Current affairs relevant to GS3.
The National Mission for Clean Ganga and the National Institute of Urban Affairs have completed Urban River Management Plans for 13 cities. Phase-I covers 27 cities and Phase-II 33 more, taking overall coverage to 60 Ganga basin cities under Namami Gange. The long-term aim is all 97 cities on the main stem of the Ganga.
24 Jun 2026
The Mines Ministry said on 23 June 2026 that recent auctions took critical and strategic mineral blocks successfully auctioned by the Centre to 56 out of 88 unique blocks (over 63%). The Seventh Tranche auctioned 10 blocks, a first for Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Telangana. Exploration Licence blocks auctioned reached 11, newly covering Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha.
23 Jun 2026
The Cooperation Ministry launched NAFED's e-auction portal NAFEX.in in New Delhi on 23 June 2026. Payments for produce are to reach farmers' bank accounts within 48 hours. NAFED serves more than 74 lakh farmers. Over the next two years, NCCF and NAFED are to buy pulses directly from farmers. A scholarship from 1% of NAFED profits was also announced.
23 Jun 2026
NITI Aayog released the eighth Trade Watch Quarterly for January to March 2026 on 23 June 2026. India's total merchandise and services trade grew 5.4% year-on-year in April 2025 to March 2026 to $1.84 trillion. Services exports grew 9.0%. The thematic focus is pharmaceuticals: global demand about $1.3 trillion in 2025; India's pharma and API exports $35.8 billion.
23 Jun 2026
The Shipping Ministry on 23 June 2026 cited V.O. Chidambaranar Port, Thoothukudi, as a green maritime model. Its Sustainability Report shows renewables offset nearly 94% of energy use and net carbon emissions down around 45%. Carbon intensity per tonne of cargo nearly halved in four years. India's first green hydrogen pilot at a major port is here.
23 Jun 2026
The combined Index of Eight Core Industries rose 0.5% (provisional) in May 2026 over May 2025, the Commerce Ministry said on 22 June 2026. Steel, cement and electricity grew; coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products and fertilisers declined. The eight industries have 40.27% weight in the IIP. Cumulative April to May growth was 1.1%.
22 Jun 2026
Four ships carrying urea, DAP and sulphur crossed the Strait of Hormuz and were headed to Krishnapatnam, Kakinada, Paradeep and Mundra, the Fertilizers Ministry said on 22 June 2026. Cumulative fertiliser stock that day was 196.08 Lakh Tons, up from 168.67 Lakh Tons a year earlier. Over 90 LMT of urea and P&K had been tied up for kharif.
22 Jun 2026
Indian Railways approved Kavach on 631 route-kilometres of East Coast Railway at ₹270 crore, covering six sections in Odisha and neighbouring areas, the Railways Ministry said on 22 June 2026. Kavach is India's indigenous Automatic Train Protection system. It aims to prevent signal passing at danger, overspeeding and collisions, including in dense fog.
22 Jun 2026
On 21 June 2026 DAE inaugurated the Versatile Deuterated compounds Production Plant and a 24 kA Prototype Sodium Cell at Heavy Water Board Facilities, Vadodara. VDPP will make high-purity deuterated solvents for research and strategic uses. The sodium cell advances indigenous nuclear-grade sodium for the Fast Breeder Reactor programme, stage two of the three-stage nuclear plan.
21 Jun 2026
On 21 June 2026 in Kolkata the PM commissioned three GRSE-built Navy platforms: INS Dunagiri (Project 17A Nilgiri-class frigate), INS Sanshodhak (Survey Vessel Large) and INS Agray (ASW shallow water craft). They are over 75% indigenous, with more than 200 MSMEs involved. The day was also World Hydrography Day and International Day of Yoga.
21 Jun 2026