NATIONAL:
1. Mekedatu Dam
Why in news – Karnataka and Tamil Nadu clashed over a project to supply drinking water to Bengaluru.
Key Points –
• Reason – Karnataka announced to build a dam and reservoir on the Cauvery at Mekedatu close to the Tamil Nadu border.
• As per Tamil Nadu, the Mekedatu project is not part of the awards of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT, 2007).
• Inter-State River Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956 - for adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-State rivers and river valley thereof.
About Cauvery River –
• Designated as “Ganged of the South” or Dakshi Bharat ki Ganga (Godavari – Dakshin ganga).
• Origin – Talakaveri, Brahmagiri range, Coorg district of Karnataka.
• Flows in a southeasterly direction through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
• Cauvery basin - Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry.
• Empties into the Bay of Bengal.
• Garden of southern India - Cauvery river breaks into a large number of distributaries forming a wide delta.
• The Nilgiris divide the basin into two natural and political regions i.e., Karnataka plateau (North) and Tamil Nadu plateau (South).
• Almost a perennial river because upper catchment area receives rainfall by the south-west monsoon and the lower catchment area by the retreating north-east monsoon.
• Shivanasamudra waterfall (Karnataka) –
(a) Situated along the Kaveri river.
(b) 2nd biggest waterfall in India (biggest - Kunchikal fall on Varahi river, Karnataka).
• Tributaries –
(a) Left Bank: the Harangi, the Hemavati, the Shimsha, and the Arkavati.
(b) Right Bank: Lakshmantirtha, the Kabbani, the Suvarnavati, the Bhavani, the Noyil, and the Amaravati.
2. Manipur Violence
Why in news – Government sets up 3-member panel to probe Manipur violence under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952.
Key Points –
• Aim - to conduct a probe into the incidents of violence in Manipur which has killed at least 100 people.
• Chairman - Justice Ajai Lamba (former Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court).
• Other members - Himanshu Shekhar Das and Aloka Prabhakar.
3. National Training Centre of FSSAI
Why in news – Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated National Training Centre for Food Safety and Standards Authority of India at Ghaziabad, UP.
Key Points –
• An e- learning app- Food Safety and Certification (FoSTaC) developed by FSSAI for street vendors was also launched.
• As mandated by the FSS Act 2006 and the Food Safety and Standards Rules, 2011, FSSAI is responsible for providing training to individuals involved in food businesses.
About FSSAI –
• Statutory body under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
• Consolidated older acts like - Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, Milk and Milk Products Order, 1992 etc.
• Chairperson of FSSAI is appointed by the Central Government.
• Initiatives By FSSAI - Clean Street Food, Swasth Bharat Yatra, Diet4Life, The Eat Right India Movement, Eat Right Station Certification etc.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCE:
1. World Conservation Congress (WCC)
Why in news – UAE has won the bid to host the 2025 WCC of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Key Points –
• WCC 2025 venue - Abu Dhabi (October 10-21, 2025).
• WCC is the world's largest and most important gathering of conservationists.
About IUCN (1948) –
• International NGO.
• Hq - Gland, Switzerland.
• World’s largest and most diverse environmental network.
• It established the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 1964.
• Played a significant role in the formation of Ramsar Convention, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, World Heritage Convention and Convention on Biological Diversity.
• Published the World Conservation Strategy in 1980, in collaboration with the UNEP and WWF.
• UN granted the IUCN official observer status in 1992.
• Well known for - Red List of Species, Red List of Ecosystems, Key Biodiversity Areas and the Green Lists.
RANKS & INDICES:
1. 8th National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Rankings 2023
Why in news – The 8th edition of the NIRF ranking was released by Ministry of Education.
Key Points –
• It evaluates institutions on 5 broad parameters -
(a) Teaching, learning and resources
(b) Research and professional practice
(c) Graduation outcomes
(d) Outreach and inclusivity
(e) Perception.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing
Why in news – It is observed on June 5.
Key Points –
• Target 4 of SDG 14 (Life Below Water) - to end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices by 2020.
• FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (1995) - International standards of behavior for responsible practices for effective conservation of living aquatic resources.
• FAO Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (2009) – binding agreement to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Entered into force on June 5 , 2016.
BOOKS & AUTHORS:
1. Book “Kathakali Dance Theatre: A Visual Narrative of Sacred Indian Mime”
Why in news – KK Gopalakrishnan has recently released a book titled "Kathakali Dance Theatre: A Visual Narrative of Sacred Indian Mime."
Key Points –
• The book offers a behind-the-scenes look into the world of Kathakali.
About Kathakali (ballad of the east) –
• Classical dance of Kerala.
• Precursors of 'Kathakali' - 'Krishnanattam' and 'Ramanattam' which are based on the Mahabharata and Ramayana.
• Male-dominated performance.
• Detailed facial make-up and headgear are used.
• Manipravalam - language used in Kathakali songs.
• Based on Kerala's traditional sopana sangeet.
• Carnatic ragas are now used in Kathakali music.
• Instruments used - Chenda, Maddalam, Chengila, Ilathalam, Idakka, and Shankhu.
BIHAR:
1. Bridge Collapse
Why in news – After under-construction Aguanighat-Sultanganj bridge collapse, Government decided to scrap the contract with construction firm.
Key Points –
• Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited (BRPNNL) initiated the process of terminating contract with the construction firm, SP Singla Construction Pvt Ltd.
• A part of the 3.11-km-long 4-lane bridge, being constructed at a cost of Rs 1,710.12 crore since 2014, collapsed on June 4, 2023.
• 6th bridge on the Ganga to connect northern Bihar with the southern.
• It was to link Khagaria and Bhagalpur.
• It suffered its first crash in April 2022.
POINTERS:
• Which country will cut oil production by one million barrels per day from July 2023 - Saudi Arabia.
• Who has organized a Refresher Training Program on Mission Vatsalya - National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development.
• Who has won the final of Thailand Open recently -An Se-young (South Korea).
• Where has the Integrated Command and Control Central been set up under the Smart City Mission – Srinagar.
• Which has become the first state in India to develop a protocol for releasing indigenous millet varieties conserved by tribal farmers for centuries – Odisha.
• Which state government has constituted an expert panel to review the reservation formula – Meghalaya.
• Which ministry has organized the National Conclave on Sportstech - Ministry of Textiles.
• Who has recently released the draft insurance carrier guidelines – IRDAI.
• Who has become the new Director General of Geological Survey of India - Janardan Prasad.
• Who has been elected the first Indian-origin Lord Mayor of Birmingham - Chamal Lal.