Daily Current Affairs 6 June 2024

1. World Environment Day, 2024

• World Environment Day is celebrated annually on 5 June to raise awareness about environmental challenges.
• In 2024, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosts this significant day with a focus on land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience.
• The history of World Environment Day can be traced back to 1972 when the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment was held in Stockholm, Sweden.
• As a result of this conference, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was established on 15 June 1972.

2. Indian Universities climb in QS 2025 Global Rankings

• The 2025 QS World University Rankings highlight significant improvements for Indian universities, with 61% rising in rank.
• IIT Bombay: Climbed from 149th to 118th globally, securing the highest position among Indian institutions.
• IIT Delhi: Secured the 150th rank.
• IISc Bangalore: Improved from 225th to 211th.
• Other advancements include IIT Kharagpur, IIT Madras, and the University of Delhi.
• Globally, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) retains its title as the world’s best institute for the 13th consecutive year.

3. NOTA creates new record in Madhya Pradesh, crosses 1 Lakh figure

• In Madhya Pradesh, the None of the Above (NOTA) option has achieved a significant milestone by crossing the 1 lakh mark.
• This record reflects citizens’ active participation in the democratic process and their desire for better governance.
• NOTA allows voters to express dissatisfaction with all available candidates, signaling the need for more credible and accountable political choices.

4. Total foodgrain production in country estimated at over 3,288 lakh tonnes in 2023-24

• The 2023-24 total foodgrain production in India is estimated at 3,288.52 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT).
• While this is slightly lower than the foodgrain production of 2022-23, it represents a significant increase of 211.00 LMT compared to the average foodgrain production over the last five years (2018-19 to 2022-23) of 3,077.52 LMT.
• Key highlights include rice, wheat, and nutri/coarse cereals contributing to this robust production.

5. 77th World Health Assembly

• The Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly (WHA 77) is currently underway in Geneva, Switzerland, from 27 May to 1 June 2024.
• This year’s theme is “All for Health, Health for All.”
• Delegates have approved a four-year, US$ 11.1 billion strategies for global health, emphasizing climate change, aging, migration, pandemic threats, and equity.
• The WHA serves as a crucial platform for shaping global health policies and fostering collaboration among nations.

6. Om Birla re-elected, breaks 20-year lok sabha trend

• Om Birla, the Lok Sabha Speaker, has broken a 20-year trend by being re-elected as a Member of Parliament (MP).
• He secured victory in the Kota parliamentary seat with a substantial margin of 41,139 votes.
• This historic achievement marks the first time a presiding officer has been re-elected to the Lower House in two decades.
• The last speaker to achieve this feat was P. A. Sangma during the 11th Lok Sabha (1996-1998).

7. Justice Hima Kohli heads Supreme Court’s internal complaints panel

• Justice Hima Kohli has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Supreme Court Gender Sensitisation and Internal Complaints Committee (GSICC).
• This committee, reconstituted by the Chief Justice of India, aims to address sexual harassment issues within the Supreme Court precincts.
• The 12-member committee includes legal experts, professors from law universities, and senior advocates.

8. India takes Australia to WTO arbitration over trade changes

• India has taken Australia to arbitration at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over changes to services commitments that could impact trade.
• These changes seek to lower global trade costs by $125 billion. It’s a significant move as India aims to protect its rights and obligations in the services sector.
• The dispute resolution process at the WTO allows for arbitration, and India has initiated this step due to Australia’s modifications.

9. ISRO developed PraVaHa Software for aerodynamic design and analysis

• PraVaHa (Parallel RANS Solver for Aerospace Vehicle Aero-thermo-dynamic Analysis) is a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software developed by ISRO.
• It simulates external and internal flows on launch vehicles, winged, and non-winged re-entry vehicles.
• PraVaHa aids in aerodynamic design studies, predicting aerothermal loads during launch and re-entry.
• It’s designed to utilize both CPU and GPU architecture, replacing commercial software for aero characterization.

10. South Korea officially launched its space agency KASA

• South Korea has officially launched its space agency, the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA).
• Modeled after NASA in the United States, KASA aims to lead policy and industrial development in South Korea’s aerospace sector.
• The agency’s creation was a key campaign pledge of the Yoon administration.
• With a vision to become one of the top five global space powers by 2045, KASA will foster over 2,000 aerospace companies and generate 500,000 jobs.
• Yoon Young-bin, a former aerospace engineering professor, heads KASA, emphasizing private-led industry growth.

11. Sanya Malhotra’s “Mrs” triumph at New York Indian Film Festival

• Sanya Malhotra won the Best Actress award at the New York Indian Film Festival 2024 for her role in the film “Mrs”.
• The movie, a remake of the Malayalam film “The Great Indian Kitchen”, revolves around societal expectations and challenges faced by Sanya’s character in her marital life.
• Her performance has garnered widespread praise, and the film is set to release in theaters soon.

12. Volvo to issue World’s first EV battery passport ahead of EU rules

• Volvo Cars is launching the world’s first EV battery passport for its flagship EX90 SUV.
• This passport records the origins of raw materials, components, recycled content, and carbon footprint.
• Developed in partnership with U.K. startup Circulor, it utilizes blockchain technology to map supply chains.
• Battery passports will be mandatory for electric vehicles (EVs) sold in the European Union from February 2027.
• The passport provides transparency to car buyers and aligns with Volvo’s goal of producing only full-electric cars by 2030.

13. Former Indian all-rounder Kedar Jadhav announced his retirement

• Kedar Jadhav, the Indian all-rounder, has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.
• Jadhav represented India in 73 ODIs and 9 T20Is after making his debut in an ODI against Sri Lanka in November 2014.
• As a spin-bowling all-rounder, he scored 1,389 runs at an average of 42.09 and took 27 wickets.
• His notable stints in the Indian Premier League (IPL) included playing for the Chennai Super Kings.