4 prelims-relevant stories, each distilled into quick facts — with a 4-question quiz at the end.
Extreme heat tests India's record milk production Extreme heat is stressing India’s dairy sector despite record milk output. The report links heat stress to lower milk yield, reproductive losses, reduced fat content, higher cooling costs, pressure on small farmers, heat-resilient breeding and climate insurance.
Source published 8 Jun 2026, 7:06 pm PrelimsAI reviewed/published 15 Jun 2026, 7:04 pm
Read the original report from The Hindu — Energy & Environment (opens in a new tab) ↗ Prelims pointers
India is the world’s biggest dairy producer and accounts for nearly a quarter of global milk supply. The dairy sector accounts for roughly 5% of India’s GDP and supports more than 80 million farmers. India’s milk production reached 239 million tonnes in 2023-24, up nearly 64% in a decade. NDRI scientists said heat stress reduces feed intake and diverts cows’ energy away from milk production and reproduction. Buffaloes contribute nearly half of India’s milk production but are particularly sensitive to extreme heat and need cooling support. New herbicide-tolerant mustard hybrids need diverse farming plans India is set to cultivate imidazolinone-resistant mustard hybrids in the 2026-27 rabi season to tackle Orobanche/Phelipanche, a parasitic weed. The hybrids are made by mutation breeding, but experts warn that overuse of one herbicide mode can breed resistance.
Source published 8 Jun 2026, 7:14 pm PrelimsAI reviewed/published 15 Jun 2026, 7:04 pm
Read the original report from The Hindu — Energy & Environment (opens in a new tab) ↗ Prelims pointers
IMI-resistant mustard hybrids are expected to enter wide-scale cultivation in the 2026-27 rabi season. India imported around 16 million tonnes of edible oils at about ₹1.6 lakh crore in 2024-25. Orobanche, more recently called Phelipanche, is a root parasite that drains water and nutrients from mustard plants. The hybrids were developed through mutation breeding and are described in the article as unlike genetically modified crops. A single DNA change makes the acetolactate synthase enzyme resistant to imidazolinone herbicides in the new hybrids. Polity & Governance · environmental-liability SC upholds NGT order absolving landlord of liability for tenant’s environmental violations The Supreme Court upheld an NGT order that a Gujarat landlord could not be made liable merely as owner for environmental violations committed by a tenant’s unauthorised dye unit. The case involved Water Act action, closure and ₹25 lakh compensation.
Source published 8 Jun 2026, 8:37 pm PrelimsAI reviewed/published 15 Jun 2026, 7:04 pm
Read the original report from The Hindu — Energy & Environment (opens in a new tab) ↗ Prelims pointers
The Supreme Court dismissed the Gujarat Pollution Control Board’s appeal against the NGT’s November 2025 order. The case concerned an unauthorised dye-manufacturing unit operating from leased premises in Gujarat’s Surat district. The pollution board had imposed interim environmental damage compensation of ₹25 lakh under Section 33A of the Water Act, 1974. The landlord said the September 2020 lease agreement did not permit illegal activity on the property. The NGT held that liability could not be imposed on the owner merely because he owned the premises and was not the actual occupier. Current under-recovery ₹30/litre on diesel, ₹6/litre on petrol: Official The Petroleum Ministry said State-owned oil marketing companies were absorbing under-recoveries of about ₹30 per litre on diesel and ₹6 per litre on petrol, with combined daily losses of ₹600-₹700 crore on petrol, diesel and LPG amid volatile Brent crude prices.
Source published 8 Jun 2026, 9:41 pm PrelimsAI reviewed/published 15 Jun 2026, 7:04 pm
Read the original report from The Hindu — Economy (opens in a new tab) ↗ Prelims pointers
Praveen Khanooja is identified as Additional Secretary at the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Diesel sold in Delhi at ₹95.2 per litre was said to involve an under-recovery of about ₹30 per litre. Petrol under-recovery was reported at about ₹6 per litre at the time of the June 8 inter-ministerial briefing. Indian oil marketing companies were absorbing daily losses of ₹600-₹700 crore from petrol, diesel and LPG combined. Across four tranches, State-owned OMCs had increased petrol and diesel prices cumulatively by about ₹7.5 per litre. Make current affairs stick Sign up free to practise current-affairs MCQs with explanations, alongside subject-wise questions and PYQs.