NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Karnataka Raises Tobacco Buying Age to 21, Bans Hookah Bars and Public Smoking: The Karnataka government has raised the legal age for purchasing tobacco products from 18 to 21 and increased penalties for violations, with fines going up from ₹200 to ₹1,000.Hookah bars have been completely banned, and public smoking is prohibited except in designated smoking areas in hotels (with at least 30 rooms), large restaurants, and airports.Sale of tobacco products is banned within 100 meters of educational institutions, and selling to anyone under 21 or in loose/single sticks is strictly prohibited.
2. DoLR Launches Second Phase of NAKSHA Training Programme to Boost Urban Land Survey Capacity: The Department of Land Resources (DoLR) has launched the second phase of capacity-building under the NAKSHA programme across five Centres of Excellence (CoEs) to enhance urban land survey capabilities using geospatial technologies.This phase inaugurated virtually by Shri Manoj Joshi, Secretary, DoLR, and involved training for 304 officers from 157 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), focusing on practical skills for high-accuracy land surveys.
3. Training will be conducted at five leading institutions: LBSNAA (Mussoorie), YASHADA (Pune), NER CoE (Guwahati), MGSIPA (Chandigarh), and ATI (Mysuru), with sessions covering GNSS/ETS-based surveying, Web-GIS, and land parcel mapping.The first phase of the programme, which trained 160 master trainers from participating states and UTs, was successfully completed in May 2025.
4. ADB Unveils $10 Billion Five-Year Plan to Boost India’s Urban Infrastructure and Sustainable Development: ADB President Masato Kanda announced a five-year plan to mobilise up to $10 billion, including third-party capital, to enhance India’s urban infrastructure, focusing on metro expansions, new Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridors, and sustainable urban development.The initiative supports India’s Urban Challenge Fund (UCF), aiming to attract private investments in city infrastructure through sovereign loans, private sector financing, and technical assistance, with $3 million allocated for developing bankable projects and capacity building.ADB will expand its urban transport projects, building on $4 billion committed over the past decade to metro and RRTS projects in eight cities, including Delhi–Meerut, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru, to reduce congestion and improve accessibility for marginalized groups.
In addition to urban development, ADB reiterated its commitment to rural development by offering $4–4.5 billion annually in sovereign loans and $1 billion in private sector funding, supporting food systems, entrepreneurship, employment, and skills programmes aligned with India’s manufacturing growth
5. IBA and Indian Oil Join Hands to Boost India’s Bioenergy and Bio-Hydrogen Sector: The Indian Biogas Association (IBA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) to jointly develop the bioenergy and bio-hydrogen sectors in India.The collaboration aims to leverage synergies between IBA and IOCL to expand and strengthen the bio-energy industry in the country.As part of the partnership, both organizations will establish a knowledge centre to support initiatives beneficial to both entities.IOCL and IBA will allocate resources such as technology, infrastructure, and skilled workforce to accelerate growth and innovation in India’s biofuels industry.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. 3 June – World Bicycle Day: World Bicycle Day is celebrated annually on June 3 to promote cycling as a simple, affordable, and sustainable mode of transportation.Theme 2025 – Cycling for a Sustainable FutureThe United Nations officially recognized World Bicycle Day in 2018, emphasizing cycling’s contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).The day encourages people of all ages to embrace cycling for fitness, recreation, and eco-friendly commuting.
2. Japan’s Innovative Approach to Artificial Intelligence Legislation: This legislation, known as the Act on the Promotion of Research, Development and Utilisation of Artificial Intelligence-Related Technologies, seeks to position Japan as a leader in the global AI landscape. The law diverges from stringent regulatory frameworks like the European Union’s AI Act, instead promoting an innovation-driven environment. The Act establishes an Artificial Intelligence Strategy Headquarters under the Cabinet. This body is responsible for formulating a national Basic Plan for AI. The plan encompasses foundational research, industrial deployment, international collaboration, and public education. The law avoids rigid regulatory frameworks and focuses on enabling innovation and encouraging cooperation among stakeholders.
3. India-Norway Maritime Cooperation in 2025: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal engaged with the Norwegian Shipowners Association to explore investment opportunities in India’s maritime sector. This initiative aligns with India’s broader vision for maritime growth known as MAHASAGAR. This vision emphasizes sustainable development and international collaboration in shipping and ocean business. A Memorandum of About (MoU) was signed between Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) and Norway’s Kongsberg. This agreement marks the first step towards building India’s indigenous Polar Research Vessel (PRV). The vessel will be equipped with advanced scientific tools. It aims to facilitate research in polar and oceanic environments, contributing to global scientific knowledge and climate change efforts.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Lt Gen Dinesh Singh Rana Appointed as 18th Commander-in-Chief of Andaman & Nicobar Command: Lt Gen Dinesh Singh Rana took over as the 18th Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman & Nicobar Command (CINCAN), becoming the first Chief of Defence Intelligence to be elevated to this prestigious rank.The Andaman & Nicobar Command (ANC), based at Sri Vijaya Puram, is India’s only tri-services operational command, integrating the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard to secure the Indian Ocean Region.An alumnus of the NDA, DSSC, NDC (India), CNDS (Spain), and NDU (USA), Lt Gen Rana has an illustrious military background, having commanded the 10th Battalion of The Garhwal Rifles and topped several professional courses.
2. Air Marshal Jasvir Singh Mann Appointed Senior Air Staff Officer of Western Air Command: Air Marshal Jasvir Singh Mann has been appointed as the; he is a seasoned fighter pilot with over 3,000 flying hours.An alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College and the Royal College of Defence Studies (UK), Air Marshal Mann is a recipient of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vayu Sena Medal, and previously served as Director General (Weapon Systems) at Air Headquarters.
3. France’s Nuclear Sharing Proposal and European Defence: Recent developments have positioned France at the forefront of European security discussions. On May 14, 2025, President Emmanuel Macron indicated France’s willingness to consider the stationing of its nuclear weapons in other European countries. This statement emerges amidst heightened security concerns due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Macron’s proposal aligns with France’s ambition for “European strategic autonomy,” aimed at enhancing the European Union’s independent defence capabilities. Nuclear sharing refers to arrangements where a nuclear-armed state places its nuclear weapons in allied non-nuclear states. The United States has implemented this model within NATO for decades, deploying B61 tactical nuclear bombs in five member countries. This strategy aims to reinforce alliance solidarity while sharing nuclear risks.
SPORTS
1. Heinrich Klaasen announces retirement from international cricket: South African power-hitter Heinrich Klaasen announced his immediate retirement from all forms of international cricket, including Test, ODI, and T20I formats, to focus on work-life balance and commitments in global T20 franchise leagues.The 33-year-old represented South Africa in 4 Tests, 60 ODIs, and 58 T20Is, scoring 2764 runs, and described playing for the Proteas as his “biggest privilege,” particularly recalling his participation in the T20 World Cup final against India
2. Glenn Maxwell Announces Retirement from ODIs After 13-Year Career: Glenn Maxwell, the star Australian all-rounder, has announced his retirement from One-Day Internationals (ODIs) after a successful 13-year-long career, making his debut in August 2012.Maxwell was an integral part of Australia’s ICC World Cup-winning squads in 2015 and 2023, playing 149 ODIs, scoring 3,990 runs and taking 77 wickets.He decided to step away from ODIs to focus on the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, the Big Bash League, and other global franchise commitments.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Jitendra Singh Launches ‘Bharat Gen’ — India’s First Indigenous AI Multimodal Language Model for Indian Languages: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launched Bharat Gen, India’s first indigenously developed, government-funded AI-based Multimodal Large Language Model (LLM) for Indian languages, at the BharatGen Summit in New Delhi.Supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), BharatGen is a national mission aimed at creating ethical, inclusive, and multilingual AI rooted in Indian values, integrating text, speech, and image modalities across 22 Indian languages.BharatGen is designed to empower key sectors like healthcare, education, agriculture, and governance by providing region-specific AI solutions, including AI doctors that communicate in regional languages to enhance telemedicine in remote villages.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Canara Bank Waives Minimum Balance Requirement for All Savings Accounts from June 1, 2025: Starting 1 June 2025, Canara Bank has waived the Average Monthly Balance (AMB) requirement for all types of savings bank accounts.Customers will no longer face penalties for not maintaining a minimum balance in their savings accounts, making all SB accounts effectively zero balance.This move will allow customers to enjoy “no penalty on minimum balance” benefits, removing AMB-related fees and restrictions entirely.
2. India’s GST collections in May surge over 16% to ₹2.01 lakh crore: India’s gross GST collection crossed the ₹2 lakh crore mark for the second consecutive month in May 2025, reaching ₹01 lakh crore.The May 2025 GST collection was 16.4% higher compared to ₹72 lakh crore collected in May 2024.In April 2025, GST collections surged 12.6% to a record high of ₹37 lakh crore, reflecting strong tax revenue growth.
3. UPI transactions rebound in May with 18.68 bn payments: UPI processed 18.68 billion transactions in May 2025, up from 17.89 billion in April, marking a 33% year-on-year growth compared to 14.03 billion transactions in May 2024.The total transaction value via UPI rose to ₹14 lakh crore in May, a 5% increase from April’s ₹23.95 lakh crore, and a 23% increase compared to May 2024.The average daily UPI transaction volume was 602 million, with an average daily transaction value of ₹81,106 crore.Since its launch in 2016 by NPCI, UPI has become India’s leading digital payment system, driven by smartphone adoption, government digitization efforts, and platforms like Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm.
4. RBI Imposes ₹54.78 Crore Penalties on 353 Entities for Regulatory Violations in FY 2024–25: During the financial year 2024–25, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), including banks, NBFCs, ARCs, housing finance companies, and cooperative banks for violations of statutory and regulatory provisions.The enforcement actions targeted various areas of non-compliance such as cyber security, exposure norms, income recognition and asset classification (IRAC), KYC guidelines, fraud reporting, data submission to CRILC, and credit information reporting to CICs.Among the penalised entities, cooperative banks faced the highest number of penalties (264) amounting to ₹63 crore, followed by NBFCs and ARCs (37 penalties, ₹7.29 crore), and housing finance companies (13 penalties, ₹83 lakh).In the commercial banking sector, eight public sector banks were fined ₹11 crore, 15 private sector banks faced penalties totaling ₹14.8 crore, and six foreign banks were also penalised during the fiscal year 2024–25.
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