CURRENT AFFAIRS 02-03 April, 2026

CURRENT AFFAIRS 02-03 April, 2026

1. ARTEMIS II MISSION –

• NASA’s Artemis II mission was launched on 1st April, 2026, as a vital crewed test flight to re-establish human presence beyond low-Earth orbit for the first time in over 5 decades.

What is Artemis II Mission?

• About: NASA’s Artemis II is the first crewed mission of the Artemis program and the first time humans will travel to the vicinity of the Moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. This 10-day lunar flyby mission will carry 4 astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft to validate deep-space life support systems.
• Crew Profile: The four-person crew includes several “firsts” for deep-space exploration:
• Reid Wiseman (Commander): A NASA veteran and former Chief of the Astronaut Office.
• Victor Glover (Pilot): First person of color to travel beyond low-Earth orbit.
• Christina Koch (Mission Specialist): First woman to travel to the Moon’s vicinity.
• Jeremy Hansen (Mission Specialist): A Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut, he will be the first non-American to leave Earth’s orbit.
• Trajectory: The crew will not land on the Moon. Instead, they will perform a “lunar flyby” using a free-return trajectory. They will fly approximately 7,400 km beyond the far side of the Moon before using lunar gravity to “slingshot” back toward Earth.

2. AMARAVATI AS PERMANENT CAPITAL OF AP –

• The Lok Sabha has passed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, officially designating Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh, insulating the city’s status from future political fluctuations.
• The legislation follows a resolution passed by the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, requesting the Union Government to formalise the capital’s status.
• Statutory Amendment: The Bill amends Section 5 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, which originally designated Hyderabad as the common capital for a period not exceeding 10 years.
• By incorporating “Amaravati” into the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, it effectively scuttled previous “3-capital” proposals (Visakhapatnam as executive capital, Kurnool as judicial capital, and Amaravati as legislative capital).
• Retrospective Effect: Once enacted, the law will recognise Amaravati as the capital with retrospective effect from 2nd June, 2024, the date marking the end of the 10-year common capital period with Telangana.
• Constitutional Precedent: This marks the 1st time in the history of independent India that a specific Bill has been brought to Parliament to declare a particular city as the permanent capital of a state.
• Historical Context: The Bill resolves the post-2014 bifurcation uncertainty, overriding the K.C. Siva Ramakrishnan Committee’s recommendations for decentralized capitals across multiple locations, as well as later state-level policy changes.

3. INS ARIDHAMAN BOOSTS INDIA’S NUCLEAR SUBMARINE CAPABILITY –

• India has strengthened its strategic deterrence with the commissioning of INS Aridhaman, its third indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN). The induction marks a significant milestone in India’s efforts to enhance its underwater nuclear capabilities, completing the triad of land, air, and sea-based nuclear delivery systems. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh formally inducted the submarine, underscoring India’s growing focus on maritime security amid evolving regional dynamics.

Third Indigenous SSBN Under Project ATV

• INS Aridhaman is the third vessel in the Arihant-class submarines developed under the classified Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project at Visakhapatnam. It follows INS Arihant, commissioned in 2016, and INS Arighaat, inducted in 2024. The Arihant-class represents India’s entry into the elite group of nations possessing nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, alongside the US, Russia, the UK, France, and China. These submarines are crucial for ensuring credible second-strike capability in nuclear deterrence.

4. E20 PETROL INDIA 2026: NATIONWIDE ROLLOUT FROM APRIL 1 –

• From the April 1st fuel stations across the country are now supplying that petrol which blended with 20% ethanol. As they are implementing from the directives from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. With this India has taken important step towards the clean and more sustainable mobility by introduction of E20 petrol nationwide. After this move it aims to reduce pollution, will cut oil imports and also to strengthen energy security.

E20 Petrol Becomes Standard in India: What Has Changed

• The central government has made the E20 fuel the standard petrol across all states and Union Territories In India.
• The direction has been given to the oil marketing company of India to ensure uniform fuel quality across the nation and also to follow the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) norms. And after this supply that E20 fuel consistently nationwide. With this introduction it is compliment the India’s long-term ethanol blending program.

What Is E20 Fuel?

• E20 petrol is a blend of the
• 80% petrol
• 20% ethanol which is known as the bip-fuel.

That Ethanol is produced from the different agricultural sources like the,

• Sugarcane
• Maize
• Other grains

5. NCERT GETS ‘DEEMED UNIVERSITY’ STATUS: WHAT IT MEANS FOR INDIA’S EDUCATION SYSTEM –

• The Ministry of Education has granted the ‘deemed to be university’ status to National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). This decision was taken by the recommendation of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and it is placing the NCERT under the distinct category of the institutions. After this status it will be expected to enhance the academic autonomy and will enable it to launch the various advanced research and doctoral program in the school education.

What Does ‘Deemed to be University’ Status Mean?

• The ‘deemed to be university’ tag is granted to those institutions which are demonstrate the high standards in the teaching and research.
• It also allows them with greater academic freedom compared to the regular institutions.

For the NCERT this status means the,

• Authority to design and to offering the PhD and advanced research programs.
• Also the flexibility to introduce the innovative academic courses as per their reach.
• Will strengthened the role in to shaping the education policy and the curriculum development for the good future outcome.
• This move is aimed at to transforming the NCERT into the leading research driven institution in the school education.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.  Which city has been included in the inaugural “20 Cities Towards Zero Waste” initiative ?

1. a) Varkala, Kerala
2. b) Chennai, Tamil Nadu
3. c) Pune, Maharashtra
4. d) Jaipur, Rajasthan

Q2.  Navegaon Nagzira Tiger Reserve is located in which state ?

1. a) Maharashtra
2. b) Karnataka
3. c) Kerala
4. d) Tamil Nadu

Q3.  Recently, India conducted Exercise Dweep Shakti, a high-intensity tri-service drill to strengthen coastal and island defence capabilities. The exercise was conducted in which of the following regions ?

1. a) Lakshadweep Islands
2. b) Mumbai Coast
3. c) Gujarat Coast
4. d) Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Q4.  Consider the following statements with reference to the Census in India:

1. The Census is a statutory process.
2. It is conducted every 10 years.
3. It is conducted by State Governments.

         Choose the correct answer:

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 2 and 3 only
3. c) Only 1 and 3
4. d) 1, 2, and 3

Explanation-

• In India, the Census is a statutory process, which is conducted under the Census Act, 1948, therefore statement 1 is correct.
• It is generally conducted every 10 years, hence statement 2 is also correct.
• However, the Census is conducted by the Central Government, specifically through the office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, and not by State Governments; therefore statement 3 is incorrect.
• In the current context, the upcoming Census 2027 is planned to be conducted as India’s first digital Census, which may include provisions such as data collection through mobile applications, self-enumeration facilities, and real-time data processing. After the delay in the 2021 Census due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this exercise has become even more important, as it directly impacts policy making, resource distribution, welfare schemes, and the delimitation process.

Q5.  Which of the following countries are the initial signatories of the Abraham Accords ?

1. United Arab Emirates
2. Bahrain
3. Saudi Arabia
4. Morocco

         Choose the correct answer:

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 1, 2 and 4 only
3. c) 2, 3 and 4 only
4. d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation-

• The Abraham Accords are important agreements signed in the year 2020 with the objective of establishing peace in the Middle East region and normalizing diplomatic relations between Israel and Arab countries.
• Under these accords, initially the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain normalized their relations with Israel, while later Morocco also joined this process. Therefore, statements 1, 2, and 4 are correct.
• On the other hand, Saudi Arabia is not a formal signatory of these agreements, although it has taken some indirect cooperative steps; therefore, statement 3 is incorrect.
• In the current context, amid rising geopolitical tensions in West Asia, especially conflicts related to Iran, the United States is putting pressure on Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords, which has once again brought this issue to the center of international discussions.

Answer Key