23rd June 2025 UPSC Current Affairs: Iran-Israel, SCO, AMR

Looking for the most important 23rd June 2025 UPSC current affairs? This detailed daily analysis covers high-impact topics like the US-Israel operation on Iran, reforms in India’s food and fertiliser subsidy, the latest from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and a special focus on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). Designed for UPSC Prelims and Mains, this compilation includes facts, implications, MCQs, and GS Paper relevance to boost your preparation efficiently

1. US-Israel vs Iran: Conflict Unfolds

 Recent Development

On June 22, 2025, the United States launched a targeted military operation—“Operation Midnight Hammer”—on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. This action has escalated tensions in the volatile West Asian region and reshaped global security conversations.

 Historical Background: Iran-Israel Conflict

• Origin: Post-1979 Iranian Revolution, Iran severed diplomatic ties with Israel and adopted an anti-Zionist stance.

• Proxy Warfare: Iran supports groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, whom Israel deems terrorist organizations.

• Nuclear Tensions: Israel opposes Iran’s nuclear ambitions, suspecting covert weapons development.

 US Interests in the Region

• Energy Security: Control over Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil transit route.

• Regional Stability: Containing Iran’s influence across Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen.

• Defense Alliances: Strategic alignment with Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE.

• Arms Sales: The region remains a lucrative market for U.S. defense exports.

 Implications for the World & India

• Oil Prices: Disruption may spike crude prices, affecting inflation in energy-importing countries like India.

• Diaspora Risk: Millions of Indians reside in Gulf countries. Any instability poses risks to their safety.

• Strategic Autonomy: India must diplomatically balance relations with both Iran (Chabahar Port, energy) and the US (defense, tech partnerships).

2. Food & Fertiliser Subsidies: A Review of India’s Economic Policy

 Editorial Focus

A recent editorial critically assessed India’s poverty trends (2004–2024), economic transitions, and the ongoing challenges in managing food and fertiliser subsidies.

 Economic Status (2004–2024)

• GDP Growth: India witnessed consistent high growth in the mid-2000s and post-2014 recovery after demonetization and GST implementation.

• Poverty Reduction: Multidimensional poverty index shows significant decline in deprived households.

• Social Programs: Key schemes like MGNREGA, PMAY, PM-KISAN, and NFSA expanded coverage and improved income security.

 Employment & Agricultural Dependence

• Largest Employer: Agriculture employs over 40% of India’s workforce, yet contributes <20% to GDP.

• Subsidy Structure:

  • Food: PDS under NFSA provides rice/wheat at subsidized rates.

  • Fertiliser: Urea prices remain artificially low; government covers the subsidy gap with manufacturers.

 Role of Affirmative Actions

• Increased Outlays in rural schemes.

• Fertiliser reforms like neem-coated urea and DBT pilots.

• PDS improvements through Aadhaar-linked ration cards reduced leakages.

 Arising Issues

• Inefficient Targeting: Non-poor households still avail subsidies.

• Environmental Concerns: Fertiliser overuse depletes soil quality.

• Fiscal Pressure: Combined subsidies exceed ₹4 lakh crore, impacting fiscal discipline.

 What Can Be Done?

• DBT for Fertilisers: Expand pilot across states.

• Balanced Use: Promote organic and bio-fertilisers.

• Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS): Reform pricing to encourage balanced fertiliser use.

• Revamp PDS: Use AI & data analytics for real-time beneficiary verification.

3. Recognising Adivasi Identity in Census

 News

The Census debate is reignited as tribal groups demand that “Adivasi” be recognized as a distinct identity rather than being merged with Scheduled Tribes (ST) or other social categories.

 Key Issues

• Cultural Diversity: Over 700 tribal communities with distinct languages, customs.

• Census Limitations: Current formats do not capture intra-tribal diversity.

• Administrative Implications: Incorrect enumeration affects access to schemes and welfare.

 Constitutional Angle

• Article 342: President notifies Scheduled Tribes in consultation with states.

• Fifth & Sixth Schedules: Provide governance structures for tribal areas.

• Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP): Fund allocation depends on accurate demographic data.

 Way Forward

• Update classification standards.

• Consult anthropologists and tribal councils in census design.

• Protect linguistic and cultural integrity of Adivasi communities.

4. Foreign Universities in India: Boon or Bane?

 News

Policy proposals are underway to allow top global universities to set up autonomous campuses in India, potentially transforming the higher education sector.

 Potential Benefits

• Global Standards: Improve academic quality, research, and faculty exposure.

• Reduced Brain Drain: Students may opt to study in India with international certification.

• Competition & Reform: Public universities may be driven to modernize.

 Concerns

• Equity Issues: High fees may marginalize rural/poor students.

• Brain Drain of Faculty: Best teachers may leave Indian institutions for better pay.

• Regulatory Challenges: UGC must develop robust frameworks to monitor quality and standards.

5. Critical Tiger Habitats (CTH): Conservation in Action

 Update

The status and process for declaring Critical Tiger Habitats (CTHs) under scrutiny after recent delays and litigation.

 Legal Backing

• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Provides legal basis for declaring CTHs.

• Gram Sabha Consent: Required to relocate forest dwellers.

 Key Facts

• Core Areas: CTHs form the inner zones of tiger reserves.

• Ecological Significance: Ensure space for breeding and undisturbed movement.

• People vs Conservation Debate: Tribal displacement is a sensitive and contested issue.

6. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO): Expanding Horizons

 News

Iran has been inducted as a full member of the SCO, signifying a growing pivot of the organisation toward West Asia.

 Organisation Overview

• Members: India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Central Asian states, now Iran.

• Headquarters: Beijing, China.

• Primary Focus: Regional security, economic collaboration, and counterterrorism.

 Relevance to India

• Security Dialogue with Central Asia.

• Countering China’s influence while maintaining regional presence.

• Multilateral engagement with Russia, China, and Iran under a neutral platform.

7. AMR: The Silent Global Health Threat

 News

Experts warn of an alarming rise in Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) globally, especially in developing nations like India.

 What is AMR?

• Resistance developed by bacteria/fungi/viruses to medicines like antibiotics and antifungals.

• Leads to drug-resistant infections that are harder and costlier to treat.

 Key Drivers

• Over-prescription and unregulated sale of antibiotics.

• Antibiotic use in livestock farming.

• Lack of hygiene and infection control in hospitals.

 Global and National Response

• WHO’s Global Action Plan.

• India’s NAP-AMR (2017–2021) aimed at rational drug use, surveillance, and public awareness.

• FSSAI norms for antibiotic residues in food products.

8. Lessons from Operation Sindoor’s Global Outreach

About the News
Operation Sindoor (May 2025) was India’s large-scale military and diplomatic response to the Pahalgam terror attack. The Indian Navy, Army, and Air Force jointly acted to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK. Pakistan’s naval mobility was restricted, showcasing the Indian military’s precision capability and deterrence

Key Themes

• Military precision and measured escalation

• Coordinated deployment of indigenous weapons (Akash, BrahMos)

• All-party parliamentary delegations to ~25–31 countries aimed at countering anti-India narratives

Initiatives & Treaties

• “Aatmanirbhar” defense modernization programme

• Aligns with UN norms on counter-terror and self‑defence

• Diplomacy engaged nations including UNSC permanent members

Recent Developments

• Diplomatic delegations dispatched; sustained military readiness as reiterated by Defence Minister

• Vice-President and multiple state leaders acknowledged global praise for India’s response

• Environmental tributes like “sindoor” tree plantation in Varanasi

UPSC Prelims Relevance

• Concepts: joint military operations, deterrence, calibrated retaliation

• Institu­ tional context: Defence procurement reforms, Aatmanirbhar Bharat

• International norms: right of self-defence (UN Charter)

9. Steering the Indian Economy Amidst Global Troubles

About the News
India continues to buffer its economy from global shocks—like supply chain disruptions and trade disputes—through strong policy tools, resilient FTAs, and local industrial push.

Key Themes

• Trade partnerships and supply chain reorientation

• Inflation control via fiscal and monetary policy

• Production Linked Incentives (PLI) to boost manufacturing

Initiatives & Reports

• FTAs with UK, UAE, EFTA

• WTO dispute participation

• National Logistics Policy, PLI schemes

Recent Developments

• New trade corridors and enhanced MSME support

• Focus on semiconductors, critical tech resilience

UPSC Prelims Relevance

• WTO mechanism, FTA processes, domestic policy tools

10. India Trails in Critical Tech, Particularly Semiconductor Tech

About the News
India lags in cutting‑edge technologies like semiconductors, AI, quantum computing—where global leaders like the U.S. and China lead

Key Themes

• Strategic independence in critical-tech sectors

• Need for domestic R&D and advanced manufacturing

Initiatives & Reports

• India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 2021 (₹76,000 crore under MeitY)

• National Quantum Mission (₹6,000 crore)

• Semi-Conductor Laboratory, VEGA microprocessors (RISC‑V)

• PLI and National Electronics Policy 2019

Recent Developments

• Cabinet approved 3 semiconductor fabs (start in 100 days)

• HCL‑Foxconn JV approved near Jewar (₹37 billion), production by 2027

• Tata Assembly & Test plant in Assam by mid‑2025

• First indigenously‑designed microprocessor via VEGA RISC‑V

UPSC Prelims Relevance

• ISM features: objectives, outlay, MeitY’s Business Division

• Understanding R&D institutions like SCL, C‑DAC

• Broader policy frameworks: PLI, National Electronics Policy

11. Compensating Theft – AI‑Driven Content Misuse

About the News
AI models increasingly train on copyrighted text, images, and videos without permission, leading to widespread content theft concerns.

Key Themes

• Copyright protection for creators

• Ethical AI development

• Regulatory frameworks for data usage

Initiatives & Reports

• UNESCO/OECD AI guidelines

• India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023, IT Act provisions

• EU’s AI Act

• Creative Commons licensing frameworks

Recent Developments

• Legal action against AI firms over data scraping

• Watermarking and AI-detection technology rollout

• Debates and consultations on AI data rules in India

UPSC Prelims Relevance

• IPR conventions, amendments to IT Act

• Data privacy principles, copyright law basics, ethics in AI

12. Recognising Adivasi Identity in the Census

About the News
Adivasi groups like Santals and Oraons are seeking distinct recognition for Sarnaism—nature-worship faith—as a separate religion code in the next census.

Key Themes

• Cultural recognition and identity assertion

• Tribal rights and constitutional safeguards

• Representation and enumeration accuracy

Initiatives & Reports

• NCST under Article 338A monitors tribal safeguards

• Forest Rights Act 2006

• UNDRIP

• NCST’s recommendation for a separate Sarna religion code

Recent Developments

• Adivasi petitions to census authorities

• Parliamentary debates and media focus

• Pushback from government statements, protests in tribal states

UPSC Prelims Relevance

• Constitutional Articles: 25, 342, 338A, 371A/G; Fifth/Sixth Schedule

• Census classifications, tribal rights under FRA

• Identity politics and enumeration