Q.10) When is World Book and Copyright Day celebrated every year?
Ans > 23 April
- Significance of 23 April: World Book and Copyright Day is observed globally every year on 23 April — a date of great literary significance because it marks the anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, all in 1616. UNESCO proclaimed this observance in 1995 during the General Conference in Paris.
- Purpose: The day promotes reading, publishing, and the protection of intellectual property through copyright laws. UNESCO uses the occasion to encourage partnerships between the book industry, educational institutions, and public authorities to put books and reading at the centre of cultural development worldwide.
- World Book Capital: Each year UNESCO designates one city as the ‘World Book Capital’ for the period from one World Book Day to the next. This designation recognises cities that have demonstrated strong commitment to promoting books, reading, libraries, and literacy in all its forms among citizens of all ages.
- India’s Reading Landscape: India is one of the world’s largest publishers — producing over 90,000 book titles per year in more than 24 languages. Initiatives like the National Book Trust (NBT), Pradhan Mantri e-Vidya (digital education), and school library programmes align with the spirit of World Book Day in promoting a reading culture across India’s 1.4 billion population.
Q.7) India’s ‘Samriddh Gram’ initiative has been nominated for the WSIS Prizes 2026 under which specific category?
Ans > Enabling Environment (Action Line AL C6)
- About Samriddh Gram: ‘Samriddh Gram’ (Prosperous Village) is an innovative Indian initiative that delivers integrated phygital (physical + digital) services to rural citizens using the BharatNet broadband infrastructure. It combines digital connectivity with on-ground service delivery points to bridge India’s urban-rural digital divide.
- About WSIS Prizes: The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prizes, organised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), recognise outstanding projects that leverage information and communication technologies (ICTs) to implement the WSIS Action Lines and advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They are regarded as the world’s largest ICT impact awards.
- Enabling Environment Category: Action Line C6 ‘Enabling Environment’ focuses on creating ICT-friendly policy frameworks, building legal and regulatory environments that support digital services, and strengthening good governance through technology — areas where Samriddh Gram’s integrated rural service delivery model excels.
- BharatNet: BharatNet is the world’s largest rural broadband connectivity programme, aiming to connect all 2.5 lakh gram panchayats in India with high-speed optical fibre internet. It is the technological backbone enabling initiatives like Samriddh Gram to deliver digital services — from telemedicine and e-education to financial inclusion and e-governance — at the village level.
Q.8) Col. Sher Jung National Park is located in which state?
Ans > Himachal Pradesh
- Location: Col. Sher Jung National Park (also known as Shilli National Park) is located in the Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. It is a protected area in the Shivalik hills range, covering a relatively small but ecologically important patch of sub-tropical and temperate forest near the state capital Shimla.
- About Himachal Pradesh’s Protected Areas: Himachal Pradesh has a rich network of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries covering about 13.4% of its geographical area. Key protected areas include the Great Himalayan National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Pin Valley National Park, Khirganga National Park, Tirthan Wildlife Sanctuary, and Kugti Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Biodiversity: Himachal Pradesh’s protected area network shelters diverse Himalayan fauna including the snow leopard, Himalayan brown bear, red fox, musk deer, Himalayan tahr, langur, and over 450 bird species. The state’s varied altitude — from 350 m to 6,975 m — creates extraordinary ecological diversity from subtropical to alpine zones.
- UPSC/State PSC Relevance: Questions on national parks and their locations are a standard feature of Indian competitive examinations. For HP exams, knowing Col. Sher Jung NP (Shimla), Great Himalayan NP (Kullu), and Pin Valley NP (Spiti) is essential. For UPSC, the UNESCO World Heritage status of Great Himalayan NP (2014) is particularly important.
Q.14) The Central Government has extended the ‘River Basin Management’ (RBM) scheme till 2026–31. What is the allocated outlay for this period?
Ans > ₹2,183 crore
- Scheme Extension: The Union Cabinet approved the extension of the River Basin Management (RBM) scheme for the period 2026-31 with a fully funded outlay of ₹2,183 crore. The scheme is implemented by the Central Water Commission (CWC) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti to improve integrated river basin management across India.
- About River Basin Management: River Basin Management involves the integrated planning, development, and management of water, land, and related resources within a river basin, balancing socio-economic needs with ecosystem sustainability. India’s 20 major river basins — including the Ganga, Brahmaputra, Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery — are managed under this framework.
- Components of RBM Scheme: The scheme covers hydrological data collection and modernisation of gauge stations, sediment and water quality monitoring, flood forecasting systems, basin-level water accounts, interstate water dispute data management, and building the scientific knowledge base for Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in India.
- Significance: India faces mounting water stress — 54% of its land area has high to extremely high water stress according to WRI. Effective river basin management is critical for agricultural water security, hydropower generation, flood management, and addressing the growing interstate water conflicts (e.g., Cauvery, Krishna, Mahanadi) through science-based adjudication.
Q.16) In which state is the ‘Chita Andolan’ being carried out to protest against displacement caused by the Ken-Betwa Link Project?
Ans > Madhya Pradesh
- Chita Andolan: The ‘Chita Andolan’ (Protest Movement) is being conducted by tribal farmers and local communities in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh against their forcible displacement due to the construction of the Ken-Betwa River Interlinking Project — India’s first major river-linking project under the National Perspective Plan.
- Ken-Betwa River Link Project: The Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is a flagship river interlinking project that will transfer surplus water from the Ken river (MP) to the water-deficit Betwa river basin (MP and UP). It involves building the Daudhan Dam on the Ken river and a 221-km canal to transfer 1,020 million cubic metres of water annually to irrigate 10.62 lakh hectares.
- Environmental Controversy: The Daudhan Dam will submerge a significant portion of the Panna Tiger Reserve — a critical tiger habitat in MP — displacing thousands of tribals and damaging one of India’s most sensitive biodiversity zones. Environmentalists, wildlife experts, and tribal rights activists have filed multiple legal challenges and protests against the project.
- Tribal Rights Context: The displacement raises serious issues under the Forest Rights Act 2006 (FRA), which mandates gram sabha (village assembly) consent before any displacement of tribals from forest land. The Chita Andolan is part of India’s broader tribal rights movement demanding that development projects respect constitutional and statutory protections for Adivasi communities.
Q.17) Where did Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan launch ‘Surya Devbhoomi Challenge 2.0’ to promote heritage conservation and tourism?
Ans > Badrinath, Uttarakhand
- Event Launch: CDS General Anil Chauhan flagged off the ‘Surya Devbhoomi Challenge 2.0’ at Badrinath in Uttarakhand — a high-altitude endurance event designed to promote heritage conservation, Himalayan tourism, and the ‘Devbhoomi’ (Land of Gods) identity of Uttarakhand while also building military-civilian bonds.
- About Badrinath: Badrinath is one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites in the Himalayas, located in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand at an altitude of 3,100 metres. The Badrinath Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is one of India’s holiest Hindu temples and attracts lakhs of pilgrims and tourists every year during the summer pilgrimage season.
- Devbhoomi Uttarakhand: Uttarakhand is known as ‘Devbhoomi’ (Land of Gods) because of its extraordinary concentration of Hindu sacred sites — including Char Dham (Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri), Haridwar, Rishikesh (Yoga capital), and numerous temples, ashrams, and pilgrimage routes. Tourism is the state’s largest industry.
- CDS and Military Tourism: General Anil Chauhan, India’s Chief of Defence Staff, represents the single-point military adviser to the government and leads tri-service integration. His participation in civilian tourism and heritage conservation events reflects the military’s role in promoting national integration, disaster relief, and eco-tourism in sensitive Himalayan border regions.
Q.18) According to India’s first-ever ‘State of India’s Bats Report (2024–25)’, which state has the highest bat diversity?
Ans > West Bengal
- Historic Report: India’s first-ever ‘State of India’s Bats Report 2024-25’ was released, providing a comprehensive scientific assessment of bat diversity, distribution, and conservation status across all Indian states. West Bengal emerged as the state with the highest bat diversity — with 68 documented bat species across its diverse habitats ranging from Sundarbans mangroves to Himalayan foothills.
- Importance of Bats: Bats are among the world’s most ecologically important animals. They are the primary controllers of nocturnal insect populations (a single bat can eat 1,000 mosquitoes per hour), critical pollinators of night-blooming plants (including banana, mango, and agave), and seed dispersers for tropical forest regeneration. Without bats, agricultural losses and insect-borne disease burdens would increase dramatically.
- Bats in India: India is home to approximately 130 bat species — about 13% of the world’s 1,400+ bat species — making it one of the most bat-diverse countries globally. Indian bats range from the world’s smallest (Kitti’s hog-nosed bat) to large flying foxes with 1.5-metre wingspans. They inhabit caves, forests, wetlands, and even urban areas.
- Conservation Concerns: Despite their ecological importance, bats face severe threats from habitat destruction, persecution (due to COVID-related stigma), cave disturbance, pesticide use, and climate change. India’s first bat report is a critical baseline document for conservation planning, helping identify priority bat habitats and species for protection under India’s wildlife laws.
Q.19) Where was the festival of ‘Garia Puja’ celebrated?
Ans > Tripura
- Festival: Garia Puja is a traditional harvest and prosperity festival indigenous to Tripura, celebrated by the tribal communities of the state — particularly the Tripuri (Borok) people. The festival is dedicated to Baba Garia (also called Garia Devata), a deity worshipped for blessings of wealth, good harvests, livestock protection, and overall community well-being.
- Celebration: Garia Puja is celebrated for seven days following the Tripuri New Year (Bishu/Bisu). The festivities involve erecting a bamboo pole representing Garia, offering fruits, flowers, rice beer (chu), and other traditional items, followed by traditional Tripuri folk dances like Garia Dance (Goria Nach) performed in colourful traditional attire.
- About Tripura: Tripura is India’s third smallest state, located in Northeast India, bordered by Bangladesh on three sides and Mizoram and Assam on the east. With a 19-lakh strong tribal population (about 31% of the state’s population), Tripura is home to 19 recognised indigenous tribes, each with distinct cultural traditions, festivals, and languages.
- Cultural Significance: Garia Puja represents the rich intangible cultural heritage of Northeast India. The Government of Tripura has declared it an official state festival. It exemplifies the deep connection between tribal communities, their deities, agricultural cycles, and ancestral land — a living example of India’s extraordinary cultural diversity that competitive exams frequently test.
Q.20) Which premier Indian institute recently introduced ‘Omegaball’, a unique football format involving three teams playing simultaneously on a circular pitch?
Ans > IIT Madras
- Innovation: IIT Madras introduced ‘Omegaball’ to India — an innovative football format invented in the Netherlands that features three teams of players competing simultaneously on a triangular/circular pitch with three goals. IIT Madras hosted an inter-college Omegaball tournament on its campus, marking the format’s Indian debut.
- How Omegaball Works: Unlike conventional football (11 vs 11 on a rectangular pitch with 2 goals), Omegaball is typically played with three teams of 3-7 players on a circular or triangular pitch with three goals — one for each team. The unique three-way competition creates fascinating strategic dynamics, as teams can form temporary alliances and attack multiple opponents simultaneously.
- About IIT Madras: IIT Madras (established 1959) in Chennai is consistently ranked as India’s top engineering institution in the NIRF rankings. Beyond academic excellence, it is known for innovation, startup incubation (over 300 startups from its Research Park), cultural diversity, and its unique on-campus forest ecosystem — the largest by any urban institution in India.
- Significance: Omegaball’s introduction at IIT Madras reflects the growing appetite among India’s youth and educational institutions for novel sports formats. India’s sports ecosystem is diversifying beyond cricket — with growing interest in football, badminton, kabaddi, wrestling, and now innovative multi-team formats that combine physical skill with strategic thinking and teamwork.
Q.3) Who won the men’s title at the PSA Challenger Tour 2026 (Squash)?
Ans > Suraj Kumar Chand
- Championship Win: India’s Suraj Kumar Chand won the men’s title at the PSA Challenger Tour 2026 squash tournament held in Chennai, defeating South Korea’s Jeongmin Ryu in the final. The victory marks a significant achievement for Indian squash, which has been rising rapidly on the global professional squash circuit.
- About PSA Challenger Tour: The PSA (Professional Squash Association) Challenger Tour is the second tier of professional squash competition, sitting below the PSA World Tour. It provides opportunities for developing professional players to earn world ranking points, prize money, and experience before competing at the highest PSA World Tour level.
- India’s Squash Legacy: India has produced world-class squash players — most notably Saurav Ghosal (highest-ranked Indian male, World No. 10), Dipika Pallikal, Joshna Chinappa, and Vikram Malhotra. Indian players have won multiple Commonwealth Games medals and Asian Championship titles. Chennai (Tamil Nadu) is particularly known as India’s squash hub.
- PSA and Indian Squash: India is one of Asia’s strongest squash nations, regularly fielding players in the top 50 of global PSA rankings. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Squash Racquets Federation of India (SRFI) have invested significantly in elite coaching centres, making India increasingly competitive at the international professional level.
Q.15) Who won the “World Sportsman of the Year” at the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards?
Ans > Carlos Alcaraz
- Award Winner: Carlos Alcaraz, the Spanish tennis superstar, won the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award at the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards — recognising his dominant performance in 2025 that included multiple Grand Slam victories and his continued reign as one of the world’s most exciting sporting talents.
- About Carlos Alcaraz: Born on 5 May 2003, Carlos Alcaraz Garfia is a Spanish professional tennis player. He became the youngest ever ATP World No. 1 at age 19, and has won multiple Grand Slam titles including the US Open (2022), Wimbledon (2023, 2024), and French Open — establishing himself as the defining tennis talent of his generation alongside Jannik Sinner.
- Laureus World Sports Awards: Known as the “Sports Oscars,” the Laureus World Sports Awards have been presented annually since 2000. They are voted on by the 71-member Laureus World Sports Academy — a panel of sporting legends including Boris Becker, Edwin Moses, Franz Beckenbauer, and Kapil Dev. The awards recognise outstanding achievement across all sports disciplines.
- Tennis at Laureus: Tennis players have been frequent Laureus Sportsman winners — Roger Federer won a record 5 consecutive Laureus Sportsman awards (2005-2008, 2018). Rafael Nadal won twice. Alcaraz’s win marks the transition to a new generation of tennis dominance, following the retirements of Federer and Nadal from active competition.
Q.11) Which rover have NASA and ESA announced they will jointly launch to Mars in late 2028?
Ans > Rosalind Franklin
- Joint Mission: NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) announced they will jointly launch the Rosalind Franklin rover to Mars in late 2028 — a landmark collaboration to search for signs of past or present life on Mars using the rover’s advanced drill capable of boring 2 metres below the Martian surface to access pristine sub-surface samples.
- About the Rosalind Franklin Rover: The Rosalind Franklin rover (formerly ExoMars rover) is named after the pioneering British scientist Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958), whose X-ray crystallography research was critical to discovering the double-helix structure of DNA. The rover carries the Pasteur payload — 9 scientific instruments designed to study Martian geology, chemistry, and astrobiology.
- NASA-ESA Collaboration: The original ExoMars mission was a joint ESA-Roscosmos (Russia) project, but Russia’s partnership was terminated in 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine. NASA stepped in as a replacement partner, providing the launch vehicle, a key instrument, and technical support — ensuring the mission can proceed as a transatlantic collaboration.
- Mars Exploration Context: The search for life on Mars is one of the most profound scientific quests of the 21st century. NASA’s Perseverance rover (landed 2021) is currently collecting samples for future return to Earth. The Rosalind Franklin rover will complement these efforts, focusing on sub-surface habitability where ancient organic molecules and potential microbial biosignatures may be better preserved.
Q.6) Where have Herbalife India and IIT Madras signed an agreement to establish India’s first ‘Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Plant Cell Fermentation’?
Ans > Chennai (IIT Madras Research Park)
- Landmark Agreement: Herbalife India and IIT Madras signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish India’s first ‘Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Plant Cell Fermentation Technology’ at the IIT Madras Research Park in Chennai — a pioneering step in bioprocessing innovation for nutraceuticals, plant-based food, and pharmaceutical applications.
- Plant Cell Fermentation Technology: Plant Cell Fermentation (PCF) is a biotechnology process where plant cells are cultured in a controlled bioreactor environment to produce high-value bioactive compounds — including vitamins, antioxidants, flavonoids, and nutraceuticals — at scale, without needing to grow entire plants. This technology enables sustainable, consistent production of plant-derived compounds.
- About IIT Madras Research Park: The IIT Madras Research Park is India’s first university-anchored Research Park, established in 2010. It provides a collaborative ecosystem for academia-industry R&D collaboration, hosting over 100 companies and startups. It has pioneered multiple national ‘firsts’ in technology incubation and academic entrepreneurship.
- Significance for India: India is a global leader in the nutraceutical and herbal products market — valued at over $4 billion and growing at 18% annually. The CoE will build indigenous capability in plant bioactives research, reducing dependence on imports for high-value plant compounds, and positioning India as an innovation hub for the global plant-based wellness industry.
Q.12) Which institute has established the ‘Vikram Sodhi Centre of Excellence’ to modernise geological and mining systems using AI?
Ans > IIT Kharagpur
- Centre Establishment: IIT Kharagpur launched the ‘Vikram Sodhi Centre of Excellence’ — a ₹15 crore dedicated research centre focused on integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and advanced data analytics into geological surveys, mineral exploration, and mining operations to modernise India’s mining and mineral sector.
- About IIT Kharagpur: IIT Kharagpur (established 1951) is India’s first and oldest IIT, located in Kharagpur, West Bengal. It is renowned for its mining engineering, geology, and earth sciences departments — disciplines directly relevant to India’s vast mineral wealth. The institute has produced many of India’s leading geoscientists and mining engineers.
- AI in Mining: The integration of AI in mining encompasses several transformative applications: predictive geological mapping using machine learning, autonomous drilling and blasting optimisation, real-time safety monitoring with computer vision, drone-based aerial surveys, predictive maintenance of mining equipment, and mineral grade estimation from core samples using deep learning.
- India’s Mining Sector: India is one of the world’s top mineral producers — ranking among the top 5 globally for mica, barite, coal, iron ore, and chromite production. The mining sector contributes approximately 2.5% of GDP. Modernising it with AI under the National Mineral Policy 2019 and AtmaNirbhar Bharat is essential for maximising India’s mineral resource utilisation.
Q.13) Who has been named as the new CEO of Apple, succeeding Tim Cook on September 1, 2026?
Ans > John Ternus
- Leadership Transition: Apple Inc. announced that John Ternus — the company’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering — will succeed Tim Cook as CEO effective September 1, 2026. Tim Cook will transition to the role of Executive Chairman, maintaining strategic oversight while Ternus leads day-to-day operations of the world’s most valuable company.
- About John Ternus: John Ternus has been with Apple since 2001 and rose to lead its Hardware Engineering division — overseeing the development of all Apple hardware products including iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, and Apple Silicon chips (M-series). He is widely credited with driving the revolutionary transition from Intel processors to Apple’s own M1/M2/M3 chips, one of the most successful platform transitions in tech history.
- About Tim Cook: Tim Cook has led Apple as CEO since August 2011, succeeding founder Steve Jobs. Under his 15-year tenure, Apple’s market capitalisation grew from $350 billion to over $3.5 trillion — making it the world’s most valuable company. He oversaw launches of the Apple Watch, AirPods, Apple Silicon, Apple TV+, and the company’s transformation into a services-driven powerhouse.
- India Relevance: Apple has significantly deepened its India manufacturing footprint — with Foxconn and Tata Electronics producing iPhones in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. India is now Apple’s second largest iPhone manufacturing hub after China. The new CEO’s stance on India manufacturing expansion will be closely watched by policymakers and investors.
Q.1) Whom has HDFC Life Insurance Company reappointed as its CEO?
Ans > Vibha Padalkar
- Reappointment: HDFC Life Insurance Company reappointed Vibha Padalkar as its Managing Director and CEO for another term of 5 years, reflecting the board’s confidence in her leadership that has transformed HDFC Life into one of India’s largest and most profitable private life insurers over the past decade.
- About Vibha Padalkar: Vibha Padalkar is one of India’s most prominent female corporate leaders in the financial services sector. A Chartered Accountant and MBA, she joined HDFC Life in 2008 as CFO and became MD & CEO in 2018. Under her leadership, HDFC Life has grown its Assets Under Management (AUM) to over ₹3 lakh crore and expanded its digital distribution significantly.
- About HDFC Life: HDFC Life Insurance Company is one of India’s leading private life insurance companies, formed from the joint venture between HDFC Ltd. and Standard Life (UK). It is listed on BSE and NSE, offers over 60 insurance and investment products, and serves over 6 crore customers across India through diverse distribution channels.
- India’s Insurance Sector: India’s life insurance sector is among the fastest-growing globally, with insurance penetration rising from 2.8% of GDP (2001) to approximately 3.2% (2025) — still below the global average of 7%. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)’s ‘Insurance for All by 2047’ mission targets universal insurance access, creating enormous growth opportunities for players like HDFC Life.
Q.4) After 40 years, a Black Panther was reintroduced in which Zoological Park?
Ans > Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP), Visakhapatnam
- Reintroduction: A female black panther was brought to the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP) in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh from the Assam State Zoo under an inter-zoo animal exchange programme — ending a 40-year absence of black panthers at IGZP and marking a significant achievement in India’s ex-situ conservation and zoological management.
- What is a Black Panther? A black panther is not a separate species but a melanistic (black-pigmented) colour variant of either the leopard (Panthera pardus) or jaguar (Panthera onca). In India, black panthers are melanistic leopards. The black colouration results from a dominant genetic mutation that causes overproduction of the pigment melanin, creating a near-black coat while still showing spotted patterns in certain lighting.
- About IGZP Visakhapatnam: The Indira Gandhi Zoological Park in Visakhapatnam is one of India’s largest and best-managed zoological parks, spread over 625 acres in the Eastern Ghats. It is a certified zoo under the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) and participates actively in national and international breeding programmes for endangered species including tigers, lions, elephants, and primates.
- Ex-situ Conservation: Ex-situ conservation refers to the protection of species outside their natural habitat — in zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, and gene banks. India’s Central Zoo Authority (CZA) coordinates a national Species Survival Plan (SSP) for endangered animals, facilitating animal exchange between accredited zoos to maintain genetically healthy captive populations as a safety net against extinction.
Q.5) Who has been elected as the President of the newly formed Odisha Steel Producers’ Association (OSPA)?
Ans > Asit Tripathy
- Election: Asit Tripathy, former Chief Secretary of Odisha, was unanimously elected as the founding President of the newly formed Odisha Steel Producers’ Association (OSPA) — a collective platform for Odisha’s rapidly growing domestic steel industry to coordinate policy advocacy, address regulatory challenges, and promote sustainable steel production.
- About Asit Tripathy: Asit Tripathy is a retired IAS officer (Odisha cadre) who served as the Chief Secretary of Odisha — the state’s highest-ranking bureaucrat. He also served as the Director General of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), demonstrating expertise in both administrative governance and environmental management.
- Odisha’s Steel Industry: Odisha is India’s largest steel-producing state, accounting for approximately 45% of India’s total steel output. The state is richly endowed with iron ore (Barbil-Keonjhar belt has Asia’s largest iron ore deposits), coal, and other minerals. Major steel plants in Odisha include SAIL’s Rourkela Steel Plant, Tata Steel Kalinganagar, JSPL Angul, and JSW Steel.
- India’s Steel Ambitions: India is the world’s second largest steel producer (surpassing Japan in 2019) with an annual capacity of 160+ million tonnes per annum (MTPA). The National Steel Policy 2017 targets 300 MTPA capacity by 2030. Odisha’s OSPA will play a key role in aligning state steel production with India’s Viksit Bharat manufacturing ambitions and green steel transition goals.
Q.2) Which former Indian MP has recently been conferred with the ‘Global Green Icon’ award at the British Parliament?
Ans > J. Santosh Kumar (Joginipally Santosh Kumar)
- Award: Former Rajya Sabha MP Joginipally Santosh Kumar was conferred the ‘Global Green Icon’ award at the World Climate Leaders Conclave held at the British Parliament (Westminster), London — in recognition of his pioneering work in environmental conservation and reforestation through the ‘Green India Challenge’ (GIC) initiative.
- About J. Santosh Kumar: Joginipally Santosh Kumar is a former TRS (now BRS) Rajya Sabha MP from Telangana who founded the Green India Challenge — an innovative citizen-led urban and rural afforestation movement that has planted over 5 crore (50 million) trees across India. He is one of India’s most recognised eco-advocates and has inspired millions through social media campaigns challenging friends to plant trees.
- Green India Challenge: The Green India Challenge (GIC) is a people’s movement started in 2017 with a simple social media model — a person plants a sapling, posts photos/videos, and nominates 3 friends to do the same. This viral chain has mobilised over 1 crore participants and planted trees across all Indian states, winning multiple national and international recognition including from the United Nations.
- India’s Afforestation Goals: India has committed under NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions) to Paris Agreement to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030. Movements like GIC complement government programmes including the National Afforestation Programme, Green India Mission, and CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation).
Q.9) India and South Korea recently signed 16 MoUs with the aim of increasing bilateral trade to what target by 2030?
Ans > 54 Billion USD
- Trade Target: India and South Korea signed 16 MoUs during high-level bilateral meetings, pledging to more than double their bilateral trade from the current approximately $25 billion to $54 billion by 2030. The agreements span sectors including semiconductors, EVs, defence, clean energy, shipbuilding, and pharmaceuticals.
- India-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership: India and South Korea have a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in force since 2010 — one of India’s most significant FTAs. The partnership was elevated to a ‘Special Strategic Partnership’ in 2015. South Korea is India’s 8th largest trading partner, with major investments from Samsung, Hyundai, LG, Kia, and POSCO.
- 16 MoUs — Key Areas: The signed MoUs covered: joint semiconductor R&D (critical given South Korea’s chip industry dominance), EV battery technology transfer, INS shipbuilding cooperation (India wants South Korea’s advanced naval vessel expertise), green hydrogen, smart cities, digital infrastructure, and defence manufacturing under Make in India.
- Strategic Importance: South Korea is a critical partner for India’s technology ambitions — South Korean companies like Samsung (world’s largest semiconductor maker) and POSCO (steel) have major India operations. As India decouples from China in supply chains, South Korea is a natural partner for high-tech manufacturing, aligned with both countries’ interests in Indo-Pacific stability and economic diversification.
📌 Quick Summary — 23 April 2026
🏛️ National, Days & Governance
- World Book & Copyright Day: Observed on 23 April annually — proclaimed by UNESCO in 1995; date marks death anniversary of Shakespeare and Cervantes (1616).
- Digital Governance: India’s ‘Samriddh Gram’ initiative nominated for WSIS Prizes 2026 under “Enabling Environment” (Action Line AL C6) category — delivers phygital services via BharatNet.
- Protected Area: Col. Sher Jung National Park is located in Himachal Pradesh (Shimla district).
- Water Management: Central Govt extended ‘River Basin Management’ (RBM) scheme to 2026-31 with ₹2,183 crore outlay.
- Tribal Rights: ‘Chita Andolan’ protest against displacement by Ken-Betwa Link Project being held in Madhya Pradesh (Chhatarpur).
- Heritage & Tourism: CDS Gen Anil Chauhan launched ‘Surya Devbhoomi Challenge 2.0’ at Badrinath, Uttarakhand.
- Biodiversity: India’s first ‘State of India’s Bats Report 2024-25’ — West Bengal has highest bat diversity (68 species).
- Culture: ‘Garia Puja’ festival celebrated in Tripura — dedicated to Baba Garia for wealth and livestock; indigenous to Tripuri community.
- Innovation: IIT Madras introduced ‘Omegaball’ — unique football format with 3 teams on a circular pitch — to India.
🏆 Sports
- Squash: India’s Suraj Kumar Chand won the PSA Challenger Tour 2026 men’s title in Chennai, defeating South Korea’s Jeongmin Ryu.
- Laureus Awards 2026: Carlos Alcaraz (Spain/Tennis) won World Sportsman of the Year at Laureus World Sports Awards 2026.
🚀 Defense & Space
- Mars Mission: NASA & ESA will jointly launch ‘Rosalind Franklin’ rover to Mars in late 2028 — to search for signs of past life; named after British DNA scientist Rosalind Franklin.
🔬 Science & Technology
- Biotech: Herbalife India & IIT Madras signed MoU to establish India’s first ‘Centre of Excellence in Plant Cell Fermentation’ at IIT Madras Research Park, Chennai.
- Mining AI: IIT Kharagpur established ‘Vikram Sodhi Centre of Excellence’ (₹15 crore) to modernise geological and mining systems using AI.
- Tech Leadership: John Ternus named new Apple CEO, succeeding Tim Cook from September 1, 2026; Cook to become Executive Chairman.
📈 Economy & Environment
- Corporate: HDFC Life reappointed Vibha Padalkar as MD & CEO for another 5-year term.
- Wildlife: A Black Panther reintroduced at Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP), Visakhapatnam after 40 years — brought from Assam State Zoo via animal exchange programme.
- Industry Body: Asit Tripathy (former Odisha Chief Secretary) unanimously elected as President of newly formed Odisha Steel Producers’ Association (OSPA).
🌍 International Relations
- Award: Former Rajya Sabha MP J. Santosh Kumar (Green India Challenge founder) awarded ‘Global Green Icon’ at British Parliament’s World Climate Leaders Conclave.
- India-South Korea: India and South Korea signed 16 MoUs targeting bilateral trade of $54 billion by 2030 (current: ~$25 billion).
Current Affairs Quiz
23 April 2026
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Apr 2026
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