Daily Current Affairs- 25th June 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 25th June 2026

What is Project Hawk Eye Surveillance Technology?

In the News: Anantnag Police in Jammu and Kashmir launched Project Hawk Eye for the safe conduct of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2026. The initiative aims to provide technology-linked surveillance from the sky to the ground across the yatra route. It was introduced ahead of the pilgrimage scheduled from July 3 to August 28, 2026.

Key Points:

• Purpose of the Initiative: Project Hawk Eye is a comprehensive surveillance and security framework. It is meant to maintain round-the-clock vigilance along the Amarnath Yatra route, especially the traditional Pahalgam route in south Kashmir.
• Use of Drones: Five drones have been deployed at key locations for real-time aerial monitoring. These drones help security personnel assess emerging situations quickly and coordinate with ground units.
• Ground-Level Security Grid: The project includes 28 Machan Morchas, which are elevated observation posts placed at vulnerable and sensitive locations. These posts strengthen area domination and help personnel monitor movement along the route.
• CCTV and Facial Recognition: The surveillance network includes 416 high-resolution CCTV cameras and a Facial Recognition System at critical points. These systems are intended to identify suspicious movements and support preventive security measures.
• Wider Security Context: The yatra routes, including Pahalgam and Baltal axes, were declared a No-Fly Zone from July 1, 2026, till completion of the yatra. Helicopter services for pilgrims were also not available this year due to security concerns.

If passport not a proof of citizenship, what is? What India’s various laws say

In the News: A public debate began after the Ministry of External Affairs clarified that an Indian passport is a travel document, not conclusive proof of citizenship. The issue raised a larger question because India does not issue a universal citizenship certificate to every citizen.

Key Points:

• Citizenship as Legal Status: Indian citizenship is governed by Articles 5 to 11 of the Constitution and the Citizenship Act, 1955. Citizenship depends on legal facts such as birth, descent, registration, naturalisation or incorporation of territory, not merely on one identity document.
•  Passport’s Legal Role: The Passports Act, 1967 provides for passports and travel documents and regulates departure from India. Section 20 of the Act also allows the Central Government to issue passports or travel documents to persons who are not citizens of India in specified situations.
• Aadhaar Position: Section 9 of the Aadhaar Act, 2016 clearly states that Aadhaar is not proof of citizenship or domicile. Aadhaar establishes identity for service delivery purposes, but it does not determine nationality.
• Common Documents: Voter ID, PAN, driving licence and passport may be relevant identity or supporting documents, but they are not treated as final citizenship certificates by themselves. Citizenship claims are assessed under the Citizenship Act and related rules.
• Citizenship Certificates: Certificates are issued in specific cases such as citizenship by registration or naturalisation. Persons who are citizens by birth generally rely on birth records, parentage, domicile and other legal evidence depending on the applicable period under law.

Legal Status of the RSS

In the News: The legal status of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh came into discussion again after questions were raised about its registration, finances and accountability. The debate centres on whether a large organisation can function without registration under statutes such as the Societies Registration Act, Indian Trusts Act or Companies Act.

Key Points:

• Registration Not Generally Mandatory: India does not have a general law requiring every association of citizens to register. Laws relating to societies, trusts, companies and trade unions provide legal forms that organisations may choose, especially when they need specific legal privileges.
• Body of Individuals: The RSS has argued that it is a recognised body of individuals and not an incorporated legal entity. Earlier tax proceedings also referred to the organisation in this manner while dealing with donations such as guru dakshina.
• Juristic Personality Issue: An unregistered association generally does not have a separate legal personality like a company or registered institutional body. Property, contracts and legal proceedings usually operate through office-bearers, trustees or representatives.
• Importance of Registration: Registration gives an organisation a clearer governance structure and makes it easier to own property, open bank accounts, employ staff, receive grants and maintain continuity beyond individual office-bearers.
• Societies Registration Act: The Societies Registration Act, 1860 provides a statutory framework for literary, scientific and charitable societies. It includes provisions on registration, annual lists of managing bodies, property of societies and suits by or against societies.

India-EU Human Rights Dialogue Held in New Delhi

In the News: The 12th India-European Union Human Rights Dialogue was held in New Delhi on June 24, 2026. The dialogue was co-chaired by Piyush Srivastava, Additional Secretary in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and Hervé Delphin, Ambassador of the European Union to India.

Key Points:

• 12th Dialogue Held: The 12th India-EU Human Rights Dialogue was held in New Delhi on June 24, 2026, co-chaired by Piyush Srivastava from India’s MEA and Hervé Delphin, EU Ambassador to India.
• Rights Discussed: The dialogue covered civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights, along with freedom of expression, freedom of religion or belief, migrant rights, gender rights, LGBTQI+ rights and child rights.
• AI and Human Rights: Both sides discussed trustworthy, sustainable and human-centric artificial intelligence, linking it with digital rights, online freedoms and responsible technology governance.
• Civil Society Focus: India and the EU recognised the role of national and international human rights institutions, civil society actors, journalists and other stakeholders in protecting democratic freedoms.
• Different Positions: The EU reiterated its opposition to capital punishment, while India reaffirmed the Right to Development as a distinct, universal, inalienable and fundamental human right.

35 Nations Sign AI Opportunity Statement at Pax Silica Summit

In the News: At the second Pax Silica Summit in Washington, D.C., 35 nations including India signed the Joint Statement on AI Opportunity. The statement supports trusted and resilient supply chains for artificial intelligence technologies.

Key Points:

• Nature of the Initiative: Pax Silica is a US-led technology and supply-chain initiative linked with AI, semiconductors, compute capacity, energy and strategic technology ecosystems. The latest statement emphasised a pro-growth and pro-innovation approach.
• Indian Representation: India was represented by S. Krishnan, Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and Nagraj Naidu, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs. Indian industry representatives also participated.
• Areas of Cooperation: The Indian delegation discussed collaboration in semiconductors, artificial intelligence and resilient technology supply chains. These areas are central to future digital infrastructure and advanced manufacturing.
• New Participants: Argentina, Germany, the Netherlands, Chile, Costa Rica, Greece, Kazakhstan, Panama and the European Union joined the Pax Silica initiative on the sidelines of the summit. This widened the grouping’s technology diplomacy footprint.
• India’s Earlier Entry: India joined Pax Silica in February 2026 on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. The June summit expanded the initiative from a smaller group into a wider coalition around AI opportunity and supply-chain resilience.

Jaipur Among World’s Best Cultural Cities

In the News: Jaipur was ranked 18th globally in Time Out’s Best Cities for Art and Culture 2026 list. It became India’s highest-ranked city in the list, which included only the top-performing city from each country.

Key Points:

• Global Ranking: London topped the 2026 list, followed by Paris, New York City, Berlin and Cape Town. Jaipur was placed at rank 18, making it part of the global top 20 cultural cities.
• Methodology: Time Out surveyed over 24,000 people across more than 150 cities. The ranking considered quality and affordability of cultural offerings and combined public responses with inputs from editors, writers and cultural experts.
• Jaipur’s Scores: Jaipur recorded a 77 percent quality score and a 69 percent affordability score for its culture scene. Around 73 percent of residents rated the city highly for its festival scene.
• Cultural Assets: Jaipur’s ranking was linked to its forts, bazaars, heritage hotels, crafts and museums. Institutions such as the Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing and the Museum of Meenakari Heritage were highlighted for preserving traditional art forms.
• Festivals and Living Traditions: The city’s cultural profile includes Jaipur Literature Festival, Jaipur Art Week and traditional performances such as The Manganiyar Seduction. Time Out also noted renewed interest in baolis as venues for traditional music and dance.

What Is Boss Scam? Government Advisory Warns Against CEO Impersonation Fraud

In the News: The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has issued an advisory on an emerging cyber fraud called the “Boss Scam” or CEO impersonation fraud. The scam targets senior executives and high-ranking officials through email or WhatsApp messages carrying malicious files. Once the device or WhatsApp Web session is compromised, fraudsters impersonate the executive and instruct employees to transfer money.

Key Points:

• Meaning of Boss Scam: The Boss Scam is a form of executive impersonation fraud in which cybercriminals misuse the authority of a CEO, boss or senior official. The victim employee is made to believe that the payment request has come from a genuine superior. It relies heavily on urgency, hierarchy and trust within an organisation.
• Modus Operandi: Fraudsters first contact a CEO or senior official through email or WhatsApp, often pretending to be a regulator such as the RBI. They send a compressed ZIP file containing malicious executable files. Once opened on a Windows system, the malware can compromise the device and active WhatsApp Web session.
• Financial Fraud Pattern: After gaining access, the attacker uses the executive’s real WhatsApp account to contact finance or accounts employees. The employees are instructed to make urgent payments to mule bank accounts. In some variants, the attacker changes contact details on the compromised device and saves a fraudulent number as “CEO”.
• Safety Measures Suggested: Companies have been advised to verify urgent payment requests through voice calls or in-person confirmation. Employees should avoid installing executable files received from unverified sources. Organisations should also audit WhatsApp linked devices and use updated endpoint security systems.
• Reporting Mechanism: Victims can report cyber fraud incidents through the national cybercrime helpline number 1930 or the cybercrime reporting portal. The advisory is significant because it shows the growing use of malware, social engineering and business communication platforms in financial fraud.

Mahesh Dixit Appointed New Intelligence Bureau Chief

In the News: Senior IPS officer Mahesh Dixit has been appointed as the new Director of the Intelligence Bureau. He is a 1993-batch IPS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre and was serving as Special Director in the IB. He will succeed Tapan Kumar Deka, whose extended tenure is ending on June 30, 2026.

Key Points:

• Appointment Details: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved Mahesh Dixit’s appointment as Director, Intelligence Bureau. His tenure will be for two years from the date of assumption of charge or until further orders. The appointment also involves an extension in service to enable him to hold the post.
• Officer Profile: Mahesh Dixit belongs to the 1993 batch of the Indian Police Service and the Andhra Pradesh cadre. He has served as Special Director in the Intelligence Bureau. He is also described as a doctor-turned-IPS officer with long experience in internal security and intelligence work.
• Security Experience: He has handled sensitive assignments in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, the Northeast and anti-Naxal-related areas. He earlier headed the Kashmir Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau. His experience in counter-terrorism and internal security is central to the appointment.
• About Intelligence Bureau: The Intelligence Bureau is India’s domestic intelligence agency and functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It deals with internal security, counter-intelligence, terrorism-related inputs and threat assessments. It is distinct from R&AW, which deals mainly with external intelligence.
• Predecessor: Mahesh Dixit will replace Tapan Kumar Deka, a 1988-batch IPS officer of the Himachal Pradesh cadre.

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2026

In the News: International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is observed every year on June 26. In 2026, the UNODC and the Commission on Narcotic Drugs marked the day with a special event titled “World drug problem: persisting issues, new challenges, innovative responses.” The event also included the launch of the World Drug Report 2026.

Key Points:

• Date and UN Background: The day is observed annually on June 26. It was established through United Nations General Assembly Resolution 42/112 of December 7, 1987. The objective is to strengthen action and cooperation for an international society free of drug abuse.
• 2026 Theme: The 2026 theme is “World drug problem: persisting issues, new challenges, innovative responses.” It highlights changing drug markets, new trafficking patterns and the need for evidence-based responses. The theme also reflects concern over synthetic drugs and evolving global drug supply chains.
• UNODC and CND Role: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is the lead UN body working on drug control, crime prevention and related international cooperation. The 2026 special event was held by the Chair of the 69th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs. The World Drug Report 2026 was a key feature of the event.
• India’s Observance: India observed the occasion through Nasha Mukt Bharat Saptah from June 17 to June 26, 2026. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment organised the campaign under the theme “Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan – Viksit Bharat Ki Pehchaan.” Activities included pledge drives, rallies, youth campaigns, webinars and community outreach.
• Nodal Ministry in India: The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is the nodal department for drug demand reduction in India. The 2026 campaign focused on schools, colleges, higher educational institutions, Panchayati Raj institutions, NSS volunteers, MY Bharat volunteers, Anganwadi workers and ASHA workers. The campaign also used the hashtag #NashaMuktBharat.