NATIONAL
NEWS
TAMIL NADU
NEWS
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS
ENVIRONMENT
NEWS
SCIENCE &
TECHNOLOGY
ECONOMY NEWS
STATE NEWS
IMPORTANT
DAYS
(JUNE 14–20, 2026)
PERSONS & AWARDS
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. NATIONAL NEWS
1.1 New Producer Price Index (PPI) Framework
- Launch: Government of India released Producer Price Index (PPI) data and a revised Wholesale Price Index (WPI) series.
- Coverage: New framework includes Output PPI, Trial Input PPI, and Service PPI, with Service PPI initially covering seven sectors including banking, insurance and railways.
- Base year shift: Revised WPI uses 2022-23 as base year (replacing 2011-12), with the item basket increasing from 697 to 957 items.
- Transition: WPI and PPI will be published together for five years, after which WPI will be phased out.
Learn Basics
- PPI vs WPI: PPI measures prices received by producers (factory gate), while WPI/CPI measure prices at wholesale/retail stages further down the supply chain.
- Exam point of view: Don't confuse the new base year 2022-23 (WPI/PPI) with the CPI base year (2012), which is a separate index altogether.
1.2 VB-G RAM-G Rural Initiative
- Outlay: Central Government announced a ₹1.25 lakh crore Viksit Bharat–GRAMG rural development initiative, effective from 1 July 2026.
- Objective: Aims to boost rural employment, workers' security, and village development across India.
- Allocation: Interim allocation of ₹95,692.31 crore released; ₹30,000 crore already allocated under MGNREGA.
- Reach: Funds to reach nearly 2.80 lakh Gram Panchayats; States directed to ensure 100% e-KYC, DBT, and face authentication.
Learn Basics
- MGNREGA: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 – guarantees 100 days of wage employment per year to rural households.
- e-KYC & DBT: Electronic Know Your Customer verification and Direct Benefit Transfer are used to ensure welfare payments reach the correct beneficiary directly.
1.3 Shishupal Judgment 2026 (Homemakers' Compensation)
- Case: Supreme Court, in Shishupal @ Shish Ram vs Surjeet (2026), recognised the economic value of unpaid domestic labour in motor accident compensation cases.
- Benchmark: Fixed a minimum notional income of ₹30,000 per month for homemakers, under a new head called ‘loss of domestic care’, enhanced by 10% every three years.
- Terminology: Judgment described homemakers as “nation builders” whose contribution isn't reflected in GDP.
- Timelines: Court directed that compensation appeals should not remain pending in High Courts for more than four years.
Learn Basics
- Notional income: An assumed/estimated income used for legal or compensation purposes when a person has no direct measurable monetary earnings.
- Exam point of view: This case is decided under Article 21 (right to life, covering dignity of labour) read with the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 – not a separate standalone statute.
1.4 REC–PFC Consolidation
- Approval: President Droupadi Murmu approved the merger of REC Limited with Power Finance Corporation (PFC) to create a larger power sector financing institution.
- Background: In 2019, PFC had acquired the Government of India's 52.63% stake in REC for ₹14,500 crore.
- Legal effect: REC will cease to exist as a separate legal entity under Sections 230–232 of the Companies Act, 2013.
- Context: Merger announced as part of Union Budget 2026-27 to improve scale/efficiency of public sector NBFCs; PFC holds Maharatna status (since October 2021).
Learn Basics
- Maharatna status: The highest category given to Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs), granting them greater financial and operational autonomy.
- NBFC: Non-Banking Financial Company – provides banking-like services (loans, credit) without holding a full banking licence.
1.5 First Women NDA Batch Commissioned
- Milestone: Nine women cadets from the first women batch of the National Defence Academy (NDA) were commissioned as Army officers at IMA, Dehradun.
- Course: Marked completion of the 158th Regular Course and 141st Technical Graduate Course.
- Air Force: Five women cadets from the same NDA batch were commissioned into the Indian Air Force at Dundigal, Hyderabad.
Learn Basics
- NDA vs IMA: NDA (Khadakwasla, Pune) is the joint tri-services training academy; IMA (Dehradun) is where Army cadets undergo further specific commissioning training.
- Exam point of view: Don't confuse this women's NDA batch (entered via the NDA route) with the earlier Short Service Commission route through which women were commissioned before NDA was opened to them.
1.6 Nutrition Challenge for Anaemia
- Launch: ICMR and the Gates Foundation launched a ₹1 crore Grand Challenge to develop iron-rich food products for controlling anaemia.
- Target group: Adolescent girls and women of reproductive age, among whom nearly 50% are affected by anaemia in India.
- Specification: Proposed products should provide 4–5 mg of iron per serving and be affordable and scalable.
Learn Basics
- Fortification: The process of deliberately adding micronutrients (like iron) to food products to improve their nutritional value.
- ICMR: Indian Council of Medical Research – India's apex body for formulating, coordinating and promoting biomedical research.
1.7 11th NITI Aayog Governing Council Meeting
- Theme: “Inclusive Human Development for Viksit Bharat @2047”, chaired by the Prime Minister with all States and UTs participating.
- Focus areas: Women empowerment, agriculture reforms, AI/technology development, manufacturing and exports, and attracting FDI.
Learn Basics
- NITI Aayog: National Institution for Transforming India – the government's policy think tank that replaced the Planning Commission in 2015.
- Cooperative federalism: A governance approach where the Centre and States collaborate as partners in policy-making, rather than the Centre unilaterally directing States.
1.8 Community Seed Banks Standard – IS 20201:2026
- Release: Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) released a new standard, IS 20201:2026, for managing Community Seed Banks and protecting indigenous crop varieties.
- Purpose: Covers seed collection, storage, testing, documentation and quality control to protect drought/disease-resistant indigenous varieties.
Learn Basics
- Community Seed Bank: A local, farmer-managed facility for collecting, conserving and exchanging traditional seed varieties.
- BIS: Bureau of Indian Standards – India's national standards body responsible for standardisation, marking and quality certification.
1.9 SC on Right to Travel Abroad vs Speedy Trial
- Ruling: Supreme Court held that the right to travel abroad under Article 21 is not absolute and must be balanced against the victim's right to a speedy trial.
- Case outcome: Court set aside a Telangana High Court order permitting an accused businessman to travel to the US for medical treatment, noting comparable facilities exist in India.
Learn Basics
- Article 21: Guarantees “protection of life and personal liberty”, and has been judicially expanded to include rights such as travel, privacy, and a speedy trial.
- Exam point of view: Article 21 rights are not absolute — they are subject to ‘procedure established by law’, unlike US-style ‘due process’, a frequently tested distinction.
1.10 Road Accidents in India 2024 Report
- Cause: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) report found over-speeding caused 70.3% of road deaths; hit-and-run cases caused 19.2% of fatalities.
- Safety gaps: Non-use of helmets and seat belts resulted in over 54,000 and 14,000 deaths respectively.
- Government response: Cashless Treatment Scheme 2025, Bharat NCAP, eDAR, and the Rah-Veer Scheme introduced to improve road safety.
Learn Basics
- eDAR: Electronic Detailed Accident Report – an integrated database for recording road accident data across India.
- Exam point of view: Don't confuse Bharat NCAP (car crash-test rating programme) with eDAR (accident data reporting system) – both introduced around the same period but serve different functions.
State | Fatalities (2023 → 2024) |
Uttar Pradesh | 23,652 → 24,118 |
Tamil Nadu | 18,347 → 18,449 |
Maharashtra | 15,366 → 15,715 |
Madhya Pradesh | 13,798 → 14,791 |
Karnataka | 12,321 → 12,390 |
All India | 1,72,890 → 1,77,177 |
2. TAMIL NADU NEWS
2.1 17th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly – First Session
- Proceedings: First session of the 17th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly began with the Governor's Address, read completely without disruption after a gap of three years.
- Protocol change: National Anthem played both at the beginning and end of the Governor's Address for the first time.
- Policy stands: Government reaffirmed the two-language policy (Tamil and English), recalling the 1968 Assembly resolution led by C. N. Annadurai, and declared it would oppose the NEP, 2020.
- Demands: Assembly urged use of Tamil for pleadings in the Madras High Court/Madurai Bench, and requested a Supreme Court Bench in Chennai.
- Target: Tamil Nadu set a target of becoming a $1.5-trillion economy by 2036.
- Heritage: Government to continue archaeological research at Keeladi, Adichanallur and other sites, seeking UNESCO World Heritage status for Keeladi and Adichanallur.
Learn Basics
- Governor's Address: A speech at the start of the first session of a State Assembly each year, outlining the government's policies and legislative agenda – the State-level equivalent of the President's Address to Parliament.
- Exam point of view: The Governor's Address is prepared by the State Cabinet, not by the Governor personally, even though the Governor reads it.
2.2 Tamil Nadu Assured Pension Scheme (TAPS) Rules
- Notification: Tamil Nadu government notified rules for TAPS on 18 June 2026, applicable to employees appointed on/after 1 April 2003 under CPS with at least 10 years of service.
- Interim payout: 30% of last drawn basic pay or ₹10,000 (whichever higher), plus 60% Dearness Relief, for those retiring on/after 1 January 2026.
- Family benefit: 60% of interim monthly payout to eligible family in case of death, until regular family pension is fixed.
- Opt-out: Two stages – Stage I (Immediate Opt-Out, final) and Stage II (Post-Notification Further Opt-Out).
Learn Basics
- CPS vs OPS: Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS/NPS) requires employee contribution and is market-linked; Old Pension Scheme (OPS) is a fixed, government-funded defined-benefit pension.
- Exam point of view: TAPS broadly follows OPS principles but continues CPS-style employee/government contributions until fully implemented – don't confuse it with a straight OPS revival.
TAPS Feature | Detail |
Assured pension | 50% of last-drawn basic pay |
Government contribution | Bears entire additional pension fund need + 10% employee share |
Gratuity | Up to ₹25 lakh, based on service length |
Annual outlay | Around ₹13,000 crore (incl. ₹11,000 crore govt. share) |
2.3 Tamil Nadu Business Advisory Committee (BAC)
- Constitution: New BAC constituted for the 17th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, a statutory committee regulating the House's daily agenda.
- Chair: Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly is the ex officio Chairperson; committee has 10 to 17 members.
Learn Basics
- Ex officio: A position held automatically by virtue of holding another office – here, the Speaker chairs BAC simply because they are Speaker.
- Exam point of view: BAC decides the House's calendar/business, but it does not decide the content of Bills – a distinction from Select Committees, which examine Bill content.
2.4 CM Breakfast Scheme Expansion
- Expansion: Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme extended to Classes VI to VIII from 17 September 2026 (currently covers Classes I to V).
- Significance: Rollout date marks the birth anniversary of social reformer E. V. Ramasamy (Periyar).
Learn Basics
- Scheme background: The CM Breakfast Scheme was introduced to improve nutrition and school attendance among government/government-aided school children.
- Exam point of view: Note the specific rollout date (17 September, Periyar's birth anniversary) – commonly tested alongside similar welfare scheme launch dates tied to important personalities.
2.5 Tamil Nadu White Paper on State Finances 2026
- Debt figure: White Paper puts Tamil Nadu's total outstanding debt (incl. PSUs) at ₹13.18 lakh crore; each child born in the State carries an estimated debt burden of ₹1.28 lakh. - Headline vs real debt: Headline figure of ₹10 lakh crore covers only direct State borrowings, excluding PSU/SPV debt guaranteed by the State (largest source: power sector at ₹2.47 lakh crore).
- Fiscal ratio: Debt-to-GSDP ratio stood at 28.3% in 2025-26; revenue deficit reached ₹78,324 crore (2.2% of GSDP), the highest in absolute terms.
- Interest burden: Interest payments consume about 23% of total revenue receipts, exceeding annual capital expenditure by roughly one-third.
- Demographics: Elderly population projected to reach 18.2% of the State's population by 2031 – highest among major States.
Learn Basics
- GSDP: Gross State Domestic Product – the total value of goods and services produced within a State in a year, the State-level equivalent of GDP.
- SOTR: State's Own Tax Revenue – tax revenue collected directly by the State (GST share, VAT, excise, etc.), excluding transfers from the Centre.
- Exam point of view: Fiscal deficit (borrowing to cover total expenditure gap) and revenue deficit (borrowing to cover just revenue expenditure gap) are different – a revenue deficit is considered worse quality borrowing.
Indicator | 2021-22 → 2025-26 (Pre-AC) |
Revenue deficit (₹ crore) | 46,538 → 78,324 |
Revenue deficit (% GSDP) | 2.25% → 2.22% |
SOTR / GSDP | 5.93% → 5.45% |
Capital expenditure / GSDP | 1.79% → 1.44% |
2.6 First Pink Police Booth – Ponneri
- Launch: Tamil Nadu's first Pink Police Booth inaugurated at Ponneri under the Avadi Police Commissionerate, covering 15 village panchayats.
- Feature: Booth includes a library with ethics and TNPSC preparation material, aimed at making girls/women feel safer.
Learn Basics
- Purpose: Pink Police Booths/Stations are women-staffed or women-focused facilities designed to make reporting and police interaction less intimidating for women and girls.
2.7 Otter Habitat Concerns – Thamirabarani River
- Concern: Researchers flagged a declining otter population in the Thamirabarani River (also called Tamraparni/Porunai) due to habitat destruction.
- Geography: Rare perennial river (about 128 km) flowing entirely within Tamil Nadu, originating at Agastyarkoodam Peak and draining into the Gulf of Mannar.
- Biodiversity: Home to about 669 fish species; one of the few Indian rivers supporting all three otter species – Eurasian, Smooth-coated, and Asian Small-clawed Otter.
Learn Basics
- Perennial river: A river that has continuous water flow throughout the year, as opposed to seasonal/intermittent rivers.
- Exam point of view: Thamirabarani is often tested as the only major river flowing entirely within Tamil Nadu, unlike Cauvery/Palar which originate outside the State.
2.8 Migratory Flamingos – Thoothukudi
- Sighting: Large flocks of migratory flamingos spotted in the salt pans of Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, used as feeding/resting habitat.
- Species: Greater Flamingo (Least Concern, IUCN) and Lesser Flamingo (Near Threatened, IUCN); both breed mainly in the Great Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, and migrate to southern wetlands.
Learn Basics
- Protection status: Flamingos are protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
- Exam point of view: Schedule I offers the highest protection under the Act; Schedule II species (like flamingos here) receive strong but slightly lower-tier protection – a distinction worth remembering.
3. INTERNATIONAL NEWS
3.1 New Development Bank – Uzbekistan Joins
- Membership: Uzbekistan joined the New Development Bank (NDB) as its 10th member, and the first from Central Asia.
- Background: NDB was established by BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) in 2015; headquartered in Shanghai.
Learn Basics
- NDB: Also called the ‘BRICS Bank’, set up as an alternative to the World Bank/IMF for funding infrastructure and sustainable development in emerging economies.
3.2 BRICS Agricultural Framework (Indore Declaration)
- Meeting: 16th BRICS Agriculture Ministers' Meeting adopted the BRICS Indore Declaration during India's Presidency, in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
- Proposals: Global Forum on Farmers' Rights in Seed Systems; BRICS Grain Exchange; BRICS AGRIN network, coordinated initially by IIT Delhi.
Learn Basics
- BRICS Presidency: Rotates annually among member countries; the host nation sets the year's theme and chairs sectoral ministerial meetings.
3.3 52nd G7 Summit 2026
- Venue: 52nd G7 Summit began in Évian-les-Bains, France, on 15 June 2026, hosted by President Emmanuel Macron.
- Theme: “Working Together to Address Major International Challenges”; discussed economic imbalances, geopolitical crises, and illicit financial flows.
- History: G7 originally formed as G6 in 1975; Canada joined in 1976 to form the G7.
Learn Basics
- G7 members: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, and United States – an informal forum of advanced economies, not a treaty-based organisation.
- Exam point of view: G7 has no permanent secretariat; the presidency (and summit venue) rotates annually among members – don't confuse it with G20, which includes emerging economies like India.
3.4 13th BRICS Urbanization Forum
- Outcome: Forum concluded in New Delhi with adoption of the Urban Ministerial Declaration, under the theme “Cities for People”.
- Participants: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa, and the UAE; discussions covered affordable housing and climate adaptation.
Learn Basics
- Note: BRICS expanded beyond its original five members (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) to include new partner/member countries such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the UAE.
3.5 India–France Tech Corridor (ATL Bridge)
- Launch: India–France ATL (Atal Tinkering Labs) Bridge launched at the Bharat Innovates 2026 summit in Nice, France.
- Partners: Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog and La Fondation Dassault Systèmes; will establish France's first School Innovation Lab based on India's ATL model.
Learn Basics
- Atal Innovation Mission: A flagship initiative under NITI Aayog to promote innovation and entrepreneurship, including setting up Atal Tinkering Labs in schools across India.
3.6 Swiss Referendum – Population Ceiling Rejected
- Result: Swiss voters rejected a proposal to cap the population at 10 million, with nearly 55% voting against and 45% in favour.
- Context: Proposal by the Swiss People's Party; approval would have ended Switzerland's free movement agreement with the EU. Population has grown from 7.3 million (2002) to about 9.1 million.
Learn Basics
- Direct democracy: A system where citizens vote directly on specific policy questions (referendums), rather than only through elected representatives; Switzerland is a leading example.
- Exam point of view: A Swiss nationwide referendum can be triggered by collecting 100,000 citizen signatures – a specific numeric detail worth remembering.
3.7 International Labour Conference & ILO Gig Worker Convention
- Session: 114th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) held in Geneva, marking 100 years of the Committee on the Application of Standards.
- Treaty: ILO adopted Convention No. 193 on Decent Work in the Platform Economy — first global treaty with binding labour standards for gig/platform workers.
- Provisions: Covers fair pay, worker classification, social security, and algorithmic transparency; comes into force 12 months after ratification by two member states.
Learn Basics
- ILO tripartite structure: Decision-making involves three parties equally – governments, employers, and workers' representatives.
- Exam point of view: ILC is called the ‘World Parliament of Labour’ because it sets binding international labour standards, distinct from the ILO Governing Body, which oversees day-to-day administration.
3.8 India-France Innovation Roadmap 2030
- Adoption: India and France adopted the Innovation Roadmap 2030 and launched a Dialogue on Economic Security during PM Modi–President Macron talks in Nice.
- Outcomes: Joint India-France AI Working Group established; call for early implementation of the India-EU FTA; target to double bilateral trade within five years; 19 innovation agreements signed.
Learn Basics
- FTA: Free Trade Agreement – a pact between countries/blocs to reduce or eliminate tariffs and trade barriers on goods and services.
3.9 Global Alliance for Human Rights (GAHR)
- Launch: OHCHR launched GAHR, a long-term initiative leading to the 80th anniversary of the UDHR (adopted 1948) in 2028.
- Principles: Guided by three principles – Imagine, Dialogue, and Act.
Learn Basics
- UDHR: Universal Declaration of Human Rights – a foundational UN document (1948) setting out fundamental rights and freedoms for all people, though not itself legally binding.
- OHCHR: Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – the principal UN body promoting and protecting human rights worldwide.
3.10 Muscat Action Plan – Oman
- Launch: Oman launched the Muscat Action Plan at UN Headquarters, New York, to strengthen global conflict prevention.
- Structure: Five pillars – expanding partnerships, empowering community leaders, promoting conflict prevention, countering hate speech/extremism, and strengthening social cohesion.
Learn Basics
- Track II diplomacy: Informal, non-governmental engagement (here involving religious/community/traditional leaders) that complements formal state-to-state (Track I) diplomacy in conflict prevention.
3.11 India–France Strategic Partnership
- Status: France identified India as a top strategic priority ahead of the 2026 G7 Summit, which France is hosting.
- History: Strategic partnership established in 1998, covering defence, space, maritime security, civil nuclear energy and counter-terrorism.
- New platform: Leaders inaugurated Bharat Innovates under the India–France Year of Innovation 2026.
Learn Basics
- Exam point of view: India-France strategic partnership (1998) predates India-US (2000s) and India-Australia comprehensive strategic partnerships – chronology of India's key bilateral partnerships is a common question area.
3.12 Global Refugee Trends Report 2025
- Trend: UNHCR reported the first decline in global forced displacement in a decade — 117.8 million in 2025, down from 123.2 million in 2024.
- Breakdown: Global refugee population at 41.6 million; 68.6 million internally displaced; about 14.7 million returned home, mainly to Afghanistan, Sudan and Syria.
Learn Basics
- Refugee vs IDP: A refugee has crossed an international border fleeing persecution/conflict, while an Internally Displaced Person (IDP) remains within their own country's borders.
- UNHCR: The UN Refugee Agency, mandated to protect and support refugees and stateless people worldwide.
3.13 Global Peace Index 2026
- Ranking: Iceland ranked world's most peaceful country for the 19th consecutive year; Russia ranked least peaceful.
- India: Rank fell to 127th in 2026 from 115th in 2025, with peacefulness score declining by 2.9%.
Learn Basics
- Publisher: Global Peace Index is published annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).
- Exam point of view: Don't confuse GPI (peace/safety ranking, published by IEP) with the Global Terrorism Index (also by IEP, but measures terrorism impact, not overall peace).
4. ENVIRONMENT NEWS
4.1 First Scientific Report on Greater Hog Badger
- Release: Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve released its first scientific assessment on the Greater Hog Badger (Arctonyx collaris), locally called 'Mati Gahori' in Assam.
- Protection: Classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List and given Schedule I protection under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
- Ecological role: Digging behaviour aids soil aeration, nutrient recycling and micro-habitat creation for other species.
Learn Basics
- IUCN Red List categories (declining concern order): Critically Endangered > Endangered > Vulnerable > Near Threatened > Least Concern.
- Exam point of view: Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 gives the highest legal protection in India, with the most stringent penalties for violation – higher than Schedule II species like flamingos.
4.2 Coral Translocation – Great Nicobar
- Identification: Zoological Survey of India identified four new sites for coral translocation in Great Nicobar Island, to protect corals affected by the proposed Galathea transhipment port.
- Monitoring: Translocated coral colonies will be tracked using GPS tags; healthy corals need water temperatures between 23°C and 29°C.
Learn Basics
- Coral translocation: The physical relocation of coral colonies from a threatened site to a safer one, to help them survive construction/development impacts.
- Zooxanthellae: Microscopic algae living symbiotically within coral tissue, giving corals their colour and much of their energy via photosynthesis.
4.3 First Carbon Credits Under the Paris Agreement
- Milestone: UN issued the first-ever carbon credits under Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement for a clean-cooking project in Myanmar.
- Mechanism: Project involves Myanmar (host) and South Korea; a portion of credits supports South Korea's emissions trading obligations, the rest supports Myanmar's NDCs.
Learn Basics
- Article 6.4 mechanism: A UN-supervised carbon crediting system under the Paris Agreement allowing countries/entities to trade emission reductions achieved through verified projects.
- NDC: Nationally Determined Contribution – a country's self-set climate action target/pledge under the Paris Agreement.
5. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
5.1 Five New Pulsars Discovered
- Discovery: Astronomers at the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics discovered five new millisecond pulsars using India's upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT).
- Location: Found in globular clusters Messier 69 (2 pulsars) and Messier 70 (3 pulsars) – first-ever detection in both clusters.
Learn Basics
- Pulsar: A rapidly rotating neutron star that emits regular pulses of radiation, often used as extremely precise cosmic ‘clocks’.
- uGMRT: Upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope, located near Pune, India – one of the world's largest radio telescope arrays.
5.2 LVM3 Technology Transfer
- Invitation: IN-SPACe invited Expressions of Interest for transfer of LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3) technology to private Indian companies.
- Background: LVM3, also called Bahubali, is India's heaviest operational launch vehicle, used for Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, and 72 OneWeb satellites.
Learn Basics
- IN-SPACe: Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre – the nodal agency enabling private sector participation in India's space activities.
- Exam point of view: LVM3 (three-stage) should not be confused with PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, four-stage) – both ISRO vehicles serve different payload classes.
5.3 DRDO Missile Defence Tests
- Tests: DRDO conducted three missile tests, including Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) interceptors and the maiden test of NASM-MR (Naval Anti-Ship Missile-Medium Range).
- Capability: BMD interceptors designed to neutralise Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missiles (2,000–5,000 km range), both inside and outside the atmosphere.
Learn Basics
- Exo-atmospheric vs Endo-atmospheric interception: Exo-atmospheric interceptors destroy missiles outside Earth's atmosphere; Endo-atmospheric interceptors do so within it – BMD systems typically use both layers.
5.4 Health-Tech and AI Innovations
- HPV screening: India validated Truenat HR-HPV-Plus, the country's first indigenous point-of-care HPV screening test for cervical cancer, by Molbio Diagnostics.
- Cancer therapy: India approved Pluvicto, the country's first radioligand therapy (RLT) for advanced prostate cancer.
- Water testing: IIT Bhubaneswar developed ArsenSafe, a portable field-deployable device to detect arsenic contamination in drinking water.
- Neuroscience: IIT Madras released ANCHOR, the world's most detailed 3D atlas of the human brainstem.
- AI: IndiaAI Mission supported the launch of Varya, an indigenous distilled video AI model developed by Avataar.
Learn Basics
- Radioligand therapy (RLT): A cancer treatment that attaches a radioactive particle to a molecule that targets cancer cells, delivering radiation directly to the tumour.
- Point-of-care test: A diagnostic test that can be performed near the patient (e.g., in a clinic) with quick results, rather than requiring a centralised laboratory.
6. ECONOMY NEWS
6.1 India's Remittance Surge
- Figures: India received over USD 110.47 billion in workers' remittances in FY 2025-26, a 26% rise from FY 2024-25; private transfers rose to USD 151.71 billion.
- Impact: Remittances helped offset weak FDI/FPI inflows and cushioned the Balance of Payments, supporting forex reserves.
- Shift: Gulf region's remittance share declined from 47% (2016-17) to 38% (2023-24), while US/UK shares increased.
Learn Basics
- Balance of Payments (BoP): A record of all economic transactions between a country's residents and the rest of the world over a period.
- Exam point of view: Remittances are a component of the Current Account (BoP), while FDI/FPI fall under the Capital Account – don't mix these up.
6.2 Global Digital Wallet Downloads 2025
- Rank: India became the world's largest digital wallet market in 2025 with over 440 million app downloads, out of 1.8 billion recorded globally.
- Leader: PhonePe became the world's most downloaded digital wallet app in 2025; Paytm and BHIM remained leading Indian platforms.
- UPI scale: UPI processed about 228.5 billion transactions worth ₹299.7 trillion in 2025.
Learn Basics
- UPI: Unified Payments Interface – a real-time payment system developed by NPCI enabling instant bank-to-bank transfers via mobile.
- NPCI: National Payments Corporation of India – the umbrella organisation operating retail payment systems in India, including UPI.
6.3 Global Economic Prospects Report 2026
- Forecast: World Bank projects global growth at 2.5% in 2026, the slowest pace since the COVID-19 pandemic.
- India: Projected to grow by 6.6% in 2026, one of the world's fastest-growing major economies; EMDEs growth projected to slow to 3.6%.
Learn Basics
- EMDEs: Emerging Market and Developing Economies – a World Bank classification covering countries with growing but not yet fully advanced economies.
6.4 Container Port Performance Index 2025
- Rank: Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), Maharashtra, ranked India's top container port and placed 22nd globally.
- Publisher: CPPI is jointly published by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence; other Indian ports – Pipavav (28th), Mundra (30th), Visakhapatnam (104th).
Learn Basics
- CPPI metrics: Measures port efficiency based on cargo handling speed, vessel turnaround time, and operational efficiency – not on cargo volume alone.
7. STATE NEWS
7.1 Student Nutrition Programme – Telangana
- Scheme: Telangana launched its Breakfast and Milk Scheme for students from pre-primary to Class XII in government schools and junior colleges.
- Outlay: ₹720 crore allocated annually (₹540 crore breakfast, ₹180 crore milk/ragi malt), benefiting about 29 lakh students; Phase 1 covers 1,302 institutions in eight districts.
Learn Basics
- Exam point of view: Compare with Tamil Nadu's CM Breakfast Scheme (Classes I–V, expanding to VI–VIII) – both are State-specific nutrition schemes frequently confused with each other and with the central Mid-Day Meal Scheme (PM POSHAN).
7.2 Four New GI Tags – Jharkhand
- Products: Bhagaiya silk, Kuchai silk, Munda jewellery and bamboo craft granted Geographical Indication (GI) tags.
- Legal basis: Governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
Learn Basics
- GI tag: A sign used on products with a specific geographical origin and qualities/reputation due to that origin; administered in India by the GI Registry, Chennai.
- Exam point of view: The GI Registry for all of India is located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu – a commonly tested fact regardless of which State's product receives the tag.
7.3 Telangana–Iran Manuscript Digitisation Pact
- MoU: Department of Heritage, Telangana signed an MoU with the Noor International Microfilm Centre to digitise 737 manuscripts, 3,091 paintings and 14,522 library books.
- Funding: Work to be funded by the Government of Iran at no cost to Telangana; Telangana State Archives holds over 43 million documents dating to 1406 AD.
Learn Basics
- Exam point of view: This is a State-level (Telangana) cultural MoU with a foreign government (Iran), distinct from national-level cultural exchange agreements signed by the Ministry of Culture.
7.4 First City Under Easy Connect Model – Varanasi
- Milestone: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh became the first Indian city integrated into the Easy Connect model for international travel.
- Mechanism: Allows international passengers to complete immigration/baggage formalities before reaching Delhi, part of India's hub-and-spoke aviation strategy.
Learn Basics
- Hub-and-spoke model: An aviation network design where smaller ‘spoke’ airports feed passengers into a large central ‘hub’ airport for onward international connections.
7.5 Trademark Protection – Puri Jagannath Temple
- First: Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) secured trademark protection for the Nilachakra logo and terms Patitapabana and Ananda Bajara – the first Indian shrine to do so.
- Background: Temple built in the 12th century CE by Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva in the Kalinga style; one of the four Char Dhams.
Learn Basics
- Trademark vs GI tag: A trademark protects a specific brand/logo/name owned by one entity (here, SJTA), while a GI tag protects products tied to a geographical region, usable by all producers there.
- Char Dham: The four principal Hindu pilgrimage sites – Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri, and Rameswaram.
7.6 1,400-Year-Old Inscriptions – Nallamala Tiger Reserve
- Discovery: ASI's Epigraphy Branch documented 25 ancient inscriptions in the Nallamala Tiger Reserve (Andhra Pradesh/Telangana), dating from the 2nd to 16th century CE.
- Scripts/periods: Written in Telugu, Kannada, Prakrit and Brahmi; linked to Satavahana, Chalukya, Chola, Kakatiya, Reddy, and Vijayanagara periods; rock art dated to about 1500 BCE also found near Alatam.
Learn Basics
- Epigraphy: The study of inscriptions carved on stone, metal or other durable materials – a key primary source for reconstructing ancient Indian history.
- ASI: Archaeological Survey of India – the government body responsible for archaeological research and conservation of monuments in India.
7.7 Mizoram Leads Electoral Roll Digitisation
- Rank: Mizoram recorded 68.05% digitisation of enumeration forms under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), ranking first among 16 States and 3 UTs (as of 12 June 2026).
- District lead: Khawzawl district recorded the highest digitisation at 96.16%.
Learn Basics
- SIR: Special Intensive Revision – a thorough, door-to-door revision of electoral rolls conducted by the Election Commission of India, distinct from routine annual roll updates.
- BLO: Block Level Officer – the field-level official responsible for voter verification and enumeration during roll revisions.
7.8 Kerala Vision 2031
- Roadmap: Kerala government proposed Vision 2031 to make the state the most women-friendly state in India, including a law on the lines of Andhra Pradesh's Disha Act.
- Features: Distress Alert App, Pink buses for night travel, and the Priyadarshini scheme (free KSRTC travel for women/transgender persons from 15 June 2026).
- Budget: Kerala's Gender Budget for 2026-27 is ₹5,586.99 crore out of a total plan outlay of ₹25,401 crore.
Learn Basics
- Disha Act: An Andhra Pradesh law (2019) providing for expedited trials (within 21 days) and stringent punishment in cases of crimes against women and children.
- Gender Budget: A statement within a government budget that tracks allocations specifically benefiting women, without being a separate budget in itself.
IMPORTANT DAYS (JUNE 9–17, 2026)
Why Important Days Matter: TNPSC exams regularly test dates, observing bodies, and specific themes.
- June 9: International Archives Day. Highlights the importance of archives and records in preserving history and ensuring transparency.
- June 11: International Day of Play. Theme: ‘Protect play, protect childhood’.
- June 12: World Day Against Child Labour. Theme: ‘Red card to child labour: Fair play for children, decent work for adults’.
- June 13: International Albinism Awareness Day (UN, proclaimed 2014). Theme: ‘Proudly in my skin – celebrating all skin tones’.
- June 14: World Blood Donor Day. Theme: ‘One Drop of Humanity. Give Blood. Save Lives.’
- June 15: World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Theme: ‘Beyond Awareness: Making Elder Abuse Prevention Work’.
- June 15: Global Wind Day. Theme: ‘Our wind, our community’.
- June 16: International Day of Family Remittances (IDFR). Theme: ‘Remittances for Rural Resilience, Entrepreneurship and Employment’.
- June 17: World Crocodile Day. Theme: ‘Legacy in Every Scale’.
PERSONS & AWARDS
- Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth: Appointed as the next Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of India, effective 30 June 2026.
- Jaspal Rana: Former Asian Games gold medallist and renowned shooting coach, passed away on 12 June 2026 at age 49.
- Lance Naik A. Meenatchi Sundaram: Kirti Chakra awardee, honoured by the Tamil Nadu Government with a ₹48 lakh cash reward for bravery in an anti-terror operation in J&K.
- Sudarsan Pattnaik: Sand artist from Puri, Odisha; became the first Indian to win the Russia Grand Sand Master Cup 2026.
- Han Seong-sook: Nominated as South Korea's new Prime Minister by President Lee Jae Myung.
- Saurabh Vijay: CEO of UIDAI, took charge as CEO of the IndiaAI Mission.
- Bibisara Assaubayeva (Kazakhstan): Won the 3rd edition of the Norway Chess Women's Tournament 2026.
- Jean Drèze: Received the Global Inequality Research Award (GiRA) 2026 at the World Inequality Conference, Paris.
- Elon Musk: Became the world's first trillionaire after SpaceX's Nasdaq debut, with net worth reaching about $1.05 trillion.
- GRASA: Received the Rashtriya Ratna Samman 2026 in the Emerging Health Tech & Nutrition Innovation Startup category.
- India (Men's Hockey U18): Won the Asia Cup 2026 title, defeating Japan 4–1 in the final at Kakamigahara, Japan.
- Gallantry Awards 2026: President of India conferred 51 Gallantry Awards (7 Kirti Chakras, 15 Vir Chakras, 29 Shaurya Chakras) at the Defence Investiture Ceremony Phase-I.
- Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2024 & 2025: Sangeet Natak Akademi honoured 106 young artists; award carries ₹25,000 cash prize with a Tamrapatra.
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards 2024–25: 108 artists honoured, including Bombay Jayashri Ramnath, Neyveli R. Narayanan and Niladri Kumar; each award carries ₹1 lakh with a Tamrapatra.
Learn Basics
- Order of precedence for peacetime gallantry awards: Ashoka Chakra (highest) > Kirti Chakra > Shaurya Chakra; instituted in 1952 (effective from 15 August 1947).
- Exam point of view: Param Vir Chakra is the highest wartime gallantry award, while Ashoka Chakra is the highest peacetime award – these are often confused with each other.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
As per the White Paper on State Finances 2026, what is Tamil Nadu's total outstanding debt, including PSU liabilities?
(a) ₹10 lakh crore
(b) ₹13.18 lakh crore
(c) ₹7.52 lakh crore
(d) ₹3.18 lakh crore
The Tamil Nadu Assured Pension Scheme (TAPS) provides an assured pension of what percentage of last-drawn basic pay?
(a) 30%
(b) 40%
(c) 50%
(d) 60%
Which of the following statements about the Shishupal Judgment 2026 is/are correct?
1. It fixed a minimum notional income of ₹30,000 per month for homemakers.
2. It created a new compensation head called ‘loss of domestic care’.
3. It directed a 10% enhancement of this amount every three years.
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
REC Limited is being merged with which institution as approved by the President in 2026?
(a) NABARD
(b) Power Finance Corporation (PFC)
(c) IREDA
(d) SIDBI
The 158th Regular Course passing-out parade at IMA Dehradun was notable because it included
(a) The first batch of women NDA cadets commissioned into the Army
(b) The largest-ever batch of foreign cadets
(c) The first all-women passing-out parade
(d) The merger of NDA and IMA training
Uzbekistan became the 10th member of the New Development Bank (NDB) and the first member from which region?
(a) South Asia
(b) Central Asia
(c) West Asia
(d) Southeast Asia
The 52nd G7 Summit 2026 was hosted by which country?
(a) Italy
(b) Canada
(c) France
(d) Japan
Which of the following statements about the ILO's Convention No. 193 is/are correct?
1. It is the first global treaty on decent work in the platform economy.
2. It was adopted at the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference.
3. It comes into force immediately upon adoption.
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Switzerland's referendum on capping the population at 10 million was rejected by approximately what margin?
(a) 45% for, 55% against
(b) 50% for, 50% against
(c) 60% for, 40% against
(d) 30% for, 70% against
As per the Global Peace Index (GPI) 2026, India's rank fell to which position?
(a) 115th
(b) 119th
(c) 127th
(d) 133rd
The Greater Hog Badger, subject of Kaziranga's first scientific assessment report, is locally known in Assam as
(a) Mati Gahori
(b) Ban Bilai
(c) Jal Manush
(d) Pahari Suar
The Zoological Survey of India identified new coral translocation sites in Great Nicobar due to the impact of which project?
(a) Galathea transhipment port
(b) Sagarmala port project
(c) Chennai-Kanyakumari expressway
(d) Great Nicobar Airport expansion
India's first-ever carbon credits under Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement were issued for a clean-cooking project in which country?
(a) Bangladesh
(b) Myanmar
(c) Bhutan
(d) Sri Lanka
The five new millisecond pulsars discovered using India's uGMRT were found in which globular clusters?
(a) Messier 4 and Messier 5
(b) Messier 69 and Messier 70
(c) Messier 13 and Messier 15
(d) Messier 22 and Messier 30
LVM3, whose technology transfer to private companies was invited by IN-SPACe, is also known by which nickname?
(a) Bahubali
(b) Vikram
(c) Agni
(d) Trishul
India's workers' remittances in FY 2025-26 reached approximately what value?
(a) USD 90 billion
(b) USD 100 billion
(c) USD 110.47 billion
(d) USD 151.71 billion
Which digital wallet became the world's most downloaded app in 2025, per the Sensor Tower report?
(a) Paytm
(b) BHIM
(c) PhonePe
(d) Google Pay
Which Indian port was ranked as the country's top container port in the Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) 2025, placing 22nd globally?
(a) Mundra Port
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA)
(c) Visakhapatnam Port
(d) Pipavav Port
Which of the following pairs of State and newly granted GI tag(s) is/are correctly matched?
- Jharkhand – Bhagaiya silk
- Tripura – Tripura Sarinda
- Assam – Munda jewellery
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Under Kerala's Vision 2031, the Priyadarshini scheme provides free travel on KSRTC ordinary buses to which groups, effective from 15 June 2026?
(a) Senior citizens only
(b) Students only
(c) Women and transgender persons
(d) Differently-abled persons only
