Current Affairs MCQ – 17 April 2026 | Top 10 Questions
Top 10 Current Affairs MCQ for 17 April 2026, based on the latest news of the last 24 hours. All questions come with 4 options, correct answer, and detailed explanation. Extremely useful for SSC, UPSC, Banking, Railway, Police, Defence, and State Exams.
Current Affairs MCQ – 17 April 2026 (English)
Q1. Who took oath as the new Chief Minister of Bihar in April 2026?
A. Sushil Kumar Modi
B. Samrat Choudhary ✅
C. Nitish Kumar
D. Tejashwi Yadav
Answer: Samrat Choudhary
Explanation: On 15 April 2026, Samrat Choudhary was sworn in as the 24th Chief Minister of Bihar. He became the first BJP leader to hold the Chief Minister’s post in Bihar — a historic political shift in the state. Following the resignation of Nitish Kumar, the NDA elected Samrat Choudhary as CM. Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav were appointed as Deputy Chief Ministers.
Bihar — Key Facts:
📅 Foundation Day: 22 March 1912
🏙️ Capital: Patna
👤 Current Chief Minister: Samrat Choudhary (BJP)
Q2. In the Special Parliament Session (April 2026), the Central Government proposed to increase Lok Sabha seats from 543 to how many?
A. 600
B. 700
C. 800
D. 850 ✅
Answer: 850
Explanation: On 16 April 2026, the Central Government introduced the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026 in a special session of Parliament. It proposes to increase Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 850 — with 815 seats for states and 35 for Union Territories. This move is linked to the implementation of Women’s Reservation (33%) and fresh Delimitation of constituencies. While the Opposition supported Women’s Reservation, they opposed the Delimitation Bill, especially states in South India who fear a reduction in their seat share.
Q3. What was India’s CPI-based Retail Inflation rate for March 2026?
A. 2.75%
B. 3.21%
C. 3.40% ✅
D. 4.10%
Answer: 3.40%
Explanation: According to data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), India’s Retail Inflation (CPI) rose to 3.40% in March 2026, up from 3.21% in February 2026. Food Inflation stood at 3.87%, Rural Inflation at 3.63%, and Urban Inflation at 3.11%. The rate remains below the RBI’s target of 4%, which is a positive sign for the economy. Rising global energy prices due to the West Asia conflict were a key factor behind the uptick.
RBI — Key Facts:
📅 Established: 1 April 1935
🏢 Headquarters: Mumbai
👤 Current Governor: Sanjay Malhotra
🎯 Inflation Target: 4% (±2%)
Q4. According to the IMF’s April 2026 World Economic Outlook, what is India’s projected real GDP growth rate for FY2026-27?
A. 5.8%
B. 6.1%
C. 6.5% ✅
D. 7.2%
Answer: 6.5%
Explanation: The IMF’s April 2026 World Economic Outlook projected India’s real GDP growth at 6.5% for FY2026-27 — a marginal upgrade of 0.1 percentage points from the previous estimate. India continues to be the fastest-growing major economy in the world. The IMF lowered global growth to 3.1% for 2026 amid geopolitical tensions and trade uncertainty. India’s nominal GDP for 2026 is estimated at approximately $4.3 trillion, and India is expected to contribute 17% of global real GDP growth — second only to China.
IMF — Key Facts:
📅 Established: 27 December 1945
🏢 Headquarters: Washington D.C., USA
👤 Current Managing Director: Kristalina Georgieva
Q5. On 14 April 2026, a deadly boiler explosion occurred at the power plant of which company in Sakti district, Chhattisgarh?
A. Adani Power
B. NTPC
C. Vedanta Limited ✅
D. Tata Power
Answer: Vedanta Limited
Explanation: On 14 April 2026, a massive boiler explosion took place at Vedanta Limited’s 1,200 MW thermal power plant in Singhitarai village, Sakti district, Chhattisgarh. The blast killed over 10 workers and injured more than 20 others. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai ordered a magisterial inquiry and announced compensation for the victims. The plant had been in commercial operation for only eight months after Vedanta acquired it in 2022.
Chhattisgarh — Key Facts:
📅 Foundation Day: 1 November 2000
🏙️ Capital: Raipur
👤 Current Chief Minister: Vishnu Deo Sai
Q6. The United States launched a naval blockade on 13 April 2026 targeting ships linked to which country’s ports?
A. Russia
B. China
C. Iran ✅
D. Yemen
Answer: Iran
Explanation: Following the failure of US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad, the US Navy began a naval blockade on 13 April 2026, blocking all ships entering or leaving Iranian ports — enforced in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea near the Strait of Hormuz. According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), over 10,000 personnel supported by more than a dozen warships are enforcing the blockade. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy corridor through which about 20% of the world’s seaborne oil trade passes. Disruptions have pushed global crude oil prices sharply higher.
Iran — Key Facts:
🏙️ Capital: Tehran
👤 Current President: Masoud Pezeshkian
USA — Key Facts:
🏙️ Capital: Washington D.C.
👤 Current President: Donald Trump
Q7. Under which operation did the Indian Navy deploy warships to the Gulf of Oman / Hormuz region to protect Indian cargo ships?
A. Operation Sindhu Suraksha
B. Operation Urja Suraksha ✅
C. Operation Sagar Kavach
D. Operation Shakti
Answer: Operation Urja Suraksha
Explanation: The Indian Navy launched Operation Urja Suraksha on 25 March 2026, deploying over five frontline warships — including destroyers and frigates — to the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz region. The operation aims to escort and protect more than 20 Indian-flagged cargo ships stranded west of the Hormuz strait due to the ongoing US-Iran conflict. This reflects India’s strategic concern for its energy security and the safety of its nationals and assets in the region.
Q8. The Delimitation Bill, 2026 introduced in the Special Parliament Session proposes to carry out delimitation based on which Census?
A. 2001 Census
B. 2011 Census ✅
C. 2021 Census
D. 2027 Census
Answer: 2011 Census
Explanation: The Delimitation Bill, 2026 — one of three bills introduced in the Lok Sabha on 16 April 2026 — proposes to carry out the delimitation of parliamentary constituencies based on the 2011 Census data. This will enable the Women’s Reservation of 33% to be implemented before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. Southern states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka strongly opposed the move, fearing that population-based delimitation would reduce their representation in Parliament. Congress and other Opposition parties supported Women’s Reservation but firmly opposed the Delimitation Bill.
Q9. According to the IMF’s April 2026 projections, India ranks as the world’s how-many-th largest economy by Nominal GDP?
A. Third
B. Fourth ✅
C. Fifth
D. Sixth
Answer: Fourth
Explanation: According to the IMF’s April 2026 World Economic Outlook, India is the world’s 4th largest economy by Nominal GDP (approximately $4.3 trillion). The ranking order is: USA → China → Germany → India. However, on a Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) basis, India’s GDP stands at approximately $16.5 trillion, placing it at the 3rd position globally. India is also the second-largest contributor to global real GDP growth at 17%, behind only China (26.6%).
Q10. How many items are tracked in India’s new CPI series launched in 2026?
A. 245
B. 299
C. 325
D. 358 ✅
Answer: 358
Explanation: In 2026, India launched a new Consumer Price Index (CPI) series with Base Year 2024 = 100. The new series tracks 358 items — up from 299 in the old series. It incorporates pricing data from urban markets, online platforms, and a broader range of goods and services based on the latest Household Consumption Expenditure Survey. The updated CPI provides a more accurate and comprehensive picture of consumer price trends in India. The data is compiled and released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) under MoSPI.
NSO / MoSPI — Key Facts:
📅 NSO Established: 2019
🏢 Headquarters: New Delhi
🎯 New CPI Base Year: 2024
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