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 INDIAN AFFAIRS

Foundation stone of National Centre for Ageing laid at AIIMS by the PM;dedicated a tunnel connectin AIIMS and JNPA and 807 bedded Super specialty Block at Safdarjung
i. On June 29, 2018, The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the National Centre for Ageing at AIIMS.
ii. The Prime Minister also dedicated the underground connecting tunnel between AIIMS and JNPA Trauma Centre, and Power Grid Vishram Sadan at AIIMS along with the 500 bedded New Emergency Block and 807 bedded Super Specialty Block at the Safdarjung Hospital to the nation.
iiii. An underground connecting tunnel between AIIMS and JNPA Trauma Centre will reduce the commute time between the two centers to 1 km. It has a cost of Rs 44 crores…………………………………………Click here to Read more

Renewable Energy Dialogue-2018 held in New Delhi ; focus on India’s energy expansion
On June 29, 2018, Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu, addressed the Renewable Energy Dialogue in New Delhi. He announced that India is running one of the largest and most ambitious renewable energy capacity expansion programmes in the world.
i. The Dialogue brought together several national and international stakeholders from the renewable energy community to deliberate on the drivers and challenges facing the sector.
ii. Independent studies on scaling up rooftop solar panels, clean energy investment trends, addressing renewable energy curtailment, and risks in renewable energy markets in emerging economies were released at the Dialogue.
About India’s Target :
i. Government of India’s target of installing 20 GW of solar power by 2022 was achieved four years of ahead of schedule in January, 2018 through solar parks and India has set a fresh target of achieving 100 GW of solar power by 2022.
ii. International Solar Alliance Project will promote the growth and development of solar power in over 120 countries.
iii. Further, India has set a target of achieving 40% of its total electricity generation non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
About Renewable Energy Dialogue-2018:
The Renewable Energy Dialogue was organised by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) in collaboration with Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), International Solar Alliance (ISA), International Energy Agency (IEA), Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation (SSEF), and REN21. This edition of the Dialogue had a special focus on market creation and market trends.

‘ReUnite’ : Mobile app launched by Suresh Prabhu  to help track and trace missing and abandoned children
On June 29, 2018, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu launched a mobile application called ReUnite which helps to track and trace missing and abandoned children in India.
'ReUnite' : Mobile app launched by Suresh Prabhu  to help track and trace missing and abandoned childreni. The app has been developed by the NGO, BachpanBachaoAndolan & Capgemini.
How the app will work:
i. The app is multiuser where parents and citizens can upload pictures of children and provide detailed description like name, birth mark, address, report to the police station, search and identify missing kids.
ii. The photographs will not be saved in the mobile phone’s physical memory.
iii. AmazonRekognition, web facialrecognition service, is being used to identify missing kids.
iv. The app is available for both Android and iOS.
About BachpanBachaoAndolan (BBA):
i. It was founded by Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi.
ii. It is India’s largest movement for the protection of children and works along with law enforcement agencies and policymakers. BBA has played a very important role in formulation of several laws for protection of child’s rights. It began from the Nithari case in 2006 which finally culminated with the Supreme Court passing the landmark judgement in 2013 ordering that FIR has to be lodged in all cases of missing children.

173 offices in Punjab and 5 sub offices in Andaman& Nicobar Islands adopted National Generic Document Registration System.
On June 29, 2018, The Union Minister for Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Mines Shri Narendra Singh Tomar has inaugurated the National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) in all sub-registrar offices in Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Punjab from New Delhi through a Video-Conferencing.
Objective:
To address the diversity and variations prevailing across the States on account of languages, processes, formulae and formats.
Key Points:
i. This has been developed by the Department of Land Resources through the National Informatics Centre.
ii. This generic customizable software will enable ‘anywhere access’ to data and information to both the common man and the enforcement and regulatory agencies.
iii.Due to registration through digital means transparency will be promoted and people will get the benefits in a hassle-free manner.
In Andaman & Nicobar Islands:
All 5 sub-registrar offices in the UT of Andaman & Nicobar Islands have been computerized and the NGDRS has been adopted in all 5 offices.
In Punjab:
All 173 sub-registrar offices in the State of Punjab have been computerized and the NGDRS has been adopted in all 173 offices.
About NGDRS:
i. The NGDRS system has been piloted in States (Punjab, Rajasthan, Maharashtra).
ii. 6 more states and UTs (Goa, A&N Islands, Bihar, Jharkhand, Manipur, Mizoram) are moving towards this system. Moreover, 5 states (HP, AP, MP, Kerala, Uttarakhand) have shown interest to adopt this common software (NIC has given them guidance and technical demos).
iii. The Department is presently focusing on implementation of NGDRS in these 14 States.
iv. Out of total 5083 sub-registrar offices in the Country, 4509 have been computerized and 2769 have been connected with tehsils.

Odisha government increases health cover for women from to Rs 7 lakh under the Biju Swasthya Kalyana Yojana (BSKY)
On 27th June 2018, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said that the health assurance cover for all-women families per year will be increased from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh under the Biju Swasthya Kalyana Yojana (BSKY).

Odisha government increases health cover for women from to Rs 7 lakh under the Biju Swasthya Kalyana Yojana (BSKY)Odisha government increases health cover for women:
i. The announcement was made at a meeting on ‘Ama Gaon Ama Bikash’ programme in Bhubaneswar.
ii. On 12th June 2018, Naveen Patnaik announced the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana. It assures healthcare facilities for Rs 5 lakh for nearly 70 lakh families in Odisha.
iii. The Director of National Health Mission (NHM) Salini Pandit said that all if a family uses Rs 5 lakh and then a female member beocmes ill, the woman will get additional coverage of Rs 2 lakh. Also, an all women family can avail Rs 7 lakh coverage.
iv. Ama Gaon Ama Bikas is a direct fund disbursement programme for development activities.
v. It was launched in March 2018. This programme connects rural parts of Odisha directly with the chief minister.
vi. Four mobile video vans reach gram panchayats every week to highlight state programmes. Residents can interact with the chief minister through video-conference.
Some important wildlife sanctuaries in Assam:
♦ Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary
♦ Pani Dihing Wildlife Sanctuary
♦ Nambor Wildlife Sanctuary

Madhya Pradesh to be awarded for reducing maternal mortality
On 29th June 2018, Madhya Pradesh will be awarded for reducing maternal mortality under Prime Minister’s Safe Motherhood Campaign.

Madhya Pradesh to be awarded for reducing maternal mortalityMadhya Pradesh to be awarded for reducing maternal mortality:
i. Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Jagat Prakash Nadda has invited Minister of Public Health and Family Welfare of Madhya Pradesh Rustam Singh for the award function that will be held on 29th June 2018.
ii. The Prime Minister’s Safe Motherhood Campaign was launched to ensure quality of care of more than 3 crore pregnant women in India before delivery.
iii. A 48-digit decline in maternal deaths in Madhya Pradesh has been registered by the office of the Registrar General of India 2014 to 2016.
iv. The maternal mortality rate was 221 in 2011-13. Now it has reduced to 173. A decline of 22% in the last 3 years has been witnessed in Madhya Pradesh.
v. Results of awareness programmes such as institutional delivery, ANM, Anganwadi workers, knock-out campaigns etc. have started giving results.
Some important temples in India:
♦ Khajuraho Temples – Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh
♦ Shirdi Sai Baba Temple – Shirdi, Maharashtra
♦ Konark Sun Temple – Konark, Odisha

Haryana government to start 5 more concessional canteens for labourers: Nayab Singh Saini
Minister of State for Labour and Employment Nayab Singh Saini said that, the Haryana government will launch 5 more concessional canteens in Haryana to offer food to labourers for Rs 10.
Haryana government to start concessional canteens for labourers:
i. The concessional canteens will be opened in Panchkula, Ambala, Panipat, Karnal and Bhiwani.
ii. At present, concessional canteens are present in Sonipat, Gurgaon, Yamunanagar, Faridabad and Hisar districts.
iii. Nayab Singh Saini said that, a special campaign to register building and construction labour will be conducted from 2nd July to 31st July in Haryana.
iv. The registered workers can avail various labour schemes of the government. Nayab Singh Saini said that, the cooperation of the public works, irrigation, mandi board and other government departments is also required for the registration of labourers.
Some National Parks in Haryana:
♦ Sultanpur National Park
♦ Kalesar National Park

Inauguration of MAKAUT’s placement portal done by West Bengal’s Education Minister
On June 29, 2018, The Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology (MAKAUT) launched a placement portal for graduates of the affiliated colleges under it to help the students get proper placement offers.
i. It was launched by West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee.
ii. It contains information about students of 196 affiliated colleges under the university – MAKAUT.
iii. The portal will also enable companies to post placement or internship opportunities.
iv. The resume of the students will be extensively visible to potential employers. The portal will be a database of all students from MAKAUT colleges along with their academic and experience backgrounds
v. The talented students will be able to showcase themselves to the national and global job market through the portal.
About MAKAUT:
♦ Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology, West Bengal, formerly West Bengal ♦ University of Technology, is a public state university located in Kolkata, India
♦ It provides courses in engineering, technology, pharmacy, management, architecture and various other professional courses.
♦ Founded :2000.

MoU signed between NASSCOM and WCD ministry  for up gradation of Integrated Child Development Services-Common Application Software (ICDS-CAS) app
On June 29, 2018, The Ministry of Women and Child Development would collaborate with the NASSCOM for further improving its nutrition monitoring app, Integrated Child Development Services-Common Application Software (ICDS-CAS).
i.The NASSCOM will also sign an MoU with the ministry in further improving the app.
ii.There is a need for collaboration of IT industry in contributing towards redeveloping the app and giving their expert opinion in improving it for the success of POSHAN abhiyan.
About the App:
i. The app has been developed under the Poshan Abhiyan that aims to fight malnourishment and stunting. The app is presently available for anganwadi centres in seven states.
ii. It has been distributed to about 1.2 lakh anganwadi centres and the ministry aims to increase its coverage to 14 lakh centres by the end of the year.
About POSHAN Abhiyan:
POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission) was launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on 8thMarch, 2018 in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. The programme through use of technology, targeted approach and convergence strives to reduce the level of Stunting, Under-nutrition, Anemia and Low Birth Weight in Children, as also, focus on Adolescent Girls, Pregnant Women & Lactating Mothers, thus holistically addressing malnutrition.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

US State Dept names Noth Korea as the ‘worst human trafficking country’ on its ‘2018 Trafficking in Persons Report’
On June 29, 2018, The US State Department categorised North Korea as one of the “worst human trafficking nation” for the 16th straight year, citing the use of forced labour in its ‘2018 Trafficking in Persons Report’.
i. North Korea has been included in the Tier 3 category, which is the lowest ranking, along with China, Russia and Iran.
ii. North Korean government continues to use forced labour in prison camps and labour training centres.
iii. It uses proceeds from state-sponsored forced labour to fund government functions as well as other illicit activity.
iv. It does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so.
v. It did not monitor or protect potential trafficking victims when they were forcibly sent back from China or other countries.
Ranking of Other countries:
i. South Korea has been ranked at the highest category, that is, in the list of Tier 1 countries for the 16th consecutive year, along with US, UK, France and Canada.
ii. India was placed in Tier 2 category for making significant effort to comply with the US standards. However, India does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.
About the Tier 1/2/3 categories:
i. The US Department of State places each country in the Trafficking in Persons Report into four tiers, as mandated by The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 of the US. 

  • Tier 1 : for countries that meet minimum US standards.
  • Tier 2: for those making significant efforts to meet minimum US standards.
  • Tier 2 watchlist : for those requiring special scrutiny.
  • Tier 3: for for countries that fail to fully comply with the minimum US standards.

Total market cap of top 100 global companies increases by 15% and reaches USD 20 trillion: PwC’s Global Top 100 ranking
On June 29, 2018, According to PwC’s Global Top 100 ranking the total market capitalisation of the top 100 global companies has increased by 15 per cent to USD 20 trillion, as the US retained the leading position with 54 companies in the list.
i. The Top 10 of the list are as follows:

CompanyAmount IncreasedCountry
Amazon278 mnUS
Tencent224 mnChina
Alibaba201mnChina
MicrosoftUSA
AlphabetUSA
AppleUSA
Ping An Insurance90 mn
ICBC89 mn
Boeing85 mn
Berkshire Hathaway81 mn


About USA’s Position:
for the fourth year running, the US accounts for more than half of the top 100 (54 companies, down from 55 in 2017). It also weighs in with 61 per cent of the overall market capitalisation, down from 63 per cent last year.
About China’s M-Cap:
the market capitalisation of the companies from China in the top 100 leaped by 57 per cent compared to 2017, with 12 Chinese companies making the top 100, up from 10 in 2017. Hong Kong also contributed another two companies, up from one in 2017.
Sector wise:
i. Technology remains ahead of the financial sector in market capitalisation for the third successive year, with consumer goods in third place.
ii. The global top three are still technology companies – Apple, Alphabet, Microsoft – followed by Tencent in fifth position and Facebook in eighth, down from sixth in 2017.
About Apple’s Position:
i. Despite coming sixth in terms of absolute growth in value, Apple retained 1st position in terms of market capitalisation for the seventh year in a row.
ii. Apple has also returned more cash to shareholders than any other company, handing back another USD 31 billion to investors in dividends and share repurchases in calendar year 2017 (having distributed USD 29 billion in calendar 2016) .

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

BHEL inks pact with Korean firm NANO for emission controlling equipment
On 28th June 2018, BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited) said that, it has signed an agreement with NANO Co Ltd, a South Korean firm, for design and manufacture of emission controlling devices for coal-based power plants.

BHEL inks pact with Korean firm NANO for emission controlling equipmentBHEL inks pact with Korean firm NANO for emission controlling equipment;
i. The Technology Collaboration Agreement (TCA) with NANO Co is for design and manufacture of SCR Catalysts for De-NOx application in coal-fired plants.
ii. This agreement will help BHEL to improve its services for emission control systems (De-NOx applications).
iii. NANO Co is a manufacturer of SCR Catalysts and related raw materials. It supplies Catalysts to several countries like Germany, France, Italy, China and Taiwan.
About Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL):
♦ Incorporated – 1964
♦ Registered Office – New Delhi

RRVUNL gets additional financial aid of Rs 2626 cr from State owned Power Finance Corporation (PFC)
On June 29, 2018, State-owned Power Finance Corporation has provided additional financial aid of Rs 2,626 crore to Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam (RRVUNL) to meet new emission norm.
i. The financial aid is to support their efforts to comply with the new emission norms of Ministry of Environment and Forest.
ii. It is mainly for installation of Flue Gas Desulphurisation Plant (FGD) & Selective Catalytic Reactor (SCR) as part of environmental up-gradation works at ongoing super-critical thermal power projects at Suratgarh and Chhabra having a capacity of 2×660 MW each.
iii. With this the cumulative sanction of PFC for above two projects amounts to Rs 10,218 crore.
About PFC:
♦ Headquarters: New Delhi.
♦ Owned by Government of India.
♦ Founded in 1986.
♦ Secretary: Manohar Balwani.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Global Restructuring Review’s award for “most improved jurisdiction” goes to India for improved insolvency and restructuring regime
On June 29, 2018, The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) announced that India has won Global Restructuring Review’s “most improved jurisdiction” award.

Global Restructuring Review’s award for "most improved jurisdiction" goes to India for improved insolvency and restructuring regimei. This award is to honour the jurisdiction which improved its restructuring and insolvency regime the most over the last year.
ii. In 2017, India lost the title to Singapore.
About the award:
“Most improved jurisdiction” is one of the nine categories in which GRR presents the award, which were introduced in 2017.
About GRR:
♦ Global Restructuring Review (GRR) is an online daily news service and magazine on cross-border restructuring and insolvency law.
♦ Publisher and Editor-in-Chief: David Samuels

Monti Rajkhowa first Assamese to scale Mt. Kanchenjunga
Monti Rajkhowa has become the first Assamese to scale Mount Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world.
Monti Rajkhowa – first Assamese to scale Mt. Kanchenjunga:
i. Monti Rajkhowa is an executive engineer of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) based in Mumbai.
ii. She has also become the first female ONGC officer to scale Mt. Kanchenjunga. She was born and brought up in Meghalaya.
iii. Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan flagged off the ONGC Kanchenjunga expedition in April 2018.
iv. This expedition was a unique employee engagement initiative to encourage team spirit and experience adventure among the employees of ONGC.
About Indian Mountaineering Foundation:
♦ President – Col HS Chauhan
♦ Location – New Delhi

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNS

ICICI Bank appoints ex-IAS G C Chaturvedi as non-executive chairman
On 29th June 2018, ICICI Bank said that, it has appointed Girish Chandra Chaturvedi as the company’s non-executive chairman.

ICICI Bank appoints ex-IAS G C Chaturvedi as non-executive chairmanICICI Bank appoints G C Chaturvedi as non-executive chairman:
i. G C Chaturvedi is a former petroleum secretary. Incumbent non-executive chairman M K Sharma’s term ends on 30th June 2018.
ii. G C Chaturvedi’s appointment is effective from 1st July 2018 for a period of 3 years. His appointment is subject to the approval of shareholders.
Tag lines of Some banks:
♦ Oriental Bank of Commerce – Where every individual is committed
♦ Punjab National Bank – The Name you can Bank Upon
♦ Punjab & Sind Bank – Where Service Is A Way Of Life

ICICI Bank appoints Walker Chandiok & Co as auditors
On 28th June 2018, ICICI Bank said that, it has appointed Walker Chandiok & Co as statutory auditors of the bank.
ICICI Bank appoints Walker Chandiok & Co as auditors:
i. B S R & Co LLP, Chartered Accountants, the statutory auditors of ICICI bank for the last 4 consecutive years will retire at the conclusion of the 24th Annual General Meeting on completion of maximum period of 4 consecutive years as per RBI guidelines.
ii. ICICI board approved the appointment of Walker Chandiok & Co LLP as statutory auditors for the year ending 31 March 2019, at a board meeting held on 27th June 2018.
iii. Walker Chandiok & Co LLP will hold office from the conclusion of the 24th annual general meeting to the conclusion of the 25th annual general meeting.
iv. This appointment has been approved by RBI. It is subject to the approval of shareholders.
Some important lakes in India:
♦ Sheshnag Lake – Jammu and Kashmir
♦ Tso Moriri – Jammu and Kashmir
♦ Wular Lake – Jammu and Kashmir

Ravi Thapar concurrently accredited as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Costa Rica
Ravi Thapar has been appointed the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Costa Rica.
Ravi Thapar – next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Costa Rica:
i. Ravi Thapar is an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of the 1983 batch. At present, he is the Ambassador of India to Panama.
ii. He has been concurrently appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Costa Rica. He will take up the new assignment soon.
About Costa Rica:
♦ President – Carlos Alvarado
♦ Capital – San Jose

ENVIRONMENT

Climate change may cost India 2.8% of GDP, says World Bank
On 28th June 2018, a World Bank report named ‘South Asia’s Hotspots: The Impact of Temperature and Precipitation Changes on Living Standards’ said that, Climate change might cost India 2.8 % of GDP.

Climate change may cost India 2.8% of GDP, says World Bank‘South Asia’s Hotspots: The Impact of Temerature and Precipitation Changes on Living Standards’:
i. The report also said that, the climate change can depress living standards of around half of India’s population by 2050.
ii. Average annual temperatures are expected to increase by 1-2 % over three decades.
iii. If no measures are taken, average temperatures in India would increase by 1.5-3 degrees.
iv. Even if preventive measures are taken in line with recommendations of Paris climate change agreement of 2015, India’s average annual temperatures would increase by 1-2 degrees celsius by 2050.
v. As per the report, nearly half of South Asia’s population, including India, lives in the “vulnerable areas” at present.
vi. These regions will be affected by declining living standards that could be attributed to lowering agricultural yields, lower labour productivity or related health impacts.
vii. Nearly 600 million people in India currently live in locations that could become moderate or severe hotspots of climate change by 2050 under a business-as-usual scenario.
viii. States in central, northern and north-western India are the most vulnerable to changes in average temperature and precipitation.
ix. By 2050, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh would be the top two climate hotspot states.
x. They would witness a decline of over 9 % in their living standards. They are followed by Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
xi. 7 out of the top 10 most-affected hotspot districts will belong to the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.
xii. These weather changes will lead to lower per capita consumption levels. This would further increase poverty and inequality in South Asia.
xiii. To handle negative economic impact in India, the report recommends to improve educational attainment, reducing water stress, and improving job opportunities in non-agricultural sectors.
xiv. It also predicts that a 30 % improvement on these measures could reduce the decline in living standards by nearly 1 % from 2.8 % to 1.9 %.
About World Bank:
♦ President – Jim Yong Kim
♦ Headquarters – Washington, D.C., U.S.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day of the Tropics – 29 June
On 29th June 2018, International Day of the Tropics was celebrated all over the world.
International Day of the Tropics:
i. On 29th June 2014, Aung San Suu Kyi launched the first State of the Tropics Report. International Day of the Tropics marks the anniversary of the report’s launch.
ii. In 2016, the United Nations General Assembly declared 29 June as the International Day of the Tropics.
iii. The International Day of the Tropics is observed to create awareness on specific challenges faced by tropical areas and to highlight the important role that the countries in the tropics will play in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Some important dams in India:
♦ Koteshwar Dam – Bhagirathi River
♦ Doyang Hep Dam – Doyang River
♦ Warna Dam – Varna River

DISHA Week is being celebrated from June 25 to 29
From 25th to 29th June 2018, DISHA Week is celebrated to mark completion of 2 years of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee.
DISHA Week:
i. On 28th June 2018, Union Rural Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar discussed on the DISHA initiative with some MPs and senior officials in New Delhi.
ii. Awards of appreciation were given for remarkable work in regular organisation of DISHA meetings to Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Mizoram and Uttarakhand.
iii. State-level guidelines and District committees guidelines were released. District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DDCMC) was named as Disha.
iv. The main purpose of this committee is to coordinate with Central and State Governments and local Panchayat to successfully implement the Central schemes such as infrastructure development or Social and human resource development.
Some important bird sanctuaries in India:
♦ Keoladeo National Park – Rajasthan
♦ Khichan Bird Sanctuary – Rajasthan
♦ Tal Chhapar Sanctuary – Rajasthan

12th Statistics Day is being celebrated nationally on June 29, 2018 commemorating 125th birthday of Prof. P. C. Mahalanobis at ISI, Kolkata
On June 29, 2018, Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation and Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) jointly celebrated  12th Statistics Dayand the closing ceremony of the 125th Birth Anniversary of Prof. P. C. Mahalanobis on 29th June, 2018 at Kolkata.

12th Statistics Day is being celebrated nationally on June 29, 2018 commemorating 125th birthday of Prof. P. C. Mahalanobis at ISI, KolkataDignitaries Present at the occasion :
i. The chief Guest of the event Was: Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President of India .
ii. Other dignitaries who participated in the event include Shri D. V. Sadananda Gowda, Union Minister for Statistics & Programme Implementation,  Prof.  Bratya Basu, Minister of Information Technology and Electronics, Government of West Bengal, Dr. Vijay Kelkar, President, ISI and Prof. Goverdhan Mehta, Chairman, ISI Council.
Objective:
The objective of celebration of this Day is to create public awareness about the importance of statistics in socio-economic planning and policy formulation, to acknowledge the contribution of Prof. Mahalanobis, and to pay homage to him.
Theme :
i. The theme selected for the Statistics Day this year is ‘‘Quality Assurance in Official Statistics’.
ii. The theme has been chosen to underscore the importance of compliance with essential parameters of quality in statistical systems and products.
Key Points:
i. Vice President of India released a commemorative coin of Rs 125 and circulation coin of Rs 5 denomination as a mark of respect  to Prof. Mahalanobis.
ii. The winners of Prof. P.V. Sukhatme Award 2018 and Prof. C.R. Rao Award 2017, were also felicitated for their notable contribution in the field of Statistics.
Background:
i. In recognition of the notable contributions made by Late Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in the fields of statistics, statistical system and economic planning, Government of India in 2007, has designated 29thJune as the “Statistics Day” in the category of Special Days to be celebrated every year at the National level.
ii. Field offices of National Sample Survey Office, State Governments and Universities/Departments by organizing Seminars, Conferences, Debates, Quiz Programmes, Lectures, Essay Competitions, etc. take part in the occasion every year.
About ISI:
The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) at Kolkata, set up by Prof. Mahalanobis in 1931, and was declared an autonomous “Institute of National Importance” through an act of Parliament in 1959, celebrates 29th June as the “Worker Day”. 29th June, 2017 marked the beginning of the 125th year of birth of Prof. P.C. Mahalanobis. ISI has held year-round celebrations.