Daily Current Affairs

World Heritage Day, officially the International Day for Monuments and Sites, is observed globally on 18 April every year. The 2026 theme — ‘Emergency Response for Living Heritage in Contexts of Conflicts and Disasters’ — focuses on the urgent need to safeguard living heritage (traditions, rituals, performing arts, cultural knowledge) during crises such as armed conflicts, natural disasters, and displacement.

• ICOMOS — International Council on Monuments and Sites; founded in 1965 based on principles of the Venice Charter (1964); HQ: Paris, France.
• Living Heritage — intangible cultural practices including traditions, rituals, performing arts, and cultural knowledge passed across generations.
• India’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites — 43 sites as of 2025, including Taj Mahal, Qutb Minar, and Khangchendzonga National Park (India’s only mixed heritage site).

In April 2026, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) announced the selection of 10 Indian AI startups for the second cohort of the IndiaAI Startups Global Acceleration Programme (ISG), under the IndiaAI Mission. The programme is developed in partnership with Station F (world’s largest startup campus, Paris) and HEC Paris (premier business school, France).

• Programme structure: 3-week online preparation module followed by a 3-month immersive residency at Station F, Paris.
• Station F: World’s largest startup campus; located in Paris, France.
• HEC Paris: Premier business school, France — co-partner of the programme.
• Pillar: Startup Financing Pillar of the IndiaAI Mission under MeitY.
• Alignment: India’s National AI Strategy — cross-border knowledge exchange and global market integration.

In April 2026, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), under the Ministry of Education (MoE), chaired by Yogesh Singh, launched the third edition of the AICTE-VAANI (Vibrant Advocacy for Advancement and Nurturing of Indian Languages) scheme in New Delhi. The scheme was inaugurated with the release of the scheme document and a dedicated online application portal.

• Full form: VAANI = Vibrant Advocacy for Advancement and Nurturing of Indian Languages.
• AICTE: Statutory body under Ministry of Education (MoE); HQ: New Delhi; Established: 1945; Chairman: Yogesh Singh.
• Languages covered: 22 Indian languages listed under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
• Domain coverage: AI, Quantum Technology, Cybersecurity, Hydrogen Energy, Space and Defence, Agrotech — 16 emerging technology areas in total.

On 17 April 2026, Herbalife India (subsidiary of Herbalife Limited/HLF) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish India’s first Centre of Excellence (CoE) on Plant Cell Fermentation Technology at IIT Madras Research Park in Chennai.

• Objective: R&D, innovation, and entrepreneurship in sustainable production of herbal biomass, enriched extracts, and high-value phytochemicals.
• Focus area: Advance plant cell fermentation for scalable production of herbal biomass enriched with high-value phytochemicals for human health and wellness.
• Technology: Combines upstream cultivation with downstream processing and metabolomics platforms.
• IIT Madras: HQ Chennai, Tamil Nadu; Established 1959; Institute of National Importance under MoE.

On 17 April 2026, the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME) signed an MoU with NICDC Logistics Data Services Limited (NLDSL) — a digital and data arm of the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) — to enhance logistics efficiency and promote data-driven policymaking for the MSME sector.

• Integration: API-based digital framework for seamless logistics data exchange between MoMSME and NLDSL, enabling real-time logistics insights.
• NLDSL: JV between NICDIT (National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust) and NEC Corporation (Japan).
• ULIP: Unified Logistics Interface Platform — operated by NLDSL to digitise and streamline the logistics supply chain.

The Budget Session 2026 of Parliament, which commenced on 28 January 2026, was adjourned sine-die on 18 April 2026. Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned after completing the third part of the session. In total, the Budget Session 2026 comprised 31 sittings spread over 81 days.

Vice President of India, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan, undertook a two-day official visit to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on 19–20 April 2026 — the first-ever bilateral visit by an Indian Vice President to Sri Lanka. The visit aimed to strengthen bilateral ties under India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and the Indian Ocean Region engagement strategy.

• Historic significance: First-ever bilateral visit by an Indian Vice President to Sri Lanka; VP C.P. Radhakrishnan assumed office in September 2025.
• Key initiative: Virtually handed over houses to Tamil community beneficiaries under Phase 3 of India’s Indian Housing Project in Sri Lanka.
• Policy context: Part of India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and Indian Ocean Region engagement strategy.
• Sri Lanka key figures: President — Anura Kumara Dissanayake; PM — Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

In April 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released Master Directions on Facility for Exchange of Notes and Coins, mandating all bank branches to provide free and non-discriminatory exchange services of currency notes and coins to the public — regardless of whether the customer holds an account with that bank.

• Key services mandated: Issuing fresh/good quality notes and coins of all denominations; exchanging soiled/mutilated/imperfect notes; accepting coins and notes for transactions or exchange.
• Soiled note defined: A note dirty due to normal wear and tear — also includes a ‘two-piece note’ pasted together where pieces belong to the same note and all essential features are intact.
• Exchange method: Over bank counters or credited to public accounts maintained with banks.
• RBI: Established 1 April 1935; HQ: Mumbai; Governor: Sanjay Malhotra (as of 2025).

In April 2026, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoC&I), issued Public Notice No. 04/2026-27 dated 17 April 2026, updating the list of banks authorised by the RBI to import gold and silver. The authorisation is effective from 1 April 2026 and valid till 31 March 2029, under the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), 2023.

• Amendment: Appendix 4B of the Handbook of Procedures (HBP), 2023.
• Signed by: Lav Agarwal, DGFT.
• DGFT: Under MoC&I; administers India’s foreign trade policy; located: Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi.

On 13 April 2026, the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a USD 225 million (approximately Rs 2,080 crore) loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) for the Rajasthan Highway Modernisation Project, aimed at enhancing the efficiency, resilience, and safety of state highways.

• Step-Up Loan (SuL) mechanism: India’s first use of this mechanism; eases fiscal pressure during the high-risk early phase — repayments are higher once the project stabilises and becomes ready for market refinancing.
• Scope: Upgrade and maintain about 800 km of state highways; transform the Rajasthan State Highway Authority (RSHA) into a modern, service-oriented agency.
• Loan source: IBRD (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development) — lending arm of the World Bank Group.

In April 2026, JSW Steel Limited’s Board approved a proposal to form a Joint Venture (JV) with South Korea’s POSCO Group to set up a 6 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) integrated steel plant in Odisha. The JV will be formed through Saffron Resources Private Limited (a wholly-owned subsidiary of JSW Steel), which will become a 50:50 JV between JSW Steel and POSCO Group.

• Equity subscription: POSCO Group will acquire equity shares of Saffron Resources for approximately Rs 508.8 crore, subject to closing adjustments.
• Timeline: Transaction expected to be completed by 31 December 2026 (may be extended).
• JSW Steel: Part of JSW Group; Chairman: Sajjan Jindal; India’s leading private sector steel company.
• POSCO: South Korean steel giant; one of the world’s largest steelmakers by volume.

In April 2026, Bollywood actress Sayani Gupta was named the South Asian ‘Person of the Year’ by the Harvard University South Asian Association (SAA), recognising her exceptional contribution to film, storytelling, and representation. She will formally receive the award at Harvard University later in April 2026.

• Award: Annual award by Harvard University’s South Asian Association recognising individuals who have significantly influenced global perceptions of South Asian talent and identity.
• Scope: Celebrates contributions across arts, leadership, activism, and public service.
• Previous Indian winner (2025): Michelin-star Chef Vikas Khanna was honoured by Harvard SAA in 2025.

In April 2026, the US Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) formally launched the National Space Technology Memorandum-3 (NSTM-3), a national initiative to advance space nuclear power, targeting deployment of low- to mid-power reactors in orbit, on the Moon, and on Mars in the 2030s.

• NSTM-3: National Space Technology Memorandum-3; launched by US OSTP.
• Moon Reactor target: 2030 — NASA tasked to start programme within 30 days.
• Orbital Reactor: US DoD to develop mission-ready in-space reactor by 2031.
• DOE (Department of Energy): Required to assess within 60 days whether US industry can build up to 4 space reactors within 5 years.

In April 2026, NASA announced that SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket will launch the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Rosalind Franklin rover to Mars in 2028, from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA.

• ROSA project: NASA’s Rosalind Franklin Support and Augmentation project; part of ExoMars mission by ESA.
• Objective: Rover will drill up to 2 metres into Martian surface to search for biosignatures (signs of past/present life).
• NASA’s role under ROSA: Launch services, braking engines for landing, and radioisotope heater units to maintain internal rover temperature in extreme Martian conditions.
• Background: NASA–ESA MoU signed in 2024 to formalise the agreement.

In April 2026, Suman Bery, Vice Chairman of the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog), launched the anthology titled ‘Divya Bharat: A Window to the Soul of India’ in New Delhi to promote India’s tourism potential by showcasing its rich cultural heritage, traditions, and diverse destinations.

• Content: About 3,000 curated entries comprising 2,100 tourism destinations and 1,200 cultural listings covering landmarks, heritage, festivals, cuisine, textiles, handicrafts, and lesser-known sites.
• Framework: Month-wise seasonal approach with a travel calendar, promoting experiential tourism through local communities, traditions, and lifestyles.
• Alignment: Supports Dekho Apna Desh and Swadesh Darshan initiatives, and India’s plan to develop 50 global tourist destinations.
• Launched by: Suman Bery, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog.

On 16 April 2026, the Meghalaya Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Conrad Kongkal Sangma, approved the ‘Meghalaya Official Languages Ordinance, 2026’, declaring Khasi and Garo as official languages alongside English.

• Legislative amendment: Will amend the Meghalaya State Language Act, 2005 and repeal the Meghalaya Legislature (Continuance of English Language) Act, 1980, enabling MLAs to speak and debate in Khasi and Garo.
• Objective: Preserve and promote regional languages; facilitate state-level examinations in Khasi and Garo.
• Meghalaya: Capital — Shillong; CM — Conrad Kongkal Sangma (National People’s Party); Governor — C.H. Vijayashankar.

On 16 April 2026, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan, formally flagged off the 2nd edition of ‘Surya Devbhoomi Challenge 2.0’, a high-altitude endurance event, in Badrinath, Uttarakhand. The 5-day event continues till 20 April 2026 across the Char Dham corridor covering 3 sacred Kedars: Kalpeshwar, Rudranath, and Tungnath.

• Organiser: Indian Army (IA) in strategic partnership with IconMetrix, supported by the Tourism Department, Uttarakhand Government.
• Route: 113-km expedition covering the Char Dham corridor.
• Significance: Part of Vibrant Village Programme (VVP); expected to boost tourism and generate employment in border villages.
• Three sacred Kedars covered: Kalpeshwar, Rudranath, and Tungnath.