Daily Current Affairs and GK | 9 April 2026

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

1. Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for the food processing industry has achieved tremendous progress in terms of investment and production.

• Under this scheme, total investment has surpassed ₹9,000 crore.
• This figure significantly exceeds the originally targeted amount of approximately ₹7,000 crore.
• The Ministry of Food Processing Industries reported that companies have invested far more than their initial commitments.
• Sales of PLI-supported products witnessed a growth of 10.58%. Exports of these products also registered an increase of approximately 7.41%.
• This scheme has augmented processing and preservation capacity by approximately 3.4 million metric tonnes annually.
• This has generated employment for over 300,000 people, encompassing both direct and indirect job opportunities.
• Under this scheme, sales of millet-based products have witnessed rapid growth.
• These sales rose from approximately ₹345 crore in 2022–23 to around ₹1,845 crore in 2024–25.
• This scheme was launched in 2021–22 with the objective of boosting the food processing sector.
• It has facilitated the branding and global marketing of Indian food products.
• By enhancing investment and production capacity, this initiative has strengthened the sector.

Topic: National News

2. International Election Visitors’ Program 2026 launched by ECI.

• The International Election Visitors’ Program (IEVP) 2026 has been commenced by the Election Commission of India for the upcoming legislative assembly elections.
• The program has been inaugurated in New Delhi under the leadership of Gyanesh Kumar along with other Election Commissioners.
• A structured initiative has been undertaken to showcase India’s electoral system and best practices to international delegates.
• The elections in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry have been included in the first phase of the program for observation.
• A total of 43 delegates from 23 countries, along with representatives from five foreign missions in Delhi, are participating in the initiative.
• In the first phase, visits are being scheduled from April 8 to April 9 to observe election processes in selected states.
• In the second phase, the delegates will visit West Bengal and Tamil Nadu starting from April 20 to gain further insights.
• A comprehensive understanding of India’s electoral framework, institutional mechanisms, and operational systems is being provided through the programme.
• Exposure to innovations, transparency measures, and efficient election management practices is being ensured for foreign Election Management Bodies.
• The initiative has been designed to strengthen global cooperation and promote India’s democratic processes as a model of large-scale election management.