CURRENT AFFAIRS DESTINATION FOR UPSC & STATE CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATIONS
A team of researchers from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), Lucknow, has made a significant discovery in the Makum Coalfield of Assam, uncovering the world’s oldest known fossil record of the plant genus Nothopegia. These fossilized leaves date back approximately 24–23 million years, to the late Oligocene epoch. Here are the key findings: (Source: PIB)
The Telangana State Government has convened an all-party meeting involving Members of Parliament from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to deliberate on the proposed Banakacharla project by Andhra Pradesh.
A team of U.S. experts at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital has achieved a medical first by successfully treating a patient’s adenoid cystic carcinoma using a novel technique called step-and-shoot spot-scanning proton arc therapy (SPArc). This groundbreaking treatment was published in the June 2025 issue of the International Journal of Particle Therapy. The SPArc technique marks a significant advancement in radiation therapy, particularly for tumors located in anatomically complex Read More …
A groundbreaking study titled “Darkening of the Global Ocean” conducted by researchers from the University of Plymouth and Plymouth Marine Laboratory, and published in the journal Global Change Biology, reveals a concerning trend: over one-fifth of the global ocean has darkened significantly in the past two decades. Key Findings: Why It Matters: (Source: IE & BBC)
On June 10, the second day of the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3), a new declaration titled “The Nice Call for an Ambitious Treaty on Plastic Pollution” was launched by countries advocating for a legally binding agreement. Key Highlights:
Recently, the Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino Experiment (KATRIN) collaboration published an upper limit on the sum of the masses of the three known neutrino types using 259 days of measurements recorded across five data-taking runs between March 2019 and June 2021. Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino Experiment (KATRIN): About Neutrinos: (Source: TH)
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the 29th meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) in Mumbai in June 2025. She urged financial regulators to expedite refunds of unclaimed deposits, shares, insurance, and pension funds through special district-level camps, stressing the importance of protecting citizens’ interests and ensuring a smooth refund process. Key issues discussed at the meeting included: About FSDC:
Brazil and France launched the “Blue Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Challenge” at the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) on June 9, 2025, with the aim of dramatically scaling up ocean-focused climate action. The Challenge’s Call and COP30 The challenge urges all countries to place the ocean at the heart of their climate plans ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), which Brazil will host in November 2025. Inaugural Member Countries Read More …
Among the scientific experiments Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will undertake during his two week stay at the International Space Station (ISS) is one that will examine the revival, survival, and reproduction of tardigrades in space. About Tardigrades (“Water Bears” / “Moss Piglets”): (Source: IE)
The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare plans to launch CROPIC. Methodology: Technology: Applications: Initial Rollout:
The Union Ministry of Power has said that it would wait for the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to decide on whether flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) units should be mandatory for all coal-fired thermal power plants. Scientific Viewpoint: What is FGD?FGD units are retrofit technologies installed in TPPs to reduce sulphur dioxide (SO₂) emissions from coal combustion. SO₂ and Sulphate Aerosols: Economic Impact: Environmental Complexity:
Sri Lanka recently celebrated the sacred Poson Poya festival on June 10th, commemorating the historic introduction of Buddhism to the island over two millennia ago. This full-moon Poya day holds immense historical and religious significance for Buddhists across Sri Lanka.
A recent study published in Global Change Biology reveals that ocean acidification crossed a critical “planetary boundary” five years ago, by 2020. This alarming finding indicates that the world’s oceans are nearing or have already entered a “danger zone” for acidity, primarily due to the absorption of excess atmospheric carbon dioxide. Key Findings:
A groundbreaking discovery has been made in the forests of Meghalaya: a new species of beetle, Spathaspina noohi, which also represents an entirely new genus, Spathaspina.
Stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) is a geoengineering technique that involves injecting aerosols (tiny reflective particles), such as sulphur dioxide, into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight away from Earth, thereby cooling the planet. The idea is modeled after volcanic eruptions, which naturally release aerosols and have a temporary cooling effect on global temperatures. A recent study published in Earth’s Future explores a more cost-effective and potentially feasible approach to SAI. The Read More …