Monsoon covers entire country two weeks in advance

The Southwest Monsoon has covered the entire country nearly two weeks ahead of its schedule, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The monsoon usually sets over Kerala on June 1 and it takes 45 days to reach Sriganganagar in west Rajasthan, its last outpost in the country. From this year however, the IMD has advanced the onset date over Sriganganagar by a week and the new normal date for monsoon to cover the entire country is July 8. “The Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into the remaining parts of Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab and thus it has covered the entire country on June 26,” the IMD said. A low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, which moved west-northwestwards, and another cyclonic circulation over central India helped in advance of the monsoon. In 2013, the monsoon had covered the entire country on June 16. This had also coincided with the deadly Uttarakhand flash floods.

India at 77th place in funds at Swiss banks, UK at top

India has moved down three places to 77th rank in terms of money parked by its citizens and enterprises with Swiss banks at the end of 2019, while the UK has retained its top position, as per the latest data from Switzerland’s central bank. India was ranked 74th in the previous year. An analysis of the latest annual banking statistics released by the Swiss National Bank (SNB) showed that India remains ranked very low when it comes to money parked by Indian individuals and enterprises in Swiss banks, including through their India-based branches, accounting for just about 0.06 per cent of the aggregate funds parked by all foreign clients of Switzerland-based banks. In comparison, the top-ranked UK accounted for close to 27 per cent of the total foreign funds parked with Swiss banks at the end of 2019. According to the latest SNB data, funds parked by Indian individuals and enterprises in Swiss banks, including through India-based branches, fell by 5.8 per cent in 2019 to 899 million Swiss francs (Rs 6,625 crore). These are official figures reported by banks to the SNB and do not indicate the quantum of the much-debated alleged black money held by Indians in Switzerland. Among the top-ranked jurisdictions, the UK is followed by the US, West Indies, France and Hong Kong in the top five.

PM launches ‘Atmanirbhar UP Rojgar Abhiyan’

PM Narendra Modi launched the ‘Atmanirbhar Uttar Pradesh Rojgar Abhiyan’ which seeks to promote local entrepreneurship and create partnership with industrial associations to provide employment opportunities. At the virtual launch, Modi interacted with villagers from six districts of Uttar Pradesh. The scheme seeks to dovetail central and state government’s programmes, while also creating partnerships with industry and other organisations as the COVID-19 pandemic affected the workforce in general and migrant workers in particular, the state government said. Nearly 30 lakh migrant workers returned to their homes in Uttar Pradesh, it said, adding that 31 districts of the state have received more than 25,000 returnees. “This programme is intensely focused towards providing employment, promote local entrepreneurship and create partnerships with industrial associations and other organisations to provide employment opportunities,” it said.

China amassing troops, armaments along LAC, says MEA

China has been amassing a large contingent of troops and armaments along the LAC in eastern Ladakh since early May, India said, and warned that continuation of the current situation would only vitiate the atmosphere for the development of the relationship. This is for the first time since the military standoff began in early May, India has officially admitted about the Chinese buildup along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). In a strongly-worded statement, the ministry of external affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said the conduct of the Chinese forces is in “complete disregard” of all mutually agreed norms. India expects China to sincerely “follow up” on the understanding arrived at between two sides on disengagement of troops to ensure expeditious restoration of peace and tranquility in the border areas, he said. Srivastava said both the India and Chinese sides remain deployed in large numbers in the Galwan Valley region.

NGT slaps Rs 25 crore fine on Oil India for Baghjan fire

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed an interim penalty of Rs 25 crore on PSU major Oil India over its failure to stop fire in Assam’s Baghjan oil well resulting in damage to the environment. Well number 5 at Baghjan in Tinsukia district, caught fire on June 9, killing two of OIL’s firefighters at the site. A bench constituted a committee headed by former high court judge B.P. Katakey to look into the matter and submit a report in 30 days. “In view of the prima facie case made out against Oil India Ltd on the extent of damage caused to the environment and biodiversity, damage to both human and wildlife, public health and, having regard to the financial worth of the Company and the extent of damage, we direct the OIL to deposit an initial amount of 25 crore with Tinsukia District Magistrate,” the bench said.

SC approves CBSE’s scheme on cancellation of board exams

The Supreme Court permitted the Centre and the CBSE to cancel the remaining board examinations due to COVID-19 pandemic and gave the go-ahead to its scheme to award marks to students for the cancelled papers. A bench of Justices permitted the CBSE to issue the notification for the cancellation of examinations. Both CBSE and ICSE told the top court that the results of the Class 10 and 12 board exams can be declared by mid of July. The CBSE’s assessment scheme approved by the top court said that for the students of both Classes 10 and 12, who have completed all their examinations, their results will be declared based on their performance in the exams. The CBSE Class 12 exams had started on February 15 and were to conclude on April 3. The Class 10 exams had started on February 21 and were to end on March 29. The ICSE board had postponed its Class 10 and 12 examinations due to a coronavirus outbreak and they were to end on March 31. However, the nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic came into force from March 25.

All regular train services to remain cancelled till August 12

All regular mail, express and passenger services as well as suburban trains will remain cancelled till August 12, the Railway Board said. However, all special trains — 15 pairs running on the Rajdhani routes since May 12 and 100 pairs of mail/express trains operating since June 1 — will continue, officials said. The limited special suburban services which began recently in Mumbai to ferry essential services personnel identified by the local authorities will also continue to run, officials said. “All tickets booked for the regular trains for journey date from July 1 to August 12 also stand cancelled. Full refund will be generated,” the Railway Board order stated. Earlier, the Railways had cancelled all trains till June 30. The Railways has  run more than 4,000 Shramik special trains since May 1 to ferry migrant workers back to their home states.

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