Daily Current Affairs and GK | 10 June 2021

Topic: International News

1. El Salvador becomes first country to declare bitcoin as legal tender.

• El Salvador became the first country to adopt bitcoin as a legal tender.
• The proposal of adopting bitcoin as a legal tender has been approved by the Congress of El Salvador.
• El Salvador’s President, Bukele believed that bitcoin will create jobs and promote financial inclusion in the country.
• Bitcoin is already used by the people of El Salvador for transactions.

Topic: Sports

2. Oman will host inaugural FIH Hockey5s World Cup.

• The Executive Board of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has announced that Oman will host inaugural Hockey5s World Cups (Men and Women) in 2024. Matches will take place in Oman’s capital city, Muscat.
• India and Pakistan have also bidden to host this event.
• The Hockey5s World Cup is a new competition of the International Hockey Federation (FIH). Sixteen teams per gender will participate in this competition.
• Hockey5s World Cup will help in the growth of hockey around the world. It was announced by FIH Executive Board in 2019.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

3. ICAR Signed MoU with Digital India Corporation to provide Tele Agriculture Advisories.

• Digital India Corporation and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research signed an MoU to provide ‘Demand Based Tele Agriculture Advisories’ to farmers.
• The main aim of the MoU is to integrate the existing Interactive Information Dissemination System (IIDS) platform of DIC with the proposed Kisan Sarathi program of ICAR.
• ICAR and DIC agreed to establish and operate a multi-media, multi-way advisory and communication system for agricultural activities.
• An Interactive Information Dissemination System (IIDS) would be established at ICAR. It will enable farmers to get information related to agriculture activities on phone.
• At present, IIDS platforms are deployed in North-Eastern states, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It will be extended all over India.
• Digital India Corporation will provide technical support for the development, hosting, and management of the ICT platform.
• Digital India Corporation:
  • It is a not-for-profit Company under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
  • It helps the government in Capacity Building for e-Governance projects and promote innovation in various domains.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: National News

4. Government issued guidelines for development of e-content for children with disabilities.

• Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has released guidelines for developing e-content for Children with disabilities.
• According to the new guidelines, the e-content should be developed based on principles of understanding, perceivable, operable, and robust.
• The guidelines will help in creating high-quality content for the digital education of disabled children.
• The new guidelines were recommended by a committee of experts from the Department of School Education and Literacy.
• The Committee has suggested that the textbooks should be adapted into Accessible Digital Textbooks (ADTs) in a phased manner. The content should be provided in text, audio, video, and sign language format.
• In May 2020, the government had launched the ‘PM e-VIDYA’ initiative to promote digital education in the country.

Topic: Defence

5. 31^st edition of Indo-Thai CORPAT is being conducted between Indian Navy and Royal Thai Navy.

• 31^st edition of the India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) is being conducted between Indian Navy and Royal Thai Navy from 09 – 11 June 2021.

• Indian Navy's indigenously built Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel (INS) Saryu and Thailand's Offshore Patrol Vessel His Majesty's Thailand Ship (HTMS) Krabi are participating in CORPAT.
• Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both navies are participating in the CORPAT. CORPAT is conducted by the Indian Navy and Royal Thai Navy bi-annually since 2005.
• Under Indian Government’s SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region) vision, Indian Navy has been proactively engaging with the countries in the Indian Ocean Region to enhance regional maritime security.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Reports and Indices

6. Three Indian Universities achieved positions in top-200 in QS World University Rankings 2022.

• Three Indian Universities have achieved positions in top-200 in QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) World University Rankings 2022.
• IIT Bombay has secured 177th position and IIT Delhi has secured 185th rank.
• IISc Bengaluru has secured 186th position in university rankings. It is ranked number 1 in the world for research.
• On 9 June, QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) has released 18^th edition of World University Rankings.
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) achieved the first rank for 10^th consecutive year in QS World University Rankings. University of Oxford achieved 2^nd rank.
• Stanford University and the University of Cambridge both achieved third position.
• QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) World University Rankings are released annually by Quacquarelli Symonds. It was earlier known as Times Higher Education–QS World University Rankings.
• Quacquarelli Symonds is a company that specializes in analysis of higher education institutions all over the world.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

7. Two species of monals were found in Arunachal Pradesh.

• Himalayan monal and Sclater monal have been sighted in the Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. Both are rare species of Monal.
• Himalayan monal is generally found in the region from Afghanistan to northeast India.
• The Sclater monal is mainly found in southern China and northern Myanmar. It lives at an altitude of more than 1500m above sea level.
• Sclater monal is listed as vulnerable in IUCN Red List and is protected under the Scheduled I species of Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
• Himalayan monal is listed as the Least Concern species in the IUCN Red List.
• Around 5000 species of plants, 500 species of birds, and 85 species of terrestrial mammals are found in Arunachal Pradesh. Arunachal Pradesh is rich in biodiversity.

Topic: Report and Indices

8. Economist Intelligence Unit released Global Liveability Ranking 2021.

• The Global Liveability Ranking is released by Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) annually. It ranks 140 global cities based on their healthcare, culture, quality of life, and environment.
• Auckland has topped the Global Liveability Ranking 2021. It has become the most liveable city in the world.
• Osaka and Tokyo ranked second and fourth respectively. Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane have made their place in the Top 10 list.
• Honolulu got 14^th position in the Global Liveability Ranking 2021. It has moved 46 places up from its last rank.
• According to the Global Liveability Index 2021, six of the top 10 cities are from New Zealand and Australia.
• Damascus is the least liveable city in the World. Dhaka and Karachi remain in the list of 10 least livable cities.
• The data for the liveability survey was collected from February 22, 2020, to March 21, 2021.
• Global Liveability Ranking 2021:

Topic: Miscellaneous

9. Kiren Rijiju releases E-Book on 20 Medicinal Plants for Covid-19 Care.

• Minister of State for Ayush, Kiren Rijiju, released the e-book on 20 Medicinal Plants for Covid-19 Care.
• The “20 Medicinal Plants for 2021 for Covid-19 care” e-book has been prepared by the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB).
• It provides information about medicinal plants and their therapeutic properties. This e-book contains botanical names, vernacular names, chemical constituents, and important formulations of medicinal plants.
• It also aware people of the importance and diversity of medicinal plants in the prevention and management of Covid-19.
• National Medicinal Plants Board will promote the cultivation and conservation of medicinal plants in India.

Topic: State News/ Gujarat

10. Gujarat government launched a mobile App and portal for unorganized sector workers.

• Chief Minister Vijay Rupani launched the ''e-Nirman'' portal and its mobile App.
• It will provide an online service for the registration of workers from the unorganized sector.
• Around 9.20 lakh unorganized sector workers are already registered. The government has given them U-WIN cards.
• U-WIN cards will help unorganized sector workers in getting the benefits of different government schemes like the “Ma Amrutam'' scheme, Shramik Annapurna Yojna, etc.
• Now, the government can easily monitor the real-time data of unorganized workers in the state.
• Gujarat:
  • It is the fifth-largest Indian state by area and the ninth-largest state by population.
  • It shares its border with Rajasthan, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.
  • Acharya Devvrat is the current Governor and Vijay Rupani is the Chief Minister of Gujarat.

Topic: Corporates/Companies

11. CHATT association has been formed to promote domestic tourism in India.

• Travel and tourism technology companies have formed the Confederation of Hospitality, Technology and Tourism Industry (CHATT) association to promote domestic tourism.
• Union Tourism Minister, Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurated the CHATT association.
• CHATT will represent micro and small companies in the tourism sector. It will be consulted by the government for the development of tourism in the country.
• It will be a collaborative, consultative, and participatory platform to boost India’s domestic tourism market. It will also promote the digitalization of tourism sector.
• Airbnb, EaseMyTrip, OYO, and Yatra are the founding member of the Confederation of Hospitality, Technology and Tourism Industry (CHATT).