The U.S. and Iran have reached a preliminary agreement to end the war, lift blockades in the Strait of Hormuz, and launch negotiations on Tehran's nuclear program and Western sanctions. The deal, signed digitally on Sunday and to be formally signed on June 19 in Geneva, includes the release of frozen assets and war reparations as essential parts. U.S. President Trump authorized the immediate removal of the naval blockade and opening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the agreement, expressing hope for peace, stability, and freedom of navigation in West Asia. Tehran will charge fees for navigation services and environmental upkeep, not tolls.
A preliminary agreement has been reached between the U.S. and Iran to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The deal involves lifting blockades, releasing frozen assets, and paying war reparations, with formal signing expected on June 19 in Geneva.
U.S. President Trump authorized the immediate removal of the naval blockade and opening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Exam Points
Agreement reached between U.S. and Iran.
Formal signing expected on June 19 in Geneva.
Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway connecting the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea.
India and Slovakia have significantly expanded their bilateral relationship by signing several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) across key sectors including defence, labour mobility, education, and digital technologies. The joint statement emphasized a "comprehensive partnership," with Slovakia reaffirming its support for India's quest for a permanent seat on the UNSC and its membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Defence and security cooperation is identified as a pivotal pillar, with a Letter of Intent signed to promote collaboration in defence technologies, industrial cooperation, capacity building, and R&D. Additionally, an MoU on digital technologies aims to deepen cooperation in AI, semiconductors, start-ups, IoT, and 6G standardization.
India and Slovakia expanded bilateral ties through MoUs in defence, labour mobility, education, and digital technologies.
Slovakia supports India's permanent UNSC seat and Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) membership.
Defence and security cooperation is a key pillar, with a Letter of Intent signed for collaboration in defence technologies and R&D.
Exam Points
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Slovakian counterpart Robert Fico.
Slovakia supports India's permanent seat on the UNSC.
Slovakia supports India's membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
India's merchandise exports surged to a record high of $45.2 billion in May 2026, an 18% increase from the previous year, while services exports also grew by 13.2% to $36.8 billion. Despite this robust export performance, the overall trade deficit widened significantly to $10.5 billion, up from $6.8 billion last May, primarily due to a sharper growth in imports of both goods and services. Merchandise imports jumped 22.1% to $73.4 billion, leading to a merchandise trade deficit of $28.2 billion in May, 25% higher than May 2025. Key export sectors like engineering goods, electronic goods, and chemicals showed strong growth, indicating a broad-based increase.
India's merchandise exports reached a record high of $45.2 billion in May 2026, an 18% increase year-on-year.
Services exports also saw significant growth, rising by 13.2% to $36.8 billion in May 2026.
Despite strong export growth, India's overall trade deficit widened to $10.5 billion due to a sharper increase in imports.
The Allahabad High Court has strongly criticized the widespread misuse of preventive detention powers by the state, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, where individuals are often incarcerated without substantive criminal charges based on minor apprehensions. The court's order, stemming from the case of Chander Pal Singh, highlighted the "highly irresponsible" deprivation of personal liberties, noting that approximately 2,500 people were preventively detained in Ghaziabad alone between May 2025 and April 2026. The court issued commendable guidelines aimed at reducing such detentions, requiring executive magistrates to justify their decisions, and encouraging constitutional challenges. It also suggested that compensation for unlawful detention could be recovered from the salaries of responsible officials, emphasizing the need to reform preventive proceedings in India.
The Allahabad High Court has highlighted the misuse of preventive detention powers by the state, especially in Uttar Pradesh.
Detentions are often made without substantive criminal charges for minor apprehensions, leading to deprivation of personal liberties.
The court's guidelines aim to reduce preventive incarceration, require justification from magistrates, and encourage challenges to unlawful detentions.
Exam Points
Case: Chander Pal Singh, matter involving preventive proceedings.
Court: Allahabad High Court.
Number of detentions: ~2,500 in Ghaziabad between May 2025 and April 2026.
India and France are deepening their strategic partnership, with technology and innovation emerging as key drivers, as highlighted by recent meetings between Prime Minister Modi and President Macron at the G7 Summit and other events. The "India-France Year of Innovation 2026" underscores a commitment to collaboration in cutting-edge fields such as cyberspace, Artificial Intelligence (AI), healthcare, sustainable development, and space. While traditional areas like defence and nuclear cooperation remain strong, the focus is shifting towards co-design and co-production of advanced technologies, including small modular reactors and human spaceflight. This strategic convergence aims to leverage France's technological prowess and India's growing innovation ecosystem, fostering a robust partnership that extends to global challenges and regional cooperation, including in Africa.
Technology and innovation are the new pillars driving the strategic convergence between India and France.
The "India-France Year of Innovation 2026" signifies a commitment to collaboration in areas like AI, cyberspace, healthcare, and sustainable development.
The partnership extends beyond traditional defence and nuclear cooperation to include co-design and co-production of advanced technologies.
Exam Points
"India-France Year of Innovation 2026" inaugurated.
G7 Summit in Bvian (June 15-17) where PM Modi and President Macron met.
A peer-reviewed study published in npj Clean Air reveals that heatwaves significantly elevate surface ozone levels in northern India, reaching 85-110 micrograms per cubic metre, well above the WHO guideline of 70 micrograms. This surge in ozone, a pollutant harmful to the heart and lungs, is linked to a substantial increase in mortality risk. The study estimates approximately 26,500 deaths from ischaemic heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to ozone exposure during the 2024 heatwaves, with an additional 830 deaths directly attributable to the heatwave's impact. Surface ozone forms from sunlight-driven reactions among other pollutants, and its levels remain high throughout the hot season, contributing to a broader health burden.
Heatwaves in northern India significantly increase surface ozone levels, exceeding WHO guidelines.
Elevated surface ozone is linked to a higher risk of deaths from ischaemic heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The study estimates around 26,500 deaths from these conditions due to ozone exposure during 2024 heatwaves, with 830 directly linked to the heatwave surge.
Exam Points
Study published in npj Clean Air journal on June 12.
Surface ozone levels: 85-110 micrograms/cubic metre during heatwaves.
WHO guideline for surface ozone: 70 micrograms/cubic metre.
India's unemployment rate (UR) experienced a marginal increase of 0.3 percentage points, reaching 5.5% in May, up from April's figures. Data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, indicates a rise in rural unemployment from 4.6% to 5.1%, while urban unemployment saw a slight decrease from 6.6% to 6.4%. Among specific demographics, rural males aged 15 and above recorded an unemployment rate of 5.2%, and rural females stood at 4.7%. Urban females faced a higher unemployment rate of 8.2% compared to 5.9% for urban males. The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for individuals aged 15 and above also marginally declined to 54.4% in May from 55% in April.
India's overall unemployment rate increased marginally by 0.3 percentage points to 5.5% in May.
Rural unemployment rose to 5.1%, while urban unemployment slightly decreased to 6.4%.
Unemployment rates varied by gender and region, with urban females experiencing the highest rate at 8.2%.
Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation in India surged to 9.7% in May 2026, marking the highest rate since at least April 2024, primarily driven by soaring prices of crude oil, natural gas, and mineral oils, exacerbated by the West Asia crisis. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry released a new WPI series with an updated base year of 2022-23 and an expanded scope of goods, making historical comparisons prior to April 2024 unavailable. Inflation in crude oil and natural gas jumped to 61.5%, while mineral oils accelerated to 49.8%, partly due to a low base effect from the previous year. The government also announced plans to phase out the WPI within five years, replacing it with the Producer Price Index (PPI) to align with global best practices and IMF recommendations.
WPI inflation surged to 9.7% in May 2026, primarily due to rising fuel prices, including crude oil, natural gas, and mineral oils.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry released a new WPI series with an updated base year of 2022-23 and a wider ambit of goods.
The high inflation rate is partly attributed to the West Asia crisis and a low base effect from the previous year.
Exam Points
WPI inflation rate in May 2026: 9.7%.
New WPI base year: 2022-23.
Crude oil and natural gas inflation in May 2026: 61.5%.
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