Daily Current Affairs: 23 April 2026

United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) projects India's economy to grow at 6.4% in 2026 and 6.6% in 2027

[United Nations]

Key Updates:

• The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) released the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2026.
• India's economy is projected to grow at 6.4% in 2026 and 6.6% in 2027.
• India's growth rate for 2025 was 7.4%, supported by rural economy consumption, goods and services tax rate cuts, and export frontloading.
• Inflation in India is projected to be 4.4% in 2026 and 4.3% in 2027.
• Economies in South and South-West Asia grew by 5.4% in 2025 and 5.2% in 2024.
• India's exports to the United States declined by 25% in the second half of 2025 following the introduction of 50% tariffs in August 2025.
• India attracted the largest share of greenfield Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the first three quarters with $50 billion, followed by Australia ($30 billion), Republic of Korea ($25 billion), and Kazakhstan ($21 billion).
• India was the world's largest remittance recipient in 2024 with $137 billion.
• The United States has levied a 1% tax on all remittances since January 2026.
• The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimated that India has 1.3 million green jobs, which is 8% of the global total of 16.6 million.
• India's Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme provides incentives for domestic manufacturing of solar photovoltaic, batteries, and green hydrogen.

Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) reports record seafood exports of ₹72,325.82 crore in FY 2025-26

[Marine Products Export Development Authority]

Key Updates:

• India's seafood exports reached an all-time high of ₹72,325.82 crore ($8.28 billion) with volumes of 19.32 lakh metric tonnes in Financial Year (FY) 2025-26, according to the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA).
• Frozen shrimp was the primary growth driver, contributing ₹47,973.13 crore ($5.51 billion) and accounting for over two-thirds of total export earnings.
• Shrimp exports grew by 4.6 per cent in volume and 6.35 per cent in value.
• The United States remained the largest export destination with imports totalling $2.32 billion, although shipments declined by 19.8 per cent in volume and 14.5 per cent in value.
• Total taxes on Indian shrimp in the United States market rose to 58 per cent since August last year, including a 50 per cent levy, countervailing duty, and anti-dumping duty, before being reduced to 18 per cent.
• China, the second-largest destination, recorded an increase in exports of 22.7 per cent in value and 20.1 per cent in volume.
• Exports to the European Union (EU) increased by 37.9 per cent in value and 35.2 per cent in volume.
• Under a finalized free trade agreement with the EU, the existing tariff of 26 per cent on seafood is set to be reduced to zero.
• Exports to Southeast Asia rose by 36.1 per cent in value and 28.2 per cent in volume.
• Exports to Japan grew by 6.55 per cent in value, while shipments to West Asia declined by 0.55 per cent.
• The top five ports—Vizag, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), Kochi, Kolkata, and Chennai—accounted for nearly 64 per cent of the total export value.

Government to Review Voting Rights Cap in Banks to Attract Long-Term Capital

Key Updates:

• The Government may review the voting rights cap in banks to attract long-term capital.
• A panel, yet to be formally constituted, is expected to include officials from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• The panel is expected to include senior executives from large public sector banks.

Draft Sugarcane (Control) Order 2026: Regulatory Revamp and Ethanol Integration

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution released the draft Sugarcane (Control) Order 2026 to replace the 1966 regulations.
• The draft order recognizes ethanol as a core output of sugar mills and brings khandsari sugar under the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) regime.
• For sugar units producing ethanol from sugarcane juice, syrup, and B-heavy molasses, 600 litres of bio-fuel will be counted as equivalent to one tonne of sugar.
• The draft rules prohibit the establishment of new sugar factories within a 25-km radius of an existing unit, increasing the distance from the current 15 km.
• Under the draft order, mills are required to pay for sugarcane within 14 days of delivery, with delayed payments attracting interest at 15% per annum.
• The order integrates by-product valuation for bagasse, molasses, and press mud to align sugar policy with the national biofuel programme.
• In the 2024-25 crop year, the total estimated sugarcane production was 43.5 million tonne (MT), with 13.5 MT used for manufacturing jaggery, juices, and khandsari.
• Khandsari sugar is primarily manufactured by approximately 370 units located in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra.

Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI) to Regulate Online Gaming Ecosystem

[OGAI]

Key Updates:

• The Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI) will become operational from May 1.
• The OGAI is established under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025.
• The OGAI will function as a digital office under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• The authority will be chaired by the additional secretary of MeitY.
• Members of the OGAI include joint secretary-level officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), and the Department of Legal Affairs (DLA).
• The OGAI is tasked with regulating the online gaming ecosystem in India, including the determination and registration of online games and esports titles.
• The OGAI has powers to issue directions regarding data retention and other regulatory matters concerning the sector.
• Mandatory registration is not required for online games that do not involve real money.

Andhra Pradesh Integrated Clean Energy Policy: Target Net-Zero by 2047

[Andhra Pradesh]

Key Updates:

• A delegation led by Tirupati Urban Development Authority (TUDA) Chairman C. Divakar Reddy presented the Andhra Pradesh Integrated Clean Energy Policy at the World Climate Cities Forum in Yeosu, South Korea.
• The World Climate Cities Forum was organised as part of the Korea Green Transition Week.
• The policy envisions transforming Andhra Pradesh into a global clean energy hub.
• The state government aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2047.

National Blood Policy: Target to establish one blood centre in every district by December 2026

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Health (Health Ministry) aims to establish at least one blood centre in every district by December 2026, in line with the National Blood Policy.
• Approximately 10 per cent of districts in the country currently do not have a blood centre.
• Performance of blood transfusion services was evaluated against a framework of 10 key performance indicators (KPIs) using data from eRaktKosh, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), and the Blood Bank Management System (BBMS).
• The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) reiterated the national goal of ensuring timely access to safe blood in every district with zero transfusion-transmitted infections.
• The review of blood transfusion services covered five critical stages: Licensing and Renewal; Donor Screening and Blood Collection; Testing for Transfusion-Transmitted Infections (TTIs) and referral/linkage of reactive donors; Processing, Storage and Issuance; and Reporting and Record-keeping.
• Priority actions identified include ensuring 100 per cent licensing compliance of all operational blood centres and scaling up voluntary blood donation through structured outreach and awareness campaigns.

India's INS Nireekshak arrives in Sri Lanka for training and maritime cooperation

[Sri Lanka]

Key Updates:

• The Indian Navy (IN) ship INS Nireekshak arrived in Sri Lanka for a training visit and Operational Turnaround (OTR).
• The visit is aimed at strengthening maritime cooperation between India and Sri Lanka.
• The ship was welcomed by the Sri Lankan Navy at the port of Colombo.

Pakistan Navy test-fires 'Taimoor' air-launched cruise missile on April 21, 2026

[Pakistan]

Key Updates:

• The Pakistan Navy successfully test-fired the indigenously developed 'Taimoor' air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) on April 21, 2026.
• The Taimoor ALCM is an anti-ship weapon system capable of striking land and sea targets at ranges of up to 600 km.
• The test was conducted under the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
• The Pakistan Navy conducted a live weapon firing of a homegrown ship-launched anti-ship missile on April 16.
• In January, the Pakistan Navy fired a surface-to-air missile during a comprehensive exercise in the north Arabian Sea.
• India's BrahMos cruise missile has a speed of Mach 2.8–3 and a strike range of 450-800 km.
• The BrahMos can carry a 200–300 kg warhead and can be launched from land, ships, submarines, and Su-30MKI combat aircraft.
• On May 10, 2025, the Indian Air Force (IAF) used the Barak-8 missile system to intercept and destroy a Pakistani ballistic missile targeting Delhi.
• Air Commodore Rohit Kapil of the IAF 45 Wing was awarded the Yudh Seva Medal for leading the Barak-8 interception operation.

L&T Energy GreenTech Ltd and Japan's ITOCHU Corporation sign green ammonia supply deal

[Larsen & Toubro, Japan]

Key Updates:

• L&T Energy GreenTech Ltd (LTEGL) signed a long-term agreement with Japan's ITOCHU Corporation to supply 300,000 tonnes of green ammonia annually.
• The green ammonia will be supplied from the upcoming LTEGL facility in Kandla on a long-term, take-or-pay basis.
• The project is intended to position Kandla as a key export hub for low-carbon fuels in line with the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
• ITOCHU Corporation plans to use the ammonia primarily for marine fuel applications, particularly in Singapore.

United Kingdom passes Tobacco and Vapes Bill to ban tobacco sales for those born after 2008

[United Kingdom]

Key Updates:

• The United Kingdom (UK) passed the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, making it illegal for anyone born after 2008 to buy tobacco products.
• From 2027, the legal age for the sale of tobacco products will increase by one year every year, meaning individuals born since January 1, 2009, will never be able to buy them.
• The law applies only to those who sell tobacco products, while individuals will not be punished for buying, possessing, or using them.
• Vaping is banned in hospitals, playgrounds, outside schools, and in cars carrying children.
• The bill prohibits vapes and other consumer nicotine products, such as nicotine pouches, from being branded and advertised to appeal to children.
• The UK government estimates that 1.7 million fewer people will be smoking by 2075 as a result of this legislation.
• The bill was approved by the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the upper house of the UK parliament.

India signs Rs 975 crore contracts for T-72 and T-90 tank equipment on 22 April 2026

[Ministry of Defence (India)]

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Defence signed contracts worth nearly Rs 975 crore for the procurement of TRAWL assembly for T-72 and T-90 tanks.
• The contracts were signed with Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML) and Electro Pneumatics and Hydraulics (India) Private Ltd.
• The TRAWL assembly is a critical equipment developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• The equipment is designed to create vehicle safe lanes through minefields containing anti-tank mines with proximity magnetic fuses.
• The procurement is classified as a 'Buy (Indian-indigenously designed, developed and manufactured)' case.
• The agreements were signed in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Completes Assembly of Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

Key Updates:

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has completed the final assembly of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.
• The telescope is scheduled to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, with a target launch window as early as fall 2026 or by May 2027.
• The observatory features a primary mirror measuring about 2.4 metres and a field of view approximately 100 times greater than the Hubble Space Telescope.
• The mission's primary objectives include studying dark energy and dark matter, and mapping the distribution and movement of galaxies.
• The telescope will use a specialised coronagraph instrument to enable direct imaging of exoplanets and their surrounding disks.
• The observatory will be positioned at Lagrange Point 2, located nearly one million miles from Earth.

Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh designated as India’s 99th Ramsar site

[Uttar Pradesh]

Key Updates:

• Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced the designation of Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary as a Ramsar site.
• Located in the Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh, Shekha Jheel is the 12th Ramsar site in the state and the 99th in India.
• The sanctuary serves as a crucial stopover on the Central Asian Flyway, which is one of the primary migratory bird routes in the world.
• Migratory bird species recorded at the site include the Bar-headed Goose, Painted Stork, and various types of ducks.
• The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty focused on the protection and sustainable utilisation of ecologically significant wetlands.
• The designation is part of the ecosystem restoration mission led by the Prime Minister (PM) of India.
• The recognition is intended to support local livelihoods, global biodiversity, water security, and climate security while promoting eco-tourism.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Releases People and Nature Report

[United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization]

Key Updates:

• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) released the People and Nature Report, the first assessment covering World Heritage Sites, Biosphere Reserves, and Global Geoparks.
• The report assesses a network of more than 2,260 sites spanning over 13 million square kilometres.
• Nearly 90% of UNESCO-designated sites are currently experiencing high levels of environmental stress.
• Climate change has impacted 98% of sites since 2000, with extreme heat identified as the most widespread hazard.
• Wildfires have emerged as the primary driver of forest change in World Heritage sites, contributing to the loss of over 300,000 sq km of tree cover since 2000.
• Invasive species have been recorded in more than 80% of UNESCO-designated sites.
• More than a quarter of these sites could reach critical, potentially irreversible tipping points by 2050.
• Glacier loss in UNESCO sites has exceeded 2,500 gigatonnes of ice since 2000, with mountain glaciers losing around 9% of their volume.
• More than 300 World Heritage sites are facing chronic water stress.
• These sites are home to more than 60% of globally mapped species, with approximately 40% being endemic to these areas.
• UNESCO sites support nearly one-third of the remaining populations of elephants, tigers, and pandas, as well as critically endangered species including the vaquita, Javan rhino, and pink iguana.
• The sites absorb nearly 700 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually and store an estimated 240 gigatonnes of carbon in soils and sediments.
• UNESCO-designated sites support the livelihoods of nearly 900 million people and contribute close to 10% of global GDP.
• The UNESCO initiative Women for Bees supports sustainable beekeeping in India's Western Ghats.

World Earth Day 2026 Observed with Theme 'Our Power, Our Planet'

Key Updates:

• World Earth Day is observed annually on 22 April to promote environmental protection, conservation, and sustainability.
• The theme for World Earth Day 2026 is 'our power, our planet', which emphasises human agency and collective action.
• Campaigns in 2026 focus on civic mobilisation, environmental literacy, and democratic action through activities such as voter registration drives, teach-ins, and town halls.
• World Earth Day began on 22 April 1970 in the United States (US) following protests against environmental degradation in cities including New York and Boston.
• The 1970 movement led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and key environmental laws.
• The movement expanded globally in 1990 with participation from 141 countries.

China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) Selects Pakistani Astronauts for Tiangong Space Station

[China, Pakistan]

Key Updates:

• The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) selected Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud as the first foreign reserve astronauts for space mission training.
• One of the selected candidates will participate in a space mission as a payload specialist on board the Tiangong space station.
• The Tiangong space station currently orbits approximately 400 km above the Earth and has been in orbit for nearly five years.
• The agreement for the mission was signed between the CMSA and Pakistan's Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) in February last year.
• The Tiangong space station was developed by China after its reported exclusion from the International Space Station (ISS).

Oldest Neanderthal Population in Central-Eastern Europe Identified via DNA from Stajnia Cave

Key Updates:

• Scientists have reconstructed the oldest Neanderthal population in Central-Eastern Europe using DNA from the Stajnia Cave in Poland.
• The genetic evidence dates back over 80,000 years and was extracted from a Neanderthal tooth.
• Using paleogenomic methodology to analyse mitochondrial DNA, researchers found the group was genetically connected to contemporary Neanderthals in the Caucasus area.
• The discovery was published in the journal Scientific Reports in an article titled First multi-individual Neanderthal mitogenomes from north of the Carpathians.
• The study indicates that climate changes during the Ice Age served as drivers for migratory events and population turnovers across Eurasia.

University of California (UCLA) Report Identifies Two Indian Waste Sites Among Top Global Methane Emitters

Key Updates:

• The University of California (UCLA) released a report titled 'Spotlight on the Top 25 Methane Plumes in 2025: Landfills'.
• The report utilised data gathered by Planet Labs' Tanager-1 satellite and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) EMIT instrument on the International Space Station.
• A waste facility in Secunderabad, Telangana, ranks fourth globally, emitting 5.9 tonnes of methane per hour.
• A waste facility in Mumbai, Maharashtra, ranks 12th globally, emitting 4.9 tonnes of methane per hour.
• The global list is topped by a waste facility in Argentina, which emits 7.6 tonnes of methane per hour.
• Methane is responsible for 30 per cent of global warming since preindustrial times, second only to carbon dioxide.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Completes Assembly of Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

[National Aeronautics and Space Administration]

Key Updates:

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has completed the final assembly of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.
• The telescope is expected to launch in 2026 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.
• The mission aims to study dark energy, dark matter, galaxy formation, and distant planetary systems using visible and near-infrared light.
• The observatory features a primary mirror approximately 2.4 metres wide and can collect data around 1,000 times faster than the Hubble Space Telescope during survey operations.
• Each image captured by the telescope will cover an area of the sky roughly 100 times larger than a single shot from Hubble.
• The telescope is equipped with a coronagraph designed to block bright starlight to enable direct imaging of large exoplanets, particularly gas giants similar to Jupiter.
• The coronagraph system may detect planets up to 100 million times dimmer than their host stars.
• Following launch, the telescope will travel nearly one million miles from Earth to be positioned at Lagrange Point 2.
• The telescope will be shipped to the Kennedy Space Center for final preparations after undergoing vibration and thermal simulations.

Tashkent to host World Para Athletics Championships 2027

Key Updates:

• World Para Athletics (WPA) announced that the 13th edition of the World Para Athletics Championships will be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in June 2027.
• The event will take place at the Olympic City Main Stadium.
• This marks the first time the championships will be staged in Uzbekistan and Central Asia.
• Tashkent 2027 will be the fifth time the event is hosted in Asia, following Doha 2015, Dubai 2019, Kobe 2024, and New Delhi 2025.
• The 2027 championships expect around 1,300 athletes from more than 100 nations to participate.
• The programme will include at least 164 events.
• The 2025 edition of the championships was held in New Delhi, India, where Brazil topped the medals table.
• Uzbekistan finished inside the top 15 with five gold medals at the New Delhi 2025 edition.

Sunrisers Hyderabad defeats Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026

Key Updates:

• Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) defeated Delhi Capitals (DC) by 47 runs in an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 match held in Hyderabad.
• SRH scored 242 for 2 in 20 overs, while DC scored 195 for 9 in 20 overs.
• Abhishek Sharma scored 135 not out off 68 balls, including 10 sixes and 10 fours, reaching his century in 47 balls.
• Abhishek Sharma became the first Indian cricketer to score two IPL centuries in under 50 balls, with his first coming off 40 balls against Punjab Kings in IPL 2025.
• Abhishek Sharma equalled Virat Kohli's record for the most centuries by an Indian in T20 cricket with 9 hundreds, surpassing Rohit Sharma's record of eight.
• The score of 135
• by Abhishek Sharma is the fifth-highest individual score in IPL history.
• Abhishek Sharma is the second batter to hit 10 or more sixes in an IPL innings multiple times, following Chris Gayle.
• Travis Head (37) and Heinrich Klaasen (37 not out) provided support for SRH, while Axar Patel was the lone wicket-taker for DC.

Vibha Padalkar reappointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of HDFC Life Insurance Company

[HDFC Life]

Key Updates:

• The Board of Directors of HDFC Life Insurance Company (HDFC Life) approved the re-appointment of Vibha Padalkar as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for a five-year term effective September 12.
• The appointment received clearance from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) and approval from shareholders at the Annual General Meeting.
• Padalkar joined HDFC Life in 2008 and was instrumental in the company's successful listing in 2017.
• She is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales.
• She serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Life Insurance Council.
• Padalkar received the 'CA Business Leader - Large Corporates - BFSI' award at the 15th ICAI Awards.
• She has been honoured by the ET Prime Women Leadership Awards, IMA India, and was named 'Businesswoman of the Year' at the Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence 2025.
• Her other recognitions include Business Today's 'Top 30 Most Powerful Women in Business' (2018-2023, 2025), 'Timeless Icons' (2024), Fortune International's 'Most Powerful Women in Business' (2021), Fortune India's 'Most Powerful Women in Business' (2021-2025), Business World's 'Most Valuable CEOs' (2022, 2023), Business World's 'Most Influential Women in Business' (2022), and India Today's 'The She List' (2024).

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nadendla Bhaskar Rao Passes Away at 90

[Andhra Pradesh]

Key Updates:

• Nadendla Bhaskara Rao, the former Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh, passed away at the age of 90 at Continental Hospitals in Hyderabad.
• He served as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh for a brief period in 1984.
• He began his legislative career in 1978 after being elected as a Congress Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA).
• He held ministerial positions in the state government under leaders including N. T. Rama Rao, Marri Chenna Reddy, and T. Anjaiah.
• His son, Nadendla Manohar, currently serves as the Civil Supplies Minister of Andhra Pradesh and the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) Chairman of the Jana Sena Party.
• Nadendla Manohar also held the position of the last Speaker of the united Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly.

European Union (EU) approves €90 billion loan package for Ukraine

[European Union, Ukraine, Russia]

Key Updates:

• The European Union (EU) has approved a loan package of €90 billion to bolster Ukraine's defence against Russia.
• The financial aid will be disbursed in two equal installments of €45 billion in 2026 and €45 billion in 2027.
• The annual allocation consists of €28 billion for military needs and €17 billion for general budget needs.
• The loan covers two-thirds of Ukraine's total estimated requirements of €135 billion for the next two years.
• The EU will provide interest-free loans funded by borrowing on capital markets and underpinned by EU budget headroom.
• Repayment is expected only after Russia pays war reparations, with frozen Russian central bank assets in the EU, worth approximately €210 billion, earmarked as a potential guarantee.
• Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic have secured exemptions from this joint borrowing initiative.
• The loan's revival follows the election defeat of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the appointment of Peter Magyar as the incoming prime minister.