Current Affairs 03 April 2026

India–Australia ECTA Completes 4 Years

The India–Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) has completed four years since its signing on April 2, 2022, strengthening bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

• Total bilateral trade (2024–25) – USD 24.1 billion
• India’s exports to Australia – Increased from USD 4 billion (2020–21) to USD 8.5 billion (2024–25)
• Export growth – 8% increase in 2024–25

From January 1, 2026, all Indian exports to Australia will enjoy zero-duty access.

Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026

The Government of India has introduced the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 to update the existing law (FCRA 2010), which controls how foreign money is received and used in India.

In simple terms, this law is about: “Who can take money from foreign sources and how they should use it.”

What Problem is the Government Trying to Solve?

Many organisations receive foreign funds. But sometimes:

• They stop working
• They don’t renew their license
• Or their registration gets cancelled

So the question is What happens to the foreign money and assets they already have?

What is the Main Change in the Bill?

The new bill says If an organisation fails to renew its registration, gets cancelled or voluntarily surrenders, then its foreign money and assets will be taken care of by a government-appointed “Designated Authority”.

How does this bill Work?

Temporary Control

Initially, the Designated Authority will take control of funds, assets and manage them properly. If the organisation later gets approval again, the money and assets will be returned.

Permanent Control

If the organisation does not renew registration or completely shuts down, then the assets will permanently go to the government. The assets will be used for public purposes. Remaining money goes to Consolidated Fund of India.

Stricter Rules on Media

• Now, any person involved in news or current affairs cannot receive foreign funds

Reduced Punishment

• Earlier, up to 5 years jail now it is up to 1 year jail.

Investigation Control

• Police or agencies cannot directly investigate they need Central Government approval first.

Types of Parliamentary Session Closure

The government is planning to reconvene Parliament on April 16 to discuss amendments related to the Women’s Reservation Act, 2023. A crucial step for implementing this Act is delimitation, which the government proposes to base on the 2011 Census. Instead of ending the session permanently, Parliament will go into a recess, and then resume later.

Types of Parliamentary Session Clousure

India’s Defence Exports Reach Record ₹38,424 Crore in FY 2025–26

India has achieved a historic milestone in defence exports, reaching an all-time high of ₹38,424 crore in FY 2025–26, registering a 62.66% growth compared to the previous year.

• Previous year exports – ₹23,622 crore
• Increase – ₹14,802 crore

Sector-wise Contribution:

• DPSUs (Defence Public Sector Undertakings) – ₹21,071 crore (54.84%)
• Private Sector – ₹17,353 crore (45.16%)

DPSUs recorded a remarkable 151% growth, while private sector exports increased by 14%.

Global Reach:

• India exports defence equipment to 80+ countries
• Number of exporters increased from 128 to 145

First Dengue Vaccine in India – ‘Qdenga’

Union Government has taken a major step in public health as the dengue vaccine ‘Qdenga’ (TAK-003) has been approved by the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) under the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for use in individuals aged 4 to 60 years.

This is India’s first dengue vaccine, marking a shift from traditional vector control methods (like mosquito control) to a preventive healthcare approach.

The vaccine has been tested globally on over 28,000 participants and is already approved in more than 40 countries.

How the Vaccine Works:

Unlike typical vaccines, Qdenga:

• Does not completely prevent infection
• Instead, it reduces severity of the disease

This means dengue outbreaks may still occur, but serious cases can reduce significantly.

Challenges & Limitations:

• Dengue has 4 different virus types (serotypes)
• Vaccine works best against DENV-2, less effective against others
• Requires 2 doses (3 months gap)
• Cost may range from ₹6,000–₹12,000 for full course

Future Developments:

India is also developing an indigenous dengue vaccine ‘DengiAll’, which may be available around 2027.

Study Finds Higher Health Risk for Children from River Metal Pollution

A recent study conducted by the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences has revealed that children face significantly higher health risks than adults due to trace metal contamination in river water, particularly at the Betwa–Yamuna confluence in Uttar Pradesh.

Thes study focused on contamination from toxic metals such as Arsenic, Lead and Cadmium.

Using advanced Monte Carlo simulation (10,000 scenarios), researchers assessed exposure risks under different conditions.

Major Findings:

• Children are more vulnerable due to:
  • Higher intake relative to body weight
  • Greater sensitivity to toxins
• Hazard Index (HI) exceeded safe levels in ~67% of cases for children
• Arsenic exposure showed significant carcinogenic risk