National News

1.Rajasthan CM launches Mukhya Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi

Chief Minister of Rajasthan Bhajan Lal Sharma has launched the state government’s Mukhya Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi at the Krishi Upaj Mandi in Tonk.
The chief minister released Rs 650 crore as the first installment to around 65 lakh farmers of the state. The eligible farmers of the state will receive the benefits under the state scheme along with the Rs 6000 per year paid by the central government under the PM-KISAN scheme.
The Cooperative Department, government of Rajasthan has been designated as the nodal department for the effective implementation of the Mukhya Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme.

About Mukhya Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi

It is an income support scheme launched by the state government to boost the income of the eligible farmers of the state.
Under the Mukhya Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi the eligible farmers will receive Rs 2000 per year.
They will receive money in three installments – Rs 1000, Rs 500 and Rs 500.
The amount will be directly transferred into the bank account of the eligible farmers.
Around 65 lakh farmers of the state are eligible under the Mukhya Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme.

2.Central government announces six months maternity leave even if mother is conceived through surrogacy

Under a significant amendment to the Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972, commissioning mothers who opt for surrogacy will now be entitled to 180 days of maternity leave.
This amendment will also allow commissioning mothers who have less than two surviving children to get child care leave, a major change from the previous 50-yearold rule. Under the amended rules, commissioning fathers have also been provided with 15 days of paternity leave.
This rule applies to both surrogate and commissioning mothers, if they are government employees.
Commissioning fathers who are male government employees with less than two surviving children will get 15 days of paternity leave within six months from the date of birth of the child.
Till now, there were no rules to grant maternity leave to female government employees in case of birth of a child through surrogacy.
The existing rules allow "a female government servant and a single male government servant" a maximum of 730 days of child care leave during the entire service "for the care of the two eldest surviving children, whether for upbringing or for attending to any of their needs, such as education, illness and the like".
The Personnel Ministry has clarified in the revised rules that "surrogate mother" shall mean a woman who gives birth to a child on behalf of the commissioning mother, and "commissioning father" shall mean the intending father of a child born through surrogacy. .

3.Tata named India's most valuable brand

The Tata Group has retained its position as India's most valuable brand in the latest rankings released by Brand Finance, with a valuation of US$ 28.6 billion, a 9% increase from the previous year.
Infosys is in second place with a brand value of $14.2 billion, and HDFC Group has moved up to third place after its merger with HDFC Ltd. Tata Group is now on the verge of becoming the first Indian brand to be valued near US$ 30 billion.
LIC Group, Reliance Industries, SBI Group, Airtel, HCL Tech, Larsen & Toubro, and Mahindra also feature in the top ten most valuable Indian brands, according to the Brand Finance India 100 2024 report.
Taj remains India’s strongest brand, with a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 92.9 out of 100 and an AAA+ rating. The telecom sector has experienced a 61% increase in brand value, including Jio, Airtel, and Vi.
The banking sector has reported a 26% growth, with State Bank of India being India’s second most valuable bank. While ICICI Bank has made a significant jump with a 33% increase in brand value, reaching $4.5 billion.
Westside is the fastest growing brand among Indian brands with a 122% increase in brand value, followed by Motherson with 86% and Sonata Software with 83%.
Hexaware is the fastest growing brand in the IT services sector with a 20% increase in brand value.
Raymond saw a 12% increase in brand value, making it to the top 10 of the strongest brands. Jetwerk debuted as a valued engineering brand at US$ 543 million.
IndiGo Airlines crossed the US$ 1 billion mark with a 26% increase in its brand value. New entrants like HMEL and SIAL HR also made a significant impact.

4.FATF includes India in 'regular follow-up' category

India has joined the group of UK, France, Italy and other G20 countries that have been granted the 'regular follow-up' category by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The decision was taken at the FATF plenary meeting held in Singapore on June 26-28, 2024.
“India’s performance on the FATF mutual assessment offers significant benefits to our growing economy, as it reflects the overall stability and integrity of the financial system,” the ministry said. Further, good ratings will lead to better access to global financial markets and institutions and enhance investor confidence.
The FATF places member countries in any of the four categories, namely ‘regular follow-up’, ‘enhanced follow-up’, ‘grey list’ and ‘black list’, with regular followup being the top-most category out of the 4.
Out of the 177 countries covered by FATF and its regional bodies (FSRB), only 24 countries including India are in regular follow-up. Even developed countries like the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, European countries like Germany, Finland, Denmark are in advanced follow-up. ‘Advanced follow-up’ is given to countries that have significant deficiencies.
The Group of Seven (G-7) established the FATF in 1989 at the Paris summit. India joined FATF in 2010 and India’s first assessment by FATF took place in 2010. Government of India’s efforts
The ministry said in a statement that being placed in the ‘Regular Follow-up’ category “marks a significant milestone in the nation’s efforts to combat money laundering (ML) and terrorist financing (TF).”
FATF has recognised the efforts made by India to mitigate risks arising from ML/TF, including corruption, fraud and laundering of proceeds from organised crime, and the effective measures implemented by India to transition from a cash-based to a digital economy to mitigate ML/TF risks.
“The implementation of the JAM (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobile) trinity along with stringent regulations on cash transactions has led to a significant increase in financial inclusion and digital transactions; these measures have made transactions more traceable, thereby reducing ML/TF risks and increasing financial inclusion.”

International News

5. Japan to launch world's first holography banknotes

The Japanese government will begin issuing new banknotes on July 3, 2024. This is the world's first use of cutting-edge holography that shows portraits of historical figures rotating in 3D.
This new technology will allow visually impaired people to feel and identify which banknote they have. Tactile markings for visually impaired people will also make them recognizable to touch.
About 7.5 billion new banknotes will have been printed by the end of March next year. Existing banknotes will remain valid even after the introduction of new banknotes.
In the first design change in 20 years, the 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen and 1,000 yen notes will have larger face value numerals printed on them than the current versions, so that everyone, regardless of their age and nationality, can easily recognize them.
Eiichi Shibusawa (1840-1931), known as the "father of Japanese capitalism" who helped establish nearly 500 companies, will feature on the 10,000 yen note, the reverse of which depicts the red-brick building of Tokyo Station.
The 5,000 yen note will feature educator Umeko Tsuda (1864-1929), who during her lifetime strove to elevate the status of women in society. Wisteria flowers, cherished in Japan since ancient times, will appear on the reverse.
The 1,000 yen note will feature microbiologist Shibasaburo Kitasato (1853-1931), known as the "father of modern Japanese medicine" for his contributions to the treatment of tetanus.
On the other side is "The Great Wave of Kanagawa", an artwork by Ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai, depicting large waves and Mount Fuji.
The combined photo shows holographic images of Japanese industrialist Eiichi Shibusawa, who will appear on the new 10,000 yen banknotes to be issued on July 3, at the National Printing Bureau Plant in Tokyo, on June 19, 2024.

6. UNESCO and K-pop group Seventeen launch “Going Together – For Youth Creativity and Well-Being” initiative

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay appointed 13 members of South Korean K-pop group Seventeen as UNESCO’s first Goodwill Ambassadors for Youth.
She announced the launch of “Going Together – For Youth Creativity and Well-Being”, an ambitious joint grant programme for youth projects around the world. Seventeen will contribute $1 million to fund the initiative. The group has become a symbol for millions of young people around the world, to whom we transmit positive energy and a spirit of leadership.
UNESCO and Seventeen’s global youth grant scheme will support youth-led initiatives around the world that address challenges affecting the well-being and development of young people and their communities, particularly through music, arts and sport.
As ambassadors, Seventeen will also participate in UNESCO awareness campaigns and events, and promote UNESCO's values and work during their performances. In November 2023, the group attended the 13th UNESCO Youth Forum, delivering speeches and performing their first live performance in France.
UNESCO has enabled hundreds of young people to participate in heritage restoration projects, the "L'Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science Young Talent" programme awards around 30 fellowships to young female researchers each year, while UNESCO's TransCultures programme, funded by the European Union, has supported 1,700 young artists and creative industry professionals in the Caribbean

7. India becomes first country in the world to compile a checklist of its entire fauna on ‘Checklist Portal’

● The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Shri Bhupender Yadav has said that India has become the first country in the world to compile a checklist of its entire fauna covering 104,561 species.

● Shri Yadav launched the ‘Checklist Portal’ on the occasion of the 109th Foundation Day of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) in Kolkata. Shri Yadav said that the Fauna of India portal is the first comprehensive document on faunal species reported from India.

● According to the checklist, about 455 mammalian species have been recorded in India. Of these, the highest number of species have been reported from Meghalaya (163 species), West Bengal (161), Arunachal Pradesh (142), Tamil Nadu (139), Assam (138), Sikkim (137) and Kerala (134).

● Among the Union Territories, Andaman and Nicobar Islands (68 species), Ladakh (59) and Delhi (38) have the highest mammalian diversity. Of the 52 mammal species endemic to India, Tamil Nadu (23 species), Karnataka (19) and Kerala (19) have a high presence.

● Three species namely Anathana, Latidens and Nilgiritragus are monotypic and found only in India. Salim Ali's fruit bat (Latidens salimalii) is a rare megabat species in the monotypic genus Latidens. The Madras treeshrew is from the Anathana genus.

● Of the 1,358 bird species present in India, 79 are endemic, which means they are found nowhere else in the world. The Western Ghats biogeographic region has the highest number of these species at 28, while the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are the next most important region for endemism.

● It contains 121 checklists of all known taxa covering 36 phyla. The list also includes endemic, threatened and scheduled species.

● Shri Yadav also released the prestigious publication ‘Animal Discoveries- 2023’ of ZSI which includes 641 new animal species and new records from India and ‘Plant Discoveries- 2023’ of Botanical Survey of India (BSI) which includes 339 new plant species and new records from the country, published by Indian scientists, faculty and researchers.

● The first ‘Barcode Atlas of Indian Fishes’ and the book ‘ROARCelebrating 50 Years of Project Tiger’ authored by Shiladitya Chaudhuri and Ketan Sengupta were also released. Flipkart launches UPI app ‘Super.Money’

● The Flipkart Group’s new Unified Payments Interface (UPI) app, Super.Money, has officially launched, marking a significant milestone more than a year after it was spun off from Walmart-backed fintech, PhonePe.

● Currently in beta mode, the app is initially available to only 100,000 users.

● A special feature of Super.Money is the promise of up to 5 percent “real cashback” on transactions. The app is designed to provide “credit with the speed of UPI” in partnership with Utkarsh Small Finance Bank.

● Additionally, Axis Bank and IndusInd Bank are listed as banking partners, adding reliability and credibility to the new app. Super.Money aims to offer a streamlined user experience (UX) and substantial rewards for each transaction.

State News

8. Maharashtra to launch 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Behen Yojana' to provide monthly assistance of ₹1,500 for women

In a move aimed at empowering women, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar announced the launch of the 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Behen' (CM my beloved sister) scheme.
The initiative, launched during the presentation of the state budget in the Maharashtra Assembly, will provide a monthly allowance of ₹1,500 to all women in the state between the ages of 21 and 60 from July 2024.
Ajit Pawar, who also holds the finance portfolio, presented the state budget during the ongoing monsoon session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. The session, which began on June 28, will continue till July 12, which will be the last legislative session before the state assembly elections later this year.
The Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government has taken several initiatives aimed at supporting women and girls. In 2023, the state budget included the 'Lek Ladki' scheme, designed to encourage families with yellow and orange ration cards to educate their daughters.
Additionally, the 2023-24 budget announced a 50% travel concession for women in state transport buses. In March 2024, the Shinde government unveiled its fourth women's policy, focusing on eight key objectives: health, education, eliminating gender-based violence, and encouraging political participation among women. Sujata Saunik - Maharashtra's first woman chief secretary
1987 batch IAS officer Sujata Saunik broke a 64-year-old tradition in Maharashtra, taking over as the state's first woman chief secretary. Saunik takes over from her predecessor Nitin Kareer.
Saunik began her career as an assistant collector in Aurangabad and later served as collector of Jalgaon and municipal commissioner of Nashik.

Appointment

9. Srinivasulu Shetty elected as new SBI chairman

The Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) has selected Challa Srinivasulu Shetty as the next chairman of State Bank of India (SBI). Ashwini Tewari and Vinay Tonse were the other two candidates for the post.
Shetty will replace current chairman Dinesh Khara. Shetty will join as the 27th chairman of SBI. Currently, Shetty is the most senior managing director and has served 35 years in the bank.
He was appointed as managing director in 2020, and is the head of international banking, global markets and technology at SBI. The FSIB is headed by Bhanu Pratap Sharma, former secretary of the Department of Personnel and Training, while a deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India is its member.

10. Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) - Ravi Agrawal

Ravi Agrawal, a 1988 batch IRS officer, has been appointed as the new chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the administrative body of the Income Tax Department. He replaced Nitin Gupta, a 1986 batch Indian Revenue Service officer, whose extended term as chairman ended on June 30. The CBDT is headed by a chairman and may have up to six members in the rank of special secretary.
The Revenue Department exercises supervision, supervision and administration in respect of matters relating to all direct and indirect Union taxes through two statutory boards, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).

11. Ravi Agrawal appointed as Chairman of CBDT

Ravi Agrawal, a 1988-batch IRS officer, has been appointed as the new chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the administrative body for the Income Tax Department.
He takes over from Nitin Gupta, a 1986-batch Indian Revenue Service officer, whose extended tenure as the chairman ended on June 30.
Agrawal’s appointment extends till June 2025, with a reappointment on a contract basis to ensure continuity in CBDT’s policy framework.
Gupta was appointed as the CBDT chief in June, 2022. He was scheduled to retire in September last year but was given a nine-month extension till June.
The new CBDT chief is currently working as member (administration) in the board.

Recent Appointment

Director in Department of Consumer Affairs – Mrinal Kumar Das
President of the Professional Golf Tour of India – Kapil Dev
VP of India Bullion Jewellers Association – Aksha Mohit Kamboj
Director in the Department of Consumer Affairs – Mrinal Kumar Das
Secretary of TRAI – Atul Kumar Chaudhary (replace V Raghunandan)

12 Rushabh Gandhi appointed as MD & CEO of IndiaFirst Life Insurance

IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company Limited has named Rushabh Gandhi as its new Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective 1 July.
Gandhi, previously the Deputy CEO, succeeds Vishakha R.M. who superannuated on June 30, 2024, after nine years of service.
Gandhi, with nearly three decades of experience in the BFSI industry, expressed his honor to lead the organization and committed to achieving the vision of making IndiaFirst Life the most preferred insurer for every Indian.

Recent Appointment in Banking & Insurance Sector

MD & CEO of SBI General Insurance – Naveen Chandra Jha (replace Kishore Kumar Poludasu)
MD & CEO for Aditya Birla Sun Life Asset Mgmt Company – A Balasubramanian (reappointment for 3 years)
Chairperson of Sa-Dhan – Paul Thomas
CMD of New India Assurance Company – Girija Subramanian
Non-executive Independent Director of Paytm – Neeraj Arora

Sports

13. Former world chess champion V Anand wins Leon Masters for 10th time

Former world chess champion Viswanathan Anand of India has won the Leon Master chess championship for the 10th time .
He defeated Jaime Santos Latasa of Spain in the final 3-1 played at Leon in Spain to win the 2024 Leon Masters.
Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand has previously won the Leon Masters in 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2016, and 2024.
The Leon Masters chess tournament is held in the Leon city of Spain. The tournament features four players.
Apart from Viswanathan Anand, other players participating in the tournament were world number four ranked Arjun Erigaise of India, Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria and Jaime Santos Latasa of Spain.

Books

14. PM Modi releases three books on Life and Journey of Venkaiah Naidu

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has released three books on the life and journey of former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on his 75th birthday via video conferencing.
The prime minister expressed his happiness in releasing the biography “Venkaiah Naidu – Life in Service” authored by S Nagesh Kumar, former Resident Editor of The Hindu, Hyderabad edition.
The two other books released by PM Modi include “Celebrating Bharat – The Mission and Message of M Venkaiah Naidu as 13th Vice-President of India”, a Photo chronicle compiled by I.V. Subba Rao, former secretary to the Vice-President of India, and a pictorial biography in Telugu titled “Mahaneta – Life and Journey of M. Venkaiah Naidu” authored by Sanjay Kishore.
These books will become a source of inspiration for the people while also illuminating the correct path to serving the nation.

Important day

15. 1 July – National Postal Worker Day

National Postal Worker Day is observed every year on 1 July.
It is commemorated to recognize the contributions of all individuals within the postal service, from clerks and drivers transporting letters to distant locations, to delivery partners.
National Postal Worker Day originated in 1997 when a postal carrier in the Seattle area initiated a tribute to colleagues. Since then, July 1 has been set aside each year to celebrate and express gratitude for postal workers in the postal services.
In the United States, nearly 490,000 postal workers cover an average of 4–8 miles daily to deliver letters and packages. They persevere regardless of weather or conditions to ensure efficient mail delivery

Important Day

16. Goods and Services Tax Day 2024 celebrated on July 1

GST Day is celebrated on July 1 every year. 2024 marks the seventh anniversary of the GST system. The concept of GST was first introduced in India in the early 2000s. The Kelkar Task Force, a dedicated team of experts, proposed a comprehensive indirect tax system to replace the existing structure that was hampering the country's economic growth.
In August 2016, a significant milestone was achieved when Parliament enacted the Constitution (101st Amendment) Act. GST was finally implemented on July 1, 2017.
GST Day was first celebrated on July 1, 2018. The Indian GST system has five tax slabs: 0%, 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is often referred to as the Father of GST in India.

CA Day 2024: July 1

CA Day is celebrated every year on July 1 to commemorate the founding of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). Established in 1949 by the Parliament of India, the ICAI is the second largest accounting and statutory body in the world. It honors the establishment of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) in 1949.

National Doctors Day 2024 – July 1

National Doctors Day in India is celebrated every year on July 1. The day was established to commemorate the birth and death anniversary of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, the famous physician and the second Chief Minister of West Bengal. The Government of India officially recognized the day in 1991. The theme chosen for the celebration of National Doctors Day in 2024 is "Healing Hands, Caring Hearts".

June 30 – International Day of Parliamentarism 2024

The International Day of Parliamentarism is celebrated annually on June 30. The theme for the year 2024 is - “Parliamentary Diplomacy: Building Bridges to Peace and Reconciliation”.
The International Day of Parliamentarism is celebrated every year on 30 June, the day the IPU was founded in 1889. The day was established in 2018 through a United Nations General Assembly resolution.

30 June - 'National Hool Day'

'Hool Day' is celebrated every year on 30 June. The day is associated with the courage of Veer Sidhu and Kanhu, who opposed the atrocities of the British rulers. Veer Sidhu and Kanhu united thousands of Santhal people to fight against the British in Santhal Pargana, Jharkhand in 1855.

Obituary

17. Former Indian midfielder Bhupinder Singh Rawat passes away

Former India midfielder Bhupinder Singh Rawat passed away at the age of 85.
A darling of the crowd for his speed and ability to cut through the rival defence despite his diminutive figure, Rawat was nicknamed “Scooter” by the fans.
Bhupinder Singh Rawat was a classy winger and also a prolific scorer, who served the game with distinction.
A speedy winger of the 1960s and 1970s, Rawat was part of the Indian team that finished seventh in the Merdeka Cup with a win over Western Australia in a classification match.

Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 2nd July 2024