Daily Current Affairs 21st June, 2023

Daily Current Affairs 21 June 2023 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

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NATIONAL NEWS

After criticism, Centre withdraws controversial livestock bill
The central government has withdrawn the draft livestock bill after animal lovers and activists raised their concern saying that it will result in cruelty and spoil the gene pool.

• In an order, the department of animal husbandry and dairying said, “During consultation, it has been viewed that enough time is required to understand the proposed draft and to make further comments/suggestions.”
• The Live-stock and Live-stock products (Importation and Exportation) Bill, 2023 was “re-enactment” of the present Live-stock importation Act,  1898, and Live-stock Importation (Amendment) Act of 2001.

India & Sri Lanka to accelerate digital education in Galle District
India and Sri Lanka look to accelerate implementation of a digital education project in the Galle District. High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Gopal Baglay exchanged diplomatic notes with Secretary of the Sri Lankan Ministry of Education M.N. Ranasinghe to expedite the establishment of modern computer labs and smart boards equipped with customized curriculum software in 200 schools.

• The project, supported by a grant from the Government of India, aims to enhance digital literacy among students in underprivileged areas. It is one of several grant projects in the education sector undertaken by the Indian government in Sri Lanka.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Estonia becomes first central European country to allow same-sex marriage
Estonia’s parliament approved a law to legalise same-sex marriage, making it the first central European country to do so, according to news agency Reuters.

• Same-sex marriage is legal in much of western Europe but not in central European countries which were once under communist rule and members of the Moscow-led Warsaw Pact alliance but now members of NATO and, largely, the EU.

PM Modi leads historic Yoga session at UNHQ to commemorate the 9th International Day of Yoga
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a four-day visit to the US, led a unique yoga session at the UN Headquarters on June 21 in a historic celebration to commemorate the 9th International Day of Yoga.

• The mega event will see the participation from top UN officials, envoys, people from over 180 countries and significant dignitaries will participate in the event.

Pakistan economic crisis gets worse with dollar crunch halting food imports
Pakistan is currently facing a severe economic crisis characterized by a shortage of dollars, leading to a complete halt in the import of essential food and beverages.

• The situation has resulted in thousands of stranded containers at ports, incurring fines and additional charges for traders.
• The lack of sufficient foreign exchange, which the Pakistan State Bank (PSB) has not been able to provide, is further aggravating the country’s economic challenges.

BANKING & FINANCE

Union Bank unveils 4 new deposit options for women, retirees, and co-ops
Union Bank of India has launched four niche bank account schemes targeting women, women entrepreneurs and professionals, pensioners and cooperative housing societies.

• Union Unnati is a current account specifically designed for women entrepreneurs and professionals, offering free cancer care coverage, personal accident cover, concession in loan interest rates, retail loan processing charges, and minimal service charges.
• Another account targeted at women is Union Samriddhi, which is tailored to empower women by providing them with a safe and convenient savings and financial management avenue. The account offers similar benefits as Union Unnati.
• The third product is Union Samman, a savings account aimed at pensioners. The account extends door-step banking, personal accident cover, concession in loan interest rates and processing charges, and free health check-ups.
• Lastly, Union SBCHS acknowledges the significance of co-operative housing societies, offering concessions in loan processing charges for purchasing solar lights, elevators, and other machinery, as well as concessional rates for home, vehicle and education loans for society and flat owners.

APPOINTMENTS

Finnish parliament elects conservative Petteri Orpo as PM
Finland’s parliament elected conservative Petteri Orpo as prime minister at the head of a four-party coalition including the far-right Finns Party which plans a major crackdown on immigration.

• Orpo will lead a coalition government comprising four parties, including the far-right Finns Party, which intends to implement strict measures on immigration.This move comes after Orpo’s victory in the April elections and subsequent negotiations to form a coalition government, as reported by AFP.

AWARDS

Salman Rushdie Wins Prestigious German Peace Prize 2023
The Peace Prize of the German Book Trade for 2023 has been awarded to British-American author Salman Rushdie, “for his indomitable spirit, for his affirmation of life and for enriching our world with his love of storytelling,” the award’s Board of Trustees said in a statement in Frankfurt am Main.

• The Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, endowed with €25,000 ($27,300), will be handed out in a ceremony in October during the Frankfurt Book Fair.
• The prize, created in 1950, recognizes a personality committed to serving international understanding between nations and cultures through their work.

Arundhati Roy Wins 45th European Essay Prize For ‘Azadi’
Writer Arundhati Roy has been awarded the 45th European Essay Prize for lifetime achievement, the Charles Veillon Foundation has announced.Ms. Roy has been awarded the prize for the French translation of her compilation of essays titled “Azadi” (2021).

• The Delhi-based author’s works, including Booker Prize winning “The God of Small Things”, “The Ministry of Utmost Happiness”, and “My Seditious Heart” have garnered her national and international acclaim.
• Ms. Roy will receive the award, along with the prize money of CHF 20,000 (approx ₹18 lakh), at a ceremony on September 12 in the Swiss city of Lausanne.

Hurun India list: Reliance most valuable private company in India; Adani firms’ combined value falls by 52
Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Limited is the most valuable private sector company among the top 500 companies in India, as per Hurun India’s ‘2022 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500’.

• The list, which was released, stated that with a value of Rs 16.3 lakh crore, Reliance Industries is India’s most valuable company, followed by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) with Rs 11.8 lakh crore and HDFC Bank with Rs 9.4 lakh crore.
• By absolute value, the biggest gainers were HDFC Bank, ITC and Housing Development Finance Corporation.
• In comparison, hit by a scathing Hindenburg report, eight companies in the Adani Group decreased their value by 52 per cent or Rs 10,25,955 crore, as against a decline of just 6 per cent by the top 500 companies.

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