Current Affairs for Competitive Exams: 26 June 2026, Daily Roundup

Current Affairs for Competitive Exams: 26 June 2026, Daily Roundup

Current Affairs – 26 June 2026

National Affairs

1. NITI Aayog Releases 8th Edition of Trade Watch Quarterly (TWQ): NITI Aayog released the 8th edition of the Trade Watch Quarterly (TWQ), focusing on India’s pharmaceutical industry and global trade performance.

Key Highlights

• Special focus on Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs).
• India’s pharmaceutical sector contributes about 1.7% of GDP.
• It accounts for around 7.2% of Manufacturing Gross Value Added (GVA).
• India’s merchandise and services trade recorded 5.4% growth over the previous fiscal year.

The report highlights the need to reduce import dependence on APIs and strengthen domestic manufacturing.

2. Supreme Court Orders Integration of Emergency Helplines with 112: The Supreme Court directed all States and Union Territories to integrate various emergency helpline numbers with the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112) within three months.

Helplines to be Integrated

• 100 (Police)
• 101 (Fire)
• 102 & 108 (Ambulance)
• 1033 (National Highway Emergency)
• 1091 (Women Helpline)

The move aims to provide faster emergency medical and rescue services across the country.

3. Government Announces Major Administrative Reforms

Several important government initiatives were announced:

• The Government notified 318 permissible works under the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), which will replace MGNREGA from 1 July 2026.
• Passport fees have been revised under the Passports (Amendment) Rules, 2026, effective from 1 July.
• The Ministry of Education invited applications for the National Teachers Awards 2026.
• Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan administered the oath to 10 newly elected and re-elected Rajya Sabha members.
• The Prime Ministers Museum & Library organised an exhibition on the life and legacy of former Prime Minister V.P. Singh.

4. Railway, Aviation and Water Initiatives: Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu inaugurated the first Easy Connect Flight from Varanasi Airport.

• Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed reforms to increase freight movement through Indian Railways.
• Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana jointly inaugurated the modernised spillway gates of the Tungabhadra Dam, aimed at improving irrigation and inter-state water management.

5. Health & Drug Safety: The Ministry of Health amended the Drugs Rules, 1945.

Key Changes

• More medicines brought under Schedule H2.
• QR Code-based Track and Trace system expanded.
• All vaccines, anti-cancer medicines, antimicrobials and narcotic drugs brought under stricter monitoring.

International Current Affairs

1. BRICS Space Cooperation

India hosted the BRICS Heads of Space Agencies Meeting under its 2026 Chairmanship.

India proposed the concept of a “BRICS Space Economy” to promote:

• Satellite cooperation
• Space commerce
• Joint research
• Space data sharing

2. India Launches Operation Amistad: India launched Operation Amistad, a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission to assist earthquake-hit Venezuela.

Key Highlights

• Indian Air Force deployed C-17 Globemaster aircraft.
• Relief included field hospitals, medicines and rescue teams.

3. India’s Global Engagement: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar addressed the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity 2026 in South Korea.

• India hosted the 11th BRICS Energy Ministers’ Meeting in Gurugram.
• Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri met Iran’s Petroleum Minister on the sidelines of the meeting.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Seychelles (27–29 June) as the Guest of Honour for its Golden Jubilee National Day celebrations.
• India’s new High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi formally assumed office.

Global Geopolitical Crisis

1. Venezuela Earthquake: Two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck western Venezuela.

Impact

• 32 people killed.
• More than 700 injured.
• India launched Operation Amistad to provide humanitarian assistance.

2. NASA Detects Complex Carbon on Mars

NASA’s Perseverance Rover detected complex macromolecular carbon compounds in rocks collected from Jezero Crater on Mars.

The discovery is important for understanding the planet’s geological history and possible ancient habitability.

Defence & Science & Technology

1. DRDO’s NETRA AEW&C Receives Final Operational Clearance: The indigenous NETRA Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) System received Final Operational Clearance (FOC) and was formally handed over to the Indian Air Force.

The system strengthens:

• Air surveillance
• Early warning capability
• Air defence preparedness

2. India-UAE Defence Cooperation: India and the United Arab Emirates reviewed defence cooperation under the Strategic Defence Partnership Framework, focusing on regional security and military collaboration.

3. C-DOT and IIT Hyderabad Partnership: The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) signed an MoU with IIT Hyderabad to establish a Centre of Excellence for research in:

• 5G Advanced
• 6G Technology
• Massive MIMO
• Post-Quantum Cryptography
• Integrated Communication Networks

Legal & Governance

• Operation Chakra-VI continued against digital arrest fraud networks across India.
• The Government clarified that an Indian Passport is a travel document and not conclusive proof of citizenship.
• Uttar Pradesh Police arrested three persons in the Ayodhya Ram Temple donation fraud case.
• The Government restored supplies of Non-Domestic Packed LPG after easing restrictions imposed during the West Asia crisis.
• Citizens were warned about the “Boss Scam” (CEO Impersonation Fraud), where fraudsters impersonate senior executives to steal money or confidential information.

Global Observance

International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking – 26 June: The day is observed every year to create awareness about:

• Drug abuse
• Illegal drug trafficking
• Prevention and rehabilitation

India continues implementing the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan to combat drug abuse.

Sports Events

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026

• India Women defeated Bangladesh Women by 5 wickets.
• South Africa Women defeated Netherlands Women by 88 runs.

Football

• FIFA suspended the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) due to third-party interference in its governance.
• Lionel Messi was honoured with a new 85-foot statue in Argentina.

Cricket Administration: The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) appointed:

• Ashok Dinda – Head of Vision 2028 & Fast Bowling Coach.
• Utpal Chatterjee – Spin Bowling Coach.

Miscellaneous Current Affairs

• Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan will preside over MSME Day – Udyami Bharat 2026 on 27 June.
• A book titled “Sanskritir Ratna Bhandar: Bhaowaiyar Itibritto” was released by the Vice President.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid tribute to Baba Banda Singh Bahadur on his martyrdom day.
• The death toll in the Kolkata warehouse collapse rose to nine, and the Prime Minister announced ex gratia assistance.
• The International Police Expo 2026 opened at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, showcasing over 300 policing and homeland security technologies from more than 25 countries.