Daily Current Affairs- 3rd June 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 3rd June 2026

DK Shivakumar Takes Oath as Karnataka’s 18th Chief Minister

In the News: D. K. Shivakumar was sworn in as the 18th Chief Minister of Karnataka at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot administered the oath, and G. Parameshwara took oath as Deputy Chief Minister. Shivakumar succeeded Siddaramaiah after being elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party.

Key Points:

• New Chief Minister: D. K. Shivakumar became Karnataka’s 18th Chief Minister. He is a senior Congress leader and an eight-time MLA from Kanakapura.
• Oath Ceremony: The oath ceremony was held at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru. Along with Shivakumar, several ministers were also inducted into the new Council of Ministers.
• Deputy Chief Minister: G. Parameshwara was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister. The cabinet formation marked a leadership transition within the Karnataka government.
• Political Background: Shivakumar earlier served as Deputy Chief Minister under Siddaramaiah. He was chosen as the Congress Legislature Party leader before taking charge as Chief Minister.

Government Launches PMRC Scheme 2026 to Attract Top Indian-Origin Researchers

In the News: The Ministry of Education launched the Prime Minister Research Chair Scheme 2026 to attract accomplished Indian-origin researchers, scientists and technology leaders working abroad. The scheme aims to embed world-class researchers in premier Indian institutions. Applications have been opened through the official PMRC portal.

Key Points:

• About PMRC: The Prime Minister Research Chair Scheme is a national research initiative for Indian-origin researchers. It aims to strengthen India’s higher education and research ecosystem.
• Eligible Applicants: The scheme is open to Indian nationals working abroad, Overseas Citizen of India cardholders and Persons of Indian Origin. Applicants must have strong achievements in research, innovation or technology.
• Research Support: Selected researchers will receive fellowship support, research grants and access to laboratories. They will also get opportunities to collaborate with leading government institutions in India.
• Categories of Engagement: The scheme includes Young Research Fellows, Senior Research Fellows and Research Chairs. These categories cover early-career researchers, experienced researchers and globally recognised research leaders.

Lokhande Prashant Sitaram Appointed CBSE Chairperson, Varun Bhardwaj Named Secretary

In the News: The Central Government appointed senior IAS officer Lokhande Prashant Sitaram as Chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education. Varun Bhardwaj was appointed as the new Secretary of CBSE. The appointments came after a reshuffle linked with concerns over the On-Screen Marking System.

Key Points:

• New CBSE Chairperson: Lokhande Prashant Sitaram, a 2001-batch AGMUT cadre IAS officer, was appointed CBSE Chairperson. He will serve in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary.
• New CBSE Secretary: Varun Bhardwaj was named the new Secretary of CBSE. He replaced Himanshu Gupta after the reshuffle in the Board’s top administration.
• Previous Officials: The appointments followed the transfer of former CBSE Chairperson Rahul Singh and Secretary Himanshu Gupta. The changes came during scrutiny of the Board’s marking-related systems.
• CBSE Role: CBSE is one of India’s major national school education boards. It conducts board examinations, frames academic policies and manages affiliated schools across India and abroad.

Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai Appointed as Next Chief Justice of Patna High Court

In the News: The Central Government notified the appointment of Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai as Chief Justice of the Patna High Court. She was serving as a judge of the Sikkim High Court before the appointment. The Supreme Court Collegium had recommended her name for elevation as Chief Justice of Patna High Court.

Key Points:

• Appointment Notified: Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai was appointed Chief Justice of the Patna High Court. The appointment followed the recommendation made by the Supreme Court Collegium.
• Constitutional Basis: The appointment was made by the President under Article 217(1) of the Constitution. This provision deals with the appointment and conditions of High Court judges.
• Previous Position: Justice Rai was serving as a judge of the Sikkim High Court. She is recorded as the first woman from Sikkim to be elevated as a judge of the Sikkim High Court.
• Patna High Court: She was appointed after the retirement of incumbent Chief Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo. Her appointment adds to women’s representation in senior judicial offices.

India’s 1st Blue Bond

In the News: Sagarmala Finance Corporation is preparing to issue India’s first blue bond to finance maritime and coastal infrastructure projects. The government-owned maritime lender is under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The proposed bond will diversify funding sources and support ocean-linked sustainable infrastructure.

Key Points:

• About Blue Bond: A blue bond is a debt instrument used to raise funds for ocean, water and coastal sustainability projects. It is linked with the broader blue economy and marine infrastructure.
• Issuer: Sagarmala Finance Corporation is preparing the proposed issue. It is a government-owned maritime-focused lender under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
• Fundraising Plan: The proposed issue may raise up to ₹1,000 crore, including a greenshoe option. The funds are expected to support maritime and coastal infrastructure financing.
• Maritime Finance Link: Sagarmala Finance Corporation became a licensed NBFC in 2025. It also manages the Maritime Development Fund and supports long-term maritime sector financing.

Fotu La Tunnel Project Approved in Ladakh

In the News: The Union Government approved the Fotu La Tunnel project in Ladakh to improve all-weather connectivity on the Srinagar-Leh highway. The project involves construction of a unidirectional twin-tube tunnel with approach roads. It is expected to improve travel reliability and reduce difficulties caused by high-altitude weather conditions.

Key Points:

• Project Location: The tunnel will be constructed at Fotu La Pass in Ladakh. Fotu La is located on the strategic Srinagar-Leh highway, which is vital for civilian and defence movement.
• Project Cost: The project has been approved at a cost of about ₹1,196 crore to ₹1,198 crore. It includes a twin-tube tunnel and related approach-road works.
• Tunnel Structure: The project length is reported at around 2.65 km, including a 1.96-km tunnel and 0.69 km of approach roads. The tunnel will improve movement across difficult mountain terrain.
• Connectivity Benefits: The tunnel is expected to shorten travel distance and improve all-weather access to Ladakh. It will also support safer and more reliable movement on the high-altitude route.

Khalilur Rahman Elected President of 81st UNGA Session

In the News: Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman was elected President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. He secured 99 votes and defeated Cyprus candidate Andreas S. Kakouris, who received 91 votes. The 81st UNGA session will begin in September 2026, marking Bangladesh’s return to the post after nearly four decades.

Key Points:

• Election Result: Dr Khalilur Rahman was elected President of the 81st UN General Assembly session in a contested vote at the UN headquarters. He defeated Cyprus candidate Andreas S. Kakouris, making the result significant for Bangladesh’s diplomatic profile.
• Bangladesh’s UNGA Presidency: Bangladesh last held the UNGA presidency during the 1986-87 session. The earlier president from Bangladesh was Humayun Rashid Choudhury, who served as President of the 41st United Nations General Assembly.
• Role of UNGA President: The President of the General Assembly presides over UNGA meetings and guides discussions among all UN member states. The office helps manage agenda-setting, high-level debates, procedural coordination and consensus-building.
• Session Timeline: The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly will begin on September 8, 2026. The high-level general debate is scheduled to begin on September 22, bringing together heads of state, governments and senior representatives.
• About UNGA: The United Nations General Assembly is the main deliberative body of the United Nations. It includes all UN member states and discusses issues such as peace, development, human rights, climate action and international cooperation.

RudraM-II Missile Successfully Flight-Tested

In the News: The Defence Research and Development Organisation and the Indian Air Force successfully conducted flight tests of the RudraM-II air-to-surface missile. The missile was tested from an airborne platform under extreme release conditions. The trial validated the performance of key subsystems and demonstrated the maturity of India’s indigenous advanced weapon technologies.

Key Points:

• About RudraM-II: About RudraM-II: RudraM-II is an indigenous air-to-surface missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation. It is designed for precision strike roles from fighter aircraft. The missile is part of India’s growing inventory of advanced air-launched weapon systems. Tested from Su-30 MK-I over the Bay of Bengal, integrated with DRDL, HEMRL, ARDE, ITR Chandipur, HAL; intended for Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD).
• Agencies Involved: The successful test was conducted jointly by DRDO and the Indian Air Force. The trial involved coordination between missile developers, test-range teams, aircraft operators and associated defence industry partners.
• Test Conditions: The missile was tested under extreme release conditions from an airborne platform. Such testing checks how the missile performs after release from an aircraft under demanding flight parameters.
• Subsystem Validation: The flight test established the capability of critical subsystems during the missile’s trajectory. Range instruments recorded flight data and confirmed that the trial objectives were achieved.

NASA Ends MAVEN Mars Mission

In the News: NASA officially ended the MAVEN Mars mission after losing contact with the spacecraft for several months. MAVEN, short for Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution, had studied the Martian atmosphere for more than 11 years. The spacecraft far exceeded its original one-year mission and contributed major data on how Mars lost much of its atmosphere.

Key Points:

• About MAVEN: MAVEN stands for Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution. It was launched in 2013 and entered orbit around Mars in 2014 to study the planet’s upper atmosphere, solar wind interaction and atmospheric escape.
• Mission End: NASA ended the mission after the spacecraft stopped communicating in December 2025. Available data indicated that MAVEN entered an unrecoverable state after a spacecraft anomaly involving unexpected spinning and loss of power.
• Scientific Contribution: MAVEN helped scientists understand how solar wind and solar storms stripped gases from the Martian atmosphere over time. Its findings supported studies on Mars changing from a warmer, wetter world to the cold and dry planet seen today.
• Relay Role: Besides scientific work, MAVEN also acted as a communications relay for Mars surface missions. It helped transmit data from rovers such as Curiosity and Perseverance back to Earth.
• Current Status: NASA expects MAVEN to remain in elliptical orbit around Mars for several decades. Other Mars orbiters will continue communication-support functions, keeping the wider Mars mission network operational.

Idris Elba Receives Knighthood from King Charles III, Becomes Sir Idris Elba

In the News: British actor Idris Elba received a knighthood from King Charles III at Windsor Castle. The honour was awarded for his services to young people and his wider contribution to public life. After receiving the honour, Idris Elba is formally entitled to use the title “Sir”.

Key Points:

• Knighthood Ceremony: Idris Elba was knighted by King Charles III during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle. The honour places him among public figures recognised through the United Kingdom’s honours system.
• Reason for Honour: Elba received the knighthood for his services to young people. His work includes youth advocacy, community empowerment and support through initiatives such as the Elba Hope Foundation.
• Title and Significance: A knighthood is one of the United Kingdom’s high civilian honours granted by the monarch. After receiving the honour, a male recipient may use the title “Sir” before his name.
• Professional Profile: Idris Elba is known for major roles in The Wire and Luther. He has also worked in films, music and public campaigns, making him a widely recognised British cultural figure.
• King’s Trust Link: Elba earlier received support from The King’s Trust, formerly The Prince’s Trust, to attend drama training. This link is notable because King Charles’s youth charity played a role in supporting his early artistic career.