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Saturday, May 02

Daily Current Affairs: 2 May 2026

Analysis for 02 May 2026

India records gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections of ₹2.42 lakh crore in April

Key Updates:

  • India's gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections for April reached a record high of ₹2.42 lakh crore, an 8.7% increase compared to the same month last fiscal year.
  • The previous record high was ₹2.37 lakh crore in April 2025.
  • Net GST collections for April 2026 stood at ₹2.11 lakh crore, marking a 7.3% year-on-year increase.
  • Total refunds rose 19.3% year-on-year to ₹31,793 crore, leading to a net GST revenue of ₹2,10,909 crore for the month.
  • Gross import revenue increased by 25.8% to ₹57,580 crore, while gross domestic revenue rose by 4.3% to ₹1.85 lakh crore.
  • Net revenue from customs (GST on imports) surged by 42.9%, while net domestic revenue grew by 0.3%.
  • Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Gujarat continued to anchor collections with steady growth.
  • Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala, and Telangana recorded healthy gains or strong increases.
  • Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, and Jharkhand saw declines in pre-settlement revenues.
  • Double-digit growth was recorded in Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha, and Lakshadweep.

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Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections rise 8.2% in March 2026 to Rs 1.78 lakh crore (Start of April) ▼
  • 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.
Finance Ministry records 8.1% YoY rise in February GST collections to ₹1.83 lakh crore (Start of March) ▼
  • India’s gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection reached ₹1.83 lakh crore in February 2026, up 8.1% YoY.
  • Cumulative gross GST revenue for FY26 up to 28 February stood at ₹20.27 lakh crore, marking an 8.3% YoY increase.
  • Total refunds issued in February were ₹22,595 crore, up 10.2% YoY, yielding net GST revenue of ₹1.61 lakh crore.
  • Gross Domestic Revenue grew 5.3% to ₹1.36 lakh crore, while Gross Import Revenue surged 17.2% to ₹47,837 crore.
  • Net cess revenue declined to ₹5,063 crore from ₹13,481 crore in February 2025.
  • Maharashtra led pre-settlement SGST with ₹10,286 crore, followed by Karnataka and Gujarat.
  • Post-settlement SGST growth was positive in Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Post-settlement SGST contracted in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir.

National Asset Reconstruction Company Limited (NARCL) recovers ₹4,364 crore in FY26

Key Updates:

  • The National Asset Reconstruction Company Limited (NARCL) recovered ₹4,364 crore in FY 2025-26, accounting for nearly 70% of its total recoveries to date.
  • Cumulative recoveries by NARCL have reached ₹6,345 crore.
  • NARCL has acquired 33 borrower entities with a total debt exposure of ₹1.65 lakh crore.
  • The institution has a target of acquiring stressed assets worth ₹2 lakh crore.
  • Recoveries have been achieved across 23 accounts, with overall recoveries exceeding 48% of the acquisition cost.
  • Three accounts were fully resolved with recovery rates of 148%, 115%, and 183%.
  • NARCL has participated in resolution proceedings under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).

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Government of India launches National Monetisation Pipeline 2.0 targeting ₹16.72 trillion proceeds and ₹5.8 trillion private investment over FY26-30. (End of February) ▼
  • Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled NMP 2.0 valued at ₹16.72 trillion for asset monetisation during FY26-FY30.
  • NMP 2.0 includes ₹5.8 trillion private investment for the first time, covering construction and major maintenance projects.
  • Highways, power, ports, and railways dominate the pipeline covering over 2,000 assets across central and state public enterprises.
  • Proceeds distribution: Consolidated Fund of India 43%, direct private investment 39%, PSU or Port Authority 15%, State Consolidated Fund 4%.
  • Government set FY26 monetisation target at ₹2.49 trillion and expects to achieve ₹2 trillion.
  • Railways target under NMP 2.0 is ₹2.62 trillion, including ₹83,700 crore from dilution of government equity in seven listed railway PSUs.
  • Assets will be monetised via public-private partnership concessions, Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs), and other capital market instruments.
Union Budget sets Rs 80,000 crore target for disinvestment and asset monetisation in FY 2026-27. (Start of February) ▼
  • The Union Budget for FY 2026-27 has set a disinvestment and asset monetisation target of Rs 80,000 crore under miscellaneous capital receipts.
  • The revised target for FY 2025-26 was around Rs 34,000 crore against the initially budgeted Rs 47,000 crore.
  • Actual collections from disinvestment and asset monetisation in FY 2024-25 stood at Rs 20,214 crore.
  • In FY 2025-26, disinvestment activity included a roughly Rs 5,000 crore divestment in Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders.
  • The government combines proceeds from stake sales and asset monetisation under miscellaneous capital receipts since FY24.
Bihar Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Scheme incentivises Maoist Suresh Koda with ₹11.71 lakh package (End of February) ▼
  • Under Bihar’s surrender-cum-rehabilitation scheme, Suresh Koda will receive ₹3 lakh as the declared reward, ₹5 lakh as incentive assistance, and ₹3.6 lakh as vocational training allowance spread over 36 months.
  • An additional ₹71,515 will be paid to Koda as incentive for the surrendered weapons and ammunition.
  • The state government is processing further benefits under the rehabilitation policy for Koda and his family.
Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs launches National Monetisation Pipeline 2.0 (NMP 2.0) with ₹16.72 lakh crore target (End of February) ▼
  • Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman launched the National Monetisation Pipeline 2.0 (NMP 2.0), projecting proceeds of ₹16.72 lakh crore over five years starting April 2025.
  • Developed by Niti Aayog, the second phase is based on the Asset Monetisation Plan 2025-30 mandate announced in the Union Budget 2025-26.
  • The first phase, NMP 1.0, achieved 89% of its ₹6 lakh crore target during the four-year period from 2021-22 to 2024-25.
  • The total monetisation potential of ₹16.72 lakh crore includes private investments estimated at ₹5.8 lakh crore.
  • The transport sector is expected to raise ₹4.42 lakh crore through the monetisation of 21,300 kilometres of highways, 15 Multi-Modal Logistics Parks (MMLPs), and six ropeways.
  • Estimated sectoral values include Power (₹2.77 lakh crore), Ports (₹2.64 lakh crore), Railways (₹2.62 lakh crore), Coal (₹2.16 lakh crore), and Mines (₹1 lakh crore).
  • Other sector targets include Urban Infrastructure (₹52,000 crore), Civil Aviation (₹27,500 crore), Petroleum and Natural Gas (₹16,300 crore), Warehousing and Storage (₹10,000 crore), Telecom (₹4,800 crore), and Tourism (₹1,200 crore).
  • Specific projects include listing a minority stake in GAIL Gas and the divestment of Airports Authority of India (AAI) holdings in one subsidiary and four joint-venture airports.
  • The pipeline involves auctioning approximately 94 coal mines and leasing 38 land parcels of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) on a long-term basis.
  • Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) will serve as a key mode of monetisation to attract private investment and reduce public debt through capital recycling.
  • The largest portion of proceeds under NMP 2.0 is expected to accrue to the Consolidated Fund of India.

India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) launches zero-balance Self Help Group (SHG) savings account

[India Post Payments Bank]

Key Updates:

  • India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), under the Department of Posts, launched a dedicated Self Help Group (SHG) savings account to strengthen financial inclusion for rural women.
  • The SHG savings account features zero balance, zero charges, no minimum deposit requirement, and no monthly average balance condition.
  • The account allows a maximum balance of ₹2 lakh and provides quarterly interest payouts.
  • The account offering includes free cash deposits, withdrawals, and one free monthly statement.
  • IPPB will leverage its network of approximately 1.65 lakh post offices, postmen, and Gramin Dak Sevaks to deliver doorstep banking services.
  • The bank will utilize digital onboarding and biometric-enabled banking to ensure ease of access.
  • The initiative is linked to the National Rural Livelihoods Mission and programmes supported by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
  • Launched in 2018, IPPB has reached over 13 crore customers across more than 5.5 lakh villages and towns.

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Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants Centralised Payment System (CPS) membership to Pay Point India Network (End of April) ▼
  • Pay Point India Network has become the first private-sector fintech to gain membership in the Centralised Payment System (CPS) operated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
  • Access to CPS was previously limited to banks and institutions including National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL), Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC), and stock exchanges.
  • Pay Point India now has direct access to Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) and National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) without relying on partner banks.
  • The company has been assigned its own IFSC code and maintains a current account and a settlement account directly with the RBI.
  • RTGS is used for large-value, real-time transactions, while NEFT supports smaller, retail payments processed in batches.
  • Both RTGS and NEFT operate 24/7 throughout the year.
Bank of Baroda (BoB) launches first UPI-based ₹5,000 overdraft facility for women SHG members. (End of March) ▼
  • Bank of Baroda (BoB) is the first bank in India to offer an Overdraft Facility on Credit Line via UPI for verified women Self-Help Group (SHG) members holding Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) accounts.
  • The facility was unveiled at the 25th Central Level Coordination Committee (CLCC) meeting in Hyderabad.
  • Eligible members receive ₹5,000 overdraft credit accessible through bob इ Pay or any UPI-enabled app.
  • The initiative partners with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), Indian Banks’ Association (IBA), and Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
  • Users can link OD accounts for merchant QR payments, balance checks, transaction tracking, and digital repayment without branch visits.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issues Digital Payments: E-mandate Framework, 2026 (End of April) ▼
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the Digital Payments: E-mandate Framework, 2026, consolidating all existing guidelines on recurring digital payments into a single master framework.
  • The framework applies to recurring domestic and cross-border transactions processed through cards, prepaid payment instruments (PPIs), and Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
  • Customers opting for recurring payment facilities must complete a one-time registration process requiring validation through an Additional Factor of Authentication (AFA).
  • Issuers must send pre-transaction notifications at least 24 hours before the debit, including merchant name, transaction amount, date and time of debit, reference number of the e-mandate, and reason for the debit.
  • Pre-transaction notifications are not required for auto-replenishment of FASTag balances and National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) balances.
  • The RBI retained a threshold allowing recurring transactions of up to ₹15,000 per transaction without additional authentication.
  • Recurring payments of up to ₹1 lakh per transaction without additional authentication are permitted for insurance premium payments, mutual fund subscriptions, and credit card bill payments.
  • No charges may be levied on customers for availing e-mandate services for recurring transactions.
  • The RBI repealed multiple earlier circulars issued between 2019 and 2024 relating to recurring payment processing through cards, UPI, and other digital channels.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) releases Payments Vision 2028 themed 'Shaping India’s Payment Frontier'. (End of March) ▼
  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released Payments Vision 2028 on 27 March 2026.
  • Vision 2028 targets full interoperability across Trade Receivables Discounting Systems (TReDS) and expands receivables financing to export MSMEs.
  • Payments Switching Service (PaSS) is proposed to let customers migrate payment instructions when switching bank accounts.
  • RBI plans an enable/disable facility for all digital payment modes and a shared liability framework covering issuer and beneficiary banks for unauthorised transactions.
  • Cyber Key Risk Indicators (KRI) framework will be introduced for non-bank Payment System Operators.
  • Cheque design and security standards will be reviewed and electronic cheques will be explored.
  • Single-window authorisation under Payment and Settlement Systems Act and FEMA is being examined for cross-border payments.
  • Small Payment System Providers (SPSPs) will be recognised under a perpetual regulatory sandbox.

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) marks 10 years of Unified Payments Interface (UPI)

Key Updates:

  • The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) was launched in April 2016 by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) under the regulatory ambit of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
  • UPI annual transaction volume increased from 2 crore in FY17 to over 24,000 crore in FY26.
  • Annual transaction value grew from ₹0.07 lakh crore in FY17 to ₹314 lakh crore in FY26.
  • Nearly 86% of person-to-merchant transactions on UPI are below ₹500.
  • UPI processes an average of 66 crore transactions daily, with peak monthly volumes exceeding 2,200 crore.
  • The number of participating banks expanded from 21 at launch to over 700 banks.
  • UPI accounts for nearly 49% of global real-time payment transactions by volume.
  • UPI is operational in Singapore, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bhutan, Nepal, and France.
  • The UPI-PayNow linkage enables seamless international transfers.
  • UPI is integrated with the JAM trinity, consisting of Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile.

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NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) Expands Unified Payments Interface (UPI) Merchant Acceptance in Sri Lanka (Mid of March) ▼
  • NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) has partnered with LankaPay to strengthen Unified Payments Interface (UPI) merchant acceptance across Sri Lanka.
  • The initiative enables Indian travellers to make real-time digital payments by scanning LankaQR codes using UPI-enabled mobile applications.
  • UPI acceptance has been enabled at several establishments including Cinnamon Hotels, Taj Hotels, Barista, Keells Supermarket, and Odel.
  • Indian tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka increased from 4,16,000 in 2024 to 5,31,000 in 2025, accounting for the highest share of total international arrivals.
  • Ritesh Shukla serves as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NIPL.
NITI Aayog releases reports on "Ease of Doing Research & Development in India" (Mid of April) ▼
  • The reports titled “Ease of Doing Research & Development in India” and “Survey Report on Ease of Doing R&D in India” were released on 9 April 2026 in New Delhi.
  • The release was officiated by Shri Suman Bery, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, and Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Science & Technology (MoST).
  • The exercise leading to the reports spanned approximately nine months and involved outreach to over 400 institutional leaders and insights from more than 850 distinguished scientists and researchers across the country.
  • The event featured senior officials including Dr. V. K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog; Prof. Vivek Kumar Singh, Senior Adviser, NITI Aayog; Prof. Ashutosh Sharma, Former President, Indian National Science Academy (INSA); Prof. Vinod Kumar Singh, President, National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI); Dr. Shekhar C. Mande, President, INSA; and Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.
  • The reports propose actionable recommendations to improve funding mechanisms, institutional governance, regulatory frameworks, and research translation in India’s R&D ecosystem.
Portulans Institute Ranks India 45th in Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2025 (Mid of February) ▼
  • India climbed four spots to secure the 45th rank globally in the Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2025, released by the Portulans Institute.
  • The country's overall score improved to 54.43 out of 100 in 2025, up from 53.63 recorded in 2024.
  • The NRI 2025 evaluated 127 economies based on 53 indicators grouped under four pillars: Technology, People, Governance, and Impact.
  • India ranked first globally in annual investment in telecommunication services, Artificial Intelligence (AI) scientific publications, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) services exports, and e-commerce legislation.
  • The report placed India second globally in fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) and building internet subscriptions, mobile broadband internet traffic, and international internet bandwidth.
  • India secured the third position globally in domestic market scale and income inequality metrics.
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) data shows UPI transactions hit record ₹29.52 trillion in March (Start of April) ▼
  • UPI transactions reached an all-time high of ₹29.52 trillion in March 2026, up 10% from ₹26.84 trillion in February.
  • Transaction volume rose 11% to 22.64 billion in March from 20.39 billion in February.
  • Daily UPI transactions in March averaged 730.36 million, marking a 24% increase over the previous fiscal.
  • For FY26, UPI value grew 21% to ₹314.23 trillion and volume surged 30% to 241.616 billion.
  • Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) volume increased 9% to 366 million and value rose 15% to ₹7.4 trillion in March.
  • FASTag transactions grew 4% to 364 million with value up from ₹6,925 crore to ₹7,193 crore in March.
  • Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS) transactions jumped 23% to 111 million and value climbed 24% to ₹31,956 crore in March.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) exempts small non-deposit taking NBFCs from registration

[Reserve Bank of India]

Key Updates:

  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will exempt non-deposit-taking Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) with an asset size of less than ₹1,000 crore from registration and reserve fund requirements effective from July 1, 2026.
  • To qualify for the exemption, NBFCs must not avail public funds and must not have any customer interface.
  • The exemption applies to the provisions of sections 45IA and 45IC of the RBI Act, 1934.
  • Section 45IA concerns registration requirements, while Section 45IC requires NBFCs to transfer 20 per cent of their annual net profit into a reserve fund.
  • Existing eligible NBFCs, including those holding Certificate of Registration as Type I NBFC, can apply for deregistration by December 31, 2026.
  • These changes are introduced via the Reserve Bank of India (Non-Banking Financial Companies - Registration, Exemptions and Framework for Scale Based Regulation) Amendment Directions, 2026.
  • The RBI has set the asset size of ₹1,000 crore as the threshold level for systemic significance requiring oversight.

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Reserve Bank of India (RBI) defers capital market exposures norms to 1 July 2026 (Start of April) ▼
  • 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.
Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) extends IPO validity and relaxes minimum public shareholding norms till September 2026. (Start of April) ▼
  • Sebi extended the validity of observation letters expiring up to 30 September 2026, giving over two dozen IPO-bound firms a six-month one-time relaxation.
  • Issuers using the extension must file updated offer documents and a lead-manager undertaking confirming compliance with ICDR regulations.
  • Sebi also granted a one-time exemption from penal action on minimum public shareholding (MPS) shortfalls for compliance deadlines between 1 April and 30 September 2026.
  • Stock exchanges and depositories were instructed to withdraw any penal measures initiated since 1 April 2026 during this relief window.
  • In FY26, 112 mainboard IPOs raised a record ₹1.78 trillion, surpassing the previous high of ₹1.62 trillion raised via 78 issues.
  • Currently, 144 Sebi-approved companies aiming to raise ₹1.75 trillion await market launch, while 63 firms seeking ₹1.37 trillion are in the approval pipeline.
  • During FY26, 18 companies allowed nearly ₹22,000 crore worth of approvals to lapse and 15 firms withdrew draft papers for offerings worth ₹9,200 crore.
Finance Minister (FM) to introduce Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) Amendment Bill in March 2026 (Start of February) ▼
  • Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the introduction of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) Amendment Bill during the second half of the Budget session starting 9 March.
  • The Bill, which was first introduced in the Lok Sabha on 12 August 2025, incorporates suggestions from a select committee report submitted in December 2025.
  • The IBC Amendment Bill 2025 marks the seventh legislative intervention since the Act’s enactment, following the previous amendment in 2021.
  • New provisions included in the Bill cover group insolvency processes, cross-border insolvency, and creditor-initiated insolvency processes.
  • The government will set up an Integrated Technology Platform to enhance consistency, transparency, and oversight for all stakeholders under the IBC.
  • The IBC framework has successfully resolved over 1,000 companies, leading to a direct recovery of more than ₹3.3 lakh crore for creditors.
  • Reforms are planned for the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and appellate tribunals to address capacity constraints and speed up resolution timelines.
  • The Finance Minister confirmed that the strategic disinvestment of IDBI Bank remains on track.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) proposes draft regulatory framework for bank lending to REITs and InvITs (Mid of February) ▼
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released draft norms permitting banks to lend to Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
  • To be eligible for bank financing, a REIT must be listed, have a minimum three-year operational track record, and have reported positive net distributable cash flows in the preceding two financial years.
  • The aggregate credit exposure of all banks to a REIT, its underlying Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), and holding companies is capped at 49% of the asset value as of March 31 of the preceding financial year.
  • Banks are permitted to extend loans only for operational or completed assets, while financing for land acquisition is strictly prohibited.
  • The draft framework mandates amortised repayment schedules for loans and explicitly disallows bullet or balloon repayment structures.
  • Lending must be fully secured through the mortgage of identified assets and a charge over receivables or escrow arrangements to prevent cash-flow diversion.
  • Overseas branches of Indian banks are permitted to lend to overseas REITs provided the jurisdiction has an effective statutory insolvency or bankruptcy framework.
  • The proposed directions are scheduled to come into force from July 1, 2026.

Tata AIA Life Insurance launches Shubh Health Criti unit-linked plan

[Tata AIA Life Insurance]

Key Updates:

  • Tata AIA Life Insurance (TATA AIA) has launched Shubh Health Criti, a unit-linked life insurance plan that combines life cover with a market-linked health fund.
  • The plan provides coverage for over 60 critical illnesses.
  • Shubh Health Criti enables policyholders to accumulate funds and withdraw them tax-free for treatment and related medical expenses.
  • The plan locks in premiums for 30 years and includes a premium waiver in case of death or disability.
  • The policy includes dual-life outpatient (OPD) coverage, accidental death and disability benefits, and a terminal illness rider.
  • The product is integrated with Health Buddy, a wellness platform by TATA AIA that provides cancer screenings, routine health check-ups, and personalised health tracking.

Similar Coverage

Canara HSBC Life Insurance launches Promise4Wealth market-linked savings plan. (Start of April) ▼
  • Canara HSBC Life Insurance introduced Promise4Wealth, a market-linked savings plan.
  • The product offers three variants: Maximiser, Shield, and LongLife.
  • Policyholders gain access to a passive fund linked to the BSE 500 Enhanced Value 50 Index.
  • The plan carries a Zero Premium Allocation Charge.
Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) forms sub-committee to review private health insurance ecosystem (Start of April) ▼
  • Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has constituted a sub-committee under its Insurance Advisory Committee to undertake a comprehensive review of India’s private health insurance ecosystem.
  • The panel will examine coverage, claims experience, product design, grievance redressal mechanisms, and overall consumer experience.
  • It will recommend regulatory, policy, and operational measures to drive innovation, expand coverage, and improve financial protection for policyholders.
  • The sub-committee will assess healthcare provider networks, hospital tariffs, fraud control mechanisms, and digital infrastructure.
  • It will explore complementarity, portability, and convergence between private health insurance and public health assurance schemes.
  • The panel will incorporate recommendations from working groups set up by the Confederation of Indian Industry, including a joint code of conduct for insurers and healthcare providers and scaling up of the National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX).
Shriram General Insurance Company (SGIC) launches Shri Health Suraksha 2.0 insurance suite (Mid of March) ▼
  • Shriram General Insurance Company (SGIC) has launched Shri Health Suraksha 2.0, an indemnity health insurance plan featuring unlimited restoration of the sum insured within a policy year.
  • The policy removes standard industry caps on room and ICU charges, allowing policyholders to select facilities without budget-based restrictions.
  • The plan offers a cumulative bonus of up to 250% for claim-free years and includes a zero co-payment structure where the insurer handles the full admissible claim amount.
  • Coverage under the suite extends to air ambulance expenses up to the opted sum insured and includes medical consumables and traditional AYUSH treatments.
  • SGIC is a joint venture between the Shriram Group and the Sanlam Group of South Africa.
  • As of 31st December 2025, SGIC manages assets worth ₹14,249 Crore and maintains 69 lakh live policies across 285 branches in India.
  • The company reported an employee strength of 4,219 as of the end of December 2025.
All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) signs MoU with General Insurance Council (GIC) for cashless treatment (Mid of February) ▼
  • The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, signed a Common Empanelment Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the General Insurance Council (GIC) on 10 February 2026.
  • AIIA has become the first Ayush institution in India to enter into a formal empanelment with the GIC to provide cashless treatment facilities.
  • The agreement enables AIIA to be empanelled with all 32 general insurance companies under the GIC for eligible Ayurveda-based healthcare services.
  • The Ministry of Ayush has launched India’s first dedicated Ayush Health Insurance Helpline with the toll-free number 1800-11-0008 to assist beneficiaries.
  • The GIC is a statutory body established under the Insurance Act, 1938, and has been functioning since 2001 under the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
  • The MoU was signed by Prof. (Vaidya) P. K. Prajapati, Director of AIIA, and Shri Segar Sampathkumar, Director (Health) of the GIC.
  • AIIA is the apex institute for Ayurveda established under the Ministry of Ayush and operates a 200-bed referral hospital with 25 specialty departments.

Paras Defence and Space Technologies Ltd signs MoU with Complus Systems and JV Micronics for anechoic chamber solutions

[Paras Defence Partners, Complus, JV Micronics]

Key Updates:

  • Paras Defence and Space Technologies Ltd (Paras Defence), a Maharashtra-based defence manufacturer, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Complus Systems and JV Micronics.
  • The partnership focuses on the design, development, manufacturing, installation, and servicing of anechoic and semi-anechoic chambers for India and international markets.
  • Paras Defence will act as the consortium leader, overseeing strategic direction, business development, and the manufacturing and installation of chambers and associated filters.
  • Complus Systems, an India-based provider of electromagnetic interference, Radio Frequency (RF), and antenna measurement systems, will provide technical expertise and instrumentation procurement.
  • JV Micronics will contribute manufacturing, integration, and support services for RF absorbers and related products.

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Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) unveils advanced armoured platforms on April 25, 2026 (End of April) ▼
  • The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) unveiled two indigenous advanced armoured platforms, one tracked and one wheeled, on April 25 at the Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) facility in Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra.
  • The platforms were unveiled by Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO.
  • Both vehicles are integrated with an indigenously developed 30 mm crewless turret and a 7.62 mm PKT gun, and are configured to launch anti-tank guided missiles.
  • The platforms provide STANAG Level 4 and Level 5 protection using modular ballistic and blast protection systems.
  • The vehicles feature amphibious capability incorporating hydro-jet systems for crossing water obstacles.
  • The systems were manufactured through collaboration with Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Bharat Forge Limited, supported by a network of micro, small and medium enterprises.
  • The indigenous content of the platforms is currently estimated at 65 per cent, with plans to increase it to 90 per cent.
  • The unveiling involved senior scientists from multiple DRDO laboratories, including the Vehicles Research and Development Establishment, Armament Research and Development Establishment, Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment, and Research and Development Establishment (Engineers).
Indian Army joins National Additive Manufacturing Symposium 2026 to advance defence indigenisation (Mid of March) ▼
  • The Indian Army participated in the National Additive Manufacturing Symposium (NAMS) 2026 organised by the National Centre for Additive Manufacturing (NCAM) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) at SCOPE Convention Centre, New Delhi.
  • Lt Gen Rajiv Kumar Sahni, Director General of the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (DG EME), led the Indian Army delegation comprising Maj Gen Shivendra Kumar Bhattacharya and Maj Gen P S Bindra.
  • DG EME underlined additive manufacturing’s role in Combat Force Regeneration at the battlefield edge, rapid prototyping, and sustaining unmanned systems against emerging "Drone Tsunami".
  • Panel discussion titled "AM for Strategic Autonomy and Enhanced Combat Force Regeneration: Smart Manufacturing for Defence Applications" examined integration of additive manufacturing with digital twin frameworks, predictive maintenance, and data-enabled decision tools.
  • Discussions addressed decentralised production, forward-area manufacturing, supply-chain compression, lifecycle sustainment, and challenges of material qualification, certification protocols, interoperability, and cyber-physical security.
  • Industry experts presented metal additive manufacturing advances such as topology optimisation, lattice structures, and light-weighting for high-performance defence platforms.
  • Academia, represented by IIT Delhi and 3D Graphy, focused on quality assurance, standardisation, non-destructive evaluation, in-situ monitoring, and simulation-driven digital twins for certified outputs.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurates Missile Integration facility at Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) in Bengaluru (Mid of February) ▼
  • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Missile Integration facility at Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) in Bengaluru.
  • He flagged-off the Akash 3rd and 4th Regiment Combat systems and unveiled the Mountain Fire Control Radar.
  • Singh remotely inaugurated the Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence (CoE-AI) in Pune and launched BEL's AI Policy.
  • He was briefed on indigenous defence technologies including AI-based solutions developed by Indian start-ups.
  • BEL showcased ongoing R&D aligned with programmes such as Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile Systems (QRSAM), Light Combat Aircraft Mark II (LCA Mk II), Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), Project Kusha (MR SAM/LR SAM), Counter Drone Systems, and Naval Weapon Control Systems.
  • Indigenously developed air defence and anti-drone systems were effectively utilised during Operation Sindoor.
India hosts third edition of tri-services future warfare course in Delhi (Start of February) ▼
  • The third edition of the tri-services future warfare course runs from 2 to 25 February 2026 in New Delhi.
  • The course is conducted under the aegis of Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) in partnership with the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS).
  • The venue is the Manekshaw Centre at Delhi Cantonment.
  • The curriculum covers specialised subjects, domain-specific warfare developments, critical and rare earth elements, supply chain vulnerabilities and regional and global geopolitics.
  • Participants include officers from the three services ranging from majors to major generals, plus representatives from defence industry start-ups, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) and private industry.
  • The course aims to align operational priorities of the armed forces with the capabilities of the indigenous defence industry.

Sahajanand Medical Technologies (SMT) obtains ISO 50001:2018 Energy Management System certification

[Sahajanand Medical Technologies, International Organization for Standardization]

Key Updates:

  • Sahajanand Medical Technologies (SMT) has obtained the ISO 50001:2018 Energy Management System certification for its manufacturing facilities in Surat and Hyderabad.
  • SMT is the first domestic cardiovascular manufacturing unit to implement a structured approach to energy management.
  • SMT has a global presence in more than 75 countries as of March 31, 2025.
  • SMT was the first company in the world to receive CE certification for a Drug Eluting Stent (DES) with a biodegradable polymer.

Similar Coverage

HMG Stones becomes India’s first natural stone company to achieve dual ISO 9001:2015 and 5S Gold Grade certifications (Start of February) ▼
  • HMG Stone LLP (HMG Stones) has become the first company in India’s natural stone industry to simultaneously secure ISO 9001:2015 and 5S Gold Grade certifications.
  • The ISO 9001:2015 certification for Quality Management System was awarded by M/s TUV India Private Limited, a subsidiary of TUV NORD Germany.
  • The 5S Gold Grade certification for workplace organisation and operational discipline was conferred by ABK-AOTS DOSOKAI, headquartered in Japan.
  • The certifications cover the primary manufacturing units of HMG Stones in Attibele and Yadavanahalli, the Wilson Garden flagship showroom, and the Sankey Road Experience Centre.
  • The Japanese 5S framework implemented by the firm includes the principles of Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardise, and Sustain.
  • Operational improvements reported following the certifications include an 80% reduction in tool search time, a 50% reduction in machine downtime, and a 75% reduction in defect rates.
  • Anand Reddy serves as the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bengaluru-based natural stone company.
Supreme Court Endorses Minimum ICU Standards for Hospitals (End of April) ▼
  • The Supreme Court (SC) endorsed minimum standards for intensive care units (ICUs) specifying infrastructure, equipment, and staffing requirements.
  • A bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R Mahadevan directed states and Union Territories to submit action plans by May 18.
  • The norms were framed by a three-member committee comprising All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) doctor Nitish Naik, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, and advocate Karan Bharioke.
  • The standards are detailed in a report titled Guidelines for the Organisation and Delivery of Intensive Care Services.
  • ICUs are classified into three levels: Level 1 for basic stabilisation and single organ care, Level 2 for continuous monitoring and multiple organ care, and Level 3 for advanced care and multi organ care.
  • Nurse to patient ratios are mandated between 1:2 and 1:3, and 1:1 for ventilated or critically ill patients.
  • Essential equipment requirements include monitors, ventilators, defibrillators, crash carts, infusion and syringe pumps, glucometers, and ECG machines.
  • For rural and remote areas, the guidelines suggest interim staffing norms and the use of e-ICU or tele-ICU support to link smaller units with larger centres.
Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS): Centre Approves 29 Projects with ₹7,104 Crore Investment (Start of April) ▼
  • 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.
Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) becomes India's first ISO 50001:2018-certified water board (Mid of April) ▼
  • The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has become the first water utility board in India to be awarded the internationally recognised ISO 50001:2018 certification.
  • The certification was officially issued on April 14, 2026, by Bureau Veritas to formally recognise the board's energy management systems.
  • The certificate honours the BWSSB for maintaining its bulk water supply pumping stations at international standards across three critical locations: TK Halli, Harohalli, and Tataguni.
  • In 2025, the BWSSB became the first water board in India to receive the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification for its piped drinking water supply management system.

Aarogya Maitri: Portable Healthcare Infrastructure in Jamaica

Key Updates:

  • India deployed the Aarogya Maitri portable healthcare system in Jamaica to enhance diplomatic and humanitarian ties.
  • The initiative is part of the India-Caribbean Community (CARICOM) engagement strategy and India's Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) framework.
  • The project is driven by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) and executed in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
  • The modular medical system includes the BHISHM Cube, which is designed for rapid deployment in emergencies across challenging environments.
  • RailTel Corporation of India Limited (RailTel) and Green Genome India Pvt Ltd are the key partners involved in the initiative.

Similar Coverage

India delivers humanitarian aid to flood and earthquake-hit Afghanistan (Start of April) ▼
  • India delivered humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) materials to Afghanistan including kitchen sets, hygiene kits, plastic sheets, tarpaulins, and sleeping bags.
  • The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced the aid through MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on X.
  • Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority reported 35 deaths and 52 injuries across 25 provinces due to heavy rains, floods, and a 5.8-magnitude earthquake.
  • The earthquake epicentre was in Badakhshan province at 186 km depth, striking at 8:42 pm local time.
  • Floods destroyed 131 houses and partially damaged 650 others, while over 3,000 jeribs of agricultural land were affected.
  • US Geological Survey (USGS) data show Afghanistan averages around 560 earthquake-related fatalities annually.
Amrit Sarovar campaign creates 70,000 water bodies nationwide. (Start of April) ▼
  • The Amrit Sarovar campaign has led to the creation of 70,000 water bodies across the nation.
  • Nearly 5 million artificial water harvesting structures have been built under the eleven-year-old water conservation campaign.
  • Vangmun village in Tripura's Jampui Hills has installed rooftop rainwater harvesting systems in almost every house.
  • Over 1,200 farmers in Koriya district of Chhattisgarh have built small recharge ponds and soak pits in their fields.
  • 400 families in Mudhigunta village of Mancherial district, Telangana, constructed soak pits in their homes improving groundwater levels and reducing waterborne diseases.
Nita Ambani conferred KISS Humanitarian Award 2025 (Mid of March) ▼
  • Nita Ambani, Founder and Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, received the KISS Humanitarian Award 2025 at Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) campus in Bhubaneswar.
  • The award was presented by Nobel Laureate Mohan Munasinghe in the presence of Achyuta Samanta, founder of KIIT, KISS and KIMS.
  • The honour recognises Reliance Foundation’s contributions to social development in education, healthcare, rural transformation, women’s empowerment and sports.
  • The KISS Humanitarian Award, instituted in 2008, is the highest honour of KISS and carries a citation and a gold-plated trophy.

Karnataka launches Integrated Public Grievance Redressal System (IPGRS) for gig workers

[Karnataka]

Key Updates:

  • The government of Karnataka has operationalised India's first digital grievance redressal mechanism for platform-based gig workers.
  • The mechanism was developed by the Karnataka Platform-based Gig Workers’ Board in collaboration with the Department of e-Governance.
  • Gig workers can lodge grievances regarding pay, working conditions, and platform-specific disputes through the Integrated Public Grievance Redressal System (IPGRS) portal.

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Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 50th Anniversary on February 9, 2026 (End of February) ▼
  • The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act was enacted by the Parliament of India on February 9, 1976, to eradicate forced labour practices.
  • The legislation will mark its 50th anniversary of implementation on February 9, 2026.
  • The Government of Karnataka provides immediate financial assistance of ₹30,000 to rescued bonded labourers from the Bonded Labour Corpus Fund.
  • Rescued bonded labourers in Karnataka are entitled to a monthly social security payment of ₹2,000 for a duration of 24 months.
  • The Karnataka government has notified 52 authorities across 15 departments as bonded labour prohibition officers to enforce the Act.
  • A seven-member committee has been constituted by the Karnataka government to study the prevalence of the bonded labour system and provide recommendations.
  • Purusaala Lingamma, a survivor from the Chenchu tribe, was elected as the sarpanch of Amaragiri village in Telangana on December 14, 2025.
  • Ranjita Rana, a survivor from Odisha, was appointed as a paralegal volunteer in September 2025 and serves as the secretary of the Shram Vahini organisation.
  • The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of Rajasthan Police honoured Ranjita Rana in July 2025 for her contributions to raising awareness against bonded labour.
  • Govind, a survivor from Bihar, established the Nai Pehchan Sangathan Sitamarhi to advocate for the rights of rescued labourers and raise awareness.
  • The state of Karnataka has implemented the 2016 revised and revamped guidelines to enhance the rescue and rehabilitation of bonded labourers.
Karnataka Menstrual Leave Policy – One Day Paid Leave per Month (Mid of April) ▼
  • The Karnataka government issued notifications on 12 November 2025 and 20 November 2025 providing women employees with one day of paid menstrual leave each month.
  • The Karnataka Menstrual Leave and Hygiene Bill, 2025 proposes monthly paid menstrual leave for women in both government offices and private establishments and a 2 per cent attendance relaxation for girl students in government and private educational institutions.
  • The Karnataka High Court directed the state government to ensure effective operationalisation of the menstrual leave policy through suitable guidelines, circulars and administrative instructions across organised and unorganised sectors.
  • The petition prompting the court's direction was filed by Chandravva Hanamant Gokavi, a hotel worker from Belgavi.
  • The court observed that the policy is intrinsically linked to the realisation of a fundamental right and the constitutional promise of equality.

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2026: Registration and Route Details

Key Updates:

  • The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has opened registrations for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2026.
  • The registration window is from 30 April 2026 to 19 May 2026 via the official website kmy.gov.in.
  • The yatra is scheduled to be conducted from June to August 2026.
  • The pilgrimage will be conducted through two routes: Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and Nathu La in Sikkim.
  • The Lipulekh Pass route includes 10 batches, a duration of approximately 22 days, and an estimated cost of ₹2.09 lakh per person.
  • The Nathu La route includes 10 batches, a duration of approximately 21 days, and an estimated cost of ₹3.31 lakh per person.
  • Eligibility criteria include being an Indian citizen aged between 18 and 70 years as of 1 January 2026, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or less.
  • Applicants must possess an Indian passport valid for at least 6 months as of 1 September 2026.
  • Selection is conducted through a computer-generated, random, and gender-balanced draw of lots.
  • A non-refundable confirmation amount of ₹5,000 is payable to KMVN for the Lipulekh route or STDC for the Nathu La route.

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Miniratna Category-I status granted to Yantra India Limited (YIL) (Start of February) ▼
  • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved Miniratna Category-I status for Yantra India Limited (YIL).
  • YIL can now incur capital expenditure up to ₹500 crore without government approval.
  • YIL's sales grew from ₹956.32 crore in 2021-22 (H2) to ₹3,108.79 crore in FY 2024-25.
  • YIL's exports rose from NIL in FY 2021-22 (H2) to ₹321.77 crore in FY 2024-25.
  • YIL was formed on 1 October 2021 from the corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB).
  • YIL is a Schedule 'A' Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) under the Department of Defence Production.
Kailash Mansarovar Yatra: Government proposes Shipki La Pass as additional pilgrimage route (Start of February) ▼
  • The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is in dialogue with China to explore opening the Shipki La Pass in Himachal Pradesh as an additional route for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
  • The MEA successfully organised the pilgrimage between June and August 2025 through the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand and Nathu La Pass in Sikkim.
  • The programme is conducted in coordination with the state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim, and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
  • The yatra is managed on a self-financing basis, providing pilgrims with transportation, accommodation, food, medical tests, and guides.
  • Safety protocols for the pilgrimage include provisions for airlifting pilgrims by helicopter on the Indian side in the event of medical emergencies.
  • The pilgrimage is of spiritual significance to followers of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Bon.
Uttarakhand health department readies 17-bed hospital at Kedarnath for Char Dham Yatra. (Mid of March) ▼
  • Uttarakhand health department will operationalise a 17-bed hospital at Kedarnath before the Char Dham Yatra starting on 22 April.
  • Director general of health and family welfare Dr Sunita Tamta stated that nearly 90% of the facility is ready and equipment has been installed.
  • About 400 medical graduates will be deployed along the yatra route across Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi and Chamoli districts covering Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines.
  • Around 229 specialist doctors from the health department, government medical colleges and private institutes will serve on a rotational, fortnightly basis during the yatra period.
  • Last year approximately 159 pilgrims died from health-related issues, mainly cardiac arrest and high-altitude conditions, with most casualties reported at Kedarnath followed by Yamunotri.
  • Health minister Dhan Singh Rawat announced deployment of 177 ambulances including road, air and water units, 25 medical relief posts and 33 health screening points along the route.
Yoga Mahotsav 2026 launched on 13 March 2026; 100-day countdown to 12th International Day of Yoga on 21 June 2026 (Mid of March) ▼
  • Yoga Mahotsav 2026 was launched by the Ministry of Ayush in New Delhi on 13 March 2026, marking the 100-day countdown to the 12th International Day of Yoga (IDY) on 21 June 2026.
  • Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush and Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, inaugurated the event and unveiled '10 Yoga Protocols for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Target Groups'.
  • The International Day of Yoga was adopted by the United Nations (UN) in 2014 following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposal.
  • Over 26 crore people participated in International Day of Yoga 2025.
  • The Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) signed an MoU with Habuild under the Yoga 365 campaign to offer free daily online Yoga sessions, with registrations via toll-free number 1800-315-7008.
  • An AI-based tool under the Ayush Grid helps practitioners correct Yogasana postures, and Advanced Y-Break courses are available on the Karmayogi Bharat platform with over 10 lakh enrolled participants.
  • The Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) demonstration at 7:00 AM at MDNIY was attended by over 1,000 Yoga enthusiasts, and the one-day event saw around 1,500 total participants.

Uttar Pradesh Development Projects: ₹6,350 Crore Outlay

[Uttar Pradesh]

Key Updates:

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Uttar Pradesh on April 28-29 to launch development projects worth approximately ₹6,350 crore.
  • In Varanasi, the Prime Minister will dedicate 48 completed projects worth over ₹1,050 crore and lay the foundation stone for 112 projects worth around ₹5,300 crore.
  • Key infrastructure projects in Varanasi include the Varanasi-Azamgarh Road widening, rail over bridges at Kazzakpura and Kadipur, and a sewage treatment plant with a capacity of 55 MLD in Bhagwanpur.
  • Two new Amrit Bharat Express trains will be flagged off on April 28: Varanasi to Pune (Hadapsar) and Ayodhya to Mumbai (Lokmanya Tilak Terminus).
  • The 594-km-long Ganga Expressway will be inaugurated in Hardoi on April 29.
  • The Ganga Expressway is a six-lane (expandable to eight lanes), access-controlled greenfield high-speed corridor built at a total cost of around ₹36,230 crore.
  • The Ganga Expressway traverses 12 districts: Meerut, Bulandshahr, Hapur, Amroha, Sambhal, Budaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Raebareli, Pratapgarh, and Prayagraj.
  • The Ganga Expressway includes a 3.5-km-long Emergency Landing Facility (airstrip) in Shahjahanpur district.
  • The expressway serves as a backbone for a network including the Agra-Lucknow Expressway, Jewar Link Expressway, Farrukhabad Link Expressway, and a proposed extension from Meerut to Haridwar.

Similar Coverage

Sikkim Development Package: ₹4,000 Crore Outlay (Start of May) ▼
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth more than ₹4,000 crore in Gangtok as part of Sikkim's 50th Year of Statehood celebrations.
  • Transport infrastructure projects include two double-lane steel arch bridges over the Teesta river at Sirwani and Lower Samdong, and the upgraded Birdhang–Namchi road via Kitchudumra.
  • Education projects include the permanent campus of Sikkim University at Yangang, the administrative block of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose University of Excellence, Helen Lepcha Medical College in Gangtok, Dentam Professional College in Gyalshing, and IT-enabled learning infrastructure across 160 schools.
  • Healthcare initiatives include a 100-bed Ayurveda hospital at Yangang and a 30-bed Integrated Sowa Rigpa Hospital at Deorali.
  • Urban development works include the Jan Seva Sachivalaya at Lumsey, a Civil Service Officers Institute in Gangtok, housing projects for low-income residents and police personnel, and a public utility centre at MG Marg.
  • Tourism infrastructure includes the redevelopment of Gangtok’s Ridge Precinct, eco-tourism facilities in Soreng, Kailash Mansarovar Yatra support facilities, and an eco-pilgrimage complex in Gyalshing.
  • The power sector will see an upgraded transmission and distribution network in Gangtok to improve electricity reliability.
  • The Sikkim Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) Processing Plant was inaugurated to strengthen agro-processing and farmer incomes.
PM Narendra Modi to visit Tamil Nadu on March 1; visit to Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple scheduled (Start of March) ▼
  • PM Narendra Modi will arrive in Chennai on the night of 28 February and stay overnight at the Governor's residence.
  • On 1 March, he will travel to Puducherry to participate in a public programme and address a large gathering.
  • After Puducherry, he will proceed to Madurai and offer prayers at the Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple, one of the six sacred abodes of Lord Murugan.
  • Following the temple visit, he will address a grand public meeting in Madurai expected to draw supporters from southern districts.
  • The 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly will go to polls in the first half of 2026.
PM Modi launches development projects worth ₹16,450 crore in Kerala and Tamil Nadu (Mid of March) ▼
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched multiple development projects worth approximately ₹16,450 crore across Kerala and Tamil Nadu on 11 March.
  • In Kerala, projects worth about ₹10,800 crore were launched, including the foundation stone for a Polypropylene Unit at the Kochi Refinery of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) costing over ₹5,500 crore.
  • The Polypropylene Unit at the BPCL Kochi Refinery will have a production capacity of 400 kilo tonnes per annum to boost domestic polymer manufacturing.
  • The Prime Minister inaugurated the six-laning of the Thalapady-Chengala section of National Highway (NH) 66 (₹2,650 crore) and the Kozhikode Bypass from Vengalam to Ramanattukara (₹2,140 crore).
  • Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS), three redeveloped railway stations were inaugurated in Kerala: Shoranur Junction, Kuttippuram Railway Station, and Changanassery Railway Station.
  • The Prime Minister dedicated the Shoranur-Nilambur Road railway line electrification and flagged off a new train service between Palakkad and Pollachi.
  • A 50 MW floating solar project foundation stone was laid at West Kallada in Kollam district, Kerala, to enhance renewable energy capacity.
  • In Tamil Nadu, projects worth ₹5,650 crore were launched, including a City Gas Distribution (CGD) Network by BPCL in The Nilgiris and Erode districts with an investment of over ₹3,680 crore.
  • A Lube Blending Plant with a capacity of 672 thousand metric tonnes per annum, developed by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) at Manali for ₹1,490 crore, was dedicated to the nation.
  • Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), 23 rural roads in Kerala and 89 rural roads covering 370 kilometres in Tamil Nadu were inaugurated.
  • The Prime Minister flagged off two Amrit Bharat Express trains, two express trains, and a passenger train service to improve connectivity between Tamil Nadu and states like Telangana, Karnataka, and Kerala.
  • The foundation stone was laid for a greenfield bypass near Gangaikonda Cholapuram on National Highway 81 in Tamil Nadu.
PM Modi to launch Assam Mala 3.0 road projects and PM-KISAN 22nd instalment (Mid of March) ▼
  • PM Modi will perform bhoomi poojan of Assam Mala 3.0 road projects worth over ₹3,200 crore in Kokrajhar district.
  • Under Assam Mala 3.0 more than 900 kilometres of roads will be constructed across Assam.
  • Modi will release the 22nd instalment of PM-KISAN scheme to over 9.3 crore farmers from Guwahati.
  • Eligible farmers receive ₹2,000 directly into their bank accounts under PM-KISAN.

PM SVANidhi Scheme: Namo Stalls introduced for Ranchi street vendors

Key Updates:

  • Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth introduced Namo Stalls in Ranchi under the Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme.
  • The initiative provides street vendors with pushcarts equipped with storage capacity, weighing scales, and sheds for protection from rain and lightning.
  • In the initial phase, pushcarts were distributed to 5 per cent of street vendors.
  • The government plans to install solar cells on each pushcart to generate electricity for LED lights and mobile charging.
  • The stalls cannot be sold for five years, and the displayed contact information of the vendor cannot be changed.
  • The project was implemented with the assistance of the RMC.

Similar Coverage

Chief Minister Skill Development Scheme cleared by Delhi Cabinet to link artisans with global markets (Mid of February) ▼
  • The Delhi government approved the Chief Minister Skill Development Scheme for artisans in khadi, handloom, cottage industries and the unorganised sector.
  • The scheme will be implemented through the Delhi Khadi and Village Industries Board (DKVIB).
  • During 2025-26, 3,728 beneficiaries will be covered under the first phase with an approved outlay of Rs 8.95 crore.
  • A proposed outlay of Rs 57.50 crore for 2026-27 is expected to scale up the initiative.
  • Each trainee will receive a stipend of ₹4,800 for 12 days (96 hours) of structured training plus Rs 100 per day for meals.
  • Essential toolkits, including foot-operated sewing machines, will be provided after training completion.
  • Artisans will be digitally onboarded on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform through e-catalogues.
  • Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will certify artisans, who will receive a certificate, identity card, and assistance with Udyam registration and credit access.
  • In the first phase, nearly 18,000 tailors registered on the e-Shram portal will be targeted.
  • Applicants must be at least 18 years old; only one member per family is eligible, and government employees and their family members are excluded.
  • Aadhaar-based verification is mandatory at enrolment.
FSSAI reforms grant perpetual validity to licences and raise registration turnover threshold (Mid of March) ▼
  • Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) stated that its registration certificates and licences will now have perpetual validity and will not require renewal.
  • The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare approved the perpetual validity reform effective from the date of the FSSAI announcement.
  • The turnover threshold for registration has been increased from ₹12 lakh to ₹1.5 crore effective 10 March.
  • State licensing will apply up to ₹50 crore turnover and Central licensing beyond this limit, effective 1 April 2026.
  • Street food vendors registered with Municipal Corporations or Town Vending Committees under the Street Vendors Act 2014 will be deemed registered with FSSAI.
  • The deemed registration is expected to benefit more than 10 lakh street food vendors by removing the need for multiple registrations.
Punjab launches 'Meri Rasoi' scheme to provide quarterly food kits to 40 lakh families (End of February) ▼
  • Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced the 'Meri Rasoi' scheme for 40 lakh families registered under the National Food Security Act.
  • The scheme will distribute essential food kits quarterly through Markfed and the Department of Food and Civil Supplies.
  • Each kit will contain pulses, sugar, iodised salt, turmeric, and mustard oil to address nutritional gaps beyond subsidised wheat.
  • The first distribution round is scheduled for April with quality control measures in place.
NAMASTE Scheme distributes PPE kits, Ayushman Cards and sewing machines to sanitation workers in Pilibhit (End of February) ▼
  • The National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme awareness programme will be held on 26 February 2026 at Gandhi Prekshagrih, Gandhi Stadium, Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh.
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits and Ayushman Cards will be distributed to Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs) and waste pickers during the event.
  • Beneficiaries who completed skill development training will receive sewing machines to support livelihood and economic empowerment.
  • B.L. Verma, Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE), will grace the event.

India chairs BRICS MENA meeting in New Delhi on 24 April 2026

[Ministry of External Affairs (India), BRICS]

Key Updates:

  • Dr. Neena Malhotra, Secretary South of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), chaired the meeting of BRICS Deputy Foreign Ministers and Special Envoys for the Middle East and North Africa (BRICS MENA) in New Delhi.
  • The discussions focused on the Palestine issue, the Gaza situation, the provision of humanitarian aid, and the role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
  • The meeting emphasized a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism, welcomed the ceasefire in Lebanon, and addressed the unacceptability of attacks on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
  • The participants discussed post-conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation in Syria.
  • The meeting covered the political settlement in Yemen, stability and development in Iraq, the political process in Libya, and the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

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India launches logo, theme, and website for 4th India-Africa Forum Summit 2026 (End of April) ▼
  • External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar launched the logo, theme, and website of the 4th India-Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi.
  • The summit is scheduled to take place from May 28 to May 31.
  • The event will focus on expanding cooperation in digital technology, fintech, innovation, sustainability, and global governance.
  • India is expanding its diplomatic missions in Africa.
  • The inclusion of the African Union (AU) in the Group of Twenty (G20) was highlighted.
Observer Research Foundation and Research and Information System for Developing Countries launch inaugural BRICS Academic Forum on April 17-18, 2026 (End of April) ▼
  • The inaugural convening of the BRICS Academic Forum was hosted by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in partnership with the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) on April 17 and 18, 2026, in New Delhi.
  • India assumed the BRICS Chairship on January 1, 2026, with the theme Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.
  • The year 2026 marks two decades since the establishment of BRICS.
  • The BRICS Academic Forum is a Track II platform designed to generate recommendations for leaders ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit.
  • The Forum will host 13 international speakers and multiple convenings across India and abroad in the coming months.
  • Samir Saran serves as the President of ORF and Chair of the BRICS Think Tanks Council, India.
  • Sudhakar Dalela is the Secretary (ER) in the Ministry of External Affairs and India's BRICS Sherpa.
Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare hosts first BRICS Health Working Group meeting 2026 (Mid of April) ▼
  • The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) chaired the First Health Working Group (HWG) Meeting under the BRICS framework for 2026 in New Delhi.
  • India is the BRICS Chair for 2026, guided by the theme Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.
  • The meeting included delegates from BRICS member countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Indonesia.
  • Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava proposed two new priority areas under India's Chairship: BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyles and Promotion of Mental Health and Wellness.
  • The BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyles focuses on addressing risk factors including unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and harmful use of alcohol.
  • The HWG deliberated on nine priority areas: BRICS TB Research Network, collaboration among BRICS Medical Products Regulatory Authorities, BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for prevention and response to mass infectious diseases, Digital Health Architecture for continuum of care, BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyles, promotion of mental health and wellness, Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM), fight against diseases driven by social determinants of health (DDSDH), and BRICS Network of National Public Health Institutes.
India to host BRICS senior officials meeting bringing Iran and UAE together (Mid of April) ▼
  • India is hosting a BRICS senior officials meeting under its BRICS presidency that will see Iran and the UAE face to face for the first time since the West Asian conflict.
  • The meeting agenda covers broader West Asian and North African issues including Palestine, Syria, Yemen and Lebanon.
  • Iran, the UAE and Saudi Arabia are all BRICS members.
  • BRICS could not issue a statement on the war earlier as consensus eluded it due to differences between Iran and UAE.
  • Egypt, a BRICS member and India's strategic partner, is assisting India to hold the meeting and subsequent events including the foreign ministers' meet in May and the summit in September.
  • Russian support has also been extended to India's BRICS Presidency.

Parveen Shaikh receives Whitley Award for Indian Skimmer conservation

Key Updates:

  • Avian ecologist Parveen Shaikh was honoured with the Whitley Award by the UK-based Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN).
  • The award recognises her efforts to protect the endangered Indian Skimmer and the expansion of her community-led conservation model to Prayagraj in the Ganga Basin.
  • India is home to over 90 per cent of the global population of the Indian Skimmer, which consists of around 3,000 birds.
  • The Guardians of the Skimmer initiative along the Chambal River increased nest survival rates from 14 per cent to 27 per cent.
  • The local population of Indian Skimmers rose from approximately 400 birds in 2017 to nearly 1,000 last year.
  • The award was presented on 29 April by Anne, Princess Royal at the Royal Geographical Society in London.
  • The Chambal Sanctuary hosts the largest breeding population of Indian Skimmers and extends over 600 km along the Chambal River, a tributary of the Yamuna.
  • Conservation strategies include appointing local nest guardians, installing predator-proof fencing, and introducing experimental artificial nesting platforms in Chambal.

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Joginipally Santosh Kumar Honoured as Global Green Icon (End of April) ▼
  • Joginipally Santosh Kumar, a former Member of Parliament (MP) in the Rajya Sabha, was conferred the title of "Global Green Icon" at the World Climate Leaders Conclave held at the House of Lords in London, United Kingdom (UK).
  • The award recognised his contributions to ecological restoration, large-scale afforestation, and citizen-led climate action initiatives from the Global South.
  • He is the founder of the Green India Challenge, a citizen-led afforestation movement that mobilises students and farmers across India for tree planting and ecological rewilding.
  • The recognition highlighted the Telanganaku Haritha Haram programme in Telangana, which aimed to increase the state's green cover from 21 per cent to 33 per cent by planting 2.8 billion trees.
  • The Telanganaku Haritha Haram programme resulted in a nearly 8 per cent increase in green cover and an increase in the tiger population in the Nallamala forest region from 12 to 44.
  • Joginipally Santosh Kumar serves as the Chairman of the Igniting Minds Organisation, a section-8 non-profit.
  • His environmental work has received recognition at international forums, including the Conference of the Parties (COP29) and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP16.
Yashwant Gupta conferred with MP Birla Memorial Award (Mid of March) ▼
  • The MP Birla Planetarium (MPBP) conferred the MP Birla Memorial Award on Yashwant Gupta, the director of the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA) at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).
  • The biennial award was instituted in 1993 and was last presented to Prof Thanu Padmanabhan in 2019.
  • The award ceremony resumed after a six-year hiatus caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and renovation work at the planetarium.
  • Notable past recipients of the award include Jayant Vishnu Narlikar, Govind Swarup, K Kasturirangan, and APJ Abdul Kalam.
  • The award was not presented in 2015 and 2017 as the MPBP was undergoing renovation during those years.
Ramkumar Mukhopadhyay received Saraswati Samman 2025 for 'Hara Parbati Katha'. (End of March) ▼
  • Ramkumar Mukhopadhyay's Bengali novel 'Hara Parbati Katha' won the Saraswati Samman for 2025.
  • The K.K. Birla Foundation established the Saraswati Samman in 1991.
  • The award is given annually to an outstanding literary work written in any Indian language by an Indian citizen and published within the last 10 years.
  • The recipient receives ₹15 lakh, a citation, and a plaque.
Indian-origin Scientist Veerabhadran Ramanathan Awarded Crafoord Prize for Climate Research (Start of February) ▼
  • The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the Crafoord Prize to Veerabhadran Ramanathan, a distinguished research professor at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego (UC San Diego).
  • The prize, worth 8 million Swedish krona (approximately $900,000), recognises his work in expanding the understanding of how humankind affects the atmosphere, climate, and air quality.
  • Ramanathan discovered in 1975 that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are potent greenhouse gases, with one molecule having the same warming effect as up to 10,000 molecules of carbon dioxide (CO2).
  • His research in 1985 concluded that trace gases such as methane and nitrous oxide are potentially as important as CO2 for long-term global warming.
  • The scientist's findings on the greenhouse effect of CFCs provided the scientific basis for the 1987 Montreal Protocol, which banned the use of these chemicals.
  • He identified and measured atmospheric brown clouds, a 3-kilometre thick layer of air pollution covering much of the Indian subcontinent, which masks some effects of global warming.
  • Ramanathan served as a council member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (PAS) from 2012, advising three consecutive popes on climate change policy.
  • Before moving to the United States (US), Ramanathan studied engineering in Bengaluru, India, and worked at a refrigeration company.
  • His research also demonstrated for the first time that clouds have a cooling effect on the planet and that water vapour can amplify the warming effects of CO2.

India Launches Indigenous Silicon Photonics Solutions at Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-Madras)

[Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (India), Tamil Nadu]

Key Updates:

  • The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched indigenously developed Silicon Photonics solutions at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-Madras) in Chennai.
  • The launch introduced two key innovations: a Silicon Photonics Process Design Kit (PDK) and a Universal Programmable Photonic Integrated Circuit (PPIC) Test Engine.
  • Both technologies were developed at the MeitY-supported Centre of Excellence for Compound Photonics and Photonic Integrated Circuits Systems (CoE-CPPICS) at IIT-Madras.
  • The PDK includes more than 50 verified components for building advanced photonic integrated circuits.
  • The PPIC Test Engine is an automated platform for testing and characterising photonic and optoelectronic modules.
  • The initiative was developed under a Product Research, Development and Manufacturing (PRDM) model using CMOS-compatible Silicon Photonics technology.
  • The project is supported by SilTerra Malaysia as the foundry partner and izmo Microsystems, Bengaluru, for photonic IC packaging.
  • Multi-project wafer (MPW) fabrication runs are scheduled to start in the third quarter of the current financial year.
  • The CEO of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), Amitesh Sinha, stated that the technology has applications in both classical and emerging quantum domains.

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3D Glass Solutions establishes India's first 3D semiconductor packaging unit in Odisha (End of April) ▼
  • The foundation stone for India's first advanced 3D semiconductor packaging unit was laid at Info Valley in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
  • The project is developed by 3D Glass Solutions with an investment of nearly ₹2,000 crore.
  • The facility is expected to produce 70,000 glass panels annually and millions of advanced semiconductor units.
  • Commercial production is expected to begin by 2028, with full-scale operations targeted by 2030.
  • The initiative is part of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).
  • The unit will cater to sectors including data centres, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, telecommunications, automotive technologies, aerospace, and defence systems.
Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS): Centre Approves 29 Projects with ₹7,104 Crore Investment (Start of April) ▼
  • 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.
PM Modi inaugurates ₹3,300 crore Kaynes semiconductor plant in Gujarat (Start of April) ▼
  • 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.
PM Modi inaugurates Kaynes Technology OSAT facility in Gujarat, pushes full-stack Indian semiconductor ecosystem (Start of April) ▼
  • 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.

National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) celebrates 75th anniversary and launches Athlete App

[National Rifle Association of India (NRAI)]

Key Updates:

  • Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the 75th-year anniversary ceremony of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) in New Delhi on 27 April.
  • The NRAI launched a new Athlete App, making it India's first fully digitalised sports federation.
  • The NRAI announced a grassroots campaign to introduce 7,50,000 school and college students to shooting through a 10-shot experience before the 2028 Olympics.
  • The grassroots initiative will be implemented in coordination with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), universities, state school boards, and state rifle associations.
  • The NRAI introduced the Shooting League of India (SLI), which will be India's first franchise-based professional shooting league.
  • The Athlete App will serve as an integrated hub for athlete registration, onboarding students, issuing certificates, maintaining records, and monitoring the performance of elite and international shooters.

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World Unani Day observed on 11 February 2026 (Mid of February) ▼
  • World Unani Day was observed on 11 February 2026 at the Mini-Secretariat in Shopian, Jammu and Kashmir.
  • The event was organised by the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) in collaboration with the Information Department.
  • The theme for the 2026 observance was Innovation and Evidence in Unani Practice, focusing on scientific validation and quality assurance.
  • A publication titled Handbook of Osteoarthritis & Musculoskeletal Care was released during the occasion.
  • A Kashmiri skit titled Aalow was presented by the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) to promote traditional healthcare systems.
  • Clinical kits were distributed to Multipurpose Health Workers of Ayush Centres to enhance healthcare delivery in the Shopian district.
  • The event was attended by the Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) Shopian, Dr Nasir Ahmed Lone, and the District Ayush Officer, Dr Javid Ahmed.
TRAI Day 2026 observed on 20 February (End of February) ▼
  • TRAI Day 2026 was observed on 20 February, marking the 29th Foundation Day of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
  • TRAI was established in 1997 during India’s telecom liberalisation.
  • Anil Kumar Lahoti is the Chairperson of TRAI.
  • The theme for technical deliberation included network slicing and net neutrality.
Ministry of Ayush invites applications for Prime Minister’s Awards for Yoga-2026 (End of February) ▼
  • The Ministry of Ayush has invited applications for the Prime Minister’s Awards for Yoga-2026 to recognise exemplary contributions to the development and promotion of Yoga at national and international levels.
  • Each award comprises a trophy, a certificate, and a cash prize of ₹25 lakh.
  • The awards are conferred in two primary categories: Individuals (National and International) and Institutions (National and International).
  • Applications for the awards must be submitted through the National Awards Portal (www.awards.gov.in).
  • The final date for the submission of applications is 21 March 2026.
  • The felicitation ceremony for the award winners will coincide with the International Yoga Conference.
India and New Zealand discuss expanding sports cooperation as 2026 marks 100 years of sporting ties (Start of March) ▼
  • Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya chaired a high-level ministerial meeting with the New Zealand sports delegation in New Delhi to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in sports.
  • The year 2026 marks 100 years of sporting ties between India and New Zealand, dating back to the 1926 Indian Army hockey tour to New Zealand.
  • The Indian delegation included Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary (Sports), senior officials from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the Indian Olympic Association, and representatives from national sports federations.
  • Priority sports identified for collaboration include rugby, rowing, canoeing, sailing, athletics, and cycling.
  • The New Zealand delegation was led by Chris Bishop, Associate Minister for Sport and Recreation, and included Patrick John Rata, New Zealand High Commissioner to India, former international cricketer Ross Taylor, Raelene Castle, CEO of Sport New Zealand, and representatives from Hockey New Zealand, Athletics New Zealand, and Paralympics New Zealand.
  • The discussions focused on the India-New Zealand Centenary Sports Cooperation Programme 2026, a year-long initiative to commemorate the centenary of sporting ties and expand collaboration in sports development, high-performance training, innovation, and people-to-people engagement.
  • Both sides discussed organising a proposed 'India-New Zealand Sports and Culture Week' to be hosted across cities in both countries.
  • A key focus was strengthening collaboration in high-performance sports through joint training camps, coaching exchanges, and knowledge sharing in sports science, analytics, and athlete performance systems.
  • The discussions explored integrating New Zealand's coach development framework into the curriculum of the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala.
  • Both countries agreed to constitute a Joint Working Group to oversee implementation of the cooperation framework, nominate nodal officers, and establish a monitoring mechanism with periodic reviews.

Maharashtra Day observed on May 1

[Maharashtra]

Key Updates:

  • Maharashtra Day is observed on May 1 to mark the formation of the state in 1960.
  • The state was formed under the Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960, which divided the Bombay State into Maharashtra and Gujarat along linguistic lines.
  • The formation of the state followed the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement, a political push for a separate Marathi-speaking state.
  • The occasion coincides with International Workers' Day and Buddha Purnima.
  • A parade is organised at Shivaji Park, attended by government officials and dignitaries.
  • The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) remain closed on this day.
  • Banks remain shut in accordance with Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines.

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PM Modi makes nine appeals in Karnataka (Mid of April) ▼
  • PM Modi inaugurated the Sri Guru Bhairavaikya Mandir at Mandya, a memorial dedicated to Sri Balagangadharanatha Swamiji of the Adichunchanagiri Mutt.
  • He urged people to save water and manage natural resources efficiently for long-term sustainability.
  • He encouraged tree plantation under initiatives like ‘One Tree in the Name of Mother’ and stressed protecting Mother Earth.
  • He highlighted cleanliness as a shared responsibility across religious places, public spaces, villages and cities.
  • He promoted swadeshi and self‑reliance, urging citizens to adopt Indian‑made products and support domestic industries.
  • He encouraged domestic tourism, urging people to travel within the country to explore India’s cultural and natural diversity.
  • He urged farmers to adopt natural farming and promoted healthy eating with an emphasis on traditional foods.
  • He focused on yoga, sports and fitness.
  • He emphasised the spirit of service as essential for the nation’s development.
Karmayogi Sadhana Week 2026 launched to enhance civil-service capabilities (Start of April) ▼
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Karmayogi Sadhana Week 2026 on 2 April 2026.
  • The initiative promotes the mantra 'Nagrik Devo Bhav' for citizen-centric governance.
  • The week-long programme unites ministries, states, and training institutions for national capacity building.
  • Activities include webinars and workshops themed around Technology, Tradition, and Tangible Outcomes.

Gujarat Sthapana Divas observed on May 1

[Gujarat]

Key Updates:

  • Gujarat Sthapana Divas (Gujarat Day) is celebrated annually on May 1.
  • The state of Gujarat was formed in 1960 after the former Bombay State was divided into Maharashtra and Gujarat on linguistic lines.
  • The term Gujarat is derived from the Sanskrit word Gurjar-Rashtra, meaning the country of the Gurjars or Gujars.
  • The formation of the state followed agitations by the Mahagujarat Movement and the Samyukta Maharashtra movement.
  • Ahmedabad served as the first capital of Gujarat.
  • The capital of Gujarat was moved to Gandhinagar in 1970.
  • Gujarat was one of the main central areas of the Indus Valley Civilisation.
  • The Gurjars ruled Gujarat in the 8th and 9th centuries CE.

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PM Modi to launch projects worth Rs 19,000 crore in Vav-Tharad district. (Start of April) ▼
  • PM Modi will visit Gujarat on 31 March to inaugurate or lay foundation stone of developmental projects worth around Rs 19,000 crore in Vav-Tharad district.
  • Vav-Tharad became Gujarat’s 34th district after being carved out of Banaskantha district in September 2025.
  • The public event will be held at Nani village near Deesa at Air Force Station.
  • Projects cover railways, power, defence, urban development and belong to both state and central governments.
  • CM Bhupendra Patel, Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi and concerned Union ministers will accompany PM Modi.
Gujarat STI Policy 2026–2031: Rs 1000-crore Swadeshi Anusandhan Fund for indigenous research (Start of March) ▼
  • Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel unveiled the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy 2026–2031 at the Gujarat SemiConnect Conference in Gandhinagar.
  • The policy establishes a Rs 1000-crore Swadeshi Anusandhan Fund to support over 100 high-impact indigenous research projects annually in AI, semiconductors, quantum, biotech, green energy, defence, immersive and space technologies.
  • Gujarat Rajya Research and Innovation Clusters (GRRIC) will create a Science and Technology cluster network starting with Gandhinagar–Ahmedabad and expanding to Vadodara–Surat and Rajkot–Bhavnagar–Junagadh–Jamnagar.
  • The state targets nurturing 1 lakh skilled researchers by 2030 through 250 annual JRF, SRF, PDF fellowships, a Women in Innovation Fellowship, a unified Gujarat R&D portal and large-scale STEM youth initiatives.
  • Over 200 IP Facilitation Centres will help file more than 1000 intellectual properties annually, including at least 500 patents.
Gujarat launches herSTART 5.0 to incubate and mentor women-led startups (Start of March) ▼
  • Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched the fifth edition of the herSTART programme run by the Gujarat University Startup and Entrepreneurship Council.
  • The herSTART programme provides incubation, mentorship and market access support to women-led startups.
  • CM Patel announced that the number of startups in India has risen from fewer than 500 about a decade ago to nearly 2,00,000, with women accounting for a substantial share of participation.
  • He highlighted that opportunities are expanding for women in the semiconductor sector, including chip design, fabrication management, semiconductor packaging and deep-technology innovation.
  • The Chief Minister inaugurated a newly built research park at Gujarat University and named the university's convention centre as Vidyagauri Nilkanth Sabhapuram.
Mukhyamantri Gramotthan Yojana (MGY) launched with ₹663 Crore outlay for 2,666 village panchayat offices (Start of February) ▼
  • Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched the Mukhyamantri Gramotthan Yojana (MGY) at Bhadran village in Anand district on 30 January 2026.
  • The scheme involves the construction of new panchayat offices-cum-talati residences across 2,666 villages at a total cost of ₹663 crore.
  • Under the first phase of the MGY, villages under 114 taluka headquarters will be covered.
  • The scheme aims to provide urban equivalent facilities including road infrastructure, water, sanitation, solar street lights, e-grams, and community halls to rural areas.
  • The MGY is planned to eventually expand to all village panchayats in Gujarat with a population exceeding 10,000.
  • Each Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) in the state has been allocated a special grant of ₹50 lakh for rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge under the Catch the Rain campaign.
  • The launch event coincided with the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi to honour his message of gram swaraj.

International Labour Day observed on May 1 with theme Ensuring a Healthy Psychosocial Working Environment

Key Updates:

  • International Labour Day, also known as May Day or Antrarashtriya Shramik Diwas in India, is observed annually on May 1.
  • The theme for International Labour Day 2026, selected by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), is Ensuring a Healthy Psychosocial Working Environment.
  • The day originated from the Haymarket Affair in Chicago in 1886, where labourers demonstrated for an 8-hour workday.
  • In India, the day is used to draw attention to issues including child labour, wage disparity, and the absence of social security for unorganised workers.
  • The article notes Chennai's worker movement in 1923.
  • The Indian states of Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Kerala observe May Day as a public holiday.

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World Day for Safety and Health at Work observed on 28 April (End of April) ▼
  • World Day for Safety and Health at Work is observed annually on 28 April to promote safe, healthy and decent work.
  • The day has been observed by the International Labour Organization (ILO) since 2003.
  • Occupational accidents or work-related diseases cause 6,300 deaths daily, totaling more than 2.3 million deaths per year.
  • There are 317 million accidents on the job annually.
  • The economic burden of poor occupational safety and health practices is estimated at 4 per cent of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) each year.
International Day of Women in Industry observed on 21 April 2026 (End of April) ▼
  • The first global celebration of the International Day of Women in Industry was observed on 21 April 2026 in Yerevan, Armenia.
  • The event was led by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) at the UN House.
  • The celebration marked the first UNIDO-led inter-agency initiative in Armenia, involving the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Women, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
  • The event saw the participation of 92 representatives from the government, private sector, civil society, and development partners.
International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members observed on 25 March 2026 (End of March) ▼
  • The United Nations (UN) observes the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members on 25 March 2026.
  • In 2025, 179 UN personnel were arrested or detained.
  • As of the observance date, 118 UN colleagues remain in detention.
  • UN Secretary-General António Guterres reaffirmed the call for the immediate release and safe return of unlawfully detained staff.
World Social Work Day observed on the third Tuesday in March; observed on March 17 (Mid of March) ▼
  • World Social Work Day is observed annually on the third Tuesday in March to recognise the contributions of social workers and social justice advocates.
  • The International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) first established the observance in 1983.
  • The International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) later joined the IFSW to make the event a worldwide observance.
  • The day is currently celebrated in over 140 countries through conferences, public marches, and educational seminars.
  • The themes for the day are often derived from the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development, which is a ten-year plan developed by international social work bodies.
  • In 2026, the event will be observed on 17 March, followed by 16 March in 2027 and 21 March in 2028.

Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings 2026 released

Key Updates:

  • The Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings 2026 evaluated 929 universities across 36 countries and territories.
  • Tsinghua University of China secured the top position for the eighth consecutive year.
  • India is the most represented nation in the rankings with 128 institutions.
  • The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru is the highest-ranked Indian institution at 43rd position and the only Indian representative in the top 100.
  • India has 12 institutions in the top 200.
  • The Indian institutions ranked in the top 200 are: Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, KIIT University, Aligarh Muslim University, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela, Lovely Professional University, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, and University of Delhi.
  • The University of Tokyo is the only Japanese university in the top 10.
  • Several Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campuses, including Delhi, Bombay, Madras, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Roorkee, and Guwahati, boycotted the rankings.

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QS Subject Rankings 2026 released on 26 March 2026 (End of March) ▼
  • QS Subject Rankings 2026 were released on 26 March 2026.
  • India secured 599 entries across 99 institutions, the highest ever.
  • India has 27 subjects in the global top 50, up from 12 in 2024.
  • IIT Delhi has five core engineering subjects in the global top 50.
  • IIT Bombay shows strong presence across engineering and sciences.
  • IIT Kharagpur’s Petroleum Engineering entered the top 30.
  • IIM Ahmedabad’s Marketing subject is ranked 21 globally.
  • O P Jindal Global University (JGU) is ranked 35 in Law and in the top 100 in Politics & International Relations.
  • BITS Pilani is expanding its global footprint across STEM and management disciplines.
  • Computer Science entries from India doubled from 23 in 2021 to 44 in 2026.
  • Engineering entries from India increased by 65% over the past five years.
  • India recorded the highest improvement rate globally at 44%.
  • India continues to lag in Arts & Humanities and medical sciences with limited top-tier representation.
India ranks 6th in Global AI Brain Race Report 2026; United States (US) leads (End of February) ▼
  • The Global AI Brain Race Report 2026, published by essayhumaniser.io, evaluated over 100 countries based on their Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities.
  • The United States (US) secured the first rank with a score of 82 out of 100, leading in AI Research and Development (R&D), economic integration, and infrastructure.
  • China ranked second with a score of 59 out of 100, supported by 107 top AI universities and strong R&D performance.
  • Singapore placed third with a score of 37 out of 100, followed by South Korea at fourth and the United Kingdom (UK) at fifth.
  • India ranked sixth globally with a score of 32 out of 100, driven by talent readiness (9.12/16.67) but constrained by infrastructure (0.65/16.67) and governance (0.11/5.56).
  • The evaluation framework combined eight factors: AI R&D, economic integration, infrastructure, talent readiness, governance, responsible AI, public opinion, and academic strength.
Ministry of Education (MoE) reports 31 per cent decline in Indian students studying abroad between 2023 and 2025 (Mid of February) ▼
  • According to data shared by the Ministry of Education (MoE) in the Rajya Sabha, the number of Indian students travelling overseas for higher education fell from 9.08 lakh in 2023 to 6.26 lakh in 2025.
  • The Bureau of Immigration under the Union Home Ministry recorded 7.7 lakh students going abroad in 2024, representing a cumulative decline of nearly 31 per cent over the three-year period.
  • Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar cited affordability, access to bank loans, and aptitude for specific disciplines as key determinants for overseas study decisions.
  • Major study destinations including the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), Canada, and Australia have implemented tighter immigration rules, higher financial proof requirements, and caps on certain visa categories.
  • The MoE linked the decline to domestic strengthening of higher education under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, focusing on infrastructure, accreditation, and research.
  • A total of 14 foreign institutions have received approval to set up campuses in India, while five overseas universities have been cleared to operate in GIFT City, Gujarat.
  • The University of Surrey is among the international institutions that have announced plans to establish a physical presence in India.
  • Indian students are increasingly diversifying to alternative destinations such as Germany, Ireland, and France due to lower tuition costs and clearer post-study work frameworks.

Nitin Paranjpe appointed Non-executive Vice Chairman of Infosys

Key Updates:

  • Nitin Paranjpe has been appointed as the non-executive Vice Chairman of the board of Infosys.
  • The appointment is effective immediately.
  • Paranjpe serves as the non-executive Chairman of Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL).
  • Paranjpe is the non-executive Vice Chairman of Heineken NV.
  • He will support Chairman Nandan Nilekani in guiding the board and strategic agenda.
  • Nandan Nilekani will continue as the Chairman of the board.

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Srikanth Velamakanni Appointed Chairperson of National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) (End of April) ▼
  • Srikanth Velamakanni, cofounder and group CEO of Fractal, has been appointed as the Chairperson of the National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom).
  • He succeeds Sindhu Gangadharan, Managing Director of SAP Labs India, who completes her term as Chairperson in April 2026.
  • Kishor Patil, CEO and Managing Director at KPIT, has been elected as the Vice Chairperson of Nasscom.
  • Srikanth Velamakanni previously served as the Vice Chairperson of Nasscom and as an Executive Council member for over six years.
  • Velamakanni will work with Nasscom President Rajesh Nambiar and the Executive Council to steer the industry's agenda.
UB Pravin Rao named Chairperson of Nasscom Foundation (Mid of April) ▼
  • UB Pravin Rao succeeded Rostow Ravanan as Chairperson of Nasscom Foundation.
  • Rao previously served as Vice-Chairperson and Chairman of Nasscom.
  • He was Chief Operating Officer of Infosys from 2014 to 2021.
  • Nasscom Foundation focuses on digital inclusion, employability, women entrepreneurship, and tech-enabled NGO support.
  • The Foundation works with corporates, NGOs, government, and ecosystem partners for scalable social interventions.
Ashok Lahiri Appointed Vice Chairman of National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) (End of April) ▼
  • Ashok Lahiri, an economist and former chief economic advisor, appointed as Vice Chairman of National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog).
  • Ashok Lahiri replaces Suman Bery, who served as the vice chairman of NITI Aayog for four years.
  • The government appointed five new members to NITI Aayog: Rajiv Gauba, Prof. K. V. Raju, Prof. Gobardhan Das, Dr. M. Srinivas, and Prof. Abhay Karandikar.
  • Rajiv Gauba, a former cabinet secretary, was appointed in March 2025.
  • Prof. Gobardhan Das is the director of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal.
  • Prof. K. V. Raju is a part-time member of the Economic Advisory Council to the PM (EAC-PM).
  • Prof. Abhay Karandikar is the secretary in the Department of Science and Technology.
  • Dr. M. Srinivas is the director at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
  • The new members replace existing members Ramesh Chand, Arvind Virmani, VK Saraswat, and Dr VK Paul.
Santhosh Viswanathan appointed Vice-President and Managing Director for Asia Pacific and Japan at Intel. (Start of April) ▼
  • Santhosh Viswanathan previously served as Vice-President and Managing Director of Intel India.
  • He will now oversee business operations, brand, and customer engagements across the Asia Pacific and Japan region.
  • Earlier, Viswanathan led Intel operations in Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.
  • He also served as Global Director of Operations in the United States, overseeing sales operations strategy and planning for Intel's global sales organisation.
  • Intel stated that Viswanathan helped position India as a key growth market during his tenure as India head.

Justice Anupinder Grewal Appointed President of National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT)

[National Company Law Tribunal (India)]

Key Updates:

  • Justice (retired) Anupinder Singh Grewal has been appointed President of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).
  • The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet cleared his appointment on April 29.
  • He will hold office for five years from the date he assumes charge or until he attains the age of 67, whichever is earlier.
  • He succeeds Justice (retired) Ramalingam Sudhakar, former Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court.
  • Justice Grewal is the first senior puisne judge of a high court to be appointed as the NCLT president.
  • The NCLT was established under the Companies Act, 2013, to adjudicate company law disputes, insolvency proceedings under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, mergers, and amalgamations.
  • Justice Grewal previously served as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Rajasthan High Court.

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NCERT granted deemed-to-be university status (Start of April) ▼
  • The National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has been declared a deemed-to-be university by the Ministry of Education on the advice of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
  • The deemed status covers NCERT and its six constituent units: Regional Institutes of Education in Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Mysuru and Shillong, and the Pandit Sunderlal Sharma Central Institute of Vocational Education in Bhopal.
  • NCERT is now empowered to award its own degrees and must launch research, doctoral and innovative academic programmes.
  • All academic programmes must conform to UGC norms and cannot be commercial or profit-making.
  • NCERT must participate in National Institutional Ranking Framework rankings and create Academic Bank of Credits identities for its students.
Ashok Lahiri Appointed Vice Chairman of National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) (End of April) ▼
  • Ashok Lahiri has been appointed as the Vice Chairman of the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog).
  • Lahiri replaces Suman Bery in the role of Vice Chairman.
  • The government has appointed five new members to NITI Aayog: Rajiv Gauba, Prof. K. V. Raju, Prof. Gobardhan Das, Dr. M. Srinivas, and Prof. Abhay Karandikar.
  • Ashok Lahiri is a former Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) and a member of the 15th Finance Commission.
  • Lahiri previously served as CEA under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and is currently a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from West Bengal.
  • Prof. Gobardhan Das, the Director of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal, has joined as a member.
  • The Prime Minister heads the NITI Aayog.
RM Nachammai becomes first woman Chief Superintendent of functional Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) nuclear plant. (Start of March) ▼
  • RM Nachammai assumed charge as Chief Superintendent of Kaiga Generating Station Units 3 and 4 effective March 15.
  • She is the first woman to head operations of a functional NPCIL nuclear power plant.
  • Nachammai joined NPCIL in 1991 and has over 35 years of experience in nuclear power plant operations.
  • She received the Vikram Sarabhai Award for topping the second batch of NPCIL engineer trainees.
  • Nachammai was awarded the NPCIL Special Contribution Award in 2010, 2014, and 2017.
  • Kaiga Nuclear Power Station currently operates four 220 MWe Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors with a total installed capacity of 880 MW.
  • NPCIL employs nearly 10,000 people, of whom about 900 are women.
Ashok Lahiri Appointed Vice Chairman of National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) (End of April) ▼
  • Ashok Lahiri, an economist and former chief economic advisor, appointed as Vice Chairman of National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog).
  • Ashok Lahiri replaces Suman Bery, who served as the vice chairman of NITI Aayog for four years.
  • The government appointed five new members to NITI Aayog: Rajiv Gauba, Prof. K. V. Raju, Prof. Gobardhan Das, Dr. M. Srinivas, and Prof. Abhay Karandikar.
  • Rajiv Gauba, a former cabinet secretary, was appointed in March 2025.
  • Prof. Gobardhan Das is the director of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal.
  • Prof. K. V. Raju is a part-time member of the Economic Advisory Council to the PM (EAC-PM).
  • Prof. Abhay Karandikar is the secretary in the Department of Science and Technology.
  • Dr. M. Srinivas is the director at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
  • The new members replace existing members Ramesh Chand, Arvind Virmani, VK Saraswat, and Dr VK Paul.

Vijay Kumar passes away as veteran Indian golfer

Key Updates:

  • Veteran Indian golfer Vijay Kumar passed away at the age of 57 in Lucknow due to a heart attack.
  • He won the Indian Open in 2002.
  • He was a four-time Order of Merit champion.
  • He is one of only nine Indian golfers to have won the Indian Open.
  • He turned professional in 1988.
  • He represented India at the Alfred Dunhill Cup 1999 played at St. Andrews in Scotland.

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C.D. Gopinath, India’s oldest Test cricketer and member of first-ever Test-winning team, dies at 96. (Mid of April) ▼
  • C.D. Gopinath passed away at the age of 96, ending his status as India’s oldest living Test cricketer.
  • He was part of India’s first-ever Test victory, an innings and eight-run win over England in Chennai.
  • Gopinath played eight Tests between 1951 and 1960, scoring 242 runs at an average of 22.
  • Born on March 1, 1930, in Chennai, he scored 4,259 runs in 83 first-class matches at an average of 42.16.
  • After retirement, he served as chairman of selectors and managed India’s 1979 England tour.
Manik Gupta Passes Away Veteran Cricket Umpire (Mid of February) ▼
  • Veteran cricket umpire Manik Gupta passed away at the age of 65 following a bee swarm attack in Shuklaganj, Unnao.
  • He was a three-decade veteran of junior cricket and was associated with the Kanpur Cricket Association (KCA).
  • The incident occurred at the Rahul Sapru ground on 18 February 2026 during an under-13 match between YMCA and Paramount.
  • He was declared dead upon arrival at the LLR Hospital in Kanpur after sustaining more than 150 bee stings.
  • Medical experts at the GSVM Medical College stated that the bee venom triggered severe allergic reactions and cardiac arrest.
  • The deceased was a resident of Pheelkhana and had been a prominent figure in the local cricket officiating community for 30 years.
C.D. Gopinath, India’s oldest Test cricketer and member of first-ever Test-winning team, dies at 96. (Mid of April) ▼
  • C.D. Gopinath passed away at the age of 96 on Thursday, ending his status as India’s oldest living Test cricketer.
  • He was part of India’s maiden Test victory, an innings and eight-run win over England in Chennai, contributing 35 runs in that match.
  • Gopinath made his Test debut against England at Brabourne Stadium in 1951 and played his final Test against Australia at Eden Gardens in 1960.
  • In eight Tests, he scored 242 runs at an average of 22, with his highest Test score being an unbeaten 50 on debut.
  • In 83 first-class matches, he amassed 4,259 runs at an average of 42.16, including nine centuries and 23 fifties.
  • After retirement, he served as chairman of selectors and managed the Indian team during the 1979 England tour.
  • With his passing, 95-year-old Chandrakant Patankar has become India’s oldest surviving Test cricketer.
Hari Murali passes away at 27. (Mid of March) ▼
  • Hari Murali, former Malayalam child actor, died at the age of 27 at his residence in Payyannur, Kerala.
  • He gained fame for his role in the 2004 Malayalam film Rasikan directed by Lal Jose.
  • His other films include Pattanathil Bhootham, Annan Thampi, Don, To Harihar Nagar, Pramughan, and Amar Akbar Anthony.
  • He was the son of theatre actor K. A. Murali and brother of actor Sree Murali.
  • Reports suggest he was allegedly found hanging, but the exact cause of death is yet to be confirmed by officials.

Shreyas Iyer appointed brand ambassador for F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026

Key Updates:

  • Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited (MFRL) appointed cricketer Shreyas Iyer as the official brand ambassador for its F1 programme.
  • The partnership is headlined by the launch of the F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026.
  • The event is the first country-exclusive competitive sim racing platform sanctioned by Formula 1 (F1).
  • The competition will be played on F1 25, the official Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) Formula 1 World Championship game.
  • The tournament includes online qualifiers open to participants on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox.
  • Narain Karthikeyan, India's first F1 driver, is part of the project's advisory.
  • The initiative is positioned within the context of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025.

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Sachin Tendulkar designated as Global Champion for Road Safety by United Nations (UN). (End of February) ▼
  • Sachin Tendulkar released a video supporting the Indian launch of the #MakeASafetyStatement campaign in New Delhi.
  • He was named among celebrities and sporting champions designated as Global Champions for Road Safety by the United Nations (UN).
  • The campaign is part of the Second Decade of Action for Road Safety aiming to halve road victims by 2030.
  • Digital billboards featuring the campaign messages are displayed in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru.
Shikhar Dhawan appointed brand ambassador of Delhi Khel Mahakumbh by Delhi Government (Mid of February) ▼
  • Shikhar Dhawan, former India cricketer and Arjuna Awardee, has been appointed as the brand ambassador of the inaugural Delhi Khel Mahakumbh.
  • The Delhi Khel Mahakumbh is an initiative of the Directorate of Education and Sports, Government of NCT of Delhi.
  • The event aims to strengthen grassroots sports participation and talent identification across Delhi.
  • The inaugural edition will be held from February 13 across 16 venues in the capital.
  • Sports included are basketball, football, athletics, kabaddi, wrestling, squash, and volleyball.
  • Participation is expected from thousands of young athletes representing all 12 districts of Delhi.
Jasprit Bumrah joined Uniqlo as brand ambassador for India. (Mid of March) ▼
  • Uniqlo announced Jasprit Bumrah as its brand endorser in India.
  • The partnership launched with a campaign featuring Bumrah that highlights Uniqlo’s LifeWear philosophy.
  • The campaign is live across digital, social media, in-store displays and outdoor platforms.
  • Nidhi Rastogi, Marketing Director of Uniqlo India, welcomed Bumrah to the Uniqlo family.