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Current Affairs June 11 & 12, 2019
1.India successfully launched new Technology Demonstrator Missile in Odisha
On June 12, 2019, India successfully launched new Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) off the coast of Odisha. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) had carried out the trials from Dr Abdul Kalam Island in the Bay of Bengal. HSTDV will help DRDO to develop technologies for futuristic missions.- The test was conducted by the Premier Defence Research Agency in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Secretary (Defence Production) Ajay Kumar at the test firing range in Balasore, Odisha.HSTDV, developed by DRDO with help from Israel and the UK, will be mounted on a solid rocket motor to take it to the required altitude. After the required altitude is reached and the Mach is achieved, the cruise vehicle will be ejected out of the launch vehicle.
- It is a dual-use technology Project with civilian applications.It has a flight duration of 20 seconds at an altitude of 31 km.
Foot Notes
About DRDO
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Founded: 1958
- Motto: “Strength’s Origin is in Science”
- Chairman: Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy
2.Mamta Banerjee Unveils Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar statue
- West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee unveiled a bust of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar at the Hare School ground.
- Vidyasagar was a 19th-century social reformer and his bust was vandalised in clashes between BJP and TMC workers at Vidyasagar College on May 14.
- Trinamool Congress leaders, ministers in the West Bengal government, as well as some spiritual leaders were present in the event.
Foot Notes
About West Bengal
- Chief Minister : Mamata Banerjee
- Capital: Kolkata
- Governor: Keshari Nath Tripathi
3.Sharad Kumar named interim CVC
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi headed selection panel has
been named Sharad Kumar as interim Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) for a term of four years or till he attains the age of 65. - The move comes after the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) KV Chowdary completed his tenure at anti-graft body.
- Mr. Sharad Kumar was a former head of the National investigation agency(NIA). He was appointed as the Central Vigilance Commissioner on June 2018 and his tenure will end on October 2020.
Foot Notes
About Central Vigilance Commission
- Headquarter: New Delhi
- It is the apex vigilance institution. It was created via executive resolution (based on the recommendations of Santhanam committee) in 1964 but was conferred with statutory status in 2003. It submits its report to the President of India.
- Composition: Presently, the body consists of central vigilance commissioner along with 2 vigilance commissioners.
- Term: Their term is 4 years or 65 years.
4.Kazakh-Indian Investment Forum held in Ahmedabad
- Kazakh-Indian Investment Forum was held in Ahmedabad,
Gujarat on June 7, 2019 to attract investments. It was organized by the Embassy of Kazakhstan in India with the support of the Honorary Consulate of Kazakhstan in the state of Gujarat Dilip Chandan, the National Company- Kazakh Invest and Jain International Trade Organization. - The event witnessed the participation of the leaders of more than 30 Indian companies.
- Preliminary agreements were given during the B2B (business-to-business), also known as e-biz, meetings.
Foot Notes
About Kazakhstan
- Largest City: Almaty
- Official Languages: Kazakh, Russian
5.China appoints veteran diplomat Sun Weidong as new envoy to India
- China has appointed veteran diplomat Sun Weidong, an
expert in South Asian affairs and worked closely with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during his tenure as Ambassador in Beijing, as its new envoy to India. - Sun, who also served as the ambassador to Pakistan, is currently the Director General of the Policy and Planning Department of the Foreign Ministry.
Foot Notes
About China
- President: Xi Jinping
6.Virat Kohli among world's highest-paid athletes.
- India cricket captain Virat Kohli has once again become the
sole Indian in the Forbes 2019 list of world's highest-paid athletes. However, Kohli is last on the list of top-100 athletes, headed by Barcelona and Argentina football superstar Lionel Messi. - According to the Forbes list, Kohli estimated earnings is $21m from endorsements and $4m from salary and winnings, taking his total tally to $25m for the last 12 months.
- Ranked 83rd on last year's list, Kohli has climbed down to the 100th spot despite an increase of $1m in endorsements.
7.Gandhi peace rally held in Saudi Arabia
- To mark the 150th birth anniversary of
Mahatma Gandhi, Indian Embassy organized the ‘Gandhi Cycle Rally for Peace’, in Saudi Arabia. The rally was organized in association with the Diplomatic Quarter Authority and Saudi Cycling Federation. - The rally was flagged off by the Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr.Ausaf Sayeed.The Saudi nationals, diplomats, Indian Diaspora attended the rally.
- This was the first time this kind of rally held in Diplomatic Quarters in Riyadh,Saudi Arabia.
Foot Notes
About Saudi Arabia
- Capital: Riyadh
- Currency: Saudi riyal
-
King: Salman of Saudi Arabia
8.Centre has extended the Rs 1.6 Billion aid to Nepal for Rebuilding Earthquake-hit Houses
- Indian government has extended the financial aid of 1.6 billion Nepalese rupees to Nepal for the rebuilding of houses in Nuwakot and Gorkha districts, which were damaged in the devastating earthquake in 2015.The cheque for the same was handed over by India’s ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri to Finance Secretary of Nepal Rajan Khanal.
- India is maintaining its commitment regarding the completion of post-earthquake reconstruction projects in the Himalayan nation.As of now, India has granted Nepal a total of 4.5 billion Nepalese rupees under the housing reconstruction projects.
- India has also partnered with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) for providing socio-technical facilitation to the house owners to ensure that they rebuild their homes as per Nepal government’s earthquake resilient norms.
Foot Notes
About Nepal
- Capital: Kathmandu
- Currency: Nepalese rupee
- National Bird: Danphe also known as Himalayan monal (Lophophorus impejanus)
- National Animal: Cow
-
National Flower : Rhododendron also known by its Nepalese name “Laliguras”
9.Mahindra wins Gold Award in South Africa
- The automobile Giant Mahindra Group won the Gold Award in
South Africa. It clinches the top spot among 29 vehicle brands for the award. - Mahindra Group received the Gold award from National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA).
- Satisfaction among its dealers and being fair and responsive in the way allocated vehicles to its dealers gave the Mahindra group at the top honor.
- It has 60 dealers in South Africa.
Foot Notes
About Mahindra Group
- CEO: Anand Mahindra
- Headquarters: Mumbai
About the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA)
- It is an American trade organization established in 1917.
-
It was founded in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
10.World Day against Child Labour 2019 celebrated on June 12
- World Day Against Child Labour (WDACL) was observed
on June 12, 2019. It was introduced to focus on the extent of child labour worldwide and the efforts required to eliminate it. - The theme for the year is “Children shouldn’t work in fields, but on dreams!”.
- In India, the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani inaugurated the National Consultation Workshop on Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Rescue and Rehabilitation of Child Labour in New Delhi. It was organised by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)
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