India's extreme poverty rate has dropped from 27.1% in 2011-12 to just 5.3% in 2022-23, according to the World Bank. Approximately 269 million people were lifted out of extreme poverty during this period. Rural poverty declined from 18.4% to 2.8%, while urban poverty fell from 10.7% to 1.1%. Major states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Bihar led the reduction. At the $2.15/day line, poverty now affects only 2.3% of Indians. Government schemes like Jan Dhan, Ujjwala, Awas Yojana, and Ayushman Bharat, along with Direct Benefit Transfers, have been credited for empowering citizens and expanding last-mile welfare delivery. (PC: NDTV)

The Karnataka High Court on Friday granted interim protection from arrest to senior Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) officials in connection with the Bengaluru stadium stampede that killed 11 people. However, no such relief was granted to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) marketing head Nikhil Sosale, who was arrested at the airport along with Sunil Mathew from DNA, the event’s management firm. The court directed Sosale’s plea to be heard next week. KSCA argued it only rented the venue, while RCB and police handled crowd management. The court asked the state to submit a detailed report by June 10. (PC: ANI)

A language controversy has erupted in Mumbai over the naming of three penguin chicks born at the city’s Byculla Zoo. BJP leader Nitin Bankar demanded the chicks—named Noddy, Tom, and Pingu—be given Marathi names since they were "born on Maharashtra’s soil." The zoo had continued its tradition of English names, a practice since the first penguins arrived from South Korea in 2016. Despite repeated appeals, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation hasn't responded. The chicks were born in March to penguin pairs Popeye–Olive and Daisy–Donald. The zoo, now home to 21 Humboldt penguins, plans to expand its enclosure for future hatchlings. (PC: TOI)

On June 6, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Chenab Rail Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district, marking a historic milestone in India's infrastructure development. Standing at 359 meters above the Chenab River, the bridge surpasses the Eiffel Tower in height and is now the world's tallest railway arch bridge. This engineering marvel is a key component of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, which spans 272 kilometers through the challenging Himalayan terrain. The project includes 36 tunnels and 943 bridges, constructed at a cost of ₹43,780 crore. The inauguration also saw the launch of the Vande Bharat Express between Katra and Srinagar, enhancing connectivity and promoting economic development in the region. (PC: Hindustan Times)  

In the aftermath of the Bengaluru stampede that killed 11 during RCB’s IPL victory event, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah sacked his political secretary Govindraju, who allegedly pushed for the Vidhana Soudha celebration. The state also suspended multiple top police officials, including Bengaluru’s police commissioner. FIRs have been filed against RCB, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and the event organisers. A political storm is brewing, with the BJP accusing the Congress-led government of scapegoating the police and acting only under public pressure. CM Siddaramaiah defended his response, claiming action was taken against officials who were visibly negligent in their duties. (PC: News18)

The body of 45-year-old Subrata Ghosh from West Bengal, who died while descending Mount Everest on May 16, remains frozen at Hillary Step in the deadly "death zone" above 8,000 metres. Retrieving the body is both dangerous and extremely costly—estimated over ₹1 crore due to altitude, manpower, and logistical challenges. Helicopters can't reach the zone; only experienced Sherpas can operate there. With the climbing season closed, efforts must wait until next year. High-altitude retrievals require meticulous planning, expert teams, and often days of perilous descent—making Everest not just a summit but one of the world’s highest graveyards. (PC: The Indian Express)

Indian Railways has announced plans to undertake random Aadhaar verification of passengers to curb illegal immigration. This measure aims to identify individuals misusing Aadhaar cards, particularly illegal immigrants from neighboring countries like Bangladesh, who often use forged documents. The initiative follows recent crackdowns where authorities uncovered widespread Aadhaar misuse, including arrests linked to counterfeit card production. By implementing these random checks, Railways intends to strengthen security and ensure the authenticity of passenger identities. This move is part of a larger government effort to address illegal immigration and protect national security. (PC: Reuters)  

On June 5, 2025, security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district neutralized senior Maoist leader Gautam, also known as Sudhakar, during an operation in the Indravati National Park area. Sudhakar, a Central Committee Member of the CPI (Maoist) and the group's ideological chief, carried a bounty of ₹40 lakh. His death follows the recent elimination of General Secretary Nambala Keshav Rao (Basavaraju), marking the third senior Maoist leader killed in 2025. Authorities recovered an AK-47 rifle and explosives from the site. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai hailed the operation as a significant step in eradicating Maoism from the Bastar region. (PC: ANI)

On June 6, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be inaugurate the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), establishing Kashmir's first all-weather rail connectivity with Delhi through Katra. Spanning 272 km, the ₹43,780 crore project features 36 tunnels and 943 bridges, including the world's highest railway arch bridge over the Chenab River at 359 meters. The inauguration also marked the launch of two Vande Bharat Express trains between Katra and Srinagar, reducing travel time to under 3 hours. This development is poised to boost regional connectivity, tourism, and economic integration, symbolizing a significant engineering and infrastructural achievement for India. ( PC: PTI)  

In the wake of the tragic Bengaluru stampede that claimed 11 lives during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL victory celebrations, the Karnataka government has suspended the city’s police commissioner and several senior officers. CM Siddaramaiah announced a judicial probe led by retired High Court judge Justice Michael D'Cunha. The government has also named RCB, event organiser DNA Entertainment, and the KSCA in an FIR. Officials stated that overcrowding due to unregulated free entry led to the deadly crush outside Chinnaswamy Stadium. Over 30 people were injured, prompting the high court to take suo motu cognisance of the incident.