Daily Current Affairs

The United Nations’ World Day Against Child Labour (WDACL) is observed globally on 12 June 2026 to raise awareness about child labour and mobilise efforts towards its elimination. The 2026 theme — ‘Red card to child labour: Fair play for children, decent work for adults’ — draws a powerful connection between sporting values of fair play and the global fight to end child exploitation.

• Launched by: International Labour Organization (ILO) in 2002
• ILO Conventions: Supports implementation of ILO Convention No. 138 (Minimum Age) and ILO Convention No. 182 (Worst Forms of Child Labour)
• 2026 Milestone: Marks the 27th anniversary of the adoption of ILO Convention No. 182 (1999) on the Worst Forms of Child Labour
• First WDACL: 12 June 2002

The International Day of Play (IDOP) was observed globally on 11 June 2026 to highlight the importance of play in children’s growth, learning, well-being, and overall development. The 2026 theme is ‘Protect Play, Protect Childhood’.

• Origin: In March 2024, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) officially proclaimed 11 June as IDOP through Resolution A/RES/78/286
• Endorsement: Spearheaded by a Core Group comprising Bulgaria, El Salvador, Jamaica, Kenya, Luxembourg, and Romania; supported by about 140 UN member states
• First Observed: 11 June 2024
• Facilitated by: UNICEF and UNESCO jointly

In June 2026, Union Minister Jagat Prakash (J.P.) Nadda, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), launched nationwide celebrations to commemorate a decade of successful implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) under the theme ’10 Years of PMSMA — A Decade of Care’, during an event held in New Delhi.

• PMSMA: Launched 9 June 2016 by PM Narendra Modi; provides free, comprehensive, and quality antenatal care services to pregnant women on the 9th day of every month
• Commemorative launches: A special Rs 75 Commemorative Coin and a Rs 5 Postal Stamp released at the event recognising PMSMA’s contribution to strengthening maternal healthcare
• Nationwide Outreach: Campaigns being conducted across various states and UTs to encourage pregnant women and families to avail all 9 assured free antenatal care services under PMSMA
• Ministry: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India

In June 2026, the Government of India (GoI), Ministry of Textiles (MoT), approved 22 new applicants under Round-3 of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Textiles, with a committed investment of Rs 2,339.14 crore, projected turnover of Rs 15,561.34 crore, and creation of 36,217 jobs across the textile value chain.

• Focus Areas: Man-made fibre (MMF) apparel, MMF fabrics, and technical textiles
• Strategic Significance: Strengthens India’s position as a global hub for value-added textile manufacturing; aligned with Aatmanirbhar Bharat
• Ministry: Ministry of Textiles (MoT), Government of India

On 10 June 2026, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by PM Narendra Modi, approved the construction of the Central Government General Pool Office Accommodation (CGGPOA) and General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) campus at Amaravati, the new capital city of Andhra Pradesh (AP), with a combined estimated cost of Rs 2,533 crore.

• CGGPOA cost: Rs 1,299 crore; GPRA cost: ~Rs 1,235 crore; combined: Rs 2,533 crore
• Purpose: To accommodate ~8,000 officials and staff members from various central government departments and agencies
• Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) through the Central Public Works Department (CPWD)
• Ahmedabad Metro Phase 2A: 6.032 km corridor from Koteshwar Road to Ahmedabad Airport in Gujarat at Rs 2,169.04 crore (including IDC)
• PM Modi milestone: A 7-point resolution was passed to congratulate PM Modi for becoming India’s longest-serving elected PM for two consecutive terms, completing 4,399 continuous days in office

In June 2026, the Government of India (GoI), through the Ministry of Finance (MoF), extended the validity of the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Microfinance Institutions-2.0 (CGSMFI-2.0) until 31 August 2026 or until guarantees worth Rs 20,000 crore are issued.

• Key change: Maximum loan limit for Large-Sized NBFC-MFIs raised from Rs 300 crore to Rs 1,000 crore, subject to 20% of Assets Under Management (AUM)
• Guarantee cover: 80% for small, 75% for medium, 70% for large NBFC-MFIs
• Fee: 0.50% per annum charged on sanctioned amount during the first year; outstanding amount thereafter
• Ministry: Ministry of Finance (MoF)

In June 2026, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract worth Rs 449 crore with Accord Software and Systems Private Limited (ASSPL) for the procurement of 20 Enhanced Capability Global Navigation Satellite System (ECGNSS) Jammers for the Indian Navy (IN).

• Signing: Signed by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh in New Delhi under the Buy Indian–IDDM (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category with 75% indigenous content
• ECGNSS Jammer capability: Can disrupt enemy GNSS tracking through spoofing and deceptive jamming, enhancing safety of Indian Navy ships
• Strategic value: Enhances IN’s Electronic Warfare (EW) capabilities; protects ships from satellite-based tracking and targeting threats
• About ASSPL: Technology company established in 1991, Bengaluru, Karnataka; specialises in GNSS technologies and navigation solutions
• Alignment: Reinforces Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India through indigenous defence manufacturing

In June 2026, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the development of future-generation telecom technologies.

• Objective: Accelerate testing and deployment of indigenous telecommunications technologies; strengthen India’s digital self-reliance
• Focus areas: Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) broadcasting, indigenous 4G development, and advanced spectrum research
• Key role: BSNL and IIT Kanpur will jointly undertake research projects and technology development initiatives creating advanced products for future telecom infrastructure

In June 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the Third Amendment Directions, 2026, governing bank lending to Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) while strengthening risk and exposure norms.

• Eligible REITs: Banks can lend only to REITs and InvITs that are registered with SEBI and listed on recognised Stock Exchanges
• REITs condition: At least 80% of assets must be cash-generating properties that have been operational for more than one year
• InvITs condition: Banks may lend only to listed InvITs with at least 80% of assets invested in completed and revenue-generating infrastructure projects with positive cash flows for one or more years
• Regulator: Reserve Bank of India (RBI); HQ: Mumbai; Established: 1 April 1935

In June 2026, Nuvama Wealth Management Limited announced that it had received final approval from SEBI to commence Mutual Fund (MF) operations through its asset management arm Nuvama Asset Management Limited (NAML).

• Trustee: Nuvama Mutual Fund Trusteeship Services Limited
• Business Strategy: Will initially focus on launching investment products under the Specialised Investment Fund (SIF) framework; followed by a broader range of mutual fund schemes after obtaining necessary regulatory approvals
• SEBI: Securities and Exchange Board of India; HQ: Mumbai; Established: 1992 (statutory status)

In June 2026, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved Sanlam Emerging Markets (Mauritius) (SEMM) Limited’s acquisition of a 2.80% of the expanded equity capital of Shriram Life Insurance Company Limited (SLIC) through a preferential issue worth about Rs 220.88 crore. CCI also cleared the PUMA-ANTA deal.

• SLIC deal: SEMM held a 40.70% stake in Shriram Capital Private Limited (SCPL), which owns 46.98% of SLIC; post-acquisition, SEMM’s total effective shareholding in SLIC increased to 68.37%
• PUMA deal: CCI approved acquisition of a 29.06% shareholding in PUMA SE by Ancat Holding GmbH (indirect wholly owned subsidiary of ANTA Sports Private Limited) for approximately EUR 1.5 billion
• CCI: Competition Commission of India; statutory body under Ministry of Corporate Affairs; established 2003; HQ: New Delhi

In June 2026, Platinum Jasmine A 2018 Trust, an investment vehicle backed by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), announced plans to reduce its holding of 2.3% in Lenskart Solutions Limited through a block deal valued at approximately Rs 1,944 crore (USD 204 million).

• Floor price: Rs 486 per share — about 2.8% lower than Lenskart’s closing price of Rs 500.15
• Agent: India Infoline (IIFL) Capital Services Limited appointed as the sole placement agent
• About ADIA: Abu Dhabi Investment Authority; established 1976; sovereign wealth fund of Abu Dhabi, UAE; among the world’s largest institutional investors

On 10 June 2026, the General Council of Sangeet Natak Akademi, the National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama under the Ministry of Culture, unanimously elected 7 eminent personalities in the field of performing arts as Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (Akademi Ratna Sadasyata). In addition, 108 artists were selected for Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards (Akademi Puraskar) for the years 2024 and 2025.

• Fellowship: 7 eminent artists elected from the fields of Music, Dance and Drama
• Akademi Awards: 108 artists from fields of Music, Dance, Theatre, Traditional/Folk/Tribal Music/Dance/Theatre, Puppetry, and Overall Contribution/Scholarship in Performing Arts
• Young Artists: 106 young artists (under 40) selected for Sangeet Natak Akademi Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for 2024 and 2025
• Award Ceremony: Fellowships and Awards will be conferred by President Droupadi Murmu; Yuva Puraskar for 2024–2025 will be conferred by Dr. Sandhya Purecha, Chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademi
• About Sangeet Natak Akademi: National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama; under Ministry of Culture; established 1952

In June 2026, Indian-origin scientist Gautam Dey, working at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany, has been awarded the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Gold Medal 2026 for his research on the evolutionary origins of nuclear organisation and cell division.

• Co-awardee: He shares the award with Omaya Dudin from the University of Geneva, Switzerland
• About EMBO Gold Medal: One of Europe’s most prestigious honours in life sciences; awarded annually by EMBO to scientists in the early stages of their independent research careers
• Awarding Body: European Molecular Biology Conference (EMBC), an intergovernmental organisation comprising 32 member states
• Award Components: Medal and a bursary of EUR 10,000

NASA announced the Artemis III crew comprising USA astronauts Randy Bresnik (Commander), Andre Douglas, Frank Rubio, along with ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano of Italy, for a late-2027 Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) mission.

• Mission objective: Test dockings between SpaceX’s Starship, Blue Origin’s Blue Moon lander, and NASA’s Orion capsule (launched by SLS); demonstrating operational readiness for future crewed lunar landings
• About Artemis III: A NASA mission that will conduct a two-week LEO mission without approaching the Moon — to test docking mechanisms, interoperability, and operational capabilities
• Randy Bresnik: Veteran astronaut; former test pilot and three-time spaceflight veteran
• Frank Rubio: Holds the USA record for a 371-day continuous stay aboard the ISS
• Luca Parmitano: Will become the first ESA astronaut and the second non-USA astronaut to participate in an Artemis mission