Daily Current Affairs and GK Updates (26th June, 2026)

1. International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2026

Observed every year on 26 June to strengthen global efforts against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
Declared by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution 42/112 on 7 December 1987.
First observed in 1988.
Coordinated by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Aims to raise awareness about the harmful effects of drug abuse on individuals, families, and society.
Promotes prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and international cooperation to combat drug trafficking.
Highlights growing concerns such as synthetic drugs, cocaine production, opioid abuse, organized crime, and money laundering.
Encourages governments, NGOs, healthcare professionals, and communities to work together for a drug-free world.
Key Fact: Observed annually on 26 June.

2. United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 2026

Observed annually on 26 June to support victims of torture and promote human rights.
Declared by the UN General Assembly through Resolution 52/149 on 12 December 1997.
First observed in 1998.
Marks the entry into force of the UN Convention Against Torture (CAT) on 26 June 1987.
Coordinated by the United Nations and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
Focuses on justice, accountability, rehabilitation, and protection of torture survivors.
Promotes awareness that torture is prohibited under international law without exception.
Supports medical, psychological, legal, and social rehabilitation for survivors through the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture.
Key Fact: 26 June also commemorates the enforcement of the Convention Against Torture.

3. Mahesh Dixit Appointed as Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB)

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of Mahesh Dixit as the new Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB).
He is a 1993-batch IPS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre.
Currently serving as the Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau.
Will assume charge on 30 June 2026.
Succeeds Tapan Kumar Deka, who served as IB Director since 2022.
Appointed for a two-year tenure or until further orders.
Has extensive experience in intelligence operations in Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Northeast India, and anti-Naxal regions.
Also headed the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (SIB), Srinagar, after the abrogation of Article 370.
Key Fact: The Intelligence Bureau (IB) is India’s oldest internal intelligence agency and functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

4. SHATAYU Dashboard Launched

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched the SHATAYU Dashboard to improve elderly care services.
SHATAYU stands for Senior Holistic Care Assistance and Training for Your Utility.
The platform connects trained geriatric caregivers with senior citizens requiring professional care.
Managed by the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD).
Creates a centralized database of certified caregivers across India.
Previously trained caregivers (2023–24 and earlier batches) have also been invited to register.
Aims to improve accessibility, transparency, and quality of elderly care.
Technical teams are continuously verifying registrations and improving data quality.
Key Fact: NISD functions under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

5. India Hosts 11th BRICS Energy Ministers’ Meeting

India hosted the 11th BRICS Energy Ministers’ Meeting on 25 June 2026 in Gurugram, Haryana.
Organized under India’s BRICS Chairship 2026.
Theme: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
Energy Track Theme: “सर्वेषां ऊर्जम् (Energy for All).”
Participants included Energy Ministers of BRICS nations, ISA, Global Biofuels Alliance, and New Development Bank.
Discussions focused on energy security, renewable energy, smart grids, hydrogen, AI, energy storage, and biofuels.
India launched the BRICS Digital Centre of Excellence (DCoE) for Smart Grids and Energy Storage.
BRICS countries adopted the Guiding Principles on Smart Grids and Energy Storage.
The meeting concluded with the adoption of the 11th BRICS Energy Ministers’ Joint Communiqué.
Key Fact: India highlighted that over 50% of its installed power capacity now comes from non-fossil fuel sources.

6. Samvidhan Hatya Diwas 2026

The Ministry of Culture commemorated Samvidhan Hatya Diwas at the CCRT Campus, New Delhi.
The event marked 50 years of the Emergency imposed in 1975.
Chief Guest: Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
Organized to create awareness about democracy, constitutional values, fundamental rights, and freedom of expression.
Featured the “Long Live Democracy” exhibition showcasing the impact of the Emergency.
Included the Digital District Repository (DDR) exhibition documenting India’s freedom movement.
A documentary on Samvidhan Hatya Diwas and cultural performances by CCRT scholars were also presented.
Veteran journalist Ram Bahadur Rai addressed the gathering and shared his experiences during the Emergency.
Freedom fighters and contributors to the Digital District Repository were felicitated.
Key Fact: The programme emphasized protecting democracy, constitutional governance, and citizens’ rights.

7. Book on Bhawaiya Folk Music Released by Vice President

Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book “Sanskritir Ratna Bhandar: Bhaowaiyar Itibritto” at Uprashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.
The book has been authored by Dr. Jayanta Kumar Roy and Ms. Sangita Roy.
It documents the history, evolution, and cultural significance of Bhawaiya, a traditional folk music genre of North Bengal, Assam, and adjoining regions.
The publication highlights the contribution of the Koch Rajbanshi community in preserving the Bhawaiya tradition.
The Vice President described music as an important part of India’s civilizational heritage and referred to concepts like Sama Veda, Nada Brahma, Bhakti, and Sufism.
He urged the younger generation to use modern technology to preserve regional languages, folk traditions, and cultural heritage.
The book aims to promote awareness about India’s intangible cultural heritage.
Key Fact: Bhawaiya is one of the oldest and most popular folk music traditions of eastern India.

8. Second Pax Silica Summit 2026

The Second Pax Silica Summit was held on 25–26 June 2026 in Washington, D.C., USA.
Representatives from 35 countries, including India, participated in the summit.
Member countries adopted the Joint Statement on AI Opportunity.
The summit focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance, trusted AI ecosystems, resilient supply chains, and industrial cooperation.
India was represented by S. Krishnan (Secretary, MeitY) and Nagraj Naidu (Additional Secretary, MEA).
The Pax Silica Initiative was launched by the United States in December 2025, and India joined it in February 2026.
A new platform called Pax Pass was introduced to facilitate the secure movement of AI-related technologies.
The summit also announced the Stanford-led Foundry School, supported by a US$50 million commitment from the United States.
Key Fact: India’s participation highlights its growing role in global AI governance and digital cooperation.

9. Hemis Festival 2026

The Hemis Festival 2026 was celebrated on 24–25 June at Hemis Monastery, Leh, Ladakh.
The festival commemorates the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), also known as the Second Buddha.
It is the largest Buddhist festival celebrated in Ladakh.
The festival is organized according to the Tibetan lunar calendar.
The main attraction is the Cham Dance, performed by Buddhist monks wearing colorful masks and traditional robes.
Devotees participate in prayers, rituals, traditional music, and religious ceremonies.
The sacred Thangka of Guru Padmasambhava is displayed once every 12 years, attracting thousands of pilgrims.
The 2026 celebrations were inaugurated by Lieutenant Governor V. K. Saxena.
Key Fact: Hemis Monastery belongs to the Drukpa Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.

10. Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS)

The Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS) is an interstate irrigation project built across the Tungabhadra River, a tributary of the Krishna River.
The project benefits Telangana, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
It supplies irrigation water to drought-prone agricultural regions.
Telangana has been allocated 17.9 TMCFT of water under the project.
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy urged the Centre to resolve the long-pending water-sharing dispute.
The issue was discussed during the inauguration of the new spillway crest gates at the Tungabhadra Dam.
Challenges include sedimentation, canal maintenance, inadequate utilization of allocated water, and interstate disputes.
Proposed measures include desilting reservoirs, improving canal infrastructure, and constructing a balancing reservoir at Navali.
Key Fact: The Tungabhadra River is one of the major tributaries of the Krishna River.

11. Indian Passport Fee Hike 2026

The Government of India has revised passport fees, effective from 1 July 2026.
This is the first major revision since 2012.
The revision applies to fresh passports, renewals, Tatkal services, replacement of lost/damaged passports, and passports for minors.
The fee for a 36-page passport has increased from ₹1,500 to ₹2,500.
The fee for a 60-page passport has increased from ₹2,000 to ₹3,500.
Tatkal passport charges have also been increased.
Replacement charges for lost or damaged passports have been revised upward.
Passport validity remains unchanged (10 years for adults).
The revision has been made under the Passport Rules, 1980.
Key Fact: The fee hike reflects the increasing cost of passport processing and service delivery.

12. Memoir of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla Released

Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh released the memoir of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla in New Delhi.
The memoir is titled “The Second Orbit: Belief of a Man… Dreams of 1.4 Billion Hearts.”
The book chronicles Shukla’s journey from an Indian Air Force fighter pilot to an astronaut.
It details his training and experiences during the Axiom-4 Mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
The event marked the first anniversary of the Axiom-4 mission, launched on 25 June of the previous year.
The memoir highlights India’s growing role in human spaceflight and international space missions.
Students from various schools interacted with the astronaut during the launch event.
The book aims to inspire young Indians to pursue careers in science, technology, and space exploration.
Key Fact: The memoir celebrates India’s expanding contribution to global human spaceflight.

13. RBI Injects ₹1.41 Lakh Crore Through 7-Day VRR Auction

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) infused ₹1,41,171 crore into the banking system through a 7-day Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auction.
The liquidity was injected at a cut-off rate and weighted average rate of 5.26%.
The move was taken after banking system liquidity slipped into a deficit of ₹19,971.89 crore.
The liquidity shortage was mainly due to GST payments and advance tax collections, which temporarily reduced cash with banks.
Under a VRR auction, banks borrow short-term funds from the RBI by pledging government securities as collateral.
The RBI uses VRR auctions to address temporary liquidity mismatches without permanently increasing money supply.
The liquidity deficit had pushed the Weighted Average Call Money Rate (WACR) above the policy repo rate.
In recent days, the RBI has injected around ₹2.43 lakh crore through multiple VRR auctions to maintain adequate liquidity.
The operation aims to ensure stable short-term interest rates and smooth functioning of the financial system.
Key Fact: VRR is an important liquidity management tool under the RBI’s monetary policy framework.

14. India Plans Seven New Bullet Train Corridors

India is planning to develop seven new high-speed bullet train corridors connecting major metropolitan cities.
The project is being implemented by the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL).
India will develop its own indigenous B35 Bullet Train for future high-speed rail projects.
The B35 train will have a maximum design speed of 350 km/h and an operational speed of 320 km/h.
Proposed corridors include Mumbai–Pune, Pune–Hyderabad, Hyderabad–Bengaluru, Hyderabad–Chennai, Bengaluru–Chennai, Delhi–Varanasi, and Varanasi–Siliguri.
The Mumbai–Pune corridor is expected to reduce travel time to 48 minutes, while Bengaluru–Chennai will take only 73 minutes.
The ongoing Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Project is India’s first bullet train project, with the Surat–Vapi section expected to become operational by August 2027.
The project aims to reduce travel time, improve regional connectivity, generate employment, and promote indigenous high-speed rail technology.
Key Fact: NHSRCL is the implementing agency for all high-speed rail projects in India.

15. India Emerges as One of Asia’s Fastest-Growing Green Economies

According to the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) Green Economy Report 2026, India generated US$110 billion in green revenues during 2025.
India’s green revenues recorded a 20% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) over the last five years.
This growth is significantly higher than Asia’s average (12%) and the global average (10%).
India accounts for 87% of Asia’s green revenues from biogas energy equipment.
It also contributes 75% of Asia’s revenues from advanced irrigation systems and devices.
The country attracted around US$100 billion in clean energy investments, making it the second-largest clean energy investment destination in Asia after China.
Growth has been driven by renewable energy, solar power, wind energy, sustainable agriculture, and green manufacturing.
The report highlights India’s increasing role in supporting the global transition to a low-carbon economy.
Key Fact: India is among the fastest-growing green economies in Asia despite China and Japan having larger overall green markets.

16. Government Introduces New LPG Rules 2026

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas introduced new regulations under the Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Amendment Order, 2026.
The new rules aim to prevent dual domestic gas connections, reduce misuse of subsidized LPG cylinders, and encourage the use of Piped Natural Gas (PNG).
The 30-Day Rule requires consumers with a newly activated PNG connection to surrender their LPG connection within 30 days.
The 90-Day Rule applies to households in PNG-covered areas, requiring them to shift to PNG within the prescribed period after receiving notice.
Failure to comply may result in blocking or suspension of LPG cylinder refills, subject to applicable rules.
The regulations apply to domestic consumers of Indane, BharatGas, and HP Gas.
Exemptions are available for households located in areas without PNG infrastructure or where pipeline installation is not feasible.
Consumers surrendering LPG connections can obtain a Transfer Voucher (TV), allowing future reconnection without paying a fresh security deposit.
The policy aims to improve transparency, reduce LPG imports, and promote cleaner urban energy use.
Key Fact: The rules primarily affect urban households where PNG networks are already available.

17. Mukhyamantri Kisan Sahay Yojana (MKSY), Gujarat 2026

Mukhyamantri Kisan Sahay Yojana (MKSY) was launched by the Government of Gujarat in 2020 to provide financial assistance to farmers affected by natural calamities.
The scheme covers Kharif crop losses caused by floods, droughts, cyclones, heavy rainfall, and unseasonal rains.
Unlike crop insurance schemes, farmers are not required to pay any premium.
Farmers receive ₹20,000 per hectare for crop losses between 33% and 60%.
Farmers receive ₹25,000 per hectare for crop losses exceeding 60%, subject to a maximum coverage of 4 hectares.
Financial assistance is transferred directly to farmers’ bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Eligible farmers must be residents of Gujarat, possess a 7/12 land record, and have suffered at least 33% crop damage.
Applications can be submitted online through the iKhedut Portal, while offline assistance is available through Gram Panchayats, CSCs, and Village Computer Entrepreneurs (VCEs).
Since its launch, the scheme has benefited nearly 50 lakh farmers across Gujarat.
Key Fact: MKSY is a premium-free state government crop assistance scheme that provides direct financial relief instead of insurance compensation.