Current Affairs 06 June 2026

Critical Minerals Global Supply Chain Observatory (GSCO)

India and the United Kingdom have jointly launched the Critical Minerals Global Supply Chain Observatory (GSCO) to strengthen cooperation in critical minerals, technology sharing, and resilient supply chains.

Highlights

• The initiative was first announced during U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to India in October 2025.
• GSCO will function as a data-driven platform to monitor and analyse global critical mineral supply chains.
• The platform will be jointly operated by:
  • Technology Innovation in Exploration & Mining Foundation (TEXMiN), India
  • Indian Institute of Technology (ISM), Dhanbad
  • University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
• The observatory aims to:
  • Strengthen critical mineral supply chains.
  • Support clean energy transitions.
  • Enhance information sharing and technology cooperation.
  • Promote bilateral investment opportunities in the critical minerals sector.

Andhra Pradesh Aviation Policy 2026–31

The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has approved the Andhra Pradesh Aviation Policy 2026–31 to strengthen regional air connectivity, promote aerospace manufacturing, and develop cargo logistics infrastructure across the State.

• The policy aims to ensure airport access within a 150-km radius for all citizens.
• It proposes the development of 9 new airports and 10 waterdromes to enhance connectivity.
• Key targets under the policy include increasing passenger handling capacity from 6.2 million to 30.38 million by 2035 and boosting air cargo volume from 6,240 metric tonnes to 4.27 lakh metric tonnes.
• The State also aims to attract over $1 billion in investments for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities and aerospace manufacturing.
• Additionally, the policy aims to train 5,000 aviation and aerospace personnel annually and supports emerging technologies, including Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

Andhra Pradesh Cabinet Approves ‘Amaravati Eye’ Tourism Project

The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has approved the proposal to invite competitive bids for the development of the “Amaravati Eye”, a giant observation wheel planned on the banks of the Krishna River in Amaravati. The project is envisioned as a major tourist attraction similar to the London Eye.

Highlights

• The project will be developed on 6 acres of APCRDA land.
• It will be implemented under the Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) model.
• The concession period has been fixed at 30 years.
• The observation wheel will offer panoramic views of Amaravati and the Krishna River.

Andhra Pradesh Receives “Best Tourism Promotion State” Award

Andhra Pradesh was honoured with the “Best Tourism Promotion State” Award at the Global Travel Market (GTM) 2026 held in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Double Burden of Malnutrition in India

A recent study conducted by CMC Vellore and ARUMDA at TIFR has highlighted the growing challenge of the double burden of malnutrition in India, where both undernutrition and overnutrition coexist within the population.

Double Burden of Malnutrition

The double burden of malnutrition refers to the simultaneous presence of undernutrition (stunting, wasting, or micronutrient deficiencies) and overnutrition (overweight, obesity, or diet-related non-communicable diseases). This public health issue can occur simultaneously at the country, community, household, or even individual level.

India Achieves 100th Ramsar Site

India has achieved a significant environmental milestone with the designation of the Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (Surha Tal) in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, as the country’s 100th Ramsar Site. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed happiness over this achievement.

Key Facts:

• Located in Ballia district, Uttar Pradesh.
• Popularly known as Surha Tal.
• A freshwater wetland covering about 34.32 sq. km.
• Formed naturally as an oxbow lake by a meander of the Ganga River.
• Declared a bird sanctuary in 1991.
• Recognised as India’s 100th Ramsar Site (Wetland of International Importance).

Exam Tip: Questions on Ramsar Sites are frequently asked in competitive exams. Check the complete list of Ramsar Sites in India.

French Open Mixed Doubles Title

Italy’s mixed doubles pair, Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, successfully defended their French Open 2026 Mixed Doubles title by defeating the American-Canadian duo of Evan King and Gabriela Dabrowski in the final.

Jan Samarth Portal

The Government of India marked 4 years of the Jan Samarth Portal, a digital platform launched on June 6, 2022, to simplify access to credit-linked government schemes. It serves as a single-window platform connecting beneficiaries directly with lending institutions through a technology-driven process.

Highlights

• Launched on 6 June 2022.
• Provides access to 16 credit-linked Central Government schemes.
• Covers sectors such as agriculture, business, housing, renewable energy, and livelihoods.
• Available in 8 languages: English, Hindi, Gujarati, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, Bengali, and Kannada.
• Connected with 269 Member Lending Institutions, including banks, NBFCs, and cooperative banks.
• Offers 24×7 digital loan application services with real-time eligibility checks and tracking.
• Integrated with databases such as UIDAI, UDYAM, AgriStack, GST, CBDT, NSDL, CIBIL, and CGTMSE.
• As of 1 June 2026, the portal processed about 54.10 lakh applications worth ₹3,00,951 crore.
• Digital approvals were granted to 49.55 lakh beneficiaries involving ₹2,76,493.78 crore.

The portal aims to promote digital financial inclusion, improve access to institutional credit, and support entrepreneurs, farmers, and livelihood seekers across India.

Q1. India jointly launched the Critical Minerals Global Supply Chain Observatory (GSCO) with which of the following countries?
A. Australia
B. Japan
C. United Kingdom
D. Canada

Q2. The term “Double Burden of Malnutrition”, recently highlighted by the Vellore MAL-ED study, refers to:
A. Simultaneous occurrence of malnutrition in rural and urban areas
B. Coexistence of undernutrition and overweight/obesity in a population
C. Presence of both communicable and non-communicable diseases
D. Deficiency of both proteins and vitamins in children

Q3. Which mixed doubles pair won the French Open 2026 Mixed Doubles title by successfully defending their championship?
A. Evan King and Gabriela Dabrowski
B. Ivan Dodig and Latisha Chan
C. Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori
D. Marcelo Arévalo and Zhang Shuai

Q4. The “Amaravati Eye” project, recently approved by the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet, is related to which of the following?
A. A satellite-based urban monitoring system
B. A giant observation wheel for tourism development
C. A river-linking irrigation project
D. An artificial intelligence research centre

Q5. According to Andhra Pradesh’s Aviation Policy 2026–31, which of the following statements is true?
A. The policy aims to develop 9 new airports and 10 waterdromes.
B. The State aims to increase passenger handling capacity to 100 million by 2035.
C. The policy targets training 500 aviation personnel annually.
D. The policy does not support emerging technologies such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

Q6. Which of the following wetlands was recently designated as India’s 100th Ramsar Site (Wetland of International Importance)?
A. Loktak Lake, Manipur
B. Chilika Lake, Odisha
C. Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (Surha Tal), Uttar Pradesh
D. Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan

Q7. Which of the following statements regarding the Jan Samarth Portal is correct?
A. It was launched in 2020 as a platform exclusively for agricultural loans.
B. It is a single-window digital platform providing access to multiple credit-linked government schemes.
C. It is operated solely by Public Sector Banks and does not include private lenders.
D. It provides grants and subsidies directly to beneficiaries without involving banks.