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Current Affairs 26 June 2025
1. Shashvat Kumar appointed as Commandant (SP level) in SSB
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Appointment: Shashvat Kumar, an IPS officer from the 2016 batch
of Tripura cadre, has been appointed as Commandant (SP level) in Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). -
Current Role: Before this appointment, Kumar was serving as Additional SP (Urban) in West Tripura district and had previously held positions such as SDPO, Sadar with additional charge of Dy. SP (CAW), West Tripura.
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Seniority: Kumar was promoted to the IPS Senior Time Scale in the Pay Matrix Level-11, as per a notification from the Tripura government.
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Deputation Basis: His appointment as Commandant in SSB is on a deputation basis, as per official notifications from the Government of India.
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Background: Kumar's appointment reflects his growing responsibilities within the Indian Police Service, with recent postings and promotions indicating his increasing role in security and law enforcement agencies.
2. China's former Vice Finance Minister appointed AIIB prez
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Appointment: Zou Jiayi has been appointed as the new President
of AIIB, succeeding Jin Liqun, the founding President of the bank. Her five-year term will begin on January 16, 2026. -
Background: Zou is a seasoned leader with over three decades of experience in global financial policy at the highest levels. She has been instrumental in China's engagement with major international financial institutions.
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Experience: Zou's expertise spans organizations such as the World Bank Group, Asian Development Bank, New Development Bank, and AIIB. As former Vice Finance Minister of China, she played a crucial role in shaping the country's participation in these institutions.
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AIIB's Shareholders: China is the largest shareholder of AIIB with 26.54% voting shares, followed by India with 7.58%, Russia with 5.9%, and Germany with 4.1%. This diverse shareholder base reflects the bank's global reach and influence.
3. India’s First Butterfly Sanctuary Inaugurated in Kerala’s Aralam Forest
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Location and Size: The Aralam Butterfly Sanctuary is located in
Kannur district, Kerala, within the Western Ghats, and spans 55 square kilometers of tropical and semi-evergreen forests. -
Butterfly Diversity: The sanctuary is home to over 266 species of butterflies, accounting for more than 80% of Kerala's butterfly diversity, including rare and endangered species like the Common Albatross and Danaine species.
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Seasonal Migration: The sanctuary witnesses a significant butterfly migration between December and February, with hundreds of butterflies traveling down from the hills, following rivers and sunlight, creating a spectacular display of colors.
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Conservation Efforts: The sanctuary's designation is the result of 25 years of conservation efforts, surveys, and advocacy by researchers, forest officials, and environmental groups, aiming to provide a protected habitat for butterflies and promote eco-tourism and research.
4. Khelo India University Games to be held in Jaipur in November
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Event Details: The fifth edition of the Khelo India University Games
will take place in Jaipur, Rajasthan, in November 2025, featuring over 4,000 athletes from more than 200 universities across India. -
Host Universities: Poornima University and Rajasthan University will jointly host the event, which will include competitions in at least 20 disciplines.
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Age Group: The Games are designed for under-25 athletes, providing a national platform for young athletes to showcase their talent and attract attention from scouts and sports federations.
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Previous Edition: The 2024 edition of the Khelo India University Games was co-hosted by seven Northeastern states, with Chandigarh University emerging as the overall champion, followed by Lovely Professional University and Guru Nanak Dev University.
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Expectations: Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya expects high-quality performances from the athletes, stating that university students dominate multi-sport events worldwide, and Rajasthan will likely see some outstanding performances.
5. Indian Junior Men’s Hockey Team Defeats Australia 2-1 at Nations Tournament
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Match Outcome: The Indian junior men's hockey team defeated
Australia 2-1 in the battle for third place at the 4 Nations Tournament held in Berlin, Germany. -
Goalscorers: Rohit scored the equalizer for India in the 45th minute following a penalty corner, while Ajeet Yadav sealed the win with a fourth-quarter goal in the 52nd minute. Toby Mallon had given Australia the lead with a field goal in the 40th minute.
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Game Dynamics: The first half saw a tense battle with neither team managing to score in the opening two quarters. Strong defensive structures and disciplined play kept the scores level heading into the third quarter.
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Tournament Performance: This win concludes India's campaign in the 4 Nations Tournament. Earlier, India had a 1-7 loss to hosts Germany, a 3-1 victory against Australia, and a 1-5 defeat against Spain in the pool stage.
6. Mukesh Saini joins IRCTC Board as Chief Regional Officer
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Appointment: Mukesh Saini has been appointed as the Chief
Regional Officer at the IRCTC Regional Office in Jaipur, effective June 20, 2025, on a deputation basis for a period of three years. -
Background: Saini is a 2008-batch IRTS officer with 17 years of experience in the railways, previously serving as Deputy Chief Commercial Manager (PM & PS) at North Western Railway (NWR) headquarters.
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Terms of Appointment: His appointment is on usual terms of deputation, which typically involves a fixed tenure and specific responsibilities.
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Role and Responsibilities: As Chief Regional Officer, Saini will oversee IRCTC operations in the Jaipur region, focusing on improving customer service, managing tourism initiatives, and enhancing railway catering services.
7. Naveen Pandey appointed as MD of Bajaj consumer
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Appointment Details: Naveen Pandey has been appointed as the
Managing Director of Bajaj Consumer Care, effective July 1, 2025, for a tenure of five years, subject to approval at the company's 19th Annual General Meeting. -
Background: Pandey brings over two decades of rich leadership experience in the FMCG sector, having previously held key roles at companies like Unibic Foods, Marico, PepsiCo, and Asian Paints.
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Previous Role: Before joining Bajaj Consumer Care, Pandey served as the Chief Executive Officer of Unibic Foods India Pvt Ltd, where he successfully scaled up the brand's national presence and consumer engagement.
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Leadership Experience: Pandey has led high-impact businesses throughout his career, including launching new product categories, managing large-scale P&L operations, and delivering consistent business performance across geographies.
8. Shrivalli Bhamidipaty wins the BJK Cup Heart Award
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Award Winner: Shrivalli Bhamidipaty has been awarded the
prestigious Billie Jean King Cup Heart Award for the Asia/Oceania zone, recognizing her exceptional courage, commitment, and team spirit in representing India in the Billie Jean King Cup. -
Third Indian Woman: She becomes the third Indian woman to receive this award, following tennis legends Sania Mirza (2020) and Ankita Raina (2026), who have also excelled in international team tennis competitions.
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Performance: Shrivalli won all her five singles matches in the Asia/Oceania Group I ties, helping India retain its position in Group I and qualifying for the World Group playoff.
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Voting: She secured the award with 78% of the vote share, surpassing Lulu Sun of New Zealand.
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Donation: Shrivalli donated the $2,000 cash prize accompanying the award to the Vaidehi Seva Samithi, an organization that empowers women through education and life-skill training.
9. V.V. Kumar recently honoured with a book
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Book Launch: A book launch was held to celebrate V.V. Kumar's
90th birthday, featuring anecdotes, tributes, and memories from former cricketers and personalities. -
Authored Books: V.V. Kumar has authored over 35 books, including "Classical Mechanics" and "Customer Relationship Management: Concept, Strategy, and Tools", showcasing his expertise in marketing and physics.
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Marketing Legend: Kumar has been recognized as a "Marketing Legend" and featured in the "Legends in Marketing" series, highlighting his contributions to the field of marketing.
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Awards and Recognition: He has received over 20 Lifetime Achievement Awards and 25 Research and Teaching Excellence Awards for his work in marketing.
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Research Impact: Kumar's research has had significant impact, with over 68,800 publication citations and $2 billion in revenue gains for businesses through implementation of his marketing science models.
10. International Day Against Drug Abuse observed on 26th June
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Date and Significance: June 26 is observed globally as
International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking to raise awareness about the global drug crisis and promote multilateral action toward prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. -
Theme 2025: The theme for 2025 is "Break the Cycle. #StopOrganizedCrime", emphasizing the need for focused long-term action to disrupt the link between drug trafficking and organized crime, and investing in prevention, including justice, education, health care, and alternative livelihoods.
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Global Impact: According to the UNODC World Drug Report, 292 million people used illicit drugs in 2022, a 20% increase over the previous decade. The global burden of drug use can cost up to 2% of a country's GDP, draining healthcare, legal, and social systems.
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Awareness and Action: The day aims to de-stigmatize drug dependence, expand affordable treatment services, strengthen harm reduction strategies, and foster international cooperation to combat organized crime linked to illicit trafficking. Governments, organizations, and individuals come together to raise awareness and promote action.
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