PM Modi honoured with Slovakia’s highest honour

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1 PM Modi honoured with Slovakia’s highest honour

During his visit to Slovakia,  Prime Minister Narendra Modi  was   awarded the country’s highest civilian honor, the Order of the White Double Cross (First Class)  . This honor is considered a symbol of the strengthening ties between India and Slovakia and India’s growing global standing. This is the 33rd international honor bestowed on Prime Minister Narendra Modi by a foreign country. On this occasion, the Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the Government and citizens of Slovakia.

2 India and Slovakia sign 11 agreements to enhance bilateral cooperation

 

 

India and Slovakia  have elevated their relationship to a comprehensive partnership, signing 11 agreements to enhance bilateral cooperation  Following   talks between  Prime Minister Narendra Modi  and Slovak  Prime Minister Robert Fico, the agreements were signed in various areas, including migration, digital technology, and defense  . The two leaders also agreed to work towards the early implementation of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, which is expected to significantly strengthen bilateral economic ties. In the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to this European nation, Mr. Modi stated that elevating the relationship to a comprehensive partnership symbolizes shared beliefs, priorities, and a future. The Prime Minister stated that he discussed ways to give new direction to the relationship with Mr. Robert Fico. Agreements were signed in the areas of labor migration, defense, digital technology, higher education, and quantum communications. Mr. Modi and Mr. Robert Fico expressed support for the orderly, safe, and legal movement of skilled professionals and welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of labor migration to facilitate movement.

3 The 52nd G-7 summit begins in Evian, France.

 

The 52nd G-7 Summit  began in Evian, France  . Leaders of the world’s major economies are discussing major international challenges. French President Emmanuel Macron hosted a working dinner on the theme ” Working together to address major international challenges .” Earlier, Mr. Macron formally welcomed the leaders of the G-7 countries to the summit, including US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa. The G-7 Summit is an international forum  held annually by the leaders of G-7 member countries Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the USA .

4 Flight operations resume from Jewar Airport, IndiGo becomes the first airline

Aviation company IndiGo  commenced flight operations from   Noida International Airport (NIA) in  Jewar  , Uttar Pradesh   on Monday  . This makes IndiGo the first airline to operate from this airport. According to the airline, the first flight arrived from Lucknow to Noida International Airport, while the first departure was for Bengaluru. The airport was inaugurated by PM Modi on March 28th  . The first phase of construction has been completed. The terminal and runway have been constructed on approximately 3,300 acres of land. The project cost ₹11,000 crore. Noida Airport will be built in four phases. Upon completion, it will be the largest airport in Asia and the sixth largest in the world.  The foundation stone for the airport was laid on November 25th  , 2021. Approximately 12 million passengers will be able to travel from here each year.

5 ASI and National Museum of Denmark sign MoU for underwater archaeological exploration of historic Danish ship ‘Oresund’

 

The Underwater Archaeology Wing  of  the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)  and  the Nyord – Centre for Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage of  the National Museum   of Denmark (Copenhagen) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)  to undertake a submerged archaeological project to locate and document the remains of the historic Danish ship “Oresund,”   which sank off  the Karaikal coast  of  Puducherry  in  1619 AD. The “Oresund” holds special significance in maritime history, as  it is believed to be the first Danish ship to reach India  . Shortly after arriving in Indian waters, the ship sank off Karaikal. Consequently, it has become a vital archaeological resource for understanding early maritime relations between Denmark and India, as well as the broader history of seafaring and trade in the Indian Ocean in the early 17th century. Under the terms of the MoU, the project will focus on non-invasive archaeological surveys using modern technology and scientific methods to locate potential remains of the shipwreck. This exploration will be conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India’s Underwater Archaeology Wing in collaboration with the National Museum of Denmark. This collaboration marks a major achievement for the Underwater Archaeology Wing, as it is its first joint archaeological project with an international organization.

6 The Vice President released the book titled ‘Agathiyar – The Unifier’ at Upa-Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

 

Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan  has said that the unity of the country is not a recent phenomenon, but an ancient civilizational truth cherished by sages and wise thinkers for thousands of years. Releasing the book  ” Agatthiyar – The Unifier ” at Upa-Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, the Vice President said that the book  highlights the enduring legacy of sage Agatthiyar and the deep cultural unity that has held India together for thousands of years. The book was written by   O. Shama Bhat  and  Dr. M.N. Sudha  of Mysore. Professor Kalyani has translated the book into Tamil . The Vice President also praised the magazine ” Kalaimagal ”  for bringing out this book . He said that the magazine has been doing sterling service for over 95 years, preserving and promoting Tamil literature, culture, and heritage for generations to come.

7 Sudarsan Patnaik won the Russia Grand Sand Master Cup 2026

 

Odisha  -based  sand artist Sudarsan Patnaik  has become the first Indian  to win   the prestigious  Russian Grand Sand Master Cup 2026. He received the award at the II International Festival of Sand Sculpture held in Russia on   June 11, 2026.  Patnaik was recognized for his outstanding contributions to sand art and his thought-provoking artwork highlighting the issue of global warming. The jury unanimously selected him for this prestigious award,  praising his artistic talent and his efforts to use the medium of sand art for  social and  environmental awareness . His sculpture, based on the theme of global warming , was approximately  3 meters high  . The sculpture depicted two contrasting aspects of the Earth, highlighting environmental degradation and conservation efforts. The award was presented by General Director Elena Alexandrovna. Sudarsan Patnaik is one of the world’s most renowned sand artists. He  hails from PuriOdisha  , and for decades has used sand art to convey messages related to environmental protection, social awareness, humanitarian work, and global peace.

8 The 19th Mumbai International Film Festival 2026 was inaugurated with a call to establish India as a creative powerhouse of the world.

 The 19th edition  of  the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) , India  ‘s   premier festival for documentary, short fiction, and animation films,  opened on Monday evening  at the Ravindra Natya Mandir in Dadar, Mumbai,  amid a grand celebration of cinematic excellence, cultural diversity, and creative innovation.  Dr. L. Murugan, Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs  , inaugurated the festival and delivered the keynote address, setting the tone for the week-long event, positioning India as an emerging global hub for storytelling, content creation, and creative entrepreneurship.  Recognized as South Asia’s  oldest and largest film festival dedicated to non-feature cinema, the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) has long been a vibrant celebration of documentary, short fiction, and animation filmmaking.  Established in 1990  and organized under the aegis of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,  Government of India,  MIFF has evolved into a prestigious international platform, attracting filmmakers, artists, and cinema lovers from around the world.

9 NEO, the world’s first commercial brain chip, has been approved.

 On  June 15th , China  approved  the world’s first brain chip, “NEO  .” This  is the first chip that can be used for commercial use  . NEO is the world’s first commercially approved  brain-computer interface (BCI)  chip. NEO was jointly developed by Beijing’s  Tsinghua University  and  Shanghai-  based  NeuraCal Technology  . The first version of the NEO chip is primarily designed to help patients  suffering from spinal  cord injuries and  paralysis  . The NEO device will help such patients regain control over parts of their nervous system. This chip reads brain signals and converts them into digital commands. NEO is a coin-sized implant that contains eight electrodes that are placed on the protective membrane (dura mater) over the brain. Using these commands, patients can control robotic gloves or other assistive devices. According to experts, the risk of bleeding and cell damage in implanting NEO is low, hence its approval. This technology  can improve the lives of millions of people suffering from brain and nerve diseases like Parkinson’s, epilepsy, stroke and depression, apart from paralysis  . More than 36 tests of the NEO chip have been conducted since October 2023. Elon Musk’s company has also developed the ‘Neuralink’ brain chip, but it has not been approved yet. Brain-computer interface is a technology that provides direct communication between the human brain and external devices (such as a computer, robotic arm or wheelchair).

10. Traditional Raja Festival in Odisha

According to  the Hindu calendar  , on  Monday, June 15th  , the Sun will move from Taurus to Gemini  . This Sun’s entry into Gemini is called   Mithun Sankranti  . On this special occasion , a special festival, ” Raja Parva, ” is celebrated in Odisha  . This festival typically lasts three to four days. During this festival,  a sense of respect and devotion towards Mother Earth and womanhood  is expressed. According to traditional Odishan beliefs, Mother Earth menstruates during Mithun Sankranti. Just as women are allowed to rest during menstruation, the tradition of giving Mother Earth rest on this special day is also observed. Therefore, in Odisha, activities such as farming, plowing, and digging are avoided during Raja Parva.

11 India won 2 gold medals in the  Archery World Cup Stage 3

 On  June 14th , Indian archers Dheeraj Bommadevara  and  17-year-old Kumkum Mohod  won  the gold medal in the mixed team event  in  Turkey  . Dheeraj and Kumkum won the medal at the Archery World Cup Stage 3 recurve mixed team championship held in Antalya, Turkey. The Indian pair displayed a brilliant performance,  defeating reigning Olympic champions Oh Ye-jin and Kim Jae-deok of South Korea  5-1 in the final.  This  is  the first international gold medal for both Dheeraj and Kumkum. In the final of the men’s individual event,   Dheeraj defeated Lee Woo Seok of South Korea 6-4 to  win the gold medal. With this,  Dheeraj became the third Indian to win the recurve individual World Cup title  . This is the first time India has won two gold medals at the same World Cup stage. This is the first World Cup mixed team gold medal for 17-year-old Kumkum Mohod. Thus, Dheeraj achieved a historic feat by winning two gold medals in Antalya. India  finished second in the medal tally behind China  , while  archery leader South Korea came in fourth  . The championships   were held in Antalya, Turkey, from June 9  to  14.

12 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day  is observed  every year  on  15  June . This day is not just a formal event, but an occasion to shake the conscience of humanity. Its purpose is to raise awareness about violence, neglect, economic exploitation and emotional abuse against older persons  and to encourage collective efforts to protect their respect, safety and dignity. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was  started in the year 2006.  Its original objective was to convey the message that elder abuse is not just a personal or family matter, but a serious social and human rights problem.  In the year 2011, the United Nations General Assembly  officially recognized 15 June as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

13 International Family Remittances Day

International Day of Family Remittances (IFR) is celebrated   every year on  June 16th  . This day  honors the contributions of millions of migrant workers who  work away from home  and regularly send a portion of their earnings home to ensure a better future for their families. Supported by the United Nations, this day aims to highlight the social and economic role of family remittances. International Family Remittances Day was established in 2015 at the initiative of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The main objective of this day is to highlight the importance of remittances sent by workers working abroad or away from their home regions to families and local economies. The United Nations General Assembly also supported this initiative and gave it global recognition.