1. For the First time, India opens water clinic for Elephants in Mathura
Now, in a jumbo attempt to preserve elephants, Wildlife SOS has launched India's first and fully equipped hospital dedicated to elephants in collaboration with Uttar Pradesh Forest Department. India is home to 50-60 percent of all the elephants in Asia. Thus, the country is of paramount importance for the survival of the species. However, elephants in India are facing a variety of problems, with respect to habitat loss, use in the entertainment industry, lack of medical facilities. Poaching is the other very serious threat.
2. Union Government Restored ‘ration in kind’ to military officers in peace areas
The government has restored the provision of 'ration in kind' to military officers in peace areas, a defense official said on Tuesday. Sources said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had personally intervened and cleared the proposal. The welfare of the armed forces have been one of the top priorities of Singh and he has very clearly conveyed it to the senior officials of the Defence Ministry, sources added. "The government has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Defence for the restoration of the 'ration in kind' to the defense officers posted in peace areas," a defense official said.
3. 20th Meeting of the FSDC chaired by Nirmala Sitharaman held in New Delhi
The 20th Meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) was held here today under the Chairmanship of the Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman. The Meeting reviewed the current global and domestic economic situation and financial stability issues including, inter-alia, those concerning Banking and NBFCs. The Council was also apprised of the progress made towards setting-up of the Financial Data Management Centre (FDMC) to facilitate integrated data aggregation and analysis as also a Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-Fin) towards strengthening the cybersecurity framework for the financial sector.
4. India ranked 20th among the top capital importing countries by Knight Frank
Capital investment in commercial real estate by Indian investors in overseas markets soared by 92 percent to $700 million (around 4,893 crores) between the first quarter of 2018 and the first quarter of this year, a report said. Investors tapped the overseas market to diversify risk and increase their returns, the report by global property consultant Knight Frank said. The UK, the Netherlands, Germany, the US, and Australia were the top destinations for Indian capital investments.
5. India’s data usage per smartphone is the highest in the world at 9.8GB per month
A report by Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson says the usage will double to 18GB by 2024, fuelled by rich video content. Mobile data traffic per month will grow at a CAGR of 23% from 4.6 exabytes in 2018 to 16 exabytes in 2024, says the report. India has the world’s highest data usage per smartphone at an average of 9.8GB per month, a new report by Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson said, adding this will double to 18GB by 2024, fuelled by rich video content. North East Asia comes second with 7.1GB per month while West Asia and Africa region is the lowest at 3GB per month, the report for the year 2018 said.
6. Indian Navy executes Operation Sankalp in the Gulf of Oman to undertake maritime security
Indian Navy has deployed, in the Gulf of Oman, to re-assure Indian Flagged Vessels operating/ transiting through the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman following the maritime security incidents in the region. IN Ships Chennai and Sunayna have been deployed in the Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf to undertake Maritime Security operations. In addition, aerial surveillance by IN aircraft is also being undertaken in the area. The Information Fusion Centre - Indian Ocean Region which was launched by the IN in December 2018 at Gurugram, is also keeping a close watch on the movement of ships in the Gulf region.
7. Max Life Insurance launched ‘Max Life Smart Term Plan’
Smart Term Plan is a customizable term plan that offers comprehensive protection against critical illness, disability, and death. This term plan provides 360-degree financial protection to your family in your absence. Get the return of premium upon surviving the policy term under the base policy. Comprehensive protection against 40 critical illnesses, including kidney failure, heart attack, and cancer. Limited premium payment options such as limited pay, regular pay and pay till 60.
8. IDBI Bank and Tata AIG Signed Bancassurance Corporate Agency Agreement
Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) has signed a bancassurance agreement with Tata AIG General Insurance Company Ltd to provide the general insurer’s products to the bank’s two crore customers through its 1,850-plus branches. The product portfolio comprises Tata AIG’s flagship Health product – ‘Medicare’, Motor Insurance, Personal Accident cover, Home content, Critical Illness, Group Medicare, SME Insurance, Locker Insurance, Travel Insurance, etc. IDBI Bank has a strong presence in rural and semi-urban areas, and through this partnership, its customers will be able to take advantage of Tata AIG’s acumen of risk understanding.
9. Flipkart revamps MSME seller financing program ‘Growth Capital’
E-com player Flipkart has revamped its seller financing program, Growth Capital, that is aimed at enabling financial inclusion and independence for MSMEs who operate online. The new changes will allow over one lakh sellers on Flipkart platform to avail credit at competitive interest rates from 10 NBFCs and banks, with an approval and disbursal time of 24 and 48 hours respectively.
10. NHB issued stricter norms on HFCs’ capital adequacy ratios
The US overtook China to once again become India's top goods trading partner in 2018-19, official data shows. Also, India’s trade surplus with the US declined to $16.8 billion from $21.2 billion a year ago. India’s exports are playing in a stronger position with its trade deficit with China dropping to $53 billion in 2018-19, down from $63 billion a year ago. The National Housing Bank (NHB) has tightened its rules on leverage and capital adequacy ratio for housing finance companies (HFCs). The regulator now mandates HFCs to bring down their total borrowings in a phased manner to not more than 12 times their net-owned funds as on 31 March 2022, compared to the existing 16 times. LIC Housing Finance is the only HFC to have the highest leverage ratio of 14 times of NOF.
11. The US overtook China as India’s largest goods trading partner in 2018-19
India’s trade surplus with the US declined to $16.8 billion from $21.2 billion a year ago. India’s exports are playing in a stronger position with its trade deficit with China dropping to $53 billion in 2018-19, down from $63 billion a year ago. The US overtook China to once again become India's top goods trading partner in 2018-19, official data shows. Also, India’s trade surplus with the US declined to $16.8 billion from $21.2 billion a year ago. India’s exports are playing in a stronger position with its trade deficit with China dropping to $53 billion in 2018-19, down from $63 billion a year ago.
12. DBS Bank revised India’s GDP forecast for FY20 to 6.8% from 7%
'Growth headwinds swiftly turn attention to the likely policy response. We expect monetary policy to do much of the heavy lifting, given limited fiscal leeway' DBS Bank has revised India's GDP growth for the fiscal year 2020 downwards to 6.8 percent year-on-year (YoY) from 7 percent projected earlier, citing headwinds for exports amidst challenging trade outlook. Growth headwinds swiftly turn attention to the likely policy response. We expect monetary policy to do much of the heavy lifting, given limited fiscal leeway, the bank in its report on the Indian economy on Thursday.
13. SEBI sets up a working group headed by NSE Clearing Ltd to review margins on derivatives
Based on the feedback that the existing margin requirements in the derivatives segment are pushing up the cost of trading while not managing risk in the most efficient manner, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has decided to review the current framework of margins in the futures and options segment. The capital markets regulator has set up a working group, headed by NSE Clearing Ltd., to look into the issue and submit its recommendations to the Secondary Market Advisory Committee.
14. Kolhapuri chappal gets GI (Geographical Indications) tag
Maharashtra's extremely popular footwear brand Kolhapuri chappal has been given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, which is likely to further boost its sale in other parts of the country and abroad. According to reports, the approval for the GI tag for the popular footwear brand has been jointly granted to four districts of Karnataka and Maharashtra each for making these chappals.
15. Scientists develop cancer cell detection ‘dots’ from coal in Assam
A team of scientists in Assam has developed a chemical process that turns ‘dirty’ coal into a biomedical ‘dot’ to help detect cancer cells. The team, led by Binoy Kumar Saikia and Tonkeswar Das, has applied for a patent for their chemical method of producing carbon quantum dots (CQDs) from cheap, abundant, low-quality and high-sulfur coals. CQDs are carbon-based nanomaterials whose size is less than 10 nm, or nanometre. “Carbon-based nanomaterials are used as diagnostic tools for bio-imaging, especially in detecting cancer cells, for chemical sensing and in optoelectronics. A few chemical companies in the U.S. and Japan have been manufacturing CQDs. What we have done is develop fluorescent carbon nanomaterials at one-twentieth the cost of imported CQDs,” Mr. Saikia told The Hindu on Wednesday.
16. International Day of Yoga 2019 observed on June 21
Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India. The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness. Today it is practiced in various forms around the world and continues to grow in popularity. Recognizing its universal appeal, on 11 December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga by resolution 69/131. The International Day of Yoga aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga.
17. World Music Day celebrated on June 21, 2019
World Music Day 2019 or International Music Day 2019 is observed on June 21. The theme of World Music Day 2019 is very special. Vh1 India and MTV Beats are hosting special events today via Facebook live. Read on for complete details. World Music Day 2019 or International Music Day 2019 (also known as Fête de la Musique in French) is observed today (June 21). Let alone Music Day, this day is also observed as International Yoga Day.
18. Summer Solstice day was observed on 21st June 2019
Summer Solstice is observed today (21st June 2019). It is the longest day of the year in India. Google.com marks the beginning of Summer Season with a doodle. This day is also celebrated as International Yoga Day World Music Day, but do you know the scientific reason behind Summer Solstice? Check complete details from here. Summer Solstice will be observed on 21 June 2019 & it will be the day with the longest period of daylight in India. Google Doodle marks the beginning of Summer Season, today. Many of us already know the scientific reason but those who don’t know, here is the complete explanation why June 21 is known as Summer Solstice, often known as the longest day of the year in India.
