CURRENT AFFAIRS 21 April, 2026

CURRENT AFFAIRS 21 April, 2026

1. NEW DEPORTATION POLICY FOR ILLEGAL MIGRANTS –

• The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has formulated a new comprehensive deportation policy to expedite the identification and deportation of illegal migrants, particularly from Bangladesh and Myanmar.

What are the Key Highlights of the New Deportation Policy?

• District-Level Special Task Force: States must set up a special task force in each district to detect, identify, and deport undocumented migrants.
• They are required to submit a monthly status report on foreigners missing or overstaying their visas.
• Timelines for Verification: An upper limit of 90 days has been fixed to verify the antecedents of suspected Bangladeshi or Myanmarese nationals, particularly if they claim residency in another State.
• Operationalising Holding Centres/Camps: States are mandated to set up holding centres equipped with a 10-feet-high boundary ringed with barbed wires and strict access control to restrict the movement of undocumented migrants awaiting deportation.
• These centres must not be run from jails. Private buildings can be hired if government land is unavailable.
• Basic amenities like separate enclosures for men and women, open spaces, LPG connections, medical dispensaries, and ambulances must be ensured.
• Crucially, members of the same family should not be separated and must be housed together.

2. SACRILEGE BILL 2026: PUNJAB’S NEW LAW ON GURU GRANTH SAHIB DESECRATION –

• The Punjab Assembly unanimously passed the ‘Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026’, aimed at harsher punishment for sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib, including life imprisonment.
• It proposes to amend the 2008 law enacted under the Shiromani Akali Dal–Bharatiya Janata Party government.

About Sacrilege

• The Bill defines sacrilege as any wilful and deliberate act intended to desecrate the Guru Granth Sahib.
• This includes physical damage, defacing, burning, tearing, or theft of the saroops of Guru Granth Sahib or part, or through words, either spoken or written, signs, visible representations, or electronic means that are intended to hurt the religious sentiments of those persons professing the Sikh faith.

Key Features

• Punishment: Anyone committing sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib can face imprisonment of not less than seven years, which may extend to 20 years, along with a fine between ₹2 lakh and ₹10 lakh
• In cases involving criminal conspiracy with the intent to disrupt peace or communal harmony, the punishment ranges from a minimum of ten years to life imprisonment, with fines between ₹5 lakh and ₹25 lakh.
• Nature of offence: All offences under the law will be cognisable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable.
• Those aiding sacrilege will be treated as equally culpable.
• Investigation: The offence shall be investigated by a police officer, not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police or Assistant Commissioner of Police, as the case may be.

3. INDIA OBSERVES NATIONAL CIVIL SERVICES DAY ON APRIL 21 TO HONOUR PUBLIC SERVANTS –

• National Civil Services Day 2026 is observed on the April 21st every year to honor the dedication and hard work of the civil servants of the India. This day recognizes their crucial role in maintaining the governance, implementing policies and ensuring smooth functioning of the administrative system. From the rural development to law and order civil servants act as the backbone of the country’s progress. This occasion also reminds us the officials responsibility towards the citizens and encourages excellence in the public service.

Why April 21 is Celebrated as Civil Services Day

• The origin of this day can be trace back to year 1947 when the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel addressed the newly appointed civil servants and famously called them the ‘Steel Frame of India.’
• This powerful phrase have highlighted the importance of the bureaucracy to maintain the unity and stability in a newly independent nation.
• To commemorate this historic moment the Government of India has officially started to celebrating the Civil Services Day in 2006 at Vigyan Bhawan.

4. PM MODI HOLDS TALKS WITH SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT LEE –

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to hold extensive bilateral talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in New Delhi on 20 April 2026, aimed at strengthening strategic, economic, and technological cooperation between the two nations. President Lee’s three-day State Visit to India marks his first official trip to the country and is expected to further deepen the India–South Korea Special Strategic Partnership built on shared democratic values and longstanding civilisational ties.

Strategic Sectors Take Centre Stage

• The discussions between the two leaders will focus on critical sectors such as shipbuilding, trade, investment, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, clean energy, and other emerging technologies.
• With both nations seeking stronger supply chain resilience and industrial cooperation, shipbuilding and semiconductor partnerships are likely to receive special attention. South Korea’s expertise in advanced manufacturing and India’s growing industrial base make this partnership strategically significant.

5. CABINET EXTENDS PMGSY-III TILL MARCH 2028 –

• The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY-III) beyond March 2025 till March 2028, reinforcing the government’s focus on rural connectivity and infrastructure development. Chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the decision aims to ensure the completion of key road and bridge projects that connect villages with agricultural markets, schools and hospitals. The revised total outlay of the scheme has been increased to Rs 83,977 crore from the earlier Rs 80,250 crore.

Key approvals under PMGSY-III

• The Cabinet has extended the timeline till March 2028 for completion of roads and bridges in plain areas and roads in hilly regions. For bridges in hilly areas, the deadline has been further extended till March 2029. Projects sanctioned before 31 March 2025 but not yet awarded can now be taken up for tendering and execution. This step is expected to remove delays and improve project implementation.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.  Col. Sher Jung National Park is located in which state ?

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

Q2.  The AI-powered chatbot “Abhay” has been launched by which organization ?

1. a) National Investigation Agency
2. b) Intelligence Bureau
3. c) Central Bureau of Investigation
4. d) Enforcement Directorate

Q3.  India’s first Petroglyph Conservation Park is being established in which state/UT ?

1. a) Himachal Pradesh
2. b) Ladakh
3. c) Uttarakhand
4. d) Delhi

Q4.  Consider the following statement and reason:

         Statement (A): In the financial year 2025–26, China has become India’s largest trading partner.

         Reason (R): Due to structural limitations in India’s manufacturing capacity, it is dependent on imports for high-technology products.

         Choose the correct answer using the code given below:

1. a) Both A and R are correct and R correctly explains A
2. b) Both A and R are correct, but R does not correctly explain A
3. c) A is correct, but R is incorrect
4. d) A is incorrect, but R is correct

Explanation-

• According to recent data, China has become India’s largest trading partner, which is determined on the basis of the total trade value (imports + exports) between the two countries. This means that the level of trade with a country depends not only on exports, but on total transactions.
• On the other hand, it is also true that India is still highly dependent on imports in sectors such as electronics, machinery and APIs (raw materials of the pharmaceutical industry), which reflects the structural limitations of its manufacturing sector.
• Thus, Statement (A) is correct because India’s total trade value with China is higher compared to other countries, while Reason (R) is also correct because India’s import dependence contributes to increasing this trade.
• However, the important point here is that R does not directly explain A, because China becoming the largest trading partner is based on overall trade (combined value of imports and exports), not only on import dependence. Reason (R) only explains why imports are high, not why total trade is the highest. Therefore, both statements are correct but their relationship is indirect, not direct.

Q5.  Consider the following statement and reason:

         Statement (A): The proposed “COP of the Future” approach for COP31 is based only on the priorities of developed countries and limits the participation of developing countries.

         Reason (R): This model emphasizes an implementation-based approach, climate finance and technology transfer.

         Choose the correct answer using the code given below:

1. a) Both A and R are correct and R correctly explains A
2. b) Both A and R are correct, but R does not correctly explain A
3. c) A is incorrect, but R is correct
4. d) A is correct, but R is incorrect

Explanation-

• In this question, Statement (A) is incorrect, because the objective of the proposed “COP of the Future” approach for COP31 is not to promote only the priorities of developed countries, but to establish inclusive and balanced climate governance, in which participation of developing countries, climate justice and equality have been given special importance.
• Whereas Reason (R) is correct, because in this model, moving beyond the traditional negotiation-based approach, emphasis has been laid on an implementation-based strategy, climate finance and technology transfer, so that climate commitments can be converted into real actions.
• In the present context, when developing countries have long been demanding climate finance, technical assistance and capacity building, this new approach is an important step towards “from commitment to implementation.”
• Therefore, it is clear that Statement (A) is incorrect and Reason (R) is correct.

Answer Key