ECONOMY

• India remains the fastest-growing major economy amid global uncertainties, though the World Bank’s June 2025 Global Economic Prospects Report revised its FY26 GDP forecast to 6.3% from 6.7%. The downgrade stems from weak global demand, trade restrictions, and industrial slowdown in FY25 (growth at 6%). Despite these, India’s resilience is fueled by robust domestic consumption, rebounding agriculture, strong rural demand, and consistent growth in services and construction. Globally, growth is projected at 2.3% in 2025, the slowest since 2008 outside recessions. China’s outlook lags behind, with India retaining its lead as the most dynamic large economy amid global economic volatility.
• Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the 29th FSDC meeting in Mumbai, emphasizing swift refunds of unclaimed assets through multi-agency camps. She urged regulators to prioritize citizen interests and streamline KYC processes for better user experience. The council discussed enhancing regulatory responsiveness, reducing unclaimed assets, digital KYC, increasing investments, and financial sector reforms. Strengthening inter-regulatory coordination and cybersecurity measures were also key topics, aiming to boost financial stability and sector development in India.

ENVIRONMENT

• Recently, researchers have discovered a new species of bat named Himalayan long-tailed Myotis (Myotis himalaicus).
• Guatemalan authorities evacuated over 500 people from near Fuego Volcano, Central America’s most active volcano, after it emitted gas and ash. Located in Guatemala, Fuego has erupted more than 60 times since 1524, including a deadly 2018 eruption that killed 194. It’s a steep-sided stratovolcano, prone to explosive eruptions due to viscous magma. Despite reduced activity since 2018, Fuego continues to produce ashfall, pyroclastic flows, and lava, highlighting ongoing volcanic hazards in the region.
• A new species of beetle, named Spathaspina noohi, was recently discovered from the biodiverse forests of Meghalaya.
• Recently, CSIR reported the first flowering and seed set of Heeng (Ferula assa-foetida) in Palampur, confirming successful cultivation in India. Heeng is a perennial plant taking five years to mature, thriving in cold, arid climates with sandy, well-drained soil and low rainfall. It tolerates temperatures between 10-20°C, withstanding up to 40°C and winter lows of –4°C. The resin, derived from its taproot, is used for culinary and medicinal purposes. Currently, India relies on imports, as native species do not produce asafoetida.

SCIENCE

• Neutrinos, elusive subatomic particles discovered in 1938, challenge the Standard Model of physics by possessing a small but non-zero mass, proven through oscillation experiments that earned the 2015 Nobel Prize. There are three known neutrino types that can transform into one another during travel. Direct mass measurement, unlike oscillation methods, requires observing beta decay in tritium, as done in the KATRIN experiment in Germany. Despite detection difficulties due to weak interactions, KATRIN has set a new upper limit of 0.8 eV for neutrino mass, offering model-independent results and surpassing previous experiments in precision, with further analysis still underway.
• At WWDC 2025, Apple launched iOS 26 and its new Liquid Glass UI, a sleek, translucent interface amid rising criticism of its AI stagnation. While rivals like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI push ahead, Apple clings to Siri and a privacy-first AI strategy that limits personalization. New features like Call Screening and Hold Assist are functional but fall short of innovation. Analysts fear Apple risks repeating Nokia’s downfall by failing to reinvent its AI core. Despite strong hardware dominance, its Vision Pro lags behind sleeker AI wearables. Even the inclusion of ChatGPT hints at a strategic retreat rather than leadership.

HISTORY

• The Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, recently witnessed the Maha Kumbhabhishekam ritual after 270 years, marking the revival of royal and spiritual traditions. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu in Anantha Shayanam posture, the temple blends Kerala and Dravidian architecture, with iconic elements like a 7-tier gopuram, gold-covered dhwaja stamba, and intricate murals. Dating back to the 8th–9th century, the temple was offered to the deity by Marthanda Varma in 1750. It houses 3 million palm-leaf manuscripts and gained global attention in 2011 for vault treasures. The 2020 Supreme Court ruling upheld the Travancore royal family’s custodianship.

MISCELLANEOUS

• According to the UNFPA Report 2024 titled “The Real Fertility Crisis”, India is set to become the most populous country by 2025 with 1.46 billion people, despite a declining fertility rate of 1.9—below the replacement level of 2.1. This signals eventual population stabilization, though growth continues due to population momentum. India’s population may peak at 1.7 billion in 40 years. With 25% of the population aged 10–24, there’s demographic dividend potential. However, issues like 50% unintended pregnancies and societal pressure on women highlight the urgent need for reproductive rights, gender-sensitive healthcare, and a shift toward choice-based population policy.
• IIM-Bangalore ranked among the world’s top business schools in the 2025 Positive Impact Rating, earning a Level 5 ‘Pioneering School’ score of 9.3 out of 10, well above the global average of 7.8. The rating evaluates societal contributions, with IIMB excelling in Governance, Culture, and Public Engagement. With strong scores across impact dimensions, the institute’s efforts in sustainable, responsible business have been recognized. This year’s PIR included 86 schools from 28 countries, featuring both student and faculty assessments.
• Recently, India’s Prime Minister addressed the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI) in Nice, France, organized by the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). Established in 2019 under India’s leadership with UNDRR support, CDRI is a global partnership promoting resilient infrastructure against climate and disaster risks. Its mission aims to drive $10 trillion in resilient investments by 2050, benefiting over 3 billion people. Headquartered in New Delhi, it has 46 members and 8 partners, focusing on sustainable development.