27th-30th June 2026

1. Five-Time World Champion Viswanathan Anand Conferred SJFI Gold Medal
2. ACC Appoints Mahesh Dixit as Director of Intelligence Bureau (IB)
3. IAF Receives Final Operational Clearance for Indigenous AEW&C System ‘Netra’
4. UP Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana 2026: Benefits, Eligibility, Documents Required and How to Apply
5. UN Chief António Guterres Launches Global Methane Action Plan Amid Escalating Climate Crisis
6. Rajasthan Forms 5-Member Panel to Draft Uniform Civil Code
7. India’s First Made-in-India C295 Aircraft Set for IAF Delivery in September
8. BRICS Heads of Space Agencies Gather in India to Strengthen Global Space Cooperation
9. IAF to Acquire Nine Retired Jaguar Fighter Jets from UK to Sustain Aging Fleet
10. IAF Equips 40 Sukhoi Su-30MKI Fighter Jets with BrahMos Missiles, Strengthening Long-Range Strike Capability
11. India Sets Record with 7 Schools Shortlisted for World’s Best School Prizes 2026
12. India Launches World’s First Nuclear Process Heat-Based Hydrogen Production Facility
13. Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi to Visit India for 16th India-Japan Annual Summit from July 1 to 3
14. India-Seychelles Defence Partnership: How the Strategic Alliance Is Strengthening Security in the Indian Ocean
15. Operation Amistad: India Launches Humanitarian Relief Mission to Venezuela After Devastating Earthquake
16. Odisha Launches GO-EAST Policy to Accelerate Industrial Growth and Attract Investments
17. India Showcases Premium Mangoes in Iceland Through First-Ever Promotion Events to Boost Exports
18. World MSME Day 2026: Theme, Significance, Challenges and Why It Matters
19. Mukhyamantri Kisan Sahay Yojana Gujarat 2026: Eligibility, Benefits, Documents Required and How to Apply
20. India’s 7 New Bullet Train Corridors: Full List with Expected Travel Time
21. RBI Injects ₹1.41 Lakh Crore into Banking System Through 7-Day VRR Auction
22. The Second Orbit: Belief of a Man… Dreams of 1.4 Billion Hearts Memoir Released by Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh
23. Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS): History, Water Allocation, Importance and Recent Developments
24. Hemis Festival 2026: Date, Meaning, Significance and Celebrations
25. Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan Releases Book on Bhawaiya Folk Tradition
26. Ministry of Culture Commemorates ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ to Mark 50 Years of the Emergency
27. India Hosts the 11th BRICS Energy Ministers’ Meeting in Gurugram Under BRICS Chairship 2026
28. United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 2026: History, Significance, Theme and Key Facts
29. International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2026: History, Theme, Significance and Key Facts
30. S&P Forecasts India’s GDP Growth at 6.6% in FY27 Amid Energy Stress and Weak Monsoon Concerns
31. BHIM Payments App Transaction Volumes Triple in Less Than a Year
32. Hurun India 500 Report 2026: Top 10 Companies Account for 27% of Total Valuation
33. Green Oscars 2026: Two Indian Women Win Prestigious Whitley Awards for Environmental Conservation
34. DAE Launches World’s First Nuclear Process Heat-Based Hydrogen Production Facility at IGCAR in TN
35. Amazon to Invest USD 48 Billion in India by 2030 to Expand AI and Cloud Infrastructure
36. Herbalife and IIT Madras Launch India’s First Centre of Excellence on Plant Cell Fermentation Technology
37. IIT Bombay and SUNY Old Westbury Sign LoI to Boost Engineering & AI Research Collaboration
38. The Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026 by THE: MAHE Achieves Top Global Ranking
39. ADB Approves USD 42.2 Million Loan to Develop Bamboo Industry in Northeast India
40. World Bank approves USD 1.5 bn loan to support India’s reforms, job creation

National News

India Hosts BRICS Heads of Space Agencies Meeting

• What: India, serving as the 2026 BRICS Chair, hosted the meeting of the BRICS Heads of Space Agencies (HOSA) in Bengaluru during June 23-24 to strengthen dialogue and international cooperation on critical global space sectors.
• Tell me more:
  • The event progressed under the official central theme of “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.
  • This gathering reflected the people-centric and humanity-first strategy presented by the Prime Minister of India at the 2025 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
  • Attendees deliberated on proposed contract amendments to include new members into the BRICS Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation (RSSC) Agreement.
  • Leaders also discussed the necessary Terms of Reference to set up the proposed new BRICS Space Council.
  • The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Space (DOS) hosted the gathering with administrative support from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

India Launches World First Nuclear Hydrogen Facility

• What: The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) inaugurated the world’s first nuclear-heated hydrogen production facility in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, using a special Copper-Chlorine (Cu-Cl) thermochemical cycle to create clean fuel.
• Tell me more:
  • The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) indigenously developed the Cu-Cl chemical process, while the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) at Kalpakkam houses the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) used in the project.
  • The facility will produce carbon-free hydrogen efficiently, reducing fossil fuel dependence and enabling future commercial-scale clean hydrogen production.
  • The facility was inaugurated by Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), in the presence of Sreekumar G. Pillai, Director of IGCAR.

Japanese Prime Minister to Visit India for Summit

• What: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will travel to New Delhi from July 1 to 3 for the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit to review bilateral ties and discuss regional developments.
• Tell me more:
  • The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that all official programmes will take place exclusively in New Delhi.
  • Both sides plan to establish a framework to promote biogas-powered mobility and reduce crude oil imports, with Suzuki Motor already producing biogas in India to support cleaner transportation.

India and Seychelles Reaffirm Enduring Strategic Partnership

• What: Prime Minister Narendra Modi traveled to Seychelles from June 27-29, 2026, to strengthen maritime security and defense cooperation in the vital Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• Tell me more:
  • India places Seychelles as a vital partner under its maritime plan called Vision Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions (MAHASAGAR).
  • Both nations signed an agreement on hydrography during the 2015 prime ministerial visit to improve nautical charts and navigational safety.
  • India gifted and installed six Coastal Surveillance Radar Systems in 2015 to help Seychelles detect suspicious vessels and monitor coastal traffic.
  • India continuously expands the Seychelles Coast Guard fleet by donating multiple patrol vessels over the past two decades.
  • India and Seychelles in total launched 19 key initiatives to strengthen bilateral cooperation across defence, maritime security, digital technology, healthcare, education, agriculture, and space.
  • Seychelles conferred its highest honour, the Guardian of the Blue Horizon, on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership in environmental conservation, Blue Economy, climate action, and support for developing nations.
• Knowledge Nuggets
  • The biennial military exercise ‘LAMITYE 2026’ between India and Seychelles in Victoria marked the first tri-service edition involving the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
  • The Seychelles vessel PS Zoroaster participated in Exercise MILAN in India in February 2026 before receiving a complimentary refit in Kolkata.

NHSRCL Initiates Assessment for Next-Generation B35 Bullet Trains

• What: The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) started assessing companies to design and build India’s next-generation B35 bullet trains. These home-grown high-speed trains will become the main fleet for future rail corridors to drastically cut travel times across the country.
• Tell me more:
  • The planned rolling stock will serve all proposed routes including Mumbai-Pune, Pune-Hyderabad, Hyderabad-Bengaluru, Hyderabad-Chennai, Chennai-Bengaluru, Delhi-Varanasi, and Varanasi-Siliguri.

Ministry of Culture Commemorates Samvidhan Hatya Diwas

• What: The Ministry of Culture commemorated Samvidhan Hatya Diwas through a special educational programme organised by the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) at its campus in New Delhi.
• Tell me more:
  • The official event marked the completion of fifty years since the imposition of the Emergency in 1975.

India Hosts Eleventh BRICS Energy Ministers Meeting in Gurugram, Haryana

• What: India successfully convened the 11th BRICS Energy Ministers’ Meeting on 25 June 2026 in Gurugram, Haryana, to advance practical cooperation and address global energy challenges under its official chairship.
• Tell me more:
  • This ministerial conference followed the overarching theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.
  • The discussions utilized the specific Sanskrit guiding principle “सर्वेषां ऊर्जम्”, which translates to Energy for All.
  • Representatives from the International Solar Alliance (ISA), the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA), and the New Development Bank (NDB) participated in these official deliberations.
  • India has become the world’s third-largest producer and consumer of electricity, with an installed power capacity of nearly 540 GW, over half from non-fossil sources, while solar capacity has grown from about 3 GW in 2014 to over 154 GW today.
  • India aims to achieve over 400 GWh of energy storage capacity by 2032 and 100 GW of nuclear power by 2047, while achieving the 20% ethanol blending target ahead of schedule.
  • India launched the BRICS Digital Centre of Excellence for Smart Grids and Energy Storage under the BRICS Energy Research Cooperation Platform (ERCP).
  • The participating member nations formally adopted the BRICS Guiding Principles on Smart Grids and Energy Storage.
  • The ministers concluded the event by adopting the 11th BRICS Energy Ministers’ Joint Communiqué before passing the 2027 chairship to China.

State News

Uttar Pradesh Enhances Financial Aid for Girls

• What: The Uttar Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, is providing financial assistance of up to Rs 25,000 to eligible girls from birth through higher education under the flagship Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana (MKSY).
• Tell me more:
  • The platform utilizes the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system and the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) to minimize delays and improve operational transparency.
  • Under the scheme, beneficiaries receive Rs 5,000 at birth, Rs 2,000 after full immunization in the first year, Rs 3,000 each on admission to Classes 1 and 6, Rs 5,000 on entering Class 9 to curb secondary school dropout, and a final Rs 7,000 on admission to a higher degree or professional diploma course.

Two States Form Uniform Civil Code Panels

• What: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan have set up separate five-member committees under former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai to draft and implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
• Tell me more:
  • The initiatives aim to establish a singular, standardized civic framework by replacing fragmented religious personal laws that create legal inequalities.
  • The chairperson previously led the drafting committee for the UCC in Uttarakhand.

Odisha Launches Go East Initiative For Industrial Growth

• What: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced the Go East initiative during the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) eastern region council meeting to accelerate industrial growth in Odisha and eastern India.
• Tell me more:
  • Go East (Government of Odisha–Eastern Investment Accelerator and Special Task Force) enables industrial groups from eastern and north-eastern India to invest in Odisha while retaining their home bases.
  • The initiative will establish a high-level Special Task Force, a dedicated Go East Cell within the Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha Limited (IPICOL), and a Go Swift module for real-time monitoring of investment projects and approvals.

Mukhyamantri Kisan Sahay Yojana Provides Crop Compensation

• What: The Government of Gujarat provides financial compensation to state farmers for their Kharif crop losses under the ongoing Mukhyamantri Kisan Sahay Yojana (MKSY) scheme.
• Tell me more:
  • Launched in 2020, the scheme provides premium-free crop loss compensation of ₹20,000 per hectare for 33–60% damage and ₹25,000 per hectare for 60% or higher damage, covering up to 4 hectares per farmer, and has benefited about 50 lakh farmers.

Telangana Seeks Water Solution for Rajolibanda Scheme

• What: The Telangana Government initiated an intensive exercise and requested central intervention to find permanent solutions for safeguarding its rightful share of water under the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS).
• Tell me more:
  • The dispute concerns Telangana receiving only about 6 tmcft (Thousand Million Cubic Feet) of its allocated 17.9 tmcft from the Tungabhadra River through the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme due to silting, structural constraints, and water flowing towards Andhra Pradesh.

Annual Hemis Festival Commences in Leh Ladakh

• The annual Hemis Festival, also known as Hemis Tsechu, commenced at the historic Hemis Monastery in the Leh district of Ladakh.

Asian Development Bank Funds Northeast Bamboo Industry

• What: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a USD 42.2 million Small Expenditure Financing Facility (SEFF) to develop the bamboo industry across six northeastern states of India.
• Tell me more:
  • The funding will support community-based subloans to improve agricultural productivity, strengthen rural livelihoods, and reduce import dependence.
  • The project will cover six northeastern states: Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura.
  • Although India possesses 39% of the world’s forest bamboo, its bamboo industry remains underdeveloped and dependent on imports.
  • Aligned with the National Bamboo Mission (NBM), the programme will develop private sector-led bamboo value chains, establish women-led units, diversify rural incomes, and strengthen infrastructure, skills, finance, and market access.

International News

United Nations Chief Unveils 7-point Global Climate Plan

• What: United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres unveiled a seven-point global action plan during London Climate Action Week to accelerate the global transition from fossil fuels to clean, resilient, and equitable energy systems.
• Tell me more:
  • Focus: Reducing fossil fuel dependence, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, expanding renewable energy, ensuring a just energy transition, strengthening climate adaptation, increasing climate finance, and combating climate disinformation.
  • Seven-Point Action Plan:
    1. Reduce emissions, especially carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane.
    2. Shift investments from coal, oil, and gas to renewable energy systems.
    3. Address AI’s growing energy demand through an AI Environmental Transparency Initiative and 100% renewable-powered data centres by 2030.
    4. Ensure a people-centred and equitable energy transition that protects workers, supports developing countries, and promotes international cooperation.
    5. Scale up climate adaptation through climate-risk planning, early warning systems, disaster preparedness, and greater support for vulnerable countries.
    6. Increase climate finance by fulfilling funding commitments, mobilising US$1.3 trillion annually by 2035, and reforming financial systems to unlock sustainable investment.
    7. Combat climate disinformation by protecting scientific integrity, supporting journalists and researchers, and ensuring access to evidence-based climate information
  • Developing nations require a substantial increase in climate financing, including the mobilization of US$ 1.3 trillion annually by 2035.
  • The UN Global Initiative on Information Integrity on Climate Change will help ensure universal access to accurate, evidence-based information.
  • The Philippines already implements these global priorities by advancing offshore wind development, modernizing electricity grids, and promoting solar-powered housing.

Banking and Economy

Reserve Bank of India Injects Liquidity Into Banking System

• What: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) injected ₹1,41,171 crore of transient liquidity into the banking system through a seven-day variable rate repo (VRR) auction to ease deficit pressures.
• Tell me more:
  • Variable Rate Repo (VRR) is an RBI liquidity tool where banks borrow funds by bidding at market-determined repo interest rates through auctions.

Transaction Volumes of BHIM Payments App Triple

• What: Transaction volumes of the Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) Payments App more than tripled between June 2025 and May 2026 due to growing digital payment integration for routine spending, according to National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) BHIM Services Limited (NBSL).
• Tell me more:
  • The platform processed 244 million transactions worth ₹26,952 crore in May 2026, up from 79.64 million transactions in June 2025.
  • NBSL Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Lalitha Nataraj

Amazon Announces Additional Investment in Indian Digital Infrastructure

• What: United States technology firm Amazon announced a fresh investment of USD 13 billion by 2030 to expand its artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing infrastructure across India.
• Tell me more:
  • Amazon Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Andy Jassy
  • The new investment increases the company’s total planned investment in India to USD 48 billion by 2030, up from the previously announced USD 35 billion.
  • The capital injection will expand Amazon Web Services (AWS) data center capacity across Mumbai and Hyderabad.
  • Microsoft committed USD 17.5 billion for cloud and Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure, while Google pledged USD 15 billion over five years to build dedicated AI data centres in India.

World Bank Funds India Private Sector Reforms

• What: The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved USD 1.5 billion under the Boosting Job Creation in the Private Sector Development Policy Financing (DPF) Operation to support India’s structural reforms.
• Tell me more:
  • The financing supports policy reforms to improve the business environment, ease entrepreneurship, promote trade and investment, expand access to finance, and increase formal employment through private sector-led economic growth.
  • The loan operation aligns with the World Bank Group Country Partnership Framework for India spanning the fiscal years FY26-31.
  • This global partnership actively supports the central government vision of building a fully developed Viksit Bharat by 2047.
  • Government data confirms total employment expanded from 452 million in 2017-18 to 604 million in 2023-24 by adding over 150 million jobs.
  • The national unemployment rate dropped from 6% to 3.2% over this six-year timeframe as 9 million women joined regular wage employment.

Reports and Indices

Burgundy Private Hurun India 500 Report Released

• What: The latest Axis Bank and Burgundy Private Hurun India 500 report shows that India’s 10 most valuable companies collectively account for 27% of the total value of the top 500 firms despite losing ₹11 trillion over the past year.
• Tell me more:
  • The country’s 10 most valuable corporations are currently valued at ₹86 trillion ($908 billion), down from ₹97 trillion a year ago.

The Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026 by THE

• Released by: Times Higher Education
• Parameters: The 2026 rankings evaluate 1,646 universities from 116 countries and territories across 17 individual SDG tables and one overall ranking.
• Top Rankers

• India’s Top 5 Universities
  

• SDG-wise Ranking
  

GDP Forecasts

S&P Global Ratings Projects Slower Indian Economic Growth

• What: S&P Global Ratings (S&P) projected that energy stress, a sub-par monsoon, and slowing global growth will pull down India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth to 6.6% in the current fiscal year.
• Tell me more:
  • S&P published these findings in its report titled ‘Economic Outlook Asia-Pacific Q3 2026: AI-Exposed Markets To Outperform’.
  • The projected real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 6.6% for 2026–27 aligns with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) estimate, following growth rates of 7.7% in 2025–26 and 7.1% in 2024–25.

Defence News

India Grants Netra Aircraft Final Clearance

• What: The Indian Air Force (IAF) awarded Final Operational Clearance (FOC) to the homegrown Netra Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system, confirming its full combat-readiness after complete operational testing.
• Tell me more:
  • The Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) developed the domestic surveillance technology in Bengaluru.
  • Engineers integrated this advanced early warning system onto the Brazilian Embraer EMB-145I aircraft platform.
  • India became the fifth nation globally to build this capability to find, track, and monitor air and sea targets.
  • The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has approved the manufacturing of six additional Netra Mk-1A systems, as part of the Indian Air Force’s plan to expand its fleet to 12 early warning aircraft under two separate development programmes.

Indian Air Force to Receive First Domestic C295

• What: The Indian Air Force (IAF) will receive its first locally produced C295 transport aircraft in Vadodara on September 22-23, marking the first military plane manufactured by India’s private sector.
• Tell me more:
  • Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus are jointly executing this ₹21,935-crore contract signed in September 2021 for 56 planes.
  • Airbus delivered 16 aircraft in flyaway condition, while the remaining 39 assembled units from Vadodara will conclude delivery by August 2031.
  • The tactical airlifter replaces the old 1960s Avro fleet to boost logistical operations near the China border, making IAF the world’s largest C295 operator.
  • Airbus and TASL are also building an H125 helicopter line in Vemagal, Karnataka, creating the first private helicopter assembly facility in India.
  • Airbus has only four H125 helicopter assembly lines in the entire world (France, Brazil, India and the United States).

India to Acquire Nine Retired United Kingdom ‘Jaguars’

• What: India will acquire nine decommissioned combat aircraft from the United Kingdom (UK) to dismantle them and secure usable spare parts for the aging Jaguar fighter squadrons of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
• Tell me more:
  • This will keep 6 Jaguar squadrons (nicknamed “Shamsher”) and around 120 aircraft flying for a few more years.
  • India remains the last major operator of this jet globally, valuing its rugged design, long range, and proven deep precision strike capabilities in contested environments.
  • India is keeping its ageing Jaguar fighters operational as their replacements—Tejas Mk-1A, Rafale, and AMCA—are delayed or yet to enter service.
  • HAL has not yet delivered any indigenous 4.5-generation Tejas Mk-1A aircraft, despite Ministry of Defence orders for 83 jets (Rs 48,000 crore) in February 2021 and 97 more (Rs 62,370 crore) last September.
  • India is also developing the fifth-generation Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft (AMCA), but its first prototype is not expected before 2035.
  • India plans to procure 114 Rafale jets from France, but even if the deal is signed this year, deliveries are expected only between 2028 and 2030.

Forty Indian Jets Armed With BrahMos Missiles

• What: The Indian Air Force (IAF) equipped 40 Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets with advanced BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to establish a powerful, long-range weapon strike capability across land and sea battlefields.
• Tell me more:
  • 40 of India’s 270 Sukhoi aircraft are being modified to carry the new missile, giving them an unrefuelled range of 3,000 km, while the missile can strike targets with precision at nearly 450 km.
  • BrahMos Aerospace and the DRDO are also developing the BrahMos-NG, a smaller, lighter, and deadlier next-generation air-launched missile with AI-based guidance and advanced avionics, expected to be ready by 2028–29.

Indian Army Opens Field Hospital in Venezuela under Operation Amistad

• What: An Indian Army field hospital deployed under Operation Amistad became fully functional at Caracas to provide free, round-the-clock medical care to people affected by two massive earthquakes in Venezuela.
• Tell me more:
  • Experienced military doctors set up this medical campsite at the International La Rinconada Racetrack in Caracas.

Science and Technology

Herbalife And IIT Madras Launch Plant Fermentation Centre

• What: On June 22, Herbalife International India and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras launched the first Centre of Excellence (CoE) for plant cell fermentation technology to advance biomanufacturing research.
• Tell me more:
  • The Centre of Excellence develops next-generation plant-based health products through sustainable plant cell fermentation, supports technology transfer, skill development, and start-ups.
  • It aligns with the BioE3 and Atmanirbhar Bharat missions to promote sustainable manufacturing and reduce imports.

Agriculture and Rural Development

India Hosts First Mango Promotion in Iceland

• What: The Embassy of India in Reykjavik, Iceland and the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) jointly organized the first-ever Indian Mango Promotion Events in Iceland to expand agricultural exports to Northern Europe.
• Tell me more:
  • Organizers showcased four premium varieties named Dasheri, Chausa, Langra, and Kesar to highlight the country’s rich horticultural diversity.
  • India’s Ambassador to Iceland – R. Ravindra
  • This specific pact is called the India-European Free Trade Association Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA).
  • Iceland imported mangoes worth about USD 3.3 million in 2025, mainly from Thailand (nearly USD 1 million), Brazil, Cambodia, Ghana, and Peru.

Awards

Viswanathan Anand Honored With Prestigious SJFI Medal

• What: Five-time World chess champion Viswanathan Anand was honored with the ‘SJFI Medal’ by the Sports Journalists’ Federation of India (SJFI) during a special ceremony held at the Madras Cricket Club.
• Tell me more:
  • The event was successfully hosted in partnership with the Tamil Nadu Sports Journalists’ Association (TNSJA).
  • Anand currently serves as the deputy president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
  • The 56-year-old Grandmaster joins an esteemed list of previous awardees including Sunil Gavaskar, Vijay Amritraj, Prakash Padukone, P.T. Usha, and Milkha Singh.
  • The Sports Journalists’ Federation of India (SJFI) was formed in 1976 at Eden Gardens, Calcutta (now Kolkata). The federation is currently headed by President Saraju Chakraborty (2025–2027).

Seven Indian Schools Shortlisted for Global Prizes

• What: Seven Indian schools made the top 10 shortlist for the World’s Best School Prizes 2026 in London, setting a new record for the highest entries from a single country.
• Tell me more:
  • United Kingdom-headquartered T4 Education founded these global prizes after the Coronavirus Disease pandemic to honor schools that are changing lives.
  • Organizers presented the awards across five specific operational categories to prepare young people for major global challenges.
  • An expert Judging Academy will choose the winners and announce the top three finalists in November.
  • The selected schools will attend the World Schools Summit in London in January 2027 to share educational experiences with policymakers.
  • Indian Institutes in the list:
    • PCMC Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj English Medium School in Pune and Army Goodwill School Wuzur in Anantnag entered the Innovation category shortlist.
    • Healthy Planet TGA Early Years School in Noida, Inventure Academy in Bengaluru, and Seth M.R. Jaipuria School in Lucknow earned recognition for Community Collaboration.
    • EuroSchool Bannerghatta in Bengaluru entered the final race for the Environmental Action prize.
    • Seth Anandram Jaipuria School in Lucknow reached the top 10 list for Supporting Healthy Lives.

Two Indian Conservationists Win Prestigious Whitley Awards 2026

• What: Indian conservationists Parveen Shaikh and Barkha Subba won the prestigious Whitley Awards 2026, widely known as the ‘Green Oscars’, for their grassroots efforts to protect endangered species and fragile ecosystems in India.
• Tell me more:
  • The United Kingdom-based Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN) presents this award annually at the Royal Geographical Society in London.
  • Parveen Shaikh received the award for conserving the endangered Indian skimmer along the Chambal and Ganga river systems, with India hosting over 90% of the species’ global population.
  • Shaikh launched the “Guardians of the Skimmer” community-based project to shield local nests from sand mining and pollution.
  • Dr. Barkha Subba was honoured for conserving the rare Himalayan salamander and its wetland habitats in Darjeeling; the species is found only in parts of India, Nepal, and Bhutan and is threatened by urbanisation and pollution.
  • Dr. Subba serves as the scientific adviser at the Federation of Societies for Environmental Protection (FOSEP).

Important Days

World MSME Day – June 27

• 2026 Theme: Empowering MSMEs through Innovation and Sustainable Industrial Development

United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 2026 – June 26

• UN Focus: Torture: a crime against humanity
• The UN observes the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture on 26 June to mark the entry into force of the UN Convention Against Torture in 1987. The Convention currently has 174 State Parties.

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking – June 26.

Memorandum of Understanding

IIT Bombay Partners with State University of New York

• What: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay and the State University of New York (SUNY) Old Westbury signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to expand academic and research opportunities in engineering, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies.
• Tell me more:
  • IIT Bombay Director Prof Shireesh Kedare and SUNY Old Westbury President Dr Timothy E. Sams signed the LoI in New York.
  • Consul General of India in New York Binaya Pradhan and Indian Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra attended the partnership event.

Appointments

Mahesh Dixit Appointed New Intelligence Bureau Director

• What: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) appointed Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Mahesh Dixit as the next Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) for a fixed tenure of two years.
• Tell me more:
  • Dixit is a qualified medical doctor.

Miscellaneous

Air Chief Releases Shubhanshu Shukla’s Space Mission Memoir

• What: Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh released Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s memoir, The Second Orbit: Belief of a Man… Dreams of 1.4 Billion Hearts, in New Delhi, marking the first anniversary of his Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
• Tell me more:
  • The Axiom-4 mission was launched on 25 June last year.

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