Weekly Current Affairs Test : 15th to 21st June 2026

Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, in collaboration with Open Network for Digital Commerce, recently held a Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) Roundtable to discuss DigiDukaan. DigiDukaan is an initiative of Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) that aims to digitise kirana stores for business-to-business (B2B) procurement. The initiative is designed to improve efficiency across the retail supply chain by digitally connecting retailers, distributors, and brands.

Researchers have discovered a new butterfly species named Chonala albistricta, also known as the Narrow-banded Wall, in Arunachal Pradesh. The species was discovered at Mayodia Pass in the Lower Dibang Valley district. It belongs to the genus Chonala, a small group of mountain butterflies found in the Himalayas and nearby Asian high-altitude regions. Chonala albistricta is the 10th known species in the genus worldwide and only the second Chonala species recorded in India.

The Government of India has decided to build a new ₹13,000-crore greenfield civil-military airport under the Great Nicobar Project. The new airport will be developed on Great Nicobar Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The government has chosen this plan instead of expanding the existing INS Baaz naval airfield. INS Baaz is an Indian naval air station located near Campbell Bay on Great Nicobar Island. It was commissioned in 2012 and is the first air station in the Nicobar Islands. The air station plays a major role in intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) in the Indian Ocean region.

Telangana has recently banned Paraquat, becoming the third state in India to do so. Paraquat (paraquat dichloride) is a synthetic herbicide/weedicide widely used to control weeds and grass. It is also used as a desiccant to dry crops before harvest and sometimes as a plant growth regulator. Paraquat is known for its extreme toxicity and has no specific antidote. Kerala became the first state to ban paraquat in 2011, followed by Odisha, and now Telangana.

According to Official Airline Guide (OAG) data, India has become the third-largest domestic aviation market globally. India ranks behind the United States and China in domestic aviation capacity. India surpassed Brazil and Indonesia to achieve this position. The Government has taken several steps to boost the civil aviation sector. These steps include developing international aviation hubs and establishing Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities. The Government has also prepared an International Aviation Hub Strategy to strengthen aviation infrastructure.

A recent cyclone in Sumatra, Indonesia, killed about 58 Tapanuli orangutans, nearly 7% of their total population. The Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis) is a species of orangutan found only on Sumatra Island. It is one of the three known species of orangutans, along with the Sumatran orangutan and Bornean orangutan. They inhabit tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests south of Lake Toba. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, their conservation status is Critically Endangered.

India’s first 8-lane tunnel is set to open beneath the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve. Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve is located in Rajasthan. The reserve is also known as Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary. It lies in a valley formed by two parallel mountain ranges: Mukundra and Gargola.

Tetanus, once considered nearly eradicated, is resurging in the United States. Tetanus is a serious bacterial infection that affects the nervous system and is also known as lockjaw. The bacteria usually enter the body through open wounds or cuts. Tetanus bacteria are commonly found in soil, manure, and the human intestine. The disease is not transmitted from person to person. There is no cure for tetanus; treatment mainly focuses on managing symptoms and complications. Recovery from tetanus does not provide natural immunity, so a person can be infected again. Tetanus is completely preventable through vaccination.

Narendra Modi was conferred with The Order of the White Double Cross, First Class, the highest national honour of Slovakia. The award was presented by Peter Pellegrini. This is Prime Minister Modi’s 33rd international award. The honour recognizes his visionary leadership and contribution to strengthening India–Slovakia bilateral relations. The award is Slovakia’s highest state decoration for outstanding contributions to state-building and international relations.

The Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament 2026 has been launched in New Delhi by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The initiative aims to engage youth in democratic processes, governance, and parliamentary discussions. The programme is being conducted in three stages: District Round, State Round, and National Round. It seeks to encourage young citizens to contribute towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Researchers recently identified a new species of lynx spider named Hamataliwa mawlyngot in Meghalaya. The species was discovered in the East Khasi Hills region of Meghalaya. The spider was named after Mawlyngot Village, where it was discovered. This discovery marks the first recorded presence of the lynx spider genus Hamataliwa in Meghalaya. Lynx spiders are agile hunters that do not build webs to trap prey. They actively stalk insects using sharp vision and quick movements.

India will participate in Exercise Pitch Black 2026 from 20 July to 7 August 2026 along with 18 other nations. Exercise Pitch Black is a biennial multinational air exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). It is considered the flagship international flying exercise of the RAAF. The name “Pitch Black” comes from the emphasis on night-time flying operations over large unpopulated areas.

A recent study on Crohn’s Disease mapped changes in gene activity across more than 50 gut cell types. Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation in the digestive tract. It can affect any part of the digestive tract, but it usually affects the end of the small intestine and the beginning of the large intestine. The inflammation may spread into the deeper layers of the bowel. Crohn’s disease can be painful, debilitating, and may sometimes lead to serious complications.

Researchers from Kerala recently identified a new bryophyte plant named Indocolea devendrae. The species was discovered in the forests of northern Kerala. It has been named in honour of Devendra Kumar Singh, a noted expert in non-flowering plants. A unique feature of this plant is that it grows on the mushroom Phellinus fastuosus found on tree trunks. Indocolea is an entirely new genus discovered in India. Bryophytes are simple, non-flowering plants that usually grow in moist environments.

The Usutu virus was recently detected in blackbirds in Scotland for the first time. Usutu virus is a mosquito-borne virus that originally originated in Africa. The virus is mainly spread by Culex pipiens mosquitoes. Scientists were surprised by the detection because Scotland was previously considered too cold for the virus to thrive. The discovery was linked to the deaths of blackbirds showing symptoms such as weakness, disorientation, and twisted necks. The virus is named after the Usutu River, near where it was first identified in 1959.

Recently, the Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation (MKVDC) issued a Letter of Award (LoA) for an irrigation project under the Tasgaon Lift Irrigation Scheme in Maharashtra. The Tasgaon Lift Irrigation Scheme is a major irrigation infrastructure project in Maharashtra. It is implemented under the administrative jurisdiction of the Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation (MKVDC), Pune. The project will develop a comprehensive water distribution system covering 2,277 hectares of command area. It covers six villages of Satara Taluka: Tasgaon, Varne, Karandwadi, Devkarwadi, Degaon, and Nigadi.

Recently, the fourth eco-tourism season at Amangarh Tiger Reserve was extended by 15 days. It is located in Bijnor district, Uttar Pradesh. The reserve forms part of the Terai-Bhabar ecosystem, a unique forest belt along the foothills of the Himalayas. Amangarh was originally a part of Jim Corbett National Park. After the creation of Uttarakhand in 2000, the Amangarh sector remained in Uttar Pradesh.

Recently, INS Tarkash arrived at Victoria, Seychelles, during its deployment in the South-West Indian Ocean Region. INS Tarkash is a state-of-the-art stealth frigate of the Indian Navy. It is the second of three Talwar-class guided missile frigates. The Talwar-class frigates are modified versions of the Krivak III-class frigates. The ship was designed and built in Russia. It was constructed at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad.

Recently, the Regional Horticultural Research Station (RHRS), Lam Farm, Guntur developed two new chilli varieties: LCA-625 and LCA-643. These varieties have been developed as alternatives to the popular Teja and Byadgi chillies. Both varieties offer improved pest tolerance, high pungency, and better adaptability to weather stress. LCA-643 is suitable for both green and dry chilli cultivation. LCA-643 is tolerant to moisture stress and shows moderate resistance to Gemini virus and black thrips infestation. LCA-625 is mainly meant for dry chilli production and resembles the Teja variety.

Recently, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) released a report showing that 18 out of 28 Indian states exceeded the fiscal deficit ceiling of 3% of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in FY25. The fiscal deterioration was comparable to the stress seen during the COVID-19 period (FY21). Meghalaya recorded the highest fiscal deficit (8.69%), followed by Nagaland (6.14%) and Sikkim (5.59%). Around 14 states, including Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Odisha, saw a sharp increase (over 25%) in fiscal deficit compared to FY24. The number of states with a revenue surplus declined from 16 in FY24 to 13 in FY25. Bihar, Mizoram, and Telangana shifted from revenue surplus to revenue deficit in FY25.

Recently, 15 countries from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Pacific adopted the Mombasa Declaration to strengthen global efforts against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing. The declaration was adopted during the 11th Our Ocean Conference (OOC) held in Mombasa, Kenya, from which it derives its name. It calls for greater transparency in fisheries by improving access to information on fishing vessels, ownership, and licensing. Its objective is to protect marine ecosystems, ensure sustainable fisheries, and safeguard the livelihoods of millions dependent on fishing.

Recently, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) congratulated the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) on completing 15 years of service in electoral training and management. It was established in 2011 by the Election Commission of India as a premier centre for electoral training, research, and capacity building. It functions under the direct supervision of the ECI and is located in Dwarka. Its key objectives is to promoting professional competence in election management, strengthening electoral integrity, encouraging research, and developing capacity-building programmes.

Recently, the Centre facilitated a consensus among six states—Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan—for the implementation of the Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project. The project is proposed on the Tons River, the largest tributary of the Yamuna River, along the Uttarakhand–Himachal Pradesh border. It is a multipurpose project aimed at hydropower generation, irrigation, water supply, and improving environmental flows in the Yamuna. Under the agreement, the Central Government will bear 90% of the water component cost, while the remaining 10% will be shared by the six beneficiary states.

Recently, the government appointed Dr. Saibal Chattopadhyay as the Chairperson of the National Statistical Commission. Other newly appointed members are Prof. Shubhabrata Das, Shri Satyendra Bahadur Singh, and Dr. Madhavan Mukund. The National Statistical Commission was established as the nodal body for core statistical activities in India. It is responsible for evolving national statistical policies, setting standards, improving public trust in official statistics, and ensuring coordination among statistical agencies.

Recently, Bharat Buildcon 2026 – One Nation, One Expo was inaugurated at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, New Delhi. The event is a major exhibition for the building materials and construction industry. The exhibition witnessed participation from more than 90 countries and over 100 Indian cities. It showcases products and innovations across 24 segments, including cement, steel, ceramics, sanitaryware, furniture, electricals, paints, and construction technologies. The event serves as a platform for industry interaction, technology showcase, and business networking.

The Hunger Hotspots Report (June–November 2026) was jointly released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP). The report warns that acute food insecurity is likely to worsen in 13 global hotspots between June and November 2026. Around 266 million people are already facing high levels of acute hunger. The countries of highest concern are Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, Yemen, and Palestine due to famine risks and severe food shortages. The major drivers are conflict, climate shocks, economic pressures, and declining humanitarian aid.

National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Government of Arunachal Pradesh for the development of the 3,097 MW Etalin Hydroelectric Project. The project is located in Dibang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh, on the Dri and Talo rivers, which are tributaries of the Dibang River. It is among the largest hydropower projects in India in terms of installed capacity. The project will be developed as two run-of-the-river schemes with concrete gravity dams and an underground powerhouse. The area lies in a mega-biodiversity hotspot and is inhabited by the Idu-Mishmi tribe.

Scientists in India discovered a new species of wasp, named Spilomena malabarica. It was discovered in Kozhikode district, Kerala. The species name “malabarica” honors the historic Malabar region of Kerala, where the type specimen was collected. It belongs to the group of aphid wasps, which prey on plant pests and help in natural pest control.

The National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) is celebrating its 23rd Foundation Day on 19 June 2026. It is a not-for-profit organization established under the aegis of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and registered under the Companies Act, 2013. It was created to promote internet penetration in India and strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure. NIXI facilitates the exchange of domestic internet traffic among Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and other network operators.

India secured continued representation at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) with the election of Bimal N. Patel as Judge for the 2026–2035 term. He was elected at the 36th Meeting of States Parties to UNCLOS held at United Nations, New York. He received 115 of 168 valid votes and will succeed Neeru Chadha on 1 October 2026. ITLOS was established under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The headquarters is located in Hamburg, Germany.