Daily Current Affairs and GK | 2 April 2026

Topic: Important Days

1. World Autism Awareness Day 2026: 2 April

• World Autism Awareness Day is observed to raise awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder every year on 2 April.
• The first World Autism Awareness Day was observed on April 2, 2008.
• The theme of World Autism Awareness Day 2026 is "Autism and Humanity - Every Life Has Value".
• United Nations General Assembly designated 2 April as World Autism Awareness Day in 2007.
• Autism spectrum disorder is a broad term used to describe a group of neurodevelopmental disorders.
• According to India Autism Centre, every one in 68 children has autism.
• Boys are more prone to be affected by it in comparison to girls.

Topic: Books and Authors

2. The book titled “Tides of Time” has been released by Vice President C P Radhakrishnan in New Delhi.

• The Book has been authored by Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty.
• This book highlights India's parliamentary heritage and democratic legacy.
• The release event has been marked by reflections on India’s parliamentary heritage and the significance of its artistic and cultural legacy.
• The 58 murals in the Samvidan Sadan have been described as more than works of art, and they have been presented as visual representations of India’s civilisational journey.
• The book has been noted to capture the timeless beauty and profound symbolism reflected in the Parliamentary murals.

Topic: National News

3. Record freight transportation achieved by Indian Railways in 2025-26.

• A new record in cargo transportation has been achieved by Indian Railways in the financial year 2025–26, reflecting strong growth in freight movement.
• A total freight volume of 1,670 million tonnes has been carried, and a growth of 3.25 percent over the previous year has been registered.
• The growth has been driven largely by key sectors such as fertilisers and pig iron and steel, indicating rising agricultural and industrial demand.
• Increased demand for agricultural inputs and expansion in the steel sector have been reflected through higher freight volumes.
• Transportation of iron ore has been increased by 6.74 percent, reaching 190.12 million tonnes during the year.
• Cement loading has also been expanded by 4.74 percent, reaching 157.17 million tonnes, indicating continued construction activity.
• Core infrastructure commodities have played a crucial role in sustaining the overall freight momentum.
• The number of wagons handled has been increased by 4.56 percent, rising from over 2.79 crore to over 2.91 crore.

Topic: Indian Economy

4. GST collection crosses ₹2 lakh crore mark in March with strong growth.

• Gross GST collections have crossed the ₹2 lakh crore mark in March, and a strong year-on-year growth of 8.8 percent has been recorded.
• This milestone has been achieved for the first time after GST rate rationalisation, indicating strong consumption and increased transactions.
• Net GST revenue has grown by 8.2 percent to ₹1.77 lakh crore, even as refunds have increased significantly.
• Refunds have risen by 13.8 percent to ₹22,074 crore, reflecting higher settlement activity.
• For the full financial year, gross GST collections have increased by 8.3 percent to ₹22.27 lakh crore.
• The GST compensation cess has been removed from February 1, and new excise duties and cesses have been implemented.
• Collections have included Central GST, State GST, and Integrated GST, forming the overall revenue structure.
• Strong consumption sentiment has been reflected through higher tax collections during the year-end period.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

5. Sadhna Saptah 2026 launched for civil servants’ capacity building.

• On 2 April, Sadhna Saptah 2026 launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strengthen capacity building among civil servants.
• The programme is being organised by the Department of Personnel and Training, Capacity Building Commission, and Karmayogi Bharat from 2 April.
• A week-long initiative has been designed to enhance performance, efficiency, and skills of government officials.
• Participation from employees and officers across Union ministries, departments, and states is being ensured through digital and offline platforms.
• The iGOT platform is being utilised as an end-to-end solution for providing behavioural, functional, and domain-specific training.
• The initiative has been aligned with the objectives of achieving Viksit Bharat through improved governance capacity.
• Mission Karmayogi has been highlighted as the broader framework guiding the programme.
• Courses in technology, artificial intelligence, and indigenous knowledge systems have been introduced under the initiative.
• The programme is expected to strengthen transparency, efficiency, and citizen-centric governance.

Topic: National Appointments

6. William Walsh appointed as New CEO of IndiGo.

• William Walsh has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of IndiGo, marking a significant leadership change in the airline.
• The appointment has been made following the recent exit of the previous CEO, indicating a transition in management.
• Walsh, a veteran in the aviation industry, is currently serving as Director General of the International Air Transport Association.
• His tenure at IATA is set to conclude by July 31, after which he is expected to assume his new role.
• IndiGo has been recognised as India’s largest airline, holding a market share of nearly 64 percent.
• The airline operates a fleet of around 440 aircraft, reflecting its strong operational capacity.
• More than 2,200 daily flights are being operated, connecting numerous domestic and international destinations.
• The airline has been known for its low fares and punctual services, contributing to its popularity.

Topic: Banking/Finance

7. RBI will conduct an underwriting auction for government securities worth ₹29,000 crore.

• This auction will be conducted using the 'Multiple Price-Based' method. It will take place through the RBI's 'e-Kuber' platform.
• This issue includes a 6.68% government security worth ₹17,000 crore, which will mature in 2040.
• It also includes a 7.43% government security worth ₹12,000 crore, which will mature in 2076.
• Primary Dealers are required to underwrite a minimum of ₹405 crore for the 2040 bond.
• They must also underwrite a minimum of ₹286 crore for the 2076 bond.
• These same minimum commitments will also apply under the additional competitive underwriting auction.
• The RBI has extended the permissible period for export credit to 450 days.
• This facility applies to both 'pre-shipment' and 'post-shipment' financing. This extension will remain valid until June 30, 2026.
• Exporters will continue to have a period of up to 15 months to realize their export proceeds. This extension has been granted in view of the global logistics disruptions arising from the ongoing tensions in West Asia.
• There has been a marginal improvement in the banks' 'Supervisory Data Quality Index'. It rose from 90.7 points in the previous quarter to 90.9 points in the quarter ending December 2025.
• This index measures the quality of data in regulatory reporting. It evaluates data accuracy, timeliness, completeness, and consistency.
• A score of over 90 is considered "Good." This reflects the improvement in compliance among banks.

Topic: Defence

8. The Indian Navy has commissioned 'Malwan,' the second Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft.

• This vessel was constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited at Kochi.
• The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that it has been indigenously designed. It has been built to meet the specific requirements of the Indian Navy.
• The ship has been named 'Malwan.' This name reflects the maritime heritage associated with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
• It carries forward the legacy of the erstwhile INS Malwan, which served until 2003.
• This vessel is approximately 80 meters in length. It has a displacement of over 1,100 tons.
• It is designed for anti-submarine warfare. It is also utilized for underwater surveillance.
• Its operations are focused on coastal waters. It is capable of executing low-intensity maritime missions. It is also capable of undertaking mine warfare operations.
• The vessel utilizes waterjet propulsion. It is armed with torpedoes. It is also equipped with anti-submarine rockets.
• The ship features modern radar systems. It is also equipped with modern sonar technology.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

9. Ministry of Textiles has extended the Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies scheme.

• The extension applies to apparel and made-ups exports.
• It will remain in force until September 30, 2026 or until approval of the Scheme for the 16th Finance Commission cycle, whichever is earlier.
• The extension does not change existing guidelines.
• The RoSCTL scheme was launched in March 2019. It refunds embedded state taxes on exports.
• It also covers certain central levies not refunded elsewhere.
• The scheme follows a zero-rating principle. This ensures exports are free from hidden taxes.
• It helps improve global competitiveness of Indian textile exports.
• MSMEs are major beneficiaries of the scheme. The government has also extended the RoDTEP scheme.
• This extension starts from April 1, 2026. It will continue until September 30, 2026.
• Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) Scheme covers textile products outside RoSCTL. Both schemes together support the textile sector.
• They provide coverage across the value chain. They aim to boost export competitiveness.

Topic: Indian Polity

10. Lok Sabha approved the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 on April 1, 2026.

• The bill focuses on promoting trust-based governance. It aims to improve ease of living and ease of doing business.
• The legislation seeks to remove criminal penalties for minor offences.
• It also proposes rationalisation of penalties and fines. Fines will be adjusted to match the severity of violations.
• The bill plans to amend multiple existing laws. It covers 79 central legislations.
• These laws are administered by 23 ministries. A total of 784 provisions are proposed for modification.
• Out of these, 717 provisions will be decriminalised. These changes are intended to support business-friendly regulations.
• Another 67 provisions aim to simplify daily compliance for citizens.
• The reforms are designed to reduce legal burden and improve governance efficiency.
• The Bill provides for appointment of Adjudicating Officers and establishment of Appellate Authorities.
• Jan Vishwas Act, 2023 decriminalized 183 provisions in 42 Central Acts administered by 19 Ministries/ Departments.