NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. PM Modi Dedicates 660 MW Unit of Ghatampur Thermal Power Project to Nation: Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated Unit-1 (660 MW) of the Ghatampur Thermal Power Project to the nation, marking a significant milestone in India’s energy infrastructure.Located in Kanpur Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, the plant is part of a 3×660 MW supercritical thermal power initiative with a total capacity of 1,980 MW.The project is a joint venture between NLC India Limited (51%) and UPRVUNL (49%) under the name Neyveli Uttar Pradesh Power Ltd (NUPPL). With a total cost of ₹21,780.94 crore, the remaining two units are scheduled for commissioning by FY 2025–26, significantly boosting regional power supply.Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) have been signed to allocate 75.12% (1487.28 MW) of the generated electricity to Uttar Pradesh and 24.88% (492.72 MW) to Assam, contingent on the transfer of 20% equity from UPRVUNL to the Assam government in NUPPL.
2. Goa Achieves Full Functional Literacy: On Goa’s 39th Statehood Day, the Union Government declared Goa as a fully literate state under the Ullas-New India Literacy Programme, making it one of four states to achieve this status.Goa attained an impressive literacy rate of 99.7%, surpassing the 95% benchmark set by the government for declaring a state fully literate.A total of 82 panchayats achieved 100% literacy, 33 panchayats recorded 95%-99% literacy, and one municipality reported 99% literacy; out of 6,299 illiterate individuals identified, 2,136 completed learning under the scheme.Archana Sharma Awasthi, Joint Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, highlighted that this is the first time the government has defined criteria for full literacy, and Goa has successfully met these under the Ullas scheme.
3. 16-Year-Old Vishwanath Karthikey Padakanti Becomes Youngest Indian to Complete 7 Summits Challenge by Conquering Everest: Vishwanath Karthikey Padakanti from Hyderabad became the youngest Indian and second youngest in the world to complete the 7 Summits challenge by climbing the highest peak on each of the seven continents at just 16 years old.He completed his final and most difficult climb by summiting Mount Everest (8,848 metres), fulfilling a long-held dream.Before him, the youngest Indian to complete the challenge was Kaamya Karthikeyan at 17 years, and the youngest worldwide is American Jordan Romero, who finished it at age 15.
4. Centre to Launch Jan Aushadhi Kendra Experiential Learning Program for Youth: The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, in collaboration with the Department of Pharmaceuticals, is launching a 15-day Jan Aushadhi Kendra Experiential Learning Program, starting from 1 June, to engage youth in public health outreach.Five youth volunteers per district will be deployed to Jan Aushadhi Kendras nationwide, where they will assist in daily operations, inventory management, and spreading awareness about generic medicines and public health literacy.The initiative aims to foster hands-on learning and instill values of service and discipline, while strengthening the link between youth development and the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).
5. Rajiv Memani appointed as President of CII for 2025-26: Rajiv Memani, Chairman & CEO of EY India, has assumed office as President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for the 2025-26 term, succeeding Sanjiv Puri of ITC Ltd.Mukundan, MD & CEO of Tata Chemicals Ltd, has been appointed as the CII President-Designate, while Suchitra K. Ella, Co-founder of Bharat Biotech, is now the CII Vice President for 2025-26.Rajiv Memani also serves on the EY Global Executive Board as Chair of its Growth Markets Council, bringing global leadership experience to his new CII role.
6. Asheesh Pandey and Kalyan Kumar Recommended as MDs of Union Bank and Central Bank by FSIB: Asheesh Pandey, currently Executive Director at Bank of Maharashtra, has been recommended by FSIB as the next Managing Director of Union Bank of India, succeeding A Manimekhalai, whose term ends next month.Kalyan Kumar, Executive Director at Punjab National Bank, has been recommended to become the Managing Director of Central Bank of India, replacing M.V. Rao after his retirement in July.A Manimekhalai has not been granted an extension as MD of Union Bank of India, amid a controversy involving the order of 2,00,000 copies of a book by KV Subramanian.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. 1 June – World Milk Day: World Milk Day is observed every year on 1st June to recognize the importance of milk as a global food and to celebrate the dairy sector’s contributions to nutrition, livelihoods, and economic development.Theme 2025 – Let’s Celebrate The Power of DairyWorld Milk Day was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and was first marked in 2001.
2. 1 June – Global Day of Parents: The Global Day of Parents is observed annually on 1st June to honor and appreciate all parents around the world for their selfless commitment to children and their lifelong sacrifice towards nurturing this relationship.Theme 2025 – Raising ParentsThis day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012, aiming to promote awareness of the importance of family as the core unit of society.
3. 2 June – International Sex Workers’ Day: International Sex Workers’ Day, also known as International Whores’ Day, is observed annually on June 2 to honor sex workers and address their often exploitative working and living conditions.The day originated from a historic protest on June 2, 1975, when over 100 sex workers occupied Saint-Nizier Church in Lyon, France, to protest police harassment, unsafe working conditions, and systemic discrimination.
4. Sheikh Hasina’s Crimes Against Humanity Charges: On June 1, 2025, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal accepted charges against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. She is accused of crimes against humanity amid an uprising that led to her ousting in August 2024. The tribunal has ordered an investigation into her alleged actions, including murder and inciting violence against protesters. Hasina has been in exile in India since her removal from power. The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) was established under the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act in 1973. This act aimed to prosecute individuals for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971. The tribunal was formed to address the atrocities that occurred during the nine-month conflict between East and West Pakistan.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Indian Army Conducts Major Trials of Next-Gen Indigenous Defence Technologies Across Key Locations: The Indian Army is conducting large-scale field trials of next-generation defence technologies at multiple strategic locations including Pokhran, Babina, Joshimath, Agra, and Gopalpur, under simulated near-combat conditions to test real-world effectiveness through integrated Electronic Warfare (EW) simulations.These trials are part of the Army’s vision for a “Decade of Transformation” and align with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, focusing on indigenously developed advanced platforms like Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Precision-Guided Munitions, Vertical Launch Drones, and Integrated Drone Detection Systems.
2. Indian Army’s Capacity Development Demonstrations: The Indian Army is currently engaged in extensive Capacity Development Demonstrations across key locations in India. These include the Pokhran and Babina Field Firing Ranges, as well as Joshimath. The demonstrations are intended to evaluate advanced defence systems under near-combat conditions. They integrate electronic warfare simulations to rigorously assess performance. This initiative is part of the Indian Army’s vision for a “Decade of Transformation.” The primary aim is to enhance operational readiness. The Army seeks to rapidly absorb emerging technologies. This initiative supports the Aatmanirbhar Bharat campaign, promoting self-reliance in defence manufacturing. The demonstrations also reflect the increasing collaboration between the Army and domestic defence manufacturers.
SPORTS
1. Virat Kohli Becomes First Cricketer to Score 9,000 T20 Runs for a Single Franchise with RCB: Virat Kohli became the first cricketer to score 9,000 T20 runs for a single franchise, achieving this milestone while playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their final league match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).His total runs of 9,000 include performances in both the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the now-defunct Champions League T20 (CLT20), making him RCB’s all-time leading run-scorer with consistent and remarkable performances.In the IPL 2025 season, Kohli has scored 548 runs in 12 innings, maintaining a high average of 60.88 and a strike rate of 145.35, showcasing his enduring form and skill as a top batsman.
2. Thailand’s Opal Suchata Wins 72nd Miss World Title: Miss Thailand, Opal Suchata Chuangsri, was crowned Miss World 2025 at the 72nd Miss World pageant held in Hyderabad, standing out for her confidence, grace, and dedication to women’s health awareness.Ethiopia’s Hasset Dereje Admassu was the first runner-up, Poland’s Maja Klajda was second runner-up, and contestants from Martinique, Ethiopia, Poland, and Thailand received continental titles like Miss America and Caribbean, Miss Africa, Miss Europe, and Miss Asia and Oceania respectively.Eminent actor Sonu Sood was honored with the Miss World Humanitarian Award for his philanthropic contributions during the event.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. India to Launch Its First Artificial Intelligence Special Economic Zone in Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh: India is launching its first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh, developed by RackBank Datacenters Pvt. Ltd. with an investment of ₹1,000 crore to boost AI research and technology.The AI SEZ will span six acres and include a 1.5 lakh sq. ft. data centre housing four high-density data centres with a combined capacity of 80 megawatts, equipped with advanced AI servers and systems.The project is expected to create job opportunities for youth from remote districts like Kanker and Sukma, reduce migration to bigger cities, and attract global tech giants such as Google, OpenAI, Microsoft, and Meta.Benefiting from tax exemptions and regulatory relaxations under India’s SEZ policy, the AI SEZ aims to position Chhattisgarh as a major digital economy hub aligned with initiatives like Digital India and Make in India.
2. Perito Moreno Glacier: The Perito Moreno glacier, located in Argentina, is experiencing alarming changes due to climate change. This iconic glacier has long been a symbol of natural beauty and stability. However, recent ice calving events have raised concerns among scientists. The glacier, once stable for decades, has started to retreat and lose mass at unprecedented rates. The Perito Moreno glacier is situated in Los Glaciares National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It spans 250 square kilometres and is approximately 30 km long. The glacier towers 60 m above water level. It serves as important freshwater resource for Argentina. Formed during the last Ice Age, it has witnessed numerous ice calving events since at least 1917.
3. Tianwen-2 Asteroid Mission: China has embarked on a pioneering space mission named Tianwen-2. Launched on 28 May 2025, this mission aims to retrieve samples from the near-Earth asteroid 469219 Kamoʻoalewa. This asteroid is unique as it acts as a quasi-satellite of Earth, orbiting between 15 to 39 million kilometres away. The mission is step in China’s growing role in space exploration. The Tianwen-2 mission has clear objectives. It aims to study the asteroid closely and collect approximately 100 grams of material. The mission will use a suite of 11 sophisticated instruments, including cameras and spectrometers, to conduct in-depth analysis.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Bank of Baroda opens first ‘Phygital’ branch in Kolkata: Bank of Baroda inaugurated its first ‘Phygital’ branch in the Kolkata Zone, blending digital tools with personalised customer service to enhance the banking experience.This is the seventh ‘Phygital’ branch in India, featuring self-service kiosks, a video contact centre for non-financial services, and universal service desks for in-person support.Kolkata Zone, a major business hub for BoB in West Bengal, currently has 258 branches and plays a crucial role in the bank’s regional operations.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Faizan Zaki Wins 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee: Faizan Zaki, a 13-year-old Indian-American student from Texas, won the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee by correctly spelling the word “eclaircissement”, meaning enlightenment or clarification.Zaki, a 7th-grade student at C M Rice Middle School, defeated Sarvadnya Kadam in the final round, continuing the strong performance of Indian-American students in the competition.This was Zaki’s fourth attempt at the Scripps Bee; he had finished runner-up in 2024 in a spell-off against Bruhat Soma before claiming the title in 2025.
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