Daily Current Affairs – 26-06-2025

ENVIRONMENT NEWS

Solar Power Potential from Coal Mines

India has the fourth highest potential in the world to generate solar power from abandoned coal mines. 63 disused mine sites could collectively generate around 27.11 gigawatts (GW) of the solar power. It is equivalent to nearly 37 percent of country’s current installed solar capacity. Telangana, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh feature among the top 20 global regions with the highest land availability from closed or soon-to-be-closed mines. Other 3 top countries are Australia, Indonesia and the United States.

Doomsday Fish (Oarfish) in Tamil Nadu

A rare oarfish, ominously dubbed the ‘doomsday fish’ in Japanese folklore, was recently caught off the Tamil Nadu coast. The creature captured in Tamil Nadu is a giant oarfish (Regalecus glesne). It is the world’s longest bony fish, which can reach lengths of up to 36 feet (11 meters). They typically inhabit the mesopelagic zone, dwelling 660 to 3,300 feet beneath the ocean’s surface. As per the Japanese folklore, Oarfish are also called ‘ryugu no tsukai,’ meaning ‘messenger from the sea god’s palace.‘

NATIONAL NEWS

Gender Budgeting Knowledge Hub

The Centre launched a web portal named ‘Gender Budgeting Knowledge Hub’. Over the past 11 years, Gender Budget allocations have increased by four and a half times — from ₹0.98 lakh crore in 2014-15 to ₹4.49 lakh crore in 2025-26. The Hub is a digital repository of all information related to the gender budgeting processes.

Key Innovations in Bye-Polls 2025

Bye-elections were concluded in five Assembly constituencies in four states - Gujarat, Kerala, West Bengal and Punjab. In a first-of-its-kind move, the ECI has provided voters with secure mobile deposit facilities at the entrance of all polling stations. Presiding Officers were enabled to directly input turnout data every two hours using the upgraded ECINET App. For the first time, webcasting was conducted at nearly 100% of polling stations. One polling station in the five constituencies were brought under round-the-clock webcasting surveillance. A Special Summary Revision (SSR) of the electoral rolls conducted ahead of the bye-polls. This measure was taken for the first time in nearly 20 years.

50 Years of Crocodile Conservation Project

India began its Crocodile Conservation programme in 1975. India launched this project at Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park with support from UNDP and the FAO. This year marks 50 years of this initiative. India is home to three main kinds of crocodile species – the gharial, the salt water crocodile or salties, and the muggers. Odisha is the only Indian state to host the wild populations of all three native crocodilian species. India hosts nearly 80% of the global wild gharial population.

STATES’ NEWS

MoU with NFWPIS

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW) organized the ‘National Conference on Agri Stack: Turning Data into Delivery’. MoUs with Maharashtra, Kerala, Bihar, and Odisha, and the PSB Alliance with the National Farmers’ Welfare Program Implementation Society was signed in the event. It aims to enable seamless digital access to credit services through farmer registry-linked authentication.

REPORTS AND INDICES

Hunger Hotspots 2025

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) have issued the Hunger Hotspots: FAO-WFP early warning on acute food insecurity. African countries Sudan, South Sudan and Mali are among five global hunger hotspots of highest concern. Conversely, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are no longer on the Hunger Hotspots list.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Sickle Cell Disease Management Guidelines

The World Health Organization (WHO) has introduced its first global guideline for managing sickle cell disease (SCD) during pregnancy. The guideline includes over 20 recommendations including the folic acid and iron supplementation. Women with SCD face a 4- to 11-fold higher likelihood of the maternal death than those without. Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder. It causes red blood cells to become rigid and shaped like sickles.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY NEWS

Extreme Helium Star - A980

The scientists from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, have identified Extreme Helium in Star - A980. The distant star A980 is located approximately 25,800 light years away in the Ophiuchus Constellation. Initially it was believed to be a hydrogen-deficient carbon (HdC) star. This mysterious celestial body has now been reclassified as an Extreme Helium (EHe) star. Also, they found evidence of singly-ionized germanium (Ge II)—a metallic element that has never before been detected in this type of star. This is the first confirmed observation of germanium in an EHe star.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2025 - June 26

On December 7, 1987, the General Assembly declared this day. It aims to increase the action and collaboration in the effort to end illicit drug use throughout the globe. The theme for 2025 is ‘Break the Cycle. #StopOrganizedCrime’.

World Refrigeration Day 2025

World Refrigeration Day 2025 - June 26. It aims to raise the awareness about the importance of refrigeration technologies in everyday life and to raise the profile of the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector. The date was chosen to celebrate the birth date of Lord Kelvin on 26 June 1824. This year’s theme is ‘Cool Skills’.

International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 2025

International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 2025 – June 26. On this day in 1987, the UN Convention Against Torture came into effect. Today, there are 174 State parties to the Convention. In 2002, the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture was adopted. The theme for 2025 is ‘Torture: a crime against humanity’.

Tamil Nadu

RBI Constitutes Payments Regulatory Board (PRB)

® The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has formally notified the establishment of a new Payments Regulatory Board (PRB) to oversee and regulate payment systems in India. ® The PRB replaces the earlier Board for Regulation and Supervision of Payment and Settlement Systems (BPSS). ® The six-member PRB will be headed by the RBI Governor. ® For the first time, the board includes three nominees from the Central Government, reflecting greater government participation. Composition of PRB: ® RBI Governor (Chairperson) ® Deputy Governor ® Nominated RBI official (ex officio) ® Deputy Governor in charge of Payment and Settlement Systems ® One RBI official nominated by the Central Board ® Three government nominees

RBI Proposes New Norms to Regulate Gold Loans in 2025

® The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued draft guidelines to standardize gold loan issuance by banks and NBFCs. Key provisions include: ® Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratio capped at 75%, down from the current 80%. ® Borrowers must provide ownership proof or a declaration if purchase receipts are unavailable. ® Lenders must issue a certificate detailing gold purity, weight, deductions, image, and valuation. Loans will be sanctioned only against: ® Gold jewellery, ornaments, and bank-sold gold coins with 22-carat or higher purity. ® Silver jewellery, ornaments, and bank-sold silver coins with minimum 925 purity. ® The draft limits loans to 1 kg of gold ornaments and 50 grams of gold coins per borrower. ® These measures aim to enhance transparency and reduce risks in the gold loan market.

Khelo India Beach Games 2025: First Edition Hosted in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu

® The first-ever Khelo India Beach Games were held in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. ® Mallakhamb and tug-of-war featured as non-medal demonstration sports. ® This marked the inaugural Beach Games under the Khelo India programme. ® Manipur topped the medal tally, followed by Maharashtra (2nd) and Nagaland (3rd).

India to Become World’s 4th Largest Economy by 2025: IMF

® As per the IMF’s World Economic Outlook (April 2025), India is projected to become the 4th largest economy globally by end of FY 2025–26. ® India will rank behind only the US, China, and Germany, overtaking economies like Japan and the UK. ® India had earlier surpassed the United Kingdom to become the 5th largest economy. ® India’s nominal GDP is projected to double (105% growth) between 2014 and 2025. ® In 2025, India is expected to reach the milestone of a $4 trillion economy.