Current Affairs - June 29, 2025 Current Affairs

Project Elephant was launched in 1992 by the Government of India to protect elephants, their habitat, and migration corridors. It focuses on measures such as mortality mitigation, particularly along railway tracks, genetic profiling of captive elephants, and conflict management in areas prone to human-elephant encounters. The project also plays a crucial role in preserving India's National Heritage Animal and ensuring the conservation of Indian elephants, which make up about 60% of the global Asian elephant population. Regular reviews, like the recent Phase-I estimation in the Northeastern states, help track the project's impact and guide future actions.

In 2022, Sikkim recorded the highest proportion of certified deaths from digestive diseases, accounting for nearly 20% of all deaths in the state. This significant figure places it at the top among Indian states, highlighting the alarming regional disparities in liver and digestive health outcomes. The Northeastern region of India, including states like Nagaland, Assam, and Manipur, shows a distinct trend of elevated digestive disease mortality, with five states crossing the 10% threshold. Factors such as high rates of alcohol and meat consumption in the region are believed to be contributing to these trends, emphasizing the need for targeted public health interventions.

The International Day of the Tropics is observed annually on June 29. This date commemorates the launch of the first ‘State of the Tropics Report’ on June 29, 2014, which provided comprehensive insights into the tropical regions’ socio-economic and environmental conditions. In recognition of the report's significance, the United Nations General Assembly officially declared June 29 as the International Day of the Tropics through Resolution A/RES/70/267 in 2016. The day emphasizes the global importance of the Tropics in terms of biodiversity, cultural diversity, and development potential, while also highlighting the urgent challenges faced by these regions such as climate change and socio-economic disparity.

Birch Glacier, located in the southern Swiss Alps near the Furka Pass and the Italian border, lies within Switzerland and serves as the source of the Rhône River. It is one of the most studied and accessible glaciers in the region. In recent decades, it has experienced significant retreat due to climate change, with its surface marked by crevasses and ice caves. Switzerland, which contains more glaciers than any other country in Europe, is facing accelerated melting, leading to concerns over stability and natural disasters like the avalanche that affected Blatten village in May 2025.

Parag Jain, a senior IPS officer from the 1989 Punjab cadre, has been appointed as the new Chief of RAW, India’s external intelligence agency. His appointment follows the retirement of Ravi Sinha on June 30, 2025. Jain earned high-level recognition for his instrumental role in Operation Sindoor, a strategic counterterrorism operation launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. With over two decades of experience within RAW and a solid background in counterterrorism, cross-border intelligence, and international espionage networks, his leadership is seen as a move to further strengthen India’s external security and intelligence operations amid evolving regional threats.

The Union Cabinet has approved the setting up of the CIP–South Asia Regional Centre (CSARC) in Singna, Agra, as a regional extension of the Peru-based International Potato Center (CIP). With a total project cost of ₹171 crore, of which ₹115 crore will be contributed by India, the CSARC is expected to significantly strengthen India's potato and sweet potato research capabilities. The centre will focus on developing climate-resilient, high-yielding, and disease-free crop varieties while enhancing post-harvest value addition and seed production. This strategic location in Agra also supports India’s goal of reducing seed imports and boosting food and nutritional security in the region.

Governments across the Asia-Pacific region have signed a historic declaration to achieve universal birth and death registration by 2030, marking a key milestone in the CRVS (Civil Registration and Vital Statistics) Decade initiative led by UN-ESCAP. This extended goal follows a decade of significant progress, including a 60% drop in the number of unregistered children under 5 and a notable rise in birth and death registration coverage across countries. The 2030 target aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 16.9, which emphasizes legal identity for all. Achieving this objective will require addressing bureaucratic gaps, boosting digital transformation, and ensuring inclusive and equitable service delivery.

National Statistics Day is observed every year on June 29 in India to commemorate the birth anniversary of Prof. Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, widely recognized as the father of Indian statistics. He made significant contributions to statistical science, including the Mahalanobis Distance and his role in shaping India’s economic policies. The day, declared officially by the Government of India in 2007, aims to raise public awareness about the vital importance of data and statistical analysis in national development, policy-making, and governance. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation organizes thematic events to promote statistical literacy and data-driven decision-making.

The Male Mahadeshwara Hills (MM Hills) Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Karnataka's Chamarajanagar district, bordering Tamil Nadu. Declared a sanctuary in 2013, it forms a crucial tiger corridor connecting Karnataka's BRT Tiger Reserve and Tamil Nadu's Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve. Karnataka, which has India's second-highest tiger population (563), may get its third tiger reserve if MM Hills is upgraded. The sanctuary's diverse ecosystems support tigers, elephants and indigenous Soliga communities, though recent tiger deaths highlight growing human-wildlife conflicts in this ecologically sensitive zone bordering two states.

Chilika Lake, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon, has been chosen for a major sustainability milestone with its mud crab fishery nominated for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. This marks the first time an inland fishery in India is being considered for such a globally recognized eco-label. The certification ensures sustainable fishing practices that preserve biodiversity, maintain healthy fish stocks, and support community livelihoods. A collaborative effort between ICAR-CIFRI and the Chilika Development Authority, this initiative not only boosts the export value of mud crab but also strengthens India’s commitment to responsible fishing under global sustainability standards.