JUNE 09,2026 CURRENT AFFAIRS
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Armenia in Focus Armenia PM wins parliamentary polls. About Armenia (Capital: Yerevan) » Political Features: » Location: Landlocked country located in the south of Caucasus mountain range. » Bordering Countries: Georgia to the north, Azerbaijan to the east, Iran to the southeast, and Turkey to the west. Geographical Features: » Topography: The Lesser (or Little) Caucasus Mountains dominate much of Armenia’s landscape. » Highest Peak: Mount Aragats (4,090 m) which is an extinct volcanic peak. » Important Rivers:Aras, Hrazdan, Arpa, and Vorotan. » Lakes: Lake Sevan is the largest lake of Armenia. » Natural resources: Small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, bauxite. |
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Bloomberg Global Bond Index Demand, rupee to decide India’s Bloomberg bond index entry Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond Index » Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond Index (BGAI) is one of the world''s most influential bond indices, tracking investment-grade government and corporate bonds across global markets. » Purpose: Serves as a benchmark for global bond investors and passive investment funds. » Eligibility: Countries must satisfy criteria related to market accessibility, liquidity, settlement infrastructure, taxation and foreign investor access. » India''s Status: India is currently seeking inclusion in the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Bond Index after already joining major global bond indices such as the JP Morgan GBI-EM (2024) and FTSE Russell EMGBI (2025). |
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Celebrating Acts of Gallantry President of India presented Gallantry Awards to Armed Forces and Police Personnel. Gallantry Awards » Objective: Recognitions given for acts of bravery, valour and self-sacrifice during both wartime and peacetime. » Conferred By: The President of India, who is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. o Officially announced twice a year on the eve of Republic Day (January 26) and Independence Day (August 15). » Nodal Ministry: The Ministry of Defence invites recommendations twice a year from the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Home Affairs. » Wartime Gallantry Awards: Param Vir Chakra (Highest), Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra. o Instituted on 26 January 1950 (with effect from 15 August 1947). » Peacetime Gallantry Awards: Ashoka Chakra (Highest), Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra. o Originally, they were named Ashoka Chakra Class I, Class II, and Class III but were renamed in 1967. o Instituted on 4 January 1952 (with effect from 15 August 1947). |
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Decade of Safe Motherhood: PMSMA PMSMA » Launched: In 2016 » Implemented by: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare through National Health Mission. » Objective & Goal: Provide free, high-quality antenatal care to pregnant women for safer pregnancies through early risk detection and timely intervention. » Target Beneficiaries and Service Delivery o Who Can Access: Pregnant women in 2nd & 3rd trimesters, with priority to high-risk cases and dropouts. o Schedule and Location: Services are provided on the 9th of every month at designated government health facilities.
o Comprehensive Care: Includes clinical examinations by a trained medical officer, laboratory investigations (blood and urine tests), ultrasonography, medicines, and essential counseling on nutrition and birth planning. » Extended PMSMA Strategy: Launched in 2022 to strengthen follow-up care. o This ensures high-risk pregnancies are tracked continuously until a safe delivery is achieved, backed by financial incentives for the beneficiary and ASHA workers, as well as SMS alert systems. Impact and Achievements » Successfully provided antenatal services to more than 7.50 crore pregnant women. » Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): dropped from to 87 per lakh live births in 2022–24 from 130 in 2014–16. Integration with the Broader Healthcare Ecosystem PMSMA is integrated with other major government programs to build a comprehensive framework for maternal health, including: » Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY): Promotes institutional deliveries and has benefited over 11.96 crore women since 2014-15. » Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK): Provides free healthcare to pregnant women and newborns, supporting over 18.05 crore beneficiaries. » Other aligned efforts: SUMAN, POSHAN Abhiyaan, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), and LaQshya, which collectively address nutrition, maternity benefits, and labor room quality. |
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Global Arms & Security Trends 2026 Key Highlights of the Report » Total Nuclear Weapons: approximately 12,187 nuclear warheads as of January 2026. o India increased its nuclear warheads to an estimated 190 (China 620, Pakistan 170), of which 12 warheads are deployed on missiles. » Global Military Expenditure: reached a record US$ 2.9 trillion in 2025, marking the 11th consecutive year of increase. o India ranked as the 5th largest military spender globally with US$ 92.1 billion in 2025 (USA- Largest at $954 billion). o Arms Imports: India remained the 2nd largest arms importer (~8% share) in the world after Ukraine. o Arms Exports:USA (42% share), France, Russia, Germany and China accounted for 70%. » Global Armed Conflict: The number of interstate armed conflicts doubled from 3 in 2024 to 6 in 2025, highlighting rising geopolitical instability. » Techno-Strategic Warfare: Growing use of AI, drone swarms, autonomous weapons, cyber tools, and weaponization of critical minerals, semiconductors and supply chains is reshaping modern warfare and geopolitical competition. o Multiple Bank Accounts: Supports linking and managing multiple bank accounts through a single UPI app. Global Mechanisms for Nuclear Disarmament » UNODA (United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs): Promotes global disarmament and supports arms-control implementation. » CD (Conference on Disarmament, 1978): Main multilateral forum for negotiating arms-control and disarmament agreements. » Major Treaties o NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, 1968): Prevents nuclear weapon spread while promoting peaceful nuclear use and disarmament. o CTBT (Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, 1996): Bans all nuclear test explosions. o TPNW (Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, 2017): Bans the development, possession, stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons. |
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Gyan Bharatam in Focus Gyan Bharatam survey maps over one crore manuscripts across India Gyan Bharatam Mission » Objective: National mission to survey, document and conserve over one crore manuscripts across India. » Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Culture. » Focus: Digital preservation, cataloguing and sharing of India’s manuscript heritage. » Manuscripts Covered: Includes palm-leaf, birch bark and paper manuscripts in Sanskrit, Persian and regional languages. » Five Pillars: Survey & cataloguing, conservation, digitisation, translation and research & outreach. |
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H-1B Work Permit US judge strikes down ‘unlawful’ $100k H-1B visa fee H-1B Visa » The H-1B Visa is a non-immigrant work visa that allows U.S. employers to hire foreign professionals in specialty occupations requiring specialized knowledge and at least a bachelor''s degree or equivalent » Eligible Sectors: Information Technology, Engineering, Healthcare, Finance, Research, Education, Biotechnology, etc. » Duration: Initially granted for 3 years, extendable up to 6 years (and longer in some green-card processing cases) » India''s Significance: Indian nationals are the largest beneficiaries of the H-1B programme, accounting for a majority of approvals |
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Hidden Digital Divide in India Revealed The "Evolving Landscape of Digital Inclusion in India" report by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) highlights several overlapping digital divides despite India''s internet user base surpassing 1 billion by 2025. Hidden Digital Divides in India » The Device Divide: While 95% of households own a mobile phone, only 8% own a computer or laptop, creating a "mobile-only" internet experience that limits productivity. » The Connectivity Gap: Despite massive expansion, 27.5% (32.2% in rural areas; 17.2% in urban areas) of Indian households remain entirely offline. » Usage Skew: Internet engagement is overwhelmingly driven by entertainment (66%) and social media (53.8%), with limited uptake for education (16.1%) and government services (11.4%). » The Dependency Factor: 20.4% of households require outside help to navigate digital services. Persistent Demographic Gaps: o Gender remains a primary axis of exclusion, with only 35.6% of working-age women using the internet compared to 57.6% of men. o Age-based exclusion is also stark, with only 9.4% of the elderly (60+) participating online. Policy Recommendations in the Report » Improve Connectivity Quality:Expand affordable broadband and public Wi-Fi to bring the offline population online and enable higher-order use cases beyond mobile entertainment. » Invest in the Next Generation: Integrate digital literacy into school curricula and focus on maternal and paternal education to break the intergenerational transmission of digital inequality. » Provide Digital Assistance to Older Adults: Expand community-based, assisted digital service centers and design age-friendly, vernacular interfaces to ensure the elderly are not excluded from welfare benefits. » Close the Gender Gap: Move beyond household-level access to measure and address intra-household inequalities, ensuring women from all socio-economic backgrounds have independent access and use. |
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India’s Free Trade Dilemmas With the India-Oman agreement taking effect on June 1, India now has 15 FTAs covering 27 countries. » However, India’s FTAs face scrutiny due to growing trade deficits, increased imports, and domestic manufacturing strain. Challenges with FTAs » Rising Trade Deficit: In FY2025, India recorded a trade deficit of over $50 billion with UAE, Australia, Mauritius and EFTA countries. o India’s average annual trade deficit with ASEAN, Japan and South Korea reached nearly $62 billion in the last three years. o South Asia remains the major exception, where India’s trade surplus expanded from $6.7 billion to $20 billion during the same period. » Tariff Asymmetry: FTA reduces India’s high import duties, making foreign goods cheaper in India, while Indian exports gains little in countries where tariffs were already low. » Low Utilisation by Indian Exporters: Only 20-30% of eligible Indian exports use FTA preferences because compliance costs often outweigh tariff benefits. » Inverted Duty Structure: Higher duties on raw materials and lower duties on finished goods increase costs for domestic manufacturers. » Shift of Manufacturing Abroad: Firms increasingly prefer Make in ASEAN, Sell in India due to cheaper production and duty-free access to Indian markets. Way Forward » Tariff Rationalisation: Align tariffs on industrial inputs with FTA commitments to strengthen domestic supply chains and reduce inverted duty structures. » Ease of Compliance: Simplify FTA compliance rules such as rules of origin and others for Indian exporters. » Boost Domestic Manufacturing: Strengthen industrial competitiveness under Make in India initiatives. |
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Khanij Bidesh India Limited Spotlight ABIL acquires five critical mineral blocks in Argentina. » Argentina is part of the “Lithium Triangle” along with Chile and Bolivia, which holds more than half of the world’s lithium resources.
KABIL » Establishment: It was incorporated in 2019 under the Ministry of Mines. » Joint Venture Structure: Formed by NALCO, Hindustan Copper Ltd. (HCL) and MECL in a 40:30:30 ratios. » Objective: To secure critical and strategic minerals and ensure India’s mineral security and supply-chain assurance. |
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PM-JAY: India’s Health Insurance Mission AB-PMJAY achieves nationwide coverage with West Bengal joining scheme. AB-PMJAY » Launch: Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in September, 2018 and regarded as the world’s largest health assurance scheme. » Components: Ayushman Arogya Mandir and Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). » Objective: To provide accessible and affordable healthcare from primary to tertiary level while reducing the financial burden on poor and vulnerable families. » Coverage: Provides cashless hospitalisation cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary healthcare services. |
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State Finance Commission Datasets Released The report calls for establishing a strong information architecture that enables data-driven fiscal decentralisation via SFCs and strengthens grassroots governance. State Finance Commissions (SFCs): » Mandate: SFCs are constitutional bodies established under Article 243-I of the Indian Constitution. » Function: Recommend the distribution of state revenues between the state government and local bodies. Key Challenges Faced by State Finance Commission: » Data Fragmentation and Silos: Preventing SFCs from accessing a holistic view performance of local bodies. » Lack of Disaggregated Data: Absence of Panchayat level and sector-wise expenditure tracking limits performance-based fiscal analysis. » Non-Standard Accounts: Across states and a lack of consolidated financial statements complicate cross-state comparisons. » Local Capacity Gaps: Shortage of trained staff at the grassroots level hinders proper digital record-keeping. » Others: Delays in setting up SFCs, lack of devolution, etc Key Recommendations: » Performance Audit: The CAG should audit the implementation of 73rd Constitutional Amendment across states to evaluate the actual extent of local devolution. » Permanent SFC Cells: States should set up dedicated cells to continuously maintain and update financial data. » Standardized Accounting: Introduce uniform accounting heads for local transfers and adopt a common reporting template to ensure consistency and cross-state comparability. » Structured Performance Indicators: Classify Panchayat Advancement Index metrics into "needs," "performance," and "equity" to help refine fiscal devolution formulas. |
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Yamuna: Current Affairs Highlight Union Home Minister calls for joint action by Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh to rejuvenate the Yamuna. Yamuna » Origin: Yamunotri Glacier near Bandarpunch Peak in the Garhwal Himalayas, at an altitude of about 6,387 m. » Length: 1,376 km, making it the longest tributary of the Ganga. » Confluence: Joins the Ganga River at Triveni Sangam, Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh). » Himalayan Tributaries: Rishi Ganga, Hanuman Ganga, Tons and Giri. » Plain Tributaries: Hindon, Chambal, Sind, Betwa and Ken. » Largest Tributary: Tons River, contributing nearly 60% of Yamuna''s water flow. » Basin States: Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. » Unique Feature: Longest river in India that does not directly flow into the sea. |
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Zojila Tunnel Headlines Union Minister to trigger final blast for historic Zojila tunnel breakthrough Zojila Tunnel » Location & Structure: 13.14 km long, horseshoe-shaped, single-tube bi-directional tunnel at 11,578 ft altitude between Ganderbal (Kashmir) and Drass in Kargil district of Ladakh. » Construction Features: Built using the New Austrian Tunneling Method with Smart Tunnel (SCADA) system. » Strategic Importance: Part of the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh Highway, enhancing civilian and military mobility. » Significance: Will provide all-weather access to Ladakh and become India’s longest road tunnel and Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel by 2028. |