Daily Current Affairs – 23-04-2026

Tamil Nadu News

Suresh Babu Appointed CMD of BHAVINI

P. A. Suresh Babu assumed charge as the Chairman and Managing Director of Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI) in Chennai. He has over 37 years of experience in reactor operations, project execution and corporate functions, and previously served as Director (HR) at Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) since 2022. A mechanical engineer trained at BARC Training School, he has held senior positions including Station Director at Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant. BHAVINI is responsible for the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, which is part of India’s long-term nuclear strategy. His three-year tenure will focus on commissioning and stabilising the PFBR and advancing future fast breeder reactor projects.

International News

India-Germany Defence Cooperation and Submarine Project-75I

India and Germany agreed to align major defence projects under a co-development and co-production framework during a meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius. They signed the Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap and the Implementing Arrangement for Cooperation in UN Peacekeeping Training. Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems in partnership with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) has been selected for India’s Project-75I submarine programme, under which six next-generation conventional submarines will be built in India. The project is valued at around ₹1 lakh crore and is awaiting final approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). The Airbus A400M Atlas is also a contender for the Indian Air Force’s Medium Transport Aircraft programme, and the cooperation extends to maritime security, cyber defence, and counter-terrorism.

Air China Resumes Delhi–Beijing Direct Flights

Air China resumed non-stop flight operations between Beijing and Delhi from April 21, 2026, operating flights on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays using Airbus A330-200/300 aircraft. The year 2026 marks the 20th year of Air China’s operations in India. As per the schedule, flights depart from Beijing at 3:15 pm and arrive in Delhi at 8:20 pm, while return flights leave Delhi at 10:50 pm and reach Beijing at 7:40 am the next day. Other developments include China Eastern Airlines resuming Kunming–Kolkata flights from April 18 with six weekly services and planning services between Mumbai and Shanghai. IndiGo launched daily Kolkata–Shanghai flights on March 29, 2026, and resumed Delhi–Guangzhou services from November 10, 2025. Air India restarted Delhi–Shanghai (PVG) flights on February 1, 2026 after nearly six years, operating four times weekly using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

EU Approves €90 Billion Loan to Ukraine Amid Pipeline Resolution

The European Union (EU) approved the release of a €90 billion ($106 billion) loan to Ukraine after resolving a prolonged dispute between Ukraine and Hungary over the Druzhba pipeline. The dispute involved Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which had delayed financial assistance to Kyiv. Following the repair of the damaged pipeline, Ukraine resumed oil supply to Hungary and Slovakia, enabling the EU to proceed with the financial package to address Ukraine’s budget deficit amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. Additionally, Germany’s Energy Ministry stated that Russia plans to halt Kazakh oil supplies via the Druzhba pipeline from May 1, based on information from Rosneft’s German unit, while efforts are being explored to ensure energy supply security.

Jio Financial Services–Allianz General Insurance Joint Venture

Jio Financial Services and Allianz (Germany) announced the formation of an equal joint venture to launch a general insurance business, with plans to introduce a life insurance arm separately. The partners had earlier launched a re-insurance arm in 2026, and the new venture will provide general and health insurance solutions to individuals and businesses. The partnership between Reliance Group and Allianz Group was announced in July 2025 after Allianz ended its 24-year partnership with Bajaj Group. The joint venture will commence operations after obtaining statutory and regulatory approvals, and work is ongoing for a separate life insurance agreement. The development involves Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Group.

Britain Passes Bill for Lifetime Ban on Cigarette Sales

The British Parliament passed a historic bill on April 22 imposing a lifetime ban on cigarette sales to individuals born from 2009 onwards. The current minimum legal age of 18 years will be increased by one year every year, ensuring that future generations will never legally purchase cigarettes. The law will come into force after receiving assent from King Charles, and it empowers the government to regulate tobacco products, e-cigarettes, flavourings, and packaging. According to official data, around 80,000 deaths occur annually in Britain due to smoking, and smoking remains a major cause of preventable deaths. The bill was supported by UK Health Minister Wes Streeting, and it marks a significant step in tobacco control, with 13% of the population still smoking, despite a decline since the 1970s.

AI Startup ‘M’ Raises ₹102 Crore Funding

Kabeer Biswas, co-founder of Dunzo, along with Kartik Mishra (former Vice President of Dunzo), founded the AI concierge startup ‘M’, which raised ₹102 crore funding from Peak XV Partners, Blume Ventures, and Cred, as per Registrar of Companies (RoC) data. Following this funding, the startup is valued at ₹300 crore. The company is developing an AI-based system to automate household tasks, and its platform is currently open for users through a waitlist.

National News

Rules Notified under PROG Act, 2025 for Online Gaming

The Central Government notified rules under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming (PROG) Act, 2025 to regulate the digital gaming ecosystem, which will come into effect from May 1. The framework adopts a light-touch regulatory approach, especially for non-real-money games, where most games can operate without mandatory registration. Registration is required only for specifically notified games that involve user risk, large-scale participation, financial transactions, or country of origin concerns, and all e-sports titles require mandatory registration. The rules prohibit online money gaming (gambling), and a 90-day time limit has been set for determining registration status. The framework was formulated after consultation with around 2,500 stakeholders, including industry bodies, companies, and legal firms, and was announced by IT Minister S. Krishnan.

DPIIT Measures on Duty Cuts and QCO Relaxation

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) announced duty reductions, regulatory relaxations, and supply-side measures to support domestic industry amid the West Asia crisis. The government reduced Basic Customs Duty (BCD) to zero on key raw materials such as EVA, PVC, PU, and SBS used in the leather and footwear industry, and is considering removing or suspending anti-dumping duties on PVC-based resin. It also extended energy efficiency norms and Quality Control Order (QCO) timelines for induction cooktops to ease supply constraints and support manufacturing. Under the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), steps have been taken to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply, including expedited licensing for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Compressed Biogas (CBG) stations, with 467 applications processed, 157 final licences issued, and 38 prior approvals granted, as stated by DPIIT Joint Secretary Nidhi Kesaarwani.

Ethanol Blending Permitted in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF)

The Petroleum Ministry permitted blending of ethanol and synthetic hydrocarbons in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), without setting any immediate mandatory blending targets. Currently, 20% ethanol blending in petrol is in place in India. The legal definition of ATF has been expanded from IS 1571 specification to include blends with synthesised hydrocarbons as specified in IS 17081, enabling Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to sell and distribute Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blends. The move aligns with India’s commitments under CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation), with targets to achieve 1% SAF blending by 2027, 2% by 2028, and 5% by 2030 for international flights.

India’s Agricultural Exports Growth in FY 2025-26

India’s agricultural exports grew by 2.8% in the financial year 2025-26, reaching $5,255 crore (approximately ₹4.92 lakh crore) compared to $5,112 crore in 2024-25, as per data released by the Union Commerce Ministry. Growth was observed in both traditional exports and value-added products, with increased exports of marine products and horticultural crops. Pulse exports rose by 21.83% to $94.81 crore, while fruit exports increased by 12.89% to $132 crore. In the value-added category, vegetable oil exports grew by 15.88% to $73.21 crore, and grain-based food products increased by 7.8% to $101 crore. Other exports included cashew (12.21% growth), cocoa products (7.59%), and other oilseeds (84.39% growth), while wheat exports reached $1.03 crore, indicating strengthening of the sector through food processing and quality improvement.

Personalities, Awards and Events

Debasish Panda Appointed Part-time Chairman of Bandhan Bank

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the appointment of Debasish Panda as the Part-time Chairman of Bandhan Bank for a three-year term from the date of assumption of charge. He is a 1987 batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre and a former Chairman of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). He replaces Anup Kumar Sinha, who had been serving in this position since the inception of Bandhan Bank in August 2015.

Sports News

LightFury Games Raises $11 Million Funding with Cricketer Investments

Gaming startup LightFury Games raised $11 million (₹92 crore) in a funding round led by Blume Ventures, V3 Ventures, MIXI, and Times Internet. The company has received investments from Indian cricketers including M. S. Dhoni, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya, along with Ravindra Jadeja, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, and Sai Sudharsan. Founded in 2024 by Karan Shroff, Tina Balachandran (former Unacademy employee), and Anurag Banerjee (former Ubisoft Singapore employee), the company focuses on developing AAA cricket gaming franchise at a global level.

Important Days

World Book and Copyright Day & UN Language Days – April 23

April 23 is observed as World Book and Copyright Day, established by UNESCO in 1995, to promote reading, publishing, and copyright protection, and it also marks the death anniversaries of William Shakespeare and Miguel de Cervantes. The same day is observed by the United Nations as English Language Day to promote multilingualism and cultural diversity, commemorating William Shakespeare, and as Spanish Language Day, marking the death anniversary of Miguel de Cervantes, to promote the Spanish language and culture.