Daily Current Affairs

In June 2026, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) launched two new portals: the Grievance Redressal Mechanism (GRM) and the Money Restoration Module (MRM) to streamline direct operational coordination among police forces, banking networks, and the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP).

• Context: Update emerged during a high-level review meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the functioning of the national cybercrime helpline 1930.
• I4C: Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre; nodal body under MHA for cybercrime coordination across India.
• NCRP: National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal — central platform for citizens to report cybercrime incidents.

The 16th BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting was held on 12–13 June 2026 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, under the theme ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability (BRICS)’ during India’s BRICS Presidency. The meeting concluded with the unanimous adoption of the Indore Declaration.

• BRICS members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (plus expanded members).
• Venue: Indore, Madhya Pradesh — under India’s BRICS Presidency 2026.
• Key Outcome: Unanimous adoption of the Indore Declaration, establishing four major agricultural cooperation platforms.

In June 2026, the Government of India (GoI) constituted a Search-cum-Selection Committee under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary Dr. T.V. Somanathan, to recommend names for the chairperson and members of the National Sports Board (NSB) — the apex body formed under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.

• Purpose: Initiates the process of setting up the NSB, which will serve as the apex body for granting recognition to National Sports Bodies and ensuring compliance with governance, financial, and ethical norms.
• Committee Composition: Dr. T.V. Somanathan (Cabinet Secretary, Chair); Hari Ranjan Rao (Secretary, MYAS); Lt. Gen (Retd) Harpal Singh (IOA nominee); Gagan Narang (sports administrator & Olympian); N. Kunjurani Devi.
• Key Functions: Prepare a list of candidates for chairperson and two members from individuals experienced in public administration, sports governance, and sports law.
• Parent Act: National Sports Governance Act, 2025 — governs the structure and functioning of sports bodies in India.

In June 2026, the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Common Service Centre e-Governance Services India Limited (CSC-SPV) in New Delhi to improve government procurement access in rural and underserved areas.

• Beneficiaries: MSMEs, women entrepreneurs, startups, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), artisans, weavers, and other small businesses.
• GeM: Government e-Marketplace — India’s national public procurement portal under Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• CSC-SPV: Common Service Centre Special Purpose Vehicle — operates the CSC network of rural digital service points across India.

In June 2026, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi (Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution — MoCAF&PD) launched the Smart Warehousing System for foodgrain storage at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

• Deploying Agencies: Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) (215 warehouses); Food Corporation of India (FCI) (additional 150 by Oct 2026).
• Key Technologies: AI, IoT, FASTag (Fast Electronic Toll Collection), ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition)-based gate automation, intelligent access control, geo-tagged smart locks, AI-enabled bag counting, face recognition systems.
• Benefits: Reduce vehicle Turnaround Time (TAT), enhance transparency, strengthen compliance monitoring, improve manpower productivity, enable early hazard detection.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook an official visit to Slovakia from June 14–16, 2026, focusing on strategic cooperation, innovation, and technology partnerships. During his Europe tour, PM Modi also participated in the 52nd G-7 Summit held in Évian-les-Bains, France.

• Slovakia’s Highest Honour: The Order of the White Double Cross (1st Class) — PM Modi’s 33rd global honour during his 12-year tenure as PM of India.
• Bilateral Upgrade: India-Slovakia relationship elevated to a Comprehensive Partnership (CP).
• Counter-terrorism: India and Slovakia agreed to establish a Joint Working Group (JWG) on Counter Terrorism; also launched a Consular Dialogue mechanism.
• Key Areas: Skill mobility, defence, higher education, emerging technologies (AI, quantum).
• G-7: 52nd G-7 Summit held in Évian-les-Bains, France.

In June 2026, the World Economic Forum (WEF) released its annual Energy Transition Index (ETI 2026). India jumped 2 places to rank 70th with an overall score of 54.9 (up 1.9% over 2025), emerging as one of the top gainers. The ETI has been published by WEF in collaboration with Accenture for the past 16 years.

• India’s performance: Jumped 2 places to 70th; score: 54.9 (+1.9% over 2025); one of the top gainers in ETI 2026.
• Global Investment: Total energy investments reached USD 3.3 trillion including USD 2.3 trillion in clean energy; global energy transition readiness declined by 0.76% — first drop in over a decade.
• Published by: WEF in collaboration with Accenture (for past 16 years).

In June 2026, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a USD 10 million financing package with Schoolnet India Limited (SIL) to improve learning outcomes in government schools across India.

• Objective: Scale up digital learning infrastructure in 30,000 government schools, directly benefiting 45 million students.
• Funding structure: Includes a USD 5 million loan from LEAP 2 (Leading Asia’s Private Infrastructure Fund) — managed by ADB and capitalised by a USD 1.5 billion commitment from JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency).
• SIL: Schoolnet India Limited — ed-tech company implementing digital education solutions in government schools.

In June 2026, BITS Pilani and Axis Bank Limited signed an agreement to establish the Axis Bank-BITS Industry Research, Technology and Innovation Park at BITS Pilani’s Hyderabad Campus in Hyderabad, Telangana.

• Funding: Backed by a Rs 100 crore CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) grant from Axis Bank.
• Focus Areas: Life Sciences, Biopharma, Healthcare, Medical Devices, and Deep-Tech Innovation.
• Infrastructure: Spans approximately 1.2 lakh square feet; houses laboratories, incubation centres, and shared research facilities.
• BITS Pilani: Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani — one of India’s premier technical universities with campuses in Pilani, Goa, Hyderabad, and Dubai.

In June 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the extension of Keki Mistry’s tenure as Interim Part-Time Chairman of HDFC Bank Limited for a period of three months, allowing him to continue until 18 September 2026.

• Predecessor: Succeeded Atanu Chakraborty as Interim Part-Time Chairman of HDFC Bank on 19 March 2026.
• Previous Roles: Served as Vice Chairman and CEO of HDFC Limited; later as Vice Chairman of HDFC Bank Limited.
• RBI’s Role: Regulatory approval for bank chairman appointments/extensions is mandatory as per RBI norms under the Banking Regulation Act.

In June 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the licence of Shree Mahalaxmi Urban Co-operative Credit Bank, Gokak, Karnataka, due to inadequate capital and earning prospects and failure to comply with certain provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

• Reason: Inadequate capital and earning prospects; non-compliance with the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
• Location: Gokak, Karnataka.
• Significance: The RBI regularly cancels licences of financially unviable co-operative banks to protect depositors and maintain systemic integrity.
• Deposit Insurance: Depositors are typically covered up to Rs 5 lakh per depositor under DICGC (Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation).

In June 2026, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of Saibal Chattopadhyay, former Director of IIM Calcutta, as Chairperson of the National Statistical Commission (NSC), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

• About NSC: Established through a resolution dated 1 June 2005; came into effect on 12 July 2006 based on recommendations of the Rangarajan Commission (2001).
• Structure: Part-time Chairperson; four part-time technical members; one permanent ex-officio member; one Secretary.
• Ministry: Under MoSPI (Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation).
• Saibal Chattopadhyay: Former Director, IIM Calcutta (Kolkata, West Bengal).

In June 2026, renowned Indian jurist Bimal N. Patel was elected as a judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) for the 2026–2035 term.

• Office Takeover: Officially takes over on 1 October 2026, succeeding Neeru Chadha.
• Election: During the 36th Meeting of States Parties to UNCLOS at the UN Headquarters, New York.
• UNCLOS: United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea — the foundational international treaty governing maritime law; 172 signatories.
• ITLOS: An independent judicial body established by UNCLOS; resolves disputes relating to the law of the sea.

In June 2026, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) inducted ‘H-561’, the first of six indigenous Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs) — commonly known as hovercrafts — at its Rassaim facility in Goa, strengthening its maritime surveillance, search-and-rescue, and coastal security capabilities.

• ACV Overview: Amphibious platform operating on a cushion of air; can traverse water, land, mud, marshes, sand, ice, beaches, and other challenging terrain.
• Strategic Use: Maritime surveillance, search-and-rescue operations, coastal security — especially effective in amphibious environments like tidal zones and marshes.
• Atmanirbhar Bharat: Procurement under Buy (Indian) category — highlights India’s push for indigenous defence manufacturing.
• Developer: Chowgule & Company Private Limited — the indigenous manufacturer.

In June 2026, Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL), the defence arm of Bharat Forge Limited (BFL), in partnership with Paramount Group (South Africa), unveiled the Simha 4×4 Light Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle (LAMPV) at Eurosatory 2026 in Paris, France.

• Roles: Reconnaissance, urban warfare, troop transport, border surveillance, internal security operations, command-and-control, and special missions.
• Design: Ab initio modular design enabling future upgrades, mission-specific customisation, and efficient maintenance & repair.
• Eurosatory 2026: Premier biennial international exhibition for land and air-land defence and security systems; held 15–19 June 2026 in Paris, France.
• KSSL: Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited — defence subsidiary of Bharat Forge Limited, one of India’s leading defence exporters.

In June 2026, scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and the University of Calcutta discovered and described a new lynx spider species, Hamataliwa mawlyngot, from Mawlyngot village, East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya — the first recorded presence of the genus Hamataliwa in the state.

• Significance: First recorded presence of genus Hamataliwa in Meghalaya; extends its known distribution across Asia.
• Habitat: Dense vegetation on Molecu brambles along biodiverse hillside slopes of Mawlyngot — known for its tea plantations.
• Characteristics: Extremely small lynx spider (smaller than a fingernail); hunts using speed, agility, and sharp vision — does not construct webs.
• Ecological Role: As a predator of insects, contributes to ecosystem balance and serves as a natural biological control agent — may help reduce agricultural pest populations.
• Authors: Souvik Sen, Upasana Bhattacharya, and Puthoor Pattammal Sudhin.

World Autistic Pride Day is observed annually on 18 June to promote self-advocacy, acceptance, and neurodiversity while encouraging inclusion and equal recognition of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

• Origin: First Autistic Pride Day observed in 2005 in Brazil, initiated by Aspies For Freedom (AFF).
• Leadership: Led by autistic individuals; inspired by the LGBTQIA+ pride movement, emphasising self-representation and inclusion.
• WHA Resolution: In 2004, the World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted a resolution on ASD, calling for comprehensive and coordinated global efforts to address ASD.
• Symbol: Rainbow Infinity Symbol — represents infinite diversity and the unique strengths of autistic individuals.

International Picnic Day is observed annually on 18 June to celebrate the joy of picnicking by encouraging people to enjoy outdoor meals with family and friends, fostering relaxation, community bonding, and a deeper connection with nature.

• Origins: Roots trace back to the French Revolution (1789–1799), during which France’s royal parks were opened to the public.
• Etymology: The word ‘picnic’ derives from the 17th-century French term pique-nique, referring to informal gatherings where participants contributed food, drinks, or dishes for shared consumption.
• World Record: According to Guinness World Records (GWR), the world’s largest picnic was held in Lisbon, Portugal on 20 June 2009, attracting over 22,000 participants and featuring a picnic line stretching over 600 metres.