Weekly Current Affairs April 2026 (2nd Week) – GK Questions, Answers & PDF Download for SSC, Banking, UPSC

The weekly current affairs from 17 April to 23 April 2026 include several important developments related to governance, economy, environment, science, defence, social security and international cooperation.

Governance The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched the operational guidelines for the Urban Challenge Fund Programme — a centrally sponsored scheme with a central outlay of ₹1,00,000 crore for FY 2025-26 to 2030-31. The scheme aims to strengthen the financial capacity of Urban Local Bodies and catalyse nearly ₹4 lakh crore investment in the urban sector over five years.

Environment The European Commission proposed expanding the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to include around 180 additional products from January 1, 2028. CBAM is the EU's tool to put a fair price on carbon emitted during the production of carbon-intensive goods entering the EU. Its objective is to prevent carbon leakage.

Science & Tech Anthropic announced Mythos — an advanced AI model focused on cybersecurity and vulnerability detection. It is capable of identifying previously undetected bugs in legacy software systems. Access is restricted to a consortium of more than 40 companies.

Governance Operation Numkhor, launched by the Customs Preventive Commissionerate, Kochi in September 2025, is a nationwide crackdown on vehicle smuggling and forged registration rackets.

Governance The Constitution 131st Amendment Bill, 2026 failed to pass in the Lok Sabha. The Bill aimed at fast-tracking 33% reservation for women in legislatures via delimitation based on the 2011 Census. Under Article 368, it required a special majority of 352 votes but secured only 298.

Economy According to the latest IMF World Economic Outlook, India slipped to the 6th largest economy in the world in nominal GDP terms. India's GDP was estimated at around $4.15 trillion in 2026.

Environment Kankaria Coaching Depot in Ahmedabad became India's first water-neutral railway depot. It saves around 1.60 lakh litres of water daily and about 5.84 crore litres annually through wastewater treatment and reuse systems.

Defence India and Russia operationalised the Indo-Russian Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS Pact). It is not a permanent basing agreement but a logistics support framework for exercises, deployments, humanitarian missions and disaster relief operations.

Governance The Union Cabinet extended PMGSY-III beyond March 2025 till 2028-29 and increased its outlay by ₹3,727 crore to ₹83,977 crore. PMGSY was launched in 2000 to provide all-weather road connectivity in rural areas.

Economy The Union Cabinet approved the creation of Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool with a sovereign guarantee of ₹12,980 crore. It covers hull and machinery, cargo, protection and indemnity, and war risk.

Environment Odisha became the first state in India to launch a Marine Spatial Plan in the second phase. Marine Spatial Planning is a tool for sustainable and integrated ocean management supporting the Blue Economy.

Social The National Medical Commission (NMC) proposed amendments related to registration of medical practitioners and licence to practice medicine. NMC was established in 2020 under the NMC Act, 2019.

Governance Civil Services Day was observed on 21 April. It commemorates the day in 1947 when Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel addressed the first batch of civil servants at Metcalfe House, New Delhi. He called civil servants the "Steel frame of India."

Environment Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh was designated as India's 99th Ramsar Site. It is a freshwater wetland ecosystem formed by the Upper Ganges Canal in Aligarh.

Environment World Earth Day was observed on 22 April 2026. The theme was "Our Power, Our Planet." The Breakthrough Prize Foundation also announced the 2026 laureates in life sciences, mathematics and fundamental physics.

Science & Tech The Government notified the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026 under the Online Gaming Act, 2025. These rules establish the Online Gaming Authority of India under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

Social Atal Pension Yojana crossed total gross enrolments of 9 crore subscribers on 21 April 2026. INS Nireekshak arrived in Colombo to participate in the fourth edition of India-Sri Lanka Diving Exercise, DIVEX 2026.

17 अप्रैल से 23 अप्रैल 2026 तक के साप्ताहिक करेंट अफेयर्स में शासन, अर्थव्यवस्था, पर्यावरण, विज्ञान, रक्षा, सामाजिक सुरक्षा और अंतरराष्ट्रीय सहयोग से जुड़े कई महत्वपूर्ण विषय शामिल हैं।

Governance आवासन और शहरी कार्य मंत्रालय ने Urban Challenge Fund Programme की operational guidelines लॉन्च कीं। यह एक Centrally Sponsored Scheme है, जिसका central outlay ₹1,00,000 crore है। इसका उद्देश्य Urban Local Bodies की financial capacity को मजबूत करना और urban sector में लगभग ₹4 lakh crore investment को बढ़ावा देना है।

Environment European Commission ने Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) का scope बढ़ाने का प्रस्ताव दिया। इसके तहत 1 January 2028 से करीब 180 additional products को शामिल किया जाएगा। CBAM का उद्देश्य carbon-intensive goods पर carbon price लगाना और carbon leakage को रोकना है।

Science & Tech Anthropic ने Mythos नामक advanced AI model घोषित किया, जो cybersecurity और vulnerability detection पर focused है। यह legacy software systems में previously undetected bugs को पहचानने में सक्षम है और इसका access 40 से अधिक companies के consortium तक सीमित है।

Governance Operation Numkhor, vehicle smuggling और forged registration rackets के खिलाफ nationwide crackdown से संबंधित है। इसे Customs Preventive Commissionerate, Kochi ने September 2025 में launch किया था।

Governance Constitution 131st Amendment Bill, 2026 Lok Sabha में पास नहीं हो सका। यह Bill legislatures में 33% women reservation को fast-track करने और 2011 Census के आधार पर delimitation से जुड़ा था। Article 368 के अनुसार इसे special majority चाहिए थी, लेकिन इसे केवल 298 votes मिले जबकि जरूरत 352 votes की थी।

Economy IMF के World Economic Outlook के अनुसार भारत nominal GDP terms में दुनिया की 6th largest economy पर आ गया। 2026 में भारत की GDP लगभग $4.15 trillion estimate की गई।

Environment Ahmedabad का Kankaria Coaching Depot भारत का पहला water-neutral railway depot बना। यह रोज लगभग 1.60 lakh litres पानी और सालाना लगभग 5.84 crore litres पानी बचाता है।

Defence भारत और रूस ने Indo-Russian Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS Pact) को operationalise किया। यह permanent basing agreement नहीं है, बल्कि exercises, deployments, humanitarian missions और disaster relief operations के लिए logistics support framework है।

Governance Union Cabinet ने PMGSY-III को March 2025 के बाद 2028-29 तक extend किया और इसका outlay ₹3,727 crore बढ़ाकर ₹83,977 crore कर दिया। PMGSY को 2000 में launch किया गया था।

Economy Union Cabinet ने Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool को approve किया, जिसके लिए ₹12,980 crore की sovereign guarantee दी गई। यह hull and machinery, cargo, protection and indemnity और war risk को cover करेगा।

Environment Odisha Marine Spatial Plan launch करने वाला पहला राज्य बना। Marine Spatial Planning sustainable ocean management और Blue Economy को support करने वाला tool है।

Social National Medical Commission (NMC) ने medical practitioners के registration और licence से जुड़े amendments propose किए। NMC की स्थापना 2020 में NMC Act, 2019 के तहत हुई थी।

Governance Civil Services Day 21 April को मनाया गया। यह 1947 में Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel द्वारा civil servants को दिए गए संबोधन की याद में मनाया जाता है। उन्होंने civil servants को "Steel frame of India" कहा था।

Environment Uttar Pradesh की Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary को भारत की 99वीं Ramsar Site घोषित किया गया। यह Aligarh में Upper Ganges Canal से बना freshwater wetland ecosystem है।

Environment World Earth Day 22 April को मनाया गया। World Earth Day 2026 की theme "Our Power, Our Planet" थी। इसी सप्ताह Breakthrough Prize Foundation ने 2026 laureates की घोषणा भी की।

Science & Tech सरकार ने Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026 notify किए। इन rules के तहत Online Gaming Authority of India को MeitY के अंतर्गत unified digital-first regulator के रूप में स्थापित किया जाएगा।

Social Atal Pension Yojana ने 21 April 2026 को 9 crore gross enrolments का milestone पार किया। INS Nireekshak Colombo पहुंचा, जहां उसने India-Sri Lanka Diving Exercise DIVEX 2026 में भाग लिया।