Daily Current Affairs Update – 14 June 2025

1. Interpol Issues First Silver Notice for India

Context:
 India requested INTERPOL to issue a Silver Notice against Shubham Shokeen, an ex-French Embassy official wanted in a visa fraud case, marking the first such notice published for India.

Important Points:

• INTERPOL: Established as ICPC in 1923, renamed INTERPOL in 1956; has 196 member countries.
• India’s Nodal Body: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) via the Bharatpol portal.
• Silver Notice:
  • A recent tool for cross-border asset recovery and sharing financial intelligence.
  • It helps countries locate, freeze, or confiscate criminal assets abroad.
  • India is among 51 nations in the pilot phase of the Silver Notice initiative.
  • Only 9 such notices allowed per country in the pilot phase (till Nov 2025).
• Significance: Enhances India’s international legal cooperation in economic crimes.
  
  

2. Global Gender Gap Index 2025: India Slips

Context:
 India fell two places to rank 131st out of 148 in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2025.

Important Points:

• Overall Score: 64.4% (low in South Asia).
• Top Performers: Iceland, Finland, Norway, UK, New Zealand.
• Time to Parity: Estimated at 123 years globally.
• India’s Sub-Index Performance:
  
  
  • Economic Participation: Improved by 0.9% to 40.7%; parity in estimated earned income has risen.
  • Education: 97.1% parity in literacy and tertiary enrolment.
  • Health & Survival: Parity improved due to better sex ratio at birth and life expectancy.
  • Political Empowerment: Declined — women in Parliament (13.8%), Ministers (5.6%).
    
    
• South Asia: Bangladesh ranked 24th globally — best in the region.
• Implications: Underscores persistent gender inequality in India’s political and economic spheres.
  
  

3. UNHCR Report: Rise in Forced Displacement

Context:
 The Global Trends Report 2024 by UNHCR revealed that 123.2 million people were forcibly displaced by the end of 2024.

Important Points:

• UNHCR: Established in 1950, based in Geneva.
• Child Displacement: 40% of displaced are children.
• Top Countries Affected: Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine.
• Internally Displaced: 73.5 million.
• Challenges:
  • Food insecurity, unemployment, social tensions, rising public expenditure.
• Global Responses:
  • Global Compact on Migration (2018) – non-binding but cooperative.
  • World Bank’s GPFD – supports development in displacement-affected regions.
    
    
• Relevance: Highlights humanitarian, economic, and geopolitical dimensions of displacement.
  
  

4. Iran Censured by IAEA

Context:
 IAEA censured Iran after two decades, citing non-compliance with the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Important Points:

• IAEA: 19 of 35 board members supported the resolution, led by France, UK, Germany, and US.
• Reason: Iran possesses enough 60% enriched uranium for ~9 nuclear bombs.
• JCPOA Overview:
  
  
  • Signed in 2015 between Iran and P5+1.
  • Aimed at limiting nuclear capability in exchange for sanctions relief.
  • US withdrew in 2018; Iran started breaching limits since 2019.
    
    
• Current Development: Israel launched “Operation Rising Lion” targeting Iran’s nuclear sites.
• Implications: Potential to destabilize the West Asia region; may lead to UN sanctions.
  
  

5. Solar Orbiter Captures Sun’s Poles

Context:
 ESA-NASA’s Solar Orbiter mission captured the first-ever images of the Sun’s poles.

Important Points:

• Objective: Study solar wind, magnetic fields, and poles to better predict the solar cycle.
• Significance:
  • Better understanding of solar maximums, space weather, and magnetic field reversals (~11-year cycle).
  • Helps improve forecasting of solar storms.
    
    
• Other Missions:
  
  
  • NASA’s Parker Solar Probe (2018)
  • India’s Aditya-L1 (2023)
  • China’s ASO-S (2022)
    
    
• Relevance: Space weather affects satellites, communications, and power grids on Earth.
  
  

6. Rudrastra UAV Trial Success

Context:
 India successfully tested the Hybrid VTOL UAV ‘Rudrastra’ at Pokhran, Rajasthan.

Important Points:

• Developed by: Solar Defence and Aerospace Ltd
• Features:
  • VTOL capability, no runway needed.
  • 170 km range, real-time surveillance, loitering capability.
  • Precision-guided warheads with automated return.
    
    
• Types of UAVs:
  
  
  • Based on lift: Rotary-wing, Fixed-wing, Hybrid VTOL.
  • Based on weight: Nano (<250g) to Large (>150kg)
    
    
• Significance: Boosts indigenous drone tech under Aatmanirbhar Bharat; enhances defence ops.

 

7. RBI Bond Buyback Gains Momentum

Context:
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently witnessed strong demand in its government bond buyback operations.

Important Points:

• What is Bond Buyback?
  • RBI repurchases Government Securities (G-Secs) before maturity from banks.
    
    
• Objectives:
  • Infuse liquidity into the banking system during times of sluggish credit growth.
    
    
  • Manage debt by retiring high-cost or short-term bonds early, reducing gross borrowing.
    
    
• Implications:
  • Positive for market liquidity.
  • Can lower yields and support credit expansion.
  • Helps maintain fiscal and monetary stability.
    
    
• UPSC Relevance: Highlights the RBI’s monetary tools and fiscal-monetary coordination.
  
  

8. India-UK PASSEX Naval Exercise

Context:
 India and the UK conducted a PASSEX (Passing Exercise) in the northern Arabian Sea to enhance naval interoperability.

Important Points:

• What is PASSEX?
  • A joint naval exercise conducted when navies pass through each other’s waters.
  • Helps develop coordinated maritime capabilities without full-scale drills.
• Importance:
  • Enhances bilateral defence cooperation.
  • Boosts India’s maritime domain awareness in the Indian Ocean Region.
    
    
• Relevance to UPSC:
  • Part of India’s broader maritime diplomacy and strategic partnerships.
    
    

9. Zero-Coupon Bond Issuance Withdrawn

Context:
 Power Finance Corporation (PFC) recently withdrew its proposed zero-coupon bond issuance.

Important Points:

• What is a Zero-Coupon Bond?
  • No periodic interest (coupon) payments.
  • Sold at a deep discount; repaid at face value on maturity.
    
    
• Advantages:
  
  
  • Useful for long-term investors.
  • Predictable returns at maturity.
    
    
• Risks:
  • Highly sensitive to interest rate changes.
    
    
• Why Withdrawn?
  • Likely due to unfavourable market conditions or regulatory concerns.
    
    
• UPSC Angle:
  • Useful for questions on financial instruments under Indian Economy.
    
    

10. India Launches First Agentic AI ‘Kruti’

Context:
 India’s first Agentic AI system, named Kruti, was launched by Krutrim.

Important Points:

• What is Agentic AI?
  • AI capable of autonomous decision-making and task execution.
  • Operates across dynamic environments without human intervention.
    
    
• Capabilities of Kruti:
  • Can book cabs, pay bills, and complete multi-step tasks.
    
    
• Significance:
  
  
  • Transition from Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) to Service-as-a-Software (SaaS 2.0).
  • Reflects India’s push in next-gen AI applications.
    
    
• Relevance:
  • Showcases digital transformation and innovation for UPSC GS-III (Science and Tech).
    
    

11. Servants of India Society Turns 120

Context:
 June 12, 2025 marks the 120th anniversary of the founding of the Servants of India Society (SIS).

Important Points:

• Founded by: Gopal Krishna Gokhale in 1905, Pune.
• Mission: Train Indians for selfless public service.
• Key Members: G.K. Devadhar, A.V. Patwardhan, N.A. Dravid; Mahatma Gandhi was associated.
  
  
• Nature:
  • Non-political, non-sectarian.
  • Emphasized civic duty, education, and national service.
    
    
• UPSC Link:
  • Part of India’s reformist legacy during the freedom movement.
    
    

12. ‘Mayday’ Call: Aviation Emergency Explained

Context:
 After a crash incident involving an Air India flight, media widely reported the use of a “Mayday” call by pilots.

Important Points:

• Origin:
  • Coined in 1920s by Frederick Mockford; derived from French “m’aider” meaning “help me”.
  • Adopted as an international distress signal by 1927.
    
    
• Usage:
  • Repeated thrice (“Mayday, Mayday, Mayday”) to signal grave emergency.
    
    
• Importance:
  
  
  • Used in aviation and marine navigation.
  • Ensures priority response from air traffic control and rescue services.
    
    
• UPSC Relevance:
  • Aviation safety protocols can be asked under Science and Technology or Disaster Management.
    
    

13. Procurement of Summer Moong under PSS

Context:
 Government approved procurement of summer moong under the Price Support Scheme (PSS).

Important Points:

• PSS: Part of PM-AASHA scheme. Targets procurement of pulses, oilseeds, and copra at MSP.
• Implementing Agencies:
  • DA&FW (PSS, PDPS, MIS)
  • Dept. of Consumer Affairs (Price Stabilisation Fund – PSF)
    
    
• Conditions:
  • Farmers must be pre-registered and produce must meet Fair Average Quality (FAQ).
• Objective:
  • Provide price assurance to farmers and reduce distress selling.
• Relevance:
  • Aligns with agri-reforms, food security, and rural economy enhancement.
    
    

14. Srimanta Sankardev Award Conferred

Context:
 Renowned dancer Sonal Mansingh received the Srimanta Sankardev Award, one of Assam’s top cultural honours.

Important Points:

• Srimanta Sankardev (1449–1568):
  • Saint-reformer from Assam; born in Nagaon district.
  • Founder of Ekasarana Dharma, a neo-Vaishnavite movement.
    
    
• Contributions:
  • Kirtana Ghosha, Gunamala, Ankiya Naat, Bhaona, and the Sattriya dance form.
    
    
• Values: Spiritualism, syncretism, humanism.
• UPSC Relevance:
  
  
  • Important cultural and religious figure from Assam; connects to GS-I (Art and Culture).