Daily Current Affairs

National Safe Motherhood Day is observed every year in India on 11 April — the birth anniversary of Kasturba Gandhi (wife of Mahatma Gandhi) — to raise awareness about adequate healthcare for pregnant and lactating women and to ensure safe pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal care. India was the first country in the world to declare a National Safe Motherhood Day (2003).

• Initiated by: White Ribbon Alliance India (WRAI) — an association of 1,800+ organisations; the Government of India recognized April 11 at WRAI’s request in 2003.
• Key focus: Ensuring every woman has access to quality antenatal, delivery, and postnatal care; reducing Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR); empowering women with healthcare rights.
• India’s MMR progress: MMR dropped from 254 (2004–06) to 97 per 100,000 live births (2018–20); SDG 3.1 target: below 70 by 2030.
• Key government schemes: Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY); LaQshya (Labour Room Quality Improvement Initiative); POSHAN 2.0; PM Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY).
• Kasturba Gandhi: Born 11 April 1869 in Porbandar, Gujarat; renowned social activist; popularly called ‘Ba’; passed away 22 February 1944 in Pune.

13 April 2026 marks the 107th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (13 April 1919, Amritsar, Punjab). On this day — also Baisakhi — British Indian Army troops under Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer fired upon a peaceful, unarmed gathering, killing hundreds and wounding thousands. It remains one of the darkest chapters of British colonial rule in India.

The Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) completed 11 years on 8 April 2026. Launched on 8 April 2015 by PM Narendra Modi, the scheme has disbursed over Rs 40.07 lakh crore through more than 57.79 crore MUDRA loan accounts, empowering grassroots micro-entrepreneurs across India under the motto ‘Funding the Unfunded.’ The milestone was celebrated by PM Modi, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and MoS Finance Pankaj Chaudhary.

• Objective: Provide collateral-free institutional loans up to Rs 20 lakh to non-corporate, non-farm small and micro-enterprises (limit raised from Rs 10 lakh in Union Budget 2024-25).
• Women beneficiaries: 59.81% of accounts held by women; SC+ST+OBC share: 45.52%; 12 crore+ new entrepreneurs created.
• MUDRA Ltd: Wholly-owned subsidiary of SIDBI; acts as a refinancing body (not direct lender); credit guarantee via NCGTC (National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company).
• Lending channels: Commercial banks, RRBs, Small Finance Banks, MFIs, and NBFCs.
• MUDRA Card: Borrowers receive a RuPay debit card for working capital flexibility.

India’s Census 2027 Phase I (House Listing and Housing Census / HLO) began on 1 April 2026 — the first-ever fully digital census. PM Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, VP C.P. Radhakrishnan, and Home Minister Amit Shah completed their self-enumeration through the online portal (se.census.gov.in) on 1 April 2026, marking the formal launch.

• Key firsts: First digital census (mobile app for enumerators); first self-enumeration option (online); first census to include caste enumeration since 1931.
• Scale: India’s 16th Census; 8th after Independence; ~30 lakh field functionaries; portal in 16 languages; budget: Rs 11,718.24 crore.
• Registrar General: Mritunjay Kumar Narayan.
• Mascots: ‘Pragati’ (female enumerator) and ‘Vikas’ (male enumerator) — unveiled by Home Minister Amit Shah.
• Early states (Phase I): Self-enumeration 1–15 April & HLO 16 April–15 May 2026: Andaman & Nicobar Islands, NDMC + Delhi Cantonment Board, Goa, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha, Sikkim.

The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Act, 2026 has been officially notified in the Gazette of India after receiving Presidential assent. It is a landmark legislation that replaces fragmented force-specific Acts with a comprehensive, harmonised system for regulating the administrative and service matters of India’s Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).

• Purpose: Regulate recruitment, promotion, and service conditions of specified CAPFs under a unified framework for Group A (General Duty) officers, IPS officers on deputation, and Army officers on deputation/re-employment.
• Key reforms: Uniform system across forces; legislative clarity; preservation of operational distinctiveness; harmonises judicial directions with federal and administrative requirements.
• CAPFs covered: CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force), BSF (Border Security Force), CISF (Central Industrial Security Force), ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police), SSB (Sashastra Seema Bal), NSG (National Security Guard).
• Ministry: Under Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

The 9th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC 2026) is being held in Port Louis, Mauritius from 10–12 April 2026, organised by India Foundation in association with the Government of Mauritius. The theme is ‘Collective Stewardship for Indian Ocean Governance.’ External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar is attending on behalf of India and delivering the keynote address, as part of a four-day visit covering Mauritius (9–10 April) and the UAE (11–12 April).

• Jaishankar bilateral — Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam: Discussed development cooperation, health, education, maritime security; India finalising G2G agreement for oil and gas supply; 100+ community projects across Mauritius, Rodrigues, Agalega; India to position Defence Attaché in Mauritius.
• Bilateral — FM Seychelles Barry Faure: India committed to Seychelles’ economic challenges; welcomed Special Economic Package; India sent 250 MT food grains to Seychelles.
• Bilateral — FM Nepal Shishir Khanal: Discussed India-Nepal partnership potential.
• Bilateral — FM Bhutan D.N. Dhungyel: India-Bhutan partnership described as ‘unique and time-tested.’
• India’s Vision MAHASAGAR: India’s framework for partnership in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) — linked to SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region).
• UAE visit (11–12 April): Second leg; to review bilateral cooperation under the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Colonel Sonam Wangchuk (Retd.), Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) awardee and celebrated hero of the 1999 Kargil War, popularly known as the ‘Lion of Ladakh,’ passed away on 10 April 2026 due to a sudden heart attack in Leh, Ladakh. He was 61. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi expressed deep condolences.

• Born: 11 May 1964, Sankar village, Leh district, Ladakh.
• Military service: Commissioned into Indian Army in 1987; served with 4th Battalion, Assam Regiment; later with Ladakh Scouts; retired in 2018 after 31+ years.
• Kargil War 1999 (Operation Vijay, Batalik Sector): Then-Major Sonam Wangchuk of the Indus Wing, Ladakh Scouts, on 30 May 1999, led his column at above 5,500 metres altitude; when the enemy ambushed the column, he led a daring counter-ambush from the flank, killed two enemy personnel, and recovered one Heavy Machine Gun (HMG), one Universal Machine Gun (UMG), and ammunition.
• Maha Vir Chakra (MVC): India’s second-highest wartime gallantry award; awarded for conspicuous bravery during Operation Vijay.
• Legacy: Two Indian Army posts named after him — ‘Sonam 1’ and ‘Sonam 2’; also remembered for the liberation of Turtuk during the 1971 Indo-Pak War.