*18 June(Thursday)* ________________________ *TODAYS TOP NEWS* -------------------------------------- President Smt. Droupadi Murmu will embark on a five-day visit to Madhya Pradesh and Odisha beginning today. On the first day of her visit, President Murmu will attend a programme on the empowerment of tribal society through spiritual awakening at Betul in Madhya Pradesh. Tomorrow, she will participate in the International Sickle Cell Day celebrations at Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh. 2. Polling for two Rajya Sabha seats from Jharkhand & one from Mizoram to take place today. 3. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar congratulated the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIIDEM) team for completing 15 years in service of electoral training and management. Mr Kumar said that during the Lok Sabha elections, the institute shoulders the responsibility of imparting training nearly one crore 80 lakh officials. 4. The Government Strengthens Women’s Safety Framework with Upgraded SHe-Box 2.0 Portal Under Mission Shakti Initiative. 4. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has informed that the progress of area coverage under Kharif Crops has recorded more than 84 lakh hectare area as of 12th of this month. 5. Indian Railways has approved a series of infrastructure projects worth over 1,200 crore rupees aimed at enhancing rail capacity, improving freight movement, strengthening safety systems and upgrading urban transport infrastructure across Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh. 6. Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG), Taranjit Singh Sandhu, chaired a meeting to review the implementation status of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act across the national capital. 7. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today announced a major expansion of Pune Railway Station with an investment of around 600 crore rupees. The Minister was speaking after flagging off the Pune-Sai Nagar Shirdi Express at Pune Railway Station and inaugurating and laying the foundation stones for various railway development projects. 8. Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav said that India has already brought 21.76 million hectares of land under restoration efforts against its target of restoring 26 million hectares by 2030. 9. Three new Ministers were inducted into the Puducherry Cabinet, completing the long-awaited expansion of the Council of Ministers. All India N.R. Congress MLAs P. Rajavelu and V. P. Sivakolundhu, and BJP MLA G. N. S. Rajasekaran were sworn in as Ministers at a ceremony held at Lok Nivas. Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan administered the oath of office and secrecy. 10. The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought was observed on 17 June 2026 across 813 project areas under the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana 2.0 (WDC-PMKSY 2.0) in India. The programme is implemented by the Watershed Management Division of the Department of Land Resources under the Ministry of Rural Development. 11. Odisha’s High-Level Clearance Authority approved 20 industrial projects on 17 June 2026. The proposals involve a cumulative investment of ₹76,611.86 crore and are linked to 50,517 proposed jobs across nine districts. 12. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced that a Uniform Civil Code Bill would be introduced in the Monsoon Session of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly. The session is scheduled from 20 July to 24 July 2026 and is expected to include the first supplementary budget for 2026-27. 13. Four new greenfield cities, called Namo Cities or Namo Nodes, are proposed under the National Capital Region Regional Plan 2041. The proposal was announced on 16 June 2026 after the 42nd board meeting of the NCR Planning Board, which functions under the National Capital Region Planning Board Act, 1985. 14. Bengaluru- Karnataka ranked second among Asia’s AI-native startup clusters in the Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2026, after Beijing. The same report placed Bengaluru 15th among the top 40 global startup ecosystems and assessed its startup ecosystem value at $153 billion. The Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2026 was launched at VivaTech in Paris on 17 June 2026. 15. India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange-colour warning for Heavy to Very Heavy Rainfall over parts of North East India and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal. IMD said that conditions are favourable for further advance of the southwest monsoon into some more parts of Telangana, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, and some parts of Chhattisgarh during the next 4 to 5 days. -------------------------------------- *LEGAL REPORT* -------------------------------------- The Government has refuted several social media posts circulating online, claiming that ants are gathering around the fuel filler caps of vehicles using E20 petrol. The Fact Check Unit of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) has clarified that the claim is false and said that there is no scientific basis for linking E20 fuel with ant attraction. It added that E20 fuel does not contain any identifiable attractant that would cause ants or other insects to congregate around vehicle fuel caps. -------------------------------------- *DEFENCE News* -------------------------------------- 1. India has decisively expanded Pralay missile production by inducting private defence firms alongside Bharat Dynamics Limited, boosting annual output from just forty units to as many as two hundred fifty. 2. Hyderabad-based Thanos Technologies has successfully demonstrated the in-flight test firing of a UAV-integrated weapon platform, marking a significant milestone in India’s indigenous defence innovation. This achievement highlights the company’s growing role in merging unmanned aerial systems with precision strike capabilities, strengthening India’s push towards sovereign military technologies. 3. India’s defence production has reached a historic peak of ₹1.78 lakh crore in FY 2025‑26, marking a 15.6 per cent rise from the previous year and more than doubling output since FY 2020‑21. 4. The Indian Air Force is establishing a dedicated drone development and production facility at Air Force Station Sulur in Tamil Nadu under the 5 Base Repair Depot, marking a major step towards indigenous kamikaze drone capability. 5. India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation has successfully completed a series of Phase-II Ballistic Missile Defence tests that mark a significant leap in the country’s ability to intercept long-range ballistic missile threats. 6. The Ministry of Defence has approved in principle a ₹500 crore National Military Drone Technology Hub at IIT-Kanpur, positioning Uttar Pradesh as India’s leading centre for defence drone innovation. This initiative will provide full-stack capabilities in design, testing, certification, and counter-drone systems, while strengthening the UP Defence Industrial Corridor ecosystem. 7. Ten Indian defence firms, including HAL, TATA Advanced Systems, and Larsen & Toubro, have submitted bids for the ₹30,000 crore project to supply 87 Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) drones to the Indian Air Force.This marks one of the largest indigenous UAV procurements in India’s history. 8. Bharat Forge’s defence arm Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL) has made headlines at Eurosatory 2026 in Paris by unveiling its MArG series of 155 mm mounted artillery guns, the world’s first of its kind on a 4×4 high mobility vehicle.This breakthrough positions India as a serious contender in the global defence export market. Paramount unveiled the Simha 4×4 armoured vehicle at Eurosatory 2026 in Paris, positioning it as a modular. -------------------------------------- ✈ *INTERNATIONAL NEWS* -------------------------------------- 1. PM Modi used his address at the G7 Summit in Evian to warn of the grave economic and humanitarian consequences of disruptions in maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that several Indian civilians have lost their lives during the ongoing conflict in West Asia. 2. PM Narendra Modi held a series of high-level bilateral meetings with leaders from the UAE, Kenya, Japan, Egypt and South Korea on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian, France, reaffirming India’s commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships across regions. 3. India faces a critical satellite shortage, with the Centre directing ISRO to launch at least 200 satellites in the next three years to address a severe transponder deficit and safeguard national digital infrastructure. The agency, currently operating only 56 satellites. 4. Canada, Thailand, Italy and the Philippines have all signalled strong intent to deepen space cooperation with India, focusing on commercial development, satellite applications, and advanced technologies. The India Space Congress 2026 has become a pivotal platform for these nations to align with India’s growing space ecosystem, which is increasingly driven by private sector participation and international partnerships. -------------------------------------- 🌎 *WORLD NEWS* 🌍 -------------------------------------- 1. Iran said early Thursday that a 14-point memorandum of understanding with the US aimed at ending the war had been formally finalized after the presidents of both countries signed the text of the agreement. 2. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Brussels on Wednesday ahead of a two-day European Council summit set to begin Thursday. 3. The European Union is preparing to fundamentally change its trade policy amid its widening trade deficit with China, rising dependence on strategic sectors and pressure from China’s state-sponsored production model on European industry. 4. US President Donald Trump said that Saudi Arabia would not have been able to prevent the US from using its airports for military operations against Iran. 5. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday hailed the European Parliament's approval of new EU rules on the return of irregular migrants as a "historic measure," saying the reform marks a turning point in Europe's migration policy. -------------------------------------- 🚣🚴🏇🏊 *SPORTS* -------------------------------------- India defeated Afghanistan by 170 runs in the second ODI on June 17, 2026, at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. India batted first and posted a massive total of 402 all out. In response, Afghanistan was bowled out for 232 runs, sealing a massive 170-run victory. Captain Shubman Gill led the charge with a magnificent 154-run knock. He was well supported by Ishan Kishan, who contributed a quickfire 125. 2. In Women’s Hockey, India defeated Japan 2-1 in their second Pool A match of the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup New Zealand 2026 at the North Harbour National Hockey Centre in Auckland. 3. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced the inaugural edition of the AIFF Under-17 Women’s Youth League. The tournament will kick off on the 18th of next month at the RKM Football Academy in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh, marking a historic milestone for women’s youth club football in India. 4. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the 23rd and current FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international men's soccer championship contested by the national teams of the member associations of FIFA. Austria won its first World Cup match in 36 years with a 3-1 win over Jordan. Defending champion Argentina also began their campaign with a dominant 3-nil win over Algeria. Lionel Messi scripted history by scoring his 14th, 15th, and 16th World Cup goals with a hat trick in the game. In another fixture, Norway defeated Iraq 4-1 in their Group I opener. -------------------------------------- *FINANCE* -------------------------------------- *INDIAN RUPEE VALUE* 💷 *GBP* ₹128(Approx) € *Euro* : ₹110(Approx)  *USD* ₹ 96(Approx) 🇨🇦 *Canada* :CAD ₹69 🇦🇺 *Australia* : ₹ 69 🇦🇪 *UAE Dirham* : ₹ 26 *🇨🇳 China Yuan ¥* : ₹ 14 🇲🇻 *Maldives Rufiya* : ₹ 6.16 🇧🇹 *Bhutan ngultrum* : ₹ 1.00 🇳🇵 *Nepal Rupee* : ₹ 0.63 🇧🇩 *B'desh Taka** : ₹ 0.78 🇵🇰 *Pak Rupee* : ₹ 0.34 🇱🇰 *Sri Lanka Rupee* : ₹ 0.30 -------------------------------------- *BSE SENSEX* 77,155.62 +347.14 (0.45%)🌲 *NIFTY* 24,085.70 +96.55 (0.40%)🌲 -------------------------------------- *Rates in Financial Capital Mumbai* *GOLD* : ₹ 15,100/ 01gm (24 krt) *SILVER* : ₹ 2,65,000/KG -------------------------------------- *ENTERTAINMENT NEWS* -------------------------------------- Main Vaapas Aaunga (transl. I Will Return) is a 2026 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film directed by Imtiaz Ali. The film stars Diljit Dosanjh, Naseeruddin Shah, Vedang Raina, Sharvari, and Banita Sandhu. It was theatrically released on 12 June 2026 and received mostly positive reviews from critics. -------------------------------------- Ⓝⓐⓥⓔⓔⓝ Ⓚⓤⓜⓐⓡ -------------------------------------- 🇮🇳 *FACTS ABOUT INDIA* 🇮🇳 -------------------------------------- THE KONARK SUN TEMPLE is a 13th-century Hindu temple dedicated to the Sun God Surya, located in Odisha. Built by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty around 1250 CE, the temple is designed in the form of a gigantic stone chariot with 24 intricately carved wheels and seven horses. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of India's finest examples of ancient architecture. -------------------------------------- 😀 *Thought of the Day* 😃 -------------------------------------- "The future depends on what you do today." — Mahatma Gandhi -------------------------------------- 😄 *JOKE OF THE DAY* 😂 -------------------------------------- टीचर – बताओ, दुनिया में सबसे ज्यादा आराम कौन करता है? 🤔 पप्पू – मोबाइल फोन! 📱😆 टीचर – वो कैसे? 😳 पप्पू – दिन भर चार्जिंग पर पड़ा रहता है! 🤣😂 -------------------------------------- 😳 *WHY ❓* ❓❓ -------------------------------------- Why do we get goosebumps? Goosebumps occur when tiny muscles attached to hair follicles contract. This reaction evolved in animals to make their fur stand up, helping them appear larger when threatened and keeping them warm. In humans, goosebumps can be triggered by cold temperatures, fear, excitement, or strong emotions. -------------------------------------- *LEARN Sanskrit* 🙏🏻 -------------------------------------- विद्या ;: Knowledge / Education -------------------------------------- 🤔 *HOW IT WORKS* ⁉ -------------------------------------- How does a Refrigerator keep food cold? A refrigerator uses a special fluid called a refrigerant. The refrigerant absorbs heat from inside the fridge and releases it outside through coils at the back. This continuous cycle removes heat from the refrigerator compartment, keeping food fresh and cool. The process is based on the principles of evaporation and condensation. -------------------------------------- 💁🏻‍♂️ *GK TODAY* -------------------------------------- The National Flag of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 22 July 1947. The Ashoka Chakra at its center contains 24 spokes. -------------------------------------- *BORN TODAY* 🐣💐 -------------------------------------- M. C. Escher (17 June 1898 – 27 March 1972) was a famous Dutch graphic artist known for mathematically inspired artworks featuring impossible constructions, tessellations, and optical illusions. -------------------------------------- 🙏🏻 *IDIOMS & PHRASES* -------------------------------------- Once in a blue moon Something that happens very rarely. -------------------------------------- *ANTONYMS* Ancient × Modern *SYNONYMS* Wise = Intelligent, Sensible -------------------------------------- 🛕 *Spiritual Knowledge* -------------------------------------- (kindly inform, if given info is differ from actual facts🙏🏻) Importance of Early Morning Wake-Up Ancient Indian traditions and Ayurveda encourage waking up during Brahma Muhurta (approximately 1.5 hours before sunrise). It is believed to be the most peaceful time of the day for meditation, study, prayer, and self-reflection. The fresh morning air and calm surroundings help improve concentration and mental clarity. -------------------------------------- 🧬 *HEALTH CARE: HOME REMEDIES* 🩺 (Note: These tips are traditional practices and not a substitute for medical advice🙏🏻) -------------------------------------- Indigestion Indigestion can occur due to overeating, eating too quickly, or consuming spicy foods. Simple remedies: a. Drink warm water slowly. b. Take a short walk after meals. c. Eat light and easily digestible food. If symptoms are frequent or severe, consult a healthcare professional. 🙏 PLZ SHARE IT #news #news #News Views