Daily Current Affairs 7 April 2026
Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) Attains First Criticality
One-liner: India’s 500 MWe PFBR at Kalpakkam attained criticality on April 7, 2026, marking a leap in the 2nd stage of the nuclear program.
What Happened: India’s first indigenous Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, achieved its first “criticality” (a sustained nuclear chain reaction).
Background: The PFBR is a 500 MWe reactor and the centerpiece of the Second Stage of India’s three-stage nuclear power program. It is designed by the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) and implemented by BHAVINI (Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited).
Why in News: Achieving criticality marks the transition from the construction/testing phase to the operational phase, moving India closer to utilizing its vast Thorium reserves.
Key Facts:
Coolant Used: Liquid Sodium.
Fuel: Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel (Plutonium-239 and Uranium-238).
Stage System: 1. Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR) – Uses Natural Uranium. 2. Fast Breeder Reactors (FBR) – Uses Plutonium from Stage 1. 3. Thorium-based Reactors – Uses Uranium-233 bred from Thorium.
Exam Point: FBRs are called “breeders” because they produce more fuel (Plutonium) than they consume while generating electricity.
Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) Fully Completed
- What Happened: The Ministry of Railways announced the 100% completion of the 1,506 km Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC).
- Background: The WDFC connects Dadri in Uttar Pradesh to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Terminal (JNPT) in Maharashtra.
- Why in News: The corridor is now fully operational, significantly reducing the transit time of goods between Northern India and the ports on the West Coast.
- Key Facts:
- The project was largely funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
- It passes through five states: UP, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.
- It allows for “Double Stack Long Haul” container trains.
- One-liner: The 1,506 km Western DFC is now fully complete, connecting Dadri (UP) to JNPT (Mumbai).
Vietnam Elects To Lam as President
- What Happened: The Socialist Republic of Vietnam officially elected Mr. To Lam as the President.
- Why in News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to President To Lam, reaffirming the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Vietnam.
- Static GK: Vietnam is a key pillar of India’s Act East Policy and the Indo-Pacific Vision. The capital is Hanoi, and the currency is the Vietnamese Dong.
- One-liner: To Lam has been elected as the President of Vietnam in April 2026.
SC Ruling: No Oral Hearing Required for “Fraud” Classification
- What Happened: The Supreme Court (Bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice K.V. Viswanathan) ruled that borrowers do not have an inherent right to an oral hearing before their accounts are classified as “fraud” by banks.
- Background: This settles the ambiguity from the 2023 Rajesh Agarwal case. The Court upheld the RBI Master Directions on Fraud (2024).
- Key Facts:
- The Court ruled that providing a Show Cause Notice and allowing a written representation satisfies the principles of Natural Justice (Audi Alteram Partem).
- Banks are not obligated to provide the entire Forensic Audit Report, only the relevant extracts used for the charge.
- Exam Point: This judgment prevents administrative delays in the banking sector’s efforts to tackle NPAs and financial crimes.
- One-liner: SC ruled that a written reply to a show-cause notice is sufficient for “fraud” classification, and no personal hearing is mandatory.
GeM Portal Crosses ₹18.4 Lakh Crore GMV
- What Happened: The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) achieved a Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) of ₹18.4 Lakh Crore for the cumulative period ending FY 2025-26.
- Why in News: It highlights the success of digital public procurement in India, promoting transparency and MSME participation.
- One-liner: GeM portal’s cumulative GMV reached ₹18.4 lakh crore as of April 2026.
CBSE Launches Curriculum on Computational Thinking (CT) and AI
- What Happened: The Union Education Minister launched a new CBSE curriculum specifically focused on Computational Thinking (CT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for schools.
- Why in News: To align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and prepare students for the future digital economy.
- One-liner: CBSE introduced a dedicated CT and AI curriculum for school students on April 7, 2026.
India Records Highest-Ever Annual Wind Energy Addition
- What Happened: India added a record 6.05 GW of wind energy capacity in the financial year 2025-26.
- Why in News: This represents a 46% year-on-year growth, making India one of the fastest-growing wind energy markets globally.
- Key Facts: * India’s total installed wind capacity is now part of the goal to reach 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.
- Gujarat and Tamil Nadu remain leaders in wind installations.
- One-liner: India achieved a record 6.05 GW wind energy addition in FY 2025-26.
Justice B.V. Nagarathna Leads Bench on Sabarimala Case Observations
- Current Affairs: While not a new appointment, Justice Nagarathna’s observations on April 7, 2026, regarding Article 17 (Untouchability) and women’s rights in the Sabarimala case gained national attention.
- Observation: She stated that women cannot be treated as “untouchables” for three days a month due to menstruation, and Article 17 should be interpreted broadly to protect dignity.
World Health Day – 07 April 2026
- Theme 2026: “Together for Science” (Spotlighting scientific achievements and One Health collaboration).
- Background: World Health Day is celebrated every year on April 7 to mark the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948.
- Significance: Focuses on global health awareness and the power of evidence-based policy.
- One-liner: World Health Day was observed on April 7, 2026, with the theme “Together for Science.”
Property Registration in 10 Minutes
- What Happened: New digital modules were enabled in property registration departments, promising registration completion within 10 minutes.
- Significance: This is part of the ease of doing business and digital governance initiatives in the Telugu states.
- One-liner: Both Telugu states are implementing advanced digital modules to slash property registration time to 10 minutes.
Yoga Mahotsav-2026 Countdown
- Event: The Ministry of Ayush began a 75-day countdown to the International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2026.
- Location: The Mahotsav was organized in Lonar, highlighting the integration of heritage sites with health.
- One-liner: 75-day countdown to IDY 2026 kicked off with Yoga Mahotsav in Lonar.
Sabarimala Case: Article 17 vs. Denominational Rights
- News: The Supreme Court heard submissions from the Centre on the Sabarimala review.
- Key Argument: The Solicitor General argued that religious “denominational rights” must be respected and that the practice is sui generis (unique) to this shrine, not a form of gender-based untouchability.
- Court Observation: The Bench emphasized that Fundamental Rights are not “islands” and must balance individual dignity with religious faith.
Gurgaon Ranked Most Polluted City in March 2026
- Report: A recent environmental report highlighted that Gurgaon (Gurugram) was the most polluted city in India during March 2026.
- Data Point: Air quality remained in the ‘Poor’ to ‘Severe’ category for 22 days of the month.