📅 DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS — 8 APRIL 2026 · WEDNESDAY
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Daily Current Affairs 8 April 2026
One-Day Digest for UPSC · SSC · Banking · Defence · Railways & All Competitive Exams
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🇮🇳 National 🌍 International 💰 Economy 🔬 Science & Tech 🏆 Sports 👔 Appointments 🏅 Awards
📖 Compiled from PIB · The Hindu · Indian Express · Economic Times · AffairsCloud | Exam-relevant facts highlighted
⚡ 8 April 2026 — At a Glance
Judiciary
Death penalty to 9 cops — Jayaraj-Benicks custodial murder, Tamil Nadu
Nuclear Energy
India's PFBR (Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor) achieves criticality — Tamil Nadu
Economy
Morgan Stanley cuts India GDP FY27 to 6.2% | RBI cancels Shirpur Bank licence
Sports / Achievements
Payal Nag — world's first quadruple amputee archery champion (Odisha, 18 yrs)
Cycling Record
Divya Singh — 1st Indian woman & 2nd woman globally to cycle to Everest Base Camp
Space / ISRO
ISRO Mission MITRA launched in Leh — analog space mission for Gaganyaan prep
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National Affairs
HIGH PRIORITYDeath Penalty to 9 Policemen — Jayaraj & Benicks Custodial Murder (Tamil Nadu)
A Tamil Nadu trial court awarded the death penalty to 9 policemen for the brutal 2020 custodial murder of traders P. Jayaraj and his son J. Benicks in Sattankulam. This landmark verdict marks one of the strongest judicial actions on custodial deaths in India. Custodial death = death of a person while under police or judicial custody.
UPSC SSC
India's Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) Achieves Criticality — Tamil Nadu
India's first indigenously developed Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) in Tamil Nadu attained criticality — a major milestone in India's advanced nuclear energy programme. PFBR is part of India's 3-stage nuclear programme and uses fast neutrons to breed more fissile material than it consumes, enhancing fuel efficiency significantly.
UPSC SSC RRB
NSO Launches ASISSE — Inaugural Survey of Incorporated Services Sector
The National Statistics Office (NSO) under MoSPI officially launched the Annual Survey of Incorporated Services Sector Enterprises (ASISSE) in April 2026. Coverage: Corporate entities registered under the Companies Act, 1956/2013 or LLP Act, 2008, across all States & UTs. Reference period: FY 2024-25.
UPSC BANK
Indian Army Releases Technology Roadmap for Drones & Loitering Munitions
The Indian Army published "Indian Army's Technology Roadmap for Unmanned Aerial Systems and Loitering Munitions", outlining future requirements and capability development priorities in drones for operational preparedness. Reflects India's focus on autonomous warfare technologies.
DEFENCE UPSC
International Election Visitors' Programme (IEVP) 2026 Launched — ECI
The Election Commission of India (ECI) launched the IEVP 2026, inviting election managers worldwide to witness Indian elections. Promotes knowledge exchange and South-South cooperation. Phase I: Assam, Kerala & Puducherry (April 2026). Phase II: West Bengal & Tamil Nadu (late April 2026). Key showcase: EVMs, VVPATs, cVIGIL app.
UPSC SSC
North Central Railway — ₹176.77 Crore Kavach Safety System Sanction
Sanction granted for 2×48 fibre OFC cables covering 2,196 route km at a cost of ₹176.77 crore to support rollout of the Kavach railway safety system across Prayagraj, Jhansi and Agra divisions. Kavach is an automatic train protection system preventing collisions.
SSC RRB
Shree Jagannath International Airport, Puri — Stage-I Forest Clearance Granted
The Shree Jagannath International Airport project in Puri, Odisha received Stage-I forest clearance from the Union government on April 1, 2026, enabling further progress on land and environmental approvals — a key step in Odisha's aviation infrastructure expansion.
SSC RRB
Telangana Declares Cancer a Notifiable Disease — First State
The Telangana Government officially declared cancer a notifiable disease, making it the first state to do so. This enables systematic data collection, early intervention strategies, and better public health planning across the state.
UPSC SSC
Menaka Guruswamy — India's First Openly Queer Member of Parliament
Menaka Guruswamy, the noted Supreme Court lawyer who co-argued the Section 377 case, was appointed as India's first openly queer MP — a historic milestone for LGBTQ+ representation in Indian politics.
UPSC SSC
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Economy & Banking
HIGH PRIORITYMorgan Stanley — India GDP FY27
6.2%
Cut from 6.5% — West Asia & oil risks
CPI Inflation FY27
5.1%
Up from 4% — currency & food costs
India CAD FY27
~2.5%
of GDP — widening from ~1%
IMF India Debt-to-GDP (2030)
75.8%
IMF projection by 2030
India GDP Forecasts — Multiple Agencies (April 2026)
| Agency | Forecast | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Morgan Stanley | 6.2% (FY27) | Cut from 6.5%; Q1 FY27 at 5.9% |
| Moody's | 6.0% | Trimmed from 6.8% |
| Goldman Sachs | 5.9% (2026) | Cut from 7% |
| S&P Global | 7.1% (FY27) | Raised — outlier; positive on India |
UPSC BANK
RBI Cancels Licence of Shirpur Merchants' Co-operative Bank, Maharashtra
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the banking licence of The Shirpur Merchants' Co-operative Bank (Maharashtra) with effect from April 6, 2026, due to: inadequate capital and earning prospects; non-compliance with Banking Regulation Act, 1949; continued operation deemed prejudicial to depositors. Every depositor is entitled to up to ₹5 lakh deposit insurance.
BANK SSC
Vinay Tonse Becomes New MD & CEO of YES Bank
Vinay Tonse has taken charge as the new Managing Director & CEO of YES Bank, one of India's leading private sector banks. He succeeds Prashant Kumar.
BANK SSC
Domestic Textiles Report — Market grows to ₹14.95 Lakh Crore in 2024
Union Minister Giriraj Singh (Ministry of Textiles) released the "Market for Textiles & Clothing: National Household Survey 2024". Key findings: domestic textile demand grew from ₹4.89 lakh crore (2010) → ₹14.95 lakh crore (2024). Per capita textile demand rose from ₹2,119 to ₹6,066 at 7.8% CAGR.
SSC BANK
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International Affairs
HIGH PRIORITYBangladesh FM Khalilur Rahman Visits India
Khalilur Rahman, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, visited India for bilateral diplomatic discussions. The visit comes amid efforts to strengthen India-Bangladesh relations and address shared concerns on trade, connectivity, and border security.
UPSC SSC
One Health Summit 2026 — Held in Lyon, France
The One Health Summit 2026 was held in Lyon, France. The One Health approach integrates human, animal, and environmental health — a key framework for pandemic prevention and antimicrobial resistance management globally.
UPSC SSC
US Secretary Rubio Meets NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the State Department on April 8, 2026 for strategic discussions on NATO commitments, European security, and geopolitical developments.
UPSC
Inaugural Global Forum of WHO Collaborating Centres — 7–9 April 2026
The World Health Organization (WHO) hosted its first-ever Global Forum of Collaborating Centres from April 7–9, 2026, bringing together global health research bodies and networks for collaboration on health challenges.
UPSC SSC
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Science & Technology
ALL EXAMSISRO Launches Mission MITRA — India's First Analog Space Mission | Leh, Ladakh
ISRO launched Mission MITRA (Mapping of Interoperable Traits and Response Assessment) in Leh, Ladakh (~3,500 m altitude) on April 2, 2026. This is India's first-of-its-kind analog space mission — simulating the isolation and environmental challenges of spaceflight to study crew behavioural and physiological responses. Prepares Gaganyatris (crew) and ground teams for the Gaganyaan mission. Studies effects of hypoxia, cold, and isolation on decision-making.
UPSC SSC RRB
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Sports & Achievements
ALL EXAMSPayal Nag — World's First Quadruple Amputee Archery Champion
Payal Nag, an 18-year-old archer from Odisha, scripted history by becoming the world's first quadruple amputee archery champion — an extraordinary story of resilience and determination, putting India on the global para-sports map.
SSC RRB
Divya Singh — 1st Indian Woman to Cycle to Everest Base Camp (14 Days)
Divya Singh became the first Indian woman and only the second woman globally to reach the Everest Base Camp on a bicycle, completing the feat in just 14 days — a remarkable achievement in adventure sports.
SSC RRB
Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 — Medal Tally & State Rankings
The Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 saw strong performances from states including Karnataka, reflecting the government's push towards tribal and grassroots sports development under the Khelo India scheme.
SSC RRB
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Key Appointments — 8 April 2026
ALL EXAMS| Person | Appointment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vinay Tonse | MD & CEO, YES Bank | Succeeds Prashant Kumar |
| Menaka Guruswamy | India's 1st Openly Queer MP | Historic milestone for LGBTQ+ representation |
| Khalilur Rahman | FM, Bangladesh | Visited India — bilateral diplomatic talks |
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Rapid Fire One-Liners — 8 April 2026
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Booktime.in — Your Partner for Competitive Exam SuccessCompiled from PIB · The Hindu · Indian Express · Economic Times · AffairsCloud · 8 April 2026
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