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Current Affairs 21st June 2026
IMPORTANT FACTS
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The highest dam in India is Tehri Dam located in Uttarakhand
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The permanent President of the Constituent Assembly was Dr. Rajendra Prasad
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India's First Five-Year Plan was based on the Harrod-Domar Model
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The city known as the "Golden Threshold" is Hyderabad
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The largest Gurudwara in India is the Golden Temple in Amritsar
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The Father of the Green Revolution in India is M. S. Swaminathan
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The National Aquatic Animal of India is the Ganges River Dolphin
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The Indian state with the longest coastline is Gujarat
1. Vivek Aggarwal appointed as Vice President of the FATF
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First-Ever Representation for India: This marks the first time in history that India has been elected to the Vice-Presidency of the FATF. The appointment is seen as a major diplomatic milestone, reflecting international trust in India's global leadership.
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Term of Service & Responsibilities: Mr. Aggarwal will serve a one-year term, officially assuming the role from July 2026 to June 2027. He will work closely with the FATF President to steer the organization's agenda and uphold its global mandate.
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Professional Background & Expertise: Currently serving as the Secretary to the Ministry of Culture, he is a 1994-batch IAS officer with extensive experience in financial regulation. He previously led India's delegation to the FATF and served as the Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND).
Footnotes: FATF's President: Elisa de Anda Madrazo, HQ: Paris, Estd: 1989
2. Indian Coast Guard Inducts Indigenous Air Cushion Vehicle in Goa
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Boost to Indigenous Defence Manufacturing: The induction of the first indigenous Air Cushion Vehicle (ACV), designated H-561, marks a significant milestone for the "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" (Self-Reliant India) initiative. It is the first hovercraft built by a private Indian shipyard, Chowgule& Company, highlighting the growing sophistication of the nation's maritime industrial base.
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Enhanced Operational Versatility: Designed to operate on both land and water, the hovercraft can navigate challenging terrains such as mudflats, marshlands, and shallow coastal waters where conventional vessels cannot reach. This unique capability is critical for coastal surveillance, search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, and disaster relief operations.
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Strategic Deployment & Future Expansion: This vessel is the first of six hovercrafts ordered by the Indian Coast Guard under a ₹387.4 crore contract. It will be stationed in Haldia, West Bengal, to strengthen security across eastern India’s riverine and deltaic regions.
3. Bengaluru ranked second-best AI-native cluster in Asia
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Ranking as Asia's Second-Best AI-Native Cluster: Bengaluru has been officially ranked as the second-best AI-native startup cluster in Asia, trailing only Beijing. This recognition, featured in the Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) 2026, highlights the city's focus on businesses that integrate artificial intelligence at their very core.
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Strong Foundation in Research & Funding: The city accounts for approximately 58% of India's total AI startup funding, demonstrating significant investor confidence. Additionally, Bengaluru has broken into the global top 10 for "R&D Engine" performance, bolstered by its dense network of engineers, researchers, and leading academic institutions.
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Global Ecosystem Standing: Beyond its AI-specific achievements, Bengaluru remains a premier global destination for innovation, ranking 15th overall among the world's top startup ecosystems. With an ecosystem value of approximately $152.8 billion, the city continues to solidify its status as a major player in the global technology economy.
4. SC Declares Right to Walk on Safe Footpaths a Fundamental Right
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Constitutional Recognition of Pedestrian Rights: The Supreme Court has ruled that the right to walk on safe, demarcated footpaths is a fundamental right protected under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution. The bench emphasized that this right to movement takes legal precedence over the privilege of using motorized vehicles on public roads.
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Mandatory Duty of Civic Authorities: The judgment establishes that local bodies—including municipal corporations, panchayats, and urban development authorities—have an enforceable legal duty to construct and maintain safe footpaths. Citizens are now empowered to seek constitutional remedies and compensation if these authorities fail to provide adequate and safe pedestrian infrastructure.
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Call for Legislative Reform: Identifying the lack of dedicated laws for walkers as a "civilizational problem," the Court has urged the government to enact a comprehensive statutory framework. It also recommended the establishment of a regulatory body to ensure institutional accountability.
5. India’s Neeraj Chopra finishes fourth at 2026 Doha Diamond League
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Successful Return toCompetition: Competing for the first time since September 2025, Neeraj Chopra made his comeback following a lengthy recovery from a back injury. He recorded a best throw of 85.69 metres in his third attempt, placing fourth in a highly competitive field.
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Securing Commonwealth Games Qualification: Despite missing the podium, Neeraj successfully cleared the Athletics Federation of India's (AFI) qualification standard of 82.61 metres for the upcoming Commonwealth Games. He achieved this mark with his second attempt of 82.77 metres, officially cementing his spot for the event in Glasgow.
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Performance Context in a Star-Studded Field: The event was won by Sri Lankan athlete Rumesh Pathirage, who continued his dominant season with a throw of 88.68 metres. Neeraj's fourth-place finish serves as an encouraging season-opener as he continues to regain his rhythm and fitness for major championships later this year.
6. DFS appoints Hitesh Rameshchandra Joshi as CMD of GIC Re
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Formal Elevation to Leadership: The Department of Financial Services (DFS) has officially appointed Hitesh Rameshchandra Joshi as the Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of the General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re).
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Tenure & Government Approval: His appointment was approved by the Central Government via a Ministry of Finance order dated June 15, 2026. He will serve in this leadership role until his superannuation on September 30, 2028, or until further government orders are issued.
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Professional Background & Expertise: Mr. Joshi is an insurance industry veteran who previously served as an Executive Director at GIC Re, where he managed diverse portfolios including international operations, finance, and risk management. He holds postgraduate degrees in Accountancy and Financial Management and is a Fellow of the Insurance Institute of India.
7. Dr. Saibal Chattopadhyay appointed as Chairperson of NSC
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Strategic Leadership Appointment: The ACC officially appointed Dr. Saibal Chattopadhyay as the Chairperson of the National Statistical Commission (NSC) on June 18, 2026. He succeeds Rajeeva Laxman Karandikar and will lead the apex body responsible for overseeing India's core statistical activities.
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Academic & Professional Pedigree: Dr. Chattopadhyay is a distinguished academic and the former Director of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Calcutta. He holds advanced degrees in Statistics, including a Ph.D. and MS from the University of Connecticut, providing him with the deep technical expertise required to lead the nation's statistical governance.
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Commission’s Mandate and Composition: The NSC acts as the nodal body for evolving statistical priorities, setting quality standards, and ensuring coordination between various government agencies and states. Alongside Dr. Chattopadhyay, the government has also appointed three new part-time members—Prof. Shubhabrata Das, Satyendra Bahadur Singh, and Dr. Madhavan Mukund—to strengthen the commission's operational capacity.
Footnotes: NSC's Chairman: Saibal Chattopadhyay, HQ: New Delhi, Estd: 2006
8. BPCL's Kochi Refinery wins 'Leadership in Future-Ready Refining Award'
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Focus on Digital and Future-Ready Operations: BPCL’s Kochi Refinery has been actively investing in "future-ready" capabilities by integrating Artificial Intelligence, advanced machine learning, and cloud-native digital solutions. These initiatives aim to transform the complex into an intelligent energy facility capable of navigating a complex and volatile global energy market.
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Commitment to Sustainability & Energy Transition: The refinery continues to gain recognition for its dedication to responsible growth and environmental stewardship. By prioritizing energy efficiency, emissions reduction, and large-scale investments in green hydrogen and compressed biogas (CBG) projects, the facility is aligning itself with India’s long-term energy transition goals.
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A Culture of Operational Excellence: Kochi Refinery is currently celebrating its Diamond Jubilee year, marked by a series of awards for operational performance and manufacturing innovation. Its recent successes, including achieving record-breaking crude throughput and major safety milestones.
Footnotes: BPCL's Chairman & MD: Sanjay Khanna, HQ: Mumbai, Estd: 1976
WHAT HAPPENED TODAY
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World Refugee Day: 20th June
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The 2026 Theme: "Until Everyone Is Safe".
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The day reminds the world of the enduring promise made in the aftermath of World War II to protect those fleeing danger and to ensure they can live their lives with dignity.
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