Current Affairs Quiz – June 2025

Notes:
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) will conduct India’s first-ever Household Income Survey in 2026, as announced recently. A Technical Expert Group (TEG) led by economist Surjit Bhalla has been formed to guide survey methods, estimation techniques, and best global practices. The survey will measure household income and assess how technology adoption affects wages, aiming to fill key data gaps. Past attempts since the 1950s failed due to unreliable data, with income estimates often lower than consumption and savings combined.

Notes:
On June 21, 2025, the Union Government announced that June 25 will be observed every year as “Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas” to remember the Emergency imposed in 1975 by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. On June 25, 1975, civil liberties were suspended, thousands were jailed without trial, and media freedom was crushed. The Emergency is seen as a dark chapter in Indian history due to its suppression of fundamental rights and political dissent.

Notes:
Recently, NITI Aayog released the third edition of its quarterly insights series, Future Front, titled India’s Data Imperative: The Pivot Towards Quality, in New Delhi. The report highlights the urgent need to improve data quality for stronger digital governance, better public trust, and efficient service delivery. It discusses the major issues caused by poor data quality and suggests simple and practical tools to improve it.

Notes:
The Andhra Pradesh government has launched the ‘Vidya Shakti’ programme on a pilot basis to assist underperforming students in government schools and colleges. It uses technology and innovative methods to provide extra coaching in Mathematics, Science, and English after school hours. Currently, it is running in 4,424 Zilla Parishad, Government, and Municipal schools, and 576 KGBVs, Residential, and Model Schools. The main goals are to improve learning outcomes, reduce dropout rates, and increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER).

Notes:
Recently, five people died due to leptospirosis in Ernakulam district of Kerala within the past three weeks. Leptospirosis is a potentially fatal zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Leptospira interrogans. The bacteria are commonly found in the urine of animals like rats, cattle, pigs, and dogs. Humans can get infected when the bacteria enter the body through small cracks or wounds on the skin, especially the soles of the feet. The disease is more common in warm and humid countries and can spread in both rural and urban areas.

Notes:
Recently, Salkhan Fossil Park, also called Sonbhadra Fossils Park, was added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Tentative List for World Heritage Sites. It is located in Salkhan village in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh. The park contains stromatolites—layered rocks formed by ancient cyanobacteria—from the Mesoproterozoic era, around 1.4 billion years ago. These fossils are older than those in Shark Bay, Australia, and Yellowstone, USA, and have challenged previous beliefs about early life on Earth.

Notes:
Recently, a rare 15th-century antique lamp with Shaiva (Lord Shiva) and Vaishnavaite (Lord Vishnu) carvings was discovered at the Anantapadmanabha temple in Perduru, Udupi district, Karnataka. Historian T. Murugeshi confirmed it was donated by Basavannaras Banga in 1456 Common Era, based on a stone inscription inside the temple. The lamp has two faces with detailed narrative sculptures. One face shows Lord Shiva as Nataraja performing Pralaya Tandava, with Parvati, Ganapati, Bringi, Khadga Ravana, and Kumara. The second face shows Brahma, Indra, Anantapadmanabha, Agni, and Varuna, describing gods praying to Lord Anantapadmanabha to calm Shiva’s destructive dance.

Notes:
Recently, Karnataka emerged as the top performer at the 78th Senior National Aquatic Championships 2025 in Bhubaneswar, winning 41 medals, including 16 gold ,followed by Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Shoan Ganguly of Karnataka broke the previous National Record of 4 minutes 25.62 seconds set by Aryan Nehra in 2023 and improved the Indian best in the 200 metre Individual Medley too. These achievements highlight Karnataka’s dominance and India’s rising swimming standards.

Notes:
Recently, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, with the Maharashtra government, Pawan Hans and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, known as FICCI, held the 7th Helicopter and Small Aircraft Summit in Pune, Maharashtra. The summit promoted helicopters and small aircraft as vital for regional air connectivity, economic growth, and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. A dedicated Helicopter Directorate under Directorate General of Civil Aviation, known as DGCA, was announced to improve oversight and certification. Digital initiatives like the Heli Sewa Portal were praised for enhancing transparency.

Notes:
Recently, India rejected a “supplemental award” issued by a Court of Arbitration on the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects, calling it illegal and against the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) 1960. The Court of Arbitration is an ad-hoc international dispute resolution body under Annexure G of the Indus Waters Treaty, 1960, used when bilateral talks fail. The Ratle Hydroelectric Project is run-of-the-river project located on the Chenab River in Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir. India maintains its stand that the award violates treaty principles and cannot be accepted under the current agreement.