Current Affairs One - Liner : 9th April 2026

National:

• On 8 April 2026, the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) notified two premier institutions—CMLRE (Kochi) and ARI (Pune)—as National Repositories under Section 39 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. This strengthens India’s official network of repositories for safe custody and documentation of biological resources.

• On April 7, 2026, the Telangana Government officially declared cancer a notifiable disease. Hospitals and healthcare providers must now report all cancer cases to state authorities. The move aims to create a comprehensive cancer registry for policy and planning. It will strengthen early detection, treatment access, and public health response in Telangana.
• On 7 April 2026, the Election Commission of India (ECI) launched the International Election Visitors’ Programme (IEVP) 2026 in New Delhi. The initiative invites global election officials to observe India’s assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry, showcasing India’s electoral processes and strengthening international cooperation.

Banking:

• On April 7, 2026, DBS Bank India launched DBS Aspire for the emerging affluent segment. Eligibility: ₹10 lakh Total Relationship Value or ₹2 lakh Monthly Average Balance. Key features: dedicated relationship manager, 5% interest on balances ₹2–50 lakh, zero-fee banking & forex waiver.
• On April 8, 2026, Bengaluru-based digital lender KreditBee officially entered the "Unicorn Club" after securing $280 million in its Series E funding round. This investment values the company at $1.5 billion, making it the third Indian startup to achieve unicorn status in 2026 (following Neysa and Juspay).
• On April 8, 2026, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved Advent International’s proposal. The deal involves acquiring a 14.286% stake in Aditya Birla Housing Finance Limited (ABHFL). This marks Advent’s deeper entry into India’s housing finance and NBFC sector. The move strengthens ABHFL’s capital base and supports retail housing loan growth.
• Bank of Baroda (BoB) has launched bob SAMVAD, an AI-powered multilingual conversational platform that enables real-time communication in 22 Indian languages, eliminating language barriers at bank branches. The platform was formally launched in Mumbai on March 28, 2026, and is initially rolled out across 250 branches in five states.
• On April 7, 2026, Canara HSBC Life Insurance launched Promise4Wealth, a next-generation Unit Linked Individual Savings Life Insurance Plan (ULIP) that combines market-linked wealth creation with life cover up to age 100.
• SEBI, on April 7, 2026, announced an extension of IPO approval validity and Minimum Public Shareholding (MPS) compliance norms. The new deadline for companies to utilize IPO approvals and meet MPS requirements is September 30, 2026. This move was taken in view of geopolitical tensions in West Asia and weak investor sentiment affecting fundraising.

Economy:

• The World Bank, in its April 2026 South Asia Economic Update, raised India’s GDP growth forecast for FY27 (2026–27) to 6.6%, up from its earlier estimate of 6.3%. Despite moderating from the 7.6% growth expected in FY26, India remains the fastest-growing major economy globally.

Committees:

• On April 7, 2026, IRDAI formed a high‑level sub‑committee under the Insurance Advisory Committee (IAC) to review the private health insurance sector. The panel, chaired by Ajay Seth, includes experts like Dr. Indu Bhushan and Monika Halan. Its first report is due in August 2026, with a total tenure of one year. The ultimate goal is to fix the trust deficit and support the “Insurance for All by 2047” vision.

Important Days:

• International Romani Day 2026 was celebrated on April 8 to honor Romani culture, history, and rights. It was first declared in 1990 at the 4th World Romani Congress in Poland. The day highlights Romani contributions to art and society while raising awareness about discrimination and marginalization.

Appointments:

• Deep Jariwala, Indian-origin scientist and professor at the University of Pennsylvania, was appointed as the UT–ORNL Governor’s Chair for Quantum Devices on April 9, 2026. He will officially assume the position in January 2027, jointly at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
• Sajja Praveen Chowdary has been appointed as the new CEO and Principal Officer of Policybazaar Insurance Brokers Pvt. Ltd. effective April 7, 2026, following the resignation of Tarun Mathur after 18 years.
• On April 7, 2026, Vietnam’s National Assembly unanimously re‑elected Communist Party General Secretary To Lam as the country’s President, consolidating power by holding both the party’s top post and the head of state position—making him Vietnam’s most powerful leader in decades.

Questions:

Q.1 According to the World Bank, India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast for Financial Year 2026–27 (FY27) is:
a) 6.6%
b) 6.3%
c) 6.2%
d) 7.0%

Answer: a) Forecast revised upward to 6.6%.

Q.2 Which state government declared cancer a notifiable disease in April 2026, requiring mandatory reporting by hospitals?
a) Government of Tamil Nadu
b) Government of Karnataka
c) Government of Maharashtra
d) Government of Telangana

Answer: d) The Government of Telangana mandated reporting to build a comprehensive cancer registry.