Daily Current Affairs

UNESCO celebrates World Book and Copyright Day annually on 23 April to promote reading, publishing, and copyright protection. The 2026 theme is ‘Go All In on Reading’, with Rabat, Morocco designated as the World Book Capital 2026 — the 26th city to hold the title. The day honours the birth/death anniversaries of literary greats including William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega.

• Copyright Significance — The day also highlights protection of intellectual property rights of authors and publishers globally.
• Literary Greats Honoured — William Shakespeare (died 23 April 1616), Miguel de Cervantes (died 22 April 1616), and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega (died 23 April 1616).
• Static GK — India also celebrates on 23 April; UK/Ireland observe on the first Thursday of March to avoid Easter conflict.

National Panchayati Raj Day is observed on 24 April every year since 2010, commemorating the enactment of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 (effective 24 April 1993), which gave constitutional status to the three-tier Panchayati Raj System in India. The day is observed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

• Constitutional Basis — 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 inserted Part IX (Articles 243–243O) into the Constitution of India.
• Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957) — recommended the three-tier Panchayati Raj system; first implemented in Rajasthan on 2 October 1959.
• Ministry — Observed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj; first observed as National Panchayati Raj Day in 2010.

In April 2026, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) declared an area of 408.7 sq. km around the Barasingha Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) in Uttar Pradesh (UP) as an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ). This declaration aids conservation of rich biodiversity and supports indigenous communities living in and around the WLS.

• Biodiversity — 41 mammal species, 373 bird species, 36 reptile species, 10 amphibians, 79 fish species.
• Flora — Over 280 plant species including 81 medicinal plant species.
• ESZ Purpose — Acts as a transition zone between a protected area and surrounding human habitation; regulates development activities near wildlife sanctuaries.

The 7th Joint Group of Customs (JGC) Meeting between India and Bhutan was held from April 20–21, 2026 in Munnar, Kerala. The JGC is the primary institutional mechanism for customs cooperation, trade facilitation, and border management between the two countries.

• Co-chaired by — Yogendra Garg, Special Secretary & Member (Customs), CBIC (India); and Sonam Jamtsho, Director General (DG), Department of Revenue and Customs, Ministry of Finance, Bhutan.
• Key Discussions — Arrival customs data exchange, anti-smuggling via intelligence sharing, digitisation of customs, Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS).
• Operation Numkhor — Intelligence sharing initiative between customs formations, led by Commissionerate of Customs (Preventive), Kochi; facilitated at the summit.

On 21 April 2026, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed contracts with Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) and Electro Pneumatics and Hydraulics (India) Private Limited for procurement of TRAWL (Tank Mine Roller Assembly) Assemblies for T-72 (Ajeya) and T-90 (Bhishma) main battle tanks, valued at approximately Rs 975 crore.

• TRAWL Significance — Developed by DRDO; critical system for minefield breaching — creates vehicle-safe lanes through minefields, including mines fitted with proximity magnetic fuses.
• IDDM Category — Highest priority category under India’s Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP); promotes indigenous defence manufacturing.
• Impact — Involves extensive network of MSMEs; generates direct and indirect employment across the defence industrial base.

In April 2026, IIT Ropar, Punjab launched India’s first fully integrated AI-based Agricultural Intelligence Ecosystem for smart farming and agricultural decision-making. Launched by IIT Ropar’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in AI for Agriculture, the platform is branded as ANNAM.AI — Alliance for Next-Gen Nourishment through Agriculture Modernisation.

• AI Architecture — Three layers: Infrastructure Layer (data collection), Intelligence Layer (data analysis), Engagement Layer (farmer advisory).
• Objective — Improve agricultural productivity and risk management using AI; support farmer decision-making in real time.
• Historic First — India’s first fully integrated AI-based Agricultural Intelligence Ecosystem.

Federal Express Corporation (FedEx), in collaboration with IIT Madras (IIT-M), completed India’s first intra-city drone delivery flight trials in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The project was implemented with Amber Wings, an IIT-M incubated deep-tech start-up, conducted under DGCA and Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) coordination.

• Milestone — India’s first intra-city drone delivery; validates mid-mile aerial logistics link in an urban corridor.
• Time Saving — Reduced a 60-minute road journey to ~21 minutes by air.
• Regulatory — Conducted under DGCA and Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) oversight; key for scaling drone logistics in India.

In April 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the new ‘Digital Payments — E-Mandate Framework, 2026’, consolidating existing regulations while introducing stricter safeguards, clearer notification protocols, and greater flexibility for users. The framework is applicable to all payment system providers and participants.

• Applicable Channels — UPI auto-pay, Debit and Credit cards, Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPI).
• Key Rules — One-time registration with Additional Factor Authentication (AFA) validation; every e-mandate must specify a validity period; can be fixed or variable amount with a maximum limit for recurring transactions.
• Purpose — Consolidates scattered regulations; enhances consumer protection in recurring digital payments.

Three significant developments in India’s banking and fintech space were reported in April 2026: Karnataka Bank partnered with Pine Labs for digital payments; NPCI Bharat Bill Pay Limited (NBBL) onboarded Postal Life Insurance (PLI) on the Bharat Connect platform; and Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company (ADNIC) received a reinsurance branch licence for GIFT City, Gujarat.

• NBBL — Wholly-owned subsidiary of NPCI; manages the Bharat Connect (formerly BBPS) platform for bill payments.
• PLI — Operated by India Post (Department of Posts), Ministry of Communications; RPLI = Rural Postal Life Insurance.
• ADNIC — Multiline insurance and reinsurance provider; operations across UAE, Saudi Arabia, and UK; GIFT City in Gandhinagar, Gujarat is India’s global financial hub.
• IFSCA — International Financial Services Centres Authority; regulator for GIFT City.

In April 2026, Tata Steel Limited announced a definitive agreement with Paul Wurth S.A. (SMS Group, Germany) to set up the world’s first large-scale EASyMelt (Electrically Assisted Syngas Smelter) technology at its Jamshedpur plant in Jharkhand, aiming to significantly reduce carbon emissions in steel production.

• EASyMelt Technology — Retrofit solution installed on existing blast furnaces; replaces coal with syngas and uses plasma torches; enables decarbonisation without replacing existing infrastructure.
• Historic First — World’s first large-scale EASyMelt deployment at Tata Steel’s ‘E’ Blast Furnace (649 m³) at Jamshedpur.
• Key Leaders — T V Narendran, CEO & MD, Tata Steel; Jochen Burg, CEO of SMS Group.

Vice President (VP) of India C. P. Radhakrishnan undertook a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka from April 19–20, 2026, marking the first bilateral visit by an Indian Vice President to Sri Lanka. VP Radhakrishnan met Anura Kumara Dissanayake, President of Sri Lanka, at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.

• Historic First — First bilateral visit by an Indian Vice President to Sri Lanka.
• International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) — Launched by India in 2023; Sri Lanka’s agreement to join strengthens regional big cat conservation.
• CEWET — Scholarship programme expanded from 350 to 700 with enhanced stipends, supporting Sri Lankan students.

In April 2026, the World Economic Forum (WEF) announced the Young Global Leaders (YGL) Class of 2026, recognising 118 leaders from 55 countries for their contributions across sectors. Ten Indians were featured, including Jay Shah (Chairman, ICC) and Isha Ambani.

• YGL Programme — Established 2004 by WEF; identifies leaders under 40 for a structured five-year leadership programme; based in Geneva, Switzerland.
• 2026 Cohort — 118 leaders from 55 countries; aimed at fostering collaboration and addressing global challenges.
• Jay Shah — Chairman of ICC (International Cricket Council); son of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

In April 2026, the Goldman Environmental Foundation named six women as recipients of the 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize — often called the ‘Green Nobel’ — marking a historic first where all six winners are female, recognised for their efforts in combating climate change and protecting biodiversity.

• Ceremony — 20 April 2026; San Francisco, USA; hosted by Telemundo anchor Vanessa Hauc.
• About the Prize — Founded 1989 by Rhoda and Richard Goldman; awarded to grassroots environmental activists from 6 inhabited continental regions; 239 winners from 98 nations in 37 years.
• Historic First — First time since 1989 that all six recipients are women.

On 20 April 2026, the Laureus World Sports Academy presented the 26th annual Laureus World Sports Awards at Cibeles Palace, Madrid, Spain, recognising global sporting excellence for outstanding performances during the 2025 season.

• Hosts — Novak Djokovic (5-time Laureus winner, 24-time Grand Slam champion) and Eileen Gu (Chinese-American Olympic freestyle skiing champion).
• Venue — Cibeles Palace, Madrid, Spain; 26th edition of the awards.
• PSG milestone — Won their first UEFA Champions League title with a 5-0 final win over Inter Milan.