CURRENT AFFAIRS 16 & 17 June, 2026

CURRENT AFFAIRS 16 & 17 June, 2026

1. TRIPURA’S TRADITIONAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT SARINDA RECEIVES GI TAG RECOGNITION –

Tripura Sarinda Receives GI Tag

• Respectable Chief Minister Manik Saha has announced that Tripura Sarinda has been awarded the Geographical Indication status.
• He described the achievement as a proud moment for the state’s cultural heritage and it is a significant step towards to preserving and promoting indigenous folk traditions.
• This recognition acknowledges the instrument’s unique association with the Tripura and it safeguards the its identity against unauthorized imitation or any misuse.

About Tripura Sarinda

• Tripura Sarinda is the traditional bowed string musical instrument that is widely used in the folk music traditions of the state’s tribal communities.
• It is handcrafted from a single block of wood and it features a hollow resonator that produces the its distinctive sound.
• The instrument is played using the bow and is commonly used during the folk performances, cultural ceremonies and traditional musical expressions.

2. SMRITI MANDHANA BECOMES ONLY INDIAN IN TIME100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN SPORTS 2026 –

Smriti Mandhana Earns The Place in TIME100 Sports 2026

• TIME magazine’s annual list recognizes the athletes, coaches, executives, investors and advocates who are shaping the future of sports worldwide.
• In the 2026 edition, Mandhana stands alongside with the icons such as the Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, LeBron James, Carlos Alcaraz and Temba Bavuma.
• Her inclusion showcases the growing recognition of the women’s cricket on the world stage.

Why Was Smriti Mandhana Selected?

• TIME has highlighted the several remarkable achievements that have defined Mandhana’s career in the recent years.
• She became the first Indian woman to score a double century in a domestic one-day match and the first Indian woman cricketer to register the centuries in all three international formats such as Test, ODI, and T20I cricket.

3. DRDO SUCCESSFULLY TESTS LONG RANGE LAND ATTACK CRUISE MISSILE (LRLACM) IN ODISHA –

DRDO Conducts Successful Flight-Test of LRLACM

• The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) successfully tested the Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM) from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, which is located off the coast of Odisha.
• According to the DRDO, all mission parameters were achieved successfully. The missile’s performance was monitored via the various tracking systems deployed by the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur.

What is the Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM)?

• The Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile (LRLACM) is an indigenously developed cruise missile that is designed to strike the strategic land targets with high precision over long distances.
• Unlike the ballistic missiles, cruise missiles fly at the lower altitudes and follow the guided flight path which makes them difficult to detect and intercept.

4. CENTRE BLOCKS TELEGRAM ACCESS TILL JUNE 22 AHEAD OF NEET UG 2026 RE-EXAMINATION –

Why Has Telegram Been Restricted?

• According to official information, the restriction has been imposed as the preventive measure to safeguard the integrity of the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination.
• Authorities have expressed the concerns that Telegram channels and groups could potentially be used to circulate the examination-related content which includes the alleged question papers, answer keys and misleading information.
• The temporary restriction is intended to reduce the risk of the malpractice and to maintain public confidence in the examination process.
• The National Testing Agency has welcomed the decision and stated that it would help to ensure a fair and secure examination environment.

5. INDIA LAUNCHES NEW WHOLESALE PRICE INDEX SERIES WITH BASE YEAR 2022-23 –

Why the New WPI Series Was Introduced

• The revised WPI reflects the structural changes in the Indian economy over the last decade. New industries, products, technologies and energy sources have emerged and which make the update necessary.
• The government aims to gradually transition from the WPI to Producer Price Indices, which are widely used across the advanced economies.
• To facilitate the smooth shift, both WPI and PPI will be published simultaneously for over the next five years.
• This move is also consistent with the recommendations made by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which advocates the use of Producer Price Indices for better measurement of the producer-level inflation.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.  Recently, the 52nd G7 Summit was held in Evian, France. India participated in the summit as an invitee for the 13th time overall. The G7 comprises which of the following countries ?

1. a) Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, United States
2. b) Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Germany, Japan
3. c) Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, United Kingdom, United States
4. d) Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom, United States

Q2.  Exercise Pitch Black is hosted by which country ?

1. a) United States
2. b) Australia
3. c) Japan
4. d) United Kingdom

Q3.  The Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament 2026 has been launched by which ministry ?

1. a) Ministry of Education
2. b) Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
3. c) Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
4. d) Ministry of Home Affairs

Q4.  Consider the following statements regarding Cruise Missiles and Ballistic Missiles:

1. Cruise missiles remain powered by their engines for most of their flight duration.
2. Ballistic missiles generally follow a predictable trajectory.
3. Cruise missiles are relatively difficult to detect by radar because they fly at low altitudes.
4. Ballistic missiles possess more advanced terrain-following capabilities than cruise missiles.

         Which of the statements given above are correct ?

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

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is correct: Cruise missiles use continuous engine propulsion for most of their flight, enabling sustained powered flight and precise navigation toward the target.
• Statement 2 is correct: Ballistic missiles generally follow a predetermined ballistic trajectory after the boost phase, making their path relatively predictable.
• Statement 3 is correct: Cruise missiles fly at low altitudes and often utilize terrain-masking techniques, making them comparatively harder to detect and track by radar systems.
• Statement 4 is incorrect: Terrain Following and Terrain Hugging capabilities are characteristic features of cruise missiles, allowing them to fly close to the ground and avoid detection. Ballistic missiles do not possess such capabilities.

Q5.  Consider the following statements regarding the findings of the SIPRI Yearbook 2026:

1. All nine recognized nuclear-armed states are actively modernizing and expanding their nuclear arsenals.
2. India officially holds the highest number of deployed nuclear warheads among South Asian countries.
3. According to the report, India remains the world’s second-largest arms importer.

         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 is correct: The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Yearbook 2026 highlights that all nine nuclear-armed states (the USA, Russia, the UK, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel) are actively modernizing and expanding their nuclear arsenals, increasingly relying on nuclear weapons as instruments of national power.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: While India’s total estimated nuclear warhead inventory reached roughly 190, the report notes that China possesses the largest deployed assets in the region with 34 deployed warheads. Furthermore, out of India’s 190 warheads, only 12 are kept in a deployed operational state.
• Statement 3 is correct: The SIPRI data identifies India as the second-largest arms importer globally (accounting for over $92.1 billion in military spending and around 8.2% of global arms imports), positioned only behind Ukraine.

Answer Key