1. Cabinet Approvals on June 12, 2019
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the proposal for Grant of Organized Group ‘A’ Service (OGAS) to Group ‘A’ Executive Cadre Officers of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and extension of the benefit of Non-Functional Financial Upgradation (NFFU) and Non-Functional Selection Grade (NFSG). This would result in the grant of NFFU to eligible Group ‘A’ Executive Cadre Officers of CAPF, and The decision would also benefit Group ‘A’ Executive Cadre Officers of CAPF for availing the benefit of NFSG at an enhanced rate of 30% as per guidelines.
2. Cabinet Approval with Foreign Countries on June 12, 2019
The Centre has amended a 60-year-old rule to grant a three-month extension to Cabinet Secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha. A cabinet secretary is appointed for a fixed tenure of two years. According to All India Services (Death-Cum-Retirement-Benefits) Rules, 1958, the government can give extension in service to a cabinet secretary provided the total tenure does not exceed four years. As per the modified rules notified Friday, the central government may give an extension in service for a further period not exceeding three months, beyond the period of four years to a cabinet secretary.
3. Farmer's contribution to be Rs 100 per month to PM-Kisan Pension Yojana
Farmers will have to contribute Rs 100 per month under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Pension Yojana that seeks to provide a minimum fixed monthly pension of Rs 3,000 on the attainment of 60 years, according to the government. The central government will also contribute an equal amount to the pension fund to be managed by the LIC, which will be responsible for the pension payout, it said.
4. The government reduced the ESI contribution rate to 4% from 6.5%
The Government of India has taken a historic decision to reduce the rate of contribution under the ESI Act from 6.5% to 4%(employers’ contribution being reduced from 4.75% to 3.25% and employees’ contribution being reduced from 1.75% to 0.75%). Reduced rates will be effective from 01.07.2019. This would benefit 3.6 crore employees and 12.85 lakh, employees.
5. 16th Asia Media Summit held in Siem Reap Province, Cambodia
The 16th Asia media summit that kicked-off in Cambodia today is deliberating on many issues pertaining to the media and broadcasting industry. In one of the sessions in which Ministers of Information from Cambodia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Samoa participated, the plenary discussed on the current situations in developing markets as to adapt to the new technological possibilities. The Ministers also presented the digital trends in the broadcasting sector in their respective countries.
6. India ranked 141 in the global peace index, Iceland remains Peaceful
Afghanistan is now the least peaceful country in the world, replacing Syria. In South Asia, Bhutan topped the index with 15th rank, followed by Sri Lanka 72. India's rank has slipped five places to 141 among 163 countries on the Global Peace Index 2019, while Iceland remains the most peaceful country and Afghanistan the least peaceful nation, says a report.
7. ZestMoney in partnership with Digit Insurance to offer EMI insurance
India's largest and fastest growing consumer lending technology company, ZestMoney, today announced a partnership with Digit Insurance to offer EMI insurance to the company's five million customers. The partnership integrates the digital capability of ZestMoney to provide EMI for everyone and insurance by Digit to relieve its customers of debt in case of unforeseen circumstances.
8. Exim Bank signed $245 million loan agreement with Ghana & Mozambique for agricultural and railway projects
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) will provide a line of credit worth USD 245 million to Ghana and Mozambique for agricultural and railway projects. Exim Bank supported line of credit of USD 150 million to Ghana and USD 95 million to Mozambique, the Reserve Bank of India said in two separate notifications Thursday. The USD 150 million for Ghana will be used for financing strengthening of agriculture mechanization services centers, while a line of credit for Mozambique will be used for financing procurement of railway rolling stock including locomotives, coaches and wagons, the RBI said.
9. FDI in India grew by 6% to $ 42 billion in 2018: UNCTAD
The World Investment Report 2019 said global FDI flows slid by 13% in 2018 to $1.3 trillion from $1.5 trillion the previous year – the third consecutive annual decline. India slipped a rank to end at tenth place in the latest ranking of top foreign direct investment receiving countries for the year 2018, according to the latest edition of the World Investment Report of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). According to the report released on Wednesday, India received $42 billion in FDI in 2018, a growth of 6%.
10. Dell tops the list of the most trusted brand in India, while Amazon is the most trusted Internet Brand: TRA Research 2019
Dell climbed five ranks over the previous year to grab the top spot and also introduced the laptop category in the report. Auto brand Jeep ranked second, followed by LIC, Amazon, and iPhone: TRA Research. Dell has emerged as the most trusted brand in India in 2019, according to a report released by brand analytics firm TRA Research.
