Daily Current Affairs 26th June 2025, Important News Headlines (Daily GK Update)

National News

CBSE Introduces Biannual Board Exams for Class 10 from 2026-27

• In a significant reform aligning with NEP 2020, the CBSE will allow Class 10 students to take board exams twice a year starting from 2026-27.
• The first exam is mandatory, while the second is optional for those wishing to improve scores in up to three academic subjects.
• This move aims to reduce exam stress, offer flexibility, and facilitate smoother Class 11 admissions.
• New provisions also cover compartment students, sports quota, and snow-bound areas, making the system more inclusive and progressive.

State News

India’s First Butterfly Sanctuary Inaugurated in Kerala’s Aralam Forest

• In a landmark conservation effort, Kerala has inaugurated India’s first butterfly sanctuary by officially renaming the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Located in the Western Ghats, the sanctuary now harbours over 266 species of butterflies, including several rare, endemic, and endangered varieties.
• This initiative follows 25 years of persistent efforts by forest officials, researchers, and nature lovers.
• Featuring seasonal butterfly migrations, active research partnerships, and ongoing species discoveries, the Aralam Butterfly Sanctuary is poised to become a cornerstone of biodiversity conservation and eco-tourism in India.

Banking News

RBI Revises Trading Timings for Call Money, Repo, and TREP Segments

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced a major operational change by extending the call money market timings to 7 PM starting July 1, 2025.
• Additionally, market repo and Tri-Party Repo (TREP) timings will be extended till 4 PM from August 1, 2025.
• This decision follows recommendations from a Working Group led by Radha Shyam Ratho and is aimed at improving liquidity management, aligning with global market practices, and enhancing operational flexibility for banks and financial institutions.
• Trading hours for government securities, foreign exchange, and interest rate derivatives remain unchanged.

Credit Card Spends Soar 14.5% in May 2025

• In May 2025, credit card spending in India jumped by 14.5% year-on-year, reaching ₹1.89 trillion, as per RBI data.
• The increase was driven by the issuance of 760,000 new credit cards, with HDFC Bank and SBI Cards leading the growth.
• The total number of cards in circulation rose to 111.19 million, indicating enhanced consumer confidence, a growing shift toward digital payments, and rising retail credit penetration.
• This trend reinforces the role of private banks in driving the country’s digital consumption economy.

IMF Hails India’s UPI Model as Blueprint for Digital Payment Transformation

• India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has emerged as a model digital payment system, as acknowledged in a recent IMF report.
• The study underscores how interoperability, supported by low mobile data costs, widespread banking access, and the Aadhaar-based digital identity system, helped the platform scale rapidly.
• The IMF recommends other nations seeking a similar transition to adopt a holistic digital ecosystem, not just standalone payment platforms.
• This recognition places India’s fintech leadership on the global stage and encourages further investment in inclusive digital infrastructure.

NABARD & NIRCA Launch Training for Chilli, Turmeric Farmers on Post-Harvest Tech

• The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and ICAR-NIRCA have initiated a training program for farmers and FPOs in East Godavari, focusing on post-harvest technologies for turmeric and chilli.
• The initiative, launched on June 25, 2025, highlights the need for moisture and microbial control in spice crops and aims to enhance value, reduce losses, and improve export readiness through scientific practices and technology adoption.

Business News

Tata Group Becomes India’s First $30-Billion Brand: Brand Finance 2025

• In a major boost to Brand India, the Tata Group has become the first Indian brand to cross the $30-billion mark in brand value, as per Brand Finance 2025 rankings. It is followed by Infosys and HDFC, while Adani Group has emerged as the fastest-growing brand.
• Taj Hotels remains the strongest brand with an AAA+ rating.
• The rankings reflect India’s expanding global presence, with new entrants like Zomato and Birla Opus making their mark.
• The report also highlights the importance of sustainability perceptions and the growing strength of India’s IT, financial, and manufacturing sectors.

NPCI Surplus Crosses ₹1,500 Crore in FY25, Revenue Rises to ₹3,270 Crore

• The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has posted a 42% rise in surplus to ₹1,552 crore and a 19% increase in revenue to ₹3,270 crore in FY25, marking a strong financial performance.
• Despite challenges like UPI outages and the absence of Merchant Discount Rate (MDR), NPCI continues to lead India’s digital payments ecosystem, managing platforms such as UPI, RuPay, and IMPS.
• With over 18 billion UPI transactions in May 2025 alone, NPCI is on track to surpass global giants like Visa in daily volume.

Adani and Reliance Join Forces to Share Fuel Infrastructure

• In a strategic move to expand their fuel retail presence, Adani Total Gas Ltd (ATGL) and Reliance BP Mobility Ltd (Jio-bp) have agreed to dispense each other’s fuels at select retail outlets.
• The initiative aims to enhance infrastructure usage and customer convenience while increasing the market share of private players in a sector largely led by public oil companies.
• This partnership builds upon their earlier collaboration and reflects the growing synergy between India’s corporate giants in the energy sector.

IFFCO Sets Up First Overseas Nano Fertiliser Plant in Brazil

• IFFCO, India’s leading fertiliser cooperative, is set to launch its first overseas nano fertiliser plant in Brazil through a joint venture with NANOFERT. The facility will produce 4.5 million litres of nano nutrients annually, helping boost yields of crops like corn, soybean, and sugarcane.
• With field trials confirming 7–10% yield increases and 20% fertiliser use reduction, this initiative strengthens India’s global agri-tech leadership and promotes sustainable farming. Future expansions include nano zinc and copper variants.

Economy News

India’s FDI Inflows Surge to $8.8 Billion in April 2025: RBI Bulletin

Schemes News

AICF Launches Monthly Stipend Scheme to Boost Young Chess Talent

• The Top National Players Stipend Scheme (TNPSS) launched by the All India Chess Federation (AICF) on June 25, 2025, marks a significant step in developing grassroots chess in India.
• With direct financial support ranging from ₹60,000 to ₹1.5 lakh per quarter for 78 top-performing young players across Under-7 to Under-19 categories, the scheme aims to encourage national-level participation, recognize talent, and remove financial hurdles in player development.
• This initiative underscores India’s growing ambition to become a global chess powerhouse, while promoting gender parity and sustained investment in youth sports.

Summits & Conferences News

India Hosts ICCON 2025 to Tackle Urgent Biodiversity Challenges

• The Indian Conservation Conference (ICCON) 2025, hosted at the Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun from 25–27 June, is India’s leading forum for biodiversity conservation and environmental policy.
• Inaugurated by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, the event convenes over 500 delegates from across India and the Global South, highlighting platforms like TechBridge for wildlife innovation.
• Organised by the MoEFCC, ICCON 2025 promotes interdisciplinary dialogue, supports youth and equitable participation, and reaffirms India’s role as a leader in global conservation science.

Sports News

Rinku Singh to Join UP Education Department Under Sports Quota Scheme

• Indian cricketer Rinku Singh, celebrated for his explosive batting and international recognition, is set to be appointed as a District Basic Education Officer in Uttar Pradesh under the International Medal Winner Direct Recruitment Rules, 2022.
• This policy aims to honour sportspersons who have achieved excellence on the global stage. Alongside this career development, Rinku’s highly anticipated wedding with MP Priya Saroj, initially scheduled for November 2025, has now been postponed to February 2026 due to his cricketing commitments.

Science & Technology News

India’s First Quantum Computing Valley to Launch in Amaravati by January 2026

• India’s quantum revolution is taking shape with the announcement of the Amaravati Quantum Valley, the country’s first quantum computing hub, set to launch by January 2026.
• Spearheaded by the ITE&C Department of Andhra Pradesh, the initiative aims to foster research, innovation, and job creation across critical sectors like healthcare, logistics, agri-tech, and cybersecurity.
• In collaboration with major players like IBM, LTIMindtree, and TCS, and aligned with the National Quantum Mission, the project will integrate quantum AI, secure communication (QNu Project), and advanced computing to drive national productivity and future-ready skills.

China Detects Two New Bat Viruses with Potential to Infect Humans

• A new scientific study from Yunnan, China has revealed the existence of two novel henipaviruses in bat populations, raising concerns due to their genetic similarity to the deadly Nipah and Hendra viruses.
• Found in the kidneys of bats, the viruses could spread to humans through urine-contaminated fruits or water, potentially triggering neurological or respiratory diseases.
• Experts have flagged this discovery as a public health warning, urging for heightened surveillance of zoonotic pathogens, especially in rural regions where human-wildlife interactions are more frequent.
• The findings serve as a crucial reminder of the interconnected risks between wildlife, environment, and global health.