CURRENT AFFAIRS JUNE 30

1. NASA announces 'Dragonfly' mission to explore Saturn's moon, Titan

The US space agency NASA announced that it will launch a spacecraft in 2026 to explore the richly organic world of Titan.

• A rotorcraft called 'Dragonfly' will arrive at the Saturn's moon in 2034, looking for prebiotic chemical processes common on both Titan and Earth.
• It may lend clues to how life may have arisen on Earth.
• Titan is the second largest moon in the solar system and is an icy world whose surface is completely obscured by a nitrogen-based golden atmosphere, four times denser than Earth's.

2. PM Modi outlines his 5 I vision in G-20 meet at Osaka

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has outlined his 5 I vision to maximize digital technology for social benefit.

• He put thrust on Inclusiveness, Indigenization, Innovation, Investment and Infrastructure and International Cooperation.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi also held a tri-lateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin and discussed issues like terrorism and climate change on the sidelines of the G-20 summit.

3. Go Tribal campaign launched

Tribal Affairs Ministry and TRIFED launched go tribal campaign in association with Amazon Global in New Delhi.

• The collaboration aims to create awareness and promote tribal arts and crafts as well as aid in socio-economic welfare of over 700 Indian tribes.
• Through this initiative the government want to promote the tribal communities and their art while helping them to go global and providing them opportunities to attain a sustainable livelihood.

Points to remember

• Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Renuka Singh Saruta

4. HRD ministry releases EQUIP vision plan

In a bid to transform the higher education sector in the country, the Ministry of Human Resource Development released an ambitious five-year vision plan.

• The report has been termed as Education Quality Upgradation and Inclusion Programme (EQUIP), which will be taken to the Cabinet for approval after inter-departmental consultations.
• The groups of ten experts drawn from senior academicians, administrators and industrialists have suggested more than 50 initiatives that would transform the higher education sector completely.

Points to remember

• Minister of Human Resource Development: Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank'

5. IIT Kanpur honours Gopichand with an honorary doctorate

India's chief national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand was bestowed upon an honorary doctorate by IIT Kanpur on the occasion of their 52nd convocation.

• The received the honour from former ISRO chairman and Chairman of Board of Governors of IIT Kanpur, Prof K Radhakrishnan.
• Former President APJ Abdul Kalam and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh are past recipients of the honour.

6. Indian Naval Ship Tarkash reaches Alexandria

Indian Naval Ship Tarkash reached Alexandria on a three-day visit to Egypt, as a part of Western Fleet Overseas Deployment programme.

• During the visit of Tarkash professional interactions are planned with the Egyptian Navy towards further enhancing co-operation between the two forces.
• The geostrategic location of Egypt provides this visit with the unique advantage of being at the crossroads of Africa, Asia and Europe.

7. Statistics Day: 29 June 2019

The Government of India celebrated Statistics Day on 29 June 2019.

• The aim of this day is to popularize the use of Statistics in everyday life and sensitize the public as to how Statistics helps in shaping and framing policies.
• It has been designated as one of the Special Days to be celebrated at the national level and is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Prof. P C Mahalanobis, on 29th June, in recognition of his invaluable contribution in establishing the National Statistical System. 
• The theme of Statistics Day, 2019 is “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.