Daily Current Affairs & GK Updates

ISRO Successfully Completes Integrated Air Drop Test-02 for Gaganyaan Mission at Sriharikota, APIn April 2026, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted the second Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02) at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh (AP), marking a key milestone in the Gaganyaan Mission.The test evaluated and validated the parachute-based deceleration and recovery system for controlled descent, ensuring safe astronaut return during re-entry and abort situations.About IADT-02:Process: Conducted a simulated Crew Module weighing about 5.7 tonnes (equivalent to Gaganyaan G1 mission) was lifted by an Indian Air Force (IAF) Chinook helicopter to ~3 kilometre (km) altitude and released over a designated sea drop zone near Sriharikota coast.Operations: A sequence of 10 parachutes of four types was deployed to reduce velocity for safe touchdown, followed by successful Crew Module recovery in coordination with the Indian Navy (IN) after splashdown.Significance: The test validated descent and landing systems, marking a major step toward readiness for the Gaganyaan G1 mission and strengthening human spaceflight safety.

13 Apr, 2026

ISRO Successfully Completes Integrated Air Drop Test-02 for Gaganyaan Mission at Sriharikota, APIn April 2026, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted the second Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02) at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh (AP), marking a key milestone in the Gaganyaan Mission.The test evaluated and validated the parachute-based deceleration and recovery system for controlled descent, ensuring safe astronaut return during re-entry and abort situations.About IADT-02:Process: Conducted a simulated Crew Module weighing about 5.7 tonnes (equivalent to Gaganyaan G1 mission) was lifted by an Indian Air Force (IAF) Chinook helicopter to ~3 kilometre (km) altitude and released over a designated sea drop zone near Sriharikota coast.Operations: A sequence of 10 parachutes of four types was deployed to reduce velocity for safe touchdown, followed by successful Crew Module recovery in coordination with the Indian Navy (IN) after splashdown.Significance: The test validated descent and landing systems, marking a major step toward readiness for the Gaganyaan G1 mission and strengthening human spaceflight safety.

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ACC Appoints Sanjay Khanna as CMD of BPCL In April 2026, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, approved the appointment of Sanjay Khanna, as the Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), a Maharatna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas(MoPNG).He will serve as CMD until his superannuation on May 31, 2029, or until further orders.About Sanjay Khanna:Experience: He has extensive experience of more than 30 years in refinery operations and technical services.Previous Role: Before his appointment as CMD, he served as Director (Refineries) of BPCL. Previously, he served as Executive Director(ED) of Mumbai (Maharashtra) and Kochi (Kerala) refineries of the company.He held additional charge as CMD of BPCL following the superannuation of G. Krishnakumar on April 30, 2025.Other Key Roles: Apart from his current role at BPCL, he serves as a Director on the Boards of Bharat PetroResources Limited, Petronet Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Limited and Ratnagiri Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited.

13 Apr, 2026

ACC Appoints Sanjay Khanna as CMD of BPCL In April 2026, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, approved the appointment of Sanjay Khanna, as the Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), a Maharatna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas(MoPNG).He will serve as CMD until his superannuation on May 31, 2029, or until further orders.About Sanjay Khanna:Experience: He has extensive experience of more than 30 years in refinery operations and technical services.Previous Role: Before his appointment as CMD, he served as Director (Refineries) of BPCL. Previously, he served as Executive Director(ED) of Mumbai (Maharashtra) and Kochi (Kerala) refineries of the company.He held additional charge as CMD of BPCL following the superannuation of G. Krishnakumar on April 30, 2025.Other Key Roles: Apart from his current role at BPCL, he serves as a Director on the Boards of Bharat PetroResources Limited, Petronet Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Limited and Ratnagiri Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited.

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CSB Launches ‘SMART SAVE ACCOUNT”, its 1st Retail OfferingIn April 2026, CSB Bank Limited, one of India’s oldest private sector banks, launched its first dedicated retail savings product, the ‘SMART SAVE ACCOUNT’, marking a significant step in expanding its retail banking portfolio.This move aimed to boost the bank’s liquidity and enable more automated and customer-centric offerings.About SMART SAVE ACCOUNT:Variants: This newly launched account will be available in 3 variants: savings, current, & Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO).Eligible Entities: Salaried individuals, business professionals, and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) are eligible to avail the benefits of the account, ensuring liquidity without manual intervention.Key Features: The new savings account features an auto-sweep facility, transferring additional funds into Fixed Deposits (FDs) It offers maximum 7% interest on ‘Sweep-in FDs’ over a 13-month tenure.Other Benefits: ‘No lock-in’ facility, complimentary RuPay Platinum debit card, maximum net banking limit of Rs 10 lakh per day, daily maximum Automated Teller Machine (ATM) withdrawal limit of Rs 75,000 and up to 30% discount on locker rentals.

13 Apr, 2026

CSB Launches ‘SMART SAVE ACCOUNT”, its 1st Retail OfferingIn April 2026, CSB Bank Limited, one of India’s oldest private sector banks, launched its first dedicated retail savings product, the ‘SMART SAVE ACCOUNT’, marking a significant step in expanding its retail banking portfolio.This move aimed to boost the bank’s liquidity and enable more automated and customer-centric offerings.About SMART SAVE ACCOUNT:Variants: This newly launched account will be available in 3 variants: savings, current, & Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO).Eligible Entities: Salaried individuals, business professionals, and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) are eligible to avail the benefits of the account, ensuring liquidity without manual intervention.Key Features: The new savings account features an auto-sweep facility, transferring additional funds into Fixed Deposits (FDs) It offers maximum 7% interest on ‘Sweep-in FDs’ over a 13-month tenure.Other Benefits: ‘No lock-in’ facility, complimentary RuPay Platinum debit card, maximum net banking limit of Rs 10 lakh per day, daily maximum Automated Teller Machine (ATM) withdrawal limit of Rs 75,000 and up to 30% discount on locker rentals.

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NBBL’s Banking Connect Onboards Axis Bank, Expanding to 8 Banks and 11 PAsIn April 2026, NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited (NBBL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), announced the onboarding of Axis Bank Limited, one of India’s largest private sector banks, on the Banking Connect platform.With the inclusion of Axis Bank, NBBL’s Banking Connect is now available across 8 major banks including, State Bank of India (SBI), HDFC Bank Limited, ICICI Bank Limited and 11 Payment Aggregators (PAs).Key Details:Significance: The onboarding of Axis Bank on the banking connect platform, will enable its customers to use the platform for payments across more than 4,800 merchants already connected to the system.Key Features: The digital platform incorporates some additional features such as: Direct-to-Merchant Settlements, Third-Party Verification (TPV), and mandate and lien capabilities, expanding its utility for business with more complex or high-volume payment requirements.

13 Apr, 2026

NBBL’s Banking Connect Onboards Axis Bank, Expanding to 8 Banks and 11 PAsIn April 2026, NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited (NBBL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), announced the onboarding of Axis Bank Limited, one of India’s largest private sector banks, on the Banking Connect platform.With the inclusion of Axis Bank, NBBL’s Banking Connect is now available across 8 major banks including, State Bank of India (SBI), HDFC Bank Limited, ICICI Bank Limited and 11 Payment Aggregators (PAs).Key Details:Significance: The onboarding of Axis Bank on the banking connect platform, will enable its customers to use the platform for payments across more than 4,800 merchants already connected to the system.Key Features: The digital platform incorporates some additional features such as: Direct-to-Merchant Settlements, Third-Party Verification (TPV), and mandate and lien capabilities, expanding its utility for business with more complex or high-volume payment requirements.

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Tracxn Report: India Ranks 4th Globally in Tech Funding with USD 11.7 Billion in FY26In April 2026, Tracxn, a leading market intelligence platform, released its ‘India Tech Annual Funding Report 2026’, stating that India’s technology start-ups raised USD 11.7 billion (B) in Financial Year 2025–26 (FY26), reflecting an 18% decline from USD 14.3 billion in FY25 but a 20% increase over USD 9.7 billion in FY24.India ranked as the fourth-highest funded country globally in FY26, behind the United States of America (USA) (USD 426B) , the United Kingdom (UK) (USD 17.8B), and China (USD 15B), while ahead of Germany(USD 8.4B) and France (USD 8.1B).Key Findings:Deals: India recorded 13 funding rounds above USD 100 million, with notable deals including Nxtra (USD 710 million), Neysa (USD 600 million), and Inox Clean Energy (USD 344 million).IPOs: A total of 47 IPOs were recorded, marking a 52% increase from FY25, with major listings including Lenskart, Groww, and Meesho.Unicorns: Six unicorns such as Neysa, Raise, Navi, Jumbotail, JSW One MSME, and Juspay, were created in FY26, reflecting a 50% increase compared to FY25 and FY24.Acquisitions: A total of 129 acquisitions were recorded, down 15% from FY25, with top deals including Resulticks acquired by Diginex (USD 2 billion) and Brahma acquired by Polymarket (USD 1.2 billion).Top Cities: Bengaluru(Karnataka) accounted for 33% of total funding, followed by Mumbai(Maharashtra) with a 21% share.

13 Apr, 2026

Tracxn Report: India Ranks 4th Globally in Tech Funding with USD 11.7 Billion in FY26In April 2026, Tracxn, a leading market intelligence platform, released its ‘India Tech Annual Funding Report 2026’, stating that India’s technology start-ups raised USD 11.7 billion (B) in Financial Year 2025–26 (FY26), reflecting an 18% decline from USD 14.3 billion in FY25 but a 20% increase over USD 9.7 billion in FY24.India ranked as the fourth-highest funded country globally in FY26, behind the United States of America (USA) (USD 426B) , the United Kingdom (UK) (USD 17.8B), and China (USD 15B), while ahead of Germany(USD 8.4B) and France (USD 8.1B).Key Findings:Deals: India recorded 13 funding rounds above USD 100 million, with notable deals including Nxtra (USD 710 million), Neysa (USD 600 million), and Inox Clean Energy (USD 344 million).IPOs: A total of 47 IPOs were recorded, marking a 52% increase from FY25, with major listings including Lenskart, Groww, and Meesho.Unicorns: Six unicorns such as Neysa, Raise, Navi, Jumbotail, JSW One MSME, and Juspay, were created in FY26, reflecting a 50% increase compared to FY25 and FY24.Acquisitions: A total of 129 acquisitions were recorded, down 15% from FY25, with top deals including Resulticks acquired by Diginex (USD 2 billion) and Brahma acquired by Polymarket (USD 1.2 billion).Top Cities: Bengaluru(Karnataka) accounted for 33% of total funding, followed by Mumbai(Maharashtra) with a 21% share.

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India-Egypt Joint Special Forces Exercise ‘Cyclone-IV’ Begins in EgyptOn April 9 2026, the fourth edition of the India-Egypt Joint Special Forces Exercise, ‘Cyclone-IV’, officially commenced at Rangers Forces Headquarters, Anshas, Egypt.The exercise is a 9-day joint engagement, scheduled to be held from April 9 to 17, 2026.About Exercise Cyclone-IV:Objective: The exercise aims to strengthen joint mission planning capabilities and enhance interoperability by facilitating the exchange of best practices in special operations.Focus: Participating troops will engage in a range of training activities centred on special operational tactics, techniques, and procedures, particularly in desert and semi-desert terrain.Participants:Indian Contingent: The Indian Army(IA) has deployed a contingent of 25 personnel drawn from its Special Forces units.Egyptian Contingent: The host nation is represented by personnel from the Egyptian Special Forces Group and Rangers Forces.

13 Apr, 2026

India-Egypt Joint Special Forces Exercise ‘Cyclone-IV’ Begins in EgyptOn April 9 2026, the fourth edition of the India-Egypt Joint Special Forces Exercise, ‘Cyclone-IV’, officially commenced at Rangers Forces Headquarters, Anshas, Egypt.The exercise is a 9-day joint engagement, scheduled to be held from April 9 to 17, 2026.About Exercise Cyclone-IV:Objective: The exercise aims to strengthen joint mission planning capabilities and enhance interoperability by facilitating the exchange of best practices in special operations.Focus: Participating troops will engage in a range of training activities centred on special operational tactics, techniques, and procedures, particularly in desert and semi-desert terrain.Participants:Indian Contingent: The Indian Army(IA) has deployed a contingent of 25 personnel drawn from its Special Forces units.Egyptian Contingent: The host nation is represented by personnel from the Egyptian Special Forces Group and Rangers Forces.

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FIU-IND & I4C Sign MoU to Combat Cyber Fraud and Financial CrimesIn April 2026, the Financial Intelligence Unit, India (FIU-IND) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to enhance information sharing and bolster India’s fight against cyber frauds and financial crimes.The MoU was formally exchanged between Amit Mohan Govil, Director of FIU-IND, and Rajesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of I4C, in New Delhi, Delhi.Key Details of MoU: Mechanism: This newly signed MoU will enable both agencies to set up robust feedback mechanisms for improving fraud detection techniques at the national level.Guidelines: The agreement will also facilitate the development and dissemination of guidelines and red flag indicators to financial institutions to bolster cyber fraud prevention efforts.FIU-IND: Established in November 2004 as a central national agency, FIU-IND, under the Ministry of Finance(MoF), is mainly responsible for receiving, processing, analysing and segregating information related to suspicious financial transactions.I4C: It is a digital initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which facilitates a national platform/framework for Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) for tackling cybercrime in a coordinated and comprehensive manner.

13 Apr, 2026

FIU-IND & I4C Sign MoU to Combat Cyber Fraud and Financial CrimesIn April 2026, the Financial Intelligence Unit, India (FIU-IND) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to enhance information sharing and bolster India’s fight against cyber frauds and financial crimes.The MoU was formally exchanged between Amit Mohan Govil, Director of FIU-IND, and Rajesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of I4C, in New Delhi, Delhi.Key Details of MoU: Mechanism: This newly signed MoU will enable both agencies to set up robust feedback mechanisms for improving fraud detection techniques at the national level.Guidelines: The agreement will also facilitate the development and dissemination of guidelines and red flag indicators to financial institutions to bolster cyber fraud prevention efforts.FIU-IND: Established in November 2004 as a central national agency, FIU-IND, under the Ministry of Finance(MoF), is mainly responsible for receiving, processing, analysing and segregating information related to suspicious financial transactions.I4C: It is a digital initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which facilitates a national platform/framework for Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) for tackling cybercrime in a coordinated and comprehensive manner.

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NHAI Develops ‘Arogya Van’ Along Highways to Boost Biodiversity and Promote Medicinal PlantsIn April 2026, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), has launched an initiative called ‘Arogya Van(health forest)’ to develop thematic corridors of medicinal tree plantations along National Highways(NH), aimed at enhancing biodiversity and promoting medicinal plants.The initiative also supports the promotion of traditional systems of medicine such as Ayurveda and the conservation of indigenous medicinal flora.About Arogya Van:Phase 1: The first phase covers 17 land parcels over 62.8 hectares, with about 67,462 medicinal trees to be planted across Madhya Pradesh(MP), Haryana, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh(AP), Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu(TN), Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh.Species: Around 36 types of medicinal trees have been selected, including Neem, Amla, Jamun, Imli (Tamarind), Gular (Cluster Fig), and Maulsari as per suitability to the respective agro-climatic zones.Priority sites: Near toll plazas, wayside amenities, interchanges, cloverleaf junctions, and other prominent highway stretches to maximise visibility and public awareness.Implementation: The initiative will be implemented in accordance with the Government of India’s guidelines on landscaping and tree plantation.

13 Apr, 2026

NHAI Develops ‘Arogya Van’ Along Highways to Boost Biodiversity and Promote Medicinal PlantsIn April 2026, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), has launched an initiative called ‘Arogya Van(health forest)’ to develop thematic corridors of medicinal tree plantations along National Highways(NH), aimed at enhancing biodiversity and promoting medicinal plants.The initiative also supports the promotion of traditional systems of medicine such as Ayurveda and the conservation of indigenous medicinal flora.About Arogya Van:Phase 1: The first phase covers 17 land parcels over 62.8 hectares, with about 67,462 medicinal trees to be planted across Madhya Pradesh(MP), Haryana, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh(AP), Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu(TN), Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh.Species: Around 36 types of medicinal trees have been selected, including Neem, Amla, Jamun, Imli (Tamarind), Gular (Cluster Fig), and Maulsari as per suitability to the respective agro-climatic zones.Priority sites: Near toll plazas, wayside amenities, interchanges, cloverleaf junctions, and other prominent highway stretches to maximise visibility and public awareness.Implementation: The initiative will be implemented in accordance with the Government of India’s guidelines on landscaping and tree plantation.

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PFRDA Approves PPFAS AMC to Sponsor Pension Fund under NPSIn April 2026, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), under the Ministry of Finance (MoF), approved PPFAS Asset Management Company (AMC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parag Parikh Financial Advisory Services Limited (PPFAS), to act as a sponsor for a pension fund under the National Pension System (NPS).The initiative aims to manage long-term retirement savings of NPS subscribers with a focus on investor protection, disciplined investing, and consistent returns.Key Details:Structure: A separate pension fund company will be established to manage NPS schemes and invest across Equities (EQ), Government Securities (G-Secs), and Corporate Bonds (CBs), with operations commencing after completion of procedural, regulatory, and infrastructure requirements.NPS Fund Managers: Currently, ten AMCs operate under the NPS, including Aditya Birla Sun Life Asset Management Co., Axis Asset Management Co., DSP Asset Managers, HDFC Asset Management Co., ICICI Prudential Asset Management Co., Kotak Asset Management Co., LIC Asset Management Co., SBI Funds Management, Tata Asset Management Co., and UTI Asset Management Co.NPS: The NPS, launched in 2004 (for government employees) and extended to all citizens in 2009, is implemented by the PFRDA and allows subscribers to choose and switch fund managers for long-term retirement planning.

13 Apr, 2026

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MoCA Approves Warangal Airport & Adilabad Airport in TelanganaIn April 2026, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) approved the development of two new airports namely, Warangal Airport and Adilabad Airport, in Telangana.The decision was announced during a special meeting chaired by Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD), held in New Delhi, Delhi.Key Details:Warangal Airport: As per MoCA, the foundation stone for the Warangal airport will be laid at Mamnoor within the next 3 months.Adilabad Airport: The MoD will develop the newly approved Adilabad airport, spanning on 370 acres of land, while Airports Authority of India (AAI) will build the civilian terminal.Adilabad airport will serve a dual purpose, supporting both civilian operations and armed forces training.

13 Apr, 2026

MoCA Approves Warangal Airport & Adilabad Airport in TelanganaIn April 2026, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) approved the development of two new airports namely, Warangal Airport and Adilabad Airport, in Telangana.The decision was announced during a special meeting chaired by Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD), held in New Delhi, Delhi.Key Details:Warangal Airport: As per MoCA, the foundation stone for the Warangal airport will be laid at Mamnoor within the next 3 months.Adilabad Airport: The MoD will develop the newly approved Adilabad airport, spanning on 370 acres of land, while Airports Authority of India (AAI) will build the civilian terminal.Adilabad airport will serve a dual purpose, supporting both civilian operations and armed forces training.

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