Daily Current Affairs – 07-04-2026

Tamil Nadu News

Six Rajya Sabha MPs from Tamil Nadu Sworn In

From Tamil Nadu, six members—Tiruchi Siva, Constantine Ravindran (DMK), Christopher Tilak (Congress), L.K. Sudhish (DMDK), M. Thambidurai (AIADMK), and Anbumani Ramadoss (PMK)—were elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha in the election held on March 16 to fill six vacancies arising due to the expiry of the terms of existing MPs on April 2. The outgoing members included Tiruchi Siva, N.R. Elango, Anthiyur Selvaraj, N.V.N. Kanimozhi Somu, M. Thambidurai, and G.K. Vasan. The newly elected members took oath as Rajya Sabha MPs in the presence of the Vice President of India and Chairman of Rajya Sabha, M. Venkaiah Naidu. Among them, Constantine Ravindran, Christopher Tilak, and L.K. Sudhish were sworn in as first-time MPs.

National News

Resolution to Remove Chief Election Commissioner Rejected

A notice seeking removal of the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was submitted in both Houses of Parliament on March 12 by opposition parties, with signatures from 130 Lok Sabha MPs and 63 Rajya Sabha MPs. The notice was examined by the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who refused to admit it after consideration, as stated by Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh. Similarly, the notice was also rejected by the Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan, resulting in the cancellation of the resolution in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

ARTCS Center Established at IIT Madras

A new Computer Science Center named Aravind Raghunathan Theoretical Computer Science Center (ARTCS) has been established at IIT Madras (Chennai) on April 6 to address challenges in quantum computing, cryptography, and artificial intelligence. The center aims to advance fundamental computer science research and strengthen India’s position globally in AI and quantum computing. The initiative has been supported by a ₹25 crore donation from Aravind Raghunathan, an IIT alumnus and founder of Rock 360 and House JQ. The center will focus on areas such as secure AI systems, blockchain technology, quantum computing, and secure cryptography, and aims to produce around 10 research papers annually, provide guidance to scholars, and promote PhD research. Key persons associated with the center include Ashwin Mahalingam (Head, Alumni and Corporate Relations), Shweta Agrawal (Coordinator), Venky Harinarayan, Anand Rajaraman, and Kaviraj Nair (CEO, Office of Institutional Advancement).

Dr. A. Panneerselvam Elected RSSDI Tamil Nadu Chairman

Dr. A. Panneerselvam, a diabetes specialist, has been elected as the Tamil Nadu Chairman of the Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India (RSSDI) at its annual meeting held in Trichy on April 6, and he will hold the position for one year. The RSSDI, established in 1972, is a national organization with over 10,000 medical experts as members across India, with around 1,300 doctors in the Tamil Nadu chapter. The organization focuses on diabetes research, improving treatment, and creating awareness, and elects a new chairman every year.

International News

Alexander Leonov, Key Scientist Behind BrahMos, Passes Away

Alexander Leonov (74), a Russian missile scientist who played a key role in the development of the BrahMos missile, an India–Russia joint venture, passed away on April 6 in Moscow. He served as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Designer of NPO Mash, a leading Russian defence organization, and had been associated with it since 1975 after graduating from the Moscow Aviation Institute. Born in 1952, he contributed to the development of advanced missiles such as the Zircon hypersonic missile and P-800 Onix. The BrahMos missile, named after the Brahmaputra River (India) and Moskva River (Russia), is regarded as the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile and has a strike range of up to 800 km. It has been a key asset in the Indian Armed Forces, including its use by the Indian Air Force during Operation Sindhur.

Economy News

Wipro Signs $1 Billion Deal with Olam Group

Wipro, an Indian software company, has signed a deal worth about $1 billion with the Singapore-based Olam Group, a global food and agri-business firm, on April 6, for a duration of 8 years to upgrade the company’s digital infrastructure using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, including Wipro Intelligence. As part of this agreement, Wipro will acquire Mindsprint, the IT services division of Olam Group, for $375 million. Mindsprint, established in 2007, has around 3,200 employees across countries such as India, Singapore, USA, and UK, and recorded a revenue of about $135.6 million in 2025. The acquisition is expected to be completed by June 30, after which Mindsprint will function as a subsidiary of Wipro under the leadership of its CEO Suresh Sundararajan.

Vinay Tonse Appointed CEO of YES Bank

Vinay Muralidhar Tonse has taken charge as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of YES Bank, a private sector bank, on April 6, succeeding Prashant Kumar, whose term ended on April 5. He will serve in this position for a tenure of 3 years. A postgraduate from Bangalore University, he began his banking career in 1988 as a Probationary Officer (PO) at State Bank of India (SBI). With over 35 years of experience in the banking sector, he has expertise in corporate credit, international banking, treasury operations, and retail banking. He previously served as Managing Director at SBI, where he led a major domestic division comprising around 23,000 branches and 2.33 lakh employees.

Amul Becomes First FMCG Brand to Cross ₹1 Lakh Crore Turnover

In the financial year 2025–26, the Amul brand achieved a business turnover exceeding ₹1 lakh crore, becoming the first Indian FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods) brand to reach this milestone, with an 11% growth over the previous year. The brand operates under the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) along with district milk unions in Anand, Surat, and Vadodara, and GCMMF alone contributed ₹73,450 crore to the total turnover. Amul currently markets over 1,200 products and has expanded its presence globally by launching fresh milk sales in regions such as the USA and Europe, while also planning expansion into Africa and Southeast Asia.

19 New Rajya Sabha Members Sworn In

A total of 19 newly elected members, including Sharad Pawar (NCP-SP) and Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, took oath in the Rajya Sabha in New Delhi on Monday. The oath was administered by Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan in the presence of Deputy Chairman Harivansh and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. The members included both re-elected and first-time MPs, with Tiruchi Siva (DMK), who first entered the Rajya Sabha in 2000, beginning his fifth term, while Sharad Pawar started his third term. The newly sworn-in members comprised 5 from Maharashtra, 6 from Tamil Nadu, 5 from West Bengal, and 3 from Odisha, and they took oath in multiple languages including Marathi, Hindi, Tamil, English, Bangla, and Odia. Key members from Maharashtra included Maya Chintaman Ivnate (BJP), Ramrao Sakharam Wadkute (BJP), and Jyoti Nagnath Waghmare (Shiv Sena).

Science and Technology News

Artemis II Surpasses Apollo 13 Distance Record

The Artemis II mission of NASA, involving four astronauts, set a new record on Monday by becoming the farthest-travelling humans from Earth during a lunar flyby mission. The mission surpassed the previous record of 400,171 kilometres achieved by Apollo 13 in 1970, marking a significant milestone in space exploration.

Kalpakkam PFBR Achieves Criticality

India achieved a major milestone in its civil nuclear programme as the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam attained criticality on Monday, marking the stage of a controlled self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction. The 500 MWe PFBR, developed by the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) and operated by BHAVINI, is India’s first fast breeder reactor. This technology produces more fuel than it consumes by using plutonium-based fuel and liquid sodium coolant, and converts uranium-238 into fissile material, improving fuel efficiency and reducing nuclear waste. The milestone follows approval from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) in 2024 for fuel loading and low-power physics experiments, and is part of advancing the second stage of India’s nuclear programme.

Parliamentary Panel Flags Groundwater Contamination in 8 States

A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources, in its report on the Demands for Grants of the Ministry of Jal Shakti for 2026–27, raised concerns over groundwater contamination and depletion in eight states—Assam, Bihar, Kerala, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tripura, and West Bengal. According to ministry data, about 4,949 villages are affected by chemical contamination, with the highest impact in Rajasthan. In Punjab, districts such as Fazilka, Ferozepur, Moga, and Patiala are affected by heavy metals including mercury, uranium, selenium, and cadmium. The committee noted that excessive extraction has led to declining groundwater levels and drying water bodies, and contamination levels based on electrical conductivity (EC), fluoride (F), and nitrate (NO₃) are increasing. A study by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Chandigarh, found pH levels exceeding recommended limits in several locations. The committee has sought a status report within three months and recommended a national strategy to regulate groundwater extraction and ensure safe drinking water supply in affected areas.

Important Days

World Health Day – April 7

World Health Day is observed annually on April 7 to highlight important global health issues. The date marks the establishment of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948, and each year the day focuses on a specific health theme of global concern.

GeM Achieves ₹18.4 Lakh Crore GMV Milestone

The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) platform achieved a cumulative Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) of ₹18.4 lakh crore, including crossing ₹5 lakh crore in the financial year 2025–26, emerging as a key digital public procurement platform in India. The platform enables procurement for government entities and promotes transparency and efficiency in public spending. In FY 2025–26, about 68% of total orders were fulfilled by Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs), accounting for 47.1% of GMV, with over 11 lakh MSEs registered, receiving more than 51 lakh orders worth ₹2.36 lakh crore. Over 2.1 lakh women-led MSEs secured orders exceeding ₹28,000 crore, while SC/ST enterprises received orders worth over ₹6,000 crore, and startups secured orders worth over ₹19,000 crore, recording 36% growth. The platform uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) for operations, and procurement by States and Union Territories recorded a growth of 38.3% during 2025–26.

India Achieves Record Wind Power Addition in FY 2025–26

India added 6.05 GW of wind power capacity in the financial year 2025–26, achieving its highest-ever annual addition and surpassing the previous record of 5.5 GW in 2016–17, with a growth of about 46% compared to 2024–25. With this addition, the country’s total installed wind power capacity has crossed 56 GW. The major contributing states include Gujarat, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, supported by initiatives such as wind-solar hybrid projects and green energy open access. The government has promoted the sector through measures like concessional customs duty, Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) charge waiver till June 2028, competitive bidding, and technical support from the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE). This achievement supports India’s target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity by 2030.

Personalities, Awards and Events

Narendra Bhooshan Appointed Secretary, Department of Land Resources

Shri Narendra Bhooshan, a 1992 batch IAS officer (Uttar Pradesh cadre), assumed charge as Secretary, Department of Land Resources under the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India on April 6, 2026. Prior to this, he served as Additional Chief Secretary for Energy, Additional Energy, and Technical Education in the Government of Uttar Pradesh, and earlier held positions as Principal Secretary in departments such as Science & Technology, PWD, Infrastructure, Industry, NRI Affairs, IT, and Electronics, and also served as CEO of Greater Noida Authority. At the central level, he served as Deputy Director General at the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, as Mission Director of National Food Security Management (NFSM), as Joint Secretary in the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, and as OSD and Joint Secretary in the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

BRO’s Project Chetak Celebrates 47th Raising Day

Project Chetak of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) celebrated its 47th Raising Day on April 4, 2026, at Bikaner, Rajasthan. Established in 1980, the project has played a key role in developing and maintaining infrastructure in Rajasthan, Punjab, and northern Gujarat, contributing to border connectivity, national security, and regional development. It is one of the largest BRO projects in terms of geographical coverage, with over 4,000 km of road network and 214 km of Ditch Cum Bund, and supports the Defence Forces by maintaining roads leading to the International Border, with ongoing upgrades to National Highway double-lane standards.

Porcupines Threaten Kashmir Saffron Cultivation

In Pampore of Pulwama district, located about 15 km southeast of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, Indian crested porcupines have been damaging saffron crops by feeding on underground corms, affecting production before flowering. Saffron, known as “red gold”, is locally called Kong (Kashmiri), Kesar (Hindi), and Zafaran (Persian). The issue was raised by Hasnain Masoodi (MLA, National Conference), noting a decline in production from about 22,000 kg around 15 years ago to nearly 1,000 kg at present. The matter was discussed in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, and Forest Minister Javed Ahmed Rana stated that wildlife and forest department teams are assessing damage and identifying affected areas.

4.5 Million-Year-Old Fish Fossils Discovered in Shivalik Foothills

Paleontologists discovered 4.5-million-year-old freshwater fish fossils in the Shivalik foothills near Dehradun, Uttarakhand, marking the first discovery of aquatic life fossils in a region previously known for terrestrial remains. The fossils include ear bones (otoliths) of three species—snakehead, goby, and gourami—providing insights into the ancient freshwater ecosystem of northern India during the Pliocene epoch (5 to 2.5 million years ago). The research was conducted by scientists from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), Dehradun, along with Doon University, Panjab University, and international collaborators from Taiwan. Notably, the gourami fossil is reported for the first time in India and only the second globally after Sumatra (Indonesia).

International Day of Reflection on 1994 Rwanda Genocide – April 7

The International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda is observed on April 7, established by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2003, and commemorated by UNESCO. The date marks the beginning of the 1994 Rwanda genocide, in which over 1 million Tutsi people were killed within about 100 days by the Hutu extremist-led government, along with moderate Hutu and others who opposed the violence. The observance promotes education on genocide, its causes, consequences, and prevention, and strengthens awareness against discrimination.