1. Now video can be created from text, indigenous AI model ‘Varya’ launched
“Varya,” an indigenous video generation AI model developed in collaboration with the India AI Mission , was launched on Thursday. It was developed by AI-based transformation company Avtar . The company claims that this model can create high-quality videos at a very low cost and in a short time , making AI video creation accessible to the masses at large. “Varya” has been designed keeping in mind India’s diverse cultural, linguistic, and social context. The model is capable of creating scenes from different regions, festivals, communities, food, clothing, public spaces, and daily life. Its aim is not just to create videos, but to transform simple ideas into impactful visual stories. Avtar was among the companies selected by the India AI Mission to develop indigenous AI capabilities. The mission’s subsidized national AI computing infrastructure played a key role in the development of “Varya.” The company explained that “Varya” uses distillation technology, which reduces the video creation process from 50 steps to just four. Despite this, the video quality is not affected.
2 Bureau of Indian Standards releases IS 20201:2026 in line with protection of indigenous crop varieties and Sustainable Development Goal-2
The Bureau of Indian Standards, under the Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, recently published new Indian Standard requirements, IS 20201:2026, Community Seed Bank Management . The standard, developed by the Biodiversity Sectional Committee (EED-06) within the Bureau of Standards’ Environment and Ecology Division (EED), provides a comprehensive, structured management framework for community seed banks (CSBs) across the country . As an agrarian society, India is facing the impacts of climate change, including erratic rainfall, rising temperatures, and prolonged droughts. India’s indigenous seed varieties are an invaluable and vital resource. Various traditional seeds possess natural drought tolerance, disease resistance, and high nutritional values. By providing standardized operating rules for decentralized, community-operated seed banks, IS 20201:2026 promotes the conservation of these indigenous seeds, thereby enhancing agricultural efficiency and ensuring long-term food security. It also reinforces central initiatives like the National Food Security and Nutrition Mission, which provides a one-time assistance of ₹50 lakh for the establishment of community seed banks. It is also provided statutory protection under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001 and the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. The Bureau of Indian Standards was established under the BIS Act, 2016. It is the national standards body of India involved in the harmonious development of standardization, marking and quality certification activities.
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Government of India, in collaboration with the World Bank Group, successfully concluded a two-day regional high-level policy dialogue, titled ” SAPLING Dialogue 2026, ” in Ahmedabad, Gujarat . The South Asian Policy Leadership for Improved Nutrition and Growth (SAPLING) is a multi-stakeholder platform led by the World Bank Group focused on policy reform, investment mobilization, and agri-tech expansion. It is fully aligned with the World Bank’s AgriConnect initiative, which aims to reach 300 million farmers by 2030 through infrastructure and policy reforms. The theme of the dialogue was ” Unlocking Value: Advancing Food Processing for Job Creation and Sustainable Growth in South Asia .”
Recently , the Kerala Forest Department launched the e-court integration feature for its HAWK ( Hostile Activity Watch Kernel ) system, making Kerala the first state in India to have a fully digital and judiciary-integrated wildlife crime management system . HAWK is a cloud-based information management system that maintains an interlinked database of wildlife crimes, criminals, and wildlife deaths . It provides forest officials with ecological intelligence and comprehensive case management. The system was developed to track habitual offenders, centralize data, and bridge information gaps across the state for more effective wildlife crime monitoring and prevention. HAWK was jointly developed by the Kerala Forest Department and the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI). Its development began in 2017, it was officially launched in Kerala in 2019 and later expanded to Karnataka (2022), Tamil Nadu (2025) and Odisha (2025).
Recently, the Union Rural Development Minister announced an interim allocation of ₹95,692 crore for the Vikasit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-GRAM G) to ensure a smooth transition from MNREGA. The Vikasit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission Gramin is a new rural employment and livelihood scheme that replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) and will be effective from July 1, 2026. The scheme provides 125 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. It also mandates timely payment of wages within 15 days of completion of work. The funding structure is tailored to state capacity, with a 60:40 Centre-State ratio , 90:10 for North-Eastern and Himalayan states , and full (100%) central funding for Union Territories without legislatures. The final disbursement formula is likely to be notified on July 1, 2026. The draft rules propose using the 16th Finance Commission’s horizontal financial transfer formula to determine central allocations to states. State governments can notify a total of 60 days of work-free period during the peak sowing and harvesting seasons to prevent shortages of agricultural labour, while ensuring that workers still receive 125 days of employment during the remainder of the year.
On June 11 , the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) appointed senior diplomat Rudra Gaurav Shrestha as India’s next Ambassador to Turkey . Rudra is a 1999 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer and was India’s Ambassador to Iran from 2023 to the present . During his diplomatic career, Rudra has served in France, Mauritius, Afghanistan, Singapore, and Bhutan. Rudra also served as India’s High Commissioner to Mozambique from 2016 to 2019. In 2022, Rudra was an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). From 2020 to 2023, Rudra served as Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
7 Indian Army finds ‘kamikaze’ drones
On June 12th , the indigenous defense company SMPP delivered 106 “Kamikaze” drones to the Indian Army . The Kamikaze drones, also known as ” Peacekeepers (Agniveg) ,” can strike at a range of 180 km . These drones are powered by turbojet engines and include 100 operational and 6 training drones . These Kamikaze drones can fly at speeds of up to 450 kmph , exceeding the 320 kmph of the Peregrine Falcon, the world’s fastest flying bird . The Kamikaze drones are resistant to jamming and cannot be deflected from their targets through spoofing. This delivery is a testament to India’s indigenous defense manufacturing capabilities and unmanned warfare capabilities. They were developed with the assistance of the Belarusian firm KB Indela . Kamikaze drones are drones that self-destruct upon striking a target. They are also known as loitering munitions . The Kamikaze drone derives its name from the “kamikaze” attacks of World War II. At that time , Japanese pilots used kamikaze, or suicide attacks, by crashing their aircraft into enemy ships. Drones offer the advantage of being inexpensive and capable of delivering precise strikes, targeting tanks, radars, artillery, and military installations. These drones also have the capability to launch precision strikes against critical military infrastructure, logistics hubs, command centers, radar installations, and other strategic targets.
On June 12 , Google’s senior director René Mayhofer resigned from his post. Austrian-born Mayhofer is a scientist and cybersecurity researcher . In his personal blog, René, along with resigning, also accused Google of compromising ethical values on security matters related to AI . René is known for working in sectors like mobile security, digital identity encryption, privacy and network security. In 2025, René was selected as the European Commission’s Encryption Technology Roadmap Expert. In his research papers of 2019 and 2023, he explained how Android keeps user apps and systems safe from cyber threats.
9 SpaceX issues world’s largest IPO at $75 billion
On June 12th , the rocket company of the world’s richest businessman, Elon Musk, was listed on the US stock market Nasdaq . The company has set the final price of its IPO at $135 . After this listing, which is happening at a valuation of $1.77 trillion, or approximately Rs 168 lakh crore, Elon Musk could become the world’s first trillionaire. SpaceX is raising a record $75 billion, or approximately Rs 7.15 lakh crore, through this issue. This single IPO by SpaceX exceeds the total amount raised by all US IPOs in 2024 and 2025. This is the world’s largest IPO. SpaceX’s valuation has reached an all-time high. Musk’s total wealth has crossed the $1 trillion mark. SpaceX’s success has opened up new possibilities in space tourism and satellite communications.
10 Kane Williamson retires from international cricket
Former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has retired from international cricket with immediate effect. He holds the record for most runs and centuries for New Zealand . His retirement marks the end of Williamson’s 16-year international career. Williamson played his last Test at Lord’s, where New Zealand lost to England. The 35-year-old Williamson made his Test and ODI debuts in 2010 and T20I debuts in 2011. Across all three formats, Williamson is New Zealand’s leading run-scorer and highest century-maker. Across all three formats, Williamson has amassed 19,346 runs in 452 innings across 378 matches, including 48 centuries and 103 half-centuries. Williamson has also been New Zealand’s most successful captain. The right-handed batsman captained New Zealand in 40 Tests, 91 ODIs, and 75 T20Is. Under his captaincy, the Kiwis reached the final of the 2019 ODI World Cup. Williamson was named Player of the Tournament. He also led the Kiwis to the final of the 2021 T20 World Cup. Williamson also led New Zealand to victory over India in the 2021 Test Championship.
11 Asian Games gold medallist Jaspal Rana passes away
Indian shooter and Asian Games gold medalist Jaspal Rana has passed away at a hospital in New Delhi. He was 49 years old. Rana worked as a coach for Indian pistol shooters . Jaspal Rana trained Manu Bhaker in shooting and helped her win two bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics . Jaspal was India’s high performance coach in the 25m pistol since February 2025. Jaspal specialized in pistol shooting events, particularly the 25m center fire pistol, 25m standard pistol, and 10m air pistol. Jaspal Rana won eight medals at the Asian Games, including four gold, two silver, and two bronze. Jaspal won 15 medals, including nine gold, four silver, and two bronze, at the Commonwealth Games. Jaspal won a gold medal at the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima. Jaspal was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1994. Jaspal represented India at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. In 1997, the government honored him with the Padma Shri. Jaspal won several gold medals at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, including a world record-equalling 25m center-fire pistol event.