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Report Errors in the PDF - [email protected] Copyright 2014-2023 @ AffairsCloud.com 2
 AFFAIRSCLOUD TODAY
Current Affairs 6 June 2023 : Headlines

1. NIRF: IIT Madras tops India Ranking 2023: Overall for the 5th time
2. MNIT & NDSA signed MoU to set up India’s first-of-its-kind National Centre for Earthquake Safety
of Dams
3. ‘Lavender Festival’ inaugurated in J&K and Bhaderwah has emerged as the Lavender capital of
India
4. MoE Minister Dharmendra Pradhan unveils UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities)
regulations, 2023
5. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released Annual Report 2022-23
6. SpaceX Launches 22 second generation Starlink ‘V2 Mini’ satellites
7. Chinese astronauts returned Earth after six-month stint in space station
8. Khelo India University Games 2022 Held in UP: Panjab University tops Medal Tally
9. F1: Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wins Spanish GP 2023
10. India’s Aravindh Chithambaram wins Dubai Open chess 2023
11. American athlete Jim Hines, 1st to Sprint 100 M in Under 10 secs, Passed Away
12. Padma Shri Awardee and veteran Actress Sulochana Latkar Passed Away at 94
13. Manoj Misra, an Environmental Activist and former IFS Officer passed away due to COVID-19
complications
14. World Environment Day 2023 – June 5
15. International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing 2023 – 5th
June
16. World Day against Speciesism 2023 – June 5
17. International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression 2023- June 4
18. Bajaj Finserv signed an MoU with Maharashtra Govt to invest Rs.5000 crore in Pune

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 NATIONAL AFFAIRS
NIRF: IIT Madras tops India Ranking 2023: Overall for the 5th time
According to the 8th edition of India Rankings (India Ranking 2023), prepared by Ministry of Education (MoE)
based on parameters defined by National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT) Madras (IITM), Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN), has topped the list for the 5th consecutive time.

• IITM is followed by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, Karnataka ranked 2nd and IIT
Delhi at 3rd.
• IIT Madras has also topped among the Engineering institutes for the 8th consecutive year.
• IIT Madras is also ranked 2nd among research institutions and ranked 2nd best for Innovation.
Note: featuring 13 categories, India Ranking 2023 of NIRF is the largest in its scope to date.
About NIRF:
i.NIRF was approved by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) (now MoE) and launched on
29th September 2015.
ii.NIRF outlines a methodology to rank institutions across India. The parameters cover Teaching, Learning and
Resources, Research and Professional Practices, Graduation Outcomes, Outreach and Inclusivity, and
Perception.
• First edition of India Rankings was released in 2016.
Key Points:
i.Under the best university category, IISc Bangalore has topped the list followed by Jawaharlal Nehru
University(JNU) (New Delhi, Delhi) and Jamia Millia Islamia (New Delhi, Delhi) in 2nd and 3rd rank
respectively.
ii.All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS) Delhi has topped among the medical colleges in India followed
by Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (Chandigarh) and Christian Medical College
(Vellore, TN)
iii.Top 100 in the Overall category consists of 44 Centrally Funded Technical Institute (CFTI), 24 state
universities, 13 deemed universities, 18 private universities, 4 agriculture and allied sector institutions, and 3
management institutions.
iv.The total number of institutions ranked in Management and Pharmacy has been increased from 75 to 100
each from 2022 onwards.
New Additions in Indian Ranking 2023 :
• Introduction of a new subject namely Agriculture & Allied Sectors
• “Innovation” ranking which was previously executed by the Atal Ranking of Institutions on
Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) has been integrated into the India Rankings to reduce the burden
on institutions of providing similar data to two different agencies.
• The scope of “Architecture” has been expanded to “Architecture and Planning” to include
institutions imparting courses in Urban and Town Planning.

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Top 5 in Indian Ranking 2023: Overall:
Rank Institute Score
1 Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) – Madras (Chennai, Tamil Nadu) 86.69
2 Indian Institute of Science (IISc) (Bengaluru, Karnataka) 83.09
3 IIT Delhi (New Delhi, Delhi) 82.16
4 IIT Bombay (Mumbai, Maharashtra) 81.28
5 IIT Kanpur (Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh(UP)) 77.23
Click here for India Ranking 2023-overall
Top 5 in India Rankings 2023: University
Rank Institute Score
1 IISc (Bengaluru, Karnataka) 83.16
2 Jawaharlal Nehru University(JNU) (New Delhi, Delhi) 68.92
3 Jamia Millia Islamia (New Delhi, Delhi) 67.73
4 Jadavpur University(Kolkata, West Bengal(WB)) 66.07
5 Banaras Hindu University(BHU) (Varanasi, UP) 65.85
Click here for India Ranking 2023-University
Top 5 in India Rankings 2023: College
Rank Institute Score
1 Miranda House (Delhi) 74.81
2 Hindu College (Delhi) 72.39
3 Presidency College(Chennai, TN) 71.18
4 PSGR Krishnammal College for Women (Coimbatore, TN) 71.05
5 St. Xavier`s College (Kolkata, WB) 70.8
Click here for India Ranking 2023-College
Top 5 in India Rankings 2023: Research
Rank Institute Score
1 IISc (Bengaluru, Karnataka) 86.22
2 IIT Madras (Chennai, TN) 84.01
3 IIT Delhi (New Delhi, Delhi) 82.07
4 IIT Bombay (Mumbai, Maharashtra) 79.19
5 IIT Kharagpur (Kharagpu, WB) 71.63
Click here for India Ranking 2023-Research
Top 5 in India Rankings 2023: Engineering
Rank Institute Score
1 IIT Madras (Chennai, TN) 89.79
2 IIT Delhi (New Delhi, Delhi) 87.09
3 IIT Bombay (Mumbai, Maharashtra) 80.74
4 IIT Kanpur (Kanpur, UP) 80.65
5 IIT Roorkee (Roorkee, Uttarakhand) 75.64
Click here for India Ranking 2023-Engineering

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Top 5 in India Rankings 2023: Management
Rank Institute Score
1 Indian Institute of Management(IIM) Ahmedabad (Ahmedabad, Gujarat) 83.2
2 IIM Banglore (Bengaluru, Karnataka) 80.89
3 IIM Kozhikode (Kozhikode, Kerala) 76.48
4 IIM Calcutta (Kolkata, WB) 75.53
5 IIT Delhi (New Delhi, Delhi) 74.14
Click here for India Ranking 2023- Management
Top 5 in India Rankings 2023: Pharmacy
Rank Institute Score
1 National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Hyderabad. Telangana) 78.86
2 Jamia Hamdard (New Delhi, Delhi) 78.74
3 Birla Institute of Technology & Science(BITS) -Pilani (Pilani, Rajasthan) 76.67
4 JSS College of Pharmacy (Ooty, TN) 76.55
5 Institute of Chemical Technology (Mumbai, Maharashtra) 75.42
Click here for India Ranking 2023-Pharmacy
Top 5 in India Rankings 2023: Medical
Rank Institute Score
1 All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS) Delhi (New Delhi, Delhi) 94.32
2 Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (Chandigarh) 81.1
3 Christian Medical College (Vellore, TN) 75.29
4 National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (Bengaluru, Karnataka) 72.46
5 Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research (Puducherry, Pondicherry) 72.1
Click here for India Ranking 2023-Medical
Top 5 in India Rankings 2022: Dental
Rank Institute Score
1 Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (Chennai, TN) 84.08
2 Manipal College of Dental Sciences (Manipal, Karnataka) 77.51
3 Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Pune, Maharashtra) 73.08
4 Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (Delhi) 70.96
5 A.B.Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences (Mangaluru, Karnataka) 69.21
Click here for India Ranking 2023-Dental

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Top 5 in India Rankings 2022: Law
Rank Institute Score
1 National Law School of India University (Bengaluru, Karnataka) 80.52
2 National Law University (New Delhi, Delhi) 73.91
3 Nalsar University of Law (Hyderabad, Telangana) 73.76
4 The West Bengal National University of Juridicial Sciences (Kolkata, WB) 69.34
5 Jamia Millia Islamia (New Delhi, Delhi) 68.3
Click here for India Ranking 2023-Law
Top 5 in India Rankings 2022: Architecture
Rank Institute Score
1 IIT Roorkee (Roorkee, Uttarakhand) 83.21
2 National Institute of Technology (NIT) Calicut (Kozhikode, Kerala) 78.18
3 IIT Kharagpur (Kharagpur, WB) 76.82
4 NIT Tiruchirappalli (Tiruchirappalli, TN) 65.42
5 School of Planning and Architecture (New Delhi, Delhi) 65.14
Click here for India Ranking 2023-Architecture
Top 5 in India Rankings 2022: Agriculture and Allied Sectors
Rank Institute Score
1 Indian Agricultural Research Institute (New Delhi, Delhi) 83.16
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)- National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI)
2 (Karnal, Haryana) 70.45
3 Punjab Agricultural University (Ludhiana, Punjab) 65.98
4 BHU (Varanasi, UP) 63.68

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 5 Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (Coimbatore, TN) 61.71
Click here for India Ranking 2023-Agriculture and Allied Sectors
Top 5 in India Rankings 2022: Innovation
Rank Institute
1 IIT Kanpur(UP)
2 IIT Madras (TN)
3 IIT Hyderabad (Telangana)
4 IIT Delhi
5 IIT Roorkee(Uttarakhand)
Click here for India Ranking 2023-Innovation
About Ministry of Education(MoE):
Union Minister– Dharmendra Pradhan (Rajya Sabha, Madhya Pradesh)
Minister of State(MoS)– Annpurna Devi; Dr. Subhas Sarkar; Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh

MNIT & NDSA signed MoU to set up India’s first-of-its-kind National Centre for Earthquake
Safety of Dams
The Malviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT) in Jaipur, Rajasthan and the National Dam Safety
Authority (NDSA), Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to
establish India’s first-of-its-kind National Centre for Earthquake Safety of Dams which will focus on studying
seismic hazards, developing new dams, and enhancing the protection of existing ones.
• MoJS has recognised the National Centre for Disaster Mitigation and Management
(NCDMM) of MNIT to be the National Center for Earthquake Safety of Dams and has approved a
Financial Grant of Rs 30 crore for establishing and running the centre for the next 5 years.
Key People:
The MoU in this regard was signed in the presence of Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, MoJS; Central
Water Commission’s (CWC) Chairperson Kushvinder Vohra; NDSA Chairperson Sanjay Kumar Sibal; MNIT
Director Narayan Prasad Padhy, on 22nd May 2023 in MNIT, Jaipur.

Objective of National Centre for Earthquake Safety of Dams

To develop indigenous expertise in addressing technology challenges related to the structural and earthquake
safety of dams, thereby making India self-reliant in this field.
What will Centre do?
i.The Centre will work closely with dam engineers, regulators, and policy makers to mitigate the significant
threat of earthquake shaking to dam safety.
ii.It will pilot a study of select dams nationwide to develop and revise safety standards along with international
collaborations.
iii.It will play a key role in developing new norms for the protection of aging dams.
iv.It will also review the earthquake safety manuals of the Central Water Commission(CWC).

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About Dam Safety Act 2021:
It should be noted that the Dam Safety Act of 2021 recognized the issue of safety of major dams (beyond State
boundaries) as a matter of national importance and priority. It oversees the maintenance and operation of
specified dams to prevent disasters.
• With over 5,500 dams in India, including 70 of national importance, the act addresses the risks they
pose.
• Notably, the failure of such dams can result in the uncontrolled release of impounded water, leading
to adverse consequences for life, property, and the environment.
Applicable for dams with:
• Height more than 15 metres
• Height between 10 metres to 15 metres and subject to certain additional design and structural
conditions.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh Inaugurated ‘Lavender Festival’ in J&K; Bhaderwah Emerged as
Lavender Capital of India
On 4th June 2023, Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of state (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology
inaugurated the two-day “Lavender Festival” in Bhaderwah Valley of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).

• While inaugurating the festival, Jitendra Singh stated that Bhaderwah has emerged as
the Lavender capital of India and a prominent Agri-Start-up destination.
• Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM),
Jammu, has organised the event as part of its One Week One Lab Campaign.
CSIR- Aroma Mission:
The CSIR- Aroma Mission, a flagship project of CSIR has been instrumental in promoting lavender cultivation in
the temperate regions of J&K.
• In the Bhaderwah, Doda district of J&K, CSIR-IIIM is supporting farmers in the cultivation of
Lavender under CSIR-Aroma Mission.The media has recognized this initiative of CSIR-IIIM as the
“Purple Revolution.”
• The primary goal of CSIR-Aroma Mission is to increase the income of small and marginal farmers
and foster the development of agriculture-based start-ups.
• Under CSIR-Aroma Mission, CSIR-IIIM introduced Lavender and provided more than 30 Lakh free
Lavender plants to the farmers of different districts of J&K.
Key Points:
i.Lavender variety (RRL-12) developed by CSIR-IIIM in J&K is the source of high-value, low-volume essential oil
which is highly sought after by perfumery industry.
• This variety is highly suitable for cultivation in the rain-fed temperate regions of India.
• CSIR-IIIM has installed fifty distillation units (45 fixed and five mobile) at different locations across
J&K to support the farmers in the processing of lavender.
ii. CSIR-IIIM has conducted many skill development programs and trained more than 2500 farmers and young
entrepreneurs from J&K on Lavender cultivation, processing, value addition, and marketing.

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Benefits of Lavender Cultivation:
i.The successful adoption of Lavender cultivation in the temperate regions of Jammu by many small and
marginal maize farmers has led to the establishment of a new industry around the region.
ii.Many young entrepreneurs in J&K have started small-scale businesses through the value addition of
Lavender oil, hydrosol, and flowers.
iii. The net annual income of farmers who switched from maize to Lavender cultivation has increased many
folds from around Rs.40,000 to Rs.60,000 per hectare to Rs.3,50,000 to Rs.6,00,000 per hectare.
iv.Farmers of the Bhaderwah, Doda district, produced 300, 500, 800, and 1500 Litres of Lavender oil in 2019,
2020, 2021, and 2022, respectively. They earned around Rs 5.0 Crore between 2018-2022 by selling dry
flowers, Lavender plants, and Lavender oil.

MoE Minister Dharmendra Pradhan unveils UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities)

regulations, 2023
On June 2, 2023, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education (MoE) released the UGC
(Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2023 for the establishment of more quality-focused
deemed universities. These will surpass the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations 2019.

• Aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, the new Regulations are built on the principle of
a ‘light but tight’ regulatory framework envisioned in the National Education Policy 2020.
How will these guidelines be helpful?
These guidelines will enable the establishment of numerous high-quality deemed-to-be universities in an
objective and transparent manner. The simplified guidelines will encourage universities to prioritize quality,
excellence, and enhance the research ecosystem, thereby, transforming higher education in India.
Key Features of UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2023:
i.Faculty Strength: The minimum required faculty strength has been increased from 100 to 150.
ii.Corpus Fund: For private institutions, the corpus fund requirement has been increased from Rs 10 crore to
Rs 25 crore.
iii.Executive Councils: Deemed universities will now need to establish executive councils similar to those in
central universities.
iv.It also include eligibility criteria based on NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) ‘A’
grade or NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) rankings, online application process, distinct
institution category, off-campus center setup eligibility, quality monitoring, adherence to statutory body rules,
fee concessions and scholarships, Academic Bank of Credits implementation, transparency in prospectus
availability, and record maintenance for five years.
v.The regulations prioritize quality and monitoring will be closely monitored by UGC expert committees.
• Failure to rectify identified deficiencies may result in the withdrawal of permission to start new
courses or programs.
vi.Institutions deemed to be Universities with minimum ‘A’ grade and above or ranked from 1 to 100 in the
“Universities” category of NIRF rankings of the relevant year are eligible to set up off-campus centres.

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Click Here for full features
Note:
Under the UGC Act 1956, the Central Government has the authority to designate an institution as an Institution
Deemed to be University, as if it were a university within the meaning of Section 2(f). Upon declaration, such
institution shall be deemed to be a university.
• The first set of Regulations was notified in the year 2010, which were revised in 2016 and 2019.

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI’s Annual Report 2022-23: RBI’s Income Increased by 47.06%; PSBs Contribute Maximum
Bank Fraud Amount
On May 30, 2023, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released its Annual Report 2022-23, a static report of the
Central Board of Directors on the working of the RBI for the year ended March 31, 2023 (i.e. FY23) submitted to
the Central Government in terms of Section 53(2) of the RBI Act, 1934.

• India has experienced macroeconomic and financial stability in FY23 with a steady growth.
• India has contributed more than 12% on average to global growth during the last five years.
Highlights of the RBI’s Annual Report:
a.Assessment and Prospects of Domestic Economy:
i.Growth: According to the second advance estimates (SAE) of national income released by the National
Statistical Office (NSO) the Indian economy is expected to have recorded a 7.0% growth in real GDP (Gross
Domestic Product) in FY23 from 9.1% in FY22.
• Agriculture and allied activities were resilient in 2022-23, with gross value added (GVA) registering
a growth of 3.3%.
• The production of kharif oilseeds, sugarcane and cotton was higher during FY23.
• Real GDP growth for FY24 is projected at 6.5% with risks evenly balanced.
ii.Inflation: Overall, headline inflation increased to 6.7% in 2022-23 from 5.5% in 2021-22.
• Inflation reached a peak of 7.8 per cent in April 2022 due to sharp increase in global prices of crude
oil, food, fertilisers and metals.
iii.Deficit and Debt:
i.The general government deficit and debt moderated to 9.4% and 86.5% of GDP, respectively, in FY23 from
the peak levels of 13.1% and 89.4% in FY21, respectively.
ii.The gross fiscal deficit (GFD) of the government declined from 6.7% of GDP in FY22 to 6.4% of GDP in 2022-
23.
iii.India’s current account deficit (CAD) was at 2.7% of GDP during April-December 2022.
b.FDIs are at their lowest since FY20
i.Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): According to the RBI annual report, the total Foreign Direct Investment
(FDI) flows into India reached a three-year low of USD 46 billion in FY23, which is 26% lower than the
previous fiscal year(FY22 USD 58.8 billion).
• FDI flow into India in FY21 was USD 59.6 billion and FY20 was USD 50 billion.

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 • Net capital inflows under FDI, were lower during FY23 at USD 28.0 billion than USD 38.6 billion in
FY22.
ii.The surplus liquidity absorbed under the LAF (Liquidity Adjustment Facility) moderated from a daily average
of Rs 6.6 lakh crore in March 2022 to Rs 0.14 lakh crore in March 2023.
iii.India emerged as the largest player in real-time transactions at the global level, with a 46% share in 2022.
Top 3 FDI Flows in India in FY23:
Source/Industry FY23 (FDI in USD billion)
Country Wise Inflows
Singapore 17.2
Mauritius 6.1
United States 6
Sector-wise Inflows
Manufacturing 11.3
Financial Services 6.8
Computer Services 5.6
Note: FDI in the manufacturing sector fell 30% to $11.3 billion in 2022-23 on an annual basis.
c.NPA: Gross NPA ( Non-Performing Assets) as share of total advances has reduced from 15.5% in 2018-19 to
5.8% in the quarter ending December 2022. While public sector banks continue to have higher NPA ratios, they
have seen a large reduction in their NPA ratio.
d.Merchandise Trade:
i.India’s merchandise exports at USD 450.4 billion recorded a growth of 6.7%in FY23 as compared with 44.6%
in FY22.
ii.India’s merchandise imports at USD 714.0 billion recorded a growth of 16.5% in FY23.
iii.Petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL) imports constituted the largest item in India’s import, accounting for
29.3% of the overall imports in FY23.
iv.Gold imports at US$ 35.0 billion declined by 24.2 per cent in 2022-23.
v.India is the largest importer of vegetable oil globally. India’s import bill on vegetable oil rose to USD 20.8
billion in 2022-23 from USD 19.0 billion in FY22.
e.DICGC’s Deposit Insurance:
i.To protect the small investors, DICGC offers deposit insurance of Rs 5 lakh (including the principal and
interest amount) per depositor for each bank (within 90 days) in the event of the bank being unable to fulfil its
commitment due to liquidation or cancellation of the banking licence.
• Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC), which is constituted under the DICGC
Act, 1961 is wholly-owned by the RBI.
ii.The deposit insurance extended by DICGC covers all commercial banks including local area banks (LABs),
payments banks (PBs), small finance banks (SFBs), regional rural banks (RRBs) and co-operative banks, that
are licensed by the Reserve Bank.
iii.As on March 31, 2023, the number of registered insured banks was about 2,027, which include 140
commercial banks (including 43 RRBs, two LABs, six PBs and 12 SFBs) and 1,887 co-operative banks [33 state
cooperative banks, 352 district central cooperative banks and 1,502 urban cooperative banks (UCBs)].
iv.Key Facts:
• The number of fully protected accounts (294.5 crore) in FY23 constituted 98.1% of the total number
of accounts (300.1 crore).
• In terms of amount, the total insured deposits of Rs 83,89,470 crore in FY23, constituted a Rs
46.3% of assessable deposits of Rs 1,81,14,550 crore.

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 • During FY23, the DICGC has sanctioned supplementary claims of 11 liquidated banks aggregating
Rs105.8 crore under Section 16 (1) of the DICGC Act, 1961.
• In FY23, it has also settled claims of 28 banks under ‘All Inclusive Directions (AIDs)’of the RBI
aggregating Rs 646.8 crore.
• The size of the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) stood at Rs1,69,263 crore (Provisional) as on March
31, 2023, yielding a reserve ratio (DIF/insured deposit) of 2.02%.
v.An insured bank is required to submit its claim within 45 days of imposition of AID after which the DICGC
would get the claims verified within 30 days and pay the depositors within the next 15 days.
f.Lending rates are back to pre-covid levels
i.Banks’ deposit and lending rates increased in FY23 along with a 2.5% points increased in the policy repo rate.
ii.In response to increase in the policy repo rate in FY23, banks raised their external benchmark-based lending
rate (EBLR).
iii.The 1-year median marginal cost of funds-based lending rate (MCLR) of banks also increased by 1.5% points
in FY23.
g.Bank’s Fraud Analysis:
i.In FY23, as per the assessment of bank group-wise fraud cases over the last three years private sector banks
reported the maximum number of frauds, whereas the public sector banks continued to contribute maximum
to the fraud amount.
ii.13,530 cases of bank frauds are identified in 2022-23 involving an amount of Rs 30,252 crore compared to
9,097 frauds amounting Rs 59,819 crore in 2021-22.
• The report highlighted that proportionately, the decline in the total amount involved in frauds
continued during 2022-23, with a reduction of 49 per cent over 2021-22.
iii.Frauds on advances, which includes wilful loan defaults have decreased in the last two years from Rs 1.3
lakh crore to Rs 28,792 crore in 2022-23. Close to 70% of the amount involved in total bank frauds were in
public sector banks.
iv.In terms of Numbers, frauds have occurred predominantly in the category of digital payments
(card/internet).
v.In terms of of value, frauds have been reported primarily in the loan portfolio (advances category).
h.Rise in RBI’s total income in 2022-23 by 47.06%:
i.Balance sheet of RBI in FY23: The size of the RBI’s balance sheet increased by Rs 1,54,453.97 crore, i.e.,
2.50% from Rs 61,90,302.27 crore in FY22 to Rs 63,44,756.24 crore in FY23.
ii.RBI’s income increased by 47.06% to Rs 2.35 lakh crore, the expenditure increased by 14.05% to Rs 1.48 lakh
crore.
iii.The overall surplus in FY23 of Rs 87,416.22 crore as against Rs 30,307.45 crore in FY22, resulting in an
increase of 188.43%. The surplus was about Rs 99,122 crore in FY21; Rs 57,127.53 crore in FY20; and Rs
1,75,987.73 crore in FY19.
iv.The supply of notes during the year FY23 at 2,26,002 lakh pieces was 1.57% higher than that of FY22
(2,22,505 lakh pieces). The expenditure incurred on printing of banknotes decreased from Rs 4,984.80 crore in
FY22 to Rs 4,682.80 crore in FY23.
RBI’s Income, Expenditure, and Surplus Statement in FY23:
FY22 FY23
(Amount in Rs crore) (Amount in Rs crore)
Income
1,60,112.13 2,35,457.26
(increased by 47.06%)
Expenditure
1,29,800.68 1,48,037.04
(increased by 14.05%)
Surplus payable to the Central Government
30,307.45 87,416.22
(increased by 188.43%)

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 Recent Related News:
The report released by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Report On Currency And Finance 2022-23 on May 03, 2023,
recommends India to introduce a broad-based carbon pricing system in line with emerging global best
practices to meet the country’s climate goals.
About Reserve Bank of India (RBI):
Governor– Shaktikanta Das
Deputy Governors – Mahesh Kumar Jain, Michael Debabrata Patra, M. Rajeshwar Rao, T. Rabi Sankar
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Establishment – 1st April 1935

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

SpaceX Launches 22 second generation Starlink ‘V2 Mini’ satellites
On 4th June 2023, SpaceX launched Falcon9, a two staged rocket carrying 22 second generation starlink
satellites, known as “V2 Mini” to Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape
Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, the United States of America (USA).
• This was the 3rd launch and landing for this Falcon 9 first stage booster, which previously launched
Crew-6 and SES O3b mPOWER missions.
• The second generation Starlink satellites equipped with more powerful phased array antennas and
the utilisation of E-band for backhaul, allows each satellite to provide approximately four times
more connectivity than the earlier generations.
• By using the Starlink satellite network, SpaceX aims to create a low-latency, high-speed internet
network throughout the world.

Chinese astronauts returned Earth after six-month stint in space station

On 4th June 2023, Chinese astronauts, Fei Junlong, Deng Qingming and Zhang Lu, returned to Earth on board
the Shenzhou-15 manned spaceship after completing their 6-month mission to build China’s Tiangong space
station. Shenzhou-15 touched down at Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous
Region.
• Manned spaceship Shenzhou-15 was launched on November 29, 2022.
• They have conducted spacewalks and a variety of scientific experiments at Tiangong space station.
• These 3 were replaced by the three astronauts Jing Haipeng,Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao who flew
to the space station onboard Shenzhou-16 on 30th May 2023.

SPORTS
Khelo India University Games 2022 Held in UP: Panjab University tops Medal Tally
Panjab University (Chandigarh) won the overall championship of the 3rd edition of the Khelo India University
Games (KIUG 2022) held in Uttar Pradesh (UP) from 25th May to 3rd June 2023. Panjab University topped the
medal tally of KIUG 2022 with a total of 69 medals (26 gold, 17 silver and 26 bronze).
• Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab – 68 medals (24 gold, 27 silver and 17 bronze) and
Jain University, Bengaluru, Karnataka – 32 medals (16 gold, 10 silver and 6 bronze medals) were
ranked in 2nd and 3rd place.

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Top 5 on KIUG 2022 Medal Tally:
Rank University Total Gold Silver Bronze
1 Panjab University (Chandigarh) 69 26 17 26
2 Guru Nanak Dev University, (Punjab) 68 24 27 17
3 Jain University (Karnataka) 32 16 10 6
4 Punjabi University (Patiala, Punjab) 34 12 14 8
5 Guru Kashi University 28 9 10 9
Click here for the overall medal tally
Inauguration of Khelo India University Games (KIUG) 2022:
On 25th May 2023, Khelo India University Games (KIUG) 2022 was virtually inaugurated by Prime
Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, in the presence of Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister (CM) Yogi Adityanath,
Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MoYAS) and Nisith Pramanik, Minister
of State (Mos), MoYAS, at Babu Banarasi Das University (BBD University), Lucknow, UP.
About Khelo India University Games (KIUG) 2022:
i.Khelo India University Games (KIUG) is a national-level multi-sport event held in India for athletes from
universities across India.
The event is organised as a part of the Khelo India movement.
• KIUG 2022 witnessed the participation of over 4750 athletes from more than 200 Universities, who
competed for 822 medals (262 gold, 263 silver and 297 bronze) across 21 sports.
• Rowing is the new category of sport added in the 3rd edition of KIUG.
Organiser: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MoYAS) and the Government of Uttar Pradesh (UP)
Venues: The sporting events were held at 9 venues in 4 different cities in Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi
• Uttar Pradesh: Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida), Lucknow, Varanasi and Gorakhpur.
• Delhi: New Delhi (for Shooting Event)
Mascot: Jeetu, which represents the Barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelii), also called swamp deer, the state
animal of UP.
• The game’s mascot Jeetu the Barasingha, the exotic vibrant state animal embodies “Garv se Gaurav”
Games Anthem: “Khelo India – Har Dil Mein Desh”, composed and sung by renowned singer Palash Sen.
Official logo: The logo represents the rich heritage, traditional and historical legacy of UP.
The Torch: ‘Shakti’, the official torch of the Khelo India University Games.
Top medal winners:
i.National Swimming record holder Siva Sridhar of Karnataka’s Jain University, who won a total of 11
medals, including 8 golds, is the most successful male athlete at KIUG 2023.
ii.Goa’s leading swimmer, Shrungi Bandekar of Karnataka’s Jain University who won a total of 9 medals
including 5 gold, is the most successful woman athlete.
• She also won the best swimmer individual champion award in women’s category in KIUG 2022.
Highlights of KIUG 2022:
Totally 11 meet records were rewritten at the third edition of the Khelo India University Games (KIUG 2022).

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i.Siva Sridhar, who holds India’s national record in the 200m individual medley, won gold in the 400m
individual medley at KIUG with a new meet record of 4:37.21.
ii.Vikrant Malik of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology,Bhubaneswar, Odisha, made an 80.00m javelin
throw to break the previous record of Rishabh Nehra’s 76.64m at KIUG 2021.
iii.Tanya Chaudhary of Chaudhary Charan Singh University,Meerut,Uttar Pradesh, became the first women
athlete to breach the 60m mark at KIUG with an effort of 60.61m.
iv.Samardeep Singh Gill of Barkatullah University with an 18.75m throw in men’s shot put a new record in
KIUG 2022.
KIUG 2022 Records:
Old New
Athlete (University) Event record record
Men’s 400m medley
Siva Sridhar (Jain University, Karnataka) (swimming) 4:38.98 4:37.21
Yoonus Shah (Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand
University) Men’s 1500m (athletics) 3:52.54 3:51.61
Tanya Chaudhary (Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Women’s hammer throw
Meerut) (athletics) 54.40m 60.61m
Women’s discus throw
Shalini Chaudhary (Barkatullah University) (athletics) 47.07m 50.60m
Pragyan Prasant Sahu (Kalinga Institute of Industrial Women’s 100m hurdles
Technology) (athletics) 13.77s 13.63s
Vikrant Malik (Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology) Men’s javelin throw (athletics) 76.64m 80.00m
Samardeep Singh Gill (Barkatullah University) Men’s shot put (athletics) 17.98m 18.75m
Kushal Kumar Mohite (Shivaji University) Men’s decathlon (athletics) 6333 pts 6389 pts
Women’s javelin throw
Harita (Chaudhary Bansi Lal University, Bhiwani) (athletics) 48.42m 50.14m
Pooja (Chaudhary Bansi Lal University, Bhiwani) Women’s heptathlon (athletics) 4748 pts 4991 pts
Sidharth AK (Mahatma Gandhi University Kottayam,
Kerala) Men’s pole vault (athletics) 4.80m 4.90m
Note:
i.The 1st edition of Khelo India University Games (KIUG 2020) was held in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha. Panjab
University topped the medal tally with 45 medals (17 Gold,18 Silver and 10 Bronze).
ii.The 2nd edition of Khelo India University Games (KIUG 2021) was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Jain
University, topped the medal tally with 32 medals (20 gold,7 silver and 5 bronze medals).

F1: Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wins Spanish GP 2023

On 4th June 2023, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (Belgian-Dutch racing driver) won the 2023 Spanish Grand
Prix(GP), officially known as Formula 1 (F1) AWS Gran Premio de España 2023, at Circuit de Barcelona-
Catalunya in Montmeló within Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain.
• He was followed by Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton (British Racing Driver) at 2nd
place and Mercedes’ George Russell (British Racing Driver) at 3rd rank.
• This win marked Max Verstappen’s 5th of the season, 3rd in a row, 3rd in Spain and the double
world champion’s 40th in F1.
• The 2023 Spanish GP marks the 63rd edition of Spanish GP and the 8th round of the 74th season
of F1 world Championship.
Note:
i.The race took place over 66 laps of the 4.657-kilometre Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Catalonia, Spain.
ii.The race length was 307.236 km (190.908 miles).

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Note: The next round (9th) of the 2023 F1 championship will be the Canadian GP which will be held at Circuit
Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada.
Race Result (Top 3):
Position Driver Team Points
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull 26 (fastest Lap Point)
2 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 18
3 George Russell Mercedes 15

India’s Aravindh Chithambaram wins Dubai Open chess 2023

Indian chess grandmaster (GM) Aravindh Chithambaram (aged 24) of India wins the 23rd Dubai Open
2023 (Dubai Open Chess Tournament 2023) for the second consecutive year which was held at Dubai Chess &
Culture Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirate(UAE) from 27th May – 4th June 2023.

• He was followed by GM Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan at 2nd, and GM Arjun Erigaisi (India) at
3rd.
• With this performance, Aravindh Chithambaram grabbed 2633 Elo points, closer to the 2650 Elo
rating.
About Dubai Open Chess Tournament:
i.Dubai Open Chess Tournament an annual open chess tournament was first organised in 1999.
ii.The tournament is annually organized by the Dubai Chess & Culture Club.
iii.The tournament was divided into 2 categories: the Masters category for players with an international
rating above 2200 and the Open category for players rated below 2200.
iv.In 2023, a total prize purse of USD 52,000 was awarded to the top 10 players in both categories.
• The Masters category champion receives USD 12,000 and the championship trophy, while the Open
category champion receives USD 2,000.
Participants:
A total of 80 participants (in category A) from more than 30 different countries participated in this tournament.
• A total of 9 rounds were played in Swiss format.

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Table Showing Top 3:
Ranking Name Country Rating
1 Aravindh Chithambaram India 2633
2 Javokhir Sindarov Uzbekistan 2661
3 Arjun Erigaisi India 2701
Key Points:
i.Arvind Chithambaram was recognized with trophy and USD 12000.
ii.India currently has nine players in the World’s top 100 in live ratings.
iii.13-year-old Jaiveer Mahendru of India scored 7.5/9 to finish second in Category B(Open) (1600-2199). He
received USD 1800 cash prize.
About Aravindh Chithambaram:
Hailing from Thirunagar, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, he earned his international master title in 2014 and his
grandmaster title in 2015.
• Currently, his World rank is 127.

OBITUARY
American athlete Jim Hines, 1st to Sprint 100 M in Under 10 secs, Passed Away
On 3rd June 2023, Former American track and field athlete and National Football League (NFL) player, Jim
Hines, the 1st man to run 100 meters in under 10 seconds, passed away at the age of 76. He was born in
September 1946 in Dumas, Arkansas, the United States of America (USA) and was raised in Oakland, California,
USA.

About Jim Hines:

i. At the age of 17, he was ranked among the top 20 in the world over 100 yards.
ii. In 1965, he achieved his first US Championships podium finish placing second in the 200m.
iii. In 1966, he won the national 200m title, and in 1967 he won his first national 100 yards title.
iv. In 1967, he set his first ratified world records; clocking 9.1 for 100m yards and 10.0 for 100m and he was
the fifth man to claim a share of the world 100m record with that mark.
v. At the 1968 US Championships in Sacramento, he became the first man to officially go below 10 seconds for
100m, running a hand-timed 9.9sec and earned a spot on the US team.
vi.He retired from athletics at the end of 1968 and moved into the NFL, and played for 2 years for the Miami
Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs.
1968 Olympic:
i. In the 1968 Olympic Games held at México, Jim Hines again clocked a hand-timed 9.9 (electronically
registered as 9.95 seconds), which also made him the first man to officially break 10 seconds on electronic
timing and won his first Olympic gold.
Note: This world record lasted 15 years, the longest of any men’s 100m world record in the fully automatic era,

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but in 1983, it was finally broken by Calvin Smith, a former American Sprinter with 9.93 seconds.
ii. He also had a share of the 4x100m relay world record at the Mexico Olympics, securing the US team to Gold
in 38.24 seconds.

Padma Shri Awardee and veteran Actress Sulochana Latkar Passed Away at 94
On 4th June 2023, Padma Shri Awardee and veteran Actress Sulochana Latkar passed away at the age of 94 due
to prolonged respiratory illness in Mumbai, Maharashtra. She was born as Nagabai on July 30, 1928 in
Khadaklat village in Belgaum, Karnataka.

Career:
i.SulochanaLatkar made her debut as an actor in 1946 and starred in a number of Hindi and Marathi films.
ii.She was well known for her ‘mother roles’ in Hindi films between 1959 and 1995.
iii.She acted in Hindi films like “Aaye Din Bahar Ke”, “Gora Aur Kala”, “Devar”, “Talaash”, and “Azaad”.
iv.She acted as the lead heroine in Marathi films like “Sasurvas”, “Vahinichya Bangdya”, “Meeth Bhakar”,
“Sangte Aika” and “Dhakti Jau”.
Awards:
i.Sulochana Latkar was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 in the field of Arts.
ii.She was also honoured with Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004.
iii.She was honoured with the ‘Maharashtra Bhushan’ Award, a highest civilian award presented by the
Government of Maharashtra, in 2009.

Manoj Misra, an Environmental Activist and former IFS Officer passed away due to COVID-19
complications
On 4th June 2023, Manoj Misra, a renowned environmental activist and former Indian Forest Service (IFS)
officer passed away at the age of 68 in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh (MP) due to COVID-19 related complications.
He was born on October 7, 1954, in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
• The movement Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan headed by Manoj Misra, led to the National Green Tribunal
(NGT) suggesting the phased rejuvenation of the river Yamuna in 2015.
• Manoj Misra actively fought against deforestation, illegal mining and pollution using legal avenues to
protect forests and rivers.

IMPORTANT DAYS
World Environment Day 2023 – June 5
The United Nations (UN)’s World Environment Day (WED) is annually observed across the globe on 5th June to
highlight the significance of protecting the environment. The day also creates awareness about the efforts taken
by various stakeholders across the globe to address environmental issues.
5th June 2023 marks the observance of the 50th World Environment Day.
The theme of the WED 2023 is “Solutions to Plastic Pollution”.

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 • The 2023 theme acts as a reminder that people’s actions on plastic pollution matter.
The annual observance of WED is led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), an
environmental authority in the UN system, since 1973.
Host of WED 2023: The WED 2023 is hosted by Côte d’Ivoire and supported by the Netherlands.
#BeatPlasticPollution Campaign:
The WED 2023 campaign #BeatPlasticPollution calls for global solutions to combat plastic pollution.
Background:
The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/2994 (XXVII) in 1972 and
proclaimed the June 5th of every year as “World Environment Day”.
• The first-ever World Environment Day was observed on 5th June 1973.
Why June 5?
June 5th marks the inaugural day of the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment, the first world
conference to make the environment a major issue, held in Stockholm, Sweden from 5 to 16 June 1972.
Key Points:
i.Globally, more than 400 million tonnes of plastic is produced annually and around 50% of these are designed
to be used only once.
• Only about 10% of the plastics produced are recycled.
ii.An estimated 19-23 million tonnes of plastics end up in lakes, rivers and seas annually.
iii.Microplastics, plastic particles up to 5mm in diameter are found in air, water, soil, food, and inside our
bodies.
iv.More than 800 marine and coastal species are affected by plastic pollution through ingestion, entanglement,
and other dangers.
v.Annually, around 11 million tonnes of plastic waste flow into oceans and this is estimated to triple by 2040.
Note:
A shift to a circular economy can reduce the volume of plastics entering oceans by over 80% by 2040; reduce
virgin plastic production by 55%; save governments USD70 billion by 2040; reduce greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions by 25%; and create 700,000 additional jobs.
About United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP):
Executive Director– Inger Andersen
Headquarters– Nairobi, Kenya

International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing 2023 – 5th
June
The United Nations(UN)’s International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU)
Fishing is annually observed across the globe on 5th June to address the issue of illegal, unreported and
unregulated (IUU) fishing activities.
• 5th June 2023 marks the observance of the 6th International Day for the Fight against IUU Fishing.

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Background:
i.In 2015, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean of the Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations(FAO) proposed an initiative to declare an International Day for the Fight against Illegal,
Unreported and Unregulated Fishing.
ii.During the 40th Session of the FAO Conference, held in Rome, Italy, in July 2017, the resolution entitled
“Observance of the International Day for the Fight against IUU Fishing” was adopted.
iii.In December 2017, the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/72/72 and
proclaimed the 5th June of every year as “International Day for the Fight against IUU Fishing”.
• The first-ever International Day for the Fight against IUU Fishing was observed on 5th June 2018.
Note: The resolution also declared the year 2022 as the “ International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and
Aquaculture”.
Why June 5?
The date 5th June marks the day when the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA) officially entered into
force as an international treaty. The PSMA entered into force on 5th June 2016.
• It was the 1st international legally-binding instrument specifically devoted to the fight against IUU
fishing.
What is IUU Fishing?
Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a broad term that captures a wide variety of fishing activity.
i.Illegal Fishing refers to fishing activities conducted by foreign vessels without permission in waters under
the jurisdiction of another state.
• Illegal fishing is a key driver of global overfishing, it threatens marine ecosystems, puts food security
and regional stability at risk.
ii.Unreported fishing refers to fishing activities that are not reported or are misreported to relevant
authorities in contravention of national laws
iii.Unregulated Fishing refers to fishing activities in areas where there are no applicable management
measures to regulate the catch
Key Points:
i.Globally, the IUU fishing activities are responsible for the loss of around 11 to 26 million tonnes of fish each
year. It is estimated to have an economic value of USD 10 to 23 billion.
ii.IUU fishing undermines national and regional efforts to conserve and manage fish stocks.
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Life below Water:
Target 14.4 aims to end overfishing, illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing and destructive fishing
practices.
Target 14.6 aimed to prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and
overfishing and eliminate subsidies that contribute to IUU fishing by 2020.
About Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations(FAO):
Director-General– Qu Dongyu
Headquarters– Rome, Italy

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World Day against Speciesism 2023 – June 5
The World Day against Speciesism is annually observed on June 5th across the world, to stop discrimination
based on species membership. The day is initiated by animal rights advocates, and its main goal is to remind
people that speciesism, like racism or sexism, has no place in a civilised society.

• The day is supported/observed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Farm Animal
Rights Movement (FARM), and other animal rights groups.
• World Day against Speciesism is a good opportunity for the general public to learn about animal
rights and veganism.
Note: World Day for the End of Speciesism (WoDES) is a similar event, which is observed annually at the end of
August around the world since 2015.
What is Speciesism?
i. The term Speciesism refers to the assignment of different rights, values, or special consideration to
individuals solely on the basis of their species.
ii. “Speciesism” is the human-held belief that all other animal species are inferior.
Origin of Speciesism:
i. In 1970, the term Speciesism was coined by Dr Richard D. Ryder, the psychologist, ethicist, writer and
political animal lobbyist in one of his essays.
ii. In those essays he put forward to call attention to the fact that the attitude toward animals derives from the
same kind of mentality as racism or sexism.
iii. But, the term Speciesism was introduced internationally in 1975 by Peter Singer, a student at Oxford,
England, the United Kingdom (UK).
iv. He wrote a book titled “Animal Liberation” by contacting Richard Ryder, which is widely considered to be
the philosophical background of the animal liberation movement.
Animal rights advocates claim that speciesism is a prejudice similar to sexism or racism, and according to them,
any use of animals by humans (to produce food and clothes, for scientific experiments, in the entertainment
industry, etc.) is a form of discrimination and abuse.

International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression 2023- June 4

The United Nations (UN) International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression is observed
annually on June 4th across the world to recognise and acknowledge the sufferings and pain of children
throughout the world, who are the victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse.
• The day originally focused on the children affected by the 1982 Lebanon War and also focused on
Palestinian children that were victims of Israel’s acts of aggression.
• The day also affirms the UNs commitment towards protecting children and their rights.
Background:
On 19 August 1982, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at its 7th emergency special
session adopted the resolution A/RES/ES-7/8 and proclaimed 4th June of every year as the International Day
of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression.

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 • The first-ever International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression was observed on 4th
June 1983.
Convention on the Rights of the Child:
i. In 1989, world leaders came together and made a commitment to the world’s children by adopting the UNs
“Convention on the Rights of the Child” (CRC), an international legal framework on childhood.
ii. The Convention says childhood is separate from adulthood, and lasts until 18, and it is a special, protected
time, in which children must be allowed to grow, learn, play, develop and flourish with dignity.
iii. This is the most widely approved international human rights treaty.
Protection of Child Rights:
i. In 1997, the UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/51/77, on the “Rights of the Child” following the report of
GraçaMachel, which showed the devastating social and psychological impact of armed conflict on children.
ii. The resolution was built on existing UNGA efforts to protect the rights of children, including through the
Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol, and the annual Rights of the Child resolutions.
iii. The UNGA in 1996, created the mandate of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict to
strengthen the protection of children affected by armed conflict, raise awareness, and so on.
• The mandate has been renewed and expanded by the UNGA since 1996, with the latest Resolution
(A/RES/72/245) adopted on 16 December 2021.
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) and Children’s future:
i. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes a special target (16.2), aims to end abuse,
exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence and torture of children by 2030
ii. The UN’s SDG 16 promotes peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development.
About United Nations (UN):
Founded in– 24 October 1945
Secretary-General– António Guterres
Headquarters– New York, the United States of America (USA)

STATE NEWS
Bajaj Finserv signed an MoU with Maharashtra Govt to invest Rs 5000 crore in Pune
On 3rd June 2023, Bajaj Finserv Limited, the non-banking financial company (NBFC), signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Maharashtra, to invest Rs 5000 crore for development
projects in Pune (Maharashtra). This is the largest financial services investment in India.
The MoU was signed by Harshdeep Kamble, Industry Secretary, Government of Maharashtra and S Sreenivasan,
Chief Financial Officer(CFO), Bajaj Finserv, in the presence of Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister (Dy
CM) of Maharashtra and Sanjiv Bajaj, Chairman and Managing Director(CMD), Bajaj Finserv.
• This is expected to create 40,000 jobs in Pune and develop Pune as a financial centre.
• Work on the project will commence in 2023 and envisions state-of-the-art connectivity and facilities
for business.

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 • The project is planned as a sustainable development one that meets the highest global standards of
certifications with green solutions and a net-zero approach.

GA Questions Asked in Exams

• Affairscloud’s Self Analysis for General Awareness Section

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