Daily Current Affairs and GK | 27 June 2025

Topic: Important Days

1. International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking observed by government of India on 26th June 2025.

• A national-level event was held at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi.
• This programme was organized by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• Shri B. L. Verma, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, was the Chief Guest.
• The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment oversees prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and awareness related to substance use.
• The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) is a major initiative to create a drug-free India.
• It was launched on 15 August 2020 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• It is being implemented across all districts of the country.
• The campaign mainly targets youth and educational institutions.
• More than 15.78 crore people have been sensitized about the harmful effects of substance abuse.
• This includes over 5.26 crore youth and more than 3.31 crore women.
• Events like ‘Nashe se Azaadi’, ‘Naya Bharat, Nasha Mukt Bharat’, and NCC interactions are regularly conducted.
• All de-addiction centers in the country have been geo-tagged for easy access.
• From 1st to 26th June 2025, all States, UTs, NGOs, and supported organizations under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction held awareness events.
• International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is observed each year on 26th June.
• This day aims to to strengthen action and cooperation in achieving a world free of drug abuse.
• On 7th December 1987, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) decided to observe 26th June as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
• The theme for campaign of 2025 is "Break the cycle. #StopOrganizedCrime".

Topic: Personality in News

2. Jhanvi Dangeti will become the first Indian astronaut on the Titans space mission in 2029.

• 21-year-old Jahnvi Dangeti is set to create history by becoming the first Indian astronaut to join the Titans space mission in 2029.
• She hails from Palakollu, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh.
• She has been selected as an astronaut candidate for the 2025 Titans space astronaut class and is expected to join her first orbital mission in March 2029.
• She is the first Indian to complete NASA's prestigious International Air and Space Program (IASP).
• During the flight, the crew will orbit the planet twice, experiencing two sunrises and two sunsets.
• The mission will provide nearly three hours of continuous zero gravity, providing a revolutionary environment for scientific exploration and human spaceflight development.
• The mission will be commanded by William McArthur Jr., a retired U.S. Army Colonel and former NASA astronaut, who now serves as Chief Astronaut at Titans Space.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

3. Elephant conservation reviewed in the 21st Steering Committee meeting in Dehradun.

• On June 26, 2025, the 21st Steering Committee Meeting of Project Elephant was chaired by Union Environment Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, Dehradun.
• The meeting was attended by senior officials, scientists, and conservation experts from elephant range states, alongside key wildlife institutions.
• A strong emphasis was laid on addressing human-elephant conflict, with community participation being encouraged for conflict management.
• Shri Yadav stressed that the active involvement of local communities is essential for the success of wildlife conservation efforts.
• The welfare, safety, and working conditions of frontline forest staff and ground-level conservation workers were highlighted as key concerns.
• Coordination with Indian Railways, NHAI, and the Ministry of Power was called for to reduce accidents and improve wildlife awareness.
• The meeting featured updates on major initiatives, including the development of Regional Action Plans for Human-Elephant Conflict in Southern and North-Eastern India and surveys covering 3,452.4 km of sensitive railway stretches, identifying 77 high-risk areas for mitigation.
• Progress was also reported on the DNA profiling of captive elephants, with 1,911 genetic profiles completed across 22 states.
• The committee noted that Phase I of the coordinated elephant population estimation in the northeastern states has been completed, with over 16,500 dung samples collected.
• Work is also underway on the Model Elephant Conservation Plan (ECP) for the Nilgiri Elephant Reserve, which is expected to be finalized by December 2025.
• Looking into the future, the committee discussed preparations for the World Elephant Day celebrations on August 12, 2025, in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, where the Gaja Gaurav Awards will also be presented.

Topic: Banking and Finance

4. India's first maritime NBFC- Sagarmala Finance Corporation inaugurated.

• On 26 June, India’s first Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) in the maritime sector, Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL), was inaugurated by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
• SMFCL, previously known as Sagarmala Development Company Limited, is now positioned to play a transformational role in the development of India’s maritime infrastructure in line with AMRUT Kal Vision 2047.
• SMFCL, a Mini Ratna, Category-I, Central Public Sector Enterprise, has officially been registered as an NBFC with the RBI as of June 19, 2025.
• The corporation is tasked with filling financial gaps and offering tailored financial products to support the maritime industry.
• Ports, MSMEs, startups, and maritime institutions are expected to benefit from the specialized financial services provided by SMFCL.
• Strategic areas like shipbuilding, cruise tourism, renewable energy, and maritime education will be supported by this initiative.
• With SMFCL operational, a critical step has been taken to boost India’s port infrastructure and national logistics network.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

5. India's first butterfly sanctuary declared in the Western Ghats of Kerala.

• Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala was renamed as Aralam Butterfly Sanctuary by the Kerala State Wildlife Board.

• With this renaming, it became the first protected forest in India dedicated solely to butterflies.
• The sanctuary, spanning 55 square kilometers, houses over 266 butterfly species, representing more than 80% of Kerala’s butterfly population.
• This recognition came after 25 years of consistent surveys and conservation advocacy by local experts and wildlife enthusiasts.
• Seasonal butterfly migration, especially between October and February, transforms the sanctuary into a vivid natural display.
• Species such as the Common Albatross butterfly contribute to a spectacular view, as they fly amidst orchids, tall trees, and wildflowers.
• Since its establishment in 1984, Aralam has attracted researchers due to its biodiversity and sustained ecological initiatives.
• Annual butterfly surveys have been conducted by the State Forest Department in collaboration with the Malabar Natural History Society.
• The sanctuary is also inhabited by elephants, leopards, giant squirrels, and a variety of bird species.

Topic: Reports and Indices

6. E-commerce will power India's $1 trillion digital economy, says report.

• A report by Bessemer Venture Partners was released on 26 June, estimating that India’s online commerce market will expand from $30 billion in 2020 to $300 billion by 2030, anchoring a projected $1 trillion digital economy.
• It was observed that online commerce has shifted from a niche segment to a dominant pillar of India’s retail ecosystem, now serving a broad and diverse consumer base.
• The study declared that a “tailwind trifecta” of rising internet penetration, favorable demographics, and supportive policy reforms has established the platform for this rapid growth.
• Quick commerce was identified as a new retail frontier, and the success of platforms such as BigBasket, Blinkit, Swiggy, and Zepto was cited as evidence of strong demand for ultra-fast deliveries.
• The report noted that verticalised q-commerce startups—Snabbit, Swish, and Slikk among them—are targeting niche needs and further diversifying the sector.
• Direct-to-consumer brands were described as catering to a mass-premium audience seeking innovative, affordably priced products aligned with modern lifestyles.
• A “content revolution” was highlighted, with short-form video platforms registering a 3.6-fold rise in daily active users over five years and directly challenging mainstream digital services.
• Monetisation models were reported to be shifting toward UPI-based microtransactions such as virtual tipping and autopay subscriptions, a segment forecast to touch $1.5 billion by 2029.
• Spending on organic food, protein supplements, fitness gadgets, preventive healthcare and wellness services is on the rise.
• The report states that health-focused food and beverage (F&B) consumption has grown from 11% to 16% of total F&B spend, with brands quickly adapting to this emerging demand.

Topic: State News/ Uttar Pradesh

7. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh laid the foundation for a Green Data Centre in Sahibabad, Ghaziabad.

• The facility is part of a ₹1,000 crore project.
• It is being developed through a partnership between Central Electronics Limited (CEL) and ESDS.
• The data centre will have a capacity of 30 MW.
• It will support 200 high-density server racks per floor.
• The project focuses on environmental sustainability.
• It will use renewable energy sources and smart cooling systems.
• Features like rainwater harvesting and reflective roofing will reduce its carbon footprint.
• Connectivity will be powered by a 40 Gbps fibre ring network.
• It will also have dual 10 Gbps connections for cloud and disaster recovery needs.
• CEL was established in 1974 to promote indigenous technology.
• It introduced India’s first solar cell in 1977.
• The company was granted Mini Ratna status last year.
• Central Electronics Limited (CEL) is a Govt of India PSU affiliated with CSIR under Ministry of Science & Technology
• Dr. Singh announced a Biotechnology Industrial Park will be set up in Lucknow.
• He also shared plans for a Startup Conclave in Uttar Pradesh after Independence Day.
• He mentioned faecal sludge treatment by the Department of Atomic Energy at the Kumbh Mela.

Topic: Miscellaneous

8. Voluntary use of Aadhaar authentication by Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) for candidate verification during examinations and recruitment processes has been notified by Department of Financial Services.

• This is a move aimed at promoting good governance and ensuring fair recruitment practices.
• As per notification, IBPS officially designated as a ‘Public Examination Authority  under the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 is authorised to use Aadhaar-based authentication (Yes/No and e-KYC) on a voluntary basis.
• The approval was granted under Rule 5 of the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance Rules, 2020.
• It also aligns with the provisions of the Aadhaar Act, 2016.
• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology approved the move.
• This was done after consulting the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
• The initiative aims to reduce impersonation and exam-related fraud.
• It is expected to improve the integrity of the examination process.
• The system will also simplify identity verification for exam administrators.
• This will help lower administrative burden and increase operational efficiency.
• Genuine candidates will be better protected against fraud.
• The measure is especially useful for recruitment in the BFSI sector.
• It is also expected to strengthen public trust in the exam system.
• Department of Financial Services comes under the Ministry of Finance.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

9. India declined to sign the joint declaration at the SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, China.

• The decision was based on the absence of any reference to Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism in the document.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s decision led to the conclave ending without a unified communique.
• The SCO Charter requires consensus for decisions to be adopted.
• If even one member disagrees, the decision is not considered final.
• Rajnath Singh called for a united global approach to tackle terrorism, radicalisation, and extremism.
• The Defence Minister asked SCO nations to reject hypocrisy in dealing with terrorism.
• He highlighted SCO’s importance in global affairs, noting its members represent 30% of the world’s GDP.
• He added that about 40% of the global population lives in SCO countries.
• He congratulated Belarus on joining the SCO as a full member.
• The SCO was established in 2001 as a regional security and cooperation platform.
• India became a full member of the organisation in 2017.
• Current members include India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus.
• China holds chair of the SCO in 2025 with the theme “Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move.”

Topic: Sports

10. India has been chosen to host the 2029 World Police & Fire Games (WPFG).

• The announcement followed a successful bid presentation by Indian officials.
• The presentation was made to the WPFG Federation in Birmingham, USA.
• The games will be held in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and Ekta Nagar in Gujarat.
• The WPFG is one of the world’s largest multi-sport events.
• It involves police, firefighters, and emergency responders from over 70 countries.
• The bidding process was led by Gujarat state representatives.
• The Union Ministry of Home Affairs supported the effort.
• World Police and Fire Games is a biennial athletic event.
• It is open to active and retired law enforcement and fire service personnel all over the world.
• The WPFG Federation is an arm of the California Police Athletic Federation (CPAF), an American non-profit organization.