Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 02 JUNE 2019
::NATIONAL::
VP urges nation to move towards progressive thinking
• Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has underlined the need for writers and
litterateurs to promote progressive and positive thinking among the people even
while holding a mirror to the happenings in society.
• Vice President said that Veeresalingam was popularly known as Raja Ram
Mohan Roy of Andhra and he was a strong advocate of widow remarriage, opposed
the dowry and caste system as also child marriage and batted for empowering
women through education.
• Stressing the need for protecting and preserving native languages, Mr Naidu
urged intellectuals, educationists and journalists to strive towards promoting
progressive thinking and bringing about an attitudinal change among the people
to eliminate social evils.
Ex-EC denies possibility of manipulation EVM-VVPAT system
• Former Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi has said that there is no
possibility of manipulating the EVM-VVPAT system. He however said that the
Election Commission should explain to the opposition and the people by clearing
doubts about it.
• In the recent LokSabha elections, the opposition had alleged that
Electronic Voting Machines and VVPAT (Voter Verified Paper Trail Machines) were
being manipulated. The EC had refuted the allegations.
• On the opposition demand to go back to the ballot paper voting system,
Quraishi said, rather than doing away with the EVMs, one should look at
improving these machines.
::ECONOMY::
GST collection crosses 1lakh crore for the third time
• Even after slowdown in industrial activity, the Government managed to
collect more than ₹1 lakh crore plus in May. This is third consecutive month of
₹1 lakh crore plus mobilization. However, collection in May was lower than
all-time high of April.
• The growth in revenue collection has come at a time when industrial
production has slowed down. Growth rate in Core sector (comprising of eight
industrial sectors, steel, coal, electricity, cement, Refinery production, crude
oil, natural gas and fertiliser) dropped to 2.6 per cent in April.
• These eight sectors together comprise of over 40 per cent in Index of
Industrial Production (IIP), which reflects performance of overall industry.
April figure for IIP to be released on June 12 while it turned negative in
March.
• The revenue in May, 2018 was ₹ 94,016 crore and the revenue
during May, 2019 is a growth of 6.67 per cent over the revenue in the same month
last year. The revenue in May 2019 is 2.21 per cent higher than the monthly
average of GST revenue in FY 2018-19 (₹ 98,114 crore).
• An amount of ₹ 18,934 crore has been released to the states as
GST compensation for the months of February-March, 2019.
HRD ministry gives clarification on new draft policy
• The Centre has clarified that it has not taken any decision on
the three-language system as suggested in the draft New Education Policy (NEP)
prepared by a panel headed by eminent scientist K Kasturirangan.
• In a statement issued yesterday, Human Resource Development
Ministry said, this is a draft policy submitted by the committee and is placed
for the views of the general public. The HRD ministry said, the final decision
will be taken after consulting state governments and getting feedback from the
public.
• Union HRD Minister Ramesh PokhriyalNishank also clarified that
it is just a recommendation and not a government policy. He said Prime Minister
NarendraModi has already said that no particular language will be imposed on any
region.
• Mr Nishank said it is just a draft and government will be
collecting information from various states and then it will have further
discussions.
• The committee led by former ISRO Chief K Kasturirangan
submitted the draft education policy to the HRD Minister on Friday.
::INTERNATIONAL::
Trump urges for no deal Brexit for Britain
• US President Donald Trump has said that Britain should go for
a no-deal Brexit with the EU and refuse to pay the agreed 39 billion pounds (45
billion euros, USD 50 billion) divorce bill.
• In an interview with the Sunday Times on the eve of his visit
to London, Mr Trump urged Britain's government to follow his rule book in
negotiating deals when it came to Brexit.
• Theresa May is to resign on 7th June after failing to get her
EU divorce text through parliament.
• Mr Trump is to embark on a three-day state visit to Britain
from tomorrow, during which he will meet Queen Elizabeth II and have talks with
Ms May.
Tanzania becomes yet another African nation banning plastic
bags
• A plastic bag ban comes into force in Tanzania as Africa leads
efforts to stem the tide of plastic pollution. Tanzania is banning the
importation, production, sale and use of plastic bags.
• It becomes the 34th African country to implement such
restrictions, according to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP).
• Tanzania, known for wildlife tourism, has also issued a notice
to travellers that they will have to "surrender" plastic bags in their
possession before entering the country.
• Globally, 127 countries have some sort of plastic bag
legislation. 91 of these include a ban or restriction on manufacturing,
importation and retail distribution, according to the UNEP.
::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::
AYUSH ministry launches app to expand coverage of events
• AYUSH Ministry has launched a mobile application to enable
people to locate yoga events and centres providing training and instructors.
• The mobile app was launched ahead of International Yoga Day on
June 21. According to a senior official of the AYUSH ministry, yoga locator is a
map-based location app which will also enable yoga instructors to register
themselves and reach out to a large number of people.
• It will be a permanent app which will give information to
people about yoga activities happening in their vicinity throughout the year.
