1. D.K. Shivakumar Sworn In as 24th Chief Minister of Karnataka

Why in News?

D.K. Shivakumar took oath as the 24th Chief Minister of Karnataka on 3 June 2026. The swearing-in ceremony was held at Lok Bhavan at 4:00 PM. This follows the completion of the Congress party's internal power-rotation agreement, replacing outgoing CM Siddaramaiah.

Key Points

• D.K. Shivakumar previously served as Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President.
• The Congress party won the Karnataka Assembly elections in May 2023, with the power-sharing deal between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar being a key internal arrangement.
• Karnataka has a 224-member Legislative Assembly; Congress holds a majority.
• Shivakumar represents the Kanakapura constituency in the Ramanagara district.
• The Governor of Karnataka administers the oath of office to the Chief Minister under Article 164 of the Constitution.

Static Knowledge

• Karnataka's capital is Bengaluru; the Governor is the constitutional head of the state.
• The Chief Minister is appointed by the Governor under Article 164 and must command the confidence of the Legislative Assembly.
• Karnataka was formed on 1 November 1956 under the States Reorganisation Act; earlier known as Mysore State, renamed Karnataka in 1973.
• The State Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha) has 224 seats; the Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) has 75 members.

2. Justice V. Mohana Elevated as Supreme Court Judge – 12th Woman in History

Why in News?

Justice V. Mohana was sworn in as a judge of the Supreme Court of India on 2 June 2026. She became the 12th woman judge in the history of the Supreme Court and the second woman lawyer directly elevated from the Bar to the apex court, after Justice Indu Malhotra in 2018.

Key Points

• The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant, recommended her elevation on 27 May 2026. The Central Government cleared the recommendation on 31 May 2026.
• With her swearing-in, the working strength of the Supreme Court rose to 37 against a sanctioned strength of 38.
• She is the second woman to be directly elevated from the Bar (as a practising advocate) without prior High Court judgeship.
• Appointments to the Supreme Court are governed by the Collegium System, established through three landmark judgements known as the Three Judges Cases (1981, 1993, 1998).
• Supreme Court judges hold office until the age of 65 years under Article 124(2) of the Constitution.

Static Knowledge

• The Supreme Court of India commenced functioning on 28 January 1950.
• It is located in New Delhi; the Chief Justice of India is its head.
• The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956 has been amended multiple times to increase strength; current sanctioned strength is 34 judges + 1 CJI = 35 (Note: Some sources cite 38 including CJI; candidates should note the operative figure as per the most recent amendment).
• The First woman judge of the Supreme Court was Justice M. Fathima Beevi (1989).
• The Collegium System has no statutory/constitutional basis; it emerged from judicial interpretation.

3. Centre's Three-Year Anti-Narcotics Action Plan – Drug-Free India 2047

Why in News?

India's Union Home Ministry and central anti-narcotics agencies are preparing a three-year action plan to combat domestic drug cartels and overseas fugitives. The plan is linked to the goal of a Drug-Free India by 2047 and includes new enforcement verticals, intelligence coordination, and financial tracking measures.

Key Points

• The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is the nodal central agency for drug law enforcement under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The NCB works with state police, customs, border forces, and maritime agencies under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
• The strategy includes separate wings under state intelligence bureaus by the end of 2026, and dossiers on the top 15 drug lords in each state.
• The plan includes monitoring of hawala channels, cryptocurrency transactions, and suspicious assets to trace the financial network of drug cartels. NATGRID, darknet analysis, machine learning, and cryptocurrency tracking are part of the technology-based investigation framework.
• A special task force under the Multi Agency Centre (MAC) has been assigned to monitor darknet platforms and encrypted communication channels.
• The plan was presented to the Home Minister in May 2026; several components were already under implementation before formal approval.

Static Knowledge

• NDPS Act, 1985 governs narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in India; it provides for stringent bail conditions.
• NCB (Narcotics Control Bureau) was established in 1986 under the NDPS Act; headquartered in New Delhi.
• NATGRID (National Intelligence Grid) is a connectivity network among 21 sets of databases of key government departments and security agencies.
• Multi Agency Centre (MAC) was set up post-Kargil as a multi-agency intelligence coordination platform under the Intelligence Bureau (IB).
• India's Golden Triangle and Golden Crescent neighbourhood make it a critical transit zone for narcotics.

4. Bangladesh Elected to Preside Over 81st UN General Assembly Session

Why in News?

Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman was elected President of the United Nations General Assembly for its 81st session on 2 June 2026 at the General Assembly Hall in UN Headquarters, New York. He won 99 votes out of 190 ballots cast and defeated Andreas S. Kakouris of Cyprus, who received 91 votes.

Key Points

• The 81st session of the UNGA will begin on 8 September 2026, and the presidency for this session was allocated to the Asia-Pacific Group under the UN's regional rotation system.
• The UN General Assembly elects its President by secret ballot in the General Assembly Hall.
• The President of the General Assembly presides over plenary meetings, manages the session's agenda, and facilitates discussions among member states.
• This is significant for India's neighbourhood diplomacy context given India–Bangladesh bilateral relations.
• The UN General Assembly has 193 member states as of 2026.

Static Knowledge

• The UNGA is one of six principal organs of the United Nations (along with the Security Council, ICJ, Secretariat, ECOSOC, and Trusteeship Council).
• The UNGA was established by the UN Charter in 1945; headquartered in New York.
• The UNGA session runs from September to August; the current UNGA President serves for one year.
• The UN has 193 member states; Palestine and Vatican City are observer states.
• UNGA decisions on important questions require a two-thirds majority; procedural matters require a simple majority.
• India has been a member of the UN since 30 October 1945.

5. NFHS-6: Alarming Rise in Obesity and High Blood Sugar in India

Why in News?

The National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6) was conducted in 2023-24 by the Union Health Ministry and the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai. The survey recorded higher levels of obesity and high blood sugar among adults compared to NFHS-5 (2019-21).

Key Points

• Among women aged 15–49 years, obesity increased from 24% in NFHS-5 to 30.7% in NFHS-6. Among men in the same age group, obesity rose from 22.9% to 27.3%.
• Urban areas recorded higher obesity than rural areas — 42.8% of urban women were overweight or obese, compared to 25.5% of rural women.
• Among women aged 15 years and above, high blood sugar or medication use for blood sugar control increased from 13.5% in NFHS-5 to 17.8% in NFHS-6. Among men, the prevalence rose from 15.6% to 20.9%.
• Kerala recorded diabetes prevalence of 31.9% among men and 28.9% among women in 2023-24. Puducherry recorded female obesity prevalence of 46.3%.
• NFHS data is used by the government to design public health policy, nutrition programmes, and disease control strategies.

Static Knowledge

• NFHS is a multi-round survey conducted under the stewardship of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and implemented by IIPS, Mumbai.
• NFHS-1 was conducted in 1992-93; NFHS-5 in 2019-21.
• NFHS data feeds into indicators for SDG Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
• India's National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) addresses non-communicable disease burden.
• BMI ≥ 25 is classified as overweight; BMI ≥ 30 as obese (WHO definition).

6. South Korea's KSTAR Sets New Plasma Confinement Record – 102 Seconds

Why in News?

KSTAR (Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research device) sustained plasma in high-confinement mode for 102 seconds during experiments conducted from December 2023 to February 2024. Results were formally announced and widely reported in June 2026.

Key Points

• KSTAR is operated by the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy (KFE) in Daejeon, South Korea.
• High-confinement mode (H-mode) plasma is necessary to achieve the temperatures and densities required for commercially viable nuclear fusion.
• Plasma in fusion reactors must reach temperatures of approximately 100 million degrees Celsius — about seven times hotter than the Sun's core.
• The 102-second record surpasses KSTAR's own previous record of 48 seconds (2021).
• This advancement is a milestone toward the global goal of achieving net energy gain from fusion, relevant to the ITER project (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) being built in France, in which India is a partner.

Static Knowledge

• ITER is a multinational fusion research project; members include India, EU, USA, Russia, China, Japan, and South Korea. Located in Saint-Paul-lès-Durance, France.
• India is a participant in ITER through the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar.
• A tokamak is a device that uses a powerful magnetic field to confine plasma in a torus (doughnut) shape for nuclear fusion.
• Nuclear fusion produces energy by combining light nuclei (typically deuterium and tritium), unlike fission which splits heavy nuclei.
• JET (Joint European Torus) in the UK previously held world records in fusion energy production.

7. NASA/ESA Detect Methane on Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Using James Webb Telescope

Why in News?

NASA and the European Space Agency announced methane detection on the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS using the James Webb Space Telescope. The observation provides the first direct detection of methane on an extrasolar body.

Key Points

• 3I/ATLAS is the third known interstellar object detected passing through the Solar System (after 1I/ʻOumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019).
• Methane detection suggests the comet originated from a cold outer region of another planetary system, providing clues about the chemical composition of distant solar systems.
• The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is operated jointly by NASA, ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA); launched in December 2021.
• JWST's infrared instruments allow detection of molecular signatures from cosmic objects that are impossible to observe with visible-light telescopes.
• The discovery is significant for astrobiology and understanding the distribution of organic molecules across the universe.

Static Knowledge

• James Webb Space Telescope is the most powerful space telescope ever built; it observes in infrared wavelengths.
• 1I/ʻOumuamua (2017): first interstellar object detected — had unusual cigar/flat shape.
• 2I/Borisov (2019): first confirmed interstellar comet; showed water and dust.
• 3I/ATLAS is the third interstellar visitor; the designation "I" stands for Interstellar.
• India's space agency ISRO has announced plans for its own space observatory missions; AstroSat is India's first dedicated astronomy satellite (launched 2015).

8. Madhya Pradesh to Relaunch Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva After 21 Years

Why in News?

Madhya Pradesh has planned to reintroduce a state-run public bus network named Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva after a gap of 21 years. The service is scheduled for phased rollout across the state.

Key Points

• The scheme targets improved last-mile urban and semi-urban connectivity across Madhya Pradesh.
• The state had discontinued its earlier public bus service approximately two decades ago due to financial unviability.
• The relaunch is part of a broader push to develop affordable public transport, reduce private vehicle dependency, and support urban mobility goals.
• Madhya Pradesh is governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP); the Chief Minister is Dr. Mohan Yadav.
• The initiative aligns with the central government's PM-eBus Sewa scheme for urban electric bus deployment.

Static Knowledge

• PM-eBus Sewa (launched 2023) targets deployment of 10,000 electric buses in cities with populations above 3 lakh under the PPP model.
• Madhya Pradesh capital: Bhopal; largest city: Indore.
• Madhya Pradesh is the second largest state by area in India (after Rajasthan).
• Urban transport in India is governed under the National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP), 2006.
• The Smart Cities Mission also funds last-mile connectivity projects in select cities.

9. Pope Leo XIV Appoints First Lay Woman to Lead Vatican Communication Dicastery

Why in News?

On 2 June 2026, Pope Leo XIV appointed Maria Montserrat Alvarado as Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication of the Holy See. She became the first lay woman to head a Vatican dicastery.

Key Points

• A "dicastery" is a department of the Roman Curia — the central administrative apparatus of the Holy See (Vatican).
• The appointment is historically significant as it breaks a centuries-old tradition of clerical leadership over Vatican departments.
• Maria Montserrat Alvarado is from Spain; her appointment reflects Pope Leo XIV's reform orientation within the Catholic Church.
• The Holy See is the governing body of the Roman Catholic Church; it has permanent observer status at the United Nations.
• Pope Leo XIV is the current Pope; he succeeded Pope Francis.

Static Knowledge

• Vatican City is the world's smallest independent state by both area and population; it is an enclave within Rome, Italy.
• The Holy See has had diplomatic relations with India since 1948.
• The Roman Catholic Church is the world's largest Christian denomination with over 1.3 billion adherents.
• Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) was the predecessor to Pope Leo XIV; he was the first Jesuit and first Latin American Pope.

10. India Joins Anthropic's Project Glasswing – Access to Advanced Claude Mythos Preview AI

Why in News?

Anthropic expanded access to its Claude Mythos Preview AI model on 2 June 2026 under Project Glasswing to about 150 organisations across more than 15 countries, including India.

Key Points

• Project Glasswing is Anthropic's initiative to provide controlled access to its most advanced frontier AI model to trusted organisations.
• Claude Mythos Preview is Anthropic's most capable model, currently unavailable to the general public due to cybersecurity considerations.
• India's inclusion signals growing recognition of Indian institutions in advanced AI research and governance.
• This is significant in the context of India's National AI Strategy and the IndiaAI Mission (₹10,372 crore outlay approved in 2024).
• The development is relevant to global debates on AI safety, regulation, and responsible deployment.

Static Knowledge

• IndiaAI Mission was approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2024 with a budget of ₹10,372 crore over five years.
• India's National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence was released by NITI Aayog in 2018; AI was framed around sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, and smart cities.
• Anthropic was founded in 2021 by former OpenAI researchers; headquartered in San Francisco, USA.
• Global AI governance frameworks include the EU AI Act (2024) — the world's first comprehensive AI law.
• India is a member of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), a multilateral initiative.

Important Reports, Indexes & Data – 3 June 2026

Important Appointments & Awards – 3 June 2026

---

Prelims Practice MCQs