Daily Current Affairs- 27th June 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 27th June 2026

Odisha Launches GO-EAST Policy to Accelerate Industrial Growth and Attract Investments

In the News: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced the GO-EAST platform at the CII Eastern Regional Council Meeting 2026 in Bhubaneswar. The initiative aims to accelerate industrial growth in Odisha and eastern India by attracting investments from eastern and northeastern states. GO-EAST stands for Government of Odisha - Eastern Investment Accelerator and Special Task Force.

Key Points:

• GO-EAST Platform: The platform has been designed to help industries expand operations in Odisha while retaining their existing industrial base and markets in their home states. It is aimed at strengthening Odisha’s position as a major industrial hub in eastern India. The initiative will focus on faster facilitation and smoother investment implementation.
• Special Task Force and GO-EAST Cell: The Odisha government will set up a high-level special task force to accelerate investment projects. A dedicated GO-EAST Cell will also be created within IPICOL, the state’s industrial promotion agency. A special GO-SWIFT module will track investment approvals and processes in real time.
• Focus on Border Districts: The initiative will focus on Odisha’s border districts to develop new industrial growth centres. This is expected to support balanced regional development and create employment opportunities in less-industrialised areas. The plan seeks to move industrial growth beyond the traditional mineral-based zones.
• IPR-2022 Amendments: Odisha announced amendments to the Industrial Policy Resolution 2022 to promote non-mineral-based industries in 15 economically backward districts. Districts such as Balangir, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Kandhamal, Boudh and Gajapati will be included in the thrust sector or priority category.
• Investment and Approval Targets: Since June 2024, Odisha has approved 477 projects worth nearly ₹9.5 lakh crore, with expected employment for about six lakh people. The state has reduced the time required to set up industries from around 400 days to less than 160 days. The government now aims to bring the approval period below 100 days.

Air Suvidha 2.0 Explained: New Health Rules for International Travellers in India

In the News: The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Delhi International Airport Limited launched Air Suvidha 2.0 on June 25, 2026. It is an upgraded contactless Passenger Health Self-Declaration Portal for international arrivals in India. The portal was launched to strengthen public health surveillance at Points of Entry in response to the Ebola/Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak.

Key Points:

• Purpose of the Portal: Air Suvidha 2.0 is meant to improve health screening of international passengers arriving in India. It replaces physical health forms with a paperless and contactless online process. The system helps authorities identify at-risk travellers before they complete immigration clearance.
  • Background of the Move: The launch followed the WHO’s declaration of the Ebola/Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17, 2026. The outbreak has been treated as a concern under the International Health Regulations 2005.
  • Information Required: International arriving passengers must submit a Health Self-Declaration Form before immigration clearance. The form covers 21-day travel history, exposure history and related symptoms, if any. This information helps health authorities detect possible risk at an early stage.
  • Agencies Involved: The portal was developed in collaboration with the Directorate General of Health Services under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It enables real-time data sharing with Airport Health Officers, the Bureau of Immigration, IDSP and State Surveillance Officers.
  • Submission Timeline: Passengers can complete the Air Suvidha Self-Declaration Form up to 24 hours before arrival in India. They are requested to fill it before boarding or during web check-in. On arrival, they only need to show the downloaded SDF at the International Travel Health Desk or Immigration counter.

ICGS Akshay Commissioned at Goa Shipyard

In the News: The Indian Coast Guard commissioned ICGS Akshay, a new-generation Fast Patrol Vessel, at Goa Shipyard Limited in Goa on June 27, 2026. The vessel was inducted into the Bharatiya Tatrakshak Fleet as part of the Coast Guard’s force modernisation programme.

Key Points:

• About the Vessel: ICGS Akshay is a new-generation Fast Patrol Vessel designed for Coast Guard operations. The name “Akshay” means indestructible. The vessel represents the Coast Guard’s role in protecting India’s maritime interests and maintaining safe, secure and clean seas.
  • Built by Goa Shipyard Limited: The vessel was designed and constructed by Goa Shipyard Limited. Its induction strengthens India’s domestic shipbuilding capability and supports indigenous defence manufacturing. The commissioning also adds to the operational capacity of the Indian Coast Guard.
  • Operational Roles: ICGS Akshay can undertake maritime law enforcement, coastal security, search and rescue, marine environmental protection and assistance to mariners in distress. These roles are central to the Indian Coast Guard’s work across India’s maritime zones.
  • Commissioning Ceremony: The vessel was commissioned by Smt. Parama Sen, Additional Secretary (Personnel), Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. Senior Coast Guard officials, including Inspector General Bhisham Sharma and Inspector General Jyotindra Singh, were present at the ceremony.
  • Adamya-Class FPV: ICGS Akshay has been reported as the fourth vessel in the Adamya-class series of eight Fast Patrol Vessels being built by Goa Shipyard Limited for the Indian Coast Guard. The vessel carries over 65 percent indigenous content and is equipped with advanced Controllable Pitch Propeller propulsion systems.

India Sets Record with 7 Schools Shortlisted for World’s Best School Prizes 2026

In the News: India has achieved a historic milestone with seven schools shortlisted for the World’s Best School Prizes 2026. The shortlist was announced in London, and India recorded the highest number of schools shortlisted by any country in a single year in the four-year history of the prizes. The awards are organised by T4 Education, a UK-headquartered global education organisation.

Key Points:

• Record Representation: Seven Indian schools were named in the Top 10 shortlist across different prize categories. This is the highest representation by any country in one edition of the World’s Best School Prizes. The achievement highlights India’s growing visibility in global school education.
• Indian Schools in Innovation: PCMC Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj English Medium School, Kasarwadi, Pune, and Army Goodwill School Wuzur, Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, were shortlisted under the Innovation category. This category recognises new approaches in learning, school leadership and community-based education.
• Community Collaboration Category: Healthy Planet TGA Early Years School, Noida; Inventure Academy, Bengaluru; and Seth MR Jaipuria School, Vineet Khand, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, were shortlisted under Community Collaboration. This category recognises schools that build strong partnerships with families and local communities.
• Other Indian Entries: EuroSchool Bannerghatta, Bengaluru, was shortlisted for Environmental Action, while Seth Anandram Jaipuria School, Lucknow, was shortlisted for Supporting Healthy Lives. The five overall prize categories include Community Collaboration, Environmental Action, Innovation, Overcoming Adversity and Supporting Healthy Lives.
• Selection Process: The winners will be chosen by an expert Judging Academy, and the top finalists and winners are scheduled to be announced in November 2026. All 50 shortlisted schools will also participate in a public vote for the Community Choice Award. Shortlisted schools and winners are expected to be invited to the World Schools Summit in London in January 2027.

India Launches World’s First Nuclear Process Heat-Based Hydrogen Production Facility

In the News: The Department of Atomic Energy has inaugurated the world’s first hydrogen production facility based on the Copper-Chlorine thermochemical cycle using nuclear process heat. The facility is located at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. It uses process heat generated from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor.

Key Points:

• Location and Inauguration: The facility was inaugurated at IGCAR, Kalpakkam, by Dr Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. It marks a major step in using nuclear energy beyond electricity generation.
  • Technology Used: The plant is based on the Copper-Chlorine thermochemical cycle, also written as the Cu-Cl cycle. It uses nuclear process heat from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor to support hydrogen production. This makes it different from conventional hydrogen production methods that depend mainly on fossil fuels or electricity.
  • Role of BARC and IGCAR: The Cu-Cl thermochemical process was developed indigenously by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai. The facility was established through joint efforts of BARC and IGCAR, including research, design, fabrication, installation, testing and commissioning.
  • Technology Demonstrator: The facility has been set up as a technology demonstrator to validate hydrogen production using nuclear energy. It is meant to prove the technical feasibility of integrating nuclear process heat with clean hydrogen generation. This is significant for future large-scale carbon-free hydrogen production.