CURRENT AFFAIRS
21 June, 2025
1. INDUS VALLEY SCRIPT DECIPHERMENT: ASI TO HOST GLOBAL CONFERENCE, $1 MILLION PRIZE ANNOUNCED –
• The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is set to host an international brainstorming conference from August 20 to 22, aimed at exploring ways to decipher the Indus Valley script.
• The conference, titled “Decipherment of the Indus Script: Current Status and the Way Forward,” will bring together experts from India and abroad who are actively researching the Harappan civilization.
• In January 2025, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has also announced a $1 million prize for deciphering the script.
About the Indus Valley Script
• The Indus script is a collection of symbols that appear primarily on diverse materials, including seals, pottery, bronze tools, stoneware bangles, bones, shells, ivory, steatite, bronze, and copper tablets.
• Undeciphered Nature: Despite extensive research and several hypotheses, the script has not been successfully deciphered, and its true meaning and connection to languages remain unknown.
• Pictogram-Based Writing: The script is written using pictograms, often accompanied by animal or human motifs.
• Some scholars suggest that the script could be “logo-syllabic,” meaning it may combine both logograms (symbols representing words) and syllabic components (symbols representing sounds).
2. 51ST G7 SUMMIT –
• India’s Prime Minister attended the 51st G7 Summit at Kananaskis, Canada. Though India is not a part of the G7 grouping, it has been invited for the global summit each year for the last six years and twelve times in total as an outreach country.
• The President of the European Commission was invited to attend the G7 Summit for the first time.
What are the Key Outcomes of the G7 Summit?
• Kananaskis Wildfire Charter: It commits to addressing wildfire threats through science-based, local actions and nature-based solutions, aligning with the goal to halt and reverse deforestation and land degradation by 2030 under the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration (2021).
• G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan: It focuses on diversifying critical mineral production, boosting investment and local value creation, and promoting innovation, building on the 2023 Five-Point Plan for Critical Minerals Security (also endorsed by India).
• The G7 also committed to strengthening the World Bank-led Resilient and Inclusive Supply Chain Enhancement (RISE) Partnership.
• Condemned Transnational Repression (TNR): The G7 condemned Transnational Repression (TNR), which refers to aggressive foreign interference where states or their proxies seek to intimidate, harass, harm, or coerce individuals or communities beyond their own borders.
• Prevent Migrant Smuggling: G7 committed to preventing migrant smuggling through the G7 Coalition to Prevent and Counter the Smuggling of Migrants and the 2024 G7 Action Plan targeting this issue.
What is G7?
• About: The G7 (Group of Seven) is an informal forum of the world’s most advanced economies — France, Germany, Italy, the UK, Japan, the US, and Canada.
3. IRAN’S FORDOW NUCLEAR FACILITY –
• The ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran has intensified, particularly concerning Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility. This site, located approximately 95 km from Tehran, is crucial due to its advanced uranium enrichment capabilities. The situation escalated following recent Israeli airstrikes, which targeted various Iranian nuclear sites. As tensions rise, the possibility of direct US military intervention looms large.
Fordow Nuclear Facility Overview
• The Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant began construction in 2007 and became operational in 2009. It houses about 2,000 centrifuges that enrich uranium to 60%. This level of enrichment is step towards weapons-grade uranium, which requires 90% enrichment. The facility is deeply buried, making it resistant to conventional airstrikes.
4. FASTAG ANNUAL PASS SCHEME –
• The FASTag Annual Pass scheme was introduced in June 2025 by Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. This initiative aims to enhance convenience for non-commercial private vehicle owners travelling on national highways. The scheme is designed to address long-standing issues at toll plazas, providing a streamlined and cost-effective solution for frequent travellers.
What is FASTag?
• FASTag is an electronic toll collection system managed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Launched in 2014, it became mandatory in 2021 for all toll plazas across India. The system uses a sticker affixed to the vehicle’s windscreen, allowing automatic toll payments.
Details of the Annual Pass
• The FASTag Annual Pass is priced at Rs 3,000 and is valid for one year or up to 200 trips, whichever occurs first. The pass allows free passage at National Highway (NH) and National Expressway (NE) toll plazas. Users can save approximately Rs 7,000 compared to regular toll payments, as the average cost per crossing is reduced to Rs 15.
5. EU PROPOSES BAN ON RUSSIAN GAS IMPORTS BY 2027 –
• The European Commission has recently proposed a legally binding ban on the import of Russian gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) by 2027. This decision follows the EU’s commitment to sever its longstanding energy ties with Russia, a move prompted by the geopolitical tensions arising from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
• The proposal aims to ensure that EU member states cannot block the ban, particularly Hungary and Slovakia, which have expressed opposition.
Implementation Timeline
• The ban will be implemented in stages. Starting from January 1, 2026, all new Russian gas and LNG contracts signed in 2025 will be prohibited. Short-term contracts, defined as those lasting less than one year and signed before June 17, 2025, will face a ban from June 17, 2026. The final phase will see a prohibition on existing long-term contracts beginning January 1, 2028, effectively ending the EU’s reliance on Russian gas.
MCQ QUIZ
Q1. Which ministry launched the “Gender Budgeting Knowledge Hub” to support gender-sensitive planning across India ?
a) Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
b) Ministry of Women and Child Development
c) Ministry of Law and Justice
d) Ministry of Corporate Affairs
Q2. As per the new directive aligned with NEP 2020, which language will be the default third language in Marathi and English medium schools in Maharashtra from Classes 1 to 5 ?
a) Sanskrit
b) Hindi
c) Urdu
d) Tamil
Q3. What is India’s rank in the Energy Transition Index (ETI) 2025, released by the World Economic Forum ?
a) 63rd
b) 67th
c) 71st
d) 58th
Q4. Which of the following statements about India-Canada trade relations is/are correct ?
1. Canada is India’s largest trading partner.
2. In 2023, India exported more to Canada than it imported.
3. Services trade between the two countries exceeded goods trade in 2023.
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 3 only
Explanation-
• In 2023, bilateral trade in services was $9.99 billion, higher than goods trade at $9.36 billion.
• India imported more ($5.56 billion) than it exported ($3.80 billion). Canada is not India’s largest trading partner; it ranks 10th.
Q5. Which of the above countries announced the world’s largest marine protected area at UNOC 2025?
a) France
b) French Polynesia
c) New Zealand
d) Spain
Explanation-
• French Polynesia declared its entire Exclusive Economic Zone (~5 million sq km) as a marine protected area, making it the world’s largest.
• This move was announced during the third UN Ocean Conference held in Nice, France. It shows leadership in marine biodiversity conservation and aligns with global targets to protect 30% of oceans by 2030.
Answer Key
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
B | B | C | D | B |