Current Affairs Summary

Reports and Indices

• CareEdge Report 2024 (Rare Earth Elements - REE):
  • Global REE reserve ranking: China (1st - 49%), Brazil (2nd), India (3rd - 8%).
  • India mines only 1% of its REE reserves.
  • Monazite soil in Kerala contains Thorium (a REE).
  • REEs are also found in coastal states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh.
• PARAKH National Achievement Survey 2024:
  • Issued by NCERT (National Council for Educational Research and Training), established 1961, HQ Delhi, Head: Dinesh Saklani.
  • Assesses learning outcomes for Class 3rd, 6th, and 9th.
  • Overall top state: Punjab (also topped Class 3rd & 9th; Punjab & Kerala jointly topped Class 6th).
  • Bottom states: Jammu & Kashmir and Meghalaya.
• Global Gender Gap Report 2025 (World Economic Forum): India ranked 131st.

Key Days & Events

• World Population Day 2025:
  • Observed annually on July 11th, commemorating the world population reaching 5 billion on July 11, 1987.
  • 2025 Theme: "Empowering youth to make preferred family choices in a just and hopeful world."
  • Current global population: Over 8.1 billion.
  • Top 5 most populous countries: India (1st - 1.46 billion), China (2nd), USA (3rd), Indonesia (4th), Pakistan (5th).
• National Fish Farmers Day 2025:
  • Celebrated on July 10th.
  • Hosted by ICAR-CIFA Bhubaneswar (Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar, Odisha).
  • Pioneers of aquatic revolution (Blue Revolution) in India: Hiralal Chaudhari and K.H. Alikunhi (1957).
  • Global fish production: China (1st), India (2nd).
  • Top fish-producing state in India: Andhra Pradesh.
  • Notable fishing grounds: Grand Banks (Newfoundland Island, North America) and Dogger Bank (England).
• International Yoga Day (10th anniversary):
  • Host city: Visakhapatnam.
  • Theme: "Yoga for One Earth, One Health."
• World Police and Fire Games 2025: Uttar Pradesh topped.
• Katargama Esala Festival: Held in Sri Lanka.

Government Initiatives & Policies

• 27th Eastern Zonal Council Meeting:
  • Held in Ranchi, Jharkhand, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
  • Member states: Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal.
  • Zonal Councils were established under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. The North Eastern Council was established by an Act of 1971, with its HQ in Shillong.
• E-Kuber Platform (RBI):
  • An RBI platform for government money transfers.
  • From July 16, 2025, it will be compulsory for government money transfers exceeding ₹75 crore to be conducted via E-Kuber to increase transparency, speed up processes, and enable tracking of funds.
• Kusum C Project: Launched by Karnataka for solar pumps.
• AC Cooling Limits: Indian government has set the cooling limit for ACs in homes, hotels, and cars between 20°C (minimum) and 28°C (maximum).
• Cruise India Mission:
  • Launched by the Ministry of Shipping (Minister: Sarbananda Sonowal) on September 30, 2024, to promote maritime tourism.
  • Gujarat is the first state to join due to its longest coastline in India.
• India's Largest Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal: Inaugurated by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in Manesar, Haryana.
• Shyama Prasad Mukherjee's 125th Birth Anniversary: Commemorated with the release of postage stamps and coins. He was India's first Industries Minister and introduced the First Industrial Policy of India in 1948.
• Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana: Launched in Punjab, offering ₹1 lakh health insurance per year.
• 16th Census: Announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Business and Economy

• NVIDIA:
  • US-based chip manufacturing company.
  • Became the world's first company to reach a market capitalization of $4 trillion, surpassing the GDP of the UK.
  • Market capitalization is calculated as: (Value of one share) x (Total shares).
• DFCC Bank (Sri Lanka): Became the first foreign bank to launch a Green Bond in GIFT IFSC.
• New Base Year for GDP Calculation: Set as 2022-23 (previously 2011-12).
• Yurozone: Bulgaria became the 21st member.

Science and Environment

• Garcina Kusume: A new tree species discovered in Assam's Baksa district, named after the discoverer's mother, Kusum Devi.
• Environmental Restoration Program 'Vithut': Launched by Kerala.
• ICPV 2544 (Heat Tolerant Pigeon Pea): A new advanced variety of pigeon pea developed by ICRIISAT.
• Portulaca Bharat: A new flowering plant species found in the Aravalli mountains, Jaipur.
• Strawberry Moon: A celestial event observed on the night of June 10-11 after 18 years.

Sports & Entertainment

• ICC Hall of Fame: Mahendra Singh Dhoni became the 11th Indian cricketer to be inducted.
• UEFA Nations League 2024-25: Won by Portugal.
• E-Sports World Cup 2025: Cristiano Ronaldo appointed as Global Ambassador.
• Armand Duplantis: Broke the pole vault world record for the 12th time with a jump of 6.28 meters.
• World's first underwater museum: To be established in Maharashtra.

International Relations and Defense

• Tiger Killow: A special joint exercise conducted between India and the USA.
• BALTOPS 25: An international military exercise conducted by NATO.
• Operation Rising Lion: Launched by Israel against Iran's nuclear sites.
• Operation True Promise Third: Launched by Iran against Israel.
• Fourth UN Ocean Conference 2028: To be co-hosted by Chile and South Korea.
• PM Modi's Visit to Croatia: Became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Croatia.
• International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA): Dr. Bhupendra Yadav (Union Environment Minister) appointed as its first President.
• MSC Irina: World's largest container ship, arrived at Vizhinjam Port, Kerala.
• INS Kavaratti: Tested the ERSR (Enhanced Range Sonar System).
• ISA's 7th Regional Committee meeting for Asia administration: Held in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Awards and Recognitions

• Chintan Ravindra Puraskar 2025: Awarded to Marathi writer Sharan Kumar Limbale for literature.
• 21st Keshavdev Award: Awarded to Shashi Tharoor and Bansi Sahu.
• Russian Vasty Star Award (Cultural Contribution): Awarded to Javed Akhtar.
• Shankardev Puraskar 2023: Awarded to Sonal Mansingh (Odissi dancer and former Rajya Sabha MP).
• Food Planet Award: Received by NATROP (Sweden).
• Grand Cross of Southern Cross (Brazil's highest honor): Awarded to Prime Minister Modi.
• Grand Cross of Makarios III (Cyprus's highest honor): Awarded to Prime Minister Modi.

Miscellaneous

• Jagannath Rath Yatra: Held in Puri, Odisha.
• Rudraksha BToL Drone: A Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) drone, tested by the Indian Army in Rajasthan.
• Blazemetro Valley: Appointed as the first female head of UK's MI6 intelligence agency.
• South Pars Gas Field: World's largest gas field, located in Iran.
• GI Tag: Awarded to 'Feni' from Goa.
• Universal Health Coverage (UHC): Initiative by ADB (Asian Development Bank).
• Cotm for newborns: Launched for malaria.
• Bashashala (place): Located in Panna Tiger Reserve.