1) World Accreditation Day 2022 observed on 9th June
•World Accreditation Day (WAD) is celebrated on June 9 every year. WAD has been established by the joint efforts of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). Accreditation plays a key role in supporting the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It aims to meet objectives such as increasing trade and addressing environmental, health and safety concerns. It also improves the general overall quality of output in an economy.
World Accreditation Day 2022: Theme
•This year the theme for World Accreditation Day 2022 is “Accreditation: Sustainability in Economic Growth and the Environment.” The theme aims to draw attention to how accreditation and conformity assessment can find solutions for global issues.
2) UN to grant humanitarian assistance of $48 million to Sri Lanka amid crisis
•United Nations has planned to provide humanitarian assistance of around $48 million over a four-month period to Sri Lanka. New Delhi’s financial assistance worth over $3 billion since January to provide essential items, including food, fuel, cooking gas and medicines. Sri Lanka needs $6 billion to keep the country afloat for the next six months, adding that $5 billion is required to ensure day-to-day living and another $1 billion to strengthen the Sri Lankan rupee.
3) Transfer of 10 in-orbit communication satellites from the government to NSIL approved by Cabinet
•The transfer of ten in-orbit communication satellites to public sector business NSIL, which is under the administrative jurisdiction of the Department of Space, has been authorized by the Union Cabinet. The cabinet also authorized expanding NewSpace India Limited’s (NSIL) permitted share capital from Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 7,500 crore. NSIL was required under the space sector reforms to conduct end-to-end commercial space operations and to operate as a full-fledged satellite operator.
4) Amit Shah inaugurates new building of National Tribal Research Institute in New Delhi
•Union Home and Cooperation Minister, Amit Shah has inaugurated the newly built National Tribal Research Institute (NTRI) in New Delhi. This institute is to promote and preserve the tribal heritage and culture and the nerve centre of tribal research issues and matters in academic, executive and legislative fields. The institute will collaborate and network with reputed research institutes, universities, and organisations as well as academic bodies and resource centres. It is being established at a cost of 10 crore rupees.
5) Defence Minister increased funding for the DRDO’s TDF scheme to Rs 50 crore
•Defence Minister Rajnath Singh authorized an increase in financing for MSMEs and startups under the Ministry of Defence’s Technology Development Fund (TDF) plan. The initiative, which encourages the development of indigenous components, products, systems, and technologies, will now have a maximum project value of Rs 50 crore, up from Rs 10 crore previously. The increased funding is in accordance with the budget announcement and will help the government achieve its goal of self-reliance in the defence sector, according to the defence ministry.
6) Ramkrishna Mukkavilli becomes the first Indian to recognized by United Nations Global Compact as Global SDG Pioneer
•For the first time in the world, an Indian has been named a Global Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Pioneer for Water Stewardship by the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC). The United Nations Global Compact has named ten new SDG Pioneers, who are corporate leaders who are excelling in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by implementing the UN Global Compact Ten Principles on human rights, environment, labour, and anti-corruption.
•Professionals working at any level in a firm engaging in the UN Worldwide Compact were targeted for the global search, with winners picked from every continent. Their work covers a wide range of topics, including climate mitigation and adaptation, as well as circular economy and digital transformation.
7) Presidential Election 2022 to be held on 18 July
•The election to choose the next President of India will be held on July 18 and the results will be announced on July 21, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced. The term of President Ram Nath Kovind ends on July 24. Ram Nath Kovind had received over 65% votes in 2017. Electoral college for President’s Election comprises 776 MPs and 4033 MLAs, Total 4809.
8) OECD slashes India’s GDP growth forecast to 6.9% for FY23
•The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has forecast India’s GDP growth at 6.9 per cent for FY23. This is 120 basis points lower than the 8.1 per cent projection made in December. The lowest by a major bank or institution, saying the country had been adversely affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
•This is below the Reserve Bank of India’s estimate of a 7.2% rise. India’s Gross domestic product (GDP) grew 8.7% in 2021-22, making it the fastest-growing major economy in the world. After recording the strongest GDP rebound in the G20 in 2021, the Indian economy is progressively losing momentum as inflationary expectations remain elevated due to rising global energy and food prices, monetary policy normalises and global conditions deteriorate.
9) China launched a Crewed Mission to build the Tiangong Space Station
•The China Manned Space Agency announced that three astronauts have been dispatched on a six-month mission to complete work on the country’s permanent orbiting space station. The Shenzhou-14 crew will stay aboard the Tiangong station for six months, overseeing the integration of two laboratory modules into the main Tianhe living room, which was launched in April 2021.
