1. The NITI Aayog released the first Delta rankings for 108 aspirational districts to measure their progress across health, education, infrastructure, and other development areas. 2. The Union Minister of Commerce and Civil Aviation launched a mobile app called "ReUnite" to track and trace missing children in India. 3. The OPCW granted itself new powers to help identify those responsible for chemical attacks in Syria.

1. Current Affairs – Important Articles

2. • The NITI Aayog has released first Delta ranking for 108 aspirational districts to
measure their incremental progress across five developmental areas
49 key performance indicators were mapped across five developmental areas:
health and nutrition, education, financial inclusion and skill development,
infrastructure

4. • The purpose of Delta rankings is to spur sense of competition among dynamic
teams in aspirational districts
The ranking takes step further and looks into specific aspects of Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) and analyses how districts have performed across

5. • The Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation has launched
mobile application “ReUnite” in New Delhi to track and trace missing children
The app is available for both Android and iOS. It has been developed by Nobel
Laureate Kailash Satyarthi‘s NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan and IT company
Capgemini
The ReUnite app is multiuser where parents and citizens can upload pictures of
children and provide detailed description like name, address, birth marks search
and identify missing kids and report to the police station.
It uses Amazon Rekognition, a web based facial recognition service to identify
missing children.

6. • The world’s foremost chemical weapons watchdog, Organisation for the
Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) as granted itself new powers to
help identify those responsible for chemical attacks in Syria.
It is considered as important step forward for arms control. It strengthens
unravelling consensus against use of chemical weapons
•
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is an
intergovernmental organization that promotes, administers and verifies the
adherence to the Convention on Prohibition of Development,
Production Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction
(CWC).

7. • The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved institution of Home
Minister’s Special Operation Medal.
It also has instituted three more Medals --- Antarik Suraksha Medal, Asadharan
Aashuchan Padak, and Utkrisht & Ati-Utkrisht Seva Medal.
HM’s Special Operation Medal and Asadharan Aashuchan Padak will be awarded
on Independence Day (15th August), Antarik Suraksha Medal and Utkrisht & Ati-
Utkrisht Seva Medal will be announced on Republic Day (26th January)
Home Minister’s Special Operation Medal: It aims to promote high professional
standards of Investigation of Crime in State/UT Police and Central
Invesvestigating Agencies (CIAs) in the country.

8. • Asadharan Aashuchan Padak: It will be given to officials of Intelligence
organization of Central Government and Intelligence
Department/wings/Special Branches/Units of all State/UT Police, CAPFs, Assam
Rifles (AR) and National Security Guard (NSG) for acts of exceptional courage
Antarik Suraksha Medal: It will be bestowed upon Police personnel of
States/UTs/CAPFs/Security Organisation in recognition of operation duty
rendered by them for tenure of every two years in internal security in Jammu &
Kashmir, Left Wing Extremism (LWE) region and North East region
Utkrisht and Ati Utkrisht Seva Medal: It will be awarded to permanent Police
personnel and other permanent support staff working in CAPFs, State/UTs s
Police Forces, AR, NSG, Home Guard (HG) and intelligence organizations of
Central and state Governments and CAPFs

9. • President Ram Nath Kovind launched Solar Charkha Mission under which
Government will disburse subsidy of Rs 550 crore to thousands of artisans.
It was launched during the event of Udyam Sangam (National MSME Conclave)
on the occasion of World MSME Day (observed on 27 June).

10. • Government bans oxytocin hormone to curb misuse
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has banned
manufacture and sale of Oxytocin drug formulations for domestic use
in private sector
Its import also has been banned. It also has not allowed retail or
wholesale chemists to stock this drug in their shops in any form or
name.

12. • Oxytocin, often called love hormone, is released naturally in human bonding
activities such as childbirth , breastfeeding and sex,.
Misuse
It has become controversial hormonal injection that is misused widely in the
dairy industry, agriculture and horticulture.
The drug’s abuse in dairy animals to make them release milk at a time
convenient to farmers, shortens their lives and makes them barren sooner.
The hormone is also used to increase size of vegetables such as pumpkins,
watermelons, brinjals, gourds and cucumbers...
• Even its misuse is reported among trafficked children, injected to accelerate
puberty among girls. It is also being misused to speed up deliveries for pregnant
women in overcrowded government hospitals.

13. • Govt proposed to set up 3000 Van Dhan Kendras involving 30,000 Self Help
Groups (SHGs) across the country under its Van Dhan Scheme.
This will help in empowering tribals by providing them skill up-gradation and
capacity building training for value addition of forest produce
It aims at targeting livelihood generation for tribals by harnessing non-timber
minor forest produces (MFP), the true wealth of forest (i.e. Van Dhan).
Van Dhan Vikas Kendra: TRIFED will facilitate establishment of MFP-led multi-
purpose kendras predominantly forested tribal districts.

15. • Gujarat government has launched Suryashakti Kisan Yojana (SKY), solar power
scheme for farmers enabling them to generate electricity for their
captive consumption as well as sell surplus power to grid
It is claimed to be first such scheme in the country, where farmer will produce
his power and sell surplus to State power utility.
Under it, farmers of state having existing electricity connection will be given
solar panels as per their load requirements.

16. • OP Nistar – Evacuation of Stranded Indians from Socotra, Yemen
n response to a distress call received from the DG shipping and the Indian
Sailing Vessels Association, Indian Naval Ship Sunayna, currently deployed for a
mission based deployment in the Gulf of Aden,
was directed to evacuate 38 Indian nationals stranded on the Yemeni island of
Socotra in the aftermath of cyclone Mekenu.
A very Severe Cyclonic Strom Mekenu crossed the Yemeni Island of Socotra on
24 May 18, leaving the 38 Indians stranded on the island with limited food and
water.

17. • The operation, code name 'NISTAR', was carried out on the morning of 03 Jun
18 off the coast of Socotra.
The evacuated Indians were embarked onboard and immediately provided with
medical care, food, water and telephone facilities to call and reassure their
families at home.
All 38 have been reported to be safe. Post evacuation, the ship would be
proceeding towards Porbandar to disembark the Indians ashore

18. • The first satellite named RemoveDEBRIS was successfully deployed from
International Space Station (ISS) and to demonstrate a range of innovative
technologies to clean up space debris orbiting Earth.
It was transported to ISS via SpaceX CRS-14 launch in early April 2018.
The satellite was designed, built and manufactured by consortium of space
companies
More than 5 decades of human space exploration since first Soviet-launched
Sputnik satellite in 1957 has produced hazardous belt of orbiting space debris.
There are estimated to be more than 100 million pieces of space debris circling
our planet in lower orbit, posing growing threat to future space

19. • A relatively small piece of orbital debris can inflict a great deal of damage on
satellites or spacecrafts orbiting in the space.
This phenomenon is Kessler Syndrome which describes a self-sustaining
cascading collision of space debris in LEO may render space eventually
inoperable for important space services like navigation, weather forecasting,
communications etc

20. • Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Vanijya Bhawan, a
new office complex in New Delhi for the Department of Commerce.
Vnijya Bhawan will help in ease of doing business by bringing all Departments of
Commerce under one roof
• The building will be a modern, eco-friendly structure. It will be completely
paperless office with modern facilities such as smart access control

21. • NITI Aayog has come up with the Composite Water Management Index as a
useful tool to assess and improve the performance in efficient management of
water resources.
This index is an attempt to inspire States and UTs towards efficient and optimal
utilization of water, and recycling thereof with a sense of urgency.
In view of limitations on availability of water resources and rising demand for
water, sustainable management of water resources has acquired critical
importance. T
• he index can be utilised to formulate and implement suitable strategies for
better management of water resources.

24. • National Tribal Museum proposed to be set up at Delhi
A National Tribal Museum along with a National Level Tribal Research Institute is
proposed to be set up at Delhi by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
MoTA is setting up six Tribal Freedom Fighters Memorials including two of
national importance ie. Narmada (Gujarat) and Birsa Munda Central Jail
(Ranchi), the Minister disclosed.

25. • The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has notified that use of
Aadhaar biometric data for criminal investigation is not allowed
This comes after National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) Director Ish Kumar
made strong pitch for police to be provided with limited access to Aadhaar data
As per Section 29 of the Aadhaar Act, the biometrics data collected by UIDAI can
be used only for purpose of generating Aadhaar and for authentication of
identity of Aadhaar holders and cannot be used for any other purpose. The very
limited exception to this is allowed under Section 33 of Aadhaar Act

26. • At present around 50 lakh cases were registered every year in the country and
most of them (80 to 85%) are committed by first time offenders who leave their
fingerprints, which are available in police records. So there is need for access to
Aadhaar data to police for purpose of investigation

27. • The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has banned al Qaeda in Indian
Subcontinent (AQIS) and Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP) under anti-
terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967. AQIS is an affiliate
of al Qaeda and ISKP is Afghanistan wing of Islamic State (IS)
al Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS): It is terrorist organisation, which has
committed acts of terrorism in India’s neighbouring countries.
Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP): It promotes and encourages
terrorism in Indian sub-continent. It has been committing terrorist acts

28. • UAPA is anti-terrorist law aimed at effective prevention of unlawful activities
associations in India.
Its main objective is to make powers available for dealing with activities directed
against integrity and sovereignty of India. It bans certain terrorist organisations.

29. • Year of Disabled Soldiers In Line of Duty
To honour soldiers who have been disabled in line of duty, while serving the
Nation and to celebrate the undying spirit of ‘Soldiering’, Indian Army is
observing the year 2018 as the ‘Year of Disabled Soldiers in Line of Duty’.
The primary focus is towards alleviating the sufferings of these soldiers, who
have done their duty with utmost dedication to the Nation and have been
disabled for the life.
The endeavour this year is to provide a onetime financial assistance to disabled
soldiers who have been boarded out from service on medical grounds and are
rendered non-employable due to their medical or physical conditions.

30. • The United States under President Donald Trump administration has
announced its withdrawal from United Nations Human Rights Council
(UNHRC) terming it hypocritical and self-serving. It has blamed UNHRC for bias
against Israel and refusing to eject members who are violators of human rights
US withdrawal from UNHRC citing for its chronic bias against Israel could
reinforce perception that Trump administration is seeking to advance Israel’’s
agenda on world stage
with US withdraw, the council will be left without one of its traditional
defenders of human rights
UNHRC is an inter-governmental body within United Nations system. It is
responsible for strengthening promotion and protection of human rights
around globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations and make
recommendations on them.

31. • The world’s first International Centre for Humanitarian Forensics was
launched in Gandhinagar, Gujarat
The humanitarian forensics plays significant and essential role during natural
and manmade calamities which takes place at regular intervals across world
over and large number of people become victims of such calamities.
It will assist in dignified and proper management of dead bodies during
disasters or emergencies and also help in their identification..

32. • The World Refugee Day is observed every year June 20 to raise awareness of
the situation of refugees throughout the world.
The theme for World Refugee Day 2018 is “Now More Than Ever, We Need to
Stand with Refugees.”

33. • Harayana Government has launched 7-Star Gram Panchayat Rainbow scheme
to give star rankings to its panchayats on the basis of seven social parameters
Various Colour Stars
Pink star: It will be awarded to those panchayats that make outstanding
performance in improving sex ratio
Green star: It is for protection of environment, white star for cleanliness,
Saffron star: It is for crime-free villages.
Sky colour star: It will be awarded to village that will have no drop out.
Golden star: It is for good governance.
Silver star: It will be awarded for participation in develovelopment of villages

34. • Under this scheme, seven social parameters under which panchayats will be
judged are sex ratio, education, hygiene, environment preservation, governance
and social participation.
Stars of different colours (mentioned below) are awarded to panchayats
depending upon their performance
Villages for achieving each parameter will be rewarded Rs 1 lakh. Villages having
equal or more girl population will be given Rs 50,000 as bonus

35. • The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched National Health
Resource Repository (NHRR) Project.
It is country’s first ever healthcare establishment census to collect data of all
public and private healthcare establishments.
It will provide comprehensive data on all health resources including private
doctors, health facilities, chemists and diagnostics labs.
It will establish NHRR for evidence based decision making – aligned with Digital
India mission.

36. • The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) launched National
Digital Library of India (NDLI) on the occasion of National Reading
Day (observed on June 17) in New Delhi.
NDLI’s objective is to make digital educational resources available to all citizens
of the country to empower,inspire and encourage learning.
under the aegis of National Mission on Education through Information and
Communication Technology (NMEICT) to develop a framework of virtual
repositorary of learning resources with a single-window search facility.
• It has been designed to hold content of any language and provides learning and
research interface support for leading Indian languages.

38. • The Indian Army has drawn detailed plan to develop Jaisalmer Military Station in
Rajasthan as smart facility patterned on Central Government’s Smart Cities
Mission.
The development plan will provide a major boost to local economy and aid in
ecological conservation
It has provisions for rainwater harvesting, centralised garbage disposal, solar-
security lights, underground electric cabling, solar-water heaters, LEd

39. • Report on ‘Women in Prisons’ launched by the Ministry of Women and Child
Development.
which aims to build an understanding of the various entitlements of women in
prisons, the various issues faced by them and possible methods for resolution of
the same.
The report contains a comprehensive list of 134 recommendations for
improving the lives of women under incarceration, addressing a wide range of
issues pertaining to pregnancy and childbirth in prison, mental health, legal aid,
reintegration in society and their caregiving responsibilities among others.

40. • The report suggests that prior to their imprisonment, women with care-giving
responsibilities must be allowed to make arrangements for their children, and a
reasonable suspension of detention may also be provided for this purpose.
The report proposes that bail should be granted to those under-trial women
who have spent one-third of their maximum possible sentence in detention,
by making necessary changes in Section 436A of the CrPC which provides for
release after half of the maximum sentence has been served.
Considering the needs of women in their post-natal stages, the report
recommends a separate accommodation for mothers in post-natal stage to
maintain hygiene and protect the infant from contagion, for at least a year after
childbirth.

41. • The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified gaming addiction as
mental health disorder in its International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 11
This classification will be used by health professionals across the globe to
uniformly diagnose and classify risks for addictive gaming behaviour

42. • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has eased investment norms for foreign
portfolio investors (FPIs) in debt, especially into individual large corporates
This move is aimed at attracting more overseas flows and thereby help to arrest
recent fall in rupee and also lift recent fall in demand for corporate bonds.
Corporate bond segment: FPIs are permitted to invest in corporate bonds with
minimum residual maturity of above 1 year.
Government securities (G-secs): The FPIs cap on investment in Government
securities (G-secs) has been increased to 30% of outstanding stock of
that security, from 20% earlier. FPIs were allowed to invest in government bonds
with minimum residual maturity of three years.

43. • Seychelles President Danny Faure ahead of his state visit to India has said that
India-Seychelles joint project to develop naval base at Assumption Island
in his country will not move forward
He also mentioned that Seychelles will develop military facilities at the island on
its own.
India was keen on developing the Assumption Island as naval base due to key
strategic location in the western periphery of Indian Ocean and to expandits
footprint in the region where China has been trying to enhance its military
presence.

44. • Assumption Island is a small island situated southwest of Seychelles main and
largest island of Mahe. It is situated very close to Mozambique Channel from
where much Indian Ocean maritime routes pass....

45. • India is going to host 23rd European Union Film Festival (EUFF) on 18th to 24th
June, 2018 at Siri Fort Auditorium in New Delhi.
The European Union Film Festival will showcase 24 latest European films from
23 EU member states. It will screen movies from 23 EU states.

46. • Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation has launched Swajal Scheme in 115
Aspirational districts of India to provide clean drinking water.
Swajal Scheme
Swajal is community owned drinking water scheme or programme for sustained
drinking water supply. Under it, 90% of project cost is taken care by the
Government and remaining 10% is contributed by beneficiary community. The
operations and management of the project is taken care by the local villagers.

47. • Ayushman Bharat-National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM)
AB-NHPM aims to target over 10 crore families belonging to poor and
vulnerable population based on Socio Economic and Caste Census 2011 (SECC)
database.
It will cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year, taking care of almost all secondary
care and tertiary care procedures. There will be no cap on family size and age in
the scheme.
• The scheme integrates two on-going centrally sponsored schemes viz. Rashtriya
Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) and Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme
(SCHIS)....

48. • Benefit cover: It includes pre and post-hospitalisation expenses. It will cover all
pre-existing conditions from beginning of the policy.
Cashless benefits: The scheme allows the beneficiary to take cashless benefits
from any public or private empanelled hospitals across the country.
Role of state governments: They are allowed to expand the scheme both
horizontally and vertically. They are also free to choose modalities for
implementation