1 Economist Ashok Kumar Lahiri appointed as Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog
Economist Ashok Kumar Lahiri has been appointed as the Vice Chairman of the NITI Aayog . He will replace the current Vice Chairman, Suman K. Beri . Along with Mr. Lahiri, the government has appointed Rajiv Gauba , K.V. Raju , Gobardhan Das , M. Srinivas , and Abhay Karandikar as full-time members of the NITI Aayog. as full-time members of the NITI Aayog . Mr. Lahiri is an experienced policy maker and has previously served as the 12th Chief Economic Advisor of India. He has also been a member of the 15th Finance Commission and has held senior positions in international institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
2 Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav inaugurated the high-speed bullet train manufacturing plant ‘Aditya’ in Bengaluru
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav inaugurated BEML ‘s self-reliant high-speed bullet train manufacturing plant, Aditya, in Bengaluru . He stated that the first prototype will be ready next year, and production will begin in late 2027. The Union Minister announced that the Bengaluru-Mangaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat service will begin in the next few months. A superfast and a Vande Bharat sleeper train will also soon run between Bengaluru and Mumbai.
The Supreme Court has appointed its former judge Hrishikesh Roy as the Ombudsman of the Bihar Cricket Association . Earlier on March 20, former judge Abhay S. Oka, who was appointed to the post, expressed his unwillingness to continue as Ombudsman, stating that it involved judicial work. The case pertains to issues related to the Bihar Cricket Association. In August last year, the Supreme Court had appointed its former judge L. Nageswara Rao as the Ombudsman of the association and directed him to hold meetings with stakeholders to work out modalities for the smooth functioning of the association.
4 DRDO Chief Dr. Samir V. Kamat unveils Advanced Armoured Platform at Ahilyanagar
Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), unveiled the Advanced Armoured Platform (Track and Wheel) at the DRDO laboratory in Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra . The Ministry of Defence stated in a statement that the platform has been developed to meet the urgent needs of the defence forces . It has been developed using indigenous technology, addressing requirements such as mobility, firepower, and protection . Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Bharat Forge Limited have manufactured these platforms. The platform’s key feature is its indigenous 30mm crewless turret. This turret not only enhances firepower but also ensures the safety of the troops. Furthermore, these vehicles are equipped with a 7.62mm PK gun and the capability to fire anti-tank guided missiles.
5 Justice Lisa Gill sworn in as Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court
Justice Lisa Gill was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court . She assumed the post following the retirement of Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur . Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer administered the oath of office to Justice Gill at Lok Bhavan in Vijayawada. High Court judges, advocates, and several dignitaries were present at the swearing-in ceremony.
6 Launch of SMILE-Beggary Survey Mobile Application at Chintan Shivir held in Chandigarh (24-26 April 2026)
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment , Government of India, launched the SMILE-Beggary Survey mobile application during the Chintan Shivir held with States/UTs in Chandigarh from April 24-26, 2026. This mobile application has been developed under the SMILE-Beggary Sub-Scheme (Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons Engaged in Beggary) . It aims to strengthen implementation at the grassroots level through real-time data collection and improved monitoring. This application will enable implementing agencies and district officials to collect survey data digitally, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and timely reporting.
Central Cottage Industries Corporation (CCIC) , under the Ministry of Textiles, marked a significant milestone in its revival journey by launching its first heritage designer collection, ‘Soul Threads’ . This special exhibition will be held from April 24 to May 10, 2026, at CCIC’s flagship showroom located at Jawahar Vyapar Bhawan, Janpath , New Delhi . The exhibition showcases a select collection of India’s finest craft traditions, including hand-picked sarees, specially designed garments, handcrafted jewellery, and home furnishing products. The exhibition was formally inaugurated on April 24, 2026, by Smt. Neelam Shami Rao, IAS, Secretary (Textiles).
8 Operational Guidelines for the second phase of the Rs 10,000 crore Startup India Fund of Funds released
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has issued operational guidelines for the second phase of the ₹10,000 crore Startup India Fund of Funds . These guidelines lay down a system for operating the fund through clearly defined mechanisms for utilisation, operation, and monitoring of the fund, with the aim of improving the efficiency of capital flow into India’s startup ecosystem. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry stated that the scheme will be implemented through commitments to Category I and II Alternative Investment Funds registered with SEBI , which will invest in startups recognised by DPIIT. The Ministry stated that the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) will act as the initial implementing agency and will implement the scheme through a structured Alternative Investment Fund selection and monitoring process.
9 Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and National Biodiversity Authority launched a five-year project for biodiversity management in Tamil Nadu and Meghalaya
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the National Biodiversity Authority have launched a five-year project for biodiversity management in Meghalaya . The project, with a grant of over $4.8 million, runs from 2025 to 2030. In Tamil Nadu, the project will cover the Sathyamangalam region, including the Mudumalai and Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserves. In Meghalaya, it will be implemented in the Garo Hills region, including the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve, Balpakram National Park, and Siju Wildlife Sanctuary. The project will focus on two ecologically important landscapes. The ministry stated that this initiative is also consistent with the country’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.
10 India and Uzbekistan’s 7th joint military exercise ‘Dustlik’ concluded in Namangan
The seventh joint military exercise “Dustlik” between India and Uzbekistan concluded in Namangan, Uzbekistan . The two-week event involved practicing operations in semi-mountainous terrain. According to the Ministry of Defence, the exercise symbolises the spirit of camaraderie, mutual trust and growing defence cooperation between India and Uzbekistan.
11 Kalvakuntla Kavitha launched a new political party called ‘Telangana Rashtra Sena’
Kalvakuntla Kavitha has formed the Telangana Rashtra Sena (Telangana Rashtra Sena ). launched a political party called TRS ). Addressing a gathering in Munirabad, Medchal district , she declared that the party’s goal was to realize the social Telangana that was envisioned during the statehood movement but never realized. Regarding her previous role in the TRS, Mrs. Kavitha expressed deep regret over the failures of the previous government.
12 FIDE joins International World Games Federations
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has joined the International World Games Association (IWGA) . The decision was made at the Annual General Meeting at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Geneva . With this, the IWGA has 40 members. . FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said that chess is a global sport and unites millions of players on all continents. FIDE’s joining the IWGA reflects the growing recognition of intellectual sports alongside traditional sporting events.
13 Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli Football Club wins AFC Champions League title again
Saudi Arabia ‘s Al-Ahli Football Club has won the AFC Champions League title again. Al-Ahli defeated Japan’s Machida Zelvia 1-0 in the final played in Jeddah . Machida Zelvia reached the final for the first time. Saudi international striker Firas Al-Buraikan’s goal in extra time secured the victory. With this victory, Al-Ahli became the first team from the city after Al-Ittihad to win two consecutive Asian titles.
World Malaria Day, celebrated every year on April 25th , is not just a formal date but a powerful call to collective awareness about this complex health challenge facing humanity. Malaria is a disease that has affected countless lives for centuries. It was established by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2007 and first celebrated in 2008. This day replaces the earlier day known as ‘ Africa Malaria Day .’ The theme for 2026 is ‘ Resolve to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must .’ Organized malaria control initiatives in India can be traced back to the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) launched in 1953. This was a period when malaria was one of the biggest challenges to the country’s public health.
15 World Intellectual Property Day
World Intellectual Property Day, celebrated every year on April 26th, is a powerful declaration of the truth that the true strength of any nation lies not in its material resources, but in the creativity of its minds. Today, as the world rapidly moves towards a knowledge-based economy, this day is not merely a ceremonial occasion, but a call to awareness. A call that inspires us to move beyond the passive role of “consumer” to the active consciousness of “creator.” World Intellectual Property Day was established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2000. Its primary goal is to raise awareness about the impact of intellectual property rights on everyday life and to honor the contributions of creators and innovators to the development of economies and societies globally. The theme for 2026 is Intellectual Property and the Game: Get Ready, Get Started, Innovate.
16 World Veterinary Day
World Veterinary Day is celebrated every year on the last Saturday of April ( April 25 in 2026 ). This year’s theme is ” Veterinarians: Guardians of Food and Health .” The idea for World Veterinary Day originated in 2000 when the World Veterinary Association highlighted the vital role veterinarians play in society.