Current Affairs Today — April 13, 2026

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre — 107th Remembrance Day

🗞️ Why in News April 13, 2026 marks the 107th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (April 13, 1919), when British troops under Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer opened fire on unarmed civilians gathered in Amritsar on Baisakhi. The tragedy catalysed India’s shift from constitutional reform demands to the full Independence movement.

Key Facts

• Date: April 13, 1919 | Amritsar, Punjab | Baisakhi gathering
• Commander: Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer
• Rounds fired: ~1,650 in approximately 10 minutes; exit blocked
• Deaths: British official figure — 379; Indian sources — 1,000+
• Consequence: Led to Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22) under Gandhi
• Rabindranath Tagore renounced his knighthood in protest

📌 Facts Corner

Jallianwala Bagh (1919): April 13, 1919 | Amritsar | Commander: Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer | ~1,650 rounds | British figure: 379 dead | Indian estimate: 1,000+ | Led to: Non-Cooperation Movement 1920 | Tagore: renounced knighthood | GS1: Modern Indian History

Baisakhi 2026 — Harvest Festival and Khalsa Panth Founding

🗞️ Why in News Baisakhi (Vaisakhi) was celebrated across India on April 13, 2026, marking the Punjab harvest festival, the Sikh New Year, and the founding of the Khalsa Panth. The day’s dual significance — joy and mourning — is uniquely tied to the 1919 massacre, which targeted a Baisakhi gathering.

Key Facts

• Observed: April 13 annually (April 14 on leap years)
• Khalsa Panth founded: 1699 by Guru Gobind Singh, Anandpur Sahib
• Harvest context: Marks rabi (wheat) harvest season in Punjab
• Also marks the solar new year in several regional calendars (e.g., Vishu in Kerala, Bihu in Assam, Puthandu in Tamil Nadu)

📌 Facts Corner

Baisakhi 2026: April 13 (April 14 on leap years) | Khalsa Panth founded: 1699 by Guru Gobind Singh, Anandpur Sahib | Rabi harvest festival | Coincides with Vishu (Kerala), Bihu (Assam), Puthandu (Tamil Nadu) | Unique: Same date as Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919) | GS1: History & Culture

India–UK Free Trade Agreement — Implementation by Mid-May 2026

🗞️ Why in News The India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), concluded after nearly three years of negotiations, is scheduled for formal implementation by mid-May 2026 — one of India’s most significant bilateral FTAs with a major developed economy.

Key Facts

• Negotiations concluded: Late 2025 | Implementation: ~mid-May 2026
• Current India–UK bilateral trade: ~$36 billion annually
• Indian gains: IT services, textiles, leather, gems & jewellery, agriculture
• UK gains: Scotch whisky (tariff reduction: 150% → phased down), automobiles, financial services
• India–UK trade targeted: $100 billion by 2030

📌 Facts Corner

India–UK FTA: Concluded: late 2025 | Implementation: ~mid-May 2026 | Current trade: ~$36 billion | Target: $100 billion by 2030 | India gains: IT, textiles, gems | UK gains: Scotch whisky, automobiles, financial services | GS2: International Relations; GS3: Economy

India Auctions 46 Critical Mineral Blocks

🗞️ Why in News Union Minister G Kishan Reddy announced the successful auction of 46 critical mineral blocks, advancing India’s strategy to reduce import dependence on minerals essential for EVs, defence, and electronics — particularly from China.

Key Facts

• 46 blocks auctioned | Ministry of Mines | Minister: G Kishan Reddy
• Minerals: lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, rare earth elements
• India imports ~80–90% of critical mineral needs
• Basis: Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act amendments
• Context: KABIL (NALCO+HCL+MECL) handles overseas mineral acquisition

📌 Facts Corner

Critical Minerals (April 2026): 46 blocks auctioned | Ministry of Mines | Minister: G Kishan Reddy | India imports: 80–90% of critical mineral needs | Key minerals: lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, REEs | KABIL: overseas acquisition (NALCO+HCL+MECL) | GS3: Economy, Mining

Sawan Barwal Breaks India’s 48-Year Marathon Record

🗞️ Why in News Indian Army runner Sawan Barwal shattered India’s 48-year-old national marathon record at the Rotterdam Marathon 2026, finishing in 2 hours 11 minutes 58 seconds — bettering Shivnath Singh’s 1978 record of 2:12:00 by 2 seconds.

Key Facts

• Runner: Sawan Barwal, age 28, Indian Army | Supported by: Reliance Foundation
• Timing: 2:11:58 | Venue: Rotterdam Marathon 2026 | Finished: 20th overall
• Previous record: Shivnath Singh — 2:12:00 (Jalandhar, 1978 — stood for 48 years)
• Also achieved: Asian Games qualification standard

📌 Facts Corner

Sawan Barwal: Indian Army; Reliance Foundation | Record: 2:11:58 (Rotterdam, April 2026) | Previous: Shivnath Singh 2:12:00 (1978, 48-year-old record) | Asian Games qualified | GS2: Persons & Awards in News

UPI — Record 21.70 Billion Transactions (Jan 2026)

🗞️ Why in News India’s digital payments ecosystem processed a record 21.70 billion transactions worth ₹28.33 lakh crore in January 2026, with UPI alone accounting for 81% of all retail digital payments. India now contributes 49% of all global real-time payment transactions.

Key Facts

• Total Jan 2026: 21.70 billion transactions | ₹28.33 lakh crore value
• UPI share: 81% of retail digital payments | UPI banks: 691 (up from 216 in 2021)
• India’s share of global real-time payments: 49% — highest of any single country
• UPI international: France, UAE, Singapore, Mauritius, Sri Lanka
• Governed by: NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India)

📌 Facts Corner

UPI (Jan 2026): 21.70 billion transactions | ₹28.33 lakh crore | UPI share: 81% of retail | India’s global real-time share: 49% | UPI-linked banks: 691 | International: France, UAE, Singapore, Mauritius | Governed by NPCI | GS3: Economy, Digital Infrastructure

Exercise DUSTLIK 2026 — India–Uzbekistan Joint Military Exercise

🗞️ Why in News The 7th edition of Exercise DUSTLIK, India’s annual joint military exercise with Uzbekistan, commenced on April 12, 2026, running through April 25 in Uzbekistan.

Key Facts

• 7th edition | Duration: April 12–25, 2026 | Location: Uzbekistan
• Indian contingent: 60 personnel — 45 Army (primarily MAHAR Regiment) + Air Force
• Focus: Counter-terrorism, special forces operations, joint combat drills
• India–Uzbekistan: Part of India’s Connect Central Asia policy and SCO framework

📌 Facts Corner

Exercise DUSTLIK 2026: 7th edition | April 12–25, Uzbekistan | India contingent: 60 (Army: MAHAR Regiment; + IAF) | Focus: counter-terrorism, special forces | Framework: India–Uzbekistan bilateral + SCO | GS2: Defence Diplomacy; GS3: Security

Ganges River Dolphin — Chambal River Habitat Crisis

🗞️ Why in News A report by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) reveals that drastically reduced water flow in the Chambal River is forcing Ganges river dolphins to abandon upstream habitats and migrate downstream toward the Yamuna confluence.

Key Facts

• Species: Platanista gangetica gangetica (Gangetic river dolphin) — India’s National Aquatic Animal (declared 2009)
• Threat: Irrigation and industrial extraction reducing Chambal River flow
• IUCN: Endangered | WPA 1972: Schedule I
• Chambal: One of India’s cleanest rivers (runs through MP, UP, Rajasthan)
• Report: Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun

📌 Facts Corner

Gangetic Dolphin – Chambal: Platanista gangetica gangetica | India’s National Aquatic Animal (2009) | IUCN: Endangered | WPA: Schedule I | WII report: reduced Chambal flow forcing downstream migration | Chambal: MP → UP → Rajasthan → Yamuna confluence | GS3: Environment

FIU-IND and I4C Sign MoU — Cybercrime–Finance Coordination

🗞️ Why in News The Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) signed an MoU to strengthen inter-agency coordination against cyber fraud, money laundering, and financial crimes.

Key Facts

• FIU-IND: Under Ministry of Finance (Dept. of Revenue); analyses suspicious financial transactions
• I4C: Attached office of Ministry of Home Affairs; manages National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in)
• MoU focus: fraud detection, digital transaction protection, asset recovery
• India: 18+ lakh cybercrime complaints in 2023 (NCRB data)
• Legal framework: Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)

📌 Facts Corner

FIU-IND + I4C MoU: FIU-IND → Ministry of Finance (Dept. of Revenue) | I4C → Ministry of Home Affairs | MoU: fraud detection, asset recovery, PMLA coordination | Cybercrime portal: cybercrime.gov.in | India cybercrime complaints (2023): 18+ lakh | GS2: Governance; GS3: Cybersecurity

Great Nicobar Mega-Project — Draft Tourism Plan Released

🗞️ Why in News The Draft Master Plan for Great Nicobar Island Development Area–2047 was released, projecting tourism as the primary economic driver alongside a transshipment port and airport — raising environmental and tribal rights concerns.

Key Facts

• Project cost: ~₹81,000 crore | Location: Southern tip of Andaman & Nicobar archipelago
• Components: International transshipment port (Galathea Bay), airport, township, tourism
• Environmental concern: ~130 sq km of tropical rainforest to be diverted; ~58 lakh trees
• Endangered species: Leatherback sea turtle nesting grounds at risk
• Indigenous concern: Shompen (PVTG) — one of India’s most isolated tribal groups
• Tourism projection: 98,000 visitors by 2029 → 1 million by 2055
• NGT clearance: February 2026 (citing “strategic and national importance”)

📌 Facts Corner

Great Nicobar Project: Cost: ~₹81,000 crore | Draft plan: April 2026 | Components: Galathea Bay port, airport, township, tourism | Forest diversion: ~130 sq km | Trees: ~58 lakh | Leatherback turtles at risk | Shompen tribe (PVTG) | Tourism: 98,000 (2029) → 1 million (2055) | NGT cleared Feb 2026 | GS3: Infrastructure, Environment; GS2: Governance, Tribal Rights

Hungary — Péter Magyar Wins; Orbán Era Ends

🗞️ Why in News Hungary’s opposition leader Péter Magyar secured a historic electoral victory, ending Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule — with significant implications for EU dynamics on Ukraine support, migration, and rule of law.

Key Facts

• Winner: Péter Magyar (opposition) | Defeated: Viktor Orbán (PM since 2010)
• Hungary: EU and NATO member state
• Orbán’s legacy: pro-Russia stance, opposition to EU Ukraine aid, rule-of-law concerns
• Significance: May shift Hungary’s EU voting on sanctions, Ukraine funding, and migration

📌 Facts Corner

Hungary 2026: Péter Magyar wins | Ends Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule (2010–2026) | Hungary: EU + NATO member | Orbán: blocked EU Ukraine aid, pro-Russia stance | Impact: shift in EU voting dynamics | GS2: International Relations, European Politics

Fertilizer Policy Reform — India’s Import Dependency Risk

🗞️ Why in News Agricultural economist Ashok Gulati called for urgent fertilizer policy reform, highlighting India’s 70% fertilizer import dependence and the fiscally unsustainable subsidy structure — exposed by the Iran-Israel conflict disrupting global fertilizer supply chains.

Key Facts

• India imports: ~70% of fertilizer needs | Annual consumption: ~40 million tonnes
• Annual fertilizer subsidy bill: ~₹1.95–2 lakh crore
• Global urea prices rose 65% in 40 days (2026 conflict-driven spike)
• Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE) of granular urea: only 35–40%
• Proposal: Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) + quantitative rationing (crop-neutral)
• Expert: Ashok Gulati (ICRIER)

📌 Facts Corner

Fertilizer Policy (India): Import dependence: ~70% | Annual consumption: ~40 MT | Subsidy: ~₹1.95–2 lakh crore/year | Urea NUE: 35–40% | Urea prices rose 65% in 40 days (2026) | Expert: Ashok Gulati (ICRIER) | Reform proposal: DBT + crop-neutral quantitative rationing | GS3: Agriculture, Economy

UPSC Relevance — Today’s Edition

📌 Combined Facts Corner — April 13, 2026

Jallianwala Bagh: April 13, 1919 | Brigadier-General Dyer | ~1,650 rounds | British: 379 dead | Indian: 1,000+ | Led to Non-Cooperation Movement 1920 | Tagore renounced knighthood

Baisakhi: April 13 (Apr 14 on leap year) | Khalsa Panth: 1699 | Guru Gobind Singh | Rabi harvest

India–UK FTA: ~mid-May 2026 implementation | Trade: ~$36 billion | Target: $100 billion (2030)

Critical Minerals: 46 blocks auctioned | Ministry of Mines | India imports 80–90%

Sawan Barwal: 2:11:58 (Rotterdam) | Previous: Shivnath Singh 2:12:00 (1978, 48 years)

UPI (Jan 2026): 21.70 billion transactions | ₹28.33 lakh crore | 49% of global real-time

Great Nicobar: ₹81,000 crore | 130 sq km forest | 58 lakh trees | Shompen PVTG | Leatherbacks

Fertilizer: India imports 70% | Subsidy ₹1.95–2 lakh crore | NUE 35–40% | Prices +65%