Current Affairs One - Liner : 25th 26th & 27th April 2026

National:

• On April 22–23, 2026, the Ministry of Culture launched “VM Frames”, a National Filmmaking Competition to commemorate 150 years of Vande Mataram. The contest invites citizens to creatively interpret the national song through Reels, AI-based films, and Short Films, with prizes worth up to ₹50 lakh.

• Jio Financial Services (JFSL) and the German insurance major Allianz Group have signed a binding agreement to form a 50:50 joint venture in India. This move marks Allianz’s high-profile return to the Indian market following its recent exit from partnerships with Bajaj Finserv.
• On April 25–26, 2026, six border villages in Jammu & Kashmir’s Kathua district were officially added to the Centre’s Vibrant Village Programme-II to strengthen infrastructure and ensure full saturation of welfare schemes. The villages are Bobiya, Kadyala, Gajnal, Karol Krishna, Rathua, and Gujjar Chak.
• On April 24, 2026, Union MoS (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and MoS for Education, Jayant Chaudhary launched India’s first UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development at Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU), Pune. This is also Asia’s first UNESCO Chair in this domain, aimed at promoting gender-inclusive models in future-ready sectors.
• The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution has expanded MSP procurement in Chhattisgarh under PM-AASHA, focusing on chana and masoor with over 12,000 MT already procured. Operations are digitally integrated through the E-Samyukti platform and supported by PACS networks and awareness campaigns.
• On April 23, 2026, Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd commissioned India’s first anode material plant at Mahistikry, West Bengal, with an initial capacity of 200 metric tonnes per annum. Developed entirely through in-house R&D over a decade, the plant uses high-purity coal tar pitch as feedstock, ensuring superior quality for lithium-ion battery anodes.
• Rocklink India has inaugurated India’s first integrated lithium-ion battery and rare earth recycling plant in Sikandrabad, Uttar Pradesh, with a capacity of 10,000 tonnes per year for batteries and 1,500 tonnes annually for rare earth chloride processing. This marks a major step in India’s push for circular supply chains in electric mobility and clean energy.

International:

• India has been chosen among 12 nations for FIFA’s Women’s Development Programme – Commercial Strategy 2026, running online from May to October 2026. The initiative focuses on building sustainable commercial models, enhancing sponsorship opportunities, and preparing clubs for AFC’s upcoming licensing system.

Banking:

• The Reserve Bank of India cancelled the banking licence of Paytm Payments Bank Limited with effect from 24 April 2026 under Section 22(4) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. The action was taken due to persistent non‑compliance with KYC, licensing conditions, and governance norms, which RBI said were detrimental to depositors.

MoUs:

• On April 22, 2026, India and Japan signed an MoU at IISc Bengaluru during the first Japan‑India AI Strategic Dialogue. The pact between ONESTRUCTION Inc. (Japan) and DataKaveri Systems (IISc) aims to unlock siloed construction data for AI‑driven urban planning.
• On April 24, 2026, Delhi University signed an MoU with the Centre for Maritime Economy and Connectivity (CMEC) at the Delhi School of Economics. The aim is to integrate maritime education and research into mainstream academia, supporting India’s Blue Economy vision.
• On April 22, 2026, Coca-Cola India signed a three-year MoU with Invest UP, the investment promotion agency of the Uttar Pradesh government, in Lucknow. The partnership is a CSR-led initiative aimed at aligning private sector expertise with the state’s infrastructure and sustainability goals.

Science & Technology:

• On April 22, 2026, NASA unveiled the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. The $4 billion observatory, set for launch aboard a SpaceX rocket in September 2026, will probe the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy while mapping vast regions of the universe and discovering tens of thousands of exoplanets.
• Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket failed to deliver AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird‑7 satellite into its intended orbit on April 19, 2026. The satellite was deployed into a much lower orbit, forcing AST to deorbit it, even though the booster itself landed successfully.

Committees:

• On April 23, 2026, the Union Finance Ministry formed a high-level panel under SBI Chairman C.S. Setty to assess systemic risks from Anthropic’s AI model Mythos. The decision followed a meeting between Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, and bank heads. The panel’s objective is to evaluate how Mythos could exploit vulnerabilities in India’s financial and banking infrastructure.

Apps & Portals:

• On April 24, 2026, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal launched the Bharat Taxi app in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The cooperative-based ride-hailing platform promises zero commission, no subscription fees, ₹5 lakh free insurance cover for drivers, and access to MUDRA loans to modernize or shift to EVs.

Important Days:

• World Malaria Day 2026 will be observed globally on April 25, 2026, with the official theme: “Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must.” The campaign highlights that the tools, vaccines, and technologies to eliminate malaria now exist, but urgent coordinated action is required.
• International Girls in ICT Day 2026 was celebrated on April 23 under the theme “AI for Development: Girls Shaping the Digital Future.” The global observance, led by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), highlighted the importance of empowering girls and young women with digital skills, leadership opportunities, and access to technology careers.
• On April 24, 2026, World Day for Laboratory Animals was observed globally to highlight animal welfare in scientific research. The day aims to raise awareness about ethical treatment and promote alternatives to animal testing. Campaigns and events focused on humane science, adoption of non-animal methods, and stronger welfare laws.
• Administrative Professionals Day (also called Admin Day or National Administrative Professionals’ Day) was observed on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. This annual observance falls on the Wednesday of the last full week of April, which in 2026 was April 19–25.
• On April 23, 2026, the United Nations observed Spanish Language Day, celebrating Spanish as one of its six official languages. The day coincides with the death anniversary of Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quixote, symbolizing the richness of Spanish literature and culture.
• World Design Day 2026 was celebrated globally on April 27, 2026, with the theme “The Spaces In Between”, highlighting design’s role in connecting people, cultures, and experiences beyond physical objects. The day commemorates the founding of the International Council of Design (ICoD) in 1963.

Appointments:

• Former Union Minister Dinesh Trivedi has been appointed as India’s next High Commissioner to Bangladesh on April 27, 2026, succeeding Pranay Verma. His appointment comes at a crucial time as New Delhi and Dhaka work to repair strained ties following political transitions in Bangladesh.
• On April 26, 2026, DMRC officially named Sanjay Jamuar as the first CEO of Delhi Metro International Limited (DMIL). DMIL is a new subsidiary created to expand DMRC’s expertise into domestic and international metro projects. Jamuar, a former IRTS officer, joined DMRC in 1998 as its first Operations & Maintenance employee.
• On April 18, 2026, botanist N. Alim Yusuf from the Malabar Botanical Garden, Kerala, received the WWF National Award. The honour was presented at the National ECHO Youth Innovation Summit 2026 in Telangana. He was recognised for his AI-powered app “Neophyte ID”, which detects and tracks invasive plant species.

Books:

• General MM Naravane has officially launched his latest book, "The Curious and the Classified: Unearthing Military Myths and Mysteries." Released on April 22, 2026, this non-fiction work represents a major shift in tone for the former Army Chief.

Awards & Honours:

• Botanist N. Alim Yusuf was honoured with the WWF National Award on April 23, 2026, during the National ECHO Youth Innovation Summit in Telangana. His AI‑based app Neophyte ID, developed at MBGIPS Kerala, uses the YOLOv11 model to detect nearly 100 invasive plant species.

Obituaries:

• Oscar-winning production designer Dean Tavoularis, best known for shaping the iconic look of The Godfather Part II and Apocalypse Now, passed away in Paris on April 22, 2026, at the age of 93 due to natural causes.
• Renowned Indian photographer Raghu Rai, widely regarded as the father of Indian photojournalism, passed away at the age of 83 on April 26, 2026, in New Delhi after battling cancer.
• India’s 1968 Olympic hockey bronze medalist Gurbax Singh Grewal passed away on April 24, 2026, at the age of 84, following a heart attack at his residence in Zirakpur near Chandigarh.

Questions:

Q.1 India’s first anode material plant for lithium-ion battery anodes was commissioned by which company?
a) Tata Chemicals
b) Rocklink India
c) Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd
d) Exide Industries

Answer: c) Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd commissioned this plant in Mahistikry, West Bengal, with 200 MTPA capacity.

Q.2 Under Vibrant Village Programme-II, six border villages of which Jammu & Kashmir district were added in April 2026?
a) Rajouri
b) Kathua
c) Kupwara
d) Baramulla

Answer: b) Six villages of Kathua district—Bobiya, Kadyala, Gajnal, Karol Krishna, Rathua, and Gujjar Chak—were added to strengthen border infrastructure and welfare delivery.