Daily current affairs

The Centre announced expansion of the PM Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) scheme to 25,000 schools by 2027. The scheme aims to develop "model" schools showcasing NEP 2020 implementation.

India and UAE bilateral trade settled in INR/AED under the local currency settlement framework crossed ₹1 lakh crore since the agreement in July 2023, reducing dollar dependency.

Ministry of Power: every census village in India now has reliable grid electricity access (24×7 or near-24×7). Builds on Saubhagya scheme (2017) and rural infra push.

SEBI released a consultation paper proposing a regulated framework for equity crowdfunding in India. Caps: ₹10 crore raise/year, ₹2 lakh per individual investor. Aimed at startups and SMEs without traditional VC access.

A 3-judge SC bench struck down a state law requiring district magistrate approval for interfaith marriages, holding it violates Articles 14, 21, and 25 of the Constitution. Reaffirmed right to choose life partner as fundamental right.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the National Mission for AI in Healthcare with ₹3,500 crore over 5 years. Focus: diagnostic AI, drug discovery, public health surveillance.

India and African Union (55 countries) signed framework for Free Trade Agreement at India-Africa Summit. Goal: triple bilateral trade from $100 bn to $300 bn by 2030. Focus: pharma, IT, agriculture, infrastructure.

RBI announced nationwide rollout of digital rupee (e₹) for retail transactions after 18 months of pilot. ~12 lakh users in pilot phase; transaction volume crossed ₹2000 crore. Now available via UPI-style mobile apps from all major banks.

Indian Railways completed KAVACH (indigenous Automatic Train Protection) deployment on 5,000 route km, mainly Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah corridors. Prevents collisions and signal violations. Target: 35,000 km by 2027.

DPIIT launched the National Deep-Tech Startup Policy with a ₹2,000 crore Fund of Funds for AI, quantum, biotech, space-tech, advanced materials. Aims to support 10,000 deep-tech startups by 2030.

Ministry of Tourism launched a digital platform with QR-coded heritage trails across 100 cities including all UNESCO sites. Features AR/VR experiences, multilingual audio guides, accessibility for differently-abled visitors.

India and Brazil signed defence collaboration worth $5 billion. Joint production of light helicopters, naval platforms, and small arms. Both countries also discussed BRICS-related cooperation.

India hosted the BRICS Foreign Ministers' meeting in New Delhi. Discussions: BRICS expansion roadmap, payment systems alternative to SWIFT, climate finance from Global North.

CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (Lucknow) announced first indigenous oral insulin tablet, completing Phase II clinical trials. Could replace injectable insulin for type-2 diabetics. Expected approval and launch by 2027.

India ratified the 1965 Hague Service Convention, simplifying cross-border service of judicial documents in civil/commercial matters. Reduces delays in international legal proceedings for Indian businesses and citizens abroad.

A 3-judge SC bench issued comprehensive guidelines for whistleblower protection in cases involving public sector corruption. Anonymous filing, witness protection, and time-bound investigation directives.

India hosted a special G20 Energy Transitions Working Group meeting in Goa, with discussions on global green hydrogen, critical minerals supply chain, and climate finance. India proposes "Mission LiFE for Energy" plan.

India to host the G20 Health Ministerial in Hyderabad (June 2026), focusing on antimicrobial resistance, global pandemic preparedness, and digital health solutions. India to share UHC (Universal Health Coverage) approach via Ayushman Bharat.

Ministry of Education revamped the PM Vidya Lakshmi portal, offering single-window education loan applications across 13 PSU banks. Subsidized interest rates for income-based eligible students.

India hosted UNCTAD (UN Conference on Trade and Development) summit in Mumbai with delegates from 150+ countries. India launched proposals for fairer global trade rules, debt restructuring framework for developing countries.

Ministry of Railways: 1,400+ stations now under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) for modernization. Phase 1 of 506 stations nearly complete; Phase 2 expanded scope. Total budget ₹25,000+ crore. Features: clean toilets, AC waiting halls, free Wi-Fi, retail, parking.

IIM-Bangalore reported completion of training 200,000+ rural leaders under the Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship — a 2-year program for district magistrates' staff and community workers. Focus: SDG implementation, evidence-based governance.

Centre approved expansion of PM-eBus Sewa to 200 cities with population 3 lakh+, deploying 50,000 electric buses by 2030. Funding: ₹57,613 crore on PPP model.

WHO South-East Asia Regional Office certified India's progress on measles-rubella elimination as a model for other developing nations. India launched the MR vaccine campaign in 2017 — over 32 crore children immunized.

India-Singapore activated next phase of UPI-PayNow integration. Real-time bank-to-bank payments under SGD 1000 per transaction. ~₹250 cr transactions in pilot. Similar arrangements being finalized with UAE, France, Bhutan.

World Bank's Migration and Development Brief: India remained the top remittance recipient globally for the fourth consecutive year, with inflows crossing $135 billion in 2025-26. Major sources: USA, UAE, Saudi Arabia, UK.

IMD operationalised the Bharat Forecast System, India's indigenous high-resolution global numerical weather prediction model. Resolution: 6 km — 4× sharper than the previous global system.

Ministry of AYUSH announced 10+ crore people participated in International Day of Yoga (June 21) rehearsal events across India in May 2026 — sets stage for largest-ever yoga gathering. Theme: "Yoga for Climate Action."

India and Russia agreed to extend cooperation for 6 additional nuclear reactors at Kudankulam (units 7-12). Also covers floating SMRs (Small Modular Reactors) for coastal areas.

India signed a Government-to-Government deal with France for 26 Rafale-M fighter jets for the Indian Navy's aircraft carriers (INS Vikrant and Vikramaditya). Estimated cost ₹63,000 crore.

DoT released the Bharat 6G Vision 2030 — strategy document targeting 10% of global 6G IPRs by 2030. Plans for testbed, standards contribution to ITU, R&D ecosystem support.

Ministry of Home Affairs notified the first National Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (NDRRF) with ₹15,000 crore corpus, separate from response funds. Focuses on early warning systems, building codes, resilient infrastructure.

India and Nepal signed an updated bilateral transit treaty, granting Nepal additional sea routes through India (Visakhapatnam) and improved railway connectivity. Nepal is a landlocked LDC.

India hosted the 7th BIMSTEC Summit in New Delhi. The Bay of Bengal regional grouping (7 countries) signed agreements on maritime cooperation, energy grid, and a free trade framework.

The Centre approved Chandrayaan-4 — India's first lunar sample return mission. Target launch: 2028. Will use SLV2 (heavy launcher) and two-spacecraft rendezvous architecture.

The Election Commission of India launched a remote voting pilot in five state by-elections, allowing migrant workers to vote from their work location. Uses biometric and OTP authentication.

ISRO marked the third anniversary of Chandrayaan-3's successful soft landing with the launch of CY-3A, a follow-up mission demonstrating in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) experiments on the lunar surface.

India and the UK finalised a digital trade chapter as part of the comprehensive FTA — covering cross-border data flows, e-signatures, paperless trading, and digital identity recognition.

Indian and Sri Lankan navies launched the first joint maritime patrol in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) under the Colombo Security Conclave. Focus: anti-piracy, drug-smuggling, illegal fishing, and humanitarian/disaster response.

NASA and NSIDC reported Arctic sea ice extent in early May 2026 was the lowest on record for the date — about 14% below the 1981-2010 average. Implications for global climate, sea levels.

A constitutional bench of the Supreme Court ruled in favor of horizontal reservation for transgender persons in government education and employment. Cited NALSA (2014) and Article 14, 15, 16.

GSMA Mobile Economy report: India tops global mobile data usage per user at 28 GB/month (vs world average 15 GB). Driven by 5G rollout, Jio/Airtel competition, low data prices.

ISRO completed the TV-D2 abort test for Gaganyaan, demonstrating crew module escape from a malfunctioning rocket. Critical step before the uncrewed orbital test in 2026.

Ernst & Young's Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index (RECAI) 2026 placed India at #4 globally (up from #5). USA #1, China #2, Germany #3. Recognition for India's 220 GW capacity and 500 GW by 2030 target.

India hosted the International Buddhist Confederation Summit in Bodh Gaya with delegates from 35 nations. Theme: "Buddha Path for World Peace and Climate Justice." Boost to soft-power diplomacy.

India and ASEAN concluded six rounds of negotiations to upgrade the AIFTA (ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement). Key gains: digital trade chapter, simpler rules of origin, services market access.

ISRO conducted the fourth landing experiment of its Reusable Launch Vehicle Technology Demonstrator at the Aeronautical Test Range, Chitradurga. The autonomous spaceplane landed precisely after release from a helicopter at 4.5 km altitude.

India and Japan signed an MoU for next-phase of bullet train projects beyond Mumbai-Ahmedabad. Tentative routes: Delhi-Varanasi, Mumbai-Hyderabad, Chennai-Bengaluru. Tech transfer + Make in India focus.

India hosted the first South Asian Universities Federation summit at IIT Delhi with vice-chancellors of 50+ universities from SAARC nations. Theme: research collaboration, faculty exchange, recognition of degrees.

PM Modi inaugurated the 12th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit at Gandhinagar. Theme: "Gateway to the Future." MoUs worth ₹27 lakh crore signed across electronics, renewable energy, semiconductors.