News of The Day – 26th June 2026

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

(with Syllabus Relevance)

• Bhawaiya is a traditional folk music form of North Bengal and adjoining regions of Assam, Bangladesh and North-East India.
• It reflects themes of rural life, separation, love, pastoral culture and social traditions.
• The music is recognised as an important component of India’s intangible cultural heritage.
• Documentation and preservation of folk traditions help protect India’s diverse cultural heritage.

(GS-1: Art & Culture)

• Sushruta, regarded as the “Father of Surgery,” authored the Sushruta Samhita, one of the foundational texts of Ayurveda.
• The text describes over 300 surgical procedures, 120 surgical instruments, plastic surgery, cataract surgery and fracture management.
• His contributions laid the foundations of reconstructive surgery and surgical education.
• The recognition highlights India’s ancient scientific and medical heritage and its contribution to global medicine.

(GS-1: Geography)

• The Tungabhadra River is formed by the confluence of the Tunga and Bhadra rivers in Karnataka.
• It is a major tributary of the Krishna River and flows through Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
• The basin supports irrigation, hydropower generation and drinking water supply.
• The Tungabhadra Dam is an important multipurpose project serving agriculture and power generation.

• Venezuela lies along the boundary of the Caribbean Plate and South American Plate, making it seismically active.
• Most earthquakes occur due to strike-slip movement along major fault systems such as the Boconó Fault.
• Earthquakes highlight the importance of seismic zoning, resilient infrastructure and disaster preparedness.

(GS-2:Polity & Governance)

• The Supreme Court emphasised implementation of road safety measures to reduce fatalities under Article 21 (Right to Life).
• Key recommendations include establishing trauma centres, improving emergency response, identifying accident-prone black spots, enforcing traffic laws and strengthening road engineering.
• India accounts for one of the highest numbers of road accident deaths globally.
• Road safety initiatives include the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 and National Road Safety Policy.

• Cooperatives are voluntary associations formed to promote the economic interests of members through democratic functioning.
• The Ministry of Cooperation (established in 2021) aims to strengthen the cooperative movement under the vision of “Sahkar se Samriddhi.”
• The 97th Constitutional Amendment granted constitutional status to cooperative societies by inserting Part IXB and Article 43B.
• The conference focused on digitalisation, transparency, professional management and strengthening Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS).

• Samvidhan Hatya Diwas is observed annually on 25 June to commemorate the proclamation of the National Emergency (1975–77).
• The Emergency was declared under Article 352 on the grounds of “internal disturbance” (later replaced by “armed rebellion” through the 44th Constitutional Amendment)
• Different Types of Emergency

• India records thousands of fire accidents annually, with urban areas witnessing increasing incidents due to rapid urbanisation and poor enforcement of safety norms.
• Fire safety is governed by the National Building Code (NBC), 2016, State Fire Services Acts and local municipal by-laws.
• Challenges include inadequate fire exits, poor compliance with safety audits, illegal constructions and shortage of trained personnel.
• Strengthening enforcement, periodic fire audits, public awareness and modern firefighting infrastructure are essential for disaster resilience.

(GS-3:Science & Technology)

• Netra AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning & Control) is an indigenous airborne surveillance system developed by DRDO.
• It provides early detection of enemy aircraft, missiles and drones while enhancing command-and-control capabilities.
• The system supports network-centric warfare and strengthens India’s air defence architecture.
• It is a major step towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence technology and indigenous military capability.

(GS-3: Science & Technology)

• The government has mandated QR codes on selected medicines to improve traceability and combat counterfeit drugs.
• Consumers can verify product authenticity through digital scanning.
• The initiative strengthens pharmaceutical supply-chain transparency and drug safety.
• It complements India’s broader efforts towards digital healthcare and quality assurance in pharmaceuticals.