Daily Current Affairs & GK Updates

TDB Signs Agreement with Casey Aviation for Boost Electric Jump Take-Off ProjectsOn 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.

17 Apr, 2026

TDB Signs Agreement with Casey Aviation for Boost Electric Jump Take-Off ProjectsOn 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.

1344 165 28

Read

IA Flags Off First Blue Water Sailing Expedition ‘Samudra Sahas’ from MumbaiOn 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).

17 Apr, 2026

IA Flags Off First Blue Water Sailing Expedition ‘Samudra Sahas’ from MumbaiOn 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).

2146 66 17

Read

Sponsored Advertisement

MoC&I: Patent Application Filings in India Increase 30.2% to 1.43 Lakh in FY26In 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.

17 Apr, 2026

MoC&I: Patent Application Filings in India Increase 30.2% to 1.43 Lakh in FY26In 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.

1429 190 37

Read

MoHUA Launches Operational Guidelines for Urban Challenge Fund to Strengthen Urban Infrastructure FinancingIn 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.

17 Apr, 2026

MoHUA Launches Operational Guidelines for Urban Challenge Fund to Strengthen Urban Infrastructure FinancingIn 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.

1089 81 44

Read

Sponsored Advertisement

International Day for Street Children 2026– April 12The International Day for Street Children (IDSC) is observed on April 12 each year to raise awareness about the challenges faced by street children worldwide.2026 Theme : “Protect, not Punish”Background:First Observation: The first-ever IDSC was observed on April 12, 2011, launched by the Consortium for Street Children (CSC), a global network working to promote and protect the rights of street-connected children.Global Recognition: Since 2012, the day has been celebrated worldwide to recognise the humanity, dignity, and resilience of street children in the face of adversity.Significance: April 12 marks the anniversary of the first United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session focused on children in 1955.Organising Body: The CSC leads the observance of IDSC and annually determines its theme to highlight the needs of street children worldwide.

16 Apr, 2026

International Day for Street Children 2026– April 12The International Day for Street Children (IDSC) is observed on April 12 each year to raise awareness about the challenges faced by street children worldwide.2026 Theme : “Protect, not Punish”Background:First Observation: The first-ever IDSC was observed on April 12, 2011, launched by the Consortium for Street Children (CSC), a global network working to promote and protect the rights of street-connected children.Global Recognition: Since 2012, the day has been celebrated worldwide to recognise the humanity, dignity, and resilience of street children in the face of adversity.Significance: April 12 marks the anniversary of the first United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session focused on children in 1955.Organising Body: The CSC leads the observance of IDSC and annually determines its theme to highlight the needs of street children worldwide.

1804 113 47

Read

International Day of Human Space Flight 2026- April 12 The United Nations(UN’s) International Day of Human Space Flight is observed on April 12 each year to mark the start of the space age and highlight the role of space science in supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Background:First Observation: The first International Day of Human Space Flight was observed on April 12, 2011.Milestone: The year 2011 marked 50 years since the first human spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin on April 12, 1961, and the first session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).2026 Event:Event: On April 12, 2026, an interactive event titled ‘Orbit of Inspiration: Celebrating 65 Years of Human Spaceflight with Denis Matveev’ was organised at the Nehru Planetarium under the Prime Ministers(PM) Museum and Library in New Delhi, Delhi, to commemorate the International Day of Human Space Flight (Cosmonautics Day) 2026 and the 65th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s historic first human space journey.Commemorative Stamps: The Department of Posts (DoP), Karnataka Postal Circle unveiled commemorative postage stamps and souvenir sheets in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

16 Apr, 2026

International Day of Human Space Flight 2026- April 12 The United Nations(UN’s) International Day of Human Space Flight is observed on April 12 each year to mark the start of the space age and highlight the role of space science in supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Background:First Observation: The first International Day of Human Space Flight was observed on April 12, 2011.Milestone: The year 2011 marked 50 years since the first human spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin on April 12, 1961, and the first session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).2026 Event:Event: On April 12, 2026, an interactive event titled ‘Orbit of Inspiration: Celebrating 65 Years of Human Spaceflight with Denis Matveev’ was organised at the Nehru Planetarium under the Prime Ministers(PM) Museum and Library in New Delhi, Delhi, to commemorate the International Day of Human Space Flight (Cosmonautics Day) 2026 and the 65th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s historic first human space journey.Commemorative Stamps: The Department of Posts (DoP), Karnataka Postal Circle unveiled commemorative postage stamps and souvenir sheets in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

2017 158 42

Read

Sponsored Advertisement

2026 Badminton Asia Championships South Korea Tops, India’s Ayush Shetty Claims SilverThe Badminton Asia Championships 2026, also known as The Bank of Ningbo Badminton Asia Championships 2026, the 43rd edition of the continental badminton tournament, was held from April 7 to April 12, 2026, at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium in Ningbo, China.South Korea ranked first with 3 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze medal (5 total), followed by China in second with 2 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze medals (6 total), and Thailand in third with 0 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze medal (2 total).About Badminton Asia Championships 2026:Organiser: The tournament was organized by Badminton Asia and hosted by the Chinese Badminton Association (CBA).India’s Silver Win: India finished fourth as 20-year-old Ayush Shetty, ranked world No. 25, secured a historic men’s singles silver medal—becoming the first Indian in 61 years to reach the final and only the second after Dinesh Khanna.

16 Apr, 2026

2026 Badminton Asia Championships South Korea Tops, India’s Ayush Shetty Claims SilverThe Badminton Asia Championships 2026, also known as The Bank of Ningbo Badminton Asia Championships 2026, the 43rd edition of the continental badminton tournament, was held from April 7 to April 12, 2026, at the Ningbo Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium in Ningbo, China.South Korea ranked first with 3 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze medal (5 total), followed by China in second with 2 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze medals (6 total), and Thailand in third with 0 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze medal (2 total).About Badminton Asia Championships 2026:Organiser: The tournament was organized by Badminton Asia and hosted by the Chinese Badminton Association (CBA).India’s Silver Win: India finished fourth as 20-year-old Ayush Shetty, ranked world No. 25, secured a historic men’s singles silver medal—becoming the first Indian in 61 years to reach the final and only the second after Dinesh Khanna.

506 180 21

Read

New Bent-toed gecko species ‘Cyrtodactylus raimonaensis’ Discovered in AssamIn April 2026, a group of researchers discovered a new bent-toed gecko species in the Kachugaon region of Kokrajhar district near Raimona National Park (NP) in Assam. The species has been named ‘Cyrtodactylus raimonaensis’ ( commonly known as Raimona bent-toed gecko), after Raimona NP.The discovery of new gecko species was published in the peer-reviewed journal ‘Zootaxa’.Key Details:Genus: As per the researchers, the newly discovered toed gecko belongs to Cyrtodactylus genus, one of the most diverse groups of geckos found across South and Southeast Asia.Key Features: The adult individuals of the species have a maximum snout-vent length of 71.1 millimetre (mm). The species have a rounded body and bluntly conical head, which distinguishes it from other related species.

16 Apr, 2026

New Bent-toed gecko species ‘Cyrtodactylus raimonaensis’ Discovered in AssamIn April 2026, a group of researchers discovered a new bent-toed gecko species in the Kachugaon region of Kokrajhar district near Raimona National Park (NP) in Assam. The species has been named ‘Cyrtodactylus raimonaensis’ ( commonly known as Raimona bent-toed gecko), after Raimona NP.The discovery of new gecko species was published in the peer-reviewed journal ‘Zootaxa’.Key Details:Genus: As per the researchers, the newly discovered toed gecko belongs to Cyrtodactylus genus, one of the most diverse groups of geckos found across South and Southeast Asia.Key Features: The adult individuals of the species have a maximum snout-vent length of 71.1 millimetre (mm). The species have a rounded body and bluntly conical head, which distinguishes it from other related species.

1906 87 16

Read

Sponsored Advertisement

Iraqi Parliament Elects Nizar Amedi As New PresidentIn April 2026, the Parliament of Iraq elected former Environment Minister Nizar Mohammed Saeed Amedi, a member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), as the country’s 9th President during a decisive voting session held in Baghdad, Iraq.He succeeds Abdul Latif Rashid and becomes the 6th Iraqi Head of State since 2003.Background:Strong Lead: In the first round, Nizar Amedi secured 208 votes, while Muthanna Amin got 17 votes and Fuad Hussein received 16 votes.The election proceeded to a second round between Amedi and Amin after no candidate achieved the required two-thirds majority in the first round.Victory: Nizar Amedi secured 227 votes in the second-round runoff, defeating Muthanna Amin Nader, who received 15 votes, and subsequently took the constitutional oath as President.Quorum Achieved: Around 250 lawmakers attended the session out of 329 members, crossing the required quorum of 220 for the election.

16 Apr, 2026

Iraqi Parliament Elects Nizar Amedi As New PresidentIn April 2026, the Parliament of Iraq elected former Environment Minister Nizar Mohammed Saeed Amedi, a member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), as the country’s 9th President during a decisive voting session held in Baghdad, Iraq.He succeeds Abdul Latif Rashid and becomes the 6th Iraqi Head of State since 2003.Background:Strong Lead: In the first round, Nizar Amedi secured 208 votes, while Muthanna Amin got 17 votes and Fuad Hussein received 16 votes.The election proceeded to a second round between Amedi and Amin after no candidate achieved the required two-thirds majority in the first round.Victory: Nizar Amedi secured 227 votes in the second-round runoff, defeating Muthanna Amin Nader, who received 15 votes, and subsequently took the constitutional oath as President.Quorum Achieved: Around 250 lawmakers attended the session out of 329 members, crossing the required quorum of 220 for the election.

2276 168 36

Read

IMF Raises India’s GDP Growth Forecast to 6.5% for FY27In April 2026, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released its April 2026 World Economic Outlook (WEO) titled “Global Economy in the Shadow of War”. The report has marginally upgraded India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for Financial Year 2026-27 (FY27) by 10 basis points (bps) to 6.5% compared to previous estimate of 6.4% (in WEO, January2026).Key Findings:GDP for FY28: Similarly, IMF has projected that the Indian economy will remain stable at 6.5% in FY28.Inflation: As per the report, India’s inflation is expected to increase to 4.7% in FY27 over 2.1% in FY26 and is further projected to decrease to 4%, within the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s inflation target range, in FY28.Global Growth Rate: The report has projected global GDP to grow by 3.1% in CY26 and will increase by 10 bps to 3.2% (in CY27).Global Inflation: As per WEO, global inflation is expected to increase from 4.1% (in CY25) to 4.4% (in CY26) and will ease to 3.7% in CY27.

16 Apr, 2026

IMF Raises India’s GDP Growth Forecast to 6.5% for FY27In April 2026, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released its April 2026 World Economic Outlook (WEO) titled “Global Economy in the Shadow of War”. The report has marginally upgraded India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for Financial Year 2026-27 (FY27) by 10 basis points (bps) to 6.5% compared to previous estimate of 6.4% (in WEO, January2026).Key Findings:GDP for FY28: Similarly, IMF has projected that the Indian economy will remain stable at 6.5% in FY28.Inflation: As per the report, India’s inflation is expected to increase to 4.7% in FY27 over 2.1% in FY26 and is further projected to decrease to 4%, within the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s inflation target range, in FY28.Global Growth Rate: The report has projected global GDP to grow by 3.1% in CY26 and will increase by 10 bps to 3.2% (in CY27).Global Inflation: As per WEO, global inflation is expected to increase from 4.1% (in CY25) to 4.4% (in CY26) and will ease to 3.7% in CY27.

2266 156 17

Read

Sponsored Advertisement

Daily Current Affairs & GK

Online Test Series