Current Affairs 8 & 9 June 2025

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Overview of PM Narendra Modi’s visit to J&K on June 06, 2025On June 6, 2025, Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi visited the (UT) Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), where he laid the foundation stone, inaugurated and dedicated to the nation several development projects worth over Rs 46,000 crore at Katra, J&K.

• These projects aim to improve road and rail connectivity across the UT, with a focus on enhancing accessibility, promoting tourism, and generating employment.

i.During the visit, he inaugurated Chenab Bridge, the world’s highest railway arch bridge, which is 359 meters (m) above the Chenab river and 35 m or 114 feet (ft.) taller that the Eiffel Tower (in Paris, France), located in Reasi District of J&K.
ii.He also inaugurated Anji Khad Bridge, India’s 1st cable-stayed rail bridge that will serve the nation in a challenging terrain.
iii.Also, he flagged off two Vande Bharat Express trains from Katra Railway Station that will directly connect Jammu division with Kashmir.

• He also laid the foundation stone of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra, J&K. It will be built at a cost of more than Rs 350 crore.

About Jammu & Kashmir (J&K):
Chief Minister (CM)- Omar Abdullah
Lieutenant Governor- Manoj Sinha
Capital- Jammu (in winter) and Srinagar (in summer)
National Park (NP)- Dachigam NP
>>Read Full News

India Launches Ayush Nivesh Saarthi Portal to Boost Traditional Medicine InvestmentIn May 2025, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I), and Union Minister of State (MoS) Prataprao Jadhav, Ministry of Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy) jointly inaugurated the ‘Ayush Nivesh Saarthi‘ portal during the Ayush Stakeholder and Industry Interaction Meet at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi (Delhi).

• The portal is an investor-centric digital platform that aims to facilitate investments in India’s traditional medicine sector by providing a unified interface that integrates policy frameworks, incentive structures, investment-ready projects, and real-time facilitation tools.

About Ayush Nivesh Saarthi portal: 
i.Developed by: It is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Ayush, and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under MoC&I. It was developed by the Ministry of Ayush in collaboration with New Delhi based Invest India.
ii.Features:

• Unified Interface: Combines policies, incentives, and investment-ready projects to streamline the investment process.
• Real-Time Facilitation: Offers dynamic dashboards for guidance and approvals, enhancing ease of doing business.
• Global Outreach: Targets both domestic and international stakeholders to attract diverse investments.
• Investor-Centric Design: Simplified navigation and support to assist investors in decision-making.

iii.Significance:

• It leverages 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) permitted via the automatic route.
• It serves as a digital gateway to India’s USD 13 billion Medical Value Travel (MVT) sector and the growing global wellness economy.

About the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT):
The DPIIT is a central government department under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I).
Secretary – Amardeep Sing Bhatia
Headquarters – New Delhi
Established – 1995

Delhi Inaugurates South Asia’s Largest Utility-Scale Battery Energy Storage System
In May 2025, Delhi Power Minister Ashish Sood inaugurated India’s first commercially approved utility-scale 20 Megawatt (MW)/40 Megawatt-hour Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at the 33/11 kiloVolt (kV) Kilokari substation in South Delhi (Delhi).

• This facility is South Asia’s largest grid-connected BESS project and marks the first utility-scale energy storage system in India to receive commercial approval.

i.The BESS will directly benefit over one lakh residents in the Ashram–Kilokri area, delivering up to 4 hours of reliable power daily – 2 hours during the day and 2 hours at night.
ii.Uses advanced Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries, known for thermal stability, safety, and durability. Temperature-controlled containers ensure efficiency in Delhi’s varying climate.
iii.The project was developed by New Delhi (Delhi) based BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) (a joint venture between Reliance Infrastructure Limited and the Government of NCT Delhi) in partnership with:

• Mumbai(Maharashtra) based India Grid Trust (IndiGrid) (India’s first power sector Infrastructure Investment Trust).
• New York, United States of America(USA) based GEAPP (providing technical expertise and funding).
• Pune, Maharashtra based AmpereHour Energy (technology partner)

Telangana and Japan’s Kitakyushu Sign Pact for Sustainable Development
In June 2025, the Government of Telangana signed a cooperative agreement with Kitakyushu City, Japan, to strengthen bilateral relations in inclusive economic growth, zero-emission initiatives, and urban innovation.

• The agreement was formalized during the Telangana Formation Day celebrations in Hyderabad, in the presence of Chief Minister (CM) of Telangana A. Revanth Reddy and Kitakyushu Mayor Kazuhisa Takeuchi.

i.Eco-Town Model: Inspired by Kitakyushu’s transformation from a polluted city to an eco-hub, Telangana will develop an 80-acre eco-town in Hyderabad. This model emphasizes circular economy practices, waste management, and recycling technologies.
ii.Musi River Rejuvenation: The state will leverage Kitakyushu’s expertise in riverfront development and environmental conservation for the Musi River project.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

8th Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction held in SwitzerlandThe Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) 2025 was organized by the United Nations (UN) Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) from June 2 to 6, 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. The event was hosted by the Government of Switzerland. The event is co-chaired by the Government of Switzerland and UNDRR.
i.The theme of 8th session of GPDRR (2025) is “Every Day Counts: Act for Resilience Today,” which underscores the urgency of taking bold action to safeguard communities and build a sustainable future
ii.Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, popularly known as “The Cyclone Man of India”, Director General of Metreology (DGM), New Delhi (Delhi) based India Meteorological Department (IMD), was awarded the United Nations (UN) Sasakawa Award 2025 for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in individual category.
About United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR):
Head – Kamal Kishore
Headquarters – Geneva (Switzerland)
Formed – 1999
>>Read Full News

TSSEZL’s GIP Inducted into WEF’s Transitioning Industrial Clusters Initiative
In June 2025, Tata Steel Special Economic Zone Limited’s (TSSEZL) Gopalpur Industrial Park (GIP) located  in Ganjam district (Odisha) was inducted into the Geneva (Switzerland) based World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Transitioning Industrial Clusters Initiative to accelerate green industrialisation and decarbonisation in India.

• The Transitioning Industrial Clusters Initiative, launched at COP26 in 2021, aims to accelerate the deployment of clean-energy infrastructure globally. With the addition of Gopalpur Industrial Park, the initiative now comprises 33 clusters across 16 countries, collectively representing potential greenhouse gas emissions reductions comparable to the annual emissions of Saudi Arabia.

i.This global program collaborates with New York (USA)-based Accenture and Palo Alto (California, USA)-based Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to drive decarbonization, economic growth, and job creation in industrial clusters.
ii.The initiative focuses on implementing clean technologies and reducing carbon footprints in industrial zones.
iii.It aligns with India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), aiming to make India a global leader in green hydrogen production and export.
iv.The move is expected to attract green investments and enable collaboration between industries, government bodies, and climate action leaders.
Note: GIP is operated by TSSEZL, a subsidiary of Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Tata Steel Limited(TSL). It is the first industrial park in India to become part of this global climate initiative, promoting green infrastructure, clean energy adoption, and low-carbon operations.

BANKING & FINANCE

Highlights of RBI’s 2nd Bi-monthly Monetary Policy of FY 2025-26The Reserve Bank of India conducted the 55th and 2nd Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Committee Meeting (MPC) of Financial Year (FY) 2025-26 from June 4 to 6, 2025 under the chairmanship of Shri Sanjay Malhotra, Governor, Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

• The meeting was attended by the MPC members Dr. Nagesh Kumar, Shri Saugata Bhattacharya, Prof. Ram Singh, Dr. Poonam Gupta and Dr. Rajiv Ranjan.

RBI retains India’s growth forecast at 6.5%:
i.The committee has projected the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for Financial Year 2025-26 (FY26) to be 6.5%.

• The projection for FY26 for Quarter 1 (Q1: April –June 2025) at 6.5%; Q2 (July – September 2025) at 6.7%; Q3 (October – December 2025) at 6.6% and Q4 (January – March 2026) at 6.3%.

ii.The medium-term target for consumer price index (CPI) inflation of 4% within a band of +/- 2 %.
iii.Inorder to improve access to formal credit for rural and semi-urban borrowers, the Loan-to-Value (LTV) cap for small-ticket gold loans i.e. loan under Rs.2.5 lakh has been raised to 85% from 75%.
iv.Gross foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows remained strong, rising by around 14 % to USD 81.0 billion in 2024-25 from USD 71.3 billion a year ago.
v.As on May 30, 2025, India’s foreign exchange reserves stood at USD 691.5 billion.
vi.The RBI has reduced the qualifying asset threshold for non-banking financial companies – microfinance institutions (NBFC-MFIs) to 60% from 75%, in a boost to the industry.
vii.RBI, the credit growth decelerated across all bank groups in FY 2024-25. Private banks had the steepest decline, of 9.5%, in March after a sustained credit growth of above 15% for the preceding three years.
>>Read Full News

NSE Sustainability Launches ESG Ratings for Listed CompaniesOn 6 June 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra) based National Stock Exchange (NSE) Sustainability, a wholly owned subsidiary of NSE Indices Limited launched the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) ratings for listed companies, with an aim to enhance the innovation in sustainable finance.

• NSE Sustainability has received Registration certificate from the Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Security Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to operate as a Category I ESG Rating Provider (ERP).

Key Points:
i.The firm aims to provide stakeholders, including investors, businesses, regulators and the public with accurate, comprehensive and unbiased evaluations of corporate sustainability practices.
ii.The ESG ratings are derived from a thorough evaluation of company practices, policies, and disclosures across relevant sectors and industries.
iii.NSE Sustainability employs a transparent, data-driven, and materiality-based ESG ratings methodology aligned with national and international standards and best practices.
L&T Partners with HSBC for India’s first listed ESG Bond Deal
On June 6, 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Larsen and Toubro (L&T)has announced a Rs. 500 crore ESG bond issuance deal, becoming the first Indian corporate under the SEBI and introduced ESG and sustainability-linked bond framework.

• London, United Kingdom (UK) Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) will act as the sole lead arranger in the transaction.

Key points:
i.The issuance in compliant with SEBI’s regulatory framework, which is designed to promote transparency, accountability, and alignment with international ESG standards.
ii.The framework outlines key requirements for issuers, including the disclosure of sustainability objectives, mandatory external assessments such as Second-Party Opinions (SPOs), and post issuance reporting.

• It also mandates clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and targets to measure ESG outcomes, crucial steps in supporting India’s Net-Zero and climate-resilient growth agenda.

iii.As part of the ESG Bond deal, L&T has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and the intensity of freshwater withdrawal. These align with its long-term goals of achieving water neutrality by 2035 and carbon neutrality by 2040.
About National Stock Exchange (NSE) Indices Limited:
Managing Director (MD) – Aniruddha Chatterjee
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Founded – 1998
About Hongkong and Shanghai Corporation (HSBC):
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Georges Elhedery
Headquarters – London, United Kingdom (UK)
Founded – 1865

Flipkart Secured NBFC License from RBI; becomes 1st Indian e-commerce Company to Offer Direct LendingIn June 2025, Walmart-backed Flipkart Private Limited, India’s largest e-commerce company,  announced that it has secured a Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC) license from Mumbai based Reserve Bank of India (RBI). With this, Flipkart is now authorised to offer loans/credit directly to customers, but not allowed to take deposits.

• RBI granted a Certification of Registration (CoR), a document that officially recognizes a company as an NBFC, to Flipkart Finance Private Limited (FFPL) in March 2025, marking the 1st time a major Indian e-commerce player has received a NBFC license.

Key Points:
i.Flipkart plans to offer loans directly to its customers on its popular e-commerce platform and through its fintech application (app) ‘super.money’. It also plans to provide financing to sellers on the platform.
ii.At present, Flipkart offers consumer loans in partnership with financial institutions (FIs) like: Axis Bank Limited, and IDFC First Bank Limited.
iii.In 2024, Flipkart was last valued at USD 37 billion in 2024, when it raised USD 1 billion from its parent company Walmart.
About Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC):
i.A NBFC is a company registered under the Companies Act, 1956 or Companies Act, 2013. It is primarily engaged in the business of loans and advances, acquisition of shares/stocks/bonds/debentures/securities issued by Government of India (GoI) or local authority.
ii.Though NBFC offers credit/loans but they are different from banks due to certain conditions like: NBFCs cannot accept demand deposits;

• NBFCs do not form part of the payment and settlement system and they are not authorised to issue cheques on itself;
• Also, deposit insurance facility of Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) is not available to depositors of deposit-taking NBFCs.

iii.NBFC should have a minimum net owned fund of  Rs10 crore. (The minimum net owned fund requirements for specialized NBFCs are

• NBFC-Infrastructure Finance Company (NBFC-IFC) – Rs.300 crore; Infrastructure Debt Fund – NBFC (IDF-NBFC) – Rs.300 crore;
• Mortgage Guarantee Company (MGC) – Rs.100 crore;
• Housing Finance Company (HFC) – Rs.20 crore,
• Standalone Primary Dealers (SPDs) which undertake only the core activities – Rs.150 crore and SPDs which also undertake non-core activities – Rs.250 crore;
• NBFC- Account Aggregator (AA) – Rs.2 crore; and NBFC-Peer-to-Peer (P2P) – Rs.2 crore).

About Flipkart Private Limited:
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)- Kalyan Krishnamurthy
Headquarters- Bengaluru, Karnataka
Established- 2007

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

Air India & Icelandair Signed Codeshare Agreement for Enhance India-Europe Connectivity
In June 2025, New Delhi (Delhi)-based Air India Limited, a Tata Group-owned airline, signed a codeshare agreement with Reykjavík (Iceland) -based Icelandair to enhance air connectivity between India and Europe via Iceland.

• The announcement was made by Air India’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director(MD), Campbell Wilson, during the 81st Annual General Meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) held in New Delhi.

i.This newly signed codeshare agreement will enable passengers to travel more easily across 15 routes in India and Europe.
ii.This strategic partnership bolsters travel and trade ties between India and Iceland, offering greater flexibility and choice to passengers, unified baggage allowances, and enhanced connectivity through major European hub airports.
iii.Under this agreement, customers of Air  India can now access to Icelandair-operated flights between Reykjavik, capital city of Iceland and each London Heathrow (the United Kingdom, UK), London Gatwick, Frankfurt (Germany), Paris (Germany), Amsterdam (the Netherlands), Copenhagen (Denmark), Milan (Italy), and Zurich (Switzerland).

• Also, all these flights will now carry Air India’s ‘AI’ flight code.

iv.In return, Icelandair will codeshare Air India-operated flights from Delhi and Mumbai (Maharashtra) to 5 European cities i.e. from Delhi to Amsterdam; Paris; Copenhagen; Frankfurt; and London Heathrow; and from Mumbai to Frankfurt and London Heathrow. These flights will now display Icelandair’s FI flight code.

IIT Kharagpur & Singapore’s IME Signed MoU for Semiconductor Research
In June 2025, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, West Bengal(WB), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Institute of Microelectronics (IME), Singapore, to enhance global collaboration in semiconductor technology.

• IME is a core research institute under Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).
• The MoU was signed during SEMICON Southeast Asia (SEA) 2025, a premier event for the semiconductor industry, held from 20th to 22nd May 2025 in Singapore.

Key Highlights:
The MoU establishes a framework for:
i.Joint Research in advanced semiconductor technologies:

• Post-Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (Post-CMOS) and transistor technologies
• Heterogeneous integration and chip packaging
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven hardware accelerators
• Quantum devices, photonic systems, thermal management, and reliability diagnostics.

ii.Human Capital Development through:

• Bilateral exchange programs for researchers, engineers, and students
• Specialised training workshops
• Joint symposiums addressing global semiconductor challenges.

iii.Strategic Significance

• Supports India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) goals to position India as a global semiconductor hub.
• Combines IIT Kharagpur’s expertise in microelectronics with IME’s industrial R&D (Research and Development) capabilities.

iv.The partnership also includes: 

• Bilateral exchange programmes for researchers, engineers, and students
• Specialized training workshops on the latest semiconductor technologies

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

AP Govt & ISRO Signed MoU to Integrate Space Technology into RTGS
In June 2025, the Andhra Pradesh (AP) government, through its Real Time Governance Society (RTGS), has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR), a key facility of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), headquartered in Bengaluru (Karnataka).  The MoU was signed  in the presence of N. Chandrababu Naidu,  Chief Minister(CM)of AP; A. Rajarajan, Director of SHAR and Prakhar Jain, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of RTGS in Vijayawada, AP.

• The MoU aims to strengthen the AWARE (Andhra Pradesh Weather Forecasting and Early Warning Research Centre) platform under RTGS by integrating satellite imagery and scientific inputs.

Key Objectives of the MoU:

• To deliver real-time citizen-centric governance using space-based tools.
• Satellite inputs will be utilised across 42 key applications covering sectors such as: Agriculture, Weather forecasting, Disaster management, Urban planning and Public safety.

About the AWARE Platform:
i.AWARE is a technology-driven platform that consolidates data from various sources including: Satellites, Drones, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, Environmental sensors, Mobile phone feeds and Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) networks.
ii.The platform disseminates real-time alerts and advisories to both citizens and government authorities via: Short Message Service (SMS), WhatsApp, Mainstream media and Social media platforms.
iii.The integration of ISRO’s satellite data is expected to improve decision-making, disaster preparedness, and public service delivery in Andhra Pradesh.

SPORTS

Norway Chess 2025: Magnus Carlsen and Anna Muzychuk Clinch Titles in 13th Edition, Gukesh Dommaraju Finishes thirdThe 13th edition of Norway Chess 2025, an annual international chess tournament, was held in Stavanger, Norway from 26th May to 6th June 2025. The event included both the Open section and the 2nd Norway Chess Women’s tournament, featuring leading global chess players.
Norway Chess Open Title:
i.Five-time World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen (Norway) won his 7th Norway Chess title in the Open section, finishing with 16 points.
ii.Fabiano Caruana (United States of America) finished second with 15.5 points, while Dommaraju Gukesh (India) secured third place with 14.5 points, replicating his third-place finish from the previous edition.
Women’s Title:
i.Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine), a two-time World Blitz Chess Champion, emerged as the champion of the 2nd Norway Chess Women’s Tournament, finishing with 16.5 points.
ii.In the final round, she drew the classical game against Indian Grandmaster R Vaishali, earning 1 point. Though she lost the Armageddon tie-break, she retained her lead.
iii.Lei Tingjie (China) secured second place with 16 points. Koneru Humpy (India), a two-time World Rapid Chess Champion, finished third with 15 points.
Others Indian Participants: 
i.Arjun Erigaisi (India) finished 5th with 13 points in Open Category and Vaishali Rameshbabu (India) finished 5th in Women’s Section.
Results:

About Magnus Carlsen:
i.Carlsen clinched his first World Chess Championship title in 2013 by defeating Viswanathan Anand. He successfully defended this title in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2021, totaling five classical world championships.
ii.Highest Elo Rating: Carlsen achieved a peak FIDE rating of 2882, the highest ever recorded.
About Anna Muzychuk:
She is a renowned chess player from Ukraine, and is one of the top female Grandmasters (GM) in the world. She is known for her exceptional skills in rapid and blitz formats and has represented Ukraine in several top international chess tournaments.
Achievements:
i.World Blitz Chess Champion – 2014 and 2016
ii.World Rapid Chess Champion – 2016
iii.Silver Medalist at the Women’s World Chess Championship 2017

Indian Cricketer Piyush Chawla Announces Retirement from All Forms of CricketOn June 6, 2025, Indian leg spinner Piyush Pramod Chawla, has announced his retirement from all formats of professional cricket.

• He was part of the World Cup Winning Squad twice, including the 2007 International Cricket Council (ICC) Twenty 20 (T20) Men’s World Cup and 2011 One Day International (ODI) Men’s World Cup.
• He has secured over 1000 wickets across the formats in professional cricket.

About Piyush Chawla:
i.Piyush Chawla debuted in Test Cricket when he was 17 years and 75 days in 2006 against England, T20 International (T20I) against South Africa (SA) in 2010.
ii.He took 3 wickets on his ODI debut against Bangladesh in 2007.
iii.He remains as India’s second youngest male debutant in the format after Sachin Tendulkar, who debuted at when he was 16 years and 205 days.
iv.He played 3 tests, 25 ODIs and 7 T20Is, taking 43 wickets across all formats.
Franchise Cricket:
i.He played for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) (Present Punjab Kings), and Mumbai Indians (MI) between 2008 and 2024 in the Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament.
ii.As of June 2025, His 192 wickets jointly the Third-best in the history of the IPL with Sunil Narine (West Indies), Topped by Yuzvendra Chahal(221) and  Bhuvneshwar Kumar (198).
iii.In 2022 and 2024, he won the IPL title with KKR and in 2021, he was part of the IPL title winning CSK squad.
About International Cricket Council (ICC):
Chairman – Jay Shah (India)
Headquarters – Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Founded – 15 June 1909
About Indian Premier League (IPL):
Chairman – Arun Singh Dhumal
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Founded – 2007

OBITUARY

Former Zambian President Edgar Lungu Passed AwayIn June 2025, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, Former President of Zambia, has passed away at the age of 68 in Pretoria, South Africa (SA). He was born on 11 November 1956 in Ndola, Zambia.

• He was the sixth president of Zambia, a South African nation, from 2015 to 2021.

About Edgar Chagwa Lungu:
i.Edgar Chagwa Lungu began his political career in the early 2000s, joining the Patriotic Front (PF) Party.
ii.He held several key positions, including Minister of Justice and Minister of Defence.
iii.In 2014, following the death of Michael Sata, he became the PF’s presidential candidate and won the January 2015 by-election.
iv.He secured a full term in the 2016 general election, defeating Hakainde Hichilema.
v.In 2021, following his defeat in the election, he retired from politics. He focused on charitable work through the Edgar Lungu Foundation.
vi.In 2023, he announced a political comeback. He was named chairperson and presidential candidate of the Tonse Alliance, a coalition aiming to challenge the ruling party in the 2026 elections.

• In December 2024, the constitutional court of Zambia barred him from running, ruling that his initial term from 2015 to 2016 counted as a full term, making him ineligible after serving two terms.

vii.The life and political journey of Edgar Lungu are chronicled in the biography ‘Against All Odds: Zambia’s President Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s Rough Journey to State House’ by Anthony Mukwita.
About Zambia:
President – Hakainde Hichilema
Capital – Lusaka
Currency – Zambian Kwacha, ZMW

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Food Safety Day 2025 – June 7The United Nations (UN’s) World Food Safety Day (WFSD) is annually observed across the globe on June 7 to promote global efforts to ensure safe food, raise public awareness about food safety, and reduce foodborne diseases worldwide.

• June 7, 2025, marks the 7th observance of World Food Safety Day.
• WFSD is jointly facilitated by Rome (Italy) based United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO) and Geneva (Switzerland) based World Health Organization (WHO).
• The theme for WFSD 2025 is “Food safety: science in action”.

Background:
i.In July 2017, the 40th Session of the FAO Conference adopted a resolution supporting the establishment of WFSD. In December 2017, the WHO expressed its support for this initiative.
ii.On 20 December 2018, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted resolution A/RES/73/250, proclaiming 7 June as World Food Safety Day.
iii.The inaugural WFSD was observed on 7 June 2019.
>>Read Full News

STATE NEWS

TN Govt Notifies Greater Flamingo Sanctuary at DhanushkodiIn June 2025, on the occasion of World Environment Day, the Tamil Nadu(TN) government officially notified the creation of the Greater Flamingo Sanctuary, through Government Order (G.O.) No. 127 under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 covering 524.78 hectares at Dhanushkodi in Ramanathapuram district(TN).

• The sanctuary was inaugurated by Muthuvel Karunanidhi(M.K) Stalin Chief Minister(CM) of TN through a video conference during an event hosted by the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Forests (DoE&CC) in Chennai.

Key Points:
i.The move aims to preserve a critical stopover point along the Central Asian Flyway for thousands of migratory wetland birds.
ii.The designated area, part of the ecologically sensitive Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, is home to a variety of ecosystems including Mangroves, sand dunes, mudflats, and marshes.

• These unique features support a rich biodiversity, from migratory birds and marine life to nesting sea turtles.

iii.Mangrove Species such as Avicennia and Rhizophora dominate the Dhanushkodi lagoon, providing essential breeding grounds and natural defences against coastal erosion.
iv.The sanctuary status is expected to encourage ecotourism, generate local employment, and raise public awareness about wetland conservation.
Note: As per the 2023-24 wetland bird survey, the Dhanushkodi region recorded over 10,700 wetland birds, representing 128 species including herons, egrets, sandpipers, and both Greater and Lesser Flamingos.
About Tamil Nadu (TN):
Chief Minister (CM) – M.K. Stalin
Governor – R.N. Ravi
Capital – Chennai
National Park (NP) – Mudumalai NP, Mukurthi NP

Assam & Meghalaya to Jointly Develop 55 MW Hydropower-Irrigation Project
In June 2025, the governments of Assam and Meghalaya announced a joint initiative to establish a 55-megawatt (MW) hydropower and irrigation project on the Kulsi River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra in Meghalaya, aimed at meeting water and energy needs and mitigating urban flooding in Guwahati, Assam.

• The decisions were made during a meeting between Assam Chief Minister (CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma and Meghalaya CM Conrad K. Sangma in Guwahati (Assam).

i.The project will generate electricity for both states, with Assam receiving additional irrigation benefits.

• The project involves consultations with local communities to address displacement concerns and protect the Gangetic river dolphin, an endangered species nesting in the river.

ii.To address Guwahati’s urban flooding, both states will engage with Shillong (Meghalaya) based North Eastern Space Application Centre (NESAC) to conduct satellite mapping of flood-prone areas within three months.

• The data will be analyzed by the Roorkee (Uttarakhand) based Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee to develop solutions that minimize flooding in Assam while protecting Meghalaya’s economic activities.

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