NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. President’s Police Colour Conferred on Sikkim Police: President Droupadi Murmu conferred the prestigious President’s Police Colour on the Sikkim Police during an Alankaran Parade held at Paljor Stadium. With this recognition, Sikkim became the 15th state in India and the 3rd state from the North-East region to receive the President’s Police Colour. The President’s Police Colour is the highest ceremonial honour awarded to a police force in India, recognizing exceptional service, professionalism, and commitment to national security and public welfare.
2. AYUSHEXCIL and Spices Board Sign MoU to Promote Ayush Products Globally: The Ayush Export Promotion Council and the Spices Board of India signed an MoU to strengthen the global promotion of Ayush products, medicinal spices, and India’s traditional wellness ecosystem.The partnership aims to boost exports through quality assurance, standardisation, research, innovation, international market development, and promotion of functional foods, nutraceuticals, herbal extracts, and Ayurvedic products.Under the proposed “Spice and Heal” initiative, both organizations will focus on branding, traceability, scientific validation, capacity building, and participation in international trade fairs to position India as a global leader in holistic health and natural healing solutions.
3. Ministry of Corporate Affairs Allows CSR Spending Through ZCZP Instruments: The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has allowed companies to deploy up to 10% of their annual CSR expenditure through Zero Coupon Zero Principal (ZCZP) instruments, aiming to strengthen India’s Social Stock Exchange ecosystem.A ZCZP instrument carries no interest payment and no principal repayment, making it a philanthropic funding mechanism that channels social impact investments through a market-based framework.Under Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013, eligible companies are required to spend at least 2% of their average net profits on CSR activities, and non-compliance can attract penalties of up to ₹1 crore.
4. Sarbananda Sonowal Launches Logistics Port Performance Index (LPPI) 2024–25 at JNPA, Mumbai: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched the Logistics Port Performance Index (LPPI) 2024-25 during the 37th Foundation Day celebrations of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority in Mumbai.LPPI is a national benchmarking framework developed under the Sagar Aankalan Framework to evaluate port performance across Dry Bulk Cargo, Liquid Bulk Cargo, and Container Cargo categories.Top-performing ports were Paradip Port Authority in Dry Bulk Cargo, Sikka Port and Terminals in Liquid Bulk Cargo, and Mundra Port in Container Cargo, while JNPA secured the second position among major container ports.
5. Delhi High Court Frames Right to Be Forgotten Rules: The Delhi High Court delivered a 144-page judgment on 29 May 2026 on the enforcement of the right to be forgotten in digital records. Justice Sachin Datta recognised the right to be forgotten as an integral facet of the fundamental right to privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution. Article 21 of the Constitution protects the right to life and personal liberty, and the Supreme Court recognised privacy as a fundamental right in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India, 2017. The Delhi High Court linked informational privacy with the continued availability of judicial records on internet search platforms.
6. Mesalina Bishnoi Recorded in India for First Time: Mesalina bishnoi is a newly described lizard species from Rajasthan and the first confirmed record of the genus Mesalina in India. The formal description was published on 1 June 2026 after specimen collection from an open semi-desert habitat near Gajner in the Bikaner district. Mesalina bishnoi belongs to the genus Mesalina and was placed within the Mesalina watsonana species complex. Scientists used morphological examination and genetic analyses to confirm it as a previously unknown species. A field survey in August 2025 led to the collection of the specimen near Gajner in western Rajasthan. The habitat was an open semi-desert zone, which is part of the arid landscape of the Thar region.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Yemen’s Former President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi Dies: Former Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi has passed away. He was a key political figure in Yemen during a period of significant political transition and conflict.Hadi served as the President of Yemen from 2012 to 2022, leading the country for a decade before transferring his powers to a presidential leadership council.
2. Banks Sanction ₹35,194 Crore Under ECLGS 5.0: The Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 5.0 is a government credit guarantee scheme approved by the Union Cabinet on 5 May 2026 for industries affected by the West Asia crisis, including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and airlines. Banks had sanctioned ₹35,194 crore in loans under the scheme by 29 May 2026. ECLGS 5.0 has a budgetary outlay of ₹18,100 crore and is designed to facilitate additional credit flow of ₹2.55 lakh crore. The scheme includes a specific allocation of ₹5,000 crore for airlines. Borrowers eligible for ECLGS 5.0 must have credit facilities classified as Standard, excluding Special Mention Account-2, as of 31 March 2026. The scheme remains open for loan sanctions until 31 March 2027 or until guarantees for the full ₹2.55 lakh crore are issued, whichever occurs earlier.
3. India-US Trade Deal Enters Final Stage: India and the United States are in the final stage of an interim trade pact under the first tranche of the proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). As of 1 June 2026, India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal stated that 99% of the discussions for the first phase had been completed. Chief negotiators from the United States and India are meeting in New Delhi from 1 to 4 June 2026. The US delegation is led by Brendan Lynch, and the Indian delegation is led by Darpan Jain, Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce. The talks are focused on finalising the legal text and related details of the interim pact.
4. Centre Signs MoU with ISRO for Water Research: The Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Indian Space Research Organisation signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 1 June 2026 in New Delhi. The agreement covers the use of satellite technology and space-based applications for water resource management in India. The workshop also launched the MAHA on Water programme, which stands for Mission for Advancement in High-Impact Areas for Water. The programme is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation. An open call for startups and MSMEs was announced under the Bharat Water Innovation Network platform. The platform is linked to innovation in the water sector.
5. Coinbase Launches Direct INR Deposits in India: Coinbase launched direct Indian Rupee (INR) deposit and withdrawal services in India on 1 June 2026. Indian customers can use bank accounts and the Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) for INR transfers without peer-to-peer rails or intermediaries. Coinbase is a United States-based cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2012. The platform now offers spot trading and perpetual futures contracts for major crypto assets to users in India. Coinbase also maintains local INR order books and access to its global exchange for broader liquidity. Coinbase is registered with India’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND). The company complies with Indian taxation rules for virtual digital asset transactions, including tax deducted at source (TDS). In India, virtual digital assets are covered under the Income-tax Act, 1961, and TDS applies to specified crypto transfers.
6. India’s Seafood Exports Touch Record $8.46 Billion: India’s seafood exports in fiscal year 2025-26 (FY26) reached 8.46 billion, or ₹73,890.46 crore, with a total export volume of 19,72,018 metric tonnes. The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) confirmed the FY26 value on 1 June 2026, and earlier provisional data released on 21-22 April 2026 had placed the export value at 8.28 billion. Frozen shrimp remained the largest export item in FY26, earning $5,624.48 million, or ₹49,037.93 crore. Frozen shrimp accounted for 66.52% of total US dollar earnings from India’s seafood exports in FY26. The United States remained the largest importer of Indian seafood in FY26. Exports to the United States fell by 10.82% in rupee value and 14.22% in dollar value, while exports to China rose by 22.7% in value and 20.1% in volume.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar Assumes Charge as Vice Chief of Naval Staff: Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar has assumed charge as the 48th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS) of the Indian Navy.
Before this appointment, he served as Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command, India’s only integrated tri-service command.
2. Vice Admiral Vineet McCarty Takes Charge of ANC: Vice Admiral Vineet McCarty, AVSM, assumed charge as the 20th Commander-in-Chief of the Andaman & Nicobar Command (ANC) on 1 June 2026 at Sri Vijaya Puram. He succeeded Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar, who relinquished command on 25 May 2026 and took over as Vice Chief of the Naval Staff. Before this appointment, he served as Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Staff Requirements), Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet, Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy, and Controller Personnel Services. In his new role, he will oversee operational control and development of military assets in the island territories, including Great Nicobar Island.
SPORTS
1. Sumit Antil Breaks World Record at Indian Open International Para Athletics Championships 2026: 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.Representing Haryana, Antil surpassed his previous world record of 73.29 metres, which he had established at the Asian Para Games 2022, and won the gold medal.
2. Royal Challengers Bengaluru Retain IPL Title : Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully defended their IPL title by defeating Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the final at Narendra Modi Stadium.Virat Kohli starred in the chase with an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls and was named Player of the Match, while Washington Sundar scored an unbeaten 50 for Gujarat Titans.Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was named Most Valuable Player of the Season and won the Orange Cap with 776 runs, becoming the youngest-ever Orange Cap winner at 15 years and 65 days. He also secured the Emerging Player, Super Striker, and Super Sixes awards.
3. ICC Suspends Cricket Canada Over Governance Breaches : The International Cricket Council (ICC) suspended Cricket Canada from membership with immediate effect on 1 June 2026. The ICC Board took the decision after meetings in Ahmedabad, India, and cited serious breaches of membership obligations linked to governance concerns. Cricket Canada is the national governing body for cricket in Canada and is a member of the ICC. ICC membership is governed by obligations related to administration, finance, governance, and compliance with anti-corruption rules.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Mission SANA: India’s First Indigenous Super-Pressure Platform Launched: Red Balloon Aerospace launched Mission SANA, India’s first indigenous super-pressure platform carrying commercial payloads from seven national and international partners, marking a major milestone in the country’s near-space capabilities.With this mission, India joined the United States, France, Japan, and China as one of only five nations possessing indigenous stratospheric (hydrogen) balloon technology.The company’s VISTA super-pressure platform was launched from Indira Gandhi Stadium and ascended to about 25 km above Earth, carrying payloads for biological experiments, propulsion technology, earth observation, onboard computing, and navigation system validation.
2. India’s First SkyCast System Launched at IGI Airport: Union Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurated India’s first SkyCast System at Indira Gandhi International Airport, marking a significant advancement in aviation weather monitoring.The system was launched under Mission Mausam, a Government of India initiative aimed at modernizing the country’s weather forecasting infrastructure.SkyCast is an integrated atmospheric remote sensing system designed for fog monitoring, turbulence detection, weather forecasting, and aviation safety, enhancing operational efficiency and flight safety.
3. IIMC Launches AIME Academy for AI in Media and Entertainment : The Indian Institute of Mass Communication launched the Artificial Intelligence in Media and Entertainment (AIME) Academy in New Delhi to strengthen AI-driven capabilities in the media sector.The Academy will function on five key pillars—capacity building, research, innovation and incubation, responsible AI and policy development, and industry–academia collaboration—to promote widespread AI adoption across India’s media ecosystem.It aims to act as a national hub for AI literacy and innovation in media, supporting organisations like Doordarshan, All India Radio, and Press Information Bureau, while also advancing training programs and AI toolkits for future media professionals.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Ageas Federal Life Insurance Partners with Policybazaar to Boost Digital Insurance Distribution: Ageas Federal Life Insurance has entered into a digital distribution partnership with Policybazaar to expand its online reach and strengthen digital insurance distribution.The partnership aims to provide India’s growing base of digitally savvy consumers with a seamless end-to-end online journey for purchasing insurance products. Through the Policybazaar platform, AFLI’s range of protection, savings, and wealth-creation products will be easily accessible, comparable, and available for online purchase.
2. Zoho Corporation Invests ₹70 Crore in ONDC to Strengthen India’s Digital Commerce Infrastructure: Zoho Corporation has invested ₹70 crore in Open Network for Digital Commerce to support the development of sovereign digital technology infrastructure in India. ONDC is an initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, aimed at promoting open and inclusive digital commerce.
ONDC was incorporated on 30 December 2021 and seeks to democratize e-commerce by enabling interoperability between buyers and sellers across digital platforms.
3. DFS Launches Common Landing Portal for Unclaimed Financial Assets : The Department of Financial Services has launched the Common Landing Portal for Unclaimed Financial Assets to help citizens easily search for and claim their unclaimed financial assets. Developed in collaboration with the Public Sector Bank Alliance, the portal provides a unified platform to search for unclaimed bank deposits, insurance claims, shares, dividends, and mutual funds across the financial ecosystem. The initiative aims to create a more accessible, transparent, and citizen-centric financial ecosystem, while making it easier for individuals to reconnect with their rightful financial assets.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Indian Peacekeepers Honoured by the United Nations: On the occasion of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, the United Nations posthumously honoured two Indian peacekeepers with the prestigious Dag Hammarskjöld Medal.The medal was awarded by António Guterres to Lance Havildar Harbhajan Singh and Naib Subedar Sujit Kumar Pradhan in recognition of their sacrifice while serving in UN peacekeeping missions.Major Abhilasha Barak received the 2025 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for her outstanding contribution to gender equality and inclusion in peacekeeping operations.
2. Tamil Nadu Farmer Valluvan Recognised as UN FAO Soil Farmer Hero for Sustainable Tree-Based Farming: Valluvan from Pollachi was recognised as a UN FAO Soil Farmer Hero for successfully adopting sustainable and tree-based agricultural practices.He transformed his 11-hectare farm from a loss-making coconut plantation into a highly profitable farming model through diversified and sustainable agricultural methods. Inspired by the Isha Foundation’s Save Soil – Cauvery Calling Programme, Valluvan adopted multi-crop farming, multi-tier agriculture, and tree-based farming, enhancing both productivity and soil health.
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