Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 11th June 2025

Poson Poya: Celebration In Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka celebrated Poson Poya on June 10–11, 2025, marking over 2,000 years since the arrival of Buddhism on the island.

• Poson Poya is an annual Buddhist festival celebrated on the full moon day of June, second only in importance to Vesak in Sri Lanka.
• It marks the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BCE by Arahat Mahinda, son of Emperor Ashoka of India, who preached to King Devanampiyatissa at Mihintale.
• This event is considered a turning point in Sri Lankan history, leading to significant religious, cultural, and social transformations.
• The festival is celebrated throughout Sri Lanka, but the main ceremonies are held at Mihintale and Anuradhapura, attracting thousands of pilgrims.
• Devotees dress in white, make offerings at temples, meditate, and participate in community activities such as dansals (free food stalls), lantern displays, and religious pageants.
• The festival promotes values such as non-violence (ahimsa), kindness, and unity.
• Buddhism is a spiritual tradition founded by Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) in the 6th century BCE in India.

Shahed Drones : Russia

Russia launched one of the largest air attacks of the war on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities overnight into June 11, 2025, deploying over 300 drones, including approximately 250 Shahed drones, alongside missiles.

• Shahed drones are Iranian-made Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) and loitering munitions, primarily developed by Shahed Aviation Industries. Russia refers to the Shahed-136 as “Geran-2”.
• These drones are designed for one-way attack missions, carrying explosive warheads that detonate upon impact.
• The Shahed-136, the most widely used variant, features a delta-wing design, weighs around 200 kg and has a wingspan of 2.5–3 meters.
• The Shahed-136 can travel between 1,000 and 2,500 km at speeds up to 185 km/h. It is launched via disposable rocket boosters and then powered by a piston engine, giving it a distinctive “moped-like” sound.
• The drones use pre-programmed GPS or GLONASS coordinates, making them resistant to electronic warfare and jamming.
• Recent variants reportedly use advanced algorithms and AI for improved navigation and targeting.
• Shahed drones can be equipped with various warheads, including high-explosive fragmentation, thermobaric, and shrapnel-filled munitions, maximising damage to both personnel and equipment.

Keeladi Excavation Findings:

Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has stated that the report on the Keeladi excavations, submitted by archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna, is not yet “technically well-supported” and requires further scientific studies.

• Keeladi is a village in Sivaganga district, Tamil Nadu, situated along the Vaigai River, about 12 km southeast of Madurai.
• Excavations began in 2015, initially led by the ASI and later by the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology after a period of administrative dispute.
• Over 18,000 artefacts have been discovered, including pottery, inscribed potsherds, gold ornaments, copper articles, semi-precious stones, shell and ivory bangles, glass beads, spindle whorls, terracotta seals and weaving tools.
• The site has yielded heaps of pottery and over 120 potsherds with Tamil Brahmi inscriptions, indicating the long survival of the script and literacy in the region.
• Findings suggest Keeladi was a well-planned urban settlement with evidence of industries such as pottery, weaving, dyeing, and bead-making.
• Artefacts like agate and carnelian beads indicate trade networks, while items such as dice and hopscotch pieces reveal leisure activities.
• The findings have pushed the Sangam Age in Tamil Nadu back to around 800 BCE, suggesting a much older and advanced civilization than previously thought.
• Some symbols on Keeladi artefacts resemble those of the Indus Valley Civilization, though a cultural gap of about 1,000 years remains. Scholars hope further studies will clarify these connections.
• The Sangam Age, often referred to as the Tamil Sangam period, marks an important chapter in South Indian history.
• Named after the assembly of Tamil poets and scholars known as the Sangam, this era witnessed a rich cultural and literary flourishing in the southern regions of India.

BBX32 Protein:

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal, have found that a single protein BBX32 helps plants time their first step from darkness into light.

• BBX32 Protein is a B-box (BBX) protein (B-box plays an important role in plant growth and development).
• It helps provide leads to control the timing of seedling emergence and help maximise proper seedling establishment.
• When a seed sprouts in darkness under the soil, its stem curves into a small hook shape that protects the delicate shoot tip as it pushes upward.
• The hook needs to stay ‘closed’ until the seedling breaks through the soil and meets light.
• Ethylene is a plant hormone that builds up underground and light works together to decide exactly when the hook opens.
• ‘BBX32’ helps in plant growth regulation by keeping its first leaves folded until they emerge from the soil and thus provide crucial aid in the seedling establishment process.
• BBX32 was found to work by raising the activity of the PIF3 protein, which switched on HLS1, which kept the hook closed.
• If PIF3 was missing, BBX32 couldn’t prevent the hook from opening.

KATRIN Experiment:

The KATRIN experiment in Germany has published the most stringent upper limit yet on the sum of the masses of the three types of neutrinos, capping it at 8.8 × 10⁻⁷ times the mass of an electron—twice as precise as previous estimates.

• The Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino (KATRIN) Experiment is a precision physics project that studies the mass of neutrinos using beta decay of tritium.
• Developed by conducted by an international collaboration led by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany.
• Major institutions from Germany, the U.S., and other European countries contribute to the experiment.
• Objective: To directly measure the absolute mass of neutrinos—a major unsolved question in particle physics.
• Key Features of KATRIN:
  • Massive Detector: Uses a 200-tonne spectrometer for ultra-precise electron energy measurements during tritium decay.
  • Tritium Disintegration Monitoring: Observes beta decay of tritium to track maximum energy of electrons, revealing neutrino mass.
  • Robust Data Collection: Analysed over 36 million electrons across 259 days, making it one of the most data-rich neutrino studies.
  • Direct Measurement Method: Unlike cosmological studies, KATRIN does not rely on early universe assumptions or models.

First day of the third UN Ocean Conference:

On the first day of the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), Blue NDC Challenge initiative was launched to dramatically scale up ocean-focused climate action.

• Blue Nationally Determined Contributions Challenge is a landmark international initiative launched by France and Brazil.
• It urges countries to incorporate ocean-focused climate measures into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) ahead of the 30th Conference of Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Belem, Brazil.
• Six other countries: Australia, Fiji, Kenya, Mexico, Palau, and the Republic of Seychelles have joined this initiative.
• It is supported by Ocean Conservancy, the Ocean and Climate Platform and the World Resources Institute through the Ocean Resilience and Climate Alliance (ORCA) and has been endorsed by WWF-Brazil.
• NDCs are national climate plans that outline a country’s efforts to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change under the Paris Agreement adopted by 195 Parties at UNFCCC COP21 in Paris, France, on December 12, 2015,

State of the World Population 2025 Report:

India’s population has reached 146.39 crore in April 2025 as per the UNFPA’s “State of the World Population 2025” report, with Total Fertility Rate (TFR) dropping to 1.9, below the replacement level of 2.1.

Key Highlights of UNFPA State of the World Population 2025:

• World population stands at 8.2 billion; growth has slowed but disparities remain between high-income and low-income countries.
• The real crisis is unmet fertility goals—not just overpopulation or underpopulation, but denial of reproductive choice.
• Emphasis on individual rights to decide freely on reproduction, contraception, and timing of childbirth.
• Over 60% of the world’s population is in the 15–64 age group, offering a productivity window.
• Global elderly population (65+) is growing rapidly, requiring focused health and pension reforms.
• Low- and middle-income countries (like India, Nigeria) have large youth populations with untapped potential.
• Women’s education and autonomy significantly influence fertility patterns and gaps persist in access to healthcare & contraception.

India’s Status as per the 2025 Report:

• Population Size: India leads with 146.39 crore, expected to peak at 170 crores in 40 years before stabilizing.
• TFR Status: Current TFR is 1.9, below replacement level, indicating a demographic transition.
• Youth (0–14): 24%
• Teens (10–19): 17%
• Working age (15–64): 68%
• Elderly (65+): 7%
• Life Expectancy (2025): Men – 71 years; Women – 74 years.
• Unrealized Fertility: A section of the population cannot achieve desired fertility goals due to poor access to services.

FDI Inflows : 2024–25

The RBI’s Annual Report 2024–25 shows gross FDI inflows rose by 13.7%, yet long-term net inflows have halved due to rising disinvestments. India’s net FDI dropped to just $0.4 billion in 2024–25, down sharply from $44 billion in 2020–21.Despite a 13.7% increase in gross inflows in 2024–25, average annual growth was only 0.3% in the last four years.Repatriation surged at 18.9% annually post-pandemic, leading to net FDI halving to $29.6 billion.Significant flows from Singapore (15%) and Mauritius (close to 10%) suggest dominance of financial flows over productive investments. Share of FDI in manufacturing dropped to 12%, down from peak levels.Indian FDI outflows rose to $29.2 billion in 2024–25, almost tripling in five years.

Jan Man Survey:

To mark 11 years of Prime Minister leadership, the NaMo App launched the ‘Jan Man Survey’, receiving over 5 lakh responses within 26 hours.The survey allows citizens to share direct feedback on governance, national security, and development issues.A large-scale citizen engagement initiative launched through the NaMo App to gather public opinion on key aspects of governance.
Citizens across India participate in the survey through the app by answering questions on themes such as national security, governance, cultural pride, and youth development.

Ahmedabad Police’s AI Crowd Management System:

Ahead of the 148th Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad, the city police will deploy an AI-powered anti-stampede system to manage crowds and prevent disasters.An AI-based crowd monitoring system integrated with CCTV and drones to prevent stampedes by analysing real-time crowd data during large religious processions.

Madleen Ship Incident:

Israel detained the British-flagged aid ship Madleen, backed by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), and deported Greta Thunberg for attempting to breach the Gaza blockade.This incident revives global memory of the 2010 Mavi Marmara attack, where Israeli forces killed 10 activists aboard a similar flotilla.Madleen is a humanitarian ship carrying relief aid to Gaza amidst the ongoing Israeli blockade.Organised By Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), a global civil society network advocating against the Israeli blockade. It Deliver essential supplies like medical kits, baby food, water filters, and prosthetics to war-affected Gazans. 12 unarmed international volunteers, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, MEP Rima Hassan, and journalists from France, Spain, and Brazil.

Katrina Kaif Appointed Global Tourism Ambassador for the Maldives:

Bollywood actor Katrina Kaif has been named the Global Tourism Ambassador for the Maldives. The announcement was made by the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) just weeks ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to the island nation. The initiative aims to enhance the Maldives’ visibility as a luxury travel destination, especially among Indian and global audiences, at a time when bilateral ties are witnessing renewed momentum.Katrina Kaif was officially named the Global Brand Ambassador for the Maldives. The appointment was announced by MMPRC (Visit Maldives) on social media platforms. It coincides with PM Modi’s upcoming visit to the Maldives and follows strained India-Maldives relations that began in early 2024. Kaif’s association is intended to revitalize tourism campaigns, including the newly launched Summer Sale Campaign.

Siamese Fireback : Spotted

The Siamese Fireback, Thailand’s national bird, has been spotted for the first time in the forests of Ranikhet, Uttarakhand, by a local bird enthusiast. Its Scientific Name is Lophura diardi. It is National Bird of Thailand IUCN Status: Least Concern, though facing moderate decline due to habitat loss and poaching. Geographic Distribution: Native to Southeast Asia, found in: Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Prime Minister inaugurated 103 redeveloped railway stations across 86 districts:

The Prime Minister inaugurated 103 redeveloped railway stations across 86 districts in 18 States/UTs under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS). ABSS, introduced by the Ministry of Railways in December 2022, aims to redevelop 1,309 railway stations into modern integrated transport hubs across India.It is also aimed at integrating regional architecture, enhancing passenger amenities, promoting inclusivity, and supporting urban development.

Punjab Sees 20% Rise in Cotton Cultivation Amid Crop Diversification Push:

Punjab has recorded a 20% increase in cotton cultivation in 2025 compared to the previous year. The area under cotton has expanded from 2.49 lakh acres to 2.98 lakh acres, marking a rise of over 49,000 acres. The districts of Fazilka, Mansa, Bathinda, and Sri Muktsar Sahib are leading this surge. The state government has stepped in with supportive subsidies and digital registration drives to encourage cotton farming among growers.Punjab witnessed a sharp rise in cotton acreage in 2025 as part of its crop diversification strategy. The Punjab government is providing a 33% subsidy on cotton seeds to encourage cultivation. Over 49,000 farmers have registered online, with a deadline of June 15 for registration. This marks a policy push toward sustainable agriculture and reducing paddy dependence.

Bengaluru Becomes India’s ‘Leopard Capital’, Surpassing Mumbai:

Bengaluru has officially become the ‘Leopard Capital’ of India, surpassing Mumbai in terms of the highest number of free-ranging wild leopards living on the fringes of a major metropolis. According to a year-long survey conducted by the Holématthi Nature Foundation (HNF) and led by conservationist Dr. Sanjay Gubbi, an estimated 80–85 leopards currently inhabit the forests and scrublands surrounding Bengaluru. This makes the city a rare urban zone still teeming with apex predators and other large mammals, underlining its unique ecological value and the need for sustained conservation efforts.