SPORTS
RCB Clinches First IPL Title: 2025 Season Highlights
• Royal Challengers Bangalore lifted their maiden IPL trophy by beating Punjab Kings by 6 runs in a nail-biting final on 3rd June at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.
• RCB, put in to bat, put up 190 runs in 20 overs, with Virat Kohli top-scoring with 43 runs.
• Punjab Kings fell short, scoring 184/8 despite a fighting 61* by Shashank Singh.
• Krunal Pandya’s tight spell of 2 wickets for just 17 runs in 4 overs earned him the Player of the Match award.
• Gujarat Titans’ Sai Sudharsan bagged the Orange Cap (most runs), Most Fours, Fantasy King, and Emerging Player titles.
• Prasidh Krishna, also from Gujarat Titans, clinched the Purple Cap for taking the highest wickets this season.
• Mumbai Indians’ Suryakumar Yadav was named MVP for his outstanding batting, while Vaibhav Suryavanshi won Super Striker.
• Chennai Super Kings got the Fairplay Award; Nicholas Pooran hit the most sixes, Mohammed Siraj bowled the most dot balls, and Kamindu Mendis grabbed Catch of the Season.
STATE NEWS
UP Government Grants 20% Reservation to Former Agniveers in Police Jobs
• On 3rd June, Uttar Pradesh approved a 20% horizontal quota for ex-Agniveers in police recruitment.
• This reservation covers roles like Police Constable, PAC, Mounted Constable, and Fireman across the state.
• The initiative ensures stable job opportunities for Agniveers after their four-year defence tenure.
• The quota applies equally within General, SC, ST, and OBC categories during direct recruitment.
• Ex-Agniveers will benefit from an additional three-year relaxation in age limits too.
• The first recruitment drive under this policy is expected to start in 2026 when the first Agniveer batch returns.
• The policy reflects the state’s effort to utilise trained youth for continued service in internal security.
• Launched on June 15, 2022, the Agneepath scheme recruits young men and women for four years in the armed forces to strengthen manpower and cut pension expenses.
NATIONAL NEWS
India Unveils First AI SEZ in Nava Raipur
• India’s first Special Economic Zone focused entirely on artificial intelligence will come up in Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
• RackBank Datacenters Pvt. Ltd., an Indore-based green data centre company, will invest ₹1,000 crore in this mega project.
• The upcoming AI SEZ will feature cutting-edge infrastructure for AI research, development, and large-scale applications.
• Spread over 6 acres, the facility will house a 150,000 sq ft centre to run advanced AI servers and big data tasks.
• Four high-density data centres with a total capacity of 80 MW will boost India’s digital backbone.
• Global tech leaders like Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Meta are expected to set up operations here.
• The SEZ offers tax breaks and relaxed regulations to attract innovation and foreign collaboration.
• Besides boosting India’s tech leadership, the AI SEZ will generate employment and benefit youth in regions like Dantewada, Kanker, and Bilaspur.
India Secures Presidency of International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS)
• On June 3, 2025, India was elected President of IIAS for the 2025–2028 term, defeating Austria in the final voting round.
• Shri V. Srinivas, Secretary of DARPG, was India’s nominated candidate, backed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• South Africa withdrew its candidature in May 2025, supporting India in the final phase.
• Out of 141 total votes, India secured 87 (61.7%) while Austria received 54 (38.3%).
• This was the first-ever presidential election in IIAS history to be conducted through a ballot process.
• India’s leadership aims to promote inclusivity, digital governance, and bridge the North-South divide.
• The presidency will reflect Modi’s “Maximum Governance – Minimum Government” governance philosophy.
• Founded in 1930 and based in Brussels, IIAS includes members like Japan, Germany, China, and India (since 1998).
Key Highlights of the Review Meeting on the World’s Largest Cooperative Food Grain Storage Scheme
• A review meeting on the world’s biggest cooperative grain storage initiative was conducted in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah.
• Minister of State for Cooperation Shri Krishan Pal Gurjar and Shri Murlidhar Mohol, along with officials from relevant ministries and agencies like FCI, NABARD, and NCDC, participated in the meeting.
• Shri Amit Shah described the scheme as a major step towards fulfilling PM Modi’s vision of “Sahkar Se Samriddhi”.
• The storage plan aims to boost India’s GDP and create new job opportunities in rural areas.
• Increasing the income of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and generating local employment are key goals of this initiative.
• States have been asked to actively involve more PACS to ensure the scheme’s effective implementation at the grassroots level.
• Agencies like FCI, NCCF, NAFED, and State Warehousing Corporations have been directed to link PACS with more warehouses to expand their participation.
• Launched as a pilot on 31 May 2023, the scheme will develop agri-infrastructure at the PACS level by combining resources from existing government schemes like AIF and AMI.
AWARDS
Serena Williams Honoured with the Princess of Asturias Award for Sports 2025
• American tennis legend Serena Williams has been awarded the prestigious Princess of Asturias Award for Sports 2025 in Spain.
• This honour is one of the most esteemed recognitions in Spain, celebrating outstanding contributions in sports, arts, literature, and more.
• Event organisers praised Serena as one of the greatest athletes ever and highlighted her influence beyond tennis.
• She is celebrated for her strong advocacy for gender equality and promoting fair opportunities in sports and society.
• Serena’s illustrious career includes 23 Grand Slam titles, 73 singles titles, and four Olympic gold medals.
• The award carries a prize of 50,000 euros (about $57,000) and is one of eight annual Princess of Asturias Prizes.
• Notable past recipients include skier Lindsey Vonn, the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, and the New Zealand rugby squad.
• Career milestones include her first Grand Slam win in 1999, Olympic singles gold in 2012, and a record 23rd Grand Slam at the 2017 Australian Open.
