (ISS).
This is the second mission under new CRS contract of SpaceX with NASA and fifth capsule in last 12 months which SpaceX sent to ISS. 22nd launch is also the first launch of 2021 on new Falcon 9 rocket booster. Falcon 9 Rocket launch vehicle is carrying 7,300 pounds of research materials, supplies, hardware and new solar arrays. It is also carrying a number of research experiments which will be conducted on ISS. It is carrying a oral bacteria to test germ growth with Colgate toothpaste.
It is also known as Dragon 1 or Cargo Dragon. SpaceX has developed this class of reusable cargo spacecraft. It was launched into orbit by Falcon 9 launch vehicle of SpaceX to resupply International Space Station (ISS). It was first launched in 2010 as the first successful commercially built and operated spacecraft. In 2012, a cargo variant of Dragon became first commercial spacecraft to successfully engage with and attach to ISS. SpaceX contracted with NASA’s commercial resupply program to deliver cargo to ISS and dragon started its regular cargo flights in October 2012.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Unveiled its bi-monthly monetary policy and has kept the interest rates unchanged.
Reports were kept unchanged because, in current situation, policy support from all sides is required to regain momentum of growth and to nurture recovery.
MPC fixes benchmark interest rate in India. Meetings of MPC are held at least 4 times a year or at least once BIMONTHLY and it publishes its decisions after each meeting.
MPC has six members- three officials from Reserve Bank of India and three external members who are nominated by Government of India. Governor of the RBI is chairperson ex officio of committee.
Members of the MPC are required to observe a “silent period” seven days before and after its rate decision to maintain confidentiality.
Decisions of MPC are taken by majority where Governor can put his casting vote in case of tie.
It is Government Security Acquisition Programme 1.0 announced by RBI for orderly evolution of yield curve in Financial Year 2022. Under it, RBI will purchase government bonds of worth Rs 1 trillion. It provides more comfort to bond market and reduces spread between repo rate and ten-year government bond yield. It is similar to an OMO calendar.