Current Affairs Today
A quick-revision roundup of the most exam-relevant developments for June 25, 2026. The six deep-dive articles in today’s edition cover Samvidhan Hatya Diwas, the VB-G RAM G Act, DISHA 2.0, Operation Chakra-VI, the Perseverance Mars finding, and Jaishankar at the Jeju Forum. The items below round out the day.
Indian Navy’s Unmanned Surface Vessel Push
🗞️ Why in News The Indian Navy is accelerating the induction of weaponised Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs), or sea drones, as part of its drive for indigenous, cost-effective maritime force multiplication.
Key Data
- Indigenous fast interceptor USVs are being developed by Sagar Defence Engineering (Pune), with reported plans for a fleet of around 400 USVs for surveillance and interdiction.
- Allied programmes include REARM-D (reloading of vertical-launch missile cells at sea by drone) and MANTA, a ship-launched semi-submersible ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) drone.
- The push aligns with Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence, the iDEX and DRDO innovation ecosystem, and maritime domain awareness in the Indian Ocean Region.
UPSC Angle
Unmanned and autonomous systems raise both capability and doctrine questions, including the human-in-the-loop principle for lethal autonomy. They complement platforms such as the MQ-9B Sea Guardian and counter grey-zone and asymmetric maritime threats.
PFRDA Launches “Pension Sahayak” Grievance Portal
🗞️ Why in News The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) launched “Pension Sahayak”, an artificial-intelligence-enabled, multilingual, voice-based grievance-redressal platform, on June 22, 2026.
Background
Pension Sahayak replaces the older Central Grievance Management System (CGMS). It allows login via mobile number and OTP without a PRAN (Permanent Retirement Account Number) or password, supports 22 languages through the Bhashini platform, and is available on web, mobile and WhatsApp, with escalation to the NPS Trust and the Ombudsman. PFRDA is the statutory regulator of the National Pension System (NPS) and the Atal Pension Yojana (APY).
International Day of the Seafarer 2026
🗞️ Why in News June 25 is observed as the International Day of the Seafarer, designated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), with the 2026 theme “Carrying world trade. Carrying the risks.”
Key Data
- The 2026 theme highlights seafarers operating in conflict-affected and high-risk waters.
- The IMO is the United Nations specialised agency for shipping, headquartered in London.
- India is a major crew-supplying nation, accounting for a significant share of the world’s seafarers; the Directorate General of Shipping is India’s maritime regulator, and the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006 governs seafarer rights.
Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2026
🗞️ Why in News Nominations are open for the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) 2026, India’s highest honour for children, administered by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
Key Data
- The award recognises children aged 5 to 18 years across six categories: bravery, social service, environment, sports, art and culture, and science and technology.
- The nomination process is online; the selection committee is headed by the Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development.
Air Suvidha 2.0 Reactivated for Ebola Screening
🗞️ Why in News The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reactivated the Air Suvidha portal, as “Air Suvidha 2.0”, for self-declaration and health screening of international arrivals from Ebola-affected regions.
Background
Air Suvidha is an online health self-declaration portal first used during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its reactivation is a precautionary public-health measure linked to an Ebola outbreak abroad and is connected to India’s obligations under the International Health Regulations (IHR), 2005 of the World Health Organization.
Passport Is Not Proof of Citizenship
🗞️ Why in News The government reiterated that a passport is a travel document and not conclusive proof of citizenship, which is governed by a separate legal framework.
Background
Passports are issued under the Passports Act, 1967 by the Ministry of External Affairs through its Consular, Passport and Visa (CPV) Division. Citizenship is governed by the Citizenship Act, 1955, which provides for citizenship by birth, descent, registration and naturalisation. The distinction matters in legal proceedings on nationality.
UPSC Relevance
- GS3 (Security and Science): unmanned maritime systems and defence indigenisation, AI in governance.
- GS2 (Governance): PFRDA and pension grievance redressal, child welfare honours, citizenship law.
- GS2 (International Relations and Health): IMO and seafarers, IHR 2005 and disease screening.
Facts Corner
📌 Facts Corner, Knowledgepedia
Sea Drones:
- USV = Unmanned Surface Vessel; developed by Sagar Defence Engineering; reported target of around 400 USVs.
- REARM-D = drone reloading of missile cells at sea; MANTA = ship-launched ISR drone.
PFRDA Pension Sahayak:
- AI-enabled grievance portal replacing CGMS; 22 languages via Bhashini; PFRDA regulates NPS and APY; PRAN = Permanent Retirement Account Number.
Day of the Seafarer:
- Observed June 25 by the IMO (UN agency, headquartered in London); 2026 theme “Carrying world trade. Carrying the risks.”; MLC 2006 governs seafarer rights.
PMRBP 2026:
- Highest child honour; Ministry of Women and Child Development; ages 5 to 18; six categories.
Air Suvidha 2.0:
- Health self-declaration portal reactivated for Ebola screening; linked to IHR 2005 (WHO).
Passport and Citizenship:
- Passports Act, 1967 (MEA) governs passports; Citizenship Act, 1955 governs citizenship; a passport is not proof of citizenship.
Sources: Press Information Bureau, Ministry of External Affairs, The Hindu, International Maritime Organization
Source: Current Affairs Today, June 25, 2026 — Ujiyari.com | Free UPSC & State PCS Current Affairs
