Asia Current Affairs — All time
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Sat, 18 Apr 2026
PIB backgrounder: ASI protects 3,686 centrally protected monuments; India has 44 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
A PIB backgrounder of 18 April 2026 on monument conservation said the Archaeological Survey of India safeguards 3,686 centrally protected monuments and that India has 44 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Maratha Military Landscapes.
CCEA approves two rail multitracking projects of ₹24,815 crore in Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 18 April 2026 approved 3rd and 4th lines on Ghaziabad–Sitapur and Rajahmundry (Nidadavolu)–Visakhapatnam (Duvvada), adding about 601 km to Indian Railways at about ₹24,815 crore.
Cabinet raises Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief by 2 percentage points to 60% from 1 January 2026
The Union Cabinet on 18 April 2026 approved an additional instalment of Dearness Allowance for Central Government employees and Dearness Relief for pensioners from 1 January 2026, raising the rate by 2% over the existing 58% of basic pay/pension.
Dr K.S. Somashekhar appointed Secretary in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat
Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan appointed Dr K.S. Somashekhar as Secretary in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat with effect from 18 April 2026.
MeitY constitutes Technology and Policy Expert Committee to advise India's AI governance group
The Ministry of Electronics and IT on 18 April 2026 announced the Technology and Policy Expert Committee (TPEC), a standing advisory body chaired by the MeitY Secretary to support the newly constituted AI Governance and Economic Group (AIGEG).
Women make up over 31% of candidates recommended in Civil Services Examination 2025
Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on 18 April 2026 that 299 of the 958 candidates recommended in the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2025 are women, over 31% of the total.
Centre approves procurement of 20 lakh tonnes of potatoes in Uttar Pradesh under Market Intervention Scheme
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on 18 April 2026 approved procurement of 20 lakh metric tonnes of potatoes in Uttar Pradesh under the Market Intervention Scheme at ₹6,500.9 per tonne, along with chana procurement in Andhra Pradesh and an extension of tur procurement in Karnataka.
Mizoram holds 'Run for Nutrition' half marathon under 8th Poshan Pakhwada
A 'Run for Nutrition' half marathon was organised in Mizoram on 18 April 2026 under the 8th Poshan Pakhwada, with about 500 adults and children taking part.
National Health Authority concludes two-day Chintan Shivir on AB PM-JAY and ABDM in Pune
The National Health Authority on 18 April 2026 concluded a two-day Chintan Shivir in Pune, Maharashtra, on Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, where states presented best practices.
Fri, 17 Apr 2026
Government brings SAF-blended aviation fuel under the ATF Control Order
The Government amended the Aviation Turbine Fuel (Regulation of Marketing) Order, 2001 by a notification dated 17 April 2026, bringing ATF blended with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) under the ATF Control Order.
Lok Sabha negatives Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026: 298 in favour, 230 against, short of special majority
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which sought to enlarge the Lok Sabha and tie women's reservation to a fresh delimitation, was negatived in the Lok Sabha on 17 April 2026 after 298 members voted for it and 230 against, short of the two-thirds of members present and voting required under Article 368(2).
Government adds Egypt and Jordan to RELIEF export support scheme amid West Asia disruption
The Commerce Ministry said on 17 April 2026 that Egypt and Jordan have been added to the eligible destinations under RELIEF (Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation), a time-bound intervention under the Export Promotion Mission.
First Naval Commanders' Conference of 2026 concludes; Indian Navy Maritime Security Strategy 2026 released
The first edition of the biannual Naval Commanders' Conference 2026 was held at Nausena Bhawan, New Delhi, from 14 to 17 April 2026, and the Indian Navy Maritime Security Strategy (INMSS-2026) was released during the conference.
IOS SAGAR (INS Sunayna) departs Phuket after PASSEX with Royal Thai Navy
Indian Ocean Ship SAGAR, INS Sunayna, departed Phuket, Thailand, on 17 April 2026 after a three-day operational turnaround that included a Passage Exercise with HTMS Klongyai of the Royal Thai Navy, and sailed for Jakarta.
Harivansh elected Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha unopposed for the third time
Harivansh was elected unopposed as Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha on 17 April 2026, his third election to the office, Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan said in his felicitation remarks.
Election seizures cross ₹865 crore in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal
The Election Commission of India said on 17 April 2026 that seizures of cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals and freebies in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal since 26 February 2026 had crossed ₹865 crore.
Record 55,200 startups recognised in FY 2025-26; total crosses 2.23 lakh
The Commerce Ministry said on 17 April 2026 that more than 55,200 startups were recognised in FY 2025-26, the highest in any single year since Startup India began, taking the total past 2.23 lakh as on 31 March 2026.
Coal Ministry launches 15th round of commercial coal mine auctions with 11 blocks
The Ministry of Coal launched the 15th round of commercial coal mine auctions on 17 April 2026, offering 11 coal blocks across Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana.
Kankaria Coaching Depot in Ahmedabad becomes India's first water-neutral coaching depot
The Ministry of Railways said on 17 April 2026 that the Kankaria Coaching Depot in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, has become India's first water-neutral coaching depot, saving about 1.60 lakh litres of water a day through phytoremediation-based wastewater treatment.
Scientific Conclave on Indian Pharmacopoeia 2026 held at CSIR-IIIM, Jammu
The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, with CSIR, held a Scientific Conclave and Interactive Session on Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) 2026 at CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, on 17 April 2026.
CAQM Enforcement Task Force reviews 162 inspections and 64 violations across NCR
The 129th meeting of the Enforcement Task Force of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM), held on 17 April 2026, reviewed 162 inspections and 64 violations recorded between 27 March and 10 April 2026.
Thu, 16 Apr 2026
Government notifies SEZ at Dholera for Tata Semiconductor's chip fabrication plant, India's first
The Commerce Ministry said on 16 April 2026 that it has notified a Special Economic Zone at Dholera, Gujarat, to be set up by Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing Pvt Ltd for India's first chip fabrication plant, spread over 66.166 hectares and expected to employ 21,000 people.
Constitution (131st Amendment), Delimitation and UT Laws Bills introduced in Lok Sabha after a 251–185 division
Three linked Bills, the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Delimitation Bill, 2026 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, were introduced in the Lok Sabha on 16 April 2026 after the motion for introduction was carried by 251 votes to 185 in a division.
FIU-India signs MoUs with SEBI and PFRDA to fight money laundering
The Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) signed separate MoUs with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) on 16 April 2026 for information sharing against money laundering and terror financing.
CAQM invokes GRAP Stage-I across NCR as Delhi's AQI turns 'Poor'
The CAQM Sub-Committee on the Graded Response Action Plan on 16 April 2026 invoked all 31 Stage-I actions across the NCR after Delhi's daily average Air Quality Index reached 226, in the 'Poor' category.
MeitY constitutes AI Governance and Economic Group as apex inter-ministerial body on AI
The Ministry of Electronics and IT on 16 April 2026 constituted the AI Governance and Economic Group (AIGEG), a high-level inter-ministerial body chaired by Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, as India's central mechanism for AI governance policy.
India hosts WADA GAIIN final conference; Sports Minister says criminal provisions against doping traffickers planned
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya addressed the inaugural session of the Final Conference of WADA's Global Anti-Doping Intelligence & Investigations Network (GAIIN) in New Delhi on 16 April 2026 and said the government is working on criminal provisions against those who traffic or administer prohibited substances.
NHRC hears 216 cases of alleged bonded labour in Uttar Pradesh brick kilns
The National Human Rights Commission, chaired by Justice V. Ramasubramanian, heard 216 cases of alleged bonded labour in brick kilns across Uttar Pradesh in an online hearing on 16 April 2026.
Fisheries Secretary reviews PMMSY brackishwater aquaculture cluster at Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh
Fisheries Secretary Abhilaksh Likhi reviewed the Brackishwater Aquaculture Cluster notified under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana at Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh, on 16 April 2026 and met shrimp farmers.
EVM-VVPAT commissioning begins for Tamil Nadu and West Bengal Phase I seats
The Election Commission of India said commissioning of EVMs and VVPATs for constituencies going to the polls on 23 April 2026 began on 16 April, covering 75,064 polling stations in Tamil Nadu and 44,378 in West Bengal Phase I.