Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 6th June 2024

National News

1. Volvo to issue world’s first EV battery passport ahead of EU rules 

• Volvo Cars has launched the world’s first EV battery passport recording the origins of raw materials, components, recycled content and carbon footprint for its flagship EX90 SUV, which is about to start production. 
• The passport was developed by Volvo (VOLCARb.ST) which is owned by China’s Geely (GEELY.UL), in partnership with UK startup Circular. 
• Battery passports will be mandatory for electric vehicles (EVs) sold in the European Union from February 2027 showing the composition of batteries, including the origin of key materials, their carbon footprint and recycled content. 

2. IIT Dharwad Unveils Innovative Fire Rescue Drone 

• A team of teachers and students of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Dharwad, led by Sudheer Siddapureddy and Ameer Mulla, has developed a fire rescue assistant drone. 
• The project was completed with funding from TiHAN Foundation, IIT Hyderabad (NMICPS, Government of India). 
• The unveiling and demonstration of the fire rescue assistant drone was held during the two-day workshop on Drone Design and Autonomous Navigation in Fire Rescue (DDANFR 2024) held at IIT Dharwad. 
• The event was organised by the Fire and Thermal Research Laboratory (FTRL) and the Control Systems and Robotics Laboratory. The fire rescue assistant drone is said to be the first of its kind. 

3. PM launches ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ Campaign 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign to commemorate the World Environment Day. 
• PM Modi planted a peepal tree sapling at Buddha Jayanti Park in Delhi. He was accompanied by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena. 
• World Environment Day, celebrated on June 5, commemorates the inaugural day of the 1972 Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. 
• The theme for this year’s celebration is “Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience,” focusing on the urgent need to restore and conserve our land resources. 

4. CBIC Chairperson inaugurates GST Bhawan at Rohtak 

• The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) chairman Sanjay Kumar Agarwal inaugurated the GST Bhawan, an official complex of CGST Rohtak Commissionerate at Rohtak, Haryana. 
• The newly inaugurated GST Bhawan is easily accessible to help GST taxpayers and is at the centre of connectivity to the main districts of Haryana. 

About Haryana 

• Capital – Chandigarh 
• Chief Minister – Nayab Singh Saini (replace Manohar Lal Khattar) 
• Governor – Bandaru Dattatreya 
• Legislative Assembly Seats- 90 

5. GRSE to build Research Vessel for DRDO in ₹500 crore deal 

• Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), a leading Indian shipyard, has emerged victorious in the bidding process for a new research vessel for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). 
• This significant win marks another milestone for GRSE and signifies its expertise in constructing specialized vessels. 
• This accomplishment highlights GRSE’s competitiveness in the shipbuilding industry and its ability to deliver cost-effective solutions. While the exact value of the contract remains undisclosed, estimates suggest it could surpass ₹500 crore, signifying a substantial project for the shipyard. 

6. 3rd Indian Analytical Congress held at CSIR-IIP Dehradun 

• The three-day 3rd Indian Analytical Congress was held in Uttarakhand’s capital, Dehradun. 
• The Congress was inaugurated by the Vice-Chancellor of Ladakh University, Prof. S.K. Mehta. 
• The conference aims to provide a platform for analytical scientists, technologists, academics, and students to exchange ideas and discuss the latest developments in this field. 
• The Indian Analytical Congress is an international conference organised by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Petroleum (CSIR-IIP) and the Indian Society of Analytical Scientists (ISAS-Delhi Chapter). 

International News 

7. Western Europeans question reliability of United States: survey 

• Only a tiny number of people in Britain, France and Germany put great faith in the United States to guarantee their security over the coming decade, a survey said on Wednesday, ahead of an election in which Donald Trump has thrown doubt on alliances. 
• The Eurasia Group's Institute for Global Affairs, in its survey of the three western European nations, still found that more people than not expected the United States to be at least "so- mewhat" reliable. 
• But only 6% said that the United States would be a "very reliable" guarantor of European security over the next decade, compared with 24% of Americans who believed their country was very reliable. 
• Mark Hannah, a senior fellow at the institute, said it was the first time the question was asked in the annual survey, but that the low number was striking after two years of President Joe Biden staunchly backing Ukraine against Russian invasion. 

Reason for doubts 

• "The fact that the United States has contributed to the extent it has, and yet only 6% of Western European respondents thought the United States was very reliable, is remarkable and shows this lack of certainty or confidence in American guarantees," he said. 
• Mr. Hannah, who formerly worked in Democratic Party politics, said the most likely reason for the doubts was Mr. Trump, who has described both NATO and assistance to Ukraine as wasteful and unfair to the United States. 

8. University of Massachusetts, USA, tops QS World University Rankings 2025 

• QS, the world's university ranking body, has released its new list. This time, the ranking of 61 per cent of Indian courses has improved, and the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT Bombay) has reached the top position in India. 
• The ranking of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Bombay) has risen from 149th rank to 118th rank in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings this year. 
• MIT topped the QS World University Rankings for the 13th year. Imperial College London of the United Kingdom has moved up from sixth place to second place. The University of Cambridge experienced a notable drop, falling from second place last year to fifth. 

Top Universities 

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), United States 
2. Imperial College London, United Kingdom 
3. University of Oxford, United Kingdom 
4. Harvard University, United States 
5. University of Cambridge, United Kingdom 

Top Ranked Universities-Asia 

• 8 National University of Singapore 
• 14 Peking University Beijing, China 
• 15 Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 

Top Ranked Universities-India 

• 118 Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) Mumbai 
• 150 Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD) New Delhi 
• 211 Indian Institute of Science Bangalore 
• 222 Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT-KGP) Kharagpur 
• 227 Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) Chennai 
• 263 Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) Kanpur 
• 328 University of Delhi New Delhi 
• 335 Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IITR) Roorkee 
• 344 Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG) Guwahati 
• 383 Anna University Chennai 

9. European Space Agency launches ‘Earthcare satellite’ in collaboration with Japan 

• The European Space Agency’s latest scientific mission ‘Earthcare satellite’ was successfully launched into space on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Southern California, United States on 4 June 2024. 
• The Earthcare satellite has been developed in a collaboration between ESA and Japanese space agency JAXA. It aims to study how the formation of clouds and the density of aerosols in the atmosphere affect the Earth’s temperature. 
• The satellite made its first contact with Hartebesthoek ground station in South Africa. It is expected to remain in orbit for at least three years collecting data for ESA’s Copernicus programme. 
• An abbreviation for Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer, Earthcare was first conceived in 2004 and was designed and built by Airbus and 75 sub-contracted companies. The mission has a cost price of around €850m (£725m). 
• The latest and largest of ESA’s Earth Explorer satellites, it is equipped with four cutting-edge instruments, including a cloud profiling radar provided by JAXA. 
• For the first time, these different instruments will capture different measurements simultaneously, giving scientists a better understanding of how clouds and aerosols – tiny particles such as dust or water droplets – disrupt Earth’s radiation balance and contribute to the climate crisis. 

10. IUCN releases first-ever global assessment of mangroves ‘Red List’ 

• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has released a report titled “Red List of Mangrove Ecosystems” warning that half of the world’s mangrove ecosystems are at risk of collapse. This is the first comprehensive global assessment of mangroves by the IUCN. 
• The study classified the world’s mangrove ecosystems into 36 different regions, called provinces, and assessed the hazards and risk of collapse in each region. 

Key facts

• The mangrove ecosystems of southern India, shared with Sri Lanka and the Maldives, are classified as "critically endangered". 
• In contrast, mangrove ecosystems in the Bay of Bengal region (shared with Bangladesh) and the west coast (shared with Pakistan) are classified as "least concerned". 
• More than 50% of the world's mangrove ecosystems are at risk of collapse (classified as either vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered), with about 1 in 5 facing a serious risk. 
• A study found that globally, climate change is the leading threat to mangrove ecosystems, affecting 33% of mangroves. 
• This is followed by deforestation, development, pollution and dam construction. The increasing frequency and intensity of cyclones, typhoons, hurricanes and tropical storms are affecting mangroves on some coastlines. 
• The coasts of the Northwest Atlantic, North Indian Ocean, Red Sea, South China Sea and Gulf of Aden are projected to be significantly affected. 
• Without increased protection, about 7,065 sq km (5%) more mangroves could be lost, and 23,672 sq km (16%) will be submerged by 2050. 

India 

• The current mangrove cover in India is 4,975 sq km, which is 0.15% of the country's total geographical area. West Bengal has the largest share of India's mangrove cover (42.45%), followed by Gujarat at 23.66% and Andaman and Nicobar Islands at 12.39%. 
• The South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal alone accounts for 41.85% of India's mangrove cover. This area includes the Sunderbans National Park, one of the largest mangrove forests in the world. 

11. Maldives announces ban on Israeli passport holders 

• The Maldives has banned the entry of visitors with Israeli passports amid growing public anger over the ongoing war in Gaza. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzo has vowed to ban Israeli passports following a Cabinet recommendation. 
• However, no official details were given. The President's Office further said that the Cabinet has decided to amend the necessary laws to prevent Israeli passport holders from entering the country and set up a subcommittee to monitor these efforts. 
• In a related move, Muizzo launched a national fundraising campaign called "Maldives in solidarity with Palestine." 
• The Maldives lifted the previous ban on Israeli citizens in the early 1990s and restored diplomatic ties in 2010. However, efforts to normalize ties stalled after former President Mohamed Nasheed was ousted in 2012, AFP reported. 
• Israel's Foreign Ministry has responded by advising its citizens not to travel to the Maldives and suggesting that those already there should consider leaving. 
• The Gaza conflict has led to the killing of at least 36,439 people, mostly civilians, by the Israeli Defense Forces. 

12. Netherlands emerges as India’s 3rd largest export destination in 2023-24

• The Netherlands has emerged as India’s third largest export destination after the US and UAE during 2023-24, even as the country’s merchandise shipments dipped by over 3 per cent, according to the commerce ministry data. 
• The main commodities which registered healthy exports growth in the Netherlands include petroleum products, electrical goods, chemicals and pharma. 
• India’s trade surplus with the Netherlands has increased to USD 17.4 billion in the last fiscal from USD 13 billion in 2022-23. 
• The Netherlands has taken over major destinations such as the UK, Hong Kong, Bangladesh and Germany. 
• India’s exports to the Netherlands rose by about 3.5 per cent to USD 22.36 billion in 2023-24 as against USD 21.61 billion in 2022-23. 
• In 2023-24, the bilateral trade between the two countries marginally dipped to USD 27.34 billion as against USD 27.58 billion in 2022-23. 
• The Netherlands is among the top trading partners of India in Europe, after Germany, Switzerland, the UK and Belgium. 

State News 

13. ‘BJP averted Adityanath’s removal as CM in 2021 

• Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's claim, during Lok Sabha campaign, that Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath was in danger of losing his post like several other BJP CMs had created ripples. Journalist Shyamlal Yadav's new book, At the Heart of Power: The Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, throws light on how Mr. Adityanath was indeed in danger of being replaced, back in 2021. 
• Mr. Yadav writes that, in May and June of 2021, several meets were held both in Delhi and Lucknow to discuss whether Mr. Adityanath was to be removed from the post. 
• "Before Yogi Adityanath could be convinced about the change of leadership, the BJP assessed that if he was removed, the party would suffer," he writes. 
• The matter was settled when Prime Minister Narendra Modi, met him in Lucknow. 

Banking and Financial News

14. Adani Group launches first ever credit card in collaboration with ICICI Bank 

• Adani One, the digital platform of the Adani Group and ICICI Bank have launched two variants of cobranded credit cards in partnership with Visa. 
• Available in two variants – Adani One ICICI Bank Signature Credit Card and Adani One ICICI Bank Platinum Credit Card. 
• This strategic partnership marks the Adani Group’s first venture into the financial sector, leveraging its unmatched reputation for excellence and innovation. 
• The launch marks Adani Group’s entry into the retail financial sector, offering cardholders up to 7% Adani Rewards Points on spending within the Adani ecosystem. 
• This includes services such as booking flights, hotels, trains, buses and cabs through the Adani One app, as well as spending at Adani-managed airports, Adani CNG pumps, Adani electricity bill payments and train bookings. 
• Cardholders also enjoy perks such as premium lounge access, free air tickets, Pranam meet and greet service, porter, valet and premium car parking services. 
• Additional privileges include discounts at duty-free outlets, savings on F&B spends at airports, free movie tickets and Adani Rewards points on groceries, utilities and international spends. 
• Jeet Adani, Director, Adani Group, highlighted the convenience and accessibility offered by the Adani One platform, which integrates various B2C businesses into the digital space. 
• The Adani One ICICI Bank Signature Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹5,000 with joining benefits of ₹9,000, while the Adani One ICICI Bank Platinum Credit Card has an annual fee of ₹750 with joining benefits of ₹5,000. 

Ashok Leyland's 'Sarathi Suraksha Policy' 

• Ashok Leyland, the Indian flagship of the Hinduja Group and one of the country's leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, has launched the 'Sarathi Suraksha Policy'. It is a comprehensive insurance policy designed to protect the driver community. 
• The "Sarathi Suraksha Policy" covers accidental death, permanent disability, and partial disability up to Rs 10 lakh per chassis. The company said that the policy also covers other things like children's special education bonus and accidental hospitalization. 

15. Defence Ministry signs MoUs with 4 Banks to onboard them as SPARSH Service Centres 

• Defence Accounts Department, Ministry of Defence has signed MoU with Bank of India, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India and Utkarsh Small Finance Bank in New Delhi to onboard them as System for Pension Administration Raksha (SPARSH) Service Centres. 
• The MoUs will provide last-mile connectivity to pensioners, especially in remote areas where they do not have technical wherewithal to log on to SPARSH. 
• These Service Centres will become an interface for pensioners for SPARSH, providing an effective medium to update their profile, register grievances, digital annual identification, data verification, besides fetching detailed information regarding their monthly pension. 
• SPARSH is an initiative of the Ministry of Defence which aims to provide comprehensive solution to the defence pensioners. It is a fundamental change in managing defence pensions as it focuses on bringing in efficiency, responsiveness and transparency. 

Appointment News

16. Cashfree Payments appoints Abhaya Hota as Independent Director 

• Payments and API banking company Cashfree Payments has appointed former NPCI MD & CEO Abhaya Hota as an Independent Director of the company. 
• He was the Managing Director & CEO of the National Payments Corporation of India, where he played a critical role in the design, development, and implementation of payment systems and policies in India. 

Recent Appointment in Banking & Insurance Sector 

• Independent Director of Cashfree Payments – Abhaya Hota 
• Chairman of ICICI Prudential Board – Sandeep Batra 
• MD & CEO of NARCL – P Santhosh (replace N Sundar) 
• Part-time Chairman of ICICI Bank – Pradeep Kumar Sinha (replace G. C. Chaturvedi) 
• CRO of Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services – Mahesh Rajaraman (replace Mallika Mittal) 
• MD & CEO of IndiaFirst Life Insurance – Rushabh Gandhi (replace R.M. Vishakha) 

17. Rakesh Mohan Joshi appointed as Vice-Chancellor of IIFT 

• International trade and management expert Rakesh Mohan Joshi took charge as vice-chancellor of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), a business school under the ministry of commerce. 
• Joshi a former Dean of the institute was on deputation to Bengaluru-based Indian Institute of Plantation Management as Director. 
• Prof Joshi has received his education and training from Harvard Business School, Boston; IIFT, Rajasthan University and National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal. 
• He has been associated with several multilateral organisations such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, UNCTAD, International Dairy Federation and Asian Productivity Organisation among others. 

Recent Appointment 

• Chairperson of Deendayal Port Authority – Sushil Kumar Singh (replace SK Mehta) 
• Chairman of Staff Selection Commission (SSC) – Rakesh Ranjan 
• CEO of Sony India – Gaurav Banerjee (replace NP Singh) 
• Chairperson of Committee A Of 77TH WHA Event – Apurva Chandra 
• Chairman of DRDO – Samir V. Kamat (one year extension) 
• Chairman of NAFED – Jetha Ahir

Sports News

18. Armwrestling set to be included in upcoming Asian Youth Para Games 

• The Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) announced the inclusion of armwrestling as an official sport in the upcoming Asian Youth Para Games. 
• The Games will take place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in September-October 2025. 
• The Youth Para Asian Games are an opportunity to introduce, grow and promote a new sport in the region. Previously also, we have had the chance to promote a sport in our programmes and there has been a lot of excitement. 
• Armwrestling, a popular sport in the Asian region and in fact all over the World, will be introduced in the sports programme of an Asian Youth Para Games for the first time in Tashkent. 
• The governing body of the sport, World Armwrestling Federation (WAF), is a recognized International Federation by the International Paralympic Committee. In India, the People’s Armwrestling Federation India, is the only affiliated unit of WAF. 

Important day

19. 6 June – UN Russian Language Day 

• UN Russian Language Day is observed on 6 June, and was established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2010. 
• This day is dedicated to promoting the study and appreciation of Russian language. It coincides with the birthday of Aleksandr Pushkin, one of the most prominent Russian writers and creators. 
• The birthday of Pushkin is February 1799. Pushkin is considered to be the father of contemporary Russian literature. His first poem was published when he was only 15 years old. 

Award News 

20. Sanya Malhotra wins ‘Best Actress’ award at New York Indian Film Festival 2024 for ‘Mrs’ 

• At the prestigious New York Indian Film Festival 2024, Sanya Malhotra made her name shine by winning the Best Actress award for her captivating performance in the film “Mrs”. 
• “Mrs” is a thought-provoking remake of the Malayalam film “The Great Indian Kitchen”, which highlights the complexities of societal pressures and marital expectations. 
• Sanya Malhotra’s portrayal of a woman who longs to find her own path and freely express herself while facing the challenges of being a wife has touched the hearts of both audiences and critics. 
• Earlier this year, Sanya Malhotra’s exceptional acting prowess was recognised with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for her role in the critically acclaimed film “Kathal”. 
• Sanya Malhotra's win at the New York Indian Film Festival is not only a personal triumph but also a testament to the significant progress being made by Indian cinema on the global stage.' 
• The 24th edition of NYIFF 2024 presented by Indo-American Arts Council, Inc. was held in New York from 31 May to 2 June. The New York Indian Film Festival is North America's oldest and most prestigious film festival showcasing cinema from India and the Indian diaspora. 
• Srijit Mukherji's "Padatik" After screening at the London Indian Film Festival and the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), the film has now won the Best Screenplay Award at the 2024 New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF). 

Schemes & Committees News

21. Haryana government will launch Rs 10,000 crore 'Haryana Clean Air Project' with the support of World Bank 

• Haryana Chief Secretary T.V.S.N. Prasad said that the state government will soon launch a Rs 10,000 crore project funded by the World Bank to tackle air pollution. 
• The Haryana Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development will be implemented in the state in a phased manner, with the first phase being implemented in the districts falling in the National Capital Region (NCR) and later it will be implemented in the entire state. 
• This was announced in the meeting of the Steering Committee of Haryana Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development held under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary. 
• The initial phase of the project focuses on upgrading Haryana's air quality monitoring infrastructure. This includes setting up a state-ofthe-art laboratory and modernization of four existing laboratories. 
• Additionally, a dedicated program management unit will be set up to oversee the implementation of the project. 
• To phase out older, more polluting vehicles, more incentives will be given to scrap them in exchange for EVs. Additionally, a model of setting up automatic testing stations (ATS) for monitoring vehicle health will be developed 
• As part of the project, industries will be encouraged to work on clean energy by providing financial incentives for switching to clean fuel for boilers and promoting the use of clean diesel generator sets by retrofitting or purchasing generators that comply with strict emission standards. 
• Addressing the sector’s significant contribution to air pollution, the initiative will focus on increasing green spaces in urban areas through setting up biodiversity parks and green belts. 
• Four state sample-testing laboratories have been set up in the state. In addition, 29 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQM) stations and 39 manual ambient air quality monitoring (MAAQM) stations are operational in various districts.