Ex-Mongolian prime minister Khurelsukh won presidential election
Former Mongolian Prime Minister, Ukhnaa Khurelsukh became the country’s sixth democratically elected president, further consolidating the power of the ruling Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) with a landslide victory. With 99.7% of votes counted overnight, Khurelsukh’s tally had reached 821,136, or 68% of the total, the largest share of the vote since the democratic era began in 1990.
Khurelsukh will replace incumbent Khaltmaa Battulga, who was denied an opportunity to seek re-election following controversial changes to Mongolia’s constitution that restricted presidents to one term in office.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Mongolia Capital: Ulaanbaatar;
- Mongolia Currency: Mongolian Togrog.
DBS tops Forbes ‘World’s Best Banks’ list in India
DBS Bank has been named by Forbes in their list of World’s Best Banks 2021. DBS was ranked #1 out of 30 domestic and international banks in India for the second consecutive year. This is the third edition of the ‘World’s Best Banks’ list by Forbes, conducted in partnership with market research firm Statista. Over 43,000 banking customers across the globe were surveyed on their current and former banking relationships. The customer survey rated banks on general satisfaction and key attributes like trust, digital services, financial advice, and fees.
Awards:
- Recently, DBS Bank India was recognised as ‘India’s Best International Bank 2021’ by Asiamoney.
- DBS was named ‘Safest Bank in Asia’ for the 12th consecutive year by New York-based trade publication Global Finance in 2020.
- The bank was also Global Finance’s pick for ‘Best Bank in the World’ in the same year, making it the third consecutive global Best Bank accolade received by DBS.
- Previously, DBS was named ‘World’s Best Bank’ by leading financial publication Euromoney in 2019.
About the bank:
- DBS Bank has been present in India for 26 years and has grown consistently by strengthening its small and medium-sized enterprise business and consumer lending operations to build scale and become a full-service bank.
- Further, it has showcased a long-term commitment to India with the establishment of its local wholly-owned subsidiary, DBS Bank India Limited (DBIL) and the recent acquisition of Lakshmi Vilas Bank.
- The amalgamation of Lakshmi Vilas Bank with DBIL in November 2020 bolstered the bank’s physical presence in the country. DBS now has a network of nearly 600 branches across 19 states in India.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Managing Director and CEO, DBS Bank India: Surojit Shome;
- DBS Bank CEO: Piyush Gupta;
- DBS Bank Headquarters: Singapore;
- DBS Bank Tag Line: “Make Banking Joyful”.
RBI: ATM cash withdrawal rule changed
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has changed some rules regarding cash withdrawal from automated teller machine (ATM). These ATM cash withdrawal rule changes include higher charges on transactions beyond the free permissible limit, a new free ATM transaction limit and a rise in interchange fee.
The new ATM charges as defined by RBI are as under:
- Free cash withdrawal limit from own bank: Bank customers can now do five free financial and non-financial transactions every month from their own bank ATMs.
- Free ATM transaction limit from other banks: ATM cardholders can do three free financial and non-financial transactions in metro centres while five in the non-metro transaction from other bank ATMs
- Charges on ATM cash withdrawal beyond the free limit: RBI allowed banks to increase charges on ATM transactions beyond the free ATM transaction limit.
- Rise in interchange fee: Interchange fee per transaction changed from Rs 15 to Rs 17 for financial transactions while from Rs 5 to Rs 6 for non-financial transactions in effect from August 1, 2021.
- New charges on ATM withdrawal beyond the free transaction limit: Bank customer will have to pay Rs 21 (currently it is Rs 20) for each ATM cash withdrawal beyond the free transaction limit in effect from January 1, 2022.
Olympian Surat Singh Mathur passes away
Olympian Surat Singh Mathur, the first from independent India to complete a marathon at the Olympics, passed away. Running with the legendary Emil Zatopek in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, Mathur completed the marathon in the 52nd place in 2:58.92s. A bronze medallist at the first Asian Games in 1951, Mathur, who was born in Mohammadpur Majri village (Karala) in Delhi, was a two-time National champion.
SBI launches Kavach Personal Loan for Covid-19 patients
State Bank of India (SBI) has launched a collateral-free “Kavach Personal Loan” to enable its customers to meet medical expenses of self and family members for Covid treatment. Under this scheme, customers can avail of loans up to ₹5 lakhs at an effective interest rate of 8.5 per cent per annum for 60 months, which is inclusive of three months moratorium.
This loan product will also be part of the Covid loan book being created by banks as per the Reserve Bank of India’s Covid relief measures. The loan will also cover reimbursement of Covid related medical expenses already incurred.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- SBI Chairperson: Dinesh Kumar Khara.
- SBI Headquarters: Mumbai.
- SBI Founded: 1 July 1955.
AISHE 2019-20 report released by Union Education Minister
All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2019-20 report has been released by Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’. As per AISHE in the last five years (2015-16 to 2019-20), student enrolment has grown by 11.4%. As per AISHE, female enrolment in Higher Education has increased by 18.2% from 2015-16 to 2019-20. AISHE 2019-20 is the 10 in the series of All India Survey on Higher Education. Department of Higher Education releases it annually.
Key features of AISHE 2019-20 are given below:
- Total Enrolment in Higher Education: It stands at 3.85 crores in 2019-20.
- Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER): It is denied as the percentage of students belonging to the eligible age group enrolled in Higher Education. It is 27.1% in 2019-20.
- Gender Parity Index (GPI) in Higher Education: It stands at 1.01 in 2019-20. It shows improvement in the relative access to higher education for females of eligible age group compared to males.
- Pupil-Teacher Ratio in Higher Education: It is 26 in 2019-20.
- The number of students pursuing PhD: It is 2.03 lakh in 2019-20.
Pulitzer Prize 2021Announced: Complete List of Winners
The 105th class of Pulitzer Prize 2021 winners in Journalism, Books, Drama and Music were announced. The Pulitzer Prize is an award for achievements in newspaper, magazine and online journalism, literature, and musical composition in the United States. It was established in 1917 by provisions in the will of American (Hungarian-born) Joseph Pulitzer who had made his fortune as a newspaper publisher and is administered by Columbia University in New York City.
In twenty-two of the categories, each winner receives a certificate and a US $15,000 cash award (raised from $10,000 in 2017). The winner in the public service category is awarded a gold medal.
Here is the complete list of 2021 Pulitzer Prize winners:
|
Sl. No. |
Category |
Winner |
|
JOURNALISM |
||
|
1. |
Public service |
The New York Times |
|
2. |
Criticism |
Wesley Morris of The New York Times |
| 3. | Editorial writing | Robert Greene of the Los Angeles Times |
| 4. | International Reporting | Megha Rajagopalan, Alison Killing and Christo Buschek of BuzzFeed News |
| 5. | Breaking News Reporting | Staff of the Star Tribune, Minneapolis, Minn. |
| 6. | Investigative Reporting | Matt Rocheleau, Vernal Coleman, Laura Crimaldi, Evan Allen and Brendan McCarthy of The Boston Globe |
| 7. | Explanatory Reporting | Andrew Chung, Lawrence Hurley, Andrea Januta, Jaimi Dowdell and Jackie Botts of Reuters |
| 8. | Local Reporting | Kathleen McGrory and Neil Bedi of the Tampa Bay Times |
| 9. | National Reporting | Staffs of The Marshall Project; AL.com, Birmingham; IndyStar, Indianapolis; and the Invisible Institute, Chicago |
| 10. | Feature Writing | Mitchell S. Jackson, freelance contributor, Runner’s World |
| 11. | Commentary | Michael Paul Williams of the Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch |
| 12. | Breaking News Photography | Photography Staff of Associated Press |
| 13. | Feature Photography | Emilio Morenatti of Associated Press |
| 14. | Audio Reporting | Lisa Hagen, Chris Haxel, Graham Smith and Robert Little of National Public Radio |
|
BOOKS, DRAMA, AND MUSIC |
||
|
15. |
Fiction | The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich |
|
16. |
Drama | The Hot Wing King, by Katori Hall |
| 17. | History | Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America, by Marcia Chatelain (Liveright/Norton) |
|
18. |
Biography or autobiography | The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X by Les Payne and Tamara Payne |
|
19. |
Poetry | Postcolonial Love Poem by Natalie Diaz |
| 20. | General nonfiction | Wilmington’s Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy by David Zucchino |
|
21. |
Music | Stride, by Tania León (Peermusic Classical) |
| 22. | Special Citation | Darnella Frazier, The teenager who recorded the killing of George Floyd |
India’s Nagraj Adiga elected in International Association of Ultrarunners Council
India’s Nagraj Adiga has been elected as the Asia-Oceania Representative at the recently concluded 2021 International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) Congress at which the IAU council elections were held. Adiga works closely with the Athletics Federation of India and with various Government bodies to promote health, fitness, and encourage budding sportspersons.
Padma Shri Awardee Eminent Environmentalist Radhamohan Passes Away
Padma Shri winning noted Economist and Environmentalist, Prof Radhamohan Ji has passed away. He was the former information commissioner of Odisha and had also served as a lecturer of Economics in different colleges in Odisha. He along with his daughter Sabarmatee were conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri Award in 2020 for their contribution to the agriculture sector.
Noted Kannada Poet Siddalingaiah Passes Away
Noted Kannada poet, playwright and Dalit activist, Siddalingaiah has passed away, due to Covid-19 related ailments. He was one of Karnataka’s first prominent Dalit poets, and was popularly known as “Dalita Kavi”. He is credited with launching the Dalit-Bandaya literary movement in Kannada and starting the genre of Dalit writing. He was also one of the founders of the Dalita Sangharsh Samiti in the state.
Patiala to host Indian Grand Prix 4
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI), announced that the Indian Grand Prix 4 will be held on June 21 at the National Institute of Sports in Patiala. The decision to host the domestic events was made to give Indian athletes the maximum chance to qualify for Tokyo. India’s star sprinters Dutee Chand & Hima Das are expected to participate in the fourth Indian GP of 2021. National Inter-State Athletics Championships will be held at the same venue from June 25.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Athletics Federation of India Founded: 1946;
- Athletics Federation of India Headquarters location: New Delhi.
