Daily Current Affairs 17 April 2026

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has approved the development of two new airports in Telangana at Warangal (Mamnoor) and Adilabad.

Following a high-level meeting in New Delhi, Union Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu announced that the Warangal (Mamnoor) airport project is estimated to cost ₹850 crore. The foundation stone for the facility is expected to be laid in June 2026.

SEBI has launched three new Information Technology (IT) platforms: “Single Universal Platform for Communications” (SUPCOMS) 2.1, the “e-adjudication portal”, and “Cyber-Sec Audit Compliance” (C-SAC).

The SUPCOMS 2.1 platform serves as a centralized digital interface that replaces traditional email-based communication for all interactions with external entities. The “e-Adjudication Portal” provides a transparent and paperless platform for quasi-judicial proceedings to increase efficiency and speed. It is to be noted that C-SAC is an AI based platform that enables automated analysis of cyber audit reports to identify compliance gaps and provide risk insights.

The Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) has signed an MoU with the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) to enhance information sharing and inter-agency coordination.

The partnership aims to conduct joint outreach and training programmes for regulated entities to upgrade their Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating Financing of Terrorism (CFT) capabilities within the jurisdiction of the PFRDA.

The Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) has signed a comprehensive MoU with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to bolster information exchange and mutual coordination. The agreement facilitates the sharing of intelligence from their respective databases to enhance regulatory oversight.

Additionally, the MoU establishes standardized procedures for reporting by regulated and reporting entities to the FIU-IND, in accordance with the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering (PML) Rules.

The Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) and NBCC (India) Limited, both under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), have signed two MoUs for urban redevelopment and asset monetisation in Delhi.

The agreements are valid for a period of 2 years.

According to the “India Tech Annual Funding Report 2026” released by Tracxn, Indian technology start-ups raised $11.7 billion in FY26, which is an 18% decline compared to the $14.3 billion in FY25.

India is the 4th highest funded country globally, after the USA ($426 billion), the United Kingdom (UK) ($17.8 billion), and China ($15 billion). The report recorded 13 funding rounds of over $100 million, including a $710 million investment in Nxtra.

It is to be noted that there were 47 Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), marking a 52% increase from FY25, while acquisitions dropped by 15% to 129. Bengaluru remained the primary hub for technology investments, accounting for 33% of the total funding volume.

India has officially withdrawn its candidacy to host the 33rd Conference of the Parties (COP33) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2028. The decision has been formally communicated to the Asia-Pacific group and the UNFCCC.

This represents a reversal of the proposal made by PM Narendra Modi during COP28 in Dubai in 2023. Following the withdrawal of India, South Korea remains the only contender from the Asia-Pacific region currently in the race to host the 2028 climate summit.

Ismaïl Omar Guelleh has been re-elected as the President of

Djibouti for a 6th consecutive term. It is to be noted that

Djibouti is a nation located in the Horn of Africa.

ISRO has successfully conducted the second Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The test validated the parachute based deceleration and recovery system designed for the safe return of astronauts during re-entry and abort scenarios.

A simulated Crew Module (CM) weighing 5.7 tonnes (equivalent to the Gaganyaan G1 mission) was carried by an Indian Air Force (IAF) Chinook helicopter to an altitude of 3 km. It is to be noted that after its release over a sea drop zone, a sequence of 10 parachutes of 4 different types was deployed to reduce the velocity for a safe touchdown.

The Odisha government has signed an MoU with the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), an agency under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, to implement a specialized Marine Spatial Plan (MSP).

The MSP aims to maintain a balance between the coastal economy and the marine environment of the state. It is to be noted that Odisha is the first state in India to initiate the second phase of the national sustainable ocean planning initiative.

India finished second in the overall standings at the Asian Boxing Championships 2026 (ABC) held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. India won a total of 16 medals, including 5 gold, 3 silver, and 8 bronze. Kazakhstan topped the rankings with 15 medals (6 gold), while Uzbekistan stood third.

The gold medalists from India at the ABC include Minakshi Hooda (48kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), Priya Ghanghas (60kg), and Arundhati Choudhary (70kg) in the women categories. Vishvanath Suresh won gold in the men 50kg category.