NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India’s Seafood Exports Hit Record High in FY 2025–26: India exported 72 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of seafood worth ₹73,890.46 crore (USD 8.46 billion) in FY 2025–26, achieving an all-time high in both export volume and value despite global market challenges. Frozen shrimp remained the top export product, earning ₹49,037.93 crore (USD 5.62 billion) and contributing 66.52% of total seafood export earnings. Shrimp exports grew by 13.16% in rupee terms and 8.64% in dollar terms. The United States and China continued to be the largest importers of Indian seafood, while China emerged as the biggest destination by quantity, importing 4.90 lakh MT of seafood worth USD 1.61 billion. Frozen fish was the second-largest export item, while dried seafood products ranked third and recorded a strong 78.05% growth in rupee value, reflecting increasing global demand for diversified Indian seafood products.
2. Government Constitutes Committee to Probe CBSE OSM System: The Government has formed a one-member inquiry committee headed by Radha Chauhan to investigate issues related to the procurement of services for the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system by the Central Board of Secondary Education. The committee will submit its report within one month. CBSE has opened an online portal for verification of answer books and re-evaluation requests for Class 12 students who have already obtained scanned copies of their evaluated answer sheets. The portal will remain open until 6 June.
3. WAVES OTT Crosses 1 Crore Users in Less Than Two Years, Targets 2 Crore by 2027: WAVES OTT, operated by Prasar Bharati, has crossed 1 crore registered users within less than two years of its launch in November 2024. The platform reflects the growing adoption of indigenous digital media platforms, offering trusted and diverse content, and now aims to reach 2 crore users by March 2027 through expanded content and distribution. WAVES OTT hosts 24,000+ content titles, 15,000+ hours of content, 140+ live TV channels, 200+ radio services, along with education, culture, and archival content, including PM eVidya programmes.
4. Gujarat’s Hastkala Setu Yojana Crosses ₹102 Crore Sales, Generates Over 50,000 Jobs for Artisans: The Hastkala Setu Yojana, launched in 2020 under the leadership of Bhupendra Patel, has recorded cumulative sales of ₹102.08 crore and generated over 50,000 employment opportunities for artisans. The scheme has significantly improved artisan incomes, increasing the share of beneficiaries earning over ₹15,000 per month from 9% to 50%, while promoting self-reliance, local manufacturing, and preservation of Gujarat’s traditional craft heritage.
5. Prashant Sitaram Lokhande Appointed CBSE Chairman: Prashant Sitaram Lokhande, a 2001-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre, has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education. Varun Bhardwaj, a 2008-batch Indian Information Service officer, has been appointed as the new Secretary of CBSE, replacing Himanshu Gupta. Lokhande succeeds Rahul Singh, who has been transferred to the Agriculture Ministry as Additional Secretary, while the appointments come amid controversy surrounding CBSE’s On-Screen Marking (OSM) system.
6. D.K. Shivakumar to Become Karnataka Chief Minister: D.K. Shivakumar is scheduled to take oath as the 24th Chief Minister of Karnataka on 3 June 2026. The swearing-in ceremony is planned for 4:00 PM at the Lok Bhavan premises in Bengaluru. The Chief Minister is the head of the Council of Ministers in a State under Article 164 of the Constitution of India. The Chief Minister is appointed by the Governor and is usually the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Legislative Assembly. Siddaramaiah resigned on 28 May 2026 and proposed D.K. Shivakumar’s name as the next Congress Legislature Party leader on 30 May 2026. The proposal was unanimously accepted by the Congress Legislature Party.
7. Cabinet Approves Highway Projects in Telangana: The Union Cabinet approved two National Highway widening projects in Telangana on 3 June 2026. The projects cover 190.76 km and have a combined capital cost of ₹7,597.16 crore. The approved works include the widening of the Armoor-Jagtial-Mancherial section of NH-63 and the Jagtial-Karimnagar section of NH-563. Both corridors will be developed to 4-lane standards. The Armoor-Jagtial-Mancherial section of NH-63 will be implemented under the Hybrid Annuity Model. The Jagtial-Karimnagar section of NH-563 will be taken up under the Build-Operate-Transfer (Toll) model. The projects are designed for a speed of 100 km per hour and include bypasses to built-up areas with open tolling.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India to Host 13th BRICS Urbanisation Forum in New Delhi: India will host the 13th BRICS Urbanisation Forum in New Delhi on 11–12 June 2026 under the theme “Cities for People: BRICS Cooperation for Inclusive and Resilient Urban Futures.” The Forum is a major event under India’s BRICS Chairship 2026, aligned with the vision of “Humanity First” and the Chairship theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” India will host the BRICS Urbanisation Forum for the fourth time in 2026, having previously hosted it in 2013 (New Delhi), 2016 (Visakhapatnam), and virtually in 2021.
2. India–Cambodia Cross-Border Payment Link: UPI Enabled on KHQR for Seamless QR Payments: Indian travellers can now make seamless QR-based payments in Cambodia using their UPI-enabled apps by scanning the country’s KHQR (Bakong QR) codes, enabling faster and cashless transactions. This facility has been enabled through a partnership between NPCI International Payments Limited and ACLEDA Bank to promote cross-border digital payment interoperability. The integration allows UPI acceptance in Cambodia via the national QR system KHQR (Bakong), strengthening India’s digital payment reach globally and improving convenience for Indian tourists.
3. Janez Jansa Returns as Slovenia’s Prime Minister for Fourth Term: Slovenia’s Parliament approved Janez Jansa as Prime Minister, with lawmakers voting 51–36 in favor of the veteran right-wing leader, marking a political shift from the previous liberal government. It will be the fourth term in office for Janez Jansa, whose Slovenian Democratic Party formed a coalition with several centre-right parties to establish the new government.
4. UN General Assembly Elects Bangladesh’s Rahman as Next President: Mohammad Abdul Muhith Rahman has been elected as the President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly and will assume office on 8 September 2026 for a one-year term. The presidency of the UN General Assembly rotates among the UN’s five regional groups, and the 81st session has been allocated to the Asia-Pacific Group.
5. 4 June – International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression: International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression is observed every year on 4 June to recognise the suffering of children who become victims of physical, mental, and emotional abuse during conflicts and acts of aggression. The day was established by the United Nations in 1982 following the impact of armed conflicts on children, particularly in war-affected regions.
6. US President Confirms Participation in G7 Summit: The 52nd G7 Summit is scheduled for 15-17 June 2026 in Évian-les-Bains, Haute-Savoie, France. United States President Donald Trump confirmed his participation on 3 June 2026 through a post on Truth Social. The G7 is an intergovernmental forum of seven advanced economies. Its members are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The European Union also participates in G7 meetings. The 2026 summit agenda includes artificial intelligence, trade, critical mineral supply chains, and crime-fighting. Invited countries for the summit include Brazil, India, Kenya, South Korea, and Syria.
7. US Proposes Tariff on India Over Forced Labour Concerns: On 3 June 2026, the United States proposed additional tariffs on imports from 60 economies, including India, under the Trump administration. The proposal links the measure to Section 301 investigations by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative into alleged failures to prohibit or enforce bans on goods made with forced labour. India is among 54 countries facing a proposed 12.5% additional tariff on imports. Six other economies, namely Canada, Ecuador, the European Union, Indonesia, Mexico, and Pakistan, would face a 10% tariff under the proposal. The U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated on 3 June 2026 that failures by trading partners to address forced labour imports create an uneven trade environment for American workers. India rejected the allegations and sought resolution through bilateral trade negotiations.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Maj Gen Rachel Thomas Takes Charge as ADG, Military Nursing Service: Maj Gen Rachel Thomas assumed charge as the Additional Director General (ADG), Military Nursing Service (MNS), and succeeding Maj Gen Lissamma PV, who retired after nearly four decades of service. An alumna of the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, Maj Gen Rachel Thomas was commissioned into the Military Nursing Service on 1 June 1988 and has served in the armed forces medical system for nearly 38 years.
2. Indian Navy to Induct Five Indigenous Naval Platforms: The Indian Navy is set to induct five indigenous naval platforms in 2026, including two Project 17A stealth frigates, one Survey Vessel (Large), and two anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft. The platforms include INS Dunagiri, INS Mahendragiri, Sanshodhak, Agray, and Malwan. Project 17A is a class of stealth frigates built for the Indian Navy with a focus on reduced radar cross-section and modern combat systems. Dunagiri is the fifth ship of the Nilgiri-class and was delivered by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers in Kolkata on 30 March 2026. INS Mahendragiri is another Project 17A frigate scheduled for induction in June 2026. Sanshodhak is the fourth and final Survey Vessel (Large) in a four-ship series contracted in 2018. The vessel was delivered by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers in Kolkata on 30 March 2026. Survey vessels of this class are used for hydrographic surveys, charting, and collection of seabed data for naval and maritime use.
SPORTS
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Fotu La Tunnel Project Approved in Ladakh: The Fotu La Tunnel project on National Highway-01 in Ladakh has been approved with an estimated cost of ₹1,196.22 crore. The project covers a 2.65-kilometre alignment and includes a 1.96-kilometre twin-tube tunnel and 0.69 kilometre of approach roads. Fotu La Pass is located at an altitude of about 4,108 metres and is the highest point on the Uri–Srinagar–Leh highway corridor. National Highway-01 is a key road link in Ladakh for civilian movement, essential supplies, and defence logistics. The project includes a unidirectional twin-tube tunnel at Fotu La and approach roads on both sides. A twin-tube tunnel has two separate tubes for traffic movement, and unidirectional traffic flow is used in road tunnels to improve operational control and safety.
2. NASA Ends MAVEN Mars Mission: NASA declared the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) mission concluded on 3 June 2026 after a prolonged loss of contact with the spacecraft. MAVEN was launched in November 2013 and operated for more than 11 years in orbit around Mars. MAVEN stands for Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution. It was a NASA orbiter designed to study the upper atmosphere of Mars and the planet’s atmospheric escape processes. The spacecraft exceeded its primary one-year mission and continued scientific operations for over a decade. MAVEN also served as a data relay orbiter for NASA’s Curiosity and Perseverance rovers.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. West Bengal Gramin Bank Partners with Canara HSBC Life Insurance to Expand Rural Insurance Coverage: West Bengal Gramin Bank (WBGB) and Canara HSBC Life Insurance Company Limited have entered into a strategic bancassurance partnership to expand life insurance coverage and promote financial inclusion in rural India. Under the partnership, Canara HSBC Life Insurance will offer its life insurance products through WBGB’s network of 960 branches across West Bengal, enhancing access to insurance services. The collaboration aims to provide protection, savings, and long-term financial planning solutions to individuals and families in rural and semi-urban areas of West Bengal.
2. Government to Replace WPI with Producer Price Index (PPI): The Government has decided to gradually phase out the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) and replace it with a Producer Price Index (PPI) to modernise India’s inflation measurement framework and align it with global best practices. The base year of the WPI has been revised from 2011-12 to 2022-23, and both the revised WPI and the new PPI series will be released on 15 June 2026. Due to the widespread use of WPI in price-escalation contracts, the revised WPI will continue to be published alongside the PPI for five years, after which it will be discontinued. The new WPI series expands coverage from 697 items to 957 items, providing broader representation of economic activities and improving the accuracy of price-trend measurement.
3. BharatPe Launches ‘BharatPe Flex’ Credit-on-UPI Solution: BharatPe has launched ‘BharatPe Flex’, a Credit-on-UPI solution in partnership with YES BANK, enabling users to make UPI payments using an integrated credit line. BharatPe Flex allows customers to use credit for a wide range of transactions, including QR-code payments, online purchases, utility bill payments, mobile recharges, travel bookings, shopping, and fuel expenses.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. J&K Bank Wins Finacle Gold Award for AI Platform: J&K Bank won the Gold Award at the Finacle Innovation Awards 2026 in Mumbai on 3 June 2026. The award was given in the category “Modern Technologies-led Innovation – Data Insights & Analytics Platform” for the bank’s cloud-based enterprise data and analytics ecosystem. Finacle Innovation Awards are organised by Infosys Finacle, which provides digital banking solutions to financial institutions. The 2026 edition was held under the theme “Recomposing Banking, Playbook for the Next Phase of Banking Transformation”. The J&K Bank platform functions as a unified source for reporting, business intelligence, advanced analytics, and artificial intelligence applications. It supports AI and machine learning-based solutions for operational efficiency, forecasting, customer analytics, risk management, credit management, and customer retention.
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