Current Affairs 18 April 2026

Startup India Initiative Records Highest Growth in FY 2025–26

The Government of India announced that more than 55,200 startups were recognised in FY 2025–26, marking the highest-ever annual increase since the launch of the Startup India initiative (2016). With this, the total number of recognised startups in India has crossed 2.23 lakh, generating over 23.36 lakh direct jobs.

Key Highlights

• Startup growth increased by 51.6% year-on-year
• Direct job creation rose by 36.1%
• Around 48% of startups have at least one woman director/partner

Top Startup States

Top states in terms of startups and employment:

• Maharashtra
• Karnataka
• Uttar Pradesh
• Delhi
• Gujarat

Supreme Court Pushes for Vaccine Injury Compensation Mechanism in India

The Supreme Court of India, in the case of Rachana Gangu v. Union of India (2026), has directed the government to frame a no-fault compensation policy for individuals suffering from serious adverse effects following vaccination.

This development highlights a growing concern regarding Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI) and the need for institutional accountability in public health programmes.

Background

India carried out one of the largest vaccination drives during COVID-19, administering over 219 crore doses. However, cases of vaccine-related adverse effects, though rare, have been documented.

• Reported Adverse Events Following Immunisation cases:
  • 89,332 minor cases
  • 2,782 serious cases
  • 1,171 deaths

Key Issue

• India currently lacks a dedicated compensation mechanism
• Existing legal frameworks (tort law, consumer law) are:
  • Complex
  • Require proof of fault
  • Not suitable for vaccine injury cases

River Basin Management (RBM) Scheme

The Government of India is strengthening water governance through the River Basin Management (RBM) Scheme, a central sector initiative under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. The scheme focuses on basin-level planning to ensure the sustainable use, protection, and development of water resources, including rivers, groundwater, and ecosystems.

The River Basin Management (RBM) Scheme was extended over five years from 2026-27 to 2030-32 with an estimated cost of ₹2183 crore. This amount is fully funded by the Union government.

Key Features of the RBM Scheme

• Promotes integrated water resource management
• Covers:
  • Surface water
  • Groundwater
• Implemented through:
  • Brahmaputra Board
  • Central Water Commission (CWC)
  • National Water Development Agency (NWDA)

Geographical Focus

The scheme prioritises major river basins such as Brahmaputra, Barak, Teesta and Indus.

Government Expands RELIEF Scheme to Support Exporters Amid West Asia Crisis

The Government of India has expanded the scope of the RELIEF (Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) scheme in response to ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia affecting global trade and maritime logistics.

Launched on March 19, 2026, under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM), RELIEF aims to support Indian exporters facing disruptions such as rising freight costs, increased insurance premiums, and war-related trade risks.

Recent Expansion

In the recent expansion coverage two North African countries Egypt and Jordan added under the scheme.

World Border Security Congress 2026

India highlighted its growing leadership in maritime security at the World Border Security Congress 2026, held in Vienna, Austria from April 14–16, 2026. An Indian delegation led by Anand Prakash Badola represented the country and presented India’s best practices in safeguarding maritime boundaries.

Kerala Botanist Wins WWF Award for AI-Based App ‘Neophyte ID’

A botanist from Kerala, N. Alim Yusuf, has received the World Wild Life Fund (WWF) National Award for developing an innovative AI-powered mobile application named “Neophyte ID”. The award was presented at the International Youth Biodiversity Conference 2026 held in Telangana, recognizing contributions to biodiversity conservation and technological innovation.

Key Features of the App

• Identifies nearly 100 invasive plant species found in Kerala
• Uses advanced machine learning model (YOLOv11)
• Works by simply capturing an image of a plant

NITI Aayog Launches ‘Divya Bharat’ Book to Boost Tourism

The NITI Aayog launched an anthology titled “Divya Bharat: A Window to the Soul of India” to promote India’s tourism sector and encourage both domestic and international travel. The anthology was released by Suman Bery in the presence of officials from the Ministry of Tourism and other stakeholders.