Daily Current Affairs – 17-06-2026

National News

Shigella Infection Deaths in Kerala

A 7-year-old boy from Pookkottur, Malappuram district, Kerala, died due to Shigella bacterial infection on 15 June 2026 while undergoing treatment at the Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital. With this death, the number of fatalities caused by Shigella infection in Kerala in 2026 has risen to four. According to the Directorate of Health Services, Kerala, a total of 138 people had been affected by Shigella infection in the state as of 15 June 2026, with the highest number of cases reported from Kozhikode district. Shigella bacteria spreads through contaminated food or water and causes symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and severe abdominal pain.

India’s R&D Expenditure

India’s Gross Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) is estimated at 0.6–0.7% of GDP, which is lower than South Korea (4.9%) and Israel (6.3%). In India, the government contributes about 64% of total R&D expenditure, while the private sector contributes around 36%. Factors associated with low R&D expenditure include a large domestic market, the impact of colonial de-industrialisation, premature financialisation, generational shifts in family-owned firms, systemic uncertainty, and global economic and geopolitical disruptions such as the 2008 financial crisis, COVID-19 pandemic, and recent wars. International examples of industrial development mentioned include Germany’s Mittelstand, Japan’s Post-War Miracle, and South Korea’s Chaebol model, which are associated with long-term investment and industrial capability development.

Parliamentary Committee Report on NCTE

The Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, headed by Shri Digvijaya Singh, Member of the Rajya Sabha, submitted its 380th Action Taken Report to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha on 16 June 2026. The report examines the action taken by the Government on the recommendations and observations contained in the 368th Report relating to the review of the functioning of the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) and the initiatives undertaken for teacher training in line with the teacher capacity-building objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The report pertains to the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education and was considered and adopted by the Committee at its meeting held on 21 May 2026.

Kishau Multi-Purpose Dam Project

A consensus was reached among Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan regarding the implementation of the Kishau Multi-Purpose Dam Project, which aims at the rejuvenation of the Yamuna River. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi. The six states agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the implementation of the project, after which the proposal will be placed before the Union Cabinet for approval. Under the approved funding pattern, the Central Government will provide 90% financial assistance for the water component of the project, while the remaining 10% will be shared by the six participating states. It was also decided that the water allocated to Himachal Pradesh would be supplied to Delhi and Rajasthan in place of sharing the cost of the power component. The project is intended to increase the flow of clean water in the Yamuna River.

Harappan Dancing Girl Figurine

The Harappan Dancing Girl belongs to the Harappan Civilization, which existed during c. 2600–1900 BCE. The bronze figurine was discovered in 1926 at Mohenjo-daro in present-day Pakistan. The figurine is 10.8 cm high and is presently preserved in the National Museum, New Delhi. It was made using the lost-wax casting technique, indicating the advancement of ancient Indian metallurgy. The figurine has a necklace and bangles, including 24–25 bangles on the left arm and four bangles on the right arm. The name “Dancing Girl” was given by John Marshall, the then Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) during the 1926 excavations. The figurine has been interpreted in different ways, including as a mother goddess, a representation linked to Parvati, or a female warrior. The Pashupati Seal, also known as the Proto-Shiva Seal, has been associated with Harappan religious traditions. In May 2023, a contemporary version of the figurine was unveiled as the mascot of the International Museum Expo.

World Gold Council Survey 2026

The World Gold Council (WGC) released the 2026 Central Bank Gold Reserves (CBGR) Survey, conducted between 5 February and 19 May 2026, stating that global central banks are expected to expand gold reserves over the next 12 months. The survey reported that 89% of central banks expect global gold reserves to increase, while 45% expect their own reserves to rise. Central banks accumulated an average of 1,000 tonnes of gold in the last four years, compared to 500 tonnes in the previous decade. In India, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) increased gold holdings from 822.1 tonnes (FY24) to 879.58 tonnes (FY25) and further to 880.52 tonnes (FY26), and also repatriated over 100 tonnes of gold in FY25. The survey noted that 74% of respondents expect a decline in US dollar holdings over the next five years, while gold allocation is expected to rise. The survey also highlighted vaulting preferences, with the Bank of England (57%) being the most preferred storage location, followed by domestic storage (49%), the Bank for International Settlements (16%), and the Swiss National Bank (6%), which declined from 12% in 2025. It also recorded a 40% rise in gold prices in India over 12 months, influenced by central bank purchases and currency depreciation.

International News

India at the 2026 G7 Summit

India participated as a partner country in the 2026 G7 Summit held in Évian, France on 17 June 2026. The summit adopted declarations on development finance, health, geopolitics, migrant smuggling and drug trafficking. The members called for reforms in global development finance and debt management by strengthening the IMF–World Bank 3-Pillar Approach, which focuses on structural reforms, external financial support and reducing debt burdens of vulnerable countries. The summit urged coordinated international action to contain the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. It also emphasized research on cancers, reduction of lung cancer mortality and improvement of global access to paediatric cancer data. The leaders welcomed the US–Iran nuclear agreement, supported a free and open Indo-Pacific, and expressed concern over North Korea’s nuclear programme. The summit announced the G7+ Ports Network to combat maritime drug trafficking and related illicit financial flows and called for stronger international action against human trafficking and migrant smuggling networks. The Group of Seven (G7) was established in 1975 following the 1973 energy crisis as an informal forum for economic and financial cooperation. Its members are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union. It expanded as G8 with the inclusion of Russia in 1998, and Russia was suspended in 2014 after the annexation of Crimea. The G7 has no permanent secretariat and follows an annual rotating presidency.

India–China UNESCO Joint Nomination

India and China are in advanced discussions for a joint nomination of “The Great Tang Records on the Western Regions” to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. The work records the travels of the Chinese Buddhist monk and scholar Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) in India during the 7th century CE. Xuanzang spent 19 years in India and studied at Nalanda University, documenting the political, social and religious conditions of early medieval India. The proposal, led by China and supported by India, is under consideration by the Ministry of External Affairs. The initiative emerged from discussions at the BRICS Culture Working Group held under India’s chairmanship. The Second BRICS Culture Working Group Meeting was held in Varanasi, and its recommendations will be placed before the BRICS Cultural Ministers’ Meeting to be held in Bhopal in August. India is also pursuing joint UNESCO nominations for the Panchatantra with Iran and the philosophy of Satyagraha with South Africa. In 2017, both India and China submitted separate nominations for Sowa-Rigpa, the traditional Tibetan system of medicine, to UNESCO.

States’ News

GI Tags for Traditional Products of Jharkhand

The traditional products of Jharkhand, namely Bhagaiya Silk, Kuchai Silk, Munda Jewellery, and Jharkhand Bamboo Craft, have been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag. The recognition was achieved through the efforts of producer groups, self-help groups, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), government departments, technical institutions and other stakeholders. NABARD played an important role in identifying and documenting the unique characteristics of these products and facilitating the GI registration process. The GI tags awarded to Bhagaiya Silk and Kuchai Silk provide recognition to Jharkhand’s silk heritage. Munda Jewellery represents the traditional craftsmanship and cultural identity of the Munda community, while Jharkhand Bamboo Craft reflects the skills of rural artisans using locally available bamboo. The GI recognition is expected to support branding, exports, tourism promotion and value addition of these traditional products.

GRAPES-3 Observatory and Cosmic Muon Research

The GRAPES-3 Muon Telescope located at Ooty, Tamil Nadu, has been used by Indian and Japanese researchers to study the Earth's upper atmosphere and solar magnetic activity using cosmic muons. The study analysed data collected from 2001 to 2022, covering more than 4 billion daily particle detections. The research found that variations in the upper atmospheric temperature and the interplanetary magnetic field of the Sun influence the number of muons reaching the Earth's surface. The study used the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) technique to separate seasonal and solar effects from the collected data. The research involved scientists from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Cochin University of Science and Technology, Osaka City University, Chubu University, Nagoya University, University of Tokyo, and Hiroshima City University. The findings demonstrate that ground-based particle detectors can continuously monitor atmospheric conditions and space weather and provide data useful for climate studies and solar activity monitoring.