Indo-French armies conduct joint anti-drone training against aerial threats

June 24, 2025

1 Indo-French armies conduct joint anti-drone training against aerial threats

The joint military exercise ‘Shakti’ between the armies of India and France is currently going on in full swing at Camp Larzac, La Cavalerie, France . India and France are practicing combat and firing with their state-of-the-art weapons here. Here, both sides also trained together on anti-drone technology to deal with modern aerial threats. In this exercise, a live demonstration of state-of-the-art platforms to disable aggressive drones has been done. The aim of this joint military training is to increase interoperability, tactical coordination and mutual trust between the two armies. This is the eighth edition of the joint exercise ‘Shakti’.

2 Government launched a new initiative ‘Navya’ to provide training to the adolescent girls of the country

The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), in collaboration with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), is going to launch a new initiative. Under this , a joint pilot initiative ‘ Navya ‘ – Nurturing Aspirations through Vocational Training for Young Adolescent Girls will be launched in Sonbhadra , Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday. Navya is a pilot initiative aimed at providing vocational training to adolescent girls aged 16-18 years with a minimum qualification of class 10, primarily in non-traditional job roles . Let us tell you, this pilot initiative will be implemented in 27 districts of the country , including aspirational districts spread across 19 states and districts of the North-Eastern states, which reflects the government’s inclusive ideology of reaching out to deprived areas and weaker sections.

3 Third fully functional literate state after Tripura, Mizoram and Goa

The northeastern state of Tripura has become the third state in India to achieve full functional literacy after Mizoram and Goa . Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha made the announcement at a function held in the state capital Agartala . The function was organised to felicitate students from various districts who scored the highest marks in the Foundational and Numeracy Assessment Test . The award for the best overall performance was given to North Tripura district . Sipahijala district secured the first position among the districts, while West Tripura and Unakoti districts secured the second and third positions respectively. Tripura is the fourth state/UT in the country to achieve this feat after Union Territories of Ladakh, Mizoram and Goa in chronological order. As per the National Literacy Mission launched by the government in 1988 , any state/Union Territory (UT) will be considered fully literate if more than 90% of its population can read, write and do basic arithmetic in any Indian language . Under this definition, Kerala became the first state/UT in the country to achieve full literacy in 1991. Kerala’s literacy was recorded at 90.90 as per the 1991 census. To promote functional literacy in the country, the Government of India launched a new scheme – ULAS – Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram or New India Literacy Programme (NILP) in 2022. Under this program, a different definition was adopted to declare a state or union territory as a fully functional literate state . Under the ULAS definition, a state or union territory is considered fully functionally literate only if 94% of its population is functionally literate .

4 National Conference of Estimates Committees concluded in Mumbai

The National Conference of Estimates Committees of Parliament and State/Union Territory (UT) Legislative Bodies concluded on 24 June 2025 at Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan, Mumbai . The National Conference of Estimates Committee was held on the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Estimates Committee of the Parliament of India . The Conference was attended by Chairmen and Members of the Estimates Committee of Parliament and all State/Union Territory Legislative Bodies. Only three Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Puducherry – have legislative bodies. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla addressed the inaugural session of the National Conference of Estimates Committees of Parliament and State/Union Territory (UT) Legislative Bodies on 23 June 2025. Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan addressed the concluding session of the Conference on 24 June 2025. The theme of the Conference was – Role of Estimates Committee in effective monitoring and review of budget estimates to ensure efficiency and economy in administration . The Estimates Committee is one of the three financial committees of the Indian Legislature , the others being the Public Accounts Committee and the Committee on Public Undertakings . The Estimates Committee of the Lok Sabha and the respective State and Union Territory Legislative Assemblies are constituted under the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha/States/Union Territory Legislatures respectively.

5 Hardeep Singh Puri attended the 40th anniversary of the Kanishka bomb blast held in Ireland

Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri attended the memorial service held at Ahakista Memorial in Cork , Republic of Ireland on 23 June 2025 to mark the 40th anniversary of the Air India Flight 182 (Kanishka) bombing . The Air India aircraft Kanishka, flight number 182, flew from Montreal, Canada to Mumbai via London and Delhi on 23 June 1985. The aircraft exploded and was destroyed when it was over the Atlantic Ocean , near Ahakista , off the coast of Ireland . The bomb was planted on the plane by Canada-based Khalistani terrorists and all 329 people on board the plane were killed in the terror attack. The Khalistani terrorist organisation Babr Khalsa was accused of plotting the Kanishka bombing. The 40th anniversary memorial ceremony at Ahakista was attended by representatives from three countries – Ireland, India and Canada . The memorial service was led by Ireland’s Prime Minister Micheal Martin and attended by Hardeep Singh Puri and Canada’s Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree .

6 Ambubachi fair held in Maa Kamakhya Devi

Ambubachi fair is currently being held in the temple of Maa Kamakhya Devi . Lakhs of devotees from all over the country have become absorbed in meditation in the Maa Kamakhya area. It is noteworthy that this fair is famous for tantric meditation and spiritual energy and every year lakhs of devotees participate in it. A wonderful confluence of faith and the cycle of nature is seen in the Ambubachi fair. Ambubachi fair, a living symbol of worship of Shakti and tantric traditions, is being organized with full devotion at Maa Kamakhya Dham, Guwahati . This fair is not only a center of religious belief, but has also become important for cultural diversity and economy. This four-day festival, celebrated every year in the month of June, is a symbol of Maa Kamakhya’s period. It is believed that during this time the goddess menstruates, so the doors of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple remain closed for three days. During these three days, farming and religious activities are also stopped across Assam. Devotees believe that this is the time for “Mother Earth to rest”, and she should not be disturbed in any way. The temple of Maa Kamakhya Devi is one of the 51 Shaktipeeths, where the body parts of Mata Sati once fell. After Mata became Sati, when Lord Shiva was doing Tandava with her body, the vagina of Mata Sati fell at this place.

7 S&P raised India’s GDP growth forecast to 6.5 percent

S&P Global Ratings on Tuesday raised India’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for the current financial year 2025-26 to 6.5 per cent . The ratings agency has increased the growth rate forecast in the Asia Pacific Economic Outlook released on Tuesday, taking into account normal monsoon, low crude oil prices and monetary softness. However, S&P has also expressed concern about the threat to the global economy due to the ongoing tension in West Asia. Last month, S&P had reduced India’s economic growth forecast for the current financial year 2025-26 by 20 basis points (0.20 per cent) to 6.3 per cent, citing global uncertainties and US tariff shocks.

8 US launches Operation Midnight Hammer to attack Iranian nuclear site

The United States bombed three nuclear sites in Iran , located at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, under Operation Midnight Hammer on 22 June 2025. The United States dropped GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) or bunker buster bombs on these nuclear sites from its B-2 strategic bomber aircraft . This marks the entry of the United States into the ongoing war between Israel and Iran, which began on 13 June when Israel attacked nuclear and military sites under the code name ” Operation Rising Lion “. Iran, which is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), has been accused by Israel of developing nuclear weapons. The US B-2 Spirit strategic bomber aircraft took off from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, United States and flew for about 18 hours to reach Iran. US Air Force tankers refueled it mid-air so that it could reach Iran. When the B-2 bombers crossed into Iranian airspace, a US submarine launched more than two dozen Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles against surface infrastructure targets at the Isfahan site. The B-2 bombers dropped bunker buster bombs on the Fordow and Natanz sites. The B-2 Spirit is the world’s most expensive military aircraft, with the aircraft costing $2.21 billion. Only 21 such aircraft have been built by Northrop Grumman Corporation of the United States.

9 India wins record 27 medals at 2025 Asian Para Badminton Championships

Indian para shuttlers dominated the Asia Para Badminton Championships 2025, winning 27 medals- four gold, 10 silver and 13 bronze . This was the best performance by Indian para badminton players at the Asian Championships. They bettered their record of 13 medals in the 2016 edition held in Beijing, China. The 2025 Asia Para Badminton Championships was organised by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) in Thailand from 17 to 22 June 2025. In para badminton, players are classified into six sport categories based on their disability. The six sport categories are Wheelchair (WH)1, Wheelchair (WH)2, Standing Lower (SL)3, Standing Lower (SL)4, Standing Upper (SU)5 and Standing Upper (SU)6 .