NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
India Finalising Oil & Gas Supply Agreement with Mauritius
- India is finalising agreement to supply oil and gas to Mauritius, aiming to strengthen island nation’s energy security amid ongoing West Asia conflict and disruptions in global supply chains.
- At 9th Indian Ocean Conference, India highlighted impact of tensions around Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly one-fifth of global oil trade passes, causing shipping disruptions and price spikes.
- India reaffirmed opposition to attacks on civilians and commercial shipping, calling for de-escalation and stability in region.
- 9th IOC: Launched in 2016 by India Foundation, promotes cooperation under SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region).
- Key developments included Bangladesh’s call to revitalise SAARC and absence of Maldives due to disputes over Chagos Islands.
107th Anniversary of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (April 13, 2026)
- 107th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre was observed on 13 April 2026, a tragic turning point in India’s freedom struggle that occurred on 13 April 1919 in Amritsar, Punjab.
- History: British troops led by Reginald Dyer opened fire on an unarmed gathering celebrating Baisakhi and protesting against Rowlatt Act (it allowed detention without trial). The massacre followed arrests of leaders Saifuddin Kitchlew and Satyapal, and imposition of martial law.
- Without warning, troops fired over 1,600 rounds for about 10 minutes, killing 379 (official), though Indian estimates exceed 1,000 deaths; many died jumping into Martyrs’ Well.
- Jallianwala Bagh incident transformed nationalist sentiment from reform to Swaraj, further intensifying India’s independence movement.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) First Stage Forecast: Southwest Monsoon 2026
- IMD has predicted below-normal monsoon rainfall for June–September 2026. Seasonal rainfall is estimated at 92% of Long Period Average (LPA) (±5%), with LPA at 87 cm, placing it in below-normal category (90–95%).
- Probability forecasts show higher chances of deficient (35%) and below-normal (31%) rainfall than usual, while above-normal (6%) and excess (1%) probabilities are significantly lower.
- Spatially, below-normal rainfall is likely across most regions, with some normal/above-normal pockets in Northeast, Northwest, and South Peninsular India.
- Key Drivers Include: transitioning ENSO (possible El Niño), neutral to positive IOD, and slightly below-normal snow cover, influencing monsoon variability.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES CURRENT AFFAIRS
e-SafeHER Programme Launched
- e-SafeHER Programme is a major cybersecurity awareness initiative launched by C-DAC Hyderabad in collaboration with Reliance Foundation to empower one million women in rural India. C-DAC operates under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
- The initiative aims to build a cyber-safe, gender-responsive digital ecosystem by 2029. It is anchored under MeitY’s Information Security Education and Awareness Programme (ISEA). It focuses on last-mile cybersecurity awareness, especially for women using digital platforms for financial transactions and livelihoods.
- Key Feature: Creation of “Cyber Sakhis” trained women who promote safe online practices and digital confidence within communities.
- It will be implemented over three years through phased scaling and multi-stakeholder partnerships.
Startup India Fund of Funds (FoF) 2.0
- Government notified Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0, ₹10,000 crore corpus to boost capital flow into India’s startup ecosystem, especially deep-tech and early growth-stage startups.
- Launched on 13 April 2026: It builds on 2016 funds and is anchored by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) as implementation agency.
- It operates as a Fund of Funds, investing in SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) rather than directly in startups.
- Objectives include bridging funding gaps, mobilising private venture capital, and promoting innovation-led growth, particularly in tech-driven manufacturing aligned with “Make in India”.
- It aims to enhance economic resilience, job creation, and India’s position as a global innovation hub.
PLI Scheme for Textiles (Round III)
- Government approved 52 applications under Round III of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Textiles, covering 5 MMF apparel, 19 MMF fabrics, 18 technical textiles, and 10 multi-segment units.
- These proposals involve ₹6,708 crore investment and an expected turnover of ₹21,186 crore, boosting domestic manufacturing, innovation, and global competitiveness.
- Launched in 2021 with an outlay of ₹10,683 crore, scheme aims to scale up India’s textile industry, promote high-value segments like MMF and technical textiles, attract investment, and generate employment.
- The scheme is valid for five years and operational till FY 2029–30, strengthening India’s position in global textile value chains.
Womaniya Initiative on GeM
- Womaniya Initiative on Government e-Marketplace (GeM) recorded strong growth in FY 2025–26, with contracts worth over ₹28,000 crore awarded to women MSEs, surpassing mandated procurement targets and boosting gender-inclusive public procurement.
- Womaniya was launched in 2019 under Ministry of Commerce & Industry. It provides a dedicated digital platform for women MSEs and SHGs to register and sell directly to government buyers.
- It complements SWAYATT initiative (2019), which promotes participation of startups, women, youth, and marginalised groups.
- GeM, launched in 2016, is a paperless, cashless procurement portal. Womaniya covers categories like handicrafts, handloom textiles, groceries, office accessories, and personal care products.
POSHAN Abhiyaan: 8 Years
- POSHAN Abhiyaan, launched on 8 March 2018, marks 8 years as India’s flagship nutrition mission under Ministry of Women & Child Development.
- It targets holistic nourishment, focusing on the critical first 1,000 days and integrating 26+ ministries.
- Poshan Tracker (launched 2021) monitors ~14 lakh Anganwadi Centres and 8.95 crore beneficiaries using Aadhaar-based tracking and facial recognition, enhancing transparency; it earned the PM’s Award 2024.
- Building on ICDS (1975) and PMMVY (2017), Mission Poshan 2.0 integrates nutrition schemes.
- Jan Andolan has driven 150+ crore sensitisation activities and 9.8 crore events, with Poshan Maah (September) and Poshan Pakhwada (April) strengthening community participation.
Health Ministry Launches Mobile App for Community Health Officers
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched a mobile application, developed by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), to streamline clinical workflows of Community Health Officers at Sub-Centre Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (SC-AAMs).
- Aligned with 12 service packages under Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC), the app acts as a clinical decision-support and job-aid tool.
- It provides structured workflows and quick-reference checklists for outpatient care, guiding CHOs in patient assessment, including history, examination, and diagnostics.
- App also enables timely identification of referral cases and integrates patient registration, Electronic Health Records (EHR), teleconsultation, diagnostic reporting, and follow-up tracking, improving primary healthcare delivery.
AB PM-JAY Auto-Adjudication Hackathon
- Ayushman Bharat–PM-JAY, implemented by National Health Authority, processes ~50,000 claims daily across 1,900+ packages, but only 15–20% are auto-adjudicated.
- To address this gap, government launched Auto-Adjudication Hackathon to develop scalable, AI-driven solutions for claims processing.
- The initiative aims to reduce manual effort, speed up processing, and enable transparent, standardised, and real-time verification using automation and fraud detection tools.
- Hackathon will culminate in a finale on 8–9 May 2026 at IISc Bengaluru, where finalists will present solutions to an expert jury. Winners will receive ₹5 lakh, ₹3 lakh, and ₹2 lakh, along with collaboration opportunities.
ENVIRONMENT CURRENT AFFAIRS
New Gecko Species Discovered in Raimona National Park
- A new gecko species, Cyrtodactylus raimonaensis, has been discovered near Raimona National Park in Assam, highlighting region’s rich biodiversity.
- The park, located in Kokrajhar district within the Bodoland Territorial Region, was declared Assam’s sixth national park in 2021 and lies along the India–Bhutan border in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas.
- Spanning ~422 sq. km (elevation 85–1042 m), it forms a transboundary conservation landscape with Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary and Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, exceeding 2,400 sq. km.
- It is a key habitat for rare species like the Golden Langur, making it crucial for conservation in Northeast India.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CURRENT AFFAIRS
Cyber Security Capacity Building Programme (NCC–NIELIT)
- National Cadet Corps (NCC) and National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) launched a Cyber Security Capacity Building Programme to train NCC cadets nationwide in cyber awareness, digital hygiene, and defence skills.
- The initiative aims to create a pool of trained “Cyber Cadets” to promote safe digital practices and spread cyber awareness at the grassroots level. It aligns with Digital India programme and National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF).
- The programme has a two-stage structure: Stage 1 focuses on Cyber Security Awareness, while Stage 2, the Cyber Defender Programme, provides advanced practical training in cyber defence and security operations.
STATES CURRENT AFFAIRS
India Rejects China’s Renaming of Places in Arunachal Pradesh
- India categorically rejected China’s renaming of places in Arunachal Pradesh, calling them “fictitious names” aimed at creating baseless territorial narratives.
- China periodically releases such lists (latest in April 2026), referring to the region as Zangnan (South Tibet), asserting historical-cultural links, especially with Tawang. It also rejects McMahon Line (1914) as illegitimate.
- India maintains Arunachal Pradesh as an integral and inalienable part of its territory, stating such actions do not alter ground realities and may hinder normalization of ties post 2020 Eastern Ladakh tensions.
- Historically, the region was NEFA (till 1972), became a Union Territory (1972) and attained statehood in 1987; capital: Itanagar.
REPORTS AND INDICES CURRENT AFFAIRS
First-Ever Pilot Study on Unincorporated Construction Sector
- Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released first comprehensive pilot study on construction activities in the unincorporated sector, conducted by the National Statistics Office alongside ASUSE 2025 (July–December 2025).
- The survey covered 19,154 households, 4,470 market establishments, and 717 non-market units, providing key inputs for updating national accounts.
- Findings reveal that 54 lakh households undertook own-account construction, while 27 lakh unincorporated establishments operated in the sector. About 77% employed at least one regular hired worker.
- On employment, such establishments had an average of 5 workers, while households engaged about 4 labourers, highlighting the sector’s significant role in informal employment.