Environment & Conservation
- India hosted the 1st Assembly of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) with Bhupender Yadav as its President.
- WHA adopted a resolution declaring skin diseases as a global public health priority.
International Relations & Security
- Iran launched ‘Operation True Promise 3’ in retaliation against Israel’s ‘Operation Rising Lion’.
- PM Modi visited Cyprus and was awarded the nation’s highest civilian honour — the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III.
Science & Technology
- DRDO & IIT Delhi achieved free-space quantum communication using entanglement-based QKD over 1 km.
- Step-and-shoot spot-scanning proton arc therapy (SPArc) was used for the first time to treat Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC).
- DNA profiling was used to identify victims of the Air India AI-171 crash.
Governance & Economy
- India’s Census will be conducted in 2027 in two phases and include caste enumeration using digital tools.
- RBI granted an NBFC licence to Flipkart, allowing it to lend directly to users through its fintech platform ‘Super Money’.
- RBI conducted a ₹25,000 crore Switch Auction but accepted bids worth ₹9,000 crore to manage debt maturity profiles.
- Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) created a new unit to audit PSUs of State Governments.
- DGCA ordered extended surveillance of India’s 34 Boeing 787 aircraft amid safety concerns.
Defence & Security
- Fast Patrol Vessel ‘Achal’, the fifth in the series by Goa Shipyard, was launched for the Indian Coast Guard.
- The Ministry of Defence began ‘Cyber Suraksha’, a national cyber security simulation exercise.
Energy & Infrastructure
- India’s wind energy capacity grew by 10.5% to 51.5 GW; total renewable energy capacity reached 226.74 GW.
Social Justice & Labour
- The 113th International Labour Conference adopted Convention No. 192 on Biological Hazards in workplaces.
- The ILC passed a resolution to reduce informality and improve working conditions in the platform economy.
Digital & Telecom
- TRAI issued a tariff order for PM-WANI to support affordable broadband via public WiFi providers.
- C-DOT granted funding to 18 startups under the ‘Samarth’ Program to boost India’s telecom and IT sectors.
Health & Veterinary
- ICAR-NIHSAD Bhopal was recognized as a Category A Rinderpest Holding Facility by WOAH & UN FAO.
Education & SDGs
- UNESCO SDG4 report revealed India’s 6–17 age group rose by 9 million between 2019–2024 amid rising global out-of-school population.
Ocean Conservation
- UNOC3 concluded in France with the adoption of the ‘Nice Ocean Action Plan’ to support SDG-14.
Sports
- South Africa won the World Test Championship 2023–25, defeating Australia at Lord’s.
Culture & Heritage
- Simhachalam Temple in Andhra Pradesh to be restored using traditional construction techniques.
Land & Urban Governance
- The second phase of NAKSHA training was launched to improve geospatial land records under the Digital India Land Programme.
India’s Trade Performance
Trade Deficit
- India’s total trade deficit in May 2025: $6.6 billion, a 30% decrease compared to May 2024.
- Narrowing due to a fall in imports and growth in services exports.
Export Trends
- Total exports rose 2.8% to $71.1 billion (from $69.2 billion in May 2024).
- Services exports grew 9.4% to $32.4 billion.
- Merchandise exports fell 2.2% to $38.7 billion.
- Non-petroleum exports grew 5.1%, indicating positive momentum outside the oil sector.
Import Trends
- Total imports fell 1% in May 2025.
- Merchandise imports declined 1.7% due to falling crude oil prices.
- Non-petroleum imports increased 10%.
- Services imports saw a marginal growth of 1.5%.
Reason for Trends
- Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal attributed weak merchandise exports to:
- Volatility in global oil prices.
- A sustained fall in petroleum prices is dampening export revenue.
India’s Response to Iran–Israel Conflict
Current Action
- No official evacuation plan yet, but India is relocating citizens in Iran and Israel to safer locations amid escalating conflict.
- Over 100 Indian students have already crossed into Armenia from Iran.
India in Iran
- The Indian embassy in Tehran is working with local authorities to relocate students by bus from major universities (e.g., Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti, Urmia).
- Plan underway to shift ~7,500 Indian students to safer towns outside Tehran.
- Buses are being routed toward Armenia’s Agarak border (visa-free access for Indians).
India in Israel
- Embassy in Tel Aviv advising 25,000 Indians, especially skilled workers and students, to restrict movement.
- Exit guidance provided for travel via Jordan and Egypt land borders, as Israeli airspace remains shut.
Logistics & Safety Measures
- Indian embassies have:
- Registered citizens via Google Forms
- Established hotlines and WhatsApp groups
- Issued advisories limiting non-essential movement
Challenges
- Uncertainty over transportation, visa renewals, and long-term safety.
- Airspace closures & tense regional dynamics complicate future evacuation prospects.
Green Arabia Hypothesis
Background
- The Arabian Peninsula is part of the Saharo-Arabian desert belt, the world’s largest biogeographic barrier.
- Previously believed to be permanently arid, blocking hominin migration routes from Africa to Eurasia.
New Findings
- Research shows Arabia experienced multiple humid phases in the last 8 million years, turning it into grasslands and lake-rich terrain.
- These green periods enabled animal and human migration, contradicting earlier theories that humans arrived only after the domestication of camels/goats.
Speleothem Evidence
- Researchers collected 22 speleothems from 7 caves in central Saudi Arabia.
- Speleothems (cave mineral deposits) form only in wet conditions, indicating ancient rainfall and vegetation.
- Dated using Uranium–Thorium and Uranium–Lead methods.
Humidity Phases Identified
- First humid phase: 7.44–6.25 million years ago.
- Most recent: 530,000 to 60,000 years ago.
- Wet phases were short-lived, aligned with monsoon influence and glacial cycles.
Implications for Human Migration
- Supports the ‘Green Arabia’ hypothesis, placing Arabia as a crucial route in the ‘Out of Africa’ migration.
- Jubbah Oasis and ~10,000 ancient lakes serve as evidence of prehistoric human settlements.
- Sites show human activity dating back 500,000 years.
Climate & Evolution Link
- Human and animal population expansions have historically been linked to wetter climates.
- Dry phases led to extinction or migration to hospitable areas.
Contemporary Relevance
- Past climate trends help understand future climate crisis impacts.
- Research helps assess how changing environments shape human and ecological adaptation.
Trump’s Stand on the Israel–Iran Conflict
Initial Public Stand
- On June 12, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly urged Israel not to attack Iran, citing progress in U.S.–Iran nuclear talks.
Backchannel Support
- Despite public statements, reports (e.g., Axios) confirmed Trump gave Israel a “green light” to strike Iran.
- Trump later admitted: “We knew what was going on… today is the 61st day. It was a very successful attack.”
Strategic Pressure on Iran
- Trump used Israeli attacks as leverage to pressure Iran into accepting a tougher nuclear deal.
- He warned Iran: “Make a deal before nothing is left.”
Trump’s Threat to Iran
- Trump stated: “If Iran attacks the U.S., the full might of the U.S. military will come down at levels never seen before.”
U.S. Military Role
- U.S. air defence systems supported Israel by intercepting Iranian missiles, though the U.S. maintained it had no direct role in Israel’s offensive.
Trump’s Position Summary
- Advocates maximum pressure on Iran using military intimidation.
- Claims mediation credibility, compared to the de-escalation of India–Pakistan tensions in the past.
- Positions himself as aware and supportive of Israeli actions behind the scenes.
Global Response to Israel–Iran Conflict – China’s, Russia’s & Turkiye’s Position
China
- Urged Israel and Iran to “immediately” de-escalate tensions and resume dialogue.
- The Chinese Foreign Ministry emphasized: “Force cannot bring lasting peace.”
- China affirmed its support for Iran and stressed the need to prevent regional turmoil.
- Wang Yi, China’s top diplomat, held calls with both Israeli and Iranian counterparts.
- China pledged continued efforts to promote peace through communication.
Russia
- President Vladimir Putin spoke with Turkish President Erdogan, calling for an immediate ceasefire.
- Urged resolution of issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme, through political and diplomatic means only.
Turkiye
- Erdogan blamed Israel for escalating violence, saying it “threatens regional security.”
- Called for de-escalation and diplomatic resolution, aligning with Russia’s stance.
WPI Inflation
- WPI inflation fell to 0.39% in May 2025, a 14-month low, down from 0.85% in April 2025.
- WPI in May 2024 was 2.74%, indicating a sharp year-on-year moderation.
- The fall is due to the easing prices of food articles and fuel.
- Food articles inflation contracted by -1.56% in May vs -0.86% in April.
- Deflation in vegetables was -21.62% in May (vs. -18.26% in April).
- Fuel and power saw a deflation of -2.27% in May (vs. 2.18% inflation in April).
- Despite this, WPI stayed positive due to higher prices of:
- Manufacture of food products
- Electricity
- Chemicals & chemical products
- Transport equipment
- Non-food articles
- Experts warn that geopolitical tensions (e.g., Israel–Iran conflict) may reverse the easing trend.
TRAI Wi-Fi Hotspot Tariff Regulation
- TRAI capped hotspot operator fees: ISPs can now charge public Wi-Fi hotspot operators no more than twice the residential broadband tariff.
- The move aims to boost the PM-WANI scheme, which suffered due to high commercial Internet prices (40–80x residential rates).
- The new cap applies only to broadband plans up to 200 Mbps.
- Broadband India Forum supported the cap, but telecom operators and Tata Communications opposed it, citing business loss concerns.
- TRAI’s order is its second major tariff intervention recently, the first being to mandate SMS-only plans for senior citizens.
- TRAI was prompted to act after DoT removed ‘commercial agreement’ language from PM-WANI documents, necessitating clear tariff rules.
- The regulation aims to make Public Data Offices (PDOs) under PM-WANI more viable and affordable.
- Tata Communications argued the cap would harm enterprise-only ISPs not involved in the FTTH (fiber-to-the-home) business.
India–China Rare Earth talks
- India is holding diplomatic and commercial talks with China to address restrictions on rare earth metals and magnets, crucial for the automobile sector.
- Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal expressed hope that talks will yield a positive outcome.
- The Indian auto industry (via SIAM & ACMA) is impacted due to dependence on Chinese rare earth supplies.
- Israel–Iran Conflict: Impact on Indian Trade
- Commerce Ministry to hold meetings with trade & shipping stakeholders to assess disruptions due to the Israel–Iran conflict.
- The government is closely tracking geopolitical developments that could impact India’s trade and supply chains.