Current Affairs - June 26, 2026 Current Affairs

The ePlane Company is an electric aircraft startup incubated at IIT Madras. The company plans to begin commercial production of electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) air ambulances by 2028 after completing certification by the end of 2027. It has already started ground testing of its full-scale prototype, with flight tests scheduled for 2026. The startup has also secured a $1-billion order from ICATT to deploy air ambulances across India. Its focus on indigenous manufacturing, advanced aviation technology, and collaboration with NVIDIA reflects India's growing capabilities in next-generation aerospace innovation.

President Droupadi Murmu presented 65 Padma Awards during the second Civil Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, on June 23, 2026. The awards included 2 Padma Vibhushan, 7 Padma Bhushan, and 56 Padma Shri honours. For the year 2026, a total of 131 Padma Awards were announced. Instituted in 1954, the Padma Awards are among India's highest civilian honours and are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. They recognise outstanding contributions in fields such as art, literature, science, social work, sports, public affairs, and education.

Mahesh Dixit, a 1993-batch IPS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as the new Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB). He succeeds Tapan Kumar Deka and will assume office on June 30 for a two-year tenure. Before this appointment, he served as the Special Director of the IB and handled several critical intelligence operations across Northeast India, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and anti-Naxal regions. A qualified medical doctor, Mahesh Dixit, brings extensive experience in internal security, counter-terrorism, and intelligence operations to one of India's most important security positions.

Harsh Vardhan, President of the Bihar Cricket Association (BCA), received the Global Prestige Award at the House of Lords in the UK Parliament on June 20, 2026. The award recognised global leaders contributing to peace, justice, and development in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Harsh Vardhan also became the youngest President in the history of the Bihar Cricket Association after being elected unopposed in September 2025. Under his leadership, Bihar cricket has witnessed significant progress, including the emergence of promising talents such as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Akshara Gupta.

The second Pax Silica Summit was held in Washington, D.C., on 25–26 June 2026, bringing together representatives from 35 countries, including India, to strengthen global cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI). The summit resulted in the adoption of the Joint Statement on AI Opportunity, promoting trusted AI governance, resilient supply chains, innovation-friendly policies, and industrial collaboration. Major announcements included the launch of the Pax Pass platform for AI-related supply chains and the Stanford-led Foundry School, supported by a US$50 million commitment from the United States to strengthen AI manufacturing and workforce development.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) of Israel to enhance bilateral cooperation in public sector auditing. The agreement focuses on exchanging professional knowledge, technical expertise, and best practices while promoting training opportunities and bilateral seminars. It also emphasises the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics to improve auditing processes and performance oversight. The collaboration reflects the commitment of both countries to modernise public sector auditing through innovation, technology, and institutional cooperation.

The United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is observed every year on June 26 to reaffirm the global commitment to eliminating torture and supporting its victims. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the observance through Resolution 52/149 in 1997, and it was first observed in 1998. The date marks the entry into force of the UN Convention Against Torture (CAT) in 1987. The observance promotes human dignity, justice, rehabilitation for survivors, accountability for perpetrators, and stronger international cooperation to prevent torture and uphold human rights worldwide.

The Hemis Festival is celebrated every year in Ladakh at the historic Hemis Monastery in the Leh district. Dedicated to Guru Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche or the Second Buddha, the festival commemorates his birth anniversary and his contribution to spreading Buddhism in the Himalayan region. The two-day celebration features the famous Cham masked dance, traditional Tibetan music, sacred rituals, prayers, and cultural performances. It is one of India's largest Buddhist festivals and attracts thousands of devotees and tourists, helping preserve Ladakh's rich cultural heritage while promoting tourism and spiritual awareness.

The newly discovered tiger moth genus Antaram idukki was identified in the Idukki district of Kerala, located in the biodiversity-rich Western Ghats. The genus belongs to the subfamily Arctiinae under the family Erebidae and represents a previously unknown evolutionary lineage. The species was discovered by researchers from the Zoological Survey of India and the Natural History Museum, London. Its habitat in the Western Ghats highlights the ecological importance of the region, as the moth serves as both a pollinator and a food source for various animals, making it an important indicator of ecosystem health.

The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is observed every year on June 26 to strengthen global action against drug abuse and illegal drug trafficking. Established by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution 42/112 in 1987, the first observance took place in 1988. The day is coordinated by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and focuses on raising awareness about the harmful effects of drug abuse, promoting prevention and rehabilitation, encouraging international cooperation, and supporting evidence-based policies to combat the growing global drug problem.