Daily Current Affairs – 15 June 2026

Banking & Finance

RBI Imposes Penalty on City Union Bank and Others

Key Highlight: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed monetary penalties on City Union Bank, Tamilnad Mercantile Bank, and two other entities for non-compliance with certain regulatory directions.

• A penalty of ₹1 crore was imposed on City Union Bank for contravention of certain provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
• The inspection was based on the bank's financial position as of 31 March 2023.
• The penalty on Tamilnad Mercantile Bank amounted to ₹1.31 crore for non-compliance with 'Interest Rate on Advances' directions.

About Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

• Established: 1 April 1935
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Governor: Shaktikanta Das

SEBI Introduces New Framework for Fine-Tuning 'Price Bands'

Key Highlight: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) introduced a new framework for stock exchanges to fine-tune price bands in the Cash Segment.

• The move aims to enhance market integrity and prevent excessive volatility in Small and Mid-cap stocks.
• The framework applies to stocks with a market capitalization below a specific threshold.
• Exchanges are required to implement the revised price band mechanism by July 2026.

National & State News

India's First Integrated Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) Launched

Key Highlight: Civil Aviation Minister launched India's first Integrated Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) at AIIMS Rishikesh.

• The project is named 'Sanjeevani' and aims to provide medical care within the 'Golden Hour'.
• The service will cover a radius of 150 km around Rishikesh, Uttarakhand.
• It is a joint venture between the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the State Government of Uttarakhand.

Madhya Pradesh Announces 'PM Shri' Air Ambulance Service

Key Highlight: The Madhya Pradesh Government launched the 'PM Shri' Air Ambulance Service to provide free emergency medical transport to the poor.

• The service was inaugurated by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.
• It will utilize helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft for transporting patients to Bhopal or Indore for advanced treatment.
• A dedicated Command Centre has been established to manage the emergency calls.

Appointments & Resignations

Ajit Doval Re-appointed as National Security Advisor (NSA)

Key Highlight: Ajit Doval has been re-appointed as the National Security Advisor (NSA) for a third consecutive term starting June 2026.

• His appointment is co-terminus with the term of the Prime Minister or until further orders.
• He is a 1968-batch IPS officer of the Kerala cadre and a former IB Director.
• During his tenure, he has been credited with overseeing major security operations including the Balakot airstrikes.

P.K. Mishra Re-appointed as Principal Secretary to PM

Key Highlight: Senior bureaucrat Dr. P.K. Mishra has been re-appointed as the Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment with effect from 10 June 2026.
• He is a 1972-batch IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre.
• His rank is equivalent to that of a Cabinet Minister in the Table of Precedence.

Indra Mani Pandey Takes Over as Secretary General of BIMSTEC

Key Highlight: Senior Indian diplomat Indra Mani Pandey officially assumed charge as the Secretary General of BIMSTEC.

• He succeeded Tenzin Lekphell of Bhutan.
• He is the first Indian to hold this prestigious position at the BIMSTEC Secretariat in Dhaka.
• He previously served as India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva.

Awards & Honours

Siddharth Varadarajan Wins International Press Freedom Award

Key Highlight: Renowned Indian journalist Siddharth Varadarajan was conferred with the International Press Freedom Award 2026.

• The award was presented by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
• He is the founding editor of The Wire and was recognized for his courageous reporting in India.
• The ceremony took place in New York City on 14 June 2026.

NHPC Receives 'Best Performing Power Sector PSU' Award

Key Highlight: NHPC Limited, India’s premier hydropower company, was honored with the 'Best Performing Power Sector PSU' award.

• The award was given at the 15th Enertia Awards 2026.
• It recognizes NHPC's contribution to renewable energy and sustainable power generation.
• NHPC has an installed capacity of over 7000 MW across India.

Science & Technology

ISRO Successfully Conducts 'Pushpak' Reusable Launch Vehicle Landing

Key Highlight: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully completed the third landing mission of the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) 'Pushpak'.

• The test was conducted at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Chitradurga, Karnataka.
• The vehicle was dropped from an Indian Air Force (IAF) Chinook helicopter at an altitude of 4.5 km.
• This mission demonstrated the autonomous landing capability of the vehicle under complex conditions.

About ISRO

• Established: 15 August 1969
• Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka
• Chairman: S. Somanath

IIT Madras Develops 'Sindhuja-I' Wave Energy Converter

Key Highlight: Researchers at IIT Madras have successfully deployed 'Sindhuja-I', an Ocean Wave Energy Converter, off the coast of Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu.

• The device aims to generate electricity from sea waves to power remote offshore applications.
• It is part of the 'Deep Ocean Mission' led by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• The system targets generating 1MW of power from ocean waves by 2028.

Rankings & Index

India Ranks 129th in Global Gender Gap Index 2026

Key Highlight: India has been ranked 129th out of 146 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index 2026 released by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

• India slipped two places compared to the previous year's ranking.
• Iceland maintained its position as the most gender-equal country in the world.
• In Southern Asia, India ranked fifth after Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan.

Mumbai Enters Top 50 Most Expensive Cities for Expats

Key Highlight: According to the Mercer 2026 Cost of Living Survey, Mumbai has entered the list of the top 50 most expensive cities globally for international workers.

• Mumbai (ranked 48th) remains the most expensive city in India, followed by New Delhi (80th).
• Hong Kong topped the global list, followed by Singapore and Zurich.
• The rise is attributed to high housing costs and inflation in personal care and transportation.

Sports

Sumit Nagal Clinches Heilbronn Neckarcup Challenger Title

Key Highlight: Indian tennis star Sumit Nagal won the Heilbronn Neckarcup 2026 Challenger title in Germany.

• He defeated Alexander Ritschard of Switzerland in the final.
• With this win, his ATP Ranking improved to 71, his career-best.
• He becomes the first Indian since Somdev Devvarman to enter the top 75 of ATP rankings.

Max Verstappen Wins Canadian Grand Prix 2026

Key Highlight: Red Bull’s Max Verstappen secured victory at the Canadian Grand Prix 2026 held in Montreal.

• This was his 60th career win in Formula 1.
• Lando Norris of McLaren finished second, while George Russell of Mercedes took third place.
• Verstappen continues to lead the 2026 Drivers' Championship standings.

India to Host Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup 2026

Key Highlight: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) announced that India will host the Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup in December 2026.

• This marks the fourth time India will host this prestigious tournament.
• The tournament will feature 24 teams, an increase from the previous 16.
• The venues are expected to be in Odisha and Uttar Pradesh.

Important Days

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day – 15 June

Key Highlight: World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is observed annually on 15 June to raise awareness about the abuse of older persons.

• The theme for 2026 is "Spotlight on Older Persons in Emergencies".
• It was officially recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in 2011.
• The day emphasizes the legal and social protections required for the elderly.

Global Wind Day – 15 June

Key Highlight: Global Wind Day is celebrated on 15 June to discover the possibilities of wind energy and its power to reshape energy systems.

• The event is organized by WindEurope and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC).
• India ranks 4th globally in installed wind power capacity.
• In 2026, the focus is on Offshore Wind Energy expansion.