Daily Current Affairs and GK | 1 and 2 June 2025

Topic: Important Days

1. International Day of Potato: 30 May

• International Day of Potato is observed annually on 30 May across the globe to recognize the value of the potato.

• This celebration honors the potato’s role as a widely used and adaptable food staple.
• The theme for this year is “Shaping history, feeding the future.”
• It emphasizes the potato’s rich historical roots and its growing importance in today’s global food systems.
• India proudly took part in the international observance of the day.
• Known locally as "aloo," the potato plays a vital role in Indian agriculture and cuisine.
• India ranks as the world’s second-largest potato producer.
• Potato was domesticated in the Andes thousands of years ago.
• It has become one of the world’s top four food crops. Today it is food source in more than 150 countries.
• Potato is rich in vitamin C, potassium and dietary fibre.

Topic: Personality in News

2. Veteran Tamil film actor Rajesh passed away at the age of 75.

• Veteran Tamil actor Rajesh passed away in Chennai on May 29 due to a sudden heart attack.
• Born on December 20, 1949, in Mannargudi, Tamil Nadu, Rajesh began his professional life as a school teacher before entering the film industry.
• His screen debut was in the film Aval Oru Thodarkathai (1974), directed by K. Balachander.
• The first lead role of Rajesh was in Kannipparuvathile (1979), produced by Rajkannu.
• Over a career spanning nearly five decades, he acted in more than 150 films across Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam languages.
• Rajesh was widely praised for his versatility and strong character roles in films like Andha Ezhu Naatkal, Sathya, Payanangal Mudivathillai, Virumaandi, and Mahanadhi.
• His most recent film appearance was in Merry Christmas, starring Vijay Sethupathi and Katrina Kaif.

Topic: State News/Telangana

3. Telangana celebrated its 12th formation day on 2 June 2025.

• Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy hoisted the tricolour at an official function held at the Secunderabad Parade Ground.
• Telangana was formed on 2 June 2014 and the day is celebrated as ‘Telangana Day’ or ‘Telangana Formation Day’.
• Telangana was formed by carving out ten districts of Andhra Pradesh.
• Telangana was formed as the 29th state of the country through the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.
• On this occasion, The State government has announced this year’s ‘Pathakam’ (पत्ताम) awards to over 460 officers recognising their outstanding service, courage and dedication in the police and fire services.
• Among the highest honours, the Telangana Police’s prestigious Shaurya Pathakam – given for exemplary bravery – has been conferred on Chowdhary Mahesh, G. Shobhan and A. Rakesh Kumar of the elite Greyhounds unit.
• Telangana Police Mahonnatha Seva Pathakam Award was presented to B. Srinivas Rao and others.
• Apart from this, many other senior officers from various commissionerates and special units were also present.
• These medals, which also carry cash prizes, were formally presented during the Foundation Day celebrations.
• Telangana:

• Telangana is a state in southern India. Its capital is Hyderabad.
• The Current Governor of Telangana is Shri Jishnu Dev Varma and Chief Minister is Shri A Revanth Reddy.
• Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao was the first Chief Minister of Telangana.
• Telangana has 17 seats in the Lok Sabha and 119 assembly seats.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Defence

4. India-Mongolia joint military exercise ‘Nomadic Elephant 2025’ began in Ulaanbaatar.

• On May 31, 2025, the 17th edition of the India-Mongolia joint military exercise Nomadic Elephant 2025 has been inaugurated at the Special Forces Training Centre in Ulaanbaatar.
• The military drill is scheduled to continue until June 13, 2025, marking another milestone in bilateral defence engagement.
• The inauguration ceremony was graced by India's Ambassador to Mongolia, Atul Malhari Gotsurve, and Major General Lkhagvasuren Ganselem from the Mongolian side.
• The exercise is being alternately hosted by India and Mongolia, and the previous edition was held at Umroi, Meghalaya, in July 2024.
• The Indian contingent includes 45 personnel from the Arunachal Scouts, while Mongolia is represented by the 150 Special Forces Unit.
• Field training exercises at the platoon level are being conducted, focusing on semi-conventional operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain.
• Combat readiness is being enhanced through activities such as counter-terror operations, rock craft training, reflex shooting, and cyber warfare drills.
• Joint rehearsals are being carried out to replicate United Nations peacekeeping missions and promote multinational cooperation.
• The ongoing exercise reaffirms both nations’ dedication to regional peace and stability while nurturing long-standing military and cultural ties.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: National Appointment

5. Shailendra Nath Gupta took over as Director General of Defence Estates.

• Shri Shailendra Nath Gupta has taken charge as the Director General of Defence Estates as of May 31, 2025.
• A 1990-batch officer from the Indian Defence Estates Service, he brings extensive expertise in managing defence lands and cantonments.
• Before assuming this position, he had been posted as CEO of Cantonment Boards and as Defence Estate Officer across various circles.
• Key positions have also been held by him, including Director Defence Estates, Central Command, and Principal Director, Eastern Command.
• The Directorate General of Defence Estates is entrusted with maintaining approximately 18 lakh acres of defence land in India.
• Its administrative structure operates under six commands, with 38 Defence Estates Circles and 61 Cantonment Boards.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/Madhya Pradesh

6. PM Modi launched development projects worth ₹1,300 crore in Madhya Pradesh.

• On May 31, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a visit to Madhya Pradesh to celebrate the 300th birth anniversary of Lokmata Devi Ahilyabai Holkar.
• Projects worth over Rs 1,300 crore were unveiled in various districts during the visit.
• The PM laid the foundation stone for ghat construction on the Kshipra River in Ujjain under Simhastha Mahakumbh 2028 preparations.
• The infrastructure under the Rs 860-crore project includes barrages, stop dams and vented causeways to improve water flow and control.
• The Prime Minister inaugurated newly constructed airports in Datia and Satna, enhancing regional connectivity and tourism.
• Satna Airport, built at a cost of ₹36.96 crore, is designed as a regional hub for the northeastern part of Madhya Pradesh.
• Its terminal, spread over 768 square metres, can accommodate 50 peak-hour passengers and up to 2.5 lakh passengers annually.
• Datia Airport, developed at a cost of ₹60.63 crore, links the religious town to the broader aviation network.
• The Datia terminal, of similar size, is equipped to handle ATR-72 aircraft with future plans for A-320 operations.
• The Yellow Line of Indore Metro flagged off to address traffic congestion and reduce urban pollution.
• The PM also transferred funds for constructing 1,271 Atal Gram Sushasan Bhawans with a total outlay of over ₹480 crore.
• These buildings will strengthen the infrastructure at the Gram Panchayat level and improve administrative efficiency in rural areas.

Topic: Personality in News

7. 300th birth anniversary of Lokmata Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar.

• On 31st May 2025, PM Modi commemorated the 300th birth anniversary of Lokmata Devi Ahilyabai Holkar.
• A commemorative ₹300 coin and postage stamp honoring Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar was released by PM Modi.
• He addressed the Mahila Sashaktikaran Mahasammelan on 300th birth anniversary of Lokmata Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
• The Rs 300 coin will feature a portrait of Ahilyabai Holkar.
• Rajmata Ahilyabai Holkar was the Holkar Queen of the Malwa kingdom.
• She was born on 31 May 1725 in Chondi in Jamkhed, Ahmednagar (Maharashtra).
• She became the ruler of Indore on December 11, 1767.
• Her husband died in the battle of Kumher in 1754.
• She set up a textile industry in Maheshwar. Today is very famous for its Maheshwari sarees.
• She is famously known as the ‘Philosopher Queen’. She passed away on August 13, 1795.
• Her contributions include renovation and repair of the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple in 1780.

Topic: Reports and Indices

8. Pending annual reports for 2022-24 have been submitted by National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) to President.

• Annual Reports for 2022–23 and 2023–24 have been submitted by NCBC to President Droupadi Murmu.
• NCBC Chairperson Hansraj Gangaram Ahir and Commission Member Bhuvan Bhushan Kamal presented reports to the President on 29 May 2025.
• These reports are required to be submitted annually by NCBC as per its constitutional mandate.
• The reports become public only after they being laid in Parliament. They are accompanied by Action-Taken Reports.
• NCBC’s consolidated tenure report for the period 2019-2022 was the last NCBC report that was laid in Parliament.
• The annual reports of National Commissions for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) and Scheduled Tribes (NCST) for 2023-24 and 2024-25 were also not submitted as of last month.
• NCSC’s 2022-23 report was submitted to the President in February 2024. The report is not tabled in Parliament.

Topic: National Appointments

9. Lt Gen Dinesh Singh Rana assumes charge as Commander-in-Chief of Andaman & Nicobar Command.

• He took over as the 18th Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman & Nicobar Command (CINCAN) on June 01, 2025.
• The Andaman and Nicobar Command is based at Sri Vijaya Puram.
• It is India’s first and only joint services operational command.
• He was commissioned into the 10th Battalion of The Garhwal Rifles on December 19, 1987.
• He commanded an Infantry Brigade and Division in the Eastern Sector.
• He has led the Gajraj Corps along the Line of Actual Control.
• Before taking over as CINCAN, he served as Director General, Defence Intelligence Agency.
• He has made history as the first Chief of Defence Intelligence to be elevated to the rank of Commander-in-Chief.

Topic: Indian Economy

10. The government has lowered basic custom duty on crude palm oil, crude soyabean oil and crude sunflower oil to 10%.  

• This step is aimed at cutting down retail prices of cooking oil and protecting domestic processors.
• Previously, duty on these three edible oils was 20%.
• India is a country that imports over 50% of its domestic edible oil requirement.
• India’s import of edible oils during 2023-24 oil marketing year (November to October) stood at 159.6 lakh tonnes.
• Now, effective import duty (including the basic custom duty and other charges) on these three products will be 16.5%. This was earlier 27.5%.
• Basic custom duty on refined oils is unchanged at 32.5%.
• As of now, the effective duty on refined oils is 35.75%.
• India imports palm oil from Malaysia and Indonesia.
• Soyabean oils is imported from Brazil and Argentina.

On 14 September 2024, the government raised the basic custom duty on crude soyabean oil, crude palm oil and crude sunflower oil from 0% to 20%.