15th APRIL - CURRENT AFFAIRS

1. Senior BJP leader Samrat Choudhary was sworn in as the 21st Chief Minister of Bihar.

Samrat Choudhary became Bihar’s 21st Chief Minister on April 15, 2026.

Bihar Legislative Assembly consists of 243 members.

Nitish Kumar served multiple terms as Chief Minister over nearly two decades.

Syed Ata Hasnain is the current Governor of Bihar as of 2026.

Nitish Kumar

Nitish Kumar first became Chief Minister of Bihar in 2000. Since then, he has taken oath as Chief Minister multiple times, making him one of the longest-serving CMs in India.

He has now moved to the Rajya Sabha, leaving behind a significant political legacy the state.

2. 131st Amendment) Bill, 2026-.Lok Sabha Expansion Bill

The Union government has introduced the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which proposes increasing the total strength of the Lok Sabha from 543 to 850 seats (815 for States and 35 for UTs) to reflect current population distribution.

According to 131st Constitutional amendment bill

In article 81 of the Constitution,-

(1) The House of the People shall consist of-

(a) not more than eight hundred and fifteen members chosen by direct election from territorial constituencies in the States; and

(b) not more than thirty-five members to represent the Unionterritories, chosen in such manner as Parliament may by law provide.

In article 82 of the Constitution,

(a) in the marginal heading, for the words "after each census", the words "of constituencies" shall be substituted;

(b) for the words "Upon the completion of each census, the allocation of seats", the words "The allocation of seats" shall be substituted;

In article 170 of the Constitution

(a) for the words and figures "Subject to the provisions of article 333, the Legislative Assembly", the words "The Legislative Assembly" shall be substituted;

(b)In this clause, the expression "population" means the population as ascertained at such census, as Parliament may by law determine

(1) for the words "Upon the completion of each census, the total number of seats", the words "The total number of seats shall be substituted;

Inarticle 330 and in article 332, the expression "population" means the population as ascertained at such census, as Parliament may by law determine, of which the relevant figures have been published"

article 334A of the Constitution,

"334A- reservation of seats for women in the House of the People, the Legislative Assembly of a State, the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Puducherry and the Legislative Assembly of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir shall come into effect after an exercise of delimitation is undertaken for this purpose

(2) The reservation of seats for women shall cease to have effect on the expiry of a period of fifieen years from the commencement of the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023

(3) The seats reserved for womenshall be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a State or Union territory,

(4) Nothing in this article shall affectafter the exercise of delimitation is undertaken, until the dissolution the then existing House of the People or the Legislative Assembly

3.Supreme Court on Voting Right

The Supreme Court clarified that the right to vote is a statutory right, not a fundamental one, but emphasised that persons born in India have the right to remain on electoral rolls.

Right to Vote: It is a statutory right granted under the RPA, 1951

Civil Liberties (PUCL) versus Union (2003), SC held that the right to vote is not a fundamental right,

Article 326 of the Indian Constitution provides that every citizen of India, not less than 18 years of age is entitled to be registered as a voter

The 61st Constitutional Amendment Act (1988) lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.

4.Himachal Day: Celebrated to mark the formation of Himachal Pradesh in 1948.

Himachal Pradesh first became a Chief Commissioner’s Province on 15th April 1948, and then transitioned to a to a Part C State on 26th January 1950 upon the implementation of the Indian Constitution.

It remained a Part-C State until 1956, when the States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) abolished the Part A, B and C classification of States.

It was made a Union Territory on 1st November 1956 based on the recommendations of the SRC formed in 1953.

A major territorial change occurred on 1st November 1966, when hill areas from Punjab (including Kangra, Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti) were merged into Himachal Pradesh, though it remained a Union Territory.

vIt attained full statehood on 25th January 1971, becoming India’s 18th state, as established by the State of Himachal Pradesh Act, 1970.

56th Statehood Day

on 25th January, 2026.

5.Transgender Welfare Day - Celebrated annually on April 15 in Tamil Nadu.

vThe date commemorates the 2014 Supreme Court judgment in NALSA v. Union of India, which recognized transgender persons as the "third gender".

vHistorical Fact: Tamil Nadu was the first state to establish a Transgender Welfare Board in 2008.

vArticle 21 of the Constitution of India states that every person has the right to life and personal liberty

vTransgender persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019

vTAMIL NADU STATE POLICY FOR TRANSGENDER PERSONS 2025-1st state to frame policy on Transgender

vIn India, total population of transgender was around 4.88 lakh as per 2011 census. The Transgender persons in Tamil Nadu were reported to be 22,364.

vK. Prithika Yashini became India’s first transgender police officer, taking charge in Tamil Nadu in 2017

vShabnam Mausi became the first transgender person elected to public office MLA serving in the Madhya Pradesh assembly (2000–2003).

vSathyasri Sharmila registered as the first transgender lawyer in India with the Tamil Nadu

vIndia's first transgender judge: Joyita Mondal

India's first transgender soldier: Shabi