Weekly Current Affairs Test : 1st to 7th April 2026

A 500 MW floating solar plant is being planned at Kariba Dam by Green Hybrid Power in partnership with Intensive Energy User Group. The dam is located on the Zambezi River at the Kariba Gorge, forming the boundary between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is a double-curvature concrete arch dam, completed in 1959, and stands about 128 metres high. The dam plays a crucial role in power generation, supplying electricity to both Zambia and Zimbabwe. Its construction led to the creation of Lake Kariba, the world’s largest human-made lake by volume.

At the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, about 40 new species were added to the protected list category. The convention, also known as the Bonn Convention, is an environmental treaty under the United Nations Environment Programme. It provides a global framework for conservation and sustainable use of migratory animals and their habitats. The convention was signed in Bonn, Germany on 23 June 1979.

Varkala, Kerala, has been included in the inaugural “20 Cities Towards Zero Waste” initiative. The initiative is led by the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Zero Waste with support from UN-Habitat and United Nations Environment Programme. It recognises cities that demonstrate innovative and ambitious efforts in waste reduction, circular economy practices, and sustainable urban development. The initiative aims to highlight leadership and innovation in managing waste effectively. It promotes the exchange of best practices and lessons among cities globally. It seeks to inspire other cities to adopt zero-waste strategies and accelerate sustainability transitions.

Agray, an anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft, has been delivered to the Indian Navy. It is the fourth of eight ASW Shallow Water Crafts, aimed at strengthening coastal defence capabilities. The vessel is indigenously designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers. It is a reincarnation of the earlier INS Agray, a patrol vessel decommissioned in 2017. The ship has been constructed as per standards of the Indian Register of Shipping. It uses waterjet propulsion, making it among the largest Indian naval warships to use this technology. It is equipped with lightweight torpedoes, indigenous rocket launchers, and advanced shallow water SONAR systems for effective submarine detection.

Navegaon Nagzira Tiger Reserve took control of its notified buffer area, strengthening conservation management. It is located in Maharashtra and forms part of the Central Indian Tiger Landscape, which supports nearly one-sixth of India’s tiger population. The reserve was declared in 2013 and is the fifth tiger reserve in Maharashtra. It comprises multiple protected areas, including Nawegaon National Park, Nawegaon Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary, New Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary, and Koka Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India has recently introduced Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) for the insurance sector to modernise financial reporting practices. Ind AS were originally notified in 2015 by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and are largely converged with the International Financial Reporting Standards, thereby aligning India’s accounting system with global norms. These standards follow a principle-based approach, focusing on fair value measurement, improved transparency, and enhanced financial disclosures, which helps in better decision-making and comparability.

The Malwan has been delivered to the Indian Navy as part of efforts to strengthen coastal defence capabilities. It is the second of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW SWC) being built by Cochin Shipyard Limited at Kochi, and is indigenously designed and constructed. The vessel is named after Malwan and carries forward the legacy of the former INS Malwan, a naval minesweeper that served until 2003. It is designed for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), coastal surveillance, Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO), and mine warfare.

e-GramSwaraj platform has enabled cumulative payments exceeding ₹3 lakh crore for Gram Panchayats, marking a major step in digital governance. It was launched in 2020. It is an e-governance platform aimed at improving transparency and efficiency in Panchayati Raj Institutions. The platform is developed under the e-Panchayat Mission Mode Project and is integrated with the Public Financial Management System. The platform supports decentralized planning, progress reporting, and work-based accounting, strengthening grassroots governance.

A rare white female albino Himalayan tahr has been recorded in Kugti Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Bharmour, Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh. The sanctuary is the second largest in Himachal Pradesh and is known for its rich biodiversity and high-altitude ecosystem. Geographically, it lies between the Ravi and Chenab rivers and represents a high-altitude protected area. It is bordered by Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary in the south-east and Tundah Wildlife Sanctuary in the north-west.

National Assessment and Accreditation Council has not granted fresh accreditation to any university or college in the current academic year, raising concerns about the accreditation process. NAAC was established in 1994 as an autonomous institution under the University Grants Commission. Its primary objective is to assess and enhance the quality of higher education institutions (HEIs) through a structured accreditation process. It evaluates institutions such as colleges, universities, and other recognised bodies to determine their overall quality status.

The Ministry of Textiles has extended the Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) Scheme for exports of apparel, garments, and made-ups up to 30th September 2026 to promote textile exports. The RoSCTL Scheme has been operational since 2019 and aims to enhance the competitiveness of Indian textile exports in the global market. The scheme provides reimbursement of all embedded State and Central taxes and levies that are not otherwise refunded under any other mechanism. The RoSCTL Scheme was introduced as a successor to the Rebate of State Levies (RoSL) Scheme, which covered only State taxes and levies.

The Central Government has mandated petrol pumps to supply E20 fuel with a minimum octane rating of 95 RON to promote cleaner and more efficient fuel usage. E20 fuel is a blended fuel consisting of 20% ethanol and 80% petrol, aimed at reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Ethanol used in E20 is a biofuel derived from renewable crops such as sugarcane, maize, and grains, making it environmentally sustainable. E20 fuel has a higher octane rating (minimum 95 RON) compared to regular petrol in India, which typically has an octane rating of 91–92 RON.

India’s Antariksh Venture Capital Fund will start investing in space startups from FY2027 to boost the private space sector. It is a close-ended fund registered with Securities and Exchange Board of India as a Category II Alternative Investment Fund (AIF). Key investor is Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre under the Department of Space. The fund is sponsored by SIDBI Venture Capital Limited. The objective is to provide capital for space startups, support scaling, and promote commercialization of technologies.

Indian Space Research Organisation conducts the YUva VIgyani KAryakram (YUVIKA) to promote scientific temper among school students. The YUVIKA (YUva VIgyani KAryakram) programme is an initiative of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The programme provides foundational knowledge in space technology, space science, and space applications, with special focus on students from rural areas. Its objective is to create awareness about emerging trends in science and encourage students to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers.

Rice’s Whale is a baleen whale belonging to the family Balaenopteridae and is closely related to Bryde’s whales. It was recognised as a distinct species in 2021, separate from other Bryde’s whales globally. It is the only whale species found year-round in the Gulf of Mexico. Its diet mainly consists of silver-rag driftfish. Major threats include oil drilling, vessel strikes, noise pollution, oil spills, and climate change. According to International Union for Conservation of Nature, it is classified as Critically Endangered.

Gangotri National Park recently reopened after a six-month winter break, highlighting seasonal conservation management in the Himalayan region. It is located in Uttarakhand, along the upper catchment of the Bhagirathi River. The park’s northeastern boundary touches China (Tibet Autonomous Region). It shares borders with Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary and Govind National Park.

The Multi-Hazard Early Warning Decision Support System (MH-EWDSS) marks a major advancement in India’s disaster risk reduction and weather forecasting framework. It is developed by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) using open-source technology and in-house expertise. It is part of Mission Mausam, a digital transformation initiative, and was launched in 2024. It uses Geographic Information System (GIS) maps for real-time data collection, analysis, and dissemination.

Newcastle Disease is a highly contagious viral disease affecting poultry and wild birds, recently reported spreading across Europe and the United Kingdom (UK). It is caused by Avian Paramyxovirus Serotype 1 (APMV-1) and has global distribution. It occurs in three forms: lentogenic (mild), mesogenic (moderate), and velogenic (highly virulent). Transmission occurs via respiratory droplets, exhaled air, and feces of infected birds. Symptoms include respiratory distress (gasping, coughing), nervous signs (paralysis, twisted neck), and diarrhoea.

SAMPANN (System for Accounting and Management of Pension) is a digital pension platform being adopted by Goa Government and Cochin Port Authority to modernize pension disbursement. It is a flagship initiative of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), launched in 2018. It is managed by the Office of the Controller General of Communication Accounts (CGCA). It enables end-to-end pension processing including sanction, authorization, and payment on a single platform. It ensures direct bank transfer of pensions without intermediaries, improving transparency.

The ‘School Chalen Hum’ campaign was launched in Bhopal by Mohan Yadav to boost universal school enrolment and quality education. It was conducted from April 1–4, it targets all children across 55 districts and more than 50,000 villages. It aligns with Pravesh Utsav (admission festival) and focuses on distribution of 5.6 crore textbooks and learning materials.

The initiative supports goals of the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020). Enrolment increased by 19.6%, with 32.4% rise in government schools. Sandipani Vidyalayas and PM-SHRI (Prime Minister Schools for Rising India) schools promote quality infrastructure.

Karnataka has recorded the highest number of women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) trained as drone pilots under the Namo Drone Didi Yojana (NDDY). The scheme is a Central Sector initiative aimed at empowering women-led SHGs under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission by providing drone technology for agricultural services. It aims to enable SHGs to provide drone rental services to farmers, mainly for spraying liquid fertilizers and pesticides. Around 15,000 drones will be distributed to selected women SHGs during 2024–25 to 2025–26.

A 16-year-old girl from the Juang tribe in Odisha brought significant social change by transforming village attitudes toward child health and child marriage. The Juang tribe is one of the 13 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) among the 62 tribes found in Odisha and is mainly concentrated in Keonjhar and Dhenkanal districts. They speak the Juang language, which belongs to the Munda branch of the Austroasiatic language family, and follow a structured clan and kinship system. Traditionally dependent on hunting, gathering, and limited cultivation, they later adapted to basket-weaving and barter trade after forest restrictions during the colonial period.

India has inducted its third nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, INS Aridhaman, into the Indian Navy, strengthening its strategic deterrence capability. INS Aridhaman is the third indigenously built Submersible Ship Ballistic Nuclear (SSBN) and the second submarine of the Arihant class (Submersible Ship Ballistic Nuclear). It has been developed under the Advanced Technology Vessel project (ATV) at the Ship Building Centre in Visakhapatnam. The submarine has a displacement of about 6,000 tonnes on the surface and 7,000 tonnes when submerged.

Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary has emerged as a notable success story of ecological revival in the fragile Shivalik Hills. It is located in Chandigarh, near Sukhna Lake, at the foothills of the Shivalik range. The lake was created by Le Corbusier by diverting the seasonal Sukhna Choe stream. The sanctuary was established in 1998 and developed through afforestation efforts aimed at soil conservation around the lake. The region is geographically fragile, with sandy Shivalik soil and clay pockets, making it highly prone to soil erosion during rains.

The festive spirit of Rongali Bihu has spread across different parts of Assam. It is one of the most important festivals of Assam, also known as Bohag Bihu, marking the Assamese New Year and the arrival of spring. The term “Rongali” is derived from the word “Rong,” meaning joy, happiness, and celebration. The festival reflects the rich cultural traditions and social life of Assamese society. During celebrations, women wear traditional mekhela chador made of pat, muga silk, or cotton.

Recently, the Nilgiris Collector visited a remote village inside Mudumalai Tiger Reserve to inspect polling facilities and ensure basic amenities for voters, highlighting governance outreach in forest interiors ahead of elections . The reserve is located in Tamil Nadu at the tri-junction of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, and forms part of the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve. It shares boundaries with Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and Bandipur Tiger Reserve, making it an important ecological corridor.

Bangladesh launched an emergency vaccination campaign targeting over one million children due to a fast-spreading measles outbreak. Measles is a highly contagious airborne viral disease caused by a virus from the paramyxovirus family. It spreads through coughing, sneezing, or contact with infected respiratory secretions, and the virus can remain active in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours. The infection begins in the respiratory tract and spreads throughout the body, potentially causing severe complications and death.

Recently, the Election Commission of India urged voters to use the “Know Your Candidates” (KYC) module on the ECINet platform to make informed electoral choices. ECINet is a single-point digital platform developed by Election Commission of India (ECI) for voters, election officials, political parties, and civil society. It integrates over 40 existing ECI apps, including Voter Helpline App, cVIGIL, Suvidha 2.0, Saksham, and others. The platform offers a user-friendly interface (UI/UX) with all electoral services in one place.

The Department of Pensions and Pensioners’ Welfare has been conducting Digital Life Certificate (DLC) Campaigns since November 2022 to promote digital submission of life certificates and improve ease of living for pensioners. DLC Campaign 4.0 (Nov 1–30, 2025) was launched in New Delhi and became the largest-ever pensioners’ welfare campaign in India. The campaign followed a saturation approach, organizing 75,000 camps across 2,000 cities/districts, supported by 1,400 nodal officers and 1.8 lakh postmen/Dak Sevaks for doorstep services.

World Health Day is observed every year on 7 April. The theme for 2026 is “Together for health. Stand with science.” The campaign emphasizes the importance of science-based solutions and global collaboration to protect the health of people, animals, plants, and the environment. It promotes the One Health approach, highlighting the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health. The observance launches a year-long global campaign focusing on scientific achievements and the role of multilateral cooperation in turning evidence into action.