Current Context: The Sahitya Akademi announced 23 Yuva Puraskar winners—young authors honoured for outstanding works across Indian languages.

ABOUT YUVA PURASKAR

• Award Body: Sahitya Akademi, under the Ministry of Culture.
• Prize: ₹50,000 and a citation for authors ≤ 35

Languages & Winners:

1. Assamese – Kushiyarama (Short Stories) – Supraksam Bhuyan
2. Bengali – Ekadha Chinish Toliami (Poetry) – Sudeshna Moitra
3. Bodo – Ang Aisu (Poetry) – Amar Khungur Boro
4. English – Siddhartha – The Boy Who Became the Buddha (Novel) – Advait Kolarkar
5. Gujarati – Naranch Tekari (Essays) – Mayur Kharadi
6. Hindi – Phir Ugna (Poetry) – Parvati Tirkey
7. Kannada – Paccheya Jagat (Criticism) – R. Deepkumar
8. Kashmiri – Harfas Harfas Zaagi (Criticism) – Saiba Sehar
9. Konkani – Gaavgaamhas (Short Stories) – Glynis Dias
10. Maithili – Banaras Aa Hum (Poetry) – Neha Jha Maini
11. Malayalam – Ram Oru Anandhi (Novel) – Akhil P. Dharmajan
12. Manipuri – Khoyum Nongdan Coy (Epic) – A.  Jiten
13. Marathi – Khel Khel Dukhana Dele (Novel) – Pradeep Kokane
14. Nepali – Junko Aansu (Poetry) – Subash Thakuri
15. Odia – Kademsabana (Short Stories) – Subrat Kumar Senapati
16. Punjabi – Girka Hostel (Poetry) – Mandeep Aulakh
17. Rajasthani – Ankhs ni sangmat (Poetry) – Poonam Chand Godara
18. Sanskrit – Panchbhautikshahol-swavasyam (Criticism) – Dhiresna Kumar Pandey
19. Santali – Ara Sajo te (Poetry) – Fagui Baaskey
20. Sindhi – Pandhyado (Poetry) – Manjham Bachani
21. Tamil – Kuttaaru Kuthuvi (Short Stories) – Latarhinhar
22. Telugu – Maralawatha (Novel) – Prasad Suri
23. Urdu – Maulard Haqeqat, Thereek-e-Azadi, Hindi Jihad Ka Farmonsuti Kardah Qasaid (Novel) – Neetu Rubabi.

Current Context: On 20 June 2025, Neeraj Chopra won the Paris leg of the Diamond League with a massive 88.16 m first‑attempt throw, his first Diamond League title since 2023.

• Event: 2025 Meeting de Paris, Stade Sébastien‑Charléty, 8th leg of Diamond League.
• Winning Throw:16 m on first attempt, beating Germany’s Julian Weber (87.88 m).
• Significance: First Diamond League title in two years.

Current Context: UPSC launched Pratibha Setu, a secure portal for government and private employers to access profiles of over 10,000 meritorious candidates who cleared all UPSC exam stages but narrowly missed the final list.

 ABOUT PRATIBHA SETU

• Origin: Rebranded from the Public Disclosure Scheme (PDS) in June
• Eligibility: Candidates who cleared prelims, mains & interview but were not recommended.
• Opt‑in: Only willing candidates who consent have their soft biodata (qualifications, contact details) shared.
• Access: Verified central government departments and private organisations receive login credentials.
• Purpose: Bridge top UPSC performers with hiring bodies, tapping an “almost equally meritorious” talent pool.

Current Context: The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched a digital hub to help government bodies plan and track gender‑focused budgets.

ABOUT GENDER BUDGETING KNOWLEDGE HUB

• Purpose: Centralised repository to streamline gender‑responsive budgeting across central and state ministries.
• Features:
  • Policy briefs, training manuals, success stories, and gender‑disaggregated data
  • Interactive tools for budget analysis and impact assessment
• Objectives:
  • Build institutional capacity for integrating gender perspectives in policymaking
  • Advance SDG 5 (Gender Equality) through evidence‑based fiscal allocation
• Stakeholder Engagement: National consultation with 40 central ministries, 19 states, UN Women, and the Asian Development Bank
• Significance: Reflects India’s commitment to inclusive governance and enhanced fiscal support for women’s empowerment and social justice.

Observed annually on 23  June since 2010.

• Aim : to address discrimination and hardship faced by widows and to raise awareness of human‑rights violations (e.g., inheritance laws, forced remarriage).
• Global Scope: ~ 258  million widows worldwide, many facing poverty, property deprivation, and social exclusion.

Observed every year on 23  June.

• Aim : To celebrate the value and virtue of public service.
• Adopted on 20 December 2002; first observed in 2003.
• Global Impact: Reinforces the role of a competent civil service in sustaining democratic institutions and SDG 16.

Observed every year on 23  June.

• Aim : To commemorate the founding of the modern Olympic Movement in 1894 and to promote physical activity worldwide.
• Origins: Established by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1948; date marks creation of IOC on 23 June
• 2025 Theme: “Let’s Move?” — encourages individuals to invite a “+1” to walk, run, dance, or play together.

Celebrated every year on 22 June.

• World Rainforest Day was established in 2017 by the Rainforest Partnership to galvanise global action for rainforest protection.
• Theme 2025: “Forests and Food” – highlights rainforests’ role in sustaining food systems and livelihoods.
• Ecological Value:
• Cover ~ 6 % of global land area but support > 50 % of terrestrial species.
• Act as major carbon sinks, storing ~ 300 billion tonnes of carbon.

General Studies Paper-2

Context

• Two years after a major rupture in ties, India and Canada have agreed to restore the High Commissioners, and discussed restarting talks for a trade agreement, visa services, and other dialogue mechanisms.

About

• The decisions came during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s talks with Canada’s newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 outreach session.
• The leaders also discussed the importance of restarting the stalled negotiations on the Trade Agreement (EPTA), with a view to paving the way for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
• The two Prime Ministers discussed collaborations in “clean energy, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, LNG, food security, critical minerals, higher education, mobility, and supply chain resilience”.

Background of the Issue

• Khalistani separatist activities in Canada have strained ties; India has repeatedly raised concerns over Canada’s inaction.
• 2023 Diplomatic Row: Relations deteriorated after the Canadian PM alleged Indian involvement in the killing of a Canadian citizen linked to Khalistan extremism.
  • India dismissed the allegations and expelled Canadian diplomats.
  • Talks on trade and economic agreements were suspended due to the diplomatic fallout.

Brief on India-Canada Relations

• Historical Relations: India and Canada established diplomatic relations in 1947.
  • Shared democratic values and Commonwealth membership have underpinned ties.
  • Relations were historically strained after India’s nuclear tests in 1974 and 1998, due to Canada’s non-proliferation stance.
• Economic Cooperation: In 2024 (January – August), total bilateral trade in goods amounted to USD 8.55 billion (India’s exports: USD 5.22 billion and India’s imports: USD 3.33 billion).
  • Negotiations continue on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA).
• Civil Nuclear Cooperation: Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (NCA) signed in 2010, operational since 2013.
  • A Joint Committee oversees implementation of the 2010 Agreement on “Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy”.
• Space Cooperation: MoUs signed in 1996 and 2003 between ISRO and Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
  • Cooperation includes satellite tracking, space astronomy, and commercial satellite launches.
  • ISRO’s commercial arm ANTRIX has launched multiple Canadian nanosatellites.
• Science and Technology: Department of Earth Science and Polar Canada have started a programme for exchange of knowledge and scientific research on Cold Climate (Arctic) Studies.
  • A Memorandum of Cooperation between National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) and POLAR Canada was signed in 2020.
• People-to-People Links: There are around 1.8 million Indo-Canadians and one million non-resident Indians in Canada, making up over 3% of its population.
  • India is the largest source of international students in Canada, with Indians making up around 40% of that group.
  • Strong cultural exchanges and vibrant diaspora influence bilateral perceptions.
• Multilateral Cooperation: Both countries cooperate in forums like the G20, Commonwealth, United Nations, and International Solar Alliance.

Conclusion

• India–Canada relations have strong foundations and significant potential, especially in trade, education, and clean energy. However, bilateral ties remain fragile, with political and security concerns acting as key irritants.
• The future of the relationship depends on how both countries manage these differences while leveraging shared interests.

Current Context : On 20  June  2025, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated India’s largest automobile cargo terminal at Maruti Suzuki, Manesar, under the PM Gati Shakti initiative.

 About Gati shakti Cargo Terminal

• Infrastructure: Dedicated 10 km rail link to Patli station, part of 7 km Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor.
• Capacity: Handles 450,000 vehicles/year; stockyards, container handling, and customs facilities on‑site.
• Investment: ₹684 crore by Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation; ₹116 crore by Maruti

About: PM Gati Shakti

• Launched by: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 13 October 2021.
• Objective: To institutionalize holistic infrastructure planning across ministries and departments, reducing delays and cost overruns through data-driven decision-making.