🇮🇳 National Affairs
DAE Launches World’s First Nuclear Process Heat-Based Hydrogen Production Facility
The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) inaugurated the world’s first Hydrogen Production Facility based on the Copper–Chlorine (Cu–Cl) Thermochemical Cycle. Located at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, the facility was inaugurated by DAE Secretary and Atomic Energy Commission Chairman, Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, in the presence of IGCAR Director Sreekumar G. Pillai.
Technology & Collaboration: Jointly commissioned by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and IGCAR, the plant utilizes nuclear process heat generated from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR).
Significance: This breakthrough integration enables large-scale, carbon-free hydrogen production. By using advanced nuclear reactors instead of fossil fuels, it completely eliminates greenhouse gas emissions. The plant will function as a technology demonstration facility to optimize the Cu-Cl process for future commercial-scale deployment.
Amazon to Invest USD 48 Billion in India by 2030
Following a meeting between Amazon President and CEO Andy Jassy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, the American multinational technology company announced a massive investment of USD 48 billion in India from 2026 to 2030. This builds upon its previous USD 35 billion commitment made in 2025.
Infrastructure Expansion: USD 13 billion is allocated specifically for expanding Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cloud infrastructure. Amazon Web Services (AWS) will expand its data centers in Mumbai (Maharashtra) and Hyderabad (Telangana).
Logistics: The company plans to open over 20 fulfillment centers and 100 last-mile delivery stations in 2026 alone.
2030 Commitments: Amazon aims to support 3.8 million jobs, enable USD 80 billion in e-commerce exports, extend AI benefits to 15 million small businesses, and provide AI education to 4 million government school students.
Herbalife & IIT Madras Launch India’s First CoE on Plant Cell Fermentation
Herbalife International India Private Limited, in partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M), launched India’s first Centre of Excellence (CoE) on plant cell fermentation technology at the IIT-M Research Park in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It was inaugurated by Dr. N. Kalaiselvi (DG of CSIR) and Prof. V. Kamakoti (Director of IIT-M).
Objective: The CoE will serve as a national R&D hub for the sustainable and scalable production of herbal biomass, enriched herbal extracts, and high-value phytochemicals.
Facilities: Equipped with customized plant cell bioreactors and advanced analytical platforms, it aims to bridge the gap between lab discoveries and industrial applications for health and wellness products.
IIT Bombay and SUNY Old Westbury Sign LoI for Engineering & AI Collaboration
IIT Bombay and the State University of New York (SUNY) Old Westbury signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) in New York, USA, to strengthen collaboration in engineering, AI, multidisciplinary research, and higher education. The LoI was signed by IIT Bombay Director Shireesh Kedare and SUNY Old Westbury President Timothy E. Sams.
First Overseas Campus: A major highlight of this partnership is that IIT Bombay will establish its first overseas sub-campus at SUNY Old Westbury in Long Island, New York. The first academic session is scheduled for 2027.
Goals: The collaboration will promote joint research, faculty exchanges, and new undergraduate/postgraduate programs in emerging technologies, aligning with India's National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
🏦 Banking, Finance & Economy
RBI Classifies NBFCs with Assets Above Rs 1 Lakh Crore as Upper Layer
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the ‘RBI (Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFC) – Registration, Exemptions and Framework for Scale Based Regulation) Second Amendment Directions, 2026’. This revised the framework for identifying Upper Layer NBFCs (NBFC-ULs), taking effect on June 24, 2026.
New Absolute Criterion: Replacing the old parameter-based assessment model, any NBFC with an asset size of Rs 1 lakh crore or more will now be automatically classified as an NBFC-UL.
Review Cycle: The asset size threshold will now be reviewed every three years (instead of the previously proposed five years).
Government-Owned Entities: Previously restricted to the Base or Middle Layer, government-owned NBFCs meeting the eligibility criteria will now be included in the Upper Layer. However, they will receive a 3-year exemption from the mandatory stock exchange listing requirement.
ADB Approves USD 42.2 Million Loan for NE India Bamboo Industry
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a USD 42.2 million Small Expenditure Financing Facility (SEFF) to support the bamboo industry in India's North Eastern Region (NER). This is aligned with the Government of India’s National Bamboo Mission (NBM).
Coverage: The financing will support community-based projects across six states: Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura.
Women Empowerment: The initiative is structured through multiple sub-loans and mandates the establishment of at least one women-led manufacturing facility in each of the six target states to generate job opportunities and promote women's participation in the bamboo value chain.
Goldman Sachs Raises India’s CY26 GDP Forecast to 6.8%
In its latest report, ‘India: Improved Macro Outlook after the United States of America (USA)-Iran Deal’, Goldman Sachs increased India’s Calendar Year 2026 (CY26) real GDP growth forecast to 6.8% (an increase of 30 basis points).
Growth Estimates: The FY27 growth forecast was also increased by 40 bps to 6.5%. (India's real GDP grew 7.8% Y-o-Y in Q1 of CY2026).
Inflation & CAD: The retail inflation projection for the current year was lowered to 4.4% (down 20 bps). The Current Account Deficit (CAD) projection was also reduced to 1.1% of GDP, with India expected to record a balance-of-payments surplus equal to 0.7% of GDP.
🌍 International Affairs & Rankings
THE Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026: MAHE Secures Top Global Ranking
Times Higher Education (THE) released its 8th edition of the Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026, evaluating 1,646 universities from 116 countries across 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Indian Achievement: Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) secured the 1st rank globally in SDG-5 (Gender Equality) and retained its place in the 101–200 global band overall.
Global Top: The University of Manchester (UK) secured the top overall position.
New Entries: The 2026 edition marked the debut of Mali, Nicaragua, Niger, and Tajikistan in the global rankings.
🏆 Awards & Recognitions
French Meteorologist Dr. Florence Rabier Awarded WMO’s Top IMO Prize
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced the 71st International Meteorological Organization (IMO) Prize for French meteorologist Dr. Florence Rabier.
Contributions: She was recognized for her pioneering contributions to numerical weather prediction (NWP) and operational meteorology. She transformed satellite observation data assimilation and introduced AI-based forecasting to improve global forecast accuracy.
She will deliver the IMO Prize Lecture at the 20th World Meteorological Congress in 2027.
🤝 Appointments & Resignations
Jaime de la Espriella Wins Colombia’s Presidential Election
Political newcomer Jaime Abelardo de la Espriella, backed by the Defenders of the Homeland alliance, won Colombia’s presidential runoff election. He secured 49.66% of the vote, defeating left-wing candidate Iván Cepeda (48.70%). He will succeed incumbent President Gustavo Petro on August 7, 2026. José Manuel Restrepo Abondano was elected as the Vice President.
Dr. U.P. Rajeev Appointed as Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre
Dr. U.P. Rajeev was appointed as the Director of ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, succeeding Dr. A. Rajarajan who retired at the age of 60. Dr. Rajeev previously served as Associate Director (R&D) at VSSC and brings decades of experience in rocket control, guidance systems, and mission design.
Sanjay Jaju Appointed as New Chief Secretary of Telangana
The Telangana Government appointed Sanjay Jaju (a 1992-batch IAS officer of the Telangana cadre) as the new Chief Secretary, succeeding K. Ramakrishna Rao. Jaju was also given Full Additional Charge of the Industries, Commerce, and ITE&C Departments, and will serve as the CEO of the Industry & Investment Cell in Hyderabad.
🎯 Sports
ISSF Junior World Championship 2026: India Tops Medal Tally
The 5th edition of the ISSF Junior World Championship Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun 2026 was held in Suhl, Germany, from June 16-26.
India's Dominance: India topped the medal tally with a total of 25 medals (7 Gold, 8 Silver, 10 Bronze).
Runners-Up: Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) finished second with 14 medals, and Italy placed third with 10 medals. The event featured over 800 under-21 athletes from 70 countries, with India fielding an 84-member contingent.
📚 Books & Authors
Memoir 'The Second Orbit' Released
Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Amar Preet Singh (Chief of the Air Staff) released Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s memoir, The Second Orbit: Belief of a Man… Dreams of 1.4 Billion Hearts, in New Delhi. Published by Vintage Books, it commemorates the first anniversary of his Axiom-4 mission to the ISS. Shukla is an IAF fighter pilot, ISRO astronaut, Ashoka Chakra awardee, and the first Indian to visit the ISS.
Book on Bhawaiya Folk Music Released
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan released the book Sanskritir Ratna Bhandar: Bhaowaiyar Itibritto (Bhawaiya: A Cultural Treasure and Its Historical Journey) in New Delhi. Authored by Lok Sabha MP Jayanta Kumar Roy and Sangita Roy, the book documents the cultural heritage and evolution of Bhawaiya, a traditional folk music genre of the Koch Rajbanshi community in North Bengal and Assam.
🕊️ Obituary
Veteran Tamil Filmmaker K. Bhagyaraj Passes Away
Veteran Tamil filmmaker, actor, screenwriter, and director Krishnaswamy Bhagyaraj passed away at the age of 73 in Chennai. Born in Erode in 1953, he made his acting debut in 16 Vayathinile (1977) and his directorial debut with Suvarilladha Chiththirangal (1979). Known as the "Screenplay King," he directed over 25 films and acted in over 75, with many of his films successfully remade in Hindi and Telugu.
📅 Important Days
World Refrigeration Day (June 26)
Theme 2026: "Cool Intelligence"
Significance: Established in 2019 by Stephen Gill, the day raises awareness about sustainable, energy-efficient cooling solutions and Refrigeration, Air-Conditioning and Heat Pump (RACHP) technologies.
International Day of Deafblindness (June 27)
Significance: The UN officially designated June 27 as the International Day of Deafblindness (following a 2025 UNGA resolution) to honor Helen Keller’s 145th birth anniversary. It raises global awareness about the unique challenges of combined vision and hearing loss. Deafblind International Awareness Week is observed from June 25 to July 1, 2026.