Prelims Current Affairs includes Jallianwala Bagh Massacre Day, Us-Iran Peace Talks In Islamabad Collapse Without Agreement , Chagos Islands, India-Uzbekistan Joint Exercise Dustlik 2026, Indian Navy Commanders Conference 2026, Vivekananda Statue Unveiled In Seattle, Draft Cafe-3 Norms Emphasise Carbon Credit Trading , Asha Bhosle Passes Away At 92, Dhummu Shah Fair In Kangra: Wrestling Competition Highlights Rural Talent

Important Day

1. JALLIANWALA BAGH MASSACRE DAY

Current Context: Every year on April 13, India commemorates the victims of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre 1919, one of the darkest chapters in Indian history.

ABOUT THE MASSACRE

• Location:Amritsar, Punjab
• Background:Rowlatt Act (allowed detention without trial) led to widespread protests, Mahatma Gandhi called for Satyagraha
• Perpetrator:General Reginald Dyer
• Details:Troops fired on unarmed civilians without warning around 1,650 rounds fired in 10-15 minutes single narrow exit blocked
• Aftermath:Martial law imposed in Punjab, Rabindranath Tagore renounced knighthood
• Hunter Commission:Set up by British government criticized Dyer’s actions but no severe punishment

INTERNATIONAL 

2. US-IRAN PEACE TALKS IN ISLAMABAD COLLAPSE WITHOUT AGREEMENT

Current Context: Peace talks between the United States and Iran, held in Islamabad and mediated by Pakistan, have failed to reach an agreement, ending in deadlock as both sides blamed each other.

ABOUT THE TALKS

• US Delegation Led by: Vance
• Iranian Delegation Led by:Ghalibaf
• Major Sticking Points:
  • Iran’s nuclear program
  • Control and navigation rights in the Strait of Hormuz
  • Lack of mutual trust between delegations

ABOUT STRAIT OF HORMUZ

• Location:West Asia
• Significance:Nearly one-fifth of world’s oil supply passes through it
• Iran’s Claim:Strait is “completely under its control”
• Reports:Naval mines laid, limited passage for selected vessels
• Global Implications:
  • Threat to global energy supply chains
  • Increased military presence in Gulf region
  • Rising risk of regional conflict escalation
  • Soaring oil prices impacting economies worldwide

PLACE IN NEWS

3. CHAGOS ISLANDS

Current Context: Britain’s government has put on hold its deal to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands. 

ABOUT CHAGOS ISLANDS

• Location:Central Indian Ocean, about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) south of Indian subcontinent
• Status:Overseas territory of United Kingdom (established November 8, 1965)
• Principal Islands:Diego Garcia (largest and most southerly), Danger Island, Egmont Islands, Eagle Islands, Nelsons Island, Peros Banhos atoll, Three Brothers Islands, Solomon Islands

DEFENCE

4. INDIA-UZBEKISTAN JOINT EXERCISE DUSTLIK 2026

Current Context: The Indian Army contingent has departed for Uzbekistan to participate in the 7th edition of the joint military exercise DUSTLIK.

ABOUT EXERCISE DUSTLIK

• Venue:Gurumsaray Field Training Area, Namangan, Uzbekistan
• Type:Annual bilateral military drill (conducted alternately in India and Uzbekistan)
• Previous Edition:April 2025 at Foreign Training Node, Aundh, Pune
• Focus Areas:
  • Joint operational capabilities in semi-mountainous terrain
  • Physical endurance, joint planning, tactical drills
  • Land navigation, strike missions, seizure of hostile areas
• Validation Drill:48-hour drill to assess joint operational readiness

 DEFENCE

5. INDIAN NAVY COMMANDERS CONFERENCE 2026

Current Context: The Indian Navy is set to host the first edition of its biannual Commanders’ Conference 2026 at Nausena Bhawan, New Delhi, from April 14 to April 16.

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

• Type:Biannual apex-level gathering of naval leadership
• Purpose:Review operational readiness, strategic priorities, and capability development
• Focus Areas:
  • Combat readiness and blue-water capabilities
  • Operational logistics, training, maintenance
  • Integration of AI and data-driven systems
  • Effective deployment of uncrewed systems
• MAHASAGAR:Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across Regions
• Vision:Strengthen India’s position as ‘Preferred Security Partner’ in Indian Ocean Region and Indo-Pacific

ART & CULTURE

6. VIVEKANANDA STATUE UNVEILED IN SEATTLE

Current Context: The first-ever life-size statue of Swami Vivekananda in the United States was unveiled in Seattle, marking a significant milestone in India’s cultural diplomacy.

ABOUT THE STATUE

• Type:First life-size statue of Swami Vivekananda in US, first statue hosted by a city government in US
• Sculptor:Naresh Kumar Kumawat (Indian artist)
• Unveiled by:Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and India’s Consul General Prakash Gupta
• Gifted by:Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR)
• Coincided with:ICCR Day celebrations
• Swami Vivekananda:Delivered famous speech at World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago (1893)
• ICCR Established:1950

ENVIRONMENT

7. DRAFT CAFE-3 NORMS EMPHASISE CARBON CREDIT TRADING

Current Context: The government has proposed a flexible compliance framework under the draft Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency-3 (CAFE-3) norms, introducing carbon credit trading for the automobile sector.

ABOUT CAFE-3 NORMS

• Effective From:April 2027
• Period:FY 2027-28 to FY 2031-32 (five-year regime)
• Key Features:
  • Focus on reducing average CO₂ emissions across automaker’s fleet
  • Market-based mechanism for carbon credit trading
  • Higher weightage to low-emission vehicles (EVs, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, flex-fuel models)
• Carbon Credit Trading:
  • Automakers exceeding emission targets can trade surplus credits
  • Companies can offset deficits by purchasing credits from Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)
• Credit Prices:Progressively increase from ₹2,500 per gram of CO₂/km (FY28) to ₹4,500 (FY32)

PERSON IN NEWS=

8. ASHA BHOSLE PASSES AWAY AT 92

Current Context: Legendary playback singer Asha Bhosle passed away at the age of 92 at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital.

ABOUT ASHA BHOSLE

• Born:1933
• Career Span:Over 70 years
• Songs Recorded:Over 12,000 songs in more than 20 languages
• Iconic Songs:“Dum Maaro Dum”, “Chura Liya Hai Tumne”, “Dil Cheez Kya Hai”
• Sister:Lata Mangeshkar (‘Nightingale of India’)
• Honours:
  • Dadasaheb Phalke Award
  • Padma Vibhushan
• Final Rites:Shivaji Park, Mumbai

HIMACHAL NEWS

9. DHUMMU SHAH FAIR IN KANGRA: WRESTLING COMPETITION HIGHLIGHTS RURAL TALENT

Current Context: Kangra Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa addressed a gathering at a wrestling competition (dangal) during the Dhummu Shah fair at Dari, emphasizing that traditional fairs preserve traditions and promote rural talent.

ABOUT DHUMMU SHAH FAIR

• Location:Dari, Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh
• Historical Significance:Historic event deeply rooted in public faith
• Key Activity:Wrestling competition (dangal)

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