Current Affairs Today

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs April 19 & 20 2026, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2026 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

MeitY Selects 10 Startups for Cohort II of ISG Under IndiaAI Mission
In April 2026, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), announced the selection of 10 Indian Artificial Intelligence (AI) startups for the second cohort of the IndiaAI Startups Global(ISG) Acceleration Programme under the IndiaAI Mission.

• The program aligns with India’s National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy which focuses on cross-border knowledge exchange, exposure to advanced entrepreneurial ecosystems and global market integration.

Key Details:
IndiaAI Startups Global Acceleration: The programme was initiated by the IndiaAI Mission, MeitY, under its Startup Financing Pillar.

•  It was developed in collaboration with Station F(France), the world’s largest startup campus and HEC Paris(France), one of Europe’s premier business schools.

Key Sectors: The second cohort of the program covers sectors like: healthtech, climate tech, edtech, satellite intelligence, and cognitive AI, as well as other categories.
Selected Startups: AI Health Highway India; Awiros; Cognecto; Flaunt; GreenFi.ai Climateforce Technologies ;  Infiheal Healthtech ; InLustro Learning ; PredCo, SkyServe and TestAIng Solutions.

AICTE Launches 3rd Edition of VAANI Scheme to Promote Indian Languages in Technical Education
In April 2026, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), under the Ministry of Education (MoE), led by Chairman Yogesh Singh, launched the third edition of the AICTE-VAANI (Vibrant Advocacy for Advancement and Nurturing of Indian Languages) scheme, in New Delhi, Delhi.

• The scheme was inaugurated by Yogesh Singh, Chairman of AICTE, along with the release of the scheme document and a dedicated online application portal.

About VAANI Third Edition (2026-27):
Funding: The scheme allocates an annual outlay of Rs.4 crore to support 200 conferences, seminars, and workshops across India, with each eligible institution receiving Rs.2 lakh per event to conduct 2–3 day academic activities.
Languages: Events are conducted in 22 Indian languages listed under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
Domains: It covers 16 emerging technology areas including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Quantum Technology (QT), Cybersecurity, Hydrogen Energy, Space and Defence, and Agrotech.

Herbalife India and IIT Madras Sign MoU to Establish India’s First COE on Plant Cell Fermentation 
On April 17, 2026, Herbalife India, a subsidiary of Herbalife Limited(HLF) and the Indian Institute of Technology(IIT) Madras, Chennai(Tamil Nadu, TN), signed a  Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish India’s first Centre of Excellence(CoE) on Plant Cell Fermentation Technology at IIT Madras Research Park in Chennai.
About CoE on Plant Cell Fermentation Technology:
Objective : To establish a world-class CoE for Research & Development (R&D), innovation, and entrepreneurship in the sustainable production of herbal biomass, enriched extracts, and high-value phytochemicals.
Focus Area: The CoE will advance plant cell fermentation for sustainable, scalable production of herbal biomass enriched with high-value phytochemicals for human health and wellness.
Technology Integration: The CoE will combine advanced upstream cultivation systems with state-of-the-art downstream processing and metabolomics platforms to drive innovation in plant cell fermentation.
Capacity Building & Infrastructure: It will support capacity building, industry technology transfer, and entrepreneurship, backed by specialised, state-of-the-art equipment dedicated to plant cell fermentation.

MoMSME Signs MoU with NLDSL to Strengthen Data-Driven Logistics Ecosystem 
On April 17, 2026, the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NICDC Logistics Data Services Limited (NLDSL), a digital and data arm of the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC), to enhance logistics efficiency and promote data-driven policymaking for the MSME sector.

• The MoU was signed by Anuja Bapat, Deputy Director General(DDG), Office of the Development Commissioner, MoMSME; and Arvind Devaraj, Chief Operating Officer(COO), NLDSL, in New Delhi, Delhi.

Key Details of MoU:
Integration: The collaboration establishes an Application Programming Interface (API)-based digital framework for seamless data exchange between the Ministry of MSME and NLDS, enabling real-time logistics insights, informed decision-making, and improved supply chain efficiency for MSMEs.
Empowerment: The partnership will provide MSMEs with comprehensive logistics insights, helping reduce inefficiencies, optimise costs, and enhance competitiveness in domestic and global markets.
NLDSL: It is a Joint Venture(JV) between the Government of India(GoI’s) NICDIT (National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust) and the Japanese tech giant NEC Corporation.

• It operates the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) to digitise and streamline the logistics supply chain.

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI issues Master Directions on Notes and Coins Exchange Facility
In April 2026, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released Master Directions on Facility for Exchange of Notes and Coins, mandating all bank branches to provide free and non-discriminatory exchange services of currency notes and coins to the public.
Key Highlights
Exchange Facility: RBI has instructed that all bank branches in all parts of the country are mandated to provide following customer services:

• Issuing fresh/ good quality notes and coins of all denominations,

• Exchanging soiled/ mutilated/ imperfect notes, and

• Accepting coins and notes either for transactions or exchange.

Soiled Note:  A ‘soiled note’ means a note which has become dirty due to normal wear and tear and also includes a two-piece note pasted together wherein both the pieces presented belong to the same note and form the entire note with no essential feature missing.

• These notes shall be accepted over bank counters for exchange or credit to accounts of the public maintained with banks.

DGFT Authorizes 17 Banks to Import Gold & Silver Until March 2029
In April 2026, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Department of Commerce(DoC), Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MoC&I), updated the list of authorised banks, permitting 15 banks to import both gold and silver and 2 banks to import only gold.

•  As per DGFT, the authorisation will come into effect from April 01, 2026 and will remain valid till March 31, 2029.

Key Details:
Key Amendment: As per DGFT official notification, this authorisation was granted through amendments made in Appendix 4 of the Handbook of Procedures, 2023 under the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), 2023.
List of Banks:

• Imports Both: Indian Overseas Bank (IOB); Bank of India(BoI); Punjab National Bank (PNB);  RBL Bank Limited; State Bank of India (SBI); Axis Bank Limited; Federal Bank Limited; HDFC Bank Limited; ICICI Bank Limited; IndusInd Bank Limited; Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL); Karur Vysya Bank Limited (KVB); Yes Bank Limited;Deutsche Bank;  Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited.
• Import Only: Union Bank of India (UBI) and SBER Bank, a Russian state-publicly listed company.

World Bank Approves USD 225 Million Loan for Rajasthan Highway Modernization Project
On April 13, 2026, the World Bank(WB’s) Board of Executive Directors approved a USD 225 million (approximately Rs. 2,080 crore) loan for the Rajasthan Highway Modernisation Project to enhance the efficiency, resilience, and safety of state highways.
About Rajasthan Highway Modernisation Project:
Loan Terms: The USD 225 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a 35-year maturity, includes India’s first Step-Up Loan (SuL), and offers a 5-year grace period.
SuL Mechanism: The SuL eases fiscal pressure during the early high-risk phase, with higher repayments later once the project stabilises and becomes ready for market refinancing.
Scope: The Rajasthan Highway Modernization Project will upgrade and maintain about 800 kilometer(km) of state highways while transforming the Rajasthan State Highway Authority(RSHA) into a modern, service-oriented agency, enhancing safety, reliability, and climate resilience.

CheQ and AU SFB Launch India’s First Co-branded LED Credit Card
In April 2026, CheQ, a credit management platform, partnered with AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB) to launch the ‘CheQ AU Credit Card’, India’s first co-branded Light-Emitting Diode (LED)-powered credit card, designed to simplify payments, maximise rewards, and enhance digital payment experiences through a unified rewards ecosystem and innovative tap-to-pay features.

• The card lights up during transactions by drawing power from the Near Field Communication (NFC) field of the Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal, eliminating the need for an internal battery.

About CheQ LED Credit Card:
Network: The card supports dual networks, Visa for global transactions and RuPay for Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
Fee: Annual fee of Rs.499 (waived on Rs 3 lakh spends), additionally, a Rs.999 one-time fee for the LED variant is waived until 31 May 2026 for CheQ customers.
Rewards: Offers a unified CheQ Points system with up to 12% rewards on select platforms, 5% on everyday spends, 2.5% on UPI (RuPay), and 1% on other transactions, redeemable for gift cards, travel, and bill payments, along with a welcome EazyDiner membership worth Rs.695.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

JSW Steel Board Approves Proposal to Sign Pact with POSCO for JV
In April 2026, JSW Steel Limited’s Board approved a proposal to form a Joint Venture (JV) with South Korea’s POSCO Group to set up a 6 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) integrated steel plant in Odisha.

• The proposed JV is expected to strengthen strategic relations between the two steel makers.

Key Details:
50:50 JV: Both entities will sign a share subscription and JV agreement under which Saffron Resources Private Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of JSW Steel, will become a 50:50 JV between JSW Steel and POSCO Group through subscription arrangement.
Equity Shares Subscription: As part of the arrangement, POSCO Group will acquire equity shares of Saffron Resources for a consideration value of nearly Rs 508.8 crore, subject to closing adjustments.
Timeline: The transaction is expected to be completed by December 31, 2026, which may be extended by mutual agreement.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Bollywood Actress Sayani Gupta Named Person of the Year by Harvard SAA
In April 2026, Bollywood actress Sayani Gupta was named the South Asian ‘Person of the Year’ by the Harvard University South Asian Association (SAA), recognising her exceptional contribution to film, story telling, and representation.

• She will formally receive the award at Harvard University later in April 2026.

Key Details:
Person of the Year Award: It is an annual award, presented by Harvard University to individuals whose work has significantly influenced global perceptions of South Asian talent and identity.

• It celebrates contributions across arts, leadership, activism, and public service.

Last Year Indian Winner: In 2025, Michelin-star Chef Vikas Khanna was honored by Harvard University SAA.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

USA Unveils Space Nuclear Power Plan, Targets Moon Reactor by 2030 
In April 2026, the United States of America (USA)’s Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) formally launched the National Space Technology Memorandum-3 (NSTM-3), a national initiative to advance space nuclear power, targeting deployment of low- to mid-power reactors in orbit, on the Moon and Mars in the 2030s.
Key Details of Guidelines:
Moon Reactor: As per the newly launched nuclear space programme, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been tasked to start a programme within 30 days to develop a mid-power reactor with lunar surface version expected to launch by 2030.
Orbital Reactor : The USA’s Department of Defense has been tasked with developing a mission-ready in-space reactor by 2031, subject to funding.
Key Role of DOE: The USA’s Department of Energy (DOE) is required to assess within 60 days whether the USA reactor industry can build  up to 4 space reactors within 5 years.

NASA Announces SpaceX to Launch Rosalind Franklin Rover to Mars 2028
In April 2026, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket will launch the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Rosalind Franklin rover to Mars, in 2028.

• It will be launched from Launch Complex 39A at  Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the United States of America (USA).

About Rosalind Franklin rover:
Project: NASA has approved the implementation of Rosalind Franklin Support and Augmentation (ROSA) project. It is part of the ExoMars mission.
Objective: Under the mission, the Rosalind Franklin rover will drill up to 2 meters(m) beneath Mars’ surface to search for signs of past or present microbial life, becoming the first Mars rover to explore subsurface life on the Red Planet.
Role of NASA: Under ROSA project, NASA will facilitate critical support systems and technologies to ensure the success of the mission: include launch services, braking engines for the landing platform, and radioisotope heater units to maintain internal temperature of the rover in extreme martian conditions.
Background: In 2024, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between NASA and ESA, formalizing the agreement to expand NASA’s role in the ExoMars programme.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

NITI Aayog Launches “Divya Bharat: A Window to the Soul of India” Anthology for Tourism Promotion
In April 2026, Suman Bery, Vice Chairman of the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, launched the anthology titled “Divya Bharat: A Window to the Soul of India”, to promote India’s tourism potential by showcasing its rich cultural heritage, traditions, and diverse destinations, in New Delhi, Delhi.

About the Anthology:
Highlights: The anthology showcases curated travel routes, cuisines, local festivals, handicrafts, and lesser-known destinations across every state and Union Territory (UT) of India.
Framework: Follows a month-wise seasonal approach with a travel calendar, promoting experiential tourism through local communities, traditions, and lifestyles.
Content: It includes around 3,000 curated entries comprising 2,100 tourism destinations and 1,200 cultural listings covering landmarks, heritage, festivals, cuisine, textiles, handicrafts, and lesser-known sites.
Alignment: Supports national initiatives like Dekho Apna Desh and Swadesh Darshan, and the plan to develop 50 global tourist destinations.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Quantum Day 2026 – April 14
The World Quantum Day is observed annually on 14 April across the globe to promote awareness about quantum science and technology, highlighting its role in understanding nature and enabling innovations like computing, communication, and secure systems.

• 2026 Theme: “Shaping the Quantum Workforce”

Background:
Establishment: World Quantum Day was launched on 14 April 2021 by quantum scientists from over 65 countries to promote awareness of quantum science.
Observance: The first official global celebration of World Quantum Day took place on 14 April 2022.
Recognition: On 2 May 2023, the Senate of the United States of America (USA) passed a bipartisan resolution supporting World Quantum Day and its objectives.
Date Significance: 14 April (4/14) represents the rounded value 4.14, reflecting the leading digits of Planck’s constant.

World Art Day 2026 – April 15
World Art Day (WAD) is observed annually across the globe on April 15 to promote the link between art and society, raise awareness of diverse artistic expressions, and recognise artists’ contributions to sustainable development.

• 2026 Theme: “A Garden of Expression: Cultivating Community through Art”

Background:
Declaration: In April 2011, during the 17th General Assembly of the International Association of Art(IAA) in Guadalajara(Mexico), a proposal by the Turkish National Committee was adopted to declare April 15 as World Art Day.
First Celebration: The inaugural World Art Day was celebrated on April 15, 2012.
Organising Body: The IAA(France) affiliated with UNESCO, leads the global celebrations of WAD.
UNESCO Recognition: In 2019, during its 40th General Conference, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officially proclaimed World Art Day as an international observance.
Significance of Date: The observance marks the birth anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci (15 April 1452), symbolising ideals of freedom of expression, tolerance, and brotherhood.

World Voice Day 2026 – April 16
World Voice Day (WVD) is observed annually across the globe on April 16 to celebrate the significance of the human voice in communication, identity, and culture.

• 2026 Theme: “Caring for Our Voices!”

Background:
Origin : WVD began in Brazil on April 16, 1999, as Brazilian Voice Day, initiated by the Brazilian Society of Laryngology and Voice (SBLV) under Dr. Nedio Steffen.
Global Adoption: The initiative later inspired countries such as Argentina and Portugal to introduce similar observances.
International Recognition: The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) officially recognised and renamed it WVD, promoting it globally and selecting the annual theme through its Voice Committee.

STATE NEWS

Meghalaya Govt Approves Khasi, Garo as Official State Languages
On April 16, 2026, the Meghalaya Cabinet, led by Chief Minister(CM) Conrad Kongkal Sangma, approved the ‘Meghalaya Official Languages Ordinance, 2026’, declaring Khasi and Garo as official languages alongside English.

• The move also repeals the Meghalaya State Language Act, 2005, enabling their use in official communications, notifications, and orders.

Key Implications:

Objective: The move aims to preserve and promote regional languages widely spoken by local communities.
Legislative Amendment: The government will amend the Meghalaya State Legislature (Continuance of English Language) Act, 1980, enabling Members of the Legislative Assembly(MLAs) to speak and debate in Khasi and Garo in the Assembly.
Exams: The move facilitates conducting state-level examinations in Khasi and Garo, improving accessibility for local youth.
Implementation: The rollout will be phased, with English continuing as the common link for inter-district communication and high-level administrative work.

CDS Anil Chauhan Flags Off ‘Surya Devbhoomi Challenge 2.0’ in Uttarakhand
On April 16 2026, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan, formally flagged off the 2nd edition of the ‘Surya Devbhoomi Challenge 2.0’, a high-altitude endurance event, in Badrinath , Uttarakhand.

• The 5-day event will continue till April 20, 2026 across the Char Dham corridor of Uttarakhand, covering 3 sacred Kedars-Kalpeshwar, Rudranath, and Tungnath.

About Surya Devbhoomi Challenge 2.0:
Organiser: The 113-kilometer long expedition is being organised by Indian Army (IA) in strategic partnership with IconMetrix and is supported by the Tourism Department of Uttarakhand Government.
Key Role of IconMetrix: It will ensure that the expedition reaches a pan-India demographic i.e. from the running clubs of Ahmedabad (Gujarat) to the trail communities in Kolkata (West Bengal, WB).
Significance: The event, under the Vibrant Village Programme(VVP), is expected to boost tourism and generate employment opportunities in border villages of the state.

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