National
BIS has published standards for Test Specifications for Lithium-ion Traction Battery Packs and Systems
⇒ Bureau of Indian Standard, National Standard Body of India, has published standards for Test Specifications for Lithium-ion Traction Battery Packs and Systems (Performance Testing) for Electrically Propelled Road Vehicles.
- The standard IS 17855: 2022 for these battery packs and systems is harmonized with ISO 12405-4: 2018.
Key Points:
- This standard incorporates the test procedure for basic characteristic of performance, reliability and electrical functionality for the battery packs and system for either high power or high energy application.
- This standard is formulated considering real life scenarios for an electric vehicle such as vehicle is in parking (battery is not used for extended period of time), battery system is being shipped (stored), operating battery at low and high temperature etc., accordingly various tests are incorporated in this standard.
- Further, keeping view on safety aspect of batteries for EV, Bureau of Indian Standard is in the process of publishing 2 more standard related to batteries for various passenger and goods carrying vehicles (L, M and N category).
National Conference on Millets
⇒ Union Minister of State for M/o Food Processing Industries, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurated the National Conference on Millets on the theme ‘The Future Super Food for India’ in New Delhi, on 23 June 2022.
In his inaugural address, the Union Minister said:
The production of coarse cereals in the country has increased to 17.96 million tonnes in 2020-21 from 14.52 million tonnes in 2015-16 and the production of bajra (pearl millet) has also increased to 10.86 million tonnes in the same period.
The major millets producing states in India include Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.
Key Points:
- The National Conference was organized by industry body ASSOCHAM with the support of M/o Food Processing Industries.
- The conference was organized to discuss opportunities and challenges in ensuring food and nutritional security.
National Convention of Scheduled and Multi-State Urban Co-operative Banks and Credit Societies
⇒ The Union Minister for Home and Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addressed the National Convention of Scheduled and Multi-State Urban Co-operative Banks and Credit Societies organized by the Ministry of Cooperation and NAFCUB, in New Delhi on 23 June 2022.
- The Conclave further strengthened the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of “Sahakar Se Samriddhi” (Prosperity through Co-operatives).
The business sessions of the Conclave included discussions on various issues related to Scheduled & Multi-State Urban Co-operative Banks and Credit Societies and the Cooperative Credit Sector such as:
Future role of Urban Cooperative Banks and recommendations of the Reserve Bank of India’s Expert Committee, national cooperative finance and development cooperation as a game changer as an umbrella organization for the Urban Cooperative sector, the Banking Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2020 and its impact and developments, the role of credit societies in the financial sector scenario with special reference to Multi-state societies and the issue of regulation and taxation of cooperative credit societies.
MoU has been signed between Indian Navy and the Directorate General of Shipping
⇒ A landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Indian Navy (IN) and the Directorate General of Shipping on 20 Jun 2022 to facilitate transition of Indian Navy personnel, both serving and retired, into the Merchant Navy.
Through this MoU, DG Shipping has envisioned certification of IN personnel in accordance with the International STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers) conventions.
The MoU is also in line with the GoI’s focus on the maritime domain including Blue economy as also the optimal utilisation of skilled and trained human resources.
National Conference on ‘Changing Landscape of Media & Entertainment 2022’
⇒ Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting Shri Anurag Singh Thakur addressed at the National Conference on ‘Changing Landscape of Media & Entertainment 2022’ organized by the Symbiosis Skill & Professional University in Pune, on 26 June 2022.
Shri Thakur said, a solid digital foundation for the AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics) sector is emerging across the country. The Government has established a Task Force for the AVGC sector in order to develop world class creative talent to meet domestic and global demand.
- The Media & Entertainment ecosystem is a sunrise sector expected to generate Rs 4 lakh crores annually by 2025 and reach $100 billion or Rs 7.5 lakh crore industry by 2030.
International
QS World University Rankings 2023
⇒ QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) World University Rankings 2023 results were released on, June 8, 2022 by QS, a British company.
- QS, London-based global higher education analysts have released the 19th edition of the world’s International University rankings.
Read More About QS World University Rankings 2023
Sports
Host Cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
⇒ World soccer governing body FIFA announced the 16 cities – 11 in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada – as host cities for the 2026 World Cup. For the first time the tournament will be shared by three different countries.
The 16 Host Cities will be:
- The United States will host games in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami and New York/New Jersey.
- Mexico, which hosted the World Cup in 1970 and 1986, will stage games in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.
- Canada, which is hosting the men’s event for the first time, will do so in Vancouver and Toronto.
» The 2022 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to be held in Qatar from 21 November to 18 December 2022.
Important Day
International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2022
⇒ The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, or World Drug Day, is observed every year on 26 June to strengthen action and cooperation in achieving a world free of drug abuse.
- World Drug Day is a day to share research findings, evidence-based data, and solutions, to continue tapping into a shared spirit of solidarity.
Theme:
The theme of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2022 was “Addressing drug challenges in health and humanitarian crises”.
Background:
By resolution 42/112 of 7 December 1987, the General Assembly decided to observe 26 June as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.