World Environment Day 2026, Azerbaijan Hosts
🗞️ Why in News World Environment Day is observed today, June 5, 2026, with Azerbaijan hosting the global commemoration in Baku and the UN centring the 2026 observance on climate action (#NowForClimate).
Key Data
- First observed: 1973; mandated by the Stockholm Conference, 1972
- Lead agency: UN Environment Programme (UNEP), HQ Nairobi
- 2026 host: Azerbaijan (Baku), chosen on the strength of its COP29 (2024) presidency
- Azerbaijan’s national theme: “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future.”
UPSC Angle
India hosted WED 2018 (“Beat Plastic Pollution”); India’s net-zero target is 2070 (COP26). Full deep-dive article in today’s edition.
📌 Facts Corner, Knowledgepedia
World Environment Day:
- Date: June 5 (annual); first observed 1973
- Lead agency: UNEP (HQ Nairobi)
- 2026 host: Azerbaijan (Baku)
State of India’s Environment 2026, Tiger Habitat Saturation
🗞️ Why in News The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), via Down To Earth, released the State of India’s Environment 2026 report, flagging that tiger deaths from territorial infighting have nearly doubled in 15 years.
Key Data
- Tiger population: 1,411 (2006) → 3,682 (2022)
- Invasive Lantana camara now covers ~50% of forests/scrublands
- Reserves cited: Kanha, Ranthambore
UPSC Angle
Project Tiger (1973); NTCA is statutory under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 (2006 amendment). The challenge has shifted from numbers to landscape management. Full deep-dive article in today’s edition.
📌 Facts Corner, Knowledgepedia
Tiger Conservation:
- Project Tiger launched 1973; 57+ reserves
- Tiger: Schedule I (WPA 1972); IUCN, Endangered
Cabinet Approves ₹9,585-Crore Delhi-NCR Vehicle Replacement Scheme
🗞️ Why in News The Union Cabinet on June 3, 2026 approved a two-year ₹9,585-crore scheme to replace old commercial vehicles in Delhi-NCR with cleaner alternatives.
Key Data
- Outlay: ₹9,585 crore (Centre ₹5,041 cr + ~₹1,601 cr state tax concessions)
- Targets: 1.91 lakh trucks + 16,329 buses (BS-IV/older → BS-VI/EV)
- States/UTs: Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, UP
UPSC Angle
Funded via NCRPB (under MoHUA); implemented by MoRTH + MoPNG. Full deep-dive article in today’s edition.
📌 Facts Corner, Knowledgepedia
Vehicle Replacement Scheme:
- Outlay: ₹9,585 crore
- Implementing body: NCRPB; CAQM established 2021
Cabinet Approves ₹10,000-Crore ATF Price Stabilisation Fund
🗞️ Why in News The Union Cabinet on June 3, 2026 cleared a ₹10,000-crore one-time fund to cushion airlines after jet fuel prices surged amid the West Asia crisis.
Key Data
- Fund: up to ₹10,000 crore, routed via Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) as interest-free advances
- ATF price: ₹60.50/litre (March 2026) → ₹142/litre (May 2026)
- Duration: up to 36 months; recoveries return to the Consolidated Fund of India
UPSC Angle
ATF is ~40% of airline operating costs and is currently outside GST. Full deep-dive article in today’s edition.
📌 Facts Corner, Knowledgepedia
ATF Stabilisation Fund:
- Size: ₹10,000 crore; via OMCs (interest-free advances)
- Recovery into Consolidated Fund of India (Article 266)
UNGA Elects Five New UNSC Members for 2027-28
🗞️ Why in News The UN General Assembly on June 3, 2026 elected Austria, Kyrgyzstan, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago and Zimbabwe as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, with Kyrgyzstan winning a seat for the first time.
Key Data
- New members take seats January 1, 2027, replacing Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama, Somalia
- UNSC = 15 members (5 permanent + 10 non-permanent)
- Kyrgyzstan: first-ever UNSC seat (after 4 rounds vs Philippines)
UPSC Angle
India (8 stints, last 2021-22) pursues a permanent seat via the G4 (India, Brazil, Germany, Japan). Full deep-dive article in today’s edition.
📌 Facts Corner, Knowledgepedia
UNSC:
- 15 members; P5: China, France, Russia, UK, US
- Election needs two-thirds UNGA majority
India-UK Launch Critical Minerals Observatory
🗞️ Why in News India and the UK on June 4, 2026 launched the Critical Minerals Global Supply Chain Observatory in New Delhi to monitor mineral supply chains.
Key Data
- Partners: TEXMiN (IIT-ISM Dhanbad, under DST) + University of Cambridge
- Launched by G. Kishan Reddy (Coal & Mines) and UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper
UPSC Angle
Links to the National Critical Mineral Mission (2025), KABIL, and the Minerals Security Partnership; China controls ~85% of rare-earth processing. Full deep-dive article in today’s edition.
📌 Facts Corner, Knowledgepedia
Critical Minerals Observatory:
- Partners: TEXMiN (IIT-ISM Dhanbad) + Univ. of Cambridge
- National Critical Mineral Mission launched 2025
Neelkanth Mishra Appointed India’s World Bank Executive Director
🗞️ Why in News The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the appointment of economist Neelkanth Mishra as India’s Executive Director at the World Bank for a three-year term.
Key Data
- Currently Chief Economist, Axis Bank; member of the PM’s Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC)
- Succeeds Parameswaran Iyer (1981-batch IAS)
- IIT-Kanpur alumnus; ex-Credit Suisse MD
UPSC Angle
The World Bank’s executive board has 25 Executive Directors; India is among the few countries with the right to appoint its own ED (rather than share a constituency).
📌 Facts Corner, Knowledgepedia
World Bank:
- HQ: Washington DC; comprises IBRD + IDA (and IFC, MIGA, ICSID in the WB Group)
- India is a founding member (1944, Bretton Woods)
Navachar Mantra Launched for Grassroots Innovators
🗞️ Why in News The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) launched “Navachar Mantra” on June 3, 2026 to support grassroots innovators, at IIT Delhi.
Key Data
- Launched by MoS Jayant Chaudhary; implemented by NIESBUD; technical partner FITT, IIT Delhi
- Sectors: Agritech, HealthTech, EdTech, Climate, Rural Commerce, MSME
- Applications via Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) until July 5, 2026
📌 Facts Corner, Knowledgepedia
Navachar Mantra:
- Ministry: MSDE; implementer NIESBUD
- Platform: Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH)
OECD Raises India’s FY27 Growth Forecast to 6.3%
🗞️ Why in News In its June 2026 Economic Outlook, the OECD raised India’s FY27 GDP growth forecast to 6.3%, up from 6.1%, while warning of a West Asia energy shock.
Key Data
- FY27: 6.3% (up 20 bps); FY28: 6.4%
- Warns inflation could rise to ~4.8% (FY27); expects a possible RBI repo hike
UPSC Angle
OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), HQ Paris, 38 members, India is a Key Partner, not a member.
📌 Facts Corner, Knowledgepedia
OECD:
- HQ: Paris; 38 members; India is a Key Partner
- Publishes the twice-yearly Economic Outlook
Mother Dairy Unveils Soil-Degradable Milk Pouch
🗞️ Why in News Mother Dairy unveiled India’s first naturally soil-degradable milk pouch, with a Delhi-NCR rollout timed to World Environment Day (June 5).
Key Data
- Four years of R&D; pouch degrades into bioavailable wax decomposed by soil microbes
- No price hike; begins with the cow-milk variant
- Strong link to plastic pollution and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
📌 Facts Corner, Knowledgepedia
Plastic Waste:
- Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016 (amended); EPR mandated
- Single-use plastic ban in force since 2022
Nepal Foreign Minister to Visit India (June 5-7)
🗞️ Why in News Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal begins a visit to India on June 5, 2026, the first ministerial visit from PM Balendra Shah’s new government.
Key Data
- Meets EAM S. Jaishankar; agenda: trade, connectivity, energy, border dialogue
- Government of India’s stand: Kalapani-Lipulekh-Limpiyadhura is Indian territory, to be resolved through established bilateral diplomatic mechanisms; India rejects third-party involvement
📌 Facts Corner, Knowledgepedia
India-Nepal:
- Treaty of Peace and Friendship, 1950
- Open border; Nepal is landlocked, depends on Indian ports
Supreme Court, Mineral Royalty Payable at Dispatch-Date Rate
🗞️ Why in News The Supreme Court ruled on June 4, 2026 that royalty under the MMDR Act is payable at the rate prevailing on the date of dispatch/removal of the mineral, not the contract rate.
Key Data
- Governing law: Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957
- Royalty accrues at the point of dispatch/removal
📌 Facts Corner, Knowledgepedia
MMDR Act 1957:
- Regulates mining; royalty payable to state governments
- Amended 2023 for critical-mineral block auctions
Persons in News
Jagannath Prasad Das (J.P. Das), Odia Litterateur, Passes Away
🗞️ Why in News Eminent Odia poet, writer and former IAS officer Jagannath Prasad Das (J.P. Das) passed away on June 3, 2026.
- A celebrated figure in modern Odia literature, recipient of literary honours including the Sahitya Akademi Award
- Combined a distinguished civil-service career with a major body of poetry, drama, and art history
📌 Facts Corner, Knowledgepedia
J.P. Das:
- Odia poet, playwright, art historian; ex-IAS
- Sahitya Akademi Award recipient
Combined Facts Corner, Knowledgepedia (June 5, 2026)
📌 Facts Corner, All Items
Environment:
- World Environment Day: June 5 (since 1973); 2026 host Azerbaijan (Baku); lead agency UNEP (Nairobi)
- State of India’s Environment 2026 (CSE/Down To Earth); tigers 1,411 (2006) → 3,682 (2022); Lantana camara ~50% cover
- Project Tiger 1973; NTCA under WPA 1972 (2006 amendment); tiger, Schedule I, IUCN Endangered
Schemes & Economy:
- Delhi-NCR Vehicle Replacement Scheme: ₹9,585 cr; 1.91 lakh trucks + 16,329 buses; via NCRPB (MoHUA)
- ATF Price Stabilisation Fund: ₹10,000 cr via OMCs; ATF ₹60.50 → ₹142/litre; recovery to Consolidated Fund (Art. 266)
- OECD raises India FY27 growth to 6.3%; India is an OECD Key Partner
- Navachar Mantra (MSDE/NIESBUD) via Skill India Digital Hub
International Relations:
- New UNSC members 2027-28: Austria, Kyrgyzstan, Portugal, Trinidad & Tobago, Zimbabwe; Kyrgyzstan first-time; term from Jan 1, 2027
- UNSC: 15 members; P5 = China, France, Russia, UK, US; India’s reform group G4
- India-UK Critical Minerals Observatory: TEXMiN (IIT-ISM Dhanbad) + Univ. of Cambridge; National Critical Mineral Mission 2025
- Nepal FM Shisir Khanal visits India June 5-7; GoI holds Kalapani-Lipulekh-Limpiyadhura as Indian territory
Polity:
- Subhash C. Kashyap (LS Secretary-General 1983-90, Padma Bhushan) dies; member of Kovind Committee on One Nation One Election
- SC: mineral royalty (MMDR Act 1957) payable at dispatch-date rate
- World Bank ED: Neelkanth Mishra (3-year term), succeeds Parameswaran Iyer
Sources: PIB, The Hindu, Business Standard, UNEP
Source: Current Affairs Today, June 5, 2026 — Ujiyari.com | Free UPSC & State PCS Current Affairs
