June 20, 2026
25 articles published on this date
What does the U.S.-Iran agreement say? | Explained
On 17 June 2026, the US and Iran signed a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) — referred to as the "Islamabad Memorandum" — ending their active milita...
India to hold vice-presidency of FATF for the first time
India will hold the Vice-Presidency of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for the first time in its history, a position that takes effect from July 2026 ...
Three India-flagged ships cross Strait of Hormuz, safe passage secured, says Sonowal
Three India-flagged ships successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz amid Iran's announcement of tighter controls and escalating closure fears The Ministry of...
The world must electrify rapidly to meet climate goals. The challenge is bigger than you think
Analyses from global energy bodies show that the world must accelerate electrification of end-uses (transport, heating, industry) at an unprecedented pace to...
From Ukraine to Lebanon, how ‘invisible’ drones are redefining the rules of asymmetric warfare
Conflicts in Ukraine and Lebanon have demonstrated how cheap, commercially available drones have transformed the conduct of modern warfare at tactical, opera...
Fertiliser cargoes in focus as Iran tightens Strait transit rules
Iran has tightened transit rules for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, significantly disrupting the movement of fertiliser cargoes from Gulf ...
Zero cervical cancer deaths in vaccinated young women
A landmark long-term study from Scotland found zero cervical cancer deaths among women who received the HPV vaccine in childhood (ages 12–13), since the nati...
World Refugee Day 2026 in numbers: UNHCR reports decline in global refugee numbers amid escalating crisis
UNHCR's Global Trends Report 2026, released on World Refugee Day (June 20), recorded a decline in global forced displacement for the first time in a decade G...
FATF elects Vivek Aggarwal as first Indian Vice President
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Plenary, held in Paris from June 17–19, 2026, elected Vivek Aggarwal as FATF Vice-President for the term July 2026 to ...
Converting crisis into opportunity: Why paddy straw-based CBG deserves special funding
An analysis argues that compressed biogas (CBG) produced from paddy straw represents a viable solution to crop residue burning, but requires targeted policy ...
Dongria Kondh of Niyamgiri: Where forests, food and faith shape daily life
A detailed account highlights the Dongria Kondh, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) inhabiting the Niyamgiri Hills in Odisha's Rayagada and Kalaha...
Iran says it closed Strait of Hormuz as Israeli strikes on Lebanon continue
Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed on June 20, 2026, citing continued Israeli military strikes in Lebanon and what it described as a failure to uphold...
Despite grave concerns raised in the White Paper, Kerala Budget silent on bringing down committed expenditure
A Fiscal Health White Paper released by Kerala's new government revealed the state's outstanding liabilities at ₹5.07 lakh crore, with committed expenditure ...
Kiren Rijiju says Great Nicobar project will boost India’s economic growth and supply-chain independence
The government defended the Great Nicobar Island mega infrastructure project, asserting it will substantially boost India's economic and strategic interests ...
NEET-UG 2026: Over 6,000 observers to ensure ‘fair, secure’ retest on June 21, NTA says
Over 6,000 observers were deployed nationwide for the NEET-UG 2026 re-test (held on 21 June 2026), accompanied by AI-monitored CCTV surveillance and a centra...
Centre bans 16 fixed dose combination drugs, including antibiotics, painkillers, skin meds
The Union government banned 16 fixed dose combination (FDC) drugs with immediate nationwide effect, prohibiting their manufacture, sale, distribution, and su...
₹47,000 crore push for Odisha as PM Modi signals strong tribal outreach
Development projects totalling approximately ₹47,600 crore have been launched and announced for Odisha, centred on a ₹25,016 crore coal gasification facility...
From waste to wealth: Why crop residue burning is a system’s failure, not a seasonal
Despite government bans and financial incentives, paddy straw (parali) burning continues in Punjab and Haryana each post-harvest season, primarily because bu...
Three Indian-flagged oil tankers transit through Strait of Hormuz
Three Indian-flagged crude oil tankers — Desh Vaibhav, Desh Vibhor, and Sanmar Herald — successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz on June 20, 2026, despite...
Odisha coal gasification project to meet 35% of India's ammonium nitrate needs by 2030: Industry
A coal-to-ammonium-nitrate project at Lakhanpur, Odisha, developed through a joint venture between Coal India Limited (CIL) subsidiaries and Bharat Heavy Ele...
Scientists, environmentalists, policy experts raise concerns over Supreme Court-appointed panel on Aravallis
Scientists and environmentalists have raised fresh concerns over the Great Nicobar Island Development Project (GNIDP), a multi-component mega infrastructure ...
India, US trade deal can't be implemented until we have 'competitive advantage': Piyush Goyal
Negotiations for a full India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) are ongoing, with India's Commerce Ministry signalling that implementation requires both sid...
Ajit Doval to host BRICS security conclave: Cross-border terrorism, Middle East conflict in focus; China FM among key attendees
India, as the 2026 BRICS Chair, hosted the National Security Advisers' (NSA) Meeting of BRICS member countries in New Delhi on June 22–23, 2026. NSA Ajit Dov...
Hum do, hamare 1.9: What India’s falling fertility rates reveal
India's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has dropped to 1.9 children per woman, falling below the population replacement level of 2.1 for the first time, according...
SOP released to conserve sea turtles across 36 islands of Lakshadweep
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) released a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the conservation of sea turtles across all ...