4.5/5
Current Affairs 30th April 2026
IMPORTANT FACTS
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Nag is an anti-tank missile.
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Almatti Dam is located on the Krishna River in the state of Karnataka.
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Citrus fruits are important sources of Vitamin C.
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The iron pillar near Qutub Minar was built by Chandragupta II.
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The gobar gas plant was invented by C. V. Desai.
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Malaria is caused by Plasmodium protozoa.
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The life-saving hormone is secreted from the adrenal gland.
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Mercury is found in amalgam.
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Kepler propounded the laws of planetary motion.
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The new name of the Gold Coast is Ghana.
1. Punjab FC Retain AIFF Elite Youth League Title
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Dominant Final Victory: Punjab FC (The Cubs) defeated Zinc Football Academy 3-0 in the final held on April 28, 2026, at the Ramsar Sahib Sports Stadium in Garhshankar, Punjab.
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Decisive 10-Minute Blitz: After a goalless first half, Punjab FC scored all three goals within a dramatic 10-minute window. The scorers were Karish Soram (69'), captain Vishal Yadav (70'), and ThongramRishikanta Singh (79').
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Successful Title Defense: This win marks a successful defense of their crown, solidifying Punjab FC's reputation as a dominant force in Indian youth football and a premier talent pipeline.
2. India Becomes 5th-Largest Military Spender according to SIPRI Report 2025
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Global Total: Worldwide military spending hit a record $2.89 trillion (2.5% of global GDP), marking the 11th consecutive year of growth.
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Top Five Concentration: The top five spenders (USA, China, Russia, Germany, and India) together account for 58% of total global defense expenditure.
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Regional Comparison: While India ranks 5th, Pakistan’s spending rose 11% to $11.9 billion, ranking it 31st globally. India’s expenditure remains nearly eight times higher than Pakistan's.
3. Finland Launches Europe’s First Fully Integrated Lithium Project
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End-to-End Integration: Located near Kokkola, this is the first project in Europe to integrate the full value chain—from mining and concentration of spodumene ore to refining it into battery-grade lithium hydroxide—all within a 43-kilometer radius.
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Production Capacity and Impact: The project aims to produce 15,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide annually, which is expected to meet approximately 10% of Europe’s total demand, significantly reducing reliance on imports from Asia and Australia.
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Strategic Ownership: The project involves an investment of approximately €783 million and is a joint venture between South African mining giant Sibanye-Stillwater (holding an 80% stake) and the state-owned Finnish Minerals Group (20%).
Footnotes: Finland's President: Alexander Stubb, PM: Petteri Orpo, Capital: Helsinki
4. Federal Bank appoints Manikandan M as CFO
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Effective Date and Succession: Manikandan M will officially take charge as the CFO and Key Managerial Personnel on May 1, 2026. He succeeds Venkatraman Venkateswaran, who will step down from the CFO position on April 30 but will continue to serve as an Executive Director of the bank.
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Internal Promotion and Expertise: Manikandan is an internal veteran, having been with Federal Bank since October 2013. Prior to this promotion, he served as Deputy Vice President-II and Head of Financial Reporting.
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Distinguished Professional Credentials: At 35 years old, he is a Fellow Member of the ICAI, an Associate Member of the ICSI, and a licensed CPA (USA). Notably, he was recognized as one of the "40 under 40: CA Business Leaders" by the ICAI in 2025 and is a Gold Medalist in Bachelor of Commerce.
Footnotes: Federal Bank's MD & CEO: KVS Manian, HQ: Kerala, Estd: 1931
5. China Launches Pakistani Satellite ‘PRSC-EO3’ Aboard Long March-6 Rocket
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Mission Details and Rocketry: The satellite was launched at 8:15 p.m. (Beijing Time) from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi Province. It was carried by a Long March-6 rocket, marking the 640th flight mission for the Long March carrier rocket series.
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Indigenous Achievement and Purpose: Developed by Pakistan’s SUPARCO (Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission), the PRSC-EO3 is a high-resolution, electro-optical imaging satellite. It is designed to boost Pakistan's capabilities in land management, agricultural monitoring, and disaster response.
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Technological Milestones: The satellite features advanced payloads including a Multi-Geometry Imaging Module for better terrain modeling and an onboard AI-powered system for real-time data analysis.
6. India & Sri Lanka Conduct IN–SLN DIVEX 2026
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Deep-Sea Milestone: Divers from both navies achieved a significant operational milestone by successfully executing mixed gas dives beyond 55 metres. This included exploring historic World War-era shipwrecks, specifically the SS Worcester and SS Perseus, off the Colombo coast.
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Key Participation: The Indian Navy's specialized Diving Support and Submarine Rescue Vessel, INS Nireekshak, participated alongside elite diving teams from both nations. The exercise focused on strengthening interoperability in underwater search, rescue, and salvage operations.
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Humanitarian & Strategic Outreach: Aligned with the MAHASAGAR vision, India handed over two BHISM cubes (mobile medical units) under the Aarogya Maitri initiative.
7. Flipkart, Axis Bank & PayU launch biometric card payments
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OTP-Free Experience: The initiative allows users to authenticate transactions using Face ID or fingerprint on Android and iOS devices. This replaces the traditional SMS-based One-Time Password (OTP), addressing common friction points like network delays and failed delivery.
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Initial Rollout and Infrastructure: The service is launched first for Axis Bank cardholders on the Flipkart platform. The system is powered by PayU’s infrastructure on the merchant side, while Axis Bank uses Wibmo (a PayU company) to handle issuer-level biometric verification.
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Enhanced Security and Compliance: The move aligns with the RBI’s recent "Authentication Mechanisms for Digital Payment Transactions Directions, 2025.
Footnotes: Axis Bank's MD & CEO: Amitabh Chaudhry, HQ: Mumbai, Estd: 1993
8. ONGC Athletes Win Gold & Silver at IBSF World Billiards Championship 2026
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All-ONGC Final: The gold medal match was an all-India, all-ONGC affair between Sourav Kothari and Pankaj Advani. Kothari delivered a dominant performance to win the final 1133–477, effectively defending his world title.
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Record-Breaking Performance: During the three-hour final, Sourav Kothari recorded a massive 485 break, which took him over an hour to complete. This feat, along with other high breaks of 241 and 155, secured his back-to-back world championship titles.
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Legacy of Excellence: This win was emotionally significant for Kothari, as it marked his third world title and followed in the footsteps of his late father, Manoj Kothari (a 1990 world champion).
Footnotes: ONGC's Chairman & CEO: Arun Kumar Singh, HQ: Delhi, Estd: 1956
WHAT HAPPENED TODAY
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International Jazz Day: 30thApril
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Theme 2026:"Music Moves the Goals"
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Global Host City: Chicago, USA, has been named the Global Host City for 2026, marking the 15th anniversary of the international observance.
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