Daily Current Affairs

A significant cluster of festivals and observances falls on 13–14 April 2026, making this a high-yield period for competitive exam aspirants. Baisakhi (Vaisakhi) on 13 April celebrates the founding of the Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1699 at Anandpur Sahib, Punjab, and also marks the Rabi (spring) harvest in Punjab and Haryana. The same date marks the 107th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919). On 14 April, three major observances coincide: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Jayanti (135th birth anniversary), Vishu (Kerala’s traditional New Year), and Tamil New Year (Puthandu) — all linked to the sun’s entry into Mesha (Aries) rasi in the solar calendar.

• Baisakhi — Solar new year in the Hindu (Bikrami) calendar; celebrated across Punjab, Haryana, and diaspora globally.
• Khalsa Panth — Founded by Guru Gobind Singh Ji on 13 April 1699 at Anandpur Sahib; the community of initiated Sikhs.
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar — Born 14 April 1891, Mhow, Madhya Pradesh; Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee; known as the ‘Father of the Indian Constitution’ and ‘Chief Architect of the Indian Constitution’; fought against caste discrimination; advocated ‘Educate, Agitate, Organise’; instrumental in establishing the RBI; reduced working hours from 12 to 8; awarded Bharat Ratna (1990, posthumously).
• Vishu — Kerala’s New Year; marks the sun’s entry into Mesha zodiac; associated with Vishukkani (auspicious first sight); also celebrated in parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
• Puthandu / Puthuvarusham — Tamil New Year; first day of the Tamil solar calendar; celebrated in Tamil Nadu and Tamil communities globally.

NASA’s Artemis II mission concluded successfully with the safe splashdown of the Orion spacecraft ‘Integrity’ in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California at 8:07 p.m. EDT on 10 April 2026. The four-member crew completed a 10-day, 695,081-mile journey around the Moon — the first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years (since Apollo 17 in December 1972). The crew arrived at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC), Houston on 11 April 2026.

• Mission duration: 9 days, 1 hour, 31 minutes, 35 seconds; launched 1 April 2026 at 6:35 p.m. ET from Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
• Farthest distance from Earth: 406,000+ km — a record for humans; first direct ocean splashdown from a lunar trajectory since 1972.
• Spacecraft: Orion capsule (named ‘Integrity’) + Space Launch System (SLS); recovered by USS John P. Murtha (US Navy amphibious transport dock ship).
• Re-entry: Speed ~24,661 mph (39,688 kph); heat shield withstood up to 5,000°F (2,760°C); 11 parachutes deployed; splashdown speed ~20 mph.
• NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman called it the ‘opening act’ in America’s return to the Moon.
• Next missions: Artemis III — crewed lunar south pole landing; Artemis IV — targeted by 2028.
• Artemis programme: Named after Apollo’s twin sister in Greek mythology; Artemis I was uncrewed (2022); goal — establish Lunar Gateway and sustainable human lunar presence.

External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar began an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 11 April 2026, as the second leg of his 4-day diplomatic tour (Mauritius: 9–10 April; UAE: 11–12 April). The visit focussed on deepening the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and addressing energy security concerns arising from the West Asia conflict. Jaishankar met members of the ~3.5 million-strong Indian diaspora — the largest in any GCC country — and UAE leadership, including UAE FM Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

• Partnership history: Upgraded to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in January 2017 during PM Modi’s visit; further elevated in January 2026 when UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited India.
• Key agenda: Energy security (oil/gas supplies, restarting Indian exports); trade continuity; Strait of Hormuz navigation; ceasefire impact on regional stability.
• Context: Visit triggered after the US-Iran 2-week ceasefire (8 April 2026); India welcomed ceasefire and stressed ‘de-escalation, dialogue, and diplomacy.’
• Parallel: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri simultaneously on a 3-day visit to the US to discuss trade, defence, technology, and West Asia.

Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri undertook a two-day official visit to Qatar on 9–10 April 2026 — the first senior Indian ministerial visit to Qatar since the West Asia conflict began — to strengthen energy ties and discuss restoration of LNG supplies. He met H.E. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs and President & CEO of QatarEnergy.

• Context: Qatar’s giant LNG export facility was struck and a force majeure declared on gas exports after attacks on QatarEnergy infrastructure during the West Asia conflict (US-Israel attacks on Iran from 28 February 2026; Iran retaliated against Gulf nations hosting US troops).
• India’s exposure: Qatar is India’s single-largest LNG supplier (45%) and largest LPG supplier (20%) — making the disruption critical.
• Outcome: Al-Kaabi reaffirmed Qatar’s position as a reliable, long-term energy supplier; both sides welcomed the 2-week ceasefire (8 April 2026) and stressed restoring global energy market stability.
• Coordinated diplomacy: Part of India’s multi-front energy outreach — Jaishankar (UAE), Puri (Qatar), Foreign Secretary Misri (USA) — all coordinated under PM Modi’s directions.

On 9 April 2026, voters in Assam (126 seats), Kerala (140 seats), and Puducherry (30 seats) cast their ballots in State and UT Legislative Assembly elections, conducted under the oversight of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). These three are part of a five-state election cycle in 2026, with Tamil Nadu and West Bengal also scheduled. Results for all five states will be declared on 4 May 2026.

• Assam key parties: NDA alliance — BJP, AGP (Asom Gana Parishad), BPF (Bodoland People’s Front); Opposition — Congress-led INDIA bloc and AIUDF (All India United Democratic Front).
• Kerala key parties: LDF (Left Democratic Front) led by CPI-M (incumbent CM: Pinarayi Vijayan) vs UDF (United Democratic Front) led by Congress (INC); BJP seeking expanded presence.
• Puducherry: NR Congress-BJP NDA alliance vs INC-DMK alliance; 30-seat UT assembly.
• Key election issues: West Asia conflict, LPG shortage, SIR (Special Intensive Revision) controversy.
• Results: 4 May 2026 for all five states.

Justice Yashwant Varma resigned as a judge of the Delhi High Court by submitting his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu, amid the ongoing controversy over alleged burnt cash recovered from his residence following a fire incident in March 2025. The resignation followed an in-house inquiry ordered by then-Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna — which found serious concerns — and the initiation of impeachment proceedings under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.

• Constitutional basis: High Court judges can be removed by the President under Articles 124 and 218 of the Constitution for ‘proven misbehaviour’ or ‘incapacity’, requiring a special majority in Parliament.
• Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968: Governs removal of Supreme Court and High Court judges; provides for an inquiry committee and parliamentary removal motion.
• In-house inquiry: Ordered by CJI Sanjiv Khanna; found serious concerns warranting impeachment proceedings.
• Significance: Highlights rare invocation of judicial accountability mechanisms in India; reinforces constitutional provisions for removal of judges.

In early April 2026, India launched a comprehensive energy-security diplomatic offensive following severe supply disruptions caused by the West Asia conflict. The US-Iran 2-week ceasefire agreed on 8 April 2026 provided a critical window for diplomatic activity. India’s coordinated domestic and diplomatic response involved multiple senior ministers operating simultaneously across multiple theatres.

• Informal Group of Ministers (IGoM): Convened by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at Kartavya Bhawan; attended by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, EAM Jaishankar, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, and Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri; assessed preparedness and ensured uninterrupted supply chains for LPG, petrol, diesel, and fertilisers.
• Domestic measures: Essential Commodities Act invoked; strategic petroleum reserves assessed; energy rationing guidelines issued; diplomatic missions activated in Gulf.
• Diplomatic missions: Jaishankar → UAE; Puri → Qatar; Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri → USA — all coordinated under PM Modi’s directions.
• India’s ceasefire stance: MEA welcomed the ceasefire and urged ‘dialogue, diplomacy, and de-escalation’; stressed freedom of navigation and smooth global commerce through Strait of Hormuz.
• Strait of Hormuz: Critical global oil/gas chokepoint through which ~20% of world’s oil trade passes; Iran’s blocking of the Strait (until ceasefire) severely disrupted global energy flows.

While Artemis II carried no Indian astronauts, it carries significant relevance for India’s space programme: ISRO conducted Mission MITRA (Multi-domain Isolationary Terrestrial Research for Astronauts) in Ladakh from 2–9 April 2026, training four Gaganyatris (astronauts) for India’s crewed orbital mission — Gaganyaan (planned 2027). Simultaneously, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (IAF) continues to prepare for the Axiom Space Ax-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

• Mission MITRA: Conducted in Ladakh (2–9 April 2026); simulates isolation and multi-domain challenges to prepare astronauts for the Gaganyaan mission.
• Gaganyaan: India’s first crewed orbital spaceflight mission; developed by ISRO; planned for 2027; rocket — HLVM3 (Human-rated LVM3 / GSLV Mk III adapted); crew of 3 astronauts for ~3 days in 400 km orbit.
• Shubhanshu Shukla: Indian Air Force Group Captain; selected as mission specialist for Axiom Space Ax-4 mission to ISS; became the first Indian to be designated as Space Station Commander-designate; mission planned 2025, delayed to 2026.
• India-Artemis connection: ISRO is a partner in NASA’s Artemis Accords framework; Gaganyaan is India’s stepping stone toward future crewed lunar and deep-space missions.