Daily Current Affairs

In April 2026, Union Minister of State (MoS, Independent Charge) Jayant Chaudhary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MoSDE), formally launched India’s (and Asia’s) first UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development during the International Conference on ‘Women Leading the Future of Work’ at Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU), Pune, Maharashtra. The conference was organised in partnership with UNESCO and brought together global institutions, policymakers, industry leaders, and academia.

• Aim: Expand access to future-ready skills for women and improve employability in emerging sectors like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and semiconductor industries.
• Key Sectors Covered: Robotics, semiconductor technology, advanced manufacturing, and defence.
• Leadership: The UNESCO Chair will be led by Swati Mujumdar, Pro-Chancellor of SSPU.

In April 2026, the Government of India (GoI) constituted a panel under the chairmanship of Challa Sreenivasulu (C.S.) Setty, Chairman of the State Bank of India (SBI), to assess potential risks from advanced AI platform Anthropic’s Mythos and suggest mitigating measures.

• Coordinated Response Mechanism: GoI directed the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) to create a coordinated response mechanism for AI-related threats.
• Cybercrime Reporting: Banks have been mandated to report cyber cases immediately to CERT-In to ensure early detection and fast dissemination of emerging threats.

In April 2026, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoC&I), launched Bharat Taxi — India’s first cooperative-led ride-hailing platform — along with an auto-rickshaw and cab driver onboarding programme and app, in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

• Impact: Zero commission, no subscription charges, free insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh, and access to MUDRA loans.
• Background: In June 2025, eight national-level cooperative institutions established Bharat Taxi under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002; officially launched on 5 February 2026.
• Key Progress: More than 25,000 rides per day; 5.17 lakh customers onboarded; more than 50 lakh customers have availed the service.

In April 2026, EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), officially launched the logo, theme, and website for the 4th India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-IV), scheduled for 31 May 2026 in New Delhi, in collaboration with the African Union Commission.

In April 2026, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (MoCA&PD) expanded procurement operations under the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) scheme in Chhattisgarh and launched the first-ever structured pulse procurement initiative under the Atmanirbhar Pulses Mission (APM) in Bihar.

• Procurement in Chhattisgarh: Accelerated with digitised farmer registration through the E-Samyukti portal; 85 PACS centres operational across districts.
• Procurement in Bihar: NCCF initiated the first organised procurement of masoor (lentil), with WDRA-approved warehouses in collaboration with CWC.

In April 2026, Himadri Speciality Chemical Limited (HSCL), India’s largest speciality carbon black producer, commissioned India’s first anode material production facility with an initial capacity of 200 Metric Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) at Mahistikry, Hooghly, West Bengal.

• Significance: Himadri produces both anode and cathode materials, which together contribute ~65% of lithium-ion battery cost; essential for EVs, energy storage, and electronics.
• Expansion: Total carbon black capacity at Mahistikry: 250,000 MTPA, including 130,000 MTPA speciality carbon black and a newly commissioned 70,000 MTPA line.

In April 2026, Akashvani (All India Radio, AIR), operated under Prasar Bharati (PB), in collaboration with MyGov (National Portal of India), launched two nationwide contests with themes ‘Akashvani @90 – The New Rhythm of Bharat’ and ‘Akashvani @90 – The Vibrant Voice of India’ to celebrate its 90-year legacy.

• Signature Tune Prizes: 1st — Rs 30,000; 2nd — Rs 20,000; 3rd — Rs 10,000; 10 consolation prizes — Rs 5,000 each.
• Submission Window: 23 April to 25 May 2026 via MyGov portal.

In April 2026, the Centre for Maritime Economy and Connectivity (CMEC) at the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), and the University of Delhi signed an MoU to strengthen maritime education and research, in the presence of Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW).

• Focus: Developing academic frameworks, joint research initiatives, training programmes, and knowledge-sharing to bridge academia, policy, and industry.
• Strategic Alignment: Aligns with Sagarmala and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

In April 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) revoked the banking licence of Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL) under Section 22(4) of the Banking Regulation Act (BR Act, 1949), due to its failure to comply with norms stipulated in the payment bank licence. As per RBI directions, PPBL ceased its banking operations with effect from 24 April 2026.

In April 2026, Rocklink India Private Limited inaugurated India’s first integrated lithium-ion battery and rare earth magnet recycling facility at Sikandrabad, Bulandshahr district, Uttar Pradesh.

In April 2026, Coca-Cola India signed a three-year MoU with Invest UP, investment agency for the Government of Uttar Pradesh, in Lucknow, UP, to strengthen environmental sustainability, community welfare, and access to safe drinking water.

• Development Focus: Builds water access infrastructure and safe hydration solutions; strengthens waste collection, recycling systems, and environmental hygiene.
• Livelihood: Promotes skill development and employment, especially through tourism-linked economic activities.
• Strategy: Implements scalable CSR initiatives through community-led, public-private partnership models.

On 22 April 2026, the Guntur Municipal Corporation (GMC), Andhra Pradesh, won the 4th edition of the Gender Equality Mobilisation (GEM) Award presented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The award was received by Olga Rataj, Sustainable Cities Project Manager & Industrial Development Officer, during International Day of Women in Industry 2026 (April 21) celebrations held in Vienna, Austria.

In April 2026, the Government of India (GoI) appointed veteran economist Dr. Ashok Lahiri as the new Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog, and eminent scientist Dr. Gobardhan Das as a full-time Member of NITI Aayog.

In April 2026, Reliance Enterprise Intelligence Limited (REIL) — a joint venture (JV) between Reliance Industries Limited and Meta’s Facebook Overseas Inc. — appointed Parminder Singh as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with immediate effect.

• Profile: Global technology leader with over 30 years of experience across Google, Apple, Twitter, and IBM; specialising in scaling digital businesses, enterprise strategy, and AI-driven transformation.
• Previous Roles: MD at Google (Asia-Pacific); MD at Twitter (Southeast Asia, India, MENA); CCO and CDO at Mediacorp.

International Girls in ICT Day is observed annually on the 4th Thursday of April to inspire and encourage girls and women to pursue careers in ICT (Information and Communications Technology). In 2026, it falls on 23 April.

National Panchayati Raj Day (NPRD), also known as National Local Self-Government Day, is observed annually on 24 April to mark the establishment of the Panchayati Raj system and celebrate its role in strengthening grassroots democracy and decentralised governance.

The World Day for Laboratory Animals (WDLA), also known as the World Day for Animals in Laboratories (WDAIL), is observed annually on 24 April to raise awareness about ethical and scientific concerns associated with the use of animals in laboratory testing and research.

• Lab Animal Week 2026: Observed from 20–26 April 2026.
• Origin: Established by the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) in 1979; 24 April honours the birthday of Lord Hugh Dowding, a former Air Chief Marshal and NAVS President.

April 2026 marked a significant month for India’s technology self-reliance with three landmark developments in the clean energy and AI space, all underscoring India’s push toward Atmanirbhar Bharat in strategic technology sectors.