9 June, 2021
1. Indian Navy is set to receive three of 24 MH-60 Romeo multirole helicopters from United States (US) in July 2021. India and US had signed a deal worth $2.4 billion in February 2020 to procure 24 MH-60 Romeo helicopters from Lockheed Martin. First batch of Indian pilots has reached US for training on helicopters. Pilots would undergo training first in Pensacola in Florida and then in San Diego in California. MH-60 Romeo helicopters have been designed to operate from aircraft carriers, cruisers, frigates and destroyers. It would be equipped with multi-mode radars and night vision devices.
2. 36 years old Indian football, Sunil Chhetri, has surpassed Argentina’s Lionel Messi and has become second-highest active international goal-scorer with 74 strikes. Chhetri now leads Barcelona star Messi by two goals and is placed above Ali Mabkhout of UAE, who is at third place with 73 strikes. He achieved this feat against Bangladesh in joint preliminary qualifying round match for 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup. Indian professional footballer plays as striker or winger and is captain of both Indian Super League side Bengaluru FC and Indian national football team. He is popularly known as Captain Fantastic.
3. On the line of Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards, Assam cabinet has decided to institute Asom Ratna Award. Asom Ratna Award award will be presented every year to one person for his significant contribution to society. Cabinet also decided to constitute Asom Bibhushan, Assam Bhushan Award and Asom Shree award which will be conferred every year to three people, five people and ten people, respectively. Awards will be accompanied by a cash reward. Awardee would be provided with other benefits also such as free medical treatment of critical illness, free travel on ASTC buses, free stay at Assam Bhawans.
4. Russia is building its first naval ship which will be fully equipped with stealth technology. Stealth technology will to make it hard to detect. Hull of the Mercury naval corvette dubbed project 20386 is ready and vessel is expected to be delivered to navy in 2022. This warship will be armed with cruise missiles, artillery and anti-aircraft missiles. It will also be capable of searching for and destroying submarines. Russia has already incorporated stealth technology including a radar-absorbing coating into some navy vessels. However, those ships did not have full stealth technology.
5. NITI Aayog and Piramal Foundation launched ‘Surakshit Hum Surakshit Tum Abhiyaan’ to provide home-care support to asymptomatic covid-19 patients or patients with mild symptoms. This campaign was launched in 112 Aspirational Districts to assist district administrations in providing home-care support to COVID-19 patients. It will provide covid home-care support to 20 lakh citizens. It is a part of special initiative in which civil societies, local leaders and volunteers will work with district administrations to address emerging problems across key focus areas of Aspirational Districts Programme. It will be led by district magistratesin partnership with over one thousand local NGOs. NGOs will enlist & train about one lakh volunteers to connect with patients through inbound and outbound calls.
