Daily Current Affairs – 18-06-2026

National News

P. Sundarraj Appointed as NIA Inspector General

P. Sundarraj, a senior IPS officer from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, belonging to the 2003 Chhattisgarh cadre, has been appointed as Inspector General (IG) of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) by the Union Home Ministry. He served for 12 years in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, which was affected by Naxalite activities, and worked across seven Naxal-affected districts. He coordinated operations with Central Security Forces and played a role in anti-Naxal operations in the state. In 2005, the Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School was established in the Bastar forest region to train personnel in anti-insurgency operations, and P. Sundarraj was among the first police officers to undergo advanced commando training there. Following his appointment, the Union Home Ministry directed the Chhattisgarh Government to relieve him from his current duties.

India’s Defence Production Reaches ₹1.78 Lakh Crore

According to the Ministry of Defence, India’s defence equipment production reached a record ₹1.78 lakh crore in 2025–26, compared to ₹1.54 lakh crore in 2024–25, registering a growth of 15.6%. Defence production stood at ₹84,643 crore in 2020–21, indicating an increase of 110% over the period. In 2013–14, defence production was ₹43,746 crore, and it has since increased fourfold. Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and other public sector enterprises contributed 76% of total production, while the private sector contributed 24%, up from 22% in 2024–25. Private sector companies produced defence equipment worth ₹42,000 crore in 2025–26. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh acknowledged the achievement following the record growth in defence production.

States Advance Green Hydrogen Policies under National Green Hydrogen Mission

Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi launched the Green Hydrogen Certification Portal of India during a national workshop on strengthening the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM). Developed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), the portal will facilitate certification and regulatory compliance under the Green Hydrogen Certification Scheme of India. According to the Ministry, 13 States have formulated green hydrogen policy frameworks, with six States — Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, and Uttarakhand — notifying dedicated Green Hydrogen Policies, while Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, and Assam have incorporated hydrogen provisions into their renewable energy or industrial policies. Rajasthan’s Integrated Clean Energy Policy (2024) provides for Green Hydrogen Parks, co-located renewable energy and green hydrogen facilities, and manufacturing ecosystems for electrolysers, storage, and transport infrastructure. Haryana, Punjab, Bihar, and Kerala are in the advanced stages of finalising their Green Hydrogen Policies.

WPPS CEO Conclave on Wheat Value Chains to Be Held in Varanasi

A two-day Wheat Products Promotion Society (WPPS) CEO Conclave 2026 will be held in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh from July 9, under the theme “Re-defining Wheat Value Chains for a New India.” The event is being organised by WPPS in association with the Uttar Pradesh Roller Flour Mills Association. It is expected to bring together more than 300 participants, including senior industry leaders, flour millers, wheat traders, food manufacturers, grain procurement professionals, technology providers, researchers, policymakers, and allied stakeholders from India and abroad. The conclave will focus on key areas such as wheat production and sustainability, milling technologies, processing innovations, bakery and value-added wheat products, procurement and storage, supply chain management, domestic and global market trends, export opportunities, consumer preferences, retail developments, and business growth strategies.

India Achieves 21.76 Million Hectares Land Restoration Target

India has achieved its initial target under the Bonn Challenge (2011) by restoring 21.76 million hectares of degraded and deforested land, as announced by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav during the release of the report “India’s Second Progress Report on the Bonn Challenge: 2011–2020 Assessment of Progress in Restoration Efforts Across States and Union Territories.” India is also progressing towards its second target of restoring an additional 5 million hectares by 2030, with its overall enhanced goal set at 26 million hectares by 2030. Among states, Telangana (4.18 mha) ranks first in land restoration, followed by Madhya Pradesh (3.78 mha), Odisha (2.64 mha) and Gujarat (1.73 mha). The restoration efforts include financial flow of ₹702,335.29 million and generation of 1,224.51 million man-days of employment, along with significant carbon sequestration. Under national programmes such as Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (Watershed Development Component), over 27 million hectares have been treated, and Green India Mission and CAMPA supported afforestation activities over 1.7 lakh hectares and 3.20 lakh hectares respectively. The Bonn Challenge is a global initiative aimed at restoring 150 million hectares by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030, contributing to climate and biodiversity goals.

Yoga Sangam Portal for IDY 2026

As part of preparations for the 12th International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2026 to be observed on 21 June 2026, the Ministry of Ayush relaunched the Yoga Sangam Portal, a digital platform for nationwide yoga participation. The portal was relaunched by Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, during the 25-day countdown event held at Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh. More than 1.7 lakh organisers have registered their events on the portal. The initiative enables participation from schools, colleges, resident welfare associations, government bodies, private organisations and civil society groups through the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP). During IDY 2025, more than 10 lakh locations were synchronised and over 13.04 lakh Yoga Sangam events were registered across the country. The upgraded portal for IDY 2026 facilitates event registration, participation coordination, uploading of photographs and reports, and participating organisations will receive certificates from the Ministry of Ayush.

IIIDEM Celebrates 15th Foundation Day

The India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) celebrated its 15th Foundation Day and organised a two-day conference on Capacity Building and Strategic Roadmap in New Delhi on 16–17 June 2026. More than 450 participants, including 250 National and State Level Master Trainers, 30 officials from the Election Commission of India (ECI), 80 participants from IIIDEM, and 100 BLO Supervisors from CEO Delhi, attended the conference. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Election Commissioner Dr. Vivek Joshi, and Director General of IIIDEM Rakesh Verma participated in the event. The conference focused on four strategic pillars: Strengthening National Programmes, Expanding Global Programmes and Engagements, Encouraging Research and Knowledge Development, and Promoting Sustainable Democracy and Election Management. Discussions included the Draft National Training Policy, training standards at the State, District and Assembly levels, and programmes for Election Management Bodies. Since 2011, IIIDEM has conducted 1,885 training programmes reaching 1,20,883 participants through online and offline platforms, and its international training activities have reached 142 countries.

Jan Aadhaar Integrated with DigiLocker

The Government of Rajasthan’s Jan Aadhaar (Family ID) has been integrated with DigiLocker, the digital document wallet under the Digital India Programme, enabling around 7.5 crore residents of Rajasthan to access their family identity document digitally. Citizens can retrieve their existing Jan Aadhaar document through DigiLocker and can also enrol for a new Family ID digitally through the platform. The integration enables digital access to welfare services linked with the Jan Aadhaar ecosystem, including healthcare benefits under the Chiranjeevi Scheme, Public Distribution System (PDS) benefits, student scholarships and other government welfare initiatives. The initiative supports paperless governance, digital document verification and improved citizen access to government services.

Nasha Mukt Bharat Saptah 2026 Launched

The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE), Government of India virtually inaugurated Nasha Mukt Bharat Saptah 2026 from 17–26 June 2026 under the theme “Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan – Viksit Bharat Ki Pehchaan” as part of the observance of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The event was launched by Dr. Virendra Kumar, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment. During the programme, the Personal Dashboard for Nasha Mukti Mitra (NMM) and a Short Film on Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) were launched. The Personal Dashboard enables volunteers to track their contributions and monitor grassroots activities related to awareness and outreach programmes. Representatives from States, Union Territories, Line Ministries, District Administrations and partner organisations participated in the virtual event. The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) focuses on drug demand reduction through participation of educational institutions, community-based organisations and volunteers.

Rising Demand for Kashmir Saffron

The demand for Kashmir saffron has increased due to the decline in saffron production in Iran amid the West Asia crisis. According to the Jammu & Kashmir Saffron Growers Association, Iran recorded a decline of 140 tonnes in saffron production. Kashmir saffron, known as “Red Gold”, is mainly cultivated in Pampore and nearby regions of South Kashmir and requires specific climatic conditions. According to official data, saffron production in the Kashmir Valley declined from 23.53 metric tonnes in 2023–24 to 19.58 metric tonnes in 2024–25 due to changing climate conditions and inadequate irrigation facilities. Around 3,700 hectares of land in Jammu and Kashmir is under saffron cultivation, and the harvest season is from 15 October to 20 November. Kashmir saffron is exported to markets including the United Arab Emirates, United States and United Kingdom.

International News

Cursor Founder Aman Sanger to Benefit from Anysphere Acquisition

Cursor, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) coding platform, was founded in 2022 by Aman Sanger, Suleh Asif, Truell, and Lönnemark. Cursor's parent company, Anysphere, is being acquired by Elon Musk for 60 billion US dollars. In April 2026, SpaceX partnered with Cursor and used its computing resources for training AI models. Aman Sanger, a 25-year-old Indian-origin entrepreneur born in New York, USA, is one of the founders of Cursor and is expected to receive 2.7 billion US dollars from the acquisition. Aman Sanger studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he met his co-founders. His father, Arvind Sanger, is an alumnus of IIT Bombay.

G7 Summit Held in Evian, France

The G7 Summit concluded on June 17, 2026, in Evian, France, under the presidency of France. The summit was attended by US President Donald Trump, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other world leaders. Key discussions focused on the Iran issue, the Ukraine conflict, the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and global economic stability. Leaders also discussed the proposed US–Iran ceasefire agreement, scheduled to be signed in Lucerne, Switzerland. On the final day, discussions were held with leading AI industry representatives, including Sam Altman of OpenAI, Demis Hassabis of Google DeepMind, Dario Amodei of Anthropic, Arthur Mensch of Mistral AI, and Vivek Raghavan, co-founder of Sarvam AI. The G7 nations issued a joint statement to provide additional air defence systems to Ukraine, intensify economic sanctions on Russia’s oil and gas sectors, and strengthen international action against drug trafficking networks and illegal migration.

Russia–ASEAN Summit Begins in Kazan

The Russia–ASEAN Summit commenced on June 17, 2026, in Kazan, Russia, marking the 35th anniversary of Russia–ASEAN dialogue relations. The summit was inaugurated by Russian President Vladimir Putin and is being jointly chaired by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whose country currently holds the chairmanship of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). The summit focuses on strengthening trade, investment, industrial cooperation, and strategic relations between Russia and ASEAN member countries, including Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor, and Vietnam. Discussions also include expanding bilateral relations between Russia and ASEAN nations. Several ASEAN countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, have imported or shown interest in importing Russian crude oil following the rise in global fuel prices.

US Indo-Pacific Command Renamed as US Pacific Command

The United States Indo-Pacific Command has been renamed as the United States Pacific Command, with the term “Indo” removed from its title. The command was renamed as the Indo-Pacific Command in 2018 during the first term of US President Donald Trump, reflecting the strategic linkage between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean regions. According to the US Department of Defense, the command was originally established in 1947 by US President Harry S. Truman and has played a role in post-World War II regional security, including operations related to the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The Department clarified that the renaming does not alter the command’s operational boundaries, and it will continue to oversee the maritime region extending from the west coast of the United States to the western border of India.

10th Thailand–India Defence Dialogue

The 10th Thailand–India Defence Dialogue was held in Bangkok on 16 June 2026 to review bilateral defence cooperation and discuss regional and global security issues. The dialogue was co-chaired by Admiral Nuttapol Diewvanich, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Defence of Thailand, and Shri Satyajit Mohanty, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Government of India. The discussions covered the Indo-Pacific region, military-to-military engagements, capacity-building initiatives, training exchanges, maritime cooperation, and other areas of mutual interest. Both countries reviewed ongoing cooperation in the defence industry and discussed opportunities to deepen collaboration in defence manufacturing, research, innovation, and capability development. The delegations also exchanged views under regional and multilateral defence frameworks, including ASEAN-led mechanisms. India and Thailand had elevated their bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership in 2025.

India–Japan Joint Crediting Mechanism under Paris Agreement

India and Japan have adopted the Rules of Implementation for the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement to enhance cooperation in climate action, greenhouse gas emission reduction and sustainable development initiatives. The rules were adopted on 8 June 2026 following the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed between both countries for the JCM. The mechanism provides a framework for mitigation projects that reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions while supporting sustainable development in India. The implementation rules include the establishment of a Joint Committee, transparent project approval procedures, third-party validation and verification processes, sustainable development safeguards and national registries for tracking carbon credits. The Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) supports climate change mitigation, low-carbon technology projects, investment, technology transfer and capacity building.

Tamil Nadu News

Space Vehicle Common Technology Facility Centre in Thoothukudi

An agreement was signed on June 11, 2026, at Ahmedabad, Gujarat, between the Government of Tamil Nadu and the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) to establish a Space Vehicle Common Technology Facility Centre at Allikulam, Thoothukudi district. Under the agreement, IN-SPACe will provide equipment worth ₹100 crore, while the Tamil Nadu Government will provide land, buildings, and necessary infrastructure. The facility will offer testing and quality assurance services for vibration, shock, thermal-vacuum, electromagnetic interference and compatibility, pressure and flow testing, launch vehicle integration, subsystem assembly, and hydroclave operations. The centre will be established near the upcoming Kulasekarapattinam Rocket Launch Pad and is intended to support the development, testing, and quality certification of space systems and components in Tamil Nadu.

Economy News

Growth of Micro-ATMs and Decline in ATM Usage in India

According to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, the number of ATMs in India declined from 2.55 lakh in FY 2022–23 to 2.51 lakh in FY 2024–25, marking the second consecutive year of decline. Cash withdrawals through debit card-based ATMs also decreased, with transaction volume falling from 68,975 lakh transactions in FY 2022–23 to 53,394 lakh transactions in FY 2025–26, while the value of withdrawals declined from ₹32.8 lakh crore to ₹28.5 lakh crore. The increase in Unified Payments Interface (UPI) usage and other digital payment systems has contributed to this trend. In contrast, Micro-ATMs recorded growth, with cash withdrawal volumes reaching 12,126 lakh transactions in FY 2025–26 and withdrawal value increasing by 8.8% to ₹3.22 lakh crore. In March 2026, Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS)-enabled Micro-ATMs registered a 3.3% increase in withdrawal value compared to March 2025. Micro-ATMs, operated by Banking Correspondents, play an important role in providing banking services and government benefit distribution in rural and underserved areas, supporting financial inclusion.

Axis Bank Uses AI-Based Systems to Reduce Banking Frauds

Axis Bank has reported an approximately 30% year-on-year decline in retail customer frauds during the last financial year after replacing rule-based fraud detection systems with Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based systems. According to Gaurav Gupta, Group Head – Financial Crime Intelligence, Axis Bank, the AI-based system has improved the bank’s ability to identify and prevent fraudulent transactions. The bank recorded around 40% reduction in fraud incidents across retail mobile banking, internet banking, and shopping malls compared to the previous financial year. Frauds prevented through AI-led monitoring and risk-based controls increased by 4.5 times in FY 2025–26 compared to FY 2024–25. The system uses early detection mechanisms, behavioural pattern analysis, and real-time monitoring of suspicious transactions. Axis Bank has also identified large-scale mule account hotspots in West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and the outskirts of Chennai, and has introduced enhanced monitoring and control measures in these locations.

RBI Eases Interest Rate Restrictions for NRI Deposits

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has temporarily withdrawn the interest rate ceiling on fresh Foreign Currency Non-Resident-Bank [FCNR(B)] deposits with tenors of 3 to 5 years and removed the restriction on interest rates for Non-Resident External (NRE) deposits with tenors of three years and above, including deposits renewed upon maturity. This decision is a review of the RBI’s 2025 direction and has been implemented to boost foreign exchange reserves. The revised directions will remain in force until September 30, 2026. According to the amendment directions issued by the RBI, banks can offer higher interest rates to eligible NRI/PIO depositors, while interest rates on NRE/NRO deposits cannot exceed the rates offered by the bank on comparable domestic rupee term deposits.

Reports and Indices

WMO Report Warns of Rising Climate Risks in Asia

According to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) report titled State of the Climate in Asia 2025, Asia experienced severe extreme weather events in 2025, including heatwaves, floods, and droughts, leading to economic losses and livelihood damage. The report states that Asia has been warming faster than the global average during 1991–2025, with nearly double the warming rate compared to 1961–1990. In 2025, Asia recorded a mean temperature 0.96°C ± 0.08 above the 1991–2020 average, ranking among the second to fourth warmest years. Marine heatwaves affected over 10 million km² of Asian ocean areas, while all 23 monitored glaciers in Asia lost mass due to rising temperatures and reduced snowfall, leading to risks of floods and water insecurity. Countries such as Japan, China, and South Korea recorded their hottest summer. Extreme rainfall caused floods in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam, while West Asia, including Iran, faced drought and dust storms. The report highlighted the importance of early warning systems and climate adaptation measures, and noted severe rainfall impacts such as over 1,000 deaths and 3 million displacements in Pakistan, and flooding in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia due to Cyclone Senyar.

QS World University Rankings 2027: IIT Delhi Leads India

In the QS World University Rankings 2027, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) has retained the top position among Indian institutions for the second consecutive year and improved its global rank to 118, marking the highest-ever global ranking achieved by an Indian institute. In the national list, IIT Bombay stands second with a global rank of 134, followed by IIT Madras (170), IIT Kharagpur (205), jointly IIT Kanpur and IISc Bangalore (221), Delhi University (322), IIT Roorkee (335), IIT Guwahati (349), and Shoolini University (452). The rankings also show a decline for IIT Bombay compared to its previous global position of 129.

UNICEF Children’s Climate Risk Report 2026

UNICEF’s Children’s Climate Risk Report 2026 highlights the exposure of children to multiple and overlapping climate hazards. The report uses data from the UNICEF Global Child Hazard Database to identify areas where children are affected by climate-related risks and the capacity of social services to respond. According to the report, nearly half of the world’s children, around 1.1 billion children, are at risk from at least three overlapping climate hazards affecting their health, education and survival. More than 4 million children face up to six overlapping climate threats. The report maps children’s exposure to hazards such as coastal floods, droughts, extreme heat, wildfires, heatwaves, river floods, sand and dust storms, and tropical storms. It also examines climate-sensitive risks including air pollution and vector-borne diseases such as malaria.