Daily Current Affairs

World Health Day is observed globally every year on 7 April, marking the founding anniversary of the World Health Organization (WHO), to draw international attention to pressing health challenges and advance Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The 2026 theme is ‘Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures’, spotlighting maternal and newborn health, reducing preventable deaths during pregnancy and childbirth, and ensuring quality care for mothers and newborns worldwide.

• 2026 Focus Areas: Ending preventable maternal and newborn deaths; improving access to quality healthcare during pregnancy and childbirth; addressing health equity and Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
• India’s MMR Progress: Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) fell from 254 per 100,000 live births (2004–06) to 97 (2018–20).
• SDG 3.1 Target: India aims to bring MMR below 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.

National Maritime Day (NMD) is observed annually in India on 5 April to celebrate the country’s rich maritime heritage and acknowledge the shipping sector’s vital role in trade, connectivity, and national development. 5 April 2026 marked the 63rd NMD, with the theme ‘Maritime India — Empowering Progress.’ The Grand Finale was held at Bharatratnam Auditorium, Andheri, Mumbai, under Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal (Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, MoPSW).

• Key Maritime Facts: 90% of India’s trade by volume moves through sea routes; India’s coastline spans 7,516 km, touching 9 states and 4 UTs.
• Transshipment gap: 75% of transshipped container cargo is routed through foreign hubs — Colombo, Singapore, Port Klang.
• MAKV 2047: Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 — India’s long-term maritime roadmap for a self-reliant, technologically advanced maritime ecosystem.
• India’s goal: Become a top-5 global maritime power.

The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) is observed globally on 6 April each year under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) to highlight the transformative power of sport in promoting peace, inclusion, human rights, and sustainable development. The 2026 theme is ‘Sport: Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers.’

The Bharat Tribes Fest 2026 (BTF 2026), a national celebration of tribal culture, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurship, was held from 18 March to 5 April 2026 at Sunder Nursery, New Delhi — extended by six days due to an overwhelming public response. Organised by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) in association with TRIFED, the 19-day festival generated Rs 4.5 crore in sales and welcomed over 1.5 lakh visitors.

• RISA: Timeless Tribal: A signature brand launched at BTF 2026 — curates authentic tribal textiles (Eri Silk & Muga Silk of Assam; Kotpad Cotton of Odisha; Changpa Pashmina of Ladakh; Toda Embroidery of Tamil Nadu; Dongria Embroidery) for contemporary global luxury fashion. Phase 1 covers 10 clusters (5 tribal weaves, 2 embroideries, 3 crafts).
• Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs): 78 VDVKs participated; each VDVK clusters 15 tribal SHGs (~300 beneficiaries), promoting value addition of Minor Forest Produce (MFP).
• Conclaves held: Bharat Tribes Business Conclave (19–27 March); CSR Conclave (24 March); Van Dhan Conclave.
• ‘Forest-to-Plate’ initiative: Featured 120+ food exhibitors showcasing tribal cuisine and forest-sourced food products.

In April 2026, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) officially notified the ‘Television (TV) Rating Policy 2026’, replacing the decade-old 2014 guidelines governing TV audience measurement (TRP) in India. The revised policy aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and credibility in viewership measurement across the broadcasting sector.

• Governance reform: At least 50% of the Board of rating agencies must be independent directors with no links to broadcasters or advertisers; consultancy roles for TV rating agency staff are prohibited.
• Landing pages excluded: Viewership arising from ‘landing pages’ will not be counted in TRP measurement — closes a long-standing loophole.
• Sample expansion: Agencies must scale from 50,000 to 80,000 metered homes within 18 months; long-term target: 1.20 lakh homes.

In April 2026, Union Minister of State (MoS, IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoS&T) launched the country’s first-ever dedicated programme on ‘Administrative Capacity Building for Scientists and Academicians’ under Mission Karmayogi, during a special session of ‘SADHANA Saptah’ at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The initiative aims to equip scientific leaders with governance skills and modern public administration capabilities.

• UNNATI Portal Revamp: The Unified New-Age National Training Institutions (UNNATI) portal was revamped to strengthen institutional capacity-building ecosystems for government scientists and academicians.
• Karmayogi Kartavya Karyakram: A national rollout roadmap was launched to extend Mission Karmayogi’s civil service capacity-building framework to the scientific community.
• MoU Signed: Between the Capacity Building Commission (CBC) and the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) — to foster global knowledge partnerships in AI, digital governance, and public sector innovation.

Denis Manturov, First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, made a two-day official visit to India (2–3 April 2026) to strengthen bilateral ties across trade, energy, technology, and connectivity. He co-chaired the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) alongside Union Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar (Ministry of External Affairs) in New Delhi.

• IRIGC-TEC: The key institutional mechanism to review and advance strategic economic ties between India and Russia; meets periodically; chaired by respective trade/foreign ministers.
• Discussion areas: Trade, industry, energy, fertilisers, connectivity, technology, innovation, critical minerals, and mobility.
• Summit review: The meeting also reviewed outcomes of the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit held in December 2025.
• Key pillars: India-Russia relations anchored in energy (crude oil & fertilisers), defence cooperation, and technology transfer.

In April 2026, NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) launched two new initiatives — ATL Sarthi and Mentor India Academy — at Vardhaman College of Engineering in Hyderabad, Telangana, in alignment with PM Modi’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047.’ These initiatives aim to build innovation capacity at the grassroots school level through structured mentorship and institutional support.

• Scope: Structured mentorship and institutional support to 379 ATLs in Telangana; ATLs grouped into regional clusters, each supported by a nodal institution.
• Nodal Institution: Vardhaman College of Engineering designated as the nodal institution for the Telangana rollout.
• ATL Sarthi focus: Empowers students with hands-on exposure to emerging technologies and structured problem-solving approaches.

American credit rating agency Moody’s Ratings released its latest ‘Credit Opinion Report on India’ (dated 31 March 2026), lowering India’s GDP growth forecast for Financial Year 2026–27 (FY27) by 80 basis points to 6%, down from an earlier estimate of 6.8%. The ongoing West Asia conflict is identified as the primary growth dampener, threatening energy security, inflation, and capital formation.

• Growth dampeners: Subdued private consumption; softer industrial activity; weakening gross fixed capital formation (GFCF); elevated prices and higher input costs.
• Energy exposure: West Asia supplies ~55% of India’s crude oil imports and over 90% of India’s LPG supplies — disruptions trigger household LPG shortages, transport cost spikes, and food inflation via imported fertilisers.
• Inflation outlook: Projected to average 4.8% in FY27, sharply up from 2.4% in FY26.
• India’s strengths: Real GDP grew 7.5% in CY25 (up from 7.2% in CY24) — highest among G-20; Current Account Deficit (CAD) narrowed to 0.4% of GDP in CY25 (from 0.9% in CY24).
• Policy rate outlook: Rates likely to be held steady or raised gradually depending on geopolitical developments and inflation pass-through.

In April 2026, Procam International (India’s premier sports management company) announced the appointment of Croatian high jumper and double Olympic medallist Blanka Vlašić as the International Event Ambassador for the 18th edition of the TCS World 10K Bengaluru, scheduled for 26 April 2026 in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The event carries a World Athletics Gold Label — the highest accreditation for road races globally.

• Blanka Vlašić: Specialises in women’s high jump; multiple World Championship and World Indoor titles; double Olympic medallist; personal best of 2.08 m (2009) is the 3rd highest in women’s high jump history.
• Other roles: Vice President of the Croatian Olympic Committee; contributor to the Champions for Peace initiative.

In April 2026, businessman R.T. Chari released the updated edition of ‘A Road Well Travelled’ — the autobiography of former Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director R.K. Raghavan — at a formal event in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The first copy was received by Nandini Azad, President of the Indian Cooperative Network for Women (ICNW). Originally published by Westland Publications in 2020 and reissued by Creative Workshop.

• About R.K. Raghavan: Former Director of the CBI; also served in the Intelligence Bureau (IB); IPS officer (Indian Police Service); recipient of the Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Service and the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service.
• Book highlights: Traces Raghavan’s career from IPS through IB to Director of CBI; begins with the 1991 assassination of former PM Rajiv Gandhi at Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu — Raghavan was part of the security team; examines the withdrawal of SPG (Special Protection Group) cover as a key contributing factor.