Current Affairs - June 24, 2025 Current Affairs

Rishabh Pant made history during the Headingley Test against England in June 2025 by becoming the first Indian wicketkeeper to score centuries in both innings of a Test match. He scored 134 in the first innings and 118 in the second, totalling 252 runs—the highest ever by an Indian wicketkeeper in a Test. His performance placed him alongside Andy Flower as only the second wicketkeeper in Test cricket history to achieve this feat. Pant's landmark innings also contributed to India’s record-setting five individual centuries in the same match, marking a dominant away performance and a major moment in Indian cricket history.

International Widows Day is observed each year on June 23 to raise global awareness about the challenges faced by widows, including discrimination, poverty, and social exclusion. The date holds deep personal significance, as it marks the day in 1954 when Raj Loomba’s mother became a widow in India, inspiring the UK-based Loomba Foundation to launch the initiative in 2005. Officially recognized by the United Nations in 2010, this day has become a key moment for governments, NGOs, and citizens to advocate for widows' rights and push for legal, economic, and social reforms that uphold their dignity and equality in society.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated a two-day National Conference of Estimates Committees in Mumbai. This conference included participation from Estimates Committees of both the Parliament and the legislative bodies of various States and Union Territories. The focus of the event was on enhancing the role of Estimates Committees in ensuring effective budget monitoring and promoting administrative efficiency. Mumbai was chosen as the venue for this significant political gathering, reinforcing its status as a hub for major governmental and parliamentary events.

The Indian Health Ministry has announced the integration of the Rare Donor Registry with e-Rakt Kosh, a digital blood bank management system developed under the National Health Mission (NHM). This platform provides real-time data on blood availability, donor camps, and contact details of blood banks across India. By merging it with the Rare Donor Registry, which currently includes over 4,000 screened donors tested for more than 300 rare blood markers, the initiative aims to ensure quicker and safer access to rare blood types like Bombay, Rh-null, and P-null. This integration is expected to significantly enhance emergency transfusion response and reduce logistical delays for patients with uncommon blood groups.

South Korea appointed Ahn Gyu-back as its first civilian Defence Minister since 1961, marking a significant political and institutional shift. This move fulfills President Lee Jae Myung's campaign promise to demilitarize top government roles and follows the ousting of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached for declaring martial law. The civilian appointment is part of a broader effort to restore democratic accountability and public trust in governance. It also reflects South Korea’s evolving political landscape, emphasizing civilian oversight in defence and signalling a more transparent and democratic approach to military and foreign policy matters.

India is set to conduct its first-ever All-India Household Income Survey in 2026, marking a major milestone in the country’s data-driven policymaking efforts. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), this initiative will gather detailed income data from households nationwide to better understand income distribution, the impact of technological change on wages, and gaps in welfare coverage. The survey will be overseen by a Technical Expert Group led by Surjit Bhalla and will adopt international standards to ensure reliability and comparability. The 2026 launch aims to enhance welfare targeting and inform future economic strategies.

In a decisive step to enhance India's defence preparedness and self-reliance, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has offered 28 indigenously developed weapon systems for emergency procurement. These systems are intended for immediate deployment by the Army, Navy, and Air Force under the government’s emergency procurement framework. This move follows the success of Operation Sindoor and supports military readiness amid heightened tensions with Pakistan. The list includes key indigenous assets like the BrahMos cruise missile, Akash and MRSAM air defence systems. The initiative is aligned with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision to reduce reliance on foreign arms and empower domestic defence manufacturing.

In a major leap toward sustainable development, India achieved its highest-ever rank in the global SDG Index by securing the 99th position in 2025. This is the first time India has entered the top 100 out of 193 countries, with a score of 67. European nations like the Nordic countries continue to rank at the top of the SDG Index 2025, with Finland leading the charge at the top, followed by Sweden and Denmark. A total of 19 nations from the top 20 in the ranking list are from Europe, as per the report. The index, compiled by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and led by economist Jeffrey Sachs, evaluates nations on progress across 17 SDGs such as poverty eradication, health, education, and climate action. India’s improvement is attributed to significant strides in healthcare, digital infrastructure, and education, reflecting its ongoing commitment to the 2030 Agenda.

The GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) is the largest non-nuclear bomb in the arsenal of the United States. Developed by Boeing, the bomb is GPS-guided and specifically designed to destroy deeply buried and reinforced enemy bunkers. With a weight of nearly 30,000 pounds and the capability to penetrate over 200 feet of reinforced concrete, the MOP is a strategic weapon in the U.S. military’s inventory. Its size, power, and engineering make it a unique asset for missions requiring the destruction of fortified underground facilities without the use of nuclear force.

Assam has taken a significant step towards inclusivity by granting OBC (Other Backward Class) status to the transgender community, thereby enabling their access to educational, employment, and welfare benefits reserved for OBCs. Simultaneously, the state announced a 50% reservation for Anganwadi workers in supervisory roles under the Women and Child Development Department. This dual announcement, made by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on June 23, 2025, aims to address both gender minority rights and the recognition of grassroots workers. These initiatives reflect Assam's broader push to institutionalize equity and improve the representation of marginalized communities in governance structures.

The Bank of Baroda released a comprehensive report projecting a sharp rise in state-driven capital expenditure in India for FY26, with a total outlay of ₹10.2 lakh crore. The report identifies five major states—Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka—as the top contributors, collectively accounting for nearly 50% of this expenditure. The analysis emphasizes the strategic focus on enhancing infrastructure such as roads, health centres, and schools to drive productivity and long-term economic growth. This data-driven insight from the Bank of Baroda helps stakeholders understand state priorities and the broader macroeconomic investment landscape.

The International Day of Women in Diplomacy is observed every year on June 24 to recognize and honour the contributions of women in global diplomacy and foreign policy. Designated by the United Nations General Assembly in its 76th session through Resolution A/RES/76/269, the day underscores the importance of gender equality in international relations. It draws attention to the structural barriers that prevent women from holding leadership roles in diplomacy and advocates for inclusive reforms such as quotas, anti-harassment initiatives, and gender-balanced ministries. The 2025 theme, “Eliminating Structural Barriers to Women’s Leadership in Diplomacy,” reflects the global push toward equitable representation in decision-making spaces.

The Asian Para-Badminton Championship 2025 was hosted in Thailand, where Indian athletes achieved their best-ever performance by securing a total of 27 medals. These included four gold, ten silver, and thirteen bronze medals across various categories. The remarkable performance highlights the growing strength and competitiveness of Indian para-shuttlers on the international stage. Thailand served as the host nation for this prestigious event, bringing together top para-badminton talent from across Asia and providing a significant platform for athletes to showcase their skills.