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Daily Current Affairs

June 20, 2026 • 10 Key Topics

Polity

Supreme Court Declares Footpath Walking a Fundamental Right

The Supreme Court of India declared the right to walk on properly demarcated and maintained footpaths a fundamental right, holding priority over motorised vehicles.

Held to be integral to the right to movement under Article 19(1)(d) and the Right to Life under Article 21.
Mandates urban bodies and local authorities to provide and maintain pedestrian infrastructure.
Citizens are entitled to seek compensation for violations of this right.

Exam Context: GS-2 (Polity / Fundamental Rights). High-yield for questions on Article 19, Article 21 and the expanding scope of the Right to Life.

Security

India Declares Naxalism Effectively Ended

The Ministry of Home Affairs announced that India has become effectively free from Left-Wing Extremism (LWE).

Culmination of a 12-year strategy built on three pillars: Vishwaas (Trust), Nirman (Development) and Jan Kalyan (Welfare).
Decades-old strongholds such as the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh saw major security operations and infrastructure development.
Targeted rehabilitation policies were rolled out for surrendered cadres.

Exam Context: GS-3 (Internal Security). Important for internal-security strategy, LWE, and the development-plus-security approach.

Uzbekistan Joins the New Development Bank (NDB)

The Republic of Uzbekistan officially joined the New Development Bank as its newest and 10th member.

First Central Asian country to join the BRICS-established institution.
Aims to attract long-term finance for infrastructure, clean energy and water-resource projects.

Exam Context: GS-2 (International Relations) & GS-3 (Economy). NDB (HQ: Shanghai) and BRICS institutions are recurring exam themes.

Sci-Tech

Amaravati Quantum Valley Achieves 4 Kelvin Cooling

The Quantum Reference Facility in Amaravati achieved a cooling milestone of 4 Kelvin (-269 °C) using an indigenous dilution refrigerator.

Places India on the global map of advanced quantum-computing infrastructure.
The indigenous dilution refrigerator is key hardware for stable quantum operations.

Exam Context: GS-3 (Science & Technology). Quantum computing and indigenous tech are high-probability Prelims areas.

Defence

India's Defence Production Hits All-Time High

India's annual defence production surged to an all-time high of ₹1.78 lakh crore.

Signifies the success of Aatmanirbhar Bharat domestic-manufacturing policies.
Backed by government export-promotion strategies targeting global defence markets.

Exam Context: GS-3 (Economy / Defence). Core data point for self-reliance in defence and import substitution.

Space

India and France to Launch TRISHNA Satellite in 2027

India and France reaffirmed their joint collaboration to launch the TRISHNA satellite in 2027.

TRISHNA = Thermal infraRed Imaging Satellite for High-resolution Natural-resource Assessment.
Will monitor water resources, ecosystem stress and climate change.

Exam Context: GS-3 (Space & Tech). ISRO–CNES collaborations and Earth-observation missions are frequently asked.

Economy

BSE Launches India's First Saatvik Index

BSE Index Services Pvt. Ltd. launched the BSE Saatvik 100 — India's first ESG benchmark of its kind.

Tracks 100 companies adhering to ethical, vegetarian and traditional business practices.
ESG = Environmental, Social and Governance benchmark.

Exam Context: GS-3 (Economy). Stock-market indices and ESG investing are emerging exam topics.

Environment

UNICEF Releases Children's Climate Risk Report

UNICEF released the Children's Climate Risk Report, highlighting the vulnerability of the Global South — including parts of India — to environmental shifts and resource scarcity.

Emphasises climate vulnerability of children in the Global South.
Flags resource scarcity and environmental stress as key risk drivers.

Exam Context: GS-2/GS-3 (Environment & International Bodies). UNICEF reports and climate vulnerability are exam-relevant.

Economy

IRDAI Forms AI Working Group

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) established an AI working group chaired by Sandeep Shukla.

Will study integration, safety and regulatory frameworks for AI in insurance.
Reflects rising regulatory focus on responsible AI adoption in finance.

Exam Context: GS-3 (Economy / Governance). IRDAI is a key regulator — note its leadership and AI-in-finance theme.

Banking

RBI Cancels Shree Mahalaxmi Urban Co-op Bank Licence

The Reserve Bank of India cancelled the banking licence of the Shree Mahalaxmi Urban Co-operative Credit Bank, Maharashtra.

Cancelled due to inadequate capital and unviable earning prospects.
Highlights RBI supervision of weak co-operative banks.

Exam Context: GS-3 (Economy / Banking). RBI regulatory actions on co-operative banks are common Banking-exam questions.

Prelims Quick-Revision Facts

Footpath Right

Polity

SC linked the right to walk on footpaths to Article 19(1)(d) and Article 21.

Anti-Naxal Strategy

Security

Three pillars: Vishwaas (Trust), Nirman (Development), Jan Kalyan (Welfare).

NDB 10th Member

Uzbekistan — the first Central Asian country to join the New Development Bank.

TRISHNA Satellite

Space

India–France Earth-observation satellite to launch in 2027 for water/climate monitoring.

Test Yourself on Today's Affairs

Attempt 11 MCQs based on the June 20, 2026 edition.