Daily Current Affairs: 9th April 2026

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

BCAS and RRU Sign MoU for Indigenous Testing Centre for Aviation Security Equipment

• Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), an attached office of India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation and Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) signed an MoU to establish an indigenous Testing Centre for trials, evaluation and certification of Full Body Scanners (FBS) and other aviation security screening equipment used at Indian airports.
• The centre will provide credible, independent and scientifically rigorous mechanism to ensure only equipment meeting technical and operational benchmarks is deployed in aviation security environments and align India’s certification ecosystem with global standards.
• Indigenous Testing Centre Facility: It will conduct independent testing, verification and certification of equipment from OEMs, develop an accreditation framework, and promote research, training, capacity building and international collaboration in aviation security technologies.

Read More:

India’s PFBR Achieves First Criticality: A Historic Nuclear Milestone

• India’s Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu achieved first criticality on 6 April 2026, initiating a sustained nuclear chain reaction. The development supports India’s long-term nuclear strategy aimed at energy security and expanded nuclear capacity.
• This marks India’s entry into Stage-2 of three-stage nuclear power programme conceived by Homi J. Bhabha. India will become only second country after Russia to operate a commercial fast breeder reactor.
• The 500 MWe reactor was built by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI) with technology developed by Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research.
• PFBR uses Uranium-Plutonium MOX fuel, where U-238 converts to Pu-239, breeding more fuel and enabling future use of Thorium-232 to produce U-233 for Stage-3 reactors.

Read More:

BANKING | ECONOMY CURRENT AFFAIRS

India’s Major Ports Handle Record 915.17 MT Cargo in FY 2025-26

• Major Ports of India, under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, handled a record 915.17 million tonnes (MT) of cargo in FY 2025–26. It surpassed 904 MT target and registered 7.06% year-on-year growth, reflecting improved port efficiency and logistics performance.
• Top Ports by Cargo Volume: Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (102.01 MT), Deendayal Port Authority (160.11 MT) and Paradip Port Authority (156.45 MT) with significant contributions from Mumbai, Chennai, Visakhapatnam and New Mangalore ports.
• Highest Growth Rates: Mormugao Port Authority (15.91%), Kolkata Dock System (14.28%) and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (10.74%)
• The achievement supports Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, aimed to transform India into a leading global maritime nation through infrastructure modernisation and logistics reforms.

Read More:

bob SAMVAD: India’s 1st AI-Powered Multilingual Banking Platform

• Bank of Baroda launched bob SAMVAD, India’s first AI-powered multilingual conversational banking platform, designed to enhance customer–staff communication at BoB’s branches.
• bob SAMVAD: The in-house developed platform uses AI-based speech and language technologies to enable real-time, two-way communication across 22 languages, ensuring contextual accuracy and natural interaction.
• In the first phase, platform will be deployed in 250 branches across  Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh followed by phased nationwide rollout across Bank of Baroda’s branch network.
• Features: Customers can speak or type queries in their preferred language, which are instantly translated into  staff member’s language. The conversations appear as on-screen text with optional voice output, improving accessibility.

Read More:

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES CURRENT AFFAIRS

Jiyo Parsi scheme

• Ministry of Minority Affairs, with support from Bombay Parsi Panchayat, organised Universal Parsi Registration Drive in Mumbai. It completed around 300 new registrations on Jiyo Parsi Scheme portal to strengthen outreach within community.
• Jiyo Parsi Scheme: A Central Sector Scheme Launched in 2013–14, aims to reverse declining Parsi population in India through scientific and structured interventions.
• Key Components:
• Medical Assistance: Financial aid for infertility treatment (up to ₹6 lakh), pregnancy care (₹4 lakh) and post-natal support (₹2.5 lakh).
• Health of Community: Monthly support of ₹8,000 per child (till 18) and ₹10,000 for elderly dependents (60+).
• Advocacy: Workshops, counselling and matchmaking support to encourage early marriage and family formation.

Read More:

AIM Launches ATL Sarthi and Mentor India Academy in Telangana

• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) under NITI Aayog launched ATL Sarthi and Mentor India Academy in Telangana to strengthen mentorship and institutional support for 379 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) in state.
• The initiative clusters ATLs regionally and links them with nodal institutions for incubation support, continuous mentorship, teacher training and exposure to emerging technologies. Vardhaman College of Engineering has been selected as nodal institution.
• Objectives: Include enhancing hands-on STEM learning, teacher capacity building, and startup incubation pathways for students.
• About AIM: Launched in 2016. It operates 10,000+ ATLs and 72+ incubation centres nationwide; AIM 2.0 was approved in Nov 2024 with ₹2,750 crore funding until March 2028 to expand India’s grassroots innovation ecosystem.

Read More:

PLI Scheme for Food Processing Industry

• Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry, launched by Ministry of Food Processing Industries, aims to strengthen India’s food processing sector and create global food manufacturing champions. The scheme runs FY 2021–22 to FY 2026–27 with an outlay of ₹10,900 crore.
• It has three components: (1) support for major segments- RTC/RTE foods, marine products, processed fruits & vegetables, and mozzarella cheese, (2) promotion of innovative/organic SME products, and (3) branding and marketing abroad to build global Indian brands.
• The scheme also promotes millet-based RTC/RTE products, aligned with International Year of Millets 2023.
• 128 companies (274 units) have been approved across 22 states, including 68 MSMEs and 40 contract manufacturing units.
• The scheme also incentivises millet-based RTC/RTE products following International Year of Millets 2023.

Read More:

DEFENCE CURRENT AFFAIRS

Project Chetak of BRO Celebrates 47th Raising Day

• Border Roads Organisation (BRO) celebrated 47th Raising Day of Project Chetak on 4 April 2026 at Bikaner, Rajasthan. 
•  Project Chetak is one of the largest BRO projects by geographical area. It operates in western sector covering  Punjab, Rajasthan and northern Gujarat.
• Project Chetak motto: “Chetak ka Prayas, Desh ka Vikas”. It maintains over 4,000 km of roads, 214 km of Ditch Cum Bund (DCB) and key feeder roads along International Border, supporting defence mobility and regional connectivity.
• About BRO: established 1960 under Ministry of Defence. It has built 64,100+ km roads, 22 airfields, 1179 bridges and 7 tunnels (including Atal Tunnel, Sela Tunnel and Shinkun La Tunnel).

Read More:

ENVIRONMENT CURRENT AFFAIRS

Two New Institutions Designated as National Biodiversity Repositories

• National Biodiversity Authority, in consultation with Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, designated two new national biological repositories under Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (Section 39),  raising total repositories to 18. Two Newly Designated Repositories:
• Referral Centre Bhavasagara at Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology, Kochi. It hosts 3,500+ geo-referenced deep-sea specimens.
• MACS Collection of Microorganisms / National Fungal Culture Collection at Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune. It preserve diverse microorganisms and fungal cultures, supporting research in marine science, agriculture, health, and industry.
• Section 39 of Biological Diversity Act, 2002: empowers Centre to designate repositories for safe custody of biological resources and voucher specimens, requiring discoverers of new taxa to deposit specimens.

Read More:

POLITY CURRENT AFFAIRS

Minerals Concession (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026 Notified

• Ministry of Mines notified Minerals (Other than Atomic and Hydrocarbons Energy Minerals) Concession (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026, to boost exploration and production of critical and deep-seated minerals. This follows Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2025.
• The rules allow one-time inclusion of contiguous areas in leases up to 10% for Mining Leases (ML) and 30% for Composite Licences (CL). Auctioned lease holders must pay 10% of auction premium, while non-auctioned leases pay royalty equivalent for minerals from added areas.
• They also permit inclusion of associated minerals in existing leases within 30 days, with no extra charge for critical or strategic minerals listed in 7th Schedule of MMDR Act.
• Other provisions mandate G3-level exploration for minor mineral leases and remove limits on sale of minerals from captive mines, improving mineral availability and ease of doing business.

Read More:

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CURRENT AFFAIRS

BIRAC-BioNEST Incubation Centre

• BIRAC-BioNEST Incubation Centre, a facility to support food biotechnology startups was inaugurated in CSIR–Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) in Mysuru, Karnataka.
• The centre will provide advanced incubation infrastructure, mentorship, scale-up validation and regulatory support, focusing on areas e.g. probiotics, nutraceuticals, precision fermentation and CRISPR-based innovations, and aims to support 26 startups.
• BioNEST (Bioincubators Nurturing Entrepreneurship for Scaling Technologies): It is a scheme of Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) aimed at strengthening biotech innovation and commercialization.
• BIRAC, under Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology has established over 65 bioincubators across India, promoting collaboration between research institutions and industry to translate scientific innovations into market-ready products.

Read More:

REPORTS AND INDICES CURRENT AFFAIRS

ASISSE: India’s First-Ever Services Sector Survey Launched

• National Statistics Office (NSO) under Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation launched Annual Survey of Incorporated Services Sector Enterprises (ASISSE) from April 2026. It covers all States and Union Territories, along with a user guide titled “Know Your Survey: A User Guide to ASISSE.”
• ASISSE conducted under Collection of Statistics Act, 2008. It complements the Annual Survey of Industries and Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises to provide comprehensive data on India’s non-agricultural economy.
• The survey addresses absence of a comprehensive official database for incorporated services sector, that contributes over 50% of India’s GDP and generates large-scale employment.
• It covers companies registered under Companies Act, 1956/2013 and Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008. It will survey about 1.21 lakh enterprises across sectors such as trade, transport, hospitality, IT, education and health.

Read More:

Market for Textiles and Clothing: National Household Survey 2024

• Ministry of Textiles released Market for Textiles and Clothing: National Household Survey 2024 report. It was conducted by Textiles Committee, assessing domestic demand for textiles and apparel in household sector.
• In 2024, total textiles market stood at ₹14.95 lakh crore, with domestic market ₹12.02 lakh crore, household demand ₹8.77 lakh crore, and per capita demand ₹6,066.
• Market expanded from ₹4.89 lakh crore (2010) to ₹14.95 lakh crore (2024) with 8.3% CAGR, while per capita demand rose from ₹2,119 to ₹6,066.
• MMF & blended fibres dominate (52%), followed by cotton (41.2%), silk (5.2%) and wool (1.3%). Cotton recorded highest CAGR (10.53%).
• The survey noted rising demand for sustainable textiles (₹37,000 crore) and growing household use of technical textiles, with rural households contributing ~58% consumption.

Read More:

AGRICULTURE CURRENT AFFAIRS

India’s Agriculture Sector: Record Production, Global Leadership

• India recorded record foodgrain production of 357.73 million metric tonnes (MMT) in 2024–25, while horticulture output reached 362.08 MT. Agricultural exports touched USD 51.1 billion in FY25, reflecting strong sectoral growth 
• Agriculture  Contribution: ~20% to Gross Value Added (GVA), supports about 55% of India’s population, and has grown at around 4% annually over last five years. Government support increased with budget allocation rising from ₹21,933 crore (2013–14) to ₹1.30 lakh crore (2026–27). 
• Under PM-KISAN, ₹4.27 lakh crore has been disbursed in 22 instalments, while crop insurance claims exceeded ₹1.90 lakh crore.
• India is a major global agricultural producer ranking: 1st globally in pulses, millets (Shree Anna), spices, coconut and dry onion and 2nd in rice, wheat, fruits & vegetables, sugarcane, cotton and tea, highlighting its global agricultural leadership.

Read More: