Samvidhan Hatya Diwas (Constitution Murder Day) & the National Emergency (1975)
• The Government of India observes 25 June as "Samvidhan Hatya Diwas" to commemorate the declaration of the National Emergency (1975–1977) and its impact on constitutional democracy.
• The Emergency was proclaimed on 25 June 1975 under Article 352 by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed on the advice of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, citing "internal disturbance".
• The proclamation followed the Indira Nehru Gandhi v. Raj Narain (1975) judgment, in which the Allahabad High Court invalidated Indira Gandhi's 1971 Lok Sabha election on grounds of electoral malpractice.
• During the Emergency, fundamental rights were severely restricted, press censorship was imposed, and many opposition leaders and activists were detained under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA).
• The 38th Amendment Act, 1975 restricted judicial review of the Emergency proclamation, while the 39th Amendment Act, 1975 placed certain election disputes involving high constitutional offices beyond judicial scrutiny.
• The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976, often called the "Mini-Constitution," expanded the powers of Parliament and the Executive while curtailing the scope of judicial review.
• The 44th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1978 introduced major safeguards by replacing "internal disturbance" with "armed rebellion", restoring judicial review, requiring written Cabinet advice, and protecting Articles 20 and 21 even during an Emergency.
• The Emergency remains an important constitutional lesson, highlighting the need for judicial independence, protection of civil liberties, free media, parliamentary accountability, and cooperative federalism to safeguard India's democratic framework.
OpenAI Appoints Prabhjeet Singh as Managing Director for India
• Prabhjeet Singh was appointed Managing Director of OpenAI India on 26 June 2026 and will assume office in September 2026.
• He will lead OpenAI’s India operations and report to Kiran Mani, Managing Director for the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.
• His responsibilities include consumer growth, enterprise AI adoption, strategic partnerships, regulatory engagement, and business operations across India.
• Before joining OpenAI, Prabhjeet Singh served as President of Uber India and South Asia, overseeing operations in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.
• OpenAI considers India its second-largest market after the United States, highlighting the country's growing importance in the global AI ecosystem.
• The company established its first office in New Delhi in November 2025 and plans further expansion with offices in Mumbai and Bengaluru.
• Prabhjeet Singh will focus on strengthening AI partnerships with businesses, institutions, developers, startups, and government agencies to accelerate AI adoption.
• The appointment reflects OpenAI’s expanding presence in India and the increasing competition among global AI companies to invest in the country's rapidly growing artificial intelligence market.
Operation Amistad: India’s Humanitarian Mission to Earthquake-Hit Venezuela
• Operation Amistad was launched by India on 26 June 2026 to deliver humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) to earthquake-affected Venezuela.
• India dispatched over 35 tonnes of relief material, including medicines, medical equipment, and two BHISHM Cubes for emergency healthcare support.
• The Indian Air Force deployed two C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft to airlift relief supplies and rescue personnel.
• A 41-member team from the Indian Army’s 60 Para Field Hospital was sent to provide medical treatment and emergency healthcare in the affected areas.
• The mission focused on supporting earthquake victims, restoring medical services, and assisting regions where hospitals and critical infrastructure were damaged.
• BHISHM Cubes are portable emergency medical units designed for rapid deployment during disasters and humanitarian crises.
• The Venezuelan earthquakes caused extensive destruction, with official reports confirming hundreds of fatalities and several thousand injuries.
• Operation Amistad reflects India's continued commitment to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) by providing timely international aid through military airlift and medical assistance.
Nasha Mukt Bharat Saptah 2026: National Drug Awareness Campaign
• Nasha Mukt Bharat Saptah 2026 was observed from 17 to 26 June 2026 under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment as part of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.
• The campaign concluded on 26 June, marking the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, to strengthen nationwide drug demand reduction efforts.
• Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, launched in 2020, focuses on drug awareness, counselling, community mobilisation, and preventive outreach among youth and the general public.
• Activities during the week included pledge drives, awareness and cycle rallies, essay and poster competitions, yoga, meditation, health camps, counselling sessions, and social media campaigns.
• Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar inaugurated the campaign virtually on 17 June 2026, launching the Nasha Mukti Mitra Personal Dashboard and a short awareness film.
• The closing ceremony was held at Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) on 26 June 2026.
• More than 1.31 crore people participated across the country, with special emphasis on youth and women to promote a drug-free society.
• During the concluding event, the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment signed two MoUs with the All World Gayatri Pariwar to enhance awareness, community participation, and anti-drug initiatives.
MEA Opens Toshakhana Gifts for Public e-Auction
• The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) opened around 300 Toshakhana gifts for public e-auction under the revised Toshakhana Rules, 2024.
• The e-auction commenced on 8 June 2026 and is scheduled to conclude on 30 June 2026.
• Toshakhana is the official system for receiving, valuing, recording, and disposing of gifts presented to public officials during official and diplomatic engagements.
• The auction features luxury watches, silver daggers, gold jewellery, Apple MacBook Pros, and antique silver artefacts, with prices ranging from ₹2,385 to nearly ₹19 lakh.
• The auction is conducted through the MEA’s Toshakhana Auction Portal, ensuring a transparent online bidding process.
• All proceeds from the auction are deposited into the Consolidated Fund of India, the Union Government’s principal account under Article 266 of the Constitution.
• The current auction mainly includes gifts received by the Foreign Secretary and other senior MEA officials during official foreign visits and diplomatic events.
• The MEA plans additional auction rounds for gifts received by former External Affairs Ministers, expanding public access to officially deposited Toshakhana items.
SOP for Notification of Threatened Species (2026): National Biodiversity Authority
• The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on 26 June 2026 for the identification and notification of threatened species across India.
• The SOP has been framed under Section 38 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, which empowers the government to notify threatened species for conservation.
• The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 aims to conserve biodiversity, promote sustainable use of biological resources, and ensure equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use.
• The notification process includes scientific assessment, stakeholder consultation, validation, official notification, conservation planning, monitoring, and periodic review.
• States and Union Territories must base their recommendations on field studies, scientific evidence, and traditional knowledge, with participation from local communities and experts.
• The framework involves Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs), Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), research institutions, and subject specialists.
• As of 26 June 2026, 159 plant species and 173 animal species had been notified as threatened across 17 States and 3 Union Territories.
• The SOP also mandates species recovery plans, conservation action plans, and continuous monitoring, supporting Target 4 of India's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2024–2030) to prevent human-induced species extinctions.
SCO Women’s Forum 2026: Women-Led Development and Gender Cooperation
• The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Women’s Forum 2026 was held on 26 June 2026 in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, under Kyrgyzstan’s SCO Chairship.
• The forum focused on women’s leadership, gender equality, and greater participation of women in social, economic, and public life across SCO member countries.
• India was represented through a video address by Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi, who highlighted the country's women-led development model.
• India showcased its network of over 9 million Self-Help Groups (SHGs) involving nearly 100 million women, promoting financial inclusion and livelihood generation.
• The Lakhpati Didi Initiative was highlighted, under which more than 30 million women have achieved an annual household income of ₹1 lakh or more.
• India also presented Mission Shakti for women's safety and empowerment and Mission Poshan 2.0 for improving nutrition among women, adolescent girls, and children.
• Founded in 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) comprises China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
• The SCO Development Strategy 2035 promotes cooperation on women’s empowerment, education, health, livelihoods, and people-to-people exchanges among member nations.
Vision Document on Drug Control (2026–2029): India’s National Anti-Narcotics Strategy
• The Vision Document on Drug Control (2026–2029) was launched on 26 June 2026 in New Delhi to strengthen India's national strategy against narcotics.
• The roadmap focuses on drug law enforcement, intelligence gathering, precursor and synthetic drug control, demand reduction, rehabilitation, capacity building, and inter-agency coordination.
• The strategy is built around four pillars: Enforcement, Intelligence & Operations; Precursor & Synthetic Drug Control; Demand Reduction & Rehabilitation; and Capacity Building & Coordination.
• The document was unveiled during the 10th Apex-Level Meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD), organised by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
• The NCB, established in 1986 under the Ministry of Home Affairs, is the country's apex agency for combating drug trafficking and enforcing the NDPS Act, 1985.
• An Online Drugs Disposal Fortnight Campaign was launched to destroy over 2.09 lakh kg of seized narcotic drugs, valued at approximately ₹6,000 crore, under the slogan "Detect, Disrupt and Destroy."
• The government announced amendments to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, aiming to close legal gaps while adopting a more reform-oriented approach for persons affected by drug addiction.
• The strategy identifies synthetic drugs, precursor chemicals, darknet-based trafficking, human and technical intelligence, and community policing as key focus areas, while new NCB zonal offices at Jammu and Guwahati were also inaugurated.
Punjab Notifies VB-G RAM G Scheme for Rural Employment
• Punjab notified the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB-G RAM G] Scheme, 2026 on 26 June 2026, with implementation from 1 July 2026.
• The scheme guarantees 125 days of wage employment each year to rural households willing to undertake unskilled manual work, replacing the earlier 100-day employment framework.
• It is implemented under the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025, enacted by Parliament in December 2025.
• The notification was issued by the Punjab Department of Rural Development and Panchayats and signed by Administrative Secretary Ajit Bala Ji Joshi.
• The programme follows a 60:40 funding pattern, with 60% assistance from the Central Government and 40% contribution from the State Government.
• Before issuing the notification, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha had unanimously opposed the Central legislation related to the scheme in December 2025.
• The mission seeks to strengthen rural livelihoods through employment generation, convergence of development programmes, and inclusive rural growth.
• The scheme aligns with the national Viksit Bharat@2047 vision and replaces the MGNREGA framework for rural employment in Punjab from 1 July 2026.
India Conducts First Satellite-Based Aircraft Landing Using GAGAN
• India successfully conducted its first satellite-based landing approach for a jet aircraft on 27 June 2026 at Udaipur Airport using the GAGAN navigation system.
• The trial was carried out by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) using an IndiGo Airbus A320, marking a milestone in India's aviation navigation capability.
• GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation) is India’s Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS), jointly developed by ISRO and the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
• The system enhances GPS accuracy to nearly 3 metres by using geostationary satellites and ground reference stations, enabling safer aircraft navigation.
• GAGAN supports Localiser Performance with Vertical Guidance (LPV) approaches, providing both horizontal and vertical guidance at airports without an Instrument Landing System (ILS).
• The DGCA has mandated GAGAN-compatible equipment on all aircraft registered in India on or after 1 July 2021.
• India is the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to have an operational Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) for civil aviation.
• Besides aviation, GAGAN also supports air traffic management, maritime navigation, railways, surveying, transportation, and security applications, with the AAI aiming to publish over 40 LPV procedures by the end of 2026.
