Daily Current Affairs – 16 June 2026

Banking, Finance & Business

RBI Keeps Repo Rate Unchanged at 6.50%

Key Highlight: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)'s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to maintain the policy repo rate at 6.50% for the eighth consecutive time.

• The decision was made with a 4:2 majority by the committee members.
• The MPC remains focused on the "withdrawal of accommodation" to ensure inflation aligns with the target.
• GDP growth projection for FY25 has been raised to 7.2% from the previous 7.0%.
• The CPI inflation forecast for 2024-25 is retained at 4.5%.

Adani One and ICICI Bank Launch Co-branded Credit Cards

Key Highlight: Adani One and ICICI Bank have partnered to launch two variants of co-branded credit cards in collaboration with Visa.

• The variants are named Adani One ICICI Bank Signature Credit Card and Adani One ICICI Bank Platinum Credit Card.
• These cards offer up to 7% Adani Rewards on spends across the Adani ecosystem (airports, gas, electricity).
• Benefits include premium lounge access and Pranaam Meet & Greet services at airports.
• The partnership aims to enhance the digital travel and lifestyle experience for customers.

National & State News

Pema Khandu Takes Oath as CM of Arunachal Pradesh

Key Highlight: Pema Khandu was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh for the third consecutive term on June 13, 2026.

• The BJP won 46 out of 60 seats in the assembly elections.
• The oath of office was administered by Governor Lt Gen K.T. Parnaik (Retd).
• Chowna Mein was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of the state.
• Ten other cabinet ministers also took the oath at the DK State Convention Centre in Itanagar.

PM Narendra Modi to Visit Italy for G7 Summit

Key Highlight: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to travel to Italy to attend the 50th G7 Summit as an invitee.

• The summit is being held in Apulia, Italy from June 13-15.
• This marks PM Modi's first foreign visit after assuming office for his third term.
• Discussions are expected to focus on artificial intelligence, energy, and the Mediterranean region.
• Modi will hold bilateral meetings with leaders including Giorgia Meloni.

Kuwait Fire Tragedy: IAF Aircraft Brings Back Mortal Remains of 45 Indians

Key Highlight: A special Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft carrying the mortal remains of 45 Indians killed in a fire in Kuwait landed in Kochi.

• Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh coordinated the repatriation efforts from Kuwait.
• The victims included 23 from Kerala, 7 from Tamil Nadu, and others from across India.
• A total of 49 people died in the fire that broke out in a building in Mangaf.
• The Kerala Government announced a compensation of ₹5 lakh for the families of the deceased.

Appointments & Resignations

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

Key Highlight: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has re-appointed Ajit Doval as the National Security Advisor (NSA).

• His appointment is co-terminus with the term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• He has been granted the rank of Cabinet Minister in the Table of Precedence.
• Doval is a 1968-batch IPS officer and has served as NSA since 2014.
• This marks his third consecutive term in this crucial security role.

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

Key Highlight: Dr. Pramod Kumar Mishra has been re-appointed as the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.

• The appointment is effective from June 10, 2026, and is co-terminus with the PM's term.
• He also holds the rank of Cabinet Minister.
• Mishra is a 1972-batch IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre.
• He has been serving in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) since 2014.

Indra Mani Pandey Takes Over as Secretary General of BIMSTEC

Key Highlight: Senior diplomat Indra Mani Pandey has assumed the role of Secretary General of the BIMSTEC.

• He succeeds Tenzin Lekphell of Bhutan.
• Pandey is a 1990-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer.
• BIMSTEC includes seven member states: India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
• He previously served as India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva.

Awards & Honours

ISRO Receives 'Aviation Week Laureates Award'

Key Highlight: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was honoured with the prestigious Aviation Week Laureates Award.

• The award recognizes ISRO's achievements in the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
• It was received by S. Somanath, Chairman of ISRO, in the United States.
• The mission successfully landed a rover on the Lunar South Pole.
• The award is given by Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine.

Siddhi Sharma Wins 'Miss India Worldwide 2026'

Key Highlight: Siddhi Sharma was crowned Miss India Worldwide 2026 at a gala event held in New Jersey.

• The runner-up titles went to Aparna Rao and Maya Singh.
• The pageant is the longest-running ethnic pageant outside of India.
• It is organized by the India Festival Committee (IFC).
• Siddhi will advocate for mental health awareness during her reign.

Science & Technology

NASA’s James Webb Telescope Discovers Oldest Black Hole

Key Highlight: The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope has detected the oldest-ever black hole, dating back to 400 million years after the Big Bang.

• The black hole is located in the ancient galaxy GN-z11.
• It is roughly 6 million times more massive than the Sun.
• It is consuming matter at a rate five times higher than the theoretical limit.
• The discovery challenges existing models of supermassive black hole formation.

IIT Madras Develops 'Ocean Energy' Generator 'Sindhuja-I'

Key Highlight: Researchers at IIT Madras have successfully tested Sindhuja-I, an Ocean Wave Energy Converter.

• The device was deployed off the coast of Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu.
• It aims to generate electricity from sea waves.
• The project targets generating 1MW of power from ocean waves in the next three years.
• This technology supports India's renewable energy goals.

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 from its 127th rank in 2025.
• Iceland maintained its position as the most gender-equal country.
• India showed improvements in political empowerment but lagged in economic parity.
• The index measures gaps in Education, Health, Economy, and Politics.

QS World University Rankings 2026: IIT Bombay in Top 150

Key Highlight: IIT Bombay has retained its spot in the top 150 of the QS World University Rankings 2026.

• IIT Bombay is ranked 118th globally, followed by IIT Delhi at 150th.
• IISc Bangalore showed a significant jump to 211th position.
• The rankings are topped by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
• A total of 46 Indian universities featured in the global list this year.

Sports

Sumit Nagal Reaches Career-High ATP Ranking of 77

Key Highlight: Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal achieved a new career-high ATP ranking of 77 on June 10, 2026.

• He rose 18 spots after winning the Heilbronn Neckarcup Challenger title in Germany.
• He is the first Indian man since 2019 to break into the top 80.
• Nagal has secured a spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics based on this ranking.
• He beat Switzerland’s Alexander Ritschard in the final.

India Wins Silver in Men's Junior Asia Cup Hockey

Key Highlight: The Indian Men's Junior Hockey Team secured a silver medal at the Junior Asia Cup held in Salalah, Oman.

• India lost to Pakistan in the final with a score of 1-2.
• By reaching the final, India has qualified for the 2026 FIH Junior World Cup.
• Forward Araijeet Singh Hundal was India's top scorer in the tournament.
• This was India's fifth consecutive podium finish in the event.

International News

G7 Leaders Agree on $50 Billion Loan for Ukraine

Key Highlight: Leaders of the G7 nations have agreed to provide a $50 billion loan to Ukraine by the end of 2026.

• The loan will be backed by interest earned from frozen Russian assets.
• The agreement was reached during the summit in Italy.
• The funds will be used for military, economic, and reconstruction aid.
• Member nations include US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan.

Obituaries

Renowned Kannada Actor 'Duniya' Vijay Passes Away

Key Highlight: Popular Kannada actor and director Vijay, known as Duniya Vijay, passed away at the age of 52.

• He was a recipient of the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor.
• He rose to fame with the 2007 cult hit film 'Duniya'.
• He made his directorial debut with the film 'Salaga' in 2021.
• His contribution to the Sandalwood industry was widely lauded by peers.