Current Affairs 23 April 2026

Gauhati High Court Orders Assam Government to Stop Buffalo Fights

The Gauhati High Court has directed the Assam Government to ensure that no buffalo fights (Moh-Juj) are conducted in the state until further orders. The court also instructed authorities to initiate penal action against organisers violating the order. The interim direction was issued by Justice Anjan Moni Kalita while hearing a writ petition filed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India.

Why in News?

PETA India submitted evidence alleging that illegal buffalo fights were organised during Magh Bihu celebrations in January 2026.

About Moh-Juj:

• Moh-Juj is a traditional buffalo fighting event held in parts of Assam, especially during Magh Bihu.

About Gauhati High Court:

• Principal seat: Guwahati, Assam
• Jurisdiction includes Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh.

Sacred Exposition of Lord Buddha’s Holy Relics to be Held in Ladakh

Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat addressed the curtain raiser event for the Sacred Exposition of the Holy Relics of Tathagata (Lord Buddha) at the National Museum, New Delhi.

The historic first-of-its-kind exposition will be held in Ladakh from 1 May to 15 May 2026, with participation expected from India and abroad.

Key Highlights:

• Event: Sacred Exposition of Lord Buddha’s Holy Relics
• Location: Ladakh (Leh and Zanskar)
• Dates: 1 May – 15 May 2026
• Organised By: Ministry of Culture

9th India International Water Week (IIWW-2026) Launched

Union Minister of Jal Shakti Shri C. R. Patil launched the 9th India International Water Week (IIWW-2026) in New Delhi. The event will be organised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti from 22 to 26 September 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

9th India International Water week theme 2026 is “Climate Resilient Water Management”.

Participation

• 150 countries invited
• 11 partner countries expected
• All 84 Central Ministries/Departments invited
• 36 States/UTs invited

Government Water Conservation Initiative

• Under Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari, more than 60 lakh artificial recharge and water conservation structures have already been created.
• Target: 1 crore structures by May 2026

Cost of Bringing Down Inflation in India, U.S. and U.K.

A recent comparative analysis highlighted how the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed), Bank of England (BoE), and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) tackled the post-pandemic inflation surge between 2022 and 2025, with differing economic consequences.

The study used the concept of the Sacrifice Ratio, which measures the loss in economic output for every 1 percentage point reduction in inflation.

Key Highlights:

United States

• Inflation peaked at 9.1% in June 2022.
• The Federal bank raised interest rates 11 times, reaching 5.25%–5.50% by July 2023.
• Inflation reduced without recession.
• Sacrifice Ratio: Near zero (minimal economic loss).

United Kingdom

• Inflation peaked at 11.1% in October 2022, highest since 1981.
• Bank of England raised rates from 0.1% to 5.25% by August 2023.
• Economy entered recession in late 2023.
• Unemployment rose to 5.2% in late 2025.
• Inflation remained above target at 3.0% in February 2026.

India

• Retail inflation peaked at 7.8% in April 2022.
• RBI raised repo rate from 4% to 6.5% between May 2022 and February 2023.
• Later reduced rates by 125 basis points during FY26.
• Growth slowed from 8%+ to 6.5%, but no recession occurred.
• Inflation fell to 2.1% by mid-2025.

Why Inflation is Different in India?

• Food items account for nearly 46% of India’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) basket.
• Food inflation depends more on:
  • Seasonal factors
  • MSP (Minimum Support Prices)
  • Supply chain conditions
    than on interest rate changes.

Currency Pressure on India:

• The Indian Rupee hit a record low of ₹95.22 per U.S. Dollar on March 30, 2026.
• Weak rupee increases import costs, especially crude oil.

Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary – India’s 99th Ramsar Site

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupender Yadav announced the designation of Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, as a Ramsar Site. With this recognition, the total number of Ramsar sites in India increased to 99, while Uttar Pradesh’s tally rose to 12, making it one of the leading states in Ramsar wetland conservation.

About Ramsar Sites:

A Ramsar Site is a wetland of international importance designated under the Ramsar Convention, signed in Ramsar, Iran (1971).

Objectives of Ramsar Convention (1971)

• Conservation of wetlands
• Sustainable use of wetland resources
• Protection of biodiversity
• Water security and ecosystem balance

Atal Pension Yojana Crosses 9 Crore Subscribers

The Atal Pension Yojana (APY), a flagship social security scheme of the Government of India administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), achieved a major milestone by crossing 9 crore total gross enrolments on 21 April 2026.

The scheme also recorded its highest-ever annual enrolment, with more than 1.35 crore new subscribers added during Financial Year 2025–26.

Objective of APY

To create a universal social security system and provide pension support, especially for:

• Poor households
• Underprivileged citizens
• Workers in the unorganized sector

Eligibility

• Indian citizens aged 18 to 40 years
• Not open to those who are or have been income tax payers

Triple Benefits of APY (Sampurna Suraksha Kavach)

1. Guaranteed monthly pension of ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 after age 60
2. Same pension continues to the spouse after subscriber’s death
3. Corpus amount returned to nominee after death of both subscriber and spouse

Participating Institutions

• Public Sector Banks (PSBs)
• Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)
• Private Banks
• Small Finance Banks (SFBs)
• Cooperative Banks
• Department of Posts

IN-SLN DIVEX 2026

The Indian Navy’s INS Nireekshak, a Diving Support and Submarine Rescue Vessel, arrived at Colombo Port, Sri Lanka, on 21 April 2026 to participate in the 4th edition of IN-SLN DIVEX 2026, a bilateral diving exercise between India and Sri Lanka.

The exercise is scheduled from 21 to 27 April 2026 and aims to strengthen maritime cooperation and interoperability between the two navies. INS Nireekshak will hand over two BHISM cubes under India’s Aarogya Maitri Initiative.

Laureus Awards 2026

At the Laureus World Sports Awards 2026 held in Madrid, Spain, tennis stars Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka won the prestigious Sportsman of the Year and Sportswoman of the Year awards respectively. The Laureus Awards are among the most prestigious global honours in sports, often referred to as the “Oscars of Sports.”

Key Winners of Laureus Awards 2026:

• Sportsman of the Year: Carlos Alcaraz (Spain)
• Sportswoman of the Year: Aryna Sabalenka (Belarus)
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Nadia Comaneci