17th JUNE CURRENT AFFAIRS

1India appoints Saibal Chattopadhyay as Chairperson of National Statistical Commission

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of the Chairman and Members of the National Statistical Commission as follows:

1Dr. Saibal Chattopadhyay, Chairperson

2Prof. Shubhabrata Das, Member

3Shri Satyendra Bahadur Singh, Member

4Dr. Madhavan Mukund, Member

Dr. Saibal Chattopadhyay is former Director of Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata.

Background of the National Statistical Commission (NSC)

A Commission set up by the Government in January 2000 under the Chairmanship of Dr. C. Rangarajan reviewed the statistical system and the entire gamut of Official Statistics in the country.

The Rangarajan Commission submitted its report to the Government in August 2001.

One of the key recommendations of this Commission was to establish a permanent National Commission on Statistics

The Government of India through a resolution dated 1st June, 2005 set up the National Statistical Commission (NSC).

The NSC was constituted with effect from 12th July 2006

2World Day to Combat Desertification -JUNE 17th

2026 theme “Rangelands: Recognize. Respect. Restore.”,

Desertification was identified as one of the greatest challenges to sustainable development during the Rio Earth Summit in 1992

In 1994, the UN General Assembly established the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

This legally binding international agreement linked the environment and development to sustainable land management

In addition to the UNCCD, the UN proclaimed June 17 as World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.

The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought was celebrated with great enthusiasm on 17 June 2026 across 813 project areas under the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC–PMKSY 2.0) throughout the country.

INDIA's INIATIVES InCOMBAT DESERTIFICATION

National Action Plan to Combat Desertification (NAPCD)

Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN)

Aravalli Green Wall Project

National Mission for a Green India (GIM)

"Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" Campaign

MISHTI Scheme

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)

3ASI and National Museum of Denmark Signed MoU for Underwater Archaeological Investigation

The Archaeological Survey of India, Underwater Archaeology Wing and the National Museum of Denmark: Njord - Center for Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage, Copenhagen

Theyhave signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to undertake a collaborative underwater archaeological project aimed at locating and documenting the remains of the historic Danish ship Oresund, which was wrecked off the coast near Karaikal, Puducherry, in 1619 CE.

The Oresund occupies a significant place in maritime history as the first Danish ship known to have reached India.

Shortly after its arrival in Indian waters, the vessel was wrecked near Karaikal, making it an important archaeological resource for understanding the early maritime interactions between Denmark and India, as well as the broader history of seafaring and trade in the Indian Ocean during the early seventeenth century

Key excavation and exploration sites across India

1. Dwarka & Bet Dwarka, GujaratThe Significance: Marine explorations off the coast of modern-day Dwarka have revealed an ancient, submerged city linked to Lord Krishna in Hindu scriptures.

2. TN Archaeology Department to begin underwater archaeological survey off the coast between Poompuhar and Nagapattinam

Underwater archaeology in India is spearheaded by the Underwater Archaeology Wing (UAW) of the Archaeological Survey of India and the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO)