Daily Current Affairs – 24-04-2026

Tamil Nadu News

Record 85.15% Polling in Tamil Nadu Assembly Election

Tamil Nadu recorded its highest-ever polling percentage of 85.15% in the 17th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Election, held across 234 constituencies, with over 4.85 crore voters casting their votes from 7 a.m. onwards. According to provisional data released by the Election Commission of India (ECI), the figures do not include postal ballots and may increase further. The election witnessed a four-cornered contest involving the DMK-led alliance, AIADMK-led alliance, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) led by C. Joseph Vijay, and Naam Tamilar Katchi led by Seeman. The high voter turnout is attributed to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Polling percentages recorded were 17.69% at 9 a.m., 37.56% at 11 a.m., 56.81% at 1 p.m., crossing 70% by 3 p.m., and reaching 82.24% before the final hour. Minor incidents of boycott were reported in Vengaivayal, and small clashes occurred in Harbour and Thousand Lights constituencies in Chennai. Key leaders who cast their votes include M.K. Stalin (Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu) in Mylapore, Edappadi K. Palaniswami (AIADMK General Secretary) in Edappadi, and C. Joseph Vijay and Seeman in Neelankarai.

States’ News

92.88% Polling in West Bengal First Phase Election

West Bengal recorded a voter turnout of 92.88% in the first phase of the Assembly elections, covering 152 constituencies, marking the highest polling percentage in the state's electoral history. The election was conducted after a four-month Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which resulted in a 12% reduction in the electorate. The previous highest turnout was 84.33% in 2011, when the Trinamool Congress ended the 34-year Left Front rule. District-wise high polling was recorded in Cooch Behar (96.04%), Dakshin Dinajpur (95.44%), Jalpaiguri (94.65%), and Murshidabad (93.61%). A total of 1,478 candidates contested, and their votes were recorded in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), with polling conducted till 6 in the evening. The Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal stated that the final turnout may increase further. For security arrangements, more than 2,400 companies of Central forces were deployed, and isolated incidents of violence were reported in some districts.

International News

India–Africa Forum Summit IV and Expanding Bilateral Cooperation

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted that India–Africa relations are rooted in a shared anti-colonial history and strengthened through capacity building, development cooperation, and strategic engagement. The Fourth India–Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-IV) is scheduled to be held from May 28 to 31 with the theme “Enduring Partnership – Shared Vision”. India is exploring cooperation with African countries such as Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Morocco for the supply of petroleum, natural gas, and fertilizers in the context of global disruptions. With the opening of 17 new diplomatic missions, India’s total diplomatic presence in Africa has increased to 46 missions. The Indian diaspora in Africa (about 3 million people) plays a connecting role between the two regions. Institutional cooperation includes IIT Zanzibar, National Forensic Science University in Uganda, and Entrepreneurship Development Centre in Rwanda. Africa is the largest recipient of India’s overseas development assistance outside South Asia.

India–Egypt Joint Defence Committee Meeting 2026

India and Egypt advanced their bilateral defence ties during the 11th Joint Defence Committee (JDC) meeting held in Cairo from April 20 to 22. The meeting outlined a road map to deepen defence cooperation between the two countries. The Indian delegation, led by Amitabh Prasad (Joint Secretary, International Cooperation, Ministry of Defence), held discussions with senior Egyptian defence officials to review progress since the previous meeting and identify new areas of collaboration. Both sides agreed on a bilateral defence cooperation plan for 2026–27, focusing on expanding military engagements, intensifying joint training exchanges, enhancing maritime security cooperation, and increasing the scope of military exercises. The two countries also agreed to work towards a defence industry cooperation plan, including co-development and co-production opportunities. The first-ever Navy-to-Navy staff-level talks were also conducted, highlighting the importance of maritime cooperation.

North Korea–Russia Bridge Project over Tumen River

North Korea and Russia are planning to open a road bridge across the Tumen River connecting the two countries at the earliest. The information was reported by KCNA (Korean Central News Agency). The project is part of efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between the two nations. The proposed bridge is expected to enhance tourism, trade, and movement of people between North Korea and Russia.

China Selects First Foreign Astronauts for Tiangong Space Station

On April 22, China announced the selection of Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud from Pakistan as the first batch of foreign astronauts for its space programme. According to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), both candidates will undergo training in China, after which one will be selected to travel to the Tiangong Space Station as a payload specialist. The mission is expected to take place later this year, with experiments planned in microgravity across fields such as materials science, fluid physics, life sciences, and biotechnology. China developed the Tiangong Space Station after being excluded from the International Space Station (ISS) due to the Wolf Amendment (2011). China also plans to launch the Xuntian Space Telescope by the end of 2026, which can dock with Tiangong, and aims to expand the station to six modules by 2027.

Brazil Becomes Top Corn Exporter to Bangladesh

Brazil has overtaken India as the largest exporter of corn (maize) to Bangladesh, marking a shift in South Asia’s feed grain trade. Since 2024, India’s export surplus declined due to increased domestic use of maize for ethanol production, leading to reduced exports. According to a USDA report, in the 2025–26 marketing year (till February), Brazil accounted for 78% of Bangladesh’s total corn imports, while India and the United States held 11% each. India’s maize exports to Bangladesh declined from 1.82 million tonnes in 2022 to 16,266 tonnes in 2024, and further to 11,991 tonnes in 2025. The decline is attributed to higher domestic prices reducing India’s global competitiveness. Recently, exports have shown recovery due to easing domestic prices, and shipments to countries like Nepal and Vietnam have increased, while U.S. corn has re-entered the Bangladesh market after 2018.

France Waives Airport Transit Visa for Indian Nationals

France has removed the requirement of an Airport Transit Visa for Indian nationals transiting through French airports without entering the Schengen Area, as confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The decision follows an understanding reached between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron during the latter’s visit to India in February. The waiver applies only to passengers remaining within the international transit zone, and entry into France still requires a valid Schengen visa.

National News

India’s Rice Exports Decline in 2025–26

According to data from the Commerce Ministry of India, the country’s rice exports declined by 7.5% to $11.53 billion in the 2025–26 fiscal year, mainly due to reduced shipments to West Asian countries. In March 2026, exports further dropped by 15.36% to $997.53 million. Exports to key countries such as Iran, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, and Oman were affected due to the U.S.–Israel and Iran conflict. Among these, Iran remains a major destination for Indian basmati rice exports. The disruption impacted order flows, payment cycles, and shipping schedules. Importers faced difficulties in fulfilling contracts and making payments. In comparison, during 2024–25, India exported 20.1 million tonnes of rice worth $12.5 billion to more than 172 countries.

FM Chairs Meeting on AI Risks to Financial Sector

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held a meeting with bank heads to discuss risks related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) following global concerns over Anthropic’s Mythos AI model, including Claude Mythos, which reportedly identified vulnerabilities in major operating systems. The meeting focused on assessing AI-related risks to the financial sector and identifying necessary preventive measures to safeguard banking systems, data, and customer funds. The discussion involved officials from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) along with senior banking officials. The Finance Ministry and the RBI are examining the extent of risks posed by such AI developments to the Indian financial system, while continuing evaluation and monitoring measures.

Amazon Announces ₹2,800 Crore Investment in India

Amazon India announced an investment of over ₹2,800 crore ($300 million) to strengthen its delivery infrastructure and expand employee welfare programmes. The company has set a long-term target of investing $35 billion (₹3 lakh crore) by 2030 in India. The current investment will be used to enhance fulfilment centres and expand the Quick Delivery service. A portion of the investment will also focus on employee safety, health, and financial welfare, including expansion of schemes like Project Ashir, along with medical facilities and accident insurance. Earlier, in 2025, Amazon invested ₹2,000 crore, which led to the establishment of 17 fulfilment centres, 6 sorting centres, and 75 delivery stations in India.

Reports and Indices

HSBC Downgrades India to Underweight

HSBC downgraded Indian equities from “Neutral” to “Underweight”, marking its second downgrade within one month. The decision is linked to rising energy prices due to the West Asia conflict, which may affect the country’s earnings recovery. In the current macro-economic environment, India is compared with North East Asian countries. Market indices Nifty 50 and Sensex declined by 6.7% and 7.9% respectively during the year. HSBC expects the oil and gas markets to remain tight through the June and September quarters.

Growth of Ultra-Rich Population in India

According to a report by Knight Frank, the number of Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals (UHNWI) in India (individuals with wealth above $30 million) increased by 63% between 2021 and 2026, reaching 19,877. India currently ranks 6th globally in terms of UHNWI population, and the number is projected to rise to 25,217 by 2031. Among cities, Mumbai accounts for 35.4% of the country’s ultra-rich population. Over the last decade, the share of Delhi and Chennai increased by 3%, while Hyderabad recorded a growth of 1.3% since 2015. The number of billionaires ($1 billion+) in India increased by 58% over the past five years to reach 207 in 2026, placing India 3rd globally after the United States (914) and China (485).

Sports News

Cricket Returns to Olympics at LA28 with New Stadium in Pomona

A ground-breaking ceremony was held at the Fairplex Grounds, Pomona (California), located about 50 km from Los Angeles, for the construction of a cricket stadium for the LA28 Olympics. This development marks the return of cricket to the Olympic Games after 128 years.

Personalities, Awards and Events

Srikanth Velamakanni Appointed Nasscom Chairperson

Nasscom appointed Srikanth Velamakanni, Co-Founder and Group CEO of Fractal, as its Chairperson, succeeding Sindhu Gangadharan, Managing Director of SAP Labs India, who completes her term in April. The Nasscom Executive Council also elected Kishor Patil, Co-Founder, CEO and Managing Director of KPIT, as the new Vice-Chairperson.

Important Days

April 24 – National Panchayati Raj Day

Observed every year in India on April 24.

Commemorates the enactment of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992.

The Act gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). First observed in 2010.

Aim: Strengthening grassroots democracy and local self-governance.