Weekly Current Affairs Test : 1st to 7th June 2026

The recent Wayanad landslides led to bodies and debris being carried downstream into the Chaliyar River, resulting in extensive search operations. Chaliyar River, also known as the Beypore River, is one of the major west-flowing rivers of Kerala. The river originates from the Ilambaleri Hills of the Nilgiri Mountains near the Kerala–Tamil Nadu border. It flows through Wayanad, Malappuram, and Kozhikode districts before draining into the Arabian Sea near Beypore.

Kerala became the first state in India to launch a dedicated Senior Citizens’ Welfare Department. The department was created by the newly formed United Democratic Front government and officially came into existence on May 20, 2026. Elderly welfare responsibilities were shifted from the Social Justice Department to the new specialised department. The initiative is supported by the Kerala Elderly Commission Bill. Kerala also established a quasi-judicial State Elderly Commission to protect senior citizens from neglect, exploitation, and abuse.

Red Balloon Aerospace Private Limited launched India’s first indigenous Stratospheric Super Pressure Balloon named VISTA under Mission SANA. The launch took place at Indira Gandhi Stadium in Andhra Pradesh. With this achievement, India became one of only five countries with indigenous stratospheric balloon capability, alongside the USA, France, Japan, and China. The VISTA platform ascended to around 25 km above Earth carrying payloads from seven national and international partners.

Election Commission of India organised the National Conference of ECI Counsels 2026 in New Delhi to strengthen its legal framework. The conference was inaugurated by Gyanesh Kumar. The Chief Election Commissioner also highlighted the high electoral participation and contestation in the recent Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.

Researchers from Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Mohali developed a novel light-driven nano-catalyst for cleaner and energy-efficient chemical manufacturing. The institute is an autonomous body under the Department of Science and Technology. The catalyst combines gold nanoparticles, palladium nanoparticles, and the light-absorbing molecule BODIPY. It uses light energy to accelerate chemical reactions, reducing the need for toxic solvents, high temperatures, and energy-intensive industrial processes.

Valluvan from Pollachi district in Tamil Nadu was honoured as a FAO Soil Farmer Hero Award in May 2026. The award was given by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Valluvan transformed his 11-hectare farm into a highly profitable multi-crop, tree-based farming enterprise. He was supported by Isha Foundation under the Save Soil-Cauvery Calling Programme led by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev. He adopted multi-crop and multi-tier tree-based agriculture practices.

PM SVANidhi Scheme has emerged as a major initiative supporting street vendors working in India’s informal urban economy through financial assistance and social security measures. PM SVANidhi Scheme was launched in 2020 as a Central Sector Scheme to provide financial support to street vendors. It promotes digital transactions through cashback incentives and UPI-linked RuPay Credit Cards for eligible vendors. The scheme also provides training in financial literacy, digital literacy, and food safety & hygiene. It is implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in collaboration with the Department of Financial Services.

Scientists from the Botanical Survey of India recently discovered a new moss species named Indopottia himalayensis in the high-altitude forests of Uttarakhand. It is only the third species of the Indopottia genus identified globally, while the other two species are found in the Western Ghats of India and the mountains of Thailand. The species was named “Indopottia himalayensis” in honour of the Himalayan mountain range. It is a terrestrial moss that grows directly on soil-covered rocks in forest regions.

Recently, the Union Minister stated that India’s Design Linked Incentive Scheme is showing positive results in strengthening the country’s semiconductor ecosystem. The DLI Scheme aims to develop India’s fabless semiconductor capability, reduce import dependence, and increase domestic value addition. Start-ups and MSMEs receive financial incentives and design infrastructure support, while domestic companies receive deployment incentives. It is implemented by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology under the Semicon India Programme, with Centre for Development of Advanced Computing as the nodal agency.

Amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, Israel recently pushed deeper into Lebanon and captured the historic Beaufort Castle along with the surrounding strategic ridge. Beaufort Castle, also known as Qalaat al-Shaqif or the “Castle of the High Rock,” is a medieval fortress located near Nabatieh in southern Lebanon. The castle was originally built by Crusaders in the 12th century and later came under Muslim, Mamluk, and Ottoman control. It is considered one of the best-preserved medieval castles in the Near East and has strong defensive architecture with a high castle and a low castle.

Recently, the MAHA (Mission for Advancement in High-impact Areas) Water Mission was jointly launched by Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) and the Ministry of Jal Shakti to promote innovation and sustainable solutions in the water sector. The mission aims to connect science, entrepreneurship, industry, academia, and grassroots initiatives to strengthen India’s long-term water security. It supports innovations from laboratory research to field deployment and focuses on scalable and localised water solutions. The mission focuses on five priority areas: water resource management, drinking water, water quality and ecological health, water-use efficiency and circular economy, and climate resilience.

Recently, the Border Roads Organisation celebrated the 37th Raising Day of Project UDAYAK. Project UDAYAK is a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) initiative focused on developing strategic road infrastructure in the far-eastern region of India. The project was established on 1 June 1990 at Doomdooma in Assam as part of infrastructure restructuring in the eastern border areas. The name “Udayak,” meaning “Rising Sun,” reflects the fact that the first rays of sunlight in India fall within the project’s area of responsibility.

A new species of lizard named Mesalina bishnoi has recently been discovered in the Bikaner district of Rajasthan. The species was found near Gajner in an arid habitat with rocky soil and sparse desert vegetation. It is the first confirmed record of the genus Mesalina in India. The species has been named after the Bishnoi community in recognition of their commitment to wildlife and environmental conservation. Currently, Mesalina bishnoi is known only from the Bikaner district and is considered endemic to the Thar biogeographic region.

The Kadamparai Pumped Storage Hydro Power Plant in Tamil Nadu is currently operating at only 25% capacity as it has crossed its design life. It is a 400 MW hydropower project located in the Kadamparai river basin of Tamil Nadu. Commissioned in 1987, it was Tamil Nadu’s first pumped storage hydropower unit. The plant is unique in the state for having reversible two-way turbines that can function in both generator and motor modes.

The Kshipra river system in Madhya Pradesh is facing a major crisis due to the drying up of its tributaries and declining perennial flow. The Kshipra, also known as the Shipra River, is an important tributary of the Chambal River. It originates from the Vindhya Range near Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh and flows across the Malwa Plateau before joining the Chambal River. Major tributaries of the Kshipra River are the Khan and Gambhir rivers. The river is considered sacred in Hinduism and is regarded as holy as the Ganga River.

India has become the world’s second-largest solar market by overtaking the United States in annual solar capacity additions in 2025. The achievement reflects India’s rapid progress in clean energy and sustainable infrastructure development. India’s solar capacity has increased from 2.8 GW in 2014 to over 155 GW in 2026. This represents a growth of about 5,370% in solar power capacity over the period. The expansion supports India’s renewable energy goals and strengthens energy security while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

Chandigarh University has become the first private university in India to establish an IndiaAI Data Lab in collaboration with Intel India. The lab aims to enhance students’ employability by providing industry-relevant skills in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Science, and emerging technologies. It will offer a simulated apprenticeship platform, enabling students to gain hands-on experience and work on real-world AI projects. The IndiaAI Data Lab will serve as a hub for research, innovation, hackathons, faculty development, and industry-academia collaboration.

The Maharashtra Cabinet has launched the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmafi Yojna to provide farm loan relief to farmers. The scheme will benefit about 56 lakh farmers across the state. It waives outstanding crop loans up to ₹2 lakh per farmer. Farmers who have regularly repaid their loans will receive an incentive of ₹50,000. There is no landholding criterion for eligibility under the scheme. The loan waiver is applicable to short-term crop loans taken between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2025.

Andhra Pradesh’s Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) programme won the 2026 Food Planet Prize, one of the world’s largest awards for sustainable food systems. The award is presented by the Curt Bergfors Foundation and carries a prize amount of $1.5 million. APCNF was launched in 2016 by Rythu Sadhikara Samstha under the Agriculture Department of Andhra Pradesh. The programme promotes natural farming by reducing dependence on synthetic inputs and improving soil health, biodiversity, and climate resilience.

Khalilur Rahman has been elected President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. He secured 99 votes against 91 votes received by Andreas S. Kakouris. Rahman will assume office in September 2026 for a one-year term. The presidency of the 81st UNGA session was allocated to the Asia-Pacific Group under the UN’s regional rotation system. Bangladesh previously held the UNGA presidency during the 41st Session (1986–87), when Humayun Rasheed Chowdhury served as President.

Indian botanists discovered a new species of flowering plant, Crotalaria phulei, in the Khairi-Umred forest near Nagpur, Maharashtra. It is named after Savitribai Phule, India’s first woman teacher. The species belongs to the Fabaceae (legume) family. It is an undershrub that grows up to 1.5 metres in height. The plant produces pods with distinctive mottled creamy-olive seeds. It closely resembles Crotalaria juncea and Crotalaria shrirangiana.

Recently, the Union Jal Shakti Minister informed that over 1.5 crore artificial groundwater recharge and storage structures have been created across India under the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) Initiative. Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) was launched in 2024 to promote groundwater recharge and water conservation through public participation. The initiative focuses on rainwater harvesting, aquifer recharge, borewell recharge, and recharge shafts. It follows a Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society approach and is driven by the 3Cs mantra — Community, CSR, and Cost. It is implemented by Ministry of Jal Shakti.

Recently, the U.S. military used a Hellfire missile against a tanker heading toward Iran. The AGM-114 Hellfire is a short-range, air-to-ground, subsonic tactical missile developed by Lockheed Martin, United States. It entered service in 1984 and was originally designed as an anti-tank weapon. The missile can also be used against helicopters and slow-moving aircraft. It is deployed from platforms such as AH-64 Apache helicopters, MQ-1 Predator, MQ-9 Reaper drones, fighter aircraft, and ground launchers. The Hellfire missile is used by the United States and around 30 allied countries.

Recently, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) removed walls built inside the main gopuram of the Virupaksha Temple at Hampi. The Virupaksha Temple, also known as Pampapathi Temple, is dedicated to Lord Virupaksha (Shiva). It is located in Hampi, Karnataka, on the southern bank of the Tungabhadra River. The temple is part of the Group of Monuments at Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the First World Yogasana Championship 2026 through a video message from Ahmedabad. The championship marks a historic milestone in promoting Yogasana as a competitive sport at the global level. The event is hosted in Ahmedabad, a UNESCO World Heritage City.

Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Jammu, India’s 7th Regional Meteorological Centre. The new RMC will serve Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh with specialized weather forecasting and disaster warning services. The centre will provide district-level forecasts, mountain weather forecasts, tourist advisories, and warnings for flash floods, cloudbursts, avalanches, landslides, thunderstorms, and heavy snowfall.

Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (Surha Tal) in Uttar Pradesh has been designated as India’s 100th Ramsar Site. It is located in Ballia district, Uttar Pradesh. The wetland is known for its rich avifaunal biodiversity and attracts both migratory and resident birds. The designation marks a major milestone in India’s wetland conservation efforts. Ramsar Sites are wetlands recognized under the Ramsar Convention for their international importance. India now has 100 Ramsar Sites, reflecting its commitment to wetland conservation, biodiversity protection, and climate resilience.

On World Environment Day 2026, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta inaugurated 18 Namo Oxygen Parks in Delhi. The initiative was launched under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign to promote urban greening, improve air quality, and encourage public participation in environmental conservation. The Namo Oxygen Parks are designed to act as urban green lungs, enhancing biodiversity and providing recreational spaces.

The Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) has won the Gold Award at the National Awards for e-Governance 2026. The award was given under Category VII – Digital Transformation through the Use of Data Analytics in Digital Platforms. Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. It is India’s first comprehensive data-driven framework for assessing and ranking Gram Panchayats. PAI 2.0 evaluates over 2.6 lakh Gram Panchayats using 150 indicators and 230 data points. The award will be presented during the 29th National Conference on e-Governance to be held in Jaipur on 1–2 July 2026.

The Ministry of Education has approved the establishment of the first Indian branch campus of the University of Liverpool in Bengaluru. It is being established under the internationalisation provisions of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The initiative aims to provide Indian students access to internationally recognized degrees and research opportunities within India. It will strengthen India–UK cooperation in higher education, research, innovation, and skill development. Bengaluru was chosen due to its strong ecosystem in technology, startups, innovation, and research.