Current Affairs 24 April 2026 | 24th April 2026 Current Affairs | Daily GK Updates

01. National Panchayati Raj Day 2026 — Theme: "Sashakt Panchayat, Sarvangeen Vikas"

Category: Panchayati Raj

India observed National Panchayati Raj Day (NPRD) on 24 April 2026, marking 33 years of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act coming into force (24 April 1993). The central event was held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, organized by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. The 2026 theme is "Sashakt Panchayat, Sarvangeen Vikas" (Empowered Panchayat, Holistic Development), highlighting the role of PRIs in achieving Viksit Bharat 2047 and the SDGs. India now has over 2.5 lakh Panchayats and more than 24.04 lakh elected representatives, nearly half of whom are women. PM Modi's message was read at the event and disseminated to all Gram Panchayats.

02. SVAMITVA Scheme Completes Drone Surveys in 3.29 Lakh Villages

Category: Digital Governance

On National Panchayati Raj Day, key milestones of the SVAMITVA Scheme were highlighted. Launched on 24 April 2021, the scheme uses drone surveys and GIS mapping to create accurate property records in rural settlements and issue property cards (Adhikar Patra). As of March 2026, drone surveys were completed in 3.29 lakh out of 3.44 lakh targeted villages. 3.10 crore property cards have been prepared and 2.65 crore distributed. This gives rural households legal ownership rights and enables access to bank credit. Rural development budget rose from ₹87,765 crore in 2016–17 to ₹2.73 lakh crore in 2026–27.

03. SC Stays UGC Equity Regulations 2026 — Cites Vagueness & Potential Misuse

Category: Higher Education

The Supreme Court of India stayed the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, citing concerns of vagueness and potential misuse. The regulations aimed to address discrimination in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Data indicates representation gaps are more severe in faculty/employment than student admissions. The SC stay has triggered debate on genuine equity vs procedural compliance. Existing reservation norms: SC – 15%, ST – 7.5%, OBC – 27% in public employment and education. Equal Opportunity Cells (EOCs) and SC/ST Cells in universities handle discrimination grievances.

04. Justice Lisa Gill Appointed Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court

Category: Judiciary

Justice Lisa Gill was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, effective 25 April 2026, following the retirement of Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur on 24 April 2026. The appointment was made by the President of India in consultation with the Chief Justice of India, as mandated under the Constitution. Justice Lisa Gill was earlier a Judge of the AP High Court, transferred from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Her appointment followed the SC Collegium's new policy of transferring prospective Chief Justices at least two months before the incumbent's retirement to ensure smooth transition.

05. Online Gaming Regulation Rules 2026 to Come into Force on 1 May 2026

Category: Digital Policy

The Government officially notified the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026, set to come into force on 1 May 2026 under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The rules establish a unified national framework replacing fragmented state regulations. Key feature: creation of the Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI) under MeitY. The rules address user addiction, financial fraud, and money laundering in the rapidly expanding online gaming market. Games will be formally categorized and compliance standards established for operators.

06. NAMASTE Scheme — Major Progress in Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem

Category: Sanitation

The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment announced major progress under the NAMASTE (National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem) Scheme. The scheme aims to eliminate hazardous manual cleaning of sewers and septic tanks by promoting mechanised sanitation. Progress highlights include large-scale profiling of sanitation workers, PPE distribution, health insurance coverage, and financial assistance. NAMASTE is a Central Sector Scheme launched jointly by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, addressing the dignity and occupational safety of sanitation workers.

07. MCA Expands PM Internship Scheme (PMIS) Eligibility to Final-Year UG & PG Students

Category: Youth Employment

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), in consultation with the Department of Higher Education and Ministry of Education, expanded the eligibility criteria for the PM Internship Scheme (PMIS) to include final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students. The earlier age bracket of 21–24 years was revised to 18–25 years. Applicants must submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Head of Department / Dean / Principal confirming the internship won't affect academic requirements. The monthly stipend was also increased. The scheme targets internships in India's top 500 companies.

08. Denotified, Nomadic & Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs) — State Support for Community Certificates Lacking

Category: Social Justice

The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment's 2025–26 report highlighted a significant lack of state support in issuing community certificates and identifying beneficiaries for Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs). DNTs are communities that were formerly classified as "criminal tribes" under the British-era Criminal Tribes Act, 1871, denotified in 1952. There is no separate constitutional category for DNTs (unlike SC/ST/OBC). The Renke Commission (2008) and Idate Commission (2017) had recommended their welfare. Lack of certificates denies them access to welfare schemes.

09. Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) — 20 Lakh MT Potato Procurement Announced

Category: Agriculture

The Ministry of Agriculture announced procurement of approximately 20 lakh metric tonnes of potatoes under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS). MIS operates under the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA). It is implemented at the request of States/UTs and covers perishable crops like tomato, onion, and potato. Crucially, MIS is applicable to commodities not covered under Minimum Support Price (MSP). Its objective is to protect farmers from distress selling when market prices fall sharply below production costs.

10. Pay Point India — First Private Fintech to Join RBI's Centralised Payment System (CPS)

Category: Banking

Pay Point India Network became the first private-sector fintech company to secure membership in the Centralised Payment System (CPS) operated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Previously, CPS access was restricted to banks and large institutions like NPCI and CCIL. With this membership, Pay Point now has direct access to RTGS and NEFT, removing dependence on partner banks. This marks a historic shift in India's payment infrastructure, enabling non-bank fintechs to directly participate in India's core financial systems and improve financial inclusion.

11. PNB Partners with Kiwi to Launch RuPay Credit Card on UPI Platform

Category: Digital Payments

Punjab National Bank (PNB) entered a strategic partnership with fintech firm Kiwi to launch a co-branded "PNB Kiwi Credit Card" integrated with the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). The initiative aims to expand formal credit access, especially in semi-urban and rural areas, by integrating RuPay credit cards with the UPI ecosystem. This promotes financial inclusion and strengthens India's digital payments infrastructure. RuPay is India's domestic card network developed by NPCI, and its integration with UPI is part of India's vision to reduce dependence on foreign card networks like Visa and Mastercard.

12. UN Projects India's GDP Growth at 6.4% in 2026, 6.6% in 2027

Category: Economy

A United Nations report projected India's economy to grow at 6.4% in calendar year 2026 and 6.6% in 2027, reaffirming India's position as one of the world's fastest-growing major economies. However, concerns were raised as Indian equity markets extended losses with Brent crude approaching US$ 100 per barrel, causing the Sensex to fall sharply amid imported inflation worries. The RBI also flagged that persistent heatwave conditions and high crude prices could pressure inflation, making upcoming monetary policy reviews critical. The Finance Minister urged banks to upgrade cybersecurity architecture against AI-driven cyber threats.

13. ADNIC (UAE) Gets RBI Approval to Set Up Reinsurance Branch at GIFT City

Category: Insurance

Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company (ADNIC) — a UAE-based insurance and reinsurance provider — received approval to set up a reinsurance branch in India at GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City), Gandhinagar, Gujarat. This marks another foreign financial institution entering India's International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) at GIFT City. GIFT City is India's first operational smart city and IFSC, regulated by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA). It is designed to attract global financial firms and boost India's position as an international financial hub.

14. ICMR Upgrades Hyderabad Facility to National Institute for Pre-Clinical Research (NIPCR)

Category: Medical Research

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) officially upgraded and renamed its Hyderabad-based animal resource facility to the National Institute for Pre-Clinical Research (NIPCR). Located in Genome Valley, Hyderabad on 100 acres, NIPCR serves as a critical bridge between laboratory discovery and human clinical trials, focusing on validation of biomedical innovations. It was approved by the Cabinet Committee on 18 November 2015 and officially created on 1 January 2016. Its upgrade enhances India's capacity for pre-clinical testing of drugs, vaccines, and medical devices, supporting indigenous biomedical R&D.

15. IIT Ropar Launches India's First AI-Based Agricultural Intelligence Ecosystem

Category: Agriculture Tech

IIT Ropar (Punjab) launched India's first fully integrated AI-based Agricultural Intelligence Ecosystem to support smart farming and agricultural decision-making. The system integrates AI, IoT sensors, satellite data, and real-time analytics to assist farmers with crop health monitoring, irrigation, pest management, and yield prediction. It is linked to the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) initiative implemented by ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research). The ecosystem supports India's vision to modernise agriculture and make it climate-resilient.

16. SabhaSaar — AI Tool Automates Gram Sabha Minutes in 23 Languages

Category: SabhaSaar AI Tool

SabhaSaar, an AI-powered governance tool, automatically prepares structured minutes of Gram Sabha meetings by converting audio/video recordings into documents. Integrated with Bhashini — India's national language translation platform — it supports 23 regional languages. As of January 2026, over 1 lakh Gram Panchayats have used SabhaSaar. Announced on National Panchayati Raj Day, this tool reduces manual workload on Panchayat secretaries and strengthens monitoring of local governance, aligning with Digital India and transparency goals.

17. IMD Issues Severe Heatwave Alert Across 7 States — Temperatures 2–4°C Above Normal

Category: Climate

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued severe heatwave alerts for Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Rajasthan. Temperatures are 2–4°C above normal, with some areas in Vidarbha, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh crossing 40°C — unusually early for April. State governments issued health advisories and changes to school timings. The early onset is attributed to: lack of western disturbances, reduced convective activity, residual effects of El Niño, and intensifying climate change. The Lancet estimated 247 billion work-hours lost globally in 2024 due to heat stress.

18. Amazon Signs $30 Million Carbon Credit Deal with Indian Rice Farmers (TGRA)

Category: Carbon Markets

Amazon signed a landmark $30 million (₹280 crore) deal with the Good Rice Alliance (TGRA) to purchase carbon credits from Indian rice farmers — India's largest ever agricultural carbon credit deal. The project will generate over 6,85,000 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent credits, helping Amazon move towards its net-zero targets. The initiative covers 13,000+ farmers across 35,000 hectares, promoting sustainable rice cultivation (rice paddies are a major source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas). This is significant for India's climate commitments and rural farmer income.

19. France Enables Visa-Free Airport Transit for Indian Passengers

Category: Foreign Affairs

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that France has enabled visa-free airport transit for Indian passport holders. This means Indian travellers transiting through French airports (including CDG Paris) will no longer require an Airport Transit Visa (ATV) for short layovers, significantly easing international travel. This development reflects the deepening of India–France strategic partnership, one of India's key relationships in Europe. France is also a vital partner for India in defence (Rafale jets), nuclear energy, space cooperation, and UN Security Council matters.

20. Khongjom Day Observed in Manipur — Tribute to Martyrs of Anglo-Manipur War 1891

Category: Culture & Heritage

Khongjom Day was observed in Manipur on 24 April 2026 to pay tribute to the martyrs of the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891. The observance was held at the Khongjom War Memorial Complex in Thoubal district, Manipur. The Anglo-Manipur War was fought between Manipuri forces and British colonial troops. The Battle of Khongjom, fought on 23 April 1891, was the last stand of Manipuri resistance, with warriors including the legendary Paona Brajabashi sacrificing their lives. Khongjom Day honours this heroic resistance against British colonialism.

Boost your preparation with:

• Aptitude Tests: https://www.mcqorbit.com/exams/aptitude

• English Tests: https://www.mcqorbit.com/exams/english

• GK Exams: https://www.mcqorbit.com/exams/gk