Daily Current Affairs and GK Updates (12th June, 2026) |

National News

Oilseeds Kisaan Mitra: India’s First WhatsApp AI Advisory for Oilseed Cultivation

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) launched Oilseeds Kisaan Mitra, India’s first nationwide WhatsApp-based AI advisory platform for oilseed farmers. Developed by ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research, it offers free multilingual 24×7 guidance on crop selection, sowing, irrigation, pest management, disease control, post-harvest practices, and seed availability. Covering crops like soybean, mustard, groundnut, sunflower, sesame, and niger, the initiative aims to enhance productivity, strengthen digital agriculture, reduce edible oil imports, and connect scientific research directly with farmers under India’s Digital Agriculture Mission.

BIS Releases IS 20201:2026 Standard for Community Seed Banks in India

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) introduced IS 20201:2026, India’s first comprehensive standard for Community Seed Bank Management. Developed under the Biodiversity Sectional Committee, it provides guidelines for seed collection, storage, quality assurance, viability testing, documentation, regeneration, and risk management. The framework aims to conserve indigenous crop varieties, strengthen food security, promote climate resilience, and preserve traditional agricultural knowledge. Supporting small and marginal farmers, the standard complements initiatives like the National Food Security and Nutrition Mission and aligns with biodiversity conservation and sustainable agriculture goals.

PM Modi Chairs 11th NITI Aayog Meeting, Focuses on Viksit Bharat 2047

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 11th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog on 11 June 2026 under the theme “Inclusive Human Development for Viksit Bharat@2047.” The meeting saw participation from all 28 State Chief Ministers for the first time, along with representatives from five Union Territories. PM Modi emphasized cooperative federalism, skill development, education, employment, and investment-led growth. He highlighted sectors such as artificial intelligence, data centres, renewable energy, defence manufacturing, and digital governance, while also calling for expansion of ODOP and increasing Lakhpati Didis from 3 crore to 6 crore.

JNPA Emerges as India’s Top Container Port in 2025, Ranks 22nd Globally

Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) secured the top position among Indian container ports in the 2025 Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) published by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence. JNPA improved its global ranking to 22nd, reflecting enhanced vessel turnaround time, cargo handling efficiency, and logistics performance. Pipavav Port ranked 28th, ahead of Mundra Port at 30th, while Visakhapatnam Port stood at 104th. The achievement highlights India’s growing strength in maritime trade and logistics despite global challenges such as congestion, supply-chain disruptions, and rising freight costs.

Supreme Court Fixes Rs 30,000 Monthly Value for Homemakers in Landmark Ruling

In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court fixed a notional monthly income of ₹30,000 for homemakers while calculating compensation in motor accident cases. The bench of Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh recognized homemakers as “nation builders” and acknowledged their contribution to childcare, household management, elderly care, and family welfare. The ruling introduced “loss of domestic care” as a separate category of damages, giving formal economic recognition to unpaid domestic work. The judgment is expected to ensure fairer and more uniform compensation for affected families.

State News

Invest India and Invest UP Join Hands to Boost FDI in Uttar Pradesh

Invest India and Invest UP signed a strategic partnership to attract higher Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and accelerate industrial growth in Uttar Pradesh. The collaboration aims to convert investment proposals into operational projects and support the state’s ambition of becoming a $1 trillion economy. Key focus areas include investor facilitation, faster approvals, land acquisition support, project monitoring, and promotion of technology-driven industries. Invest UP will leverage its Nivesh Sarathi platform and single-window clearance system to improve ease of doing business, strengthen investor confidence, and generate employment opportunities.

Assam-Nagaland Sign MoU for Oil and Gas Exploration Along Border

Assam and Nagaland signed a tripartite MoU on 11 June 2026 to jointly explore crude oil and natural gas along their shared border. Signed in the presence of Union Ministers Amit Shah and Hardeep Singh Puri, the agreement covers six disputed hydrocarbon-rich fields and over 1,000 sq km of border area. The pact introduces a 50:50 revenue-sharing mechanism and seeks to unlock energy resources that remained underutilized due to boundary disputes. The initiative is expected to boost domestic energy production, investment, employment, and economic growth in Northeast India.

International News

Who is Jay Clayton? Trump’s Pick for Director of National Intelligence

US President Donald Trump nominated Jay Clayton as the next Director of National Intelligence (DNI) on 11 June 2026. Clayton currently serves as the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York and previously chaired the US Securities and Exchange Commission from 2017–2020. If confirmed by the Senate, he will oversee the US Intelligence Community comprising 18 agencies, including the CIA and NSA. Created under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, the DNI coordinates intelligence activities and advises the President on national security matters.

France Names India a Top Strategic Priority Ahead of G7 Summit 2026

France has identified India as a major strategic priority ahead of the 2026 G7 Summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit France on 13–14 June 2026 for talks with President Emmanuel Macron before attending the summit. The India-France Strategic Partnership, established in 1998, spans defence, space, maritime security, innovation, climate action, and civil nuclear energy. Discussions are expected to cover the Rafale programme, Bharat Innovates platform, and enhanced nuclear cooperation. The move reflects India’s increasing global influence and its growing role in Indo-Pacific and international affairs.

World’s Largest Whale Graveyard Discovered in Indian Ocean Abyss

Scientists discovered the world’s largest whale graveyard in the Diamantina Fracture Zone of the southeastern Indian Ocean at depths exceeding 7,000 metres. Led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences using the Fendouzhe submersible, researchers identified over 485 fossil sites across a 1,200-km underwater rift. Fossils ranging from 120,000 years to 5.3 million years old were found, including extinct species like Pterocetus diamantinae. The site provides valuable insights into whale evolution, deep-sea ecosystems, biodiversity, and long-term carbon storage, making it a landmark marine paleontological discovery.

Banking News

India and Nepal Launch UPI-NPI Cross-Border Remittance Service

India and Nepal launched a cross-border remittance facility by linking India’s UPI with Nepal’s National Payments Interface (NPI). Operational since 6 June 2026, the system enables instant person-to-person money transfers through mobile banking apps and digital wallets. Implemented by NPCI International Payments Limited and Nepal Clearing House Limited, the initiative offers faster, secure, and low-cost transactions for travelers, migrant workers, businesses, and families. The project strengthens regional financial integration and further expands UPI’s global presence, which now extends to several countries across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Government Names DFS Secretary Sanjay Lohiya to RBI, SBI Boards

The Government of India appointed Sanjay Lohiya, Secretary of the Department of Financial Services (DFS), as a director on the central boards of the Reserve Bank of India and State Bank of India. A 1994-batch IAS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, Lohiya assumed charge as DFS Secretary on 1 June 2026. He replaces Nagaraju Maddirala on the RBI Central Board. The appointment ensures continued DFS representation in India’s leading financial institutions and supports oversight of banking reforms, financial inclusion, insurance, pension initiatives, and modernization of the financial sector.

Economy News

World Bank Raises India’s FY27 Growth Forecast to 6.6%

The World Bank raised India’s GDP growth forecast to 6.6% for FY2026–27 and 7.2% for FY2027–28, citing strong domestic demand, rising rural consumption, improving urban spending, and increasing foreign investment. The forecast aligns with the Reserve Bank of India’s outlook and reflects confidence in India’s economic resilience amid global uncertainties. Trade agreements and negotiations with partners such as the EU, Oman, and New Zealand are expected to boost exports and FDI. However, rising energy prices linked to West Asian geopolitical tensions remain a significant risk to inflation and fiscal stability.

Appointments News

India Appoints Rudra Gaurav Shresth as New Ambassador to Türkiye

The Ministry of External Affairs appointed Rudra Gaurav Shresth as India’s next Ambassador to Türkiye on 11 June 2026. A 1999-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, he previously served as India’s Ambassador to Iran. Based in Ankara, Shresth will work to strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, culture, and strategic affairs. Türkiye’s unique position between Europe and Asia gives it significant geopolitical importance. His appointment reflects India’s continued diplomatic engagement with key international partners and its focus on strengthening strategic relations in the Eurasian region.

Ranks & Reports News

Top 10 Safest Countries in the World in 2026: Global Peace Index Rankings

The Global Peace Index (GPI) 2026, published by the Institute for Economics and Peace, ranked Iceland as the world’s safest country for the 19th consecutive year. The index evaluates 163 countries across 23 indicators related to security, conflict, and militarization. Global peacefulness declined for the 12th straight year, with 61 active conflicts recorded worldwide. India ranked 127th with a score of 2.409, while Bhutan emerged as South Asia’s most peaceful nation at 16th position. Russia was ranked the least peaceful country, reflecting growing global tensions and instability.

Science & Technology News

SOLAR-1 Satellite Activated: US Launches Advanced Space Weather Monitoring System

The United States operationalized SOLAR-1, its first dedicated satellite for continuous space weather monitoring. Operated by NOAA, the satellite was launched aboard Falcon 9 in September 2025 and positioned at the Sun-Earth L1 point, approximately 1.6 million km from Earth. Formerly known as SWFO-L1, SOLAR-1 monitors solar flares, solar wind, and coronal mass ejections in real time. Equipped with advanced sensors and a coronagraph, it can transmit critical data within 30 minutes, helping protect satellites, communication systems, power grids, aviation, GPS services, and astronaut safety.

IIT Bhubaneswar Develops ArsenSafe Device for Rapid Water Testing

Researchers at IIT Bhubaneswar developed ArsenSafe, a portable device capable of detecting arsenic contamination in drinking water without laboratory support. Developed with Nano Semic Pvt Ltd, the device uses reduced graphene oxide field-effect transistor (rGO-FET) technology combined with nanotechnology and machine learning. ArsenSafe provides highly sensitive, rapid, and affordable testing, especially useful in rural areas. It delivers results within 17.4 seconds and recovers in 11.76 seconds. Published in Environmental Science: Nano, the innovation offers a practical solution for addressing arsenic-related health risks and improving water quality monitoring.

Japan Successfully Launches H3 Rocket with Debut of Low-Cost Variant

Japan successfully launched the H3-30 rocket, a low-cost variant of its next-generation H3 launch vehicle developed by JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Launched from Tanegashima Space Center, the rocket deployed its payload successfully into orbit. Designed to replace the H-IIA rocket, the H3-30 uses three LE-9 liquid-fuel engines and eliminates solid rocket boosters to reduce costs and complexity. Featuring 3D-printed components and commercial technologies, the rocket aims to cut launch expenses by nearly 50%, enhancing Japan’s competitiveness in the global commercial satellite launch market.

Important Days News

World Day Against Child Labour 2026: Theme, History, Global Data and India’s Efforts

Observed annually on 12 June, World Day Against Child Labour aims to raise awareness about child exploitation and promote global efforts to eliminate child labour. The 2026 theme, “Red Card to Child Labour: Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults,” highlights the need for education and decent employment opportunities. Established by the International Labour Organization in 2002, the observance comes amid concerns that 138 million children worldwide remain engaged in child labour, including 54 million in hazardous work. The campaign emphasizes education, social protection, and stronger labour law enforcement.

Obituaries News

Shooting Legend Jaspal Rana Passes Away at 49, Indian Sports Mourns

Legendary Indian pistol shooter and coach Jaspal Rana passed away on 11 June 2026 at the age of 49. A highly decorated shooter, he won multiple medals at the Asian Games and Asian Championships, helping elevate India’s stature in international shooting. Following retirement, he became a respected coach and mentor to athletes such as Manu Bhaker, Saurabh Chaudhary, Anish Bhanwala, and Chinki Yadav. His coaching played a key role in Manu Bhaker’s success at the Paris Olympics. Rana received the Arjuna Award, Padma Shri, and Dronacharya Award for his contributions to Indian sports.