Daily Current Affairs and GK | 8 April 2026

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

1. India recorded its highest-ever annual wind energy capacity addition of 6.05 GW in the financial year 2025-26.

• This surpasses the previous record (a capacity addition of 5.5 GW in FY 2016-17).
• This new growth represents a sharp increase of approximately 46% compared to FY 2024-25.
• This surge signals an accelerated pace in the development of onshore wind energy.
• India's total installed wind energy capacity has now exceeded 56 GW.
• This achievement reflects renewed progress within the wind energy sector.
• Enhanced policy support has played a pivotal role in this expansion.
• Improved transmission infrastructure has also facilitated its rapid implementation.
• Competitive tariff regimes have boosted investment in this sector.
• States such as Gujarat, Karnataka, and Maharashtra have made significant contributions to this effort.
• Hybrid projects, combining wind and solar energy, are also gaining momentum.
• India has emerged as one of the world's leading markets for wind energy.
• The government has taken several measures to promote this sector.
• These include a reduction in customs duties on wind turbine components.
• The waiver on inter-state transmission charges has also been extended until 2028.
• Technical assistance is provided by the National Institute of Wind Energy.
• This expansion contributes toward achieving the national target of attaining 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy by 2030.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

2. Tri-Service Seminar ‘Ran Samwad’ will be conducted on Multi Domain Warfare Strategies.

• The Tri-Service seminar ‘Ran Samwad’ is scheduled to be conducted on April 09-10, 2026 at the Air Force Training Command in Bengaluru.
• The event has been conceptualised as a structured platform for dialogue on evolving paradigms of warfare.
• The theme “Multi Domain Operations: An Imperative for Addressing Conventional and Irregular Threats” has been adopted for this edition.
• Deliberations will be focused on preparing India’s Defence Forces for conflicts spanning land, air, sea, cyber, space, and cognitive domains.
• Key discussions will include the evolution of multi-domain operations and global trends influencing modern battlefields.
• The concept of a Whole-of-Nation approach leveraging national resources for defence preparedness will also be explored.
• Emphasis will be placed on doctrinal adaptation, training, and re-imagining operational strategies for effective command and control.
• The seminar will also provide insights into civil-military fusion within the framework of multi-domain operations.
• The initiative was conceptualised by Anil Chauhan to promote strategic dialogue among defence professionals.

Topic: National Appointments

3. Vinay Tonse assumed charge as the CEO of YES Bank.

• A new phase of leadership has been initiated at YES Bank with the appointment of Vinay Tonse as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, marking a strategic transition for the lender.
• Vinay Tonse brings over three decades of extensive experience in the fields of retail, corporate, treasury, and international banking to this role.
• He has been entrusted with the responsibility of steering the bank's future growth, and this transition comes at a time when consolidation and expansion are being prioritized.
• The new CEO has outlined a clear roadmap, with a primary focus on strengthening the bank's foundations while simultaneously accelerating the pace of profitable growth in the years ahead.
• To guide the next phase of transformation, this strategic direction has been formulated around four key pillars: People, Products, Processes, and Technology.

Topic: Indian Polity

4. Menaka Guruswamy made history by becoming India's first openly queer Member of Parliament.

• In a historic moment for Indian politics, Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy took the oath as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha for the first time, thereby becoming the country's first 'openly queer' MP.
• A distinguished legal career has been built by Menaka Guruswamy as a senior advocate and constitutional law expert.
• Renowned constitutional law expert Goswami played a pivotal role in the historic 2018 Supreme Court verdict that decriminalized homosexuality—a ruling that transformed the landscape of LGBTQ+ rights in India.
• The development has been widely recognised as a breakthrough moment for LGBTQ+ representation in governance and policymaking.
• A new dimension has been added to parliamentary discourse through her entry, reflecting growing acceptance of diverse voices in public life.

Topic: National News

5. Yoga Mahotsav 2026 launched with record-breaking participation in Maharashtra.

• On 7 April, the 75-day countdown to International Day of Yoga 2026 has been formally launched by Ayush Ministry with Yoga Mahotsav 2026 in Lonar, Maharashtra.
• A record has been created with nearly 5,000 participants performing Trikonasana together, which has been entered into the Asia Book of Records.
• The event has been organised by the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga at Chhatrapati Shri Shivaji Maharaj Udyan in Buldhana district.
• The initiative has been described as a strong beginning towards the global celebration of yoga and holistic wellness.
• The significance of yoga in promoting physical fitness, mental well-being, and emotional balance has been highlighted during the event.
• The concept of Ayush Aahara has been emphasised, encouraging the use of natural foods like millets, ragi, and medicinal spices.
• A live demonstration of the Common Yoga Protocol has been conducted, including yogasanas, pranayama, and meditation practices.
• Various initiatives such as Yoga for Air Travel, protocols for non-communicable diseases, and the Yoga 365 campaign have been showcased.
• A toll-free helpline offering 14 days of free guided yoga sessions has also been highlighted to promote public participation.
• The preparations for the 12th International Day of Yoga have been strengthened with a focus on wider participation, technology integration, and public health awareness.

Topic: Banking/Finance

6. India's digital payments ecosystem has grown rapidly, driven by the tremendous surge in UPI.

• A significant expansion has been recorded in India’s digital payments ecosystem, led by strong growth in UPI transactions during 2025.
• A total of 228.5 billion UPI transactions have been processed, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 33%, while the transaction value reached ₹299.74 trillion.
• A shift towards high-frequency, low-value transactions has been observed, as the average ticket size declined to ₹1,314 from ₹1,437.
• Increased adoption of merchant payments has been noted, with person-to-merchant transactions growing faster than peer-to-peer payments.
• A major expansion in merchant infrastructure has been achieved, with UPI QR code deployments crossing 731 million in 2025.
• Point-of-Sale terminals have also grown by 15% to 11.48 million, though the ecosystem is becoming increasingly QR-driven.
• Total card transactions have reached ₹28.73 trillion, with credit cards driving growth through an 11% rise in value and 27% increase in volume.
• A decline has been recorded in debit card usage, indicating a shift in consumer preference towards UPI for everyday transactions.
• Bharat BillPay has shown strong performance with a 40% rise in transaction volume to 3.05 billion and value nearly doubling to ₹14.84 trillion.

Topic: Defence

7. Indian Navy’s offshore patrol vessel INS Sunayna arrived in Male.

• This is a part of its deployment under the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR initiative.
• This marks the first port call of its current mission and reinforces maritime ties between India and the Maldives.
• The ship was welcomed by the Maldives National Defence Force.
• Two MNDF personnel are onboard the ship. They are part of the multinational crew.
• Crew members come from 16 friendly countries.
• They undertook intensive training exercises, including seamanship drills, small arms firing, and damage control operations.
• The aim was to improve interoperability, collective readiness, and maritime collaboration in the Indian Ocean Region.
• A Passage Exercise (PASSEX) between INS Sunayna and the MNDF Coast Guard is also scheduled.
• It is aimed at improving coordination and joint operational capabilities.
• Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth flagged off INS Sunayna from Mumbai on 2 April.
• Its deployment is guided by the principle of “One Ocean, One Mission.”

Topic: Sports

8. Palak Gulia and Mukesh Nelavalli won the gold medal in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team event at the ISSF World Cup.

• This event was held in Granada, Spain. The Indian duo set a new Junior World Record in the final.
• They scored a total of 487.7 points. This surpassed the previous record of 481.3 points.
• The previous record was established at the Asian Shooting Championships. That record was held by shooters from Uzbekistan.
• Palak contributed 243.0 points to the total score, while Mukesh scored slightly more, tallying 244.7 points.
• This marked Mukesh's first medal at the World Cup level. It also served as his debut on the senior international stage.
• The pair had secured second place in the qualification round. In that round, they scored 581 points, including 17 inner tens.
• Their performance secured their spot in the medal match.
• A team from China won the silver medal, posting a final score of 484.8 points.
• Hungary claimed the bronze medal, recording a score of 414.9 points.
• Palak had previously won an individual gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games. In the same competition, she also won a silver medal in the team event.
• She had set a record during that event as well. Her performance earned her a quota spot for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
• Mukesh is regarded as an emerging talent in Indian shooting. He is also a Junior World Champion in pistol shooting.

Topic: Personality in News

9. Divya Singh has become the first Indian woman to reach the Mount Everest Base Camp by bicycle.

• She is also the second woman in the world to achieve this feat.
• 28-year-old Divya works as a teacher in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.
• Her journey began in Kathmandu. She completed this expedition in 14 days.
• The base camp is situated at an altitude of approximately 17,560 feet.
• She braved biting cold, where temperatures dropped to as low as -12°C.
• Low oxygen levels and strong winds further compounded her challenges. She cycled for 10 to 12 hours every day.
• The route involved steep ascents and the rugged terrain of the mountains.
• Her path passed through Salleri, Surke, Phakding, Namche Bazaar, Lobuche, and Gorak Shep.
• After this extremely arduous journey, she finally reached the Everest Base Camp.
• To prepare for this expedition, she trained entirely on her own, utilizing limited resources.
• Her journey was officially flagged off from the Vikas Bhawan in Gorakhpur.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

10. The Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana completed 11 years on April 8.

• It was launched on April 8, 2015. This scheme is a flagship program of the Government of India.
• It provides assistance to micro-enterprises and small businesses that lack access to formal credit.
• It eliminated the requirement for collateral. It also simplified the loan application process.
• This fostered entrepreneurship at the grassroots level. Over time, it strengthened financial inclusion. It also encouraged local innovation.
• The scheme offered an alternative to traditional credit systems.
• It assisted borrowers who previously faced difficulties in obtaining loans.
• Nirmala Sitharaman lauded the impact of this scheme. She stated that it has completely transformed access to credit for MSMEs. It has also provided support to individual entrepreneurs.
• This scheme supports the vision of a 'Developed India' by 2047.
• Approximately 58 crore loans have been sanctioned. The value of these loans exceeds ₹40 lakh crore.
• Approximately two-thirds of the beneficiaries are women. About one-fifth of the beneficiaries are entrepreneurs starting a business for the first time.
• The scheme provides collateral-free loans of up to ₹20 lakh.
• The loans are categorized into four segments: Shishu, Kishore, Tarun, and Tarun Plus. These categories represent different stages of business growth.