Daily Current Affairs – 15-06-2026

International News

Bharat Innovates Event in France

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron jointly inaugurated the 'Bharat Innovates' event in Nice, France, on 14 June 2026, during the first leg of the Prime Minister's official visit to France and Slovakia. The three-day event brings together leading innovation enterprises and venture capital funds from India, France, and other countries and showcases technological initiatives of Indian higher educational institutions and centrally funded high-technology institutions. India highlighted its ongoing reforms in key sectors such as defence, high technology, and innovation, and emphasized emerging technologies including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Quantum Computing, Biotechnology, and Space Technology. France also highlighted cooperation with India under the Make in India initiative and discussed expanding bilateral cooperation in nuclear power generation, including small modular reactors.

India’s Crude Oil Imports from Russia

According to a report released by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), India's crude oil imports from Russia increased by 8 per cent in May 2026. India purchased crude oil worth ₹52,813 crore from Russia, and the total value of crude oil imports from Russia during the month stood at around ₹59,000 crore. India also imported oil products worth ₹6,051 crore and coal worth ₹4,720 crore from Russia. India ranks as the second-largest importer of Russian crude oil in the world, receiving 36 per cent of Russia's crude oil exports, while China ranks first by purchasing 50 per cent of Russian crude exports. Turkey ranks third with 6 per cent, and the European Union ranks fourth with 5 per cent. State-owned refineries, including the New Mangalore Refinery, Visakhapatnam Refinery, and Paradip Refinery in Odisha, have increased their purchases of Russian crude oil.

INS Sharda Visit to Colombo

Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sharda concluded its port visit to Colombo, Sri Lanka, and departed on 13 June 2026 after strengthening maritime cooperation and bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka. During the visit, the Indian Navy and the Sri Lankan Navy conducted professional, training and sporting engagements. As part of capacity-building initiatives, Sri Lankan Navy personnel received training in small arms handling, basic firefighting, first aid and rescue procedures aboard INS Sharda. The activities were aimed at enhancing operational preparedness and interoperability between the two navies.

Taiwan Launches Intelligence Information Portal

Amid continuing tensions between China and Taiwan, the National Security Bureau (NSB) of Taiwan has launched a new secure website to receive intelligence-related information from Chinese nationals. The new online portal is intended to serve as a secure channel for Chinese citizens to provide information to Taiwan's intelligence authorities.

National News

Approval for 100% Ethanol Fuel in India

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced at the Indian Ethanol-Biofuel Conference held in Nagpur on 14 June 2026 that legal approval has been granted for the use of 100 per cent ethanol fuel in vehicles in India. The approval was signed on 13 June 2026. The fuel termed as 100 per cent ethanol will contain about 93 to 95 per cent ethanol, along with petrol and other chemical compounds. Existing vehicles using 20 per cent ethanol-blended fuel can be modified for 100 per cent ethanol use with changes in the engine and fuel system. Automobile companies including Maruti Suzuki, Toyota, Hyundai, and MG are expected to introduce vehicles compatible with 100 per cent ethanol fuel.

Anaimangalam Copper Plates and Nagapattinam Buddhist Vihara

The Anaimangalam Copper Plates, also known as the Leiden Plates, are expected to return to India from Leiden University, Netherlands. In the 11th century, Rajaraja Chola I donated the village of Anaimangalam and surrounding lands to the Chudamani Varma Vihara, a Buddhist monastery at Nagapattinam. The monastery was initiated in 1005 CE by King Chudamani Varman of Kadaram (Sri Vijaya Kingdom) and completed by his son Maravijayottunggavarman. The land grant was officially documented on 21 copper plates in 1035 CE by Rajendra Chola I (Madhurantakan) and was designated as Pallichchandham, meaning tax-free land granted to non-Hindu religious institutions. Around 1090 CE, Kulothunga Chola I issued a second charter of three copper plates reaffirming the grant. The inscriptions were deciphered by Pandit Natesa Aiyar and K.V. Subrahmanya Aiyar. Historian K.A. Menon published his findings in the research paper "Copper Plates to Silver Plates: Cholas, Dutch and Buddhism", which states that the name Anaimangalam later changed to Sangamangalam and that the donated lands were subsequently granted to the Portuguese after the decline of Buddhism in the region.

CISF Counter-Drone Training Programme

A year after Operation Sindoor, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has trained 7,120 personnel in drone and counter-drone operations in collaboration with the Indian Air Force (IAF). The training includes drone piloting, aerial surveillance, mapping, and neutralisation of hostile drones. The CISF has also been entrusted with auditing the security of critical installations such as nuclear power plants and thermal power plants. The force is establishing dedicated Drone Training Schools at Hyderabad, Bhilai, and Behror, with advanced academic programmes planned in association with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur and the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), Pune. Acting on the directions of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the CISF also trained 450 State Fire Services personnel from 187 cities in advanced industrial firefighting and disaster management at its Fire Services Training Institute, Hyderabad. The CISF's dedicated Fire Wing has protected property worth ₹172.55 crore.

Indian Army Introduces New Uniform Policy

The Indian Army has introduced revised dress regulations through the Army Uniforms-2026 Pamphlet to modernise military traditions and remove colonial-era practices and terminology. A major feature of the new policy is the introduction of a common Uniform Numbering Scheme for the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force to improve clarity and interoperability among the three services. The Army has retained four categories of uniforms: Ceremonial Dress, Working Dress, Mess Dress, and Combat Dress. The revised regulations include the incorporation of the Bandi Jacket as part of formal civil attire, the removal of the pouch belt from Mess Dress Nos. 5 and 6, making sword carriage by the Reviewing Officer optional, and discontinuing the use of the term “Royal”. The Army has also announced the phased withdrawal of legacy uniform patterns such as Dress No. 3A, which will be discontinued by 30 June 2029.

Smart Village Initiative in Odisha

Under the ‘Smart Village’ initiative of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the village of Kusunpur in Kendrapara district, Odisha, will receive an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled wild animal detection and alert system to warn residents about crocodiles approaching the village. Kendrapara district has recorded more than 20 human-crocodile fatalities in the last four years. The initiative also includes infrastructure development such as a renovated water gate, underground drainage system, community building, community toilets and cremation centre, along with roads built using cold mix technology, waste plastic road technology, and cement grouted bituminous mix. Following the ‘Lab to Land’ principle of CSIR, technologies such as dry flower processing, freeze-drying of fruits, nutritious food production, biodegradable tableware, herbal floor-cleaning liquids, mosquito repellent lotions, and natural beeswax scented candles will be introduced. Scientists from 17 CSIR laboratories will work in the village over the next three years to implement these technologies.

Sports News

India Wins Two Gold Medals at Archery World Cup Stage 3

At the Archery World Cup Stage 3 held in Antalya, Turkey, India won two gold medals in the Recurve Mixed Team and Recurve Men's Individual events. In the Recurve Mixed Team final, the Indian pair of Dhiraj Bommadevara and Kumkum Mohod defeated South Korea's Kim Je Deok and Oh Ye Jin by 5-1 to win the gold medal. In the Recurve Men's Individual final, Dhiraj Bommadevara defeated South Korea's Lee Woo Seok by 7-3 to claim his first individual gold medal at a World Cup event. This was also Kumkum Mohod's first Archery World Cup tournament. It was the first time India won two gold medals in a single World Cup event by defeating South Korea. India finished the tournament in second place, while China secured first place and Mexico finished third.

Lewis Hamilton Wins Barcelona Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton, the British driver representing Ferrari, won the Barcelona Grand Prix, the 7th race of the Formula One (F1) season, held at Montmelo on 14 June 2026. This was Hamilton's first victory since joining Ferrari from Mercedes two years ago and his first win in the last 40 races. The victory ended the streak of five consecutive wins by Italian driver Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes. George Russell of Mercedes finished second, while Oscar Piastri of McLaren and the reigning champion finished third. With this victory, Lewis Hamilton's total Formula One race wins increased to 106.

New York Knicks Win NBA Title After 53 Years

The New York Knicks won the National Basketball Association (NBA) title after a gap of 53 years by defeating the San Antonio Spurs with a score of 94-90 on 14 June 2026. Jalen Brunson, who scored 45 points in the final, was named the Finals Most Valuable Player (Finals MVP) and played a key role in securing the championship for the Knicks.

Joshna Chinappa Qualifies for Seventh Asian Games

Joshna Chinappa, veteran Indian squash player and former World No. 10, has qualified for her seventh consecutive Asian Games, becoming the first Indian to achieve this feat. The 39-year-old secured her place by defeating Unnati Tripathi in the selection trials held at the ISTA Academy, Chennai. Joshna is a five-time Asian Games medallist and is expected to be part of India's women's squash team along with Anahat Singh and Tanvi Khanna at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. She has also expressed her interest in competing in the mixed doubles event at the Games.