Current Affairs 17 April 2026

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

MoHUA Launches Operational Guidelines for Urban Challenge Fund to Strengthen Urban Infrastructure Financing
In April 2026, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), launched the Operational Guidelines for Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) along with the Credit Repayment Guarantee Sub-Scheme (CRGSS) in New Delhi, Delhi, to strengthen urban infrastructure financing and make cities investment-ready.

• UCF aims to transform cities into financially sustainable growth hubs aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 and broader urban transformation goals.

About Urban Challenge Fund (UCF):
Implementation: Implemented runs from Financial Year (FY) 2025–26 to FY 2030–31, extendable up to FY 2033–34.
Finance: Total Central Assistance of Rs. 1 lakh crore is structured to catalyze nearly Rs. 4 lakh crore in total urban investments, with Central Assistance capped at 25% of project cost and at least 50% funding from market-based sources like municipal bonds, bank loans, and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
Allocation: Rs. 90,000 crore is allocated for project funding and Rs. 5,000 crore for capacity building and preparation.
CRGSS: The CRGSS, a dedicated component of the UCF, supports smaller cities by providing credit guarantees to help them access and raise finance from market-based sources, with an allocation of Rs. 5,000 crore under the scheme.

MoC&I: Patent Application Filings in India Increase 30.2% to 1.43 Lakh in FY26
In April 2026, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I), announced that patent application filings in India increased by 30.2% to 1,43,729 in Financial Year 2025–26 (FY26), compared to 1,10,375 in FY25.
About Patent Filings in India:
Sector-wise Distribution: In FY26, the highest number of patent filings were recorded in computer-related fields, followed by mechanical engineering, chemistry, communication, and electronics sectors.
Global Ranking: India ranks 6th globally in patent filings as per the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

• Among foreign applicants, the United States of America (USA) leads, followed by Japan, South Korea, and China. However, their combined share is less than one-third of total filings in India.

Rise in Domestic Filings: Domestic patent filings increased to 99,721 in FY26 from 68,201 in FY25, raising their share to 69.4% from 61.8%.

• Key contributors include states such as Tamil Nadu(TN), Karnataka, and Maharashtra, along with increasing participation from educational institutions, startups, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and Research and Development (R&D) institutions.

IA Flags Off First Blue Water Sailing Expedition ‘Samudra Sahas’ from Mumbai
On April 13, 2026, the Indian Army(IA)’s Regiment of Artillery flagged off its first blue water sailing expedition ‘Samudra Sahas’ from Marve, Mumbai(Maharashtra).

• The voyage, inaugurated by N. S. Sarna, Commandant of the School of Artillery, marks the bicentenary (200 years) of the Regiment and pays tribute to the maritime legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

About Samudra Sahas:
Voyage Details: The expedition will cover about 520 nautical miles along the Konkan Coast using 21-foot Seabird class boats, divided into four legs: Mumbai–Vijaydurg (Maharashtra)–Goa–Vijaydurg–Mumbai.
Sailing Conditions: Sailing around 7 nautical miles off the coast, the team will face varying wind speeds from 2–4 knots to 10–15 knots, requiring high levels of seamanship, endurance, and coordination.
Team & Training: The expedition is led by Kshitij Nair and Prakash Funde, with ground support under Vardhan Shidhye. The crew underwent pre-expedition training at the Heavy Bridge Training Centre, Marve.
Support: The expedition is supported administratively and operationally by the Indian Navy(IN) and the Indian Coast Guard(ICG).

TDB Signs Agreement with Casey Aviation for Boost Electric Jump Take-Off Projects
On April 13, 2026, the Technology Development Board (TDB), under the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Ministry of Science & Technology (MoS&T), signed an agreement with Casey Aviation Private Limited for the project titled ‘Boost Electric Jump Take-Off (BE-JTO), in New Delhi, Delhi.

• The project has been sanctioned a conditional grant under the India–United Kingdom(UK) Collaborative Research & Development (R&D) Programme for Industrial Sustainability, in partnership with ARC Aerosystems Limited.

About BE-JTO Project:
Focus: The project aims to develop an advanced hybrid propulsion-based Jump Take-Off (JTO) system for unmanned and light aircraft.
Test Bench Facility: As part of the project, Casey Aviation will establish a dedicated test bench facility to validate rotorcraft propulsion systems, one of the first of its kind in North India.
Hybrid Propulsion System: The project integrates electric and conventional propulsion to develop a hybrid powerplant that enables aircraft to take off from short distances or achieve near-vertical climb, similar to a helicopter.
Applications: The project will support regional connectivity in remote areas, enable disaster response, medical evacuation, and improve last-mile logistics through unmanned cargo delivery.

DoT & SEBI Sign MoU to Combat Financial Fraud by Misuse of Telecom Resources 
On April 15, 2026, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), under the Ministry of Communication, and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi, Delhi.

• The partnership integrates telecom intelligence with financial surveillance to prevent financial crimes and curb the misuse of telecom infrastructure in securities fraud and investment scams.

Key Details of MOU:
Signatories: The MoU was signed by Sanjeev Kumar Sharma, Deputy Director General(DG), Artificial Intelligence(AI) & Digital Intelligence Unit (AI&DIU), DoT, and Sandip Pradhan, Whole Time Member, SEBI.
Data Sharing Mechanism: The DoT will share the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI) and Mobile Number Revocation List (MNRL) with the SEBI to identify suspicious mobile numbers and ensure SEBI-regulated entities such as brokers and asset management companies link investor accounts only with active numbers.

• SEBI will provide inputs on telecom resources linked to cyber fraud, impersonation, and money mule activities for swift action by telecom authorities.

DIP Support: The intelligence exchange will be facilitated through the DoT’s Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP), which connects over 1,400 stakeholders and enables real-time sharing of actionable information across institutions.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

TIME 100 2026: Ranbir Kapoor, Sundar Pichai Among World’s Most Influential People
 In April 2026, TIME, the 102-year-old global media brand, revealed the 23rd  edition of annual “TIME 100 Most Influential People 2026” in the world.

• 2026 list features only 3 Indians including: Sundar Pichai, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Google and Alphabet, Chef Vikas Khanna and renowned actor Ranbir Kapoor. 

Key Personalities on TIME 2026 List:
Key Categories: The List has been divided into 6 different categories:  Leaders, Icons, Artists, Innovators, Pioneers and Titans, featuring a mix of heads of state, tech CEOs, celebrities, scientists, social-movement leaders, and rising global voices, with representation from over 25 countries.
Leaders & Geopolitics: This year’s list features nearly 40% of the political figures, reflecting a year of high-stakes diplomacy and leadership transitions.
Some of the prominent global leaders include: Donald Trump, President of the United States of America (USA) & Xi Jinping, President of China, appeared on the list for the record 14th time.
Young Leaders: Zohran Mamdani, Indian-origin Mayor of New York City (the USA); Balendra Shah, the 35-year-old Prime Minister (PM) of Nepal.
Other Key Names: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s astronaut Reid Wiseman, commander of the Artemis II mission, named in the ‘pioneers ‘category; Jennie (Blackpink) in artists category; famous American Actress Kate Hudson in ‘icons’ category; celebrated British fashion designer, businesswoman Victoria Beckham in ‘icons’ category, among others.

India and Germany Launches Commemorative Logo to Mark 75 Years of Diplomatic Ties
On April 14, 2026, India and Germany officially launched a commemorative logo, to celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, during the India-Germany Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held in Berlin, Germany.

• The FOC was co-chaired by Vikram Misri, Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs and Dr. Géza Andreas von Geyr, German State Secretary.

Key Highlights:
Logo: The logo was selected through a joint competition hosted on the MyGov platform, inviting participants from both nations to symbolize the deep-rooted friendship.
Strategic Review: During the consultations, both sides undertook a comprehensive review of bilateral relations covering trade and investment, defence and security, technology, green and sustainable development, mobility, and people-to-people exchanges, and agreed to expand cooperation in emerging areas.

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI Issues Amended Norms on Opening of Branches by NBFCs
In April 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the amended  guidelines titled RBI (Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFC) -Branch Authorisation)Amendment  Directions, 2026, introducing greater operational flexibility for NBFCs while maintaining regulatory safeguards.
Key Highlights
Effective from: The amendment directions shall come into force with immediate effect.
Application submission: Applications must be submitted through the PRAVAAH (Platform for Regulatory Application, Validation And AutHorisation) portal.
Branch Expansion 
Conditions: The conditions for opening branches for Deposit taking – NBFCs are:
Up to Rs 50 Crores (Cr): Deposit-taking NBFCs with net owned funds (NOF) up to Rs 50 cr or with lower credit ratings are permitted to open branches only within the state of their registered office.

LIC Launches ‘MyLIC’ and ‘Super Sales Saathi’ Mobile App to Enhance Customer Experience
In April 2026, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) launched its two new digital initiatives namely, ‘LIC’s Customer Application(MyLIC)’ for policyholders and ‘Super Sales Saathi app’ for sales intermediaries during an event held at Mumbai, Maharashtra.

• The initiatives were formally unveiled by M. Nagaraju, Secretary of Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance (MoF), in the presence of R. Doraiswamy, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Managing Director (MD) of LIC.

Key Details of Initiatives:
MyLIC App: It is a next-generation digital platform designed for policyholders, enabling them to manage their entire insurance portfolio via a unified interface.
Super Sales Saathi: This digital platform is designed to empower intermediaries of LIC with advanced digital tools.
Accessible Through: Both these newly launched digital initiatives are delivered through LIC’s DIVE (Digital Innovation & Value Enhancement) digital transformation platform.

Shriram Finance Arm Gets RBI Nod to Start Primary Dealer Business
In April 2026, Shriram Finance Limited announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Shriram Overseas Investments Limited has received in-principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to commence Primary Dealer (PD) business, subject to certain conditions.
About the Approval:
PD Business: PD are specialised financial institutions authorised by the RBI to act as intermediaries between RBI and financial markets in the Government Securities (G-Sec) ecosystem.
Functions: Participate in Government Securities (G-Sec) and Treasury Bills (T-Bills) auctions, underwrite issuances, and provide liquidity through active buying and selling in the secondary market.
Regulation: Governed by RBI guidelines and disclosed under Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements (LODR)) Regulations, 2015 to stock exchanges.
Status: Approval is not final and requires compliance with RBI’s operational, technical, and infrastructure conditions before commencement.

Razorpay Partners OpenAI to Enable Instant Payments in AI-built Apps
In April 2026, Razorpay, India’s omnichannel payments platform for businesses, entered into a strategic partnership with OpenAI, enabling developers to embed payments directly into applications (apps).

• This move aimed to simplify monetisation for Artificial Intelligence (AI)-built products.

Key Details:
Platform: Under this strategic partnership, developers will use OpenAI’s coding platform, Codex, connecting Razorpay’s payment infrastructure directly within their apps.
Key Role: The integration will enable the developers to start accepting payments instantly using Razorpay’s Model Context Protocol (MCP) server.
Target Audience: This digital collaboration targets developers, student builders, solo founders, and early-stage startups.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

China Emerged India’s Top Trade Partner in FY26; Deficit Widens to USD 112 Billion
In April 2026, the Government of India (GoI)’s latest data showed that China emerged as India’s largest trading partner in Financial Year 2025-26 (FY26), with bilateral trade reaching USD 151.1 billion. However, India’s trade deficit with China widened to USD 112.16 billion during the period.

• China has replaced the United States of America (USA) which was India’s largest trading partner for four consecutive years till FY25.

Key Details:
Export & Import from China: As per the official data, India’s exports to China surged 36.66% to USD 19.47 billion in FY26, while imports increased 16% to USD 131.63 billion during the same period.
Major Trading Partners: The data revealed the major trading partners with which India registered negative exports growth in FY26: the Netherlands, the United Kingdom (UK), Singapore, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Australia, France, South Africa, and Malaysia.

• Further, India’s imports from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China, Switzerland, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Germany, Thailand, and Malaysia recorded positive growth in FY26.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Samrat Choudhary Sworn-in as New CM of Bihar After Nitish Kumar Steps Down
On April 15 2026, Samrat Choudhary was sworn in as the 24th Chief Minister (CM) of Bihar, becoming the first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader to hold the post, with the oath administered by Bihar Governor Syed Ata Hasnain at  Raj Bhavan,in Patna (Bihar).
Key Details:
Leadership Transition: He succeeded Nitish Kumar, who resigned as CM of Bihar after being elected to the Rajya Sabha, bringing an end to his long tenure from February 2015 to April 2026.
Dy CM: Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav were sworn in as the Deputy Chief Ministers (Dy CM) of Bihar.

Infosys Appoints Tennis Star Carlos Alcaraz as Global Brand Ambassador
On April 15, 2026, Infosys, a technology company, has appointed men’s World No. 1 tennis player Carlos Alcaraz of Spain as its Global Brand Ambassador. This deal follows a successful history of Infosys partnering with tennis icons, including Rafael Nadal(Spain) and Iga Świątek(poland).
Key Details of Partnership:
Innovation: Leveraging Infosys Topaz (IT), Infosys will collaborate with Carlos Alcaraz and his coaching team to develop Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven match analytics and personalised performance applications for match preparation and in-game strategy.
Collaboration: The partnership will also extend beyond the court through joint initiatives between Infosys and the Carlos Alcaraz Foundation.
About Carlos Alcaraz:
Profile: Carlos Alcaraz Garfia is a Spanish professional tennis player. As of April 2026, he is placed in history by becoming the youngest man to complete a Career Grand Slam (winning all four major titles).
Achievements: He has won multiple Grand Slam titles, including the US Open and Wimbledon, became the youngest World No. 1 in the men’s Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) rankings in the modern era, and secured several ATP Masters 1000 titles, establishing himself as one of the leading players in international tennis.

SPORTS

India’s Sonam Maskar Finishes Fifth in 10m Air Rifle at ISSF World Cup in Granada
In April 2026, India’s Sonam Uttam Maskar finished 5th in the women’s 10meter (m) air rifle final at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup (Rifle/Pistol) 2026 held in Granada, Spain, scoring 188.5, bowing out after the 18th shot of the 24-shot final.

• In the same event, Wang Zifei of China won gold with 252.9, followed by Jeanette Hegg Duestad of Norway with silver at 252.4, and Han Jiayu of China securing bronze with 231.5.

About ISSF World Cup (Rifle/Pistol) 2026:
Gold: Mukesh Nelavalli and Palak won India’s only gold in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event.
Other Indian Performers: Mehuli Ghosh finished 44th (627.3), while Akhil Sheoran ranked 22nd and Niraj Kumar 15th in Men’s 50m rifle 3 Positions (3P).
Performance: India reached seven finals, with one gold, while China topped the medal tally with 13 medals including eight golds.

 Achievements of Sonam Maskar:

• Won 2 Silver Medals at ISSF World Cup Cairo 2024(Individual Event,Mixed Team (with Arjun Babuta)
• Secured Silver at New Delhi(Delhi) World Cup Final 2024 (Score: 252.9)

India’s R. Vaishali Wins FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026, Qualifies for World Championship 2026
On April 15, 2026, Indian Chess Grandmaster (GM) R. Vaishali
became the first Indian woman to win the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026, held in Pegeia, Cyprus from 28 March to 16 April 2026, after defeating Kateryna Lagno (Russia) in the final round to finish with 8.5 points from 14 rounds.

• With this victory, R. Vaishali will challenge reigning five-time Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun of China in the upcoming Women’s World Chess Championship 2026.

About FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026: 
Event: The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 is divided into two sections: Open (Men’s) and Women’s, which determine the challengers for the World Chess Championship titles in their respective categories.
Format:  It followed a double round-robin format involving 8 players.
Organiser: The event was organised by International Chess Federation (FIDE).
Open Section: Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan won the Open Candidates Tournament 2026 and, after securing the title with one round remaining, drew his final game against Wei Yi to finish with a record score of 10/14.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Siachen Day 2026– April 13 
Siachen Day is observed annually by the Indian Army (IA) on 13 April to commemorate Operation Meghdoot (1984), when Indian troops secured key positions at Bilafond La Pass on the Siachen Glacier, gaining a strategic advantage in the Kashmir region.

• 13th April 2026 marks the 42nd year of IA’s presence at Siachen Glacier.

About Operation Meghdoot:
Launch: Operation Meghdoot was launched by the IA on 13 April 1984 to secure the Siachen Glacier, marking the world’s longest ongoing military operation.
Reason : The operation was initiated after intelligence inputs indicated that Pakistan was planning military action in the Siachen region.
Leadership: The operation was led by Manohar Lal Chibber, Prem Nath Hoon, and Shiv Sharma.

Anniversary of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre 2026 – April 13
The anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, also known as the Amritsar Massacre, is observed annually across India on 13 April to commemorate the tragic incident that took place in 1919 in Amritsar, Punjab (then under British India, now in India).

• 13 April 2026 commemorates the 107th anniversary of the massacre.

About Jallianwala Bagh Massacre: 
Massacre: Hundreds of unarmed people gathered at Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, during Baisakhi.

• Reginald Dyer ordered troops to fire on the peaceful crowd protesting the Rowlatt Act. The firing continued until bullets ran low, killing at least 379 people (official count), though the real number was much higher.

Hunter Commission: After the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, the British government set up the Hunter Commission in 1919, headed by William Hunter, to investigate the incident.

STATE NEWS

AP Government and NRSC Sign MoU to Reduce Lightning Deaths

On April 15, 2026, the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) signed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), a wing of Indian Space Researach Organization (ISRO), to strengthen lightning forecasting, early warning systems, and disaster preparedness in AP.

• The agreement was formalised by Prakhar Jain, Managing Director(MD), APSDMA; and Dr. Aparna, Deputy Director, NRSC, in Vijayawada, AP.

Key Details of MoU:
Objective: The collaboration aims to minimise loss of life and property by improving preparedness and strengthening disaster response systems.
Focus: The MoU focuses on leveraging satellite-based data and advanced weather monitoring systems to provide early warnings for lightning strikes and disaster response framework.
Identification: As part of the initiative, the agencies will identify lightning-prone regions across the state and conduct detailed risk assessments.

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