June 30, 2026 Current Affairs

1. India Successfully Conducts First GAGAN Satellite-Based Landing on a Jet Aircraft

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) successfully conducted India's first Satellite-Based Landing System (SLS) approach on a jet aircraft using the indigenous GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation) system at Udaipur Airport on June 28, 2026. The landing was performed by an IndiGo Airbus A320 using the Localiser Performance with Vertical Guidance (LPV) approach. Jointly developed by ISRO and the Airports Authority of India (AAI), GAGAN provides highly accurate satellite-based navigation, reduces dependence on conventional Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), and marks a major milestone in India's aviation technology.

2. Rajasthan and Haryana Sign Historic Yamuna Water Project Agreement

The governments of Rajasthan and Haryana signed the historic Yamuna Water Project Agreement in New Delhi on June 29, 2026, resolving a nearly three-decade-old water dispute. The project will transport Rajasthan's allocated share of Yamuna River water through underground pipelines from the Western Yamuna Canal. It establishes a comprehensive framework for water allocation, infrastructure development, cost sharing, monitoring, and dispute resolution. The project aims to improve drinking water availability, recharge groundwater, reduce water wastage, and strengthen long-term water security in both states.

3. India Wins Maiden Bronze Medal at AVC Men's Volleyball Cup 2026

India created history by winning its first-ever medal at the AVC Men's Volleyball Cup 2026, held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The Indian men's volleyball team secured the bronze medal after defeating Bahrain 3–1 in the third-place playoff on June 29, 2026. This remarkable achievement also improved India's position in the FIVB World Rankings, moving from 60th to 42nd. The team was led by captain Jerome Vinith Charles and coached by Dragan Mihailović of Serbia.

4. India's Industrial Output Grows by 5.1% in May 2026

India's industrial output, measured by the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), recorded a 5.1% growth in May 2026, marking the highest growth rate in the previous five months. The expansion was driven by strong performance in the manufacturing, electricity, and capital goods sectors. The National Statistical Office (NSO) also introduced the new 2022–23 base year and replaced the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) with the Output Producer Price Index (Output PPI), improving the accuracy of industrial output estimation.

5. ISRO Conducts Eighth Hot Test of Semi-Cryogenic Engine

ISRO successfully carried out the eighth hot test of the 175-tonne Semi-Cryogenic Engine Power Head Test Article (PHTA) at the ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu, on June 24, 2026. During the test, the engine achieved 88% thrust, surpassing previous test performances. The engine uses Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and Isrosene as propellants and is being developed to replace the L110 core stage of the LVM3 launch vehicle, increasing payload capacity and mission efficiency.

6. World's First Copper–Chlorine Hydrogen Production Facility Inaugurated

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) inaugurated the world's first Copper–Chlorine (Cu–Cl) Thermochemical Hydrogen Production Facility at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. The facility uses heat from the Fast Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) to produce carbon-free hydrogen efficiently at relatively lower temperatures. The technology was indigenously developed by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and supports India's clean energy transition and three-stage nuclear power programme.

7. Rajiv Kumar Appointed Part-Time Chairman of HDFC Bank

HDFC Bank appointed former Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar as its Part-Time Chairman for a three-year term, subject to approval by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). He has also been appointed as an Additional (Independent) Director for a four-year term beginning June 30, 2026, subject to shareholder approval. A 1984-batch IAS officer, Rajiv Kumar previously served as Secretary, Department of Financial Services, where he played a major role in banking reforms, public sector bank consolidation, and financial sector development.

8. Ashok Vaswani to Step Down as Kotak Mahindra Bank CEO

Ashok Vaswani announced that he will step down as the Managing Director and CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank upon completing his term on December 31, 2026. Before joining Kotak Mahindra Bank, he held senior leadership positions at Barclays and Citigroup, including serving as CEO of Barclays UK. Kotak Mahindra Bank, established in 2003, was India's first Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) to receive a banking licence and convert into a commercial bank.

9. Maharashtra Receives Approval for India's First Offshore Airport

Maharashtra has received in-principle approval for India's first offshore airport project, proposed off the coast of Palghar district. The project aims to enhance air connectivity in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region while overcoming land availability constraints. Proposed by the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC), the airport will utilize advanced offshore engineering techniques to improve passenger and cargo capacity, reduce urban noise pollution, strengthen regional connectivity, and support long-term economic growth.

10. International Asteroid Day Observed on June 30

International Asteroid Day is observed every year on June 30 to raise awareness about asteroid impact hazards and promote global efforts in planetary defence. The date commemorates the Tunguska Event of June 30, 1908, the largest recorded asteroid impact in modern history. Officially proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2016, the observance encourages international cooperation in asteroid detection, scientific research, emergency preparedness, and monitoring of Near-Earth Objects (NEOs).

Exam-Oriented Quick Facts

• First GAGAN satellite-based jet landing conducted at — Udaipur Airport
• Yamuna Water Project agreement signed between — Rajasthan & Haryana
• AVC Men's Volleyball Cup 2026 hosted in — Gandhinagar
• India's Industrial Output Growth (May 2026) — 5.1%
• ISRO's Semi-Cryogenic Engine hot test conducted at — Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu
• World's first Cu–Cl Hydrogen Production Facility — Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu
• HDFC Bank Part-Time Chairman — Rajiv Kumar
• Kotak Mahindra Bank CEO stepping down — Ashok Vaswani
• India's first offshore airport approved in — Maharashtra
• International Asteroid Day — June 30