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Current Affairs 17 June 2025
1. U Mumba crowned Ultimate Table Tennis champions 2025
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Championship Win: U Mumba defeated Jaipur Patriots 8-4 in the final to claim their first-ever Ultimate Table Tennis title.
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Star Performance: Bernadette Szocs, U Mumba's captain and World No. 12, was instrumental in the win, earning 5 points, including a 2-1 victory over Sreeja Akula and a dominant 3-0 win in the mixed doubles with Akash Pal.
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Prize Money: U Mumba earned Rs 60 lakh as champions, while Jaipur Patriots took home Rs 40 lakh as runners-up. Semifinalists Dabang Delhi TTC and the Challengers received Rs 17.5 lakh each.
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MVP Awards: Bernadette Szocs was named the Female MVP of UTT Season 6, while Harmeet Desai of Dempo Goa Challengers was awarded the Male MVP.
2. India re-appoints Aliawati Longkumer as Ambassador to North Korea
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Appointment: Aliawati Longkumer, a 2008-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, has been appointed as India's Ambassador to North Korea, marking the country's return to diplomatic representation in Pyongyang after a four-year gap.
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Background: Longkumer currently serves as Charge d’Affaires at the Indian Embassy in Asuncion, Paraguay, and is expected to assume his new role in Pyongyang shortly.
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India-North Korea Relations: Diplomatic relations between India and North Korea were established in 1973, with India maintaining a balanced relationship despite closer ties with South Korea and the US.
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Strategic Significance: The appointment highlights India's interest in maintaining open communication channels with North Korea, given the country's strategic alliances with China and Russia, and its nuclear capabilities.
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Previous Ambassador: Atul Malhari Gotsurve was the last Indian ambassador to North Korea before the embassy's closure in July 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has now been reopened in December 2024.
Foot notes:
About North Korea-
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Capital: Pyongyang
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Currency: North Korean Won
3. Puducherry became the 19th legislature to adopt the NeVA platform
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Adoption of NeVA: Puducherry has become the 19th legislature in India to adopt the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) platform, a significant step towards digitalizing legislative functioning.
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Inauguration: The NeVA platform was inaugurated by Union Minister Dr. L. Murugan on June 9, 2025, in the presence of Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, and Assembly Speaker R. Selvam.
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Key Features: NeVA is a workflow-based digital platform that provides real-time access to rules, notices, business lists, bills, bulletins, questions, and reports.
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Benefits: The adoption of NeVA is expected to save 3-5 tonnes of paper annually, promoting environmental sustainability and efficient governance. It also enhances transparency and citizen participation in the legislative process.
Foot notes:
About Puducherry –
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Official Language: Tamil
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Established: 1674
4. Maruti Suzuki Partners with Equitas Bank to Boost Retail Car Financing
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Expanded Financing Options: The partnership aims to provide a wider range of retail financing solutions for new cars, used cars, and commercial vehicles, making Maruti Suzuki's offerings more accessible to a broader customer base.
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Increased Accessibility and Affordability: By leveraging Equitas Bank's growing customer network, especially in Tier II and Tier III cities, the collaboration will enhance the affordability and accessibility of Maruti Suzuki vehicles for customers across various profiles.
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Tailored and Competitive Financing: The agreement focuses on offering competitive financing offers and tailored loan structures with flexible repayment options, aiming to provide greater customer benefits and a hassle-free buying experience.
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Strategic Reach and Growth: This alliance reflects Maruti Suzuki's commitment to providing convenient finance options and is expected to drive growth and customer satisfaction for both entities by reaching a wider audience, including first-time car buyers.
Foot notes:
About Equitas Bank-
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Founded: 2007
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Headquarters: Chennai
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MD & CEO: Vasudevan
5. Yajik Hillang bags Gold medal at South Asian Bodybuilding & Physique
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Gold Medal Win: Yajik Hillang won a gold medal in the Women's Model Physique category (up to 155 cm) at the 15th South Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championships 2025 held in Thimphu, Bhutan.
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Historic Achievement: Hillang became the first female physique athlete from Arunachal Pradesh to win a gold medal at an international event, marking a significant milestone for the state’s sporting legacy.
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Multiple Medals: She won not only the gold medal but also a silver medal in another physique division and a bronze medal in the swimsuit physique event.
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Recognition: Her achievement was praised by prominent figures, including Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who congratulated her on creating history.
6. Armand Duplantis Sets 12th World Record with 6.28m Vault
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Record-Breaking Jump: Duplantis achieved this feat on his first attempt, showcasing his exceptional skill and dominance in the sport. He had previously set the record at 6.27m in February 2025.
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Historic Significance: This record-breaking jump marks the 12th time Duplantis has surpassed his own world record, solidifying his position as a two-time Olympic champion and serial world record breaker.
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Home Crowd Delight: The event took place at Stockholm's 1912 Olympic Stadium, making it a special moment for Duplantis, who had family members in attendance cheering him on.
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Future Prospects: Duplantis has expressed his ambition to push the boundaries further, aiming for a jump of 6.30m. With his current form, it's likely he'll continue to dominate the sport.
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Competition Highlights: The Stockholm Diamond League meet saw other impressive performances, including Julien Alfred's win in the women's 100m with a time of 10.75 seconds and Femke Bol's victory in the women's 400m hurdles with a season's best time of 52.11 seconds.
7. MoU signed to introduce UPI services in Cyprus
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Partnership Details: The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Google Pay India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand Unified Payments Interface (UPI) services globally, including Cyprus.
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Ease of Digital Payments: The partnership aims to ease digital payments abroad for Indian travelers, allowing them to use UPI apps like Google Pay for international transactions without needing credit or forex cards.
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UPI Expansion: The collaboration will aid in establishing a UPI-style digital payments infrastructure in other countries, leveraging the UPI infrastructure to simplify cross-border financial exchanges and remittances.
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Benefits for Travelers: Indian tourists visiting Cyprus can make seamless and instant digital payments using their mobile devices, eliminating the need for currency exchange and reducing transaction costs.
Foot notes:
About Cyprus-
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Capital: Nicosia
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Currency: Euro
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Official languages: Greek, Turkish
8. Akhilesh Kumar Dixit appointed as CEO of EESL
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Appointment: Akhilesh Kumar Dixit has been appointed as the CEO of EESL, a joint venture of public sector undertakings under the Ministry of Power, effective June 16, 2025.
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Background: Dixit has over 32 years of experience in the power sector, previously serving in senior roles at Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), including substation and transmission line operations, business development, corporate social responsibility (CSR), human resources, and procurement.
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Qualifications: He is a graduate in Electrical Engineering from Madan Mohan Technical University, Gorakhpur, and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management (PGDBM) from the Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon.
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Role and Responsibilities: As CEO, Dixit will lead EESL's efforts to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy in India, overseeing the implementation of various energy efficiency programs and projects, and driving innovation and sustainable technologies.
Foot notes:
About EESL -
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CEO: Vishal Kapoor
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Founded: 2009
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Location: New Delhi
9. Jitendra Singh Meena appointed as DIG in Bureau of Police Research & Development
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Appointment: Jitendra Singh Meena has been appointed as the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in the Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D), a key organization under the Ministry of Home Affairs responsible for modernizing and reforming India's police forces.
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Background: Meena is a 2011-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the AGMUT cadre, with extensive experience in handling various roles within the police force, including law and order, intelligence, and investigation.
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Responsibilities: As DIG in BPR&D, Meena will focus on research, policy formulation, and development of training modules to enhance police efficiency and effectiveness across the country.
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Modernization Efforts: His role will involve contributing to the modernization of police forces, including the integration of technology and best practices in policing, aligning with the government's vision for a more efficient and responsive police system.
10. Renowned ISRO Scientist and Tamil Author Nellai Su. Muthu passed away
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Passed Away: Nellai Su. Muthu, a former ISRO scientist and acclaimed Tamil author, passed away on June 16, 2025, at the age of 74 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, due to ill health.
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ISRO Career: He served as a senior scientist at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota and worked alongside former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, contributing to India's space missions.
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Literary Contributions: Muthu authored over 170 books across genres, including science, children's literature, history, criticism, poetry, and translation. Some notable works include "Vinveli 2057" and "Sevvayil Ulvetkkaiyum Nal Vaaippum".
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Awards and Recognition: He received multiple awards, including the Kavimamani Award from the World Tamil Poets Association, Malaysia, and the Best Book Award from the Tamil Development Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, for four of his books.
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