Current Affairs 18 June 2026

State Finances 2024-25 – CAG Report

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has released the “State Finances 2024-25” report, highlighting growing fiscal stress among Indian states despite strong revenue mobilisation.

Key Findings

Fiscal Deficit & Debt

• All 28 States recorded a fiscal deficit during 2024-25.
• 15 States exceeded the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) benchmark of 3% of GSDP.
• Combined liabilities of States increased to ₹90.51 lakh crore by March 31, 2025.
• Total State debt reached 27.89% of the combined GSDP.
• 13 States exceeded the indicative debt threshold recommended by the Finance Commission.

Revenue Position

• 13 States recorded a revenue surplus.
• 15 States recorded a revenue deficit.
• States’ Own Tax Revenue (SOTR) remained the largest source of revenue receipts.
• State GST (SGST) contributed nearly 50% of total State revenue receipts.

Expenditure Trends

• Aggregate expenditure of States increased by 131% over the last decade.
• Total expenditure reached ₹51.20 lakh crore in 2024-25.
• Social and economic services accounted for nearly two-thirds of total expenditure.

Fiscal Rigidity

• Salaries, pensions, and interest payments consumed over 43% of total revenue expenditure.
• Combined expenditure on subsidies and committed liabilities accounted for 53.31% of revenue expenditure.

Andhra Pradesh in Focus

According to the report, Andhra Pradesh faces significant fiscal challenges:

• Revenue Deficit: 3.75% of GSDP
• Fiscal Deficit: 5.05% of GSDP
• Public Debt: ₹5,68,623 crore
• Both deficit indicators exceeded FRBM targets.
• High revenue expenditure is limiting capital investment and creating long-term fiscal risks.

Supreme Court Seeks Responses on Misuse of Aadhaar

The Supreme Court of India has sought responses from the Central Government and States on a petition alleging the misuse of Aadhaar as proof of citizenship, domicile, and residence. A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice V. Mohana issued notices to the Centre and States.

• The plea argues that Aadhaar is being used beyond its intended purpose and is being accepted as proof of Citizenship, Domicile, Residence, and Date of Birth.
• The petition cites Section 9 of the Aadhaar Act, 2016, which states that Aadhaar is only proof of identity and does not confer citizenship, domicile, or residence rights.
• It also refers to a UIDAI clarification (August 2023) stating that Aadhaar cannot be treated as proof of:
  • Citizenship
  • Residence
  • Date of Birth

Electoral Concerns

• The petition challenges the use of Aadhaar in Form-6, the application form for new voter registration.
• It argues that using Aadhaar as proof of date of birth and residence may affect the integrity of the electoral rolls.
• The plea seeks reforms in voter verification and proposes a high-powered monitoring committee to oversee the process.

National Statistical Commission (NSC)

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of a new Chairperson and Members to the National Statistical Commission (NSC), the apex body responsible for overseeing India’s official statistical system.

Key Appointments

• Dr Saibal Chattopadhyay – Chairperson
• Prof. Shubhabrata Das – Member
• Shri Satyendra Bahadur Singh – Member
• Dr Madhavan Mukund – Member

About the National Statistical Commission (NSC)

• Constituted on 12 July 2006 on the recommendations of the Rangarajan Commission.
• The National Statistical Commission (NSC) is a non-constitutional and non-statutory body.
• Functions as the nodal body for India’s core statistical activities.
• Ensures coordination, quality, integrity, and standardisation of official statistics.
• Works under the administrative framework of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

Composition of NSC

• One Part-time Chairperson
• The tenure of the Chairperson of the National Statistical Commission (NSC) is three years or until they attain the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.
• Four Part-time Members
• For comparison, the four regular part-time members of the commission also serve a three-year term, but their upper age limit is capped earlier at 65 years.
• CEO of NITI Aayog as Ex officio Member
• The Secretary of MoSPI acts as Secretary to the Commission.

Major Functions

• Formulating national statistical policies and priorities.
• Prescribing statistical standards, concepts, definitions, and methodologies.
• Improving public trust in official statistics.
• Conducting statistical audits to ensure quality and reliability.
• Coordinating statistical activities between the Centre and States.
• Monitoring and reviewing the performance of India’s statistical system.

India Faces 35% Monsoon Rainfall Deficit

According to the Indian Meteorological Department, India’s southwest monsoon has slowed significantly, resulting in a 35% rainfall deficit nationwide as of mid-June 2026. The shortfall is particularly severe in Central India, which has recorded a 61% deficit, while East and Northeast India face a 43% deficit.

Highlights

• The southwest monsoon has stalled before reaching Mumbai, delaying its normal advance.
• Rainfall departure by region:
  • Northwest India: +5%
  • Central India: -61%
  • East & Northeast India: -43%
  • Southern Peninsula: -14%
• The Union Government has placed 150–200 districts under priority monitoring.
• States have been directed to prepare:
  • Crop-wise contingency plans
  • Alternative cropping strategies
  • Farmer advisory systems

Government Measures

• Weekly reviews of El Niño conditions have been ordered.
• States are being encouraged to promote the cultivation of pulses and cotton.
• Seed and fertilizer stocks have been declared adequate.
• Reservoir storage remains relatively better than in previous El Niño years.

Why Is El Niño Important?

El Niño is a periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. It often weakens the Indian monsoon and can lead to below-normal rainfall, drought conditions, reduced agricultural output, and water shortages.

GRAPES-3 Telescope

Researchers from India and Japan have developed a new method to monitor changes in Earth’s upper atmosphere in real time by using data from the GRAPES-3 (Gamma Ray Astronomy PeV EnergieS Phase-3) Telescope located in Ooty.

The study used 22 years of observations to understand how the Earth’s upper atmospheric temperature and the Sun’s magnetic field influence muons, which are subatomic particles produced when cosmic rays collide with the atmosphere. The findings will be published in the journal Astroparticle Physics.

Highlights

• Researchers from Mumbai, Kochi, and Japan participated in the study.
• Scientists analysed 22 years of GRAPES-3 data.
• The method provides high-accuracy, real-time atmospheric monitoring.

About GRAPES-3 Telescope

• Located at the Ooty Cosmic Ray Laboratory.
• Unlike conventional telescopes, GRAPES-3 does not observe light.
• It functions as a muon detector.
• Muons are generated when high-energy cosmic rays from space strike the Earth’s atmosphere.
• Thick concrete layers filter out low-energy particles, allowing only high-energy muons to be detected.

About Muons

Muons are elementary subatomic particles similar to electrons but much heavier. They are produced when cosmic rays interact with atoms in Earth’s atmosphere. Because they can penetrate matter deeply, they are widely used in Particle physics. Geological studies and Atmospheric research.

Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi disbursed incentives worth around ₹2,400 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) at a special event in New Delhi on 19 June 2026.

Highlights

• PM-VBRY is the Government of India’s flagship Employment-Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme.
• The scheme aims to promote job creation, encourage formal employment, improve employability, and expand social security coverage.
• The incentive disbursal has supported the creation of 15 lakh employment opportunities across the country.

Benefits Under the Scheme

For First-Time Employees

• Eligible first-time workers receive an incentive of up to ₹15,000.
• The objective is to support youth entering the formal workforce.

For Employers

• Employers generating additional employment can receive incentives of up to ₹3,000 per month per additional employee.
• Manufacturing sector employers can avail incentives for 4 years.
• Employers in other sectors can avail incentives for 2 years.

Key Features

• Scheme Launch Date: 1 August 2025
• Total Outlay: ₹99,446 crore
• Target: Creation of more than 3.5 crore jobs over two years.
• Expected First-Time Workforce Entrants: 1.92 crore beneficiaries

UNICEF Report: Over 1.1 Billion Children Face Multiple Climate Hazards

A new report by UNICEF has warned that more than 1.1 billion children worldwide are exposed to at least three overlapping climate and environmental hazards, highlighting the growing impact of climate change on children.

Highlights

• UNICEF analysed the exposure of approximately 2.4 billion children worldwide to major climate risks.
• The study found that:
  • 2.3 billion children are exposed to at least one climate hazard.
  • 2 billion children face at least two hazards.
  • 1.1 billion children face three or more hazards.
  • 364 million children are exposed to four or more hazards.
• The most common combination of climate threats is:
  • Drought
  • Extreme Heat (above 35°C)
  • Heat Waves

Countries Most Affected

Among children exposed to three or more climate hazards:

• Nigeria – 74 million children
• Pakistan – 34 million children
• India – 32 million children

Smriti Mandhana Named in TIME’s Magazine

Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana has been named in TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026 list, becoming the only Indian to feature in this prestigious ranking. The list is headed by basketball legend LeBron James.

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought – June 17

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, officially known as Desertification and Drought Day, is observed on 17 June to raise awareness about land degradation, desertification, and drought and to promote sustainable land management practices.

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2026 theme: “Rangelands: Recognise. Respect. Restore.”

• Rangelands are vast natural landscapes such as:
  • Grasslands
  • Savannas
  • Shrublands
  • Grazing lands
• They support livestock production, biodiversity conservation, carbon storage, and the livelihoods of millions of people worldwide.

Rangelands are vast natural landscapes, including grasslands, savannas, shrublands, and grazing lands. They support livestock production, biodiversity conservation, carbon storage, and the livelihoods of millions of people worldwide.

Q1. El Niño, frequently seen in climate-related news, refers to which of the following phenomena?
A. Abnormal warming of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean
B. Abnormal cooling of the Indian Ocean
C. Formation of cyclones in the Arabian Sea
D. Warming of the Arctic Ocean

Q2. The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), frequently seen in monsoon-related news, refers to:
A. Temperature difference between the western and eastern Indian Ocean
B. Temperature difference between the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal
C. Atmospheric pressure difference between India and Australia
D. Ocean current movement in the Southern Ocean

Q3. Which of the following climate phenomena is often considered beneficial for India’s southwest monsoon?
A. El Niño
B. Positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)
C. Polar Vortex
D. Arctic Oscillation

Q4. According to Section 9 of the Aadhaar Act, 2016, Aadhaar serves as:
A. Proof of Citizenship only
B. Proof of Domicile only
C. Proof of Identity only
D. Proof of Citizenship and Residence only

Q5. The GRAPES-3 Telescope, recently seen in the news, is primarily used to detect which of the following particles?
A. Neutrinos
B. Muons
C. Protons
D. Electrons

Q6. According to the CAG’s ‘State Finances 2024-25’ report, which tax accounted for nearly 50% of the combined revenue receipts of Indian States?
A. Corporation Tax
B. State GST (SGST)
C. Customs Duty
D. Central GST (CGST)

Q7. According to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) State Finances 2024-25 Report, Andhra Pradesh’s public debt stood at approximately:
A. ₹3.68 lakh crore
B. ₹4.75 lakh crore
C. ₹5.68 lakh crore
D. ₹7.25 lakh crore

Q8. According to a recent UNICEF report, which of the following combinations represents the most common overlapping climate hazards affecting children worldwide?
A. Coastal Flooding, Wildfires and Sandstorms
B. River Flooding, Tropical Storms and Drought
C. Drought, Extreme Heat and Heat Waves
D. Tropical Storms, Wildfires and Coastal Flooding

Q9. Which Indian sportsperson was named in TIME Magazine’s ‘100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026’ list?
A. Harmanpreet Kaur
B. Neeraj Chopra
C. Smriti Mandhana
D. P. V. Sindhu

Q10. Under the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY), first-time employees are eligible to receive an incentive of up to:
A. ₹5,000
B. ₹10,000
C. ₹15,000
D. ₹25,000

Q11. What is the theme of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (Desertification and Drought Day) 2026?
A. Land Restoration for Climate Action
B. Our Land, Our Future
C. Rangelands: Recognize. Respect. Restore.
D. Restore Land, Secure Future

Q12. Who has been appointed as the Chairperson of the National Statistical Commission (NSC) in 2026?
A. Rajeeva Laxman Karandikar
B. Madhavan Mukund
C. Saibal Chattopadhyay
D. Shubhabrata Das