Daily Current Affairs Quiz 18th April 2026 for Banking & Competitive Exams |

Daily Current Affairs: 18th April, 2026

Q1. In April 2026, Harivansh Narayan Singh was elected as the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for the third time. Which of the following is a unique historical fact about his appointment?

(a) He is the youngest person to hold the office.

(b) He is the first nominated member to assume this office.

(d) He is the first member from a regional party to hold the post.

(e) He is the first person to serve more than two years in the role.

Answer: b

Solution:

Harivansh Narayan Singh has been elected as the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha in April 2026.
He has been elected to the post for the third consecutive term.
Harivansh Narayan Singh was elected unopposed, reflecting broad support.
He is the first nominated member to hold the office of Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Q2. Who has been appointed as the Chairperson of the newly formed AI Governance and Economic Group (AIGEG) in April, 2026?

(a) Shri Jitin Prasada

(b) Shri S. Krishnan

(d) Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar

(e) Shri Amitabh Kant

Answer: c

Soluton:

In April 2026, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology constituted the AI Governance and Economic Group (AIGEG).
AIGEG is a high-level inter-ministerial body that will act as India’s central mechanism for AI governance, policy development, and coordination.
The formation of AIGEG implements key recommendations from India’s AI Governance Guidelines and the Economic Survey.
It aims to ensure a whole-of-government approach, aligning ministries, departments, regulators, and advisory bodies under a coherent national AI strategy.
The AIGEG will be chaired by Ashwini Vaishnaw, while Jitin Prasada will serve as the Vice Chairperson.
Its membership includes senior stakeholders from across government, covering policy, science & technology, security, and economic domains.
AIGEG will function as the apex inter-ministerial body in India’s AI governance framework.
It will be supported by a Technology and Policy Expert Committee (TPEC), which will provide expert advice on emerging technologies, global trends, risks, and regulatory aspects of AI.

Q3. The “Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam” (The Constitution One Hundred and Sixth Amendment Act, 2023), which provides for 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, officially came into force on which of the following dates?

(a) September 20, 2023

(b) January 26, 2026

(d) April 16, 2026

(e) August 15, 2026

Answer: d

Solution:

The Women’s Reservation Act, 2023 (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam) came into force on 16 April 2026.
It is officially known as the One Hundred and Sixth Constitutional Amendment Act, 2023.
The Act provides for 33% reservation for women in:
- Lok Sabha
- State Legislative Assemblies, including the Legislative Assembly of Delhi
The reservation will be implemented on a rotational basis across constituencies.
The Act was passed by Parliament in 2023, marking a historic milestone in enhancing women’s political representation.
It aims to promote gender equality and inclusive governance at all levels of India’s federal structure.
Overall, the legislation is expected to significantly strengthen women’s participation in policymaking and democratic institutions.

Q4. Indian Railways recently celebrated its 173rd anniversary in April 2026. On which specific date was India’s first passenger train launched, marking the beginning of the railway era in the country?

(a) April 15, 1843

(b) April 16, 1853

(d) April 16, 1854

(e) April 10, 1853

Answer: b

Solution:

Indian Railways celebrated its 173rd anniversary on 16 April 2026.
The day commemorates the launch of India’s first passenger train on 16 April 1853.
The historic train journey ran between Bori Bunder (now Mumbai) and Thane in Maharashtra.
This milestone marked the beginning of a new era of mobility and connectivity in India.
On the occasion, Indian Railways shared visuals of the historic Thane railway bridge and early train models, highlighting its rich legacy.
The anniversary underscores the evolution and growth of India’s railway network, one of the largest in the world.

Q5. What is the total value of India’s goods and services exports in the financial year 2025–26?

(a) $750 billion

(b) $825 billion

(d) $900 billion

(e) $1 trillion

Answer: c

Solution:

In April, 2026, Piyush Goyal announced that India achieved record exports of USD 860 billion in FY 2025–26.
This includes combined exports of goods and services, marking an all-time high.
The export value represents a significant increase from USD 825 billion in FY 2024–25.
The milestone reflects India’s growing strength in global trade and export competitiveness.

Q6. According to the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) April 2026, what is India’s projected GDP growth rate for the fiscal year 2026 (FY2026)?

(a) 7.6%

(b) 7.3%

(d) 8.0%

(e) 6.5%

Answer: c

Solution:

The Asian Development Bank (ADB), in its Asian Development Outlook (ADO) April 2026, has projected India’s growth outlook.
India’s GDP growth is expected to moderate to 6.9% in FY2026 (ending 31 March 2027), down from 6% in FY2025.
The growth rate is projected to accelerate to 7.3% in FY2027.
The moderation reflects short-term economic adjustments, while the medium-term outlook remains strong.

Q7. According to the NSO’s PLFS report released in April 2026, what was the national unemployment rate for persons aged 15 and above in March, 2026?

(a) 4.9%

(b) 5.1%

(d) 4.3%

(e) 5.3%

Answer: b

Solution:

The unemployment rate (UR) for persons aged 15 years and above in India stood at 1% in March 2026.
This marks an increase of 2 percentage points from February 2026, mainly due to rising urban unemployment.
The data is based on the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the National Statistics Office.
Rural unemployment rate was 3%, while urban unemployment rate was higher at 6.8%.
Among women (aged 15 and above):
- Rural unemployment stood at 1%
- Urban unemployment was significantly higher at 9%
The data highlights a notable urban-rural gap and higher unemployment levels among urban women.
Overall, the report indicates moderate labour market pressures, particularly in urban areas.

Q8. World Haemophilia Day is observed annually on April 17. What is the official theme for the year 2026?

(a) Access for All: Prevention of Bleeds

(b) Diagnosis: First Step to Care

(d) Outreach and Identification

(e) Building a Family of Support

Answer: b

Solution:

World Haemophilia Day is observed every year on 17 April.
The day aims to raise awareness about haemophilia and other inherited bleeding disorders.
The theme for 2026 is “Diagnosis: First Step to Care.”
It was established in 1989 by the World Federation of Hemophilia.
The observance focuses on improving early diagnosis, treatment, and care for patients worldwide.
17 April was chosen to mark the birth anniversary of Frank Schnabel.

Q9. Which Indian company recently became the first in the country to receive the Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA 3.0) certification for wheat and paddy?

(a) Reliance Retail

(b) Adani Wilmar

(d) Tata Consumer Products

(e) Britannia Industries

Answer: c

Solution:

ITC Limited has become the first company in India to receive the Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA 3.0) certification for wheat and paddy.
The certification marks a significant milestone in sustainable agricultural sourcing and global market integration.
The FSA 3.0 certification has been developed by the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform.
It validates ITC’s adherence to international standards of responsible sourcing, traceability, and environmental sustainability.
The certification enhances compliance with global sustainability requirements, especially in markets like the European Union.

Q10. Union Minister Piyush Goyal recently announced that India’s patent filings crossed a milestone of 1.43 lakh in the Financial Year 2024-25. What was the percentage increase in patent filings compared to the previous year?

(a) 15%

(b) 30%

(d) 45%

(e) 69%

Answer: b

Solution:

India recorded over 1.43 lakh patent filings in FY 2025, marking a 30% increase compared to the previous year.
Piyush Goyal highlighted this achievement in a social media post.
Over 69% of the patent applications were filed domestically, indicating strong participation by Indian innovators.
The leading states in patent filings include Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.
India currently ranks as the 6th largest patent filer in the world.
The surge in filings reflects growing innovation capacity, research activity, and technological advancement in the country.