Daily Current Affairs – 21-04-2026

International News

India–South Korea Bilateral Meeting 2026

India and South Korea have agreed to double their bilateral trade to 5,000 crore dollars (approximately ₹4.6 lakh crore) by 2030 during the visit of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung to India. He arrived on a three-day official state visit, marking the first visit by a South Korean President to India in eight years. The meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi took place at Hyderabad House, New Delhi. Both countries decided to establish a ministerial-level economic cooperation committee for the first time and to strengthen investments in sectors such as nuclear power plants and green energy. The current bilateral trade stands at 2,700 crore dollars, and steps have been taken to increase it significantly within the coming years.

India–Russia RELOS Agreement Comes into Force

The India–Russia Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS), signed in February in Moscow, has come into force on April 20, enabling enhanced military logistics cooperation between the two countries. Under this agreement, 3,000 Russian troops, 5 Russian warships, and 10 Russian warplanes will be stationed in India for a period of 5 years, applicable during both peacetime and wartime. Similarly, 3,000 Indian troops, along with 5 Indian warships and 10 Indian warplanes, will be stationed in Russia for 5 years. The agreement allows mutual use of military bases, naval bases, and air bases by both countries and includes a provision to extend the duration by another 5 years. The agreement also aims to expand cooperation in regions such as the Arctic region. India has previously signed a similar agreement, Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), with the United States, but without provisions for stationing troops and military assets.

Bulgarian Parliamentary Election 2026

In the parliamentary elections held in Bulgaria on April 20, former President Rumen Radev, known for his pro-Russian stance, secured a victory with 43.91% votes after contesting through his newly formed party ‘Progressive Bulgaria’. Bulgaria, a member of the European Union (EU) and NATO, witnessed anti-corruption protests in December against the ruling centre-right government, following which Rumen Radev resigned in January from his presidential post. This election marks the 8th election in the last 5 years since 2021. The GERB party led by former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov secured 13% votes, while the PP-DB coalition secured 12.6% votes, both facing defeat.

Amazon Launches AI Store for Electronics

Amazon has introduced a dedicated platform called ‘AI Store’ on April 20 to facilitate the purchase of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered electronic devices. The platform includes products such as laptops, smartphones, smartwatches, air conditioners, and washing machines. Amazon already uses AI features like ‘Rufus’ chatbot and ‘Lens’ on its main platform. The AI Store provides features such as product review summaries, virtual placement of products in home environments, and price tracking. In India, searches for AI-based devices have increased by 60%, while demand for laptops and handheld computers has grown by 80%. Around two-thirds of searches originate from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.

Sports News

HCL Squash PSA Challenger Tour 2026

The HCL Squash PSA Challenger Tour tournament was held at the Indian Squash Academy, Chennai, where the final matches took place recently. In the men’s singles category, India’s Suraj Kumar Chand defeated South Korea’s Jeongmin Ryu with a set score of 11-5, 11-9, 11-3 to win the championship title. In the women’s singles final, Egypt’s Rawkhaya (8th seed) defeated Malaysia’s Helon Tan with a set score of 12-10, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7 to clinch the title.

IOB Sponsorship for Young Tennis Player Puneeth

Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has announced financial sponsorship for M. Puneeth, a 13-year-old tennis player, on April 20, to support emerging talent in sports. Puneeth holds the No.1 rank in India in the Under-14 category of the All India Tennis Association (AITA) and has qualified for the Wimbledon Under-14 tournament in London after his performance in the Asian Championship. Under the agreement, IOB will cover expenses including international travel, training requirements, and coaching fees for participation in overseas tournaments.

National News

Allocation for MGNREGS Amid West Asian Tensions

The Central Government has allocated ₹17,744 crore to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) on April 20 to address the impact of West Asian tensions on supply chains and essential commodity prices. The allocation was made during a review of rural welfare and infrastructure projects by the Union Ministry of Rural Development. The scheme will continue until the implementation of the VP-Jiramji Scheme, 2025, with provisions to ensure timely wage payments. The government is monitoring sectors such as rural livelihoods, housing infrastructure, road development, and water resources. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), a target has been set to construct 4.95 crore houses in rural areas by March 2029. Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) – Phase IV, work has commenced to build 12,100 km of rural roads.

India–Germany Defence Cooperation Visit 2026

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is visiting Germany on a three-day official visit starting April 21 to finalize agreements on bilateral defence industry cooperation. During the visit, he will meet German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and other leaders. The discussions will focus on defence industry collaboration, military-to-military cooperation, and areas such as cyber security, artificial intelligence, and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones). Two bilateral agreements, including a draft framework for defence industry cooperation and cooperation in training for United Nations peacekeeping operations, are expected to be taken forward. There is also a possibility of finalizing an agreement for the supply of 6 submarines to the Indian Navy during this visit.

States’ News

Online Licensing for Methanol in Tamil Nadu

The Tamil Nadu Government has simplified the procedure for obtaining licenses for methanol used for medicinal purposes on April 20, enabling applicants to obtain permits through the ‘e-Kalal’ online portal developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC). Methanol is an important solvent and raw material in the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, used in the production of drugs such as Statins and Streptomycin, and also in quality testing and pharmacy laboratories. The new system applies to applicants requiring less than 500 litres per year, addressing earlier difficulties faced by both large industries and small pharmaceutical units and laboratories in obtaining licenses.

Important Days

Civil Services Day – April 21

Civil Services Day is observed in India on April 21 every year to commemorate the day when Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel addressed the first batch of civil servants in 1947 at Metcalfe House, Delhi. The day recognizes the role of civil servants in nation-building and public administration.