Current Affairs - June 30, 2025 Current Affairs

India’s external debt rose by 10% year-on-year to $736.3 billion as of March 2025, according to the Reserve Bank of India. This reflects an increase of $67.5 billion from the previous year's figure of $668.8 billion. The growth was influenced by factors such as global financial conditions, increased international borrowing by corporations, and currency valuation changes, particularly the appreciation of the US dollar. The rise in external debt also led to a slight increase in the debt-to-GDP ratio from 18.5% to 19.1%, highlighting concerns over macroeconomic vulnerability and the growing role of external financing in India’s economic framework.

India’s first dedicated wildlife corridor has been developed on the Delhi-Mumbai Highway by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). This 12-kilometre stretch includes five wildlife overpasses and the country’s longest underpass built exclusively for the safe movement of animals. The corridor passes through the buffer zone of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, ensuring minimal disruption to the habitat and natural migration routes of wildlife. This initiative reflects a significant step towards sustainable infrastructure development by balancing environmental conservation with modern highway expansion, marking a milestone in India's approach to wildlife protection.

Ravi Agrawal, a senior officer from the 1988 batch of the Indian Revenue Service (IRS), has been reappointed as the Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) till June 2026. His tenure extension was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, ensuring leadership continuity in the country’s apex direct tax policymaking body. Agrawal first assumed the role in June 2024 and had previously served as a Member (Administration) since July 2023. His reappointment highlights the government's trust in his ability to navigate ongoing economic challenges and reforms within India’s taxation system, particularly in a time of fiscal and administrative transformation.

India’s post offices, under the Department of Posts, are set to accept UPI-based QR code payments at all counters across the country by August 2025. This digital transformation is part of the IT 2.0 infrastructure upgrade and aims to bring secure, real-time payment options to over 1.5 lakh post offices, many located in rural and semi-urban areas. The initiative builds on successful pilot programs in Karnataka and is designed to improve efficiency, reduce reliance on cash, and expand financial access through services like savings deposits, parcel booking, and postage. The move aligns with the broader goals of the Digital India initiative and financial inclusion.

Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL), a subsidiary of the Adani Group, has become the first Indian company to exceed 15 GW of installed renewable energy capacity, reaching 15,539.9 MW as of June 2025. This milestone reinforces AGEL's leadership in India's clean energy transition and places it among the top 10 independent power producers globally. The company's capacity includes solar, wind, and hybrid installations, and it recently added over 3,300 MW in a single fiscal year—an Indian record. AGEL’s achievement is also environmentally significant, offsetting 28.6 million tonnes of carbon annually and powering nearly 8 million households.

Karnataka Bank faced a major leadership change when both its Managing Director & CEO, Srikrishnan Hari Hara Sarma, and Executive Director, Sekhar Rao, submitted their resignations citing personal reasons. Sarma plans to relocate to Mumbai, while Rao is unable to move to Mangaluru, the bank's headquarters. These resignations, effective from July 2025, come during the bank’s strategic transformation efforts aimed at digitization and operational modernization. In response, a search committee has been formed to identify new leadership, and a Chief Operating Officer will temporarily oversee operations. The development underscores the importance of succession planning in sustaining institutional momentum and investor confidence.

International Asteroid Day is observed every year on June 30 to commemorate the anniversary of the Tunguska impact that occurred over Siberia, Russian Federation, on June 30, 1908. This global observance was officially declared by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2016 through resolution A/RES/71/90. The day serves to raise awareness about asteroids, the potential threat they pose to Earth, and the importance of developing strategies for planetary defence. The commemoration is a key part of global efforts to educate the public and promote international cooperation in monitoring and preventing asteroid-related hazards.

Google DeepMind, a subsidiary of Google, unveiled AlphaGenome, an advanced AI model designed to predict the functional impact of genetic mutations in human DNA. The tool can analyze sequences as long as 1 million base pairs and assess how genetic variants influence gene regulation. Trained on extensive public genomic datasets, AlphaGenome represents a significant advancement in computational genomics, showcasing Google's leadership in AI-driven healthcare innovations.

The National Headquarters of the Turmeric Board was inaugurated in Nizamabad, Telangana, by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on June 30, 2025. This move is a major milestone in the government’s strategy to support turmeric farmers, improve product quality, and scale up exports to reach a $1 billion target by 2030. Nizamabad, a prominent turmeric-producing region, had long demanded such a dedicated institution. The board’s establishment addresses farmers' concerns and fulfils a key political promise made during the 2019 elections. With a backing of ₹200 crore, the board is expected to catalyze research, branding, marketing, and global trade in the turmeric sector.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) imposed restrictions on jute imports through all land ports and most seaports, permitting entry only via Mumbai's Nhava Sheva port. This protective measure aims to safeguard India's domestic jute industry, which supports approximately 400,000 workers across several states. The decision addresses concerns about subsidized imports affecting local producers. Such trade restrictions typically reflect efforts to balance domestic industry protection with international trade commitments, while responding to specific market conditions and alleged unfair trade practices in the global jute market.