News In Short 18 June 2026: CBG Blending, QS Rankings 2027, RELOS & More

India is on track to achieve the mandated 3% blending of compressed biogas (CBG) with Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and domestic Piped Natural Gas (PNG) in FY 2026–27.

Background:

• Following recommendations of the National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC), India adopted phased CBG blending targets of 1% (FY 2025–26), 3% (FY 2026–27), 4% (FY 2027–28), and 5% (FY 2028–29).

Key Terms: 

• Compressed Biogas (CBG): Purified biogas produced from organic waste, with properties similar to natural gas, used as a renewable fuel.
• Compressed Natural Gas (CNG): Natural gas compressed for use mainly as a transport fuel.
• Piped Natural Gas (PNG): Natural gas supplied through pipelines for domestic, commercial, and industrial use.

Current Status: 

• Blending Level: Has reached nearly 2%.
• CBG Sales: Stood at 0.66 million metric standard cubic metres per day (MMSCMD) in April and 0.63 MMSCMD in May.
• Natural Gas Consumption: Combined CNG and domestic PNG consumption is 34–35 MMSCMD.
• CBG Infrastructure: 

• Operational Plants: 210 plants have been commissioned.
• Pipeline Projects: According to the Petroleum Ministry’s Gobardhan portal, construction of 324 CBG/bio-CNG plants is in progress, and 1,261 plants are yet to start construction.
• Leading States: Most projects under construction are in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Karnataka.

Significance: 

• Energy Security: The recent West Asia conflict underscores the need for greater energy security and lower import dependence.
• Environmental Benefits: Higher blending can reduce imports, promote waste utilisation, mitigate methane emissions, and curb crop residue burning.

Measures Suggested: 

• Feedstock Supply: Establish a robust feedstock assurance mechanism for reliable biomass supply.
• Financial Support: Provide production-linked incentives (PLIs) to support operational and maintenance costs.

India improved its global higher-education footprint, with IIT Delhi becoming the country’s highest-ranked institution in QS 2027.

About the QS World University Rankings 2027:

• QS World University Rankings is an annual global ranking of universities published by QS Quacquarelli Symonds.
• It assesses institutions on parameters such as academic reputation, employer reputation, research impact, internationalisation, and employability. 
• MIT retained the world’s No. 1 position, while Imperial College London and Stanford University shared the second spot globally.

India’s Performance in the QS World University Rankings 2027:

• Top Ranks: IIT Delhi emerged as India’s top-ranked institution for the second consecutive year, climbing to 118th globally, its best-ever performance.
  • IIT Bombay (134), IIT Madras (170), IIT Kharagpur (205), and IIT Kanpur (221) remained among India’s highest-ranked institutions.
• Research Performance: Indian Institute of Science ranked 21st globally in the citations per faculty indicator, reflecting strong research impact.
• Total Universities: India has 52 universities in the rankings, making it the 5th most represented higher-education system globally after the US, UK, China, and Germany.
• Research impact (citations), employer reputation, and graduate employability were major strengths of leading Indian institutions, especially IIT Delhi.
• Challenges for Indian universities remain sub-optimal R&D funding internationalisation and faculty-student ratio, which limit their entry into the global top 100.

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, observed globally on June 17.

About the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2026: 

• The day commemorates the adoption of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification on 17 June 1994 in Paris and promotes action against land degradation and drought. 
• Objective: Raise awareness about combating land degradation and drought through international cooperation, sustainable land management, and community participation. 
• Theme 2026: “Rangelands: Recognise. Respect. Restore.” — highlighting the need to protect and restore rangeland ecosystems. 
• Rangelands: Natural landscapes such as grasslands, savannas, shrublands, deserts, tundra, and grazing lands used primarily for livestock grazing and wildlife habitats.
  • Rangelands cover over 50% of Earth’s land surface, making them among the world’s largest terrestrial ecosystems.

Celebrations In India:

• Nodal Ministry: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is the national nodal ministry for the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and coordinates India’s efforts against desertification and land degradation. 
• Celebrated across project areas under the Watershed Development Component of PMKSY (WDC–PMKSY 2.0) to promote sustainable land and water management.
• 1,444 new watershed works (e.g., check dams, percolation tanks, farm ponds) were inaugurated.
• Under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign, 51,299 saplings were planted to support afforestation and ecological restoration.
• Citizens took a pledge on the theme: “For a Developed India, Let Us Build a Drought-Free India.”

About WDC–Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) 2.0:

• WDC–PMKSY 2.0 is a watershed development programme aimed at restoring degraded land, improving water security, and strengthening climate-resilient agriculture. 
• Nodal Agency: Implemented by the Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development.
• Objective: Aims to develop watersheds through community-based natural resource management.
• Supports climate resilience, drought mitigation, livelihood enhancement, and sustainable rural development.

The United States has restored the name of its military command from U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) to U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM).

About U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM)

• • USPACOM is the oldest and largest geographic unified combatant command of the United States Armed Forces, headquartered in Hawaii.
  • Establishment: It was established on 1 January 1947 by President Harry S. Truman to oversee U.S. military operations across the Pacific region.
  • Evolution: The command operated as USPACOM for over seven decades before being renamed USINDOPACOM in 2018 to emphasize the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean and the Indo-Pacific concept.
• Area Under Command

• • • Geographic Jurisdiction: USPACOM’s Area of Responsibility covers nearly half of the Earth’s surface, extending from the western coast of the United States to the western border of India and from the Arctic to Antarctica.
    • Strategic Coverage: The command oversees key maritime routes, major trade corridors, and several strategic hotspots across the Asia-Pacific region.
• Key Mandates

• • Regional Security: USPACOM is responsible for protecting U.S. territory, citizens, and strategic interests across the Pacific theatre.
  • Joint Military Operations: It integrates and coordinates operations of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force.
  • Security Partnerships: The command conducts military exercises, interoperability programmes, and capacity-building initiatives with regional partners and allies.
  • Humanitarian Assistance: USPACOM plays a major role in disaster relief, emergency response, and humanitarian assistance operations across the region.

Different Geographical Command of US

• U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM) :Headquartered in Hawaii; covers the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, extending to the shores of India. 
• U.S. European Command (USEUCOM): Headquartered in Germany; oversees U.S. operations in Europe, parts of the Middle East, and Eurasia, working alongside NATO.
• U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM): Headquartered in Florida; directs operations in the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of South Asia.
• U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM): Headquartered in Florida; responsible for Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
• U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM): Headquartered in Colorado; primarily focuses on homeland defense for North America, including the continental U.S., Alaska, and Canada.
• U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM): Headquartered in Germany; conducts military operations and builds defense capabilities across the African continent.
• U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM): Headquartered in Colorado; conducts operations in, from, and to space.

The renaming reflects evolving U.S. strategic priorities and may influence regional security dynamics, particularly concerning China, the Indo-Pacific construct, and India’s strategic role.

India and Russia operationalised the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS) in 2025, enhancing military logistics cooperation without permitting permanent troop deployment.

About Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS)

• • The Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS) is a bilateral logistics support agreement between India and Russia that facilitates reciprocal access to military facilities, supplies, and technical support during mutually agreed activities.
  • Objective: To simplify logistical cooperation, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen defence interoperability between the armed forces of both countries.
• Key Provisions of the Agreement

• • Reciprocal Access to Military Facilities: RELOS allows Indian and Russian military personnel to access designated ports, airbases, and military facilities for logistics support during approved engagements.
  • Logistics and Technical Support: The agreement covers the provision of fuel, food, water, transportation, spare parts, maintenance, repair services, medical assistance, communication services, and other logistical requirements.
  • Support During Joint Activities: The agreement applies to joint military exercises, training programmes, port calls, military visits, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, and other mutually agreed missions.
  • Airspace and Airfield Usage: Military aircraft of both countries may utilize designated airspace and airfield infrastructure for operational and logistical purposes.
  • No Permanent Deployment: RELOS does not permit permanent stationing of troops, military bases, or long-term deployment of assets on each other’s territory. All deployments remain temporary and activity-specific.
  • Duration of Agreement: The agreement is valid for five years and may be revised based on evolving strategic requirements and mutual consent.

Significance of RELOS

• Enhanced Operational Reach: The agreement enables Indian and Russian naval and air assets to sustain longer deployments through easier access to logistics and maintenance facilities.
• Strengthening Defence Cooperation: RELOS deepens military-to-military engagement and reinforces the longstanding strategic partnership between India and Russia.
• Expanding Arctic Cooperation: The agreement provides India access to Russian facilities in the Arctic region, supporting future cooperation in emerging sea routes, connectivity, and resource exploration.
• Boost to Strategic Mobility: Streamlined logistics procedures reduce operational delays, improve mission endurance, and enhance force readiness across distant theatres.

RELOS strengthens India-Russia defence cooperation by enhancing logistical interoperability, operational flexibility, and strategic access while preserving India’s policy of strategic autonomy.

The Indian Air Force will participate in Exercise Pitch Black 2026 in Australia alongside air forces from 19 partner nations.

About Exercise Pitch Black

• • Exercise Pitch Black is a biennial multinational air combat exercise and one of the most significant air warfare exercises in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • The name “Pitch Black” originates from the exercise’s emphasis on night-time flying operations over vast sparsely populated areas of Australia.
  • Conducted By: Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
    • It is the RAAF’s flagship international flying exercise and largest multinational air combat drill.
• 2026 Edition

• • Location and Schedule: Exercise Pitch Black 2026 will be conducted from 20 July to 7 August 2026 across RAAF Bases Darwin, Tindal and Amberley in Northern Australia.
  • Participants: The exercise will involve 19 nations, over 100 aircraft, and around 4,400 personnel.
    • Participating countries include India, Australia, United States, United Kingdom, France, Japan, Canada, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Thailand, Spain, Sweden, Finland, Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Brunei.
• Significance: The exercise strengthens military partnerships, enhances collective preparedness, promotes regional stability, and improves interoperability among Indo-Pacific and partner air forces.