Topic- 1: DhartiAaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan
GS-3: Economy
The context:
On 17th June 2025, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs launched the largest tribal empowerment campaign – DhartiAaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan. It is part of the flagship initiatives under Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh.
The Key Highlights: DhartiAaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan
-
- The campaign operates at an unprecedented scale, covering 549 tribal-dominated districts and 207 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG)-dominated districts, reaching over 1,00,000 villages and habitations.
- It is a key initiative under Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh, aiming to honor tribal legacy while ensuring the delivery of development and rights at the grassroots.
- The campaign is aligned with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasizing last-mile delivery, Janbhagidari (people’s participation), and dignified tribal empowerment.
- It functions under the umbrella of PM-JANMAN and Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) to ensure integrated development.
- A doorstep outreach model is being implemented through District Administrations, in collaboration with local stakeholders and tribal leaders.
- Benefit saturation camps are organized at the village and habitation level to ensure delivery of essential services and welfare schemes to all eligible tribal households.
- Key services include Aadhaar enrolment, Ayushman Bharat Health Card issuance, Jan Dhan account opening, PM-KISAN, pensions, scholarships, insurance, skill training, and livelihood programs.
- The campaign follows a participatory, camp-based delivery model that ensures no tribal household is left behind.
- More than 125 District Magistrates/Deputy Commissioners have already launched pre-campaign mobilization and awareness activities in coordination with Panchayati Raj Institutions and community stakeholders.
Source: PIB
Topic- 2: The International Big Cat Alliance
GS-3: Environmental Conservation
The context:
The First Assembly of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) was held in New Delhi on 17th June 2025, presided over by Union Minister.
The Key Highlights: International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)
-
- The IBCA is a coalition of 95 range countries, initiated by the Government of India, for the conservation of seven major big cats: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma.
- Ministerial delegations from 9 countries participated in the assembly, including Bhutan, Cambodia, Eswatini, Guinea, India, Liberia, Suriname, Somalia, and Kazakhstan.
- The Assembly is the apex decision-making body of the IBCA and endorsed the proceedings of the first International Steering Committee meeting held in April 2024.
- The Assembly ratified the Headquarters Agreement between IBCA and India, allowing establishment of IBCA headquarters and offices in India, recognizing its international legal personality.
- The IBCA was established via order dated 12th March 2024 by the National Tiger Conservation Authority under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- The Assembly also approved the Workplan, Rules of Procedure, Manual of Staff, and Financial Regulations to guide the operations and governance of IBCA.
- The main aim of IBCA is to foster collaboration among big cat range countries, consolidate best conservation practices, and promote global biodiversity efforts.
- Emphasis was laid on collective action to conserve big cats and their habitats, thereby mitigating climate change and ensuring an ecologically secure future.
- All participating countries reaffirmed their commitment to the objectives of IBCA, working together to protect these majestic species and halt their population decline.
Source: PIB
Topic- 3: Cyber Suraksha
GS-3: Economy
The context:
‘Cyber Suraksha’, a comprehensive cyber security exercise, was launched by the Defence Cyber Agency under the aegis of the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff on 16th June 2025.
The Key Highlights: ‘Cyber Suraksha’ Cyber Security Exercise
-
- The multi-phased exercise, concluding on 27th June 2025, is a national-level initiative to enhance cyber resilience in the defence and security domains.
- Over 100 participants from various national agencies and defence stakeholders are actively participating in the exercise.
- The aim is to simulate real-world cyber threats, test cyber defence skills, and promote secure digital practices in a high-paced, gamified environment.
- The exercise includes targeted training sessions, evaluation modules, and a leadership-focused capsule for holistic capacity building.
- A significant feature is the Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) Conclave, integrating leadership with technical aspects of cyber security.
- The CISOs conclave features talks by eminent speakers and culminates in an immersive Table-Top Exercise to test strategic decision-making.
- The initiative promotes structured learning and hands-on challenge environments, enabling participants to act decisively against cyber threats.
- It reflects India’s proactive approach to cybersecurity, especially in safeguarding defence infrastructure and national digital assets.
- The Defence Cyber Agency plans to conduct such exercises regularly to foster a security-first culture and ensure sustained cyber preparedness.
Source: PIB
Topic- 4: India Enters New Quantum Era: Demonstrate Free-Space Quantum Secure Communication Using Entanglement
GS-3: Science and Technology
The context:
On 17th June 2025, India has marked a significant milestone in quantum technology by successfully demonstrating quantum entanglement-based free-space quantum secure communication over a distance of more than one kilometre.
The Key Highlights: DRDO-IIT Delhi Quantum Secure Communication Breakthrough
-
- The project was carried out under the ‘Design and Development of Photonic Technologies for Free-Space QKD’, sanctioned by the Directorate of Futuristic Technology Management (DFTM), DRDO.
- This marks India’s entry into a new quantum era of secure communication, a critical milestone with potential game-changing impact on future warfare, as noted by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh.
- The demonstration was led by Prof Bhaskar Kanseri’s team at the DRDO-Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE), IIT Delhi, using a free-space optical link.
- The system achieved a secure key rate of 240 bits/sec and a quantum bit error rate (QBER) below 7%, signifying high-fidelity entanglement and data security.
- This development enables real-time applications such as long-distance Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), quantum cyber security, quantum networks, and the future quantum internet.
- Quantum entanglement-based QKD ensures unbreakable encryption, even when communication devices are compromised or imperfect.
- The system detects eavesdropping attempts due to disturbances in quantum states, ensuring intrinsic security in data transfer.
- The technology has dual-use applications across defence, finance, telecommunications, and national security, and avoids the need for optical fibre in difficult terrains or urban areas.
- This achievement follows earlier milestones like India’s first intercity quantum link (Vindhyachal-Prayagraj, 2022) and a 100 km fiber-based quantum key distribution (2024), all under the DIA-CoE initiative established at premier institutions like IITs and IISc.
Source: PIB
Topic- 5: Fifth Fast Patrol Vessel ‘Achal’
GS-3: Economy
The context:
On June 16, 2025, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) marked a significant step towards maritime security and indigenisation with the launch of ‘Achal’, the fifth Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) in a series of eight being constructed by Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL).
The Key Highlights:
-
- ‘Achal’, the fifth Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) in a series of eight, was launched on 16th June 2025 by Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
- The vessel was ceremonially launched in Goa by Kavita Harbola, in the presence of Additional Director General Anil Kumar Harbola, Commander, Western Seaboard, ICG.
- The FPV ‘Achal’ has been designed and built under dual-class certification from the American Bureau of Shipping and the Indian Register of Shipping.
- The vessel features over 60% indigenous content, aligning with the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing.
- The FPV measures 52 meters in length, 8 meters in breadth, with a displacement of 320 tons, and is equipped with a CPP-based propulsion system capable of achieving speeds up to 27 knots.
- Its primary roles include protection, monitoring, control, and surveillance, with a focus on securing offshore assets and island territories.
- The project cost is approximately 473 crore, contributing significantly to local employment generation and supporting MSMEs across the defence production value chain.
- The launch marks a milestone in the ongoing series of FPVs and demonstrates the strong and enduring partnership between GSL and the Indian Coast Guard.
- The event was attended by senior officials from the Indian Navy, ICG, GSL, including CMD of GSL Shri Brajesh Kumar Upadhyay.
- The FPV project not only boosts maritime security capacity but also reflects India’s growing capability in indigenous shipbuilding and defence manufacturing.
Source: PIB
Topic- 6: ReviseTariff Framework for PM-WANI
GS-3: Economy
The context:
On 16 June 2025, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issued the 71st Amendment to the Telecommunication Tariff Order, 2025 (PR 46/2025), marking a major step to enhance the affordability of internet access under the PM-WANI (Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) scheme.
The Key Highlights:
-
- The current tariff order of TRAI is in response to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) reference to TRAI to review the PM-WANI PDO backhaul tariffs.
- The reference highlighted that high internet costs and mandatory expensive leased line agreements were discouraging local shopkeepers and small businesses from becoming Public Data Offices (PDOs), limiting the scheme’s growth.
Landmark reforms included the following:
-
- Backhaul Aggregation – Multiple Access Points can share a single backhaul link, enabling broader hotspots without extra expense.
- Dual‑SSID Home/Business Integration – Private Wi‑Fi APs can now add a public SSID to join PM‑WANI, unlocking fresh income from existing infrastructure.
- Roaming Across PDOAs – Users can effortlessly switch among PDO Aggregator networks, enhanced by a unified payment ecosystem.
- Mobile Data Offload Tie‑ups – PDOs can team with TSPs to alleviate spectrum congestion while earning extra revenue.
- Ad‑Push Capabilities – With user consent, PDOAs and App Providers can deliver relevant content/promotions, adding monetization routes.
Together, these reforms and TRAI’s tariff cap are set to boost affordability for small PDO operators, incentivize small-scale and grassroots PDOs, and fuel the expansion of public Wi‑Fi networks – bridging the digital divide and empowering local entrepreneurs.
DoT reaffirms its commitment to collaborate with TRAI, TSPs, PDOs, and other stakeholders to ensure rapid rollout, reliable connectivity, and inclusive access across India.
About PM-WANI:
-
- The PM-WANI (Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) framework, approved by the Union Cabinet on 9th December 2020, aims to expand broadband access through Public Wi-Fi networks across India.
- It supports the goals of the National Digital Communications Policy, 2018 by enabling a robust digital infrastructure. The framework includes components such as Public Data Offices (PDOs), PDO Aggregators (PDOAs), App Providers, and a Central Registry maintained by C-DOT.
- Its aim is to encourage widespread participation, no license or registration fee is required for PDOs and PDOAs. Users can access internet services by downloading a mobile app, authenticating themselves, and connecting to a PM-WANI hotspot nearby.
- Currently there are 333,215 PM-WANI Wi‑Fi Hotspots, 205 PDO Aggregators and 111 App Providers across the country.
Source: PIB
Topic- 7: Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III
GS-3: Economy
The context:
The President of Cyprus, H.E. Nikos Christodoulides, on 16th June 2025 conferred upon Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Cyprus’s honour – the “Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III”.
The Key Highlights:
-
- On this meeting accepting the honour on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians, Prime Minister of India expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the President, the Government, and the people of Cyprus. The award to the longstanding warm ties between India and Cyprus which are built on shared values and mutual trust.
- The award was a recognition of India’s age-old philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “The World is one Family” that guides its vision for global peace and progress.
- Prime Minister embraced the honour as a renewed commitment to strengthening and diversifying the partnership between India and Cyprus.
- The award was a symbol of the unwavering commitment of the two countries to peace, security, sovereignty, territorial integrity and prosperity.
Source: PIB
Spread the Word