Daily Current Affairs

On 18 June 2026, Indian-origin theoretical physicist Jainendra K. Jain received the prestigious 2025 Wolf Prize in Physics, awarded by Israel and presented by President Isaac Herzog at the Knesset, Jerusalem. He was honoured for his pioneering discovery of Composite Fermions, which revolutionized the understanding of the Fractional Quantum Hall Effect (FQHE). He is the first person of Indian origin to receive the Wolf Prize in Physics since its inception in 1978.

• Jainendra K. Jain — Born 17 January 1960, Rajasthan; Evan Pugh University Professor, Pennsylvania State University, USA; Founding Director, Lodha Theoretical Physics Institute (LTPI), Mumbai.
• Key Contribution: Proposed the theory of Composite Fermions in 1989; provided a unified explanation for the Fractional Quantum Hall Effect (FQHE); work led to Jain Sequences and Jain States.
• Co-recipients: James P. Eisenstein and Mordehai Heiblum.
• Historic first: First person of Indian origin to receive the Wolf Prize in Physics in its history (since 1978).

In June 2026, the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE), Ministry of Finance (MoF), upgraded Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) from Miniratna Category-I to Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) status, with approval by Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. CPCL becomes India’s 28th Navratna CPSE.

• Navratna Criteria: Must be a Schedule-A CPSE; hold Miniratna Category-I status; ‘Excellent’ or ‘Very Good’ MoU rating in at least 3 of the previous 5 years; score at least 60 out of 100 on six financial parameters.
• Key Benefit: Can invest up to Rs 1,000 crore or 15% of net worth per project without prior government approval.
• CPCL — A major public sector refinery company, subsidiary of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC); headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• Approving Authority: Department of Public Enterprises (DPE), Ministry of Finance, with Union Minister’s approval.

The 2026 Doha Diamond League, the 28th edition of the annual outdoor track and field meeting, was held at Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar on 19 June 2026. In the men’s javelin throw event, Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage of Sri Lanka emerged as the winner, while India’s Neeraj Chopra finished 4th.

• Event: 7th of 14 qualifying meetings in the 2026 Diamond League season.
• Organised under: Wanda Diamond League framework by World Athletics (WA) and Qatar Athletics Federation (QAF).
• Venue: Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar.
• Neeraj Chopra — India’s Olympic gold medallist (Tokyo 2020) and World Champion (Budapest 2023); best throw at this meet: 85.69 m (4th place).

In June 2026, the School Education Department of Maharashtra signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Google for Education to provide AI and digital technology training to more than 4 lakh teachers across the state over the next 18 months.

• Aim: Strengthen digital competencies, improve AI literacy, promote technology-enabled learning in line with NEP 2020.
• Implementation Model: Master trainers trained under Google AI Educator Series; master trainers then train teachers across Maharashtra.
• Language availability: Training available in Marathi, Hindi, and English.
• Cost: Free of cost for all participating teachers.
• Dadaji Bhuse — Maharashtra’s School Education Minister; present at signing at Mantralaya, Mumbai.

In June 2026, BSE Index Services Private Limited, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Bombay Stock Exchange Limited (BSE) — Asia’s oldest exchange — launched India’s first Saatvik Index named ‘BSE Saatvik 100’ to promote ethical-based investing.

• Derivation: Derived from BSE 500 Index constituents; aligns with Saatvik principles for ethical/value-based investing.
• Applications: Can be used for Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), Index Funds; benchmark for PMS (Portfolio Management Services), Mutual Fund (MF) schemes and fund portfolios.
• BSE — Bombay Stock Exchange; established 1875; Asia’s oldest stock exchange; headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

In June 2026, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) constituted a 7-member Working Group on Artificial Intelligence (WG-AI) under the chairmanship of Prof. Sandeep K. Shukla, Director, IIIT Hyderabad, to guide AI adoption across India’s insurance sector.

• Terms of Reference: Assess AI adoption and maturity in the insurance sector; review global AI regulatory practices; recommend an ethical, transparent AI governance framework for claims management and fraud prevention.
• Prof. Sandeep K. Shukla — Director, IIIT Hyderabad (International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad); chairs the WG-AI.
• Deepak Gaikwad — GM & CISO (Chief Information Security Officer), IRDAI; Member-Convener of the group.
• IRDAI — Statutory body established under IRDAI Act, 1999; headquartered in Hyderabad, Telangana; regulates India’s insurance industry.

In June 2026, Federal Bank Limited launched the FCNR Max Deposit Scheme — a special FCNR(B) deposit product for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) offering 6.25% annual interest on USD deposits for tenures of 3–5 years, introduced following the RBI FCNR(B) swap facility.

• Validity: Available until September 30, 2026; introduced post RBI FCNR(B) swap facility; CRR and SLR exemptions apply.
• Eligibility: Only for NRIs (Non-Resident Indians); minimum deposit: USD 500; uniform interest rate for deposits above USD 1 million.
• Lock-in: One-year lock-in; premature withdrawal not permitted during lock-in; early closure attracts 1% penalty on applicable rate.
• FCNR(B) — Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank) account; allows NRIs to maintain deposits in foreign currencies in India; principal and interest repatriable.
• Bank of Baroda Comparison: Launched ‘bob Legend FCNR(B)’ offering 6.00% (3–4 yrs), 6.10% (4–5 yrs), 6.50% (5-yr deposits) from 17 June 2026.

In June 2026, the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance (MoF), approved Rajendra Kumar Saboo, Executive Director (ED) of UCO Bank, to take additional charge as MD & CEO of UCO Bank.

• Effective: With effect from 19 June 2026; till 31 August 2026 or until a regular incumbent is appointed, whichever is earlier.
• Predecessor: Succeeds Ashwani Kumar, whose tenure ended 31 May 2026.
• Profile: Started career as Probationary Officer (PO) at Oriental Bank of Commerce (1994); previously CGM (Chief General Manager) at Punjab National Bank (PNB); ED of UCO Bank since 21 November 2022.
• UCO Bank — Public sector bank headquartered in Kolkata, West Bengal; under Ministry of Finance.

The International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict is observed globally on 19 June every year to raise awareness about Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV), honour victims and survivors, and strengthen global efforts to eliminate such crimes.

• UNGA Resolution: A/RES/69/293 adopted on 19 June 2015; day first observed on 19 June 2016.
• UNSC Resolution 1820: Passed on 19 June 2008 — recognized rape as a tactic of war and a threat to international peace and security; landmark resolution that paved the way for the observance.

World Sickle Cell Day is observed globally on 19 June every year to raise awareness about Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), emphasising early diagnosis, better treatment access, and continued research toward a cure.

• Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) — A hereditary blood disorder characterised by abnormal, sickle-shaped red blood cells; leads to anaemia, pain, organ damage, and reduced life expectancy.
• UN Declaration: UNGA declared 19 June as World Sickle Cell Day in 2008.
• India context: India has one of the highest burdens of SCD globally; the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (launched 2023) aims to eliminate SCD in India by 2047.

National Reading Day is observed across India on 19 June to promote reading habits and honour P.N. Panicker, the Father of Kerala’s Library and Literacy Movement. The day marks his death anniversary and has grown into a national observance under PM Modi’s declaration in 2017.

• P.N. Panicker — Puthuvayil Narayana Panicker; founder of the Kerala Grandhasala Sangham (Kerala Library Council); known as the ‘Father of Kerala’s Library Movement’; passed away on 19 June 1995.
• Origin: First ‘Vayanadinam’ (Reading Day) observed on 19 June 1996 in Kerala; PM Modi declared it National Reading Day in 2017 (during the 22nd National Reading Month).
• Nodal Organisations: PN Panicker Foundation and PM Panicker Vigyan Vikas Kendra (designated by NITI Aayog).