CURRENT AFFAIRS
23 June, 2025
1. GLOBAL PEACE INDEX 2025: INDIA RISES TO RANK 115 AMID GROWING GLOBAL UNREST –
• The Global Peace Index (GPI) 2025, released by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), measures the relative peacefulness of 163 countries based on 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators.
• The 2025 report notes a continued decline in global peace, with the average peacefulness deteriorating by 0.36% – the highest decline since World War II.
• Key Highlights India Performs better in Region: India ranks 115th, improving its position over previous years and placing ahead of Pakistan (146), Bangladesh (124), and Afghanistan (163).
• This reflects improvements in domestic conflict, terrorism-related incidents, and growing regional stability in India.
2. RECALCULATION OF INDIA’S COASTLINE LENGTH –
• Recently in December 2024, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs reported a significant revision in India’s coastline length.
• The length of the coastline was re-assessed by the National Hydrographic Office (NHO) in coordination with the Survey of India (SoI).
• Previous Length: 7,516 km (as measured in the 1970s).
• Revised Length: 11,098 km (as of 2025) — a 48% increase (~3,582 km).
• Cause: Not physical expansion but technological improvements in mapping resolution and GIS-based measurement.
• The new coastline measurement exercise will now be repeated every 10 years.
Key Reasons for Increase in Coastline Length
• Higher Data Resolution
• Old maps used a scale of 1:4,500,000 (1 cm = 45 km).
• New measurement used 1:250,000 scale (1 cm = 2.5 km).
• Smaller-scale data smooths coastlines; higher resolution captures bends and curves, increasing total measured length.
• GIS-Based Techniques: Transition from manual to GIS software allowed for better mapping of land-water boundaries.
• GIS tools factor in minute geographical irregularities.
3. GOLD BECOMES WORLD’S SECOND-LARGEST RESERVE ASSET AFTER U.S. DOLLAR –
• The European Central Bank’s June 2025 report has highlighted a paradigm shift in global reserve compositions. Gold, once a traditional store of value, has now overtaken the euro in terms of share in central bank reserves. Its ascent has been driven by price surges and elevated geopolitical risks, but analysts now indicate that the buying frenzy might plateau, reflecting a maturing phase in reserve diversification.
Key Highlights
• Gold’s Reserve Share: Rose from around 16.5% in 2023 to 19% in 2024, overtaking the euro, which dropped to 16%.
• Top Reserve Asset: The U.S. dollar still dominates at 47% of global reserves.
• Central Bank Demand: Central banks now account for over 20% of global gold demand, doubling from a decade ago.
• Geopolitical Drivers: The Russia-Ukraine war, inflation, and U.S. economic sanctions prompted increased gold accumulation.
4. INS TAMAL TO BE COMMISSIONED ON JULY 1 –
• The commissioning of INS Tamal is significant as it is the last foreign-built warship to be inducted into the Indian Navy.
• Built at the Yantar Shipyard in Russia, the ship symbolizes the transition from foreign procurement to domestic production under the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ push. The ceremony will be presided over by Vice Admiral Sanjay J. Singh, signalling the end of a two-decade-long era of warship imports from Russia.
Key Features and Capabilities of INS Tamal
• Class: Krivak/Tushil class frigate
• Length: 125 metres
• Displacement: 3,900 tons
• Stealth Design: Enhanced low radar signature and stability
• Missile Arsenal: Equipped with BrahMos long-range cruise missiles
• Crew Strength: 250+ personnel
• Sea Trials: Successfully completed 3-month-long rigorous tests
5. THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ: THE WORLD’S MOST CRITICAL OIL CHOKEPOINT –
• The Strait of Hormuz lies between Iran to the north and the United Arab Emirates and Oman to the south. It is the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, making it a strategic bottleneck for any maritime traffic entering or leaving the Persian Gulf.
• At its narrowest point, the Strait is only about 33 kilometers (21 miles) wide.
• The shipping lanes, however, are even narrower: each is only 2 miles wide, separated by a 2-mile buffer zone.
• This limited navigable width makes the Strait both vulnerable to disruptions and easy to control militarily, which is why it features prominently in Middle Eastern security calculations.
MCQ QUIZ
Q1. SMILE (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) scheme is an initiative of which ministry?
a) Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
b) Ministry of Women and Child Development
c) Ministry of Rural Development
d) Ministry of Home Affairs
Q2. Which of the following statements is correct with reference to the QS World University Rankings 2026?
a) India has a total of 8 IITs ranked in the rankings this year.
b) The number of Indian universities in the 2026 rankings has almost doubled as compared to 2015.
c) India ranks third in terms of the number of universities in the QS 2026 rankings.
d) IIT Delhi has secured 123rd rank globally in 2026, the highest in India.
Q3. Which of the following statements is correct about the International Monetary Fund (IMF)?
a) IMF provides loans only to developing countries in the form of grants.
b) The main objective of IMF is to maintain stability in international trade and deal with the problems of Balance of Payments.
c) IMF only fixes the currency exchange rates of member countries.
d) The headquarters of IMF is located in Geneva, Switzerland.
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. Why is the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) considered a strategic alternative to China’s BRI ?
a) It focuses primarily on energy exports rather than infrastructure.
b) It promotes digital currency trade routes.
c) It connects India to Europe via secure and politically aligned regions.
d) It bypasses maritime shipping routes and focuses only on rail.
Explanation-
• Unlike China’s BRI, which traverses politically volatile or debt-sensitive areas, IMEC proposes a secure and democratic alternative linking India to Europe via trusted partners in the Middle East and Mediterranean. Croatia and Cyprus are being explored as EU entry points, adding credibility to this approach.
Answer Key
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
A | D | B | D | C |