Current Affairs - June 1, 2025 Current Affairs

The plastic nurdle spill along the Kerala coast was caused by the sinking of the MSC ELSA3, a container vessel registered under Liberia. This incident marks the first major case of nurdle landings in India due to a shipwreck. These nurdles, made of LDPE and HDPE, pose a serious threat to marine ecosystems by contaminating habitats, entering food chains, and causing long-term ecological harm. The event has highlighted the urgent need for improved coastal zone management, stricter marine pollution regulations, and better preparedness for plastic cargo spills in Indian waters, alongside efforts to boost recycling and reduce plastic use.

Article 93 of the Indian Constitution mandates the election of the Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, emphasizing that it must happen “as soon as” the House meets. This provision reflects the urgency and importance of the position in ensuring the continuity of parliamentary functioning. The Deputy Speaker is not merely a stand-in but plays a critical role in presiding over debates, maintaining order, and ensuring democratic processes, especially when the Speaker is unavailable. The prolonged vacancy in this post, as seen in recent years, has raised serious constitutional and democratic concerns, highlighting a deviation from established traditions and weakening of institutional checks.

TR1 cells, or Type-1 Regulatory T-cells, have been found to play a crucial role in regulating the immune system, particularly in the context of malaria. These cells help control and balance immune responses, reducing inflammation and preventing excessive immune reactions. In malaria, TR1 cells promote immune tolerance, allowing coexistence with the parasite and developing clinical immunity that prevents severe illness. This discovery can help make better malaria vaccines and boost long-term protection. TR1 cells act as peacekeepers, moderating the immune response to protect the body.

INTERPOL launched the Silver Notice system in 2025 as a new tool to trace and recover criminal assets and strengthen international cooperation against transnational organized crime. The system is in a pilot phase involving 51 countries, allowing each to request up to nine Silver Notices. India utilizes this system through its Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which coordinates requests for international assistance. INTERPOL’s colour-coded notices, including Silver Notices, facilitate global police collaboration to tackle serious crimes such as cybercrime, trafficking, and economic offences, reflecting enhanced mechanisms for global law enforcement cooperation.

SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) has implemented a major reform in the risk monitoring framework for the Futures & Options (F&O) segment by adopting a delta-based method for calculating Open Interest (OI). Unlike the earlier notional-value-based method, the delta-based approach better captures the actual risk exposure by considering the price sensitivity of options to the underlying asset. This shift enhances transparency, curbs manipulation, and improves the alignment of margin requirements with real market risks. It is a step toward aligning India’s derivatives regulation with global best practices and aims to modernize and strengthen the integrity of the capital markets.

Sikkim has urged the Union Government to limit mountaineering activities on Mt. Khangchendzonga because the peak holds deep religious importance for the indigenous communities, especially the Lepcha people. Mt. Khangchendzonga, India’s highest peak and the world’s third-highest, is considered sacred as the abode of the guardian deity Dzoe-Nga, revered by local faiths. While climbing is prohibited on the Sikkim side to respect these beliefs, it remains allowed from the Nepal side. This move highlights the intersection of cultural preservation and environmental management in the region.

The Court of International Trade (CIT) ruled that Donald Trump’s administration exceeded its statutory authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), 1977, in imposing certain import tariffs. These tariffs, part of Trump's aggressive trade strategy, were especially targeted at China and justified as emergency economic actions. However, the CIT concluded that IEEPA does not give the President unlimited tariff-imposing powers and that such actions lacked legal validity. The ruling has significant implications, including the invalidation of many Trump-era tariffs, reassertion of judicial oversight over executive actions, and a likely shift in U.S. trade policy toward more multilateral and legislatively grounded approaches.

China launched the Tianwen-2 spacecraft as part of its deep space exploration program, targeting the near-Earth asteroid 2016HO3 (Kamoʻoalewa) and main-belt comet 311P. The mission aims to return samples by 2027 and deepen scientific understanding of the solar system's formation by studying primitive celestial bodies. Technologically, Tianwen-2 demonstrates advanced capabilities in precision navigation, multi-target mission execution, and sample return, placing China alongside space powers like Japan and the United States. This mission reflects China’s growing ambitions in planetary science, asteroid mining, and planetary defense while contributing to global efforts in space research and innovation.

The World Health Organization adopted its first global Pandemic Agreement under Article 19 of the WHO Constitution during the 78th World Health Assembly. This legal instrument, only the second after the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (2003), aims to enhance global health security through equitable access to vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics during pandemics. The agreement promotes international cooperation, ensures technology transfer, mandates affordable access, and establishes financial and logistical frameworks for effective pandemic response. By using Article 19, which allows the WHO to adopt conventions or agreements for health-related matters, this treaty sets a vital precedent for global collaboration in public health emergencies.

The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) growth in April 2025 registered a slowdown to 2.7%, marking the lowest point in the past eight months. This figure is significant as it highlights a waning momentum in industrial activity, especially when compared to the last such low reading of 0.0% in August 2024. The slowdown is reflective of a broad-based weakening across sectors, including primary goods, infrastructure, mining, and electricity, suggesting challenges in both supply chains and demand conditions. Despite a strong showing in capital goods, the overall picture remains mixed and warrants close policy attention.