Welcome to your comprehensive guide on Daily Current Affairs – June 20, 2025. This curated summary covers pivotal events and updates across various sectors, including diplomacy, education, economy, and more. Tailored for UPSC aspirants, this resource aims to enhance your preparation for both Prelims and Mains examinations. 1. The West Asian Volcano – India’s Strategic Choices What’s the News? Rising instability in West Asia, involving Iran, Israel, and proxy groups, has posed complex challenges for India’s strategic interests—particularly in energy, diaspora safety, and maritime security. Key Issues and Functions Escalating hostilities following controversial statements and strikes. Proxy wars involving US, Russia, China, and regional players. Threats to strategic chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea. Impact on Indian diaspora, oil supply, and trade routes. National and Global Frameworks JCPOA (Iran Nuclear Deal) – India supports peaceful nuclear cooperation. Carter Doctrine – US military guarantee in the Persian Gulf region. UNCLOS – Ensures India’s maritime interests in Hormuz. Recent Developments Global criticism of Israel’s position. Fragile ceasefire attempts disrupted by new provocations. Instability in Yemen, Gaza, Lebanon impacting sea lanes. Way Forward Enhance diplomatic neutrality through principled autonomy. Diversify oil import basket and invest in strategic reserves. Strengthen maritime capacity as net security provider. Safeguard diaspora via strong consular networks. 2. Judicial Accountability in India What’s the News? An in-house inquiry revealed serious misconduct involving a High Court judge, bringing attention to judicial accountability and institutional transparency. Key Issues and Functions Upholding judicial ethics and impartiality. Lack of a statutory accountability mechanism. No mandatory asset disclosures or performance evaluations. Legal and Global Frameworks Articles 124(4) & 217(1)(b) of the Constitution. Judges Inquiry Act, 1968. Contempt of Court Act – balance between criticism and decorum. UK Judicial Conduct Investigations Office – comparative model. Recent Developments Delay in FIRs despite cash discovery in judge’s residence. Collegium system under criticism for opacity. Way Forward Codify in-house mechanisms with legal timelines. Enact a comprehensive Judicial Accountability Bill. Mandatory annual disclosures and audits. Publish performance indicators for judges. 3. One Stop Centres – Women’s Safety and Empowerment What’s the News? One Stop Centres (OSCs) offer integrated services to women facing gender-based violence across India, operating under the Nirbhaya Fund. Key Functions Legal aid, police support, medical assistance, psychosocial counselling. Shelter provision under Mission Shakti. Helpline (181) integration. Legal and Policy Frameworks Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD). Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. CEDAW (UN Convention on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women). Recent Developments Enhanced funding and expansion to rural blocks. Underutilization and lack of awareness in some regions. Way Forward Conduct awareness campaigns to increase outreach. Strengthen capacity and training of staff. Digitize records for service transparency and evaluation. 4. National Action Plan on Climate Change & Green India Mission What’s the News? India’s climate strategy revolves around the eight missions under NAPCC, with Green India Mission (GIM) playing a central role in carbon sequestration. Key Functions Forest cover enhancement (5 million hectares). Promote ecosystem services and biodiversity. Community livelihood support. Global Frameworks Paris Climate Agreement (INDCs). UNFCCC. SDG 13 and SDG 15 (Climate Action and Life on Land). Recent Developments Slow fund utilization and overlapping with CAMPA funds. Reports on poor implementation in forest-depleted states. Way Forward Decentralize mission planning to community forest groups. Ensure timely disbursement and transparent audits. Link with employment schemes like MGNREGA for green jobs. 5. National Education Policy 2020 – Transforming Indian Education What’s the News? NEP 2020 seeks to modernize and localize education with an emphasis on holistic learning, flexibility, and mother tongue instruction. Key Functions Structural reform: 5+3+3+4 replacing 10+2. Skill development, critical thinking, and vocational training. Digital learning platforms and teacher training. Legal/Global Frameworks RTE Act, 2009. SDG 4 (Quality Education). UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report. Recent Developments Parental concerns over language medium. Introduction of Academic Bank of Credits (ABC). Way Forward Strengthen teacher capacity in regional languages. Encourage public-private partnerships in EdTech. Regular curriculum updates in sync with industry needs. 6. Kudumbashree – Kerala’s Women Empowerment Model What’s the News? Kudumbashree has evolved into one of India’s largest women-led poverty eradication missions through Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Key Functions Empowerment via microcredit, skilling, and entrepreneurship. Social interventions on health, sanitation, and education. National and Global Linkages State Poverty Eradication Mission (SPEM). SHG-Bank Linkage Scheme. SDGs 1, 5, and 8 (No Poverty, Gender Equality, Decent Work). Way Forward Upscale rural enterprises to value chains. Institutionalize marketing and logistics support. Use AI/ML to monitor SHG performance. 7. Green Hydrogen – Future of Clean Energy What’s the News? India’s Green Hydrogen Mission aims to produce 5 MMT/year by 2030, positioning itself as a global clean energy hub. Key Functions Electrolysis using renewable sources. Reduce industrial emissions in fertilizer, refinery, steel sectors. Legal and Global Frameworks MNRE guidelines. Global Hydrogen Council. SDG 7 & 13 (Affordable Energy, Climate Action). Recent Developments ₹8 lakh crore investment pipeline. Domestic electrolyser production incentives. Way Forward Develop national hydrogen storage and transport infrastructure. Incentivize R&D and export-oriented industries. Mandate hydrogen blending in city gas networks. 8.Blame not the messenger in India's diplomacy What’s the News? Post-Operation Sindoor (May 2025), India’s diplomatic corps faced rare criticism—not for policy lapses, but for ineffective international communication. Despite a counter-terror response, global support did not align with India’s expectations. Key Points for UPSC India failed to gain global condemnation of Pakistan post-strike. Comparisons drawn to diplomatic successes post-2008, 2016, and 2019 terror attacks. India’s external messaging weakened by domestic narratives and lack of international alignment. The “New Normal” doctrine raises conflict escalation risks. Recent Developments & Global Context Pakistan gained UNSC and IMF positions despite terror accusations. U.S. President equated India and Pakistan diplomatically. Global perception of India strained due to stances on Ukraine, Gaza, and domestic issues. Relevant Conventions and Treaties UNSC Resolution 1267 (Terror Sanctions List) FATF Grey List (Financial Action Task Force) Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961) Implications for India and the World Need for stronger narrative-building in multilateral forums. Perception management and public diplomacy must evolve. Strategic autonomy must be matched with moral clarity. 9. Exiting refugee status, getting back dignity What’s the News? A Sri Lankan Tamil refugee returning voluntarily from Tamil Nadu was detained in Sri Lanka, raising concerns about the dignity and viability of refugee repatriation. Key Points for UPSC India does not have a national refugee law. Tamil refugees lack formal rehabilitation policies unlike Tibetan refugees. Supreme Court: India is not a “dharamshala” for all global refugees. Detention of a returning refugee raises questions on repatriation frameworks. Recent Developments & Global Context UNHCR facilitated voluntary return but host country detained refugee. Differential treatment between Tibetan and Sri Lankan Tamil refugees exposed. 90,000+ Sri Lankan Tamil refugees reside in Tamil Nadu. Relevant Conventions and Treaties 1951 UN Refugee Convention (India is not a signatory) UNHCR Guidelines on Voluntary Repatriation Principle of Non-refoulement Implications for India and the World Urgent need for a uniform refugee policy. Balance between national security and humanitarian obligations. Refugee integration should be aligned with international best practices. UPSC Quick Facts Tamil refugees arrived between 1983–2012. No repatriation policy for recent refugees unlike 1995 efforts. Only Tibetan refugees have formal rehabilitation framework (TRP, 2014). India handles refugee issues administratively, not legislatively. 10. Will delaying the Census affect its implementation? What’s the News? India’s decadal Census, due in 2021, is now scheduled for 2027. This is the longest-ever delay, raising concerns about policy accuracy and data-driven governance. Key Points for UPSC Data from 2011 is outdated—misleading for present-day policymaking. Delays affect welfare delivery, migration tracking, and urban planning. No fresh data for redrawing constituencies or National Population Register (NPR). Recent Developments & Global Context Post-COVID, most countries resumed censuses by 2022. India's digital-first census must ensure inclusivity for rural and marginalized groups. Relevant Conventions and Treaties Census Act, 1948 UN Principles and Recommendations for Population & Housing Censuses SDG 17.18: Capacity-building for data Implications for India and the World Poor data affects poverty targeting, health, education, and infrastructure planning. May erode credibility of India’s demographic governance. UPSC Quick Facts Last Census: 2011 2021 Census postponed multiple times Door-to-door enumeration remains essential Digital-first model risks exclusion of digitally poor 11. What the WHA’s landmark resolution on skin diseases means for global health and equity What’s the News? In May 2025, the World Health Assembly passed its first resolution on skin diseases—calling for their inclusion in universal health systems. Key Points for UPSC Over 1.9 billion people suffer from skin diseases globally. India has high burden of leprosy, vitiligo, and fungal infections. Dermatological care is missing in most rural and public health systems. Recent Developments & Global Context Resolution backed by over 50 countries. LMICs like India see skin health as low-priority despite high morbidity. Relevant Conventions and Treaties WHA Resolution on Skin Health (2025) SDG 3 (Universal Health Coverage) WHO Framework on Neglected Tropical Diseases Implications for India and the World Calls for inclusion of skin health in national healthcare policies. Enables equitable access and reduces stigma. UPSC Quick Facts WHA = governing body of WHO First skin-health-specific resolution passed in 2025 Skin diseases linked to disability, stigma, and reduced quality of life [caption id="attachment_26282" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Daily UPSC Current Affairs – 20th June 2025[/caption]
