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Current Affairs – 17 April 2026

Food Waste in India

NATIONAL

Why in News?
Following the International Day of Zero Waste (30 March), the United Nations Environment Programme Food Waste Index 2024 reported that India wastes 78–80 million tonnes of food annually, highlighting the paradox of hunger alongside wastage.

Global Scenario
Total global food waste is 1.05 billion tonnes/year.

  • Households: 60%
  • Food services: 28%
  • Retail: 12%

     India’s Position

  • India ranks 2nd globally with 78–80 million tonnes, after China (108 million tonnes).

   Per Capita Waste

  • India wastes 55 kg/person/year, compared to USA (73 kg) and Germany (75 kg).
  • Key Point: Lower per capita but high total due to large population.

   Economic Loss

  • Estimated loss is ₹1.55 lakh crore annually, affecting farmer income and economy.

   Dual Crisis

  • India has 194 million undernourished people, yet massive food wastage continues.
  • Core Issue: Poor distribution and access

    Key Fact

  • Food grains lost in transit could have fed 82.3 million people for one month.

   Global Hunger Index

  • India ranks 111 out of 125 (2023), showing serious food insecurity.
Exam Relevance:

UPSC/BPSC

Delhi High Court Allows Woman to Continue IVF Treatment with Husband in Vegetative State

NATIONAL

Why in News:

  • The Delhi High Court allowed a woman to continue In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment with her husband, an Indian Army soldier in a vegetative state.
  • The Court held that the husband’s prior consent remains valid despite his current medical condition.

Key Highlights:

  • The soldier’s wife approached the court seeking permission to resume IVF treatment.
  • She invoked her rights under Article 21, which guarantees the Right to Life, including dignity, motherhood, and reproductive autonomy.
  • The Court ruled that under the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021, the wife’s consent can be treated as valid consent on behalf of her husband in this exceptional situation.
  • A medical board stated that the chances of retrieving viable sperm were very low ("meagre"), but the Court still permitted the IVF procedure.

  Additional Information:

    About In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF):

  • IVF is one of the most widely used Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) to treat infertility.
  • In this method, a woman’s eggs are fertilized with sperm outside the body in a laboratory, and the resulting embryo is transferred into the uterus to achieve pregnancy.

    Regulation of IVF in India:

  • ART services in India are regulated under the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021, which sets standards for fertility clinics, donation, and cryopreservation.
Exam Relevance:

UPSC/BPSC

Lanjia Saora Tribe Highlighted for Its Evolving Cultural Practices

NATIONAL

Why in News:

  • The Lanjia Saora tribe, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Odisha, was recently highlighted for its evolving cultural practices and lifestyle changes.

Key Highlights:

  • The Lanjia Saora are a subgroup of the Saora Tribe.
  • They mainly inhabit the forested hills of Rayagada district and Gajapati district.
  • The Saora are considered among the ancient tribal communities of India.
  • Members of the Saora tribe are also found in states such as Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh.
  • The tribe includes groups such as:
    • Lanjia Saora — hill-dwelling community practicing shifting cultivation.
    • Sudha Saora — plains-dwelling community engaged in settled agriculture and wage work.

Additional Information:

Language:

  • The Lanjia Saora speak Saora, a Mundari language belonging to the Austroasiatic language family.

Lifestyle and Culture:

  • The community mainly depends on shifting cultivation, foraging, and small-scale farming for livelihood.
  • Their belief system is closely linked to nature, and rituals, music, and dance play an important role in their daily life.
Exam Relevance:

UPSC/BPSC

Gujarat Police Launches ‘NARIT AI’ for Narcotics Investigation

NATIONAL

Why in News:

  • The Gujarat Police launched NARIT AI on April 10, 2026.
  • It became the first law enforcement agency in India to deploy such an advanced Artificial Intelligence tool for narcotics-related investigations.

Key Highlights:

  • NARIT AI stands for Narcotics Analysis & RAG-based Investigation Tool.
  • The tool is designed to assist police officers in handling complex narcotics cases more efficiently.
  • It will help in analyzing large volumes of case data, identifying patterns, and supporting faster investigation.
  • The tool is specifically developed to support cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act).
  • The launch marks a significant step toward technology-driven policing and modernization of law enforcement in India.

Additional Information:

About NDPS Act:

  • The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 regulates the manufacture, possession, sale, transport, and consumption of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in India.
  • It provides strict penalties for drug trafficking and illegal drug activities.
Exam Relevance:

UPSC/BPSC

CPA India Region Zone VII Conference Concludes in Goa

NATIONAL

Why in News:

  • The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region Zone VII Conference concluded in Goa.

Key Highlights:

  • The conference focused on enhancing women’s participation in governance and policymaking.
  • It also highlighted the importance of youth involvement in democratic institutions.
  • Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, stated that the time has come to expand women's role in policymaking from grassroots levels to Parliament.

Additional Information:

About CPA:

  • The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) connects parliaments and legislatures of Commonwealth countries.
  • It aims to promote parliamentary democracy, good governance, and cooperation among member countries.
Exam Relevance:

UPSC/BPSC

Delhi–Dehradun Economic Corridor Inaugurated

NATIONAL

Why in News:

  • Narendra Modi inaugurated the Delhi–Dehradun Economic Corridor on 14 April 2026 in Uttarakhand, aiming to boost regional connectivity and economic development.

Key Highlights:

  • The 213-km access-controlled six-lane corridor has been constructed at a cost of over ₹12,000 crore.
  • It connects Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
  • The project is expected to reduce travel time between Delhi and Dehradun from over 6 hours to around 2.5 hours.
  • The corridor includes 10 interchanges, multiple bridges, railway overbridges, and 12 wayside amenities.
  • An Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) has been installed to improve road safety and traffic efficiency.
  • The corridor features a 12-km elevated wildlife corridor, one of the longest in Asia, along with animal passes and elephant underpasses.
  • A 370-metre tunnel near the Daat Kali Temple has been constructed to ease traffic flow.
  • The inauguration ceremony was attended by Nitin Gadkari and Pushkar Singh Dhami.
Exam Relevance:

UPSC/BPSC

Naval Commanders’ Conference 2026 Begins at Nau Sena Bhawan

NATIONAL

Why in News:

  • The Naval Commanders’ Conference 2026 commenced on 14 April 2026 at Nau Sena Bhawan, bringing together senior leadership of the Indian Navy.

Key Highlights:

  • The conference brought together top naval commanders and senior leadership to discuss strategic priorities.
  • Key discussions focused on:
    • Jointness among armed forces
    • Capability enhancement
    • Training and maintenance
    • Indigenisation of defence equipment

Additional Information:

  • The Naval Commanders’ Conference is a key biannual event that reviews operational readiness and long-term naval strategies.
Exam Relevance:

UPSC/BPSC

Indian Wrestlers Shine at Asian Wrestling Championships 2026

NATIONAL

Why in News:

  • Indian wrestlers delivered a strong performance at the Asian Wrestling Championships 2026, winning gold medals and boosting India’s overall medal tally.

Key Highlights:

  • Sujeet Kalkal won a gold medal in the freestyle wrestling category.
  • Abhimanyou Mandwal also secured a gold medal in freestyle wrestling.
  • The tournament was held in Bishkek.
  • Indian wrestlers displayed dominance, resilience, and strong technical skills throughout the competition.
  • With these victories, India’s medal tally increased significantly in the championship.
Exam Relevance:

UPSC/BPSC

Vantara Announces Launch of Vantara University in Jamnagar

NATIONAL

Why in News:

  • Vantara has announced the launch of Vantara University in Jamnagar.
  • The university will be established under the vision of Anant Ambani and aims to become the world’s first integrated global university dedicated to wildlife and veterinary sciences.

Key Highlights:

  • The university will focus on wildlife conservation, veterinary sciences, and animal welfare.
  • It is planned to be designed as a modern-day Gurukul, combining traditional values with modern scientific education.
  • The institution aims to create a global centre of excellence in wildlife and veterinary education.

Additional Information:

About Vantara:

  • Vantara is recognized as a leading centre for:
    • Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation
    • Advanced veterinary care
    • Conservation breeding and species recovery programs
Exam Relevance:

UPSC/BPSC

BIHAR NEWS

Infrastructure Development Projects Reviewed in Bihar

BIHAR SPECIAL

Why in News:

  • Nitish Kumar reviewed the progress of the Danapur–Bihta Elevated Corridor and inspected ongoing construction work at the Bihta Airport.

Key Highlights:

   Project Review and Directions:

  • The Chief Minister assessed construction timelines and emphasized timely completion with quality and safety standards.
  • He reviewed major components of the airport project, including runway development, passenger facilities, and connectivity infrastructure.

 Connectivity and Infrastructure:

    Danapur–Bihta Elevated Corridor:

  • The Danapur–Bihta Elevated Corridor is an approximately 25-km-long four-lane elevated road being constructed on National Highway 922.
  • It is expected to become Eastern India’s longest elevated road.
  • The project is estimated to cost over ₹1,969 crore.
  • It is scheduled for completion by 2026–2027.
  • The corridor will reduce traffic congestion in the western suburbs of Patna and improve connectivity.
  • It will enhance connectivity between Patna Airport and the upcoming Bihta Airport, reducing travel time.

   Bihta Airport Project:

  • The Bihta Airport is being developed to enhance air connectivity in Bihar.
  • It will reduce pressure on the existing Jayaprakash Narayan InternationalAirport, which was established in 1973.
  • The airport is expected to generate employment opportunities and boost regional economic development.
  • It is planned as the second airport for Patna, complementing existing aviation infrastructure.
Exam Relevance:

UPSC/BPSC

ONE LINER

FACTUAL

  1. Mundra Port, operated by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, became India’s largest automobile export hub by shipping 6,008 cars in a single vessel
  2. The Reserve Bank of India launched ‘Utkarsh 2029’, a medium-term strategy framework for 2026–2029 focusing on digital finance, rupee internationalization, and emerging technologies
  3. Deakin University and the Government of Telangana signed an MoU in Hyderabad to advance applied AI research and innovation
  4. The first life-size statue of Swami Vivekananda in the U.S. was unveiled at Westlake Square on April 12, 2026
  5. India moved toward a fully digital toll system on National Highways Authority of India highways enabling FASTag and UPI payments from April 11, 2026
  6. The Karnataka Postal Circle released commemorative stamps in Bengaluru to honor achievements of Indian Space Research Organisation
  7. Viktor Orbán was ousted after 16 years as opposition leader Péter Magyar led the Tisza Party to a two-thirds majority victory in Hungary’s 2026 elections
  8. World Bank released $340 million for Phase-I of the Amaravati Capital City Project, with additional $130–150 million expected in April supported by the Asian Development Bank
  9. Jannik Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz to win the Monte Carlo Masters 2026, securing his first title at the event and reclaiming the World No. 1 ranking
Exam Relevance:

UPSC/BPSC

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