Current Affairs - June 19, 2025 Current Affairs

Google launched its first-ever Safety Engineering Centre (GSEC) in Asia in the city of Hyderabad on June 18, 2025. This marks the fourth such GSEC globally and the first in the Asia-Pacific region. Inaugurated by Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, the centre serves as a cybersecurity and AI safety hub. It is aimed at combating online fraud, enhancing cyber protection, and advancing responsible AI practices. With real-time scam alerts, fraud detection systems, and tools like SynthID for watermarking, the Hyderabad GSEC underscores India’s rising prominence in global digital defence and tech innovation.

Arun Srinivas has been appointed as the Managing Director and Head for Meta in India starting July 1, 2025. In this significant role, he will be responsible for aligning Meta’s business, innovation, and revenue strategies to effectively serve partners and clients in India. His leadership aims to drive the long-term growth of Meta's business in the region, reinforcing the company's commitment to the Indian market. His appointment signifies Meta’s focus on strengthening its leadership team in one of its key growth markets globally.

India launched Operation Sindhu to evacuate its nationals from Iran following the escalating tensions arising from the Iran-Israel conflict. The operation is aimed at ensuring the safety of Indian citizens, particularly in volatile regions. As part of the initial efforts, the Indian Embassy in Tehran successfully evacuated 110 Indian students from northern Iran and facilitated their safe passage into neighbouring Armenia. This operation demonstrates India’s proactive approach in responding to international crises to safeguard its citizens abroad, reflecting a strong commitment to citizen welfare and crisis diplomacy.

TVS Motor Company launched its iQube electric scooter in Indonesia on June 17, 2025, marking a key step in the company's global EV expansion strategy. Priced at IDR 29.9 million, the iQube aims to support Indonesia’s fast-growing electric mobility sector and aligns with the country’s green transportation goals. The scooters will be assembled locally in East Karawang, contributing to employment, technology transfer, and sustainable development. This launch not only reinforces TVS’s presence in Southeast Asia but also reflects India's rising influence in EV exports, particularly to emerging markets that are rapidly embracing clean mobility solutions.

On June 18, 2025, India and Ukraine held their first-ever Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on agriculture cooperation via virtual mode. This meeting marked a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral ties in the agricultural sector. The dialogue focused on key areas such as digital agriculture, mechanisation, plant breeding, and food processing. Indian officials highlighted the country’s innovations like e-NAM and climate-resilient farming strategies, while Ukraine showed strong interest in collaborative research and technology exchange. This strategic engagement reflects both nations’ commitment to advancing food security, sustainable farming practices, and agricultural technology partnerships at a global level.

Maharashtra issued a revised directive under the State Curriculum Framework 2024 that makes Hindi the general third language to be taught in Marathi and English medium schools for Classes 1 to 5. This move aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and emphasizes multilingual learning and national integration. While schools may offer other Indian languages if at least 20 students per class request it, critics argue that the provision imposes practical hurdles, especially in smaller schools. The directive reignites concerns about language imposition and regional identity, especially after previous protests led to the shelving of a compulsory Hindi policy earlier in 2025.

India ranked 71st in the World Economic Forum’s Energy Transition Index 2025, a drop from its 63rd position in 2024. This decline occurred despite India’s advances in clean energy access, energy efficiency, and regulatory frameworks. The Index evaluates 118 countries on energy security, sustainability, and equity, and India's lower score reflects persistent challenges like fuel dependency and grid reliability, especially in rural areas. However, the nation continues to invest in clean fuels and reduce energy intensity, positioning itself as a major player in the global energy shift. The drop underscores the complex balance between development and sustainability.

The 51st G7 Summit in 2025 was hosted by Canada, specifically in the mountain resort town of Kananaskis, located in Banff, Alberta. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney led the summit as the host. The event brought together the leaders of the G7 nations to address pressing global concerns, including economic realignments, energy transition, artificial intelligence governance, and ongoing geopolitical tensions such as the Israel–Iran conflict. Canada also launched initiatives like the Ministry of AI and Digital Innovation, reflecting its commitment to global digital leadership. Hosting the summit underscored Canada’s central role in shaping international policy discussions.

The International Day for Countering Hate Speech is observed annually on June 18. This date was proclaimed through a resolution that builds upon the United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech, which was also launched on June 18, 2019. The day is aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of hate speech and promoting efforts to counter it through education, dialogue, and advocacy. Campaigns like #NoToHate serve as tools to encourage individuals and communities to actively speak out against hate in various spheres, including workplaces, online platforms, and public discussions.

The Kerala High Court has taken a significant environmental step by imposing a ban on single-use plastic items, specifically targeting hilly tourist destinations. Additionally, the use of plastic bottles is now regulated at large public gatherings, including weddings and official government functions. This move aims to reduce plastic pollution in ecologically sensitive and highly visited areas. However, the court made it clear that the ban does not extend to non-woven polypropylene bags that meet the minimum thickness requirement of 60 grams per square metre, indicating a balanced approach to sustainability and practicality.

Anantha Chandrakasan, an Indian-American academic born in Chennai, has been appointed as the next Provost of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), effective July 1, 2025. He becomes the first Indian-born individual to hold this high-ranking academic leadership role at MIT. Chandrakasan is internationally recognized for his research in energy-efficient electronics and his leadership in innovation and education. He has served as the Dean of the MIT School of Engineering since 2017 and has spearheaded numerous initiatives such as SuperUROP and StartMIT. His appointment reflects MIT’s emphasis on academic excellence, technological advancement, and inclusive leadership.

ICRA has forecasted India’s GDP growth for FY2025–26 at 6.2%, indicating a slight moderation from the 6.5% growth recorded in the previous fiscal year. The dip is attributed primarily to weaker global trade conditions and a slowdown in merchandise exports. Despite these external challenges, strong rural demand, higher capital expenditure by the government, and fiscal support measures are expected to maintain economic momentum. The projection plays a crucial role in shaping fiscal policy, investment strategies, and economic planning for the year, as it reflects the balancing act between global headwinds and domestic resilience.