25th-26th June, 2026

1. VOC Port Emerges as Model for Green Maritime Growth, Records 45% Emission Cut
2. India Becomes World’s Top Ship Recycling Nation in 2025 with 35.4% Global Share
3. India and Israel Sign MoU to Strengthen Cooperation in Public Sector Auditing
4. NHAI and NCAER Sign MoU for Setting Up Research Centre on Transportation and Mobility
5. Safran and SatSure Sign MoU for GEOINT Solutions Collaboration
6. C-DOT and IIT Hyderabad Sign MoU for Setting Up Centre of Excellence in Advanced Communication Technologies
7. ASSOCHAM and ACCI Sign MoU to Enhance India–Afghanistan Trade Relations
8. BharathCloud and ICSI Sign MoU to Provide Sovereign AI Cloud Infrastructure for Company Secretaries
9. GRSE Conferred Navratna CPSE Status; Becomes India’s 29th Navratna Company
10. International Widows Day 2026 – June 23
11. Passport Seva Divas 2026 – June 24
12. Day of the Seafarer 2026 – June 25
13. World Vitiligo Day 2026 – June 25
14. Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas 2026 – June 25
15. TOP500 Supercomputer Rankings 2026: China’s LineShine Emerges as World’s Most Powerful Supercomputer
16. Bangladesh Joins India’s International Big Cat Alliance as 27th Member
17. USA Announces USD 482.2 Million Package for India’s M777A2 Howitzers and AH-64E Apache Helicopters
18. Cross-Border Payments Platform Skydo Secures Canada Registration
19. Abiy Ahmed Secures Second Consecutive Term as Ethiopian PM
20. FIE and FAI Sign Strategic MoU to Advance Fencing Development on Road to LA 2028
21. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Unveils 63 Projects Worth Rs 5,028.17 Crore During 154th Foundation of MPA
22. 35 Nations, Including India, Sign Statement on AI Opportunity at 2nd Pax Silica Summit in USA
23. jUMPP Secures NPCI Approval to Operate as TPAP, Enabling UPI Services
24. LEXI Receives In-Principle Approval from IFSCA to Operate as PSP at GIFT-IFSC
25. Paisabazaar and SBM Bank India Launch SBM Paisabazaar Paisa+ Credit Card
26. Goldman Sachs Raises India’s CY26 GDP Growth Forecast to 6.8%
27. French Meteorologist Dr. Florence Rabier Awarded WMO’s Top IMO Prize for Contributions to Numerical Weather Prediction
28. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre Appoints Dr. U. P. Rajeev as Director
29. ISSF Junior World Championship 2026: India Tops Medal Tally with 25 Medals Including 7 Golds
30. Veteran Tamil Filmmaker K. Bhagyaraj Passes Away at 73
31. VP C. P. Radhakrishnan Releases Book Sanskritir Ratna Bhandar: Bhaowaiyar Itibritto in New Delhi
32. World Refrigeration Day 2026 – June 26
33. International Day of Deafblindness 2026 – June 27
34. Hurun Global Unicorn Index 2026

National News

Union Minister Dedicates Sustainability Initiatives at Chidambaranar Port

• What: Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal launched several green, education, and technology initiatives at the V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA) to support sustainable port development.
• Tell me more:
  • The port’s first Sustainability Report showed that renewable energy now meets nearly 94% of its energy needs, reducing net carbon emissions by about 45%.
  • VOCPA became a Scope-2 Emission Free Port and commissioned the first green hydrogen pilot project at a major Indian port.
  • The port signed an MoU with Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) to promote maritime logistics research and skill development.
  • VOCPA launched the PortGPT mobile app, becoming the first major Indian port to introduce an enterprise-grade generative AI mobile platform.
  • The authority additionally also started academic activities at Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV), VOC Port, to provide affordable CBSE education.

India Emerges as World Top Ship Recycling Nation

• What: India became the world’s largest ship-recycling nation in 2025, increasing its global share from 30.1% in 2024 to 35.4%, and achieving the Maritime India Vision (MIV) 2030 target ahead of schedule.
• Tell me more:
  • According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), India recycled 2.99 million gross tonnes (GT) of ships in 2025.
  • This was a nearly 60% increase from 1.86 million GT recycled in 2024.
  • The achievement fulfills the Maritime India Vision (MIV) 2030 goal of making India the global leader in ship recycling.

Ministry of External Affairs Organizes Passport Officers Conference

• What: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) organized the Annual Regional Passport Officers’ Conference in New Delhi from 17–19 June 2026 as part of Passport Seva Divas 2026 to review and improve passport service delivery.
• Tell me more:
  • The upgraded Passport Seva Programme (PSP) Version 2.0 has made passport services more accessible, efficient, and transparent.
  • New initiatives such as e-Passports, Passport Seva Mobile Vans, Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs), and Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) have expanded passport services across the country.
  • Through a partnership between the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Department of Posts, the number of passport service centres has increased from 77 in 2014 to 545 today.
  • Passport Seva Divas is observed every year on 24 June to mark the enactment of the Passports Act, 1967

Ministry of Culture Commemorates Samvidhan Hatya Diwas

• What: The Ministry of Culture commemorated Samvidhan Hatya Diwas through a special promotional awareness programme organized by the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) in New Delhi to mark fifty years since the 1975 Emergency.
• Tell me more:
  • Chairman of CCRT Vinod Narayan Indurkar previously inaugurated an exhibition on the Digital District Repository (DDR), a national initiative documenting district-level stories of India’s freedom struggle.
  • The event authority hosted the DDR Felicitation Ceremony to honor veteran freedom fighters Sheshrao Laxmanrao Khot and Yeddula Suryanarayana Reddy alongside contributing researchers.
  • The Ministry of Culture organised the nationwide Seva Parv campaign under the theme “Viksit Bharat ke Rang, Kala ke Sang”, showcasing artworks from across the country to promote cultural pride, creativity, and social responsibility through art.

State News

Mumbai Port Authority Celebrates 154th Foundation Day

• What: Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal announced a development pipeline of 63 projects worth ₹5,028.17 crore during the 154th Foundation Day of the Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA).
• Tell me more:
  • These projects will improve port infrastructure, waterfront development, logistics, and port operations to support economic growth.
  • The Minister also dedicated the Indira Dock Operations and Maintenance Agreement and the Viksit Bharat Mumbai Marina Agreement to improve port asset management.
  • Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shantanu Thakur also attended the event, which was held under the theme “Together We Can.”

International News

Bangladesh Joins India Founded International Big Cat Alliance

• What: Bangladesh formally joined the treaty-based International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) as a new member, pushing the total number of global member countries in the conservation entity to 27.
• Tell me more:
  • India established the IBCA in 2024 to protect seven major big cat species including the tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma.
  • The alliance functions from its headquarters located in New Delhi.
  • The treaty-based global entity specifically targets 95 different big cat range countries that naturally contain habitats for one or more of these iconic species.
  • Existing member nations already include Russia, Cambodia, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Armenia, Ethiopia, Mongolia, Rwanda, Angola, Myanmar, and Saudi Arabia.
  • This organization also includes five additional countries participating in the conservation platform under the status of official observers.

Thirty Five Nations Sign United States-led Global AI Initiative

• What: India and 34 other countries signed a United States-led initiative to build trusted and resilient supply chains for Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies by endorsing the Joint Statement on AI Opportunity at the second Pax Silica Summit in Washington.
• Tell me more:
  • Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) S Krishnan and Additional Secretary Nagraj Naidu represented the Indian delegation at the summit.
  • Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Germany, Greece, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Panama, and the European Union officially joined the Pax Silica initiative during this summit.
  • The Pax Silica Initiative originally commenced in December 2025, and India joined the group in February 2026 during the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.
  • Pax Silica is a US-led partnership that aims to build secure and reliable global supply chains for critical minerals, semiconductors (computer chips), and AI technologies.

Banking and Economy

Garden Reach Shipbuilders Attains Navratna Status

• What: The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) under the Ministry of Finance granted Navratna status to Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) for its strong financial and operational performance.
• Tell me more:
  • Navratna status gives GRSE greater financial and operational autonomy, allowing it to undertake larger investment projects with fewer government approvals.
  • In FY26, GRSE delivered eight vessels, including three warships in a single day, and is currently building 12 commercial vessels for a German client.
  • Since 1960, GRSE has built over 800 marine platforms, including 118 warships for the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, and friendly foreign countries.
  • Between FY22 and FY26, revenue increased from ₹1,754 crore to ₹7,002 crore, while profit after tax rose from ₹190 crore to ₹748 crore (around 294% growth).
  • In Q4 FY26, GRSE’s revenue rose 29.1% to ₹2,119.21 crore, while net profit increased 24.1% to ₹303.20 crore.

Skydo Registers with Bank of Canada Payment Registry

• What: Bengaluru-based Skydo has received official approval from Canada’s Payment Service Provider (PSP) Registry to operate as a regulated payment service provider in Canada.
• Tell me more:
  • India–Canada bilateral trade is currently about CAD 13.6 billion.
  • Skydo serves over 40,000 businesses, processes USD 1 billion in annual transactions across 150+ countries, and holds financial authorisations linked to GIFT City, India.

Fintech Platform jUMPP Integrates UPI Payment Capabilities

• What: AI-powered fintech platform jUMPP added UPI payment services to its app after receiving approval from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) as a Third Party Application Provider (TPAP).
• Tell me more:
  • Founder and CEO – Sarvjeet Singh Virk

Fintech Platform LEXI Receives IFSCA Regulatory Approval

• What: Lexi Money IFSC Private Limited (LEXI) received in-principle approval from the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) to operate as a Payment Service Provider (PSP) at GIFT-IFSC in Gandhinagar.
• Tell me more:
  • The approval allows the AI-powered platform to offer cross-border payment services to Indian exporters, with support for multiple currencies and access to international banking networks.
  • LEXI is an AI-powered trade and payments platform based in India for Indian exporters, specifically dealing in physical goods exports. The platform aims to make exports easier and support India’s target of achieving USD 2 trillion in exports by 2030.

Paisabazaar and SBM Bank Launch Credit Card

• Paisabazaar and SBM Bank India launched the SBM Paisabazaar Paisa+ Credit Card, a fixed deposit-backed co-branded credit card that helps users build a good credit history.
• The card acts as a secured credit card backed by a fixed deposit to help users build credit history while earning interest and cashbacks.

Reports and Indices

Chinese LineShine Tops Global Supercomputer Rankings

• What: A Chinese system named LineShine topped the official June 2026 TOP500 list as the world’s fastest supercomputer, achieving more than 2.19 exaflops and surpassing its closest rival from the United States.
• Tell me more:
  • This is 67th edition of this ranking.
  • An exaflop is a measurement of a computer’s processing speed. It stands for one quintillion floating-point operations per second (FLOPS).
  • World’s Top 5 Fastest Supercomputers:

• The National Supercomputing Center in Shenzhen developed this system using nearly 14 million processing cores and specialized units that combine traditional computing and artificial intelligence capabilities.
  • Researchers from Tsinghua University already deployed LineShine to integrate traditional weather models with machine learning, successfully processing East Asia rainfall forecasts spanning 2016 to 2025 in 14.6 hours.
• The machine outpaced El Capitan, a United States system located at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, by registering a calculation speed about 22% faster.
• India’s top supercomputer in this list:

• Knowledge Nuggets:
  • TOP500 is a global ranking of the world’s 500 fastest supercomputers, published twice a year (every June and November) based on LINPACK benchmark performance, to track advances in high-performance computing and promote research collaboration
  • The TOP500 list is compiled and published by the TOP500 Project, an independent international project started in 1993.

India Slips to Fourth in Hurun Global Unicorn Index (HGUI) 2026

• What: India ranked fourth globally with 61 unicorns (start-ups valued at USD 1 billion or more) in the Hurun Global Unicorn Index (HGUI) 2026.
• Tell me more:
  • The United Kingdom (UK) moved to third place with 70 unicorns, while the United States (US) and China remained first and second with 806 and 381 unicorns, respectively.
  • Zerodha, Zepto, and Razorpay were India’s top companies in the latest rankings.
  • Bengaluru remained India’s leading unicorn hub with 25 companies, followed by Mumbai with 13.
  • Globally, Artificial Intelligence (AI) was the fastest-growing sector, with 215 unicorns, making up 36% of the total value of all unicorns worldwide.

GDP Forecasts

Goldman Sachs Upgrades India’s Economic Outlook for 2026

• What: Global investment bank Goldman Sachs raised India’s real GDP growth forecast for 2026 to 6.8%, mainly because lower global crude oil prices followed the recent US-Iran peace deal.
• Tell me more:
  • Goldman Sachs lowered India’s inflation forecast to 4.4% as lower oil prices are expected to reduce fuel and petrochemical costs.
  • It also reduced India’s current account deficit forecast to 1.1% of GDP and expects a balance of payments surplus of 0.7% of GDP.

Defence News

United States Notifies Huge Defence Support Deal For India

• What: The United States (US) approved a proposed USD 482.2 million military support package for India to maintain its Apache helicopters and M777A2 Ultra-Light Howitzers.
• Tell me more:
  • The Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced the package under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme, covering engineering, training, logistics, and related equipment.
  • Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and BAE Systems will provide support services to improve the operational readiness of the Indian Army and Indian Air Force without altering the regional military balance.
  • India has already purchased 28 AH-64E Apache helicopters and 145 M777A2 Ultra-Light Howitzers from the US, with 120 howitzers assembled in India by Mahindra Defence Systems.

Awards

World Meteorological Organization Awards Prestigious IMO Prize

• What: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced that it will award its top honour, the International Meteorological Organization (IMO) Prize, to Dr. Florence Rabier of France for her pioneering role in advancing numerical weather prediction.
• Tell me more:
  • Dr. Rabier served as the director of the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) from 2016 to the end of 2025.
  • She received the award, considered the highest honour in weather science, for leading the use of AI, satellite data, and open-data policies to make weather forecasting more accurate worldwide.
  • The prominent scientist will officially collect the coveted prize and deliver a specialized lecture during the World Meteorological Congress in 2027 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Important Days

International Widows Day 2026 – June 23

• UN Focus: Invisible Women, Invisible Problems

Passport Seva Divas 2026 – June 24

Day of the Seafarer 2026 – June 25

• Theme: ”Carrying world trade. Carrying the risks”

World Vitiligo Day 2026 – June 25

• Theme: “From Stigma to Strength”
• Global celebrations event for World Vitiligo Day 2026 is being hosted in Chandigarh, 12 years after it was last held there.
• In 2025, Toronto, Canada hosted global celebrations.

Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas 2026 – June 25

World Refrigeration Day 2026 – June 26

• Theme: Cool Intelligence
• Cool Intelligence focuses on using smart methods to design, install, operate, and maintain cooling and sustainable heating systems.

International Day of Deafblindness 2026 – June 27

• UN Focus: Recognizing Deafblindness: a distinct disability requiring specialized support and inclusion

Sports

India Signs Global Pact To Promote Fencing

• What: The International Fencing Federation (FIE) and the Fencing Association of India (FAI) signed an MoU in New Delhi to promote fencing in India and prepare athletes for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
• Tell me more:
  • The MoU was signed by FIE Interim President Abdelmoniem El Husseiny and FAI Secretary General Rajeev Mehta during the Asian Fencing Championships 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, India.
  • Asian Fencing Championships 2026 official motto – “One Dream, One Blade, One Pride”
  • Winners of Asian Fencing Championships 2026:

India Tops ISSF Junior World Championship Standings

• What: India finished on top of the medal table at the ISSF Junior World Championship 2026 in Suhl, Germany, winning 25 medals and becoming the overall champion for the second consecutive edition.
• Tell me more:
  • India won 7 gold, 8 silver, and 10 bronze medals through its 84-member team.
  • More than 800 shooters from 70 countries took part in the championship.
  • India had also finished first at the previous edition in Lima, Peru, winning 24 medals.

Memorandum of Understanding

India And Israel Sign Auditing Cooperation Pact

• What: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India and the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) of Israel signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance bilateral cooperation in public sector auditing.
• Tell me more:
  • CAG K Sanjay Murthy and Israeli State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman signed the agreement during a high-level delegation visit to New Delhi.
  • The MoU promotes technical expertise, joint training, auditing best practices, and alternating bilateral seminars, strengthening transparency, accountability, good governance, and bilateral cooperation.

National Highways Authority Partners with Research Council

• What: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) to establish a dedicated economics of transportation, mobility, and logistics center.
• Tell me more:
  • The new centre will conduct research on transport, mobility, and logistics, serving as a knowledge hub to support planning, investment, policymaking, and publish policy briefs, working papers, and flagship reports.
  • An expert Advisory Committee comprising leading economists, public policy experts, transportation specialists, NHAI’s Member (Finance), and the Director General of NCAER will anchor the institution.

Safran And SatSure Partner for Geospatial Intelligence Solutions

• What: French aerospace company Safran Electronics & Defense and Indian firm SatSure signed an MoU to jointly develop geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) solutions for the Indian market.
• Tell me more:
  • The partnership is part of the France–India Year of Innovation (2026) initiative.
  • The partnership combines Safran.AI‘s AI with SatSure’s satellite and geospatial expertise to develop GEOINT solutions that enhance situational awareness and intelligence analysis for defence and environmental monitoring.
  • SatSure’s subsidiary KaleidEO will provide Earth observation satellite payloads, while Safran.AI will contribute mission-critical software applications.

Telecom Development Centre Partners with IIT Hyderabad

• What: The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) signed an MoU with the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT Hyderabad) to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for next-generation communication technologies.
• Tell me more:
  • It is the fourth CoE established by C-DOT, after similar centres at IIT Kanpur, IIT Gandhinagar, and IIT Roorkee.
  • The CoE will promote research, startup innovation, and skill development in advanced wireless communications, quantum technologies, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence (AI).

Indian And Afghan Trade Bodies Sign Agreement

• What: The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) signed an MoU with the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) to boost bilateral trade and private sector investment.
• Tell me more:
  • The agreement aims to double USD 1 billion bilateral trade through virtual meetings over the next 60 days, potentially leading to an Indian business delegation to Afghanistan.
  • The partnership focuses on mining, oil and gas, and sugar, with plans to establish two manufacturing units in each country to strengthen economic integration.

BharathCloud Partners with Institute of Company Secretaries

• What: Sovereign AI cloud provider BharathCloud signed an MoU with The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) in Pune to provide cloud solutions for corporate governance professionals.
• Tell me more:
  • The partnership provides ICSI members with secure India-hosted cloud services, discounted pricing for two years, onboarding support, automatic backups, 24×7 technical assistance, and secure remote access without needing an in-house IT team.

Appointments

Abiy Ahmed Secures Second Consecutive Term as Ethiopian PM

UP Rajeev Appointed Director Of VSSC Thiruvananthapuram

• Senior scientist Dr. U.P. Rajeev, who previously worked as the Associate Director of Research and Development, has been officially appointed as the new Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram.

Miscellaneous

Veteran Tamil Filmmaker K Bhagyaraj Passes Away

• What: Veteran Tamil actor, director, and screenwriter K Bhagyaraj passed away.
• Tell me more:
  • Known as the “King of Screenplay,” he became famous for making films with ordinary middle-class characters and emotional stories.
  • He acted in more than 75 films, directed over 25 films, won the Filmfare Best Actor Award for Mundhanai Mudichu, and edited the weekly magazine Bhagya.
  • Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar expressed grief.

Vice President Releases New Book on Bhawaiya Folk Music

• What: Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan released a new book titled “Sanskritir Ratna Bhandar: Bhaowaiyar Itibritto” in New Delhi, which systematically documents the historical evolution and origin of the traditional Bhawaiya folk music genre.
• Tell me more:
  • Lok Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Dr. Jayanta Kumar Roy and Sangita Roy co-authored this comprehensive historical literature work.
  • The musical genre serves as a traditional folk art form across North Bengal, Assam, and adjoining regional territories.

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