Current Affairs 2026
Current Affairs for 2026, Latest Current Affairs 2026
Gujarat tops national improvement ranking in TB control [02-July-2026]
Gujarat has been ranked first in the country in the “States with Most Improvement” category for 2025 under the Centre’s Tuberculosis (TB)-Free India Campaign after recording a significant decline in TB cases and deaths over recent years, state government spokesperson and Minister Jitu Vaghani said following a state Cabinet meeting. Citing the Central government’s latest report, he added that compared with 2015, Gujarat recorded a 34 per cent reduction in the rate of new tuberculosis cases and a 37 per cent decline in the TB mortality rate in 2023.
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit assumes charge as 51st Vice Chief of Air Staff [01-July-2026]
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit assumed charge as the 51st Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS), succeeding Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, who retired on June 30 after nearly four decades of service in the Indian Air Force (IAF). Prior to his appointment, Air Marshal Dixit served as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) from May 1, 2025, where he played a key role in strengthening tri-service integration and advancing India’s joint military capabilities.
GAGAN strengthens India’s aviation navigation with indigenous satellite technology [01-July-2026]
India’s indigenous GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) system has emerged as a key pillar of the country’s satellite navigation ecosystem, enhancing flight safety through precision navigation while expanding its applications across sectors including transport, disaster management, defence and telecommunications. Developed jointly by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI), GAGAN is a Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) that improves the accuracy of Global Positioning System (GPS) signals by providing real-time corrections and integrity information to aircraft. Operational since 2015, GAGAN has placed India among a select group of countries with an operational SBAS, alongside the United States, Europe and Japan. It is also the first SBAS certified for operations in the equatorial region.
Lt Gen Sandeep Jain, assumed the appointment of the Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS) [01-July-2026]
Lt Gen Sandeep Jain, AVSM, SM assumed the appointment of the Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS). An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, he was commissioned into the MAHAR Regiment in June 1988. Over nearly four decades of distinguished service, he has held a wide range of command and staff appointments across diverse operational environments. He has commanded an Infantry Battalion in semi-desert terrain as well as in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, an Infantry Brigade in a Strike Corps, a Counter Insurgency Force and a Pivot Corps in Northern Command. His operational experience includes participation in Operation Pawan, service as a Military Observer with the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and multiple tenures in high-altitude areas and counter-insurgency operations along the Line of Control and in the North East. The General Officer also commanded a Sector in UN Mission in South Sudan.
Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi Arrives in India for 16th India-Japan Annual Summit [01-July-2026]
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrived in New Delhi evening on a three-day official visit to India to participate in the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit, where the two countries are expected to deepen cooperation in areas such as economic security, resilient supply chains, emerging technologies, defence and maritime security. India and Japan elevated their relationship to a Special Strategic and Global Partnership in 2014 and have since expanded cooperation across defence, infrastructure, trade, digital technologies, clean energy, mobility, healthcare, and people-to-people exchanges. The summit builds on the outcomes of the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit, held in Tokyo in August 2025, during which both countries adopted a Joint Vision for the Next Decade, launched the India-Japan Economic Security Initiative, signed a Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation, and unveiled an Action Plan for Human Resource Exchange to facilitate the movement of more than five lakh people between the two countries over the next five years.
Shri Anupam Misra takes over as Chairman & Managing Director of Hindustan Copper Limited [01-July-2026]
Shri Anupam Misra assumed charge as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL). Shri Misra brings to HCL a rare combination of strategic vision, commercial expertise, and proven leadership, positioning the Company to accelerate growth and strengthen its role in supporting India's critical mineral and copper security. Shri Misra holds a B.Tech. (Hons.) in Civil Engineering from IIT Kharagpur, a PGDM from IIM Lucknow, and has completed executive programmes at IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Calcutta. A seasoned management professional with over 33 years of experience in marketing, international trade, and business development, he has extensive expertise in minerals, metals, chemicals, engineering goods, and project business. Before joining HCL, Shri Misra served as Director (Marketing) at Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Limited (FACT) from July 2020 to June 2026 and also held the additional charge of Chairman & Managing Director of FACT. With an elaborate experience at the Board-level leadership, he has demonstrated strong strategic and commercial acumen.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s Tenure Extended by One Year [01-July-2026]
The Centre has extended the tenure of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri by one year beyond July 14, according to an order issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. The extension was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). Misri, a 1989-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, assumed office as India’s Foreign Secretary in 2024. The extension will enable him to continue leading India’s diplomatic engagement at a time of evolving regional and global developments. During his diplomatic career spanning over three decades, Misri has held several key assignments in the Ministry of External Affairs, the Prime Minister’s Office, and Indian missions in Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America.
Govt grants Miniratna status to MECON Limited [01-July-2026]
The Ministry of Steel has approved the granting of Miniratna Category-I status to engineering major MECON Limited, as the Central Public Sector Enterprise (PSE) has achieved the required financial milestones which include generating continuous profits in the last three years, according to an official statement. The company recorded a profit before tax (PBT) of Rs 77.62 crore in FY 2023-24 (restated), Rs 32.08 crore in FY 2024-25 and Rs 104.53 crore in FY 2025-26. The public sector company also reported a positive net worth of Rs 535.42 crore (as on March 31, 2026). This has enabled the public sector company to fulfil the eligibility criteria prescribed by the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) for grant of Miniratna Category-I status. The Miniratna Category-I status provides enhanced financial and operational autonomy to the Board of MECON Limited. The enhanced delegation of powers will enable the Company to undertake investments, modernisation initiatives, technological upgradation and business expansion projects with greater flexibility and speed, which is expected to help the company to accelerate its growth in the future.
Govt reappoints Ravi Agrawal as CBDT Chairman for six months [30-June-2026]
The government on Tuesday approved the reappointment of Ravi Agrawal as Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on a contract basis for six months. According to an official order, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved Agrawal’s reappointment from July 1 to December 31, 2026, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. Agrawal, a 1988-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer of the Income Tax cadre, was appointed CBDT Chairman in June 2024, succeeding Nitin Gupta. Prior to assuming the top post, he served as Member (Administration) in the CBDT from July 2023. He was subsequently granted a one-year extension from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.
PM Modi becomes first Indian Prime Minister to address Seychelles Parliament [28-June-2026]
Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Parliament of Seychelles, where he underlined the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean and reiterated India’s commitment to maritime security in the region. Addressing the 8th National Assembly during his three-day State visit, PM Modi said the Indian Ocean “does not separate, but connects India and Seychelles,” while stressing that the security and prosperity of the two countries are closely intertwined.
