Current Affairs 16 June 2026

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

13th BRICS Urbanisation Forum Concludes with ‘Adoption of Ministerial Declaration’ in New Delhi
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) concluded the 13th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Urbanisation Forum, held at Sushma Swaraj Bhavan in New Delhi, Delhi, from 11-12 June 2026, under India’s BRICS Chairship 2026, bringing together ministers, officials, and urban experts to discuss sustainable and resilient urbanisation.

• The Forum adopted the ‘Ministerial Declaration’ on inclusive, resilient, and people-centred urban development and proposed the ‘BRICS Urban Research and Knowledge Network’ to strengthen urban cooperation among member nations.

About 13th BRICS Urbanisation Forum: 
Theme: The Forum was organised under the theme “Cities for People: BRICS Cooperation for Inclusive and Resilient Urban Futures”, focusing on people-centred urban growth, sustainability and climate resilience.
Ministerial Declaration: Reaffirms commitment to inclusive, sustainable, resilient and liveable cities while ensuring equitable access to urban services for vulnerable communities, and identifies inclusive urban development, climate resilience, disaster preparedness, institutional strengthening, digital innovation, and citizen-centred governance as key priorities.
Publications: Two important publications were showcased: “India’s Urban Transformation: Stories of Change” and “Cities for People: Urban Stories from BRICS Nations”, documenting successful urban initiatives and best practices.

NIUA Celebrates 50 years of Driving India’s Urban Transformation
In June 2026, the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), a premier think tank under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), marked 50 years of contribution to India’s urban development journey.
Highlights of NIUA Golden Jubilee Celebration:
Celebration: The golden jubilee celebrations were organised under the theme ‘Resilient Urban India @2047’ at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
Attendees: Dr P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attended the event as Chief Guest.
Publication: At the event, several publications and initiatives were launched. Some of them are:

• Vision for a Resilient Urban India: Building Sustainable and Future-Ready Cities
• Understanding the New Geography of India’s Urbanisation: A Geospatial Approach
• 50 Years of Shaping India’s Urban Transformation.

Platform launched: National Urban Learning Platform was launched to strengthen technical capacity building in urban governance through an integrated hybrid learning system and newly introduced technical courses.

IndiaAI Mission-Supported Avataar.ai Launches Indigenous AI Video Model ‘Varya’ 
In June 2026, Avataar.ai, an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-native transformation company, launched Varya, India’s first indigenous distilled video story-generating AI model, with support from the IndiaAI Mission.

• The model was unveiled at an event in New Delhi, Delhi, in the presence of S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

Highlights of the AI Video Model ‘Varya’:
Overview: Avataar.ai, selected under the IndiaAI Mission, developed Varya using national AI compute infrastructure, strengthening India’s indigenous AI and deep-tech ecosystem.
Launch: Launched on 12 June 2026, Varya enables AI-powered video creation across education, e-commerce, and content sectors through simple prompt-based story generation.
Features:  Varya uses distilled video generation technology to reduce video creation from 50 steps to 4, generating videos at around Rs 0.48 per second and up to 10 times greater efficiency, while enabling users to create and extend videos through its Idea → Video → Story workflow using text prompts or images.
Design:  Varya is trained on Indian cultural contexts and generates region-specific visuals reflecting festivals, traditions, and everyday life.

MoD Commissions First Batch of 17 NDA Women Cadets as Officers in Indian Armed Forces
In June 2026, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) commissioned the first batch of 17 women cadets trained at the National Defence Academy (NDA) into the Indian Army (IA), Indian Navy (IN) and Indian Air Force (IAF) after completing pre-commission training at their respective service academies, marking a historic milestone in gender inclusion in India’s Defence Forces.

• The women cadets joined the NDA in August 2022 as part of the 148th Course following the Supreme Court’s 2021 decision permitting women to enter the NDA, successfully completing tri-service training at Khadakwasla, Pune, Maharashtra.

About First NDA-Trained Women Officers Commissioning:
Commissioning: The IA commissioned nine women officers at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

• The IAF commissioned five women officers at the Air Force Academy (AFA), Dundigal, Hyderabad, Telangana, and IN commissioned three women officers at the Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala, Kerala.

Judgment: The Supreme Court (SC) held that excluding women from NDA admissions violated constitutional equality provisions under Articles 14 and 16, resulting in the opening of NDA entry to women.
Significance: The commissioning marks a milestone in women’s participation in the armed forces and reflects India’s commitment to equal opportunity, merit-based selection, women’s empowerment, and military modernisation.

QCI & FDDI Sign MoU to Boost Quality and Skilling in Leather & Footwear Sector 
In June 2026, the Quality Council of India (QCI), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry(MoC&I), and the Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI), under MoC&I, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen the quality, testing, accreditation, certification, and skilling ecosystem in India’s leather and footwear sector.

• The MoU was signed by Chakravarthy T. Kannan, Secretary General of the QCI, and Vivek Sharma ), Managing Director of the FDDI.

Core Components of MoU:
Objective: The collaboration seeks to create a comprehensive framework for capacity building, certification programs, development of testing infrastructure, and strengthening the overall quality ecosystem.
Coverage: The initiative will be implemented across major footwear manufacturing clusters in Agra and Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh, UP), Bahadurgarh (Haryana), Ranipet and Chennai (Tamil Nadu, TN), and Calicut (Kozhikode), Kerala.
Key Role: QCI will provide accreditation and quality management expertise, create Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises(MSME) awareness on quality and testing, and support monitoring frameworks, research studies, white papers, and case studies.
Impact: A Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)-based framework will recognise the skills of experienced workers without formal qualifications.

India Post Launches Drone-Based Mail Service in Himachal Pradesh 
In June 2026, the Department of Posts (DoP) under the Ministry of Communications launched its first drone-based mail and parcel transmission service between the Mandi Head Post Office and Rehardhar Branch Post Office in Himachal Pradesh(HP).

• The initiative aims to enhance last-mile connectivity, especially in remote and difficult terrains, by reducing delivery time and improving efficiency.

About Drone Based Delivery Service:
Background: The initiative was introduced based on feedback from Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) and Postal Assistants to improve postal connectivity in remote areas.
Features:  The drone-based service has reduced transit time on the Mandi–Rehardhar route from over 2 hours to about 7 minutes, with real-time tracking and eco-friendly transport.
Expansion: The DoP plans to extend drone-based mail transmission to around 150 routes in HP and Assam within the next 2–3 months.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

2026 Global Peace Index: Iceland Retains Top Spot, India Drop to 127th 
In June 2026, Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) released the 20th edition of the Global Peace Index (GPI). As per the Index, Iceland retained its position as the world’s most peaceful country for the 19th consecutive year, with an overall score of 1.161.

• However, India dropped to 127th position (in 2026) with an overall score of 2.409, from 115th position (in 2025), marking a decrease of 2.9% in its overall score compared to the previous year.

About 2026 GPI:
Coverage: The latest edition of GPI has assessed 163 independent states and territories, ranking them according to their level of peacefulness, covering 99.7% of the world’s population.
Key Indicators: The report used 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators to measure the state of peace across three 3 main segments, including the level of Societal Safety and Security; the extent of Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict, and the degree of Militarization.
Top 5 Countries: Other than Iceland, New Zealand (rank 2nd; overall score of 1.343); Switzerland (rank 3rd ; overall score of 1.363); Slovenia (rank 4th; overall score of 1.369); and Ireland (rank 5th, overall score of 1.371)were among the top 5 countries in 2026 GPI.
Bottom 5 Countries: As per IEP’s latest GPI, Russia ranked lowest in the index (163rd spot) with an overall score of  3.367 and emerged as the least peaceful country in the world; followed by Sudan (162nd), Democratic Republic Congo (DRC) (161st), Ukraine (160th)and Israel (159th).

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI Imposes Restrictions on Mogaveera Co-op Bank for 6 months 
In June 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed several restrictions on Mogaveera Co-operative Bank Limited (based in Mumbai, Maharashtra) under direction for a period of 6 months.

• As per RBI, these restrictions imposed on the co-operative bank are effective from closure of business i.e. on June 12, 2026.

Key Details:
Key Restrictions: Without RBI’s prior approval, the co-operative bank is not authorised to grant or renew any loans and advances, make any investment, incur any liability like: borrowing of funds and acceptance of fresh deposits.
No License Cancellation: RBI has also clarified that these directions should not be construed as cancellation of the banking licence as the concerned bank will continue to function under these specified restrictions.
Maximum Withdrawal Limit: RBI has directed the bank to allow maximum withdrawal of Rs 1 lakh from savings bank or current accounts or any other account of a depositor.
Essential Operations: However, a bank is allowed to incur daily operational expenses like: employee salaries, rent and electricity bills.
Deposit Insurance: The eligible depositors are entitled to get the deposit insurance coverage of maximum Rs 5 lakh from the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC).

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

OIL Signs Pact with Canada’s PTRC on Carbon capture & Clean Energy Research 
In June 2026, Oil India Limited (OIL), a “Maharatna” Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), signed a collaboration framework with Petroleum Technology Research Centre (PRTC), a Canada-based not-for-profit energy research organisation, to jointly explore carbon capture, geothermal energy, and other clean energy technologies.

• The agreement was formalized at the Global Energy Show 2026 in Calgary, Canada, aiming to strengthen energy cooperation between two countries.

Key Details of Agreement:
Focus Areas: The framework outlines key focus areas that include: Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), geothermal energy, subsurface energy technologies.
Industry Engagement: The collaboration also involves  mc2+, an Indian startup platform supported by MoPNG, to drive innovation and support emerging technologies.
Areas of Cooperation: Under this strategic partnership, both entities will collaborate on utilization and permanent storage of captured Caron Dioxide (CO₂) via geological sequestration and mineralization;

• Development of Enhanced Oil Recovery(EOR) methods
• Exploring new business opportunities in both countries via industry partnerships and research networks;
• Evaluation of potential geothermal projects and;
• Undertaking Joint Research through OIL and PTRC’s Energy Innovation Hub on subsurface energy production and storage technologies.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Jharkhand Gets GI Tags for 11 Traditional Products; Assam’s 4 Products Secure GI Tag 
In June 2026, the Geographical Indications Registry (GIR), under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I), granted Geographical Indication (GI) tags to 11 products from Jharkhand, including Bhoya Saree and Fabric, Kuchai Silk Saree, and Jharkhand Bamboo Craft. Prior to this, Sohrai Painting was granted a GI tag.
Key Details:
Assam: GIR has also granted GI status to 4 traditional products from Assam namely: Karbi Anglong Handloom Products, Assam Bihu Pepa, Assam Bamboo Crafts and Deuri Handloom Products.

• With this latest recognition, the total number of GI-certified products which are supported by NABARD in Assam reaches 12.

Facilitated by: The certification process for these newly GI tag- recognised products was supported and facilitated by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
Time Period: The registration of GI is valid for a period of 10 years from date of registration and can be renewed from time to time for a further period of 10 years each.

Padma Shri Awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik Becomes First Indian to Win Russia Grand Sand Master Cup 2026 
In June 2026, Padma Shri awardee Sudarsan Pattnaik, a sand artist from Puri, Odisha, won the Russia Grand Sand Master Cup 2026 at the II International Festival of Sand Sculpture in Kaliningrad, Russia, becoming the first Indian to receive the honour.

• His three-metre (m)-high sand sculpture depicted two contrasting faces of Earth, symbolising environmental degradation on one side and ecological restoration through afforestation and conservation on the other.

About Russia Grand Sand Master Cup 2026:
Overview: The competition brought together 12 internationally renowned sand sculptors from different countries, who showcased artistic excellence and creativity through large-scale sand sculpture installations.
Recognition: Pattnaik received the award for his sculpture highlighting global warming, climate change, and environmental conservation, with the international jury unanimously acknowledging his artistic excellence and sustained efforts to raise social and environmental awareness through sand art.
Previous Awards: He received Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award, in 2014 in the field of Arts for his contribution in Sand Arts, won the People’s Choice Award at the Sand Sculpting World Cup 2014 in Atlantic City, United States of America (USA), the Italian Sand Art Award in 2019, (Italy) and the Fred Darrington Sand Master Award in London (United Kingdom, UK) in 2025.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

GoI Appoints Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth as Chief of the Army Staff from 30 June 2026
In June 2026, the Government of India (GoI) appointed Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Dhiraj Seth, presently serving as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS), as the next Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), under the Ministry of Defence (MoD) with effective from June 30, 2026.

• He will succeed General Upendra Dwivedi following his retirement on June 30, 2026.

About Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth:
Military Career: Commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986 after graduating from the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Pune, Maharashtra, he has commanded an Armoured Regiment, Armoured Brigade, Counter-Insurgency Force, Sudarshan Chakra Corps, and later the Delhi Area.
Honours: He has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) in 2025, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM) in 2026, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) in 2022, and several Army commendations.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DRDO successfully conducts 3 consecutive flight-tests of  multi-layered ballistic missile 
In June 2026, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), under the Ministry of Defence (MoD), conducted three consecutive flight-tests of India’s integrated multi-layered Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system, demonstrating interception capability against long-range (5,000 km) and medium-range (2,000 km) missiles and the maiden flight-test of the indigenous Naval Anti-Ship Missile–Medium Range (NASM-MR).

• The flight trials of two advanced interceptor missiles were conducted from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha

Key Details of Trial:
Significance: The successful demonstration positions India among an elite group of nations with operational Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) capability, enabling interception and neutralisation of ballistic missile threats up to the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) class.
Simulation: DRDO successfully conducted Phase-II of the BMD System test, where the target missile, simulating an adversary ballistic weapon, was launched from Launch Complex-IV (LC-IV), Dhamra, Odisha and was detected by land- and sea-based radars, intercepted by the air defence interceptor system.

SPORTS

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix 2026: Lewis Hamilton Claims First Ferrari Victory 
In June 2026, Seven-time Formula One (F1) World Champion Lewis Hamilton of Scuderia Ferrari HP clinched his first-ever race victory for Ferrari, at the 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix (Spanish Grand Prix) held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain. This victory marks his 106th F1 career win

• George Russell of Mercedes AMG Petronas finished second and Lando Norris of McLaren Mastercard finished third marking the first all-British F1 podium since 1968.

Overview of Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix 2026:
Strategy: Lewis Hamilton started on Soft tyres, while most drivers chose Medium tyres. In track temperatures of 51 degrees Celsius(°C), Ferrari adopted a three-stop strategy, switching from Soft to Hard and then to Medium tyres, helping Hamilton gain up to 2.5 seconds per lap over George Russell by Lap 24.
Performance: He won the race with a time of 1:32:28.105, finishing 19.561 seconds ahead of the runner-up and earning 25 championship points.
Retirement: Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) retired on Lap 62 due to electrical/power unit failure while fighting for a podium, while Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) exited due to loss of power steering among 7 drivers.

OBITUARY

Renowned Mand Folk Singer Gavri Devi Passes Away
In June 2026, renowned Mand folk singer Gavri Devi,  passed away at the age of 98 in Gavri Nagar, Desuri, Pali district, Rajasthan. She was born on 14th April 1928 in Koran village in the Barmer district of Rajasthan,

• She popularised Mand music through her iconic rendition of ‘Kesariya Balam’, which became a symbol of Rajasthan’s cultural identity and hospitality. .

About Gavri Devi:
Early Life: Born into a family of folk artists, she became renowned for preserving and promoting the traditional Mand music form, a key part of western Rajasthan’s cultural heritage.
Career: Over a musical journey spanning nearly eight decades, she performed across India and abroad, becoming one of the foremost exponents of Mand singing and gaining recognition through platforms like All India Radio and Doordarshan.
Recognition: She received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1986 and the Rajasthan Ratna in 2013.

• She was also honoured with the Veer Durgadas Rathore Lifetime Achievement Award for preserving and promoting Rajasthan’s rich folk and cultural heritage.

Note: Mand is a traditional folk music genre of Rajasthan, particularly associated with the Marwar region.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Blood Donor Day 2026 – June 14
World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) is observed annually across the globe on 14 June to recognize and thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving contributions and to raise awareness about the need for safe and sufficient blood supplies worldwide.

• 2026 Campaign:  “One Drop of Humanity. Give Blood. Save Lives.”

Background:   

Origin:  WBDD was established in 2004 to raise awareness about the importance of voluntary blood donation.

• It was jointly organized by the WHO, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations (IFBDO), and International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT).

First Observance: WBDD was first observed on June 14, 2004.
Recognition: In 2005, the 58th World Health Assembly (WHA), the governing body of the World Health Organization (WHO), adopted Resolution WHA58.13, officially designating 14 June as the annual observance of  WBDD.
Commemoration: World Blood Donor Day is observed on 14 June to commemorate the birth anniversary of Karl Landsteiner, who discovered the ABO Blood Group System.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2026 – June 15 
The United Nations(UN’s) World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is observed annually across the world on 15 June to raise awareness about elder abuse and promote dignity, rights, and well-being.

• 2026 Theme: “Beyond Awareness: Making Elder Abuse Prevention Work”

Background: 
Origin: The International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), launched WEAAD in 2006.
UN Recognition: On 19 December 2011, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/66/127, officially designating 15 June as WEAAD.
First Observance: The first UN-recognised WEAAD was observed on 15 June 2012.
UN Event: In 2026, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), along with the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and the NGO Committee on Ageing New York, marked WEAAD through a side event held alongside the 19th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP19) at the UN Headquarters in New York, United States of America (USA).

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