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Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2023:

Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2023 (GSER 2023) by Startup Genome comprehensively analyzes startup ecosystems worldwide. With data from millions of startups across various ecosystems, the report offers valuable insights into the global startup landscape. Bengaluru, known as India’s Silicon Valley, has secured the 20th position on the list, climbing two spots from the previous year.

Indian ecosystems continue to rise, with Mumbai leading the way by climbing five places to reach a tie at 31. Bengaluru-Karnataka and Delhi both moved up two places, securing the 20th and 24th positions, respectively. The report attributes this progress to India’s growing digital public infrastructure, which has significantly driven the country’s startup growth.

PM Narendra Modi receives Egypt’s highest honour ‘Order of the Nile’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was bestowed with the highest state honor of Egypt, known as the ‘Order of the Nile.’ This recognition marks the 13th international award received by Prime Minister Modi. The prestigious award was presented to him by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, making it a significant moment as Prime Minister Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Egypt since 1997.

India-United States Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS X)

 India-United States Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS X) was launched at an event in Washington DC, USA.The INDUS X event was co-organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), Ministry of Defence, and US Department of Defence (DoD) and hosted by US-India Business Council (USIBC).The event aimed to foster collaboration between Indian and US start-ups in deeptech innovations especially in the domains of Space and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

WORLD HYDROGRAPHY DAY

The World Hydrography Day (WHD) was celebrated by the Indian Naval Hydrographic Department on 21 Jun 23. The theme for this year’s World Hydrography Day is: “Hydrography – Underpinning the Digital; Twin of the Ocean” in keeping with development of virtual representation.National Hydrographic Office (NHO) in Dehradun celebrated WHD with series of activities. They were aimed at raising awareness about the critical role of hydrography in ensuring safe navigation, promoting sustainable marine development, supporting government of India’s Blue water economy including protecting our oceans and coastal areas.

Digi Yatra app user base crosses the one million mark

The number of passengers who have installed the Digi Yatra application on their mobile phones has crossed one million this week. Since its inauguration by Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia on 1st December 2022, 1.746 million people have used this facility. Digi Yatra is an initiative of the Ministry of Civil Aviation for a biometric boarding system using Facial biometric verification Technology. It aims at providing a seamless and hassle-free experience for passengers at airports. Its main objective is to enhance the passenger experience by eliminating the need for manual verification of tickets and ID at multiple touch points and to achieve better throughput through existing infrastructure using a Digital Framework.

UNDP and DAY-NULM Collaborate to Empower Women Entrepreneurs

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) have joined forces in a collaborative partnership aimed at empowering women and enabling them to make informed career choices in the field of entrepreneurship. This partnership will provide crucial support to women who aspire to start or expand their own enterprises in various sectors, fostering entrepreneurship development and accelerating enterprise growth.

'Khadi Yoga Mat' launched on International Yoga Day

On the auspicious occasion of International Day of Yoga on 21 June 2023.Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) launched the  'Khadi Yoga Mat'  at KVIC Headquarters in Mumbai.the concept of "Vocal for Local" and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat’ campaign to new heights. For the first time in the history of independent India, the turnover of KVIC products has crossed Rs.1.34 lakh crores, while 9,54,899 new employment opportunities also have been generated in rural areas. 

Senior IAS officer Amit Agrawal appointed as CEO of UIDAI

Senior IAS officer Amit Agrawal has assumed charge as the new CEO of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). He was appointed to the position on June 19, following the retirement of Saurabh Garg.Agrawal is a 1993-batch IAS officer of the Chhattisgarh cadre. He has held a number of important positions in the government, including Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. He is also the current Chairman of the National Digital Communications Policy Committee.A graduate from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, he held several important positions both at the Centre and states of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.Prior to joining UIDAI as CEO, he was Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Before that he was Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Finance

World Music Day 2023

World Music Day, or Fête de la Musique, is celebrated every year on the 21st June. The first World Music Day was observed in the year 1982 in France when people were urged to play music outdoors to participate in festivities. Since then, World Music Day has spread to other parts of the world and is now a global celebration of music.

Every year, a theme is decided for World Music Day. While the theme for 2023 is yet to be released, you can acquaint yourself with the previous year's theme. The theme for International Music Day 2022 was "Music at the Intersections". The idea of this theme was to encourage people to create more music and make the world a more joyful place.

International Yoga Day 2023

International Yoga Day 2023 is celebrated every year on June 21st to promote the numerous benefits of practicing yoga. The chosen date coincides with the summer solstice, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. In its 9th edition, this year’s International Day of Yoga will be led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the UN Headquarters on June 21st. On December 11, 2014, all 193 United Nations member states unanimously agreed to observe the International Day of Yoga on June 21. The inaugural celebration occurred on June 21, 2015. 

The theme selected for this year’s International Day of Yoga 2023 is “Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” which represents our shared desire for “One Earth, One Family, One Future.”

Senior IPS officer Ravi Sinha appointed new RAW chief

Ravi Sinha, a senior IPS officer, has been appointed as the new chief of India’s external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Sinha will take over from Samant Kumar Goel, who is completing his four-year term on June 30. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved Sinha’s appointment as Secretary of RAW for a period of two years.

World Sickle Cell Awareness Day is observed on June 19th

World Sickle Cell Awareness Day is observed on June 19th each year to raise awareness about sickle cell disease (SCD) and its impact on individuals, families and communities worldwide. Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder characterized by abnormal red blood cells that take on a crescent or sickle shape and these irregularly shaped cells can cause blockages in blood vessels, leading to a variety of health complications.

This year the theme of World Sickle Disease Day is ‘Building and strengthening global sickle cell communities, formalizing   newborn screening and knowing your sickle cell disease status’

Centre Introduces ‘Y-Break – Yoga at Office Chair’ for Employee Stress Relief

The central government of India has recently taken a proactive step towards improving the well-being of its employees by introducing the “Y-Break – Yoga at Office Chair” protocol. This initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy), aims to help professionals relieve stress, rejuvenate their energy levels, and enhance concentration. The protocol includes a series of simple yoga practices, such as asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing techniques), and dhyana (meditation), all of which can be easily incorporated into a short break from work.

Gandhi Peace Prize for 2021

The Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2021 is being conferred on Gita Press, Gorakhpur.Gandhi Peace Prize is an annual award instituted by Government of India in 1995, on the occasion of 125th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi as a tribute to the ideals espoused by Mahatma Gandhi. The award is open to all persons regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, creed or gender.Established in 1923, Gita Press is one of the world’s largest publishers, having published 41.7 crore books in 14 languages, including 16.21 crore Shrimad Bhagvad Gita. The institution has never relied on advertisement in its publications, for revenue generation. Gita Press along with its affiliated organizations, strives for the betterment of life and the well being of all.

Arunachal Pradesh CM launches ‘Arunpol App’ for citizens

• Arunpol App will facilitate common people to lodge complaints without coming to a police station.It is designed to provide online services like lodging of lost reports, police clearance certificates, missing reports, tenant verification of women and children, vital helpline numbers etc.The app will provide 16 services in the initial phase.

NITI Aayog and the United Nations in India sign the Government of India - United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027)

NITI Aayog and the United Nations in India signed the Government of India - United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2027.The GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027 is built on four strategic pillars derived from the 2030 Agenda – People, Prosperity, Planet and Participation. The four interlinked pillars have six outcome areas focusing on Health and Well Being; Nutrition and Food Security; Quality Education; Economic Growth and Decent Work; Environment, Climate, WASH and Resilience; and Empowering People, Communities, and Institutions.

UK Appoints Jane Marriott As First Woman Envoy To Pakistan

The United Kingdom has announced the appointment of senior diplomat Jane Marriott as the next British High Commissioner to Pakistan, making her the first female British envoy to Islamabad. Prior to this appointment, Jane Marriott, 47, was the high commissioner to Kenya since September 2019. She would be replacing Dr Christian Turner, who left Pakistan in January after serving as the envoy since December 2019. Ms Marriott brings a wealth of thematic and regional experience to her new role having joined the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in 2001, following roles in the Cabinet Office and Home Office.

4th National Water Awards

The Vice President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar will confer the 4th National Water Awards on 17th June, 2023 at an award distribution ceremony being organised at Plenary Hall, Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi by the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD &GR), Ministry of Jal Shakti. The Department has announced a total of 41 winners, including joint winners, for the 4th National Water Awards, 2022, covering 11 categories. Each award winner will be conferred with a citation and a trophy as well as cash prizes in certain categories.

The 1st Prize for the Best State will be conferred on Madhya Pradesh

Best District will be conferred on Ganjam District, Odisha

Best Village Panchayat will be conferred on Jagannadhapuram Village Panchayat, Bhadradri Kothagudem district, Telangana

VAIBHAV Fellowship Progrsamme announced to connect Indian STEMM diaspora with Indian Higher Educational Institutions

The Government has launched a new fellowship programme to connect the Indian STEMM diaspora with Indian academic and R&D institutions for collaborative research work leading to sharing of knowledge, wisdom, and best practices in the frontier areas of science & technology.The fellowship programme launched as a step to further those efforts by shaping and implementing the VAIBHAV programme, envisages collaboration between scientists of Indian Diaspora with Indian Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs), Universities, and/ or public funded Scientific Institutions. Applications for the first call are being invited through call for proposals from 15 June 2023 till 31 July 2023.The VAIBHAV Fellow would identify an Indian Institution for collaboration and may spend up to two months in a year for a maximum of 3 years. Fellowship would include fellowship grant (INR 4,00,000 per month), international and domestic travel, accommodation and contingencies. The VAIBHAV fellows are expected to collaborate with their Indian counterparts and help initiate research activities in the host institution in the cutting-edge areas of Science and Technology.

NTPC climbs up 52 positions to 433rd rank in Forbes’ “The Global 2000” List of top companies

“The Global 2000” List recognizes the world's largest companies based on four key metrics: sales, profits, assets and market value., NTPC has climbed up one place to secure the 10th rank among the largest Indian companies in the 2023 List. This ranking further solidifies NTPC's status as a leading player in India's corporate sector.

Mr Uttam Lal has taken over as Director (Personnel) at NHPC Limited,

NHPC Limited, India’s premier hydropower company.Shri Uttam Lal has taken over as Director (Personnel) at NHPC Limited. Prior to his appointment at NHPC, Shri Lal was serving as Chief General Manager (HR-CSR/R&R/LA) at NTPC Limited. He has over 35 years of vast and rich experience in the area of Personnel Management, Industrial Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility. Known for his expertise and long experience in the power sector, he is a core HR professional seeking to amalgamate human resource potential in the service of the organization’s goal and vision.

Special Olympics - Summer Games

From 17 – 25 June 2023, Berlin, Germany will welcome 7,000 Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners from approximately 190 countries to compete in 26 sports.The Special Olympics World Games offer the opportunity to unite the world like no other event can. Here people with and without disabilities, people of different nations, cultures, political views and religions meet and can overcome existing prejudices with the power of sport.The Indian team comprising of 280 members including 198 athletes.The mega event, which will be held from 17th to 25th  June, will see the Indian Athletes fight for medals in 16 different sports disciplines.

Vigyan -Vidushi – 2023

Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), through its Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), has started the three-week summer programme “Vigyan Vidushi” for girl students pursuing Physics at M.Sc. level, since 2020. The programme, which had started during the COVID pandemic, will be held completely in the residential mode, at HBSCE, for the first time from 12 June to 1 July, 2023.Vigyan -Vidushi – 2023, an initiative to address the gender balance in the discipline of Physics at the doctorate level, has commenced at the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), in Mumbai. 

INDO-MALDIVES JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE “EKUVERIN”

The 12th edition of joint military exercise “Ex Ekuverin” between the Indian Army & the Maldives National Defence Force has commenced at Chaubatia, Uttarakhand from 11 to 24 June 2023. Ekuverin meaning ‘Friends’ is a bilateral annual exercise conducted alternatively in India and Maldives.

World Day Against Child Labour Child Labor Prohibition Day

World Day Against Child Labour Child Labor Prohibition Day is celebrated globally on 12 June every year with the aim of preventing children from labour and grooming their childhood. The purpose of World Child Labor Prohibition Day is to provide opportunities for education and progress to children by not making them labour. Along with registering protest against child labour, awareness has to be brought among the people.

Theme of the year 2023 on World Child Labor Prohibition Day - Universal Social Protection to End Child Labour.