Daily Current Affairs June 06 2023 | Latest News

 

CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING & FINANCE

Karbon Card launched India’s 1st mobile-based expense management card – Card++

• Karbon Card, a B2B (Business to Business) payment solution provider, has launched India’s 1st mobile-based expense management card called Card++.

Aim :

• To help thousands of startups and small businesses that are constantly facing challenges in finding a reliable and accessible expense solution, causing disruptions in their day-to-day operations and forced to use multiple payment instruments.

About Card++ :

• Card ++ is free to use and comes with uncapped cash-back offers.
• It is currently live and already gaining mass traction amongst both startups and Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
• Its features include allowing payments on platforms like Google, Amazon, Swiggy, Ola,
• It offers a comprehensive and user-friendly expense management experience with its 2-click sign-up process, intuitive Android app for on-the-go access, seamless top-up options, and exciting uncapped cashback offers for spends.
• Karbon Card aims to onboard approximately 5000 new customers on Card++ by the end of 2023.

About Karbon Card :

• Established : 2019
• Headquarters : Bengaluru, Karnataka
• Founders : Amit Jangir, Sunil Kumar and Kartik Jain

SEBI proposes cutting IPO listing time from 6 days to 3 days for enhanced efficiency

• Capital market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed to halve the time taken for the listing shares on stock exchanges after the closure of the initial public offer (IPO) to 3 days from 6.
• This change is expected to benefit both the companies issuing the shares as well as investors.

Key Highlights :

• The reason behind this proposed reduction in timeline is related to SEBI’s introduction of the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) as an additional payment mechanism for retail individual investors.
• Issuers will have faster access to the capital raised, thereby enhancing the ease of doing business, and the investors will have an opportunity to have early credit and liquidity of their investment.
• In November 2018, SEBI introduced the UPI as an additional payment mechanism, along with the Application Supported by Blocked Amount (ASBA) system, for retail investors.
• At that time, SEBI also prescribed the listing timeline of 6 days (referred to as T+6) following the closure of an IPO, with ‘T’ denoting the day of issue closure.
• Over the last few years, SEBI ensured that a series of systemic enhancements had been undertaken across all the key stakeholders of the IPO ecosystem to streamline the activities involved in processing public issues which will pave the way to reducing the listing timelines from T+6 to T+3.

About SEBI :

• Established : 12 April 1988 as an executive body and was given statutory powers on 30 January 1992 through the SEBI Act, 1992
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Chairman : Madhabi Puri Buch (first woman to lead the SEBI)
• SEBI is the regulatory body for securities and commodity markets in India under the ownership of the Ministry of Finance (MoF),

ADB launches India strategy for 2023-27 focus on employment creation, green growth

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched its India Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) 2023-2027: Catalyse Robust, climate-resilient, and inclusive growth to accelerate structural transformation and job creation, promoting climate-resilient growth, and deepening social and economic inclusiveness.

3 Pillars of CPS :

1. Accelerate the structural transformation and job creation through the convergence of logistics-industry-urban-skilling programs, along with support for MSMEs.
2. Promote climate-resilient growth.
3. Deepen social and economic inclusiveness.

The CPS focuses on four cross-cutting themes:

1. Domestic resource mobilization.
2. Gender equality and social inclusion.
3. Digitalization and innovation ecosystem support.
4. Regional cooperation and integration through South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC).

Key Highlights :

• India quickly rebounded from the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, with economic growth projected at 6.4% in FY 2023–2024, and now ranks among the fastest-growing major global economies.
• This will enable urban areas to unlock their potential as engines of growth, promote industrial competitiveness, and create more jobs in formal manufacturing and services sectors.
• The new CPS will also maximise value addition through knowledge solutions, technical assistance, and capacity building of its partner agencies in the areas of strategic engagement.
• India is a key ADB partner and the fourth largest shareholder.
• As of the end of December 2022, ADB had committed USD 52.6 billion in 605 public sector loans, grants, and technical assistance in India, as well as USD 8 billion in private sector investments.

About ADB :

• Established : 19 December 1966
• Headquarters : Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines
• President : Masatsugu Asakawa
• Membership : 68 countries

Bank Of Maharashtra Tops PSU Lenders Chart In Profit And Loan Growth In FY23 

• State-owned Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) has emerged as the top performer among public sector lenders in terms of loan and deposit growth in percentage terms during 2022-23.
• BoM also recorded highest growth in profitability with bottomline growing almost 126% to ₹2,602 crore during the year.
• However, all the 12 public sector banks together recorded a 57% jump in net profit at ₹1,04,649 crore in FY23, according to published yearly numbers of public sector banks (PSBs).

Key Highlights :

• In terms of percentage increase in gross advances, BoM recorded 29.4% jump in loans at Rs 1,75,120 crore as of March 2023.
• It was followed by Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) and UCO Bank with 21.2% and 20.6% growth, respectively.
• However, in absolute terms, aggregate loans of the country’s biggest lender SBI were nearly 16 times higher at ₹27,76,802 crore.
• With regard to deposit growth, BoM witnessed 15.7% rise and mobilised Rs 2,34,083 crore at the end of March 2023.
• According to the data, Bank of Baroda (BoB) was second with 13% growth in deposits (Rs 10,47,375 crore) while Punjab National Bank (PNB) recorded 11.26% increase at Rs 12,51,708 crore.
• BoM retained the top position in terms of garnering low-cost Current Account and Savings Account (CASA) deposits with 53.38% followed by Central Bank of India (50.18%).
• Total business growth of BoM was also the highest at 21.2% at ₹4,09,202 crore followed by Bank of Baroda at 14.3 per cent (₹18,42,935 crore) at the end of FY23.
• In terms of Retail-Agriculture-MSME (RAM) loans, BoM registered the highest growth of 24.06% followed by Punjab National Bank at 20.85% and Punjab & Sind Bank at 20.70% on an annual basis.

About BoM :

• Established : 16 September 1935
• Headquarters : Pune, Maharashtra India
• MD & CEO : A. S. Rajeev
• Tagline : Ek Parivaar, Ek Bank (One Family One Bank)

Gupshup Launches GSPay To Enable UPI Payments For Feature Phone Users

• Conversational engagement platform Gupshup has introduced UPI payments for people using feature phones via a native app called GSPay.
• The app, developed along with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), will use SMS or even IVR based payments system, and do away with the need of data or internet connectivity.

Key Highlights :

• For developing this facility, in 2022, Gupshup.io is leveraging UPI 123 Pay launched by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and NPCI to enable payments for feature phone users.
• In addition, feature phone users will also be able to scan QR codes to make payments.
• So far, solutions built on UPI 123 Pay have deployed either missed calls or an IVR-based system for making payments.
• Now with GSPay, even new users can register for UPI, link bank accounts and set UPI PIN, all within the embedded app in the phone.
• The app gives an option to make payments either via mobile number or UPI ID, completing the transaction in a simple 2-step process.
• To make a payment, the user needs to enter the mobile number or UPI ID of the payee, the amount and UPI PIN.
• Currently, the GSPay app is available in 12 Indian languages.
• io partnered with Nokia (HMD Global) to enable GSPay on some Nokia feature phones.
• According to the NPCI data, PhonePe, Google Pay and Paytm secured a 94% market share in the number of UPI transactions processed in March 2023.

About Gupshup.io :

• Headquarters : San Francisco, California
• CEO : Beerud Sheth

It assists large and small businesses in emerging markets to build conversational experiences.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

88% of wage payments made through Aadhaar Based Payment Bridge System till May 2023

• The Rural Development Ministry has informed that about 88 per cent of the wage payment has been made through Aadhaar Based Payment Bridge System (ABPS) till May this year(2023).
• States will organise camps and follow up with beneficiaries to achieve hundred per cent % ABPS.
• The Ministry has made it clear to all the States that the beneficiary who comes for work should be requested to provide the Aadhaar number but will not be refused work on this basis.

14 fixed-dose medicines are prohibited by the union government due to potential health hazards:

• The union Government has banned 14 fixed-dose drugs as they have been found to lack therapeutic justification and may pose risks to health.
• A government notified that it is necessary to prohibit the manufacture, sale and distribution of the fixed dose medicines in larger public interest.
• An Expert Committee recommended that there is no therapeutic justification for the ingredients contained in these Fixed-dose Combinations and the FDCs may involve risk to human beings.
• FDC drugs contain a combination of two or more active pharmaceutical ingredients in a single form.
• They are usually manufactured in a fixed ratio and distributed.
• The 14 FDCs include combinations such as Nimesulide Paracetamol dispersible tablets, Amoxicillin Bromhexine and Pholcodine Promethazine.
• The drugs are used for treating cough, common infections, fever and body ache.

MOS for External Affairs V Muraleedharan underscores deepening cooperation between India & Maldives across multiple sectors

• Minister of State for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan, underscored the deepening cooperation between India and the Maldives across multiple sectors.
• The minister who is on his maiden visit to Maldives, addressed the media in Male after signing of 10 agreements for implementing High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDP) in 11 atolls.
• The visit highlighted the progress made in bilateral relations, showcasing the importance of the growing partnership. Mr. Muraleedharan commended the strides taken in the bilateral relations under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
• Several noteworthy projects were mentioned by the minister, including the imminent completion of water and sanitation initiatives on 34 islands, the ongoing construction of 4,000 housing units in Hulhumale, and the commencement of the Addu Development Project for roads and reclamation.
• The prestigious Greater Male Connectivity Project, valued at $500 million, was also emphasized as a key catalyst for the Maldivian economy.
• The minister also handed over a batch of Tuberculosis medicines to Maldives upon a request from the Archipelago nation.
• Muraleedharan also paid a courtesy visit to Maldives President Ibrahim Solih and exchanged views on strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

UAE to Host World’s Largest Conservation Conference in 2025

• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has won the bid to host the 2025 World Conservation Congress (WCC) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• The WCC is the world’s largest and most important gathering of conservationists, and it is expected to draw more than 10,000 delegates from over 160 countries.

Key Highlights :

• The IUCN WCC in 2025 in Abu Dhabi, UAE is expected to bring an estimated 10,000-15,000 delegates from over 160 countries across the globe and will be an event which could galvanise conservation actions to protect our planet, amid local and global challenges.
• The 2025 WCC will be held in Abu Dhabi from October 10-21, 2025.
• The event will be an opportunity for conservationists from around the world to come together and discuss the most pressing environmental challenges facing our planet.
• The WCC is also expected to produce a number of important resolutions and recommendations that will help to guide future conservation efforts.

About UAE :

• President : Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
• Prime Minister : Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
• Capital : Abu Dhabi
• Currency : UAE dirham

About IUCN :

• Established : 5 October 1948
• Headquarters : Gland, Switzerland
• Director General : Bruno Oberle
• President : Razan Al Mubarak
• The IUCN is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources
• It is best known to the wider public for compiling and publishing the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, which assesses the conservation status of species worldwide.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : STATE NEWS

India’s first carbon neutral village being developed in Bhiwandi Taluka of Thane district of Maharashra

• Union Minister of State Shri Kapil Patil stated that India’s first carbon neutral village being developed in Bhiwandi Taluka of Thane district, Maharashtra.
• 1,75,000 farmers are taking the benefit of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Yojana in Bhiwandi Lok Sabha Constituency.
• Kapil Patil stated that many important projects including Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan Metro, Kalyan-Murbad Railway, Eight-Layer Majivada-Vadape Bypass, Shahapur-Khopoli Highway etc have been completed.

About Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Yojana :

• The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-Kisan Yojana) is a government scheme through which, all small and marginal farmers will get up to Rs 6,000 per year as minimum income support.
• The scheme was launched on 24th February 2019 by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi In Uttar Pradesh (UP).

About Maharashtra :

• Governor: Ramesh Bais
• Chief minister: Eknath Shinde
• Capital: Mumbai
• National Park : Tadoba National Park, Navegaon National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuaries : Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnala Bird Sanctuary, Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary
• UNESCO Heritage Sites : Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, The Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai, Ajanta Caves, Elephanta Caves, Ellora Caves

Banas Dairy inaugurated honey testing lab in Gujarat 

• Banas District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union (Banas Dairy) has inaugurated Gujarat’s 1st honey testing laboratory at Banas Dairy complex at Badarpura near Palanpur in North Gujarat.
• The new lab would also be open for other co-operatives under the Amul umbrella to conduct tests on the quality and purity of the honey, apart from its own brands Banas Honey and Amul Honey.
• The Central government has funded for the lab.
• The in-house testing facility will reduce costs as well as the time taken for the tests to about 6 days from the earlier duration of 15-20 days.

Key Highlights :

• Banas dairy’s Banas Honey was launched in December 2016, while Amul Honey was launched in September 2021.
• The Banas dairy has achieved honey production of 1,60,533 kg between 2020 and 2023.
• A National Bee Board (NBB) was set up under which a special scheme of National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) was launched.
• Under the scheme 16 mini honey testing labs were sanctioned to be set up in the states of Bihar (1 no.), Karnataka (3), Madhya Pradesh (1), Maharashtra (1), Rajasthan (1), Jammu & Kashmir (4), Uttar Pradesh (2) West Bengal (2) and Himachal Pradesh (1), whereas three regional/big honey testing labs have were sanctioned for Delhi, Gujarat and Karnataka.

About Gujarat :

• Governor: Acharya Devvrat
• Chief minister: Bhupendrabhai Patel
• Capital: Gandhinagar
• National Park : Vansda National Park, Gir National Park, Marine National Park, Velavadar National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuaries : Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary, Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary

CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING AND REPORTS

Education Ministry announces NIRF ranking for 2023

• The Ministry of Education today announced the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranking for the year
• The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has been declared the best educational institute under the overall category.
• Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore got second position and Indian Institute of Technology, IIT-Delhi, awarded third position in the same category.
• All India Institute of Medical Science, 5th position and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi got the 10th position in the overall category.
• In the category of top ten Universities in the country, IISc, Bangalore is in First position and JNU in second position.
• Jamia Millia Islamia got 3rd position, Banaras Hindu University 5th position and Aligarh Muslim University bagged 9th position in this category.
• The University of Hyderabad is also in 10th position in the same category.
• The Ministry announced ranking for several categories including Overall, Top ten Universities, Engineering, Pharmacy and Management.

India set to remain UAE’s largest export destination by 2030:

• India is set to remain the United Arab Emirates (UAE) largest export destination by 2030, according to a new report by Standard Chartered.
• The report, titled “Future of Trade: New opportunities in high-growth corridors”, forecasts that the UAE’s exports will reach around USD 543 billion by 2030, showcasing a robust annual growth rate of 5.5 percent.
• The report also highlights that trade corridors anchored in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East are expected to outpace the global trade growth rate by almost four percentage points, propelling the combined trade volume in these regions to an astounding USD14.4 trillion, accounting for 44 percent of global trade by 2030.
• India is set to remain the UAE’s largest export destination by 2030, while exports to Turkiye, Vietnam and Singapore are among the fastest growing,” the report said.The report attributed the UAE’s strong export growth to a number of factors, including its strategic location, its well-developed infrastructure, and its business-friendly environment.
• The UAE is a major trade hub in the region and has a strong track record of attracting foreign investment.
• The country’s government is also committed to promoting trade and investment, which will further support its export growth.”
• The report’s findings are positive for India, as it suggests that the country will continue to be the export market for the UAE.
• The report also highlights the importance of trade between India and the UAE, and the potential for both countries to benefit from closer economic ties.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS

Indian Navy’s MiG-29K makes 1st ever maiden night landing on INS Vikrant

• An Indian Navy MiG-29K fighter jet landed on the indigenous aircraft carrier Indian Naval Ship (INS) Vikrant for the first time at night, an important step towards the warship becoming fully operational along with its air wing by the year-end.
• The aircraft carrier is currently sailing in the Arabian Sea.
• This achievement of the Navy is a big step towards the growing power of self-reliant India.”
• It was commissioned into the navy September,2022 marking a pivotal point in the country’s quest for self-reliance in the defence manufacturing sector.

Key Highlights :

• The ongoing flight trials on board INS Vikrant involve the Russian-origin MiG-29K fighter jets that use the ski-jump to take-off, and are recovered by arrestor wires or what is known as STOBAR (short take-off but arrested recovery) in navy parlance.
• 12 MiG-29Ks are likely to be deployed on Vikrant, and the carrier will operate a new deck-based fighter that the navy is looking to buy as an interim measure to meet its requirements before the indigenous twin-engine deck-based fighter (TEDBF) is ready in a few years.
• The first prototype of TEDBF could make its maiden flight by 2026 and be ready for production by 2031.
• The navy’s other aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, operates MiG-29K fighters.

About INS Vikrant :

• Vikrant is 262 metres long, has a height of 61 metres (keel to mast) and its flight deck measures 12,500 square metres (equivalent to 10 Olympic-size swimming pools.)
• It has an endurance of 7,500 nautical miles, a maximum speed of 28 knots, 2,300 compartments and can carry a crew of 1,600.
• Vikrant, which has 76% indigenous content, will operate an air wing consisting of 30 aircraft including the new fighters, MiG-29Ks, Kamov-31 choppers, MH-60R multi-role helicopters, and advanced light helicopters.
• The 45,000-tonne Vikrant was built at Cochin Shipyard at a cost of ₹20,000 crore.
• Only the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), Russia, France and China have the capability to build aircraft carriers this size.
• It has been named after aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, which was operated by the navy from 1961 to 1997.
• A second indigenous aircraft carrier to project India’s maritime power in the far seas is also on the navy’s radar.
• Vikrant is the fourth aircraft carrier to be operated by the Indian Navy, first Vikrant (British origin) from 1961 to 1997, INS Viraat (British origin) from 1987 to 2016 and INS Vikramaditya 2013 onwards.
• INS Vikramaditya was bought second-hand from Russia for $ 2.33 billion.

About Indian Navy :

• Headquarters : New Delhi, Delhi
• Chief of the Naval Staff : Admiral R Hari Kumar

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

Flanders Cup 2023 Athletics: Top Indian sprinter Amlan Borgohain bags two gold medals

• Top Indian sprinter Amlan Borgohain bagged two gold medals, one each in the men’s 100 and 200-meter races at the Flanders Cup 2023 athletics meet, known as the International Antwerp Athletics Gala, in Merksem, Belgium.
• Borgohain clocked 10.70 seconds to emerge as the fastest man of the meet.
• He holds the 100-meter national record of 10.25 seconds.
• In the 200 meter, the 25-year-old Borgohain clocked 20.96 seconds to emerge winner ahead of Hofman 21.42 and Jamaica’s Samuel Rowe 21.88.
• Meanwhile, Sapna Kumari finished behind Belgium’s Amber Vanden Bosch in the women’s 100m hurdles after clocking 14.10, in what was a two-woman field.

ISSF Junior World Cup: Indian shooters Abhinav Shaw, Gautami Bhanot win Gold medal in Mixed Team event

• Indian shooters Abhinav Shaw and Gautami Bhanot have given India their second gold at the ISSF World Cup Junior after winning the final of 10 meter Air Rifle Mixed Team event in Suhl, Germany.
• Indian team of Shaw and Bhanot registered a 17-7 win over the French pairing of Oceanne Mueller and Romain Aufrere in the gold medal match yesterday.
• The Indian pair had qualified second to the French pair but turned the tables on them in the final.
• India now has two gold medals, one silver and one bronze from the World Cup after two days of competition.

About ISSF:

• Founded: 1907
• Headquarters: Munich, Germany
• Membership: 150 regions
• Secretary: Willi Grill (Secretary-General)

India win three medals in Asian U-20 Athletics Championship 2023

• India started their 2023 Asian Under 20 Athletics Championships campaign by winning three medals, including two gold, on the opening day in Yecheon, South Korea.
• Rezoana Mallick Heena and Bharatpreet Singh kicked off their campaigns by clinching gold medals in women’s 400-meter race and men’s discus throw respectively.
• The sprinting sensation Henna clocked 53.31 seconds to take the top position on the podium in women’s 400 meter.
• Having won the U18 Asian Athletics Championships title earlier this year, Rezoana is now the 400m reigning Asian champion in both the U18 as well as U20 categories.
• Bharatpreet Singh attained a distance of 55.66 meter with his third attempt to be crowned the men’s U20 Asian Champion in the discus throw field.
• Antima Pal won India’s third medal of the day, a bronze, in the women’s 5,000-meter race with a time of 17 minutes and 17.11 seconds.

Indian wrestlers Manisha wins Gold, Reetika clinches Silver and Sarita Mor bags Bronze at UWW Ranking Series event in Bishkek

• Indian grapplers have signed off with three medals in the UWW Ranking Series event in Bishkek, with Manisha grabbing Gold, Reetika finishing second-best and Sarita Mor getting her hand so on the Bronze Improvising with the small sized-draws, Manisha bagged Gold in the 65 kg weight category, while India’s tally in the series is four medals including 1 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze.
• Manisha won four matches in the four rounds she completed which helped her win the gold medal.
• In the tournament, the wrestler with the most number of victories will be ranked first.
• Earlier, Manjeet won a bronze in the men’s Greco Roman 55kg category, opening India’s medal account in the series.

About UWW:

• Headquarters: Corsier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland
• Founded: 1912
• President: Nenad Lalović

CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES

Noted theater actor & director Aamir Raza Hussain passed away  

• A noted theatre actor and directo, Amir Raza Hussain has passed away at the age of 66.

About Aamir Raza Hussain :

• Hussain was born on 6 January 1957, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP), India
• He was known for his large outdoor stage productions like The Fifty Day War (2000), based on the Kargil War and The Legend of Ram (2004), based on the epic Ramayana.
• He was also the Creative Director of the Stagedoor Theatre company, established in 1974, which has presented over 91 productions and more than 1,100 performances.
• He has acted in super hit movies ‘Baahubali’ and ‘RRR’.
• He will also be seen in the movie ‘Adipurush’ which will be released on 16th June, 2023.

Awards & Honors :

Husain was honoured with the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, Padma Shri in 2001 by the Government of India (GoI) for his outstanding contributions.

Daily CA One- Liner: June 6

• Karbon Card, a B2B (Business to Business) payment solution provider, has launched India’s 1st mobile-based expense management card called Card++.
• Capital market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed to halve the time taken for the listing shares on stock exchanges after the closure of the initial public offer (IPO) to 3 days from 6 days.
• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched its India Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) 2023-2027: Catalyse Robust, climate-resilient, and inclusive growth to accelerate structural transformation and job creation, promoting climate-resilient growth, and deepening social and economic inclusiveness.
• State-owned Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) has emerged as the top performer among public sector lenders in terms of loan and deposit growth in percentage terms during 2022-23.
• Conversational engagement platform Gupshup has introduced UPI payments for people using feature phones via a native app called GSPay.
• The Rural Development Ministry has informed that about 88 per cent of the wage payment has been made through Aadhaar Based Payment Bridge System (ABPS) till May this year.
• Government has banned 14 fixed-dose drugs as they have been found to lack therapeutic justification and may pose risks to health
• Minister of State for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan, underscored the deepening cooperation between India and the Maldives across multiple sectors
• Union Minister of State Kapil Patil,India’s first carbon neutral Village is being developed in Bhiwandi Taluka of Thane district, Maharashtra
• The Ministry of Education announced the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranking for the year
• India is set to remain the United Arab Emirates (UAE) largest export destination by 2030, according to a new report by Standard Chartered
• Top Indian sprinter Amlan Borgohain bagged two gold medals, one each in the men’s 100 and 200-meter races at the Flanders Cup 2023 athletics meet, known as the International Antwerp Athletics Gala, in Merksem, Belgium
• Indian shooters Abhinav Shaw and Gautami Bhanot have given India their second gold at the ISSF World Cup Junior after winning the final of 10 meter Air Rifle Mixed Team event in Suhl, Germany
• India started their 2023 Asian Under 20 Athletics Championships campaign by winning three medals, including two gold, on the opening day in Yecheon, South Korea
• Indian grapplers have signed off with three medals in the UWW Ranking Series event in Bishkek, with Manisha grabbing Gold, Reetika finishing second-best and Sarita Mor getting her hand so on the Bronze Improvising with the small sized-draws, Manisha bagged Gold in the 65 kg weight category, while India’s tally in the series is four medals including 1 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze.
• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has won the bid to host the 2025 World Conservation Congress (WCC) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• Banas District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union (Banas Dairy) has inaugurated Gujarat’s 1st honey testing laboratory at Banas Dairy complex at Badarpura near Palanpur in North Gujarat.
• An Indian Navy MiG-29K fighter jet landed on the indigenous aircraft carrier Indian Naval Ship (INS) Vikrant for the first time at night, an important step towards the warship becoming fully operational along with its air wing by the year-end.
• A noted theatre actor and directo, Amir Raza Husain has passed away at the age of 66.