7th JUNE CURRENT AFFAIRS

1World Food Safety Day 2026-7th JUNE

The Theme of World Food Safety Day 2026 is: “From burden to solutions – safe food everywhere.”

Sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

World Food Safety Day is observed every year on 7 June to raise awareness about the importance of safe food and to promote actions that help prevent, detect, and manage foodborne risks.

The day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2018 to draw global attention to public health threats associated with unsafe food.

With an estimated 600 million cases of foodborne illnesses annually, unsafe food is a threat to human health and economies, disproportionally affecting vulnerable and marginalized people, especially women and children

An estimated 420 000 people around the world die every year after eating contaminated food and children under 5 years of age carry 40% of the foodborne disease burden, with 125 000 deaths every year.

2India achieved sustained environmental transformation over the last 12 years

key achievements that highlight India's sustained environmental transformation

1. Renewable Energy Revolution

Solar Power Boom: India’s solar capacity skyrocketed from a mere 2.82 GW in 2014 to over 150 GW by 2026, marking an exponential 50x plus increases

Global Green Leader: Total renewable energy capacity has crossed 274 GW, placing India 3rd globally in renewable energy installed capacity

Pre-achieved Targets: India achieved its Paris Agreement target of 40% non-fossil fuel electric capacity 9 years ahead of schedule. Non-fossil sources now make up over 52% of the total power mix.

2. Expanding Forest and Wetland Covers

Forest Growth: India's forest cover grew from 698,712 sq km in 2013 to over 715,343 sq km by recent assessments, ranking India 9th globally for total forest area.

Wetland Preservation: The number of internationally recognized Ramsar Sites (protected wetlands) in India jumped from 26 in 2014 to 99 by 2026.

Mangrove Restoration: Initiatives like the MISHTI scheme have led to targeted, intensive mangrove plantation across coastal states.

3. Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation

Predator Population Growth: Strict anti-poaching and habitat management laws have led to a steady rise in the populations of Tigers, Asiatic Lions, Leopards, and Elephants.

Project Cheetah: India successfully executed the world's first intercontinental large-carnivore translocation, reintroducing Cheetahs back into the Indian wilderness.

4. Waste Management & Rejuvenation of Water Bodies

Namami Gange: A mega-budget initiative (€4.5B+ equivalent) successfully reduced industrial effluents flowing into the River Ganges, drastically improving its water quality.

Solid Waste Processing: Urban solid waste processing increased dramatically from just 17% in 2014 to highly efficient modern recycling rates, paired with clearing legacy landfills.

5. Global Climate Leadership

International Solar Alliance (ISA): Co-founded by India in 2015, this alliance now includes over 110 countries to democratize solar energy deployment globally.

Mission LiFE: India introduced the concept of "Lifestyle for Environment" to the UN, turning climate action into a global mass movement centered around mindful consumption.

3First Flex-Fuel Vehicle

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched India's first passenger flex-fuel vehicle by Maruti Suzuki, designed to run on ethanol-petrol blends up to E100.

India is set to introduce E85 fuel, a petrol blend containing up to 85% ethanol and 15% petrol, as part of its efforts to strengthen energy security and promote sustainable transportation.

Launched by Hardeep Singh Puri on World Environment Day 2026, E85 is designed for Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) and represents the next stage of India’s ethanol blending programme after E20.

Initially available at select fuel stations in major cities, E85 is expected to cost about ₹20 per litre less than E20 petrol.

The initiative aims to reduce crude oil imports, lower carbon emissions, support domestic ethanol production, and create additional income opportunities for farmers through increased demand for crops such as sugarcane, maize, and rice.

4UIDAI CEO Saurabh Vijay Takes Charge as CEO of IndiaAI Mission

Saurabh Vijay has assumed charge as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the IndiaAI Mission, while Sudeep Shrivastava, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, has taken over as Chief Operating Officer (COO).

IndiaAI Mission

The IndiaAI Mission is a comprehensive ₹10,372 crore national initiative launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to build a sovereign, inclusive, and ethical Artificial Intelligence ecosystem within India.

Guided by the vision of "Make AI in India and Make AI Work for India," the mission aims to drive large-scale socio-economic transformation, support startups, and democratize access to AI technologies. It operates through seven core pillars.