Current Affairs 20 June 2026

SpaceX Surpasses Amazon to Become World’s 5th Most Valuable Company.

• SpaceX became the world’s 5th most valuable company, overtaking Amazon with a valuation of $2.655 trillion.
• SpaceX’s market valuation reached ₹251.03 lakh crore.
• Shares closed at $201.80, recording a 4.8% rise.
• SpaceX ranked 5th globally after Nvidia, Alphabet, Apple, and Microsoft.
• The company raised $85.7 billion through its IPO.
• SpaceX reported $18.67 billion in revenue in the previous fiscal year.

IIT Delhi Leads Indian Universities in QS World Rankings 2027.

• IIT Delhi ranked as India’s top institution in the QS World University Rankings 2027, securing 118th position globally.
• IIT Delhi: Rank 118 (highest-ever ranking).
• Other Indian Institutes:
• IIT Bombay: 134th
• IIT Madras: 170th
• IIT Kharagpur: 205th
• India became the 5th most represented higher education system with 52 universities.
• Indian representation increased from 14 (2017) to 52 (2027).
• QS Rankings are published annually by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), headquartered in London, UK.

ICAR-IIOR Launches Innovative Seed Coating Technology for Climate-Ready Crops.

• ICAR-IIOR, Hyderabad launched a patented Smart Seed Coating Technology to improve crop productivity and climate resilience.
• Uses biopolymer-based coating to deliver beneficial inputs at the seed-soil interface.
• Increased crop yield by 30% in groundnut and soybean trials.
• Multi-location trials showed 12–37% productivity improvement.
• Enhances seedling growth, root development, and drought/temperature stress tolerance.
• Applicable to cereals, pulses, millets, oilseeds, and horticultural crops.
• Developed by ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (IIOR), Hyderabad.

India and Netherlands Conduct 4th Cyber Dialogue in New Delhi.

• The 4th India–Netherlands Cyber Dialogue was held in New Delhi (June 16–17, 2026) to enhance cyber and digital cooperation.
• Co-chaired by officials from India’s Ministry of External Affairs and the Netherlands.
• Held under the India–Netherlands Strategic Partnership Roadmap (2026–2030).
• Discussed:
• AI governance and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)
• Data protection and cybercrime
• Cybersecurity cooperation
• Focused on collaboration between CERT-In, CERTs, and law enforcement agencies.
• Addressed protection of Critical Information Infrastructure and supply chains.

France Set to Inaugurate Its 1st Traditional Hindu Temple in September.

• France will inaugurate its first traditional stone-built Hindu temple in September 2026.
• Temple built using natural stones sourced from India.
• Components were crafted in India and assembled in France.
• Developed by BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha).
• A 15-day consecration programme will be held during inauguration.
• The announcement was made during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Paris.
• BAPS: Established in 1907, headquartered in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.