Current Affairs 21 June 2025

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 21 June 2025, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2025 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Govt Extends OPS Benefits to Unified Pension Scheme Subscribers In June 2025, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (MoPPG&P) issued an office memorandum on providing Old Pension Scheme (OPS) benefits to the Central Government employees, subscribed for Unified Pension Scheme (UPS).

• The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) under MoPPG&P has issued instructions that central government employees who opt for UPS will be entitled to benefits in the OPS under the Central Civil Services (CCS)(Payment of Gratuity under NPS) Pension Rules, 2021, or the CCS (Extraordinary Pension) Rules 2023.

Revised Instructions:
i.The central government employees who opted for UPS will get benefits under the OPS if the employee dies while in government service or if discharged due to invalidation or disablement.
ii.Additionally, employees with a minimum of 10 years of service are entitled to a minimum pension of Rs.10,000 per month upon superannuation.
iii.The order gives an option to OPS in case of death in service. UPS pensioners will be eligible for Rs.25 lakh gratuity.
>>Read Full News

MoWCD Organized 1st of its kind National Consultation of Gender Budgeting in New DelhiIn June 2025, the Ministry of Women & Child Development (MoWCD) organized 1st of its kind National Consultation on Gender Budgeting at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi (Delhi). The event aimed to review and refine gender-responsive budgeting practices in India.

• The consultation brought together senior officials from 40 central ministries/departments, 19 states, as well as representatives from United Nations (UN) Women, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and national-level experts.
• Key objectives included discussing ways to enhance gender budgeting across sectors and sharing successful initiatives and practices implemented by various ministries and states under their respective schemes.

Key Points:
i.The event was attended by Union Minister Annapurna Devi, MoWCD, highlighted that Gender Budgeting has been a core element of India’s development strategy since 2005-06.

• It was initially introduced as a fiscal reporting mechanism, has now transformed into a key governance instrument for achieving gender equality and women empowerment.

ii.She also mentioned that Government of India (GoI) had allocated Rs 4.49 lakh crore for the Gender Budget for Financial Year 2025-26 (FY26), marking an increase of 37% compared to last year.

• Over the last 11 years, Gender Budget allocations have increased by 4.5 times, from Rs 0.98 lakh crore (in Financial Year 2014-15, FY15).

iii.This reflects the GoI’s commitment to advancing gender equality through both policy and public finance.
Gender Budgeting Knowledge Hub Portal Launched:
i.During the event Union Minister Annapurna Devi, MoWCD, launched a web portal titled ‘Gender Budgeting Knowledge Hub’ which was developed by MoWCD.
ii.The newly launched web portal is a centralised digital repository of all information related to gender budgeting processes including,  policy briefs, best practices, and gender-disaggregated data, which will support the integration of a gender lens into all stages of planning and budgeting, both at the Central and State levels.
iii.It will be used by Central and State government ministries and departments, as well as other stakeholders.
About Ministry of Women & Child Development (MoWCD):
Union Minister- Annapurna Devi (Constituency-Kodarma, Jharkhand)
Minister of State (MoS)- Savitri Thakur (Constituency- Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, MP)

India’s First Hydrogen Buses Flagged Off in Leh, LadakhOn 19 June 2025, Five hydrogen fuel cell-based buses were flagged off for commercial operations in Leh, Union Territory(UT) of Ladakh, in a landmark development for clean energy ambitions of India. It is India’s first-ever commercial deployment of hydrogen-powered buses, marking a globally significant leap towards sustainable mobility in extreme terrains.

• The green hydrogen buses were handed over by New Delhi (Delhi) based NTPC Limited (formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation) to the State Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO) in a ceremony held at hydrogen mobility station of NTPC in Palam, Leh.
• The launch ceremony was attended by Bhupesh Chaudhary, Administrative Secretary of the Transport Department, along with the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Leh and senior representatives from NTPC and SIDCO.

About Hydrogen-fuel Bus:
A hydrogen bus is a clean, eco-friendly vehicle that uses hydrogen gas to power an electric motor, producing only water vapour.

• The stored hydrogen gas enters a fuel cell, where it reacts with Oxygen (O2) from the air. It generates electricity which powers the electric motor.

Key Features:
i.Range: Approximately 300 kilometers (km) per 25 kilograms (kg) hydrogen refill.
ii.Altitude Capability: Designed to operate efficiently at high altitudes above 3,650 meters, coping with sub-zero temperatures and low air density.
iii.Fueling Infrastructure: Supported by a dedicated green hydrogen production and refueling station powered by a 1.7 Megawatt (MW) solar plant.
iv.Environmental Impact:The project is expected to reduce carbon emissions by around 350 metric tonnes(MT) annually and contribute 230MT of pure oxygen, equivalent to planting nearly 13,000 trees.
Points to Note:
i.The world’s first hydrogen fueling station at such a high altitude, 11, 562 feet above sea level, was launched by NTPC in November 2024.
ii.NTPC, India’s largest integrated power utility with over 81 MW of installed capacity, has an ambitious plan to reach 60 Gigawatt (GW) of Renewable Energy(RE) by 2032.
About NTPC Limited:
Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) – Gurdeep Singh
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 1975
About Union Territory(UT) of Ladakh:
Lieutenant Governor – Brigadier (Dr.) Ball Dut (B.D.) Mishra (retired)
Capital – Leh
Wildlife Sanctuary – Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary

ICMR Inaugurated ‘Nakshatra’ HPC Facility at ICMR-NIV, Pune
In June 2025, Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research (DHR) and Director General, of the New Delhi (Delhi) based Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), inaugurated India’s first High Performance Computing (HPC) facility named ‘Nakshatra‘ at the ICMR-National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV), Pune, Maharashtra.

• The facility has been developed under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) to strengthen India’s capacity for genomic surveillance, pandemic preparedness, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled research in public health.

Key Features of Nakshatra HPC Cluster:
i.Infrastructure: Comprises 12 compute nodes, 700 cores, and 1 petabyte (pb) of storage.
ii.Supported Workflows: Supports advanced bioinformatics workflows such as Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), transcriptomics, metagenomics, phylogenetics, and structural bioinformatics.
iii.Enables rapid sequencing and analysis, reducing time from weeks to 24-48 hours.
iv.Future Expansion: Extend support to Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs) nationwide.

DHE Forms Panel to Reduce Private Coaching Dependency
On June 19, 2025, the Department of Higher Education (DHE), Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India (GoI) has formed an 11-member committee to recommend measures to reduce the growing dependency of students on coaching centres.

• The high-level committee will be headed by Vineet Joshi, Secretary, DHE, MoE.

i.The high-level committee will brief the MoE on its progress and actions every month.
ii.The panel will study the effectiveness and fairness of competitive entrance examinations like Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in the context of the school education system and their influence on the growth of the coaching industry.
iii.The committee will review the advertising practices of coaching centres and recommend a suitable mechanism. It will also assess the availability and effectiveness of career counselling in schools and colleges.
iv.It will review gaps in the school system, rising dependence on coaching centres, and how ‘dummy schools’ promote full-time coaching, affecting students’ participation in regular, formal school education.
Note: In January 2024, MoE published the ‘Guidelines for Regulation of Coaching Centre’, restricting coaching centres from enrolling students below 16 years of age.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

WEF’s Energy Transition Index 2025: India Ranked 71, Sweden TopsIn June 2025, Geneva (Switzerland)- based World Economic Forum (WEF)released its annual report titled ‘Fostering Effective Energy Transition 2025’. As per the report, India has been ranked 71  with a score of 53.3 on the Global Energy Transition Index (ETI) 2025.

• Although this is a drop from 63rd rank in 2024 (a fall of 8 places), India made the biggest improvements among large economies, especially in providing better access to energy.

Key Points:
i.Sweden maintained its top spot with a score of 77.5, followed by Finland in second place with 71.8, and Denmark closely behind in third with 71.6.
ii.Other countries in the top 10 of the ETI 2025 include Austria, Latvia, the Netherlands, Germany, and Portugal.
iii.Latvia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) recorded some of the fastest score gains through clean energy adoption and targeted reforms. Democratic Republic of the Congo was ranked at the bottom with the lowest score of 42.4.
iv.China achieved its highest-ever rank at 12th place with a score of 67.5 and Pakistan ranked 101st, reflecting difficulties in both energy system performance and transition readiness.
>>Read Full News

QS World University Rankings 2026: IIT Delhi Ranked 1st among Indian Varsities; MIT Topped the List Globally In June 2025, London (the United Kingdom, UK) based global higher education analytics firm Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) released the latest edition of ‘QS World University Rankings 2026’.  As per the latest rankings, New Delhi (Delhi) based Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT-D) has been ranked 1st among Indian universities featured on the list. It has improved its ranking significantly by 70 places over two years, to 123rd spot (in 2026) with an overall score of 65.5 compared to 150th (in 2025) and 197th (in 2024). IIT-D is placed along Georgia Institute of Technology based in the United States of America (USA).

• IIT-D’s latest ranking is due to its exceptional performance in various categories: Employer Reputation (50th), Citations (86th), Sustainability (172nd) and Academic Reputation (142nd).

i.Cambridge (the USA) based Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has topped the list globally for the 14th time (2012 and from 2014 to 2026), with overall score of 100. It is followed by Imperial College London based in London (the United Kingdom, UK) (score 99.4) and USA based Stanford University (98.9) ranked at 2nd and 3rd spot on the list, respectively.
ii.This year, a total of 54 universities, including 12 IITs from India (up from 46 universities in 2025), are featured  on the list, thereby, making India the 4th most represented country, only after the USA (192), UK (90) and Mainland China (72)
iii.Only 3 IITs i.e. IIT-D; Mumbai (Maharashtra) based IIT-Bombay (IIT-B) and Chennai (Tamil Nadu, TN) IIT-Madras (IIT-M) made into the list of world’s top 200 universities.
>>Read Full News

Sudan, South Sudan and Mali Among Five Global Hunger Hotspots of Highest ConcernIn June 2025, Rome (Italy) based Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of United Nations (UN) and World Food Programme (WFP) issued the ‘Hunger Hotspots: FAO-WEP early warning on acute food insecurity-June to October 2025 Outlook’ Report. The report warns that hunger is likely to get much worse in 13 countries and regions, which are among the world’s most serious hunger-affected areas in the coming months.

• The countries, Sudan, Palestine, South Sudan, Haiti and Mali remain at the highest concern level, necessitating the most urgent attention.

Highlights of the Report:
i.The report identified conflict, economic shocks and climate-related hazards as the primary causes of starvation risks in the countries of the highest concern category.
ii.Yemen, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, and Nigeria are classified as hotspots of very high concern and require urgent attention to save lives and livelihoods and for preventing further deteriorations.

• Other hotspots are Burkina Faso, Chad, Somalia, and the Syrian Arab Republic.

iii.The report emphasizes, Armed violence remains the primary driver of acute food insecurity in 12 of the 13 hostpots. In all the hotspots of highest concern, widespread and escalating armed violence is a major driver of the deteroriation in food security.
>>Read Full News

BANKING & FINANCE

Bajaj Allianz Launches India’s First State-Wise Health Insurance Policies
On 19 June 2025, Pune (Maharashtra) based Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company Limited(Joint venture(jv) between Bajaj Finserv Limited and Allianz SE (Germany)) launched a first-of-its-kind ‘State-wise Health Insurance Policy’ to offer customised health insurance tailored to the specific healthcare needs, treatment costs, and medical infrastructure of 25 Indian states and 5 Union Territory (UT).

• The initiative seeks to improve the accessibility, affordability, and effectiveness of health insurance by moving away from a one-size-fits-all model toward region-specific policies tailored to local disease trends, medical expenses, and hospital infrastructure.

i.Policies bear region-specific names, such as AapKe Liye in Hindi-speaking states and Mee Kosam in Andhra Pradesh(AP) and Telangana.
ii.Options include individual or family floater plans, with sums insured ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. Coverage encompasses inpatient hospitalization, day-care procedures, advanced treatments (robotic surgeries, stem cell therapy), and organ donor expenses.
iii.Add-On Benefits:

• Unlimited Sum Insured Reinstatement – Allows multiple recharges of sum insured in one policy year.
• Super Cumulative Bonus – Up to 200% additional sum insured for claim-free years.
• Accidental Death Cover – Financial protection for family in case of accidental death.
• Wellness Incentives: Renewal discounts of 5% (7,500 daily steps) or 10% (10,000 daily steps) for maintaining activity over 9 months.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

India Ranks 15th Among Top FDI Destinations with USD 27.6 Billion Inflows in 2024 : UNCTADIn June 2025, Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), officially launched the World Investment Report 2025 titled “International Investment in the Digital Economy“  in Geneva, Switzerland. As per the report, India’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows declined by 1.9% in 2024, dropping from USD 28.1 billion in 2023 to USD 27.6 billion.

• The Global FDI flows were said to be 4% higher, totaling USD 1.5 trillion. But this number was boosted by unstable investments passing through certain countries. Without counting those, global FDI actually dropped by 11%, falling for the second year in a row.

Key Highlights:
i.The United States of America(USA) continues to be the leading country for both foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows and outflows.
ii.India’s ranking for FDI inflows improved to 15th in 2024 from 16th in 2023, while its position for FDI outflows rose to 18th in 2024, up from 23rd the previous year. India emerged as the leading recipient of FDI within the South Asian region.
iii.India secured the fourth position globally with 1,080 greenfield projects announced in 2024. It also ranked among the top five countries for international project finance, recording 97 deals during the year.
>>Read Full News

ICRA Projected India’s GDP Growth at 6.2% for FY26
In June 2025, Gurugram (Haryana) based Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency(ICRA) Limited, a leading credit rating agency, released its economic outlook, projecting that India’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth for the Financial Year 2025-26 (FY26) will moderate to 6.2%, compared to 6.5% in FY25.
Key Economic Projections for FY26:
i.The real Gross Value Added (GVA) is expected to be 6% in FY26, which is lower than the 6.4% growth recorded in FY25.
ii.The fiscal deficit is projected at 4.4% of GDP for FY26.
iii.The Current Account Deficit (CAD) for FY26 is estimated to range between 1.2% and 1.3% of GDP.
iv.Inflation indicators: Consumer Price Index (CPI) is likely to stay above 3.5%, and Wholesale Price Index (WPI) above 1.8% during FY26.
Demand Boosters:
i.Rural demand is expected to stay strong, supported by Rabi season cash flows and above-normal reservoir levels.
ii.Higher household disposable income due to Union Budget 2025-26’s income tax relief (nil tax up to Rs. 12 lakh per year under the new regime), potential rate cuts lowering Equated Monthly Installments (EMIs), and easing food inflation.
iii.Investment: Central government’s Capital Expenditure (Capex), budgeted to rise 10.1% to Rs.11.21 lakh crore in FY26, will drive investment. Private Capex may gain traction despite muted merchandise exports and trade policy uncertainty.
iv.External Sector: Services exports are projected to outperform merchandise exports.

TCS partners with Council Of Europe Development Bank to modernise operations
In June 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) entered into a strategic collaboration with the Paris (France)-based Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) to modernise its reconciliation operations using artificial intelligence (AI) and automation.

• As part of the initiative, TCS will deploy its flagship solution, TCS BaNCS™ for Reconciliations, to automate and streamline the CEB’s complex financial reconciliation processes.

i.The solution offers real-time visibility, enhanced transparency, and significant reduction in manual efforts and turnaround times.
ii.It also automates routine tasks such as file loading, Portable Document Format(PDF) statement extraction, and unmatched entry resolution, integrated with the bank’s core systems for better controls and efficiency.
iii.TCS BaNCS™ supports both on-premises and cloud-based deployment, complies with global standards such as Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication(SWIFT) International Organization for Standardization(ISO) 20022, and is equipped with advanced features including a cognitive engine, Application Programming Interface(API) integration, and mobile accessibility, making it well-suited for large-scale financial operations.
Note: The CEB, established in 1956, was originally founded as the Resettlement Fund for National Refugees and Over-Population in Europe, operating under a Partial Agreement of the Council of Europe.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Skechers Appoints Kartik Aaryan as Brand Ambassador for Indian Market
On 19 June 2025, California, the United States of America(USA) based Skechers USA Inc., popularly known as Skechers, the Comfort Technology Company, appointed Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan as its brand ambassador for India.

• The partnership seeks to strengthen Skechers’ connection with young Indian consumers seeking stylish, comfortable, and innovative lifestyle and athletic footwear.

i.Kartik Aaryan is a popular Bollywood actor known for his work in Hindi cinema.
ii.He will feature in the upcoming marketing campaign for Skechers’ Hands Free Slip-ins® footwear line. Which is designed for convenience, utilizing Heel Pillow® technology to allow slip-on wear without bending or hand assistance.
iii.He joins a growing league of brand ambassadors associated with Skechers, which includes: Ananya Panday (Bollywood Actress),Sunil Chhetri (Indian Footballer), Jasprit Bumrah, Ishan Kishan, Yastika Bhatia (Indian Cricketers), Harry Kane, Isco Alarcón, Baris Alper Yilmaz, Mohammed Kudus (International Footballers), Joel Embiid, Julius Randle, Rickea Jackson, Norman Powell (Basketball Players), Sonu Vishwakarma, Vrushali Thakare (Pickleball Athletes).

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

UGRO Capital to Acquire Profectus Capital for Rs.1,400 Crores
In  June 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra) based UGRO Capital Limited, a Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC) focused on lending to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)announced the acquisition of Mumbai-based Profectus Capital Private Limited from United Kingdom(UK) based private equity firm Actis’ companies Actis PC (Mauritius) and Actis Investment (Mauritius) in an all-cash deal worth Rs 1,400 crore.
Deal Advisors:

• UGRO Capital: Advised by InCred Capital; legal counsel SNG & Partners; financial due diligence by PricewaterhouseCoopers Services LLP; tax due diligence by Legacy Growth Partners.
• Profectus Capital: Advised by DC Advisory and Avendus Capital.

i.UGRO Capital has made a Share Purchase Agreement with the existing shareholders of Profectus Capital to acquire 100% of the shares.
ii.The deal will mobilize proceeds from the raised equity of UGRO Capital and will deploy capital into a fully secured asset portfolio delivering instant scale benefits with zero originations costs, which makes Profectus a wholly owned subsidiary of UGRO Capital.
iii.UGRO Capital, founded in 2018, uses data analytics and technology to serve small businesses and operates more than 240 branches. It has built co-lending partnerships with 17 banks and NBFCs positioning itself as a key player in MSME financing.
iv.Profectus Capital, founded in 2017, specializes in secured lending to small businesses, especially in the education sector.

JFSL Acquires SBI’s Full Stake in JPBL for Rs. 104.54 Crore
On June 18, 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Jio Financial Services Limited (JFSL), the Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC) arm of the Mumbai-based Reliance Group, acquired the remaining 17.83% stake (equivalent to 79.08 million shares) in Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Jio Payments Bank Limited (JPBL) from the Mumbai-based State Bank of India (SBI) for Rs. 104.54 crores at Rs. 13.22 per share.

• Through the acquisition, JPBL has become a wholly owned subsidiary of JFSL.

i.Prior to this transaction, JFSL held an 82.17% stake in JPBL.
ii.The move was finalized, following the approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which was granted on April 4, 2025.
iii.The full ownership in JPBL allows JFSL to seamlessly integrate JPBL within its broader financial ecosystem, complementing services like banking, insurance, broking, leasing, and its asset-management Joint Venture (JV), JioBlackRock Asset Management, between Jio and New York, United States of America (USA) based BlackRock.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Honda R&D Conducted Reusable Rocket Test in Japan
In June 2025, Tokyo (Japan) based Honda R&D Co., Limited, the research and development subsidiary of Tokyo (Japan) based Honda Motor Co., Limited, successfully conducted a launch and landing test of an experimental reusable rocket at its facility in Taiki Town, Hiroo District, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan.

• The test aimed to validate core reusable rocket technologies as part of Honda’s long-term objective to achieve suborbital spaceflight capability by 2029, where such flights reach the edge of space without entering orbit.

About the Rocket Test:
i.The test marked Honda’s first successful demonstration of key technologies essential for reusable launch vehicles (RLVs), such as flight stability during ascent and descent and precise landing capabilities.
ii.The experimental rocket, developed independently by Honda, measured 6.3 metres (m) in length, 85 centimetres (cm) in diameter, and had a dry weight of 900 kilograms (kg) and a wet weight of 1,312 kg.
iii.It reached an altitude of 271.4 m and landed within 37 cm of the target point after a total flight duration of 56.6 seconds (s).
iv.The launch took place at a Honda test facility in Taiki Town, Japan, which the company says “has been developing itself as a ‘space town’ through the joint efforts of public and private sectors,” including the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

BOOKS & AUTHORS

TN CM M.K.Stalin launches book “Varalaru Koorum Tamil Nattu Kaasugal” penned by Minister Thangam Thennarasu
In June 2025, Tamil Nadu(TN) Chief Minister(CM) Muthuvel Karunanidhi(M.K) Stalin along with and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin released a two-volume book titled “Varalaru Koorum Tamil Nattu Kaasugal(Coins that Speak Tamil Nadu History)” at the Secretariat in Chennai, TN.

• The book was authored by Thangam Thennarasu, Minister for Finance, TN and Arumuga Sitharaman, a noted numismatic researcher.

i.The book “Varalaru Koorum Tamil Nattu Kaasugal” was published by the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Government of TN.
ii.The book provides an in-depth study of ancient coins used in the Tamil landscape over 2,000 years, detailing their evolution, historical significance, and cultural impact.
iii.The book shows how coins were used by different rulers and what they tell us about Tamil history.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Refugee Day 2025 – June 20The United Nations (UN’s) World Refugee Day is annually observed on June 20 to honor refugees worldwide and recognize their immense strength and courage in fleeing conflict or persecution.

• The annual observance is led by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, in collaboration with key partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and various other international organisations.
• The theme for World Refugee Day 2025 is “Solidarity with Refugees”, emphasizing the need for united action to support displaced individuals.

Background:
i.In December 2000, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted resolution A/RES/55/76, designating June 20 as World Refugee Day.
ii.The inaugural World Refugee Day was held on June 20, 2001.
About United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR):
President – Filippo Grandi
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
Founded – 1950
>>Read Full News

STATE NEWS

UP Govt Approved Rs 1.5 Crore Rhino Conservation Project in Dudhwa National Park
On 19th June 2025, the Department of Forest and Wildlife, Government of Uttar Pradesh (UP), under the leadership of Chief Minister (CM) Yogi Adityanath, approved Rs 1.5 crore for the establishment of two new Rhino Rehabilitation Areas (RRA-3 and RRA-4) in Dudhwa National Park (DNP), situated in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh.

• This initiative is part of a long-term conservation project focused on protecting the natural habitats of Indian one-horned rhinoceros and other endangered species in UP’s Terai region.

Key Highlights of the Project:
i.The new enclosures, RRA-3 and RRA-4, will be developed following the successful models of RRA-1 and RRA-2, facilitating semi-wild conditions with close monitoring.
ii.The primary goal is to ensure sustainable habitat conservation while strengthening anti-poaching surveillance and curbing the illegal trade in rhino body parts.
iii.The newly established RRAs aim to support the current population of approximately 50 one-horned rhinos in Dudhwa, UP and enhance the biodiversity of the region.
iv.Fund Allocation:

• Rs 1.27 crore – Maintenance of rhino habitats, water bodies, and vegetation.
• Rs 7 lakh – Procurement of wildlife medicines and veterinary chemicals.
• Rs 4.8 lakh – Major construction works.
• Rs 3 lakh – Minor infrastructure development.
• Rs 7 lakh – Monitoring devices, machinery, and essential installations.

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