🗞️ Why in News: Key developments for Monday, June 1, 2026 — the day the India-Oman CEPA came into force, India’s 18th Railway Zone (SCoR) was notified, and Operation Sheruwali entered a critical phase in Rajouri. Shorter notes below on Admiral Swaminathan, ABDM, Divyastra Mk-1, and more.
India-Oman CEPA Enters into Force
🗞️ Why in News: The India-Oman CEPA became effective June 1, 2026 — India’s second Gulf CEPA (after UAE, May 2022).
Key Points
- 98.08% of Oman’s tariff lines → 0% duty; up from 15.33% MFN access. Sectors: engineering, pharma, textiles, marine, agri, gems. (Full article in edition.)
South Coast Railway Zone (SCoR) — India’s 18th Zone
🗞️ Why in News: The SCoR was notified, effective June 1, 2026, with HQ at Visakhapatnam.
Key Points
- India now has 18 railway zones. Covers coastal AP, Telangana coast, parts of Odisha. (Full article in edition.)
Operation Sheruwali, Rajouri
🗞️ Why in News: Counter-terror operation in Dorimal forest, Rajouri (J&K) entered critical phase.
Key Points
- Army + J&K Police SOG + CRPF; drones, helicopters, sniffer dogs; 5 terrorists encircled. (Full article in edition.)
PM SVANidhi — 6 Years
🗞️ Why in News: PM SVANidhi completed six years (launched June 2020).
Key Points
- ₹17,800 cr disbursed; 75.5 lakh vendors; 841 cr digital transactions. (Full article in edition.)
Aravalli Degradation — Climate Shield Weakening
🗞️ Why in News: WII study: 31 hillocks lost, 12 gaps in the Aravallis from illegal mining.
Key Points
- Aravallis ~692 km (Gujarat to Delhi); oldest mountains; dust-storm intensification. (Full article in edition.)
Admiral Krishna Swaminathan — 27th Navy Chief
🗞️ Why in News: Admiral Krishna Swaminathan assumed charge as 27th Chief of Naval Staff on May 31, 2026, succeeding Admiral Dinesh Tripathi.
Background
- Appointed May 9, 2026; previously commanded Western Naval Command.
- Tenure: until December 31, 2028.
- CNS is the principal naval adviser to the Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister); head of the Indian Navy.
- The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) (currently Gen. Anil Chauhan) coordinates among the three service chiefs.
📌 Facts Corner
- 27th CNS; appointed since May 9, 2026; took charge May 31, 2026.
- Succeeds Admiral Dinesh Tripathi.
- Tenure till December 31, 2028.
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) — 90 Crore ABHA Accounts
🗞️ Why in News: ABDM surpassed 90 crore ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) accounts.
Background
- ABDM — National digital health infrastructure; launched September 27, 2021 (operationalised).
- ABHA = a 14-digit unique health ID for every Indian citizen; enables digital health records portability.
- ABDM’s six foundational blocks: Health ID (ABHA), Health Facility Registry, Healthcare Professionals Registry, Unified Health Interface (UHI), PHIS, and Drug Registry.
- Under National Health Authority (NHA), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
📌 Facts Corner
- ABDM = digital health infrastructure; launched Sept 27, 2021.
- 90 crore+ ABHA accounts (14-digit unique health ID).
- Under NHA, MoHFW.
Divyastra Mk-1 — Indian Army’s Indigenous Loitering Munition
🗞️ Why in News: The Indian Army conducted an operational demonstration of the Divyastra Mk-1 loitering munition in Jodhpur.
Background
- Loitering munition (also “kamikaze drone”) — a drone that loiters in the target area and then self-destructs on the target (combining UAV + munition). Also called a “suicide drone.”
- Divyastra Mk-1 — an indigenous tactical loitering munition, developed domestically; aligns with Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence.
- Key attributes: man-portable, deployable by small units, effective against light armour and infantry.
- Post-Nagorno-Karabakh (2020) and Ukraine (2022+), loitering munitions have proven decisive in modern warfare.
📌 Facts Corner
- Divyastra Mk-1 = indigenous loitering munition; demo at Jodhpur; tactical range.
- Loitering munition = loiters + self-destructs on target (“kamikaze drone”).
Vice Admiral Vineet McCarty — 20th C-in-C Andaman & Nicobar Command
🗞️ Why in News: Vice Admiral Vineet McCarty assumed charge as the 20th Commander-in-Chief, Andaman & Nicobar Command (ANC).
Background
- ANC — India’s only tri-service command (Army + Navy + Air Force + Coast Guard); HQ Port Blair.
- Strategically located at the junction of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea / Malacca Strait — India’s “unsinkable aircraft carrier” in the eastern IOR.
📌 Facts Corner
- ANC = India’s only tri-service command; HQ Port Blair.
- 20th C-in-C: Vice Admiral Vineet McCarty.
Banks Sanction ₹35,194 Crore Under ECLGS 5.0
🗞️ Why in News: Banks have sanctioned ₹35,194 crore under ECLGS 5.0 (Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme).
Background
- ECLGS — launched May 2020 under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat package to provide collateral-free, Government-guaranteed credit to MSME and businesses hit by COVID-19.
- Administered by NCGTC (National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company), under Ministry of Finance.
- ECLGS 5.0 is the latest tranche, covering specific sectors facing economic stress.
📌 Facts Corner
- ECLGS — collateral-free Government-guaranteed credit; launched May 2020.
- NCGTC administers; Ministry of Finance.
India-US Trade Deal Enters Final Stage
🗞️ Why in News: India and the US progressed toward finalising the first phase of their Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).
Background
- India-US trade negotiations resumed under the India-US Trade Policy Forum; an interim deal (Phase 1 BTA) focuses on tariff reductions on select goods in exchange for India’s market-access concessions.
- The backdrop: elevated US tariffs (Trump administration’s reciprocal-tariff regime) and India’s own FTA strategy.
📌 Facts Corner
- Forum: India-US Trade Policy Forum. Phase 1 BTA targets limited tariff cuts.
Blue Micromoon — June 1, 2026
🗞️ Why in News: A rare Blue Micromoon was visible on June 1, 2026.
Background
- Blue Moon — the second full moon in a calendar month (not literally blue in colour).
- Micromoon — a full moon when the Moon is near its farthest point (apogee) in its elliptical orbit; appears ~14% smaller and ~30% dimmer than a Supermoon (at perigee).
- Combination of both = Blue Micromoon; rare. Next occurrence: ~2053.
📌 Facts Corner
- Blue Moon = second full moon in a month. Micromoon = full moon at apogee (farthest). Next Blue Micromoon ~2053.
UPSC Relevance (Combined)
| Paper | Key themes |
|---|---|
| GS2 | PM SVANidhi; ABDM; India-Oman CEPA; India-US BTA; railway zones (Union List) |
| GS3 | Divyastra Mk-1; ECLGS; ANC; Operation Sheruwali; Aravalli environment |
Facts Corner — Combined Snapshot
📌 Facts Corner — Knowledgepedia
- India-Oman CEPA — in force June 1, 2026; 98.08% tariff lines zero duty; India’s 2nd Gulf CEPA.
- SCoR — India’s 18th railway zone; HQ Visakhapatnam; June 1, 2026.
- Operation Sheruwali — Rajouri, J&K; Army+J&K Police SOG+CRPF; 5 terrorists encircled.
- PM SVANidhi — 6 years; ₹17,800 cr; 75.5 lakh vendors; 841 cr digital transactions.
- Admiral Swaminathan — 27th CNS; May 31, 2026.
- ABDM — 90 crore ABHA accounts; NHA under MoHFW.
- Divyastra Mk-1 — indigenous loitering munition; Jodhpur demo.
- ANC — India’s only tri-service command; 20th C-in-C: V Adm Vineet McCarty.
- ECLGS 5.0 — ₹35,194 cr sanctioned; NCGTC; MoF.
- Blue Micromoon — June 1, 2026; blue moon (2nd full moon in month) + micromoon (at apogee).
Sources: The Hindu, PIB, Indian Express
Source: Current Affairs Today — June 1, 2026 — Ujiyari.com | Free UPSC & State PCS Current Affairs
