AGP Executive Report

NEET Fraud Crackdown: India temporarily blocked Telegram nationwide until June 22 and ordered message-editing to stay disabled until June 30, citing NTA claims that cheating networks used the app to spread fake “paper leak” stories ahead of the June 21 NEET (UG) re-exam. UN Security Council Reform: India rejected proposals to expand only non-permanent UNSC seats, calling it “bordering on failure,” and said real reform must include permanent-seat expansion. Energy & Trade Watch: With US-Iran talks raising hopes for Strait of Hormuz reopening, India’s oil and shipping outlook is in focus as crude prices react and import risks ease. Clean Energy Push: Suzlon launched its 5 MW S175 wind turbine in Karnataka, targeting low- and medium-wind regions to boost India’s renewable build-out. Sports Spotlight: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi faced backlash after a heated on-field altercation in India A’s Super Over loss to Sri Lanka A. Economy Signals: India’s trade deficit widened in May, while analysts point to softer crude and other factors that could ease pressure ahead.

India-Slovakia Boost: PM Modi and Robert Fico upgraded ties to a Comprehensive Partnership, signing deals on defence, digitisation, nuclear and space, setting up a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, and agreeing on regular consular consultations. Sovereign AI Push: Sarvam raised $234m in its Series B first close at a $1.5b valuation with HCLTech leading, while Jabil and Adani plan an AI/data-centre hardware manufacturing platform. Energy & Markets: Southwest monsoon advanced with heavy rain alerts for parts of the Northeast; RBI data showed India’s current account surplus at $4.7b in April, but BoP slipped to a $6.6b deficit on portfolio outflows. Inflation Watch: Retail inflation rose to 3.93% in May; HSBC expects CPI averaging 5.6% in FY27 with limited rate hikes. Tech & Industry: Huawei FreeBuds 7i and SE 4 launch in India on June 18; Delhi Metro International expands global consultancy. Environment & Industry: Oil India signed an MoU with CSIR for energy-sector tech R&D; India’s bioeconomy hit $190b in 12 years. Sports: India A’s Super Over thriller vs Sri Lanka A ended in a loss amid on-field flare-ups.

West Asia Diplomacy & Markets: PM Modi welcomed a US-Iran understanding to end hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with hopes for smoother maritime trade; traders also link the move to easing bond yields and oil-price pressure. Energy & Inflation Watch: India’s wholesale inflation hit 9.68% in May as fuel and power costs stayed high, while analysts expect relief if oil risks cool. Shipping Safety: India’s envoy in Oman met 20 rescued crew members of MT Jalveer ahead of repatriation, after the vessel was attacked off Shinas port. Tech & Policy: NDMA has temporarily suspended India’s Cell Broadcast emergency alert service weeks after the nationwide launch, citing issues flagged by competent authorities. AI Sovereignty: India is debating how to upgrade its AI mission amid US restrictions on Anthropic models, pushing a stronger “own the stack” approach. Business & Finance: Goldman Sachs sees India’s balance of payments turning more favorable, projecting a BoP surplus in 2026. Sports: Deepti Sharma’s five-for powered India to a 64-run win over Pakistan in the Women’s T20 World Cup opener. Health Innovation: Sri Sri Holistic Hospitals in Hyderabad performed India’s first integrated 3D-mapping + pulsed field ablation procedures for atrial fibrillation.

Women’s T20 World Cup: India began its campaign with a bang, beating Pakistan by 64 runs at Edgbaston. Batting: Smriti Mandhana made 68 off 44, with Harmanpreet Kaur adding 36 and Richa Ghosh striking 34 off 17 to lift India to 170/6. Bowling: Deepti Sharma delivered a career-best 5/10, then Shree Charani chipped in 3/21 as Pakistan collapsed to 106 all out in 17 overs. Match culture: No handshake again between captains, keeping the rivalry’s edge front and centre. India-France ties: PM Modi and President Macron launched the India-France ATL Bridge, linking school innovation labs inspired by Atal Tinkering Labs, and also backed a wider innovation push under their “Year of Innovation” framework. Economy: India’s retail inflation rose to 3.93% in May, with food and fuel pressures showing up more clearly. Sports (men’s hockey): India opened the FIH Pro League Europe leg with a 3-2 loss to Netherlands in Rotterdam.

Ethanol Push: Nitin Gadkari announced approval for 100% ethanol as fuel, aiming to cut fossil imports and speed India’s shift to cleaner alternatives, with automakers lined up to launch ethanol-ready models soon. Women’s Cricket Spotlight: India Women open their Women’s T20 World Cup campaign against Pakistan Women at Edgbaston, Birmingham, with India holding a strong head-to-head record and backing from coach Amol Muzumdar after last year’s ODI title. Heat Risk Reality Check: A new study warns that one day of extreme heat in India could link to about 3,400 excess deaths, while official tolls may miss much of the harm. MSME Manufacturing Boost: India will set up a Rs 170 crore technology centre in Gaya, Bihar, to help MSMEs adopt modern manufacturing tools and skills. Renewables Deal: Meta and CleanMax signed a major 900 MW clean energy partnership in India, adding solar and wind capacity in Rajasthan and Karnataka. Border Fencing Row: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma called delays in India-Bangladesh border fencing a “historical mistake,” urging fencing across the full stretch. Sports Next Gen: Kerala wicketkeeper-batter Manav Krishna named in India U-19 Test squad for Sri Lanka tour. Energy Imports Watch: CREA said India stayed the world’s second-largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels in May, with crude making up most imports.

IND vs AFG ODI: Rain-hit opener in Dharamshala ended with India’s 7-wicket win as skipper Shubman Gill smashed an unbeaten 84 and debutants Gurnoor Brar (3/27) and Harsh Dubey (3/47) impressed; Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz made a 102, but India chased 195 with 13 balls to spare to take a 1-0 lead. Global South at G7: PM Modi landed in France and said India will give voice to Global South aspirations at the G7 Summit. US-Gulf row: India escalated its protest after US strikes killed three Indian seafarers, with EAM Jaishankar calling US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and reiterating that lethal force against commercial shipping is unjustified. Defence milestone: DRDO’s ballistic missile defence push continues to make headlines as India joins an elite group after successful tests. Ebola push: Serum Institute is fast-tracking a Bundibugyo-strain Ebola vaccine candidate with Oxford/CEPI support. Economy & markets: FPI selling is expected to ease as the rupee steadies and crude prices fall, boosting investor confidence. Aviation tragedy: Five IAF personnel were killed in an AN-32 crash near Jorhat; investigation launched. Health & policy: NTA launched “Pariksha Karmayogi” for exam officials ahead of NEET-UG re-exam; Assam notified new excise rules including minimum guaranteed revenue for liquor outlets.

Defence & Security: DRDO has successfully test-fired India’s multi-layered ballistic missile defence, with three consecutive flight-tests on June 10-11 to intercept hostile missiles, placing India in an elite club for long-range capability. Gulf Tensions: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to lodge a strong protest after US strikes killed three Indian mariners off Oman; India also denied reports of a fourth attack, saying the crew of MT Liaki Freedom is safe. Weather & Monsoon: Monsoon advanced into parts of East India while heavy rain and thunderstorms continue in the south; IMD issued an orange alert for rain, hail and strong winds around Dharamsala, threatening the 1st India-Afghanistan ODI. Sports: Rain delayed the toss and start of the first ODI in Dharamsala as India begins its 2027 World Cup journey against Afghanistan. Politics: Kerala Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan hit out at Rahul Gandhi, saying his INDIA bloc stance helps the BJP. Business & Economy: India’s retail inflation rose to 3.93% in May, keeping pressure manageable for the RBI. Public Safety: NDMA temporarily suspended India’s Cell Broadcast public warning service pending review. Infrastructure: Bengaluru’s Jayadeva Metro Station, billed as India’s tallest interchange, is set to open in August; NLC India started commercial operations for Unit-3 at Ghatampur.

Maritime Tensions: India summoned US Chargé d’Affaires Jason Meeks again over US attacks on merchant ships carrying Indian mariners near Oman, after three Indians were killed; New Delhi called the use of lethal force against civilian shipping “unacceptable.” Air Safety & Accountability: A year after Air India AI-171 crashed near Ahmedabad, the AAIB says it has made “significant progress” but families still lack closure as experts warn the preliminary report left “ambiguity,” with calls for an interim timeline. Economy Watch: India’s retail inflation in May rose to 3.93%, staying just under the RBI’s 4% target, while El Niño conditions are expected to influence monsoon rainfall. Border & Migration: India and Bangladesh agreed to deepen border cooperation with better intelligence sharing and coordinated patrols amid migration tensions. Health & Food: Nestlé India denied Maggi infestation claims, saying regulator testing found no infestation. Social Issue: On World Child Labour Day, coverage highlights how millions of children remain trapped in work instead of school. Sports: India begins its ODI series vs Afghanistan in Dharamshala with Virat Kohli ruled out, and the No. 3 spot up for experiments.

Air India AI-171 Anniversary: Families marked the one-year anniversary of the Ahmedabad crash, still waiting for answers as the probe report is expected to be delayed. US-Iran Tensions: India demanded an end to US strikes after three Indian sailors were killed in an attack near Oman, raising fresh friction with Washington. Border Security: India and Bangladesh agreed to deepen intelligence sharing and coordinated patrols amid migration-related strain. AI Startups: Equal AI raised $30 million to expand its call-screening and voice AI services in India; Avataar.ai launched Varya, an affordable indigenous video AI model. Economy & Markets: India targets a $30 trillion economy by 2047; gold and silver prices jumped on MCX amid US-Iran peace hopes. Health Policy: NPPA approved a 50% one-time price hike for key cancer drugs while warning shortages are delaying treatment. Diplomacy: Jaishankar defended India’s Russian oil purchases as cost-and-availability driven. Sports: England beat India in a warm-up ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup opener vs Sri Lanka.

Modi’s Europe push: PM Narendra Modi will visit France and Slovakia from June 13, with talks expected to deepen defence, civil nuclear, innovation and tech ties, including a joint “Bharat Innovates” showcase. India-Nepal border talks: Nepal’s FM Shishir Khanal said border issues should be settled through diplomatic talks, clarifying PM Balendra Shah’s remarks were about cross-border occupation. Textiles relief: Govt withdrew the Cotton Bales (Quality Control) Order 2023 after repeated extensions, ending a BIS certification requirement that never took off. Cotton market pressure: Ludhiana cotton yarn prices stayed weak on slow demand, with mills hunting export orders. Space sector rules: Industry urged a true single-window clearance for space tech growth, saying export clearances delay satellite dispatches. West Asia maritime crisis: India protested US strikes after attacks on tankers off Oman left Indian sailors dead/missing, and called for an end to attacks and unimpeded access through the Strait of Hormuz. Economy outlook: World Bank nudged India’s FY27 growth forecast to 6.6% while warning global growth is soft. Sports—U-19 & cricket: Anvay Dravid was picked in India U-19s for Sri Lanka; Nikhil Chaudhary made history with Australia T20I call-up. Business & tech: Nasscom set up a UK Technology Advisory Council to boost India-UK AI and tech partnership.

Middle East Diplomacy: India told the UN it backs a negotiated two-state solution and called for a sustained Gaza ceasefire, while also saying it will soon hand over $2.5 million to UNRWA. Shipping Security: India summoned US Chargé d’Affaires Jason Meeks over the attack on the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello off Oman; 21 Indian crew were rescued and three are still missing, as India urged de-escalation in the Strait of Hormuz. Education Crackdown: India is using military aircraft to transport exam papers for a June 21 retest after widespread leak scandals, with tight security and restrictions on staff communications. Politics: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge chaired a meeting of party leaders on INDIA bloc coordination, while the Supreme Court is set to hear Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan’s plea after her Rajya Sabha nomination was rejected. Sports: In the Women’s T20 World Cup warm-up, England edged India by five runs; India begin their campaign against Pakistan on June 14. Health & Society: A cross-country ECMO rescue saved an 8-year-old boy after 36 days on life support.

Oman Crisis: India condemned the US attack on the tanker Settebello off Oman, saying 21 of 24 Indian crew were rescued and three are missing, and summoned the US charge d’affaires to lodge a strong protest. Foreign Policy & Shipping Safety: New Delhi warned that repeated attacks on commercial shipping in the region are tied to ongoing conflict and urged de-escalation and restored navigation. Starlink Row: India’s security agencies reportedly paused Starlink’s launch clearances amid concerns about unauthorised use during the US-Iran conflict, even as Starlink says talks with the government remain active. PM Modi Milestone: Global leaders, including US President Donald Trump, congratulated Modi for becoming India’s longest-serving elected PM, surpassing Nehru’s record. Markets & Investment: CMR Green Technologies jumped 39.6% on debut after its IPO; India also saw record FDI inflows of $843 billion since 2014-15. Tech & Telecom: Meta agreed to lease a 168 MW AI data centre from Reliance in Jamnagar, while Airtel expanded 5G with 2,900 new sites across North India. Sports: Afghanistan added fast bowler Mohammad Saleem to its ODI squad for the series vs India starting June 13.

AI Infrastructure Deal: Meta has partnered with Reliance for its first AI-enabled data centre in India—Reliance will build a 168 MW facility in Jamnagar, Gujarat, with Meta leasing capacity and options to scale. Markets & Money: India’s precious metal ETFs saw heavy May outflows of ₹7,312 crore, with silver ETFs down ₹2,133 crore and gold ETFs losing ₹5,179 crore. Energy & Economy: Fuel demand trends are shifting as West Asia tensions bite—LPG demand fell over 20% and fuel use dropped 6.5% in May, while India also slashed fuel taxes due to shortages. Tech Disruption: Google Cloud services faced network disruptions in multiple Indian cities after a fire at a third-party Delhi data centre, with rerouting causing intermittent latency. Border Tensions: Bangladesh accused India of “push-in” attempts across the border, raising human rights and diplomatic concerns. Politics: The INDIA bloc faces internal strain, with reports warning Lok Sabha strength could fall below 200. Sports & Health: Rohit Sharma’s ODI future is back in focus amid fitness talk; meanwhile, a study warns extreme heat may be far deadlier than official counts. Education: India approved three foreign universities to set up campuses—Bristol and York in Mumbai, UNSW in Bengaluru.

Starlink Setback: India has reportedly frozen final clearance for Elon Musk’s Starlink commercial operations, citing security concerns after terminals were allegedly used during the Iran–US conflict, adding to regulatory hurdles for SpaceX partners Airtel and Reliance Jio. Border Humanitarian Crisis: Bangladesh says India’s “push-in” policy is worsening irregular migration and stranding families in no-man’s land, turning it into a wider international concern. Strategic Infrastructure: India completed the Zojila Tunnel breakthrough, a 13-km all-weather link to Ladakh that’s expected to open to traffic in 2028, boosting year-round connectivity amid India–China tensions. Energy & Industry: A study says green-hydrogen steel could be slightly cheaper than blast-furnace steel in India by 2030, while India also launched E85 fuel to cut crude imports. Economy & Trade: India’s exports hit a record $863 bn in FY25-26, and the RBI saw $800 mn bond inflows in two days. Sports: India A beat Sri Lanka A by 8 runs in the tri-series opener as Gaikwad made 101; Rohit Sharma topped India’s ODI run tally after turning 35. Safety Watch: A steel plant fire in Visakhapatnam killed at least eight workers, with unions demanding an investigation.

UN Diplomacy: India’s UN envoy Harish Parvathaneni hit back at Pakistan over “Fitna al Hindustan,” calling it “officially sponsored misinformation” and a “factory of hate,” while also reaffirming India’s humanitarian support for Afghanistan. Energy & Industry: India is set to launch Coal Exchanges under a new regulatory framework to modernise coal trading and improve price discovery. Healthcare & Pharma: Piyush Goyal invited global pharma firms to partner India’s innovation-led growth, saying the sector could double in five years. Infrastructure: Zojila Tunnel’s final breakthrough is nearing, promising all-weather Kashmir-Ladakh connectivity and major defence and tourism benefits. Weather: Delhi-NCR braces for a heatwave with temperatures up to 44°C as monsoon advances. Sports: Manav Suthar’s debut spin haul powered India to a record innings-and-300-run win over Afghanistan; Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s India A debut, however, ended early for 14. Business/Deals: Freshfields advised on Prudential’s $366m acquisition move in India’s insurance space.

West Asia Tensions: India urged immediate de-escalation after fresh Israel-Iran flare-ups, reiterating its travel advisory for citizens to leave Iran. Opposition INDIA Bloc: A Delhi meeting ended with a push to redraw strategy and a “united” fight, with allies backing letters to the CJI over SIR and NEET paper leak concerns—while AAP said it is no longer part of INDIA and DMK confirmed it has exited. Economy & Growth: Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said India’s 7.7% GDP growth reflects a decade of reforms, while RBI’s June stance kept rates unchanged amid inflation and rupee worries. Industry & Energy: Government plans a new biogas blending policy as LNG access stays hit; NLC India divestment moves ahead with a 3% OFS at Rs 303; LPG prices rose as PNG supply remains limited. Aviation: DGCA launched a probe after a Delhi storm damaged three Air India A320s when runaway ground equipment hit parked planes. Sports: India beat West Indies Women by 26 runs in a T20 World Cup warm-up; debutant Manav Suthar’s 7-wicket haul powered India’s innings-and-300-run Test win over Afghanistan. Auto: BMW India will hike prices up to 2% from July. Politics Abroad/Trade: India-US trade deal talks point to a first tranche signing by July after tariff probe steps.