Current Affairs 02 June 2025

ADB Unveils $10 Billion Plan to Boost India's Urban Infrastructure.

• ADB President Masato Kanda announced 5-year, $10 billion plan to enhance India’s urban infrastructure, focusing on metro expansions, RRTS corridor & sustainable development.
• The initiative supports India’s Urban Challenge Fund to attract private investment & build capacity in state & urban local bodies.
• Funds will be mobilized via sovereign loans, private sector financing & technical assist.

Hawaii Imposes First U.S. Climate Tax on Tourists.

• Hawaii introduced a 0.75% tax on hotel stays and an 11% tax on cruise bills to fund climate resilience projects.
• The tax aims to raise $100 million annually for wildfire prevention, shoreline restoration, and invasive species control.
• Hawaii is an island state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about 2,000 miles southwest of the U.S. mainland.

Rural Women’s Online Banking Soars; UPI Boosts Digital Inclusion.

• Rural women able to perform online banking rose sharply to 30% in early 2025 from 17.1% in 2022-23, with 51.4% of those aged 15-24 now active users.
• Rural men’s online banking also increased significantly, with 73.3% in the 15-24 age group versus 40.2% earlier.
• Overall, online banking usage grew nationally to 48.9%, driven by UPI and digital payment adoption across rural and urban India.

Ayush Suraksha Portal Launched to Tackle Misleading Ads & ADRs.

• Ayush Suraksha Portal launched to monitor misleading advertisements and adverse drug reactions in traditional medicine.
• The portal integrates data from State Licensing Authorities and pharmacovigilance centres for real-time tracking and public reporting.
• Developed following Supreme Court directive, empowering citizens and regulators to enhance safety and accountability in the Ayush sector.

PM Modi Inaugurates Unit I of Ghatampur Thermal Power Project in UP.

• PM Modi dedicated Unit I of the 1,980 MW Ghatampur Thermal Power Project, developed by Neyveli Uttar Pradesh Power Limited (NLC India 51%, UPRVUNL 49%).
• The ₹21,780.94 crore project features advanced emission control technologies like SCR, FGD & Zero Liquid Discharge for environmental compliance.
• Remaining 2 units expected by 2025-26; aims to boost energy security & meet rising power demand.