Daily Current Affairs – 05-04-2026

National News

Production of 1,000 kg Aerial Bombs for Indian Air Force

On April 4, 2026, the Ministry of Defence initiated a project to design and manufacture 1,000 kg aerial bombs for the Indian Air Force under indigenous development. The project will be implemented in two phases, with the first phase involving the design and development of six prototypes of the 1,000 kg bomb category, followed by procurement in the second phase after successful evaluation. The bomb is planned to be developed similar to the American MK-84 bomb (2,000 kg). A total timeframe of two and a half years has been fixed from the issuance of the Letter of Intent (LoI) to the finalization of the contract, covering stages such as prototype development, testing, and evaluation. Testing will be conducted at Indian Air Force locations or other selected sites within India. After the LoI, qualified Indian companies including private sector firms can participate in the contract selection process. Under the category of indigenously designed and manufactured defence procurement, the government plans to procure 600 aerial bombs.

States’ News

Punjab Women Monthly Financial Assistance Scheme

Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) issued a notification for a scheme providing monthly financial assistance of ₹1,000 to ₹1,500 to eligible women in the state. The scheme, approved by the cabinet after the 2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly elections, aims to provide financial support to women, with Scheduled Caste women receiving ₹1,500 per month and other women receiving ₹1,000 per month. Eligibility requires women to be 18 years or above, registered as a voter in Punjab, and possess a voter ID card, with benefits transferred through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into Aadhaar-linked bank accounts. There is no upper limit on the number of beneficiaries per family. Government employees and retirees of the Central Government, State Governments, Union Territories, as well as employees or retirees of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), cooperative institutions, tribunals, income tax payers, and current or former MPs and MLAs and their spouses are not eligible for the scheme.

ISRO Mitra Project in Ladakh for Astronaut Testing

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) initiated the Mitra Project in Leh, Ladakh to evaluate the physical and mental strength of astronauts and space research teams under high-altitude conditions. The research, conducted from April 2 to April 9, 2026, is carried out at an altitude of approximately 3,500 metres, where low temperature, isolation, and low oxygen availability affect normal functioning of organs such as the brain, heart, and lungs. The project studies the performance and adaptability of personnel in such extreme environments. The scientific data obtained from this study will support India’s Gaganyaan Mission and future long-duration human spaceflight programmes.

Sports News

PSG Secures Top Spot in Ligue 1

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) defeated Toulouse by 3-1 in the Ligue 1 football league, thereby securing the top position in the league standings. Ousmane Dembele, the Ballon d'Or winner, scored the first goal, and Gonçalo Ramos added another goal for PSG, while Matvey Safonov scored a consolation goal for Toulouse. PSG is set to face Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, with the first leg scheduled in the coming week and the second leg on April 14 at Anfield. In La Liga, Rayo Vallecano defeated Elche by 1-0, with Nteka scoring the only goal.

Economy News

Bharti Airtel Becomes World’s 2nd Largest Telecom Company

Bharti Airtel, an Indian telecommunications company, became the world’s 2nd largest telecom company with over 65 crore (650 million) customers globally. The company provides services across India and multiple countries in the African continent, and also operates in neighboring countries such as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. This milestone highlights the global expansion of Bharti Airtel in the telecommunications sector.

Tamil Nadu Police Success at 69th All India Police Duty Meet

The Tamil Nadu Police won 13 medals and 2 trophies at the 69th All India Police Duty Meet held in Nagpur, Maharashtra. A total of 1,327 police personnel and 144 trained dogs from 21 States, 1 Union Territory, and 7 Central Police Organisations (CPOs) participated, forming 29 teams. The Tamil Nadu team secured the Winner’s Trophy and the Hard Line Trophy (3rd place) in the Scientific Aids to Investigation events. The closing ceremony was presided over by Nityanand Rai, Minister of State for Home Affairs, who distributed the trophies.

RBI Responsible Business Conduct Guidelines on Mis-selling

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is set to introduce final guidelines on ‘Responsible Business Conduct’ to prevent mis-selling of financial products by banks, with a likely implementation from July 1. The guidelines aim to regulate the distribution of third-party financial products, especially insurance, and improve transparency. The issue of mis-selling is largely linked to insurance commissions, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). According to the IRDAI Annual Report (FY2025), total commissions in life insurance reached ₹60,800 crore, registering an 18% increase, while premium growth remained in single digits, with first-year commissions rising over 20% and single-premium policies increasing by nearly 37%. The IRDAI, which has been examining this issue since 2023, had earlier imposed limits on Expense of Management (EOM). Proposed reforms include changes in commission structures, increased board accountability of insurance companies, and adoption of trail-based commission systems instead of upfront payments to reduce aggressive selling practices.

Payal Nag Wins Compound Women’s Title at World Archery Para Series

At the first World Archery Para Series held in Bangkok, Payal Nag defeated World Champion Sheetal Devi with a score of 139-136 to win the compound women’s title. Payal Nag, an 18-year-old quadruple amputee archer, achieved this victory against her training partner, both of whom train at the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Sports Complex. In the tournament featuring participants from nine countries, India secured the top position with a total of 16 medals, including 7 gold, 5 silver, and 4 bronze medals. In other gold medal events, Harvinder Singh and Vijay Sundi won in recurve men’s doubles, Toman Kumar and Shyam Sunder Swami in compound men’s doubles, Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag in compound women’s doubles, Sheetal Devi and Toman Kumar in compound mixed team, Bhawna in recurve women’s category, and Toman Kumar in compound men’s category.

Venu Srinivasan Resigns from Hirabai Tata Trust

Amid an ongoing internal dispute within the Tata Trusts, Venu Srinivasan, the senior-most Vice-Chairman, resigned from the Hirabai Tata Trust. The resignation occurred shortly after former trustee Mehli Mistry approached the Charity Commissioner, seeking the removal of Venu Srinivasan and Vijay Singh, another Vice-Chairman, from the Bai Hirabai Tata Navsari Charitable Institution on the grounds that they are non-Parsis. The petition filed by Mehli Mistry may have implications for other entities within the Tata Trusts, and he has also challenged his removal from the Trusts in October, questioning the validity of votes cast by Srinivasan and Singh.

Tamil Nadu News

ASI Unearths Megalithic Dolmen Burial Site in Dindigul

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) discovered a dolmen burial complex at Kamanur village in Dindigul district after nearly three months of excavation, which began in January. The site belongs to the megalithic period and includes several iron artefacts and semi-precious ornaments. The findings indicate a planned funerary layout, with a total of seven chambers identified. These chambers are arranged in two parallel rows, with three chambers in each row, along with an additional smaller chamber on the western side integrated into the complex.

Vishvanath Suresh Enters Semifinals at Asian Boxing Championships

At the Asian Boxing Championships held in Ulaanbaatar, India’s Vishvanath Suresh advanced to the men’s 50 kg semifinals by defeating reigning World Champion and World No.1 Sanzhar Tashkenbay of Kazakhstan. Earlier, he defeated Bekzat Ergeshov of Kyrgyzstan by 5-0 unanimous decision. Vishvanath Suresh, who trains at the Army Sports Institute, is the 2026 Elite Men’s National Boxing Champion and hails from Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Important Days

April 5 – National Maritime Day

National Maritime Day is observed in India on April 5 every year to highlight the importance of the maritime sector, shipping industry, and sea trade in the country’s economy. This day commemorates the historic voyage of the first Indian-owned ship SS Loyalty, which sailed from Mumbai to London on April 5, 1919 under the Scindia Steam Navigation Company. It recognizes the contribution of seafarers, maritime professionals, and port authorities in strengthening India’s trade and economic growth.

Murali Sreeshankar Wins Long Jump at Indian Athletics Series 2026

At the Indian Athletics Series 2026 held at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru, Murali Sreeshankar won the men’s long jump with a distance of 8.15 metres, marking his season’s first victory. He became the only athlete in the event to cross both the 8.00 metre mark and the Asian Games qualifying standard of 7.91 metres. In the men’s triple jump, Abdulla Aboobacker, a former Asian champion, secured first place with 16.82 metres, while Sarvesh Kushare, who represented India at the Paris 2024 Olympics, won the men’s high jump with 2.23 metres. In other events, Ancy Sojan won the women’s long jump by defeating Shaili Singh, and Bibin Antony won the men’s javelin throw with 77.53 metres. The next events of the series will be held in Udaipur, followed by Sangrur and Ranchi.

Karnataka Wins Inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games 2026

The inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games (KITG) 2026 concluded on April 4, 2026, with Karnataka securing the first position by winning 23 gold, 8 silver, and 7 bronze medals, thereby clinching the championship title. Odisha finished second with 21 gold medals, while Jharkhand secured the third position with 16 gold medals. The event was hosted by Chhattisgarh, which finished in the 9th position, and has a tribal population of over 32%. The tournament brought together tribal athletes from across India and focused on promoting grassroots sports and inclusive development.

India Tops Global List in Athletics Doping Violations

According to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), an independent body established by World Athletics, India has ranked first globally in the number of athletes suspended for doping violations, with 148 track and field athletes declared ineligible, surpassing Kenya and Russia; Russia recorded 66 suspended athletes. The AIU is responsible for monitoring doping, investigating violations, and enforcing suspensions to ensure integrity in athletics worldwide. Notable Indian athletes in the list include Dutee Chand, serving a four-year ban, Parvej Khan, banned until 2030, and Dhanalakshmi Sekar, facing an eight-year suspension for repeated violations.