Current Affairs Quiz - April 2026

Notes:
The Multi-Hazard Early Warning Decision Support System (MH-EWDSS) marks a major advancement in India’s disaster risk reduction and weather forecasting framework. It is developed by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) using open-source technology and in-house expertise. It is part of Mission Mausam, a digital transformation initiative, and was launched in 2024. It uses Geographic Information System (GIS) maps for real-time data collection, analysis, and dissemination.

Notes:
Newcastle Disease is a highly contagious viral disease affecting poultry and wild birds, recently reported spreading across Europe and the United Kingdom (UK). It is caused by Avian Paramyxovirus Serotype 1 (APMV-1) and has global distribution. It occurs in three forms: lentogenic (mild), mesogenic (moderate), and velogenic (highly virulent). Transmission occurs via respiratory droplets, exhaled air, and feces of infected birds. Symptoms include respiratory distress (gasping, coughing), nervous signs (paralysis, twisted neck), and diarrhoea.

Notes:
A National Advanced Agriculture Festival-Exhibition & Training will be held in Raisen, Madhya Pradesh, from April 11–13, 2026, led by Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The event showcases the full agricultural value chain: “Laboratory to Field” and “Seed to Market”. Around 300 stalls will cover modern farming, drones, micro-irrigation, machinery, and agribusiness. The focus is more on Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and startups for market linkage. A regional agriculture roadmap will boost productivity, sustainability, and farmers’ income.

Notes:
INS Taragiri was commissioned into the Indian Navy on April 3, 2026, at Visakhapatnam by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. It is the fourth ship of the Project 17A class, designed by the Warship Design Bureau. It was built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, it has over 75% indigenous content with MSME support. The frigate features advanced stealth technology with reduced radar cross-section. It supports multi-role operations: combat, surveillance, anti-piracy, and humanitarian missions.

Notes:
International Mine Awareness Day is observed every year on April 4 to raise awareness about the dangers of landmines and promote demining efforts. The 2026 theme is “Invest in Peace; Invest in Mine Action”. This theme highlights the critical need for funding to accelerate mine clearance, support victims, and secure stability in conflict-affected areas. First observed in 2006, the day emphasizes global efforts in mine clearance, victim support, and the use of new technologies to create a landmine-free world.

Notes:
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) dismissed a plea against the Musi Riverfront Development Project, clearing a key legal hurdle. The project aims to rejuvenate the polluted Musi River and develop it into an ecological, mobility, heritage, and economic corridor. The Musi River (also called Muchukunda) is a left-bank tributary of the Krishna River. It originates from Anantagiri Hills near Vikarabad and is formed by the confluence of Musa and Esi streams.

Notes:
Scientists at the Bose Institute discovered a new gene regulation mechanism in Tuberculosis bacterium (Mycobacterium tuberculosis). Transcription is the process where DNA is copied into RNA by RNA Polymerase (RNAP) for protein synthesis. Earlier, bacteria were believed to follow the Sigma Cycle, where sigma factor binds RNAP to initiate transcription and then detaches. The study found that in TB bacteria, the sigma factor (σF) remains continuously attached to RNAP throughout transcription. This continuous binding helps activate survival genes, enabling bacteria to persist in hostile conditions inside the human body.

Notes:
The Supreme Court of India stayed a Rajasthan government notification that had altered the boundaries of the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary, which had freed 732 hectares along the Chambal River. The Chambal River is a perennial river originating from Janapav Hills, south of Mhow town near Indore, along the southern slopes of the Vindhya Range in Madhya Pradesh. It flows in a north-northeasterly direction through Madhya Pradesh, passes through Rajasthan briefly, forms part of the boundary between Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, and then turns southeast to join the Yamuna River in Uttar Pradesh.

Notes:
Karnataka has recorded the highest number of women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) trained as drone pilots under the Namo Drone Didi Yojana (NDDY). The scheme is a Central Sector initiative aimed at empowering women-led SHGs under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission by providing drone technology for agricultural services. It aims to enable SHGs to provide drone rental services to farmers, mainly for spraying liquid fertilizers and pesticides. Around 15,000 drones will be distributed to selected women SHGs during 2024–25 to 2025–26.

Notes:
India has inducted its third nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Aridhaman, into the Indian Navy, strengthening its strategic deterrence capability. INS Aridhaman is the third indigenously built Submersible Ship Ballistic Nuclear (SSBN) and the second submarine of the Arihant class (Submersible Ship Ballistic Nuclear). It has been developed under the Advanced Technology Vessel project (ATV) at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam. The submarine has a displacement of about 6,000 tonnes on the surface and 7,000 tonnes when submerged.