Daily Current Affairs and GK | 16 June 2021

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

1. Shipping Ministry and Civil Aviation Ministry signs MoU for the development of Sea Plane services.

• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Shipping Ministry and Civil Aviation Ministry for the development of Sea Plane services in India.
• Under the RCS-UDAN scheme, the MoU will help in the development of Non Scheduled/Scheduled operation of seaplane services.
• As per MoU, a Co-ordination Committee will be set up for timely completion of operationalization of Seaplane service.
• Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) will develop waterfront infrastructure and obtain statutory clearances for all activities involved in the development of Sea Plane services.
• Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) will provide funds/financial support to aerodromes selected under the RCS-UDAN scheme.
• The MoU will develop new water aerodromes and operationalize new seaplane routes in India. It will boost the maritime and civil aviation sectors.
• Regional Connectivity Scheme-Ude Desh Ke Aam Naagrik (RCS-UDAN):
  • It was launched in April 2017.
  • It aims to increase regional connectivity and to make flying affordable for the common man.
  • Airports Authority of India (AAI) is the implementing agency of this scheme.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Sports

2. Vinoo Mankad and Kumar Sangakkara inducted into ICC Hall Of Fame.

• The International Cricket Council (ICC) has inducted 10 legends of cricket into the ICC Hall of Fame.
• These ten players were inducted for their significant contribution to Test cricket.
• Vinoo Mankad of India is among the 10 legends who have been inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. He has played 44 Tests, Scored 2,109 runs, and took 162 Wickets.
• Vinoo Mankad is one of the greatest all-rounders of Indian cricket.
• Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka has been also inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. He has played 134 Tests and scored 12,400 runs.
• The ICC Hall of Fame Voting Academy selects cricketers from each of the five eras.
• List of inducted players:

(Source: ICC)

Topic: Miscellaneous

3. National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) has launched fortified Rice Bran Oil.

• Government of India's NAFED has launched fortified Rice Bran Oil to Boost Healthy Living.
• The fortified Rice Bran oil will contain additional nutrients and Vitamins.
• As per FSSAI, a person can fulfil 25-30% of the recommended dietary intake for vitamins A and D from fortified oil.
• Rice Bran oil has multiple health benefits as given below:
  • It lowers cholesterol levels due to its low trans-fat content and high mono unsaturated and poly unsaturated fat contents.
  • It also acts as a booster and reduces the risk of cancer due to the high amount of Vitamin E. 
• Nafed Fortified Rice Bran Oil will be available at all Nafed Stores and also on various online platforms.
• National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) was set up in 1958. It is headquartered in New Delhi.  Dr. Bijender Singh is its chairman.

Topic: Personality in news

4. Olympian Surat Singh Mathur has died of Covid-19.

• Olympian Surat Singh Mathur has died of Covid-19. He had won a bronze medal in marathon at 1951 Asian Games.
• He is the first athlete from independent India, who completed an Olympic marathon race, at the 1952 Helsinki Games.
• The first runner from independent India to participate in an Olympic marathon event was Chhota Singh in the 1948 London Games. He could not finish the race.
• Surat Singh Mathur completed his marathon race in Helsinki. He finished 52^nd. He had also won various medals at National Championships.

Topic: International News

5. External Affairs Minister inaugurated renovated Mahatma Gandhi Library in Nairobi.

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar inaugurated renovated Mahatma Gandhi Library at the University of Nairobi in Kenya. In 1956, the statue of Mahatma Gandhi was also unveiled at this University.
• Every year, the Indian government offers scholarships to more than 400 Students of Kenya. There are about 3,500 Kenyan students currently studying in 50 Institutions throughout India.
• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is on a three-day visit to strengthen India’s relations with the major East African country.
• External Affairs Minister also chaired the 3^rd meeting of the India-Kenya Joint Commission. Both countries reviewed the bilateral relationship in the meeting.
• He also met Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and discussed people-to-people and economic issues.
• India and Kenya are members of the Commonwealth. Kenya is an active member of the African Union.
• Kenya:
  • It is an East African country.
  • Its capital is Nairobi and the currency is Kenyan Shilling.
  • Uhuru Kenyatta is the President of Kenya.

(Source: ANI)

Topic: International News

6. Australia and United Kingdom agreed on historic free trade agreement.

• Australia and United Kingdom agreed on a historic free trade agreement (FTA).
• It will remove barriers for business and will strengthen the economic ties between both countries.
• British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison agreed to this free trade agreement at a meeting in Downing Street.
• FTA will also create job opportunities for both countries. It is the first big deal of the United Kingdom since left the European Union (EU).
• The British farmers will be protected from Australian imports through a restriction on tariff-free imports.
• In 2020, the UK was the third-largest direct investor in Australia and the second-largest recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI) from Australia.
• The FTA will boost the export of British products like cars, Scotch whisky, biscuits, and ceramics. Australia will mainly export agricultural products.

Topic: Report and Indices

7. SIPRI claimed China, Pakistan and India appear to be expanding their nuclear arsenals.

• According to a study by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), China, Pakistan, and India appear to be expanding their nuclear arsenals.
• At present, China, Pakistan, and India have 350, 165, and 156 nuclear warheads respectively. 90 percent of the total global nuclear warheads are possessed by the United States and Russia.
• The US, Russia, the UK, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea are the only nine countries that have nuclear weapons.
• Highly enriched uranium (HEU) or separated plutonium are used as raw materials for nuclear weapons. India mainly produces plutonium while Pakistan produces Highly enriched uranium.
• China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US produce both Highly enriched uranium (HEU) and plutonium.
• Nuclear weapons testing began on 16 July 1945, since then nearly 2,000 nuclear tests have been conducted.
• SIPRI:
  • It was established in 1966.
  • It is an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control, and disarmament.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

8. Government modified FAME scheme to promote electric mobility.

• Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises modified the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme to promote electric mobility.
• At present, electric vehicles (EVs) cost is more than the traditional vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICE).
• Under the modified FAME scheme, Government will subsidize 500,000 electric three-wheelers, 1 million electric two-wheelers, 55,000 electric passenger vehicles, and 7,090 electric buses.
• The government has increased demand incentive by 50% for electric two-wheelers to Rs 15,000 per Kwh. The cap for the incentives for electric two-wheelers has been increased from 20 percent to 40 percent.
• The government had launched the second phase of the FAME scheme on 1 April 2019. Government has extended the FAME II policy till 2025.

Topic: Important Days

9. International Day of Family Remittances: 16 June

• The International Day of Family Remittances is observed every year on 16 June.
• It is observed to recognize the contribution of migrant workers who send money for their family members at home.
• The theme of this year’s International Day of Family Remittances is ‘Recovery and resilience through digital and financial inclusion.’
• It was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015.
• According to a report, remittance has increased through digital channels. Globally, 3.4% of the population are international migrants.
• India was the largest recipient of remittances in 2020 and received the highest remittance from the United States.

Topic: Sports

10. D.Gukesh wins Gelfand Challenge chess title.

• D.Gukesh has won Gelfand Challenge chess title.
• At the start of the final day, D.Gukesh placed two points behind Vincent Keymer and 1.5 points behind second-placed R. Praggnanandhaa.
• However, D.Gukesh won all four rounds and emerged on the top.
• R. Praggnanandhaa came second and Vincent Keymer (Germen chess prodigy) came third.

Topic: Space and IT

11. European Space Agency (ESA) announces its new mission to Venus, EnVision.

• Earlier, NASA has announced that it will launch DAVINCI+ and VERITAS missions to Venus between 2028 and 2030. ESA will also send its mission in 2030.
• Venus is similar to Earth in size and composition. However, Venus has so thick atmosphere that traps heat from the sun. As a result, surface temperatures are very high.
• As per ESA, EnVision would follow the agency’s Venus Express mission. Akatsuki spacecraft of Japan’s space agency will also help in this new mission.
• ESA is also hoping to improve upon surface images obtained from radar on NASA’s Magellan mission back in the 1990s.
• Magellan mission was launched by NASA in 1989 to map the surface of Venus by using synthetic-aperture radar.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

12. Telangana AI Mission (T-AIM) launches accelerator program ‘Revv Up’.

• The Revv Up will enable and empower AI startups. It will begin its first cohort in July 2021.
• On 14 June, the Telangana government launched Telangana AI Mission (T-AIM) powered by NASSCOM. 
• T-AIM is envisioned to develop Telangana as a global hub for Artificial Intelligence and leverage it for societal good.
• Various sectors will be covered under the accelerator programme, exclusively designed for growth-stage AI startups.
• Telangana became the first state in India to launch an actionable policy framework for Artificial Intelligence in June 2020.