Current Affairs Daily Digest – June 20 & 21 2021
Current Affairs Daily Digest – June 20 & 21 2021. Read and Download daily, monthly Current Affairs Daily Digest 2021 for competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, IBPS, SBI etc,. Download month wise Current affairs 2020 PDF and Current affairs quiz PDF .
1. World Music Day: 21st June
World Music Day is observed globally on 21st June every year. This day is celebrated to honour amateur and professional musicians. Over 120 countries celebrate World Music Day by organizing free public concerts in parks, streets, stations, museums and other such public places.
2. World Refugee Day celebrated on 20 June
World Refugee Day is observed every year on June 20 to respect and honour the courage and resilience of refugees across the world. The United Nations observes this day to honour the refugees who have been forced outside of their homes. The day aims to build understanding and empathy for refugees building their lives in countries new to them.
This year the theme for World Refugee Day is ‘Together we heal, learn and shine’.
3. International Day of Yoga: 21 June
United Nations celebrates International Day of Yoga globally on 21 June every year to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practising yoga. Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India.
The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness.
4. International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice
International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice is observed globally on 21st June. This day bring awareness about solstices and equinoxes and their significance for several religions and ethnic cultures.
5. Ebrahim Raisi wins Iran’s 2021 Presidential Election
Ebrahim Raisi has won the 2021 Iranian presidential election, winning 62 per cent of the vote with about 90 per cent of ballots counted. The 60-year-old Raisi will succeed Hassan Rouhani in August 2021, to begin his four-year term. He is also the Chief Justice of Iran since March 2019.
6. Max Verstappen wins 2021 French Grand Prix
Max Verstappen (Netherlands-Red Bull) has won the 2021 French Grand Prix. This race is the seventh round of the 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship.
With this win, Max Verstappen has 131 points and now leads Lewis Hamilton (119 points) in the Formula One drivers’ title race, after seven matches. Lewis Hamilton (Britain-Mercedes) stood second and Sergio Perez (Mexico- Red Bull) stood third.
7. Ease of Living Index: Bengaluru ‘most liveable’ city
Bengaluru has been named as the most liveable city of India, in the Ease of Living Index 2020, released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).
The Ease of Living Index 2020 is part of the report titled State of India’s Environment 2021. Bengaluru is followed by Chennai, Shimla, Bhubaneshwar, and Mumbai, as the top five best cities respectively.
8. Amitav Ghosh’s new book ‘The Nutmeg’s Curse’
Jnanpith Awardee and renowned author Amitav Ghosh’s authored a book titled, ‘The Nutmeg’s Curse: Parables for a Planet in Crisis’. It is published by John Murray. The book talks about the history of the influence of colonialism on the world today, through the story of the nutmeg.
9. India’s Rank 120th in Sustainable Development Report 2021
According to the 6th Edition of ‘Sustainable Development Report 2021 (SDR 2021)’ released by Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), India with a score of 60.1 has been placed at 120th rank out of 165 countries. Finland topped the Index followed by Sweden & Denmark.
10. India ranked 51st in terms of Money Deposited in Swiss Banks
According to ‘Annual Bank Statistics of 2020’ released by Swiss National Bank (SNB), the Central Bank of Switzerland. India with Swiss Francs (CHF) 2.55 billion (INR 20,706 Crore) has been placed at 51st place in the list of foreign clients’ money in Swiss Banks during 2020.
The United Kingdom (UK) topped the list with CHF 377 billion, followed by the US (152 billion). India was ahead of countries like New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary, Mauritius, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in terms of foreign clients’ money in Swiss banks.
11. SEBI Reconstitutes Takeover Panel
Security and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has reconstituted its Takeover Panel. The takeover panel looks into application that seeks exemption from mandatory open offer which as acquirer needs to make to minority shareholders.
N Venkatram MD and CEO of Deloitte India has been appointed as the new member of Takeover Panel.
12. Government announces to set up 5 ‘Divyangta Khel Kendras’
The Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot on June 20, 2021, announced the setting up of 5 Divyangta Khel Kendras in various parts of the country.
The Minister was addressing the ‘Samajik Adhikarita Shivir’ for the distribution of aids and assistive devices to Divyangjan under the ADIP (Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances) scheme in Gujarat.
13. Government appoints Aashish Chandorkar as Director at India’s WTO mission
Ahead of the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) ministerial conference in 2021, the Government of India has appointed a private person Aashish Chandorkar as ‘Counsellor’ in India’s Permanent Mission in WTO for 3 years.
For the very first time, a private person has been appointed at the Mission. Aashish Chandorkar is the director of Bengaluru-based policy think tank Smahi Foundation of Policy and Research.
14. Cabinet approves Inland Vessels Bill
The Union Cabinet on June 16, 2021, approved the Inland Vessel Bill 2021 that will streamline and regulate inland vessels running in the country, said Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The Inland Vessels Bill 2021 will replace Inland Vessels Act, 1917.
15. India, US launch Hydrogen Task Force
India and the United States jointly launched a hydrogen task force under their Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP)to boost India’s energy security efforts on June 17, 2021. This was informed by US India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF).
The US-India Hydrogen Task Force was launched by the United States Department of Energy, Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and the USISPF.
16. UN: India is 5th largest FDI recipient in 2020
As per UN report, India received USD 64 billion in foreign direct investments (FDI) in 2020. It has emerged the fifth largest recipient of FDI inflows across the world.
“World Investment Report 2021” was released by UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). As per the report, global FDI flows have been severely hit by covid-19 pandemic. FDI flow have decreased by 35 per cent in 2020 to USD 1 trillion from USD 1.5 trillion in 2019.
