Current Affairs Quiz — 18 June 2025
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Where is the 8th edition of the India–France Joint Military Exercise SHAKTI being held from 18 June 2025?
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Correct answer: C — Camp Larzac, La Cavalerie, France
PIB (MoD): The exercise will be conducted at Camp Larzac, La Cavalerie, France from 18 June 2025 to 1 July 2025.
The Indian Army contingent for Exercise SHAKTI-VIII is represented primarily by a battalion of which regiment?
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Correct answer: D — Jammu and Kashmir Rifles
PIB (MoD): The 90-member Indian contingent is represented primarily by a Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles.
Consider the following statements about Exercise SHAKTI: 1. It is a biennial training engagement between the Indian and French Armies. 2. The edition beginning on 18 June 2025 is its 8th edition. 3. The 2025 edition focuses on joint operations under Chapter VI of the UN Charter. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB (MoD): SHAKTI is a biennial engagement and the 2025 exercise is its 8th edition; it focuses on operations under Chapter VII, not Chapter VI, of the UN Charter. So the answer is 1 and 2 only.
How many houses were approved under PMAY-Urban 2.0 at the third CSMC meeting held on 18 June 2025?
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Correct answer: D — 2.35 lakh
PIB (MoHUA): 2.35 lakh houses (2,34,864) were approved in nine states during the third CSMC meeting on 18 June 2025.
Consider the following statements about the PMAY-U 2.0 CSMC meeting of 18 June 2025: 1. The houses approved at the meeting are under the BLC and AHP verticals. 2. The meeting was chaired by the Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
PIB (MoHUA): The approved houses are under the BLC and AHP verticals; the meeting was chaired by MoHUA Secretary Srinivas Katikithala, not the Minister. So the answer is 1 only.
Through how many verticals is PMAY-Urban 2.0 being implemented?
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Correct answer: C — Four
PIB (MoHUA): PMAY-U 2.0 is being implemented through Four verticals – BLC, AHP, Affordable Rental Housing (ARH) and Interest Subsidy Scheme (ISS).
Under which rules will Central Government employees opting for the Unified Pension Scheme get retirement and death gratuity, as clarified on 18 June 2025?
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Correct answer: B — CCS (Payment of Gratuity under National Pension System) Rules, 2021
PIB (DoPPW OM): UPS employees shall be eligible for retirement and death gratuity under the CCS (Payment of Gratuity under National Pension System) Rules, 2021.
Who announced on 18 June 2025 that employees under the Unified Pension Scheme would get gratuity benefits?
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Correct answer: D — Dr Jitendra Singh
PIB (DoPPW): Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh made the announcement that UPS employees will be eligible for retirement and death gratuity.
From which date was the Unified Pension Scheme made effective as an option under NPS for Central Government civil service recruits?
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Correct answer: A — 1 April 2025
PIB (DoPPW): DFS Notification dated 24.01.2025 introduced the UPS as an option under NPS w.e.f. 01.04.2025, that is 1 April 2025.
Where was INS Arnala commissioned on 18 June 2025?
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Correct answer: D — Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam
PIB (MoD): INS Arnala was commissioned on 18 June 2025 at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam.
INS Arnala, commissioned in June 2025, is the first of which class of vessels?
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Correct answer: A — Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft
PIB (MoD): INS Arnala is the first of the Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft.
INS Arnala is the largest Indian naval warship propelled by which combination?
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Correct answer: C — Diesel engine and waterjet
PIB (MoD): The 77-metre warship is the largest Indian naval warship propelled by a Diesel engine and waterjet combination.
Consider the following statements about INS Arnala: 1. INS Arnala has been commissioned into the Eastern Naval Command. 2. Representatives of GRSE and L&T Shipbuilding attended its commissioning. 3. INS Arnala is named after a historic coastal fort off Gujarat. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB (MoD): INS Arnala joined the Eastern Naval Command, and GRSE and L&T Shipbuilding were represented; it is named after a historic coastal fort off Maharashtra, not Gujarat. So the answer is 1 and 2 only.
PM Narendra Modi's visit to Croatia on 18 June 2025 was significant because it was:
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Correct answer: B — the first-ever visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Croatia
PIB (Leaders' Statement): The visit on 18 June 2025 marked the first-ever visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Croatia.
Who was the Prime Minister of Croatia who held talks with PM Modi in Zagreb on 18 June 2025?
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Correct answer: C — Andrej Plenković
PIB (PMO): PM Modi met the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Andrej Plenković, in Zagreb.
Consider the following statements about the outcomes of PM Modi's visit to Croatia in June 2025: 1. The ICCR Hindi Chair at the University of Zagreb was renewed. 2. An MoU on Agriculture and Allied Sectors was concluded. 3. India and Croatia signed their first MoU on Defence Cooperation during the visit. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 1 and 2 only
PIB (Outcomes, Leaders' Statement): The outcomes included renewal of the ICCR Hindi Chair and an MoU on Agriculture and Allied Sectors; the Defence Cooperation MoU dates from 2023 and was only noted. So the answer is 1 and 2 only.
Who is the President of Croatia whom PM Modi met in Zagreb on 18 June 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Zoran Milanović
PIB (PMO): PM Modi met the President of the Republic of Croatia, Zoran Milanović, in Zagreb.
Under the SOP introduced by the ECI on 18 June 2025, EPICs are to be delivered within how many days of an update in the electoral rolls?
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Correct answer: C — 15 days
PIB (ECI): The new SOP enables delivery of EPICs within 15 days of an update in the electoral rolls.
On which platform has the ECI introduced a dedicated IT module for faster EPIC delivery in June 2025?
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Correct answer: B — ECINet
PIB (ECI): For this purpose, ECI has introduced a dedicated IT module on its recently launched ECINet platform.
The Election Commission of India, which introduced the fast-track EPIC delivery SOP, was established on:
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Correct answer: D — 25 January 1950
ECI (eci.gov.in): The Election Commission was established in accordance with the Constitution on 25 January 1950.
Which three bodies signed a tripartite MoU on 18 June 2025 to promote inclusive education for persons with disabilities?
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Correct answer: B — DEPwD, NIOS and NCERT
PIB (MoSJE): The tripartite MoU was signed between DEPwD, NIOS and NCERT.
Under the DEPwD–NIOS–NCERT MoU of June 2025, NIOS will establish which institutions by recognising special schools funded under DDRS?
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Correct answer: D — Special Accredited Institutions for Education of the Divyangjan (SAIEDs)
PIB (MoSJE): NIOS will establish Special Accredited Institutions for Education of the Divyangjan (SAIEDs), recognising special schools run by NGOs funded under DDRS.
In which city did BSNL soft-launch its Quantum 5G FWA service on 18 June 2025?
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Correct answer: B — Hyderabad
PIB (DoT): BSNL announced on June 18, 2025, in Hyderabad, the soft launch of BSNL Quantum 5G FWA.
Consider the following statements about BSNL Quantum 5G FWA: 1. It is a SIM-less fixed-wireless-access service. 2. A download speed of 980 Mbps was recorded at the Ameerpet Exchange. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
PIB (DoT): The service has a SIM-less architecture, and Ameerpet recorded 980 Mbps download speed. Both are correct, so the answer is Both 1 and 2.
Under the Time Dissemination Project discussed on 18 June 2025, Indian Standard Time is to be delivered through how many Regional Reference Standard Laboratories?
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Correct answer: A — Five
PIB (DoCA): The initiative aims to deliver IST through five Regional Reference Standard Laboratories (RRSLs) equipped with atomic clocks; the answer is Five.
The Department of Consumer Affairs is implementing the Time Dissemination Project in collaboration with which institutions?
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Correct answer: D — CSIR-NPL and ISRO
PIB (DoCA): The Time Dissemination Project is implemented by the Department of Consumer Affairs in collaboration with CSIR-NPL and ISRO.
Which state signed an MoU with the Digital India BHASHINI Division on 18 June 2025 to promote multilingual governance in its native language?
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Correct answer: A — Mizoram
PIB (MeitY): The Digital India BHASHINI Division and the Government of Mizoram signed an MoU to empower the Mizo community through language technology.
Consider the following statements about the Mizoram–BHASHINI MoU of 18 June 2025: 1. The MoU was signed at Aizawl. 2. Mizoram Chief Secretary Khilli Ram Meena was present at the signing. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: B — 2 only
PIB (MeitY): The MoU was signed at the MeitY Office, CGO Complex, New Delhi, not Aizawl, in the presence of Mizoram Chief Secretary Khilli Ram Meena. So the answer is 2 only.
What is the award money for each Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025, announced on 18 June 2025?
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Correct answer: A — ₹50,000
PIB (Culture): The award comprises a casket containing an engraved copper plaque and award money of ₹50,000 (Rs.50,000).
Who received the Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025 in Hindi, and for which book?
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Correct answer: C — Sushil Shukla for 'Ek Batey Bara'
PIB (Culture, Annexure A): Hindi – Ek Batey Bara (Short Stories) – Sushil Shukla, so Sushil Shukla for 'Ek Batey Bara'.
How much central assistance for recovery and reconstruction in Himachal Pradesh was approved by the High-Level Committee, as announced on 18 June 2025?
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Correct answer: C — ₹2,006.40 crore
PIB (MHA): The High-Level Committee approved a recovery plan of ₹2,006.40 crore (Rs. 2006.40 crore) for Himachal Pradesh.
The central share in the Himachal Pradesh recovery plan approved in June 2025 comes from which fund window?
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Correct answer: A — Recovery and Reconstruction Funding Window under NDRF
PIB (MHA): ₹1,504.80 crore will be the central share from the Recovery and Reconstruction Funding Window under NDRF (National Disaster Response Fund).
Consider the following statements about the High-Level Committee assistance to Himachal Pradesh announced on 18 June 2025: 1. The committee is chaired by the Union Home Minister. 2. The assistance relates to damage during the 2023 monsoon. 3. The Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog is a member of the committee. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (MHA): The HLC is chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah, the plan relates to 2023 monsoon damage, and the Finance Minister, Agriculture Minister and VC NITI Aayog are members. All are correct, so the answer is 1, 2 and 3.
Where was the Digital Payments Awards ceremony hosted by the Department of Financial Services held on 18 June 2025?
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Correct answer: B — Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi
PIB (MoF): DFS hosted the Digital Payments Awards ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 18th June 2025.
According to the Finance Minister at the Digital Payments Awards on 18 June 2025, UPI is active in how many countries?
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Correct answer: C — 7
PIB (MoF): Today UPI is active in 7 countries, the Finance Minister said.
Consider the following statements made at the Digital Payments Awards on 18 June 2025: 1. UPI recorded 18,587 crore transactions in FY 2024-25. 2. India's fintech adoption rate is 87% against 67% globally. 3. A total of 10 awards were presented to top-performing banks. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (MoF): UPI recorded 18,587 crore transactions in FY 2024-25, India has 87% fintech adoption against 67% globally, and 10 awards went to top-performing banks. All are correct, so the answer is 1, 2 and 3.
With which country did India hold the first Joint Working Group meeting on Agriculture, in virtual mode, on 18 June 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Ukraine
PIB (Agriculture): The first Joint Working Group meeting on Agriculture was held between India and Ukraine in virtual mode.