Railway Kavach System

• The Ministry of Railways in India has taken a significant step towards improving train safety by introducing an indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) System called Kavach.
• This system, developed in collaboration with three Indian vendors under the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), has been adopted as the National ATP System for Indian Railways.
• The development of Kavach incurred a total expenditure of ₹16.88 crores. The system is planned to be rolled out on the New Delhi–Howrah and New Delhi–Mumbai sections, with a targeted completion date of March 2024.
• Kavach aims to enhance train operations by assisting locomotive pilots in avoiding Signal Passing At Danger (SPAD) incidents and over-speeding, while also providing support during challenging weather conditions such as dense fog.

Features to enhance train safety:

• Automatic application of brakes if the locomotive pilot fails to respond.
• Displaying line-side signals in the cabin to improve visibility during foggy conditions and at higher speeds.
• Providing continuous updates on movement authority, automatically sounding the whistle at level crossings.
• Facilitating direct communication between locomotives to avoid collisions and including an SOS feature to enable control of trains in emergency situations.

International Day for the Fight Against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing 2023

• The International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing is observed annually on June 5.
• The United Nations General Assembly declared this day in 2017 with the aim of increasing global understanding and recognition of the issue of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
• One of the targets outlined in Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14) focuses on the regulation of harvesting practices, putting an end to overfishing, illegal activities, and destructive practices.
• In June 2022, members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) reached a landmark agreement on fisheries subsidies. This treaty includes a set of regulations that prohibit subsidies supporting IUU fishing, the exploitation of overfished stocks, and fishing activities conducted in areas beyond the jurisdiction of regional fisheries management organizations.

Indian Rupee has Depreciated by 14 Paisa to 82.53 Against the U.S. Dollar

• In early trade on June 5, the Indian Rupee experienced a depreciation of 14 paise against the U.S. dollar, reaching a value of 82.53.
• This decline can be attributed to the strength of the American currency in the international market and the increase in crude oil prices.
• Starting at 82.47, the domestic unit on the interbank foreign exchange fell to 82.53, marking a decrease of 14 paise compared to its previous closing value.

S&P Global India services Purchasing Managers' Index

• The S&P Global India services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) dropped to 61.2 in May from 62.0 in April, exceeded the expectations of a Reuters poll, which predicted a value of 60.
• This positive performance marked the longest period of expansion in nearly 12 years, with the index remaining above the 50-mark that separates growth from contraction for 22 consecutive months.
• India's services sector is a vital component of the economy, accounting for over 50% of the country's GDP.
• According to a business survey, India's services sector, which is a significant contributor to the country's gross domestic product (GDP), experienced a slight slowdown in growth last month.
• However, the sector continued to expand at a solid pace due to strong demand, despite facing high inflationary pressures.

G20 Third Employment Working Group (EWG) Meeting in Geneva

• Under the Indian Presidency of the G20, the 3^rd Employment Working Group (EWG) meeting successfully concluded in Geneva.
• Held from June 31^st to June 2^nd, 2023, at the headquarters of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland, the three-day meeting saw active participation from delegates representing 78 G20 Members, Invitee Countries, Guest Countries, and International Organizations.
• The meeting ended on a positive note with unanimous agreement among members on the draft Ministerial Communique and Outcome documents pertaining to the priority areas of the G20 EWG 2023.
• The discussions during the meeting commenced with a comprehensive update on the progress made towards the Antalya and Brisbane Targets provided by the ILO and OECD.
• It was highlighted that significant advancements have been made in achieving these goals. However, there was a call for countries to intensify their efforts to meet the targets.

India's First Autonomous Car

• Bengaluru-based AI startup, Minus Zero, has introduced zPod, which it asserts is India's first self-driving car.
• Notably, the vehicle stands out by lacking a traditional steering wheel. Instead, it relies on strategically positioned high-resolution cameras to analyze driving conditions, including traffic.
• The zPod employs a camera-sensor suite to capture its surroundings, which is then shared with the embedded AI system.
• The AI processes the information through images to enable the zPod to navigate obstacles, regulate its speed, and come to a stop.
• According to Minus Zero, the zPod has the potential to achieve "Level 5" autonomy, the highest level for a self-driving car.
• This level of autonomy implies that the vehicle can operate without any human intervention.

Renaming of Ahmednagar as Ahilyadevi Nagar

• Eknath Shinde, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, recently announced the renaming of Ahmednagar district to Ahilya Nagar on the occasion of the 298th birth anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar, a prominent queen from the 18th century.
• This decision carries important political implications and marks the third district renaming in the state within the past year.
• Previously, Aurangabad was renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Osmanabad became Dharashiv.

Ahilyabai Holkar

• Ahilyabai was born on 31 May 1725 in the village of Chaundi, in the present-day Ahmednagar district in Maharashtra.
• Her father, Mankoji Rao Shinde, was the Patil of the village. Women then did not go to school, but Ahilyabai's father taught her to read and write.
• Ahilyabai Holkar showcased exceptional skills in administration and military tactics, which were honed under the guidance of her father-in-law.
• Her father-in-law recognized her abilities and believed that she should assume leadership rather than adhering to the practice of Sati after her husband, Khande Rao, passed away.
• Her significant contributions to the restoration of Hindu temples are frequently highlighted. In 1780, she oversaw the reconstruction of the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, which had been destroyed nearly a century earlier under the orders of Mughal king Aurangzeb.

UAE to Host World's Largest Conservation Conference in 2025

• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been selected as the host country for the 2025 World Conservation Congress (WCC) organized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• The WCC serves as the largest and most significant assembly of conservationists globally, attracting over 10,000 representatives from over 160 nations.
• The 2025 WCC will be held in Abu Dhabi from October 10-21, 2025.
• UAE is renowned for its significant conservation endeavours, exemplified by prominent initiatives such as the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Center and the Al Ain Oasis.

UAE Won World Meteorological Organisation’s Presidency

• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has achieved a significant milestone by securing the presidency of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), an esteemed United Nations body that holds authoritative influence in the fields of weather, climate, hydrology, and related environmental areas.
• Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous, the Director General of the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) in the UAE, has been elected as the new President of WMO for a four-year term spanning from 2023 to 2027.
• Dr. Al Mandous, who also serves as the UAE's Permanent Representative to WMO and President of WMO's Regional Association II (Asia), participated in the election as the official candidate of the UAE and garnered an impressive 98 votes.

Dennis Francis Elected as 78^th UNGA President

• Dennis Francis, a veteran diplomat from Trinidad and Tobago was appointed as the President of the 78^th session of the UN General Assembly.
• His vision for the 78^th session is Peace, Prosperity, Progress and Sustainability.
• Dennis Francis is currently serves as the Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations, boasts an impressive diplomatic career spanning almost four decades.