Current Affairs 21 April, 2026 Quiz
Indian Polity (Questions 1-11)
Q1. National Civil Services Day is observed every year on 21 April to commemorate which historical event?
A) Birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
B) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 1947 address to probationers of the first batch of Indian Administrative Service calling civil servants the “steel frame of India”
C) Formation of the All India Services under the Government of India Act 1935
D) Launch of the Civil Services Examination by UPSC in 1979
Answer: B.
Explanation: 21 April marks the day Sardar Patel addressed the first batch of IAS probationers in 1947, emphasising the role of civil servants as the “steel frame of India”.
Q2. The Rajya Sabha reconstituted its Panel of Vice-Chairpersons effective from which date in 2026 to ensure smooth functioning of the House?
A) 1 April 2026
B) 15 April 2026
C) 21 April 2026
D) 1 May 2026
Answer: B.
Explanation: The panel of six MPs from different parties was reconstituted effective 15 April 2026 by Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan.
Q3. In a recent directive, the Supreme Court asked a panel to formulate a plan for making prisons accessible to which group?
A) Women prisoners
B) Foreign nationals
C) Juvenile offenders
D) Persons with disabilities
Answer: D.
Explanation: The Supreme Court directed formulation of a plan for disabled-friendly prisons.
Q4. The Supreme Court recently observed: “Can we expect a believer to follow any age-old practice in the modern era?” This remark was made in the context of which issue?
A) Triple talaq
B) Cow slaughter laws
C) Uniform Civil Code
D) Age-old religious practices and their relevance today
Answer: D.
Explanation: The Court questioned the continued adherence to certain ancient practices in contemporary times.
Q5. The Union Cabinet approved the creation of the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMI Pool) with a sovereign guarantee of:
A) ?8,000 crore
B) ?12,980 crore
C) ?15,000 crore
D) ?10,000 crore
Answer: B.
Explanation: The ?12,980 crore pool aims to provide affordable maritime insurance for Indian-flagged vessels and reduce dependence on foreign insurers.
Q6. The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY-III) has been extended by the Union Cabinet till:
A) March 2027
B) March 2030 (all works)
C) March 2028 (plain areas and bridges in hilly areas)
D) March 2031
Answer: C.
Explanation: Extension till March 2028 (plain areas/bridges) and March 2029 (hilly-area bridges) with revised outlay of ?83,977 crore.
Q7. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) constituted the Technology and Policy Expert Committee (TPEC) as the advisory arm of which newly formed body?
A) National AI Mission
B) Digital India Corporation
C) Artificial Intelligence Governance and Economic Group (AIGEG)
D) National Cyber Security Policy Board
Answer: C.
Explanation: TPEC supports AIGEG (chaired by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw) for AI regulation and governance.
Q8. India has set a target to increase its nuclear power capacity from the current 8.8 GW to what level by 2047?
A) 50 GW
B) 75 GW
C) 150 GW
D) 100 GW
Answer: D.
Explanation: Central Electricity Authority (CEA) Chairman Ghanshyam Prasad announced the 100 GW target requiring Rs 20 lakh crore investment and legislative reforms.
Q9. India hosted the first BRICS Health Working Group Meeting 2026 in New Delhi under its BRICS Chairship. The meeting was chaired by:
A) Union Health Minister
B) Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Punya Salila Srivastava)
C) WHO Regional Director
D) BRICS Secretariat Head
Answer: B.
Explanation: Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava chaired the virtual meeting with BRICS members plus partner countries; India proposed a BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyles.
Q10. Former Union Minister Dinesh Trivedi (who served as Railway Minister in 2012) was recently appointed as India’s High Commissioner to which country?
A) Bangladesh
B) Nepal
C) Sri Lanka
D) Maldives
Answer: A.
Explanation: He succeeds Pranay Verma as High Commissioner to Bangladesh.
Q11. India held its first post-Ladakh standoff bilateral consultations under the SCO framework with which country in Delhi?
A) Russia
B) Kazakhstan
C) China
D) Pakistan
Answer: C.
Explanation: India-China SCO bilateral talks focused on security, trade, connectivity, and counter-terrorism.
Geopolitics, World News Involving India (Questions 12- 22)
Q12. In the context of ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia, India has been in touch with Iran regarding safe passage and exit of Indian-flagged vessels from which region?
A) Persian Gulf
B) Red Sea
C) South China Sea
D) Mediterranean Sea
Answer: A.
Explanation: Advisory issued for vessels in the Persian Gulf amid uncertainty over the US-Iran ceasefire and Strait of Hormuz situation.
Q13. India and South Korea are advancing cooperation in which of the following areas as part of their upgraded strategic partnership (reported on 21 April 2026)?
A) Only cultural exchanges
B) Only tourism
C) Only space technology
D) Chips, ships, defence (including anti-aircraft systems) and a potential US$50 billion trade push
Answer: D.
Explanation: Discussions include co-designing defence systems, Korean chip fabs in India, and maritime industry office in Mumbai.
Q14. India has advocated for greater representation of which group in the United Nations Security Council?
A) Permanent members only
B) Global South
C) European Union
D) G7 nations
Answer: B.
Explanation: India bats for enhanced Global South voice in UNSC reforms.
Q15. The Indian Army Chief recently held talks with leadership of which US command?
A) US Central Command
B) US Command
C) US Army Pacific
D) US Africa Command
Answer: C.
Explanation: Discussions strengthened India-US defence cooperation.
Q16. The Defence Ministry signed a ?975-crore deal for which system to enhance the Army’s minefield breaching capability?
A) TRAWL systems
B) Pinaka rockets
C) Akash missiles
D) Dhanush artillery
Answer: A.
Explanation: TRAWL systems for improved mine-clearing operations.
Q17. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) updated the list of authorised banks for gold and silver imports; how many banks are now authorised for both?
A) 10
B) 15
C) 17
D) 20
Answer: B.
Explanation: 15 banks (including SBI, PNB, Axis, HDFC, ICICI) for both gold & silver; effective till March 2029.
Q18. NABARD’s bi-monthly rural economy survey (March 2026 data, released 21 April) showed rural households expecting income growth at:
A) 85%
B) 69.5%
C) 50%
D) 90%
Answer: B.
Explanation: Sentiment impacted by West Asia conflict and slower agricultural GVA growth.
Q19. The World Bank approved a USD 225 million loan for the Rajasthan Highway Modernisation Project under which innovative financing mechanism?
A) First Step-Up Loan
B) Results-Based Financing
C) Green Bond
D) Climate Resilience Fund
Answer: A.
Explanation: 35-year maturity with 5-year grace period; will upgrade 800 km of highways.
Q20. RBI’s Master Directions mandate that all bank branches must exchange notes and coins free of charge and without discrimination; “soiled notes” are defined as:
A) Torn or mutilated notes only
B) Only demonetised notes
C) Dirty or pasted pieces without missing features
D) Foreign currency notes
Answer: C.
Explanation: Clear definition to ensure non-discriminatory service.
Q21. Four cheetahs (two females from South Africa) recently arrived at which Indian wildlife facility as part of an exchange programme?
A) Kuno National Park
B) Bannerghatta Biological Park, Bengaluru
C) Gir National Park
D) Kaziranga National Park
Answer: B.
Explanation: Exchange also involves Asiatic elephants; quarantine under Wildlife Protection Act.
Q22. IIT Kharagpur established the Vikram Sodhi Centre of Excellence for AI-enabled systems in which sector?
A) Healthcare
B) Aerospace
C) Agriculture
D) Geological and mining systems
Answer: D.
Explanation: Rs 15 crore funding over five years focusing on mining lifecycle and ESG analytics.
Arts, Education, Sports & More (Questions 23-29)
Q23. The Ministry of Textiles launched ‘Vishwa Sutra – Weaves of India for the World’ at the 61st Femina Miss India 2026 in which city?
A) Mumbai
B) Bhubaneswar, Odisha
C) New Delhi
D) Bengaluru
Answer: B.
Explanation: Showcases 30 traditional Indian weaves adapted with international inspirations.
Q24. Padma Shri awardee Bhagwandas Raikwar, pioneer of Bundeli martial arts and founder of Chhatrasal Bundelkhand Akhada, passed away in which city?
A) Lucknow
B) Hyderabad
C) Jaipur
D) Bhopal
Answer: D.
Explanation: He was 83 and received the Padma Shri in 2026.
Q25. The fourth Diving Support Craft (DSC A 23) was launched at Titagarh, Kolkata for the Indian Navy; what percentage of its equipment is indigenous?
A) 40%
B) 70%
C) 90%
D) 100%
Answer: B.
Explanation: 30m catamaran-hull vessel enhances coastal diving operations under Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
Q26. Kerala botanist N. Alim Yusuf received the WWF award for developing an AI app called NeophyteID that identifies how many invasive species?
A) 50
B) 200
C) 100
D) 500
Answer: C.
Explanation: Uses YOLOv11 model and supports Malayalam/English.
Q27. Rathi Steel and Power Limited received GreenPro Ecolabel certification for its TMT rebars from which organisation?
A) BIS
B) CII
C) TERI
D) FICCI
Answer: B.
Explanation: For Fe 550 grade manufactured at Ghaziabad unit; supports green steel.
Q28. The inaugural ICC Women’s T20I Challenge Trophy 2026 was launched in which country?
A) Rwanda
B) India
C) Australia
D) England
Answer: A.
Explanation: Five emerging nations participating in double round-robin format.
Q29. Which state signed India’s first Marine Spatial Plan (MSP) MoU with the National Centre for Coastal Research under the Indo-Norway initiative?
A) Gujarat
B) Odisha
C) Maharashtra
D) Tamil Nadu
Answer: B.
Explanation: Aims at ecosystem conservation and climate resilience; signed in Bhubaneswar.