Current Affairs 04 June 2026

Mother Dairy Introduces India’s 1st Naturally Degradable Milk Pouch.

Mother Dairy launched India’s first naturally degradable milk pouch.
The rollout began on 5 June 2026 (World Environment Day) in the Delhi-NCR region.
The initiative was initially introduced for the company’s cow milk variant.
The pouch material converts into bioavailable wax when discarded in soil.
Soil microbes break down the material into natural elements within a few years, unlike conventional plastic that can persist for centuries.
The pouches remain recyclable and aim to reduce plastic pollution.

Odisha was selected for the PM Surya Ghar Excellence Awards for outstanding performance in solar energy adoption.
The state secured 1st rank in consumer applications, solar installations, and DISCOM inspections for medium-level consumers.
Odisha achieved 3rd rank in the Maximum Vendor Registrations category.
The recognition was awarded for performance during the Month of Solar campaign held in May 2026.
The initiative supports renewable energy growth and promotes energy self-reliance through rooftop solar adoption.
PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana aims to provide rooftop solar-powered electricity to 1 crore households.

Deendayal Port Authority received the Sagar Aankalan Award for best performance in container cargo handling (less than 0.5 million TEUs) for FY 2024–25.
The award was presented during the 37th Foundation Day of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority.
Paradip Port Authority ranked 1st in Dry Bulk Cargo.
Sikka Port and Terminals ranked 1st in Liquid Bulk Cargo.
Mundra Port ranked 1st in Container Cargo.
The Logistics Port Performance Index (LPPI) was launched for FY 2024–25 under the Sagar Aankalan framework.

Expansion of cooperation in AI, Digital Infrastructure, and Advanced Manufacturing.
Priority areas: Quantum Technologies, Biotechnology, Hydrogen Energy, Geospatial Technologies.
Collaboration strengthened in Genomics, Vaccine Development, Pandemic Preparedness.
Focus on Advanced Materials and Manufacturing through joint expert mechanism.
Reviewed Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project (world’s largest radio telescope initiative).
India invited South Africa to BRICS Science, Technology and Innovation Ministerial Meeting (Chennai, Aug 2026).
South Africa invited India to Science Forum South Africa 2026.
Bilateral S&T cooperation framework dates back to 1995 agreement.
Around 150+ joint research projects completed so far.
Cooperation through BRICS, IBSA, G20, and IORA

Launched by Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) under MeitY through Digital India Corporation (DIC).
Aims to promote open-source, multilingual, voice-first AI for offline (Edge AI) environments.
Focus on building cloud-independent conversational AI in Indian languages.
Based on Sunno Sutra, an open-source handheld AI reference device.
Prize pool of up to ₹80 lakh with government deployment opportunities.
20 shortlisted teams will get developer kits and mentorship.
Open to startups, MSMEs, academic institutions, and innovators.
Application areas: Agriculture, Healthcare, Education, Governance, and public services.
Supports India’s multilingual AI ecosystem covering 36 text and 23 voice languages.