Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 25th June 2025

Price Support Scheme:

The Union Agriculture Minister recently approved a move to procure moong and urad in Madhya Pradesh and urad in Uttar Pradesh under the Price Support Scheme (PSS).

• Price Support Scheme (PSS) is implemented by the Government of India under India’s umbrella scheme “PM-AASHA” (Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan), launched in 2018.
• Implemented by The Department of Agriculture & Cooperation implements this scheme for procurement of oilseeds, pulses, and cotton, through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), which is the Central nodal agency, at the MSP (minimum support price) declared by the government.
• In addition to the NAFED, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) will take up PSS operations in states/districts.
• When the price of commodities falls below the MSP, State and central notified procurement nodal agencies purchase commodities directly from the farmers at MSP under FAQ (Fair Average Quality).
• By this way prices of the main commodities are procured and protect the farmers against the economical loss in farming.
• Procurement under PSS is continued till prices stabilize at or above the MSP.
• The procurement expenditure and losses due to procurement will be borne by the Central Government as per norms.
• Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) is an umbrella scheme aimed at ensuring remunerative prices to the farmers for their produce.
• PM AASHA has three components, and states can choose whichever one they wish to implement. The three components are
  • Price Support Scheme (PSS)
  • Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS)
  • Pilot of Private Procurement and Stockist Schemes (PPPS)

Sabka Vishwas – (Legacy Dispute Resolution) Scheme, 2019 (SVLDRS):

The New Delhi Bench of Customs, Excise, and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) recently stated that revenue proceedings are not possible after the issuance of discharge certificate under SVLDRS [Sabka Vishwas (Legacy Dispute Resolution) Scheme, 2019] Scheme.

• Sabka Vishwas – (Legacy Dispute Resolution) Scheme, 2019 (SVLDRS) was a one-time amnesty scheme proposed in the Union Budget, 2019, and introduced to resolve all disputes relating to the erstwhile Service Tax and Central Excise Acts, which are now subsumed under GST, as well as 26 other Indirect Tax enactments.
• It was introduced for taxpayers who wish to close their pending disputes, with substantial relief provided by the government.
• Operational Period: September 1, 2019 – December 31, 2019
• Objectives:
  • To encourage voluntary disclosure of past disputes of Central Excise, Service Tax, and 26 other Indirect Tax Enactments.
  • To facilitate an eligible person to declare the unpaid tax dues and pay the same in accordance with the provisions of this scheme.
  • To provide certain immunities, including penalty, interest or any other proceedings, including prosecution, to eligible persons who pay the declared tax due
  • This scheme provided for a substantial relief margin on all duty demands, ranging from 40% to 70% of the demand, except in the case of voluntary disclosure.

Haemophilia A:

A simple and affordable point-of-care test kit has been indigenously developed by the National Institute of Immunohaematology for early diagnosis of genetic bleeding disorders haemophilia A and Von Willebrand Disease.

• Haemophilia A is a hereditary bleeding disorder that happens when your blood doesn’t clot as well as it should
• When you bleed, a series of reactions take place in the body that help blood clots form. This process is called the coagulation cascade.
• It involves as many as 20 different special proteins called coagulation, or clotting, factors.
• You may have a higher chance of excess bleeding if one or more of these factors are missing or are not functioning like they should.
• Factor VIII (eight) is one such coagulation factor.
• Hemophilia A is the result of the body not making enough factor VIII.
• It is usually caused by an altered gene being passed on to a child by their parents (inherited).
• Men with the altered gene will have symptoms.
• Women with the altered gene (carriers) can have symptoms, but this is less common, and the symptoms are less severe than in men.

Candida tropicalis:

‘Candida tropicalis’, an important fungal pathogen in India and in many other parts of the world, has been found using chromosome alterations to resist common antifungal drugs such as fluconazole and voriconazole.

• Candida tropicalis is a species of yeast (fungus) that is part of the Candida genus.
• It is a human pathogen associated with high mortality rates.
• It is one of the fungal species that has been obtained from seawater, sea sediments, mudflats, marine fish intestine, mangrove plants, marine algae, and shrimps.
• Therefore, they are widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical marine environments.
• It is also dominantly found in the human gut, fruit surfaces, a variety of foods, and soil.
• It is a common systemic fungus, affecting persons with immune-compromised and immune-suppressed systems.
• It is known to be pathogenic in neutropenic hosts and disseminating through the bloodstream to peripheral organs.
• A neutropenic host refers to a person with neutropenia, a condition characterized by an abnormally low count of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell essential for fighting off infections, especially bacterial and fungal infections.
• It is also known to cause infections when the normal microbiota in the human host has been compromised by intake of antimicrobial agents such as antibiotics or when the sugar levels are high in the system.
• It causes infections on human skin, in the gastrointestinal tract, and also in the female genitourinary tract.
• Its infections are associated with a mortality rate of 55-60%.
• The most common mode of transmission is the nosocomial transmission between health-care workers and patients.
• Treatment: Antifungal drugs are typically utilized to treat C. tropicalis infections.

Digital Payment Intelligence Platform : RBI

The Reserve Bank Of India has roped in major public and private sector banks to develop the Digital Payment Intelligence Platform (DPIP) as a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).

• It seeks to bolster fraud risk management by facilitating real-time intelligence sharing and gathering, thereby preventing fraudulent digital transactions.
• The institutional structure of the proposed entity would be created with the help of both public sector and private sector lenders.
• It will collect and analyse data from various sources to identify potential threats and prevent fraudulent activities.
• By enabling real-time data sharing, the platform will help prevent scams and ensure secure transactions.
• The Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) has been assigned to build a prototype of DPIP in consultation with 5-10 banks.
• It is going to leverage advanced technologies to curb payment-related frauds.
• RBI formed a committee, chaired by AP Hota to examine various aspects of establishing this digital public infrastructure.

Enhanced Rock Weathering:

Big business with tech giants, airlines and fast fashion firms lining up to buy carbon credits from enhanced rock weathering (ERW) projects.

• Enhanced Rock Weathering aims to speed up the natural capture and storage of carbon dioxide — a planet-warming greenhouse gas and also to turbocharge a natural geological process called weathering.
• Weathering is the breakdown of rocks by carbonic acid, which forms when carbon dioxide in the air or soil dissolves into water.
• Weathering occurs naturally when rain falls on rocks, and the process can lock away carbon dioxide from the air or soil as bicarbonate, and eventually limestone.
• ERW speeds the process up by using quick-weathering rocks like basalt that are ground finely to increase their surface area.
• Projects are happening in most parts of the world, including Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia.
• Its rates depend on variables including rock type and size, how wet and hot the climate is, soil type and land management.
• The added rock increases soil alkalinity, which can boost crop growth, soil nutrients and soil formation.
• Basalt is both naturally abundant and often available as a byproduct of quarrying, lowering the costs of the process.
• Experts note that even if the rock reacts with other acids in the soil, failing to lock away carbon dioxide at that stage, it can still have planetary benefits.
• That is because acids in the soil would otherwise eventually wash into rivers and the sea, where acidification leads to the release of carbon dioxide.
• It prevents carbon dioxide being released from the water into the atmosphere downstream.

What Are Thirst Waves?

Global warming is making the air thirstier, causing higher evaporative demand that dries out land and plants—a phenomenon called thirst waves.

• Thirstwave, a term coined by researchers Meetpal Kukal and Mike Hobbins, refers to a period of three or more consecutive days with extreme atmospheric evaporative demand—reflecting how “thirsty” the air is for moisture.
• Thirst waves are influenced by temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and wind speed, unlike heatwaves, which are mainly driven by temperature and wind.
• It is measured through Short-crop evapotranspiration that measures water loss from a well-watered 12-cm grass surface.
• Rising evapotranspiration indicates higher temperatures, lower humidity, and increased wind speed and solar radiation.
• Stronger thirst waves lead to faster soil moisture loss, greater irrigation requirements, and a higher risk of crop stress and yield reduction.
• Thirstwaves & India: Studies show that evaporative demand is increasing in parts of India, including Northern India and the Western/Eastern Himalayas, driven by agricultural expansion and vegetation growth.

Dharti Aaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan:

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched the Dharti Aaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan (DAJA), the largest-ever tribal empowerment campaign, reaching over 1 lakh tribal villages across 31 States/UTs, including 207 PVTG districts.

• It follows a camp-based, community-driven model, involving district administrations, youth volunteers, CSOs, and tribal leaders.
  Dharti Aaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan (DAJA)
• A nationwide tribal empowerment campaign under Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh, for tribal communities, especially in remote and PVTG habitations.
• November 15th was designated as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas in 2021 to honor tribal freedom fighter Birsa Munda and commemorate his 150th birth anniversary.
• Additionally, Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh (15th November 2024–15th November 2025) has been launched as a year-long celebration of tribal pride, identity, and progress.
• Objective is to Achieve saturation of all central government welfare schemes like Aadhaar, Ayushman Bharat, PM-Kisan, PM Ujjwala Yojana, Jan Dhan, and tribal-specific entitlements.
• It also supports key initiatives like PM-JANMAN and Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA).
• Celebrates tribal heritage and honours Birsa Munda (Dharti Aaba), a symbol of tribal pride and resistance.

NITI Aayog India’s Data Imperative Report:

NITI Aayog released its report “India’s Data Imperative: The Pivot Towards Quality”, recommending urgent reforms to improve the quality of India’s public data ecosystem.

• India’s data ecosystem refers to the vast network of digital public infrastructure, platforms, and databases that power governance, welfare delivery, and financial inclusion across both public and private sectors.
• It integrates identity (Aadhaar), financial (UPI), health (Ayushman Bharat), and social schemes through data-driven platforms.
• Aadhaar: Over 27 billion authentications conducted in FY 2024–25 — backbone of identity-linked service delivery.
• UPI: ₹23.9 trillion worth of transactions processed monthly — world’s largest real-time payment system.
• Ayushman Bharat: 369 million Ayushman Bharat Digital Health IDs issued — transforming health data interoperability.
• Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): ₹5.47 lakh crore transferred via DBT to beneficiaries in FY 2024–25, covering 330+ schemes.
• Aadhaar e-KYC: 1.8 billion e-KYC transactions completed in FY 2024–25, reducing onboarding costs across sectors.
• Digital India penetration: 1.2 billion mobile subscribers; 800 million internet users — one of the world’s largest digital user bases

51st anniversary of Jayaprakash Narayan’s historic “Total Revolution”:

The 51st anniversary of Jayaprakash Narayan’s historic “Total Revolution” call (June 5, 1974) is being marked, highlighting its enduring influence on Indian politics.A holistic non-violent movement for socio-political transformation based on Gandhian ideals. Launched by: Jayaprakash Narayan (JP). Announced on June 5, 1974, at Gandhi Maidan, Patna. Objective was to  Achieve “Sampoorna Kranti” — a comprehensive change in economic, political, social, and cultural structures for a just and equitable society.

Coffee Export Surge:

India’s coffee exports surged over 25% in FY2025-26, continuing a record-breaking trend after 40% growth last year, according to the Coffee Board of India.India has recorded 25%+ export growth so far this year, after achieving US$1803 million in coffee exports in FY2024-25, up from US$1286 million in FY2023-24.India is the 7th largest coffee producer globally, contributing 3.5% to world production, and 5th largest exporter globally (5% of world exports).

NATO 5% GDP Defence Spending Target:

NATO members, at The Hague Summit, is expected to adopt a new 5% GDP defence spending target amid rising security concerns from Russia’s war in Ukraine.NATO countries will now aim to allocate 5% of their GDP on combined defence and security investments.
New Target Structure:

• 3.5% GDP for core military spending — personnel, equipment, operations.
• 1.5% GDP for broader security — cyber defence, infrastructure upgrades, energy protection.

Existing Target: Earlier commitment (since 2014 Wales Summit): 2% of GDP for core defence and only 22 of 32 members met this by 2024.

ECoR Yatra’ App:

The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has launched the ‘ECoR Yatra’ mobile app, aimed at Rath Yatra 2025 pilgrims. Available now on the Google Play Store, this real-time digital solution provides comprehensive information on railway services, accommodations, and passenger amenities.With intuitive UI and multilingual support, it caters to a pan-India user base, ensuring that pilgrims across linguistic and regional backgrounds can use the app with ease.

Designed to assist lakhs of devotees converging at Puri, Odisha, for the annual Rath Yatra, this app offers:

• Real-time train status and schedule
• Special Rath Yatra train list (June 25 – July 7, 2025)
• Accommodation and retiring room details
• Booking of reserved and unreserved tickets
• Emergency contact access and digital literacy guides

Dangeti Jahnavi Becomes First Indian to Complete NASA’s Space Program:

Dangeti Jahnavi from Palakollu in Andhra Pradesh’s West Godavari district has etched her name in the annals of Indian space exploration history by becoming the first Indian to successfully complete NASA’s prestigious International Air and Space Program. This remarkable achievement positions her as a trailblazer in India’s growing participation in international space missions and demonstrates the country’s expanding capabilities in aerospace technology.Her success in NASA’s rigorous program showcases the potential of Indian talent on the global stage and opens new pathways for future generations of space explorers from the country.

Nitish Kumar Inaugurates Strategic Ganges Bridge Linking Patna:

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made a significant political and infrastructural statement on Monday by inaugurating a six-lane bridge over the Ganges that connects the state capital Patna with Raghopur, the political stronghold of his arch-rival RJD president Lalu Prasad. This strategic infrastructure project carries deep political symbolism, linking the seat of power with the constituency of the opposition leader.The 4.57 kilometer-long bridge was officially opened when Kumar cut the ribbon near Kachchi Dargah, a mosque situated in the eastern fringes of Patna. The ceremony was attended by several high-ranking officials, including Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, along with Assembly Speaker Nawal Kishor Yadav, who represents the Patna Sahib constituency under which Kachchi Dargah falls.

S&P Global Ratings Boosts India’s GDP Forecast to 6.5%:

S&P Global Ratings delivered encouraging news for India’s economic prospects on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, by raising the country’s GDP growth forecast to 6.5% for the current fiscal year. This upward revision reflects the rating agency’s confidence in India’s economic resilience despite mounting global uncertainties and geopolitical tensions that continue to shape the international economic landscape. The revised forecast represents a significant vote of confidence in India’s economic fundamentals and policy framework. S&P’s optimistic outlook is anchored on several key assumptions that could drive sustained economic growth throughout the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026.

Google Launches Revolutionary AI Mode in India:

Google has officially announced the launch of its groundbreaking AI Mode in India, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of search technology. This revolutionary feature represents a fundamental shift in how users interact with search engines, moving beyond traditional keyword-based queries to enable more natural, conversational, and complex information retrieval processes. The introduction of AI Mode in India demonstrates Google’s commitment to making advanced artificial intelligence accessible to one of the world’s largest digital populations.

Neeraj Chopra Wins Ostrava Golden Spike 2025:

India’s golden boy of athletics, Neeraj Chopra, continued his dominant form in the 2025 athletics season by winning the men’s javelin throw title at the prestigious Ostrava Golden Spike meet held in the Czech Republic on June 25, 2025.He clinched the top spot with a best throw of 85.29 metres, beating a strong field of international competitors. This win comes on the heels of his Paris Diamond League victory, making it his second title in just six days.

Bihar to Host Its First Nuclear Power Plant Under India’s New SMR Mission:

Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar declared that Bihar will soon have its first nuclear power plant, making it one of the first six Indian states to be included in the rollout of Small Modular Reactor (SMR)-based energy systems.This development follows a formal request by the Bihar government, which the Centre has now approved. Though the exact location and capacity of the project are yet to be finalized, the plan signals a transformative chapter in Bihar’s energy and infrastructure landscape.Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are an advanced form of nuclear energy technology.

ConvEx-3 (2025):

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in partnership with Romania, is conducting the largest-ever international nuclear emergency exercise named ConvEx-3. This 36-hour drill simulates a severe nuclear accident at the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant, Romania’s sole nuclear energy facility. The objective is simple but vital to assess global emergency response capabilities in the event of a radiological disaster.The primary aim of ConvEx-3 is to test the readiness of countries to respond to nuclear or radiological emergencies, particularly those with cross-border implications. The simulation stresses:Real-time decision-making,Emergency communication,Coordination between nati