Daily Current Affairs: 27 April 2026

US Commerce Department imposes preliminary antidumping duties on solar imports from India, Indonesia and Laos

[United States]

Key Updates:

• The US Commerce Department announced preliminary antidumping duties on solar cells and panels imported from India, Indonesia and Laos.
• The preliminary duty rates, known as dumping margins, are 123.04 per cent for India, 35.17 per cent for Indonesia, and 22.46 per cent for Laos.
• India, Indonesia and Laos accounted for $4.5 billion in US solar imports last year, representing approximately two-thirds of the total.
• The petition for these duties was filed by the Alliance for American Solar Manufacturing and Trade, which includes First Solar, Qcells, Talon PV and Mission Solar.
• The US Commerce Department will announce final decisions for solar cells from India and Indonesia on or around July 13, and for imports from Laos on or around September 9.
• Preliminary countervailing duties were announced for India, Indonesia and Laos in February.

Government forms panel under State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman to assess AI platform Mythos risks

[State Bank of India (SBI)]

Key Updates:

• The Government of India has formed a panel led by State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman C S Setty to assess risks from the AI platform Mythos and devise mitigation strategies.
• C S Setty also leads the Indian Banks' Association (IBA).
• Mythos is an AI model developed by Anthropic that possesses advanced coding capabilities to detect and exploit cybersecurity weaknesses in operating systems.
• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is consulting with various governments and technology companies to understand the issue.
• The panel will facilitate interaction among banks to identify threats and determine necessary additional investments to counter AI-driven challenges.
• Regulators across Asia, Europe, and the US have warned banks to review their defences against the potential for Mythos to disrupt banking systems.

Census 2027: Launch of Toll-free Helpline and WhatsApp Chatbot

Key Updates:

• The Registrar General of India (RGI) launched a national toll-free helpline, 1855, and a WhatsApp chatbot for Census 2027.
• The multi-lingual service is designed to support enumerators, supervisors, and the general public.
• Census 2027 is the eighth Census since Independence and is the first to be fully digital with self-enumeration options.
• The first phase, Housing Listing and Housing Enumeration (HLO), is scheduled from April to September 2026.
• The second phase, population enumeration, is set for February 2027.
• Specific queries will be forwarded to the respective state Directorate of Census Operations for resolution.

Vibrant Village Programme-II: Six border villages in Kathua identified

Key Updates:

• Six border villages in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir have been brought under the Vibrant Village Programme-II.
• The identified villages along the International Border are Bobiya, Kadyala, Gajnal, Karol Krishna, Rathua, and Gujjar Chak.
• The identification of these villages was finalised at a meeting chaired by the Kathua Deputy Commissioner Sharma on April 25.

UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development launched to empower women in emerging sectors

Key Updates:

• Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Jayant Chaudhary, launched the UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development.
• The initiative was unveiled at the International Conference on "Women Leading the Future of Work" held at Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU) in Pune.
• The initiative was launched in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
• The UNESCO Chair aims to promote gender-inclusive skilling frameworks and support research, training, and policy development focused on equity in workforce participation.
• The initiative seeks to strengthen women's participation in sunrise sectors, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, semiconductors, and defence technology.
• Key themes of the conference included Defence technology and advanced manufacturing, Robotics and Industry 4.0, AI and semiconductors, and Global Capability Centres (GCCs).
• The event featured international expertise from the International Labour Organization (ILO), UNESCO Global Skills Academy, and UNESCO-UNEVOC.

Bharat Taxi: Cooperative-based ride-hailing platform with zero commission for drivers

[Bharat Taxi, Maharashtra]

Key Updates:

• Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched Bharat Taxi, India's first cooperative-based ride-hailing platform, on February 5 in Delhi.
• Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal launched the Bharat Taxi app in Mumbai to expand the initiative across Mumbai and Maharashtra.
• The platform offers zero commission and no subscription fees for auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers to reduce dependence on foreign apps.
• Drivers registered on the app receive free insurance cover of ₹5 lakh.
• The app provides drivers access to Mudra loans to modernise or upgrade their vehicles, including shifting to electric vehicles.
• The initiative aims to provide affordable and authorised fares to the public.

PM-AASHA and Atmanirbhar Pulses Mission: Expansion of MSP Procurement in Chhattisgarh and Bihar

[ Chhattisgarh, Bihar]

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution expanded procurement operations under the PM-AASHA scheme in Chhattisgarh and launched the first structured pulse procurement in Bihar under the Atmanirbhar Pulses Mission.
• The procurement drive is led by the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India Ltd. (NCCF) and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED).
• In Bihar, NCCF initiated organised procurement of masoor (lentil) supported by Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA)-approved warehouses in collaboration with the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC).
• Bihar has a procurement target of 32,000 tonnes of masoor, with 100.4 metric tonnes procured as of 22 April 2026.
• In Chhattisgarh, PM-AASHA procurement uses the E-Samyukti portal for digitised farmer participation.
• Chhattisgarh has 85 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) centres operational in Dhamtari, Durg, Balod, Balodabazar, Raipur, Raigarh, and Sarangarh, with planned expansion in Sarguja, Kondagaon, and Koriya.
• NCCF set procurement targets in Chhattisgarh for 63,325 MT of chana and 5,360 MT of masoor.
• As of 22 April 2026, NCCF achieved procurement of 9,032 MT of chana and 7.98 MT of masoor in Chhattisgarh.
• NAFED established 137 procurement centres through State Level Agencies in Chhattisgarh, alongside 7 direct centres for chana and 3 for masoor.
• As of 22 April 2026, NAFED procured 3,850 MT of chana and 109 MT of masoor in Chhattisgarh.

University of Delhi and Centre for Maritime Economy and Connectivity (CMEC) MoU to strengthen maritime education and research

Key Updates:

• University of Delhi (DU) and Centre for Maritime Economy and Connectivity (CMEC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen maritime education and research.
• The MoU was signed at the Delhi School of Economics to enhance capacity building, skill development, and interdisciplinary research aligned with India's Blue Economy vision.
• The collaboration focuses on developing academic frameworks, joint research projects, training programmes, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
• The initiative aligns with government programmes including Sagarmala and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
• The partnership targets opportunities for students and researchers in maritime logistics, green shipping, and supply chain management.
• India's seafaring workforce currently contributes about 12 per cent to the global maritime workforce, with a target to reach 20 per cent by 2030.
• India possesses an 11,000-km coastline and 111 national waterways.
• The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways facilitated the exchange of the MoU.
• The Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) and the Delhi School of Economics signed an additional MoU to promote joint programmes in public policy research and training.

Coca-Cola India and Invest UP sign MoU for community and environmental initiatives

[Coca-Cola India (India), Uttar Pradesh (India)]

Key Updates:

• Coca-Cola India Pvt Ltd has entered into a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Invest UP, Government of Uttar Pradesh.
• The partnership aims to support environmental stewardship, community well-being, and enhance access to safe hydration solutions across Uttar Pradesh.
• The collaboration focuses on developing water access infrastructure, strengthening waste collection and recycling systems, and enabling skill-building and livelihood opportunities for local communities.
• The initiative specifically targets high-footfall tourism destinations to enhance environmental infrastructure and visitor experience.

India launches logo, theme, and website for 4th India-Africa Forum Summit 2026

Key Updates:

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar launched the logo, theme, and website of the 4th India-Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi.
• The summit is scheduled to take place from May 28 to May 31.
• The event will focus on expanding cooperation in digital technology, fintech, innovation, sustainability, and global governance.
• India is expanding its diplomatic missions in Africa.
• The inclusion of the African Union (AU) in the Group of Twenty (G20) was highlighted.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Maps Every Village in India Using Satellite Data

[Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)]

Key Updates:

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has completed high-resolution land use and land cover mapping for every village in India.
• The mapping was conducted at a scale of 1:10000, where 1cm on the map represents 100 metres on the ground.
• The satellite data is integrated as an information layer on the Grammanchitra web portal of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
• The dataset is designed to support gram panchayat development plans, decentralised planning, monitoring of assets, and the identification of land resources and usage patterns.
• The initiative incorporates satellite imagery from ISRO's Bhuvan geoportal for agricultural planning, disaster management, and infrastructure development in rural and remote areas.
• ISRO announced the completion of this mapping on National Panchayati Raj Day.

Himadri Speciality Chemical Commissions Anode Material Facility in Bengal

[West Bengal]

Key Updates:

• Himadri Speciality Chemical has commissioned its first anode material production facility at Mahistikry in Bengal to enter the lithium-ion battery value chain.
• The facility produces raw materials for lithium-ion cells and was developed through 14 years of in-house research.
• The company commissioned a 70,000-MTPA speciality carbon black line at Mahistikry, making it the world's largest single-location speciality carbon black facility.
• The total carbon black capacity of the company has reached 250,000 MTPA, which includes 130,000 MTPA of speciality carbon black.
• For the year ended March 31, the company reported a net profit of ₹755 crore, marking a 36% increase.

Rocklink India Establishes Integrated Recycling Facility in Uttar Pradesh

[Uttar Pradesh (India)]

Key Updates:

• Rocklink India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Germany-based Rocklink Group, has set up its first integrated recycling facility in the Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Corporation (UPSIDC) Industrial Area in Sikandrabad, Uttar Pradesh.
• The facility is designed to process lithium-ion batteries, rare earth magnets, and metal-bearing industrial waste.
• The plant has an initial lithium-ion battery recycling capacity of 10,000 tonnes per year and rare earth magnet dismantling and processing operations of 60 tonnes per month.
• A rare earth chloride processing line with a production capacity of 1,500 tonnes per year is planned for completion in Q1 2026.
• The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) registered plant is capable of processing 95 types of pre- and post-consumer battery scrap materials.
• The facility employs a self-developed recycling technology called R2, which achieves over 98 per cent recovery efficiency for metals such as aluminium, copper, and iron.
• The facility handles permanent magnet alloys including NdFeB, SmCo, and AlNiCo.
• Rocklink India will expand the Magcycle reverse logistics model, implemented in Europe since 2018, into the Indian market.
• The upcoming processing unit will utilise a 22-metre direct-heated rotary kiln for the safe calcination of industrial waste.

Virat Kohli becomes first batter to score 800 boundaries in IPL

Key Updates:

• Virat Kohli became the first batter to score 800 boundaries in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
• The milestone was achieved during a match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT) in Bengaluru.
• Kohli became only the third player in IPL history to hit 300 sixes.

World Malaria Day observed on April 24, 2026 with theme “Driven to End Malaria: Now we can. Now we Must”

Key Updates:

• World Malaria Day 2026 is observed on April 24.
• The theme for World Malaria Day 2026 is “Driven to End Malaria: Now we can. Now we Must”.
• Dr. Regina Rabinovich is the Director of the Malaria Elimination Initiative at ISGLOBAL at the University of Barcelona.
• The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has launched the Defeating Malaria: From the Genes to the Globe Initiative.

Supreme Court declares right to safe road travel part of right to life on April 13

Key Updates:

• The Supreme Court (SC) declared the right to safe road travel as part of the right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
• The order was issued on April 13 by a Bench comprising Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice AS Chandurkar.
• The SC directed the constitution of a district highway safety task force in every district across India within seven days.
• The district highway safety task force comprises officers from the district administration, police, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Public Works Department (PWD), and local bodies.
• The SC prohibited the construction or operation of any new dhaba, eatery, or commercial structure within the Right of Way (ROW) of any national highway.
• District magistrates are required to enforce the removal of unauthorised structures within 60 days as per the Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002 (CNH Act) and the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) dated August 7, 2025.
• Heavy or commercial vehicles are banned from parking or stopping on any national highway carriageway or paved shoulder, except at designated bays, lay-byes, or wayside amenities.
• Enforcement of parking rules will be managed through the Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) using real-time alerts, GPS timestamped photographic evidence, and integrated eChallan generation.
• National highways constitute two per cent of India's total road length but account for nearly 30 per cent of all road fatalities.
• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) must file a compliance report within 75 days.
• The SC initiated a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) following accidents on November 2 near Mathoda in Phalodi district, Rajasthan, and on November 3 on Mirjalguda-Khanapur road near Chevella in Rangareddy district, Telangana.

Akashvani Signature Tune and Jingle-Making Contests launched with theme Akashvani @90

[Akashvani (India), MyGov (India)]

Key Updates:

• Akashvani, Prasar Bharati in collaboration with MyGov launched a Signature Tune-Making Contest themed “Akashvani @90- The New rhythm of Bharat”.
• The Signature Tune-Making Contest seeks instrumental themes for the programmes Yuva-vani, Sports Scan, Market Mantra, Family Welfare and Women’s Programme, National Magazine, Sahitya, Sanskriti, Chitra, Vigyan, and Yuva Bharati.
• The prize money for the Signature Tune-Making Contest is ₹30,000 for 1st prize, ₹20,000 for 2nd prize, ₹10,000 for 3rd prize, and ₹5,000 each for 10 consolation prizes.
• Akashvani, Prasar Bharati in collaboration with MyGov also launched a Jingle-Making Contest themed “Akashvani @90- The Vibrant Voice of India”.
• The Jingle-Making Contest targets the channels FM Gold, FM Rainbow, and Vividh Bharati.
• The prize money for the Jingle-Making Contest is ₹20,000 for 1st prize, ₹15,000 for 2nd prize, ₹10,000 for 3rd prize, and ₹2,500 each for 10 consolation prizes.

Girls in ICT Day observed on April 23 with theme AI for Development: Girls Shaping the Digital Future

[International Telecommunication Union (ITU)]

Key Updates:

• Girls in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Day is observed on 23 April.
• The 15th anniversary of the day was marked on 23 April 2026.
• The theme for the Geneva celebration was AI for Development: Girls Shaping the Digital Future.
• The event was marked by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC), International Gender Champions (IGC), and the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the United Nations in Geneva.
• Doreen Bogdan-Martin is the Secretary-General of the ITU.
• Sameer Chauhan is the Director of the UNICC.

World Day for Laboratory Animals observed on April 24

Key Updates:

• World Day for Laboratory Animals, also known as World Day for Animals in Laboratories or World Lab Animal Day, is observed annually on April 24.
• The day was established in 1979 by the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) based in the United Kingdom.
• The date April 24 was chosen to mark the birthday of Hugh Dowding, a British Air Chief Marshal and anti-vivisectionist who served as president of NAVS.
• The observance focuses on raising awareness about cruel animal tests and promoting advanced non-animal alternatives.
• The week surrounding the day is referred to as World Week for Animals in Laboratories, Lab Animal Week, or World Laboratory Animal Liberation Week.

Gurbax Singh Grewal Passes Away, Olympic Bronze Medallist

Key Updates:

• Former Indian hockey player and Olympic bronze medallist Gurbax Singh Grewal passed away at the age of 84 following a heart attack in Zirakpur.
• He was a member of the Indian team that secured a bronze medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.
• He and his brother, Balbir Singh Grewal, were the first two real brothers to represent India together at the same Olympic Games.
• He was born on April 1, 1942, in Lyallpur, Punjab Province of British India.
• He represented Western Railways and retired as its Sports Officer.
• He served as the Honorary Secretary of the Mumbai Hockey Association.
• His demise was announced by Hockey India (HI).

Ashok Lahiri to be Vice-Chairman of National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog)

Key Updates:

• Former Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) Ashok Lahiri will be the next Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog.
• He will replace Suman Bery in the apex public policy think tank of the Government of India.
• Ashok Lahiri is a member of the 15th Finance Commission and a current member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.
• He previously served as the CEA in December 2002 during the tenure of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• Gobardhan Das, the Director of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal, will become a member of NITI Aayog.
• The Prime Minister of India serves as the Chairman of NITI Aayog.