28th June 2018 Current Affairs

Contents

Government of India approves Draft Act to replace UGC with Higher Education Commission of India

The Ministry of HRD has prepared a bill to set up Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) and repeal the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act.
The main aim of this Scheme is to improve the academic standards and quality of the Higher Education of India.
Educationists, Stakeholders and Suggestions on the draft bill by 7^th July 2018 till 5 pm.
The HECI Act is expected to be introduced in the Parliament in the upcoming Monsoon Season.

The Union Cabinet was appraised of the agreement between India and Denmark on cooperation in the fields of Science, Technology, and Innovation.
Through the agreement, both the Nations will leverage complementary strengths spurred by a significant convergence of Mutual Interests in Science, Technology and Innovation.
Renewable Energy, water, Mineral Science, Affordable Healthcare, Synthetic Biology, Functional food, and Blue Economy, were identified as potential areas for immediate collaboration.

The Government has decided to set up two more underground crude oil storages in Odisha and Karnataka.
They will help India to increase its emergency stockpile cover by 12 days extending it to 22 days of cover.
The Cabinet has approved setting up to 4 million metric tonnes (MMT) storage at Chandikhole in Odisha and 2.5 MMT Storage at Padur in Karnataka.
The existing underground rock caverns can store up to 5. 33 MT of Crude Oil. They are located at Vishakhapatnam (1.22 MMT), Mangalore ( 1.5 MMT), and Padur (2.5 MMT).

The Rupee hit all time low of 69.09 against the US Dollar on 28^th June 2018, falling past 69 mark for the first time ever.
The previous record low of rupee was 68.86 on 24^th November 2016.
The Rupee opened at all time low of 68.89 against the US Dollar.
On 27^th June 2018, it ended at 68.63, the worst ever closing since 28^th August 2013, when it hit a record closing a low of 68.82.
The falling can be attributed to the week-long rise in the crude prices amid concerns of higher inflation and current account deficit.

Sixteen year old Saurabh Chaudhary set a new world record on the way to winning a gold medal at the ISSF Junior World Cup in Germany.
Saurabh shot a total of 243.7 in the 10m air pistol event at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Tournament.
He achieved the Record and Gold after 24 Shots in 4.1 points clear on Korean shooter Lim Hojin (239.6) , who won the silver medal. Chinese Wang Zhehao walked away with the bronze medal with a total score of 218.7
Saurabh earned the 8^th Gold Medal for India at the prestigious meet.
The previous junior world record was 242.5 by Chinese Shooter Wang Zhehao, which was set up at ISSF Junior World Cup in Sydney earlier this year.