CURRENT AFFAIRS 07-08 June, 2026

CURRENT AFFAIRS 07-08 June, 2026

1. WEST BENGAL JOINS AYUSHMAN BHARAT PM-JAY, BECOMES 36TH STATE TO IMPLEMENT SCHEME-

West Bengal Joins the Ayushman Bharat Network

• The state Government of West Bengal is set to formally join the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme via an agreement with the National Health Authority (NHA).
• With this the West Bengal will become the 36th State/UT to implement the flagship health assurance program. This development is viewed as the major advancement to expanding the healthcare coverage across the India and ensuring that more citizens have access to quality medical treatment.

What is Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY?

• National Health Authority administers Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY which is recognized as the world’s largest public funded health assurance scheme.
• The scheme provides the health insurance coverage of up to the ₹5 lakh per family per year for the secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to eligible beneficiaries.
• It also aims to reduce the out of pcoket healthcare expenses and improve the access to quality treatment through a nationwide network of the empaneled hospitals.

2. SIPRI REPORT 2026: INDIA WIDENS NUCLEAR LEAD OVER PAKISTAN WITH 190 WARHEADS –

• SIPRI Report 2026 Highlights India’s Growing Nuclear Arsenal
• The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has released its Yearbook 2026 and providing the assessment of the global military spending, nuclear forces, arms transfers and security developments.
• According to the report, India has possessed approximately 190 nuclear warheads as of the January 2026 and compared to Pakistan’s estimated 170 warheads. This gives India an advantage of around the 20 warheads over its western neighbor.
• This report also notes that the both countries continued to strengthen and modernize their nuclear capabilities throughout 2025.

3. ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS RECORD INDIA’S LOWEST FERTILITY RATE IN NFHS-6 –

• Andaman and Nicobar Registers The India’s Lowest Fertility Rate
• The NFHS-6 data reveals that the Total Fertility Rate in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has dropped to just 0.9 and making it as the lowest in the country. This marks the decline from 1.3 in NFHS-5 and 1.4 in NFHS-4.
• A fertility rate below the 2.1 means that the population is unable to replace itself over the period of time without migration. The current figure indicates that the Union Territory could experience the sustained population decline in the coming decades if the trend continues.

What Does a Fertility Rate of 0.9 Mean?

• The Total Fertility Rate means that the average number of the children a woman is expected to have during her reproductive years.
• A TFR of 2.1 is considered as the replacement level which ensuring that each generation replaces itself. When this rate falls significantly below this benchmark, the number of the births becomes insufficient to maintain the population stability.

4. INDIA LAUNCHES E85 FUEL: 85% ETHANOL BLEND TO REDUCE OIL IMPORTS AND EMISSIONS –

What is E85 Fuel?

• E85 is the high-ethanol fuel blend which is consisting of the approximately 85% ethanol and 15% petrol.
• It is specifically designed for the Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) which can operate on to the varying ethanol-petrol blends.
• This fuel is considered more environmentally friendly than conventional petrol because ethanol is produced from the renewable agricultural sources such as sugarcane, maize, rice and other biomass feedstocks.
• The introduction of the E85 represents the next phase of the India’s ethanol blending program after the successfully implementing E20 fuel nationwide.

Why is India Promoting E85 Fuel?

• India imports the large portion of its crude oil requirements and this makes the country vulnerable to the global energy price fluctuations and geopolitical tensions.
• The government sees E85 fuel as a strategic solution to the,
• Reduce the crude oil imports
• Improve energy security
• Lower greenhouse gas emissions
• Support domestic ethanol production
• Increase farmers income opportunities
• Promote cleaner transportation alternatives

5. INDIA’S FOREX RESERVES RISE TO $682.32 BILLION DESPITE DECLINE IN GOLD HOLDINGS –

• India’s Forex Reserves Increase to $682.3 Billion
• The Reserve Bank of India reported that the India’s total foreign exchange reserves was increased by $938 million during the latest reporting week.

The reserves stood at the,

• Previous Week: $681.384 billion
• Current Week: $682.321 billion
• Weekly Increase: $938 million
• The rise follows the significant decline of the $7.511 billion recorded in the previous week. Despite recent fluctuations India’s forex reserves remain among the largest in the world and it providing the buffer to the emergency external shocks.

Foreign Currency Lead the Growth

• Foreign Currency Assets (FCAs), which form the largest part of the India’s forex reserves and it recorded a substantial increase.
• According to RBI data,
• FCAs increased by the $3.116 billion
• Total FCAs reached to the $546.148 billion
• Foreign currency assets also include the holdings in major international currencies such as the,
• US Dollar
• Euro
• British Pound
• Japanese Yen

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.  Recently, Oil India Limited (OIL) announced natural gas discovery in the Vijayapuram-3 exploratory well located in which of the following regions ?

1. a) Krishna-Godavari Basin
2. b) Mumbai Offshore Basin
3. c) Andaman Shallow Offshore Block
4. d) Cambay Basin

Q2.  Recently, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) introduced a standardized logo that will become mandatory on approved food products from July 1, 2027, to help consumers easily identify products and prevent misleading claims. Which logo is it ?

1. a) Organic Food Logo
2. b) Vegan Food Logo
3. c) Fortified Food Logo
4. d) Non-GMO Food Logo

Q3.  Who became the first Indian to win the Norway Chess title ?

1. a) D. Gukesh
2. b) Viswanathan Anand
3. c) R. Praggnanandhaa
4. d) Arjun Erigaisi

Q4.  Consider the following statements regarding the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC):

1. The MPC was given a statutory basis through an amendment to the RBI Act, 1934 in 2016.
2. The MPC consists of six members, including three external members nominated by the Government of India.
3. In the event of a tie during voting, the RBI Governor has a casting vote.

         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 correct: The RBI Act was amended in 2016 to provide a statutory framework for the MPC and flexible inflation targeting.
• Statement 2 is correct: The MPC comprises six members, including three external experts nominated by the Government of India.
• Statement 3 is correct: In case of a tie, the RBI Governor exercises a casting vote.

Q5.  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.

Answer Key