This is the current affairs 21 to 23 June 2026. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
1. Which country’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation in June 2026?
a. United Kingdom
b. Germany
c. Italy
d. New Zealand
Answer: a. United Kingdom
– UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation on 26 June 2026.
– He will become the sixth British Prime Minister in the last 10 years to leave office before completing a full term.
– He announced that he is resigning as the Leader of the Labour Party and as Prime Minister.
– Will continue as Caretaker Prime Minister: He has not stepped down immediately. He will continue to serve as Caretaker Prime Minister until the Labour Party elects its new leader (and the country’s next Prime Minister).
Reason for the resignation
– Starmer led the Labour Party to a major electoral victory in 2024, but his popularity has steadily declined since then.
– In the recent local elections, the Labour Party suffered heavy losses, after which pressure from MPs and party leaders (particularly due to the challenge posed by Andy Burnham) increased significantly.
– Process of electing a new leader: The nomination process for choosing the new leader will begin on 9 July 2026.
————
2. Which Indian was appointed as the Vice President of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for the first time?
a. Mohan Awasthi
b. Vivek Agrawal
c. Anurag Jain
d. Shashi Prakash Goyal
Answer: b. Vivek Agrawal
Note – FATF President: Giles Thomson (United Kingdom)
– FATF is one of the world’s most important organizations that monitors money laundering and terrorist financing.
Vivek Agrawal
– Vivek Agrawal has been appointed as the Vice President of FATF for the 2026–27 term.
– He is a 1994-batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre.
– He succeeded Giles Thomson, who had served as Vice President since 1 July 2025.
– Vivek Agrawal has previously led India’s delegation to FATF.
– He has also served as the Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit–India (FIU-IND).
– During his tenure, he worked on issues related to economic crimes, money laundering, and financial intelligence.
– The President of FATF is Elisa de Anda Madrazo of Mexico.
– Tenure: The Vice President generally serves a one-year term, while the President serves a two-year term.
FATF
– Established: In 1989 during the G-7 Summit held in Paris.
– Secretariat: Located at the headquarters of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris, France.
– FATF has 40 members, including 38 countries (such as India, the United States, and the United Kingdom) and 2 regional organizations (the European Commission and the Gulf Cooperation Council). India became a full member in 2010.
Objectives and Scope
– 1989 (Initial mandate): To combat money laundering.
– 2001 (After the 9/11 attacks): Expanded to include combating terrorist financing.
– 2012: Further expanded to include preventing the financing of the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).
– FATF is a policy-making body. It does not make legally binding laws but sets international standards known as the FATF 40 Recommendations.
Importance for India
– Containing cross-border terrorism: FATF has served as an effective diplomatic platform for India to build international pressure on Pakistan to stop terrorist financing (such as financial support to Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed). Pakistan remained on the Grey List for a long time.
– Internal security: FATF standards help India combat money laundering arising from drug trafficking and organized crime.
————–
3. Who has become the new Chairman of the National Statistical Commission (NSC)?
a. Satyendra Bahadur Singh
b. Madhavan Mukund
c. Dr. Saibal Chattopadhyay
d. Suchita Awasthi
Answer: c. Dr. Saibal Chattopadhyay
– The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved Dr. Saibal Chattopadhyay’s appointment on 17 June 2026.
– Earlier, Dr. Saibal served as the Director of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta.
– He earned his Ph.D. and Master of Science in Statistics from the University of Connecticut, USA.
National Statistical Commission (NSC)
– It is an autonomous body of the Government of India.
Its objective is to strengthen the country’s official statistical system and make it reliable and transparent.
– It was established in 2005.
Major Functions
– To advise the government on national statistical policies.
– To improve the quality of government statistics (such as population, employment, agriculture, industry, etc.).
– To ensure uniformity in data collected by various ministries and departments.
– To recommend reforms related to statistics.
– To maintain the credibility and transparency of official statistics.
————–
4. RBI approved the extension of the tenure of interim Chairman Keki Mistry of which bank for three months in June 2026?
a. Karnataka Bank
b. Canara Bank
c. HDFC Bank
d. ICICI Bank
Answer: c. HDFC Bank
– Keki Mistry will now continue in his position until 18 September 2026.
– He was appointed after Atanu Chakraborty’s resignation on 18 March 2026.
– Initially, RBI had approved his appointment for three months, which was scheduled to end on 19 June 2026.
– Keki Mistry served for many years as the Vice Chairman and CEO of HDFC (Housing Development Finance Corporation), India’s leading housing finance company.
– He was born on 7 November 1954 in Mumbai.
– He joined HDFC in 1981.
– He served as the Vice Chairman and CEO of HDFC Ltd. from 2010.
– After the merger of HDFC Ltd. with HDFC Bank in 2023, he became a Non-Executive Director on the bank’s board.
————–
5. Who has been appointed as the new Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bata India?
a. Gunjan Shah
b. Sanjay Rao
c. Ipsita Dasgupta
d. Jason Chen
Answer: b. Sanjay Rao
– Leading footwear company Bata India Limited announced the appointment of Sanjay Rao on 18 June 2026.
– His tenure as MD will begin on 1 October 2026 and continue until 23 August 2031.
– He will replace Gunjan Shah, whose five-year tenure is coming to an end.
– Before joining Bata India, he served as Senior Director of Retail for France and the Benelux region at Nike.
– He has more than two decades of experience in global retail and consumer businesses across India, South Asia, China, and Europe.
————–
6. Which country became the first Central Asian member of the New Development Bank (NDB)?
a. Kazakhstan
b. Uzbekistan
c. Tajikistan
d. Kyrgyzstan
Answer: b. Uzbekistan
– Uzbekistan officially became a shareholder of the NDB on 5 June 2026.
– The announcement was made by Andrey Bokarev, Director General of the NDB Eurasian Regional Centre.
– Uzbekistan has become the 10th member of the NDB.
New Development Bank (NDB)
– The New Development Bank was formerly known as the BRICS Development Bank.
– It is a multilateral development bank established by the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa).
– It was established in 2014 to mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in emerging economies and developing countries.
– It was established during the Sixth BRICS Summit held in Fortaleza, Brazil.
Its headquarters is located in Shanghai, China.
Member Countries
– In addition to the founding BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, and Algeria are also full members.
Uzbekistan
– Capital: Tashkent
– President: Shavkat Mirziyoyev
– Prime Minister: Abdulla Aripov
– Currency: Uzbek Som
————–
7. Who became the first cricketer in the world to play 200 T20 International matches?
a. Harmanpreet Kaur
b. Jemimah Rodrigues
c. Deepti Sharma
d. Beth Mooney
Answer: a. Harmanpreet Kaur
– Indian women’s team captain Harmanpreet Kaur played her 200th T20 International match against South Africa on 21 June 2026.
– New Zealand’s Suzie Bates is second with 184 matches.
– In men’s cricket, Ireland’s Paul Stirling (163 matches) is first and Rohit Sharma (159 matches) is second.
– Thus, Harmanpreet has played the highest number of T20 Internationals across both men’s and women’s cricket.
– Harmanpreet also played her 200th international match as captain.
– She became the first Indian and the second player in the world to achieve this milestone.
– England’s Charlotte Edwards is first with 220 matches as captain.
Most T20 International Matches
– Harmanpreet Kaur – 200 (India)
– Suzie Bates – 184 (New Zealand)
– Danni Wyatt-Hodge – 183 (England)
– Ellyse Perry – 177 (Australia)
– Smriti Mandhana – 169 (India)
————–
8. Who was reappointed by the President as the Solicitor General of India in June 2026?
a. Madan B. Lokur
b. Tushar Mehta
c. N. Santosh Hegde
d. Soli Jehangir Sorabjee
Answer: b. Tushar Mehta
– The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the reappointment of Tushar Mehta for an additional three-year term beginning on 1 July 2026. Following this, the President reappointed him.
– He will continue to serve as the country’s second-highest law officer for another three years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
– Tushar Mehta was first appointed to this post in 2018.
– His tenure was extended in 2020 and again in 2023.
– In 2026, his tenure was extended for the third time.
– He has already completed nearly eight years as Solicitor General. By the end of his new term, he will have completed 11 years in office, making him one of the longest-serving law officers in India’s history.
Functions of the Solicitor General
– The office is a statutory post, not a constitutional one. The appointment is made by the President on the recommendation of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).
– The Solicitor General is the second-highest law officer of the country and works under the Attorney General.
– The primary responsibility is to advise the Central Government on legal matters.
– Represents the Government in the Supreme Court and High Courts.
– Assists the Attorney General and performs his duties in his absence.
– Represents the Government if the President seeks the opinion of the Supreme Court under Article 143 of the Constitution.
– Constitutional Status: Unlike the Attorney General, the Solicitor General is a statutory office and not a constitutional office.
————–
9. Who was awarded the Wolf Prize 2026?
a. Pamela C. Ronald
b. Prof. Ashoke Sen
c. Professor Jainendra K. Jain
d. Prof. Urvashi Sinha
Answer: c. Professor Jainendra K. Jain (for his groundbreaking discovery of Composite Fermions)
– Indian-origin scientist Professor Jainendra K. Jain was awarded the Wolf Prize on 18 June 2026. He is the first person of Indian origin to receive this honour.
– The award was presented by Israeli President Isaac Herzog at a ceremony held in Jerusalem.
Who is Jainendra K. Jain?
– Sixty-six-year-old Jainendra K. Jain is a native of Sambhar, Rajasthan.
– He is one of the world’s leading theoretical physicists and the Founding Director of the Lodha Theoretical Physics Institute (LTPI).
– He graduated from IIT Kanpur in 1981.
– He earned his Ph.D. from Stony Brook University, New York.
Why was he awarded this prize?
– Professor Jain received this honour for his revolutionary discovery of Composite Fermions.
– It is a revolutionary concept in quantum physics. When electrons are placed at extremely low temperatures and in very strong magnetic fields, they bind themselves to quantized vortices. These newly formed composite particles are known as Composite Fermions.
– This theory solved one of the most difficult puzzles in physics—the Fractional Quantum Hall Effect.
– Professor Jain made this discovery in 1989 while he was a young researcher at Yale University.
Wolf Prize
– It is one of the world’s most prestigious international honours in the fields of science and the arts.
– Since 1978, it has been awarded annually by the Wolf Foundation of Israel to scientists and artists for outstanding contributions to humanity and to promoting friendly relations among nations.
– In science, the prize is awarded in Agriculture, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, and Medicine.
– In the arts, it is awarded for excellence in Painting, Sculpture, Music, and Architecture.
————-
10. The Indian Coast Guard inducted the first indigenous Air Cushion Vehicle (ACV) H-561 into its fleet. At a shipyard in which state was it inducted?
a. Gujarat
b. Maharashtra
c. Goa
d. Tamil Nadu
Answer: c. Goa
– On 18 June 2026, the Indian Coast Guard inducted its first indigenous Air Cushion Vehicle (ACV) into its fleet in Goa.
– It is a major achievement under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
– The hovercraft was developed by Chowgule & Company Private Limited at its shipbuilding facility in Goa.
Special Features
– H-561 is the first platform in a series of six indigenous hovercraft being built for the Indian Coast Guard.
– An ACV is a unique vehicle that travels on a cushion of air generated by powerful lift fans.
– Hovercraft can operate over shallow waters, mudflats, sandy beaches, marshlands, creeks, and coastal wetlands.
—————
11. The Indian Army participated in the multinational military exercise ‘Khan Quest 2026’. In which country was it held?
a. Cambodia
b. Russia
c. Mongolia
d. China
Answer: c. Mongolia
– Duration: 20 June to 3 July 2026
– Venue: Five Hills Training Area, Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia
– Participating countries: Armed forces from more than 20 countries
– The objective of the exercise is to enhance coordination among participating armies for United Nations peacekeeping missions under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.
– The exercise includes establishing checkpoints, conducting joint patrols, cordon-and-search operations, civilian evacuation, counter-IED operations, first aid, and casualty evacuation.
Khan Quest
– The exercise began in 2003 as a bilateral military exercise between the United States and Mongolia.
– In 2006, it was expanded into a multinational peacekeeping exercise.
– Since then, it has become an important platform for military training related to United Nations peacekeeping missions.
Mongolia
– Capital: Ulaanbaatar
– Currency: Tögrög (features the images of Genghis Khan and Damdin Sükhbaatar)
– President: Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh
– Prime Minister: Ouchral Nyam-Osor
– Population: 3.58 million
– Language: Mongolian
– Neighbouring Countries: Russia and China
————–
12. ‘Khurasani Tamarind’ from which city of Madhya Pradesh received the GI Tag?
a. Jabalpur
b. Mandu
c. Ujjain
d. Indore
Answer: b. Mandu (Dhar District)
– Khurasani Tamarind is the fruit of the Baobab tree (Adansonia digitata) found in Mandu, Madhya Pradesh.
– Mandu is considered the largest natural habitat of Baobab trees in India.
– The tree is native to Africa and is known for its gigantic structure and medicinal properties.
– It was brought to India about 600 years ago during the Sultanate period by Afghan and Arab traders.
– The Upside-Down Tree: During the leafless season, the tree appears as if it has been planted upside down, with its roots in the air and branches below.
– Due to its massive size, it is an attraction across the world.
– Its thick trunk can store thousands of litres of water.
Local people know it as Mandu Imli.
– Taste: Unlike ordinary tamarind, its pulp has a mildly sweet, tangy, and creamy flavour.
– The pulp is rich in Vitamin C, antioxidants, and minerals.
– Traditionally, it has been used to treat stomach ailments, constipation, diarrhoea, fever, and to maintain body energy.
– Its seeds and bark are also used for medicinal purposes.
– Receiving the GI Tag will provide a livelihood opportunity for the tribal communities that have preserved this unique species for generations.
————–
13. Who was honoured with the Best Male Athlete 2025 award at the Indian Athletics Awards Ceremony 2026?
a. Devendra Jhajharia
b. Sachin Yadav
c. Neeraj Chopra
d. Gurinderveer Singh
Answer: c. Neeraj Chopra
– The awards were presented by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) on 20 June 2026 in New Delhi as part of the celebrations marking AFI’s 80th anniversary.
– Twenty-eight-year-old Neeraj Chopra is India’s star javelin thrower.
– He received this honour after the Doha Diamond League 2026, where he finished fourth.
– With this performance, he also qualified for the upcoming Commonwealth Games.
– Neeraj won the Gold Medal at the Tokyo Olympics (2020) and the Silver Medal at the Paris Olympics (2024).
————–
14. Who was honoured with the Best Female Athlete 2025 award at the Indian Athletics Awards Ceremony?
a. Jyothi Yarraji
b. Hima Das
c. P. V. Sindhu
d. Parul Chaudhary
Answer: d. Parul Chaudhary
– On 14 June 2026, Parul Chaudhary of Meerut set a new national record in the 5,000-metre race in France with a timing of 15 minutes 04.26 seconds.
– She broke her own national record.
– In the 3,000-metre steeplechase, she had earlier clocked 9 minutes 12.46 seconds, a record she created at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships.
– She won the Silver Medal in that event.
– She has also qualified for the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.
– AFI honoured Parul with a cash award of ₹10 lakh.
– She has previously received the Arjuna Award (2023) and the Rani Lakshmibai Award.
—————
15. Who was selected as the Best Emerging Male Player at the Indian Athletics Awards Ceremony?
a. Shah Nawaz Khan
b. Murali Sreeshankar
c. Jeswin Aldrin
d. Lokesh
Answer: a. Shah Nawaz Khan
– Nineteen-year-old athlete Shah Nawaz Khan is a long jumper.
– Hailing from Pratapgarh district of Uttar Pradesh, he set the Under-20 National Record with a jump of 8.23 metres at the 24th National Junior Federation Cup 2026.
– He won the Gold Medal at the 22nd Asian Under-20 Athletics Championships 2026 held in Hong Kong.
————–
16. Who was selected as the Best Emerging Female Player at the Indian Athletics Awards Ceremony?
a. Shaili Singh
b. Pooja Singh
c. Ancy Sojan
d. Anju Bobby George
Answer: b. Pooja Singh
– Nineteen-year-old Pooja Singh is a high jumper.
– Hailing from Fatehabad, Haryana, she broke the 14-year-old senior national record by clearing 1.93 metres at the 2026 Asian Under-20 Athletics Championships.
– She had won the Gold Medal at the 2025 Asian Championships.
Indian Athletics Awards 2026 List
– Best Female Athlete of the Year: Parul Chaudhary
– Best Male Athlete of the Year: Neeraj Chopra
– Best Emerging Female Athlete: Pooja Singh (High Jump)
– Best Emerging Male Athlete: Shah Nawaz Khan (Long Jump)
– Best Coach: Parveer Singh (Throws)
– Best Sponsor: Reliance Foundation
– Lifetime Achievement Award: P. T. Usha, G. S. Randhawa, Bahadur Singh Chauhan, Anju Bobby George
– Best State Supporting Athletics: Government of Odisha
– Best State Federation of the Year: Tamil Nadu Athletics Association
– Best Technical Official of the Year: Dr. Kuldeep Singh
————–
17. Who won the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Nations Cup 2026 title?
a. Chile
b. United States
c. New Zealand
d. India
Answer: d. India
– India defeated hosts New Zealand 2–0 in the final on 21 June 2026 to win the Nations Cup for the second time.
– Earlier, India had won the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2022.
– With this victory, India qualified for the FIH Pro League for the first time.
– New Zealand made a fast start to the match, but Navneet Kaur gave India the lead by converting a penalty corner in the fourth minute.
– Lalremsiami of India was named the Player of the Match.
—————
18. When is the International Day of Yoga celebrated?
a. 21 June
b. 22 June
c. 23 June
d. 24 June
Answer: a. 21 June
– Theme for 2026: Yoga for Healthy Ageing
Why is Yoga Day celebrated on 21 June?
– 21 June is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, known as the Summer Solstice.
– India proposed the observance of this day to the United Nations General Assembly in 2014, and the proposal was accepted.
– Since 2015, the International Day of Yoga has been celebrated worldwide.
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the International Day of Yoga celebrations at the United Nations.
————–
19. When was the International Solstice Celebration Day observed?
a. 18 June
b. 19 June
c. 20 June
d. 21 June
Answer: d. 21 June
– This day has been declared by the United Nations.
– There are two solstices every year. The Summer Solstice falls on 21 June, while the Winter Solstice falls on 21 or 22 December.
Summer Solstice
– It is commonly known as the Summer Solstice.
– It is the longest day and the shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
– In Delhi, daylight lasts for approximately 14 hours on this day.
– On the other hand, the Winter Solstice is generally known as the shortest day and the longest night of the year.
—————
20. When is the International Olympic Day celebrated?
a. 21 June
b. 22 June
c. 23 June
d. 24 June
Answer: c. 23 June
– Theme for 2026 : You Can Do This
– On this day, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was established at the Sorbonne in Paris.
– Historian Pierre de Coubertin campaigned to revive the ancient Olympic Games on 23 June 1894. In memory of this event, International Olympic Day is celebrated every year on this date.
– The day celebrates sport, health, and unity.
Note: The Paris Summer Olympics will be held from 26 July to 11 August 2024.
International Olympic Committee (IOC)
– Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland
– Established: 23 June 1894, Paris, France
– President: Thomas Bach
PDF Download: Click here
