Daily Current Affairs, 04th June 2019

1) International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression: 4th June

•The International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression is a United Nations observance each on 04th June. It was established on 19th August 1982.

•Originally focused on victims of the 1982 Lebanon War, its purpose expanded to “acknowledge the pain suffered by children throughout the world who are the victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse. This day affirms the UN’s commitment to protect the rights of children.

2) MP Cabinet passes resolution to increase reservation for OBCs to 27%

•Madhya Pradesh Cabinet has passed a resolution to increase reservation quota forOther Backward Classes (OBC) from existing 14 percent to 27 percent. The matter will now be taken up in the monsoon session of the state Assembly.

•The move will lead to the reservation in the state breaching the Supreme Court-mandated 50 percent cap to reach 63 percent. If implemented, Madhya Pradesh will become the only state in the country to have a 27 percent quota for OBCs.

3) ICA issues first UAE Permanent Residency ‘Golden Card’ in Abu Dhabi

•UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) has issued the first Golden Residence Permit in Abu Dhabi, as part of the Investors Permanent Residence System aimed to attract investors, entrepreneurs and qualified individuals who meet its criteria.

•Brigadier Saeed Salem Al Shamsi, Executive Director of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Abu Dhabi, awarded the first permit to investor Yousuf Ali, Board Member of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI)and Chairman of the Lulu International Group, during a ceremony that also honoured him for his role in promoting economic growth in the country.

4) Chandrani Murmu became the youngest MP in India’s history

•In a first, a 25-year-old engineering graduate from Odisha has become the youngest Member of Parliament to the 17th Lok Sabha. Odisha has a total of seven women MPs, making it the first state ever to have 33 percent or the largest share of women MPs of its total of 21 seats.

•Chandrani Murmu, who has replaced Dushyant Chautala, was elected as Biju Janata Dal (BJD) candidate from the Keonjhar seat, as the youngest parliamentarian in the country. She represents the tribal-dominated Keonjhar.

5) Indian retail tycoon becomes UAE’s first permanent expat resident

•Abu Dhabi-based Indian retail tycoon MA Yusuff Ali has become the first expat to get the UAE’s first gold card permanent residency. Unlike the long-term visa of 5-10 years for businessmen and talented individuals, the gold card gives permanent residency of the UAE to the holder.

•The LuLu Group chairman, who was ranked the richest expat in UAE by the Forbes magazine, becomes the first of 6,800 investors with total investment exceeding USD 27 billion to receive the gold card under a scheme announced last month by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai.

6) AAI Signs Pact With Boeing To Modernise Air Traffic Management In India

•The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and aerospace major Boeing announced the signing of a technical assistance agreement to develop an air traffic management roadmap which will improve airspace utilization and help maintain efficient aircraft operations.

•The comprehensive 10-year communication, navigation, and surveillance/air traffic management (CNS/ATM) modernization roadmap spread over 18 months is being undertaken with a grant from the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).

7) Draft National Education Policy revised

•The Kasturirangan committee has revised the Draft New National Education Policyand effected some changes in the three-language formula. The committee informed the government that there had been an inadvertent error in the draft submitted for public feedback. The committee stated the revised draft has now been uploaded for feedback from states and the public for a period of 30 days.

8) Nilekani panel suggests 24×7 RTGS, NEFT, elimination of all charges

•To encourage digital payments, the Nandan Nilekani committee has suggested a host of measures, including elimination of charges, round-the-clock RTGS and NEFT facility, and duty-free import of point-of-sales machines. The committee, which was appointed by the RBI had submitted its suggestions on promoting digital payments to Governor Shaktikanta Das last month.

9) WHO award for Rajasthan Health Department

•The World Health Organization has selected the Rajasthan government’s Medical & Health Department for its award this year in recognition of its achievements in the field of tobacco control. The department’s Additional Chief Secretary, Rohit Kumar Singhhas received the award at a function to mark World No Tobacco Day in New Delhi.

•The Health Department of the State is the only government body in the country which will be awarded for its tobacco-free initiatives.

10) Tripura to host 10th National Science Film Festival of India in 2020

•In an effort to raise awareness about science and environment through films, the 10th National Science Film Festival of India (NSFFI) will be organised in Tripura in January and February 2020.

•The NSFFI debuted in Chennai eight years ago in 2011. It has covered almost all regions of the country since then including Bhubaneshwar, Kolkata, Bangalore, Lucknow, Mumbai, Guwahati and Mohali. This the second time the show will be held in a North Eastern city.

11) CAG Rajiv Mehrishi chosen External Auditor for WHO

•The election was held in the 72nd WHO Assembly in Geneva where the CAG was elected with a majority (90 out of 162 votes) in the first round of voting itself. Apart from India, others competing for the position were the Auditors General of Congo, France, Ghana, Tunisia, and the United Kingdom.

•Mehrishi will take over from the incumbent External Auditor of WHO, the Supreme Audit Institution of Philippines. This is the second major international audit assignment for the CAG this year following his selection to the post of External Auditor of Food and Agriculture Organisation in Rome earlier this year in March 2019. The CAG of India is currently also on the Board of Auditors of the United Nations and Vice Chair of the UN Panel of External Auditors.

12) Ex-President Pratibha Patil Awarded With Mexico’s Highest Civilian Award

•Former President Pratibha Patil was bestowed on the highest civilian award of Mexico for foreigners. The ambassador of Mexico to India, Melba Pria, presented ”Orden Mexicana del Aguila Azteca” (Order of the Aztec Eagle) to Mrs Patil. She had served as the first woman president of India during 2007-12.