Current Affairs Quiz – June 2025

Notes:
The United Nations (UN) is observing the first-ever “International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations” to promote global cooperation and peace. This special day is celebrated on June 10 every year following a resolution sponsored by China and adopted by the UN last year. The day aims to encourage civil dialogue, mutual understanding, and peaceful relations between nations.

Notes:
Russia launched a massive air attack on Ukraine on June 11, 2025, using over 300 drones and missiles. Around 250 of these were Shahed drones, which are Iranian-made Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs). Shahed drones are also loitering munitions made by Shahed Aviation Industries for one-way explosive attacks. Russia calls the Shahed-136 drone “Geran-2”.

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The Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom conducted a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) in the North Arabian Sea on June 9 and 10, 2025. India deployed INS Tabar, a stealth frigate, along with a submarine and P-8I maritime patrol aircraft. The United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group included HMS Prince of Wales and frigate HMS Richmond. The naval drill involved helicopter coordination, tactical manoeuvres, anti-submarine warfare, and officer exchanges. This shows deepening defence ties and shared commitment to maritime security.

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Recently, several people lost their lives due to drowning in the Banas River in Tonk district of Rajasthan. The Banas River is located in the northwestern Indian state of Rajasthan. It originates near Kumbhalgarh in the Aravalli hills and flows northeastward. The river finally merges with the Chambal River just north of Sheopur.

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The World Bank released the State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2025 as carbon pricing now covers 28% of global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and raises over $100 billion in revenue. Carbon pricing attaches a cost to emitting GHGs to encourage emission reductions and reflect environmental costs. There are 80 active carbon pricing instruments, up from 5 in 2005, including Emissions Trading Systems (ETS), carbon taxes, and carbon credit markets. India introduced ETS rules in 2024 for its industrial sector, using rate-based benchmarks instead of emission caps.

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Recently, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) started an official investigation into the Air India flight AI-17 crash involving a Boeing 787. Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is a government agency under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, set up in 2012 to investigate aircraft accidents and serious incidents in Indian airspace. Its goal is to find out what went wrong and suggest safety steps, not to blame anyone.

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Recently, the Power Finance Corporation withdrew its plan to issue zero-coupon bonds due to weak investor demand. Zero-coupon bonds are debt instruments that do not pay regular interest but are sold at a discount and redeemed at full face value on maturity. Also called discount bonds, they offer a lump sum payment at maturity, making their market price more volatile than regular coupon bonds. They suit both long-term and short-term investment goals and are seen as less risky since investors hold them till maturity. However, they do not provide regular income and are mainly suitable for long-term investors.

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A major milestone was achieved with the launch of Garuda Aerospace’s Agri-Drone Indigenization Facility in Chennai, supporting India’s goal of becoming a global drone hub. The facility, spread across 35,000 square feet, is the first of its kind in the country for designing, manufacturing, and testing advanced Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). A total of 300 Centres of Excellence (CoEs) were also launched across India to promote drone innovation, research, and skill development through academic and industry collaboration.

Notes:
The Swedish startup NitroCapt won the 2025 Food Planet Prize for their innovative green fertilizer technology. This technology uses plasma and renewable energy to extract nitrogen from the air, eliminating the need for fossil fuels in fertilizer production. The $2 million prize, awarded by the Curt Bergfors Foundation, will help NitroCapt scale up its operations and further disrupt the global nitrogen fertilizer industry.

Notes:
The United Nations General Assembly has declared December 4 as the International Day Against Unilateral Coercive Measures. The resolution was adopted recently with 116 countries voting in favour, 51 against, and 6 abstaining. Countries from the Global North, including the European Union (EU), Australia, Britain, Canada, Japan, and the United States, opposed the resolution. The resolution urges all countries to avoid using unilateral economic, financial, or trade actions that violate international law or the United Nations (UN) Charter.