::NATIONAL::

Centrally protected sites to be opened for public from next week

• Visitors to Centrally protected monuments, which will be reopened to the public from July 6, will have to wear masks, buy tickets online and not pose for any group photos, according to the Union Culture Ministry.
• Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel announced on Thursday that all monuments protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) would be opened from July 6. 
• Last month, the ASI had reopened 821 monuments that had places of worship after a decision by the Union Home Ministry. Now, all 3,691 monuments and sites of the ASI would reopen, subject to the rules of the Home and Health Ministries, the Minister said.
• Entry would be restricted from a maximum of 5,000 persons a day (at the TajMahal) to 2,000 at the rest of the ticketed monuments like the Golconda Fort in Hyderabad, the Sun Temple in Konark and the Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi.

Government claims 19lakh tap connections provided under JalJeevan mission

• Government today said that 19 lakh tap connections have been provided in villages across the country under JalJeevan Mission during lockdown period. 
• Jal Shakti Ministry said, this has happened because of concerted efforts of the States despite adverse working conditions due to Covid-19 pandemic. The aim of this mission is to provide 55 litres of potable water per person per day to every rural household of the country by 2024.
• The Ministry said, more than eight thousand crore rupees Central fund have been made available with States during the current year for implementation of this mission. It said, when the whole country is fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, Central Government is making all efforts for provision of safe drinking water in rural areas by providing tap connections.
• States are laying emphasis on retrofitting and augmentation of existing water supply schemes to provide household tap connections to remaining households of those villages belonging to poor and marginalized people. The Ministry said, States have been asked to start this work in campaign mode as these works could provide household tap connections in least possible time.

::ECONOMY::

Centre launches new liquidity scheme for NBFC’s and HFC’s

• The Union Government has launched  the Special  Liquidity Scheme of 30 thousand crore rupees  to improve the liquidity position for Non-Banking Finance Companies- NBFCs and Housing Finance Companies- HFCs. The scheme was launched yesterday  through a Special Purpose Vehicle in the form of SLS Trust set up by SBI Capital Markets Limited (SBICAP).
• The total amount of such securities issued outstanding shall not exceed 30 thousand crore rupees at any point of time. The Central Government will provide an unconditional and irrevocable guarantee to the special securities issued by the Trust.
• The Scheme will remain open for three months for making subions by the Trust. The period of lending by the Trust will be for a period of up to 90 days. The financing would be used by the NFBCs and HFCs only to repay existing liabilities and not to expand assets.
• Any NBFC including Micro-finance Institutions registered with RBI and any HFC registered with the National Housing Bank complying with the given conditions will be eligible to raise funding from the said facility.

Direct investment to India rises by 19million dollars

• Reserve Bank of India today said, direct investment into the country rose by 19 billion US dollar while portfolio investment declined by 13.7 billion dollar during 2019-20.
• According  to the data on the International Investment Position,IIP released by RBI today stated that international financial assets of Indian residents increased by 73.9 billion dollar due to the rise in reserve assets and overseas direct investment by 64.9 billion dollar and 13.0 billion dollar, respectively.
• It said that despite a fall of 13.7 billion dollar in portfolio investment during the year, international financial liabilities increased by 16.3 billion dollar as direct investment and other investments rose by 19.0 billion dollar and 11.0 billion dollar, respectively.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

India asks Pakistan to vacate all Indian territories under illegal occupation

• The 627 Indian nationals who were stranded in Pakistan have returned through Integrated Check Post, Attari. Giving the information, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson AnuragSrivastava said they returned on the 25th, 26th and 27th of June. He said, there are about 100 people who still remain in Pakistan and India is in touch with Pakistan authorities and awaiting clearances to facilitate their return.
• On general elections in GilgitBaltistan, the spokesperson said, India completely rejects attempts by Pakistan to bring material changes in the Indian territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. He said, such cosmetic exercises are intended to camouflage Pakistan's illegal occupation of Indian territories. India has called upon Pakistan to vacate all Indian territories under their illegal occupation.
• He said, 38 officials including family members of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad crossed over via ICP Attari and 143 officials including family members of the Pakistan High Commission crossed over.

::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::

Government clears defence acquisition worth Rs38900crores

• Defence Acquisition Council ( DAC) in its meeting held yesterday accorded approval for Capital acquisitions of various platforms and equipment required by the Indian Armed Forces. Proposals for an approximate cost of 38900 Crore rupees were approved. 
• The meeting chaired by Defence minister Rajnath Singh focused on indigenous design and development. These approvals include acquisitions from Indian Industry amounting to 31130 Crore rupees.
• The equipments are to be manufactured in India involving Indian Defence Industry with participation of several MSMEs as prime tier vendors. The Indigenous content in some of these projects is up to 80 per cent of the project cost.
• A large number of these projects have been made possible due to Transfer of Technology by DRDO to the Indigenous Industry. These include Pinaka ammunitions, BMP armament upgrades and Software Defined Radios for the Army, Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile Systems and Astra Missiles for Navy and Air Force. The cost of these Design and Development proposals is in the range of 20400 crore rupees.
• Further, addressing the long felt need of the Indian Air Force to increase its fighter squadrons, the DAC also approved the proposal for procurement of 21 MIG-29 . It also approved upgradation of existing 59 Mig-29 aircraft and procurement of 12 Su-30 MKI aircraft.

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