Updates on 16 June 2026
All of June 2026 →PM Narendra Modi Awarded Slovakia's Highest State Honour: Order of the White Double Cross, First Class
On 15 June 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Slovakia's highest state decoration, the Order of the White Double Cross, First Class, presented by President Peter Pellegrini in Bratislava. This honour is Slovakia's top civilian and military award, conferred only on foreign citizens for outstanding contributions to Slovakia's international relations and foreign policy interests. PM Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Slovakia since its independence in 1993. India and Slovakia simultaneously elevated their bilateral relations to a comprehensive partnership, signing 11 agreements in areas including migration, digital technology, and defence. This award marks the 33rd international honour conferred upon PM Modi.
India and Slovakia Back UN Security Council Reforms and India’s Permanent Membership Bid
On 15 June 2026, India and Slovakia issued a joint statement in Bratislava during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, advocating comprehensive reforms in multilateral institutions, including the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The statement emphasized the need to expand both permanent and non-permanent categories within the UNSC, making it more representative, inclusive, and reflective of contemporary geopolitical realities. Slovakia reiterated its strong support for India’s permanent membership in a reformed and expanded Council. Additionally, Slovakia reaffirmed a constructive approach towards India's membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). During the visit, India and Slovakia elevated their bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Partnership, enhancing political, economic, cultural, and strategic cooperation.
Sarvam AI Achieves Unicorn Status After Raising $234 Million in Series B Funding
On 15 June 2026, Bengaluru-based sovereign AI startup Sarvam AI raised $234 million in the first close of its Series B funding round, valuing the company at $1.5 billion and making it India's latest unicorn. HCLTech led the round with a $150 million investment, acquiring a 10.46% stake as a strategic investor. Other investors included Bessemer Venture Partners, Khosla Ventures, and Peak XV Partners. Founded in 2023 by Vivek Raghavan and Pratyush Kumar, Sarvam AI focuses on autonomous agentic AI, coding, and cybersecurity models tailored for Indian languages and applications, serving sectors such as agriculture, insurance, banking, and government.
ISRO Develops Advanced Lunar Lander for Missions Lasting up to 200 Days
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), collaborating with the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), is developing a lunar lander with artificial heating systems to enable continuous operation on the Moon for 100 to 200 days. This is a significant extension over the 14-day lifespan observed in Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander, which lacked heating and operated only during the lunar day. The new technology addresses the challenge of extreme temperature drops below -100°C during the two-week lunar night, which inhibits current landers from surviving beyond one lunar day. This development aligns with India’s broader Space Vision 2047 goals, including a national space station by 2035 and human Moon missions by 2040.
India Targets 155 GW Wind Energy Capacity by 2035
India has set ambitious wind energy targets aiming to achieve 100 GW installed capacity by 2030 and ramping up to 155 GW by 2035. As of 15 June 2026, installed capacity exceeded 56.1 GW, making India the fourth-largest wind energy market worldwide. The fiscal year 2025-26 witnessed record additions of 6.1 GW (a 46% increase). To support this expansion, India launched WT-MARUT, its first dedicated digital platform for managing the wind turbine supply chain, promoting domestic manufacturing of key components to foster self-reliance. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi announced these initiatives at the Global Wind Day Conference in Goa. Wind energy remains a critical pillar of India's renewable energy growth and sustainability goals.
Indian Railways Expands Kavach 4.0 Safety System Across Key Divisions
On June 15, 2026, Indian Railways sanctioned major projects worth over ₹341 crore to extend the deployment of Kavach Version 4.0, the indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system that prevents collisions and overspeeding by automatic train control. The expansion covers 598 route km in the Ahmedabad Division of Western Railway (Gujarat) and 811 route km in Ambala Division of Northern Railway across Haryana, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh. This project is part of a broader ₹21,200 crore umbrella program to upgrade rail safety communication and signaling infrastructure nationwide by 2026.
Indian Naval Air Squadron 330 'Harpoons' and Retirement of Sea King Mk 42B Helicopters
The Indian Navy's Air Squadron 330, known as the 'Harpoons', was commissioned on 17 April 1971 at INS Garuda, Kochi, under Commander M. P. Wadhawan. It operated the Sea King Mk 42B multi-role helicopter primarily for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-ship missions, and search-and-rescue operations. After 55 years of distinguished service, the Sea King Mk 42B fleet and INAS 330 were officially retired and number plated on 14 June 2026, with a final ceremonial flight held at INS Shikra, Mumbai. The remaining Sea King Mk 42B airframes were slated for conversion to utility helicopters ('Barlies') or used as test beds for sensor and weapon trials. The Indian Navy has begun replacing this fleet with 24 Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, while indigenous Multi Role Helicopter (MRH) projects remain under development.
Usutu Virus Detected in Scotland for the First Time
In summer 2025, Usutu virus (USUV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus infecting primarily wild birds, was confirmed in blackbirds on the Isle of Arran, Scotland. The detection, announced on April 1, 2026, marks the first record of USUV in Scotland. The virus has circulated in southeast England for six years prior to this finding, causing blackbird population declines. USUV rarely causes symptomatic infection in humans, and no human cases have been reported in the UK to date. This detection highlights the ongoing northward expansion of mosquito-borne viruses and the importance of bird and mosquito surveillance.
Digital India BHASHINI Division and GeM Sign MoU to Enhance Multilingual Access in Public Procurement
On 15 June 2026, the Digital India BHASHINI Division and Government e Marketplace (GeM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen multilingual digital capabilities across India's public procurement ecosystem. This partnership leverages BHASHINI, India's National Language Digital Public Infrastructure, to integrate AI-powered language technologies such as translation APIs, voice-enabled tools, and domain-specific language models into GeM. The initiative supports seamless interaction in 22 officially recognised Indian languages and other regional languages, aiming to remove language barriers for stakeholders, especially MSMEs, startups, and government entities, facilitating accessible, transparent, and inclusive government procurement.
Navitas Solar to Invest ₹1,500 Crore in Gujarat for 3.6 GW Solar Cell Manufacturing Facility
Navitas Solar plans to invest approximately ₹1,500 crore in Gujarat to establish a 3.6 GW solar cell manufacturing facility along with a pilot wafer and ingot production line at its Ankleshwar campus. The project marks the company's entry into upstream solar cell manufacturing and aims for commissioning the first phase in 2027. This expansion will create about 1,000 direct jobs and support India's push for domestic value addition in the solar supply chain, helping reduce import dependence and bolstering renewable energy capacity.
Tamil Nadu Announces Revised Cooperative Crop Loan Waiver Scheme (May 2025 - Feb 2026)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced a revised cooperative crop loan waiver scheme for farmers who availed loans from cooperative banks between 1 May 2025 and 28 February 2026. The scheme provides a full waiver of crop loans up to ₹75,000 and a partial waiver of ₹35,000 for loans exceeding ₹75,000. This benefits approximately 14.43 lakh farmers, entailing an estimated fiscal burden of ₹5,932.23 crore on the state government. The move aims to relieve farmers’ burdens and improve their access to credit for upcoming cultivation seasons.
India mandates doctor's prescription for purchase of cough syrups and syrups under Drugs Rules, 2026
On 16 June 2026, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare implemented the Drugs (Fifth Amendment) Rules, 2026, mandating that all syrup-based medicines, including common cough syrups, require a valid doctor's prescription for purchase. This regulatory change removed “syrups” from Schedule K of the Drugs Rules, 1945, which previously allowed some syrups to be sold over the counter (OTC). This decision follows safety concerns and contamination-linked child fatalities reported in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Lozenges, pills, and tablets for cough treatment remain exempt and available OTC. The amendment aims to enhance drug safety and regulatory oversight across India.
Allahabad High Court Upholds Juvenile's Right to be Forgotten Under Juvenile Justice Act, 2015
On May 29, 2026, the Allahabad High Court ruled that a conviction recorded against a juvenile cannot be used as a legal impediment for issuing a passport under Section 24 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. The bench emphasized the 'right to be forgotten' for juveniles, protecting their future prospects by preventing ongoing stigma from juvenile convictions. The case arose from a passport application rejection by the Regional Passport Officer, Lucknow, in March 2021 due to an adverse police report linked to a minor’s criminal record. The Court linked the right to travel abroad with personal liberty under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, quashing the rejection and directing re-evaluation without considering the juvenile conviction unless other legal barriers exist.
RHRS Lam Farm Releases New Chilli Varieties LCA-625 and LCA-643
On 16 June 2026, the Regional Horticultural Research Station (RHRS) at Lam Farm, Guntur, introduced two new chilli varieties named LCA-625 and LCA-643. These varieties serve as alternatives to the commonly cultivated Teja and Byadgi chillies in India. LCA-625 is tailored for dry chilli production with a pungency ranging from 45,000 to 50,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU) and a red color intensity between 60-65 ASTA units. LCA-643 is versatile for both green and dry chilli cultivation, exhibiting resistance to Gemini virus and Thrips infestation; dried pods resemble the Byadgi variety. Foundation seeds were made available at ₹1,200/kg from Lam Farm with purchase limits due to limited stock.
India Launches New Producer Price Index Framework and Revises Wholesale Price Index Base Year to 2022-23
On 15 June 2026, the Indian government introduced a new Producer Price Index (PPI) framework for goods and services and simultaneously released a revised Wholesale Price Index (WPI) series with the base year updated from 2011-12 to 2022-23. This marks the beginning of a five-year transitional period where both indices will be published concurrently before the WPI is phased out. The PPI aims to provide a more comprehensive and internationally aligned measure of inflation at the producer level by covering output, input (experimental for manufacturing), and select service sectors.
DRDO Successfully Flight-Tests Indigenous Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM)
On 15 June 2026, India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the flight test of the Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM) from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island off Odisha's coast. The missile, designed for the Army, Navy, and Air Force, demonstrated all mission objectives with validated propulsion, guidance, navigation, and warhead delivery. With an estimated range of 1,000 to 1,500 km, it enhances India’s strategic strike capabilities and is a key step towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence technology.
Telangana-Iran MoU for Digitisation and Preservation of Rare Manuscripts and Heritage Collections
On 15 June 2026, Telangana's Department of Heritage signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Iran's Noor International Microfilm Centre to digitise, preserve, and catalogue rare manuscripts, paintings, books, and archival records. Approximately 737 manuscripts, 3,091 paintings, 14,522 books, and 101 archival Dastawazats in Persian, Urdu, Arabic, and other languages will be covered. The Iran government funds the project, with experts conducting preservation work at no expense to Telangana. This initiative aims to create high-quality digital archives and improve access to heritage resources for researchers and future generations.
INS Agray Joins Indian Navy's Arnala-Class Anti-Submarine Warfare Fleet
INS Agray is the fifth ship of the Arnala-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) series, indigenously designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. Launched on 13 March 2024 and delivered on 30 March 2026, this 77-meter-long warship with 900 tonnes displacement enhances Indian Navy’s capabilities in shallow water anti-submarine warfare, coastal surveillance, and mine detection. It has over 80% indigenous content, including waterjet propulsion, hull-mounted sonar, variable depth sonar, anti-submarine torpedoes, and rockets, forming part of a ₹6,311.32 crore contract signed on 29 April 2019 for eight ASW SWCs.