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Current Affairs April 2026
58 important events from April 2026, grouped by topic, each with a one-line exam point.
Top stories
- Kalpakkam fast breeder reactor goes critical
- 131st Amendment Bill defeated in Lok Sabha
- India–New Zealand FTA signed
- RBI cancels Paytm Payments Bank licence
- Vaishali wins Women's Candidates
- Sawe runs first sub-2 marathon
National Affairs
Amaravati declared sole capital of Andhra Pradesh
1 April 2026Parliament passed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, naming Amaravati as the state's capital and ending the earlier three-capitals idea. The change is deemed effective from 2 June 2024.
- Lok Sabha passed it on 1 April; Rajya Sabha on 2 April 2026
- Amends Section 5 of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014
- Capital area covers the region under the APCRDA Act, 2014
Exam point: Amaravati made AP's capital by amending Section 5 of the 2014 Act
Census 2027 begins with houselisting and self-enumeration
1 April 2026The first phase of Census 2027, the Houselisting and Housing Census, started on 1 April 2026. It is India's first digital census and lets households fill in their own details online before enumerators visit.
- Houselisting window: 1 April to 30 September 2026; each state gets a 30-day slot
- Self-enumeration portal: se.census.gov.in, open for 15 days before door-to-door work
- First states/UTs for self-enumeration included Goa, Karnataka, Odisha, Sikkim and Andaman & Nicobar
Exam point: Census 2027 is India's first digital census with self-enumeration
Cabinet clears two mega hydro projects in Arunachal
8 April 2026The Cabinet approved investment of about Rs 40,000 crore for the Kalai-II and Kamala hydroelectric projects in Arunachal Pradesh, adding nearly 3 GW of clean power capacity.
- Kalai-II: 1,200 MW on the Lohit river in Anjaw district, cost Rs 14,105.83 crore
- Kalai-II to be built by THDC India in a JV with the state; first project in the Lohit basin
- Kamala project capacity: 1,720 MW
Exam point: Kalai-II (1,200 MW) is the first hydro project in the Lohit basin
Assembly polls held in five states and UT in April
9 April 2026Polling for the 2026 assembly elections took place through April. Assam, Kerala and Puducherry voted on 9 April, Tamil Nadu voted in a single phase on 23 April, and West Bengal voted in two phases on 23 and 29 April. Counting was fixed for 4 May 2026.
- Seats: Assam 126, Kerala 140, Puducherry 30
- Candidates: Assam 722, Kerala 883, Puducherry 294
- Tamil Nadu (234 seats) recorded its highest-ever assembly poll turnout
- West Bengal phase 2 on 29 April covered 142 seats
Exam point: Assam, Kerala, Puducherry voted on 9 April; counting on 4 May
SC: safe road travel is part of right to life
13 April 2026The Supreme Court held that the safety of commuters on highways is part of the right to life under Article 21. It issued nationwide interim directions to cut highway accidents.
- Bench: Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Atul S. Chandurkar (Phalodi Accident case)
- Unauthorised dhabas on highway right-of-way to be removed within 60 days
- Ambulances and cranes to be placed every 75 km on national highways
Exam point: Supreme Court read safe road travel into Article 21
Samrat Choudhary sworn in as Bihar Chief Minister
15 April 2026Samrat Choudhary of the BJP took oath as Bihar Chief Minister after Nitish Kumar resigned to move to the Rajya Sabha. It is the first BJP-led government in Bihar.
- Oath administered by Governor Syed Ata Hasnain
- Deputy CMs: Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav (both JD(U))
- Nitish Kumar resigned on 14 April, ending about 20 years as CM
Exam point: Samrat Choudhary became Bihar's first BJP Chief Minister
Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill defeated in Lok Sabha
17 April 2026A bill to bring in one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies using delimitation based on the 2011 Census failed in the Lok Sabha. It got a simple majority but fell short of the two-thirds majority that a constitutional amendment needs.
- Introduced on 16 April 2026 by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal
- Vote: 298 in favour, 230 against on 17 April
- Companion Delimitation Bill, 2026 proposed raising Lok Sabha strength to up to 850 seats
- It sought to operationalise the 106th Amendment (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) without waiting for a new census
Exam point: 131st Amendment Bill failed: 298 for, 230 against, short of two-thirds
Appointments
Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth takes over as Vice Chief of Army Staff
1 April 2026Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth took charge as the 49th Vice Chief of the Army Staff, succeeding Lt Gen Pushpendra Pal Singh.
- Took office on 1 April 2026
- He is the 49th VCOAS
Exam point: Dhiraj Seth became the 49th Vice Chief of Army Staff
Ashok Lahiri appointed NITI Aayog Vice Chairperson
24 April 2026Economist Ashok Kumar Lahiri was appointed Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog, succeeding Suman Bery. Former Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba was named a full-time member.
- Lahiri was India's 12th Chief Economic Adviser (2002–2007)
- Former member of the 15th Finance Commission
Exam point: Ashok Lahiri is NITI Aayog's new Vice Chairperson
Justice Lisa Gill becomes Andhra Pradesh HC Chief Justice
25 April 2026Justice Lisa Gill was sworn in as Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, the first woman to hold the post. She succeeded Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur.
- Oath by Governor S. Abdul Nazeer in Vijayawada
- First woman Chief Justice of the AP High Court
Exam point: Lisa Gill: first woman Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh HC
Defence & Security
Stealth frigate INS Taragiri commissioned
3 April 2026The Indian Navy commissioned INS Taragiri, the fourth Project 17A (Nilgiri-class) stealth frigate, at Visakhapatnam in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
- Class: Nilgiri-class (Project 17A)
- Commissioned at Visakhapatnam
Exam point: INS Taragiri is the fourth Project 17A stealth frigate
India–Uzbekistan Exercise Dustlik 2026 held
16 April 2026The 7th edition of the India–Uzbekistan joint military exercise Dustlik began in the Namangan region of Uzbekistan, focusing on joint special operations.
- Edition: 7th
- Partner: Uzbekistan; concluded around 26 April
Exam point: Dustlik is the India–Uzbekistan army exercise
States in News
Telangana declares cancer a notifiable disease
6 April 2026Telangana made cancer a notifiable disease, so all hospitals and clinics must report every diagnosed case to the state. The aim is to build reliable cancer data for planning treatment and prevention.
- Cases must be reported within one month of diagnosis
- Applies to all healthcare facilities, public and private
Exam point: Telangana made cancer a notifiable disease
Meghalaya makes Khasi and Garo official languages
27 April 2026Meghalaya promulgated the Meghalaya Official Languages Ordinance, 2026, giving Khasi and Garo official status alongside English. English stays the language of courts and inter-district communication.
- Issued under Article 213 (Governor's ordinance power)
- Khasi Hills division: English and Khasi; Garo Hills division: English and Garo
- Governor: C.H. Vijayashankar
Exam point: Khasi and Garo became official languages of Meghalaya with English
Ladakh gets five new districts, total now seven
28 April 2026Ladakh notified five new districts, taking the Union Territory from two districts to seven. Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena called it the fulfilment of a long-pending local demand.
- New districts: Nubra, Sham, Changthang, Zanskar, Drass
- Earlier districts: Leh and Kargil
Exam point: Ladakh now has seven districts after five new ones
PM attends close of Sikkim's 50th statehood year
28 April 2026PM Narendra Modi visited Sikkim on 27–28 April for the closing ceremony of the state's 50th year of statehood in Gangtok. He launched development projects worth over Rs 4,000 crore.
- Sikkim became the 22nd state of India in 1975
- Visit dates: 27–28 April 2026
Exam point: Sikkim marked 50 years of statehood; projects worth Rs 4,000 crore launched
Science, Tech & Space
Kalpakkam fast breeder reactor reaches first criticality
6 April 2026India's 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, achieved first criticality. It marks the start of the second stage of India's three-stage nuclear power programme.
- Operator: BHAVINI; designed by IGCAR
- Fuel: uranium–plutonium MOX; coolant: liquid sodium
- Breeds more fissile fuel than it uses; key step towards using thorium
Exam point: PFBR Kalpakkam began stage two of India's nuclear programme
Artemis II crew returns after record lunar flyby
10 April 2026NASA's Artemis II, the first crewed Moon mission in over 50 years, splashed down off San Diego after a nearly 10-day flight around the Moon. The crew travelled farther from Earth than any humans before.
- Launched 1 April 2026 from Kennedy Space Center
- Farthest point: 252,756 miles from Earth, beating Apollo 13
- Crew: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, Jeremy Hansen (Canada)
Exam point: Artemis II set a new record for farthest human spaceflight
Skyroot's Vikram-1 rocket sent to Sriharikota
25 April 2026Telangana CM A. Revanth Reddy flagged off flight hardware of Vikram-1, built by Hyderabad's Skyroot Aerospace, to Sriharikota. It will be India's first privately built orbital rocket.
- Builder: Skyroot Aerospace, Hyderabad
- Destination: Sriharikota launch site
Exam point: Vikram-1 is India's first private orbital rocket
WHO: Australia 30th country to eliminate trachoma
29 April 2026The WHO validated Australia as the 30th country to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem. Algeria was also validated earlier in the month.
- Trachoma is a bacterial eye infection and a leading infectious cause of blindness
- Algeria validated on 23 April 2026
Exam point: Australia became the 30th country to eliminate trachoma
International Affairs
US and Iran agree to two-week ceasefire
7 April 2026The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire in their war, with Iran agreeing to allow safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan helped mediate the pause.
- Ceasefire announced on 7 April 2026
- Safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz was a key term
Exam point: US–Iran two-week truce reopened the Strait of Hormuz
To Lam elected President of Vietnam
7 April 2026Communist Party General Secretary To Lam was elected State President of Vietnam by the National Assembly, holding both top posts at once.
- All 495 deputies present voted in favour
- Term: 2026–2031
Exam point: To Lam now holds both Party chief and President posts
Jaishankar at 9th Indian Ocean Conference in Mauritius
10 April 2026External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar attended the 9th Indian Ocean Conference in Port Louis, Mauritius, and held bilateral talks on the sidelines.
- Visit dates: 9–10 April 2026
- Host country: Mauritius
Exam point: 9th Indian Ocean Conference held in Port Louis, Mauritius
Orban ousted as Peter Magyar's Tisza wins Hungary
12 April 2026Peter Magyar's Tisza party won Hungary's parliamentary election with a two-thirds majority, ending Viktor Orban's 16 years in power. Turnout was close to 80 per cent.
- Tisza won 138 of 199 seats
- Orban's Fidesz won 55 seats
Exam point: Tisza won 138 of 199 seats, ending Orban's 16-year rule
India and South Korea upgrade ties; trade target set
20 April 2026South Korean President Lee Jae Myung held talks with PM Modi in New Delhi during a state visit. The two sides adopted a Joint Strategic Vision for their Special Strategic Partnership for 2026–2030.
- Bilateral trade target: US$ 50 billion by 2030
- New India-ROK Industrial Cooperation Committee and a defence accelerator KIND-X
- ISRO and the Korea AeroSpace Administration to set up a joint working group
Exam point: India–South Korea aim for US$ 50 billion trade by 2030
UAE announces exit from OPEC and OPEC+
28 April 2026The United Arab Emirates said it will leave OPEC and OPEC+ from 1 May 2026, ending decades of membership. It said it wants freedom to raise its own oil output.
- UAE (via Abu Dhabi) first joined OPEC in 1967
- Exit effective 1 May 2026
Exam point: UAE quit OPEC and OPEC+ with effect from 1 May 2026
Reports & Indices
NITI report: women hold 26% of India's credit
7 April 2026NITI Aayog's report From Borrowers to Builders (second edition) found women now account for a quarter of all credit in the country.
- Women's credit portfolio: Rs 76 lakh crore
- Share of total credit: 26%
Exam point: Women borrowers hold Rs 76 lakh crore, 26% of total credit
SIPRI: India is world's 5th-largest military spender
27 April 2026The SIPRI fact sheet on 2025 military spending ranked India 5th. World military spending rose for another year to about US$ 2,887 billion.
- India spent US$ 92.1 billion, up 8.9%
- Top three: USA, China, Russia; Germany 4th
- Pakistan spent US$ 11.9 billion
Exam point: India 5th in SIPRI military spending list at US$ 92.1 billion
NITI Aayog releases DPI@2047 roadmap
27 April 2026NITI Aayog released DPI@2047, a roadmap to use digital public infrastructure for productivity-led growth towards Viksit Bharat.
- Phase one DPI 2.0 (2025–2035); phase two DPI 3.0 (2035–2047)
- DPI 2.0 covers eight sector transformations incl. MSMEs, farming, health, education
Exam point: DPI@2047 has two phases: DPI 2.0 and DPI 3.0
Important Days
World Health Day
7 April 2026Observed on 7 April, the founding day of the WHO (1948). The 2026 campaign theme was Together for health. Stand with science.
- WHO founded on 7 April 1948
- 2026 theme: Together for health. Stand with science
Exam point: Theme: Together for health. Stand with science
Ambedkar Jayanti
14 April 2026Marks the birth anniversary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, chief architect of the Constitution, born on 14 April 1891. 2026 marked his 135th birth anniversary.
- Born in Mhow (now Dr Ambedkar Nagar), Madhya Pradesh
- Chaired the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly
Exam point: 135th birth anniversary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar
World Heritage Day (International Day for Monuments and Sites)
18 April 2026Observed on 18 April, promoted by ICOMOS and endorsed by UNESCO to raise awareness about protecting cultural heritage.
- Proposed by ICOMOS in 1982
- Approved by UNESCO's General Conference in 1983
Exam point: ICOMOS day for protecting monuments and heritage sites
National Civil Services Day
21 April 2026Observed on 21 April, recalling Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's 1947 address to the first batch of administrative officers at Metcalfe House, Delhi.
- Patel called civil servants the steel frame of India
- PM's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration given on this day
Exam point: Marks Sardar Patel's 1947 'steel frame' address
Earth Day
22 April 2026Observed on 22 April since 1970. The 2026 global theme set by EARTHDAY.ORG was Our Power, Our Planet, focused on renewable energy.
- First observed in 1970
- 2026 theme: Our Power, Our Planet
Exam point: Theme: Our Power, Our Planet
National Panchayati Raj Day
24 April 2026Observed on 24 April, the day the 73rd Constitutional Amendment came into force in 1993, giving constitutional status to panchayats.
- 73rd Amendment in force: 24 April 1993
- Added Part IX and the 11th Schedule
Exam point: Marks the 73rd Amendment coming into force in 1993
World Intellectual Property Day
26 April 2026Observed on 26 April, the day the WIPO Convention came into force in 1970. The 2026 edition focused on IP and sports.
- WIPO Convention in force: 26 April 1970
- 2026 focus: IP and sports
Exam point: 2026 edition focused on intellectual property and sports
Banking & Finance
RBI keeps repo rate at 5.25% in first FY27 policy
8 April 2026The RBI's Monetary Policy Committee unanimously kept the repo rate at 5.25 per cent with a neutral stance, citing risks from the West Asia conflict.
- SDF 5.00%; MSF and Bank Rate 5.50%
- FY27 GDP forecast 6.9%; CPI forecast 4.6%
- Next MPC meeting: 3–5 June 2026
Exam point: Repo rate unchanged at 5.25%; stance neutral
RBI cancels Paytm Payments Bank's licence
24 April 2026The RBI cancelled the banking licence of Paytm Payments Bank for continued breaches of licence conditions and actions harmful to depositors' interests.
- Action under Section 22(4) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949
- RBI had barred new customers and deposits in January 2024
Exam point: Paytm Payments Bank licence cancelled under Section 22(4), BR Act
SEBI's 38th Foundation Day; Mission Jagrook launched
25 April 2026Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched Mission Jagrook, a nationwide investor awareness drive, at SEBI's 38th Foundation Day in Mumbai. She warned about cyber attacks and deepfake investment frauds.
- India has about 14 crore unique investors and over 5,900 listed companies
- SEBI was set up in 1988
Exam point: Mission Jagrook: SEBI's investor awareness campaign
Obituaries
Former Union Minister Mohsina Kidwai dies at 94
8 April 2026Veteran Congress leader Mohsina Kidwai died at 94. She held several Union ministries, including Health, Transport and Urban Development.
- Represented Meerut in the Lok Sabha
- Rajya Sabha member from Chhattisgarh (2004–2016)
Exam point: Mohsina Kidwai, ex-Union minister from Meerut, died at 94
Former Andhra CM Nadendla Bhaskara Rao dies at 90
22 April 2026Nadendla Bhaskara Rao, a co-founder of the Telugu Desam Party, died at 90. He was Chief Minister for just 31 days in 1984.
- CM from 16 August to 16 September 1984
- Took over while NTR was abroad for surgery
Exam point: Nadendla Bhaskara Rao was Andhra CM for 31 days in 1984
Hockey Olympian Gurbux Singh dies at 84
24 April 2026Former India hockey player Gurbux Singh died at 84. He won gold at Tokyo 1964 and bronze at Mexico City 1968.
- Received the Arjuna Award in 1966
- Served Indian hockey as captain, coach and administrator
Exam point: Gurbux Singh won Olympic hockey gold (1964) and bronze (1968)
Photographer Raghu Rai dies at 83
26 April 2026Renowned photojournalist Raghu Rai died at 83. He chronicled modern India, including the 1971 war and the Bhopal gas tragedy.
- Awarded Padma Shri in 1972
- Joined Magnum Photos on nomination by Henri Cartier-Bresson
Exam point: Raghu Rai, Padma Shri photographer, died at 83
Economy
World Bank projects India's FY27 growth at 6.6%
9 April 2026The World Bank forecast India's growth at 6.6 per cent for 2026-27, keeping India among the fastest-growing major economies despite the West Asia conflict and higher energy prices.
- FY26 growth estimated at 7.6%
- Risk flagged: energy prices and inflation
Exam point: World Bank sees India growing 6.6% in FY27
Retail inflation at 3.40% in March on new CPI series
13 April 2026CPI inflation for March 2026 was 3.40 per cent, as per the new series with base year 2024. Inflation stayed below the RBI's 4 per cent target.
- Food inflation: 3.87%
- Rural 3.63%, urban 3.11%
- New CPI base year: 2024=100
Exam point: March 2026 CPI inflation was 3.40% (base 2024=100)
China overtakes US as India's top trading partner
15 April 2026Trade data for 2025-26 showed China became India's largest trading partner, overtaking the US. India's trade deficit with China widened sharply.
- India–China trade: US$ 151.1 billion in FY26
- Deficit with China: US$ 112.16 billion
- Exports to China rose 36.66% to US$ 19.47 billion
Exam point: China became India's top trade partner in FY26 at US$ 151.1 billion
India and New Zealand sign Free Trade Agreement
27 April 2026Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and NZ Trade Minister Todd McClay signed the India–New Zealand FTA in New Delhi. New Zealand removes duties on all Indian goods, while India keeps most dairy products out of tariff cuts.
- New Zealand pledged US$ 20 billion investment in India
- Up to 5,000 temporary work visas a year for Indian professionals
- Butter, cheese and core dairy excluded by India
Exam point: India–NZ FTA signed in New Delhi; dairy kept out
India's total exports hit record US$ 860 billion in FY26
April 2026India's combined exports of goods and services reached a record of about US$ 860.09 billion in 2025-26. Imports grew faster, widening the overall trade gap.
- Exports grew 4.22%
- Imports rose 6.47% to US$ 979.40 billion
Exam point: FY26 total exports were a record US$ 860.09 billion
Sports
India wins 16 medals at Asian Boxing Championships
10 April 2026India finished the 2026 Asian Boxing Championships with 16 medals. Indian women won four golds, led by Minakshi Hooda, and Vishvanath Suresh won gold among the men.
- Total: 16 medals
- Women's golds: 4
Exam point: India won 16 medals at the 2026 Asian Boxing Championships
Ayush Shetty wins silver at Badminton Asia Championships
12 April 2026Ayush Shetty won silver in men's singles at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, losing the final to Shi Yuqi. It was a historic medal for Indian men's singles at the event.
- Venue: Ningbo, China (7–12 April)
- Gold: Shi Yuqi (China)
Exam point: Ayush Shetty took men's singles silver at Badminton Asia
Sindarov wins Candidates with record score
15 April 2026Uzbekistan's Javokhir Sindarov won the Candidates Tournament 2026 in Cyprus with a record 10/14, earning a world title match against India's D. Gukesh.
- Clinched with a round to spare
- Previous record: 9.5/14 (Nepomniachtchi, 2022)
- India's R. Praggnanandhaa finished 7th
Exam point: Sindarov will challenge Gukesh for the World Chess Championship
R. Vaishali wins FIDE Women's Candidates 2026
16 April 2026Indian GM R. Vaishali won the FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament in Pegeia, Cyprus, earning a World Championship match against China's Ju Wenjun.
- Score: 8.5/14; beat Russia's Kateryna Lagno in the last round
- Tournament venue: Pegeia, Cyprus
Exam point: Vaishali will challenge Ju Wenjun for the women's world title
Sawe runs first sub-two-hour marathon in London
26 April 2026Kenya's Sabastian Sawe won the London Marathon in 1:59:30, the first officially recognised marathon under two hours.
- Broke the world record held by the late Kelvin Kiptum (Chicago, 2023)
- Women's-only world record: Tigst Assefa, 2:15:41
Exam point: Sabastian Sawe: first official sub-2-hour marathon, 1:59:30
Environment & Heritage
IMD forecasts below-normal monsoon at 92% of LPA
13 April 2026The IMD forecast the 2026 southwest monsoon to be below normal at 92 per cent of the Long Period Average, mainly due to a developing El Nino.
- LPA: 87 cm; model error plus/minus 5%
- First below-normal forecast since 2023
Exam point: Monsoon 2026 forecast at 92% of LPA due to El Nino
Shekha Jheel becomes India's 99th Ramsar site
22 April 2026Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary near Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, was added to the Ramsar list, taking India's tally of wetlands of international importance to 99.
- UP now has 12 Ramsar sites
- Lake formed by the Upper Ganga Canal (1852); on the Central Asian Flyway
- Announced by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav
Exam point: Shekha Jheel (Aligarh) is India's 99th Ramsar site
UNESCO adds 12 new Global Geoparks
22 April 2026UNESCO designated 12 new Global Geoparks, taking the network to 241 sites in 51 countries. Tunisia got its first geopark.
- New sites include Lenggong and Sarawak Delta (Malaysia) and Dahar (Tunisia)
- Network now: 241 geoparks
Exam point: UNESCO Global Geoparks network now has 241 sites
Awards & Honours
Alcaraz and Sabalenka win Laureus top honours
20 April 2026At the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid, Carlos Alcaraz won Sportsman of the Year and Aryna Sabalenka won Sportswoman of the Year.
- Lifetime Achievement: Nadia Comaneci
- Team of the Year: Paris Saint-Germain; Breakthrough: Lamine Yamal
- Comeback of the Year: Rory McIlroy
Exam point: Laureus 2026: Alcaraz and Sabalenka named best athletes
Six women win the 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize
20 April 2026The Goldman Environmental Prize, often called the Green Nobel, went to six women grassroots activists from six regions.
- Winners include Sarah Finch (UK) and Borim Kim (South Korea)
- Each winner gets US$ 200,000
Exam point: All six 2026 Goldman Prize winners were women