On June 18th, 2025, India is abuzz with diverse developments: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a significant tour, starting with Cyprus to strengthen key ties, while new technology platforms have been launched to boost the nation's disaster management capabilities. In a scientific discovery, a unique new flowering plant, Portulaca Bharat, has been found in the Aravali hills. On the security front, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has condemned a recent terror attack and is taking a new look at state-sponsored terror financing, even as the historic Shipki La Pass reopens for tourism, rekindling hopes for ancient trade routes.

Awareness regarding daily UPSC current affairs is crucial for cracking the UPSC Prelims, excelling in UPSC Mains. It helps perform well in the UPSC personality test, thus becoming an informed and effective UPSC civil servant.

Below are the current affairs and headlines of the day taken from The Hindu, Indian Express, Press Information Bureau & All India Radio as required for UPSC preparation:

PM Modi’s Historic Visit to Cyprus Revitalizes Ties

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS Paper II (International Relations)

IN NEWS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to Cyprus from June 15–16, 2025, marked a significant and long-awaited revival of political ties between India and Cyprus. This was a particularly notable event as it was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Cyprus in over two decades, occurring strategically ahead of Cyprus taking over the EU Council Presidency in 2026. The visit's key outcomes included the signing of a Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Partnership, a strong statement regarding the enduring 'Cyprus Question', and a clear strategic message directed towards Turkiye amidst prevailing regional tensions. During his visit, PM Modi was also conferred Cyprus’s highest civilian honour — the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III.

Historical Background: India-Cyprus Relations 

India and Cyprus share deep-rooted historical and diplomatic ties that date back to 1960, the year Cyprus gained independence from British rule. India was among the very first countries to officially recognize the Republic of Cyprus and demonstrated strong support for its sovereignty, particularly during the Turkish invasion in 1974. The bond between the two nations was further solidified by the shared vision of PM Jawaharlal Nehru and Archbishop Makarios III, one of the founding fathers of Cyprus, for the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Over the decades, Cyprus has consistently extended its support to India on various critical global issues, including matters pertaining to Kashmir, cross-border terrorism, and India's aspiration for permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Key Outcomes from the Prime Minister’s Visit 

The recent visit by Prime Minister Modi yielded several significant outcomes aimed at enhancing the bilateral relationship:

• Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Partnership: A pivotal document was signed, outlining broadened cooperation across several vital areas. These areas include:
  • Defense and strategic affairs, to enhance security collaboration.
  • Maritime connectivity, improving naval and commercial ties.
  • Combating terrorism and strengthening cybersecurity defenses.
  • Promoting green energy and addressing climate change through joint initiatives.
  • Fostering innovation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and digital infrastructure development.
• India-Cyprus Action Plan (2025–2029): A concrete action plan was proposed to provide a structured framework for institutionalizing and monitoring the progress of bilateral cooperation over the next five years.
• Support for India-EU FTA: Both nations expressed strong support for the early finalization of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which is expected to boost economic ties significantly.
• Multilateral Coordination: There was an agreement to enhance coordination and cooperation in various multilateral forums, including the United Nations (UN), the Commonwealth, and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
• International Membership Support: Cyprus reaffirmed its unwavering support for India's aspirations for membership in critical international bodies such as the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
• Strengthening EU–India Strategic Partnership: The visit played a crucial role in bolstering the overall strategic partnership between the European Union and India, especially as Cyprus prepares to assume the EU Council Presidency in 2026. This position will allow Cyprus to play a key role in advancing the India-EU agenda.

New Tech Platforms Boost India's Disaster Management

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS Paper II (Governance)

IN NEWS

Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently launched three major technology platforms aimed at significantly enhancing real-time disaster management and response efficiency across India. These innovative platforms were unveiled at the Annual Conference of Relief Commissioners, Disaster Management Secretaries, and State Disaster Response Forces (SDRFs) in New Delhi, marking a new phase in India's disaster preparedness strategy.

Newly Launched Platforms for Disaster Management 

The three platforms represent a strategic leap in India’s disaster management capabilities, leveraging technology for improved coordination and response:

• Integrated Control Room for Emergency Response (ICR-ER):
  • Function: This is envisioned as a national-level system for real-time monitoring of disaster situations across the country.
  • Data Integration: It is designed to stream critical satellite data directly to various rescue and response agencies, enabling faster and more informed decision-making during emergencies.
  • Coordination Enhancement: The primary goal of ICR-ER is to integrate and streamline the operations of response agencies at all levels — Central, State, and District — thereby significantly improving coordination, communication, and command structures during crisis situations.
• National Database for Emergency Management Lite 2.0 (NDEM Lite 2.0):
  • Function: This platform is an upgraded version of a digital database specifically developed to support response forces with crucial information.
  • Information Access: It provides easy access to vital disaster-related information, including detailed infrastructure maps, population data, and locations of critical installations, which are essential for effective emergency planning.
  • Offline Capability: A key feature is its design for offline and remote use, ensuring that response personnel can access critical data even in areas where connectivity might be compromised due to a disaster.
  • Standardization and Planning: NDEM Lite 2.0 aims to standardize response protocols across different agencies and facilitate better resource allocation and strategic planning during emergencies.
• Flood Hazard Zonation Atlas of Assam:
  • Function: This specialized atlas has been developed specifically for Assam, a state in India that is historically one of the most prone to severe flooding.
  • Data Provided: It offers real-time flood data, current river water levels, and detailed impact mapping, allowing for precise understanding of flood dynamics.
  • Aid in Planning: The atlas is a crucial tool designed to aid in disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies, improve preparedness measures, and enhance climate resilience planning for the state.

Significance and Implications of the New Platforms 

The launch of these platforms carries significant implications for India’s disaster management framework:

• For Disaster Management as a Whole:
  • Data-Driven Decisions: The platforms enhance the ability to make rapid, data-driven decisions during emergencies, moving from reactive to proactive management.
  • Bridging Gaps: They serve to bridge the communication and information gap between ground-level responders and central authorities, ensuring a unified approach.
  • Improved Analysis: These tools will significantly improve predictive analysis, strengthen early warning systems, and facilitate more accurate post-disaster assessments, leading to faster recovery.
• For Flood-Prone Areas:
  • Assam Focus: Assam experiences annual devastating floods affecting millions of lives and livelihoods. The Flood Hazard Zonation Atlas provides a state-specific tool that can drastically improve mitigation and response.
  • Replication Potential: The success of this atlas in Assam is expected to lead to its replication in other flood-prone states across India, creating a national network of localized flood management tools.
• For National Preparedness:
  • Technology Integration: The initiative reflects a broader shift in India’s approach towards a more technology-integrated and scientifically informed disaster management system.
  • International Commitments: These efforts support India's commitments under international frameworks like the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030), which emphasizes technology, data, and multi-stakeholder approaches to disaster resilience.

New Flowering Plant Species 'Portulaca Bharat' Discovered in Aravali Hills

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS Paper III (Biodiversity)

IN NEWS 

A new and unique flowering plant species, named Portulaca bharat, has recently been discovered in the rugged terrain of the Aravali hills near Jaipur, Rajasthan. This significant find highlights the rich, yet often hidden, biodiversity present in the rocky and semi-arid zones of India. The discovery has garnered international recognition, with its details published in the prestigious international journal Phytotaxa. Currently, the species is listed as Data Deficient (DD) under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines, signaling an urgent need for further research and potential conservation efforts.

Key Characteristics of Portulaca bharat 

The newly discovered Portulaca bharat possesses distinct features that make it notable:

• Morphology: It is classified as a succulent plant, meaning it has fleshy parts adapted to store water, which is a common trait for plants thriving in dry environments. What makes it unusual are its distinct morphological features, which allow it to uniquely adapt and grow specifically in narrow rock crevices.
• Habitat: The plant was found in its natural setting on the dry, rocky slopes of the Galtaji hills, located near the ancient Galtaji temple in Jaipur. Its discovery confirms its specific adaptation to semi-arid and rocky environments, making it a specialized species of its unique ecosystem.
• Endemism: As of now, Portulaca bharat is known to be restricted to this single identified location in the Aravali hills. This limited distribution makes it an endemic species to this particular area.
• Cultivation for Research: To validate its unique characteristics and facilitate further study, the species has been successfully grown under controlled conditions in research facilities located in Hamirpur (Himachal Pradesh) and Lucknow. This ability to cultivate it helps in understanding its growth patterns and potential for broader propagation if needed for conservation.

Conservation Status and Concerns 

The conservation status of Portulaca bharat requires immediate attention due to its current IUCN Red List assessment and the threats it faces:

• IUCN Red List Assessment: Data Deficient (DD): The species has been categorized as Data Deficient. This classification is used when there is not enough information to make a proper assessment of its risk of extinction.
• Reasons for Data Deficient Status:
  • Single Known Population: Its occurrence is currently limited to just one identified population, which makes it inherently vulnerable.
  • Vulnerability to Habitat Degradation: The plant's habitat is susceptible to degradation from various human activities and natural processes.
  • Impact of Climate Change: As a species adapted to specific climatic conditions, it is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, which can alter its preferred environment.
• Conservation Concern: There is an urgent need for its protection. This concern stems from:
  • Narrow Distribution: Its very limited geographical spread makes it susceptible to localized disturbances.
  • Fragile Habitat: The rocky and semi-arid environment it inhabits is delicate and easily disturbed.
  • Threats in Aravali Region: The Aravali region, where it was found, faces increasing pressures from urban expansion, growing tourism activities, and significant climate variability. These factors pose direct risks to the plant's survival.

FATF Condemns Pahalgam Attack, Focuses on State-Sponsored Terrorism Financing

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS Paper II (International Relations)

IN NEWS

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has issued a strong condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack, which occurred on April 22, 2025. This condemnation is particularly notable as it marks only the third such instance by FATF in the past decade, underscoring the severity of the incident. The global watchdog highlighted that such attacks are often facilitated by the movement of illicit money and sophisticated financial networks. For the first time in its history, FATF has announced that it will release a dedicated report specifically recognizing state-sponsored terrorism as a distinct and significant source of terror financing, marking a crucial shift in its approach.

Objectives of FATF 

FATF pursues several key objectives to fulfill its mandate:

• Setting Global Standards: Its primary goal is to establish and promote international standards to prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
• Evaluating Compliance: It systematically evaluates how well countries are complying with these established standards through a rigorous process of mutual evaluations (peer reviews).
• Monitoring High-Risk Jurisdictions: FATF identifies and monitors jurisdictions that pose a high risk to the international financial system and publishes lists of these countries (Black List and Grey List).
• Promoting Financial Transparency: It works to enhance transparency in global financial systems, which is crucial for safeguarding national security and maintaining financial integrity worldwide.

Functions of FATF 

To achieve its objectives, FATF performs several critical functions:

• Develop Recommendations: FATF has developed 40 Recommendations that serve as the comprehensive international standard for combating money laundering, terror financing, and proliferation financing. These recommendations provide a framework for countries to implement effective legal, regulatory, and operational measures.
• Conduct Mutual Evaluations: It regularly conducts peer-reviewed assessments of its member countries' legal and operational frameworks to check their compliance and effectiveness in implementing FATF standards.
• Issue Public Statements: FATF issues public statements to identify jurisdictions that are non-cooperative or pose a high risk. These include:
  • Black List: Countries or territories that are non-cooperative and have significant strategic deficiencies in their AML/CTF regimes (e.g., North Korea, Iran).
  • Grey List: Countries that are under increased monitoring for their strategic deficiencies but are committed to working with FATF to address them (e.g., previously Pakistan, Myanmar, etc.).
• Track Emerging Threats: FATF continuously monitors and analyzes emerging threats and new methods used for financial crime, including the misuse of new technologies like crypto assets, to ensure its recommendations remain relevant.
• Assist Countries: It provides technical guidance, training, and shares best practices with countries to help them strengthen their AML/CTF regimes.
• Promote National Risk Assessments: FATF encourages member countries to conduct their own national risk assessments, like India’s recent assessment which has specifically flagged state-sponsored terrorism as a significant concern.

FATF Membership 

FATF currently has 40 members, which include countries and regional organizations. India became a full member of FATF in 2010, underscoring its commitment to international efforts against money laundering and terror financing.

Shipki La Pass Reopens for Tourism, Rekindling Ancient Trade Route Hopes

Source: The Hindu

Syllabus: GS Paper I (Geography)

IN NEWS 

• Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has announced the reopening of the historic Shipki La Pass in the Kinnaur district for domestic tourism, notably without requiring special permits. 

• This significant move has immediately revived public demand and hopes for the complete reopening of the ancient India-Tibet trade route through the pass, which has remained largely closed since the 1962 Sino-India war. 

• The decision highlights a strategic push to enhance tourism and potentially rekindle cross-border economic and cultural exchanges.

Cultural and Strategic Connections 

Beyond trade, Shipki La Pass is a nexus of rich cultural and strategic ties:

• Shared Tibetan Buddhist Traditions: Communities in Upper Kinnaur and across Tibet share deep Tibetan Buddhist traditions. This includes common festivals, rituals, and a shared monastic life that has historically fostered strong bonds.
• Pastoralist Lifestyles: Many communities on both sides of the pass share similar pastoralist lifestyles, where herding and transhumance (seasonal migration of livestock) form a core part of their livelihood practices.
• Linguistic and Familial Links: While there are generally no direct cross-border familial ties similar to those seen on India-Pakistan borders, shared surnames and dialects, such as "Namgyal" existing in both Leh and parts of Tibet, point to historical intermingling and strong cultural unity primarily driven by shared religion and livelihood practices.

Strategic and Tourism Significance of Reopening 

The reopening of Shipki La Pass for domestic tourism carries both strategic and tourism-related implications:

• Pilgrimage Route: Its reopening could significantly shorten the pilgrimage time to the revered Kailash Mansarovar, potentially reducing the journey by up to 14 days, offering a more accessible route for devotees.
• Buddhist Tourism: It holds immense potential to boost Buddhist tourism, connecting India's rich Buddhist circuit with destinations in Tibet, creating a unique cross-cultural tourism experience.
• People-Led Diplomacy: The move aligns with India’s broader foreign policy push for 'people-led diplomacy' and regional integration, where interactions at the community level can foster mutual understanding and trust.
• "Peace Corridor" Potential: The pass's revival is seen by some as potentially acting as a "peace corridor" through community-led engagement, even in geopolitically sensitive border areas, fostering stability through economic and cultural ties.

Geographic and Strategic Details 

Shipki La is one of the important mountain passes on the India-China border:

• Open India-China Border Passes (Historically for Trade):
  • Nathu La: Located in Sikkim, connecting Sikkim (India) with the Chumbi Valley (Tibet Autonomous Region, China).
  • Lipu Lekh: Located in Uttarakhand, connecting Pithoragarh district (India) with Tibet (China) via the Kalapani area.
  • Shipki La: Located in Himachal Pradesh, connecting Kinnaur (India) with Tibet (China).
• River Connection: The pass is notably situated near the Satluj River, which makes its entry into India from Tibet at this very point.
• Regional Connectivity: It provides crucial connectivity between the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh and the Ngari Prefecture in western Tibet.

Important Mountain Passes in India

India is home to numerous strategically important mountain passes across its diverse topography. Here is a table listing some of them: