Daily Current Affairs and GK | 12 June 2025

Topic: Miscellaneous

1. Narendra Modi App (NaMo App) has launched the ‘Jan Man Survey’ to celebrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 11 years in office.

• The survey received over 500,000 responses within 26 hours of its launch.
• The survey enables people to provide direct feedback to the government.
• It addresses topics such as national security, governance, cultural pride, and youth development.
• Seventy-seven percent of respondents completed the full survey, indicating strong participation.
• Uttar Pradesh led with 1,41,150 responses. Maharashtra followed with 65,775 responses.
• Tamil Nadu recorded 62,580 responses. Gujarat had 43,590 responses. Haryana contributed 29,985 responses.
• PM Modi encouraged citizens to take part, emphasizing the importance of their opinions for India’s progress.

Topic: Important Days

2. World Day Against Child Labour 2025: 12 June

• World Day Against Child Labour is observed every year on 12 June.

• It is observed to increase awareness and mobilise efforts to end child labour in all its forms.
• The theme of World Day Against Child Labour 2025 is “Progress is clear, but there's more to do: let’s speed up efforts!”
• Around 160 million children worldwide are engaged in child labour, which equates to 1 in 10 children.
• From 2000 to 2020, child labour has decreased by 85.5 million, from 16% to 9.6%.
• Only 26.4% of children worldwide receive social security cash benefits.
• Globally, only 1.1% of GDP is spent on social protection for children and only 0.4% of GDP for children in Africa.
• Africa leads all regions in both the percentage of children engaged in child labor—one-fifth—and the total number of children in child labor—72 million.
• Asia and the Pacific is second in both respects—with 7% of all children in the region and 62 million in total.

Topic: Indian Economy

3. Centre cuts basic customs duty on crude edible oils to tame inflation.

• The Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on imported crude edible oils including sunflower, soybean, and palm oils has been reduced by the Central Government from 20% to 10%.
• As a result of this revision, the import duty differential between crude and refined edible oils has been increased from 8.75% to 19.25%.
• The decision has been taken to counter the rising edible oil prices triggered by last year’s duty hike and escalating international rates.
• Edible oil associations and industry bodies have been advised to pass on the benefit to consumers by reducing prices.
• The 19.25% duty differential between crude and refined oils helps encourage domestic refining capacity utilisation and reduce imports of refined oils.
• Lowering the import duty on crude oils is intended to reduce their landed cost, thereby easing retail prices and consumer burden.
• The revised duty structure will help in reducing the import of refined palmolein and revive the demand for crude edible oils, especially crude palm oil.
• A meeting was held with major edible oil industry associations and industry under the chairmanship of Secretary, Department of Food & Public Distribution, GoI and they were advised to pass on the benefit of this duty reduction to consumers.
• Associations have been asked to submit updated brand-wise MRP sheets weekly, using a format provided by the Department.
• The revised duty structure is expected to stabilize the edible oil market and provide inflation relief for Indian households.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

4. An agreement signed by CAQM to curb NCR dust pollution through reconstruction of urban roads.

• On 10 June, a tripartite MoU was signed by the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) with the CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) and the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) in New Delhi.
• The objective of this collaboration is to effectively implement the normative framework for redevelopment of urban streets, including paving and greening of pathways and footpaths, to abate dust pollution in Delhi-NCR.
• A dedicated Project Monitoring Cell (PMC) is to be set up at CAQM to oversee the framework’s phased implementation.
• In the initial phase, nine cities, namely Delhi, Faridabad, Gurugram, Sonipat, Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, Bhiwadi, and Neemrana, have been identified.
• CSIR-CRRI will provide expertise in road engineering, while SPA will assist with sustainable planning and green solutions.
• The standard framework covers cross-section design for different types of roads, width of Right of Way (ROW) and measures to mitigate road dust through greenery within the ROW.
• It also includes a web-GIS-based Road Asset Management System (RAMS) and promotes the use of advanced technologies for road construction and maintenance.
• Support in manpower guidance and technical operations will be provided by CSIR-CRRI and SPA to the PMC.
• A digital dashboard will be created to monitor the progress and outcomes of redevelopment projects.

Topic: National News

5. The Cabinet approved railway projects worth Rs 6,405 crore in Jharkhand, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

• Two major railway doubling projects with a total outlay of ₹6,405 crore have been approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by PM Modi.
• These projects include:

• The increased line capacity will significantly enhance mobility, resulting in improved operational efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways.
• The projects are aligned with PM Gati Shakti’s goal of integrated multimodal connectivity.
• These two projects, covering seven districts of Jharkhand, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, will expand the existing network of Indian Railways by about 318 km.
• The approved multi-tracking project will enhance connectivity to about 1,408 villages, having a population of about 28.19 lakh.
• The corridors are vital for transporting coal, steel, cement, fertilizers, and other key commodities.
• An additional 49 million tonnes per annum of freight traffic capacity is projected from these enhancements.

Topic: Miscellaneous

6. On 10 June, Katrina Kaif has been named the global tourism ambassador for the Maldives.

• The appointment is seen as part of efforts to revive tourism and ties with India following recent diplomatic tensions.
• This cooperation comes amid a major change in relations since January 2024, when India-Maldives relations turned sour.
• Her role is expected to boost the global appeal of the “Sunny Side of Life” campaign.
• This move coincides with the launch of Visit Maldives’ Summer Sale Campaign to attract international tourists.
• Other Brand Ambassadors:

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

7. India hosted the third session of the ITU-T Focus Group on AI-Native Networks (FG-AINN) in New Delhi.

• The event was organized by the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), which operates under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
• At the opening ceremony, Mr. Sanjeev Bidwai, Member (T), Digital Communications Commission (DCC) underlined the transformative potential of AI-Native Networks.
• He also highlighted India’s contributions, including the Bharat Gen language model and AI-led telecom automation by IITs and C-DOT.
• India proposed to host the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in 2030 (PP-30).
• The country also put forward Ms. M. Revathi as a candidate for Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau for the 2027–30 term.
• A Build-a-Thon is scheduled for June 13, 2025.
• It will bring together experts to co-develop working AI-native telecom solutions through mentoring and collaboration.
• The event aims to boost international cooperation and guide the development of future telecom standards.
• It also supports cutting-edge research in AI-driven communication networks.
• FG-AINN was formed by ITU-T Study Group 13 in July 2024.
• Its purpose is to explore how telecom networks can be redesigned to embed AI at the architectural level.
• The group is working on creating telecom systems that are intelligent, self-optimizing, and capable of adapting in real time.
• These next-gen networks aim to improve service quality in both urban and rural areas.

Topic: Corporates/Companies

8. Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has raised ₹2,005.90 crore through a Qualified Institutional Placement.

• This move is aimed at boosting its capacity to finance green energy projects.
• The capital was generated by issuing 12.15 crore equity shares.
• Each share was priced at ₹165.14, including a premium of ₹155.14 over the ₹10 face value.
• The QIP was launched on June 5 and closed on June 10.
• The issue price was set at a 5% discount to the floor price of ₹173.83.
• The funds raised will strengthen IREDA’s Tier-I capital. It will also enhance its Capital Adequacy Ratio.
• This capital will support the agency in expanding financial assistance for renewable energy projects across India.
• CMD Pradip Kumar Das said the QIP’s success reflects strong investor confidence. This comes soon after IREDA’s IPO in November 2023.
• Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA):
  • It comes under the administrative control of the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE).
  • It is a Public Limited Government Company established as a Non-Banking Financial Institution in 1987.
  • It provides financial support to specific projects and schemes for generating electricity through new and renewable sources.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

9. Bengaluru is now home to an estimated 80–85 wild leopards.

• This surpasses Mumbai’s count of around 54 leopards.

• Bengaluru has become the metro with the highest number of free-ranging leopards.
• The finding comes from a year-long study by the Holématthi Nature Foundation (HNF).
• The study was led by conservation biologist Dr. Sanjay Gubbi.
• Over 250 camera traps were used for the survey.
• These traps covered 282 square kilometres of forests and scrublands around Bengaluru.
• Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) was also included in the survey.
• Researchers found 54 leopards inside BNP.
• Another 30 leopards were recorded in nearby protected and private forest areas.
• A total of 34 mammal species were photographed during the study.
• Among them, four are Endangered and four are Near Threatened.
• Twenty-two species are listed under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• Five species fall under Schedule II of the same Act.
• Leopard numbers in BNP have steadily grown.
• There were 40 leopards in 2019, 47 in 2020, and 54 in 2025.
• This growth is largely due to stronger protection and more prey.
• Leopard relocations from other districts may have also contributed.
• The study credits local communities for coexisting with these big cats.
• HNF recommended making B.M. Kaval, U.M. Kaval, Roerich Estate, and Gollahalli Gudda a Conservation Reserve.
• It also proposed expanding BNP to include Durgadakal RF, Bettahalliwade RF (Block B), J.I. Bachahalli, and M. Maniyambal.
• Camera traps even captured images of tigers in these areas.
• The report urges protection of the Muneshwarabetta–Bannerghatta wildlife corridor.
• It recommends engaging local communities in conservation efforts.
• It calls for avoiding further leopard relocations into BNP.
• It stresses solving human-leopard conflict at its original source.

Topic: Reports and Indices

10. India’s population has reached 1.4639 billion as of April 2025.

• This figure comes from a recent United Nations demographic report.
• The report is titled as “State of the World Population 2025: The Real Fertility Crisis”.
• The country’s total fertility rate (TFR) has fallen to 1.9. This is below the replacement level of 2.1.
• India’s population is expected to keep growing for the next 40 years. It could reach around 1.7 billion before beginning to decline.
• The UN report names India as the most populous country in the world. China, by comparison, currently has 1.4161 billion people.
• India’s Census, which was due in 2021, has been delayed. It is now expected to be completed by March 2027.
• Data from the 2021 Sample Registration System showed a TFR of 2.0. This suggests that India has reached replacement-level fertility.
• The TFR measures how many children an average woman is expected to have in her lifetime.
• A TFR of 2.1 is needed to maintain a stable population without immigration.
• The UN report says the real concern is not the size of the population.
• Instead, it points to the gap between people’s fertility goals and their reality.
• It emphasizes the importance of reproductive autonomy. This means individuals should be free to make informed decisions about having children.
• India still has a large young population. About 24% are under the age of 15. Another 17% are between ages 10 and 19. Around 26% are between 10 and 24.
• Roughly 68% of the population is of working age, between 15 and 64.
• Around 7% of the population is aged 65 or older. This share is expected to rise as people live longer.
• In 2025, life expectancy is estimated to be 71 years for men. For women, it is projected to be 74 years.