Made In India Torpedo Destroys Underwater Targets

• The Indian Navy has accomplished a noteworthy achievement as a domestically manufactured heavyweight torpedo ‘Made in India’ successfully destroyed an underwater target.
• It is a significant milestone in the Indian Navy and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) pursuit of precise delivery of ordnance underwater.
• The 'Aatma Nirbhar Bharat', emphasizing the importance of self-reliance in India's defense capabilities.

India's First International Cruise: MV Empress

• Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal flagged off the international cruise ship voyage, departing from Chennai and heading to Sri Lanka, MV Empress.
• The MV Empress, accommodating 750 passengers, will make stops at three ports within the island nation during its five-day cruise.
• This launch would transform affordable and convenient access to world-class cruise services into a reality, enabling passengers to relish opulent amenities, entertainment, and breathtaking views.
• The MV Empress will embark on its journey to Sri Lanka, with plans to visit three ports: Hambantota, Trincomalee, and Kankesanturei, before returning to Chennai.
• The inauguration of the MV Empress service took place at Chennai's International Cruise Terminal.
• This venture was made possible through an agreement between Chennai Port and M/S Waterways Leisure Tourism Pvt Ltd, which was forged during the inaugural Incredible India International Cruise Conference in 2022.

President Draupadi Murmu awarded with Suriname's highest civilian award

• President Chandrikapersad Santokhi of Suriname has presented President Draupadi Murmu with Suriname's highest civilian award as a symbol of the strong and longstanding bilateral relations between the two nations.
• President Murmu dedicated this honour to the Indian-Surinamese community and their contributions in fostering the deep bonds of friendship between the two countries throughout successive generations.

Refuel With RecyKal Campaign by Indian Oil

• To commemorate World Environment Day on June 5, the chairman of Indian Oil Corporation, S.M. Vaidya, virtually launched the 'Refuel with RecyKal' campaign at the COCO Hitec City outlet in Hyderabad.
• The campaign, implemented at five retail outlets in Hyderabad, aims to encourage customers to bring in PET bottles and aluminium cans and earn fuel points by depositing them in reverse vending machines.
• Additionally, customers can also earn fuel points by bringing in dry waste such as plastic waste, paper and cardboard (books, paper, cartons), e-waste (mobiles, laptops, monitors, cables, and network equipment), empty glass containers, and metal waste.

Antardrishti

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced a Financial Inclusion Dashboard called Antardrishti.
• This platform will offer valuable insights for evaluating and tracking the advancement of financial inclusion efforts.
• It will also aid in identifying areas with significant financial exclusion, allowing targeted measures to address those areas.
• The RBI has been actively promoting financial inclusion through various policy initiatives.
• In 2021, the RBI developed the Financial Inclusion (FI) Index, which assesses the level of financial inclusion based on three dimensions - ‘Access’, ‘Usage’ and ‘Quality’.
• The introduction of Antardrishti builds upon these efforts to foster greater financial inclusion in the country.

Germany and India to Build Six Submarines

• Germany and India are nearing an agreement to manufacture diesel submarines in India due to Russia's ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has prompted New Delhi to diversify its military equipment sources beyond its primary supplier, Moscow.
• Thyssenkrupp AG's marine division and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited of India are expected to collaborate in a joint bid for a $5.2 billion project to construct six submarines for the Indian navy.
• To develop the diesel attack submarines, India has selected Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders and Larsen & Toubro as potential collaborators with foreign defense majors.
• Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems has been a primary target for partnership, as it is one of only two global submarine manufacturers equipped with air independent propulsion (AIP) technology, which enables conventional submarines to remain submerged for extended periods.

PM Modi Lauches Two Scheme to Revive Wetland and Mangroves

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled two schemes, namely Amrit Dharohar and MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes), as part of an initiative to rejuvenate wetlands and mangroves in India.
• The country currently boasts 75 Ramsar sites, which are wetlands of international significance designated under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Over the past nine years, the number of wetlands and Ramsar sites in India has nearly tripled.
• The launch of the Amrit Dharohar Yojana on World Environment Day aims to safeguard existing Ramsar sites through public participation, transforming them into centers of eco-tourism and sources of green employment for numerous individuals.
• The MISHTI scheme focuses on revitalizing and preserving the mangrove ecosystem across nine states in India.
• This effort will contribute to the restoration of mangrove cover and help mitigate the risks faced by coastal communities from rising sea levels and natural disasters such as cyclones.

First Dettol Climate Resilient School in Uttarakhand

• On World Environment Day, Reckitt inaugurated the first Dettol Climate Resilient School in Uttarkashi, a district in Uttarakhand, as part of its renowned campaign, Dettol Banega Swasth India.
• This initiative aligns with India's LiFE (Lifestyle for the Environment) framework introduced at the Glasgow summit in 2021.
• The Dettol Climate Resilient School project aims to educate and empower the younger generation to become advocates for climate action, fostering positive transformations within their communities.
• By incorporating sustainability practices into the curriculum, the project strives to reduce carbon footprint, enhance energy efficiency, and raise awareness about climate change among students, teachers, and the broader community.

IndiGo Aims to Carry 100 Million Passengers in 2024

• IndiGo's CEO, Pieter Elbers, revealed that the airline aims to transport 100 million passengers by the end of March 2024.
• To achieve this, the budget carrier plans to expand its domestic and international routes. In the previous fiscal year (FY23), IndiGo successfully flew 86 million passengers.
• IndiGo currently holds the largest market share in India's domestic airline industry, with more than 57 percent.
• Recently IndiGo announced its plans to commence direct flights to six new destinations in Africa and Central Asia, including Nairobi, Tbilisi, Baku, Tashkent, Almaty and Jakarta.