Current Affairs – 5 April, 2026

Ans> (c) ₹38,424 Crore

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Record: India achieved a historic milestone in its defense sector by recording its highest-ever defense exports, reaching a staggering ₹38,424 crore in the financial year 2025-26.

* The Growth: This marks a massive leap in the nation’s defense manufacturing capabilities and reflects the resounding success of ‘Make in India’ initiatives focused on self-reliance (Aatmanirbharta).

* Significance: Exporting military hardware to over 80 countries, this achievement not only boosts India’s economy but also significantly strengthens its strategic partnerships and global standing as a reliable defense equipment supplier.

Ans> (d) INS Shachi

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Launch: The Indian Navy has successfully launched the first of its highly advanced Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPV) to bolster its maritime fleet.

* The Vessel: Named ‘INS Shachi’ (Yard 1280), this state-of-the-art vessel was indigenously designed and built by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) and is the first in a planned series of eleven such ships.

* Significance: The induction of these next-generation vessels will significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s operational capabilities in coastal defense, maritime surveillance, anti-piracy missions, and securing the nation’s exclusive economic zones.

Ans> (c) INS Aridhaman

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Induction: The Indian Navy has successfully inducted its third nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), significantly boosting its strategic maritime strike capabilities.

* The Submarine: Named INS Aridhaman, it follows the first two submarines of the advanced Arihant-class (INS Arihant and INS Arighat), representing a major leap in India’s indigenous submarine building program.

* Significance: The addition of INS Aridhaman heavily fortifies India’s nuclear triad and reinforces its credible minimum deterrence posture in the strategically vital Indo-Pacific region.

Ans> (c) Visakhapatnam

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Commissioning: The advanced stealth frigate INS Taragiri has been officially commissioned into the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam, significantly strengthening the nation’s maritime defense capabilities.

* The Vessel: Constructed under the prestigious Project 17A, INS Taragiri is equipped with state-of-the-art weapons, advanced sensors, and superior stealth features designed to evade enemy radar.

* Significance: The induction of this highly capable indigenous warship underscores India’s growing prowess in self-reliant defense manufacturing (‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’) and boosts its operational readiness in the Indian Ocean Region.

Ans> (b) Ashwini Bhide

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Appointment: Senior IAS officer Ashwini Bhide has made history by becoming the first-ever woman Municipal Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), India’s richest civic body.

* The Succession: A 1995-batch IAS officer, she took charge succeeding Bhushan Gagrani, bringing her vast administrative expertise to the helm of Mumbai’s local governance.

* Significance: Often referred to as the ‘Metro Woman’ for her stellar work on the Mumbai Metro projects, her appointment is a major watershed moment for women’s representation in top administrative leadership roles.

Ans> (a) Burra Vamsi Rama Mohan

💡 Key Highlights:

* Current Role: He assumed charge as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) on April 1, 2026.

* Previous Positions: Prior to his appointment as CMD, he served as the Director (Projects) at POWERGRID and as the CEO of POWERGRID Teleservices Limited.

Ans> (b) Sudarsan Pattnaik

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Appointment: Internationally acclaimed sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has been officially appointed as the Brand Ambassador for the upcoming ‘Census 2027’ by the Government of India.

* The Role: In this crucial role, he will utilize his immensely popular and creative sand art to spread mass awareness and encourage citizens across the country to actively participate in the nationwide demographic exercise.

* Significance: The national census is a vital administrative undertaking that helps the government frame accurate welfare policies, allocate resources effectively, and understand the complex socio-economic dynamics of India’s vast population.

Ans> (c) March 2027

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Extension: The Central Government has officially extended the deadline for the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme till March 2027.

* The Scheme: Launched in 2019, PM-KUSUM is a flagship initiative aimed at ensuring energy and water security for farmers by subsidizing the setup of standalone solar pumps and grid-connected solar power plants.

* Significance: This crucial extension allows states and implementing agencies more time to achieve their installation targets, significantly aiding farmers in reducing their reliance on costly diesel, promoting green energy, and generating additional income by selling surplus power.

Ans> (c) Both of the above (A & B)

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Launch: The “Nyay Setu AI Chatbot,” along with its official mascot named “Dishika,” was officially launched during the ‘Disha’ program held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

* The Personalities: This innovative digital legal initiative was jointly unveiled by C.P. Radhakrishnan and the Union Minister of State for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal.

* Significance: The AI-powered chatbot is designed to bridge the gap in legal accessibility, empowering ordinary citizens by providing them with easy-to-understand legal guidance, basic legal services, and vital information regarding their rights.

Ans> (c) Odisha

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Project: Coal India Limited (CIL) and its subsidiary Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) are set to launch India’s first-ever commercial-scale indigenous ‘Coal-to-Ammonium Nitrate’ project.

* The Location: This groundbreaking surface coal gasification project will be established in the Lakhanpur area of Odisha, effectively utilizing the region’s rich coal reserves.

* Significance: This initiative is a major step towards self-reliance (‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’) in the industrial sector. Ammonium nitrate is a critical ingredient for manufacturing bulk explosives used in mining, and producing it domestically from coal will significantly reduce India’s import dependencies.

Ans> (d) Meghalaya

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Partnership: The state government of Meghalaya has officially signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Starlink India to deploy high-speed satellite internet services across the region.

* The Objective: This strategic partnership aims to bridge the digital divide by providing robust, low-latency, and reliable internet connectivity to the state’s most remote and geographically challenging areas.

* Significance: Boosting digital infrastructure in these unconnected zones will significantly improve local access to e-governance, online education, telehealth services, and new economic opportunities for rural communities in Meghalaya.

Ans> (c) Costa Rica

💡 Key Highlights:

* The App: The Clodomiro Picado Institute (ICP) in Costa Rica has officially launched a highly innovative, free mobile application designed to help people accurately identify venomous snakes in their vicinity.

* The Objective: This digital tool aims to quickly help users distinguish between harmless and highly dangerous snakes, preventing unnecessary panic and guiding immediate, life-saving medical responses in the event of a snakebite.

* Significance: This technological intervention is exceptionally vital for a country known for its dense tropical biodiversity. It not only aids in the crucial conservation of various snake species by preventing needless killings but also significantly reduces rural fatalities related to severe snake envenomation.

Ans> (d) Fourth

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Ranking: According to the latest data released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), India has successfully secured the fourth (4th) position globally in terms of total renewable energy capacity.

* The Growth: This achievement highlights India’s aggressive and rapid expansion in the green energy sector, heavily driven by massive solar and wind power installations across the country.

* Significance: Securing a top-tier global rank reinforces India’s strong commitment to combating climate change, transitioning away from fossil fuels, and meeting its ambitious sustainable development and net-zero emission targets.

Ans> (b) YES BANK

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Achievement: YES BANK has achieved the highest score among Indian banks in the highly prestigious S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) 2025, securing a remarkable 79 out of 100.

* The Assessment: The S&P Global CSA is a globally recognized annual evaluation of companies’ sustainability practices, heavily focusing on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria.

* Significance: This top ranking underscores YES BANK’s strong commitment to sustainable banking, its robust ESG frameworks, and its proactive leadership in driving environmentally responsible financial solutions in India.

Ans> (b) Qdenga

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Approval: The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has officially granted approval to the Japanese pharmaceutical giant Takeda for its groundbreaking dengue vaccine, ‘Qdenga’, to be used within India.

* The Vaccine: Qdenga is a live-attenuated tetravalent dengue vaccine designed to protect against all four serotypes of the dengue virus, offering a significant line of defense against the disease.

* Significance: This approval marks a critical milestone in India’s public health sector, providing a powerful medical tool to combat the widespread, mosquito-borne viral infection that causes major seasonal outbreaks across the country.

Ans> (c) Maharashtra

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Campaign: The state government of Maharashtra has launched an expansive rural health campaign named ‘Majhe Gaon, Arogya Sampanna Gaon’, which translates to ‘My Village, Healthy Village’.

* The Objective: The primary goal of this initiative is to significantly improve healthcare accessibility, raise awareness about sanitation, and ensure the overall health and well-being of residents in rural areas.

* Significance: This grassroots-level campaign is designed to empower local communities and strengthen the rural healthcare infrastructure, aiming to create disease-free and self-sustaining healthy villages across the state.

Ans> (b) Odisha

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Event: The Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 concluded successfully, serving as a massive national platform to showcase the immense sporting talent hidden within tribal communities across the country.

* The Winner: Odisha emerged as the undisputed overall champion, securing the top spot in the final medal tally through outstanding performances across both indigenous and modern sporting disciplines.

* Significance: This initiative plays a crucial role in mainstreaming tribal youth in sports, preserving traditional indigenous games, and providing top-tier athletic infrastructure for their long-term development.

Ans> (c) Porbandar, Gujarat

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Festival: The famous Madhavpur Ghed Mela is a vibrant, annual cultural festival held in the coastal village of Madhavpur Ghed, located in the Porbandar district of Gujarat.

* The Legend: This grand fair is passionately celebrated to commemorate the legendary, divine wedding of Lord Krishna and Goddess Rukmini, beautifully blending ancient mythology with regional folk traditions.

* Significance: Beyond its religious importance, the Mela is culturally significant as it highlights and celebrates the deep historical linkages between Gujarat (Western India) and the Northeast region of India, from where Goddess Rukmini is believed to have hailed.

Ans> (a) New Delhi

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Event: The 9th edition of the vibrant cultural festival, Purvanchal Mahotsav “Mati – 9”, was successfully organized in New Delhi.

* The Objective: This grand festival is passionately dedicated to celebrating, preserving, and promoting the rich traditional heritage, folk art, music, and unique cuisine of the Purvanchal region.

* Significance: It serves as a highly significant platform for the Purvanchali diaspora residing in the national capital to connect deeply with their roots and showcase their vibrant culture on a national stage.

Ans> (c) 77th

💡 Key Highlights:

* The Anniversary: On April 4, 2026, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will officially mark its 77th anniversary since its founding.

* Historical Context: NATO was established on April 4, 1949, with the signing of the Washington Treaty, initially comprising 12 founding member states to provide collective security against the Soviet Union.

* Significance: This powerful political and military alliance has since expanded significantly and continues to play a central role in transatlantic security, crisis management, and cooperative defense in the modern geopolitical landscape.