Current Affairs

Bolivia declared a state of emergency amid protests, drawing attention to its geography. Bolivia is a landlocked country in west-central South America, with capitals La Paz (administrative) and Sucre (constitutional). It borders Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile and Peru. It shares Lake Titicaca with Peru. The Andes dominate. Major rivers include Madeira, Paraguay and Mamore. Bolivia is part of the lithium triangle.

Fibre-optic FPV (“invisible”) drones are being used in recent wars. Unlike radio-controlled drones, they connect to the operator via a thin physical fibre-optic cable, making them difficult to detect and jam and improving immunity to electronic warfare. Commands and live video are transmitted as light pulses through glass/plastic fibres, based on total internal reflection. Challenges include limited range and reaction time.

First-round talks between high-ranking U.S. and Iranian officials were held in Switzerland, a landlocked mountainous country in Western and Central Europe. It borders Germany (north), Italy (south), Austria and Liechtenstein (east), and France (west); capital is Bern. Switzerland is not an EU or NATO member. Alps lie south, Jura north; highest point Monte Rosa (Pennine Alps); major lakes include Lake Geneva and Lake Neuchatel; climate influenced by North Atlantic Drift, Arctic, continental and Mediterranean air masses.

National level Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament 2026 was inaugurated at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan. Organised and governed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, it involves selected youth delegates from all States and UTs (age 18–25). It aims to deepen youth engagement with democratic processes, governance and policy deliberation, aligned to Viksit Bharat@2047, innovation, leadership and collective responsibility, linked with MY Bharat initiatives. India cited nearly 65% population below 35 years.

SIPRI Report 2026 (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) states India has deployed 12 nuclear warheads for the first time; its stockpile is estimated at 190 warheads (January 2026), up from 180 (2025). Warheads deployed on an SSBN deterrence patrol (sea-based second-strike) signal higher readiness versus recessed deterrence (separate warheads and delivery systems in peacetime). India’s 2003 doctrine rests on NFU and credible minimum deterrence with massive retaliation. Nuclear triad: US, Russia, China, India, Pakistan (air, land missiles, SSBNs).

Indian PM made the first-ever state visit to Slovakia since its 1993 independence; ties were elevated to a Comprehensive Partnership. MoUs/decisions include a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, LoI on defence (joint development, co-production, technology transfer), quantum communication and critical infrastructure protection, labour migration (towards a Social Security Agreement), and an ICCR Chair in AI at Technical University of Kosice. Slovakia, an EU member, backed early India–EU FTA and mobility framework (Jan 2026), and supported India’s permanent UNSC seat and constructive NSG approach, besides cooperation in trade, energy, water and regional groupings (Slavkov 3, V4, 3SI).

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed globally on June 17 to promote public awareness of international efforts against desertification; it was declared by the UN General Assembly in 1995. In India, it is celebrated under the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC–PMKSY). The 2026 observance is organised by UNCCD, hosted by Kenya, with theme “Rangelands: Recognize. Respect. Restore.” and slogan “No such thing as a free lunch. Invest in healthy soil.”

On June 18, Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi (born Manikarnika Tambe, 19 November 1828, Varanasi), trained in martial skills, is recalled for her role in the Revolt of 1857 (May 10, 1857–July 8, 1859). Married (1842) to Maharaja Gangadhar Rao Newalkar, she adopted Damodar Rao; Jhansi was annexed under Lord Dalhousie’s Doctrine of Lapse. She died on 18 June 1858 in Gwalior; burial: Phoolbagh Maidan. She is commemorated in works by Tagore (1877), Subhadra Kumari Chauhan (1930), Vrindavan Lal Verma (1946) and Mahasweta Devi (1956); Prachi Deshpande notes her idealised portrayal. Bose named INA’s women’s regiment Rani of Jhansi Regiment.

NOAA warned the ongoing El Niño may intensify into a “super El Niño”, raising concerns for India’s monsoon. ENSO involves equatorial Pacific ocean-temperature and atmospheric-pressure fluctuations; phases are El Niño, La Niña and neutral. Super El Niño implies >2°C warming (1972–73, 1982–83, 1997–98, 2015–16). Since 1950, ~15 El Niño years saw below-normal monsoon; impacts are mainly July–September, often via delayed onset/dry spells/uneven rain. Positive IOD can offset drying, but forecasts indicate weak IOD. Globally, past events caused droughts, fires, coral bleaching, record temperatures, fewer Atlantic hurricanes and more Pacific typhoons.

West Asia conflict has disrupted India’s bitumen imports, doubling prices and risking the target of building 10,000 km highways in FY 2026-27. India’s 85% paved roads are flexible and bitumen-dependent; annual need is ~90 lakh tonnes against ~54 lakh tonnes produced by Indian Oil and BPCL, with 30–40% shortfall met via imports (99% from Iraq, UAE, Iran, Oman, Bahrain). MoRTH allowed force majeure (2–4 months, no penalty) or price adjustment, not both.

Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and collaborators discovered three new aquatic beetle species from freshwater habitats in Telangana and Uttar Pradesh. Taxonomically, they belong to genus Amphiops (family Hydrophilidae), adapted to shallow ponds/wetlands with vegetated substrates. Species: A. hyderabadi (seasonal pond, Hyderabad), A. kinnerasani (roadside pond, Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary), and A. sandi (Sandi Bird Sanctuary). Distinct morphology and COI (Cytochrome c Oxidase I) mitochondrial DNA barcoding showed 7–17% divergence, confirming separate lineages.

Union Agriculture and Environment Ministers chaired a high-level meeting on stubble management under the Crop Residue Management (CRM) Scheme, with provision/targets for 2026–27. Launched in 2018 under RKVY, it is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme governed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, implemented by State Agriculture Departments under ICAR supervision, covering Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and NCT Delhi. Funding: 60:40 (states) and 100% Centre (Delhi). Subsidies: 50% (farmers’ machines), 80% (CHCs), 65% (paddy straw supply chain). Targets: 46,000 machines, 910 CHCs, 141 supply-chain projects.

National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) approved, under Regional Plan 2041, four semi-greenfield, mixed-use Transit-Oriented Development “Namo Cities” along Namo Bharat (RRTS) stations, one each in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. The plan covers 55,083 sq km, guides land use, housing, transport and environment, projects population 7.86 crore (2026) to 14.73 crore (2041) and urbanisation 67%, with hotspots Sonipat, Meerut, Jewar, Bhiwadi, Alwar. RRTS is a semi-high-speed, high-frequency network (up to 160 km/h) for city–satellite links; “30-Minute NCR” uses RRTS/metro/highways/rail. States get green credits and Special Development Rights (SDRs) for canopy; FAR/FSI rationalised near corridors; linked to Noida International Airport, Yamuna, Dwarka expressways, expanding metro/RRTS.

Kerala reported a surge in “brain-eating amoeba” cases, mainly linked to Acanthamoeba from contaminated water. These are free-living, single-celled amoebas found in warm freshwater (lakes, rivers, hot springs) and soil. Three cause severe human disease: Acanthamoeba (Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis), Naegleria fowleri (Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis), and Balamuthia mandrillaris. Infection occurs via nose, skin or inhalation; PAM is rare but almost always fatal.

India attended the 2026 G7 Summit at Évian, France, as an invited partner. Declarations covered development finance (global debt management reforms; strengthening IMF–World Bank 3‑Pillar Approach: structural reforms, external support, reduced debt servicing; private capital), Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak response (DRC, Uganda), cancer research/data, geopolitics (US–Iran nuclear agreement, free and open Indo‑Pacific, North Korea), and action on trafficking/smuggling (online platforms) plus a G7+ Ports Network against maritime drug trafficking/illicit flows. PM cited “shortage of trust”, urged donor‑recipient shift to equal partnerships; ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, “humanity first”. G7: 1975 (post‑1973 energy crisis); members Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK, US + EU; G8 (1998–2014) with Russia, suspended 2014 after Crimea; no secretariat, rotating presidency; focus on economic governance, security, energy.

NCERT decided to restore the original image of the Harappan “Dancing Girl” in its textbook. The “Dancing Girl” is a bronze figurine from Mohenjo-daro, belonging to the Harappan (Indus Valley) Civilization (c. 2600–1900 BCE). It was discovered in 1926 during excavations led by John Marshall, is about 10.8 cm tall, made using lost-wax casting, and is housed in the National Museum, Delhi.

GI-tagged “Bhagalpuri Zardalu” mango (GI recognition 2018) from Bhagalpur district, Bihar, is dispatched to the President, Prime Minister and other dignitaries. Grown in orchards along the fertile alluvial Ganga basin under tropical hot-summer conditions, it has light yellow, elongated fruits (150–300 g) turning golden-yellow with red tinge. It is creamy, non-fibrous, strongly aromatic; graded by Bihar Agriculture Department; traced to Madhuban Bagh (early 19th century). Season: mid-April–June; contains fibre and enzymes aiding digestion.

India’s workers’ remittances crossed USD 100 billion; FY2026 remittances were USD 110.47 billion (26% y-o-y), private transfers USD 151.71 billion (15%), net transfers USD 144.07 billion (16%). BoP records goods, services and assets in double-entry credit/debit. Remittances form >2/3 of private transfers (incl. NRI deposit withdrawals, gifts, baggage gold/silver), cushioning weak FDI/FPI inflows and outflows. RBI buys forex to build reserves and limit rupee appreciation; reserves insure against CAD (imports+transfers > exports). Gulf share fell from 47% (2016-17) to 38% (2023-24), with higher US/UK shares.

CCRAS and Central Sanskrit University launched a 15-day Ayurveda manuscripts transliteration workshop at Udupi under manuscript preservation programmes of the Gyan Bharatam Mission. It trains scholars to read, decipher and transliterate rare unpublished texts for publication, covering Tigalari and Old Kannada scripts. Earlier workshops covered Karani/Devanagari (Puri, Odisha) and Vattezhuthu/Malayalam (Guruvayur, Kerala). Collaborator: Sri Vadiraja Research Foundation. Participants include Ayurveda colleges (Udupi, Hassan) and Sanskrit Gurukula students. CCRAS, under Ministry of Ayush, is the apex Ayurveda research body.

On the sidelines of UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies’ 64th session (SB64)/Bonn Climate Change Conference, a dialogue was created after developing-country concerns over rising trade-linked climate measures. Measures include unilateral actions (EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, CBAM), green subsidies (U.S. Inflation Reduction Act) and non-tariff measures (Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence, Digital Product Passports, EU anti-deforestation laws). EU CBAM targets energy-intensive, carbon-leakage-prone sectors, affecting exports such as aluminium, iron/steel, cement and fertilisers, imposing compliance costs and market-access barriers, risking weaker industrialisation. Developing states seek UNFCCC-based equity/CBDR governance; developed countries prefer WTO, where subsidy/local-content limits and strict IP raise technology-access costs.

India’s annual per capita water availability is projected to fall from ~1,500 cubic metres to <1,200 by 2050 (scarcity threshold: 1,000). NITI Aayog projects water demand to double available supply by 2030; groundwater depletion may triple in 2041–2080. Drivers include paddy over-extraction in Punjab-Haryana, CPCB-reported >350 polluted river stretches, and climate change (erratic monsoons, floods, droughts). A National Circular Water Mission proposes “use-and-dispose” to circularity via technology, institutions, finance and behaviour, with city reuse plans (Delhi/Bengaluru farming, Chennai lakes, Surat industry).

The Union Environment Ministry’s Expert Appraisal Committee deferred appraisal of a proposed 1,000 MW dam on the Siyom River due to concerns over ensuring environmental flows. Environmental flow refers to the quantity, timing and quality of water released downstream to sustain river ecology. Siyom originates near the India-China border, flows west to east in Arunachal Pradesh, and is a major right-bank tributary of the Siang (Brahmaputra before entering Assam).

Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas notified Motor Spirit and High-Speed Diesel (Temporary Regulation of Supply through Retail Outlets) Order, 2026 (valid 90 days) to curb black marketing/hoarding and protect retail consumers amid extraordinary demand shifts due to ₹40/litre bulk-retail gap. Retail diesel capped at 200 litres/day/customer, only into vehicle tanks/PESO-approved containers; industrial/institutional/commercial bulk consumers barred from retail, must use consumer pumps. Enforced by OMCs (IOCL, BPCL, HPCL) and dealers; violations punishable under Essential Commodities Act, 1955. PSU OMCs reported May 2026 diesel sales +10% in 327 districts; 80 districts +30%; absorbing ₹500 crore/day losses amid West Asia disruption; India 4th-largest refiner, 5th-largest exporter; no fuel shortage.

MNRE will host the Global Wind Day 2026 Conference in Goa. Global Wind Day is observed worldwide on 15 June; organised by GWEC and WindEurope, it began in Europe in 2007 (WindEurope) and became global in 2009 with GWEC. Theme 2026: “Wind Energy: From Ambition to Acceleration”. Global wind capacity is 1,299 GW (>1 TW). China, USA and India lead new capacity. India is 4th largest market (56 GW; 6.1 GW added in 2025–26), with Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Karnataka top producers; targets: 100 GW (2030), 155 GW (2035), contributing to 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2070.

A multinational team led by Charles Swanton (Francis Crick Institute, London) reported in Cell a 14-protein blood plasma signature (liquid biopsy) predicting lung cancer years before scans. Using AI/ML on 48,000 U.K. Biobank volunteers, it flags inflammatory changes, often triggered by smoking/air pollution that awaken dormant mutant cells. Retrospective CANTOS data showed canakinumab cut lung-cancer risk 50% in 2,300 signature-positive participants, but is toxic and costly.