Daily Current Affairs and GK | 15 and 16 June 2025

Topic: Important Days

1. World Blood Donor Day: 14 June

• World Blood Donor Day is observed every year on 14 June.
• It is celebrated to raise awareness about the blood and blood products importance, the need for blood donation, and safe blood transfusions.
• The day marks the birth anniversary of Karl Landsteiner who discovered and classified the ABO blood groups.
• This year the theme of this day is “Give blood, give hope: together we save lives.”
• It is organized by the World Health Organization (WHO), along with other international organizations like the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations (IFBDO), and the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT).

Topic: Personality in News

2. Kashmiri folk legend Ustad Ghulam Nabi Shah passed away.

• Renowned Kashmiri folk singer Ustad Ghulam Nabi Shah, famously known as “Hamle Bulbul”, passed away in Dangiwacha Rafiabad, Baramulla.
• Shah was credited with elevating Kashmiri music to new heights, dedicating over three decades of service to the Information Department of Jammu and Kashmir.
• His contributions were recognised both nationally and internationally, as he actively represented Kashmiri folk traditions on diverse cultural platforms.
• He was known for his soulful voice, expert sarangi playing, and the unique ‘glass dance’ performance, where he balanced a glass of water on his head while dancing with intricate grace.
• 'Bulbul' was also famous for his mastery over the traditional Kashmiri folk dance style Bacha Nagma.
• It is a vibrant traditional dance in which young boys dressed as women perform elaborate dances to Kashmiri songs.
• In 2011, he was conferred the Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah Award for his outstanding work in promoting Kashmiri Lok Sangeet (folk music).

Topic: State News/Gujarat

3. A loan of USD 109.97 million approved by ADB for Gujarat to support skill development programs.

• On 13 June, a loan worth USD 109.97 million has been approved by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to support the Gujarat Skills Development Program.
• This program is aligned with the Government of Gujarat’s plan to become a global industrial hub by strengthening workforce capabilities in high-growth sectors.
• This loan will be used for the Gujarat Skill Development Programme.
• The program is being run by the state's Labour, Skill Development, and Employment Department in collaboration with Kaushalya: The Skills University (KSU).
• It aims to equip the state's workforce with industry-aligned, advanced skills to promote job readiness in high-growth sectors.
• Seven key industries—including logistics, automotive, IT, renewable energy, manufacturing, healthcare, and agri-tech—will be the primary focus of this initiative.
• The program aims to integrate advanced technologies like artificial intelligence to modernize the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) ecosystem.
• By 2030, at least 60,000 students are expected to graduate with industry-relevant skills from this initiative.
• Increased participation of women and socioeconomically weaker sections in engineering and frontier technology trades is a key goal of the program.
• The initiative is in alignment with the National Education Policy 2020 and Gujarat’s Skill Development Plan (2025–2030).

Topic: Agriculture and Allied Sector

4. An allocation of ₹6,000 crore made by the government to bolster the Agri Stack and empower farmers.

• A financial allocation of ₹6,000 crore has been announced by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare to strengthen the Agri Stack under the Digital Agriculture Mission.
• Out of the total allocation, ₹4,000 crore will be used to develop State Farmer Registries, including legal heir systems, while ₹2,000 crore will support Digital Crop Surveys.
• Funds will be released on a first-come-first-served basis, incentivizing states to rapidly adopt digital systems for governance.
• One of the major highlights of the conference was the signing of MoUs with Maharashtra, Kerala, Bihar, and Odisha, as well as the signing of an MoU between PSB Alliance and the National Farmers Welfare Programme Implementation Society (NFWPIS).
• These agreements aim to enhance financial inclusion by linking digital credit access with authenticated Farmer Registries.
• Also, Special Central Assistance Guidelines were unveiled jointly by Secretaries of Agriculture and Land Resources during the event.
• Technical sessions considered challenges such as outdated tribal land records and errors in crop survey data, and proposed solutions such as remote sensing, AI/ML tools, and automated data validation to improve efficiency.
• The importance of aligning State Farmer Registries with updated Records of Rights was emphasized for seamless delivery of government schemes.
• Farmers will be empowered with secure tools like Digitally Verifiable Certificates (DVCs) and land information sharing systems.
• The initiative marks a major shift toward transparent, tech-driven, farmer-focused governance in India’s agriculture sector.

Topic: Sports

5. South Africa ended the 'chokers' tag by winning the historic World Test Championship title.

• On 14 June, South Africa won the 2025 World Test Championship title by defeating Australia by five wickets in a gripping final at Lord’s.
• It was the third edition of the ICC World Test Championship.
• A target of 282 runs was successfully chased, making it the joint second-highest winning fourth-innings total at the historic venue.
• Aiden Markram starred with a vital knock of 136 runs, laying the foundation for South Africa’s first WTC final triumph.
• The win marked South Africa’s first major cricket title and helped shed their long-standing image of faltering in crucial moments.
• It was also South Africa's second ICC Trophy after 1998.
• In the first World Test Championship final, New Zealand defeated India by 8 wickets at the Rose Bowl in Southampton in 2021.
• In the second World Test Championship final, Australia triumphed over India by 209 runs at The Oval in London.
• ICC World Test Championship:
  • It is a league competition for Test cricket run by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which started on 1 August 2019.
  • The first ICC World Test Championship began with the 2019 Ashes series and concluded in June 2021 with New Zealand winning the championship trophy after defeating India.

Topic: Miscellaneous

6. Cristiano Ronaldo became a global ambassador for the eSports World Cup 2025.

• Football icon Cristiano Ronaldo, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner, has been named the global ambassador for the Esports World Cup 2025.
• The announcement was made through Ronaldo’s official social media platforms, generating widespread excitement in sports and gaming communities.
• Scheduled to be held in Riyadh from July 8 to August 24, the Esports World Cup 2025 boasts a massive prize pool of $70 million.
• A total of 25 competitive games will be featured in what is expected to be one of the world’s largest esports events.
• He's been involved with gaming for years, having worked with Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer and backing the Japanese football game UFL, which launched last year.
• Earlier this year, he became a playable character in “Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves,” a title featured in the upcoming Esports World Cup.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

7. Dr. Jitendra Singh announced major reforms to improve the "Ease of Innovation," "Ease of Research," and "Ease of Science" in India.

• These reforms aim to simplify operations across the research and academic sectors.
• Institutions can now procure specialized scientific equipment without using the Government e-Marketplace.
• This change removes a major bottleneck for researchers needing unique or high-end tools.
• Directors of research institutions and Vice Chancellors have been given greater authority in procurement matters.
• They can now approve purchases without needing higher-level government approvals.
• Heads of institutions are empowered to sanction Global Tender Enquiries up to ₹200 crore.
• Previously, only central authorities had this power.
• Financial limits under the General Financial Rules have been revised.
• The cap for direct purchases has increased from ₹1 lakh to ₹2 lakh.
• Procurements via departmental committees can now range from ₹2 lakh to ₹25 lakh.
• Limits for limited and advertised tenders have risen to ₹1 crore from ₹50 lakh.
• These changes aim to speed up research procurement and reduce administrative delays.
• The reforms align with the goals of the National Education Policy 2020.
• They support academic flexibility and encourage interdisciplinary research.
• The announcement comes as the Modi government marks 11 years in office.

Topic: Corporates/Companies

8. DFCC Bank PLC has become the first overseas corporate to list a bond on India’s NSE International Exchange (NSE IX) at GIFT City.

• The listing concludes a multi-phase journey for DFCC Bank’s Green Bond.
• The bond was first issued in Sri Lanka. It was then dual-listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.
• Now, its listing on NSE IX enhances DFCC’s access to global capital markets.
• It also demonstrates the bank’s commitment to sustainable, cross-border financing.
• This is the first foreign corporate listing on NSE IX.
• The LKR 2.5 billion bond proceeds will fund renewable energy initiatives.
• These will include rooftop and ground-mounted solar PV projects in Sri Lanka.
• DFCC Bank was founded in 1955. The bank is celebrating 70 years of service in 2025. It is regulated by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
• DFCC is recognized for its leadership in sustainable finance.
• NSE IX was launched in 2017 at GIFT City. It is an international multi-asset exchange regulated by the IFSCA.
• It currently holds over 99% market share in its category.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

9. The Telangana State Education Department has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with several NGOs.

• These agreements aim to upgrade teaching tools and improve learning standards in government schools.
• The signing event was attended by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy.
• The NGOs will provide advanced, technology-based education services.
• These services will be offered free of cost to students.
• Nandan Nilekani’s EkStep Foundation is one of the participating NGOs.
• Other partners include Sunita Krishnan’s Prajwala Foundation and Alakh Pandey’s Physics Wallah.
• Khan Academy, Shoaib Dar’s Pi Jam Foundation, and Safina Hussain’s Educate Girls are also part of the initiative.
• Each organization brings its own area of expertise. These include digital learning, foundational education, and support for girl child education.
• The goal is to reduce the digital divide in Telangana’s public education system.
• It also aims to raise the overall quality of education in government schools.
• An official release said this initiative is part of the government’s broader education reform strategy.
• The project reflects a long-term commitment to improving public schooling through modern and inclusive methods.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

10. The Department of Land Resources (DoLR), under the Ministry of Rural Development, started the second batch of Phase 2 of the NAKSHA capacity-building programme on June 16, 2025.

• This training initiative will be held at four Centres of Excellence located in different regions of India.
• The first phase and the initial batch of Phase 2 were completed earlier this year.
• These earlier phases trained 160 Master Trainers and 151 officers from Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
• The new batch has been inaugurated virtually by Shri Manoj Joshi, Secretary of DoLR on June 16, 2025.
• A total of 128 officers have been nominated for this batch.
• These officers represent around 74 Urban Local Bodies and district offices.
• They will undergo one week of practical training.
• The focus will be on using modern geospatial technologies for urban land surveys.
• The training will be conducted at Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration in Pune, Maharashtra.
• It will also take place at the Northeast Region Centre of Excellence in Guwahati, Assam.
• Other training locations include Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration in Chandigarh, Punjab, and Administrative Training Institute in Mysuru, Karnataka.
• The training covers several technical and administrative topics.
• These include GNSS and ETS-based surveying, Web-GIS platforms, and land parcel mapping.
• It also includes legal and procedural aspects of urban land surveys.
• NAKSHA stands for NAtional geospatial Knowledge-based land Survey of urban HAbitations.
• The programme is designed to improve the accuracy and accessibility of land records in urban areas.
• This is especially important as India’s urban population is expected to exceed 600 million by 2031.
• The NAKSHA programme is a pilot initiative.
• It is being implemented by the Department of Land Resources in collaboration with the Survey of India and other partners.
• So far, NAKSHA has been launched in 157 Urban Local Bodies across 27 States and 3 Union Territories.