1 Bhartruhari Mahtab became Lok Sabha Protem Speaker
On June 24, President Draupadi Murmu administered the oath to Bhartrihari Mahtab as the Protem Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha . He is a 7-time MP from Cuttack seat in Odisha . Bhartrihari Mahtab contested from Cuttack seat for the first time in 1998. Before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he was part of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). This time, contesting on a BJP ticket, Mahtab defeated BJD’s Santarup Mishra by 57077 votes. In the last term, Mahtab was the chairman of the Standing Committee on Labor, Textiles and Skill Development. Bhartrihari Mahtab was also made a member of the Accounts Committee. His father Harekrishna Mahtab has been the first Chief Minister of Odisha . Mahtab completed his early education in Bhadrak and did his graduation and master’s in English from Utkal University. He is the owner and editor of his father’s newspaper ‘ Odia Dainik The Prajatantra ‘.
2 Kozhikode became India’s first ‘City of Literature’
On June 23, Kerala ‘s self-government minister MB Rajesh announced that Kozhikode will get the status of UNESCO ‘s ‘ City of Literature ‘. Kozhikode is a city located on the coast of the Arabian Sea. Kozhikode has a literacy rate of 96.8% . UNESCO declared Kozhikode as India’s first ‘City of Literature’ . ‘ Kerala Literature Festival ‘ is organized every year in Kozhikode. Kozhikode is the second largest city in the state of Kerala. It was earlier known as Calicut . The name Kozhikode is derived from koil-kota (fort), which means ‘ fortified palace ‘.
3 Coal Ministry launches India’s first pilot project for underground coal gasification in Jharkhand
On June 24, the Ministry of Coal announced the launch of India’s first pilot project for underground coal gasification (UCG) in the Kasta coal block in Jharkhand ‘s Jamtara district . Eastern Coalfields Limited, a subsidiary of Coal India , has initiated this project. Here coal will be converted into gases like methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. UCG is the process of converting coal present in the ground into combustible gas. After this process, electricity is produced from coal. These gases will be used to make synthetic natural gas, fuel, fertilizers, chemical feedstock for explosives.
4 JP Nadda launched Diarrhea Stop Campaign-2024 in New Delhi today
Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda launched the Diarrhoea Roko Abhiyan-2024 at a function in New Delhi . He launched a campaign to distribute ORS solution and zinc tablets to children in the presence of Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel and Pratap Rao Jadhav . This campaign will start from July 1 and will run till August 31. Its objective is to bring the child mortality rate due to childhood diarrhea to zero . Under this, ORS solution and zinc tablets will be given to children up to five years of age.
5 In 141 countries, less than one-third of cabinet ministers are women: United Nations
113 countries around the world have never had a woman hold a top government position and only 26 countries are led by women. Women are still largely excluded from positions of power and diplomacy, according to UN Women’s Global Data on Women Political Leaders 2024. The UN said only 23 percent of ministerial positions are held by women and women make up less than a third of cabinet ministers in 141 countries as of Jan. 1, 2024. Seven countries have no women represented in their cabinets.
6 ‘India Africa Postal Leaders Meet’ is being organized in India
The ‘ India Africa Postal Leaders Meet ‘ is being organized in India from 21st to 25th June, 2024 with the objective of further strengthening the ties between the administrations of African countries and India in the postal sector . It is an initiative under the ” South to South and Triangular Cooperation ” programme of the Universal Postal Union , organized in collaboration with India Post and United States Postal Service. The meeting is also significant in the backdrop of India’s other visionary initiatives of organizing the ‘Voice of Global South Summit’ and India-Africa Forum and engaging the African Union in the G20 during India’s chairmanship in 2023. For this historic meeting, the organizations of the Department of Posts have sent 42 heads of postal administrations and other senior management personnel from 22 African countries in the Global South as delegates.
7 Gaurav Banerjee becomes MD and CEO of Sony Pictures
On June 24, Sony Pictures Networks India appointed Gaurav Banerjee as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Gaurav has been appointed in place of NP Singh , who has worked in Sony Group for 25 years. Gaurav Banerjee is currently the content executive of Disney Plus Hotstar. He was made the business head of Star Bharat Hindi and English Movies, Kids and Infotainment and Regional (East). During this time, he executed content in many languages and also led films. Gaurav started his career as an anchor in a media news channel. He has a master’s degree in film making and TV production from Jamia Millia Islamia University, Delhi .
8 Government appoints Atul Kumar Chaudhary as Secretary, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
The government on June 20 appointed Atul Kumar Chaudhary as the new Secretary of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) , a post which fell vacant following the retirement of V Raghunandan on May 31.
9 Manoj Jain appointed as Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Electronics Limited
Shri Manoj Jain assumed charge as Chairman and Managing Director of Navratna Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) on June 20, 2024. He was Director (R&D) since September 26, 2022 and was also given the additional charge of Director (Bangalore Complex) from August 1, 2023.
10 India wins record 32 medals at 43rd World Medical and Health Games
According to the Armed Forces Medical Services , four of its officers have won a record 32 medals at the 43rd World Medical and Health Games held in Saint-Tropez, France from June 16 to 23, 2024. The annual World Medical and Health Games , also popularly known as MedGames , is the world’s largest sporting event for medical and health professions from across the globe. The first MedGames was held in Cannes, France in 1978. Lt Col Sanjeev Malik, Major Anish George, Captain Stephen Sebastian and Captain Dania James of the Armed Forces Medical Services won a total record 32 medals -19 gold medals, 9 silver medals and 4 bronze medals – for India at the MedGames, Saint-Tropez.
11 Dheeraj Bommadevara won bronze medal at Archery World Cup 2024 held in Antalya
22-year-old archer Dheeraj Bommadevara won two bronze medals for India at the Archery World Cup 2024 Stage 3 held in Antalya, Turkie on 23 June 2024. The Indian team ended its campaign in Antalya with four medals- one gold, one silver and two bronze. The Archery World Cup 2024 Stage 3 was organised by World Archery from 18 to 23 June 2024 in Antalya, Turkie. Dheeraj Bommadevara, who has already qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics, won the bronze medal in the men’s recurve play-off event defeating Olympic medallist Mauro Nespol of Italy 7-3. In the mixed recurve event, Dheeraj Bommadevara in partnership with Bhajan Kaur won the bronze medal defeating Mexican pair of Alejandra Valencia and Matias Grande 5-3 in the bronze medal playoff. The Indian women’s compound team of Aditi Swamy, Jyothi Surekha Vennam and Preneet Kaur won their third consecutive gold medal of the year at the Archery World Cup Stage-3 in Antalya, Turkey. 21-year-old Priyansh lost to world number 1 Dutchman Mike Schlosser in the final of the men’s individual compound event. Priyansh had to settle for the silver medal while Holland’s Mike Schlosser won the gold medal.
12 International Women’s Day in Diplomacy 2024
International Day of Women in Diplomacy is observed every year on June 24. It is a day to honour and recognise remarkable women in the field of diplomacy and decision-making globally. International Day of Women in Diplomacy provides the world with an opportunity to recognise and appreciate the work of women diplomats. The theme of International Women’s Day 2024 is ‘ Inspire Inclusion ‘. International Day of Women in Diplomacy (IDWID) was established recently during the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which took place from September 14, 2021 to September 13, 2022.
13 Passport Seva Day 2024
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) celebrated the 12th Passport Seva Diwas on 24 June 2024 to commemorate the enactment of the Passport Act on 24 June 1967. Along with this, a 3-day Regional Passport Officer (RPO) Conference was held in Delhi on 22-24 June.
14 International Widows Day 2024
International Widows Day is celebrated every year on 23 June across the world . The main objective of this day is to promote the importance of empowering widows globally. The main objective of this day is to mobilize support for widows and spread awareness about their situation. Many women around the world face challenges after losing their life partners and struggle for a long time for basic necessities, their human rights and dignity. International Widows Day was first recognized by the United Nations on June 23, 2011.
15 United Nations Public Service Day 2024: June 23
The United Nations Public Service Day is celebrated every year on June 23. It highlights the contribution and role of public service in the development of all regions around the world. The day recognizes the value and virtue of public service to communities. It also recognizes the work of public servants and encourages youth to pursue careers in the public sector.
16 World Hydrography Day 2024
Every year on 21st June ‘ World Hydrography Day ‘ is celebrated, which helps us to know about oceans, seas, rivers, lakes and various water bodies. It is celebrated every year to promote the importance of hydrography as a branch of science. This day also helps in recognizing the efforts of hydrographers. Hydrography helps to know the water bodies of rivers, lakes, ponds and seas on the earth. The theme of World Hydrography Day for the year 2024 has been kept as ‘ Hydrographic Information – Enhancing Safety, Efficiency and Sustainability in Marine Activities ‘.
17 World Rainforest Day 2024
Every year June 22 is celebrated as World Rainforest Day . It is celebrated to raise awareness about the importance of rainforests and to promote their conservation and sustainable management. Rainforests are the source of many resources like fresh water and clean air. These forests absorb many harmful gases including carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere. The theme of World Rainforest Day 2024 is “ Empowering the World in Defense of Our Rainforests .”
