Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 9th June 2025

Neglected Tropical Diseases : In News

56 countries have successfully eliminated at least one NTD – demonstrating significant progress towards WHO’s global target of 100 countries reaching elimination by 2030.

• Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of conditions caused by a variety of pathogens (including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, and toxins) and associated with devastating health, social, and economic consequences.
• NTDs are mainly prevalent among impoverished communities in tropical areas, although some have a much larger geographical distribution.
• They are widespread where people in vulnerable situations live, where water safety, sanitation, and access to health care are inadequate or suboptimal.
• These diseases are called “neglected” because they have historically ranked very low on the global health agenda, when they have appeared at all, receiving little attention and funding.
• NTDs include Guinea worm, Chikungunya, Dengue, Kala Azar (Visceral Leishmaniasis), and Elephantiasis (Lymphatic Filariasis), among others. India is home to about 12 NTDs.
• The epidemiology of NTDs is complex; some have animal and/or human reservoirs, many are vector-borne, and most are associated with intricate life cycles. Preventing or eliminating NTDs is therefore challenging.
• It is estimated that NTDs affect more than 1 billion people, while the number of people requiring NTD interventions (both preventive and curative) is 1.5 billion.
• Every year on 30th January, the global community comes together to mark World NTDs Day and renew its commitment to eliminating its burden worldwide.

Colossal Arsia Mons volcano:

NASA’s 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter recently delivered a stunning new picture from Mars, capturing the colossal Arsia Mons volcano piercing through a dense layer of early morning clouds.

• Arsia Mons is a massive shield volcano located in the Tharsis region of Mars.
• It is one of the largest volcanoes in the solar system, with a height of over 18 kilometers (11 miles) and a base diameter of more than 300 kilometers (190 miles), dwarfing Earth’s tallest volcano, Mauna Loa, which rises 6 miles (9 kilometers) above the seafloor.
• Arsia Mons is part of the Tharsis Montes, a group of three large shield volcanoes on Mars.
• It is the southernmost of the three Tharsis Montes volcanoes.
• The volcano has a caldera (summit crater) that is approximately 110 kilometers (68 miles) wide.
• Arsia Mons is believed to have been active for billions of years, with the most recent eruptions occurring within the past 2 million years.
• The flanks of Arsia Mons are covered in lava flows, channels, and other volcanic features, indicating a long and complex eruptive history.
• Arsia Mons is thought to have formed through the gradual accumulation of fluid basaltic lava flows, characteristic of shield volcano formation.

Tamhini Wildlife Sanctuary:

Maharashtra forest department recently partnered with Microsoft and the Centre for Youth Development and Activities (CYDA), Pune, to address socio-ecological challenges in the Tamhini Wildlife Sanctuary.

• Tamhini Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected forest area located in the Western Ghats near Pune, Maharashtra.
• It covers an area of 49.62 sq.km.
• It has been carved out by taking 12 compartments of reserved forest from the Paund and Sinhgad ranges in the Pune forest division, while 8 compartments belong to Mangaon range in the Roha division in Thane.
• It is made up of evergreen forests, semi-evergreen forests, and most deciduous
• Indian giant squirrels, barking deer, Indian pangolins, Indian civets, and wild boars are some of the many species found in this region.
• Species like the Malabar whistling thrush, crested serpent eagle, grey junglefowl, golden oriole, and Indian pitta are some of the residents.

Dugesia Punensis : New Species Of Planarian Worm

A new species of planarian worm that regenerates, named Dugesia Punensis, has been found in the Pashan Lake in the city of Pune recently.

• Dugesia Punensis is a new species of planarian worm.
• Planarians are aquatic flatworms, renowned for their extraordinary regenerative capabilities.
• It was discovered in Pashan Lake, Pune district, Maharashtra, a wetland within the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot.
• It is the first time since 1983 that a new planarian species has been recorded in India.
• The new species is characterised by its spotted appearance, slightly reduced auricles, and elongated pharynx and gonopore.
• The body size ranges between 8mm-12mm in length.
• The dorsal side is spotted dark brown in appearance, with a light brown back.
• The ventral side looks pale.
• Eggs are circular and have a reddish appearance.
• Auricular grooves enclose two bright black eyes
• It can completely regenerate in 10-13 days.

Ejiao : In News

There has been a sudden surge in donkey prices in Pakistan due to China’s demand for ejiao.

• Ejiao is a gelatin used in traditional Chinese medicine, made by stewing and concentrating donkey skin.
• It is widely used in clinics for its biological advantages of being anti-fatigue, immunity-improving properties, for tumour suppression, and for its anti-anaemia effect.
• It is produced from the collagen extracted from donkey skin.
• The collagen is mixed with herbs and other ingredients to create bars, pills or liquids for consumable goods or beauty products.
• Between 2013 and 2016, the annual production of ejiao increased from 3,200 to 5,600 tonnes, a yearly growth of over 20%.
• China’s ejiao industry has witnessed a 160 per cent growth in the past five years, fuelling more demand for millions of donkey hides annually.
• Pakistan is only behind Ethiopia and Sudan in being home to the largest number of donkeys.

Himalayan Long-tailed Myotis: New species of bat

Researchers have discovered a new species of bat named Himalayan long-tailed Myotis (Myotis himalaicus).

• Himalayan Long-tailed Myotis is a new species of bat found in the Western Himalayan region.
• It belongs to a group of morphologically similar species called the Myotis frater complex, which has a wide distribution from eastern China, Taiwan, central and southeastern Siberia, Korea, Japan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
• The Himalayan long-tailed Myotis, which inhabits Deodar, Pine, and Cedar forests, appears to be a rare species native to the southern slopes of the Himalayas.
• It is considered “medium-sized,” reaching about 3.5 inches in length and weighing less than an ounce
• They have “delicate” feet and “relatively long” thumbs ending in “a strong but short claw.” Their heads have “short” ears and “rather delicate” teeth.
• These bats have been found in Uttarakhand, India, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
• Bats contribute to overall biodiversity and the health of ecosystems.
• Throughout the night, bats devour insects in farms, fields, forests, grasslands and around our homes, including agricultural pests and disease-causing mosquitoes.
• Bat droppings (guano) mined from caves are widely used as a fertilizer for agricultural crops as they have high concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorous.
• Some bats sip nectar, pollinate flowers, eat fruits, and spread the seeds of many important tree species.

Stratospheric Aerosol Injection:

A study recently published in the journal Earth’s Future offered an innovative approach to Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI) technique that could reduce its costs but also bring it closer to fruition despite the opposition to it.

• Stratospheric Aerosol Injection is a method of cooling the planet and reducing the impacts of climate change by adding a layer of tiny reflective particles to the high atmosphere.
• The method was inspired by volcanic eruptions, which have been known to have a cooling effect on the planet by spewing aerosols into the air.
• It aims to mimic the cooling effects of volcanic eruptions by injecting sulfur dioxide (SO2) directly into the stratosphere, where it forms sunlight-reflecting sulfate aerosols.
• Aerosols are tiny solid or liquid particles suspended in air or a gas.
• Aerosols can be natural, such as fog or gas from volcanic eruptions, or artificial, such as smoke from burning fossil fuels.

World Economic Situation and Prospects-2025:

India’s GDP growth forecast for 2025 has been revised down to 6.3%, from the previous projection of 6.6%, in the mid-2025 update of the “World Economic Situation and Prospects” (WESP) report.

• The report is released by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs , in collaboration with UNCTAD and 5 UN regional commissions and it provides global and regional economic outlooks to support SDG-oriented, equitable growth policies.

Highlights:

• India’s GDP growth, though revised down to 6.3% in 2025 from 7.1% in 2024, remains the highest among major global economies and it is expected to reach 6.4% in 2026.
• Inflation, Monetary Policy, & Employment Outlook: Inflation is projected to decline from 4.9% in 2024 to 4.3% in 2025, remaining within the RBI’s 2–6% target range, reflecting effective monetary management.
• Unemployment remains broadly stable, though gender disparities in labour force participation continue to pose a structural challenge.
• Manufacturing GVA grew to Rs 27.5 lakh crore (2023–24). Total exports hit a record USD 824.9 billion in 2024–25 with services exports at USD 387.5 billion and non-petroleum merchandise exports at USD 374.1 billion.
• Defence exports value also increased around 3 times with India now exporting to nearly 100 countries, signaling rising global trust in Indian defence capabilities.
• Global GDP growth is projected to slow to 2.4% in 2025 (from 2.9% in 2024), and 2.5% in 2026, which spans both advanced and emerging economies.
• US growth is projected to fall due to tariffs and policy uncertainty, while China’s growth is estimated at 4.6% in 2025, impacted by weak demand, export disruptions, and real estate stress..
• Economies like Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa face downgrades driven by tepid trade, falling investment, and commodity price volatility.
• Growth in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) is projected to decline from 4.5% in 2024 to 4.1% in 2025, amid falling export revenues, tighter financial conditions, reduced Official Development Assistance (ODA), and rising debt distress risks.
• Food inflation, driven by climate shocks, currency depreciation, trade protectionism, and supply chain disruptions, remains above the headline inflation.
• Globally, 343 million people face acute food insecurity, with 1.9 million at famine risk in conflict zones like Gaza, Haiti, Mali, South Sudan, and Sudan.
• Countries like India, where food forms a large part of household spending, are worst affected.
  Rising Trade & Global Risks: Rising US tariffs have triggered a “tariff shock”, raising global trade costs, disrupting supply chains, and disproportionately impacting developing economies.
• The escalating trade tensions are weakening multilateralism and widening global inequality.

10th edition of its World Energy Investment Report:

The International Energy Agency (IEA) released the 10th edition of its World Energy Investment Report, revealing critical insights into worldwide energy investment trends.

• Global energy investment is projected to reach a record USD 3.3 trillion. Of this, clean energy technologies will attract USD 2.2 trillion, twice the investment in fossil fuels (USD 1.1 trillion).
• This surge reflects efforts to cut emissions, enhance energy security, and leverage the cost competitiveness of electricity-based solutions.
• Global spending on low-emissions power generation has nearly doubled in five years, led by solar PV, with solar investment expected to reach USD 450 billion in 2025. Battery storage is also rising sharply, surpassing USD 65 billion this year.
• Nuclear power investment has grown by 50%, projected to reach USD 75 billion in 2025.
• India’s renewable power investment rose from USD 13 billion (2015) to USD 37 billion (2025).
• Fossil fuel investments also increased, from USD 41 billion to USD 49 billion, while nuclear and other clean sources grew from USD 1 billion to USD 6 billion.
• However, grid and storage investments declined from USD 31 billion to USD 25 billion over the same period.
  Regional Investment Patterns:
• China is set to account for over 25% of global energy investments in 2025, surpassing all other countries.
• Overall, China’s total energy spending equals that of the US and EU combined.
• Africa: Fossil fuel investments fell while clean energy investment grew marginally.
• Despite having 20% of the world’s population, Africa accounts for only 2% of global clean energy investment.
• Investment in oil exploration and production is expected to drop by 6% in 2025, while LNG investments are rising sharply, driven by major projects in the US, Qatar, and Canada.
• Coal investment stays strong, with China starting 100 GW of new coal power in 2024, pushing global approvals to the highest since 2015.
• While generation investment is set to hit USD 1 trillion in 2025, grid spending lags behind at just USD 400 billion.
• This gap is widening as material costs for grid infrastructure have nearly doubled in five years due to soaring demand.

Prime Minister of India addressed the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI) 2025:

Prime Minister of India addressed the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI) 2025, held for the first time in Europe. CDRI is a global multilateral platform launched by India in 2019 to promote infrastructure resilience against climate and disaster risks. Headquarters: Located in New Delhi. It includes 46 member countries and 8 partner organizations. Includes national governments, UN agencies, multilateral banks, and private sector entities.

Key Highlights of ICDRI 2025:

• Theme of the Conference: “Shaping a Resilient Future for Coastal Regions”
• Integrate disaster resilience modules into higher education for a future-ready workforce.
• Create a platform to share case studies, learnings, and rebuilding models post-disaster.
• Ensure access to resilience funding, especially for vulnerable countries.
• Recognize Small Island Developing States (SIDS) as Large Ocean Countries, and prioritize their unique climate challenges.
• Strengthen real-time alerts and last-mile communication to reduce disaster impacts.

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve hosts 180 butterfly species:

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve now hosts 180 butterfly species, indicating a healthier ecosystem, alongside 135 tigers, enhancing its biodiversity significance. Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is located on the Indo-Nepal borderin Uttar Pradesh. It includes the Dudhwa National Park, and two nearby Sanctuaries, viz. Kishanpur and Katerniaghat.  It is a typical Tarai-Bhabar habitat of the upper Gangetic plains Biogeographic province. The Sharda River flows by the Kishanpur WL Sanctuary, the Geruwa River flows through the Katerniaghat WL Sanctuary, and the Suheli and Mohana streams flow in the Dudhwa National Park, all of which are tributaries of the mighty Ghagra River. Mammals include: Guldar, Tiger, Fishing cat, Monkey, Langur, Mongoose, Small Indian Mongoose, small Indian civet, Jackal, etc.

DRUM Web App:

IIT Kharagpur associate professor and students created the Dynamic Route Planning for Urban Green Mobility (or DRUM) web app.It’s like Google Maps but with the added feature of allowing users pick routes based on air quality and energy efficiency.
It gives users five route options: shortest, fastest, least exposure to air pollution (LEAP), least energy consumption route (LECR), and a combination of all four factors called the suggested route. It was designed to fetch live pollution and traffic data the moment a user entered a route instead of pulling data at intervals. It determines routes using GraphHopper, a Java-based routing library that generates multiple options, while fetching real-time traffic updates from Mapbox.The results showed that shorter or faster routes often passed through polluted zones, offsetting time or distance gains.

11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum concluded in Brasilia, Brazil:

BRICS Parliamentary Forum is a vital platform for dialogue among Parliaments of BRICS member countries. The expanded BRICS parliamentary forum now includes India, Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Iran, the UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia. The 1st BRICS Parliamentary Forum was held during Russia’s Chairship on 8 June 2015 in Moscow. India hosted the BRICS Parliamentary Forum in October 2016 on the sidelines of the 135th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva, Switzerland. This forum’s Chairmanship rotates among its members India was officially handed over the chairmanship of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, scheduled to be held in 2026.

World Food Safety Day 2025

World Food Safety Day 2025 (7th June), themed “Food Safety: Science in Action,” highlights India’s shift from an adulteration-focused regime to a science-based food safety system led by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Despite progress, regulatory gaps and outdated practices persist, warranting renewed scrutiny.

Unnat Bharat Abhiyan:

The Ministry of Education’s Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) completes a decade, redefining the role of higher education in rural development.UBA (2014) aims at bringing transformational change in rural India by leveraging the resources of higher educational institutions (HEIs) to solve local development challenges through sustainable and inclusive practices. UBA is crucial because 70% of India’s population lives in rural areas, and while 54-55% of the workforce is engaged in agriculture and allied sectors, they contribute only 15-18% to the national GDP, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive rural development.  IIT Delhi is the National Coordinating Institute that oversees UBA, with 4,000+ institutions working with 19,000+ villages across 35 states and union territories.

New Non-Permanent Countries to UNSC:

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has elected Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Latvia, and Liberia as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for a 2-year term starting 1st January 2026.They will join Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama, Somalia (elected in 2024, serving through 2026).Also, Pakistan has been appointed as the Chair of the UNSC 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee for 2025 and will also serve as vice-chair of the UNSC Counter-Terrorism Committee during its 2025–26 tenure as a non-permanent member of the Council.

Mount Etna : Started Erupting

Mount Etna, Europe’s largest and one of the world’s most active volcanoes, has begun erupting. It is located on Sicily’s east coast in the Mediterranean Sea, it is part of Italy.It is a continuously active stratovolcano with five summit craters, known for explosive, effusive, and mixed eruptions. Etna has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013. Mount Etna’s eruption was initially classified as a Strombolian eruption, involving moderate gas-driven explosions due to bursting gas bubbles. However, due to its high ash plume reaching several kilometres, some experts suggest it may have been a more explosive Plinian eruption.

The World Bank Revised the Global Poverty Line:

The World Bank revised the global poverty line to $3/day (PPP 2021) from $2.15/day (PPP 2017) based on updated price data and survey methods. A poverty line defines the minimum daily spending needed for basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter.
The global poverty line is adjusted using Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) to allow comparison across countries regardless of currency value.Poverty is measured as the percentage of people living below a certain daily expenditure level (e.g., $2.15/day).
The World Bank uses household consumption data, adjusted for PPP and inflation, to calculate national and global poverty rates.The new estimate reflects richer consumption data and updated cost of living, especially in countries like India.
Extreme poverty line is now based on the median poverty line for low-income countries.

Part-time Member of the 16th Finance Commission:

Shri T. Rabi Sankar, Deputy Governor of RBI, has been appointed as a part-time Member of the 16th Finance Commission (XVIFC) following the resignation of Shri Ajay Narayan Jha. Finance Commission is a constitutional body constituted under Article 280 of the Indian Constitution. It recommends the distribution of tax revenues between the Union and States and evaluates fiscal needs of local bodies. The 16th Finance Commission (XVIFC) was set up on 31 December 2023. It is tasked with giving recommendations for the award period from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031.