Current Affairs — Wednesday, 29 April 2026
37 items
📰 Daily Current Affairs Digest — 29 April 2026
Sources: The Hindu | Indian Express | Google News | Kalvigavani.in
Tamil Nadu
- CM Vijay (TVK) announces 2% Dearness Allowance hike — Tamil Nadu government employees and teachers to receive a 2% increase in DA; signals early welfare push by the new TVK-led government. (Polity — State Finance, 7th Pay Commission linkage)
- CM Stalin launches distribution of 10 lakh laptops to college students — Mass distribution of laptops to Tamil Nadu college students begins, continuing the DMK government's education welfare scheme. (Schemes — State Welfare, Education)
- MRF to invest ₹3,500 crore in Tamil Nadu — Major private investment commitment by tyre giant MRF announced alongside CM Stalin's multi-sector project launches. (Economy — FDI/Private Investment, Industrial Policy)
- Supreme Court to hear TN plea on CM Stalin name/photo ban in welfare scheme ads — Madras HC had banned use of former CMs' photos; TN government to challenge this before the Supreme Court. (Polity — Article 19, Judicial Review, Madras HC)
- TN Higher Education Minister stirs controversy over Chancellor role — Minister stated the CM need not be Chancellor of universities; drew sharp criticism from DMK and VCK, highlighting tensions in the TVK-led coalition. (Polity — State Education Policy, University Acts)
- VCK's Thirumavalavan urges cadre to accept coalition dynamics — VCK joins TVK-led government despite DMK opposition; Thirumavalavan's "let go and move on" call signals inter-party friction management in the new Tamil Nadu government. (Polity — State Coalition Politics)
- Stalin–Sitharaman spar over Centre's paddy bonus policy letter — Conflict between TN government and Union Finance Ministry over paddy procurement bonus highlights Centre-State fiscal federalism tensions. (Economy — MSP, Agriculture, Centre-State Relations)
India — National
- Parliamentary panel summons Education Ministry, NTA, CBI over exam conduct — Rajya Sabha committee acts on an assurance (USQ dated 27 Nov 2024) regarding NTA examination irregularities; CBI also called to depose. (Polity — Parliamentary Committees, NTA, Education Ministry)
- Noted poet Bashir Badr passes away at 91 — Acclaimed Urdu poet and recipient of the Padma Shri, known for his ghazals, passes away; significant for language and literature questions. (Culture — Urdu Literature)
- Kazipet Rail Manufacturing Unit nears completion; 200 intercity trains planned in 5 years — The Kazipet (Telangana) rail coach factory, a long-pending project, is near operational status with plans for 200 new intercity trains. (Infrastructure — Railways, Telangana)
- Sharp rise in out-of-pocket health spending; 11% fall in govt. health expenditure in FY23 — Ministry report reveals declining public health investment and rising burden on citizens, contrary to National Health Policy targets. (Social — Health Policy, NHP 2017, GS Paper 2)
- Kalai-II Hydel Project gets forest clearance amid White-Bellied Heron concerns — Arunachal Pradesh hydel project receives forest nod despite threat to the critically endangered White-Bellied Heron habitat. (Environment — Wildlife Protection Act, Forest Clearance)
- Key commander of banned Manipur insurgent group arrested in Delhi — Joint security operation leads to arrest of a top leader of a proscribed Manipur insurgent outfit in the national capital. (Security — Internal Security, UAPA, Northeast)
- BJP names new state chiefs for Delhi, Punjab and Haryana — Organisational reshuffle in three key states signals BJP's preparation for upcoming assembly elections. (Polity — Party Organisation)
- Activists urge Centre to reject nod to Odisha's Sijimali mine (Vedanta) — Environmental activists oppose Expert Appraisal Committee's recommendation for Vedanta's Sijimali bauxite mine, citing threat to the Panichida-Shuagad river and 100+ perennial streams. (Environment — EIA, Mining, Tribal Rights)
Economy & Finance
- RBI holds repo rate; revises GDP growth forecast to 6.9% for FY27 — Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee keeps repo rate unchanged while trimming growth outlook, signalling caution amid global headwinds. (Economy — Monetary Policy, RBI MPC, GDP)
- India's energy investment to hit $170 billion in 2026: IEA — International Energy Agency reports solar PV investment grew 25% annually and oil refining 23% annually; both sectors contributed one-fourth of India's energy investment growth. (Economy — Energy Policy, Solar, IEA)
- U.S. team to visit India on June 1–4 to finalise interim trade agreement details — Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has linked a deal to clarity on U.S. tariffs on Indian goods; visit marks a key milestone in bilateral trade negotiations. (Economy — Trade Policy, India-US Relations)
- Rupee falls 47 paise to close at ₹95.73 against the U.S. dollar — Rupee weakens significantly; experts suggest RBI's forex reserves can be deployed to stabilise the currency amid FPI-driven sentiment. (Economy — Exchange Rate, RBI, Balance of Payments)
- LPG price hiked; no plan to raise petrol/diesel prices: Govt sources — Government sources confirm LPG revision to balance consumer interest and oil company finances; Strait of Hormuz blockade cited as a key driver of energy market strain. (Economy — Energy Prices, Oil Marketing Companies)
- US gives India one-month waiver to buy Russian oil — Washington grants India a short-term exemption from sanctions pressure, recognising India as an "essential partner" amid West Asia conflict fallout. (Economy/IR — Energy Security, India-US-Russia Triangle)
Science & Technology
- Chandrayaan-2 detects possible subsurface ice near Moon's south pole — Scientists used data from DFSAR (Dual Frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar) payload aboard Chandrayaan-2 to identify possible ice deposits; significant for future lunar exploration. (Science — ISRO, Lunar Science, DFSAR)
- Air pollution cut India's solar power output by 9.6% in 2023: Study — India recorded one of the world's highest losses in solar electricity generation potential due to air pollution, with worst impacts in northern India. (Science/Environment — Renewable Energy, Pollution)
- SpaceX Starship grounded pending investigation after test flight — Starship released 20 mock satellites and splashed down in the Indian Ocean before being grounded; relevant to space technology and commercial launch vehicles. (Science — Space Technology, SpaceX)
- NASA outlines Moon base plans with landers, buggies and drones for Artemis III — Artemis III astronauts to practise docking Orion capsule in Earth orbit using lunar landers by Blue Origin and SpaceX for crewed Moon missions. (Science — Space Exploration, NASA Artemis)
Environment
- Global temperatures to reach near-record highs in next five years: WMO & UK Met Office — UN World Meteorological Organization and UK's Met Office project continued global warming with accelerated Arctic temperature rise over 2026–2030. (Environment — Climate Change, WMO, Paris Agreement)
- Budget 2026-27: Air quality management outlay cut by 10%; pollution control funding also reduced — Centre reduces allocation for air quality management and pollution control despite rising pollution levels — a significant policy-data point. (Environment — Budget, Air Pollution, CPCB)
- Heatwave warning for Telangana; no relief in North India till May 29 — Temperatures forecast above 44°C in Telangana; prolonged extreme heat event in North India with IMD advisory in force. (Environment — Climate, IMD, Disaster Management)
Sports
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's case for India T20I call-up strengthens — The 15-year-old IPL sensation continues his extraordinary run, making a strong case for T20I selection ahead of major tournaments. (Sports — Cricket, BCCI Selection)
- Four Indians in ICC all-female panel of match officials for Women's T20 World Cup — ICC appoints an all-women officiating panel (including four Indians) for the third consecutive Women's T20 World Cup — a historic milestone. (Sports — Cricket, ICC, Gender Representation)
- WFI moves Supreme Court against HC order on Vinesh Phogat's Asian Games trial participation — Wrestling Federation of India challenges Delhi HC's decision allowing Vinesh Phogat to compete in Asian Games 2026 selection trials, citing threat to selection framework. (Sports — Wrestling, Sports Law, WFI)
- Neymar doubtful for Brazil's FIFA World Cup opener due to injury — The 34-year-old Santos star to miss pre-tournament friendlies; raises concerns about Brazil's squad depth ahead of the World Cup. (Sports — FIFA World Cup)
Appointments & Awards
- Padma Awards 2026 presented by President Droupadi Murmu — President Murmu conferred Padma awards recognising doctors, tribal artists and other unsung heroes; Bhagat Singh Koshyari (former Uttarakhand CM and Maharashtra Governor) awarded Padma Bhushan. (Awards — Padma, Constitutional Post: President)
- SC Collegium recommends judges for Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka High Courts — Supreme Court Collegium's latest recommendations for judicial appointments to two High Courts. (Polity — Judiciary, Collegium System, Article 217)
International
- Australia PM Anthony Albanese praises India's economic growth; looks forward to hosting PM Modi — Australian PM hailed the growing India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and expressed intent to deepen bilateral ties; India-Australia ECTA in focus. (IR — India-Australia Relations, Bilateral Diplomacy)
- Shaky Iran ceasefire challenged; Kuwait intercepts missiles and drones — Ceasefire brokered after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran (February 28) faces renewed strain as Kuwait reports missile attacks; Iran Guards threaten "firm response." (IR — West Asia, India's Energy Security, Strait of Hormuz)
- Thailand court acquits Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit on lese-majesté charges — Bangkok court issues rare acquittal for former Future Forward Party leader under Thailand's strict royal defamation law; significant for Southeast Asian democratic politics. (IR — Southeast Asia, Rule of Law)
⚡ Quick Revision
Most exam-probable facts from today's digest:
- 🔬 Chandrayaan-2's DFSAR payload detected possible subsurface ice near the Moon's south pole — first such finding from an Indian mission; key for ISRO-related questions.
- 💰 RBI holds repo rate and projects India's GDP growth at 6.9% for FY27; India's energy investment projected at $170 billion in 2026 by the IEA.
- 🏆 Four Indians named in ICC's all-female officiating panel for the Women's T20 World Cup — third consecutive all-women panel; Bhagat Singh Koshyari awarded Padma Bhushan 2026.
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