Current Affairs

On June 27, 2025, India categorically rejected a “supplemental award” issued by a Court of Arbitration constituted under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) of 1960. The award pertained to the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Jammu & Kashmir.

India’s Position

• The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) declared the Court of Arbitration as illegally constituted, stating it was a serious breach of the IWT.
• India emphasized it has never recognized the legal validity of this court, calling the proceedings a “charade at Pakistan’s behest”.
• The MEA reiterated that any decisions or awards by this body are “illegal and per se void”.

Treaty in Abeyance

• Following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, India placed the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, citing Pakistan’s continued support for cross-border terrorism.
• India asserted that until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures terrorism, it is no longer bound by the treaty’s obligations.

Background

• The dispute stems from Pakistan’s objections to the design of the Kishenganga (on Jhelum tributary) and Ratle (on Chenab) projects.
• In 2016, Pakistan moved the World Bank to establish a Court of Arbitration, while India preferred resolution through a neutral expert, as per treaty provisions.
• Despite India’s objections, the World Bank appointed both a neutral expert and a Court of Arbitration in October 2022, leading to parallel proceedings.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced a new exam pattern for Class 10 board exams, starting from the next academic year (2026). The exams will now be conducted in two terms:

• The first exam in February will be compulsory for all students.
• The second exam in May will be optional, meant for students who wish to improve their scores.

Students will be allowed to improve their performance in up to three subjects out of Science, Mathematics, Social Science, and languages.

• Results of the two exams will be declared in April and June, respectively.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan praised the move, stating it will:

• Reduce exam-related stress
• Offer flexibility
• Create a more student-friendly and joyful learning environment

This reform is in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which recommends twice-a-year board exams as a student-centric and globally aligned approach to education.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on 24 June 2025 authorised the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs to issue joint instructions and orders applicable to all three armed services — Army, Navy, and Air Force.

This move represents a major step toward the modernisation and transformation of India’s Armed Forces.

According to the Defence Ministry, the change replaces the previous system, where each service issued separate instructions even on matters concerning multiple services.

The joint order aims to:

• Streamline procedures
• Eliminate redundancies
• Enhance cross-service cooperation

It lays the foundation for:

• Improved transparency and coordination
• Greater administrative efficiency
• A new era of jointness and integration in the Indian Armed Forces

This marks a unified approach to national defence and reinforces the Armed Forces’ unity of purpose.

The Government of India has extended the cut-off date for opting into the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) to 30th September 2025, offering eligible individuals additional time to make an informed decision.

What is the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS)?

The UPS is a newly introduced pension framework under the National Pension System (NPS), designed to provide assured pension benefits similar to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). It became operational on 1st April 2025 and was officially notified on 24th January 2025.

Who Can Opt for UPS?

The scheme is open to:

• Existing central government employees covered under NPS as of 1st April 2025
• New recruits joining on or after that date
• Past retirees and legally wedded spouses of deceased retirees

Key Features of UPS

• Assured monthly pension: 50% of the average basic pay of the last 12 months before retirement (for 25+ years of service)
• Minimum pension: ₹10,000/month for those with at least 10 years of service
• Family pension: 60% of the employee’s basic pay in case of premature death
• Inflation indexation: Applied to all pension components
• Gratuity: Lump-sum payment on superannuation, calculated as per old rules

Why the Extension?

The original deadline was 30th June 2025, but the government extended it by three months in response to requests from stakeholders seeking more time to evaluate the scheme.

INS Nilgiri, the first indigenously built stealth frigate under Project 17A, arrived at Visakhapatnam on 22 June 2025.

• Built in Mumbai, it will now serve as part of the Eastern Naval Command’s Sunrise Fleet.
• The ship’s motto is “Adrish Yabalam, Ajeya Shauryam” (Invisible Strength, Unconquerable Valor).
• More ships of the Project 17A class will be inducted soon to enhance Eastern Fleet capabilities.

Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, welcomed 285 Indian nationals who arrived in New Delhi from Mashhad, Iran, on a special flight on 22 June 2025.

• So far, 1,713 Indian nationals have been evacuated from Iran under Operation Sindhu.
• 2–3 more evacuation flights are scheduled from Iran in the next two days.

The Indian Embassy in Iran is actively helping citizens relocate from conflict-hit areas to safer regions, coordinating evacuations accordingly. Indian nationals are advised to remain in contact with the Indian Embassy in Tehran and the 24/7 MEA Control Room in New Delhi for assistance.

On 21st June 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the 11th International Day of Yoga celebrations from Visakhapatnam, emphasizing that in today’s stressful world, Yoga offers a path to peace. He highlighted Yoga’s role in connecting the world, with 175 countries supporting India’s proposal to observe June 21 as International Yoga Day at the United Nations.

Key Highlights:

• Theme: Yoga for One Earth, One Health
• Location: Stretch from RK Beach to Bheemunipatnam, Visakhapatnam
• Participants: Over 2.72 lakh people joined; the event aimed for a Guinness World Record for the largest yoga gathering.
• Guests Present: Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu, Minister of AYUSH Prataprao Jadhav, and other dignitaries.
• Special Features:
  • A 45-minute Yoga session led by PM Modi using the Common Yoga Protocol.
  • Fly-past by the Eastern Naval Command
  • Commemorative stamp released by the Department of Posts
  • Yogandhra campaign in Andhra Pradesh trained 2 crore people in yoga practices.

PM Modi emphasized the growing scientific research on yoga in India’s top medical institutions, aiming to integrate yoga into the modern medical system. He urged citizens to adopt yoga daily as a means of building physical and mental well-being for a healthier future for all generations.

A Supreme Court-appointed inquiry panel has recommended removal proceedings against Justice Yashwant Varma, a sitting judge of the Allahabad High Court and former judge of the Delhi High Court, over serious misconduct allegations.

🔍 Key Allegations & Findings:

• A large amount of half-burnt cash was discovered after a fire incident on March 14, 2025, at his official residence in New Delhi.
• The cash was located in a storeroom at 30 Tughlak Crescent, under the active or covert control of Justice Varma and his family, according to the panel.
• The panel cited deliberate removal of evidence on March 15, based on witness testimony and electronic evidence.
• The misconduct violated the “Restatement of Values of Judicial Life” (1997), holding judges to the highest ethical standards.

👩‍⚖️ Inquiry Panel Members:

• Chief Justice Sheel Nagu (Punjab and Haryana High Court)
• Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia (Himachal Pradesh High Court)
• Justice Anu Sivaraman (Karnataka High Court)

📜 Next Steps:

• A 64-page report recommending impeachment has been submitted by former CJI Sanjiv Khanna to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• If accepted, it may lead to a rare impeachment of a sitting High Court judge in India.

Amid the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, the Government of India has launched Operation Sindhu to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran.

• In the first phase, 110 Indian students were safely evacuated from northern Iran to Yerevan, Armenia, and have now departed for New Delhi on a special flight.
• The operation is being coordinated by the Indian Embassies in Iran and Armenia, with gratitude expressed to both countries for facilitating the evacuation.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reaffirmed that the safety of Indian nationals abroad is a top priority. The Indian Embassy in Tehran continues to assist citizens in moving from conflict zones to safer areas and will evacuate them as needed.

The Government will launch a FASTag-based Annual Pass priced at ₹3,000, starting 15th August 2025, to enable seamless and cost-effective travel across National Highways.

• The pass will be valid for one year or up to 200 trips, whichever comes first.
• It is exclusively for non-commercial private vehicles like cars, jeeps, and vans.
• Announced by Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, who called it a transformative step for hassle-free highway travel.

A dedicated link for activation and renewal will be available on the Rajmarg Yatra App and official websites of the NHAI and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

The policy:

• Addresses toll plaza issues within a 60 km range.
• Simplifies toll payment via a single affordable transaction.
• Reduces wait times, eases congestion, and minimizes disputes at toll plazas, offering a smoother travel experience for private vehicle owners.

A 90-member Indian Army contingent, led by the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, departed for Exercise Shakti-VIII, a joint Indo-French military exercise held from June 18 to July 1, 2025, at Camp Larzac, La Cavalerie in southern France. The French side is represented by the 13th Foreign Legion Half-Brigade.

The biennial exercise focuses on joint operations in sub-conventional warfare under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, conducted in semi-urban terrain. It aims to enhance interoperability, tactical coordination, and operational understanding between the two armies through shared drills and training in modern military technologies.

Beyond military synergy, the exercise aims to strengthen strategic ties and camaraderie between India and France, reinforcing their growing defence partnership.

The Indian Navy is commissioning INS Arnala, the country’s first Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), on June 18, 2025, at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam. The ceremony is being presided over by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan.

INS Arnala is the first of 16 ASW-SWC vessels being inducted and was delivered to the Navy on May 8, 2025. It is named after the historic Arnala Fort off the Maharashtra coast.

Designed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (Kolkata) in partnership with L&T Shipbuilders, it features over 80% indigenous content, supporting the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.

The vessel is 77.6 meters long, weighs over 1,490 tonnes, and is the largest Indian naval ship with a diesel engine-waterjet propulsion system. This commissioning enhances India’s coastal defence and strengthens its position as a self-reliant maritime power in the Indian Ocean Region.