Daily Current Affairs - 09 June 2026

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Jammu on 5 June 2026, the seventh such facility in India. It will serve Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh, providing specialized weather forecasts for mountainous terrain. The centre will issue district-level, mountain, flash flood, avalanche, and cloudburst warnings. It will benefit pilgrims, farmers, disaster management agencies, and security forces. Four Doppler Weather Radars are currently operational, with five more planned under Mission Mausam.

India is launching E85 fuel — a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% petrol — to boost energy security and sustainable mobility. Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri introduced the fuel on World Environment Day 2026. Designed for Flex-Fuel Vehicles, E85 is cheaper (nearly ₹20 less per litre than E20) and environmentally friendlier as it uses renewable agricultural feedstocks like sugarcane and maize. The phased rollout begins at 48-50 stations in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur. It aims to reduce crude oil imports, cut emissions, and increase farmers’ income.

West Bengal signed an MoU with the National Health Authority on 8 June 2026 to implement Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), becoming the 36th State/UT. Rollout begins in July 2026. Around 6 crore families will benefit from ₹5 lakh annual health cover for secondary and tertiary care. Beneficiaries of the state’s Swasthya Sathi scheme will be gradually integrated. The Central Government has allocated ₹3,505 crore for smooth implementation.

The Government of India reappointed Swaminathan Janakiraman as Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India for another two years, effective from 26 June 2026. A senior banker with extensive experience from State Bank of India, he handles banking operations, risk management, and financial supervision. The reappointment ensures leadership continuity at the central bank during a crucial period for the Indian economy. RBI is headed by the Governor and supported by four Deputy Governors.

• Saurabh Vijay, CEO of UIDAI and a 1998-batch IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, assumed charge as the Chief Executive Officer of the IndiaAI Mission. Sudeep Shrivastava, Joint Secretary in MeitY, took charge as Chief Operating Officer. The appointments were announced by the Mission’s official platform. Saurabh Vijay, a civil engineering graduate from IIT Delhi, brings rich experience in public finance and governance.
• The IndiaAI Mission, launched in March 2024 with ₹10,372 crore outlay, aims to build sovereign AI capabilities, develop indigenous models, expand computing infrastructure, and promote responsible AI adoption across the country.

The Department of Consumer Affairs’ e-Jagriti platform received the Silver Award under Category I at the National Awards for e-Governance 2026. Launched on 1 January 2025, it has unified legacy consumer dispute systems into a single AI-powered platform. It has enabled filing of over 2.29 lakh cases with 2.07 lakh disposals (90.75% disposal rate). The platform supports virtual hearings, real-time tracking, and access for NRIs, significantly improving consumer justice delivery.

The Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI), developed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, received the Gold Award under Category VII at the National e-Governance Awards 2026. It will be presented at the 29th National Conference on e-Governance in Jaipur (1-2 July 2026). PAI is India’s first comprehensive data-driven framework to assess Gram Panchayat performance, identify development gaps, and promote accountability. The theme of the conference is ‘Viksit Bharat 2047: AI-Enabled, Data-Driven and Secure Digital Governance’.

• The Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi honoured 51 distinguished artistes at the SNA Samman Ceremony 2026 held in Lucknow for their contributions to music, dance, theatre, and folk arts from 2021-2024. Governor Anandiben Patel stressed that culture is both inheritance and responsibility.
• Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak assured continued government support for artists and cultural infrastructure. The event highlighted the evolution of traditional arts through modern platforms like “Bhajan Clubbing” while preserving India’s rich artistic heritage.

Kerala Forest Department launched HAWK (Hostile Activity Watch Kernel) on 6 June 2026 — India’s first digital, judiciary-integrated system for wildlife crime prosecution. The platform connects forest enforcement records with the District Court Management System via API. It tracks cases from Preliminary Offence Report to final verdict. Developed with Wildlife Trust of India and supported by NTT Data, HAWK provides ecological intelligence on wildlife mortality, seizures, and repeat offenders. Over 1,750 officers have been trained.

Kerala Agricultural University launched a new green chilli variety, KAU Thejaswini, on 7 June 2026. Developed at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, this bush-type variety is suitable for year-round cultivation in homesteads and terrace gardens. It yields 32.5 tonnes per hectare with 84 fruits per plant. The glossy, dark green fruits have medium pungency (0.45% capsaicin), high Vitamin C, and tolerance to bacterial wilt and viral diseases. The variety was approved by the State Seed Sub-Committee on 3 June 2026.