Current Affairs Quiz - April 2026

Notes:
World Parkinson’s Day is observed every year on 11 April to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is a fast-growing neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement due to loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. The day aims to promote early diagnosis, improved treatment, public awareness, and increased research efforts.
The theme for 2026 is “Bridge the Care Gap,” which highlights the lack of access to proper care, affordable treatment, and support systems.

Notes:
Recent clashes in Rayagada district have brought focus to the Sijimali bauxite mine project. Sijimali is a high-grade bauxite reserve spread over 1,500 hectares across Rayagada and Kalahandi district in the Eastern Ghats, Odisha. It contains about 311 million tonnes of bauxite ore, making it a significant mineral resource. The project was allocated to Vedanta Limited through a government auction in 2023. It has received conditional Stage-I forest clearance from the Central Government. The issue highlights tensions between development projects and tribal/environmental concerns.

Notes:
Recent research shows PACE Satellite can detect nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) pollution at very fine scales, identifying emissions from individual factories and highways. This is a major advancement in air quality monitoring and environmental governance. PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, and Ocean Ecosystem) is a NASA satellite mission. It was launched in 2024 into a Sun-synchronous orbit for consistent global observation. It provides hyperspectral coverage of Earth every 1–2 days. It improves climate studies by offering finer wavelength resolution than earlier satellites.

Notes:
Telangana has been declared Naxal-free after the surrender of 42 cadres of the Communist Party of India (Maoist). The announcement was made by Telangana Director General of Police (DGP) B. Shivadhar Reddy, stating that the Telangana State Committee has been dismantled. Among those who surrendered was PLGA (People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army) commander Sodi Malla. Surrendered cadres handed over 36 firearms, including AK-47 rifles, Self-Loading Rifles (SLRs), grenades, and large quantities of ammunition. Additional recoveries include 1,007 live rounds of ammunition and 800 grams of gold.

Notes:
Keytruda is an immunotherapy drug (pembrolizumab) used globally to treat cancers such as lung, cervical, renal cell, and aggressive breast cancer. It is manufactured by Merck & Co. and belongs to a class of drugs called checkpoint inhibitors. It is a monoclonal antibody, meaning it is a laboratory-made molecule designed to target specific cancer-related proteins. It blocks PD-1 receptors on T-cells, preventing interaction with PD-L1 on cancer cells, thereby enabling the immune system to attack cancer cells. In India, it is available in tertiary care hospitals, while indigenous CAR-T therapy like NexCAR19 has also been developed for cancer treatment.

Notes:
More than 1,000 Roman artefacts were discovered in Lake Neuchatel, Switzerland, providing insights into life during the Roman Empire. Lake Neuchâtel is the largest lake entirely within Switzerland and lies at the base of the Jura Mountains. It was formed during the last Ice Age (period of extensive glaciation about 15,000 years ago) due to melting glaciers carving valleys. The lake is about 38.3 kilometres (km) long and 8.2 km wide, covering 212.33 square kilometres (sq km).

Notes:
Delhi Traffic Police aunched Project SANGAM (Synergistic Action and Networked Governance for Area Mobility) initiative for coordinated traffic management) to improve traffic systems in Delhi. It focuses on community participation and coordinated governance. It brings together Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs: local resident groups), Market Welfare Associations, and civic bodies like Public Works Department (PWD: government infrastructure agency) and Municipal Corporation. It aims at real-time resolution of issues like congestion, unauthorised parking, and pedestrian safety.

Notes:
Ismail Omar Guelleh was re-elected for a sixth term with 97.81% votes in Djibouti’s recent election. He has ruled Djibouti since 1999, succeeding his uncle Hassan Gouled Aptidon. His opponent Mohamed Farah Samatar was a former ruling party member; elections lacked strong competition. Opposition groups have often boycotted polls citing restrictions on political freedoms. Djibouti is strategically located near the Red Sea–Gulf of Aden route (major global shipping corridor). The country holds geopolitical importance for trade and military presence in the Horn of Africa region.

Notes:
Sakurajima Volcano is located on the southern tip of Kyushu Island near Kagoshima city in Japan. It is one of Japan’s most active stratovolcanoes, with frequent eruptions of varying intensity. It is an andesitic volcano with high viscosity magma and high gas content, leading to explosive eruptions. It lies on a convergent plate boundary and forms part of the Aira Caldera system. The volcano consists of two main peaks: Kitadake (north) and Minamidake (south). Recent eruptions have sent large ash plumes, impacting nearby regions.

Notes:
Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush inaugurated “Chintan Shivir 2026” in New Delhi (2-day event ending 17 April 2026). The event aims to review progress, identify gaps, and plan a future roadmap for the AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy) sector. It emphasises evidence-based traditional medicine and integration with modern healthcare systems. The Ministry launched a WhatsApp channel and a toll-free number (1800-11-0008) for public engagement. The initiative aligns with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and promotes “Heal in India, Heal by India.”