Summary
Highlights
April saw the passing of several notable personalities. Asha Bhosle, the legendary playback singer, passed away at 92. N. Ramachandran, former chief of the Indian Olympic Association, also passed away. Veteran photographer Raghu Rai, known for his powerful images from the Bangladesh War, passed away. Munirayan Prasad, a scholar and head of Narayan Gurukul, passed away, having recently received the Padma Shri. Other individuals include Brazilian basketball legend Oscar Schmidt, Shiv Ratan Agarwal (Bikaji Foods), Balbir Punj (author, journalist, BJP leader), Abu Hasem Khan Chowdhury (former Union Minister), Nadendla Bhaskara Rao (former CM of undivided Andhra Pradesh), C.D. Gopinath (cricketer), and Vijay Kumar (golfer).
Several military exercises took place in April. Exercise Cyclone Four, a joint special forces exercise, was conducted between India and Egypt. Exercise Dustlik, an army exercise, continued between India and Uzbekistan. India is also set to host 'Exercise Pragati' (Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in Indian Ocean Region), a multilateral military exercise, in Meghalaya. The segment also reviews other popular military exercises conducted by India with various friendly countries.
The Indian Navy received Malvanchal, a second indigenous anti-submarine warfare shallow watercraft, manufactured by Cochin Shipyard. The IAS Sachi, the lead ship of the next-generation offshore patrol vessels, was launched, built by Goa Shipyard. The IAS Taragiri, a stealth frigate, was commissioned as part of Project 17A. DRDO handed over the Prajan (Pragyan) satellite imaging system to the Ministry of Home Affairs for internal security. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) delivered four advanced light helicopter MKIII maritime role helicopters to the Indian Coast Guard. China unveiled the Atlas drone swarm system, capable of operating 96 drones by a single human operator. The IAS Kalpeni, a fast attack craft, visited the Maldives to strengthen maritime relations. India commissioned its third nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, IAS Aridhaman, capable of deploying K4 SLBM missiles. Russia approved the export of R37M ultra-long-range air-to-air missiles.
India launched 'Mission Mitra' from Ladakh for high-altitude experimentation for Gaganyaan astronauts. Europe's Rosalind Franklin rover, destined for Mars, will use SpaceX's Falcon Heavy launch vehicle. NASA's Artemis II mission set a new record for the farthest human journey from Earth, surpassing the Apollo 13 record. Blue Origin's new GLEN rocket successfully landed its reusable booster but failed to deliver the AST SpaceMobile's BlueWalker 3 satellite to its intended orbit. The Joint Magellan Telescope is being constructed in Chile's Atacama Desert for astronomical observations. Research on 'Psychedelics' has revealed their potential to alter perception and consciousness. GLP-1 receptor agonists, used for Type 2 Diabetes and obesity, have been subject to intense scrutiny due to illegal distribution. The International Conference on Spacecraft Mission Operations (SMOPS 2026) was held in Bengaluru to discuss managing space missions. A BIRAC BioNEST Incubation Center was inaugurated in Mysuru, Karnataka, to boost food and biotech startups. 'Designer Rice' with three times more protein than normal rice was developed by CSIR-NIIST. Keytruda, an immunotherapy drug for cancer, is facing challenges with illegal circulation of counterfeit versions. Artimether-lumefantrine, a new malaria treatment for infants, was approved by WHO.
The Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh was declared India's 99th Ramsar wetland site. Varkala, Kerala, was selected by the United Nations for its '20 Cities Towards Zero Waste' initiative. Emperor penguins and Antarctic fur seals' IUCN status was upgraded to 'Endangered' due to human impact on climate. India's updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for 2031-2035 aims to reduce emission intensity of GDP by 47% from 2005 levels. India withdrew its candidacy to host COP33 in 2028. India is leading in biodiversity compliance under the Nagoya Protocol, issuing 56% of internationally recognized certificates. Tar balls, hardened residues of crude oil, continue to emerge on Indian coastlines, prompting the Center to propose management rules. Mount Semeru in Indonesia, one of the most active volcanoes, erupted. The National Biodiversity Authority designated CM LRE Kochi and ARI Pune as national depositories for scientific specimens. Anatto, a natural food coloring agent, gained attention, with farmers seeking government support for its cultivation. The South Atlantic Anomaly, a weak spot in Earth's magnetic field, is causing concern for satellites.
The video delves into National and State-level current affairs using a question-and-answer format. It covers legislative updates, social initiatives, and regional developments across India. For example, it explains Anti-Defection Law with the case of Raghav Chadha, the PM Grameen Sadak Yojana, and the NCERT's new status as a 'deemed to be university'. It also highlights state-specific news, such as Ladhak's newly created districts, Vishu celebrations, Maharashtra's AI policy, Sikkim Sundari radio station, Telangana's cancer notification, and the Baliragarh excavation site in Bihar. Additionally, it mentions the Himachal Pradesh Statehood Day celebrations and the controversy around the Kendu leaf trade in Odisha.
The President's Colour (Nishaan), a prestigious honor for military and police units, was awarded to Odisha Police. 'Samridh Gram,' an initiative of the Department of Telecommunications, was nominated for the WSIS Prizes 2026 for its digital service delivery in rural areas. Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka (both tennis players) won the Laureus World Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards, respectively. Sadhvi Satish Sahil from Goa was crowned Femina Miss India World 2026. Sayani Gupta received the 2026 Person of the Year award from the Harvard South Asian Association, and Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia will serve as the jury president for the 65th Cannes Critics' Week. The Guntur Municipal Corporation in Andhra Pradesh received the Fourth Gender Equality Mobilization Award from UNIDO.
The 'State of India's Bats 2024-25 report' (SOI Bats report) revealed West Bengal having the highest bat diversity and the Kolar leaf-nosed bat being critically endangered. The first-ever annual survey of incorporated service sector enterprises is being conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. Gautam Adani is ranked 19th globally in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index 2026, becoming Asia's richest person. Maharashtra's Ahilya Nagar secured the first rank in India for awareness activities under the 8th National Nutrition Fortnight campaign. According to the latest SIPRI report, India ranks fifth globally in defense spending.
In the Asian Boxing Championship 2026, India secured 16 medals, including five gold, three silver, and eight bronze, finishing second overall. Indian Grand Master R. Vaishali won the FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament 2026, making her the first Indian woman to qualify for the World Chess Championship. The first Khelo India Tribal Games concluded, with Karnataka topping the medal tally with 23 gold medals. Rupa Bayor became the first Indian Taekwondo player to reach the top five in the world rankings. In the 2026 Asian Wrestling Championship, India won 17 medals, including two gold (Sujeet and Abhimanyu), six silver, and nine bronze, finishing fifth overall. Thailand hosted the World Masters Sports Championship 2026. In the ISSF Junior World Cup 2026, Indian shooters won 16 medals, comprising five gold, six silver, and five bronze, topping the global standings.
The concept of 'Windfall Tax' was discussed in the context of oil marketing companies facing increased taxes on unexpected profits due to external factors like geopolitical events. LIC released two new mobile applications: 'My LIC' for policyholders and 'Super Sales Saathi' for agents and intermediaries, aiming to streamline services and processes.
The session provides a comprehensive recap and revision of current affairs for April 2026. This year, the monthly current affairs will be divided into four distinct parts for detailed coverage. The first part will cover important days, books, appointments, and obituaries, utilizing mnemonics for memorization. The second part will focus on defense, science, technology, and environment. The third part will discuss national, state, and international news, while the final segment will cover awards, indices, sports, and finance.
The video discusses several important days in April, starting with a question about National Maritime Day on April 5th, emphasizing its theme 'Maritime India Empowering Progress'. Samta Diwas, celebrating Babu Jagjivan Ram's birth anniversary, also falls on April 5th. Other important days highlighted include World Heritage Day (April 18th), National Civil Services Day (April 21st), World Immunization Week (last week of April), World Homeopathy Day (April 10th), and World Earth Day (April 22nd). Memory techniques and mnemonics are used to help recall these dates effectively.
The only significant book mentioned in April's current affairs is 'We the People of India: Decoding a Nation's Symbols' by T.M. Krishna. The author, a renowned Carnatic vocalist, explores the meaning behind India's national symbols in this important work.
Several notable appointments are made in April. Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth was appointed Vice Chief of Army Staff. Dinesh Trivedi became India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, succeeding Pranoy Kumar Verma. Min Aung Hlaing was appointed Prime Minister of Myanmar. Samrat Chaudhary was named the 24th Chief Minister of Bihar. Harivansh Narayan Singh was re-elected as Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for his third term. Ashok Kumar Lahiri was appointed Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, and Justice Lisa Gill became the first woman Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. Furthermore, Major General Susan Coyle was appointed as the first woman Chief of Army in Australia.