Staying updated with today's current affairs is essential for competitive exam aspirants preparing for SSC, UPSC, Banking, State PSCs, and Railway exams. The 29 June 2026 current affairs (covering 28–29 June) cover major national developments, international events, economy & banking, science & technology, sports, appointments, and important days that frequently appear in the General Awareness section of government exams.
India – National Current Affairs
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- DAE Launches World's First Nuclear Process Heat-Based Hydrogen Production Facility at IGCAR, Kalpakkam – The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) inaugurated the world's first Hydrogen Production Facility, based on the Copper–Chlorine (Cu–Cl) Thermochemical Cycle utilising nuclear process heat from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR), at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. The facility was inaugurated by Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary of DAE and Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), in the presence of Sreekumar G. Pillai, Director, IGCAR. Exam importance: BARC and IGCAR jointly commissioned the facility, developed indigenously by BARC after completing extensive research, process development, engineering, fabrication, installation, and testing. The integration of nuclear process heat with hydrogen generation enables large-scale, carbon-free hydrogen production using advanced nuclear reactors while reducing fossil fuel dependence and eliminating greenhouse gas emissions. The plant will provide operational experience, optimise the Cu–Cl process, and support research for the commercial-scale deployment of nuclear-assisted hydrogen production. IGCAR is under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), under the PM's Office; IGCAR was established in 1971; HQ: Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu; this breakthrough directly supports India's National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) target of 5 MMT green hydrogen production by 2030.
- Amazon to Invest USD 48 Billion in India by 2030 to Expand AI and Cloud Infrastructure – Amazon announced an investment of USD 48 billion in India during 2026–2030 to strengthen its e-commerce, AI, cloud computing, and logistics businesses. The announcement followed a meeting between Andy Jassy, President and CEO of Amazon, and PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Exam importance: The USD 48 billion investment includes USD 13 billion for AI and cloud infrastructure, building on Amazon's earlier USD 35 billion commitment announced in 2025. Amazon will expand AWS data centres in Mumbai (Maharashtra) and Hyderabad (Telangana), besides opening over 20 fulfilment centres and 100 last-mile delivery stations in 2026. By 2030, Amazon aims to support 3.8 million jobs, enable USD 80 billion in e-commerce exports, extend AI benefits to 15 million small businesses, and provide AI education to 4 million government school students. Amazon was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos; current CEO: Andy Jassy; Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world's largest cloud computing platform; India is one of Amazon's top-3 global investment destinations.
- Herbalife and IIT Madras Launch India's First Centre of Excellence on Plant Cell Fermentation Technology – Herbalife International India Private Limited, in partnership with IIT Madras, launched India's 1st Centre of Excellence (CoE) on plant cell fermentation technology at IIT Madras Research Park in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The launch was attended by Dr. N. Kalaisevi, Director General of CSIR and Secretary of DSIR, and Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT-M. Exam importance: The CoE will serve as a national hub for R&D in plant cell fermentation, promoting the sustainable and scalable production of herbal biomass, enriched herbal extracts, and high-value phytochemicals. It is equipped with customised plant cell bioreactors, advanced analytical platforms, and pilot-scale processing facilities. IIT Madras was established in 1959; HQ: Chennai, Tamil Nadu; IIT Madras Research Park is India's first university-based research park; Herbalife is a global nutrition company founded in 1980 in Los Angeles, USA.
- IIT Bombay and SUNY Old Westbury Sign LoI to Establish IIT Bombay's First Overseas Sub-Campus in New York – IIT Bombay and State University of New York (SUNY) Old Westbury signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) in New York to strengthen collaboration in engineering, AI, multidisciplinary research, and higher education. IIT Bombay will establish its first overseas sub-campus at SUNY Old Westbury, Long Island, New York, USA, with the first academic session scheduled for 2027. Exam importance: The LoI was signed by Shireesh Kedare (Director, IIT Bombay) and Timothy E. Sams (President, SUNY Old Westbury), in the presence of Binaya Pradhan, Consul General of India in New York. The partnership advances the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 while strengthening India–USA collaboration in higher education, research, and innovation. IIT Bombay was established in 1958; Director: Shireesh Kedare; this is India's first IIT overseas sub-campus under NEP 2020's internationalisation thrust; SUNY is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the USA.
- Ministry of Culture Commemorates 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas' to Mark 50 Years of the Emergency – The Ministry of Culture commemorated 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas' (Constitutional Murder Day) on 26 June 2026 to mark the 50th anniversary of the imposition of the Emergency in India, a dark chapter of Indian democratic history. Exam importance: The Emergency was imposed by then PM Indira Gandhi on 25 June 1975, under Article 352 of the Indian Constitution, and lasted for 21 months until 21 March 1977; during this period, fundamental rights were suspended, press censorship was imposed, and political opponents were jailed; 26 June marks the first full day of the Emergency; the Government of India officially designated 25 June as 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas' in 2024.
- India Launches 'Operation Amistad' – Humanitarian Relief Mission to Venezuela After Devastating Earthquake – India launched Operation Amistad, a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission to support Venezuela after a devastating earthquake caused extensive loss of life, injuries, and widespread destruction. Exam importance: 'Amistad' means 'friendship' in Spanish, reflecting India's goodwill towards Venezuela; India has a tradition of naming HADR missions with appropriate local-language names - e.g., Operation Dost (Turkey-Syria earthquake, 2023, meaning 'friend' in Urdu/Turkish), Operation Karuna (Myanmar cyclone, 2023), Operation Brahma (Myanmar earthquake, 2024), and Operation Sindoor (2025); the MEA's Emergency Response Team (ERT) coordinates such missions; India is a member of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) framework for international disaster relief.
International Current Affairs
- Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026: University of Manchester Tops Globally; MAHE Achieves Top Rank in SDG-5 – Times Higher Education (THE) released the 8th edition of Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026, with the University of Manchester, UK topping the overall global rankings, and India's Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) securing 1st rank in SDG-5 (Gender Equality), while retaining its place in the 101–200 global band. Results were announced at the Global Sustainable Development Congress in Jakarta, Indonesia. Exam importance: The 2026 rankings evaluate 1,646 universities from 116 countries and territories across 17 individual SDG tables and one overall ranking. New entrants this year include Mali, Nicaragua, Niger, and Tajikistan. THE is headquartered in London, UK; the THE Sustainability Impact Rankings were launched in 2019; MAHE is a deemed university located in Manipal, Karnataka; established in 1953; SDG-5 pertains to Gender Equality under the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted in 2015.
- Goldman Sachs Raises India's CY26 GDP Growth Forecast to 6.8% Post Iran-USA Deal – Goldman Sachs, in its report 'India: Improved Macro Outlook after the USA-Iran Deal', raised India's Calendar Year 2026 (CY26) real GDP growth forecast to 6.8% - an increase of 30 basis points (bps) from its earlier projection of 6.5%. It also raised its FY27 forecast by 40 bps to 6.5%. Exam importance: India's real GDP grew 7.8% YoY in Q1 (January–March 2026) CY2026, around 50 bps above Goldman's earlier estimate. Goldman Sachs lowered India's retail inflation projection to 4.4% for CY26 (down 20 bps), and reduced its Current Account Deficit (CAD) projection by 20 bps to 1.1% of GDP; India is now expected to record a Balance of Payments (BoP) surplus equal to 0.7% of GDP. Goldman Sachs was founded in 1869; HQ: New York, USA; this upgrade follows the Iran-USA ceasefire which reduced global oil prices, benefiting India as the world's 3rd largest crude oil importer.
- Jaime de la Espriella Wins Colombia's Presidential Election – Jaime Abelardo de la Espriella, backed by the Defenders of the Homeland (Defensores de la Patria) alliance, won Colombia's presidential runoff election, defeating left-wing candidate Iván Cepeda with 49.66% of the vote, and will assume office as President-elect of Colombia for the 2026–2030 term on 7 August 2026, succeeding incumbent President Gustavo Petro. Exam importance: Former cabinet minister José Manuel Restrepo Abondano was elected as Vice President of Colombia. Colombia is a South American country; capital: Bogotá; Colombia is the world's largest producer of emeralds and a major coffee and coal exporter; official language: Spanish; Colombia is a member of the Pacific Alliance; the presidential term in Colombia is 4 years with no re-election; Colombia's Congress confirmed the election result under the Constitutional Court's oversight.
Economy & Banking
- RBI Classifies NBFCs with Assets Above ₹1 Lakh Crore as Upper Layer – The RBI issued revised directions revising the framework for identifying Upper Layer Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFC-ULs). Under the revised framework, NBFCs with an asset size of ₹1 lakh crore or more will be automatically classified as NBFC-ULs. The revised directions came into effect from 24 June 2026. Exam importance: The RBI replaced the earlier parameter-based assessment model with an absolute asset-size criterion. The asset size threshold for identification of NBFC-UL shall now be reviewed every three years (reduced from five years). Government-owned NBFCs meeting eligibility criteria will now be considered for inclusion in the UL category; previously, they were placed only in the Base or Middle Layer - however, such entities will not be required to list on stock exchanges within 3 years of notification. The RBI's Scale-Based Regulation (SBR) framework for NBFCs was introduced in 2021, classifying them into four layers: Base Layer (BL), Middle Layer (ML), Upper Layer (UL), and Top Layer (TL); NBFC-ULs are subjected to enhanced regulatory requirements including mandatory stock exchange listing within 3 years.
- ADB Approves USD 42.2 Million Loan to Develop Bamboo Industry in North East India – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a USD 42.2 million Small Expenditure Financing Facility (SEFF) to support the bamboo industry in the North Eastern Region (NER) of India, aligned with the Government of India's National Bamboo Mission (NBM). The facility will support community-based projects across 6 NE states: Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura. Exam importance: The initiative is expected to generate job opportunities for women by establishing at least one women-led manufacturing facility in each of the six target NE states. India is the world's 2nd largest bamboo producer (after China); the National Bamboo Mission (NBM) was relaunched in 2018 under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare; ADB is headquartered in Manila, Philippines; ADB President: Masato Kanda; India is a founding member of ADB.
Awards & Recognitions
- Dr. Florence Rabier Awarded WMO's Top IMO Prize for Contributions to Numerical Weather Prediction – The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced the 71st International Meteorological Organization (IMO) Prize to French meteorologist Dr. Florence Rabier for pioneering contributions to numerical weather prediction and operational meteorology. She will receive the IMO Prize and deliver the IMO Prize Lecture at the 20th World Meteorological Congress (Cg-20) in 2027. Exam importance: Dr. Florence Rabier is a former Director-General of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) from 2016–2025, former Head of Research at Météo-France, current Non-Executive Director of the UK Met Office, and President of the European Meteorological Society (EMS) in 2026. She advanced Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP), transformed satellite observation data assimilation, and introduced AI-based forecasting to improve forecast accuracy. WMO is a specialised UN agency headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland; established in 1950; WMO Secretary-General: Celeste Saulo; the IMO Prize is named after the International Meteorological Organization (forerunner of WMO, est. 1873); the prize has been awarded annually since 1956.
Appointments & Resignations
- Dr. U.P. Rajeev Appointed as Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) – Dr. U.P. Rajeev was appointed as Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, one of ISRO's key centres. He succeeds Dr. A. Rajarajan, who retired upon attaining the age of superannuation (60 years). Prior to this appointment, Dr. Rajeev served as Associate Director (Research and Development) at VSSC and has decades of experience in rocket control and guidance systems. Exam importance: VSSC was established in 1963 as the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) and later renamed VSSC. Headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, VSSC is ISRO's premier centre for the design and development of India's launch vehicles. VSSC is responsible for developing the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), and the LVM3 (formerly GSLV Mk III); ISRO Chairman: S. Somanath.
Sports
- ISSF Junior World Championship 2026: India Tops Medal Tally with 25 Medals (7 Gold) in Suhl, Germany – India topped the medal tally at the ISSF Junior World Championship Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun 2026 (5th edition), held in Suhl, Germany (16–26 June 2026), winning 25 medals (7 Gold, 8 Silver, 10 Bronze). Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) finished 2nd with 14 medals (6 gold, 5 silver, 3 bronze), followed by Italy in 3rd with 10 medals (6 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze). Exam importance: The championship is organised by the ISSF for athletes under 21 years as of 31 December of the competition year. It features Olympic and non-Olympic rifle, pistol, and shotgun events in individual, mixed team, and men's/women's team formats. The 2026 edition featured over 800 shooters from 70 countries, with India fielding an 84-member contingent. ISSF (International Shooting Sport Federation) is headquartered in Munich, Germany; India has been a dominant force in international shooting, particularly following Olympic medals by Abhinav Bindra (2008), Gagan Narang, Vijay Kumar, and other young shooters; the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) governs shooting in India; NRAI President: Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo.
Books & Authors
- ACM Amar Preet Singh Releases Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's Memoir 'The Second Orbit' – Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Amar Preet Singh, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), released Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's memoir, "The Second Orbit: Belief of a Man… Dreams of 1.4 Billion Hearts," in New Delhi, commemorating the first anniversary of his Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Published by Vintage Books under Penguin Random House India. Exam importance: The memoir chronicles Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's journey from IAF fighter pilot to astronaut on the Axiom-4 mission to the ISS, covering astronaut selection, rigorous training, mission preparation, life aboard the ISS, and personal reflections. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is the first Indian to visit the ISS and was conferred the Ashoka Chakra - India's highest peacetime gallantry award - on Republic Day 2026.
- VP C.P. Radhakrishnan Releases Book 'Sanskritir Ratna Bhandar: Bhaowaiyar Itibritto' at Uprashtrapati Bhavan – Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan released the book "Sanskritir Ratna Bhandar: Bhaowaiyar Itibritto" (Bhawaiya: A Cultural Treasure and Its Historical Journey) at Uprashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. The book was authored by Jayanta Kumar Roy, MP (Lok Sabha), and Sangita Roy. Exam importance: The book explains the cultural heritage of Bhawaiya, highlighting its evolution through religious practices, agricultural customs, seasonal festivals, and community life. Bhawaiya is a traditional folk music genre of North Bengal (West Bengal), Assam, and adjoining regions, reflecting the rural life and cultural heritage of the Koch Rajbanshi community.
Obituary
- Veteran Tamil Filmmaker K. Bhagyaraj Passes Away at 73 – Veteran Tamil filmmaker, actor, screenwriter, and director Krishnaswamy Bhagyaraj passed away at the age of 73 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Born on 7 January 1953 in Gobichettipalayam, Erode district, TN, he began his career as an assistant director under Bharathiraja and made his acting debut in 16 Vayathinile (1977). Exam importance: During his career spanning nearly five decades, he directed more than 25 films and acted in over 75 films. He made his directorial debut with Suvarilladha Chiththirangal (1979) and became one of the few filmmakers to handle story, screenplay, dialogues, direction, and lead acting in his films, earning the title "Screenplay King." Several of his films were remade in Hindi and Telugu.
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Important Days
- World Refrigeration Day 2026 – 26 June (8th Observance) – World Refrigeration Day (WRD) is celebrated annually on 26 June to raise awareness about the importance of Refrigeration, Air-Conditioning, and Heat Pump (RACHP) technologies and sustainable cooling solutions. The 2026 theme is "Cool Intelligence." The UNEP, through OzonAction, organised the "Five Days of Cool Intelligence" campaign from 22–26 June 2026. Exam importance: WRD was established in 2019 by Stephen Gill, former President of the Institute of Refrigeration (UK). The first WRD was observed on 26 June 2019. The refrigeration sector is highly relevant to SDG 13 (Climate Action) and the Montreal Protocol (1987), which India ratified in 1992 to phase out ozone-depleting substances; India's cooling sector is regulated under the India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) launched by MoEFCC.
- International Day of Deafblindness 2026 – 27 June (2nd Observance) – The UN's International Day of Deafblindness is observed on 27 June to promote global awareness about deafblindness - a unique disability caused by the combined loss of vision and hearing. The day was proclaimed by the UNGA through Resolution A/RES/79/294 on 16 June 2025, in honour of Helen Keller's 145th birth anniversary. The first observance was on 27 June 2025; 2026 marks its 2nd observance. Deafblind International Awareness Week 2026 runs from 25 June to 1 July 2026. Exam importance: The awareness movement began in 1984 when US President Ronald Reagan proclaimed DeafBlind Awareness Week; India's Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016 recognises deafblindness as one of the 21 specified disabilities; Helen Keller (1880–1968) was the most famous deafblind person in history and a pioneer in disability rights advocacy; the resolution was presented by Croatia to the UNGA.
- 29 June – International Day of the Tropics (IDT) 2026 – The International Day of the Tropics is observed annually on 29 June to celebrate the diversity of the tropics and raise awareness of challenges faced by tropical regions. Exam importance: The day was proclaimed by the UNGA through Resolution A/RES/70/267 on 1 June 2016 and first observed on 29 June 2016; the date commemorates the anniversary of the launch of the inaugural State of the Tropics report on 29 June 2014; it is coordinated by 12 leading research institutions from across the tropics including IISER Kolkata (India's representative); India lies largely in the tropical region, between the Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N) and the equator.
State News
- Telangana Government Appoints Sanjay Jaju as New Chief Secretary – The Telangana Government appointed Sanjay Jaju, a 1992-batch Telangana cadre IAS officer, as the new Chief Secretary of Telangana, succeeding K. Ramakrishna Rao who retires on 30 June 2026. Jaju was also given Full Additional Charge (FAC) of the Industries, Commerce, ITE&C Departments, along with the role of CEO of the Industry & Investment Cell, Hyderabad. Exam importance: Sanjay Jaju has been on central deputation since 2014, serving as Secretary, Ministry of DoNER (April–June 2026) and earlier as Secretary, Ministry of I&B. He also served as Additional/Joint Secretary in the Department of Defence Production and as Director of NHIDCL. Telangana CM: A. Revanth Reddy; Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh on 2 June 2014 as India's 29th state; the Chief Secretary is the senior-most IAS officer in a state government and heads the state's civil services bureaucracy.
