Daily Current Affairs- 24th April 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 24 April 2026

Supreme Court Allows Minor’s 31-Week Pregnancy Termination

In the News: The Supreme Court of India allowed a 15-year-old girl to medically terminate her pregnancy of over 28–31 weeks, ruling that reproductive autonomy is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution and that no court can compel a woman, including a minor, to continue an unwanted pregnancy against her will.

Key Points:

• The Judgment: A Supreme Court bench comprising Justice B. V. Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan permitted the minor to undergo medical termination of pregnancy at AIIMS, Delhi, with all necessary medical safeguards. The case was filed by the girl's mother seeking permission for termination beyond the statutory limit under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act.
• Constitutional Basis: The Court held that a woman's right to make decisions concerning her own body is an essential component of personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution, which protects the right to life, dignity, and privacy. It stressed that reproductive autonomy must receive the highest constitutional protection.
• Psychological Distress: The Court took note of the minor's severe mental distress, including two reported suicide attempts. It observed that compelling her to continue the pregnancy would cause grave emotional, physical, and psychological trauma, amounting to a direct violation of her right to live with dignity.
• Overriding Statutory Limits: The government argued that the pregnancy had crossed the 24-week statutory limit under the MTP Act and raised concerns about medical risks to both the girl and the foetus. It also suggested delivery followed by adoption as an alternative. The Court rejected both arguments, holding that in exceptional cases involving minors, the child's best interests and welfare must take precedence over procedural restrictions.
• Adoption Argument Rejected: The bench firmly rejected the contention that the availability of adoption could justify compelling childbirth. It clarified that what is relevant in such cases is the choice of the pregnant woman, not the prospects of the child to be born.
• About the MTP Act: The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act was originally passed in 1971 and amended in 2021. It permits abortion up to 20 weeks, with extensions permissible in special categories — such as cases involving rape, assault, mental distress, or foetal abnormalities — up to 24 weeks. Beyond this limit, only constitutional courts can grant permission in exceptional circumstances.

Upendra Dwivedi Inducted into US Army War College International Hall of Fame

In the News: Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi was inducted into the International Hall of Fame of the US Army War College, becoming only the third Indian Army officer to receive this distinguished honour, after General V. K. Singh and General Bikram Singh.

Key Points:

• Induction into Hall of Fame: General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army, was formally inducted into the International Hall of Fame of the US Army War College. He is the third Indian military officer to receive this honour, following former Army Chiefs General V. K. Singh and General Bikram Singh.
• About the US Army War College: The US Army War College is a premier institution for senior military education in the United States, focused on strategic leadership, national security studies, and professional military development. Its International Hall of Fame recognises distinguished foreign military leaders who have made significant contributions to global security and bilateral defence cooperation.
• General Dwivedi's Background: General Upendra Dwivedi is an alumnus of the US Army War College, making his induction into its Hall of Fame particularly significant. He currently serves as the Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army.
• Engagements During the Visit: During his visit to the college, General Dwivedi addressed faculty members and international student officers on themes of leadership, professional military education, and evolving global security dynamics. He also participated in panel discussions, toured key facilities of the institution, and reviewed advanced study projects under the college's Scholars Program.

A sweeping new H-1B Bill has raised alarm. What does it mean for Indian students and working professionals?

In the News: Congressman Eli Crane of the United States introduced the 'End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026' on April 22, 2026, proposing sweeping restrictions on the H-1B skilled worker visa programme. The Bill has raised significant alarm among Indian students and professionals, who form the largest share of both H-1B recipients and student visa holders in the US.

Key Points:

• The Bill's Key Proposals: The End H-1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026 proposes a three-year pause on new H-1B visas, a reduction in annual visa caps to 25,000, a minimum salary threshold of $200,000, elimination of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme, and a ban on transitioning from H-1B status to permanent residency (green cards). Immigration lawyers have described it as a near-total reset of the US skilled migration system.
• What Makes This Bill Unprecedented: Unlike earlier immigration Bills that targeted one or two elements such as caps or wages, this proposal simultaneously seeks to restructure the entire skilled migration pipeline — covering visas, work experience programmes, salary floors, and permanent residency pathways — in one sweeping legislation.
• Impact on Indian Students — OPT Elimination: The Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme currently serves as the crucial bridge between completing education on an F-1 student visa and transitioning to H-1B employment. Eliminating OPT would sever this pathway entirely, effectively making US education a dead end for most Indian students seeking long-term career opportunities in the country. Lawyers warn that this could push Indian students toward Canada, the UK, Australia, and Germany, which are actively competing for global talent.
• Impact on Indian Professionals — Salary Threshold: The proposed $200,000 minimum salary requirement, combined with a shift from lottery to wage-based selection, would disproportionately disadvantage early- and mid-career Indian professionals. Critics argue the system would favour candidates from wealthy large firms over genuinely skilled workers employed by startups, academic institutions, or healthcare organisations where salary structures are lower.
• Most Vulnerable Group — Green Card Backlog: Indians already stuck in employment-based green card queues — some waiting 10 to 20 years — face the gravest risk. A provision blocking adjustment of status would strip them of benefits they have been lawfully accruing over decades. Lawyers have flagged that such retroactive provisions could raise serious constitutional concerns related to due process and equal protection.

Depreciation of the Indian Rupee

In the News: The Indian rupee has been experiencing significant depreciation against the US dollar, hitting historic lows and crossing the 90-mark, making it one of the worst-performing major currencies in recent times. A BofA Securities report has analysed the multifaceted economic impact of this weakness, while a Bank of Baroda study has identified the key drivers behind the rupee's slide.

Key Points:

• Scale of Depreciation: The rupee depreciated by 4.7% year-to-date in 2025 and over 5.8% in the preceding one year in nominal terms. In Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER) terms, the weakness has been even sharper, with year-to-date depreciation estimated at 8.6% and one-year depreciation at 12.1% — comparable to major historical episodes such as the 8.7% fall in 2018, 14% in 2013, and 18.7% in 2008.
• Role of Trade and Capital Flows: India's persistent trade deficit raises demand for US dollars, exerting downward pressure on the rupee. Additionally, high US tariffs on Indian goods have reduced export competitiveness, while uncertainty surrounding the India-US trade deal has dampened investor confidence. Weak capital inflows across FDI, FPI, and debt-related categories have compounded the pressure, prompting the RBI to sell approximately $65 billion in the open market between October 2024 and September 2025.
• Channel 1 — Sentiment Impact: Historical data suggests that rupee weakness exceeding 10% can negatively affect consumer confidence, business sentiment, and policy uncertainty indicators such as the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI). BofA warns that the current scale of depreciation could feed through to both consumer and business sentiment.
• Channel 2 — Impact on GDP: A weaker rupee influences GDP primarily through trade. A 5% decline in REER can reduce imports by approximately 2.3%, which boosts GDP through lower import volumes. On the export side, a 5% REER depreciation can increase exports by around 2%, with the current episode potentially yielding a ~4% improvement. An RBI study also concluded that rupee depreciation progressively enhances the trade balance, with potential savings of $7–12 billion under the current depreciation scenario.
• Channel 3 — Inflation Risk: A weaker rupee can import inflation through three sub-channels — energy costs, precious metals prices, and intermediate/consumer goods. However, BofA notes that the sharp fall in crude oil prices (to $60–65 per barrel, approximately $15 lower than the previous year's average) has limited the energy inflation risk. Deflationary trends from China have also suppressed WPI inflation. RBI models suggest a 5% REER depreciation can raise inflation by around 35 basis points over 3–4 quarters, implying a 60–70 basis points upward risk in the current episode — though a full inflation spiral is considered unlikely given the global commodity price backdrop.
• Channel 4 — External Sector: Over the medium term, rupee depreciation is expected to improve India's current account deficit. Imports become costlier, compressing demand, while exports become more competitive. Services exports are projected to improve by 0.8% for every 1% currency weakness. Remittance inflows also tend to rise after a period of depreciation stabilises. However, BofA cautions that US tariff-related headwinds may delay the typical "J-Curve" effect on goods trade by 2–4 quarters.
• Channel 5 — Fiscal Implications: On the fiscal side, a weaker rupee is likely to modestly increase fertiliser subsidies while LPG subsidy impact remains limited. On the positive side, RBI's large-scale forex market interventions are expected to generate higher foreign exchange earnings, potentially resulting in increased RBI dividend transfers to the government in FY2026–27.

NASSCOM Gets New Chairman: AI Expert Srikanth Velamakanni Takes Charge

In the News: Srikanth Velamakanni, Co-founder and Group CEO of Fractal Analytics, was appointed as the new Chairman of NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Service Companies) in April 2026, succeeding Sindhu Gangadharan, Managing Director of SAP Labs India, who completed her term as Chairperson.

Key Points:

• New Chairman: Srikanth Velamakanni has been appointed Chairperson of NASSCOM. He assumes the role after previously serving as Vice Chairperson and as an Executive Council member of NASSCOM for over six years.
• New Vice Chairperson: Kishor Patil, CEO and Managing Director of KPIT, has been elected as the new Vice Chairperson of NASSCOM alongside Velamakanni's elevation.
• Who is Srikanth Velamakanni: He is the Co-founder and Group CEO of Fractal Analytics, one of India's earliest and most prominent AI-first enterprises. He brings over two decades of experience in data science, artificial intelligence (AI), analytics, enterprise AI, responsible technology, and global go-to-market strategy.
• About NASSCOM: NASSCOM is the apex body representing India's IT and Business Process Management (BPM) industry. It promotes growth of digital services, supports policy advocacy, encourages innovation in AI and cloud computing, and represents India's IT sector on the global stage.
• Strategic Priorities: Velamakanni will work closely with NASSCOM President Rajesh Nambiar and the Executive Council. Key focus areas include accelerating services transformation with AI, catalyzing product innovation, and positioning India as a global leader in Agentic AI, multi-agent systems, and vertical AI products.

Satellite Study Places Mumbai and Secunderabad Landfills in Global Methane Top 25

In the News: A satellite-based global study published in April 2026 revealed that landfill sites in Secunderabad, Telangana and Mumbai, Maharashtra rank among the world's top 25 methane-emitting waste sites for 2025, raising serious concerns about India's waste management practices and their contribution to climate change.

Key Points:

• The Study: The analysis was conducted using satellite data processed by Carbon Mapper, an independent non-profit, and examined by the Stop Methane Project (SPM) at the University of California, Los Angeles. It tracked methane plumes from January 1 to December 31, 2025, identifying the highest-emitting landfill sites globally.
• Scale of the Analysis: The study examined more than 2,994 methane plumes across 707 waste sites worldwide, including landfills and dumpsites, to map major global pollution hotspots.
• India's Position: India has two landfill sites among the global top 25 emitters — in Secunderabad and Mumbai. Chile and Brazil led with three sites each, while India stands alongside Saudi Arabia and Turkey in the rankings.
• Responsible Operators: The report linked the Secunderabad site to Ramky Enviro Engineers and the Mumbai site to Antony Waste Handling Cell Ltd, based on publicly available government records. Official responses from both companies were awaited at the time of publication.
• Why Methane Is Dangerous: Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that remains in the atmosphere for about 12 years but is approximately 86 times more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), methane is responsible for nearly 30% of the rise in global temperatures since the Industrial Revolution, with current atmospheric concentrations about 2.5 times higher than pre-industrial levels.
• How Landfills Emit Methane: Organic waste such as food, paper, and garden material decomposes without oxygen inside landfills, generating methane as a byproduct. Unmanaged or poorly managed landfills can become major emission sources.
• India's Earlier Record: Delhi's Ghazipur landfill had previously been identified as a methane "super-emitter." A single leak event in April 2022 released over 400 tonnes of methane per hour — equivalent to emissions from around 68 million cars simultaneously.

National Panchayati Raj Day 2026: Theme, History, Significance & Celebrations

In the News: India observed National Panchayati Raj Day (NPRD), marking 33 years since the enactment of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, which gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) across the country. The national event was held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, under the theme 'Sashakt Panchayat, Sarvangeen Vikas'.

Key Points:

• National Event: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj organized the central celebration at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The event was graced by Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel, along with Secretary Shri Vivek Bharadwaj and other senior officials. Elected representatives of PRIs from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana also participated.
• Theme: This year's theme, 'Sashakt Panchayat, Sarvangeen Vikas' (Empowered Panchayat, Holistic Development), focuses on strengthening local bodies to ensure inclusive and balanced development, with Panchayats playing a key role in implementing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the grassroots level.
• Publications Released: The Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI)-2.0 Report was released at the event. Under the 'Panchayat Dharohar Initiative', three illustrated publications on rural heritage were also launched — a Monograph on Rural Heritage of Tripura, a Monograph on Rural Heritage of Tirupati, and 'Uttarkashi: Saumya Kashi: The Soul of Himalayan Heritage'.
• Historical Background: The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, came into force in 1993 and institutionalized a three-tier Panchayati Raj structure — Gram Panchayat (village level), Panchayat Samiti (block/intermediate level), and Zilla Parishad (district level). National Panchayati Raj Day has been officially observed since 2010.
• Scale of the System: India currently has approximately 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats, over 6,600 Panchayat Samitis, and nearly 666 Zilla Parishads, collectively forming one of the world's largest decentralized governance networks.
• Inclusion Mandate: Out of the Reserved Seats, 1/3rd have to be reserved for the women of the ensures proportional representation for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), making local governance more participatory and representative.