Current Affairs 29 April 2026

SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting

Rajnath Singh participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on April 28, 2026.

India highlighted its strong commitment to combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism, stressing the need for a unified and consistent global approach. The meeting focused on enhancing regional and global security, eliminating safe havens for terrorists, and strengthening cooperation among member countries.

Asia’s First UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion & Skill Development

Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (SSPU), Pune, announced the launch of Asia’s first UNESCO Chair on Gender Inclusion and Skill Development during an international conference titled “Women Leading the Future of Work”, organised in collaboration with UNESCO.

The Chair was inaugurated by Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.

National Song Made Mandatory in Bihar Institutions

The Bihar government made it mandatory for all educational institutions in the state to begin the day with the National Song, Vande Mataram, followed by the National Anthem.

The directive was issued by the General Administration Department on April 26, 2026, and applies to schools, colleges, and other educational institutions.

According to the order, all government programmes in the state will also follow the same sequence, starting with Vande Mataram and the National Anthem, and concluding with the Bihar State song.

The decision aims to promote patriotism, discipline, and cultural awareness among students and participants in official events.

India’s First Coal Mine Agreement with Underground Coal Gasification

The Ministry of Coal signed Coal Mine/Block Production and Development Agreements (CMDPAs) with successful bidders for four coal mines under the 14th round of commercial coal mining auctions. This marks the first time in India that such agreements include provisions for Underground Coal Gasification (UCG).

The mines were allocated to Reliance Industries Limited and Axis Energy Ventures India Private Limited, and are located in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

UCG is an advanced technology that converts coal into synthetic gas directly within the coal seam, without traditional mining. This allows extraction of energy from deep or difficult coal deposits that are otherwise not economically viable.

Foundation Stone Laid for Google’s AI Data Centre in Visakhapatnam

N. Chandrababu Naidu laid the foundation stone for a massive $15 billion AI data centre hub by Google in Visakhapatnam. This marks one of the largest foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in India.

The project will be developed across multiple locations including Rambilli, Adavivaram, and Tarluvada, with a planned capacity of 1 gigawatt. It is being executed by Google’s subsidiary Raiden Infotech in partnership with Adani Infra.

The data centre hub will feature advanced infrastructure such as submarine cable landing stations and dedicated fiber networks, ensuring high-speed global connectivity. It is expected to be completed by July 2028.

The project is anticipated to generate thousands of high-value jobs in fields like data science, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. It will also support Andhra Pradesh’s vision of building a 6.5 GW digital ecosystem and position Visakhapatnam as a global hub for AI and cloud infrastructure.

South Coastal Railway Zone

• The Government of India announced the creation of the South Coastal Railway Zone, with June 1, 2026 as its effective date.
• Andhra Pradesh has achieved 100% electrification of its railway network, marking a major milestone in railway modernisation.
• The state received a record railway budget allocation of ₹10,134 crore, compared to ₹886 crore earlier (combined AP & Telangana).
• Andhra Pradesh is currently served by 16 Vande Bharat and 22 Amrit Bharat trains.
• Proposed High-Speed “Diamond” Network will significantly reduce travel time across major southern cities like Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Pune.

About South Coastal Railway Zone

The South Coast Railway Zone (SCoR), India’s 18th railway zone, is headquartered in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. It was announced in 2019 and is scheduled to become fully operational in 2026, with the headquarters construction in the Mudasarlova area.

• Divisions: The zone consists of four divisions: Waltair (reorganized as Visakhapatnam), Vijayawada, Guntur, and Guntakal.
• Jurisdiction: The zone covers parts of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu, covering over 3,000 route kilometers.