News of The Day – 20th June 2026

The Hindu, Indian Express, Live Mint, Business Standard, Economic Times, PIB and AIR, etc

(with Syllabus Relevance)

(GS-1: Geography)

• Glacial lakes form due to melting glaciers and accumulation of meltwater behind moraines.
• Expansion of glacial lakes increases the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs).
• Climate change is accelerating glacier retreat across the Himalayan region.
• Satellite monitoring is critical for early warning, disaster preparedness and climate adaptation.

• About the Mekedatu project.
  • It is proposed by Karnataka across the Cauvery River.
• Tamil Nadu argues that the project could affect downstream water availability.
• Interstate river water disputes are governed by constitutional and statutory mechanisms, including the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.
• The issue highlights challenges in cooperative federalism and water governance.

(GS-2: Polity & Governance)

• The Supreme Court held that safe pedestrian movement is part of the Right to Life under Article 21.
• Footpaths are public spaces meant primarily for pedestrians and must remain free from encroachments.
• The Court emphasized universal accessibility, including for elderly persons and persons with disabilities.
• It recommended a comprehensive legal framework for pedestrian rights and urban mobility.

• Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a hereditary blood disorder caused by abnormal haemoglobin
• It is particularly prevalent among tribal populations in central and western India.
• The National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, launched in 2023, aims to eliminate the disease by 2047.
  • The programme focuses on screening, genetic counselling, awareness and treatment.

(GS-2:International Relations)

• The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is the global watchdog against money laundering and terrorist financing.
• Established in 1989 by the G7, it develops international standards to combat illicit financial flows.
• FATF evaluations influence financial credibility and investment climate.
• Leadership positions reflect a country’s growing role in global financial governance.

(GS-3: Economy)

• About Development Policy Financing
  • It is a World Bank instrument that provides budgetary support to countries undertaking policy and institutional reforms.
• Funds are disbursed against agreed reform measures rather than specific projects.
• DPF supports macroeconomic stability, governance reforms and sustainable development.
• It helps countries address structural challenges and improve public service delivery.

(GS-3: Economy)

• About Coal-to-Ammonium Nitrate Project 
  • The project converts coal into ammonium nitrate, a key input for mining, infrastructure and industrial explosives.
• It promotes value addition to domestic coal resources and reduces import dependence.
• Coal gasification is a cleaner alternative to direct coal combustion.
• The initiative supports energy security and industrial self-reliance.

(GS-3: Economy)

• About Multi-Lane Free Flow Tolling System
  • The system enables automatic toll collection without vehicles stopping at toll plazas.
  • It uses technologies such as Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), FASTag and sensors.
• Benefits include reduced congestion, lower fuel consumption and faster travel times. 
• The initiative supports intelligent transport systems and efficient highway management.

(GS-3: Science and Tech.)

• X-ray flashes are high-energy astronomical events associated with extreme cosmic processes.
• They may originate from collapsing stars, neutron stars or black hole activity.
• Studying these phenomena helps understand stellar evolution and the behaviour of matter under extreme conditions.
• Advances in space observatories have improved detection and analysis of such events.

(GS-3:Science and Tech.)

• About Dunagiri, Sanshodhak and Agray.
• It highlights India’s growing indigenous shipbuilding capabilities under Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
• The initiative supports domestic defence manufacturing and technological self-reliance.
• It contributes to India’s objective of becoming a major defence producer and exporter.

(GS-3: Science and Tech.)

• About National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI)
  • NIXI was established in 2003 to improve internet infrastructure.
• It facilitates domestic routing of internet traffic, reducing latency and bandwidth costs.
• NIXI manages the .in country-code top-level domain and promotes internet governance initiatives. 
• It plays a key role in strengthening India’s digital ecosystem and internet sovereignty.

(GS-4: Ethics)

• Emerging professions such as AI engineers, prompt designers, data scientists, digital influencers and cybersecurity experts are reshaping the labour market.
• These professions raise ethical concerns relating to privacy, algorithmic bias, misinformation, accountability and digital rights. 
• Ethical frameworks emphasize transparency, fairness, informed consent and responsible use of technology.
• Relevant to ethics in governance, technology and professional conduct.