NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Mizoram Signs MoU With BHASHINI For Multilingual Governance: The Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) and the Government of Mizoram signed an MoU to promote multilingual governance and empower the Mizo community through native language technology.Mizoram will adopt BHASHINI’s platform to enhance digital access, preserve its linguistic heritage, and promote inclusive digital governance across the state.The initiative will ensure government services, schemes, and information are accessible in the Mizo language, strengthening transparency and citizen participation.The collaboration includes developing AI models and datasets for Mizo, aiming to build culturally relevant translation tools for India’s multilingual digital ecosystem.A BHASHINI Rajyam workshop will be held in Aizawl to focus on program implementation, training, and deploying language technologies across state departments.
2. Foreign Direct Investment Trends in India 2024: In 2024, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into India remained stable at $28 billion. This figure was consistent with 2023 levels despite a global decline in FDI flows by 11%. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) brought into light India’s resilience in attracting investment, moving up to the 15th position in global FDI rankings. This article provides a detailed overview of the FDI landscape in India, focusing on key statistics and trends. India’s FDI inflows totalled $28 billion in 2024, unchanged from the previous year. This stability is notable given the broader global context where FDI flows decreased . The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade reported FDI equity inflows of $50 billion for the fiscal year 2024-25, marking a 13% increase.
3. QR Codes Enhance Road Maintenance Under PMGSY: The Union Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) initiated a new system to improve road maintenance under the Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). The system involves attaching QR codes to maintenance information display boards for roads constructed under the scheme. This innovation aims to collect public feedback on road quality and maintenance. The Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana began on December 25, 2000. It was designed to enhance rural infrastructure through road construction. The programme has undergone multiple phases, with the first phase focusing on connecting unconnected habitations. Subsequent phases expanded the scope to include areas affected by Left Wing Extremism and aimed for all-weather road connectivity.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India’s Energy Transition Rank: 71st on WEF Index: The Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) and the Government of Mizoram signed an MoU to promote multilingual governance and empower the Mizo community through native language technology.Mizoram will adopt BHASHINI’s platform to enhance digital access, preserve its linguistic heritage, and promote inclusive digital governance across the state.The initiative will ensure government services, schemes, and information are accessible in the Mizo language, strengthening transparency and citizen participation.The collaboration includes developing AI models and datasets for Mizo, aiming to build culturally relevant translation tools for India’s multilingual digital ecosystem.A BHASHINI Rajyam workshop will be held in Aizawl to focus on program implementation, training, and deploying language technologies across state departments.
2. India’s Energy Transition Rank: 71st on WEF Index: India ranked 71st out of 118 countries in the World Economic Forum’s Energy Transition Index 2025, showing progress in energy efficiency, investment capacity, and clean energy adoption, despite a drop from 63rd rank last year.India and China showed the most improvement among large economies, especially in energy access, regulatory reforms, and transition readiness, even as Sweden, Finland, and Denmark topped the index.India made notable progress in reducing energy intensity and methane emissions (CH₄), expanding renewable energy investments, and improving energy equity through better access in rural areas.The WEF emphasized that India, China, the US, EU, and Japan together control nearly 50% of global GDP and energy supply, giving them outsized influence on the global energy transition pace and direction.Continued focus on grid reliability, reducing import dependence, and boosting infrastructure, clean energy financing, and labour force development can significantly accelerate India’s energy transition journey.
3. Canada Hosts 51st G7 Summit in Kananaskis: Canada hosted the 51st G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, where leaders from the G7 nations—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US—along with the European Union, gathered for three days of high-level discussions.The summit affirmed the G7’s roots: it was founded as the G6 in 1975 in Rambouillet, France, with Canada joining in 1976; it later became the G8 in 1998, before Russia was expelled in 2014 following the annexation of Crimea, reverting the group to the G7.This was the seventh time Canada held the G7 presidency, and under Prime Minister Mark Carney, several non-G7 heads of state were invited as guests to participate in the event.The summit underscored the G7’s global economic significance: these nations collectively represented 44% of world GDP while comprising only 10% of the global population, highlighting their significant influence on international affairs.
4. 21 June – International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice: Observed annually on 21 June, the International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the shortest in the Southern Hemisphere.Declared by the United Nations in 2019, the day recognises the cultural, spiritual, and ecological significance of solstices and equinoxes in various civilisations throughout history.Solstices hold a sacred place in many indigenous traditions, such as those of the Inca, Maya, and Vedic cultures, often symbolizing balance, renewal, and harmony with nature.The day promotes unity in diversity, encouraging respect for nature-based traditions and awareness about the interconnectedness of humanity and the environment.
5. 21 June – World Music Day: World Music Day, also known as Fête de la Musique, is celebrated every year on 21st June to honour the power of music and its ability to bring people together across cultures, languages, and borders.The first World Music Day was celebrated in France in 1982, initiated by the French Minister of Culture Jack Lang and composer Maurice Fleuret.
6. 21 June – World Hydrography Day: World Hydrography Day is observed every year on 21st June to raise awareness about the importance of hydrography and how it supports safe navigation, marine conservation, sustainable use of ocean resources, and coastal development.
Theme 2025 – Seabed Mapping: Enabling Ocean ActionIt is organized by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), which was established in 1921.World Hydrography Day was officially adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2005.
7. 22 June – World Rainforest Day: World Rainforest Day is observed every year on 22nd June to raise awareness about the vital role rainforests play in maintaining global ecological balance, combating climate change, and supporting biodiversity and indigenous communities.First observed in 2017, the day was launched by the Rainforest Partnership, a U.S.-based non-profit organisation.The goal was to highlight threats to rainforests, such as deforestation, illegal mining, and habitat loss, and to inspire global action to protect them.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. 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.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. BSNL soft launches Quantum 5G FWA: BSNL soft-launched Quantum 5G FWA, in Hyderabad, offering India’s first SIM-less, fixed-wireless 5G solution with fibre-like speeds using 5G radio technology.The entire solution is 100% indigenous, developed under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, with all components—core, RAN, and CPE—built by Indian vendors.Ameerpet recorded speeds of 980 Mbps download and 140 Mbps upload with sub-10 ms latency, and the device can be self-installed without trenching or fibre work.BSNL plans to expand pilots to six cities including Bengaluru and Pune by September 2025, with introductory tariffs starting at ₹999/month for 100 Mbps and ₹1499/month for 300 Mbps.
2. ISRO transfers SSLV tech to defence major HAL in a Rs. 511 crore deal: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) secured a ₹511 crore deal to manufacture ISRO’s Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) after emerging as the top bidder in a competitive process led by IN-SPACe.With this deal, HAL becomes the first Indian company to own, build, and commercialise a complete launch vehicle system, expected to produce 6–8 SSLVs annually for both domestic and international markets.The technology transfer agreement involves HAL, ISRO, NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL), and IN-SPACe, with ISRO offering full training and support for the first two SSLV rockets over the next two years.HAL won against consortia led by Adani Defence Systems’ Alpha Design Technologies and Bharat Dynamics; HAL’s share price surged 1.6% to ₹4,980 following the announcement.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. ICRA Projects Slight Dip in India’s GDP Growth to 6.2% for 2025-26: ICRA has forecast India’s GDP growth to dip slightly to 6.2% in 2025-26, down from 6.5% in the previous year, with real GVA growth also expected to ease to 6%.Inflation projections remain moderate, with CPI expected to stay above 3.5% and WPI over 1.8%, while the fiscal deficit is projected at 4.4% of GDP.
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