Daily Current Affairs Quiz8 & 9 June, 2025 National Affairs 1. Civil Registration System’s (CRS) Vital Statistics 2022 Report Context: Bihar has recorded the lowest sex ratio at birth for 2022 among all States and Union Territories, reporting just 891 girls born for every 1,000 boys, according to the Civil Registration System’s vital statistics report, released this week by the Office of the Registrar General of India.   Key Finding: Bihar’s Declining Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) States with Low SRB in 2022 States/UTs with High SRB in 2022 CRS 2022: National Birth and Death Trends Registered Births State-wise Birth Registration Trends (2013–2022) Stillbirths Registered Deaths in 2022 Delayed Reporting and Status of Demographic Surveys TH 2. The World Bank Revised Global Poverty Line Context: The World Bank revised the global poverty line to $3/day (PPP 2021) from $2.15/day (PPP 2017). Key Findings: Sharp Decline in Poverty (2011–2023) Why This Matters Revised Poverty Benchmark India’s Poverty Rate in 2024 Trend Summary (Poverty Reduction in India) Year Metric Poverty Rate (%) Benchmark Line 2011–12 Extreme Poverty 27.1 $2.15/day 2011–12 Lower-Middle Income Poverty ~39.7 (est.) $3.65/day 2022–23 Extreme Poverty 2.3 $2.15/day 2022–23 Extreme Poverty 5.3 $3/day (revised) 2024 Population under $3/day 5.44 $3/day (PPP-adjusted) What is Poverty Line? The poverty line represents the minimum income level needed to meet basic needs like food, shelter, and clothing. It’s a benchmark used to identify individuals and households struggling to afford these necessities and are thus eligible for government assistance.  Implications and Insights TH & Mint 3. MGNREGS Job Demand Rises in May–June 2025 Context: Demand for unskilled jobs under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) surged in May and early June 2025, but economists emphasize this is not necessarily a sign of rural distress. Rather, it reflects a seasonal pattern before the monsoon-led sowing begins. What is MGNREGA ? About Legal Right to Work Demand Driven Scheme Decentralized Planning 4. DRUM App About the DRUM App: Core Objective: Key Features of DRUM: Why DRUM Matters: 5. India Reaffirms Global Leadership in Climate-Resilient Infrastructure at ICDRI 2025 Event Overview About the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) Funding and Support Core Functions of CDRI India’s 5 Global Priorities at ICDRI 2025 Banking/Finance 1. RBI’s 2025 Gold and Silver Lending Guidelines Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has notified the Lending Against Gold and Silver Collateral Directions, 2025, introducing comprehensive reforms to regulate and standardize gold and silver-backed lending across financial institutions. Key Features of the Directions Implications for India’s Lending Ecosystem BS 2. RBI Frontloads Monetary Support Amid Uncertainty – Is This the Terminal Rate? Context: In an effort to anchor economic confidence amid global uncertainties, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), through its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), delivered a bigger-than-expected policy stimulus in June 2025. Key Policy Announcements (June 2025) RBI’s Recent Liquidity Measures Has the RBI Reached the Terminal Rate? Key Arguments Growth Outlook: 3. Banks’ Proposal for Tax Relief on NPA Interest Under Review Context: The Indian government is reviewing a proposal from banks to amend the Income Tax Act and align the definition and treatment of Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) with the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) regulatory norms. This move aims to provide relief from taxation on unrealised interest income. Key Regulatory Divergence Proposed Changes Under Consideration Government Review Process: Current Status of NPAs: Implications if Accepted: BS 4. RBI Launches Scheme to Promote Original Hindi Books on Economics, Banking, and Finance Context: To encourage original Hindi-language writing and research in the fields of economics, banking, and finance by Indian academicians. Key Features of the Scheme Evaluation Process Significance Related Development: This scheme not only supports language diversity in financial education but also fosters an environment for academic innovation in Hindi. Economy 1. India’s Apparel Export Growth Challenge Current Status and Challenges Significance of the Textile and Apparel Sector Key Government Initiatives Structural Bottlenecks Policy Recommendations – The Way Forward: Agriculture 1. Community-Led Seed Ball Plantation for Forest Regeneration in India Context: India’s forests, long considered the lungs of the nation, are under increasing pressure. Between 2001 and 2023, the country lost a staggering 2.33 million hectares of forest cover due to deforestation. Mineral-rich states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha are most affected due to mining-driven deforestation. Key Initiative: Seed Ball Plantation Role of PRADAN Impact & Progress Collaborative Model Significance: BL 2. Bayer Launches BICOTA to Protect Rice Crops from Stem Borer Pests Context: Bayer has announced the launch of BICOTA, a new product designed to help rice farmers manage stem borer pests effectively. BICOTA, which combines Bayer’s exclusive innovation to provide strong protection against these damaging pests, will be available across key rice-growing states, including Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Western UP, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, starting in June 2025. Key Features of BICOTA Significance 3. India’s Ethanol Blending Policy Faces Delays Context: India’s plan to expand ethanol blending in petrol beyond the current 19% (E19) to 27–100% is facing significant supply-side, demand-side, and geopolitical headwinds, slowing the rollout of the new ethanol policy. What is Ethanol? It is obtained by feeding various raw materials or agricultural products through fermentation, and ethanol is used as a fuel. Ethanol is renewable fuel as it can be used in the pepping of gasoline, or it can work as an octane enhancer. This is also called grain alcohol, ethyl alcohol, or simply EtOH. These are some applications of ethanol in agriculture: Role of Ethanol in India The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme is a government initiative to increase the amount of ethanol blended with petrol in India:  What is Ethanol blending? Facts To Remember 1. Mcdonald and Tagger win French Open junior titles Germany’s Niels Mcdonald and Austrian Lilli Tagger won the boys and girls titles respectively at the French Open. 2. Six-star show by India in Taiwan Open athletics Asian champion Jyothi Yarraji won the women’s 100m hurdles race with yet another impressive time as India won six gold medals in the Taiwan Athletics Open

Daily Current Affairs Quiz7 June, 2025 National Affairs 1. 800-Year-Old Shiva Temple from Pandya Era Unearthed in Tamil Nadu Context: An 800-year-old Shiva temple dating back to the later Pandya period has been unearthed in Udampatti village, Melur taluk, Madurai district, Tamil Nadu. The discovery sheds light on the region’s lost religious architecture and socio-economic systems during the 13th century. Key Highlights Archaeological Significance Cultural Importance TH 2. UMEED Portal Context: Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju launched the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) portal, a centralized digital platform aimed at modernizing and improving the management of Waqf properties across India. Key Highlights Features of the UMEED Portal PIB 3. Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag Context: Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag (BBA)—Indian Languages Section—to institutionalize the use of Indian languages in official administration and reduce dependence on foreign languages. The initiative aims to empower governance processes by rooting them in the linguistic diversity of India. Key Highlights Policy Context and Implementation 4. India Hosts 4th India-Central Asia Dialogue Overview About the India-Central Asia Dialogue Key Outcomes of the 4th Dialogue Challenges in India–Central Asia Relations Way Forward 5. National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) Overview What is NeVA? Development & Implementation Aims and Objectives Key Features of NeVA Impact and Benefits TH 6. 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum to Be Held in 2026 Overview About BRICS Parliamentary Forum Objectives and Functions Focus Areas for India’s Chairmanship (2025–26) About BRICS Core Functions of BRICS 7. INS Arnala Overview About INS Arnala About Arnala Fort (Namesake of INS Arnala) TET Banking/Finance 1. RBI Cuts Repo Rate to 5.5% and CRR Key Policy Announcements Why Did RBI Cut Rates and CRR Impact on Borrowers, Banks, and Depositors a. For Borrowers: b. For Banks and NBFCs: c. For Savers and FD Investors: Sectoral & Macroeconomic Outlook 2. RBI’s Monetary Policy Shift Prioritizes Growth Amid Low Inflation Context: The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decisively chose growth over inflation concerns in its latest policy stance. The MPC cut the repo rate by 50 basis points to 5.5%, marking the third rate cut since February 2025. This move follows retail inflation hitting a 69-month low, allowing the RBI to deprioritize price stability in favor of stimulating economic activity. Change in Policy Stance Rationale and Timing Fiscal-Monetary Coordination BS 3. RBI Revises Loan-to-Value (LTV) Ratios for Loans Against Gold Collateral Context: The Reserve Bank is all set to raise the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio for lending against gold to 85% for loans under ₹2.5 lakh from the present 75%, Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced. Key Changes What Is the Loan-to-Value (LTV) Ratio? LTV Formula: Why LTV Matters: Where LTV Is Used: Impact on Borrowers: 4. RBI Lowers Qualifying Asset Threshold for NBFC-MFIs to 60% Background Key Change Compliance Requirement Implications for NBFC-MFIs 5. RBI to Review Bank Licensing Norms, Ownership Structure Amid Economic Expansion Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is reassessing its framework for bank licensing and ownership to align with India’s growing economic needs. Governor Sanjay Malhotra stated the need for more banks and trustworthy promoters, owners, and managers in the banking system. Review triggered by increasing demand for financial intermediation and international investor interest in Indian banks. Ownership and Eligibility Norms Under Review Recent Developments in Foreign Bank Investment RBI to Review Type I NBFC Regulatory Framework Implications and Sectoral Impact BS 6. RBI Imposes Monetary Penalties on Three Financial Institutions for Regulatory Violations Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has levied monetary fines on three financial institutions for breaches of regulatory guidelines related to deposit acceptance, KYC compliance, and supervisory norms. Details of Penalties Recent Related Enforcement: 7. SEBI Attaches Mehul Choksi’s Bank, Demat, and MF Holdings to Recover ₹2.1 Crore in Insider Trading Case Context: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has attached the bank accounts, demat holdings, and mutual funds of absconding businessman Mehul Choksi. Background of the Case SEBI’s Attachment Order (Dated 4 June 2025) Facts To Remember 1. PM inaugurates rail projects in J&K, reminds Pakistan of ‘massive defeat’ Describing the Pahalgam terror attack as “an attack on Kashmiriyat and insaniyat (humanity)”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that India’s response, Operation Sindoor, had served a humiliating defeat to Pakistan. 2. PM Modi to Attend G-7 Summit in Canada Amid Signs of Diplomatic Reset Prime Minister Narendra Modi will represent India at the upcoming G-7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada next week. The invitation was extended by newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during a recent phone call, and Modi confirmed his participation on Friday. The visit is expected to signal a potential thaw in strained Indo-Canadian relations. 3. PNB, Indian Bank, BoI, UCO Bank, KVB tweak interest rates Punjab National Bank (PNB), Indian Bank, UCO Bank, Bank of India (BoI) and Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) announced reduction in certain key rates in the backdrop of RBI slashing the repo rate by 50 basis points (bps).