Daily Current Affairs and GK | 23 June 2020

1. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on a three-day visit to Russia.

• Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has gone on a three-day visit to Russia.
• During the visit, the two countries will discuss ways to further deepen the Indo-Russian defense and strategic partnership.
• Rajnath Singh will also take part in the 75^th Victory Day Parade in Moscow.
• The Victory Parade will be held on 24 June to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of victory in the Second World War.
• The parade was originally scheduled for May 9, which was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• India's 75-member tri-service Indian military contingent has already arrived in Moscow to participate in the victory parade along with the Russian contingent and other invited contingents.
• Russia:
  • Russia is an intercontinental country located in Eastern Europe and North Asia.
  • Russia is the largest country in the world in terms of area, with a total area of ​​about 17 million square kilometers.
  • The capital of Russia is Moscow and the currency is the Russian ruble.

(Source: News on air)

2. Supreme Court allowed the Jagannath Rath Yatra at Puri, Odisha.

• The Supreme Court has given permission for the Jagannath Rath Yatra at Puri, Odisha under certain conditions.
• The court said that the Rath Yatra can be organized in coordination with the temple committee, state and central government without compromising on the health issue.
• The judgment was pronounced by a bench headed by the Chief Justice of India SA Bobde.
• The bench also consists of Justice Dinesh Maheshwari and AS Bopanna.
• The Rath Yatra or Rath Utsav commemorates Lord Jagannath's annual visit to the Gundicha Mata Temple.
• Every year three chariots are built of wood dedicated to the three deities – Lord Jagannath, Subhadara and Balabhadra. Each chariot is pulled with the help of ropes by the devotees during the procession.
• It is held every year in Ashadha month starting on the dwitiya tithi of Shukla Paksha till Dashami Tithi.

(Source: News on air)

3. Launch of Food Processing Edition of Exclusive Investment Forum.

• Recently, Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal launched the Food Processing Edition of the Exclusive Investment Forum.
• Invest India has designed this platform of unique regional chains to provide wide-ranging connections between global industry leaders and key decision makers from the highest levels of the central and state governments.
• Invest India:
  • It is a National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency that helps investors explore investment opportunities and options in India.
  • It is a non-profit venture under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
  • It was set up in 2009.
  • It is headquartered in New Delhi.

(Source: News on air)

4. Inauguration of India's largest and first Virtual Healthcare and Hygiene Expo 2020.

• Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Mansukh Mandavia inaugurated one of India's largest and first Virtual Healthcare and Hygiene Expo 2020.
• Speaking on the occasion, he said that building an ecosystem for ATMA NIRBHAR BHARAT would help in increasing domestic production in the pharmaceutical, health and hygiene sectors.
• The expo is organized by FICCI.
• It is the first largest virtual exhibition in India to make a fresh start.
• The event will be live daily from 22^nd to 26^th June, 2020.
• Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI):
  • It is the largest, oldest and highest trading organization in India.
  • It was founded in 1927 by GD Birla and Purushottamdas Thakurdas on the advice of Mahatma Gandhi.

(Source: News on air)

5. Online opening of the Indian Pavilion at Cannes Film Market 2020.

• Recently Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar inaugurated the virtual Indian Pavilion at Cannes Film Market 2020.
• On this occasion, Mr. Javadekar called on global filmmakers to shoot films in India and make films for the global market.
• Marathi film Mai Ghat and Gujarati film Hellaro have been sent as official entries for Cannes Film Festival this year from India.
• The Cannes Film Festival, one of the most prestigious film festivals, was to be held much earlier, but was postponed due to the outbreak of the Corona virus.
• India will showcase his films as a special tribute to the legendary film director Satyajit Ray at the Cannes Film Festival next year.
• Cannes Film Festival:
  • There is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which showcases new films of all genres, including documentaries from all over the world.
  • It was established on 20 September 1946.

(Source: News on air)

6. Very limited Hajj to be held this year in Saudi Arabia.

• Recently Saudi Arabia has announced that this year it will conduct a very limited Hajj.
• The citizens from the countries around the world who are already resident in Saudi Arabia will be allowed to attend. Although, the exact number has not been specified.
• This decision has been taken due to the coronavirus pandemic.
• Hajj will be done safely from the point of view of public health because according to the teachings of Islam preserving the life of man is the most important karma.
• Saudi Arabia:
  • It is a country in Western Asia, which forms a large part of the Arabian Peninsula.
  • Its capital is Riyadh and the currency is Saudi Riyal.

(Source: News on air)

7. Madhya Kshetra Vidyut Vitaran Company has launched the Nishtha Vidyut Mitra Scheme.

• Recently, the Madhya Kshetra Vidyut Vitaran Company has launched the Nishtha Vidyut Mitra Scheme in Madhya Pradesh.
• This is a unique initiative of its kind and efforts have been made for women empowerment.
• The scheme has been implemented in all the Gram Panchayats of all 16 districts of Bhopal, Narmadapuram, Gwalior and Chambal divisions under the company's jurisdiction.
• In this scheme, women self-help groups at Gram Panchayat level will work as Nishtha Vidyut Mitra.
• Under the Nishtha Vidyut Mitra Yojana, women self-help groups will motivate consumers to make online payments or through the UPI app, redress various complaints of consumers such as faulty meters and provide new connections through online processes.
• This scheme will not only increase the revenue collection of the company but will also lead to additional income for women.

(Source: News on air)

8. Odisha Police to strengthen the security structure in the Swabhiman Anchal.

• Odisha Police is strengthening the security structure in the Swabhiman Anchal.
• The development of this area will discourage Maoists not only in this state but also in the surrounding states, and it will be easy to reduce their activities and add them to the stream of development.
• Swabhiman Anchal:
  • It is Malkangiri district of Odisha, which is a cut-off maoists area.
  • This area was covered with water on three sides and inaccessible area from the other side.
  • It was a stronghold of Naxalites for a long time.
  • Maoists from Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh often used to visit the zone to escape from the police.

9. There is an increased risk of electrocution and inbreeding among gee’s golden langurs.

• Recently primatologists have found that there is an increased risk of electrocution and inbreeding among gee’s golden langurs.
• Among them, the risk of inbreeding has increased due to the arrival of new langurs in the group, barriers like wires, and gaps in the forest due to felling of trees.
• Gee’s Golden Langur:
  • Its scientific name is Trachypithecus geei.
  • It is endemic to western Assam, India and southern Bhutan.
  • Their habitat is geographically surrounded by the Manas River, the Sonkosh River and the Brahmaputra River.
  • Their status in the IUCN Red List is endangered.

(Source: The Hindu)

10. 23 June: Olympic Day 2020

• Olympic Day was established in 1948 to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games on 23 June 1894.
• The day is also celebrated to increase participation in sport regardless of age, gender or athletic ability, as well as being an opportunity to celebrate the Olympic values around the world.
• This year Olympians, athletes and fans all over the globe will come together to be active in the world’s largest 24-hour digital workout.
• This year the day will be celebrated under the theme #StayStrong #StayActive and #StayHealthy!