Weekly Current Affairs Test : 8th to 14th April 2026

Government e Marketplace (GeM) is India’s national public procurement portal, launched in 2016 by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. GeM has achieved a cumulative Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) of ₹18.4 lakh crore, including crossing ₹5 lakh crore GMV in FY 2025–26. It facilitates procurement of goods and services for Central Government, State Government Ministries, Departments, Public Sector Units (PSUs), and affiliated organizations. GeM is fully digital, cashless, and system-driven, offering end-to-end solutions with AI-powered tools and a multilingual Learning Management System (LMS).

Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered two new species of free-living marine nematodes off the coast of Tamil Nadu named Corononema dhriti and Epacanthion indica. Corononema dhriti is the fourth known species of its genus, previously recorded only in Australia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Epacanthion indica is a microscopic predator with specialized mandibles and teeth, feeding within the benthic food web. Marine nematodes play a key role in nutrient cycling, sediment health, and act as bio-indicators for environmental and climate change.

India’s first indigenous Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, has successfully attained criticality. A Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) produces more fissile fuel than it consumes using fast neutrons. Criticality is the stage where a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction is achieved. The 500 Megawatt Electric (MWe) PFBR is developed by Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI). It uses Uranium-Plutonium Mixed Oxide fuel and liquid sodium as coolant. It supports India’s three-stage nuclear programme, enabling Thorium-232 to Uranium-233 conversion for long-term energy security.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has released draft rules to manage tar balls and protect India’s coastline and marine environment from oil spills. Tar balls are small, dark, sticky blobs of weathered oil formed in marine environments due to oil spills or natural seeps. It is formed when crude oil undergoes physical, chemical, and biological weathering, forming semi-solid or solid lumps transported by currents and waves to shores. It contains toxic contaminants, including heavy metals, trace elements, and persistent organic pollutants.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the Madras Hedgehog (Paraechinus nudiventris) has been analysed for the first time, revealing insights into its evolutionary history. Locally called Mulleli, it is also known as the bare-bellied hedgehog, discovered in 1851. They are found in dry scrublands, thorn forests, grasslands, and farmland edges in peninsular India—mainly Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and parts of Karnataka. It is listed as Least Concern in International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list.

The Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry has achieved cumulative investment of over ₹9,000 crore, exceeding the committed ₹7,000 crore, indicating strong industry response. It was launched by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries to boost India’s food processing sector. The scheme aims to promote Indian food brands globally and create large-scale food manufacturing champions. It focuses on increasing value addition, expanding processing capacity, and generating employment, especially in rural and off-farm sectors. The scheme is being implemented for six years from FY 2021–22 to FY 2026–27.

A rare melanistic (black-coloured) spotted deer (chital) was recently sighted at the Umred Pauni Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary near Nagpur. The sanctuary is located across Pauni tehsil in Bhandara district and Umred, Kuhi, and Bhivapur talukas of Nagpur district in Maharashtra. It is bounded along the northeast by the Wainganga River and the Gose Khurd Dam. The forest corridor along the Wainganga River connects this sanctuary with the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, aiding wildlife movement and ecological connectivity.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development celebrated the 8th edition of Poshan Pakhwada from 9th to 23rd April 2026. It is a 15-day nationwide campaign held annually in March/April to promote nutrition awareness and healthy eating through Jan Andolan and Jan Bhagidari. The theme for 2026 is “Maximizing Brain Development in the First Six Years of Life.” It promotes play-based education (3–6 years) to support holistic development and school readiness. The campaign highlights the role of parents and communities in reducing children’s screen time and encouraging active engagement.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Narendra Modi, has approved the Kalai-II Hydro Electric Project on the Lohit River in Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh. The total investment for the project is ₹14,105.83 crore, with an estimated completion period of 78 months. The project will have an installed capacity of 1200 MW (6 × 190 MW and 1 × 60 MW) and is expected to generate about 4852.95 million units (MU) of electricity annually. It will be the first hydroelectric project in the Lohit Basin, helping in strengthening regional power supply, managing peak demand, and balancing the national grid.

The 2nd edition of International Conference on Spacecraft Mission Operations SMOPS 2026 is held from 8–10 April 2026 in Bangalore with the theme “Innovative Operations for Smart and Sustainable Space Mission Management – Next Generation.” It is jointly organised by Indian Space Research Organisation, Astronautical Society of India, and International Academy of Astronautics. The conference focuses on mission operations, advanced mission design, automation, large constellations, human spaceflight, robotics, AI, cybersecurity, space policy, and interplanetary exploration. It also addresses future-oriented topics in both upstream and downstream space sectors and evolving ground station operations.

Reserve Bank of India proposed removing due diligence for onboarding Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) on Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) platforms to enhance ease of doing business. Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) is an electronic platform enabling financing/discounting of MSME trade receivables via multiple financiers. The platforms are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Its objective is to ensure quicker payments and improved working capital for MSMEs.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research set up a Special Task Force (STF) to design mitigation strategies for agriculture sector challenges. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an autonomous body under Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It was established on 16 July 1929 under Societies Registration Act, 1860, based on Royal Commission on Agriculture recommendations. ICAR played a key role in Green Revolution and advancing agricultural higher education; headquarters at New Delhi.

India has successfully demonstrated a 1,000-kilometre quantum communication network under the National Quantum Mission, a major breakthrough in secure communication technologies. The National Quantum Mission (NQM) was launched by the Department of Science & Technology with an outlay of Rs.6003 crore for 2023-24 to 2030-31. Its objective is to seed, nurture, and scale up scientific and industrial research and development (R&D) and create an innovative ecosystem in Quantum Technology (QT). It is one of nine initiatives under the Prime Minister’s Science Technology Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC).

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India conducted nearly 4 lakh inspections across food establishments in 2025-26. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) was established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. FSSAI operates under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

Exports of Makhana, also known as Fox Nuts, have declined due to reduced demand and prices caused by the ongoing West Asia war. Makhana is the dried edible seed of the prickly water lily or gorgon plant (Euryale ferox) and is nicknamed the “Black Diamond” because of its dark outer layer. The plant is native to South-East Asia and China but is now cultivated worldwide. In India, it is mainly produced in Bihar, West Bengal, Manipur, Tripura, Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Odisha, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, with Bihar as the leading producer. Makhana is included under the Union government’s One District One Product (ODOP) scheme.

A new plant species Fimbristylis wayanadensis has been discovered in the high-altitude regions of the Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot in India. It belongs to the group of sedges, which are grass-like plants characterized by triangular stems. The species was identified during a scientific expedition in the Wayanad district of Kerala. The name wayanadensis honours its place of discovery. It is found in transitional zones between rocky terrains and high-altitude grasslands, at elevations up to 1,900 meters.

The Minister of State for External Affairs highlighted the role of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations in strengthening India’s cultural diplomacy during a visit to Yangon, Myanmar. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) is an autonomous body under the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India. It was established in 1950 by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, India’s first Education Minister. ICCR promotes India’s external cultural relations through cultural exchanges and a global network of cultural centres.

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association India Region Zone VII Conference was recently inaugurated in Goa by the Lok Sabha Speaker. The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is one of the oldest organisations in the Commonwealth, established in 1911. It is a membership-based body bringing together parliamentarians committed to the rule of law, democracy, and individual rights and freedoms. The Association comprises over 180 legislatures (branches) across nine geographic regions of the Commonwealth. Its mission is to strengthen parliamentary democracy through knowledge sharing, youth participation, gender equality, and equal representation.

The Publications Division has made its flagship journals Yojana and Kurukshetra available free on the WAVES OTT platform. WAVES (Wireless Access to Virtual Entertainment Services) is a digital streaming platform developed by Prasar Bharati. It aims to meet India’s rising demand for Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming services. The platform provides live television, video-on-demand, games, radio streaming, and e-commerce integration via the Open Network for Digital Commerce.

The Indravati Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh is reopening for tourism, marking a shift from conflict to conservation and eco-tourism. The reserve, along with Bhairamgarh and Pamed Wildlife Sanctuaries, forms the larger Indravati landscape. It has ecological connectivity with tiger reserves like Kawal Tiger Reserve, Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, and Kanha Tiger Reserve. The Indravati River forms its northern and western boundary and an interstate border with Maharashtra.

The Karnataka High Court criticized the State Government for violating judicial orders banning construction at Shree Chamundeshwari Temple. The temple is located atop Chamundi Hills in Karnataka and is a major religious site. It is dedicated to Goddess Chamundeshwari, an incarnation of Goddess Durga. The original structure dates back to the 12th century under the Hoysala rulers. It was later expanded during the Vijayanagara Empire in the 17th century Common Era (CE).

Rare sightings of the Woolly-Necked Stork have been reported from paddy fields near Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, indicating suitable wetland habitat conditions. The Woolly-Necked Stork, also called White-necked or Bishop Stork, belongs to the stork family Ciconiidae. It is a widespread tropical species found in Africa and Asia, including India and Indonesia. In India, it is more common in northern regions but now sighted in southern wetlands. It is listed as Near Threatened in International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Conservation status.

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.

Recently, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited handed over four ALH Mk III Maritime Role helicopters to the Indian Coast Guard, boosting maritime capabilities. ALH Mk III is the maritime variant of the indigenous Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter. It is indigenously designed and manufactured in India, supporting self-reliance in defence. It is a multi-role, twin-engine helicopter suited for complex maritime operations. It enhances operational readiness, rapid response, and surveillance efficiency of the Indian Coast Guard.

Recently, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture and Sciences successfully cultivated Morchella mushrooms in controlled conditions for the first time. Morchella Mushroom is an edible fungus belonging to the Ascomycota group and family Morchellaceae. Locally known as Gucchi or Kangaech, it grows naturally in high-altitude forests during a short rainy season. It is highly valued for its rich flavour, high nutrition, and medicinal properties. It is found in conifer forests of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir.

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has proposed an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of 663.32 square kilometres around the Kali Tiger Reserve to regulate activities and protect biodiversity. Kali Tiger Reserve is located in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka in the ecologically fragile Western Ghats. It comprises two contiguous protected areas: Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary and Anshi National Park, forming a single ecological landscape. It is connected to Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary and further to Radhanagari and Koyna wildlife sanctuaries in Maharashtra, ensuring wildlife corridors.

The Sagarmala Programme was launched in March 2015 to promote port-led development and enhance India’s logistics efficiency and trade competitiveness. The programme currently includes 845 projects worth ₹6.06 lakh crore, out of which 315 projects worth ₹1.57 lakh crore have been completed. It aims to reduce transportation costs by promoting coastal shipping and inland waterways alongside existing road and rail networks. The programme is based on five pillars, namely port modernization and new port development, port connectivity enhancement, port-led industrialization, coastal community development, and promotion of coastal shipping and inland waterways transport.

Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) has received environmental clearance from the Government of Argentina for deep exploration of five brine-based lithium blocks. This marks a significant step in securing critical minerals, especially lithium, which is essential for batteries and clean energy technologies. Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) is a joint venture of three Central Public Sector Enterprises—National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL), and Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited (MECL)—with a shareholding ratio of 40:30:30.

Andhra Pradesh has launched India’s first quantum test facilities under the Amaravati Quantum Valley initiative on the occasion of World Quantum Day (April 14). The facilities include two Quantum Reference Facilities at SRM University, Amaravati and Medha Towers, Gannavaram, creating India’s first quantum test and certification ecosystem. The systems operate at extremely low temperatures (near −273°C) and support advanced quantum research and innovation. The initiative promotes collaboration among academia, startups, and industry, with support from institutions like Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Benjamin Netanyahu has appointed Major General Roman Gofman as the next Director of Mossad (Israeli Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations). The appointment was approved by the advisory committee on senior appointments.

Roman Gofman currently serves as the military secretary to the Prime Minister and has been praised for his resourcefulness and strategic thinking. He will assume office on July 2, 2026, for a tenure of five years. The appointment comes amid ongoing regional tensions, highlighting the importance of strengthening Israel’s intelligence and security framework.