NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
FIU-IND and SEBI sign MoU to Strengthen Fight Against Money Laundering & Financial Crimes
- Financial Intelligence Unit-India and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) signed an MoU to strengthen coordination against money laundering and financial crimes.
- MoU Objective: To improve surveillance, ensure timely detection of suspicious transactions, and reinforce India’s overall financial integrity and regulatory coordination.
- Intelligence Sharing: Enables data exchange from respective databases and streamlines reporting by regulated entities under Prevention of Money Laundering (PML) Rules.
- International Cooperation: Facilitates information exchange with global Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) via Egmont Principles of Information Exchange.
- Capacity Building: Focus on training and outreach programmes to enhance AML/CFT (Anti-Money Laundering/Combating Financing of Terrorism) frameworks.
Read More:
FIU-IND and PFRDA Sign MoU to Strengthen Fight Against Money Laundering & Financial Crimes
- Financial Intelligence Unit-India and Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) signed an MoU to strengthen coordination against money laundering and financial crimes.
- International Coordination: Information exchange with foreign FIUs (Financial Intelligence Units) via Egmont Principles of Information Exchange.
- Capacity Building: Joint training and outreach to enhance AML/CFT capabilities among PFRDA-regulated entities.
- Nodal Officers: Each side will appoint nodal and alternate officers for regular coordination.
- FIU-IND: Central agency to analyse suspicious financial transactions.
- PFRDA: Statutory regulator under PFRDA Act, 2013. It oversees pension sector including NPS and APY.
Read More:
BANKING | ECONOMY CURRENT AFFAIRS
India’s Foreign Trade: March 2026 & FY 2025–26
- March 2026: Merchandise exports fell 7.44% YoY to $38.92 bn.
- Reasons: geopolitical tensions; exports to West Asia dropped ~58%. Imports fell to 6.51% to $59.59 bn, lowering trade deficit to $20.67 bn (9-month low).
- Overall Trade (Merchandise + Services): Exports: $74.11 bn (-4.58%); Imports: $76.55 bn (-5.76%); Trade deficit: $2.44 bn (improved)
- FY 2025–26: Total exports: $860.09 bn (+4.22%); Imports: $979.40 bn; Trade deficit: $119.30 bn (widened)
- Merchandise Trade: Exports: $441.78 bn; Imports: $774.98 bn; Deficit: $333.19 bn; Non-oil & non-gems exports: $359.67 bn
Read More:
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES CURRENT AFFAIRS
Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) & CRGSS Launched
- Government launched Operational Guidelines for Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) and Credit Repayment Guarantee Sub-Scheme (CRGSS) to boost urban infrastructure financing.
- Urban Challenge Fund (UCF): A market-linked, reform-driven, outcome-oriented catalytic fund shifting from grant-based to investment-led urban development. For duration: FY 2025–26 to 2030–31.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)
- Objectives: Make cities investment-ready and financially sustainable, Mobilise private capital and market financing, Support bankable infrastructure projects (target ~₹4 lakh crore investment).
- Key Features: Central outlay: ₹1 lakh crore (4x leverage) with Funding cap: 25% central share and ≥50% funding via bonds, loans, PPPs
Read More:
INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
India Chairs First BRICS Health Working Group Meeting 2026
- Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare chaired first BRICS Health Working Group (HWG) Meeting 2026 in New Delhi.
- Participants: From all BRICS members– Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, UAE, and Indonesia, focusing on public health cooperation.
- India holds BRICS Chairmanship for 2026. It is guided by theme:
“Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability. The theme reflects a people-centric, humanity-first approach, as highlighted at the 2025 Rio Summit. - It emphasises strengthening inclusive, responsive, and future-ready global health frameworks through enhanced collaboration among member countries.
Read More:
ENVIRONMENT CURRENT AFFAIRS
New Gecko Species Discovered in Raimona National Park
- A new gecko species, Cyrtodactylus raimonaensis, has been discovered near Raimona National Park, highlighting the region’s rich biodiversity.
- Raimona National Park: It is Assam’s sixth national park and a key habitat for species like the Golden Langur, forming part of the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot. Situated in foothills of the Eastern Himalayas.
- Located At: Kokrajhar district, Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), along India–Bhutan border;. With Area: ~422 sq. km and Altitude: 85–1042 m
- Transboundary Landscape: It is connected with Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary (Bhutan) and Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park. It forms a conservation landscape of over 2,400 sq. km, crucial for biodiversity conservation.
Read More:
Narmada Pollution: 11,000 Litres of Milk Poured into River
- Around 11,000 litres of milk were poured into Narmada River in Sehore (Madhya Pradesh) during a religious ritual, raising environmental concerns.
- Large organic discharge can deplete dissolved oxygen, harming aquatic life and affecting communities dependent on river for drinking water.
- Narmada River (also called Rewa): It is the largest west-flowing river of peninsular India and lifeline of MP and Gujarat. It originates at Amarkantak (Maikala Range).
- Length: 1,312 km; flows through MP, Maharashtra, Gujarat
- It is unique for flowing in a rift valley between mountain ranges, crucial for irrigation and water supply. It drains into Arabian Sea (Gulf of Cambay)
Read More:
POLITY CURRENT AFFAIRS
Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026
- Government introduced Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 along with Delimitation Bill, 2026 in Lok Sabha.
- Population-Based Delimitation: Restores proportional seat allocation in Lok Sabha based on population across and within states. Removes earlier freezes imposed by 1976 and 2001 amendments.
- Census Flexibility: Delimitation not mandatory after every census. Parliament is to decide which published census data to use. Next exercise wil use 2011 Census.
- Increase in Lok Sabha Seats: From 550 to 850 seats (Up to 815 seats for states and 35 for Union Territories)
Read More:
Cinematograph Act, 1952 (Amendment 2023): Film Piracy
- India strengthened anti-piracy laws via Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023, amending the Cinematograph Act, 1952 to tackle digital-age challenges and protect intellectual property. The issue recently, gained attention after the leak of the Tamil film Jana Nayagan.
- Legal Framework:
- 1. Copyright Act, 1957: It governs protection of films and creative works. Sections 63 & 63A: covers Imprisonment up to 3 years and fine up to ₹2 lakh.
- 2. Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023: It explicitly criminalises film piracy, strengthens copyright enforcement and introduces certification reforms and improves CBFC functioning.
Read More:
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CURRENT AFFAIRS
Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Vaccine
- India has supplied 13 tonnes of BCG vaccines and related materials to Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health.
- BCG Vaccine: It is a live attenuated vaccine used to protect against Tuberculosis (TB), developed by Albert Calmette and Camille Guérin at the Pasteur Institute. It was first used in 1921 after 13 years of research. It is widely administered globally, especially to newborns
- Objectives: Prevent severe childhood TB (e.g.- TB meningitis, disseminated TB); Reduce global TB burden in endemic regions; Provide cross-protection against diseases like leprosy and Buruli ulcer
- Tuberculosis (TB): It is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, mainly affects lungs. Airborne transmission via coughing/sneezing. It is curable and preventable disease.
Read More:
New Reed Snake Species Discovered in Meghalaya
- Researchers discovered a new burrowing reed snake species, Calamaria garoensis, in West Garo Hills, indicating a restricted distribution.
- Calamaria garoensis: Features smooth dorsal scales (13 rows); Short, non-tapering tail with blunt tip; Broad black stripe on underside of tail. It has distinct longitudinal body stripes and faint nuchal ring.
- Reed Snakes (Genus Calamaria): Small, slender, non-venomous, and burrowing (fossorial). It is found across South and Southeast Asia in moist forest habitats. It typically lives under soil, leaf litter, logs, and stones and feed on soft-bodied invertebrates.
Read More: