UPSC Prelims Current Affairs for 18 June 2025

International Energy Agency (IEA)

June 18, 2025

International Energy Agency Latest News

India, the world's third-largest oil-consuming and importing nation, will lead global oil demand growth by a large margin, adding a steep 1 million barrels per day by 2030, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said recently.

About International Energy Agency

It is an autonomous intergovernmental organisation established in 1974 within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
It is based in Paris, France.
It was created in 1974 to help coordinate a collective response to major disruptions in the supply of oil.
While oil security remains a key aspect of their work, the IEA has evolved and expanded significantly since its foundation.
The IEA has four main areas of focus: energy security, economic development, environmental awareness, and engagement worldwide.
Taking an all-fuels, all-technology approach, the IEA recommends policies that enhance the reliability, affordability, and sustainability of energy.
It examines the full spectrum issues, including renewables, oil, gas and coal supply and demand, energy efficiency, clean energy technologies, electricity systems and markets, access to energy, demand-side management, and much more.
One of the flagship programs of the IEA has been the International Energy Program, according to which its members agree to withhold large stocks of oil in order to respond to any future unforeseen disruption in the oil supply.
Membership:
- The IEA is made up of 32 member countries.
- It also includes thirteen Association countries, including India and China.
Criteria for Membership: A candidate country to the IEA must be a member country of the OECD. In addition, it must demonstrate several requirements. These are:
- Crude oil and/or product reserves equivalent to 90 days of the previous year’s net imports, to which the government has immediate access (even if it does not own them directly) and could be used to address disruptions to global oil supply;
- A demand restraint programme to reduce national oil consumption by up to 10%;
- Legislation and organisation to operate the Coordinated Emergency Response Measures (CERM) on a national basis;
- Legislation and measures to ensure that all oil companies under its jurisdiction report information upon request;
- Measures in place to ensure the capability of contributing its share of an IEA collective action.
Funding: IEA is funded by its member countries and voluntarily by non-member countries and stakeholders such as energy companies and private donations.
Reports published by IEA: World Energy Outlook, World Energy Balances, Energy Technology Perspectives, World Energy Statistics, and Net Zero by 2050.

Source: ET

International Energy Agency FAQs

Q1: When was the International Energy Agency (IEA) established?

Ans: It was created in 1974 to help coordinate a collective response to major disruptions in the supply of oil.

Q2: Where is the headquarter of IEA?

Ans: Paris, France

Q3: Is India member of International Energy Agency?

Ans: India is not a full member of the International Energy Agency (IEA), but it is an associate country.

Q4: A country must be a member of which organisation to become a full member of the IEA?

Ans: OECD

What is Fattah 2?

June 18, 2025

About Fattah 2 Missile

Fattah, which means conqueror in Farsi, is a hypersonic ballistic missile.
It was developed by Iran. It is a new version of its first domestically made hypersonic ballistic missile named ‘Fattah’.

Fattah 2 Missile Features

It is equipped with a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) warhead that can manoeuvre and glide at hypersonic speed.
It uses a liquid-fuel rocket propellant. The liquid fuel engine has the ability to adjust the thrust force.
The precision-guided two-stage missile can hit targets within a range of 1500 kilometres with a velocity of Mach 15 (fifteen times the speed of sound, i.e 18522 km/hr).
Measuring 12 meters in length, it can carry 200 kilograms of explosives.
It is capable of significant trajectory changes during flight to evade defence systems.
While the missile can accelerate outside the Earth's atmosphere, its aerodynamic control surfaces allow for steering within the atmosphere.

Source: IT

Fattah 2 FAQs

Q1: What are Ballistic Missiles?

Ans: Ballistic missiles are powered initially by a rocket or series of rockets in stages, but then follow an unpowered trajectory that arches upwards before descending to reach its intended target. Ballistic missiles can carry either nuclear or conventional warheads.

PM-WANI Scheme

June 18, 2025

PM-WANI Scheme Latest News

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recently prescribed a cap on tariffs charged to Public Data Offices (PDOs) under the PM-WANI scheme, in order to keep public Wi-Fi affordable.

About PM-WANI Scheme

The Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) scheme was launched by the Department of Telecommunication in December 2020.
The scheme aims to enhance the proliferation of public WiFi hotspots to create robust digital communications infrastructure in the country, especially in rural areas.
Through better access to public hotspots, the government aims to increase employment for small and micro-entrepreneurs and provide low-cost internet to the underserved urban poor and rural households.
The scheme encourages local shops and establishments to provide Wi-Fi for last-mile internet delivery, which does not require a licence or charge a registration fee.

PM-WANI Ecosystem Components

Public Data Office (PDO):
- It will establish, maintain, and operate only WANI-compliant Wi-Fi access points and deliver broadband services to subscribers. No license is required from DoT.
- The local shops and small establishments as PDOs may earn extra income from selling internet without any requirement of license, registration, and/or any fees to DoT.
Public Data Office Aggregator (PDOA): It will be an aggregator of PDOs and perform the functions relating to authorization and accounting.
App Provider: It will develop an App to register users and discover WANI-compliant Wi-Fi hotspots in the nearby area and display the same within the App for accessing the internet services.
Central Registry:
- It will maintain the details of App Providers, PDOAs, and PDOs.
- It is currently maintained by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT).

How can you Access the PM-WANI internet?

A user who wants to access broadband through public wifi will need to download the relevant app, get authenticated, and thereafter access broadband at any public wifi hotspot.
When the user reaches a public wifi hotspot, the app on the mobile phone will show various available networks.
The user can then choose the wifi network of choice, pay an amount—either online or through voucher—and use the network till the balance is exhausted.

Source: TH

PM-WANI Scheme FAQs

Q1: What is the PM Wani scheme?

Ans: The Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) scheme aims to enhance the proliferation of public WiFi hotspots to create robust digital communications infrastructure in the country, especially in rural areas.

Q2: Which ministry launched PM Wani?

Ans: Department of Telecommunications (DoT), under Ministry of Communications & Information Technology

Q3: When was the PM-WANI scheme launched?

Ans: December 2020

Q4: In the PM-WANI ecosystem, what does PDO stand for?

Ans: Public Data Office

Q5: Who currently maintains the Central Registry under the PM-WANI scheme?

Ans: Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT)

Lac Insect

June 18, 2025

Lac Insect Latest News

In a new study, researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have unravelled the mystery behind how the lac insect produces laccaic acid that is used to make lac pigment.

About Lac Insect

It is hemimetabolous i.e. it undergoes gradual metamorphosis.
The main stages of lac insect life cycle are egg, nymph instars, pupa and adult.
The lac insects show an ovoviviparous reproduction. The life cycle is completed in about six months.
Lac insects live in cavities or cells made in the resin or lac secreted by them on their host plant.
The lac insect grows on certain trees (like the flame of the forest), drinks its sugary sap, and secretes a sticky resin called shellac.
It also makes a bright red compound called laccaic acid, which is used to make the pigment.
In India, mainly there are two distinct strains of Lac insect: kusumi and rangeeni.
Lac insects have six genera from which only five can secrete lac, but commercial lac can be secreted by only one, i.e. Laccifer.
The commonest and most widely occurring species of lac insect in India is Laccifer lacca
Distribution: The lac insects are distributed in South-East Asian countries like India, Thailand, Malaya, Lao Myanmar, and Yuan province of China.
Among these countries India and Thailand are the main lacs producing areas in the world.
In India over 90% of lac produced comes from the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Eastern Maharashtra and northern Orissa.
Uses of Lac pigment: The lac pigment is a prized commodity used in food colouring, textiles, dyes, handicrafts, and folk art.

Highlights of the Research

Researchers have found that the colourful pigment extracted from the lac insect may actually be produced by a symbiotic yeast-like organism living inside the insect.
One of the key ingredients required for laccaic acid synthesis is an amino acid called tyrosine, which the insect cannot make on its own or source from the tree sap.
Such missing ingredients are usually supplied by symbiotic bacteria or fungi that live inside insect bodies and secrete these molecules in exchange for housing.
The fungus is actually inside the insect’s oocyte (egg cell).
The fungus floats around in the insect’s haemolymph — the equivalent of animal blood — and as soon as the oocyte matures, it latches on to it and enters the oocyte, and gets transmitted to the offspring that emerges from the oocyte.

Source: TH

Lac Insect FAQs

Q1: Which state is the largest producer of lac in India?

Ans: Jharkhand

Q2: Which is the major host plant of lac insect in India?

Ans: Butea monosperma (Palash), Zizyphus spp (Ber), Schleichera oleosa (Kusum) and Acacia catechu (Khair).

Q3: What are the applications of lac?

Ans: Wood finish, Skin cosmetic, Lacquerware and dye for wool and silk.

Cyber Suraksha

June 18, 2025

Cyber Suraksha Latest News

Recently, the Defence Cyber Agency ‘Cyber Suraksha’, a comprehensive cybersecurity exercise organised under the aegis of the Integrated Defence Staff headquarters.

About Cyber Suraksha

It is a multi-phased proactive step towards bolstering cyber resilience at national level.
It encompasses the conduct of targeted training sessions, evaluation and an engaging capsule for leadership.
It is designed to simulate real-world cyber threats, reinforce secure practices, and test the analytical and defensive cyber skills of participants in a high-paced, gamified environment.
Combining structured learning with dynamic hands-on challenge environments will empower participants to act decisively in the face of cyber threats.
It was organized by the Defence Cyber Agency and it plans to conduct such exercises on a regular basis to maintain a state of readiness and cultivate a security-first culture across all levels.

What is the Defence Cyber Agency?

It is a tri-service command of the Indian Armed Forces and tasked with handling cyber security threats.
It was formally created in 2019, and its establishment marked a significant milestone in the country's efforts to strengthen its cybersecurity posture.
It was fully operational with respective Cyber Emergency Response Teams (CERT) set up by each military branch.
The DCyA draws personnel from all three branches of the Armed Forces.
The head of the DCyA is an officer of two-star rank, and reports to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) through the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS).
Headquarter: New Delhi

Source: PIB

Cyber Suraksha FAQs

Q1: Who is the father of cyber security?

Ans: Bob Thomas is a computer scientist who is widely regarded as the father of cybersecurity.

Q2: What is cyber crime or cyber Suraksha?

Ans: Cyber crimes are actions made to compromise the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of digital systems.

SMILE (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) Scheme

June 18, 2025

SMILE Scheme Latest News

Reasi is poised to become the second district in Jammu and Kashmir, after Srinagar, to implement the SMILE (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) scheme.

About SMILE Scheme

It is a multi-faceted initiative of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
It has a total allocation of ₹365 crore covering 2021-22 to 2025-26. This scheme will be implemented across the country.
It includes two central sector sub-schemes that focus on the comprehensive rehabilitation of transgender persons and individuals engaged in begging.

Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons

It provides support through scholarships for students from Class IX to post-graduation, skill development opportunities through the PM-DAKSH scheme, and financial assistance for gender-reaffirmation surgeries under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).
Additionally, ‘Garima Greh’ (shelter homes) offer transgender persons accommodation, medical care, and skill development, creating safe spaces for their growth and empowerment.
The establishment of Transgender Protection Cells in each state ensures that offences against transgender persons are properly registered, investigated, and prosecuted, providing them with necessary legal protection.

Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in Begging

It addresses the needs of this marginalized group through a structured approach encompassing four key areas: Survey and Identification, Mobilization, Shelter Homes and Rehabilitation.
Surveys are conducted to identify beneficiaries and create a national database, which is crucial for targeted interventions.
Mobilization involves outreach and awareness campaigns to encourage individuals engaged in begging to utilise the services offered by the government.
Shelter homes provide basic services such as food, clothing, medical facilities and education for children, alongside counselling and psychological support.
Rehabilitation is achieved through skill development and vocational training, helping these individuals transition into wage or self-employment, thus paving the way for their social reintegration and economic independence.

SMILE-75 Initiative

The SMILE-75 initiative was launched to extend the benefits of the SMILE scheme to 75 municipal corporations and municipalities across the country.
This initiative, which commenced in FY 2023-24, has a budget allocation of ₹100 crore spread over five years.
The cities targeted include metropolitan areas, pilgrimage sites, cultural and tourist destinations, aspirational districts, and cities in the Northeast, ensuring a wide geographical spread.

Source: HT

SMILE Scheme FAQ's

Q1: Which Ministry implements the SMILE Scheme?

Ans: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

Q2: What are the two sub-schemes under the SMILE Scheme?

Ans: Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons and Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in Begging.

Q3: What is the role of ‘Garima Greh’ under the SMILE Scheme?

Ans: Shelter homes for transgender persons

Global Nuclear Arsenal

June 18, 2025

Global Nuclear Arsenal Latest News

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) recently revealed in its new yearbook 2025 that nine countries worldwide possess as many as 12,241 nuclear weapons as of January 1, 2025.

About Global Nuclear Arsenal

At the start of 2025, nine states together possessed approximately 12,241 nuclear weapons.
Which countries have nuclear warheads? As per the report, the nine nuclear-armed states are the US, Russia, the United Kingdom (UK), France, China, India, Pakistan, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), and Israel.
How many nuclear warheads do these countries have?
- Russia: 5,459 nuclear weapons
- US: 5,177 nuclear weapons
- China: 600 nuclear weapons
- France: 290 nuclear weapons
- UK: 225 nuclear weapons
- India: 180 nuclear weapons
- Pakistan: 170 nuclear weapons
- Israel: 90 nuclear weapons
- North Korea: 50 nuclear weapons
The report said that these countries "continued intensive nuclear modernisation programmes in 2024, upgrading existing weapons and adding newer versions".
The report further revealed that of the total global inventory of an estimated 12,241 warheads in January 2025, about 9,614 were in military stockpiles for potential use.
An estimated 3,912 of those warheads were deployed with missiles and aircraft, and the rest were in central storage.
Around 2,100 of the deployed warheads were kept in a state of high operational alert on ballistic missiles.
China’s nuclear arsenal is growing faster than any other country’s, by about 100 new warheads a year since 2023.
It also mentioned that India is believed to have once again slightly expanded its nuclear arsenal in 2024 and continued to develop new types of nuclear delivery systems, including potentially canisterised missiles capable of carrying multiple warheads.
Russia and the USA together possess around 90 percent of all nuclear weapons.
The U.S. has 1,770 deployed and 1,930 stored warheads, while its inventory stands at 5,177 in 2025 compared with 5,328 in 2024.
Russia has 1,718 deployed and 2,591 stored warheads, and its inventory stands at 5,459, as against 5,580 in 2024.
Overall, the number of nuclear warheads in the world continues to decline, due to the USA and Russia dismantling retired warheads.

Source: TH

Global Nuclear Arsenal FAQs

Q1: How many nuclear weapons did the world possess at the start of 2025, according to the report?

Ans: 12,241

Q2: Which two countries together possess approximately 90% of the world's nuclear weapons?

Ans: US and Russia

Q3: Which country has the largest nuclear arsenal?

Ans: Russia

Q4: How many nuclear-armed states are there as of 2025?

Ans: 9 (US, Russia, UK, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel)

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki

June 18, 2025

Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki Latest News

Recently, a volcanic eruption in Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in Indonesia spewed ash cloud to a whopping 11 kilometers.

About Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki

Location: It is located in Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province on Flores Island.
It is situated along the famous ‘Ring of Fire’ in the Pacific region.
It is one of the most frequently active volcanoes in the region.
It has two peaks arranged on a NW-SE line separated by 2 km and a 1232 m high saddle. This gave the twin volcano its name, Lewotobi, “husband and wife”.
The two peaks correspond to the Lewotobi Lakilaki (man) and Lewotobi Perempuan (woman) stratovolcanoes.
Lewotobi Lakilaki (1584 m) has a summit crater of 400 m diameter open to the north. Lewotobi Perampuan (1703 m)’s crater is 700 m wide.
Lewotobi Lakilaki has been frequently active during the 19th and 20th centuries, while the taller and broader Lewotobi Perempuan has erupted only twice in historical time.
Small lava domes have grown during the 20th century in the summit craters of both volcanoes.

Source: HT

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki FAQs

Q1: Where is Mount Lewotobi laki-laki?

Ans: East Nusa Tenggara province

Q2: Is Lewotobi active?

Ans: Yes, Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki is currently active and has been experiencing ongoing eruptions.

What are Hydraulics?

June 18, 2025

Hydraulics Latest News

Worldwide, hydraulics constitute a $45-50 billion market and is growing steadily.

About Hydraulics

A hydraulics system is based on the simple principle of Pascal’s law, named for the 17th century French scientist Blaise Pascal.
The law states that when pressure is applied to an incompressible fluid, it is transmitted equally in all directions throughout the fluid. (Pressure here is simply the amount of force per unit area).

Working of Hydraulics System

In a hydraulic system, pressure is created by applying force to a fluid. And because it is subsequently transmitted equally in all directions, a small force applied over a small area can create a much larger force over a larger area.
A small force applied at one end can be used to generate a much larger force at the other end just by having a larger area of contact.
There’s no need to change the pressure. This is perhaps the simplest use of hydraulics. There are many more actions that a hydraulic system can perform than just lifting.
Parts of a hydraulic system: Pumps, Pipes, Valves, Linear actuators or rotary actuators, Tank (with filters) and Sensors or switches

Applications of Hydraulics

They can be used for both mobile equipment — cranes, excavators, etc. which move on wheels or tracks — and static applications such as a hydraulic press, moulding machines, windmills,
They are equipped with sensors to track movement, temperature, pressure, flow, oil contamination.

Advantages of Hydraulics

Hydraulics have many advantages over mechanical methods of transmitting energy.
The principal ones are smooth movements, high power to weight ratio, better heat dissipation, smooth controls, and higher precision.

Source: TH

Hydraulics FAQs

Q1: What principle explains Hydraulics?

Ans: Pascal's Law

Q2: What is a hydraulic tool?

Ans: Hydraulic tools operate using the force created by pressurized fluids.

Quantum Communication

June 18, 2025

Quantum Communication Latest News

Recently, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement that IIT-Delhi scientists together with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) demonstrated quantum communication over a distance of more than 1 km in free space.

About Quantum Communication

It is a way to send information using the tiniest particles in the universe, like light particles (called photons), in a super secure way.
It is an umbrella term for any scheme that uses the concepts of quantum physics, but especially entanglement, to make a given communication channel leak-proof.
It can be used to create communication channels that are protected against computational attacks since any attempt to tap the quantum channel will itself be revealed. Thus they have great value in defence settings.
If any third party intercepts one of the photons, the other photon will immediately be disturbed as well and the channel will be revealed as insecure.
An important method in quantum communication is quantum key distribution (QKD).
Quantum entanglement is a strange phenomenon where two tiny particles, like photons (particles of light), become linked in such a way that whatever happens to one instantly affects the other — even if they are far apart.

Applications of Quantum Communication

Military and government: It is used for transmitting highly sensitive information, providing secure communication channels that are immune to eavesdropping.
Banking: Protects financial transactions from cyber-attacks by using quantum key distribution (QKD) to secure online banking and international transactions.
Power grids: Secures communication within the power industry, safeguarding against cyber-attacks that could lead to outages or damage to the electrical grid.
Consumer privacy: Enhances the security of personal data transmitted over the internet, such as in cloud services or when shopping online.
Scientific collaboration: Allows secure sharing of research data between institutions, especially when dealing with proprietary or sensitive information.
Navigation: Quantum communication could be used to enhance the security of signals in GPS systems, providing tamper-proof navigation data.

Source: TH

Quantum Communication FAQs

Q1: Who invented quantum?

Ans: Niels Bohr and Max Planck

Q2: Who invented quantum theory in India?

Ans: Satyendra Nath Bose

Kanha Tiger Reserve (KTR)

June 18, 2025

Kanha Tiger Reserve Latest News

The Kanha Tiger Reserve has emerged as the leading tiger habitat in India in terms of ungulate (hoofed herbivore) population, according to the recently released report by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun.

About Kanha Tiger Reserve

Kanha Tiger Reserve, also called Kanha National Park, is located in the “Maikal” ranges of the Satpuras and falls in the Mandla and Balaghat districts of Madhya Pradesh.
It is located in the Central Indian Highlands, which are part of the extensive tableland that forms India’s main peninsula.
It is the largest national park in Madhya Pradesh. It sprawls over an area of 2074 sq.km., with 940 sq. km. of core area and 1,009 sq. km. of buffer zone.
This particular region was under the control of the Gondwana dynasty, where Gond rulers were ruling over the huge area of Central India.
It was declared a reserve forest in 1879 and revalued as a wildlife sanctuary in 1933. Its position was further upgraded to a national park in 1955.
Corridor: It has an active corridor between Kanha and Pench Tiger Reserves. Kanha is also connected with the Achanakmar Tiger Reserve of Chhattisgarh State.
Habitat: It is characterized mainly by forested shallow undulations, hills with varying degrees of slopes, plateaus, and valleys.
The forest depicted in the famous novel by Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Book, is thought by some to be based on jungles, including this reserve.
The region is known for some of the ancient tribal communities, like the Gond and Baiga, that still inhabit the region.
It is also the first tiger reserve in India to officially introduce a mascot, “Bhoorsingh the Barasingha”.
Flora: It is primarily a moist Sal and moist mixed deciduous forest where Bamboo, Tendu, Sal, Jamun, Arjun, and Lendia flourish.
Fauna:
- The park has a significant population of Royal Bengal Tigers, leopards, sloth bears, and Indian wild dogs.
- The Park is respected globally for saving the Barasingha (the state animal of Madhya Pradesh) from near extinction and has the unique distinction of harbouring the last world population of this deer species.

Source: TOI

Kanha Tiger Reserve FAQs

Q1: In which state is the Kanha Tiger Reserve located?

Ans: Madhya Pradesh

Q2: Which river flows through Kanha Tiger Reserve?

Ans: The Banjar River, a tributary of the Narmada River, flows through the Kanha Tiger Reserve.

Q3: Kanha Tiger Reserve is situated in which mountain range?

Ans: It is located in the “Maikal” ranges of the Satpuras.

Q4: What is the total area of the Kanha Tiger Reserve?

Ans: 2074 sq. km.

Q5: What is the mascot of Kanha Tiger Reserve?

Ans: Bhoorsingh the Barasingha (the state animal of Madhya Pradesh