Current affairs — 28 June 2026

Prelims pointers

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Seychelles on June 27, 2026, for a three-day official visit.
• Modi is scheduled to attend the golden jubilee celebrations of Seychelles' National Day as the Guest of Honour.
• The article states that India and Seychelles established diplomatic ties in 1976.
• India was described as a development partner for Seychelles across infrastructure, defence, health and maritime security.
• Modi handed over the Made in India Fast Patrol Vessel Lespwar to the Seychelles Coast Guard.

Prelims pointers

• Soaring temperatures put pressure on public infrastructure and dozens of deaths linked to heat
• From Scandinavia to the Alps, Europeans endured sweltering conditions on Saturday (June 27, 2026) as a heatwave linked ‌to dozens of deaths spread eastwards, with record-breaking temperatures breaching 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in ​some spots.
• Denmark logged its highest-ever temperature after Britain, France, Switzerland and Germany had all experienced record ⁠heat in June and the weather system began rolling towards Poland.
• Scientists said the heatwave would have been virtually impossible without man-made climate change, which has made this week’s night-time temperatures 100 times more likely than they would have been even two decades ago.
• “The heatwave is going ‌to peak at the weekend at well over 40 C in some parts of Germany,” said Karsten Brandt, a meteorologist at weather forecasting site Donnerwetter.de.

Prelims pointers

• T he khukuri knife is an iconic symbol of the Gorkha military, originally from Nepal, and is closely associated with the Gorkha soldier, symbolising strength, courage, bravery and loyalty.
• According to the Nepal Army, after 1744, the khukuri worn by the Gorkha soldiers who fought under the leadership of Prithvi Narayan Shah, who was the king of the Gorkha kingdom, in the Nepal Unification Campaign, made a significant contribution to the creation of modern Nepal.
• The Nepal Army uses the khukuri as a combat weapon, a survival tool in field operations, and an important part of military training. It is also carried during parades and ceremonial events, cultural events, symbolising the courage, tradition, and identity of Nepali soldiers.
• Though the khukuri is best known as a ruthless combat weapon, the knife has several other uses. Gorkhas can use their khukuris to chop or carve wood, cut meat and vegetables, dig, and hunt wild animals.
• The act of sharpening a khukuri is a ritualistic process, symbolising the soldier’s commitment to duty and honour. People of Nepal worship the khukuri during various festivals.

Prelims pointers

• The disaster-communication approach was presented in IEEE Transactions on Services Computing by researchers led by Sangita Dhara of Trinity College Dublin.
• Cooperative caching lets satellites, drones, base stations and emergency vehicles store and share critical disaster-response data.
• CMAB stands for contextual multi-armed bandit and is used to optimise caching decisions on the fly.
• The CMAB model reviews recently available data, current demand and cache memory needs before making caching decisions.
• FMAB, or federated multi-armed bandit, learns from a node’s information as well as what nearby nodes have learnt.

Prelims pointers

• The new evidence, from the Neretva Vallis channel, suggests organic matter could be more widespread on Mars than thought
• In a new study in Science Advances , an international team of researchers has reported finding organic matter on Mars. Using the NASA Perseverance rover, the team recorded a distribution of complex organic carbon within an ancient river valley on the red planet’s Jezero Crater.
• Over the last decade, the NASA Curiosity rover has found organic molecules in Gale Crater, proving the building blocks of life could be preserved in Mars’s lakebed rocks. However, Perseverance’s previous scans of the floor of Jezero Crater only showed localised and faint hints of organic materials.
• While the new study noted that these organics could have been formed by geological (i.e. abiotic) processes rather than biological ones, the findings are, in the paper’s words, “astrobiologically compelling”, showing that complex carbon can survive the planet’s harsh radiation for aeons.
• The new evidence, from the Neretva Vallis channel, suggests organic matter could be more widespread on Mars than thought. The fact that these organic materials have also been found alongside minerals like carbonates and sulphates suggests they may have been trapped and preserved by water-driven processes billions of years ago.

Prelims pointers

• An interim deal between the U.S. and Iran to end the war called for the Strait, which once saw a fifth of the world's oil and natural gas pass through it, to see transits resume
• Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard launched drone and missile attacks on Sunday (June 28, 2026) targeting Bahrain and Kuwait in response to U.S. airstrikes that hit the Islamic Republic, and threatened a “complete halt” could come to negotiations to end the war if Washington continues its attacks.
• The attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait came as a multinational maritime body overseen by the U.S. Navy said Saturday (June 27, 2026) that it would expand a route near Oman in the Strait of Hormuz to allow for both inbound and outbound traffic — setting up a new flashpoint with Tehran.
• “If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social.
• The incident follows a similar back-and-forth that occurred just days prior, when an Iranian drone struck a merchant vessel off the coast of Oman on Thursday (June 25, 2026), and the U.S. military retaliated with strikes.

Prelims pointers

• Seychelles confers the title of ‘Guardian of the Blue Horizon’ on PM Modi; Delegation-level talks held by PM Modi with Seychelles President Herminie to deepen bilateral ties
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the ‘Guardian of the Blue Horizon,’ Seychelles’ highest distinction for leadership in environmental conservation and sustainable development, in Seychelles on June 28, 2026. Photo: Special Arrangement
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (June 28, 2026) said India envisions an Indian Ocean where maritime security is ensured alongside economic prosperity and where partnership is not based on size, but on mutual respect and trust.
• “Our vision is to make the Indian Ocean an Ocean of Opportunity,” Prime Minister Modi said after delegation-level talks with Seychelles President Patrick Herminie, during which they reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
• “We believe the Indian Ocean is our shared home; its security, sustainability, and prosperity are our shared responsibility,” PM Modi said in Seychelles.

Prelims pointers

• The advisory against deploying Indian seafarers in the conflict zones also stands withdrawn
• The DGS also asked the Masters, shipboard personnel, RPSL companies, ship owners and maritime stakeholders to follow the advisory issued by the Embassy of India, Tehran, on June 24, 2026, providing guidance for Indian nationals regarding travel and residence in Iran.
• West Asia / security / Israel-US strikes on Iran / United Kingdom / USA / waterway and maritime transport
• The Directorate General of Shipping has withdrawn its earlier advisory restricting the movement of Indian ships along the Gulf Region, including the Strait of Hormuz, and deployment of Indian seafarers in the conflict zones, while asking maritime stakeholders to maintain heightened level of caution and closely monitor navigational warnings.
• The shipping regulator, in a revised order issued on Friday (June 26, 2026), clarified that there was no restriction for Indian ship owners/managers/Recruitment and Placement Service Licence (RPSL) agencies to continue the operation of ships and deployment of Indian seafarers in and out of the Persian Gulf region by following the security protocols of the Coastal States and security…

Prelims pointers

• SEBI introduced lifecycle funds this year, and asset management companies in India can now offer them.
• Lifecycle funds can hold equity, bonds and commodities, while hybrid funds typically hold equity and bonds.
• An asset allocation fund may operate within a range, such as 65-75% in equity and 25-35% in bonds.
• The article says asset allocation should be linked to the importance of an investor’s life goal.
• Switching between stocks and bonds inside a fund is not taxable for the investor unless fund units are sold.

Prelims pointers

• France has experienced a surge in deaths during its record-breaking heat wave, according to the country’s public health agency
• Temperature records were toppled in several countries on the weekend as the heat wave slowly moved toward eastern parts of the continent.
• A new study from the World Weather Attribution, a Europe-based collaboration of scientists, reported on Friday (June 26, 2026) that the record-breaking heat and humidity in Europe this week would not have been possible without climate change.
• The rapid study found that the heat would have been virtually impossible just five decades ago, and is 200 times more likely today than it would have been 20 years ago.
• France saw a surge in deaths last week at the height of its record-smashing heat wave, including a sharp increase in calls to private homes, especially in the Paris region, the national public health agency said on Sunday (June 28, 2026).

Prelims pointers

• Three recent important research developments, all readable in one minute
• Technique tests TB drugs’ effectiveness in just 50 hours
• Hominin body sizes didn’t steadily increase over time
• Turtles use internal compass, and some fixes, on journeys
• Science Snapshots / tuberculosis / genetics / flora and fauna

Prelims pointers

• The meeting will focus on issues related to the harmonisation of export promotion schemes and SEZ reforms, an official said
• The meeting will focus on issues related to the harmonisation of export promotion schemes and SEZ reforms, the official said. File photo: X/@PiyushGoyal via ANI
• The Commerce Ministry has called a meeting of stakeholders on June 30 to discuss issues related to special economic zones (SEZs), an official said.
• The meeting will focus on issues related to the harmonisation of export promotion schemes and SEZ reforms, the official said.
• These zones are treated as foreign territories for laws pertaining to customs (trade and import duties), with restrictions on duty-free domestic sales.

Prelims pointers

• Prime Minister Modi highlights indigenously built missile systems and C-295 aircraft, says June was a “landmark month” for India’s defence sector; he thanks people for responding to his call for austerity amid the West Asia crisis
• The first C-295 transport aircraft manufactured in India completed its maiden flight on June 10. The Indian Air Force is procuring 56 aircraft under a ₹21,935-crore deal, with 40 being manufactured by Tata Advanced Systems Limited in partnership with Airbus at a facility in Vadodara.
• Mr. Modi referred to the recent induction of INS Dunagiri, INS Shanshak, and INS Agrya into the Indian Navy, saying the warships were designed and built entirely in India.
• “I am grateful to every citizen of the country; not only have they supported my appeal, they are also actively cooperating in every way,” he said.
• The Prime Minister commended women in Madhya Pradesh’s Rajgarh district for converting plastic waste into eco-bricks used for beautifying public spaces and praised Nagaland’s ‘Baby League’ football initiative for children aged five to 12.

Prelims pointers

• Prime Minister Modi in his Mann Ki Baat address stated that this will facilitate development of new AI tools for Indian languages and accelerate digitisation of ancient texts
• In a first instance of a Sanskrit university in India entering engineering education, the Central Sanskrit University has introduced a B.Tech programme in Artificial Intelligence and data science from 2026-27.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Mann ki Baat address on Sunday (June 28, 2026) stated that this is a significant effort to prepare the youth for new technology while keeping them rooted in their heritage.
• The B.Tech programme, on lines of National Education Policy 2020, is designed to transform Sanskrit institutions into multi-disciplinary centres of learning. The programme is AICTE-approved and has a total sanctioned intake of 66 seats including 60 regular seats and six super numerary seats.
• The programme is expected to support development of AI-enabled tools for Sanskrit and Indian languages, strengthen language technologies, enable digitisation and preservation of manuscripts and classical texts and promote inter-disciplinary research linking AI with Indian Knowledge Systems.

Prelims pointers

• The Tamil Nadu textile and apparel industry should leverage the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for technical textiles and manmade fibre sector for which the Union government has allocated ₹11,000 crore, said Union Textile Minister Giriraj Singh in Tiruppur on Sunday.
• Speaking at a meeting organised by the Tiruppur Exporters Association (TEA), he said the Centre has relaxed the norms for the PLI scheme to encourage investments in technical textiles and MMF sectors.
• “As for the new schemes planned by the Ministry, some have gone to the Cabinet, and others will follow—they are designed to be pro-industry. We have factored in everything—machinery, employment, and other aspects. I hope that the State and the Centre will work together,” he said.
• The Minister also urged the industry to look at investing in States where there is labour availability.
• When Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in 2014, silk production stood at 26,000 tonnes annually. It is 43,000 tonnes now and by 2030 it will be 60,000 tonnes. India should export more silk-based garments that are blended with other fibres, he added.

Prelims pointers

• Vice-President Calls for a Whole-of-Society Approach to Build a Drug-Free India ‘No to Drugs’ Must Grow into a Nationwide Movement: Vice-President Vice-President Calls for Greater Research in Addiction Medicine and Mental Health
• Vice President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan graced the foundation day of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences and Nasha Mukt Bharat conclave in Bengaluru today. Addressing the gathering, the Vice President said that substance abuse threatens not only individual health but also…
• Congratulating RGUHS on its Foundation Day, he lauded the University for its significant contribution to health education, research and public health, and for producing generations of healthcare professionals dedicated to serving the nation.
• Vice President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan administered polio vaccine drops to infants as part of the National Pulse Polio Drive in Bengaluru, Karnataka today.
• ‘The vision of a 'Nasha Mukt Bharat' is not merely the absence of drugs. It is the presence of healthy choices...’ : Vice President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan at the Foundation day of RGUHS and Nasha Mukt Bharat Conclave in Bengaluru.

Prelims pointers

• The launch of Samagra Shishu Bal Swasthya Karyakram (SSBSK) will reaffirm the Government's commitment to ensuring accessible, equitable and quality healthcare for every mother and child towards the vision of Viksit Bharat.
• HFW/ HFM to launch Samagra Shishu Bal Swasthya Karyakram (SSBSK) /28 June 2026/3
• Unified programme will integrate Home-Based Newborn Care and Home-Based Care for Young Child under the vision of "पहले तीन साल सम्पूर्ण देखभाल" Programme will introduce risk-stratified care, extended home visits, nurturing care for early childhood development, maternal mental health screening and digital child-wise tracking
• In a significant step towards strengthening newborn and child health services in the country, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda will launch the Samagra Shishu Bal Swasthya Karyakram (SSBSK) during the 16th Conference of the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare (CCHFW) to be held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
• The launch will mark a major milestone in advancing the Government's commitment to ensuring comprehensive, accessible and quality healthcare for every child by providing a seamless continuum of home and community-based care from birth to 36 months of age. SSBSK will carry forward the vision of "पहले तीन साल सम्पूर्ण देखभाल ", recognising the critical importance of the first three years…

Prelims pointers

• Protecting Tigers Also Safeguards Forests, Watersheds and Rich Biodiversity: Environment Minister Minister Releases Road Map on Active Management of Tigers in India, Booklet on Reintroduction and Recovery of Tigers in India and Annual Report of Project Cheetah
• Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupender Yadav today inaugurated the National Workshop on "Tiger Re-introduction: Opportunities & Challenges" at Alwar, Rajasthan, and released three publications on tiger conservation and Project Cheetah.
• Addressing the workshop, organised to mark 18 years of tiger re-introduction in the Sariska Tiger Reserve, the Minister said tiger conservation is not merely about protecting a single species, but about conserving forests, watersheds and the rich biodiversity that shares the tiger's habitat.
• On a day marking 18 years of tiger reintroduction in Sariska, inaugurated the workshop on ‘Tiger Re-introduction: Opportunities and Challenges’, along with Rajasthan Minister Shri @Sanjay4India1 ji. The workshop will bring together field directors, wildlife experts and chief…
• The Minister said Sariska has witnessed remarkable recovery from a situation of local extinction in 2005 to supporting 56 tigers today. He said Sariska today serves as a global example of successful species restoration and offers valuable lessons for future conservation initiatives.

Prelims pointers

• India–Greece Startup Interactions to Promote Cross-Border Innovation Partnerships High-Level Business Dialogue to Advance India–Greece Investment and Industrial Cooperation
• Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal is now leading a high-level Indian business delegation to Athens, Greece, following his successful engagements in the United Kingdom, with a focus on expanding bilateral trade, investment flows and strategic economic collaboration.
• During the visit to Greece, the delegation will participate in presentations and startup pitches at The Athens Startup Business Incubator (THEA), providing a platform to showcase next-generation enterprises and promote cross-border innovation partnerships.
• The visit will conclude with interactions involving key business and institutional stakeholders aimed at deepening industry partnerships and expanding bilateral trade linkages.
• Abhijith Narayanan / Garima Singh / Ishita Biswas

Prelims pointers

• “Rural Internal Audit Portal”: A First-of-its-Kind Unified Digital Platform for End-to-End Management of Internal Audits Covering Both Risk-Based and Compliance Audits
• Within a short span of implementation, the platform emerged as a comprehensive audit management system capable of supporting the complete audit lifecycle- from audit planning and engagement approvals to audit observations, Action Taken Reports (ATRs), para settlement and archival of records.
• The Rural Internal Audit Portal has been developed with the following objectives:
• Technology Architecture and Security Framework
• The Rural Internal Audit Portal has been developed using a modern, scalable and secure technology architecture aligned with Government of India standards for digital governance.

Prelims pointers

• DIKSHA can be customised to suit different needs and has therefore been widely accepted and adopted by various boards in almost all states and UTs. It provides digital learning material for complete K–12 digital learning, covering foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) to senior secondary education.
• The DIKSHA platform is designed to ensure decentralised participation and rigorous content validation. Its structure enables contribution while maintaining quality standards through periodic review.
• The platform operates on a federated architecture , enabling each participant to upload and manage content independently.
• The participants upload electronic content and courses in their mother tongue or regional languages across the country.
• This approach allows customisation in language, curriculum alignment, and pedagogy , catering to diverse learner groups nationwide.

Prelims pointers

• Villages: Soul of India and Strong Unit of Democracy
• Reforms and Viksit Bharat – Focus on VB - G RAM - G
• Conference Focused on the Entire Rural Development Ecosystem
• Lakhpati Didis, Rural Entrepreneurship and Women Power
• Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and NSAP: Access and Security

Prelims pointers

• As part of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s State Visit to Seychelles from 27-29 June 2026, Prime Minister and the President of Seychelles, H.E. Dr. Patrick Herminie today held official talks at the State House in Victoria, Mahe.
• The Leader of Opposition of Seychelles, H.E. Mr. Bernard Georges, also called on Prime Minister. The two leaders discussed India-Seychelles bilateral ties and conveyed their strong support to further build the special friendship between the two countries.
• The talks covered the full spectrum of bilateral relations, with the leaders agreeing to further strengthen cooperation in health, education, capacity building, digital transformation, sustainable development, social infrastructure, renewable energy, maritime security and defence. They also exchanged views on regional and global developments, including challenges in the Indian Ocean…
• Following the official talks, both leaders released a joint commemorative logo marking 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Several MoUs/agreements in the fields of Capacity Building, UPI, Health, Agriculture, Shipping, Space, Extradition and Line of Credit were exchanged thereafter. The amount of the Line of Credit stands at INR 1250 crores.…
• Later in the day, Prime Minister addressed an Extraordinary Sitting of the National Assembly of Seychelles, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to do so. In his address, he highlighted the historical bonds of friendship between India and Seychelles and underscored the shared values of democracy, rule of law and people-centric governance that guide the two countries. He noted that…

Prelims pointers

• I extend my heartfelt gratitude to President Herminie for the warm welcome and gracious hospitality extended to us.
• My visit comes at a historic moment, as Seychelles marks the 50th anniversary of its independence, and we also celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Seychelles.
• Over these five decades, we have transformed friendship into trust, trust into cooperation, and cooperation into the welfare of our people.
• For centuries, the Indian Ocean has nurtured the ties between India and Seychelles. Its waters have continually fostered trade, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people connections between our two nations.
• We believe the Indian Ocean is our shared home; its security, sustainability, and prosperity are our shared responsibility. This spirit forms the foundation of our MAHASAGAR Vision.

Prelims pointers

• Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah today inaugurated the 'PM Family Care Tracker' pilot project in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. On this occasion, Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel, Union Home Secretary Shri Govind Mohan, and many other dignitaries were present.
• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has redefined holistic and inclusive development by formulating long-term policies, ensuring their continuous monitoring, and implementing them effectively on the ground Integrated with birth and death registration data, the PM Family Care Tracker will provide every child with a unique ID, ensuring that the benefits of government schemes reach them…
• In his address, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah said that whenever anyone writes the 100-year history of India after Independence, that history will have two parts. The first part will be India before 2014 and the second part will be India after 2014. In the 2014 elections, the people of India elected the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Narendra Modi…
• Shri Amit Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, comprehensive efforts have been made to uplift the living standards of crores of poor people in India. Today, whatever amount of money Prime Minister Modi Ji sends for the country’s poor, the entire sum reaches them directly. The Modi government has ushered in a new era of welfare for the poor by…
• Union Home Minister said that the Narendra Modi government has given their rightful share to the crores of people who, since Independence, had been striving to claim their due in a free India. He said that Prime Minister Modi has resolved in just 12 years the problems that had persisted for generations among crores of people in the country.

Prelims pointers

• Draft amendments aim to reduce timelines for grant of manufacturing licences and enhance ease of doing business
• For Class B medical devices, which include low to moderate risk devices such as blood pressure monitors, hypodermic needles and pulse oximeters, the timeline for grant of manufacturing licence has been proposed to be reduced from 140 days to 115 days.
• Similarly, for Class C and Class D medical devices, which include high-risk devices such as cardiac stents, hip and knee implants, and other orthopaedic implants, the timeline for grant of manufacturing licence has been proposed to be reduced from 105 days to 90 days.
• The draft Gazette Notification is available at: https://egazette.gov.in/WriteReadData/2026/273896.pdf
• HFW / Amendments to Medical Devices Rules, 2017 /28 June 2026/1

Prelims pointers

• New Guidelines to Introduce 7x7x7 Strategy, T4 Approach and Nationwide Jan Bhagidari Campaign to Accelerate Anemia Reduction Anemia Mukt Bharat to Transition into Anemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan with a More Comprehensive, People-centric and Technology-enabled Approach
• The "Eating Right" approach, which will promote regular consumption of iron-rich and diversified diets as a daily habit, will be introduced as the seventh intervention, while a strengthened Monitoring and Evaluation framework supported by digital tracking will serve as the seventh institutional mechanism.
• For the management of severe anemia and non-responders among pregnant and lactating women, Intravenous Iron Therapy using Ferric Carboxymaltose (FCM) and Iron Sucrose will be included as an important clinical intervention.
• The release of the Operational Guidelines during the 16th CCHFW Meeting will reaffirm the Government's continued commitment to strengthening nutrition and maternal and child health and will further accelerate progress towards a healthier and Anemia Mukt Bharat.
• HFW/ HFM to launch Anemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan- Operational Guidelines /28 June 2026/2

Prelims pointers

• Israel’s Cabinet unanimously approved the Armenian genocide recognition proposal on June 28, 2026.
• The proposal still needs approval in Israel’s Parliament, the Knesset.
• The violence concerned Armenians under the Ottoman Empire around World War I and around 1915.
• Historians estimate up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks.
• Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said 32 countries, including the United States, Syria and Lebanon, have recognised it as genocide.

Prelims pointers

• WHO said Europe recorded more than 1,300 heat-linked excess deaths since June 21, 2026.
• French health officials reported around 1,000 more deaths than expected in France since June 24, 2026.
• At least 191 million people in Europe were forecast to face temperatures of at least 35°C on June 28.
• A Klimadashboard-collated analysis estimated 381 million people in Europe excluding Türkiye would see temperatures above 30°C.
• WHO chief Tedros said Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth, heating at twice the global average.