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Current Affairs 24 June 2025
1. Carlos Alcaraz Clinches Second Queen’s Club Title
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Match Result: Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jiri Lehecka with a score of 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2 in the final, showcasing his resilience and skill on grass courts.
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Tournament Performance: Alcaraz dropped just two sets throughout the tournament, demonstrating his dominance. He played a nearly flawless match against Lehecka, tallying 18 aces and only two double faults.
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Winning Streak: This victory marks Alcaraz's 18th consecutive match win, following his title successes in Rome and at the French Open. His last loss was to Holger Rune in the Barcelona final on April 20.
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Grass Court Expertise: Alcaraz has now won four grass court titles, tying Rafa Nadal's career total. He's developed into a formidable force on grass, evident from his wins at Queen's and Wimbledon in 2023.
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Wimbledon Preparation: Alcaraz eyes a historic three-peat at Wimbledon, which starts with June 30, riding high on his current form and recent French Open victory.
2. South Korea appoints First Civilian Defence Minister in 64 Years
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Appointment: Ahn Gyu-back, a five-term liberal lawmaker from
President Lee Jae Myung's Democratic Party, has been nominated as the country's first civilian Defence Minister since 1961. -
Background: Ahn has served on the National Assembly's defence committee and chaired a legislative panel that investigated former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law decree.
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Breaking Tradition: For 64 years, South Korea's defence ministers have come from the military, a trend that continued even after the country's democratization in the late 1980s.
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Martial Law Crisis: The appointment follows a failed martial law attempt by former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was indicted on rebellion charges and removed from office.
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Reforms and Relations with North Korea: Ahn is expected to push for military reforms and support President Lee's efforts to improve relations with North Korea.
Foot notes:
About South Korea-
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President: Lee Jae-myung
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Capital: Seoul
3. Western Command signs MoUs with IIT Ropar & Kanpur
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Strategic Partnerships: The Western Command has signed MoUs
with IIT Ropar and IIT Kanpur to leverage technological advancements and strategic partnerships, driving innovation and improving operational efficiency. -
Innovation and Research: These partnerships aim to promote collaborative research, technology demonstration, and knowledge sharing between the Western Command and the two prestigious institutions.
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Focus Areas: While specific details about the Western Command and IIT Ropar MoU aren't available, a similar partnership between Fraunhofer and IIT Ropar focuses on water sustainability, waste management, and renewable energy.
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Benefits: Such collaborations can lead to the development of cutting-edge technologies, improved resource management, and climate-resilient solutions, ultimately enhancing national security and sustainability.
Foot notes:
About IIT Ropar-
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Chairman: Adil Zainulbhai
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Founded: 2008
About IIT Kanpur-
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Chairman: Dr. Koppillil Radhakrishnan
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Established: 1959
4. India won 27 Medals in Asian Para-Badminton Championship
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Record-Breaking Medals: India won 27 medals, its best-ever
performance in the championship, surpassing its previous record of 13 medals in 2016. -
Medal Breakdown: The Indian contingent secured 4 gold, 10 silver, and 13 bronze medals in various categories, showcasing the country's growing dominance in para-badminton.
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Top Performers: Paralympic champion Nitesh Kumar led the charge with three gold medals in men's singles SL3, mixed doubles SL3-SU5, and men's doubles SL3-SL4. Manisha Ramadass added a gold in women's singles SU5.
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Sweeping Medals: India dominated the mixed doubles SL3-SU5 event, sweeping all three medals. Nitesh Kumar and Thulasimathi Murugesan took gold, Ruthick Raghupathi and Manasi Joshi won silver, and Chirag Baretha and Mandeep Kaur earned bronze.
5. Lalit Upadhyay Bids Farewell to International Hockey After a Glorious Career
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Final International Appearance: Lalit Upadhyay's last match for the Indian men's hockey team was on June 15, 2025, against Australia in Antwerp, Belgium, during the FIH Pro League. India lost that match 2-3.
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Part of the FIH Pro League Squad: He was part of the Indian squad that played four matches in the European leg of the FIH Pro League 2024-25 season, leading up to his retirement announcement.
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Announcement of Retirement: Lalit Upadhyay officially announced his retirement from international hockey on Sunday, June 22, 2025, shortly after India's final match of the European leg of the FIH Pro League season against Belgium (though his last actual playing match was against Australia).
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Two-time Olympic Medallist: He retires as a two-time Olympic bronze medallist, having been a crucial part of the Indian teams that won bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the Paris 2024 Olympics.
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Extensive International Career: Lalit Upadhyay played 183 matches for India at the senior international level, scoring 67 goals, showcasing his consistent presence and contribution to the team's forward line since his debut at the 2014 Hockey World Cup.
6. NTPC's Kamal Nath Thakur honoured with ‘CMA of the Year Award 2024’
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Company Overview: NTPC Limited is India's largest integrated power utility, contributing nearly 25% of the country's electricity needs with an installed generation capacity of over 77 GW.
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Awards and Recognitions: NTPC has received several awards, including the Forward Faster Sustainability Award 2025 for Water Resilience, ATD BEST Award 2025 for talent development, and "India's Best Workplaces in Manufacturing 2022 – Top 30" recognition.
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Sustainability Initiatives: NTPC prioritizes sustainable practices, focusing on water conservation, efficient resource utilization and environmental stewardship.
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Diversified Business Ventures: NTPC has expanded into emerging energy sectors, including e-mobility solutions, battery storage, pumped hydro storage and green hydrogen solutions.
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Commitment to Clean Energy: NTPC is committed to adopting best-in-class practices, fostering innovation, and investing in clean energy technologies to drive India's transition to sustainable electricity generation.
Foot notes:
About NTPC-
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Chairman & MD: Gurdeep Singh
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Headquarters: New Delhi
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Founded: 1975
7. Shri Manoj Kumar Sharma appointed as Director (Catering Services), IRCTC
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Overview: Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is a Ministry of Railways PSU responsible for catering, tourism, and online ticketing services across Indian Railways.
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Role of Director (Catering Services): The Director oversees catering operations, ensuring quality, hygiene, and efficiency in passenger meal services onboard trains and at railway stations.
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Current Director: The current Director is Dr. Lokiah Ravikumar, although Manoj Kumar Sharma has been selected for the role and is awaiting approval.
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Board of Directors: IRCTC's Board consists of functional directors, government directors, and independent directors, including Chairman & Managing Director Sh. Sanjay Kumar Jain.
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Services: IRCTC provides various services, including catering, tourism, and online ticketing, playing a crucial role in enhancing the passenger experience across the Indian Railways network.
Foot notes:
About IRCTC-
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Chairman & MD: Sanjay Kumar Jain
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Headquarters: New Delhi
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Founded: 1999
8. Rahul Raichur appointed as Private Secretary to the Minister for Consumer Affairs
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Appointment: Rahul Raichur, a 2015-batch IRS officer, has been appointed as Private Secretary to Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, who oversees the Ministries of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, and New & Renewable Energy.
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Role and Responsibilities: As Private Secretary, Raichur will support Minister Joshi in managing the dual portfolios of consumer affairs and renewable energy, leveraging his expertise in revenue services and governance.
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Level of Appointment: Raichur will function at the Deputy Secretary level, playing a crucial role in policy-making and decision-making processes within the Ministry.
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Background: As an IRS officer, Raichur brings valuable experience in governance and revenue services, which will be beneficial in supporting Minister Joshi's initiatives and responsibilities.
9. Skechers appoints Kartik Aaryan as Brand Ambassador for Indian Market
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Brand Overview: Skechers is a global leader in designing and
marketing lifestyle, athletic, and casual footwear, prioritizing comfort and innovation. -
Kartik Aaryan Partnership: Skechers has appointed Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan as its brand ambassador for India, leveraging his broad appeal and dynamic persona to connect with young consumers.
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Product Focus: The partnership will promote Skechers' Hands Free Slip-ins footwear, featuring the brand's exclusive Heel Pillow technology for effortless slip-in and slip-out functionality.
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Marketing Campaign: Kartik Aaryan will star in a marketing campaign showcasing Skechers' innovation, comfort, and style, targeting India's growing youth demographic.
Foot notes:
About Skechers-
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Chairman & CEO: Robert Greenberg
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Headquarters: California, U.S.
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Founded: 1992
10. FedEx founder Fred Smith, pioneer of express delivery passed away
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Early Life and Education: Fred Smith was born on August 11,
1944, in Marks, Mississippi. He graduated from Yale University in 1966 with a degree in economics, where he conceptualized the idea for an integrated air-to-ground delivery system. -
Military Service: Smith served two tours in Vietnam as a Marine Corps officer, earning the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and two Purple Hearts. He left the military as a captain in 1970.
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Founding of FedEx: Smith founded FedEx in 1973 with a fleet of 14 aircraft, pioneering overnight shipping and revolutionizing logistics. He led the company to become a global powerhouse, handling 17 million shipments daily.
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Leadership and Legacy: Smith stepped down as CEO in 2022 but remained executive chairman. He was known for his leadership philosophy, rooted in the "People-Service-Profit" culture, and was widely respected for his vision and integrity.
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