The correct answer is (B). On 29 April 2026, DRDO and the Indian Navy conducted the maiden salvo launch of the indigenously developed Naval Anti-ship Missile-Short Range (NASM-SR) from a naval helicopter platform off the coast of the Bay of Bengal in Odisha. Two missiles were launched in quick succession from the same helicopter, marking the first salvo launch of an advanced air-launched anti-ship missile system. The missile has a launch weight of about 380 kg, length 3.6 m and operational range of around 55 km, and was developed by Hyderabad-based Research Centre Imarat with other DRDO laboratories.

The correct answer is (D). IN-SLN DIVEX 2026, the 4th edition of the bilateral diving exercise between the Indian Navy (IN) and the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), was conducted at Colombo from 21 to 28 April 2026. The Indian Navy's diving support vessel INS Nireekshak participated. Divers from both navies executed mixed gas dives over historic shipwrecks SS Worcester (WWII) and SS Perseus (WWI), reinforcing maritime cooperation between the two neighbours.

The correct answer is (C). On 23 April 2026, NASSCOM (the National Association of Software and Service Companies) appointed Srikanth Velamakanni, co-founder and Group CEO of Fractal Analytics, as its Chairperson for FY27. He succeeds Sindhu Gangadharan, whose term concluded that month. Kishor Patil, CEO of KPIT Technologies, was named the Vice-Chairperson. Velamakanni's appointment is expected to drive NASSCOM's AI-first vision for India's IT industry.

The correct answer is (C). On 20 April 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung unveiled the 'India-Korea Digital Bridge' in New Delhi. The framework merges India's AI talent with South Korea's semiconductor and hardware manufacturing strengths, deepening collaboration in artificial intelligence, semiconductors and information technology. The same visit also set a USD 50 billion bilateral trade target by 2030.

The correct answer is (A). On 18 April 2026, the Government of India expanded the RELIEF (Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) Scheme to include Egypt and Jordan as eligible destinations. The scheme, launched on 19 March 2026 under the Export Promotion Mission, mitigates risks faced by Indian exporters due to West Asia disruptions. It offers 50% reimbursement of extraordinary freight and insurance surcharges (capped at Rs 50 lakh per exporter) and 95% ECGC risk cover for fresh shipments. ECGC Limited is the nodal agency.

The correct answer is (C). On 27 April 2026, the Indian women's beach kabaddi team retained their Asian Beach Games title in Sanya, China, defeating Sri Lanka 47-31 in the final to win a record sixth consecutive gold medal in the event. The Indian men's team finished with silver. The Asian Beach Games 2026 were staged entirely in the Chinese resort city of Sanya.

The correct answer is (A). On 18 April 2026, the Union Cabinet approved a 2% hike in Dearness Allowance (DA) for Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners. The new rate is 60% of basic pay/pension, up from 58%. DA and DR are revised twice a year (1 January and 1 July) based on changes in the All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPI-IW) to offset inflation.

The correct answer is (B). On 20 April 2026, DRDO Secretary Samir V. Kamat handed over the indigenously developed AI-enabled satellite imaging system 'Prajna' to Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan at Kartavya Bhawan-3. The system, developed by DRDO's Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR), enhances the Ministry of Home Affairs' real-time decision support for monitoring sensitive regions, supporting counter-terrorism operations and aiding border management.

The correct answer is (D). On 25 April 2026, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) unveiled Advanced Armoured Platforms — Tracked and Wheeled — at a laboratory in Maharashtra. The platforms are designed to enhance mobility, firepower and crew protection for the Indian Armed Forces, supporting the modernisation of land combat capabilities under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

The correct answer is (B). On 26 April 2026, the United States sanctions waiver that had allowed India to develop and operate Iran's Chabahar Port formally expired. India, through India Ports Global Limited, has been operating the Shahid Beheshti terminal at Chabahar — a strategically vital deep-water port giving landlocked Afghanistan and Central Asia access to the Indian Ocean while bypassing Pakistan. With the waiver expired, India is in active discussions with the United States and Iran on the future of the project.