Current Affairs Quiz - June 2026

Notes:
Recently, the Prime Minister gifted a Kalamkari Mahabharata painting to the French President, highlighting India’s rich textile heritage. Kalamkari painting is a traditional hand-painted and block-printed cotton textile art form mainly practised in Andhra Pradesh. It developed during the Qutb Shahi rule of Golconda in the 16th–17th century. The term Kalamkari is derived from Kalam meaning pen and Kari meaning craftsmanship. It uses natural dyes extracted from plants, minerals, and metals.

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Recently, Khurasani Imli (Mandav Imli), the fruit of Mandu’s iconic Baobab tree, received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. It is the fruit of the iconic Baobab tree found in Mandu, Madhya Pradesh. The fruit is light green with a distinctive sweet-sour tangy taste. Tribal communities traditionally use its pulp, juice, seeds, and bark for medicinal purposes. It is rich in Vitamin C, antioxidants, and minerals.

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According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report, India became the world’s leading ship recycling nation in 2025. India achieved this milestone under the Maritime India Vision 2030 (MIV 2030) ahead of schedule. India’s global ship recycling share rose to 35.4%, with 2.99 million gross tons (GT) recycled. The growth is driven by reforms like the Recycling of Ships Act, 2019 and ratification of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships. India also introduced the Ship-breaking Credit Note Scheme and upgraded Alang ship recycling yard in Gujarat.

Notes:
Scientists have discovered a new species of deep-sea catshark named Apristurus drona in the Arabian Sea off the Kollam coast of Kerala. Commonly called the Arabian slender catshark, it was found near Sakthikulangara harbour and the Wadge Bank region. The species represents a distinct evolutionary lineage and is closely related to catsharks from the Pacific Ocean and New Zealand. It is considered extremely rare and has no commercial fisheries value.

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The traditional Thewa Art recently gained international attention when Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Thewa motif cufflinks to Slovakia President Peter Pellegrini during his visit to Slovakia. Thewa is a nearly 400-year-old craft originating in Pratapgarh, Rajasthan. It involves intricate engravings in 23-carat gold embedded on coloured glass. The art traces its origins to the Mughal era and has been preserved through generations of artisans. Thewa is recognized as one of India’s finest traditional handicrafts and supports artisan livelihoods while showcasing India’s cultural heritage globally.

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Gujarat launched “School on Wheels” (Ranshala), a mobile classroom initiative using retired Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) buses. The project aims to provide uninterrupted education to children of Agariya (salt-worker) families in remote salt-producing regions. The initiative covers Surendranagar, Patan, Kutch, and Morbi districts. It is jointly implemented by Samagra Shiksha, the Education Department, and Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC). Each bus is equipped with smart TVs, online learning facilities, library space, and recreational amenities. The initiative seeks to reduce school dropouts caused by seasonal migration.

Notes:
The International Day of Women in Diplomacy is observed annually on June 24. It was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to recognize the role of women in diplomacy. The day highlights the contribution of women in international peace, diplomacy, and sustainable development. It emphasizes the importance of gender equality and inclusive decision-making in foreign policy. The observance aims to promote greater representation of women in global leadership and diplomatic institutions.

Notes:
Researchers have discovered the oldest-known strains of the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis from ancient human remains found in burial sites around the Lake Baikal region. Lake Baikal is located in southern eastern Siberia in Russia, near the Mongolia border. It is the oldest freshwater lake in the world and also the deepest freshwater lake globally. It is the largest freshwater lake by volume, holding nearly one-fifth of the world’s unfrozen freshwater. The lake contains around 45 islands and islets, with Olkhon Island being the largest.

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The Delhi government, led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, has approved the launch of the Delhi Building and Construction Workers Health Scheme. The scheme aims to provide comprehensive health protection to around 2.7 lakh registered construction workers and nearly 10 lakh family members. It is designed to offer cashless healthcare services, ensuring no financial burden on workers and their families. The government plans to spend approximately ₹200 crore annually on the scheme.

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The European Union and countries like Germany, Greece, and the Netherlands have joined the Pax Silica initiative. Pax Silica is a US-led global initiative aimed at reducing dependence on China in AI-related supply chains. The initiative focuses on securing access to chips, rare earths, critical minerals, and energy resources. It seeks to build a trusted and resilient global supply network for artificial intelligence technologies. Several other countries, including Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Kazakhstan, Panama, and India, are also part of the initiative.