Current Affairs - June 27, 2025 Current Affairs

Zou Jiayi, a distinguished Chinese official and former Vice Finance Minister, has been appointed as the new President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). She will assume office on January 16, 2026, following the completion of Jin Liqun’s ten-year tenure as the founding President. Her appointment was announced at the 10th Annual Meeting of the AIIB Board of Governors. Zou brings extensive experience from global financial institutions like the World Bank, ADB, and NDB, making her well-positioned to lead AIIB’s mission of promoting sustainable infrastructure. Based in Beijing, AIIB currently includes 110 approved member countries, emphasizing global cooperation.

The Green Data Centre is being set up in Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, as a significant step towards technological infrastructure development in Uttar Pradesh. The foundation stone and Bhumi Pujan ceremony were conducted by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath along with Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh. This initiative is a joint venture between Central Electronics Limited (CEL) and ESDS, with an investment of ₹1,000 crore and a projected power capacity of 30 MW. Ghaziabad was chosen for its strategic location and development potential, marking it as a growing hub for technological advancements in the state.

The National e-Governance Division (NeGD), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), launched a two-day training programme on Artificial Intelligence in Governance at the Department of Management Studies, IIT Delhi. This initiative, part of the Capacity Building Scheme Phase III of the Digital India Programme, was held from June 26–27, 2025, and aimed at equipping 59 government officials with critical knowledge on AI applications in public service. The program focused on responsible AI use, policy frameworks, and improving public sector decision-making and governance through AI-driven digital transformation strategies.

Starting July 1, 2025, the Madhya Pradesh government has made it mandatory for all teachers and staff in government schools to record their attendance digitally using the 'Humare Shikshak' platform. This platform is integrated with the Education 3.0 portal and is designed to improve governance, ensure transparency, and enable real-time monitoring of attendance. Teachers must mark attendance within a strict time window, and failure to do so results in automatic leave deductions. The initiative supports data-driven decision-making in transfers and promotions, reduces manual errors, and strengthens digital record-keeping in the education sector of Madhya Pradesh.

The International Day of Deafblindness is observed every year on June 27 to honour the birth anniversary of Helen Keller, a trailblazing figure in the deafblind community. Keller, born in 1880, was the first deafblind person to earn a college degree and later became a prominent advocate for disability rights. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by deafblind individuals, this day aims to promote awareness, inclusivity, and policy-level support. In 2024, the United Nations officially adopted June 27 as the designated date through Resolution A/RES/79/294, underscoring the importance of global recognition and the need for specialized support systems for the deafblind population.

Gujarat has been selected to host the 2029 World Police & Fire Games (WPFG), marking a significant achievement for India in the realm of international sports. The games will be held in three major cities of Gujarat—Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and Ekta Nagar. This honour was secured after Indian authorities presented a successful bid in Birmingham, USA. Gujarat was chosen due to its modern sports infrastructure, strong logistics and connectivity, and experience in hosting major global events. The games will feature participation from over 70 countries and more than 10,000 athletes, representing police, firefighters, customs, and correctional officers worldwide.

The Kataragama Esala Festival is a significant multi-faith celebration held annually in Sri Lanka. It begins with a ceremonial flag hoisting and includes notable events like the fire-walking ceremony and Maha Perahera. The festival centres around the worship of Lord Skanda (Murugan), revered by Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims alike. A hallmark of the celebration is the Pada Yatra, a pilgrimage where devotees walk over 500 kilometres as a mark of devotion. The festival promotes interfaith unity and cultural harmony and is centred at the Maha Devala Temple in Kataragama, making it one of Sri Lanka’s most spiritually inclusive traditions.

Karnataka emerged as the top-performing state in the 78th Senior National Aquatic Championships by securing the highest number of medals overall. The state’s athletes collectively won 16 gold, 11 silver, and 14 bronze medals, amounting to a total of 41. This impressive tally placed Karnataka significantly ahead of other states like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, who secured 17 and 16 medals respectively. The performance of swimmers such as Shoan Ganguly, who set a new meet record in the 400m medley, contributed greatly to Karnataka's dominant position in the competition.

On June 26, 2025, Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla became the 634th astronaut to enter space. He joined the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission, a 14-day international research initiative aboard the International Space Station (ISS), launched by Axiom Space in partnership with SpaceX. Representing India, Shukla's journey underscores the country’s rising presence in global space exploration efforts. The mission includes astronauts from the U.S., Poland, and Hungary, aiming to advance scientific research and international cooperation. His milestone as the 634th astronaut adds to India's growing list of space pioneers and reinforces its future ambitions, such as the upcoming Gaganyaan mission.

Bonalu is a vibrant Hindu folk festival celebrated predominantly in the Indian state of Telangana, especially in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The 2025 celebrations began at the historic Golconda Fort with traditional rituals at the Sri Jagadamba Mahankali Temple. Known for its deep cultural and spiritual significance, Bonalu involves offerings to Goddess Mahankali, colourful processions, and performances by fire-breathers and Potharajus. The Telangana government actively supports the festival, allocating ₹20 crore for temple grants and participating in rituals, underscoring its importance as a state-recognized cultural heritage event.

Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) Day is observed globally on June 27 each year to recognize and celebrate the significant role MSMEs play in driving economic development, employment, and innovation. Officially declared by the United Nations in 2017, this day serves to highlight the importance of supporting small businesses, especially in developing countries where they constitute a major share of economic activity. MSMEs represent 90% of businesses, account for up to 70% of employment, and contribute significantly to global GDP. In India, MSMEs play a vital role by contributing 31% to GDP and employing over 28 crore individuals, making them indispensable to inclusive and sustainable growth.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting took place in Qingdao, China. During this meeting, India declined to sign the joint declaration due to dissatisfaction with the document's language, particularly its failure to address cross-border terrorism, including the recent Pahalgam terror attack. This disagreement led to the meeting concluding without a unified communique. The event underscored tensions in multilateral diplomacy and India's firm stance on issues of national security and terrorism. China's role as the host nation highlights its central position in regional groupings like the SCO.