Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 4th June 2025

UMEED Portal:

The Centre will launch the UMEED Portal on 6 June 2025 to digitize and streamline Waqf property registration in line with the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.

• UMEED stands for Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development. It is a centralized digital platform for registering and regulating Waqf properties across India.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Minority Affairs, in coordination with State Waqf Boards and judicial authorities.
• Objectives of the Portal:
  • Ensure transparent and time-bound registration of Waqf properties.
  • Empower beneficiaries with digital access to rights, obligations, and legal safeguards.
  • Resolve long-standing property disputes and enhance accountability.
  • Facilitate policy-level insights through real-time data and geotagged mapping.
• Key Features of UMEED Portal:
  • All Waqf properties must be registered within 6 months of launch.
    Properties must include precise measurements and geolocation data during registration.
  • Unregistered properties after deadline will be declared disputed and sent to Waqf Tribunal.
  • Provides legal awareness tools and clarifies rights under amended law.
  • Properties under women’s names cannot be designated as Waqf, but women, children, and EWS will remain eligible beneficiaries.

Caspian Gull : A Rare Migratory Bird

Kozhikode-based ornithologist has reported the sighting of a rare migratory bird Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans) for the first time in Kerala.

• Caspian Gull is a monotypic, large, white-headed gull and is one of the rarest gulls to be seen in India.
• It typically nests on flat, low-lying ground by water.
• During the breeding season the species nests near lakes surrounded by reedbeds in steppe and semi-desert (Central Asia) reservoirs, rivers, and on grassy or shrubby river islands
• Its diet consists of fish, invertebrates including insects, molluscs etc.
• The Caspian Gull, usually found in Central Asia, visits northwestern India, such as Gujarat, in winter.
• They move from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea, then to southern and eastern Kazakhstan and western China. They winter in Asia and Africa.
• Traditionally, its wintering areas are from the eastern Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf and western India but increasing numbers now disperse into Europe, into countries such as Sweden, Norway and Denmark.
• Conservation status IUCN: Least Concern.

International Conference on Glacier’s Preservation:

Tajikistan hosted the 1st UN International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation in Dushanbe (Tajikistan) in collaboration with UNESCO and World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), leading to the adoption of the Dushanbe Glaciers Declaration.

• Glaciers are slow-moving ice masses formed from compacted snow over centuries.
• They mainly exist in polar regions (Greenland, Canadian Arctic, Antarctica) due to low solar insolation, while tropical glaciers occur at high altitudes near the Equator, like in the Andes.
• Only 3% of Earth’s water is freshwater, and glaciers hold about 70% of the world’s freshwater supply.
• The Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH) are referred as “Water Tower of Asia” and contribute approximately 40% of the Indus River system’s water flow.
• Glaciers preserve climate records dating back up to 800,000 years, which help scientists study historical warming and cooling patterns.
• The temperature difference between the Himalayan glaciers and the Indian Ocean plays a key role in driving the South West monsoon winds.
• Nepal lost Langtang’s Yala Glacier, while Venezuela became the 2nd country after Slovenia to lose all its glaciers.

India to Study Life Sustainability in Space under BioE3 Mission:

The Union Minister of State for Science & Technology announced that India will conduct its first biological experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to explore the sustainability of human life in space.

• It is Led by ISRO in partnership with the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), these experiments will be part of the upcoming ISS mission, AXIOM-4 under the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment & Employment) policy.
• Axiom Mission 4 is a private spaceflight to the ISS, operated by the US-based company Axiom Space.
• Scheduled for launch in June 2025, the mission will also carry 2 Indian astronauts from ISRO to the ISS.
• This experiment will check how microgravity affects the growth of edible microalgae, which are rich in proteins, fats, and useful compounds.
• These algae can be used as food in space and also help clean the air by taking in CO₂ and giving out O₂.
• This study will test how cyanobacteria like Spirulina grow in space using two types of nutrients- urea and nitrate.
• It will help scientists understand how to recycle waste (like carbon and nitrogen) from humans to support life in space.
• Spirulina, which is a protein-rich, antioxidant-packed blue-green algae, is also being tested as a “superfood”.
• BioE3 Policy promotes high-performance biomanufacturing to support a circular bioeconomy and India’s Net Zero goals.
• It focuses on innovation, Bio-AI hubs, skilled workforce development, and sustainable biotech solutions.

2025 Osaka World Expo:

India has made a cultural statement at the 2025 Osaka World Expo, embracing its civilisational ethos and soft power by blending ancient wisdom with modern innovation under the theme of compassion and inclusivity.

• Osaka World Expo 2025 held in Japan under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”, the Osaka Expo serves as a “Living Lab” to co-create innovative solutions for global challenges using shared knowledge and cutting-edge technologies, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• India’s Pavilion was curated by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) under the Ministry of Culture, positioning itself as a modern “sutradhar” (narrator) of India’s civilisational story.
• The pavilion’s central motif is the ‘Bodhisattva Padmapani’ from Ajanta Caves, symbolizing compassion and knowledge in Mahayana Buddhism.
• The Lotus Courtyard showcases Bodhisattva forms and frescoes from the 2,000-year-old UNESCO-listed Ajanta Caves.
• The ‘Oneness Lounge’ features a reimagined Bodhi Tree, representing spiritual unity. The ‘Wall of Life’ promotes internal wellness through Yoga and Ayurveda.
• The pavilion reflects India’s use of soft power in foreign policy, combining spiritual, cultural, and scientific achievements to foster global partnerships.

New distant dwarf planet:

During the ongoing search for the hypothetical Planet Nine at the outer edge of the solar system, astronomers have discovered a new distant dwarf planet named 2017 OF201, shedding light on the unexplored regions beyond Neptune.

• 2017 OF201 is a 700 km-wide dwarf planet with a 25,000-year orbit that extends 1,600 times the Earth-Sun distance, reaching far into the Oort cloud (outermost boundary of the Sun’s gravitational influence).
• Its orbit differs from the clustered patterns of other trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs), leading some scientists to propose the gravitational influence of Planet Nine or consider alternative explanations for these orbital behaviors.
• This discovery suggests the existence of hundreds of similar icy bodies in the Kuiper Belt beyond Neptune.
• The Kuiper Belt is a vast, doughnut-shaped region of icy bodies and dwarf planets orbiting the Sun beyond Neptune.
• It is often called the “outer solar system’s asteroid belt”.
• The Planet Nine hypothesis suggests a large, undiscovered planet beyond Neptune causing unusual gravitational effects on distant TNOs.
• This theory is based on the clustered orbits of extreme TNOs like Sedna and 2012 VP113, indicating an unseen gravitational influence.

India Achieves Fiscal Deficit Target of 4.8% for FY25:

The Government of India has successfully met its fiscal deficit target of 4.8% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the financial year 2024–25, as revealed in the provisional data released by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA).The CGA, under the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, is the Principal Accounting Adviser to the Government of India.  The CGA manages the government’s accounting system, prepares fiscal reports, and submits Union Finance and Appropriation Accounts to Parliament under Article 150. It also enhances transparency and efficiency in public fund management through integrated, IT-enabled financial systems and conducts internal audits to assess risk management, control mechanisms, and governance processes.

India has extended financial support to the Maldives by rolling over (renewing) a USD 50 million Treasury Bill:

India has extended financial support to the Maldives by rolling over (renewing) a USD 50 million Treasury Bill, under a special government-to-government (G2G) framework that began in 2019. India recognized Maldives in 1965 and established its mission in Malé in 1972. Both are founding members of SAARC and signatories to SAFTA. India and Maldives signed a trade agreement in 1981, boosting bilateral trade. In 2024, India extended USD 400 million in support and a bilateral currency swap of Rs 3,000 crore to the Maldives, reinforcing its economic assistance. Additionally, the SBI rolled over USD 100 million of Treasury Bills for the Maldives. India became the Maldives’ 2nd largest trade partner in 2022 and the largest in 2023. Visa-free entry for Indian business travelers in 2022 further enhanced commercial relations. In 2024, India and the Maldives have finalized a framework to promote the use of local currencies for cross-border trade.

RBI Update: Only 1.74% of ₹2,000 Notes Remain in Circulation

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has revealed that 98.26% of the ₹2,000 denomination banknotes in circulation have been returned as of May 31, 2025. The note, once introduced post-demonetisation in 2016, is now being gradually withdrawn under the RBI’s Clean Note Policy, though it continues to remain legal tender.The withdrawal process was initiated in May 2023, with facilities available at RBI Issue Offices and India Post to ensure a smooth phase-out.

Deutsche Bank Appoints Stefan Schaffer as CEO of India GCC:

Deutsche Bank has appointed Stefan Schaffer as the new CEO of its India Global Capability Centre (GCC). Schaffer will also take on dual roles as the Global CIO for Corporate Functions and Head of Global Technology Centres, signifying the bank’s strong commitment to its India operations.Deutsche Bank’s growing reliance on its Indian centres, which support its global operations with over 20,000 employees across four major cities. Schaffer’s leadership aims to strengthen the bank’s engineering, standardisation, and innovation efforts.

Tamil Director Vikram Sugumaran Passes Away at 47:

Tamil filmmaker Vikram Sugumaran, best known for his directorial debut Madha Yaanai Koottam, passed away at the age of 47 following a cardiac arrest. The tragic incident occurred during his journey from Madurai to Chennai, where he had recently pitched a script to a producer. Despite being rushed to a hospital, doctors were unable to revive him. His death marks a significant loss to Tamil cinema.

Canara Bank Removes Minimum Balance Rule for All SB Accounts:

Canara Bank has waived the minimum balance requirement across all its savings bank (SB) accounts, including regular savings, salary, and NRI accounts. This decision eliminates Average Monthly Balance (AMB)-related penalties, making Canara Bank the first major public sector bank in India to implement such a customer-friendly reform.The news is significant as Canara Bank’s recent decision marks a major shift in traditional banking practices, especially for public sector banks. It reflects a growing trend toward inclusive and digital-first banking, enabling easier access for customers from various economic backgrounds, including students, salaried individuals, and rural account holders.

RBI Grants In-Principle Approval to PayPal and Worldline for Cross-Border Payment Aggregation:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted in-principle approval to PayPal Payments and Worldline ePayments India to operate as cross-border payment aggregators (PAs) under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. This move is set to boost India’s position in global trade and freelance payments by enabling smoother online cross-border transactions.The RBI’s recent approval marks a significant shift in the regulation of cross-border payment services. Previously, these services were operating under the Online Payment Gateway Service Provider (OPGSP) framework. However, in October 2024, the RBI mandated that all cross-border PAs must seek separate authorization. PayPal and Worldline are among the first to receive this crucial in-principle nod.

Germany Becomes the World’s Top Creditor, Overtaking Japan After 34 Years:

Germany has overtaken Japan as the world’s top creditor country in 2024, ending Japan’s 34-year reign. This change, driven by current account surpluses, exchange rate dynamics, and structural economic trends, reflects broader transformations in global trade and investment patterns.Germany became the world’s largest net creditor, surpassing Japan for the first time since 1990. Despite Japan reaching record-high net external assets, Germany outpaced it in growth and valuation. Currency fluctuations and trade surpluses played a critical role in this reversal.

Elon Musk Launches XChat:

Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) has launched XChat, a new messaging service. Designed with an emphasis on security and cross-platform functionality, XChat aims to become a key component of Musk’s vision for an all-in-one super app, combining messaging, file sharing, and video/audio calling.Elon Musk announced the beta rollout of XChat on June 2, 2025, via an official post. This launch is significant because it positions Musk’s platform to directly compete in the messaging space, challenging established players and reinforcing his long-term vision of transforming X into a multi-functional ecosystem.

Annalena Baerbock Elected President of 80th UN General Assembly Session:

Former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was elected as the President of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Her election marks a significant moment in UN history as she becomes the first woman from the Western European group to assume the post and the fifth woman overall to lead the UNGA. Baerbock, 44, takes over at a time when global governance faces multiple crises ranging from geopolitical conflicts to sustainable development setbacks.