Global Peace Index 2025

1 Global Peace Index 2025

The Global Peace Index (GPI) 2025 , now in its  19th edition  , remains the most prominent measure of national and regional peace in the world. Developed by  the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP),  the index  evaluates the peace status of 163 countries  , covering  99.7% of the world’s population  . At a time when global geopolitical instability is increasing, the GPI has become an important indicator of current global trends of conflict, security and militarization. The Global Peace Index (GPI) is an annual quantitative analysis that measures peace   based on 23 indicators  in  three key areas :

1. Social Safety and Security
2. Ongoing domestic and international conflicts
3. militarized status

The index is published by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP),  an independent, non-partisan think tank based in Sydney (Australia)  . 2025 is the year of the 13th decline in global peace in the last 17 years. On average, global peace has declined by 0.36%.  Iceland has consistently remained the most peaceful country in the world since 2008.  Top 5 most peaceful countries in the world in 2025 (according to the Global Peace Index)

Russia has been  ranked lowest (rank 163) in the 2025 Global Peace Index (GPI)  due to the prolonged  Ukraine war  , sanctions imposed by Western countries and internal political repression . Ukraine  is right behind it. India has been ranked 115th out of 163 countries, and has a GPI score of 2.229. This represents an improvement of 0.58% over the previous year.

2 India’s entry in the list of top 100 countries in the SDG Index, rank improved

India  has strengthened its position by entering  the top 100 for the first time in the list of 167 countries   making progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) . This information was given in a latest report. According to the 10th edition of the Sustainable Development Report (SDR) released by   the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (ADSN)  , India  is  ranked 99th with 67 points in the 2025 SDG Index . The US is ranked 44th in this list with 75.2 points  . The Sustainable Development Report (SDR) reviews progress made on the SDGs each year since it was adopted by all UN member countries in 2015. Ahead of the Fourth International Conference on Development (FF4D) in Spain, this 10th anniversary edition of the SDR outlines urgent reforms in the Global Financial Architecture (GFA) and for the first time includes an assessment of which countries have made the most progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. The SDR includes the SDG Index and Dashboard, which ranks all UN Member States on their performance across the 17 goals. This year’s report includes a new index (the SDGI), which focuses on 17 key indicators to track overall SDG progress over time.

3 Axiom-4 mission took off for space from Florida, USA, with Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla in the role of pilot

Axiom Space  ‘s  fourth private space mission Axiom-4 was  successfully   launched from  NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA. The mission was launched using SpaceX  ‘s new Dragon spacecraft Launch Complex 39A.  Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force  is playing the role of pilot in this mission. He  is an astronaut of ISRO  (Indian Space Research Organization). The mission is commanded by former NASA astronaut and  Axiom Space  ‘s human space flight director  Peggy Whitson . She is accompanied by Slawosz Ujnanski-Wisniewski  (Poland, European Space Agency) and  Tibor Kapu (Hungary)  as mission specialists   . The Axiom-4 mission will dock with the International Space Station (ISS)  on Thursday, June 26 at 7 am ET  (4 pm Indian time). After docking, the four astronauts will stay on the space station for about 14 days and work on projects related to science, education and commercial activities. This mission is Axiom’s most scientifically rich private space mission to date. A total of 60 scientific experiments and studies will be conducted in the mission, representing 31 countries, including India, the US, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, the United Arab Emirates and several European countries. These studies are important for understanding life, biological processes and technological behavior in space. NASA and ISRO are jointly conducting several research in this mission. These studies include studies on muscle regeneration, growth of edible microalgae and seedlings, survival of microbial aquatic organisms in space, and human interaction with electronic displays in space. In this mission, astronauts are wearing a new generation spacesuit called the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU). This suit provides better protection and working comfort on the moon and in space. This state-of-the-art technology has been developed as per the requirements of NASA and is suitable for astronauts with different body sizes.

4 Cabinet approves setting up of International Potato Centre in Agra

The Union Cabinet  chaired by  Prime Minister  Narendra Modi  on Wednesday  approved the proposal of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare for setting up of  South Asia Regional Centre (CSARC) of International Potato Center (CIP)   at  Agra, Uttar Pradesh . The primary objective of this investment is to enhance food and nutrition security, farmers’ income and employment generation by improving productivity, post-harvest management and value addition of potato and sweet potato.  Potato is the fourth major food grain crop in the world after rice, wheat and maize. Potato sector in India has the potential to generate significant employment opportunities in production sector, processing sector, packaging, transportation, marketing, value chain etc. Therefore, to tap and explore the vast potential in this sector, South Asia Regional Centre of International Potato Center is being set up at Singna, Agra, Uttar Pradesh. The high yielding, nutrient rich and climate resilient varieties of potato and sweet potato developed by CSARC will accelerate the sustainable development of potato and sweet potato sector not only in India but also in South Asia region through world class science and innovation.

5 Iranian Parliament’s big decision, approval given to suspend cooperation with IAEA

The Iranian parliament  on Wednesday  approved a bill to suspend cooperation  with  the UN nuclear watchdog ,  the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).  The decision comes after the recent “Operation Midnight Hammer” by the US at three Iranian nuclear sites in Esfahan, Fordo and Natanz, Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency reported. During an open session of parliament, lawmakers agreed on the general outline of a plan to suspend cooperation with the IAEA. Of the 223 delegates present at the session, 221 voted in favour, one against and one abstained. Iran said it has the full right to defend its sovereignty, interests and people.

6 50 years of declaration of emergency

That night of 25 June 1975  when India’s  democracy  shuddered. At midnight,  the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi  announced  emergency on the radio  . The movement against corruption and inflation was gaining momentum in the country under the leadership of socialist leader  Jayaprakash Narayan  . The Allahabad High Court had cancelled Indira’s Lok Sabha membership, which put her chair in danger. The voice of leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan was uniting the people. In such a situation, emergency became a weapon that held democracy hostage. Amidst this tension, on the night of 25 June, Indira Gandhi  declared emergency under  Article 352  of the Constitution. This decision was taken overnight without the approval of the cabinet. President  Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed  signed it at midnight and the country plunged into the darkness of emergency. During the emergency,  the fundamental rights of citizens were suspended  . Freedom of speech was taken away. Censorship was imposed on the press. Every news published in the newspapers had to take the approval of the government censor. Many journalists were arrested and the offices of newspapers were locked. Opposition leaders  Jayaprakash Narayan, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani, George Fernandes  were imprisoned overnight. The jails were so full that there was a shortage of space.  This emergency, which lasted for   21 months , ended on March 21, 1977  , when Indira Gandhi announced elections. Perhaps she was confident that the public was with her. But,  in  the 1977 elections,  the public defeated the Congress  .  The Janata Party government  was formed. This victory was due to the contribution of millions of people who suffered torture in jails, demonstrated on the streets and raised their voice. The public ousted Indira Gandhi’s government from power and  the Janata Party government was formed under the leadership of Morarji Desai  .

7 Pant became the first Indian wicketkeeper to score centuries in both Test innings

Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant  created   history during  the Headingley Test against  England   in  June 2025. He  scored brilliant centuries in both innings— 134 in the first innings and 118 in the second  —and  became only the second wicketkeeper in Test history to score centuries in both innings  . His stellar performance helped India score five centuries in a Test match for the first time, clearly demonstrating the dominant presence of the visiting team. Pant’s double century achievement   brought him into the elite league of Andy Flower (2001) .

8 Lalit Upadhyay retires from international hockey

One of India’s most dynamic and skilful forwards, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay announced his retirement from international hockey after India’s 4-3 win against Belgium in the FIH Pro League on 22 June 2025. The 31-year-old’s retirement marks the end of a glorious era for Indian hockey as he played a vital role in India’s bronze medals at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics.

9 International Day for the Prohibition of Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking: 26 June

Every  year 26th June  is   observed as  International Day for Prohibition and Prevention of Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking . Under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) across the country, the Department has asked all the supported States and Union Territories and all NGOs/Voluntary Organizations to take necessary steps to organize and conduct awareness programs/events  under NMBA  from 1st June to 26th June, 2025.  Through this program, the Department will ensure the reach of Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan as a mass movement across the country.

10 Sailor’s Day 2025

The International Day of the Seafarer is celebrated every year on  25 June  , a day to recognise the vital contribution of seafarers to global trade, economy and society. This year’s celebration comes with a strong message and campaign—’My Harassment-Free Ship’ —which aims to completely eliminate harassment and discrimination in workplaces at sea.

11 International Widows Day 2025

International Widows Day is celebrated  every year  on June 23.  The day highlights the challenges faced by millions of widows around the world—who are often invisible in discussions of gender equality and human rights. It   was  started  in  2005 by the Loomba Foundation , and was officially recognized by the United Nations (UN) in 2010.   The day aims to provide dignity, justice, and equality to widows.

12 International Day of Women in Diplomacy 2025

International Day  of Women in Diplomacy (IDWD) is observed every year  on 24 June  . This day is celebrated to honor the important role of women in a historically male-dominated field like diplomacy and to acknowledge their contribution. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) officially declared this day during its 76th session (resolution number A/RES/76/269) in 2022. This day is a strong call to promote gender equality in global governance, peace process and foreign policy. This year’s theme “ Eliminating structural barriers to women’s leadership in diplomacy ” draws attention to the limited leadership roles available to women in the field of diplomacy, gender bias, stereotypes, political violence and institutional inequalities.