In a landmark moment for India’s maritime preparedness and indigenous defence capability, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned three frontline platforms - INS Dunagiri, an advanced stealth frigate; INS Sanshodhak, a survey vessel (large); and INS Agray, an anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft - into the Indian Navy in Kolkata, West Bengal on June 21, 2026.
Shri Narendra Modi pointed out that June 21 is also observed globally as World Hydrography Day and described it as a remarkable coincidence that India's most advanced hydrographic survey vessel, INS Sanshodhak, is commissioned on the same day.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, facilitated the first-ever commercial export shipment of dried whole egg powder from Balangir, Odisha, to Austria, marking a significant milestone in promoting value-added agricultural and processed food exports from India.
The consignment was exported by OVO Farm Pvt. Ltd., Balangir, an APEDA-registered exporter. The shipment reflects the growing global acceptance of Indian value-added poultry products and opens new avenues for the export of processed egg products to premium international markets.
To strengthen the regional egg value chain and promote export-led growth, the exporter established a state-of-the-art egg processing facility in Balangir in 2025. The facility manufactures dried egg products that comply with national and international food safety and quality standards, including
EIC standards, European Union hygiene requirements and other globally recognised regulations. The unit is certified under FSSC 22000 Version 6 and also holds HALAL and KOSHER certifications.
The export consignment, comprising 22.6 metric tonnes of dried whole egg powder, was virtually flagged off by Chairman, APEDA, Shri Abhishek Dev, IAS. Austria and several other European countries import egg powder for a range of food and industrial applications.
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has launched two new portals to strengthen the fight against cybercrime and provide relief to victims, a police official said.
The Grievance Redressal Mechanism (GRM) and the Money Restoration Module (MRM) are these two new portals.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Bajrang Bansode said the GRM portal will help unfreeze bank accounts that have been wrongly frozen, while the MRM portal will facilitate the restoration of money lost by victims of cyber fraud.
The GRM portal will handle grievances related to bank accounts that have been frozen, lien-marked or seized during cybercrime investigations.
The MRM portal allows victims of cyber financial fraud to apply for refunds of money that has been frozen or recovered after a complaint has been filed, the official added.
The Government e-Marketplace (GeM), India’s National Public Procurement Portal under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, has entered into a strategic partnership with Common Service Centre e-Governance Services India Limited (CSC-SPV) to expand access to government procurement opportunities across the country, particularly in rural and underserved regions.
The partnership was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 18 June 2026 at the GeM Office in New Delhi. The MoU marks a significant expansion of the GeM–CSC collaboration, building upon the partnership established in 2022.
While the earlier MoU primarily focused on facilitating seller registration and profile creation, the new framework adopts a more comprehensive and outcome-oriented approach, supporting sellers through the onboarding process up to catalogue listing.
As a key feature of the partnership, 50 GeM Suvidha Kendras (GSKs) will be established initially on a pilot basis through the CSC network across select states, including Delhi-NCR, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana and West Bengal.
Global energy transition readiness has declined for the first time in more than a decade amid a surge in geopolitical risks, but India has registered one of the strongest improvements, a new report showed.
Sweden, Finland and Denmark retained their top three positions globally on the World Economic Forum's Energy Transition Index 2026, while India advanced two places to rank 70th.
Axis Bank has signed an MoU with Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani, to establish the Axis Bank-BITS Industry Research, Technology & Innovation Park at the BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus with a Rs. 100 crore CSR grant.
The facility, with its focus on Life Sciences, biopharma, healthcare and medical devices, is being developed as a dedicated platform to strengthen India’s innovation ecosystem and specifically to enable cost-effective healthcare solutions that benefit the public at large.
Axis Bank MD and CEO- Amitabh Chaudhry.
An eminent Indian jurist, Bimal Patel, has been elected as Judge of the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).
Patel is a member of the UN International Law Commission, Chairman, Working Group Succession of States in respect of State Responsibility and Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Public International Law at Rashtriya Raksha University.
He is also a member of the National Security Advisory Board, National Security Council Secretariat, Prime Minister's Office "Congratulations to Prof. Dr Bimal N Patel for being elected as Judge of the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in New York today. His election takes forward India's enduring commitment to multilateralism and the Law of the Sea," .
He has worked for 15 years at global organisations such as the United Nations of Youth and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) at the Hague, Netherlands, according to his profile on the Rashtriya Raksha University website.
The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) is an independent judicial body established by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It has jurisdiction over any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention.
The Tribunal is composed of 21 independent members elected by secret ballot by the States Parties to the Convention. Its current Vice President is legal luminary Neeru Chadha of India.
Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India and the University of Calcutta have discovered a new species of lynx spider in Meghalaya, marking the first recorded presence of the genus ‘Hamataliwa’ in the state and helping bridge a key gap in the group’s known distribution across Asia.
The newly identified species, ‘Hamataliwa mawlyngot’, has been named after Mawlyngot village in Meghalaya, where it was discovered during a biodiversity survey. The findings were recently published in the journal National Academy Science Letters. The study was authored by scientists Souvik Sen, Upasana Bhattacharya and Puthoor Pattammal Sudhin.
The discovery extends the known range of the lynx spider genus ‘Hamataliwa’, which had previously been documented in parts of southern India, China and Southeast Asia.
The new species was collected from Mawlyngot, a village known for its tea plantations, dense vegetation and sweeping views of the Khasi Hills.
India has been elected to the Vice-Presidency of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for the first time, underscoring the country's growing influence in the global fight against money laundering and terrorist financing. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Finance.
Vivek Aggarwal, a 1994-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre and currently serving as secretary, Ministry of Culture, has been elected and appointed as FATF vice-president for the term from July 2026 to June 2027. His appointment was approved by the FATF Plenary, the organisation's highest decision-making body.
According to the Ministry of Finance, India's elevation to the FATF leadership reflects the confidence and trust it has earned within the FATF Global Network, which comprises more than 200 jurisdictions.
Established in 1989, the FATF is the leading international body responsible for developing and promoting policies to combat financial crimes. Its recommendations serve as the benchmark for national regulatory frameworks across the world.
The FATF Presidency operates on a two-year term, with the Vice-President playing a key supporting role in advancing the organisation's mandate.
India's assumption of the FATF vice-presidency marks a new chapter in its engagement with global financial institutions and strengthens its voice in shaping international standards for financial security.
In a landmark achievement in its 109-year legacy of academic excellence, Osmania University, Hyderabad, has become the first university in India to be awarded four internationally recognized ISO Management System Certifications simultaneously by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Standards Body of India.
The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, and the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital, have signed a long-term Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a climate observation station in the Himalayan region.
A move aimed at strengthening climate change research and long-term atmospheric monitoring under the Bharat Climate Observation Network (BCON).
The agreement, signed online on June 18 by IITM Director Dr A. Suryachandra Rao and ARIES Director Dr Manish Kumar Naja, will remain in force for more than 50 years.
As part of the partnership, a Climate Observation Station will be established at ARIES’ Devasthal campus in Uttarakhand. The facility will monitor meteorological parameters, greenhouse gases, short-lived climate forcers, atmospheric chemistry and soil moisture to generate long-term climate data.
Located at a high altitude, Devasthal offers relatively pristine conditions that are well-suited for advanced atmospheric observations. BCON, a national initiative of the Ministry of Earth Sciences implemented by IITM, aims to build a long-term, high-precision climate monitoring framework across India.
Global leaders have gathered at a luxury French lakeside resort for the high-stakes 52nd G7 Summit, running from June 15 to 17, 2026. This year’s event kicks off under a dramatic geopolitical spotlight, opening just hours after a historic preliminary peace deal was announced by the United States and Iran.
US-based Indian-origin theoretical physicist Jainendra K Jain has received the prestigious Wolf Prize in Physics for his discovery of composite fermions, a breakthrough that transformed the understanding of the fractional quantum Hall effect and continues to shape modern quantum physics.
Jain is the first person of Indian origin to receive the Wolf Prize in Physics.
The award was presented by Israeli President Isaac Herzog at a state ceremony in the Knesset in Jerusalem.
The Wolf Prize is awarded annually to scientists and artists for their exceptional achievements in science and arts.
Professor Sundaresan was recognised for his key discoveries in plant genetics and crop improvement, while Professor Jain was recognised for his contributions towards our understanding of the two-dimensional electron system.
Awarded annually by the Wolf Foundation since 1978, the Wolf Prize in Physics honours physicists whose discoveries have profoundly advanced human knowledge. Widely regarded as among the most prestigious honours in the field, the prize has been awarded to 27 scientists who later went on to receive the Nobel Prize.
The Wolf Prize is also awarded in agriculture, chemistry, mathematics, medicine and the arts.
Two scientists of Indian origin have received Wolf Prize in Agriculture: Dr Gurdev Singh Khush, who was recognised for his contributions to the Green Revolution, and plant biologist Dr Venkatesan Sundaresan.
Conductor Zubin Mehta received the Wolf Prize in Music.
Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) will now be a ‘Navratna’ central public sector enterprise (CPSE), Finance Ministry announced.
Union Finance Minister has approved the upgradation of Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd (CPCL) to Navratna CPSE. CPCL has become the 28th Navratna amongst the CPSEs.
With the status of Navratna company, CPCL will have financial independence of investing up to Rs. 1,000 crore without seeking approval from the central government.
It will also be allowed to invest up to 15 per cent of their net worth on a single project, or 30 per cent of their net worth in a given year, subject to a cap of Rs. 1,000 crore.
It can incur capital expenditure on purchase of new items or for replacement, without any monetary ceiling. It can also enter into technology joint ventures or strategic alliances.
To qualify as a Navratna, a CPSE having a Miniratna-I status must obtain an ‘Excellent’ or ‘Very Good’ memorandum of understanding (MoU) rating in three out of the last five years and have a composite score of 60 or more in six selected performance indicators.
These include net profit to net worth, manpower cost to total cost of production, profit before depreciation, interest and taxes (PBDIT) to capital employed, profit before Interest and taxes to turnover, earnings per share and inter-sectoral performance
According to company’s website, CPCL is a government of India enterprise and a group company of IndianOil.
Defence PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd has been conferred with the coveted 'Navratna' status by the Department of Public Enterprises, a senior official said.
A 'Navratna' status facilitates public sector enterprises to make larger investments, enhancing financial and operational autonomy.
The shipyard has delivered the largest number of warships to the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and friendly foreign nations, the official said.
Out of the 118 warships delivered by GRSE, 80 have been inducted into the Indian Navy, he added.
Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE) was officially making it the 29th Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE).
UCO Bank has assigned the additional charge of managing director and chief executive officer (MD & CEO) to Rajendra Kumar Saboo, executive director of the bank, according to an exchange filing. The appointment follows a vacancy in the top post after the completion of former MD & CEO Ashwani Kumar's term on May 31.
Saboo has been entrusted with the additional charge with effect from June 19, 2026. According to the bank's regulatory filing, he will hold the position until August 31, or until a regular incumbent is appointed, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Saboo joined UCO Bank as executive director in November 2022.
Star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra finished fourth at the Doha Diamond League in his first competition of the season. The 28-year-old recorded a best throw of 85.69 metres in his third attempt. It was his first event since recovering from a back injury that delayed the start of his season.
Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage won the event with a throw of 88.68 metres. Two-time world champion Andersen Peters of Grenada finished second with 86.38 metres, while American Curtis Thompson took third place with 85.99 metres.
Despite missing out on a podium finish, Chopra crossed the qualifying mark of 82.61 metres set by the Athletics Federation of India for the upcoming Commonwealth Games. Chopra has already been named in India’s 32-member squad for the Commonwealth Games, which will be held in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2.
World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe. It falls each year on June 20 and celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution.
orld Refugee Day is an occasion to build empathy and understanding for their plight and to recognize their resilience in rebuilding their lives.
The theme for World Refugee Day on June 20 is "Until Everyone Is Safe".
This year marks the 12th International Day of Yoga with the theme “ Yoga for Healthy Ageing”, which emphasizes the importance of Yoga for all ages. Yoga can be a valuable practice for healthy aging because it supports many of the abilities that help people stay active, independent, and engaged as they grow older.
By combining gentle movement, stretching, breathing exercises, and mindfulness, yoga can help improve balance, flexibility, strength, and mobility, while also supporting mental well-being and stress management.
A solstice — derived from the Latin sol ("sun") and sistere ("to stand still"), because the seasonal movement of the Sun's daily path (as seen from Earth) appears to "stand still" at a northern or southern limit before reversing direction — is an event that occurrs when the Sun reaches its most northerly or southerly day-arc relative to the equator.
Therefore, there are two solstices that occur annually: around June 21 (commonly known as "Summer Solstice" for being the first day of summer and the longest day of the year) and December 21 (commonly known as "Winter Solstice" for being the first day of winter and the shortest day of the year).
On the other hand, an equinox — derived from the Latin aequinoctium, from aequus (equal) and nox (night) — is commonly regarded as the instant when the center of the visible Sun is directly above the Equator, and this occurs twice each year: around 20 March (called "Spring Equinox" as it marks the begining of spring in most cultures) and,
23 September (called "Autumnal Equinox" as it marks the beginning of autumn). The equinoxes are the only times when the solar terminator (the "edge" between night and day) is perpendicular to the equator, and hence daytime and nighttime are of approximately equal duration.
The solstices, together with the equinoxes, are connected with seasons, harvists and livelihood.
