Daily Current Affairs & GK Updates: June 23, 2026
Keep your competitive exam preparation on track with today’s essential news highlights. This round-up covers critical national policies, major sporting milestones, international updates, and high-yield static GK tailored for UPSC, SSC, IBPS, RRB, and NTPC exams.
National
- President Murmu presents Padma Awards at second Civil Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan-President Droupadi Murmu presented the Padma Awards at the second Civil Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan this evening. Padma Awards – one of the highest civilian awards of the country, are conferred in three categories – Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
- Journalist P. Narayanan was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in the category of Literature and Education and former judge KT Tomas was given the Padma Vibhushan in social work.
- This year, the Government had announced a total of 131 Padma Awards. These include 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awards.
- Padma Bhushan was given to seven persons, including former tennis player Vijay Amritraj, actor Mammootty, and playback singer Alka Yagnik. Politician Shibu Soren was awarded the Padma Bhushan posthumously.
- In Jammu and Kashmir, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra has crossed a major milestone this year, with more than 50 lakh pilgrims visiting the Holy Cave Shrine by June 22, 2026.
- The world-famous Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Temple is one of India's most revered Hindu pilgrimage sites, located at an altitude of 5,200 feet in the Trikuta Hills of Katra, Jammu and Kashmir. Dedicated to a manifestation of the Divine Mother, the holy cave attracts millions of devotees annually who undertake a 13-kilometre uphill trek from the Katra base camp
- SKOCH Awards:The Housing & Urban Development Department (H&UDD) of Jammu and Kashmir has achieved a significant milestone in the field of digital governance by securing two prestigious SKOCH National Awards, Gold and Silver, for its innovative and citizen-centric digital transformation initiatives during the SKOCH Awards Ceremony held in New Delhi.
- INCOIS started releasing Specialized El Nino Bulletins to highlight the possible impacts of the ongoing El Nino on the Maritime Sectors.-The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India. Located in Pragathi Nagar, Hyderabad, INCOIS was established in 1999 to provide continuous ocean data, forecasts, and crucial advisory services. It serves as a vital safeguard for coastal communities, maritime industries, and disaster management systems.
- DICV Joins Old Vehicle Replacement Scheme:Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) also joins the Government of India scheme to provide discounts for the replacement of old trucks and buses in Delhi-NC-The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the Government of India's scheme for replacement of old trucks and buses in the Delhi–NCR region was signed today between the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and DICV, who owns the Bharat Benz brand.
- Under the agreement, the OEM will provide an 8 per cent discount on the ex-showroom price of eligible trucks and buses purchased under the scheme. For electric vehicles, the discount shall be capped at the discount applicable to an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicle of the equivalent Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) category.In addition to the 8 per cent discount offered by participating OEMs, the Central Government will provide 5 per cent interest subvention and fixed monthly fuel vouchers for a period of five years.
- Participating State Governments will provide up to 100 per cent concession on motor vehicle tax for a period of ten years and waiver of registration fees for eligible beneficiaries under the scheme.
- Earlier, Ashok Leyland, Switch Mobility, Tata Motors, Mahindra and Mahindra, SML Mahindra have also signed the MoU with the Government for implementation of the scheme. These companies have a combined market share of 85% in trucks and buses, which provides significant coverage for implementation of the scheme.
Economy and banking
- BSE LAUNCHES INDIA`S FIRST SAATVIK-THEMED EQUITY INDEX-BSE Index Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of BSE, has launched the BSE Saatvik 100 Index, India`s first Saatvik-themed equity index.The index comprises 100 companies from the BSE 500 universe that align with Saatvik( (pure/pious) principles.
Sports and culture
- Lionel Messi became the all-time leading goalscorer in men's FIFA World Cup history, reaching a total of 18 tournament goals. He broke the previous record of 16 goals previously held by Germany legend Miroslav Klose.Messi netted the historic 17th and 18th goals of his World Cup career during Argentina's 2-0 group-stage victory against Austria in Dallas.
- Indian left-arm spinner Shree Charani recently became the No. 1 ranked T20I bowler in the world for the first time in her career. She achieved this milestone during the Women's T20 World Cup, leading the tournament's wicket-taking charts. [
Days Observed
- Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s death anniversary, widely commemorated as Balidan Diwas, is observed annually on June 23. He passed away under mysterious circumstances on June 23, 1953, in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, while being held in preventive detention for protesting against Article 370.
- Founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh: He established the party in 1951, which laid the ideological foundation for the modern Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
- Key Stance: He strongly opposed the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, coining the famous slogan: "Ek desh mein do vidhan, do pradhan, do nishan – nahi chalega!
- Academician & Statesman: He served as the youngest Vice-Chancellor of Calcutta University and was India’s first Minister for Industry and Supply, playing a foundational role in the country's early industrial development.
- International Olympic Day is celebrated globally on June 23 to commemorate the founding of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Paris in 1894 and the revival of the modern Olympic Games. Established in 1948, the day promotes global fitness, sportsmanship, and Olympic values.
June 23 in historical milestones:
- 930: The world's oldest existing parliament, the Althing, was established in Iceland.
- 1868: Christopher Latham Sholes received a patent for his "Type-Writer," which established the foundation for the QWERTY keyboard layout.
- 1894: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was founded in Paris, an event now celebrated globally as International Olympic Day.
- 1757:The Battle of Plassey was fought on June 23, 1757. It is widely remembered as a crucial turning point that marked the beginning of British political and colonial rule in the Indian subcontinent.
Static GK for exam preparations
The Baattle of Plassey
- The Combatants -The Nawab's Forces: Led by Siraj-ud-Daulah, the last independent Nawab of Bengal, alongside his French allies.
- The British Forces: Led by Robert Clive of the British East India Company.
- he Location: Fought on the banks of the Bhagirathi River near the village of Palashi (Plassey) in Bengal.
- The Betrayal: Despite having a massive army of around 50,000 soldiers against just 3,000 British troops, the Nawab lost due to internal treachery. His commander-in-chief, Mir Jafar, secretly allied with Clive and withheld his massive division from fighting in exchange for the promise of the throne.
- Artillery Miscalculation: During a mid-day rainstorm, the Nawab's artillery was rendered useless because his forces failed to protect their gunpowder from the rain. Trusting that the British guns were also disabled, his general Mir Madan ordered an advance but was quickly killed, leaving the Nawab's army exposed to continuous British fire.
- The Outcome: The battle lasted only about 11 hours. Siraj-ud-Daulah fled, was later captured, and executed. Mir Jafar was installed as a puppet ruler under the heavy financial and military control of the East India Company
