Government of Tamil Nadu

Department of Employment and Training

Course : Competitive Exam

Subject : Current Affairs

Medium : Current Affairs – J u n e ( English)

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 1
June - 2023
1. HISTORY

1.1. IMPORTANT DAYS

Date Day Theme/Remark

June 1 World Milk Day Showcasing how dairy is

reducing its environmental
footprint, while also providing
nutritious foods and livelihoods.
June 2 Telangana Formation 10th Anniversary
Day

June 5 World Environment Day Solutions to plastic pollution

June 7 World Food Safety Day Food standards save lives

June 8 World Oceans Day Planet Ocean: Tides are

Changing

June 12 World Day Against Social Justice for All. End Child
Child Labour Labour!

June 14 World Blood Donor Day Give blood, give plasma, share
life, share often.
June 15 World Elder Abuse Closing the Circle: Addressing
Awareness Day Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in
Older Age Policy, Law and
Evidence-based Responses
June 19 World Sickle Cell Day Building and strengthening
Global Sickle Cell Communities,
Formalizing New-born
Screening and Knowing your
Sickle Cell Disease Status
June 20 World Refugee Day Hope Away from Home

June 21 International Yoga Day Yoga for Vasudhaiva

Kutumbakam
 2
June - 2023
Date Day Theme/Remark

June 23 World Olympic Day Let's Move

June 26 International Day People first: Stop stigma and

Against Drug Abuse discrimination, strengthen
and Illicit Trafficking prevention
June 27 World MSME Day Future-ready MSMEs for
India@100.

June 29 National Statistics Day Alignment of State Indicator

Framework with National
Indicator Framework for
Monitoring Sustainable
Development Goals.
June 30 World Asteroid Day Education on asteroids and
space highlighting the
importance and impact of space
'down to Earth'.
 3
June - 2023
World Milk Day – June 1

• Since 2001, June 1 has been observed as World Milk Day to recognize its importance
as a global food.
• World Milk Day is an international day established by the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations.

Note:

• Dr. V. Kurien is a Padma Vibhushan awardee. He is called the ‘Father of the White
Revolution of India’.

June 2 – Telangana Formation Day

• The state of Telangana was officially formed on 2nd June 2014.

Background

• After India's Independence (1947), the govt requested the Nizam of Hyderabad to join
the Indian Union, to which he refused.
• In 1948, the Indian army annexed Hyderabad.
• Finally, Hyderabad State acceded to the Indian Union.
• In 1953, the States Re-organisation Commission was appointed.
• In 1956, the Hyderabad State was dissolved as part of the Linguistic Re-organisation
of States and Telangana was merged with the Telugu-speaking Andhra State to form
Andhra Pradesh.
• On 2 June 2014, the Telangana area was separated from the northwestern part of
Andhra Pradesh as the newly formed state with Hyderabad as its capital.

World Environment Day – June 5

• The United Nations General Assembly founded World Environment Day in 1972 to
increase public awareness of environmental challenges and encourage action.
• The Theme for 2023 is “Solutions to plastic pollution.”

World Food Safety Day – June 7

• World Food Safety Day was observed by WHO (World Health Organization) to draw
attention to food standards.
• Foodborne diseases affect 1 in 10 people worldwide each year.
• Theme 2023 – ‘Food standards save lives’
 4
June - 2023
About WHO

• CEO - Tedros Adhanom

• Founded - 7 April 1948
• Headquarters - Geneva, Switzerland.

World Oceans Day – June 8

• The Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2008 to celebrate
the significance of the world's oceans
• Objective – To raise awareness about the need to protect and conserve marine
environments.
• Theme 2023 – “Planet Ocean: Tides are Changing."

World Day Against Child Labour - June 12

• The World Day Against Child Labour is an International Labour Organization

sanctioned holiday first launched in 2002.
• Aim - To raise awareness and activism to prevent child Labour.
• Theme - 'Social Justice for All. End Child Labour!’
• Target – Child Labour Free Tamilnadu at 2025

World Blood Donor Day - June 14

• World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) aims to raise awareness about the significance of
donating blood and to thank voluntary unpaid blood donors for their life-saving
gifts of blood.
• The annual observance of WBDD is led by the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Theme for 2023 - "Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often."

Background:

• In 2004, the WHO initiated and established the observance of World Blood Donor
Day on 14th June to mark the birth Anniversary of Karl Landsteiner (1868-1943),
Austrian-American immunologist.

About WHO:

• Director General - Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

• Headquarters - Geneva, Switzerland
• Founded – 1948.
 5
June - 2023
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day – June 15

• The World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is observed on June 15th every
year.
• It was officially recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution
December 2011,
following a request by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse
(INPEA).
• Theme 2023 – “Closing the Circle: Addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Older
Age Policy, Law and Evidence-based Responses”.

About UNGA:

• President - H.E. Csaba Korosi

• Headquarters – Newyork, United States
• Founded – 1945

World Sickle Cell Day - June 19

• The International awareness day is observed annually with the goal to increase
public knowledge about sickle cell disease, and the challenges experienced by
patients, families & caregivers.

About Sickle Cell Disease

• Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited health condition and one of the most
common blood disorders globally.
• It is a chronic single gene disorder causing a debilitating systemic syndrome
characterized by chronic anemia, acute painful episodes, organ infarction and chronic
organ damage and by a significant reduction in life expectancy.

SCD in India

• India has the second-highest global prevalence of Sickle Cell Disease, wherein 1 in
86 births have Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).
• In India, at least 14 lakh people are afflicted by it with tribals having a much higher
incidence compared to the general population.

Note

• In the 2023-24 Union Budget, it was stated as India's aim to eradicate sickle cell
anaemia by 2047.
 6
June - 2023
World Refugee Day - 20th June

• It is an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees

around the globe.
• Theme 2023: ‘Hope Away from Home’

International Yoga Day – June 21

• The International Day of Yoga has been celebrated across the world on June 21 since
2015, following its inception in the UN General Assembly in 2014.
• Theme 2023: 'Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’

World Olympic Day – June 23

• Olympic Day is a celebration of sport, health, and being together.

• It invites everyone around the globe to be active and move together with purpose on
23 June every year.
• Theme 2023 - 'Let's Move'
• Aim - To motivate individuals across the world to include everyday physical activity
in their schedules.

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking - 26 June

• Theme 2023: “People first: Stop stigma and discrimination, strengthen prevention".

World MSME Day – June 27

• The United Nations General Assembly in 2017 designated 27 June as “Micro, Small
and Medium-sized Enterprises Day"
• To raise awareness of the tremendous contributions of MSMEs to the achievement of
the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Theme 2023 in India - “Future-ready MSMEs for India@100."

National Statistics Day – June 29

• The day honours the work and contribution of late Professor Prasanta Chandra
Mahalanobis in the field of Statistics and Economic Planning.
 7
June - 2023
Theme 2023:

• Alignment of State Indicator Framework with National Indicator Framework for

Monitoring Sustainable Development Goals.

About P C Mahalanobis

• He is known as the 'Father of Indian Statistics'.

• Second (1956-1961) Planning Commission was also known as Mahalanobis plan.
• The Indian Statistical Institute was founded by Professor P.C. Mahalanobis on 17th
December 1931.
• The institute gained the status of an Institution of National Importance by an act of
the Indian Parliament in 1959.
• The Headquarters of ISI - Kolkata.

World Asteroid Day – June 30

• Asteroid - A small rocky body orbiting the sun.

1.2. PROFILE OF STATES

Kerala: Devaswom to make temples greener Project

• The Devaswom department of kerala is gearing up to introduce a Programme named

‘Devanganam Charu Haritham’ (God’s sacred green houses) to improve the
greenery around temples, ponds, and areas to contributing to nature conservation and
environmental protection.
• Programs will be conducted across the 3080 temples under the Travancore, Kochi,
Malabar, Guruvayur, and Koodal Manikyam Devaswom boards.

About Kerala

• Governor – Arif Mohammed khan

• Chief-Minister – Pinarayi Vijayan
• Capital – Tiruvananthapuram

CM opens Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital

• Chief Minister M.K. Stalin inaugurated the Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality
Hospital in Guindy along with medical employees.
• Construction of the 1,000-bed facility was completed in 15 months, which highlights
State’s superior healthcare infrastructure.
 8
June - 2023
Note:

• Tamil Nadu has 36 government medical colleges and about 5,050 MBBS seats and
remained pioneer in the country.

TN Fintech city and tower

• As part of the first phase of development of TN FinTech City, Stalin lays foundation
of the Fintech Tower in Nandambakkam, Chennai.
• Fintech City will make Tamil Nadu an unparalleled hub in financial technology.

Note:

• The Tamil Nadu government has set a target to make Chennai the Fintech capital of
India by 2025.
• As part of this, the government released the ‘FinTech Policy 2021’ with the aim of
making it a leading global destination for fintech companies.

1.3. DEFENCE

Medium-range ballistic missile Agni-1 test-fired in Odisha

• A successful training launch of a medium-range ballistic missile, Agni-1 was carried

out by the Strategic Forces Command from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha.

Background

• The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) was managed

by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the research
and development of the comprehensive range of missiles.
• The project started in 1982–83 under the leadership of Abdul Kalam who oversaw its
ending in 2008 after these strategic missiles were successfully developed.
• Missile Man of India – Dr. APJ. Abdul Kalam

Note

• Missile Woman of India - Tessy Thomas

• She was Former Project Director for Agni-IV missile in DRDO

Varnuastra successfully tested

• The Navy test-fired an Indigenously designed and developed heavyweight torpedo,

Varunastra, with a live warhead against an undersea target.
 9
June - 2023
• Varunastra is a ship-launched anti-submarine torpedo and was designed and
developed by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory in Visakhapatnam
under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

About DRDO

• Chairman – Sameer V Kamet

• Formation – 1958
• Headquarter – DRDO Bhavan, New Delhi

DRDO successfully tests ballistic missile “Agni Prime”

• The New Generation ballistic missile ‘Agri Prime’ was successfully flight-tested by
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from Dr.A.P.J. Abdul
Kalam Island off Odisha on.
• This was the first pre-induction night launch conducted by the users after three
successful developmental trials of the missile, validating the accuracy and reliability
of the system.

About Agni-P

• It is the sixth missile in the Agni (missile) series of ballistic missile.

• Surface to surface, with dual redundant navigation and guidance system.
• Operational range - 1000–2000 kilometers

Sixth edition of India-Maldives Exercise 'Ekatha'

• Indian Navy divers and Marine Commandos are in the Maldives for the sixth edition
of Exercise Ekatha with Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).
• The annual exercise is conducted between the two forces to enhance interoperability
in diving and special operations.

About Maldives

• President - Ibrahim Mohamed Solih

• Capital – Male
• Currency - Maldivian Rufiyaa

First India-France-UAE Trilateral Maritime Exercise held in Gulf of Oman

• The First edition of India, France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Maritime
Partnership Exercise was held in the Gulf of Oman.
 10
June - 2023
Aim

• To enhancing trilateral cooperation between the three navies.

• To address traditional and non-traditional threats in the maritime environment

Participants

• Indian Navy's INS (Indian Naval Ship) Tarkash (A Second Talwar-class frigate
commissioned in 2012)
• French Navy's French Ship (FS) Surcouf with integral helicopters, French Rafale
aircraft
• UAE Navy Maritime Patrol Aircraft

Note

• The Gulf of Oman borders Iran and Pakistan on the north, Oman on the south and
the UAE on the west.

About France

• President – Emmanuel Macron

• Prime Minister – Elizabeth Borne
• Capital – Paris
• Currency – Euro (Before 2002, Franc)

About UAE

• President – Mohammed Bin Zayed AI Nahyan

• Prime Minister – Mohammed Bin Rashid AI Maktoum
• Capital – Abu Dhabi
• Currency – Dirham

Two Warships Launched

• Two warships of INS (Indian Naval Ship) 'Anjadip', the 3rd of eight indigenously
built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), and INS
'Sanshodhak', the 4th and last in the series of Survey Vessels (Large) (SVL) Project
were launched.
• They were launched by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. (GRSE) at
shipbuilding facility of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) in Kattupalli, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• Kolkata based GRSE is building eight ASWSWCs and four SVLs for the Indian Navy.
 11
June - 2023
India to buy 31 MQ-9 Reaper UAVs.

• The Defence Acquisition Council approved the procurement of 31 armed MQ-9

Reaper Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) from General Atomics, USA.
• The Council approved the deal, which will be executed through the Foreign Military
Sales route of the U.S. government.
• Of the 31 UAVs to be procured, 15 are meant for the Navy and eight each for the
Army and Air Force.
• Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) and General Atomics announced that the turbo
propeller engines which power the MQ-9 would be supported by HAL’s engine
division for the Indian market.

1.4. WORLD ORGANIZATIONS -PACTS AND SUMMITS

BRICS summit

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar attended the BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-

China-South Africa) Foreign Minister’s meeting in Cape Town, South Africa.
• BRICS’s Headquarters – Shanghai, China.
• Aim – To promote peace, security, development, and cooperation.

’OPEC+ meetings’

• OPEC and its allies meetings may culminate in further output cuts of as much as 1
million barrels per day.
• OPEC+, which groups the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and
allies led by Russia, pumps about 40% of global crude, meaning its policy decisions
can have a major impact on oil prices.
• Meeting of the alliance at OPEC headquarters in Vienna. The rest of the OPEC+
producers agreed to extend earlier production cuts through the end of 2024.
• OPEC+ was formed in 2016 to have more control on the global crude oil market.
• Number of OPEC+ Countries - 23 (13 OPEC members and 10 of the world's major
non-OPEC oil-exporting nations).

Background

• The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a permanent,

intergovernmental Organization, created at the Baghdad Conference in 1960, by Iran,
Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.
 12
June - 2023
United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) 2022 Report

• Report provides data on Refugees Asylum seekers, Internally displaced, Stateless

persons, and People who have returned to their countries or areas of origin

Key highlights

• Around 108.4 Million people were forcibly displaced worldwide as a result of fear of
persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations.
• The number of people who migrated forcefully due to social and climate crises in 2022
was 21% higher than in 2021.
• 30% of forcefully displaced were children.
• 76% of the world's refugees are hosted by Low and middle income countries.
• Around 4.4 Million people are stateless or of undetermined nationality, which is 2%
more than that of 2021.
• 6 million displaced people returned to their areas or countries of origin in 2022.

About UNHCR

• Head - Filippo Grandi (High Commissioner for Refugees)

• НQ - Geneva, Switzerland
• Established - 1950

Objectives:

• Saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly
displaced communities and stateless people.

Functions:

• To ensure that everybody has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge, having
fled
violence, persecution, war or disaster at home.

Note

• India is not party to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol and does not
have a National refugee protection frame work.

Most Internet Shutdowns in Last 3 Years to Curb Protests: Report

• The report was released by the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) and Human
Rights Watch (HRW).
 13
June - 2023
• Internet shutdowns include actions that restrict access to the internet completely, or
slow down speed, or restrict certain content.

Key Highlights

• 18 states have shut down the internet at least once from 2020 to 2022.
• The Most number of shutdowns were observed in Rajasthan.
• The report does not include internet shutdowns in the Union Territory of Jammu and
Kashmir.
• Local authorities used internet shutdowns in response to protests (53 cases), to
prevent cheating in school examinations (37 cases), in response to communal violence
(18 cases).

Impact of Internet Shutdowns

• Economic Impact: Given the increasing reliance of businesses and trade on digital
technologies, have serious repercussions for all economic sectors.
• Impact on fundamental rights: Right to speech, conduct business, express dissent,
and movement of the people in a state.
• Impact fundamental services: education, health care and other public services.
• Risk to privacy: It exposes users to privacy and security risks.

Legal Provisions for Internet Suspension

• Suspension of telecom services (including internet shutdowns) is governed by

Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency & Public Safety)
Rules 2017 notified under Indian Telegraph Act, 1885.
• 2017 Rules provide for temporary shutdown of telecom services in a region on
grounds of public emergency (up to 15 days at once).
• The law empowers senior bureaucrats from the home ministry and Centre and state
levels to order shutdowns.

About HRW

• Director - Tirana Hassan

• Headquarters - New York, United States
• Founded – 1978

About IFF

• Head - Apar Gupta

• HQ - New Delhi, India
 14
June - 2023
• Founded – 2016

Focus on food security: PM to G-20 Agriculture Ministers

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the G-20 Agriculture Ministers, who are
meeting in Hyderabad, to deliberate on how to undertake collective action for
achieving global food security.
• Find ways to build sustainable and inclusive food systems, focused on marginal
farmers.
• Find ways to strengthen global fertilizer supply chain and at the same time adopt
agricultural practices for better soil health, crop health and yield, invest in creating
wealth from waste.
• Promoting natural farming as well as technology-enabled farming.
• India’s G-20 priorities in agriculture focus on healing our “One Earth”, creating
harmony within our “One Family” and giving hope for a bright “One Future”.

PM Modi proposes G-20 membership for African Union

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written to the leaders of the G-20 nations
proposing that the African Union be given full membership of the grouping at its
upcoming summit in India.
• India has taken a “bold step” to enhance Africa’s voice on the international stage and
in shaping the future of “our share world”.

About African Union

• The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of 55 member states.

• The African Union is considered the top-most grouping representing the voice of
Africa.
• It has been working towards ensuring the progress and economic growth of the
African nations.
• It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity.

India-USA

• The decision taken by U.S. and India to end six major trade disputes at WTO will be
mutually beneficial for both countries.
• The disputes include three initiated by India and as many by the U.S. The resumption
of talks at the Trade Policy Forum has started yielding significant results.
 15
June - 2023
About WTO

• Director-General - Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

• HQ - Geneva, Switzerland
• Founded - 1 January 1995

1.5. EMINENT PERSONS

Dr. Hakeem Syed khalifatullah died

• Hakim Khalifatullah was India's most vital pillars of the Unani system of medicine.
• The Government of India honoured Hakim Syed Khaleefathullah with the Padma
Shri award in 2014, in recognition of his services to the society.

Chief Economic Advisor, Dr V Anantha Nageswaran

• Dr V Anantha Nageswaran expressed optimism about India's growth potential

during a special interactive session organised by FICCI (Federation of Indian
Chambers of Commerce & Industry).
• He affirmed that India's real GDP growth for FY23 was a robust 7.2%.
• He also provided an outlook for FY24, projecting a real GDP growth of 6.5%, a figure
supported by both Ministry of Finance and Reserve Bank of India.
• India will be the third largest contributor to the global gross domestic product (GDP)
in future nearly.

IFAD president Alvaro Lario

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met International Fund for Agricultural

Development (IFAD) president Alvaro Lario and discussed issues of mutual
interests besides some emerging global challenges.
• During the meeting, the Finance Minister stressed that multilateral institutions should
effectively contribute to ensuring food security by investing in food storage, food
processing, and making small-size farming remunerative.

About IFAD:

• UN’s food and agriculture hub.

• IFAD is an International financial institution.
• It has provided grants and low-interest loans.
• President - Alvaro Lario
• HQ - Rome, Italy
• Founded - December 1977
 16
June - 2023
1.6. PLACES IN NEWS

Belgrade, Serbia.

• President Droupadi Murmu arrived in the Serbian capital on a state visit and was
received by her Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic.
• This is the first visit by an Indian President to Serbia.
• The President will have a bilateral meeting with President Vucic, and meet Prime
Minister Ana Brnabic.

About Serbia

• President – Alexander Vucic

• Capital – Belgrade
• Currency – Dinar

Trans Harbour Link named after Vajpayee

• Maharashtra government announced to rename the upcoming Versova-Bandra Sea

Link in the financial capital Mumbai after V D Savarkar and the Mumbai Trans
Harbour Link (MTHL) after former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

About Trans Bridge

• Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL): An Engineering Marvel

• It connects Mumbai to the mainland: It starts from Sewri in Mumbai to Chirle in
Navi.
• The 22-km-long sea link is the longest in the country and the tenth longest in the
world.

1.7. SPORTS AND GAMES

Indian juniors to emerge Asian champions

• India’s junior men’s hockey team maintained its continental supremacy as it beat
arch-rival Pakistan 2-1 to emerge Asia Cup champions.
• This was India’s fourth title, having earlier won the tournament in 2004, 2008 and
2015.
• Captain of Indian men’s hockey team – Manpreet Singh.

Asian U20 Athletics Championships 2023:

• Indian athletes fetched 19 medals at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships 2023
held in Yecheon, Republic of Korea (South Korea).
 17
June - 2023
Medals Tally

Rank Country Gold Silver Bronze Total

1 Japan 14 4 5 23
2 China 11 5 3 19
3 India 6 7 6 19

Indian Gold Medal Winners

1. Rezoana Mallick Heena - Women’s 400m

2. Laxita Vinod Sandila - Women’s 1500m
3. Rezoana Mallick Heena/Anushka Dattaray Kumbhar/ Riya Nitin Patil/ Kanista
Teena - Women’s 4 × 400m relay
4. Siddharth Choudhary - Men’s shot put
5. Bharatpreet Singh - Men’s discus throw
6. Sunil Kumar - Men's decathlon

India topped the ISSF Junior World Cup 2023

• India topped the ISSF Junior World Cup 2023 medals tally in Suhl, Germany with a
total of 15 medals - Six gold, six silver and three bronze.

Medals Tally

Rank Country Gold Silver Bronze Total

1 India 6 6 3 15
2 Korea 6 5 1 12
3 USA 5 4 0 9

Indian Gold Medal Winners

Shooters Event
Sainyam Women’s 10m air pistol
Dhanush Srikanth Men’s 10m air rifle
Amanpreet Singh Men’s 25m pistol
Gautami Bhanot/Abinav Shaw 10m air rifle mixed team
Gautami Bhanot/Swati Chowdhury/ Women’s 10m air rifle team
Sonam Uttam Maskar
Megana Sadula/Payal Khatri/ Women’s 25m pistol team
Simranpreet Kaur Brar
 18
June - 2023
India women clinch maiden junior Asia Cup crown

• India put up a collective show to stun four-time champion South Korea clinch its
maiden Women’s Junior Hockey Asia Cup in Japan.
• Captain - Preeti

WTC final 2023

• Pat Cummins of Australia lifts the ICC World Test Championship Mace 2023
between Australia and India at The Oval in London, England.
• Australia has won the One Day Cricket World Cup a record 5 times, more than any
other nation and T20 World Cup one time.

Swiatek wards off a gritty fight from Muchova to defend her title

• Swiatek became the youngest woman to claim back-to-back French Open titles 2022
and 2023.
• Swiatek, the 22-year-old from Poland has won the French Open twice in a row.
• Along with her 2020 title there and her triumph at the U.S. Open last 2022 September,
it makes Swiatek the youngest woman with four Grand Salm trophies since Serena
Williams was 20 when she got to that number at the 2002 U.S. Open.

Djokovic won 23rd Grand Slam Title

• Novak Djokovic created history when he won a record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam
title least three times.
• Only Margaret Court and Serena Williams in women’s tennis have managed to rack
up 23 Grand Slam titles.

Tennis Grand Slams

• Australian Open - mid January

• French Open (known as Roland Garros) - late May to early June
• Wimbledon - June–July
• US Open - August–September

Sreeshankar makes history in Paris

• M Sreeshankar won the long jump bronze at the Diamond League in Paris.
• The First Indian Long jumper to win a medal in the Diamond League.
 19
June - 2023
Note

• Sreeshankar only the Third Indian, after Discus thrower Vikas Gowda and Javelin
thrower Neeraj Chopra to win a medal in the Diamond League.

SQUASH WORLD CUP 2023

• Squash World Cup 2023 was held in Chennai, India. It was inaugurated by TN
Sports Minister Udhayanidhi stalin.
• Egypt, bagged the SDAT-WSF Squash World Cup at the Express Avenue Mall with a
thumping 4-1 win on points over Malaysia, in the final.
• The Egyptian team receives the winner’s trophy from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister
M.K. Stalin.

INDONESIA OPEN 2023

• Satwiksairaj and Chirag claim India’s first Super 1000 doubles crown in
badminton.
• Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty scripted history by winning the men’s
doubles title at the Indonesia Open becoming the first pair from the country to claim
a Super 1000 Badminton event.
• The Indians outwitted the Malaysian World champion duo of Aaron Chia and Soh
Wooi Yik 21-17, 21-18 in an intense contest that lasted 43 minutes.

First Indian to win Asian c’ship medal

• Olympian C.A. Bhavani Devi created history by securing India’s first-ever medal, a
bronze at the Asian fencing championships in Wuxi, China.
• Bhavani’s next assignment will be the World championships in Milan July 2023.

Asian Cricket Council Women's Emerging Teams Cup 2023

• India U-23 team to the Women’s Emerging Asia Cup T20 title with a 31-run win over
Bangladesh in the final.

Note

• Captained by - Shweta Sehrawat.

• Ground - The Mission Round Ground in Mong Kok, Hong Kong.
• After an U19 World triumph a few months ago, this is the set up’s second trophy.
 20
June - 2023
Special Olympics 2023

• From 17 – 25 June 2023, Berlin, Germany will

welcome 7,000 Special Olympics athletes and
Unified partners from approximately 190 countries
to compete in 26 sports.

Special Olympics campaign 2023

• India ended its Special Olympics World Games campaign with a whopping 202
medals including 76 gold.
• India secured 76 gold, 75 silver and 51 bronze medals in the global multisport
spectacle that celebrates unity, diversity and special skills among people with
intellectual disabilities.

About Special Olympics 2023

• Held in – Berlin, Germany

• Motto - # Unbeatable Together

About Special Olympics

• A Global organization that changes lives by promoting understanding, acceptance

and inclusion among people with and without intellectual disabilities.

Diksha claims the Czech Ladies Open title

• Diksha Dagar won her second Ladies European Tour (LET) title with a commanding
four-shot win in the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open at the Royal Beroun Golf Club.

ICC launches CWC Trophy

• The ICC Men’s ODI World Cup Trophy Tour 2023 has been launched on a
stratospheric scale.
• The Tour was launched in spectacular fashion, with the Trophy being launched into
the stratosphere, 120,000 feet above the earth, before making a stunning landing at
the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad.
• ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Trophy will travel to 18 countries around the world
including Kuwait, Bahrain, Malaysia, USA, Nigeria, Uganda, France, Italy, the United
states of America and the host country India.
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June - 2023
1.8. BOOKS AND AUTHORS

Journalist Kasturi Ray authored a new book

• 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.
• The book is published by Rupa Publications, India, with a “Foreword” by Kiran
Bedi, Former Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry.
• Kasturi Ray analysed Murmu’s life from her school and college days to becoming a
Teacher, Social worker, Counsellor, Minister, Governor of Jharkhand, and President.

Kasturi Ray

• A senior news editor at The New Indian Express in Bhubaneswar, Odisha and a
South Asian Women in Media (SAWM)-United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
fellow for reporting development journalism.

Noted Works:

• “Indira Gandhi: The Final Chapter”

• “Mamata Banerjee: The Story of India’s Rebel Queen”.

1.9. AWARDS AND HONOURS

TN Forest official gets award from UNESCO

• Jagdish Bakan, Wildlife Warden and District Forest Officer (DFO) of

Ramanathapuram district, has won the 2023 Michel Batisse Award for Biosphere
Reserve Management from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO).
• Mr. Bakan has been chosen for the award for his work in the Gulf of Mannar
Biosphere Reserve, which is endowed with rich marine biodiversity, including
several species of fish, coral, birds, seaturtles, crustaceans.

About UNESCO

• Parent organization: United Nations Economic and Social council

• Present Head: Audrey Azoulay (Director-General)
• Headquarters: Paris, France
• Formation: 16 November 1945
 22
June - 2023
Suriname conferred its highest civilian honour to President Droupadi Murmu

• “The Grand Order of the Chain of Yellow Star”, the first Indian to receive this
award.
• Murmu received the award from the President of the Republic of Suriname,
Chandrikapersad Santokhi.

About Droupadi Murmu

• Droupadi Murmu - 15th President of India.

• First person belonging to the tribal community and also the second woman after
Pratibha Patil to hold the office.

About Suriname (Dutch Guiana)

• Country in the northeastern coast of South America

• President - Chandrikapersad Santokhi
• Capital – Paramaribo
• Official language – Dutch

Central Banking Awards 2023

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das received the 'Governor of
the Year' award at the Central Banking Awards 2023 in London.
• The Award was given for his work of cemented critical reforms, overseen world
leading payments innovation and steered India through difficult times with a steady
hand and well-crafted turn of phrase.

Gandhi Peace Prize

• Gita Press was conferred the Gandhi Peace Prize 2021 by Union Culture Ministry.
• The recipients get Rs.1 crore, a citation, a plaque, and an exquisite traditional
handicraft or handloom item.

About Gandhi Prize

• Gandhi Peace Prize is an annual award instituted by the Government of India in

1995, on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, as a tribute
to the ideals espoused by him.

Note:

• Gita Press is one of the world’s largest publishers of Hindu religious texts Established
in 1923.
 23
June - 2023
Florence Nightingale Award

• President Droupadi Murmu gave away the National Florence Nightingale Award to
30 Nurses.
• The Award was instituted by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry to
recognise meritorious services by nurses and nursing professionals, include Major-
General Smita Devrani, Additional Director-General of the Military Nursing Service
(MNS), for 2022 and her sister Brigadier Amita Devrani of the MNS for 2023.

Sahitya Akademi

• The winner of the Bal Sahitya Puraskar is Udhayasankar (Aadhanin Pommai) and
recipient of the Yuva Puraskar is Ram Thangam (Tirukkarthiyal) in Tamil.

Best State University

• The Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University was jointly nominated by the FICCI
and The New Indian Express as the “Best State University”.
• Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor Col. Prof. (Dr) N.S. Santhosh Kumar received the “Best State
University Award” at the hands of Thiru.T.Mano Thangaraj.

The Order of the Nile

• India and Egypt signed an agreement on a strategic partnership as Prime Minister

Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo.
• The Government of Egypt bestowed the highest honour of the land – the Order of
the Nile – on Mr. Modi.
• Four agreements were signed during the visit was signature on the strategic
partnership between India and Egypt.
• Green and renewable collaboration memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in the fields
of agriculture, archaeology and antiquities, and competition law.

About Egypt

• President - Abdel Fattah El-Sisi

• Prime Minister - Mostafa Kamal Madbouly
• Capital - Cairo
• Currency - Egyptian Pound
 24
June - 2023
1.10. LATEST HISTORICAL EVENTS

Chennai-Sri Lanka passenger cruise vessel flagged off

• Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off
the first regular international cruise passenger vessel mv Empress from Chennai
Port that will connect three ports in Sri Lanka including Hambantota and
Trincomalee.

About Srilanka

• Capitals: Colombo (executive and judicial), Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (legislative)

• Official Languages: Sinhala and Tamil
• Recognised Languages: English
• Currency: Srilankan Rupee

Centre renames Nehru Library

• The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) Society, an autonomous body
under the Government of India, would be renamed as Prime Ministers Museum and
Library Society.
• The decision to rename the instituition, removing the late PM’s name, was taken at a
special meeting of the NMML Society presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath
Singh, the Vice-President of the Society.

PM tunes into musical effort to promote use of millets

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has collaborated with Grammy Award-winning

Indian-American singer Falguni Shah for a special song to promote the benefits of
millets and their potential to alleviate world hunger.
• The “Abundance in Millets” song, performed by singer-songwriter Falguni Shah and
her husband and singer Gaurav Shah, was released on June 16, across streaming
platforms.
• The song will be released in Hindi and English and translated into other regional
languages.

Note:

• The year 2023 has been designated as the “International Year of Millets” after a
proposal was brought by India and endorsed by Members of the U.N.’s Food and
Agriculture Organization governing bodies.
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June - 2023
1.11. INDIA AND ITS NEIGHBOURS

India, Nepal sign pacts on energy, transport

• India & Nepal signed a series of agreements on energy and transport, including
export of Nepal’s hydropower to Bangladesh through Indian territory.
• Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, visit to India, have set a target of
importing 10,000 MW of electricity from Nepal in the coming years.
• He inaugurated integrated check posts (ICPs) at Nepalgunj in Nepal and Rupaidiha
on the Indian side.

About Nepal:

• Capital – Kathmandu
• Currency – Nepalese Rupee

1.12. APPOINTMENTS

Mrutyunjay Mohapatra elected vice-president of World Meteorological Organisation

• India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General (DG) Mrutyunjay

Mohapatra was elected as one of the three vice-presidents of the World
Meteorological Organisation (WMO), the UN agency for monitoring climate change,
early warnings, and disaster preparedness.
• At the WMO elections held in Geneva, Abdulla Al Mandous, Director of United
Arab Emirates National Center of Meteorology, was elected President.
• The WMO has a President and three vice-presidents who preside over World
Meteorological Congress and the Executive Council.
• The Secretariat, headquartered in Geneva.
• Prof. Celeste Saulo of Argentina has been appointed as the first female Secretary-
General of the WMO.

Three-member panel to probe ethnic violence in Manipur

• The Union government appointed a three-member Commission of Inquiry headed by
Ajai Lamba, former Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court, to investigate the ethnic
violence in Manipur
• The other two members of the commission are Hi-manshu Shekhar Das, re-tired IAS
officer, Aloka Prabhakar, retired IPS officer.
 26
June - 2023
• A notification issued by the Union Home Ministry “Commission shall submit its
report to the Central Government as soon as possible but not later than six months
from the date of its first sitting”. Its headquarters will be in Imphal.

Shakeel Akhter to head Information Commission

• M. Shakeel Akhter, former Director-General of Police, has been appointed as the

Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) of the Tamil Nadu Information Commission.

Note:

• Appointed by – Governor on the recommendation of the committee consisting of the

Chief Minister as Chairperson, the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative
Assembly and a state Cabinet Minister.
• Term of office – till the age of 65 or 3 years.

Vishwanathan Committee

• The Ministry of Law & Justice has constituted a sixteen-member expert committee
headed by Dr. T.K. Vishwanathan, Former Secretary of the Department of Legal
Affairs, for examining the working of Arbitration law in India and recommending
reforms in the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
• The step is being taken to limit the requirement for parties to seek judicial
intervention by approaching court.

Committee Members:

• Additional Solicitor General N Venkataraman

• Law ministry additional secretary Rajiv Mani
• Some senior advocates, representatives of private law firms, and officials of the
Legislative Department, Niti Aayog, National Highways Authority of India
(NHAI), Railways and Central Public Works Department (CPWD) are its other
members.

Note:

• Under arbitration, the parties concerned, instead of approaching courts, opt for
private dispute resolution through arbitrators. The decision of arbitrators is binding.

Next Chief of RAW

 27
June - 2023
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) appointed senior Indian Police
Service (IPS) officer Ravi Sinha as Secretary, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW),
the country’s external intelligence agency.

Note:

• A 1988-batch IPS officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre, Mr. Sinha is currently Special
Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat.
• Tenure – 2 years

About RAW

• HQ – New Delhi
• Founded – 1968

New RBI Dy. Governor

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has selected State Bank of India MD
Swaminathan Janakiraman for the post of a Deputy Governor in the Reserve Bank
of India.
• He will have a tenure of three years.
• He will succeed Deputy Governor M.K. Jain.

New CEO of Aadhaar authority

• Amit Agrawal, a 1993-batch IAS officer, took charge as Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
of the Unique Identification Authority of Note India, which administers Aadhaar.

Note

• Mr. Agrawal, who is from the Chhattisgarh cadre, was earlier an Additional Secretary
at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

New Chief Secy., DGP appointed for Tamil Nadu

• The Tamil Nadu government named senior IAS officer Shiv Das Meena as the Chief
Secretary. He will succeed V. Irai Anbu.
• The government appointed Greater Chennai Police Commissioner Shankar Jiwal as
the Director-General of Police, Head of Police Force in the place of C. Sylendra Babu.
 28
June - 2023
2. POLITICAL SCIENCE

2.1. INDIA’S FOREIGN POLICY

India gifts INS Kirpan to Vietnam

• India gifted the indigenously built in service missile corvette INS Kirpan to
Vietnam to enhance its naval capabilities.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced this after bilateral talks with his visiting
Vietnamese counterpart General Phan Van Gang.
• The two Ministers focused on enhancing cooperation between defence industries of
both countries and maritime security.
• Both Ministers identified means to enhance existing areas of collaboration, especially
in the field of defence industry cooperation, maritime security and multinational
cooperation.

About INS Kirpan

• INS Kirpan is a Khukri class missile corvette displacing 1,350 tonnes and was
commissioned into the Navy on January 12, 1991.
• It has a displacement of close to 1,400 tonnes, a length of 91 metres, beam of 11 metres
and is capable of speed in excess of 25 knots.

Note:

• In June 2022, India and Vietnam signed an MoU on mutual logistics support.
• The two Defence Ministers also signed the “Joint Vision Statement on India-
Vietnam defence partnership towards 2030”.

About Vietnam

• President – Vo Van Thuong

• Capital - Hanoi
• Currency – Vietnamese Dong

India and US signed Vital Agreements

• India and the U.S. on announced a number of agreements on defence cooperation,

critical and emerging technologies, health, environment, visas and space including a
deal which could pave the way for an unprecedented transfer of jet engine
technology.
• General Electric and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited signed a MoU to jointly
produce GE 414 jet engines in India for the Tejas Mk2 light combat aircraft.
 29
June - 2023
• The Defence Ministries of the two countries launched the inaugural session of an
innovation platform – INDUS-X – in Washington DC.
• In space cooperation, India is signing on to a framework of 25 countries for space
exploration and cooperation.
• The two countries have agreed on a mission to the International Space Station in
2024.

About USA

• President – Joe Biden

• Capital – Washington, D.C.
• Currency – US Dollar

2.2. LATEST COURT VERDICTS

New Constitution Bench to hear 4 cases

• A New Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud is

scheduled to start hearing a list of four cases.
• The first among the four cases concerns the question whether state instrumentalities
can change eligibility rules or the “rules of the game” in the middle of a selection
process for public employment.

About Constitution Bench

• Under Article 145(3), “Any Case involving a substantial question of law as to the
interpretation of the Constitution” must be decided by a Bench of at least five judges.

2.3. PUBLIC AWARENESS AND GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

Tamil Nadu’s electorate stands at 6.12 crore

• The Tamil Nadu electorate stood at 6.12 crore, including 3.11 crore women, 3.01 crore
men and more than 7,900 of the third gender.
• Figures were released by the State Election Commission.
• The Shozhinganallur Assembly constituency in Chengalpattu district continues to
have the highest number of electors in the State, at 6,51,077.
• The Harbour constituency in Chennai continues to have the lowest number of
electors, at 1,69,292.
• The Election Commission’s announcement that the youth could file advance
applications with reference to three subsequent qualifying dates – April 1, July 1 and
October 1 – and January 1, the roll would be updated every quarter.
 30
June - 2023
About ECI

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) is a constitutional body.

• Article 324 - power of superintendence, direction, and control of elections to
parliament, state legislatures, the office of the president of India, and the office of vice-
president of India.
• The commission was established in 1950 and originally had one Chief Election
Commissioner.
• Two additional Commissioners were appointed to the commission for the first time in
1989.
• "The Election Commissioner Amendment Act, 1989" was adopted on 1 January 1990
which turned the commission into a multi-member body.

Child Helpline 1098

• As part of the One Nation One Helpline vision, the child helpline number 1098 will
be merged with the emergency response support system 112.
• The task of integration would be carried out by C-DAC, Kerala.

About Child Helpline 1098

• It is a 24-hour a day, 365 days a year, free, emergency phone service for children in
need of aid and assistance.
• CHILDLINE India Foundation (CIF) is the nodal agency for the monitoring and
maintenance of the helpline.
• It functions under union Ministry of Women and Child Development.

New ART regulations

• The Health Ministry had notified the Assisted Reproductive Technology

Regulations (ART), 2023.
• It is aimed at providing donors and patients with better medical care and security.
• The new ART provisions impose restrictions on the number of times a donor, male
or female, can donate (sperm/oocyte) in their lifetime, and specifies age limits for
donors.
• The provision states that an oocyte donor should be a person who have been married
at least once in their lives and have at least one living child of her own (minimum
three years of age).
• She can donate oocyte only once in her lifetime and not more that seven oocytes can
be retrieved.
 31
June - 2023
• An ART bank cannot supply gamete (reproductive cell) of a single donor to more
than one commissioning couple (couple seeking services).
• Parties seeking ART services will be required to provide insurance coverage in the
favour of the oocyte donor (for any loss, damage, or death of the donor).
• A clinic is prohibited from offering to provide a child of pre-determined sex.
• Checking for genetic diseases before the embryo implanatation is needed.

Note:

• India, much like the rest of the world, is facing a dip in fertility rates.

Digital payments in panchayats mandatory

• Union Panchayati Raj Ministry has said that all panchayats across the country will
mandatorily use digital payments for development work and revenue collection and
they will be declared UPI-enabled.

2.4. GOVT – WELFARE ORIENTED GOVT SCHEMES, THEIR UTILITY

Children honoured to mark World Thalassemia Month

• To commemorate the World Thalassemia Month, Apollo Cancer Care Centre

celebrated and honoured several young Thalassemia warriors who received treatment
under the
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS),
children who require a bone marrow transplant for the treatment of Thalassemia”.

FEATURES OF THE SCHEME

• Chief Minister Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme launched in 2009 as

Kalaingar Kaappittu Thittam.
• Around 1.37 Crore family covered under CMCHIS (January 2022). Totally 1090
procedures and 52 diagnostic procedures are covered under CMCHIS in 800
Government 900 Private empanelled hospitals.
• The scheme seeks to provide cashless hospitalization coverage upto Rs.5,00,000/- per
family, per year.

About Thalassemia

• Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder.

• That causes body to have less-hemoglobin(cause anemia) than normal.
• Hemoglobin enables red blood cells to carry oxygen
 32
June - 2023
World’s largest grain storage plan

• The Union Cabinet approved the constitution and empowerment of an Inter-

Ministerial Committee (IMC) for facilitation of the “world’s largest grain storage plan
in cooperative sector” by convergence of various schemes of the Ministries of
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
and Food Processing Industries.

Cabinet nod for second phase of CITIIS programme

• The Union government approved the second phase of the City Investments to
Innovate, Integrate and Sustain (CI-TIIS) project, a programme under the ambit of
the Smart Cities Mission, which aims to promote integrated waste management and
climate-oriented reform actions.
• The CITIIS 2.0 has three major components which are financial and technical support
for developing projects focused on building climate resilience, adaptation, and
mitigation in up to 18 smart cities, and interventions at centre, State and city levels to
further climate governance.

PM SVANidhi mobile app Launched

• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) celebrated 3 years journey of
PM SVANidhi.
• The government also launched a PM SVANidhi mobile app for street vendors, to ease
the loan application process.

About PM SVANidhi

• Scheme: PM Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi)

• Ministry: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
• Objectives: To facilitate collateral free working capital loans of up to INR10,000/- of
one-year tenure, to approximately 50 lakh street vendors.

Website Launched: Meendum Manjappai

• A website and a mobile app on the Meendum Manjappai campaign were launched
by Minister for Environment Siva V. Meyyanathan to help members of the public
with information on manjappai vending machines, plastic crushing machine spots,
and for complaints against the use of single-use plastics.

Note
• Meendum Manjappai Scheme is launched by Chief Minister MK Stalin on December
23, 2021.
 33
June - 2023
New website, app to lodge complaints on food safety launched.

• The Tamil Nadu Food Safety Department has launched a new website and app with
easy-to-select details to facilitate easy handling of public complaints on substandard
and adulterated food.
• The new website “foodsafety.tn.gov.in” has been developed in two languages Tamil
and English with the facility to select details easily without having to elaborately type
any of their complaints.
• The public can also download the mobile application “TN Food Safety Consumer
App”

Baseline survey for Class V to kick off ‘Ennum Ezhuthum’ expansion

• “Ennum Ezhuthum” mission all set to be expanded to Classes IV and V from the
2023-24 academic year, a baseline survey will be conducted for students of Class V
across government and aided schools to assess their learning levels.
• In the 2022-23 academic year, “Ennum Ezhuthum” was introduced as a foundational
literacy and numeracy programme for students of Classes I-III to address learning
gaps, in its first phase.

Ennum Ezhuthum Scheme

• To bridge the learning gap among students aged under 8, caused as a result of
COVID-19 pandemic.
• CM Stalin launched the Ennum Ezhuthum scheme in June 2022.
• Launched at an event, organized in Azhinjivakkam panchayat union middle school,
Tiruvallur.
• Mission was commenced from the academic year 2022-23 across all government
schools of Tamil Nadu.
• Aim - To ensure foundational numeracy and literacy by 2025.

Under this Initiative

• Children will be trained in three subjects: Tamil, English and Mathematics.

• Education department will distribute workbooks to students from Classes 1 to 3.

Fortified biscuits to be given to 40K children in Villupuram

• Social welfare minister Geetha Jeevan inaugurated a scheme that entails the
distribution of health biscuits to malnourished children in the age group of six
months to 6 years as part of the state government's initiative to address malnutrition.
• The event was held at Keezhperumbakkam anganwadi in Villupuram.
 34
June - 2023
• Government announced that 1.4 lakh children will be provided with fortified biscuits
under the scheme, which will benefit 40,000 children identified by the social welfare
department in Villupuram.

Poshan app helps migrant workers access Anganwadi services during relocation.

• Women and Child Development Ministry said more than 57,000 migrant workers
have registered for the One Nation, One Anganwadi programme.
• Total registered beneficiaries - 10.6 crore.
• Out of which 47.6 lakh were lactating mothers, 7.48 crore pregnant women and the
rest children.

About Poshan Abhiyan

• Scheme launched in 2018.

• The focus is to lay emphasis on nutritional status of adolescent girls, pregnant
women, lactating mothers and children from 0-6 years age.

Govt. unveils action plan to make city carbon neutral

• The Tamil Nadu government released Chennai’s first Climate Action Plan (CAP),
which has been designed to serve as a roadmap for the city to become carbon neutral
by 2050, two decades before the nation’s target of net zero by 2070.
• Released by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at the Secretariat.
• The action plan will focus on six priority areas such as electrical grid and renewable
energy, building energy, sustainable transport, solid waste management, urban
flooding and water scarcity, vulnerable populations and health.
• By 2050, the city aims to achieve electrification of 100% of the MTC bus fleet,
expanding urban nature to cover 35% of the city, and retrofitting existing slum
housing for heat resilience to become carbon neutral.
• The CAP was developed with support from C40 Cities and the Urban Management
Centre, Ahmedabad.

Note:

• Aligns with the Paris Climate Accords, setting emission reduction targets of 1%
increase by 2030, 40% decrease by 2040 and achieve net zero by 2050, compared to
2018-19 emission levels.
 35
June - 2023
Mobile app to secure documents launched in TN
• The Nambikkai Inaiyam (Blockchain Backbone) of the Tamil Nadu with e-Pettagam
citizen wallet mobile application was launched by the Minister for information
technology and digital services Palanivel Thiaga Rajan.
• The Initiative would allow residents and businesses from Tamil Nadu to share their
digitised documents in a secure manner for verification by employers, higher
education institutions, government entities, banks, and other agencies.

In the first phase

• TNeGA would secure community certificates, income certificates, first graduate

certificates, academic certificates, and mark sheets from the members of the public.
• Residents would be able to choose to securely share the documents through e-mail,
and short messaging services through the e-Pettagam application.

Policemen get tablets for e-beat patrolling

• Commissioner of Greater Chennai Police Shankar Jiwal launched the e-beat

patrolling system of the Smart Kavalar app by distributing 408 tablets to police
officials at a function at the headquarters in the city.
• The tablets would help the personnel quickly access the case details and for
registering of details pertaining to investigation of cases, audio and video recordings
of the case details along with uploading of photographs of the accused, and any
information related to the cases.
• The tablets, which have been pre-loaded with the several technology initiatives
comprising Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems, face recognition
system app, Vaahan app and e-challan app, would help the police perform the
routine task in an efficient manner.
• The tablets pre-loaded with the e-beat system of the Smart Kavalar app would help
the senior police officials to monitor the location of the patrolling team.

New Scheme for Women’s safety

• The Tamil Nadu police have introduced a new service where women travelling
alone in remote locations could seek police assistance in case they felt unsafe.
• According to police sources, women travelling alone and in need of police help could
dial 1091, 112, 044-23452365 and 044-28447701.
• A police patrol vehicle in the vicinity would reach them as early as possible and
provide assistance.
 36
June - 2023
PM-PRANAM

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the PM-PRANAM

(PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Generation, Nourishment and
Amelioration of Mother Earth) Scheme.
• The new scheme would promote use of nutrient-based bio-fertilizers for sustainable
agriculture.
• The scheme include a bouquet of various schemes which would boost farmer’s
income, strengthen natural/ organic farming, rejuvenate soil productivity, and ensure
food security.
• The CCEA also approved continuation of the urea subsidy scheme to ensure constant
availability of urea to the farmers at the same price of Rs.242/45 kg per bag.
• Rs.1,451.84 crore has been approved for Market Development Assistance (MDA) for
promoting organic fertilizers from Gobardhan plants.
• Fermented organic manures (FOM)/liquid FOM/phosphate rich organic manures
(PROM) produced as by-product from bio-gas plants/compressed biogas (CBG)
plants set up under umbrella Gobardhan initiative will be promoted.

CM Stalin inaugurates new buildings, portal for farmers.

• Chief Minister inaugurated completed projects at various locations and a portal to

help farmers known the soil health of their land.
• He also released a coffee table book, Netta Netta Panaimarame, on palmyra trees.
• Farmers could access the portal, http://tnagriculture.in/mannvalam, to know the soil
heath status through a geo-referenced survey number.
• Farmers could also get other details such as pH, organic carbon and calcareousness.
• He also inaugurated 26 District “Poomalai Vaniga Valagam”(commercial complexes)
constructed by the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women.
• He handed over loans to women self-help groups under the “Vazhndhu Kattuvom”
project.
• Financial Assistance to “Team Sea Shakti” of Kumaraguru College of Technology in
Coimbatore, the only Indian team selected to take part in Monaco Energy Boat
Challenge to create a hydrogen-powered boat aimed at commercializing the power
system for the benefit of fishermen.
 37
June - 2023
3. GEOGRAPHY

3.1. ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

T.N. wetlands mission

• Ecological restoration of the Otteri lake located inside the Arignar Anna Zoological
Park (AAZP), Vandalur, was initiated at the launch of Tamil Nadu Wetlands
Missions to mark the World Environment Day.
• Forests Minister M. Mathiventhan inaugurated the Tamil Nadu Wetlands Mission,
under which 100 wetlands have been identified to be mapped and ecologically
restored.
• The objective of the ecological restoration is to increase the water storage capacity.
• The mission seeks to engage local communities and NGOs and has roped in 187
iranila nanbargal (friends of wetlands) so far.

Note

• Ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the

Ramsar Convention.
• Also known as "The Convention on Wetlands".
• An Intergovernmental environmental treaty established in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran by
UNESCO.
• Came into force - 1975.
• Out of 75 in Nation, 14 Ramsar sites are in Tamil Nadu.

Whale shark sighted close to shore at Neelankarai

• Fishermen of Periya Neelankarai village spotted whale shark off the coast.
• The Marine Mammal Conservation, Stranding and Rescue team from the Tree
foundation confirmed that it was indeed a juvenile whale shark (Rhincodon typus).
• What makes this sighting special is that the whale shark was found around 50 to 100
metres from the shore as they are usually found much further into the sea.

About Whale sharks

• IUCN Status - ‘Endangered’ in the International Union for Conservation of Nature

Red List.

1.83 lakh Olive Ridley hatchlings released

• As many as 1,83,497 Olive Ridley hatchling were released into sea along the Tamil
Nadu coast.
 38
June - 2023
• The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has said that the number of sea turtle hatchlings
released in 2022-23 was the highest in the last seven years.

Note:

• Supriya Sahu, is the Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Climate Change and
Forests.
• Forest Department, along with volunteers and turtle conservation organisations, had
set up 35 hatcheries across the State as against 22 last year.
• Sea turtles are known to encounter a number of hurdles while making their way to
the coast for breeding.
• One that has been highlighted is the threat of fishing gear in which sea turtles often
get entangled.

T.N. constitutes State Bird Authority

• The Tamil Nadu government has constituted a State Bird Authority to monitor and
improve bird sanctuaries, nesting conditions for birds, and ecotourism facilities.
• The committee, chaired by Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment,
Climate Change and Forests, will comprise representatives from various departments
such Forests, Revenue and disaster Management, Rural Development and Panchayati
Raj, Public Works, and Tamil Nadu Tourism Department Corporation.
• The Authority would formulate an “Integrated Management Plan” for all bird
sanctuaries, map locations where native and migratory birds visit to create new
protected areas for birds, improve visitor facilities and ecotourism development
opportunities.
• It is a much-needed authority as Tamil Nadu has 17 bird sanctuaries, of which 14 are
Ramsar sites.
• The State is also part of the Central Asian Flyway.
• The integrated plan is also set to include monitoring the number of birds and
addressing local short comings.

Miyawaki urban forest around Red Hills reservoir

• The Red Hills reservoir, a main source of the Chennai city is drinking water supply,
is steadily gaining patches of green cover around it.
• In concerted efforts, the Water Resources Department, along with voluntary
organisations, is developing Miyawaki urban forests on land retrieved from
encroachers.
• The green cover would protect the ecology of the reservoir and improve
biodiversity.
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June - 2023
3.2. NATURAL DISASTER

Biporjoy storm in Arabian Sea

• A cylonic storm that formed over east-central and adjoining southeast Arabian Sea
near Goa intensify into a severe cyclonic storm.
• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said “The cyclonic storm ‘Biporjoy’
named by Bangladesh.
• This is the second cyclone to form in the North Indian Ocean after Cyclone Mocha
(2023).

4. ECONOMICS

4.1. NEW ECONOMIC POLICY

Antardrishti

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das launched a financial
inclusion dashboard named 'Antardrishti'.

About Antardrishti:

• The dashboard provides the necessary knowledge to assess and track the
development of financial inclusion by recording relevant data.
• 'Antardrishti' in Hindi means "Insight".

Financial Inclusion:

• Aim - To provide access to affordable and appropriate financial products and services
like savings accounts, credit, insurance, and payment systems.

Financial Inclusion Index:

• RBI had constructed the Financial Inclusion (FI) Index in 2021, to measure the extent
of
financial inclusion.
• FI index comprises 3 parameters - Access (35% weightage), Usage (45%), and Quality
(20%).
• The FI-Index incorporates details of banking, investments, insurance, postal as well as
the pension sector in consultation with the government and respective sectoral
regulators.
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June - 2023
About Reserve Bank of India (RBI):

• Governor - Shaktikanta Das

• Headquarters - Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Establishment - 1st April 1935

4.2. CURRENT TRENDS IN INDIAN ECONOMY

GDP expanded 6.1% in 2022-23’s last quarter

• India’s GDP growth accelerated to 6.1% in the January to March 2023 quarter, the
economy’s expansion in 2022-23 to 7.2% according to the provisional national income
data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO)

Note

• GDP is the final value of the goods and services produced within the geographic
boundaries of a country during a specified period of time (normally a year).
• India is the 5th largest economy in terms of GDP ranking of countries.

RBI holds rates, vows to keep price stability repo rate unchanged at 6.5%

• The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided

unanimously keep the policy repo rate unchanged at 6.5% for the second straight
meeting, with Governor Shaktikanta Das.
• Reverse repo rate – 3.35%

About RBI

• Headquarters – Mumbai
• Governor - Shaktikanta Das
• Established - 1 April 1935

World at critical point in inflation fight: BIS

• The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has called for more interest rate
increases, warning the world economy was now at a crucial point as countries
struggle to rein in inflation.
• The longer inflation stays elevated, the stronger the required policy tightening, the
BIS said, warning the possibility of further problems in the banking sector was now
“material”.
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June - 2023
Inflation

• The Rate of increase in prices of goods and services over a given period of time and
fall in the purchasing value of money.

About BIS

• General Manager – Agustin Carstens

• HQ – Basel, Switzerland
• Founded – 1930

Financial Stability Report (FSR)

• According to the Financial Stability Report (FSR), “Despite the global economy
facing heightened uncertainty, the Indian economy and the domestic financial system
remain resilient supported by strong macroeconomic fundamentals”.

A bright spot for India

• India’s economy and financial system have remained stable despite global headwinds,
says the RBI.
• Stress tests indicate that Indian banks will be able to withstand even severe stress
scenarios.
• The balance sheets of both banks and corporates have strengthened to give India an
advantage.
• The net non-performing assets of Indian banks dropped to 1% in March 2023.

4.3. REPORTS AND INDICES

NIRF: IIT-Madras retains number one spot.

• The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), under the Union Education
Ministry, announced the India Rankings 2023 of higher education institutions.
• The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras retained its position as the best
educational institution in overall ranking for the fifth consecutive term.
• IIT, Madras also received the honour of best engineering college for the eighth
consecutive year.
• Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru was rated the best university in the country
for eight years in a row.
• IISC, Bengaluru also stood first in the research institutions category for the third
consecutive year.
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June - 2023
About NIRF

• The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) was approved by the MHRD
and launched by Honourable Minister of Human Resource Development in 2015.
• This framework outlines a methodology to rank institutions across the country.

Parameters for ranking

• Teaching, Learning and Resources, Research and Professional Practices, Graduation

Outcomes, Outreach and Inclusivity, and Perception.

Fiscal deficit narrows to 6.4%

• The Centre’s fiscal deficit narrowed to 6.4% of the GDP in 2022-2023.

• The Controller General of Accounts (CGA) said the fiscal deficit in absolute terms was
Rs.17,33,131 crore (provisional).

Note

• Fiscal deficit = Total Expenditure – Total revenue (Excluding the borrowings).

Food Safety Index 2023: Kerala, Punjab lead, TN slips to 3rd spot

• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)’s 5th State Food Safety
Index
(SFSI), was released (June 7) by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on the
occasion of World Food Day.

Among Larger States:

• Kerala has topped the Food Safety Index 2022-23.

• Tamil Nadu has slipped to third position.
• Punjab stood in the second position.

Among smaller states:

• Goa stood first for the fourth time in a row.

• It was followed by Manipur and Sikkim.
• Last year, these three states were in the same position.

Among Union territories:

• Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, and Chandigarh secured first, second, and third ranks.
• This is the third time, Jammu and Kashmir have secured first position.
• Last year too, the three UTs had secured the same positions.
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June - 2023
Note

• In 2021-22, Tamil Nadu was in the top position among 20 larger states, followed by
Gujarat and Maharashtra.
• In 2020-21, Gujarat was in top position, followed by Kerala and then Tamil Nadu in
the third position.
• The Index was first released in 2018-19.
• Objective - To create a competitive and positive change in the food safety ecosystem
in the country.
• FSSAI is a statutory body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
in ensuring healthy and nutritious food to the people.

Manual Scavenging Report

• Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has in recent years maintained that
‘hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks’ caused deaths.
• Only 508 districts (66%) out of the total 766 districts in the country have declared
themselves manual-scavenging free.
• 58,000 identified sewer workers have been given a one-time cash pay-out of Rs.40,000
each.
• In addition, around 22,000 of them (less than half) have been connected to skills
training programmes.
• The scheme for Rehabilitation of manual scavengers has now been merged with the
NAMASTE scheme for 100% mechanization of sewer work.

About NAMASTE

• National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) is an initiative

to ensure the safety of sanitation workers.
• The Scheme was launched in 2022 and aims to eradicate unsafe sewer and septic tank
cleaning practices.

NHAI’s First Sustainability Report for FY 2021-22

• National Highway Authority of India’s first ‘Sustainability Report for FY 2021-22’

covers NHAI’s governance structure, stakeholders, environment and social
responsibility initiatives.

Key Highlights

• From FY 2019-20 till 2021-22 direct emission reduced by 18.44% and 9.49% due to less
fuel consumption respectively.
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June - 2023
• Green House Gas (GHG) Emissions from energy consumption, operations, transport
and travel saw a decline of 9.7% in FY 2020-21 and 2% in FY 2021-22.

School dropout rates exceed national average in multiple states

• Secondary School Dropout Rate: In 2021-22, official data revealed that the secondary
school dropout rate in several states exceeded the National average of 12.6 percent.
• These findings were collated from the Project Approval Board (PAB) meetings held
under the Ministry of Education to discuss the implementation of the ‘Samagra
Shiksha’ program.
• The government considers dropout rates as a hindrance to achieving the objectives
outlined in the National Education Policy.
• Aim – To attaining a 100% Gross Enrolment Rate (GER) at the school level by 2030.

Note

• The Dropout rate in Bihar - 20.46 %, Gujarat 17.85 %, Assam 20.3 %, Meghalaya 21.7
%, at the secondary level in 2021-22.
• The dropout rate among scheduled tribes and Muslim children at the secondary level
remained significantly high.
• These statistics align with a survey conducted by the United Nations Children's
Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in 2022, which found that 33% of girls in India drop out
of school due to domestic work.

About Samakra shiksha

• To treat school education holistically without segmentation from pre-nursery to

Class 12.
• It subsumes the three schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya
Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE).

WEF report

• India was ranked 127 among 146 countries in gender parity-up eight places from last
year’s place in the Gender Gap Report, 2023 of the World Economic Forum (WEF).
• India was ranked 135 in 2022.
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June - 2023

Key Highlights

• The country had improved by 1.4 percentage points from then, marking a partial
recovery towards its 2020 parity level.
• India had closed 64.3% of the overall gender gap.
• The report underlined that India had reached only 36.7% parity in economic
participation and opportunity.
• The country had attained parity in enrolment across all levels of education.
• Iceland is the most gender-equal country for the 14th consecutive year and the only
one to have closed more than 90% of its gender gap.
• In India, the share of women in senior positions and technical roles had dropped
slightly.
• On political empowerment, India has registered 25.3% parity, with women making up
15.1% of MPs.
• Of the 117 countries with available data since 2017, 18 – including Bolivia (50.4%),
India (44.4%) and France (42.3%) – have achieved women’s representation of over
40% in local governance.
• For India, the 1.9 percentage point improvement in sex ratio at birth had driven up
parity after more than a decade.
• “Compared with top scoring countries that register a 94.4% gender parity at birth, the
indicator stands at 92.7% for India”.

About WEF

• Chairperson – Borge Brende

• HQ – Cologny, Switzerland
• Founded – 1971
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June - 2023
5. SCIENCE

5.1. INVENTIONS ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

India's first mRNA vaccine against Omicron approved

• GEMCOVAC-OM, India's first indigenous mRNA vaccine for the Omicron variant
of the novel corona virus, was approved under emergency use guidelines by the Drug
Controller General of India (DCGI).

Note:

• This comes a year after the Pune-based Gennova Bio pharmaceuticals Ltd. got
approval for GEMCOVAC-19 against COVID-19.

US Grants Approval to make and sell cell-cultivated chicken

• Cellular agriculture is the process by which

animal-based products are produced directly from
cell cultures rather than from animals.
➢ It comprises two different approaches:
cell cultivation (cellular) and precision
fermentation (acellular- contain no cellular
or living material in final product like Milk).
➢ In 2020, Singapore became the first country to
approve the sale of cell-cultivated meat.
• Benefits of cell-cultivated meat
➢ Reduce GHGs emissions: FAO has estimated that global livestock is
responsible for 14.5% of all anthropogenic GHGs emissions.
▪ Compared to conventional beef, lab-grown meat requires 45% less energy
use.
➢ Animal Rights will be protected.
➢ Without changing dietary habits, it provides Nutritional security.
➢ It can be customized to be healthier than their animal counterpart, such as
being designed to contain less fat.

• Challenges associated with cell-cultivated meat

➢ Cost of cell-cultivated meat is expected to remain high in the near future.
➢ Resource Constraints like availability of high quality cells, suitable growth-
medium.
➢ Difficulty in replicating taste, texture, fat content like bovine meat.
➢ Uncertainty of consumer acceptance due to lack of awareness.
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June - 2023
5.3. SPACE

First abort mission of 'Gaganyaan': ISRO chairman

• The first abort mission for India's maiden human spaceflight 'Gaganyaan' would be
conducted at the end of August this year, while the unmanned mission to orbit would
take place next year, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO),
S.Somanath.
• Since humans will be part of the mission, crew safety becomes paramount.
• For that, ISRO is doing two more additional things.
• One is called the crew escape system. It means if a contingency is developed in the
rocket, the system should get activated.
• The second one is the integrated vehicle health management system.

About ISRO

• Chairman - S Somanath
• HQ – Bangalore
• Founder - Vikram Sarabhai
• Founded -15 August 1969

India’s third moon exploration missions

• ISRO plans to launch the third moon mission in aboard the LVM3 (formely GSLV
MK-III) rocket from Sriharikota.
• The Chandrayaan-3 lander will bear the name Vikram (after Vikram Sarabhai, the
father of the Indian space programme) and the rover, Pragyan.
• A propulsion module will carry the lander-rover configuration to a 100-km lundar
orbit.
• Once the Vikram lander module makes it safely to the moon, it will deploy Pragyan,
“which will carry out in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface during the course
of its mobility”.
• The lander, rover and the propulsion module will have payloads for performing
experiments designed to give scientists new in-sights into the characteristics of earth’s
lone natural satellite.
• The lander will have four payloads:
o Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive lonosphere and Atmosphere
(RAMBHA)
o Chandra’s Surface Thermo physical Experiment (ChaSTE)
o Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA)
o LASER Retroreflector Array (LRA).
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June - 2023
• The six-wheeled rover will have two payloads:
o The Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS)
o LASER Induced Break-down Spectroscope (LIBS)
• In addition to these, there will be one payload on the propulsion module, the
Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE).

IUCAA delivered SUIT telescope to ISRO for the solar mission

• The Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT), a space telescope developed by

Pune’s Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), was
delivered to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for its ADITYA-L1 solar
mission.
• SUIT is set to be one of the seven payloads of ADITYA-L1, India’s first mission to
study the sun.
• The main purpose of the telescope is to study the Sun’s ultraviolet (UV) emissions and
capture high-resolution images of the Sun’s atmosphere, known as the corona, in
various UV wavelengths.

5.3. SCIENTIFIC LABORATORIES AND CENTRES

India joins global laboratory network for vaccine tests

• India has joined the Centralised Laboratory Network (CLN), which has 15 partner
facilities in 13 countries that works to test vaccines which can be used during
pandemics and epidemic disease outbreak.
• CLN is a part of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and
the Network is the largest global group which has standardized methods and
materials for testing.

6. NATIONAL DIARY OF EVENTS

KERALA’S OWN INTERNET, TO THE PEOPLE.

• Government of Kerala’s flagship project, the Kerala Fibre Optic Network (KFON), is
designed to bridge the digital divide, make e-Governance universal and ensure
internet access to every Government Institution and household across the State.
• Kerala is also the only state in India to have declared access to internet as a basic
right.

App Launched by Minister Kiran Rijiju

• Kiran Rijiju (Minister of Earth Sciences) launched the ‘Ship Tracking System’
Application while came to Chennai port.
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June - 2023
• It was developed by NIOT (National Institute of Ocean Technology).
• He visits the ships Sagar Anveshika (Coastal Research Vessel) and ORV Sagar
Nidhi
(Research/Survey Vessel) to inspect the research work of NIOT.

About NIOT

• Ministry - Ministry of Earth Sciences

• Established - November 1993
• Base - Chennai

T.N. withdraws general consent granted to CBI

• Tamil Nadu announced that it has withdrawn the General consent given to the
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), under Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police
Establishment (DSPE) Act, allowing the agency to investigate cases without its
permission in the State.
• The CBI should hence-forth seek prior permission from the Tamil Nadu government
for undertaking investigation.

Note:

• Several States including Mizoram, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Kerala,

Jharkhand, Punjab and Meghalaya had withdrawn their general consent given to
CBI.
• As per Section 6 of the DSPE Act, 1946, the CBI needs consent from the respective
State governments for conducting investigation in their jurisdiction.
• A General consent to CBI granted by State governments enables the central agency to
carry out investigations without such hindrances.

About CBI

• Director - Praveen Sood

• Headquarters – New Delhi
• Formed – 1 April 1963 by resolution of home ministry.

In Mann Ki Baat, PM speaks efforts to eradicate TB

• Ahead of his state visit to the U.S., Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a special
out-of-turn episode of Mann Ki Baat.
• Mr. Modi hailed the progress that is being made towards a tuberculosis free India by
2025.
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June - 2023
• Nikshay Mitra programme, under which social organisations, villages, panchayats
and individuals can “adopt” TB patients to help and support and remove the stigma.

About TB

• According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates in 2020, India has the
world's largest tuberculosis epidemic, accounted for 26% of the incident TB cases
across the globe.
• Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
• The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body
such as the kidney, spine, and brain.

FM calls for efforts to cultivate millets

• Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman called for efforts to sensitise farmers to
shift towards more remunerative but less water-guzzling crops like millets, pulses
and oilseeds, and enhance the digital capabilities of rural financial institutions.
• Ms. Sitharaman, was chairing a review of India’s apex rural development financial
institution National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development or NABARD.
• “With Production and marketing of Shree Anna as a national priority in the ongoing
International Year of Millets, the Finance Minister directed NABARD to encourage
farmers to enhance the area covered under Millets, and to protect the returns of
farmers who are already growing millets.”
• Ms. Sitharaman stressed the need to boost the digital capabilities of rural financial
institutions including regional rural banks for augmenting financial inclusion.

About NABARD

• Chairman – Shri Shaji K.V

• HQ – Mumbai
• Established – 1982

G-20 Education Ministers Meet

• A meeting of the Education Ministers of G-20 countries was held in Pune.

• In the Meeting they agreed to equitable and inclusive use of Artificial Intelligence in
education and skilling that respects human rights.
• All G-20 members also agreed to the critical role that education plays as an enabler of
human dignity and empowerment globally.
• G-20 members have agreed on the need to work together for a resilient, equitable,
inclusive and sustainable future through education.
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June - 2023
• India is undertaking skill mapping.
• Education, Skill and Labour Ministries are working in tandem on this initiative.
• G-20 countries can undertake skill mapping at the global level, and find gaps that
need to be plugged.

First semiconductor chip at India by Dec.2024.

• The $2.7-billion semiconductor assembly and testing plant is to be built by U.S.

headquartered Micron in India will produce its first chip in six quarters.
• The groundwork to domestically synthesize hundreds of chemicals and gases
involved in semiconductor manufacturing had been laid.
• Ultra-pure water (UPW), which is required in semiconductor manufacturing in large
quantities, would be manufactured for the Micron plant.

About India Semiconductor Mission

• India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) is a specialized and independent Business

Division within the Digital India Corporation.
• Aims - To build a vibrant semiconductor and display ecosystem to enable India’s
emergence as a global hub for electronics manufacturing and design.
• Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology has inaugurated the first ever
Semicon India 2022 Conference under India Semiconductor Mission in Bengaluru.
• Theme of the Conference: Catalyzing India’s Semiconductor Ecosystem.
• The ISM was launched in 2021 with a total financial outlay of Rs.76000 crore under the
aegis of the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY).

Balidaan Stambh Memorial

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of a martyrs’ memorial in
Srinagar.
• The Balidaan Stambh memorial, a project under the Srinagar Smart City initiative, is
a tribute to martyrs who had sacrificed their lives for the nation.
• The memorial will “inspire patriotism among the youth”.

Joha Rice

• Scientists explored nutraceutical properties of Joha rice (a GI Tag rice from Assam)
and detected two unsaturated fatty acids:
o linoleic acid (omerga-6)
o linolenic acid (omega-3).
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June - 2023
• Joha rice has a more balanced ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 in comparison to widely
consumed non-scented variety.
• Joha is a short-grain winter paddy known for its significant aroma and taste.
• Joha varieties are mostly short or medium grained and have very low yield
potential.
• It is effective in lowering blood glucose and preventing diabetes onset.
• It is also rich in several antioxidants, flavonoids, and phenolics.

About GI Tag in India

• GI tag is the abbreviation of Geographical Indications tags.

• It came into force with effect from 15th September 2003.
• Darjeeling tea became the first GI tagged product in India, in 2004.

17th Indian Cooperative Congress

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 17th Indian Cooperative
Congress (ICC) in New Delhi.
• The National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) is organizing the two-day event
with the theme "Amrit Kaal: Prosperity through Cooperation for a Vibrant India."

About National Cooperative Union of India

• It is the apex organization representing the entire cooperative movement in India.

• It was established in 1929 as the All India Cooperative Institutes Association.
• In 1961, it took on its current name as the National Cooperative Union of India.

UN 'Children and Armed Conflict' Report

• UN Drops India from 'Children and Armed Conflict' Report over ‘Improvement’ in
J & K.
• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres report on children and armed conflict does
not include India for the first time in 12 years.
• The 2022 report states that teenagers continue to be harassed, picked up for
questioning and are illegally detained, in complete violation of the Juvenile Justice
(Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
• The latest report released, said India has been “removed from the report in 2023” in
view of measures taken by the government to “better protect children”.
• Officials of the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) said that this
became possible due to the introduction of various policies and institutional changes
since 2019.
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June - 2023
• However, in a Special Report released in 2022, the Forum for Human Rights in Jammu
and Kashmir comprising Justice A.P. Shah, former Chief Justice of the Madras and
Delhi high courts, Gopal Pillai, former government of India home secretary and many
other judges, activists and lawyers had highlighted violations of human and child
rights in Jammu and Kashmir with special attention to the latter.

7. INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI)

• Pakistan and Turkmenistan have signed a Joint Implementation Plan in a bid to

expedite work on the TAPI gas pipeline project.

About TAPI project

• It aims to export natural gas annually through pipeline from Turkmenistan

(Galkynysh gas field) to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India (Fazilka).
• Funded by - Asian Development Bank (ADB).
• Project Signed – 11 December 2010 in Ashgabat (Capital of Turkmenistan)

8. TAMILNADU AFFARIS

All-woman sailing expedition flagged off

• Minister of Youth Welfare and Sports Development Udhayanidhi flagged off an all-
woman sailing expedition organised by the Tamil Nadu Police as part of the
“Golden Jubilee Year of Women in Tamil Nadu Police Force” celebrations.
• The expedition plans to cover a distance of 1,000 km on the Chennai-Pulicat-Point
Calimere-Chennai route and has been scheduled.
• For this, 25 women police personnel were selected and imparted with basic and
advance training.

Background

• In 1973, The First Batch of Women in Tamil Nadu Police, consisting of an SI

(Usharani), an HC and 20 PCs was recruited in the State by then CM M Karunanidhi.
• In 1976, Letika Saran and G Thilakavathi became the First Women IPS officers of the
TN cadre.
• In 1992, first All Women Police Station (AWPS) in the State was opened by the then
CM J Jayalalitha in the Thousand Lights area of the city.
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June - 2023
Note
• Kiran Bedi became the First Woman in India to join the officer ranks of the Indian
Police Service (IPS) in 1972.
• India's First All Women Police Station located in Kozhikode, Kerala which was
inaugurated by the then PM Indira Gandhi in 1973.

Fishing boats get transponders with ISRO help

• The project envisages installing 5,000 transponders on boats in the State and is
funded by the Government of India.
• Tamil Nadu is the first State in the country to get the equipment.
• Around 600 boats in the Kasimedu fishing harbour have been fitted with two-way
communication transponders with technology developed by the Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO).
• These transponders will come in handy in case of emergencies and will allow the boat
owners, the Fisheries department control room and other agencies like the Coast
Guard to known the whereabouts of the vessel.

About transponders

• The equipment allows two-way text communication via GSAT6 Satellite.

• Mobile applications have been developed for android phones/tablets for use by the
fishermen on board and for the owners.
• If a cyclone warning has been issued and the information has to be sent to them.

Note

• The device was fixed in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu on a trial basis in 2017.

'Kalaignar Kottam' Inauguration

• The Opening ceremony of the Kalaignar Kottam, built by Dayalu Ammal Foundation
on an area of 7,000 square feet at a cost of Rs 12 crore, is being held at Kattur near
Tiruvarur.
• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin presided over the opening ceremony

Panel holds second meet into Vengaivayal incident

• Justice M. Sathyanarayanan (retired), was appointed by the Madras High Court to

head the one-man commission to probe the Vengaivayal case.
• In Vengaivayal, human faces were found mixed in an overhead tank that supplied
drinking water to Scheduled Caste residents.
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June - 2023
• The Panel held a second meeting with the district officials to ascertain the progress of
investigation.

Kalaignar pen monument gets CRZ nod

• The Union Ministry of Environment has granted the Coastal Regulation Zone
(CRZ) clearance, with 15 conditions, 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.
• The clearance was granted based on the recommendations of the Expert Appraisal
Committee and the Tamil Nadu Coastal Zone Management Authority.
• Some of the conditions laid down by the Ministry include obtaining a no-objection
certificate from INS Adyar, situated 800 metres away from the project site, before the
construction; monitoring erosion and carrying out accretion studies; filing reports on
crowd management; and setting out emergency evacuation plans that are to be
provided to the regional environment office.
• The CRZ clearance was subjected to the final order of the National Green Tribunal,
southern Zone.
• Chennai-based Hubert Enviro Care Systems was the infrastructure and environmental
consultant for the project.

About the Monument

• The PWD had proposed that the monument would be 30-metre high and spread over
8,551 sqm.
• This project includes a pen pedestal, a lattice bridge above the beach and land, and a
pedestrian pathway above the sea.
• The 7-metre wide bridge would be 290-metre long above the land and 360-metre long
above the sea.

About CRZ

• The coastal areas of seas, bays, creeks, rivers, and backwaters which get influenced by
tides up to 500 m from the high tide line (HTL) and the land between the low tide line
(LTL) and the high tide line have been declared as coastal regulation zone (CRZ) in
1991.
• The coastal regulation zones have been declared by the Ministry of Environment,
Forest and Climate change under the Environment Protection Act 1986.
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June - 2023
TN opens 3 industrial estates

• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin inaugurated three industrial estates and a
cashew processing cluster and gave away prizes to those who excelled in the micro,
small and medium enterprises sector.
• On the Occasion of the International MSME Day he inaugurated the industrial estates
at Kodur in Chengalpattu district, Manapparai in Tiruchi district and
Sakkimangalam in Madurai district. The cashew processing cluster has been
opened at Kadampuliyur in Cuddalore district under the MSME Cluster
Development Programme.
• An MoU was signed between FaME TN (Facilitating MSMEs of Tamil Nadu) and
SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India) for creating over 7,400 jobs.
• The Chief Minister also handed over Rs.18.94 crore in subsidies to 100 beneficiaries
under the Annal Ambedkar Business Champions Scheme.

City police launch drone unit

• The Greater Chennai Police (GCP) launched ‘Police Drone Unit’ for aerial
surveillance.
• Director General of Police (DGP) and Head of Police Force C. Sylendra Babu
inaugurated the newly created special unit at Besant Avenue, Adyar.
• This project is the first of its kind in the country.

9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

Summer solstice

• On 21st June the event of summer solstice takes place.

• The summer solstice is the time when the Sun is directly above the Tropic of Cancer
leading to the longest daylight.
• It marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and officially the
beginning of the summer season.
• Earth's axial tilt is highest on this day.
• The sun reaches its highest point in the sky and daylight lasts the longest.