Current Affairs 21 June 2026

India and France Set to Launch TRISHNA Satellite in 2027.

• India and France announced the joint launch of the TRISHNA satellite in 2027.
• TRISHNA is being developed by ISRO and France’s CNES.
• Focuses on high-resolution Thermal infraRed Imaging.
• Aims to support global water security and food security through satellite data.
• ISRO: Established in 1969, headquartered in Bengaluru.
• CNES: France’s national space agency, established in 1961, headquartered in Paris.

UAE Introduces 15-Year Minimum Age Limit for Social Media Use.

• UAE became the first Arab nation to set a minimum age of 15 years for social media use.
• Children below 15 years cannot create or use personal social media accounts.
• Social media platforms must use AI-based age verification and digital identity checks.
• Self-declared age will not be accepted for account creation.
• Users aged 15–16 years will have enhanced safeguards like:
• Parental supervision features
• Screen-time controls
• Age-appropriate content filters
• UAE: Federation of seven emirates, with Abu Dhabi as the capital.

Meghalaya Opens Northeast’s Biggest Organic Spice Processing Facility.

• Northeast’s largest organic spice processing plant was inaugurated in Meghalaya by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
• Located at Bhoirymbong, Ri Bhoi District, Meghalaya.
• Established by Eastern Ri Bhoi Organic Farmer Producer Company.
• Processing capacity: 10,346 MT of spices annually.
• Benefits around 5,500 organic farmers.
• Foundation stones laid for four projects worth over ₹1,200 crore.
• Projects focus on logistics, connectivity, ecotourism, sustainable agriculture, and human capital development.

India’s Gold Imports Decline 39% Following Import Duty Increase.

• India’s gold imports declined by 39% month-on-month to $3.4 billion in May 2026 after an import duty hike.
• Gold import duty increased: 6% to 15% on May 13, 2026.
• Import volume fell: 25–30 tonnes in May compared to 46 tonnes in April.
• Gold’s share in total merchandise imports dropped to 5%.
• Domestic gold prices rose by nearly 6% after the duty hike.
• Gold ETFs witnessed outflows of ₹7.25 billion in May 2026.
• Over 1.34 lakh investor accounts in gold ETFs were closed.

Bihar Gets Record ₹10,000 Crore Railway Allocation and Expands Exports to Guinea.

• Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced a record railway budget allocation for Bihar and the export of the 51st locomotive to Guinea.
• Bihar received a railway budget allocation of over ₹10,000 crore.
• Ongoing railway projects in Bihar are worth around ₹1.15 lakh crore.
• A new railway station with five platforms is being developed at Hardinge Park, Patna.
• Fatuha station is undergoing redevelopment.
• Chhapra–Delhi Express was launched to improve connectivity.
• The 51st locomotive manufactured at the Marhowrah plant in Bihar was exported to Guinea.
• The export reflects Bihar’s growth as a manufacturing hub under Make in India.