2026-W23
Week 23 · 2026
1 June – 7 June 2026
86
articles
757
PYQ links
79
high yield
6
subjects
Polity & Governance
23The Persecution of Consent: Judicial Sensitivity and the POCSO Act
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 sets the legal age of consent at 18 years, making any sexual activity below this age a statutory offense.
Breakaway Faction of Banned Jamaat Supports J&K L-G's Anti-Drug Campaign in Kulgam
Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) Jammu and Kashmir was banned by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in 2019 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.
J&K High Court Rules President and Governor Can Terminate Government Employees Without Inquiry for State Security
Article 310 of the Constitution embodies the 'Doctrine of Pleasure', stating that civil servants hold office during the pleasure of the President or Governor.
Arunachal Christian Body Warns Against Framing Rules for Anti-Conversion Law
APFRA, 1978: Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act prohibits conversion by force, fraud, or inducement from indigenous faiths; one of India's oldest anti-conversion statutes.
Congress Slams 'Task Forces' for PESA, FRA Implementation in MP & Chhattisgarh as Subverting Democratic Structure
PESA, 1996: Extends Panchayati Raj to Scheduled (Fifth Schedule) Areas; Gram Sabha is the apex body with powers over land, resources, and local governance — not the Gram Panchayat.
D.K. Shivakumar Sworn-In as 25th Chief Minister of Karnataka
Article 164 of the Constitution governs the appointment of the Chief Minister; the Governor appoints the CM, but by convention must invite the leader commanding majority support in the Legislative Assembly.
Five New Judges Join Supreme Court After Sanctioned Strength Raised to 34+CJI
Article 124(1) empowers Parliament to prescribe the number of Supreme Court judges beyond the original 7; the current governing statute is the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956.
TMC vs TMC: Anti-Defection Law in Focus
Tenth Schedule inserted by 52nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1985 — governs disqualification on grounds of defection for members of Parliament and State Legislatures.
From Haj Pilgrims to Waqf Properties: How AI Is Reshaping Minority Welfare
Six notified minorities in India: Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, and Jains — welfare governed by the Ministry of Minority Affairs established in 2006.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah Chairs 73rd Plenary Session of North Eastern Council (NEC) in Shillong
NEC was established under the North Eastern Council Act, 1971, and became operational in 1972; Sikkim was added as the 8th member state via the 2002 Amendment Act.
Amit Shah Urges Northeast States To Shift Focus To Citizen Rights, AI Push
AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act), 1958 grants special powers to armed forces in 'Disturbed Areas'; its progressive withdrawal from Northeast districts signals improved security conditions.
Defence Minister Unveils Revised Financial Powers for Armed Forces to Boost Operational Autonomy
Financial powers of armed forces enhanced by up to 100%, doubling the delegated financial authority of field commanders for operational and procurement expenditure.
India Set for $2-Billion Drone Order: Biggest-Ever Defence Procurement in UAV Sector
Order Size & Scale: India's planned $2-billion drone procurement is nearly 6.4 times larger than the recent ₹30 billion ($313 million) tactical drone orders, with deliveries expected over 18–24 months.
J&K CM Omar Abdullah Holds Meeting with NC MLAs; Statehood Restoration Demand to Be Raised in Parliament
J&K was reorganised into two UTs — J&K (with legislature) and Ladakh (without legislature) — under the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019, effective October 31, 2019.
Mizoram Braces for More Myanmar Refugees Amid Ongoing Civil Conflict
Mizoram shares a 510-km border with Myanmar — largely unfenced — making it highly vulnerable to cross-border population movement during conflict.
Northeast a Hub of Opportunities: Amit Shah at 73rd NEC Plenary
North Eastern Council (NEC) was established by the North Eastern Council Act, 1971; became operational in 1972; HQ at Shillong, Meghalaya; functions under Ministry of DoNER.
Kerala's White Paper Urges Serious Centre-State Fiscal Dialogue Amid Shrinking Fiscal Space
GST Compensation: Under the GST (Compensation to States) Act, 2017, states were guaranteed compensation for revenue loss at 14% annual growth for five years (2017–2022); its discontinuation removed a key revenue buffe…
Panchayat Advancement Index Wins Gold Recognition at National e-Governance Awards 2026
PAI stands for Panchayat Advancement Index; developed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to measure Gram Panchayat performance.
Chief Justice's Lecture Interrupted At London Event, India Says 'Indecorous'
The Chief Justice of India is appointed under Article 124(2) of the Constitution and heads the Supreme Court; the CJI also determines bench composition through the 'Master of the Roster' convention.
Report on Datasets for State Finance Commissions to be Released on 8th June 2026
State Finance Commissions are mandated under Articles 243-I (Panchayats) and 243-Y (Municipalities) of the Indian Constitution, inserted by the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, 1992.
A Linguistic Buffet: When Language Changes with State Boundaries
Eighth Schedule of the Constitution lists 22 scheduled languages; originally 14 at adoption in 1950, expanded through amendments — latest addition was in 2003 (Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, Santhali).
Rajasthan Survey to Scrutinise Unauthorised Constructions and Funding in Border Areas
The survey covers all constructions within 15 km of the international border in Rajasthan, directed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah after a security review in Bikaner.
Department of Consumer Affairs Prescribes Standard Pack Sizes for Edible Oils under Legal Metrology Framework
Legal Metrology Act, 2009: Enacted by Parliament to regulate weights, measures, and packaged commodities; replaced the Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1976; administered by the Department of Consumer Affairs.
Economy
23Provisional Accounts of the Union Government for Financial Year 2025-2026
The Controller General of Accounts (CGA), under the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, is the Principal Accounting Adviser to the Government of India.
Centre Issues Alert on Potential El Nino Impact, Prioritizes Farmers' Interests
El Nino involves the abnormal warming of the sea surface temperatures (SST) in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean.
Government to Replace WPI with Producer Price Index: New Series from June 15
WPI measures average price changes of a fixed commodity basket at the initial stage of commercial transactions, with a reference base year (currently 2011-12 in India).
India, U.S. Probe Forced Labour & Excess Industrial Capacity Concerns
USTR (United States Trade Representative) is the principal trade policy advisor to the U.S. President and leads trade negotiations; it operates under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to investigate unfair trade pr…
How Land Pooling Solves Acquisition Woes
Town Planning Schemes (TPS): A land pooling mechanism where landowners contribute land to a planning authority; post-development, reconstituted plots with infrastructure are returned proportionally — pioneered in Guja…
NPCI International and ACLEDA Bank Launch Cross-Border UPI Payments in Cambodia via KHQR
NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL): Wholly-owned subsidiary of NPCI, mandated to deploy and promote India's payment systems — UPI, RuPay — in foreign markets.
Revision of Wholesale Price Index (WPI) Base Year to 2022-23
The base year for the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) has been updated from 2011-12 to 2022-23.
Govt. Rolling Out 100 Ethanol Fuel Stations in Delhi-NCR & Maharashtra
100 dedicated ethanol fuel stations are being rolled out in Delhi-NCR and Maharashtra under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, marking a significant infrastructure push for biofuel retail.
India to Drop Capital Gains Tax for Foreign Investors in Government Bonds
Capital gains tax on bonds: When a foreign investor buys a government bond at a lower price and sells it at a higher price, the profit (capital gain) is currently taxable in India — this proposed removal eliminates th…
Kerala's Liabilities Top Rs 5 Lakh Crore; Pending Dues Near Rs 49,000 Crore
Kerala's total outstanding liabilities have crossed Rs 5.07 lakh crore, with pending dues and deferred payments nearing Rs 49,000 crore as of 2026.
Maruti Suzuki Unveils India's First Flex Fuel Car
Flex Fuel Vehicle (FFV): A vehicle whose engine can run on any blend of petrol and ethanol, from E0 to E100, using a single fuel tank and modified engine components.
Rs 50 Lakh Crore Investment, 1.1 Crore Jobs: Inside UP's Big Economic Push
UP has received private investment proposals worth over Rs 50 lakh crore over nine years (2017–2026), projecting 1.1 crore job creation across multiple sectors.
Data Centre Specialist AirTrunk To Invest Rs 3 Lakh Crore In India: PM Modi
AirTrunk is a hyperscale data centre company backed by Blackstone, operating large-scale campuses across Asia-Pacific including Australia, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and now India.
India Reports GDP Growth of 7.8% in Q4 on Services Sector Output Boost
India's GDP grew at 7.8% in Q4, driven by services sector expansion — making India one of the fastest-growing major economies globally in that period.
India's GDP Provisional Estimates 2025-26: Annual & Q4 (Jan-Mar) Data Released
MoSPI releases GDP data in sequence: First Advance Estimate → Second Advance Estimate → Provisional Estimate → Revised Estimates; the Provisional Estimate (released around May-June) is the first estimate with near-com…
Union Home Minister Amit Shah Expresses Satisfaction Over 7.7% GDP Growth in FY 2025–26
India's GDP grew at 7.7% in FY 2025–26, making it one of the fastest-growing major economies globally, surpassing China's projected growth rate for the same period.
Plan for Sixty Next-Generation Trains for Kolkata Metro & Bullet Train
Kolkata Metro is India's first metro rail system, inaugurated on 24 October 1984; it functions as a separate Railway Zone — Metro Railway, Kolkata — under Indian Railways.
PM Modi Chairs Key EAC-PM Meeting Amid Iran War: Navigating India's Economic Strategy in Global Turmoil
EAC-PM is a non-constitutional, advisory body reconstituted periodically; its recommendations are not binding on the government but carry significant policy weight.
Reforms to Expand Foreign Participation in Government Securities (G-Secs)
Government Securities (G-Secs) are sovereign debt instruments issued by RBI on behalf of the Government of India; they include Treasury Bills (short-term) and dated securities (long-term).
Domestic LPG Price Hiked by ₹29 per 14.2-kg Cylinder
The standard domestic LPG cylinder in India weighs 14.2 kg; commercial cylinders weigh 19 kg and are fully market-priced, unlike the partially administered domestic variant.
Ease of Doing Business: Strengthening India's Business Framework
National Single Window System (NSWS): A unified digital portal launched by DPIIT to provide investors and businesses a single platform for obtaining approvals, licences, and clearances from central and state governmen…
LPG Price Hike: Government Says India's Rates Among World's Lowest Despite 46% Jump in Global Benchmark
International LPG benchmark (Saudi Aramco CP) surged ~46% following the West Asia conflict that began in late February, pushing India's domestic supply cost above ₹1,600 per 14.2 kg cylinder.
Reforms to Expand Foreign Participation in Government Securities (G-Secs)
G-Secs are sovereign debt instruments issued by RBI on behalf of the Government of India; they include Treasury Bills (short-term, up to 364 days) and dated securities (long-term, 5–40 years).
International Relations
15India-Myanmar Joint Statement During the State Visit of the President of Myanmar
Myanmar shares a 1,643 km land border with four Indian states: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram.
PM Modi Holds Bilateral Talks with Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing
India and Myanmar share a 1,643 km border touching four northeastern states: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram.
1st BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group Meeting Held Under India's BRICS Presidency
BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG): A specialised thematic group under BRICS that facilitates cooperation on combating corruption, asset recovery, and illicit financial flows among member nations.
The 'Harvest' China Wants Is One India Cannot Afford
The LAC spans ~3,488 km across three sectors — Western (Ladakh), Middle (HP & Uttarakhand), Eastern (Arunachal & Sikkim) — and has never been formally demarcated or jointly surveyed.
India–Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) Comes into Force on 1 June 2026
India–Oman CEPA came into force on 1 June 2026; it is India's second CEPA with a Gulf nation after the India–UAE CEPA (effective May 2022).
Bangladesh's Khalilur Rahman Elected President of UN General Assembly
Khalilur Rahman is Bangladesh's Foreign Minister (since February 2026) and former National Security Adviser; elected UNGA President for the 81st session.
U.S. Proposes 12.5% Additional Tariff on India Over Forced Labour Import Violations
USTR proposed 12.5% additional tariffs on India and 53 other countries for failing to enforce bans on forced-labour-produced imports.
Venezuela's Acting President Rodriguez Visits India to Deepen Bilateral Ties
Venezuela possesses the world's largest proven crude oil reserves (~303 billion barrels), surpassing Saudi Arabia; it is a member of OPEC and OPEC+.
India Hosts Inaugural BRICS Expert Network Meeting on Asset Recovery
BRICS Expert Network on Asset Recovery: A newly established platform under BRICS to facilitate cooperation among member states for tracing, freezing, seizing, and repatriating illicitly transferred assets across borders.
US Delegation Visits Delhi for India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) Negotiations
The US is India's single largest trading partner; bilateral goods and services trade exceeds $190 billion annually, with the US running a trade deficit with India.
India, US May Execute First Phase Of Trade Pact By Next Month: Piyush Goyal
Piyush Goyal, India's Commerce and Industry Minister, stated that the first phase of the India-US trade pact could be executed by mid-July 2026, describing it as 'very, very vibrant'.
Pakistan Take First Step to Normalise Ties
India's 'talks and terror cannot go together' doctrine: Articulated post-Uri (2016), reaffirmed post-Pulwama (2019) and post-Pahalgam (2025); forms the bedrock of India's conditional engagement framework with Pakistan.
1,000 plus Indians Deported from U.S. in 2026
MEA confirmed 3,567 Indians deported from the U.S. in 2025 and over 1,000 in 2026 (till June), making India one of the top source countries for U.S. deportations.
The Adani Case, U.S. Securities Law, and India's Rising Global Standing
Extraterritorial jurisdiction: The legal principle by which a state extends its laws beyond its territorial boundaries; in securities law, the U.S. asserts jurisdiction over any entity transacting in U.S. markets or u…
Indonesian FM Sugiono Arrives in New Delhi to Co-Chair 8th Joint Commission Meeting with EAM Jaishankar
The 8th Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) between India and Indonesia was co-chaired by EAM S. Jaishankar and Indonesian FM Sugiono in New Delhi on June 7, 2026.
Environment & Ecology
14Union Minister Defends Environmental Clearances for Great Nicobar Project
The Great Nicobar Project is a ₹72,000-crore initiative comprising an International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT), a greenfield international airport, a township, and a gas-and-solar power plant.
El Niño 80% Likely, Will Trigger Extreme Temperature and Rainfall: WMO Warning
WMO has placed an 80% probability on El Niño development by mid-2026, making it one of the highest-confidence ENSO forecasts in recent years.
Jairam Ramesh Presses Centre Over Great Nicobar Project Clearances
Great Nicobar Island is India's southernmost territory, located ~90 km from the Malacca Strait; it hosts the Galathea Bay Wildlife Sanctuary and is part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Supreme Court Forms High-Powered Expert Panel to Re-examine Aravalli Definition
Aravalli Range: One of the world's oldest fold mountains (~800 km), running through Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi; acts as a natural barrier against Thar Desert desertification.
106 Reservoirs Below 40% As Weather Office Flags Weak Monsoon Risk
Central Water Commission (CWC) monitors 150 major reservoirs with a combined live storage capacity of ~178 BCM, which is ~69% of India's total estimated live storage of 257 BCM.
75 Lakh Households Targeted for Rooftop Solar Installations by December 2026
PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana was launched in February 2024 with a total outlay of ₹75,021 crore, targeting 1 crore households with rooftop solar installations across India.
Rajendra Singh Raises Concerns Over Projects in Eco-Sensitive Zones
Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) are notified under Section 3(2)(v) of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
Southwest Monsoon Begins on a Stormy Note, Expected to Be Sluggish After Initial Surge
Normal onset date of southwest monsoon over Kerala is June 1, with a standard deviation of about ±7 days; the monsoon covers entire India by July 15 under normal conditions.
Funding India's Climate Future: The Trillion-Dollar Question
India's NDC targets include achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel electricity capacity and reducing emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030 — both requiring massive, sustained capital deployment.
India Showcases Carbon Credit Trading Scheme and Renewable Energy Standards at WTO Trade and Environment Week 2026
Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) is established under the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022; administered by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under Ministry of Power.
Nicobar Port Has No 'Strategic Goals', Finance Ministry Body Said in 2024
Great Nicobar Island is India's southernmost territory, located near the Malacca Strait — one of the world's busiest shipping chokepoints — giving it genuine geostrategic significance for naval projection and trade ro…
When Mangroves Do What Seawalls Cannot: Ecosystem-based Adaptation for India's Coastlines
Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA): Using biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of an overall adaptation strategy to help people adapt to adverse effects of climate change; endorsed under UNFCCC, CBD, and Sendai F…
Rare Caracal Spotted In Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park After Decades
Caracal (Caracal caracal): medium-sized wild cat; IUCN status — Least Concern globally, but critically rare in India with fewer than ~50 individuals; protected under Schedule I, WPA 1972.
U.P. Advances SDG-6 Goals Through Integrated Water Management Efforts
SDG-6 has six sub-targets: 6.1 (safe drinking water), 6.2 (sanitation & hygiene), 6.3 (water quality), 6.4 (water-use efficiency), 6.5 (integrated water resource management), and 6.6 (water-related ecosystems protecti…
Social Issues
6National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6): Key Findings and Implications
NFHS-6 is conducted by IIPS, Mumbai, under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; it is India's nodal Demographic and Health Survey aligned with global DHS methodology.
What NFHS-6 Tells Us About Health in India
NFHS-6 is conducted by IIPS Mumbai under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; it covers all states and UTs with a sample of over 6 lakh households.
Rethinking How We Measure University Excellence
QS World University Rankings: Launched in 2004 by Quacquarelli Symonds; weights academic reputation (40%) and citations per faculty (20%) most heavily — metrics that favour English-medium, research-intensive, globally…
Social Consumption of Health – What Does the Data Show?
HCES (Household Consumption Expenditure Survey) is conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO) and captures spending patterns including health; the 2022-23 round ended a 11-year gap since the 2011-12 survey.
India's Health Transformation: Progress, Challenges, and the Road Ahead
Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY covers ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation; it targets the bottom 40% of India's population based on SECC 2011 data.
For First Time, IAF Being Engaged To Transport NEET Question Paper: NTA Director General
NTA (National Testing Agency) was established in 2017 under the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, to conduct entrance examinations for higher educational institutions.
Science & Technology
5Challenges Surrounding Google's Hyperscale Data Centre in Visakhapatnam
Hyperscale data centres typically house over 5,000 servers and occupy at least 10,000 square feet, demanding massive continuous power supply.
DRDO and IAF Successfully Flight-Test RudraM-II Air-to-Surface Missile
Developed by DRDO, RudraM-II is an indigenous solid-propelled air-to-surface missile.
Semiconductor Training Fabrication Facility Inaugurated at IISc Bengaluru by President Droupadi Murmu
The Semiconductor Training Fabrication Facility at IISc Bengaluru was inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu on June 3, 2026, to provide hands-on training in chip fabrication, cleanroom operations, and device charact…
AI to Double Data Centre Power and Water Consumption by 2030, UN Researchers Warn
UN report projects AI-driven data centre power and water consumption to double by 2030, with current global data centre electricity use at approximately 1–2% of total global consumption.
The Genie of Synthetic Biology: Power, Peril, and the Need for Wise Governance
Synthetic biology involves designing and constructing new biological parts, devices, and systems, or redesigning existing natural biological systems for useful purposes — distinct from traditional genetic engineering …