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Daily DigestArchive
Current Affairs — Monday, 15 June 2026
32 items
Tamil Nadu
- CM Vijay announces 2% Dearness Allowance hike
— Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announced a 2% increase in Dearness Allowance for Tamil Nadu government teachers and employees, adding to the fiscal commitments of the new administration. (State Finance/Welfare) - White paper on TANGEDCO to be presented soon
— Tamil Nadu Energy Minister stated the state government will shortly release a white paper on the debt-ridden Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation, signalling a policy review of the power utility. (State PSU/Energy Policy) - TANGEDCO Assured Pension Scheme launched
— The Tamil Nadu government launched the Tamil Nadu Assured Pension Scheme for state government employees, reviving a defined-benefit pension structure. (Note: Headlines attribute this to "CM Stalin" — this pertains to a scheme carried forward/announced under the current administration; verify attribution carefully.) (Social Security/State Schemes) - MDMK's Vaiko urges CM Vijay to reject PM SHRI 3-language scheme
— MDMK leader Vaiko wrote to Chief Minister Vijay asking him to refuse the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme, citing concerns over Hindi imposition via the three-language formula. (Education Policy/Language Politics) - Tamil Nadu asks Centre to scrap VBG-RAM G, restore MGNREGA
— The state government urged the Centre to withdraw the revamped rural employment scheme and restore the original MGNREGA to reduce financial burden on states. (Rural Employment/Centre-State Relations) - NABARD's Mango Fest connects 16 Farmer Producer Organisations
— The "Mambazha Mela" organised by NABARD successfully linked 16 FPOs producing and processing mangoes directly with customers, helping farmers sell their entire produce. (Agriculture/NABARD/FPO)
India — National
- PM Modi becomes first Indian PM to visit Slovakia since its 1993 independence
— Modi arrived in Bratislava on the second leg of his two-nation Europe visit, marking a historic diplomatic first for India-Slovakia bilateral relations. (Foreign Policy/GS-II) - India-France adopt Innovation Roadmap 2030 and Economic Security Dialogue
— At Nice, PM Modi and French President Macron agreed on a Joint India-France AI Working Group, called for fast-tracking the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, and signed the Innovation Roadmap 2030. (Bilateral Relations/Technology Diplomacy) - BRICS Indore Declaration adopted with farmer at centre
— Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced adoption of the BRICS Indore Declaration at a BRICS Agriculture Ministers' meeting, placing farmers' welfare at the core of the joint agenda. (International Organisations/Agriculture) - Monsoon advances toward Hyderabad, coastal Odisha, Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar
— The IMD reported the southwest monsoon moved significantly northward on Saturday and is expected to advance further into Maharashtra after June 18. (Geography/Meteorology) - Government bars industrial and commercial consumers from buying petrol/diesel at retail outlets
— The Centre ordered that retail fuel outlets cannot dispense more than 200 litres of diesel per day per consumer/vehicle, amid supply management concerns. (Energy Policy/Central Order) - Three Kerala VCs' attendance at RSS event draws criticism
— Kerala CM and Opposition Leader both expressed displeasure over three university Vice Chancellors attending an RSS-affiliated event, raising questions about constitutional autonomy of educational institutions. (Education/Constitutional Values) - 4 killed after passengers jump onto adjacent tracks over fire rumour in MP
— An oncoming train struck passengers who had alighted onto adjacent tracks following a false fire alarm aboard a train in Madhya Pradesh, highlighting rail safety concerns. (Disaster/Rail Safety)
Economy & Finance
- Retail inflation rises to 16-month high of 3.93% in May
— Driven by surging tomato and rice prices alongside higher fuel-linked transport costs, CPI inflation hit its highest level in 16 months, though remaining within the RBI's 4% target band. (Monetary Policy/RBI/GS-III) - India's current account surplus narrows to $7.1 billion in Q4
— The Q4 FY26 current account surplus shrank due to a rising gold import bill and foreign investor outflows, signalling external sector pressure. (Balance of Payments/GS-III) - IIP growth rises to 4.9% in April under new series
— Industrial production under the revised IIP series grew 4.9% in April 2026, up from 3.2% in March, indicating improving manufacturing momentum. (Economic Indicators/GS-III) - Government directs oil companies to build 30-day LPG reserves
— Amid risks to Strait of Hormuz supply routes following the US-Iran standoff, the Centre asked oil PSUs to stockpile LPG equivalent to 30 days of consumption. (Energy Security/PSU Policy) - Centre considers removing 11% import duty on cotton
— The government is likely to scrap the 11% customs duty on cotton as domestic prices soar, exacerbated by supply disruptions linked to the West Asia crisis. (Trade Policy/Textile Sector) - India's current account: Indians spent $623 million on foreign holidays in March
— RBI data shows overseas card settlements by Indians reached $623 million in March 2026, reflecting rising outbound travel expenditure. (BoP/External Sector)
Science & Technology
- IIT-Madras releases 3D atlas of human brainstem
— Researchers at IIT-Madras developed a first-of-its-kind three-dimensional atlas of the human brainstem, providing an unprecedented view of this complex brain region for neuroscience research. (IIT/Medical Science — exam-relevant as institutional achievement) - Bengaluru space startups selected under ISRO's Technology Adoption Fund
— Three startups, including Bengaluru-based space firms, were selected for funding under the Technology Adoption Fund designed to help Indian industry commercialise advanced space technologies. (Space Economy/ISRO Policy) - Microbial consortia increase paddy yield in Tamil Nadu
— A Tamil Nadu farmer using microbial consortia on native paddy variety ADT-46 recorded increased yield in the first harvest of 2026, demonstrating bio-input potential for sustainable agriculture. (Agricultural Science/Bio-inputs)
Environment
- CSE-DTE launch 'State of Environment in Figures 2026'
— The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down To Earth launched the SOE in Figures 2026 report on the eve of World Environment Day (June 5), compiling key environmental data across India. (Environment Institutions/World Environment Day — June 5) - Sathangadu Lake restoration ordered: TNIC calls for removal of encroachments on 65 acres
— Tamil Nadu's TNIC recommended a time-bound action plan to restore Sathangadu Lake to its original 135-acre extent, with encroachments cleared from 65 acres. (Wetland Conservation/Urban Environment) - Government asks oil firms to diversify LPG supply amid Hormuz risks
— The Strait of Hormuz crisis, following the US-Iran conflict, has prompted India to reassess energy import vulnerabilities, with LPG reserves directive as an immediate response. (Climate & Energy Security — cross-listed)
Sports
- FIFA World Cup 2026: Ivory Coast beat Ecuador 1-0; Japan draw 2-2 with Netherlands
— Amad Diallo's late goal secured Ivory Coast's Group E win; Japan dramatically levelled against Netherlands in a Texas thriller; both matches part of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026. (International Sports — FIFA World Cup 2026 hosted in USA/Canada/Mexico) - Hockey: Manpreet Singh equals Dilip Tirkey's record of 412 international caps
— Manpreet Singh equalled the Indian hockey record despite India losing 2-3 to Netherlands; he remains the only active player in India's 400+ caps club. (Hockey/National Records) - Four junior athletes achieve qualifying marks for U-20 World Championships
— Four Indian junior track-and-field athletes attained the qualification standard for the upcoming Under-20 World Athletics Championships. (Athletics/Youth Sports)
Appointments & Awards
- Padma Vibhushan conferred on Justice K.T. Thomas
— Retired Supreme Court Judge K.T. Thomas was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, one of India's highest civilian honours; he is noted for landmark judicial pronouncements. (National Awards/Judiciary)
(Note: Other "Appointments & Awards" headlines in today's feed were archival/study-material links with no fresh appointment news for June 15, 2026.)
International
- US-Iran peace deal announced; Strait of Hormuz declared open
— President Trump announced a "permanent" end to US military action against Iran, with the Strait of Hormuz reopened and a naval blockade lifted — though Israeli strikes on Beirut caused brief delays in finalising the deal. (Geopolitics/Energy Security — critical for India's oil imports) - India-France summit: AI, trade, and India-EU FTA fast-tracking
— Beyond the Innovation Roadmap 2030, Modi and Macron agreed to push for early conclusion of the India-EU FTA and established a Joint AI Working Group, positioning India as a global technology provider. (India's Foreign Policy/GS-II) - China's direct-strike capacity targeting Australia growing: Report
— A strategic report warned that China's deployment of DF-27 intermediate-range ballistic missiles and potential ICBMs is expanding its strike reach to Australia, heightening Indo-Pacific security concerns relevant to India's strategic calculus. (Defence/Indo-Pacific)
- Quick Revision:
- 🔹 PM Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Slovakia since its independence in 1993
- 🔹 India's CPI retail inflation rose to 3.93% in May 2026 — a 16-month high — driven by food prices (tomatoes, rice)
- 🔹 Hockey star Manpreet Singh equalled Dilip Tirkey's record of 412 international caps, making him the only active Indian player with 400+ senior caps