Daily Current Affairs – 21-06-2025
Tamil Nadu
Election Commission
Launches ‘ECINET’ Integrated Digital Dashboard
® The Election Commission of India (ECI) has launched ‘ECINET’, a unified digital platform to provide single-point access to electoral services for stakeholders. ® The integrates over 40 existing apps and websites, streamlining election-related processes. ® ECINET will be operational during the current Assembly byelections and the upcoming Bihar Assembly election. ® The platform aims to enhance transparency, efficiency, and digital governance in election administration.
Launch of Panchayat
Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 Portal
® The Ministry of Panchayati Raj recently launched the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 Portal and the Local Indicator Framework (LIF) Booklet for the financial year 2023–24. ® PAI 2.0 is a multidimensional assessment framework designed to evaluate the performance and development of over 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats across nine thematic areas, aligning with the Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs). ® The LIF Booklet provides a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to guide data collection, validation, and reporting processes, ensuring consistency and accuracy in assessing local governance.
Election Commission Introduces Mobile Deposit Facility and
Canvassing Norms
® The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued new instructions to provide a mobile deposit facility for voters near polling stations and to rationalise canvassing norms. ® These guidelines align with the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961. Under the new rules: ® Only mobile phones are allowed within 100 meters of polling stations, and they must be kept switched off. ® Rule 49M of the Conduct of Elections Rules, which ensures secrecy of voting, will be strictly enforced. ® The mobile deposit facility aims to prevent disturbances and ensure smooth polling while respecting voter convenience.
Supreme Court Ruling: K. Umadevi vs Government of Tamil Nadu –
Maternity Leave as a Reproductive Right
® In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court ruled that maternity leave is an essential part of a woman’s reproductive rights, falling under the ambit of Article 21 of the Constitution (Right to Life and Personal Liberty). ® The case arose after maternity benefits were denied under Tamil Nadu’s Fundamental Rule 101(a), which restricts maternity benefits only to the first two surviving children. ® The Court held that such a restriction violates a woman’s right to reproductive autonomy. The judgment also invoked: ® Article 42 – mandates just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief. ® Article 51(c) – obliges the State to respect international law and treaty obligations. ® The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 (amended in 2017) governs maternity leave policies in India, including extended benefits and workplace protection.
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS
Rinderpest Holding Facility in Bhopal
The ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh has been designated as the ‘Category A Rinderpest Holding Facility’. It is designated by the World Organisation for Animal Health and the Food and Agriculture Organization. The announcement was made during the 92nd General Session of the WOAH held in Paris. Rinderpest is once known as ‘cattle plague’. It was destructive livestock disease before its global eradication in 2011.
PERSONALITIES, AWARDS, AND EVENTS
Bonn Climate Change Conference 2025
The June Climate Meetings of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Bonn, Germany. It is also known as the 62nd meeting of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB 62). There are two permanent SBs of the UNFCCC, The Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and The Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA). UNFCCC is an international agreement, signed in 1992, that has provided a basis for climate negotiations.
STATES’ NEWS
Kanha Tiger Reserve 2025
The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun in Uttarakhand released a report titled ‘Status of Ungulates in Tiger Habitats of India’. The Kanha Tiger Reserve (KTR) in Madhya Pradesh has emerged as the leading tiger habitat in India in terms of ungulate (hoofed herbivore) population. As per the report, ‘Kanha Tiger Reserve boasts the highest ungulate population (1,02,485) among India’s major tiger reserves.’ The total available biomass surpasses 12.6 million kilograms, making Kanha the most resource-rich tiger habitat in the country.
REPORTS AND INDICES
QS World University Rankings 2026
Globally, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) of USA has retained the ‘best institute in the world’ position for the 14th time this year. A total of 54 universities is featured this year, including 12 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Eight universities have made their debut. India is now the fourth most represented country. Only the United States (192), the United Kingdom (90), and Mainland China (72) have more universities ranked than India. IIT Madras (180) has achieved the third spot in India after IIT Delhi (123) and IIT Bombay (129).
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
Portulaca Bharat in Aravalli Hills
A new flowering plant species, Portulaca Bharat, has been discovered in the rocky and semi-arid landscape of the Aravali hills near Jaipur, Rajasthan. Currently, it is assessed as data deficient under IUCN guidelines. Portulaca Bharat belongs to the genus Portulaca. Portulaca Genus comprises about 153 species worldwide, with 11 known species in India, including four endemics.
Two New Species of Earthworms
Two new species of an earthworms - Kanchuria tripuraensis and Kanchuria Priya Shankari, have been officially discovered in Tripura. The genus Kanchuria, which is endemic to Northeast India, now comprises 10 species with these new additions. This also increases the total number of the recorded megadrile worm species in Tripura to 38. Kanchuria Priya Shankari is named in honour of Priya Sankar Chaudhuri for his lifelong work in earthworm taxonomy.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY NEWS
Detection of Ordinary Matter
For the first time, the researchers detected the universe’s missing ordinary matter using powerful cosmic signals known as Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs). Previously, the scientists have known that at least half of the universe’s ordinary, or baryonic matter was unaccounted for. Dark matter and dark energy make up most of the universe. But the rest of the universe is made of cosmic baryons, or ordinary matter.
Heat-based Cancer Therapy
Indian researchers have developed an innovative one-step method to synthesize nano-sized particles with a unique cup-like shape. The technique simplifies the creation of PEGylated semi-shell nanoparticles - commonly known as nano-cups. It can be used to burn cancer cells through heat-based therapy.
SPArc Therapy
The U.S. has successfully used a technique called step-and-shoot spot-scanning proton arc therapy (SPArc) to treat a patient’s adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) for the first time. The SPArc works by targeting tumours with protons while sparing surrounding tissue. The ACC is a relatively rare form of cancer that most commonly develops in the salivary glands or other regions of the head and neck. But these technologies are very expensive one and are often suitable for a small patient population.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
India and G7 Summit 2025
Indian Prime Minister participated in the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada. He has addressed a session on ‘Energy Security: diversification, technology and infrastructure to ensure access and affordability in a changing world’. India and Canada agreed to designate new High Commissioners for the first time since 2023. Prime Minister also made a four-day, three-nation tour covering Cyprus, Canada and Croatia.
TAMIL NADU NEWS
Wind Power Generation in Tamil Nadu 2025
The Wind power generation in the state crossed the 100-million-unit (Mu) mark (113.09) for the sixth time this year. The maximum daily generation of 111.174 Mu was recorded on July 18, 2024. Tamil Nadu has an installed capacity of 11,361 MW of wind power and produces 13,000 Mu of power annually.