15-21 April 2026 Current Affairs Weekly

• Russia has classified Stanford University as an “undesirable organisation,” effectively prohibiting Russian citizens from maintaining any form of association with the institution.
• India and Mauritius have advanced their development partnership by implementing projects under a $680 million financial assistance programme, aimed at boosting infrastructure and economic cooperation.
• To commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations, India and Germany jointly unveiled a special logo symbolising their longstanding bilateral ties and cooperation.
• The World Economic Forum published its April 2026 report titled “Growth in the New Economy: Towards a Blueprint,” which outlines emerging global economic patterns and future growth strategies.
• Bannerghatta Biological Park in Bengaluru reported the arrival of four cheetahs, including two females brought from South Africa, marking a step forward in wildlife conservation and species reintroduction efforts.

Current Affairs: Appointments & Resignations

• Ismaïl Omar Guelleh secured another term in office after winning the presidential election, marking his sixth consecutive tenure as the leader of Djibouti.
• Susan Coyle has been appointed as the first woman to lead the Australian Army in its 125-year history, setting a significant precedent in military leadership.
• The Parliament of Iraq elected Nizar Mohammed Saeed Amedi as the nation’s ninth President. He previously served as Environment Minister and is associated with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.
• Infosys named Carlos Alcaraz, currently ranked World No. 1 in men’s tennis, as its Global Brand Ambassador to strengthen its international brand presence.
• Samrat Choudhary took oath as the 24th Chief Minister of Bihar, becoming the first leader from the BJP to hold the position in the state.
• K. S. Somashekhar has been appointed as Secretary in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat by the Chairman of the Upper House.
• Harivansh Narayan Singh was re-elected as the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for a third term, creating history as the first nominated Member of Parliament to achieve this milestone.
• The Government of India appointed Dinesh Trivedi as the High Commissioner to Bangladesh, succeeding Pranay Verma.

Current Affairs: Awards and Honours

• Anita Chaudhary, serving at Shergarh Wildlife Sanctuary, has been widely recognised for her conservation efforts, having rescued around 500 animals since 2021 while actively tackling poaching, smuggling, and illegal mining activities.
• Banaras Hindu University secured the top position at the Association of Indian Universities National Moot Court Competition 2026, organised at Integral University. The team was awarded a cash prize along with trophies and medals, while Chandigarh University finished as the runner-up.
• Actor Sayani Gupta received the Harvard South Asian “Person of the Year” Award 2026 from the Harvard South Asian Association, in recognition of her contribution to storytelling and promoting South Asian representation globally.
• Nishita Yogesh Antarkar was crowned Miss Sake India 2026 at a ceremony held in Mumbai, marking her achievement in promoting cultural exchange and awareness.
• Alim Yusuf from Kerala was honoured with the national award by the World Wide Fund for Nature during the National ECHO Youth Innovation Summit 2026, which was part of the International Youth Biodiversity Conference in Hyderabad.