Current Affairs 13 June 2025

India’s social security coverage jumps to 64.3%, ranks 2nd globally.

• India’s social security coverage has increased from 19 per cent in 2015 to 64.3 per cent in 2025.
• According to the latest data from the International Labour Organisation’s ILOSTAT, the coverage reflects a 45 percentage point surge over the past decade.
• In terms of beneficiary count, India now ranks second in the world, providing social protection to around 94 crore citizens.

Pakistan secures key roles in UNSC committees.

• Pakistan has been appointed Chair of the 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee and Vice Chair of the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee as part of its term as a non-permanent UNSC member (2025–26).
• A subsidiary body of the UNSC, the 1988 Committee monitors the implementation of sanctions specifically on Taliban-linked individuals and entities.
• Established in: 2011, under UNSC Resolution 1988.

New scheme to study crops using AI: CROPIC.

• The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare plans to launch CROPIC, a study to gather crop information using field photographs and AI-based models.
• CROPIC stands for Collection of Real Time Observations & Photo of Crops.
• Crops will be photographed four-five times during their cycle, and the pictures will be analysed to assess their health and potential mid-season losses.

Nvidia to build first industrial AI cloud in Germany.

• Nvidia will build its first artificial intelligence cloud platform for industrial applications in Germany.
• The technology, which will combine AI with robotics, will help carmakers such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz with processes from simulating product design to managing logistics.
• Nvidia is also partnering with European AI champion Mistral to create AI computing.

Unesco’s Creative City of Gastronomy: Lucknow is India’s nominee.

• A proposal for Creative City Lucknow under the category Gastronomy for Awadhi Cuisine has been submitted to the World Heritage Centre recently.
• The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), 2004 is a global network of cities that recognize culture and creativity as drivers of sustainable urban development.
• UCCN: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, and Music.