As of April 25, 2026, several high-impact developments have occurred across governance, environment, and politics that are crucial for competitive exam preparation.
1. Expansion of Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS)
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, has announced a major expansion of the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS). This flagship initiative, originally launched in the Union Budget 2024-25, aims to provide 1 crore internship opportunities in India’s top 500 companies over five years.
- Revised Eligibility: The eligibility has been widened to include final-year undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) students. Previously, only those who had completed their graduation were eligible.
- Age Bracket: The eligible age group has been expanded to 18–25 years, from the earlier 21–24 years.
- Financial Benefits: Interns receive a monthly assistance of ₹5,000 (₹4,500 from the government and ₹500 from the company) and a one-time incidental grant of ₹6,000.
- Exclusions: Graduates from premier institutions like IITs, IIMs, and NLUs, as well as professionals like CAs and MBBS holders, remain excluded to prioritize youth from less privileged backgrounds.
2. Shekha Jheel Designated as India’s 99th Ramsar Site
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, announced the designation of Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, as a Ramsar site. This brings the total number of Ramsar sites in India to 99 and the total in Uttar Pradesh to 12.
- Ecological Significance: Located on the Central Asian Flyway, the lake is a vital wintering ground for migratory birds such as bar-headed geese and painted storks.
- Conservation Status: The designation provides international protection and promotes the "wise use" of the wetland under the 1971 Ramsar Convention.
3. Constitutional Merger in Rajya Sabha
In a major political development, seven Rajya Sabha MPs from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by Raghav Chadha, have quit the party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The group claimed that since they constitute two-thirds of the party's strength in the Upper House, the move qualifies as a merger under the Tenth Schedule (Anti-Defection Law) of the Indian Constitution, thus avoiding disqualification.
4. Judicial and Security Updates
- Judiciary: Justice Lisa Gill has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, effective April 25, 2026. She is the first woman to hold this position in the state's history.
- National Security: The Ministry of Home Affairs has inducted 'Prajna', an indigenous AI-enabled satellite imaging system developed by DRDO’s Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR). The system is designed to provide real-time surveillance for counter-terrorism and border security.
- Economy: India has approved a ₹30 billion withdrawal for the Maldives under the SAARC Currency Swap Framework to support the island nation's foreign exchange reserves.
5. Severe Heatwave Alerts
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued "Red" and "Orange" alerts for several states as temperatures cross 44°C. Kerala’s Chief Minister has called for a "self-lockdown" during peak afternoon hours to prevent heat-related casualties, highlighting the growing impact of climate change on public health.