Current Affairs Monthly June 2022 for all Competitive Exams. Download PDF here

Current Affairs Monthly June 2022 PDF for all the competitive exams available here. Current events of national and international importance can provide an edge in the competitive exams. Read, download, and prepare the latest current affairs of June 2022.

National and International Events have gained importance in the recent years. Current Affairs cannot be prepared in a short span of time. Candidates must prepare current affairs of at least 1 year preceeding the date of the exam. In some exams, such as UPSC, current affairs can date back to 1.5 to 2 years as well.

Current Affairs also influence other sections of the General Knowledge/Studies. A topic in news can be easily linked to its static part. Thus, along with the current affairs, it is equally important to study the corresponding static topics.

The Current Affairs section is one of the highest-scoring sections among all. In some exams, there are specific marks allocated to the current affairs section. The candidates always require the latest current affairs to prepare effectively for the competitive exams. The competitive exams include the SBI Exams, IBPS Exams, SSC exams, Railway exams, Police Recruitment Exams, and other Sarkari Exams.

Check: May 2022 Monthly Current Affairs

History and Art & Culture

Sant Kabir Academy and Research Centre

• Sant Kabir Academy and Research Centre has been inaugurated at Kabir Chaura Dham, Maghar, Uttar Pradesh
• Sant Kabir was a saint, social reformer, and a mystic poet who is an integral part of the Bhakti Movement during the 15th Century

Kapilavastu Relics of Lord Buddha

• 4 Holy Kapilvastu Relics of Lord Buddha reached Mongolia for an 11-day exposition
• The Holy Relics were welcomed at the Gandan Monastery
• About Gandan Monastery:
  • It is Mongolian Buddhist Monastery that was established in 1727
  • It is located in Ulaanbaatar

Sant Tukaram Temple Inaugurated in Pune

• Jagatguru Shrisant Tukaram Maharaj Temple was inaugurated in Dehu, near Pune
• Sant Tukaram was a Warkari saint and poet
• He used to compose Abhanga devotional poetry
• He was involved in community-oriented worship through Kirtans and preached the message of equality and universal brotherhood

Polity and Governance

Himachal Pradesh Drone Policy 2022

• Himachal Pradesh has become the first state in the country to approve a drone policy, which aims at creating a drone ecosystem based on GARUD (Governance and Reforms Using Drones)

Economy

E-commerce Customs Duties Moratorium

• India has decided to oppose continuation of moratorium on customs duties on e-commerce trade
• The genesis of e-commerce customs duties lies in the 1998 declaration on global electronic commerce
• India has said that the moratorium (not imposing customs duties) affects the developing countries and leads to a loss in tariff revenue
• India has received support from South Africa in this regard

Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI)

• Purchasing Manager’s Index shows the direction of business activity in manufacturing and services sectors
• It is released by IHS Markit, which has now merged with S&P Global
• It indicates business and investor sentiments and is based on 5 indicators:
  • New Orders (30%)
  • Output (25%)
  • Employment (20%)
  • Suppliers’ Delivery Times (15%)
  • Stock of Items Purchased (10%)
• PMI numbers:
  • PMI = 50 indicates no change in business activity
  • PMI > 50 indicates expansion in business activity
  • PMI < 50 indicates contraction in business activity

Coal Ministry Action Plan to Enhance Coking Coal Production

• During the Financial Year 2021-22, 51.7 Million Ton of raw coking coal was produced
• Current capacity for raw coking coal washing is nearly 23 MT. In addition to this, Coal India Ltd. is planning to set up 9 new washeries with a capacity of 30 MTPA (Million Ton)
• About Coking Coal:
  • It is also known as metallurgical coal
  • Coking coal is used to produce coke, which is a key input in steel production

India's Booming Gig and Platform Economy

• The report, ‘India's Booming Gig and Platform Economy’, has been launched by the NITI Aayog
• Key findings of the report:
  • In 2020-21, 77 lakh (7.7 million) workers were engaged in the gig economy
  • By 2029-30, the gig workforce is expected to expand to 2.35 crore
  • Gig workers are expected to form 6.7% of the non-agricultural workforce by 2029-30
  • 22% of the present gig workforce is high-skilled

ASK Private Wealth Hurun India Future Unicorn Index 2022

• According to the ASK Private Wealth Hurun India Future Unicorn Index 2022, India is expected to have 122 new unicorns (startups with a valuation of $1 billion or more) in the next 2-4 years
• In one year, the number of unicorns has risen by 65%
• Majority of the prospective unicorns are involved in selling software and services. Physical goods are sold by only 17%
• Bengaluru is the unicorn-capital of India with 46 unicorns, followed by Delhi-NCR and Mumbai

Environment

Integrated Landscape Management Plan for Greater Panna Landscape

• Integrated Landscape Management Plan for Greater Panna Landscape has been prepared by Wildlife Institute of India (WII). It has been prepared with respect to Ken-Betwa Link Project
• Key highlights:
  • Better habitat protection and management of flagship species such as Tigers, Vultures, and Gharial
  • Enhance tiger carrying capacity
  • Strengthen connectivity between Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary and Durgavati Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, and Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary in UP

Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT)

• It is a voluntary initiative that was launched by India and Sweden in 2019 at UN Climate Action Summit
• The idea is to bring together countries and companies that have a commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050

World Environment Day

• World Environment Day was observed on 5th June
• Theme for 2022: Only One Earth
• First World Environment Day was observed in 1974

Green Open Access Rules 2022

• Green Open Access Rules have been notified in order to promote generation, purchase, and consumption of green-energy from waste-to-energy plants
• Consumers: Commercial, Industrial, Captive, and DISCOM
• Consumers will be provided with green certificates if they consume green power
• If the green energy is used to produce green hydrogen and green ammonia, then no cross-subsidy surcharge and additional surcharge will be applicable
• Approval process for granting Open Access will be streamlined
• Green tariff will be determined by the Appropriate Commission and shall consist of average pooled power purchase cost of the renewable energy, service charges and cross-subsidy (if any)
• Limit of Open Access Transaction is now 100 kW

Carbon Dioxide Levels

• As per the Mauna Loa Atmospheric Baseline Observatory (MLABO), Hawaii, Carbon Dioxide levels are 50% higher that pre-industrial revolution levels, and these are almost the same as compared to levels 4.1 to 4.5 million years ago during the Pliocene era

Environment Performance Index 2022

• Published by Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy, and the Center for International Earth Science Information Network, Columbia University
• India has been ranked at 180th position out of 180 countries
• India, Myanmar, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Pakistan have received the lowest scores

Industrial Decarbonization Summit 2022

• Industrial Decarbonization Summit 2022 was inaugurated in New Delhi
• An emphasis was laid on establishing an equilibrium between environment and development
• The government is focusing on green hydrogen and the use of biotechnology to increase the productivity of biomass. Biomass, in turn, can be used to produce bio-ethanol, bio-LNG, and bio-CNG

Lake Khuvsgul National Park

• Lake Khuvsgul National Park was added to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves by UNESCO
• About Lake Khuvsgul National Park:
  • Location: Mongolia, Khovsgol province
  • It is also called as Hovsgol or Hövsgöl
  • It is the largest freshwater lake in Mongolia
  • The Khovsgol National Park was established in 1992
  • Flora: thick pine and larch forest
  • Fauna: Argali wild sheep, ibex, bear, wolverine, sable, moose, snow leopard, lynx, red deer, Siberian roe deer, and wild boar

Single-Use Plastic (SUP)

• The use of single-use plastic has been banned by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) from 1 July 2022 onwards
• Manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of single-use plastic have been prohibited
• PVC banners of less than 100 microns will not be allowed
• Compostable plastic has been suggested as an option. Compostable plastic can undergo degradation by biological processes. The products of degradation are carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds and biomass

Living Lands Charter

• Commonwealth has adopted Living Lands Charter
• It is a non-binding charter that provides for the following:
  • Safeguarding global land resources
  • Arresting land degradation
  • Delivery of commitments under the three Rio Conventions - UN Convention on Biological Diversity, UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
  • More than one-third land has been degraded in the last two decades

Geography and Agriculture

Great Assam Earthquake

• As per the latest research, great Assam Earthquake has been traced to the interactions between the North Eastern fringe of the Indian Plate in the Eastern Himalaya and the Indo-Burma Ranges (IBR)
• The great Assam Earthquake was the largest intra-continental earthquake ever recorded, near the Mishmi Hills of Arunachal Himalaya
• North Eastern fringe of the Indian Plate in the Eastern Himalaya (Tidding-Tuting Suture, TTSZ) is active up to 40 km of depth. Indo-Burma Ranges (IBR) are active up to a depth of 200 km
• North Eastern fringe of the Indian Plate in the Eastern Himalaya belongs to seismic zone V on the national zoning map of India

Endosulfan Pesticide

• Endosulfan is a pesticide that has proved to be harmful
• It is an organochloride insecticide. It is also an Acaricide (kills acari i.e. ticks and mites). The trade name is Thiodan. It is sprayed to control beetles, worms, whiteflies, etc.
• It has the potential to bio-accumulate in aquatic and terrestrial organisms
• Its ingestion might lead to physical deformities, neuro-behavioral disorders, cancer, etc.

State Food Safety Index

• The State Food Safety Index measures the performance of States based on five parameters. These parameters are set by the Health Ministry and the rating is done by FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India)
• 5 parameters set by the Health Ministry are:
  • Compliance (30%)
  • Food Testing Facilities (20%)
  • Human Resources and Institutional Data (20%)
  • Consumer Empowerment (20%)
  • Training and Capacity Building (10%)
• Rankings:
  • Big States: Tamil Nadu topped the rank, followed by Gujarat and Maharashtra
  • Small States: Goa topped the rank, followed by Manipur and Sikkim
  • Union Territories: J&K topped the rank, followed by NCT of Delhi and Chandigarh

Rice Fortification

• According to FSSAI, rice fortification involves a deliberate increase in the content of essential micronutrients in rice to improve the nutritional quality of food and to provide public health benefit with minimal risk to health
• Rice is fortified by coating, dusting, and extrusion
• What all micronutrients are involved?
  • Iron
  • Folic acid
  • Vitamin B-12
  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin B-1, B-2, B-3, B-6
  • Zinc
• Fortified rice help in preventing cretinism, goiter, IIH (Thyrotoxicosis), and brain damage
• Under the Phase II of the distribution of Fortified Rice through Public Distribution System (PDS), 90 Lakh Metric Tonnes of fortified rice have been produced
• Phase II included the following for 291 districts (target till March 2023)
  • Phase I
  • TPDS (Targeted Public Distribution System)
  • OWS (Other Welfare Schemes)

Nixtamalization

• It is a traditional method used to process maize in Mexico and Central America
• Dried kernels are cooked and steeped in an alkaline solution
• The alkaline solution is a solution of water and food-grade lime (calcium hydroxide)
• The maize is then drained and rinsed and is used to produce dough

Mango Festival in the Kingdom of Bahrain

• Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) organized an 8-day Mango Festival in the Kingdom of Bahrain
• The festival has been organized in collaboration with the Indian Embassy and Al Jazira Group
• 34 varieties of mangoes from West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha were displayed
• About APEDA:
  • Established under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985
  • Comes under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • It is responsible for export promotion and development of scheduled products such as fruits, vegetables, dairy, confectionery, honey, bakery, etc. Basmati rice is also included in the 2nd schedule of APEDA Act
  • It also monitors the import of sugar

E-Commerce in Agri Tech

• Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) has partnered with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to promote e-commerce in agri tech
• Aim:
  • Establish market linkages for the enabled players with market ready Farmers Producers Organisations (FPOs)
  • Promote the development of innovative solutions that will aid the adoption of e-commerce in the agriculture domain

ONGC Videsh Announces New Oil Discovery

• ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) has discovered oil in Urraca-IX, CPO-5 block, Llanos Basin, Colombia
• Previously, OVL discovered oil in Mariposa and Indico fields

Uranium Deposits in Rajasthan

• Uranium reserves have been discovered at Rohil, Khandela Tehsil, Sikar District, Rajasthan
• The location is nearly 120 km from Jaipur
• Besides Rajasthan (most recent), uranium has been found in Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh
• In 2021, Kazakhstan was the largest producer of uranium, followed by Namibia and Canada
• Utility of uranium
  • Fuel for nuclear power plants
  • Fuel for nuclear reactors that propel naval ships and submarine
  • Its isotopes are used for medical, industrial, and defence purposes
  • Nuclear weapons

International News

Ex Khaan Quest 2022

• It was a Multinational Peacekeeping exercise
• There was participation of military contingents from 16 countries
• The exercise was held in Mongolia
• Ladakh Scouts represented Indian Army
• Aim of the exercise:
  • Enhance interoperability
  • Build military-to-military relationships
  • Develop peace support operations
  • Share best practices

India – UAE MoU

• Memorandum of Understanding between India and United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been approved for cooperation in the field of Industries and Advanced Technologies
• The MoU is focused on the following:
  • Strengthen supply chain resilience of Industries
  • Renewable Energy
  • Energy efficiency
  • Health and Life Sciences
  • Space Systems
  • AI and Industry 4.0 enabling technologies
• India – UAE Trade:
  • India – UAE bilateral trade is valued at USD 60 billion
  • UAE was India’s third largest trading partner for the year 2019-20 (after China and the US)
  • UAE is the 2nd largest export destination for India (after the US)
  • A Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed between India and UAE in 2022

India – Australia MoU

• A Memorandum of Understanding between India and Australia has been approved for technical cooperation in urban water management
• Australia – India Water Security Initiative (AIWASI)
• Aim of the MoU:
  • Strengthen institutional capacities
  • Accessibility, Affordability, and Quality of water and sanitation
  • Circular economy of water
  • Climate resilient water management practices

IND-INDO CORPAT

• 38th India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol was conducted in June 2022
• Location: Andaman Sea and Straits of Malacca
• India and Indonesia Navies have been holding CORPAT since 2002
• Aim:
  • Interoperability
  • Suppress Illegal Unreported Unregulated (IUU) fishing
  • Suppress drug trafficking
  • Suppress maritime terrorism etc.

India-EU Defence Consultations

• India and EU held their first ever security and defence consultations on cyber security, terrorism, maritime awareness, joint exercises, and threat assessments
• Security and defence cooperation between India and EU so far:
  • Regular maritime security dialogue which was held in February 2022 for the 2nd time
  • First ever joint naval exercise held in June 2021
  • Joint workshops on maritime security

EX SAMPRITI-X

• Ex SAMPRITI-X is an Indo-Bangladesh bilateral joint military exercise
• The 10th edition was concluded at Jashore Military Station, Bangladesh
• Aim:
  • Promote understanding and interoperability
  • Strengthen military relations
  • Understand tactical drills and operational techniques
  • Counter Terrorism / Counter Insurgency
  • Peace Keeping
  • Disaster Relief Operation

Special ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

• Special ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held in New Delhi, on 16 June 2022
• It was held to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations
• Key takeaways:
  • Further strengthen and deepen the ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership
  • Commitment to multilateralism, which is founded on the principles of international laws
  • Implementation of the Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-India Partnership for Peace, Progress and Shared Prosperity (2021-2025)
  • Achieve the full potential of ASEAN-India trade and economic partnership
  • Strengthen regional connectivity, both physical and digital
  • Cooperation in the field of Defence
  • Address climate change and biodiversity loss
  • Cooperation in the fields of healthcare, agricultural research, fintech, and Science, Technology and Innovation (STI)
  • Strengthen Inter-Parliamentary dialogue through greater ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and India parliamentary exchanges
  • People-to-people connectivity in socio-cultural fields including education, tourism, technical and vocational education and training
  • Promote MSME development
  • Explore synergies sub-regional frameworks, such as, the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), etc.

Desertification and Drought Day

• Desertification and Drought Day was organized by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC)
• Aim: generate awareness about the role of land in with respect to environment and economy

Israel – Haryana Joint Declaration on Water Cooperation

• Israel and Haryana government have signed a joint declaration for integrated water resources management and capacity building
• Aim:
  • Water management
  • Preserve water resources in public water areas in Haryana
  • Improve public health
  • Knowledge sharing
  • Capacity building

Bharat Gaurav Train

• Bharat Gaurav Train connects Ramayana Circuit destinations in India and Nepal
• The first train arrived in Janakpur, Nepal
• Ramayana circuit will cover: Janakpur (Nepal), Ayodhya, Nandigram, Sitamarhui, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, Panchvati (Nasik), Hampi, Rameshwaram, and Bhadrachalam

Partners in the Blue Pacific Initiative

• The US, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and the UK have an initiative named ‘Partners in the Blue Pacific’
• The initiative aims for effective and efficient cooperation with the Pacific Island Nations
• It is an informal mechanism that strives to boost diplomatic and economic ties
• Areas of Cooperation:
  • Climate crisis
  • Connectivity and transportations
  • Maritime security and protection
  • Health
  • Prosperity
• The move also aims to counter China’s influence in the Pacific region. In May 2022, China endorsed agreements with 10 Pacific nations, covering everything from security to fisheries
• Other steps taken by the US and its allies:
  • Indo-pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF)
  • Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII)

European Union Grants Candidate Status to Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia

• European Parliament has granted candidate status of Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia
• Once a country obtains a candidate status, negotiations for formal membership are held
• These involve adoption of EU law, judicial, administrative, economic, and other reforms, etc.

Science & Tech.

Liquid-Mirror Telescope

• A new liquid-mirror telescope has been commissioned at Devsthal (Uttarakhand). It is the first liquid-mirror telescope in India, and the largest one in Asia
• It will observe the overhead sky to identify transient objects such as gravitational lens, space debris, asteroids, and supernovae
• About the liquid-mirror telescope:
  • It has a rotating mirror of thin film of liquid mercury of 4-meter diameter
  • The mirror is a parabola
  • Light passes through a multi-lens optical corrector. The optical corrector produces a sharp image that gets recorded by a large-format electronic camera located at the focus
  • It is located at Devasthal Observatory campus of Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital (Uttarakhand)

Agni-4

• Agni-4 is an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile
• It was successfully tested from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha
• The successful test reiterates India’s policy of 'Credible Minimum Deterrence' Capability

Biotech Startup Expo – 2022

• Biotech Startup Expo was held in New Delhi on 9th and 10th June 2022
• It was organized by the Department of Biotechnology and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) to mark 10 years of BIRAC
• Theme: Biotech Startup Innovations: Towards AatmaNirbhar Bharat
• Expo will help connect entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders, scientists, researchers, bio-incubators, manufacturers, regulators, government officials, etc.

Geospatial Self Certification Portal

• Geospatial Self Certification Portal has been launched by the Department of Science and Technology (DST)
• It is a self-certification regime to convey adherence to provisions of Geospatial Guidelines by individuals, companies, organizations, and Government agencies
• For the purpose of collection, generation, preparation, dissemination, storage, publication, updating and/or digitization of Geospatial Data and Maps within the territory of India, there will not be any requirement of a prior approval, security clearance, license, etc.
• Aim: Ease of doing business and entrepreneurship

Offshore Wind Energy

• Offshore wind energy refers to the utilization of wind energy with the help of wind farms located inside water bodies. Sea winds are used for the generation of electricity
• There are 2 types of turbines used: fixed-foundation and floating
• The current capacity to harness wind energy is nearly 39.2 GW as of March 2021
• Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) plans on installing 30 GW by 2030

IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre)

• IN-SPACe headquarters have been inaugurated at Bopal, Ahmedabad
• It is expected to increase private sector participation in the space industry
• IN-SPACe will act as a point of contact between ISRO and those who wish to take part in space-related initiatives. It will provide a level-playing field for private companies

Prithvi-II

• Prithvi-II is a Short-Range Ballistic Missile which was recently tested from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha
• What is a ballistic missile?
  • A ballistic missile follows a ballistic trajectory and delivers warheads on a predetermined target
• Types of ballistic missiles:

Type of Ballistic Missile	Range
Short-Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM)	300 km – 1000 km
Medium-Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM)	1000 km – 3500 km
Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM)	3500 km – 5500 km
Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)	More than 5500 km

Gaia Mission

• Gaia is an astronomical observatory mission
• It was launched in 2013 by the European Space Agency (ESA)
• Aim: to create the most accurate and complete 3D map of the Milky Way
• Gaia has discovered Starquakes. These are massive vibrations (like tsunami) that occur on the surface of the stars and can change their shape
• Other findings:
  • Position, distance, orbits, and masses of over 8,00,000 binary star systems
  • Data has revealed chemical components, colours, brightness, velocity, temperatures, and positions of millions of stars
  • Measurements of over a million confirmed quasars and data related to 6.6 million quasar candidates

Hermit

• Hermit is a spyware that has the capability to target Android and iOS devices
• The spyware can steal data such as contacts, browser data, application, device information, etc. The spyware can have access to the root

Indigenously-developed Laser-Guided ATGM

• Indigenously-developed Laser-Guided Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) was test-fired from Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun
• Featured of the ATGM:
  • High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) warhead
  • Multi-platform launch capability

BIS has Formulated Standards for EV Batteries

• There have been incidents of fire in electric vehicles. This has prompted the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to formulate performance standards for Electric Vehicle Batteries
• The details are mentioned below:
  • Standard test specification for lithium-ion traction battery packs and systems
  • IS 17855:2022 Standard: It considers real-life scenarios for the EV along with test procedure for basic performance characteristics, electrical functionality, and reliability

Society

National Tribal Research Institute

• National Tribal Research Institute has been inaugurated in New Delhi
• The aim of the institute is to promote and preserve tribal culture and heritage
• It will act as a nerve-center of tribal research
• It was also provide provide policy inputs to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs as well as State Welfare Departments

CiSS Application

• National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has launched a CiSS application under the Baal Swaraj portal
• The CiSS (Children in Street Situations) application is intended to aid the rehabilitation process of children in street situations. It will be used to receive data of children in street situations from all the state and union territories
• Baal Swaraj portal helps in online tracking and real-time monitoring of children who need protection and care
• The 6-stage framework for the rehabilitation of children is given below:
  • Stage 1: Collection of the child’s details
  • Stage 2: Social Investigation Report (SIR), which involves investigating the child’s background. This is done under DCPU (District Child Protection Unit)
  • Stage 3: Individual Care Plan (ICP) is formulated for the child
  • Stage 4: Order of Child Welfare Committee (CWC) based on Social Investigation Report (SIR)
  • Stage 5: Allocation of schemes and benefits
  • Stage 6: Evaluation of progress with the help of a checklist

Performance Grading Index for Districts (PGI-D)

• Performance Grading Index for Districts (PGI-D) has been released by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSE and L), Ministry of Education (MoE) for 2018-19 and 2019-20
• The index aims to assess the performance of school education at the district level
• Districts have been put in 10 grades with highest ones under Daksh (districts scoring more than 90%) and lowest ones under  Akanshi-3 (districts scoring up to 10%)
• Findings of the report:
  • No district attained highest grade Daksh in both 2019-20 and 2018-19
  • Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Jaipur from Rajasthan achieved the second grade Utkarsh
  • Number of districts in the third grade, Ati-Uttam, rose from 49 to 86 during 2018-29 and 2019-20
  • Many districts from Punjab, Gujarat, and Kerala fall under the Ati-Uttam grade
  • Seven of the eight States from the northeast region do not have even a single district in the Ati-uttam and Uttam categories. This shows that a there is a scope for improving education services in the northeast region

Government Schemes

GeM (Government E Marketplace)

• GeM was launched on 9 August 2016 by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
• It facilitates transparent procurement by government agencies
• GeM SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) was set up as the National Public Procurement Portal in 2017
• Who all are the buyers on this portal?
  • Central and State ministries and departments
  • Public Sector Enterprises
  • Autonomous institutions
  • Local Bodies
  • Cooperative societies
• Private sectors buyers are not there. But sellers are both government and private
• The scope of GeM has been expanded and along with this, an e-concurrence modue has been launched for Ministry of Defence

Jan Samarth Portal

• Jan Samarth Portal has been launched in order to link 13 Credit-Linked Government schemes
• It will provide ease of access to the beneficiaries
• The portal is integrated with UIDAI, NSDL, etc.

eSanjeevani and Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission Integrated

• NHA (National Health Authority) has announced an integration of e-Sanjeevani and Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)
• E-Sanjeevani is the telemedicine service of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW)
• E-Sanjeevani users can create their Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA)
• E-Sanjeevani has two versions:
  • E-Sanjeevani Ayushman Bharat-Health and Wellness Centre (AB-HWC)
  • E-Sanjeevani OPD

Har Ghar Dastak 2.0

• Har Ghar Dastak 2.0 campaign has been launched in order to improve and expedite COVID-19 vaccine coverage through door-to-door campaign
• So far, 86.3% of the population has received both the vaccine doses

Promotion of MSMEs in North Eastern Region and Sikkim

• New guidelines for the Central Sector Scheme ‘Promotion of MSMEs in North Eastern Region and Sikkim’ have been approved
• Implementation duration of the scheme: 15th Finance Commission Cycle (2021-22 to 2025-26)
• Aim: financial support for productivity, competitiveness, and capacity building of MSMEs in Northeastern Region and Sikkim
• Components of the scheme:
  • Setting up new Mini Technology Centres and modernization of existing ones: Financial assistance from the Central government will be 90% with maximum assistance of Rs. 13.5 crore
  • Development of new and existing Industrial Estates: the Central government will be 90%
  • Development of tourism sector: the Central government will be 90% with maximum assistance of Rs. 4.5 crore

SHRESHTA

• Scheme for Residential Education for Students in Targeted Areas
• Objective: quality education and opportunities for the poorest Scheduled Caste students whose parental annual income is up to INR 2.5 Lakh per annum
• High quality residential education will be provided to the students from class 9th to 12th
• Students will be selected through National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS). Selected students will be admitted to the best private residential schools
• After their schooling, the students might be connected to Post Metric Scholarship Scheme or Top - Class Education Scheme for their higher education
• 3-month bridge courses will be available for the students transiting from State Schools, Rural Areas, and Regional Language Schools to CBSE schools

National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism and Responsible Traveller Campaign

• Launched by Ministry of Tourism
• Sustainable and responsible tourism practices to be implemented thorugh Swadesh Darshan 2.0
• Strategic pillars for the development of sustainable tourism are:
  • Promoting Environmental Sustainability
  • Protecting Biodiversity
  • Promoting Economic Sustainability
  • Promoting Socio-Cultural Sustainability
  • Scheme for Certification of Sustainable Tourism
  • IEC
  • Capacity Building and Governance

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) Dashboard

• About Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana:
  • Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana was launched in 2020
  • The scheme has a total investment of Rs 20,050 crores
  • Development of fisheries sector
  • Socio-economic wellbeing of fishermen, fish farmers, and other stakeholders
• A PMMSY MIS Dashboard has been launched with an aim to:
  • Effectively monitor the scheme
  • Make informed decisions
  • Data aggregation from all states and UTs

Intensified Diarrhea Control Fortnight (IDCF) 2022

• Goal: Zero child deaths due to childhood diarrhea
• Reasons of childhood diarrhea:
  • Dehydration
  • Change in child’s diet
  • Use of antibiotics
  • Bacterial or parasitic infection
• IDCF includes:
  • Awareness generation
  • Establishment of ORS-Zinc corners
  • Prepositioning of ORS by ASHA in households
  • Counseling by field workers (ASHA, ANM, and Anganwadi workers)

Indian Railway Innovation Policy - StartUps for Railways

• StartUps for Railways has been launched
• Aim of the policy:
  • Scale and efficiency in operations, maintenance, and infrastructure creation
  • Leverage technologies developed by Startups, MSEMs, Innovators, and Entrepreneurs
  • Problem statements (for e.g. Broken Rail Detection System, Track Cleaning Machine, etc.) will be presented to startups and they will be required to find solutions to those statements
• Details of the policy:
  • Grant up to Rs 1.5 crore on equal sharing basis
  • Entire process from floating of problem statement to development of prototype is online
  • Intellectual Property Right (IPR) will remain with innovator only

Bharat Gaurav Scheme

• Bharat Gaurav Scheme saw its first train from Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) to Sainagar Shirdi (Maharashtra)
• The train comes under Indian Railways Southern Railway Zone

National Initiative for Promotion of Upskilling of Nirman workers (NIPUN)

• It is a project for skill training of construction workers
• Ministry: Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA)
• It will be a part of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM)
• National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) will be the Implementation Partner for the project NIPUN
• About Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM):
  • It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme
  • Launched in 2014-15 with an aim to reduce poverty and vulnerability of urban poor households by promoting self-employment and skilled wage employment opportunities

PM eVIDYA Scheme

• UNESCO has recognized India’s use of ICT under PM eVIDYA scheme
• Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET), a constituent unit of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has received UNESCO’s King Hamid Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize, for the 2021 edition
• About PM eVIDYA:
  • In 2020, top 100 universities were given the permission to start online courses
  • Educational channels, radio podcasts, and e-learning content is provided
  • DIKSHA for school education in all the states and UTs
  • Swayam Prabha portal, a group of 34 DTH channels, was launched

One Nation One Ration Card Scheme

• Assam has become the 36th State/UT to implement One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC)
• About One Nation One Ration Card Scheme:
  • The main motive behind the scheme is to make food security portable throughout the country
  • The portability of ration cards will allow the beneficiaries to procure subsidized food grains from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) of choice
  • On an average, about 3 crore portable transactions are being recorded

Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela

• Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has organized the Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela
• Aim:
  • Promote hiring of apprentices
  • Helping the apprentices in identifying the right job roles
  • Providing the apprentices with certificates recognized by the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET)

E-auction of Commercial Earning and Non-Fare Revenue contracts

• Commercial Earning and Non-Fare Revenue contracts have been brought under the ambit of e-auctioning through Indian Railway e-Procurement System (IREPS)
• The step is expected to increase revenue for the government, promote ease of doing business, and promote Digital India initiative
• There will be no geographical restrictions for participation in any auction
• Entire process will be online and will be paperless

One-Health Framework

• Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal husbandry and Dairying has partnered with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in implementing One-Health Framework
• The pilot project will be launched in Karnataka and Uttarakhand in order to bring stakeholders from animal, human and environment health on a common platform
• The learnings will help prevent future zoonotic diseases

Udyami Bharat Program

• Udyami Bharat Program was held on 30th June 2022
• The following schemes were launched during the program:
  • Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP): The aim of the scheme is to scale up the implementation capacity and coverage of MSMEs in States
  • Capacity Building of First-Time MSME Exporters (CBFTE): The scheme aims to encourage MSMEs to offer products and services that meet the international standards and can cater to the demand of the global market
  • New features of Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) such as increase in maximum project cost to INR 50 lakhs for manufacturing sector, and INR 20 lakhs for service sector, and inclusion of applicants from Aspirational districts & Transgenders in the Special Category were launched

Dak Karmayogi

• Dak Karmayogi is an e-learning platform that aims to enhance competencies of about 4 lakh Gramin Dak Sevaks and departmental employees
• Uniform standardized training content will be made available to the trainees
• The idea is to train the employees to help them deliver G2C services effectively

PADMA

• PADMA stands for Pay Roll Automation for Disbursement of Monthly Allowances
• It is an automated Pay & Allowances module for the Indian Coast Guard
• The idea behind the move is to provide seamless and timely disbursal of Pay & Allowances

Person in News and Awards

National Informatics Centre (NIC)

• Rajesh Gera has joined as the new Director General of National Informatics Centre (NIC), Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY)

Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF 2022)

• Various awards are given below in the table:

Award	Film
Best Documentary Film of the Festival	Turn Your Body To The Sun
Best Short Fiction Film	Saakshatkaaram
Best Short Fiction Film	Brother Toll
Best Animation Film (International)	Prince in a Pastry Shop
Most Innovative / Experimental Film	Closed to the Light
Certificate of Merit	Ghar Ka Pata
Certificate of Merit	Who Says The Lepchas Are Vanishing?
Best Documentary Film (above 60 minutes) (National)	Admitted
Best Documentary Film (upto 60 minutes) (National)	Screaming Butterflies
Best Short Fiction Film (upto 45 minutes) (National)	Geru Patra
Best Animation Film (National)	Kandittundu (Seen It)
Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari Award for Best Debut Director	Radha
IDPA Award for Best Student Film	Megha

Shreyas Hosur

• Shreyas Hosur is the first ever Railway officer to complete Ironman Triathlon
• Ironman Triathlon consists of 3.8 km swimming, 180 km cycling, and 42.2 km running

Ruchira Kamboj

• Ruchira Kamboj has been appointed as India's Permanent Representative To UN

Others

World Bicycle Day

• World Bicycle Day was observed on 3 June 2022
• It is marked to spread awareness about the benefits of using a bicycle and following a sustainable and healthy lifestyle

IAF Heritage Centre

• MoU has been signed between the UT of Chandigarh and IAF to set up an IAF Heritage Centre at Chandigarh

MoU between POSOCO and IMD

• National grid operator POSOCO and India Meteorological Department (IMD) have signed a MoU
• Weather information provided by the IMD will be used by Power System Operators for better management of power system

Sustainable Development Report 2022

• Sustainable Development Report is released by Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)
• India’s rank has slipped to 121 out of 163 in 2022. India ranked 120 in 2021, and 117 in 2020.
• India faces major challenges in 11 out of 17 Sustainable Development Goals

Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER)

• Kerala has been ranked first in Asia in Affordable Talent in the Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER)
• GSER is published by Startup Genome
• Kerala has also ranked 4th in global ranking
• Reasons for Kerala’s success:
  • Enriching start-up and economic growth
  • Hire and retain tech talent
  • Government support and tech talent

World Competitiveness Index

• It is compiled by Institute for Management Development
• India has jumped 6 ranks from 43rd to 37th
• Denmark is at the 1st position, followed by Switzerland, and Singapore

International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2022

• International Day of Yoga was first celebrated on 21 June 2015
• 2022 marks the 8th edition
• Theme for 2022: Yoga for Humanity

Gold Refining and Recycling

• World Gold Council (WGC) has published a report titled ‘Gold refining and recycling’
• India ranks 4th globally in terms of gold recycling
• China has topped the list followed by Italy and US at 2nd and 3rd respectively
• As compared to 2013, India’s gold refining capacity increased by 1,500 tonnes (500%) in 2021

Advanced Light Helicopter Mk-III

• Advanced Light Helicopter Mk-III has been inducted in to Coast Guard Region (East)
• Details of Advanced Light Helicopter Mk-III:
  • Beyond visual range detection
  • Radar integrated with long-range imaging and identification using the Electro Optical Pad and Automatic Identification System
  • Mounted heavy machine gun

C-DOT and Galore Networks Agreement

• C-DOT has signed an agreement with Galore Network
• The agreement provides for a collaboration to develop end-to-end 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) products & solutions
• The outcome of the agreement is expected to facilitate indigenous design, development, manufacturing and deployment of cost-effective 5G products and solutions

Lancet Report on Speeding

• A new study by Lancet reveals that if steps are taken to check vehicle speed on roads, 20,554 lives can be saved annually
• The study focuses on four key risk factors:
  • Speeding
  • Drunk driving
  • Non-use of crash helmets
  • Non-use of seatbelts
• According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ 2020 report there were a total 1,31,714 deaths due to road accidents
• Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 has a target of preventing at least 50% road traffic deaths and injuries

Current Affairs 2022

Previous year question papers and the candidates feedback shows that the exam conducting body ask the questions from the last six months current affairs. The candidates can prepare the current affairs of other months by following the links given below:

Current Affairs December 2022	Current Affairs November 2022	Current Affairs October 2022
Current Affairs September 2022	Current Affairs August 2022	Current Affairs July 2022
Current Affairs May 2022

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