Current Affairs - June 30, 2026 Current Affairs

India's first Satellite-Based Landing System (SLS) approach on a jet engine aircraft using the indigenous GAGAN system was successfully conducted by the DGCA on June 28, 2026, at Udaipur Airport. The precision landing was performed by an IndiGo Airbus A320 using the Localiser Performance with Vertical Guidance (LPV) approach. Developed jointly by ISRO and the Airports Authority of India (AAI), GAGAN enables highly accurate satellite-based navigation and reduces dependence on conventional Instrument Landing Systems (ILS). This achievement marks a significant advancement in India's aviation technology and strengthens its indigenous Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) capabilities.

Rajasthan and Haryana signed the historic Yamuna Water Project agreement on June 29, 2026, in New Delhi to resolve a nearly three-decade-old water dispute and improve drinking water availability in water-scarce regions. The project will transport Rajasthan's allocated share of Yamuna River water from the Western Yamuna Canal through a network of underground pipelines. It establishes a comprehensive framework covering water allocation, infrastructure development, cost sharing, monitoring, and dispute resolution. The initiative is expected to benefit several districts in both states by ensuring a reliable water supply, promoting groundwater recharge, reducing water wastage, and strengthening long-term water security through scientific water management practices.

India achieved a historic milestone by winning its first-ever medal at the AVC Men's Volleyball Cup 2026, which was held in Gandhinagar. The Indian men's volleyball team secured the bronze medal after defeating Bahrain 3–1 in the third-place playoff on June 29, 2026. This remarkable performance also resulted in a significant improvement in India's position in the FIVB World Rankings, with the team moving up 18 places from 60th to 42nd. Led by captain Jerome Vinith Charles and coached by Serbia's Dragan Mihailović, the 14-member squad delivered an outstanding performance on the continental stage.

India's industrial output grew by 5.1% in May 2026, the highest growth rate recorded in the previous five months. The increase was driven primarily by strong performance in the electricity and gas supply sector, robust manufacturing activity, and higher capital goods production. The data, released by the National Statistics Office (NSO), also reflected the adoption of the new 2022–23 base year for the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). A key methodological change was the replacement of the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) with the Output Producer Price Index (Output PPI), improving the accuracy of industrial output estimation and providing a better measure of real industrial growth.

ISRO successfully conducted the eighth hot test of the Semi-Cryogenic Engine Power Head Test Article (PHTA) on June 24, 2026, at the ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. During the test, the engine achieved an 88% thrust level of 175 tonnes, exceeding the performance of earlier tests. The engine uses Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and Isrosene as cleaner and more efficient propellants. The test is an important milestone in the development of the indigenous SE2000 semi-cryogenic engine, which is intended to replace the L110 core stage of the LVM3 launch vehicle, thereby enhancing payload capacity and mission efficiency.

The world's first hydrogen production facility based on the Copper–Chlorine (Cu–Cl) thermochemical cycle was inaugurated by the Department of Atomic Energy on June 26, 2026, at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. The facility utilises heat from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) to produce carbon-free hydrogen with improved thermodynamic efficiency at lower operating temperatures. The technology was indigenously developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, and supports India's three-stage nuclear programme by extending the use of nuclear energy beyond electricity generation into clean hydrogen production.

HDFC Bank has appointed former Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar as its part-time chairman for a three-year term, subject to approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). He has also been appointed as an Additional Director (Independent Director) for a four-year term beginning on June 30, 2026, subject to shareholder approval. Rajiv Kumar is a 1984-batch IAS officer with extensive experience in finance and public administration. He previously served as Secretary of the Department of Financial Services and played a significant role in banking reforms, including public sector bank consolidation, capital infusion, and increasing deposit insurance coverage.

Ashok Vaswani announced on June 27, 2026, that he would step down as the Managing Director and CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank after completing his term on December 31, 2026. Before joining Kotak Mahindra Bank, he served as the CEO of Barclays UK and held several senior leadership roles at Citigroup and Barclays, particularly in global consumer banking and payments. Kotak Mahindra Bank is India's fourth-largest private sector bank by market capitalisation and assets. Established in 2003, it was the first non-banking financial company (NBFC) in India to be converted into a commercial bank after receiving a banking license from the Reserve Bank of India.

Maharashtra has received in-principle approval for India's first offshore airport project, marking a significant milestone in the country's aviation infrastructure. The proposed airport will be developed off the coast of Palghar district to improve air connectivity in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region while addressing land scarcity. The project was approved by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis following a proposal from the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC). Designed using advanced offshore engineering techniques, the airport is expected to enhance passenger and cargo handling capacity, reduce noise pollution over urban areas, strengthen regional connectivity, and support long-term economic growth and infrastructure development in the state.

International Asteroid Day is observed annually on June 30 to raise global awareness about asteroid impact hazards and the importance of planetary defence. The date commemorates the Tunguska Event of June 30, 1908, the largest recorded asteroid impact event in modern history, which devastated nearly 2,000 square kilometres of forest in Siberia. The United Nations General Assembly officially proclaimed the observance in 2016 to encourage international cooperation in asteroid detection, scientific research, emergency preparedness, and public education. The day also highlights the need to monitor Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) and strengthen global efforts to protect Earth from potential asteroid threats.