Stay Updated with Daily Current Affairs—June 13 & 14, 2025

Welcome to your trusted source for daily important current affairs, specially curated for competitive exam aspirants, students, and knowledge seekers. The updates for June 13th & 14th, 2025, have been carefully compiled from reliable sources to help you stay informed and exam-ready. Whether you’re preparing for SSC, RRB, UPSC, banking, or simply love staying updated—these crisp and relevant notes are your go-to reference for effective learning.

National Affairs

India ranked low in Global Gender Gap Report.

The World Economic Forum released its 19th Global Gender Gap Report, ranking India 131st out of 148 countries with an overall gender parity score of 64.1%, slightly up by ~0.3 pp from the previous year but slipping two places due to others improving faster.

• What/Report: Global Gender Gap Index 2025 by WEF, evaluating 148 nations.
• When: Published on June 12, 2025.
• Where: Global, with India assessed among 148 countries.
• Who: Compiled by the World Economic Forum, a Swiss-based think tank since 2006.
• Aim/Purpose: To benchmark and track gender disparities across key life domains, guiding policy and international best-practice exchange.

• India’s Performance:

  • Economic: The score rose to 40.7% (+0.9 pp); income parity improved to ~29.9%, yet it is still among the lowest globally.

  • Education: Near parity at 97.1%, driven by better female literacy & tertiary enrollment.

  • Health: Improved to ~95.4%, aided by better sex ratio and life expectancy parity.

  • Political: Declined; women’s parliamentary seat share fell from 14.7% to 13.8%, and ministerial representation from 6.5% to 5.6%.

Rudrastra VTOL UAV trialled

India’s private defense firm Solar Defence and Aerospace Ltd. (SDAL), based in Nagpur, successfully conducted trials of the Rudrastra hybrid VTOL UAV at the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Jaisalmer.

• What: Rudrastra, a hybrid VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) UAV by SDAL.
• Who: Developed by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited; tested for the Indian Army.
• Where: Pokhran Firing Range, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
• When: Trial conducted on June 11, 2025.
• Capabilities: VTOL; cruise flight; 170 km total range; 1.5 h endurance; live video beyond 50 km.
• Payload: Delivers an 8 kg precision-guided airburst warhead.
• Aim/Purpose: Deep penetration reconnaissance and precision strikes (e.g., artillery, field positions) as a stand-off weapon.

Retail inflation hits six-year low

India’s retail inflation dropped to a six-year low in June 2025, signaling improved price stability in the country.

• What: Retail inflation falls to six-year low.
• Where: India.
• When: June 2025.
• Who Released Data: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
• Rate: Approx. 4.3% (Consumer Price Index – CPI).
• Reason: Decline in food and fuel prices.
• Impact: May lead to stable or lower interest rates; boosts consumer and investor confidence.
• Purpose of Tracking: To assess cost of living and guide monetary policy decisions.
• RBI Target Range: 2%–6%.

Fair-dealing (fair use) debate intensifies

A high-profile copyright dispute between leading news agency ANI and digital educator Mohak Mangal has reignited the national debate over India’s fair-dealing (fair use) laws.

• What: Legal dispute over digital fair use in India.
• Where: YouTube, involving Indian creators.
• When: Early June 2025.
• Who: ANI vs. Mohak Mangal (digital educator).
• Aim: Clarify and modernize fair-dealing laws in the digital context.
• Purpose: Protect educational, commentary, and transformative uses while respecting copyright.

International Affairs

Israel-Iran escalation—Operation Rising Lion

On June 13, 2025, Israel launched a surprise military operation dubbed “Operation Rising Lion,” targeting key Iranian nuclear facilities in what is being described as one of the most direct and forceful Israeli actions against Iran to date.

• What: Israeli airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities (Operation Rising Lion).
• Where: Multiple nuclear sites across Iran; retaliation impacted Israel, especially near Tel Aviv.
• When: June 13, 2025.
• Who: Israel Defense Forces (IDF) targeting Iranian nuclear program; Iran’s Revolutionary Guard retaliated.
• Aim: To halt or slow down Iran’s nuclear weapons development.
• Purpose: National security and prevention of nuclear threat from Iran.
• Impact: 9 top scientists killed, missile exchanges, global alarm over Middle East escalation.

U.S. military parade controversy

On June 14, 2025, the United States held a grand military parade in Washington, D.C., to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army’s founding. The event featured tanks, marching troops, fighter jets, and high-level displays of military strength.

• What: U.S. military parade controversy.
• Where: Washington, D.C., USA.
• When: June 14, 2025.
• Who: Organized by the U.S. Army; supported by Donald Trump.
• Aim: Celebrate 250 years of the U.S. Army.
• Purpose: Public engagement and national pride.
• Controversy: Accusations of politicization, excessive cost, and protests.
• Opposition Response: Over 1,800 protests nationwide; symbolic promotion of “Barack Obama Day.”
• Significance: Sparks debate on military image and political symbolism in national events.

Celebration protests in the U.S.

On June 14, 2025, thousands of Americans took to the streets across major cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Chicago, organizing over 1,800 protest events as part of a counter-celebration dubbed “Barack Obama Day.”

• What: “Barack Obama Day” counter-protests.
• When: June 14, 2025.
• Where: Over 1,800 locations across the U.S., including major cities.
• Who: Civil rights groups, youth activists, progressive citizens.
• Why: Protest against Trump’s birthday celebration and military parade.
• Purpose: Promote democracy, unity, and racial equality over perceived authoritarianism and division.
• Nature: Peaceful, symbolic, highly organized grassroots movement.

Science & Technology

International Year of Quantum Science & Tech (IYQ 2025)

In 2025, the United Nations declared the year as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ 2025) to mark the 100th anniversary of quantum mechanics, commemorating groundbreaking developments since the 1925 foundational equations by Heisenberg and Schrödinger.

• What: International Year of Quantum Science and Technology.
• When: Throughout 2025.
• Where: Globally (UNESCO-led initiatives, supported in over 60 countries).
• Who: Initiated by the UN, led by IUPAP, and supported by UNESCO and global partners.
• Why: To commemorate 100 years of quantum mechanics (est. 1925).
• Purpose: Public engagement, educational outreach, and promoting quantum innovation.
• Focus Areas: Quantum computing, communication, sensing, and research collaboration.
• Target: students, educators, policymakers, the tech industry, and the general public.

First images of the sun’s south pole

For the first time in human history, scientists have captured direct images of the Sun’s south pole, thanks to the Solar Orbiter mission, a joint collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA.

• What: First-ever direct images of the Sun’s south pole.
• Where: Captured by Solar Orbiter from a tilted orbit beyond Earth’s plane.
• When: Images taken in early June 2025.
• Who: Mission led by ESA and NASA.
• Aim: To understand solar magnetism, solar wind, and solar cycles.
• Purpose: Improve predictions of space weather that affects Earth’s technology.
• Tech Used: Instruments like EUI and PHI onboard Solar Orbiter.
• Significance: Vital step in decoding the Sun’s 11-year activity cycle.

U.S. Department of Energy science budget cuts

The U.S. Department of Energy has proposed significant cuts in its FY 2026 science budget: a 14 % reduction to the Office of Science, bringing its funding down to $7.1 billion, and a 56 % cut to the Biological and Environmental Research (BER) division—slashing support for environmental modelling and its Atmospheric Radiation Measurement facility.

• What: 14% cut to the Office of Science (~–$1.1 billion); 56% cut to BER programs.
• Where: U.S. Department of Energy (headquarters and national labs).
• Where: U.S. Department of Energy (Headquarters and national labs)
• Who: Directed by DOE Secretary Chris Wright under the Trump administration; opposed by Energy Sciences Coalition, lab scientists.
• Purpose/Aim: Shift DOE funding toward foundational research in AI, quantum computing, fusion, isotopes, grid resilience; reorient focus from climate modeling and environmental science.

Economy & Finance

India’s economic growth with concerns on inclusivity

As of June 2025, India has retained its position as the world’s fourth-largest economy with a nominal GDP of approximately $3.9 trillion.

• What: India’s economic growth raises concerns over lack of inclusivity.
• Where: India, highlighted during policy reviews in New Delhi.
• When: June 2025.
• Who: Indian government, NITI Aayog, IMF, World Bank, economic experts.

• Aim: To ensure balanced and equitable growth.

• Purpose: Address gaps in employment, gender parity, rural access, and wealth distribution.
• Current GDP: ~$3.9 trillion (4th largest globally).
• Challenges: income inequality, gender gaps, regional disparities, and informal labor reliance.

Central government schemes to be reviewed

In June 2025, the Government of India announced a comprehensive review of all central government welfare schemes to ensure better efficiency, accountability, and public impact.

• What: Review of central welfare schemes.
• Where: Nationwide (India).
• When: Initiated in mid-June 2025; reports due by July 2025.
• Who: Central Government of India, PM Modi, NITI Aayog, Finance Ministry.
• Aim: Improve efficiency, remove duplication, and promote impactful schemes.
• Purpose: Better public service delivery and rational fund allocation.

Polity & Governance

Brexit Gibraltar deal

June 2025 deal removes land-border friction, institutes dual transit checks, embeds Gibraltar in Schengen and customs frameworks, aligns tax, protects sovereignty, and stabilizes regional ties and economy.

• What: the UK, Spain, and EU reached a landmark political agreement in Brussels to resolve the post‑Brexit status of Gibraltar.
• Where: Gibraltar—Britain’s strategically positioned overseas territory at Spain’s southern tip—along with its land border with La Línea de la Concepción in Spain.

• Who

  • UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy

  • Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares

  • EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič

  • Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo.

• Aim & Purpose

  • Eliminate physical border controls on the land frontier, enabling frictionless movement of people and goods.

  • Introduce juxtaposed/dual passport checks at Gibraltar’s airport and seaport, carried out jointly by British and Spanish/EU officials.

  • Effectively integrate Gibraltar into the Schengen Area and establish a customs union‑like arrangement to streamline trade.

• Key Measures

  • No checks at the land border—benefiting the ~15,000 daily cross-border workers.

  • Joint controls at entry points, akin to Eurostar’s St Pancras model.

  • Goods and customs handled via cooperative frameworks, avoiding major inspections.

  • Indirect taxation alignment (e.g., 15 % sales tax, tobacco measures) to prevent smuggling and unfair competition.

  • Clarified sovereignty with a clause ensuring that UK sovereignty and Gibraltar’s military autonomy remain fully intact.

  • Sets the stage for future formal treaty with Parliament ratification on both sides.

• Outcome & Impacts

  • Secures Gibraltar’s economic stability and legal certainty.

  • Preserves UK sovereignty while integrating Gibraltar into Schengen free‑movement space.

  • Represents a pragmatic diplomatic reset, reducing isolation post-Brexit and strengthening UK–EU–Spain cooperation.

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