Daily Current Affairs – 13-06-2026

Tamil Nadu News

Kuruvai Special Package Scheme 2026

Chief Minister S. Joseph Vijay announced the implementation of the Kuruvai Special Package Scheme in Tamil Nadu at an estimated cost of Rs. 134.83 crore to promote Kuruvai paddy cultivation. Tamil Nadu records paddy cultivation on 52.72 lakh acres, including 20.65 lakh acres in the Cauvery Delta districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, and parts of Cuddalore, Tiruchirappalli, and Ariyalur districts, while 32.07 lakh acres are cultivated in non-delta districts. Due to delayed Southwest Monsoon conditions and low storage in the Mettur Dam, which recorded a water level of 79.56 feet with 41.52 TMC of storage, the scheme has been introduced to support cultivation through alternative methods. Under the scheme, Rs. 77.50 crore has been allocated for Kuruvai cultivation in delta districts using filter points, and Rs. 57.33 crore for promoting Kar, Kuruvai, and Sornavari paddy cultivation in non-delta districts. Desilting works covering 2,325 km of C and D canals have been completed at a cost of Rs. 10 crore, while desilting of 4,971 km of A and B canals has been undertaken by the Water Resources Department at a cost of Rs. 100 crore, with 97% of the work completed. For cultivation, 10,714 metric tonnes of paddy seeds and 4.02 lakh metric tonnes of fertilizers have been stocked, and farmers will receive 18 hours of uninterrupted three-phase electricity supply daily.

Tambaram–Velachery Road Renamed

The council of Tambaram City Municipal Corporation approved a resolution to rename the Tambaram–Velachery Road as Major Mukund Varadarajan Road. Major Mukund Varadarajan, an officer of the Indian Army, attained martyrdom while on duty in 2014 and was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra by the Central Government. The road extending from Tambaram Railway Station to Velachery has been renamed in his honour. The resolution was passed in accordance with Section 186 of the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act, 1998 and the Rules, 2023, and received the approval of all members of the corporation council. T. Sarathkumar, MLA of Tambaram Constituency, Minister for Human Resources Development, and Minister for Ex-Servicemen Welfare, later met the family of Major Mukund Varadarajan.

VOC Port Expansion Project

VO Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOC Port), located in Thoothukudi, has planned a ₹5,720 crore project to deepen its harbour basin and approach channel to handle larger container, bulk cargo, and tanker vessels. Under the project, the port’s draught will be increased from 12.8 metres to 15.2 metres. The project also includes modification of the port entrance, construction of six new berths, and upgradation of existing berths. After completion, the port will be able to handle fully loaded Panamax vessels carrying 85,000–90,000 tonnes of cargo and large container ships with capacities of up to 14,000 TEUs. The approach channel length will be increased from 3.8 km to 10.04 km. The project is aimed at improving the competitiveness of VOC Port with nearby transshipment hubs such as Vizhinjam International Seaport and Colombo Port, both of which have depths exceeding 15 metres.

Tamil Nadu’s First Pink Police Booth

Tamil Nadu’s first Pink Police Booth was inaugurated at Ponneri under the Avadi Police Commissionerate. The facility has been established near the Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Ponneri, to prevent eve-teasing and strengthen round-the-clock surveillance across 15 village panchayats. The booth was inaugurated in the presence of Assistant Commissioner Rajasekaran. It is equipped with 12 CCTV cameras for monitoring and surveillance. S. Tamil Anban, Inspector of Police, E1 Ponneri Police Station, played a key role in the initiative. A notable feature of the booth is an in-house library containing books on ethics and competitive examinations for the benefit of students.

Proposed Hydrocarbon Project near Parangipettai

Hindustan Oil Exploration Company Limited (HOEC) has proposed a ₹425 crore project to drill four hydrocarbon development wells up to a depth of 3,000 metres off the Parangipettai coast in Cuddalore district. The proposed wells are located 18 km offshore within Coastal Regulatory Zone-IVA (CRZ-IVA) and 11.48 km from the mangroves at Mulukkuturai in the Pichavaram Reserve Forest. The project has been initiated under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy of the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and aims to offset the decline in production from the PY-1 field in the Cauvery Basin. The project application was submitted on June 1 and is under examination by the Tamil Nadu Coastal Zone Management Authority. Under the Tamil Nadu Protected Agricultural Zone Development Act, 2020, drilling is prohibited within the declared Protected Agricultural Zone covering the Cauvery Delta region, including several areas of Cuddalore district. The proposed offshore project is located outside the boundaries of the protected agricultural zone.

National News

Central Government Fuel Sale Restrictions

The Central Government has imposed a 90-day ban on the bulk sale of petrol and diesel to industries and institutions through retail fuel outlets. Under the new restrictions, industries and institutions must obtain their bulk fuel requirements from fuel stations located within their own facilities. Retail fuel outlets are permitted to supply a maximum of 200 litres of diesel per vehicle per day. Diesel can be filled only into vehicle fuel tanks or containers approved by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO). The restrictions have been introduced to ensure uninterrupted retail availability of petrol and diesel to the public. The Central Government and State Governments have been directed to monitor compliance with these regulations and take measures to prevent hoarding and black-market sales. The restrictions came into effect following the Central Government's announcement on June 12 and will remain in force for 90 days, with the possibility of extension through a fresh notification.

Diesel Sale Restriction to Prevent Black Marketing

The Government of India has restricted the sale of High-Speed Diesel (HSD) at retail fuel outlets to a maximum of 200 litres per customer or vehicle per day to prevent black marketing and hoarding. Industrial, commercial, institutional and bulk consumers are not permitted to procure Motor Spirit (MS) or High-Speed Diesel (HSD) from retail outlets and must obtain their fuel requirements from their own consumer pumps. Diesel can be dispensed only into vehicle fuel tanks or PESO (Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation) approved containers, and resale is prohibited. The restrictions will remain valid for a period of 90 days from the date of issue unless revoked earlier. The Oil Ministry reported a significant increase in diesel sales through Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) retail outlets, with 327 districts recording more than 10% growth and 80 districts recording more than 30% growth in May. States and Union Territories have been directed to enforce the order under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Regulation of Supply, Distribution and Prevention of Malpractices) Order, 2005.

IIT Madras Releases 3D Brainstem Atlas

The Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre (SGBC) at Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has released the world's first comprehensive 3D Brainstem Atlas named ANCHOR (Atlas of Neurochemical Characterisation of the Human Brainstem with 3D Reconstruction). The atlas provides detailed 3D mapping of the human brainstem from the prenatal stage to adulthood and offers cellular-level resolution beyond conventional MRI and CT scan imaging. The project was developed using high-throughput brain imaging, high-performance computing, and artificial intelligence (AI) imaging tools. The atlas has been made publicly accessible through a website for researchers, clinicians, and patients worldwide. Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam, Head of SGBC, stated that the centre aims to map more than 100 whole human brains covering the human lifespan and neurological diseases over the next two years. SGBC receives funding through seed contributions from Infosys Co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan, along with private firms and philanthropic organisations. The ANCHOR Brainstem Atlas was released during the 3rd BRICS Neuroscience Symposium 2026.

Water Storage in Major Reservoirs Declines

According to data released by the Central Water Commission (CWC), water storage in 166 major reservoirs across India has declined to 51.917 Billion Cubic Metres (BCM), which is 28% of their total storage capacity of 183.565 BCM. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported deficient or no rainfall in nearly two-thirds of the country between June 1 and June 11. In the southern region, the combined storage of 47 reservoirs stood at 21% of their total capacity, with Tamil Nadu recording 34%, Andhra Pradesh 33%, Kerala 22%, Telangana 15.5%, and Karnataka 14% storage levels. In the eastern region, 27 reservoirs recorded 22% storage. The northern region’s 11 reservoirs had 34% storage, while the western region’s 53 reservoirs had 31% storage, with Maharashtra at 21% and Gujarat at 40%. In the central region, 28 reservoirs recorded 35% storage, with Chhattisgarh at 52.5%, Madhya Pradesh at 37%, Uttar Pradesh at 29%, and Uttarakhand at 17%.

Green Ammonia Bunkering Hub at VOC Port

AM Green, a leading green hydrogen and ammonia developer, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the VO Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOC Port), Thoothukudi, on May 28 to develop a green ammonia marine bunkering hub. The project aims to create a capacity of 200 ktpa (kilotonnes per annum) by 2029–30 with an investment of ₹2,000 crore. The partners have also identified the possibility of expanding the capacity to 500 ktpa by 2035, involving a total investment of ₹5,000 crore. The agreement further strengthens AM Green’s commitment to establish a 1 mtpa (million tonnes per annum) green ammonia production facility near the port with an investment of ₹15,000 crore. A significant portion of land acquisition for the green hydrogen-ammonia complex has already been completed, and the project is expected to facilitate ₹35,000 crore investments in the renewable energy sector. Important associated personalities include Gautam Reddy Kumbam, CEO of AM Green, and Susanta Kumar Nath, Chairperson of the VOC Port Authority.

IndiaAI Mission and Varya AI Model

Under the IndiaAI Mission, startups supported by the programme have developed 20 foundational artificial intelligence (AI) models, of which five models have been released, according to S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The government-funded startup Avataar AI launched Varya, India's first indigenous distilled video-generation model. For the development of sovereign AI models, the Government of India supports research consortia, provides subsidised access to more than 38,000 Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), and supports selected technology organisations. Among the foundational models released are BharatGen, a multimodal Large Language Model (LLM) developed by the IIT Bombay-based academic consortium BharatGen, designed to integrate text, speech, and image understanding across 22 Indian languages, and a 105-billion-parameter AI model developed by the startup Sarvam. The Central Government is also supporting numeric models, scientific models, and medical diagnostic AI models. Important personalities associated with this development include S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, and Sravanth Aluru, CEO and Co-founder of Avataar AI.

Exemption for Vehicle Safety Technology Devices

The Government of India has exempted devices operating in the 5.9 GHz and 77–81 GHz radio frequency bands from the requirement of obtaining a wireless telegraphy licence, facilitating the introduction of self-driving systems and crash-avoidance technologies in vehicles. Under the new rules notified on Thursday, on-board units (OBUs) and short-range automotive radar systems installed in vehicles are exempt from licensing, provided they comply with prescribed technical and power emission limits. The decision aligns India with standards followed in the United States and Europe, enabling the integration of globally standardised vehicle safety radars and communication systems. Separately, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is conducting consultations to develop a regulatory framework for Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communications, covering both on-board units and roadside units. The proposed framework aims to improve road safety, support traffic management, and enable Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), following the government's in-principle approval of Cellular V2X as the harmonised standard.

Coral Translocation in Great Nicobar Island

The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has identified four sites on the west coast of Great Nicobar Island (GNI) for the translocation of coral colonies and giant clams that may be affected by the proposed transshipment port project at Galathea Bay under the Great Nicobar Island Mega Project. The decision was reported during the fourth meeting of the biodiversity-related committee held on November 7, and the meeting minutes were released on June 10 by the Andaman and Nicobar Island Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO). The translocation will be carried out in accordance with the conditions of Environmental Clearance (EC) and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearances, and each translocated coral colony will be monitored using GPS tagging. The biodiversity committee was constituted as per conditions imposed by the Ministry of Environment and is responsible for monitoring conservation measures related to Nicobar Megapode, Leatherback Sea Turtle, Saltwater Crocodile, Nicobar Macaque, Robber Crab, coral reefs, and other endemic species. Earlier, ZSI had proposed the translocation of 16,150 coral colonies from the Galathea Bay peninsula area. The National Green Tribunal (NGT), in its order dated February 16, ruled that the Island Coastal Regulation Zone (ICRZ) Notification, 2019 had not been violated and directed protection of coral reefs in accordance with the project’s environmental clearance conditions. ZSI also stated that approvals under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 would be obtained before handling Schedule-I species, including coral colonies and giant clams. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) reported the identification of 141 Leatherback Turtle nests, while the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) completed a pilot survey on endemic and tree-cavity-nesting birds in Great Nicobar Island and is conducting another survey on Coconut Crabs.

Draft Rules for TV and Radio Services

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) has released the Draft Telecommunications (TV, Radio and Associated Services) Rules, 2026, inviting stakeholder comments until July 27. The draft rules are framed under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and replace the regulatory framework that operated under the Telegraph Act, 1885. The proposed rules cover Television Channels, Direct-to-Home (DTH) Services, Head-end-in-the-Sky (HITS) Platforms, Teleports, Private FM Radio, Community Radio Stations, TV News Agencies, and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) Services. Television channels must broadcast at least 30 minutes of content daily between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. on themes of national importance and social relevance, including education, agriculture, healthcare, science, women’s welfare, environmental protection, and national integration. Private FM stations must air at least one hour of socially relevant programmes and ensure that at least 20% of daily content is locally produced. The draft rules propose an authorisation period of 10 years for television channels, teleports, TV news agencies, and community radio services, 15 years for private FM radio operators, and 20 years for TV channel distribution services. Broadcasters are required to preserve programme and advertisement recordings for 90 days, and any ownership change leading to key management changes will require prior government approval.

New Military Adviser to NSCS

Lieutenant-General Rajiv Ghai has been appointed as the new Military Adviser (MA) to the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), which functions under National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. This is the first time that a serving military officer has been appointed to this position. He is currently serving as the Deputy Chief of the Indian Army and earlier served as the Director-General of Military Operations (DGMO) during Operation Sindoor. Lieutenant-General Rajiv Ghai was commissioned into the Kumaon Regiment, and his service tenure extends until December 2027. The post of Military Adviser to the NSCS was previously held by General N.S. Raja Subramani, Air Marshal Sandeep Singh, and General Anil Chauhan.

International News

India Assists Maldives During Measles Outbreak

Following a measles outbreak in the Maldives, India provided humanitarian assistance by sending 20,000 doses of measles vaccine and 3 tonnes of medical equipment to the island nation. The medical supplies were handed over to Dr. Keela Ali, Minister of Health, Family and Social Services of the Maldives. The assistance was delivered on June 12 and was acknowledged by the Government of Maldives and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives.

Elon Musk Becomes a Trillionaire

Elon Musk, the chairman of SpaceX and Tesla, became the world's first trillionaire following the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of SpaceX. Born in South Africa, the 54-year-old entrepreneur also acquired the social media platform X in 2022 for 44 billion dollars. SpaceX announced an IPO valued at 75 billion dollars, surpassing the previous IPO record of 26 billion dollars raised by Saudi Aramco in 2019. Before the IPO, Elon Musk's net worth was estimated at 780 billion dollars. Following the increase in the value of SpaceX shares, his total net worth crossed 1.1 trillion dollars. A major portion of his wealth is linked to SpaceX, while he also holds significant stakes in Tesla. SpaceX operates in the fields of space exploration, satellite internet services, and artificial intelligence (AI). The company began trading on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange, and its operations are based at Starbase, Texas.

APEDA Issues SOP for Rice Exports to China

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has issued a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for rice exports to China following the rejection of certain non-basmati rice consignments over alleged Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) contamination. The SOP came into effect for all RCAC applications received from June 9, and applies to all rice consignments intended for export to China. Under the new guidelines, rice exports to China will be permitted only from rice mills and processing units registered with the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage (DPPQS) under the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, in accordance with the 2016 Order. Exporters must also be registered with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) or source rice from GACC-registered facilities. APEDA clarified to GACC that India is a non-GMO rice-producing country, based on confirmations from ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) and GEAC (Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee) that GMO rice seeds are not available in India and commercial cultivation of GMO rice has not been permitted. The SOP mandates GMO testing through APEDA-recognised laboratories and requires exporters to obtain a Phytosanitary Certificate from DPPQS before export. APEDA also highlighted the importance of diversifying rice exports to markets such as China, Philippines, and Indonesia.

El Niño Emerges in Pacific Ocean

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has announced that El Niño has developed in the equatorial Pacific Ocean and is expected to strengthen during the Southwest Monsoon season. El Niño is a climatic phenomenon characterized by unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean and is known to reduce rainfall over the Indian region. Due to El Niño, the IMD has forecast below-normal rainfall during the current monsoon season, with countrywide seasonal rainfall expected to be 10% below normal. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), USA, has stated that El Niño is likely to peak during November 2026–January 2027 and may reach the “very strong” category when sea surface temperatures in the Niño 3.4 region exceed 2°C. The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a natural ocean-atmosphere phenomenon with three phases: El Niño (warm phase), Neutral, and La Niña (cool phase). ENSO phases generally occur once every 2–7 years. El Niño is declared when sea surface temperatures in the Niño 3.4 region exceed 0.5°C above normal. The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), another climate phenomenon affecting India, has three phases—Positive, Neutral, and Negative—and is expected to remain in the Neutral phase during most of 2026. According to the IMD, except for Northeast India, most regions of the country are expected to receive below-normal rainfall during June–September 2026, and reduced rainfall may also lead to higher temperatures.

SpaceX Wall Street Debut

SpaceX, led by CEO Elon Musk, made its Wall Street debut on June 12, with its shares rising 23%. The stock opened at $150 and reached $166.90, giving the company a market valuation of $2.18 trillion. According to Forbes, Elon Musk's net worth was estimated at $1.1 trillion, making him the world's first trillionaire. Investors purchased 555.6 million shares at the IPO price of $135 per share, raising $75 billion, surpassing the previous IPO record set by Saudi Aramco in 2019. SpaceX shares are traded on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the symbol “SPCX”, and trading was inaugurated from Starbase, South Texas. The company reported a loss of $8.7 billion between the beginning of 2025 and March 31, 2026. Before founding SpaceX, Elon Musk co-founded Zip2 and PayPal, and later invested in Tesla.

India’s New High Commissioner to Bangladesh

Dinesh Trivedi has been appointed as India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh on April 27. He is a former Union Minister for Railways and Health and Family Welfare, a three-term member of the Rajya Sabha, and currently a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party in West Bengal. During his transition to take charge, he crossed the border from West Bengal's Petrapole in India to Benapole in Bangladesh. He is set to present his diplomatic credentials to the Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin shortly. This diplomatic transition follows the political developments after the August 2024 uprising in Bangladesh that overthrew the government of Sheikh Hasina.

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Sports News

Kane Williamson Retires from International Cricket

Kane Williamson (35) of New Zealand announced his retirement from international cricket on June 12, bringing an end to his 16-year international career. He had previously retired from T20 International cricket in the previous year. Williamson is the highest run-scorer for New Zealand in international cricket, with 19,346 runs across all formats. He scored 9,515 runs in 110 Test matches, 7,256 runs in 175 One Day Internationals (ODIs), and 2,575 runs in 93 T20 Internationals. His records include 33 centuries and 38 half-centuries in Tests, and 15 centuries and 47 half-centuries in ODIs. As a bowler, he claimed 30 wickets in Tests, 37 wickets in ODIs, and 6 wickets in T20Is. Under his captaincy, New Zealand won the inaugural ICC World Test Championship and reached the finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup twice.

New ICC Chair Elected

Harsh Pati Singhania, Chairman and Managing Director of JK Paper, has been unanimously elected as the new Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). The election took place at the ICC Global Headquarters in Paris, France, on June 12. He succeeds Philippe Varin, who has assumed the position of Honorary Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce.

Personalities, Awards and Events

Jaspal Rana Passes Away

Jaspal Rana, a renowned Indian pistol shooter and high-performance coach, passed away at the age of 49. His demise was confirmed by Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, President of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI). Jaspal Rana won his first national-level gold medal at the age of 12 and achieved international success by winning gold in the 25m shooting event at the 1994 Commonwealth Games and the 1994 Asian Games. His Asian Games gold was India’s first shooting gold in the Asiad since Randhir Singh’s gold in 1978. At the 2006 Doha Asian Games, he won three gold medals and one silver medal. He remains India’s most successful Commonwealth Games athlete with 15 medals, including nine gold medals, across four editions. Since 2012, he served as a junior pistol coach and trained shooters such as Saurabh Chaudhary, Anish Bhanwala, and Chinki Yadav. He also mentored Manu Bhaker, who won two bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In recognition of his contribution to sports coaching, he received the Dronacharya Award in 2020.