Daily Current Affairs Update – 02 June 2025

1. Increase in Private School Enrolment and Decline in Government School Participation

 Context

The Ministry of Education, based on UDISE+ 2023–24 data, has raised concerns over declining enrolment in government and aided schools, with a steady rise in private school enrolments across several Indian states.

 Key Data

• Private school enrolment in India: 36% (2023–24)
  
  
• Andhra Pradesh case:
  
  
  • Govt schools = 73% of total, but enrol only 46% students
  • Private schools = 25% of total, but enrol 52% of students
    
    
• Public investment in education:
  
  
  • 2021 = 4.6% of GDP
    
    
  • 2022 = 4.1% of GDP (World Bank)
    
    
  • NEP 2020 target = 6% of GDP
    
    

 Reasons for Shift Towards Private Schools

• Perceived Quality: Better infrastructure, English-medium instruction, accountability
  
  
• Governance Deficit: Teacher absenteeism, weak monitoring in govt schools
  
  
• Income Growth: Rising per capita income expands parental choice
  
  
• Regulatory Weakness: Ineffective implementation of schemes like Mid-Day Meal, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
  
  

 

 Positive Implications

• Educational Choice: RTE mandates 25% EWS quota in private schools
  
  
• Private Funding: Innovative financing, non-state participation
  
  
• Accessibility: More schools in underserved regions
  
  

 Negative Implications

• Commercialization of Education: Undermines equity, Article 21A
  
  
• Widening Disparities: Urban–rural, caste and class-based inequality
  
  
• Public System Weakening: State disengagement from education sector
  
  

 Associated Policies

• RTE Act, 2009
  
  
• NEP 2020 – 6% GDP target for education spending
  
  

 UPSC Relevance

• GS II: Social Justice, Education Policy
  
  
• Prelims: UDISE+, RTE quota, Education investment trends
  
  

2. First Batch of Women Cadets Graduates from National Defence Academy (NDA)

 Context

For the first time in India’s history, 17 women cadets passed out from the National Defence Academy (NDA) in 2025, marking a milestone in gender inclusion in defence services.

 Background Timeline

• 1954: NDA established at Khadakwasla, Pune
  
  
• 2021: Supreme Court ordered inclusion of women in NDA
  
  
• 2022: First batch of female cadets admitted
  
  
• 2025: First women graduates complete training
  
  

 Significance

• Gender Equality: Upholds Articles 14, 15, 16 of the Constitution
  
  
• Expands Talent Pool: Women play crucial roles in cyber & technical warfare
  
  
• Peace Missions: Greater local outreach in sensitive regions (UN Peacekeeping)
  
  
• Global Norms: Aligns with international militaries’ gender inclusion efforts
  
  

 Challenges

• Socio-cultural Bias: Resistance to women in leadership and combat roles
  
  
• Infrastructure Gaps: Lack of dedicated facilities for women cadets
  
  
• Physical Standards: Uniform standards create debate
  
  
• Workplace Discrimination: Subtle biases, harassment, promotions inequality
  
  

 Constitutional & Legal Provisions

• Article 14, 15, 16 – Equality before law, no gender-based discrimination
  
  
• Babita Puniya Case (2020) – SC allowed Permanent Commission for women
  
  

 UPSC Relevance

• GS I: Role of women
  
  
• GS II: Government initiatives for gender inclusion
  
  
• Prelims: Year of NDA formation, first female entry, SC cases
  
  

3. India Post Launches DHRUVA – A Digital Address Public Infrastructure

 Context

The Department of Posts (DoP) has released a policy framework for DHRUVA — a national-level Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) aimed at transforming address identification and delivery services.

 Key Features

• DIGIPIN:
  
  
  • 10-character alphanumeric code
    
    
  • Based on geographic coordinates (lat-long)
    
    
  • Maps India into ~4×4 meter grids
    
    
• Digital Address Layer:
  
  
  • User-centric and consent-based
    
    
  • Allows tagging of descriptive addresses to DIGIPIN
    
    
• Technology Backbone: Geospatial mapping, privacy-respecting architecture
  
  

 Benefits

For Citizens:

• Accurate delivery of welfare schemes, emergency services, and documents
  
  

For Private Sector:

• Improved logistics, KYC verification, and e-commerce reach
  
  

For Governance:

• Urban planning, land record digitization, and service optimization
  
  

 Guiding Principles

• Privacy and security
  
  
• Interoperability
  
  
• Scalability and openness
  
  

 UPSC Relevance

• GS II: Governance, Digital Infrastructure
  
  
• Prelims: Full form of DHRUVA, DIGIPIN structure, DoP initiative
  
  

4. Rise in Zoonotic Disease Outbreaks in India (2018–2023)

 Context

Recent data from India’s Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) highlights a notable rise in zoonotic outbreaks, particularly in the Northeastern region.

 Key Data

• Zoonotic outbreaks (2018–2023): 8.3% of all outbreaks
  
  
• Most common diseases:
  
  
  • Japanese Encephalitis – 29.5% of all zoonotic cases
    
    
  • Others: Leptospirosis, Scrub Typhus
    
    
• Regional Focus: ~33% of outbreaks in Northeast India
  
  

 Contributing Factors

• Encroachment of forest areas
  
  
• Wildlife-human contact
  
  
• Intensive livestock farming
  
  
• Poor sanitation
  
  
• Global warming & vector expansion
  
  
• Pathogen mutation/recombination
  
  

 Government Initiatives

• IDSP: Surveillance for 6 zoonotic diseases (Anthrax, Rabies, CCHF, KFD, etc.)
  
  
• National One Health Programme: Integrates animal–human–environment health data
  
  
• Disease-specific missions: Rabies Control, Snakebite, Leptospirosis Management
  
  

 Definition (Prelims Utility)

• Zoonoses: Diseases that can be transmitted naturally between animals and humans (WHO)
  
  

 UPSC Relevance

• GS II: Public Health
  
  
• GS III: Environment, Disaster Management
  
  
• Prelims: One Health, IDSP, JE, KFD full forms
  
  

5. Russia Calls to Revive RIC Trilateral Grouping

 Context

Russia has urged India and China to reactivate the Russia-India-China (RIC) strategic forum amid reduced tensions post-Galwan clash.

 Background

• Conceptualized: Late 1990s by Russia
  
  
• Dormant since: 2020
  
  
• Forum Type: Informal strategic dialogue
  
  
• Past: Over 20 ministerial-level meetings held
  
  

 Key Stats

• Landmass: 19% of global total
  
  
• Global GDP share: 33%
  
  
• All are: Nuclear-armed, members of BRICS, SCO, G20
  
  

 Significance

• Promotes multipolarity and strategic autonomy
  
  
• Counters Western hegemony
  
  
• Can support connectivity initiatives (e.g., INSTC)
  
  

 Challenges

• India-China border tensions
  
  
• India’s alignment with Quad, US
  
  
• Russia-China proximity post-Ukraine conflict
  
  

 UPSC Relevance

• GS II: International Relations
  
  
• Prelims: RIC, INSTC, regional groupings
  
  

6. China Establishes International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed)

 Context

33 countries, led by China, signed the treaty to form the International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed) with headquarters in Hong Kong.

 

 Legal Basis

• Article 33 of the UN Charter: Encourages peaceful dispute resolution methods such as mediation, arbitration, and judicial settlement
  
  

 What Makes IOMed Unique?

• First intergovernmental organisation focused solely on mediation
  
  
• Provides alternative to ICJ (judicial) and PCA (arbitration)
  
  

 Other Dispute Bodies

• ICJ (1945): Judicial organ of UN, Hague
  
  
• PCA (1899): First permanent arbitration platform, Hague
  
  

 UPSC Relevance

• GS II: Global Institutions
  
  
• Prelims: IOMed HQ, comparison with ICJ & PCA, UN Charter Articles
  
  

7. India’s Fiscal Deficit at 4.8% in FY 2024–25

 Context

The Comptroller General of Accounts (CGA) reported that India’s fiscal deficit for FY25 stood at 4.8% of GDP, aligning with revised estimates.

 Key Economic Data (NSO – Provisional Estimates)

• Real GDP Growth: 6.5%
  
  
• Nominal GDP Growth: 9.8%
  
  
• PFCE Growth: 7.2%
  
  
• GFCF Growth: 7.1%
  
  

 Definitions

• Fiscal Deficit = Total Expenditure – (Revenue Receipts + Non-debt Capital Receipts)
  
  
• FRBM target (ideal): 3% of GDP
  
  

 Implications

• Reflects improved fiscal consolidation
  
  
• Indicates consumption-led economic recovery
  
  
• Growing preference for digital payments (currency-deposit ratio fell to 15.4%)
  
  

 UPSC Relevance

• GS III: Indian Economy, Public Finance
  
  
• Prelims: Fiscal Deficit formula, NSO, CGA roles
  
  

8. Birch Glacier Collapse in Switzerland

 Context

The Birch Glacier in Lötschental valley, northern Switzerland, collapsed causing a massive landslide that affected the Lonza River and Blatten village.

 Cause

• Climate Change:
  
  
  • Melting glaciers
    
    
  • Thawing of alpine permafrost
    
    
• Permafrost = Underground layer holding rocks/mountains; its melting destabilizes slopes
  
  

 Key Facts

• Switzerland has lost ~40% of its glacier volume since 2000
  
  
• Birch Glacier was one of the fast-retreating ice masses in Europe
  
  

 UPSC Relevance

• GS I: Geography (glaciers, geomorphology)
  
  
• GS III: Environment (climate-induced disasters)
  
  
• Prelims: Birch Glacier, permafrost, Lonza River
  
  

9. Goa Achieves 100% Functional Literacy under ULLAS

 Context

On its statehood day, Goa became the second state (after Mizoram) to achieve full functional literacy under the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram.

 About ULLAS

• Full Form: Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society
  
  
• Ministry: Ministry of Education
  
  
• Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme
  
  
• Focus:
  
  
  • Functional literacy
    
    
  • Financial/digital/legal awareness
    
    
  • Life skills development
    
    

 Target Group

• 15+ years age group
  
  
• Non-literate adults across rural & urban India
  
  

 Delivery

• Volunteer-based + mobile app-enabled modules
• Linked with Digital India Mission

 UPSC Relevance

• GS II: Education, Social Justice
• Prelims: ULLAS full form, Goa–Mizoram ranking