Current Affairs 20 April 2026

Cabinet Approves Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMI Pool)

The Union Cabinet has approved the creation of the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMI Pool) to ensure uninterrupted maritime insurance coverage for Indian trade amid rising global geopolitical risks. The government has provided a sovereign guarantee of ₹12,980 crore to support the pool.

The BMI Pool has been created to reduce India’s dependence on foreign maritime insurers, especially the International Group of Protection and Indemnity (IGP&I) Clubs, and to strengthen India’s self-reliance, sanctions resilience, and sovereign control over maritime risk coverage.

What will the BMI Pool cover?

The pool will provide insurance coverage for major maritime risks, including:

• Hull and Machinery Insurance
• Cargo Insurance
• Protection and Indemnity (P&I) Insurance
• War Risk Insurance

It will cover Indian-flagged or controlled vessels, as well as vessels carrying cargo to and from Indian ports.

Andhra Pradesh to Establish Five Animal Shelters in Every District

The Government of Andhra Pradesh has announced a plan to establish five animal shelters in every district to address the issue of stray, abandoned, and seized animals.

The initiative aims to improve animal welfare and enhance public safety, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas where stray animals often cause traffic risks and safety concerns.

Key Features of the Initiative

• Five shelters in each district.
• Each shelter requires minimum half an acre of land.
• Estimated cost of each shelter is ₹10 lakh.
• Each shelter will accommodate 20-25 large animals.
• Each shelter includes fodder cultivation space and drinking water facilities.
• Day-to-day operations to be managed by Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
• These shelters will be developed under Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Scheme.

Departmental roles:

• Revenue Department – Land allocation
• Rural Development Department – Construction
• Animal Husbandry Department – Veterinary care

‘Yenki Paatalu’ Continues to Hold Literary Significance

‘Yenki Paatalu’, a famous anthology of Telugu songs, has once again drawn attention for its enduring importance in Telugu literature and cultural history.

The anthology was written by Nanduri Venkata Subba Rao and was first published in 1925. It consists of lyrical songs centered around Yenki, a rural woman, and is regarded as a landmark work in modern Telugu poetry. The second edition was released in 1952.

Dutch Armoury (Dutch Fort) in Machilipatnam

The Dutch Armoury, also known as the Dutch Fort, located in Machilipatnam, has drawn attention as an important protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India. Situated in the Bandarkota area, the monument reflects the historical role of the Dutch in maritime trade along the Coromandel Coast.

Hope Island Satellite Launch Proposal Raises Ecological Concerns

The proposal to develop a satellite launch facility and Space City on Hope Island in Andhra Pradesh has raised concerns over its potential impact on the island’s fragile ecosystem. Located in Kakinada Bay, Hope Island is a 16-km-long sandspit island formed through sediment deposition from the Godavari and Coringa river systems. It is ecologically significant and also supports local fisher communities.

Why Concerns Have Been Raised

• The Hope Island has been classified as Moderate Damage Risk Zone – III (MSK VII).
• Also identified by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM).
• This island is a home to 64 bird species.
  • Great Knot
  • Bar-tailed Godwit
  • Greater Flamingo
  • Curlew Sandpiper
• This island is also a breeding ground for Olive Ridley turtles.

Union Cabinet Approves New Railway Lines in Andhra Pradesh

The Union Cabinet has approved the construction of third and fourth railway lines between Rajahmundry (Nidadavolu) and Visakhapatnam (Duvvada) in Andhra Pradesh at an estimated cost of ₹9,889 crore.

The project is part of the Howrah–Chennai High Density Network (HDN) quadrupling initiative and aims to ease congestion and improve freight and passenger movement along the East Coast corridor. The route length is 198 km.

Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 Defeated in Lok Sabha

The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, related to delimitation and implementation of women’s reservation, was defeated in the Lok Sabha after failing to secure the required two-thirds majority needed for a Constitutional Amendment.

The Bill received 298 votes in favour and 230 votes against, however it fell short of the required 352 votes (two-thirds of 528 members present and voting).

What the Bill Proposed?

The Bill sought to:

• Redistribute Lok Sabha seats based on the 2011 Census
• Increase the size of the Lok Sabha from 550 to around 850 seats
• Facilitate implementation of 33% women’s reservation before the 2029 general elections

What Happened After Defeat?

Following the defeat government withdrew the Delimitation Bill, 2026 and union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026. These were linked to the constitutional amendment.

Key Debate

Government’s Stand

The government supported the delimitation exercise on the principle of “one person, one vote, one value,” arguing that constituency representation should reflect current population realities. It maintained that delimitation would improve democratic representation by reducing disparities in constituency sizes. The government also argued that an increase in Lok Sabha seats would lead to a corresponding increase in reserved seats for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).

Opposition’s Concern

The Opposition opposed linking women’s reservation with delimitation and argued that both issues should be addressed separately. It raised concerns that redistribution of seats based on population could disturb the federal balance, particularly affecting states that have successfully controlled population growth. Southern states, in particular, expressed apprehension that their share of representation in the Lok Sabha could decline.

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY-III)

The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY-III) beyond March 2025 up to March 2028. The decision aims to ensure completion of rural road upgradation projects and strengthen connectivity to key rural infrastructure.

The revised financial outlay to the PMGSY-III scheme is ₹83,977 crore.

Key Features

PMGSY-III focuses on upgrading roads connecting rural habitations to:

• Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs)
• Higher Secondary Schools
• Hospitals

World Heritage Day 2026

World Heritage Day, also known as the International Day for Monuments and Sites, was observed on 18 April 2026 to promote awareness about the protection of cultural and natural heritage.

The theme for World Heritage Day 2026 is “Emergency Response for Living Heritage in Contexts of Conflicts and Disasters.”

On the occasion, the Kondapalli Bommala Panduga was inaugurated at the Kondapalli Toys Experience Centre in Andhra Pradesh to promote and preserve the famous Kondapalli toys, a 400-year-old traditional craft.

Key Announcement

• “Kondapalli Bommala Panduga” to be organized annually.
• Top 10 innovative artisans to receive ₹50,000 award each.