• Live Viewership: 435,831 live viewers participated simultaneously during this special session on the Ministry of Ayush's official YouTube channel.
• Partner Organizations: This global campaign was organized by the Ministry of Ayush in collaboration with the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) and Habuild.

International Day of Yoga 2026:

• Theme: "Yoga for Healthy Aging"
• Main Event: Kolkata, West Bengal, on June 21

International Day of Yoga:

• Historical Background: Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed this day during the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 27, 2014. Subsequently, the resolution was passed unanimously on December 11, 2014, with the co-sponsorship of a record 177 UN member nations.
• First Event: The inaugural International Day of Yoga was observed worldwide on June 21, 2015.
• Significance of June 21: This date marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, symbolizing longevity and enduring energy.
• UNESCO: Yoga was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016.

• Improvement in the Education Sector: According to UDISE data from the Ministry of Education, the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) for girls at the secondary level has increased from 75.51% in 2014-15 to 80.2% in 2024-25.
• Behavioral Change: Through a 'convergence model,' the scheme has succeeded in changing societal mindsets regarding the girl child and promoting "women-led development."

'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' (BBBP) Scheme:

• Launch: Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22, 2015, from Panipat, Haryana.
• Implementation: Jointly implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), and the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).
• Funding: 100% funded by the Central Government.
• Strategies: Awareness campaigns, grassroots-level activism, and the participation of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
• Key Components: Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) (a savings scheme for the girl child) and other provisions under 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' (BBBP).
• This is a 100% centrally funded scheme and is being implemented across all districts of the country.

• Event: The award was presented at the 2nd International Sand Sculpture Festival held in the Kaliningrad region of Russia.
• Participants: Twelve leading sand sculptors from across the globe participated in this international competition, with the international jury unanimously selecting Pattnaik as the winner.
• Main Theme: His artwork was based on the themes of climate change and global warming.

• First Leg: France (Nice) – June 13–14: PM Modi held a bilateral summit with French President Emmanuel Macron. The two leaders jointly launched the 'India Innovates 2026' program, which will connect the startup and venture capital ecosystems of both nations.
• Second Leg: Slovakia (Bratislava) – June 14–16: This is a historic visit, marking the first state visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Slovakia since the country gained independence in 1993. Here, he is meeting with Slovak President Peter Pellegrini and Prime Minister Robert Fico.
• Third Leg: France (Évian and Paris) – June 16–18: PM Modi will participate as a special invitee in the 52nd G7 Summit being held in Évian-les-Bains, France. Subsequently, he will attend 'VivaTech 2026'—Europe's premier technology festival—in Paris, where India is hosting the largest national pavilion.
• Status of Slovakia: It became an independent nation in 1993 after separating from Czechoslovakia through the 'Velvet Divorce'. This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister [to this country].

France:

• Capital: Paris
• Continent: Europe
• Currency: Euro (€)
• Official Language: French
• National Day: 14 July (Bastille Day)
• National Symbol: Gallic Rooster
• Borders: Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Monaco, Andorra
• Famous Landmark: Eiffel Tower

Slovakia:

• Official Name: Slovak Republic
• A landlocked country located in Central Europe
• It became an independent nation in 1993 following the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia (known as the 'Velvet Divorce')
• Neighboring Countries: It shares borders with five countries: Poland (north), Ukraine (east), Hungary (south), Austria (west), and the Czech Republic (northwest)
• Terrain: Most of its northern and central regions are mountainous, home to the famous Tatra mountain range. The fertile basin of the Danube River lies in the south.
• Capital: Bratislava
• Official Language: Slovak
• Currency: Euro (€); Slovakia adopted the Euro in 2009, replacing its former currency, the 'Slovak Koruna'

• Capital: Port Moresby
• Continent: Oceania
• Location: Situated in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, occupying the eastern part of the island of New Guinea.
• Independence Day: 16 September 1975 (from Australia)
• System of Government: Constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy
• Currency: Papua New Guinean Kina (PGK)
• Major Rivers: Sepik River, Fly River, Purari River
• Mount Wilhelm: Approximately 4,509 meters; the country's highest peak.

• Historic Milestone: For the first time in the IMA's glorious 94-year history, female cadets have passed out in this manner.
• A total of 481 Indian cadets and 34 foreign cadets from 16 friendly nations passed out during this IMA Passing Out Parade (POP).
• Gender Inclusion in Armed Forces: The doors of the NDA were opened to women following a landmark Supreme Court order in 2021.

• National Statistics Day: Observed annually on June 29, marking the birth anniversary of Professor P.C. Mahalanobis.
• International Labour Organization (ILO): Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland (Established: 1919).
• Constitutional Schedule: 'Labour' is a subject under the Concurrent List of the Constitution.

• Date of assuming office: June 30, 2026
• Sequence: He will be India's 31st Chief of Army Staff
• Succession: He will succeed the current Army Chief, General Upendra Dwivedi
• Current Position: Currently serving as the Deputy Chief of the Indian Army
• Tenure: His tenure as Army Chief will last until August 31, 2028
• Commission: Commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986

Indian Army:

• Supreme Commander: The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces
• Administrative Control: It functions entirely under the Ministry of Defence
• Motto: "Service Before Self"
• Army Chief: The head of the Indian Army is the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), a four-star General
• Establishment: The British Indian Army was officially established on April 1, 1895
• Indian Army Day (January 15): Indian Army Day is celebrated annually on January 15. On this day in 1949, Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa took over command of the Indian Army from the last British Commander-in-Chief (General Sir Francis Butcher)
• The Indian Army is divided into 7 commands for administrative and operational ease, comprising 6 operational commands and 1 training command
• Western Command: Chandimandir (Haryana)
• Eastern Command: Kolkata (West Bengal)
• Northern Command: Udhampur (Jammu and Kashmir)
• Southern Command: Pune (Maharashtra)
• Central Command: Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh)
• South-Western Command: Jaipur (Rajasthan)
• Army Training Command: Shimla (Himachal Pradesh)

• Global Slowdown: A slight decline in port performance has been recorded globally due to geopolitical instability, vessel rerouting (such as the Red Sea crisis), and weather uncertainties, leading to increased vessel turnaround times.
• Global Top 10 Ports: Rank 1 Fuzhou (China), Rank 2 Dalian (China), Rank 3 Salalah (Oman), Rank 4 Ma'wan (China), Rank 5 Chiwan (China), Rank 6 Tanger Med (Morocco), Rank 7 Ningbo (China), Rank 8 Hamad Port (Qatar), Rank 9 Hong Kong (China), Rank 10 Kobe (Japan).

Performance of Indian Ports:

• Mumbai-based Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) remains India's best-performing container port.
• It has made a significant leap in global rankings, securing the 22nd position.
• JNPA ranked 14th among the world's top 20 ports that showed the most improvement between 2020 and 2026.
• Pipavav Port: 28th position
• Mundra Port: 30th position
• Visakhapatnam Port: 104th position
• Pipavav Port has overtaken Mundra Port to become India's highest-ranked private container port.
• Mundra has slipped five places to the 30th position. Visakhapatnam Port witnessed a massive drop of 34 places in its ranking.

• Date: June 14
• Objective: To raise awareness about the need for safe blood and blood products and to express gratitude to voluntary, unpaid blood donors.
• Nodal Agency: World Health Organization (WHO)
• Theme for 2026: "A drop of humanity. Donate blood. Save lives."
• Inception: It was first observed in 2004.
• Subsequently, in 2005, it was officially declared an annual global event at the 58th World Health Assembly.
• Why June 14?: This day is observed to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr. Karl Landsteiner.
• Contribution of Dr. Karl Landsteiner: He discovered the ABO blood group system, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1930. This discovery made modern blood transfusion possible.