Daily Current Affairs

World Vitiligo Day (WVD), also known as Vitiligo Purple Fun Day, is observed annually on 25 June to raise awareness about vitiligo — an autoimmune disorder that causes loss of skin pigmentation due to the destruction of melanocytes. The awareness colour is Purple.

• Origin: Initiated by Steve Haragadon (Founder, Vitiligo Friends Network) and formalised by Ogo Maduewesi (Founder & ED, VITSAF, Nigeria) in 2011; globally coordinated by the Vitiligo Research Foundation (VRF), USA.
• First Observance: 25 June 2011 — in memory of Michael Jackson, who had vitiligo and passed away on 25 June 2009.
• 2026 Events: World Vitiligo Day 2026 event held from 25–28 June 2026 at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh — the global event’s return to Chandigarh after 12 years.

Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas (Constitution Murder Day) is observed annually on 25 June across India to commemorate the Emergency declaration of 1975, honour those who suffered during its imposition, and reaffirm the importance of India’s Constitution and democratic values.

• Significance 2026: 25 June 2026 marks the 51st anniversary of the National Emergency (declared 25 June 1975) and the 3rd observance of Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas.
• Historical Context: PM Indira Gandhi invoked Article 352 of the Constitution; Emergency proclaimed by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed citing ‘internal disturbances’; remained in force for 21 months until 21 March 1977.
• Official Designation: Day designated by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), GoI, in 2024. First official observance: 25 June 2024.

The UN’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (World Drug Day) is observed every year on 26 June to strengthen global action and cooperation against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

• 2026 Theme: ‘World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses’
• World Drug Report 2026: Officially launched on 26 June 2026 at the Vienna International Centre (VIC), Austria. Around 331 million people (6.2% of the global population aged 15–64) used drugs in 2024; cannabis remains the most-used illicit drug.
• Lead body: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The UN’s International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is observed annually on 26 June to raise global awareness about the absolute prohibition of torture, support victims and survivors, and strengthen eradication efforts. 2026 marks the 29th observance.

• Proclamation: UNGA Resolution 52/149 (12 December 1997). First observance: 26 June 1998.
• Significance: The date commemorates the entry into force of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) on 26 June 1987.

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal (Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways — MoPS&W) unveiled a development pipeline of 63 projects valued at Rs 5,028.17 crore at the 154th Foundation Day of the Mumbai Port Authority (MPA), Mumbai, Maharashtra.

• Event Theme: ‘Together We Can’
• Agreements Signed: Indira Dock Operations & Maintenance Project and the Viksit Bharat Mumbai Marina Project.
• Occasion: 154th Foundation Day of the Mumbai Port Authority (MPA).

The 16th BRICS National Security Advisers’ (NSA) Meeting was held in New Delhi on 22–23 June 2026 under India’s BRICS Chairship, chaired by Ajit Doval, NSA of India.

• NSA Meeting Theme: ‘Non-Traditional Security Challenges Confronting the World Today’
• Chair: Ajit Doval, National Security Adviser of India, under India’s BRICS Chairship.
• BRICS HOSA Meeting: Held at ISRO, Bengaluru (23–24 June 2026); hosted by DoS/ISRO with MEA support.
• 11th BRICS Energy Ministers’ Meeting: 25 June 2026, Gurugram, Haryana; Energy Track theme — ‘Energy for All’.
• BRICS MSME Forum: First BRICS MSME Forum and Third SME Working Group Meeting held in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) jointly launched ‘AIR SUVIDHA 2.0’, an upgraded contactless Passenger Health Self-Declaration (PHSD) portal, to strengthen public health surveillance at points of entry.

• Trigger: Launched following WHO’s declaration of the Ebola (Bundibugyo virus) outbreak in DRC and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) under IHR, 2005.
• Developed by: In collaboration with the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW).
• Functionality: International passengers submit an online health Self-Declaration Form (SDF) covering 21-day travel history, exposure history, and symptoms, before immigration clearance; can be filled up to 24 hours in advance.
• Integration: Real-time data sharing with Airport Health Officers (APHOs), Bureau of Immigration (BoI), IDSP, and State Surveillance Officers.

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) and Grassroots Research and Advocacy Movement (GRAAM) signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) to engage two fellows under the Embark India Development Fellowship (EIDF).

• Signatories: Dr. Basavaraju R. Shreshta (ED, GRAAM) and Prasoon Verma (Director, Training Unit, CDD, MoSPI).
• About EIDF: GRAAM’s flagship fellowship supporting the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision by placing fellows at MoSPI for evidence-based policymaking and institutional capacity building.
• Structure: 18-month programme with 6-month institutional placements; monthly stipend: Rs 65,000.

35 nations, including India, signed a Statement on Artificial Intelligence (AI) — a US-led initiative to build trusted and resilient supply chains for AI technologies — at the 2nd Pax Silica Summit held on 25–26 June 2026, in Washington D.C., USA.

• Hosted by: Jacob Helberg, Secretary of Economic Affairs, US Department of State.
• Indian Delegation: Led by S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• New Joiners: Argentina, Germany, Netherlands, Chile, Costa Rica, Greece, Kazakhstan, Panama, and the European Union (EU) joined on the sidelines.
• About Pax Silica: “Pax” (Latin for peace/stability/prosperity) is a flagship US DoS initiative on AI and supply chain security; spans critical minerals, energy, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, AI, infrastructure and logistics.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the ‘Master Directions – RBI (Credit Derivatives) Directions, 2026’ to deepen India’s corporate bond market and expand risk-management tools, effective 25 June 2026, under Section 45W of the RBI Act, 1934.

• New Products: Total Return Swaps (TRS) linked to corporate bonds; derivatives on credit indices.
• Eligible Participants: Residents and Persons resident outside India.
• Determinations Committee: RBI mandated creation of a Credit Derivatives Determinations Committee under FIMMDA (Fixed Income Money Market and Derivatives Association of India).
• Effective date: 25 June 2026; legal basis: Section 45W, RBI Act, 1934.

jUMPP, an AI-driven fintech platform, secured approval from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to operate as a Third Party Application Provider (TPAP), enabling UPI payment capabilities within its app.

• Services Enabled: P2P transfers, merchant payments, bill payments, and recharges.
• Payment Service Provider Bank: YES Bank Limited.
• About jUMPP: Founded in 2025 by Sarvjeet Singh Virk; offers digital gold, Mutual Funds (MFs), and Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs).

LEXI Money IFSC Private Limited (LEXI) — an AI-powered trade and payments platform — received in-principle approval from the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) to operate as a Payment Service Provider (PSP) at GIFT-IFSC, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

• Significance: First regulatory stage; LEXI must obtain a Certificate of Authorisation (CoA) from IFSCA before commencing operations.
• About GIFT-IFSC: Established in 2015 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat — India’s first International Financial Services Centre (IFSC).

Paisabazaar — India’s largest financial marketplace — in partnership with SBM Bank (India) Limited, launched the ‘SBM Paisabazaar Paisa+’, a Fixed Deposit (FD)-backed secured credit card designed to help consumers build credit profiles.

• About SBM Bank (India): HQ — Mumbai; first foreign bank to receive a universal banking licence from RBI under the Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS) model; subsidiary of Mauritius-based SBM Holdings Ltd.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), chaired by PM Narendra Modi, approved the appointment of Mahesh Dixit — a 1993-batch IPS officer of the Andhra Pradesh (AP) cadre — as the next Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) for two years.

• Predecessor: Tapan Kumar Deka (1988-batch IPS, HP cadre) — served since July 2022; second extended tenure ending 30 June 2026.
• Background: Mahesh Dixit, currently Special Director (2nd-in-command, IB), qualified as a medical doctor before joining the IPS; Additional Director (2022), Special Director (2024).
• Awards: President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service (2016); Police Medal for Meritorious Service (2009); Police Antrik Suraksha Seva Padak (2004).

Viswanathan Anand — India’s first Chess Grandmaster (GM) and Deputy President of FIDE — was conferred the Sports Journalists’ Federation of India (SJFI) Gold Medal for exceptional contribution to Indian chess.

• Presented by: Former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth at the Madras Cricket Club (MCC), Chennai; organised by SJFI and TNSJA.
• About SJFI Gold Medal: Instituted in 2019; honours sportspersons for outstanding long-term contribution to their sport.
• 6th Recipient: Viswanathan Anand joins — Sunil Gavaskar, Vijay Amritraj, Prakash Padukone, P.T. Usha, and Milkha Singh (posthumous).

Six youth-led startups were recognised as winners of the ‘8th Youth Co:Lab National Innovation Challenge 2026’ held at T-Hub, Hyderabad, Telangana, from over 350 applications across 28 states.

• Led by: UNDP India in partnership with the Citi Foundation and Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog; implemented by T-Hub Foundation.
• 2026 Theme: Responsible Consumption under Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) — Sustainable Textiles & Fashion, Circular Economy, Sustainable Food Systems & Water Conservation.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) received Final Operational Clearance (FOC) from DRDO for the indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) System ‘Netra’, at an induction ceremony in Bengaluru, Karnataka, presided over by Air Marshal Awadhesh Kumar Bharti, DCAS (Deputy Chief of Air Staff).

• Background: Netra programme initiated in 2003 as a joint IAF-DRDO initiative; GoI sanctioned in 2004; CABS (Centre for Air Borne Systems) as lead laboratory; IAF received Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) in 2017.
• Airframe: Integrated on Brazilian-modified twin-engine Embraer EMB-145I aircraft platform; equipped with in-flight refuelling probes and advanced thermal cooling systems.
• Capabilities: Detects, tracks, identifies and monitors airborne and maritime targets; radar array detection range — 240–300 km; uses Software Defined Radar (SDR) radios for network-centric operations.
• Significance: Smaller footprint than AWACS; enhances India’s airborne surveillance and battle management capabilities.