CURRENT AFFAIRS 06 June, 2026

CURRENT AFFAIRS 06 June, 2026

1. AIR MARSHAL ASHUTOSH DIXIT NAMED NEXT VICE CHIEF –

• Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit was appointed as the next Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) of the Indian Air Force on 5 June 2026. He is scheduled to assume office on 1 July 2026 and will succeed Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, who took charge as VCAS on 1 January 2026.

Vice Chief of the Air Staff

• The Vice Chief of the Air Staff is a senior three-star appointment in the Indian Air Force. The office functions under the Chief of the Air Staff and is part of the Air Headquarters structure in New Delhi.

Career Profile of Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit

• Air Marshal Dixit was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on 6 December 1986. He served as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff at Headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff, from 1 May 2025 before his appointment as VCAS.

2. INDIA RECORDS 7.7% GDP GROWTH IN FY26 –

• India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 7.7% in Fiscal Year 2025-26, and the economy expanded by 7.8% in the fourth quarter of FY26 from January to March 2026. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) lowered its GDP growth forecast for FY27 to 6.6% and raised its inflation forecast for FY27 to 5.1% on 5 June 2026.

Gross Domestic Product and Gross Value Added

• Gross Domestic Product measures the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country during a specific period. Real Gross Value Added (GVA) measures economic activity excluding taxes and subsidies, and it grew by 7.9% in FY26.

RBI Monetary Policy Committee

• The RBI Monetary Policy Committee consists of six members and decides the policy repo rate under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. On 5 June 2026, the MPC kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.25% and retained a neutral policy stance.

3. UNITED STATES BECOMES INDIA’S LARGEST LPG SUPPLIER –

• India’s liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) import pattern changed in 2026, with the United States becoming India’s largest supplier and the Middle East losing its earlier dominant share. India imports LPG for household cooking fuel, industrial use, and commercial consumption, and the fuel is traded in pressurised cylinders or bulk cargoes.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas in India

• Liquefied petroleum gas is a mixture of propane and butane that is stored as a liquid under pressure. India is one of the world’s largest LPG consumers, and its import basket has traditionally depended on Gulf suppliers because of shorter shipping routes and established trade links.

Shift in Import Sources

• In May 2026, the United States supplied more than 55% of India’s LPG imports. U.S. shipments to India rose to 666,000 tonnes in May 2026, compared with much lower volumes in February 2026. Before the escalation of tensions in West Asia around 28 February 2026, the Gulf region accounted for about 60% of India’s LPG consumption and up to 90% of its imports.

4. LADAKH GETS INDIA’S FIRST MODEL BORDER VILLAGE –

• Ladakh’s Chumur village in eastern Ladakh has become the site of India’s first model border village near the India-China border. The project is being developed under the Union Government’s Vibrant Villages Programme, which covers border settlements in high-altitude and remote areas.

Chumur and its border location

• Chumur is located at an altitude of 16,700 feet in eastern Ladakh. The village has 24 households and a population of 91 people, and many residents are engaged in Pashmina rearing and production. The settlement lies in a strategic border region along the India-China frontier.

Vibrant Villages Programme

• The Vibrant Villages Programme is a Central Sector scheme for developing villages in border areas with basic infrastructure and livelihood support. The first phase of the programme includes plans for 10 model border villages. The programme covers infrastructure, employment and livelihood creation, all-weather functionality, and civilian-defence integration.

5. US PROPOSES TARIFF ON INDIA OVER FORCED LABOUR CONCERNS –

• On 3 June 2026, the United States proposed additional tariffs on imports from 60 economies, including India, under the Trump administration. The proposal links the measure to Section 301 investigations by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative into alleged failures to prohibit or enforce bans on goods made with forced labour.

Section 301 and Trade Remedies

• Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 allows the United States to respond to unfair foreign trade practices. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative uses this mechanism in investigations related to market access, intellectual property, and labour-linked trade concerns.

Proposed Tariff Structure

• India is among 54 countries facing a proposed 12.5% additional tariff on imports. Six other economies, namely Canada, Ecuador, the European Union, Indonesia, Mexico, and Pakistan, would face a 10% tariff under the proposal. The U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated on 3 June 2026 that failures by trading partners to address forced labour imports create an uneven trade environment for American workers. India rejected the allegations and sought resolution through bilateral trade negotiations.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.  Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary, which has been designated as India’s 100th Ramsar Site, is located in which state ?

1. a) Uttar Pradesh
2. b) Madhya Pradesh
3. c) Uttarakhand
4. d) Rajasthan

Q2.  Recently, the 1st World Yogasana Sports Championship 2026 was inaugurated in which of the following cities ?

1. a) Bengaluru
2. b) New Delhi
3. c) Ahmedabad
4. d) Rishikesh

Q3.  Recently, Khalilur Rahman was elected President of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). He belongs to which of the following countries ?

1. a) Cyprus
2. b) Bangladesh
3. c) Sri Lanka
4. d) Maldives

Q4.  Consider the following statements regarding Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs):

1. Flex Fuel Vehicles can operate on petrol, ethanol, or any blend of the two without requiring engine modifications by the user.
2. Ethanol blending helps reduce dependence on crude oil imports and provides additional income opportunities for farmers.
3. India achieved nationwide E20 ethanol blending by March 2025.

         Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 1 and 3 only
3. c) 2 and 3 only
4. d) 1, 2, and 3

Explanation-

• Statement 1: Correct. FFVs are equipped with sensors and engine control systems that automatically adjust to different ethanol-petrol blends.
• Statement 2: Correct. Ethanol blending reduces crude oil imports while generating additional income for farmers through ethanol feedstock production.
• Statement 3: Correct. India achieved the target of 20% ethanol blending (E20) nationwide by March 2025, ahead of the original timeline.

Q5.  Consider the following statements regarding the BrahMos Missile System:

1. It is a “fire-and-forget” ballistic missile that follows a high, arched trajectory.
2. It uses a two-stage propulsion system consisting of a solid rocket booster and a liquid-fuel ramjet engine.
3. It can be launched from multiple platforms including submarines, ships, aircraft, and land-based systems.

         Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 2 only
3. c) 2 and 3 only
4. d) 1, 2, and 3

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is incorrect: BrahMos is not a ballistic missile, but rather a supersonic cruise missile. Cruise missiles fly at low altitudes, are powered throughout their entire trajectory, and remain highly maneuverable. In contrast, ballistic missiles follow a high, arched trajectory and are powered only in the initial phase.
• Statement 2 is correct: BrahMos utilizes a two-stage propulsion mechanism. The first stage comprises a solid rocket booster that accelerates the missile to supersonic speeds. The second stage uses a liquid-fuel ramjet engine that compresses incoming air to sustain high-speed cruise flight without a rotating compressor.
• Statement 3 is correct: BrahMos is a highly versatile, multi-platform weapon. It has been successfully developed and deployed for land-based systems (Indian Army), naval ships (Indian Navy), and fighter aircraft like the Su-30 MKI, as well as submarine-launched variants.

Answer Key