NATIONAL:
1. National Highways Authority of India
Why in news: NHAI to give highways green cover with Miyawaki plantation.
Key points:
• The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will undertake an initiative to plant Miyawaki plantation on land parcels adjacent to national highways at various locations.
• A total land area of over 53 acres has been identified at different places in and around Delhi-NCR to establish the Miyawaki plantations.
• Some of the sites proposed for development of Miyawaki plantations along the National Highways include 4.7 acres of land area along Haryana section of Dwarka Expressway, 4.1 acres near Sohna on Delhi – Vadodara section of Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, around 5 acres each at Chabri and Kharkhara interchanges on NH 152D of Ambala – Kotputli corridor in Haryana.
2. 1st Ecofriendly State Govt Headquarters
Why in news: Assam Secretariat Becomes India's 1st Eco- friendly State Govt Headquarters.
Key points:
• A 2.5 Megawatt (MW) solar power project inaugurated in the campus of Janata Bhawan in Dispur, Guwahati, Assam.
• The secretariat complex will now run solely on solar power installed at Rs 12.5 crore.
• This grid-connected rooftop solar power plant will save Rs 30 lakh every month in electricity bills.
• From July 2024, ministers and officials residing in official quarters will pay their electricity bills, ending a 75-year-old practice.
3. Solar Project in Bikaner
Why in news: IFC to Finance $105 million to Brookfield's 550 MW Solar Project in Bikaner, Rajasthan.
Key points:
• The International Finance Corporation , a member of the World Bank Group, has committed USD 105 million to part finance a 550 Megawatt peak solar power project in Bikaner, Rajasthan, which is being developed by Brookfield Asset Management Ltd, a Canada based investment firm
• The investmnet will be made through long- term non-convertible debentures issued to the project's special-purpose vehicles.
• It is IFC's first investment in Asia-Pacific using a hybrid offtake structure selling solar power to the Commercial and Industrial consumers under long term corporate PPAs and the merchant markets via exchange.
• The project will be connected to the inter-state transmission system section of India’s green energy corridor.
4. Self Baggage Drop Facility
Why in news: Delhi airport launched India’s first Self Service Bag Drop facility.
Key points:
• Delhi Airport has become the first airport in the country and the second airport in the world after Toronto, Canada to introduce state-of-the-art technology like SSBD.
• This will streamline the baggage drop process and save time waiting for luggage.
• 50 self-service bag drop units are now operational in Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. This will enable passengers to enjoy a simple and efficient check-in experience.
5. GI Tag
Why in news: Shamli jaggery got GI tag.
Key points:
• GI application was made for 20 products of Uttar Pradesh with the help of NABARD -), in which Shamli's jaggery has got the GI tag.
• GI tags are issued as per the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act,1999.
• This tag is issued by the Geographical Indication Registry under the Department of Industry Promotion and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
6. Gautam Adani
Why in news: Gautam Adani Signed MoU to Establish 570 MW Hydroelectric Plant in Bhutan.
Key points:
• Gautam Adani, Chairman of Adani Group announced the signing of an Memorandum of Understanding with Bhutan's Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC) for a 570 Megawatt green hydro plant in the Chukha province, Bhutan.
• This collaboration marks a significant step towards sustainable energy development in Bhutan, aligning with global efforts towards carbon neutrality.
7. Janata Bhawan Solar Project
Why in news: Assam CM inaugurates Janata Bhawan Solar Project in Guwahati.
Key points:
• This project features a 2.5-MW power generation capacity with a grid-connected rooftop and ground-mounted solar PV system.
• The system is expected to yield an average of 3 lakh units of electricity monthly.
• The project required an investment of 12.56 crore rupees & is projected to be recovered within 4 years.
8. Humanitarian Aid To Cuba
Why in news: India sent humanitarian aid to Cuba.
Key points:
• India on sent 90 tons of material to Cuba to make medicines as humanitarian aid.
• A consignment of approximately 90 tonnes of nine active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) manufactured in India was sent from Mundra port in Gujarat.
• Using this API, Cuban drug manufacturers will be able to manufacture essential antibiotics in the form of tablets, capsules, syrups and injections for the treatment of deadly infectious diseases.
• Currently, Cuba is facing shortage of essential commodities, food items and medicines.
9. Relief Material To Papua New Guinea
Why in news: India sent 19 tons of relief material to Papua New Guinea.
Key points:
• India has sent relief material worth 1 million dollars on humanitarian grounds to Papua New Guinea, which is facing huge losses due to landslides.
• This material was sent by special plane from New Delhi.
• Enga province of Papua New Guinea suffered heavy damage due to landslides last month. During this period 2000 people had died.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Global Peace Index 2024
Why in news: India stands at 116th in Global Peace Index 2024, Iceland tops the list.
Key points:
• According to the 18th edition of the Global Peace Index 2024 released by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), India is ranked 116th out of 163 countries, climbing 10 positions from 2023.
• The list is topped by Iceland since 2008 followed by Ireland (2nd), Austria(3rd), New Zealand(4th), and Singapore (5th).
• Europe has been the most peaceful region in the world and is home to eight of the ten most peaceful countries since the start of the GPI.
• The Middle East and North Africa region remained the world's least peaceful region with major crises in Yemen and Sudan becoming the reasons of its poor rating.
2. UNSC
Why in news: UNSC votes to end political mission in Iraq.
Key points:
• United Nations Security The Council (UNSC) voted unanimously to end the United Nations Political Mission in Iraq which is established in 2003, after the US-led invasion of Iraq.
• Its purpose was to coordinate humanitarian and reconstruction efforts as well as help restore representative government in the country.
• The Iraqi government had asked the Security Council to end the mission by the end of 2025.
3. First Southeast Asian Nation To Legalize Same-Sex Marriage
Why in news: Thailand to become first Southeast Asian nation to legalize same-sex marriage.
Key points:
• Thailand’s Senate approved a marriage equality bill, with supporters calling it a “monumental step forward for LGBTQ+ rights.”
• The bill still requires endorsement from the king, the law will then come into effect 120 days after it is published in the royal gazette.
ECONOMY:
1. Purvanchal Bank
Why in news: Reserve Bank of India has cancelled the licence of Purvanchal Cooperative Bank, Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh.
Key points:
• The licence of Purvanchal Cooperative Bank as it does not have adequate capital and earning prospects.
• The Commissioner for Cooperation and Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Uttar Pradesh has also been asked to issue an order for winding up the bank and appoint a liquidator.
• On liquidation, every depositor would be entitled to receive deposit insurance claim amount of his/her deposits up to 15 lakh only from Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC).
SCIENCE & TECH:
1. Manav Rachna University
Why in news: MRU Installs GNSS Receiver In Partnership with ISRO .
Key points:
• Manav Rachna University (MRU) has become the first University in Delhi,NCR to install a 'Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver' and Space Weather Laboratory at its campus in collaboration with the National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL)-Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
• The installation of the GNSS receiver at MRU enables multi-parametric data collection across various atmospheric and space parameters, significantly enhancing research capabilities in atmospheric sciences and related fields.
• This GNSS receiver is integrated into the NARL North-South chain of receivers, contributing to critical studies on weather, climate, space weather, and planetary ionospheres.
2. NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar
Why in news: The USA & India Launch NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar to Combat Climate Change.
Key points:
• It is announced in the second meeting of the US-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET).
• Aperture Radar is a jointly developed satellite that will map the entirety of the Earth’s surface twice every 12 days .
• A new partnership also launched between the U.S. Space Force and the Indian startups, 114ai and 3rdiTech, including on advancing space situational awareness, data fusion technologies, and infrared sensor semiconductor manufacturing.
3. Google's Gemini
Why in news: Google's Al assistant Gemini is now available as an app for Android smartphone users in India.
Key points:
• The app will support English, Hindi and eight other Indian languages.
• With this the users of Gemini Advanced in India will now be able to access features of Gemini 1.5 Pro, Google's latest next-gen Al (Artificial Intelligence) model.
• The expanded capacity of Gemini Advanced will allow users to upload multiple large documents and emails for quick submaries, feedback, and actionable insights.
DEFENCE & SECURITY:
1. First Skin Bank For Advanced Care Of Personnel
Why in news: Indian Army launches first skin bank for advanced care of personnel and families in New Delhi.
Key points:
• The Indian Army announced the opening of a state-of-the-art skin bank facility at the Army Hospital, New Delhi.
• The facility offers the latest modern treatment for severe burn injuries received by armed forces personnel and their families.
• This will be the first of its kind to be established within the Armed Forces Medical Services to cater to the three kinds of patients the Army hospitals: injuries from domestic fire accidents, electrical incidents, and kerosene warmers jawans and officers use to keep themselves warm at high altitudes.
2. Unmanned Systems Forces
Why in news: Ukraine Launches world’s first Unmanned Systems Forces.
Key points:
• The Armed Forces of Ukraine officially launched "Unmanned Systems Forces (USF)", a new stand- alone military branch.
• After this Ukraine has become the 1st country in the world to establish a military branch dedicated to drone systems.
• USF aims to advance the capabilities of unmanned and robotic warfare across air, sea, and ground domains in combat operations.
• The Former Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel Vadym Sukharevsky, has been appointed as the 1st Commander of the USF.
SPORTS:
1. Paavo Nurmi Games 2024
Why in news: Neeraj Chopra Won Gold at Paavo Nurmi Games 2024 held in Turku, Finland.
Key points:
• Olympics gold medalist Neeraj Chopra won a gold with a throw of 85.97m at the 2024 Paavo Nurmi Games.
• Finland's Toni Keränen won the silver medal with a throw of 84.19m, while Oliver Helander took the bronze with 83.96m.
2. Stepan Avagyan Memorial 2024
Why in news: Arjun Erigaisi wins Stepan Avagyan Memorial 2024.
Key points:
• Arjun Erigaisi won the 10-player single round-robin tournament Stepan Avagyan Memorial 2024 with a round to spare.
• India’s highest-rated chess player GM Arjun Erigaisi beat Russia’s Volodar Murzin with white pieces in 63 moves to end the penultimate round with six points, a full 1.5 points ahead of the three-player deadlock on second position with 4.5 points.
3. Gretchen Walsh
Why in news: Gretchen Walsh sets World Record in 100m Butterfly at 2024 US Olympic Swimming Trials.
Key points:
• Walsh clocked 55.18 seconds in the 100-meter women’s butterfly.
• Walsh’s time beat out Swedish swimmer Sarah Sjöström, who recorded the previous fastest time of 55.48 seconds at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, by more than half of a second.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Nelson Mandela Lifetime Achievement Award
Why in news: Vinod Ganatra Becomes First Indian Honoured With ‘Nelson Mandela Lifetime Achievement Award’.
Key points:
• Film-maker Vinod Ganatra has become the first Indian to be conferred the prestigious ‘Nelson Mandela Lifetime Achievement Award’ of South Africa for his contribution to films.
• He was honoured with the coveted award at the ongoing 7th Nelson Mandela Children’s Film Festival, for his immense contributions to the world of cinema for kids.
2. Global Goodwill Ambassador
Why in news: The United Nations Refugee Agency named British actor Theo James as a Global Goodwill Ambassador.
Key points:
• The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Refugee Agency, has named British actor, producer, and model Theo James as its new Global Goodwill Ambassador.
• Goodwill Ambassadors are prominent public figures associated with UNHCR, enhancing the organization's global visibility through their influence, dedication, and hard work.
OBITUARIES:
1. Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare
Why in news: Former Governor of Odisha Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare passed away at the age of 95 in New Delhi.
Key points:
• Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare was a senior Congress leader and practiced as a Senior Advocate before the Supreme Court of India.
• He was elected to the Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) for 3 terms in 1980 and re- elected in 1982 and 1988.
• He served as the Governor of Odisha from 2007 to 2013.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. World Sickle Cell Awareness Day
Why in news: World Sickle Cell Awareness Day is celebrated annually on 19th June.
Key points:
• Theme: "Hope Through Progress: Advancing Sickle Cell Care Globally."
• Objective: To raise awareness about Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and the struggle that the sufferers or a patient family face.
BIHAR:
1. Nalanda University Campus
Why in news: PM Modi Inaugurates New Nalanda University Campus In Rajgir, Bihar
Key points:
• It conceived as a joint collaboration between India and East Asia Summit countries, the Nalanda University’s inauguration function will be attended by head of missions of 17 countries.
• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Bihar Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy CMs Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha and other delegates are present at the new campus of Nalanda University.
• Prime Minister also visited the ruins of ancient Nalanda University which has been accorded as world heritage site in 2016.
• The campus is built with state-of-the-art infrastructure blending traditional flavour with modernity. It is a Net Zero campus with water bodies spread across 100 acres in the 455-acre area.
• The university, established through the Nalanda University Act, 2010, started functioning in 2014.
• Nalanda University, established by Kumargupta of Gupta dynasty in fifth century A.D. attracting students from all over the world, flourished for 800 years before it was destroyed by Bakhtiyar Khilji in the 12th century A.D.
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