Daily Current Affairs and GK | 11 June 2025

Topic: Important Days

1. Quality Council of India (QCI) celebrated World Accreditation Day 2025 at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi.

• A major announcement during the event was the launch of the upgraded NABL Portal.
• The new portal is designed to simplify the accreditation process.
• It also aims to improve digital access for testing laboratories and MSMEs.
• The event featured a special initiative called “Gunvatta Samarpan.”
• This encourages organisations to publicly commit to maintaining accredited quality standards.
• The theme for World Accreditation Day 2025 was “Accreditation: Empowering Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).”
• The theme focused on improving the competitiveness and credibility of MSMEs.
• It also highlighted the role of accreditation in helping MSMEs access new markets.
• The opening session included messages from key leaders and the release of a thematic video.
• QCI Chairperson Shri Jaxay Shah gave the keynote address.
• A Technical Session and CEO Forum followed the inaugural ceremony.
• These featured expert panel discussions from various sectors.
• World Accreditation Day is observed every year on June 9.
• It aims to raise awareness about the importance of accreditation in global trade and economic development.
• Quality Council of India (QCI) is India’s national body for accreditation.
• National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) and the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB) are two constituent boards of QCI.
• QCI works closely with international partners like International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).

Topic: Environment and Ecology

2. Greater Flamingo Sanctuary declared at Dhanushkodi by Tamil Nadu.

• The Tamil Nadu government officially declared a Greater Flamingo Sanctuary in Dhanushkodi, Ramanathapuram district.
• The move aims to preserve an important stopover site on the Central Asian Flyway for thousands of migratory wetland birds.
• The sanctuary is located within the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve and spans 524.7 hectares.
• It covers both revenue and forest lands in Rameshwaram taluk, supporting multiple ecosystems.
• As per the recent 2023-2024 Wetland Bird Survey, over 10,700 wetland birds were recorded in the Dhanushkodi area, comprising 128 species, including herons, egrets, sandpipers, and both Greater and Lesser Flamingos.
• Mangrove species such as Avicennia and Rhizophora dominate the Dhanushkodi lagoon, providing essential breeding grounds and natural protection against coastal erosion.
• The initiative is expected to boost eco-tourism, generate jobs, and raise awareness on conservation.
• The Greater Flamingo is the largest species of flamingo, known for its distinctive pink plumage and long legs.
• Recently, DPS wetland in Navi Mumbai has been declared as a Flamingo Conservation Reserve by the Maharashtra State Board of Wildlife.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

3. The 29^th meeting of the FSDC chaired by the Union Finance Minister in Mumbai.

• On June 10, the 29th meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) was chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Mumbai.
• The meeting was attended by Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Choudhary and other key FSDC members, including top officials from RBI, SEBI, and IRDAI.
• Issues related to macro-financial stability and India’s preparedness to tackle them were reviewed by the Council.
• Based on the analysis of cybersecurity regulations, sectoral preparedness, and the FSAP 2024-25 recommendations, the FSDC reviewed the need for enhanced cyber resilience.
• A sector-specific cybersecurity strategy for the Indian financial system was considered for implementation.
• The FSDC discussed issues related to formulating strategies for implementing previous decisions and budget announcements, which included:
  • Establishing a regulatory framework to assess and enhance the responsiveness of rules and guidelines.
  • Reducing unclaimed assets across financial sectors and ensuring timely refunds to rightful owners.
  • Implementing common KYC norms and digital onboarding for NRIs, PIOs, and OCIs in the securities market.
  • Analyzing financing flow trends to support a higher investment ratio.
  • Expanding access to factoring services and promoting the use of account aggregator networks.
• The Union Finance Minister urged the regulators to speed up the refund of unclaimed amounts to the rightful owners by organizing district-level camps in coordination with RBI, SEBI, PFRDA, IRDA, and other agencies.

Topic: Indian Polity

4. Justice Sanjay Gowda sworn in as Judge of Gujarat High Court.

• On 9 June, Justice Neranahalli Srinivasan Sanjay Gowda was administered the oath of office as a judge of the Gujarat High Court.
• Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court Justice Sunita Agarwal administered the oath of office to Justice Gowda.
• Justice Gowda had been serving as a judge in the Karnataka High Court before his transfer to Gujarat.
• Justice Gowda began his legal practice in 1989 and has decades of experience in the legal field.
• His judicial career began in 2019 when he was appointed Additional Judge of the Karnataka HC, later becoming permanent in 2021.
• In April this year, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended the transfer of seven sitting High Court judges, including four judges from Karnataka.

Topic: Banking/Finance

5. A dividend of ₹8,076.84 crore paid to the government by SBI for the financial year 2024–25.

• On 9 June, a dividend of ₹8,076.84 crore was paid to the government by the country’s largest lender, State Bank of India (SBI), for the financial year 2024–25.
• The dividend cheque was presented to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman by SBI Chairman C.S. Setty.
• SBI announced a dividend of ₹15.90 per share for FY25, which is higher than ₹13.70 declared last year.
• A dividend amounting to ₹6,959.29 crore had been paid to the government by SBI during the previous financial year.
• A record net profit of ₹70,901 crore was reported by SBI in FY25, reflecting a 16% increase over the previous year.
• In FY24, the bank had earned ₹61,077 crore as net profit.
• Dividends are a percentage of a company's earnings that are paid to its shareholders as a share of the profits.
• The Government of India holds around 57.54% stake in SBI Bank.

Topic: State News/Delhi

6. The Delhi Cabinet approved an ordinance to regulate school fees.

• An ordinance aimed at regulating school fees in Delhi was approved by the state Cabinet led by CM Rekha Gupta.
• On 10 June, the announcement was made by Education Minister Ashish Sood after the eighth Cabinet meeting.
• The ordinance is based on the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025.
• It will be forwarded to the President of India for assent through the Lieutenant Governor.
• The move follows a Cabinet meeting held on April 29 where the draft bill was discussed.
• Notices had been issued to 10 schools on April 16 for arbitrary fee hikes and non-submission of audit reports.
• Over 600 school financial reports were cancelled by the Delhi government for discrepancies and lack of transparency.
• On May 29, 2025, the Supreme Court had issued notice to the Directorate of Education, the Delhi government, and the action committee for unaided private schools in connection with a petition challenging the Delhi High Court order.
• The plea in SC alleged private schools hiked fees up to 100% and imposed punitive measures on non-paying students.
• DPS Dwarka withdrew its order removing students over non-payment of increased fees after legal and public pressure.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

7. At the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), France and Brazil launched the Blue Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Challenge.

• This initiative aims to boost ocean-focused climate action worldwide.
• Brazil will host COP30 in November, and the Blue NDC Challenge calls on all countries to give greater priority to the ocean in their climate plans ahead of the summit.
• Eight countries have joined the effort so far. These include Australia, Fiji, Kenya, Mexico, Palau, Seychelles, along with Brazil and France.
• The main goal is to include ocean-related measures in updated climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.
• These revised NDCs are critical to cutting emissions, keeping global warming below 1.5°C, and building resilience to climate impacts.
• The initiative represents a high-level political commitment under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• It is supported by Ocean Conservancy, the Ocean and Climate Platform and the World Resources Institute through the Ocean Resilience and Climate Alliance (ORCA).
• WWF-Brazil has also endorsed the Blue NDC Challenge.
• Third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) is being jointly organised by France and Costa Rica in Nice, France from 9 to 13 June 2025.
• First two Conferences were held in New York (2017) and Lisbon (2022).
• UNOC3 is focused on “Accelerating action and mobilising all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean”.
• The conference aims to identify further ways to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (life below water).

Topic: Sports

8. MS Dhoni has been officially inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.

• This is a recognition of his legacy as one of cricket’s greatest players.
• The ICC honoured seven cricketers this year, including Dhoni.
• Other inductees include Matthew Hayden (Australia), Hashim Amla (South Africa), Daniel Vettori (Australia), Graeme Smith (South Africa), Sana Mir (Pakistan), and Sarah Taylor (England).
• These inductees include five male and two female players.
• Dhoni is widely known for his calm demeanor and sharp tactical thinking.
• He also played a major role in revolutionizing limited-overs cricket.
• Throughout his career, Dhoni scored 17,266 international runs.
• He also completed 829 dismissals as a wicketkeeper. In total, he represented India in 538 matches.
• As captain, Dhoni led India to three major ICC titles. These include the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy.
• In ODIs, he holds the record for the most stumpings with 123.
• He also scored the highest individual ODI score by a wicketkeeper with 183 not out.
• Dhoni captained India in 200 ODIs, the most by any Indian.
• He is the 11th Indian and the ninth Indian male cricketer to enter the ICC Hall of Fame.
• Although he retired from international cricket in 2020, Dhoni still plays in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings.
• With this year’s inductees, the total number of Hall of Fame members has reached 122.
• ICC Cricket Hall of Fame recognises the achievements of the legends of the game from cricket's long and illustrious history. It was launched in 2009.

Topic: State News/Delhi

9. Delhi is set to establish India’s first e-waste Eco Park in Holambi Kalan.

• This marks a major step toward sustainable electronic waste management.
• The park will cover 11.4 acres. It will be able to process up to 51,000 metric tonnes of e-waste every year.
• It will manage all 106 e-waste categories listed under the 2022 E-Waste Management Rules.
• The project involves an initial investment of Rs 150 crore. The operational budget will exceed Rs 325 crore.
• Revenue generation is expected to reach approximately Rs 350 crore. This will help create a strong recycling economy.
• Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the project supports a circular economy. He stressed the importance of turning waste into resources.
• To attract global technology leaders, Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) will issue an RFQ-cum-RFP tender.
• The park will be developed through a Public-Private Partnership. It will follow the DBFOT (Design, Build, Finance, Operate, Transfer) model.
• The concession period for the project will last 15 years.
• Construction is expected to be completed within 18 months.
• Once operational, the park will process nearly 25% of Delhi’s total e-waste.
• India produces over 1.6 million metric tonnes of e-waste annually. This makes it the third-largest generator of e-waste globally.
• Delhi contributes around 9.5% of the country's total e-waste.
• Only 17.4% of global e-waste is currently recycled through scientific methods.
• This results in the loss of valuable materials like lithium, copper, and rare earth metals.
• This is the first of four such parks planned across India.
• The goal is to create a national model for effective e-waste management.
• Land and funding for the Delhi Park have already been secured.

Topic: Corporates/Companies

10. Indian corporates are set to double their capital expenditure to $800–$850 billion over the next five years, as per an S&P Global Ratings report.

• Much of this spending will be financed through internal cash flows.
• Ample domestic funding sources will also support these investments.
• These investments are expected to significantly expand business operations.
• Debt levels are not likely to rise, assuming smooth execution and stable economic conditions.
• Around 75% of the increase in capital expenditure will go toward power, especially renewables.
• Spending will also rise in power transmission, aviation, and emerging sectors like green hydrogen.
• Investment in airports could double or even triple in the next five years.
• Traditional sectors such as steel, cement, oil and gas, telecom, and autos are projected to grow more moderately.
• Their capital spending will likely increase by 30–40%.
• Companies are entering this investment phase with strong financial positions.
• Robust operating cash flows should help limit credit-related risks.
• Over the last three to four years, most sectors have meaningfully reduced debt.
• The only major exception is renewable utilities.
• Company earnings and operating cash flows have risen 60% or more compared to five years ago.
• This upward trend is expected to continue.
• In aviation, total investment in new aircraft could exceed $100 billion.
• Emerging areas such as green hydrogen, semiconductors, and battery plants will see heavy investment.
• These projects will mostly be funded through debt. Large corporations and conglomerates will lead these efforts.