Current Affairs - June 22, 2025 Current Affairs

France hosted the 3rd United Nations Oceans Conference (UNOC), which concentrated on advancing marine biodiversity protection beyond national jurisdictions through the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty. Also called the High Seas Treaty, this agreement is vital for safeguarding biodiversity in international waters, which constitute around two-thirds of the ocean surface. France is among the 56 nations that have ratified the treaty, supporting key measures like the creation of marine protected areas, mandatory environmental impact assessments, and equitable access to marine genetic resources. Hosting the conference reflects France’s commitment to global marine conservation and international environmental leadership.

India ranks 13th globally in online investment-related search interest, as per the BrokerChooser report. The ranking is based on monthly Google search volumes per capita and reflects a rising trend of digital investment curiosity in India, especially among younger demographics. With 2,629 monthly searches per million people, India shows a growing appetite for financial literacy and wealth creation through digital platforms. Stock-related queries top the list, followed by forex and cryptocurrency. Despite traditional preferences for gold and real estate, modern investment channels—bolstered by fintech apps and financial influencers—are shaping the country’s evolving investment behaviour and curiosity landscape.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Lenacapavir, a groundbreaking long-acting HIV prevention injection developed by Gilead Sciences. Branded as Yeztugo, this medication is administered only twice a year and demonstrated an impressive 99.9% effectiveness in Phase 3 clinical trials. The approval marks a significant advancement in the field of HIV prevention, offering a more convenient and stigma-reducing alternative to daily pills or bimonthly injections. With this development, the U.S. becomes a frontrunner in adopting innovative biomedical tools aimed at improving public health outcomes and expanding access to long-term HIV prophylaxis options.

Punjab National Bank (PNB) took a notable step by disbursing ₹17.02 crore under its Rakshak Plus Scheme to support the families of 26 martyred soldiers and paramilitary personnel. The scheme is designed exclusively for defence and paramilitary personnel, providing comprehensive insurance benefits such as ₹1 crore for accidental death or permanent disability and ₹1.5 crore for air travel-related fatalities. PNB's initiative is not just financial in nature; it symbolizes a larger gesture of national solidarity and gratitude. The prompt and tailored support highlights the bank’s ongoing commitment to those serving in high-risk roles for the country’s safety and sovereignty.

IIT Delhi, in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), successfully demonstrated a cutting-edge entanglement-based free-space quantum secure communication system. This involved Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) over a 1 km distance through the air, achieving a secure key rate of 240 bps. The system was resilient to environmental challenges like atmospheric turbulence and background noise, marking a key milestone in India’s National Quantum Mission. This innovation strengthens India’s ability to establish quantum-secure networks for defence and cybersecurity applications and signifies a leap forward in the practical deployment of quantum communication technologies.

Karnataka has approved a 5% hike in the housing quota for religious minorities, raising it from 10% to 15%. This decision was made during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, aiming to provide equitable housing access and reduce the number of vacant government-constructed homes, particularly in urban areas like Bengaluru. The move is framed as a step toward social justice for economically disadvantaged minority communities. While the decision has triggered a political backlash, particularly from the BJP, the state government maintains that it addresses a real need based on data and guidelines indicating a housing shortage among minorities.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) won a ₹511 crore Transfer of Technology deal from ISRO to manufacture and commercialize Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLVs). This deal represents a pivotal shift in India’s strategy to promote commercial space operations by involving public sector industries in the production and operation of satellite launch vehicles. HAL was chosen as the top bidder after a thorough evaluation process and will receive two years of hands-on training and support from ISRO. Following this phase, HAL is expected to produce SSLVs independently, with future plans to manufacture 6–12 SSLVs annually, contributing significantly to India’s space commercialization goals.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the final “Project Finance Directions 2025” to create a structured regulatory framework for banks and other regulated entities in handling project finance, particularly in risk-heavy sectors such as infrastructure and commercial real estate. By setting revised, lower provisioning norms—1.25% for under-construction CRE and 1% for infrastructure—the RBI has aimed to reduce the capital burden on lenders while encouraging disciplined project completion. The directions also include a principle-based stress resolution framework and rationalised DCCO (Date of Commencement of Commercial Operations) extensions, giving banks flexibility while maintaining prudent risk management.

In the Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0 report released by the Ministry of Education for the academic year 2023-24, Chandigarh emerged as the top performer among all States and Union Territories with a score of 703. This made it the only entity to secure the Prachesta-1 grade, which includes scores ranging from 701 to 760. The PGI 2.0 framework, aligned with NEP 2020, evaluates educational systems across six critical domains. Chandigarh’s consistent top performance for the third consecutive year reflects its sustained excellence in areas like learning outcomes, access, equity, infrastructure, governance, and teacher education.

The 78th World Health Assembly marked a historic shift by formally recognizing skin health as a global public health priority. This move was significant in transforming the perception of skin conditions from cosmetic issues to matters of public health, equity, and dignity. The resolution, led by countries including Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Togo, highlights the need for comprehensive strategies including prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment. With nearly 1.9 billion people affected globally—especially in low- and middle-income countries—this decision has laid the foundation for a Global Action Plan to be developed by WHA-80, focusing on integrated care, research, and accessibility.