JUNE 08,2026 CURRENT AFFAIRS
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Cross-Border UPI Nepal Launch of linkage between Unified Payments Interface (UPI) of India and National Payments Interface (NPI) of Nepal for facilitating remittances; took place during the External Affairs Minister of Nepal visit to India. UPI » Launched: on 11 April 2016 by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). » Development: UPI is an instant payment system developed by NPCI, under the regulatory oversight of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). » Boost to digital economy: UPI captures nearly 85% in India''s Digital Payments and 49% of global real-time payments promotes financial inclusion. » Features: o Two-Factor Authentication: Secure transactions using a linked mobile number and UPI PIN as dual authentication factors. o 24/7 and Direct Transfers: Enables instant fund transfers anytime, including weekends and bank holidays. Allows direct payments without beneficiary registration. o Multiple Bank Accounts: Supports linking and managing multiple bank accounts through a single UPI app. o Supports Bill and QR Code-Based Payments: Facilitates utility bills, recharges, EMIs, subscriptions, and recurring payments via AutoPay. o Interoperability: Enables seamless transactions across different banks and UPI-enabled apps. o Record: UPI transactions are recorded by banks and reflected in bank statements. o UPI is built over the IMPS (Immediate Payment Service) infrastructure. » Other Countries UPI is linked: UAE, Singapore, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, France, Mauritius, and Qatar. o Recently India Launches UPI Payments in Cambodia partially. Other India-Nepal Initiatives Launched » Earthquake Reconstruction Assistance: India handed over 72 health facilities and 12 cultural heritage sector projects. » MoU between Digital India Bhashini and Kathmandu University: For co-creating National Digital Infrastructure for “Voice First” Language Translation platform. » India-Nepal Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement (MLAA): Welcomed the implementation of MLAA in Criminal Matters. |
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Digital Health India India has created over 90 crore unique ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) identity cards under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission as a part of Digital Health Ecosystem. Key Initiatives under India’s Digital Health Ecosystem » Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM): Implemented by the National Health Authority (NHA), it supports universal, affordable, accessible, and secure healthcare. o Components of ABDM: ABHA Number (14-digit digital health identity), Healthcare Professionals Registry; National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX) etc. » Aarogya Setu: National Health App integrated with ABDM, which provides access to digital health records. » eSanjeevani: World’s largest documented telemedicine platform that connects Health & Wellness Centres with doctors and specialists. » Other Initiatives: e-Hospital (Hospital Management Information System); e-BloodBank; Cough Against TB (AI-based TB screening); MadhuNetrAI (AI-based diabetic retinopathy screening) etc. Significance of Digital Health Ecosystem » Supports Universal Health Coverage (UHC): Connects remote and underserved populations and makes healthcare more affordable and inclusive. o E.g., women constitute nearly half of total ABHA holders. » Enables Evidence-Based Policymaking: Generates health data that supports better planning, resource allocation, and interventions. » Strengthens Health System Resilience: Supports healthcare delivery during emergencies, disasters, and pandemics. Challenges related to Digital Health Ecosystem » Digital Divide: Unequal access to the internet, smartphones limits adoption in rural and remote areas. » Data Privacy: Large-scale collection of health data raises concerns regarding data misuse. » Infrastructure Constraints: Poor connectivity, unreliable electricity, and inadequate digital infrastructure hinder service delivery. |
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FSSAI – Food Standards Body FSSAI, citing Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, directed to discontinue newspapers for packing food items. » It warned that printing inks contain harmful chemicals, e.g lead and other heavy metals, which pose long-term health risks. FSSAI (HQ: New Delhi) » Established: Under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 as an independent statutory Authority. » Ministry: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. » Role: Laying down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import. o It is also responsible for licensing and Registration of Food Business Operators and Monitoring safety » Composition: One chairman and 22 members (one-third must be women). |
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High‑Temp Nuclear Reprocessing Pyroprocessing is increasingly being adopted across various industrial sectors. Pyroprocessing » It is a way to change a solid material physically or chemically using high temperature. o It is a dry process and very energy-intensive. » Application: o Cement-making: limestone, clay and iron are melted to form clinkers which in turn produce cement o Metallurgy: To extract metals from their ores e.g. calcining (heating limestone to yield lime) o Nuclear power: To reprocess spent nuclear fuel. |
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Infiltration Excess Runoff Studies highlight that concentration of rainfall due to climate change can lead to infiltration excess Infiltration excess (a.k.a Hortonian runoff) » It refers to the condition in hydrology where the rate of rainfall is greater than the rate at which the soil can absorb or infiltrate the water; a property known as infiltrability. » Different from saturation excess (bottom up): Unlike Infiltration excess (top down) which is rain dependent, Saturation excess is subsoil dependent. » It occurs when the soil is completely filled with water due to subsoil restrictions » Key Drivers o Climate: predominant in semiarid and arid zones where short but high-intensity storms occur. o Soil Properties: e.g. texture, initial water content etc. » Impacts: Erosion of topsoil due to surface runoff causing sheet wash, rills and gully erosion etc. |
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Philippines in Focus Philippines (Capital: Manila) Recently, Mindanao region of the Philippines has been struck by an earthquake of magnitude 7.8. Political Features » Location: Island country of Southeast Asia in western Pacific Ocean. » Water Boundary: Philippine Sea (east), the Celebes Sea (south), Sulu Sea (southwest) and the South China Sea (west and north). » Maritime Boundary: Vietnam (west), Taiwan (north), Palau (east), Malaysia and Indonesia (south). » Major three regions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Geographical Features » Major rivers: Cagayan, Agno, Pampanga, Pasig. » Highest Point: Mount Apo. » Major Volcanoes: Mayon, Taal, Pinatubo etc. |
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Qeshm – Persian Gulf Hotspot The US attacked surveillance facilities on Queshm Island. About Queshm Island » Location: Southern edge of the Zagros Mountain range, along sides the south coastline (Hormozgan) of the Iranian mainland. » It is the biggest island in the Persian Gulf near the straits of Hormoz. » It is also known as the “island of seven wonders”. |
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Right to Digital Privacy SC balances child’s right to know paternity and alleged father’s right to privacy.
Right to Privacy » The right to privacy in India is a fundamental right protected under Article 21 of the Constitution. (Justice K.S. Puttaswamy Judgment) » Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 and Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), 1966, legally protect persons against “arbitrary interference” with one’s privacy. o India signed and ratified the ICCPR on April 10, 1979, without reservation. |
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Russia’s Su‑57 in Focus The Russian President has offered India Russia’s fifth-generation stealth aircraft Sukhoi Su-57 and proposed its joint production in India. 5th Generation Su-57 » Key features: o Capable of acting as an airborne command centre: including for unmanned aerial vehicles. o Stealth Capabilities: Reduces radar, infrared, and visual signatures to evade detection. o Supercruise: Sustains supersonic speeds without afterburners, improving range and fuel efficiency. o Integrated Avionics: Fuses data from multiple sensors for superior situational awareness. o Advanced Networking: Enables secure, resilient, and real-time communication with allied platforms. » Other 5th Gen Jets: US F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, China’s Chengdu J-20 and Shenyang J-35, India’s AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) in pipeline. |
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Tennis Grand Slams 125th edition of the French Open, one of the four grand slam tournaments were recently concluded » Men’s Singles Champion: Alexander Zverev (Germany) » Women’s Singles Champion: Mirra Andreeva (Russia) » About Grand Slam tournaments » They consist of 4 major tournaments played annually in a chronological order. o Australian Open (Hard Court), followed by French Open (Clay Court), Wimbledon (Britain) (grass), and US open (Hard) » Shared governance: Managed through a board comprising the four Grand Slam Chairs » Eligibility: Open for entry to all internationally ranked tennis players with a ranking of 500 or better. o Minors under the age of fourteen (14) are not eligible for entry. o Doubles: Uses the better of a player''s individual singles or doubles ranking o A player below 500 rank may still be able to compete through wild cards. » Wild cards players: Players included in a tournament drawn at the sole discretion of the individual Grand Slam event. o There is no limit to the total number of wild cards an individual player may receive to compete in Grand Slam Tournaments. » Prize: On-site prize money based on performance of player. |
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Transforming India Through E-Governance Recently the E-Jagriti platform of the Department of Consumer Affairs won the National Awards for e-Governance 2026. E-Governance » It refers to the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in governance and public administration. » It aims to improve efficiency, transparency, accountability, responsiveness, and citizen participation. Transformative Role of E-Governance in India » Improved Service Delivery: Faster and anytime access to government services. E.g., UMANG – single platform for multiple government services. » Transparency & Accountability: Reduces corruption through digital and auditable processes. E.g., Government e-Marketplace (GeM) – transparent public procurement. » Financial Inclusion: Expands access to digital payments and banking. E.g., UPI – instant, cashless digital transactions. » Citizen Empowerment: Easier grievance redressal and consumer protection. E.g., e-Jagriti – online consumer complaint filing and tracking. » Last-Mile Connectivity: Extends governance to remote areas. E.g., Common Service Centres (CSCs). » Capacity Building of Government Officials: E.g., iGOT Karmayogi platform for training and efficiency improvement of civil servants. » Citizen Participation: Encourages public engagement in policymaking. E.g., MyGov platform. |
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UN Military Gender Award Prime Minister congratulated Major Abhilasha Barak on being conferred the 2025 UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. » Major Barak is serving as an Engagement Team Commander and Gender Focal Point within the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Award » Created in 2016 by the Office of Military Affairs within the Department for Peace Operations (DPO). » It recognises the dedication and effort of an individual peacekeeper in promoting the principles within the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325. o Resolution 1325 urges all actors to increase the participation of women and incorporate gender perspectives in all United Nations peace and security efforts. |
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Youth-Led Protests Worldwide Recently there are waves of protests dominated by youth sweeping across continents, from Asia to Africa to Europe to the Americas including Bangladesh, Nepal, Kenya to India indicating discontent against establishments. General Characteristics of Youth-Led Protests » Digital Activism: Use of encrypted apps (Telegram, Signal), VPNs, and online anonymity tools to bypass surveillance and coordinate mass action. o E.g. In 2025 Nepal’s Gen Z coordinated over Discord to vote for an interim prime minister. » Highly Issue-Based: Rather than broad ideological affiliations, these mobilizations are triggered by specific, urgent crises. o E.g. Bangladesh’s 2024 protest on controversial quota system for government jobs. » Transnational Reach: e.g. Arab Spring (2010s) started from Tunisia and spread to Egypt, Libya, Syria and Yemen. » Informal and lack formal leadership making them agile and inclusive. o E.g. in Hong Kong 2019 demonstrations, adopted "leaderless" approaches to evade Chinese surveillance. » Others: Generally nonviolent, Short-Lived but High-Impact Waves, Use of Technology & Digital means etc. Driving Factors » Economic Distress: e.g. Kenya’s 2024 protest against draconian tax hikes amid cost-of-living crisis » Discontent against governments: 80% of non-violent campaigns seeking regime change (1990 -2020) featured substantial youth participation-US Agency for International Development. » Governance Failures: e.g. India''s 2026 Cockroach Janta Party protests over alleged examination irregularities. Way ahead » Institutionalizing youth participation in policy-making, driving structural economic reforms, addressing unemployment crisis and strengthening democratic accountability can address issues of youth. |