Current Affairs - National

In a significant move to enhance last-mile connectivity and reduce urban pollution, 400 electric buses under the Delhi Electric Vehicle Interconnector Service (DEVI) were flagged off in New Delhi. The event was attended by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. The initiative aims to strengthen links between metro stations and bus terminals, providing a cleaner and more efficient public transport option for residents of the National Capital. This aligns with broader efforts to promote electric mobility and environmental sustainability in urban areas.

Yoga Mahotsav 2025 was organized in Nashik, Maharashtra, to celebrate the 50-day countdown to the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY), which is observed globally on June 21. The event was conducted by the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga under the Ministry of Ayush. A mass yoga demonstration following the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) was held at Gauri Maidan in the Ramkund Parisar, Panchavati area. This initiative underscores the government's continued efforts to promote yoga as a global health and wellness practice, involving large-scale community participation leading up to the IDY.

The 2-day National Workshop on Multi-Disciplinary Education and Research Universities (MERU) under the PM-USHA initiative was inaugurated by Dr. Sukanta Majumdar in New Delhi. This centrally sponsored scheme, launched by the Ministry of Education, focuses on enhancing the quality of higher education, particularly in state-run institutions. New Delhi, being the capital and a central hub for major policy-level events, frequently hosts national-level academic and administrative workshops like this one. The workshop aimed at fostering dialogue and sharing strategies to elevate the standards of multidisciplinary research and education in India.

The 'Depot Darpan' portal is being introduced by the government as a real-time monitoring system for food storage depots. Its core purpose is to ensure that these depots maintain top-tier standards in quality and safety. This initiative supports the broader goal of enhancing food security for more than 80 crore beneficiaries across India. By integrating scientific warehousing methods and smart storage technologies, the government aims to reduce spoilage, increase efficiency, and better manage the public distribution system. The launch of this portal reflects a strategic move towards a more resilient and technologically empowered food supply chain.

The Ministry of Labour & Employment has partnered with Rapido by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance employment opportunities in the logistics and transport sector through the National Career Service (NCS) portal. This collaboration aims to create over 50 lakh livelihood opportunities within the next one to two years. A key focus of the initiative is inclusive hiring, particularly encouraging youth and women to take up flexible work roles. Rapido will list job opportunities for roles such as bike taxi drivers, auto-rickshaw operators, and cab drivers on the NCS platform, making the process of job discovery more accessible.