SSC Current Affairs — June 2026

India scales up dam-safety rehabilitation under DRIP and the Dam Safety Act 2021 with a four-tier NCDS–NDSA–SCDS–SDSO architecture.

India is undertaking one of the world's largest dam rehabilitation and safety modernisation programmes to strengthen ageing water infrastru…

Iran's IRGC proposal in the Strait of Hormuz exposes the fragility of submarine cables that carry 95–99% of global data traffic.

A proposal by Iranian state media, linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), to impose licensing fees and 'protection' paymen…

Sukhdev Thapar birth anniversary observed on 15 May 2026 — HSRA strategist hanged with Bhagat Singh and Rajguru in 1931.

India observed the birth anniversary of Shaheed Sukhdev Thapar on 15 May 2026, marking 119 years since the birth of one of the principal st…

Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool launched with $1.5 billion capacity and ₹12,980 crore sovereign guarantee under GIC Re.

The Government of India has formally constituted the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMI Pool) — a government-backed maritime insurance veh…

Rupee hits record low ₹95.80/$ on May 13, 2026 (₹95.86 on May 14); FII outflows ₹1,959 cr/day, forex reserves at $690.69 bn after ~$38 bn RBI intervention; gold/silver duty hiked 6% → 15% to stem capital flight

On May 13, 2026 the Indian rupee plunged to a record intraday low of 95.80 per US dollar; it slipped further to a fresh record low of 95.86…

IP Catalyst launched by MeitY (May 12, 2026) at India Habitat Centre with platform cipie.in; C-DAC Pune implements; targets Electronics & IT — the sector behind a 52% rise in India's record 1,43,729 patent filings in FY 2025–26

On May 12, 2026, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched the 'IP Catalyst' initiative and its dedicated dig…

Gold/silver import duty raised 6%→15% and a 100 kg AA-scheme cap imposed: India tightens bullion to defend the rupee as FY26 gold imports hit USD 71.98 bn (+24.08% YoY)

Two back-to-back moves in mid-May 2026 reset India's gold-import regime. On 13 May 2026, the government raised the effective import duty on…

MSMEs power grassroots India: 31% of GDP, 32.8 crore jobs, 48.5% of exports — Udyam crosses 7.9 crore registrations

India's micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are at the centre of the 2026-27 budget and policy conversation, with new SIDBI data sh…

MSP hike for 14 Kharif crops for MY 2026-27: sunflower +₹622, cotton +₹557, paddy ₹2,441/qt; total payout ₹2.6 lakh crore

On 13 May 2026, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved an increase in the Mini…

SC's 9-judge bench reserves verdict in Sabarimala reference on Article 25 vs. gender equality; Centre argues Article 25(1) protects religious freedom, not gender equality

A nine-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, on 14 May 2026 reserved its verdict in the…

ECI launches SIR Phase III in 16 states and 3 UTs; Odisha drive runs 30 May – 28 June 2026, covering 33.4 million voters across 45,255 booths.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) will conduct a month-long Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Odisha from 30 May…

ECI rolls out SIR Phase-III: 36.73 crore electors across 16 states + 3 UTs to be verified door-to-door by 3.94 lakh Booth Level Officers, with 3.42 lakh Booth Level Agents from political parties; HP, J&K and Ladakh kept out — qualifying dates 1 July 2026 / 1 October 2026.

On 14 May 2026, the Election Commission of India (ECI) launched Phase III of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the l…

Maize overtakes sugarcane as India's No. 1 ethanol feedstock: 182 crore litres from maize in H1 of ESY 2025-26; total ethanol supply ~515 crore litres (49% of 1,059-cr-litre contract); sugarcane-based 182 cr litres (62% of its contracted share); SCJ 130 cr + BHM 45 cr + CHM 7 cr.

Industry estimates released by the All India Distillers' Association (AIDA) indicate that, for the first time in the history of India's Eth…

NTA cancels NEET-UG 2026 over paper leak; CBI probe ordered, re-exam set for June 21 — credibility crisis tests the 2024 anti-cheating Act

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination — held on 3 May 2026 for more than 22 lakh candidates — after…

Vijay sworn in as Tamil Nadu CM — TVK-led coalition ends 59 years of Dravidian bipolar politics and revives the actor-to-CM tradition of MGR and Jayalalithaa

C. Joseph Vijay, popularly known as Thalapathy Vijay, was sworn in as the 9th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 10 May 2026 at the Jawaharlal…

₹41,534 crore P&K subsidy cleared for Kharif 2026 (Apr 1–Sep 30); ₹4,317 cr above last year as India pushes nano-urea, natural farming and DBT to fix a 34:10:1 NPK distortion vs ideal 4:2:1

On April 8, 2026, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved a ₹41,534 crore Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) for Phosp…

UNEP's Sand & Sustainability III (May 12, 2026) — extraction hits 50 billion tonnes/year (5x of 1970), building-demand to rise 45% by 2060; report names sand the second-most extracted material after water

On May 12, 2026, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released its third Sand and Sustainability report — titled 'Sand and Susta…

India chairs CCDB (April 2026 – April 2028) — the technical heart of the global IT-security certification treaty (CCRA), confirmed at the Tokyo Q1 meeting; India has been a Certificate Authorising Nation since Sept 2013

On May 14, 2026, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) confirmed that India has been nominated Chair of the Common…

Asiatic lion count rises to 891 (up 32% from 674 in 2020) per the 16th Population Estimation 2025; Union Minister Bhupender Yadav launches 'Lion' Species Spotlight Programme at Sasan Gir ahead of India's first IBCA Summit (June 1–2, 2026, New Delhi)

On the eve of India's first-ever International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit — scheduled for June 1–2, 2026 in New Delhi under PM Modi's c…

Modi begins five-nation tour in UAE: oil-reserve and LPG pacts inked with India's 4th-largest crude source and a federation of seven emirates founded in 1971

Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Abu Dhabi on May 15, 2026, beginning a six-day, five-nation visit covering the UAE, Netherlands, Swe…

WHO World Health Statistics 2026: world off-track on all health SDGs — malaria up 8.5%, 22.1 million COVID-19 excess deaths, 1.6 billion in health-related poverty, life expectancy fell back to 2011 levels

On 13 May 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) released the World Health Statistics 2026 report — its annual flagship statistical comp…

Over 100 killed as severe pre-monsoon thunderstorms batter Uttar Pradesh; NDMA 2018 guidelines back in focus

Severe pre-monsoon thunderstorms swept across northern and eastern Uttar Pradesh on 14 May 2026, killing more than 100 people and injuring…

FACT commences DAP production at Udyogamandal (Kochi) under NBS scheme from 15 May 2026; government permission was granted on 24 April 2026

The Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Limited (FACT), a central public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers,…

Kaziranga release: India tags its first Ganges soft-shell turtle by satellite on Endangered Species Day; Wildlife Institute of India led, National Geographic Society funded

On 15 May 2026, observed globally as Endangered Species Day, India released its first satellite-tagged Ganges soft-shell turtle (*Nilssonia…

Rathindra Bose elected unopposed as Speaker of 18th West Bengal Assembly; first ever from North Bengal — BJP holds 207 of 294 seats, CM Suvendu Adhikari proposed his name

Rathindra Bose, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from the Cooch Behar Dakshin (South) constituency in North Bengal, was on 15 May 2026 el…

Bhupender Yadav launches 'Lion' Species Spotlight at Sasan Gir ahead of India's first IBCA Summit (1-2 June 2026, New Delhi) chaired by PM Narendra Modi; 95 countries and 400+ delegates expected; theme — 'Save Big Cats, Save Humanity, Save Ecosystem'; India home to 5 of 7 big cat species.

On 14 May 2026, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav launched the 'Lion' Species Spotlight Programme a…

IMD launches block-level monsoon forecast for 3,196 blocks across 15 states + 1 UT — AI-augmented, four-week-ahead, built with IITM and NCMRWF for rainfed farmers

The India Meteorological Department (IMD), jointly with the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM, Pune) and the National Centre f…

Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 (11-17 May), theme 'Action' — Mental Health Foundation pushes beyond awareness to concrete personal, community and policy steps

Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 was observed in the United Kingdom and many partnering countries from 11 May to 17 May 2026, with the off…

MoSPI released the 27th edition of 'Women and Men in India 2025' in Bhubaneswar on 29 April 2026 — rural female LFPR jumped 37.5% to 45.9% (2022-2025) and women managers grew 102.54%.

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the 27th edition of its flagship publication 'Women and Men in Ind…

Ministry of Panchayati Raj released Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 on 24 April 2026 (National Panchayati Raj Day) — 2.59 lakh GPs graded, zero Achievers (A+), Tripura the top performer.

On 24 April 2026 — National Panchayati Raj Day (NPRD) — the Ministry of Panchayati Raj released the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 r…

Sacred Piprahwa relics of the Tathagata Buddha arrived in Leh on 29 April 2026 — first-ever domestic exposition tour, opens at Jivetsal on Buddha Purnima (1 May 2026) with Amit Shah attending.

On 29 April 2026, the sacred Piprahwa relics of Lord Buddha arrived at Kushok Bakula Rinpoche Airport, Leh, for a historic public expositio…

NSO's 80th round household health survey records median OOPE of ₹11,285 per hospitalisation and rural outpatient utilisation in public facilities up from 28% (2014) to 35% (2025).

MoHFW, drawing on the National Statistical Office's (NSO, MoSPI) 80th round survey on Household Social Consumption: Health, released the la…

MoRTH issues draft Central Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, 2026 on 27 April — formally adding E85, E100, and B100 biodiesel for vehicle certification, after India met E20 in 2025.

On 27 April 2026, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) issued a draft notification amending Rule 115 of the Central Motor Ve…

Gyan Bharatam Mission survey unearths a Tatya Tope 1857-revolt letter in Madhya Pradesh archives — part of GoI's Union Budget 2025-26 push to digitise over 1 crore manuscripts.

The Gyan Bharatam Mission's national manuscripts survey has unearthed a 1857-era letter linked to Tatya Tope in Madhya Pradesh archives — b…

India invokes the WTO Peace Clause for the 7th consecutive time — notifying $7.6 billion in rice subsidies above the 10% AoA ceiling under the Bali 2013 food-security mechanism.

India has invoked the World Trade Organization's 'Peace Clause' for the seventh consecutive time, notifying the WTO's Committee on Agricult…

NISAR — the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite — maps Mexico City subsiding at over 2 cm/month in its first major science result, validating dual-band radar from orbit.

On 29 April 2026, NASA released the first major science result from the joint NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission: a high-re…

India deploys Aarogya Maitri portable healthcare in Jamaica — anchored on the BHISHM Cube modular medical system, under the HADR framework with NSCS-MEA coordination.

On 30 April 2026, India deployed its flagship Aarogya Maitri portable healthcare infrastructure — anchored on the BHISHM (Bharat Health Ini…

NIOT to install a high-frequency (HF) radar at Karaikal, Puducherry — pairing with the Cuddalore station to monitor surface currents up to 200 km offshore for cyclone early warning.

The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), is set to install a…

Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal, former Punjab & Haryana HC judge, appointed NCLT President for 5 years; Delhi HC closes plea against acting-president appointment as infructuous.

On 29 April 2026, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved — and the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) notified —…

DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat confirms readiness for Agni-VI ICBM development; LR-AShM hypersonic glide missile nears initial trials at the ANI Security Summit 2.0.

Speaking at the ANI National Security Summit 2.0 on 30 April 2026, DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat said the organisation is technically ready t…

Vietnam President To Lam to pay state visit to India from 5-7 May 2026 — coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

On the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President To Lam of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam will pay a State Visit to India fr…

Telangana appoints V. Hanumantha Rao Advisor for Backward Classes Welfare (MoS rank) and B. Shivadhar Reddy State Security Advisor (Chief Secretary rank, 3-year term).

On 30 April 2026, the Telangana government announced two senior advisory appointments. V. Hanumantha Rao — a senior Congress leader with fi…

UAE has announced its exit from OPEC and OPEC+ effective 1 May 2026 — ending nearly six decades of membership (since 1967 through Abu Dhabi); UAE was OPEC's third-largest producer behind Saudi Arabia and Iraq with ~4.8 million bpd capacity (target 5 million bpd by 2027); decision announced by UAE Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei on 28 April 2026; backdrop = US-Israel war on Iran + Strait of Hormuz disruptions (~20% of world's crude + LNG); World Bank warned conflicts could raise energy prices by 25% this year; OPEC founded September 1960 at Baghdad Conference; HQ Vienna, Austria; OPEC controls ~30% global supply, OPEC+ ~41%.

UAE ने 1 मई 2026 से OPEC एवं OPEC+ से बाहर निकलने की घोषणा की है — 1967 (Abu Dhabi के माध्यम से) से लगभग छह दशकों की सदस्यता समाप्त; UAE OPEC का तीसरा सबसे बड़ा उत्पादक था (सऊदी अरब + इराक के बाद) ~4.8 मिलियन bpd क्षमता (लक्ष्य 2027 तक 5 मिलियन bpd); निर्णय UAE ऊर्जा मंत्री Suhail Al Mazrouei द्वारा 28 अप्रैल 2026 को घोषित; पृष्ठभूमि = अमेरिका-इज़राइल का ईरान पर युद्ध + होर्मुज़ जलडमरूमध्य व्यवधान (विश्व के कच्चे तेल + LNG का ~20%); विश्व बैंक ने चेतावनी दी कि संघर्ष इस वर्ष ऊर्जा क़ीमतों को 25% तक बढ़ा सकते हैं; OPEC सितंबर 1960 में बग़दाद सम्मेलन में स्थापित; HQ वियना, ऑस्ट्रिया; OPEC = वैश्विक आपूर्ति का ~30%, OPEC+ = ~41%।

The United Arab Emirates has announced its exit from OPEC and OPEC+ effective Friday, 1 May 2026 — ending nearly six decades of membership…

CAG audit finds 74% of J&K's lakes have shrunk or vanished since 1967 — yet conservation focuses on just 6 of 697 lakes.

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has tabled an audit report on the conservation and management of lakes in Jammu and Kashmir fo…

PM Narendra Modi participated in the closing ceremony of Sikkim's 50th Year of Statehood celebrations at Paljor Stadium, Gangtok on 28 April 2026 — launched ₹4,000 crore development projects (infrastructure, connectivity, healthcare, education, power, tourism, agriculture); year-long celebrations began May 2025; Sikkim became India's 22nd state on 16 May 1975 via the 36th Constitutional Amendment Act following the April 1975 referendum (~97.5% voted to abolish monarchy); Kingdom of Sikkim founded 1642 with Phuntsog Namgyal as 1st Chogyal; Treaty of Tumlong, 1861 = British protectorate; 1950 Indo-Sikkim Treaty = Indian protectorate; 1973 tripartite agreement = reform path; CM Prem Singh Tamang; Governor Om Prakash Mathur.

PM नरेंद्र मोदी ने सिक्किम के 50वें राज्यत्व वर्ष के समापन समारोह में Paljor स्टेडियम, गंगटोक में 28 अप्रैल 2026 को भाग लिया — ₹4,000 करोड़ की विकास परियोजनाओं का शुभारंभ (बुनियादी ढाँचा, कनेक्टिविटी, स्वास्थ्य, शिक्षा, पर्यटन, कृषि); वर्ष-भर के उत्सव मई 2025 से; सिक्किम भारत का 22वाँ राज्य बना 16 मई 1975 को 36वें संवैधानिक संशोधन अधिनियम के माध्यम से अप्रैल 1975 जनमत संग्रह के बाद (~97.5% ने राजशाही समाप्त करने का मत दिया); सिक्किम राज्य की स्थापना 1642 में Phuntsog Namgyal ने प्रथम चोग्याल के रूप में की; Tumlong संधि, 1861 = ब्रिटिश संरक्षक राज्य; 1950 भारत-सिक्किम संधि = भारतीय संरक्षक राज्य; 1973 त्रिपक्षीय समझौता; CM प्रेम सिंह तमांग; राज्यपाल ओम प्रकाश माथुर।

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the closing ceremony of Sikkim's 50th Year of Statehood celebrations at Paljor Stadium, Gangto…

Indian Army hosts inaugural edition of multilateral military Exercise PRAGATI at the Foreign Training Node, Umroi, Meghalaya from 18-31 May 2026 — PRAGATI = Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region; 11 friendly foreign countries participating; invitations were extended to 15 countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam); aims = strengthen defence cooperation + enhance interoperability + build mutual trust; aligns with India's Neighbourhood First + Act East + SAGAR / MAHASAGAR doctrines; CoAS = General Upendra Dwivedi.

भारतीय सेना ने 18-31 मई 2026 को Foreign Training Node, Umroi, मेघालय में बहुपक्षीय सैन्य अभ्यास PRAGATI का उद्घाटन संस्करण आयोजित किया — PRAGATI = Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region; 11 मित्र देश भाग ले रहे हैं; 15 देशों को आमंत्रण भेजा गया था (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam); उद्देश्य = रक्षा सहयोग + अंतर-संचालनीयता + पारस्परिक विश्वास; भारत के पड़ोसी प्रथम + एक्ट ईस्ट + SAGAR / MAHASAGAR सिद्धांतों के अनुरूप; CoAS = जनरल Upendra Dwivedi।

The Indian Army is hosting the inaugural edition of multilateral military Exercise PRAGATI at the Foreign Training Node, Umroi, Meghalaya f…

Yaakai Heritage Trust reappraises the Vellarikombai prehistoric rock-art site in the Nilgiris — 30 stylised figures in red ochre, first identified in 1984.

The Yaakai Heritage Trust has released a fresh field reappraisal of the Vellarikombai rock-art site in Kotagiri taluk of Nilgiris district,…

New research suggests a Bering Strait Dam could stabilise the AMOC — the Atlantic ocean circulation whose weakening was confirmed by IPCC AR6.

A new geoengineering paper has revived the Bering Strait Dam concept — first proposed by Soviet engineers in the 1960s, but with a flipped…

Google is set to develop a USD 15 billion AI Data Centre Hub near Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh — through subsidiary Raiden Infotech in partnership with Adani Infra — with planned 1 GW capacity across sites in Tarluvada, Adavivaram, and Rambilli; one of India's largest single FDI projects.

Google विशाखापत्तनम, आंध्र प्रदेश के पास USD 15 बिलियन का AI डेटा सेंटर हब विकसित करेगा — सहायक कंपनी Raiden Infotech एवं Adani Infra की साझेदारी में; 1 GW क्षमता; तरलुवदा, अदाविवरम (विशाखापत्तनम) एवं रांबिल्ली (अनकापल्ली) में स्थल; भारत के सबसे बड़े एकल FDI परियोजनाओं में से।

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister is set to lay the foundation stone for Google's USD 15 billion AI Data Centre Hub near Visakhapatnam — one of…

India ranked the world's 5th largest defence spender in 2025 at USD 92.1 billion (3.2% of global total) per SIPRI — behind US, China, Russia, Germany; up 8.9% YoY linked to Operation Sindoor procurements; global military spending hit a record USD 2.887 trillion in 2025; US + China + Russia accounted for 51%; Europe up 14% on Russia-Ukraine war; Pakistan +11% to USD 11.9 bn (rank 31); India remains world's 2nd-largest weapons importer at 8.2% of global arms imports despite a 4% fall between 2016-20 and 2021-25; arms-supplier mix shifting from Russia to France, Israel, US.

SIPRI के अनुसार भारत 2025 में विश्व का 5वाँ सबसे बड़ा रक्षा खर्चकर्ता = USD 92.1 बिलियन (वैश्विक कुल का 3.2%); अमेरिका, चीन, रूस, जर्मनी के बाद; +8.9% YoY = ऑपरेशन सिंदूर खरीद; वैश्विक सैन्य खर्च = रिकॉर्ड USD 2.887 ट्रिलियन; अमेरिका + चीन + रूस = 51%; यूरोप +14% (रूस-यूक्रेन); पाकिस्तान +11% = USD 11.9 बिलियन, रैंक 31; भारत विश्व का दूसरा सबसे बड़ा हथियार आयातक = वैश्विक का 8.2% (2016-20 बनाम 2021-25 में 4% गिरावट के बावजूद); आपूर्तिकर्ता शिफ्ट रूस से फ्रांस, इज़राइल, अमेरिका की ओर।

India ranked as the world's 5th largest defence spender in 2025, according to the latest report by the Stockholm International Peace Resear…

Ladakh to get five new districts — Nubra, Sham, Changthang, Zanskar, Drass — taking the total from 2 (Leh + Kargil) to 7; approved by Ladakh LG Vinai Kumar Saxena on 27 April 2026; MHA approval came August 2024 under Union HM Amit Shah; Saxena is the 4th LG of Ladakh since 13 March 2026, succeeding Kavinder Gupta; bifurcation context is Article 370 abrogation (5 August 2019) and Ladakh becoming a UT on 31 October 2019; total area 86,904 sq km bordering China and Pakistan; population 2.74 lakh (2011 census).

लद्दाख को पाँच नए ज़िले — Nubra, Sham, Changthang, Zanskar, Drass मिलेंगे — कुल 2 (Leh + Kargil) से 7 हो जाएगा; लद्दाख LG विनय कुमार सक्सेना द्वारा 27 अप्रैल 2026 को मंज़ूरी; MHA की मंज़ूरी अगस्त 2024 में केंद्रीय गृह मंत्री अमित शाह के तहत; सक्सेना लद्दाख के 4थे LG हैं, 13 मार्च 2026 से, कविंदर गुप्ता के बाद; पृष्ठभूमि = अनुच्छेद 370 निरस्तीकरण (5 अगस्त 2019) एवं लद्दाख का 31 अक्टूबर 2019 को UT बनना; कुल क्षेत्रफल 86,904 वर्ग किमी चीन एवं पाकिस्तान से सीमा; जनसंख्या 2.74 लाख (2011 जनगणना)।

Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has approved the creation of five new districts in the Union Territory on 27 April 2026 — Nub…

P V Sindhu has joined the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Council as a voting member after being elected Chair of the BWF Athletes Commission in late 2025; first appearance at the BWF Annual General Meeting in Horsens, Denmark; appointment welcomed by BWF President Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul of Thailand; rare for an active elite athlete to hold a voting role in BWF Council; Sindhu is two-time Olympic medallist (silver Rio 2016, bronze Tokyo 2020) and former BWF World Champion (2019).

पी वी सिंधु बैडमिंटन वर्ल्ड फेडरेशन (BWF) काउंसिल में मतदाता सदस्य के रूप में शामिल हुई हैं — 2025 के अंत में BWF Athletes Commission की अध्यक्ष चुनी जाने के बाद; Horsens, Denmark में BWF AGM में पहली उपस्थिति; BWF अध्यक्ष Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul (थाईलैंड) ने नियुक्ति का स्वागत किया; सक्रिय अभिजात खिलाड़ी के लिए BWF काउंसिल में मतदान भूमिका दुर्लभ; सिंधु = दो बार ओलंपिक पदक विजेता (सिल्वर रियो 2016, ब्रॉन्ज़ टोक्यो 2020) एवं पूर्व BWF विश्व चैंपियन (2019)।

Indian Olympic medallist P V Sindhu has officially become a part of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Council as a voting member — takin…

St. Francis Xavier (1506-1552) — patron saint of Goa, affectionately called 'Goencho Saib' — was a pioneering Jesuit missionary and co-founder of the Society of Jesus (1540); arrived in Goa in May 1542, founded St. Paul's College in Old Goa, died on Shangchuan Island (1552) while attempting to enter China; canonised by Pope Gregory XV in 1622; remains housed since 1624 in a silver casket at the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa.

सेंट फ्रांसिस ज़ेवियर (1506-1552) — गोवा के संरक्षक संत, स्थानीय रूप से 'गोएंचो साइब' कहलाते हैं — एक अग्रणी जेसुइट मिशनरी एवं सोसाइटी ऑफ़ जीसस (1540) के सह-संस्थापक; मई 1542 में गोवा पहुँचे, पुराने गोवा में सेंट पॉल कॉलेज स्थापित किया, शांगचुआन द्वीप (1552) पर निधन; पोप ग्रेगोरी XV द्वारा 1622 में संत घोषित; अवशेष 1624 से बेसिलिका ऑफ़ बॉम जीसस, पुराने गोवा में चांदी के ताबूत में रखे हैं।

St. Francis Xavier is in the news after YouTuber Gautam Khattar was arrested and brought to Goa on a transit remand for allegedly making de…

Formula 1 has launched the F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026 — India's first official F1-sanctioned sim racing championship — in partnership with Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited; structured as online qualifiers → city rounds → national championship in Mumbai; comes after esports' official recognition under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025; India last hosted a Formula 1 Grand Prix at Buddh International Circuit, Greater Noida in 2013.

Formula 1 ने F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026 लॉन्च किया है — भारत की पहली आधिकारिक F1-स्वीकृत सिम रेसिंग चैंपियनशिप — Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited के साथ साझेदारी में; संरचना: ऑनलाइन क्वालीफ़ायर → शहर राउंड → मुंबई में राष्ट्रीय चैंपियनशिप; ऑनलाइन गेमिंग अधिनियम 2025 के तहत esports की आधिकारिक मान्यता के बाद; भारत ने अंतिम बार 2013 में बुद्ध इंटरनेशनल सर्किट, ग्रेटर नोएडा में Formula 1 ग्रैंड प्रिक्स की मेज़बानी की थी।

Formula 1 has launched the F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026 — India's first official F1-sanctioned sim racing championship — through a partner…

Seven former Members of Parliament of the AAM AADMI PARTY (AAP) joined the BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY (BJP) and cited the 'MERGER' PROVISION under the ANTI-DEFECTION LAW (Tenth Schedule of the Constitution) to avoid disqualification — raising constitutional questions on whether a LEGISLATURE PARTY ALONE can claim a valid merger without the involvement of the ORIGINAL POLITICAL PARTY; the Anti-Defection Law was added by the 52ND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ACT, 1985 (creating the Tenth Schedule) to stop the 'Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram' culture of mass defections; the 91ST CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ACT, 2003 strengthened the law by OMITTING THE 'SPLIT' PROVISION (which had earlier allowed one-third of members to defect without disqualification) and retaining only the 'MERGER' PROVISION (which requires at least TWO-THIRDS of the legislature party's members to agree to a merger with another political party); the recent episode revives long-standing concerns about loopholes enabling mass defections, the Speaker's role and bias, delayed adjudication, and weakening of legislative independence and democracy.

आम आदमी पार्टी (AAP) के सात पूर्व सांसद भारतीय जनता पार्टी (BJP) में शामिल हो गए एवं अयोग्यता से बचने के लिए दल-बदल विरोधी क़ानून (संविधान की दसवीं अनुसूची) के तहत 'विलय' प्रावधान का हवाला दिया है — जिससे संवैधानिक प्रश्न उठे हैं कि क्या केवल विधायी दल अपने मूल राजनीतिक दल की भागीदारी के बिना एक वैध विलय का दावा कर सकता है; दल-बदल विरोधी क़ानून को 52वें संविधान संशोधन अधिनियम, 1985 द्वारा जोड़ा गया था (जिसने दसवीं अनुसूची बनाई) ताकि बड़े पैमाने पर दल-बदल की 'आया राम, गया राम' संस्कृति को रोका जा सके; 91वें संविधान संशोधन अधिनियम, 2003 ने 'विभाजन' प्रावधान (जिसने पहले एक-तिहाई सदस्यों को बिना अयोग्यता के दल-बदल की अनुमति दी थी) को हटाकर एवं केवल 'विलय' प्रावधान (जो कम से कम दो-तिहाई विधायी दल सदस्यों की सहमति की आवश्यकता रखता है) को बरक़रार रखकर क़ानून को मज़बूत किया; हाल की घटना ने दल-बदल को सक्षम करने वाले लूपहोल्स, स्पीकर की भूमिका एवं पक्षपात, विलंबित निर्णय, एवं विधायी स्वतंत्रता एवं लोकतंत्र की कमज़ोरी पर लंबे समय से चली आ रही चिंताओं को पुनर्जीवित किया है।

Seven former Members of Parliament of the AAM AADMI PARTY (AAP) joined the BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY (BJP) and cited the 'MERGER' PROVISION un…

INDIA is shifting its growth strategy to centralise CREATIVITY, CULTURE, and CONTENT through the ORANGE ECONOMY — an economic model powered by creativity, cultural expression, and intellectual property spanning DESIGN, FILM, ANIMATION, VFX (visual effects), GAMING, FASHION, DIGITAL MEDIA, and IMMERSIVE STORYTELLING — aiming to transform vast cultural assets into scalable global Intellectual Property; key indicators include over 1.028 BILLION INTERNET SUBSCRIBERS (with more than one billion broadband users); INDIA AS THE WORLD'S SECOND-LARGEST GAMING MARKET (~42.5 crore gamers; sector reached ₹16,428 crore in FY23 with 28% CAGR); 2-2.5 MILLION ACTIVE CREATORS influencing $350-400 billion in consumer spending (projected $1 TRILLION BY 2030); YOUTUBE'S CREATIVE ECOSYSTEM contributing over ₹16,000 crore to India's GDP in 2024 with 9,30,000+ full-time-equivalent jobs; the GOVERNMENT'S AVGC-XR INITIATIVE (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics + Extended Reality) is projected to generate 20 LAKH (2 million) DIRECT AND INDIRECT JOBS over the next decade.

भारत 'ऑरेंज इकोनॉमी' के माध्यम से रचनात्मकता, संस्कृति, एवं कंटेंट को केंद्रीकृत करने के लिए अपनी विकास रणनीति बदल रहा है — रचनात्मकता, सांस्कृतिक अभिव्यक्ति, एवं बौद्धिक संपदा द्वारा संचालित एक आर्थिक मॉडल जो डिज़ाइन, फ़िल्म, एनिमेशन, VFX, गेमिंग, फ़ैशन, डिजिटल मीडिया, एवं इमर्सिव स्टोरीटेलिंग में फैला है — विशाल सांस्कृतिक संपत्तियों को मापनीय वैश्विक बौद्धिक संपदा में बदलने का लक्ष्य; प्रमुख संकेतक: 1.028 बिलियन इंटरनेट सब्सक्राइबर्स (1 बिलियन से अधिक ब्रॉडबैंड); भारत = विश्व का दूसरा सबसे बड़ा गेमिंग बाज़ार (~42.5 करोड़ गेमर्स; 28% CAGR के साथ FY23 में ₹16,428 करोड़); 2-2.5 मिलियन सक्रिय क्रिएटर्स जो $350-400 बिलियन उपभोक्ता ख़र्च को प्रभावित करते हैं (2030 तक $1 ट्रिलियन अनुमानित); YouTube का रचनात्मक पारिस्थितिकी तंत्र = 2024 में ₹16,000 करोड़ GDP योगदान + 9,30,000+ FTE नौकरियाँ; AVGC-XR पहल = अगले दशक में 20 लाख प्रत्यक्ष/अप्रत्यक्ष नौकरियाँ।

India is shifting its growth strategy to centralise CREATIVITY, CULTURE, and CONTENT through the ORANGE ECONOMY — aiming to transform vast…

INDIA'S SPACE ECOSYSTEM has expanded sharply as PRIVATE INVESTMENT crossed $600 MILLION in five years (2019-2026); STARTUPS GREW from single digits in 2019 to 400+ STARTUPS by early 2026 across launch vehicles, satellite/payload manufacturing, ground infrastructure; India's SPACE ECONOMY is projected to reach $44 BILLION BY 2033 (~8% global share) and $100 BILLION BY 2040 (~10% global share); KEY ENABLERS: INDIAN SPACE POLICY 2023 enables end-to-end participation of NON-GOVERNMENT ENTITIES (NGEs) in all domains; FDI policy allows up to 74% AUTOMATIC for satellite manufacturing/operation and up to 49% for launch vehicles/spaceports; KEY ORGANISATIONS: IN-SPACe (regulator), ANTRIX (commercial arm), NEW SPACE INDIA LIMITED (NSIL, central PSU), INDIAN SPACE ASSOCIATION (industry body); IN 2022, VIKRAM-S became INDIA'S FIRST PRIVATELY BUILT ROCKET launched under MISSION PRARAMBH by Skyroot Aerospace.

भारत का अंतरिक्ष पारिस्थितिकी तंत्र तेज़ी से विस्तारित हुआ क्योंकि निजी निवेश पाँच वर्षों (2019-2026) में $600 मिलियन को पार कर गया; स्टार्टअप्स 2019 के एकल अंकों से 2026 की शुरुआत तक 400+ स्टार्टअप्स तक बढ़ गए — प्रक्षेपण यान, उपग्रह/पेलोड निर्माण, ज़मीनी अवसंरचना सहित; भारत की अंतरिक्ष अर्थव्यवस्था 2033 तक $44 बिलियन (~8% वैश्विक हिस्सा) एवं 2040 तक $100 बिलियन (~10% वैश्विक हिस्सा) तक पहुँचने का अनुमान है; प्रमुख सक्षमताएँ: भारतीय अंतरिक्ष नीति 2023 गैर-सरकारी संस्थाओं (NGEs) की सभी क्षेत्रों में पूर्ण भागीदारी सक्षम करती है; FDI नीति उपग्रह निर्माण/संचालन के लिए 74% तक स्वचालित एवं प्रक्षेपण यान/स्पेसपोर्ट के लिए 49% तक की अनुमति देती है; प्रमुख संगठन: IN-SPACe (नियामक), Antrix (व्यावसायिक शाखा), NSIL (केंद्रीय PSU), ISpA (उद्योग निकाय); 2022 में Vikram-S भारत का पहला निजी निर्मित रॉकेट स्काईरूट एयरोस्पेस द्वारा मिशन प्रारंभ के तहत प्रक्षेपित।

India's space ecosystem has expanded as PRIVATE INVESTMENT crossed $600 MILLION over five years (2019-2026), with 400+ STARTUPS now active…

IRAN has attacked SHIPS in the STRAIT OF HORMUZ in response to US SEIZURE of Iranian vessels — drawing fresh attention to the legal architecture of FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION (FoN) in INTERNATIONAL WATERS; at its narrowest, the Strait of Hormuz lies ENTIRELY within the OVERLAPPING TERRITORIAL WATERS of IRAN and OMAN and is governed by TRANSIT PASSAGE under the UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA (UNCLOS, in force 1994); UNCLOS CORE PRINCIPLES — GLOBAL COMMONS, FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION, RESOURCE RIGHTS, DISPUTE RESOLUTION — and defines MARITIME ZONES (territorial sea 12 NM, contiguous zone 24 NM, exclusive economic zone 200 NM, continental shelf); KEY CHALLENGES to FoN: GEOPOLITICAL/STRATEGIC leverage at chokepoints, LEGAL AMBIGUITY in UNCLOS interpretation/enforcement, UNILATERAL ACTIONS & SANCTIONS (US intercepted ships trading Venezuelan oil to Cuba), SECURITY THREATS (piracy, terrorism); CHOKEPOINTS examples — Panama Canal, Suez Canal, Strait of Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandeb, Strait of Malacca; INDIA is a Party to UNCLOS (ratified 1995).

ईरान ने ईरानी जहाज़ों की अमेरिकी ज़ब्ती के जवाब में हॉर्मुज जलडमरूमध्य में जहाज़ों पर हमला किया है — अंतर्राष्ट्रीय जल में नौवहन की स्वतंत्रता (FoN) के क़ानूनी ढाँचे पर नई चर्चा छिड़ी; अपने सबसे संकरे स्थान पर हॉर्मुज पूरी तरह ईरान और ओमान के अतिव्यापी प्रादेशिक जल में स्थित है और इसका प्रशासन UNCLOS (समुद्र विधि पर संयुक्त राष्ट्र अभिसमय, 1994 से लागू) के तहत 'पारगमन मार्ग' (Transit Passage) के नियमों से होता है; UNCLOS के मुख्य सिद्धांत — वैश्विक साझा (Global Commons), नौवहन की स्वतंत्रता, संसाधन अधिकार, विवाद समाधान — और समुद्री क्षेत्रों की परिभाषा (प्रादेशिक समुद्र 12 NM, सन्निहित क्षेत्र 24 NM, अनन्य आर्थिक क्षेत्र 200 NM, महाद्वीपीय शेल्फ); FoN की चुनौतियाँ: भू-राजनीतिक/रणनीतिक लाभ, क़ानूनी अस्पष्टता, एकतरफ़ा कार्रवाइयाँ (अमेरिका ने वेनेज़ुएला तेल के क्यूबा भेजे जा रहे जहाज़ों को रोका), सुरक्षा ख़तरे (समुद्री डकैती, आतंकवाद); चोकपॉइंट उदाहरण — पनामा नहर, स्वेज़ नहर, हॉर्मुज, बाब-अल-मंदेब, मलक्का जलडमरूमध्य; भारत UNCLOS का सदस्य है (1995 में अनुसमर्थित)।

Iran has attacked ships in the STRAIT OF HORMUZ in response to the United States' seizure of Iranian vessels — drawing fresh attention to t…

DPIIT has released operational guidelines for the Startup India Fund of Funds (SIFoF) 2.0 — a ₹10,000 crore corpus implemented by SIDBI under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, building on the 2016 Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS / SIFoF 1.0) and deployed via SEBI-registered AIFs to back deep-tech and early-growth startups.

DPIIT ने Startup India Fund of Funds (SIFoF) 2.0 के लिए परिचालन दिशानिर्देश जारी किए हैं — ₹10,000 करोड़ का कोष, वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय के अधीन SIDBI द्वारा कार्यान्वित; 2016 के Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS / SIFoF 1.0) पर आधारित, SEBI-पंजीकृत AIFs के माध्यम से तैनात; डीप-टेक एवं प्रारंभिक-विकास स्टार्टअप्स पर केंद्रित।

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has released the operational guidelines for the Startup India Fund of F…

The Indian Army has raised its 16th Bhairav Battalion — a light-commando infantry unit of about 250 soldiers — at the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre in Belagavi, Karnataka, designed to bridge the gap between conventional infantry and elite Special Forces.

भारतीय सेना ने अपनी 16वीं भैरव बटालियन — लगभग 250 सैनिकों की लाइट-कमांडो पैदल इकाई — बेलगावी, कर्नाटक स्थित मराठा लाइट इन्फैंट्री रेजिमेंटल सेंटर में खड़ी की है; यह पारंपरिक पैदल सेना एवं अभिजात्य विशेष बलों के बीच की भूमिका के लिए डिज़ाइन की गई है।

The Indian Army has raised its 16th 'Bhairav' Battalion — also known as the Bhairav Light Commando Battalion — at the Maratha Light Infantr…