International Affairs
- Israel’s airstrikes on Iran have intensified, sparking global legal debates under the UN Charter.
- Brent crude oil surged 9% to $75.65 per barrel due to the Iran-Israel conflict.
- The U.S. may deploy GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs to assist Israel against Iran.
- Russia’s defence spending has surpassed that of all 27 EU nations combined.
- NATO Secretary-General noted that Russia manufactures more weapons in 3 months than all allies in a year.
- India’s ties with the U.S. are experiencing a drift due to political and diplomatic mismatches.
- Israel bombed Iran’s Arak and Natanz nuclear sites in retaliation for an Iranian missile attack on Soroka Hospital.
- Iran used missiles with multiple warheads, challenging Israeli air defences; 40 people were injured at Soroka Hospital.
- U.S. President Trump may decide to attack Iran in the next two weeks if negotiations fail.
- India evacuated 110 students from Iran under Operation Sindhu; they reached Delhi via Armenia.
- Canada’s intelligence report accused India of foreign interference, while acknowledging Khalistani extremists fund violence in India.
- India to evacuate its citizens from Israel via land borders, as airports are shut due to the Iran-Israel conflict.
- India and Israel held high-level defence talks amid escalating West Asia tensions.
- Rajnath Singh to attend SCO Defence Ministers’ Meet in China from June 25–27
- PM Modi criticized global double standards on terrorism, citing bias in sanction regimes.
- India and Croatia signed agreements to collaborate on defence, coastal infrastructure, and space ventures.
- The BBNJ treaty for ocean protection has 56 ratifications; 60 are required to come into force.
- French Polynesia announced the creation of the world’s largest marine protected area (5 million sq km).
National Affairs
- Telangana strongly objected to A.P.’s Banakacharla-Polavaram water project, citing rights violations.
- Centre approved ₹2,006.4 crore for Himachal Pradesh disaster recovery post-2023 monsoons.
- Supreme Court criticized the ban on Kamal Haasan’s film ‘Thug Life’, calling it a threat to free speech.
- Chief Justice inquiry found cash in High Court Judge Yashwant Varma’s premises, recommending his removal.
- MP CM Mohan Yadav announced a Ladli Behna Yojana allowance hike to ₹1,500 from Deepavali.
- DMK accused the Centre of suppressing Keeladi excavation findings, calling it an attack on Tamil culture.
- Manipur violence continues: Meitei farmer shot, Kuki woman killed in retaliatory firing.
- Sabarimala ropeway project moves ahead, with the State Wildlife Board clearing forestland use
- Supreme Court termed the suspension of Tamil Nadu ADGP “shocking” and demoralising for officers.
- Kerala’s proposed amnesty for wildlife trophy ownership drew allegations of preferential treatment.
- Bihar Governor formed a panel to address challenges in the state’s higher education.
- India issued LoIs to 5 foreign universities to open campuses, including York and IIT-Chicago.
- UGC highlighted that many foreign university campuses in India operate in rented vertical buildings.
- FASTag-based annual toll pass worth ₹3,000 to be launched from August 15.
- Centre sanctioned 2.35 lakh houses under PMAY-U 2.0 across nine states.
- Delhi’s ₹387 crore courtroom digitisation project is set for rework.
Law and Order
- BSP criticized UP Police recruitment as a hyped routine exercise lacking inclusivity.
- SC sought a response on Kerala journalist’s bail plea rejected by the High Court.
- Congress MLAs in Rajasthan sentenced to 1 year in jail for the 2014 road blockade case.
- Kerala to launch Phase V of its anti-drug campaign from June 26, with 769 arrests so far.
- Andhra Pradesh to compensate an assaulted woman with land, cash, and school admission for the child.
Science & Technology
- Honda successfully tested a reusable rocket that landed just 37 cm from its target in Japan.
- ISRO’s RLV program joins global efforts for reusable launch vehicle technology.
- India to legally mandate IST synchronization across financial, telecom, and administrative sectors.
- Breathing has emerged as a medical focus, with nasal breathing linked to chronic disease mitigation.
- The 2020 understanding of COVID-19 transmission marked a shift towards airborne spread recognition.
- ISRO launched Bharatiya Antariksh Hackathon 2025, inviting UG, PG, and PhD students for 14 space-tech challenges.
- Newborn in Kerala receives presymptomatic treatment for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) using the rare drug Risdiplam.
- India to host international conference on Indus script decipherment in Greater Noida in August 2025.
- Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan credited NEP-2020 for India’s rise in QS World University Rankings
Economy & Business
- SEBI recognised angel investors as QIBs and eased norms for PSU delisting and FPI documentation.
- Vedanta sold a 1.6% HZL stake for ₹3,028 crore to boost financial flexibility ahead of demerger.
- Shriram Finance revised FD interest rates from June 26; 36-60 month FDs now offer 8% for seniors.
- RBI is scrutinising Standard Chartered’s derivative product governance.
- IPO market revived with $11 billion raised from 31 IPOs till May 2025; SPACs also returning.
- Abbott will distribute MSD’s diabetes drug Sitagliptin (Januvia, Janumet) in India.
Education & Social Policy
- Chandigarh topped the PGI 2.0 school education index, while Meghalaya ranked lowest; 24 states showed improvement.
- Maharashtra mandated Hindi as third language in English and Marathi medium schools, with opt-out provisions.
- 20 students flagged off under Sakura Science Programme to visit Japan, boosting scientific curiosity and India-Japan soft power.
Science, Technology & Infrastructure
- ISRO launched Bharatiya Antariksh Hackathon 2025, inviting UG/PG/PhD students to solve real-world space-tech challenges.
- New FASTag-based ₹3,000 annual toll pass launched for non-commercial vehicles, valid for 200 trips or 12 months.
- INS Arnala, India’s 1st shallow-water anti-submarine vessel, was commissioned, powered by a diesel-engine-waterjet combo.
Environment & Biodiversity
- Global ocean darkening has affected 21% of waters, impacting the photic zone critical for marine life and carbon absorption.
- Gharial Conservation Programme in Etawah celebrated 50 years, showcasing successful captive breeding and river releases.
- Agarwood trees face extinction threats due to overharvesting for perfume and medicine; India hosts two key species.
Disaster & Climate Change
- OECD’s Global Drought Outlook 2025 warned that 40% of Earth faces recurring droughts; 48% of land saw extreme drought in 2023.
- Agriculture hit hardest by droughts, with yield drops up to 22%; drought now causes 34% of disaster deaths globally.
Miscellaneous
- Yuva and Bal Puraskar awards announced with a ₹50,000 prize and a copper plaque.
- India and Canada restored diplomatic ties, agreeing to reappoint High Commissioners and resume trade talks after the 2024 standoff.
- PM Modi became the first Indian PM to visit Croatia, strengthening cooperation in defence, infrastructure, and space.
- India launched Operation Sindhu, evacuating 110 citizens from Iran via land route through Armenia.
- UNOC 2025 launched the ‘One Ocean Finance’ platform to boost SDG 14 funding and formed the ‘High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean’.
- Croatia was spotlighted for its EU-NATO membership and Adriatic strategic location; PM Modi reaffirmed bilateral ties.
- Bihar became the first Indian state to adopt mobile-based e-voting for urban local body elections, using facial verification and blockchain.
- SEBI banned IIFL Securities’ director for ‘front running’, a market manipulation act involving insider trading.
- Uttarakhand reported five helicopter crashes in two months this year.
- Google opened its first Safety Engineering Centre in the APAC region in Hyderabad.
- IMD predicted hot, humid weather in Andhra Pradesh till June 22.
- Kabini reservoir in Karnataka issued a flood warning after 25,000 cusecs of outflow.
- Chandigarh topped in the school education index; Meghalaya ranked last.
- DNA profiling identified 208 victims in the Air India crash in Ahmedabad.