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Current Affairs 27 June 2025
1. Shaon Ganguly sets meet record in 400m IM in National Aquatics
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New Meet Record: Shaon Ganguly set a new meet record in the 400m Individual Medley (IM) at the National Aquatics Championships 2025.
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Event Details: The 400m IM is a grueling event that combines all four strokes — butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle.
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Outstanding Performance: His timing surpassed the previous best, highlighting his endurance, technique, and versatility in multiple strokes.
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Rising Star: This performance establishes Ganguly as one of India’s most promising young swimmers in medley events.
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Boost to Indian Aquatics: His achievement brings national attention to India’s growing talent in swimming and boosts morale ahead of international competitions.
2. Zou Jiayi appointed as New AIIB President, Succeeds Jin Liqun
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Historic Leadership Change: Zou Jiayi has been elected as the
President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), becoming the first female leader of the multilateral development bank. -
Distinguished Career: Zou is a seasoned economist with over three decades of experience in global financial policy. Previously, she served as China’s Vice Minister of Finance, and participated in major institutions like the World Bank and ADB
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Strategic Transition: The AIIB Board of Governors confirmed her appointment during its 10th annual meeting in Beijing, marking a carefully planned handover from Jin’s decade-long leadership from 2016 to 2026
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Continuity and Global Expansion: Zou will lead AIIB into its next decade, focusing on climate finance, infrastructure projects, and expanding presence in major global financial centers like Hong Kong, London, and Singapore
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Bank’s Strong Foundation: Under Jin Liqun, AIIB grew from 57 to 110 member countries, financed over 322 projects totaling more than USD 60 billion, and earned AAA ratings.
Foot notes:
About AIIB-
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New President: Jin Liqun
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Headquarters: Beijing
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Formation: 2016
3. India's first AI- powered traffic system goes live on Dwarka expressway
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India’s inaugural AI-driven ATMS launched: The Advanced Traffic
Management System (ATMS), India’s first AI-powered smart traffic system, was rolled out on the 56.46 km stretch of the Dwarka Expressway and an adjacent portion of NH‑48 -
Intelligent violation detection: Equipped with 110 high-definition PTZ cameras and a Video Incident Detection & Enforcement System (VIDES), the system can detect around 14 types of offences—including overspeeding and automatically trigger e‑challans via the NIC portal
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Driver awareness and speed control: Vehicle Actuated Speed Displays (VASD) alert drivers of their speed in real time, while Variable Message Signboards (VMS) provide alerts on traffic, safety advisories, and other important updates
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National benchmark for smart highways: Developed by Indian Highways Management Company Ltd (IHMCL) and implemented under NHAI’s 2023 smart highway guidelines, the ATMS on Dwarka Expressway is positioned as a national model for intelligent traffic governance and road safety
4. Sarbananda inaugrates India's first maritime non-banking financial company
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Historic Launch of Maritime NBFC: On June 26, 2025,
Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated SMFCL—formerly Sagarmala Development Company Ltd—making it India’s first RBI‑registered NBFC dedicated solely to the maritime sector -
Sector‑Specific Financing Solutions: SMFCL is structured to provide customized financial support—short, medium, and long term—to port authorities, shipping firms, maritime MSMEs, startups, and education/training institutions
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Strategic Capital Backing: Classified as a Mini‑Ratna Category‑I PSU, SMFCL has a strong Tier‑1 capital base of approximately ₹680 crore, with borrowing capacity up to ₹3,400 crore to fund diverse maritime initiatives
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Alignment with Maritime Vision 2047: The new NBFC supports “Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047” by bridging financing gaps and enhancing India’s capabilities in shipbuilding, port modernization, renewable energy, cruise tourism, and maritime education
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Boost to Blue Economy Growth: SMFCL is poised to catalyze sustainable growth in India’s maritime sector by enabling easier access to capital, fostering innovation in shipbuilding and cruise infrastructure, and supporting educational and startup ecosystems
5. Shubhanshu Shukla becomes 1st Indian to set foot on ISS
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Historic Crew Dragon Launch & Docking: Group Captain
Shubhanshu Shukla launched aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon on Axiom Mission 4 (Ax‑4) from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on June 25, 2025, and docked with the ISS around 4:01 PM IST on June 26, 2025 -
A Milestone for India: He made history as the first Indian astronaut to enter the ISS, and only the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma (1984), marking India’s return to human spaceflight after 41 years
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Esteemed Background & Training: Shukla, an IAF test pilot and ISRO astronaut selected in 2019, trained at Russia’s Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Center and later with NASA, showcasing India's rising capabilities in international space collaborations
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Scientific Research & Cultural Touch: He will spend two weeks on the ISS conducting over 60 scientific experiments, including life science, microgravity, and earth observation.
6. UGRO Capital appoints Anuj Pandey as CEO
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Internal Promotion & Institutional Continuity: Anuj Pandey, one
of UGRO’s founding team members and its current Chief Risk Officer, has been elevated to the role of Chief Executive Officer -
Rich Leadership Experience: He brings around 25 years of diverse experience across notable firms including GSK Consumer, ABN AMRO Bank, Barclays, and Religare, combining strong expertise in risk governance, credit strategy, and product development
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Oversight of MSME Operations & Digital Platforms: As CEO, Pandey will lead UGRO’s pan‑India MSME lending operations, digital platforms, and partner ecosystem—with a focus on disciplines like embedded finance and fintech innovation
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Guiding Growth Amid Strategic Expansion: His appointment comes as UGRO surpasses ₹12,000 crore in assets under management, expands to over 300 branches, and completes the acquisition of Profectus Capital—marking a pivotal growth phase for the NBFC
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Balanced Leadership Model: Pandey will report to Founder & MD Shachindra Nath, who will continue to lead long-term strategy, governance, and investor relations—while Pandey takes charge of day-to-day business execution
7. Historic MoU Signed Between MSDE and Ministry of Rural Development
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Strategic collaboration: MSDE and MoRD signed a three-year
MoU on June 25, 2025, to integrate technical expertise from MSDE with grassroots reach under DAY‑NRLM—targeting skill training for Self‑Help Group (SHG) women -
Comprehensive support ecosystem: The MoU ensures context-specific training through ITIs, RSETIs, JSS, and NIESBUD, enhanced with mentoring, legal compliance, market linkages, and formal certification via the Skill India Digital Hub
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Robust monitoring and institutional linkages: A Joint Review Committee will conduct quarterly assessments, while State Rural Livelihood Missions and District Skill Committees coordinate implementation through District Skill Development Plans
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Contributing to “Viksit Bharat@2047”: Backed by Ministers Jayant Chaudhary and Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the MoU supports the vision of an empowered rural economy by training over 10 crore “Didis”, promoting self-reliance, entrepreneurship, and inclusive growth
8. BEML bags Golden Peacock Eco-Innovation Award 2025 for All-Electric BRS-21 Rope Shovel
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Prestigious National Recognition: The Institute of Directors (IOD)
presented BEML with the Golden Peacock Eco‑Innovation Award 2025 for the all‑electric BRS‑21 rope shovel during the 26th International Conference on Environment Management & Climate Change (June 26–27, 2025) -
India’s First Indigenously Built Electric Rope Shovel: The BRS‑21 is the first fully electric rope shovel designed and manufactured entirely in India, signaling a major step toward self-reliant industrial innovation
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Eco-Friendly Mining Technology: As a zero-emission mining machine, the BRS‑21 eliminates diesel use, significantly reducing carbon emissions while increasing operational energy efficiency
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Major Scale & Capability: Weighing in at 720 tons with a 21 m³ bucket, it stands as India's largest indigenously developed electric rope shovel, built within 24 months to support heavy-duty surface operations
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Integrated Green Manufacturing Strategy: The award ceremony highlighted BEML’s broader sustainability practices—including electric heavy equipment variants, solar-powered factories, and green design measures—demonstrating its commitment to climate-conscious industrial solutions
Foot notes:
About BEML-
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Chairman & MD: Shantanu Roy
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Headquarters: Bangalore
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Founded: 1964
9. Micro, Small & Medium Sized Enterprises Day observed on 27th June
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UN‑designated observance: June 27 was declared by the United
Nations General Assembly in 2017 as Micro‑, Small & Medium‑Sized Enterprises Day, aimed at raising global awareness of MSMEs’ vital contributions to economic growth and sustainable development -
Economic significance: MSMEs make up around 90 % of all businesses globally, contribute about 50 % of GDP, and provide over 70 % of employment, especially in developing economies
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2025 theme – “Business for MSMEs: Connecting the Entrepreneurs”: The 2025 theme emphasizes building networks between MSMEs, investors, policymakers, and tech providers to unlock growth, innovation, and international expansion
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India’s MSME landscape: In India, the sector includes over 63 million enterprises, contributes roughly 30 % of GDP and more than 45 % of exports, and employs around 110 million people
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Focus on resilience, digital tech & green growth: Observance events spotlight MSMEs’ adaptability, technology adoption, and role in sustainable development, while addressing challenges like finance access, digital maturity, and climate resilience
10. Former Indian left-arm spinner Dilip Doshi passed away
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Legendary Career Stats: Doshi represented India in 33 Test
matches, taking 114 wickets (including six five-wicket hauls), alongside 22 wickets in 15 ODIs, showcasing his skill as a classical slow left-arm orthodox spinner -
Passed Away in London: He passed away at the age of 77 in London due to cardiac arrest, having been based there for several decades
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Highly Respected by Cricketing Icons: Cricket icons like Sachin Tendulkar and Ravi Shastri expressed sorrow at his passing, remembering him as a “warm-hearted soul” and “a gentleman to the core”
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