Indian-American soil scientist Rattan Lal gets 2020 World Food Prize

1. World Day Against Child Labour: 12 June

Every year on June 12, the World Day Against Child Labour is observed on June 12 in almost 100 countries all around the globe. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), there are about 152 million children globally who are engaged in child labour, 72 million of whom are in hazardous work.The ILO launched World Day Against Child Labour in 2002As per the United Nation’s website, World Day Against Child Labour 2020 focuses on the impact of the crisis on child labour.

2. ISRO to organize online ISRO Cyberspace Competitions-2020

The Indian Space Research Organization, ISRO will organize the online ISRO Cyberspace Competitions-2020 to ignite young minds in the country.The ICC-2020 online competition will involve drawing competition for Class 1 to 3 students, model making competition for Class 4 to 8 and Essay competition for Class 9 and 10th students. For the students of class 11 and 12, essay competition is organized with space quiz contests in Hindi and English.

3. HRD Minister releases NIRF ranking; IIT Madras tops the overall list

Indian Institute of Technology, Madras is the best higher education institution in the country, according to the National Institutional Ranking Framework released by Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank.  Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore has bagged the second position and IIT Delhi is in the third position. Miranda House has been chosen as the best college, followed by Lady Shri Ram and Hindu College. IISc, Bangalore has topped universities category in the rankings, followed by Jawaharlal Nehru University and Banaras Hindu University.

4. UP govt successfully installs Tru NAAT machines in all 75 districts

In Uttar Pradesh, the State Government has successfully installed Tru NAAT machines in all 75 districts. The state has also increased it’s testing capacity and yesterday tested 15,000 plus samples. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has set the target to achieve 20 thousand COVID testing per day in this month.The Tru NAAT machines installed at each and every district of state will help in getting early results of the tests and with the help of ANC, Pre-surgical and severe acute respiratory infections SARI Cases may be tested for COVID at all districts now.
5. Kerala Startup launches mask disposal smart bin & UV light-based disinfection device

VST Mobility Solutions, a Startup headquartered at Cochin, has launched an automated mask disposal machine.The disposal device has been named as BIN-19.The IoT-based BIN-19 (Internet of Things) is used for collecting and disinfecting Used Face-Mask.The device has been subjected to a series of successful microbiological tests by Sree Chitra Lab.Sree Chitra is one of the testing agency for UV based devices in the country as per the guidelines of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The disinfecting device will be very handy in offices, homes, and other public places.

6. Himachal launches ‘Panchvati’ Yojana for the elderly folks

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur launched ‘Panchvati Yojna’ for senior citizens of rural areas of the state. Under this parks and gardens would be developed in every development block with necessary facilities. The main objective of this Yojna, which is being taken up in link up with MNREGA scheme, is to provide opportunity to the elderly people to spend their leisure time strolling in these parks and gardens.The Ayurvedic and medicinal plants would be grown there besides providing recreational equipment, walking tracks and other basic amenities for elderly people. During the current financial year as many as 100 such parks would be developed in different parts of the State.

7. Andhra CM launches ‘Jagananna Chedodu’ scheme for tailors, barbers and washermen

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy launched the ‘Jagananna Chedodu’ scheme. The scheme aims to provide financial assistance to tailors, barbers and washermen. The scheme provides one-time financial assistance of ₹10,000 each to the 2.47 lakh beneficiaries under 60 years of age. Under the scheme, 82,347 Rajakas (dhobis), 38,767 Nayee Brahmins (barbers) and 1.25 lakh tailors were provided with financial assistance.

8. Empays Payment Systems partners with Mastercard for cardless ATMs

With concerns over the spread of the coronavirus from contaminated surfaces, banks and payment companies are working on contactless ATM technologies. Empays Payment Systems, which runs the IMT Payment System, announced a partnership with Mastercard to launch ‘Cardless ATM powered by Mastercard’ in India. The facility will help users digitally locate the nearest enabled ATM and initiate a withdrawal by simply scanning a QR code on the mobile phone, using their banking app.

9. Australian honour for Indian musician

Shobha Sekhar, founder of Kalakruthi, a music organisation in Australia will be conferred the Medal of the Order of Australia later this year.Since 1994, Shobha Sekhar, a management graduate, has let music enrich her own life and provide the community with the much needed aesthetic touch. Trained by several stalwarts, including DKP, D.K. Jayaraman and K.V. Narayanaswamy, Shobha started Kalakruthi in that year and has been training countless aspirants in Carnatic music.She has presented several concerts in Australia and other parts of the world. Kalakruthi is affiliated to The Music Academy, Chennai, and the students receiving lessons in advanced levels from the faculty of the Academy’s music school.

10. Indian-American soil scientist Rattan Lal gets 2020 World Food Prize

Eminent Indian-American soil scientist Rattan Lal has been named this year’s recipient of the World Food Prize.He has developed a soil-centric approach to increasing food production that conserves natural resources and mitigates climate change. Lal, a native of India and a citizen of the United States, will receive the 2.5 lakh dollar award that honours his contribution throughout his career spanning more than five decades and four continents to promote innovative soil-saving techniques.

11. Manchester United great and former European Cup winner Tony Dunne passes away at 78

Manchester United’s European Cup-winning defender Tony Dunne has died aged 78. Dunne, who joined United from Irish club Shelbourne in 1960, made 535 appearances for Matt Busby’s side and played an integral role in their European Cup triumph in 1968.Tony Dunner also won two league titles and an FA Cup during his 13-year stint with Manchester United.Dunne, capped 33 times by the Republic of Ireland, joined Bolton Wanderers in 1973 on a free transfer and made over 170 appearances before ending his career with American club Detroit Express in 1979.

12. Former Planning Commission Member Vaidyanathan passes away

Former Member of the Planning Commission Dr A Vaidyanathan died in Coimbatore.  Vaidyanathan was a professor at the Madras Institute of Development Studies and Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram. He had chaired the Government of India Task Force on Revival of Cooperative Credit Institutions (2004) and was a member of the K N Raj Committee on Taxation of Agricultural Income (1969-70).From 1962 to 1972, Dr Vaidyanathan was a member of the perspective planning division of the Planning Commission.