TODAY NEWS ON June 23, 2026
News Headlines for CAT, CLAT and IPM aspirants
Source: The Hindu , Indian Express and others
Lucknow building fire: At least 12 dead, high level enquiry ordered, says Deputy CM
At least 12 people died in a fire that broke out at a three-storey commercial building housing a coaching centre in the Aliganj area in Lucknow on Monday (June 22, 2025). Multiple fire tenders were rushed to the spot, and rescue operations are underway. Unverified videos circulating on social media showed a youth falling from the first floor of the building amid flames near a railing. Locals were seen moving him away from the area.
Keir Starmer announces his resignation as U.K. Prime Minister
United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that he will step down, acknowledging that Labour’s Parliamentary Party does not see him as the best candidate to lead them into the next general election. The party will set out a timetable for the transition, possibly through a contest, so that a new Premier is in place before September.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Messi’s record brace against Austria sends Argentina into knockouts
Argentina booked their place in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage on Monday (June 22, 2026) as Lionel Messi recovered from an early penalty miss to score a record-breaking double in a 2-0 victory over Austria in Group J.
Centre amends rules for receiving foreign funds
The government has amended the rules for receiving foreign funds requiring NGOs to choose from predefined list of purposes and their area of operation, allowing a range of faith-based activities while explicitly excluding proselytisation from several categories eligible for registration under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). In a gazette notification issued on Monday (June 22, 2026), the Union Home Ministry also said any association having foreign nationals, other than those of Indian origin, as its key functionaries will “ordinarily not be considered” for grant of registration or prior permission to receive foreign funds under the Act.
NSA Doval meets counterparts from BRICS grouping, discusses West Asia and India-China ties
Developments in West Asia formed the dominant backdrop as National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval hosted his counterparts from BRICS grouping in New Delhi for the BRICS NSAs meeting. Mr. Doval met Ghadir Nezamipour, Deputy Secretary for Defence Affairs of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Secretary of Multilateral and Political Affairs of Brazil Carlos Cozendey among others who are in New Delhi to attend the two-day event that will survey the security architecture of the world.
U.S. waives sanctions on Iranian oil, ships
With the peace process moving ahead after an interruption, the U.S. Treasury Department has issued a waiver that waives all sanctions for a period of 60 days ending August 21 related to the production, sale, delivery and offloading of Iranian crude oil as well as petroleum products. The waiver includes transactions involving vessels that were earlier sanctioned, as per the Treasury Department notification.
India, Israel discuss expanding defence, industrial cooperation
India and Israel have discussed ways to further strengthen defence cooperation during the visit of Director General of Israel’s Ministry of Defense, Major General (retd.) Amir Baram, to India. Major General Baram called on Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and briefed him on Israel’s commitment to expanding the scope of bilateral defence cooperation under the framework of the India-Israel Special Strategic Partnership. The discussions focused on enhancing collaboration in defence manufacturing, technology and joint projects.
Core sector growth slows to 0.5% in May 2026, second-slowest in 21 months
Growth in activity in India’s eight core industrial sectors slowed to 0.5% in May 2026, the second-lowest in 21 months, official data showed. The data on the Index of Eight Core Industries released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry showed that five out of eight sectors contracted in May 2026. Apart from electricity, the sectors that saw growth also slowed from previous months.
Supreme Court refuses to entertain Himachal Pradesh judicial officer’s plea against Collegium picks for HC judgeship
The Supreme Court declined to entertain a petition filed by a judicial officer from Himachal Pradesh challenging the recommendation made by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant-led Collegium to appoint certain judicial officers junior to him as judges of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. The court observed that recommendations relating to appointments to constitutional courts are based on the Collegium’s subjective assessment and are amenable to only limited judicial review in exceptional circumstances.
Centre reappoints Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for three years; five ASGs also get extension
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the reappointment of Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta for a further term of three years from July 1, ensuring continuity in the Centre’s legal leadership before the Supreme Court and other constitutional courts. The decision was conveyed through an order issued on Saturday (June 20, 2026) by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
India in talks to sell BrahMos missile, Akashteer air defence system to the UAE, sources say
The Indian government is in talks with the UAE to sell some of its flagship defence systems, including the supersonic cruise missile BrahMos, four Indian sources said, as the Gulf nation steps up arms procurement following the war in the West Asia. The discussions, which have not been previously reported, include the potential sale of India’s air defence system Akashteer, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
Indians among 13 dead in Qatar explosion, says Qatar Minister
At least 13 people, including Indians, were killed in an explosion at the Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar, the Gulf country’s Energy Minister Saad bin Shreida Al-Kaabi said. Mr. Al-Kaabi, who is also the CEO of QatarEnergy, said 66 people were injured in the fire caused by the explosion at the Barzan local gas supply facility in Ras Laffan Industrial City on Sunday (June 21, 2026) evening, Doha News reported.
RBI Governor urges banks to treat MSMEs as long-term partners
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Monday urged banks to treat Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as long-term partners. Terming them the “nursery of entrepreneurship”, the RBI chief said MSMEs were key to the ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision.
Russian drone strike in Ukraine kills three from one family, including 13-year-old boy
A Russian drone strike on the city of Sumy in northeastern Ukraine killed three members of the same family, including a 13-year-old boy and his father, and wounded another two, a regional official said Monday (June 22, 2026). Russia has pounded civilian areas of Ukraine with drones and missiles since it launched its all-out invasion of its neighbour more than four years ago, and a United Nations tally says more than 16,000 civilians have died in the war.
Confirmed Ebola cases in Congo outbreak top 1,000 with 254 deaths, authorities say
Confirmed cases in the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo have reached 1,003, including 254 deaths, officials said, as tracing those who had been in contact with patients remains a major challenge. A total of 100 people have recovered in the outbreak concentrated in the Ituri Province since it was declared on May 15, Congo’s Ministry of Health said on Sunday (June 21, 2026). At least 365 patients are in hospitals or in isolation, it said.
FIFA 2026: Uruguay struggles in first 2 matches as Suárez watches from the stands
Uruguay is off to a start many did not expect. After draws against Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde, and with a match against Spain still to come, the two-time World Cup winner is at risk of missing the knockout stage. Among the many fans watching was someone the team looked to for goals for more than 15 years – Luis Suárez.
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