Daily Current Affairs: 2 April 2026

Vir Vikram Yadav appointed Director General of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

[Directorate General of Civil Aviation]

Key Updates:

• Vir Vikram Yadav, a 1996-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Odisha cadre, has been appointed as the Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved his appointment as part of a broader bureaucratic reshuffle.
• Yadav will assume the role in the rank and pay of an additional secretary to the Government of India.
• He succeeds Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, a 1996-batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, who has been appointed as additional secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
• Yadav currently serves as additional secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and has been based in New Delhi since April 2025.
• He holds an M.Tech in Building Science and a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, and has experience in infrastructure and environmental governance across state and central governments.

A.R. Rahman Appointed as Brand Ambassador of Yamaha Music India

Key Updates:

• Yamaha Music India announced Academy Award-winning composer A.R. Rahman as its Brand Ambassador at an event held in Chennai.
• Yamamoto Taketoshi serves as the Managing Director (MD) of Yamaha Music India.
• Ryoji Maruyama holds the position of Sales Unit Head, while Tony Cox is the General Manager (GM) of the organisation.
• Yamaha Music India currently operates 500 music schools across the country under its Music School Project.
• The partnership aims to support the Made in India initiative and expand structured music education, workshops, and rural outreach programmes.
• A.R. Rahman operates the KM Music Conservatory and The Sunshine Orchestra to nurture and mentor young musical talent in India.

Burra Vamsi Rama Mohan Appointed Chairman & Managing Director of Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID)

[Power Grid Corporation of India (POWERGRID)]

Key Updates:

• Burra Vamsi Rama Mohan has assumed charge as the Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID).
• The appointment was approved by the Board of Directors following an order issued by the Ministry of Power on March 18, 2026.
• His tenure as CMD will continue until July 31, 2030, or until the date of his superannuation.
• Before this elevation, he served as the Director Projects at POWERGRID and has over 33 years of experience in the power transmission and telecom sectors.
• He previously served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Powergrid Teleservices Limited and was a founding member of the Regulatory Cell at POWERGRID.
• POWERGRID is a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) that operates one of the largest electricity transmission networks in the world.

Christopher North, founding keyboardist of Grammy-nominated rock band Ambrosia, dies at 75.

Key Updates:

• Christopher North died at age 75 from complications related to pneumonia several months after a 'freak accident'.
• He co-founded Ambrosia in 1970 with David Pack, Joe Puerta and Burleigh Drummond.
• The band is known for hits 'How Much I Feel' and 'Biggest Part of Me' and received a Grammy nomination.
• North was acclaimed for his mastery of the Hammond B3 organ and intense live performances.
• He briefly left the group during the 1978 Life Beyond L.A. sessions but rejoined and toured into the 2020s.
• He also contributed to The Alan Parsons Project’s 1976 album Tales of Mystery and Imagination and to a 2014 Doors tribute album.

Ashwini Bhide becomes first woman Municipal Commissioner of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

[Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)]

Key Updates:

• Ashwini Bhide, a 1995-batch Maharashtra cadre IAS officer, assumed charge as the 32nd Municipal Commissioner of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday.
• She succeeded Bhushan Gagrani and is the first woman to head India’s richest civic body.
• Bhide previously served as Additional Chief Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office and as Managing Director of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL).
• She led the 10.58-km Mumbai Coastal Road project and the 33.5-km underground Metro Line 3 connecting Colaba to SEEPZ.
• Her appointment was part of a wider bureaucratic reshuffle ordered by the Maharashtra government on March 31.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) caps banks’ daily net open forex exposure at $100 million.

[Reserve Bank of India]

Key Updates:

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) instructed banks to limit their net open exposure to the currency in the foreign exchange market to $100 million by the end of each day.
• The new cap must be complied with by April 10.
• Previously, banks could hold net open positions up to 25 per cent of their total capital.
• India’s forex reserves have fallen by over $30 billion, to $698.34 billion, since the West Asia conflict began.
• The RBI has used dollars from its forex kitty to stabilise the rupee, which breached 95-per-dollar.

HDFC Bank, Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Bandhan Bank revise ATM withdrawal limits and fees effective 1 April 2026.

Key Updates:

• HDFC Bank will count UPI-based cash withdrawals at its ATMs towards the monthly free ATM transaction limit from 1 April 2026.
• After exceeding the free limit HDFC Bank will charge Rs 23 plus applicable taxes per transaction for UPI cash withdrawals.
• Punjab National Bank (PNB) reduced the daily ATM cash withdrawal limit from Rs 1,00,000 to Rs 50,000 for RuPay NCMC Platinum Domestic Debit card, RuPay NCMC Platinum International Debit card, RuPay Women Power Platinum Debit card, RuPay PNB Palaash Debit card-Recycled PVC Debit card, RuPay Business Platinum NCMC Debit card, MasterCard Platinum Debit card, VISA Gold Debit card and PNB MasterCard Platinum Rise effective 1 April 2026.
• PNB also reduced the daily ATM cash withdrawal limit from Rs 1,50,000 to Rs 75,000 for RuPay Select Debit card, PNB RuPay Select Neo, PNB RuPay Select Excel, VISA Signature Debit card and MasterCard Business Debit card effective 1 April 2026.
• Bandhan Bank will allow up to five free financial transactions and unlimited non-financial transactions per month at its own ATMs from 1 April 2026.
• Bandhan Bank caps free transactions at other bank ATMs at three per month in metro cities and five per month in non-metro cities covering both financial and non-financial transactions combined from 1 April 2026.
• Metro cities for Bandhan Bank include Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi.
• Bandhan Bank will charge Rs 23 per financial transaction and Rs 10 per non-financial transaction once free limits are exceeded from 1 April 2026.
• Bandhan Bank will levy Rs 25 for ATM transaction declines due to insufficient funds from 1 April 2026.

Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections rise 8.2% in March 2026 to Rs 1.78 lakh crore

Key Updates:

• Net GST collections for March 2026 reached Rs 1.78 lakh crore, up 8.2% from the previous month.
• Gross GST revenue for March 2026 stood at Rs 2 lakh crore, an 8.8% increase over March 2025.
• Domestic GST revenue grew 5.9% to Rs 1.46 lakh crore, while import GST revenue surged 17.8% to Rs 0.54 lakh crore.
• Refunds issued in March 2026 totalled Rs 0.22 lakh crore, 13.8% higher than in March 2025.
• Maharashtra led pre-settlement collections at Rs 0.13 lakh crore, followed by Karnataka and Gujarat.
• Post-settlement SGST collections rose in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
• Post-settlement SGST collections declined in Jammu and Kashmir, Chandigarh, Delhi, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Assam, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) notifies Ind AS norms for insurers with one-year forbearance

[Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)]

Key Updates:

• Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai) issued final regulations for transition to Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) effective 1 April 2026.
• Insurers may request forbearance until 30 April 2026 if unable to comply with Ind AS; forbearance can be granted for one year.
• Parallel reporting under Ind AS alongside existing Indian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (IGAAP) framework permitted for two years.
• Multi-stakeholder expert committee proposed with representatives from Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), Institute of Actuaries of India, Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), and National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA).

Finance Ministry keeps small savings rates unchanged for April–June 2026 quarter.

[Ministry of Finance]

Key Updates:

• Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) continues at 8.2% per annum.
• Public Provident Fund (PPF) remains at 7.1% per annum.
• Senior Citizens Savings Scheme (SCSS) stays at 8.2% per annum.
• National Savings Certificate (NSC) VIII Issue holds at 7.7% per annum.
• 5 Year Time Deposit offers 7.5% per annum.
• 3 Year Time Deposit offers 7.1% per annum.
• 2 Year Time Deposit offers 7.0% per annum.
• 1 Year Time Deposit offers 6.9% per annum.
• Post Office Savings Account offers 4.0% per annum.
• 5 Year Recurring Deposit Scheme offers 6.7% per annum.
• Monthly Income Account offers 7.4% per annum.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) defers capital market exposures norms to 1 July 2026

[Reserve Bank of India]

Key Updates:

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has deferred the effective date of the Amendment Directions on Capital Market Exposures by three months to 1 July 2026.
• The central bank revised the framework after stakeholder feedback, modifying the definition of acquisition finance to include mergers and amalgamations.
• Acquisition finance is now limited to acquiring a non-financial entity and can be availed by the acquiring company for on-lending to an India- or overseas-incorporated subsidiary.
• Refinance of acquisition finance is permitted only after the acquisition is fully concluded and control of the target company is established, with the refinance used solely to retire the original debt.
• A corporate guarantee from the acquiring company is mandatory when acquisition finance is extended to its subsidiary or special purpose vehicle.
• The guidelines also aim to rationalise banks’ lending limits to individuals against shares, REIT units, InvIT units, and introduce a principle-based framework for lending to capital market intermediaries.

Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) mandates Ind AS accounting for all insurers from 1 April 2026

[Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India]

Key Updates:

• IRDAI approved the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Actuarial, Finance and Investment Functions of Insurers) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026.
• All insurers — life, general, stand-alone health insurers and reinsurers — must prepare financial statements under Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) effective 1 April 2026.
• Parallel reporting under Ind AS and the existing accounting framework will continue for two years or as specified by IRDAI.
• Insurers unable to shift immediately may receive a one-year forbearance, during which they must still submit Ind AS-based information to IRDAI.
• The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and the Institute of Actuaries of India (IAI) welcomed the adoption and pledged support to insurers and professionals.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposes ₹31.80 lakh penalty on Airtel Payments Bank

[Airtel Payments Bank]

Key Updates:

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a monetary penalty of ₹31.80 lakh on Airtel Payments Bank Limited for non-compliance with RBI directions on 'Disclosure in Financial Statements'.
• The penalty action was carried out under section 47A(1)(c) read with section 46(4)(i) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
• The Statutory Inspection for Supervisory Evaluation (ISE 2025) of the bank was conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2025.
• RBI found that the bank failed to disclose certain complaints in its annual financial statements for the financial year 2024-25.
• The central bank stated that the penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated against the bank.

MSRTC rolls out NCMC smart card for digital, hassle-free bus travel

[Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC)]

Key Updates:

• Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) launched the NCMC smart card for digital ticketing and concession access.
• The launch was inaugurated by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the presence of Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar.
• NCMC smart cards linked to Aadhaar will be issued to students, senior citizens, divyang persons with disabilities, women, and other concession holders.
• Registration and distribution of the cards will be carried out at all depots and bus stations across Maharashtra, with around 3,000 authorised centres facilitating the process.
• Passengers can use the cards for wallet-based payments, with a minimum top-up of Rs 100.
• Recharge options will be available through ETIM machines on buses, the official website, mobile app, and authorised agents.
• The cost of the NCMC smart card has been fixed at Rs 199.

Government of India issues advisory on GLP-1 drugs to curb unsupervised sales

Key Updates:

• GLP-1 drugs are prescription-only and can be prescribed only by endocrinologists, cardiologists, and internal medicine specialists.
• Over-the-counter sales of GLP-1 drugs are prohibited.
• The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has intensified inspections with State Drug Controllers and warned of license cancellation, fines, and legal action for non-compliance.
• Common GLP-1 drugs available in India include Semaglutide (injection and oral), Liraglutide, Tirzepatide, Dulaglutide, and Exenatide.
• An advisory issued on March 10, 2026 bans misleading advertisements and mandates nationwide inspections of pharmacies, clinics, and warehouses.

Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS): Centre Approves 29 Projects with ₹7,104 Crore Investment

[Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)]

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) approved 29 new applications under the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) involving an investment of ₹7,104 crore.
• The approved projects have the potential to produce goods worth ₹84,515 crore and generate employment for 14,246 persons.
• The initiative marks the first-ever manufacturing of surface-mount device (SMD) passives, including Tantalum polymer capacitors, and rare-earth magnets from rare-earth oxides in India.
• Major investment commitments include Dixon Display (₹1,100 crore), Lohum Cleantech (₹700 crore), Indo-MIM (₹592 crore), ASM Technologies (₹565 crore), Syrma (₹385 crore), and Ratnaveer Precision (₹338 crore).
• Other approved companies include Wangda Technologies (₹250 crore), Vishay Components (₹225 crore), OEN India (₹216 crore), BG Electrical (₹195 crore), Titan Engineering (₹192 crore), Bharat FIH Limited (₹192 crore), Terminal Technologies (₹175 crore), and Nest Advanced Technology (₹102 crore).
• Additional participants include SFO Technologies (₹82 crore), Molex (₹70 crore), TDK India (₹67 crore), Vishay Precision (₹65 crore), Permanent Magnets Limited (₹62 crore), VVDN Technologies (₹50 crore), Amphenol (₹50 crore), and Dhruv Industries (₹18 crore).
• The ECMS was approved in April 2025 with an initial financial outlay of ₹22,919 crore, which was increased to ₹40,000 crore in the Union Budget 2026-27.
• Under the programme, the government has approved total projects worth ₹61,671 crore against an initial target of ₹59,350 crore.
• The total production potential of all projects approved under ECMS to date is ₹4.51 lakh crore with an employment potential for 65,040 individuals.

Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya and DGCA sign MoU to formalise Aircraft Maintenance Engineer education

[Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya]

Key Updates:

• Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya signed an MoU with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in the presence of Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Ram Mohan Naidu on Monday.
• The partnership focuses on formalising the education of Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs) to meet global standards.
• The MoU aims to resolve professional bottlenecks faced by maintenance staff who possess high-level skills but lack formal degrees.
• The university will provide the curriculum and degree certificates to AMEs trained through DGCA-approved organisations.
• The Cabinet recently approved an additional Rs 28,000 crore for the UDAN scheme to boost regional connectivity and helicopter operations.
• India has 1,700 aircraft on order, double the current fleet, and will require 10,000 to 12,000 additional pilots over the next decade.

PM KUSUM deadline extended to March 2027 for eligible projects

Key Updates:

• Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) extended the commissioning deadline for PM KUSUM projects with power purchase agreements or letters of intent signed or issued on or before 31 December 2025 to 31 March 2027.
• PM KUSUM targets adding 34,800 MW of decentralised solar capacity in the agricultural sector by March 2026 with central financial support of ₹34,422 crore.
• Department of Expenditure informed that committed liabilities of PM KUSUM will be subsumed under the proposed PM KUSUM 2.0 scheme now under discussion.

Mukh Mantri Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojana: Punjab Cabinet clears monthly aid of ₹1,000–₹1,500 for over 97% women

[Punjab]

Key Updates:

• The Punjab Cabinet approved the Mukh Mantri Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojana to provide ₹1,000 per month to all other women and ₹1,500 per month to Scheduled Caste women.
• The scheme is expected to benefit more than 97% of women in Punjab.
• A budgetary provision of ₹9,300 crore has been sanctioned for the scheme in 2026-27.
• Eligible women must be 18 years or above, registered as voters in Punjab, possess a valid Aadhaar card with Punjab residency, and hold a valid Voter ID issued by the Election Commission of India.
• Financial assistance will be transferred directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts under the Direct Benefit Transfer mode.
• There is no restriction on the number of eligible women in a family, and existing social security pensioners will continue to receive full benefits under this scheme in addition to their pensions.

Energy Statistics India 2026 released by National Statistics Office (NSO)

[National Statistical Office]

Key Updates:

• The National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, released the 33rd edition of 'Energy Statistics India 2026' on 30 March 2026.
• The publication integrates data on reserve, capacity, production, consumption, and import/export of all energy commodities including Coal, Lignite, Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Renewable Energy.
• New additions include credit flow to domestic energy sectors, world energy statistics, consumption of domestic coal through e-auction, imported non-coking coal, sub-sectoral electricity consumption under industry from the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI), industry-wise HSD distribution through retail/reseller, and international aviation and marine bunker data for the first time.
• Total Primary Energy Supply (TPES) for FY 2024-25 grew by 2.95% to 9,32,816 KToe.
• India’s renewable energy potential reached 47,04,043 Megawatt as on 31 March 2025, with solar energy at 33,43,378 Megawatt (71% share), wind at 11,63,856 Megawatt, and large hydro at 1,33,410 Megawatt.
• Rajasthan (23.70%), Maharashtra (14.26%), Gujarat (9.10%), Andhra Pradesh (9.1%), Karnataka (8.59%), and Madhya Pradesh (8.09%) together account for over 70% of the total renewable energy potential.
• Installed renewable electricity capacity rose from 90,134 Megawatt on 31 March 2016 to 2,29,346 Megawatt on 31 March 2025, recording a CAGR of 10.93%.
• Gross electricity generation from renewables increased from 1,89,314 GWh in FY 2015-16 to 4,16,823 GWh in FY 2024-25, a CAGR of 9.17%.
• Per-capita energy consumption grew from 15,296 Mega Joule/person in FY 2015-16 to 18,096 Mega Joule/person in FY 2024-25, a CAGR of 1.89%.
• Transmission and distribution losses reduced from about 22% in FY 2015-16 to about 17% in FY 2024-25.
• Coal (including lignite) remained the dominant energy source, with supply rising from 3,87,761 Ktoe in FY 2015-16 to 5,52,315 Ktoe in FY 2024-25.
• Total Final Consumption (TFC) of energy increased by 30.41% from 4,69,212 Ktoe in FY 2015-16 to 6,08,578 Ktoe in FY 2024-25.
• Credit flow to the energy sector expanded over six-fold from ₹1,688 crore in 2021 to ₹10,325 crore in 2025.

Indian Navy receives three GRSE-built warships including frigate Dunagiri and ASW craft Agray

Key Updates:

• Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) delivered three frontline platforms to the Indian Navy.
• The delivered vessels include the guided missile frigate Dunagiri, the survey vessel Sanshodhak, and the anti-submarine warfare shallow watercraft Agray.
• Dunagiri is the second advanced guided missile frigate built by GRSE under Project 17A and measures 149 metres in length with a displacement of 6,670 tonnes.
• Dunagiri is equipped with BrahMos anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles and an integrated combat management system for multi-dimensional operations.
• Sanshodhak is the last of four large survey vessels built by GRSE and is equipped for coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys and data collection for defence applications.
• Agray is one of eight anti-submarine warfare shallow watercraft being built by GRSE and is armed with lightweight torpedoes and anti-submarine warfare rockets for coastal sub-surface surveillance and attack missions.

Thailand to host 2026 IMF–World Bank Group Annual Meetings in Bangkok

[Thailand, International Monetary Fund, World Bank]

Key Updates:

• Thailand will host the IMF–World Bank Group Annual Meetings in October 2026, its second time after 1991.
• The Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok is the official venue.
• Over 15,000 participants from 191 countries are expected to attend.
• Thailand’s official theme is 'Thailand's New Horizons: Empowering People, Building Resilience'.
• The Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Thailand form the 'Thailand Planning Team' organising the event.
• Dr. Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the IMF, visited Thailand in early March 2026.
• The Ministry of Finance will recruit 200 student volunteers to support the meetings.

Spain bars US warplanes involved in Iran war from its airspace and bases

[Spain, United States, Iran]

Key Updates:

• Spain has closed its airspace to United States (US) aircraft participating in attacks on Iran.
• Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles stated that Madrid will not authorise the use of Morón and Rota military bases for any acts related to the war in Iran.
• Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister José Manuel Albares said the decision aims to avoid encouraging escalation in the war.
• Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described US and Israeli attacks on Iran as reckless and illegal.
• Spain denied every US flight plan related to operations in Iran, including those of refuelling aircraft.
• US bombers involved in Iran operations are stationed at RAF Fairford base in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom (UK).
• Aircraft must bypass Spanish airspace by flying over the eastern Atlantic or France.
• Spanish newspaper El País reported that US aircraft may transit or land in Spain only in emergencies.
• The Iranian embassy in Spain indicated Tehran would consider Spanish transit requests through the Strait of Hormuz due to Spain’s commitment to international law.
• Around 20% of global oil supply normally transits the Strait of Hormuz.

Indian Navy receives INS Sanshodhak, completing four-vessel Large Survey Ship programme

[Indian Navy]

Key Updates:

• Indian Navy took delivery of fourth Survey Vessel (Large) INS Sanshodhak on 30 March from Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata.
• Contract for four survey vessels was signed in October 2018 and project spanned eight years.
• Earlier ships INS Sandhayak, INS Nirdeshak and INS Ikshak were commissioned between February 2024 and November 2025.
• INS Sanshodhak displaces approximately 3,400 tonnes, measures 110 metres in length and can exceed 18 knots speed.
• Vessel is fitted with autonomous underwater vehicles, remotely operated vehicles and digital side-scan sonar.
• Indigenous content surpasses 80 per cent by cost.
• Keel was laid in June 2022, vessel launched in June 2023 and underwent extensive harbour and sea trials.
• Survey Vessel (Large) class designed by Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau and built to Indian Register of Shipping classification rules.
• Vessels conduct coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys and collect oceanographic and geophysical data for defence and civilian use.
• GRSE also delivered stealth frigate Dunagiri and anti-submarine craft Agray on same day, taking shipyard's total to 118 warships built including 80 for Indian Navy.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to visit Delhi on 14-15 May for BRICS foreign ministers meeting

[BRICS]

Key Updates:

• Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit New Delhi on 14-15 May to attend the BRICS foreign ministers meeting.
• The meeting will finalise the general outlines of the documents to be submitted to the BRICS summit under India’s 2026 presidency.
• Lavrov will hold a separate working visit to meet External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and other Indian officials.

Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) launches INS Shachi and delivers ICGS Achal in single-day milestone

[Indian Navy]

Key Updates:

• Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) launched INS Shachi (Yard 1280), a Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (NGOPV), for the Indian Navy.
• GSL delivered Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Achal (Yard 1274) to the Indian Coast Guard on the same day.
• INS Shachi incorporates around 76 percent indigenous components.
• ICGS Achal has been built with over 65 percent indigenous content.
• Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti attended the launch ceremony of INS Shachi.
• GSL has launched 14 vessels in the past 600 days, averaging one vessel every 40–43 days.

India signs Rs 1,950 crore deal with Bharat Electronics Limited for two mountain radars for Indian Air Force

[Bharat Electronics Limited]

Key Updates:

• The Ministry of Defence signed a Rs 1,950 crore contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for procurement of two mountain radars and associated infrastructure for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
• The mountain radar is indigenously designed and developed by the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• The radars will be manufactured by BEL and their installation will enhance India’s air defence and reduce dependence on foreign equipment.

Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers delivers three warships to Indian Navy

[Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers]

Key Updates:

• Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE) delivered three frontline platforms to the Indian Navy.
• The delivered vessels include the guided missile frigate INS Dunagiri, the survey vessel INS Sanshodhak, and the anti-submarine warfare shallow watercraft INS Agray.
• INS Dunagiri is the second advanced guided missile frigate built by GRSE under Project 17A and measures 149 metres in length with a displacement of 6,670 tonnes.
• INS Dunagiri is equipped with BrahMos anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles and an integrated combat management system for multi-dimensional operations.
• INS Sanshodhak is the last of four large survey vessels built by GRSE and is equipped for coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys.
• INS Agray is one of eight anti-submarine warfare shallow watercraft being built by GRSE and is armed with lightweight torpedoes and anti-submarine warfare rockets.

Indian Navy inducts three indigenous warships from Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE)

Key Updates:

• The Indian Navy inducted three indigenously built vessels — Dunagiri, Sanshodhak and Agray — from Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata.
• Dunagiri is the fifth Nilgiri-class stealth frigate under Project 17A and is equipped with BrahMos missiles, rockets and torpedoes.
• Sanshodhak is a Survey Vessel (Large) designed for coastal and deep-water hydrographic operations and is the fourth ship in its class after INS Sandhayak, INS Nirdeshak and INS Ikshak.
• Agray is the fourth of eight Arnala-class anti-submarine warfare shallow water crafts (ASW SWC) built to enhance underwater threat detection and coastal surveillance.

PM Modi inaugurates ₹3,300 crore Kaynes semiconductor plant in Gujarat

[Gujarat]

Key Updates:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Kaynes Technologies’ ₹3,300 crore semiconductor facility at Sanand, Ahmedabad.
• The plant has started commercial production of Intelligent Power Modules (IPMs), each module containing 17 chips.
• Output will be supplied to California-based Alpha and Omega Semiconductor (AOS).
• Full-phase capacity target: 6.33 million units per day.
• It is India’s second operational semiconductor unit under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) after Micron Technology’s project.
• The facility is an Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT/ATMP) unit, marking an Indian EMS firm’s entry into chip manufacturing.

Clodomiro Picado Institute (ICP) launches free app to identify Costa Rica’s 25 venomous snakes instantly

[Costa Rica]

Key Updates:

• The Clodomiro Picado Institute (ICP) developed a free mobile app that covers 25 venomous snake species found in Costa Rica.
• The app includes visual and written data enabling users to compare encountered snakes with documented species.
• Users can access first-aid instructions for snake bites and record the geographical location of an incident to assist medical personnel.
• The app also profiles about twelve non-venomous snakes that are commonly confused with venomous ones.
• It is available at no cost on both Android and iOS platforms.

Female sloth bear travels 50 km in 24 hours before capture at Shivamogga airport.

[Karnataka]

Key Updates:

• An eight-year-old GPS-collared female sloth bear covered approximately 50 km in 24 hours before entering Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport at Sogane village in Shivamogga, Karnataka.
• The bear had been translocated to Bhadra wildlife division on March 27 after initial capture near JSW factory in Toranagallu, Vijayanagara district.
• Forest officials tranquilised the animal inside the airport compound in the presence of DCF (Bhadravathi division) BM Ravindra Kumar and Bhadra Tiger Reserve director Pulkit Meena.
• The captured bear was shifted to an observation cell at Shivamogga Zoo and reported to be stable.

Rare albino Himalayan tahr recorded in Kugti Wildlife Sanctuary, Chamba

Key Updates:

• A rare white female albino Himalayan tahr was recorded in the Dharol beat of Thanari Goth within the Kugti Wildlife Sanctuary at Bharmour in Chamba district.
• The Chamba Wildlife Division posted a video of the albino tahr on its social media handles.
• Experts state that only about 0.05 per cent of the Himalayan tahr population exhibits the pure white albino trait.
• Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife), Chamba, Kuldeep Jamwal said the sighting reflected the rich biodiversity of the Kugti Wildlife Sanctuary and highlighted the ecological importance of the region.
• Jamwal noted that the albino tahr is more vulnerable to predators due to its distinctive white coloration.
• The Chamba Wildlife Division recently recorded a sambar deer (Rusa unicolor) in high-altitude protected areas of Chamba district through camera traps for the first time.
• Authorities also recorded a Himalayan brown bear through a camera trap in the Gamgul Wildlife Sanctuary in Churah subdivision.

Humpback whale freed in Baltic Sea strands again near Wismar

Key Updates:

• A humpback whale measuring 12–15 m was first stranded on a sandbank off Timmendorfer Strand beach in Germany.
• An excavator dug an escape channel on Thursday and the whale swam out on Friday.
• The whale was later spotted stranded again in Wismar Bay, Mecklenburg-Pomerania.
• Greenpeace confirmed the second stranding on Saturday.
• The Baltic Sea’s low salinity and lack of suitable food make long-term survival impossible for the whale.
• The whale has developed a skin disease and must travel several hundred kilometres through German and Danish waters to reach the Atlantic Ocean.

PM Modi inaugurates Kaynes Technology OSAT facility in Gujarat, pushes full-stack Indian semiconductor ecosystem

Key Updates:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility of Kaynes Technology in Sanand, Gujarat.
• The Kaynes plant has been built at an estimated cost of Rs 3,300 crore in Sanand GIDC.
• Intelligent Power Modules produced at the facility will be supplied to a California-based company and a large share of output is booked for export.
• India’s current global semiconductor market stands at Rs 4.5 lakh crore with a target of reaching Rs 9 lakh crore by 2030.
• India is a member of the US-led Pax Silica initiative and has launched the National Critical Minerals Mission.
• The government has announced a Rs 1,500-crore scheme for mineral recycling and a Rare Earth Corridor connecting Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

India leads globally with 56% of Nagoya Protocol compliance certificates

Key Updates:

• India has issued 3,561 Internationally Recognised Certificates of Compliance (IRCCs) under the Nagoya Protocol, accounting for over 56% of the global total of 6,311.
• The Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework of the Nagoya Protocol ensures fair sharing of benefits from the use of biological resources with local communities and farmers.
• Out of 142 countries registered on the ABS Clearing-House, only 34 have issued IRCCs; India is followed by France (964), Spain (320), Argentina (257), Panama (156), and Kenya (144).
• IRCCs serve as official evidence that prior informed consent has been obtained and mutually agreed terms established between users and providers of genetic resources.

International Booker Prize 2026 Shortlist announced on 31 March

Key Updates:

• The International Booker Prize 2026 shortlist was announced on 31 March, featuring six books translated from five different languages.
• The winner of the prize will be announced on 19 May at the Tate Modern in London.
• The prize money of £50,000 will be split equally between the winning author and the translator.
• Yáng Shuāng-zǐ became the first Taiwanese writer to be shortlisted for the prize for the novel Taiwan Travelogue.
• The judging panel was chaired by novelist Natasha Brown and included Indian-born novelist Nilanjana S. Roy.
• The shortlist was selected from a total of 128 submissions by a five-member panel.
• The shortlisted books include The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran by Shida Bazyar and She Who Remains by Rene Karabash.
• Other finalists are The Director by Daniel Kehlmann, On Earth As It Is Beneath by Ana Paula Maia, and The Witch by Marie NDiaye.
• The Witch, originally published in 1996, is the oldest book on the list and was translated from French by Jordan Stump.
• Taiwan Travelogue, translated from Mandarin Chinese by Lin King, previously won the 2024 National Book Award for translated literature.

Odisha Day (Utkal Divas) celebrated on April 1

[Odisha]

Key Updates:

• Odisha Day is celebrated on April 1 every year to mark the formation of Odisha as a separate province on April 1, 1936.
• Odisha became the first state in India to be formed on a linguistic identity.
• The Utkal Sammilani, formed by Madhusudan Das, led the movement for unification of Odia-speaking regions into a single territory.
• The first conference of Utkal Sammilani was held in Cuttack in December 1903.
• In 1928, a four-member subcommittee headed by Clement Attlee was formed to examine the demand for a separate Odia-speaking province.
• Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati advocated for a separate province during the Round Table Conference on November 16, 1930.
• A boundary select committee headed by Samuel O’Donnel submitted its report in 1932 in favour of a separate Odisha province.
• Other key leaders in the movement included Gopabandhu Das, Pandit Nilakantha Das, Fakir Mohan Senapati, Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo, and Vikram Dev Burma.
• The name of the state was officially changed from Orissa to Odisha and its language from Oriya to Odia after the 113th Constitutional Amendment Bill was passed in March 2011.
• The state Legislative Assembly had passed a resolution on August 28, 2008, to facilitate the change of name.

NAAC accreditation freeze for 2024-2025 academic year

[National Assessment and Accreditation Council]

Key Updates:

• No university or college received fresh accreditation from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) during the 2024-2025 academic year.
• NAAC had accredited 1,790 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the 2023-2024 academic year.
• NAAC received accreditation requests from 2,300 institutions for 2024-2025.
• As of 14 August 2025, NAAC had accredited 509 universities, 7,783 colleges, and 290 autonomous colleges.
• This represents less than 20% of about 50,000 colleges and roughly 40% of 1,170 universities in the country.
• The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill proposes a new Accreditation Council to oversee state agencies, replacing the Bengaluru-based NAAC monopoly.
• Ten NAAC members were arrested in February 2025 after a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into bribery allegations for granting A++ accreditation to the Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh.
• A senior education official stated that the revamped accreditation process is expected to restart within a couple of months.

INS Malwan delivered: Second ASW SWC commissioned on 31 March 2026

[Indian Navy]

Key Updates:

• INS Malwan, the second of eight anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft (ASW SWC), was delivered on 31 March 2026.
• Built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi, the vessel has over 80% indigenous content.
• Length: ~80 metres; Displacement: ~1,100 tonnes; Propulsion: waterjet system.
• Armed with lightweight torpedoes and anti-submarine rockets; fitted with advanced sonar and radar sensors.
• Designed for littoral operations including anti-submarine warfare, mine-laying, and coastal surveillance.
• Named after Malwan town in Maharashtra, associated with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s maritime legacy.
• Part of an eight-vessel series: Mahe, Malwan, Mangrol, Malpe, Mulki, Munroe, Makkah, Mandavi.
• Programme approved by Ministry of Defence to replace older Abhay-class corvettes.