National news
NOTA Creates New Record In Madhya Pradesh, Crosses 1 Lakh Figure
- In Madhya Pradesh, None of the Above, NOTA, has created a new record in Indore in the Lok Sabha election results. For the first time in the electoral history of the country, NOTA has received so many votes.
- According to the information so far, NOTA has received 1 lakh 55 thousand votes. At the same time, BJP candidate Shankar Lalwani from Indore is going to create a new record by winning by about 7 lakh votes.
- So far, the record of the highest NOTA in the country is in the name of Gopalganj in Bihar. In the 2019 elections, NOTA registered 51,660 votes.
- In the polling held in Indore on May 13, out of a total of 25 lakh 27 thousand voters, 61.75% people voted. A total of 14 candidates are in the fray for this seat.
Madhya Pradesh:
- Capital: Bhopal
- CM: Dr. Mohan Yadav
- Governor: Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel
India’s Trade Dynamics with the Netherlands in FY24
As per the data of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI), the Netherlands emerged as the third largest export destination in FY24 after the United States of America (USA) and United Arab Emirates (UAE).
India-Netherlands Trade Progress in FY24:
- India’s exports to the Netherlands increased by 3.5% to USD 22.36 billion in FY24 as compared to USD 21.61 billion in FY23.
- This development comes despite a decline in India’s overall product shipments by more than 3%.
- The trade surplus was mainly due to increase in the shipment of goods which includes petroleum products (USD 14.29 billion), electrical goods, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.
- India’s trade surplus with the Netherlands has increased to USD 17.4 billion in FY24 from USD 13 billion in FY23.
- In FY24, the bilateral trade between India and Netherlands fell slightly to USD 27.34 billion, compared to USD 27.58 billion in FY23.
- The Netherlands is one of India’s major trading partners in Europe, following Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Belgium.
Netherland:
- Capital: Amsterdam
- Official language: Dutch
- President: Mark Rutte
Banking news
PNB and IIFCL Join Forces to Finance Infrastructure Projects
- PNB & IIFCL Signed MoU to Finance Infrastructure projects Punjab National Bank (PNB) and India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd (IIFCL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide long-term financial assistance for viable infrastructure projects.
- The MoU was signed in the presence of Atul Kumar Goel, Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEOO of PNB, and Padmanabhan Raja Jaishankar, MD of IIFCL.
- Under this MoU, the parties can mutually participate through a consortium or multiple lending arrangements, ensuring financial support for prospective borrowers after due diligence.
PNB:
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- CEO: Atul Kumar Goel (1 Feb 2022–)
- Founder: Dyal Singh Majithia
- Founded: 19 May 1894, Lahore, Pakistan
SEBI Establishes Ad-hoc Committee on Clearing Corporations (CCs)
- The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has set up an Ad-hoc Committee to review the ownership and economic structure of Clearing Corporations (CCs) and to suggest measures to ensure that CCs function as resilient, independent, and neutral risk managers.
- The ad-hoc committee will be chaired by Usha Thorat, former Deputy Governor (2005 to 2010) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
About Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
- Chairperson – Madhabi Puri Buch
- Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Established – 1992
Agreement news
MeitY In Collaboration With UNESCO Host National Workshop On Safe, Trusted, Ethical AI
- Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in collaboration with the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) South Asia Regional Office hosted a Workshop on Safe, Trusted and Ethical Artificial Intelligence in New Delhi on (5th June 2024).
- Speaking on the occasion, Additional Secretary, MeitY, Abhishek Singh elucidated that building a safe and trusted AI which will not result in user harm and will ensure a framework that will promote innovation is necessary.
- In his address, Principal Scientific Advisor, Professor Ajay Kumar Sood said that India aims to adopt a balanced approach on AI. He said that India has launched several initiatives including, the India AI mission to foster the development and adoption of AI.
The workshop aimed to establish a foundation for informed policy development that promotes equitable and sustainable AI adoption nationwide.
UNSECO:
- Founded: 16 November 1945, London, United Kingdom
- Headquarters: Paris, France
- Head: Audrey Azoulay
MoD Signs MoUs with Four Banks To On-board Them As SPARSH Service Centres
- Defence Accounts Department, Ministry of Defence has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) 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 Ministry said that 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.
MoHFW and MoD Collaborate to Operate Tele MANAS Cell at AFMC
- Memorandum of Understanding (MoU): Signed between Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and Ministry of Defence (MoD) for collaboration on Tele MANAS Cell.
- Location and Duration: Pilot project at Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) in Pune, Maharashtra for two years.
- Signatories: Aradhna Patnaik, Additional Secretary & Managing Director of National Health Mission, and Lieutenant General Daljit Singh, Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services.
- Inauguration: The Tele-MANAS Cell was inaugurated on 1st December, 2023, at the AFMC in Pune by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM in the presence of senior officials from MoHFW.
- About Tele-MANAS:
- Purpose: Digital extension of the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) offering 24/7 tele-mental health services.
- Access: Toll-free number 14416 available in each State and Union Territory.
- Coverage: 51 operational Tele MANAS cells across all 36 States and UTs, providing services in 20 languages
Appointment news
Deendayal Port Trust Gets New Chairperson
- In a significant move, the Centre has appointed Sushil Kumar Singh, an officer from the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineering (IRSME) of the 1993 batch, as the Chairman of Deendayal Port Trust in Kandla, Gujarat.
- One of the largest state-owned ports in the country, Deendayal Port Trust will be under Singh’s leadership until his superannuation in January 2027.
Singh has succeeded SK Mehta, a forest service officer from the Gujarat cadre, who has returned to his parent cadre after completing his central deputation
Rank And Report News
IIT Bombay Ranks 1st Indian Institute In QS World University Rankings
- The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) has ranked 1st Indian Institute in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings this year. First time the IITB has been ranked within the top 125 as IITB has secured the 118th position.
- It’s overall score is 56.3 out of 100. The institute has made a significant leap from 149th rank last year.
- The results, shows a notable improvement of 31 places in this year. Among the various criteria, IIT Bombay scored highest in employer reputation, ranking 63 globally.
- Prof. Shireesh Kedare, the Director of the Institute, credited the achievement to the collective efforts of faculty, students, and staff, expressing a commitment to further enhancement.
- IIT Delhi has improved its rank from 197th (in 2024) to 150th position (in 2025).
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, the United States of America (USA) has topped the list globally for the 13th time (2012 and from 2014 to 2025).
- Delhi based Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU), formerly known as Indraprastha University (IP university or IPU), has bagged the prestigious “Rising Star” award from the QS World Ranking.
Note: QS World University Rankings 2025, the 21st edition the annual ranking of universities based on eight key indicators. This edition features 1500 universities across 105 Higher education systems.
ILO Report Highlights Decline in Global Unemployment for 2024
- According to the International Labour Organization’s (ILO), World Employment and Social Outlook: May 2024 Update, the 2024 global unemployment is projected at 4.9% in 2024, slightly lower than the 5.0% in 2023, contrary to the prior projection (World Employment and Social Outlook Trends 2024 report) of 5.2%.
- The downward trend in joblessness is anticipated to stabilise in 2025, with unemployment persisting at 4.9%.
About International Labor Organization (ILO):
- Director-General– Gilbert Fossoun Houngbo
- Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
- Founded 1919
Award news
Mumbai’s Super Cop Krishna Prakash Honored with Hindi Sahitya Bharati Award
- The famous Annual Hindi Sahitya Bharati Award has been given to Krishna Prakash, who is well-known for leading Mumbai Police’s special counterterrorism team, Force One. The award was given out at Mumbai’s multicultural Sab Me Ram Shashwat Shri Ram event.
About Super Cop Krishna Prakash
Krishna Prakash is better known as the officer who heads Force One, the elite counter-terrorism unit of the Mumbai Police. Krishna Prakash is a two-time Guinness World Record holder who achieved his third this one for initiating the maximum number of letters through postcards to Lord Ram, enabling the common man’s direct connection with the divine.
Sanya Malhotra’s “Mrs” Triumph at New York Indian Film Festival
- At the prestigious New York Indian Film Festival 2024, Sanya Malhotra has etched her name in glory by winning the Best Actress award for her captivating performance in the film “Mrs.”
- This triumph marks a significant milestone in Malhotra’s burgeoning career and underscores her exceptional talent as an actress.
- Earlier this year, Sanya Malhotra’s exceptional acting prowess was recognized with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for her role in the critically acclaimed film “Kathal.” Her ability to inhabit diverse characters and bring them to life on the silver screen has garnered widespread admiration.
Important days
World Environment Day 2024, Date, Theme and History
- On June 5th of each year, the world observes World Environment Day (WED), a significant global event aimed at raising awareness and promoting action towards environmental protection.
- Established by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in 1972, this day serves as a platform to highlight pressing ecological issues faced by our planet and foster sustainable practices.
- This year, the theme for World Environment Day is ‘Land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience‘
UNEP: The United Nations Environment Programme
- Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya
- Founded: 5 June 1972, Nairobi, Kenya
- Founder: Maurice Strong
