🌐 WEEK 1: June 1–7, 2026
Current Affairs & GK for Competitive Exam Aspirants
Covers: UPSC | SSC CGL | IBPS PO | RRB NTPC | State PSC | CTET | NDA | CDS
June 2026 opened with significant developments in Indian governance, global health, space cooperation, environmental events, and key exam notifications. Here are the ten most important GK topics for competitive exam aspirants.
1. D.K. Shivakumar Becomes Karnataka Chief Minister [Indian Polity / Governance]
D.K. Shivakumar was unanimously elected as Congress Legislature Party leader and was sworn in as Karnataka Chief Minister on June 3, 2026, replacing Siddaramaiah. The swearing-in was held at Glass House, Lok Bhavan. This follows a period of internal Congress deliberation on leadership succession in the state.
Exam Tip: Know the constitutional process for CM appointment: role of Governor under Article 163 and Article 164. Understand the concept of floor test, confidence motion, and anti-defection law (Tenth Schedule). Frequently tested in UPSC and state PSC polity.
2. UPI Records Highest-Ever Monthly Transactions: May 2026 [Banking / Economy]
NPCI data revealed UPI processed 23.20 billion transactions worth Rs 29.90 trillion in May 2026, a 4% volume and 3% value growth over April 2026. This reflects India’s dominant position in global real-time digital payments, studied as a model by other nations.
Exam Tip: UPI is operated by NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India), set up by RBI under the PSS Act 2007. Know UPI milestones, UPI One World, UPI Lite, and India’s digital payment infrastructure. Essential for IBPS PO, SBI PO, and RBI Grade B.
3. GST Collections Reach Rs 1.94 Lakh Crore in May 2026 [Indian Economy]
India’s gross GST revenue for May 2026 stood at Rs 1.94 lakh crore, up 3.2% YoY, comprising CGST (Rs 37,397 cr), SGST (Rs 45,143 cr), domestic IGST (Rs 51,990 cr), and import IGST (Rs 59,654 cr). Refunds totaled Rs 27,281 crore.
Exam Tip: Know the four components of GST: CGST, SGST, IGST, and UTGST. Understand the GST Council structure, Article 279A, dual-structure rationale, and how GST replaced earlier indirect taxes. Standard UPSC GS-III and SSC CGL Economy topic.
4. India-Australia Defence Ministers Dialogue – Bilateral Ties Strengthened [Defence / Foreign Policy]
India and Australia held their 2nd Defence Ministers Dialogue in New Delhi on June 1, 2026. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Australian DPM Richard Marles reviewed maritime security, defence industry cooperation, and interoperability in the Indo-Pacific.
Exam Tip: India-Australia bilateral: Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2020), Quad member, MLSA (Mutual Logistics Support Agreement), exercise AUSTRAHIND. Know Australia’s role in the Indo-Pacific strategy and how it links to India’s Act East Policy.
5. Khet Bachao Abhiyan Launched – June 2026 [Agriculture / Environment]
The Ministry of Agriculture launched the month-long ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyan’ (June 1–30, 2026) to promote sustainable farming, balanced fertilizer use through soil testing, Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), and farm-level advisory services.
Exam Tip: Know key agriculture missions: NMAET, PMKSY, PM-KISAN, PKVY (organic farming), Soil Health Cards. Understand INM and difference from organic farming. UPSC GS-III and SSC CGL static GK covers agriculture extension and schemes.
6. World Environment Day 2026 – Theme and Host [Environment]
World Environment Day is observed on June 5 every year. The 2026 theme focused on ‘Ecosystem Restoration and Climate Resilience’. The event highlights urgency for biodiversity conservation, sustainable land use, and international climate finance commitments ahead of COP31.
Exam Tip: Know WED themes from recent years. Connect to UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–30), Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework (COP15), and India’s NDCs. Environment Days calendar is standard SSC CGL GK and UPSC Prelims static knowledge.
7. Suman Kalyanpur – Veteran Playback Singer Passes Away [Arts / Culture]
Veteran playback singer Suman Kalyanpur passed away at 89 in Mumbai on May 31, 2026. Known for iconic songs in Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, and other Indian languages in the 1960s-70s, she was often compared to Lata Mangeshkar for her melodious voice and versatility.
Exam Tip: Arts and culture deaths are standard current affairs GK questions in SSC CGL, RRB NTPC, and state exams. Keep a running list of notable personalities’ achievements, awards, and known works — frequently appears in single-mark GK MCQs.
8. Kasauli Forest Fire – IAF Deploys Bambi Bucket Helicopters [Disaster Management]
A forest fire in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, led to IAF deploying Mil Mi-17V-5 helicopters with Bambi Buckets, conducting 150+ sorties and dropping 62,500 litres of water. Bambi Buckets collect water from nearby sources and are effective in mountainous/inaccessible terrain.
Exam Tip: Know the types of forest fires (crown, surface, ground), factors causing them (El Niño, dry winds), and India’s forest fire management framework under NDMA and FSI (Forest Survey of India). Disaster preparedness is a growing UPSC theme.
9. Telangana Formation Day 2026 – June 2 [Indian Polity / History]
June 2, 2026 marked the 12th Telangana Formation Day, commemorating the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and creation of India’s 29th state on June 2, 2014. Hyderabad continues as a joint capital. The state reorganization was carried out under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014.
Exam Tip: Know the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014, role of Parliament in creating new states under Article 3, and the Hyderabad joint capital arrangement. State creation process — requirements, Parliamentary procedure — is a standard UPSC Polity question.
10. India-Oman Strategic Relations – West Asia Focus [Foreign Policy]
India-Oman bilateral ties were in focus with renewed discussions on defence cooperation, Duqm Port logistics access, and expanding trade through the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). Oman provides India a strategic outlet bypassing traditional maritime chokepoints.
Exam Tip: Know Duqm Port (strategic logistics hub), IMEC (announced at G20 2023 New Delhi), and India’s West Asia policy. Oman is India’s gateway to the Gulf. UPSC GS-II asks about India’s bilateral relations with West Asian countries regularly.