Current Affairs June 2024

• The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has launched  PRAGATI ( Pharma Research in AyurGyan And Techno Innovation), an initiative to shape the future of Ayurveda.
• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority have collaborated to create a new 'Unified India Organic' logo. This new logo will replace the previous India Organic and Jaivik Bharat logos. The India Organic logo was used for products that met the standards of the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), while the Jaivik Bharat logo was used for products certified by FSSAI.
• The Reliance Foundation and the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services  situated in Hyderabad, which is an independent organization under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to help people living in coastal.
• The Department of School Education & Literacy from the Ministry of Education (MoE), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Book Trust (NBT) to set up Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya, a Digital Library Platform.
• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to facilitate collaboration in operating a special Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS) Cell.
• On World Environment Day 2024 (June 5th, 2024), S Krishnan, the Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Launched a new Indian-made Air Quality Monitoring System (AQ-AIMS) at an event in New Delhi.
  • He also introduced a mobile app called “Air-Pravah” to check the Air Quality Index (AQI) in real-time.
  • Additionally, the Government of India (GoI) announced that Bihar’s Nagi Bird Sanctuary and Nakti Bird Sanctuary are now recognized as important wetlands under the Ramsar Convention, making the total number of Ramsar sites in India 82.
• Shri Narendra Modi, the 73-year-old leader of the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), has become the Prime Minister of India for the third time in a row, serving from 2024 to 2029. President Droupadi Murmu swore him in during a big ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. Along with PM Modi, 71 ministers also took the oath. PM Modi is now the second Indian Prime Minister, after Jawaharlal Nehru, to serve three five-year terms.
• Four candidates, all 25 years old, became the youngest MPs in the 18th Lok Sabha (2024). They are Pushpendra Saroj and Priya Saroj from the Samajwadi Party (SP), Shambhavi Choudhary from Lok Janshakti Party (RV), and Sanjana Jatav from the Indian National Congress (INC).
• Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) treasurer T.R. Baalu, aged 82, is the oldest MP of the 18th Lok Sabha.

• Sub-Lieutenant Anamika B. Rajeev has made history by becoming the first woman helicopter pilot in the Indian Navy. She recently joined the team of pilots flying helicopters for the Indian Navy.
• The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) has launched “AIM-ICDK Water Challenge 4.0”- an open competition to find new ideas for water solutions. This challenge was created in partnership with the Innovation Centre Denmark.
• The Army Hospital, Research & Referral (R&R), New Delhi (Delhi) opened a state-of-the-art skin bank facility, a first-of-its-kind to be established within the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS).
• Union Ministry of Communication, Government of India  notified  “The Post Office Act, 2023” which came into force with effective from on 18th June, 2024. This Act repealed the 125-year old Indian Post Office Act, 1898.
  • According to the new act, the Government will no longer have the exclusive right to deliver letters. The Act, for the first time, regulates private courier services by bringing it under its ambit.It also includes a rule for appointing the Director General (DG) of Postal Services.
• The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship teamed up with the Australian Government to improve the agricultural sector by finding and creating new job roles. They discussed ideas from the Australia-India Critical Agriculture Skills Pilot Project.
• The Department of Personnel and Training, part of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, announced that three new criminal laws will start on 1st July, 2024. These laws are:
  • Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita (BNS2) Act, 2023,
  • Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita (BNSS2) Act, 2023, and
  • Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Adhiniyam Act, 2023.
• These new laws will replace the old British-era laws: the Indian Penal Code (IPC) from 1860, the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPc) from 1973, and the Indian Evidence Act (IEA) from 1872.
• The Bureau of Indian Standards  has introduced two new standards, IS 18590: 2024 and IS 18606: 2024, to improve the safety and quality of Electric Vehicles (EVs) in India. These standards apply to different types of EVs, including 2-wheelers (L category), 4-wheelers (M category), and goods trucks (N category).
• The Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education (MoE), has set up a seven-member high-level committee  led by Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, to suggest changes for improving the exam process, data security, and the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA).
• In fostering a risk-intelligent India, Institute of Risk Management (IRM), the world’s leading certifying body for Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) has licensed Sri Sri University (SSU) to establish India’s first and East India’s only Global Centre for ERM. SSU is one of only four exclusive universities to have earned recognition and support from the IRM India Affiliate.
• Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences,  has launched the “One Week One Theme” campaign. This campaign showcases the recent success stories of India in different fields of Science and Technology. The “One Week One Theme” initiative, started under CSIR, aims to make innovation accessible to everyone.
• Eastern Coalfields Limited has started India's first pilot project for Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) at the Kasta coal block in Jamtara District, Jharkhand.
• Jagat Prakash Nadda Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare has launched the National STOP Diarrhoea Campaign 2024. The campaign's slogan is: “Diarrhoea ki Roktham, Safai aur ORS se rakhen apna dhyaan”.
• The Department of Personnel and Training, part of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions , Government of India (GoI), has announced that the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 (1 of 2024), will be effective from June 21, 2024.
• Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has launched a new web portal to speed up and simplify the process for banks to settle interest subvention claims under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF). The Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) developed this portal together. The Union Minister also introduced ‘Krishi Katha’, a blog site that will serve as a digital platform to share the voices, experiences, insights, and success stories of farmers from across India.
• Jitan Ram Manjhi, the Union Minister for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME), launched the MSME Trade Enablement and Marketing (TEAM) Initiative and the Yashasvini Campaign to boost micro and small business trade through e-commerce and support women entrepreneurs.

• Karnataka has become the 1st state in India to announce Rs 1 crore in insurance compensation for employees who die in road accidents.
• The Assam secretariat has become India’s first eco-friendly state government headquarters by inauguration of a 2.5 MW solar power project at Janata Bhawan in Dispur, Assam.
• Madhya Pradesh government inaugurated the “PM Shri Paryatan Vayu Seva” (PM Shri Tourism Air Service) at Raja Bhoj International Airport in Bhopal. This air service was started by the MP Tourism Board (MPTB) in partnership with Jet Serve Aviation Private Limited.
• Uttar Pradesh will set up the ‘Jatayu Conservation and Breeding Centre’, the world’s first centre for saving and breeding Asian king vultures, also known as red-headed vultures Maharajganj, UP. This project aims to increase the number of these vultures, which have been listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
• Government of Karnataka launched South India’s First and largest Leopard Safari at the Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• The government of Haryana recently made an important change to the
  " Mukhyamantri Kisan Evam Khetihar Mazdoor Jeevan Suraksha Yojana," a program that provides money to farmers and farm workers. They decided to remove the age limits for people who can get this help.
• With help from the World Bank, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) wants to improve the way it handles trash. Their main goal is to stop people from throwing trash at Kodungaiyur, which is a big dump in the city.
• Tamil Nadu Government started the “Chief Minister’s Mannuyir Kaathu Mannuyir Kaappom” plan, which was a big step toward sustainable farming.
• In Madhya Pradesh, The Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, has been identified as the second potential habitat for cheetah reintroduction after Kuno National Park.
• On June 23, UNESCO honored Kozhikode as India’s first “City of Literature”. This recognition means the city's cultural history should be celebrated and used to develop literary talent.
• Srinagar, the largest city in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, was recently designated a ‘World Craft City’ by the World Crafts Council.
• The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) released a report highlighting that Uttar Pradesh as a major player in India’s renewable energy market. The report showed that Uttar Pradesh could produce 24% of India’s compressed biogas (CBG).
• The Kerala Assembly passed a resolution requesting the Indian Central Government to change the state's name in the Constitution from "Kerala" to "Keralam."
• South India' s first and largest leopard tour was recently inaugurated at Bannerghatta Biological Park in Bengaluru. This significant event marks a milestone in India' s efforts to protect wildlife and promote wildlife tourism.
• The Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra has launched the first advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) system for early detection of forest fires.
• The Assam government launched the Assam Witness Protection Scheme, 2024 due to the increasing threats to witnesses in court cases. This initiative aligns with Section 398 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, aiming to enhance the safety and trustworthiness of evidence in court proceedings.
• The Uttar Pradesh government has announced the construction of a bioplastic park in the Lakhimpur Kheri area. This initiative arises from growing concerns about the environmental impact of petroleum-based plastics.
• The Kerala government announced plans to create a special action calendar to prevent Nipah virus outbreaks, which have occurred multiple times in the state.
• The Government of Manipur has taken steps to prevent the extinction of the Manipuri Pony, also known as the Meitei Sagol. This breed, one of India's seven official horse breeds, holds historical and cultural significance in Manipur.
• The Tamil Nadu Animal Husbandry Department recently banned 23 dog breeds classified as ‘ferocious,’ including popular breeds like the Rottweiler, Pitbull Terrier, and Tosa Inu. This decision was prompted by a recent incident in Chennai where a Rottweiler severely injured a child.
• A devastating forest fire recently destroyed nearly 100 hectares of land in the Sulthan Bathery forest range within the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala.
• Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has announced achivement in the state's battle against opium poppy cultivation, with a 60% reduction in the cultivation area over the three-year period from 2021 to 2024.

• India has filed a dispute case against Australia at the World Trade Organization for recent changes to Australia’s commitments, which could impact India’s trade in services. This action follows unsuccessful negotiations between the two countries regarding new service regulation rules.
• Portugal is introducing a new “solidarity visa” to replace its “golden visa” system. This visa will guide foreign investments into beneficial areas, like affordable housing for locals and shelters for migrants.
• Tanzania is no longer eligible for the European Union conservation grant due to the eviction of the Maasai people. The European Commission removed Tanzania from NaturAfrica initiative in East Africa.
• Panama is relocating an entire island community due to rising sea levels caused by climate change. The Guna people of Gardi Sugdub in the Guna Yala archipelago are making this historic move.
• Somalia has secured a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, a significant milestone for the nation. This is the first time since the 1970s that Somalia has held this position, following over 30 years of civil war.
• Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of the ancient city of Tu’am on the UAE’s Siniyah Island. Known for its successful pearl trade, the exact location of Tu’am was previously unknown. Recent excavations in Umm al-Quwain by the Italian Archaeological Mission have found old homes, supporting Siniyah Island as the true site of Tu’am.
• Iberian Lynx native to Spain and Portugal, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reclassified from “Endangered” to “Vulnerable” on June 20th the species was once near extinction. his reclassification marks a major success in conservation efforts.
• Paraguay has become the 100th full member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). A formal ceremony in New Delhi marked this significant milestone in ISA’s expansion.
• Denmark’s coalition government has approved the world’s first carbon emissions tax specifically targeting farms. This initiative aims to reduce the environmental impact of Denmark’s dairy production sectors.
• An international conference on Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) will be held in Kochi on July 11 and 12, announced by the Kerala government. Partnering with IBM for this event, Kerala is making strides in new technologies and economic growth.
• The Bonn Climate Change Conference in Germany, also called the 60th Session of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies, began on June 3, 2024. This meeting is important for preparing new climate finance goal for COP 29 (United Nations Conference of Parties (COP29) will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan in November 2024). Climate finance means investment of money to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, use more renewable energy, and grow more forests to fight climate change.
• The G7 Leaders’ Summit will be held in Italy’s Apulia region from June 13th to 15th. The 2024 meeting will focus on key issues such as stabilizing the global economy, addressing climate change, improving global health systems post-COVID-19, and managing political tensions, particularly with China and Russia. Additionally, the summit will discuss regulating new technologies to ensure they contribute positively to global growth.
• The first IDF Regional Dairy Conference Asia Pacific-2024 will take place in Kochi from June 26th to June 28th, 2024. This event will gather experts from around the globe to discuss new innovations and challenges in the dairy industry.
• The 77th World Health Assembly took place in Geneva, Switzerland under the theme  "All for Health, Health for All. " The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) received the 2024 Nelson Mandela Award for Health Promotion from the WHO.
• India took part in the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS +20) Forum High- Level Event 2024, held in Geneva, Switzerland.
• According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Red List of Mangrove Ecosystems, over 50% of the world’s mangrove ecosystems are at risk of collapse, with nearly 1 in 5 faces severe risk. As per the study, climate change poses serious threats to 33% (1/3rd) of the mangrove ecosystems across the world.
• India participated in the 1st Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Clean Economy Investor Forum, held in Singapore from June 5th to 6th, 2024.
• India, South Korea, Japan, the United States, and the European Union have launched an alliance to collaboratively build a resilient supply chain in the biopharmaceutical sector. The
  inaugural meeting of the Biopharmaceutical Alliance was held at the BIO International Convention 2024, the world’s largest biopharmaceutical exhibition, from June 3rd to 6th.
• India attended the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) Foreign Ministers meeting in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. Russia assumed the BRICS chairmanship on January 1, 2024.

• In June 2024, the United Nations released an important study titled “The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024.” The study revealed that Catla (Labeo catla) was one of the most fished marine species. In 2022, with a yield exceeding four million tonnes, making it the eighth most fished species globally. Historically, Catla farming was predominant in the ponds of Eastern Indian states.
• India has become the world’s second-largest source of nitrous oxide (N2O), a powerful greenhouse gas. In 2020, India contributed nearly 11% of the global human-made N2O emissions, second only to China, which accounted for 16%. The comprehensive study, published in the journal Earth System Science Data, highlights the increasing levels of N2O in the atmosphere.
• India has emerged as one of the top destinations for cross-border real estate investments. By the March quarter, it was ranked among the top five places globally to buy and develop land. A study by Colliers revealed that approximately 55% of these investments came from foreign
  investors.
• As per the World Bank’s Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) 2023, Visakhapatnam Container Terminal Private Limited (VCTPL), in Andhra Pradesh, is the only Indian port to be featured in the Top 20 rankings i.e. 19th position overall, while Mundra Port, India’s largest private port located in Gujarat, was ranked 27th.

• According to the 2024 Environmental Performance Index (EPI), India was ranked 176th out of 180 nations, marking a slight improvement from 2022 when it was at the bottom of the index.
• India has become the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market, following the U.S. and China, according to data from aviation analytics firm Official Airline Guide (OAG).
• Global Gender Gap Report 2024:
  • The World Economic Forum released the 18th edition of its Global Gender Gap Report, benchmarking gender parity across 146 economies worldwide.
    • Key Findings:
      • Global Gender Gap Score: In 2024, the global gender gap score is 68.5%, indicating that 31.5% of the gap remains unaddressed. Progress has been minimal, with only a 0.1% improvement from 2023.
      • Time to Full Gender Parity: At the current rate, it will take 134 years to
        achieve full gender parity globally, far beyond the 2030 Sustainable
        Development Goals (SDG) target.
      • Largest Gaps: The most significant gaps remain in Political Empowerment (77.5% unaddressed) and Economic Participation & Opportunity (39.5%
        unaddressed).
    • Top Performers:
      • Iceland: The most gender-equal country for the 15th consecutive year, with a score of 93.5%.
      • Top 5 Countries: Iceland, Finland, Norway, New Zealand, and Sweden.
      • Europe: Leading with 75% of its gender gap closed.
      • Northern America: 74.8% of its gender gap closed.
      • Latin America & Caribbean: 74.2% of its gender gap closed.
      • Lowest Region: The Middle East and North Africa, with 61.7% of its gender gap closed.
      • Southern Asia: Ranked 7th out of 8 regions, with a gender parity score of 63.7%.
    • India's Performance:
      • Global Ranking: India slipped to 129th place in 2024 from 127th in 2023 out of 146 countries.
      • Regional Ranking: Fifth in South Asia, after Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan. Pakistan ranked last in the region.
      • Political Empowerment: India ranked 65th globally.
      • Parity in Leadership: Ranked 10th in terms of years with female/male heads of state over the past 50 years.
• According to the Global Energy Transition Index released by the World Economic Forum on 19 June 2024, India has been ranked 63rd out of 120 countries surveyed in the index.
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recently unveiled the comprehensive Artificial Intelligence Preparedness Index. This tool ranks 174 countries based on their readiness to adopt AI technologies. Singapore, Denmark, and the United States lead the list among advanced economies (AEs). India, classified as an emerging market (EM), ranked 72th globally.
• Environmental Performance Index released by the Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy. India ranks 176th out of 180 countries, ahead of only Pakistan, Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar. Estonia tops the 2024 EPI, followed by Luxembourg and Germany.
• In the 18th edition of the Global Peace Index (GPI) 2024, released by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), India is ranked 116th out of 163 countries. Iceland remains the most peaceful country, followed by Ireland in 2nd place, Austria in 3rd, New Zealand in 4th, and Singapore in
  5th.
• India is listed on 116th rank and is far behind its neighbours Bhutan (21), Nepal (80), China (88), Bangladesh (93) and Sri Lanka (100).
• According to World Health Organization (WHO) annual report, “2023 Antibacterial Agents in Clinical and Preclinical Development: An Overview and Analysis.” The report assesses the global pipeline of antibacterial agents, including antibiotics. It shows that 84% of antibacterial R&D is in high-income countries, and 12% in upper-middle-income countries, with China,  Russia, and South Africa contributing 7%, 3%, and 2% respectively. Lower-middle-income countries, including India, contributed 4%, with India alone contributing just 1% to global
  antibacterial R&D.
• According to the 9th edition of the " Sustainable Development Report (SDR)" by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), the world is falling significantly behind in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the UN in 2015.The report reveals that, on average, only 16% of the SDG targets are on track to be achieved by 2030, while the
  remaining 84% have shown a reversal in progress.
• 2024 SDG Index - Top 5 Countries:

1. Finland
2. Sweden
3. Denmark
4. Germany
5. France

India is ranked 109th.

• The World Economic Forum (WEF) released its annual report titled “Fostering Effective Energy Transition 2024.” According to the report, India is ranked 63rd on the global Energy Transition Index (ETI) 2024. Sweden reclaimed the top position with an ETI score of 78.4, followed by Denmark (75.2) in 2nd place and Finland (74.5) in 3rd place.
• According to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)’s Global Liveability Index 2024, Vienna, Austria’s capital, has been named the most liveable city. Copenhagen (Denmark) held its 2 nd position, while Zurich(Switzerland) held its 3rd position. Notably, no Indian city is ranked in the top 10 most liveable cities in the world for 2024.

• Subbiah Nallamuthu, a renowned wildlife filmmaker from Chennai(Tamil Nadu) was honoured with the Dr V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award during the inauguration of the 18th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF 2024)
• Siddesh Sakore, a farmer from Kendur village, Maharashtra, and founder of AGRO  RANGERS, was named ‘Land Hero’ by the United Nations Convention to Combat
  Desertification (UNCCD).
• The United Nations World Summit on the Information Society (UN’s WSIS) 2024 - ‘Champion’ Award has been awarded to the Centre for Development of Telematics
  (C-DOT) in Geneva, Switzerland. The award was given for the project ‘Mobile-Enabled Disaster Resilience through Cell Broadcast Emergency Alerting’ which was recognised
  under Artificial Intelligence (AI).
• Ernst & Young (EY) World Entrepreneur of the Year 2024, at a ceremony in Monaco
• has been awarded to Vellayan Subbiah Executive Vice-Chairman of Tube Investments of India (TII) and Chairman of Cholamandalam (Chola) Investment and Finance Company Limited,
• Delhi-based coach Nar Singh has been awarded with Dilip Bose Award for Lifetime Achievement in Coaching by All India Tennis Association(AITA). AITA also introduced a new Lifetime Achievement Award for women' s Coaches, presenting the inaugural award to Rohini Lokhande of Pune, Maharashtra, one of India' s earliest women' s coaches.
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has received the ' Best Conduct of Business Regulator' Award in the Asia Pacific from the Asian Banker for its commitment to transparency, fairness, and investor protection in
  India' s securities markets.
• As per the Kantar BrandZ “2024 World’s Most Valuable Brands” report, 4 Indian companies—Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), HDFC Bank, Airtel, and Infosys— were featured among the top 100 most valuable global brands.

• Central Banking Awards 2024: recognise excellence in a community that had faced significant policy and operational challenges amid heightened inflationary pressures, rapid technological change and environmental transition

• Vinod Ganatra, a filmmaker and editor from Gujarat became the first Indian to be honored with the ' Nelson Mandela Lifetime Achievement Award'  of South Africa for his contribution to films.
• Bilan Media, Somalia’s first and only all-women news team has won the 2024 Press Freedom Award at the 36th One World Media Awards ceremony in London, UK. Bilan became the first Somali media team to receive this honour.
• Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB), a Regional Rural Bank sponsored by Canara Bank, received the National Award from the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) for maximum enrollment under Atal Pension Yojana (APY).

• Pakistan’s multi-mission  ommunication satellite, PakSAT-MM1 has been
  launched by China , from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center using a Long
  March-3B (LM-3B) carrier rocket.
• PraVaHa—Parallel RANS Solver for Aerospace Vehicle Aero-thermo-dynamic Analysis—is a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) at its Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Trivandrum, Kerala.
• The EarthCARE (Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer) satellite has been launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). EarthCARE will study how clouds and aerosols impact Earth's climate.
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), announced Mission TRISHNA (Thermal Infra-Red Imaging Satellite for High-Resolution Natural Resource
  Assessment), in collaboration with the French space agency CNES. Set to
  launch in 2025. TRISHNA will monitor Earth's surface temperatures to help mitigate climate change.
• SpaceX’s Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built, completed its first full test flight. It launched on June 6, 2024, from Texas. After the flight, the booster landed softly in the Gulf of Mexico, and the spacecraft landed in the Indian Ocean.
• The International Astronomical Union’s Working Group Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN) has named three newly discovered craters on Mars as ‘Lal’ crater, ‘Mursan’ crater and ‘Hilsa’ crater. ‘Lal’ in honor of Professor Devendra Lal, ‘Mursan’ after the town in Hathras district, Uttar Pradesh, and Hilsa’ after the town in Nalanda district, Bihar.
• Orbit Connect India, a joint venture between Reliance Industries’ Jio
  Platforms and Luxembourg-based SES, has received approval from IN-SPACe to operate satellites over India.
• Manav Rachna University (MRU) is the first university in Delhi NCR to install a ‘Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver’ and Space Weather Laboratory, in collaboration with the National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL)-ISRO.
• Sankara Eye Foundation India has launched India's 1st Innovation Lab for eye care, The lab focuses on advancing research and development in eye care.
• The Ministry of Defence and Bengaluru-based SpacePixxel Technologies has signed a contract with to design and develop a miniaturized satellite that can
  carry multiple advanced payloads up to 150 kg for the Indian Air Force.
• “Pushpak”- Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing EXperiment (RLV- LEX-03)- conducted by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Chitradurga, Karnataka.
• NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO, has signed a
  Launch Service Agreement with the Australian-Indian firm Space Machines Company to launch the second Optimus spacecraft named Space MAITRI (Mission for Australia-India’s Technology, Research, and Innovation), represents a significant milestone in the Australia-India space partnership.

• Indian shuttler Tanvi Sharma won the Women’s Singles title at the Yonex Bonn
  International 2024 by defeating Wang Pei Yu of Chinese Taipei.
• Indian athletes won 7 medals, including 3 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze, at the Taiwan Athletics Open 2024 in Taipei City.
  • Women’s Long Jump: Nayana James - Gold
  • Men’s Javelin Throw: Devarakeshavi Prakasha Manu - Gold
  • Men’s 800 meters: Ankesh Choudhary – Gold
• French Open 2024: Grand Slam tennis tournament that was played on outdoor clay courts. It was held at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France, from 26 May to 9 June 2024.

• International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup 2024
  (Rifle/Pistol) held from 31st May to 8th June 2024 in Munich, Germany.
  • India won 2 medals (1 gold and 1 bronze) and finished 3rd on the medal tally
  • Sarabjot Singh secured the gold in the men’s 10m air pistol, and Sift Kaur Samra won bronze in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions.
  • 14th edition of the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2025 will be hosted by India. This will be the 1st time ever that a FIH Hockey Junior World Cup has
    24 participating teams. India will host the tournament for the 4th time since 2013.
  • Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal was the runner-up in the Men’s Singles at the Internazionali di Tennis Città di Perugia 2024 (ATP Challenger 125), held in Perugia, Italy. Luciano Darderi of Italy won the title by defeating Nagal in the
    finals.
  • Odisha government has extended its sponsorship of Hockey India for another
    three years, until 2036, which will mark the 100th anniversary of Odisha becoming a separate state.
  • Indian contingents has won 9 medals (3 gold, 1 silver, and 5 bronze) at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Contender Lagos 2024, held from June 19 to 23 in Lagos, Nigeria. Sreeja Akula won the Women’s Singles title by defeating China’s Yijie
    Ding in the finals, becoming the first Indian to win a Women’s Singles title at a WTT Contender event.

• The Indian Army launched ‘Vidyut Rakshak’ on June 5. This new system
  monitors, protects, and controls generators. It was developed by Major
  Rajprasad R S of the Army Design Bureau and was launched by the Army’s Vice Chief, Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi.
• Bengaluru-based AXISCADES Technologies Limited has developed a first-of-its- kind Man Portable Counter Drone System (MPCDS) for the Indian Army. The system was designed and manufactured under a Rs 100 crore agreement with the Indian Army.
• Pune-based Sagar Defence Engineering Private Limited has secured a contract from DRDO’s Technology Development Fund (TDF) to develop Underwater Launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (ULUAVs).
• The Armed Forces of Ukraine have officially launched the "Unmanned Systems Forces (USF)," a new military branch dedicated to unmanned systems. Ukraine is the first country to establish a branch solely focused on drone systems.
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has handed over the Medium Range-Microwave Obscurant Chaff Rocket (MR-MOCR) to the Indian Navy at a ceremony in New Delhi.
• At the “Partners in Progress” symposium in Bengaluru, American and Indian defense leaders emphasized the growing importance of the military partnership between the US and India. This dialogue comes as security issues in the Indo-Pacific region increase, highlighting the need for stronger defense and strategic cooperation between the two countries.
• The Indian Army has received its first batch of Nagastra-1, an advanced suicide drone designed for precise strikes. This drone, which can be carried by a person, helps reduce soldier risk by accurately targeting enemy camps.
• The 8th edition of the Japan-India Maritime Exercise 2024 (JIMEX-24) between the Indian Navy (IN) and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) commenced at Yokosuka, Japan. The Indian Navy is represented by the indigenous stealth frigate INS Shivalik.