Air Quality Monitoring System and Air-Pravah app Launched

• S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and IT, initiated the Indigenous Air Quality Monitoring System (AQ-AIMS) and released the Air-Pravah App on June 5, 2024.
• These are being created using technologies backed by MeitY.  It is a relatively affordable option that complies with the Make in India policy.
• Three versions are available, based on the requirements of different businesses. According to the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, the system that has been established will be useful in granting different types of environmental clearances.
• The "Air-Pravah" mobile application is included with the AQ-AIMS for monitoring the Air Quality Index in real time.
•  It provides easy setup, automated updates, unit conversions, AQI comparison, real-time data visualization, support for multiple devices, data analysis tools, and remote monitoring.

DoT Launched an Initiative to support MSME

• The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) announced on June 5, 2024, the launch of an effort to assist startups and MSMEs in the Industry 4.0 transformation.
• Proposals for an "Industry 4.0 Baseline Survey among MSMEs" are being accepted, and the project aims to support digital transformation and get the industry ready for the introduction of 5G and 6G technologies.
• The survey aims to encompass five distinct industries in both the northern and southern regions of India.
•  According to the Department, the main suggestions will serve as the cornerstone for legislative initiatives aimed at achieving Industry 4.0's revolutionary acceptance.
• To take part in this poll, organizations and startups are asked to submit proposals by June 11th.

‘Ek Ped Maa ke Naam’ Campaign Launched

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi On June 5, 2024 inaugurated the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign to celebrate World Environment Day by planting a Peepal tree sapling at Buddha Jayanti Park in Delhi.
• He was joined by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena.
• The act of planting the tree symbolizes India's commitment to protecting Mother Nature and promoting sustainable living.
• Over the past decade, India has made significant collective efforts to increase forest cover nationwide, reflecting the country's dedication to sustainable development.
•  It is also noteworthy how local communities have actively participated and taken the lead in these environmental initiatives, contributing significantly to the nation's green goals.

QS World University Rankings for Indian Institute 2025 Announced

• The most current QS World University rankings for 2025, released on June 5, 2024, demonstrate the significant advancements made by Indian universities.
• The scores of 61% of the universities increased. The Massachusetts School of Technology (MIT) has been named the greatest university in the world for 13 years running.
• The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) has moved up 31 places to take the 118th slot in the international rankings.
•  IIT Delhi and the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, who are very closely behind, take second and third place in India.
•  Remarkably, IIT Madras rose 58 spots while IIT Delhi rose 47 spots, demonstrating significant gains. Despite these advancements, IIT Indore declined, dropping 23 spots.

India Shines at INDEX Dubai 2024

• The 31st edition of INDEX Dubai, a prestigious international interior design expo, opened at the Dubai World Trade Center on June 5, 2024.
• One of the event's highlights was the India Pavilion, which featured a wide variety of goods from Indian businesses that specialize in furniture, textiles, and home design.
• The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), the Cotton Textile Export Promotion Council (Texprocil), and the Manmade and Technical Textiles Export Promotion Council (MATEXIL) have gathered 62 Indian exporters to showcase their most recent innovations at the pavilion.
• Rugs, quilts, bed linens, blankets, kitchenware, lighting accessories, home décor, and wall art are all part of the magnificent selection.
•  The India Pavilion was formally opened by Consul K Kalimuthu of the Consulate General of India in Dubai, highlighting the significance of this venue for Indian businesses.
•  For Indian businesses, INDEX Dubai offers a priceless chance to meet with consumers and highlight the distinctive workmanship of their goods.

India attended Singapore’s First IPEF Clean Economy Investors Forum

• India took part in the first-ever Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Clean Economy Investor Forum, which took place in Singapore on June 5, 2024.
• Sunil Barthwal, the secretary of the Department of Commerce, led the Indian delegation. 
• Sunil Barthwal recognized the meeting as a special venue that would help advance sustainable infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific region by bringing together international investors, project proponents, policy leaders, and academics.
• He emphasized the more than $500 billion in investment potential that India presents, especially in the clean energy value chain, which includes renewable energy, green hydrogen, electric vehicles, and the country's planned infrastructure transformation by 2030. 
• At the forum, over 25 Indian companies had the chance to present their projects to over 100 international investors.

PAKSAT MM1 Satellite Launched (Space)

• To improve communication and internet access throughout the nation, China and Pakistan jointly launched the PAKSAT MM1 satellite on June 5, 2024.
• The purpose of this satellite is to boost multiple communication services and internet access throughout Pakistan.
•  Launched from China's Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the province of Sichuan, the PAKSAT MM1 successfully entered its intended orbit.
• With PAKSAT MM1, you can expect better internet access, better TV programming, mobile phone services, and broadband connectivity.
• It is expected to start offering its services in August Pakistan's National Space Programme 2047 includes PAKSAT MM1, demonstrating the nation's dedication to enhancing its space capabilities.

Boeing’s Starliner Crewed Mission Launched

• The first crewed flight test of the Starliner spaceship was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida by Boeing and NASA on June 5, 2024.
•  Veteran NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are on board the spacecraft for this historic event, which represents a critical turning point in space exploration history.
• Boeing's Starliner mission, which will join the ranks of the first crewed spacecraft missions, marks a turning point in space travel history.
• Being the first female pilot on such a mission, Suni Williams will go down in history.
• The astronauts will journey to the space station for more than a day, during which time they will perform experiments and deliver essential equipment for repairs.

Tele MANAS cell for Armed Forces (Defence)

• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Defence signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 5, 2024, to enable cooperation between the two ministries in running a special cell of Tele MANAS
•  In the presence of senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, and VSM, officially opened the unique Tele-MANAS Cell on December 1, 2023, at the Armed Forces Medical College in Pune.
• The demand for telemental health services in the Armed Forces has emerged as a result of the recognition of the particular pressures that the Indian military faces.
•  A particular approach to mental health care in the armed forces is required due to the operating environment, cultural issues, and unique pressures associated with regional wars.
•  By signing the Memorandum of Understanding, the beneficiaries of the Armed Forces will have direct access to specialized care, ensuring that their specific mental health requirements are met quickly and successfully.

Collaboration for TRISHNA Satellite (Space and Technology)

•  The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the French Space Agency (CNES) have agreed to collaborate on a satellite mission named TRISHNA, aimed at enhancing environmental monitoring due to the global temperature rise on June 5, 2024.
•  TRISHNA, or the Thermal Infra-Red Imaging Satellite for High-resolution Natural Resource Assessment, is a significant project dedicated to capturing detailed images of the Earth's surface.
• Scheduled for launch in 2026, TRISHNA will operate from a sun-synchronous orbit 761 km above the Earth, primarily focusing on monitoring various environmental and climate parameters.
•  Its objectives include providing accurate assessments of water stress on land, changes in water quality in coastal and inland water bodies, and urban heat islands.
•  Additionally, TRISHNA will observe temperature anomalies, glacier dynamics, and snow-melt runoff, contributing to understanding geothermal resources and volcanic activity.

Sushil Kumar Singh

• Sushil Kumar Singh, a 1993-batch Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineering (IRSME) engineer, was named Chairman of the Deendayal Port Trust in Kandla, Gujarat, by the Center on June 5, 2024.
• Sushil Kumar Singh will be in charge of Deendayal Port Trust, one of the biggest state-owned ports in the nation, until his superannuation in January 2027.
• Gujarat cadre forest service officer SK Mehta, who completed his central deputation and went back to his parent cadre, was replaced by Sushil Kumar Singh.

Kedar Jadhav

• The 39-year-old former Indian all-rounder Kedar Jadhav announced his retirement from cricket on June 5, 2024.
• Kedhar Jadhav's choice was made soon after former Indian batsman and wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik announced his retirement from the game during his final Indian Premier League (IPL) match for the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
•  The last time Kedar Jadhav played for his country was in a One Day International (ODI) against New Zealand in Auckland on February 8, 2020.
•  In the 73 One-Day Internationals that he participated in for India Kedar Jadhav accumulated 1389 runs and grabbed 27 wickets during his international career.
•  He played in 9 T20 matches and amassed 122 runs, including one half-century.

Sanya Malhotra bagged Best Actress Award

• Sanya Malhotra has made history by receiving the Best Actress prize at the esteemed New York Indian Film Festival 2024 on June 5, 2024, thanks to her outstanding performance in the movie "Mrs."
•  This success highlights Sanya Malhotra's extraordinary acting talent and is a major turning point in her budding career.
• A version of the Malayalam film "The Great Indian Kitchen," "Mrs." explores the intricacies of marital expectations and cultural constraints.
• Both spectators and critics have responded well to Sanya Malhotra's portrayal of a woman juggling the responsibilities of marriage with her desire to forge her path and express herself without restraint.
• The NYIFF recognition emphasizes the popularity of stories that cut across cultural boundaries and borders.

Hindi Sahitya Bharati Award

• The renowned Annual Hindi Sahitya Bharati Award was presented to Krishna Prakash on June 5, 2024.
• Krishna Prakash is officer incharge of, the Mumbai Police's elite counterterrorism squad.
• The prize was presented during the multicultural Sab Me Ram Shashwat Shri Ram celebration in Mumbai.
• Two-time Guinness World Record holder Krishna Prakash set a third record when he started the largest letter-writing campaign via postcards to Lord Ram, allowing the average person to have a direct line of communication with the Almighty.
•  The idea that bringing intellectuals together on a common platform would greatly boost cultural and literary works gave rise to the Hindi Sahitya Bharati movement.

₹10000 Crore Project to Combat Air Pollution in Haryana

• The World Bank provided funding for a ₹10000-crore initiative initiated by Haryana Chief Secretary TV SN Prasad on June 5, 2024, to solve the state's air pollution problem.
• The National Capital Region (NCR) districts will be the first to implement the Haryana Clean Air Project for Sustainable Development in stages.
•  The project's first phase is centered on modernizing Haryana's air quality monitoring system. This entails building a brand-new laboratory and updating current ones.
•  A special programme management unit will also supervise implementation and provide training to those involved in managing air quality.
• The initiative allows funds to address several air pollution causes, such as household pollutants, road dust, industry, transportation, and construction.

Plastic Waste Management and Recycling Plant in Sikkim

• The Indian Army's Trishakti Corps observed World Environment Day on June 5, 2024, in North Bengal and Sikkim by implementing several "Go Green Initiatives."
• The opening of a facility in Changgu, East Sikkim, for the management and recycling of plastic trash was a major event.
•  As a component of the Army's Sadbhavana effort, this project seeks to advance sustainability, strengthen waste management, and strengthen the local economy.
• The factory will reduce pollution and landfill load by converting plastic waste into resources for bricks and road building.
•  Additionally, the programme creates jobs for the village residents, promoting their economic resiliency.
• Through several initiatives, such as solid waste management and the "Apashisht Mukt Sainya Abhiyan" to eradicate army landfills by 2027, the Indian Army is dedicated to environmental sustainability.

World Environment Day 2024

• The world marked World Environment Day on June 5, 2024.
•  Every year on June 5th, the world celebrates World Environment Day (WED), a momentous occasion that aims to increase public awareness and encourage action for environmental protection.
•  This day, which was created by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in 1972, provides a forum for bringing attention to urgent environmental problems facing the world and promoting sustainable lifestyles.
•  Under the motto "Our land, Our future" the theme for World Environment Day 2024 was "Land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience."
•  As the globe marks the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host the global celebrations of Global Environment Day in 2024.