UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 26 June 2025

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 26 June 2025 covers important current affairs of the day, their backward linkages, their relevance for Prelims exam and MCQs on main articles

InstaLinks :  Insta Links help you think beyond the  current affairs issue and help you think multidimensionally to develop depth in your understanding of these issues. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background.

Table of Contents 

GS Paper 1 : (UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 26 June (2025)

1. Cloudburst

GS Paper 2:

2. Gender Equity in Urban Bureaucracy

 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):

1. Zero-Dose Children

 Facts for Prelims (FFP):

1. UN80 Initiative

2. RBI has reduced the Priority Sector Lending target for Small Finance Banks

3. Banakacherla Project

4. Infrastructure Push for Jammu and Kashmir

5. Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)

6. Modified CRISPR Tool to help plants combat heat stress

Mapping:

1. Tawi River

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 26 June 2025

GS Paper 1:

Cloudburst

Syllabus: Geography

Source:  IE

Context: Cloudbursts in Kangra and Kullu districts of Himachal Pradesh triggered devastating flash floods, killing two people and leaving over a dozen missing.

About Cloudburst:

What is a Cloudburst?

• A cloudburst is a sudden, highly intense rainfall event, releasing ≥100 mm of rain in under one hour over a localized area (~10 km²).
• These events often occur over hilly or mountainous regions, triggering flash floods, landslides, and infrastructural damage.

Conditions Favoring Cloudbursts:

• Orographic lifting: Moist winds rise rapidly due to steep mountainous terrain, forming large cumulonimbus clouds.
• Strong convection currents: Fast vertical motion of air (60–120 km/h) forms deep vertical clouds, storing vast water content.
• Localized convergence zones: Wind patterns trap moisture in narrow valleys, increasing precipitation density.
• High latent heat release: Warm air holds more moisture—7% more per 1°C rise (Clausius-Clapeyron law)—intensifying rainfall rates.

How Cloudbursts Occur?

• Moist air from monsoon winds hits the windward slope of mountains (e.g., Himalayas).
• This causes adiabatic cooling and condensation, forming towering cumulonimbus clouds up to 15–21 km high.
• Under unstable atmospheric conditions, rapid cloud formation overwhelms the area’s drainage capacity.
• The result is intense downpours over small regions, sometimes exceeding 2 billion litres/hour over 20 km², causing flash flooding and debris flows.

Consequences of Cloudbursts:

• On Other Disasters:
  • Flash Floods: Sudden water surge inundates settlements (e.g., Manikaran 2025).
  • Landslides: Rain-saturated slopes collapse (e.g., Chokhang–Nainghar road, Lahaul 2025).
  • Infrastructure Damage: Bridges and roads washed away (e.g., Baladhi Bridge, 2025).
• On People:
  • Loss of life & displacement: Sudden impact leaves little evacuation time (e.g., 15 workers missing in Kangra).
  • Livelihood impact: Damage to hydropower, tourism, and agriculture leads to long-term setbacks.
  • Access issues: Entire villages (e.g., Jasrath, Manikaran) cut off due to washed bridges.
• On Environment
  • Soil erosion and riverbank destabilization affect biodiversity and river ecosystems.
  • Sediment load increases in rivers, affecting aquatic habitats and downstream dams.
  • Waste dispersion from urban areas into rivers degrades water quality.

Measures to Manage Cloudburst Risks:

1. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Guidelines:
   • Released specific Cloudburst Management Guidelines (2010) focusing on early warning systems, risk zoning, and community awareness.
   • Emphasis on preparedness, response coordination, and structural resilience in vulnerable areas.
2. Technological Upgrades:
   • Doppler Weather Radars: Installed in select regions for nowcasting (<3 hours alert).
   • Automatic Rain Gauges: Help identify high-risk zones for cloudburst-prone mapping.
   • Weather Modelling: IMD uses numerical models for heavy rain alerts, though cloudburst prediction remains limited.
3. Local Capacity Building:
   • Panchayats and DM offices instructed to share emergency numbers, monitor hillsides, and halt dam water release if risk arises (HP advisory, June 2025).
   • Evacuation drills and awareness campaigns in hill villages before monsoon onset.
4. Climate Action:
   • IPCC warns of increased extreme weather with warming: a 1°C rise causes 7–10% more rainfall
   • Need for mitigation of emissions and resilient urban planning in hill cities.

Conclusion:

Cloudbursts are becoming increasingly destructive, especially in ecologically fragile Himalayan regions, due to a combination of intense rainfall and poor forecasting infrastructure. A multi-pronged, tech-enabled approach must be prioritized to safeguard lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems.

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 26 June 2025 GS Paper 2:

Gender Equity in Urban Bureaucracy

Syllabus: Governance

Source:  TH

Context: A recent policy insight by Janaagraha stressed that while women now make up nearly 46% of elected representatives in local governments, urban bureaucracies—especially planners, engineers, and police—remain male-dominated, undermining inclusive governance.

About Gender Equity in Urban Bureaucracy:

• Definition:
  • Gender equity in bureaucracy refers to equal representation, opportunity, and influence for women in administrative and technical city roles such as municipal officers, urban planners, engineers, and law enforcement.
• Data:
  • Women in IAS: Only about 20% of IAS officers are women as of 2022.
  • Local government representation: While women hold over 46% of elected seats in urban local bodies, their administrative influence remains limited.
  • Women in police force: Just 11.7% of India’s police personnel are women, with most in desk roles, according to Bureau of Police Research & Development data.
  • Engineering sector representation: Women constitute only 14% of engineers in the workforce, despite making up 40% of STEM graduates.

Why Urban Bureaucracy Needs Gender Equity?

• Inclusive Planning & Design: Women professionals incorporate caregiving roles, travel habits, and safety concerns into planning.

E.g., 84% of women in Delhi/Mumbai use shared or public transport (ITDP-Safetipin).

• Localized Infrastructure Prioritization: Women focus more on lighting, toilets, healthcare, and water — services directly linked to everyday wellbeing.

E.g., Safetipin audit shows over 60% of public spaces in cities lack proper lighting.

• Empathy in Law Enforcement: Women in police roles reduce reporting barriers for domestic violence and sexual harassment.

E.g., BPR&D data shows only 11.7% of police are women, affecting community trust.

• Better Stakeholder Communication: Women bureaucrats often improve citizen engagement through inclusive, participatory methods.

E.g., Kerala’s Kudumbashree has enhanced responsiveness of local governance structures.

• Bridging Policy-Implementation Gaps: Elected women in ULBs (now 46%) need bureaucratic counterparts to translate priorities into outcomes.

Impacts of Gender-Inclusive Bureaucracy:

On People:

• Improved Women’s Safety in Public Spaces: More female officers help ensure better lighting, surveillance, and safer public areas.
• Enhanced Public Transport Access: Infrastructure reflects women’s mobility patterns (multi-stop, off-peak hours).

E.g., Delhi’s women-only buses emerged from GRB influence.

• Social Inclusion of Marginalized Groups: Women’s governance styles often include elderly, disabled, children in urban design.
• Upliftment of Low-Income Urban Women: Better sanitation and housing facilities are prioritized by women administrators.

E.g., Brazil’s women-led cities focused on slum upgrading and maternal health.

On Governance:

• Institutionalization of GRB Practices: Representation drives structured gender budgeting, as seen in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• Citizen-Centric Governance: Women’s presence ensures programs align with lived realities — not just economic goals.
• Better Law & Order Outcomes: Increased trust and reporting due to gender-sensitive policing enhances rule of law.
• Improved Governance Trust: Women leaders reduce corruption and increase transparency (UNDP, ICRIER studies).
• Strengthened Local Democracy: Balanced administration reflects participative values enshrined in 74th Constitutional Amendment.

Key Challenges:

• Structural Barriers in Entry: Fewer women in engineering, policing, and planning due to lack of scholarships, support systems.

E.g., Less than 10% of town planners in ULBs are women (MoHUA reports).

• Workplace Discrimination and Glass Ceilings: Gender bias in promotions, hostile work environments, and limited mentoring hinder career growth.
• Lack of Gender-Disaggregated Data: Without detailed data, city policies fail to capture differential needs of women and men.
• Tokenism in GRB Implementation: Many GRB allocations are symbolic without real planning or monitoring.

E.g., Most ULBs do not track gender outcomes of budget lines (NIPFP & UN Women).

• Weak Institutional Mechanisms for Gender Equity: Absence of gender councils or mandatory audits at city level reduces accountability.

Conclusion:

For urban India to be inclusive, gender balance must shift from politics to bureaucracy. Women in leadership can only be effective if mirrored in the technical ecosystem that supports them. Inclusive cities begin with inclusive governance structures.

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 26 June 2025 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Zero-Dose Children

Context: India ranked second after Nigeria in the number of unvaccinated or “zero-dose” children in 2023, according to a new Lancet study based on Global Burden of Disease data.

About Zero-Dose Children:

• The term “zero-dose children” refers to children who did not receive even a single dose of any routine childhood vaccination.
• In 2023, 1.44 million Indian children fell into this category.

Key Findings from the Lancet Report:

• India is second globally (after Nigeria’s 2.5 million) in total number of zero-dose children.
• These unvaccinated children are primarily located in eight countries, which collectively host over 50% of the global burden.
• The Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) in India covers 12 diseases, yet implementation gaps persist.

Trends and Challenges:

• Global zero-dose children declined from 58.8 million (1980) to 14.7 million (2019).
• However, numbers remain high in India due to COVID-19 disruption, vaccine hesitancy, and access inequality.
• Measles vaccine coverage declined in 100 countries (2010–2019), including India.

Relevance in UPSC Exam:

• GS Paper 2 (Governance & Social Justice):
  • Health policy failures, Universal Immunisation Programme performance, challenges in last-mile delivery.
• GS Paper 3 (Public Health & Development):
  • Disease prevention, impact of COVID-19 on health systems, international comparisons.
• Essay/GS1 (Society):
  • Inequities in child health, role of misinformation, healthcare access in rural/urban divide.

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 26 June 2025 Facts for Prelims (FFP):

UN80 Initiative

Source:  UN

Context: The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres unveiled the UN80 Initiative to reform and revamp the UN system ahead of the Charter’s 80th anniversary.

About UN80 Initiative:

• The UN80 Initiative is a comprehensive reform drive across the UN system to align its structures, mandates, and operations with 21st-century challenges.
• Launched by: UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
• Objective: To modernize the UN system, enhance accountability, reduce duplication, and ensure it delivers effectively on peace, development, and human rights.
• Key Features of the UN80 Initiative:
  • Three Core Workstreams

• • • Efficiency & Cost Reduction: Eliminate overlaps, reduce administrative costs, and automate services.
    • Mandate Implementation Review: Evaluate how over 3,600 UN mandates are executed—not the mandates themselves.
    • Structural Reforms: Realign programs and departments, especially in high-cost locations.

• Formation of UN80 Clusters:
  • Seven thematic clusters include:

• • • Peace & Security, Development (Secretariat & UN System), Humanitarian, Human Rights, Training & Research, and Specialized Agencies.

• Relocation & Rationalization:

• • • Shift operations from high-cost cities like New York and Geneva.
    • Review potential redundancies and abolish underperforming functions.

• Budget Integration Goals:

• • • Integrate initial changes into the 2026 Revised Budget.
    • Present major structural changes in the 2027 Programme Budget.

• Significance of the UN80 Initiative:

• • Strengthens Multilateralism: Aligns with the vision of the Pact for the Future for revitalized global cooperation.
  • Boosts UN Efficiency: Saves resources by cutting overlaps, redundancies, and underutilized posts.
  • Focuses on Impact: Shifts from volume-based reporting to results-oriented delivery.

RBI has reduced the Priority Sector Lending target for Small Finance Banks

Source:  BS

Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reduced the Priority Sector Lending (PSL) target for Small Finance Banks (SFBs) from 75% to 60% to enhance lending flexibility and profitability.

About RBI has reduced the Priority Sector Lending target for Small Finance Banks:

• What it is?
  • RBI’s revised PSL norms aim to ease lending restrictions for SFBs, allowing them to diversify and improve asset quality.
• Old PSL Criteria: SFBs were mandated to allocate 75% of their Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC) to PSL, which led to challenges in sourcing quality borrowers and lower margins.
• New PSL Criteria:

• • Overall PSL target reduced from 75% to 60%.
  • The additional PSL component reduced from 35% to 20%.
  • SFBs still required to maintain 40% ANBC towards specific PSL sub-sectors.

About Small Finance Banks (SFBs):

• What it is?
  • SFBs are differentiated banks, providing banking services to underserved and unbanked segments of the population.
• Established in: Concept introduced by RBI based on Nachiket Mor Committee 2013 recommendations; licensed under Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
• Objective:

• • Expand financial inclusion by serving small and marginal farmers, MSMEs, and informal sector entities.
  • Provide basic banking services to rural and semi-urban populations.
  • Serve as an alternative banking institution for credit-deprived sectors.

• Features:

• • Can accept all deposit types.
  • Can provide small-ticket loans with a localised operational model.
  • Can distribute non-risk-sharing financial products (mutual funds, pensions, insurance).
  • 25% of branches mandated in rural areas.
  • 50% of loan portfolio to MSME sector.
  • Minimum net worth ₹100 crore at launch, to be raised to ₹200 crore within 5 years.
  • Required to maintain 15% Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) on risk-weighted assets.

Banakacherla Project

Source:  IE

Context: A new inter-state water conflict has emerged between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh over the Banakacherla reservoir project, with Telangana alleging violation of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.

About Banakacherla Project:

• The Banakacherla Reservoir Project is a proposed irrigation infrastructure by the Andhra Pradesh government aimed at diverting surplus Godavari River water to address drought conditions in Rayalaseema.
• Location:
  • Banakacherla, Nandyal district, Andhra Pradesh
  • The project plans to channel water from the Godavari via the Krishna River system.
• States Involved: Andhra Pradesh (Project implementing state) and Telangana (Objecting state).
• Project Features:
  • River Diversion Plan:
    • Enhances the Polavaram Right Main Canal capacity (from 17,500 to 38,000 cusecs).
    • Increases Thatipudi Lift Canal capacity (from 1,400 to 10,000 cusecs).
    • Constructs a reservoir at Bollapalli to lift and channel water to Banakacherla via a tunnel through Nallamala forest.
  • Lift Points:
    • Five major lift stations: Harischandrapuram, Lingapuram, Vyyandana, Gangireddypalem, and Nakirekallu.
  • Linking Rivers:
    • Connects Godavari to Krishna to Penna, aiding water transfer to Rayalaseema.
  • Key Issues Raised by Telangana:
    • Violation of Reorganisation Act: Telangana claims the project violates the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, which mandates prior approvals for such inter-basin projects.
    • Lack of Regulatory Approvals: The project hasn’t received clearance from the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB), Godavari River Management Board (GRMB), or the Central Water Commission (CWC).
    • Godavari Tribunal Allocation Ignored: Telangana was allocated 968 TMCft out of 1,486 TMCft by the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal, and surplus estimation hasn’t been formalized.
    • Threat to Telangana Projects: Telangana fears that diversion would impact its own irrigation schemes and reservoirs dependent on Godavari water.

Infrastructure Push for Jammu and Kashmir

Source:  SS

Context: The Central Government, on June 24, 2025, sanctioned 19 major infrastructure projects worth ₹10,637 crore in Jammu and Kashmir.

• Four projects—Pir Ki Gali Tunnel, Sadhna Tunnel, Zaznar-Shopian Road, and Trehgam-Chamkote Road—stand out for their strategic and security importance.

About Infrastructure Push for Jammu and Kashmir:

• What It Is?
  • A significant road and tunnel infrastructure initiative by the Central Government to boost connectivity, security, and development in border and remote regions of Jammu and Kashmir.

• Total approved outlay: ₹10,637 crore
• Implementing agencies: BRO (Border Roads Organisation) and earlier NHIDCL (now relieved of key tunnels)

• Key Projects and Features:
  1. Pir Ki Gali Tunnel (Mughal Road):

• 1. • Length: 9 km
     • Location: Between Chatta Pani (Poonch) and Zaznar (Shopian)
     • Purpose: Enables all-weather connectivity on historic Mughal Road
     • Strategic Value: Alternate access to Kashmir, vital in emergencies, boosts tourism & military mobility.

2. Sadhna Tunnel (Kupwara-Karnah):

• 1. • Length: 7 km
     • Significance: Connects Kupwara to Karnah, near the Line of Control (LoC)
     • Use: Ensures round-the-year access, especially for troop movement and locals during snow-induced closures.

3. Zaznar-Shopian Road:

• 1. • Length: 28 km
     • Function: Part of proposed Surankote–Shopian–Baramulla Highway
     • Benefits: Improves valley-to-border linkage, reduces reliance on NH44.

4. Trehgam-Chamkote Road:

• 1. • Length: 68 km
     • Stretch: Kupwara to Teetwal near the LoC
     • Purpose: Enhances border area infrastructure, supports military logistics and civilian movement.

• Strategic Importance:

• • Supports border area development and military preparedness.
  • Enhances connectivity in LoC zones like Karnah, Teetwal.
  • Reduces pressure on NH44, currently the sole valley highway.
  • Enables faster disaster response, troop mobilisation, and economic access.

Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4)

Source:  TOI

Context: India marked a historic moment in space exploration as Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS), 41 years after Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission.

About Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4):

• Ax-4 is the fourth private human spaceflight mission by Axiom Space to the ISS, designed to advance international collaboration and conduct cutting-edge research in microgravity.
• Organizations Involved:
  • Axiom Space (Mission organizer)
  • NASA (Host at ISS)
  • SpaceX (Launch vehicle and Dragon capsule provider)
• Launch Site & Timeline:
  • Launch Pad: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
  • Launch On: June 25, 2025.
  • Mission Duration: ~14 days aboard the ISS
• Mission Objectives:
  • Microgravity Research:
    • Over 60 experiments covering life sciences, material science, human physiology, and Earth observation.
  • International Outreach & Collaboration:
    • Fosters cooperation in low-Earth orbit research, setting a precedent for future global partnerships in space.
  • National Program Development:
    • Enables participating countries to leap forward in their human spaceflight capabilities.
  • Crew Members:
    • Peggy Whitson (USA) – Commander, holds the U.S. record for longest cumulative time in space.
    • Shubhanshu Shukla (India) – Pilot, first Indian to reach ISS and second Indian in space.
    • Sławosz Uznański (Poland) – ESA Mission Specialist, second Polish astronaut after 1978.
    • Tibor Kapu (Hungary) – Mission Specialist, second Hungarian astronaut after 1980.
    • Zero-G Indicator: “Joy” the baby swan toy—selected by Shukla and his 6-year-old son Sid.
  • Significance to India:
    • Revival of Human Spaceflight:
      • Shukla becomes the first Indian to enter ISS and only the second Indian in space since 1984.
    • Boost to Gaganyaan & Space Station Plans:
      • Mission complements India’s ambition to launch its own crewed space mission (Gaganyaan) and build an Indian space station by 2035.
    • Scientific Leadership:
      • India leads and participates in multiple experiments, expanding India’s role in space science diplomacy.

Modified CRISPR Tool to help plants combat heat stress

Source:  PIB

Context: Scientists at Bose Institute, Kolkata, have developed a modified CRISPR tool to help plants combat heat stress and bacterial infections, offering a breakthrough in sustainable and smart agriculture.

About Modified CRISPR Tool to help plants combat heat stress:

• What It Is?
  • A modified CRISPR tool using dCas9 (dead Cas9) that acts as a gene switch, turning defense genes on or off without cutting DNA.
  • The tool is designed to activate only under plant stress—such as heat waves or pathogen attack.
• Developed By: Bose Institute, an autonomous institution under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.
• How It Works?
  • Scientists used a part of a natural tomato protein (called NACMTF3) to hold back the CRISPR switch (dCas9) outside the plant’s control center (nucleus).
  • When the plant faces stress like heat or disease, the hold is released, and the CRISPR switch moves inside the nucleus.
  • Inside, it turns on helpful genes that help the plant fight heat and infections.
  • This system saves energy, as it only works when the plant is in danger.
• Key Features:
  • Works only when needed: Genes are turned on only during heat or disease stress.
  • Safe and natural: Uses a tomato protein, making it safe and eco-friendly.
  • Activates helpful genes: Turns on CBP60g and SARD1 (to fight bacteria) and NAC2 and HSFA6b (to handle heat).
  • Protects in two ways: Helps plants survive both heat and disease.
  • No cutting of DNA: Unlike normal CRISPR, this version doesn’t change the DNA, so it’s safer for future use in farming.
• Significance:
  • Climate-resilient agriculture: Enhances plant survival during unpredictable weather, heatwaves, and microbial outbreaks.
  • Smart input management: Plants utilize the tool only when needed, saving energy and improving productivity.
  • Food security: Supports yield sustainability in key crops like tomato, potato, brinjal, and chilli.
  • Global applicability: Has potential use across solanaceous crops worldwide, helping farmers adapt to climate stress.
  • Research impact: Published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, validating global scientific relevance.

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 26 June 2025 Mapping:

Tawi River

Source: NIE

Context: Nine individuals, including pilgrims and labourers, were rescued from the Tawi River in Jammu after a sudden flash flood caused by heavy rainfall.

About Tawi River:

• Origin:
  • The Tawi River flows through Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir and later enters Pakistan-administered territory.
  • It originates from the Kailash Kund glacier (Kali Kund) near Bhaderwah in Doda district.
• States/Regions It Flows Through:
  • Primarily flows through Doda, Udhampur, and Jammu districts.
  • Crosses into Pakistan’s Punjab, eventually joining the Chenab River.
• Tributary Status: Tawi is a left-bank tributary of the Chenab River, a key river in the Indus River System.
• Key Features:
  • Length: 141 km.
  • Catchment area: 2168 km² up to the Indian border.
  • Major tributaries include Raji, Gou Karan, and seasonal streams supporting perennial flow.
• Significance:
  • Lifeline of Jammu: Main source of water for the city.
  • Religious Importance: Revered as Surya Putri (Daughter of the Sun God) in Hindu texts like Vishnudharmottara Purana.
  • Linked to local legends of Raja Pehar Devta who brought the river to cure his father.
  • Supported forts like Bahu Fort and temples, earning Jammu the title “City of Temples”.
• Development Projects:
  • The government is constructing an artificial lake at Bhagwati Nagar to boost tourism and water supply.
  • Project is under observation to comply with the Indus Water Treaty.

Follow us on our Official TELEGRAM Channel HERE

Subscribe to Our Official YouTube Channel HERE

Please subscribe to Our podcast channel HERE

Official Facebook Page HERE

Twitter Account HERE

Instagram Account HERE

LinkedIn: HERE