Current Affairs 15 June 2026

Shigellosis Outbreak Reported in Kerala

A fresh outbreak of Shigellosis, a highly contagious diarrhoeal disease caused by the bacterium Shigella, has been reported in Kerala. As of June 2026, the State has recorded over 130 confirmed cases and several probable cases, with multiple deaths reported, including children.

• Shigellosis is caused by the Shigella bacterium.
• It is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium.
• The disease spreads mainly through contaminated food, contaminated water, and poor hand hygine.

About Shigella Bacterium

• Discovered by Japanese bacteriologist Kiyoshi Shiga in 1897.
• The bacterium was named after him.
• Children under five years are the most vulnerable group.

1,400-Year-Old Inscriptions in Nallamala Tiger Reserve

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has discovered and documented 25 inscriptions spanning nearly 1,400 years during an epigraphical survey conducted in the Nallamala Tiger Reserve and the Yerragondapalem region of Andhra Pradesh.

Highlights

• A total of 25 inscriptions dating from the 2nd century CE to the 16th century CE were documented.
• The inscriptions belong to several major dynasties, including:
  • Satavahana Dynasty
  • Eastern Chalukyas
  • Kalyani Chalukyas
  • Potapi Cholas
  • Kakatiya Dynasty
  • Reddy Kingdom
  • Vijayanagara Empire

• The inscriptions were written in Telugu, Kannada, and Brahmi Script.
• The survey also identified ancient rock art near Alatam within the Nallamala Tiger Reserve.
• The discoveries offer valuable insights into the region’s political, cultural, linguistic, and religious history.

Andhra Pradesh Plans OECMs to Strengthen Biodiversity Conservation

The Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board (APSBB) has announced plans to promote Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) across the State to conserve biodiversity outside protected areas such as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and reserve forests.

• OECMs are conservation areas that are not formally designated as Protected Areas, but still provide effective long-term biodiversity conservation.
• Andhra Pradesh plans to utilise OECMs for:
  • Industrial greenbelts
  • Urban micro-forests
  • Marine breeding grounds
  • Sacred groves
  • Wetlands and estuarine ecosystems
• The initiative will focus on:
  • Eastern Ghats wildlife corridors
  • Krishna and Godavari river basins
  • Coastal and marine ecosystems
  • Urban biodiversity conservation
• Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, Kurnool, and Rajahmundry are identified as cities for OECM-based conservation.

Project Kusha – Long-Range Air Defence Missile System

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently inaugurated the Advanced Weapon System Complex at the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), part of DRDO’s Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Missile Complex in Hyderabad. During the event, Project Kusha was highlighted as one of India’s most important indigenous air defence programmes.

Highlights

• Project Kusha is an indigenous long-range air defence missile system being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• It is also known as the Extended Range Air Defence System (ERADS).
• The project supports existing systems such as the Akash Missile System and the S-400 Triumf
• It forms an important component of Mission Sudarshan Chakra, India’s proposed multi-layered missile defence architecture.

BRICS Agriculture Ministers Adopt ‘Indore Declaration’

The BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting, held in Indore, concluded with the unanimous adoption of the ‘Indore Declaration’, a farmer-centric roadmap aimed at strengthening global cooperation in agriculture, food security, climate-resilient farming, and agricultural trade.

Highlights

• The declaration was adopted during India’s BRICS Presidency 2026.
• BRICS countries together account for:
  • Nearly 50% of the world’s population
  • About 42% of global agricultural land
  • Nearly 42% of global foodgrain production.

Four Major Priorities Identified

1. Food security and nutritious diets
2. Agricultural trade and cooperation
3. Climate-resilient and regenerative agriculture
4. Innovation, technology, and partnerships in agriculture.

Four New BRICS Agricultural Initiatives

1. BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence on Agro-Ecology and Regenerative Agriculture

• To promote natural farming, organic farming, and climate-resilient agricultural practices.
• India’s Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research (IIFSR), Modipuram, will serve as a Centre of Excellence.

2. BRICS Network on Digital Agriculture

• Focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI), geospatial technologies, digital public infrastructure, and data-driven agriculture.
• IIT Delhi will coordinate this network.

3. Global Forum on Farmers’ Rights in Seed Systems

• To protect indigenous seeds, traditional knowledge, and farmers’ seed rights.

4. BRICS AgriN (Agro Inputs, Genetic Resources and Information Network)

• To facilitate cooperation on seeds, genetic resources, agricultural inputs, and information sharing.

India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh

Former Union Minister Dinesh Trivedi is set to assume charge as India’s new High Commissioner to Bangladesh.

Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth Appointed as Next Chief of Army Staff

The Government of India has appointed Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth as the next Chief of the Army Staff (COAS). He will assume office on 30 June 2026, succeeding General Upendra Dwivedi, who retires on the same day.

Q1. Dinesh Trivedi, recently seen in the news, has been appointed as India’s High Commissioner to which country?
A. Nepal
B. Sri Lanka
C. Bangladesh
D. Myanmar

Q2. Project Kusha, recently seen in the news, is associated with which of the following?
A. Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Programme
B. Long-Range Air Defence Missile System
C. Hypersonic Cruise Missile Project
D. Anti-Submarine Warfare System

Q3. The ‘Indore Declaration’, recently adopted by BRICS countries, primarily focuses on which of the following areas?
A. Global Maritime Security Cooperation
B. Agricultural Cooperation, Food Security and Climate-Resilient Farming
C. Digital Currency and Financial Reforms
D. Space Exploration and Satellite Technology

Q4. Who has been appointed as the next Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of India with effect from 30 June 2026?
A. Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi
B. Lt Gen Manoj Pande
C. Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth
D. Lt Gen M.V. Suchindra Kumar

Q5. Shigellosis, recently reported in Kerala, is caused by which of the following?
A. Virus
B. Fungus
C. Protozoa
D. Bacterium

Q6. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) recently discovered inscriptions in the Nallamala Tiger Reserve belonging to several dynasties. Which of the following dynasties is represented among the newly documented inscriptions?
A. Satavahanas
B. Kakatiyas
C. Vijayanagara Empire
D. All of the Above

Q7. Andhra Pradesh has recently focused on Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) to strengthen biodiversity conservation. OECMs are recognised under which of the following global frameworks?
A. Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
B. Paris Climate Agreement
C. Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
D. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)