Daily Current Affairs- 24th June 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 24th June 2025

India to Launch First All‑India Household Income Survey in 2026

In the News: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) announced plans to conduct India's first-ever comprehensive nationwide Household Income Survey in February 2026. A Technical Expert Group (TEG), chaired by economist Dr. Surjit S. Bhalla, has been set up to guide the initiative.

Key Points:

• Survey Launch: MoSPI will kick off the Household Income Survey in February 2026 to estimate average rural and urban household incomes, as confirmed by then-Statistics Minister Rao Inderjit Singh.
• Purpose & Scope: This is the first dedicated survey focused exclusively on income distribution, aiming to understand income patterns, welfare impacts, and how technology adoption affects wages.
• Technical Oversight: A TEG has been formed under the leadership of Dr. Surjit Bhalla, former IMF Executive Director, with members from top institutes like ISI, NCAER, JNU, Hyderabad University, NSE, RBI, and more. Their role includes finalizing concepts, definitions, sampling design, methodology, estimation techniques, and integrating international best practices.
• Historical Context: Previous income data collection efforts—dating back to the 1950s (9th & 14th NSS rounds), 1960s integrated surveys, and mid-1980s pilots—were discontinued due to underreporting and reliability concerns. This survey aims to address those long-standing gaps.
• Data Integration: Beyond measuring incomes, the survey seeks to assess the impact of digital technology on wages and earnings.
• Policy Significance: The results will fill critical data gaps, offering granular insights for policy-making, targeting welfare programs, evaluating economic inequality, and aligning India’s statistical systems with global benchmarks. 

Tripura Declared Fully Literate Under ULLAS

In the News: Tripura was officially declared India’s third fully functionally literate state—joining Mizoram and Goa—after achieving a 95.6% adult literacy rate under the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram. Chief Minister Manik Saha and Preeti Meena (Director, Adult Education, Union Ministry of Education) announced the milestone at a ceremony in Agartala.

Key Points:

• Literacy Threshold: Under ULLAS criteria, states with 95%+ literacy among individuals aged 15+ (who missed formal education) qualify as “fully functionally literate” .
• Program Overview: Launched in 2022 under NEP 2020, ULLAS focuses on five pillars: foundational literacy & numeracy, life skills, basic & vocational education, and continuing education.
• Progress in Numbers: Literacy rose from 20.24% (1961) → 87.22% (2011 census) → 93.7% (2023–24 PLFS) → 95.6% (current) .
• Implementation Strategy: Collaboration of 2,228 volunteer teachers, 943 social awareness centres, and Youth Literacy Corps driving door-to-door surveys and education even in remote areas. Use of ULLAS mobile app, DIKSHA, and multilingual educational materials (Bengali, English, Kokborok) .  Assessments through FLNAT (Foundational Literacy & Numeracy Assessment Test); passed individuals receive certification from NIOS and Education Ministry
• Functional Literacy Emphasis: Beyond reading/writing, focus includes basic arithmetic, digital & financial skills, health/hygiene awareness, and vocational readiness 

Assam Announces OBC Status for Trans Community and Reservations for Anganwadi Workers

In the News: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma unveiled two transformative policies during a cabinet meeting: granting OBC status to the transgender community (limited to original Assamese residents with identity cards) and reserving 50% of supervisor-level posts for experienced Anganwadi workers.

Key Points:

•  OBC Status for Trans Community: The transgender community in Assam has been officially classified as Other Backward Classes (socially and educationally backward) to improve their access to education, employment, and welfare services. Only transgender individuals who are native to Assam will be eligible, with eligibility verified and identity cards issued by district commissioners.
• 50% Reservation for Anganwadi Supervisors: The quota for Anganwadi workers (with at least 10 years of service) in supervisor-level positions has been doubled from 25% to 50%. The remaining 50% of the posts will be filled through open recruitment to balance experienced staff with fresh talent.
• Objective & Impact: The OBC classification is aimed at social inclusion, helping marginalized individuals overcome discrimination and access affirmative benefits. The reserved supervisory roles offer long-serving Anganwadi workers greater career progression and recognition, strengthening frontline child nutrition and maternal support services.
• Selective Eligibility for Both Measures: Both initiatives include a residency requirement: only individuals originally from Assam will benefit, ensuring state-level prioritization and locally targeted upliftment 

JCB Prize for Literature Cancelled After 7 Editions: Here’s What We Know

In the News: Mita Kapur—Literary Director of the JCB Prize—confirmed that the ₹25‑lakh award has been discontinued after seven annual editions, with no future editions planned.

Key Points:

•  Discontinuation Details: The JCB Literature Foundation applied in March 2025 to revoke its Section 8 license, transitioning from a charitable foundation to a private limited company; soon after, the prize was quietly halted No formal announcement or farewell event marked the end—simply no call for entries in 2025 and a media silence since last November.
• Award Overview & Impact: Launched in 2018, the JCB Prize was India’s most valuable fiction award (₹25 lakh for authors; ₹10 lakh for translators of winning translated works) . In seven years, five out of seven winners were translations—from Malayalam, Urdu, Tamil, highlighting its strong support for regional languages.
•  Final Winner: The last recipient was Upamanyu Chatterjee for Lorenzo Searches for the Meaning of Life in 2024.
•  Community Reaction: The literary world is stunned and disappointed. Authors describe the loss as “deeply disappointing” and a “great loss for Indian languages” . Pressure from critics regarding JCB’s broader business practices—including actions taken using its machinery—may have influenced the foundation’s decision.

Zonal Councils

In the News:  At the 25th Central Zonal Council meeting in Varanasi on June 24, 2025, chaired by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, ministers and officials from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh convened to bolster cooperative federalism and address regional and Centre‑state challenges.

Key Points:

• Origins & Legal Basis: Conceived by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and instituted under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 to ease linguistic hostilities and strengthen Centre–state and inter‑state cooperation.
•  Zonal Breakdown & Composition: Five zonal councils exist: Northern, Central, Eastern, Western, Southern—each grouping multiple states and select Union Territories. Chairperson: Union Home Minister; Vice-Chairperson: rotating Chief Minister; Members: Chief Ministers, two nominated ministers per state, union territory representatives, and advisors.
• Objectives: Promote national integration, curb regionalism, and facilitate idea-sharing and project coordination across states.
•  Functions: Serve as advisory forums to discuss issues ranging from economic planning, security, inter‑state transport, linguistic minorities, boundary disputes, infrastructure, education, tourism, environment, to disaster preparedness.
• Meetings & Effectiveness: Since inception in 1957, there have been over 100 meetings. Between 2014–2025, 28 zonal council and 33 standing‑committee meetings held—doubling frequency compared to 2004–2014—and resolving around 1,287 issues, with an 83% success‑rate in implementing recommendations. Performance under PM Modi’s government marked a shift from advisory to action-oriented, tackling subjects like fast‑track courts, village banking, ERSS‑112, child nutrition, and urban infrastructure.
• Recent Central Meeting Highlights: The June 24 Varanasi meet emphasized cooperative federalism, with discussions on development, law and order, environment, transport, and child welfare. It was also notable for being hosted outside a state capital for the first time.

 

Iran’s Operation Bashayer Al‑Fath

In the News: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched Operation Bashayer Al‑Fath (“Annunciation of Victory”), firing a barrage of precision-guided missiles aimed at the US Al‑Udeid Air Base in Qatar—strategically significant as US CENTCOM’s forward HQ. The strikes came in direct retaliation for the US-led Operation Midnight Hammer, which bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Key Points:

• Operation Details & Intent: Executed by the IRGC, the operation was described as a strong defensive response; Iran emphasized the strikes were proportionate— “equal to the number of bombs the US used”. Targets included Al‑Udeid and reportedly other US bases across Iraq, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
•  Military Execution & Outcome: Qatar’s air defences intercepted most of the missiles—shooting down 18 out of 19—with no reported damage or casualties. Turkish officials confirmed no impact on their troops deployed in the region
• Iran’s Justification: Iran cited US bombings of its nuclear facilities (Fordo, Natanz, Isfahan) as breach of international law, framing the missile strikes as legitimate defensive retaliation. The IRGC warned Washington that further aggression could trigger the “collapse of US military presence in the region”..
• Regional & Global Reactions: Qatar condemned the attack as a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty and reserved the right to respond under international law. Gulf states like Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, and France also expressed condemnation or called for de-escalation. The UN cautioned that such tit-for-tat actions risk pushing the region further into a “spiral of chaos”.
• Strategic Implications: This marks the most direct Iranian strike on US assets in the region, indicating an escalation that could upend regional security. The high interception success underscores both Qatar's air defense capabilities and the volatile balance in Gulf power dynamics. 

Global Nuclear Emergency Preparedness Exercise ConvEx‑3 (2025)

In the News: On June 24–25, 2025, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in partnership with Romania's CNCAN, launched the world’s largest and most complex international nuclear emergency exercise—ConvEx‑3—simulating a severe accident at the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant.

Key Points:

• Exercise Scope & Scale: This ConvEx‑3 (2025) was the largest to date, involving over 75 countries and 10 international organizations, with both in‑person participants in Romania and remote involvement globally. The 36‑hour full‑scale exercise is held once every 3–5 years to test cross‑border nuclear emergency preparedness. 
• Objectives & Protocols: The exercise tested coordination under the Early Notification and Assistance Conventions, including simulated evacuation, iodine distribution, food/trade restrictions, public outreach, and medical response. Rom eased the role of the IAEA's Incident & Emergency Centre, testing platforms like USIE and IRMIS, while national emergency centres activated and exchanged data.
• Context & Background: Romania previously hosted ConvEx‑3 in 2005, marking a 20‑year return to global emergency testing held at its lone nuclear site near the Black Sea. Earlier editions were conducted in UAE (2021), Hungary (2017), Morocco (2013), and Mexico (2008).
• Novel Challenges in 2025: Introduced trans‑boundary coordination, harmonizing protective zone actions and communications across neighboring nations for the first time. Included a nuclear security dimension—testing responses to threats like sabotage, physical/security breaches, and cyber‑attacks. Deployed a social media crisis simulator to assess real‑time public information management. Post‑exercise, a technical forum is planned to analyse lessons, best practices, and actionable strategies 

India Makes Historic Entry into Top 100 in Global SDG Rankings

In the News: On June 24, 2025, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network released its 2025 Sustainable Development Report, ranking India 99th globally on the SDG Index—marking its first-ever appearance in the top 100.

Key Points: 

• Record Improvement: India's ranking has risen significantly: from 109th in 2024, to 112th in 2023, 121st in 2022, and earlier positions in the 110s and 120s. The country scored 67/100 on the 2025 index.
• Regional & Global Context: Among South Asian countries, India now leads ahead of Bangladesh (114th) and Pakistan (140th), while Bhutan (74th) and Nepal (85th) continue ahead. Globally, Finland, Sweden, and Denmark top the index; East and South Asia show strongest regional progress.
• Drivers of Progress: Significant gains in clean energy, healthcare, housing, poverty reduction, and infrastructure . National schemes such as PM Awas Yojana, Ujjwala, Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat, and Ayushman Bharat have contributed to improved SDG performance.
• Persistent Challenges: Only 17% of global SDG targets are currently on track for 2030, with obstacles including conflict, environmental stress, and financing limitations. Globally stalled goals include obesity, press freedom, nitrogen management, biodiversity, and corruption—all areas requiring focused attention.
• Strategic Implications: Entering the top 100 signals India’s growing leadership and legitimacy in multilateral sustainability forums. The ranking appears against the backdrop of the upcoming 4th International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, emphasizing global resource mobilisation and equity

MM‑Negative Blood Group System

In the News: On June 24, 2025, the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) officially recognized a new blood group system called EMM‑negative, colloquially known as Gwada negative, marking the 48th globally recognized blood group system.

Key Points:

• Definition & Naming: Characterized by the absence of the high‑incidence EMM antigen on red blood cells—present in over 90% of humans. Named “Gwada negative” after Guadeloupe, where the only known carrier—a woman—resides
• Discovery Timeline: First detected in 2011 during routine testing; unresolved until 2019, when high‑throughput DNA sequencing revealed a genetic mutation in PIGG  ISBT ratified it in June 2025, listing it as ISBT042.
• Uniqueness & Clinical Impact: Only one confirmed person globally; she can only receive her own blood, no compatible donors available. Absence of common antigen could trigger severe hemolytic reactions if transfused with standard blood
• Genetic Basis: Mutation in the PIGG gene impairs the GPI‑anchor attachment of EMM antigen; frameshift deletions and stop codons identified. Part of the 901 series before its elevation to its own system.