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By admin: June 24, 2024

International Women's Day in Diplomacy: 24 June 2024

Tags: Important Days

International Women's Day in Diplomacy is observed annually on 24 June.

An Overview of the News

• It is a day to honor and recognize notable women in the field of diplomacy and decision-making globally.

• Armenian Ambassador Diana Abgar is credited with being the first female diplomat of the 20th century.

• The 2nd International Day of Women in Diplomacy (IDWID) was observed on 24 June 2024.

• The theme for the 2024 IDWID commemorative events was "Women's Leadership in Multilateral Diplomacy."

• According to UN Women's Global Data on Women Political Leaders 2024, women remain significantly underrepresented in global executive positions such as Heads of State, Heads of Government, and Cabinet members.

• India ranks 171st globally in terms of women's representation in Parliament, with only 6.5%.

• Finland leads with 63.2%, followed by Nicaragua at 62.5%, and Liechtenstein at 60%.

Background of the day:

• The International Day of Women in Diplomacy was recently established during the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which took place from September 14, 2021 to September 13, 2022.

• A resolution was adopted during the UNGA on 20 June 2022 that recognized the importance of women's contribution to diplomacy and stressed the need for equal participation of women in decision-making, aligning with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• In line with the resolution, 24 June was officially designated as the International Day of Women in Diplomacy.

New Plant Species 'Petrocosmea arunachalense' Discovered in Arunachal Pradesh

Tags: Environment Science and Technology

Researchers from the Arunachal Pradesh Regional Centre (APRC) of the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) have identified a new plant species named 'Petrocosmea arunachalense'.

An Overview of the News

• The species was discovered in the Mandala region of West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh.

• 'Petrocosmea arunachalense' is an herbaceous plant belonging to the Gesneriaceae family.

• This find marks only the second known species of the Petrocosmea genus in India.

• The discovery has been documented in the Nordic Journal of Botany.

• The research underscores Arunachal Pradesh's rich biodiversity and emphasizes the importance of conservation efforts.

• Dr. Krishna Chowlu, along with researchers Akshath Shenoy and Ajit Ray from APRC, Itanagar, led the discovery.

About Arunachal Pradesh

• It is a state located in the northeastern region of India. It shares its borders with the countries of Bhutan, China and Myanmar.

• Establishment:- 20 February 1987

• Capital:- Itanagar (Executive Branch)

• Chief Minister:- Pema Khandu

• Official flower:- Rhynchostylis retusa

• Official Animal:- Gayal

Manoj Jain Appointed as New Chairman and Managing Director of BEL

Tags: Person in news

Manoj Jain appointed as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) with effect from June 20, 2024.

An Overview of the News

• Earlier Manoj Jain served as Director (R&D) and held additional charge of Bangalore Complex Director.

Predecessor and Current Roles:

• Bhanu Prakash Srivastava served as CMD (Additional Charge) from November 2022 to June 19, 2024.

• Currently serves as Director (other units) since April 20, 2022.

Manoj Jain's Career Highlights:

• Joined BEL in August 1991 as a Probationary Engineer.

• Key contributions include development of Digital Multiplexers, Cross Connects, CDOT Exchanges, and Military Switches.

• Chief Scientist at Central Research Laboratory Bangalore (CRL-BG) from December 2017 to May 2019.

• General Manager of Electronic Warfare and Avionics SBUs at BEL's Bangalore Complex in June 2021.

• Additional charge of Director (HR) from November 2022 to May 2023.

• Received several R&D awards, Key Contributor Awards, Raksha Mantri's Award, and SODET Awards.

About BEL:

• CMD: Manoj Jain

• Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka

• Established: 1954

Bilan Media ,Somalia's First and only All-Women News Team Wins 2024 One World Media Press Freedom Award

Tags: Awards

Bilan Media, Somalia's pioneering all-women news team, received the prestigious 2024 One World Media Press Freedom Award.

An Overview of the News

• This marks the first time a Somali media organization has been honored with this accolade.

• The award acknowledges Bilan's fearless journalism over the past two years, which has tackled sensitive topics and empowered female journalists in Somalia.

About Bilan Media

• Established in 2021 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Bilan Media has been supported by the European Union (EU) through UNDP funding since 2024.

• It operates under the auspices of the Dalsan Media Group from its headquarters in Mogadishu, Somalia.

• The team, comprising solely women, operates with complete editorial independence.

• Journalistic Impact: Bilan Media has covered a wide array of critical issues, including the plight of albino communities and the abuse of female orphans, shedding light on otherwise marginalized topics.

One World Media Press Freedom Award

• The award, formerly known as the Special Award, honors independent media organizations from the global south that utilize media to address social, cultural, political, and economic challenges.

• It celebrates exceptional reporting that informs the public, amplifies local voices, facilitates critical information dissemination, and holds authority figures accountable.

Climate and Labour Film Grant

• Grant Launch: At the ceremony, Vivienne Francis, Director of One World Media, announced a new grant initiative.

• Purpose: The grant, valued at up to £20,000, aims to fund a documentary produced by a filmmaker from the global south.

• Theme: The documentary will focus on the impacts of climate change on people's lives and labor.

• Partnership: This initiative is a collaboration between One World Media, the Financial Times (FT), and the Pulitzer Center.

• Project Requirements: The film should be 25 minutes or less and must be completed by June 2025.

Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB) Honored with National Award for Atal Pension Yojana Enrolment Excellence

Tags: Awards

Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB), sponsored by Canara Bank, received the National Award from the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) for highest enrolment under Atal Pension Yojana (APY).

An Overview of the News 

• The award ceremony took place on 21st June, 2024 in New Delhi, Delhi, jointly presented by Vivek Joshi, Secretary, Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, Government of India, and Deepank Mohanty, Chairman, PFRDA.

• Shreekant M Bhandiwad, Chairman of KVGB, accepted the award on behalf of the bank.

Enrolment Achievements:

• KVGB has opened over 4.27 lakh accounts under APY.

• During FY 24 (2023-24), KVGB enrolled 86,350 accounts, surpassing the target of 67,932 set by PFRDA.

• KVGB achieved an average of 137 accounts per branch, exceeding the PFRDA's target of 100 accounts per branch, the highest among all banks in South India.

About Atal Pension Yojana (APY):

• APY is a voluntary old-age income security scheme aimed at addressing longevity risks among workers in the unorganized sector.

• Implemented by PFRDA under the National Pension System (NPS) framework.

• Minimum age for enrolment is 18 years, maximum age is 40 years, and the age of pension commencement is 60 years.

• Beneficiaries receive a guaranteed minimum monthly pension ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 based on their contributions.

About Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB):

• Formed by the merger of four Regional Rural Banks (RRBs): Malaprabha Grameena Bank, Bijapur Grameena Bank, Varada Grameena Bank, and Netravathi Grameena Bank.

• Sponsored by Canara Bank with share capital contributions from the Government of India (50%), Government of Karnataka (15%), and Canara Bank (35%).

• Headquarters located in Dharwad, Karnataka.

• Established on 12th September 2005.

• Current Chairman: Shreekant M Bhandiwad.

Mirae Asset Launches India's First EV ETF

Tags: Economy/Finance

Mirae Asset Investment Managers (India) Pvt. Ltd has introduced India's first Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) focused on the Electric Vehicle (EV) market.

An Overview of the News

• The ETF is named 'Mirae Asset Nifty EV and New Age Automotive ETF'.

Scheme Details:

• The ETF is an open-ended scheme that replicates/tracks the NIFTY EV and New Age Automotive Total Return Index (TRI).

• Aimed at providing investors with long-term capital appreciation.

• Focuses on leading companies within the dynamic automotive sector and its value chain.

New Fund Offer (NFO):

• Subscription Period: 24 June 2024 to 5 July 2024.

• Re-opening Date: 11 July 2024 for continuous sale and repurchase.

Investment Details:

• Minimum Initial Investment: Rs 5,000 during the NFO period.

• Subsequent Investments: Allowed in multiples of Re 1.

Fund Management:

• Managed by Fund Managers Ekta Gala and Akshay Udeshi.

Investment Strategy:

• 95-100% allocation in securities of the NIFTY EV and New Age Automotive Index.

• 0-5% allocation in money market instruments and debt/liquid schemes.

India to Implement New Criminal Laws from July 1, 2024, Replacing Colonial-Era Legislation

Tags: National

On 21 June 2024, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (MoPPG&P) announced the enactment of three new criminal laws effective from 1 July 2024.

An Overview of the News

• Enactment of three new criminal laws effective from 1 July 2024

  • Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita (BNS2) Act, 2023

  • Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita (BNSS2) Act, 2023

  • Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Adhiniyam Act, 2023

• These new laws replace the British-colonial era laws:

  • The Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860

  • The Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), 1973

  • The Indian Evidence Act (IEA), 1872

• President Droupadi Murmu gave assent to these laws on 24th December 2023.

• On 19th June 2024, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) proposal for the National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme (NFIES).

  • The scheme has a budget of over Rs 2200 crore for the period from FY25 (2024-25) to FY29 (2028-29).

Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA):

• Union Minister: Amit Shah (Lok Sabha constituency: Gandhinagar, Gujarat)

• Minister of State (MoS): Nityanand Rai (Lok Sabha constituency: Ujiarpur, Bihar)

• Minister of State (MoS): Bandi Sanjay Kumar (Lok Sabha constituency: Karimnagar, Telangana)