NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. President Murmu Inaugurates Rashtrapati Tapovan &
Niketan in Dehradun: President Droupadi
Murmu inaugurated the opening
of the Rashtrapati Tapovan and Rashtrapati Niketan in Dehradun to
the public on the occasion of her 67th birthday on 20 June 2025. She also laid
the foundation stone of the Rashtrapati Udyan, which will be built as a
net-zero public park in Dehradun.The Presidential Estate, later renamed
Rashtrapati Ashiana and now Rashtrapati Niketan, is spread over a 21-acre area
in the Himalayan foothills of Dehradun, Uttarakhand.The Presidential Estate was
built in 1838 as a summer camp for the Governor General of India’s Bodyguard.In
1976, the Presidential Retreat was renamed Rashtrapati Ashiana, and the
President of India occasionally spends a few days here in the summer season.
2. Bhupendra Yadav Launches Gharial Conservation
Programme at Katarniaghat: Union Environment
Minister Bhupendra Yadav launched
the Gharial Species Conservation
Programme by releasing
seven one-year-old gharial hatchlings into the Gerua River at Katarniaghat Wildlife
Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh.The Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus), listed as
Critically Endangered by the IUCN, is endemic to India and found primarily in
the Chambal, Gerua (Girwa), and Rapti-Narayani river systems.The National
Chambal Sanctuary holds about 77% of the global gharial population, while
Katarniaghat Sanctuary serves as a key captive breeding ground for gharial conservation
in Uttar Pradesh.
3. PM Modi Flags Off First Made-in-Bihar Locomotive for
Export to Guinea: Prime
Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the export of the first made-in-Bihar diesel locomotive to Guinea, from the
Marhowrah Diesel Locomotive Plant in Saran district, marking India’s
entry into the global locomotive export market from Bihar.The Wabtec Diesel
Locomotive Plant, a joint venture between Wabtec (75%) and Indian Railways
(25%), signed a deal to export 150 locomotives to Guinea over three years for
the Simandou iron ore project, one of the world’s largest; the exported engines
include modern features like AC cabins, refrigerators, microwaves, and
waterless toilets.
4. Adani Commissions India’s First Off-Grid 5 MW Green
Hydrogen Plant in Gujarat, Advancing Clean Energy Goals: Adani New Industries Limited
(ANIL) has commissioned India’s
first off-grid 5 MW green hydrogen pilot plant in Kutch, Gujarat, powered
entirely by solar energy and integrated with a Battery Energy
Storage System (BESS), marking a significant step toward the National Green
Hydrogen Mission.The plant uses a fully automated, closed-loop electrolyser
system that dynamically adjusts to renewable energy inputs, showcasing
technological feasibility, operational flexibility, and efficiency in managing
solar power variability.This 100% green-powered facility produces hydrogen
without any carbon emissions and serves as a proof of concept ahead of ANIL’s
upcoming large-scale Green Hydrogen Hub in Mundra, Gujarat.The project
strengthens India’s position in the global green hydrogen economy, aiming to
decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors like fertilisers, refineries, and heavy
transport, while supporting the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision and reducing
dependence on energy imports.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India Launches Operation Sindhu to Evacuate Citizens
from Conflict-Hit Iran: India launched Operation Sindhu to
evacuate Indian nationals, including students and pilgrims, stranded in
Iran amid the escalating Iran–Israel conflict.As of now, nearly 2,295
individuals, including one Sri Lankan national, have been successfully
evacuated through multiple special flights from Mashhad, Iran, to Delhi.The
operation continues with additional evacuation flights planned, showcasing
India’s strong commitment to ensuring the safety of its citizens during
geopolitical crises.
2. 23 June – United Nations Public Service Day: United Nations Public Service Day is observed every year on
23rd June to recognize the value and virtue of public service in the
community and to highlight the contribution of public servants in the
development process.The day aims to promote professionalism, innovation, and
integrity in public administration and encourages youth to pursue careers in
the public sector.It was established by the United Nations General Assembly in
2003 (Resolution A/RES/57/277), acknowledging that an efficient, accountable, and
inclusive public administration is vital for achieving the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs).
3. 23 June – International Widows’ Day: International Widows’ Day is observed every year on 23rd
June to raise awareness about the challenges faced by widows across the
world and to advocate for their rights, dignity, and social inclusion.Theme
2025 – Empowering Widows: Building Resilience, Restoring Dignity Proclaimed
by the United Nations in 2010, International Widows’ Day addresses the social
stigmas, economic hardships, and human rights violations experienced by
millions of widows globally.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Operation Midnight Hammer: US Launches Massive
Airstrikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites in Largest Middle East Campaign Since 2003: The United States launched Operation Midnight Hammer, targeting
Iran’s three most fortified nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and
Isfahan—marking the largest American air campaign in the Middle East since the
2003 Iraq War.The strike involved over 125 aircraft, including seven B-2
stealth bombers and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles. For the first time in
combat, the GBU-57 bunker-busting bomb was used to hit deeply buried nuclear
sites.The U.S. strike followed Israel’s
Operation Rising Lion, launched to stop Iran’s alleged nuclear
advancements.Operation Midnight Hammer now joins a growing list of high-profile
Middle East military actions, including Operation True Promise (Iran),
Operation Rising Lion and Iron Wall (Israel), and Operation Poseidon Archer
(US-UK coalition), all escalating tensions in the region.
2. Indian Navy to Commission Stealth Frigate ‘Tamal’ in
Russia on 1st July 2025: The Indian Navy will commission
the stealth multi-role frigate Tamal on 01 July 2025 in Kaliningrad, Russia,
with Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh presiding over the ceremony, alongside top
Indian and Russian defence officials.Tamal is the eighth Krivak-class frigate
acquired from Russia and the second in the upgraded Tushil-class, following the
Talwar and Teg classes, each of which had three ships.As part of the
Tushil-class project, India is also constructing two similar frigates
(Triput-class) at Goa Shipyard Limited with Russian technology support, aiming
to operate ten ships with common weapons and sensors.Built at Yantar Shipyard,
Tamal features 26% indigenous content, including the BrahMos missile, and comes
equipped with modern armaments such as vertical-launch SAMs, advanced radars,
EW systems, torpedoes, and support for multi-role helicopters.
SPORTS
1. India Tops Archery Asia Cup 2025 Singapore Leg 2 with
Nine Medals: India’s young
archers continued their strong performance, finishing at the top of the medal table at
the Archery Asia Cup 2025 – Singapore Leg 2 with a total of 9
medals – 2 gold, 6 silver, and 1 bronze.In the first leg held in Bangkok,
Thailand, Indian archers had also topped the medal tally with 8 medals, showing
consistent dominance across both legs of the tournament.The Singapore leg
witnessed participation from over 200 archers representing 21 countries, with
India qualifying for five out of six team finals and two of four individual
gold medal matches, though they converted only two finals into victories.
2. India’s Maaya Rajeshwaran clinches women’s single ITF
J200 Gladbeck title in Germany: In Tennis, India’s Maaya Rajeshwaran has
clinched the women’s singles ITF
J200 Gladbeck title in Germany.The 16-year-old defeated Switzerland’s Noelia
Manta 6-2, 6-4 in the final. This triumph marks Maaya’s maiden ITF Junior title
on European clay.Earlier in the semifinals, she defeated Daphnee Mpetshi
Perricard of France 6-2, 6-1. It is Maaya’s seventh ITF Junior title overall.
Her earlier titles include victories at J100 and J300 events.The J signifies
Junior, and the number indicates the tournament’s grade, with higher numbers
generally representing higher levels of competition and more ranking points.
3. India scripts historic finish at U23 Asian Wrestling
Championships with double team titles: India’s young wrestlers delivered
a stellar performance on the final
day of the Under-23 Asian Wrestling Championships in Vung Tau, Vietnam,
winning six medals in men’s freestyle. Five wrestlers, Nikhil, Sujeet, Jaideep,
Chander Mohan, and Sachin, clinched gold.India also topped the team rankings in
men’s freestyle and won the women’s freestyle team title, marking a historic
finish at the continental event.Indian women wrestlers won the team title at
the Under-23 Asian Championship by winning a medal in each of the 10
categories, including four gold and five silver in Vung Tau, Vietnam.Priyanshi
Prajapat in 50kg category, Reena in 55kg category, Shrishti in 68kg and Priya
in 76kg category sealed the top podium places. Five Indian women wrestlers
settled for runner-up finishes.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Google Launches First Asia-Pacific Safety Engineering
Centre in Hyderabad to Boost Cybersecurity and AI Safety: Google has established its
first Asia-Pacific Safety Engineering Centre (GSEC) in Hyderabad,
Telangana, making it the fourth such centre globally after Munich (Germany),
Malaga (Spain), and Dublin (Ireland); it was inaugurated by Telangana CM A.
Revanth Reddy.The Hyderabad GSEC will serve as a strategic hub for
cybersecurity and end-user safety, focusing on preventing online fraud,
securing enterprise and government infrastructure, and promoting responsible AI
across the Asia-Pacific region.The centre will leverage AI and large language
models to enable real-time scam alerts through Gemini Nano on Android, improve
fraud detection on Google Pay, Gmail, and Search, and strengthen protections
like Google Play Protect.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. UGRO Capital to Acquire Profectus for ₹1,400
Crore in Landmark All-Cash Deal to Boost MSME Lending: UGRO Capital has
announced the 100% equity
acquisition of Profectus Capital for ₹1,400 crore in an all-cash deal,
funded through its recent equity raise and pending regulatory approvals
including from the RBI.Post-acquisition, Profectus Capital will become a
wholly-owned subsidiary, enabling UGRO to strengthen its MSME-focused lending
strategy and expand its secured lending portfolio.With this deal, UGRO Capital
will gain access to Profectus’s ₹3,468 crore AUM, a 28-branch network, and a
low NPA base, resulting in a 29% boost in UGRO’s total assets under management
(AUM).
2. Centre and RBI Push for Unified
Lending Interface (ULI) to Revolutionize Credit Delivery Across India: The Department of
Financial Services (DFS) and RBI co-chaired a high-level meeting in
New Delhi to discuss scaling up
Unified Lending Interface (ULI) — a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) aimed
at streamlining and democratizing credit access across India.ULI is envisioned
as a transformative platform that integrates technology, data, and policy to
deliver seamless, data-driven, and inclusive credit, particularly benefiting
underserved borrowers by leveraging trusted government datasets.RBI Deputy
Governor T. Rabi Sankar emphasized ULI’s potential to surpass the impact of
UPI, urging ministries and states to view it as a collaborative, two-way
innovation and contribute relevant datasets to unlock its full potential.The
meeting concluded with a shared commitment to digitally integrate government
datasets, nominate nodal officers, digitise land and property records, and
align other credit initiatives with ULI to build a unified national lending ecosystem.
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