Welcome to Plutus Academy’s Daily Current Affairs — 26 June 2026. Today’s update covers the most important national and international developments, banking and finance news, sports events, key appointments, resignations, and science breakthroughs, curated from credible newspapers, news agencies and government sources (The Hindu, PIB, RBI, IMF, PTI, Business Standard) for Bank PO, SSC, RRB and UPSC aspirants.

🇮🇳 National News

India Proposes ‘BRICS Space Economy’ at Bengaluru Meet

As BRICS Chair for 2026, India hosted the BRICS Heads of Space Agencies Meeting in Bengaluru, where it proposed the concept of a ‘BRICS Space Economy’ to deepen space cooperation, innovation and sustainable growth among member nations. The initiative aims to pool the satellite, launch and Earth-observation capabilities of member states for joint applications in disaster management, climate monitoring and connectivity.

India’s Total Fertility Rate Falls to 1.9

India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has declined to 1.9, slipping below the replacement level of 2.1 and signalling an accelerating demographic transition. Demographers flagged that the falling TFR points to future ageing challenges, requiring stronger pensions, healthcare and social-security systems.

Monsoon Deficit Crosses 40% as El Nino Sets In

The aggregate rainfall deficit for June 2026 crossed the 40% threshold, with about 75% of India’s land area facing a deficiency of 20% or more. The El Nino phase — the abnormal warming of the equatorial Pacific Ocean — has officially emerged and is suppressing rainfall activity, raising concerns for the kharif sowing season.

Two Indian Women Win 2026 Whitley Awards (‘Green Oscars’)

Two Indian women conservationists were honoured with the 2026 Whitley Awards, popularly known as the ‘Green Oscars’, for grassroots work in wildlife and habitat conservation. The awards, given by the UK-based Whitley Fund for Nature, recognise community-led conservation leaders from the Global South.

India Objects to Pakistan Raising Kashmir at UN Forum

India objected to Pakistan raising the Jammu & Kashmir issue at a United Nations forum in New York, reiterating that the matter is an internal affair of India and that Pakistan must vacate territories under its illegal occupation.

🌐 International News

Powerful Twin Earthquakes Strike Venezuela; India Extends Support

Two powerful earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela on 24 June 2026, causing widespread damage and prompting a state of emergency. India extended support and solidarity to Venezuela, continuing its tradition of humanitarian assistance during natural disasters abroad.

NATO Chief Mark Rutte Meets Trump Ahead of Summit

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte met US President Donald Trump at the White House ahead of next month’s NATO summit, with discussions covering defence-spending commitments and the Pentagon’s ongoing six-month review of US forces in Europe.

France to Host 2026 G7 Summit at Evian-les-Bains

France confirmed it will host the 2026 G7 Summit at Evian-les-Bains, stating it wants to use its G7 presidency to rekindle the group’s ‘original spirit’ as a forum for dialogue among major powers on global economic challenges.

🏦 News Related to Indian Banking and Finance

Centre Extends RBI Deputy Governor Swaminathan J.’s Tenure

The Central Government extended the tenure of RBI Deputy Governor Swaminathan J. by two years with effect from 26 June 2026, following the completion of his first term. Swaminathan J., a former MD of State Bank of India, oversees key supervision and regulation portfolios at the Reserve Bank of India.

RBI Notifies Digital Payments – E-Mandate Framework, 2026

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced the Digital Payments – E-Mandate Framework, 2026 to make recurring digital payments more transparent and secure. Customers must now receive a 24-hour pre-debit notification detailing the merchant name, amount, timing and reason for each scheduled debit, strengthening consumer protection in auto-payments.

RBI Allows Smaller NBFCs to Exit Regulatory Framework

The RBI issued final guidelines allowing certain small Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) to exit the regulatory framework. NBFCs with assets below Rs 1,000 crore that neither use public funds nor have a customer interface are exempted from registration, and eligible existing NBFCs may apply for deregistration by 31 December 2026.

💱 News Related to International Banking and Finance

IMF Pegs 2026 Global Growth at 3.1%

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected global growth to slow to 3.1% in 2026, a downgrade from earlier forecasts, with headline inflation rising to 4.4%, citing Middle East tensions and energy-price pressures as key risks to the world economy.

SDR Interest Rate at 2.799%

The IMF’s Special Drawing Rights (SDR) interest rate stood at 2.799% (for the week of 25 June 2026), with 1 US Dollar equal to about SDR 0.7389. The SDR is the IMF’s international reserve asset, valued against a basket of major currencies.

🏆 International Sports Events

India to Begin White-Ball Tour of Ireland

The India men’s cricket team is set to begin its tour of Ireland, with the T20I series scheduled from 26–28 June 2026, forming part of India’s build-up ahead of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Underway

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 is in progress from 12 June to 5 July 2026, featuring the world’s top women’s teams in a marquee global tournament ahead of a packed multi-sport year that includes the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

📋 Major National & International Appointments

Neelkanth Mishra Appointed India’s Executive Director at World Bank

Noted economist Neelkanth Mishra was appointed as India’s Executive Director at the World Bank for a three-year term, representing India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka on the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors.

President Approves Five New Supreme Court Judges

The President of India approved the appointment of five new judges to the Supreme Court, strengthening the apex court’s working strength amid a heavy pendency of cases. The appointments were made on the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium.

📤 Resignation or Dismissal

DIC India MD & CEO Manish Bhatia Resigns

Manish Bhatia resigned as Managing Director and CEO of DIC India Limited, effective 29 August 2026, to pursue other career opportunities. The company’s Board accepted his resignation at a meeting held on 2 June 2026.

Air India CEO Campbell Wilson on Notice Period

Campbell Wilson, who stepped down as CEO of Air India, is serving his notice period as the Tata Group continues its search for new airline leadership amid a major leadership transition at the carrier.

🔬 Major Inventions and Discoveries

SETI Scans Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS for Radio Signals

Scientists at SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) scanned the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS for radio signals that could indicate alien technology but found nothing beyond human-made interference — a study that nonetheless advances techniques for probing interstellar visitors to our Solar System.

Superconducting X-ray Spectrometer Begins Operation at BESSY II

A groundbreaking superconducting X-ray spectrometer began operation at the BESSY II synchrotron facility, boosting photon-detection efficiency by up to 1,000 times and opening new possibilities for studying materials and chemical reactions at the atomic scale.

Study Finds Brain Health Can Improve at Any Age

A three-year study of nearly 4,000 adults found that brain health can improve at any age, challenging the long-held belief that mental sharpness must inevitably decline with age — a finding with implications for healthy-ageing and lifelong-learning policy.

📝 Practice Questions — Current Affairs Quiz

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