Current Affairs - June 17, 2025 Current Affairs

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Eurobank of Cyprus to launch Unified Payments Interface (UPI) services in Cyprus. This partnership aims to facilitate seamless cross-border transactions, benefiting both tourists and businesses by offering a faster and more efficient digital payment solution. Additionally, the NSE International Exchange at Gujarat’s Gift City has entered into an MoU with the Cyprus Stock Exchange to enhance financial collaboration and cross-border investment flows. These agreements mark a significant step in strengthening financial ties between India and Cyprus while promoting digital financial infrastructure globally.

The unemployment rate in India rose from 5.1% in April 2025 to 5.6% in May 2025, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). This increase indicates a concerning trend in joblessness, particularly impacting youth and women across both urban and rural areas. The PLFS data is critical as it provides a comprehensive look at labour trends across demographics and regions. The rise also comes alongside a decline in the Labour Force Participation Rate to 54.8%, suggesting fewer people are either working or actively seeking jobs.

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed on June 17, as it was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1994. This day serves to raise awareness about the severe impacts of desertification and drought on the environment, agriculture, and local communities. It emphasizes the importance of restoring degraded lands and mitigating the effects of climate change. The observance also aligns with the UNCCD’s objectives and the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), marking a coordinated effort to address global land degradation challenges.

Armand Duplantis, the Swedish-American pole vault superstar, made history once again by setting a new world record of 6.28 meters at the Stockholm Diamond League on June 15, 2025. This remarkable achievement marked the 12th time he had broken the world record in his event. Notably, it was the first time he set a world record on Swedish soil, making the moment especially emotional for him and the local crowd at the historic 1912 Olympic Stadium. The jump was completed on his very first attempt, further highlighting his extraordinary consistency and dominance in pole vaulting.

Aliawati Longkumer, a 2008-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, has been appointed as India’s ambassador to North Korea, marking the restoration of high-level diplomatic presence in Pyongyang after a four-year hiatus. This follows the reopening of the Indian embassy in North Korea in December 2024, which had been closed since July 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Longkumer, who previously served as Charge d’affaires in Paraguay, will now assume responsibilities in Pyongyang. Her appointment is part of India’s strategic re-engagement with North Korea, balancing diplomatic outreach while remaining aligned with global sanctions and regional security considerations.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a leading Indian IT firm, has partnered with the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) to enhance the bank’s financial operations through automation and artificial intelligence. The partnership aims to modernise the reconciliation process using TCS BaNCSTM for Reconciliations, an advanced solution that automates transaction matching, exception handling, and reporting. This collaboration not only boosts efficiency and transparency in banking operations but also reflects the growing role of Indian technology in driving digital transformation in global financial institutions. The system will help reduce manual effort, improve decision-making, and align with CEB’s development-focused mission across Europe.

International Domestic Workers’ Day is observed every year on June 16 to honour the invaluable contributions of domestic workers and to advocate for their rights. This date marks the adoption of ILO Convention 189 in 2011, which for the first time recognized domestic work as legitimate labor deserving of equal rights and protections. The 2025 observance focused on urging governments to ratify and implement ILO Conventions 189 and 190, which promote decent work and protect workers from violence and harassment. Domestic workers, often women and migrants, continue to face systemic inequalities that this global day seeks to address and eliminate.

The International Day of Family Remittances (IDFR) is observed annually on June 16 to honour the contributions of migrant workers who send money back to support their families. These remittances serve as vital financial lifelines for millions, particularly in developing countries, supporting essentials such as education, healthcare, and housing. In 2025, the theme “Remittances financing development” emphasized their role in achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Observing this day also brings attention to the need for policies and systems that make remittance flows safer, cheaper, and more accessible, ultimately strengthening economic resilience in vulnerable communities.

The Telangana State Education Department has taken a significant step toward improving education by signing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with various NGOs. These collaborations aim to upgrade teaching infrastructure and improve learning outcomes across all government schools in the state. The NGOs involved will provide advanced, technology-driven teaching services at no cost to the students. This initiative reflects a public-private partnership model to ensure access to quality education and bridge gaps in educational resources, particularly in underprivileged and rural areas of Telangana.

The Indian Defence Cyber Agency launched a 12-day cybersecurity training initiative called ‘Cyber Suraksha’ starting on June 16, 2025. This comprehensive, multi-phase exercise is designed to simulate real-world cyber threats and test the defensive response capabilities of over 100 participants from various national defence and security agencies. The training integrates hands-on simulation, strategic leadership conclaves, and gamified attack scenarios to enhance practical readiness and decision-making under pressure. ‘Cyber Suraksha’ is a key step in aligning India’s cyber defence preparedness with the objectives of the Cyber Security Policy 2020 and reinforces a security-first culture within the armed forces.