Current Affairs Daily Updates: 22nd June 2017

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Current Affairs Daily Updates: 22nd June 2017
APPOINTMENTS
Ayurveda specialist Rajesh Kotecha appointed special secretary in Ayush ministry
  • Ayurveda physician ‘Vaidya’ Rajesh Kotecha appointed as special secretary in Ayush Ministry.
  • The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved Kotecha’s appointment for three years on a contract basis, according to an order issued by Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
  • Vaidya (meaning physician) Kotecha is the chief consultant of Chakrapani Ayurveda Clinic, Jaipur.
Jeevandas Narayan appointed as Managing Director of Manappuram Home Finance
  • Manappuram Finance announced the appointment of Jeevandas Narayan as the Managing Director.
  • Subhash Samant as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of its fully-owned home loans subsidiary, Manappuram Home Finance.
United Nations appoints Russian Diplomat Vladimir Voronkov as Chief of newly established Counter-Terrorism Centre
  • The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed Russian diplomat Vladimir Voronkov to head the newly established UN Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT).
  • The Vladimir Voronkov has been given the rank of Under-Secretary-General.
  • It is developed to oversee the counterterrorism efforts of 36 UN-funded programs under the ambit of a variety of UN agencies, 12 inter-agency working groups, Interpol, and the World Customs Organisation.
Rajiv Gauba to be next Union Home Secretary
  • Rajiv Gauba, currently Union Urban Development Secretary, will be the next Home Secretary, an official statement said.
  • The 1982-cadre IAS officer will succeed Rajiv Mehrishi, whose tenure ends on August 30.
  • Gauba, who was originally of the Bihar cadre but transferred to Jharkhand after the state's division, is also posted on special duty in the Home Ministry.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
Indian Agri Microbiologist given Environment Award in Japan
  • Indian agricultural microbiologist Shrihari Chandraghatgi conferred the Ministry of Environment Award for 2017 in Japan.
  • The award conferred for developing cutting edge technologies to address burning environmental problems.
  • The Ministry of Environment Award is the highest honor given in the environmental sector every year.
  • It is jointly by the Ministry of Environment, Japan, National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), Japan and The Nikkan Kogyo Shinbun.
BANKING AFFAIRS
SEBI relaxes norms for banks to take over listed companies stressed assets
  • The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) got acquisition of stressed assets of listed companies to help the Government and the Reserve Bank Of India (RBI) in their efforts to tackle bad loans.
  • SEBI’s board also approved a proposal to tighten rules for participatory notes through the imposition of a regulatory fee on issuers of such instruments.
  • Extension of Lock-in-relaxation to Category II Alternative Investment Funds (AIF).
BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
Axis Bank, Kochi Metro launches India’s first single-wallet contactless, Open Loop Metro Card
  • Axis Bank, India's third largest private sector bank in association with Kochi Metro Rail Corporation (KMRL)  launched KMRL Axis Bank 'Kochi1' Card, India's first open loop EMV contactless metro card that would make travel a convenient and hassle free experience for commuters in Kochi.
  • Axis Bank has partnered with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in developing this transit EMV contactless specification on interoperable open standards.
ONGC, UNESCO join hands to get Chilika Lake Heritage Label
  • Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) carried out a preliminary survey for the conservation of Chilka Lake.
  • To obtain world heritage site recognition, it should have outstanding global value in terms of biodiversity and eco-system.
  • The survey is carried out in order to global values to obtain the biodiversity and eco systems.
IMPORTANT DAYS OBSERVED
World Music Day is celebrated on June 21
  • The World Music Day 2017 is celebrated on June 21st across the world.
  • The theme of World Music Day 2017 is Musicians gather to perform at a public place.
  • World Music Day is first incorporated into France in 1982. It is a day of national importance which was later adopted by many countries.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
India, Russia identify key areas to boost cooperation in Science & Technology sector
  • India and Russia have identified key areas to cooperate in the Science and Technology sector, including Space and Marine Technologies, IT and deep ocean engineering.
  • The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitryi Rogozin.
  • It is inspired by India's 'Make in India' initiative and Moscow has launched a “Do It In Russia” initiative to promote local manufacturing and technology development.
Estonia Opening first embassy in Luxembourg
  • The Estonia will be opening the world's first-ever data embassy next year in Luxembourg, to keep backup files of its vital information on cloud servers and double secure its data digitally.
  • Luxembourg has been chosen as the location for the embassy since it has capabilities to provide a high level of security for the stored data.
China launches research project to compile data about South China Sea
  • China launched a research project to compile historical data obtained during expeditions by its teams to the disputed the South China Sea.
  • The project is one of the 14 resource investigation programs approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
  • It has the participation of 193 scholars from 10 domestic research institutions and universities, who specialize in fields such as marine life, ecology, fishery, and geology.
First air corridor between India and Afghanistan inaugurated
  • Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has inaugurated the first Afghanistan-India air corridor during a ceremony at the Kabul International Airport—a direct route that bypasses Pakistan and is meant to improve commerce.
  • Ghani said the aim of the route is to create more opportunities and make Afghanistan an exporting nation.
  • Mountain-riddled Afghanistan is a landlocked country and all imports and exports depend on neighbouring countries.
China unveils world’s first train that runs on virtual tracks
  • China has unveiled the world's first 'railless' train - a train that runs on virtual tracks.
  • China is also testing a bus that can straddle the road, and allow traffic to pass under it.
  • The new train is part of China's attempts to develop "intelligent rail express system". Instead of railway tracks, the train runs on rubber tyres.
  • The train can move at a maximum speed of 70 km/hour.
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
First unit of 100 Mega watt Sainj Hydropower Project commissioned
  • The first 50 MW unit of 100 MW Sainj Hydro Power project of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) commissioned with northern grid through Parvati-Kol Dam transmission line.
  • Sainj Hydro Power Project has been constructed on Sainj River, a tributary of Beas River.
  • It is a 6.36 km long tunnel with 3.85-meter diameter and two turbines of 50 Mega Watt installed.
  • It will generate an income of Rs 100 crore to the State Government.
Indian Railways to launch Operation Swarn to revamp Rajdhani, Shatabdi Trains
  • The Indian Railways like Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express, Railways to launch “Operation Swarn (‘gold’).
  • The operation is aimed at improving the services in these premium trains.
  • Under the initiative, Indian Railways will work towards improving 10 aspects, namely, punctuality, cleanliness, linen, coach interiors, toilets, catering, staff behavior, security, entertainment, housekeeping and regular feedback.
  • The Indian Railways also launched a new series of fully air-conditioned express trains like Humsafar, Mahamana, and Gatimaan for overnight travel.
Mumbai most expensive for expatriates in India - Mercer's Survey
  • Mumbai is the most expensive city in India and is ranked higher than major global cities such as Paris, Canberra, Seattle and Vienna.
  • According to Mercer's 23rd annual Cost of Living Survey, Mumbai is placed 57th on the list while New Delhi was placed at 99. Chennai (135), Bangalore (166) and Kolkata (184) were the other Indian cities on the list.
Indore India’s first city to use robot to control unruly traffic
  • The number one clean city of India, Indore has got another milestone to its name. This commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh has reportedly become the first city in India where robot is being used on an experimental basis to control its ever growing and unruly traffic.
  • The traffic police in association with a private engineering college of the city for the first time has installed a metallic robot at a busy MR 9 intersection on an experimental basis to control the chaotic traffic in the locality.