National Affairs

Overview of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s Visit to India
The President of the Republic of Korea (ROK), Lee Jae Myung, paid a state visit to India from April 19–21, 2026, marking the first state visit by a South Korean President in eight years. He held extensive bilateral talks with PM Narendra Modi to strengthen the India-ROK Special Strategic Partnership.

• Bilateral Summit: Discussions at Hyderabad House focused on financial services, shipbuilding, AI, semiconductors, defense, and upgrading the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
• India-ROK Special Strategic Partnership (SSP): Both nations announced a Joint Strategic Vision for 2026-2030 to add further content and implement key bilateral goals.
• Other Key Outcomes: Establishment of an Industrial Cooperation Committee (ICC), a framework for the India–Korea Digital Bridge, and a dedicated cultural exchange program for 2026–2030.

MCA Expands Eligibility for PMIS to Include Final-Year Students
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) expanded the eligibility criteria for the pilot phase of the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS) to include final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students aged 18–25.

• Approval: Applicants must submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from an authorized university official confirming the internship will not disrupt academic requirements.
• Benefits: The GoI increased the monthly stipend to ₹9,000 (with 90% government funding) and provides an additional ₹6,000 financial assistance in two installments for the one-year internship.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Releases Revised TDIP Scheme Guidelines
Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia released the revised guidelines for the Technology Development and Investment Promotion (TDIP) Scheme to speed up innovation in 5G Advanced and 6G technologies.

• Standards: The ₹203 crore outlay (2026–31) provides financial support for leadership and technical contributions in global bodies like ITU and 3GPP.
• Agencies: Implementation will be heavily driven through the Telecommunications Standards Development Society, India (TSDSI), Telecom Centres of Excellence (TCoE), and TCIL.

MoEF&CC Declares UP’s Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary as Ramsar Site
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav announced the designation of Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, as a Ramsar site, boosting wetland conservation efforts.

• Total Wetlands: With this addition, India’s total number of Ramsar sites has increased to 99.
• Shekha Jheel: A critical winter resting site along the Central Asian Flyway, hosting species like bar-headed geese and painted storks across a mix of wetland, grassland, and forest habitats.
• States: Tamil Nadu currently holds the highest number of Ramsar sites (20), followed closely by Uttar Pradesh (12).

Eveready Commissions India’s First Alkaline Battery Unit in Jammu
Eveready Industries India Ltd. (EIIL) inaugurated India’s only operating alkaline battery manufacturing facility in the Samba district of Jammu, drastically boosting domestic production capabilities.

• Focus on Premiumization: The state-of-the-art greenfield plant will primarily produce the Ultima Alkaline range to cater to the surging premium device segment.
• High-Drain Performance: Alkaline batteries offer much higher energy density, making them essential for modern devices like smart locks and digital cameras.
• Import Substitution: Reduces India’s massive historical dependence on imported batteries from China and Southeast Asia, increasing supply chain resilience.

Union Minister C. R. Patil Launches 9th IIWW in New Delhi
Union Minister of Jal Shakti C. R. Patil launched the 9th edition of India International Water Week (IIWW-2026), India’s flagship global water event, to share global best practices in water management.

• Key Launches: Officially released the IIWW-2026 brochure and launched the live website portal.
• Key Progress: Highlighted that over 60 lakh artificial recharge and water conservation structures have been created, with the GoI targeting 1 crore structures by May 2026.

International Affairs

INS Nireekshak Participates in ‘IN-SLN DIVEX 2026’ in Colombo
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Nireekshak, a Diving Support and Submarine Rescue Vessel, arrived in Colombo to participate in the 4th edition of the India-Sri Lanka Diving Exercise (IN-SLN DIVEX 2026).

• Aim: To improve interoperability, bolster coordination, and facilitate the exchange of best practices between the navies of India and Sri Lanka.
• Operational Engagements: The week-long exercise involves specialized diving operations, training drills, and reinforces the MAHASAGAR vision for security in the Indian Ocean Region.

Banking & Finance

PNB Partners with Kiwi to Launch RuPay Credit Card on UPI Platform
Punjab National Bank (PNB) entered a strategic partnership with fintech firm Kiwi to launch the “PNB Kiwi Credit Card,” a co-branded RuPay credit card fully integrated with the UPI ecosystem.

• Objective: To expand formal credit access in semi-urban and rural areas, targeting around 180 million customers through fully digital, paperless onboarding.
• Integration: Enables seamless credit-based "scan-and-pay" transactions via UPI QR codes without requiring a physical card.
• Benefits: Offers 0.5% to 1.5% cashback on online transactions alongside zero joining and annual fees.

Pay Point India Becomes First Fintech to Join RBI’s Centralised Payment System
Pay Point India Network made history by becoming the first private-sector fintech company to secure direct membership in the RBI’s Centralised Payment System (CPS).

• Background: Access to the CPS was previously heavily restricted to banks and major institutions like the NPCI and CCIL.
• Reduces Reliance on Banks: The firm now has direct access to core infrastructure like RTGS and NEFT, removing the need for intermediary partner banks.
• Assigned IFSC Code: The company has been assigned its own IFSC code, enabling it to maintain current and settlement accounts directly with the RBI.

Appointments & Resignations

HDFC Life Board Reappoints Vibha Padalkar as MD & CEO for 5 Years
The Board of Directors of HDFC Life Insurance Company Limited approved the reappointment of Vibha Padalkar as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for a further five years, effective September 2026.

• Leadership Highlights: Joined HDFC Life in 2008 as CFO, was inducted onto the Board in 2012, and was elevated to MD & CEO in 2018.
• Industry Milestone: Played a pivotal role in the company’s 2017 public listing and spearheaded the historic Exide Life Insurance acquisition in 2022.

Science & Technology

China Selects Two Pakistani Astronauts for Tiangong Space Station Training
The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) selected two Pakistani candidates for astronaut training under its human spaceflight program, marking China’s first-ever inclusion of foreign astronauts.

• Selection: Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud were chosen as reserve astronauts. One is expected to become the first Pakistani to reach Earth’s orbit and visit the Tiangong space station as a payload specialist.
• Agreement: Follows a February 2025 pact between the CMSA and Pakistan’s SUPARCO, heavily boosting Pakistan’s scientific and space capabilities.

Pakistan Successfully Test-Fires Indigenous Taimoor Anti-Ship Cruise Missile
The Pakistan Navy successfully conducted a live test-firing of the ‘Taimoor’, an indigenously developed air-launched anti-ship cruise missile (ALCM), significantly enhancing its maritime strike capabilities.

• Overview: The Taimoor features anti-ship and secondary land-attack capabilities, offering precision strikes up to approximately 600 kilometers with a massive stand-off engagement advantage.
• Significance: Validates advanced detection, tracking, and neutralization of sea-based threats, advancing Pakistan's battlefield flexibility and maritime deterrence.

State News

Justice Lisa Gill Appointed Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court
Justice Lisa Gill was appointed as the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, becoming the first woman to hold the position since the court's separate formation in 2019.

• Appointment Process: Recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium and officially notified by President Droupadi Murmu following her transfer from the Punjab & Haryana High Court.
• Career Background: Enrolled as an advocate in 1990 and was elevated as a Judge in March 2014.
• Judicial Significance: Reflects the SC Collegium’s advance-transfer policy for smoother High Court leadership transitions.

Meghalaya Launches CM-INSPIRE Scheme for UPSC Qualifiers
Meghalaya CM Conrad K. Sangma launched the CM-INSPIRE (Chief Minister’s Incentive for Success in Prelims and Innovative Rewards for Excellence) Scheme to heavily reduce preparation costs for UPSC aspirants.

• Financial Support: Provides ₹50,000 for clearing the Preliminary Examination and ₹1 lakh for clearing the Mains/Interview stage.
• Beneficiaries: Disbursed via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to the bank accounts of permanent residents and tribal candidates of Meghalaya.
• Verification: Processed based on official UPSC result notifications and state domicile proof through the MATI portal.

Obituary

Former Andhra Pradesh CM Nadendla Bhaskara Rao Passes Away
Nadendla Bhaskara Rao, former Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh, passed away at the age of 90 in Hyderabad, Telangana.

• Early Career: Elected as an MLA from Vijayawada East in 1978 and served as a minister until 1989.
• TDP Formation: Co-founded the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1982 alongside N. T. Rama Rao, serving as Finance Minister after their 1983 victory.
• Chief Minister: Served a brief 31-day tenure as Chief Minister in 1984 during N. T. Rama Rao’s absence, one of the shortest tenures in the state's history.

Important Days at a Glance