CURRENT AFFAIRS 14 April, 2026

CURRENT AFFAIRS 14 April, 2026

1. UP ANNOUNCES 21% WAGE HIKE AFTER NOIDA PROTESTS –

• The Uttar Pradesh government has announced an interim increase in minimum wages across categories following violent worker protests in Noida. The move comes amid rising demands for better pay and working conditions, especially after comparisons with higher wages in neighbouring states. The government has also clarified that reports of a uniform ₹20,000 minimum wage are incorrect.

Details of the interim wage hike

• The state has implemented a graded increase in minimum wages effective from April 1. Unskilled workers in Noida and Ghaziabad will receive up to a 21 per cent hike, raising monthly wages from ₹11,313 to ₹13,690. In municipal areas, wages will increase by around 15 per cent to ₹13,006, while other regions will see a 9 per cent rise to ₹12,356.
• For semi-skilled workers in Noida and Ghaziabad, wages have been revised from ₹12,445 to ₹15,059. Skilled workers will now earn ₹16,668 per month, up from ₹13,940. The increase is being described as an interim measure pending a broader revision.

2. AUSTRALIA NAMES FIRST FEMALE ARMY CHIEF IN HISTORIC MOVE –

• Australia has announced a landmark shift in its military leadership by appointing Lieutenant General Susan Coyle as the first woman to head the Australian Army in its 125-year history. The decision forms part of a broader leadership reshuffle within the country’s defence forces and reflects ongoing efforts to modernise and diversify the military. The appointment, effective from July 2026, has been widely described as a defining moment for gender representation in Australia’s armed forces.

Historic Appointment and Leadership Transition

• Lieutenant General Susan Coyle will replace Lieutenant General Simon Stuart as Chief of Army. Currently serving as Chief of Joint Capabilities, Coyle brings decades of operational and strategic experience. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the move as “historic,” emphasising its symbolic and institutional importance. Defence Minister Richard Marles highlighted that her appointment would inspire future generations of women to pursue military careers.

3. APRIL 14 UNITES AMBEDKAR JAYANTI AND BAISAKHI IN ANTI-CASTE REFLECTION –

• April 14, 2026, marks both Ambedkar Jayanti and the Sikh festival of Baisakhi, bringing renewed focus on the shared anti-caste ideals of B. R. Ambedkar and Guru Nanak. While both traditions emphasise equality and dignity, the historical and social realities surrounding caste remain complex and layered.

Guru Nanak’s teachings against caste

• Guru Nanak, born in 1469, laid the foundation of Sikhism on principles of equality, fraternity, and devotion to one God. Emerging in a period marked by social divisions and caste oppression, his teachings challenged entrenched hierarchies. Influenced by the Bhakti tradition and saints like Kabir, Guru Nanak emphasised the unity of humanity and rejected caste-based discrimination in both thought and practice.

4. INDIA SLAMS CHINA’S RENAMING OF ARUNACHAL PLACES –

• India has strongly rejected China’s latest move to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh, terming it a “mischievous attempt” and asserting that such actions cannot change ground realities. The Ministry of External Affairs reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh “was, is, and will always remain” an integral part of India, firmly dismissing Beijing’s claims.

Firm Response from India

• India categorically opposed China’s efforts to assign new names to locations within its territory. The government emphasised that such attempts are based on fabricated claims and do not carry any legitimacy. It also underlined that altering names cannot impact sovereignty or territorial integrity.

Arunachal Pradesh in India-China Dispute

• Arunachal Pradesh remains a key point of contention in the India-China boundary dispute. China refers to the region as “Zangnan” or South Tibet, a claim India has consistently rejected. For India, Arunachal Pradesh is a constitutionally recognised state, making any external assertion over it unacceptable.

5. INDIA UZBEKISTAN JOINT EXERCISE DUSTLIK 2026 BEGINS –

• The Indian Army contingent has departed for Uzbekistan to participate in the 7th edition of the joint military exercise DUSTLIK, scheduled from April 12 to April 25, 2026. The exercise will take place at the Gurumsaray Field Training Area in Namangan, reflecting the growing defence cooperation between India and Uzbekistan.

About Exercise DUSTLIK

• Exercise DUSTLIK is an annual bilateral military drill conducted alternately in India and Uzbekistan. The previous edition was held in April 2025 at the Foreign Training Node in Aundh, Pune. The exercise aims to strengthen military ties and improve coordination between the armed forces of both nations.

Composition of Participating Forces

• The Indian contingent comprises 60 personnel, including 45 troops from the Indian Army, primarily from a battalion of the MAHAR Regiment, and 15 personnel from the Indian Air Force. The Uzbekistan side is also represented by approximately 60 personnel drawn from its Army and Air Force, ensuring balanced participation from both countries.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.  What is the primary objective of the Sagarmala Programme ?

1. a) Expansion of air transport
2. b) Port-led development
3. c) Agricultural modernization
4. d) Urban housing development

Q2.  In April 2026, Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) has received environmental clearance for lithium exploration in which country ?

1. a) Australia
2. b) Chile
3. c) Argentina
4. d) Bolivia

Q3.  Which state has launched India’s first quantum test facilities ?

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

Q4.  With reference to the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, consider the following statements:

1. The gathering at Jallianwala Bagh was held to peacefully protest the arrest of Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr. Satyapal under the Rowlatt Act.
2. The firing was ordered by Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer without any warning to the crowd to disperse.
3. The Hunter Commission, appointed to investigate the incident, recommended strict criminal prosecution and imprisonment for General Dyer.
4. Rabindranath Tagore renounced his knighthood as a mark of protest against the atrocity.

         Which of the statements given above are correct ?

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

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is correct: The gathering on Baisakhi day (April 13, 1919) was a protest against the repressive Rowlatt Act and the secret arrest of prominent Punjabi leaders, Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr. Satyapal, on April 9, 1919.
• Statement 2 is correct: General Dyer arrived with troops, blocked the only narrow exit of the enclosed ground, and opened fire for roughly 10 minutes without any warning to disperse, firing 1,650 rounds.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The Hunter Commission (Disorders Inquiry Committee) was established on October 14, 1919. While it condemned Dyer’s actions as a “grave error” and noted he overstepped his authority, it did not recommend strict criminal prosecution or imprisonment. Dyer was merely relieved of his duty and forced to retire, and he faced no formal punishment.
• Statement 4 is correct: In a letter to Viceroy Lord Chelmsford dated May 31, 1919, Rabindranath Tagore renounced his knighthood (received in 1915) to express shock and protest against the brutality in Punjab. Similarly, Mahatma Gandhi returned his ‘Kaiser-i-Hind’ medal.

Q5.  Consider the following statements regarding language provisions in the Indian Constitution:

1. Article 343 declares Hindi as the official language of the Union.
2. Article 351 directs the Union to promote the spread of Hindi.
3. States have no authority over education policy as it is in the Union List.

         Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is correct: Article 343(1) of the Indian Constitution explicitly states that the official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devanagari script.
• Statement 2 is correct: Article 351 provides a special directive for the development of the Hindi language, making it the duty of the Union to promote its spread and development so that it may serve as a medium of expression for all elements of India’s composite culture.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: Education is not in the Union List. While it was originally a State subject, the 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 moved it to the Concurrent List (Entry 25). This means both the Union and the States have authority over education policy, although Union laws prevail in case of conflict.

Answer Key