Daily Current Affairs

World Earth Day is observed annually on 22 April to raise awareness about environmental protection and inspire action for a sustainable planet. The 2026 theme is ‘Our Power, Our Planet’, emphasising the collective role of individuals, communities, and local initiatives in driving environmental change.

• Theme focus: ‘Our Power, Our Planet’ — empowers ordinary citizens, not just governments, to protect the environment through consistent everyday action.
• Organiser: EARTHDAY.ORG (formerly Earth Day Network) — a non-profit mobilising over 1 billion people across 193 countries annually.
• Founded: 22 April 1970 by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson (Wisconsin) and Denis Hayes; first Earth Day drew 20 million Americans.
• India’s observance: National Science Centre (NSC), Pragati Maidan, New Delhi hosted a free Earth Day event featuring a Popular Science Lecture ‘Exploring Antarctica’ by Dr Amitava Sen Gupta, Honorary Distinguished Professor, ISRO.
• Paris Agreement: Signed on Earth Day, 22 April 2016 — a landmark climate milestone linked to this date.

On 18 April 2026, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved a 2% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) for Central Government employees and pensioners, raising it from 58% to 60%, effective 1 January 2026. The Cabinet also cleared two major railway multitracking projects worth a combined Rs 24,815 crore in Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

• DA & DR hike: Raised from 58% to 60% of Basic Pay/Pension; effective 1 January 2026; follows AICPI-IW index and 7th Central Pay Commission (7th CPC) recommendations.
• Previous revision: 55% to 58% (July 2025).
• Railway Project 1: Ghaziabad–Sitapur line, Uttar Pradesh; route 403 km; track length 859 km; cost Rs 14,926 crore.
• Railway Project 2: Rajahmundry–Visakhapatnam line, Andhra Pradesh; route 198 km; track length 458 km; cost Rs 9,889 crore.

In April 2026, the Government of India (GoI) expanded the scope of the RELIEF (Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) scheme under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) by adding Egypt and Jordan to the list of eligible destinations, supporting Indian exporters facing logistics disruptions due to ongoing West Asia tensions.

• RELIEF full form: Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation — provides logistics support to exporters in geopolitically sensitive corridors.
• Parent scheme: Under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM).
• New additions (April 2026): Egypt and Jordan added to eligible destinations list.
• Objective: Sustain trade flows via the extended West Asia and North Africa corridor amid ongoing regional conflict.

In April 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) received ‘Prajna’ — an indigenously developed AI-enabled satellite imaging system for real-time security decision support. The handover was conducted at Kartavya Bhawan-3, New Delhi, by Samir V. Kamat (Secretary, DDR&D) to Govind Mohan (Secretary, MHA).

• Prajna: AI-enabled satellite imaging system developed by Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR), DRDO.
• Capabilities: Enhances real-time decision support for monitoring sensitive regions, counter-terrorism, and border management.
• Handover: By Samir V. Kamat (Secretary, DDR&D) to Govind Mohan (Secretary, MHA) at Kartavya Bhawan-3.
• Significance: Indigenously developed; boosts India’s ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) capabilities; aligns with Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence technology.

In April 2026, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena laid the foundation stone for India’s first Petroglyph Conservation Park on the banks of the Indus River at Sindhu Ghat, Leh, coinciding with World Heritage Day (18 April 2026).

• Petroglyphs: Rock carvings/engravings — ancient art forms found across Ladakh, threatened by unregulated tourism and rapid infrastructure development.
• Purpose: Conserve centuries-old petroglyphs; house petroglyphs relocated from vulnerable sites across Ladakh.
• MoU: Signed between Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for scientific conservation.
• Foundation stone: Laid by LG Vinai Kumar Saxena at Sindhu Ghat, Leh; coincides with World Heritage Day — 18 April 2026.

On 19 April 2026, Odisha hosted the groundbreaking for India’s first advanced glass semiconductor packaging unit — 3D Glass Solutions — at Info Valley, Khordha district, Bhubaneswar. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi presided, with Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw (MeitY) in attendance.

• India Semiconductor Mission (ISM): The project is funded under ISM — India’s flagship programme to build a domestic semiconductor ecosystem.
• Applications: Aerospace, defence, AI, 5G technologies, and data centres.
• Key officials: CM Mohan Charan Majhi (Odisha); Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister, MeitY.

President Lee Jae Myung of the Republic of Korea (ROK) paid a State Visit to India from 19–21 April 2026, meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House, New Delhi on 20 April 2026. The two leaders adopted landmark agreements to deepen the India-ROK Special Strategic Partnership.

• ROK President: Lee Jae Myung; State Visit to India: 19–21 April 2026.
• Venue: Hyderabad House, New Delhi — traditional venue for high-level bilateral meetings.
• Joint Strategic Vision: Five-year roadmap for India-ROK Special Strategic Partnership (2026–2030) — the flagship document of the summit.
• Three companion documents: (1) Comprehensive Framework for Partnership in Shipbuilding, Shipping & Maritime Logistics; (2) Joint Statement on Cooperation in Sustainability; (3) Joint Statement on Energy Resource Security.
• Trade target: Bilateral trade set at USD 50 billion by 2030 (from current ~USD 25–27 billion); CEPA to be upgraded within a year.
• Korean industrial townships: PM Modi announced development of dedicated Korean industrial townships in India.

In April 2026, the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, signed an MoU with Jumps Automation LLP under the C-DOT Collaborative Research Programme (CCRP) to develop a gamification-based cybersecurity awareness platform.

• C-DOT: Centre for Development of Telematics; autonomous R&D centre under DoT, Ministry of Communications.
• Partner: Jumps Automation LLP; under C-DOT Collaborative Research Programme (CCRP).
• Objective: Strengthen cybersecurity awareness through engaging, interactive training — covering phishing, social engineering, malware response, and crisis management.
• Platform type: Commercial-grade SaaS; combines Jumps Automation’s AI tools with C-DOT telecom and security technology.

In April 2026, Titagarh Naval Systems Limited (TNSL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd, launched the 4th Diving Support Craft (DSC A23, Yard 328) on the Hooghly River, Kolkata, for the Indian Navy.

• Series: Part of a 5-vessel series under the Make in India initiative.
• Vessel type: 30-metre catamaran-type vessels equipped with indigenously sourced systems for Command Clearance Diving Teams (CCDTs).
• Launch ceremony: Conducted by Deepa Sivakumar, spouse of Vice Admiral B. Sivakumar.
• Manufacturer: TNSL (Titagarh Naval Systems Limited); subsidiary of Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd; launched at Hooghly River, Kolkata.

State Bank of India (SBI) set a target to expand its balance-sheet to approximately 25% of India’s GDP by 2030, up from the existing 20%. SBI also aims to increase its market share by 1% in each of the 800 districts in FY 2026-27 (FY27).

• Strategy: Each district treated as a distinct growth unit with customised strategies; target of 1% market share increase per district in FY27.
• Current position: SBI holds ~22% market share in deposits and ~20% in advances — the largest in any Indian bank.

In April 2026, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) released the ‘Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2026’, projecting India’s growth at 6.4% in CY2026 and 6.6% in CY2027.

• Report: Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2026: Socioeconomic Prosperity Amid the Transition to an Environmentally Sustainable Economy — by UN ESCAP.
• Regional context: South and South-West Asia grew 5.4% in CY25 (vs 5.2% in CY24), driven by India’s robust performance.
• Top Greenfield FDI (Q1–Q3 CY26): India (USD 50 bn), Australia (USD 30 bn), Kazakhstan (USD 21 bn) — India ranks first.
• Remittances: India is world’s largest remittance recipient (2024); ~40% used for essential spending; faces risk from US 1% tax on remittances (effective January 2026).

Aronyak Ghosh from Kolkata, West Bengal became India’s 95th Chess Grandmaster (GM) after securing his third and final GM norm at the 23rd Bangkok Chess Club Open 2026, held in Bangkok, Thailand. He scored an unbeaten 7/9, tying for first place with a performance rating of 2,584.

• Profile: Born 6 December 2003 (age 22); hometown: Kolkata, West Bengal; member of Railways Sports Promotion Board (RSPB).
• Performance: Unbeaten 7/9 at Bangkok Chess Club Open 2026; performance rating 2,584; tied for first place.
• Earlier achievement: Bronze medal, Under-16 World Youth Championship 2019; National Rapid Champion (March 2026).
• Distinction: Fourth Indian to become GM in 2026; India’s 95th GM overall.

In April 2026, Apple Inc. announced that John Ternus, current Senior Vice President (SVP) of Hardware Engineering, will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective 1 September 2026, succeeding Tim Cook, who will transition to Executive Chairman of the Board.

• John Ternus: Age 50; joined Apple in 2001; VP Hardware Engineering (2013); SVP (2021); led design of iPhone, Mac, iPad, AirPods, Apple Watch, Vision Pro; mechanical engineering graduate, University of Pennsylvania.
• Tim Cook: CEO since 2011 (succeeded Steve Jobs); under his 15-year tenure Apple stock gained ~1,933%; transitions to Executive Chairman from 1 September 2026.
• Board changes: Arthur Levinson (non-executive chairman for 15 years) becomes Lead Independent Director from 1 September 2026; Ternus joins the Board.