Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 5th June 2024

 

National News 

1. School Education Department Signs MoU with National Book Trust to Create Institutional Framework for Rashtriya E-Pustakalaya 

• The Department of School Education, Ministry of Education, has signed an MoU with the National Book Trust to establish an institutional framework for Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya, a pioneering digital library platform. 
• This collaboration aims to enhance the accessibility of non-academic books for children and adolescents across India. 
• The digital library aims to resolve the ‘last mile’ accessibility issue for many states by offering over 10,000 books in more than 100 languages within the next 2-3 years. Currently, over 1,000 books in 23 languages are available. 
• Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya will feature over 1,000 non-academic titles from more than 40 publishers in 22 languages, besides English. 
• The platform will cater to four age groups (3-8, 8-11, 11-14, and 14-18 years) as per NEP 2020 guidelines, and will be accessible on Android and iOS devices. The library will offer books across multiple genres, fostering cultural awareness and empathy. 

2. India receives highest FDI from Singapore in FY 2023-24 

• India received the highest foreign direct investment (FDI) from Singapore in 2023-24 despite foreign capital inflows into the country declining by about 3.5 per cent due to global economic uncertainties, according to the latest government data. 
• However, FDI from Singapore declined by 31.55 per cent to USD 11.77 billion in 2023-24. Mauritius emerged as the second-largest investor, with FDI from Mauritius declining to USD 7.97 billion from USD 6.13 billion in 2022-23. 
• The United States ranked as the third-largest investor with foreign investment of $4.99 billion, down from $6 billion last year. 
• During the last fiscal, FDI equity inflows declined from major countries including Mauritius, Singapore, the US, the UK, the UAE, the Cayman Islands, Germany and 0Cyprus. However, investments from the Netherlands and Japan increased. 
• Since 2018-19, Singapore has been the largest source of such investments for India. In 2017-18, India attracted the highest FDI from Mauritius. 
• FDI equity inflows into India declined by 3.49 per cent to US$ 44.42 billion in 2023-24 from US$ 46 billion in 2021-22. In 2021-22, the country received the highest ever FDI inflow of US$ 84.83 billion. 
• Sector-wise, inflows declined in services, computer software and hardware, trading, telecom, automobile, pharma and chemicals. In contrast, construction (infrastructure) activities, development and power sectors recorded good growth in inflows during the period under review. 

3. Tata Motors form subsidiary for Commercial Vehicle 

• Tata Motors has announced the formation of a wholly-owned subsidiary for its commercial vehicle business. The owned subsidiary will be called TML Commercial Vehicle Ltd (TMLCVL). 
• TMLCVL is proposed to be incorporated with a paid-up capital of ₹10,00,000 comprising of 5,00,000 equity shares of face value of ₹2 each fully paid-up cash. 
• Earlier the company had announced the demerger of its passenger and commercial vehicle business into a separate entity. Further Tata Motors Finance Ltd (TMFCL) will be merged with Tata Capital Ltd (TCL). 

4. IndiGo to host IATA annual general meeting in Delhi 

• IndiGo will host the 81st annual general meeting of the International Airport Transport Association (IATA) in Delhi in June 2025. 
• The meeting will be held in the country after a gap of 42 years. 
• The decision to host the 81st IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) in India was made at the ongoing AGM here. 
• India has hosted the AGM twice in the past in Delhi — in 1958 and 1983. 

International News 

5. Short on troops, Australia opens military to non-citizen residents from Five Eyes 

• Australia will allow non-citizens to join its armed forces, the government said on Tuesday, as the sparsely populated nation struggles to meet recruitment targets. 
• Defence Minister Richard Marles said that from July, looser eligibility criteria would allow "permanent residents who have been living in Australia for 12 months" to serve. 
• Citizens from Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the United States are being favored, he added. 
• Australia has a coastline that would stretch one-and-a-bit times around the Earth, but a population of just 26 million. 
• Canberra has surged defense spending in recent years, buying fleets of submarines, jets and scores of fighting vehicles to meet mounting regional tensions. But it has struggled to find enough pilots, mariners and troops to operate and maintain them. 
• Experts warn too few Australians don a uniform to meet even current requirements, much less a beefier military of tomorrow.
• The Australian Defence Forces can today count on about 90,000 personnel, including reservists, according to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. 

6. Biden expected to block migrants from asylum. 

• U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to sign a sweeping new border measure on Tuesday that would all0ow authorities to quickly deport or send back to Mexico migrants caught crossing the southwest border if illegal entries surpass a certain level, according to two sources with knowledge of the move.
• The measure, which would restrict access to asylum, would take effect when the U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions surpass 2,500 per day, the two sources said. The illegal crossings would have to dip below 1,500 per day for the asylum restrictions to be lifted, one of the sources said. 
• The restrictions are not expected to apply to unaccompanied minors. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 
• The election-year move is expected to trigger legal challenges from immigrant and civil rights groups who have criticized Mr. Biden, a Democrat, for adopting hardline policies that mirror those of his Republican predecessor, former President Donald Trump. 
• Mr. Biden has toughened his approach to border security as immigration has emerged as a top issue for voting-age Americans in the run-up to November 5 elections where he will face Mr. Trump in a rematch of the 2020 contest. 
• Mr. Biden took office in 2021 vowing to reverse some of Mr. Trump's restrictive policies but grappled with record levels of migrants caught crossing illegally. Mr. Trump has criticized Mr. Biden for rolling back his policies and vowed a wide-ranging crackdown if re-elected. 
• In advance of the announcement, Mr. Trump's campaign issued a statement calling Mr. Biden's executive order "amnesty, not border security" and again blaming immigrants for what he called a U.S. crime wave. 
• A range of studies by academics and think tanks have shown that immigrants do not commit crime at a higher rate than native-born Americans. 

7. Australian fern species ‘Tmesipteris’ has the largest genome in the world 

• New research shows that the fork fern species, called Tmesipteris oblanceolata, has a genome – all the genetic information of an organism – 7% larger than the previous record holder, the Japanese flowering plant Paris japonica, and more than 50 times the size of the human genome.
• The fern grows mainly on the ground or on top of fallen tree trunks in New Caledonia, about 750 miles (1,200 km) east of Australia, and also on neighbouring islands such as Vanuatu. 
• It is a small plant, typically 10-15 centimetres (4-6 inches) high. The metric for genome size was the number of base pairs, the basic units of DNA, in an organism’s cellular nucleus. If stretched out like a ball of yarn, the DNA in each cell of this fern would be about 350 feet (106 meters) long, taller than the Statue of Liberty in New York, Big Ben's clock tower in London or the Taj Mahal in India. The human genome stretches just 6-1/2 feet (2 meters). 
• It belongs to a fern family whose evolutionary lineage split off from other ferns about 350 million years ago, about 120 million years before the dinosaurs appeared.The tiny fern's genome is about 6,000% larger than that of the blue whale, the largest animal on Earth, and about 4,650% larger than that of the African elephant, the largest land animal. It is also about 1,500% larger than that of the giant redwood, the tallest plant. 

8. Blue ant discovered in 'Himalayan biodiversity hotspot' 

• A new research from India discovered a distinctive, stunning blue ant species in the Siang Valley, a "biodiversity hotspot" in Arunachal Pradesh. 
• Researchers from the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) and a documentation team from Felis Creations Bangalore embarked on multiple trips to the valley, a "Himalayan biodiversity hotspot", under the banner of 'Siang Expedition'. 
• According to ATREE researchers, this species called Paraparatrechina blue is "not like the common red, black or brown ants." The researchers explained that Paraparatrechina blue is a tiny ant and is less than two millimetres in length. 
• They said the ant's head is subtriangular with large eyes and has a triangular mouthpart (jaw) with five teeth. 

9. First elephant-rich African countries’ KAZA Summit 2024 held in Zambia 

• The KAZA 2024 Heads of State Summit concluded on 31 May 2024 in the Zambian resort town of Livingstone. It was the first summit. 
• The host of the summit, President Hakainde Hichilema was joined by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba. 
• Botswana was represented by its Vice President Slumber Tsogwane, while Angola was represented by the country’s Tourism Minister Marcio de Jesus Lopes. 
• At the CoP19 held in Panama in the year 2022, these countries had their request to CITES to partially lift the ban on the trade of ivory and other elephant products unanimously rejected.
• The KAZA Summit noted that member countries have more than $1 billion worth of ivory, which they are unable to sell due to the CITES ban. They are considering skipping CITES's CoP20, to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, next year. 

KAZA-TFCA 

• Made up of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, the KAZA-TFCA is a 520,000 square kilometre wildlife sanctuary that shares common borders along the Okavango and Zambezi river basins. 
• These countries, along with South Africa, are home to more than two thirds of Africa's elephant population, estimated at 450,000. KAZA member countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2006, resulting in the KAZA Treaty of 2011. 
• WSIS+20 (World Summit on the Information Society) 2024 held in Geneva From 27 to 31 May 2024, the WSIS+20 (World Summit on the Information Society) Forum HighLevel Event 2024 and the ‘AI for Good’ Global Summit were held at ITU Geneva. 
• The event was co-organised by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP and UNCTAD and co-hosted by ITU and the Swiss Confederation with support from remote participation. 
• It is celebrated on 17 May every year since 1969 to mark the anniversary of the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) on 17 May 1865, when the first International Telegraph Convention was signed in Paris. 
• The first International Telegraph Convention was signed in 1865. 

Appointment News

10. Businesswoman Halla Tomasdottir elected Iceland’s President 

• Businesswoman and investor, Halla Tomasdottir has been elected as Iceland’s seventh President. 
• She will be sworn in on 1 August 2024 and replace the incumbent president, Guana Johannesson. 
• The President of Iceland has a term of four years. 
• The president is elected directly by the people. Iceland is a parliamentary democracy and the post of president is largely ceremonial. The real executive power is exercised by the Prime Minister, who heads the council of ministers. 

Newly Appointed Prime Minister & President 

• President of Mexico – Claudia Sheinbaum (first female prez of nation) 
• President of Lithuania – Gitanas Nauseda 
• PM of Chad – Allamaye Halina 
• President of Taiwan – Lai Ching-Te 
• PM of Singapore – Lawrence Wong

Banking & Finance News 

11. SEBI launches 'Saathi 2.0 Personal Finance App' for investors 

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has launched 'Saathi 2.0', a mobile app on personal finance, to simplify complex financial concepts for investors. 
• It includes financial calculators and has modules that introduce KYC (know your customer) processes, mutual funds, exchange traded funds, buying and selling of shares on stock exchanges, and investor grievance redressal mechanisms, SEBI said. 
• It also provides educational videos to assist investors in their personal finance planning. 
• The updated Saathi app features a user-friendly interface with comprehensive tools aimed at simplifying complex financial concepts. It includes financial calculators and modules that introduce and explain various aspects of personal finance, such as KYC processes. 
• The internal content of the Saathi app is dynamic, allowing it to adjust to rapidly changing market conditions. SEBI actively seeks public suggestions to further refine and enhance the app, ensuring that it continues to serve investors effectively. 
• SEBI is a statutory body (a nonconstitutional body established by the Parliament) established on April 12, 1992, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992. 
• SEBI's core function is to protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote and regulate the securities market. SEBI is headquartered in Mumbai with regional offices in Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Chennai and Delhi. 

12. State Bank of India becomes third bank with market capitalisation of ₹8 lakh crore 

• The market capitalisation of State Bank of India (SBI) crossed the Rs 8 lakh crore mark on June 3, 2024, when the bank's shares hit a record high of Rs 911. 
• SBI is now the third largest bank in India by market capitalisation, very close to ICICI Bank, which is the second largest bank. HDFC is the largest bank. 
• SBI became the 5th largest company in India, major companies of India are - Reliance Industries, Tata Consultancy Services, HDFC Bank, Bharti Airtel, Infosys. 
• The market capitalization of the bank crossed the milestone as the bank's shares rose more than 9% during the stock market boom. 
• Notably, SBI shares have gained more than 50% in the last six months. SBI has raised $1 billion from overseas to cater to the ESG financing market. 
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently posted on social media that India's banking sector has achieved a significant milestone by recording a net profit of more than Rs 3 lakh crore. 
• The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code introduced by the government has improved the financial condition of Indian banks, leading to recovery of bad loans worth ₹10 lakh crore. "Banks have recovered over ₹10 lakh crore from bad loans between 2014 and 2023," he said. 
• In its recently released quarterly results, State Bank of India reported a standalone net profit of ₹20,698.35 crore, up 24% year-onyear (Y-o-Y) on the back of higher interest income and lower provisions. State Bank of India reported 15.24% year-on-year (YoY) loan growth at the end of March 2024. 
• Last week, CLSA added SBI, Canara Bank and Bank of Baroda to its list of 54 Modi stocks. 
• "Modi stocks" are companies or sectors that have directly benefited from the policies and initiatives of the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, making them attractive to investors looking to benefit from government-driven growth. 

Awards News

13. Virat Kohli honoured with ICC ODI Player of the Year award 

• The International Cricket Council (ICC) has awarded Virat Kohli the award in the ICC Men's ODI Team of the Year for the year 2023. The honour was announced in New York. 
• Across 27 One Day Internationals (ODIs) in 2023, he scored 1,377 runs at an average of 72.47 and a strike rate of 99.13. His remarkable consistency was highlighted by scoring six centuries and eight halfcenturies in 24 innings, with his highest score being an unbeaten 166. 
• Kohli's crucial role in India's victory in the Asia Cup 2023 was highlighted by a memorable innings of 122 not out off 94 balls against Pakistan during the Super Four stage. 
• In the ODI World Cup hosted by India, he scored 765 runs in 11 matches at an average of 95.62, including three centuries and six half-centuries. His highest score in the tournament was 117. 
• His stellar performance not only made him the leading run-scorer of the tournament but also set a new record for most runs in a World Cup edition, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's previous record of 673 runs set in 2003.Moreover, Kohli broke 
• Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI centuries by scoring his 50th century in the semi-final against New Zealand. He has won the Orange Cap for scoring the most runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL). 

14. PV Sindhu Indian startup Greenday's 'Better Nutrition' brand ambassador 

• Two-time Olympic medallist and world champion in badminton PV Sindhu has also joined Greenday as its 'Better Nutrition' brand ambassador. Greenday's 'Better Nutrition' brand aims to address micronutrient deficiencies in India through biofortified foods. 
• Greenday, founded by Rastogi and Aishwarya Bhatnagar, alumni of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, works with farmers to cultivate nutrientrich crop varieties. These biofortified crops are rich in micronutrients such as iron, zinc, pro-vitamin A, calcium and protein. 
• The startup currently operates around 75 agri-input stores and procurement centres across the country under its Greenday 'Kisan Ki Dukan' brand. Its FMCG brand 'Better Nutrition' offers biofortified flour, rice, millets, ragi and maize.
• Greenday is collaborating with 15,000 farmers and plans to scale up operations significantly. 

15. Siddhalinga Pattanashetti wins Gudleppa Hallikeri Award 2024 

• Poet and playwright Siddhalinga Pattanashetti has been chosen for the prestigious Gudleppa Hallikeri Award for 2024 by the Gudleppa Hallikeri Memorial Foundation, Hosaritti (Haveri District). 
• Pattanashetti will be the 19th recipient of the award. The award comprises a purse of ₹25,000 and a memento. 
• People who have made important contributions to literature, society, or social service are recognized with the Gudleppa Hallikeri Award. It was named for a famous freedom fighter named Gudleppa Hallikeri who believed in the same things that Mahatma Gandhi did. 

Important day 

16. 5 June – World Environment Day 

• World Environment Day is celebrated every year on June 5. 
• This day is dedicated to raising awareness and taking action for the protection of our environment. 
• Theme 2024 – Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience 
• 2024 will mark the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. 
• The sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) will be held in Riyadh in December 2024. 

Ranks & Reports News 

17. NOTA sets new record with 2.18 lakh votes in Indore, Madhya Pradesh 

• In the Lok Sabha election results in Madhya Pradesh, NOTA has set a new record in Indore. For the first time in the electoral history of the country, NOTA has received so many votes. 2.18 lakh voters set a NOTA record by choosing the 'none of these' option in the Lok Sabha elections.
• At the same time, BJP's sitting MP from Indore, Shankar Lalwani, won by a record margin of 11,75,092 votes, Lalwani defeated the nearest BSP rival Sanjay Solanki. A BJP leader claimed that his victory margin is probably the highest in the electoral history of the country. Lalwani won for the first time in the 2019 elections.
• In the polling held on May 13 in Indore, 61.75% of the total 25 lakh 27 thousand voters voted. A total of 14 candidates are in the fray for this seat.So far, Gopalganj in Bihar holds the record for the highest NOTA in the country. NOTA had received 51,660 votes in the 2019 election. 
• In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, 46,559 votes were recorded for NOTA in Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu, which was about 5 per cent of the total votes cast in the constituency at that time. The NOTA option was introduced on electronic voting machines (EVMs) in September 2013, following a Supreme Court ruling. 
• Congress' Indore candidate Akshay Kanti Bam withdrew his nomination on April 29 and later joined the BJP. Following this, the Congress appealed to Indore voters to press NOTA on the EVM to teach the BJP a "lesson". For the first time in the 72-year history of this Lok Sabha seat, the Congress has been out of the electoral race in Indore. 

Miscellaneous News 

18. Sukhoi fighter jet crashes in Nashik 

• An SU-30MKI fighter jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed in Nashik on Tuesday. 
• The aircraft was recently overhauled by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and was on a test sortie from HAL Nashik at Sirsa gaon, a HAL official said. 
• "Both the pilots of HAL have ejected to safety. A technical snag was reported by the pilots. The exact reason will only be known after detailed investiga- tion," the official added. India has procured 272 
• SU-30 jets from Russia, a bulk of which have been licence-manufactured by HAL in India.