April 2026 (2nd Week) Current affairs Practice Questions

Article 161 for remission. Governor’s pardoning power for state laws. Cannot pardon death sentence (only suspend/commute), cannot pardon court martial. Article 72 (President) can.

Article 85: maximum 6 months gap. Parliament must meet at least twice yearly.

Article 324(5): same as SC Judge – proven misbehaviour/incapacity. Motion by 100 LS or 50 RS MPs, special majority.

From document: Artemis II launched from John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida. First crewed moon mission of 21st century, first since 1972. 10-day flight. Crew: Reid Wiseman (Commander), Victor Glover (first person of colour to Moon), Christina Koch (first woman beyond Earth orbit), Jeremy Hansen (first non-US, Canadian). Uses SLS rocket and Orion capsule.

Christina Koch – Mission Specialist, first woman to travel beyond Earth orbit.

From document: Mapping of Interoperable Traits and Response Assessment. For Gaganyatris mental, physical, crew operability testing in high altitudes.

Cabinet approved NDC for 2031-35. Target: reduce emissions intensity of GDP by 47% by 2035 from 2005 level. Also: 60% non-fossil fuel capacity by 2035, carbon sink 3.5-4.0 billion tonnes CO2 eq through forest cover by 2035, net-zero by 2070.

60% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2035.

3.5 to 4.0 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through Forest and Tree Cover by 2035 from 2005 level.

Cabinet approved modified UDAN for 10 years (FY26-27 to FY35-36) with outlay Rs 28,840 crore. Proposes: develop 100 airports from unserved airstrips, 200 modern helipads for hilly/remote/island areas, procure 2 HAL Dhruv helicopters for Pawan Hans and 2 HAL Dornier for Alliance Air, O&M support for 3 years.

Government retained 4% retail inflation target with tolerance band of +/-2 percentage points (i.e., 2-6%) for period April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2031. Second consecutive extension after 2016 and 2021.

200 modern helipads for hilly, remote, island and aspirational regions.

UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) under Paris Agreement.

16 April 2026. Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (106th Amendment 2023) provides 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha, state assemblies, Delhi Assembly. Valid 15 years.

24 spokes representing wheel of duty, 24 qualities or 24 hours, derived from Lion Capital at Sarnath.