Celebrated on 8 June.

• Aim : to raise awareness about brain tumors on World Brain Tumor Day.
• Theme : Brain Health and Prevention.
• It advocates the paramount importance of brain health and preventive measures.
• It is headed by the World Federation of Neurology (WFN).

Celebrated on 8 June every year.

• Objective : Awaking the importance of oceans in sustaining life and livelihoods.
• Theme : Awaken New Depths.

Current Context : Himachal Pradesh government planned to build Tunnel Under Jakhu Hill.

• It will be 890-meter double-lane tunnel under Jakhu Hill to reduce traffic congestion in Shimla.

ABOUT

• Jakhu Hill, is the highest point in Shimla at an altitude of 2,500 meters from the sea level.
• It is a major tourist destination.
• It is known for its panoramic brilliance and the famous Jakhoo Temple.
• Jakhu Temple (also Jakhoo Temple) is an ancient temple dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Hanuman.
• A giant 108-feet-high idol of Hanuman is situated at Jakhu Hanuman temple.

Current Context : Ministry of Defence has signed agreements with four banks to establish SPARSH service centers.

• Agreement was signed with Bank of India, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India and Utkarsh Small Finance Bank.
• Objective: to provide the last mile connectivity to the

ABOUT SPARSH

• It is a web-based System for Pension Administration (Raksha)Service Centres (SPARSH).
• SPARSH system is an integrated system for the automation of sanctions and disbursement of defence pensions.
• Implemented in 2021.

It provides a single window for pensioners to avail the pension-related services such as a facility to view pension details, pension entitlements, pensioner profile details, Income Tax forms etc.

Current Context : The United States conducted an operational test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

ABOUT MINUTEMAN III:

• The LGM-30G Minuteman III is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
• It was first deployed in the 1960s by the United States Air Force (USAF).
• It was designed and manufactured by the Boeing Corporation.
• It is the first U.S. missile fitted with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs).
• The United States currently has an estimated 440 Minuteman III missiles.

Current Context : India participated in ITU’s WSIS+20 Forum High-Level Event and ‘AI for Good’ Global Summit.

• The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)+20 Forum 2024, a High-Level Event, conducted by International Telecom Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland from 27th May – 31st May, 2024.
• The event was co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP and UNCTAD.
• During the AI for Good Global Summit at ITU, India took over the baton of hosting WTSA 2024 in New Delhi from 15-24 October 2024.
• India also highlighted the reforms undertaken by country using AI in the telecom sector and to build sustainable future in various sessions of ‘AI for Good’ Global Summit including ‘The Government’s AI Dilemma: Maximizing Rewards, Minimizing Risks’.

Current Context : The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has invited Expressions of Interest (EoI) from eligible organizations for the “joint development and commercialisation” of low dose or paediatric oral formulation of hydroxyurea to treat sickle cell disease in India.

ABOUT  SICKLE CELL AND HYDROXYUREA

• Sickle cell disease is a monogenic disorders of haemoglobin and hydroxyurea, a myelosuppressive agent, is an effective drug for treating patients of sickle cell disease and thalassemia.
• India has the highest prevalence of sickle cell disease in South Asia and over 20 million sickle cell affected individuals reside in the country.

Current Context : UNDP and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) launched a new $135 million Blue and Green Islands Integrated Programme (BGI-IP).

• It was launched during the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4).

Aim : to emphasize the role of nature and expand nature-based solutions to combat environmental degradation in three key sectors: urban development, food production, and tourism.

• The BGI-IP will support 15 SIDS.
• It will support sustainable agriculture and fisheries, promote nature-friendly tourism, reduce pollution and improve resilience to extreme weather events.

ABOUT BLUE AND GREEN ISLANDS INTEGRATED PROGRAMME (BGI-IP)

• The Blue and Green Islands Integrated Programme (BGI-IP) is a transformative and comprehensive initiative designed to address environmental challenges faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
• It is financed by the Global Environment Facility and led by UNDP.

ABOUT UNDP

• UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change.

ABOUT GEF

• The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is a multilateral family of funds dedicated to confronting biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution, and supporting land and ocean health.

Current Context : Recently, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) has notably secured 118^th position, improved from the 149th position in 2024, According  to World University 2025 rankings.

• University ranking is released by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).

INDIAN UNIVERSITY RANKINGS.

• IIT Delhi has jumped 47 ranks from 197 to 150.
• IISc has improved from 225 to 211.
• Overall, 61% of Indian universities have improved their rankings, while 24% maintained their positions, 9% saw a decline, and three universities were newly ranked.

GLOBAL RANKING

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, United States, has secured the 1^st
• United Kingdom’s Imperial College London secured 2^nd position
• Harvard University of U.S secured 3^rd

Current Context : Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams flew to space for the third time with a colleague Butch Wilmore.

• She became the first person to board Boeing’s Starliner spaceship and go to the International Space Station for the third time.
• Williams and Butch Wilmore took off on Boeing’s Crew Flight Test mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
• Williams is the pilot for the flight test while Wilmore is the commander of the mission.