Daily Current Affairs: 5 April 2026

Analysis for 05 April 2026

Amarendu Prakash resigns as Chairman and Managing Director of Steel Authority of India (SAIL).

[Steel Authority of India Limited]

Key Updates:

Amarendu Prakash submitted his resignation on 2 January 2026 and ceased to be a member of the SAIL board from 1 April 2026.
The Ministry of Steel approved his resignation effective 1 April 2026.
Krishna Kumar Singh, Director (Personnel) of SAIL, has been given additional charge as CMD for three months from 2 April 2026 to 1 July 2026 or until a regular appointment is made, whichever is earlier.
SAIL reported a consolidated net profit of ₹374.03 crore for the third quarter of the previous financial year.

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Deepak Gupta assumed charge as chairman and managing director of GAIL (India) Limited. (Start of March) ▼

Deepak Gupta took over as chairman and managing director of GAIL (India) Limited on Sunday.
He replaced Sandeep Kumar Gupta who superannuated on February 28.
Gupta joined GAIL as Director (Projects) in February 2022 and will serve up to February 28, 2029.
He is a mechanical engineer from Delhi College of Engineering and has 32 years of prior experience at Engineers India Limited (EIL).
Under his leadership GAIL completed the Dabhol breakwater project of Konkan LNG, enabling all-weather operations.

T.N. Natarajan appointed Director (Commercial) of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). (End of March) ▼

T.N. Natarajan assumed the post of Director (Commercial) on the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) board effective 19 March 2026.
He was nominated by the Government of India and the appointment was approved by SAIL’s board.
Before this elevation, Natarajan served as Chief General Manager in SAIL.
He joined SAIL in 1993 as a Management Trainee at Bhilai Steel Plant and has over 32 years of experience in production, logistics, and sales.
His prior roles include postings in the Central Marketing Organisation at Bengaluru, Chennai, and Trichy, and most recently as Regional Manager (Western Region).
He led the establishment of SAIL’s first Ready-to-Use TMT service centre at Kalamboli.

B.P. Singh assumes charge as Director General of Naval Armament (DGONA). (Start of March) ▼

B.P. Singh took over as Director General of Naval Armament (DGONA) at Naval Headquarters, New Delhi, on 1 March 2026.
He succeeded Divakar Jayant, who superannuated on 28 February 2026.
Singh is a 1994-batch officer of the Indian Naval Armament Service (INAS).
He previously served as Chief General Manager at Naval Armament Depot (NAD), Mumbai.
Singh is a Mechanical Engineering graduate of National Institute of Technology Patna and an alumnus of the National Defence College.

Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth appointed as Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS). (Start of March) ▼

Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth will move from General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Command, Pune, to Army Headquarters as Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) from 1 April.
Lt Gen P.P. Singh, currently Vice Chief of Army Staff, will take over as Western Army Commander at Chandimandir, succeeding Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar.
Lt Gen V.M.B. Krishnan, presently Quartermaster General at Army Headquarters, will assume charge as Eastern Army Commander in Kolkata from 1 April, succeeding Lt Gen Ram Chander Tiwari.
Lt Gen Sandeep Jain, now Chief of Staff at Southern Command, will be promoted to Southern Army Commander in Pune, replacing Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) records $30.5 billion fall in forex reserves since late February West Asia conflict

Key Updates:

India’s foreign exchange reserves dropped $30.5 billion since the West Asia conflict started in late February.
Total reserves fell $10.28 billion to $688.05 billion in the week ended 27 March 2026.
Foreign currency assets declined $6.62 billion and gold reserves fell $3.66 billion in the same week.
Special drawing rights rose $17 million to $18.64 billion and India’s reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) dipped $17 million to $4.81 billion.
For FY26 total reserves rose $22.72 billion as gold reserves increased while foreign currency assets fell almost $14 billion.
RBI’s outstanding net short dollar position in the rupee forward market reached $77.25 billion by end-February 2026, the highest since March 2025.

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Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reports India’s forex reserves down USD 11.41 billion to USD 698.34 billion (End of March) ▼

India’s foreign exchange reserves fell by USD 11.41 billion to USD 698.34 billion in the week ending 20 March.
Gold reserves dropped USD 13.49 billion to USD 117.19 billion during the week.
Foreign currency assets rose USD 2.13 billion to USD 557.70 billion in the same week.
Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) declined USD 65 million to USD 18.63 billion.
India’s reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) increased USD 19 million to USD 4.83 billion.

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

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

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) records India's forex reserves at $725.73 billion after $8.66 billion weekly rise. (End of February) ▼

India's foreign exchange reserves rose by $8.66 billion to a record $725.73 billion in the week ended 13 February 2026.
Foreign currency assets increased by $3.55 billion to $573.60 billion during the week.
Gold reserves surged by $4.99 billion to $128.47 billion on higher international gold prices.
Special Drawing Rights rose by $0.10 billion to $18.92 billion.
India's reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) increased by $0.02 billion to $4.73 billion.
The latest reserve level surpassed the previous peak of $723.77 billion recorded in January 2026.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data shows forex reserves jump $4.885 billion to record $728.494 billion (Start of March) ▼

India’s foreign exchange reserves rose $4.885 billion to an all-time high of $728.494 billion in the week ended 27 February 2026.
Foreign currency assets, the largest component, increased $561 million to $573.125 billion during the same week.
Gold reserves surged $4.141 billion to $131.630 billion, according to RBI data.
Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) grew $26 million to $18.87 billion.
India’s reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) climbed $158 million to $4.87 billion.

Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) partners with MapmyIndia to display authorised Aadhaar centres on Mappls App.

[Unique Identification Authority of India]

Key Updates:

UIDAI signed a formal agreement with MapmyIndia on Wednesday to enable display of authorised Aadhaar centres on the Mappls App.
The collaboration allows users to locate centres for adult enrolment, child enrolment, or updates to addresses and mobile numbers.
MapmyIndia will integrate UIDAI-provided Aadhaar Centre information into the Mappls platform for accurate digital mapping.
The rollout is expected in the next couple of months to direct users to authorised Aadhaar centres via the Mappls App.

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UIDAI launches first structured Bug Bounty Programme to strengthen Aadhaar System Security (Mid of March) ▼

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) launched its first structured Bug Bounty Programme to further strengthen the security of the Aadhaar system.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) stated that the programme allows cyber security experts to look for possible weaknesses in some of UIDAI’s key digital platforms.
A panel of 20 experienced security researchers and ethical hackers has been selected to take part in the initiative.
They will examine UIDAI digital assets such as UIDAI official website, myAadhaar portal and the Secure QR Code application.

UIDAI partners with Google to show verified Aadhaar centres on Google Maps (End of February) ▼

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has partnered with Google to enable residents to locate authorised Aadhaar enrolment and update centres through Google Maps.
The collaboration will cover more than 60,000 centres nationwide, including dedicated Aadhaar Seva Kendras.
Google Maps will display specific details for each centre, such as the type of services offered, including adult enrolment, child enrolment, or update-only facilities.
The platform will provide accessibility information for centres, such as divyang-friendly infrastructure, parking availability, and operating hours.
Bhuvnesh Kumar, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UIDAI, stated that the initiative aims to enhance transparency and simplify access for Aadhaar holders.
Future phases of the partnership include integrating Google Business Profile tools for feedback management and exploring direct appointment booking through Google Maps.

UIDAI expands Aadhaar into offline private verification with new app amid privacy concerns (Mid of February) ▼

Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) launched a new Aadhaar app and offline verification framework in late January.
The app allows selective data sharing, such as confirming age without revealing full date of birth, to services like hotels, housing societies, workplaces, and payment devices.
Ahmedabad City Crime Branch became the first police unit in India to integrate Aadhaar-based offline verification with its guest-monitoring platform PATHIK for hotels and guest accommodations.
UIDAI is integrating Aadhaar with Google Wallet and discussing similar integration with Apple Wallet, in addition to existing support on Samsung Wallet.
The new Aadhaar app overtook the older mAadhaar app in monthly downloads, with combined installs rising from nearly 2 million in October to nearly 9 million in December.
Aadhaar has issued over 1.4 billion identity numbers and handles about 2.5 billion authentication transactions monthly.
Civil liberties groups warn the expansion risks reintroducing private-sector Aadhaar use barred by a 2018 Supreme Court judgment and raises concerns over data protection and consent.

New Aadhaar App launched for secure digital identity and QR-based verification (End of January) ▼

Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), launched the new Aadhaar App on 28 January 2026 at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.
The application was developed by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) as a core component of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure vision.
The budget outlay for the new Aadhaar App was not specified in the article.
The app targets residents across India, allowing them to manage up to five Aadhaar profiles on a single device linked to the same mobile number.
Security features include biometric lock and unlock, facial authentication, encrypted Quick Response (QR) code-based verification, and selective attribute sharing.
The app enables digital storage of Aadhaar, address and mobile number updates, contact card QR codes, and logs of usage and authentication history.
The Pathik App, an Aadhaar-enabled guest verification system by the Gujarat Police in collaboration with UIDAI, was also highlighted for contactless Know Your Customer (KYC) and hotel check-ins.

National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) and Indian Gas Exchange (IGX) to launch natural gas derivatives linked to domestic benchmark GIXI

[National Stock Exchange, Indian Gas Exchange]

Key Updates:

National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) and Indian Gas Exchange Ltd (IGX) will introduce exchange-traded derivatives based on natural gas traded on the IGX platform.
NSE will launch Indian natural gas derivative contracts linked to IGX’s benchmark price index GIXI (Gas IndeX of India).
Pricing of the contracts will be tied to actual trades on the exchange.
The move aims to strengthen India’s domestic gas market by offering risk management tools to stakeholders across the value chain.
The contracts will provide a transparent mechanism for hedging price risks and offer financial institutions, brokers and investors exposure to the domestic natural gas derivatives market.
NSE has received approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to launch Indian natural gas futures.
Launch date to be announced later.

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CSIR-NCL Pune develops indigenous Dimethyl Ether technology as LPG alternative (Mid of March) ▼

Scientists at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL) in Pune have created a patent-protected process to produce Dimethyl Ether (DME) from methanol using a cost-effective catalyst.
The Bureau of Indian Standards allows up to 20 per cent DME blending with LPG under standard IS 18698:2024, and up to 8 per cent blending needs no change in existing LPG cylinders, regulators, hoses or burners.
India imported nearly 21 million tonnes of LPG in 2024; replacing 8 per cent with DME could save around ₹9,500 crore in foreign exchange annually.
The pilot plant scales 250 kg per day, and an industrial demonstration plant of 2.5 tonnes per day is planned within six to nine months.
A patented burner prototype developed by CSIR-NCL can operate from 100 per cent LPG to 100 per cent DME and was tested at the LPG Equipment Research Centre in Bengaluru.

Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution Order 2026 streamlines pipeline expansion (Start of April) ▼

The Government of India notified the Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution (Through Laying, Building, Operation and Expansion of Pipelines and Other Facilities) Order, 2026 under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 on 24.03.2026.
The Order provides a streamlined and time-bound framework for laying and expanding pipelines across the country, addressing delays in approvals and access to land.
It enables faster development of natural gas infrastructure, including in residential areas, and is expected to accelerate PNG network growth and last-mile connectivity.

NSE International Exchange (NSE IX) launches platform for investment in 30 global markets (End of February) ▼

NSE International Exchange (NSE IX) has launched the NSE IX Global Access platform from GIFT City to enable Indian retail and Non-Resident Indian (NRI) investors to invest in 30 global markets.
The platform initially provides access to United States (US) listed stocks, with markets in the United Kingdom (UK), Japan, and parts of Europe to be added within three to six months.
Under the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS), resident Indians can invest up to $2.5 lakh per financial year in overseas markets through this gateway.
Investors will remit funds in Indian Rupees to the NSE IX bank account, which are then converted into US Dollars for global investments.
The platform is regulated by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) and allows for fractional trading, enabling the purchase of portions of high-priced global shares.
Investors can trade in stocks, debt instruments, and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) without opening a demat account, though derivatives and cryptocurrency transactions are prohibited.
The Know Your Customer (KYC) process is fully digital, requiring Aadhaar and Permanent Account Number (PAN) for completion via systems such as DigiLocker.

India INX Global Access (India INX GA) partners HSBC International Financial Services Centre Banking Unit (HSBC IBU) to expand overseas investment access. (Start of March) ▼

India INX Global Access IFSC (India INX GA), a wholly-owned subsidiary of India International Exchange (India INX), has entered a strategic partnership with HSBC International Financial Services Centre Banking Unit (HSBC IBU).
The partnership aims to broaden structured access to global investment products for Indian investors through Gift City.
India INX GA is a Global Access Provider (GAP) registered with the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA).
The arrangement is designed to enable informed cross-border participation and more efficient capital allocation beyond domestic asset classes.
The development follows NSE IX launching its own global access platform last week, highlighting growing momentum within the IFSC ecosystem.

Karmayogi Sadhana Week 2026 launched to enhance civil-service capabilities

Key Updates:

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.

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Mission Karmayogi partners with Coursera for Civil Servant Upskilling (Mid of March) ▼

Edtech firm Coursera has partnered with India's Mission Karmayogi to provide upskilling for civil servants and government officials.
Coursera will utilise the Integrated Government Online Training (iGOT) platform to deliver a curated collection of courses focused on advanced competencies.
The partnership aims to equip officials with targeted, role-based skills to enhance the design and delivery of public administration programmes.
Chhavi Bhardwaj serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Karmayogi Bharat.

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.

PM RAHAT scheme approved; Lakhpati Didis target doubled to six crore by 2029 (Mid of February) ▼

Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the PM RAHAT scheme immediately after shifting to the newly inaugurated Seva Teerth complex in New Delhi.
The government doubled the target for Lakhpati Didis to six crore by 2029.
The decisions focused on women, youth, farmers and vulnerable citizens to reflect the spirit of 'Seva' or service.

PM Modi hosts 9th edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha 2026. (Start of February) ▼

Pariksha Pe Charcha 2026, the 9th edition, was livestreamed on 6 February 2026 at 10 am.
PM Modi interacted with students, parents, and teachers across Devmogra, Coimbatore, Raipur, Guwahati, and his residence.
Over 4.5 crore students, 28 lakh teachers, and 6.15 lakh parents registered for PPC 2026.
The programme is part of the government’s Exam Warriors initiative to reduce exam anxiety.
The next telecast of PPC 2026 is scheduled for 9 February at 10 am on DD National, DD News, DD India, All India Radio, and online platforms.

Kar Saathi AI chatbot launched to simplify taxpayer services

[Central Board of Direct Taxes]

Key Updates:

The Income Tax Department on 2 April 2026 unveiled an AI-powered chatbot named Kar Saathi on its revamped digital platform.
Kar Saathi functions as an intelligent virtual assistant to help taxpayers understand rules, file returns, and resolve queries without intermediaries.
The chatbot is positioned as a one-stop solution for accessing tax-related services and guidance.
Kar Saathi is a key pillar of the government’s strategy to support the transition to the new Income Tax Act, 2025, effective from 1 April 2026.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Chairman Ravi Agrawal first outlined the concept during the launch of the PRARAMBH initiative.
PRARAMBH has rationalised rules from 510 to 333 and reduced forms from 399 to 190, eliminating compliance for over six crore transactions.
CBDT has prepared more than 2,200 FAQs and detailed guidance notes covering 186 forms to aid the transition.

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Maharashtra launches Divyang Sahayak Portal for paperless disability scheme access (Start of March) ▼

Maharashtra government launched the country’s first integrated Divyang Sahayak Portal to streamline welfare schemes for persons with disabilities.
The portal enables online applications, real-time tracking and automatic approvals without physical documents.
It integrates with Unique Disability ID, Aadhaar through Meri Pehchan and Direct Benefit Transfer platform; integration with PAN, TAN, GST, bank details, e-Sign, UDISE and RBSK is underway.
Artificial intelligence tools scan uploaded documents for clarity and allocate grievances to the appropriate desk.
The portal is structured into 11 modules; the first four—unified scheme delivery, institution information management, citizen grievance redressal and department dashboard—are ready to go live.
A mobile application has been created and submitted to the Government of India for listing on its app store.

Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman launches PRARAMBH 2026 and Income Tax Website 2.0. (End of March) ▼

Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, launched PRARAMBH 2026, the Income Tax Department’s nationwide awareness campaign on the Income Tax Act, 2025, in New Delhi on 20 March 2026.
She unveiled the upgraded Income Tax Website 2.0 to enhance taxpayer services.
Revenue Secretary Shri Arvind Shrivastava and CBDT Chairman Shri Ravi Agrawal attended the launch event.
CBDT rolled out an AI-enabled chatbot named Kar Saathi to assist taxpayers on the new Act, Rules and Forms.
Brochures explaining the new Act were released in 10 regional languages besides English and Hindi.

CBIC launches SWIFT 2.0 single-window platform and revamped Atithi app (End of February) ▼

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) will launch SWIFT 2.0, a single-window platform for digital clearance of exports and imports.
Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary will preside over the launch on International Customs Day 2026.
The revamped Atithi app will be released to help international passengers clear baggage from customs on arrival in India.
CBIC will also release the Digital Travellers Guide and the SWIFT 2.0 Booklet during the event.
The theme for International Customs Day 2026 is 'Customs protecting society through vigilance and commitment'.

Karnataka Bank enables Khajane-2 e-receipt payments via Internet Banking. (Mid of January) ▼

Karnataka Bank has integrated Khajane-2 e-receipt payments into its Internet Banking platform.
The integration follows authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and approval from the Department of Treasuries, Government of Karnataka.
Customers can now pay State government taxes and fees through the Khajane-2 Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) using the bank’s net banking service.

United Nations marks International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action on 4 April 2026

[United Nations]

Key Updates:

The International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action is observed globally on 4 April 2026.
The 2026 theme is 'Invest in Peace, Invest in Mine Action'.
The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), Fondation Suisse de Déminage (FSD), Handicap International Switzerland, and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, Cluster Munition Coalition (ICBL-CMC) jointly issued the call to action.
The Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention prohibits weapons that cause indiscriminate and irreversible harm.
The Convention on Cluster Munitions bans munitions whose unexploded remnants continue to claim lives long after conflict ends.
The Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA) focuses on the impact of explosive weapons in urban settings.
More than 30 States have declared themselves mine-free as a result of sustained mine action efforts.

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National District Mineral Foundation Summit 2026 to boost development in mining-affected districts (End of March) ▼

Union Minister of Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy inaugurated the two-day National District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Summit 2026 at SCOPE Convention Centre, New Delhi.
The Summit titled Effective Utilisation of District Mineral Funds for ADP/ABP Areas is organised by the Ministry of Mines (MoM).
Union Minister of State for Coal & Mines Satish Chandra Dubey and Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Piyush Goyal, attended the event.
The Summit aims to strengthen inter-governmental coordination and identify policy reforms for improving effective and outcome-oriented utilisation of DMF funds in mining-affected districts, particularly in Aspirational District Programme (ADP) and Aspirational Block Programme (ABP) areas.
Senior officials from Central Ministries, State Governments, District Administrations, NITI Aayog, and other stakeholders are participating to deliberate on challenges, best practices, and reform measures related to DMF planning, implementation, and monitoring.
A Concept Note was shared with DMF States, 306 DMF districts in ADP/ABP areas, and NITI Aayog in January 2026, followed by a virtual national consultation and state-level deliberations.
States submitted summarised inputs highlighting key challenges, actionable recommendations, and examples of effective DMF-funded interventions, which informed a Comprehensive Final Note serving as the principal reference document for Summit deliberations.
The Summit will focus on effective fund utilisation in ADP/ABP areas, covering governance, transparency, convergence, impact assessment, and performance, with presentations by State representatives, NITI Aayog, and BiSAG-N.
A DMF Exhibition on the sidelines showcases successful projects and best practices funded through DMF resources across States, featuring initiatives in health, nutrition, water supply, education, skill development, livelihoods, renewable energy, and infrastructure.

Ministry of Mines notifies Offshore Areas Mineral Prevention of Illegal Mining and Transportation Rules, 2026 (Start of February) ▼

The Ministry of Mines notified the Offshore Areas Mineral Prevention of Illegal Mining and Transportation Rules, 2026, which came into force on February 3, 2026.
The rules are framed under the Offshore Areas Mineral Development and Regulation Act, 2002 (OAMDR Act) to regulate all offshore minerals except mineral oils and hydrocarbons.
Operating right holders are mandated to deploy real-time electronic monitoring systems for vessel tracking, weight recording, and continuous video capture of offshore operations.
A digitally signed transit permit issued via a regulation portal is required for dispatching minerals, with the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) sharing these permits with state governments.
Companies exporting minerals directly from offshore areas must obtain clearance from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) at least seven days before export.
Mandatory weighment systems must be installed at the first onshore point of discharge to match weight records against dispatch data.
Penalties for illegal mining include imprisonment up to five years and fines ranging from ₹50 lakh to ₹1 crore, plus an additional daily penalty of ₹5 lakh for continuing offences.
Proceeds from the public auction of seized minerals and property will be credited to the Consolidated Fund of India.

India’s First Tailings Policy for Critical Minerals Recovery (End of January) ▼

The Ministry of Mines announced India’s first tailings policy to set guidelines for exploration of critical minerals from primary as well as secondary sources like mine dumps and tailings of existing mines.
Indian Bureau of Mines, Central Mine Planning & Design Institute and Atomic Minerals Directorate are to conduct sample analysis of dumps and tailings of all existing mines to identify quantity and likely availability of critical and strategic elements.
The policy aims to frame a roadmap for recovery of critical minerals from tailings, ensuring increased domestic production and reduced import dependency.

NMDC Limited and Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) partner for indigenous mining technologies (Start of March) ▼

NMDC Limited (NMDC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) to strengthen research and academic collaboration in the mineral and metals sector.
The partnership focuses on joint research in iron ore beneficiation and agglomeration, green steelmaking technologies, and alternate ironmaking using indigenous raw materials.
Both institutions will collaborate on advanced modelling and simulation of mining and metallurgical processes.
The initiative includes the extraction of critical and rare earth minerals from primary and secondary sources to enhance India’s mineral security.
The collaboration covers digital transformation domains such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicle operations, Mining 4.0 frameworks, and drone-based surveying.
The MoU was signed in the presence of IITH Director B. S. Murty and NMDC Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Amitava Mukherjee.

Israeli Defence Firm Supplies First Batch Of Light Machine Guns To India

[Israel]

Key Updates:

Israel Weapons Industries (IWI) delivered the first batch of 2,000 NEGEV 7.62x51 light machine guns to India under the 'Make in India' initiative.
The delivery was executed by PLR Systems, a joint venture between IWI and Adani Group, India's first private small arms and ammunition manufacturer.
The overall contract covers 41,000 LMG units, with an additional 4,000 scheduled for delivery later this year.
The NEGEV 7.62x51 LMG is deployed by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and features semi-automatic and fully automatic modes.
The weapon is compatible with helicopters, vehicles, and naval platforms and complies with NATO standards.
PLR Systems has also secured a contract to supply 170,000 close-quarter battle (CQB) carbines to India, with the first 18,000 units due this year.
India and Israel signed an agreement in November last year to enhance defence, industrial, and technological cooperation.

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Adani Defence delivers first batch of 2,000 ‘Prahar’ light machine guns to Indian Army (End of March) ▼

Adani Defence & Aerospace delivered the first batch of 2,000 indigenously manufactured 7.62 mm ‘Prahar’ light machine guns to the Indian Army.
The 7.62 mm-calibre weapons have been produced at the company’s Small Arms Complex near Gwalior.
The delivery was completed in seven months, ahead of the contracted schedule, with the first production model realised in six months against an 18-month development timeline.
The Gwalior facility has an annual production capacity of up to 100,000 weapons and domestic sourcing of over 90 per cent.
A Anbarasu, DG Acquisition & Addl Secretary, Ministry of Defence (MoD), Government of India, attended the event along with senior officials of the Indian Armed Forces.
The company’s ammunition complex in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, commissioned in 2024, has an annual capacity of about 300 million rounds of small calibre ammunition.

India inducts third nuclear-powered ballistic submarine INS Aridhaman at Visakhapatnam (Start of April) ▼

India inducted its third nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), INS Aridhaman, into the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam.
INS Aridhaman is the third Arihant-class submarine and displaces 7,000 tonnes.
The submarine is equipped with eight vertical launch tubes and can carry either eight K-4 missiles or up to 24 K-15 missiles.
K-15 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) have a range of up to 750 km, while K-4 SLBMs can hit targets 3,500 km away.
INS Aridhaman strengthens India’s sea-based nuclear deterrent and completes a fleet of three operational SSBNs for the first time.
India’s nuclear triad comprises land-based nuclear missiles, air-delivered nuclear weapons, and sea-based SSBNs.
India’s nuclear doctrine follows a “no first use” policy, and SSBNs ensure a retaliatory second-strike capability.
India joined the United States, Russia, China, and France as countries with full nuclear triad capabilities.
The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) collaborated with private firms and Russia for the nuclear submarine project.
INS Arihant, commissioned in 2016, conducted its first deterrence patrol in 2018 and successfully launched an SLBM in October 2022.
INS Arighaat, commissioned in 2024, is armed with indigenously built K-15 missiles and powered by 83 MW pressurised light-water nuclear reactors.
India’s fourth SSBN, codenamed S4*, is under construction and will carry additional K-4 missiles.
India plans to build two indigenous nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN) and lease one from Russia by 2027-28.

India upgrades Pinaka rocket launchers with L&T and Tata contract (Mid of January) ▼

The Army is undertaking an extensive upgrade of its Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers, with orders going to private sector defence giants Tata and Larsen & Toubro.
The contract will involve the two companies working with Army Base Workshops in upgrading critical sub-systems, providing sustained technical support and replacing outdated components.
The indigenous Pinaka has emerged as the army's primary rocket system, with work underway to significantly increase its range to excess of 150 km.
The partnership of the two companies with the Corps of EME of the Indian Army seeks to enhance long-term operational availability and modernisation of Pinaka regiments.
Tata Advanced Systems has achieved nearly 80% indigenous content on manufacturing the Pinaka launchers.
The Pinaka programme, developed by DRDO and manufactured by the private sector, has emerged as a key Make in India success story in the defence sector.
A longer range variant, that can strike targets at 75 km range, has been tested successfully and is likely to be ordered in future.

Tata Advanced Systems receives Indian Army supply order for overhaul and upgradation of Pinaka MLRS (Start of January) ▼

Tata Advanced Systems has been awarded a supply order to support the Indian Army's 510 Advance Base Workshop (ABW) in the overhaul cum upgradation of in-service first-generation Pinaka Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) and Battery Command Posts (BCPs).
In the initial phase, Tata Advanced Systems and 510 ABW will jointly undertake a pilot overhaul of select Pinaka MLRS and BCPs.
Following the pilot phase, the remaining systems will be overhauled by 510 ABW with Tata Advanced Systems providing critical spares, quality assurance and technical support.
Tata Advanced Systems partnered with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to design and develop the Pinaka MLRS.
The company has achieved nearly 80 per cent indigenous content in the Pinaka MLRS.
Pinaka MLRS is mounted on an 8x8 High Mobility Vehicle and features automated 'shoot-and-scoot' operations.

India commissions stealth frigate INS Taragiri under Project 17A

Key Updates:

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissioned the stealth frigate INS Taragiri into the Indian Navy in New Delhi.
INS Taragiri is the fourth stealth frigate built under the Navy’s Project 17A by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL).
The 6,670-tonne warship has over 75 per cent indigenous content.
The frigate replaces a Leander-class Taragiri that served from 1980 to 2013.
It is equipped with supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles and an advanced anti-submarine warfare system.
The vessel uses a combined diesel or gas propulsion system and carries advanced indigenous sonar systems.
INS Taragiri is designed for multi-domain warfare and missions including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

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Indian Navy receives three GRSE-built warships including frigate Dunagiri and ASW craft Agray (Start of April) ▼

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

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

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

India inducts third nuclear-powered ballistic submarine INS Aridhaman at Visakhapatnam (Start of April) ▼

India inducted its third nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), INS Aridhaman, into the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam.
INS Aridhaman is the third Arihant-class submarine and displaces 7,000 tonnes.
The submarine is equipped with eight vertical launch tubes and can carry either eight K-4 missiles or up to 24 K-15 missiles.
K-15 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) have a range of up to 750 km, while K-4 SLBMs can hit targets 3,500 km away.
INS Aridhaman strengthens India’s sea-based nuclear deterrent and completes a fleet of three operational SSBNs for the first time.
India’s nuclear triad comprises land-based nuclear missiles, air-delivered nuclear weapons, and sea-based SSBNs.
India’s nuclear doctrine follows a “no first use” policy, and SSBNs ensure a retaliatory second-strike capability.
India joined the United States, Russia, China, and France as countries with full nuclear triad capabilities.
The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) collaborated with private firms and Russia for the nuclear submarine project.
INS Arihant, commissioned in 2016, conducted its first deterrence patrol in 2018 and successfully launched an SLBM in October 2022.
INS Arighaat, commissioned in 2024, is armed with indigenously built K-15 missiles and powered by 83 MW pressurised light-water nuclear reactors.
India’s fourth SSBN, codenamed S4*, is under construction and will carry additional K-4 missiles.
India plans to build two indigenous nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN) and lease one from Russia by 2027-28.

Indian Navy to commission stealth frigate INS Taragiri on 3 April 2026 (End of March) ▼

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will preside over the commissioning ceremony of INS Taragiri (F41) on 3 April 2026.
INS Taragiri is the fourth 6,670-tonne guided-missile frigate of Project 17A built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) in Mumbai.
The warship exceeds 75 per cent indigenous content with components sourced from over 200 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
It features a stealth hull design for reduced radar cross-section and uses a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system.
Its weapons suite includes supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surface-to-air missiles, and an anti-submarine warfare suite integrated through a Combat Management System.
The frigate is configured for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
Project 17A is an upgraded iteration of the Shivalik-class frigates and involves seven ships being built by MDL and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE).

Union Minister inaugurates BIRAC-BioNEST Incubation Centre at CSIR-CFTRI in Mysuru.

[Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council]

Key Updates:

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh launched the BIRAC-BioNEST Incubation Centre on the CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) campus.
The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) supported the initiative under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.
The facility nurtures entrepreneurial talent in food bioprocessing and biotechnology research and supports advanced research, scale-up, and efficacy studies.
CSIR-CFTRI’s incubation ecosystem has supported 26 start-ups, including 12 physical incubatees, 11 hybrid incubatees, and three graduated ventures.
Incubated companies have filed 12 patents so far and operate in domains such as CRISPR technology, nutraceuticals, precision fermentation, probiotics and postbiotics, and botanicals.
The Indian Army has shown interest in the incubated innovations during high-profile visits in 2025 and 2026.
A hostel facility for farmers, FPOs, SHGs, cluster representatives, and other training participants will be built under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and will include a 50-seat classroom, twin-sharing accommodation, kitchen, dining, and other amenities.
The Minister performed the bhoomi puja for the hostel facility on the M.G. Halli campus during his visit.
CSIR-CFTRI conducts nearly 30-35 training programmes every year and the hostel is expected to be ready in a year to strengthen skill development initiatives aligned with the government’s ‘Skill India’ programme in food processing.

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MoFPI Inaugurates ₹2.35 Crore Food Processing Incubation Centre under PMFME Scheme (Mid of March) ▼

Union Minister for Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) Chirag Paswan inaugurated a Common Incubation Centre at Tezpur University in the Sonitpur district of Assam on 13 March 2026.
The facility was established with a total outlay of ₹2.35 crore, funded through 100% financial assistance from the MoFPI.
The centre is launched under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme, which operates under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
The project aims to support micro food processing enterprises, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), cooperatives, and start-ups.
The incubation hub includes seven specialised processing lines for fruits, grains, spices, bakery products, confectionery, packaging, and quality testing.
The facility is designed to serve entrepreneurs in the Assam districts of Sonitpur, Darrang, Udalguri, Biswanath, Nagaon, and Golaghat.
According to the MoFPI, more than 1.87 lakh micro food processing enterprises have received loan approvals nationwide under the PMFME Scheme.

Dr Thomas Pucadyil Appointed Director of Biotechnology Research Innovation Council-National Centre for Cell Science (BRIC-NCCS) (Start of April) ▼

Dr Thomas Pucadyil has been appointed as the Director of the Biotechnology Research Innovation Council-National Centre for Cell Science (BRIC-NCCS) in Pune.
Prior to this appointment, Dr Pucadyil served as a Professor in the Department of Biology at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune.
He will assume the charge from Dr Manisha Inamdar, who had been serving as the interim director of the institution.
Dr Pucadyil was awarded the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology in 2018 and is a Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and the Indian Academy of Sciences (IAS).
His scientific research focuses on understanding membrane integrity-disrupting proteins in cells.
BRIC-NCCS is located within the campus of Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) and hosts the National Cell Repository which distributes animal cell lines to research institutions in India.
The institute also hosts the Department of Biotechnology (DBT)-funded National Centre for Microbial Research (NCMR), which maintains the third-largest microbial collection in the world.

Kerala becomes first Indian state to declare Bacillus subtilis as State Microbe (End of January) ▼

Kerala declared Bacillus subtilis as its State Microbe, making it the first state in the country to officially designate a state microbe.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced the designation during the inauguration of the Centre of Excellence in Microbiome (CoEM) in Thiruvananthapuram.
Bacillus subtilis is a probiotic bacterium found in the environment, human gut, and fermented foods.
CoEM, established by the Kerala government, aims to study microorganisms' role in health, environment, and sustainability.
CoEM functions under the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) in collaboration with the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC).
CoEM is the first institution in India to integrate microbiome-based translational research across human health, nutrition, immunity, agriculture, fisheries, and environmental conservation.
CoEM signed MoUs with Kerala Startup Mission and Amrita School of Biotechnology for future collaborations.

Research Advisory Board (RAB) of Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) holds first meeting (End of March) ▼

The first meeting of the Research Advisory Board (RAB) of the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) took place to deliberate on national initiatives and governance reforms.
The reforms are designed to guide the transformation of BRIC into a cohesive, decentralised national biotechnology laboratory.
The RAB is responsible for guiding, reviewing, and monitoring the research activities conducted by BRIC Institutes (iBRIC) and fostering deliberations for developing new missions.
Rajesh S Gokhale, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), stated that the RAB should focus on designing mission-focused objectives tailored for a growing bioeconomy.
Experts underscored the need to leverage the country’s demographic advantages, biodiversity, and extensive data resources to support the vision of Viksit Bharat.

Microsoft unveils MAI-Transcribe-1 multilingual speech-to-text model

[Microsoft]

Key Updates:

MAI-Transcribe-1 is Microsoft’s new speech-to-text model supporting 25 languages and available on Microsoft Foundry.
The model achieves the lowest Word Error Rate on the FLEURS 25-language benchmark, outperforming Scribe v2, Whisper-large-V3, GPT-Transcribe, and Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite.
It delivers batch transcription speeds 2.5× faster than the current Microsoft Azure Fast offering.
MAI-Transcribe-1 is priced at $0.36 per hour of audio.
The model handles noisy environments, background noise, low-quality recordings, and overlapping speech.
Offline applications include subtitle generation, podcast transcription, video accessibility, meeting archives, compliance recording, legal discovery, call centre QA, customer insight extraction, searchable audio libraries, and large-scale data pipelines for ML training, search indexing, and summarisation.
Online applications comprise meeting transcription, video closed captioning, and dictation.
MAI-Transcribe-1 integrates with MAI-Voice-1 text-to-speech and an LLM to build voice agents.

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BHASHINI–PFRDA MoU integrates multilingual AI and voice technologies into India’s pension ecosystem (End of March) ▼

Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) and Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) signed a strategic MoU under the initiative 'BHASHINI for Seva / Sanchalan – A BHASHINI Sahayogi Program'.
The collaboration enables seamless access to pension services in all 22 scheduled Indian languages.
PFRDA platforms will use BHASHINI translation APIs for real-time multilingual content, AI-driven language models for contextual communication, and voice-enabled interfaces to simplify user interaction.
The integration aims to bring first-time savers into the pension ecosystem, improve financial literacy, and enhance trust and engagement with digital platforms.
BHASHINI, developed under the Digital India programme, provides real-time translation across Indian languages, speech-to-text and text-to-speech systems, and AI models adaptable to sector-specific needs.
The MoU includes structured enrichment of linguistic datasets to improve accuracy and contextual understanding of AI models and enable domain-specific customisation for pension-related communication.
Voice-based access will allow users to seek pension information through spoken queries, navigate services without complex interfaces, and interact with systems in natural, conversational language.

India launches Nyaya Setu AI chatbot to democratise access to justice (Start of April) ▼

Nyaya Setu, a voice-first multilingual AI legal assistant, was unveiled by the Vice-President of India, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan, at the DISHA programme in Vigyan Bhawan.
The chatbot was developed by the Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
Nyaya Setu integrates Automatic Speech Recognition, Multilingual Natural Language Processing, and Conversational AI aligned with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The platform supports 36 text languages and 23 voice languages, including tribal dialects, and processes over 15 million daily AI inferences.
Its mascot ‘Dishika’ guides users through legal queries with simplified explanations and interactive engagement.
BHASHINI’s Shrutlekh system demonstrated real-time transcription and multilingual translation of speeches during the launch event.

Google releases TranslateGemma open-source translation models supporting 55 languages (Mid of January) ▼

Google released TranslateGemma, a set of open-source translation models that work across 55 languages.
The collection comes in three sizes—4B, 12B, and 27B parameters—designed to run on different devices from smartphones to cloud servers.
The 12B model outperforms Google's 27B baseline on the WMT24++ benchmark while using less than half the computing power.
The 4B version matches the 12B baseline's performance, making it practical for mobile apps that need offline translation.
Google built these models by fine-tuning Gemma 3 on a dataset that mixes human translations and synthetic text from Gemini.
A second training phase used reinforcement learning with metrics like MetricX-QE and AutoMQM to improve how natural the translations sound.
The models inherited the multimodal capabilities from Gemma 3 and can translate text within images without extra training.

OpenAI to retire GPT-4o on 13 February 2026; GPT-5.2 becomes new standard (Start of February) ▼

OpenAI will retire GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini and o4-mini on 13 February 2026.
GPT-5.2 has replaced GPT-4o as the default model for creative writing, casual conversations and problem-solving tasks.
GPT-5.1 and 5.2 allow users to select tones such as "Friendly" and to adjust warmth and enthusiasm without complex prompts.
OpenAI cited a sharp usage drop in GPT-4o and said GPT-5.1 and 5.2 cover most previous use cases.
An age-prediction safeguard for under-18 users has been introduced alongside the model updates.

Microsoft and Chandigarh University (CU) establish Microsoft Skill Center in AI

[Microsoft]

Key Updates:

Microsoft and Chandigarh University (CU) inaugurated a Microsoft Skill Center in Artificial Intelligence (AI) at CU campus.
The Centre of Excellence operates under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Microsoft and Chandigarh University.
Microsoft will offer AI for All courses across all CU programmes, not limited to B.Tech students.
The Skill Center provides Microsoft certifications in AI, Machine Learning (ML), Cloud Computing and emerging technologies.
Students gain access to 4400+ Microsoft modules, virtual labs running on Microsoft Azure, and role-based curricula.
Chandigarh University launches Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in Computer Science Engineering (CSE) with AI specialization under the initiative.
Three core certification courses—AZ-900: Fundamentals, DP-900: Data Fundamentals and AI-900: AI Fundamentals—are initially offered to CU students.
byteXL, Microsoft’s partner, supports the centre to deliver industry-certified training, paid internships and placement assistance.
The Microsoft Skill Center in AI at Chandigarh University is the first such facility established at an Indian university.

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Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay and Columbia University partner to establish AI Centre for Manufacturing (Mid of February) ▼

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay and Columbia University have signed an agreement to establish the Columbia-IIT Bombay Centre of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Manufacturing.
The centre is a joint research and translation facility designed to build robust, scalable, and human-centric AI systems for real-world factory applications.
The Ministry of Education (MoE) has initiated four different AI centres so far, including this new collaborative project.
The centre aims to address diverse sectors including semiconductors, robotics, pharmaceuticals, food processing, refining, petrochemicals, construction, transport, and logistics.
The initiative will develop interoperable industrial AI infrastructure to manage shop-floor realities such as legacy equipment, noisy data, real-time constraints, and multilingual workforces.
The project focuses on supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), nurturing startups, and releasing foundational datasets and models as public goods.

India Ranks 3rd in Stanford University Global AI Vibrancy Ranking 2025 (Mid of February) ▼

India secured the 3rd position in the Global AI Vibrancy Ranking 2025 published by Stanford University.
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) market in India expanded from USD 2.97 billion in 2020 to USD 7.63 billion in 2024, with a projected growth to USD 131.31 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 42.2%.
According to the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) AI Adoption Index, 87% of Indian enterprises were actively using AI solutions as of December 2025.
India recorded 100.29 crore internet connections in June 2025 and possesses the world’s second-largest 5G subscriber base with over 400 million users.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has recognised more than 2,00,000 startups across the country.
India leads the world in AI talent acquisition with an annual hiring rate of approximately 33% and was the second-largest contributor to GitHub AI projects globally in 2024, accounting for 19.9% of projects.
The relative penetration of AI skills in India is 2.5 times greater than the global average across the same set of occupations.
Major AI job hubs in India include Bangalore (11% share), Hyderabad (9.57%), Pune (6.95%), and Chennai (6.62%).
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) oversees the National Program on Artificial Intelligence, which rests on four pillars: National Center on AI, Data Management Office, Skilling in AI, and Responsible AI.
The Skilling for AI Readiness (SOAR) initiative, delivered in partnership with Microsoft, HCL Technologies, and NASSCOM, enrolled 1.34 lakh students and teachers as of December 2025.
India improved its position by four slots to reach the 45th rank in the Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2025 report prepared by the Portulans Institute.
The BHASHINI initiative, leveraging AI for over 36 languages, has recorded more than 1.2 million mobile app downloads to break communication barriers in the digital economy.

IIT Madras Global launches Applied AI Innovation Centre in Dubai CommerCity (End of February) ▼

IIT Madras Global Research Foundation will establish its inaugural Applied Artificial Intelligence Innovation Centre at Dubai CommerCity.
MCA Gulf is the partner for the centre.
The centre will initially onboard six early-stage applied AI startups backed by IIT Madras Global.
The combined valuation of the six startups is estimated near USD 118 million.
Projections indicate nearly USD 281 million in revenue over five years.
Details of the centre’s formation were announced during WORLDEF Dubai 2026.
Prof. Raghunathan Rengaswamy, dean of Global Engagement at IIT Madras, stated the facility will scale academic research into industry adoption and advance responsible, people-oriented AI design.
The centre will focus on local product development, solution deployment, intellectual property creation, and collaboration with government entities, industry stakeholders, and innovation ecosystem partners.
Amna Lootah, Director-General of Dubai CommerCity and Dubai Airport Freezone, said the partnership reinforces Dubai’s role as a digital trade and advanced technologies hub.

IndiaAI Mission and UPDESCO ink MoU to build Uttar Pradesh AI ecosystem (Mid of January) ▼

The MoU was exchanged during the Uttar Pradesh AI and Health Innovation Conference between Anurag Yadav, Principal Secretary, IT and Electronics Department, Uttar Pradesh, and Abhishek Singh, Chief Executive Officer of the IndiaAI Mission.
UPDESCO will act as the state nodal agency for implementation.
A total of 65 Data and AI Labs are proposed to be set up across the state under the IndiaAI Mission.
At present, two such labs are operational at National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) centres in Lucknow and Gorakhpur, while another has been established in Pilibhit with industry support.
The state government has already approved the establishment of 49 additional Data and AI Labs, with implementation currently underway.
The labs will be equipped with modern infrastructure and advanced technical resources to support hands-on AI training.

NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and Dhruva Space Private Limited sign MoU for satellite solar panels

[NewSpace India Limited, Dhruva Space]

Key Updates:

NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and Dhruva Space Private Limited (DHRUVA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the design, manufacture, testing, and supply of solar panels.
The partnership aims to address the solar panel requirements of global Satellite Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
NSIL is a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Department of Space (DoS) and functions as the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
DHRUVA is a Hyderabad-based private aerospace company providing full-stack space engineering solutions across space, launch, and ground segments.
The collaboration will utilise the programme management and product assurance expertise of NSIL to scale the production of space-grade solar panels.
The timing of the agreement aligns with the solar industry entering a restructuring phase in 2026, amid rising demand for satellite solar panels.
DHRUVA has existing engagements with NSIL in Earth observation missions, satellite deployers, and ground segment development.

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CSIR-National Physical Laboratory inaugurates world-class environmental and solar calibration facilities (Start of January) ▼

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated the world’s second National Environmental Standard Laboratory and the world’s fifth National Primary Standard Facility for Solar Cell Calibration at CSIR-NPL.
The National Environmental Standard Laboratory will provide India-specific calibration and certification of air pollution monitoring systems under Indian climatic conditions.
The National Primary Standard Facility for Solar Cell Calibration, developed with PTB Germany, achieves the lowest global uncertainty of 0.35% (k=2) for reference solar cell calibration.
CSIR-NPL houses atomic clocks that established Indian Standard Time (IST), with the Minister noting “half the nation synchronised its watches with the atomic clock housed at NPL.”
NPL’s new solar facility reduces India’s dependence on foreign certification, saves foreign exchange, and boosts investor confidence in the domestic solar sector.

Odisha Cabinet approves Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (TPREL) solar manufacturing facility (Mid of January) ▼

The state cabinet cleared a proposal by Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited (TPREL) to establish an integrated solar manufacturing facility in the Tata special economic zone (SEZ) in Ganjam district.
Planned in two phases, the facility will have a production capacity of 10 GW ingot-wafer and 5 GW solar cell manufacturing, making it the first upstream solar manufacturing unit of its kind in the state.
Beyond direct employment, the project is expected to catalyse ancillary industries in glass, chemicals, packaging, logistics and precision machinery, generating additional livelihood opportunities for MSMEs.
The facility is expected to strengthen the upstream solar value chain in Odisha, reduce dependence on imports of critical solar components, and support India’s target of achieving 100 GW domestic solar module manufacturing capacity by 2030.

Axis Bank launches Rooftop Solar Finance for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) (Start of February) ▼

Axis Bank has launched Rooftop Solar Finance, a tailored financing solution to support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in transitioning to solar energy.
Under this programme, MSMEs can avail collateral-free loans ranging from ₹10 lakh to ₹2 crore.
The financing scheme offers flexible repayment tenures ranging from 4 to 7 years.
The product is available nationwide through the branch network of Axis Bank.
Axis Bank has partnered with leading Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and a Technology Partner to provide transparency regarding system costs and projected savings.

PM Surya Ghar and Chief Minister Solar Self-Employment Scheme drive Uttarakhand past 1 GW solar capacity (Mid of February) ▼

Uttarakhand’s installed solar capacity reached 1,027.87 MW, crossing the 1 GW milestone.
PM Surya Ghar scheme has supported around 241 MW of rooftop solar installations.
Chief Minister Solar Self-Employment Scheme has added about 137 MW and over 100 MW more is under development.
Ground-mounted solar projects contribute nearly 397 MW to the total capacity.
Commercial net metering installations account for approximately 110 MW.
Captive solar power plants add about 51 MW.
Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (UREDA) is implementing these solar initiatives.

India tops Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) list of suspended track and field athletes due to doping

[Kenya, Russia]

Key Updates:

India leads with 148 suspended track and field athletes on the latest Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) ineligibility list updated up to 1 April 2026.
Kenya is second and Russia third with 66 suspended athletes.
Notable Indians on the list include Dutee Chand, Parvej Khan and Dhanalakshmi Sekar.
Dutee Chand is serving a four-year suspension from 2022, Parvej Khan is banned until July 2030, and Dhanalakshmi Sekar has an eight-year suspension after a second offence last year.

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India sports economy surpasses $2 billion milestone in 2025 (End of March) ▼

India’s sports economy reached Rs 18,864 crore ($2.1 billion) in 2025, reflecting a 13.4% year-on-year growth according to the 13th edition of WPP Media’s Sporting Nation report.
Cricket accounted for 89% of total industry revenues, generating Rs 16,704 crore and contributing 95% of total media spends.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) remained the primary growth driver, supported by the Women’s Premier League (WPL) and India’s Champions Trophy victory.
Media spending was the largest sector at 51% of the total economy, with advertising investments rising to Rs 9,571 crore.
Digital media spending increased by 24% to Rs 4,449 crore, while television spending grew by 16.4% to Rs 5,117 crore.
Sports sponsorship spending rose to Rs 7,943 crore, representing 42% of the overall market value.
Sports celebrity endorsements reached Rs 1,350 crore in 2025, with cricket accounting for 87% of this value at Rs 1,178 crore.
The industry has nearly doubled in size from Rs 9,530 crore in 2021, recording a compound annual growth rate of 18.6% over four years.

Odisha selected to host World Athletics Indoor Championships 2028 (Mid of March) ▼

Odisha in India will host the World Athletics Indoor Championships from 3-5 March 2028.
Astana in Kazakhstan will host the 2030 edition of the championships from 15-17 March 2030.
The decisions were taken during the 240th World Athletics Council Meeting held in Torun, Poland.
Hefei in China was awarded the 2028 World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships to be held on 9 April 2028.

Preeti Pal wins 200m gold as India finishes with 208 medals at World Para Athletics Grand Prix (Mid of March) ▼

Preeti Pal claimed the women’s 200m (T35-T37) gold with a time of 30.26 seconds at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix.
India topped the medal table with 208 medals: 75 gold, 69 silver and 64 bronze.
Russia finished second with 35 medals (15 gold, 14 silver, 6 bronze).
Bosnia and Herzegovina placed third with three medals (one gold, two silver).
Shubham Juyal won the men’s shot put F57 gold with a throw of 14.45 metres.
Vinay secured the men’s 200m T35 gold in 28.18 seconds.
Rakeshbhai Bhatt won the men’s 200m T37-T44 gold in 25.20 seconds.
Manojkumar Sabapathi took the men’s 800m T53-T54 gold in 1:57.41.

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.

Rassie van der Dussen retires from international cricket

[South Africa]

Key Updates:

Rassie van der Dussen announced immediate retirement from international cricket at age 37 after a seven-year career.
He debuted in T20I against Zimbabwe in 2018 and played 57 T20Is scoring 1,406 runs at a strike rate of 128.75.
In ODIs he debuted against Pakistan in 2019, averaged over 50 in 71 matches and scored 2,657 runs with six hundreds and 17 half-centuries.
He represented South Africa in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, ICC Men’s Cricket World Cups 2019 and 2023, and ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
He played 18 Tests after debut in 2019, with six half-centuries and a top score of 98 against England at DP World Wanderers in 2020.
He captained the Proteas in a T20I series against West Indies in 2024 and in a T20I tri-series involving Zimbabwe and New Zealand in 2023.

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Sarfaraz Ahmed retires from international cricket after 100-match captaincy stint (Mid of March) ▼

Sarfaraz Ahmed announced retirement from international cricket on Sunday after captaining Pakistan in 100 international matches across formats.
He led Pakistan to the ICC Champions Trophy title in 2017 by defeating India in the final.
Sarfaraz captained Pakistan to 11 consecutive T20 series victories including clean sweeps against West Indies, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand and Scotland.
He scored 6,164 runs across formats with six centuries and 35 half-centuries in 54 Tests, 117 ODIs and 61 T20Is.
As wicketkeeper he took 315 catches and effected 56 stumpings, and holds Pakistan record of 10 catches in a Test match against South Africa at Johannesburg in 2019.
He is the only Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter to score an ODI century at Lord’s, achieved against England in 2016.
His last international appearance was against Australia in a Test match at Perth in 2023.

Alyssa Healy announces retirement from all forms of cricket (Mid of January) ▼

Australia captain Alyssa Healy will retire after the upcoming home series against India.
Healy has played almost 300 matches, scored more than 7,000 runs and taken 275 dismissals.
She led Australia to a historic 16-0 whitewash of England and has been part of eight World Cup titles.
The India series features three T20s, two ODIs and a one-off Test in Perth; Healy will play only the ODIs and the Test.

Saina Nehwal retired from competitive badminton (End of January) ▼

Saina Nehwal confirmed her retirement from competitive badminton on a podcast.
She won the bronze medal in women’s singles at the 2012 London Olympic Games, becoming the first Indian shuttler to win an Olympic medal.
She won the gold medal at the 2008 World Junior Championships.
She secured a silver medal at the 2015 World Championships and a bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships.
She won the bronze medal in women’s singles at the 2018 Asian Games.
She won the gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Her last competitive match was at the Singapore Open in 2023.
She cited severe knee degeneration, arthritis, and complete cartilage loss as the reasons for her retirement.

India U19 crush South Africa U19 to seal 3-0 Youth ODI clean sweep (Start of January) ▼

India U19 defeated South Africa U19 by 233 runs in the third Youth ODI at Benoni.
India U19 posted 393/7 in 50 overs, with twin centuries from openers Aaron George and skipper Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
South Africa U19 were bowled out for 160 in 35 overs, with Kishan Singh taking 3/15.

ECINet KYC module launched for Assembly elections 2026

[Election Commission of India]

Key Updates:

Election Commission of India (ECI) activated the Know Your Candidates (KYC) module on ECINet for 2026 Assembly elections.
Voters can view criminal antecedents, assets, liabilities, education and verified social media handles of candidates.
Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal are among states set for Assembly polls.
Users access the module under the Conduct of Elections section on ECINet and can download candidate affidavits (Form 26).
ECINet integrates over 40 applications and portals into a single electoral service ecosystem.

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Bihar debuts AI-based e-Voting for urban local body polls, eyes Assembly poll expansion (Mid of February) ▼

State Election Commission, Bihar piloted Artificial Intelligence-based e-Voting in the Urban Local Body polls and plans to extend the model to the next Assembly elections.
The mobile app allowed migrant workers, students outside constituencies, senior citizens, pregnant women, persons with disabilities and hospitalised patients to vote remotely.
Voters authenticated identity with EPIC database photo via live facial recognition, liveness detection, device verification and blockchain encryption.
Each vote was encrypted and recorded through blockchain; decryption occurred only after Returning Officers authenticated using Digital Signature Certificates, two-factor authentication and hash verification.
Deepak Kumar, State Election Commissioner, stated this is the first time such e-Voting has been implemented in a live election in India.
Dastavez AI, founded by Anmol Bharti and Amrit Bharti, showcased AI-driven legal document drafting for lawyers, startups and citizens at AI Impact Summit 2026.
Tiger Analytics signed an MoU with the Government of Bihar at the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 to establish an AI Centre of Excellence with IIT Patna for skill development, research and governance solutions.

Election Commission of India (ECI) to host India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (Start of January) ▼

The Election Commission of India (ECI) will host the inaugural India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management from January 21 to 23 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
The three-day conference is organised by the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) under the aegis of the ECI.
Representatives from 42 election management bodies and over 90 international delegates, including from the United States and Bhutan, will participate.
The conference will discuss voter roll management, technological interventions, and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercises.
India assumes the chair of the Council of Member States of International IDEA for 2026.
The conference will launch ECINet, the ECI’s integrated digital platform.
Thematic sessions will cover seven global electoral themes, 11 model international electoral standards, and 25 best-practice sessions.

Election Commission of India (ECI) to host India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (Start of January) ▼

The Election Commission of India (ECI) will host the inaugural India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management from January 21 to 23 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
The three-day conference is organised by the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) under the aegis of the ECI.
Representatives from 42 election management bodies and over 90 international delegates, including from the United States and Bhutan, will participate.
The conference will discuss voter roll management, technological interventions, and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercises.
India assumes the chair of the Council of Member States of International IDEA for 2026.
The conference theme is 'Democracy for an inclusive, peaceful, resilient and sustainable world.'
Over 40 bilateral meetings are scheduled between the Chief Election Commissioner and heads of participating election authorities.
The conference will launch ECINet, the ECI’s integrated digital platform.
Thematic sessions will cover seven global electoral themes, 11 model international electoral standards, and 25 sessions on best practices.

National Conference of State Election Commissioners (SECs) to build synergy in electoral processes (Start of February) ▼

The Election Commission of India (ECI) will host a National Conference of the State Election Commissioners (SECs) on February 24, 2026.
The conference is being organised after a gap of over 25 years, with the previous meeting held in 1999.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar will chair the event, joined by Election Commissioners (ECs) Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi.
The conference will be attended by all SECs and the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of all States and Union Territories (UTs).
The primary objective is to build synergy between the ECI and SECs regarding electoral processes and logistics within their respective legal frameworks.
State Election Commissions (SECs) are created under the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments for elections to Panchayats and Municipal Bodies.
Discussion topics include the recently launched ECINET digital platform, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and electoral laws on elector eligibility.

Raja Ravi Varma canvas 'Yashoda and Krishna' sold for Rs 167.20 crore on April 1, setting new Indian art auction record

Key Updates:

Raja Ravi Varma’s 1890s oil on canvas 'Yashoda and Krishna' fetched Rs 167.20 crore at Saffronart’s Spring Live Auction in Mumbai on April 1.
The painting was acquired by Dr Cyrus S. Poonawalla, Managing Director of Serum Institute of India (SII).
The previous Indian art auction record was Rs 118 crore for MF Husain’s 1954 Untitled (Gram Yatra) sold at Christie’s in March 2025.

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Rouble Nagi won Global Teacher Prize 2026 (Start of February) ▼

Rouble Nagi won the $1 million Global Teacher Prize at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
She set up more than 800 learning centres and painted educational murals across slum walls in India.
Her non-profit organisation Rouble Nagi Art Foundation introduced low-cost and sustainable educational models for underprivileged children.
Under her Misaal Mumbai initiative, over 1,50,000 houses were painted and repaired, and the group works in over 163 slums and villages across India.
She plans to use the prize money to build an institute that offers free vocational training.
She is an award-winning artist with over 800 murals and over 150 exhibitions worldwide.

Vice President releases Sudha Murty’s book 'Tides of Time: Bharat’s History through Murals in Parliament' on 1 April 2026 (Start of April) ▼

Vice President of India and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (RS) Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book 'Tides of Time: Bharat’s History through Murals in Parliament' authored by Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Smt. Sudha Murty at Samvidhan Sadan on 1 April 2026.
The 124-mural documentation is published by the Lok Sabha Secretariat (LSS).
The murals span from the Indus Valley Civilization to freedom struggle icons Mahatma Gandhi and Subhas Chandra Bose, covering intellectual figures Maharishi Valmiki and Chanakya, spiritual leaders Mahavira and Gautama Buddha, rulers Emperor Ashoka and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and cultural landmarks like the Konark Sun Temple and the Bhakti movement.
The Vice President highlighted ancient democratic practices such as Vaishali’s republican traditions and the Kudavolai system of southern India.
He linked the Chola-era Sengol installed in the new Parliament building to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s integration of heritage with governance.
Shri Radhakrishnan listed Dialogue, Debate, Dissent, and Discussion as core parliamentary democratic principles.
He reiterated the Prime Minister’s 'Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi' vision anchoring Viksit Bharat @ 2047.
The release event was attended by Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla, Union Ministers Shri J. P. Nadda and Shri Manohar Lal, Deputy Chairman Rajya Sabha Shri Harivansh, MPs, and senior officials of both Houses.

Krishnan Raghavan posthumously conferred Padma Shri. (Mid of March) ▼

Krishnan Raghavan, pen-name 'Kitna', was posthumously awarded the Padma Shri for 2023.
He belonged to the Alu Kurumba tribal community, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) of the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu.
The award recognised his role in reviving and popularising the 3,000-year-old Kurumba painting tradition.
Fewer than 10 indigenous Kurumba painters remain, with only three knowing the natural colour extraction techniques.

Thousands witness Makaravilakku at Sabarimala Temple in Kerala (Mid of January) ▼

Thousands of devotees waited for hours to catch a glimpse of the Makarajyoti and witness the Makaravilakku deeparadhana performed atop the Ponnambalamedu hillock.
The 26-member team carrying the sacred ornaments from the Pandalam Palace formally handed over the jewellery casket to Tantri Mahesh Mohanaru and Melsanthi E.D. Prasad.
The temple recorded total collections of ₹429 crore during the Mandala–Makaravilakku season, with revenue from appam and aravana sales alone amounting to ₹190 crore.

International Children’s Book Day observed on April 2 with theme 'plant stories and the world will bloom'

Key Updates:

International Children’s Book Day is observed on April 2 every year, the birthday of Hans Christian Andersen.
The day has been celebrated since 1967.
The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) sponsors the day.
IBBY is a non-profit organisation founded in Zurich.
Cyprus is the host country for International Children’s Book Day 2026.
The theme for 2026 is 'plant stories and the world will bloom'.
Sandra Elephteriou designed the 2026 poster.
Elena Perikleous wrote the 2026 message.
Giorgos Hatzipieris wrote the 2026 official song 'The Little Gardener'.

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World Autism Awareness Day 2026 theme 'Autism and Humanity – Every Life Has Value' (Start of April) ▼

World Autism Awareness Day is observed on 2 April every year.
The 2026 theme is 'Autism and Humanity – Every Life Has Value'.
April is observed as World Autism Acceptance Month by the National Autistic Society.

UNESCO establishes World Poetry Day on 21 March. (End of March) ▼

UNESCO officially established World Poetry Day in 1999 during its 30th General Conference in Paris.
World Poetry Day is observed every year on 21 March.
The day aims to promote poetry as a meaningful cultural practice and to support linguistic diversity worldwide.
Some countries previously celebrated poetry on 15 October, the birthday of Roman poet Virgil.

World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People observed on March 20 (End of March) ▼

World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People is celebrated annually on March 20.
The day was established by the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People (ASSITEJ) in 2001.
ASSITEJ was founded in Paris in 1965 to connect theatre companies and professionals involved in theatre for children and young people.
The campaign promotes the message 'Take a child to the theatre, today, so they can see, hear, feel, think and imagine.'
Theatre for young audience (TYA) became a distinct branch in the early 20th century with the emergence of dedicated children's theatres.
Events on the day include performances, workshops, seminars, webinars, and media events organised by ASSITEJ centres, theatres, schools, and artists worldwide.

12th Smile International Film Festival for Children & Youth (SIFFCY) held from 28 January to 3 February 2026 (End of January) ▼

SIFFCY 2026, organised by Smile Foundation in partnership with Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) and Delegation of the European Union to India, runs from 28 January to 3 February 2026.
The festival theme is Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility through cinema.
SIFFCY 2026 presents the ECFA Award, CIFEJ Award and FCCI Award.
Finnish Ambassador Kimmo Lähdevirta announced the first SIFFCY screening of Moomins as part of their 80th anniversary celebrations.
Estonian Ambassador Marje Luup highlighted Estonia’s participation with six short films made by children, including Ukrainian refugee children.