23rd-24th June 2026

1. NIXI Launches 4 Digital Platforms to Strengthen India’s Internet Ecosystem on its 23rd Foundation Day
2. MoD Approves Defence Land for Gandhi Sarovar Project at Bapu Ghat, Hyderabad
3. Zerodha Fund House Launches India’s First Lifecycle Mutual Funds with Target Years 2036 and 2041
4. PNB Partners with Zaggle to Launch Eco-Friendly Co-Branded Twin Credit Cards
5. AFI’s 1st Indian Athletics Award 2025: Neeraj Chopra and Parul Chaudhary Named Best Athletes of the Year
6. ACC Reappoints Tushar Mehta as Solicitor General for Another 3-Year Term
7. PM Narendra Modi Commissions Three Indigenously Built IN Platforms — INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak & INS Agray — in Kolkata, WB
8. India Successfully Tests Indigenous Garudastra 120mm Vehicle-Mounted Mortar System in MP
9. World Hydrography Day 2026 – June 21
10. DIBD and AISF Sign MoU to Promote Language Technology and Multilingual Innovation in Assam
11. IFC Pledges USD 371 Million to Sify for AI-Ready Data Centres in India
12. GI Tag Granted to Khurasani Imli, Garuda Tuber, and Balam Kakdi of Madhya Pradesh
13. Harsh Vardhan Receives Global Prestige Award at UK Parliament for Viksit Bharat 2047 Contribution
14. CRED Founder Kunal Shah Joins Meta to Lead WhatsApp Globally
15. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Launches Book on India’s IIT Ecosystem
16. International Day of the Celebration of Solstice 2026 – June 21
17. World Music Day 2026 – June 21
18. François Englert Dies at 93: Nobel Physicist Behind Higgs Boson
19. What Is India’s Rank in Future Skills Index?
20. International Day of Women in Diplomacy 2026: History, Significance, Purpose and Celebrations
21. Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited Granted Navratna Status
22. World’s Tallest Lionel Messi Statue Unveiled in Argentina as a Historic Tribute
23. United Nations Public Service Day 2026: History, Theme, Significance and Key Facts
24. Meet India’s Unique ‘Monsoon Forecaster’ Bird That Helps Farmers Predict Rainfall: How the Red-Wattled Lapwing Predicts Rain
25. Olympic Day 2026: Theme, History, Significance and Celebrations
26. World Bank Approves ₹4,000-Crore Loan for Haryana’s Jal Sanrakshit Haryana Water Security Project
27. IAF to Acquire Nine Retired Jaguar Fighter Jets from UK to Sustain Aging Fleet
28. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Smashes Fastest List A Fifty in History During India A vs Sri Lanka A Final
29. India Remains ADB’s Largest Private Sector Market as Lender Eyes $1 Billion Financing in 2026
30. Harmanpreet Kaur Becomes First Cricketer Ever to Play 200 T20 Internationals

State News

MoD Approves Defence Land for Gandhi Sarovar Project at Bapu Ghat, Hyderabad

• The Ministry of Defence approved working permission for the Musi Riverfront Development Corporation (MRDC) to develop the flagship Gandhi Sarovar Project near Bapu Ghat in Hyderabad.
• The Gandhi Sarovar Project is a Telangana government initiative to clean and improve Hyderabad’s Musi River area, creating better public spaces, ecology, and heritage sites.

Three Madhya Pradesh Products Secure Geographical Indication

• What: The Government of India awarded the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag to three agricultural products from Madhya Pradesh, including Ratlam’s Balam Kakdi, Ratlami Garadu, and Mandu’s Khurasani Imli.
• Tell me more:
  • Ratlam became the first district in Madhya Pradesh to hold four unique GI tags, adding to its previous Sev and Riyawan Silver Garlic awards.
  • Balam Kakdi is a special cucumber variety grown across the tribal Sailana region, spanning approximately 100 hectares of local cultivation.
  • Ratlami Garadu is a nutritious purple yam tuber cultivated across 120 hectares, heavily sought after as a winter snack.
  • Khurasani Imli is the light green, tangy fruit of Mandu’s iconic Baobab tree (Adansonia digitata) which spread across the region six centuries ago.

World Bank Approves Massive Haryana Water Project

• What: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced that the World Bank approved a Rs 4,000 crore loan for the state’s ambitious ‘Jal Sanrakshit Haryana’ project to ensure water security.
• Tell me more:
  • The project requires a total financial investment of Rs 5,714 crore and will run in phases between 2026 and 2032.
  • The project aims to modernize Haryana’s irrigation system, improve water conservation, rehabilitate canals, increase agricultural productivity, recharge groundwater, reduce waterlogging, and promote efficient water use across farms.

International News

Largest Lionel Messi Monument Unveiled in Argentina

• What: Local artists in the Patagonian town of Cutral Có unveiled an 85-foot monument of football legend Lionel Messi, marking the world’s largest statue ever created to honor his sports achievements.
• Tell me more:
  • The 85-foot Lionel Messi statue in Cutral Co, Patagonia (Argentina) was created by local sculptor Aldo Beroisa.
  • Messi surpassed former German player Miroslav Klose’s World Cup goal record by scoring his 17th and 18th tournament goals against Austria.
  • The statue shows the footballer kneeling in celebration after winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup final at Lusail Stadium in Qatar.

Banking and Economy

National Internet Exchange Celebrates 23rd Foundation Day

• What: The National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) celebrated its 23rd Foundation Day by launching four new digital initiatives to strengthen the digital infrastructure and internet ecosystem of the country.
• Tell me more:
  • Established on 19th June 2003, the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) is a not-for-profit (Section 8) company under the aegis of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
  • The four services under NIXI include Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) for building Internet Exchange Points, the .IN Registry for establishing the .in domain digital identity, and IRINN for the adoption of IPv4 and IPv6 addresses.
  • S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is the Chairman of NIXI.
  • The new initiatives include the IX Portal, myIRINN Portal, .IN Auction Portal, and an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Powered WHOIS Screening Platform.
  • The primary function of this platform is to secure the specific .in domain space of the nation.
  • The institution actively supports country-code top-level domain registrations in 22 different Indian languages, including .भारत (.Bharat).
• Knowledge Nuggets:

Zerodha Fund House Launches Life Cycle Funds

• What: Zerodha Fund House announced the launch of its Life Cycle Fund series, becoming the first asset management company in India to introduce target-date maturity funds.
• Tell me more:
  • The Life Cycle Fund Series is an investment fund that automatically shifts from higher-risk assets to safer assets as a chosen target year approaches, reducing risk over time.
  • The asset management company is currently launching two unique schemes called Zerodha Life Cycle Fund 2036 and Zerodha Life Cycle Fund 2041.
  • Fund manager Kedarnath Mirajkar will oversee both schemes, which require a minimum investment of ₹100 and have no mandatory lock-in period.

Punjab National Bank Launches Biodegradable Credit Cards

• What: Punjab National Bank (PNB) partnered with Zaggle Prepaid Ocean Services Ltd to launch nationwide biodegradable co-branded twin credit cards to strengthen the presence of the lender in the market.
• Tell me more:
  • It provides payment flexibility, UPI convenience, travel and lifestyle benefits, rewards, insurance, and eco-friendly banking features.
  • PNB Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer – Ashok Chandra
  • Zaggle Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer – Avinash Ramesh Godkhindi

International Finance Corporation Invests in Sify Data Centres

• What: International Finance Corporation (IFC), a World Bank Group arm, committed the rupee equivalent of $371 million to Sify Infinit Spaces Ltd (SISL) through a sustainability-linked loan to expand energy-efficient digital infrastructure.
• Tell me more:
  • The partnership with SISL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sify Technologies Ltd, promotes Artificial Intelligence (AI) ready data centre infrastructure in India.
  • The investment aims to build energy-efficient AI-ready data centres in India, meeting rising demand from cloud computing, AI, digital services, and 5G while supporting jobs and economic growth.
  • IFC is additionally working with SISL to mobilize up to the rupee equivalent of $300 million for corporate expansion.

Chennai Petroleum Corporation Secures Navratna Status

• The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) officially granted the prestigious Navratna Status to Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL).

Asian Development Bank to Provide Private Sector Financing

• What: India continues to be the largest market for the private sector operations of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), with the multilateral lender expecting to provide about USD 1 billion in direct financing this year.
• Tell me more:
  • The Manila-based multilateral funding agency provided more than USD 4 billion for sovereign operations and over USD 1 billion for the private sector from its own capital last year.
  • The institution mobilized an equal amount from other sources, resulting in a total flow of USD 2 billion to private sectors through the ADB in 2025.
  • ADB co-creates its country partnership agenda with the government to support national development objectives.
  • The funding focus areas include renewable and clean energy, green hydrogen, electronic mobility (e-mobility), and green data centres.
  • The multilateral bank signed agreements last month with Standard Chartered Bank to strengthen supply chain finance in the country through risk-sharing arrangements.

Reports and Indices

QS World Future Skills Index 2027: India Secures 13th Place

• What: India secured the 13th position globally in the QS World Future Skills Index 2027 released by Quacquarelli Symonds, highlighting the country’s growing focus on future technologies and workforce readiness.
• Tell me more:
  • The QS World Future Skills Index evaluates countries based on Skills Fit, Academic Readiness, Future of Work, and Economic Transformation to assess preparedness for future workforce demands.
  • The index ranks India first in South Asia, while Bangladesh trails as the nearest regional peer at 67th globally.
  • India also ranks first among lower-middle-income nations, outperforming the Philippines which sits at 38th place globally.

• Top 15 countries
  

• Successful AI adoption could eventually add $500 billion in economic value to the national economy by 2030.
  

Defence News

Prime Minister Commissions Three Indigenous Naval Platforms

• What: Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned three advanced indigenous maritime platforms named INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak, and INS Agray into the Indian Navy in Kolkata, West Bengal.
• Tell me more:
  • The historic tri-commissioning ceremony took place on June 21, 2026, which marks both International Day of Yoga and World Hydrography Day.
  • The Indian Navy Warship Design Bureau and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) designed the three advanced naval vessels.
  • INS Dunagiri is an advanced stealth frigate built using modular construction techniques and armed with supersonic surface-to-surface missiles.
  • INS Sanshodhak is the fourth Survey Vessel (Large) class ship equipped with advanced hydrographic systems to map the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
  • INS Agray is the fifth Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) designed for high agility in shallow littoral waters.

India Tests Indigenous Vehicle Mounted Mortar System

• What: India recently tested its heaviest indigenous 120-mm vehicle-mounted mortar system called ‘Garudastra’ during live demonstrations for the Indian Army in Madhya Pradesh.
• Tell me more:
  • Private defense manufacturer Nibe Ltd developed the highly mobile precision weapon system and successfully demonstrated it at the Infantry School, Mhow.

India to Acquire Decommissioned United Kingdom Jaguars

• What: India is set to acquire nine decommissioned combat aircraft from the United Kingdom (UK) Royal Air Force to sustain the operational capability of the Indian Air Force (IAF) aging fighter squadrons.
• Tell me more:
  • India will dismantle retired SEPECAT Jaguar aircraft to obtain spare parts for its 120-jet “Shamsher” fleet, helping sustain operational squadrons and maintain combat readiness.
  • The defense establishment needs to maintain these existing jets because active combat fighter squadrons have depleted to 29 against an approved strength of 42.
  • The IAF placed a Rs 48,000-crore deal and a subsequent Rs 62,370-crore deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for 180 total Tejas Mk-1A jets.
  • The country is simultaneously developing the fifth-generation Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project, which will roll out by 2035.
  • The government also plans to acquire 114 Rafale jets from France, with the initial deliveries expected between 2028 and 2030.

Awards

Athletics Federation of India’s 1st Indian Athletics Award 2025

• What: The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) honored javelin throw star Neeraj Chopra as the Best Male Athlete of the Year at the inaugural Indian Athletics Awards 2025 ceremony in New Delhi.
• Tell me more:
  • The newly initiated Indian Athletics Awards celebrate the contributions of athletes, coaches, technical officials, mentors, state associations, and other stakeholders to sports growth.
  • The inaugural edition of the ceremony featured 10 distinct award categories, which included accolades for the Best Coach, Best Technical Official, and Best State Association.

Bihar Cricket Association President Wins Global Prestige Award

• What: Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) President Harsh Vardhan received the prestigious Global Prestige Award at the House of Lords, United Kingdom (UK) Parliament, for his contributions towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
• Tell me more:
  • The international accolade recognizes distinguished individuals across the world who demonstrate outstanding leadership, innovation, and dedication toward global peace, justice, and development.
  • The official theme of the event, “Visionaries of Change: Charting the Course to Viksit Bharat 2047,” celebrated Indian changemakers working to transform the nation by its independence centenary.
  • Harsh Vardhan became the youngest President in the history of the BCA after winning the election unopposed in September 2025.

Important Days

World Hydrography Day 2026 – June 21

• Theme: “Transforming how ocean data is shared”

International Day of the Celebration of Solstice 2026 – June 21

World Music Day 2026 – June 21

International Day of Women in Diplomacy 2026 – June 24

• UN Focus: Women in Diplomacy: Shaping the Future of Global Cooperation

UN Public Service Day – June 23

• The 2026 United Nations Public Service Forum is being held in Tbilisi from 23–25 June 2026 under the theme “Transforming Public Institutions: Advancing Innovation, Participation, and Inclusion.”
• The forum is jointly organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Justice of Georgia.

Olympic Day 2026 – June 23

• Theme: ‘You Can Do This. Let’s Move’

Sports

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Scores Fastest List A Fifty

• What: Teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi struck a remarkable 11-ball half-century for India A against Sri Lanka A, breaking the record for the fastest fifty in List A 50-over cricket history.
• Tell me more:
  • The 15-year-old batsman smashed 94 off 29 balls, including a record-fast 14-ball fifty, surpassing domestic records and strengthening his case for an international debut.

Harmanpreet Kaur Plays 200th Twenty20 International

• What: India captain Harmanpreet Kaur became the first player across both women’s and men’s international cricket to play 200 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) during a World Cup match against South Africa in Manchester.
• Tell me more:
  • Harmanpreet Kaur made her international debut in March 2009 in an ODI against Pakistan and played her first T20I against England in June 2009.
  • The Indian leader outperforms New Zealand’s Suzie Bates who sits second on the women’s list with 184 matches.
  • Paul Stirling from Ireland holds the first position in the men’s category with 163 matches. Former India captain Rohit Sharma holds the second position in the men’s category with 159 matches.
  • George Dockrell from Ireland holds 157 appearances, followed by England’s Jos Buttler with 155 matches and Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi with 152 matches.

Memorandum of Understanding

Digital India Bhashini Signs Language Technology Agreement

• What: The Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) and the Assam Innovation & Startup Foundation (AISF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote language technology and digital inclusion across Assam.
• Tell me more:
  • DIBD operates under the Digital India Corporation (DIC) within the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
  • AISF works as a Section 8 company under the Department of Innovation, Incubation and Start-ups (DIIS) of the Government of Assam.
  • The signed MoU establishes a partnership under the BHASHINI Rajyam initiative to facilitate multilingual access to state startup programs.
  • BHASHINI currently supports 36 Indian text languages, 23 Indian voice languages, and 35 international languages.

Appointments

Centre Reappoints Solicitor General Tushar Mehta

• What: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) re-appointed Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta for a further period of three years along with several key law officers.
• Tell me more:
  • The official government order extended the tenure of Additional Solicitor Generals (ASG) Vikramjeet Banerjee, KM Nataraj, SV Raju, N Venkataraman, and Aishwarya Bhati.

Kunal Shah Appointed Global Chief Executive Officer of WhatsApp

• Cred founder Kunal Shah will replace Will Cathcart as the global Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of WhatsApp as part of a strategic funding transaction with parent company Meta.

Miscellaneous

Lok Sabha Speaker Launches Book on Indian Institutes of Technology

• What: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla addressed a book launch event in New Delhi for a new book detailing the story of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) educational ecosystem.
• Tell me more:
  • The launched book, IIT – The Story of India’s Most Prestigious Educational Ecosystem, is authored by Prabhat Kumar, Chairman of Pan IIT Alumni India.
  • The network began its historical journey with IIT Kharagpur and has now expanded to include 23 distinct campuses.

Nobel Laureate Physicist Francois Englert Passes Away

• What: The Belgian physicist and Nobel laureate François Englert passed away on June 18 at the age of 93, leaving behind a legacy that paved the way for discovering the Higgs boson.
• Tell me more:
  • François Englert’s biggest achievement was helping explain how particles get mass through the BEH (Brout-Englert-Higgs) mechanism, a discovery that became a foundation of modern particle physics.

Meet India’s Unique ‘Monsoon Forecaster’ Bird That Helps Farmers

• The Red-wattled Lapwing is traditionally known as the “Monsoon Forecaster” because farmers, especially in Rajasthan, observe its nesting behavior to predict rainfall.

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