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Current Affairs - 20 June 2021
1.PM Modi to address lead event of 7th International Yoga Day on 21st June
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the lead event of the 7th
International Yoga Day on Monday. - In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the lead event of the International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2021 will be a televised programme and is scheduled to start at 6.30 AM on all Doordarshan channels.
- The event will also include an address by Minister of State for Ayush Kiren Rijiju and a live Yoga demonstration by the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga.
- Lakhs of Yoga lovers have already committed themselves to be a part of this activity, doing Yoga from the safety of their own homes.
- Those who require guidance for performing Common Yoga Protocol are invited to follow the live demonstration from the lead event which will be televised on all Doordarshan channels.
2.World Refugee Day being observed on 20th June
- Screen GrabWorld Refugee Day being observed 20th June.
- The United Nations designated the day to celebrate the strength and courage of people forced to flee their homes and countries to escape conflict or persecution.
- World Refugee Day is also a day to build empathy and understanding of their plight and to recognize their efforts in rebuilding their lives. The day recognises the rights, needs and dreams of refugees.
- A person forced to flee his or her country following persecution, war or violence is a refugee.
- According to the United Nations, people who fled their homes and countries due to a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion is a refugee.
- At the end of 2020, a mammoth 82.4 million remained forcibly displaced worldwide due to persecution, conflict, violence or human rights violations. According to the UN, the COVID-19 pandemic slowed the rate of displacement, and thus the number of people seeking asylum remains high.
3.HPCL to set up grain based ethanol plant in Himachal’s Una district
- Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) has decided to
set up a grain-based ethanol plant in the Una district (Himachal Pradesh). - The state government would provide about 70 acres of land and a rail-fed POL terminal of higher capacity.
- This plant would have a capacity to generate 125 KL ethanol per day.
- These projects would be set up at a cost of 400 crore rupees and would provide direct and indirect employment to about 300 persons.
Foot Notes:
About HPCL:
Headquarters: Mumbai
CEO: Mukesh Kumar Surana
Chairperson: Mukesh Kumar Surana
4.Country’s foreign exchange reserve rose by US 103 Billion in last one year
- According to the RBI, Foreign exchange reserves of the country
reached an all-time high of US$ 605.0 billion on June 4, 2021. - In the last one year, the country’s foreign exchange reserve rose by US$ 103 Billion.
- RBI estimated that, In terms of projected imports for 2021-22, the current level of reserves provides cover for less than 15 months.
- In the foreign exchange markehe Indian rupee appreciated against the US dollar in May 2021 and gained further in June.
5.IndusInd Bank launches a digital lending platform “IndusEasy Credit”
- IndusInd Bank has announced to launch a comprehensive digital
lending platform "IndusEasy Credit". - It enables customers to meet their financial requirements from the comfort of their homes.
- With this, both existing, as well as non-IndusInd Bank customer, can instantly avail of personal loans or credit cards on a single platform in a completely paperless and digital manner.
Foot Notes:
About IndusInd Bank:
CEO: Sumant Kathpalia
Headquarters: Pune
6.India and Bhutan sign MOU for developing cooperation in Environment
- India and Bhutan inked an MoU for developing cooperation
between two countries in the area of the environment. - The MoU was signed virtually by the Minister of Environment.
- Union Minister Prakash Javadekar from the Indian side and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairperson of the National Environment Commission Lyonpo Dr. Tandi Dorji from the Bhutanese side.
- The MoU will open new vistas of bilateral cooperation in the area of climate change, waste management etc.
Foot Notes:
About Bhutan:
Capital: Thimphu
Prime minister: Lotay Tshering
Currencies: Bhutanese ngultrum, Indian rupee
7.ADB approves USD 250 million loan for social Devt. programs in Bangladesh
- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved USD 250 million
loans to Bangladesh to help finance reforms. - It is aimed at improving the inclusiveness and responsiveness of the country’s social development and resilience program.
- The Strengthening Social Resilience Program will include institutional and policy reforms to address cross-sector issues of social development in Bangladesh.
Foot Notes:
About ADB:
Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines
President: Masatsugu Asakawa
8.Madhya Pradesh Govt launches ‘Yuva Shakti Corona Mukti Abhiyan’
- The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has
launched ‘Yuva Shakti Corona Mukti Abhiyan’ involving youth to make the people aware of the COVID-19 pandemic and covid appropriate behaviour. - Mr. Chouhan said that about 10 lakh students of the colleges of the state will play an important role in the eradication of Corona.
- Chief Minister also launched a mobile app 'Covi-Sandesh' designed for real time monitoring of the campaign.
Foot Notes:
About Madhya Pradesh:
Capital: Bhopal
Chief Minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Governor: Anandiben Patel
9.Govt announced establishment of five Divyangta Khel Kendras in country
- Government announced establishment of five Divyangta Khel
Kendras in different parts of country. - Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot has said the decision has been taken looking at the interest towards the sports among the Divyangjan and their good performance in Paralympics.
- Mr Gehlot was virtually addressing the Samajik Adhikarita Shivir for distribution of aids and assistive devices to Divyangjan in Jamnagar.
- The Minister informed that the central government has released 8.06 crore rupees fund to Gujarat under Scholarship program benefitting 2808 beneficiaries.
10.Zambia’s first President Kenneth Kaunda passed away
- Zambia’s first President Kenneth Kaunda (97-years) passed away
in the capital, Lusaka. - Mr Kaunda served as the first President of independent Zambia from 1964 to 1991.
- In 1991, he was forced to hold the first multi-party elections for 23 years, which he lost to long-time foe, trade unionist Frederick Chiluba.
- Zambia gained independence from Britain in October 1964.
Foot Notes:
About Zambia:
Capital: Lusaka
Currency: Zambian kwacha
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