Defence Exams (NDA, CDS, CAPF) Current Affairs – April 2026 — Full notes
Published:
Defence Exams (NDA, CDS, CAPF) Current Affairs – April 2026 — 68 news items
At a glance
the top events
The most important events of this page, and how many news items each topic holds.
Top events
- Scientists of Rajasthan Central University (CURAJ), led by Dr P.K. Dashich, found a new species of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) in Pushkar Lake, confirmed after years of study and molecular tests.
- The Indian Army held the integrated firepower exercise Brahmastra at the Pokhran field firing range in April 2026. The Apache AH-64E helicopter fired Hellfire missiles and its chain gun with precision.
- The Union Home Ministry revised the list of Left Wing Extremism-affected districts: only Bijapur (Chhattisgarh) and West Singhbhum (Jharkhand) now remain in the category, showing a sharp fall in Naxal violence.
- Shekha Lake Bird Sanctuary in Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh) became India's 99th Ramsar site. The Ramsar Convention (1971) gives this status to wetlands of international importance.
- India and Russia brought into force the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS), which gives each side's forces access to the other's bases. It allows about 3,000 troops, around 15 warships and 10 military aircraft to be stationed.
- Peter Magyar became Prime Minister of Hungary after his party defeated the long-ruling party of Viktor Orban.
- SIPRI reported that world military spending in 2025 was about $2,887 billion, or about $352 per person, rising because of growing tensions and ongoing wars.
- Ayush Shetty won silver in men's singles at the Badminton Asia Championships 2026 in Ningbo, China, India's first silver in this event, losing the final to China's Shi Yuqi. Earlier, only Dinesh Khanna had won gold for India (1965).
- 27 Apr — NITI Aayog released the DPI@2047 draft strategy on 27 April 2026 for the next phase of Digital Public Infrastructure, linked to the Viksit Bharat 2047 goal.
- 29 Apr — On 29 April 2026 the US Trade Representative placed India on the Priority Watch List of its Special 301 report, along with China, Russia, Indonesia, Chile and Venezuela, citing patent delays, piracy, strict price controls and weak IP enforcement.
News by topic
- Defence & Security
- 16 one-liners
- International Relations
- 9 one-liners
- Science, Space & Environment
- 28 one-liners
- Sports, Awards, Posts & Days
- 15 one-liners
Defence & Security
16 one-liners
Forces · weapons · exercises · border.
National
2 one-liners
2 National — Defence Exams (NDA, CDS, CAPF) Current Affairs – April 2026.
- The Indian Army held the integrated firepower exercise Brahmastra at the Pokhran field firing range in April 2026. The Apache AH-64E helicopter fired Hellfire missiles and its chain gun with precision.
- In Exercise Brahmastra, infantry, mechanised forces and aviation worked together. Loitering munitions and drone swarms showed the move to network-centric warfare, and the indigenous ALH Dhruv helicopter was tested too.
Defence & Security
5 one-liners
5 Defence & Security — 9 Apr – 21 Apr.
- The Union Home Ministry revised the list of Left Wing Extremism-affected districts: only Bijapur (Chhattisgarh) and West Singhbhum (Jharkhand) now remain in the category, showing a sharp fall in Naxal violence.
- SIPRI reported that world military spending in 2025 was about $2,887 billion, or about $352 per person, rising because of growing tensions and ongoing wars.
- 9 Apr — The fourth edition of India-Egypt exercise Cyclone-X was held from 9 to 17 April 2026 at Anshas, Egypt. It focused on sharing best practices in special operations and reflects growing military ties.
- 21 Apr — The seventh edition of India-Uzbekistan exercise Dustlik was held from 21 to 25 April 2026 at Gurumsaray Field Training Area, Uzbekistan. It is annual and alternates between the two countries; the last edition was in Pune in April 2025.
- 21 Apr — The fourth IN-SLN DIVEX-2026, a diving exercise between the Indian and Sri Lankan navies, was held in Sri Lanka from 21 to 27 April 2026 to boost stability in the Indian Ocean Region.
Appointments
4 one-liners
4 Appointments — 1 Apr.
| Date | Name | Appointed as |
|---|---|---|
| · | Min Aung Hlaing | President of Myanmar |
| · | Susan Coyle | Chief of the Australian Army (first woman, from July) |
| · | Roman Gofman | Chief of Mossad (Israel) |
| 1 Apr | Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth | Vice Chief of the Army Staff |
Summits, Agreements & Exercises
5 one-liners
5 Summits, Agreements & Exercises — 4 Apr – 21 Apr.
- India was made Chair of the Common Criteria Development Board (CCDB) for April 2026 to April 2028. The CCDB is the technical arm of the Common Criteria Recognition Arrangement, under which countries accept each other's IT security certificates.
- India and Russia brought into force the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS), which gives each side's forces access to the other's bases. It allows about 3,000 troops, around 15 warships and 10 military aircraft to be stationed.
- India and South Korea agreed to deepen cooperation in AI, semiconductors and space exploration, and set a goal of holding their first defence and foreign affairs "2+2" meeting at deputy-minister level.
- 4 Apr — During the Austrian Chancellor's visit, India and Austria agreed to sign a defence cooperation agreement, form a joint working group to stop terror financing, and start a cyber security dialogue.
- 21 Apr — Denis Manturov, the senior-most First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, met PM Modi on 21 April 2026. As co-chair of the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission, he discussed energy, technology and defence cooperation.
International Relations
9 one-liners
Bilateral · summits · agreements.
International
- Rumen Radev's party "Progressive Bulgaria" won the parliamentary elections in Bulgaria with 44.7% of the votes.
- In SIPRI's 2025 list, the US spent about $954 billion (33% of world total), China $336 billion and India about $92.1 billion (3.2%). The top five are the US, China, Russia, Germany and India.
- An Access Now and KeepItOn report says India shut down the internet 65 times in 2025, the most in the world, followed by Myanmar (37), Pakistan (24) and Iran (20).
- 29 Apr — On 29 April 2026 the US Trade Representative placed India on the Priority Watch List of its Special 301 report, along with China, Russia, Indonesia, Chile and Venezuela, citing patent delays, piracy, strict price controls and weak IP enforcement.
Summits, Agreements & Exercises
- RELOS logistic support covers refuelling, repairs, spare parts, food and medical help. It gives India access to Russia's Arctic region and strengthens India's "strategic autonomy".
- South Korean President Lee Jae-myung paid a state visit to India in April 2026. The two countries adopted a Joint Strategic Vision (2026-2030) and the VOYAGES framework for shipbuilding, shipping and maritime logistics.
- 4 Apr — Austrian Federal Chancellor Dr Christian Stocker visited India from 4 to 7 April 2026, the first visit by an Austrian leader at this level in 42 years (the last was in 1984). PM Modi called 3T (Trade, Technology, Talent) the base of ties.
- 19 Apr — Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan visited Sri Lanka on 19-20 April 2026. It was the first bilateral visit to Sri Lanka by an Indian Vice President.
- 27 Apr — The World Small-Scale Fisheries Congress 2026 was held at Hua Hin, Thailand, from 27 to 30 April 2026, organised by FAO and TBTI Global. About 300 delegates from 50 countries attended; Fisheries Secretary Dr Abhilaksh Likhi led India.
Science, Space & Environment
28 one-liners
ISRO · DRDO · tech · ecology.
Science & Technology
18 one-liners
18 Science & Technology — 3 Apr – 30 Apr.
- Scientists of Rajasthan Central University (CURAJ), led by Dr P.K. Dashich, found a new species of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) in Pushkar Lake, confirmed after years of study and molecular tests.
- The new species was named in honour of both the lake and the university. It makes food from sunlight and survives in Pushkar's alkaline water and changing temperatures.
- Enzymes in the new Pushkar species may help make biofuel, natural dyes and medicines, and it can act as a bio-indicator of lake health. The discovery was published in international journals.
- Cyanobacteria are among the oldest life forms on Earth, with fossils about 3.5 billion years old, and they make oxygen using sunlight.
- Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated the Amaravati Quantum Reference Facility. It will become the main national centre to test, set standards for and certify quantum hardware.
- The clinical lab of the Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI), Bengaluru, got ISO 15189:2022 accreditation in biochemistry and haematology, the first institute under CCRAS (Ministry of AYUSH) to do so.
- The UAE announced it will hand half of its government work to "agentic AI" within two years, the first country to use AI at this scale in governance.
- France decided to phase out Microsoft Windows from government computers to reduce dependence on US tech firms and improve its digital sovereignty.
- 3 Apr — The Union Health Ministry released a mobile app for Community Health Officers (CHOs) on 3 April 2026. ICMR developed it to streamline clinical workflow and strengthen primary and digital health services.
- 6 Apr — Rajasthan Physio Summit-2026 was held on 6-7 April at Birla Auditorium, Jaipur, on the theme "From Physiotherapy to Physiopathy". Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani inaugurated it as chief guest.
- 6 Apr — Over 2,000 students and experts from 30 universities joined the Physio Summit, and a demand for starting PG courses in physiotherapy was raised.
- 6 Apr — At the Physio Summit, Devnani spoke of linking yoga and Indian medical traditions (prana, nadi, chakra) with modern neuro-rehabilitation methods.
- 9 Apr — The foundation stone of India's first advanced 3D semiconductor packaging facility was laid at Info Valley, Bhubaneswar (Odisha) on 9 April 2026. It will make about 70,000 glass panels, 5 crore assembled units and 3,000 3D-IC modules a year.
- 13 Apr — e-SafeHER is a joint initiative of C-DAC Hyderabad and Reliance Foundation, launched on 13 April 2026. It aims to train about 10 lakh rural women in cyber safety awareness.
- 27 Apr — NITI Aayog released the DPI@2047 draft strategy on 27 April 2026 for the next phase of Digital Public Infrastructure, linked to the Viksit Bharat 2047 goal.
- 27 Apr — DPI@2047 has two phases: DPI 2.0 (2025-2035), focused on livelihood-led growth and productivity with eight key sectors, and DPI 3.0 (2035-2047), aiming at broad prosperity and developed-nation status.
- 30 Apr — Union Forest Minister Bhupender Yadav opened Vidya Kunj, the state's first hi-tech park library, at Buddha Vihar, Alwar, on 30 April 2026. He also opened the Alwar Darshan Park and a new wrestling hall.
- 30 Apr — At the Alwar wrestling hall opening, 3-year scholarships were announced for 20 players (10 boys and 10 girls). Also, 133 e-Gurukuls (e-libraries) are ready for youth in the Alwar parliamentary area.
Environment & Ecology
10 one-liners
10 Environment & Ecology — 26 Apr.
- Shekha Lake Bird Sanctuary in Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh) became India's 99th Ramsar site. The Ramsar Convention (1971) gives this status to wetlands of international importance.
- Four cheetahs brought from South Africa were released at Bannerghatta Biological Park, Bengaluru, as part of India's cheetah reintroduction efforts.
- GRAP Stage I came into force in Delhi-NCR as air quality worsened. The Commission for Air Quality Management enforces it; the Graded Response Action Plan began in 2017 on Supreme Court orders.
- GRAP has four stages by AQI level: Poor, Very Poor, Severe and Severe+. Each higher stage adds stricter steps, from dust control and diesel generator bans to school closure and work from home.
- The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways' NHAI Arogya Van project will plant medicinal trees on vacant land along national highways. Phase 1 covers 17 plots over 62.8 hectares.
- Western Railway's Kankaria Coaching Depot in Ahmedabad became India's first fully water-neutral railway depot. It uses phytoremediation (cleaning dirty water with plants) and saves about 60 lakh litres of water daily.
- The Delhi-Dehradun Expressway has a 12 km elevated section through Rajaji Tiger Reserve and the Shivalik hills so wildlife can pass safely. No other forest expressway section in Asia is elevated for so long.
- Argentina's lower house, the Chamber of Deputies, passed a bill allowing mining in glacier areas, which may increase debate on harm to fragile ecosystems.
- 26 Apr — The Tamil Nadu-Meghalaya biodiversity project (2025-2030) was launched on 26 April 2026 by MoEFCC and the National Biodiversity Authority. It has a $4.88 million grant from the GEF and UNDP.
- 26 Apr — In the Tamil Nadu-Meghalaya project, local knowledge will guide wildlife corridor protection in Sathyamangalam and community conservation in the Garo Hills (Nokrek Biosphere Reserve, Balpakram National Park). It supports NBSAP 2024-2030 and the global 30x30 target.
Sports, Awards, Posts & Days
15 one-liners
Results · honours · chiefs · days.
Sports
4 one-liners
4 Sports — Defence Exams (NDA, CDS, CAPF) Current Affairs – April 2026.
- Brazil's Laura Cardoso became the first bowler to take nine wickets in a women's T20 international innings, giving only 4 runs in 3 overs against Lesotho in Botswana. She beat Bhutan's Sonam Yeshey's record of eight.
- Rwanda's Fanny Utagushimanande became the youngest woman to score a T20 international century, hitting an unbeaten hundred off 65 balls against Ghana in Nigeria.
- World Volleyball (FIVB) immediately withdrew the recognition of the Volleyball Federation of India, saying it did not follow legal and administrative rules.
- Ayush Shetty won silver in men's singles at the Badminton Asia Championships 2026 in Ningbo, China, India's first silver in this event, losing the final to China's Shi Yuqi. Earlier, only Dinesh Khanna had won gold for India (1965).
Awards & Honours
5 one-liners
5 Awards & Honours — 8 Apr – 26 Apr.
| Date | Award | Winner / reason |
|---|---|---|
| · | TIME 100 most influential people | Sundar Pichai, Ranbir Kapoor, Vikas Khanna (from India) |
| · | Skytrax World Airport Awards 2026 | Best airport: Changi (14th time in a row); Cleanest: Haneda |
| · | Laureus World Sports Awards 2026 (Madrid) | Sportsman: Carlos Alcaraz; Sportswoman: Aryna Sabalenka; Team: Paris Saint-Germain |
| 8 Apr | Femina Miss India 2026 | Sadhvi Satish Sail (Goa); will go to Miss World |
| 26 Apr | Sahkar Masala Mela 2026 category | Best stall: Confed; top consumer store: Kota; purchase-sale society: Nagaur |
Appointments
6 one-liners
6 Appointments — Defence Exams (NDA, CDS, CAPF) Current Affairs – April 2026.
| Date | Name | Appointed as |
|---|---|---|
| · | Peter Magyar | Prime Minister of Hungary |
| · | Uchral Nyam-Osor (39) | Prime Minister of Mongolia |
| · | To Lam | President of Vietnam |
| · | Nizar Amedi | President of Iraq |
| · | Mangala Kuppa | CIO, US Department of Labor |
| · | Deep Jariwala | UT-ORNL Governor's Chair (quantum devices) |
Quick quiz
test yourself
Practice questions on this period. Tap an option to check your answer.
Fill in the blank: one-liner flashcards
- Scientists of _____, led by Dr P.K. Dashich, found a new species of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) in Pushkar Lake, confirmed after years of study and molecular tests.
- Rajasthan Central University (CURAJ)
- The Indian Army held the integrated firepower exercise _____ at the Pokhran field firing range in April 2026. The Apache AH-64E helicopter fired Hellfire missiles and its chain gun with precision.
- Brahmastra
- The Union Home Ministry revised the list of Left Wing Extremism-affected districts: only _____ and West Singhbhum (Jharkhand) now remain in the category, showing a sharp fall in Naxal violence.
- Bijapur (Chhattisgarh)
- _____ in Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh) became India's 99th Ramsar site. The Ramsar Convention (1971) gives this status to wetlands of international importance.
- Shekha Lake Bird Sanctuary
- India and Russia brought into force the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS), which gives each side's forces access to the other's bases. It allows about _____, around 15 warships and 10 military aircraft to be stationed.
- 3,000 troops
- _____ became Prime Minister of Hungary after his party defeated the long-ruling party of Viktor Orban.
- Peter Magyar
- SIPRI reported that world military spending in 2025 was about _____, or about $352 per person, rising because of growing tensions and ongoing wars.
- $2,887 billion
- _____ won silver in men's singles at the Badminton Asia Championships 2026 in Ningbo, China, India's first silver in this event, losing the final to China's Shi Yuqi. Earlier, only Dinesh Khanna had won gold for India (1965).
- Ayush Shetty
- Lt Gen _____ took charge as the new Vice Chief of the Army Staff on 1 April 2026. He has been in the Armoured Corps since 1986 and led the Southern Command and XX Strike Corps.
- Dhiraj Seth
- Austrian Federal Chancellor _____ visited India from 4 to 7 April 2026, the first visit by an Austrian leader at this level in 42 years (the last was in 1984). PM Modi called 3T (Trade, Technology, Talent) the base of ties.
- Dr Christian Stocker
MCQs
Which university discovered a new cyanobacteria species in Pushkar Lake?
- University of Rajasthan
- MNIT Jaipur
- Rajasthan Central University (CURAJ)
- IIT Jodhpur
Show answer
Answer: Rajasthan Central University (CURAJ) — CURAJ's microbiology scientists, led by Dr P.K. Dashich, found it.
At which place was the Army's integrated firepower exercise Brahmastra held?
- Mahajan
- Suratgarh
- Bikaner
- Pokhran
Show answer
Answer: Pokhran — It was held at the Pokhran field firing range in Jaisalmer; the Apache AH-64E was the highlight.
Who became the new Vice Chief of the Army Staff on 1 April 2026?
- Syed Ata Hasnain
- Taranjit Singh Sandhu
- Vinai Kumar Saxena
- Dhiraj Seth
Show answer
Answer: Dhiraj Seth — Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth took over as the Army's second-highest officer on 1 April 2026.
On which list did the US Special 301 report of April 2026 place India?
- Priority Watch List
- Priority Foreign Country list
- Currency monitoring list
- Non-market economy list
Show answer
Answer: Priority Watch List — The USTR placed India with China, Russia, Indonesia, Chile and Venezuela.
For which period was India made Chair of the Common Criteria Development Board (CCDB)?
- January 2025 to December 2026
- April 2026 to April 2028
- April 2024 to April 2026
- June 2026 to June 2028
Show answer
Answer: April 2026 to April 2028 — The CCDB is the technical arm of the Common Criteria Recognition Arrangement for IT security certificates.
After the revision of the list of Left Wing Extremism-affected districts, which two districts remain in the category?
- Sukma and Narayanpur
- Bijapur and West Singhbhum
- Gadchiroli and Dantewada
- Malkangiri and Latehar
Show answer
Answer: Bijapur and West Singhbhum — Only Bijapur (Chhattisgarh) and West Singhbhum (Jharkhand) are left.
Shekha Lake Bird Sanctuary, India's 99th Ramsar site, is located in which district?
- Agra
- Mathura
- Aligarh
- Lucknow
Show answer
Answer: Aligarh — It is a freshwater lake sanctuary in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.
Brazil's Laura Cardoso took how many wickets in one women's T20 international innings, a world record?
- Eight
- Nine
- Seven
- Ten
Show answer
Answer: Nine — She took nine wickets for 4 runs in 3 overs against Lesotho, beating Sonam Yeshey's eight.
Where was "Vidya Kunj", the state's first hi-tech park library, opened in April 2026?
- Alwar
- Jaipur
- Kota
- Udaipur
Show answer
Answer: Alwar — Union Minister Bhupender Yadav opened it at Buddha Vihar, Alwar, on 30 April 2026.
Who became the Prime Minister of Hungary after defeating Viktor Orban's party?
- Rumen Radev
- To Lam
- Nizar Amedi
- Peter Magyar
Show answer
Answer: Peter Magyar — Peter Magyar's party beat the long-ruling party of Viktor Orban.
Which country had the most internet shutdowns in 2025 (65 times), according to Access Now and KeepItOn?
- Myanmar
- Pakistan
- India
- Iran
Show answer
Answer: India — India had 65, followed by Myanmar (37), Pakistan (24) and Iran (20).
RELOS, brought into force in April 2026, is a logistics agreement between India and which country?
- Russia
- Japan
- Australia
- France
Show answer
Answer: Russia — The Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement with Russia gives mutual access to military bases.