Daily Current Affairs- 22nd June 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 22nd June 2025

Draft Registration Bill, 2025

In the News:  The Ministry of Rural Development (Department of Land Resources) released the draft Registration Bill, 2025—intended to replace the century-old Registration Act of 1908. It’s part of a 30-day public consultation period ending by June 25, 2025.

Key Points:

• Digital-First Registration: The Bill enables end-to-end property registration digitally—document submission, authentication, fee payment, and issuance of e‑certificates—all online, with optional in-person interaction. Identity verification can be done via Aadhaar or alternative government IDs.
• Expanded Mandatory Registry: New documents now compulsorily registrable include agreements to sell, power of attorney (POA), sale certificates, equitable mortgage deeds, and instruments related to company mergers/demergers—all added under Section 12.
• Administrative Restructuring: The Bill creates new registration roles (Additional/Assistant IGs, Digital Registrars, Technical Officers) and clarifies the responsibilities and powers of registering officers.
• Enhanced Dispute Redressal: Introduces appeal routes for denied registrations, incorrect entries, or fraud—with appellate officers/tribunals and possibly a state-level Resolution Authority.
• Data Privacy & Digital Inclusion: Public feedback (e.g., from Maharashtra workshop) recommends offline access points in rural areas, improved digital literacy drives, robust data encryption, restrictions on sharing personal info (like GPAs and wills), and compliance with the Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
• State Concerns & Revenue Impacts: Telangana and some southern states have flagged concerns over mandatory online-only registration, potential for fraud without in-person slots, public access to sensitive docs (GPAs, wills), and uniform fee caps potentially reducing state stamp duty revenues (e.g., Telangana currently earns ~₹15,000 crore/year). 

ECI issues new rules for checking and verification of EVMs in case of a challenge by losing candidates

In the News: The Election Commission of India (ECI) released a revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for checking and verification (C&V) of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and VVPATs. This update follows the Supreme Court ruling of May 7, 2025, and aims to allow second‑ and third‑place candidates to challenge election results with greater transparency.

Key Points:

• Trigger: Supreme Court Directive: The May 7, 2025 Supreme Court order requires the ECI not to erase machine data and to permit examination of the Symbol Loading Units (SLUs) during verification.
• Who Can Apply & Scope: Second‑ and third‑placed candidates may request C&V of up to 5% of EVMs per constituency, covering 20 Ballot Units, 10 Control Units, and 10 VVPATs.
• Burnt‑Memory & SLU Inclusion: The process now involves checking the EVM’s burnt memory/microcontroller and gives candidates the option to include SLU data in mock polls to verify the authenticity of candidate symbols.
• Tiered Fees
• ₹23,600 for a self‑diagnostic test per EVM set (BU, CU, VVPAT)
• ₹47,200 if a mock poll is desired
• Refund of fees if tampering is detected.
• Mock Poll Protocol: Up to 1,400 votes per machine are cast in front of candidate representatives after self-diagnosis passes. VVPAT slips are counted against the Control Unit, and data/video is recorded.
• Data Retention Extended: Verification records, including VVPAT slips and video footage, are now retained for three months (up from one month) by District Election Officers.
• Manufacturers & Certification: Engineers from BEL and ECIL conduct the verification, and a certificate confirming no tampering is issued. Faulty EVMs are reported and quarantined . 

INS Tamal, India’s last imported warship, to be commissioned on July 1

In the News: On July 1, 2025, the Indian Navy will commission INS Tamal, a Tushil-class guided‑missile stealth frigate built at Russia’s Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad. Notably, this vessel is the final Indian warship constructed abroad, marking a strategic transition toward indigenous shipbuilding. The ceremony will be led by Vice Admiral Sanjay J. Singh, Flag Officer Commanding‑in‑Chief, Western Naval Command.

Key Points:

• Final Foreign-Built Frigate: INS Tamal is the eighth Krivak/Talwar-class and second Tushil-class frigate acquired from Russia, and the last warship India will commission from a foreign shipyard.
• Specifications & Capabilities:
  • Displacement: ~3,900 tonnes
  • Length: ~125 m, Top speed: >30 knotsऽ
  • Armament: BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, Shtil‑1 SAMs, 100 mm main gun, AK‑630 CIWS, heavyweight torpedoes, RBU‑6000 ASW rockets, HUMSA‑NG Mk II sonar, advanced EW and radar systems.
• Indigenisation: Approximately 26 % of onboard systems are Indian‑made (ranging from 26 % to 33 % across sources), including critical components from BEL, Tata, Keltron, and BrahMos Aerospace.
• Crew & Trials: A crew of over 250 personnel, trained in Russia under extreme winter conditions, completed three months of sea trials before delivery.
• Strategic Shift: This marks the close of foreign procurement under Project 11356. India is now focusing on domestic construction—including the two Tushil-class counterparts being built at Goa Shipyard under technology transfer—aligning with its Make in India/Atmanirbhar Bharat agenda 

Iran moves to block Strait of Hormuz

In the News: On June 22, 2025, reports emerged that the Iranian parliament backed a measure to close the Strait of Hormuz in response to recent U.S. airstrikes targeting its nuclear facilities. The final decision now rests with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.  

Key Points:

• Parliamentary Approval: Iran’s Majlis (parliament) formally approved a resolution to block the Strait of Hormuz—a major global oil and gas choke‑point—following U.S. bombings at its nuclear sites.
• Decision by Security Body: The resolution delegates the final call to the Supreme National Security Council, indicating it’s not an immediate action but a strategic option being weighed.
• Strategic Leverage: Iran's move is widely seen as political posturing to pressure Western powers and deter further strikes, leveraging control of a passage through which around 20% of global oil and LNG flows.
• Precedent of Warnings: Tehran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait during past escalations, though it has never acted on these warnings. Analysts view the threats now as another layer of strategic escalation rather than immediate closure.
• Global Market Implications: Energy markets responded sharply: oil prices jumped over 4% following these developments, amid predictions of further volatility if the strait is closed. However, analysts caution that any closure would likely trigger swift military responses, limiting its duration 

Why it Matters

• Global Energy Security: The Strait of Hormuz handles about 18–20 million barrels of oil per day (~20% of global oil consumption) and sizable LNG volumes. Interruptions could trigger sharp price spikes and inflation.
• Geopolitical Pressure Tactic: Iran’s stance serves as a strategic deterrent, showing willingness to escalate if its “vital interests” are threatened, with potential to checkpoint global economies .
• Regional Security Flashpoint: Given the history of tap-and-mine tactics and A2/AD strategies in the area, any move to block Hormuz would escalate regional military risk substantially 

PM Modi’s Visit to Croatia

In the News: On June 18–19, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a historic first-ever visit to Croatia, marking the final leg of his three-nation tour (Cyprus, Canada, Croatia) following the G7 summit in Canada. His visit aimed to elevate bilateral ties with Croatia and deepen India’s strategic outreach in Europe.

Key Points:

• Historic First Visit: Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to officially visit Croatia since diplomatic ties began in 1992. He was warmly welcomed in Zagreb by PM Andrej Plenković at the airport.
• Indian diaspora members greeted him amid Vedic chants and cultural performances, underlining strong people-to-people bonds.
• High-Level Engagements: Modi held delegation-level talks with PM Plenković and met President Zoran Milanović. Discussions centered on enhancing cooperation in trade, defence, technology, agriculture, maritime connectivity, culture, and scientific exchange.
• Major Agreements Signed: Four key MoUs were inked covering: agricultural cooperation, science & technology partnership, cultural exchange, and establishment of a Hindi Chair at the University of Zagreb.
• Strategic Gateway: Croatia’s ports (Rijeka, Split, Ploče) were highlighted as strategic nodes for the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and part of the EU’s TEN-T infrastructure. The visit signals India’s interest in connecting with Central and Eastern Europe.
• Defence & Economic Cooperation: Discussions included defence industrial collaboration, potential involvement in India’s Sagarmala project, cooperation in pharmaceuticals, ICT, startups, and maritime sectors.
• Cultural Diplomacy: Modi presented a traditional Pattachitra painting from Odisha to President Milanović. In return, he received a facsimile of the first printed Sanskrit grammar by Croatian scholar Filip Vezdin—a testament to centuries-old shared cultural links.
• Shared Values & Global Vision: Both leaders emphasized resolving global conflicts through diplomacy—not battlefields—and expressed solidarity on counter-terrorism. Modi praised Croatia’s support following the Pahalgam terror attack.