🗞️ Why in News: A landmark day — five new SC judges sworn in by CJI Surya Kant, RudraM-II air-to-surface missile successfully tested, and the Lakshadweep ‘Potato Patch’ coral colony documented as potentially one of the world’s largest. Shorter notes below on FIDE rankings, green packaging, PMAY-G, and more.
SC Strength Hits 37 — Five New Judges Sworn In
🗞️ Why in News: The SC (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026 raised the SC’s sanctioned strength from 34 to 38 (incl. CJI); five new judges sworn in on June 2; working strength now 37.
Key Points
- Justice V S Mohana = 2nd woman on SC bench; 2nd woman elevated directly from Bar (1st: Justice Indu Malhotra, 2018). (Full article in edition.)
RudraM-II Missile — Successful Test
🗞️ Why in News: DRDO + IAF tested RudraM-II anti-radiation missile (Mach 5.5, ~300 km) from Su-30MKI over Bay of Bengal.
Key Points
- ARM = homes on enemy radar emissions; key for SEAD operations. (Full article in edition.)
Lakshadweep ‘Potato Patch’ Coral
🗞️ Why in News: Pavona clavus mega-colony (4,250 sq m, 58.47% alive) documented near Kadmat Island.
Key Points
- Potentially 700-1,800 years old; possibly world’s largest single living coral colony. (Full article in edition.)
India to Launch PPI + Revamped WPI (June 15)
🗞️ Why in News: DPIIT to launch India’s first Producer Price Index + WPI with new 2022-23 base on June 15.
Key Points
- Services PPI for first time. WPI had been using 2011-12 base. (Full article in edition.)
Arjun Erigaisi Enters FIDE Top 10
🗞️ Why in News: Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi reached World No. 8 in the June 2026 FIDE ratings with an ELO of 2761.
Background
- FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs) — world chess governing body; founded 1924; HQ Lausanne, Switzerland.
- India currently has World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen (Norwegian) at the summit; D. Gukesh won the World Chess Championship 2024 (youngest ever, at 18). Erigaisi’s rise makes India one of the strongest chess nations.
- ELO rating — a system created by Arpad Elo to measure relative skill; higher rating = stronger player; used by FIDE for standard chess.
- India’s chess revolution: Viswanathan Anand (5-time World Champion); Gukesh (World Champion 2024); multiple Indian GMs in global top 20.
📌 Facts Corner
- FIDE: founded 1924; HQ Lausanne. Arjun Erigaisi: No. 8 (FIDE June 2026); ELO 2761.
- Youngest World Champion: D. Gukesh (2024, age 18).
- World No. 1: Magnus Carlsen (Norway).
Mother Dairy Launches India’s First Naturally Degradable Milk Pouch
🗞️ Why in News: Mother Dairy launched India’s first naturally degradable milk packaging pouch, with Delhi-NCR rollout beginning June 5, 2026.
Background
- Conventional LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) milk pouches take centuries to degrade; this new pouch is biologically degradable under natural conditions (no industrial composting required).
- Mother Dairy is a subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB); it is one of India’s largest dairy companies and a major milk supplier to Delhi-NCR.
- Aligned with India’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligations under Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2022 and the broader push under Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) mission.
📌 Facts Corner
- Mother Dairy = subsidiary of NDDB. Degradable pouch: Delhi-NCR rollout June 5, 2026.
- NDDB: headquarters Anand, Gujarat; promoted White Revolution (Operation Flood).
- EPR under Plastic Waste Management Rules 2022.
Centre Approves ₹10,021 Crore Under PMAY-G
🗞️ Why in News: The Centre approved ₹10,021 crore under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) for rural housing.
Background
- PMAY-G — flagship rural housing scheme; target: “Housing for All” by providing pucca houses to homeless rural households; minimum size 25 sq m.
- Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development.
- Beneficiary selection via Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC).
- Funding: 60:40 centre-state (plains); 90:10 for NE and hilly states; 100% for UTs.
- Related: PMAY-Urban (for urban slums/poor; under Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs).
📌 Facts Corner
- PMAY-G: Ministry of Rural Development; 60:40 funding (plains); pucca house ≥25 sq m; beneficiaries via SECC.
- Distinguish PMAY-G (rural, MoRD) from PMAY-U (urban, MoHUA).
Assam Speaker Grants LoP Status to Wazed Ali Choudhury
🗞️ Why in News: The Assam Legislative Assembly Speaker granted Leader of Opposition (LoP) status to Congress leader Wazed Ali Choudhury.
Background
- LoP in a state assembly receives the status and privileges of a Cabinet Minister; functions as the official voice of the opposition in the House.
- Under the Tenth Schedule (Anti-Defection Law), the largest opposition party with adequate numbers is entitled to the LoP position.
- In Assam, the BJP-led coalition has dominated; the designation of an LoP matters for constitutional accountability (LoP is on multiple selection committees — Lokayukta, human rights commission, etc.).
📌 Facts Corner
- LoP = recognized opposition leader with Cabinet-rank status; on selection committees.
- Anti-Defection Law: Tenth Schedule (added by 52nd Amendment, 1985).
Meesho-BSE Launch Project Shikhar for SME Listings
🗞️ Why in News: Meesho (India’s social commerce platform) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) launched Project Shikhar to facilitate SME listings on the BSE SME platform.
Background
- BSE SME platform — a dedicated exchange for small and medium enterprises with lower listing requirements than the main board.
- Project Shikhar aims to identify, mentor, and prepare SME sellers on Meesho’s platform for formal capital-market listing, bridging e-commerce and capital markets.
- Aligns with SEBI’s push to deepen capital markets and formalise SME businesses.
📌 Facts Corner
- BSE SME platform: lower listing thresholds vs main board; SEBI-regulated.
- Project Shikhar: Meesho + BSE; mentor SME sellers toward formal capital markets.
UPSC Relevance (Combined)
| Paper | Key themes |
|---|---|
| GS2 | SC judges/ordinance; Collegium; Assam LoP; federalism |
| GS3 | RudraM-II (defence); coral reef / marine biodiversity; PPI/WPI revision; PMAY-G; Mother Dairy EPR |
Facts Corner — Combined Snapshot
📌 Facts Corner — Knowledgepedia
- SC ordinance 2026: sanctioned strength 34→38; 5 judges sworn; working strength 37; Justice V S Mohana (2nd woman SC, 2nd direct Bar elevation).
- RudraM-II: air-to-surface ARM; Mach 5.5; ~300 km; Su-30MKI; Bay of Bengal; DRDO.
- Potato Patch coral: Pavona clavus; 4,250 sq m; Kadmat Island, Lakshadweep UT; 700-1,800 yrs old; 58.47% alive.
- PPI launch: June 15, 2026; DPIIT; WPI base → 2022-23; first services PPI in India.
- Arjun Erigaisi: FIDE No. 8; ELO 2761 (June 2026). FIDE: 1924, Lausanne.
- Mother Dairy: India’s first degradable milk pouch; NDDB subsidiary; EPR/Plastic Waste Rules 2022.
- PMAY-G: ₹10,021 cr approved; MoRD; 60:40 funding; SECC selection.
Source: Current Affairs Today — June 2, 2026 — Ujiyari.com | Free UPSC & State PCS Current Affairs
