KARNATAKA

• A recent analysis of Karnataka’s electoral rolls shows alarmingly high Elector-to-Population Ratios (EPR) in 24 of 31 districts, exceeding the state average of 70.16%. High EPRs, such as Chikmagalur’s 85.84% and Chamundeshwari’s extreme 97.74%, indicate a shrinking youth population, hinting at demographic imbalance. EPR, calculated as (voters ÷ projected population) × 100, reveals issues like falling fertility, ageing population, and declining workforce. NFHS data also shows gender disparities, especially among the 18–19 age group. With India’s fertility rate now below replacement level, experts urge demographic audits and long-term policy changes to address education, employment, gender equity, and elderly welfare.
• Bengaluru leads with 30% of planned hiring in tech and e-commerce startups for the first half of FY 2026, followed by Mumbai at 25% and Chennai at 23%. These cities are major startup hubs due to their strong talent pools and ecosystems. The Net Employment Change (NEC) in these sectors is projected at 6.9%, but overall hiring growth has slowed from around 6-7% in FY 2025 to 2.8% in FY 2026, amid funding winter and economic headwinds. Despite this, 69% of employers plan to increase their workforce, focusing on high-impact tech roles driven by AI and digital transformation.

SCHEME

• MoTA has launched the DhartiAaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan, the largest tribal empowerment campaign in India. Covering 550 tribal districts, 2900+ blocks, and over 207 PVTG-dominated districts, it aims to reach about 1 lakh villages. The campaign promotes inclusive development, dignity, and self-respect for tribal communities, honoring their heritage. Running from June 15-30, it provides doorstep access to schemes like Aadhaar, Ayushman Bharat, Jan Dhan, and livelihood programs. With community-led efforts, the initiative ensures no eligible household is left behind, fostering participatory governance and tribal pride across the nation.

ECONOMY

• The Union Finance Ministry has capped spending on the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) at 60% of its annual budget for the first half of FY 2025–26. This move has raised concerns among civil society groups as it undermines the scheme’s demand-driven and statutory nature. MGNREGA, enacted in 2005, guarantees 100 days of unskilled manual work annually to rural households and is legally binding, with provisions for women participation and additional days in special areas. Implementation is decentralized via Gram Panchayats, and legal precedents affirm that financial constraints cannot override workers’ statutory employment rights.
• India’s trade deficit narrowed to $21.88 billion in May from $26.42 billion the previous month, mainly due to lower imports. Merchandise exports declined slightly to $38.73 billion, a 2.17% decrease year-on-year, while imports fell by 1.7% to $60.61 billion. Despite global uncertainties, India recorded a robust services surplus of $14.65 billion, with services exports reaching $32.39 billion. Overall, combined merchandise and services exports increased by 2.8% to $71.12 billion in May. Experts highlighted the resilience of Indian exporters amid geopolitical tensions and rising input costs, although challenges from global conflicts and tariffs remain.

GEOGRAPHY

• Shipki La Pass, located at 3,930 meters in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district, has historically served as a key Indo-Tibetan trade and cultural link. Closed after the 1962 war with China, it reopened to Indian tourists on June 10, 2025, with no permit required—only an Aadhaar card. Once a hub of spiritual, economic, and cultural exchange, the pass is now being leveraged for tourism and local development. Shared Buddhist traditions and familial ties unite communities on both sides. Its reopening signals potential for religious tourism, regional growth, and soft-border diplomacy through civilian engagement rather than military presence.
• Goan Feni, a traditional spirit native to Goa, has been granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2025, recognizing its unique regional identity and traditional production. Introduced by Portuguese missionaries in the 1600s, Feni is crafted from cashew apples or coconut sap through a four-step process including fermentation and double distillation. Traditionally made by ‘Bhatikars’ in earthen pots, Feni holds deep cultural value. The GI tag, valid for 10 years, ensures authenticity, legal protection, and promotes rural livelihoods. Its recognition boosts tourism and local economies, with Cazcar Distillery in Nanora being a key producer.

SCIENCE

• India has achieved a significant breakthrough in quantum communication, demonstrating secure, real-time quantum cybersecurity applications. The Defence Ministry announced that over a 1 km free-space optical link at IIT-Delhi, India successfully established quantum entanglement. This milestone marks India’s entry into a new quantum era, with potential uses in long-distance Quantum Key Distribution, quantum networks, and the future quantum internet. The experiment achieved a secure key rate of 240 bits/sec with a low error rate. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised this achievement, emphasizing its importance for national security, defense, and technological advancement.
• The fifth FPV ‘Achal’ was launched by Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on June 16, 2025, in Goa. This vessel, part of a series of eight, features over 60% indigenous components, measuring 52 meters long with a displacement of 320 tons. Powered by a CPP system, it can reach speeds of 27 knots, and is designed for protection, surveillance, and offshore safeguarding. Built at a cost of Rs 473 crore, ‘Achal’ exemplifies India’s Aatmanirbharta in defence manufacturing, boosting local industry and employment. The launch was attended by senior officials, including GSL CMD Shri Brajesh Kumar Upadhyay.

INTERNATIONAL

• On April 22, 2025, a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, claimed 26 lives, with Indian authorities attributing the act to Pakistan-trained terrorists. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global watchdog against money laundering and terror financing, issued a rare condemnation—only the third in a decade—highlighting the role of financial support in enabling such attacks. FATF, with 200 member jurisdictions, uses grey and black lists to pressure non-compliant nations. Following Pakistan’s past grey-listing (2018–2022), India is preparing a detailed dossier to push for its re-listing, with the upcoming FATF report set to include unprecedented acknowledgment of state-sponsored terrorism.