Daily Current Affairs – 24 June 2025
- TPP
- Jun 24
- 10 min read
Welcome to your one-stop destination for crisp, reliable, and exam-relevant Daily Current Affairs. The PRESS Pad delivers daily updates and smart summaries that go beyond the headlines and align perfectly with the evolving pattern of UPSC and other state-level examinations.
Today's edition features key updates including Digital Payment Intelligence Platform, Global Tobacco Epidemic 2025 report, Thirstwave, State of the Climate in Asia 2024, National rare blood donor registry, Recycled Plastic, Blowout, Ambubachi Mela, Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC), ULLAS - Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram and more…
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RBI and Banks to develop the Digital Payment Intelligence Platform (DPIP) |
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in collaboration with banks, is set to develop the Digital Payment Intelligence Platform (DPIP) to enhance fraud risk management in digital payments.
DPIP will be established as a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)—foundational digital systems that are secure, interoperable, and publicly accessible, similar to Aadhaar and Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
The platform aims to gather and share real-time fraud intelligence, using advanced technologies like AI and data analytics to curb rising digital payment frauds.
It will also strengthen current fraud detection systems by enabling seamless coordination among banks, promoting faster and more accurate fraud responses.
A dedicated committee headed by Shri A.P. Hota has been constituted to assess key aspects of setting up DPIP, ensuring robust policy and technical frameworks.
The Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH)—RBI’s fintech initiative—has been tasked to build a prototype of DPIP in close consultation with 5–10 selected banks, covering both public and private sector banks for inclusive development.
The urgency of DPIP is underlined by alarming data: as per the RBI’s Annual Report, fraud cases in the banking sector tripled in value—rising from ₹12,230 crore in FY24 to a staggering ₹36,014 crore in FY25.
Alongside DPIP, RBI has rolled out other fraud-curbing initiatives, starting with multi-factor authentication (MFA), where users must verify identity through multiple credentials (e.g., password + OTP).
RBI has also enforced a ‘Zero Liability’ policy—holding customers not responsible for losses resulting from bank negligence or unauthorized third-party breaches.
Additionally, RBI introduced trusted domain suffixes like “.bank.in” and “.fin.in” to help users identify legitimate banking websites, safeguarding against phishing and fake portals.
Global Tobacco Epidemic 2025 report released by WHO |
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2025 report—its tenth edition tracking global tobacco control progress since 2008.
The report assesses how effectively countries have adopted the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), a global treaty with provisions to reduce both demand and supply of tobacco.
These WHO FCTC provisions aim to restrict tobacco production, distribution, availability, and consumption through coordinated public health measures.
To support countries in implementing FCTC’s demand reduction strategies on the ground, WHO introduced the MPOWER policy package in 2008.
MPOWER represents six proven interventions to reduce tobacco use, forming the cornerstone of the report’s analysis (see below for list).
The six MPOWER measures include:
Monitoring tobacco use and control policies,
Protecting people from second-hand smoke through smoke-free laws,
Offering help to quit tobacco use,
Warning with graphic labels and public campaigns,
Enforcing bans on advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, and
Raising taxes on tobacco products.
Since 2007, 155 countries have implemented at least one MPOWER measure, benefitting over 6.1 billion people globally.
Among all measures, the most significant global progress has been seen in adopting large graphic health warnings on cigarette packaging.
India, in particular, has shown strong implementation of the Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship (TAPS) ban, effectively covering all forms of media.
However, the report flags that tobacco taxation remains the least-adopted MPOWER component, with cigarettes still remaining affordable in India, undermining demand-reduction efforts.
Notably, India became the first country in the world to apply tobacco control norms specifically to digital streaming content, marking a global milestone in digital media regulation.
Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution Established |
A new Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution has been formally established, following a 2022 UNEA (UN Environment Assembly) resolution calling for a dedicated global science-policy interface.
The panel is being convened and hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), ensuring global coordination on pollution, chemical safety, and waste management.
This panel will offer independent, policy-relevant scientific advice to governments on managing chemicals, waste, and pollution prevention—critical areas of environmental health and sustainability.
The next major milestone is the panel’s first plenary session, where nations will agree on its initial work programme, strategic priorities, and partnership mechanisms.
With its launch, the world now has a global scientific trifecta:
IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change),
IPBES (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services), and
this new Chemicals & Pollution Panel—ensuring holistic coverage of planetary crises.
6. The panel addresses the escalating triple planetary crisis:
Climate change,
Biodiversity loss, and
Pollution and waste—all of which are interlinked and intensifying globally.
7. The need for this panel stems from mounting concerns:
The daily use of chemicals in modern life has increased dramatically, often with unintended harmful effects.
Municipal solid waste is projected to rise from 2.1 billion tonnes in 2023 to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050.
Modern forms of pollution have surged by 66% in the last 20 years, severely impacting ecosystems and human health.
Environmental Risks from Conflicts and Wars
In parallel, ongoing global conflicts are emerging as serious threats to the environment, with risks including radioactive contamination—as seen around Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Military-related environmental damage is multi-dimensional:
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from global armed forces contribute about 5.5% of global emissions.
In eastern Ukraine, industrial warfare risks releasing toxic pollutants from power plants, mines, and chemical factories.
Landmines and unexploded ordnance in Ukraine also pollute soil, water, and forests, with cleanup costs estimated at US$34.6 billion, showing the long-term ecological toll of war.
Wars also accelerate resource depletion and biodiversity loss by causing:
Deforestation,
Disruption of agriculture,
Habitat destruction, and
Wildlife poaching and stress from military activity.
A historical example is the Vietnam War, where herbicides like Agent Orange led to the widespread defoliation of forests and long-term environmental degradation.
Key International Agreements on War & Environment
The Paris Agreement (2015) allows for voluntary reporting of military-related carbon emissions—highlighting a gap in accountability.
The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (1998) recognizes severe, widespread, and long-term environmental damage during war as a war crime.
The ENMOD Convention (1976)—Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques—bans weather manipulation and other environmental warfare strategies.
Thirstwave |
Researchers have introduced the term "Thirstwave" to describe prolonged periods when the atmosphere exhibits unusually high thirst for water.
A Thirstwave is defined as a stretch of at least three consecutive days during which the daily evaporative demand exceeds the 90th percentile of historical values for that time of year.
Evaporative demand—often described as how "thirsty" the atmosphere is—is a climate metric that estimates the potential for water to evaporate from soil and plants into the air, even if water is not actually present.
This demand is influenced by several meteorological factors including temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, and sunshine, all of which affect how quickly moisture can leave the surface.
Understanding and monitoring these Thirstwaves is especially important for farmers, as it can guide more efficient water resource management and help optimize crop yields during high-stress weather periods.
State of the Climate in Asia 2024 |
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO)—a specialized agency of the United Nations—has released its State of the Climate in Asia 2024 report, providing critical insights into the region’s changing climate.
According to the report, 2024 was Asia’s warmest or second warmest year on record, with average temperatures 1.04°C above the 1991–2020 average, signaling a significant deviation from historical norms.
Alarmingly, the data shows that Asia is warming at twice the global average rate, pointing to a regional climate crisis that is intensifying faster than in other parts of the world.
This accelerated warming has led to glacial loss in critical mountain systems such as the Central Himalayas and Tian Shan, primarily due to reduced snowfall and extreme heat, which amplify glacier melt.
In parallel, record-high sea-surface temperatures were observed across Asian waters, with the decadal warming rate—the rate of temperature rise over each decade—being nearly double the global average, stressing the urgency for coastal and marine adaptation strategies.
National rare blood donor registry |
The National Institute of Immunohaematology (NIIH), functioning under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), has launched India’s first National Rare Blood Donor Registry to address critical transfusion needs.
The primary objective of this registry is to support patients with rare blood types who require frequent or emergency blood transfusions, often in life-threatening situations.
A rare blood donor is typically defined as someone lacking a high prevalence antigen (present in more than 99.9% of the population), making their blood extremely difficult to match—occurring in less than 1 in 1,000 donors.
Alternatively, donors may be classified as rare if they are negative for a combination of common antigens that are seldom found together, further complicating transfusion compatibility.
Notable examples of such rare blood types include Rhnull (lacking all Rh antigens), Bombay (Oh) (lacking A, B, and H antigens), and Jr(a-), which are extremely difficult to source due to their genetic rarity.
The creation of this national registry is a crucial step toward building a ready network of rare blood donors, ensuring faster response and better outcomes in complex medical cases involving rare blood group compatibility.
Recycled Plastic |
A new study has raised critical health concerns regarding the widespread use of recycled plastic, especially its chemical composition and potential impacts.
The study reveals that a single recycled plastic pellet—a small unit used in the production of new plastic items—can contain over 80 different chemicals, many of which are not disclosed or regulated.
These chemicals have the ability to leach into water, meaning they can slowly seep out of the plastic and enter surrounding environments or human bodies, posing a risk to hormonal balance and metabolic health.
Hormone disruption can interfere with the endocrine system, which regulates growth, mood, and reproductive functions, while metabolic disruption can affect how the body processes energy and fat.
Despite these concerns, the process of recycling plastic remains vital for environmental sustainability—it involves collecting used plastic, breaking it down through mechanical (shredding, melting) or chemical methods, and reprocessing it into raw materials for new products.
This helps reduce the need for virgin plastic production, thereby saving energy, minimizing landfill waste, and lowering plastic-related pollution.
The findings highlight a crucial trade-off: while recycled plastic supports environmental goals, it also raises unaddressed public health challenges that require better chemical screening and regulation in recycling practices.
Blowout |
The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has deployed global experts to control a natural gas leak caused by a blowout at one of its oil wells in Assam, reflecting the severity of the situation.
A blowout refers to a dangerous accident in an oil or gas well where underground pressure forces gas or oil to the surface uncontrollably, bypassing safety mechanisms.
As the pressurized gas escapes, it often mixes with drilling fluids, sand, and sometimes oil, resulting in a violent and uncontrolled jet at the surface.
Blowouts are commonly triggered by valve failure or misjudgment of underground pressure, which leads to the sudden release of highly flammable substances.
The impacts of a blowout can be severe and wide-ranging, often resulting in massive fires, explosions, toxic air pollution, and in extreme cases, injuries or fatalities.
ONGC’s swift action to bring in international expertise underscores the need for advanced safety protocols and rapid emergency response in the high-risk oil and gas sector.
Ambubachi Mela |
Thousands of devotees have gathered in Assam to participate in the Ambubachi Mela, a deeply revered annual ritual at the Kamakhya Temple.
The Ambubachi Mela is an annual Hindu fair held during the monsoon season at the Kamakhya Temple, which stands on the Nilachal Hills near Guwahati, Assam.
The Kamakhya Temple is one of the most important Shakti Peethas (shrines dedicated to the goddess Shakti) and is also a major center of Tantric worship, a spiritual tradition emphasizing rituals, mysticism, and divine feminine energy.
The festival is rooted in the belief that the Earth is a fertile woman, and Ambubachi symbolically marks her annual menstrual cycle, during which the temple remains closed for three days.
Celebrated with great devotion, the mela signifies fertility, the arrival of the monsoon, and the creative power of nature, themes that resonate with various cultural and agrarian traditions across India.
With its spiritual significance and large gathering, Ambubachi Mela is not only a religious event but also a celebration of nature, femininity, and regeneration, attracting pilgrims, sadhus, and tourists from across the country.
Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) |
India has firmly rejected references made to it during a recent meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), calling them unwarranted and factually incorrect.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) was established in 1969 during a summit held in Rabat, Morocco, in response to events affecting the Muslim world.
With its headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the OIC serves as a central body to coordinate and represent the interests of Muslim-majority countries.
It is the second-largest intergovernmental organization after the United Nations (UN), comprising 57 member states spanning across four continents, including Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America.
The OIC acts as the collective voice of the Muslim world, aiming to promote solidarity among member states and safeguard the rights and image of Muslims globally.
India, though not a member of the OIC, has often raised concerns over politically motivated or inaccurate references made in OIC statements, especially on matters concerning India’s internal affairs.
ULLAS - Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram |
Tripura has become the third fully literate state in India, following Mizoram and Goa, by achieving the required literacy benchmark under the ULLAS programme.
To be declared fully literate, a state must reach a minimum literacy rate of 95% among individuals aged 15 years and above, reflecting widespread educational attainment.
The ULLAS (Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram or New India Literacy Programme) is a centrally sponsored scheme launched by the Ministry of Education aimed at eradicating illiteracy across India.
The programme spans from financial years 2022 to 2027 and targets non-literates aged 15 years and above across all States and Union Territories (UTs).
A key goal under ULLAS is to achieve Foundational Literacy and Numeracy for 5 crore learners, ensuring basic reading, writing, and arithmetic skills.
The scheme is implemented through a hybrid model, combining online and offline modes of teaching to increase accessibility and effectiveness in reaching learners.
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