- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has declared a 408.7 sq km area around Uttar Pradesh’s Barasingha Wildlife Sanctuary as an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) in April 2026, covering 307 villages across five districts. This move aims to create a protective buffer for the sanctuary, home to diverse flora and fauna, including the state animal Barasingha.
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- On April 20, 2026, FedEx and IIT Madras, through the FedEx SMART Centre, conducted India’s first intra‑city middle‑mile drone delivery trials in Bengaluru. The project partnered with Amber Wings, an IIT‑M incubated deep‑tech startup, to test autonomous drones.
- On April 21, 2026, Tata Steel signed definitive agreements with SMS Group (Paul Wurth S.A., Luxembourg) to deploy the world’s first EASyMelt technology at its Jamshedpur Works. The breakthrough aims to cut CO₂ emissions by over 50% compared to conventional blast furnace operations.
- NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd. (NBBL) onboarded Postal Life Insurance (PLI) as an insurance biller on its Bharat Connect platform in April 2026. This enables digital premium payments with instant receipts and wider accessibility for policyholders. The move expands Bharat BillPay’s coverage into insurance services, supporting financial inclusion.
- In April 2026, Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company (ADNIC) secured approval from IFSCA to set up a reinsurance branch at GIFT City, Gujarat. This marks ADNIC’s first overseas branch, expanding its global footprint. The unit will provide reinsurance solutions across property, casualty, marine, aviation, and specialty lines
- On April 21, 2026, Karnataka Bank announced a strategic partnership with Pine Labs, a leading merchant commerce platform. The collaboration aims to scale up Karnataka Bank’s digital payment ecosystem by integrating Pine Labs’ advanced fintech solutions.
- The World Para Athletics Championships 2027 will be hosted in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in June 2027—the first time the event will be staged in Central Asia. Around 1,300 athletes from over 100 nations are expected to compete at the Olympic City Main Stadium.
- On April 21, 2026, the Ministry of Defence inked ₹975 crore contracts with BEML and Electro Pneumatics for DRDO‑developed TRAWL Assemblies for T‑72/T‑90 tanks. The deal was signed under the Buy (Indian–IDDM) category of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, witnessed by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.
- The 7th India–Bhutan Joint Group of Customs (JGC) meeting was held on 20–21 April 2026 in Munnar, Kerala, co‑chaired by Yogendra Garg (CBIC, India) and Sonam Jamtsho (Director General, Department of Revenue & Customs, Bhutan). The aim was to strengthen customs cooperation, trade facilitation, border management, and anti‑smuggling efforts.
- On April 23, 2026, Rajesh Kumar Agarwal officially assumed charge as Director (Finance) of Power Finance Corporation (PFC), a Maharatna CPSE. His appointment followed a directive from the Ministry of Power.
- On April 23, 2026, Shiv Ratan Agarwal, Chairman of Bikaji Foods International, passed away in Chennai at the age of 74. He was the founder of Bikaji Foods, one of India’s leading packaged snack companies, headquartered in Bikaner, Rajasthan.
Questions:
Q.1 The World Para Athletics Championships 2027 will be hosted in:a) Astana, Kazakhstan
b) Tashkent, Uzbekistan
c) Baku, Azerbaijan
d) Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Answer: b) Tashkent will host the World Para Athletics Championships 2027, marking the first time the event will be held in Central Asia.
Q.2 Karnataka Bank partnered with which fintech company to strengthen its digital payment ecosystem?
a) Razorpay
b) Pine Labs
c) Paytm
d) CRED
Answer: b) Karnataka Bank announced a strategic partnership with Pine Labs to integrate advanced merchant commerce and fintech solutions into its payment ecosystem.
