UPSC Daily Current Affairs for 24 June 2026

Union Government Tightens FCRA Rules for NGOs

Context

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has notified the Foreign Contribution (Regulations) Amendments Rules 2026, issued under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010.

Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), 2010

FCRA aims to regulate the acceptance and utilization of foreign contributions to prohibit activities detrimental to the national interest.

It was first enacted in 1976 but repealed and later replaced with new legislation in 2010. It was further amended in 2020.

CRED-Meta Deal of Fintech Sector

Context

Kunal Shah, India’s prominent fintech entrepreneur has been appointed as global CEO of WhatsApp.

About

The Meta is also investing $900 million in CRED, raising concerns over US technology companies gaining increasing control over India’s fintech sector and data generated by Indian consumers.

The Meta-CRED transaction comes at a time when India’s digital-payments ecosystem is increasingly dominated by platforms linked to US firms.

Submarine Cables: Critical Infrastructure of the Digital Age

Context

The British Empire's "All-Red Line" demonstrated the strategic importance of communication networks, a role now performed by undersea fibre-optic cables connecting the digital world.

What Were Undersea Telegraph Cables?

Undersea telegraph cables were insulated communication wires laid on the seabed to transmit telegraphic messages across oceans.

They revolutionized long-distance communication by reducing message transmission time from weeks or months to a matter of minutes.

NEET-linked Suicides: A Case Study

Context

Recent tragic suicides, including a 22-year-old and other aspirants nationwide, highlights calls for mental health support and systemic reform in high-stakes entrance testing.

NEET-linked Suicides: Case in Brief

NEET-linked suicides include those students who either prepare or appear for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and commit suicide due to the stress of the exam, fear of failure, parental expectations, social pressure, etc.

Devaluation of Intrinsic Value of an Individual to Marks, Ranks and Admission: Denying human dignity by reducing the value of a student to his marks and ranks.

News In Short 24-06-2026

Context

On 22 June 1897, the Chapekar brothers assassinated British plague commissioner Walter Charles Rand in Pune.

About

The Chapekar Brothers, Damodar Hari Chapekar, Balkrishna Hari Chapekar, and Vasudeo Hari Chapekar, were among the earliest revolutionary nationalists in India's freedom struggle.

They were influenced by the revolutionary activities of Vasudev Balwant Phadke and the nationalist ideas propagated by Bal Gangadhar Tilak through his newspaper Kesari.