KARNATAKA ISSUES

• ‘Uthpadana Manthana’, meaning Churning for Production Excellence, is a one-day flagship event organized by the Government of Karnataka on June 10 in Bengaluru. Led by Minister M.B. Patil, the event aims to position Karnataka as a global manufacturing hub by fostering dialogue between the government and industry. It focuses on six high-potential sectors, including aerospace, electronics, EVs, and textiles. The initiative seeks to create sector-wise policy blueprints, promote innovation, enable data-driven policymaking, attract investments, and generate inclusive employment, thereby accelerating industrial growth and competitiveness across the state.

POLITY

• In 2025, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj introduced a new category in the National e-Governance Awards to recognize innovative digital efforts by Gram Panchayats. Rohini Gram Panchayat, Maharashtra, won the Gold, while West Majlishpur Gram Panchayat, Tripura, secured Silver. The awards celebrate grassroots initiatives that enhance service delivery and citizen engagement. Out of over 1.45 lakh entries from 26 states, four Panchayats were honored for their digital innovations. Winners receive trophies, certificates, and cash prizes—Rs.10 lakh for gold and Rs.5 lakh for silver—encouraging further digital progress at the grassroots level.

SOCIAL ISSUES

• The Cause of Death in India 2019–21 report by the Sample Registration System (SRS), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, identifies cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) as the leading cause of death in India, contributing to 2% of all non-communicable disease (NCD) deaths. CVDs, including heart attacks, strokes, and hypertension-related complications, are driven by poor lifestyle habits, stress, and comorbidities like diabetes. Urban areas report slightly higher CVD-related deaths than rural. Regional data shows the highest CVD deaths in northern India. While NCDs now account for over 54% of deaths, child and youth mortality reveal continued challenges in trauma, infections, and nutrition.

ECONOMY

• India is intensifying efforts to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) through policy reforms and improved ease of doing business. FDI includes equity inflows, reinvested earnings, and other capital, contributing to job creation, technology transfer, and infrastructure growth. In FY25, FDI rose by 14%, reaching the highest level in three years. Maharashtra and Karnataka led with a combined 51% share due to robust infrastructure and investor-friendly policies. Other key contributors include Delhi, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, and Telangana. Experts cite strong physical and digital infrastructure as major factors influencing foreign investor interest in India.

SCIENCE

• The Indian Navy will commission the anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft (ASW-SWC) ship Arnala on June 18, 2025, at Visakhapatnam. Presided over by CDS Gen Anil Chauhan and hosted by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, this event marks the induction of the first of sixteen such vessels. Built by GRSE and L&T under a PPP, Arnala exemplifies India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, featuring over 80% indigenous content. Named after the historic Arnala Fort, it reflects India’s maritime heritage. Equipped for ASW, surveillance, and rescue, Arnala enhances India’s coastal security and maritime self-reliance in the Indian Ocean.
• Recently, IIT Kharagpur associate professor and students developed DRUM, a web app for urban green mobility. Similar to Google Maps, DRUM offers five route options: shortest, fastest, least exposure to air pollution (LEAP), least energy consumption route (LECR), and a suggested route combining all factors. It fetches real-time traffic and pollution data using GraphHopper and Mapbox, with data from CPCB and the World Air Quality Index. The app estimates pollution in unmonitored areas through segment-wise interpolation. Testing in Delhi’s corridors revealed that shorter or faster routes often pass through more polluted zones, highlighting trade-offs between speed and air quality.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Recent archaeological discoveries on Khadir Island in Gujarat’s Great Rann of Kutch reveal human presence predating the Harappan civilization by nearly 5,000 years, dating back to the 7th–5th millennium BCE. A collaborative study using radiocarbon dating uncovered hunter-gatherer shell midden sites, stone tools, and temporary house structures, suggesting a mobile lifestyle reliant on marine resources. Tools made of non-local stones indicate early trade links, while similarities with sites in Oman and Pakistan point to Arabian Sea coastal interaction. These findings deepen our understanding of India’s pre-Harappan prehistory, highlighting cultural continuity and the ecological intelligence of early human communities.
• The Madhya Pradesh government recently renamed the Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary after Raja Bhabhut Singh, a 19th-century Gond tribal freedom fighter, to honour his role in India’s freedom struggle. A descendant of the Pachmarhi Jagirdar family, Singh used guerrilla warfare tactics in the 1857 revolt, leveraging his knowledge of the Satpura forests. He allied with Tatya Tope and resisted British forces until 1860, earning the title “Shivaji of Narmadachal.” Executed by the British, his legacy lives on in Korku tribal folklore. This move acknowledges unsung tribal heroes, promotes inclusive history, and supports tribal cultural pride and heritage tourism.
• Operation Shiva’, a coordinated initiative by the Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Jammu & Kashmir Police, aims to provide full security cover to the pilgrimage route leading to the revered Amarnath cave shrine.
• Military contingents of India and Mongolia participating in an ongoing bilateral exercise in Ulaanbaatar are actively exchanging best practices in counter-terrorism operations and precision sniping, thereby improving interoperability
• Spain’s Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos of Argentina won their first Grand Slam men’s doubles title
• Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini won the French Open women’s doubles title for the first time
• India’s teen squash sensation Anahat Singh won the PSA Young Female Player for the Year 2024-25 along with World junior champion Amina Orfi of Egypt at the PSA Awards function in Birmingham