18 June 2026 — Daily Current Affairs Quiz
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International
IDFR 2026 — International Day of Family Remittances
Observed 16 June annually. 2026 Theme: ‘Remittances for Rural Resilience, Entrepreneurship and Employment’. First observed on 16 June 2008 by IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development) in partnership with the World Bank. UNGA adopted Resolution A/RES/72/281 in 2018 officially designating 16 June as IDFR. Decade-long initiative: #FamilyRemittances Campaign 2020–2030, led by IFAD. 2025 theme was ‘Remittances as a Catalyst for Development.’
Governance
MoRTH Vehicle Replacement Scheme — Ashok Leyland & Switch Mobility
MoRTH signed its first MoU under the Vehicle Replacement Scheme with Ashok Leyland and its EV subsidiary Switch Mobility. Benefits: 8% discount on ex-showroom price; 5% interest subvention on financing + monthly fuel vouchers (5 years); up to 100% motor vehicle tax concession + complete registration fee waiver (10 years) from participating states. Targets BS-IV and older vehicles in Delhi-NCR. Ashok Leyland HQ: Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
International
New Development Bank — Uzbekistan as 10th Member
Uzbekistan became the 10th member of the New Development Bank (NDB) in June 2026 — the first Central Asian country to join. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed the accession law on 21 May 2026. NDB was established in 2014 by BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa); HQ: Shanghai, China. First NDB projects in Uzbekistan will focus on energy, water management, transport, and infrastructure.
Climate
India–Japan Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) — Article 6.2
India and Japan adopted Rules of Implementation for the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) on 8 June 2026 under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement (UNFCCC). The JCM is a bilateral carbon market mechanism supporting emission-reduction projects, low-carbon technologies, and carbon credit generation contributing to both nations’ NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions). Article 6.2 allows bilateral transfer of internationally recognised carbon credits. Preceded by a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed in 2025.
Science
ISRO–DAE Lunar Heating System — 200-Day Operational Life
ISRO and the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) are developing an artificial heating system to extend future lunar lander operations to up to 200 Earth days. Announced by ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan in June 2026. The system will enable survival through lunar nights where temperatures fall below -129°C. Reference: Vikram lander (Chandrayaan-3) landed near Moon’s south pole on 23 August 2023 and operated for ~14 Earth days (one lunar day). ISRO HQ: Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Sports
TIME 100 Most Influential in Sports 2026 — Smriti Mandhana
Smriti Mandhana — two-time ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year — is the only Indian on the inaugural TIME 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026 list, in the ‘Titans’ category alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Erling Haaland, and Temba Bavuma. TIME is a 103-year-old global media brand. Four list categories: Leaders, Icons, Innovators, Titans. LeBron James features in the Icons category.
Business & Economy
Bank of Baroda — bob Golden Goal Deposit Scheme
Bank of Baroda (BOB) launched the bob Golden Goal Deposit Scheme — a 555-day retail term deposit for deposits below Rs 3 crore. Interest rates: General/NRO 6.75% p.a.; NRE customers 7.25% p.a.; Senior citizens 7.35% p.a.; Super senior citizens 7.40% p.a. Non-callable deposits earn additional 5 bps. No penalty on deposits up to Rs 5 lakh held ≥12 months. Available via branches, net banking, and bob World app. BOB HQ: Vadodara, Gujarat; founded 1908.
Culture
Tripura’s Sarinda Gets GI Tag — Now 4 GI Products
Sarinda (also Sarinda Uakhrap) — a traditional bowed string instrument made from bamboo, 65–70 cm long with an oval-shaped void wooden vibrating chamber covered with thin skin — received a GI Tag in June 2026. Granted by the Geographical Indication Registry (GIR) under DPIIT, MoC&I. Total GI-tagged products from Tripura now: 4. Other three: Tripura Queen Pineapple, Risha/Pachra (Rignai), and Matabari Peda.
Defence
Indian Navy Decommissions Sea King Mk42B — ‘Flying Frigates’
Indian Navy decommissioned Sea King Mk42B helicopters — nicknamed the ‘Flying Frigates’ — after 36 years of service. Operated by INAS 330; final ceremonial flight from INS Shikra (Western Naval Command), Colaba, Mumbai. Procured between 1989–1990 for anti-submarine warfare (ASW); also used for anti-ship missions and SAR. Retired airframes will be repurposed as utility transport helicopters or test platforms for the Naval Anti-Ship Missile (NASM) programme.
Defence
National Military Drone Technology Hub — IIT Kanpur
MoD granted in-principle approval for a Rs 500 crore National Military Drone Technology Hub at IIT Kanpur (UP). Full-stack capability: design, test, and certify military payloads, data links, ground stations, and counter-drone systems. Nodal body: Army Design Bureau (ADB) under DCOAS(CD&S). Proposed by UPEIDA (UP Defence Industrial Corridor). Will boost Make in India and Make-2 categories and reduce import reliance on critical drone sub-systems.
🎴 Revision Flashcards
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What is the 2026 theme of the International Day of Family Remittances (IDFR)?
Remittances for Rural Resilience, Entrepreneurship and Employment
IDFR observed 16 June; established by IFAD; UN Resolution A/RES/72/281 (2018)
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Which companies signed MoRTH’s first Vehicle Replacement Scheme MoU?
Ashok Leyland and Switch Mobility (its EV subsidiary)
8% discount on ex-showroom price; targets BS-IV & older vehicles in Delhi-NCR
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What ‘first’ does Uzbekistan’s NDB membership represent, and when did it join?
First Central Asian country to join NDB — June 2026 (10th member)
President Mirziyoyev signed accession law 21 May 2026; NDB HQ: Shanghai
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Under which Article of the Paris Agreement does the India-Japan JCM operate?
Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement (UNFCCC)
Rules adopted 8 June 2026; bilateral carbon market mechanism contributing to NDCs
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How long will the ISRO-DAE heating system extend lunar lander operations?
Up to 200 Earth days
Announced by ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan; reference: Vikram lander (14 days)
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Who is the only Indian on TIME 100 Most Influential in Sports 2026, and in which category?
Smriti Mandhana — ‘Titans’ category
Two-time ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year; alongside Ronaldo, Haaland, Bavuma
Tap to Reveal
What is the tenure and peak interest rate of the bob Golden Goal Deposit Scheme?
555 days; up to 7.40% p.a. (super senior citizens)
Bank of Baroda; deposits below Rs 3 crore; founded 1908, HQ Vadodara
Tap to Reveal
How many GI-tagged products does Tripura now have, and what is the latest addition?
4 GI tags — latest: Sarinda (Sarinda Uakhrap), a traditional bowed string instrument
Others: Tripura Queen Pineapple, Risha/Pachra (Rignai), Matabari Peda
Think & Discuss
India’s Drone Ambition vs. Space Longevity: Can Indigenous Technology Close the Gap Between Aspiration and Operational Reality?
Context from today’s quiz: Two significant technology developments emerged this week: MoD approved a Rs 500 crore National Military Drone Technology Hub at IIT Kanpur to reduce India’s import dependence on drone sub-systems, while ISRO and DAE announced a joint heating system to extend lunar lander operations from 14 to 200 days. Both reflect India’s push to move from dependence to indigenisation — but the scale and timelines of these ambitions prompt hard questions about whether India’s institutional frameworks, funding commitments, and talent pipelines match the stated goals.
🤔 Your Perspective Matters
India’s defence and space programmes are simultaneously tackling drone indigenisation (IIT Kanpur Hub), lunar endurance technology (ISRO-DAE heating system), and bilateral climate cooperation (India-Japan JCM). Each requires sustained investment, institutional coordination, and cross-sector expertise.
Is India’s current model of dispersing R&D responsibilities across MoD, ISRO, DAE, IITs, and Defence Corridors effective — or does India need a single unified advanced technology agency (like DARPA in the USA) to coordinate frontier defence and space technology development?
Is India’s current model of dispersing R&D responsibilities across MoD, ISRO, DAE, IITs, and Defence Corridors effective — or does India need a single unified advanced technology agency (like DARPA in the USA) to coordinate frontier defence and space technology development?
- The drone hub at IIT Kanpur will be coordinated by the Army Design Bureau (ADB) while ISRO’s lunar heating system is a joint project with DAE — two completely separate institutional chains. Does this fragmentation slow down India’s indigenisation timeline, and what are the risks of siloed R&D in defence and space?
- India and Japan operationalised a bilateral carbon market (JCM) under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement while Uzbekistan joined the NDB — both multilateral engagements. How should India balance bilateral technology diplomacy with multilateral development financing to maximise strategic returns?
- Smriti Mandhana’s appearance on TIME’s sports list and Tripura’s Sarinda receiving a GI tag both reflect India’s growing soft power. Can cultural recognition (GI tags, sporting icons) be as strategically valuable as hard technology investments in shaping India’s global positioning?
We’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your perspective in the comments.
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