Current Affairs

Shiveluch Volcano on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula (Far East) recently erupted, sending ash plumes up to 10 km and triggering red-level aviation alerts. A major active stratovolcano (60,000–70,000 years old), it has a 3,283 m summit truncated by a 9-km-wide caldera with a lava-dome complex; dome collapses cause debris avalanches. It has ~60 major eruptions in 10,000 years and has erupted continuously since August 1999.

Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) commissioned an emergency study after detecting outward tilting of Bhakra Dam’s main wall beyond permissible limits. The concrete gravity dam spans the Sutlej at a gorge near upstream Bhakra village, Bilaspur (Himachal Pradesh), on the Punjab–Himachal border. Built 1948–1963, it is the world’s highest straight gravity dam (207.26 m) and Asia’s second tallest after Tehri (261 m). It forms Gobind Sagar (90 km; 168.35 sq km), India’s second-largest storage reservoir, aiding irrigation, flood control and hydropower.

NFHS-6, released by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, reports Andaman and Nicobar Islands as India’s lowest-fertility region, with Total Fertility Rate (TFR) 0.9 (replacement level globally: 2.1). TFR declined from 1.4 (NFHS-4, 2015–16) and 1.3 (NFHS-5, 2019–21). Under-5 share fell to 3.7% (5.3%); under-15 to 17.5% (20.8%); 60+ rose to 12.6% (11%); preschool attendance (2–4) dropped to 66.2% (88.5%).

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman was elected 81st President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), defeating Cyprus Ambassador Andreas Kakouris in a contested vote. UNGA, a principal UN organ, was established in 1945 under the UN Charter and is headquartered in New York (USA). It has 193 members (one vote each); key matters need 2/3 majority. It approves the UN budget, elects UN bodies, and under “Uniting for Peace” (1950) can recommend collective measures if the UNSC is blocked.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched nationwide celebrations for “10 Years of PMSMA – A Decade of Care”. Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, launched 9 June 2016, provides fixed-day assured antenatal care on the 9th of every month, mainly in 2nd/3rd trimesters. Implemented via National Health Mission at PHC/CHC/district/urban facilities, it standardises ANC to reduce maternal/infant mortality, offers investigations/medicines, flags high-risk (red/green stickers), and enables access through portal/mobile app under RMNCH+A continuum of care.

NCAER’s “Evolving Landscape of Digital Inclusion in India” report notes India’s internet user base will surpass 1 billion by 2025 but highlights multiple divides: 95% households own mobiles, only 8% computers/laptops; 27.5% households are offline (rural 32.2%, urban 17.2%). Usage is skewed to entertainment (66%) and social media (53.8%), with low education (16.1%) and government services (11.4%); 20.4% need outside help. Working-age women users are 35.6% vs 57.6% men; only 9.4% elderly (60+) are online. It recommends affordable broadband/public Wi‑Fi, digital literacy in schools, assisted service centres with age-friendly vernacular interfaces, and tackling intra-household gender inequality.

Pyroprocessing is a high-temperature industrial technology that physically or chemically transforms solid materials. It is a dry process and highly energy-intensive. Major applications include the cement industry (clinker production), metallurgy (metal extraction from ore), and the nuclear industry, where it recycles used fuel by separating elements in molten salt and is used for reprocessing spent nuclear fuel. It was developed in the 1980s–1990s for advanced reactors.

e‑Jagriti (Electronic Justice and Grievance Redressal IT and Innovations) won the Silver Award for Digital Transformation (Government Process Re‑engineering) at the National Awards for e‑Governance. Launched in January 2025, it is an AI‑enabled, paperless unified platform under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, implemented by DoCA, integrating OCMS, e‑Daakhil, NCDRC CMS and CONFONET; enabling OTP-based multilingual filing, chatbot, voice‑to‑text, PwD access, default video hearings (hybrid at NCDRC and 35 State Commissions), Bharat Kosh/PayGov/SBI ePay payments, and overseas access.

Tamil Nadu’s third synchronised Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius) estimation (April 24–27, 2026) by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department under Project Nilgiri Tahr, across 14 forest divisions, shows a rise to 1,364 (95% CI: 869–2,465) from 1,303 (2025) and 1,031 (2024): +4.68% YoY, +32% since 2024. Endemic mountain ungulate of Southern Western Ghats; state animal (Varaiaadu); IUCN Endangered, WPA 1972 Schedule I; now fragmented, with Anamalai 44.87% and Nilgiris 29.25%.

Punjabi University, Patiala, and PGIMER, Chandigarh, developed AI-based methods to aid diagnosis of Autoimmune Blistering Diseases (AIBDs), immune-mediated disorders affecting skin and mucous membranes. AIBDs include pemphigus, pemphigoid (bullous pemphigoid common in older adults) and dermatitis herpetiformis (linked to celiac disease). Diagnosis needs specialised tests; gold standards are DIF (perilesional biopsy), IIF and ELISA (serum antibodies).

Major Abhilasha Barak, Engagement Team Commander and Gender Focal Point in UNIFIL (Lebanon), received the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for commitment to UNSC Resolution 1325 (Women, Peace and Security). Launched in 2016 under UN DPO with the Office of Military Affairs, it honours individual UN mission peacekeepers. Indian recipients: Major Suman Gawani (2019), Major Radhika Sen (2023), Barak (2025). UN peacekeeping, authorised by UNSC, deploys military/police/civilians; core principles: consent, impartiality, and non-use of force except self-defence. India is among the largest troop contributors.

NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch reported the 4th global coral bleaching event as the fastest and widest on record, ending by mid-2025 after affecting 84% of reefs across 83 countries; severe bleaching in Western Australia (early 2025) marked its end. Bleaching occurs when stressed corals expel zooxanthellae; cold stress can also trigger it. NOAA’s CRCP, under the Coral Reef Conservation Act, coordinates reef protection.

Under Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), India’s digital health ecosystem has issued 90+ crore unique ABHA identity cards; women are nearly half of holders. Implemented by National Health Authority, ABDM supports secure, accessible healthcare via a 14-digit ABHA number, Healthcare Professionals Registry and National Health Claims Exchange, integrating Aarogya Setu and eSanjeevani (world’s largest documented telemedicine linking Health & Wellness Centres with specialists). Key challenges: digital divide, data-privacy risks and infrastructure constraints; it aids UHC, planning and emergency response.

NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), NPCI’s international arm, and Cambodia’s ACLEDA Bank launched cross-border UPI payments in Cambodia via Bakong’s KHQR (national QR platform). Cambodia becomes the 9th UPI country (after Singapore, UAE, France, Mauritius, Nepal, Bhutan, Qatar, Sri Lanka). Phase 1 enables Indian travellers to pay at 4.5 million merchants; Phase 2 enables Cambodians in India to scan UPI QRs. UPI (2016) is RBI-regulated.

An IIT Gandhinagar–Illinois study finds herbal cigarettes are no safer than tobacco, emitting comparable or higher harmful particles and oxidative compounds. Combustion releases carbon monoxide, tar and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Tested herbal mixes included basil, clove, cinnamon, mint, green tea, chamomile and water lily; emissions showed ~20% more ultrafine particles. Tendu leaf-wrapped products showed ~49% higher oxidative potential. Tendu (Diospyros melanoxylon) is an NTFP (“Green Gold”) used to wrap beedis; regulation often falls under broader smoking/public health laws.

Department of Youth Affairs (Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports), via Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat), began Phase-I of Viksit Vibrant Village Program (VVVP) 2026: 7-day immersion in border villages of Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, with Ministry of Home Affairs and ITBP. 500 volunteers (selected via online quiz; >3 lakh participants; all States/UTs) cover 43 villages (250) and 50 villages (250), engaging PRIs/administration/security for surveys, Gram Sabha, cleanliness, socio-economic assessment, development planning, and Nation First Challenge aligned to Viksit Bharat @2047.

Arjun Modhwadia reported 8 Asiatic lions, including cubs, dead in Gir from suspected Babesiosis (Babesia). Livestock and ungulates like chital and nilgai are reservoirs; stress/co-infections can cause mortality. Forest Department containment includes isolation/quarantine, anti-protozoan drugs at Jasadhar Centre, and tick-control via cattle deworming, shed disinfection and burning grass near watering holes. Gir is the only habitat for Asiatic lions.

The North Eastern Council (NEC) held its 73rd Plenary Session on 4 June 2026 in Shillong, Meghalaya, discussing flagship initiatives (Bamboo, Agarwood, Ashtalakshmi Darshan), reviewing CM High-Level Task Forces, and deliberating the North East Vision Plan 2047. NEC is a statutory advisory body under the NEC Act, 1971; established 7 November 1972; under DoNER; covers 8 states (Sikkim added in 2002).

In 2025, India added over 37 GW solar capacity, surpassing the USA’s 34 GW and ranking second globally for annual solar additions. Total installed solar capacity crossed 155 GW; non-fossil sources formed 51.93% of total installed power capacity (Dec 2025). Renewable Energy Statistics 2026 ranks installed renewables: China first, US second, India third. Initiatives include PM Surya Ghar (40 lakh households), 55 solar parks (40 GW), Green Energy Corridor Phase-II, ALMM enforcement, ISA leadership, and Paris Agreement NDCs achieved ahead of schedule.

Andhra Pradesh’s community-led Andhra Pradesh Community-managed Natural Farming (APCNF) programme won the 2026 Food Planet Prize. The Food Planet Prize, established in 2019 by Swedish entrepreneur-philanthropist Curt Bergfors through the Curt Bergfors Foundation, is the world’s largest environmental award for transforming food systems, offering $1.5 million to scale solutions within 10 years. APCNF, launched in 2016 by Rythu Sadhikara Samstha under the state agriculture department, helps farmers shift to natural farming, cutting synthetic inputs, improving soil health, biodiversity and resilience, and reducing input costs.

A pre-monsoon convective dust storm (Andhi) hit Churu, reducing visibility; dust spread across western/northern Rajasthan (Churu, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Sri Ganganagar) into Haryana, Punjab and NCR. Driven by intense heating over the Thar creating low pressure and convective updrafts, it highlights Aravallis: Proterozoic fold, SW-NE, across Gujarat-Rajasthan-Haryana-Delhi; Guru Shikhar (Mount Abu); Luni-Sabarmati-Banas; quartzite-marble-schist-gneiss; barrier and climatic divide; fragmented (28 gaps), degraded by illegal mining, hill flattening, deforestation and urbanisation, worsening desertification and food security.

NSO (MoSPI) released a revised Index of Industrial Production (IIP) series with base year shifted from 2011–12 to 2022–23 (index=100), aligning with updated GDP/GVA series. Industrial output grew 4.9% in April 2026 (5.8% a year earlier). Basket expanded to 1,042 products (463 groups) and sectoral indices to four: Mining, Manufacturing, Electricity, and a composite gas/water/sewerage/waste division, with a linking formula for continuity.

35th WMCC reviewed India–China border situation. Dispute arises from differing perceptions of the LAC along the 3,488‑km boundary. 1865 WH Johnson’s Johnson Line placed Aksai Chin in J&K; 1914 Simla proposed McMahon Line; China opposed; 1962 war. Disputed sectors: western Ladakh–Aksai Chin, middle (HP/UK), eastern Arunachal/Tawang (‘South Tibet’), Sikkim’s Doklam tri-junction. 2005 framework: political parameters, settlement framework, final delineation/demarcation; peace on LAC, no unilateral change/buffer zones, comprehensive talks.

India successfully flight-tested the indigenous RudraM-II missile. RudraM-II is an air-to-surface missile designed for launch from an airborne platform. It has been developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, along with other organisations. RCI, Hyderabad functions as a nodal laboratory under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).