Current Affairs Quiz - April 2026

Notes:
The Veli–Akkulam Estuary is located along the coast of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. It is a small, shallow, bar-built estuary forming part of the Kerala backwater system adjoining the Lakshadweep Sea. The estuary is divided by a man-made bund into two parts: Veli (west) and Akkulam (northeast). Its connection to the sea is intermittent, opening mainly during the monsoon through sandbar breaching. It is currently facing degradation due to invasive species, pollution, urban runoff, and encroachment, impacting biodiversity.

Notes:
Balikatan Exercise is the largest bilateral military drill between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States Armed Forces. The term “Balikatan” means “shoulder-to-shoulder,” symbolising the strong alliance between the Philippines and the United States. It is conducted annually, with the first edition held in 2001. The 2026 exercise (41st edition) will be held from 20 April to 8 May 2026. Around 17,000 troops from seven countries—Philippines, USA, Australia, Japan, Canada, France, and New Zealand—will participate. The exercise aims to enhance regional security through joint operations and interoperability.

Notes:
Save the Elephant Day is celebrated annually on April 16th. This day is dedicated to raising awareness about the urgent threats facing elephants, such as poaching and habitat loss, and promoting conservation efforts to protect both African and Asian elephant populations. The day was established by the Thailand-based Elephant Reintroduction Foundation.

Notes:
Dillenia nagalim is a new plant species discovered in Kamjong district of Manipur near the Indo-Myanmar border. The name reflects the Naga community, indicating its local origin. It is endemic, currently known from only a single location. It is a small shrub with bright yellow flowers and double-serrated leaves. It differs from related species like Dillenia pentagyna in size, flower structure, and reproductive features. It grows in tropical deciduous forests (250–350 m altitude) and flowers during May–June.

Notes:
The American Rivers, a United States Conservation Organization, has declared the Potomac River as America’s most endangered river for 2026. The Potomac River is located in the east-central United States and flows through West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. It originates from North and South branches in the Appalachian Mountains and drains into the Chesapeake Bay. The river is about 616 km long, with 188 km tidal stretch.

Notes:
China is deploying ships and barriers to tighten control over the entrance of the Scarborough Shoal. The move has escalated tensions with the Philippines, which also claims the shoal. The Scarborough Shoal is a disputed atoll in the South China Sea claimed by China and the Philippines. It is known as Huangyan Island (China) and Panatag Shoal / Bajo de Masinloc (Philippines). It lies about 220 km west of Luzon (Philippines) and over 800 km southeast of Hong Kong. It is the largest atoll in the South China Sea, covering around 150 sq. km with a shallow lagoon.

Notes:
The Bombay High Court was informed that the Maharashtra government has not yet framed a policy to address Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE), a rare but fatal neurological disease. Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE), also known as Dawson disease, is a progressive and disabling brain disorder caused by a persistent infection of the measles (rubeola) virus. The disease typically develops several years after a person has recovered from measles, due to an abnormal immune response or mutated virus. It is a rare condition occurring in about one per 50,000 measles cases and mainly affects children and adolescents, with males being more vulnerable.

Notes:
The Government has expanded the RELIEF (Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) scheme under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) due to geopolitical disruptions in West Asia affecting maritime trade. The RELIEF scheme, launched by Ministry of Commerce & Industry in March 2026. It provides support to Indian exporters facing high freight costs, increased insurance premiums, and war-related risks in the Gulf region. It is implemented through the Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India as the nodal agency, focusing on insurance facilitation and risk coverage.

Notes:
The European Commission has proposed expanding the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to cover about 180 additional products from January 1, 2028. Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is a European Union tool to impose a carbon price on imports of carbon-intensive goods, ensuring fair competition with EU industries. It is part of the EU Green Deal, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030. The expansion will include manufactured and semi-finished goods like metal products, pipes, machinery parts, and aluminium containers.

Notes:
India plans to equip Dassault Mirage 2000 jets with Astra Mark-2 missiles, enhancing interception up to 240 kilometres and boosting aerial dominance. Astra Mark-2 is a Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). More than 50 industries, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), contributed to its development. Astra Mark-1 (90–100 kilometres range) is already inducted in the Indian Air Force (IAF) on LCA Tejas and Su-30 MKI.