Daily Current Affairs

President Lee Jae Myung of the Republic of Korea (ROK) paid a state visit to India from 19–21 April 2026 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking the first state visit by a South Korean President to India in eight years. The bilateral summit was held on 20 April 2026 at Hyderabad House, New Delhi, where both sides elevated ties and unveiled a comprehensive forward-looking partnership.

• Joint Strategic Vision (2026–2030): Annual leader-level meetings; new Industrial Cooperation Committee (ICC); India-Korea Digital Bridge (AI, IT); CEPA upgrade negotiations.
• Key sectors: Semiconductors, shipbuilding, AI, defence, green energy, and supply chains.
• Delegation: First Lady Kim Hea Kyung + 200 top executives from Samsung, Hyundai, LG, and SK Group.
• Strategic significance: Strengthens Indo-Pacific multilateral security and economic diversification away from overreliance on China and the US.

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change — MoEF&CC) announced the designation of Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh as India’s 99th Ramsar Site (designated 22 April 2026), taking UP’s tally to 12 Ramsar sites.

• Location: Aligarh district, western Uttar Pradesh.
• Ecological significance: Key winter stopover on the Central Asian Flyway; hosts Bar-headed Goose, Painted Stork, and 249 bird species; 62 wetland-dependent species.
• Milestone: India is now one step away from 100 Ramsar sites.
• Ramsar Convention: International treaty for wetland conservation; signed in 1971 at Ramsar, Iran; India became a signatory on 1 February 1982.

In April 2026, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), in consultation with the Department of Higher Education (DoHE) and Ministry of Education (MoE), expanded the eligibility criteria for the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme (PMIS) to include final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students.

• Revised age bracket: 18–25 years (expanded from the earlier 21–24 range).
• New eligibility: Final-year UG and PG students are now included; applicants must submit an NOC from Head of Department/Dean/Principal confirming no academic impact.
• Stipend: Rs 9,000/month (Government of India contributes 90%); additional Rs 6,000 financial assistance in 2 instalments for the one-year internship.
• Purpose: Provide hands-on industry experience to young graduates; bridge the academia-industry gap.

In April 2026, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia (Ministry of Communications & Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region) released revised guidelines for the Technology Development and Investment Promotion (TDIP) Scheme of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) at New Delhi.

• Outlay: Rs 203 crore for the period 2026–31.
• Goal: Reinforce India’s participation in global telecom standards; accelerate 5G Advanced and 6G innovation.
• Key agencies: TSDSI (Telecom Standards Development Society India), TCoE (Telecom Centres of Excellence), TCIL (Telecommunications Consultants India Limited).
• International alignment: ITU (International Telecommunication Union), 3GPP, and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) standards.

Union Minister C.R. Patil (Ministry of Jal Shakti — MoJS) launched the 9th edition of India International Water Week (IIWW-2026), India’s flagship global water event, at Shram Shakti Bhavan, New Delhi in April 2026.

• Theme: Water for All — Inclusive, Integrated and Innovative Water Management
• Key launch: Official IIWW-2026 brochure and website portal.
• Progress: More than 60 lakh artificial recharge and water conservation structures created; target is 1 crore structures by May 2026.
• Significance: Brings global water experts, planners, and innovators together on water management best practices.

Indian Naval Ship (INS) Nireekshak, a Diving Support and Submarine Rescue vessel, participated in the India-Sri Lanka Diving Exercise (IN-SLN DIVEX 2026), which commenced on 21 April 2026 and ran till 27 April 2026, in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

• Edition: 4th IN-SLN DIVEX.
• Aim: Improve interoperability, bolster coordination, and facilitate exchange of best practices between the navies of India and Sri Lanka.
• Multinational element: Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) welcomed, with two MNDF personnel aboard as part of the multinational crew.
• Policy alignment: India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy and MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).
• Activities: Specialised diving operations, training drills, and submarine rescue capability enhancement.

The Pakistan Navy conducted a live-weapon firing of the indigenously developed Taimoor Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) — an advanced anti-ship weapon system — on 21 April 2026, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

• Significance: First publicly disclosed live anti-ship firing; validates multi-domain coordinated strike posture.
• Developer: Air Weapons Complex (AWC) under Global Industrial & Defence Solutions (GIDS).

In April 2026, Pay Point India Network became the first private-sector fintech company to secure direct membership in the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Centralised Payment System (CPS).

• Significance: First non-bank fintech to access CPS directly — previously only banks, NPCI, and CCIL had such access.
• Direct access to: RTGS (Real Time Gross Settlement) and NEFT (National Electronic Funds Transfer) without needing partner banks.
• Benefits: Reduced transaction costs, improved data security, and lower delays in fund transfers.

In April 2026, Punjab National Bank (PNB) — a Public Sector Bank (PSB) — entered a strategic partnership with fintech firm Kiwi to launch a co-branded “PNB Kiwi Credit Card” integrated with the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).

• Card type: RuPay credit card on UPI; supports QR code payments and scan-and-pay transactions.
• Target reach: 180 million customers; focused on expanding formal credit access in semi-urban and rural areas.
• Features: Zero joining/annual fee; 0.5%–1.5% cashback on online transactions; 100% digital onboarding.
• Goal: Strengthen the credit-on-UPI ecosystem and advance financial inclusion.

In April 2026, the Board of Directors of HDFC Life Insurance Company Limited reappointed Vibha Padalkar as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for a further five-year term, effective 12 September 2026.

• Career at HDFC Life: Joined in 2008 as CFO; elevated to Executive Director and CFO in 2012; became MD & CEO in 2018.
• Key milestones: Played a pivotal role in HDFC Life’s public listing (2017) and Exide Life Insurance acquisition (2022).
• Recognition: Named “Most Powerful Women in Business” for 5 consecutive years (2021–2025).
• Professional memberships: Member of ICAEW (since 1992) and ICAI.

Justice Lisa Gill was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh (AP) High Court with effect from 25 April 2026, making her the first woman to hold the Chief Justice position since the AP High Court was established after its separate formation in 2019.

In April 2026, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma launched the CM-INSPIRE (Chief Minister’s Incentive for Success in Prelims and Innovative Rewards for Excellence) Scheme, aimed at supporting UPSC aspirants from the state to reduce preparation costs and improve Meghalaya’s representation in the civil services.

• Beneficiaries: Permanent residents and tribal candidates of Meghalaya; benefits transferred via DBT through the MATI (Meghalaya Administrative Training Institute) portal.
• Coverage: Offsets costs of coaching fees, study material, accommodation, and travel to larger cities.
• Add-ons: Free access to premium online test series and physical libraries in Tura and Shillong.
• Verification: UPSC result notification + state domicile proof required.

In April 2026, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced the selection of two Pakistani candidates — Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud — for astronaut training under China’s human spaceflight programme, marking a milestone in China-Pakistan space cooperation.

• Historic significance: China’s first inclusion of foreign astronauts in its space programme; one Pakistani expected to become first Pakistani to reach Earth’s orbit via Tiangong.
• Agreement: Signed between SUPARCO (Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, Pakistan) and CMSE (China’s Manned Space Engineering Office).
• Tiangong context: Shenzhou-20 launched 24 April 2026 and delivered a new crew to the Tiangong space station.

Nadendla Bhaskara Rao, former Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh, passed away on 22 April 2026 at Continental Hospitals, Hyderabad, at the age of 90, due to age-related ailments.

• Political career: MLA from Vijayawada East (1978); co-founded Telugu Desam Party (TDP) with N.T. Rama Rao in 1982; served as Finance Minister in NTR’s cabinet (1983).
• CM tenure: Served as the 11th CM of undivided Andhra Pradesh for just 31 days (16 August – 16 September 1984) — the shortest CM tenure in AP history.
• Later career: Joined BJP in 2019; his son Nadendla Manohar is the current Civil Supplies Minister in the AP Cabinet.