Current Affairs Quiz - April 2026

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.

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The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved Qdenga for individuals aged 4–60 years, making it India’s first dengue vaccine. Qdenga is a live-attenuated, tetravalent vaccine developed by Takeda Pharmaceutical, Japan. It targets all four dengue virus serotypes (DENV-1 to DENV-4), with strongest efficacy against DENV-2 and relatively lower against DENV-3 and DENV-4. It does not require pre-vaccination screening and is administered in two doses, spaced three months apart. The vaccine provides strong protection against severe dengue and reduces hospitalisation rates.

Notes:
World Health Day is observed every year on 7 April. The theme for 2026 is “Together for health. Stand with science.” The campaign emphasizes the importance of science-based solutions and global collaboration to protect the health of people, animals, plants, and the environment. It promotes the One Health approach, highlighting the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health. The observance launches a year-long global campaign focusing on scientific achievements and the role of multilateral cooperation in turning evidence into action.

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The complete mitochondrial genome of the Madras Hedgehog (Paraechinus nudiventris) has been analysed for the first time, revealing insights into its evolutionary history. Locally called Mulleli, it is also known as the bare-bellied hedgehog, discovered in 1851. They are found in dry scrublands, thorn forests, grasslands, and farmland edges in peninsular India—mainly Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and parts of Karnataka. It is listed as Least Concern in International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list.

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The National Highways Authority of India has launched the ‘Arogya Van’ initiative to promote biodiversity and ecological sustainability along National Highways. It involves thematic plantations of medicinal trees on vacant land parcels to support pollinators, birds, and microfauna, thereby enhancing ecosystem resilience. In the first phase, 17 land parcels covering 62.8 hectares have been identified, with around 67,462 medicinal trees to be planted across multiple states including Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi-NCR, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh. About 36 medicinal species such as Neem, Amla, Imli, Jamun, Lemon, Gular, and Maulsari will be planted based on agro-climatic suitability.

Notes:
Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education Shri Jayant Chaudhary has launched a ₹530 crore ‘Skills Outcomes Fund’ campaign, anchored by the National Skill Development Corporation under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The fund aims to mobilise public and private capital to scale outcomes-based financing (OBF), linking investments directly to verified employment outcomes such as job placement, retention, and career progression. It promotes a blended finance model combining government funding with private sector investments and focuses on demand-driven, employer-led skilling.

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The National Biodiversity Authority has designated two institutions as National Repositories under Section 39 of the Biological Diversity Act 2002. The institutions are Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology and Agharkar Research Institute. The Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology hosts the Referral Centre Bhavasagara, focusing on deep-sea biodiversity with over 3,500 geo-referenced specimens, including fishes and invertebrates. It is the only national facility dedicated to preserving life from India’s deep-sea ecosystems. The Agharkar Research Institute hosts the MACS Microorganism & Fungal Collection, specialising in anaerobic and extremophilic microorganisms and diverse fungal cultures.

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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) launched the world’s first commercial Upper 6 GHz (U6GHz) network and ecosystem. The launch was announced at the SAMENA Council Leaders’ Summit 2026, driven by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA). It reflects evolving network and regulatory approaches to handle rising data demand and AI-driven traffic. The UAE aims to become a “10 Giga intelligent nation” and plans to roll out the first commercial U6GHz network by 2026.

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World Homoeopathy Day is observed annually on April 10 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Samuel Hahnemann. The theme for 2026 is “Homoeopathy for Sustainable Health.” India has one of the largest homoeopathic workforces in the world. Homoeopathy was introduced in India in 1810 by German missionaries distributing medicines. India currently has about 3.45 lakh registered homoeopathy doctors, 8,593 dispensaries, 277 educational institutions, and 34 research centres.

Notes:
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association India Region Zone VII Conference was recently inaugurated in Goa by the Lok Sabha Speaker. The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is one of the oldest organisations in the Commonwealth, established in 1911. It is a membership-based body bringing together parliamentarians committed to the rule of law, democracy, and individual rights and freedoms. The Association comprises over 180 legislatures (branches) across nine geographic regions of the Commonwealth. Its mission is to strengthen parliamentary democracy through knowledge sharing, youth participation, gender equality, and equal representation.