NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
Government of India Reconstitutes NITI Aayog
- Government reconstituted NITI Aayog, appointing Ashok Kumar Lahiri as Vice-Chairperson, replacing Suman K. Bery, along with five new full-time members, who are experts from health, biotechnology, and deep-tech sectors. This marks a shift from an economist-heavy composition to a science- and innovation-driven policy body.
- Policy Shift & Significance: The restructuring reflects a focus on R&D ecosystem strengthening, promotion of flexible regulatory frameworks, and innovation-led governance. It aligns with efforts to improve ease of doing research and support emerging technologies.
- About NITI Aayog: Established in 2015, after replacing Planning Commission. It is apex policy think tank of government, promoting cooperative federalism and bottom-up development.
Read More:
Government of India Denies RTI on Russia Oil Import Data
- India has declined to disclose detailed crude oil import data from Russia, citing commercial confidentiality and strategic interests. The RTI sought company-wise and country-wise data (June 2022–June 2025) for firms like IOCL, BPCL, HPCL, ONGC Videsh, Reliance Industries, and Nayara Energy.
- The decision by the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) under Union Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas was upheld by Central Information Commission (CIC). The CIC noted disclosure could harm India’s economic and strategic interests.
- Grounds for Denial: Under the Right to Information Act 2005, exemptions were invoked: Section 8(1)(d), which Protects commercial confidence and trade secrets and Section 8(1)(e) which Covers information held in fiduciary capacity.
Read More:
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES CURRENT AFFAIRS
Government of India rolls out Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026
- India implemented Online Gaming Rules, 2026 from 1 May 2026 under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025, establishing a comprehensive legal framework for the sector.
- Introduces: Complete ban on online money gaming (skill, chance, or mixed), including advertisements and financial transactions; violations attract penalties, imprisonment, and fines.
- Online Gaming Authority of India: Establised under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) for regulation, classification, compliance, and enforcement.
- Other Key Provisions: User safety measures include, age verification, time limits, parental controls. The regulation system includes mandatory registration for certain games.
- Grievance redressal Established: two-tier mechanism with appellate provision and time-bound digital penalty proceedings.
Read More:
INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
UAE Quits OPEC & OPEC+ (2026)
- United Arab Emirates will exit OPEC and OPEC+ from 1 May 2026, ending decades of membership. The move allows UAE to bypass restrictive production quotas (about 3.4 million barrels/day) and utilise its higher installed capacity (appx. 5 million barrels/day), potentially boosting output and lowering global prices benefiting importers like India.
- Reason: The decision follows geopolitical disruptions, including the Iran war affecting oil supply, and reflects UAE’s push for strategic autonomy and energy flexibility. Analysts warn of long-term impacts such as weakened OPEC influence, reduced market coordination, and increased oil price volatility.
- About OPEC: It was founded in 1960 (Baghdad), headquartered in Vienna. It controls 40% of global crude output and 60% of oil trade.
Read More:
China’s Atlas Drone Swarm System
- China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) unveiled the Atlas (Atelasi) drone swarm system. It is a next-generation AI-enabled platform capable of mass drone deployment, coordinated operations, and single-operator control.
- Developed By: China Electronic Technology Group Corporation. it functions as a compact mobile battlefield network integrating reconnaissance, communication, deception, and precision strike roles.
- Structure & Working: The system uses a three-unit architecture- Swarm-2 launch vehicle, command vehicle, and support vehicle. Drones are launched in under 3 seconds per unit, enabling rapid swarm deployment.
- Key Features: AI-driven autonomy allows drones to identify targets, reroute, and operate collectivelY. This makes the system highly mobile, stealthy, and effective in complex and hostile terrains.
Read More:
ENVIRONMENT CURRENT AFFAIRS
Nanaimoteuthis haggarti: “Cretaceous Kraken” Giant Octopus
- Recent research identified Nanaimoteuthis haggarti as a massive apex predator during the Cretaceous Period, resembling the mythical Kraken. This discovery highlights complex predator dynamics in ancient marine ecosystems.
- This enormous prehistoric octopus lived around 86–72 million years ago, occupying the same ecological level as marine reptiles like mosasaurs and plesiosaurs.
- Key Features: With Size, 22–61 feet, it is among the largest invertebrates. As an apex Predator, it fed on large fish, clams, and shelled creatures. It had long flexible arms and strong chitin beaks for crushing prey. Its asymmetric beak wear suggests advanced behaviour and possible handedness.
Read More:
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CURRENT AFFAIRS
Discovery of “Quipu”: Largest Known Structure in Universe
- Astronomers have identified “Quipu”, potentially the largest known cosmic structure, stretching 1.3 billion light-years and containing about 200 quadrillion solar masses. Named after the Incan knot system, it resembles a vast filamentary network.
- Key Findings: The discovery, led by Hans Bohringer of Max Planck Institute, analysed galaxy clusters with redshift 0.3–0.6. This enables mapping of distant cosmic structures. Redshift helps estimate distances as light shifts toward longer wavelengths.
- Key Findings: Quipu is about 13,000 times longer than the Milky Way. It is clearly visible in sky maps without complex algorithms. The structures lie 425–815 million light-years away. This discovery advances understanding of large-scale cosmic structure formation.
Read More:
REPORTS AND INDICES CURRENT AFFAIRS
Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) 2026
- Global Report on Food Crises 2026, published by Global Network Against Food Crises, highlights persistently high levels of acute hunger. In 2025, about 266 million people across 47 countries faced severe food insecurity- nearly double the share in 2016.
- The severity remains among highest in two decades, with IPC Phase 5 (catastrophic hunger) cases rising ninefold since 2016.
- Key Drivers & Trends: Conflict is the primary cause, affecting over half the population. Hunger is concentrated in 10 countries including Afghanistan, Sudan, Yemen, and Nigeria.
- A food crisis occurs when needs exceed national response capacity. The report underscores deepening global inequality in food security.
Read More:
International Labour Organization (ILO) Report on Psychosocial Risks at Workplace
- ILO released a report titled “The Psychosocial Working Environment: Global Developments and Pathways for Action”, which identifies psychosocial risks as a major global workplace challenge affecting health and productivity.
- These risks are linked to cardiovascular diseases, mental disorders, and suicide, requiring policy action and stronger labour mechanisms.
- Key Findings:
- Risks analysed at three levels: job nature, work organisation, and institutional policies. More than 8.4 lakh deaths annually linked to factors like long hours, job insecurity, and harassment.
- Around 45 million DALYs (Disability-Adjusted Life Years) lost each year. Also, economic loss estimated at 1.37% of global GDP
- The report stresses a prevention-oriented, organisational approach to address these systemic risks.
Read More:
AWARDS & EVENTS CURRENT AFFAIRS
International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers: 28 April
- International Workers’ Memorial Day, or International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers, is observed globally on 28 April to honour workers who have died, been injured, or fallen ill due to unsafe workplace conditions.
- It serves both as a day of remembrance and a call for stronger occupational safety measures. In Canada, it is officially observed as National Day of Mourning.
- Background: The day was first declared in 1989 by American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).
- The date marks anniversary of Occupational Safety and Health Act (1970) and the establishment of OSHA in 1971, underscoring the importance of workplace safety regulations.
Read More: