CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS
International Picnic Day
- International Picnic Day is observed on June 18, every year.
- The day encourages people to spend the day outdoors and enjoy the company of other people. Various charity events are also conducted on this day and schools use this opportunity to organize picnics for their students.
Autistic Pride Day
- Every year, organisations from across the globe celebrate Autistic Pride Day on June 18 with a variety of events.
- The aim of this day is to raise awareness amongst those who are not on the autistic spectrum disorder so they do not see autistic people as requiring treatment, but as unique individuals.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL
PM Modi to launch ‘Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan’ to boost livelihood opportunities in rural India
- The government of India has decided to launch a massive rural public works scheme ‘Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan’ to empower and provide livelihood opportunities to the returnee migrant workers and rural citizens.
- PM Modi will launch this Abhiyaan on June 20 through video-conference in the presence of the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar.
- The Abhiyaan will be launched from Village – Telihar, Block- Beldaur of Khagaria District of Bihar. Further, the Chief Ministers of other five States and Union Ministers of concerned Ministries will also participate in the virtual launch.
- The villages across 116 districts in the six States will join this programme through the Common Service Centres and Krishi Vigyan Kendras, maintaining the norms of social distancing in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
- The Abhiyaan will be a coordinated effort between 12 different Ministries/Departments, namely, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Road Transport & Highways, Mines, Drinking Water & Sanitation, Environment, Railways, Petroleum & Natural Gas, New & Renewable Energy, Border Roads, Telecom and Agriculture.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL
India elected as non-permanent member of UN Security Council for a two-year term
- India was elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for a two-year term after winning 184 votes in the 193-member General Assembly. Along with India, Ireland, Mexico and Norway also won the Security Council elections. India was a candidate for a non-permanent seat from the Asia-Pacific category for the 2021-22 term. Its victory was certain as it was the sole candidate vying for the lone seat from the grouping. New Delhi’s candidature was unanimously endorsed by the 55-member Asia-Pacific grouping in June last year.
- India’s two year term will begin on January 1, 2021. This is the eighth time that India will sit at the UN high-table, which comprises five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members.
- Earlier this month, External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar had stated that India’s approach at the UN Security Council will be guided by the tenets of Samman, Samvad, Sahyog, Shanti and Samriddhi. He had stated that India’s overall objective during the fresh tenure in the UN Security Council will be the achievement of N.O.R.M.S. which stands for New Orientation for a Reformed Multilateral System.
