Daily Current Affairs

The Global Day of Parents is observed annually on 1 June worldwide. The 2026 theme is “Together for Parents,” emphasising collective support for parents and caregivers in raising children in healthy and nurturing environments, recognising parenting as a shared societal responsibility.

• UN Declaration: Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on 17 September 2012 via Resolution A/RES/66/292.
• First Observed: 1 June 2013 — inaugural observance.
• 2026 Campaign: UNICEF launched the “Becoming a Parent” video campaign, featuring caregivers worldwide sharing real parenting experiences and challenges.
• SDG Link: Supports SDG 3 (Good Health & Well-being) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) through inclusive parenting policies.
• Not to be confused with: World Parents Day (28 July) or International Day of Families (15 May, established 1993).

In May 2026, the PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi), the micro-credit scheme launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoH&UA), completed six years of empowering street vendors. Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar (MoH&UA) and Chief Minister Manik Saha (Tripura) engaged with beneficiaries from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura.

• Loan tranches: 1st tranche — ₹10,000; 2nd tranche — ₹20,000; 3rd tranche — ₹50,000 (working capital loans).
• Additional features: Digital transaction rewards (UPI incentives for vendors); credit score enhancement.
• North East: Over 2.59 lakh loans and financial assistance of over ₹430 crore to NE vendors.
• Ministry: MoH&UA; digital linkage through UPI incentives.

President Droupadi Murmu undertook a 3-day official visit to Sikkim from 26–28 May 2026, marking the state’s Golden Jubilee (50 years of statehood). She inaugurated developmental and cultural initiatives, conferred the President’s Police Colour on the Sikkim Police, and attended key institutional events.

• Key highlights: Visited Orchidarium, Namgyal Institute of Tibetology; toured Nathu La at the India-China border.
• 7th Convocation of Sikkim University at Manan Bhavan, Gangtok.
• President’s Police Colour: Conferred at Paljor Stadium, Gangtok; Sikkim becomes the 15th state and 3rd from the North-East to receive this honour.
• Pink City Runners: Flagged off vehicles for women at Ridge Park, Gangtok.
• ULLAS Scheme: Sikkim became the 5th state to implement Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society (ULLAS), under Ministry of Education (MoE); also the 3rd NE state.

The Government of India (GoI) signed a BrahMos missile export agreement with Vietnam worth approximately USD 629 million (₹60 billion), further strengthening bilateral defence and strategic cooperation. The deal was announced by Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Defence (MoD), at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

• Announced by: Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Defence (MoD), at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Singapore (organised by IISS).
• Vietnam milestone: Becomes the second overseas buyer of the BrahMos missile system, after the Philippines (USD 375 million deal, 2022).
• Indonesia: Negotiations in final stages; Indonesia finalised plans in March 2026 to procure one battery for coastal defence.
• About BrahMos: Supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India (DRDO) and Russia (NPO Mashinostroyeniya); max speed Mach 2.8–3.0; range up to 500 km; named after Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers.

Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (MoPPG&P), launched the first AI-enabled voice chatbot “Samadhan Didi” for the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) at Kartavya Bhawan, New Delhi, in May 2026.

• Developed by: Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), in partnership with BHASHINI (BHASHa INterface for India).
• Languages: Supports all 22 Indian languages recognised under the 8th Schedule of the Constitution, plus additional regional/indigenous languages including Bhojpuri, Garo, Khasi, Mizo, and Bodhi.
• Function: Citizens register grievances by speaking in their language; AI auto-categorises complaints and files them with the correct authority and ministry/department.
• CPGRAMS: Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System; under DARPG; a web-based platform for public grievances to Central Government ministries.

ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) and its academic partner New Age Institute of Technology (NAMTECH) secured the National Steering Committee (NSC) approval for a ₹200.21 crore Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) for the Visakhapatnam Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Cluster in Andhra Pradesh (AP). This is the first-ever SIP approval under PM-SETU, making AP the 1st state to onboard an Anchor Industry Partner (AIP).

• Significance: First-ever SIP approval under PM-SETU; AP becomes the 1st state to onboard an Anchor Industry Partner (AIP).
• NSC Meeting: 3rd National Steering Committee Meeting, chaired by Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi.
• PM-SETU: Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs; flagship initiative of MSDE; launched by PM Modi in October 2025; total budget: ₹60,000 crore; aims to transform 1,000 Government ITIs.
• AM/NS India: Joint venture between ArcelorMittal (Luxembourg) and Nippon Steel (Japan); one of India’s largest integrated steel manufacturers.

Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar (MoH&UA) launched the “Swachh Application” — a geo-tagged mobile app for cleanliness in municipal areas — in Kolkata, West Bengal, in the presence of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari (WB), in May 2026.

• Purpose: Enables citizens to upload photos of stagnant water, garbage, or drainage issues in their municipal areas and send them to the municipality for action.
• Initial rollout: 10 municipalities — Asansol, Durgapur, Baidyabati, Basirhati, Contai, Nalhati, Krishnanagar, Madhyamgram, Tufangunge, and Pujali.
• Expansion: Planned to cover 120 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across West Bengal.
• 18 complaint categories including dead animals, uncleaned dustbins, and unwashed public toilets.
• Mission link: Supports Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) through technology-enabled citizen participation in urban governance.

In June 2026, Karur Vysya Bank Limited (KVB), an Indian private sector bank, launched four new premium credit card portfolios on the Visa platform as part of its strategy to strengthen offerings for affluent and lifestyle-focused customers.

• Eternis (Visa Infinite): Welcome bonus of 10,000 reward points; hotel stay benefits; zero forex markup on global transactions.
• Altura (Visa Infinite): Welcome bonus of 7,500 reward points; accelerated rewards on travel and lifestyle; elite hotel membership; zero forex markup.
• Samara (Visa Signature): Enhanced rewards on dining and lifestyle spending; OTT subscriptions.
• Aura (Visa Platinum): Designed for online shoppers; higher reward points on online transactions; Amazon Prime subscription; Zomato Gold memberships.
• About KVB: Headquarters: Karur, Tamil Nadu; established 1916; one of the oldest commercial banks in South India.

India’s GST collections in May 2026 crossed ₹1.94 lakh crore (₹1.94 trillion), driven by strong domestic demand and economic activity. Separately, the India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) came into force on 1 June 2026, granting India duty-free access to the Omani market for 98.08% of tariff lines.

• GST May 2026: Total gross revenue ₹1.94 lakh crore; driven by strong domestic demand.
• GST April 2026: All-time record of ₹2.42 lakh crore (8.7% YoY growth).
• UPI milestone: UPI processed transactions worth ₹29.90 trillion in May 2026 — highest-ever monthly volume and value record; per NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India). March 2026 UPI was ₹29.52 trillion.
• India-Oman CEPA: Came into force on 1 June 2026; gives India duty-free access to the Omani market for 98.08% of tariff lines.

In June 2026, the three AUKUS member nations — the United States (USA), United Kingdom (UK), and Australia — launched a joint underwater drone programme under “AUKUS Pillar Two” to co-develop advanced Uncrewed Undersea Vehicles (UUVs). The announcement was made at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

• Objective: Develop a suite of highly adaptable, multi-mission UUV payloads to support undersea operations; maintain collective strategic maritime domain advantage.
• Timeline: First delivery of UUV technology expected by 2027.
• Focus areas: Quantum computing collaboration, advanced defence technologies including long-range hypersonic weapons, undersea robotics, and AI.
• About AUKUS: Established 2021; trilateral defence partnership; initially focused on nuclear-powered submarines and advanced military technologies to strengthen maritime security.
• Announcers: Richard Marles (Australian Defence Minister), Pete Hegseth (USA Defence Secretary), John Healey (UK Defence Secretary).

The election for the President of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) was scheduled for 2 June 2026 at UN Headquarters, New York. The UNGA President is elected annually for a one-year term and presides over all UNGA sessions, including the annual High-Level General Debate in September.

• Context: The UNGA President is elected annually for a one-year term; presides over all UNGA sessions, including the annual High-Level General Debate in September.
• 81st Session: Runs from September 2026 to September 2027; incoming President elected through regional rotation among UN member states.
• 80th Session President (2025–26): From the Asia-Pacific Group under the rotational system.

The Indian Haj Mission, under the Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA), received two Labbaytum Awards in the categories of Coordination and Communication from the Ministry of Haj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia, in recognition of India’s exemplary management of Haj operations during Haj 2026. This was the first time India received two Labbaytum Awards in a single Haj season.

• Labbaytum Awards: Presented annually by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Haj & Umrah during the Khiteenahu Misk Ceremony at Makkah; recognise excellence in Haj management and pilgrim services.
• Haj 2026: Commenced 18 April 2026; over 1.75 lakh pilgrims from India via 17 embarkation points across the country.
• India’s tech initiatives: Haj Suvidha Application (digital travel & emergency services); Smart Wristbands (real-time pilgrim tracking at crowded holy sites).
• Honours presented: During the official closing ceremony of Haj 2026.

In June 2026, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), under the Ministry of Defence (MoD), successfully conducted a high-calibre conventional bomb trial at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Ramgarh Range, Panchkula, Haryana.

• Nature of trial: High-powered explosive test conducted per Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), under supervision of senior IAF officials and DRDO scientists.
• Purpose: Validate advanced munitions and defence capabilities; the bomb is designed as a warhead for IAF missiles and other air-dropped munitions.
• About TBRL: Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory; under DRDO; specialises in study of terminal ballistics (impact of munitions on target structures); located at Ramgarh Range, Panchkula, Haryana.
• About DRDO: Defence Research and Development Organisation; under MoD; established 1958; HQ: New Delhi; responsible for India’s military R&D.

On 31 May 2026, the 19th edition of IPL (TATA IPL 2026) concluded with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) securing their second IPL title after defeating Gujarat Titans (GT) by 5 wickets in the final held at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. GT set a target of 156; RCB chased it in 18 overs.

• Virat Kohli (RCB): Played an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls; named Player of the Match; became the FIRST player to cross 9,000 IPL runs; first to cross 4,000 boundary runs; registered four successive 600+ run seasons.
• Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (RR): Most Valuable Player; Orange Cap winner; youngest player in T20 cricket history to aggregate 1,000 runs at 15 years 29 days; also won Emerging Player of the Season, Best Strike Rate Award, and Most Sixes Award (43 sixes).
• About IPL: Founded 2008; organised by BCCI; T20 tournament; 10-team franchise format.
• Prize money: RCB — ₹20 crore; Runner-up GT — ₹12.5 crore.

Two-time Paralympic champion Sumit Antil set a new world record in the Men’s Javelin Throw F64 category with a throw of 74.82 metres at the Indian Open International Para Athletics Championships 2026 in Bengaluru, surpassing his previous world record of 73.29 metres (set at Asian Para Games 2022).

• Achievement: Won gold medal; representing Haryana. The F64 category covers standing athletes with lower limb impairment.
• Record progression: Tokyo 2020 gold; Asian Para Games 2022 world record (73.29 m); Paris 2024 Paralympics gold; Indian Open 2026 new world record (74.82 m).
• About Sumit Antil: Born 6 June 2002, Khewra, Sonipat, Haryana; lost left leg below knee in a farm accident (2015); World Para Athletics world record holder.

In May 2026, veteran Indian playback singer and Padma Bhushan awardee Suman Kalyanpur passed away at the age of 89 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Born as Suman Hemmady on 28 January 1937 in Dhaka, Bengal Presidency, British India (present-day Bangladesh).

• Padma Bhushan: Awarded in January 2023 by the Government of India in the field of “Arts” — India’s 3rd highest civilian honour.
• Career: Began playback singing in 1954 with films Shukrachi Chandini and Mangu; rose to prominence in 1950s and 1960s; known for soulful songs and memorable duets with Mohammed Rafi.
• Notable songs: Aajkal Tere Mere Pyar Ke Charche, Na Na Karte Pyar Tumhin Se, Tumne Pukara Aur Hum Chale Aaye; also known for devotional songs, ghazals, and thumris.
• Legacy: Contributed to Hindi, Marathi, and several regional film industries over six decades; collaborated with many of India’s most renowned composers and singers.