Current Affairs Today — April 29, 2026

Today’s Top Stories

1. West Bengal Phase 2 — 142 Seats Vote Today; Historic Cycle Concludes

West Bengal’s second and final phase of assembly elections is being held on April 29, 2026, across 142 constituencies covering Kolkata, Howrah, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Hooghly, and Purba Bardhaman — the political heartland of the state. Live turnout at 3 PM: 78.68%, indicating another high-participation poll after Phase 1’s record 93.19%. Minor clashes and EVM complaints were reported from Howrah and parts of South 24 Parganas. Mamata Banerjee contests from Bhawanipur; Suvendu Adhikari from Nandigram. The campaign period ended at 6 PM on April 28; ECI deployed 350,000+ security personnel including 2,550 CAPF companies statewide. | GS2/Polity

2. Exit Polls Tonight — All Five State Election Predictions at 6:30 PM

After West Bengal Phase 2 voting concludes, the Election Commission lifts the exit poll ban at 6:30 PM on April 29. Exit poll predictions for all five 2026 state elections — West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry — will be broadcast simultaneously. Phase 1 actual turnovers: West Bengal 93.19% (historic high since Independence), Puducherry 89.83%, Assam 85.38%, Tamil Nadu 85.15%, Kerala 78.03%. Exit polls are predictions, not results — the definitive verdict comes on May 4, 2026 when all 824 seats are counted. | GS2

3. Buddha Purnima Tomorrow (May 1) — Triple National Holiday

Buddha Purnima 2026 falls on May 1 (Vaishakha Purnima, the full moon in the month of Vaishakha), making tomorrow one of India’s most significant combined public holidays — coinciding with International Workers’ Day (Labour Day) and Maharashtra and Gujarat State Formation Day (both states formed on May 1, 1960 from the erstwhile Bombay State). Buddha Purnima commemorates the birth, enlightenment (Bodhi), and Parinirvana (death) of Gautama Buddha — all traditionally said to have occurred on the same lunar date. May 1 is a gazetted holiday for central government, banks, and most states. | GS1/History-Culture

4. One Year Since Pahalgam — India’s Security Posture Has Permanently Shifted

April 22, 2026 marked the first anniversary of the Pahalgam terrorist attack (April 22, 2025 — 26 tourists killed in Baisaran meadow). The attack triggered Operation Sindoor (May 7-10, 2025) and a fundamental reset of India’s counter-terror doctrine: cross-border precision strikes are now an established policy option, not an escalatory last resort. In the year since, India has launched SBS-3 satellite surveillance fast-tracking, upgraded border infrastructure across J&K and Ladakh, and maintained a military posture of “Operation Sindoor continues.” Pakistan’s economy and military credibility have faced sustained pressure. | GS2/GS3/Security

5. India-NZ FTA — Parliamentary Ratification Process Begins

Following the signing of the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement on April 27, both countries have begun their domestic ratification processes. In India, FTAs do not require Parliamentary approval — the Union Cabinet ratification suffices under the treaty-making powers of the Executive under Article 253 of the Constitution. However, the FTA will be laid before both Houses of Parliament under Rule 238 of Lok Sabha Rules as an international agreement. New Zealand requires Parliamentary approval (standard for NZ FTAs). The agreement is expected to enter into force within 6-12 months. | GS2/IR

Quick Bites

• Exit poll methodology note — Exit polls in India are conducted by agencies like Axis-My India, CVoter, and Chanakya at polling booth exit points. The ECI bans publication until all phases finish (6:30 PM April 29). Past accuracy: exit polls correctly called 2021 WB (TMC win) and 2023 state elections. | GS2
• Buddha Purnima — Sarnath and Bodh Gaya — International pilgrims gather at Bodh Gaya (Bihar) and Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh) for Buddha Purnima. PM Modi is expected to deliver a message at the Buddhist circuit. | GS1
• Maharashtra and Gujarat Formation Day (May 1) — Both states were carved from the Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960 on the basis of linguistic reorganisation — Maharashtra for Marathi speakers, Gujarat for Gujarati speakers. This completed India’s linguistic state reorganisation that began with the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. | GS2/History
• WB Phase 1 turnout — 93.19% — West Bengal Phase 1’s 93.19% is extraordinary — higher than any Indian state in recent elections, including Tamil Nadu’s 85.15%. High turnout in WB is historically associated with TMC’s ground mobilisation machinery and competitive dynamics. | GS2

Facts Corner