DAILY GK UPDATE 8th JUNE

1.    World Oceans Day observed today 

i. World Oceans Day is being observed today to honour oceans as an essential part of food security, health and survival of all life forms as well as to raise awareness about the current challenges faced by it.

ii. The theme for this year and 2014 is: Together we have the power to protect the ocean. 

iii. In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly decided that 8^th June would be devoted to oceans and will be designated as the ‘World Oceans Day.’

iv. This day marks respect for the world's oceans and celebrates its intrinsic value. However global pollution and over-consumption of marine life have resulted in the drastic decline of a majority of species.

v. It is imperative for global citizens to realize the significance of these water bodies before irreparable damage is done

vi. Oceans must be protected for future generations. Oceans not only power climate but these are a critical part of the biosphere we live in.

2.    Centre sets up National Skill Development Agency 

i. The Centre has set up a National Skill Development Agency, NSDA, to meet the growing need for skilled work force in both the public and private sectors. 

ii. The NSDA will coordinate and harmonize the efforts of public and private sector to achieve the targets of the 12th Plan and beyond.

iii. Under the 12th plan, 82 lakh skilled workforce is to be created while the National Policy on Skill Development aims at producing a 500 million skilled workforce by the year 2022.

iv. T he NSDA has been formed by integrating the Prime Minister’s National Council on Skill Development, the National Skill Development Coordination Board and the Office of the Adviser to the PM on Skill Development.

v. The NSDA will endeavour to bridge the social, regional, gender and economic divide by ensuring that the skilling needs of the disadvantaged and marginalized groups like SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities, women and differently-abled persons are taken care of through the various skill development programmes.

vi. It will also develop and monitor an overarching framework for skill development, anchor the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) and facilitate the setting-up of professional certifying bodies in addition to the existing ones.

vii. The NSDA will be an autonomous body chaired by a person of the rank and status of a Cabinet Minister supported by a Director General and other staff. The office of the NSDA is located in the Ministry of Finance.

3.    Centre launches skill dev and job placement scheme

i. Centre launches skill development and job placement scheme 'Roshini' for rural youth and women in maoist affected 24 districts in 9 states.

ii. Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh today launched a placement linked skill development scheme in a bid to reach out to rural youth in Naxal-hit areas.

iii. The new programme named "roshni" aims to train and provide placements to 50,000 rural men and women, mostly tribals, in 24 worst affected districts.

iv. The scheme will be implemented through training partners from the private and public sectors as well as non-profit organisations.

v. The scheme will be implemented through training partners from the private and public sectors as well as non-profit organisations.

vi. The scheme will provide training for youth from identified districts for employment in the organised sector.

vii. The new programme drew lessons from a similar scheme being implemented in two critical Left-wing Extremism affected districts West Singhbhum in Jharkhand and Sukma in Chhattisgarh and Himayat programme launched to address the needs and aspirations of the youth in Jammu and Kashmir.

viii. "The training providers will ensure 75 per cent placement defined as continuous employment for three months at higher than minimum wages".

ix. The Minister said the funding for the 'Roshni scheme' would be in the ratio of 75:25 to be shared between Centre and states.

4.    Book: Kab Tak by Rukhsar Amrohvi

i. The Vice President of India, Hamid Ansari on 6 June 2013 released a book entitled Dard-e-Dil Likhun Kab Tak” (in Urdu and Hindi) authored by Rukhsar Amrohvi. 

ii. The book, Dard-E-Dil Likhun Kab Tak is a compilation of poems composed by poetess Rukhsar Amrohvi and some rare pictures of the historic moments of Indian Cinema. 

iii. This book is a valuable addition to the Urdu Literature. 

iv. The author Rukhsar Amrohvi is the daughter of the legendary film director and writer Kamal Amrohvi.

5.    Canara Bank to open MSME branches in Tiruchi, Perambalur

i. Canara Bank plans to open exclusive Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) branches in Tiruchi and Perambalur soon.

ii. According to General Manager S. Krishnakumar: The bank has envisaged an MSME cluster scheme for the mosquito net weaving industry in Karur.

iii. The present outstanding MSME advances in the Tiruchi Circle, comprising of 11 districts in central Tamil Nadu and Puducherry's Karaikal region, are Rs. 600 crore. The bank has planned to achieve a target of Rs. 860 crore in this fiscal.

6.    Srikanth in final of Thailand Open 

i. Indian shuttler K Srikanth entered the final of the Thailand Grand Prix Gold badminton tournament after registering a comfortable straight-game victory over local favourite Thammasin Sitthikom in the men's singles event on Saturday.

ii. Srikanth, seeded 13th, took 43 minutes to overcome his opponent 21-14 21-18 at the Nimitbutr National Stadium in Bangkok.

iii. He will take on the winner of the other semifinal match between Boonsak Ponsana and Wisnu Yuli Prasetyo.

7.    Ferrer beats Tsonga to reach French Open final 

i. David Ferrer advanced to his first Grand Slam final by beating Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the French Open, 6-1, 7-6 (3), 6-2 on Friday.

ii. The No. 4-seeded Ferrer, who had been 0-5 in major semifinals, will face fellow Spaniard and seven-time champion Rafael Nadal for the title on Sunday.

iii. Tsonga was trying to become the first Frenchman to reach the Roland Garros final since Henri Leconte in 1988, and the first to win the title since Yannick Noah in 1983.

8.    Nadal beats Novak Djokovic in French Open semi-final thriller

i. Rafael Nadal won a stunning heavyweight clash with world number one Novak Djokovic to reach his eighth French Open final.

ii. The seven-time champion, 27, saw off Djokovic 6-4 3-6 6-1 6-7 (3-7) 9-7 in four hours and 37 minutes.

iii. Nadal will play David Ferrer in Sunday's final after his fellow Spaniard overcame France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in straight sets.

iv. It will be Nadal's first Grand Slam final since he beat Djokovic at Roland Garros last year, having missed seven months with a serious knee injury.

9.    Second edition of HIL from 23rd Jan

i. The second edition of the Hockey India League (HIL) will be played from 23rd January to 23rd February next year, a new team will be added to make it a six franchise based tournament

ii. Narinder Batra, Chairman Hero Hockey India League said: We are pleased to announce the dates for Hero Hockey India League 2014. After the enormous success in the inaugural season, we are expecting more spectacular hockey for the fans during Hero HIL 2014.

iii. The inaugural edition, which was telecast in 146 countries across the globe, recorded more than 41 million viewership

iv. Star Sports, Broadcast Partner of the league, will telecast live all the matches of the league.

v. Ranchi Rhinos emerged winners in the inaugural season.