This is the current affairs 30 April 2026. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
1. Which country decided to cull 80 hippopotamuses—dubbing them “cocaine hippos”—on the grounds that they pose a threat to biodiversity?
a. Peru
b. Colombia
c. Brazil
d. Panama
Answer: b. Colombia
– The Colombian government has termed the killing of 80 hippopotamuses as euthanasia.
– In the 1980s, notorious drug trafficker Pablo Escobar illegally imported many exotic animals from around the world that were not native to Colombia.
– After Escobar was killed, most animals were sent back to zoos or other countries, but four hippos were left in the wild.
– From these four hippos, more than 250 animals have multiplied rapidly in Colombia’s Magdalena River basin.
– If not controlled, their population could reach 1,500 by 2035.
– Hippos are not native to South America.
– They are primarily herbivores and consume about 40 kilograms of short grass daily.
Why does Colombia want to cull them?
– Colombia’s Environment Minister Irene Vélez defended the decision, citing that sterilization and relocation efforts were “expensive and ineffective.”
– Colombia is the only country outside Africa with a wild hippo population.
– Due to favorable swampy conditions, they have formed the largest wild hippo population outside Africa.
– The Colombian government has declared them an invasive species.
– They threaten native biodiversity, compete with local species, and alter aquatic ecosystems.
– They have also attacked fishing communities along riverbanks.
– Relocating such large animals (weighing up to three tons) would cost millions of dollars.
Colombia
– Capital: Bogotá
– President: Gustavo Petro
– Currency: Colombian Peso
– Language: Spanish
– Population: 53.9 million
– Neighbors: Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, and Panama
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2. Which Indian wildlife rescue, treatment, and rehabilitation center has offered ‘lifelong care’ to 80 hippopotamuses that have been slated for culling in Colombia?
a. Wildlife SOS
b. Jamnagar Life
c. Vantara
d. Jungletara
Answer: c. Vantara
– Vantara, a 3,500-acre wildlife rescue, treatment, and rehabilitation center in Jamnagar, Gujarat, led by Anant Ambani, has offered to provide “lifelong care” for the animals.
– However, relocating Colombian hippos to India raises logistical, ecological, climatic, and ethical concerns.
– Wildlife activists have questioned whether Gujarat’s hot and dry conditions are suitable for hippos, which thrive in moist ecosystems.
– Conservationists like Indrajit Ghorpade (founder of Deccan Conservation Foundation) argue that conservation should focus on endangered species and restoring degraded ecosystems, rather than saving individual animals.
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3. Name the longest expressway in Uttar Pradesh that was inaugurated by PM Modi.
a. Yamuna Expressway
b. Bundelkhand Expressway
c. Ganga Expressway
d. Purvanchal Expressway
Answer: c. Ganga Expressway
– Narendra Modi inaugurated the Ganga Expressway on April 29, 2026, in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh.
– The 594-km-long expressway will connect Meerut to Prayagraj.
– Travel time between Meerut and Prayagraj will reduce to about 6 hours (earlier 11–12 hours via national highways).
Cost: ₹37,350 crore; completed in 5 years.
– Previously, Purvanchal Expressway (340 km) was the longest in Uttar Pradesh.
Airstrip for fighter jets
– A 3.5-km airstrip has been built near Jalalabad (Shahjahanpur) for Air Force fighter jet landings.
– It is the country’s first night-landing airstrip.
– It will benefit Trishul Airbase (Bareilly), Agra Airbase, and Hindon Airbase.
– Uttar Pradesh is the first state with airstrips on three expressways: Agra–Lucknow, Purvanchal, and Ganga Expressways.
Districts covered (12):
– Meerut, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Amroha, Sambhal, Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Raebareli, Pratapgarh, Prayagraj
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4. Which West Asian country was elected as one of the 34 Vice-Presidents of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)?
a. Bahrain
b. Iran
c. Iraq
d. India
Answer: b. Iran
– Iran was elected as a Vice-President at the 11th NPT Review Conference held in New York in April 2026.
– Its nomination came from the Non-Aligned Group.
The conference elects 34 Vice-Presidents representing different regional groups.
– Countries like the US, France, UK, and Germany opposed Iran’s selection, citing allegations of nuclear treaty violations.
What is NPT?
– The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is an international treaty signed in 1968 and enforced in 1970.
– Around 191 countries are members.
– It aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, promote peaceful nuclear cooperation, and advance disarmament.
– India has not signed the treaty, calling it discriminatory.
– Only five countries are recognized as nuclear-weapon states: US, Russia, China, UK, and France.
– Monitoring is done by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
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5. Who became the first batsman to complete 9,000 runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL)?
a. Shreyas Iyer
b. KL Rahul
c. Virat Kohli
d. Rohit Sharma
Answer: c. Virat Kohli
– Virat Kohli achieved this milestone while playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
– He completed 9,000 runs on the last ball of a match against Delhi Capitals on April 27, 2026, at Arun Jaitley Stadium.
– Rohit Sharma is second, trailing by 1,829 runs.
Top IPL run-scorers (till April 2026) :
– Virat Kohli – 9012 runs
– Rohit Sharma – 7183 runs
– Shikhar Dhawan – 6769 runs
– David Warner – 6565 runs
– KL Rahul – 5580 runs
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6. Who became India’s first transgender cricket umpire?
a. Saisha Shinde
b. Manu Bebo
c. Anjali Lama
d. Rithika Sri
Answer: d. Rithika Sri
– Rithika Sri became India’s first transgender cricket umpire.
– The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association included a “third gender” category in its umpire exam application for the first time.
– She has been umpiring in Salem and Coimbatore circuits since 2021.
– She has officiated in over 15 matches.
– The Supreme Court recognized transgender persons as the “third gender” in 2014.
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7. The Indian Army will host the multilateral military exercise ‘PRAGATI’; military delegations from how many countries will participate in it?
a. 11
b. 12
c. 13
d. 14
Answer: a. 11 (12 including India)
– PRAGATI stands for Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region.
– It will be held from May 18 to 31, 2026, at Umroi (Meghalaya).
– The aim is to strengthen defense cooperation and coordination among participating countries.
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8. Which country decided to issue special passports featuring the President’s photograph on the 250th anniversary of its independence?
a. France
b. Germany
c. USA
d. United Kingdom
Answer: c. USA
– The United States will issue limited-edition passports featuring President Donald Trump’s photograph and signature.
– The passports will also feature Declaration of Independence painting on the back cover.
– This is a significant departure from the usual practice of keeping passports politically neutral.
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9. When is English Language Day celebrated?
a. 24 April
b. 23 April
c. 22 April
d. 21 April
Answer: b. 23 April
– The United Nations celebrates English Language Day on April 23.
– It marks both the birth and death anniversary of William Shakespeare.
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10. When is International Jazz Day celebrated?
a. 28 April
b. 29 April
c. 30 April
d. 01 May
Answer: c. 30 April
– International Jazz Day is celebrated annually on April 30.
– Declared by UNESCO in 2011, it highlights jazz’s role in promoting peace, unity, and cultural dialogue across more than 190 countries.
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