Daily Current Affairs April 29, 2026

Current Affairs and GK updates 29/04/2026

Here is the Daily current affairs and GK updates of the day for UPSC,SSC,IBPS,RRB,NTPC and other competitive exams preparations.This updates particularly focus on news updates from April 29th 2026.

National

• Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda to Inaugurate 10th National Public Health Summit in Chandigarh-Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will organize the 10th National Summit on Good and Replicable Practices and Innovations in Public Health Systems at Chandigarh from tomorrow. The two-day summit will be inaugurated by Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Shri J.P. Nadda.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the 594-km-long Ganga Expressway in the Hardoi district of Uttar Pradesh. The high-speed corridor is expected to significantly boost connectivity across Uttar Pradesh while giving impetus to industrial investment, logistics, agricultural marketing and regional balance.
• The Ganga Expressway, developed by the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority, will connect the western, central, and eastern regions of Uttar Pradesh through a single high-speed corridor. It will be the longest expressway in the state.
• Meghalaya Launches CM-INSPIRE Scheme:The CM-INSPIRE (Chief Minister's Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Intellectual Readiness & Empowerment) is a Meghalaya government initiative launched to financially support Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE) aspirants and boost the state's representation in national civil services.
• The Supreme Court yesterday upheld the mandatory admission of students under the Right to Education Act, calling it a national mission. The court said that neighbourhood schools, including private unaided institutions, are legally bound to admit students allotted by the state government without delay. A bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe observed that denying admission to children from weaker and disadvantaged sections violates their fundamental right to education under Article 21A of the Constitution.
• Reform-linked Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0 were signed today with the States of Uttarakhand, Karnataka and Tripura following the approval of JJM 2.0 by the Union Cabinet on 10 March 2026.
• The reform‑linked MoU mandates a Gram Panchayat‑led, service‑based and community‑centred model of rural water governance, aligned with the objectives of Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0.
• The reform‑linked MoU seeks to ensure that every rural household has access to drinking water supply in adequate quantity and of prescribed quality on a regular basis, through strengthened community participation (Jan Bhagidari) and bringing in structural reforms for sustainable operation and maintenance of rural water supply systems, thereby enhancing the living standards of rural communities contributing to long‑term water security aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
• Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Navy have successfully conducted the maiden salvo launch of Naval Anti-ship Missile-Short Range (NASM-SR) from the Navy’s helicopter platform off the coast of Bay of Bengal in Odisha. During the trial, two missiles were launched in quick succession from the same helicopter, making it the first salvo launch of an advanced air-launched anti-ship missile system.
• Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 Report Out: 3635 Panchayats Emerge as Front Runners.
• The Panchayat Advancement Index serves as a robust tool for evidence-based planning, performance monitoring, and incentivising Panchayati Raj Institutions. It is increasingly being adopted by States and Union Territories to prioritise developmental interventions, support the preparation of Gram Panchayat Development Plans, and identify high-performing Panchayats as learning hubs and models of best practice. India’s first nationwide data-driven framework to assess Gram Panchayat performance

International

• The 10th India-Kenya Joint Trade Committee meeting was held in Nairobi, Kenya, to review and strengthen bilateral trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. The meeting was co-chaired by Commerce Secretary, Rajesh Agrawal, and Principal Secretary of State Department for Trade of Kenya, Regina Akotah Ombam.
• India – New Zealand Free Trade Agreement Signed on 27/04/2026-Key takeaways
• India- New Zealand FTA eliminates duty on 100% of Indian Exports
• USD 20 billion investment commitment, strengthening long-term economic and strategic cooperation.
• The agreement places special emphasis on strengthening MSMEs and women-led enterprises.
• India protects its key interests in dairy and agriculture; Huge win for labour intensive sectors like textile and leather.
• New Zealand facilitates Health and Traditional Medicine Services for the first time.
• Student Mobility and Post Study Work Visa for STEM Graduates, Skilled Professionals; opens new visa pathway for 5,000 skilled occupations.(STEM graduates are individuals who hold degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)

Economy and banking

• SEBI Operationalises PaRRVA to Boost Transparency and Investor Protection:The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has operationalised the Past Risk and Return Verification Agency (PaRRVA), aimed at enhancing transparency and investor protection in the financial markets.
• CARE Ratings Limited has been granted recognition as the PaRRVA, while the National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE) will function as the PaRRVA Data Centre (PDC), as per the framework issued by SEBI on April 4, 2025.USD 2 Trillion Export Target by 2030-31-The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, chaired a high-level review meeting to deliberate on the Plan of Action for achieving India’s USD 2 Trillion export target by 2030–31 and to review the implementation of the Export Promotion Mission (EPM).
• India is targeting USD 2 Trillion in total exports by 2030–31, comprising USD 1 Trillion in merchandise exports and USD 1 Trillion in services exports. The Department of Commerce has developed a structured Export Monitoring Framework, which breaks down the national target into sector-wise actions across Engineering Goods, Textiles, Electronics, Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals and Services.
• RBI launches Mission SAKSHAM for capacity building of Urban Co-operative Banking sector-The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched Mission SAKSHAM for capacity building of the Urban Co-operative Banking sector. It aims to enhance managerial and operational capabilities, improve compliance culture, and strengthen institutional resilience across UCBs. Mission SAKSHAM is a mission-mode, sector-wide and all-India capacity-building training initiative for UCBs, under which the RBI will conduct a large number of training programmes, both in-person and through e-learning courses, covering about 1 crore 40 lakh participants.