Current Context : Recently, India and Sri Lanka launched Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre(MRCC).

This initiative underscores the deepening maritime security cooperation between India and Sri Lanka.

ABOUT

• MRCCs are part of an international network under the UN’s International Maritime Organisation.
• Objective : to monitor the sea lanes with swift response to emergencies, such as vessels in distress, rescue and evacuation of people and prevention of and containing environmental disasters such as oil spills.
• The MRCC, established by state-run Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), will serve as the nerve centre for search and rescue operations at the sea.
• It is built with a grant of $6 million from India.
• The work is co-ordinated by the Navy or Coast Guard in each country.
• In India, the Coast Guard is the co-ordinating agency and in Sri Lanka, Navy will co-ordinate.

Current Context : India ranked 63^rd in World Economic Forum’s Energy Transition index.

• Released by World Economic Forum(WEF).
• India improved its rank as compared to last year rank was 67^th out of 120 countries.
• Sweden ranked on top following by Denmark, Finland, Switzerland and France.
• European nations ranked top by showcasing their leadership in adopting green energy solutions and advancing towards carbon neutrality.

About

• The index evaluates countries based on their progress in transitioning to cleaner energy sources and sustainable practices.
• It tracks government policies and their effectiveness in encouraging the reduction in the production of carbon dioxide gasses due to energy production, encouragement of non-fossil-based power plants and reduction in overall energy intensity.

Current Context : UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) released Sustainable Development Report 2024.

• Published annually by Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).
• Theme: The SDGs and the UN Summit of the Future
• It reviews progress made each year on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 193 UN Member States since 2015.

RELEVANT DATA OF REPORT

• Only 16% of the SDG targets are on track to be achieved globally by 2030.
• Finland is ranked top followed by Sweden and Denmark.
• India secured 109th rank with the overall score of 64.0.
• Around 30% of SDG targets are on track or have been achieved by India with performance in Poverty reduction and Quality Education targets while decreasing progress in Sustainable Cities and Climate Action targets.
• Since 2020, global SDG progress has stagnated, particularly for SDGs 2 (Zero Hunger), 11 (Sustainable Cities), 14 (Life Below Water), 15 (Life on Land), and 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).
• Progress related to SDG9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), is showing slightly positive trends.
• SDG targets towards food and land systems are off-track.

New Index of Support to UN-based Multilateralism (UN-Mi) is introduced : It ranks countries based on their engagement with the UN System.

• Barbados ranked top.
• India at 139th place
• USA ranks last.

Current Context : Recently, INS Sunayna visited Mombasa, Kenya for strengthening bilateral ties with maritime neighbors on the theme of the Ocean Ring of Yoga.

ABOUT INS SUNAYNA

• INS Sunayna is the second Saryu-class patrol vessel of the Indian Navy.
• It is designed and constructed by the Goa Shipyard Limited.
• It was commissioned at Kochi in 2013.
• It is designed to undertake fleet support operations, coastal and offshore patrolling, ocean surveillance and monitoring of sea lines of communications and offshore assets and escort duties.
• Speed – 25 knots.

It is equipped with the latest Navigation, Communication and Electronic Support Systems.

Current Context : Ministry of Labour & Employment introduced e-Shram portal at 112th International Labour Conference in Geneva.

ABOUT

• e-Shram portal is an initiative designed as a comprehensive “One-Stop-Solution” for India’s unorganised workers.
• It was launched by the Ministry of Labour and Employment on 26 August 2021 for registration and creation of a comprehensive National Database of Unorganized Workers.
• The portal is integrated with several platforms including the National Career Service (NCS) Portal, Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), myScheme portal, and the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Mandhaan (PMSYM) scheme.
• It allows an unorganised worker to register himself or herself on the portal on self-declaration basis, under 400 occupations in 30 broad occupation sectors.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION (ILO)

• ILO is a specialized agency of the United Nations(UN) dedicated to improving labour conditions and living standards throughout the world.
• It was established in 1919 by the Treaty of Versaillesas.
• It became the first affiliated specialized agency of the UN in 1946.

Current Context : Vinod Ganatra becomes first Indian, Honoured With ‘Nelson Mandela Lifetime Achievement Award’.

ABOUT VINOD GANATRA

• He is honoured for his immense contributions to the world of cinema for kids in 7th Nelson Mandela Children’s Film Festival.
• Ganatra has bagged 36 national and international awards, including the ‘Janakinath Gaur Award’ from Doordarshan for his children’s programme, ‘Baingan Raja.’
• He became the only Indian filmmaker to receive the ‘Liv Ullmann Peace Prize’, in Chicago, for his Gujarati film, ‘Harun-Arun’.

ABOUT NELSON MANDELA

• Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) was the first black President of South Africa.
• He was born in South Africa, which followed the official apartheid policy of racial segregation.
• His birthday on July 18, is observed as Nelson Mandela International Day.
• He Joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1944 and actively participated in the anti-apartheid struggle.
• He was conferred with India’s highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna, in 1990.

Current Context : Recently, Bhartruhari Maytab is appointed as pro-tem Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha.

• The 18th Lok Sabha will hold its first session from June 24 to July 3.

ABOUT

• ‘Pro-tem’ essentially means ‘for the time being’ or ‘temporarily’.
• In the new Lok Sabha, the Speaker of the House is elected by a simple majority. Until her selection, the pro-tem Speaker is chosen to administer some important duties.
• The Constitution does not mention the post.
• Official ‘Handbook on the Working of Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs’ mentions about the ‘Appointment and Swearing in of Speaker pro tem’.
• President administers the oath to the Speaker pro-tem.
• Role : administers the oath/affirmation to the newly elected members with the help of the other three members.
• Article 93 of the Constitution provides for the election of both the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the LokSabha.

Celebrated on 22 June

• Aim : to raise awareness about the importance of rainforests and promoting efforts to protect and conserve them.
• Theme : Forests and Innovation: New Solutions for a Better World.
• First World Rainforest Day was celebrated on 22nd June 2017.

CURRENT CONTEXT : Recently, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu released Rs 3.27 crore under the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojana to 7,280 women of Una district.

ABOUT SCHEME

• Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojana ensures that women can live with dignity and manage small expenses independently.
• Objective : to provide financial assistance to the poor and helpless women of the state.
• Under this scheme, women aged between 18 to 59 years will be given an amount of ₹1500 every month.
• It aims to cover over five lakh women by offering them financial assistance.

CURRENT CONTEXT : Recently, First trial train run has been conducted on Chenab Rail Bridge in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.

• It is part of Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project.

ABOUT CHENAB RAIL BRIDGE (CHENAB ARCH BRIDGE)

• It is the world highest railway bridge on the Himalayan ranges.
• It is towered 359 meters high (around 109 feet) above the Chenab river.
• It is 35 meters taller than Paris Eiffel Tower.
• It can resist high-velocity winds up to 260 kmph, extreme temperatures, earthquakes, etc.

ABOUT CHENAB RIVER (AKA CHANDRABHAGA)

• It is formed by the confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga rivers in the Lahaul-Spiti, Himachal Pradesh.
• It is joined by several tributaries, including the Marusudar, Sohan, and Jhelum river.
• The Chenab river eventually merges with the Sutlej River in Pakistan before joining the Indus River.