THE HEADLINES:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lead tree plantation drive and flag off 200 electric buses in Delhi on World Environment Day today.
- Two more wetlands from India added to Ramsar list, taking the number of such sites in the country to 91.
- India elected to Economic and Social Council of United Nations for 2 years beginning 2026.
- All-party delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor meets senior US government officials in Washington; Briefs them on cross-border terrorism.
- DGCA asks Turkish Airlines to ensure compliance with safety regulations after inspections reveal lapses.
- And, more than 30 thousand organisations register to participate in Yoga Sangam 2025, the main event of this year’s International Day of Yoga.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead a special tree plantation drive at Bhagwan Mahavir Vanasthali Park in New Delhi today on the occasion of World Environment Day. The Prime Minister will plant a Banyan sapling under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative. This will be a part of the Aravalli Green Wall project which aims to reforest the 700 kilometers Aravalli range.
“The project is intended to spread green cover in the five kilometers buffer area around the Aravalli hill range in 29 districts of four states including Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Gujarat. It aims to boost biodiversity of the Aravallis with afforestation, reforestation and restoration of water bodies. It also aims to improve the soil fertility, water availability and climate resilience of the region. The project will benefit the local communities by providing them with employment and income generation opportunities. WITH RAHISUDDIN, PALLAVI SINGH PARMAR, AKASHAVANI NEWS, DELHI”
The Prime Minister will also flag off 200 electric buses under Delhi Government’s sustainable transport initiative, promoting clean urban mobility and symbolizing the nation’s collective responsibility towards ecological balance.
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Two more wetlands from India have been added to the list of Ramsar sites, taking the number of such sites in the country to 91. The latest to join the list of Ramsar sites in India are Khichan in Phalodi and Menar in Udaipur, both in Rajasthan. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said, the achievement is yet another testament to the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus on environmental conservation is successfully helping India build a greener tomorrow. A report:
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised India’s continued progress in environmental conservation. In response to the social media post by Mr. Yadav, Mr Modi said that India’s strides in environmental conservation are happening with great vigour and are powered by public participation. The aim of the Ramsar list is to develop and maintain an international network of wetlands, which are important for the conservation of global biological diversity and for sustaining human life. The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and wise use of wetlands. It is named after the Iranian city of Ramsar, on the Caspian Sea, where the treaty was signed on February 2, 1971. India ratified the convention on February 1, 1982. ASHISH P. ABRAHAM, Akashvani News, Delhi.”
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India has been elected to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations for the period from 2026-28. The council is at the heart of the UN’s mechanism to advance the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental. External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar has thanked the member states for their overwhelming support and reposing their trust in India. In a social media post, he said, India remains committed to championing development issues and keep working to strengthen the Economic and Social Council.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the much awaited train services to Kashmir tomorrow from the holy town of Katra, the base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine after which Vande Bharat train will start running between Katra and Baramulla. The high-tech Vande Bharat Express train will enable direct connectivity from Jammu to Srinagar by rail for the first time. More from our correspondent:
“Ahead of the much awaited inauguration of the train services to Kashmir, security has been intensified, especially near Chenab Bridge, Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and key track sections. The PM will reach Katra by train and flag off Vande Bharat train from Katra to Baramulla and virtually from Baramulla to Katra. The Prime Minister will also address a mega public rally at the Katra stadium. At present, rail service in Kashmir is limited only from Baramulla to Sangaldan in Ramban district. But now this Vande Bharat Express train will go directly from Katra to Srinagar and Baramulla, due to which the general public and tourists will get direct train facility to the Kashmir valley for the first time. This is N. Gulshan Raina For Akashvani News from Jammu.”
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India has undergone a decade of remarkable transformation, driven by the principles of Seva, Sushasan, and Garib Kalyan. Akashvani News brings you a special feature on the Government’s efforts over the last 11 years across key sectors. Today, we focus on Education and Sports – the key to empowering India’s Amrit Peedhi – the young generation.
“In a country where almost two-thirds of its population is under the age of 35, it is the youth that will shape India’s destiny. And today, the government is laying the foundation for the future dreams through education and sports. In the field of education, the government has laid out an ambitious roadmap to ensure holistic and inclusive learning from the foundational level through higher education. Under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the government aims to achieve 100 percent enrolment from preschool to secondary level by 2030 and 50 percent in higher education by 2035. Since 2014, the number of higher education institutions has jumped from 51,000 to over 70,000, with major expansions in IITs, IIMs, and AIIMS. The PM SHRI Yojana is upgrading 14,500 schools, ffocusing quality education, holistic development and 21st-century skills, while also serving as mentor institutions for neighbouring schools. Alongside education, sports have emerged as a national priority. Under the Khelo India Movement, over 1,000 training centres have been opened and 3,000 young athletes receive annual support of 6.28 lakh rupees. The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) supports India’s top athletes with training, equipment, and international exposure. These efforts are paying off, India won 13 medals in the last two Olympics, and a record-breaking 29 medals at the Paris Paralympics. India isn’t just teaching its youth to read and write, it’s teaching them to dream big, run fast, and never stop. Vishnu PS, Akashvani News, Delhi.”
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An all-party delegation of Indian parliamentarians, led by Shashi Tharoor, met senior US government officials and lawmakers in Washington. The delegation briefed them on the cross-border terrorism faced by India and the country’s strong and resolute stance in the fight against terror. The US Congressmen expressed unequivocal and bipartisan condemnation for the terror attack in Pahalgam. On the possibility of any dialogue between India and Pakistan, Mr Tharoor said we will not hold talks with people who are pointing gun at our heads.
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The Ministry of Civil Aviation has directed Turkish Airlines to ensure full compliance with Convention on International Civil Aviation Standards and recommended practices as well as Directorate General of Civil Aviation regulations. The direction came following the inspections conducted by DGCA in which it found lack of proper authorization in Marshaller Competency, Aircraft Maintenance, Dangerous Goods Handling and Ground Handling Agreement.
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In Sikkim, evacuation mission at Chaten has begun this morning from the Pakyong airport. IAF chopper has left for Chaten to evacuate stranded tourists. Yesterday, there was no rescue operation due to inclement weather. There are 109 tourists at Chaten who are supposed to be airlifted today.
“All the stranded tourists have been evacuated to Chaten from Lachen yesterday with the help of NDRF and the army. Today all of them are likely to be airlifted to Pakyong. Earlier, over 1600 stranded tourists have been safely evacuated at Lachung in Mangan district. All roads towards Lachen are inaccessible due to formation damages in multiple locations and for restoration it may take two to three weeks. Apart from this , search operation is also on to rescue the missing six army personnel due to recent landslide at Chaten .Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang yesterday chaired a high-level emergency meeting to assess the situation and assured all supports to overcome it. Manas Pratim Sarma, Akashvani News. Gangtok.”
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More than 30 thousand organisations across India have registered to participate in Yoga Sangam 2025, the main event of this year’s International Day of Yoga. Organised by the Ministry of Ayush, this year’s Yoga Sangam reflects a growing movement that transcends traditional Yoga practice, positioning it as a nationwide initiative to promote mindfulness, resilience, and harmony.
“From educational institutions, Resident Welfare Associations to NGOs, corporate bodies, and government organisations, entities from across the country have enthusiastically registered their intent to host events on June 21, the day observed globally as the International Day of Yoga. This year’s theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” continues to inspire a unified and inclusive movement, bridging geographies and cultures. The 11th edition of International Day of Yoga will witness Yoga sessions in diverse settings-from the serene peaks of Ladakh to the vibrant beaches of Kerala, from school grounds to corporate campuses, and historic temple courtyards to bustling railway stations-turning over one lakh locations into sanctuaries of wellness and unity. A key feature of International Day of Yoga 2025 is integration of technology for tracking participation. JIGYASA PANDEY, AKASHVANI NEWS, DELHI.”
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On the auspicious occasion of Ganga Dussehra festival, Ayodhya’s Shri Ram Janmbhoomi temple will witness the consecration of Raja Ram and other deities on the first floor of the temple today.
“In Ayodhya’s Shri Ram Janmbhoomi mandir, the Prana Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Darbar on the first floor of the temple, as well as the consecration of idols in six other temples will be held today. The consecration ceremony will be led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. General Secretary of Shri Ram Mandir Tirtha Kshetra Trust Champat Rai informed that the Prana Pratishtha ritual is being conducted by 101 Vedic Acharyas under the leadership of Kashi’s scholar Pandit Jaiprakash. He has appealed to the people that Prana Pratishtha is not a public event, so people should not come to Ayodhya to participate in it. However, people who want to see Ramlala can have darshan normally. This is the second program of Prana Pratishtha in the temple, before this the first program of Prana Pratishtha of Ramlala was held in January last year. Om Awasthi, Akashvani News Lucknow.”
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In French Open Tennis, the semi-final line-ups for the Men’s Singles competition have been confirmed in Paris after sixth seed Novak Djokovic beat third seed Alexander Zverev of Germany in the quarterfinal. Earlier, World number 1 Jannik Sinner advanced to the semifinal beating Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan in the quarterfinal last night.
In Women’s Singles, the semi-final line-ups have also been confirmed after World number two Coco Gauff and unseeded Lois Boisson booked their place in the last four.
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TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS HEADLINE,
- Government finally announcing the long-postponed census has been covered by all the dailies today. “Census in two phases to begin in April 2026, to have caste data for first time” cites The Tribune.
- Chairing the first meeting of Union council of ministers after operation Sindoor, the Prime minister lauds the might of indigenous weapons.
- A Hindustan Times headline says “India opposes ADB funds to Pakistan citing misuse concerns.”
- The Economic Times writes “India seeks measures to tackle trade distortions.”
- “E-Aadhaar authentication to be made mandatory for tatkal tickets” notes The Indian Express.
- “PM shares anguish, 11 crushed in RCB victory frenzy” as celebration turned tragic due to stampede at Bengaluru stadium, reports The Pioneer.
- And Finally, The Times of India carries a story of an oil potrait, believed to be the only painting Mahatma Gandhi sat for, getting auctioned in UK.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN,
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lead tree plantation drive and flag off 200 electric buses in Delhi on World Environment Day today.
- Two more wetlands from India added to Ramsar list, taking the number of such sites in the country to 91.
- India elected to Economic and Social Council of United Nations for 2 years beginning 2026.
- All-party delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor meets senior US government officials in Washington; Briefs them on cross-border terrorism.
- DGCA asks Turkish Airlines to ensure compliance with safety regulations after inspections reveal lapses.
- And, more than 30 thousand organisations register to participate in Yoga Sangam 2025, the main event of this year’s International Day of Yoga.
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