Current Affairs June 16-17, 2019
In this post, GKToday presents Current Affairs of June 16-17, 2019 in Short Notes form for preparation of IBPS, Banking, CLAT, SSC, Railway, UPSC, IAS/PCS, UPPSC, BPSC, MPPSC, RPSC, TNPSC, MPSC, KPSC and all other competitive examinations of India.
1. The World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) is observed every year on June 14 to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank blood donors. The 2019 theme "Blood Donation and Universal Access to Safe Blood Transfusion” is a component of achieving universal health coverage. The slogan - Safe Blood for All - has also been adopted. The theme strongly encourages more people all over the world to become blood donors and donate blood regularly. The day is an important occasion for all governments, national health authorities and national blood services to provide adequate infrastructures to increase collection of blood from regular unpaid blood donors. Blood is vital for treating the wounded during emergencies like natural disasters, accidents and armed conflicts. It has an essential, life-saving role in maternal care. For an effective health system, access to safe blood and blood products in sufficient quantity is a must.
2. Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has recently launched 118 websites that would enable citizens get building plan approvals, diversion of land use change and other related permissions through online submissions, avoiding middlemen and delays. It will bring greater transparency and end corruption and save people's time and money. The initiative of state government will save people from running from pillar to post to get approvals. These websites and softwares integrate 14 departments and forms can be submitted online. The status of their applications will be shared through SMS to the applicants.
3. Pazhavila Ramesan (83), a popular lyricist & Poet, has passed away in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on June 13, 2019. He is a recipient of the 2019 Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for overall contribution, and had also penned songs for many Malayalam movies including 'Malooty', 'Uncle Bun' and 'Vasudha.' He had also served as the director of Kerala Bhasha Institute for a long time. Ramesan brought out poetry collections such as Mazhayude Jalakam, Njan Ente Kadukalelikku, and Pazhavila Ramesante Kavithakal, besides collections of his writings such as Ormayude Varthamanam, Mayatha Varakal, and Nervara.
4. The Union Government has taken a historic decision to reduce the salary contribution of industrial workers who are eligible for healthcare benefits under the Employees’ State Insurance Act (ESI) Act from 6.5% to 4.0%. The move is aimed at formalizing India’s informal workforce and expanding social security coverage. The reduced rates will be effective from July 1 and would benefit 3.6 crore employees and 12.85 lakh employers. The reduced rate of contribution will bring about a substantial relief to workers under the ESI scheme and bring more and more workforce into the formal sector. The ESI Act of 1948 provides for medical, cash, maternity, disability and dependent benefits to the Insured Persons under the Act. The ESI Act is administered by the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC). Benefits provided under the ESI Act are funded by the contributions made by the employers and the employees. The Government of India through the Ministry of Labour and Employment decides the rate of contribution under the ESI Act.
5. The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has decided to confer its Distinguished Alumni Award to Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The award will be presented at JNU’s third convocation to be held in August. Ms Sitharaman had completed her MA and M Phil degrees while Mr Jaishankar completed his M Phil and doctoral research form JNU.
6. The Government of India (GoI) has recently constituted a 5-member committee to review existing marketing structure in Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) marketing in India. The committee, headed by economist Kirit Parikh, will look into issues related to definition or quality standards of LPG being marketed. Its terms of reference also include scope for liberalizing government policies for private participation. The committee is expected to submit its report by end-July. Based on the LPG control order, domestic LPG should be supplied to oil-marketing companies (OMCs) only. The committee will also identify the grey areas that might allow private entities like Reliance Industries to sell subsidized cooking gas.
7. The Union Cabinet has accorded ex-post facto approval for the extension of the term of the Commission to examine the issue of Sub-categorization of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) by two more months upto 31st July 2019. This is the 6th extension to the commission, which was constituted under Article 340 of the Constitution with the approval of President on 2nd October 2017. The extension of the tenure of the commission would enable it to evaluate the issue of Sub-categorization of OBCs in the Central list based on wider consultations with various stakeholders. It will also enable the commission to submit a comprehensive report on the issue. The Commission is headed by Justice (Retd.) G. Rohini.
8. Chinese President Xi Jinping has been conferred the Kyrgyzstan’s highest national award titled “Manas Order of the First Degree” at the Ala Archa state residence in Bishkek. Xi, along with other leaders of the group including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is in Bishkek (the Kyrgyz capital) to attend the 19th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit on June 14-15, 2019. The SCO is a China-led 8-member economic and security bloc. The founding members of the SCO are China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan were admitted to the Beijing-based regional security grouping in 2017.
9. India is one of the founder members of Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) and is the Chair of Kimberley Process for the year 2019 with Russian Federation as Vice Chair. The Inter-sessional meeting of Kimberley Process (KP) is being hosted by India from 17th to 21st June, 2019 in Mumbai. Besides meetings of different Working Groups and Committees of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), two special forums regarding Diamond Terminology and Artisanal Mining – Small Steps to Larger Outcomes, will be held during the Intersessional. Around 300 delegates from the Government of India (GoI) and other participating countries, industry and civil society will be attending the 5-day Meeting. At present, KPCS has 55 members representing 82 countries including EU with 28 members.
10. The Kargil Vijay Diwas (KVD) is celebrated every year on July 26 to commemorate India’s emphatic victory against Pakistan. The day is named after the success of Operation Vijay. In 2019, India will celebrated the 20th anniversary of victory in Kargil war with pride, honour and inspiration from 25th to 27th of July at Dras and New Delhi. The Kargil War is a saga of strong political, military and diplomatic actions. The purpose of these celebrations is to evoke feeling of nationalism and patriotism through nationwide campaigns especially amongst youth and to pay homage to the valiant soldiers. This year, the Kargil Vijay Diwas (KVD) is being celebrated with the theme ‘Remember, Rejoice and Renew’. It will always be remembered for its strategic and tactical surprises, the self-imposed national strategy of restraint in keeping the war limited to Kargil - Siachen Sectors and swiftly executed tri-services military strategy and plans.
