Daily Current Affairs 25 June 2021 – Gkseries
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 25 June 2021, 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.
Daily Current Affairs 25 June 2021
World’s first genetically modified (GM) rubber plant has planted in Assam
The world’s first genetically modified (GM) rubber plant developed by RRII was planted on the outskirts of Guwahati, Assam.
It is developed by the Kerala-based Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII), under the Rubber Board through long years of research in its Biotechnology laboratory.
The GM rubber plant, which is the first of its kind developed specifically for the northeast and is expected to flourish in the region’s climatic conditions.
The plant has additional copies of gene MnSOD (manganese-containing superoxide dismutase) in it and is expected to revolutionize natural rubber production in India.
It can protect plant cells and can also survive in severe environmental stresses such as cold and drought.
Justice Bhandari appointed as acting Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court
Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari has been appointed as the Acting Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court with effect from June 26
Justice Bhandari, the senior-most Judge of the Allahabad High Court, will be performing the duties of the office of the Chief Justice of the high Court consequent upon the retirement of Justice Sanjay Yadav, Chief Justice, Allahabad High Court.
Justice Bhandari was appointed as Judge of the High Court of Rajasthan High Court on Jul 5, 2007 and he was transferred to Allahabad High Court and took oath as Judge on March 15, 2019.
He was Standing Counsel for Railways; Rajasthan Road Transport Corporation; Nuclear Power Corporation; State Election Commission; Rajasthan University; all Government Electricity Companies of Rajasthan; Jaipur Development Authority; Jaipur Municipal Corporation; Rajasthan Housing Board; Ganga Nagar Sugar Mills Ltd.; Rajasthan Agricultural University.
New Zealand won the First ICC World Test Championship 2021
New Zealand won the first ICC World Test Champions after beating India inside the final hour of a nail-biting reserve day.
Started on 1 August 2019, the ICC World Test Championship is a league competition for Test cricket run by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
It is intended to be the premier championship for Test cricket. It is in line with the ICC’s goal of having one pinnacle tournament for each of the three formats of international cricket.
The first tournament began with the 2019 Ashes series. In March 2020, matches were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, not resuming before July 2020, with several rounds of matches being postponed or ultimately cancelled.
New Zealand became the first team to qualify for the final, when it was confirmed that the series between South Africa and Australia would not proceed, followed by India.
The inaugural World Test Championship Final was played between India and New Zealand from 18–23 June 2021 at Rose Bowl, Southampton, England.
Despite the opening and fourth day of the final being washed out by rain, New Zealand managed to win in the final session of the reserve day and lifted the first World Test Championship trophy.
Task force to help govt in bringing major reforms in bureaucracy
Former Infosys CEO S D Shibu Lal has been appointed chairperson of a three-member task force formed to help the government in bringing major bureaucratic reforms through its ambitious “Mission Karmayogi”.
The task force will be free to constitute working groups, co-opt additional members/experts/special invitees, and consult national and international leaders in the field.
The task force is expected to complete its work within a period of six months from the date of its constitution and submit its recommendations in the form of periodic/interim reports in respect of various terms assigned to it.
The task force shall submit its recommendations on organisational structure for the SPV aligning its vision, mission and functions; policy frameworks for HR, compensation, IT, procurement and oversight functions, and staffing plans for top management including board members and key personnel with panels of potential candidates.
Harsh Vardhan Unveiled a Book “My Joys And Sorrows – As A Mother Of A Special Child”
Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan unveiled Dr. Krishna Saksena’s book ‘My Joys and Sorrows – as a Mother of a Special Child.’
The book talks about the journey of Dr. Saksena and her disabled son Shiv, who could not write his own story.
The book shows the power of pure love and faith and is written in a conversational yet easy-to-read style, making the reader feel like a participant in the author’s life journey.
The author, Dr. Krishna Saksena has been a teacher by vocation. While teaching in a Delhi University college, she has engaged with hundreds of ‘normal’ young people, even as she, in her own life, redefined what normal can mean for a mother.
India and Fiji recently signed an MoU for cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors
India and Fiji recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the field of Agriculture and allied sectors.
During the Corona pandemic loans worth Rs. 2 lakh crore have been given to the farmers and as a result more production and earning has been achieved than before.
Under the MoU, a Joint Working Group will be established to set down procedures and plan and recommend programs of cooperation towards achieving its aims.
The Working Group will hold its meetings alternatively in India and Fiji once in every two years.
The MoU will remain valid for a period of five years from the date of its signing and any variation to its duration will be approved in writing by both Parties.
India host the 9th Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable (AMER9)
According to the International Energy Forum (IEF), India has agreed to host the 9th Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable (AMER9) next year.
The 9th Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable, dates of which will be announced later, will take forward the understandings reached in the previous meeting in Abu Dhabi during 2018, which was co-hosted by India.
The International Energy Forum (IEF) is the world’s largest energy organisation with 71 member countries, accounting for 90 per cent of the global energy market.
It holds energy dialogue promoting energy security, market stability and transparency in the transition to a sustainable and inclusive future.
Researchers discovered antibodies of Nipah virus in bats
Researchers of Indian Cuncil of Medical Research and the National Institute of Virology have found the presence of antibodies against the Nipah virus (NiV) in some bat species from a cave in Mahabaleshwar.
The survey was done for studying the spread of NiV in Indian bat species. Two bat species, Leschenault’s rousette and common pipistrelle, were trapped using mist nets.
Blood, throat, and rectal swab samples were collected onsite from anaesthetised bats. Researchers found both the virus and antibodies in these bat.
India has witnessed four episodes of NiV outbreaks, with case fatality rate ranging from 65 per cent to 100 per cent.
The first NiV outbreak was reported in West Bengal’s Siliguri district in 2001. An outbreak reported in Calicut district in Kerala killed 18 people in 2018, followed by another outbreak in the state in 2019.
Southeast Asian countries and some Indian states have been identified as potential hotspots for the NiV disease.
NiV is one of the top-10 priority list pathogens identified by the World Health Organization. As of now, there are no medicines or vaccines for the disease.
IFFCO and Argentina signed an agreement to set up a Nano Urea Fertiliser Plant
Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) will set up a Nano Urea Liquid manufacturing plant in Argentina in partnership with the Cooperative Confederation of Argentina (Cooperar) and Instituto Nacional de Asociativismo y Economia Social (INAES).
Ariel Guarco is also the president of the International Cooperative Alliance which is an alliance of around 111 countries across the globe with 320 cooperatives operating in various sectors.
The scope of MoU will be offering opportunities to exchange ideas and develop business relationships, to carry out joint research and training activities along with educational visits for better understanding and opportunities.
Kotak Mahindra Bank launched ‘Pay Your Contact’ service
Kotak Mahindra Bank (KMBL) has announced the launch of ‘Pay Your Contact’. The feature is interoperable across all payment apps and is available on both Android and iOS.
It is an innovative feature on KMBL’s mobile banking app that uses the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) platform and allows customers to send money or make payments to any of their contacts across all payment apps simply by entering the beneficiary’s mobile number.
With ‘Pay Your Contact’, KMBL customers no longer need to remember or obtain the bank account number or IFSC code or remember UPI IDs to send money or make payments.
All a customer needs to do is select a contact saved on one’s mobile phone or enter the mobile number of the beneficiary, select the UPI app or a KMBL account linked to the beneficiary’s number and effortlessly transfer the money – straight from the Kotak mobile banking app.
Indian Navy has conducted a Passage Exercise in Indian Ocean Region with US
Indian Naval Ships Kochi and Teg along with P8I and MiG 29K aircraft participated in a Passage Exercise with US Navy Carrier Strike Group Ronald Reagan during its transit through Indian Ocean Region.
The Indian Naval warships along with aircraft from Indian Navy and Indian Air Force engaged in joint multi-domain operations with the Carrier Strike Group.
The two-day exercise aimed to strengthen bilateral relationship and cooperation by demonstrating the ability to integrate and coordinate comprehensively in maritime operations.
High tempo operations during the exercise include advanced air defence exercises, cross deck helicopter operations and anti-submarine exercises.
The participating forces honed their war-fighting skills and enhance their interoperability as an integrated force to promote peace, security and stability in the maritime domain.
Nikol Pashinyan has been elected as the Prime Minister of Armenia
Nikol Pashinyan has been elected as the Prime Minister of Armenia, preliminary results from all 2,008 polling stations give the Civil Contract party 54%.
Armenia is a landlocked country located in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia. It is a developing country and ranks 81st on the Human Development Index (2018).
It is a part of the Caucasus region; and is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north, the Lachin corridor under a Russian peacekeeping force, and Azerbaijan to the east, and Iran and the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan to the south.
Armenia’s economy is primarily based on industrial output and mineral extraction. While Armenia is geographically located in the South Caucasus, it is generally considered geopolitically European.
DRDO is going to test ‘Agni Prime’ soon
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is all set for the trails of their new missile ‘Agni Prime’ soon which is the advanced version of the ‘Agni-1’ missile.
According to available data, the ‘Agni Prime’ is a short-range ballistic missile that will have a range of 1000 km to 1500 km and will have advanced features in agility and road mobility
It is a surface to a surface missile that can carry a payload of around 1,000 Kg or a nuclear warhead. The double stage missile will be lighter and much sleeker than its predecessor ‘Agni-1’.
DRDO has initiated the ground trials of SWiFT, 1-ton All Up Weight (AUW) Technological Demonstrator for the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Stealth Bomber).
SWiFT has been powered by an NPO Saturn 36MT turbofan engine, which is manufactured by NPO Saturn Russia, for powering advanced trainers, light attack aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) that will be later replaced by Gas Turbine Research Establishment’s (GTRE) Small Turbo Fan Engine (STFE).
Ajit Doval proposed action against Pak terror groups at SCO meet
National Security Advisor of India Ajit Doval has proposed an “action plan” against Pakistan based terror groups like LeT & JeM at the Shanghai cooperation organisation or SCO NSAs meet.
LeT & JeM has been responsible for many terror attacks in India, especially in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
JeM created with the support of Pakistan Spy Agency ISI was responsible for the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 Indian soldiers were martyred.
Interestingly, India also emphasised on adoption of international standards to counter terror financing including an MoU between SCO and FATF, an anti-terror financing body.
NSA highlighted connectivity projects like Chahbahar, INSTC, Regional Air Corridors which are leading to “economic gains and building trust” but pointed out that “connectivity must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
Russia and UK at odds over incident in the Black Sea
According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, warning shots were fired near the British warship and bombs dropped in its path after it ignored Russian instructions to depart in the Black Sea.
The dispute occurred as Russia steps up pressure on NATO to cancel the Sea Breeze military exercises that are due to begin in the Black Sea region.
The Defender had recently been in Odessa, Ukraine, where British officials signed an agreement to boost Ukraine’s naval capacity, and British and Ukrainian forces took part in exercises described as involving firefighting and damage control.
Black Sea is bordered by Ukraine to the north, Russia to the northeast, Georgia to the east, Turkey to the south, and Bulgaria and Romania to the west.
The Black Sea contains only a few small islands, the largest being Zmiyinyy (Fidonisi) of Ukraine, east of the Danube delta, and Berezan at the mouth of the Dniester River estuary.