APPOINTMENTS

Bimal N. Patel Elected Judge of International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS)

• Indian jurist Bimal N. Patel has been elected as a Judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea after securing 115 votes out of 168 valid votes.

• The election was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York during the 36th Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

• ITLOS is an independent judicial institution established under United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and became operational after its entry into force in 1994.

• The tribunal is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, and adjudicates disputes related to the interpretation and application of maritime law.

• Bimal N. Patel will serve a nine-year term from 2026 to 2035 and is scheduled to assume office on 1 October 2026.

• He is among seven judges elected for the 2026–2035 term, representing countries including India, Vietnam, Ghana, Tunisia, Russia, Brazil, and the Netherlands.

• His election ensures continued Indian representation following the tenure of current Indian judge Neeru Chadha, which concludes in September 2026.

• Patel currently serves as Vice-Chancellor of Rashtriya Raksha University and is also a member of the United Nations International Law Commission, contributing to the development of international law.

Vivek Aggarwal Elected Vice President of FATF in Paris

• Vivek Aggarwal, a 1994-batch Indian Administrative Service officer, has been elected as the Vice President of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on 19 June 2026 in Paris.

• He has become the first Indian official to hold the Vice Presidency of this global body responsible for setting standards on financial integrity and security.

• The Financial Action Task Force was established in 1989 by the G7 nations and is headquartered in Paris, France.

• The organisation develops global frameworks to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing across jurisdictions.

• The FATF also maintains lists of jurisdictions, commonly referred to as the “grey list” and “black list,” based on compliance with anti-financial crime standards.

• The Vice President of FATF serves a one-year term, and Vivek Aggarwal will hold office from July 2026 to June 2027, succeeding Giles Thomson.

• Currently, Aggarwal serves as Secretary in the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and has previously led India’s delegation to FATF meetings.

• He has also served as Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit-India, which operates under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India and is part of India’s financial intelligence and anti-money laundering framework.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

“Viksit Bharat 2047” Forum Held at House of Lords in London

• The House of Lords hosted a “Viksit Bharat 2047” forum on 19 June 2026 in London.

• The event was organised by the NRI Association of UK and brought together parliamentarians, diplomats, business leaders, and members of the Indian diaspora.

• “Viksit Bharat 2047” refers to India’s long-term vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047, marking 100 years of independence.

• The forum discussed key areas of India–UK cooperation, including trade, education, technology, and cultural exchange.

• Participants also referred to the ongoing discussions around a proposed India–United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement, aimed at strengthening bilateral economic ties.

• Speakers at the event included Meenakshi Singh, Lord Graham Brady, and Lord Rami Ranger.

• The Indian diaspora was highlighted as a “living bridge” connecting India and the United Kingdom in areas of diplomacy, trade, and culture.

• The forum builds on earlier UK-based initiatives on “Viksit Bharat 2047,” including conferences held in London in 2024 and 2026 focusing on governance, legal frameworks, and India–UK partnership development.

NATIONAL NEWS

UGC Approves Five Foreign Universities to Establish Campuses in India

• The University Grants Commission has granted Letters of Approval to five foreign universities to establish branch campuses in India under the 2023 regulatory framework.

• These approvals were issued under the UGC (Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in India) Regulations, 2023, notified on 8 November 2023.

• The approved institutions are University of Southampton, University of Liverpool, University of Bristol, University of York, and University of New South Wales.

• The University of Southampton became the first among them to commence academic activities, launching its campus in Gurugram during the 2025–26 academic session.

• The Universities of Bristol and York are establishing campuses in Mumbai, while the University of New South Wales is setting up its campus in Bengaluru at Manyata Business Park.

• Proposed academic offerings include finance, business management, economics, data science, artificial intelligence, cyber security, entrepreneurship, and creative industries.

• The initiative supports the objectives of the National Education Policy 2020, which promotes the internationalisation of India's higher education sector.

• The UGC has also issued 10 Letters of Intent to institutions from the UK, USA, Australia, and Italy, with the government highlighting that obtaining foreign degrees in India could cost substantially less than studying abroad.

CCPA Imposes Penalties on Food Companies for Misleading Advertisements

• The Central Consumer Protection Authority imposed penalties of ₹1 lakh each on Storia Foods and Beverages Pvt. Ltd. and Mrs. Bectors Food Specialities Ltd. on 21 June 2026 for misleading food-related advertisements.

• The action was taken under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, along with the Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements, 2022.

• The CCPA is a statutory authority responsible for investigating unfair trade practices, stopping misleading advertisements, and imposing penalties to protect consumer interests.

• The 2022 guidelines cover false, deceptive, or unsubstantiated claims made across packaging, websites, and digital marketing platforms.

• In the case of Storia Foods, products such as “100% Tender Coconut Water” and “100% Juice” were found to be reconstituted from concentrate with added water, making the claims misleading.

• Some products labelled as “100% Natural” were also flagged due to the presence of preservatives like INS 202, which contradicted the claims of purity.

• Mrs. Bectors Food Specialities Ltd. was penalised for “100% Atta Bread” and “100% Whole Wheat Bread” claims, while the actual formulation contained only 87% whole wheat flour.

• The case highlights that absolute claims like “100%”, “pure”, and “natural” are strictly examined from the perspective of an ordinary consumer, and must accurately reflect product composition under consumer protection law.

STATE NEWS

Ladakh’s Constitutional Safeguards Under Article 371: Ongoing Centre–Stakeholder Consultations

• The Union Territory of Ladakh is currently being considered for special constitutional safeguards inspired by Article 371 provisions, aimed at addressing its unique geographical and cultural requirements.

• On 22 May 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs convened a sub-committee meeting with representatives of the Ladakh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance to discuss governance options.

• The discussions included proposals for a customised elected Union Territory-level body for Ladakh, equipped with legislative, executive, and financial authority.

• A key focus of the deliberations was ensuring that the bureaucracy remains accountable to the elected political executive, strengthening democratic functioning in the region.

• Article 371 falls under Part XXI of the Constitution of India, which provides special provisions for certain states and regions based on regional diversity and historical needs.

• Related constitutional provisions such as Article 371A, Article 371F, and Article 371G address issues like land rights, customary law, and cultural protections.

• The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution also provides for Autonomous District Councils in tribal areas of states such as Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram, forming another model of decentralised governance.

• Since becoming a Union Territory on 31 October 2019, Ladakh has remained under discussion for a separate constitutional and administrative framework, with further consultations and a draft proposal expected through the Ministry of Home Affairs.

PM Modi Leads 12th International Day of Yoga Celebrations in Kolkata

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the 12th International Day of Yoga celebrations at Red Road in Kolkata on 21 June 2026, marking a large-scale national observance.

• The event featured a mass yoga session with thousands of participants, along with synchronised yoga programmes conducted across multiple locations in the city.

• The United Nations General Assembly declared 21 June as the International Day of Yoga in 2014, and the first global observance took place in 2015 following the adoption of the UN resolution.

• The theme for 2026 was “Yoga for Healthy Ageing”, focusing on promoting physical and mental well-being through traditional yoga practices.

• Yoga, originating in ancient India, is a holistic discipline combining physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation practices aimed at overall health.

• At the Kolkata event, the Prime Minister actively participated in yoga exercises and assisted participants in correcting postures during the 40-minute session.

• The main venue at Red Road was expected to host around 35,000 participants, while nearly 10 lakh people participated in synchronised yoga events across Kolkata.

• The Ministry of Ayush, along with more than 210 Indian missions abroad and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), organised Yoga Day programmes at approximately 2,500 global locations, highlighting yoga’s international outreach.

Ladakh Imposes Strict Ban on Single-Use Plastics and Littering

• The administration of Ladakh has prohibited the use, sale, storage, and distribution of identified single-use plastic (SUP) items across the Union Territory to protect its fragile Himalayan ecosystem.

• The ban covers commonly used disposable plastic products such as plastic cutlery, cups, plates, straws, trays, wrapping films, stirrers, plastic flags, thin plastic banners, and thermocol decoration materials.

• Any violation of the SUP ban will attract an environmental penalty of ₹10,000, applicable to individuals, commercial establishments, hotels, restaurants, and other entities.

• A separate penalty of ₹5,000 has been prescribed for littering in public places, aimed at improving cleanliness and waste management.

• Designated officials at district and field levels have been empowered to conduct inspections, issue challans, and recover penalties from violators.

• Enforcement measures include surprise inspections, CCTV monitoring, videography, photography, and other electronic evidence to detect and document violations.

• Authorities will also conduct random checks at Leh Airport and major entry points to prevent the transportation and use of banned plastic products within Ladakh.

• The initiative seeks to safeguard Ladakh’s high-altitude cold desert environment, which faces growing pressure from tourism, limited waste-disposal facilities, and increasing plastic pollution.

SPORTS

India Wins Gold in Women’s 4x100m Relay at Asian Relays Championships 2026

• India clinched the gold medal in the women’s 4x100m relay at the Asian Relays Championships 2026 held in Shangyu, China, on 21 June 2026.

• The Indian team comprising Srabani Nanda, Sneha SS, Sudeshna Shivankar, and Tamanna clocked a season-best time of 43.85 seconds.

• In the same event, China secured silver with 44.09 seconds, while Thailand took bronze with 44.11 seconds.

• The women’s 4x100m relay is a track event where four athletes run 100 metres each, passing a baton within designated exchange zones.

• India also won a silver medal in the mixed 4x400m relay, with the team finishing in 3:17.06.

• The silver medal-winning mixed relay team included M.R. Poovamma, Neeru Pathak, Theerthesh P Shetty, and Barath Sridhar.

• India also secured a bronze medal in the mixed 4x100m relay, clocking 41.47 seconds, through Animesh Kujur, Pranav Gurav, Tamanna, and Sneha Shanuvalli.

• The Asian Relays Championships highlight team-based sprint events with baton exchanges, and India is set to host the 3rd edition in Chandigarh in 2027, marking continued growth in its athletics programme.

SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE

India to Host BRICS National Security Advisers’ Meeting (22–23 June 2026)

• India will host the BRICS National Security Advisers (NSA) Meeting on 22–23 June 2026, focusing on key global and regional security issues.

• The meeting will be chaired by India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and will include NSAs or equivalent heads of delegation from BRICS member countries.

• The BRICS originally comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, and has expanded to include additional members such as Iran.

• The central theme of the meeting is “Non-traditional security challenges confronting the world today”, highlighting evolving and emerging global threats.

• Discussions will focus on counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, and transnational security risks, especially those arising from technological advancements.

• Delegates will review outcomes from BRICS Joint Working Groups on counter-terrorism and security in the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

• The NSA-level dialogue will also serve as a preparatory platform for the BRICS Summit scheduled to be held in India in September 2026.

• The meeting is expected to see participation from senior global stakeholders, including Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and representatives from Iran, reinforcing BRICS cooperation on global security concerns.