Vice President releases book ‘When Audit Matters’ edited by former CAG Shri Vinod Rai

1 Vice President releases book ‘When Audit Matters’ edited by former CAG Shri Vinod Rai

Vice President Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan  released  the book “ When Audit Matters: CAG Interventions that Made a Difference ”  edited by  Shri Vinod Rai, former Comptroller and Auditor General of India,  at a function held at Upa-Rashtrapati Bhavan . Present on the occasion were Shri Vinod Rai, former Comptroller and Auditor General of India; Dr. Iqbal Singh Seviah, Director, Institute of South Asian Studies, Singapore; Shri Kapish Mehra, Managing Director, Rupa Publications; former senior officers of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service who contributed to the book and other distinguished dignitaries.

2 President appointed Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai as Chief Justice of Patna High Court

3 Union Minister Shri Jayant Chaudhary launched ‘Innovation Mantra’, a national initiative for grassroots innovators and entrepreneurs.

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE)  has launched  a  national initiative called  ‘ Innovation Mantra ‘. The initiative aims to strengthen grassroots entrepreneurship and expand opportunities for innovators in emerging India  . The program is being implemented  by the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD)  , with  the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), IIT Delhi  as the technical knowledge partner. The initiative was launched by Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, at IIT Delhi in the presence of policymakers, startup leaders, academic institutions, investors, and young entrepreneurs.

West Bengal  Chief  Minister Suvendu Adhikari  launched  the social security scheme Annapurna  at  Nabanna  .  . Under this , Rs 3,000 each  was transferred to the accounts of more than 2.8 million women. During the ceremony, five women were symbolically handed acceptance letters. Women and Child Development Minister Agnimitra Paul was also present. Beneficiaries have been given 90 days to register under this scheme. Women between the ages of 25 and 60 will be eligible for this scheme.

5 Congress leader DK Shivakumar sworn in as the 25th Chief Minister of Karnataka

6 Supreme Court constitutes committee to review Centre’s report on Aravalli definition

The Supreme Court  has  constituted a high-level expert committee   to review  the Central Government’s report on the definition and demarcation  of  the Aravalli mountain range . The committee  will be chaired by Kanchan Devi, Director General of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education  . The committee has been directed to submit its report by August 31 this year. The Supreme Court stated that an impartial and scientific assessment is essential to address key issues related to the conservation of the Aravalli ecosystem. Previously, in October last year, the Court stayed the implementation of the report submitted by the Ministry of Environment and directed a fresh review by experts. The committee will examine whether the proposed criteria for identifying the Aravalli Hills could significantly reduce the area under environmental protection and allow mining or other activities in ecologically sensitive areas. The committee will also assess the scientific basis of the height criteria used in the report and evaluate whether existing regulatory mechanisms are adequate to protect the Aravalli mountain range. The committee includes experts in forestry, geology, environment, and ecology.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi  has  congratulated Danish  Prime  Minister Mette Frederiksen ( Social Democratic Party ) on assuming the office of Prime Minister for the third  consecutive  term  . He also reiterated the commitment to further strengthen the Green Strategic Partnership between India and Denmark. Recently (19 May), PM Modi met Frederiksen in Oslo during his five-nation visit. During this, he invited Danish pension funds to increase investments in India. Mette Frederiksen (born 19 November 1977) is a Danish politician, who has been the Prime Minister of Denmark since June 2019. She is the second woman to hold the office of Prime Minister and also the youngest Prime Minister in Danish history.

8 Vipul becomes the new Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia

9 Germany abolishes transit visas for Indians

 On June 3 ,  Germany  abolished transit visas   for Indian citizens . Indian citizens will no longer need an airport transit visa (Type A) to transit through a German airport while traveling to a third country. This rule was implemented after being published in the German Federal Law Gazette (Bundesgesetzblatt). This exemption applies only to passengers staying in the airport’s international transit area (Type A). It does not apply to entry into Germany. If Indian travelers wish to exit the airport or enter German territory, they will need a visa. A transit visa is issued for a stopover during a trip from one country to another. For example, if you are traveling from India to another country (such as the US, Canada, or the UK) and your flight has a layover at a German airport, a separate transit visa will no longer be required.

Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar  released a booklet titled  From Aspiration to Achievement: Success Stories of Entrepreneurs and Innovators  in  New Delhi  . The booklet includes success stories of entrepreneurs who  have been supported through Venture Capital Funds  and  the Ambedkar Social Innovation and Incubation Mission  . The Union Minister said that the government is committed to promoting entrepreneurship, innovation, and self-reliance among the Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes. He said that the booklet showcases the impact of these efforts, which have created new opportunities for the underprivileged and aspirational sections.

11 Rajasthan achieves major milestone in digital health, creates 7.19 crore ABHA accounts

Rajasthan  has   achieved a significant milestone in  digital health services, becoming the second largest state in the country (after Uttar Pradesh)  by creating  over 71.9 million Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) IDs  under  the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)  . This achievement comes at a time when  the number of ABHA accounts nationwide  has surpassed 900 million. This is considered a significant milestone towards building a citizen-centric digital health system. The ABHA ID is a unique digital health identity that allows people to securely link and manage their medical records based on their consent. Through this ID, citizens can access health information on their mobile phones and avail seamless services at various hospitals and healthcare institutions. According to data from the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, the number of ABHA accounts in the country is continuously increasing. While this number stood at 147 million in 2021, it is projected to increase to 304 million in 2022, 506 million in 2023, 722 million in 2024, 845 million in 2025, and over 900 million in 2026. Health officials explained that ABHA is a key pillar of India’s digital health infrastructure, helping to create long-term health records across hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and digital health platforms.  Under this system, every registered citizen will be assigned a unique 14-digit ABHA Health ID.  is assigned a unique 14-digit ABHA Health ID, which serves as a digital repository of health records. Laboratory reports, prescriptions, test reports, and information related to pre-existing diseases can be securely stored on this platform.

12 Indian developer’s app ‘Guitar Wiz’ wins Apple Design Award