1. Maharashtra topped the list of States and UTs in
IPR filing in 2013-14: IBEF report
i. India Brand
Equity Foundation (IBEF) in the third week of June 2015 released a report on
Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) filing in India during 2013-14.
ii. While
Maharashtra topped the list of states and Union Territories (UTs), Bengaluru
was the top city in IPR filing.
iii. Indian
Institute of Science (IISc), Siddaganga Institute of Technology, Tumakuru and
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) figured in the top 10 scientific
bodies and institutions with 32, 24 and 12 filings respectively.
iv. India Brand
Equity Foundation (IBEF), is a trust established by the Department of Commerce,
Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
2. SoftBank Corp, Bharti Enterprises Limited and
Foxconn formed a JV named SBG Cleantech Ltd
i. Japan
headquartered telecommunications and Internet major SoftBank Corp, Bharti
Enterprises Limited and Taiwan-based Foxconn Technology Group on 22 June 2015
formed a Joint Venture (JV) named SBG Cleantech Limited. This JV is aimed at
promoting the adoption of clean and safe energy in India.
ii. SBG Cleantech
will be a harbinger of solar and wind energy. The venture will invest in
developing renewable energy plants across India. SBG Cleantech will be committed
to contribute to Union Government's mission of 24x7 power for all and achieving
100GW solar and 60GW wind target by 2022.
iii. SBG Cleantech
will have Manoj Kohli, a Bharti Enterprises Limited veteran, as its executive
chairman and Raman Nanda will be the Chief Executive Officer of the company.
The company will be headquartered in Delhi.
3. Rajasthan topped the list of States commissioning
grid connected Solar Power projects
i. Rajasthan topped
the list of states commissioning grid connected solar power projects in the
country with an installed capacity of 1147 megawatt. The list was released by
the Union ministry of New and Renewable Energy on 4 June 2015.
ii. Gujarat, which
remained the undisputed leader in solar energy generation till 2014, came second
with an installed capacity of 1000MW.
iii. The state has
also signed MoUs with power developers like SunEdison, Adani Enterprises,
Reliance Power and Azure Power that will generate 14000 MW solar power.
National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) is already in the process of
commissioning 680 MW in the state.
4. Sister Nirmala Joshi, successor of Mother Teresa
passes away
i. Sister Nirmala
Joshi, former Superior General of Missionaries of Charity passed away in
Kolkata after brief illness at the age of 81.
ii. She had taken
over as Superior General in March 1997 after the death of Mother Teresa.
iii. Sister Nirmala
was elected as Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity six months
before Mother Teresa’s death (September 5, 1997).
iv. She was bestowed
with the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian award in 2009 for her
services to the nation.
5. Kerala Government declares June 22 as ‘Snake Bird
Day’
i. Kerala
Government has declared June 22 as ‘Snake Bird Day’ in a bid to protect the
endangered species which is also known as Indian darter. The formal
announcement was made by State minister for forest Thiruvanchur Radhakrishnan
at a function organised by Snake Bird Foundation in Thiruvananthapuram.
ii. It is water
bird which is also known as Indian darter (Anhinga melanogaster). It has large
slender long-necked water bird and is mostly black with silver wing markings.
iii. As per IUCN
Red List of Threatened Species, Snake Bird is classified as Near Threatened
species. Threat: Its population is moderately declining owing anthropogenic
reasons like pollution, drainage, hunting and the collection of eggs and
nestlings.
iv. It inhabits in
shallow inland wetlands including rivers, lakes, swamps and reservoirs. In case
of India there are over 1500 snake birds in which majority are found in Kerala.
These species usually nests atop tall trees near wetlands.
6. Maharashtra declares Blue Mormon as ‘State
butterfly’
i. Maharashtra has
officially declared Blue Mormon species as State butterfly as part of state
symbols. Decision in this regard was taken in State Wildlife Board meeting
presided by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai.
ii. With this,
Maharashtra became the first State in the country to have a State butterfly.
iii. Blue Mormon
(Papilio polymnestor) is the second largest butterfly species in terms of size,
after the southern birdwing (Troides minos).
iv. Blue Mormon has
black, velvet wings with bright blue spots. The lower ends of its wings are
black. Its body has some red spots on one side. Distribution: It is only found
(endemic to) in Sri Lanka, Western Ghats of Maharashtra, South India and
coastal belts of the country.