NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. CBSE to Conduct Class 10
Board Exams Twice a Year from 2026 Session: CBSE will conduct Class 10 board exams twice a year starting
from the 2026 session, with the first phase in mid-February (results in
April) and the second phase in May (results in June).The first phase of exams
will be mandatory for all students, while the second phase will be optional, allowing students to improve performance in
any three subjects out of science, mathematics, social science, and languages.This
change aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which aims to
reduce the “high-stakes” pressure of board exams by giving students two
opportunities in an academic year.
2. Kerala tops the Management
Effectiveness Evaluation of national parks and protected areas: Eravikulam National Park (ENP)
in Kerala emerged as the highest-scoring protected area in India’s Management Effectiveness
Evaluation (MEE) 2020-2025, with a top score of 92.97%, sharing the spot
with Dachigam National Park in Jammu & Kashmir.Kerala secured the highest
“Very Good” state rating with an overall MEE score of 76.22% for effective
management of its 21 protected areas, outperforming Karnataka, Punjab, and
Himachal Pradesh, which received “Good” ratings.
Mathikettan
Shola National Park in Kerala scored 90.63% and was recognized among “other
well-managed sites”; the park plays a vital role as an elephant corridor and
houses the rare Galaxy Frog, though systematic ecological monitoring is
lacking.The MEE covered 438 national parks and wildlife sanctuaries across
India, with recommendations for protected areas like ENP including expanding
adjoining regions, enhancing eco-tourism, eradicating invasive species, and
improving collaboration for ecological monitoring and conservation awareness.
3. Adani Group Emerges as
Fastest-Growing Indian Brand in 2025: Adani Group was named the fastest-growing Indian brand in the Brand
Finance India 100 2025 report, with its brand value surging by 82% to
USD 6.5 billion, climbing from 16th to 13th place due to aggressive
infrastructure expansion and green energy focus.Tata Group retained its position as India’s most valuable brand for 2025,
with brand value rising 10% to USD 31.6 billion, making it the first Indian
brand to cross the USD 30 billion mark.Infosys secured the second spot with a
15% increase in brand value to USD 16.3 billion, maintaining leadership in the
IT services sector, while HDFC Group ranked third with 37% growth post-merger,
reaching USD 14.2 billion.LIC showed strong performance, placing fourth with a
35% brand value increase to USD 13.6 billion, while HCLTech climbed to eighth
with 17% growth to USD 8.9 billion; L&T and Mahindra followed with notable
brand value gains.The collective brand value of India’s top 100 brands reached
USD 236.5 billion in 2025, with emerging brands like L&T, JSW, Indian Oil,
Adani, and others increasingly recognized globally, reflecting the growing
strength of “Brand India” on the world stage.
4. Amit Shah Inaugurated the
National Turmeric Board in Telangana: Amit Shah has inaugurated
the National Turmeric Board in
Nizamabad, Telangana, and unveiled its official logo to mark a new
chapter in farmer innovation and boosting the global competitiveness of Indian
turmeric.Shah also unveiled the statue of veteran leader D Srinivas,
recognising his decades of service to the people of the region.
5. Ravi Agrawal Re-appointed
as CBDT Chairman for One Year: The Appointments
Committee of the Cabinet has approved the re-appointment of Ravi Agrawal as Chairman of the Central Board of Direct
Taxes (CBDT) on a contract basis for one year, from July 1, 2025,
to June 30, 2026, or until further orders.Ravi Agrawal, a 1988 batch IRS
officer, has been a CBDT member (Administration) since July 2023 and succeeded
1986 batch IRS officer Nitin Gupta as CBDT Chairman in June 2024.
6. 29 June – National Statistics Day: National Statistics Day is celebrated annually
in India on 29 June to highlight the importance of statistics in
socio-economic planning and policy-making.
Theme
2025 – 75 Years of National Sample
SurveyThe date marks the birth anniversary of the legendary statistician
Prof. Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis (1893–1972), regarded as the father of
Indian statistics.He introduced the Mahalanobis distance in statistics, founded
the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in Kolkata, and played a crucial role in
India’s second five-year plan with his statistical models for economic
planning.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India, South Africa Sign
Submarine Cooperation Pacts: India and South
Africa signed two agreements
on submarine cooperation during the 9th Joint Defence Committee (JDC) meeting held
in Johannesburg, marking a significant step in bilateral defence ties.Indian
delegation, led by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, showcased India’s
advances in defence manufacturing and exports, reaffirming commitment to
stronger relations with South Africa.The meeting, chaired on the South African
side by Acting Secretary for Defence Dr. Thobekile Gamede, identified areas of
mutual interest and mapped a path for deeper cooperation in the defence sector.
2. NATO Leaders Commit to
Historic 5% Defence Spending Target by 2035 at Hague Summit: NATO leaders officially agreed to
raise annual defence spending to
5% of GDP by 2035, a significant increase from the previous 2% targetOf
the 5%, 3.5% is earmarked for core military expenditures like troops,
equipment, and ammunition, while the remaining 1.5% will go toward broader
defence-related areas such as infrastructure and cybersecurityThe new spending
commitment—which gained momentum under pressure from former US President Donald
Trump—was hailed as a “transformational” move to enhance NATO’s collective
defence, especially in response to threats from Russia.While most allies
reached consensus, Spain opted out, choosing to maintain defence spending at
around 2.1% of GDP, drawing criticism from partners who argued full adherence
was crucial.Private Firms Eligible as
REIAs to Boost Renewable Energy, But Experts Urge Strong Oversight on
3. Trading Margins and
National Priorities: Private
Indian companies with a net worth over ₹500 crore and long-term credit rating of
A or above can now be designated
as Renewable Energy Implementing Agencies (REIAs) for five years,
expanding eligibility beyond PSUs like NTPC, SJVN, SECI, and NHPC.REIAs act as
intermediary procurers, aggregating renewable power through tariff-based
competitive bidding, signing back-to-back power sale agreements with developers
and power purchase agreements with Discoms or consumers, and ensuring payment security
for RE projects.Designated REIAs must have a valid Category-I electricity
trading licence from the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC),
board approval for REIA designation, and follow e-bidding procurement processes
as per Section 63 of the Electricity Act 2003.
4. 29 June – International Day of the
Tropics: The
International Day of the Tropics is observed every year on 29 June to celebrate the extraordinary
diversity of the tropics while highlighting unique challenges and opportunities
faced by tropical regions around the world.The tropics — regions located
between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn — are home to around
40% of the world’s population, 80% of Earth’s biodiversity, and some of the
fastest-growing economies.
5. 30 June – World Asteroid Day: World Asteroid Day is
observed every year on 30 June to
raise awareness about asteroids, their potential threat to Earth, and the
importance of finding, tracking, and studying them.The date marks the
anniversary of the Tunguska event (30 June 1908), when a massive explosion
caused by an asteroid or comet flattened around 2,000 square kilometers of
Siberian forest — the largest asteroid impact on Earth in recorded history.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Lt Gen DS Rana Assumes
Role as 23rd Colonel of Garhwal Rifles Amidst Grand Ceremony in Lansdowne: Commander-in-Chief
of Andaman & Nicobar Command, Lt
Gen Dinesh Singh Rana, has taken over as the 23rd Colonel of the Regiment of Garhwal
Rifles, succeeding Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani.The ceremonial handing over
of the baton was held at the Garhwal Rifles Regimental Centre in Lansdowne,
Uttarakhand, with full military honours, highlighting the proud legacy of the
regiment.Lt Gen DS Rana received the Guard of Honour and paid homage at the War
Memorial, honouring the supreme sacrifice of the bravehearts of the regiment,
which comprises 27 Battalions including a Scouts Battalion.
SPORTS
1. Odisha Women, Tamil Nadu Men Clinch
Titles in Inaugural Hockey India Masters Cup 2025 in Chennai: Hockey Association of Odisha and Hockey
Unit of Tamil Nadu won the women’s and men’s titles,
respectively, in the inaugural edition of the Hockey India Masters Cup
2025.The inaugural edition of the Hockey India Masters Cup was held at the
Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, from June 18 to 27,
2025.The Master Cup was for male players above 40 years of age, and for women,
the age criterion was above 35 years.
2. Shikhar Dhawan Releases Autobiography
“The One”: Former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan has released
his autobiography titled “The One: Cricket, My Life and More”, published
by HarperCollins India.The memoir provides a behind-the-scenes look at Dhawan’s
cricketing career, highlighting key professional milestones, emotional challenges,
and moments of personal transformation.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Santhal Hul: The Santhal Hul, event in
tribal history, marks its 170th anniversary in 2025. This rebellion, which
began in 1855, is celebrated annually in Jharkhand as ‘Hul Diwas’ on June 30.
It represents a very important moment of resistance against colonial oppression
in India. The Santhal Rebellion, known as ‘Hul’, initiated in 1855, two years
before the 1857 uprising. This rebellion was a structured war against
colonialism. It was led by the Santhal community, who faced severe exploitation
from British authorities and local zamindars. The rebellion was spearheaded by
two brothers, Sidhu and Kanhu, who united various castes and communities. The
roots of the Santhal rebellion trace back to 1832 when the East India Company
designated the Damin-i-Koh region for Santhal settlement. Promised agricultural
land, the Santhals were instead subjected to land-grabbing and bonded labour.
These oppressive practices led to widespread discontent among the Santhal
population, igniting the rebellion.
2. Altermagnets: Recent advancements in
material science have revealed intriguing properties of altermagnets, a novel
class of magnetic materials. These materials have the potential to transform
electronic devices . Researchers have particularly focused on chromium
antimonide (CrSb), an altermagnet that exhibits remarkable characteristics.
This discovery brings forth new opportunities in the field of spintronics and
electronic device manufacturing. Altermagnets combine features of both
ferromagnets and antiferromagnets. Unlike ferromagnets, which exhibit external
magnetism, altermagnets do not show net magnetism on the surface. However,
their internal electron behaviour can be highly beneficial for future
technologies. This dual nature of altermagnets presents a unique opportunity
for innovation in electronic applications. CrSb stands out due to its metallic
nature and superior magnetic order. It maintains magnetic properties at
temperatures exceeding double that of room temperature. Notably, CrSb
demonstrates the largest altermagnetic spin-splitting recorded, exceeding 30
times that of room temperature. Such attributes position CrSb as a leading
candidate for practical applications in electronics.
3. GPS Interference: Recent incidents show the
rising threat of GPS interference. A Delhi-Jammu flight had to turn back due to
navigation issues. Similarly, two tankers collided near the Strait of Hormuz. A container ship ran aground off
Jeddah. All these incidents stemmed from GPS interference, which has become
challenge for maritime and aerial navigation. GPS interference involves two
main types – jamming and spoofing. Jamming occurs when a device emits strong
radio signals to overpower GPS signals. This prevents GPS receivers from
determining accurate location or time. Spoofing, on the other hand, involves
sending false GPS signals to mislead receivers. While jamming disrupts signals,
spoofing deceives devices into trusting incorrect data.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. NIF Progress Report 2025: India has made notable
strides in achieving Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) as brought into
light in the National Indicator Framework (NIF) Progress Report 2025. Released
on Statistics Day, this report outlines time series data on various SDG
indicators. It reflects improvements in sectors like health, education, and
social protection since 2015–16. However, challenges remain in areas such
as clean
energy and inequality. The
report indicates a substantial increase in social protection coverage. The
proportion of the population covered rose from 22% in 2016 to 64.3% in 2025.
Maternal and child health indicators have also improved , showcasing the
effectiveness of health initiatives. The number of senior citizens receiving
institutional assistance surged to 157,000 in 2023–24, up from 23,000 in 2015.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. The Kerala Sahitya Akademi announced the 2024 literary awards: The Kerala Sahitya Akademi announced the 2024 literary awards, honouring both new and established Malayalam writers across 14 categories, including novel, poetry, short story, drama, essay, biography, and more.G R Indugopan won best novel for Aano, Anitha Thampi was awarded best poetry for Muringa Vazha Kariveppu, and V Shinilal received the short story award for Garisappa Aruvi Athava Oru Jalayathra.Each award carries a cash prize of ₹25,000, a plaque, and a certificate, while Fellowship and Lifetime Contribution Awards include ₹50,000, a gold medal, a citation, a shawl, and a plaque.
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