IMPORTANT DAYS
International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2024 observed on June 26
• The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is observed annually on June 26th.
• The theme for 2024 is "The evidence is clear: invest in prevention."
• The theme underscores the importance of evidence-based approaches to prevent drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
• The day highlights global efforts to combat drug abuse and trafficking.
• It emphasizes the need for international cooperation to address these challenges.
• The day aims to raise awareness about the harmful effects of drug abuse on individuals, families, and communities.
NATIONAL NEWS
Om Birla elected as the speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha
• Om Birla was re-elected as the Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha on June 26, 2024.
• He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
• NDA Candidate: Birla was the candidate of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
• His election was conducted by voice vote, with the opposition not pressing for a vote count.
• Om Birla previously served as the Speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha.
• He is the 17th person to be elected as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
• He is the fifth person to hold the office of Lok Sabha speaker twice.
• According to Article 93 of the constitution, members of the Lok Sabha are to elect a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker from among the members of the House. The Speaker and Deputy Speaker are elected by a simple majority.
• A simple majority means the majority of the members in the house are present at the time of voting.
ISO Council Meeting in New Delhi
• India's Role in Sugar Industry: Host of the meeting, India, is the world's largest consumer and second largest producer of sugar.
• The meeting brings together over 30 countries to tackle issues in the sugar and biofuel sectors.
• Workshop Title: ‘Sugar and Biofuels – Emerging Vistas’
• Inaugurated by: Shri Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and New & Renewable Energy
• Attendees: Over 200 delegates, including international experts and industry leaders.
• Aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Global Biofuel Alliance initiative, the meeting aims to strengthen international collaboration on sustainable biofuels.
• Discussions will focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions through ethanol production from sugarcane, highlighting India’s technological advancements in biofuel production at the industrial tour in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh.
STATE NEWS
Kerala Assembly Passes Resolution Seeking To Rename State As Keralam
• The Kerala Assembly unanimously passed a resolution for the second time in a year.
• Name Change Proposal: The resolution requests the Indian Central Government to change the state's name in the Constitution from "Kerala" to "Keralam."
• Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is leading the initiative.
• Linguistic Alignment: The aim is to align the state's constitutional name with the Malayalam term "Keralam."
• The resolution received unanimous support from the Kerala Assembly.
• This reflects a collective push to officially recognize the state's name as "Keralam."
INDEX AND RANKINGS
India among world’s worst five on green performance index
• India ranked 176th out of 180 countries in the 2024 Environmental Performance Index.
• Air Quality Concerns: The country was ranked 177th in terms of air quality.
• Projected Emissions: India is ranked 172nd in projected emissions by 2025.
• These rankings reflect pressing environmental issues that require urgent action.
• India's heavy reliance on coal significantly contributes to its poor environmental performance.
• High emissions and deteriorating air quality are major factors in India's low ranking.
MISCELLANEOUS
India's TB Elimination Efforts Recognized at the World Health Assembly in Geneva
• The Truenat TB diagnostic test was acknowledged at the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva.
• Truenat delivers test results in under an hour.
• The device is portable, enhancing its utility in various healthcare settings.
• Truenat is crucial for India's National TB Elimination Programme, particularly in primary health centers and private laboratories.
• The World Health Assembly commended India's innovative strategies for TB elimination.
• The role of diagnostic tools like Truenat is highlighted as essential in the global fight against tuberculosis.
