Current Affairs Quiz - June 2026

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Scientists discovered the world’s largest whale graveyard in the Diamantina Fracture Zone. The site lies in the southeastern Indian Ocean at depths of more than 7,000 metres. The discovery was led by the Chinese Academy of Sciences using the Fendouzhe submersible. Researchers identified more than 485 fossil sites spread across a 1,200-km underwater rift. The fossils are estimated to be 120,000 years to 5.3 million years old. This is considered a landmark discovery in marine paleontology.

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The first harvest of green peas under Project Hinichi has been successfully completed in Churachandpur district, Manipur. Project Hinichi is a joint initiative launched by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Manipur Police. Project Hinichi aims to promote sustainable livelihoods and reduce illicit poppy cultivation through alternative cropping. Under the initiative, 254 acres of land previously used for illegal poppy farming have been converted for legal agriculture. More than 124 households in Churachandpur district have benefited from the project.

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Indian astronomers from the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics discovered five rapidly spinning neutron stars (millisecond pulsars). The discovery was made using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) after nearly two years of observations. The pulsars were found in the ancient globular clusters Messier 69 and Messier 70. Millisecond pulsars are rapidly rotating neutron stars formed after massive stars explode as supernovae. These stellar remnants can be “spun up” by pulling material from a companion star, causing them to rotate hundreds of times per second.

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The Yuva Shakti Bharosa Card Scheme has been launched by the West Bengal Government. The scheme aims to provide financial assistance and employment-linked support to unemployed youth. A dedicated Bharosa Card will be issued to eligible beneficiaries for easier access to benefits and government services.

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Researchers have discovered a new butterfly species named Chonala albistricta, also known as the Narrow-banded Wall, in Arunachal Pradesh. The species was discovered at Mayodia Pass in the Lower Dibang Valley district. It belongs to the genus Chonala, a small group of mountain butterflies found in the Himalayas and nearby Asian high-altitude regions. Chonala albistricta is the 10th known species in the genus worldwide and only the second Chonala species recorded in India.

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Telangana has recently banned Paraquat, becoming the third state in India to do so. Paraquat (paraquat dichloride) is a synthetic herbicide/weedicide widely used to control weeds and grass. It is also used as a desiccant to dry crops before harvest and sometimes as a plant growth regulator. Paraquat is known for its extreme toxicity and has no specific antidote. Kerala became the first state to ban paraquat in 2011, followed by Odisha, and now Telangana.

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Dhiraj Bommadevara and Kumkum Mohod won the gold medal in the recurve mixed team event at Archery World Cup Stage 3. The tournament was held in Antalya, Turkey. The Indian pair defeated reigning Olympic champions Oh Ye-jin and Kim Je-deok of South Korea by 5–1 in the final. This was the first World Cup mixed team gold medal for both Dhiraj and Kumkum. In the Men’s Individual Recurve event, Dhiraj Bommadevara won another gold medal. He defeated Lee Woo Seok by 6–4 in the final. India finished second in the medal tally behind China, while Mexico finished third and South Korea fourth.

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Lucknow has emerged as India’s No. 1 rooftop solar city, surpassing Surat in solar panel installations. Under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, Lucknow crossed 88,000 rooftop solar installations by April 2026 and later exceeded 1,02,603 cumulative installations. In May 2026 alone, Lucknow added 9,667 new solar systems. On 31 May 2026, the city installed 333 solar units in a single day, the highest in Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh added 64,742 rooftop solar installations in May 2026, accounting for over 20% of India’s monthly total. Around 3.5 lakh homes in Uttar Pradesh now have rooftop solar systems.

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Researchers from Kerala recently identified a new bryophyte plant named Indocolea devendrae. The species was discovered in the forests of northern Kerala. It has been named in honour of Devendra Kumar Singh, a noted expert in non-flowering plants. A unique feature of this plant is that it grows on the mushroom Phellinus fastuosus found on tree trunks. Indocolea is an entirely new genus discovered in India. Bryophytes are simple, non-flowering plants that usually grow in moist environments.

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Gujarat recently launched the TD (Tetanus and adult Diphtheria) and DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus) Triple Vaccination Campaign-2026 targeting nearly 19 lakh schoolchildren. The campaign was launched by Gujarat Health Minister Praful Pansheriya in Gandhinagar. The vaccination drive aims to ensure that no eligible child remains unvaccinated against diseases such as tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. Under the campaign, around 48,529 TD vaccination sessions will be organised across schools in Gujarat. The campaign is being supported by teams working under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK).