NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. I4C Launches Two New Portals for Cyber Fraud Victims: The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has launched two new portals—Grievance Redressal Mechanism (GRM) and Money Restoration Module (MRM)—to provide faster assistance to cyber fraud victims. The new portals aim to strengthen coordination among police, banks, and the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP), enabling quicker grievance redressal and restoration of funds lost in cyber fraud cases.
2. GeM Signs MoU with CSC-SPV to Expand Government Procurement Access: The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CSC Governance Services India Limited (CSC-SPV) to improve access to government procurement opportunities, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Under the partnership, 50 GeM Suvidha Kendras (GSKs) will be established on a pilot basis through the Common Services Centre (CSC) network to assist sellers and service providers in using the GeM portal. The pilot centres will be set up across Delhi-NCR, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, and West Bengal, expanding GeM’s outreach across the country.
3. Dr. Saibal Chattopadhyay Appointed Chairperson of National Statistical Commission: The Government of India has appointed Saibal Chattopadhyay as the Chairperson of the National Statistical Commission (NSC). Other newly appointed members include Prof. Shubhabrata Das, Shri Satyendra Bahadur Singh, and Dr. Madhavan Mukund. The National Statistical Commission (NSC) serves as the nodal body for core statistical activities in India and is responsible for formulating national statistical policies and setting statistical standards.
4. Prof. Bimal N. Patel Elected Judge of ITLOS: Professor Bimal N. Patel has been elected as a Judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) for the 2026–2035 term, marking a significant achievement for India in international law. The Government of India thanked the member states for their support and confidence in India’s candidature for the prestigious international judicial body. Govt Forms Search-cum-Selection Committee for National Sports Board Appointments
5. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Launches Book on India’s Prestigious IIT Ecosystem: Om Birla, the Lok Sabha Speaker, launched the book “IIT – The Story of India’s Most Prestigious Educational Ecosystem”, highlighting the evolution and achievements of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). India’s IIT journey began with the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, and the country now has 23 IITs spread across different states.
6. Functional Urban Settlements Category Under Consideration: India uses administrative and population-based criteria to classify urban areas, and a new category for functional urban settlements is under consideration in 2026. The existing framework includes Census Towns with a population above 5,000 and Statutory Towns with municipal bodies. Urban classification in India is linked to the Census of India and municipal administration. Census Towns are settlements that meet population, density, and workforce criteria, while Statutory Towns are notified urban local bodies under state law. The Degree of Urbanisation framework is a statistical method used by the United Nations and other agencies to classify settlements by built-up density and contiguity. A modified version of this framework has been applied in India to identify urban settlements outside the existing administrative system.
7. Moody’s Flags Risks in India’s Water Management Framework: Moody’s Ratings flagged India’s water management framework on 22 June 2026 as fragmented and inflexible. The assessment linked water governance, fiscal stress, and credit risk in a country where state governments control most water policy and administration. Water governance in India is dispersed across more than 28 states, and state governments hold major responsibility for water management. India’s federal structure gives states control over irrigation, drinking water, and many local water-related decisions. Agriculture consumes about 80% of India’s freshwater. Water pricing for agriculture remains limited in flexibility, and subsidies are common in many states. Slow reallocation of water between sectors affects supply management in regions with competing domestic, agricultural, and industrial demand.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India Improves Rank in WEF Energy Transition Index 2026: India improved its position by two places to rank 70th in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Energy Transition Index (ETI) 2026, emerging as one of the strongest performers in the global transition towards cleaner energy. While Sweden, Finland, and Denmark retained the top three positions in the ETI 2026, global readiness for the clean energy transition declined for the first time in over a decade.
2. 21 June – World Hydrography Day: World Hydrography Day is observed every year on 21 June to highlight the importance of hydrography in ensuring safe navigation, marine conservation, and sustainable use of oceans and waterways. Theme 2026 – Transforming How Ocean Data Is Shared The day is organized by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), which was established in 1921 and is headquartered in Monaco.
3. 22 June – World Rainforest Day: World Rainforest Day is observed every year on 22 June to raise awareness about the importance of rainforests in maintaining biodiversity, regulating the global climate, and supporting millions of people and wildlife. Theme 2026 – The Forest Within You Rainforests cover only about 6% of the Earth’s land surface but are home to more than half of the world’s terrestrial plant and animal species, making them vital ecosystems.
4. 23 June – International Olympic Day: International Olympic Day is observed every year on 23 June to promote the Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect, while encouraging people of all ages to participate in sports and physical activity. The day commemorates the founding of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 23 June 1894 in Paris, marking the beginning of the modern Olympic Movement.
5. Canada Acquires Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar System: Canada finalised an agreement on 22 June 2026 with Australia and BAE Systems Australia for the acquisition of an Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar (A-OTHR) system. The contract value is $2.5 billion, and the system is linked to Canada’s NORAD modernisation programme and Arctic surveillance requirements. Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar is a long-range radar system that uses high-frequency radio waves reflected from the ionosphere to detect objects beyond the line of sight. The A-OTHR system is designed to monitor aircraft and missile threats over Canada’s Arctic and Far North. The Australian A-OTHR technology is derived from the Jindalee Operational Radar Network, commonly known as JORN. JORN is Australia’s over-the-horizon radar network and is regarded as the basis of the export version sold to Canada.
6. Australia Confirms First Mainland H5N1 Case: Australia confirmed its first mainland case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 on 20 June 2026 in a brown skua found dead in Cape Le Grand National Park near Esperance in southern Western Australia. The virus was identified as the clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 lineage after testing by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). Australia had previously detected H5N1 on Heard Island, a sub-Antarctic Australian territory, in late 2025. The mainland detections prompted tightened biosecurity measures at farms, testing of shorebirds, vaccination of vulnerable species, and emergency response exercises. As of 22 June 2026, authorities had not found evidence of mass mortalities in wildlife or spread to poultry or agricultural systems.
7. World Bank Approves $1.5 Billion for India Jobs: The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved $1.5 billion in financing for India on 18 June 2026. The financing is linked to the Boosting Job Creation in the Private Sector Development Policy Financing (DPF) Operation, which supports structural reforms for private sector-led job creation and economic growth. India consolidated 29 labour laws into four Labour Codes in November 2025. The four codes are the Code on Wages, the Industrial Relations Code, the Code on Social Security, and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code. The reform package also includes tax simplification, trade integration, and regulatory changes related to the ease of doing business. The supported areas include labour market participation for women, reduction of barriers to entrepreneurship, and streamlining of trade and investment procedures.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. US Approves Support Package for India’s Apaches and M777 Systems: The United States approved a military support package for India on 22 June 2026 for sustainment services linked to AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and M777A2 Ultra-Light Howitzers. The total estimated value of the package is USD 482.2 million, and the support covers equipment already in service with the Indian armed forces. The AH-64E Apache is a twin-engine attack helicopter developed by Boeing for anti-armour, reconnaissance, and close air support roles. The sustainment package for the Apache fleet is estimated at USD 198.2 million and includes ancillary items, spare parts, repair and return services, training, technical assistance, field service representatives, and depot-level capability.
SPORTS
1. National Sports Board Search-cum-Selection Committee: The Government of India has constituted a Search-cum-Selection Committee to recommend suitable candidates for the posts of Chairperson and Members of the National Sports Board. The committee will be headed by Cabinet Secretary Dr. T.V. Somanathan, who will oversee the selection process for the Board’s leadership.
2. India Wins Women’s 4x100m Relay Gold: India won the gold medal in the women’s 4x100m relay at the Asian Relays Championships 2026 in Shangyu, China, on 21 June 2026. The Indian quartet of Srabani Nanda, Sneha SS, Sudeshna Shivankar, and Tamanna clocked 43.85 seconds, which was a season-best timing for the team. India won a silver medal in the mixed 4x400m relay with MR Poovamma, Neeru Pathak, Theerthesh P Shetty, and Barath Sridhar. The team finished in 3:17.06, which placed it behind the gold medallist in the event. India also won a bronze medal in the mixed 4x100m relay through Animesh Kujur, Pranav Gurav, Tamanna, and Sneha Shanuvalli. The quartet finished in 41.47 seconds.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Smart Warehousing System Launched for Foodgrain Storage: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi launched the Smart Warehousing System in New Delhi to enable real-time monitoring of foodgrain stocks and warehouse operations. The system leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to enhance warehouse management, improve efficiency, and ensure better storage of foodgrains. The Smart Warehousing System has already been implemented in 215 warehouses of the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC), and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) plans to expand it to 150 more warehouses by October 2026.
2. ICAR-CIBA Demonstrates Blue Swimmer Crab Farming: The ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIBA) in Chennai demonstrated Blue Swimmer Crab farming technology for the first time in India on 22 June 2026. The species is scientifically known as Portunus reticulatus, and the trial used institute-produced hatchery seed and a pelleted feed named BSCrabPlus. ICAR-CIBA has standardised a technology package for Blue Swimmer Crab aquaculture. The package includes hatchery seed production protocols, nursery rearing methods, and grow-out farming practices. The institute also developed BSCrabPlus, a scientifically formulated pelleted feed for the species.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. World Bank Approves 4,000 Crore Loan for ‘Jal Sanrakshit Haryana’ Project: The World Bank has approved a ₹4,000 crore loan for the ₹5,714 crore ‘Jal Sanrakshit Haryana’ Project, which aims to make Haryana self-reliant in the water sector through sustainable water management. The project covers 15 water management clusters spread across 48.94 lakh acres, focusing on efficient water conservation, irrigation, and equitable water distribution across the state.
2. ADB Partners with Schoolnet India to Boost Digital Learning: The Asian Development Bank has partnered with Schoolnet India Limited through a USD 10 million financing package to strengthen digital learning infrastructure in 30,000 government schools, benefiting around 4.5 million students. The Schoolnet Digital Learning Project aims to bridge India’s digital education gap by establishing computer laboratories in at least 1,000 schools and setting up 58,000 digital classrooms, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. According to ADB, only 26% of K–12 schools in India currently have computer laboratories, while just 29% have smart classrooms, highlighting the need for improved digital infrastructure in education.
3. BITS Pilani and Axis Bank Partner for Innovation Park: BITS Pilani and Axis Bank have signed an agreement to establish the Axis Bank–BITS Industry Research, Technology and Innovation Park at the BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus. The project will be developed with a ₹100 crore Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) grant from Axis Bank, aiming to promote industry-academia collaboration, research, technology development, and innovation.
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