Daily Current Affairs – 30-04-2026

International News

UAE Exit from OPEC

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), established in 1960, includes major oil-producing nations such as Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela, and aims to protect the interests of oil-exporting countries and ensure stable revenues. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), which joined OPEC in 1967, has announced its withdrawal from both OPEC and OPEC Plus with effect from May 1, 2026. OPEC Plus includes additional countries such as Russia. With UAE’s exit, the number of OPEC member countries will decrease from 12 to 11. The decision follows disruptions in crude oil and natural gas supply caused by military actions involving United States, Israel, and Iran, leading to a rise in global energy prices, and is linked to UAE’s efforts to expand its oil production capacity.

Google Expands Digital ID Services in India

Google has expanded its digital identification services in India, enabling users to store Aadhaar Verifiable Credentials in the Google Wallet. This provides a secure digital identity system for verification purposes. The digital ID system is developed based on global standards and includes a privacy feature called selective disclosure, which allows users to share only required identity details. Google has partnered with organizations such as PVR INOX, BharatMatrimony, Atlys, Mygate, and Snabbit in India for implementing these services. Additionally, Google has expanded digital ID capabilities globally to countries such as Singapore, Taiwan, and Brazil, where users can create digital IDs based on passport information and store them in Google Wallet.

IN-SLN DIVEX 2026 – India–Sri Lanka Naval Exercise

The fourth edition of IN-SLN DIVEX 2026, a bilateral diving exercise between India and Sri Lanka, was conducted in Colombo from April 21 to 28, 2026. The Indian Navy deployed INS Nireekshak, a diving support and submarine rescue vessel, while the Sri Lanka Navy participated with diving teams. The exercise focused on advanced deep-sea diving operations, including mixed gas diving, and involved dives over World War-era wrecks SS Worcester and SS Perseus. Divers successfully conducted operations beyond 55 metres depth, enhancing capabilities in underwater search, rescue, and salvage operations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). During the exercise, Rear Admiral S.J. Kumara, Flag Officer Commanding of the Western Naval Area of Sri Lanka, visited INS Nireekshak. The exercise also included tribute at the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) Memorial in Colombo. Under the Aarogya Maitri initiative, BHISM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog, Hita and Maitri) portable hospital units were handed over, and the exercise aligned with the MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision.

National News

Ganga Expressway Inauguration in Uttar Pradesh

The Ganga Expressway in Uttar Pradesh was inaugurated by Narendra Modi with a total project cost of ₹36,230 crore. The expressway has a length of 594 km and is a 6-lane greenfield highway connecting 12 districts from Meerut to Prayagraj. The highway allows a maximum speed of 120 km/h and reduces travel time between Meerut and Prayagraj from 10–12 hours to 6–8 hours. A 3.5 km emergency airstrip has been developed on this expressway at Shahjahanpur. The project has been developed within 5 years, and Adani Group has constructed three-fourths of the expressway. The expressway is planned for future expansion from 6 lanes to 8 lanes and is designed to support industrial development in the region.

First Commercial Seaplane Service from Lakshadweep

India’s first commercial seaplane service is set to be launched from Lakshadweep, marking a new initiative in passenger aviation. The service will be operated by Skyhop Aviation, which has received the required ‘Operator’ certificate from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The seaplane service will connect 5 islands in Lakshadweep and each aircraft can carry 19 passengers. Prior to this, trial operations including take-off and landing on water were successfully conducted in Rishikesh in the state of Uttarakhand.

RBI Exemption for Small NBFCs

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced that Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) which are non-deposit taking, do not avail public funds, and have an asset size of less than ₹1,000 crore will be eligible for exemption from registration and reserve fund requirements with effect from July 1, 2026. This exemption is provided under the provisions of Sections 45IA and 45IC of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. The notification applies to NBFCs without customer interface and aims to reduce compliance requirements. Existing eligible NBFCs, including those registered as Type I NBFCs, can apply to the RBI for deregistration by December 31, 2026.

Appointment of New MD & CEO of City Union Bank

City Union Bank, headquartered in Kumbakonam, has appointed Vijay Anand as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) with effect from May 1, 2026. He succeeds N. Kamakodi, whose tenure comes to an end after serving for 15 years. Vijay Anand joined the bank as Working President in 2023 and was promoted as Executive Director in 2024. For the financial year 2025–26, the bank reported a net profit of ₹1,326 crore with a growth of 18%. After retirement, N. Kamakodi will serve as the Chairman of the bank’s Social Welfare Foundation, which undertakes activities such as water management and cultural preservation.

Successful Trial of Short-Range Naval Anti-Ship Missile

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy successfully conducted the maiden salvo launch of a short-range naval anti-ship missile system, enhancing India’s maritime strike capability. The trial was carried out from a naval helicopter platform over the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Odisha. During the test, two missiles were launched in quick succession from a single helicopter, marking the first salvo launch of an air-launched anti-ship missile system.

EPFO to Launch E-PRAAPTI Portal

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is set to launch a dedicated digital platform named E-PRAAPTI (EPF Aadhaar-Based Access Portal for Tracking Inoperative Accounts) to identify, track, link UAN (Universal Account Number), and activate old EPF accounts. The portal will provide an Aadhaar-based authentication system enabling members to access old accounts without UAN linkage, update member details, and complete account activation. In the initial phase, the portal will be Member ID-based, with plans to expand its scope to include users without access to old Member IDs, aiming to reduce manual intervention, documentation, and improve transparency and efficiency. The EPFO settled a record 8.31 crore claims in 2025–26, compared to 6.01 crore in 2024–25, of which 5.51 crore claims were related to advance or partial withdrawals; 71.11% of advance claims were processed in auto mode within three days, compared to 59.19% in the previous year, and 6.68 crore members filed claims without uploading cheque leaf images.

MoSPI Releases “Women and Men in India 2025” Report

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the 27th edition of the publication titled “Women and Men in India 2025: Selected Indicators and Data” on April 29, 2026, at the National Deliberative Summit on “Data for Development” held in Bhubaneswar. The report provides gender-disaggregated data on key sectors such as population, education, health, economic participation, decision-making, and violence against women, based on official statistics, and includes metadata for 50 key indicators. It highlights that the sex ratio at birth increased from 904 (2017–19) to 917 (2021–23), and the infant mortality rate declined for both genders between 2008 and 2023. Gender parity has been achieved in school education from primary to higher secondary levels, and the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education increased from 28.5 to 30.2 for females and 28.3 to 28.9 for males between 2021–22 and 2022–23. The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for persons aged 15 years and above increased for both genders, with rural females rising from 37.5% to 45.9% (2022–2025). The report also notes an increase in managerial roles, with men rising by 73.80% and women by 102.54% between 2017 and 2025.

NSO 80th Round Health Survey Highlights Healthcare Progress

The National Statistical Office (NSO) conducted the 80th Round Household Social Consumption: Health Survey, covering 1,39,732 households including 76,296 rural and 63,436 urban households, highlighting improvements in healthcare access, affordability, and utilisation in India. The survey reported that the median Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) per hospitalisation in 2025 was ₹11,285, while in public health facilities it was ₹1,100, and zero for outpatient care. The Proportion of Population Reporting Ailments (PPRA) increased from 6.8% to 12.2% in rural areas and 9.1% to 14.9% in urban areas between earlier rounds and 2025. Utilisation of public health facilities in rural areas increased from 28% in 2014 to 35% in 2025, and government-financed health insurance coverage rose from 12.9% to 45.5% in rural areas and 8.9% to 31.8% in urban areas. The survey showed a decline in OOPE among economically weaker sections and reported institutional deliveries at 95.6% in rural and 97.8% in urban areas, with 66.8% of rural deliveries in government facilities. It also highlighted a transition from infectious diseases to non-communicable diseases, and noted the role of schemes such as Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, Free Drugs and Diagnostics Initiatives, and Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.

Sacred Piprahwa Relics of Buddha Arrive in Leh

The sacred Piprahwa Relics of Gautama Buddha arrived in Leh, marking a significant spiritual event in the Union Territory of Ladakh. The relics were brought from New Delhi in a special aircraft and received by the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena. The public exhibition begins on May 1, 2026, coinciding with the 2569th Buddha Purnima, and will be held at Jivetsal from May 2 to May 10, followed by display at Zanskar on May 11–12, and at the Dharma Centre in Leh from May 13–14, before returning to Delhi on May 15, 2026. The relics have previously been exhibited in countries including Thailand, Mongolia, Vietnam, Russia, Singapore, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar, and associated artefacts were repatriated to India in July 2025 after 127 years.

Indian Army Raises 16th Bhairav Battalion

The Indian Army raised the 16th ‘Bhairav’ Battalion on April 25 at the Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre in Belagavi, enhancing its operational strength. The battalion, also known as the Bhairav Light Commando Battalion, is part of the Army’s initiative to develop high-mobility, lean tactical units that operate between conventional infantry and Special Forces.

ECI Introduces QR-Based ID System for Counting Centres

The Election Commission of India introduced a QR Code–based Photo Identity Card system on the ECINET platform to strengthen security at counting centres and prevent unauthorised entry. The system will be implemented from May 04, 2026, during vote counting for Legislative Assembly General Elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry, along with bye-elections in 7 constituencies of 5 states, and will be extended to future Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections. A three-tier security system has been prescribed, where identity verification at the innermost level is done through QR code scanning, while earlier stages involve manual verification by the Returning Officer (RO). The system applies to authorised personnel including Returning Officers, Assistant Returning Officers, counting staff, technical personnel, candidates and election agents, and is part of over 30 initiatives taken by ECI in the past year, including QR-based ID cards for Booth Level Officers (BLOs).

IPPB Launches SHG Savings Account

The India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), a 100% Government of India-owned entity under the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications, launched a Self Help Group (SHG) Savings Account to promote financial inclusion and support women-led SHGs in rural India. The initiative is linked with programmes such as the National Rural Livelihoods Mission under the Ministry of Rural Development and support from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). The account is a zero balance and zero charges account with no minimum deposit requirement, a maximum balance limit of ₹2,00,000, and provides quarterly interest payments. Services are delivered through the postal network, post offices, postmen and Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) with digital onboarding and doorstep banking facilities.

UPI Completes 10 Years as Largest Real-Time Payment System

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI), launched on April 11, 2016 by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) under the regulation of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has become the backbone of India’s digital payment system and a major driver of financial inclusion. The annual transaction volume increased from 2 crore in 2016-17 to 24,162 crore in 2025-26, while the transaction value rose from ₹0.07 lakh crore to ₹314 lakh crore during the same period. In 2025-26, UPI recorded 66 crore daily transactions, involved 703 banks, and accounted for 85% of India’s digital payments and 49% of global real-time transactions, with recognition from the International Monetary Fund. The platform is operational in United Arab Emirates, Singapore, France, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and Qatar, and achieved a milestone with monthly transactions crossing 2,000 crore in August 2025 and reaching 2,163 crore in December 2025.

Reports and Indices

Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 Report

The Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) for the financial year 2023–24, prepared by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, assessed 2,59,867 Gram Panchayats across India (excluding West Bengal) based on 150 indicators aligned with nine Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) themes. Panchayats were ranked into five categories: Achiever (90–100), Front Runner (75–90), Performer (60–75), Aspirant (40–60), and Beginner (below 40); no panchayat achieved the Achiever category. A total of 3,635 panchayats were classified as Front Runner, 1,18,824 as Performer, 1,23,719 as Aspirant, and 13,689 as Beginner. Among states, Tripura ranked highest with 943 out of 1,176 Gram Panchayats (80%) in the Front Runner category, followed by Kerala with 10% of 941 panchayats and Odisha with 8% of 6,794 panchayats in the same category, while larger states like Uttar Pradesh (51 of 57,678), Rajasthan (8 of 11,037), Bihar (2 of 8,053), and Punjab (1 of 13,233) recorded lower performance.

QS Executive MBA Rankings 2026 – IIM Bangalore Decline

In the QS Executive MBA Rankings 2026, released by QS Quacquarelli Symonds, the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore ranked highest among Indian institutions but dropped by 14 places compared to the previous year. The institute’s ranking trend shows 43rd position in 2023, 41st in 2024, and 50th in 2025. In the 2026 rankings, the decline was associated with reduced scores in Career Outcomes (76.3 in 2026 from 87.1 in 2025) and Employability. Other Indian institutions featured in the rankings include the Indian School of Business (111–120), Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (151–160), Indian Institute of Management Indore (161–170), Institute of Management Technology Ghaziabad (191–200), and Woxsen School of Business (191–200), while Indian Institute of Management Ranchi was placed in the 201+ category.

Sports News

IBSF World Billiards Championship – Kothari Retains Title

In the IBSF World Billiards Championship, held in Carlow, Ireland, Sourav Kothari defeated Pankaj Advani to retain the world title. In the final match, Kothari won with a score of 1133–477 against Advani, who is a 19-time champion. The match lasted for three hours, and Kothari secured victory with consistent performance after the initial phase.

Commonwealth Junior Weightlifting – Harika Wins Gold

At the Commonwealth Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championship, held in Apia, Bellana Harika won the Gold Medal in the 69 kg category by lifting a total of 197 kg (86 kg + 111 kg). In the 63 kg category, Karangi Tharangini with 179 kg (79 kg + 100 kg) and Bhumika Mohite with 195 kg (109 kg + 86 kg) won Silver Medals. In the Universal Cup, Abhishek Nipane secured the Silver Medal in the 88 kg category with a total lift of 324 kg (140 kg + 184 kg).

Golfer Vijay Kumar Passes Away

Veteran Indian golfer Vijay Kumar passed away due to a heart attack in Lucknow at the age of 57. He won the 2002 Indian Open and was a four-time Order of Merit winner in Indian professional golf. His victory in the 2002 Indian Open is considered a significant event in Indian golf history, and he is among the nine Indian golfers to have won this title. He also represented India in the 1999 Alfred Dunhill Cup held at St Andrews.

Tamil Nadu News

Prehistoric Rock Art Site Rediscovered in Nilgiris

A prehistoric rock painting site has been rediscovered in Nilgiris district by the Yaakai Heritage Trust. The site is located near Vellarikombai in Kotagiri, close to an already known rock art site, and is considered sacred by the Irula and Kurumba tribal communities. It was rediscovered during a field survey by Sudhakar Nalliyappan and Kumaravel Ramasamy.