Current Affairs is the most important area in all competitive exams. But the difficulty level is very high. That’s why; many aspirants get confused, how to select Current Affairs for Preparation of Competitive Examination? In this Post, Daily Current Affairs 17 June 2022, we have tried to cover each and every point and also included all important facts from National/ International news that are useful for upcoming competitive examinations such as UPSC, SSC, Railway, State Govt. etc.
Current Affairs for Competitive Exam – 17 June 2022
Trade deficit of India broadens to $24.29 billion in May 2022
Trade data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry showed that India’s May trade deficit widened to $24.29 billion from $6.53 billion a year ago. May’s trade deficit was pushed up by a surge in imports, which rose 62.83% year-on-year to $63.22 billion, while exports rose 20.55% to $38.94 billion, revised trade data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry showed. Despite the uncertainty and volatility caused by the war in Europe, the engineering goods exports rose by 12.65 per cent year-on-year to $9.71 billion in May 2022. The trade deficit stood at $6.53 billion on May 2021. Cumulative exports in April-May 2022-23 rose by about 25% to $78.72 billion. Imports in April-May 2022-23 rose 45.42% to $123.41 billion.
World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2022
Since 1994, June 17th has been the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought to draw public attention to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and it has been celebrated ever since. The day offers a chance to recognize that land degradation neutrality is achievable through problem-solving, strong community involvement and co-operation at all levels. The theme of 2022 Desertification and Drought Day “Rising up from drought together”.
Desertification and Drought Day 2022: Host Country
The global observance of the event will take place in Madrid, Spain, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has announced.
Desertification and Drought Day 2022: Objective
The annual Desertification and Drought Day has three objectives.
Each June 17th, the World Day to Combat Desertification is promoted worldwide to raise public awareness of, and support for, international efforts in combating desertification and the effects of drought. Let people know that desertification and drought can be effectively tackled, that solutions are possible, and that key tools to this aim lay in strengthened community participation and cooperation at all levels.
To strengthen implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa.
Tamil Nadu launched Ennum Ezhuthum scheme to bridge learning gap
Tamil Nadu launched Ennum Ezhuthum scheme to bridge learning gap – Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin launched the Ennum Ezhuthum scheme to bridge the learning gap that was caused due to the COVID pandemic among students aged below eight and was launched at an event in Azhinjivakkam panchayat union middle school, Tiruvallur.
Under the programme:
- The education department will provide workbooks to students from Classes 1 to 3 to assess and bridge the learning gap under the scheme.
- Last week, a special training programme was conducted for teachers and handbooks were distributed.
- Teachers were advised to opt for interactive learning methods and encourage students to read newspapers and books in the school library.
- The State government has announced a slew of programmes and schemes for the academic year 2022-23, with the motive to improve the quality of education in the State.
- The children will be provided training in three subjects such as Tamil, English and Mathematics.
Tamilnad Mercantile Bank gets SEBI’s nod to float IPO
Private sector lender Tamilnad Mercantile Bank has received capital markets regulator Sebi’s go ahead to mop-up funds through an initial share sale. The Initial Public Offer (IPO) comprises a fresh issue of 1,58,27,495 equity shares and an Offer For Sale (OFS) of up to 12,505 equity shares by shareholders, according to the Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP).
The bank, which filed its preliminary IPO papers with Sebi in September 2021, obtained its observations on May 30 this year, an update with the markets watchdog showed. In Sebi’s parlance, its observation implies its approval to float IPO.
BRICS PartNIR Innovation Center signs MoU with BRICS bank
The BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution (PartNIR) Innovation Center and the BRICS New Growth Bank (NDB) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance bilateral cooperation and boost BRICS countries’ common development. The name BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, a group of emerging markets. It is home to more than 40% of the worldwide population and a quarter of the global economy.
Aim: To facilitate bilateral cooperation and promote the common development of BRICS countries.
President of the NDB: Marcos Troyjo.
Arati Prabhakar appointed as the Science Advisor to US President, Joe Biden
Indian-origin physicist Arati Prabhakar is expected to be named as the scientific adviser to United States President Joe Biden this week. Biden is also expected to nominate Prabhakar as the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology (OSTP).
She succeeded Eric Lander. She would be the first woman and the first person of color to serve as science adviser to the President of the United States.
She also served in top roles during the presidential tenures of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. During the Clinton administration, she lead the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
The 4th Global Startup Ecosystem Report released
As per the Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER), the startup ecosystem in Kerala has been ranked as the best in Asia and fourth in terms of Affordable Talent.
Bengaluru city, has been moved up to number 22 in the ranking. The report also showed that the Bengaluru’s tech ecosystem value is at $105 billion which is higher than that of Singapore at $89 billion and Tokyo at $62 billion.
Top five: Silicon Valley, followed by New York City, London, Boston, and Beijing.
Google announces startup accelerator program for women founders
Google has announced a program for women founders, ‘startup accelerator program’, which will help them address challenges such as fundraising and hiring.
The first batch of the Google for Startups Accelerator India – Women Founders will enroll up to 20 women-founded co-founded startups in the country, and support them through a three-month program.
The selected Startups will receive support and mentorship around AI/ML, Android, Web, Product Strategy and Growth.
India’s unemployment rate falls 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. 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. The PLFS provides quarterly updates for urban areas and an annual report for urban and rural areas.
Eighth Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians held in 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.
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) HQ: Geneva, Switzerland
Adani Transmission gets ‘green loan’ tag for $700-mn revolving facility
Adani Transmission Limited (ATL) has been tagged as ‘green loan’ by Sustainalytics for its USD 700 million revolving loan facility.
ATL has also signed an energy compact goals as part of COP26 and the energy compact with the UN in November, 2021. This revolving facility project is being implemented in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Sustainalytics, provides analytical environmental, social and governance research, ratings and data to institutional investors and companies.
RBI appointed Anand Mahindra and Venu Srinivasan to RBI Board
The Central Government has nominated Anand Gopal Mahindra (Chairman of Mahindra group), Venu Srinivasan (TVS Motor’s Chairman), Pankaj Ramanbhai Patel (Zydus Lifescience’s Chairman ) and Ravindra Dholakia (IIM Ahmedabad’s ex-faculty) as part-time non-official Directors on the Central Board of RBI. The appointment will be for a period of four years and effective from June 14.
RBI Governor: Shaktikanta Das
LinkedIn join hands with UN Women to create employment for women
LinkedIn has invested $5,00,000 (₹3.88 crore) in association with UN Women 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.
LinkedIn HQ: Sunnyvale, California, United States
UN Women HQ: New York, United States
India successfully tests Short-Range Ballistic Missile Prithvi-II
India has tested 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.
Range: 250 km and can carry one-ton payload.
It is powered by liquid propulsion twin engines. Recently, India has also tested the nuclear-capable Agni-4 ballistic missile in Odisha.
Renowned critic and linguist Professor Gopi Chand Narang passes away
Eminent Urdu critics, theorists and linguists Professor Gopi Chand Narang has passed away at 91.
He has been honoured with the Padma Bhushan (2004) and Sahitya Akademi Awards (1995). He was a Professor Emeritus at the University of Delhi and Jamia Millia Islamia. He incorporated a range of modern theoretical frameworks, including stylistics, structuralism, post-structuralism and Sanskrit poetics. He was born in Dukki (now in present-day Baluchistan, Pakistan).
