Current Affairs 20 June 2026

National Affairs

MHA Agency Launches 2 Portals to Prevent Cybercrimes and Ensure Justice
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, launched two new portals to streamline operational coordination among police forces, banking networks, and the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP).

• Grievance Redressal Mechanism (GRM): Designed to address complaints from users whose bank accounts were frozen, placed under lien, or put on hold due to suspicious transactions flagged during cybercrime investigations.
• Money Restoration Module (MRM): Provides a seamless mechanism for cyber fraud victims to seek the return of their funds once they have been frozen or recovered after filing a formal complaint.

16th BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting Adopts ‘Indore Declaration’
The 16th BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting was successfully held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, concluding with the unanimous adoption of the "Indore Declaration" to establish robust platforms for global agricultural cooperation.

• Key Priorities: Focuses heavily on food security, regenerative climate-resilient agriculture, agricultural trade, and partnerships for innovation/investment.
• New Institutions Formed: Established four major entities: the BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence on Agroecology; the Network on Digital Agriculture; the Global Forum on Farmers’ Rights in Seed Systems; and the BRICS AGRIN Framework.

GoI Constitutes Search-Cum-Selection Committee for NSB Under Dr. T.V. Somanathan
The Government of India constituted a Search-cum-Selection Committee chaired by Cabinet Secretary Dr. T.V. Somanathan to recommend candidates for the chairperson and members of the newly formed National Sports Board (NSB).

• Composition: The committee includes MYAS Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao, IOA nominee Lt. Gen (Retd) Harpal Singh, and renowned Olympic athletes Gagan Narang and N. Kunjurani Devi.
• Key Functions: Tasked with shortlisting candidates experienced in public administration, sports governance, and sports law to lead the NSB—India's apex body for granting recognition and ensuring compliance among National Sports Bodies.

GeM and CSC-SPV Sign MoU to Expand Procurement Access via 50 GSKs
The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) signed an MoU with Common Service Centre e-Governance Services India Limited (CSC-SPV) to massively improve government procurement access in rural and underserved regions.

• GeM Suvidha Kendras (GSKs): Under the pilot program, 50 GSKs will be established across states including Delhi-NCR, Maharashtra, UP, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu to support seller onboarding.
• Beneficiaries: These centers will provide direct registration and training support to MSMEs, women entrepreneurs, startups, self-help groups (SHGs), FPOs, artisans, and weavers.
• Facilitation: The framework will support advanced Vendor Assessment, Brand Approval, and Product/Service Catalogue creation.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi Launches AI-Powered Smart Warehousing System
Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, launched a cutting-edge Smart Warehousing System for foodgrain storage at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

• Deployment Status: Successfully implemented across 215 bag-based Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) facilities. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) will deploy the system in 150 additional warehouses by October 2026.
• Technologies Used: Combines FASTag and ANPR-based gate automation, geo-tagged smart locks, AI-enabled bag counting, and face recognition systems.
• Significance: Radically improves operational transparency, reduces vehicle Turnaround Time (TAT), enhances manpower productivity, and provides real-time hazard detection.

International Affairs

Overview of PM Narendra Modi’s Official Visit to Slovakia
Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook an official visit to Slovakia to elevate bilateral relations and focus on strategic cooperation, innovation, and global technology partnerships.

• Slovakia’s Highest Honor: PM Modi was conferred “The Order of the White Double Cross (1st Class)” by Slovak President Peter Pellegrini in Bratislava, marking his 33rd global honor during his 12-year tenure.
• Comprehensive Partnership: A key outcome of the visit was the elevation of India-Slovakia bilateral relations to a formal Comprehensive Partnership (CP).
• Key Agreements: 11 key agreements were signed across skill mobility, defense, higher education, and emerging technologies (AI and quantum). Both nations also established a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism and a new Consular Dialogue mechanism.
• ICCR Chair in AI: The leaders announced the establishment of the first-ever ICCR Chair in Artificial Intelligence at the Technical University of Kosice.

WEF’s Energy Transition Index 2026: Sweden Leads, India Jumps to 70th
The World Economic Forum (WEF) released its Energy Transition Index (ETI) 2026, placing India at the 70th spot (up 2 places), emerging as one of the top gainers globally.

• Global Rankings: Sweden topped the index with a score of 75.3, followed closely by Finland (74.1) and Denmark (72.6).
• Bottom Ranks: The Democratic Republic of the Congo ranked last globally (120th), followed by Botswana and Jamaica.
• Global Investment Insights: Despite clean energy investments hitting $2.3 trillion (out of a total $3.3 trillion in energy investments), global energy transition readiness actually declined by 0.76%—the first drop in over a decade.

Banking & Finance

ADB Partners with SIL for $10 Million to Expand Digital Education Infrastructure
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a massive $10 million financing package with Schoolnet India Limited (SIL) to modernize learning outcomes in Indian government schools.

• Objective: To drastically scale up digital learning infrastructure in 30,000 government schools, directly benefiting over 45 million students.
• Implementation: Will install computer labs in at least 1,000 schools, establish 58,000 digital classrooms, and actively train 56,000 educators in digital teaching methods.
• Funding Structure: Supported by a $5 million loan from LEAP 2 (Leading Asia’s Private Infrastructure Fund), managed by ADB and capitalized by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

BITS Pilani and Axis Bank Sign Agreement for ₹100 Crore Innovation Park
BITS Pilani and Axis Bank have signed an agreement to establish a state-of-the-art Industry Research, Technology and Innovation Park at the BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus, backed by a ₹100 crore CSR grant from Axis Bank.

• Focus Areas: Deep-tech innovation, Life Sciences, Biopharma, Healthcare, and Medical Devices.
• Infrastructure: Spread across 1.2 lakh sq. ft., the facility will house advanced laboratories, incubation centers, and shared research hubs for startups and MSMEs.
• Technology Goal: Designed to foster tech transfer, IP management, and product commercialization by uniting academia with healthcare and biotech industries.

RBI Cancels Licence of Shree Mahalaxmi Urban Co-Operative Credit Bank
The Reserve Bank of India officially cancelled the banking licence of the Gokak (Karnataka)-based Shree Mahalaxmi Urban Co-operative Credit Bank.

• The Reason: The central bank cited inadequate capital and poor earning prospects, noting the institution failed to comply with critical provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

Appointments & Resignations

RBI Approves Extension of Keki Mistry as Interim Chairman of HDFC Bank
The Reserve Bank of India approved a three-month tenure extension for Keki Mistry as the Interim Part-Time Chairman of HDFC Bank Limited, effective until September 18, 2026.

• Appointment Details: He originally succeeded Atanu Chakraborty in March 2026 for an initial three-month stint.
• Previous Roles: Highly experienced in the sector, Mistry previously served as the Vice Chairman and CEO of HDFC Limited before its mega-merger.

ACC Approves Saibal Chattopadhyay’s Appointment as NSC Chairperson
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) appointed Saibal Chattopadhyay (former director of IIM Calcutta) as the new Chairperson of the National Statistical Commission (NSC) under MoSPI.

• Structure Restoration: To restore full operational strength, Shubhabrata Das, Satyendra Bahadur Singh, and Madhavan Mukund were also appointed as part-time members.
• Role & Functions: The NSC is responsible for formulating policies for India’s statistical system, overseeing statistical audits, and maintaining the absolute integrity of official data.

Indian Jurist Bimal N. Patel Elected UN’s ITLOS Tribunal Judge for 2026-2035
Renowned Indian jurist Bimal N. Patel has been elected as a judge for the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) for the highly coveted 2026–2035 term.

• Election Details: Elected during the 36th Meeting of States Parties to the UNCLOS at the UN Headquarters in New York. He will succeed Neeru Chadha in October 2026.
• Global Representation: Among 172 signatories, a total of 7 new judges were elected, representing India, Vietnam, Ghana, Tunisia, Russia, Brazil, and the Netherlands.

Science & Technology

Indian Coast Guard Inducts First Indigenous Air Cushion Vehicle in Goa
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) formally inducted 'H-561'—the first of six indigenously manufactured Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs)—at its Rassaim facility in Goa to supercharge maritime surveillance and coastal security.

• Background: Stemming from a ₹387.44 crore Ministry of Defence contract with Chowgule & Company Pvt Ltd under the 'Buy (Indian)' category.
• Capabilities: Also known as hovercrafts, these amphibious platforms operate on a cushion of air, allowing high-speed movement across water, mud, marshes, sand, ice, and beaches.

KSSL Unveils ‘Simha’ 4×4 Armoured Vehicle at Eurosatory 2026 in Paris
Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL), in partnership with South Africa's Paramount Group, unveiled the modular Simha 4×4 Light Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle (LAMPV) at the premier Eurosatory 2026 defense exhibition in Paris, France.

• Design & Features: Designed from the ground up with modular architecture and NATO-qualified components. It is highly customizable for urban warfare, troop transport, and border surveillance.
• Manufacturing Vision: The platform supports rapid localization and sovereign manufacturing in partner countries, offering an ideal blend of protection, mobility, and affordability.

Environment

Scientists Discover New Lynx Spider Species in Meghalaya
Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and the University of Calcutta discovered a brand-new lynx spider species, Hamataliwa mawlyngot, in the East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya.

• Characteristics: Extremely tiny (smaller than a fingernail), this spider hunts prey using immense speed, agility, and sharp vision rather than building traditional webs.
• Ecological Role: Serves as a vital biological control agent that naturally reduces agricultural pest populations in the region's dense tea plantations.
• Significance: Marks the very first recorded presence of the Hamataliwa genus in the state, expanding its known distribution across Asia.

Important Days at a Glance

Current Affairs 20 June 2026 Oneliner Question Answer

1. Which MHA agency launched the Grievance Redressal Mechanism (GRM) and Money Restoration Module (MRM) portals?
Answer: Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C).

2. Which declaration was adopted at the 16th BRICS Agriculture Ministers' Meeting held in Indore?
Answer: Indore Declaration.

3. Who chairs the Search-cum-Selection Committee constituted for the National Sports Board (NSB)?
Answer: Dr. T. V. Somanathan.

4. Which two organizations signed an MoU to expand government procurement access through GeM Suvidha Kendras?
Answer: Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and CSC-SPV.

5. Which Union Minister launched the Smart Warehousing System for foodgrain storage?
Answer: Pralhad Joshi.

6. Which European country did Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit in June 2026 after France?
Answer: Slovakia.

7. What is the highest national award of Slovakia conferred on Prime Minister Narendra Modi?
Answer: The Order of the White Double Cross (1st Class).

8. Which country topped the World Economic Forum's Energy Transition Index (ETI) 2026?
Answer: Sweden.

9. What was India's rank in the Energy Transition Index (ETI) 2026?
Answer: 70th.

10. Which organization partnered with Schoolnet India Limited to improve digital education infrastructure?
Answer: Asian Development Bank (ADB).

11. Which bank signed an agreement with BITS Pilani to establish a ₹100 crore Innovation Park?
Answer: Axis Bank.

12. Whose tenure as Interim Part-Time Chairman of HDFC Bank was extended by the RBI?
Answer: Keki Mistry.

13. Who was appointed as the Chairperson of the National Statistical Commission (NSC)?
Answer: Saibal Chattopadhyay.

14. Which Indian jurist was elected as a judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) for the 2026–2035 term?
Answer: Bimal N. Patel.

15. Which organization inducted the first indigenous Air Cushion Vehicle (ACV) in Goa?
Answer: Indian Coast Guard (ICG).

16. Which company unveiled the Simha 4×4 Light Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle (LAMPV) at Eurosatory 2026?
Answer: Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL).

17. What is the name of the new lynx spider species discovered in Meghalaya?
Answer: Hamataliwa mawlyngot.

18. World Autistic Pride Day is observed annually on which date?
Answer: 18 June.

19. What is the theme of World Autistic Pride Day 2026?
Answer: “Acceptance, inclusion, and autistic identity.”

20. International Picnic Day is celebrated every year on which date?
Answer: 18 June.