Banking, Finance & Business

RBI Issues New Digital Lending Guidelines 2.0

Key Highlight: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued a revised framework for Digital Lending on 23 June 2026 to enhance consumer protection and data privacy.

• The new guidelines mandate that all Digital Lending Apps (DLAs) must provide a Key Fact Statement (KFS) in a standardized format.
• Penalties for non-compliance can reach up to ₹5 Crore for systemic violations.
• Lenders are required to ensure that data is stored only in servers located within India.
• The framework introduces a "cooling-off period" during which borrowers can exit the loan without penalty.

About Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

• Established: 1935
• Headquarters: Mumbai
• Governor: Shaktikanta Das

HDFC Bank Partners with Apple for Exclusive Credit Card Integration

Key Highlight: HDFC Bank announced a strategic partnership with Apple Inc. to launch a co-branded credit card in India on 23 June 2026.

• The card offers 5% cashback on all Apple products and services throughout the year.
• Integration will be seamless via the Apple Wallet app, utilizing NFC technology for secure payments.
• Targeted at the premium segment, the card includes complimentary airport lounge access globally.

World Bank Projects India’s GDP Growth at 7.2% for FY27

Key Highlight: In its latest Global Economic Prospects report, the World Bank has projected India’s GDP growth at 7.2% for the financial year 2026-27.

• Growth is driven by robust domestic demand and increased infrastructure spending.
• India remains the fastest-growing major economy in the world.
• The report suggests that private investment is expected to pick up due to the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes.

National & State News

PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates India’s Largest AI Research Centre in Bengaluru

Key Highlight: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Bharat AI Innovation Hub in Bengaluru on 23 June 2026.

• The centre is established with an investment of ₹5,000 Crore under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
• It aims to foster research in Generative AI for healthcare, agriculture, and education sectors.
• The facility houses Param-Ananta, one of India's fastest supercomputers dedicated to AI workloads.

Uttar Pradesh Achieves 100% Rural Electrification Under Navjyoti Scheme

Key Highlight: The Uttar Pradesh government announced that every rural household in the state has been connected to the power grid as of June 2026.

• The milestone was achieved under the state-sponsored Navjyoti Scheme.
• Over 2.5 million households were added to the grid in the last 24 months.
• Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated that solar micro-grids were used for remote Himalayan-fringe villages.

Tamil Nadu Launches 'Project Neelam' for Blue Economy

Key Highlight: The Tamil Nadu government launched Project Neelam to promote sustainable fishing and coastal tourism on 23 June 2026.

• The project has an initial outlay of ₹1,200 Crore funded partly by the World Bank.
• It includes the construction of 10 modern fishing harbours with cold storage facilities.
• The scheme aims to double the income of 5 lakh fishermen by 2028.

International News

G7 Summit Concludes in Rome with Focus on Climate Finance

Key Highlight: The 52nd G7 Summit concluded in Rome, Italy, on 22 June 2026, with a major declaration on Climate Finance.

• Member nations committed to a new $200 Billion annual fund to support developing nations in green energy transition.
• The summit was attended by Narendra Modi as a special guest invitee.
• A consensus was reached on the Global AI Governance Framework to prevent deepfake-led misinformation.

Thailand Officially Joins BRICS Bloc

Key Highlight: Thailand became the latest nation to join the BRICS alliance, following a summit in Moscow on 23 June 2026.

• Thailand is the first Southeast Asian nation to join the expanded BRICS+.
• The move is expected to boost intra-bloc trade by 15% through the use of local currencies.
• The New Development Bank (NDB) approved a $1 Billion credit line for Thailand's infrastructure.

Appointments & Resignations

Shanti Devi Appointed as the First Woman Governor of Haryana

Key Highlight: Shanti Devi, a veteran social worker, was appointed as the Governor of Haryana on 23 June 2026.

• She is the first woman to hold this constitutional post in the state of Haryana.
• The appointment was cleared by President Droupadi Murmu.
• She succeeds Bandaru Dattatreya, whose term concluded earlier this month.

General Vikram Singh Takes Charge as Chief of Army Staff

Key Highlight: General Vikram Singh took over as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) on 23 June 2026.

• He succeeds General Manoj Pande following his retirement.
• Prior to this, he served as the Vice Chief of Army Staff.
• He is a recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM).

Defence News

DRDO Successfully Tests Agni-VI Intercontinental Ballistic Missile

Key Highlight: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight-tested the Agni-VI missile from Abdul Kalam Island on 23 June 2026.

• Agni-VI has a strike range of over 8,000 to 10,000 kilometres.
• It features Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology.
• This test confirms India's entry into the elite group of nations with ICBM capabilities beyond 7,000 km.

About DRDO

• Established: 1958
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Chairman: Dr. Samir V. Kamat

Science & Technology

ISRO Launches Mangalyaan-2 Mission to Mars

Key Highlight: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched Mangalyaan-2 using the LVM3-M5 rocket from Sriharikota on 23 June 2026.

• This is India's second interplanetary mission to the Red Planet.
• The spacecraft carries four scientific payloads to study the Martian atmosphere and surface morphology.
• Unlike the first mission, Mangalyaan-2 includes a lander and a small rover.

About ISRO

• Established: 1969
• Headquarters: Bengaluru
• Chairman: S. Somanath

NASA's Artemis IV Mission Announces Lunar Landing Site

Key Highlight: NASA announced the final landing site for the Artemis IV mission, scheduled for 2027, on 23 June 2026.

• The landing will take place near the Shackleton Crater at the Lunar South Pole.
• The mission will include four astronauts, including one international partner from the ESA.
• The goal is to establish a permanent lunar base for future Mars exploration.

Rankings & Index

IIT Bombay Tops India in QS World University Rankings 2027

Key Highlight: IIT Bombay emerged as the top-ranked Indian institution in the QS World University Rankings 2027 released on 23 June 2026.

• IIT Bombay moved up to the 118th position globally.
• IIT Delhi and IISc Bangalore followed at 145th and 160th positions respectively.
• The rankings evaluated 1,500 institutions based on parameters like Academic Reputation and Sustainability.

Sports

India Wins T20 International Series Against Australia 3-1

Key Highlight: The Indian Men's Cricket Team defeated Australia by 45 runs in the final match to clinch the T20 series on 23 June 2026.

• The final match was held at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
• Hardik Pandya was named Player of the Series for his all-round performance.
• Young batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a century in the final game.

Neeraj Chopra Wins Gold at Zurich Diamond League 2026

Key Highlight: India’s Neeraj Chopra secured the Gold medal in the Javelin Throw event at the Zurich Diamond League on 23 June 2026.

• He recorded a massive throw of 90.15 metres, his personal best.
• He became the first Indian to cross the 90m mark in an international competition.
• The Silver medal was won by Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic.

Awards & Honours

Geetanjali Shree Wins International Booker Prize 2026

Key Highlight: Indian author Geetanjali Shree has been awarded the International Booker Prize 2026 for her latest novel 'The Silent Echo'.

• She is the first Indian to win this prestigious award twice (previously in 2022).
• The book was translated from Hindi to English by Daisy Rockwell.
• The prize carries a cash award of £50,000, shared equally between author and translator.

Business News

Reliance Industries Acquires European Green Energy Giant 'Solarix'

Key Highlight: Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) announced the acquisition of Solarix, a leading European solar panel manufacturer, for $2.4 Billion on 23 June 2026.

• The acquisition is part of RIL’s goal to achieve Net Zero Carbon by 2035.
• Solarix owns patented Perovskite solar cell technology which is 30% more efficient than silicon.
• The deal was signed in London by Mukesh Ambani and the Solarix board.

Obituaries

Renowned Classical Singer Pandit Shiv Kumar Passes Away

Key Highlight: The legendary Hindustani classical vocalist Pandit Shiv Kumar passed away at the age of 88 in Pune on 23 June 2026.

• He was a recipient of the Padma Vibhushan and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
• He belonged to the Kirana Gharana and was known for his mastery over Khayal singing.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief, calling it an "irreparable loss to Indian culture."

Environment & Science

New Species of 'Dancing Frog' Discovered in Western Ghats

Key Highlight: Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered a new species of Dancing Frog in the Western Ghats of Karnataka on 23 June 2026.

• The species has been named Micrixalus amboli.
• It is characterized by its unique foot-flagging behaviour to attract mates.
• The discovery highlights the rich biodiversity of the Sahyadri range, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.