UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association has been in news due to recent parliamentary engagements, including the India Region Zone VII Conference held in Goa.

India and Egypt are conducting the 4th edition of Exercise Cyclone (Cyclone-IV) from 9 to 17 April 2026. The exercise involves joint special forces training, reflecting growing defence ties between the two countries.

A ceasefire between the United States and Iran was announced following heightened tensions lasting over a month. The agreement, facilitated through diplomatic efforts including outreach by Shehbaz Sharif, marks a temporary de-escalation in a volatile region.

India has condemned the killing of three Indonesian peacekeepers deployed in south Lebanon under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

The ongoing conflict in West Asia has raised serious concerns for India due to its large diaspora presence, energy dependence, and maritime interests.

The Government of India recently held a high-level interaction with the National Shipping Board to discuss challenges facing the maritime sector amid increasing global uncertainty.

The United States Trade Representative has launched a Section 301 investigation into several economies, including India and China, over concerns about structural excess capacity and overproduction in key manufacturing sectors.

The Minister of State for Women and Child Development will participate in the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW-70) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Recent reports suggest that Iran has destroyed a key radar system associated with the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) deployed by the United States in the Middle East.

Amid escalating tensions in West Asia and disruptions in maritime movement through the Strait of Hormuz, India faces potential risks to its supply of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).