This is the current affairs 12 & 13 April 2026. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
1. After the failure of peace talks, which country announced a blockade of all of Iran’s ports and the ships departing from them?
a. Israel
b. France
c. USA
d. Turkey
Answer: c. USA
– The U.S. military has announced that it will impose a blockade on all of Iran’s Gulf ports starting from April 13, 2026.
– This step has been taken to establish effective control over maritime traffic in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, which is responsible for the distribution of one-fifth of the global oil supply.
– The blockade will be applied impartially to ships of all countries entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas.
– However, the United States has clarified that it will not obstruct the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz for ships traveling to or from non-Iranian ports.
– This decision was taken after the failure of peace talks between the United States and Iran held in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Blockade of Hormuz
– On the other hand, Trump said that the U.S. Navy will enforce a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, and ships that pay tolls to Iran will be stopped and inspected en route. Special attention will be given to ships that have paid tolls to Iran.
– Trump stated that ships paying illegal tolls to Iran will not be granted safe passage. This will weaken Iran’s economic strength. The U.S. is prepared for any situation and will take action if necessary to end the conflict.
– Meanwhile, Iran claimed that the Strait of Hormuz is fully under its control and that ships passing through it must pay tolls in rials.
Threat to China
– Trump has issued a clear warning to China that if it provides military assistance to Iran, the U.S. will impose heavy tariffs of up to 50% on it.
Trump also indicates
– This means that ships departing with Iran’s approval will be stopped by the U.S., and those without Iran’s approval will be stopped by Iran.
– Meanwhile, Israel has ordered its soldiers to prepare for the start of war, and Iran has also stated that it is ready.
– Pakistan has sent thousands of its troops and dozens of fighter aircraft to Saudi Arabia. In the upcoming conflict, Pakistan will stand with Saudi Arabia as per the agreement.
– Turkey will also be part of this agreement. Tensions between Israel and Turkey are increasing. Like many countries, Turkey has consistently attempted to appease Israel and continues to do so. However, Israel aims not only to establish Greater Israel but also to weaken all those Muslim countries that could stop it.
– Thus, Egypt is also in the firing line, along with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan, and others.
– The smaller Gulf countries want to counter Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia and Iran want to counter each other. Turkey wants to counter everyone.
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2. Which European country enacted a law requiring young men to obtain permission from the armed forces before leaving the country (for more than three months)?
a. France
b. Germany
c. Poland
d. Britain
Answer: b. Germany
– Amid rising tensions in West Asia, the European country Germany has imposed restrictions on men aged 17–45 regarding leaving the country.
– The country has amended Section 3 of the Conscription Act (Wehrpflichtgesetz).
– According to this, men aged 17 to 45 must obtain permission from the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) if they wish to travel abroad for more than three months.
– This rule has been implemented from January 1, 2026.
– The government’s objective is to increase the size of the military in the coming years.
– Currently, Germany’s military has around 184,000 soldiers.
– The plan is to increase this number to 255,000–270,000 by 2035.
What was earlier
– This rule applied only when a “State of Tension” or “State of Defense” was declared.
What is now
– It has now been made mandatory even during peacetime.
– However, before 2011, mandatory military service was in force, which was later relaxed.
Mandatory questionnaire for 18-year-olds
– From January 2026, all 18-year-old men in Germany are being sent a digital questionnaire.
– It asks about their fitness, education, and interest in military service.
– It is legally mandatory for men to fill out and return this form.
– For women, it is completely voluntary.
Real reason behind the controversy
– The “silence” regarding this law has shifted because opposition parties and citizens believe that Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government is gradually reintroducing compulsory military service (which was abolished in 2011) through the back door.
– Role of newspapers: Frankfurter Rundschau was the first to reveal how, under the name of an “administrative amendment,” military control over citizens’ freedom of movement is being increased.
Decision taken for security reasons
– Experts believe that amid increasing geopolitical tensions in Europe, Germany is strengthening its security policy. Some analysts have also said that since Germany plays an important role in NATO, it needs to enhance its defense capability.
Some people have also expressed concern that this rule may affect citizens’ freedom.
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3. Who became the first woman from India—and the second in the world—to reach the Mount Everest Base Camp by bicycle?
a. Amita
b. Premalata Agarwal
c. Rajni Negi
d. Divya Singh
Answer: d. Divya Singh
– Divya Singh from Gorakhpur set this record on March 24, 2026, by reaching Mount Everest Base Camp at an altitude of 17,560 feet by bicycle.
She belongs to Banauda village in Piprauli block.
– She is a teacher by profession, but cycling and trekking are her passion.
– Divya Singh started her cycling journey from Kathmandu on March 16.
– She completed the journey in 14 days, passing through difficult and high-altitude routes such as Salleri, Surke, Phakding, Sagarmatha National Park, Namche Bazaar, Deboche, Pheriche, Lobuche, and Gorakshep.
Snow, rain, and cold increased difficulties
– Weather was the biggest challenge during this journey.
– Continuous snowfall and rain occurred, sometimes lasting the entire day.
– Strong cold winds blew, and temperatures dropped below zero even during the day.
– In many places, the path was so खराब that she had to carry her bicycle on her shoulders.
– With increasing altitude, oxygen levels decreased, causing breathing difficulties and raising her heart rate to 120 beats per minute.
– Divya Singh did not give up and cycled for 10 to 12 hours daily.
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4. Alexander Leonov, a prominent scientist associated with the BrahMos missile project, passed away on April 5, 2026. From which country was he a missile designer?
a. Russia
b. India
c. USA
d. France
Answer: a. Russia
– Leonov, aged 74, was the CEO and Chief Designer of NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOMASH).
– It is a key partner in the India–Russia joint venture BrahMos Aerospace.
– Leonov is credited with designing Russia’s Zircon missile—a ship-based hypersonic cruise missile.
– It is designed to destroy surface and land targets.
– It is part of the 3K22 missile system, which was inducted into service in January 2023.
– He also played a role in developing missile and coastal defense systems such as Granit, Vulkan, and Bastion.
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5. Which of these referral centers did India designate as its first national repository for deep-sea organisms?
a. Bhavsagar
b. Navsagar
c. Udaysagar
d. Rajasagar
Answer: a. Bhavsagar (This referral center is located in Kochi, Kerala.)
– The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has officially designated the “Bhavsagar” referral center of the Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE) as the national repository for deep-sea organisms.
– This designation marks a significant advancement in India’s deep-sea research capabilities.
– The “Bhavsagar” referral center functions as a scientific facility.
– It houses a vast collection of over 3,500 scientifically identified and geographically catalogued samples.
– This referral center is located in Kochi, Kerala.
Under which law
– The recognition has been granted under the provisions of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
– It establishes the center as an important national facility for the conservation, study, and documentation of India’s vast deep-sea biological heritage.
– According to Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, recognizing “Bhavsagar” as a national repository strengthens India’s blue economy.
What is the deep sea and its importance?
– The deep sea is the oldest and largest biome on Earth. It generally refers to oceanic regions below about 200 meters, extending from the twilight zone to abyssal plains and deep ocean floors.
– It constitutes about 90–95% of Earth’s habitable space.
– Despite low temperatures, high pressure, absence of sunlight, and limited resources, it hosts abundant life in unique ecosystems.
– All life on Earth, including humans, depends on the deep sea. Ocean currents redistribute heat around the planet, influencing global weather systems.
– Cold upwelling waters regenerate nutrients at the ocean surface and sustain vital marine food chains.
– Deep-sea coral and sponge communities are a largely untapped source of microorganisms and compounds used in medicines, cosmetics, and other products. For example, the PCR test used for COVID-19 diagnosis was developed using an enzyme derived from a microorganism found in hydrothermal vents in the deep sea.
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6. When is World Parkinson’s Day observed?
a. April 11
b. April 12
c. April 13
d. April 14
Answer: a. April 11
– Parkinson’s disease is caused by a disorder in the part of the brain that helps coordinate movement. It is a movement disorder.
– The nerves that transmit signals from the hands or legs to the brain become impaired.
– It reduces control over hand movements.
– People often become forgetful during the disease.
– The day marks the birthday of Dr. James Parkinson, who first systematically described six individuals with symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
– The entire month of April is observed as Parkinson’s Awareness Month.
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7. In which neighboring country was an emergency vaccination campaign launched following multiple deaths and over 7,500 suspected cases of measles?
a. Pakistan
b. Sri Lanka
c. China
d. Bangladesh
Answer: d. Bangladesh
– Bangladesh launched an emergency vaccination campaign on April 5, 2026, targeting more than one million children.
– According to the Ministry of Health, there have been 17 confirmed deaths, 113 suspected deaths, and more than 7,500 suspected infection cases across the country.
– The campaign is being conducted under the leadership of the Health Ministry with support from UNICEF, WHO, and Gavi (the Vaccine Alliance).
– Health Minister Sardar Shakhawat Hossain Bakul stated that the campaign will first be implemented in the “most affected areas.”
– Thirty highly affected areas have been identified.
About measles
– It is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the rubeola virus.
– Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, followed by red rashes on the body.
– The most effective prevention is the MMR vaccine.
If untreated, it can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia and brain inflammation.
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8. Renowned singer Asha Bhosle passed away on April 12, 2026; which of the following awards had she received?
a. Padma Vibhushan
b. Dadasaheb Phalke Award
c. Maharashtra Bhushan
d. All of the above
Answer: d. All of the above
– Singer Asha Bhosle passed away at the age of 92.
She breathed her last on April 12, 2026, at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai.
– She had multiple medical conditions and died due to multi-organ failure.
– She was born on September 8, 1933.
– She was the daughter of renowned theatre actor and classical singer Deenanath Mangeshkar and the younger sister of Lata Mangeshkar.
– After her father’s death when she was just 9 years old, she began singing along with her sister to support the family.
Sang more than 12,000 songs
– She sang over 12,000 songs in more than 20 languages during her career.
– Songs like “In Aankhon Ki Masti,” “Dum Maro Dum,” “Piya Tu Ab To Aaja,” and “Chura Liya Hai Tumne” remain popular.
Major honors
– Padma Vibhushan (2008)
– Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2000)
– Maharashtra Bhushan (2021)
Other achievements
– National Film Awards: 2 times
– Filmfare Awards: 7 times (18 nominations)
– Guinness World Records (2011): Recognized as the most recorded artist in music history
– BBC Lifetime Achievement (2002)
– First Indian singer nominated for a Grammy Award
Honorary doctorates from Amravati University and Jodhpur National University
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9. Under which article of the Constitution did opposition parties submit an impeachment notice to remove the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), which was later rejected?
a. Article 324
b. Article 124
c. Article 327
d. Article 356
Answer: a. Article 324 (Article 324(5))
– The proposal was brought by opposition parties to remove Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
– A total of 193 MPs (130 from Lok Sabha and 63 from Rajya Sabha) signed the impeachment notice.
The notice was submitted to the Rajya Sabha Chairman on March 12, 2026.
– It was rejected on April 6, 2026, by the Lok Sabha Secretariat and the Rajya Sabha Chairman.
– This was the first time such a proposal was brought against a Chief Election Commissioner.
– Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh stated that the decision was taken under Article 324(5) of the Constitution.
Impeachment process
– The process of removing the Chief Election Commissioner is similar to that of a Supreme Court judge.
– It requires proof of “misbehavior” or “incapacity.”
– The motion can be introduced in either House of Parliament.
– It must be passed by a majority of the total membership of the House and by a two-thirds majority of members present and voting.
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10. When is National Safe Motherhood Day celebrated?
a. April 11
b. April 12
c. April 13
d. April 14
Answer: a. April 11
– This day also marks the birth anniversary of Kasturba Gandhi, wife of Mahatma Gandhi.
– In 2003, on the initiative of the White Ribbon Alliance, the Government of India declared April 11 as National Safe Motherhood Day.
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