Daily Current Affairs 11 April 2026: Key Highlights, Mains Angle & Prelims Quiz

Daily Current Affairs 11 April 2026 covers important topics for UPSC preparation from polity, agriculture, history, science, and economy. Key highlights include India’s judicial removal process, detailed in the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968. 

It also introduces the “Soil Sakhi” initiative for agricultural advisory, highlights Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s literary contributions, including “Vande Mataram,” and explains GLP-1 therapy for Type 2 Diabetes management. India’s growth forecast by the World Bank is discussed in light of the West Asia conflict.

Judicial Removal Process in India: Constitutional Framework & Procedure

The process of removal of judges in India ensures judicial accountability while protecting independence. While no judge has been successfully removed to date, the established procedure under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, provides a comprehensive framework for addressing proven misbehavior or incapacity. 

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Constitutional Provisions for Judicial Removal

The Indian Constitution uses the term “removal” for judges, not “impeachment.”

• Article 124: Governs the removal of a Supreme Court Judge.
• Article 217 and Article 218: Govern the removal of a High Court Judge.

The detailed procedure is prescribed under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968.

Detailed Removal Procedure

1. Initiation of Motion:
   • A motion for removal can be initiated in either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha.
   • Requires minimum signatures: 100 Members of Parliament (MPs) in Lok Sabha, or 50 MPs in Rajya Sabha.
   • The signed motion is submitted to the Presiding Officer (Speaker in Lok Sabha, Chairman in Rajya Sabha).
2. Admission by Presiding Officer:
   • The Presiding Officer has the discretion to either admit or refuse to admit the motion.
3. Three-Member Inquiry Committee:
   • If admitted, a three-member committee is constituted to investigate the charges.
   • Composition: A Chief Justice of India or a Supreme Court Judge, a Chief Justice of a High Court, and a distinguished jurist.
   • This committee investigates the charges and submits a report.
4. Grounds for Removal: A judge can be found guilty based on two specific grounds:
   • Proven Misbehavior
   • Incapacity
5. Parliamentary Approval:
   • If the committee finds the judge guilty, the motion must be passed by both Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha).
   • Requires a special majority in each house, meaning: a majority of the total membership of that House, and a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present and voting.
6. Presidential Assent:
   • After being passed by both houses with a special majority, the motion is presented to the President.
   • Upon the President’s assent, the removal process is complete.

Historical Precedent and Accountability Mechanisms

No judge has been successfully removed in India to date. Notable attempts include Justice V. Ramaswami (motion failed in Lok Sabha) and Justice Soumitra Sen (resigned before Lok Sabha vote).

Beyond formal removal, for maintaining judicial accountability, the judiciary employs several mechanisms:

• Internal Process: The judiciary has its own confidential internal process to handle complaints of judicial misconduct.
• Contempt of Court: Courts can take suo motu action against individuals whose actions undermine the integrity or dignity of judges or the judiciary.
• Restatement of Values of Judicial Life: This serves as a code of ethics for judges, outlining expected behavior, though it is not legally binding.

Judicial Removal in Other Countries

UPSC Relevance:

• Prelims: Articles, Acts
• Mains GS Paper 2: Judicial accountability

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Soil Sakhi Initiative: Women-Led Agricultural Advisory

Soil Sakhis are trained rural women who act as community-level soil advisors for farmers. They help bridge the knowledge gap for farmers by collecting soil samples, assisting in soil testing, and providing information on nutrient deficiencies, suitable crops, appropriate fertilizers, and sustainable agricultural practices to improve yield. 

This initiative promotes women’s empowerment, increases farm productivity, and reduces misuse of fertilizers. They receive training from organizations like the Mann Deshi Foundation.

Related Government Initiatives:

• Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme (2015): Provides farmers with a report on their soil’s health, including 12 parameters:
  • Macronutrients: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K).
  • Secondary Nutrient: Sulphur (S).
  • Micronutrients: Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Boron (B).
  • Physical Parameters: pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Organic Carbon (OC).
• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY, 2015): Focuses on improving water availability and conserving water.
• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): Promotes organic farming.

UPSC Relevance:

• Prelims: Government schemes
• Mains GS Paper 3: Agriculture

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay: Contributions to Indian Nationalism

Born in 1838 in Bengal Presidency, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay was one of the first graduates of the University of Calcutta and served as a Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Collector in the Indian Civil Service.

Key Literary Works (in Bengali)

• Durgeshnandini: Considered the first major Bengali novel.
• Kapalkundala: Combined romantic and spiritual themes.
• Anand Math: His most significant work; it introduced the song Vande Mataram, which was adopted as the National Song of India on January 24, 1950.
• Devi Chaudhurani: Focused on themes of women’s empowerment.

His works influenced prominent leaders such as Sri Aurobindo, Mahatma Gandhi, and Rabindranath Tagore.

UPSC Relevance:

• Prelims: Literature & history
• Mains GS Paper 1: Cultural nationalism 

GLP-1 Therapy for Diabetes and Weight Management

Diabetes types include Type 1 Diabetes (body doesn’t produce insulin) and Type 2 Diabetes (cells become insulin-resistant, often associated with overweight and obesity).

GLP-1 (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1) is a natural hormone in the body that signals satiety (feeling full) after eating. GLP-1 Therapy involves incretin-based drugs that mimic the action of natural GLP-1.

Mechanism of Action

1. Mimics GLP-1, promoting a feeling of fullness.
2. Stimulates the pancreas to secrete more insulin.
3. Suppresses glucagon release (a hormone that raises blood sugar).
4. Slows down gastric emptying (movement of food from stomach to intestine).
   Overall Effect: Reduced appetite, less food intake, leading to weight loss and improved management of Type 2 Diabetes.

This therapy is particularly beneficial for individuals with a “thin-fat phenotype“—people who appear thin but have a high amount of visceral fat, often seen in South Asian populations. The expiration of the patent for Semaglutide, a prominent GLP-1 drug, has led to more generic medications, increasing affordability and accessibility. 

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Approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) in 2005, these drugs are prescription-only in India and are included in the WHO’s Essential Medicine List.

UPSC Relevance:

• Prelims: Health & science
• Mains GS Paper 3: Biotechnology

India Growth Forecast Revised: World Bank Analysis

The World Bank revised India’s growth forecast for FY27 from an initial 7.2% down to 6.6%, primarily due to the ongoing West Asia conflict. This conflict is projected to impact India through disruptions to energy supply and a slowdown in industrial activity. 

Despite these challenges, India’s strong domestic demand and implementation of growth-promoting reforms offer mitigating factors. The overall growth forecast for South Asia was also revised down from 7% to 6.3%.

Key Economic Terms

• Nominal GDP: Measures the value of goods and services at current market prices.
• Real GDP: Measures the value of goods and services at constant market prices, adjusted for inflation.
• Components of GDP: Consumption Expenditure (C) + Investment (I) + Government Expenditure (G) + Net Exports (NX).

UPSC Relevance:

• Prelims: Economic terms
• Mains GS Paper 3: Indian Economy

UPSC Prelims Practice Quiz – 11 April 2026

Q1. With reference to the removal of judges in India, consider the following statements:

1. The Constitution uses the term “impeachment” for removal of judges.
2. A motion for removal can be initiated in either House of Parliament.
3. The removal requires a special majority in both Houses of Parliament.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 2 and 3 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: A

Q2. Consider the following regarding the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968:

1. It provides the procedure for investigation into allegations against judges.
2. The inquiry committee consists of only members of Parliament.
3. The committee includes a distinguished jurist.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: B

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Q3. With reference to the Soil Sakhi initiative, consider the following statements:

1. It is a women-led initiative for soil advisory services.
2. It is directly implemented by the World Bank.
3. It helps in reducing excessive fertilizer usage.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 3 only
B. 2 only
C. 1, 2 and 3
D. 1 only

Answer: A

Q4. Which of the following parameters are included in the Soil Health Card Scheme?

1. Nitrogen
2. pH level
3. Electrical Conductivity
4. Vitamin content

Select the correct answer using the code below:
A. 1, 2 and 3 only
B. 2 and 4 only
C. 1 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: A

Q5. With reference to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, consider the following statements:

1. He was associated with the Indian Civil Service.
2. “Vande Mataram” was originally written in Sanskrit.
3. His work Anand Math contributed to nationalist thought.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 3 only
B. 2 only
C. 1, 2 and 3
D. 3 only

Answer: A

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