Daily Current Affairs – 17 June 2025

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Today's edition features key updates including 1st Assembly of IBCA, 113th ILC, SIPRI Yearbook 2025, Quantum Entanglement-Based Free-Space Communication, PM of India Visits Cyprus after 23 years, Rinderpest Eradication, Census 2027, PM Wani Scheme, Samarth Program, WHA Resolution on Skin Diseases, Dharti Aaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan, Switch Auction and more...

Click Here to read the Current Affairs Pointers (CAP) for January 2025- April 2025. 

The 1st Assembly of International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

1. The 1st Assembly of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) was convened in New Delhi, marking a key milestone in global big cat conservation efforts.

2. During this inaugural assembly, India's Union Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, was endorsed as the President of IBCA, highlighting India's leadership role.

3. The Assembly acts as the apex decision-making body of IBCA and is scheduled to meet at least once every two years, ensuring consistent global collaboration.

4. The IBCA, launched in April 2023 on the 50th anniversary of India's Project Tiger, is a multi-country, multi-agency coalition committed to big cat conservation.

5. Comprising 95 nations, it includes both range countries (where big cats are native) and non-range countries (those interested in supporting conservation despite not having native big cat populations).

6. The Alliance focuses on seven major big cat species: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma, each playing a unique role in their ecosystems.

7. The main goal of IBCA is to foster collaboration by building a dedicated platform for sharing best practices in conservation across governments, NGOs, and scientific communities.

8. India serves as the host country and Secretariat for the IBCA, reflecting its historical and ongoing commitment to wildlife protection.

9. The alliance began with 16 founding members, including Armenia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ecuador, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Peru, Suriname, and Uganda.

10. Protecting big cats is vital as they are keystone species—species that have a disproportionately large effect on their environment—helping maintain the balance of entire ecosystems.

11. Conservation of big cats contributes to biodiversity protection, ensuring the survival of countless other species that share their habitats.

12. Their habitats, often rich in forests, rivers, and grasslands, are crucial carbon sinks—natural systems that absorb carbon dioxide—making them important for climate change mitigation.

13. Additionally, big cat conservation boosts the economy by promoting ecotourism and generating livelihood opportunities for local communities, especially in rural and protected areas.

Big Cat Species	Scientific Name	IUCN Status	CITES Status	Wildlife Protection Act (India)
Tiger	Panthera tigris	Endangered	Appendix I	Schedule I
Lion	Panthera leo	Vulnerable	Appendix I	Schedule I
Leopard	Panthera pardus	Vulnerable	Appendix I	Schedule I
Snow Leopard	Panthera uncia	Vulnerable	Appendix I	Schedule I
Cheetah	Acinonyx jubatus	Vulnerable	Appendix I	Schedule I
Jaguar	Panthera onca	Near Threatened	Appendix I	Not found in India
Puma (Cougar/Mountain Lion)	Puma concolor	Least Concern	Appendix I	Not found in India

• IUCN Status: Assigned by the International Union for Conservation of Nature — reflects the species’ risk of extinction.

• CITES Status: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species — Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction.

• Wildlife Protection Act: Refers to India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 — Schedule I provides the highest level of protection.

The 113th International Labour Conference (ILC) Concluded in Geneva

1. The 113th International Labour Conference (ILC), the annual meeting of the International Labour Organization (ILO), concluded in Geneva, bringing together global stakeholders to shape international labour standards.

2. A major highlight was the adoption of the Biological Hazards in the Working Environment Convention, 2025 (Convention No. 192)—the first-ever international instrument specifically addressing biological hazards in workplaces.

3. This new convention urges Member States to develop national policies and preventive measures for occupational safety and health (OSH), particularly focusing on protection against biological risks (like viruses, bacteria, etc.) at work.

4. In a significant maritime development, an Amendment to the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC) was approved, reinforcing seafarers’ rights to shore leave and repatriation, and officially recognizing them as key workers.

5. The MLC is a legally binding international treaty that ensures minimum working and living standards for all seafarers; India ratified the MLC in 2015, affirming its commitment to maritime labour welfare.

6. For the first time, the ILC held a standard-setting discussion on decent work in the platform economy, addressing the working conditions and rights of digital platform workers (e.g., gig workers like food delivery and ride-hailing services).

7. This discussion marks a critical step in recognizing labour protections in the digital era, aiming to ensure fair wages, social security, and job security for millions engaged in the platform economy.

8. Another milestone was the adoption of a Resolution on Reducing Informality, which calls for urgent measures to transition informal workers into the formal economy.

9. The resolution emphasizes the need to improve working conditions, expand social protection, and create decent jobs, particularly for those most vulnerable to labour informality—which refers to unregulated and often precarious employment.

10. Additionally, formal endorsement was granted to the ILO’s tripartite (government, workers, employers) contribution to the upcoming Second World Summit for Social Development, scheduled for November 2025 in Doha.

11. Alongside the ILC, the 2nd annual forum of the Global Coalition for Social Justice was held, reinforcing the ILO’s broader vision of inclusive and equitable development.

12. The Global Coalition for Social Justice, launched in 2023, is an ILO-led initiative that unites global, regional, and national actors to promote policy coherence and coordinated actions for achieving social justice worldwide.

SIPRI Yearbook 2025 Warns of a New Nuclear Arms Race

1. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Yearbook 2025 has raised alarms over the onset of a new global nuclear arms race, driven by increasing stockpiles and stalled arms control efforts.

2. While there has been a decline in global nuclear stockpiles since the end of the Cold War, this reduction mainly reflects the dismantling of retired warheads rather than a halt in active deployments.

3. Contrarily, several countries are now expanding their nuclear arsenals, with China leading the pace—its stockpile has grown rapidly to at least 600 nuclear warheads.

4. In South Asia, India’s nuclear arsenal increased from 172 to 180 warheads, surpassing Pakistan's estimated 170 warheads, highlighting regional escalation.

5. Importantly, all 9 nuclear-armed states—United States, Russia, China, France, United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea—continued efforts to modernise their nuclear weapons systems throughout 2024.

6. This modernisation includes upgrading warheads, delivery systems (like missiles), and command-and-control infrastructures, reinforcing long-term reliance on nuclear deterrence.

7. A critical component of nuclear weapons is fissile material, i.e., material capable of sustaining a nuclear fission chain reaction—mainly highly enriched uranium (HEU) and separated plutonium.

8. Among nuclear-armed states, China and Pakistan have produced both HEU and plutonium for weaponization, while India and Israel have primarily focused on producing plutonium.

9. SIPRI also flagged emerging technological threats—advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), cyber capabilities, space-based systems, missile defense, and quantum technologies are introducing new risks of strategic instability.

10. These modern technologies may undermine traditional nuclear deterrence by enabling faster decision-making, system interference, or neutralizing second-strike capabilities.

11. The state of arms control is described as being in crisis—despite the New START Treaty (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) between the US and Russia remaining in force until early 2026, no visible efforts are underway to renew or replace it.

12. The report thus underscores an urgent need for global diplomatic engagement, renewed arms control negotiations, and stronger non-proliferation measures to avoid destabilization and a renewed arms race.

Initiatives to Contain Nuclear Proliferation

DRDO & IIT Delhi Achieve Quantum Entanglement-Based Free-Space Communication

1. In a major leap for quantum communication in India, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and IIT Delhi successfully demonstrated quantum entanglement-based free-space communication over a distance of ~1 km using a free-space optical link.

2. This milestone surpasses the earlier achievement by ISRO, which had demonstrated India's first free-space Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) over 300 meters in 2021.

3. The experiment was conducted under the DRDO project titled ‘Design and development of photonic technologies for free space QKD’, aiming to develop secure quantum communication systems for defence and civilian use.

4. A key highlight of the test was achieving a very low Quantum Bit Error Rate (QBER) of less than 7%, which indicates a highly secure transmission with minimal chances of data leakage or eavesdropping.

5. QBER, or Quantum Bit Error Rate, measures the discrepancy between transmitted and received information; a lower QBER suggests stronger resistance to interception or hacking attempts.

6. This successful demonstration lays the groundwork for real-time applications in quantum cybersecurity, long-distance quantum key distribution, and the much-anticipated quantum internet.

7. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is a secure communication method based on the laws of quantum mechanics, which govern the behavior of matter and energy at extremely small scales.

8. At the heart of QKD is the principle of wave-particle duality, which states that particles like photons behave both as particles and waves—an essential foundation for quantum technologies.

9. QKD utilizes two core principles: quantum entanglement and quantum cryptography.

   • Quantum entanglement means particles of common origin stay interconnected, even when separated by vast distances—so measuring one affects the other instantly.

   • Quantum cryptography leverages this entanglement to create encryption keys that are fundamentally unhackable, as any intrusion alters the system and is detectable.

10. The entanglement-based QKD demonstrated by DRDO & IIT Delhi ensures secure key distribution, even when devices involved are imperfect or partially compromised.

11. A major advantage of QKD is its inherent ability to detect eavesdropping—any attempt to observe or tamper with entangled photons disrupts their quantum state, alerting the users.

12. Furthermore, the use of free-space QKD eliminates the need for costly and fragile fibre-optic cables, making it ideal for deployment in challenging terrains and urban areas.

13. Overall, this breakthrough signifies a crucial step toward India’s leadership in quantum communication technologies, with vast implications for national security, data protection, and futuristic internet infrastructure.

India-Cyprus Relations: PM of India Visits Cyprus after 23 years

1. During the Indian Prime Minister's recent visit to Cyprus, both countries signed a Joint Declaration to implement the Comprehensive Partnership, reaffirming their strong bilateral ties.

2. In a mark of honour and friendship, the Indian PM was conferred Cyprus’ highest civilian award, the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III, symbolizing mutual respect and recognition.

Highlights of the Joint Declaration

1. Both sides reaffirmed commitment to a rules-based international order, anchored in the United Nations Charter—a foundational treaty outlining global peace, security, and cooperation norms.

2. India and Cyprus expressed firm support for the resumption of UN-led efforts toward resolving the Cyprus Question, aiming for a comprehensive and lasting settlement.

3. Cyprus extended strong solidarity with India in combating terrorism, condemning the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, and unequivocally supporting India against cross-border terrorism—a persistent threat primarily from Pakistan.

Map showing Cyprus, capital city Nicosia

Strategic Significance of Cyprus for India

1. Cyprus is key to India’s efforts to counter the emerging Turkey-Pakistan nexus, which has gained traction as Turkey continues backing Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir and even supported it during Operation Sindoor.

2. Geopolitically, Cyprus serves as a gateway to Europe and forms part of the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC)—a proposed transcontinental connectivity and trade corridor aimed at enhancing East-West connectivity and energy cooperation.

3. On the economic front, Cyprus ranks among India’s top 10 foreign investors, with cumulative FDI inflows worth USD 14.65 billion (2000–2025), underlining deep financial ties.

4. Diplomatic collaboration is poised to grow as Cyprus is set to assume the EU Council Presidency in 2026, potentially advocating India’s interests within the European Union, especially on trade, mobility, and security issues.

5. Cyprus also supports India’s bid for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council (UNSC) and its entry into critical global frameworks such as the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)—which controls the export of nuclear materials.

Must Read: PM Modi conferred with Cyprus' highest civilian honour

Understanding the Cyprus Question

1. The Cyprus Question refers to the island’s division since 1974 between the Republic of Cyprus (internationally recognized, Greek Cypriot-controlled south) and the Turkiye-backed Northern Cyprus (recognized only by Turkey).

2. Though Cyprus lies geographically in Asia, it is a full member of the European Union (EU), reflecting its strategic alignment with Europe.

3. Cyprus gained independence from British rule in 1960, but conflict between the Greek and Turkish communities led to a military intervention by Turkey in 1974, resulting in the island’s ongoing partition.

4. India supports a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation as the solution—an arrangement envisaging two zones (Greek and Turkish Cypriots) with political equality, as per relevant UN Resolutions.

India-Cyprus ties are strategically aligned and diplomatically robust, grounded in shared democratic values, economic interests, and mutual support in multilateral platforms, while also contributing to stability in the Mediterranean region and beyond.

Must Read: India and Cyprus agree to deepen cooperation in key sectors

Rinderpest Eradication and India’s Role Through ICAR-NIHSAD

1. In a major recognition, the ICAR–National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal has been designated as a Category A Rinderpest Holding Facility by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

2. The Category A status signifies that NIHSAD is one of the select global centres entrusted to safely store Rinderpest virus-containing materials, ensuring biosafety and global surveillance post-eradication.

3. ICAR-NIHSAD is a premier Indian institute dedicated to research on exotic and emerging pathogens in animals and also serves as the WOAH reference laboratory for avian influenza, highlighting its global scientific standing.

Understanding Rinderpest (Cattle Plague)

1. Rinderpest, also known as Cattle Plague, is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals—mainly cattle and buffaloes.

2. The disease is caused by a virus belonging to the Paramyxoviridae family, under the genus Morbillivirus—the same family that includes measles and canine distemper viruses.

3. While not transmissible to humans, Rinderpest spreads rapidly among animals through direct contact and can cause high mortality, making it a serious threat to livestock-based economies.

4. Interestingly, animals that recover from Rinderpest acquire lifetime immunity, which helped facilitate disease control and eventual eradication.

Global Health Achievement

1. Rinderpest holds the distinction of being only the second infectious disease in history to be completely eradicated, following the successful eradication of smallpox in humans.

2. Its global eradication was officially declared in 2011 after decades of coordinated veterinary efforts, with FAO and WOAH playing central roles in surveillance, vaccine deployment, and containment.

India’s Contribution

1. With ICAR-NIHSAD now designated as a secure repository for Rinderpest virus, India joins a critical global network ensuring the safe containment of virus samples, preventing any accidental or intentional release.

2. This development underscores India’s growing leadership in global animal health, biosecurity, and its commitment to preventing the re-emergence of dangerous animal diseases.

Census 2027

1. The Registrar General of India, operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has officially notified that the next national Census will be conducted in 2027.

2. This notification has been issued under the legal framework of the Census Act, 1948, which governs the process of population and housing data collection in India.

3. Census 2027 will be carried out in two distinct phases to ensure structured data gathering:

   • Phase I: House Listing Operations (HLO) – This involves the listing and numbering of all houses and structures in the country, including details like building use, household assets, etc.

   • Phase II: Population Enumeration (PE) – This is the actual headcount where demographic and socio-economic information about individuals is collected.

4. In a significant move, the upcoming census will also include Caste Enumeration, which refers to the systematic collection of caste-related data — a subject that has been debated and awaited for its policy implications.

5. To modernize the data collection process, digital technology will be extensively used, with field operations being conducted through dedicated mobile applications designed for census officials.

6. Additionally, to enhance accessibility and participation, a self-enumeration provision will be introduced — allowing individuals to fill in their own census details online through a secure digital platform.

Must Read: Govt to conduct Caste Census 2027

PM-WANI Scheme

TRAI releases Telecommunication Tariff Order 2025 on Tariff for retail broadband connectivity for PDOs under PM-WANI Scheme.

About Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) Scheme

1. It was launched by the Department of Telecommunication in 2020.

2. Aim: To enhance the proliferation of public WiFi hotspots to create robust digital communications infrastructure in the country, especially in rural areas.

3. The scheme encourages local shops and establishments to provide Wi-Fi for last-mile internet delivery. 

   • They do not require a license or charge a registration fee.

4. Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) Scheme

Samarth Program

The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) provided grants to 18 startups under its ‘Samarth’ Program.

• C-DOT is the Telecom R&D centre of the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications.

About Samarth Program

1. It is a cutting-edge Startup Incubation Program of C-DOT for the development of India’s telecommunications & IT sectors.

2. It aids in access to Startup grants (up to 5 lakh/ startup), world-class infrastructure, expert mentorship, networking, etc.

3. Implementation Partner: Software Technology Parks of India (STPI)  & TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs).

   • STPI is a premier S&T organization under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

WHA Resolution on Skin Diseases

1. In a significant development, the World Health Assembly (WHA) — the decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO) — has unanimously adopted a resolution titled “Skin Diseases as a Global Public Health Priority.”

2. This landmark resolution was driven by the urgent global need, as skin diseases currently affect an estimated 1.9 billion people worldwide, making them one of the most common and impactful health conditions globally.

3. Despite their widespread prevalence, skin diseases remain largely neglected, often receiving limited funding and policy attention, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where access to dermatological care is minimal.

4. The resolution was strongly supported by the International League of Dermatologic Societies (ILDS) — the world’s largest global alliance of dermatology organizations — which played a key role in advocacy and consensus-building.

5. A major highlight of the resolution is the call for a comprehensive Global Action Plan, which aims to provide a strategic framework for the prevention, early detection, effective treatment, and long-term care of skin diseases worldwide.

6. It also emphasizes the need for dedicated health investments to strengthen dermatological services, especially in underserved regions, to close the access and treatment gap.

7. Furthermore, the resolution promotes expansion in research, surveillance, and systematic data collection, recognizing that robust evidence and real-time data are crucial for guiding public health interventions and policy decisions.

Dharti Aaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan

Ministry of Tribal Affairs launches Largest Tribal Empowerment Campaign.

About Dharti Aaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan

1. Under it, nationwide benefit saturation camps are being conducted at the village & habitation level to provide access to critical entitlements and government services. 

   • E.g. Adhaar Card Enrolments and Updates.

2. It is a key initiative under Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh, which honors the legacy, culture, & contribution of India’s tribal communities.

3. It embodies the principles of last-mile delivery, people’s participation (Janbhagidari) & dignified tribal empowerment under the larger umbrellas of PM-JANMAN and Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan.

Switch Auction

In a government switch auction conducted for a notified amount of ₹25,000 crore, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) accepted approximately ₹ 9,000 crore.

About Switch Auction

1. Genesis: Began in 2019 by the RBI on behalf of the Government of India.

2. Objective: To manage the maturity profile of public debt by replacing short-term securities with longer-dated ones.

3. Mechanism: Market participants sell source securities to the Government of India and simultaneously buy destination securities at quoted prices.

   • The process is executed through the e-Kuber portal via the Switch Transaction module.

4. Benefits: Enhances debt sustainability, Bond Market development, etc.

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