Daily Current Affairs

In June 2026, the Government of India (GoI) issued a Letter of Request (LoR) to the Government of France for a government-to-government (G2G) defence procurement deal worth around Rs 3.25 lakh crore for the acquisition of 114 Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

• LoR (Letter of Request): Formal G2G document used to initiate defence procurement, similar to the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme mechanism.
• Manufacture: Around 94 aircraft out of 114 are proposed to be manufactured in India by French manufacturer Dassault Aviation in partnership with an Indian company.
• First delivery: First Rafale-M jets expected by 2028.
• IAF Gap: IAF’s squadron strength has declined to 29 squadrons against the sanctioned requirement of 42.5 squadrons, making the MRFA programme critical for operational readiness.

In June 2026, Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, MDoNER), along with Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma (Chief Minister, Assam), launched ‘Mission Senehjori’ — an Assam Muga Silk Unique Selling Proposition (USP), a cluster-based initiative aimed at transforming Assam’s distinctive Muga silk sector into a globally competitive, high-value luxury textile ecosystem.

• Objective: Create a premium, traceable, export-oriented Muga silk economy by enforcing GI authentication and digital traceability for over 80% of traded Muga silk.
• Coverage: Eight key areas — Jorhat, Sivasagar, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Majuli, and Sualkuchi.
• Partners: MDoNER in collaboration with Assam Government, Central Silk Board (Ministry of Textiles), and other Central Ministries.

In June 2026, the Department of Higher Education (DoHE) under the Ministry of Education (MoE) officially launched the Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) Scheme 2026 and opened applications for the programme.

• Priority Areas (13): Artificial Intelligence (AI), quantum computing, semiconductors, energy and climate change, cybersecurity, healthcare and medical technology, biotechnology, advanced materials, space and defence, next-generation communications, manufacturing, agriculture and food technologies, blue economy, and atomic energy.
• Core Pillars: Lead Institutions, Host Institutions, and PMRC Fellows.
• Selection monitored by: Empowered Committee chaired by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to GoI.

In June 2026, Chandigarh University (CU), located in Ajitgarh, Punjab, became India’s first private university to launch an IndiaAI Data Lab in partnership with Intel India, to enhance students’ employability by providing industry-relevant skills in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Science, and emerging technologies.

• Objective: Provide computing and computer science engineering students with a simulated apprenticeship platform for practical skills, hands-on experience, and real-world AI projects.
• Key Programs: MCA (Master of Computer Applications), Data Science, and BCA (Bachelor of Computer Applications) Data Science programs launched in collaboration with Intel India, including Intel Certifications every semester.
• Focus Areas: AI research, innovation, faculty development, hackathons, and industry-academia collaboration.
• Partnership: Chandigarh University + Intel India.

In June 2026, the Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD), which works under the Digital India Corporation (DIC), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), launched the VYOMA Innovation Challenge — a novel initiative to promote the development of open-source, multilingual and voice-first AI solutions operable in offline and low-connectivity environments.

• Partnership: Launched in partnership with Current AI and Kalpa Impact.
• Designed around: Sunno Sutra — a multilingual, voice-first, open-source handheld AI reference device jointly developed by BHASHINI and Current AI; unveiled at the IndiaAI Impact Summit 2026.
• Rewards: Winning teams can earn prizes up to Rs 80 lakh and may get opportunities to deploy solutions with central and state government departments.

In May 2026, the ICRIER (Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations) — Prosus Centre for Internet and Digital Economy (IPCIDE) released the report ‘State of India’s Digital Economy (SIDE) 2026’, ranking India as the world’s fifth most digitalised economy.

• SIDE Report: Annual publication from 2023; assesses India’s digital and AI progress in comparison with other countries using the CHIPS framework.
• CHIPS Index: Stands for Connect, Harness, Innovate, Protect and Sustain — India ranked 4th globally in AI, behind only USA, China, and Singapore.
• Ranking Change: India rose from 8th in 2025 (sample of 32 countries) to 5th in 2026 in a larger sample of 71 countries.
• AI Users: India accounts for 19.9% of global AI users and holds the second largest concentration of AI talent in the world.

In June 2026, BharatPe launched ‘BharatPe Flex’ — a Credit-on-UPI solution powered by YES Bank Limited, enabling eligible customers to make daily UPI payments using a pre-approved credit line.

• Interest-free Credit: Eligible users can settle dues within an interest-free period of up to 45 days.
• Payments: Usable across existing UPI flows — QR code payments at shops, online transactions, bill payments, mobile recharges, and other daily spends.
• Flexibility: Users can repay in full or convert expenses into Equated Monthly Instalments (EMIs).
• Onboarding: Fully digital KYC (Know Your Customer) process.
• Tagline: ‘Pay now. Settle later.’
• Powered by: YES Bank Limited.

In June 2026, NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), the global arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), partnered with ACLEDA Bank Plc. (Association of Cambodian Local Economic Development Agencies Bank) to enable UPI acceptance via Cambodia’s national KHQR (Khmer Quick Response) code system, which operates under the Bakong digital payment system.

• Inauguration: India–Cambodia cross-border QR payment linkage inaugurated in Phnom Penh, Cambodia; attended by H.E. Dr. Chea Serey (Governor, National Bank of Cambodia, NBC) and senior RBI officials.
• Implementation: Indian users can now make QR payments via UPI apps at over 4.5 million KHQR-enabled merchants in Cambodia; Cambodian users will soon pay at millions of UPI QR-enabled merchants in India.

In June 2026, Microsoft Corporation revealed its Majorana 2, a second-generation topological quantum computing chip developed with the support of its agentic AI platform Microsoft Discovery, during Microsoft Build 2026. It succeeds the 2025 Majorana 1 processor.

• Target: Plans to develop commercially useful quantum systems by 2029.
• Material advantage: Uses lead-based materials, unlike Google and IBM’s aluminium designs, to better shield qubits from environmental and cosmic interference.
• AI Development tool: Built with support of Microsoft Discovery — Microsoft’s agentic AI platform.
• Other Launch: Microsoft also launched Scout — an AI-powered Microsoft 365 assistant that autonomously manages schedules, emails, and meetings.

In June 2026, Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF), an initiative of the Andhra Pradesh (AP) Government, won the 2026 Food Planet Prize — one of the world’s largest environmental awards focused on transforming food systems, for its work in promoting farming practices that reduce dependence on synthetic inputs and support climate-resilient agriculture.

• Selection process: APCNF was selected from over 1,000 nominations and was among 4 finalists chosen from a longlist of 35 initiatives across 19 countries and 6 continents.
• About APCNF: One of the world’s largest community-driven initiatives promoting agroecology and natural farming; launched in 2016 by Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS) under the AP Agriculture Department.
• Reach: Methods adopted across 20+ Indian states and in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Zambia.

In June 2026, Khalilur Rahman, Foreign Minister (FM) of Bangladesh, was elected the President of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for a one-year term, after defeating Andreas Kakouris (Special Envoy of Cyprus’s FM for Multilateralism).

• Successor to: Annalena Charlotte Alma Baerbock, former FM of Germany, whose tenure ends in September 2026.
• Career: Four decades of diplomatic experience; joined Bangladesh’s foreign service in 1979.
• Current role: Serving as FM of Bangladesh since February 2026; previously served as National Security Adviser (NSA) and High Representative on the Rohingya Issue.

In June 2026, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the appointment of Prashant Sitaram Lokhande, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), as the Chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

• Predecessor: He succeeds Rahul Singh, who has been transferred to the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DoAFW).
• Other appointment: ACC also appointed Varun Bhardwaj, Director in the Department of Higher Education (MoE), as CBSE Secretary, succeeding Himanshu Gupta.
• Context: Appointments come amid controversy over CBSE’s On-Screen Marking (OSM) System for Class 12 exams 2026, involving scanned answer sheets and alleged irregularities in private contracts.

In June 2026, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully conducted flight-tests of the ‘RudraM-II’ Air-to-Surface Missile (ASM) from an airborne platform at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha.

• Capabilities: Indigenous air-launched missile for SEAD/DEAD (Suppression/Destruction of Enemy Air Defences) missions, carrying a 200 kg warhead.
• Range doubled: Achieves speeds up to Mach 5.5 and a range of 300 km — double the reach of RudraM-I (150 km).
• Launch platform: Deployed from Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft at altitudes of 3–15 km.
• Developed by: Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad (Telangana) — nodal DRDO laboratory for the project.
• Significance: Will replace older Russian-origin Kh-31 missiles in service.

The Asian U20 (Under 20) Athletics Championships 2026 was held at Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground, Hong Kong, China, from May 28–31, 2026, where India finished second with 19 medals: 10 Gold, 5 Silver, and 4 Bronze, across 45 events.

• Edition: 22nd edition of the Asian U20 Athletics Championships; 45 events (22 men, 22 women, 1 mixed).
• Organiser: Asian Athletics Association (AAA); formerly called Asian Junior Athletics Championships.
• India’s Gold Medallists (10): Nitin Gupta (Men’s 5000m Race Walk), Amanat Kamboj (Women’s Discus Throw), Rahul Jakhar (Decathlon), Pooja Singh (Women’s High Jump), Nikhil Chandrashekhar (Men’s 3000m Steeplechase), Shahnawaz Khan (Men’s Long Jump), Basant (Men’s High Jump), Muskan (Women’s 5000m), Mogali Venkatram (Men’s 800m), Women’s 4x400m Relay Team.

The United Nations (UN) World Bicycle Day is observed annually on 3 June to promote the bicycle as an affordable, healthy, and environmentally sustainable mode of transport that supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 2026 theme is ‘Cycling for a Greener Future’.

• Origin: Idea initiated by Leszek J. Sibilski, Polish-American social scientist, who launched a global campaign for a UN-designated observance.
• UNGA Resolution: A/RES/72/272 adopted on 12 April 2018, sponsored by Turkmenistan and co-sponsored by 56 countries.
• First Observed: 3 June 2018 — first World Bicycle Day celebrated globally.
• Global Support: Since 2016, the World Cycling Alliance (WCA) and European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) have supported the UNGA resolution.
• 2026 Event in India: ‘Sundays on Cycle’ events organised across the country on May 7, 2026, promoting cycling and sustainable transport awareness.