National News

Amit Shah lays foundation stone of the first cooperative-run Sainik School:
The foundation stone-laying ceremony of Shri Motibhai R. Chaudhary Sagar Sainik School in Boriyavi village, Mehsana, Gujarat, marked a significant milestone in the education sector. This pioneering project, virtually inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, is set to become India's first Sainik School operated by a cooperative organization. With an estimated cost of Rs. 75 crore and spread across 11 acres of land, the school is being managed by Dudh Sagar Research and Development Association (DURDA), a subsidiary of Dudh Sagar Dairy.

India hands over torch of Startup 20 to Brazil:
The Startup20 Shikhar Summit, organized by the Startup20 Engagement Group under the India G20 Presidency, concluded successfully in Gurugram. This two-day summit served as a platform for fostering innovations, collaborations, knowledge sharing, and strategic alliances within the global startup ecosystem. During the closing ceremony, India officially handed over the torch to Brazil, the next G20 presidency country, which has committed to continuing the Startup20 initiative in 2024.

Draft Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023 approved by the Cabinet:
The Union Government approved the draft Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, which is set to be presented before Parliament during the monsoon season. This bill, one of the four proposed legislations in the IT and Telecom sectors, aims to provide a comprehensive framework for the rapidly growing digital ecosystem. Notably, the bill empowers the Data Protection Board (DPB) to levy penalties of up to Rs. 250 crore on organizations found to be in breach.

International News

King Charles III presented with Scottish Crown Jewels:
In a significant ceremony held at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, King Charles III of the United Kingdom was presented with the Scottish Crown Jewels, further solidifying his authority in Scotland. This event, occurring two months after his official coronation, also involved the unveiling of a new sword named after the late Queen Elizabeth.

State News

Bihar surpasses Tamil Nadu as the state with highest microlending borrowings:
As of March 2023, Bihar has surpassed Tamil Nadu to become the state with the highest microlending borrowings in India, as per a recently released report. The report, published by credit information company Crif High Mark, highlighted Bihar's impressive growth, with a 13.5 percent increase in the gross lending portfolio during the March quarter compared to the previous quarter.

Banking News

RBI launches Centralised Information Management System (CIMS) for enhanced data management:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced the Centralised Information Management System (CIMS) to revolutionize its data handling, analysis, and governance. Leveraging advanced technology, CIMS enables efficient management of big data, including data mining, text mining, visual analytics, and statistical analysis. RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das announced the launch during the 17th Statistics Day Conference in Mumbai, emphasizing the system's potential to transform economic analysis, supervision, monitoring, and enforcement across various domains.

Piramal Finance opens first all-women branch in Kochi:
Piramal Finance, a leading housing finance company, has taken a significant step towards empowering women by opening its first all-women branch called "Maitreyi" in Tripunithura, a suburban area of Kochi. This strategic expansion initiative aims to cater to the unique needs of female customers and tap into the growing market potential. Piramal Finance plans to open branches in Jaipur, Mumbai, Mohali, and New Delhi, further reinforcing its commitment to providing financial services to women across India.

Important Days

Dharma Chakra Day celebrated to commemorate Buddha's first teaching:
On Dharma Chakra Divas (3rd July), the President of India emphasized the importance of Buddha's teachings and called upon people to draw inspiration from them. The Ministry of Culture, in partnership with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), celebrated Dharma Chakra Day, promoting the significance of Buddha's teachings.

Appointment News

Sirisha Voruganti appointed MD & CEO of Lloyds Banking Group's Technology Centre in India:
Sirisha Voruganti, a globally renowned technology and innovation leader, has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Lloyds Technology Centre, a new establishment by Lloyds Banking Group based in Hyderabad, India. Voruganti joins Lloyds from JCPenney, where she served as the managing director and member of the Board for JCPenney in India.

Google to appoint former Apple executive as India Policy Head:
Tech giant Google is reportedly set to appoint manufacturing and policy veteran Sreenivasa Reddy as its top government affairs executive in India. This hiring aims to address legal challenges and facilitate the expansion of hardware assembly in the country. Reddy, currently a senior engineering executive at Microsoft, is expected to join Google towards the end of this year, as per the report.

V-C of Telangana Horticulture University, B. Neeraja Prabhakar, appointed as the new oil palm RAC chairperson:
B. Neeraja Prabhakar, the Vice-Chancellor of Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University, has been appointed as the chairperson of the Research Advisory Committee (RAC) for the ICAR-Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research (IIOPR) in Pedavegi, Andhra Pradesh. Ms. Prabhakar's appointment as RAC chairperson is effective from June 13, and she will lead a committee of ten members for a duration of three years.

Sports News

Aadhav Arjuna elected as president of the Basketball Federation of India (BFI):
 Aadhav Arjuna, the president of the Tamil Nadu Basketball Association (TNBA), emerged victorious in the election held at Nehru Stadium and secured the position of president of the Basketball Federation of India (BFI). Aadhav received an impressive 38 out of 39 votes, defeating the incumbent president, K Govindaraj.

Schemes News

Ministry of Home Affairs launches Scheme for Expansion and Modernization of Fire Services in States:
With a significant allocation of Rs. 5,000 Crore, the Ministry of Home Affairs has introduced the "Scheme for Expansion and Modernization of Fire Services in the States." Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah announced this scheme during a meeting with Ministers of Disaster Management of the States/Union Territories in New Delhi on June 13, 2023. The scheme aims to strengthen fire services across the country, making India more disaster-resilient.

Summits & Conference News

International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH-2023) inaugurated in New Delhi:
Promoting a Green Hydrogen Ecosystem: The Government of India organized the three-day International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH-2023) in New Delhi. The conference aims to establish a Green Hydrogen ecosystem and facilitate discussions on advancements in the green hydrogen value chain. It brings together global leaders from scientific, policy, academic, and industrial sectors to foster innovation and sustainability in the industry.

Ranks & Reports News

2023 Global Peace Index: Iceland tops as the most peaceful country:
The Institute for Economics and Peace released the 2023 Global Peace Index, providing a comprehensive ranking of the most peaceful countries in the world. The 17th edition of the annual Global Peace Index (GPI) reveals that the average level of global peacefulness deteriorated for the ninth consecutive year, with 84 countries recording an improvement and 79 experiencing a deterioration.

World Investment Report 2023:
FDI in Developing Asia remains flat at $662 Billion in 2022: The UNCTAD's World Investment Report 2023 reveals that foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to developing Asia remained unchanged at $662 billion in 2022 compared to the previous year. The report highlights that FDI inflows to developing Asia were highly concentrated, with India, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates accounting for nearly 80% of the total investment.