NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
FIU-IND and I4C Sign MoU
- Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) and Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) signed an MoU to strengthen information sharing and coordination to combat cyber fraud and financial crimes in India.
- Objective: Partnership aims to support investigative agencies, enhance fraud detection, protect digital transactions, enable asset recovery, and develop guidelines and red-flag indicators for financial institutions.
- FIU-IND: is national agency under Ministry of Finance, for analysing suspicious financial transactions and coordinating action against money laundering and terror financing.
- I4C: an attached office of Ministry of Home Affairs coordinates cybercrime response through platforms e.g. Cyber-Police, National Cybercrime Reporting Portal, and Suspect Registry.
National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation
- National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) celebrated its 25th Foundation Day, reaffirming its role in promoting economic development and livelihood opportunities for Scheduled Tribes (STs) in India.
- NSTFDC: Established in 2001, is a PSU under Ministry of Tribal Affairs, headquartered in New Delhi.
- Functions as an apex institution providing concessional financial assistance to ST beneficiaries for income-generating and self-employment activities, mainly via State Channelizing Agencies (SCAs).
- Key Functions: include skill upgradation and training for tribal youth, project support to SCAs, economic empowerment via livelihood financing,and facilitating market linkages for tribal products to improve socio-economic conditions of tribal communities.
BANKING | ECONOMY CURRENT AFFAIRS
IRDAI Panel Signals Major Health Insurance Reforms
- Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) constituted a sub-committee under its Insurance Advisory Committee (IAC) to review functioning of private health insurers, possibly for reforms in India’s health insurance sector.
- Objective: To strengthen consumer protection, enhance affordability, and improve trust and coverage in India’s health insurance ecosystem.
- The review comes despite record health insurance premium collections of ₹1.24 lakh crore in FY2025–26, amid rising consumer concerns over claim settlement delays or rejections, high premiums and disputes between hospitals and insurers on treatment tariffs.
- Function: Panel will examine claims processing, pricing of treatments, grievance redressal systems, and hospital tariffs to reduce conflicts and improve transparency and efficiency.
11 Years of Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana
- Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) completed 11 years on 8 April 2026. This marks a decade since its launch on 8 April 2015 with aim of “Funding the Unfunded.”
- As of 27 March 2026, PMMY disbsursed ₹40.07 lakh crore across 57+ crore loan accounts, significantly promoting financial inclusion, grassroots entrepreneurship and growth of local economies.
- PMMY provides loans for business activities, equipment purchase for micro units, working capital through MUDRA cards,transport vehicles for commercial use, and agri-allied non-farm activities (like fisheries, dairy, and food processing)
- Loans Categorised into Four Stages: Shishu, Kishor, Tarun, and Tarun Plus, based on growth stage and financial needs of enterprises.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES CURRENT AFFAIRS
Ministry of Skill Development Launches Skills Outcomes Fund
- Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) launched Skills Outcomes Fund to strengthen outcome-based financing in skill development and improve employment outcomes for youth
- Objective: To mobilise catalytic capital from public, private and philanthropic sources to support large-scale skill training programmes across priority sectors.
- Focuses on: pay-for-success models, where funding is linked to measurable outcomes like income improvement, job placement and long-term employment retention.
- The fund aims to advance India’s workforce readiness and economic growth by supporting innovative skilling projects, enhancing accountability in training programmes and bridging gap between skilling and employment.
Poshan Pakhwada 2026 Launched
- Ministry of Women and Child Development launched 8th edition of Poshan Pakhwada 2026 under Mission Poshan 2.0. It was observed from 9–23 April 2026 to promote improved nutrition and early childhood development.
- Theme: “Maximising Brain Development in the First Six Years of Life,” . It highlights importance of the first 1,000 days and notes that over 85% of brain development occurs by age six.
- Five Focus Areas: maternal & child nutrition; early stimulation (0–3 years); play-based education (3–6 years); minimising screen time; and strengthening Anganwadi Centres by Jan Bhagidari and CSR.
- Activities Include: home visits, awareness drives, Poshan Melas and counselling via ASHAs, ANMs, SHGs, Anganwadi workers, teachers and PRIs.
- Under Poshan Abhiyaan (2018), over 150 crore sensitisation activities and 8 crore community events were conducted.
INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
Costa Rica Launches Venomous Snake Identification App
- Costa Rica launched ICP App to help identify venomous snakes, improving public awareness and safety during snake encounters.
- Developed by: Universidad de Costa Rica, the app provides science-based guidance, visual comparisons, and safety information in a single platform. It is free and available on Android and iOS.
- Features: App enables identification of 25 venomous snake species and includes about 12 commonly confused non-venomous species, reducing misidentification risks.
- Targets: It is designed for locals and visitors, especially in remote areas where quick access to reliable information is critical for timely response and public health safety.
ENVIRONMENT CURRENT AFFAIRS
India discontinue new clearances for HFC Production post 2027
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change directed authorities to stop approving new Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) production projects after 31 December 2027. This move aligns with India’s commitments under Kigali Amendment to Montreal Protocol.
- Existing approved capacities must begin production before 31 Dec 2027, while new proposals must submit an undertaking for commissioning by this date.
- The order applies to SEIAAs, SEACs, and the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC).
- India’s Main Production: HFC-134a, HFC-32, and HFC-125 used in refrigeration, ACs, and fire extinguishers.
- India’s HFC phase-down schedule: Freeze (2028), 10% cut (2032), 20% (2037), 30% (2042), and 85% reduction by 2047.
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POLITY CURRENT AFFAIRS
Cabinet approves Revised Cost of HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Project
- Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved revised cost of the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) Rajasthan Refinery Project from ₹43,129 crore to ₹79,459 crore, along with an additional ₹8,962 crore equity investment by HPCL (raising its total equity to ₹19,600 crore).
- Project at Pachpadra, Balotra district, Rajasthan is a 9 MMTPA greenfield refinery-cum-petrochemical complex with 4 MMTPA petrochemical capacity. It is implemented via HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited, a JV of HPCL (74%) and Rajasthan Government (26%).
- SCOD: 1 July 2026; the refinery will have a >26% petrochemical product slate, indicating high complexity.
- Key Outputs Include: petrol (1 MMTPA), diesel (4 MMTPA), polypropylene (1 MMTPA), LLDPE (0.5 MMTPA), HDPE (0.5 MMTPA), and aromatics (~0.4 MMTPA) for sectors like transportation, pharma, paints, and packaging.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CURRENT AFFAIRS
1,000-km Quantum Communication Network achieved under National Quantum Mission
- Under National Quantum Mission, India demonstrated a 1,000-km quantum communication network (one of the world’s longest), using Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology developed by QNu Labs, an Indian quantum-cybersecurity startup.
- Achieved within two years of mission’s launch in October 2024, the network works across challenging terrains including underground and underwater systems. The mission aims to build a 2,000-km quantum network over 8 years, meaning half target has already been achieved early.
- The network will strengthen secure communications for defence, financial systems, and critical infrastructure.
- National Quantum Mission: ₹6,003.65-crore mission (2023–2031) with hubs at IISc Bengaluru, IIT Delhi,IIT Madras and IIT Bombay.
REPORTS AND INDICES CURRENT AFFAIRS
World Inequality Lab Report on Land Inequality in India: Findings
- World Inequality Lab released “Land Inequality in India: Nature, History, and Markets”report. It analysed 2.7 lakh villages across 10 states representing about 75% of rural population (~650 million people) using Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data.
- Land inequality is extremely high: average village Gini coefficient ~71/100; 46% rural households landless. The top 10% own 44%, top 5% 32%, and top 1% 18% of total land.
- Historical and Social Factors Matter: landlord-based colonial tenure systems, caste composition (higher SC/ST landlessness), and favourable agro-ecology increase concentration.
- Regional patterns: Punjab has highest landlessness (~73%); highest inequality in Kerala (Gini ~90); lowest in Karnataka and Rajasthan (<65);
PERSONS IN NEWS CURRENT AFFAIRS
Sudarsan Pattnaik Appointed Brand Ambassador for Census 2027
- Ministry of Home Affairs appointed Sudarsan Pattnaik as Brand Ambassador for Census 2027 to boost awareness and public participation in India’s upcoming census exercise.
- Role: He will use sand art to educate citizens and encourage nationwide engagement.
- Sudarsan Pattnaik: Renowned artist from Odisha, awarded Padma Shri (2014); holds a Guinness World Record (2017) for tallest sandcastle; promotes causes like climate change, Covid-19, and public health.
- Census 2027: Conducted under Census Act 1948 by Registrar General. The 2027 is India’s first digital census and 16th Census (8th post-independence); Mascots are Pragati (female) and Vikas (male).