21st April 2026

1. CEA: India Targets 100 GW Nuclear Power Capacity by 2047
2. BECIL & C-DAC Signs MoU for Digital transformation and Advanced Technologies
3. ORF–RIS Host Inaugural BRICS Academic Forum in New Delhi
4. MoCI Data: Singapore emerges as top FDI source in Apr-Dec FY26, high inflows from tax havens
5. SBI Research Report Projects India’s GDP Growth at 6.8%–7.1% for FY27
6. IARI Director Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao Conferred 9th Prof. M.S. Swaminathan Award
7. Rathi Steel Receives GreenPro Ecolabel Certification for TMT Rebars from CII
8. CCI Appoints Rakesh Bhanot as Acting DG to Helm Investigations
9. PCI in Collaboration with IFI Launched Para Elan Initiative
10. Padma Shri awardee and Bundeli Martial Arts Pioneer Bhagwandas Raikwar Passed Away
11. Former Rajya Sabha MP and Journalist Balbir Punj Passes Away
12. India Observes National Civil Services Day to Honour Public Servants
13. Basketball Icon Oscar Schmidt Dies at 68, Leaves Behind Global Legacy
14. Aryabhata’s 51st Launch Anniversary on April 19
15. RELOS Pact Comes Into Force: India and Russia Strengthen Military Logistics Cooperation
16. Blue Origin Achieves First Successful Landing of Reused New Glenn Booster
17. India’s New AI Tool ‘Abhay’ Is Here to Protect You From Online Scams
18. Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao Receives Prestigious Prof. M.S. Swaminathan Award 2026 in Hyderabad
19. Who Is Dinesh Trivedi? India’s New High Commissioner to Bangladesh
20. MCX gets mkt regulator nod to set up coal exchange
21. Overview of Austria Chancellor Christian Stocker’s Visit To India

National News

India Targets 100 GW Nuclear Power Capacity

• What: India set a target to increase nuclear power capacity from 8.8 gigawatt to 100 gigawatt by 2047, and Central Electricity Authority (CEA) prepared a roadmap outlining requirements to achieve this capacity.
• Tell me more:
  • President Droupadi Murmu granted assent to Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, 2025 in December.
  • The SHANTI Act replaces Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010.
  • The law allows private companies and joint ventures to build, own, operate, and decommission nuclear power plants under government license and grants statutory recognition to Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) to strengthen regulation.
  • The Act supports clean energy transition and target of achieving 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047.
  • Indigenous 700 megawatt and 1000 megawatt reactors under development aim to increase capacity to over 22 gigawatts by 2031-32.

India Hosts Inaugural BRICS Academic Forum Meeting in New Delhi

• What: Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) hosted the inaugural BRICS Academic Forum in New Delhi during India’s 2026 BRICS Chairship.
• Tell me more:
  • India assumed BRICS Chairship on January 1, 2026 under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” It is the 18th BRICS Summit.
  • The platform brings together scholars, academics, policymakers, and research institutions from BRICS countries and operates as a Track II platform to generate ideas and policy recommendations for leaders.

Austria Chancellor Meets President Murmu in India

• What: Austria Chancellor Dr Christian Stocker met President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi during his first visit, focusing on strengthening India-Austria relations, trade, and investment cooperation.
• Tell me more:
  • India-Austria Start-up Bridge launched in 2024 supports bilateral cooperation in startups.
  • Both countries launched Institutional Cybersecurity Dialogue.

International News

Blue Origin New Glenn Booster Lands Satellite Fails

• Blue Origin launched the New Glenn rocket, successfully landed its reusable booster, but failed to place the BlueBird 7 satellite into the correct orbit, leading to mission failure for the satellite.

Banking and Economy

Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s Data: Singapore Emerges Top Source of FDI Inflows

• What: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) data showed India received total foreign direct investment equity inflows of $47.87 billion during April–December FY26.
• Tell me more:
  • Top Investor: Singapore recorded $17.6 billion inflows with 37% share.
  • Major Investors:
    • United States recorded $7.8 billion inflows with 16% share.
    • Mauritius recorded $4.8 billion inflows with 10% share.
  • Other Key Investors:
    • Cayman Islands recorded $2 billion inflows, increasing from $422 million.
    • Cyprus recorded $1.4 billion inflows, increasing from $1.2 billion.
    • Luxembourg recorded $545 million inflows, increasing from $352.67 million.
    • Japan and United Arab Emirates ranked among the top five investor countries.
  • Investment Trends:
    • China recorded $6.49 million inflows, increasing from $3.73 million.
    • Hong Kong recorded $61.4 million inflows, declining from $87.7 million.
  • Sector-wise Distribution:
    • Computer Software and Hardware sector received 22% share with $10.7 billion inflows.
    • Services sector received 18% share including financial, banking, and research and development.
  • Maharashtra received highest inflows of $15.38 billion followed by Karnataka with $11.15 billion.

CBI Launches Abhay Chatbot to Verify Notices

• What: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched artificial intelligence-powered chatbot Abhay to help citizens verify authenticity of notices and prevent digital arrest frauds involving fake CBI communications.
• Tell me more:
  • Chief Justice of India Surya Kant launched the chatbot during the 22nd D P Kohli Memorial Lecture. The lecture honours D P Kohli, founding director of CBI and former head of Delhi Special Police Establishment.

MCX Gets SEBI’s Approval for Coal Exchange

• What: Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited (MCX) received Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) approval to establish a wholly owned subsidiary for a coal exchange to expand its presence in the energy sector.
• Tell me more:
  • MCX will incorporate a subsidiary likely named MCX Coal Exchange Limited or MCX Coal Exchange of India Limited.
  • MCX will initially hold 100% stake with scope for future strategic partnerships and has committed up to Rs 100 crore to meet minimum net worth requirements.
  • The exchange will provide a standardised digital platform for physical delivery of coal and the subsidiary will apply to Coal Controller Organisation of India after incorporation.
  • About Coal Controller Organization:
    • Coal Controller Organization, established in 1916, is a government body in India that regulates coal production, distribution, and pricing, and ensures proper control and monitoring of the coal sector under rules framed by the government.

GDP Forecasts

SBI Research Report Projects India’s GDP Growth at 6.8%–7.1% for FY27

• What: The report states that India entered the global oil shock and West Asia conflict from a position of strength with 7.6% growth in Financial Year 2026 and a strong banking sector, which supports stable growth projections.

Defence News

India and Russia Operationalise RELOS Military Logistics Pact

• What: India and Russia operationalised Indo-Russian Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS), allowing deployment of troops, warships, and aircraft in each other’s territory with regulated logistics support and facility access.
• Tell me more:
  • The agreement allows deployment of 3,000 troops, five warships, and ten aircraft for five years with provision for extension.
  • Russia ratified the agreement in December 2025 and implemented it from January 12.

Awards

ICAR Director Receives Prof MS Swaminathan Award

• What: Ch Srinivasa Rao, Director and Vice-Chancellor of ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), received the 9th Prof. MS Swaminathan Award for 2024–25 for contributions to agricultural science and food security.
• Tell me more:
  • Retired ICAR Employees Association, in collaboration with Nuziveedu Seeds, instituted the award to recognise contributions of agricultural scientists to food security, and leaders presented it during Prof. MS Swaminathan birth centenary year.

Rathi Steel Receives GreenPro Ecolabel Certification Award

• What: Rathi Steel and Power Limited (RSPL) received GreenPro ecolabel certification from Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for its Fe 550 grade TMT rebars produced at the Ghaziabad facility
• Tell me more:
  • The certification confirms that the product meets environmental standards, supports green building certifications, and reflects sustainable manufacturing with focus on eco-friendly and low-emission steel production

Important Days

National Civil Services Day – April 21

• The day commemorates Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s address on April 21, 1947, where he referred to civil servants as the “steel frame of India.”

Aryabhata’s 51st Launch Anniversary Celebrated on April 19

• What: India launched Aryabhata, its first satellite, in April 1975 after early space programme development at Thumba under Vikram Sarabhai, marking a historic entry into space exploration.
• Tell me more:
  • St. Mary Magdalene Church served as the first laboratory and control room for the programme.

Sports

India France Launch Para Élan for Inclusive Sports

• French Institute in India (IFI) and Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) launched Para Élan, a three-year initiative to promote inclusive education by using para sports to create awareness, increase participation of differently-abled individuals, and provide equal opportunities for youth development.

Memorandum of Understanding

BECIL Signs MoU With C-DAC for Technology

• What: Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL) signed a MoU with Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) to collaborate on advanced technologies, digital transformation, and capacity building through joint projects, consultancy, and technical support.
• Tell me more:
  • BECIL is a Mini Ratna Category-I Public Sector Enterprise under Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and provides consultancy and turnkey solutions in broadcasting, information technology, and telecommunications.
  • C-DAC operates as research and development organisation under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and works in advanced computing, high performance computing, AI, cyber security, and software technologies.

Appointments

CCI Appoints Acting Director General for Investigations

• Competition Commission of India (CCI) appointed Rakesh Bhanot as acting Director General.

Dinesh Trivedi Appointed as Bangladesh High Commissioner

• What: Dinesh Trivedi, former Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader, has been appointed India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, marking a shift from conventional appointments of Indian Foreign Service officers.
• Tell me more:
  • Dinesh Trivedi served as railway minister and minister of state for health and family welfare.

Miscellaneous

Padma Shri Awardee Bhagwandas Raikwar Passes Away

• Bhagwandas Raikwar, Padma Shri 2026 awardee and guardian of Bundeli Martial Arts, a traditional weapon-based art form of Bundelkhand, passed away at the age of 83 after contributing to its preservation and promotion.

Former Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Punj Passes Away

• What: Balbir Punj, former Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament, Bharatiya Janata Party leader, journalist with The Indian Express Group, and author, passed away at the age of 76.
• Tell me more:
  • He authored books including “Tryst with Ayodhya: Decolonisation of India” and “Narrative ka Mayajaal.”

Basketball Legend Oscar Schmidt Passes Away at 68

• What: Oscar Schmidt, Brazil’s basketball legend and all-time leading scorer at Olympic Games, passed away at age 68 in Santana de Parnaíba.
• Tell me more:
  • Oscar Schmidt, a native of Natal, Brazil and a member of FIBA and NBA Halls of Fame, represented Brazil in five Olympic Games from 1980 to 1996.

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