CURRENT AFFAIRS
04 June, 2025
1. MINIRATNA STATUS TO 3 DPSUS –
• The Ministry of Defence has approved the conferment of “Miniratna (Category-I)” status to three key Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs): Munitions India Limited (MIL), Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL), and India Optel Limited (IOL).
• Transformation of DPSUs: MIL, AVNL, and IOL are three of the seven PSUs carved out of the erstwhile Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) in 2021 as part of the Government of India’s defence sector reforms.
• MIL products include ammunition (small to high calibre), mortars, rockets, grenades, and in-house explosives.
• AVNL products include MBT Arjun, T-90 tanks, BMP-II Sarath (amphibious Infantry Combat Vehicle), and Defence mobility solutions (Stallion, LPTA etc.)
• IOL specializes in Opto-electronic systems and vision equipment for tanks, artillery and naval weapons.
• Miniratna Category-I Status: The CPSEs which have made profit in the last three years continuously, pre-tax profit is Rs.30 crores or more in at least one of the three years and have a positive net worth are eligible to be considered for grant of Miniratna-I status.
• Miniratna companies get more autonomy to invest, raise capital, and make quick decisions. This boosts efficiency, competitiveness, and global reach.
2. INDIA’S FIRST INDIGENOUS POLAR RESEARCH VESSEL –
• Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), a Government of India undertaking, has signed an MoU with Norway’s Kongsberg firm to develop India’s first indigenously built Polar Research Vessel (PRV).
• A PRV is a ship that supports research in the polar regions (around the North and South Poles) and ocean areas, tailored to the needs of the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research.
• PRV will support India’s polar and ocean research missions, strengthening its existing three research stations: Bharati and Maitri in Antarctica, and Himadri in the Arctic.
• Under Sagarmala 2.0, India aims to become a global maritime leader by bridging infrastructure gaps and enhancing shipbuilding, repair, and recycling.
3. WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 2025: THEME, HOST COUNTRY, HISTORY & GLOBAL CELEBRATIONS –
• World Environment Day is observed every year on June 5. It is the United Nations’ flagship initiative to raise global awareness and drive action on the most pressing environmental issues. Since its inception in 1972, it has evolved into a powerful global platform, engaging more than 150 countries annually.
• Launched during the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, the first World Environment Day was celebrated in 1973. Each year, a different country hosts the celebrations and a specific theme is chosen to highlight a global environmental priority.
What is the theme of World Environment Day 2025 ?
• The theme for World Environment Day 2025 is “Beat Plastic Pollution.” This theme underscores the urgent need to address the growing plastic crisis that threatens ecosystems, wildlife, and human health.
• Plastics have become one of the biggest pollutants globally, with microplastics being found in oceans, soil, and even inside the human body. The campaign calls on governments, industries, and individuals to urgently reduce plastic waste and transition toward sustainable alternatives.
4. CLIMATE CHANGE PERFORMANCE INDEX 2025: WHERE DOES INDIA STAND ? –
• Climate change is no longer a future concern, it’s a present global emergency. The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2025 underscores this reality with sobering clarity.
• Designed to monitor the climate protection performance of 64 countries and the EU, responsible for over 90% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the CCPI aims to shine a spotlight on both progress and failure in international climate mitigation efforts.
• Despite decades of negotiations, emissions continue to rise, global temperatures edge dangerously close to tipping points, and only a fraction of countries are taking adequate action.
5. RBI UPDATE: ONLY 1.74% OF ₹2,000 NOTES REMAIN IN CIRCULATION –
• The RBI, on June 3, 2025, announced that only ₹6,181 crore worth of ₹2,000 notes remain in circulation out of the original ₹3.56 lakh crore as of May 19, 2023. The withdrawal process was initiated in May 2023, with facilities available at RBI Issue Offices and India Post to ensure a smooth phase-out.
Background & Purpose of ₹2,000 Note
• Introduced in November 2016 after demonetisation of ₹500 and ₹1,000 notes.
• Aimed to meet urgent currency requirements.
• Most notes (89%) were printed before March 2017, nearing the end of their 4–5-year lifespan.
MCQ QUIZ
Q1. The Kheer Bhawani festival is celebrated in which state/UT ?
a) Jammu and Kashmir
b) Uttarakhand
c) Andaman and Nicobar
d) Himachal Pradesh
Q2. Which authority issued the 2025 guidelines to regulate illegal online sales of radio equipment like walkie-talkies ?
a) TRAI
b) Ministry of Electronics and IT
c) Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA)
d) Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
Q3. Consider the following statements regarding Kashmir’s first-ever cherry cargo train:
1. The cherry cargo train transports cherries from Srinagar to Mumbai.
2. A 24-tonne refrigerated parcel van has been used for the shipment.
3. The initiative aims to offer a cost-effective alternative to air transport for small cherry farmers.
4. The train journey takes over 30 hours to reach Mumbai.
5. The service has been launched during the peak cherry harvest season of July–August.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
a) 1, 2, 3, and 4 only
b) 2, 3, and 4 only
c) 1, 3, and 5 only
d) 2, 3, 4, and 5 only
Q4. What fiscal deficit target did the Government of India meet for FY 2024-25 ?
a) 5.2% of GDP
b) 6.0% of GDP
c) 4.4% of GDP
d) 4.8% of GDP
Explanation-
• The Government of India met its fiscal deficit target of 4.8% of GDP for FY 2024-25, as per data from the Controller General of Accounts.
Detailed Explanation:
• The Government of India met its fiscal deficit target of 4.8% of GDP for FY 2024-25, as per data from the Controller General of Accounts.
• Total receipts (tax, non-tax, and capital) were ₹30.78 lakh crore, which is 97.8% of the revised estimates.
• Total expenditure was ₹46.55 lakh crore, also 97.8% of the revised estimates.
• The fiscal deficit amounted to ₹15.77 lakh crore, equal to 4.8% of GDP based on provisional GDP estimates for 2024-25.
• The government has targeted a fiscal deficit of 4.4% of GDP for the next year, FY 2025-26, as announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
• Total revenue shortfall was mainly due to a decline in miscellaneous capital receipts, including disinvestment proceeds.
Q5. Who assumed charge as the Director General of Defence Estates on May 31, 2025 ?
a) Shailendra Nath Gupta
b) Dinesh Singh Rana
c) Rajiv Memani
d) Jasvir Singh Mann
Explanation-
• Shri Shailendra Nath Gupta took charge as Director General of Defence Estates on May 31, 2025.
• Previously served as CEO of various Cantonment Boards, Defence Estate Officer of multiple circles, staff officer, Director Defence Estates (Central Command), and Principal Director Defence Estates (Eastern Command).
• The Directorate General of Defence Estates manages approximately 18 lakh acres of defence land across India.
• It functions under six commands, 38 Defence Estates Circles, and 61 Cantonment Boards.
Answer Key
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
A | C | B | D | D |