Daily Current Affairs - Week 25, 2025 (16 Jun 2025 - 22 Jun 2025)

‘Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’ concludes in Gujarat with farmer conference.

• June 13 observed as International Albinism Awareness Day with focus on rights and skin protection.
• June 19 observed as UN’s International Day to Eliminate Sexual Violence in Conflict.

• PM Modi receives Cyprus’s highest civilian award – Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III.
• Tom Cruise, Dolly Parton, Debbie Allen, and Wynn Thomas to receive honorary Oscars in 2025.
• Indian animation film ‘Desi Oon’ wins big at Annecy Festival 2025 in France.

• Indian forces conduct high-risk operation to rescue fire-hit Singaporean vessel near Kochi.
• Indian Coast Guard’s fifth patrol vessel ‘Achal’ launched by Goa Shipyard Ltd.
• Indian Army contingent departs for 8th India-France joint military exercise SHAKTI in France.
• INS Arnala commissioned into Indian Navy on 18 June 2025 at Visakhapatnam.

Sri Lanka celebrates Poson Poya festival, marking Buddhism’s arrival over 2,000 years ago.

• Ganesh Baliga appointed as MD and Head of Citi India Solutions to expand tech base.
• SBI General Insurance names Mohd. Arif Khan as Deputy CEO to boost leadership strength.
• Sun Pharma appoints Kirti Ganorkar as new Managing Director from September 1, 2025.
• Lt Commander Yashasvi Solanki becomes first woman naval ADC to the President.
• Vodafone appoints Pilar López as next CFO from October 2025, replacing Luka Mucic.

• India’s first underwater museum to be built around INS Guldar in Maharashtra.
• U.S. doctors perform country’s first fully robotic heart transplant at Houston hospital.
• FDA approves injectable lenacapavir as long-acting HIV prevention, welcomed by WHO.
• UK researchers develop advanced scanner for brain tumour diagnosis using Field Cycling Imaging.
• ISRO announces Bharatiya Antariksh Hackathon 2025 to promote space innovation among students.
• ASI to host global seminar in August 2025 on decoding the Indus Valley script.
• India and Ukraine hold first Joint Working Group meeting to enhance agricultural cooperation.

• Jacinda Ardern’s memoir ‘A Different Kind of Power’ released globally.
• India participates as Vice President in 2nd IALA Council session in France.
• Iran halts partial gas output at South Pars after Israeli airstrike triggers fire.
• New Zealand introduces Parent Boost Visa with a 10-year stay provision for immigrants’ parents.
• Vietnam officially joins BRICS as partner country, expanding group’s influence in Southeast Asia.

• BCCI forms safety committee after stampede during RCB’s IPL celebration in Bengaluru.
• Yajik Hillang wins Gold for India at South Asian Bodybuilding Championship in Bhutan.
• South Africa wins first ICC title in 27 years with WTC 2025 victory over Australia.
• Indian boxer Nishant Dev wins his second professional fight at Madison Square Garden, New York.
• U Mumba wins their first-ever Ultimate Table Tennis title with an 8-4 victory over Jaipur Patriots.
• Smriti Mandhana regains No.1 spot in ICC ODI batting rankings after six years.
• PM Modi congratulates Divya Deshmukh for her historic victory over World No.1 Hou Yifan in blitz chess.

• Cabinet approves ₹6,405 crore rail projects in Jharkhand, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Centre notifies two-phase caste census to begin in 2026 in Ladakh and 2027 in rest of India.
• Ministry of Panchayati Raj to sign MoU with Bhashini to improve multilingual e-Governance.
• Central government extends gratuity benefits to UPS-option employees from April 2025.
• IIM Bangalore tops Indian institutes in QS MBA Rankings 2025, ranks 53rd globally.
• Department of Telecommunications and IIT Madras launch TTDF Symposium 2025 to boost indigenous telecom innovation.

• RBI approves STRIPS trading for state government bonds to enhance liquidity.
• UNFPA: 38% Indian families can’t have desired number of children due to financial stress.
• IREDA raises ₹2,005.90 crore via QIP to expand green energy lending.
• Gensol Engineering admitted to insolvency after ₹510 crore default to IREDA.
• Amazon signs 17-year nuclear energy deal with Talen for powering AWS data centers.
• Samay Project Services IPO worth ₹14.69 crore opens for public subscription.
• HBL Engineering secures ₹133 crore contract for Kavach railway safety system.
• India launches green skills-based EV training program in partnership with Shell.
• Meta appoints Arun Srinivas as Managing Director and India Head.
• NPCI and IDRBT form alliance to enhance cybersecurity in India's digital payments sector.
• Fast-food chain Dairy Queen, owned by Warren Buffett, to enter Indian market via Devyani International.
• CCI approves Delhivery’s acquisition of 99.44% stake in Ecom Express.
• Hindustan Zinc to invest ₹12,000 crore to set up a new integrated zinc smelter in Rajasthan.
• Aernnova Aerospace signs a $300 million contract with Mahindra Aerostructures to manufacture aircraft components for Airbus and Embraer.
• DPIIT signs MoU with YourStory to strengthen inclusive entrepreneurship in India.
• Jio Financial acquires SBI’s 17.8% stake, becomes sole owner of Jio Payments Bank.
• DEPwD, NIOS, and NCERT sign MoU to promote inclusive education for persons with disabilities.
• Kanpur to get ₹700 crore EV manufacturing park under Vision 2030 for clean mobility growth.
• Four Indian universities enter global top 100 in THE Impact Rankings 2025 for their work on UN SDGs.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will organize an international seminar on the Indus Valley script from August 20–22, 2025 at the Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay Institute of Archaeology, Greater Noida. The three-day event will gather domestic and global experts to evaluate current research and explore future pathways in decoding one of the world’s oldest undeciphered scripts.

The U.S. FDA has approved injectable lenacapavir as a semiannual HIV prevention method. This follows positive outcomes from PURPOSE 1 & 2 clinical trials in 2024. The WHO welcomed the move, highlighting it as a significant step in expanding HIV prevention options with a long-acting, convenient alternative for vulnerable populations.

Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in Houston achieved a medical milestone with the U.S.'s first fully robotic heart transplant. Led by Dr. Kenneth Liao, the minimally invasive surgery marks a significant advancement in cardiology, reducing recovery time and surgical risks for patients.

India and Ukraine held their first Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on agriculture in virtual format, co-chaired by Shri Ajeet Kumar Sahu (India) and Ms. Oksana Osmachko (Ukraine). The session marked a key step toward expanding bilateral cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors, with both sides highlighting mutual goals in sustainable farming and food security.

ISRO, in collaboration with Hack2skill, has announced the Bharatiya Antariksh Hackathon 2025 to promote innovation in space science. Launched by ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan, the challenge invites participation from undergraduate to PhD students across India, offering 14 unique problem statements related to real-world space technology challenges.

Researchers at University of Aberdeen and NHS Grampian, funded with £350,000 by the Scottish Government, are exploring the use of Field Cycling Imaging (FCI) for brain tumour diagnostics. The technique could offer unprecedented imaging detail of glioblastoma tumours and pave the way for improved treatment strategies.

India marked a strong global academic presence as four universities secured spots in the top 100 of the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings 2025. Leading the way, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham ranked 41st globally, followed by Lovely Professional University (48th), while JSS Academy of Higher Education and Shoolini University jointly ranked 96th. The rankings assess universities on their commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Under its Kanpur Metropolitan Development Vision – 2030, the Uttar Pradesh government has announced a 500-acre Electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturing park in Kanpur, involving ₹700 crore in investments. Developed through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, the initiative aims to establish Kanpur as a leading EV manufacturing hub, generating jobs and accelerating green mobility.

Indian chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh earned praise from Prime Minister Modi for her stunning victory over World No. 1 Hou Yifan in the Blitz semifinal at the World Team Blitz Championships, London. The fast-paced blitz tournament, held by FIDE, showcased Deshmukh’s tactical brilliance and marked a landmark moment in Indian women’s chess.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), in partnership with IIT Madras and the Telecom Centres of Excellence (TCOE), inaugurated the first-ever three-day Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) Symposium 2025 at IIT Madras Research Park, Chennai. The event, launched by Telecom Secretary Dr. Neeraj Mittal, aims to promote indigenous R&D in next-generation telecom and bridge rural-urban digital gaps.

Recognized by the United Nations since 2015, June 19 is commemorated each year as the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict. The resolution (A/RES/69/293) highlights the urgency of eradicating conflict-related sexual crimes, honors victims and survivors, and pays tribute to those who have fought and fallen for this cause.

‘Desi Oon’, a standout project from the Create in India Challenge under WAVES 2025, has earned India international prestige by winning the Jury Award for Best Commissioned Film at the 2025 Annecy International Animation Festival in France. Directed by acclaimed animator Suresh Eriyat, this victory marks a milestone for Indian animation on the world stage.

On 18 June 2025, INS Arnala, the lead ship of the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft class, was formally inducted into the Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam. The commissioning ceremony was held in the presence of Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan and attended by key naval leaders, GRSE and L&T representatives, and dignitaries.

Vodafone Group Plc has announced that Pilar López, a senior executive from Microsoft, will take over as the Chief Financial Officer Designate starting 1 October 2025. She will succeed Luka Mucic, whose decision to step down was previously declared on 7 May 2025.

In a move to boost grassroots entrepreneurship, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry has signed an MoU with YourStory Media Private Limited. The partnership aims to strengthen India’s startup landscape by fostering inclusive innovation and entrepreneurial growth across diverse communities.

In a step towards advancing inclusive education for persons with disabilities, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, signed a tripartite MoU with the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) in New Delhi.

Jio Financial Services Ltd has fully taken over Jio Payments Bank by acquiring State Bank of India’s 17.8% stake for ₹104.54 crore. With this buyout, Jio Payments Bank is now a wholly owned subsidiary, giving Jio Financial complete control to expand its presence in digital banking.

The BRICS alliance has welcomed Vietnam as a new partner country under the Brazilian chairmanship for 2025. This inclusion marks a strategic expansion of BRICS into Southeast Asia. Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang confirmed the country’s active engagement, emphasizing its dedication to strengthening the representation of developing nations in global governance.

In the latest QS Global MBA Rankings 2025, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore emerged as the highest-ranked Indian B-school with a score of 67.4, claiming the 53rd global position. IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Calcutta secured the 60th and 65th ranks respectively.

Through a notification dated 24 January 2025, the Ministry of Finance has extended the benefits of retirement gratuity and death gratuity to Central Government employees who opt for the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) under the National Pension System (NPS), effective from 1 April 2025.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that actors Tom Cruise and Debbie Allen, production designer Wynn Thomas, and music legend Dolly Parton will be honored with honorary Oscars in 2025. Cruise is recognized for his cinematic contributions and commitment to stunts, while Parton will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her extensive philanthropic work.

A 90-member contingent of the Indian Army, primarily from the Jammu & Kashmir Rifles, has departed to participate in the 8th edition of Exercise SHAKTI in France. Scheduled from June 18 to July 1, 2025, the joint military exercise at Camp Larzac aims to enhance tactical cooperation and interoperability with the French Army’s 13th Foreign Legion Half-Brigade. The biennial exercise focuses on joint training for high-intensity combat operations.

Aernnova Aerospace, a leading aerospace supplier, has signed a multi-year sourcing agreement valued at approximately $300 million with Mahindra Aerostructures Pvt. Ltd. (MASPL). The contract involves manufacturing of metal sub-assemblies and components for various Airbus aircraft models and the Embraer aircraft family, including the C390 Millennium military transport aircraft. The supplies will be directed to Aernnova’s facilities in Spain, the U.K., Portugal, and Brazil. This agreement further deepens a decade-long strategic partnership that began in 2013. 

The Competition Commission of India has approved Delhivery Limited’s proposal to acquire at least 99.44% of the equity and preference shares of logistics player Ecom Express Limited, on a fully diluted basis. The acquisition will further strengthen Delhivery’s position in India’s fast-growing e-commerce logistics and supply chain sector.

Devyani International Ltd., the franchisee for brands like KFC and Pizza Hut in India, plans to introduce U.S.-based fast-food chain Dairy Queen to the Indian market. Owned by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway since 1997, Dairy Queen will now cater to Indian consumers as Devyani looks to expand its fast-food offerings amid growing demand.

Hindustan Zinc Limited has announced the approval of a ₹12,000 crore investment plan to establish a 250 ktpa integrated zinc smelter at Debari, Rajasthan. The project, expected to complete within 36 months, will be financed through a combination of internal accruals and debt. The facility will significantly expand HZL’s refining capacity and contribute to India’s self-reliance in metal production.

Nishant Dev, a rising star in Indian boxing, secured his second professional victory by defeating Josue Silva via unanimous decision (60-54) in the Super Welterweight category. The 24-year-old fought at the iconic Madison Square Garden and had earlier won his debut match in January 2025 against Alton Wiggins via first-round stoppage.

India’s women’s cricket vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has reclaimed the top position in the ICC ODI batting rankings for the first time since 2019. This jump comes after South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt dropped 19 rating points, allowing Mandhana to move to the summit of global women's ODI batting statistics.

U Mumba secured their maiden Ultimate Table Tennis title by defeating the Jaipur Patriots 8-4 in the grand finale of Season 6. Notable performances by Lilian Bardet and Bernadette Szocs gave U Mumba an early lead. Szocs later partnered with Akash Pal to sweep the mixed doubles match 3-0, sealing the championship for the Mumbai-based team.

On June 19, 2025, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Bhashini, a MeitY initiative, to use AI-powered language tools to improve multilingual access in e-Governance at the grassroots level. The MoU will be signed at the Constitution Club of India Annexe, New Delhi, and aims to promote inclusivity in digital public services across local self-governments.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded the "Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III" by the President of Cyprus, H.E. Nikos Christodoulides, in recognition of his contributions to strengthening bilateral ties. Expressing gratitude, PM Modi dedicated the honour to the 1.4 billion citizens of India, highlighting deepening ties between the two nations.

Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) launched ‘Achal’, the fifth Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) in a series of eight being built for the Indian Coast Guard. The vessel was launched on June 16, 2025, in the presence of senior officials and is designed with more than 60% indigenous components. It adheres to dual-class certification from the American Bureau of Shipping and Indian Register of Shipping.

Sri Lanka is observing the sacred Poson Poya festival, commemorating the introduction of Buddhism to the island nation over two millennia ago. Celebrated on the June full moon, the festival honors the first sermon delivered by Arahat Mahinda to King Devanampiyatissa at Mihintale, marking a turning point in the country’s spiritual history.

Lieutenant Commander Yashasvi Solanki has made history by becoming the first female officer from the Indian Navy to be appointed as an Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the President of India. A native of Haryana, she joined the Navy in 2012 under the Short Service Commission and has served in the Logistics Branch. The role is among five ADCs chosen by the President, representing all three military services.

Social media giant Meta has elevated Arun Srinivas to the role of Managing Director and India Head, effective from July 1. Currently heading Meta’s advertising business in India, Mr. Srinivas will now spearhead business growth, innovation, and strategic priorities in the region. His appointment follows an expanded leadership structure under Sandhya Devanathan for India and Southeast Asia.

Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT) have formalized a strategic alliance aimed at enhancing cybersecurity, cyber resilience, and data protection mechanisms within India's swiftly expanding digital payment environment. This collaboration, sealed through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), comes at a crucial juncture when digital transactions such as UPI are witnessing exponential growth, necessitating fortified security frameworks.

Following the unfortunate stampede during Royal Challengers Bangalore's IPL victory celebrations in Bengaluru, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the formation of a special committee to develop safety protocols for future public celebrations. Chaired by Devajit Saikia, with members Prabhtej Singh Bhatia and Rajeev Shukla, the committee is tasked with submitting a report and guidelines within 15 days.

Championship in nearly three decades by defeating Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final at Lord's Cricket Ground, London. Aiden Markram's heroic century and an injury-defying fifty from captain Temba Bavuma steered the team to a successful 282-run chase on Day 4. Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada played a pivotal role, claiming nine wickets across the match, delivering South Africa their maiden WTC title.

Arunachal Pradesh's Yajik Hillang clinched the Gold medal in the Women’s Model Physique (up to 155 cm) category at the 15th South Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championships 2025 held in Thimphu, Bhutan. She became the first woman athlete from the state to achieve an international Gold in Physique Sports, marking a significant milestone for the region.

The Indian government has issued an official gazette notification for conducting the country's 16th census, which will include a caste component. The first phase will start in snow-bound regions like Ladakh on October 1, 2026, while the second phase will begin across the rest of India on March 1, 2027. This census will be conducted after a 16-year hiatus, with the last one carried out in 2011.

In a high-risk maritime operation, the Indian Coast Guard, Navy, and Air Force collaborated on June 13, 2025, to stabilize the fire-damaged Singaporean cargo ship MV Wan Hai 503 off the Kochi coast. Despite turbulent weather conditions and limited aerial access, a Navy Sea King helicopter successfully deployed salvage crew onto the vessel, which was later handed over to tugboat Offshore Warrior for further towing and safety.

Citi has appointed Ganesh Baliga as Managing Director and Head of Citi India Solutions, reinforcing its technological and operational presence in India. Baliga will be responsible for expanding Citi’s innovation and delivery hubs in major Indian cities, further solidifying the country’s position as a global technology backbone for the bank.

In a strategic leadership reshuffle, SBI General Insurance has named Mohd. Arif Khan as its new Deputy Chief Executive Officer. With over 25 years at SBI, Khan brings deep expertise in digital transformation, retail banking, and strategic operations, aiming to strengthen the company’s market competitiveness and innovation capability in the evolving insurance sector.

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. has announced the appointment of Kirti Ganorkar as its new Managing Director, effective September 1, 2025, following approval from its shareholders at the AGM scheduled for July 31. Dilip Shanghvi, the current MD, will remain actively involved as Executive Director and Board Chair. Ganorkar will serve a five-year term to lead India's largest pharmaceutical company.

Amazon Web Services has entered into a long-term agreement with U.S. utility Talen Energy to source up to 1,920 megawatts of nuclear power from the Susquehanna plant in Pennsylvania. The deal runs through 2042, ensuring Amazon’s cloud and AI operations have access to stable, carbon-free electricity, reinforcing its clean energy commitments.

HBL Engineering Limited has secured a major ₹132.95 crore contract to deploy the ‘Kavach’ safety signaling system across the Vijayawada-Ballarshah rail section. The project includes 48 stations, 446 kilometers of track, and 10 locomotives. The contract must be executed within 18 months and boosts HBL’s total order book to ₹3,998.38 crores, underlining its growing prominence in railway technology infrastructure.

On June 12, 2025, the Directorate General of Training (DGT), under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, teamed up with Shell India to launch a pioneering training initiative focusing on green energy and electric vehicle (EV) skills. Delivered through the Edunet Foundation, the program will equip students and faculty across select ITIs and NSTIs in Delhi-NCR, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka with skills crucial for sustainable future employment.

Samay Project Services’ IPO, aiming to raise ₹14.69 crores, opened for public subscription on June 16 and will close on June 18, 2025. The IPO allocates 50% for Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIB), 35% for retail investors, and 15% for Non-Institutional Investors (NII), with market watchers monitoring investor response.

Amid rising geopolitical tensions, Iran has partly shut down operations at the South Pars gas field—its largest and one of the world’s most productive—after an Israeli airstrike on June 15, 2025, caused a fire. The field, shared with Qatar and located in Bushehr province, is critical to Iran’s energy production and export capacity.

New Zealand has unveiled a new immigration policy called the Parent Boost Visa, offering a 5-year stay for parents of citizens and residents, starting September 2025. Upon fulfilling all eligibility conditions, visa holders can apply for a second 5-year visa, allowing a cumulative stay of up to 10 years. This initiative opens a significant path for Indian immigrants to reunite with family members in New Zealand over the long term.

The 15-day 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan' wrapped up with a farmer conclave in Bardoli, Gujarat, led by Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Launched on May 29 in Odisha, the campaign saw nationwide outreach, including Kisan Chaupals, padyatras, and state visits, aiming to enhance farmer awareness on agriculture development schemes.

Every year on June 13, International Albinism Awareness Day is marked to raise understanding about this rare genetic condition. The 2024 theme highlights the rights of individuals with albinism, emphasizing the need for skin protection and overall safety. The day underscores that both parents must carry the gene for it to be inherited, even if they don't show symptoms.

India is set to develop its first underwater museum and artificial coral reef at the site of the decommissioned warship INS Guldar, located off Vengurla coast near Nivati Rocks in Sindhudurg, Maharashtra. The ₹46.91 crore project, backed by the Tourism Ministry, will support marine biodiversity and boost eco-tourism through scuba diving and submarine tours.

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in Ahmedabad has admitted Gensol Engineering Ltd under the corporate insolvency resolution process following a petition by the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), citing unpaid dues totaling ₹510 crore. The move has raised red flags in the clean energy sector regarding financial prudence and regulatory oversight.

In a significant fundraising exercise, IREDA mobilized ₹2,005.90 crore through Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP), issuing 12.15 crore equity shares at ₹165.14 each. The issue price included a ₹155.14 premium over the ₹10 face value, at a 5% discount to the floor price. The capital will support IREDA’s green energy financing initiatives.

The Reserve Bank of India has enabled state government securities to be traded as STRIPS—Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities—allowing investors to trade interest and principal separately. The move, finalized after consultation with states and market stakeholders, is expected to improve bond liquidity and investor participation.

The UNFPA’s 2025 State of World Population Report has revealed that financial hardship is a major barrier to family planning for Indian households. Despite achieving a $4 trillion GDP milestone, 38% of families report having fewer children than desired. India’s fertility rate has dropped to 1.9—below the 2.1 replacement level—indicating potential future demographic challenges.

Jacinda Ardern’s much-anticipated memoir, A Different Kind of Power, has been released, offering insight into her leadership journey, from her early life to becoming a global symbol of empathy and decisive governance. The book also delves into personal experiences of motherhood, burnout, and navigating political challenges during crises.

India participated in the 2nd Council Session of the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) in Nice, France, as the Council’s Vice President. During the session, the Secretary (Ports, Shipping and Waterways) emphasized India's achievements in vessel traffic services and marine navigation safety.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, approved two major railway doubling projects: Koderma–Barkakana in Jharkhand and Ballari–Chikjajur across Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The ₹6,405 crore projects will enhance freight and passenger train capacities and are targeted for completion within three years.