Daily Current Affairs and GK Updates (21st June, 2026) |

National News

PM Modi Commissions Three Naval Ships in Kolkata

Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned INS Dunagiri, INS Agray and INS Sanshodhak at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port.
The ships, designed by the Indian Navy and built by GRSE, showcase India’s advancements in indigenous naval engineering.
INS Dunagiri is a stealth frigate, INS Agray specializes in anti-submarine warfare, and INS Sanshodhak is an advanced hydrographic survey vessel.
The commissioning coincided with World Hydrography Day and International Day of Yoga.
More than 75% of the components used in these vessels were sourced domestically, involving over 200 MSMEs.
The induction reinforces India’s maritime security, supports regional stability in the Indo-Pacific and advances the objectives of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing.

₹47,600-Crore Development Push for Odisha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced projects worth over ₹47,600 crore in Odisha during the “Vikas Ra Dhara, Odisha Sara” event.
A major highlight was the declaration of Pahadpur village as a model solar village, with plans to provide solar infrastructure to every household.
The investment package covers railways, highways, ports, logistics, green energy, urban development and industrial expansion.
Modi emphasized Odisha’s role in the Purvodaya vision for eastern India’s development and highlighted investment proposals worth nearly ₹20 lakh crore attracted by the Utkarsh Odisha initiative.
The projects aim to improve infrastructure, create jobs, attract investment and strengthen Odisha’s position as a major economic and industrial hub.

₹1,500-Crore Mahalaxmi Temple Redevelopment Project

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the ₹1,500-crore redevelopment plan for the historic Shri Karveer Nivasini Mahalaxmi Temple.
The project aims to preserve the temple’s heritage while improving facilities for millions of pilgrims.
Major components include structural conservation, restoration of 41 surrounding temples, development of a new pradakshina path, beautification of the Nagar Pradakshina Marg and modernization of visitor amenities.
The temple, one of India’s important Shakti Peethas, is renowned for its Hemadpanthi architecture and cultural significance.
Implemented in three phases, the project seeks to enhance pilgrimage infrastructure, promote religious tourism and conserve an important element of India’s architectural heritage.

National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission

India’s National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission aims to eliminate sickle cell disease as a public-health problem by 2047.
Launched in 2023, the programme focuses on health promotion, prevention and holistic patient management. More than seven crore people have already been screened, making it one of the largest genetic disease screening initiatives globally.
Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder caused by abnormal haemoglobin.
The mission prioritizes tribal populations in states such as Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Odisha, where prevalence is higher.
Through screening, genetic counselling, awareness campaigns and medical care, the programme seeks to reduce disease burden and improve health outcomes.

International News

Keir Starmer Resigns as UK Prime Minister

Keir Starmer has announced his resignation as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and leader of the Labour Party, less than two years after leading Labour to a historic 2024 election victory.
He informed King Charles III and will remain caretaker Prime Minister until a new Labour leader is elected.
His resignation follows mounting political pressure, poor local election results, internal party divisions, and declining public support.
Labour will now begin a leadership contest to choose its next leader and Prime Minister.
The transition is expected to focus on economic policy, public services, and electoral strategy.
Potential successors are already being discussed, with several senior Labour figures emerging as contenders. The development marks another significant leadership change in British politics.

India to Host 11th BRICS Energy Ministers’ Meeting

India will host the 11th BRICS Energy Ministers’ Meeting in Gurugram on June 25–26, 2026, under its BRICS Chairship. Guided by the theme “Energy for All,” the meeting will focus on energy security, sustainability, access and innovation.
BRICS now comprises 11 countries, representing nearly half of the global population and around 40% of world GDP.
Discussions will address renewable energy, energy-transition pathways, technological innovation, smart grids, energy storage and equitable access to energy.
India will showcase initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance and Global Biofuels Alliance.
The meeting provides a platform for developing nations to collaborate on addressing rising energy demand, climate challenges and sustainable development goals.

BRICS National Security Advisers Meeting

India hosted the BRICS National Security Advisers Meeting on June 22–23, 2026, under the chairmanship of NSA Ajit Doval.
The meeting focused on non-traditional security challenges such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence risks, terrorism, information warfare, critical infrastructure protection and transnational crime.
Senior security officials from BRICS countries, including China, Russia and Iran, participated.
Discussions also reviewed counter-terrorism cooperation and explored measures for strengthening cyber resilience and responsible use of emerging technologies.
The meeting reflects growing recognition that modern security threats increasingly transcend national borders and require collaborative international responses among emerging economies.

Economy & Banking News

India Remains ADB’s Largest Private-Sector Market

The Asian Development Bank confirmed that India remains its largest private-sector market. ADB plans to provide around $1 billion in direct private-sector financing in 2026.
The institution supported India with more than $4 billion in sovereign financing and over $1 billion in private-sector funding during 2025.
Key sectors include renewable energy, green hydrogen, electric mobility, green data centres, urban infrastructure and financial inclusion.
ADB also partnered with Standard Chartered to strengthen supply-chain finance through GIFT City.
India’s rapid economic growth, infrastructure requirements and sustainability agenda continue to make it a priority destination for multilateral development finance and private-sector investment.

RBI Revises Kisan Credit Card Guidelines

The Reserve Bank of India issued revised guidelines for the Kisan Credit Card Scheme effective January 1, 2027.
The framework standardizes crop seasons, defining short-duration crops as 12 months and long-duration crops as 18 months.
The revisions align agricultural lending with RBI’s Income Recognition and Asset Classification norms and aim to improve transparency, consistency and credit delivery.
The collateral-free loan limit remains unchanged at ₹2 lakh per borrower for agricultural and allied activities. RBI also clarified that voluntary pledging of gold or silver as collateral within this limit does not violate collateral-free norms.
The changes are expected to simplify agricultural lending and improve access to institutional credit.

State News

World Bank Approves ₹4,000-Crore Loan for Haryana

The World Bank approved a ₹4,000-crore loan for Haryana’s Jal Sanrakshit Haryana project.
The initiative aims to improve water security through canal modernization, groundwater recharge, irrigation efficiency, wastewater reuse and crop diversification.
Haryana faces challenges such as groundwater depletion and waterlogging due to intensive agricultural practices.
The project includes rehabilitation of hundreds of canals and modernization of irrigation infrastructure, benefiting over 3 lakh acres of agricultural land. Canal-based micro-irrigation projects will also be upgraded.
The programme seeks to improve water-use efficiency, reduce dependence on groundwater and promote climate-resilient agricultural development across the state.

West Bengal Budget 2026 Highlights: 1 Lakh Jobs, New Airport Near Kolkata

The newly elected BJP government in West Bengal presented its first Budget for 2026–27, with a total outlay of ₹4.38 lakh crore. Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta announced major initiatives focused on employment, infrastructure, welfare, and economic growth.
The Budget promises one lakh government jobs and 33% reservation for women in state recruitment.
Dearness Allowance for employees will increase to 38% from October 2026. Key infrastructure projects include a proposed greenfield airport near Kalyani, a deep-sea port at Dadanpatrabar, metro rail proposals for Durgapur, Asansol, and Siliguri, and expansion of regional airports.
Welfare measures include ₹36,000 crore for Annapurna Yojana, free bus services for women, student financial assistance, enhanced support for frontline workers, and housing benefits.

Khurasani Imli Receives GI Tag

Khurasani Imli from Mandu in Madhya Pradesh received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. Despite its name, the fruit comes from the African Baobab tree (Adansonia digitata), not from tamarind.
Known for its sweet-sour taste and nutritional value, the fruit has deep historical and cultural links with the Mandu region.
Mandu hosts India’s largest natural cluster of Baobab trees, and the area’s unique environmental conditions contribute to the fruit’s characteristics.
The GI tag protects its authenticity and ensures that only producers from the designated region can market it under the recognized name.
The recognition highlights the ecological, historical and cultural significance of this heritage product.

Defence News

IAF to Acquire Retired Jaguar Aircraft from UK

The Indian Air Force will acquire nine retired SEPECAT Jaguar fighter aircraft from the United Kingdom to support its existing Jaguar fleet.
The aircraft will not enter active service but will be cannibalized for spare parts, engines, avionics and critical components.
India remains the only country still operating Jaguars in frontline service.
The move addresses challenges arising from obsolete supply chains and spare-part shortages. With fighter squadron strength below the sanctioned level, Jaguars continue to play an important role in deep-strike and ground-attack missions.
The acquired aircraft will help sustain fleet availability until newer platforms such as Tejas variants, Rafales and future fighter programs gradually replace them.

Sports News

Harmanpreet Kaur Becomes First Player to Reach 200 T20Is

Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur became the first cricketer—male or female—to play 200 T20 International matches during the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Her international career began in 2009, and she has since become one of India’s most successful captains and influential batters.
Before the milestone match, she was honored by head coach Amol Muzumdar and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana. Harmanpreet leads the list of women with the most T20I appearances, ahead of Suzie Bates and Danni Wyatt-Hodge.
The achievement highlights her longevity, consistency and contribution to women’s cricket, reinforcing her status as one of the most significant figures in the history of the format.

India Wins FIH Nations Cup 2026

The Indian women’s hockey team won the 2026 FIH Nations Cup by defeating New Zealand 2–0 in the final. Goals from Navneet Kaur and Sunelita Toppo secured India’s second Nations Cup title after its inaugural triumph in 2022.
India remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, defeating the USA, Japan, Uruguay and Chile before overcoming New Zealand in the final.
The victory also earned India promotion to the FIH Pro League, the highest annual international hockey competition.
Participation in the Pro League will provide valuable exposure against elite teams and help improve India’s global ranking, marking another significant step in the growth of women’s hockey in the country.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Records Fastest List-A Fifty

Indian teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi created history by scoring the fastest fifty in List-A cricket during the India A vs Sri Lanka A Tri-Series final.
He reached his half-century in just 11 balls, surpassing the previous record of 12 balls held by Kaushalya Weeratne since 2005–06.
The achievement came after a relatively quiet tournament and showcased his exceptional talent and ability to perform under pressure.
His explosive innings played a crucial role in the final and established him as one of the most promising young cricketers in the world.
The record-breaking knock drew widespread attention from the cricketing community.

Indian Athletics Awards 2025

At the inaugural Indian Athletics Awards 2025 organized by the Athletics Federation of India, Olympic javelin star Neeraj Chopra was named Best Male Athlete of the Year, while Parul Chaudhary won Best Female Athlete of the Year.
Chopra’s achievements included becoming the first Indian to cross the 90-metre mark in javelin throw.
Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to PT Usha, Gurbachan Singh Randhawa, Bahadur Singh Chauhan and Anju Bobby George.
Emerging Athlete awards went to Shahnavaz Khan and Pooja Singh. The awards recognized athletes, coaches, officials and institutions contributing to the development of athletics in India.