India’s first 8-lane tunnel to open under Mukundra Hills
India’s first 8-lane tunnel is slated to open in June 2026 beneath the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan. The project runs under the protected area to improve road connectivity while minimizing wildlife disturbance. The Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary, another name for Mukundra Hills, features among protected areas in the region. The tunnel will reduce travel time and congestion on the arterial corridor, with design elements intended to lessen ecological impact. Officials emphasize careful environmental assessments and ongoing monitoring to balance infrastructure development with wildlife conservation.
The Reserve Bank of India launched RBI Reelathon 2026 at its Thiruvananthapuram office in June 2026. The campaign targets college students, emphasizing cyber-enabled financial fraud prevention, safe digital banking, responsible borrowing, and timely fraud reporting. The initiative uses creative reel-making to engage youth and improve financial literacy. State police collaborations and educational institutions are involved to broaden reach and reinforce practical knowledge about online security, consent, and consumer rights. The program reflects ongoing RBI actions to strengthen financial education alongside regulatory measures and digital payments expansion.
Campaign: RBI Reelathon 2026
Location: Thiruvananthapuram office
Audience: College students
Focus: Cyber fraud prevention, safe digital banking
Method: Creative social reels
UPI services expand to France with Lyra Collect
India expanded Unified Payments Interface (UPI) services to France in June 2026. The launch occurred at Galeries Lafayette Nice Massena in Nice, marking a milestone in India’s digital payments outreach. NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) partnered with French payment service provider Lyra Collect to enable cross-border transactions. This expansion aims to boost remittances, e-commerce, and travel-related payments while showcasing India’s fintech capabilities on a global stage. Indian and French financial ecosystems are expected to benefit from faster settlements, lower costs, and improved user experience for cross-border transfers.
Smriti Mandhana was named to TIME100 Most Influential People in Sports for 2026, appearing in the Titans category. As vice-captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, Mandhana is recognised for her leadership and high-impact batting across formats. The TIME100 list marks a global acknowledgment of athletes shaping sports culture, policy, and gender equality. Mandhana’s inclusion underscores her status as one of India’s premier cricketers and a role model for aspiring players. The announcement draws attention to Indian women’s sport on the world stage and highlights ongoing growth in cricket leadership.
Recipient: Smriti Mandhana
List: TIME100 Most Influential People in Sports 2026
Category: Titans
Role: Vice-captain, Indian women’s cricket
Significance: Global recognition of Indian women’s cricket
India to join Exercise Pitch Black 2026 in Australia
India will participate in Exercise Pitch Black 2026, a biennial multinational air combat drill hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force in the Northern Territory. The exercise is scheduled from 20 July 2026 to 7 August 2026 and will involve air forces from several partner nations. The Indian Air Force will join in complex air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, focusing on interoperability and integrated air operations. The event seeks to improve tactical coordination, joint planning, and procedures across allied air components, while exposing Indian crews to varied mission environments. Observers and liaison teams will support logistics and debriefs to consolidate lessons learned.
Event: Pitch Black 2026
Dates: 20 July to 7 August 2026
Location: Northern Territory, Australia
Participants: Indian Air Force among multiple nations
Focus: Interoperability, joint planning, and mission readiness
Telangana MoU aims to digitise regional manuscripts
The Department of Heritage, Telangana, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Noor International Microfilm Centre in June 2026 to digitise, conserve, and catalogue manuscripts, paintings, books, and archival records. The agreement envisions the digitisation of hundreds of manuscripts and thousands of documents, safeguarding Telangana’s cultural heritage. The collaboration will involve preservation best practices, metadata creation, and public access to digital collections. It aligns with state-level cultural policy goals to promote research, education, and tourism through accessible archival resources.
Parties: Telangana Department of Heritage and Noor International Microfilm Centre
Aim: Digitise and conserve manuscripts and archival items
Scope: Hundreds of manuscripts, thousands of documents
Benefits: Cultural preservation, research, tourism
Timeline: Signed in June 2026
Assam secures GI tags for four traditional products
In June 2026, Assam secured Geographical Indication tags for four native products: Karbi Anglong Handloom Products, Assam Bihu Pepa, Assam Bamboo Crafts, and Deuri Handloom Products. GI protection helps prevent unauthorised use and supports rural artisans by preserving traditional methods and regional identity. The designation is expected to boost local livelihoods, enhance market access, and encourage investment in weavers and craftsmen. Government officials noted that GI tags also promote sustainable tourism and cultural pride by highlighting Assam’s distinctive crafts and textile heritage.
India blocks Telegram temporarily over exam fraud concerns
On 16 June 2026, India temporarily blocked the messaging app Telegram amid concerns that it was being used to facilitate fraud during national medical entrance examinations. The government, citing the risk of forged communications and leaked content, extended the block until 22 June 2026. Education authorities stated the move was necessary to protect the integrity of exams and ensure a fair testing environment. The development follows earlier admissions and policy debates about exam security, digital communication, and platform accountability. Telegram users were advised to switch to alternative compliant channels during the blocking period.
19th Mumbai International Film Festival held mid-June 2026
The 19th Mumbai International Film Festival took place from 15 to 21 June 2026 in Mumbai. Held at the NFDC–Films Division premises on Gopalrao Deshmukh Marg, the festival showcased documentaries, short fiction, animation, and non-feature films. It remains South Asia’s oldest and largest platform for cinematic expression in these genres. Delegates, filmmakers, and industry professionals from across the region attended, with awards recognizing excellence in storytelling, production, and technical craft. The event highlighted emerging Indian talent and international collaborations, reinforcing Mumbai’s role as a premier hub for documentary cinema.
Dates: 15–21 June 2026
Venue: NFDC–Films Division, Mumbai
Scope: Documentaries, shorts, animation, non-feature films
Significance: South Asia’s oldest and largest festival
World’s most beautiful airports 2026 honours two Indian terminals
Prix Versailles recognised two Indian airport terminals in 2026's World’s Most Beautiful Airports list. Navi Mumbai International Airport, Terminal 1, and Guwahati’s Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Terminal 2, were applauded for their design, cultural identity, sustainability, and passenger experience. The awards reflect India’s growing aviation gateway status and emphasis on customer-centric infrastructure. Airport authorities highlighted architectural innovation and integration with local heritage as key strengths. The recognition contributes to tourism momentum and the global branding of Indian airport facilities as modern, functional, and aesthetically distinctive.
Awards: World’s Most Beautiful Airports 2026 (Prix Versailles)