Daily Current Affairs June 18

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June 18 | Daily Current Affairs 2026

Important Days – Daily Current Affairs June 18

1. What was the theme of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2026?
A) Land Restoration for Future
B) Rangelands: Recognize. Respect. Restore
C) Restore Land Save Life
D) Combating Drought Together
E) Healthy Land Healthy Future
Answer: B) Rangelands: Recognize. Respect. Restore.

Event and Location:

• Event: World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2026 was observed to raise awareness about land degradation, desertification and drought challenges.
• Location: The observance was marked globally, including project areas across India.
• Date: The day was observed on June 17, 2026.

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: The observance focused on recognising, respecting and restoring rangelands while promoting land restoration, drought mitigation and sustainable watershed management.
• Objectives: The objective was to protect land resources, improve climate resilience, support biodiversity and strengthen food and water security.

Important Terms Explained:

• Rangelands: Rangelands are ecosystems such as grasslands, savannahs, shrublands and tundra that support livestock, biodiversity, water regulation and climate resilience.
• Desertification: Desertification is land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid regions caused by factors such as climate change, deforestation, overgrazing and unsustainable farming.
• Drought: Drought is a prolonged period of below-average rainfall that affects agriculture, water availability, ecosystems and livelihoods.
• WDC-PMKSY 2.0: WDC-PMKSY 2.0 is the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana 2.0, implemented for land restoration and watershed development.

Tabular Summary:

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2. What is the theme of Autistic Pride Day 2026?
A) Acceptance and Awareness
B) Recognition, Representation and Reform
C) Inclusion for Every Mind
D) Neurodiversity for All
E) Equal Rights Equal Futures
Answer: B) Recognition, Representation and Reform.

Event and Location:

• Event: Autistic Pride Day 2026 was observed to celebrate neurodiversity and promote dignity, inclusion and acceptance of autistic individuals.
• Location: The observance was marked globally.
• Date: Autistic Pride Day was observed on June 18, 2026.

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: The observance focused on celebrating autistic identity, challenging outdated perceptions of autism and promoting community-led awareness, education and inclusion.
• Objectives: The objective was to recognise autistic strengths, improve representation, support reforms and ensure equal opportunities in education, employment, healthcare and community life.

Important Terms Explained:

• Neurodiversity: Neurodiversity is the idea that differences in brain functioning are natural human variations rather than defects that require correction.
• Autism Spectrum Disorder: Autism Spectrum Disorder is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that affects communication, social interaction, information processing and sensory experiences.
• Autistic Pride Day: Autistic Pride Day is an international observance that celebrates autistic identity and promotes acceptance, accessibility and equal rights.
• Rainbow infinity symbol: Rainbow infinity symbol represents infinite diversity within the autistic community, acceptance of neurological differences and inclusion.

Tabular Summary:

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Sports – Daily Current Affairs June 18

3. Which footballer equalled Miroslav Klose’s record as the FIFA World Cup’s joint highest goalscorer?
A) Cristiano Ronaldo
B) Lionel Messi
C) Kylian Mbappé
D) Neymar
E) Lautaro Martínez
Answer: B) Lionel Messi.

Event and Location:

• Event: Lionel Messi equalled Miroslav Klose’s FIFA World Cup goalscoring record after scoring a hat-trick against Algeria.
• Location: The milestone was achieved during Argentina’s opening match against Algeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
• Date: The news was reported on June 18, 2026.

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: Messi scored three goals in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria and achieved multiple FIFA World Cup records.
• Objectives: The event highlighted Messi’s longevity, consistency and record-breaking influence in international football.

Important Terms Explained:

• FIFA World Cup: FIFA World Cup is the premier international football tournament contested by national teams.
• Hat-trick: Hat-trick means a player scoring three goals in a single football match.
• International goals: International goals are goals scored by a player while representing the national team in official international matches.
• Oldest World Cup hat-trick scorer: Oldest World Cup hat-trick scorer refers to the player with the highest age to score three goals in one FIFA World Cup match.

Tabular Summary:

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4. Against which team did Deepti Sharma claim her 355th international wicket to equal Jhulan Goswami’s record?
A) Pakistan
B) Netherlands
C) South Africa
D) Bangladesh
E) Australia
Answer: B) Netherlands.

Event and Location:

• Event: Deepti Sharma equalled Jhulan Goswami’s record of 355 international wickets in women’s cricket.
• Location: The milestone was achieved at Headingley in Leeds, England.
• Date: The record was equalled on June 17, 2026.

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: Deepti Sharma dismissed Netherlands opener Phebe Molkenboer during India’s Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group A match.
• Objectives: The achievement highlighted Deepti Sharma’s rise as one of the most successful bowlers in women’s international cricket.

Important Terms Explained:

• Women’s T20 World Cup: Women’s T20 World Cup is an international cricket tournament played in the 20-over format among women’s national teams.
• International wickets: International wickets refer to wickets taken by a bowler while representing the national team across recognised international formats.
• All-rounder: All-rounder is a cricket player who contributes significantly in both batting and bowling.
• Group A match: Group A match refers to a league-stage fixture played within a specific group during a tournament.

Tabular Summary:

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Business and Economy – Daily Current Affairs June 18

5. Which Bengaluru-based AI startup became India’s newest unicorn after raising $234 million in Series B funding?
A) Krutrim AI
B) Sarvam AI
C) Ola Electric
D) Fractal Analytics
E) Haptik
Answer: B) Sarvam AI.

Event and Location:

• Event: Sarvam AI became India’s newest unicorn after raising $234 million in the first close of its Series B funding round.
• Location: The startup is based in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
• Date: The news was reported on June 18, 2026.

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: Sarvam AI raised funding led by HCLTech, with participation from Bessemer Venture Partners, Khosla Ventures and Peak XV Partners.
• Objectives: The objective was to strengthen AI research, expand computing infrastructure, scale enterprise deployments and support India’s sovereign AI ecosystem.

Important Terms Explained:

• Unicorn startup: Unicorn startup refers to a privately held startup valued at $1 billion or more.
• Sovereign AI: Sovereign AI refers to artificial intelligence systems developed and deployed within a country’s own technology ecosystem, aligned with local languages, regulations and strategic priorities.
• Series B funding: Series B funding is a growth-stage investment round used by startups to scale products, operations, infrastructure and market expansion.
• Post-money valuation: Post-money valuation is the estimated value of a company after including the latest investment raised in a funding round.
• Agentic AI: Agentic AI refers to AI systems capable of planning, making decisions and performing tasks with a higher degree of autonomy.

Tabular Summary:

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Appointments – Daily Current Affairs June 18

6. Who has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the National Statistical Commission?
A) Dr Madhavan Mukund
B) Prof Shubhabrata Das
C) Shri Satyendra Bahadur Singh
D) Dr Saibal Chattopadhyay
E) Dr V Anantha Nageswaran
Answer: D) Dr Saibal Chattopadhyay.

Event and Location:

• Event: The Government of India appointed a new Chairperson and three Members to the National Statistical Commission.
• Location: The appointments apply to India’s official statistical system.
• Date: The appointments were approved on June 17, 2026.

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the appointment of Dr Saibal Chattopadhyay as Chairperson and Prof Shubhabrata Das, Shri Satyendra Bahadur Singh and Dr Madhavan Mukund as Members of the NSC.
• Objectives: The objective was to strengthen India’s apex advisory body for official statistics with experts from statistics, academia, public administration and computer science.

Important Terms Explained:

• National Statistical Commission: National Statistical Commission is India’s apex advisory body for official statistics, established in 2005 to improve quality, transparency and coordination in the statistical system.
• Appointments Committee of the Cabinet: Appointments Committee of the Cabinet is a high-level government body that approves appointments to key positions in central institutions and organisations.
• Official statistics: Official statistics are data produced by government agencies to support planning, policy formulation, monitoring and evidence-based decision-making.
• Indian Statistical Service: Indian Statistical Service is a specialised civil service cadre that provides technical expertise in official statistics and statistical administration.

Tabular Summary:

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7. Who has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director of GIC Re?
A) N Ramaswamy
B) Hitesh Joshi
C) T Rabi Sankar
D) M Rajeshwar Rao
E) Debasish Panda
Answer: B) Hitesh Joshi.

Event and Location:

• Event: The government appointed Hitesh Joshi as Chairman and Managing Director of GIC Re.
• Location: The appointment applies to General Insurance Corporation of India in India.
• Date: The appointment was approved on June 12, 2026.

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved Hitesh Joshi’s appointment as CMD of GIC Re after he served as acting CMD from October 1, 2025.
• Objectives: The objective was to provide full-time leadership to India’s national reinsurer after the retirement of former CMD N. Ramaswamy.

Important Terms Explained:

• GIC Re: GIC Re is the General Insurance Corporation of India and serves as India’s national reinsurer.
• Reinsurance: Reinsurance is insurance for insurance companies, allowing insurers to transfer part of their risks to a reinsurer.
• Appointments Committee of the Cabinet: Appointments Committee of the Cabinet is a high-level government body that approves appointments to important posts in central institutions and public sector entities.
• Chairman and Managing Director: Chairman and Managing Director is the top executive position responsible for leadership, management, governance and strategic direction of an organisation.
• Enterprise Risk Management: Enterprise Risk Management is a structured approach used by organisations to identify, assess and manage risks across operations.

Tabular Summary:

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International Affairs – Daily Current Affairs June 18

8. When will the India-UK CETA and Social Security Agreement take effect?
A) May 6, 2025
B) July 24, 2025
C) February 10, 2026
D) July 15, 2026
E) December 31, 2026
Answer: D) July 15, 2026.

Event and Location:

• Event: India and the United Kingdom will implement the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement and the Double Contribution Convention to boost trade and professional mobility.
• Location: The agreements apply to India and the United Kingdom.
• Date: The agreements will take effect from July 15, 2026.

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: India and the United Kingdom will implement CETA and the Social Security Contributions Agreement after negotiations, conclusion and formal signing of the trade framework.
• Objectives: The objective is to expand bilateral trade, provide zero-duty access for Indian exports, strengthen services trade and reduce social security costs for Indian professionals in the UK.

Important Terms Explained:

• CETA: CETA is a next-generation free trade agreement between India and the United Kingdom covering goods, services, investments, digital trade, financial services, intellectual property, procurement, innovation and sustainability.
• Double Contribution Convention: Double Contribution Convention is a social security agreement that prevents Indian employees and employers from paying dual social security contributions during temporary work assignments in the UK.
• Zero-duty access: Zero-duty access means eligible exports can enter a foreign market without customs duty, improving competitiveness and market access.
• Enhanced Trade Partnership: Enhanced Trade Partnership was launched in May 2021 to strengthen India-UK trade relations and support the broader India-UK Roadmap 2030.

Tabular Summary:

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9. What is the name of the 14-point interim agreement announced by the United States and Iran?
A) Geneva Peace Accord
B) Tehran Security Pact
C) Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding
D) Hormuz Maritime Agreement
E) Middle East Stability Framework
Answer: C) Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

Event and Location:

• Event: The United States and Iran signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding to halt conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
• Location: The agreement concerns the United States, Iran and the Strait of Hormuz region.
• Date: The news was reported on June 18, 2026.

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: The agreement introduced a 14-point interim framework with a 60-day negotiating window, immediate cessation of hostilities, reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and discussions on sanctions, nuclear issues and regional security.
• Objectives: The objective was to reduce military tensions, restore commercial shipping, stabilise global energy markets and create a pathway for a broader diplomatic settlement.

Important Terms Explained:

• Strait of Hormuz: Strait of Hormuz is a narrow and strategically important waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to global shipping routes and carrying a major share of global oil exports.
• Interim agreement: Interim agreement is a temporary arrangement that creates immediate confidence-building measures while parties negotiate a final settlement.
• Sanctions relief: Sanctions relief refers to the easing or removal of economic restrictions imposed on a country, sector or entity.
• International Atomic Energy Agency: International Atomic Energy Agency is the global nuclear watchdog expected to supervise nuclear-related commitments and verification measures.
• Nuclear non-proliferation: Nuclear non-proliferation refers to efforts aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and ensuring peaceful use of nuclear technology.

Tabular Summary:

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Schemes – Daily Current Affairs June 18

10. How much financial assistance did the Centre approve for nine startups under the National Green Hydrogen Mission?
A) ₹10 crore
B) ₹15 crore
C) ₹22 crore
D) ₹50 crore
E) ₹100 crore
Answer: C) ₹22 crore.

Event and Location:

• Event: The Centre approved ₹22 crore support for nine startups under the National Green Hydrogen Mission and launched the Green Hydrogen Certification Portal of India.
• Location: The initiative applies across India.
• Date: The news was reported on June 18, 2026.

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy approved the first batch of startup funding and launched a digital certification platform for green hydrogen compliance.
• Objectives: The objective was to promote clean energy innovation, support green hydrogen startups, ensure certification transparency and strengthen India’s green hydrogen ecosystem.

Important Terms Explained:

• Green Hydrogen: Green Hydrogen is hydrogen produced using renewable energy, making it a clean fuel with minimal carbon emissions.
• Green Hydrogen Certification Portal of India: Green Hydrogen Certification Portal of India is a digital platform created to verify green hydrogen standards and support certification and regulatory compliance.
• Electrolyzer: Electrolyzer is a device that uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen for hydrogen production.
• Proton Exchange Membrane Technology: Proton Exchange Membrane Technology is an electrolyzer technology that improves hydrogen production efficiency and reduces electricity consumption.
• Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cells: Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cells are advanced electrolyzer systems expected to further reduce electricity use in hydrogen production.

Tabular Summary:

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National Affairs – Daily Current Affairs June 18

11. Which state approved investment proposals worth ₹76,611.86 crore across 20 major projects including lab-grown diamonds and renewable energy?
A) Gujarat
B) Maharashtra
C) Odisha
D) Karnataka
E) Telangana
Answer: C) Odisha.

Event and Location:

• Event: Odisha approved investment proposals worth ₹76,611.86 crore across 20 major industrial projects.
• Location: The projects will be spread across nine districts of Odisha, including Khordha, Ganjam, Jajpur, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda and Malkangiri.
• Date: The news was reported on June 18, 2026.

Mandates and Objectives:

• Mandates: The High-Level Clearance Authority chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi approved projects in lab-grown diamonds, renewable energy, critical minerals, steel, healthcare, railways and infrastructure.
• Objectives: The objective was to attract large-scale industrial investment, diversify Odisha’s economy, strengthen advanced manufacturing and generate more than 50,500 employment opportunities.

Important Terms Explained:

• Lab-grown diamonds: Lab-grown diamonds are diamonds produced through advanced technological processes instead of natural mining and are used in jewellery and industrial applications.
• Critical minerals: Critical minerals are strategically important minerals used in electric vehicles, clean energy technologies, electronics and advanced manufacturing.
• Neodymium-Iron-Boron magnets: Neodymium-Iron-Boron magnets are high-strength permanent magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines and advanced industrial applications.
• Photovoltaic cells: Photovoltaic cells are solar cells that convert sunlight directly into electricity and are essential for solar power generation.
• Pumped-storage hydroelectric project: Pumped-storage hydroelectric project stores energy by pumping water to a higher reservoir and releases it later to generate electricity during demand periods.

Tabular Summary:

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