Current Affairs 3 June 2026 | 3rd June 2026 Current Affairs | Daily GK Updates

D.K. Shivakumar Sworn In as Karnataka's 24th Chief Minister

D.K. Shivakumar took oath as Karnataka Chief Minister at 4:05 PM on 3 June 2026 at Glass House, Lok Bhavan, Bengaluru, with Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot administering the oath. He is the 24th Chief Minister of Karnataka.

If you've been following Karnataka politics, you know this moment has been building for a while. D.K. Shivakumar — the Indian National Congress strongman from the Vokkaliga community — had been serving as Deputy Chief Minister and PCC (Pradesh Congress Committee) President under Siddaramaiah since the Congress won Karnataka's assembly elections in May 2023. The leadership transition to Shivakumar marks a significant shift in the Congress's state management strategy ahead of the 2028 assembly elections.

D.K. Shivakumar — who is he? Devaraj Kumar Shivakumar is one of Karnataka's most influential political figures — known for his organisational skills, fundraising ability, and grassroots connect with the Vokkaliga community (a dominant OBC group in southern Karnataka's Old Mysore region). He previously served as a Union Minister and has been a Congress MLA since 1989 — making him one of the party's most experienced state leaders.

Karnataka at a glance: The state has a 224-member Legislative Assembly with its capital at Bengaluru. Karnataka sends 28 MPs to the Lok Sabha and 12 to the Rajya Sabha. It is India's IT capital — Bengaluru alone contributes approximately 38% of India's software export revenues.

Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has been the Governor of Karnataka since July 2021. Governors are appointed by the President under Article 155 of the Constitution, hold office during the pleasure of the President, and administer the oath of office to the Chief Minister under Article 164.

Justice V. Mohana — 12th Woman Supreme Court Judge, 2nd Directly Elevated from Bar

Coimbatore advocate Venkata Subramani Mohana was sworn in as a Supreme Court judge on 2 June 2026, becoming the first woman directly elevated from the Bar in 5 years. She is the 12th woman SC judge and the 2nd woman directly elevated from the Bar after Justice Indu Malhotra.

This appointment carries two layers of significance. First, the sheer rarity of a woman being elevated directly from the Bar (as a practising advocate) to the Supreme Court — most judges reach the apex court through the High Court system. Justice Indu Malhotra was the first such direct elevation in 2018, and Justice V. Mohana is only the second in the Supreme Court's 76-year history.

Second, Coimbatore is in Tamil Nadu — and appointments from the Bar tend to bring fresh regional perspectives into a court whose higher bench has historically been dominated by judges from larger High Courts (Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta).

The gender representation picture: With Justice V. Mohana's appointment, women now constitute a small but growing presence in the SC. At its establishment in 1950, the Supreme Court had no women judges. The first woman SC judge was Justice M. Fathima Beevi — appointed in 1989. Getting to 12 women judges (out of 38 total sanctioned strength) has taken 76 years.

The Supreme Court Collegium — comprising the CJI and four senior-most judges — recommends appointments under the Second Judges Case (1993) precedent.

PM SVANidhi Scheme Completes 6 Years

PM SVANidhi scheme, launched in 2020, has disbursed 1.12 crore loans worth ₹17,800 crore to 75 lakh street vendors and has been extended until March 2030. It offers collateral-free loans in three tranches: ₹15,000, ₹25,000, and ₹50,000.

The PM Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme was launched in June 2020 — right during the COVID-19 pandemic — when street vendors across India had their livelihoods wiped out overnight by lockdowns. The scheme offered them a lifeline: collateral-free working capital loans starting at ₹10,000 (later revised to ₹15,000 for the first tranche) to restart their carts and stalls.

Six years in, the numbers are genuinely impressive. 1.12 crore loans worth ₹17,800 crore to 75 lakh street vendors — people selling vegetables, fruits, tea, snacks, and everyday goods on India's streets. These are exactly the kind of micro-entrepreneurs who fall through every formal credit net. The scheme works through a digital credit linkage — vendors who repay their first loan get enhanced access to the second (₹25,000) and third (₹50,000) tranches, with 1% interest subsidy on timely repayment.

The scheme is administered by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and falls under the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) framework.

RudraM-II Anti-Radiation Missile — Successful Trial Completed

RudraM-II showcases India's growing indigenous missile capability, reducing dependence on imported air-to-surface weapons. The missile is set to replace older Russian-origin Kh-31 missiles, offering better range, speed, accuracy, and guidance systems.

Anti-radiation missiles are a very specific class of weapon — they don't just destroy a target, they home in on the radio frequency emissions of enemy radar systems. When your enemy switches on a radar to track your aircraft, the ARM locks onto that emission and flies straight into the source. The strategic implication is powerful — it either destroys enemy radar or forces them to switch it off, blinding their air defence network.

RudraM series — India's indigenous ARM programme:

• RudraM-I: First tested in October 2020 from a Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter. Range approximately 100+ km. INS + GPS guidance with passive radar homing.

• RudraM-II: Extended range (approximately 300+ km), improved seeker sensitivity, can target a broader spectrum of radar emissions. Replaces the Russian-origin Kh-31P anti-radiation missile in India's inventory.

Both variants are developed by DRDO and manufactured by BDL (Bharat Dynamics Limited). The Su-30 MKI is the primary launch platform, though integration with Tejas MkII is planned.

The replacement of Russian Kh-31 missiles is strategically significant — especially in the current geopolitical context where India is trying to gradually reduce dependence on Russian military hardware without disrupting operational capability.

Mission Senehjori — Assam's Muga Silk Gets a Global Luxury Makeover

Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and the Chief Minister of Assam launched Mission Senehjori to elevate Assam's unique Muga silk into a global luxury brand. It is an Atmanirbhar North East project anchored by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) in convergence with the Ministry of Textiles and the Government of Assam. The mission was officially launched on June 2, 2026.

"Senehjori" means "golden bond" in Assamese — and it is a perfect name for a mission centred on Muga silk, because Muga is literally golden. It is the world's only naturally golden silk — produced by the Antheraea assamensis silkworm that feeds exclusively on Som (Machilus bombycina) and Soalu (Litsaea polyantha) trees found naturally in Assam's Brahmaputra valley. This makes Muga geographically irreplaceable — it simply cannot be produced anywhere else on Earth.

Why Muga needs a mission: Despite its extraordinary properties — natural golden lustre that deepens with age and washing (unlike dyed silk), exceptional durability, and unique cultural significance — Muga has been losing ground. Cheaper synthetic alternatives, declining numbers of trained weavers, fragmented supply chains, and poor market linkages have kept Muga from achieving the premium positioning it deserves in global luxury markets.

What Mission Senehjori does: The mission takes a cluster-based approach — creating integrated value chains from silkworm rearing through weaving, finishing, and international retail. Key components include training programmes for weavers, GI-tag enforcement (Muga silk has a Geographical Indication tag), premium e-commerce platforms, and international branding campaigns positioning Muga alongside names like Italian Mulberry silk and Japanese Eri silk.

The mission is anchored by MDoNER — the Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region — reflecting the government's recognition that Assam's textile heritage is both an economic and cultural asset worth protecting.

New Lizard Species 'Mesalina bishnoi' Discovered in Rajasthan

Zoological Survey of India scientists discovered this species near Gajner, Bikaner, marking the first confirmed record of genus Mesalina in India. It is named after the Bishnoi community for their conservation ethos, with a snout-vent length of approximately 39.2 mm.

This is a beautiful story — a new species named after a community that has been protecting wildlife for centuries.

The Bishnoi community of Rajasthan is India's oldest organised conservation movement. Their 29 principles — codified by Guru Jambheshwar (Jambhoji) in 1485 CE — explicitly prohibit the killing of animals and the felling of green trees. The most iconic moment of Bishnoi conservation history is the Khejarli massacre of 1730 — when 363 Bishnois gave their lives hugging trees to prevent them from being felled for the Maharaja of Jodhpur's lime kiln. This event is considered the world's first recorded instance of organised environmental activism — inspiring the Chipko movement two centuries later.

Mesalina bishnoi belongs to the Lacertidae family (wall lizards and relatives) — the genus Mesalina was previously known from West Asia and Africa but had never been recorded in India. Its discovery near Gajner, Bikaner, in the Thar Desert expands the genus's known distribution into the Indian subcontinent — a significant biogeographic finding.

The species was discovered by Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) scientists. ZSI is India's premier zoological research institution — established in 1916 under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

India-Oman CEPA Comes into Force — June 1, 2026

The India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement officially came into force on 1 June 2026.

India and Oman have had warm bilateral relations built on centuries of maritime trade — long before either country existed in its modern form. Dhow traders from Oman and Gujarat exchanged dates, spices, and textiles along the Arabian Sea for millennia. The CEPA formalises this ancient commercial relationship in modern trade law.

What the CEPA covers: The India-Oman CEPA provides preferential tariff treatment for goods traded between the two countries, opens services sectors to greater bilateral investment, and creates frameworks for professional mobility, digital trade, and intellectual property cooperation. For India, key gains include:

Preferential access for pharmaceuticals, textiles, engineering goods, chemicals, and IT services in Oman's market. For Oman, preferential access for petrochemicals, fertilisers, aluminium products, and dates in India's market.

Why this CEPA matters beyond bilateral trade: Oman is located outside the Strait of Hormuz — on the Arabian Sea coast — making it a strategically secure energy and trade partner during the ongoing Hormuz crisis. The CEPA deepens economic interdependence with a Gulf partner whose geography makes it a natural partner for India's energy security strategy. The proposed MEIDP (Middle East-India Deep-water Pipeline) connecting Oman to Gujarat (covered in May 16 current affairs) sits naturally alongside this trade framework.

India-Oman bilateral trade stands at approximately $12 billion annually, with approximately 750,000 Indians living and working in Oman.

PMRC Scheme 2026 — Bringing Global Indian Researchers Back Home

The Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education officially opened applications for the Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) Scheme 2026. The scheme establishes a direct pathway for top-tier researchers of Indian origin working in globally renowned foreign universities, private laboratories, and tech industries to take up high-level research positions within premium Indian institutions. It aims to attract, incentivise, and retain world-class Indian-origin scientists and tech leaders to reverse the outflow of high-skilled talent.

India loses thousands of its best scientific minds every year to the US, UK, Germany, and Singapore — attracted by better research infrastructure, higher salaries, and greater academic freedom. The PMRC scheme takes a direct approach to reversing this brain drain: offer world-class researchers of Indian origin a prestigious, well-funded research chair at an Indian institution — IITs, IISc, IIMs, AIIMS, and NIT-equivalent institutions.

What makes PMRC different from existing schemes: Unlike fellowships that offer short-term visits, PMRC creates permanent or long-term research positions with internationally competitive compensation — specifically targeting senior researchers who might otherwise never consider returning because of the salary and infrastructure gap. The scheme connects with India's broader push to raise GERD (Gross Expenditure on R&D) from the current 0.65% of GDP (covered in May 21 current affairs) to 2% by 2030 through the Anusandhan National Research Foundation.

Bangladesh Elected to Lead 81st UN General Assembly

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.

The election of Bangladesh's Foreign Minister as UNGA President is a significant moment for South Asia — and for Bangladesh itself, which is navigating a complex political transition period. The 81st UNGA session runs from September 2026 to September 2027.

The UNGA Presidency — what it involves: The UNGA President presides over the General Assembly's plenary sessions, guides the General Debate (held annually in September), and plays a facilitative role in multilateral negotiations. The Presidency rotates annually across regional groups — Asia-Pacific group's turn in 2026 explains why a South Asian nation holds the position.

Bangladesh-India context: Bangladesh and India share the world's longest border between any two countries — 4,156 km. Their relationship involves critical bilateral issues including the Teesta river water sharing (still unresolved), trade (India is Bangladesh's largest trade partner after China), and the shared cultural-linguistic heritage of Bengal. Bangladesh's growing international profile — UNGA Presidency being the latest marker — means India's neighbourhood diplomacy requires careful, continuous engagement.

Pope Leo XIV Appoints First Woman to Lead Vatican's Communication Dicastery

On 2 June 2026, Pope Leo XIV appointed Maria Montserrat Alvarado as Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication of the Holy See.

This is a historic first for the Catholic Church — the Dicastery for Communication oversees the Vatican's global media operations, including Vatican News, Vatican Radio, L'Osservatore Romano, and the Vatican's social media and digital platforms. Having a woman lead this dicastery for the first time is part of Pope Leo XIV's broader push toward greater institutional roles for women in the Church's governance structures.

Pope Leo XIV — the first American-born Pope — assumed office following Pope Francis. His papacy has been marked by a more structured approach to reform while maintaining Francis's emphasis on social justice and inclusion.

KSTAR — South Korea's "Artificial Sun" Sets New Plasma Fusion Record

KSTAR, the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research device, sustained plasma in high-confinement mode for 102 seconds during experiments conducted from December 2023 to February 2024.

If you want to understand why this matters, think of it this way — nuclear fusion is the same process that powers the Sun. It releases enormous amounts of energy by fusing hydrogen atoms into helium at temperatures of 100 million degrees Celsius (actually hotter than the Sun's core). If we can harness it here on Earth, it means essentially limitless clean energy — no carbon emissions, no long-lived radioactive waste, and fuel (hydrogen isotopes from seawater) that is practically inexhaustible.

The challenge has always been confinement — keeping that superheated plasma stable long enough to extract more energy than you put in. Every fraction of a second that a fusion device sustains plasma in high-confinement mode is a scientific victory.

KSTAR sustaining plasma for 102 seconds is therefore a genuine world record — and a meaningful step toward the commercial fusion energy timeline.

ITER — the global fusion project: KSTAR's advances directly feed into ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) — the massive multinational fusion project being built in Cadarache, France, involving 35 nations including India. ITER aims to be the first fusion device to produce more energy than it consumes — expected to achieve this Q > 1 milestone in the 2030s. India participates in ITER through ITER-India, hosted by the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

NASA and ESA Detect Methane on Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Using James Webb

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

Only a handful of objects have ever been confirmed as interstellar — meaning they originated outside our solar system and are just passing through. The first was 1I/'Oumuamua (2017) and the second was 2I/Borisov (2019). 3I/ATLAS is the third.

Detecting methane on 3I/ATLAS using JWST is significant for several reasons. Methane (CH₄) is a relatively simple organic molecule — but its presence in an interstellar body tells scientists something about the chemistry of the system where this comet formed. Different stellar systems produce objects with different chemical compositions — studying interstellar visitors is like receiving a chemical message from another star system.

JWST — launched December 25, 2021, located at the L2 Lagrange point 1.5 million km from Earth — has transformed our ability to characterise the compositions of distant and fast-moving objects through its extraordinary infrared sensitivity.

MP Plans Reintroduction of State-Run Public Bus Network — Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva

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.

Madhya Pradesh wound down its state bus service over two decades ago — leaving millions of residents dependent on private operators, shared autos, and jeeps for inter-city and rural connectivity. The Mukhyamantri Sugam Parivahan Seva (Chief Minister's Easy Transport Service) marks a return of the state as a direct mobility provider — rather than just a regulator of private operators.

The revival has several motivations: the fuel price hike spiral of May 2026 has made private operator travel increasingly expensive for rural and lower-income residents; the government's PM-eBus Sewa scheme offers central funding for state-operated electric buses; and poor public transport connectivity is a persistent barrier to accessing education, healthcare, and markets in MP's large tribal belt.

NFHS-6 Data Released — India's Health Indicators Show Significant Progress

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.

The National Family Health Survey is India's most comprehensive household survey — covering fertility, infant and child mortality, maternal health, nutrition, anaemia, family planning, and domestic violence indicators. NFHS-6 (2023-24) succeeds NFHS-5 (2019-21) and provides the most current national picture of India's demographic and health profile.

Key themes from NFHS-6 discussions: India's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has continued its downward trajectory — the NFHS-5 had already recorded a TFR of 2.0 (below replacement level of 2.1) for the first time in India's survey history. NFHS-6 data is expected to show further decline — with several northern states (UP, Bihar) still above replacement while southern and western states are now well below.

Anaemia remains India's most stubborn health challenge — NFHS-5 had shown anaemia affecting 57% of women (15-49 years) and 67% of children (6-59 months). NFHS-6 data will reveal whether the Anaemia Mukt Bharat programme has made a dent.

The survey is conducted by the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) in Mumbai — the nodal institution for health and population research in India.

Q. Who is D.K. Shivakumar and what makes his swearing-in as Karnataka CM significant?

D.K. Shivakumar is a senior Indian National Congress leader from the Vokkaliga community, sworn in as Karnataka's 24th Chief Minister on June 3, 2026 at Glass House, Lok Bhavan, Bengaluru. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot administered the oath. Shivakumar previously served as Deputy CM and PCC President under Siddaramaiah. His elevation represents a Congress political strategy shift ahead of the 2028 Karnataka elections. Karnataka has a 224-member assembly; Bengaluru is India's IT capital contributing ~38% of software export revenues.

Q. What is significant about Justice V. Mohana's appointment to the Supreme Court?

Justice V. Mohana — a Coimbatore advocate — was sworn in on June 2, 2026 as the 12th woman judge in the Supreme Court's history and only the 2nd woman ever directly elevated from the Bar (after Justice Indu Malhotra in 2018). Most SC judges reach the apex court through the High Court route. The first woman SC judge was Justice M. Fathima Beevi (1989). Appointments are recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium under the Second Judges Case (1993) precedent.

Q. What is Mission Senehjori and what is Muga silk?

Mission Senehjori (meaning "golden bond" in Assamese) is an Atmanirbhar North East initiative launched June 2, 2026, anchored by MDoNER with Ministry of Textiles and Government of Assam, to elevate Muga silk into a global luxury brand. Muga silk — produced by the Antheraea assamensis silkworm that feeds exclusively on trees found in Assam's Brahmaputra valley — is the world's only naturally golden silk. Its GI tag makes it geographically irreplaceable. The cluster-based mission aims to create integrated value chains from silkworm rearing through international retail.

Q. What is KSTAR and why does its 102-second plasma record matter?

KSTAR (Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research) is South Korea's nuclear fusion research device. It sustained plasma in high-confinement mode for 102 seconds — a world record. Nuclear fusion replicates the Sun's energy process by fusing hydrogen isotopes at 100 million°C, releasing enormous clean energy. Sustaining plasma longer is the key engineering challenge. KSTAR's work feeds into ITER — the multinational fusion project in Cadarache, France. India participates through ITER-India, hosted by the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

Q. What is the Mesalina bishnoi discovery significant for?

It is the first confirmed record of the genus Mesalina in India — discovered by ZSI scientists near Gajner, Bikaner, Rajasthan. Named after the Bishnoi community, who have protected wildlife under 29 principles codified by Guru Jambheshwar in 1485. The Khejarli massacre (1730) — where 363 Bishnois died protecting trees — is considered the world's first organised environmental activism and inspired India's Chipko movement. ZSI (est. 1916) is under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Q. What does the India-Oman CEPA coming into force mean?

The India-Oman CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) officially came into force on June 1, 2026 — providing preferential tariffs on pharmaceuticals, textiles, and IT services (India's gains) and petrochemicals, fertilisers, and aluminium (Oman's gains). Strategically, Oman is located outside the Strait of Hormuz on the Arabian Sea — making it a secure energy and trade partner during the Hormuz blockade. India-Oman bilateral trade is ~$12 billion; ~750,000 Indians live in Oman. The proposed MEIDP gas pipeline from Oman to Gujarat adds further depth to this relationship.