By: D.K Chaudhary
1. World Environment Day: 05th June 2018
i. World Environment Day is the United Nations’ (UN) most important day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the protection of our environment. Since it began in 1974, it has grown to become a global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated in over 100 countries. World Environment Day is the “people’s day” for doing something to take care of the Earth. World Environment Day occurs on the 5th of June every year.
ii. Each World Environment Day is organized around a theme that focuses attention on a particularly pressing environmental concern. The theme for the World Environment Day 2018, “Beat Plastic Pollution”.
2. Govt Launches ‘Krishi Kalyan Abhiyaan’ To Help Farmers In Aspirational Districts To Raise Their Income
i. The government has announced the launch of ‘Krishi Kalyan Abhiyaan’ under which farmers in select villages will be given assistance and advice on ways to improve farming techniques and raise their income.
ii. The Agriculture Ministry in line with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of doubling farmers’ income by 2022 has launched the Krishi Kalyan Abhiyaan from 1st June to 31st July 2018.
- Radha Mohan Singh, Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture.
- The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (formerly Ministry of Agriculture), a branch of the Government of India.
3. Govt Announces Rs. 8,000-Crore Package For Sugarcane Farmers
i. The Union government has announced a package of more than Rs 8,000 crore aimed to provide relief to sugarcane farmers and to clear their dues. According to a government official, the package includes three elements. A buffer stock of 30 LMT (lakh metric tonnes) of sugar will be created with Rs 1,200 crore.
ii. This money will be directly transferred to accounts of sugarcane farmers. Rs 4,400 crore will be used to increase ethanol production to divert sugarcane away from sugar mills which are unable to dispose of their inventories. The government has also decided to ensure a minimum sale price of Rs 29/kg for sugar.
4. MK Jain Appointed RBI Deputy Governor
i. The Centre has appointed MK Jain, Managing Director, and CEO of IDBI Bank, as the RBI’s Deputy Governor. Jain will fill a position that had been lying vacant since August 2017 after the retirement of SS Mundra.
ii. With the appointment of Jain, the Centre has stuck to the tradition of having a commercial banker occupy this post of RBI Deputy Governor (reserved for bankers). The central bank now has four serving RBI Deputy Governors. Jain has been appointed for a term of three years.
- Urjit Patel is Present Governor of RBI.
- RBI’s Deputy Governor- NS Vishwanathan, Viral V Acharya, BP Kanungo and newly appointed MK Jain.
5. French Swimmer Begins Record Pacific Crossing Attempt
i. A French swimmer has set off from Japan aiming to become the first person to swim across the Pacific Ocean.
ii. Ben Lecomte will swim for eight hours a day for more than six months as he heads towards the US west coast. He is hoping to raise awareness for climate change. A team of scientists will conduct research during the almost 8,850-kilometre swim.
