Current Affairs 03 June 2026

AUKUS Partners Launch Underwater Drone Development Initiative.

• The AUKUS partners announced a joint project to develop and deploy Uncrewed Undersea Vehicle (UUV) technology.
• The initiative was announced at the Shangri-La Dialogue.
• The project aims to protect critical seabed infrastructure and undersea communication cables.
• It is the first major project under AUKUS Pillar Two, focused on advanced defense technologies.
• Key technologies include AI, undersea robotics, surveillance sensors, and integrated maritime systems.
• The United Kingdom will contribute $201 million to the project.
• Deployment of the new underwater drone systems is expected by 2027.

Government Unveils Unified Platform for Unclaimed Asset Recovery.

• The Department of Financial Services launched the Common Landing Portal for Unclaimed Financial Assets on 30 May 2026.
• The portal provides a single search window for unclaimed financial assets.
• It was developed in collaboration with the Public Sector Bank Alliance.
• Users can search for unclaimed bank deposits, insurance claims, shares, dividends, and mutual funds.
• The initiative aims to reconnect individuals with their rightful financial assets through a unified platform.

Odisha Partners with Intel and 3DGS to Boost Substrate Manufacturing.

• The Government of Odisha, Intel Corporation, and 3DGS Inc. signed an MoU to establish India’s first Advanced Packaging Glass Core Substrate Manufacturing Facility.
• The facility will be set up in the Bhubaneswar–Khurda region of Odisha.
• It will focus on Advanced Packaging Glass Core Substrates and High-Density Interconnect (HDI) substrates.
• The project will be implemented in phases over 5–6 years.
• It is aligned with the India Semiconductor Mission.
• The project is expected to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing and create high-skilled jobs.

Earth Prize 2026 Awarded to Indian Teens for Sustainable Tamarind Filter.

• Vivaan Chhawchharia, Ariana Agarwal, and Avyana Mehta were named Asia winners of the The Earth Prize 2026.
• The trio developed Plas-Stick, a biodegradable and low-cost water filtration solution.
• The innovation uses powdered tamarind seed waste to remove microplastics from contaminated water.
• The project was developed in collaboration with experts from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati.
• The team received a $12,500 grant to further develop the technology.

Bhavitha Mandava Named to Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia List.

• Bhavitha Mandava was featured in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2026 list.
• She was recognized in the Rising Talents category.
• Bhavitha became the first Indian model to open the Chanel Métiers d’Art collection.
• In 2026, she was appointed a Chanel House Ambassador.
• She represented Chanel at the Met Gala 2026.
• The Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list recognizes outstanding young leaders and innovators under the age of 30.