Current Affairs June 2025

June 2025 saw significant developments in India, particularly in space exploration, infrastructure, and defence, alongside ongoing global economic shifts and international conflicts.

India-Specific Current Affairs 🇮🇳

Space & Technology 🚀

• First Indian on ISS: IAF Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla became the first Indian to set foot on the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom 4 mission.¹ He interacted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi via videoconferencing from the ISS.²

  
  

• Space Docking Experiment (SpaDEX): ISRO successfully carried out its second satellite docking in the SpaDEX Mission, making India the fourth country to achieve this complex space maneuver. The mission aims to demonstrate rendezvous, docking, and undocking technologies vital for future space missions.³

  
  

• SSLV Technology Transfer: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was selected for the Transfer of Technology (ToT) of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) by IN-SPACe.⁴

  
  

• AI University: Plans for India's first AI University in Maharashtra continued to progress.

• Cyber Security Exercise: The Defence Cyber Agency launched 'Cyber Suraksha', a multi-phased cyber security exercise to bolster national cyber resilience.⁵

  
  

Infrastructure & Economy 🏗️

• Chenab Rail Bridge Inauguration: The world's highest railway arch bridge over the Chenab River was inaugurated, completing the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) and integrating the Kashmir Valley with the national railway network.⁶

  
  

• Economic Growth & Inflation: India continued to be the fastest-growing major economy, with real GDP growth projected at 6.5% for FY25.⁷ Retail inflation eased to a 75-month low of 2.8% in May 2025, and the RBI lowered the repo rate by 50 basis points to 5.5% in June 2025 to support growth.⁸

  
  

• Record Exports: India's total exports reached US$ 825 billion in 2024-25, a significant increase over the last decade.⁹

  
  

• Defence Budget & Indigenous Production: India's defence budget rose to ₹6.81 lakh crore in 2025–26, with 75% of the modernization budget earmarked for domestic procurement.¹⁰ The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Programme Execution Model was approved in May, boosting indigenous aerospace capabilities.¹¹

  
  

• Defence Industrial Corridors: Defence Industrial Corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu continued to attract significant investments.

• GST Collections: Monthly gross GST collections in May 2025 remained above ₹2.01 lakh crore.¹²

  
  

Defence & Security 🛡️

• Apache Helicopters: The Indian Army received the first batch of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters from the US, to be deployed in Jodhpur, significantly enhancing offensive capabilities.¹³

  
  

• INS Arnala Commissioned: The Indian Navy commissioned INS Arnala, the first Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, equipped for sub-surface surveillance and other maritime operations.¹⁴

  
  

• Rudrastra VTOL Drone: The Indian Army successfully tested the Rudrastra VTOL Drone for precision strikes at the Pokhran firing range.¹⁵

  
  

• Exercise 'Tiger Claw': The first-ever joint special operations exercise between the Garud Special Forces of the Indian Air Force and the United States Air Force (USAF) Special Forces, 'Tiger Claw', was conducted across North India.¹⁶

  
  

• Loitering Munitions Order: The Indian Army placed an order for around 450 Nagastra-1R loitering munitions from Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL).¹⁷

  
  

• Joint Orders for Services: The first Joint Order on 'Approval, Promulgation and Numbering of Joint Instructions and Joint Orders' was released, aiming to streamline procedures and enhance cross-service cooperation.¹⁸

  
  

Social & Political Developments 📊

• 16th Census: India's 16th Census, which will be the first caste-based census in 16 years, is slated to be conducted in 2027 in two phases.¹⁹

  
  

• Tripura Achieves 100% Literacy: Tripura became the third state in India to achieve 100% literacy.²⁰ Mizoram was the first.

  
  

• Mobile-Based e-Voting System: Bihar became the first state in India to implement a mobile-based e-voting system.²¹

  
  

• Ladakh's Reservation Law: The Union Territory of Ladakh Reservation (Amendment) Regulation, 2025, was assented to, redefining reservation limits and criteria for government jobs and educational institutions.

• Global Gender Gap Index 2025: India's position declined to 131st due to persistent gender disparities in economic participation, education, healthcare, and political representation.²²

  
  

• PM's International Visits: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Cyprus, Canada (for G7 Summit), and Croatia from June 15-19, 2025, strengthening bilateral ties and participating in global discussions.²³

  
  

• Paraguayan President's Visit: The President of Paraguay, H.E. Mr. Santiago Peña Palacios, paid a State Visit to India from June 2-4, 2025, to strengthen bilateral relations.²⁴

  
  

• Pahalgam Terror Attack: A terror attack occurred in Pahalgam.²⁵

  
  

Global Current Affairs 🌍

International Relations & Conflicts ⚔️

• Iran-Israel Conflict: The near-war between Iran and Israel escalated in May and continued to be a major concern in June, with India launching Operation Sindhu to evacuate its nationals from the region.²⁶ A ceasefire was mediated by the U.S., though reports of violations persisted. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane, was a point of contention.²⁷

  
  

• G7 Summit 2025: Canada hosted the 51st G7 Summit, with India invited as an outreach partner.²⁸ Discussions focused on global issues, including energy security, technology, and the AI-energy nexus.²⁹

  
  

• UN Security Council Elections: Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Latvia, and Liberia were elected as five new non-permanent members to the UN Security Council for the 2026-27 term.³⁰ Latvia will serve for the first time.

  
  

• UN Oceans Conference (UNOC) 2025: The third UNOC was held in France, focusing on global marine conservation efforts and progress on the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement (High Seas Treaty).³¹ 56 of the required 60 ratifications for the treaty were achieved, with India indicating it is in the "process" of ratifying.

  
  

Economy & Environment 📉

• Global Economic Slowdown: Global growth is projected to decelerate from 2.9% in 2024 to 2.4% in 2025, reflecting a downgrade due to heightened trade tensions and policy uncertainty. Trade-reliant developing countries were particularly vulnerable.

• Trade Policy Uncertainty: The OECD's Economic Outlook highlighted that policy uncertainty was weakening trade and investment globally.³²

  
  

• World Environment Day: Celebrated on June 5, 2025, under the theme “Beat Plastic Pollution”.³³

  
  

• Vietnam Emissions Trading Scheme: Vietnam launched the first phase of its emissions trading scheme to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.³⁴

  
  

• New Zealand Climate Lawsuit: The New Zealand government was sued over its "inadequate" plan to reduce emissions, which relied heavily on offsetting rather than direct reductions.³⁵