Current Affairs 18 June 2026

India's cumulative exports surged to US$ 162.69 billion, registering a 14.66% growth.

• India's exports reached US$ 162.69 billion in April–May 2026–27, registering 14.66% growth year-on-year.
• Merchandise Exports: US$ 88.91 billion (+16.09%).
• Services Exports: US$ 73.79 billion (+12.99%).
• Trade Deficit: US$ 20.13 billion.
• Top Export Growth Sector: Petroleum Products (+54.89%).
• Highest Export Growth Destination: Singapore (+123.75%).

India's Overall Unemployment Rate Remains Stable at 5.5%: NSO PLFS.

• NSO's Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) reported India's unemployment rate at 5.5% for May 2026.
• Overall unemployment rate remained 5.5%.
• Urban unemployment rate declined to 6.4%.
• Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) stood at 54.4%.
• Female Labour Force Participation Rate reached 32.8%.
• Worker Population Ratio (WPR) was 51.4%.
• PLFS is conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

ISRO Unveils Space Technology Research Programme 2026 at Chandigarh University.

• SRO launched the Space Technology & Research Program 2026 and Summer Internship Program at Chandigarh University.
• Duration: 15 June – 11 July 2026.
• Focus areas include Quantum Cryptography, Quantum Communications, AI in satellite systems, and Small Satellite Technologies.
• Experts from ISRO, NSIL, IIRS, and MoES are mentoring participants.
• Aims to strengthen space technology research and support the India Semiconductor Mission by promoting indigenous semiconductor capabilities.

Intellion Park Chennai Earns India's Largest WELL Core Platinum Campus Status.

• Intellion Park Chennai became India's largest WELL Core Platinum-certified campus.
• Developed by Tata Realty & Infrastructure Ltd.
• Certified by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI).
• Recognized as the largest cluster of WELL Platinum-certified buildings in India.
• Also India's first IFC EDGE Zero Carbon-certified development.
• Certification assesses factors such as air quality, lighting, thermal comfort, and acoustics.

AAI Launches Free Breast Cancer Screening Service in Srinagar.

• Free Breast Cancer Screening Seva Programme was launched in Srinagar to promote early detection and awareness.
• Launched by Airports Authority of India (AAI) under its CSR initiative with India Turns Pink (ITP).
• Target: Screening of 10,000 women across 10 villages in Srinagar district.
• Provides doorstep screening, counselling, and awareness services.
• India ranks 3rd globally in breast cancer cases and faces high mortality due to late diagnosis.
• Breast cancer risk: 1 in 28 Indian women; higher in urban areas (1 in 22).