This is the current affairs 19 to 23 April 2026. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
1. Who is the winner of Femina Miss India World 2026?
a. Advaita Verma
b. Rajnandini Das
c. Nikita Porwal
d. Sadhvi Satish Sail
Answer: d. Sadhvi Satish Sail
– Sadhvi Satish Sail is from Goa.
– Sadhvi won the title by outperforming 30 contestants from across India not only with her beauty but also with her intelligence and bold answers.
– She was crowned by Miss India 2024 Nikita Porwal.
– She will now prepare for the Miss World 2027 competition.
– Rajnandini Pawar from Maharashtra was the first runner-up.
– Shri Advaita from Jammu & Kashmir was the second runner-up.
Sadhvi’s Profile
– Model and entrepreneur Sadhvi has done a double major in Economics and International Relations from a university in Canada.
– Before entering Miss World India, she had already done several runway walks.
– She has also worked in campaigns for several well-known brands.
– She has co-founded a company in the construction and development sector.
– She knows how to speak 7 languages.
Femina Miss India
– It is India’s most prestigious annual beauty pageant.
– It is organized by Femina magazine (part of The Times Group).
– The winner (Miss India World) represents India in major international competitions like Miss World.
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2. Harivansh Narayan Singh became the Vice-Chairman of the Rajya Sabha; for the—th time was he elected to this post?
a. Third time
b. First time
c. Second time
d. Fourth time
Answer: a. Third time
– Harivansh Narayan Singh became the Vice-Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for the third time on April 17, 2026.
– He was elected unopposed; no name was proposed by the opposition.
– Harivansh is a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha.
– For the first time, a nominated member has been elected as the Vice-Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
– He was first elected in 2018, again in 2020, and for the third time in 2026.
Nominated by the President
– His previous term ended on April 9.
– His party JDU did not nominate him as a candidate for Rajya Sabha membership this time.
– After this, the President nominated him.
– The seat became vacant after the retirement of former CJI Ranjan Gogoi.
– Harivansh of JD(U) was chosen to fill it.
– He will remain a Rajya Sabha member until 2032.
Harivansh’s journey from journalism to politics
– Harivansh Narayan Singh was born in Sitab Diara village of Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh.
– He started his career in the 1980s as a journalist with the Hindi newspaper ‘Dharmyug’.
– He later worked as a government officer in Bank of India.
– Against his family’s wishes, he left the job and returned to journalism.
– In 1989, he joined ‘Prabhat Khabar’ published from Ranchi and became its editor.
– In 2014, after being elected to the Rajya Sabha from JD(U), he resigned from the editor’s post.
– Before becoming a Rajya Sabha member, his only political role was as a political advisor to former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar.
– After Congress withdrew support from the Chandrashekhar government, he returned to journalism.
Who are nominated MPs?
– Under Article 80 of the Indian Constitution, the President nominates 12 individuals with special knowledge in literature, science, art, and social service.
– Nominated MPs cannot vote in the Presidential election.
– However, they can vote in the Vice-Presidential election.
– They can vote on any bill or motion in the House like normal MPs.
– They can join a political party within 6 months of taking oath.
– If they join a party after 6 months, their membership may be cancelled.
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3. Which Gulf country launched the world’s first air taxi station?
a. Oman
b. United Arab Emirates (UAE)
c. Saudi Arabia
d. Qatar
Answer: b. United Arab Emirates (UAE)
– Dubai in the UAE has launched the world’s first air taxi station near Dubai International Airport.
– Its aim is to reduce travel time.
– It will be inaugurated in 2026.
– Initially, the service will operate from Dubai International Airport, Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, and Palm Jumeirah.
– It is a 3,100 square meter enclosed facility with two landing pads.
– It can travel up to 160 km at a maximum speed of 320 km/h.
– This electric taxi can carry 4 passengers along with 1 pilot.
United Arab Emirates
– Capital: Abu Dhabi
– Princes: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid – Al Maktoum and Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
– Population: 11.5 million
– Currency: Dirham
– Language: Arabic
– Neighboring countries: Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Iran
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4. N. Ramachandran, the former president of which sports association, passed away on April 16, 2026?
a. World Squash Federation (WFI)
b. Indian Olympic Association (IOA)
c. Badminton Association of India (BAI)
d. Both a and b
Answer: d. Both a and b
– Ramachandran was the President of IOA from February 2014 to December 2017.
– He was also President of the World Squash Federation from 2008 to 2016.
– He was the brother of former BCCI president N. Srinivasan.
– He was associated with several sports organizations.
– He also served as President of the Indian Triathlon Federation.
– He made Chennai the squash capital of the country.
– In 2001, he became Vice President of the Asian Squash Federation.
– He was re-elected in 2005.
– In 2008, he became head of the global squash body.
– In 2011, he received the National Sports Promotion Award by the Government of India.
– In 2016, he was honored with the Olympic Order by IOA President Thomas Bach.
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5. In which country was former Union Minister Dinesh Trivedi appointed as India’s High Commissioner?
a. China
b. Afghanistan
c. Bangladesh
d. Sri Lanka
Answer: c. Bangladesh
– Dinesh Trivedi from Barrackpore, West Bengal, was appointed High Commissioner amid elections in Bengal.
– He will replace Pranay Verma in Bangladesh.
– Pranay Verma will become India’s Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union.
– His appointment marks a shift in diplomatic practice.
– Usually, such positions are held by Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officers.
Dinesh Trivedi’s political journey
– He has been associated with the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
– He has represented both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
– He served as Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare (2009–2011).
– He was Railway Minister in the UPA government (2011–2012).
– He joined BJP on March 6, 2021 after leaving TMC.
Prime Minister of Bangladesh – Tariq Rahman
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6. Who was awarded the Prof. M.S. Swaminathan Award 2026?
a. Dr. C.H. Srinivas Rao
b. B.R. Kamboj
c. Prof. Yogesh Singh
d. Dr. Manmohan Chauhan
Answer: a. Dr. C.H. Srinivas Rao
– He was awarded on April 19, 2026 in Hyderabad.
– He is Director and Vice-Chancellor of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI).
– He was honored for his work in climate-resilient agriculture and natural resource management.
– His efforts led to sustainable practices across millions of hectares.
– He developed district-level contingency plans for climate risks.
– Improved soil health and water management strategies.
Who was Swaminathan?
– Known as the father of India’s Green Revolution.
– He passed away on September 23, 2023 at the age of 98.
– He was awarded Bharat Ratna in 2024.
– His contribution laid the foundation for India’s food self-sufficiency.
Swaminathan Award
– Announced by Narendra Modi on August 8, 2025 in Delhi.
– Aims to recognize revolutionary contributions in food security and sustainable agriculture.
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7. When is World Heritage Day celebrated?
a. April 19
b. April 18
c. April 17
d. April 16
Answer: b. April 18
Theme 2026
– Emergency Response for Living Heritage in Contexts of Conflicts and Disasters
– It is celebrated every year by the United Nations.
The day recognizes efforts to preserve human heritage.
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8. According to IMF data (April 2026), what is India’s GDP ranking in 2025?
a. Sixth
b. Fifth
c. Fourth
d. Third
Answer: a. Sixth
– According to the IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook (WEO) data of April 2026, India has come to the 6th position in the global GDP ranking.
– For some time, India was being described as the fourth or fifth largest economy in the world, but in the latest data, the United Kingdom (UK) and Japan have again moved ahead of India.
– However, in December 2025, the government had also stated that India was becoming the fourth largest economy and was overtaking Japan, but IMF data presents a different picture.
IMF Data
– According to the IMF, the estimated size of the Indian economy is 3.92 trillion dollars.
– Whereas in 2024, it was at the fifth position.
Country – Economy in 2025 – Projected Economy in 2026
– USA: 30.8 trillion dollars, 32.4 trillion dollars
– China: 19.6 trillion dollars, 20.9 trillion dollars
– Germany: 5 trillion dollars, 5.5 trillion dollars
– Japan: 4.44 trillion dollars, 4.38 trillion dollars
– UK: 4 trillion dollars, 4.26 trillion dollars
– India: 3.92 trillion dollars, 4.15 trillion dollars
Main reasons for the decline in ranking:
– Depreciation of the Rupee: IMF rankings are determined in US dollars. Due to the weakening of the rupee against the dollar in 2025–26 (around ₹92–93 per dollar), the size of India’s economy appears smaller in dollar terms.
– Base Year Revision: In February 2026, India changed the base year for GDP calculation to 2022–23. Due to this new method, some technical downward revisions occurred in nominal GDP figures.
– Performance of Japan and the UK: The strengthening of Japan’s yen against the dollar and stable growth in the UK have pushed them ahead again.
Positive aspect:
– Although India is at the 6th position in ranking, in terms of real GDP growth rate, it remains the fastest-growing major economy in the world with an estimated growth rate of 6.48%.
– The IMF estimates that India may again become the fourth largest economy by 2027 and the third largest by 2031.
India’s position in 2030?
– The biggest reason for the slightly slower rise of India is the continuous weakness of the rupee.
– In rupee terms, India’s GDP increased from 318 trillion rupees in 2024 to 346.5 trillion rupees in 2025.
– This reflects strong growth.
– It is estimated that by 2030, India’s economy will reach around 6.17 trillion dollars.
– After this, India can further strengthen its position among the top three economies of the world.
– The United States will remain first and China second.
What is GDP?
– GDP is the total stock or market value of all final goods and services produced within the geographical boundaries of a country in a given year.
– It is the most important measure of a country’s economic activity and health.
– It includes products produced by both citizens and foreigners within the country.
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9. Which cricket association introduced a Player Contract System from 2026–27?
a. MPCA
b. MCA
c. RCA
d. KCA
Answer: b. Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA)
– Approved in Apex Council meeting.
– Domestic players will now get fixed contracts.
Three grades:
– Grade A: ₹12–20 lakh
– Grade B: ₹8–12 lakh
– Grade C: ₹8 lakh
Selection criteria:
– Performance
– Fitness
– Selection committee recommendation
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10. Between India and which country has the RELOS agreement come into effect?
a. Russia
b. China
c. Japan
d. France
Answer: a. Russia
– Signed in February 2025, implemented in January 2026.
– Allows deployment of up to 3,000 troops in each other’s territory.
– Includes use of bases, logistics, fuel, repair, etc.
Valid for 5 years.
– For training and cooperation, not war.
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11. When is Save Elephant Day celebrated?
a. April 19
b. April 18
c. April 17
d. April 16
Answer: d. April 16
– First observed in 2012.
– Aims to raise awareness about threats faced by elephants.
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12. When is World Hemophilia Day observed?
a. April 19
b. April 18
c. April 17
d. April 16
Answer: c. April 17
Theme 2026
– Diagnosis: First Step to Care
Raises awareness about hemophilia.
– It is a condition where blood does not clot properly.
Observed on the birthday of Frank Schnabel.
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13. In which country did a 7.5 magnitude earthquake occur on April 20, 2026?
a. Sri Lanka
b. Japan
c. Indonesia
d. China
Answer: b. Japan
– Tsunami warning issued with waves up to 3 meters.
Tremors felt as far as Tokyo.
– Bullet train services temporarily halted.
– Nuclear plants inspected for damage.
– Japan lies in the Pacific Ring of Fire.
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14. Which authority was formed to regulate online gaming?
a. Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI)
b. Digital Gaming Council of India (DGCI)
c. National Online Gaming Regulator (NOGR)
d. E-Gaming Federation of India (EGFI)
Answer: a. Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI)
– Formed in April 2026 under Online Gaming Regulation Act 2025.
– Effective from May 1.
Functions:
– Game classification
– Monitoring
– User safety
– Registration
Penalty:
– ₹1 crore fine and up to 3 years imprisonment for violations.
Ban vs Regulation:
– Only betting/gambling games banned
Skill-based games allowed with regulation



