NATIONAL UPDATES:
Centre Forms Six Working Groups to Boost Domestic Manufacturing and Reduce Imports: The Central Government has constituted six sector-specific working groups to identify up to 100 products for domestic manufacturing and import substitution, aiming to strengthen India’s self-reliance. The groups cover key sectors including pharmaceuticals, chemicals, textiles, capital goods, energy, construction equipment, defence, aerospace, and electronics. Chaired by the Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), the groups will submit their recommendations to the Cabinet Secretariat within three weeks. The initiative comes amid rising imports, which increased by 7.5% to USD 775 billion in FY 2025-26, with major imports including crude oil, electronic goods, machinery, chemicals, and transport equipment.
Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary Declared India’s 100th Ramsar Site: Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (Surha Tal) in Ballia has been designated as India’s 100th Ramsar Site, recognizing its rich avifaunal biodiversity and importance as a habitat for migratory and resident birds. A Ramsar Site is a wetland recognized under the Ramsar Convention as a Wetland of International Importance. The convention was signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971.
West Bengal set to become 36th State and UT to implement Ayushman Bharat Yojana: West Bengal is set to become the 36th State/Union Territory to implement Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), following the signing of an MoU between the National Health Authority and the State Government. The implementation of AB PM-JAY will provide health insurance coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalization, offering financial protection to millions of eligible beneficiaries in the state. The move is expected to strengthen West Bengal’s healthcare ecosystem by improving access to affordable, quality healthcare and enabling nationwide portability of healthcare benefits for beneficiaries.
Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiri Tahr Population Rises to 1,364, Reflecting Success of Conservation Efforts: Tamil Nadu’s latest synchronised survey estimated the population of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr at 1,364 in 2026, reflecting a 4.68% increase from 1,303 in 2025 and an overall rise of more than 32% since 2024. Conducted from 24–27 April 2026, the survey covered 177 survey blocks, 126 forest beats, and 43 forest ranges across all 14 Nilgiri Tahr-bearing forest divisions in Tamil Nadu, with support from the Kerala Forest Department. Officials credited the population growth to conservation efforts under Project Nilgiri Tahr, while emphasizing the importance of protecting high-altitude grasslands and preventing forest fires for the species’ long-term survival. The survey also utilized the Android-based VARUDAI mobile application for real-time data collection, improving monitoring accuracy. Simultaneously, Tamil Nadu recorded 393 bird species with an estimated population of 6.01 lakh birds during its annual synchronised bird surveys.
Swaminathan Janakiraman Reappointed as RBI Deputy Governor: The Central Government has re-appointed Swaminathan Janakiraman as Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for an additional term of two years. His renewed tenure will commence on 26 June 2026, ensuring continuity in the RBI’s leadership. Janakiraman has been serving as one of the Deputy Governors of Reserve Bank of India, playing a key role in banking regulation and financial sector oversight.
Tarun Kapoor Gets One-Year Extension as Advisor to PM Modi: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved a one-year extension for Tarun Kapoor as Advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Mr. Kapoor’s extended tenure in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) will come into effect from 10 June 2026 and continue for an additional one year.
Haryana Sets December 2027 Deadline for Yamuna Projects: Haryana fixed 31 December 2027 as the deadline for ongoing and proposed Yamuna pollution-control projects on 9 June 2026. The action plan covers sewage treatment, industrial waste management, drain monitoring, and river rejuvenation in the Yamuna catchment. Haryana had 91 operational Sewage Treatment Plants with a combined capacity of 1,543 million litres per day on 13 March 2026. Three additional STPs with a combined capacity of 88 MLD were under construction, with completion expected by March 2027. The state also planned Common Effluent Treatment Plants, micro-STPs, and effluent-tapping infrastructure in the Yamuna catchment. The target for scientific treatment of water from all drains entering the Yamuna was set for the end of the 2026-27 financial year.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung Nominates Han Seong-sook as Prime Minister : South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has nominated Han Seong-sook, the current Minister for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), as the country’s next Prime Minister. If approved by the National Assembly, Han would become the first female Prime Minister under the Lee administration and only the second woman in South Korea’s history to hold the post after Han Myeong-sook (2006–2007).
2. Israel Plans Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Statue: Israel has announced plans to install a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in one of its major cities. The announcement was made on 6 June 2026, the day observed as Shivrajyabhishek Din, which marks the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on 6 June 1674. Israeli Consul General in Mumbai Yaniv Revach announced the plan and met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on the project. The Maharashtra government has offered support on historical references, artistic guidance, and design aspects for the statue. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj founded the Maratha Empire in the 17th century and was crowned at Raigad Fort in 1674. Shivrajyabhishek Din is observed every year on 6 June in Maharashtra and among Maratha communities.
3. Canada Plans Social Media Ban for Under-16 Users: Canada’s federal government announced plans on 8 June 2026 to introduce legislation that includes a ban on use for children under 16 years of age. The proposal is part of a wider online harms bill that is expected to be tabled in the House of Commons on 10 June 2026. The planned bill is linked to the federal online harms framework in Canada. The legislation is expected to set age-based restrictions for social media platforms and to create legal duties for online services operating in the country. Canadian Heritage Minister Marc Miller stated in April 2026 that the federal government was considering a social media ban for minors. The proposed law will allow social media platforms to seek exemptions if they can show that they can protect young users online. The bill is also expected to assign responsibilities to platforms that use artificial intelligence tools, including possible transparency requirements on reporting threats to police.
4. Nithya Raman Advances to Los Angeles Mayoral Runoff: Nithya Raman, an Indian-American member of the Los Angeles City Council, advanced to the November 3, 2026 mayoral runoff election in Los Angeles, California. She finished second in the June 2, 2026 primary election behind incumbent Karen Bass. The Los Angeles mayoral election uses a primary and runoff system. In the June 2, 2026 primary, Karen Bass secured 34.3% of the vote, Nithya Raman received 28.6%, and Spencer Pratt received 25.8% with 93% of votes counted by June 8, 2026. The runoff election on November 3, 2026, is the first Los Angeles mayoral runoff in two decades. Nithya Raman led Spencer Pratt by 229,576 votes to 207,757 votes by June 8, 2026.
5. Bonn Climate Conference Calls for $120 Billion Adaptation Finance: The Bonn Climate Conference, also called SB64, is being held from 8 June to 18 June 2026 as the 64th sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Health advocates at the meeting have called for public, grant-based adaptation finance to be tripled to at least $120 billion by 2035. Adaptation finance refers to climate funding for measures that reduce vulnerability to climate impacts such as heat, floods, droughts, sea-level rise, and extreme weather. The 120 billion target is a tripling of the 40 billion adaptation finance goal linked to COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2021. The Global Climate and Health Alliance made the call during the Bonn meetings. Jess Beagley, policy lead at the Global Climate and Health Alliance, linked adaptation finance with investments in health systems, water, sanitation, disaster preparedness, and food systems.
6. Pashinyan Claims Victory in Armenia Election: Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan claimed victory in a general election held on 7 June 2026. Preliminary results released on 8 June 2026 placed his governing Civil Contract party in first place with 49.82% of the vote. Armenia is a parliamentary republic in the South Caucasus region. The National Assembly is the unicameral legislature of Armenia and has 107 seats under the current constitutional framework. Preliminary counts on 8 June 2026 projected 61 seats for Civil Contract in the National Assembly. A party needs a parliamentary majority to form a government, while constitutional amendments require a referendum under Armenia’s system.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit Appointed as Next Vice Chief of the Air Staff: Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit has been appointed as the next Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) of the Indian Air Force and is scheduled to assume office on 1 July 2026, succeeding Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor. Commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on 6 December 1986, Air Marshal Dixit previously served as Chief of Integrated Defence Staff at Headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff, before being appointed as VCAS.
2. Defence Ministry approves 250 MW solar project in Sitapur : The Defence Ministry approved a 250 MW Solar Power Project with a Battery Energy Storage System at Sitapur, also known as an ex-cantonment area, in Uttar Pradesh on 9 June 2026. The project will use about 850 acres of vacant defence land and will be implemented through NTPC Limited. A solar power project converts sunlight into electricity through photovoltaic panels or solar thermal systems. Defence land is land owned or controlled by the Ministry of Defence for military, administrative, or allied purposes. Ex-cantonment areas are former cantonment areas that have been reclassified under local administrative arrangements. A Battery Energy Storage System stores electricity for later use and supports power supply during periods of low generation or high demand. In solar projects, BESS helps manage variability in output caused by daylight and weather conditions. Grid-connected solar projects with storage are used for load balancing and backup support.
3. Lt Commander Suraj Prashar Gets Shaurya Chakra: Lieutenant Commander Suraj Prashar of the Indian Navy received the Shaurya Chakra from President Droupadi Murmu at the Defence Investiture Ceremony 2026 (Phase-I) held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 8 June 2026. He was honoured for bravery during Operation Chuntawadi in Bandipora district, Jammu and Kashmir, on the night of 5/6 November 2024. The Shaurya Chakra is India’s third-highest peacetime gallantry award. It is awarded for acts of bravery, courageous action, or devotion to duty, and it can be conferred on military personnel, civilians, and members of the armed forces in peacetime situations. Operation Chuntawadi was a joint cordon and search operation conducted in Bandipora district, Jammu and Kashmir, on 5/6 November 2024. The operation aimed to neutralise terrorist threats and involved engagement with two terrorists during the encounter.
SPORTS
1. India Wins SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 for Record Sixth Time: The India Women’s National Football Team defeated the Bangladesh Women’s National Football Team by 3-1 in the final to win the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 title for a record sixth time. The championship final was played at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where India overcame the defending champions Bangladesh, to reclaim the regional crown.
2. Savitha Shri Baskar Wins 2026 Women’s Asian Individual Chess Championship: Savitha Shri Baskar, a 19-year-old International Master from Chennai, won the Women’s Asian Individual Chess Championship 2026 held in Ulaanbaatar and secured qualification for the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2027. Savitha finished with 7.5 points from nine rounds, defeating Afruza Khamdamova on tie-breaks, while Song Yuxin claimed the bronze medal. This is the biggest achievement of Savitha’s career and marks India’s 13th Women’s Asian Championship title, with India winning three of the last four editions of the tournament.
3. Mirra Andreeva Wins First Grand Slam Title at French Open: Mirra Andreeva won her maiden Grand Slam title by defeating Maja Chwalinska in the women’s singles final of the French Open. With this victory, Andreeva became the first Russian woman to win a Grand Slam singles title since Maria Sharapova won the French Open in 2014.
4. India Wins 114 Medals at World Yogasana Championships: India hosted the inaugural World Yogasana Championship from 4 June to 8 June 2026 at TransStadia in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. India topped the medal table with 114 medals, including 102 gold medals, at the event that featured athletes from 79 countries. The World Yogasana Championship is an international sporting event for competitive Yogasana, a discipline that includes standardised postures and routines. The inaugural edition was held in Ahmedabad, which is a major city in Gujarat and a venue for international sports events. The championship received support from the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, the Ministry of Ayush, the Sports Authority of India, the Sports Authority of Gujarat and Gujarat Tourism. Yogasana is linked with India’s traditional physical culture and has been organised in modern competitive formats by national and international bodies.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Zojila Tunnel Nears Breakthrough: The Zojila Tunnel is a 13.153-kilometre road tunnel under construction in the Himalayas at an altitude of about 11,578 feet, or nearly 3,000 metres, above sea level. The final breakthrough is scheduled for 9 June 2026, and full operational completion is expected by February 2028. The tunnel is being built to provide all-weather road connectivity between Baltal near Sonamarg in Jammu and Kashmir and Meenamarg in the Drass-Kargil region of Ladakh. The route across Zojila Pass remains closed for several months each year because of heavy snowfall and avalanches. Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited is executing the project for the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited. Work on the tunnel began in October 2020, and the estimated project cost is Rs 6,809.69 crore, or about USD 815 million.
2. India Ranks Fifth in Military Spending, Second in Arms Imports: India remained the world’s fifth-largest military spender in 2025 with expenditure of $92.1 billion, and it ranked behind the United States, China, Russia and Germany. India was also the world’s second-largest importer of major arms during the 2021–25 period, with 8.2% of total global arms imports. India’s military expenditure in 2025 rose by 8.9% from the previous year. The United States, China, Russia and Germany were the only countries with higher defence spending in 2025. India’s arms imports declined by 4% between 2016–20 and 2021–25. SIPRI linked this fall to India’s growing capacity to design and produce weapons, while also noting delays in domestic production.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. RBI MPC Keeps Repo Rate Unchanged at 5.25%, Retains Neutral Stance: The 61st meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), chaired by Sanjay Malhotra, unanimously decided to keep the repo rate unchanged at 5.25% and continue with the neutral policy stance. The MPC projected India’s real GDP growth at 6.6% for 2026-27 and CPI inflation at 5.1%, reflecting a balanced outlook on growth and price stability.
2. RBI Imposes ₹2.49 Lakh Penalty on Canara Bank for Delayed Currency Chest Reporting: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a monetary penalty of ₹2,49,658 on Canara Bank for delayed reporting by its currency chest, citing a violation of regulatory reporting norms. The penalty order was received by Canara Bank on 6 June 2026, and the financial impact of the regulatory action is limited to the penalty amount of ₹2.49 lakh.
3. PFRDA Launches StAR NPS Digital Platform for Seamless National Pension System Onboarding: The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has operationalized StAR NPS (Securities Trading and Reporting – National Pension System) to enhance and simplify the National Pension System enrollment process. Developed by BSE Technologies Private Limited, the new digital platform enables faster, paperless, and more convenient onboarding of NPS subscribers. StAR NPS will be used by Points of Presence (PoPs) and their pension agents for subscriber registration, onboarding, and servicing, improving efficiency and accessibility in pension-related services.
4. IFC Commits $50 Million to Hygenco Green Energies to Boost India’s Green Hydrogen Sector: International Finance Corporation (IFC) has committed $50 million to Hygenco Green Energies to support the development of the green hydrogen sector in India. IFC, the private-sector investment arm of the World Bank Group, is partnering with other global investors to accelerate clean energy and sustainable industrial growth. Along with IFC, Siemens Financial Services, Clean Technology Fund, Frontier Opportunities Fund, and Fullerton Carbon Action Fund have signed a combined $105 million investment agreement in Hygenco Green Energies.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. President Murmu to Confer Padma Awards on June 23: President Droupadi Murmu will confer the Padma Awards on 23 June 2026 at the second Civil Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. The ceremony will honour 65 personalities with the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri awards. The Padma Awards are among India’s civilian honours and are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. They are conferred in three categories, namely Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. The awards recognise distinguished service in fields such as art, literature, education, medicine, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, civil service, sports, and other disciplines. A total of 131 Padma Awards were approved for 2026. The list includes five Padma Vibhushans, 13 Padma Bhushans, and 113 Padma Shris. The first Civil Investiture Ceremony for the 2026 awards was held on 25 May 2026, when 66 awardees received their honours.
