Current Affairs 24 April 2026

BSE Index Services Introduces New Housing Finance Index.

• BSE Index Services launched the BSE Housing Finance Index.
• Tracks housing finance companies from BSE 1000 Index.
• 11 constituents; top weight: LIC Housing Finance (17.16%).
• Base value: 1000 | Base date: June 22, 2015.
• Rebalanced semi-annually (June & December).
• Used as benchmark for ETFs and mutual funds.

China Chooses Two Pakistani Astronauts for Its Space Programme.

• China selected two Pakistani astronauts for its space programme.
• Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud chosen.
• One will fly as a payload specialist on the Tiangong Space Station (first foreign astronaut mission).
• Training at Astronaut Centre of China, Beijing.
• Based on 2025 China–Pakistan space cooperation agreement.
• Pakistan to join Chang’e-8 with a lunar rover (planned 2028).

L&T Energy Enters Green Ammonia Agreement with ITOCHU.

• L&T Energy GreenTech Ltd signed a long-term agreement with ITOCHU Corporation to supply green ammonia from its upcoming facility in Kandla, Gujarat.
• Production at Kandla, Gujarat.
• Annual supply: 300,000 tonnes on a take-or-pay basis.
• End use: Green marine fuel (bunkering), mainly in Singapore.
• Supports decarbonization of shipping sector.
• Aligns with National Green Hydrogen Mission goals.
• Upgrades the earlier Joint Development Agreement signed in July 2025.

Landfills in Telangana and Maharashtra Ranked Among Highest Methane Emitters.

• Landfills in Telangana and Maharashtra ranked among top 25 global methane super emitters (2026).
• Based on satellite analysis by Carbon Mapper and UCLA STOP Methane Project.
• 25 major landfill emitters identified across 18 countries.
• Emissions range: 3.6–7.5 tonnes methane/hour.
• Methane has high warming impact; major contributor to urban pollution and ozone-related deaths.
• Waste sector contributes ~20% of global methane emissions (per United Nations Environment Programme).

Dinesh Trivedi Appointed India’s Ambassador to Bangladesh.

• Dinesh Trivedi appointed as India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh.
• Replaces Pranay Verma, who is moved to the EU posting in Brussels.
• 1st political appointee to a neighbouring country post in recent years (shift from IFS tradition).
• Former Union Minister for Railways and Health & Family Welfare (MoS).
• Part of diplomatic reset amid evolving India–Bangladesh relations.