NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. West Bengal Legislative Assembly Joins NeVA Initiative: The West Bengal Legislative Assembly signed a Tripartite MoU for the implementation of the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) in the presence of Kiren Rijiju and other dignitaries. With the signing of the MoU, the West Bengal Legislative Assembly became the 33rd legislature in India to join the NeVA initiative, supporting the vision of “One Nation – One Application” for legislative governance. So far, 21 legislatures across the country have successfully transitioned to fully digital functioning through the NeVA platform, promoting paperless and transparent legislative processes.
2. PM Modi Inaugurates New Terminal Building of NAMO Airport in Daman, Launches Projects Worth ₹2,970 Crore: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new terminal building of NAMO Airport in Daman, aimed at enhancing air connectivity, tourism, and economic growth in the Union Territory. Developed with modern passenger facilities and a seating capacity of around 180 passengers, the terminal is expected to improve connectivity with major cities such as Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Delhi. During his visit, PM Modi also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth approximately ₹2,970 crore across healthcare, tourism, infrastructure, public welfare, and connectivity sectors.
3. FSSAI Introduces Standardized Vegan Logo; Mandatory for Approved Vegan Food Products from July 2027: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has introduced a standardised vegan logo for approved vegan food products to help consumers easily identify vegan foods. Under the amended Food Safety and Standards (Vegan Foods) Regulations, all approved vegan food packages must display the prescribed vegan logo, creating a uniform national identity for vegan products. The use of the new vegan logo will become mandatory from 1 July 2027, aiming to improve transparency, prevent misleading claims, and promote environmentally sustainable food choices in India.
4. Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar Inaugurates Samriddhi Kendram in Andhra Pradesh Under BharatNet Initiative: Union Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar inaugurated the Samriddhi Kendram at Narakoduru village in Andhra Pradesh’s Guntur district to promote rural digital transformation.
Established under the BharatNet Udyami Initiative, Narakoduru has become the third village in India and the first in the Telugu States to host this integrated rural development model. Built at a cost of ₹1.16 crore, the centre offers 11 essential services under one roof, including health screening, telemedicine, soil testing, skill development, high-speed internet, and free Wi-Fi to improve access to services in rural areas.
5. Tamil Nadu Issues Cool Roof SOP: Tamil Nadu released India’s first state-level Standard Operating Procedure for Cool Roof Coating Application on 5 June 2026, which is World Environment Day. The document sets a framework for cool roof initiatives as a passive cooling measure for homes, schools, and public buildings. The SOP provides a 12-stage implementation process. It covers feasibility assessment, material procurement, application methods, quality assurance, and periodic maintenance. The SOP recommends coatings with a Solar Reflective Index of 102. The framework is intended for use in residential buildings, educational institutions, and public facilities across Tamil Nadu. Cool roof coating is a surface treatment with high solar reflectance and thermal emittance. It reduces heat absorption by building roofs and lowers indoor temperatures in hot climates.
6. Chhattisgarh’s M-CAD Irrigation Model Gets Central Recognition: Chhattisgarh’s irrigation initiative under the Modernisation of Command Area Development and Water Management (M-CADWM) scheme received Central government recognition on 6 June 2026. The Union Ministry of Jal Shakti asked other States and Union Territories to study the Chhattisgarh model for improving irrigation efficiency and water-use capacity. On 2 May 2026, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai inaugurated a ₹119-crore pressurised lift irrigation project at Bagia village in Jashpur district. The project is planned to irrigate 4,933 hectares across 13 villages and uses underground pipelines, solar power, SCADA, and IoT. The project has received ₹95.89 crore in Central funding and is scheduled for completion within six months of inauguration.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Vipul Appointed India’s Next Ambassador to Saudi Arabia: Vipul, a 1998-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, has been appointed as India’s next Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Prior to this appointment, Vipul served as India’s Ambassador to Qatar since August 2023 and has held diplomatic assignments in Cairo, Colombo, Geneva, and Dubai. He also served as Joint Secretary (Gulf) in the Ministry of External Affairs from 2020 to 2023 and was Consul General of India in Dubai between 2017 and 2020.
2. Neelkanth Mishra Appointed Executive Director at World Bank Headquarters for Three-Year Term: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Neelkanth Mishra as Executive Director at the World Bank Headquarters in Washington, D.C. for a tenure of three years. The tenure of Parameswaran Iyer has been extended until Neelkanth Mishra assumes charge of the position.
3. 5 June – International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing: The International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing is observed annually on 5 June to raise awareness about the threats posed by illegal fishing to marine ecosystems, food security, and sustainable fisheries. The day was officially established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2017, following a proposal by the Food and Agriculture Organization.
4. 7 June – World Food Safety Day: World Food Safety Day is observed every year on 7 June to raise awareness about the importance of safe food and to prevent foodborne diseases worldwide. Theme 2026 – From burden to solutions – safe food everywhere The day was established by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2018, and the first observance was held in 2019.
5. India Sets $30 Billion Seafood Export Target by 2031: India has set a target of 30 billion in seafood exports by 2031, against the present export value of about 8.5 billion. The target was announced in June 2026 during a national workshop on seafood exports in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. India’s marine product exports reached ₹73,890.46 crore, or USD 8.45 billion, in fiscal year 2025-26. The export volume stood at 19.72 lakh metric tonnes in the same period. Seafood exports include shrimp, fish, molluscs, and other marine products. Shrimp remains a major export item in India’s marine trade basket. Andhra Pradesh accounts for 66% of India’s shrimp exports and 55.39 lakh tonnes of aquaculture production in 2025-26. A Smart and Integrated Fishing Harbour has been approved for Kakinada under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. India Showcases Zorawar Tank and TEJASTRA: India showcased the indigenous Zorawar light tank and TEJASTRA at Larsen & Toubro’s Hazira facility in Gujarat in June 2026. The Zorawar platform is a 25-tonne light tank developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation and Larsen & Toubro for high-altitude combat along the Line of Actual Control. The Zorawar light tank is designed for mobility in mountainous terrain and for deployment in areas with limited infrastructure. It is an indigenous armoured platform developed under a public-private partnership between the Defence Research and Development Organisation and Larsen & Toubro. The tank integrated the Nag Mk II anti-tank guided missile and completed tests in October 2025. The Nag Mk II has a maximum range of 7 to 10 kilometres. The Ministry of Defence placed an initial order for 59 Zorawar tanks. The long-term procurement plan covers more than 295 additional units, and full induction is projected for 2027.
2. India, U.S. Hold 29th Army-to-Army Staff Talks: India and the United States held the 29th Army-to-Army Staff Talks in Hawaii on 6 June 2026. The talks formed part of bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries and covered military coordination, professional exchanges, and interoperability. Army-to-Army Staff Talks are a formal military dialogue mechanism between the Indian Army and the United States Army. Such staff-level talks are used to discuss training, exercises, logistics, doctrine, and operational cooperation. Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Strategy), co-chaired the Indian side. Lieutenant General Joel Vowell, Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Army Pacific, co-chaired the United States side. The talks took place in Hawaii, which hosts major United States military commands in the Indo-Pacific region.
SPORTS
1. Lionel Messi Wins Princess of Asturias Award for Sports: Lionel Messi has been awarded the prestigious Princess of Asturias Award for Sports, recognising his outstanding sporting career and positive impact on society. Messi became the first individual footballer to receive the Princess of Asturias Award and is celebrated for leading Argentina to victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
2. India Wicketkeeper-Batter KS Bharat Announces Retirement from International Cricket: Indian wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat has announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 32, bringing an end to his stint with the national team. Bharat represented India in 7 Test matches, with his final appearance coming against England in Visakhapatnam in February 2024, and completed 19 dismissals behind the stumps. He was also a member of India’s playing XI in the ICC World Test Championship Final 2023 against Australia at The Oval, marking one of the highlights of his international career.
3. Praggnanandhaa Wins Norway Chess Title: R Praggnanandhaa became the first Indian to win the Norway Chess title on 5 June 2026. The 20-year-old Grandmaster won the final round in Oslo by defeating Germany’s Vincent Keymer and finished with 18 points. Norway Chess is an elite classical chess tournament held in Oslo, Norway. The 2026 edition ran from 25 May to 5 June and included Magnus Carlsen, D Gukesh, Alireza Firouzja, Wesley So, and Vincent Keymer. Classical chess is a standard time-control format used in top-level tournaments and world championship events. Norway Chess uses classical games for its main standings, and Praggnanandhaa won his final four classical games in the 2026 event.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. SpaceX Signs Computing-Power Agreement With Google: SpaceX filed a disclosure with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on 5 June 2026 for a computing-power agreement with Google. The contract covers compute capacity from October 2026 to June 2029 and includes about 110,000 NVIDIA GPUs, CPUs, memory, and related components. Either Google or SpaceX can terminate the agreement with 90 days’ notice after 31 December 2026. If SpaceX does not deliver the committed GPU quantity by 30 September 2026, Google can terminate the agreement or accept reduced capacity with a corresponding reduction in monthly fees. Google described the arrangement as a short-term agreement for bridge capacity for demand linked to its agentic AI platform, Gemini Enterprise. The deal adds to SpaceX’s compute-related business, which also includes an agreement with Anthropic for capacity from its Colossus data centres.
2. Andhra Pradesh Plans AI Newborn Growth Monitoring System: Andhra Pradesh plans to introduce an AI-powered system for monitoring the health and growth of newborn babies. The initiative will integrate the Shishu Maapan application, developed by the Wadhwani AI Foundation, with the mobile application used by ASHA workers. The system uses a mobile phone video to capture newborn measurements without physical contact. It can record weight, height, head circumference, chest circumference, and mid-upper arm measurements. A pilot project is underway in the Mangalagiri constituency and covers about 1,000 newborns. The pilot areas include urban health centres in Indiranagar, Kopparao Colony, Kaza, and Yerrabalem, along with the Pedavadlapudi Primary Health Centre.
3. Sriram Krishnan to Leave White House AI Role: Sriram Krishnan, the Senior White House Policy Adviser on Artificial Intelligence, is set to leave his post at the end of June 2026 after an 18-month tenure in the Trump administration. He was appointed in early 2025 and worked on artificial intelligence policy, model access agreements, and international AI discussions. The Senior White House Policy Adviser on Artificial Intelligence is a policy post linked to the formulation of federal AI strategy in the United States. The role involves coordination on executive orders, national policy frameworks, and government engagement with technology firms. The American AI Action Plan is a White House policy initiative associated with the administration’s AI strategy. It covers measures related to AI development, security assessment, and the objective of maintaining US leadership in artificial intelligence.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. ADB and Standard Chartered Partner to Boost Supply Chain Finance in India : Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Standard Chartered Bank signed agreements to strengthen supply chain finance in India through risk-sharing arrangements covering both US dollar and rupee transactions. The partnership includes a risk participation arrangement through Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) for USD-denominated transactions and a partial guarantee facility to support onshore rupee transactions.
2. India’s Economy Grows 7.7% in FY 2025-26: India’s real GDP is estimated to grow by 7.7% in FY 2025-26, up from 7.1% in FY 2024-25, with the economy reaching a size of over ₹323 lakh crore, according to provisional estimates released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. Growth was supported by strong performance in the agriculture and fishery sectors, while manufacturing, trade, hotels, transport, communication, broadcasting-related services, and real estate recorded double-digit growth during the financial year. Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF), a key indicator of investment activity, grew by 8.2% in FY 2025-26, reflecting robust investment momentum, higher government capital expenditure, resilient private consumption, and healthy agricultural output.
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