15-21 April 2026 Current Affairs Weekly

Weekly Current Affairs Compilation: April 15th – 21st, 2026

Welcome to your  weekly current affairs roundup  for the  third week of April 2026  (15th to 21st April)! 🇮🇳📰

This video covers all the major national and international headlines, government schemes, economic data, sports news, science & tech breakthroughs, and exam-relevant facts from  April 15 to April 21, 2026 . Perfect for  UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railways, State PSCs, and daily GK .

Current Affairs: Important Days

• Baisakhi, also called Vaisakhi, is observed on 14 April 2026, primarily in Punjab, marking the harvest season and holding deep cultural and religious significance.
• Puthandu, celebrated on 14 April 2026, signifies the beginning of the Tamil calendar year and the first day of the month Chithirai.
• Bohag Bihu, also known as Rongali Bihu, is celebrated from 14 to 20 April 2026 in Assam, marking the Assamese New Year and the onset of the agricultural cycle.
• Pohela Boishakh is observed on 15 April 2026, marking the start of the Bengali year 1433 and celebrated with cultural events across West Bengal and Bangladesh.
• Himachal Day is commemorated on 15 April 2026 to remember the formation of Himachal Pradesh in 1948 through the integration of princely states.
• World Hemophilia Day is observed on 17 April each year to spread awareness about hemophilia and related bleeding disorders.
• World Voice Day, marked on 16 April, highlights the importance of voice in communication and encourages care for vocal health.
• World Heritage Day, celebrated on 18 April, focuses on the preservation and protection of cultural heritage sites worldwide.
• World Liver Day is observed on 19 April to promote awareness about liver diseases and the importance of preventive healthcare.
• National Civil Services Day, held on 21 April, recognises the role of civil servants in governance and nation-building.
• National Fire Service Day is observed on 14 April to honour firefighters, especially those who sacrificed their lives during the Bombay Dock Explosion.

Current Affairs: Banking, Finance & Business

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India introduced three new digital platforms aimed at improving regulatory efficiency, transparency, and cybersecurity monitoring in the financial sector.
• India’s Unified Payments Interface has completed a decade of operations, marking a major shift from cash-based transactions to a fast and reliable real-time payment ecosystem.
• Reliance Jio, in collaboration with Bank of Baroda, launched ‘bob World Lite’, a simplified banking application tailored for feature phone users on JioPhone Prima 4G devices.
• The National Stock Exchange of India received approval to reserve the name “National Coal Exchange of India Limited,” paving the way for a dedicated coal trading platform.
• PhonePe partnered with SBI Card to introduce a co-branded credit card with a promotional fee waiver, encouraging wider adoption of digital credit.
• The Asian Development Bank released its April 2026 outlook report highlighting how geopolitical tensions in the Middle East may impact economic resilience across Asia-Pacific.
• The Reserve Bank of India unveiled its medium-term strategic plan ‘Utkarsh 2029’, outlining priorities for financial stability, innovation, and regulatory strengthening.
• Additionally, RBI proposed revisions to its framework for identifying Upper Layer NBFCs under the Scale-Based Regulation system to enhance supervisory effectiveness.
• Paytm introduced biometric authentication features for UPI payments and cardless ATM withdrawals, enhancing transaction security.
• India’s non-life insurance sector recorded around 20% growth in gross premium collection in FY26, reflecting expanding market penetration.
• While exports rose significantly during FY 2025–26, imports grew at a faster pace, resulting in an increased trade deficit.
• M. Nagaraju launched new mobile applications for Life Insurance Corporation of India, aimed at improving customer service and agent efficiency.
• The Department of Telecommunications and SEBI signed an agreement to address telecom-related frauds in financial transactions.
• The International Monetary Fund published its World Economic Outlook highlighting global economic challenges amid geopolitical tensions.
• The Financial Intelligence Unit India entered into agreements with both Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority and SEBI to strengthen efforts against money laundering.
• SEBI also eased norms related to the Social Stock Exchange to facilitate fundraising for non-profit organisations.
• Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance launched a new index-based fund linked to the Nifty 500 Low Volatility 50 index.
• India’s wholesale inflation surged sharply in March 2026, reaching a multi-year high, indicating rising price pressures.
• Shriram Finance Limited received in-principle approval from RBI to begin Primary Dealer operations through its subsidiary.
• China emerged as India’s largest trading partner in FY26, with bilateral trade crossing USD 150 billion.
• The Union Cabinet approved the creation of the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool to support the shipping sector, along with an increase in Dearness Allowance for government employees and pensioners.
• The Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority secured significant funding for the development of Amaravati as a planned capital city.
• Ajay Banga announced the launch of ‘Water Forward’, a global initiative aimed at improving water security for one billion people by 2030.
• The Directorate General of Foreign Trade updated the list of authorised banks permitted to handle gold and silver imports.
• National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development conducted a survey assessing rural economic conditions and sentiment trends.
• The World Bank approved a loan of USD 225 million for highway modernisation in Rajasthan.
• Finally, the RBI issued updated guidelines to streamline the exchange of currency notes and coins across the country.

Current Affairs: National and State News

• The Ministry of Civil Aviation has approved the establishment of two new airports in Warangal and Adilabad in Telangana, aimed at improving regional air connectivity and boosting economic development.
• Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced that the Anusandhan National Research Foundation is developing an AI-based platform called SARAL AI. The initiative seeks to simplify complex research and patents into easily understandable content in multiple Indian languages.
• The Government of India launched Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 with an allocation of ₹10,000 crore to promote innovation, particularly in deep-tech and manufacturing sectors.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Delhi–Dehradun Economic Corridor, a major infrastructure project designed to improve connectivity and reduce travel time between the two cities.
• According to data released by the National Statistics Office, India’s unemployment rate rose to 6.1% in March 2026, marking a five-month high.
• The Karnataka High Court directed the state government to introduce a menstrual leave policy covering both organised and unorganised sectors, reflecting a progressive step toward workplace inclusivity.
• ITC Limited became the first Indian company to receive the Farm Sustainability Assessment 3.0 certification for responsible sourcing practices in agriculture.
• India has set a long-term goal of achieving self-reliance in cocoa production by 2040, aiming to reduce dependency on imports.
• The government approved the establishment of a Special Economic Zone for Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing at Dholera in Gujarat, strengthening India’s semiconductor ecosystem.
• The Chhattisgarh government, led by Vishnu Deo Sai, formed a high-level committee to draft a framework for implementing the Uniform Civil Code in the state.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to chair the first high-level conference of Central Armed Police Forces to enhance coordination and strengthen internal security mechanisms.
• The Government introduced key legislative proposals, including the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill and the Delimitation Bill, during a special session of Parliament.
• The Supreme Court of India ruled that individuals compelled to give dowry, particularly victims such as the bride and her family, cannot be prosecuted under the Dowry Prohibition Act.
• The All India Council for Technical Education launched the third edition of the AICTE-VAANI scheme to promote the use of Indian languages in technical education.
• The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposing 33% reservation for women in legislatures, failed to pass in the Lok Sabha due to the absence of the required special majority.
• India recorded a major milestone with over 55,000 startups recognised in FY 2025–26, marking the highest annual addition under the Startup India initiative.
• Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced the passage of the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the state assembly.
• The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board became the first water utility in the country to receive ISO 50001:2018 certification for energy management.
• The Meghalaya government granted official language status to Khasi and Garo along with English through a new ordinance.
• The Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur established a Centre of Excellence focused on AI-enabled geological and mining systems.
• The Kankaria Coaching Depot in Ahmedabad achieved water-neutral status, showcasing sustainable water management practices in railway operations.