Author name: Ajay Gulia

A devastating Air India crash on 12 June 2025 claimed 241 lives when a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner headed to London crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport. The flight had 242 people on board, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. Only one survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, has been confirmed.

The victims included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian. Among the deceased was former Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP leader Vijay Rupani. Several individuals on the ground also lost their lives.

The pilot issued a ‘Mayday’ distress call shortly after takeoff at 1:39 PM. The aircraft was piloted by Capt. Sumeet Sabharwal (8,200 flight hours) and First Officer Clive Kundar (1,100 hours). The Dreamliner had been delivered to Air India in 2014.

Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, expressed condolences and stated its readiness to support Air India and the investigation.

From 15 July 2025, Aadhaar-based OTP authentication will be mandatory for booking online Tatkal tickets via the IRCTC website and app. The move aims to promote fair and transparent booking practices.

For Tatkal tickets booked at PRC counters or by authorised agents, OTP verification will be done using the mobile number provided at the time of booking.

To prevent misuse, IRCTC agents will be barred from booking Tatkal tickets during the first 30 minutes of the booking window:

• 10:00–10:30 AM for AC classes
• 11:00–11:30 AM for non-AC classes
  The Centre for Railways Information Systems (CRIS) and IRCTC have been instructed to implement these changes and inform all departments accordingly.

On 10 June 2025, Union Power Minister Manohar Lal announced that India met its peak power demand of 241 GW with zero shortage — a major milestone in the country’s energy sector. He highlighted that during 2024–25, India added its highest-ever generation capacity of 34 GW, including 29.5 GW from renewable sources.

Over the last 11 years under the Narendra Modi government, the power sector has made unprecedented progress, with a focus on service, good governance, and welfare. By the end of 2025, non-fossil energy sources are expected to exceed 50% of India’s total energy capacity.

The length of transmission lines has grown from 2.91 lakh circuit kilometers to 4.94 lakh circuit kilometers, significantly strengthening energy infrastructure.

Peak power demand has almost doubled from 130 GW to 250 GW in 11 years, with a forecast of 270 GW by year-end. At the same time, energy shortages have dropped sharply from 4.2% in 2013 to 0.1% last year.

Recent data shows a zero gap between power demand and supply, signaling India’s movement towards becoming a power-surplus nation.

India’s first underwater museum and artificial coral reef will be developed around the decommissioned warship INS Guldar near Nivati Rocks at Vengurla in Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra. Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis virtually attended the project initiation.

The centrally supported initiative aims to promote marine conservation and tourism, featuring scuba diving and future submarine tours. The Union Tourism Ministry has approved ₹46.91 crore for the project.

INS Guldar, a 1,120-ton warship, was decommissioned in January 2024 and handed over to the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation. After completing environmental cleaning, the ship will be scuttled to serve as an underwater museum and coral reef site.

To unlock the value of operational National Highway assets and boost Public-Private Partnership (PPP), the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) launched its first-ever ‘Asset Monetization Strategy for the Road Sector’ on 9 June 2025.

• The strategy provides a structured framework to mobilize capital through Toll-Operate-Transfer (ToT), Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs), and securitization models.
• These instruments have already helped NHAI raise over ₹1.4 lakh crore across 6,100 km of highways under the National Monetisation Pipeline.
• It is built on three core pillars:
  1. Value maximization of road assets
  2. Transparency and investor information dissemination
  3. Market development and broader investor participation

NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav emphasized that the strategy ensures financial sustainability and private sector involvement, enhancing road asset quality and longevity.

Member Finance, N.R.V.V.M.K. Rajendra Kumar, added that the document fosters structured, transparent monetisation, boosting investor confidence.

The strategy supports the Government of India’s Asset Monetisation Plan (2025–30) and marks a shift to sustainable, market-driven infrastructure financing.

🔗 Read the full strategy: NHAI Asset Monetization Strategy Document

The Indian Navy will commission its first Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), Arnala, on 18 June 2025 at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam.

• Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Anil Chauhan, will preside over the ceremony.
• Vice Adm Rajesh Pendharkar will host the event.

Key Highlights:

• Arnala is the first of 16 ASW-SWC ships designed and built under Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
• Built by GRSE, Kolkata, in partnership with L&T Shipbuilders, under PPP model.
• Delivered to the Navy on 08 May 2025.
• Named after the historic Arnala Fort, symbolizing maritime strength and heritage.

Technical & Strategic Significance:

• Over 80% indigenous content, with systems from BEL, L&T, Mahindra Defence, MEIL, and 55+ MSMEs involved.
• Capable of Subsurface Surveillance, Search and Rescue, and Low-Intensity Maritime Operations.
• 77.6 m in length, 1490+ tonnes, and first Indian Naval ship with Diesel Engine-Waterjet propulsion.

This commissioning strengthens India’s coastal defence and naval self-reliance in the Indian Ocean Region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Jammu and Kashmir on May 6, 2025, and laid the foundation stone, inaugurated, and dedicated development projects worth over ₹46,000 crore at Katra.

• Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project was dedicated to the nation.
  • Cost: Around ₹44,000 crore
  • Length: 272 km
  • Features: Fully electrified, 36 tunnels, and 943 bridges
  • Includes:
    • Chenab Bridge – World’s highest railway arch bridge
    • Anji Khad Bridge – India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge
• Two Vande Bharat Express trains flagged off:
  • From Katra to Srinagar and Srinagar to Katra
  • Regular service began on Saturday
  • Features:
    • Silicone heating pads and heated plumbing to operate in sub-zero temperatures
    • Reduces travel time by nearly 3 hours
    • Offers modern amenities and climate-specific adaptations
• Foundation stones laid for road projects, enhancing last-mile and border area connectivity.
• Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence:
  • Foundation stone laid in Katra
  • Project worth: ₹350 crore
  • First medical college in Reasi district, boosting healthcare infrastructure

The Ministry of Home Affairs has announced that Population Census 2027 will be conducted in two phases and will include caste enumeration for the first time. The reference date is set as March 1, 2027, except for Ladakh and snow-bound areas of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, where it will be October 1, 2026.

A notification under Section 3 of the Census Act, 1948 will be published in the official gazette on June 16, 2025. The census will follow the provisions of the Census Act, 1948, and Census Rules, 1990.

The last census in 2011 was also conducted in two phases. The 2021 census was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On 3 June 2025, India achieved a historic milestone in its maritime and research capabilities as Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) and Norwegian firm Kongsberg during the Nor-Shipping 2025 event in Norway. The agreement marks the beginning of construction for India’s first Polar Research Vessel (PRV).

The PRV will support India’s National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) and enhance India’s role in climate change research, ocean studies, and polar exploration. Designed by Kongsberg and built by GRSE in Kolkata, the vessel will be equipped with advanced scientific instruments.

Sonowal also presented India’s new MAHASAGAR maritime strategy, upgraded from SAGAR, and highlighted programs like Sagarmala 2.0 and the $2.9 billion Maritime Development Fund to attract global investments. He also engaged with the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association (NSA) to expand collaboration in green shipping, ship recycling, and digital maritime technologies.

On 3 June 2025, the Uttar Pradesh government approved a 20% reservation for Agniveers in recruitment for the state police and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) after their 4-year military service under the Agnipath scheme.

This decision, made during a cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, applies to roles like constable, mounted police, and fireman. Additionally, age relaxation of up to 3 years will be granted to eligible Agniveers.

This initiative aims to support Agniveers’ transition to civilian life and offer job security. UP Police is set to recruit for around 28,000 posts, significantly benefiting Agniveers. Haryana had earlier implemented a similar reservation policy.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) hosted its 81st Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit (WATS) from June 1-3, 2025, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, India. This prestigious event marked the return of the IATA AGM to India after 42 years, last held in 1983.

Key Highlights:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Address: PM Modi emphasized India’s rapid aviation growth, stating that the country is now the third-largest domestic aviation market.
• India’s Aviation Transformation: The success of the UDAN scheme has enabled 15 million passengers to experience affordable air travel.
• Global Participation: Over 1,700 delegates, including airline CEOs, government officials, and industry leaders, attended the event.
• Future of Aviation: Discussions focused on sustainable aviation fuel, financing decarbonization, and air connectivity.

India’s Role in Global Aviation

PM Modi highlighted India’s three pillars driving aviation growth:
1️⃣ A vast market – Reflecting India’s aspirational society.
2️⃣ Strong talent pool – Innovators in AI, robotics, and clean energy.
3️⃣ Supportive policy ecosystem – Enabling industrial expansion.

Looking Ahead

With 240 million passengers flying annually, India’s aviation sector is projected to reach 500 million passengers by 2030. The summit reinforced India’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and global cooperation in aviation.