NATIONAL NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Government and Policy Updates
Prime Minister Modi expressed deep concern over Middle East tensions while DGCA reports revealed safety lapses at major airports across India
President Droupadi Murmu completed her successful 3-day visit to Uttarakhand from June 19-21, inaugurating various development initiatives at Rashtrapati Niketan and Rashtrapati Tapovan in Dehradun
Cabinet approved Pune Metro Phase-2 project with 13 new stations from Vanaz to Wagholi, significantly boosting travel connectivity through Kharadi and Chandani Chowk areas
Bihar pioneered India’s first mobile-based e-voting system for urban elections, marking a significant technological advancement in electoral processes
Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid foundation stones for NFSU and CFSL campus developments in Raipur, Chhattisgarh
Space and Defense Developments
Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla successfully joined SpaceX Ax-4 mission to International Space Station, becoming India’s second space traveller after Rakesh Sharma in 1984
Indian Air Force saluted Shubhanshu Shukla’s space voyage as “a journey powered by indomitable spirit of the IAF air warrior”
Defence sector witnessed significant growth with India maintaining fourth position in global military strength according to Global Power Index
Government allocated Rs 74.8 billion (₹6.21 lakh crore) for defence in Union Budget 2024-25, marking 4.72% increase compared to previous fiscal year
Economic and Business Updates
Valencia India Limited launched IPO worth Rs 48.95 crore opening on June 26, 2025, with price band of Rs 95-110 per share
State Bank of India reduced External Benchmark Rate from 8.65% to 8.15% effective June 15, 2025, benefiting floating rate loan borrowers
India’s private sector output grew at fastest pace in 14 months during June 2025, with PMI rising to 61 from 59.3 in May
RBI Monetary Policy Committee lowered repo rate by 50 basis points to 5.50% in June 2025, changing policy stance back to ‘neutral’ from accommodative
INTERNATIONAL NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Global Political Developments
NATO countries confirmed significant increase in defence spending from 2% to 5% of GDP by 2035 following brief summit designed for US President Donald Trump
Australia announced deepening ties with NATO by applying fresh sanctions on Russia and promising to send E-7A Wedgetail aircraft to Europe supporting Ukraine
Iranian parliament promised Iran’s nuclear program will proceed at faster pace following US strikes, despite Trump claiming nuclear capacity has been obliterated
South Korean citizens voted in snap presidential election with Lee Jae-Myung of Democratic Party elected as 14th president following constitutional court decision
Climate and Environmental News
2025 Bonn Climate Change Conference scheduled for June 16-26 in Germany as part of UNFCCC subsidiary bodies sessions
EU Heads of State exchanged views on defence, competitiveness, and preparedness matters during European Council meetings on June 26-27
26th International Conference on Environment Management and Climate Change held in Bengaluru focusing on board leadership for driving climate action
Space Technology Advancements
SpaceX successfully launched Axiom Mission 4 to International Space Station with 90% favorable weather conditions on June 25, 2025
NASA targeted June 25 for Axiom-4 launch after multiple delays, featuring significant NASA-ISRO collaboration
Kongsberg Defence completed N3X satellite constellation through SpaceX launch, boosting Norway’s maritime domain awareness capabilities
SPORTS NEWS UPDATE
Cricket Developments
Indian cricket team faced England in ongoing World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle with five-match series, despite loss at Headingley
India finished second at Asian Athletics Championships 2025 with 24 medals including 8 gold, 10 silver, and 6 bronze medals
Neeraj Chopra won gold at Golden Spike meet in Ostrava with impressive 85.29m throw, continuing his international winning streak
Olympic and International Sports
Former shooter Abhinav Bindra and shuttler PV Sindhu led Olympic Day 2025 celebrations on June 23, commemorating birth of modern Olympic Games
India topped medal tally at Archery Asia Cup 2025 Stage 2 in Singapore with remarkable 9 medals across various categories
Tennis developments included New Zealand’s Lulu Sun facing second round loss at Eastbourne grasscourt tournament ahead of Wimbledon preparations
BANKING AND FINANCE SECTOR
Monetary Policy Updates
Reserve Bank of India projected real GDP growth for 2025-26 at 6.5% with quarterly breakdown of Q1 at 6.5%, Q2 at 6.7%, Q3 at 6.6%, and Q4 at 6.3%
CPI inflation projected at 3.7% for financial year 2025-26 with Q1 at 2.9%, Q2 at 3.4%, Q3 at 3.9%, and Q4 at 4.4%
State Bank of India home loan interest rates vary from 7.50% to 8.45% based on CIBIL scores, effective from June 15, 2025
Market Performance
Sensex and Nifty rallied over 1% each following Trump’s announcement of Israel-Iran ceasefire agreement
Rupee posted biggest single-day high in a month, rising 77 paise to close at 85.98 against US dollar as oil prices eased
Private sector business activity reached 14-month high in June 2025, driven by faster increases in new business intakes and international sales
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES AND INITIATIVES
Social Welfare Programs
Centre launched NAVYA initiative in Uttar Pradesh to train girls aged 16-18 in non-traditional skills under Viksit Bharat@2047 vision
Mahila Samman Savings Certificate offering 7.50% interest rate for 2-year tenure with maximum investment limit of Rs 2 lakh
Atal Pension Yojana continues providing 8% interest rate with lock-in period till age 60, requiring minimum Rs 1,000 annual investment
Technology and Digital India
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology targets $1 trillion digital economy by 2025-26 through widespread adoption of AI, IoT, and blockchain
BharatNet project successfully connected over 1.94 lakh gram panchayats with high-speed broadband out of targeted 2.5 lakh connections
Common Service Centres established over 5 lakh digital service delivery points in rural areas offering banking, healthcare, and education services
EDUCATION SECTOR DEVELOPMENTS
Digital Education Growth
India’s digital education market projected to grow from Rs 13,200 crore in FY 2023 to Rs 41,500 crore by FY 2028 at 25.7% CAGR
University Grants Commission granted Letter of Intent to leading foreign universities from UK, USA, Australia, and Italy for establishing campuses
Maharashtra government made Hindi language mandatory as third language for classes 1-5 in all Marathi and English medium schools
Higher Education Initiatives
Government announced plans to add 75,000 new medical seats over next five years to address growing demand for healthcare professionals
IIT Delhi and AIIMS Delhi collaborated to establish Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare with Rs 330 crore grant
Constitution of committee to discuss issues relating to coaching and work towards reducing student dependency on coaching institutes
HEALTHCARE AND WELLNESS
Medical Infrastructure
Union Budget 2025 allocated funds for establishment of 200 new daycare cancer centres across district hospitals nationwide
36 life-saving cancer drugs exempted from basic customs duty, reducing financial burden on patients and improving access to essential medications
Health insurance providers reduced waiting periods for pre-existing conditions while expanding coverage for mental health treatment
Digital Health Initiatives
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission continued creating integrated digital health infrastructure linking healthcare providers and patients digitally
Government actively promoted medical tourism under ‘Heal in India’ initiative by simplifying visa processes for international patients
AI-driven solutions developed to support key national health programs through enhanced diagnostic accuracy and treatment planning
IMPORTANT DAYS AND OBSERVANCES
June 26, 2025 Special Days
International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking observed globally to raise awareness about dangers and effects of substance abuse
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture recognized worldwide to support those affected by torture and human rights violations
National Canoe Day celebrated to explore and enjoy nature while learning valuable outdoor skills and spending quality time
World Refrigeration Day acknowledged the importance of refrigeration technology in modern life and food preservation systems
INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT
Mega Projects Progress
Mumbai’s Coastal Road project neared completion with upcoming installation of south-bound connector between Coastal Road and Bandra-Worli Sea Link
Navi Mumbai International Airport scheduled to open in June 2025 as game-changer for aviation sector with cutting-edge terminals inspired by lotus petals
Jewar International Airport development continued as Asia’s largest airport project spanning 1,334 hectares along Yamuna Expressway
Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project progressed as high-speed rail corridor covering 508 kilometers, reducing travel time to just two hours
Smart City Initiatives
Hyderabad City Innovative and Transformative Infrastructure Program allocated Rs 7,032 crore for 38 projects including flyovers and grade separators
GIFT City in Gandhinagar continued development as global financial and IT services hub attracting investments worth Rs 78,000 crores
Bharatmala Pariyojana extensive road and highway development program designed to improve freight and passenger movement across India
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
Recent Appointments
Vice-Chancellor appointments announced for Sindhu Central University and Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University in Uttarakhand
Advertisement released for Chairman position at All India Council for Technical Education highlighting educational leadership opportunities
Ethics Advisor vacancy notice issued for P-5 position at Paris, France under international educational cooperation programs
This comprehensive current affairs update provides essential information for banking examinations, UPSC preparation, SSC exams, and other competitive examinations conducted across India. The coverage includes national and international developments, economic updates, sports achievements, government initiatives, and important observances relevant for June 26, 2025.
