Daily Current Affairs

The United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union (ITU) observed International Girls in ICT Day on 24 April 2026 — the fourth Thursday of April — to inspire girls and women to pursue careers in Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

• 2026 Theme: “AI for Development: Girls shaping the digital future”
• Origin: Announced by ITU on 8 April 2011 following Resolution 70 adopted at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, Guadalajara, Mexico, October 2010
• First Observance: 28 April 2011
• Organiser: International Telecommunication Union (ITU) — a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN)

World Malaria Day (WMD) is observed every year on 25 April worldwide to spread awareness, mobilise resources, and encourage coordinated efforts for the prevention, control, and eventual elimination of malaria.

• 2026 Theme: “Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must.”
• Origin: Evolved from Africa Malaria Day, launched in 2001 by African nations; endorsed by 44 malaria-endemic countries at the African Summit on Malaria
• Establishment: Instituted by member states of the World Health Organisation (WHO) during the World Health Assembly (WHA) 2007
• First Observance: 25 April 2008

The United Nations (UN) observes International Delegate’s Day annually on 25 April to raise awareness of the role of representatives and delegates of Member States to the UN.

• 2026 Edition: 7th International Delegate’s Day
• Established: UNGA Resolution A/RES/73/286 (April 2019); date marks the opening of the San Francisco Conference (UNCIO), 1945
• First Observance: 25 April 2020

In April 2026, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), in collaboration with the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), launched a five-year project titled ‘Strengthening Institutional Capacities for Securing Biodiversity Conservation Commitments’ to be implemented in the Sathyamangalam landscape of Tamil Nadu and the Garo Hills of Meghalaya.

• Support: Global Environment Facility (GEF) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); grant of USD 4.88 million for 2025–2030
• Objective: Integrates biodiversity into Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs); strengthens Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs); promotes community-led conservation
• Financing: Activates Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and green micro-enterprises

In April 2026, the Government of India (GoI) announced the inclusion of six strategically located border villages in Jammu & Kashmir’s Kathua district under the second phase of the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP-II), aimed at boosting development and improving living conditions in remote frontier regions.

• Selected Villages: Bobiya, Kadyala, Gajnal, Karol Krishna, Rathua, and Gujjar Chak (identified at a meeting chaired by Rajesh Sharma in Kathua)
• Background: VVP launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to develop border villages and reduce out-migration from remote areas
• VVP-II Outlay: Union Cabinet approved Phase 2 in April 2025 with a total budget of Rs 6,839 crore for comprehensive development of border villages

On 25 April 2026, Dr Samir V Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D) and Chairman of DRDO, unveiled the Advanced Armoured Platforms (Tracked and Wheeled) at the DRDO laboratory in Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra.

In April 2026, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), officially commissioned an X-Band Dual-Polarization Doppler Weather Radar (DWR) at its High Altitude Cloud Physics Laboratory (HACPL) in Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra.

• Mission: Part of Mission Mausam — government’s multi-year initiative to transform India into a Weather-Ready Nation
• Location & Function: Installed at ~1,400 metres altitude in the Western Ghats; enables real-time tracking of rainfall, cloud movement, and storms
• Technology: Operating at 9.45 GHz with solid-state amplifier technology; dual-polarization enables precise analysis of precipitation and cloud structures
• MoU signed: IITM and Space Applications Centre (SAC) of ISRO signed an MoU to jointly develop advanced satellite-based meteorological products

In April 2026, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE) launched the SMILE (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise)–Beggary Survey Mobile Application during the Chintan Shivir held in Chandigarh from 24–26 April 2026.

• Features: Real-time data capture, geo-tagging, hotspot mapping, analytics dashboards, end-to-end monitoring from identification to rehabilitation
• Coverage: Expanded to 181 cities; creates centralised national database for identifying vulnerable populations
• Process: Records demographic and socio-economic details; links beneficiaries to shelter homes, healthcare, counselling, de-addiction, and skill training
• SMILE Scheme: Running 2021–2026; supports rehabilitation through shelter, skills, and reintegration; complemented by Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) 2.0 App

In April 2026, Union MoS (IC) Jayant Chaudhary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MoSDE), launched India’s (and Asia’s) first UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development at the International Conference ‘Women Leading the Future of Work’ at Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU), Pune, Maharashtra.

• Aim: Expand access to future-ready skills for women in emerging sectors like AI, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, robotics, and defence
• Leadership: UNESCO Chair led by Swati Mujumdar, Pro-Chancellor of SSPU
• Activities: Policy inputs, international collaboration, training frameworks aligned with UNESCO priorities

In April 2026, Knight Frank, global property consultant firm, released the 20th edition of The Wealth Report 2026. India ranked 6th globally with an estimated 19,877 Ultra-High Net-Worth Individuals (UHNWIs) and 207 billionaires in 2026, accounting for 2.8% of the world’s ultra-wealthy population, up from just over 2% five years ago.

• India UHNWIs Growth: Projected to increase by 27% (to 25,217) by 2031
• India Billionaires: 207 in 2026 (up 58% in 5 years) — 3rd largest globally (after USA: 914; China: 485); projected to reach 313 by 2031 (up 51%)
• Global UHNWIs: Increased from 5,51,435 (2021) to 7,13,626 (2026) — ~89 new UHNWIs created daily over 5 years

In April 2026, the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) announced that India is set to host the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026, scheduled from 24 May to 7 June 2026 at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (Fatorda) Stadium in Margao, Goa.

• Significance: India’s first time hosting SAFF Women’s Championship since 2016 in Siliguri
• Format: Top two teams from each group qualify for semifinals
• Pakistan Exit: Pakistan officially withdrew citing lack of government clearance
• Background: Held approximately every two years since inaugural 2010; last conducted in 2024 in Nepal (Bangladesh beat hosts 2–1 in final)

In April 2026, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance and Corporate Affairs (MoF&CA), delivered the keynote address at the 38th Foundation Day of SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

• Cyber Risk Warning: Sitharaman urged SEBI to stay highly alert against rising cyber threats and expand investor awareness campaigns across digital platforms
• Mission Jagrook: Nationwide investor awareness campaign launched to protect retail investors from misinformation, fraud, and manipulative financial content
• Fin-Fluencers: Minister appreciated SEBI’s action against unregistered fin-fluencers, highlighting the importance of controlling misleading financial advice
• SEBI: Securities and Exchange Board of India; established 1992 under SEBI Act; HQ: Mumbai

In April 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the re-appointment of B. Ramesh Babu as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) for a third two-year term from 29 July 2026 to 28 July 2028.

• Profile: Has been leading KVB since 2020, succeeding P.R. Seshadri; expertise in retail expansion, MSME lending, and risk management
• Other Positions: Member of Managing Committee and Alternate Chairman of Corporate Credit Committee at IBA; Director at IIBF
• Achievement: KVB took 104 years to reach its first Rs 1 trillion in total business; Ramesh Babu added the second Rs 1 trillion in just 4 years

In April 2026, the Indian Junior Shooting Team finished top of the medal standings at the ISSF Junior World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun 2026 held in Cairo, Egypt from 19–27 April 2026, securing a total of 16 medals (5 Gold, 6 Silver, 5 Bronze).

• India’s Contingent: Fielded the largest contingent of 71 shooters among 284 shooters from 25 federations
• Next Event: Indian junior shooters will compete at the ISSF Junior World Championship 2026 at Suhl, Germany in June 2026

In April 2026, 31-year-old Kenyan athlete Sabastian Sawe won the men’s elite race at the London Marathon 2026 and made history by becoming the first athlete to complete a sub-two-hour marathon in a competitive race, breaking the previous world record set by Kelvin Kiptum in 2023.

In April 2026, the International Chess Federation (FIDE — Fédération Internationale des Echecs) officially joined the International World Games Association (IWGA) during its Annual General Meeting (AGM 2026) held at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland.

• Significance: Makes FIDE the 40th member of IWGA; a key step in recognition of chess as a ‘mind sport’
• World Games: Membership opens the door for chess to be potentially included in The World Games — an international multi-sport event for disciplines not primarily contested at the Olympic Games
• FIDE: Fédération Internationale des Echecs; established 1924; HQ: Lausanne, Switzerland; President: Arkady Dvorkovich

In April 2026, veteran photographer Raghu Rai, known as the ‘Father of Indian Photojournalism’, passed away at the age of 83 in New Delhi. He was born on 18 December 1942 in Jhang, Punjab Province, British India (now Pakistan).

• Honour: Padma Shri (1972) — India’s fourth-highest civilian honour, in the field of art
• Career: Started professional career at The Statesman in 1966; in 1977 became the first Indian photographer nominated to Magnum Photos by Henri Cartier-Bresson
• Iconic Work: Documented Mother Teresa, Dalai Lama, Indira Gandhi, Satyajit Ray; captured the Bangladesh Liberation War (1971) and Bhopal Gas Tragedy (1984)
• Awards: Photographer of the Year (USA, 1992); Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters (France, 2009); Lifetime Achievement Award from MIB (2017); Académie des Beaux-Arts Photography Award (2019)

In April 2026, renowned spiritual leader and Padma Shri awardee Guru Muni Narayana Prasad, head of Narayana Gurukulam, passed away in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala at the age of 87. He was born on 9 December 1938 in Thiruvananthapuram.

• Honour: Padma Shri (2024) in the field of Literature & Education
• Spiritual Role: Joined Narayana Gurukulam in 1958; became its president in 1999 — third leader after Nataraja Guru and Nitya Chaitanya Yati
• Literary Work: Authored ~130 books in Malayalam and English covering Vedanta, philosophy, and religion; received Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award twice (2015, 2018)