Daily Current Affairs: 16 April 2026

Current affairs of 16 April 2026: 131st Constitution Amendment Bill 2026: 850-Seat Lok Sabha; Ease of Doing R&D: NITI Aayog’s Two Reports on Research Reform; India’s Bat Conservation Assessment: Species, Threats, Roles, and 10 more topics. Key facts for every exam, with a quiz.

Take the quiz (15 questions)April 2026

In this issue: 13 topics

National Affairs

131st Constitution Amendment Bill 2026: 850-Seat Lok Sabha
Meghalaya Makes Khasi and Garo Official Languages
N. Ramachandran, Ex-IOA Chief, Dies at 77 in Chennai

Government Schemes

MeitY Forms AI Governance and Economic Group (AIGEG)

Banking & Finance

NBFC branch rules eased: no RBI approval, deposit-takers limited
SEBI Relaxes IPO Size Change Limit to 50% Without Refiling

International Affairs

World Voice Day: 16 April Observance

Science & Technology

Tata Chip Fab Notified at Dholera SEZ in Gujarat
ISRO-SAC and ATREE Sign MoU on Landscape Monitoring

Environment & Ecology

India’s Bat Conservation Assessment: Species, Threats, Roles

Reports & Indexes

Ease of Doing R&D: NITI Aayog’s Two Reports on Research Reform
WEF Report Sees Global GDP Rising USD 56 Trillion in Five Years
TIME100 2026: Sundar Pichai, Vikas Khanna, Ranbir Kapoor Named

National Affairs

Polity & Governance

1. 131st Constitution Amendment Bill 2026: 850-Seat Lok Sabha

The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 amends Articles 81, 82 and 334A.
Lok Sabha ceiling rises to 850: 815 from States and 35 from Union Territories.
Article 82's proviso tying delimitation to the first Census after 2026 is deleted, so 2011 Census data can be used now.
Women's 33% reservation is delinked from the post-2026 Census and rotated across constituencies after each delimitation.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Polity & Governance

2. Meghalaya Makes Khasi and Garo Official Languages

The Meghalaya Cabinet approved the Meghalaya Official Languages Ordinance, 2026 on 16 April 2026.
Khasi and Garo become official languages alongside English.
The ordinance repeals the 2005 State Language Act and amends the 1980 Legislature Act.
Conrad K. Sangma is the Chief Minister of Meghalaya.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Awards & Persons

3. N. Ramachandran, Ex-IOA Chief, Dies at 77 in Chennai

N. Ramachandran died in Chennai on 16 April 2026 at the age of 77 after a prolonged illness.
He was President of the Indian Olympic Association from 2014 to 2017.
He headed the World Squash Federation (2008-2016) and the Asian Squash Federation (2001-2009).
He founded the Indian Squash Academy in Chennai in 2000.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Government Schemes

4. MeitY Forms AI Governance and Economic Group (AIGEG)

MeitY constituted the AI Governance and Economic Group (AIGEG) on 16 April 2026.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is Chair; Minister of State Jitin Prasada is Vice-Chair.
S. Krishnan, Secretary MeitY, is Member Convener.
A Technology and Policy Expert Committee, chaired by S. Krishnan, supports the group.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Banking & Finance

5. NBFC branch rules eased: no RBI approval, deposit-takers limited

From 15 April 2026 NBFCs may open branches without prior RBI approval unless under restrictive orders.
Deposit-taking NBFCs with NOF up to Rs 50 crore are limited to their home state.
With NOF above Rs 50 crore, only a rating of AA or higher allows branches anywhere in India.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Economy

6. SEBI Relaxes IPO Size Change Limit to 50% Without Refiling

SEBI now lets companies alter fresh IPO size by up to 50% without refiling a draft offer document, until September 30, 2026.
Earlier, a change above 20% in the fresh issue needed a new DRHP; the OFS threshold stays at 50%.
The object of the issue must stay the same, and lead managers must certify other disclosures remain compliant.
The relief followed a request from the Association of Investment Bankers of India amid weak markets.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

International Affairs

Health & Social Issues

7. World Voice Day: 16 April Observance

World Voice Day is held every year on 16 April.
It began in Brazil in 1999 as the Brazilian National Voice Day.
Its main goals are to raise awareness of the importance of the voice and of voice problems.
The 2026 theme was reported as 'Caring for Our Voices!'.

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Science & Technology

Economy

8. Tata Chip Fab Notified at Dholera SEZ in Gujarat

The chip fabrication facility was notified at Dholera SEZ, Gujarat, on 16 April 2026.
The developer is Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing Pvt Ltd (TSMPL).
Investment is Rs 91,000 crore over about 66 hectares.
Around 21,000 jobs are projected.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Environment & Ecology

9. ISRO-SAC and ATREE Sign MoU on Landscape Monitoring

ISRO-SAC and ATREE signed an MoU in Bengaluru on 16 April 2026.
The pact combines satellite mapping with field-based ecological validation.
It covers about 319,675 sq km, roughly 10% of India's land area.
It supports India's goal of Land Degradation Neutrality by 2030.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Environment & Ecology

10. India’s Bat Conservation Assessment: Species, Threats, Roles

India's first comprehensive National Bat Conservation Assessment, reported on April 16, 2026, covers 135 bat species, about 10% of global diversity.
Nearly 25% of species are Threatened or Near Threatened, judged on local ecological parameters.
Over 40% of species are Data Deficient, so their true status is unknown.
Major threats: habitat loss, cave disturbance and heatwaves hitting fruit bats.

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Reports & Indexes

Science & Technology

11. Ease of Doing R&D: NITI Aayog’s Two Reports on Research Reform

In April 2026 NITI Aayog released the report Ease of Doing R&D in India and a companion survey report.
Vice Chairman Suman Bery of NITI Aayog and Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh unveiled them.
Four pillars: funding, governance, regulatory frameworks and research translation.
Consultation covered over 850 scientists and 400 institutional leaders.

Full notes and 3 MCQs ›

Economy