Monthly Current Affair GK Digest: June 2025

International News

Theme: "Every Day Counts: Act for Resilience Today", emphasizing urgent action for disaster resilience.
Sendai Framework Review: Assessed progress on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030) and its midterm review recommendations.
India’s Participation: Dr. P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, represented India, reaffirming its commitment to global disaster resilience efforts.
International Cooperation: Discussions focused on risk communication, inclusive disaster risk reduction, and climate adaptation strategies.
Awards & Recognitions: Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), received the UN Sasakawa Award 2025 for his contributions to disaster risk reduction.

Leadership: Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav was endorsed as President of IBCA, while SP Yadav was appointed Director General.
Global Participation: Delegations from nine countries—Bhutan, Cambodia, Eswatini, Guinea, India, Liberia, Suriname, Somalia, and Kazakhstan—attended the assembly.
Governance Framework: The assembly ratified the Headquarters Agreement with India, formalizing IBCA’s operations and governance structure.
Conservation Goals: IBCA aims to halt big cat population decline, strengthen conservation efforts, and promote habitat protection.
Funding Commitment: India allocated ₹150 crore (2023–28) to support IBCA’s initiatives.

Objective: ISSCA aims to accelerate agricultural innovation and strengthen partnerships among Global South nations facing similar climatic and socio-economic challenges.
Digital Platform: ISSCA features a digital portal serving as a repository of validated agricultural innovations, enabling peer-to-peer learning and technology transfer.
Strategic Collaboration: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between ICRISAT and DAKSHIN, a Government of India initiative focused on capacity building and policy advisory.
Leadership Statements: ICRISAT Director General Dr. Himanshu Pathak emphasized ISSCA’s role in empowering nations to lead their own agricultural transformation, while RIS Director General Prof. Sachin Chaturvedi highlighted its potential to scale sustainable solutions across the Global South.

Top Professional Leader: Shanti Ekambaram, Deputy MD of Kotak Mahindra Bank, leads the professionals category with her company valued at ₹3.81 lakh crore.
First-Generation Wealth Creator: Radha Vembu, co-founder of Zoho Corporation, tops this category with a net worth of ₹55,300 crore.
Philanthropy Leader: Rohini Nilekani leads with ₹154 crore in donations through Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies.
Celebrity Investors: Shraddha Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, and Alia Bhatt are recognized for their business ventures and investments.
Mumbai emerges as India’s top hub for female leadership, with 38 women featured in the list.

On May 1, 2025, the Indian government merged Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB) and Karnataka Gramin Bank (KGB) to form Karnataka Grameena Bank, headquartered in Ballari, Karnataka, under the ‘One State, One RRB’ policy.
Ownership: Central Govt 50%, State Govt 15%, Canara Bank 35%.
Scale: 1,751 branches, ₹1,04,851 crore turnover, India’s second-largest RRB.
Leadership: Sreekant M. Bhandiwad appointed as Chairman.

Major Investments: ADB will finance metro expansions and develop new Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridors to enhance connectivity.
Urban Challenge Fund (UCF): ADB will support India’s flagship UCF to attract private investment for urban infrastructure.
Technical Assistance: $3 million will be allocated for capacity building in urban local bodies and the development of bankable projects.
Existing Commitments: ADB has already invested $4 billion in metro and RRTS projects in Delhi-Meerut, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru, among other cities.