INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Canada Proposes Social Media Ban for Children Under 16

• Canada announced plans on 8 June 2026 to introduce a law banning social media use for children below 16 years.

• The proposal is part of a broader Online Harms Bill, expected to be tabled in the House of Commons on 10 June 2026.

• The legislation aims to impose age-based restrictions and legal obligations on digital platforms.

• Platforms may seek exemptions if they can demonstrate effective safeguards for protecting young users.

• The bill could require AI-enabled platforms to maintain transparency and report serious threats to law enforcement.

• Provinces such as Manitoba, Ontario, Alberta, and New Brunswick have also considered similar restrictions.

• A March 2026 Angus Reid Poll found that 75% of Canadians supported a complete social media ban for those under 16.

• The proposal follows the example of Australia, which implemented an under-16 social media ban in December 2025.

Indian-American Nithya Raman Advances to Los Angeles Mayoral Runoff

• Nithya Raman advanced to the Los Angeles mayoral runoff election scheduled for 3 November 2026.

• In the 2 June 2026 primary, she finished second behind incumbent mayor Karen Bass.

• Karen Bass secured 34.3% of the vote, while Nithya Raman received 28.6%.

• Raman defeated Spencer Pratt for the runoff spot, leading by over 21,000 votes.

• The 3 November 2026 runoff will be the first Los Angeles mayoral runoff in nearly two decades.

• Nithya Raman is a member of the Los Angeles City Council and was re-elected in 2024.

• Her campaign emphasized housing affordability, homelessness solutions, infrastructure, and support for renters and young voters.

• Los Angeles follows a non-partisan primary-and-runoff system, where the top two candidates compete in the final election.

STATE NEWS

Haryana Sets 2027 Deadline for Yamuna Pollution-Control Projects

• Haryana fixed 31 December 2027 as the deadline for all ongoing and proposed Yamuna pollution-control projects.

• The action plan focuses on sewage treatment, industrial waste management, drain monitoring, and river rejuvenation.

• A mission-mode Yamuna rejuvenation programme was launched on 3 June 2026.

• As of March 2026, Haryana had 91 operational STPs with a total treatment capacity of 1,543 MLD.

• Three additional STPs with a combined capacity of 88 MLD are under construction and expected to be completed by March 2027.

• The state plans to establish CETPs, micro-STPs, and effluent-tapping infrastructure in the Yamuna basin.

• Drone-based surveys will be conducted to map drains, monitor water flow, and assess water quality.

• Haryana has proposed a ₹100-crore Climate Fund in the 2026–27 Budget to support environmental protection and climate adaptation measures.

AWARDS

Lt Commander Suraj Prashar Awarded Shaurya Chakra

• Lt Commander Suraj Prashar of the Indian Navy received the Shaurya Chakra on 8 June 2026.

• The award was presented by Droupadi Murmu at the Defence Investiture Ceremony 2026 (Phase-I) held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

• He was honoured for exceptional bravery during Operation Chuntawadi in Bandipora, Jammu & Kashmir.

• The operation was conducted on the night of 5–6 November 2024 to counter terrorist threats.

• Lt Commander Prashar belongs to MARCOS (Marine Commandos), the special forces unit of the Indian Navy.

• MARCOS specializes in maritime warfare, reconnaissance, and counter-terrorism operations.

• The Shaurya Chakra is India’s third-highest peacetime gallantry award.

• The ceremony was attended by President Murmu, Narendra Modi, and Rajnath Singh.

Defence Investiture Ceremony 2026: Gallantry Awards Conferred

• Droupadi Murmu conferred gallantry awards during Phase-I of the Defence Investiture Ceremony 2026 at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 8 June 2026.

• The awards included 7 Kirti Chakras, 15 Vir Chakras, and 29 Shaurya Chakras.

• Air Commodore Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair was among the recipients of the Kirti Chakra.

• The Kirti Chakra is India's second-highest peacetime gallantry award, ranking below the Ashoka Chakra.

• Two Kirti Chakras were awarded posthumously to Sepoy Janjal Pravin Prabhakar and Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari.

• Other Kirti Chakra awardees included Lance Naik Meenatchi Sundaram A, Naib Subedar Doleshwar Subba, Major Arshdeep Singh, and Captain Lalrinawma Sailo.

• Air Commodore Nair is one of the astronaut-designates for India's Gaganyaan Mission, the country's first human spaceflight programme.

• Gallantry awards in India are traditionally announced on Republic Day and Independence Day, while the Defence Investiture Ceremony is held to formally present these honours.

President Murmu to Confer Padma Awards 2026

• Droupadi Murmu will present the Padma Awards on 23 June 2026 at the second Civil Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

• The ceremony will honour 65 distinguished personalities with Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri awards.

• A total of 131 Padma Awards were approved for 2026, comprising 5 Padma Vibhushans, 13 Padma Bhushans, and 113 Padma Shris.

• The first Civil Investiture Ceremony was held on 25 May 2026, where 66 awardees received their honours.

• Mammootty will receive the Padma Bhushan, while R. Madhavan will be honoured with the Padma Shri.

• The Padma Shri will be conferred posthumously on Satish Shah, with the award accepted by his next of kin.

• Gadde Babu Rajendra Prasad is also among the Padma Shri recipients.

• Instituted in 1954, the Padma Awards are among India's highest civilian honours, and nominations for Padma Awards 2027 are open through the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal until 31 July 2026.

SPORTS

India Hosts Inaugural World Yogasana Championship 2026

• India hosted the first-ever World Yogasana Championship from 4–8 June 2026 at TransStadia, Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

• The championship witnessed participation from athletes representing 79 countries.

• India topped the medal tally with 114 medals, including an impressive 102 gold medals.

• Japan finished second with 11 medals (3 gold, 3 silver, and 5 bronze).

• Argentina secured third place, with athlete Nabila Barraza winning 2 gold and 3 silver medals.

• Nepal won 52 medals, including 1 gold, 36 silver, and 15 bronze.

• A total of 31 countries earned at least one medal during the championship.

• The event was supported by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, the Ministry of Ayush, the Sports Authority of India, and the Government of Gujarat, promoting Yogasana as a global competitive sport.

DEFENCE

India Remains 5th Largest Military Spender in 2025

• India remained the world's fifth-largest military spender in 2025, with defence expenditure of USD 92.1 billion.

• The countries ahead of India were the United States, China, Russia, and Germany.

• India's military spending increased by 8.9% compared to the previous year.

• India was the second-largest importer of major arms during 2021–25, accounting for 8.2% of global arms imports.

• India's arms imports declined by 4% compared with the 2016–20 period, reflecting efforts toward defence indigenisation.

• According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, domestic production growth and delays in indigenous projects influenced import trends.

• Russia remained India's largest arms supplier with a 40% share, followed by France (29%) and Israel (15%).

• Globally, Ukraine emerged as the largest recipient of major arms, while international arms transfers increased by 9.2% during 2021–25 compared to 2016–20.

ECONOMY NEWS

Fitch Cuts India’s FY27 GDP Growth Forecast to 6.4%

• Fitch Ratings reduced India’s FY27 GDP growth forecast from 6.7% to 6.4% on 9 June 2026.

• The downgrade followed a 0.3 percentage point cut from Fitch's March 2026 estimate.

• India had recorded 7.4% GDP growth in FY26, making the FY27 projection comparatively lower.

• Fitch also lowered its global growth forecast for 2026 to 2.4%.

• The agency expects inflation to rise to 5.3% by end-2026, mainly due to higher oil prices.

• It revised the average Brent crude oil price forecast to USD 87 per barrel, up from the earlier estimate of USD 70.

• Fitch expects the RBI policy rate to increase from 5.25% to 5.5% during 2026.

• Despite global uncertainties, domestic demand is expected to remain the key driver of India’s FY27 economic growth.

SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE

Bonn Climate Conference (SB64) 2026

• The Bonn Climate Conference (SB64) is being held from 8–18 June 2026 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change process.

• Health advocates called for grant-based adaptation finance to be tripled to at least USD 120 billion annually by 2035.

• Adaptation finance supports measures that help communities cope with climate impacts such as floods, droughts, heatwaves, and sea-level rise.

• The USD 120 billion target is three times the USD 40 billion adaptation goal linked to COP26 (Glasgow, 2021).

• The appeal was made by the Global Climate and Health Alliance during the Bonn meetings.

• SB64 serves as a preparatory session for COP31, scheduled in Antalya from 9–20 November 2026.

• Discussions also focus on implementing the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) under the Paris Agreement.

• Delegates are working to operationalise 59 adaptation indicators adopted at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, to track global adaptation progress.