24.06.25 Current Affairs

ONE-LINER CURRENT AFFAIRS

National Affairs

• PM Modi met U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, discussing key strategic issues ahead of India-U.S. 2+2 dialogue.
• Government asked top 20 Ministries to identify redundant laws for repeal during the upcoming Monsoon Session.
• RBI formed a working group to develop a ‘Unified Regulatory Framework’ for large NBFCs under PCA (Prompt Corrective Action).
• India’s aviation sector recorded a 23% rise in domestic air traffic year-on-year in May 2025.
• CBI conducted raids in NEET-UG paper leak case across Bihar and Jharkhand, recovering digital and handwritten evidence.
• Jharkhand CM Champai Soren called NEET-UG scam a betrayal of meritorious students, demanding transparency reforms.
• India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued red alerts for heavy rain in Gujarat, Konkan, and Odisha.
• Delhi’s AQI improved slightly to ‘Moderate’ due to pre-monsoon showers.
• Health Ministry is revising guidelines for AI in diagnostic radiology to address bias and error concerns.
• Over 3.2 lakh people have enrolled under Skill India’s AI and cybersecurity training programmes.

International Affairs

• U.S. launched airstrikes on Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria following rocket attacks on U.S. assets.
• Russian President Putin arrived in Hanoi, signing defence and energy agreements with Vietnam.
• Bangladesh and Nepal demanded special climate finance from G7 nations, citing rising climate vulnerability.
• Iran closed its embassy in Tel Aviv and declared three days of mourning after Israel’s strikes on Isfahan.
• China’s naval drills near Taiwan escalated regional tensions, drawing warnings from the U.S. and Japan.
• Iran launched missile strikes on U.S. military bases in Qatar (al-Udeid) and Iraq (Ain al-Assad) in retaliation to Operation Midnight Hammer targeting its nuclear sites.
• Qatar temporarily suspended airspace after intercepting Iranian missiles; no casualties reported.
• India’s crude oil imports from Russia rose to 2.2 million barrels/day, surpassing West Asian suppliers due to Strait of Hormuz conflict risks.
• Iran threatened closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for 20% of global oil trade, escalating energy security concerns.
• India’s food subsidy (₹2.03 lakh crore) and fertiliser subsidy (₹1.56 lakh crore) for FY26 triggered debate on rationalisation amid falling poverty.
• ICAR promoted insect-based feed (e.g., black soldier fly, mealworms) to reduce environmental load and curb antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
• DGCA launched a special audit of India’s aviation sector, post-Ahmedabad crash, to assess licensing and safety compliance.
• U.S. issued a Level-2 travel advisory for India, warning citizens against travel to J&K, Red Corridor areas, and border regions.
• India’s Estimates Committee completed 75 years, having tabled over 1,184 reports on expenditure efficiency since 1950.
• Over 50,000 people affected by flash floods in Balasore, Odisha, after release of excess water from Chandil Dam on the Subarnarekha River.
• Operation Midnight Hammer by the U.S. involved B-2 stealth bombers and bunker-buster bombs targeting Fordow, Isfahan & Natanz nuclear facilities in Iran.
• India accelerated AI & Cybersecurity training under Skill India, enrolling over 3.2 lakh participants across sectors.
• Health Ministry is revising AI guidelines in radiology, aiming to reduce diagnostic errors and ethical bias.
• Russia’s President Putin signed energy and defence deals with Vietnam, strengthening strategic presence in Southeast Asia.
• Bangladesh and Nepal demanded dedicated climate finance from G7 nations, citing high vulnerability and low carbon emissions.

West Asia Conflict

• Iran launched missile attacks on U.S. military bases in Qatar (al-Udeid) and Iraq (Ain al-Assad) in retaliation for U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, prompting Qatar and Bahrain to temporarily suspend airspace.

• Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar is the largest U.S. base in West Asia, housing ~10,000 troops and CENTCOM HQ.
• Qatar intercepted all missiles, reported no casualties, and termed the strike a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty.
• Indian Embassy in Doha urged citizens to stay indoors.
• Iran’s Supreme Security Council authorized the strike; President Pezeshkian stated Iran would not initiate war but would respond to aggression.
• U.S. President Donald Trump did not issue an immediate response.
• The strikes followed a meeting between Iran and Russia, indicating geopolitical coordination amid rising regional tensions.

Nuclear Diplomacy

• Iran’s parliament began debating a Bill to suspend cooperation with the IAEA, accusing the agency of political bias, as tensions rise over nuclear inspections amid regional conflict.

• The Majlis Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf claimed the IAEA had failed its obligations and was being used as a political tool.
• IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi warned of the risk of a nuclear accident, urging a return to diplomacy to protect the global non-proliferation regime.
• The debate comes amid rising U.S.–Iran–Israel military tensions and concerns over Iran’s nuclear intentions.

Visa applicants are required to make their social media accounts public

• The U.S. has made it mandatory for all F, M, and J non-immigrant visa applicants to make their social media accounts public for security vetting, as part of enhanced identity and admissibility checks.

• Applies to foreign students and exchange visitors (F, M, J visa categories).
• Visa applicants must adjust privacy settings to “public” on personal social media accounts.
• The rule supports national security screening and has been in partial effect since 2019, now being fully enforced.
• Embassy scheduling for F, M, J visas to resume soon, per U.S. State Department update (June 18, 2025).

2026 Nobel Peace Prize: Pakistan

• Pakistan condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s bombing of Iran just a day after nominating him for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, calling the strikes a violation of international law and IAEA statutes.

• Pakistan had praised Trump’s role in de-escalating the India–Pakistan conflict post-Kashmir massacre (April 2025).
• The U.S. strikes on Iran targeted IAEA-monitored nuclear facilities, sparking condemnation from Islamabad.
• Pakistan maintains strategic ties with Iran, and PM Shehbaz Sharif expressed concern to Iranian President Pezeshkian.
• This episode reveals Pakistan’s diplomatic contradiction — supporting U.S.-led de-escalation in South Asia while opposing U.S. action in West Asia.

India–U.S. bilateral trade deal on agriculture and dairy

• India–U.S. bilateral trade deal remains stalled due to differences on agriculture and dairy, with India maintaining caution over its sensitive dairy sector ahead of the July 9 deadline for reciprocal U.S. tariff reimposition.
• India is not desperate to finalize the deal before July 9, as tariff rollback would only revert to April 2 levels, affecting both sides selectively.
• The first tranche of the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) is expected to be taken up in Fall 2025.
• The government is also tracking rising West Asia tensions (Iran–U.S. conflict) for their potential impact on trade and shipping costs, especially via the Strait of Hormuz.

India–ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA)

• No progress has been made in the India–ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) review, despite 9 meetings over the past year, with India raising concerns over trade imbalances and Chinese-origin inputs being routed via ASEAN.
• The AITIGA was signed in 2009, with India liberalizing 71% of tariff lines, compared to Indonesia (41%), Vietnam (66.5%), and Thailand (67%).
• India’s imports from ASEAN have tripled, while exports have only doubled in 15 years.
• India is concerned about circumvention of origin rules, with Chinese-subsidised goods re-routed through ASEAN.
• Joint review committee began work in February 2024, but talks have seen a stalemate.

Strait of Hormuz Issue

• A potential blockade of the Strait of Hormuz may benefit Indian refiners, as disruptions in Middle East supply chains could push European buyers to seek jet fuel and diesel from India at higher prices.
• Only 44,000 barrels/day of India’s refined fuel exports pass through Hormuz, giving it lower exposure compared to Gulf producers.
• Europe sources ~24% of its gasoil from the Middle East Gulf (MEG), making it vulnerable to disruptions.
• India is a net exporter of refined products, including aviation turbine fuel (ATF) and diesel (gasoil), and may benefit from rising crack spreads.
• Structural risks in Northwest Europe’s aviation fuel logistics could lead to higher export margins for India.

India–China Relations & SCO Diplomacy

• NSA Ajit Doval and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh are visiting China for high-level SCO meetings, with India emphasizing counter-terrorism cooperation and resumption of ties post-LAC standoff and Operation Sindoor.
• Ajit Doval met Chinese FM Wang Yi in Beijing, discussing mutual trust, border resolution, and regional peace.
• Rajnath Singh will attend the SCO Defence Ministers’ meet (June 26–27) in Qingdao.
• SCO RATS (Regional Anti-Terror Structure) will focus on terrorism, post-Iran-Israel-U.S. escalation.
• India and China resumed the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after a 6-year gap; 750 pilgrims to trek in batches.
• First official Indian delegation to China since Galwan 2020 clashes and COVID-19 disruptions.
• Talks hint at resumption of direct flights, media exchange, hydrological info sharing, and economic dialogue.
• Upcoming diplomatic calendar includes:
  1. SCO Foreign Ministers’ Meet in July,
  2. SCO Summit in Tianjin (Aug), expected to be attended by PM Modi.

India’s private space and biotech sectors

• Union Minister Jitendra Singh stated that India’s private space and biotech sectors are still in a “developing” phase, citing the need for more time and policy support to build capacity and market readiness.
• Despite reforms, no private firm was selected to manufacture ISRO’s SSLV; the ₹511 crore ToT deal was awarded to HAL.
• Alpha Design (Adani-linked) & Bharat Dynamics consortia were among the technically qualified bidders but lost to HAL.
• SSLV is a 3-stage vehicle designed to launch sub-500 kg satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
• On biotech, the Department of Biotechnology stated that start-up equity is ~₹7,000 crore, but long incubation hinders public market listings.
• Dr. Singh credited recent policy shifts under PM Modi for gradually opening the space and biotech sectors to private participation.