1 Lieutenant General Dheeraj Seth will be the new Chief of Army Staff.
The Government has appointed Lieutenant General Dheeraj Seth , PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, as the next Chief of Army Staff with effect from noon on June 30, 2026. The incumbent Chief of Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi , PVSM, AVSM, is retiring on the same day. Lieutenant General Dheeraj Seth is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986. During his distinguished military career spanning nearly four decades, he has gained extensive experience in operational, strategic, capability development and institutional areas, contributing significantly to the combat capability and long-term transformation of the Indian Army.
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has reconstituted the Expert Committee on Agricultural Biodiversity under Section 13(1) of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, for a period of one year to provide expert guidance on conservation, sustainable use, and access and benefit sharing (ABS) of agricultural biodiversity and related matters. With the reconstitution of the Committee , Padma Shri Dr. P.L. Gautam, eminent agricultural scientist and former Chairman of the National Biodiversity Authority and Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPVFRA), has been appointed as its Chairperson . Dr. Gautam was recently awarded the Padma Shri for his outstanding contributions to agricultural science. The Chairman of the PPVFRA will serve as the Co-Chairperson of the Committee. The Expert Committee on Agricultural Biodiversity has been an important advisory body of the NBA since 2005 and has been reconstituted from time to time to address emerging issues related to agricultural genetic resources. Over the years, the Committee has been headed by eminent agricultural scientists and experts and has included distinguished representatives from leading agricultural, research, academic and policy institutions across the country.
India is planning to begin large-scale cultivation of imidazolinone-resistant (IMI-resistant) mustard hybrids in the 2026-27 Rabi sowing season . IMI-resistant mustard hybrids are mustard varieties that are resistant to imidazolinone herbicides . They have been developed to address the parasitic weed called Orobanche , a major constraint on oilseed production. Mustard is a major oilseed crop. India imported approximately 16 million tons of edible oil worth approximately ₹1.6 lakh crore in 2024-25. They were developed through a process called mutation breeding, in which scientists breed crops to retain certain natural mutations. This process relies on an enzyme called acetolactate synthase (ALS), which is essential for plant growth. IMI herbicides inhibit the ALS enzyme, which stunts growth and causes the plant to die. IMI-resistant hybrids have a mutation that alters the ALS enzyme, preventing herbicide binding. IMI-resistant (imidazolinone-resistant) mustard hybrid varieties were developed by Dr. Deepak Pental and his team of scientists at the Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP) at the University of Delhi. These hybrid varieties were developed using mutation breeding techniques to deliberately introduce genetic changes to the acetolactate synthase (ALS) enzyme. This change allows mustard plants to survive the use of IMI herbicides.
On the occasion of International Yoga Day , Shri Manoj Goyal, Chairman, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India, on Friday launched a special wellness wear collection called ” Swadha .” Created by the Khadi Centre of Excellence (CoEK), the collection is an innovative effort to blend Indian concepts of yoga, health, and balanced living with modern clothing styles. The launch event was held at the Khadi Centre of Excellence (CoEK)’s central office on the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) campus in Hauz Khas, New Delhi, in collaboration with KVIC. The collection includes nine different garments designed for ease of movement and all-day comfort. Most of the garments are free-size and gender-neutral (suitable for both men and women). The “Swadha” collection features collaborations with three renowned organizations: Gandhigram Khadi and V.I. Khadi from Public Charitable Trust (Tamil Nadu), Payyanur Firka Gramodaya Khadi Sangha (Kerala) and Regional Punjab Khadi Board (Punjab) has been used.
Under the leadership of Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of Communications and DoNER , the Department of Posts has launched a drone-based mail and parcel delivery service between Mandi Head Post Office and Rehardhar Branch Post Office in Himachal Pradesh, effective June 12, 2026. This initiative is based on feedback received during Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia’s interaction with Gramin Dak Sevaks and Dak Sahayaks, which emphasized the need for faster and more efficient connectivity in remote and inaccessible areas. Inspired by the Union Minister’s vision of leveraging technology to strengthen postal services, the Department of Posts plans to launch drone-based mail service on approximately 150 identified routes in Himachal Pradesh and Assam over the next two to three months, with the Mandi-Rehardhar route being the first to be implemented. Currently, it takes over two hours to reach Rehardhar Branch Post Office, located approximately 12 kilometers from Mandi Head Post Office, using conventional means. With drone-based communication, this time has been reduced to approximately seven minutes.
The world’s richest businessman Elon Musk has become the world’s first trillionaire . This achievement has been achieved after the spectacular debut of his company SpaceX in the stock market , the valuation of SpaceX shares has increased to about 2 lakh 10 thousand crore dollars. On the first day of trading, SpaceX shares registered an increase of more than 19 percent. This also increased the value of Elon Musk’s stake in the company significantly. According to Forbes’ real-time billionaire list, his total wealth reached the level of 1.1 trillion dollars (Elon Musk Net Worth). In just one day, his net worth increased by more than 61 billion dollars. In Indian rupees, his wealth crossed about 100 lakh crore rupees .
World Blood Donor Day is celebrated every year on June 14th to ensure the availability of safe blood , raise awareness about blood donation , and honor the invaluable contribution of voluntary, free blood donors. This day not only sensitizes people to the importance of blood donation but also promotes the spirit of service, cooperation, and humanity in society. World Blood Donor Day was first celebrated in 2004. Subsequently, the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Society of Blood Transfusion, and the International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations promoted it globally. June 14th was chosen to commemorate the birthday of Austrian scientist Karl Landsteiner, who discovered the blood group system . His discovery laid the foundation for modern blood transfusion science and made safe blood transfusion possible.