Daily Current Affairs

In June 2026, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), launched the Green Hydrogen Certification Portal of India (GHCI Portal) during the National Workshop on “Strengthening the National Green Hydrogen Mission: Through State Policies, Hubs & Infrastructure” in New Delhi. The portal is scheduled to become fully operational on 1 July 2026 following completion of a security audit.

• Portal Function: Digital platform enabling transparent certification, verification, and regulatory compliance for green hydrogen under the Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India (GHCI).
• Eligibility: Mandatory for producers receiving incentives or subsidies, selling or using Green Hydrogen in India, obtaining exemptions, or exporting partial quantities.
• MNRE: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy — responsible for the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM).
• GHCI: Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India — developed by MNRE to administer measurement, reporting, verification, certification, regulatory compliance, transparency, and credibility across the green hydrogen sector.

In June 2026, the National Capital Region (NCR) Planning Board (NCRPB), chaired by Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar (Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs), approved plans to develop 4 greenfield cities — one each in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan — branded as “Namo Cities”, under the Regional Plan 2041 to promote balanced regional growth.

• Cost & Timeline: Rs 5,000 crore per city over the next 5 years; selected through a challenge mode.
• Naming: New Namo cities will align with the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) train Namo Bharat.
• NCR Division: NCRPB also decided to divide the NCR into 3 zones, including a core zone between Kundli-Ghaziabad-Palwal (KGP) and Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) expressways.
• NCRPB: National Capital Region Planning Board — chaired by Union Minister, MoHUA; promotes balanced urban development in the NCR.

In June 2026, Jeh Aerospace Private Limited and Solestra Group (USA) signed a multi-year, multi-million-dollar agreement to establish a dedicated Global Manufacturing Centre (GMC) at Jeh Aerospace’s facility in Hyderabad, Telangana. The agreement was formalised during the visit of Joe DeMartino (CEO, Solestra Group) and Rocky Barnhart (VP & GM, Solestra Group) to Hyderabad.

• Objective: Boost aerospace manufacturing capacity, support New Product Introduction (NPI), accelerate industrialisation, and strengthen global supply-chain resilience.
• Operations: The facility will manufacture high-precision components for aero-engine and aircraft system applications, while ensuring digital transparency and intellectual property protection.
• Significance: Combines Jeh Aerospace’s aerostructure expertise with Solestra’s high-precision mechanical systems for comprehensive aerospace manufacturing solutions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a 6-day official visit to France in June 2026, focusing on strategic cooperation, innovation, and technology partnerships on global issues. The visit comprised multiple key engagements across Nice and Paris.

• Nice Visit: PM Modi visited Nice, France from 13–14 June 2026 at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron.
• G7 Summit: Participated in the 52nd G7 Summit held at Évian-les-Bains, France.
• Paris Visit: On 18 June 2026, PM Modi visited Paris for the VivaTech 2026 Technology Summit alongside President Macron.
• Bharat Innovates 2026: PM Modi and President Macron inaugurated the inaugural edition of Bharat Innovates 2026 at the Palais des Expositions de Nice — a 3-day event organised by the Ministry of Education (MoE) under the India-France Year of Innovation.
• Bilateral Talks: Held at Villa Kerylos in Nice — first bilateral meeting since India-France ties were elevated to “Special Global Strategic Partnership” in February 2026.
• Key Outcomes: 13 key outcomes including: India-France Innovation Roadmap 2030; Joint Working Group (JWG) on AI Governance; Expansion of UPI in France; doubling bilateral trade over 5 years.

In June 2026, QS (Quacquarelli Symonds), the UK-based global higher education analytics firm, released the QS World University Rankings 2027. IIT Delhi ranked 118th globally (score: 65.7), improving five places from 123rd — emerging as India’s highest-ranked institution for the second consecutive year. This is the 23rd edition, evaluating more than 1,500 universities across 106 countries and territories, including 52 Indian universities.

• Edition: 23rd edition of QS World University Rankings; evaluates 1,500+ universities in 106 countries and territories.
• Indian Universities: 52 Indian universities featured in this edition.
• IIT Delhi: Ranked 118th globally (up from 123rd); India’s top-ranked institution for the 2nd consecutive year.
• About QS: Quacquarelli Symonds — UK-based; ranks universities based on academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, citations, international faculty, and international students.

In June 2026, Startup Genome, in partnership with the Global Entrepreneurship Network, released the Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) 2026. Bengaluru, Karnataka ranked 15th among the top 40 global startup ecosystems. It also emerged as the second-best AI-native cluster in Asia after Beijing, China. GSER 2026 is the 14th edition of the report.

• GSER Purpose: Annual global ranking and research report evaluating startup ecosystems based on startup performance, funding, talent, innovation, and business environment.
• Coverage: Based on analysis of 5.5 million startups across 350+ global startup ecosystems and policy insights from 200+ organisations across 80+ countries.
• Bengaluru’s Achievement: Ranked 15th globally; 2nd-best AI-native cluster in Asia (after Beijing, China).
• Published by: Startup Genome in partnership with the Global Entrepreneurship Network.

In June 2026, NSE Indices Limited, the index services subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), expanded its portfolio by introducing 11 new sector-specific indices, taking the total number to 34. The expanded range covers both traditional sectors and newer, fast-growing areas.

• NSE Indices Ltd: Index services subsidiary of NSE; manages and administers NIFTY and other equity/bond indices in India.
• New count: Total sectoral indices expanded from 23 to 34 (addition of 11 new indices).

In June 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) relaxed capital requirements for banks on loans backed by the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS 5.0). The revised norms came into force with immediate effect through amendment to the RBI (Commercial Banks — Prudential Norms on Capital Adequacy) Directions, 2025.

• Split Risk Weight: 75% of the guaranteed portion will attract zero-risk weight; remaining 25% continues to attract 20% risk weight.
• Condition for 0% risk weight: Banks must settle within 30 days from date of invocation.
• ECLGS: Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme — a Government of India credit guarantee scheme to provide collateral-free credit to businesses, especially MSMEs, impacted by economic disruptions.

In June 2026, India’s financial sector launched the national industry platform “Alliance of Reporting Entities in AML/CFT (ARIFAC)” to strengthen the country’s Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) ecosystem amid rising financial crimes and cyber fraud risks.

• ARIFAC Governance: Secretariat managed by the Payments Council of India (PCI) and the Fintech Convergence Council (FCC); Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) is a participant observer.
• Focus: Training, certification, workshops, and continuous learning to enhance AML/CFT capabilities.
• Membership: Reporting entities under PMLA including banks, NBFCs, insurance companies, securities market intermediaries, and Virtual Digital Asset (VDA) service providers.
• Risk Management: Transaction monitoring, Suspicious Transaction Reporting (STR), sanctions screening, mule account detection, cross-border crime, and digital banking risks.

In June 2026, India’s Essar Group and Abu Dhabi-based International Resources Holding (IRH) announced the execution of a USD 500 million crude oil sourcing and product supply facility agreement between Essar Energy Transition Fuels and IRH Global Trading.

• Facility: A USD 500 million structured sourcing facility for crude oil and petroleum products to support procurement, supply chain optimisation, and energy trading between Essar and IRH in global markets.
• Strategic Objectives: Diversify crude sourcing channels, improve working capital efficiency, enhance feedstock security, and enable better response to global price and demand fluctuations.
• About IRH: Headquartered in Abu Dhabi; mine-to-market investment platform focused on minerals and resources critical for energy transition and technological advancement.

In June 2026, the Department of Financial Services (DFS) under the Ministry of Finance (MoF) approved the appointment of Hitesh Rameshchandra Joshi as Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re), India’s national reinsurer, effective from 16 June 2026, with tenure up to 30 September 2028.

• Predecessor: Succeeded Narayanan Ramaswamy, whose two-year tenure as CMD ended on 30 September 2025.
• Experience: Over three decades in the insurance and reinsurance sector; serving as interim CMD of GIC Re since 1 October 2025.
• Prior Role: Served as Executive Director (ED) of GIC Re — overseeing international business, HR, IT, actuarial services, business intelligence, and office support.
• GIC Re: General Insurance Corporation of India — India’s sole national reinsurer; incorporated in 1972; HQ: Mumbai; under Ministry of Finance.

World Crocodile Day (World Croc Day) is observed on 17 June to raise awareness about crocodile conservation and the protection of aquatic ecosystems, highlighting the ecological importance of crocodiles, gharials, alligators, caimans, and other crocodilian species.

• 2026 Theme: “Legacy in Every Scale”
• Launch: Established in 2017 by the Crocodile Research Coalition (CRC) in collaboration with the Belize Zoo, Belize.
• Objective: Initiative launched under the leadership of Dr. Marisa Tellez (Executive Director, CRC) to raise global awareness about crocodilian species and urgent need for their conservation.

The United Nations’ International Day for Countering Hate Speech (IDCHS) is observed annually on 18 June to combat the rising spread of discriminatory rhetoric and promote intercultural dialogue and tolerance. 2026 marks the 5th observance of IDCHS and also coincides with the 7th anniversary of the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech (launched 18 June 2019).

• 2026 Theme: “Hate Speech and Artificial Intelligence”
• UN Resolution: UNGA Resolution A/RES/75/309 (21 July 2021) — proclaiming 18 June as IDCHS.
• First Observance: 18 June 2022.
• Sustainable Gastronomy Day: Also observed on 18 June annually; proclaimed by UNGA Resolution A/RES/71/246 (21 December 2016); led by FAO and UNESCO; first observed in 2017; linked to SDGs 2, 3, 12, and 15.

Ladakh LG Vinai Kumar Saxena approved the constitution of the first-of-its-kind “Snow Leopard and High Altitude Nature” (SHAN) Conservation Society in Ladakh to safeguard the endangered big cat and its fragile mountain habitat. Separately, the Government of Gujarat and HUDCO signed an MoU for long-term financing of up to Rs 1 lakh crore in Gandhinagar to support high-impact transit, highway, and smart city development projects.

• SHAN Society Mandate: Under the Department of Environment and Forests, Ladakh — serves as a dedicated institutional mechanism for wildlife conservation, biodiversity management, and community-led environmental stewardship.
• Snow Leopard: India’s 2024 Snow Leopard Population Assessment: 718 snow leopards in India, including 477 in Ladakh; State Animal of Ladakh; known as “Ghost of the Mountains”.
• Gujarat-HUDCO MoU: MoU signatories — Sanjay Kulshrestha (CMD, HUDCO) and Sandeep Kumar (Secretary, Economic Affairs, Finance Dept., Gujarat).
• Gujarat Projects Covered: Ahmedabad Metro Rail Phases 2 & 3, expressways, sports infrastructure, and Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) development.
• Other MoU: Gujarat also signed MoU with IIM Ahmedabad (IIM-A) for technical and strategic support under Viksit Gujarat 2047 programme.
• HUDCO: Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd — under Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA); established 1970; HQ: New Delhi.

Robert Alexander Farrar (Robert A.F.) Thurman, renowned American scholar of Tibetan Buddhism, author, translator, educator, and Padma Shri awardee, passed away on 16 June 2026 in New York, USA at the age of 84.

• Padma Shri: Received India’s Padma Shri (Literature & Education) in 2020 for contributions to literature, education, and promotion of Buddhist thought.
• Academic Career: First American ordained in Tibetan Buddhist tradition under the 14th Dalai Lama; earned Ph.D. from Harvard University; served as Jey Tsong Khapa Professor at Columbia University.
• Contributions: Translated the Vimalakirti Sutra into English; authored over 20 books including “Inner Revolution”; co-founded Tibet House US (1986) with the 14th Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso).
• Recognition: Named among 25 Most Influential Americans (1997) and New York Magazine’s influential figures in religion (2006).