Daily GK Update- 19th June, 2026

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Native Fruit Tree Cultivation Promoted in Nilgiris : Native fruit tree cultivation is being promoted in Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu through a joint initiative of the district administration and the Department of Horticulture. The programme includes a dedicated acre of land at the Pomological Station in Coonoor for native fruit trees. The native fruit varieties identified for cultivation include wild figs, monkey fruit, wild guavas, jamuns, and Eleocarpus tectorius, which is locally known as Vikki fruit. These species belong to the broader category of indigenous fruit trees found in the Nilgiri hills. The United Planters’ Association of Southern India has been piloting intercropping of tea with fruit and medicinal plants in the Nilgiris. Intercropping is a cultivation method in which two or more crops are grown on the same land during the same season or in overlapping periods.

 

2. Mishmi Takin Spotted in Sikkim After Three Decades: A herd of eight Mishmi Takins, scientifically classified as Budorcas taxicolor, was filmed in North Sikkim’s Tingda Reserve Forest in the Bakuchen area around 17 June 2026. The record is the first video footage of Mishmi Takins in Sikkim and the first confirmed visual documentation of the species in the state in nearly three decades. The Mishmi Takin is a goat-antelope found in the Eastern Himalayas and adjoining mountain forests. It belongs to the family Bovidae, which includes goats, sheep, antelopes, and cattle. The species is listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. The Mishmi Takin occurs in parts of India, Bhutan, China, and Myanmar within montane forest and alpine habitat zones. Sikkim forms the westernmost edge of its global distribution range, and the species is associated with steep forested slopes and high-altitude vegetation.

 

3. Centre Launches AI-Based Smart Warehousing System: The Government of India launched an AI-powered smart warehousing system on 18 June 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi inaugurated the initiative in the presence of Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. Smart warehousing is a digital storage management model that uses connected devices, automation and analytics for monitoring warehouse operations. In India, the system is linked with foodgrain storage under the Public Distribution System, which handles subsidised foodgrains through the national food security network. The initial rollout covers 215 or 216 warehouses managed by the Central Warehousing Corporation. The Food Corporation of India plans to introduce similar smart systems in about 150 of its warehouses by October 2026. The project includes an end-to-end digital dashboard for real-time monitoring of warehouse operations.

 

4. Northeast’s Largest Organic Spice Plant Inaugurated in Meghalaya: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the Northeast’s largest organic spice processing plant on 19 June 2026 at Bhoirymbong in the Ri Bhoi District of Meghalaya. The facility was established by the Eastern Ri Bhoi Organic Farmer Producer Company and has an annual processing capacity of 10,346 metric tonnes of spices. Organic spice processing involves cleaning, grading, drying, packaging, and value addition of spices produced under organic farming standards. India is a major producer of spices such as turmeric, ginger, black pepper, cardamom, and chilli, and the country has several spice clusters in the North-Eastern States and southern India. Meghalaya has a large base of small and marginal farmers, and organic farming is practised in several districts of the state. The state is associated with crops such as turmeric, ginger, black pepper, and bay leaf, which are grown in hill and forest-based farming systems.

 

5. Bengal Plans Dolphin Parks Along the Hooghly: West Bengal planned two dolphin parks on 18 June 2026, with one site along the Hooghly River and another at Kanthi in East Midnapore. The proposal was linked to aquatic biodiversity conservation, eco-tourism, and river-cleaning measures under the Namami Gange programme. Dolphin parks are conservation-linked sites for riverine species, especially the Ganges River dolphin, which is listed as endangered in India. The Hooghly River forms part of the Bhagirathi-Hooghly river system, which supports freshwater biodiversity in West Bengal. Namami Gange is a Central government programme for the rejuvenation of the Ganga and its tributaries through sewage treatment, river-surface cleaning, afforestation, and biodiversity conservation. Five new sewage treatment plants were planned for Kolkata to reduce untreated wastewater discharge into the Hooghly.

 

6. CSIR-NML Signs MoU for Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling: CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory (CSIR-NML), Jamshedpur, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with New Delhi-based R2E Greentech Private Limited on 18 June 2026 for the commercialisation of indigenous technology for recycling end-of-life lithium-ion batteries. CSIR-NML also signed a technology transfer agreement with Bengaluru-based CircuOre Private Limited on 17 June 2026 for the scientific recycling of waste lithium-ion batteries. The recycling technology transferred by CSIR-NML is designed to extract critical materials from end-of-life batteries. The process uses an integrated hydrometallurgical facility for critical metal extraction. Hydrometallurgy is a metal recovery method that uses aqueous chemistry for leaching, separation, and purification.

 

7. Coal Ministry Promotes Surface Coal Gasification Projects: The Union Cabinet approved a Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal and Lignite Gasification Projects on 18 June 2026 with an outlay of ₹37,500 crore. The scheme covers coal gasification and lignite gasification projects in India and follows an earlier incentive scheme of ₹8,500 crore approved in January 2024. Surface coal gasification is an industrial process that converts coal into synthesis gas, also called syngas, through controlled reaction with oxygen, steam, or air. Syngas is used as a feedstock for methanol, hydrogen, synthetic natural gas, ammonia, urea, and sustainable aviation fuel. The January 2024 incentive scheme has 8 projects under implementation with incentives of ₹6,233 crore. Coal gasification projects worth more than ₹65,000 crore are under execution in India, and the government has projected nearly 25 projects by 2030 with total investments of about ₹2.5–3 trillion.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. IITs Improve Position in QS World University Rankings: The QS World University Rankings 2027 were released on 18 June 2026. IIT Delhi ranked 118th globally and became India’s highest-ranked institution in the edition. IIT Madras ranked 170th, IIT Bombay ranked 134th, and IIT Hyderabad ranked 588th in the same ranking list. The QS World University Rankings are annual global university rankings prepared by Quacquarelli Symonds, a higher education analytics firm. The rankings use indicators such as academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, citations per faculty, international faculty ratio, and international student ratio. The 2027 edition included 52 Indian universities. India ranked fifth globally by the number of institutions in the list, after the United States, the United Kingdom, China, and Germany. The number of Indian institutions in the QS rankings rose from 11 in 2015 to 52 in 2027.

 

2. Yarsagumba Harvest Season Draws Thousands in Himalayas: Yarsagumba, also called Yartsa Gunbu, is a high-altitude entomopathogenic fungus found in the Himalayas and used in traditional medicine. The fungus grows from the larva of ghost moths and is collected in alpine pastures in Nepal, India, Bhutan, and the Tibetan Plateau. Yarsagumba belongs to the genus Ophiocordyceps and is scientifically known as Ophiocordyceps sinensis. It occurs at elevations above 3,000 metres and is associated with cold alpine grasslands and the life cycle of ghost moth caterpillars. The collection season in Nepal usually runs from April to June in districts such as Mugu, Dolpa, Jumla, and Gorkha. In Chhekampar of Chumnubri Rural Municipality-7 in Gorkha, nearly all 812 households moved to pastures above 4,000 metres during the 2026 harvesting season.

 

3. International Festival of Yoga and Meditation Held in Leh: The International Festival of Yoga and Meditation 2026 is being organised across Ladakh from June 15 to 21, 2026, to mark the 12th United Nations International Day of Yoga. The week-long festival includes events in Leh, Siachen Base Camp, and Pangong Lake. The United Nations General Assembly declared 21 June as the International Day of Yoga in 2014. The first International Day of Yoga was observed on 21 June 2015, and the day is linked with the global practice of yoga as a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline. The 2026 edition was inaugurated by Union Minister of State Harsh Malhotra at the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre in Leh on 16 June 2026. The National Institute of Sowa Rigpa, Leh, and the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre organised a seminar on “Integration of Yoga for Public Health” on 18 June 2026.

 

4. India’s AI Data Centre Expansion Faces Heat Challenge: India’s data centre sector is facing higher thermal stress because extreme heat increases cooling demand, electricity use, and water consumption. Planned AI data centres in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Karnataka are among the global locations assessed for high operational disruption risk from extreme heat. A data centre is a facility that stores, processes, and distributes digital data through servers, storage systems, and networking equipment. AI data centres and high-performance computing facilities generate more heat than conventional server rooms because they use dense computing hardware and continuous workloads. Traditional air cooling is often insufficient in high-density AI environments, and liquid cooling is used for thermal management in such facilities. The India Data Center Liquid Cooling Market was valued at USD 166.69 million in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 958.74 million by 2032 at a CAGR of 24.58%.

 

5. India Advocates Human-Centric AI Approach: India presented a human-centric and inclusive approach to Artificial Intelligence at VivaTech 2026 in Paris and at the G7 Summit session in France in June 2026. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described India’s AI vision as “AI for all”, with an emphasis on access, safety, accountability, and global benefit. Artificial Intelligence refers to computer systems that perform tasks associated with human intelligence, including pattern recognition, language processing, and decision support. India’s stated approach places people at the centre of AI development and uses the phrase “AI for all” to describe inclusive access to technology. At VivaTech 2026, India participated as the AI Country Partner. The address at the event linked AI with wider access, growth, and environmental sustainability. On 23 November 2025, at the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, India supported human-centric, global, and open-source critical technologies. On 22 April 2025, India reiterated its commitment at the 3rd UNAOC Dialogue on AI for One Humanity to share experience on an AI future that is human-centred and inclusive.

 

6. Celtic Prince’s Grave Found near Bad Camberg: Archaeologists announced the discovery of a princely grave near Bad Camberg in Hesse, Germany, during excavations linked to a solar park. The burial dates to the early La Tène period, around the middle of the first millennium BCE, and the grave goods include gold jewellery, weapon fragments, and a bronze jug imported from Etruria. The grave goods include several gold rings, one of which weighs 5 ounces, and a bronze jug imported from Etruria, the ancient region in central Italy. X-rays and CT scans have identified additional hidden objects inside the excavated soil blocks. The grave was found during construction-related excavation work for a solar park, a type of land development that can expose buried archaeological remains. The discovery is the first known Celtic princely grave found during construction work for a solar park in Hesse.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Ex-Agniveers Get 20% Reservation in Delhi Government Jobs: Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu directed a 20% reservation for ex-Agniveers in Group ‘C’ posts in Delhi government departments and agencies on 18 June 2026. The order covers direct recruitment in operational services, including police constables, firemen, jail warders, and forest and wildlife guards. The Delhi administration set 30 June 2026 as the deadline for departments to complete the required changes in their Recruitment Rules. The decision was taken in a high-level meeting chaired by the Delhi Lieutenant Governor and attended by Chief Secretary Rajeev Verma and Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha. The reservation applies to direct recruitment in Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service, the prisons department, and the Department of Environment, Forest & Wildlife. These posts belong to Group ‘C’, which is a classification used in government service for non-gazetted posts.

 

2. India Inducts First Indigenous Hovercraft into Coast Guard: The Indian Coast Guard inducted its first indigenous Air Cushion Vehicle, designated H-561, on 18 June 2026. The hovercraft was built at Chowgule & Company Private Limited’s shipyard in Goa and is the first of six indigenous ACVs under construction for the force. An Air Cushion Vehicle is a hovercraft that moves on a cushion of air created by fans or lift systems. ACVs can operate over shallow water, mudflats, beaches, marshy terrain, and other low-support surfaces. The Indian Coast Guard uses hovercraft for coastal surveillance, rapid response, search and rescue, and humanitarian assistance. These craft are suitable for littoral zones, where conventional vessels face limits because of depth, sandbanks, and tidal variation.

 

3. Russia Considers BrahMos Missile for Its Own Arsenal: BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile developed as a joint venture between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia. In June 2026, Russian officials and BrahMos Aerospace executives discussed possible induction of the missile into Russian armed forces and expansion of production capacity for future requirements. BrahMos is a two-stage supersonic cruise missile with land, sea, and air-launched variants. It is named after the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers, which represent India and Russia in the joint venture. The missile is designed for precision strike roles and has been integrated with multiple Indian platforms. Its speed and low flight profile place it in the category of high-speed cruise missiles used for anti-ship and land-attack missions.

 

SPORTS 

 

1. Fatima Sana Sets Women’s T20 World Cup Records: Fatima Sana, the Pakistan women’s cricket captain, set multiple records in Women’s T20 International cricket and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2024 and 2026. She became the first captain in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup matches to score a fifty and take three wickets in the same game. Fatima Sana made a fifty in 15 balls against Zimbabwe in Karachi on 16 May 2026. She finished unbeaten on 62 off 19 balls, and the previous fastest fifty record of 18 balls was held jointly by Sophie Devine, Phoebe Litchfield, and Richa Ghosh. Fatima Sana and Tuba Hassan added 71 runs for the ninth wicket in the same match against South Africa. This was the highest ninth-wicket stand in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup history.

 

 

 

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. 15-Million-Year-Old Shark Fossils Found in Odisha: Fossils dating back nearly 15 million years were discovered near Baripada in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district on 18 June 2026. The find includes shark teeth, shark vertebrae, fish bones, mollusc shells, and microscopic marine organisms from the Baripada Fossil Bed along the Budhabalanga river. The fossils belong to the Miocene Epoch, which lasted from about 23 million years ago to 5.3 million years ago. The presence of marine fossils in inland Mayurbhanj district indicates that parts of present-day Odisha were once covered by a shallow sea. The Baripada Fossil Bed contains vertebrate and invertebrate remains. Shark teeth and vertebrae are among the most common marine vertebrate fossils found at such sites, while mollusc shells and microfossils are used in palaeoenvironmental studies. 

 

2. Plastic-Eating Bacteria Break Down PVC Microplastics: Researchers at the Faculty of Science, Cairo University in Egypt identified bacterial strains capable of degrading polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics in June 2026. The study was published in Microbial Cell Factories and indexed in the National Library of Medicine. Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, is a synthetic polymer used in pipes, cables, flooring, packaging, and medical products. PVC contains chlorine in its molecular structure, and it is classified as one of the most widely produced thermoplastics in the world. Stutzerimonas sp. NH2 was identified as a key bacterium in the experiment and reduced the weight of PVC microplastics by over 23%. Glutamicibacter nicotinae NH27 also showed degradation activity, and the combined bacterial consortium reduced PVC weight by nearly 27% under tested conditions.

 

3. IRDAI Forms AI Working Group for Insurance Sector: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) constituted a seven-member working group on Artificial Intelligence for the insurance sector on 18 June 2026. The group has been tasked with preparing governance frameworks, best practices, safeguards, and an AI audit framework for insurance use cases. The working group is chaired by Sandeep K. Shukla, Director of the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad. Deepak Gaikwad, General Manager and Chief Information Security Officer of IRDAI, serves as the member-convener. The other members include senior officials and experts from CERT-In, Reserve Bank Information Technology, SBI Life Insurance, Star Health & Allied Insurance, and ICICI Lombard General Insurance.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. SBI Pays ₹8,813 Crore Dividend to Government: State Bank of India (SBI) presented a dividend cheque of ₹8,813 crore to the Central government on 8 June 2026 for the financial year 2025-26. The cheque was handed over in New Delhi by SBI Chairman C.S. Setty to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. SBI is India’s largest public sector bank and the Government of India holds about 55% equity in the bank. Dividend is a distribution of profits by a company to its shareholders. In the case of SBI, the Central government receives a large share of the dividend because it is the largest shareholder. SBI’s Central Board declared a dividend of ₹17.35 per equity share for the year ended 31 March 2026, with the payment date fixed as 4 June 2026. Dividend receipts from public sector enterprises form part of the Union government’s non-tax revenue. Public sector banks such as SBI contribute to this head through annual dividend payments based on their profits and board decisions.

 

2. Four New Namo Cities Proposed Under NCR Regional Plan 2041: Four new greenfield cities, called Namo Cities or Namo Nodes, are proposed under the National Capital Region Regional Plan 2041. The proposal was announced on 16 June 2026 after the 42nd board meeting of the NCR Planning Board, which functions under the National Capital Region Planning Board Act, 1985. The National Capital Region is a planning region that includes Delhi and adjoining districts of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and, in earlier planning frameworks, parts of neighbouring states. The NCR Planning Board prepares regional plans for land use, transport, urban growth, and infrastructure coordination across the region.

 

Daily GK Update- 18th June, 2026

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. ASI Partners with Denmark to Explore 17th-Century Danish Shipwreck ‘Oresund’ off Indian Coast: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the National Museum of Denmark signed an MoU to jointly locate and document the remains of the 17th-century Danish ship Oresund, which sank near Karaikal, Puducherry, in 1619. This is the first international partnership of ASI’s Underwater Archaeology Wing (UAW) since its establishment in 2001, marking a significant milestone in India’s underwater archaeological research. The project will use advanced, non-invasive technologies to identify and study the wreck of Oresund, the first Danish ship to reach India, offering valuable insights into early maritime trade, navigation, and cultural exchanges in the Indian Ocean. After remaining largely inactive since around 2009 due to a lack of expertise, the UAW was revived in 2025, and the Denmark collaboration highlights India’s renewed focus on preserving and exploring its underwater cultural heritage.

 

2. National Biodiversity Authority Reconstitutes Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity for One-Year Term: The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has reconstituted the Expert Committee on Agrobiodiversity under Section 13(1) of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, for a one-year tenure. The Committee will provide expert guidance on the conservation, sustainable use, and Access & Benefit Sharing (ABS) related to agricultural biodiversity and associated policy matters. According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the Committee has played a key role in implementing the Biological Diversity Act, with Padma Shri P. L. Gautam appointed as the Co-Chair of the reconstituted committee.

 

3. Foundation Stone Laid for ₹170-Crore MSME Technology Centre in Bihar’s Gaya to Boost Skills and Manufacturing: Union MSME Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary laid the foundation stone of a ₹170-crore Technology Centre at Khizarsarai, Gaya (Bihar) to boost skill development, advanced manufacturing, and MSME support. The 20-acre facility, with a built-up area of 16,800 sq. metres, will include production, training, utility and administrative blocks, along with a hostel, staff accommodation, and a multipurpose hall. The Technology Centre will focus on general engineering, heavy engineering, and textile testing, offering services such as CNC machining, CAD/CAM/CAE, rapid prototyping, Industry 4.0 labs, AI, IoT, automation, VLSI, and renewable energy-based systems. The Centre is expected to train around 7,000 students and professionals annually and provide technical, tooling, incubation, and business advisory support to over 1,000 MSMEs every year, strengthening Aatmanirbhar Bharat and regional industrial growth.

 

4. Tripura Sarinda Receives GI Tag, Becoming State’s Fourth Geographical Indication Product: Tripura Sarinda, a traditional stringed musical instrument closely associated with the state’s indigenous communities, has been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, recognizing its unique craftsmanship and cultural heritage. With the inclusion of Tripura Sarinda, the state now has four GI-tagged products—Tripura Queen Pineapple, Risa and Pachra (Rignai), Matabari Peda, and Tripura Sarinda—strengthening Tripura’s indigenous and cultural identity.

 

5. Kerala Government Launches Free Bus Travel Scheme for Women and Transgenders.: Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan launched the ‘Priyadarshini’ free bus travel scheme across the state. The scheme allows women and transgender persons to travel free of cost on 3,125 ordinary KSRTC buses.

 

6. Navi Mumbai and Guwahati Airport Terminals Named Among World’s Most Beautiful Airports in Prix Versailles 2026: Terminal 1 of Navi Mumbai International Airport and Terminal 2 of Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati, have been included in the Prix Versailles 2026 list of the world’s most beautiful airports, recognising excellence in architecture, sustainability, and passenger-centric design. Both award-winning airports are managed by Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL). Navi Mumbai Airport’s Terminal 1 was honoured for its lotus-inspired architecture, futuristic design, and seamless integration of technology, art, and functionality. Guwahati Airport’s Terminal 2 earned recognition for its bamboo-inspired architecture, showcasing the biodiversity and cultural heritage of Northeast India, alongside leading international airports from China, Germany, Cambodia, and the United States.

 

7. Uttar Pradesh Schools Enter Swachh Evam Harit Vidyalaya List: Eleven schools from Uttar Pradesh were selected in the Swachh Evam Harit Vidyalaya Rating 2025-26 on 17 June 2026. The national list included 191 schools across India, and the rating was conducted by the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Union Ministry of Education. The Swachh Evam Harit Vidyalaya Rating (SHVR) is a school assessment framework for cleanliness and environmental sustainability. It covers sanitation, water conservation, waste management, energy efficiency, green campus development, and community participation. The 11 selected schools from Uttar Pradesh included six government schools, two Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, two schools from other categories, and one private school. Dayawati Modi Academy-1 in Meerut secured Rank 4, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Hariharpur Rani in Shravasti secured Rank 9, and PM Shri Primary School Italia Mafi in Sambhal secured Rank 12.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India and Japan Adopt Rules for Joint Crediting Mechanism Under Paris Agreement: India and Japan have adopted the Rules of Implementation for the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, strengthening bilateral cooperation on climate action, greenhouse gas emission reduction, and sustainable development. The JCM provides a framework for implementing emission reduction and carbon removal projects in India, contributing to the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of both countries while promoting low-carbon technologies, investment, and technology transfer. The implementation rules establish a Joint Committee, transparent project approval and third-party verification systems, sustainable development safeguards, and national registries to monitor the issuance and transfer of carbon credits.

 

2. Jio Platforms Becomes Only Indian Company in WIPO Global Top 20 Patent Rankings 2025: Jio Platforms Limited (JPL), the technology arm of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), has entered the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Global Top 20 Patent Rankings 2025, becoming the only Indian company to feature in the prestigious list. The WIPO Global Top 20 Patent Rankings are based on the number of international patent applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) system, highlighting global innovation and intellectual property leadership. In 2025, China remained the world’s largest source of PCT applications, while India ranked 12th globally with 3,070 international patent applications filed under the PCT system.

 

3. Life-Size Statue of Swami Vivekananda Unveiled at Indian Consulate in Chicago: India’s Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, unveiled a life-size statue of Swami Vivekananda at the Consulate General of India in Chicago, commemorating his enduring message of service, universal harmony, and his historic 1893 address at the Parliament of Religions. The Chicago installation follows the unveiling of the first-ever life-size bronze statue of Swami Vivekananda in Seattle, Washington, in April 2026, marking the growing recognition of his global spiritual and philosophical influence in the United States.

 

4. UAE Sets Minimum Social Media Age at 15: The United Arab Emirates Cabinet approved a resolution on 18 June 2026 that sets 15 years as the minimum age for creating, using, or operating personal social media accounts. The rule applies to social media platforms available in the UAE or targeting users in the country, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Children below 15 years of age are prohibited from opening or operating personal social media accounts under the new resolution. Users aged 15 and 16 are allowed to access social media with enhanced protective measures, including age-appropriate content classification, restricted interaction with unknown users, regulated usage time, and parental controls.

 

5. QS World University Rankings 2027 Released: The QS World University Rankings 2027 were released on 18 June 2026. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) ranked first globally for the 15th consecutive year with a perfect overall score of 100 points. Imperial College London and Stanford University were tied at second place, while the University of Oxford ranked fourth and Harvard University ranked fifth. The QS World University Rankings are annual global university rankings published by Quacquarelli Symonds. The rankings assess higher education institutions across multiple indicators, including academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, research influence, internationalisation, employment rate, and sustainability.

 

6. World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought Observed in India: The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought was observed on 17 June 2026 across 813 project areas under the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana 2.0 (WDC-PMKSY 2.0) in India. The programme is implemented by the Watershed Management Division of the Department of Land Resources under the Ministry of Rural Development. WDC-PMKSY 2.0 is a watershed development programme for the period 2021-2026. It aims to cover 49.50 lakh hectares of degraded land with a financial outlay of Rs. 8,134 crore. The programme includes soil conservation, water conservation, and land restoration activities in watershed areas. Nationwide observance on 17 June 2026 included Bhoomi Poojan for 1,444 new watershed development works and Lokarpan of 8,341 completed watershed assets. The campaign Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam included the planting of 51,299 saplings. A public pledge was administered with the theme “For a Developed India, Let Us Build a Drought-Free India”.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian Navy Decommissions INAS 330 ‘The Harpoons’ After 55 Years of Distinguished Service: The Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 330, popularly known as “The Harpoons“, was number plated (decommissioned), concluding 55 years of distinguished service since its commissioning on 17 April 1971 at INS Garuda, Kochi. INAS 330 operated the Sea King Mk 42B helicopters, which played a crucial role in anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-ship operations, search-and-rescue (SAR), and shipborne maritime missions for the Indian Navy. With the retirement of the Sea King Bravo fleet after 36 years of service, the Indian Navy is replacing it with 24 MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, while also developing the Indian Multi Role Helicopter (IMRH) and Deck-Based MRH for future naval operations.

 

SPORTS 

 

1. Fatima Sana Sets Women’s T20 World Cup Records: Fatima Sana, the Pakistan women’s cricket captain, set multiple records in Women’s T20 International cricket and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2024 and 2026. She became the first captain in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup matches to score a fifty and take three wickets in the same game. Fatima Sana scored 55 not out and took 3 for 16 against South Africa at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on 17 June 2026. Pakistan lost the match by two wickets in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. Fatima Sana and Tuba Hassan added 71 runs for the ninth wicket in the same match against South Africa. This was the highest ninth-wicket stand in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup history.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Suzlon Launches India’s Tallest 5 MW Wind Turbine, ‘S175’, to Boost Renewable Energy Generatio: Suzlon Energy has launched India’s tallest wind turbine, the 5 MW S175, which has been successfully commissioned at Vijayanagar, Karnataka, to enhance renewable energy generation. The S175 is India’s first FDRE (Firm and Dispatchable Renewable Energy)-ready wind turbine, designed to support grid-stable renewable energy systems, including hybrid, round-the-clock (RTC), and firm power solutions. The turbine features a 175-metre rotor, a 160-metre hybrid lattice tower, and a blade tip height of 247.5 metres, enabling it to harness stronger and more consistent winds at higher altitudes. Developed using insights from Suzlon’s 15.5 GW installed fleet and over 30 years of operational experience, the S175 is expected to improve energy generation and project economics, especially in low- to medium-wind potential regions across India.

 

2. Celtic Prince’s Grave Found Near Bad Camberg: Archaeologists announced the discovery of a princely grave near Bad Camberg in Hesse, Germany, during excavations linked to a solar park. The burial dates to the early La Tène period, around the middle of the first millennium BCE, and the grave goods include gold jewellery, weapon fragments, and a bronze jug imported from Etruria. The La Tène period is the later Iron Age phase of Celtic Europe, generally dated from about 450 BCE to the Roman conquest of Celtic territories. It is named after the La Tène site on Lake Neuchâtel in Switzerland, which gave its name to a distinctive archaeological culture. The grave goods include several gold rings, one of which weighs 5 ounces, and a bronze jug imported from Etruria, the ancient region in central Italy. X-rays and CT scans have identified additional hidden objects inside the excavated soil blocks.

 

3. Scientists Discover New Forester Moth in Kali Tiger Reserve: Scientists from the western regional centre of the Zoological Survey of India in Pune announced a new forester moth species from Karnataka’s Kali Tiger Reserve on 17 June 2026. The species has been named Mimeusemia kali Kalawate & László, 2026, and it is the first addition to the genus Mimeusemia in nearly 30 years. Forester moths belong to the family Zygaenidae, which includes day-flying moths found in several parts of Asia, Europe, and Africa. The genus Mimeusemia now includes 30 taxa worldwide, with 23 species and seven subspecies. The discovery was made in the Kali Tiger Reserve, a protected area in Karnataka within the Western Ghats. The study was led by Aparna Kalawate of the Zoological Survey of India, Pune, in collaboration with Gyula M. László of the Natural History Museum, London.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Odisha Clears ₹76,612-Crore Investment Proposals: Odisha’s High-Level Clearance Authority approved 20 industrial projects on 17 June 2026. The proposals involve a cumulative investment of ₹76,611.86 crore and are linked to 50,517 proposed jobs across nine districts. The Odisha High-Level Clearance Authority is the state-level body that clears large industrial proposals. It is chaired by the Chief Minister of Odisha. The authority handles projects with high investment value and multi-district industrial impact. The approved projects cover aerospace and defence, rare earth minerals-based value-added products, pharmaceuticals, capital goods, chemicals, steel, iron and ferro alloys, power, and renewable energy. Three lab-grown diamond manufacturing units in Khordha account for ₹9,817.50 crore of investment and 8,100 jobs.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Sudarsan Pattnaik Becomes First Indian to Win Russia Grand Sand Master Cup 2026: Padma Shri awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik from Puri, Odisha, won the Russia Grand Sand Master Cup 2026, becoming the first Indian to receive the prestigious international sand art award. Pattnaik received the honour at the II International Festival of Sand Sculpture in Kaliningrad, Russia, for his 3-metre-high sand sculpture depicting the two contrasting faces of Earth.

 

Daily GK Update- 17th June, 2026

 NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India Launches WT-MARUT Portal to Strengthen Wind Energy Supply Chain: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi launched the Wind Turbine Supply Chain Management (WT-MARUT) Portal during the Global Wind Day 2026 National Conference in Goa. Developed by MNRE and IWTMA, it is India’s first dedicated digital platform for managing the wind energy supply chain. The portal aims to improve transparency in component sourcing, provide easier access to domestic suppliers, and enhance data security, supporting the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative in the renewable energy sector. India added a record 6.1 GW of wind power capacity in FY 2025-26, taking the total installed wind energy capacity beyond 56.1 GW and strengthening its position as the world’s fourth-largest wind energy market. Exports of wind turbines and components also exceeded ₹12,000 crore during the fiscal year.

 

2. Telangana Launches Breakfast and Milk Scheme for School Students: The Telangana Government launched its flagship Breakfast and Milk Scheme on 15 June 2026, covering students from pre-primary to Class XII in government schools and junior colleges across the state. The state has allocated ₹720 crore annually for the scheme, including ₹540 crore for breakfast and ₹180 crore for milk and ragi malt, aiming to benefit nearly 29 lakh students. In the first phase, the scheme covers 1,302 educational institutions and benefits around 1.44 lakh students across eight districts, providing nutritious meals such as dosa, millet idli, upma, milk, and ragi malt to improve student health and learning outcomes.

 

3. Four Assam Products Receive Geographical Indication (GI) Tags: Assam’s rich cultural heritage received a major boost as four traditional products were granted Geographical Indication (GI) tags: Bah Silpa (Assamese Bamboo Craft), Karbi Anglong Handloom, Bihu Pepa, and Deori Handloom Products. The GI tag provides legal recognition and protection to these unique products, highlighting their distinct origin, traditional craftsmanship, and cultural significance.

 

4. Tamil Nadu Revises Cooperative Crop Loan Waiver Scheme for Farmers: Tamil Nadu has announced a revised cooperative crop loan waiver scheme for farmers who borrowed from cooperative banks between 1 May 2025 and 28 February 2026. The scheme provides a full waiver for crop loans up to ₹75,000. Farmers with crop loans above ₹75,000 will receive a partial waiver of ₹35,000, reducing their repayment burden while extending financial support to a larger number of beneficiaries. The scheme applies to loans taken from the state’s cooperative banking network, which includes Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks (PACBs), District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs), and the Tamil Nadu State Apex Cooperative Bank, helping strengthen agricultural credit and support seasonal farming activities.

 

5. India Launches WT-MARUT Portal to Strengthen Wind Energy Supply Chain: India has set a target of achieving 155 GW of installed wind energy capacity by 2035, with an interim target of 100 GW by 2030. As of 15 June 2026, the country’s installed wind power capacity has crossed 56.1 GW. India is the world’s fourth-largest wind energy market by installed capacity and added 6.1 GW of new wind power capacity in FY 2025–26, marking a 46% year-on-year growth. On 15 June 2026, India launched WT-MARUT (Wind Turbine Materials and Resources Utility Tracker), the country’s first dedicated digital platform for managing the wind energy supply chain, promoting supplier discovery, domestic manufacturing, and supply-chain transparency. The government’s wind energy strategy prioritises domestic sourcing and manufacturing of key wind turbine components—including blades, towers, nacelles, gearboxes, generators, and control systems—to reduce import dependence and strengthen India’s renewable energy manufacturing ecosystem.

 

6. Scientists Discover New Forester Moth in Kali Tiger Reserve: Scientists from the western regional centre of the Zoological Survey of India in Pune announced a new forester moth species from Karnataka’s Kali Tiger Reserve on 17 June 2026. The species has been named Mimeusemia kali Kalawate & László, 2026, and it is the first addition to the genus Mimeusemia in nearly 30 years. Forester moths belong to the family Zygaenidae, which includes day-flying moths found in several parts of Asia, Europe, and Africa. The genus Mimeusemia now includes 30 taxa worldwide, with 23 species and seven subspecies. Mimeusemia kali was distinguished from related species by its physical characteristics, reproductive structures, and genetic features. The species description was published in the international journal Zootaxa.

 

7. Four New Namo Cities Proposed Under NCR Regional Plan 2041: Four new greenfield cities, called Namo Cities or Namo Nodes, are proposed under the National Capital Region Regional Plan 2041. The proposal was announced on 16 June 2026 after the 42nd board meeting of the NCR Planning Board, which functions under the National Capital Region Planning Board Act, 1985. The National Capital Region is a planning region that includes Delhi and adjoining districts of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and, in earlier planning frameworks, parts of neighbouring states. The NCR Planning Board prepares regional plans for land use, transport, urban growth, and infrastructure coordination across the region.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. U.K. to Ban Social Media Use for Children Under 16: The United Kingdom government has announced a ban on social media use for children under the age of 16, aiming to protect young users from harmful online content and excessive screen time. The proposed ban is expected to come into effect early next year and has generated mixed reactions, with some supporting stronger online protections for children while others questioning the effectiveness of a blanket restriction.

 

2. India’s Unemployment Rate Rises to 5.5% in May 2026: According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, India’s overall unemployment rate increased to 5% in May 2026, up from 5.2% in April 2026. Rural unemployment rose from 4.6% to 5.1%, while urban unemployment declined slightly from 6.6% to 6.4%. Among urban residents aged 15 years and above, the unemployment rate was 8.2% for females and 5.9% for males.

 

3. 16 June – International Day of Family Remittances (IDFR): International Day of Family Remittances (IDFR) is observed every year on 16 June to recognise the vital contributions of migrant workers who send money (remittances) to support their families and communities in their home countries. Established by the United Nations and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the observance aims to encourage safer, faster, and more affordable cross-border money transfers worldwide.

 

4. 17 June – World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought: World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed every year on 17 June to raise global awareness about the need to prevent desertification, land degradation, and drought, while promoting sustainable land management. Theme 2026 – Rangelands: Recognise. Respect. Restore The day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1994 following the adoption of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

 

5. World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought Observed in India: The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought was observed on 17 June 2026 across 813 project areas under the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana 2.0 (WDC-PMKSY 2.0) in India. The programme is implemented by the Watershed Management Division of the Department of Land Resources under the Ministry of Rural Development. WDC-PMKSY 2.0 is a watershed development programme for the period 2021-2026. It aims to cover 49.50 lakh hectares of degraded land with a financial outlay of Rs. 8,134 crore. The programme includes soil conservation, water conservation, and land restoration activities in watershed areas.

 

6. India-UK Free Trade Agreement to take effect from July 15: The India-UK Free Trade Agreement is scheduled to enter into force on 15 July 2026. The agreement was signed on 24 July 2025 after both sides reached agreement in principle on 6 May 2025. The India-UK Free Trade Agreement was formally signed by India’s Commerce Ministry and UK officials on 24 July 2025. The two governments confirmed on 17 June 2026 that domestic and procedural formalities for implementation had been completed. The agreement includes tariff reductions on several goods traded between India and the United Kingdom. India’s whisky tariff is set to fall from 150% to 40%, and automotive tariffs will reduce from 100% to 10% under a quota mechanism. The United Kingdom will reduce tariffs on Indian exports such as clothing, footwear, and certain food products. The agreement also covers trade in goods and market access measures between the two countries.

 

7. US renames Indo-Pacific Command back to Pacific Command: The United States renamed the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command back to the U.S. Pacific Command on June 16 or June 17, 2026, depending on the local time of the announcement. The command was first established as the U.S. Pacific Command on January 1, 1947, by President Harry S. Truman. The command used the name U.S. Pacific Command until May 2018, when it was renamed U.S. Indo-Pacific Command under Defence Secretary Jim Mattis. The 2018 change aligned the command’s title with the term Indo-Pacific, which links the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean in strategic geography. The U.S. Pacific Command is one of the unified combatant commands of the United States Armed Forces. It is the oldest and largest of these commands and is headquartered at Camp H. M. Smith in Hawaii.

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. National Military Drone Technology Hub to be Set Up at IIT Kanpur: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has granted in-principle approval for the establishment of a National Military Drone Technology Hub at Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, aimed at advancing indigenous military drone technologies and innovation. The proposed hub will be developed with an estimated investment of ₹500 crore, based on a proposal prepared by the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority, the nodal agency for the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor.

 

2. India and Thailand Hold 10th Defence Dialogue: The 10th Thailand-India Defence Dialogue was held in Bangkok on 16 June 2026. The dialogue reviewed bilateral defence cooperation, military-to-military engagements, capacity-building initiatives, training exchanges, maritime cooperation, and regional security issues in the Indo-Pacific region. The dialogue was co-chaired by Admiral Nuttapol Diewvanich, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Defence of Thailand, and Satyajit Mohanty, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence of India. The two sides discussed defence manufacturing, research, innovation, and capability development. India and Thailand elevated their bilateral ties to a formal Strategic Partnership in 2025. The two countries also discussed cooperation under regional and multilateral defence frameworks, including ASEAN-led mechanisms.

 

3. India’s Defence Production Reaches Record High: India’s annual defence production reached ₹1.78 lakh crore in Financial Year 2025-26. The figure was ₹84,643 crore in FY 2020-21 and ₹43,746 crore in FY 2013-14. Defence production includes the manufacture of weapons, platforms, systems, ammunition, and related equipment for the armed forces. India’s defence industrial base includes Defence Public Sector Undertakings, ordnance factories, and private sector manufacturers. Defence Public Sector Undertakings and other public sector units contributed about 76% of total defence production in FY 2025-26. The private sector’s share rose to nearly ₹42,000 crore in FY 2025-26, which was 24% of total production.

SPORTS 

 

1. India Names 24-Member Squad for Historic Senior Asian Fencing Championships 2026 in Delhi: The Fencing Association of India (FAI) has announced a 24-member Indian squad (12 men and 12 women) for the 26th Senior Asian Fencing Championships 2026, scheduled to be held in Delhi from June 19–24, 2026. India will achieve a historic first by hosting the Senior Asian Fencing Championships, with participation from over 30 countries and more than 400 elite fencers across Asia. The Indian team will be led by C. A. Bhavani Devi, India’s first and only fencing Olympian, who remains the country’s most prominent figure in the sport.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. IIT Hyderabad to Establish India’s First Centre of Design Excellence in Nuclear Engineering: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Hyderabad) will establish CODENE (Centre of Design Excellence in Nuclear Engineering), which will be India’s first dedicated centre focused on advanced design and innovation in nuclear engineering. IIT Hyderabad signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CEEPL India and Dassault Systèmes during Bharat Innovates 2026 held in Nice. The initiative supports India’s expanding civil nuclear sector following the Shanti Act and aligns with the government’s ambitious target of achieving 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047, creating demand for highly skilled nuclear engineering professionals.

 

2. India Post Launches Drone-Powered Mail Delivery in Himachal Pradesh.: Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia launched the drone-based mail transmission service of the Department of Posts in Himachal Pradesh, with the first route connecting Mandi Head Post Office and Rehardhar Branch Post Office. The initiative aims to improve postal connectivity in remote and difficult terrains. The Ministry of Communications plans to expand the service to around 150 identified routes in Himachal Pradesh and Assam over the next 2–3 months. The drone service has reduced mail delivery time on the 12-km Mandi–Rehardhar route from more than two hours to about seven minutes, significantly enhancing the speed and efficiency of postal operations.

 

3. Sarvam Becomes India’s Newest AI Unicorn: Bengaluru-based AI startup Sarvam has raised $234 million in a fresh funding round, taking its valuation to $1.5 billion and becoming India’s newest AI unicorn. The company aims to expand the funding round to $300 million. The funding round is led by HCLTech, which is investing $150 million as a strategic investor, with participation from existing investors including Bessemer Venture Partners, Khosla Ventures, and Peak XV Partners.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Government Launches OFS for GIC Re, Shares Drop Over 6%: Shares of General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re) declined by over 6% in early trading after the Government of India announced an Offer for Sale (OFS) to divest its stake in the state-owned reinsurer. Under the OFS, the government plans to sell up to 2% stake (3.51 crore shares) in GIC Re during June 16–17, 2026, with an option to offload an additional 3% stake. If the additional option is exercised, the total government divestment in GIC Re could reach 5%, making it a significant stake sale aimed at enhancing market participation and raising resources.

 

2. Odisha Clears ₹76,612-Crore Investment Proposals: Odisha’s High-Level Clearance Authority approved 20 industrial projects on 17 June 2026. The proposals involve a cumulative investment of ₹76,611.86 crore and are linked to 50,517 proposed jobs across nine districts. Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited received approval for a ₹10,000 crore facility in Ganjam for ingot, wafers, and Solar PV cells. The project is projected to create 5,000 jobs. Rashmi Metallurgical received approval for a ₹15,000 crore integrated steel plant of 4 MTPA capacity in Jajpur, with 11,000 jobs linked to the project. Shyam Metalics received approval for a ₹7,580 crore steel unit in Sambalpur. The Odisha High-Level Clearance Authority is the state-level body that clears large industrial proposals. It is chaired by the Chief Minister of Odisha. The authority handles projects with high investment value and multi-district industrial impact.

 

3. Madhya Pradesh to Introduce UCC Bill in Assembly: On 17 June 2026, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced that a Uniform Civil Code Bill would be introduced in the Monsoon Session of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly. The session is scheduled from 20 July to 24 July 2026 and is expected to include the first supplementary budget for 2026-27. A six-member high-level committee was formed by the Madhya Pradesh Government in April 2026 to draft the Bill. The committee is headed by retired Supreme Court Judge Justice Ranjana Prasad Desai and has been asked to submit a detailed report within 60 days. The committee has visited different parts of Madhya Pradesh to collect suggestions from people of different religions. It is also studying the models adopted by Uttarakhand and Gujarat, which are ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party.