News of The Day – 24th June 2026

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

(with Syllabus Relevance)

(GS-1: Art & Culture)

• Padma Awards are among India’s highest civilian honours announced annually on the eve of Republic Day..
• They comprise Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
• Awards recognise distinguished contributions in fields such as art, science, public affairs, sports and social work.
• The awards are conferred by the President of India.

(GS-1: Geography)

• El Niño refers to abnormal warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean.
• It is part of the ENSO (El Niño–Southern Oscillation) phenomenon.
• El Niño often weakens the Indian monsoon and can trigger droughts, heatwaves and agricultural losses.
• It has significant impacts on global weather patterns and climate variability.

(GS-2:Polity and Governance)

• Public health focuses on disease prevention, health promotion and equitable healthcare access.
• India’s health initiatives include Ayushman Bharat, Health and Wellness Centres and the National Health Mission.
• Community participation and primary healthcare are essential for better health outcomes.
• Strengthening public health infrastructure improves resilience against future health crises.

(GS-2:Polity & Governance)

• The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 (FCRA) regulates foreign donations to individuals and organisations.
• It seeks to ensure transparency and prevent misuse of foreign funds.
• NGOs receiving foreign contributions must register with the Ministry of Home Affairs and comply with reporting requirements.
• The issue involves balancing national security concerns with civil society activities.

(GS-2:International Relations)

• India-China relations are shaped by border disputes along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
• Mechanisms such as the Special Representatives’ talks and WMCC facilitate dialogue.
• Bilateral ties involve trade, regional stability and multilateral cooperation through forums like BRICS and SCO.
• Peace and tranquillity along the border remain prerequisites for normalisation of relations.

(GS-2:International Relations)

• BRICS comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and newly admitted members.
• The grouping promotes cooperation on economic development, security and global governance reforms.
• It advocates a multipolar world order and greater representation of developing countries.
• Security cooperation includes counter-terrorism, cyber security and strategic dialogue.

(GS-3: Economy)

• Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) is an electronic platform for financing MSME receivables.
• It enables MSMEs to receive early payments on invoices through banks and financial institutions.
• Regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• TReDS improves liquidity, reduces working-capital constraints and supports MSME growth.

• India leads global ship recycling, driven mainly by the Alang Ship Recycling Yard in Gujarat.
• The sector promotes resource recovery, steel production and the circular economy.
• India is a party to the Hong Kong International Convention for Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009.
• The achievement aligns with the Maritime India Vision (MIV) 2030 goals for sustainable maritime development.

• AI hallucination occurs when artificial intelligence systems generate inaccurate or fabricated outputs.
• It arises from limitations in training data, model architecture and probabilistic prediction.
• The phenomenon also reflects AI’s ability to generate novel associations, contributing to creativity. 
• Ensuring reliability, transparency and ethical AI remains a key governance challenge.

(GS-3: Science & Technology)

• India has emerged as a major innovation hub through startups, digital public infrastructure and research institutions.
• Scaling innovations requires access to finance, manufacturing ecosystems, skilled workforce and global markets. 
• Programs such as Startup India, Atal Innovation Mission and National Research Foundation support innovation.
• Commercialisation of research remains a key challenge.

(GS-3:Science & Technology)

• Space Vision 2047 aims to make India a leading space power by the centenary of Independence.
• Milestones include Chandrayaan-3’s South Pole landing, Aditya-L1 and the upcoming Gaganyaan Mission.
• The programme promotes space-based services, commercial participation and advanced exploration missions.
• ISRO’s efforts support scientific research, economic growth and strategic capabilities.

• Cheetah Mitras are local community volunteers supporting cheetah conservation efforts.
• Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh is the site of India’s cheetah reintroduction programme.
• The project seeks to restore ecological balance and improve biodiversity conservation.
• Community participation is vital for reducing human-wildlife conflict.

(GS-3: Environment)

• India aims to achieve Net Zero by 2070 and reduce emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030.
• Hard-to-abate sectors such as steel, cement and chemicals require targeted decarbonisation strategies.
• Key initiatives include the National Green Hydrogen Mission, Carbon Credit Trading Scheme and renewable energy expansion.
• Industrial decarbonisation is critical for sustainable growth and export competitiveness.