1. Manoj Ahuja Assumes Office as Odisha's New Chief Secretary; Nikunja Bihari Dhal Named Additional Chief Secretary
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On June 30th, 2024, Manoj Ahuja, a 1990 batch IAS officer of the Odisha cadre, became the 46th Chief Secretary of Odisha.
An Overview of the News
Ahuja replaces Pradeep Kumar Jena, who assumed the charge in February 2023.
Ahuja will also serve as the Secretary in the General Administration and Public Grievances (GA&PG) department.
Nikunja Bihari Dhal Appointed as Additional Chief Secretary in CMO:
Nikunja Bihari Dhal, a 1993 batch IAS officer of the Odisha cadre, has been appointed as the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) to the Odisha Chief Minister's Office (CMO).
He previously served as the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Odisha from March 2023.
Dhal has held various significant positions including Special Relief Commissioner, Special Residence Commissioner in New Delhi, and Commercial Tax Commissioner.
About Odisha
Formation - 1 April 1936
Capital - Bhubaneswar
Governor - Raghubar Das
Chief Minister - Mohan Charan Majhi
Rajya Sabha - 10 seats
Lok Sabha - 21 seats
Additional Information:-
Other Appointments in June:- | Sujata Saunik: Maharashtra's first woman Chief Secretary. Manoj Kumar Singh: New Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh Ravi Agrawal: New Chairman of CBDT Gen. Upendra Dwivedi: 30th Chief of Army Staff. Naveen Chandra Jha: MD & CEO of SBI General Insurance. SEVENTEEN: UNESCO's Goodwill Ambassador for Youth. Pradeep Singh Kharola: Director General of NTA. Om Birla: Speaker of 18th Lok Sabha. Atul Kumar Chaudhary: Secretary of TRAI. Manoj Jain: CMD of BEL. Theo James: UNHCR Global Goodwill Ambassador. Mohan Charan Majhi: BJP Chief Minister of Odisha. Sub-Lt. Anamika B. Rajeev: First woman helicopter pilot in Indian Navy. Sameer Bansal: MD & CEO of PNB MetLife India Insurance. |
2. Ravi Agrawal Appointed as New CBDT Chairman, Succeeding Nitin Gupta
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1988 batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Ravi Aggarwal was appointed the new chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)
An Overview of the News
Agrawal succeeds Nitin Gupta, whose extended tenure ended on June 30, 2024.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) stated that Agrawal's appointment will be on a contract basis until June 30, 2025, while his scheduled retirement is in September 2024.
About Nitin Gupta
Nitin Gupta was appointed as the chairman of CBDT in June 2022.
Gupta was initially scheduled to retire in September 2023.
He was given a nine-month extension, serving until June 2024.
Ravi Agrawal's Roles:
Appointed as a member of CBDT to oversee direct tax issues.
Served as Director General (DG) of Income Tax Investigation in Delhi.
Appointed as a member of CBDT (Administration) in July 2023.
CBDT Board Members
The CBDT is headed by a chairman and can have six members of special secretary rank.
Current serving members include:
Pragya Sahay Saksena
HBS Gill
Pravin Kumar
Sanjay Kumar
Sanjay Kumar Verma retired on June 30, 2024.
About CBDT:
Established:- 1963
Chairman:- Ravi Agrawal
Headquarters:- New Delhi, Delhi
Other Appointments in June:-
Sujata Saunik: Maharashtra's first woman Chief Secretary.
Gen. Upendra Dwivedi: 30th Chief of Army Staff.
Naveen Chandra Jha: MD & CEO of SBI General Insurance.
SEVENTEEN: UNESCO's Goodwill Ambassador for Youth.
Pradeep Singh Kharola: Director General of NTA.
Om Birla: Speaker of 18th Lok Sabha.
Atul Kumar Chaudhary: Secretary of TRAI.
Manoj Jain: CMD of BEL.
Theo James: UNHCR Global Goodwill Ambassador.
Mohan Charan Majhi: BJP Chief Minister of Odisha.
Sub-Lt. Anamika B. Rajeev: First woman helicopter pilot in Indian Navy.
Sameer Bansal: MD & CEO of PNB MetLife India Insurance.
3. Sujata Saunik Appointed Maharashtra's First Woman Chief Secretary
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Sujata Saunik, a 1987 batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, has been appointed as the first woman Chief Secretary (CS) of Maharashtra, effective from June 30, 2024.
An Overview of the News
The appointment of Sujata Saunik comes after the retirement of Nitin Kareer, who had served as the CS of Maharashtra since January 2024.
Saunik will serve a one-year term, retiring in June 2025.
She becomes the 45th CS of Maharashtra since the state's establishment in 1960.
Before this role, she held positions including Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department and ACS in the General Administration Department.
She also served as ACS of the Skill Development, Employment, and Entrepreneurship Department (SDEED), and as Principal Secretary of Public Health and Financial Reform.
About Maharashtra
It is a state located in the western part of India and covers a significant part of the Deccan Plateau.
Chief Minister - Eknath Shinde
Governor - Ramesh Bais
Official Animal - Indian giant squirrel
Official Bird - Yellow-footed Green Pigeon
Official Dance - Lavani
Additional Information:-
Maharashtra becomes the first state in the country to approve Good Governance Regulations
Ramesh Bais, Governor of Maharashtra, launched a book titled 'Gateways to the Sea: Historic Ports and Docks of Mumbai Region' at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai.
On June 28, 2024, Maharashtra Government Launches Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana.
4. General Upendra Dwivedi Takes Charge as Chief of Army Staff
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General Upendra Dwivedi took over as the 30th Chief of Army Staff on June 30, 2024, succeeding General Manoj Pandey.
An Overview of the News
General Upendra Dwivedi, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, was currently serving as a four-star General Officer in the Indian Army.
Prior to his appointment as the Army Chief, he held the post of 46th Vice Chief of Army Staff.
Key Appointments as Lieutenant General:
Director General Infantry
General Officer Commanding in Chief (Headquarters Northern Command) from 2022 to 2024
Vice Chief of the Army Staff
Education:
Alumnus of Sainik School, Rewa
National Defence College
US Army War College
Holds an MPhil in Defence and Management Studies
Two Master's Degrees in Strategic Studies and Military Science
Honors:
Param Vishisht Seva Medal
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal
Three GOC-in-C Commendation Cards
5. Arundhati Roy Wins 2024 PEN Pinter Prize for Unflinching Writings
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Renowned Indian author Arundhati Roy has won the prestigious PEN (Poet, Playwright, Editors, Essayist, Novelist) Pinter Prize 2024 for her 'unflinching and unswerving' writings.
An Overview of the News
The prize is shared with a designated 'Writer of Courage', someone who has been persecuted for speaking out about their beliefs.
She will receive the award at a ceremony co-hosted by the British Library (BL) in London, United Kingdom (UK) on October 10, 2024.
Selection Process:
Arundhati Roy was chosen by a panel of judges: Ruth Borthwick (Chair of English PEN), Khalid Abdalla (Actor and Activist), and Roger Robinson (Writer and Musician).
About PEN Pinter Prize:
Establishment: 2009 by English PEN, a founding center of a global literary network promoting literature and human rights.
Purpose: Recognizes "Writers of Courage" who defend the dignity and rights of others through their words.
Namesake: Award given in memory of playwright Harold Pinter, Nobel Prize in Literature recipient in 2005.
Eligibility: Writers in English residing in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, or the Commonwealth.
Previous Winners (2023):
Michael Rosen (British author)
Rahile Dawut (Chinese anthropologist, Writers of Courage)
About Arundhati Roy:
Profile: Well-known contemporary Indian writer in English, screenwriter, activist, actress, and peace activist.
Prosecution Threat: Currently facing the threat of prosecution over historic comments on Kashmir 14 years ago.
Notable Works:
"The End of Imagination" (essay critiquing Indian nuclear policies)
"The Cost of Living" (1999)
"Power Politics" (2001)
"Field Notes on Democracy: Listening to Grasshoppers" (2009)
"Ministry of Utmost Happiness" (2017)
"Broken Republic: Three Essays" (2011)
Other Awards & Honors:
Booker Prize: Won in 1997 for debut novel "The God of Small Things," the first Indian writer to achieve this.
Sydney Peace Prize: Awarded in May 2004 for her work in social campaigns and advocacy of non-violence.
6. Naveen Chandra Jha Appointed as MD & CEO of SBI General Insurance
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Naveen Chandra Jha has been appointed as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) of SBI General Insurance Company Limited.
An Overview of the News
His nomination came from the parent company, State Bank of India (SBI), replacing Kishore Kumar Poludasu.
Before his current role, Jha served as the Deputy Managing Director of SBI and has been associated with SBI since 1994.
He has held various key positions including Chief General Manager (CGM) of Amaravati Circle, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
Jha's experience spans Branch Management, Credit and Risk Management focusing on Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Credit, Human Resources (HR) & Administration, and Retail Banking.
In the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2024, SBI infused additional capital amounting to Rs 489.67 crore into SBI General Insurance Company Ltd.
About SBI
Founded as Bank of Calcutta in 1806, later renamed Bank of Bengal.
Merged with Bank of Bombay and Bank of Madras in 1921 to form Imperial Bank of India.
Renamed State Bank of India on July 1, 1955, after independence.
Headquarters located in Mumbai.
Current Chairman: Dinesh Kumar Khara.
7. SEVENTEEN Appointed UNESCO's First - Ever Goodwill Ambassadors for Youth
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On June 26, 2024, Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, appointed K-pop group SEVENTEEN as UNESCO's first-ever Goodwill Ambassador for Youth.
An Overview of the News
The appointment was made during a ceremony in Paris, France, where SEVENTEEN pledged USD 1 million towards UNESCO's initiatives.
SEVENTEEN and UNESCO launched a joint program aimed at youth, titled "Going Together For Youth Creativity and Well-Being".
This program includes an ambitious Global Youth Grant Scheme to support youth-led projects worldwide.
Global Youth Grant Scheme
The scheme targets youth-led projects addressing challenges in well-being and development through music, arts, and sports.
It supports project leaders aged 18 to 30 from diverse backgrounds and regions globally.
Role of SEVENTEEN as Goodwill Ambassadors
SEVENTEEN will actively participate in UNESCO's campaigns and events as Goodwill Ambassadors.
They will promote UNESCO's values during their performances and engagements worldwide.
Previous Initiatives and Collaborations
In 2022, SEVENTEEN initiated the '#GoingTogether' campaign with the Korean National Commission for UNESCO.
This initiative supported educational projects in Timor-Leste and provided educational aid in Malawi.
Engagement with UNESCO Youth Forum
Through the UNESCO Youth Forum, UNESCO fosters direct communication between young people and leaders of its 194 Member States.
This forum enhances youth engagement and advocacy within UNESCO's global initiatives.
IMPORTANT POINTS:-
SEVENTEEN participated in the 13th UNESCO Youth Forum in Paris in November 2023.
They delivered a speech and performed live for the first time in France during the event.
Their performance reached over 40 million online viewers.
Members of SEVENTEEN include: S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, The8, Mingyu, DK, Seungkwan, Vernon, and Dino.
NOTE:-The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Refugee Agency, has named British actor, producer, and model Theo James as its new Global Goodwill Ambassador.
8. Pradeep Singh Kharola Appointed as Director General of NTA
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Pradeep Singh Kharola, retired IAS officer (1985 Kerala cadre), has been appointed as Director General of the National Testing Agency (NTA) by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, Ministry of Education.
An Overview of the News
Currently serving as Chairman and Managing Director of India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO).
Challenges Faced by NTA:
NTA has encountered issues such as exam cancellations and allegations of paper leaks (e.g., NEET-UG, UGC NET, CSIR UGC NET).
Concerns raised about inconsistent marking practices affecting public trust.
Objectives of the Appointment:
Tasked with restoring credibility to NTA through enhanced security measures and transparent examinations.
Focus on reforms in testing procedures and marking schemes.
Immediate Priorities:
Strengthening exam security to prevent future leaks.
Implementing rigorous evaluation processes to ensure fairness.
Committee Formation:
A seven-member committee established to assess NTA operations and recommend improvements.
Expected collaboration with Kharola to drive necessary reforms.
Monitoring and Expectations:
Kharola's tenure will be closely monitored for rebuilding public confidence in NTA.
Emphasis on transparency and fair practices in competitive examinations.
About NTA
The National Testing Agency (NTA) operates autonomously under India's Ministry of Education's Department of Higher Education since November 2017.
Its primary mandate is to organize entrance examinations for admissions and recruitment purposes.
NTA conducts a variety of national-level exams covering fields such as engineering, medicine, management, and pharmacy.
These exams are crucial for securing admission and fellowships in higher educational institutions across India.
Headquarters:- New Delhi
Chairperson:- Pradeep Kumar Joshi
Director General:- Pradeep Singh Kharola, IAS (Additional charge)
9. Om Birla Re-Elected as Speaker of Lok Sabha
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Senior BJP MP Om Birla re-elected as the Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha.
An Overview of the News
Election by voice vote; opposition fielded Congress MP K. Suresh but did not press for voting.
Om Birla previously served as Speaker in the last Lok Sabha.
Address by Om Birla:
Thanked members of the House for the opportunity and trust.
Emphasized priorities: enriching parliamentary values and democratic traditions.
Highlighted participation of over 64 crore voters in the 18th Lok Sabha elections.
Stressed MPs' responsibility to meet people's expectations effectively.
Advocated for debate and discussion over stalemate, maintaining dignity in protest methods.
Affirmed strict actions to maintain the House's dignity and decorum.
About Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha is composed of representatives chosen by direct election based on Universal Adult Suffrage.
The Constitution of India allows for a maximum of 550 members: 530 from States and 20 from Union Territories.
Currently, the Lok Sabha has 543 elected representatives.
The term of the Lok Sabha is five years from its first meeting unless dissolved earlier.
During a state of emergency, the term can be extended by Parliament for up to one year at a time, but not beyond six months after the emergency ends.
10. Atul Kumar Chaudhary Named New TRAI Secretary
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The Government of India (GoI) has appointed Atul Kumar Chaudhary as the new Secretary of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on deputation on foreign service terms, initially for a period of two years.
An Overview of the News
This appointment follows the superannuation of V Raghunandan on May 31, 2024.
Atul Kumar Chaudhary has been serving as the Deputy Director General (DDG) in the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) since 2021.
About Atul Kumar Chaudhary:
He is an Indian Telecommunication Services (ITS) officer of the 1989 batch.
He served as Deputy Director General (DDG) in the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), under the Ministry of Communications (MoC).
He has held multiple roles in personnel management, human resources (HR), administration, licensing, and the vigilance wing of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and DoT.
About TRAI:
It is a statutory body that regulates the telecommunications sector in India.
Established: 1997
Chairman: Anil Kumar Lahoti
