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CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING & FINANCE

Punjab National Bank partners with Amul to support the finance dealership network under the MUDRA scheme

• State-owned Punjab National Bank (PNB) has partnered with Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd (GCMMFL), better known as Amul, to offer financial services to Amul’s supply network pan-India under the MUDRA scheme.
• Through this association, both partners are aiming to provide support to more than 11 lakh retailers, wholesale dealers and others.

Key Highlights :

• PNB will provide small-scale financing through MUDRA to support Amul’s retailers, wholesale dealers/area milk distributors, and exclusive Amul preferred outlets such as milk parlours.
• The partnership will also involve the integration of various digital channels like QR codes, point of sale (POS) systems, and Unified Payment Interface (UPI).
• Additionally, it will facilitate supply chain finance and digital collection of Equated Monthly Instalments (EMIs).
• Moreover, PNB will offer working capital limits and other relevant services.

Recent News :

• In June 2023, Punjab National Bank (PNB) has become the first public sector bank to introduce an Interactive Voice Response (IVR)-based Unified Payment Interface (UPI) solution - UPI 123PAY, aligning with the Digital Payment Vision 2025 towards a cashless and cardless society.

About PNB :

• Founded : 19 May 1894
• Headquarters : Dwarka, Delhi, India
• MD & CEO : Atul Kumar Goel
• Tagline : You Can Bank Upon

About Amul :

• Founded : 14 December 1946
• Headquarters : Anand, Gujarat
• Managing Director : Jayen MehtaJayen Mehta
• Amul, a dairy co-operative based in the western state of Gujarat, is one of the largest milk producers in the world.
• It is under the ownership of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Limited (GCMMF), Department of Cooperation, Government of Gujarat.

Bank of India launched “Centralised Pool Buy-Out and Co-Lending Cell” to boost priority sector lending

• Bank of India (BoI) has launched a ‘Centralized Pool Buy-Out and Co-Lending Cell’ to boost priority sector lending.
• Pool Buy-Out is a well-accepted practice in the banking industry to buy out the retail portfolios of Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs) in return for immediate payment.

Key Highlights :

• The Cell, will be equipped with an end-to-end digital underwriting system to onboard pool buy-out and co-lending of loans in partnership with NBFCs (non-banking finance companies).
• Through this platform, seamless integration will be provided between the Bank and multiple NBFCs.
• The Cell will onboard loan assets under Retail, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) and the Agriculture segment with a dedicated team.
• So far, the Bank had been underwriting the aforementioned loans via various branches spread across the country.

About BoI :

• Founded : 7 September 1906
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• MD & CEO : Rajneesh Karnatak
• Tagline : Relationship beyond banking

World Bank Approved USD 200 Million Loan To Increase Renewable Energy in Himachal Pradesh

• The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a loan of USD 200 million (about Rs 1,600 crore loan) to the Government of Himachal Pradesh (HP) to facilitate power sector reforms & increase the share of renewable energy (RE) in the state’s electricity generation.
• The $200 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a final maturity of 5 years including a grace period of 4.5 years.
• This will contribute to the state’s overall aim of adding 10,000 megawatts (10 gigawatts) of additional RE capacity to make the state’s power supply greener.

Note :

• Himachal Pradesh (HP) aims to become a ‘Green State’ by meeting 100% of its energy needs through renewable and green energy by 2030.
• Currently, HP meets more than 80% of its energy demands from hydropower.

Key Highlights :

• The World Bank’s Himachal Pradesh Power Sector Development Program will help the state enhance the utilisation of its existing RE resources, including hydropower, and help to diversify its RE resources further.
• For instance, it will add 150 megawatts of solar capacity in the state, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 190,000 metric tons per year.
• This initiative builds upon the National Apprentice Promotion Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

Recent News :

• In June 2023, The World Bank approved USD 1.5 billion (around ₹12,600 crore) in financing to accelerate India's low-carbon energy infrastructure.
• In June 2023, the World Bank approved a loan worth USD 300 million to help expand and improve the quality of education in government-run schools in Chhattisgarh.

About World Bank :

• Established : July 7, 1944
• Headquarters : Washington, D.C., United States
• President : Ajay Banga
• The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

DAY-NRLM releases a mobile application to market goods produced by women in self-help groups.

• Deendayal Antyodaya Yojna- National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) launched eSARAS mobile App which will add to eCommerce initiatives for products made by the SHGs.
• The App was launched by Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India New Delhi.
• Shri Singh also inaugurated eSARAS Fulfillment Centre at the Ministry’s Janakpuri office in New Delhi on this occasion.
• The eSARAS fulfilment centre will be managed by the Foundation for Development of Rural Value Chains (FDRVC - a Not for Profit Company constituted jointly by the Ministry of Rural Development and Tata Trust) and will be used for processing, packaging and shipping of products that customers purchase through the eSARAS Portal and eSARAS mobile App.
• It will handle the logistics required to bring an online order to a customer's doorstep.

About eSARAS

• eSARAS an e-commerce mobile app will be used as a more effective platform for marketing of the products made by women of self-help groups.
• It is an initiative conceptualized by the DAY-NRLM, Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), towards the marketing of the best, authentic handicrafts and hand-looms.

The Startup20 Shikhar summit, hosted by India's G20 presidency, kicks off in Gurugram, Haryana:

• The Startup20 Shikhar summit under India's G20 presidency began in Gurugram, Haryana.
• The Startup20 Engagement Group is hosting the two-day Startup20 Shikhar summit.
• Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Som Prakash said, education and awareness play a vital role in nurturing a culturally sensitive startup ecosystem.
• On the occasion, G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant said, in India, the total investment in start-ups has gone up to 19 times.
• He said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the startup movement in 2016.
• The government's objective is to make startup a world-class company.
• India should work together in partnership with other G20 nations so that they can also create a startup movement.
• During the summit, a startup 20 communique was released, which urged G20 leaders to raise the joint investment in the global startup ecosystem to one trillion US dollars by 2030.
• Six hundred stakeholders from different countries are participating in the summit. Two hundred international delegates from Sixteen G20 nations and Six invitees nation are participating in the summit.
• The Startup20 Engagement Group operates under the India G20 Presidency, aiming to shape the future of the global startup ecosystem.
• The Startup20 Shikhar Summit signifies India's commitment to fostering an enabling environment for startups and reinforcing its position as a global leader in innovation and entrepreneurship.
• It serves as a significant milestone in the journey toward unlocking the potential of startups to drive economic growth, job creation, and societal progress.

Recent News of Haryana

• Haryana Chief Minister (CM) Shri Manohar Lal will launch integrated Water Resources Action Plan-2023-25 under Amrit Jal Kranti at Chandigarh, which will be a bold step towards conserving water resources.
• The Government of Haryana launched a special campaign to raise awareness about door-to-door waste collection and segregation

Centre announces Tomato Grand Challenge hackathon to generate innovative ideas for availability and fair pricing of tomatoes

• Tomato Grand Challenge (TGC) hackathon has been announced by the centre to generate innovative ideas for th e availability and fair pricing of tomatoes.
• The Secretary, the Department of Consumer Affairs, Shri Rohit Kumar Singh has announced the TGC hackathon.
• Department of Consumer Affairs has formulated TGC in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (Innovation Cell).
• Students, Research Scholars, Faculty Members, Industry individuals, Indian start-ups, Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs), and Professionals can take part in the TGC.
• TGC has been announced to invite innovative ideas at various levels of the tomato value chain so that consumers get tomatoes at affordable prices and tomato farmers get value for the produce.
• Tomato is produced almost in all the states in India.
• Maximum production is in the southern and western regions of India.

Recent News

• The Centre has approved a new metro line between HUDA City Centre and Cyber City in Gurugram, with a branch line to Dwarka Expressway.
• The government has decided to allow two thousand Primary Agricultural Credit Societies PACS to open Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country.
• The Union Government has released the 3rd instalment of tax devolution to State Governments amounting to ₹1,18,280 crore, as against the normal monthly devolution of ₹59,140 crore.

India adds 664 animal species to its faunal database in 2022, 339 taxa to its flora

• The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav released the details of new discoveries and new records in Kolkata.
• India added 664 animal species to its faunal database, which includes 467 new animal species and 197 new records.
• India has also added 339 new plant species which includes 186 taxa that are new to science and 156 taxa as new distributional records from the country in the year 2022.
• The discoveries details of animal species have been compiled by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) in the publication titled ‘Animal Discoveries - New Species and New Records 2023’.
• Floral discoveries are in ‘Plant Discoveries 2022’ published by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI).
• Out of the total discovered species, there are three new species and one new record of mammals, two new records of birds, 30 new species and two new records of reptiles, six new species and one new record of amphibia and 28 new species and eight new records of fishes.
• Out of total of 664 animal species, 583 species are invertebrates while 81 species are vertebrates.
• The maximum number of new discoveries have been recorded from Kerala with 14.6% of new species.
• Tamil Nadu (12.6%) and West Bengal (7.6%) came second and third, respectively.
• In 2022, the highest number of new discoveries has been recorded in the last 10 years.

About ZSI

• Founded: 1 July 1916
• Director: Dr Dhriti Banerjee
• Headquarters: Kolkata

CURRENT AFFAIRS : STATE NEWS

Quality Council of India and Government of Odisha launched Odisha Gunvatta Sankalp in Bhubaneswar

• The Government of Odisha & the Quality Council of India (QCI), in collaboration with industry associations – Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), Engineering Exports Promotion Council (EEPC),Odisha Assembly of Small and Medium Enterprises (OASME), PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology (CIPET), Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Association of India (FHRAI) - launched the Odisha Gunvatta Sankalp (Odisha Quality Mission) at Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
• It has been inaugurated by the Chief Secretary of Odisha Pradeep Kumar Jena.

Objective of the mission :

• To promote and prioritise quality across various sectors in Odisha.
• It will help in creating an ecosystem of quality that will contribute to the progress and empowerment of Odisha.
• It will foster collaboration between policymakers, industry leaders, practitioners, and academia to create an environment of quality in Odisha.
• Odisha’s dynamic 5T initiative has made significant inroads in bringing about quality across domains such as public service delivery, heritage tourism, healthcare, education and skilling, drinking water and so on.

Recent News :

• In May 2023, Odisha Chief Minister (CM) Shri Naveen Patnaik launched the State Dashboard, a data and analytics-powered platform which will streamline performance monitoring of government schemes, aiding data-driven decision-making.

About QCI :

• Established : 1997
• Headquarters : New Delhi, Delhi, India
• Chairperson : Mr Jaxay Shah
• It is an apex organization for establishing and operating the third-party national accreditation system and improving quality across sectors.
• It has established constituent Boards such as NABL for labs and NABH for hospitals, NABCB for certification and inspection bodies.

About Odisha :

• Governor : Ganeshi Lal
• Chief Minister : Naveen Patnaik
• Capital : Bhubaneswar
• National Park : Simlipal National Park, Bhitarkanika National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuary : Ushakothi Wildlife Sanctuary, Tikarpada Wildlife Sanctuary

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

Coal Production Hits 222.93 Million Tonne in Q1 of FY 2023–24 with 8.4% Growth

• The Ministry of Coal has substantially increased overall coal production with a growth of 8.40% in Q1 of FY 2023-24.
• The cumulative coal production has witnessed a significant increase, reaching 222.93 million tonnes (MT) as compared to 205.65 MT in Q1 of FY 2022-23.
• Coal India Limited (CIL) has recorded an impressive growth of 9.85%, with production reaching 175.35MT in FY 2023-24 as compared to 159.63 MT during the same period the previous year. Captive mines /others also attained a growth of 4.74 % touching 30.48 MT in FY 23-24 as compared to 29.10 MT in FY 22-23 during the same period.
• These accomplishments have contributed to the overall positive momentum in the sector.
• Simultaneously, cumulative coal dispatch has shown an upward trend, reaching 239.69 MT (Provisional) in Q1 of FY 2023-24, as compared to 224.08 MT in Q1 of FY 2022-23 with a growth of 6.97%.
• Coal India Limited (CIL) registered 186.21 MT production in Q1 of FY 2023-24 as compared to 176.81 MT in Q1 of FY 2022-23 with a growth of 5.32%.
• At the same time, SCCL, & captive/others have recorded 18.07 MT and 35.41 MT in Q1 of FY 2023-24 as compared to 17.30 MT and 29.97 MT in Q1 of FY 2022-23, with a growth of 4.45% and 18.16% respectively.
• These figures highlight the efficiency of the coal supply chain in ensuring smooth distribution across the country.
• Furthermore, the upturn in offtake has resulted in a comfortable coal stock position.
• The total coal stock as of 30th June 2023 has recorded remarkable growth reaching 107.15 MT (provisional) compared to 77.86 MT as of 30th June 2022, reflecting a growth of 37.62%.
• This growth indicates the continued efforts to meet the rising demand for coal.

NTPC doubles its coal production in the first quarter, and coal dispatch increases by 112%.

• India's leading integrated power producer NTPC Limited has nearly doubled coal production from its captive mines during the first quarter of the financial year 2023 - 2024, compared to the production during Q1 of the previous year.
• The company said it achieved an impressive coal production of 8.48 million metric tonnes (MMT) during Q1 of FY24, compared to 4.27 MMT in Q1 of FY23.
• In addition, coal despatch has more than doubled during Q1 of 2023 - 2024, relative to the first quarter of 2022 - 2023.
• A total of 8.82 MMT of coal has been despatched in Q1 of FY24, marking a significant 112 per cent increase over the previous year for the same period.
• NTPC Limited is India's largest integrated power utility, contributing 1/4th of the power requirement of the country.
• With a diverse portfolio of thermal, hydro, solar, and wind power plants, NTPC is dedicated to delivering reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity to the nation.
• The company is committed to adopting best practices, fostering innovation, and embracing clean energy technologies for a greener future.

About NTPC

• Founded: 7 November 1975
• Headquarters: New Delhi, India
• Gurdeep Singh is the Chairman & Managing Director of NTPC

Recent News

• National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) Gurdeep Singh has been given additional charge of the CMD of North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) for a period of 3 months.
• NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL) and Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (UPRVUNL) signed a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Lucknow with an aim to collaborate in the development of Renewable Energy Parks and Projects and to facilitate in Government of India’s efforts towards energy transition.
• NHPC Limited (A Govt. of India Enterprise) and Vidhyut Utpadan Company Limited (VUCL), Nepal signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) in New Delhi for the development of Phukot Karnali Hydro Electric Project (480MW) in Nepal.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOUS AND AGREEMENT

The National Anti-Doping Agency of India signed an MoU with the South Asia Regional Anti-Doping Organization in New Delhi.

• The National Anti-Doping Agency of India (NADA) India signed an MoU with South Asia Regional Anti-Doping Organization (SARADO), comprising of Anti-Doping Organizations of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, at the NADA India – SARADO Cooperation Meet in New Delhi, in the presence of Shri Anurag Singh Thakur Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, Ms Sujata Chaturvedi, Secretary (Sports), Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India, SARADO Secretariat & Member Country Representatives of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
• The MoU aims to increase Regional Cooperation in anti-doping in sport.
• Shri Narendra Modi has envisioned India to become a sporting powerhouse in the coming years.
• The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is committed to transforming this dream into a reality and is working relentlessly to improve Indian athletes’ sports performance at the national and international levels.

About NADA

• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Founded: 24 November 2005
• Chairman: Minister of Sports (India)

The Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy have signed an agreement with Indian Port Rail & Ropeway Corporation Ltd to create a gallery at the National Maritime Heritage Complex.

• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Indian Coast Guard & Indian Navy with Indian Port Rail & Ropeway Corporation Ltd., in Gandhinagar for the planning, development, construction, and commissioning of a gallery on the theme “Evolution of Indian Navy & Indian Coast Guard” at the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) which is being constructed at the historic Indus Valley civilization region of Lothal (Gujarat).
• The signing of the MoU took place in the presence of Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Chemical & Fertilizers, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways & Tourism and Shri Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State for Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways.
• The senior officers of the Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy including Additional Director General Rakesh Pal, PTM, TM, were also present.
• The Government of India is building the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at the historic Indus Valley civilization region of Lothal (Gujarat) under the aegis of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
• The foundation stone for the NMHC project was laid by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in March 2019.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

SJVN Chairman Nand Lal Sharma assumes additional charge of Bhakra Beas Management Board Chief

• The Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVN), Nand Lal Sharma took over the additional charge as Chairman of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).
• He took over from Sanjay Srivastava, who retired on June 30, 2023.
• Sharma’s appointment is initially for a period of 3 months or till further orders.

About Nand Lal Sharma :

• Sharma began his career as an officer in the Himachal Pradesh Administrative Services in 1989.
• With more than 33 years of experience in Administration and Power Sector, he has steered SJVN towards exponential growth Pan India & abroad.
• He has played a key role in expanding the Project Portfolio of the company from around 5200 MW in 2017 to 54,327 MW at present.
• He has been heading SJVN as CMD since December 2017.
• Sharma has held multiple leadership roles, including chairman of SJVN Arun-3 Power Development Company in Nepal, SJVN Thermal Private Limited in Bihar, and SJVN Green Energy Limited.
• SVJN has also been designated as the 4th Implementing Agency for floating tenders for Renewable Energy Projects by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

About BBMB :

• The BBMB is a statutory body constituted under Section 79 and Section 80 of the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966.
• BBMB is engaged in the regulation of the supply of water and electricity from Bhakra Nangal and Beas Projects to the states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Chandigarh.

State Bank of India appoints Kameshwar Rao Kodavanti as Chief Financial Officer

• The State Bank of India (SBI) has appointed Kameshwar Rao Kodavanti, who has been with the bank since 1991, as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
• Kodavanti replaces Charanjit Surinder Singh Attra who has resigned from the post.

About Kameshwar Rao Kodavanti :

• Rao, who is a Chartered Accountant (CA), has been working with the Bank since August 1991.
• He has vast experience in Banking, Forex and Finance, and Accounting.

Recent News :

• In June 2023, According to the disclosure under Regulation 30 (4) of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, State Bank of India (SBI) has reappointed Ketan Shivji Vikamsey and Mrugank Madhukar Paranjape to its board and has added Rajesh Kumar Dubey and Dharmendra Singh Shekhawat as directors.

About SBI :

• Established : 01, July 1955
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• Chairman : Dinesh Kumar Khara

V Venu appointed as new Chief Secretary of Kerala; Sheikh Darvesh Saheb appointed as new Director General of Police                                

• The Kerala government has appointed a 1990 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer V Venu as the new chief secretary of Kerala.
• He is set to replace Chief Secretary VP Joy who is set to retire on June 30, 2023.

About V Venu :

• He was in charge of the Rebuild Kerala Initiative which was tasked to rebuild the state after the floods of 2018 and 2019.
• He has worked as a special officer for land acquisition for Kannur International Airport.
• Presently, Venu is the Additional Chief Secretary of Home and Environment.
• Also the Kerala government has appointed a 1990 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Sheikh Darvesh Saheb as new Director General of Police (DGP) of Kerala.
• He will replace Anil Kant who retires on June 30, 2023.

About Sheikh Darvesh Saheb :

• He was appointed as the director general of the Fire and Rescue Service in
• He has also served as Additional director general of police (ADGP) (north Kerala), ADGP (Crime Branch) and ADGP (Vigilance).
• He was awarded the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2016 and the Indian Police Medal in 2007 for meritorious service.

Recent News :

• In June 2023, the Senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Anurag Verma took charge as the 42nd chief secretary of Punjab .
• In June 2023, the Tamil Nadu (TN) government appointed senior bureaucrat Shiv Das Meena as the 49th Chief Secretary of TN.

Government of India extends Brajendra Navnit’s tenure as India’s ambassador to WTO by 9 months

• The Government of India (GoI) extended the tenure of Brajendra Navnit as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to the World Trade Organization (WTO) by 9 months till March 31, 2024.
• Navnit had assumed office as ambassador in June 2020 and his tenure was till June 28, 2023.
• The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) has approved the proposal of Department of Commerce for extension in tenure of foreign deputation of Brajendra Navnit.

Note :

• The 13th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference (MC13) will take place in the week of 26 February 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

About WTO :

• Established : 1 January 1995
• Headquarters : Geneva, Switzerland
• Director General : Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
• The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an intergovernmental organization that regulates and facilitates international trade.

Rohit Jawa took charge as MD and CEO of Hindustan Unilever Limited after Sanjiv Mehta’s retirement

• Rohit Jawa has assumed charge as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL).
• He replaced Sanjiv Mehta who retired after the HUL’s annual general meeting.
• Sanjiv Mehta took over as MD & CEO of HUL in October 2013.
• Sanjiv Mehta introduced several transformative business programmes such as ‘Dial Up the Big Q’ and ‘Winning in Many Indias’ to make the business more consumer-centric, agile, and resilient.

About Rohit Jawa :

• He started his career with HUL as a management trainee in 1988.
• Mehta handed over the baton to Jawa, who was appointed as an Additional Director and CEO-Designate from April 1, 2023.
• Prior to this new appointment, Jawa was the Chief of Transformation for Unilever in

About HUL :

• Established : 1931
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• HUL is a British-owned Indian consumer goods company.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

The four-person Indian weightlifting squad at the Asian Games 2023 will include silver medalist Mirabai Chanu and champion Achinta Sheuli from the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

• Tokyo 2020 Olympics silver medallist Mirabai Chanu and Commonwealth Games 2022 champion Achinta Sheuli will be in the four-member Indian weightlifting team for the Asian Games 2023.
• Mirabai Chanu will compete in the 49kg category while Achinta Sheuli is set to participate in the 73kg category at the upcoming continental games, scheduled in Hangzhou, China from 23rd September 23 to 8th October 2023.
• Bindyarani Devi, was also included in the team.
• The 24-year-old will participate in the 55kg women’s division in Hangzhou.
• Reigning National Games champion N Ajith will also be in the Indian team.
• The Tamil Nadu weightlifter will compete in the 73kg category

Recent News

• India’s Siddharth Choudhary clinched gold in men’s shot put with a personal best throw of 19.52 metres.
• India finished on top of the International Shooting Sport Federation Junior World Cup with 15 medals, including six gold, six silver, and three bronze medals, at Suhl, Germany.
• In Hockey, India beat Argentina 2-1 in its final FIH Pro League 2022-23 match in Eindhoven, the Netherlands
• India defeated four-time champions South Korea 2-1 to win their first Women's Junior Hockey Asia Cup in Kakamigahara, Japan.
• Ace Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar secured a creditable third place in the Paris Diamond League with a jump of 8.09m, in his maiden podium finish in the prestigious one-day meeting series in Paris.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES

Oscar-winning American actor Alan Arkin Passed away

• Veteran United States (US) Actor Alan Arkin Best Known For 'Little Miss Sunshine' Passes Away at the age of 89 in California, United States of America (USA).

About Alan Arkin :

• Alan Wolf Arkin was born on March 26, 1934 in Brooklyn, New York, United States.
• He was an American actor, director, and screenwriter.
• He started his career in comedy and theatre before establishing himself as a character actor in film and television in a career spanning over six decades.
• Arkin gained stardom with his roles in the films The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming (1966), Wait Until Dark (1967), The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (1968), Popi (1969), Catch-22 (1970), and The In-Laws (1979).

Awards & Honors :

• Alan Arkin was nominated for the Academy Award 4 times and also won a Tony Award( Broadway's top honour), in
• For his work on television, he received 6 Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
• From 2018 to 2019, he starred as a talent agent in the Netflix comedy series The Kominsky Method, earning two consecutive nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
• He received numerous accolades, including a British Academy Film Award (BAFTA) Award, a Golden Globe Award.
• His most memorable films include Little Miss Sunshine, for which he won an Oscar in the Best Supporting Role category for a part with merely 15 minutes of runtime.

Former Punjab Assembly deputy speaker Bir Devinder Singh passed away

• Former Punjab Assembly deputy speaker Bir Devinder Singh Passed away at the age of 73.

About Bir Devinder Singh :

• After graduating as a leader of All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF), Singh was elected Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the first time from Sirhind in 1980 on a Congress ticket.
• He again became a legislator after winning the election from the Kharar assembly constituency in 2002.
• He served as the deputy speaker of the Punjab Assembly between 2003 and 2004 during the Amarinder Singh-led regime in Punjab.
• Singh was expelled from the Congress in 2016 and joined the Shiromani Akali Dal (Taksali) in 2019.

About AISSF :

• Founded : 13 September 1944
• The AISSF, is a Sikh student organisation and political organisation in India.

Daily CA One- Liner: July 4

• State-owned Punjab National Bank (PNB) has partnered with Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd (GCMMFL), better known as Amul, to offer financial services to Amul’s supply network pan-India under the MUDRA scheme.
• Bank of India (BoI) has launched a ‘Centralized Pool Buy-Out and Co-Lending Cell’ to boost priority sector lending.
• The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a loan of USD 200 million (about Rs 1,600 crore loan) to the Government of Himachal Pradesh (HP) to facilitate power sector reforms & increase the share of renewable energy (RE) in the state’s electricity generation.
• Deendayal Antyodaya Yojna- National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) launched eSARAS mobile App which will add to eCommerce initiatives for products made by the SHGs.
• The Startup20 Shikhar summit under India's G20 presidency began in Gurugram, Haryana.
• Tomato Grand Challenge (TGC) hackathon has been announced by the centre to generate innovative ideas for th e availability and fair pricing of tomatoes.
• Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav released the details of new discoveries and new records in Kolkata.
• The Ministry of Coal has substantially increased overall coal production with a growth of 8.40% in Q1 of FY 2023-24.
• India's leading integrated power producer NTPC Limited has nearly doubled coal production from its captive mines during the first quarter of the financial year 2023 - 2024, compared to the production during Q1 of the previous year.
• The National Anti-Doping Agency of India (NADA) India signed an MoU with South Asia Regional Anti-Doping Organization (SARADO), comprising of Anti-Doping Organizations of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, at the NADA India – SARADO Cooperation Meet in New Delhi, in the presence of Shri Anurag Singh Thakur Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, Ms Sujata Chaturvedi, Secretary (Sports), Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India, SARADO Secretariat & Member Country Representatives of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Indian Coast Guard & Indian Navy with Indian Port Rail & Ropeway Corporation Ltd., in Gandhinagar for the planning, development, construction, and commissioning of a gallery on the theme “Evolution of Indian Navy & Indian Coast Guard” at the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) which is being constructed at the historic Indus Valley civilization region of Lothal (Gujarat).
• The Government of Odisha & the Quality Council of India (QCI), in collaboration with industry associations – Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), Engineering Exports Promotion Council (EEPC),Odisha Assembly of Small and Medium Enterprises (OASME), PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology (CIPET), Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Association of India (FHRAI) - launched the Odisha Gunvatta Sankalp (Odisha Quality Mission) at Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
• Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVN), Nand Lal Sharma took over the additional charge as Chairman of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).
• The State Bank of India (SBI) has appointed Kameshwar Rao Kodavanti, who has been with the bank since 1991, as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
• The Kerala government has appointed a 1990 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer V Venu as the new chief secretary of Kerala & also the Kerala government has appointed a 1990 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Sheikh Darvesh Saheb as new Director General of Police (DGP) of Kerala.
• The Government of India (GoI) extended the tenure of Brajendra Navnit as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to the World Trade Organization (WTO) by 9 months till March 31, 2024.
• Rohit Jawa has assumed charge as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL).
• Tokyo 2020 Olympics silver medallist Mirabai Chanu and Commonwealth Games 2022 champion Achinta Sheuli will be in the four-member Indian weightlifting team for the Asian Games 2023
• Veteran United States (US) Actor Alan Arkin Best Known For 'Little Miss Sunshine' Passes Away at the age of 89 in California, United States of America (USA).
• Former Punjab Assembly deputy speaker Bir Devinder Singh Passed away at the age of 73.