Daily Current Affairs and GK Updates (3rd June, 2026) |

National News

India Becomes World’s 2nd Largest Solar Growth Market in 2025

India became the world’s second-largest solar growth market in 2025, surpassing the United States in annual solar capacity additions.
The country has crossed 155 GW of installed solar capacity, supporting its target of 50% non-fossil fuel electricity capacity and advancing climate commitments.
A major contributor is the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, which has enabled rooftop solar adoption in over 40 lakh households.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi highlighted India’s achievement, citing strong policies, innovation, and infrastructure development.
The milestone strengthens India’s global leadership in renewable energy, energy security, and sustainable development.

Chandigarh University Opens India’s First Private IndiaAI Data Lab

Chandigarh University has launched India’s first private IndiaAI Data Lab in collaboration with Intel India at its University Institute of Computing.
The lab focuses on hands-on training in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, and emerging technologies through projects, hackathons, and research activities.
It aims to bridge academia and industry by offering practical exposure, faculty development, and certification-linked programs. The initiative also introduces new AI-focused degrees and upskills over 2,000 students, strengthening India’s AI education ecosystem and producing industry-ready digital talent.

State News

Mission Senehjori Launched to Transform Assam’s Muga Silk into a Global Luxury Brand

Mission Senehjori was launched by Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia to transform Assam’s world-famous Muga Silk into a globally recognized luxury textile brand.
Implemented by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region in partnership with the Government of Assam and the Central Silk Board, the ₹396–411 crore initiative aims to strengthen the entire Muga silk value chain from host plant cultivation and silkworm production to weaving, branding, exports, and digital traceability.
Covering major silk-producing districts, the mission targets modern infrastructure, farmer organizations, GI authentication, increased exports, and silk tourism, positioning Assam as the global hub for premium Muga silk by 2028.

Indian Embassy in Azerbaijan establishes Tagore-Nizami Library

India’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Abhay Kumar, visited the regions of Ganja, Goygol, and Shamkir to strengthen cultural ties between India and Azerbaijan.
During the visit, he paid tribute at the Mausoleum of Nizami Ganjavi and helped establish the Tagore–Nizami Library to promote literary and cultural exchange.
He also explored Goygol National Park, local museums, and the historic Shamkir Fortress.
The visit highlighted biodiversity conservation, heritage preservation, tourism, and people-to-people connections, reinforcing cultural diplomacy and strengthening India–Azerbaijan bilateral relations.

Maharashtra Cabinet Approves Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Farmer Debt Relief Scheme

The Maharashtra Cabinet, chaired by Devendra Fadnavis, approved the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Farmer Debt Relief Scheme to support farmers with loan waivers of up to ₹2 lakh.
The scheme covers unpaid short-term crop loans taken between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2025.
It also includes a One-Time Settlement (OTS) mechanism and incentives of up to ₹50,000 for timely loan repayment.
Political office-bearers, government employees, income-tax payers, and certain cooperative employees are excluded.
Benefits will be provided through Aadhaar authentication and registration on the AgriStack platform, with implementation continuing until March 31, 2027.

DK Shivakumar Takes Oath as Karnataka’s 18th Chief Minister

D. K. Shivakumar took oath as the 18th Chief Minister of Karnataka on 3 June 2026 at Lok Bhavan, Bengaluru. The oath was administered by Thawar Chand Gehlot.
He succeeded Siddaramaiah under the Congress party’s power-sharing arrangement. G. Parameshwara was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister, returning to a post he previously held in 2018–19.
Along with them, 13 ministers joined the new cabinet, including K. H. Muniyappa, K. J. George, M. B. Patil, Ramalinga Reddy, Satish Jarkiholi, Krishna Byre Gowda, Priyank Kharge, U. T. Khader, Eshwar Khandre, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, Byrathi Suresh, and Sharan Prakash Patil.
Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah was appointed to the Congress Working Committee, the highest decision-making body of the Congress party.

International News

Forbes World’s Top 10 Richest People 2026

Forbes 2026 ranked Elon Musk the world’s richest person with $835 billion, followed by Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Jeff Bezos, and Larry Ellison.
Michael Dell, Mark Zuckerberg, Jensen Huang, Bernard Arnault, and Steve Ballmer completed the top 10.
The list highlighted continued dominance of technology leaders, especially from Tesla, SpaceX, Alphabet, Amazon, and Oracle.
Strong growth in AI, cloud computing, and innovation-driven companies significantly shaped global wealth distribution, reinforcing the tech sector’s central role in creating and sustaining ultra-high-net-worth individuals worldwide.

Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodriguez to Visit India from June 3-7

Venezuela’s Acting President Delcy Rodríguez will visit India from 3–7 June 2026, as confirmed by MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
She will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi for high-level talks focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in energy, trade, investment, technology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, transportation, and renewable energy.
Accompanied by key ministers, her visit reflects deepening India–Venezuela engagement, especially amid India’s rising crude oil imports from Venezuela and broader efforts to diversify energy partnerships and expand South-South cooperation.

Banking News

Indian Banks Among Asia-Pacific’s Best Capitalised Lenders, Says S&P Global

According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, Indian banks are among the best-capitalised lenders in the Asia-Pacific region.
Among banks with assets exceeding $100 billion, Kotak Mahindra Bank ranked first with the highest leverage ratio of 16.56%, followed by HDFC Bank (11.14%), ICICI Bank (10.84%), and Axis Bank (9.28%).
The leverage ratio, calculated as Tier 1 Capital ÷ Total Exposure, measures a bank’s capital strength and ability to absorb losses. Union Bank of India recorded the fastest improvement, with its ratio rising to 7.72%.
The rankings highlight the impact of stronger regulation, Basel III norms, improved asset quality, robust profitability, and prudent risk management in strengthening India’s banking sector.

Appointments News

Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai Appointed as Next Chief Justice of Patna High Court

Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai has been appointed as the next Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, following the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium.
Currently serving as a judge of the Sikkim High Court, she will assume office after the retirement of Chief Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo on 4 June 2026.
A law graduate of Campus Law Centre, Justice Rai began her judicial career in 1990 and became the first woman from Sikkim to join the state’s judicial service as a Judicial Magistrate First Class-cum-Civil Judge.
Elevated as a permanent judge of the Sikkim High Court in 2015, she has held several key positions, including Chief Judicial Magistrate, District and Sessions Judge, and Registrar General.
Her appointment marks another significant milestone in her distinguished judicial career spanning more than three decades.

Lokhande Prashant Sitaram Appointed CBSE Chairperson, Varun Bhardwaj Named Secretary

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed Lokhande Prashant Sitaram as the new Chairperson of Central Board of Secondary Education and Varun Bhardwaj as its Secretary.
Sitaram, a 2001-batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer, succeeds Rahul Singh, while Bhardwaj replaces Himanshu Gupta and will serve until September 2027.
The leadership change comes amid scrutiny of CBSE’s On-Screen Marking (OSM) system following complaints about evaluation discrepancies, technical glitches, and delays.
Established in 1929, CBSE is India’s largest national school board, conducting Class 10 and 12 examinations for over 30,000 affiliated schools.

India Appoints Veteran Diplomat Vipul as Next Ambassador to Saudi Arabia

Senior diplomat Vipul has been appointed as India’s next Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
A 1998-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, he currently serves as Ambassador to Qatar and has previously held diplomatic assignments in Cairo, Colombo, Geneva, and Dubai. He has also served as Joint Secretary (Gulf) in the MEA and Consul General in Dubai.
An engineering graduate from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and MBA holder from Indian School of Business, Vipul brings extensive Gulf expertise.
His appointment is significant as India and Saudi Arabia continue expanding cooperation in trade, energy, investment, defence, technology, and strategic affairs under their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Ajay Rajan Takes Charge as MD & CEO of Protean eGov Technologies

Ajay Rajan has been appointed as the new Managing Director and CEO of Protean eGov Technologies Ltd., effective 1 June 2026.
With over 30 years of experience in banking, fintech, and digital transformation, he previously held senior leadership roles at YES Bank and Deutsche Bank, including serving as Global Head of Fintech at Deutsche Bank.
Rajan is expected to drive Protean’s next phase of growth, focusing on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), AI-powered solutions, financial inclusion, citizen-centric digital services, and international expansion.
Founded in 1995, Protean has been a key contributor to India’s digital governance ecosystem through large-scale e-governance and public-service platforms.

Awards News

Ministry of Panchayati Raj to Honour Best Performing Panchayats in New Delhi

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj will confer the National Panchayat Awards (NPA) 2025 to 42 outstanding Panchayats in New Delhi on 3 June 2026.
The awards, under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), recognize excellence in local governance, sustainable development, infrastructure, social inclusion, and citizen participation.
Awards are presented under DDUPSVP (34 Gram Panchayats across nine SDG-linked themes) and NDSPSVP (8 best-performing District, Block, and Gram Panchayats).
Assessment is based on the Panchayat Advancement Index 2.0, promoting transparency, good governance, women’s empowerment, environmental sustainability, and grassroots development.

David Beckham to Receive Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026

David Beckham is set to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 12 June 2026, recognizing his outstanding contributions to sport and global culture.
Beckham enjoyed a celebrated career with Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain, winning major domestic and international titles.
He also earned 115 caps for England national football team and captained the side 59 times.
The honour comes ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first World Cup featuring 48 teams, further highlighting Beckham’s lasting influence on world football.

King Charles Knights Actor Idris Elba for Services to Young People

Idris Elba was knighted by King Charles III at Windsor Castle in 2026 for services to young people and community development.
The honour recognised his work through the Elba Hope Foundation and his role as a Goodwill Ambassador for The King’s Trust, which supported his early career.
The investiture ceremony included the traditional knighting ritual and was later shared by the Royal Family.
Elba’s recognition highlights his long-standing commitment to empowering youth and supporting underserved communities through education and opportunity-focused initiatives.

Dalai Lama Receives Grammy Award for Audiobook ‘Meditations’ at Dharamshala Residence

Dalai Lama received his Grammy Award for the audiobook “Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama” at his residence in Dharamshala in June 2026.
The ceremony featured sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan along with his sons Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash, who collaborated on the project.
The audiobook had earlier won in the Grammy Audiobook category, ahead of notable nominees.
The Dalai Lama dedicated the recognition to messages of peace, compassion, and unity, highlighting the role of spiritual and artistic collaboration in promoting global harmony.

Idris Elba Receives Knighthood from King Charles III, Becomes Sir Idris Elba

British actor and activist Idris Elba was knighted by King Charles III at Windsor Castle on 2 June 2026, earning the title Sir Idris Elba.
The honor recognizes his outstanding contributions to entertainment and his work supporting young people through philanthropy.
Best known for roles in The Wire and Luther, Elba also founded the Elba Hope Foundation in 2022. Inspired by support he received from The King’s Trust as a teenager, he has championed youth empowerment, education, and community development.
The knighthood was widely celebrated by fans worldwide.

Defense News

India Conducts Successful Flight-Test of Indigenous RudraM-II Air-to-Surface Missile

On 2 June 2026, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully flight-tested the RudraM-II Missile, an advanced indigenous air-to-surface precision-strike weapon.
Launched under challenging operational conditions, the missile accurately hit its designated ground target, validating its guidance, navigation, flight-control, and target-acquisition systems.
Developed by Research Centre Imarat with support from multiple DRDO laboratories and Indian defence industries, the missile strengthens India’s long-range precision attack capability, enhances standoff strike options for fighter aircraft, reduces reliance on foreign weapons, and supports the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision for indigenous defence manufacturing.

INS Sudarshini Departs Antigua Under Lokayan-26 Expedition, Strengthening Maritime Outreach

INS Sudarshini departed Antigua and Barbuda on 31 May 2026 after a four-day port call under the Lokayan-26 Expedition.
During the visit, the ship hosted Gaston Browne and held discussions with Brigadier Telbert Benjamin to strengthen maritime cooperation.
The vessel also showcased India’s maritime heritage through public outreach activities.
Supporting India’s MAHASAGAR vision and “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” INS Sudarshini will next visit the United States for the International Naval Review and SAIL 250 celebrations, marking 250 years of American independence.

Schemes News

Government Launches PMRC Scheme 2026 to Attract Top Indian-Origin Researchers

The Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) Scheme 2026, launched by the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education, aims to attract accomplished Indian-origin researchers, scientists, technologists, and industry experts from across the world to collaborate with India’s leading institutions.
The scheme focuses on 13 priority sectors, including AI, semiconductors, cybersecurity, biotechnology, healthcare, climate change, space, defence, and advanced manufacturing.
It offers three categories Young Research Fellows, Senior Research Fellows, and Research Chairs and is open to Indian nationals abroad, OCI cardholders, and persons of Indian origin.
Seven premier institutions, including Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru, will serve as lead institutions.
The initiative seeks to strengthen India’s research ecosystem, foster global collaboration, and advance the goals of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat.

Cabinet Approves ₹9,585 Crore Scheme to Reduce Air Pollution in Delhi-NCR

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Narendra Modi, approved a two-year ₹9,585 crore scheme to reduce air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region by replacing BS-IV and older trucks and buses with BS-VI or electric vehicles.
Implemented through National Capital Region Planning Board, the scheme will benefit about 2.07 lakh vehicle owners.
Incentives include interest subsidies, fuel vouchers, tax concessions, and vehicle discounts.
The initiative targets major transport-related emissions and will be monitored through a digital portal and a high-level oversight committee.

Important Days News

World Bicycle Day 2026: Theme, History, Significance and Celebration Ideas

World Bicycle Day is observed globally on 3 June to promote bicycles as a sustainable, affordable, and eco-friendly mode of transport.
The 2026 theme, “Cycling for a Greener Future,” highlights cycling’s role in reducing carbon emissions, promoting healthy lifestyles, easing traffic congestion, and supporting sustainable urban development.
Proclaimed by the United Nations in 2018, the day recognizes bicycles’ contributions to public health, environmental conservation, social inclusion, and accessible mobility.
Celebrations include cycling rallies, awareness campaigns, road-safety workshops, fitness events, and community programs encouraging greener transportation and climate-friendly living.

Obituaries News

Legendary R&B Singer Peabo Bryson Passes Away at 75

Peabo Bryson, the legendary two-time Grammy-winning R&B singer, passed away on 2 June 2026 at the age of 75.
Known for iconic Disney duets such as Beauty and the Beast with Celine Dion and A Whole New World with Regina Belle, Bryson left a lasting mark on music.
Beginning his career in the 1970s, he produced numerous R&B hits and collaborated with artists including Roberta Flack and Angela Bofill. His family confirmed he died peacefully surrounded by loved ones.
With a career spanning over five decades, Bryson’s extraordinary voice, timeless ballads, and memorable duets continue to inspire generations of music lovers worldwide.

Oscar-Winning ‘Star Wars’ Editor Marcia Lucas Passes Away at 80

Marcia Lucas, the Oscar-winning editor best known for her work on the original Star Wars trilogy, passed away at the age of 80 in Rancho Mirage in June 2026.
She won the Academy Award for Best Film Editing for Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope and earned acclaim for her work on films like American Graffiti and a BAFTA nomination for Taxi Driver.
A key figure in the New Hollywood era, she helped shape modern cinematic storytelling through her collaborations with filmmakers like George Lucas.
Her legacy remains influential in film editing and blockbuster cinema worldwide.