IMPORTANT DAYS

MSME Day 2024 observed on 27 June

• Every year on June 27, Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) Day is observed.

• Theme for 2024: “Leveraging Power and Resilience of Micro-, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) to Accelerate Sustainable Development and Eradicate Poverty in Times of Multiple Crises.”

• The UN General Assembly decided to celebrate this day on April 6, 2017, to increase public awareness of the role of MSMEs in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• According to a report by the International Council for Small Business (ICSB), MSMEs make up more than 90% of all firms.

• They contribute an average of 60-70% of total employment.

• Union Minister for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Jitan Ram Manjhi presided over the 'Udyami Bharat' - MSME Day celebrations.

• According to the MSME Ministry's FY23 annual report, India has around 63 million MSMEs, second only to China's approximately 140 million micro and small enterprises.

APPOINTMENTS

NATO appointed Mark Rutte as its next secretary-general.

• Mark Rutte, the outgoing Prime Minister of the Netherlands, has been appointed as the next secretary-general of NATO.

• His appointment was approved by NATO ambassadors during a meeting at the headquarters in Brussels.

• Rutte will assume the role on October 1, succeeding Norway’s Jens Stoltenberg.

• The NATO secretary-general chairs meetings and facilitates consultations among member countries to maintain the organization’s operations.

• NATO, established on April 4, 1949, is an intergovernmental political and military alliance comprising North American and European countries.

• Initially formed by 12 countries, NATO now has 32 member countries.

• The headquarters of NATO is situated in Brussels, Belgium.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

South American nation, Paraguay, has become the 100th full member to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

• Paraguay has joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA) as its 100th full member.

• The Instrument of Ratification was officially handed over by Paraguay on June 26, 2024, in New Delhi.

• Abhishek Singh, Joint Secretary of Economic Diplomacy and States Division at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, received the document on behalf of the ISA.

• Singh also acts as the Head of Depository for the ISA, an organization co-founded by India and France during the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris.

• The ISA's mission is to promote the global adoption of solar energy, serving as a collaborative platform for its member countries to enhance energy security, increase energy access, and support the transition to sustainable energy sources.

• To date, 119 countries have signed the ISA Framework Agreement, with 100 of them having completed the ratification process and achieved full membership.

• Spain became the 99th member in May 2024.

NATIONAL NEWS

India's first 'Chadwick House: Navigating Audit Heritage' Museum has been inaugurated at Shimla.

• India's first 'Chadwick House: Navigating Audit Heritage' Museum has been inaugurated in Shimla.

• The inauguration was carried out by Girish Chandra Murmu, the 14th Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.

• This event signifies a significant step in preserving and celebrating the rich heritage and contributions of the CAG institution to national governance.

• The museum is situated at Chadwick House, a historic landmark in Shimla.

• It highlights the evolution, achievements, and milestones of the CAG institution.

• Notably, Mahatma Gandhi stayed at Chadwick House in 1946 during his visit to Shimla for the Cabinet Mission.

• The process to establish Chadwick House as a museum began with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with its then-owner, Prasar Bharati (All India Radio), in December 2020.

• The museum features ten distinct galleries, each offering a detailed exploration of various aspects of CAG’s history, roles, and significance.

• The museum also preserves artifacts, including Remington typewriters and British-era franking machines.

STATE NEWS

Uttar Pradesh could become the leading producer of compressed biogas.

• Uttar Pradesh has the potential to become India's leading producer of compressed biogas (CBG).

• According to the Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the state could generate 24% of the nation's CBG output.

• A symposium organized by CSE, in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) in Muzaffarnagar, underscored this potential.

• The event highlighted that Western Uttar Pradesh, particularly regions like Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Saharanpur, Bijnor, Bulandshahar, and Aligarh, has abundant feedstock availability.

• Under the Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) scheme, Uttar Pradesh could develop 1000 CBG projects.

DEFENCE

Exercise-HOPEX

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) and Egyptian Air Force (EAF) conducted Exercise-HOPEX to enhance defense cooperation.

• This fourth joint exercise took place in Egypt from June 21 to 26.

• IAF's Rafale fighter jets participated in the exercise, along with C-17 Globemaster and IL-78 tankers.

• The aim of the exercise is to promote bilateral and regional cooperation, reflecting the enduring relationship between India and Egypt.

• The IAF contingent arrived in Egypt while returning from the 'Red Flag' exercise in Alaska.

• India and Egypt established diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level on August 18, 1947.

• In 2022, the two countries celebrated the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, highlighting the depth of their connection.

SPORTS

Under-17 Asian Wrestling Championship.

• India achieved notable success at the Under-17 Asian Wrestling Championship held in Amman, Jordan, securing a total of 11 medals.

• The Indian team concluded its campaign on a high note, with the young wrestlers winning four gold, two silver, and five bronze medals.

• Impressively, all four gold medals were won by women wrestlers:

✓ Deepanshi triumphed in the 46 kg category.

✓ Muskan excelled in the 53 kg category.

✓ Rajnita dominated the 61 kg category.

✓ Mansi Lather shone in the 69 kg category.

• In addition to the gold medalists, Raja Bala earned a silver medal in the 40 kg category, while Samarth Gajanan Makave secured silver in the men's 55 kg category.

• The bronze medalists included:

✓ Akash in the 65 kg category

✓ Sachin Kumar in the 71 kg category

✓ Vikas Kachhap in the 48 kg category

✓ Tushar Tukaram Patil in the 60 kg category

✓ Raunak in the 110 kg category.