🇮🇳 National News

PM Modi Visits West Bengal and Odisha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook visits to West Bengal and Odisha on June 20–21, 2026, inaugurating key infrastructure projects and programmes related to rural connectivity, affordable housing under PM Awas Yojana, and agricultural credit for farmers.

India Launches PRAHAAR — National Counter-Terrorism Policy

The Ministry of Home Affairs unveiled PRAHAAR, India’s first-ever comprehensive National Counter-Terrorism Policy and Strategy. It consolidates 12 years of legislative, institutional, operational, and diplomatic counter-terror reforms into one unified doctrine, streamlining coordination among central and state security agencies.

India’s Macro Outlook: Monsoon Critical for Growth

According to the National Stock Exchange (NSE) latest macroeconomic report, India’s 2026 economic trajectory will depend heavily on monsoon performance. The domestic retail investor base continues to grow younger and more geographically dispersed — a structural positive for capital markets. Kotak Institutional Equities called for a “new economic independence movement” to reduce India’s dependence on foreign capital, defence imports, energy, and critical technology.

Energy Prices Spike Amid Iran–Strait of Hormuz Tensions

Petrol and diesel prices across major Indian cities face upward pressure amid the ongoing Iran–US conflict and rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint through which roughly 20% of global oil transits. The government is monitoring the situation and evaluating strategic petroleum reserve options.

🌐 International News

Iran–US Strait of Hormuz Stand-off

Iran and the United States made opposing claims regarding control and passage rights through the Strait of Hormuz on June 20, 2026, ahead of diplomatic talks in Switzerland. The standoff has elevated global energy prices and raised supply disruption fears.

Lebanon Inaugurates Second International Airport

Lebanon formally inaugurated the Rene Mouawad Airport — its second international airport — amidst the ongoing conflict between Israeli forces and Hezbollah. The inauguration is seen as a critical step toward restoring civilian air connectivity to northern Lebanon.

Building Collapse in Philippines — Death Toll Rises to 21

Seven more bodies were retrieved from the rubble of a collapsed under-construction building in Angeles, Philippines, raising the total death toll to 21. Rescue operations continue, and the incident has renewed calls for stricter construction safety enforcement.

Colombian President Petro Faces Suspension Vote

An investigatory commission in Colombia’s Chamber of Representatives proposed suspending the powers of President Gustavo Petro ahead of the June 21 election day, in a significant constitutional challenge amid political controversy.

Tropical Storm Jangmi Batters Japan

Tropical Storm Jangmi brought heavy rainfall, landslides, and flooding across Kyushu, Okinawa Islands, and the Greater Tokyo Area, injuring at least 15 people. Evacuation advisories covered over 800,000 residents.

Iraq Bus Fire — 21 Killed Near Nasiriyah

At least 21 people were killed and 19 injured after a bus overturned and caught fire near Nasiriyah in southern Iraq. Preliminary investigation points to a tyre blowout as the cause.

🏦 Indian Banking & Finance News

RBI Introduces Digital Payments E-Mandate Framework 2026

The Reserve Bank of India rolled out the Digital Payments – E-Mandate Framework, 2026, making recurring digital payments more transparent and customer-friendly. Key features:

• 24-hour pre-debit notification to account holders
• Ability to modify, pause, or cancel mandates at any time
• User-defined spending limits for recurring payments

RBI Allows Small NBFCs to Exit Regulatory Framework

The RBI issued final guidelines permitting eligible small NBFCs to deregister through a structured mechanism. NBFCs with assets below ₹1,000 crore that neither use public funds nor have customer interfaces will be classified as Unregistered Type I NBFCs. Applications can be submitted via the PRAVAAH portal by December 31, 2026.

Paytm Payments Bank Licence Cancelled

The RBI formally cancelled Paytm Payments Bank Limited’s banking licence with immediate effect and initiated winding-up proceedings before the High Court, following persistent non-compliance with KYC norms — one of the most significant banking regulatory actions in recent years.

Rohit Jain Appointed RBI Deputy Governor

Rohit Jain, RBI Executive Director, was appointed Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India for a three-year term beginning on or after May 3, 2026. He has spent nearly three decades at the RBI specialising in banking supervision.

RBI Shuns Liquid Papers in Bond Purchase — Markets Slide

India’s bond markets slid after the RBI decided to avoid liquid benchmark securities in its upcoming open market operations (OMO) bond purchase schedule, surprising market participants who had anticipated benchmark gilt support.

🌍 International Banking & Finance News

World Bank: Global Growth to Slow to 2.5% in 2026

The World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects Report (June 2026) projects global growth to slow to 2.5%, driven primarily by the Middle East conflict pushing energy prices higher. Developing economies face heightened risks from rising debt servicing costs.

IMF Signals $50 Billion Emergency Financing Need

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva indicated near-term demand for IMF emergency finance could reach $50 billion. World Bank’s Ajay Banga discussed an additional $20–25 billion in rapid financing. African governments now spend nearly one-fifth of their revenues on interest payments.

Venezuela Rejoins Global Financial System

Venezuela formally rejoined the international financial system as the IMF and World Bank restored ties after a 6-year freeze. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez requested access to $5 billion in Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) for infrastructure, electricity, and water projects.

🏅 International Sports Events

Mirra Andreeva Wins First Grand Slam Title

Russian tennis star Mirra Andreeva claimed her maiden Grand Slam title by defeating Poland’s Maja Chwalińska 6–3, 6–2 in straight sets in the women’s singles final. The 19-year-old has become one of women’s tennis’ brightest stars.

Golden Tempo Wins 158th Belmont Stakes

American thoroughbred Golden Tempo won the 158th Belmont Stakes, having won the Kentucky Derby five weeks earlier. Trainer Cherie DeVaux became only the second female trainer to win the Belmont Stakes in history.

Inaugural Indian Athletic Awards 2026

The Athletics Federation of India hosted the inaugural Indian Athletic Awards 2026 on June 20 in Delhi, honouring excellence across 10 categories including Best Athlete (Male/Female), Best Coach, Lifetime Achievement, Best Technical Official, and Best State Association.

👔 Major Appointments, Resignations & Dismissals

• Neelkanth Mishra — Appointed India’s Executive Director at the World Bank (June 5, 2026).
• Vipul (Veteran diplomat) — Appointed as India’s next Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (June 4, 2026).
• Saurabh Vijay — Former UIDAI CEO, took charge as CEO of IndiaAI Mission (June 6, 2026).
• Kumar Shanker — Appointed Managing Director of Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) (June 9, 2026).
• Banwarilal Purohit — Elected President of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (June 9, 2026).
• R. Balaji — MD & CEO of PTC India Financial Services resigned, effective June 30, 2026, citing personal reasons.
• President of India approved appointment of five new Supreme Court judges (June 2, 2026).

🔬 Major Inventions & Discoveries

Underground Fungal Networks Mapped for First Time (June 15)

Scientists mapped vast mycorrhizal fungal networks for the first time, revealing a hidden biological superhighway sustaining much of Earth’s plant and soil life. The discovery has major implications for carbon storage, soil fertility, and ecosystem resilience.

PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Broken Down by UV Hydrogen Radicals (June 16)

Researchers discovered that hydrogen radicals generated by intense UV light can break down PFAS “forever chemicals” without additional chemical inputs — offering a scalable, clean solution to one of the world’s most persistent environmental pollution crises.

JUNO Neutrino Observatory Delivers First Major Breakthrough (June 12)

China’s JUNO (Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory) achieved one of the most precise measurements of neutrino oscillation parameters yet, advancing understanding of why the universe is made of matter rather than antimatter.

Self-Regulating Artificial Photosynthesis System Developed (June 11)

Scientists developed an artificial photosynthesis system that self-regulates without batteries, directly converting sunlight to chemical energy — a breakthrough that could accelerate sustainable hydrogen fuel production.

Chip-Scale Femtosecond Laser by EPFL (June 4)

Researchers at EPFL (Switzerland) developed a chip-scale ultrafast femtosecond laser matching the precision of tabletop laboratory instruments, with applications in medical imaging, quantum computing, and telecommunications.

📝 Practice Questions — Current Affairs Quiz

Test your knowledge with these 5 questions in SSC/Bank PO format