• Japan’s parliament has raised the age of consent from 13 to 16, a limit which had remained unchanged for more than a century and was among the world’s lowest consent age. Lawmakers also broadened the definition of rape from “forcible sexual intercourse” to “non-consensual sexual intercourse”.
• The expanded definition includes acts committed using drugging and intoxication. It also criminalized the grooming of minors. Sexual intercourse with someone below age 16 will be considered as rape.

• A recent survey conducted by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has led to the discovery of India's largest natural arch in the Kenduadihi block of Sundargarh district in Odisha. The GSI's state unit has proposed to designate the natural arch in the Kanika range of Sundargarh forest division as a Geo Heritage Site, making it the country's largest natural arch with the Geo Heritage tag.
• Currently, India has two other natural arches—one located in the Tirumala hills of Tirupati and the other in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. However, both of these arches are smaller in sizecompared to the one found in Sundargarh.

• Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister launched an app called 'Arunpol App' of Arunachal Pradesh Police and flagged-off an APP awareness generation vehicle from the Civil Secretariat, Itanagar today. Speaking to the media after the event, state’s Home Minister Bamang Felix said that the Arunpol app will facilitate common people to lodge complaints without coming to the police station.
• The state home minister also informed that Chief Minister Pema Khandu also launched another app called E-Vigilance app for the state government employees today. He said that this app will benefit the state government employees by ensuring timely vigilance clearance.

• Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal received the first over dimensional cargo (ODC) transported via waterways at Numaligarh Refinery jetty (Assam) on 16th June. The ODC was transported by Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) vessel MV Marine 66 from Kolkata to Numaligarh Refinery Jetty via Indo Bangladesh Protocol Route (IBPR).
• The Diesel Hydrotreating (DHT) reactor had a net weight of 485 MT, while the gross weight was 521 MT.The length of this reactor is 31.5 m while the height is 8.250 m and the diameter is 8.00 m. This is the first consignment transported by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the nodal agency in charge of inland waterways in the country, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, to augment the capacity of Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) from 3 MMT to 9 MMT.

• State Bank of India (SBI) paid a dividend of Rs 5,740 crore for the financial year 2022-23 to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The dividend cheque was presented by SBI chairman Dinesh Kumar Khara in the presence of Financial Services Secretary Vivek Joshi.
• The finance minister’s office tweeted about the event, stating that Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman received the dividend cheque from SBI Chairman Shri Dinesh Kumar Khara. Also present at the ceremony was Secretary of Financial Services, Shri Vivek Joshi. The ceremony highlighted the significant contribution made by SBI to the government’s revenue and emphasized the bank’s strong financial performance.

• Banking supervisors are being urged by the Reserve Bank to keep up to date with technological advances in order to regulate and monitor the fast-evolving world of financial technology. The Reserve Bank’s deputy governor, Mukesh Jain, stated that as banks continue to adopt new technologies, it is essential that supervisors have access to the knowledge and resources needed to effectively supervise them.
• Jain also warned that the recent failure of banks abroad has added to the challenges faced by supervisors, who must maintain stability and minimise risks. He commented that supervisors must find a balance that ensures financial stability and minimises moral hazard risks.

• Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB) has launched a new deposit scheme named ‘Vikas Ashadeep 400 days’. The scheme was launched by Shreekant M Bhandiwad, Chairman of KVGB. The scheme is of a tenor of 400 days with an interest rate of 7.50% for senior citizens and 7% for the general public.
• Under the scheme, a minimum of ₹10,000 and a maximum of ₹2 crore can be deposited. The scheme is applicable to all segments of depositors, including senior citizens, and institutions.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has collaborated with Grammy Award-winning Indian-American singer Falu for a special song to promote the benefits of millets and their potential to alleviate world hunger. The ‘Abundance in Millets' song, performed by Falu and her husband and singer Gaurav Shah, is set for release on June 16 across streaming platforms.
• The year 2023 has been designated as the ‘International Year of Millets' after a proposal for it was brought forward by India and endorsed by Members of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Governing Bodies, as well as by the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly.

• Daniel-EllsbergDaniel Ellsberg, a prominent whistleblower who leaked the Pentagon Papers, passed away at the age of 92.Ellsberg's actions, which exposed the government's deception and doubts regarding the Vietnam War, had far-reaching consequences and played a role in President Richard Nixon's resignation. Ellsberg revealed his terminal illness with pancreatic cancer in February.
• Until the early 1970s, Ellsberg was an influential member of the government and military establishment. As a Harvard graduate and self-described "cold warrior," he served as a consultant on Vietnam, risking his life and holding the highest security clearances.  He gained the trust of officials from both Democratic and Republican administrations.

Download Daily GK PDF of 17 June 2023