1. ICC suspends Sri Lankan pacer Shaminda Eranga for illegal bowling

a) The International Cricket Council has banned Sri Lankan pace bowler Shaminda Eranga from in international cricket. This decision was taken after assessment of his bowling.

b) The assessment revealed that all deliveries exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under regulations. The test was performed at the National Cricket Performance Centre in Loughborough.

c) In accordance with Article 6.1 of the regulations, Eranga’s international suspension will also be recognised and enforced by all national cricket federations for domestic cricket events played in their own jurisdiction. But, he can play domestic cricket in Sri Lanka, with the consent of the country’s cricket board.

2. Draft national Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy 2016 released

a) The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has released the Draft National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy 2016. This policy will help India reach the target of 175 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity from renewable energy sources by 2022 which includes 100 GW from solar and 60 GW from wind.

b) The policy also aims to encourage new technologies and methods involving combined operation of wind and solar PV plants.

c) Superimposition of wind and solar resource maps indicate that there are vast stretches of areas where both wind and solar have high to moderate potential. Existing wind farms have scope of adding solar PV capacity and similarly there may be wind potential in the vicinity of existing solar PV plant.

d) Under the category of wind-solar hybrid power plants, wind and solar PV systems will be configured to operate at the same point of grid connection.

e) Government will encourage development of wind solar hybrid systems.

3. Centre notifies 10 coastal police stations extending their jurisdiction to 200 nautical miles

a) The Union Government has allowed police stations on land to extend their jurisdiction to 200 nautical miles (from the existing 12 nautical miles) into the high seas.

b) Post 26/11 terror attacks, the coastal police was given the responsibility to guard coastal waters. Thus, the extension of jurisdictional limits will help the local police dealing with cases of smuggling and terrorism to guard the 7516-km long coastline.

c) On the other hand, the Union Home Ministry has also approved the Maharashtra CM’s proposal to create a Central Marine Police Force for patrolling and protecting the coastline.

4. Microsoft & AICTE sign pact to build app for HRD ministry’s SWAYAM platform

a) Microsoft & AICTE have signed an agreement to build an app for Indian HRD Ministry’s SWAYAM platform. The platform will launch 2000 Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) for over three crore students in 2016.

b) Microsoft has signed a deal of Rs.38 crore with the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) to create and run the app for three years. Later, it will be taken over by AICTE.

c) The ministry has approved UGC (Credit Framework for online learning courses through SWAYAM) Regulation, 2016 for successful implementation of the app.

d) Physical facilities like laboratories, computer facilities, library, etc. will be available for free by the parent institution. A certificate will be issued upon successful completion of the MOOCs by the parent institution and issued through the host institution.

5. India wins silver at Archery World Cup in Antalya

a) The Indian mixed recurve team of Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das has won silver at the Archery World Cup in Antalya, Turkey.

b) In the final crash, however, India lost to South Korea.

6. Nico Rosberg wins 2016 Europe Grand Prix

a) German F1 driver Nico Rosberg has won the European Grand Prix championship which was held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

b) The Mercedes driver defeated compatriot and Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel in the final race. With this, Rosberg has bagged his second career Grand Slam.

7. Australia wins Hero Hockey Champions Trophy 2016

a) Australia has won Hero Hockey Champions Trophy 2016 at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London. It defeated India 1-0 in a shoot-out.

b) With this, Australia has claimed the Champions Trophy title for the 14th time. Germany defeated Great Britain to win the bronze medal.

8. First batch of three female fighter pilots commissioned

a) Recently, the Indian Air Force commissioned its first batch of three female pilots – Avani Chaturvedi, Bhawana Kanth and Mohana Singh.

b) Earlier, six women were shortlisted for initial training. Having cleared the first two stages successfully and gained over 150 hours of flying experience each, the trio will now proceed for a six-month Stage-III dedicated fighter training on Advanced Jet Trainer, the BAE Hawk at Bidar in Karnataka.

c) On completion, they will be assigned different fighter aircraft and will join mainstream fighter squadrons.

9. NRIs can now join NPS online through eNPS

a) As the finance ministry’s announcement, non-resident Indians (NRIs) can now open National Pension Savings (NPS) accounts online. For this they need to have Aadhaar Card or PAN card.

b) Till now, NRIs could open an NPS account only through paper applications by approaching banks.

c) They will be able to open NPS accounts both on repatriable (ability of an asset to be transferred from a foreign country back to an investor’s home country) and on non-repatriable basis.

10. SBI creates a Rs 200 crore fund for start-ups

a) State Bank of India has created a dedicated IT innovation and start-up fund and set aside Rs.200 crore for investment in promising start-ups.

b) It will be used for any India registered company to promote its business using information technology.

11. Former cricketer Chetan Chauhan named NIFT Chairman

a) Former cricketer Chetan Chauhan has been appointed as the chairman of the prestigious National Institute of Fashion Technology.

b) Chauhan, who is the vice-president of Delhi and District Cricket Association and a senior BCCI official, also runs a cricket academy and a printing press. He has also been a BJP MP twice.

12. Kannada film ‘Thithi’ wins best film award in 19th Shanghai International Film Festival

a) Kannada film Thithi has bagged top awards at the ongoing 19th Shanghai International Film Festival.

b) Thithi has won the Best Film and Best Script Writers in the Asia New Talent Awards at the festival.

13. Subhash Chandra Bose’s statue unveiled in Malaysia

a) A bronze statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose has been unveiled at the Indian Cultural Centre in Malaysia. This was witnessed by nine Indian National Army (INA) veterans, including three women. It marked a historic moment for INA, the Rani of Jhansi regiment, Balak Sena and the veterans of the INA in Malaysia.

b) PM Modi had announced renaming of the Indian Cultural Centre here as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Indian Cultural Centre during his visit to Malaysia last year.

c) The High Commission of India hosted the first-ever Festival of India in Malaysia last year. The bronze bust of Netaji was sculpted by Ram Sutar and sponsored by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.

14. PM Narendra Modi, Sri Lankan President inaugurate Duraiappah stadium in Jaffna

a) PM Modi jointly inaugurated Duraiappah stadium with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena in Jaffna.

b) Named in the honour of a former mayor of Jaffna, Alfred Thambirajah Duraiappah, the stadium has been renovated by the Indian government at a cost of more than Rs 7.1 crore.

c) With a seating capacity of 1,850, the stadium will provide necessary infrastructure to promote sports and assist overall development of the youth of the war-torn Northern Province.

15. International Day of Yoga 2016 observed across the world with release of a new Yoga Geet

a) Centre has celebrated an event called the National Event of Mass Yoga Demonstration at the Capitol complex in Chandigarh to mark the International Yoga Day celebrated globally.

b) The UN General Assembly adopted 21st June as the International Yoga Day.

c) AYUSH minister Shripad Naik released a Yoga geet which was shortlisted from around 1,000 entries. The three-minute-and-15-second song has been written and produced by Dheeraj Saraswat. Gandhar T D Jadhav and Gatha Jadhav have sung the song and Sumanto Ray is the composer.

16. Punjab launches Mukh Mantri Punjab Hepatitis C Relief Fund

a) Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal recently launched a fund called ‘Mukh Mantri Punjab Hepatitis C Relief Fund’ with Initial contribution of Rs.20 crores to provide free treatment to patients affected by Hepatitis C.

b) With this, Punjab has become the first state in India to provide free treatment for Hepatitis C.

17. Centre bans use of Potassium Bromate as food additive

a) The Union government has decided to ban Potassium Bromate as food additive.

b) This step was taken as a study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has shown that 84% of 38 commonly available brands of pre-packaged breads, including pav and buns, tested positive for potassium bromate and potassium iodate.

c) According to CSE studies, ‘Potassium bromate increases dough strength, leads to higher rising and uniform finish to baked products while potassium iodate is a flour treatment agent.’

d) The Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has banned Potassium Bromate. The recommendation for removal of Potassium iodate is referred to the scientific panel.

18. Martian crater named after Nepal quake-hit village Langtang

a) The International Astronomical Union has named a Martian crater after ‘Langtang’, one of the worst-hit villages in the 2015 Nepal earthquake.

b) Langtang is a popular trekking site which was destroyed when an earthquake-triggered avalanche swamped the village.

19. Centre introduces Radical changes in FDI Policy regime; approves 49% FDI in defence

a) To boost employment opportunities and job creation, the Union Cabinet has radically liberalised the FDI policy regime.

b) Cabinet has decided to permit 100% FDI under government approval route for trading, including through e-commerce, in food products manufactured or produced in India.

c) In the defence sector, FDI above 49% has been permitted through government approval route in cases resulting in modern technology. The new FDI limit has also been made applicable for Manufacturing of Small Arms and Ammunitions covered under Arms Act 1959.

d) In Broadcasting Carriage Services, 100% FDI is allowed in teleports, DTH services, cable networks, mobile TV, headend-in-the sky (HITS) operators, etc.

e) The existent policy on pharmaceutical sector provides for 100% FDI under automatic route in greenfield pharma and FDI up to 100% under government approval in brownfield pharma.

f) 100% FDI is permitted in aviation under automatic route in brownfield projects. FDI up to 49% is now permitted under automatic route in private security agencies sector and FDI beyond 49% and up to 74% would be permitted with government approval.

g) FDI in animal husbandry (including breeding of dogs), pisciculture, aquaculture and apiculture is allowed 100% via automatic route under controlled conditions.

20. India, Thailand sign 2 agreements on cooperation in culture and education sectors

a) India and Thailand has signed two agreements to enhance mutual cooperation in culture and education. These agreements were signed during Thailand’s Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s recent visit.

b) One of these agreements aims to extend the cultural programme for 2016-19.

c) An MoU was also signed between Nagaland University and Thailand’s Chiang Mai University.

d) India & Thailand also discussed other issues like maritime security, cyber security, military and intelligence cooperation, etc.