Daily Current Affairs – 26-06-2026

Important Days

International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking – June 26

June 26 is observed as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, declared by the United Nations (UN). It aims to strengthen global efforts to combat drug abuse and illegal drug trafficking and promote a drug-free society.

Personalities, Awards and Events

LIC CFO Sunil Agrawal Resigns

Sunil Agrawal, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), has resigned from his position. His resignation will take effect from July 14, after which he will cease to hold the positions of CFO and key managerial personnel of LIC. He joined LIC as Chief Financial Officer in March 2022 ahead of the corporation’s Initial Public Offering (IPO). Prior to joining LIC, he served for more than 12 years at Reliance Nippon Life Insurance and for over five years at ICICI Prudential Life Insurance.

National News

Netra AEW&C Receives FOC

The indigenously developed Netra Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system received Final Operational Clearance (FOC) in 2026. The system was developed by the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS), Bengaluru, and is integrated with the Embraer EMB-145I aircraft platform. Netra is equipped with Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system, mission computer, secure communication networks, and electronic support measures. It can detect, track and identify airborne and maritime targets, making India the fifth country in the world to develop this capability. The Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) for Netra was granted in 2015, and the system was inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2017. The programme was temporarily halted after the HS-748 Avro aircraft crash near Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu, on January 11, 1999, in which four IAF personnel and four scientists lost their lives, and it was revived in 2004. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has approved the development of six additional AEW&C Mk-1A systems by CABS.

Emergency Added to Class 9 NCERT Textbook

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has introduced the 1975 National Emergency in the Class 9 Social Science textbook, "Understanding Society: India and Beyond". This is the first time that the Emergency has been included at the Class 9 level, as it was previously covered only in the Class 12 Political Science textbook. The textbook describes the 1975 Emergency as a major challenge to Indian democracy. It states that the Emergency was declared in June 1975 during the government led by Indira Gandhi on the grounds of internal disturbance. The text mentions the suspension of fundamental rights, censorship of the press, and the arrest of political leaders and activists during the Emergency period. It also highlights the role of Jayaprakash Narayan, popularly known as Lok Nayak, in mobilizing public movements, especially in Bihar and Gujarat. The book notes that the Emergency was withdrawn in 1977, followed by general elections. The textbook also discusses early democratic traditions, the role of the Election Commission in conducting free and fair elections, women's voting rights, women's reservation in local bodies, and identifies challenges to democracy such as fake news, misinformation, poverty, regionalism, social discrimination, and gender inequality.

QR Codes for Drug Traceability

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has expanded the mandatory use of QR codes to all vaccines, antimicrobials, narcotic drugs, psychotropic medicines, and anti-cancer drugs to prevent counterfeit and substandard medicines and strengthen drug traceability. In August 2023, the ministry had already made QR codes mandatory for 300 drug brands to monitor products and prevent irregularities in the supply chain. The ministry has notified amendments to the Drugs Rules, 1945 and expanded the scope of Schedule H2 to include more categories of medicines under the QR code-based track and trace system. The requirement for vaccines, narcotic drugs, psychotropic medicines, and anti-cancer drugs will come into effect from July 1, 2027, while antimicrobial drugs will be covered from July 1, 2028. Manufacturers must print a barcode or QR code on the primary packaging label or, where space is insufficient, on the secondary packaging. The QR code will contain information such as the unique product identification code, generic and brand names, manufacturer details, batch number, manufacturing and expiry dates, manufacturing licence number, and excipient details, thereby enabling authentication and verification of medicines throughout the supply chain.

Mumbai Port Expansion Projects

The Mumbai Port Authority (MPA) signed an agreement with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) to develop the country's first world-class marina named Viksit Bharat Mumbai Marina at an estimated cost of ₹470 crore to promote tourism and recreational activities in Mumbai. The MPA also signed operation and maintenance agreements with JM Baxi Ports & Logistics and M Dinshaw & Co for 21 berths at Indira Docks. These agreements are expected to improve cargo handling using modern equipment and generate ₹987 crore in revenue over the next 10 years. The agreements were signed during the 154th Foundation Day of Mumbai Port in the presence of Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal. New projects worth more than ₹3,500 crore were announced to enhance port capacity and revenue generation. These projects include a new crude oil berth, offshore infrastructure, rail connectivity, and waterfront development. A sixth berth costing ₹800 crore has been planned to increase liquid bulk cargo handling capacity and support crude oil and petroleum tanker operations. Other projects include an Integrated Operations Tower and new road and rail infrastructure.

Dinesh Trivedi Given Cabinet Rank

The Central Government has granted Union Cabinet Minister status to Dinesh Trivedi, the Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh. He was appointed as India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh on April 27 and presented his credentials to Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin in Dhaka. The Cabinet rank is intended to facilitate coordination with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). India also announced that it would resume accepting tourist visa applications from Bangladeshi citizens from June 28. Earlier Indian envoys who held Cabinet rank include Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, V.K. Krishna Menon, Durga Prasad Dhar, Inder Kumar Gujral, Triloki Nath Kaul, Karan Singh, and L.M. Singhvi. At the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity 2026 held in Seoul, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized closer cooperation between India and South Korea in sectors such as shipbuilding, health, infrastructure, and defence, and highlighted the importance of economic, technological, political, and strategic cooperation between the two countries.

Air Suvidha 2.0 Launched for Ebola Surveillance

To strengthen public health surveillance due to the spread of Ebola in some parts of Africa, the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation and Delhi International Airport have launched the Air Suvidha 2.0 passenger health self-declaration portal. The portal was developed in collaboration with the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. International passengers arriving in India are required to submit online details regarding their 21-day travel history, contact history, and symptoms before immigration clearance. The portal enables real-time data sharing among Airport Health Officers, Immigration authorities, and State Surveillance Officers. Passengers can submit the form up to 24 hours before arrival in India, either before boarding the flight or during web check-in.

NSE Tops Unlisted Companies Ranking

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) retained its position as India's most valuable unlisted company with a market valuation of ₹4.86 lakh crore. The ranking of the Top 500 Most Valuable Non-Government Companies in India was jointly released by Axis Bank’s Burgundy Private and Hurun India. The Serum Institute of India and Adani Properties secured the second and third positions respectively. Unlisted companies from the consumer, fintech, and renewable energy sectors also featured prominently, including Haldiram, Razorpay, and Greenko. The combined valuation of the top 500 companies exceeded 3.4 trillion US dollars. The NSE has also submitted draft documents to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for a proposed Initial Public Offering (IPO) worth about ₹30,000 crore.

Mahesh Dixit Appointed as IB Chief

The Central Government appointed Mahesh Dixit as the new Chief of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the agency responsible for domestic intelligence operations in India. The appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mahesh Dixit is a 1993-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre and is currently serving as the Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau. He will succeed Tapan Kumar Deka, who is presently serving as the IB Chief. Mahesh Dixit has also served as the head of the Intelligence Bureau unit in Jammu and Kashmir.

Commercial LPG Restrictions Removed

The Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas removed all restrictions on the supply of commercial LPG cylinders to commercial and industrial establishments, including restaurants and hotels. The restrictions had been imposed due to disruptions in gas transportation through the Strait of Hormuz during the conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel in West Asia. Following the restoration of gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, the Central Government lifted the restrictions on commercial cylinder distribution. The Ministry also partially lifted the restrictions on bulk gas supply, allowing commercial and industrial establishments to receive 50 percent of the quantity supplied before the gas shortage. The Central Government has directed oil companies to maintain data on commercial and industrial consumers for effective management of commercial gas distribution. The government has also reaffirmed its commitment to expanding the Piped Natural Gas (PNG) distribution system and has communicated the new decisions to the Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories through the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Proposed Changes in Antyodaya Anna Yojana

The Central Government is considering changes to the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), which provides free food grains to families living below the poverty line. At present, beneficiaries receive 35 kg of rice or wheat per month free of cost. The proposed change aims to provide 7 kg of food grains per person per month, subject to a maximum of 35 kg per family. Under this system, families with five or more members will continue to receive 35 kg of food grains, while smaller families will receive food grains according to the number of members. To implement this proposal, the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution is considering amendments to the National Food Security Act, 2013. The Ministry has invited public comments on the proposed amendment until July 13. If the amendment is implemented, the existing system of distributing a fixed 35 kg of food grains under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana will be replaced by a per-person allocation system.

Hub and Spoke Air Connectivity Initiative

The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, in collaboration with airlines, launched the "Hub and Spoke" initiative to provide seamless international air connectivity from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities through major airports. Under this model, passengers from regional airports can complete most travel procedures at their origin airports and travel through major hub airports for international destinations. The first service under this initiative was launched by Air India from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, through Delhi to international destinations. The initiative aims to improve connectivity between regional and major airports and strengthen passenger and cargo transportation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the initiative. Varanasi, one of the world's oldest living cities and an important cultural centre, became the first city to be connected under this model. India is also recognized as one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world.

10 New Rajya Sabha MPs Take Oath

Ten newly elected Rajya Sabha members, including Praveen Chakravarty from Tamil Nadu representing the Congress Party, took oath as members of the Rajya Sabha. The oath was administered by Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan in the Rajya Sabha chamber at the Parliament Complex, New Delhi. Elections were held for 24 Rajya Sabha seats in 10 states and by-elections were conducted for one seat each in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Odisha. The Tamil Nadu by-election was necessitated after C.V. Shanmugam resigned his Rajya Sabha membership. Among the 27 seats, 24 candidates, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Praveen Chakravarty, were elected unopposed. The newly sworn-in members included Sana Satish Babu, Vijay Chintakayala, Bhashyam Rama Krishna of the Telugu Desam Party, Lingamaneni Ramesh of Jana Sena, Tai Tagak of BJP, Rajesh Parmanand Shukla of BJP, Baidyanath Ram of JMM, Parimal Nathwani, and Debashish Samantaray of BJP. Praveen Chakravarty took the oath in Tamil, while other members took the oath in Hindi, Telugu, and English. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and Rajya Sabha Secretary-General P.C. Mody attended the ceremony.

Tamil Nadu News

Tamil Nadu Opposes NLC India Stake Sale

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting reconsideration of the Central Government’s proposal to disinvest up to 3% equity in NLC India. The proposed sale includes a 2% base offer and an additional 1% green-shoe option. NLC India, headquartered at Neyveli, Tamil Nadu, operates the major lignite mines Mine I, Mine IA, and Mine II and lignite-based thermal power stations. The State Government stated that NLC India is a strategic public sector enterprise involved in energy security, mineral development, and critical infrastructure. The Tamil Nadu Government reiterated its opposition to any further reduction in the Government of India’s shareholding in the company.

Science and Technology News

IBM Develops Sub-1 Nanometre Chip Technology

IBM announced the world's first technology capable of producing semiconductor chips smaller than 1 nanometre (nm). The new chip technology has a 0.7 nanometre (7 angstrom) transistor architecture and is designed to support increasing Artificial Intelligence (AI) workloads. The development is significant in the context of Moore’s Law, which refers to the long-term trend of increasing computing power in smaller chip sizes. The technology strengthens IBM’s position in the semiconductor industry alongside major chip manufacturers such as TSMC and Intel.

Reports and Indices

UN Report on Palestinian Children

The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry reported that Palestinian children in Gaza and the West Bank have been severely affected during the Israel–Hamas conflict, which began on October 7, 2023. According to the report, at least 20,179 Palestinian children were killed between October 7, 2023, and October 7, 2025, accounting for nearly 30 percent of the total deaths. The report stated that the use of highly destructive weapons in densely populated areas and continued military operations caused significant civilian casualties. Restrictions on food and medical supplies, displacement, and attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza have adversely affected children's health and increased infant deaths and miscarriages. The report also noted an increase in violence against Palestinian children in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The chairperson of the commission, Srinivasan Muralidhar, stated that the findings indicate serious concerns regarding the impact of the conflict on Palestinian children.

International News

Major Earthquakes in Venezuela

Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela near Morón on the Caribbean coast, registering 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale. The disaster caused the death of 188 people and injured around 1,000 persons, while rescue operations are continuing to locate more than 200 people trapped under debris. The earthquakes are considered the worst to affect Venezuela in the last century. The Simón Bolívar International Airport was damaged and closed following the disaster. Power supply, telephone services, metro rail services, and natural gas distribution were disrupted in parts of Caracas, the capital city. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez announced a 200 million US dollar reconstruction fund for repairing damaged houses and hospitals. Countries including the United States, Qatar, Mexico, and El Salvador have extended rescue and medical assistance to Venezuela. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences over the disaster and offered assistance to Venezuela. Separately, an earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale struck the Aomori and Iwate prefectures of northern Japan, and its tremors were felt in Tokyo.

India Releases Fifth Installment to Bhutan

India released ₹250 crore as the fifth installment under the Bhutan Economic Stimulus Programme to strengthen the economy of Bhutan. India had committed a total assistance of ₹1,500 crore for the programme, of which ₹1,250 crore has been released so far. More than 30 percent of the capital expenditure in Bhutan’s 2026–27 Budget is being financed through grants provided by India. In Thimphu, India’s Ambassador to Bhutan, Sandheer Arya, handed over the cheque to Bhutan Foreign Minister Lyonpo D.N. Dhungyel. The assistance is intended to support economic recovery, employment generation, and tourism development in Bhutan.

Passport Is Not a Citizenship Document

The Central Government clarified that a passport is only a travel document and has never been considered proof of citizenship. According to the Passports Act, 1967, a passport may be issued even to persons who do not possess the citizenship of a country, and therefore it cannot be treated as a citizenship document. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that no new policy or decision regarding passports has been taken in the last 12 years. The Mumbai High Court, in its 2013 judgment, clarified that a passport is not proof of citizenship. The Supreme Court had also earlier stated that Aadhaar is an identity document and not a citizenship document. The Central Government further stated that citizenship is determined on the basis of multiple documents such as birth certificates, parents’ citizenship documents, school records, voter registration records, government service records, and land or residence documents, rather than any single document.

Amazon Announces Additional Investment in India

Andy Jassy, Chief Executive Officer of Amazon, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. During the meeting, Amazon announced an additional investment of ₹1.22 lakh crore (13 billion US dollars) in India over the period 2026–2030 in the sectors of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cloud Computing, and Entertainment. With this investment, Amazon’s total investment in India is expected to increase to ₹4.52 lakh crore (48 billion US dollars) during the same period. India has emerged as one of Amazon’s fastest-growing markets globally. The company stated that Amazon.in has more than 10 crore customers and 17 lakh sellers in India. Amazon also announced plans to launch a quick delivery service named Amazon Now in India. The initiatives Viksit Bharat and Aatmanirbhar Bharat were also referred to during the meeting.