Current Affairs Quiz 16th June 2022 : Daily GK Update

Exp. Tamil Nadu launched Ennum Ezhuthum scheme to bridge learning gap

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin launched the ‘Ennum Ezhuthum scheme’ at an event in Azhinjivakkam panchayat union middle school, Tiruvallur, TN to bridge the learning gap occurred due to COVID-19 pandemic among students aged below 8.

The scheme aims to ensure foundational literacy and numeracy by 2025.

The education department will distribute workbooks to students from Classes 1 to 3 to assess and bridge the learning gap. Under the scheme, a high-level committee has been formed to help each child individually.

The children will be trained in 3 subjects – Tamil, English and Mathematics in a classroom suitable for conducting lessons that are designed in the format of dance, songs, storytelling and puppetry and also videos.

Recent Tamil Nadu govt schemes:

Illam Thedi Kalvi’ Scheme ‘

‘Meendum Manjappai’ scheme

“Naan Muthalvan- Ulagai Vellum Ilaiya Tamilagam” skill development scheme for students

‘Kalaignarin All Villages Integrated Agricultural Development Programme’

Nalaya Thiran skilling programme

Exp. Mumbai Airport launched 1st-of-its-kind Vertical Axis Wind Turbine & Solar PV hybrid System

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai has become India’s 1st airport to launch a one-of-its-kind Vertical Axis Wind Turbine & Solar PV hybrid (Solar Mill) to explore the possibility of utilization of wind energy at the airport.

WindStream Energy Technologies India Pvt Ltd has developed this technology. The energy generated through this technology can be customized on a need-specific basis.

This sustainable initiative undertaken by CSMIA reduces dependence on conventional electricity which propels its journey towards ‘Net Zero’ emissions.

Exp. APEDA organized mango festival in Bahrain to boost export of mangoes

In a major boost to the export of mangoes, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) launched an eight-day-long Mango Festival in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

At the show, 34 varieties of mangoes from eastern states of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, are being displayed at eight different locations of Bahrain’s Al Jazira group supermarket.

The mango show in Bahrain is part of APEDA’s new initiatives to explore international markets for Indian mangoes under the ‘Mango Festival 2022’.

About Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA):

Formation: 1986

Headquarters: New Delhi

Chairman: Dr. M. Angamuthu

Exp. IMD’s World Competitiveness Index 2022: India ranked 37th; Denmark topped

India has seen the sharpest growth among the Asian economies, with a six-position jump from 43rd to 37th rank on the annual World Competitiveness Index 2022.

The Index has been compiled by the Institute for Management Development (IMD).

Denmark has moved to the top of the 63-nation list from the third position last year, while Switzerland slipped from the top ranking to the second position and Singapore regained the third spot from the fifth.

Others in the top 10 include Sweden at the fourth position, followed by Hong Kong SAR (5th), the Netherlands (6th), Taiwan (7th), Finland (8th), Norway (9th) and the USA (10th).

List of India’s Rank in Different Index 2021-22

World Happiness Report 2022: 136th; Finland topped

Knight Frank’s Global House Price Index Q4 2021: 51st; Turkey topped

World Press Freedom Index 2022: India ranked 150th; Norway topped

UNCTAD’s World Investment Report: India ranked 7th among recipients of FDI in CY 2021; US topped

Global Environmental Performance Index 2022: 180th; Denmark topped

Exp. BRICS PartNIR Innovation Center signed MoU with New Development Bank

BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution (PartNIR) Innovation Center has signed an MoU with the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) to facilitate bilateral cooperation and promote the common development of BRICS countries.

The MoU was signed at a meeting held via video link in the port city of Xiamen, East China’s Fujian Province.

Under this MoU, both sides will prioritize cooperation in fields such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the industrial internet, energy conservation and environmental protection through joint research, personnel training and information sharing on infrastructure and sustainable programs.

BRICS PartNIR Innovation Centre was launched in Xiamen in December 2020 which is headquartered in Shanghai, China.

About New Development Bank (NDB):

Founded: 15 July 2014, Fortaleza, State of Ceará, Brazil

Headquarters: Shanghai, China

President: Marcos Prado Troyjo

2022’s BRICS Chair: China (From January 2022)

Exp. 8th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians hosted in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

The Eighth Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians has been started in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt to address climate change.

The two-day conference is being jointly organized by the House of Representatives and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Nagaland’s first woman elected as Member of Parliament to Rajya Sabha, S. Phangon Konyak is representing India at the Conference.

About Egypt:

Capital: Cairo

Currency: Egyptian pound

President: Abdel Fattah el-Sisi

Prime Minister: Moustafa Madbouly

Exp. LinkedIn partnered with UN Women to create employment opportunities for women

LinkedIn Corporation has invested USD 5,00,000 (₹3.88 crore) in association with UN Women for the LINK Women project to create employment opportunities for women.

The pilot project will launch in Maharashtra to cultivate the digital, soft and employability skills of 2,000 women.

After the completion of 15-month of the pilot project, the UN Women and LinkedIn will incorporate lessons learned and evaluative feedback.

Aim: To create a cadre of women who will acquire new digital and employability skills, leading to better jobs.

About LinkedIn Corporation:

Founded: 5th May 2003

Headquarters: California, United States (US)

CEO: Ryan Roslansky

Exp. HSBC India announced $250 Million lending support for Indian start-ups

Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, India (HSBC India) has announced USD 250 million in lending support for high-growth, technology-led start-ups in India, which has the world’s third largest start-up ecosystem.

HSBC will administer the lending via its commercial banking division. It has also not mentioned any specific timeframe for disbursal of the amount.

HSBC has designed a credit model and services to meet the specific needs of a wide spectrum of start-ups and new-age entities, spanning from growth stage to unicorns, and the loans will be for growth stage companies.

About HSBC India:

Founded: 1853

Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra

CEO: Hitendra Dave

Exp. Periodic Labour Force Survey 2020-21: India’s unemployment rate fell to 4.2% in 2020-21

As per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for 2020-21 (July-June), the unemployment rate of India has declined to 4.2% in 2020-21 (July-June).

The survey was released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme. Unemployment rate among males has decreased to 4.5 % in 2020-21, as compared to 5.1 % in 2019-20, 6 % in 2018-19 and 6.2 % in 2017-18.

Unemployment rate among females decreased to 3.5 % in 2020-21 as compared to 4.2 % in 2019-20.

The labour force participation rate has been raised to 41.6%. The unemployment rate was 4.8% and the labour force participation rate was 40.1% in 2019-20. All-India female labour force participation rate (LFPR) in ordinary status grew 2.3 percent to 25.1 percent in 2021, up from 22.8 percent the previous year.

In rural areas, female labour force participation has climbed by 3% to 27.7%, whereas in urban areas, female labour force participation has increased by 0.1 percent to 18.6%.

The labour force participation rate (LFPR) is the proportion of people who work in the population.

Exp. HDFC Bank signed MoU with 100X. VC to collaborate on start-up support

HDFC Bank has inked an MoU with venture capital firm 100X. VC to enhance its engagement with the start-up ecosystem in the country.

The bank has also laid the provision of its comprehensive package of specialised services and facilities customised for start-ups, branded as ‘Smart-Up’.

The bank will also assess start-ups for investment and loan extension opportunities which recommended by 100X.VC.

About HDFC Bank:

Headquarters: Mumbai

Founded: August 1994

CEO: Sashidhar Jagdishan

Chairman: Atanu Chakraborty

Tagline: We understand your world

Exp. B S Patil sworn in as Lokayukta of Karnataka

Former Karnataka High Court judge Bhimanagouda Sanganagouda Patil was sworn in as the Lokayukta of Karnataka. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot administered the oath of office to Justice Patil.

The post of the head of the anti-corruption ombudsman in Karnataka was vacant after the end of the tenure of Justice P. Vishwanath Shetty in January 2022, served in the post for five years.

About Karnataka:

Capital: Bengaluru

Chief Minister: Basavaraj S Bommai

Governor: Thawar Chand Gehlot

Exp. Pramod K Mittal named as chairperson of COAI for 2022-23

Industry body Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI) named Pramod K Mittal, President of Reliance Jio Infocomm, as the new Chairperson of the association for 2022-23.

Mittal was previously the Vice Chairperson of the COAI, whose members include Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea (VIL). Mittal will replace Ajai Puri as the COAI Chairperson.

P Balaji, Chief Regulatory and Corporate Affairs Officer of Vodafone Idea (VIL), will be the Vice Chairperson of the association for 2022-23.

About Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI):

Founded: 1995

Headquarters: New Delhi

Director General: Dr. S.P. Kochhar

Exp. India successfully test-fired Short-Range Ballistic Missile Prithvi-II at Chandipur, Odisha

India has test-launched Short-Range Ballistic Missile, Prithvi-II from an integrated test range in Chandipur, Odisha.

This missile system is capable of striking targets with a very high degree of precision. It is an indigenously developed, surface-to-surface missile.

It is powered by liquid propulsion twin engines. Its range is 250 km and can carry one-ton payload.

Exp. Stuttgart Tennis Open 2022: Matteo Berrettini, Iga Swiatek won men’s & women’s single title

44th edition of Stuttgart Open 2022 tennis tournament held in Stuttgart, Germany.

2022 BOSS Open was a men’s tennis tournament played on outdoor grass courts and 2022 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, is a women’s tennis tournament played on Clay courts at the Porsche Arena in Stuttgart, Germany.

About Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP):

Founded: 1972

Headquarters: London, United Kingdom

CEO: Massimo Calvelli

Chairman: Andrea Gaudenzi

Exp. Stuttgart Tennis Open 2022: Matteo Berrettini, Iga Swiatek won men’s & women’s single title

44th edition of Stuttgart Open 2022 tennis tournament held in Stuttgart, Germany.

2022 BOSS Open was a men’s tennis tournament played on outdoor grass courts and 2022 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, is a women’s tennis tournament played on Clay courts at the Porsche Arena in Stuttgart, Germany.

About Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP):

Founded: 1972

Headquarters: London, United Kingdom

CEO: Massimo Calvelli

Chairman: Andrea Gaudenzi

Exp. 16 June: International Day of Family Remittances

International Day of Family Remittances (IDFR) is observed on 16 June every year globally.

The IDFR recognizes more than 200 million migrant workers, women and men, who send money home to over 800 million family members.

IDFR is a universally-recognized observance adopted by United Nations General Assembly’s (UNGA). The custodian of IDFR towards these objectives is the United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Theme 2022: Remittances: recovery and resilience through digital and financial inclusion.

Exp. Eminent Urdu critic & linguist Professor Gopi Chand Narang passed away

Renowned Urdu scholar, linguist, theorist, literary critic, and former Chairperson of Sahitya Akademi Professor Gopi Chand Narang has passed away at 91.

He was a Professor Emeritus at the University of Delhi and Jamia Millia Islamia. He has been honoured with the Padma Bhushan (2004) and Sahitya Akademi Awards (1995).

He incorporated a range of modern theoretical frameworks, including stylistics, structuralism, post-structuralism and Sanskrit poetics.