International
India Elected VP of FATF — First Time
At FATF Plenary in Paris, India was elected as Vice-President of FATF for the first time. Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture (MoC), appointed VP for July 2026 – June 2027; he succeeds Giles Thomson (UK). FATF has 40 members and over 200 jurisdictions. Giles Thomson becomes next FATF President from July 1, 2026, succeeding Elisa de Anda Madrazo (Mexico).
Technology
Indian Space Industry E-Catalogue — India’s 1st Space Repository
Launched at 5th Indian Space Congress (ISC) 2026 (June 15–17, New Delhi). Developed by Satcom Industry Association (SIA)-India. Covers 200+ companies, 20 domains, 120+ sub-domains. Two companion reports released: ‘Building India’s On-Orbit Servicing Ecosystem’ (with OrbitAID) and ‘India’s Strategic Opportunity in Space-Based Compute Infrastructure’ (with TakeMe2Space).
Education
Osmania University — India’s First University with 4 ISO Certifications
Osmania University, Hyderabad became India’s first university to receive 4 ISO certifications simultaneously from BIS (June 2026): ISO 21001:2018 (EOMS), ISO 14001:2015 (EMS), ISO 50001:2018 (EnMS), ISO 22000:2018 (FSMS). Presented by Sandeep Kumar Kanojia, Scientist-F, Deputy DG (Southern Region), BIS.
Defence
KSSL–AM General Partnership — 155 mm Artillery at Eurosatory 2026
Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL) (subsidiary of Bharat Forge Limited) signed a strategic partnership with AM General (USA) at Eurosatory 2026, Paris (June 15–19, 2026). Focus: jointly developing next-gen 155 mm mounted artillery gun systems. Platform: KSSL’s MARG system + AM General vehicle expertise. Features: 52-calibre cannon, Soft Recoil Technology (SRT), automated loading, range 40+ km.
Climate
IITM-ARIES MoU — BCON Station at Devasthal
IITM, Pune and ARIES, Nainital signed a 50+ year MoU on 18 June 2026 to establish a Bharat Climate Observation Network (BCON) station at Devasthal, Uttarakhand. Will monitor greenhouse gases, meteorological parameters, atmospheric chemistry, soil moisture, and short-lived climate forcers. Also supports validation of Earth System Models (ESMs). Part of Mission Mausam (MoES).
Geopolitics
52nd G7 Summit 2026 — Évian-les-Bains, France
Held June 15–17, 2026 in Évian-les-Bains, Haute-Savoie, France. Host: French President Emmanuel Macron. Theme: ‘Working Together to Address Major International Challenges’. PM Modi attended as partner country. Key outcomes: Leaders’ Declaration on Migrant Smuggling; POWERR Asia (USD 10 billion) by Japan; Declaration on Critical Minerals; 14-point USA-Iran MoU. 53rd G7 hosted by USA.
International
POWERR Asia Initiative — Japan’s G7 Energy Commitment
Japanese PM Takaichi introduced ‘Partnership On Wide Energy and Resources Resilience (POWERR Asia)’ at the G7 Summit (June 2026). Financial commitment: nearly USD 10 billion to strengthen energy and critical minerals supply chains across Asia. A major G7 outcome alongside the Declaration on Critical Minerals Supply Chains and the USA-Iran MoU.
Science
Mission Mausam & BCON — India’s Climate Monitoring Network
Mission Mausam is a Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) initiative for enhanced weather and climate observation across India. BCON (Bharat Climate Observation Network) is a key sub-component. The Devasthal BCON station will support validation of the IITM Earth System Model (IITM-ESM) for improved climate projections. The IITM-ARIES MoU marks a significant step in Himalayan climate research with a 50+ year operational horizon.
Economy
FATF — Structure, India’s Role & AML/CFT Mandate
FATF (Financial Action Task Force) is the global watchdog for Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Countering Financing of Terrorism (CFT). Has 40 member countries and influence over 200+ jurisdictions. Presidency rotates; India now holds VP position (2026–27). India’s election as VP reflects recognition of its robust AML/CFT frameworks and FIU (Financial Intelligence Unit) capabilities.
Defence
Eurosatory 2026 — India’s Defence Export Push
Eurosatory is the world’s leading land & airland defence and security exhibition, held in Paris, June 15–19, 2026. KSSL’s MARG artillery platform partnership with AM General underscores India’s push under Aatmanirbhar Bharat to export defence systems. Bharat Forge Limited (BFL), the parent company, is one of India’s largest defence-industrial conglomerates. The 155 mm/52-calibre standard is NATO-compatible.