NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. IRFC to Provide ₹13,615 Crore Loan for Telangana’s Hyderabad Metro Takeover: Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) will provide a ₹13,615 crore loan to the Telangana government for taking over the Hyderabad Metro Rail project. The Telangana government plans to acquire a 100% equity stake (Phase 1) in Hyderabad Metro Rail from L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad.
2. CCIC Launches ‘Soul Threads’ Heritage Collection Showcasing India’s Artisanal Excellence: Central Cottage Industries Corporation of India (CCIC) launched its first heritage designer collection “Soul Threads” under the Ministry of Textiles, highlighting India’s rich artisanal legacy.
The exhibition is being held from April 24 to May 10, 2026 at CCIC’s flagship showroom in Jawahar Vyapar Bhawan, featuring sarees, designer wear, jewellery, and home furnishings. The collection blends traditional Indian textile heritage with modern aesthetics, and was showcased through a fashion show during the inaugural event
3. 24 April – National Panchayati Raj Day: National Panchayati Raj Day is observed annually on 24 April to promote grassroots democracy in India. Theme 2026 – Sashakt Panchayat, Sarvangeen Vikas” (Empowered Panchayats, Holistic Development) The day marks the implementation of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, which established the Panchayati Raj system. It highlights the role of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in rural development and local governance.
4. Supreme Court Sets Minimum ICU Standards for Hospitals: The Supreme Court-appointed expert committee has framed minimum standards for Intensive Care Units (ICUs) across hospitals in India, creating a uniform benchmark for infrastructure, staffing and patient care. The move aims to ensure that hospitals claiming to have ICU facilities meet essential clinical and safety requirements, especially for critically ill patients. The guidelines were endorsed by the Supreme Court as “practical, implementable and necessary” and are expected to improve intensive care delivery across both urban and rural healthcare systems. The framework requires every ICU to have a dedicated space with easy access to emergency services, operation theatres and laboratory facilities. Hospitals must ensure uninterrupted power backup, sanitation systems and a proper internal layout to support emergency care. Each ICU bed must be equipped with oxygen supply, suction facilities and electrical points. Essential equipment listed includes multiparameter monitors, ventilators, defibrillators, crash carts, infusion pumps, syringe pumps, glucometers and ECG machines. These measures aim to standardise the minimum functional capacity of ICUs across all hospitals.
5. Kathua Border Villages Added to Vibrant Village Programme-II: The Central Government has included six border villages in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district under the Vibrant Village Programme-II to improve infrastructure and ensure full delivery of welfare schemes. These villages are located along the International Border and hold strategic importance for border security as well as rural development. The move aims to strengthen connectivity, public services, and socio-economic opportunities for residents living in sensitive frontier areas. The villages identified under the programme are Bobiya, Kadyala, Gajnal, Karol Krishna, Rathua, and Gujjar Chak. These villages lie close to the International Border and often face development challenges due to their remote location and security concerns. Their inclusion under the scheme is expected to improve access to roads, healthcare, education, electricity, and drinking water facilities.
6. Ending Live-In Relationship Is Not a Crime: SC: The Supreme Court has observed that quitting a live-in relationship is not a criminal offence if the relationship was consensual. While hearing the plea of a woman who had lived with a man for 15 years and had a child with him, the court said that emotional hardship alone cannot turn a consensual relationship into a criminal case. The woman had sought criminal proceedings against her former partner after he married another woman, alleging sexual exploitation and harassment. A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan stated that since the relationship was voluntary and consensual, criminal charges such as sexual assault or exploitation could not be applied after the man ended the relationship. The court observed that once a person walks out of a consensual live-in relationship, it does not automatically become a criminal offence. The judges said there was no legal binding similar to marriage in such relationships.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. IFC Targets $10 Billion Annual Investment in India by 2030: International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private-sector arm of the World Bank Group, aims to increase its annual investments in India to $10 billion by 2030. Currently, IFC’s annual investment in India stands at around $5.4 billion (2024–25), indicating a significant planned expansion.
2. Nitu Sarma Appointed Interim CEO of Noida International Airport: Noida International Airport has appointed Nitu Sarma as the interim CEO, replacing Christoph Schnellmann after permission issues for the foreign national. Nitu Sarma, previously the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), will lead the airport until a formal CEO selection process is completed. Christoph Schnellmann, who served as CEO since August 2020, will now join the Board of Directors as Executive Vice Chairman to support the project.
3. 24 April – World Day for Animals in Laboratories: World Day for Animals in Laboratories is observed annually on 24 April to raise awareness about the use of animals in scientific research.
The day advocates for humane treatment of laboratory animals and promotes alternatives to animal testing. It highlights the need for ethical practices and stricter regulations in scientific experiments involving animals.
4. 19 April – World Liver Day: World Liver Day is observed every year on April 19 to raise awareness about liver health and related diseases. Theme 2026- Solid Habits, Strong Liver The day highlights the importance of early diagnosis, prevention, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle to protect the liver.
5. India Submits New Climate Targets to UN: India has formally submitted its new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for the 2031–35 period to the United Nations climate body under the Paris Agreement. The updated pledges focus on increasing clean energy capacity, reducing emissions intensity and expanding carbon sinks through forests and tree cover. Along with these commitments, India clearly stated that achieving these goals will depend on financial support, technology transfer and capacity building from developed countries, as promised under global climate agreements. India pledged to achieve 60% cumulative installed electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy sources by 2035. It also committed to reducing the emissions intensity of its GDP by 47% by 2035 compared to 2005 levels. Another major target is to create a carbon sink of 3.5 to 4 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent through increased forest and tree cover by 2035 over the 2005 stock. These goals are aimed at balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability.
6. Symbiosis Launches Asia’s First UNESCO Gender Chair: Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU), Pune, has launched Asia’s first UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development. The initiative was announced during the international conference titled “Women Leading the Future of Work”, organised in collaboration with UNESCO. The Chair aims to promote gender equality through skill development, employment opportunities and research, especially for underprivileged girls and women in emerging industries. The UNESCO Chair was formally inaugurated by Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and Minister of State for Education. The initiative marks a major step in linking education, skilling and gender inclusion at an international level. It is the first UNESCO Chair in Asia dedicated specifically to gender inclusion and skill development, making India a key centre for this global agenda.
7. Dinesh Trivedi Appointed Envoy to Bangladesh: Former Union Minister Dinesh Trivedi has been appointed as India’s next High Commissioner to Bangladesh. The Ministry of External Affairs announced that he is expected to take up the assignment shortly. His appointment comes at a sensitive time as both countries seek to restore stability in bilateral ties. India’s decision to send a senior and experienced political leader to Dhaka highlights the importance New Delhi places on its relationship with Bangladesh. Bilateral ties have faced strain during the tenure of Bangladesh’s interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. Issues related to political transitions, diplomatic trust and regional cooperation have required careful handling.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. INS Nireekshak Visits Sri Lanka for Joint Naval Training: INS Nireekshak arrived at Colombo, Sri Lanka, for an operational turnaround and training visit to strengthen India–Sri Lanka maritime cooperation. INS Nireekshak is a diving support and submarine rescue vessel, used for underwater operations, salvage missions, and specialized naval diving tasks.
2. Indian Army Raises 16th Bhairav Battalion: The Indian Army has raised its 16th ‘Bhairav’ Battalion at the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre in Belagavi, Karnataka. The new unit strengthens India’s infantry capabilities and reflects the Army’s focus on agile, rapid-response combat formations suited for modern warfare and sensitive border operations. The Bhairav Battalion, also known as the Bhairav Light Commando Battalion, is a specialised infantry formation designed to function between conventional infantry and elite Special Forces. These units are built as lean, high-mobility tactical forces capable of rapid deployment, reconnaissance, surprise raids and high-intensity missions in difficult terrains.
3. India Becomes Fifth Largest Defence Spender Globally: India ranked as the world’s fifth-largest defence spender in 2025, according to the latest report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). With military expenditure reaching $92.1 billion, India accounted for 3.2% of total global defence spending. This placed the country behind only the United States, China, Russia and Germany. The increase reflects India’s growing focus on military preparedness, border security and defence modernisation amid regional tensions. India’s military expenditure rose by 8.9% compared to 2024, showing a steady rise in strategic investment. The increase was linked to emergency procurements and stronger operational readiness during Operation Sindoor against Pakistan. Defence forces acquired new systems and equipment to maintain combat preparedness. The revised capital outlay for military aircraft systems also saw a major jump, supporting India’s push for stronger air power and advanced combat capabilities.
SPORTS
1. India Selected by FIFA for Women’s Development Programme 2026 to Boost Women’s Football: India has been selected among 12 nations by FIFA for the Women’s Development Programme (Commercial Strategy 2026), boosting women’s football. Under this initiative, FIFA will provide customised training and guidance to stakeholders to strengthen women’s football development in the country.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. DRDO Hands Over AI-Based ‘Prajna’ System to Boost Internal Security: The Ministry of Home Affairs received an indigenous AI-based satellite imaging system, ‘Prajna’, developed by DRDO, to enhance real-time decision-making for security agencies. Developed by DRDO’s CAIR, the system will boost internal security, enabling monitoring of sensitive areas and supporting counter-terrorism operations. Separately, DRDO and the Indian Navy successfully tested the Air Droppable Container (ADC-150), capable of delivering 150 kg payload to assist naval operations and emergency support at sea.
2. NASA Unveils Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope to Explore Exoplanets and Map the Universe: NASA has unveiled the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, a next-generation observatory aimed at studying exoplanets, dark matter, and dark energy. The telescope is expected to discover tens of thousands of exoplanets and map billions of galaxies, stars, and cosmic structures across the universe. Named after astronomer Nancy Grace Roman, the project has an estimated cost of over $4 billion.
3. Two New Jumping Spider Species Found in India: Researchers have discovered two new species of jumping spiders in India, highlighting the country’s rich but still underexplored biodiversity. The newly identified species, named “Mogrus shushka” and “Mogrus pune”, were found in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra, showing that both dry landscapes and urban green spaces can support unique wildlife. The discovery was confirmed through detailed taxonomic research published in the European Journal of Taxonomy under the study titled “Discoveries of two new Mogrus species (Araneae: Salticidae) and notable records from India.” Scientists closely examined microscopic characteristics, especially reproductive structures, to distinguish these spiders from other closely related species in the genus “Mogrus”.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. EXIM Bank Extends $100 Million Loan to Africa Finance Corporation to Boost Infrastructure Development: Export-Import Bank of India has extended a $100 million (approx ₹830 crore) loan to the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC). The loan will support development of critical infrastructure and industrial projects across Africa.
2. RBI Imposes ₹41.8 Lakh Penalty on Bandhan Bank for KYC and Compliance Violations: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a penalty of ₹41.8 lakh on Bandhan Bank for non-compliance with regulatory norms, including Know Your Customer (KYC) guidelines. The bank was found guilty of failing to review risk categorisation of accounts and sanctioning loans related to directors, violating RBI directives.
3. RBI Imposes ₹80,000 Penalty on Muthoot Housing Finance for Fair Practice Code Violations: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a penalty of ₹80,000 on Muthoot Housing Finance Company for non-compliance with regulatory guidelines. The penalty was due to violations of RBI’s ‘Fair Practice Code’, which ensures transparency and fairness in lending practices.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Alcaraz, Sabalenka Named Laureus Sports Persons of the Year; PSG Wins Best Team Award: Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka were named Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards 2026 held in Madrid. Paris Saint-Germain won the Laureus World Team of the Year after securing their first UEFA Champions League title in the 2024–25 season. Nadia Comaneci received the Lifetime Achievement Award and is known for scoring the first perfect 10.0 in Olympic gymnastics.
2. Sur Jyotsna Awards Honour Classical Music Legends: The 13th edition of the Sur Jyotsna National Music Awards was held in New Delhi, celebrating excellence in Indian classical music and honouring veteran artists for their lifelong contribution. This year, renowned Hindustani vocalists Sumitra Guha and Pandit Laxman Krishnarao Pandit received the prestigious recognition for their dedication to preserving and promoting India’s classical music traditions. The awards were instituted in memory of Jyotsna Darda, founder of Lokmat Sakhi Manch, to recognise excellence in Indian music and encourage emerging talent. Every year, artists are selected from vocal and instrumental categories, creating a platform that supports both established masters and young musicians. The initiative aims to preserve India’s rich musical heritage while inspiring future generations.
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