NATIONAL NEWS

India's First Carbon Neutral Village

• Union Minister of State, Kapil Patil, recently announced the development of India's first carbon-neutral village in Bhiwandi Taluka, located in Thane district.

• The government is actively working towards developing a carbon-neutral village in Bhiwandi Taluka, Thane district.

• This initiative aims to minimize carbon emissions and promote sustainable practices for a cleaner and greener environment.

• Along with the carbon-neutral village, 121 tribal villages are being developed as model villages.

• These model villages serve as examples for sustainable development, showcasing effective infrastructure, amenities, and improved living conditions.
• This scheme provides financial support to farmers, enhancing their livelihoods and promoting agricultural growth.

Lavender Festival Inaugurated in Bhaderwah

• Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the two-day lavender festival at Bhaderwah in Jammu.

• Bhaderwah has emerged as the Lavender capital of India and Agri StartUp destination.

• CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu organized the event as part of its 'One Week One Laboratory' campaign.

• Dr Jitendra Singh described Bhaderwah as the birthplace of India's 'Purple Revolution' and a destination for agri-startups.

• This is a flagship project of CSIR, under which lavender cultivation is being promoted in the temperate regions of Jammu and Kashmir region.

• The objective of this project is to increase the income of small and marginal farmers and to develop agri-based startups.

Uttar Pradesh Government Launches 15-Day Mega Registration Drive

• The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government launched a 15-day registration campaign for Micro, Small and Medium Entreprises (MSMEs) in all 75 districts across UP.

• The registration campaign will be organized across the state from 15 June 2023.

• It is to cover around 14 lakh such MSMEs that are not yet registered with the MSME Udyam portal, and providing them all the benefits of the schemes of the state government.

• More than 90 lakh MSMEs are active in the state but only 14 lakh are registered.
• In each district, the Directorate of Industries will organize camps for the registration of MSMEs.
• Additionally, the MSMEs themselves can also register by visiting the portal.
• The registration of MSMEs will provide them an identity, which will be essential for their operation.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025

• The next International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress will be held from 09 October to 15 October 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

• The United Arab Emirates was selected as the host country based on a rigorous evaluation process of its candidature.

• The United Arab Emirates has a long-standing collaboration with IUCN, with seven IUCN Member organizations and the National Committee based there.

• The country is home to 50 scientific and policy experts who are members of IUCN Commissions.

• The selection of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC) as the venue was supported by a broad range of governmental authorities and civil society organizations.

• Its purpose is to determine the world's most pressing environmental and development challenges and develop actions to address them.

BANKING

SBI Launches Project Kuber in Bengaluru

• State Bank of India (SBI), Bengaluru Circle, recently launched 'Project Kuber' to meet the banking needs of its customers.

• Project Kuber' aims to facilitate, and cater to various banking requirements of customers in Bengaluru Circle.

• The project includes the establishment of four Transaction Banking Hubs and one Corporate Salary Package Hub.

• These hubs will focus on increasing SBI's market share in liability products.

• The Transaction Banking Hubs will provide a range of services to both corporate and non-corporate clients.

• These services include account opening, onboarding on SBI's digital platforms, and catering to payment and collection-related requirements.
• The hubs will serve as a one-stop destination for digital banking services such as Yono Business, e-Payments, Cash Management Products, and more.

1st Indian Private Dairy to Launch Heat Index Insurance Plan to Farmers

• Dairy technology provider Stellapps’ fintech arm mooPay Private Limited, in partnership with IBISA Network, HDFC ERGO and Gramcover, has launched a unique heat Index-based insurance plan for farmers.

• The cover provides financial compensation to farmers of mooMark, the dairy supply chain arm of Stellapps, to offset income loss due to a fall in milk productivity during heat waves in summer.

• The cover guarantees insurance benefits for farmers if, over 60 days starting from May 1, 2023 temperatures exceed the specified limits for a predetermined number of days, with region-specific parameters.

• The claim settlement process is simple and hassle-free.

• The insurer takes the data of temperature trends for the insured period from a pre-agreed public database and compensates the claimant as per the prescribed benefits slab.
• Each insured cattle is eligible for a cover of a maximum of ₹2,000.

SPORTS

Flanders Cup 2023 Athletics

• Indian athlete Amlan Borgohain won two gold medals at the Flanders Cup 2023 Athletics Meet in Merksem, Belgium.

• Amlan Borgohain secured gold medals in both the men's 100m and 200m races at the Flanders Cup 2023 athletics meet.

• In the men's 100m event, Borgohain emerged as the fastest man with a time of 10.70s.

• Jamaican athlete Aubrey Allen secured the silver medal in the men's 100m event with a timing of 10.80s. Victor Hofmans from Belgium finished third, clinching the bronze with a time of 11.01s.

• The Flanders Cup, also known as the Internationaal Antwerps Athletics Gala, is significant athletics meet that is categorized as a Category F event in the World Athletics calendar.

Tamil Nadu to Host Khelo India Games 2023

• Tamil Nadu will be hosting Khelo India Games

• Chief Minister MK Stalin, announced that the Union Government has approved the state government’s request to allow Tamil Nadu to host the games and added that the event will showcase.

• Description Khelo India Youth Games, formerly Khelo India School Games, are the annual national-level multidisciplinary grassroot games in India.

• On the completion of five years of Khelo India, the Prime Minister recognizes the significant contribution of the initiative in fostering and nurturing sporting talent, aiming to create an optimal environment for the growth of sports in India.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

President of Turkey for 3rd Time

• Recep Tayyip Erdogan was re-elected as the President of Turkey for the third consecutive time.

• Erdogan received 14% of votes in the second round beating his challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who won 47.86%.

• Ambassador Virander Paul will be representing India at the ceremony

• In 2014 he became the country’s first popularly-elected president and was elected again in 2018 after securing new executive powers for the presidency in a 2017 referendum.

• Previously, he served as prime minister of Turkey from 2003 to 2014 and as mayor of Istanbul from 1994 to 1998.

‘Smile Ambassador’ for Oral Hygiene Campaign in Maharashtra

• Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar has been appointed as the ‘Smile Ambassador’ for the Maharashtra government’s oral hygiene campaign titled ‘Swachh Mukh Abhiyaan.

• Chief Minister Shri Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Shri Devendra Fadnavis signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for 5 years with Tendulkar for the major state-wide initiative.

• The Swachh Mukh Abhiyaan is a national campaign undertaken by the Indian Dental Association to improve oral health and hygiene and educate people about its importance.

• The campaign will lead the country to optimal healthcare and pave the way for a new model of oral hygiene.

• In March 2023, Savlon Swasth India Mission enlisted Sachin Tendulkar as the world’s first ‘Hand Ambassador’ to promote handwashing as a routine for better overall hygiene.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Spacex Launched 52 Starlink Satellites

• SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corporation) has launched Falcon 9 rocket topped with the 52 Starlink spacecraft lifted off from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base, United States of America (USA).

• It was the 14th launch and landing for this particular booster.

• According to astrophysicist and satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell, SpaceX has now launched more than 4,500 Starlink satellites, more than 4,100 of which are currently active.

• SpaceX already has permission to send 12,000 Starlink satellites to orbit, and it has applied for approval to launch another 30,000 on top of that.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Environment Day

• World Environment Day is celebrated every year on 05 June.

• It is to raise global awareness about environmental issues and encourage positive actions to protect the planet.

• World Environment Day 2023 is hosted by Côte d'Ivoire and supported by the Netherlands.

• Theme of World Environment Day 2023 is 'Solutions to plastic pollution'.

• The theme is chosen by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and serves as a guiding principle for activities and discussions worldwide.

• World Environment Day is observed by individuals, communities, organizations, and governments in over 100 countries.
• It serves as an opportunity to engage people from all walks of life and inspire them to take action for a sustainable future.
• The day is dedicated to increasing awareness about environmental challenges such as climate change, deforestation, pollution and loss of biodiversity.

OBITUTARY

Sanskrit Scholar Ved Kumari Ghai

• Sanskrit scholar Ved Kumari Ghai passed away in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K).

• She started her career as a professor of Sanskrit at Government College for Women, Parade, Jammu.

• She was a head of post graduate level Sanskrit Department, Jammu University until her retirement on 31 December 1991.

• She was a member of the Amarnath shrine board.

• For her significant contribution to the field of literature and education, she was awarded the country’s fourth highest civilian award, the Padma Shri Award on 31 March 2014.