Current Affairs · 13–19 April 2026
TNPSC current affairs for the week of 13–19 April 2026, grouped by day.
19 April 2026
4 storiesDRDO Develops Astra Mark-2 Beyond-Visual-Range Missile
DRDO developed the Astra Mark-2 beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, extending interception range to about 240 km, for integration with fighter jets including the Mirage 2000.
Hussain Sagar Lake Hit by Algal Bloom from Eutrophication
Hyderabad's Hussain Sagar Lake suffered a severe algal bloom and foul odour caused by eutrophication — excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus entering the water.
Allahabad High Court Upholds Tharu Tribe's Forest Rights
The Allahabad High Court overturned the rejection of forest rights claims of the Tharu tribe, a Scheduled Tribe residing in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Bihar.
Developing Nations Launch a Borrowers' Platform at IMF–World Bank Meetings
Developing nations launched a Borrowers' Platform at the IMF–World Bank Spring Meetings 2026 to coordinate positions on sovereign debt and financing concerns.
18 April 2026
11 storiesWorld Heritage Day Observed (18 April)
World Heritage Day (International Day for Monuments and Sites) was observed on 18 April to promote awareness about preserving cultural heritage, as designated by ICOMOS.
Harivansh Narayan Singh elected unopposed as Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman for third term
Harivansh Narayan Singh was elected unopposed on 17 April 2026 as Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman for a third consecutive term.
India slips to sixth largest economy in IMF estimate for 2025
IMF-linked estimates on 16 April 2026 placed India at $3.92 trillion GDP in 2025, behind Japan and the UK.
India and China hold SCO bilateral consultations in New Delhi
India and China held SCO consultations in New Delhi on 17 April 2026 to review regional cooperation, security, trade and connectivity.
India and New Zealand to sign Free Trade Agreement on 27 April 2026
India and New Zealand are scheduled to sign an FTA on 27 April 2026, marking a major trade and diplomatic development.
IndiaAI Mission selects 10 startups for second cohort of global acceleration programme
IndiaAI Mission selected 10 startups on 17 April 2026 for a 3-week online module and 3-month residency in Paris under MeitY.
Grappling Federation of India appoints Professor Sikander Kumar as Chairman
Professor Sikander Kumar, a Rajya Sabha MP from Himachal Pradesh, was appointed Chairman of the Grappling Federation of India on 17 April 2026.
LIC launches MyLIC and Super Sales Saathi apps on DIVE platform
LIC launched two apps in Mumbai on 15 April 2026 for policy servicing, premium payments and sales tracking.
MCA becomes first state cricket body in India to launch central contract system for domestic players
Mumbai Cricket Association launched a central contract system on 16 April 2026 for domestic players from the 2026-27 season.
Sahibzada Farhan and Arundhati Reddy named ICC Players of the Month for February 2026
ICC named Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan and India’s Arundhati Reddy as Players of the Month for February 2026.
World Haemophilia Day 2026 marked on 17 April with diagnosis-first theme
World Haemophilia Day 2026 was observed on 17 April with the theme 'Diagnosis: First step to care' and focus on undiagnosed cases.
17 April 2026
12 storiesR. Vaishali Wins FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament
Chennai's Grandmaster R. Vaishali won the FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament in Cyprus with 8.5/14 points, earning the right to challenge for the Women's World Championship.
India's Unemployment Rate Rises to Five-Month High of 5.1%
India's overall unemployment rate rose to a five-month high of 5.1% in March 2026, driven by higher urban joblessness; youth unemployment was notably higher.
Lok Sabha 131st Amendment Bill 2026: 850-seat expansion and women’s reservation framework
The Lok Sabha considered the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 on 16 April 2026 to expand seats to 850 and operationalise 33% women’s reservation.
India-Uzbekistan Dustlik 2026 begins in Namangan for joint special operations training
The 7th edition of Exercise Dustlik began on 16 April 2026 in Namangan, Uzbekistan, and will run till 25 April 2026.
India and Austria deepen ties with MoU on food safety and cooperation in New Delhi
On 16 April 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker signed agreements in New Delhi on food safety, military cooperation and counter-terrorism.
R. Vaishali wins FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026 in Cyprus to become world title challenger
R. Vaishali won the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026 in Cyprus on 16 April 2026 with 8.5 points and earned a World Championship challenge.
FIU-IND and PFRDA sign MoU to strengthen AML and CFT cooperation
On 16 April 2026, FIU-IND and PFRDA signed an MoU to improve information sharing, risk assessment and training against money laundering and terror financing.
Andhra Pradesh and NRSC sign MoU to map lightning-prone areas and improve warnings
On 15 April 2026, Andhra Pradesh signed an MoU with NRSC to identify lightning-prone areas, strengthen early warnings and reduce fatalities.
Telangana launches AI literacy programme for 2 million government school students
On 16 April 2026, Telangana launched an AI literacy programme for nearly 2 million students in government schools with 2,000 laptops and 28,000 trained teachers.
Chhattisgarh sets up UCC drafting committee under Ranjana Prakash Desai
On 16 April 2026, the Chhattisgarh Cabinet approved a high-level committee to draft a Uniform Civil Code under retired judge Ranjana Prakash Desai.
Rajnath Singh pays tribute to Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh on 107th birth anniversary
On 15 April 2026, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid homage to Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh on his 107th birth anniversary.
Nari Shakti Vandan Run 2026 to be held in six cities on 17–18 April
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is organising the nationwide Nari Shakti Vandan Run on 17 and 18 April 2026 across six cities.
16 April 2026
12 storiesConstitution (131st Amendment) Bill Proposes Larger Lok Sabha
A Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill was taken up in the Lok Sabha proposing to expand its strength and to operationalise the 33% women's reservation alongside delimitation.
India–Uzbekistan Military Exercise 'Dustlik' Begins
The 7th edition of the India-Uzbekistan joint military exercise 'Dustlik' began in Namangan, Uzbekistan, focusing on joint special operations in mountainous terrain.
India and Austria Sign Cooperation Agreements
During the Austrian Chancellor's visit, India and Austria signed an MoU on food safety and a Letter of Intent on military cooperation and counter-terrorism collaboration.
World Voice Day Observed (16 April)
World Voice Day was observed on 16 April with the theme 'Caring for Our Voices!', highlighting vocal health and care for professional voice users.
OpenAI April 2026 report places India among top AI usage markets
OpenAI’s April 2026 report said India is among the top 5 countries for advanced AI usage, with strong concentration in major cities.
NIPER Mohali and Novartis sign Development Pioneer Grant agreement in April 2026
NIPER Mohali signed a grant agreement with Novartis on 15 April 2026 under the Department of Pharmaceuticals for pharmaceutical R&D.
Naval Commanders’ Conference 2026 opened in New Delhi with focus on jointness and IOR
The first Naval Commanders’ Conference-2026 began on 14 April 2026 at Nausena Bhawan, New Delhi, focusing on combat readiness, jointness and the Indian Ocean Region.
India’s integrated Commerce website and bilingual app launched in April 2026
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry launched a new integrated website and bilingual mobile app on 15 April 2026 with 22-language support and portal integrations.
India’s first university-based Quantum Reference Facility inaugurated at SRM University-AP
India’s first university-based Quantum Reference Facility was inaugurated at SRM University-AP on World Quantum Day, 14 April 2026.
DoT-SEBI MoU in April 2026: telecom fraud prevention and digital intelligence facts
DoT and SEBI signed an MoU on 15 April 2026 to curb telecom-linked financial frauds using shared indicators, digital intelligence and fraud detection tools.
Urban Challenge Fund launched in April 2026: ₹1 lakh crore push for urban infrastructure
The Urban Challenge Fund guidelines were launched on 15 April 2026 with ₹1 lakh crore central assistance to mobilise ₹4 lakh crore in urban investment.
India’s March 2026 WPI inflation at 3.88%: key wholesale price facts for TNPSC
India’s wholesale price inflation stood at 3.88% in March 2026, with crude petroleum, primary articles and manufactured products showing notable movements.
15 April 2026
11 storiesIndia's Exports Reach Record $860 Billion in FY 2025-26
India's total exports touched a record $860.09 billion in FY 2025-26, a 4.22% rise; imports grew faster to about $970 billion, widening the trade deficit.
Wholesale Price Index (WPI) Inflation at 3.88% in March 2026
India's Wholesale Price Index inflation for March 2026 stood at 3.88%, with primary articles at 6.36% and manufactured products at 3.39%.
Urban Challenge Fund Operational Guidelines Launched
Union Minister Manohar Lal launched operational guidelines for the ₹1 lakh crore Urban Challenge Fund, intended to catalyse about ₹4 lakh crore of urban infrastructure investment, focused on Tier-II and Tier-III cities.
DoT and SEBI Sign MoU to Curb Telecom-Linked Financial Frauds
The Department of Telecommunications and SEBI signed an MoU to share fraud-risk indicators and revoked-mobile-number lists through the Digital Intelligence Platform.
Supreme Court seeks Centre, State replies on Right to Education implementation and NEP rollout
The Supreme Court issued notices on a PIL seeking full implementation of the RTE Act and uniform NEP application across States and UTs.
Lok Sabha strength proposed to rise to 850 under draft Bill linked to 2029 delimitation
The Centre proposed expanding Lok Sabha strength from 543 to 850, with the new seat pattern expected from the 2029 elections.
Marine heatwaves linked to 60% more billion-dollar cyclone disasters, study finds
A study released on 13 April 2026 found that marine heatwaves intensify tropical cyclones and raise billion-dollar disaster risk by 60%.
UN Women says Sudan sexual violence has quadrupled as conflict enters fourth year
UN Women reported on 15 April 2026 that sexual violence against women in Sudan has quadrupled since the war began.
Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor inaugurated with ₹12,000 crore outlay and 12-km wildlife corridor
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor in Dehradun on 14 April 2026.
Punjab Assembly passes stricter sacrilege law with 10-year minimum jail and ₹25 lakh fine
Punjab passed an amendment bill on 13 April 2026 to impose tougher punishment for sacrilege against Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
Bihar gets first BJP Chief Minister as Samrat Choudhary replaces Nitish Kumar
Nitish Kumar resigned on 14 April 2026, and Samrat Choudhary was chosen to lead the NDA government in Bihar.
14 April 2026
11 storiesAmbedkar Jayanti: 135th Birth Anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
The nation observed the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution and the country's first Law Minister, on 14 April.
Puthandu and Regional New Year / Harvest Festivals Celebrated
Tamil Nadu celebrated Puthandu (Tamil New Year) on 14 April, alongside regional new-year and harvest festivals across India such as Vishu, Vaisakhi, Bohag Bihu and Poila Boishakh.
Retail Inflation (CPI) Eases to 3.40% in March 2026
The Ministry of Statistics reported annual retail inflation of 3.40% for March 2026, with rural inflation at 3.63% and urban at 3.11%.
Ambedkar Jayanti 2026: key constitutional and social reform facts for TNPSC
April 14, 2026 marked Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s birth anniversary, highlighting his role in the Constitution, social reform, and economic thought.
NCC and NIELIT sign cyber security training MoU for cadets nationwide
NCC and NIELIT signed an MoU on April 13, 2026 to launch a nationwide cyber security capacity-building programme for cadets.
Reliance Foundation and C-DAC launch e-SafeHER to train one million rural women
The e-SafeHER programme was launched on April 13, 2026 to train one million rural women in cybersecurity under MeitY’s ISEA programme.
Labour Ministry MoUs with Porter and Gigin expand National Career Service portal
On April 13, 2026, the Labour Ministry signed MoUs with Porter and Gigin to strengthen digital job matching through the NCS portal.
ICMR app for Community Health Officers launched under Ayushman Arogya Mandir network
The Health Ministry launched an ICMR-developed clinical workflow app for Community Health Officers on April 13, 2026.
ANRF reviews SARAL AI for multilingual research dissemination in 18 Indian languages
On April 13, 2026, ANRF’s SARAL AI was reviewed for converting research into podcasts, videos and briefs in 18 Indian languages.
HAL inaugurates Prachand LCH structure assembly line at Tumakuru in April 2026
HAL opened a Prachand Light Combat Helicopter structure assembly line and ASRS facility at Tumakuru, Karnataka, on April 13, 2026.
e-NAM crosses ₹4.84 lakh crore trade with 1,656 mandis by March 2026
By March 2026, e-NAM reported ₹4.84 lakh crore cumulative trade and 1,656 integrated mandis across India.
13 April 2026
12 storiesJallianwala Bagh Massacre: 107th Anniversary Observed
India observed the anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 13 April 1919, when British troops under General Dyer opened fire on an unarmed gathering in Amritsar.
Siachen Day: 42nd Anniversary of Operation Meghdoot
The Indian Army and Air Force marked Siachen Day on 13 April, commemorating the 1984 launch of Operation Meghdoot that secured control of the Siachen Glacier.
Government Notifies ₹10,000 Crore Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0
The Ministry of Commerce & Industry notified the Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 with a ₹10,000 crore corpus to support deep-tech and innovative manufacturing startups.
HAL Inaugurates Prachand Light Combat Helicopter Assembly Line
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited inaugurated a structure assembly line for the indigenous Prachand Light Combat Helicopter at its Tumakuru facility in Karnataka.
Amaravati Quantum Testbeds 2026: India’s first state-level quantum hardware test facility
Andhra Pradesh will inaugurate 1S and 1Q quantum testbeds on 14 April 2026 under the Amaravati Quantum Valley initiative.
Telangana declared Naxal-free in April 2026: surrender, arms recovery and LWE facts
Telangana was declared Naxal-free on 11 April 2026 after 42 Maoist cadres surrendered and 36 firearms were recovered.
Sikkim Sundari community radio in 2026: first border-village station in Sikkim
The Indian Army launched Radio Sikkim Sundari on 12 April 2026 in Sikkim’s border area to improve communication, local news and scheme awareness.
IAF Maintenance Command conclave 2026: Nagpur review of readiness and self-reliance
The IAF Maintenance Command Commanders’ Conclave was held on 10–11 April 2026 in Nagpur to review maintenance strategy and operational readiness.
INS Trikand’s Mombasa port call in 2026: India-Kenya naval cooperation facts
INS Trikand delivered INSAS rifles and ammunition to the Kenya Navy at Mombasa on 12 April 2026, alongside VBSS drills and training.
India-Uzbekistan Exercise DUSTLIK 2026: joint drills, terrain and troop strength
The 7th India-Uzbekistan Exercise DUSTLIK began on 12 April 2026 in Uzbekistan with 45 Indian Army personnel and 15 IAF personnel.
ECI’s IEVP 2026: election technology, Article 324 and voter inclusion facts
The Election Commission of India hosted the International Election Visitors Programme 2026, showcasing EVMs, VVPAT, cVIGIL and PwD-friendly voting tools.
Asha Bhosle’s death in April 2026: key facts on India’s playback legend and awards
Asha Bhosle died in Mumbai on 12 April 2026 at the age of 92, leaving behind a career of over 12,000 songs and major national honours.