1. PM Modi unveils 1,500 crore Multiple Development Projects in J&K during visit
Tags: State News National News
PM Modi launched development projects worth Rs 1,500 crore in Jammu and Kashmir during his two-day visit.
An Overview of the News
He laid the foundation stone and inaugurated 84 major developmental projects in the Union Territory, worth over 1,500 crore rupees.
PM Modi attended the "Empowering Youth, Transforming J&K" event in Srinagar on 20 June.
During the event, he distributed appointment letters to over 2,000 newly appointed government employees.
He also launched the Competitiveness Improvement in Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project, valued at 1,800 crore rupees.
On 21 June, PM Modi will lead the tenth International Yoga Day celebration in Srinagar, participating in a yoga session and addressing the gathering.
About Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir was a state of India till August 2019, which was bifurcated on 31 August 2019 to form two union territories named Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Capital- Srinagar (May–October), Jammu (November–April)
Lieutenant Governor - Manoj Sinha
Legislative Council - 36 seats
Legislative Assembly - 89 seats
2. PM Modi Inaugurates New Nalanda University Campus
Tags: State News National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the newly built campus of Nalanda University in Rajgir, Bihar.
An Overview of the News
The event was held at Sushma Swaraj Auditorium at Nalanda University.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Bihar Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha, along with other delegates, were present at the new campus of Nalanda University. The event was also attended by ambassadors from 17 countries.
Prime Minister Modi's Address
PM Modi emphasized the role of knowledge in making India developed by 2047.
Stressed that strengthening education and knowledge systems can help India achieve superpower status.
Mentioned the International Solar Alliance as an example of such initiatives.
The government aims to re-establish India as a major knowledge centre with a new identity in the education sector.
Remarks by Other Leaders
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar:
Spoke on the revival of Nalanda as a global bridge of learning.
Highlighted education, training, and capacity building as effective ways to promote international understanding.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar:
Praised the glorious history of ancient Nalanda University.
Acknowledged the ruins of ancient Nalanda University as a World Heritage site.
Historical Significance of Nalanda
Nalanda University, founded in Rajagriha (now Rajgir) in Bihar in the 5th century BC by Kumararagupta of the Gupta Dynasty, was among the earliest educational institutions globally.
It thrived under Gupta kings like Kumaragupta, Emperor Harsha of Kannauj, and later under the Pala empire.
Nalanda functioned not only as a university but also as a Buddhist monastery.
According to Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang, the university housed 10,000 monks and 2,000 teachers.
Aryabhata, the renowned mathematician and astronomer, led Nalanda University.
Prominent figures such as Harshavardhana, Nagarjuna, and Vasubandhu were among its notable students.
Nalanda boasted an illustrious 800-year tradition as a center of learning.
UNESCO recognizes two world heritage sites in Bihar: the Mahabodhi Mahavihara in Bodh Gaya and the remnants of the ancient Nalanda University.
3. Assam CM Inaugurates Janata Bhawan Solar Project
Tags: State News
On 16 June, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated the Janata Bhawan Solar Project in Guwahati.
An Overview of the News
This project features a 2.5-MW power generation capacity with a grid-connected rooftop and ground-mounted solar PV system.
Financial and Energy Details
Electricity Generation: The system is expected to yield an average of 3 lakh units of electricity monthly.
Investment: The project required an investment of 12.56 crore rupees.
Payback Period: The investment is projected to be recovered within 4 years.
Savings: Monthly savings are estimated at approximately 30 lakh rupees.
Environmental Impact
Carbon Emissions: The solar plant will reduce carbon emissions by 3,060 metric tonnes annually.
Lifespan: The solar plant has a lifespan of 25 years.
Significance
First in India: The Assam Secretariat Complex becomes the first-ever civil secretariat in the country to rely entirely on solar-generated electricity.
About Assam:
Location: It is a state located in the northeastern region of India. It is bounded by Bhutan to the north, Arunachal Pradesh to the east, Nagaland to the northeast, Manipur to the southeast, Mizoram to the south and West Bengal to the west.
Wildlife: Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park and Nameri National Park
Formation (as a state) - 26 January 1950
Capital - Dispur
Language - Assamese
Chief Minister - Himanta Biswa Sarma
Governor - Gulab Chand Kataria
Rajya Sabha - 7 seats
Lok Sabha - 14 seats
4. Tesam Pongte Unanimously Elected as Speaker of Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly
Tags: Person in news State News
Tesam Pongte, MLA from Changlang North, has been elected unanimously as the Speaker of the 8th Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly.
An Overview of the News
The special session of the Assembly commenced with the election of the Speaker.
Pro-tem speaker Ninong Ering announced Tesam Pongte's election as Speaker, as no other nominations were received.
Kardo Nyigyor, MLA from Likabali, was also elected unopposed as the Deputy Speaker of the 8th State Legislative Assembly.
About Arunachal Pradesh
It is a state located in the northeastern region of India. It shares its borders with the countries of Bhutan, China and Myanmar.
Establishment:- 20 February 1987
Capital:- Itanagar (Executive Branch)
Chief Minister:- Pema Khandu
Official flower:- Rhynchostylis retusa
Official Animal:- Gayal
5. Mohan Charan Majhi Sworn in as Odisha's First BJP Chief Minister
Tags: Person in news State News
Mohan Charan Majhi was sworn in as the first BJP Chief Minister of Odisha in a grand ceremony in Bhubaneswar.
An Overview of the News
Alongside Majhi, two Deputy Chief Ministers, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida, also took the oath.
Thirteen ministers were sworn in as part of the new government.
The oath was administered by Odisha Governor Raghubar Das.
The ceremony was attended by notable dignitaries including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Nitin Gadkari, Jual Oram, Dharmendra Pradhan, and Bhupinder Yadav.
Many chief ministers from BJP-ruled states, BJD supremo and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik, and other dignitaries were also present.
About Odisha
Formation - 1 April 1936
Capital - Bhubaneswar
Governor - Raghubar Das
Chief minister - Mohan Charan Majhi
Rajya Sabha - 10 seats
Lok Sabha - 21 seats
6. Pema Khandu Sworn in for Third Term as Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh
Tags: State News
Senior BJP leader Pema Khandu was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh for the third consecutive term.
An Overview of the News
The swearing-in ceremony took place at DK Convention Hall in Itanagar.
Along with Khandu, 11 other cabinet ministers were also sworn in.
The oath of office and secrecy was administered by the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Lt. Gen. KT Parnaik (Retd.).
The other state cabinet ministers include Chowna Mein, Byuram Bage, Nyato Dukam, Gabriel D Wangshu, Wangki Lowang, PD Sona, Mama Natung, Smt. Dasanglu Pul, Balo Raja, Kento Jini, and Ojing Tasing.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Health Minister JP Nadda, Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, Chief Ministers of Assam and Sikkim, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, and Arunachal East Parliamentary Constituency MP Tapir Gao attended the event.
In the Legislative Assembly elections, the BJP won 46 out of the total 60 seats.
About Arunachal Pradesh
It is a state located in the northeastern region of India. It shares its borders with the countries of Bhutan, China and Myanmar.
Establishment - 20 February 1987
Capital - Itanagar (Executive Branch)
Chief Minister - Pema Khandu
Official flower - Rhynchostylis retusa
Official Animal - Gayal
7. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav launched PM Shri Tourism Air Service
Tags: State News
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav Tourism launched PM Shri Tourism Air Service on June 13 to improve connectivity of destinations.
An Overview of the News
The Chief Minister inaugurated the first flight from Bhopal to Jabalpur at Raja Bhoj International Airport at 9 am.
The route of the flight was from Bhopal to Jabalpur via Rewa, then landed in Singrauli.
Dr. Yadav also inaugurated the ticket booking counter at Bhopal airport and distributed boarding passes to the passengers.
Eight cities including Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Rewa, Ujjain, Gwalior, Singrauli and Khajuraho are connected by this air service.
PM Shri Tourism Air Service is operated by Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board in a public private partnership with Jetserv Aviation Private Limited.
About Madhya Pradesh
In terms of area, it is the second largest state of India after Rajasthan.
According to the Indian Forest Status Report-2021, Madhya Pradesh has the maximum forest cover in the country in terms of area.
25.14% of its area is covered by forests.
Chief Minister - Dr. Mohan Yadav
Governor - Mangubhai C. Patel
Capital - Bhopal
8. Scientists Discover Rare Blue Ant Species, Paraparatrechina neela, in Eastern Himalayas After 121 Years
Tags: State News
A new species of ant, Paraparatrechina neela, has been discovered in the Siang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh.
An Overview of the News
This remarkable finding was made by a team of entomologists from the University of Florida, USA, and the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bengaluru, India.
Background of Discovery
Location: Remote village of Yingku, Eastern Himalayas
Observation: Ant found in a tree hole, 10 feet above ground
Previous Record: Last new species from this genus discovered 121 years ago by a British military mission
Funding: National Geographic Society supported the expedition to document local wildlife and assess environmental changes
Description of Paraparatrechina neela
Size: Less than 2 mm long
Color: Predominantly shiny blue body
Distinct Features:
Subtriangular head
Large eyes
Triangular jaw with five teeth
Significance: First blue-bodied ant among the 16,724 known ant species, marking a significant addition to the genus Paraparatrechina
Scientific Significance of the Discovery
Biodiversity: Highlights the rich biodiversity of the Himalayas
Ecological Insights: Demonstrates the unique ecological niches of ants
Entomological Impact: Reinforces that well-studied areas can still yield new species, enhancing our understanding of biodiversity and ecosystem complexity
Conservation Concerns
Ecosystem Diversity: Siang Valley is home to diverse ecosystems
Threats:
Large-scale infrastructure projects
Climate change
Impact: Adverse effects on local wildlife and millions of people dependent on these environments
Importance of Documentation: Discovering and recording new species like Paraparatrechina neela is crucial for developing informed conservation strategies to protect both human and environmental health
9. Inauguration of India's First 10MW Green Hydrogen Plant in MP
Tags: State News
Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) inaugurated its first Green Hydrogen (GH2) Plant at Vijaipur complex in Madhya Pradesh (MP).
An Overview of the News
The plant has a capacity to produce 4.3 tonnes per day (TPD) of hydrogen through a 10 MegaWatt (MW) Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Electrolyzer.
The PEM Electrolyzer, with a capacity of 10 MW, has been imported from Canada.
Hydrogen Purity and Pressure:
Hydrogen produced at this plant will have a purity of 99.99% by volume.
It will be generated at a pressure of 30 kilograms per square centimeter (kg/cm2).
Investment and Goals:
The 10 MW plant was built with an investment of Rs 231 crore.
This initiative aligns with GAIL's target of achieving net-zero status by 2040 and the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM)'s goal of reaching 5 million tons of annual green hydrogen production capacity for India by 2030.
Green Power Requirement:
GAIL is also establishing around 20 MW solar power plants at Vijaipur, including both ground-mounted and floating installations, to fulfill the green power requirement for the 10 MW PEM Electrolyzer.
Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL):
It is a government-owned energy company.
It focuses on natural gas trading, transmission and distribution.
GAIL is involved in solar and wind energy, telecommunications (GAILTEL) and power generation.
Founded-1984
Headquarters - GAIL Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi, India
Chairman & MD - Sandeep Kumar Gupta
10. Pune's Army Sports Institute Inaugurated Khelo India Hostel & Army Girls Sports Company
Tags: Defence State News
The Khelo India Sports Hostel and Army Girls Sports Company's first batch were inaugurated at the Army Sports Institute in Pune.
An Overview of the News
Key dignitaries present included Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pandey, Director General of Sports Authority of India Sandeep Pradhan, and celebrated athlete Ms. Anju Bobby George.
Khelo India Sports Hostel Integration:
The Khelo India Sports Hostel, funded by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, is now part of the Army Sports Institute.
This initiative aims to provide top-notch facilities and training opportunities to Khelo India athletes, enhancing their performance at national and international levels.
Army Girls Sports Company Establishment:
The Army Girls Sports Company has been established, focusing on four key sports disciplines: boxing, weightlifting, archery, and athletics.
This initiative represents a significant commitment to nurturing female sports talent across India.
Recruitment Process:
Over 1000 young girls from various parts of the country participated in national-level trials for the Army Girls Sports Company.
Following a rigorous talent identification process, 24 exceptional candidates were selected for the inaugural batch.
