NATIONAL NEWS

Maharashtra Launches Geo-Tagged Unique Infra ID for Project Monitoring

The Maharashtra government has introduced a geo-tagged 13-character alphanumeric Unique Infra ID for every infrastructure project to enhance transparency, real-time tracking, and coordination.

Activated on June 9, 2025, through the Infra ID portal, this digital initiative will be extended across departments and districts by October 2025, with full registration of projects sanctioned since 2020 to be completed by March 2026.

Each project will receive a 13-digit unique ID post-administrative approval to standardize tracking and avoid duplication.

Projects will be geo-tagged via MRSAC (Maharashtra Remote Sensing Application Centre) for effective lifecycle monitoring.

The ID comprises state code, year, scheme code, district code, asset type, and serial number (e.g., M25RURWRDRODW001).

The digital platform enables public and inter-agency access to project data and improves governance.

Implementation begins in Wardha (Vidarbha) before state-wide rollout in October 2025.

The District Collector’s Committee holds authority to cancel or amend project IDs, ensuring accountability.

March 2026 is the deadline for uploading data of all projects approved since 2020.

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

Bengaluru has emerged as India’s leading metro in wild leopard population, overtaking Mumbai with estimated 80–85 leopards inhabiting its forested outskirts.

This significant finding comes from a recent year-long survey (2024–2025) conducted by the Holématthi Nature Foundation (HNF), highlighting Bengaluru as a rare urban region supporting apex predators and rich biodiversity, emphasizing the urgent need for sustained conservation efforts.

Bengaluru hosts 80–85 wild leopards, surpassing Mumbai’s population of 54 individuals.

Survey was conducted over 282 sq km with more than 250 camera traps deployed.

Centre Approves Third Electronics Manufacturing Cluster for Tamil Nadu

The Union government has approved a third Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) in Tamil Nadu, further strengthening the state’s role as a leading electronics manufacturing hub in India.

The announcement was made by Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw during a virtual address at an IIT Madras

Tamil Nadu will receive its third electronics manufacturing cluster, following two clusters announced earlier in March 2025 involving a combined investment of ₹1,112 crore.

The state is witnessing strong growth in the production of mobile phones, laptops, and servers, driven by increasing investments and supportive policies.

The new cluster is aligned with the Centre’s Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) initiatives aimed at enhancing domestic capabilities and export potential in the electronics sector.

Tamil Nadu is also emerging as a key location for railway manufacturing, producing high-strength railway wheels and assembling Vande Bharat trains with Indian Railways' support.

 

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Department Of Posts Has Launched A New Digital Addressing System Digipin

The Department of Posts has launched a new digital addressing system called Digipin, developed in collaboration with IIT Hyderabad and Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO’s) National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC).

Digipin stands for Digital Postal Index Number and provides precise and unique identification of geographic locations across India.

It assigns a 10-character alphanumeric code to each specific geolocation, improving accuracy significantly over the existing 6-digit PIN code system used since 1972.

Each Digipin corresponds to a 4x4 square metre grid on the Indian landmass, ensuring every inch of the country is uniquely identified.

Digipin is part of the National Geospatial Policy 2022 to promote digital-first governance, accurate last-mile delivery, and efficient emergency response.

 

BANKING

CreditAccess Grameen Secures $100 Million Multi-Currency Social Loan Facility

CreditAccess Grameen, the largest NBFC-MFI (Non-Banking Finance Company – Micro Finance Institution) in India, secured a $100 million multi-currency syndicated social loan facility.

The loan qualifies as an External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) under the automatic route of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

The facility was initially launched at $70 million in November 2024 but was oversubscribed and increased to $100 million.

The loan was raised from seven banks, predominantly from South Asia and the Far East.

It is the first of its kind ECB facility in India’s microfinance sector, comprising Japanese yen and US dollar

The borrowing cost is highly competitive, comparable to domestic borrowing rates, and lower than the company’s average cost of borrowing.

The company aims to increase foreign borrowings to 25-30% by FY28.

The transaction is the second syndicated social facility led by Standard Chartered Bank for CreditAccess Grameen.

Paytm Launches Custom UPI ID Feature to Attract New Users

Paytm has introduced the ability to create custom UPI IDs to strengthen privacy and security and boost onboarding of new UPI users in India.

The new feature allows users to personalise their UPI handles, removing the need to create UPI IDs linked to mobile numbers.

This move follows the lifting of restrictions by NPCI in 2024, which allowed Paytm to onboard new UPI users again.

Recent features introduced by Paytm to attract more users include: Hide and unhide transactions for enhanced privacy, Monthly summaries to help users track spending and Downloadable UPI statements in PDF and Excel formats.

Paytm is also expanding its UPI services internationally, allowing Indian travellers to use UPI in countries such as:UAE, Singapore, France, Mauritius, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.

 

DEFENCE

Israel Launches Operation Rising Lion to Hit Iran's Nuclear Site

Israel launched an air attack targeting Iran’s nuclear and military facilities in the early morning of 13th June 2025.

The operation, christened ‘Operation Rising Lion, ' was authorised by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also declared a state of emergency in the country, fearing a counterattack by Iran.

The United States of America, which is the biggest supporter of Israel, has said that it was not involved in the Israeli attack.

The United States also announced that the American and Iranian negotiators will meet in Oman on 15 June 2025 for the sixth round of talks on Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme.

The Israeli attack follows the decision of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on 12 June 2025.

The IAEA voted to declare that the Iranian nuclear programme had breached the terms of a 1974 agreement, and it was enriching uranium above the requirement of a peaceful civilian nuclear programme.

According to the Israel Defence Force (IDF), it struck over 100 sites in Iran to kill senior leaders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran and top nuclear scientists.

Nomadic Elephant Joint Military Exercise Concludes in Mongolia

The 17th edition of the India-Mongolia bilateral military exercise ‘Nomadic Elephant’, ended in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on June 13, 2025.

The closing ceremony of the 17th Nomadic Elephant was attended by the Indian Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.

He was accompanied by Lieutenant General Pushpendra Singh, Director General Operational Logistics and Strategic Movement of the Indian Army.

Defence Secretary will also participate in the opening ceremony of the 22nd edition of the multinational exercise ‘Khaan Quest’ to be held at the same location on 14 June 2025.

The main aim of the 17th ‘Nomadic Elephant’ exercise is to help Indian and Mongolian army personnel hone their skills in responding to terror incidents.

They conducted joint drills to sharpen their skills in conducting joint counter-insurgency operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain.

The exercise was a platoon-level field training exercise. A field training exercise is a military training exercise that simulates war conditions in the field.

Both armies engaged in various exercises, including endurance training, reflex shooting, room intervention, small team tactics and rock craft training etc.

Cyber Warfare was incorporated in the Nomadic Elephant exercise for the first time.

Indian Coast Guard Launches Dedicated Jetty at Vizhinjam Harbour, Kerala

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Director General Paramesh Sivamani inaugurated a dedicated ICG jetty at Vizhinjam Harbour, Kerala aimed at enhancing maritime security.

The jetty is 76.7 metres long and state-of-the-art, designed to support faster deployment and turnaround of Coast Guard vessels.

The facility will boost mission readiness for Coastal surveillance, Search and rescue operations, Anti-smuggling activities, Fisheries protection

It is strategically located 10 nautical miles from key international shipping lanes and adjacent to the Vizhinjam International Transshipment Deepwater Port.

The jetty is expected to play a critical role in safeguarding India’s southwestern coastline.

 

AWARDS & PRIZES

2023 Sankardeva Award

Eminent classical dancer Dr Sonal Mansingh was conferred the 2023 Srimanta Sankaradeva Award by the Assam Governor Laxmanacharya in a function in Guwahati, Assam, on 12 June 2025.

Initially, President Droupadi Mumru was to present the award to Dr Sonal Mansingh on 22 April 2025, but it was postponed due to the Pahalagam terror attack.

Dr Sonal Mansingh was honoured for her immense contribution to Indian classical dance, social reform and for cultural advocacy.

Assam government instituted the Srimanta Sankaradeva Award in 1986.

It is a national level award and it given to an individuals who symbolises the values of Srimanta Sankardeva through their contributions to art, culture, and society.

The awardee is honoured with an Angavastram, a gold medallion, a citation and a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh. The awardee is also honoured with the traditional Assamese bell-metal ‘Xorai’ (a tray).

 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Justice NS Sanjay Gowda Takes Oath as Gujarat High Court Judge

Justice Neranahalli Srinivasan Sanjay Gowda, formerly a judge of the Karnataka High Court, was sworn in as a judge of the Gujarat High Court.

The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court, Justice Sunita Agarwal.

The Supreme Court Collegium, in April 2025, recommended the transfer of seven sitting High Court judges, including four judges from Karnataka, among whom was Justice Gowda.

The oath-taking ceremony was held in the First Court of Gujarat High Court, attended by Advocate General Kamal Trivedi, senior advocates, and other dignitaries.

Justice Gowda is 58 years old and began his legal career as an advocate in 1989.

He was appointed as Additional Judge of the Karnataka High Court in November 2019.

Later, he was made a permanent judge of the Karnataka High Court in September 2021.

                                   

MISCELLANEOUS

Air India Dreamliner AI 171 Crash in Ahmedabad

The Air India flight number AI 171 crashed shortly after taking off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on 12 June 2025.

More than 200 people are feared killed in the accident.

The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner plane was bound for Gatwick Airport, London, United Kingdom. It was also the first accident worldwide involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner since the aircraft made its commercial debut in 2011.

The Tata Group owns Air India.

The flight, which took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad, lost control of the air traffic control (ATC) and crashed into the hostel of the BJ Medical College.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has started an investigation into the Air India crash.