International Day of Yoga 2026 was observed on 21 June with the theme Yoga for Healthy Ageing.
The theme highlighted yoga's contribution to physical fitness, mental well-being, emotional resilience and active ageing. It also emphasised yoga as an accessible wellness practice that can improve quality of life across all age groups.

Key Highlights:
Date: International Day of Yoga is observed annually on 21 June.
Theme 2026: Yoga for Healthy Ageing.
Objective: To promote yoga as a holistic practice for physical, mental and emotional well-being.
Global Recognition: The United Nations General Assembly adopted India's proposal to observe 21 June as International Day of Yoga in 2014.
First Observance: The first International Day of Yoga was celebrated in 2015.
Significance: The day promotes preventive healthcare, active lifestyles, mental wellness and global awareness of India's traditional knowledge system.

About International Day of Yoga :-
Date:, 21 June
UN Adoption:, 2014
First Observed:, 2015
Nodal Ministry:, Ministry of Ayush

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the national celebration of the 12th International Day of Yoga from Red Road, Kolkata.
He participated in the Common Yoga Protocol along with thousands of practitioners and highlighted yoga as a unifying practice that supports lifelong physical health, mental balance and emotional strength.

Key Highlights:
Venue: The national Yoga Day celebration was held at Red Road in Kolkata, West Bengal.
Leadership: Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the 12th International Day of Yoga celebration.
Common Yoga Protocol: Participants performed a standard set of yoga practices designed for broad public participation.
Health Focus: Yoga was highlighted for its role in physical fitness, mental balance and emotional well-being.
Significance: The large-scale programme strengthened public participation in preventive healthcare and promoted India's yoga heritage globally.

About Kolkata :-
State:, West Bengal
River:, Hooghly River
Capital of West Bengal:, Kolkata
Known As:, City of Joy

India assumed the Vice-Presidency of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for the first time, marking an important development in its global role against money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing.
Vivek Aggarwal was appointed to represent India in the vice-presidential role, strengthening India's contribution to international standards for financial-system integrity and security.

Key Highlights:
Milestone: India assumed FATF Vice-Presidency for the first time.
Indian Representative: Vivek Aggarwal was appointed for the role.
FATF Role: FATF sets global standards to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing.
International Cooperation: FATF promotes effective legal, regulatory and operational measures among member jurisdictions.
Significance: The appointment reflects India's increasing voice in shaping global anti-financial-crime policies.

About FATF :-
Full Name:, Financial Action Task Force
Established:, 1989
Headquarters:, Paris, France
Secretariat Hosted By:, OECD

World Music Day, also known as Fête de la Musique, was observed on 21 June 2026 to celebrate music, musicians and the universal role of artistic expression.
The observance encourages people to enjoy and perform music in public spaces, promotes cultural participation and highlights music as a means of social connection and cultural exchange.

Key Highlights:
Date: World Music Day is observed every year on 21 June.
Origin: It originated in France in 1982 as Fête de la Musique.
Purpose: The day celebrates music, encourages amateur and professional performers, and makes music accessible to the public.
Cultural Role: Music supports artistic expression, cultural diversity, social cohesion and emotional well-being.
Significance: The observance highlights the universal language of music and its ability to connect communities across cultures.

About Fête de la Musique :-
Origin Country:, France
Started:, 1982
Date:, 21 June
Meaning:, Festival of Music

The Summer Solstice was observed around 21 June 2026, marking the longest day and shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
It occurs when the Earth's Northern Hemisphere is tilted most directly toward the Sun, causing the Sun to appear at its highest annual position in the sky and beginning the astronomical summer season in the Northern Hemisphere.

Key Highlights:
Occurrence: The Summer Solstice occurs around 20 or 21 June in the Northern Hemisphere.
Daylight: It brings the longest period of daylight and shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
Scientific Cause: It results from the Earth's axial tilt as the Northern Hemisphere faces most directly toward the Sun.
Season: The event marks the beginning of astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
Southern Hemisphere: At the same time, the Southern Hemisphere experiences the Winter Solstice.
Significance: The solstice has cultural, agricultural and astronomical importance in many societies worldwide.

About Earth's Axial Tilt :-
Approximate Tilt:, 23.5 degrees
Effect:, Causes seasons on Earth
Northern Solstice:, Around 21 June
Southern Solstice:, Around 21 December

Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned three indigenously built naval platforms — INS Dunagiri, INS Agray and INS Sanshodhak — in Kolkata.
The induction of these ships strengthens India's maritime capability, coastal security, surveillance capacity, hydrographic support and the country's defence-manufacturing self-reliance under the Make in India initiative.

Key Highlights:
Commissioned Platforms: INS Dunagiri, INS Agray and INS Sanshodhak were commissioned into the Indian Navy.
Location: The commissioning ceremony was held in Kolkata, West Bengal.
Indigenous Capability: The platforms were built in India, strengthening domestic naval shipbuilding capacity.
Operational Role: The vessels improve maritime security, surveillance, naval operations and hydrographic support.
Significance: The commissioning supports India's maritime preparedness and self-reliance in defence production.

About Indian Navy :-
Headquarters:, New Delhi
Chief of Naval Staff:, Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi
Motto:, Sham No Varunah
Primary Role:, Maritime security and naval defence

Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 23rd instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, transferring Rs. 18,880 crore directly to more than 9.44 crore eligible farmers.
The scheme provides income support to farmer families through Direct Benefit Transfer and helps them meet agricultural input expenses and other household needs.

Key Highlights:
Instalment: The 23rd instalment of PM-KISAN was released.
Transfer Amount: Rs. 18,880 crore was transferred to eligible farmers.
Beneficiaries: More than 9.44 crore farmers received the benefit.
Transfer Mode: Funds are provided directly to beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer.
Scheme Benefit: Eligible farmer families receive Rs. 6,000 annually in three equal instalments.
Significance: PM-KISAN supports farmers' income security and provides timely financial support for agricultural activities.

About PM-KISAN :-
Launched:, 2019
Full Name:, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi
Annual Support:, Rs. 6,000
Nodal Ministry:, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for India's first commercial Coal-to-Ammonium Nitrate project at Jharsuguda in Odisha, with an investment of around Rs. 25,016 crore.
The project aims to convert coal into ammonium nitrate, an important input used primarily in mining and infrastructure activities, while supporting domestic manufacturing, import reduction and industrial growth.

Key Highlights:
Project: India's first commercial Coal-to-Ammonium Nitrate project was initiated.
Location: Jharsuguda, Odisha.
Investment: The project involves an investment of around Rs. 25,016 crore.
Product: Ammonium nitrate is widely used in mining and infrastructure-related industrial applications.
Economic Role: The project can support domestic value addition and reduce dependence on imported industrial inputs.
Significance: It supports industrial self-reliance, mineral-resource utilisation and economic development in Odisha.

About Odisha :-
Capital:, Bhubaneswar
Governor:, Hari Babu Kambhampati
Chief Minister:, Mohan Charan Majhi
Major Mineral Resources:, Coal, iron ore, bauxite and chromite

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) launched India's first Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) barrier-less tolling system at Daulatpura Toll Plaza on the Delhi–Jaipur highway in Rajasthan.
The system enables vehicles to pass through tolling points without stopping at physical barriers, using digital identification and automated payment technologies to reduce congestion, save travel time and improve toll-collection efficiency.

Key Highlights:
Initiative: India's first MLFF barrier-less tolling system was launched by NHAI.
Location: Daulatpura Toll Plaza on the Delhi–Jaipur highway in Rajasthan.
Technology: MLFF enables automated toll collection without vehicles stopping at toll barriers.
Benefits: It reduces congestion, travel time, fuel consumption and vehicle emissions at toll plazas.
Digital Infrastructure: The system supports intelligent transportation systems and cashless highway travel.
Significance: MLFF is a step towards modern, efficient and technology-enabled road infrastructure in India.

About NHAI :-
Established:, 1988
Administrative Ministry:, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
Headquarters:, New Delhi
Role:, Development and management of national highways

Jainendra K. Jain, an Indian-origin physicist, became the first Indian-origin recipient of the prestigious Wolf Prize in Physics for his pioneering work on composite fermions.
His research has advanced understanding of strongly interacting electrons and the fractional quantum Hall effect, making a significant contribution to condensed-matter physics.

Key Highlights:
Awardee: Jainendra K. Jain received the Wolf Prize in Physics.
Achievement: He became the first person of Indian origin to receive the award in physics.
Research Contribution: He is known for the theory of composite fermions.
Scientific Relevance: Composite-fermion theory helps explain complex behaviour of electrons in high magnetic fields and quantum Hall systems.
Significance: The honour recognises a major contribution to fundamental physics and highlights Indian-origin excellence in global scientific research.

About Wolf Prize :-
Established:, 1978
Country:, Israel
Fields:, Agriculture, chemistry, mathematics, medicine, physics and arts
Known For:, Prestigious international recognition

India announced that it would host the BRICS National Security Advisers' Meeting in New Delhi on 22–23 June 2026, chaired by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.
The meeting provides a platform for BRICS members to discuss regional and global security challenges, counter-terrorism, cyber security, strategic cooperation, emerging technologies and multilateral coordination.

Key Highlights:
Host Country: India is hosting the BRICS National Security Advisers' Meeting in New Delhi.
Dates: The meeting is scheduled for 22–23 June 2026.
Chair: National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is chairing the meeting.
Discussion Areas: Security cooperation, counter-terrorism, cyber security and regional stability are key focus areas.
Significance: The meeting strengthens strategic dialogue and coordination among BRICS countries on common security concerns.

About BRICS :-
Original Members:, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa
Nature:, Grouping of major emerging economies
Focus:, Economic, political and strategic cooperation
New Development Bank:, Established by BRICS in 2015

Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) inaugurated a Versatile Deuterated Compounds Production Plant and commissioned a Prototype Sodium Cell at Vadodara, Gujarat.
The facilities aim to strengthen domestic capabilities in specialised chemical production, advanced energy-storage technologies and strategic scientific research, contributing to India's technological self-reliance.

Key Highlights:
Organisation: Department of Atomic Energy initiated the facilities in Vadodara.
New Facilities: A deuterated-compounds production plant was inaugurated and a prototype sodium cell was commissioned.
Technology: Sodium-cell technology is being explored as a potential energy-storage option due to sodium's broad availability and lower material-cost potential.
Scientific Role: Deuterated compounds have applications in research, nuclear science, pharmaceuticals and advanced chemical studies.
Self-Reliance: The facilities support indigenous scientific capabilities and reduce dependence on specialised imports.
Significance: The initiative contributes to strategic research, clean-energy innovation and domestic technology development.

About Department of Atomic Energy :-
Established:, 1954
Headquarters:, Mumbai
Administrative Control:, Directly under the Prime Minister
Focus:, Nuclear energy and advanced scientific research

Father's Day was observed on 21 June 2026 in many countries, including India, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, where it is celebrated on the third Sunday of June.
The day honours fathers, father figures and their role in nurturing, guiding and supporting children and families.

Key Highlights:
Date in 2026: Father's Day fell on 21 June 2026 in countries following the third-Sunday-of-June observance.
Purpose: The day recognises fathers and father figures for their care, contribution and guidance.
International Observance: Different countries observe Father's Day on different dates, but many mark it on the third Sunday of June.
Significance: The occasion highlights the importance of parental support, family relationships and responsible caregiving.

About Father's Day :-
Common Observance:, Third Sunday of June
2026 Date:, 21 June
Focus:, Fathers and father figures
Nature:, Social and family observance