Indian Current Affairs & GK Updates: 17 June 2026
Here is the Daily current affairs and GK updates of the day for UPSC,SSC,IBPS,RRB,NTPC and other competitive exams preparations.This updates particularly focus on news updates from 17th June 2026.
National
- SHe-Box 2.0 Portal:Govt Strengthens Women’s Safety Framework with Upgraded SHe-Box 2.0 Portal Under Mission Shakti Initiative-The Ministry further said that SHe-Box 2.0 is a platform that provides single-window access for women across all organised, unorganised, public and private sectors to register and track complaints of sexual harassment at the workplace. The portal enables seamless coordination among stakeholders and strengthens the implementation framework of the SH Act by providing a more structured monitorable system.
- PM Modi to disburse incentives of ₹2,400 crore under PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana on 19 June:Prime Minister Narendra Modi will disburse incentives worth around 2 thousand four hundred crore rupees under the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) at a special programme in New Delhi on Friday. The Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) is a flagship ₹99,446 crore Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) scheme by the Government of India. Launched to boost formal job creation, it provides direct financial incentives to first-time formal sector employees and wage-based support to eligible employers.
- Telegram Blocked Ahead of NEET-UG Re-Test: The Government of India invoked Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000 to block Telegram until 22 June 2026, citing misuse by cheating rackets. The NTA reported fake NEET papers being circulated. This is the first time a major messaging app was blocked specifically for exam integrity.
Appointments
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of the Chairman and Members of the National Statistical Commission as follows:
- Dr. Saibal Chattopadhyay, Chairperson
- Prof. Shubhabrata Das, Member
- Shri Satyendra Bahadur Singh, Member
- Dr. Madhavan Mukund, Member
Days Observed
- Death Anniversary of freedom fighterVanchinathan (1886–1911) :He was a prominent Indian revolutionary freedom fighter from Tamil Nadu, best known for assassinating Robert Ashe, the British District Collector of Tirunelveli, on June 17, 1911. His historic and ultimate act of bravery took place at the Maniyachchi railway station, after which he sacrificed his own life to evade capture.
- World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is being observed globally today. The day is observed to spread awareness about international cooperation to combat desertification and the effects of drought.
Static GK for exam preparations
The Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) is India's flagship Employment-Linked Incentive (ELI) scheme. Launched as part of the Prime Minister's Package for Employment and Skilling, it aims to accelerate formal job creation, enhance youth employability, and broaden social security coverage across the country.
(PM-VBRY) :Dual-Component Structure
The scheme simultaneously incentivizes both the workforce entering the formal economy and the employers expanding their headcount
Part A: Support for First-Time Employees
- This component targets young individuals entering the formal workforce for the very first time.
- Incentive Amount: Up to ₹15,000 (equivalent to one month's wage).
- Disbursement Mode: Paid directly via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) using the Aadhaar Bridge Payment System (ABPS) in two installments:
- First Installment: Credited after completing 6 months of continuous service.
- Second Installment: Credited after 12 months of continuous service, subject to the employee completing a mandatory, free Financial Literacy Course prescribed by the EPFO.
- Savings Component: A portion of the second installment is locked into a designated savings instrument to cultivate long-term financial discipline among youth.
Part B: Support for Establishments (Employers)
- This component offsets the cost of new hiring to encourage businesses to scale up.
- Incentive Amount: Up to ₹3,000 per month per additional employee.
- Disbursement Mode: Credited directly into the employer's PAN-linked bank account.
- Duration of Benefit:
- General Sectors: 2 years (24 months).
- Manufacturing Sector: Extended to 4 years (48 months) to specifically boost labor-intensive industrial growth.
PM-VBRY Eligibility Criteria
- For Employees:Must be registered with the EPFO for the first time on or after August 1, 2025.
- The monthly gross wage must be less than or equal to ₹1,00,000.
- Must maintain continuous employment with the same establishment for at least 6 months.
- For Employers/Establishments:
- Must be EPFO-compliant and regularly file Electronic Challan-cum-Returns (ECR).
- Must generate net new employment over and above their established workforce baseline.
- Minimum Recruitment Threshold:
- For units with baseline workforce under 50: Must hire at least 2 additional employees.
- For units with baseline workforce 50 or more: Must hire at least 5 additional employees.
Current Impact and Progress (As of June 2026)
- Workforce Formalization: Over 70 lakh first-time employees have been brought under the social security umbrella since August 2025.
- Gender Inclusivity: Women account for nearly 30% of the total scheme beneficiaries.
- Direct Financial Injection: On June 19, 2026, the Prime Minister will disburse ₹2,400 crore in direct incentives, benefiting roughly 15 lakh active beneficiaries who crossed their employment retention milestones.
