Daily Current Affairs: 6 April 2026

Analysis for 06 April 2026

Sumitra Juanga featured in UNICEF India April 2024 story for transforming Talabaruda village health and social norms.

Key Updates:

Sumitra Juanga, a 16-year-old Juang tribal girl from Talabaruda village in Odisha, led behaviour change on early marriage, nutrition and hygiene.
She promoted iron and folic acid tablet use among teenage girls and encouraged pregnant women to attend Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Day sessions.
Her efforts achieved full immunisation of adolescent girls in the village, as reported by the UNICEF-supported Jiban Sampark programme.
The initiative was implemented by SEWAK NGO and the Women’s Organisation for Socio-Cultural Awareness in Talabaruda, home to about 5,000 Juang people.

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Gujarat Assembly passes Gujarat Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill (End of March) ▼

The Gujarat Assembly passed the Gujarat Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill by a majority vote, making Gujarat the second state in India after Uttarakhand to adopt such legislation.
The Bill seeks to regulate personal civil matters including marriage, divorce, succession, adoption, and live-in relationships for residents of the state.
The legislation was drafted based on a report submitted by a committee headed by former Supreme Court (SC) judge Ranjana Desai.
The Ranjana Desai committee studied the civil codes of France, Azerbaijan, Nepal, Germany, and Turkey and received over 20 lakh suggestions before drafting the Bill.
The Bill excludes members of all tribal communities falling within specific constitutional provisions from its jurisdiction.
Specific provisions include legal security for daughters in live-in relationships and the application of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for cases involving minors.
The Bill clarifies that customary traditions, such as cousin marriages, will be considered legal if they are an accepted tradition within a community.
Penal provisions have been included for individuals who enter into marriages by concealing their identity or through fraud.

Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat: National Pledge for Child Marriage-Free India (Start of January) ▼

Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat (BVMB) was launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development on November 27, 2024.
BVMB deploys dedicated Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs) mandated under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.
UNICEF provides technical support for data-driven interventions and capacity-building workshops for CMPOs and One Stop Centres.
An intensive 100-day awareness drive under BVMB is running until March 2026.

Soundala Gram Panchayat passes resolution to become caste-free (End of February) ▼

The Gram Sabha of Soundala village in Maharashtra passed a resolution on 5 February to declare the village caste-free and end discrimination based on caste, religion, creed, or race.
Led by Sarpanch Sharad Argade, the resolution adopts the principle of My religion — humanity and mandates equal rights for all residents.
The policy ensures that all public places, government services, water sources, temples, crematoriums, and schools remain open to every member of the community.
Village authorities are authorised to take action against social media posts that incite caste-based tension or hatred.
Soundala has a population of approximately 2,500, consisting of 65 per cent Marathas and 20 per cent Scheduled Caste (SC) residents.
The Gram Sabha previously passed a resolution in September 2024 to provide ₹11,000 for widow remarriage to combat social exclusion.
In November 2024, the village banned the use of derogatory curse words against women and implemented a fine of ₹500 for violators.
The village dispute resolution council, known as the Tanta-Mukti Samiti, is headed by Sanjay Gore from the SC community.

Ministry of Women and Child Development Launches Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Campaign (Mid of March) ▼

The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) launched the national campaign Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat on 27th November 2024 to make India child-marriage-free.
A 100 Days Special Campaign under the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat initiative was launched on 4th December 2025 to intensify outreach to institutions and community leaders.
The Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Portal serves as a digital platform for reporting incidents and maintains a repository of over 66,000 Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs) up to the Gram Panchayat level.
As on 9th March 2026, awareness programmes reached over 11.81 crore citizens and more than 40 lakh pledges against child marriage were registered on the portal.
The Child Helpline (1098) provides 24x7 emergency outreach and is integrated with the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112) for round-the-clock response.
The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) component under Mission Shakti, launched on 22nd January 2015, aims to address gender-based discrimination and promote girl child empowerment.
The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) provides free legal aid through the dedicated helpline 15100.
Under The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (PCMA), State Governments are authorised to appoint CMPOs to prevent child marriages and collect evidence for prosecution.
The Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 confers powers on District Magistrates to implement provisions and designate District Nodal Officers (DNOs).

S&P Global releases HSBC India Manufacturing PMI data for March 2026

Key Updates:

HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index fell to 53.9 in March 2026 from 56.9 in February, the lowest since June 2022.
Input cost inflation hit a 43-month high in March, driven by higher prices for aluminium, chemicals, fuel, jute, leather, fabric, oil, rubber and steel.
Manufacturers raised output charges at the slowest pace in two years as firms absorbed most cost increases.
Export orders expanded the most since September 2025, with gains from Australia, Brazil, Canada, mainland China, Europe, Japan, the West Asia, Turkiye and Vietnam.
Employment rose at the fastest pace in seven months while backlogs declined for the first time in nearly 18 months.

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Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) reports Index of Industrial Production (IIP) growth at 5.2% for February 2026 (Start of April) ▼

India’s Index of Industrial Production (IIP) expanded 5.2% year-on-year in February 2026, up from 4.8% in January 2026.
Manufacturing sector grew 6.0% in February 2026, contributing the largest share to overall industrial growth.
Mining output rose 3.1% and electricity generation increased 2.3% during February 2026.
IIP stood at 159.0 in February 2026, compared with 151.1 in February 2025.
Among 23 NIC two-digit manufacturing groups, 14 recorded positive growth in February 2026.
Basic metals grew 13.2%, motor vehicles and trailers 14.9%, and machinery and equipment 10.2% in February 2026.
Infrastructure and construction goods grew 11.2%, capital goods 12.5%, and intermediate goods 7.7% in February 2026.
Consumer durables rose 7.3%, while consumer non-durables contracted 0.6% in February 2026.
Cumulative industrial production for April–February 2025–26 remains broadly in line with the previous year.
February 2026 data is based on quick estimates with a weighted response rate of 88.64% and will undergo revisions.

National Statistics Office (NSO) reports India's unemployment rate falls to 4.8 per cent in Q3 FY26 (Mid of February) ▼

The National Statistics Office (NSO) released the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data for the third quarter (Q3) of 2025–26, covering the October–December period.
India's unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above eased to a three-quarter low of 4.8 per cent in Q3 FY26.
The unemployment rate in rural areas fell to 4 per cent from 4.4 per cent in Q2, while the urban unemployment rate declined to 6.7 per cent from 6.9 per cent.
The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) rose to 55.8 per cent in Q3 from 55.1 per cent in the second quarter (Q2), driven by higher women participation.
Youth unemployment for the 15–29 age group declined to 14.3 per cent from 14.8 per cent in the previous quarter.
Joblessness among young women fell to 16.6 per cent from 17 per cent, while unemployment among young men dropped to 13.5 per cent from 14.1 per cent.
The share of self-employed workers rose to 56.3 per cent in Q3, while the proportion of regular salaried workers declined to 24.9 per cent.
Employment in the agriculture sector increased to 43.2 per cent, whereas the share of workers in the secondary sector edged down to 24 per cent.
The NSO uses the Current Weekly Status (CWS) framework, classifying a person as unemployed if they did not work for even one hour during the reference week.
The survey methodology employs a rotational panel sampling design where selected households are surveyed four times across rural and urban areas.

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) Reports India Unemployment Rate at 4.9% in February 2026 (Mid of March) ▼

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data for February 2026.
India’s overall unemployment rate eased to 4.9% in February from 5% in January, based on the Current Weekly Status (CWS).
The female unemployment rate declined to 5.1% in February from 5.6% in January, while the male unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.8%.
Urban unemployment dropped to 6.6% from 7% in the previous month, while the rural unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%.
Youth unemployment in the 15-29 years age group rose slightly to 14.8% in February from 14.7% in January.
The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) remained unchanged at 55.9%, with female LFPR increasing to 35.3% from 35.1%.
The Worker Population Ratio (WPR), or employment rate, rose to 53.2% in February compared with 53.1% in January.
The survey covered 89,333 households and 374,879 individuals across rural and urban areas to track employment activity.

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) revises GDP base year to 2022-23 and lifts FY26 growth estimate to 7.6% (Start of March) ▼

India’s Q3 FY26 GDP growth slowed to 7.8% from the preceding quarter’s 8.4%.
The new GDP series uses 2022-23 as its base year, replacing the earlier 2011-12 series.
MoSPI’s second advance estimate pegs FY26 GDP growth at 7.6%, up from the first advance estimate of 7.4%.
Manufacturing posted double-digit growth in FY2023-24 and FY2025-26.
The ‘Trade, Repair, Hotels, Transport, Communication & Services related to Broadcasting and Storage’ segment grew 10.1% in FY2025-26.
Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) and Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) each rose over 7% in FY2025-26.
The series adopts double deflation for agriculture and manufacturing to improve real value-added measurement.
Proportional Denton Benchmarking replaces the pro-rata method for quarterly national accounts to align quarterly and annual estimates.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) releases Rs 2.54 lakh crore state borrowing calendar for April-June 2026

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]

Key Updates:

RBI announces indicative calendar for state market borrowings worth Rs 2,54,509 crore during April-June 2026.
Nine pilot states—Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh—adopt Benchmark Issuance Strategy (BIS).
Pilot states to raise Rs 1,53,900 crore under BIS framework.
Remaining states and Union Territories to borrow Rs 1,00,609 crore through traditional methods.
RBI retains right to revise auction dates and amounts in consultation with states.

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Reserve Bank of India (RBI) injects ₹48,014 crore via 7-day VRR auction (Mid of March) ▼

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) infused ₹48,014 crore into the banking system through a seven-day variable rate repo (VRR) auction.
The funds were injected at a cut-off and weighted average rate of 5.26 per cent.
The auction amount was significantly lower than the notified ₹1.50 lakh crore.
Surplus liquidity in the banking system dropped to around ₹75,483.63 crore as of March 16 from ₹2.08 lakh crore on March 15 due to advance tax outflows.
Since January 2026, the RBI has infused ₹3.50 lakh crore of durable liquidity through open market purchases (OMO) of government securities.

Government sets record Rs 17.2 lakh crore gross market borrowing for 2026-27. (Start of February) ▼

Gross market borrowing for 2026-27 fixed at Rs 17.2 lakh crore.
Net market borrowing pegged at Rs 11.7 lakh crore.
Gap of Rs 5.5 lakh crore between gross and net borrowing reflects repayment of earlier debt.
Capital expenditure target for FY27 set at Rs 12.2 lakh crore.
Borrowing programme overseen by Department of Expenditure in coordination with Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

World Bank (WB) Recommends Karnataka PSU Borrowing Model for State Fiscal Transparency (Start of February) ▼

The World Bank (WB) report for the 16th Finance Commission (FC) identified Karnataka as a template for including Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) and Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) debt in state liabilities.
Karnataka amended the Karnataka Fiscal Responsibility Legislation Act in February 2014 to broaden the definition of liabilities and curb off-budget borrowing (OBB).
The Union Government brought 93 per cent of its off-budget liabilities, approximately ₹3.7 trillion, onto its balance sheet by Financial Year (FY) 2022.
The WB found discrepancies in OBB reporting for 2021-22, noting Tamil Nadu reported ₹594 crore against the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) estimate of ₹12,357 crore.
West Bengal disclosed ₹1,089 crore in OBB compared to the CAG audit figure of ₹4,311 crore for an earlier year.
In 2022-23, spending under Minor Head 800 – Others accounted for over 15 per cent of expenditure in Madhya Pradesh, nearly 15 per cent in Tamil Nadu, and close to 12 per cent in Andhra Pradesh.
State entities borrowed between ₹3.1 trillion and ₹4.9 trillion annually from Public Sector Banks (PSBs) from 2018-19 to 2022-23.
Major lenders for state-level OBB include the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO), REC, and Power Finance Corporation (PFC).
The report proposed a standardised reporting framework for OBB to be enforced by the CAG under Article 150 of the Constitution.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to purchase ₹1 lakh crore bonds via two OMO auctions. (Start of March) ▼

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will conduct two open market operation (OMO) purchase auctions of ₹50,000 crore each on March 9 and March 13.
The OMO purchases aim to infuse liquidity into the banking system ahead of mid-March advance tax outflows of approximately ₹2 lakh crore.
Banking system liquidity averaged a daily surplus of ₹2.63 lakh crore in March, up from ₹2.53 lakh crore in February.
The RBI purchased ₹12,715 crore of bonds on-screen in February and likely bought additional bonds in the first week of March.
State Bank of India (SBI) saw its liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) fall to 125% in Q3 from 144% in Q2 due to strong credit growth outpacing deposit accretion.
Vedanta Ltd plans to raise about ₹3,000 crore through domestic three-year and five-year non-convertible debentures offering coupons around 8.75% and 9% respectively next week.
Bank of Baroda raised ₹10,000 crore via green infrastructure bonds.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data shows banking system CASA ratio drops to 37.9% in December 2025 quarter.

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]

Key Updates:

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data placed the banking system’s CASA ratio at a two-year low of 37.9% in December 2025 quarter against 40.1% in December 2023 quarter.
Savings account share within total deposits fell 210 basis points to 28.9%.
Aggregate bank deposits rose 10% year-on-year to ₹239.8 lakh crore by December 2025, slower than the 11% growth in the year-earlier quarter.
Savings account balances grew 8% year-on-year to ₹69.4 lakh crore in December 2025 quarter, up from 5% growth a year earlier.
Current account deposits expanded 10% to ₹21.4 lakh crore in December 2025 quarter versus 9% growth in December 2024 quarter.
Certificates of deposit issuances by banks hit a record ₹15.5 lakh crore in FY26, marking a 17% year-on-year increase.
Credit-deposit ratio touched an all-time high of 83.0% driven by seasonal tax-related deposit outflows.
Total bank credit stood at ₹207.7 lakh crore as of 15 March 2026, recording 13.5% year-on-year growth compared with 11.1% a year earlier.
Aggregate bank deposits reached ₹250.1 lakh crore, rising 10.8% year-on-year, up from 10.2% growth in the previous year.

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Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) unveils modernised Consumer Price Index with food weight dropping to 36.8 percent. (Start of February) ▼

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) announced new CPI 2024 series to release on 12 February.
Food and beverages weight declines from 45.9 percent in 2012 to 36.8 percent in 2024, a 9.1 percentage point reduction.
Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels category weight rises from 16.9 percent to 17.7 percent.
House rent index compilation extended to rural areas for first time using Census 2011 dwelling type weights.
Six rented dwellings selected per rural village versus 12 per urban market under revised Index.
Transport category weight increases marginally to 8.8 percent.
Health category weight rises to 6.1 percent.
Education services weight declines to 3.3 percent from 4.5 percent.

CPI 2024 series modernised with food weight cut to 36.8% and rural rent tracking introduced (Start of February) ▼

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) announced the new Consumer Price Index (CPI) 2024 series to be released on 12 February 2026.
Food and beverages weight in CPI basket lowered from 45.9% in 2012 to 36.8% in 2024, a reduction of 9.1 percentage points.
Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels category weight rose from 16.9% to 17.7%, becoming the second-largest gainer.
House rent index compilation extended to rural areas for the first time, selecting six rented dwellings per rural village versus 12 per urban market.
Census 2011 data now used for dwelling type weights, replacing the earlier Housing Condition Survey.
Transport weight increased marginally to 8.8% and health weight rose to 6.1%.
Education services weight declined to 3.3% from 4.5%.

MoS Finance Pankaj Chaudhary announces Scheduled Commercial Banks' Gross NPAs fall to record 2.15% in September 2025 (Mid of February) ▼

Gross NPAs of Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) for domestic operations declined to a historic low of 2.15% as of September 2025.
Public sector banks (PSBs) recorded a gross NPA ratio of 2.50%, private sector banks 1.73%, and foreign banks 0.80% as on 30 September 2025.
The slippage ratio for PSBs fell to 0.8% in September 2025, lower than the 1.8% recorded by private sector banks.
Over 30,000 pre-admission cases involving defaults of ₹13.78 lakh crore were settled under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) as of March 2025.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) initiated the Asset Quality Review in 2015, followed by the government's 4R strategy: recognition, resolution, recapitalisation, and reforms.

Revised GDP series raises FY27 fiscal deficit ratio to 4.46% and debt-to-GDP to 57.5% (Mid of March) ▼

The new GDP series (FY23 base) pegs FY26 nominal GDP at ₹345.47 lakh crore, 3.3% lower than the budget estimate based on the old series.
With a 10% nominal growth assumed for FY27, the targeted fiscal deficit of ₹16.96 lakh crore equals 4.46% of GDP against the budgeted 4.31%.
The FY26 fiscal deficit target becomes 4.51% of GDP instead of 4.36% unless the absolute deficit is cut.
The FY24 and FY25 fiscal deficit ratios are revised upwards to 5.7% and almost 4.95% of GDP from 5.5% and 4.8% respectively.
The debt-to-GDP ratio for FY27 is now estimated at 57.5%, 1.9 percentage points higher than the budgeted 55.6%.
ICRA chief economist Aditi Nayar stated the consolidation path to FY31 is relatively steeper under the new series.
India Ratings chief economist DK Pant said fiscal consolidation and nominal growth rates must be stronger than previously assumed to meet targets.

Namo Drone Didi Yojana targets 15,000 drones for women SHGs with 80% subsidy up to ₹8 lakh

Key Updates:

Karnataka leads in training women Self-Help Groups as drone pilots under the Namo Drone Didi Yojana.
The central sector scheme aims to distribute 15,000 drones to women SHGs during 2024–25 and 2025–26.
Government provides 80% of drone package cost up to ₹8 lakh; balance 20% available as loan under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund with 3% interest subvention.
One member from each SHG undergoes 15-day training including mandatory drone pilot certification and agricultural application training.
Services include spraying liquid fertilisers and pesticides to farmers on rental basis.

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Indian Air Force (IAF) initiates Vayu Baan indigenous air-launched drone project (End of March) ▼

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has started work on Vayu Baan, the first indigenous air-launched effects (ALE) programme in India.
The project is being led by the Directorate of Aerospace Design (DAD), Gandhinagar, which has issued a request for proposal (RFP) to domestic vendors for design and development.
Vayu Baan is a small, autonomous drone designed to be dropped from a moving helicopter mid-flight to operate as a surveillance asset or a precision-guided munition.
The drone is expected to have an operational range of over 50 km and an endurance of approximately 30 minutes.
The system will feature electro-optical and infrared sensors for target identification and the capability to operate in GPS-jammed environments.
The IAF requires 10 drone units, two airborne control stations, and two ground control stations, with a target for delivery within one year.

Indian Army Southern Command concludes 13-day mechanised warfare exercise Amogh Jwala in Uttar Pradesh (End of March) ▼

The Southern Command of the Indian Army conducted a 13-day exercise named Amogh Jwala at the Babina Field Firing Ranges in Uttar Pradesh.
The exercise commenced on 6 March and aimed to validate technology-driven mechanised warfare capabilities in a multi-domain operational environment.
Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Command, witnessed the culmination of the drills.
The exercise integrated mechanised forces with Attack Helicopters, Fighter Aircraft, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), and counter-drone systems.
It focused on the seamless integration of land, air, cyber, space, Intelligence Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR), and Electronic Warfare (EW) capabilities.
The drills featured real-time drone-enabled surveillance, target acquisition, precision engagement, and advanced battlefield technologies.

VOC Port Anti-Drone System Project for India’s First Maritime Counter-Drone Shield (Start of February) ▼

V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOC Port) has become the first port in India to implement an advanced Anti-Drone System to strengthen maritime and coastal security.
The VOC Port Authority signed an agreement for the project with Central Electronics Limited (CEL), a Government of India enterprise under the Department of Scientific & Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science & Technology.
The project involves the deployment of an integrated Radio Frequency (RF) and radar-based drone detection and jamming system with 360-degree coverage and an operational range of up to 5 km.
The security setup includes a drone detector, drone detection radar, and a man-pack jammer to facilitate real-time tracking, classification, and neutralisation of unauthorised drones.
The initiative is aligned with the Maritime India Vision (MIV) 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, with the project scheduled for completion within three months.

Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) reviews 175 inspections for air pollution abatement in National Capital Region (NCR)

[Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)]

Key Updates:

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) Enforcement Task Force (ETF) reviewed 175 inspections and enforcement actions conducted in the National Capital Region (NCR) between 14 March and 26 March.
The 128th meeting of the ETF resulted in proposed closures for 10 units and the sealing of diesel generator sets for 27 units.
Show Cause Notices (SCNs) were issued to eight units, and Environmental Compensation (EC) was proposed for one unit for violating environmental norms.
The inspections included 114 diesel generator set violations, 37 industrial sector units, and 23 construction and demolition sites.
Sectoral enforcement in 16 zones across Meerut and Faridabad revealed 140 violations, leading to directions for corrective actions by municipal bodies.

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India hosts 12th Asian and Pacific Regional Conference in New Delhi (Mid of March) ▼

Union Minister for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal participated in the 12th Asian and Pacific Regional Conference organised by the All India Prosecutors’ Association (AIPA) in New Delhi.
Discussions at the conference focused on judicial system reforms and strengthening the prosecution mechanism.
The Minister stated that the government is promoting innovation in the judicial sector through technology and institutional reforms to enhance transparency, accessibility, and effectiveness of the justice system.
Efforts are ongoing to ensure swift and accessible justice delivery to all citizens.

India to Host 16th ADMM-Plus Experts Working Group on Counter-Terrorism in New Delhi (Mid of January) ▼

India will host the 16th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus Experts Working Group (EWG) on Counter-Terrorism (CT) in New Delhi from January 14 to 16, 2026.
The 16th EWG on Counter-Terrorism will be co-chaired by India and Malaysia.
Participation will include 11 ASEAN member states, 7 ADMM-Plus dialogue partners (Australia, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Japan, China, United States and Russia), and representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat.
Malaysia will host the Table Top Exercise (TTX) in 2026 and India will conduct the Field Training Exercise (FTX) in 2027.

NCORD Apex-Level Meeting Approves 3-Year Nationwide Anti-Drug Campaign (Mid of January) ▼

Union home minister Amit Shah chaired the ninth apex-level meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) in New Delhi.
A nationwide campaign against drugs will be launched from March 31, 2026, for a period of three years.
All central government departments must prepare a roadmap up to 2029 with a monitoring mechanism to address the drug problem comprehensively.

India hosts 7th All India Conference of Government Railway Police Chiefs at Vigyan Bhawan (End of February) ▼

The 7th All India Conference of Government Railway Police Chiefs was held at Vigyan Bhawan.
The conference was organised by the Ministry of Railways (MoR).
The event focused on strengthening passenger and railway infrastructure security.
Key discussion areas included coordinated operations, speedy FIR registration and advanced surveillance technologies.

MoPSW and KOICA Sign Implementation Plan to Boost Shipbuilding Skills

[South Korea]

Key Updates:

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) signed an implementation plan with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) on April 2, 2026.
The partnership aims to enhance skill development in India’s shipbuilding and marine industries to build a future-ready workforce.
The Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training will support the project by identifying skill gaps and creating a talent development roadmap.
The agreement proposes the establishment of a Shipbuilding Workforce Development and Technology Cooperation Center in India to provide industry-focused training.
The initiative aligns with the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, which seeks to establish India as a global hub for maritime services.

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India and South Korea conduct 6th Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue in Seoul (Mid of February) ▼

The 6th Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue (FPSD) between India and South Korea was held in Seoul.
The dialogue was co-chaired by P. Kumaran, Secretary (East) at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), and Park Yoon-joo, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Korea.
Both nations reviewed bilateral relations including security and defence cooperation, science and technology collaboration, and economic issues.
The two sides agreed to work towards enhancing their Special Strategic Partnership and reaffirmed commitments to global cooperation.
The engagement followed parliamentary talks between the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and South Korean legislators to reinforce strategic ties.

Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) and Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) sign MoU to form shipbuilding consortium (Mid of February) ▼

Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) and Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) signed an MoU in Kolkata on Monday to form a consortium for a national shipbuilding programme.
The consortium will undertake construction of maritime platforms and support India’s maritime infrastructure and operational capability.
The MoU was signed by Cdr Shantanu Bose, IN (Retd.), Director (Shipbuilding) at GRSE, and Capt Ganti Venkateswarlu, IN (Retd.), Officiating Chairman and Managing Director at HSL, in the presence of senior officials from both organisations.
GRSE and HSL stated the consortium will leverage the strengths of both shipyards to expand indigenous shipbuilding capacity and contribute to technological self-reliance.

India and Greece sign Joint Declaration of Intent to strengthen defence industrial cooperation (Start of February) ▼

India and Greece signed a Joint Declaration of Intent to strengthen defence industrial cooperation.
The agreement was signed after bilateral talks between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Greek counterpart Nikolaos-Georgios Dendias at the Manekshaw Centre.
The declaration will pave the way for developing a five-year roadmap for India-Greece defence partnership.
Greece will position an International Liaison Officer at the Information Fusion Center-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), Gurugram, to enhance maritime cooperation.
A Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan for 2026 was exchanged to chart military engagements between the armed forces of both countries.
Both ministers reaffirmed that the India-Greece Strategic Partnership is based on shared values of peace, stability, freedom, and mutual respect.
The countries agreed to expand their indigenous defence industries through partnership between India’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and Greece’s ‘Agenda 2030’ defence reforms.

India and European Union sign new security and defence partnership (End of January) ▼

India and the European Union (EU) have signed a security and defence partnership pact focusing on maritime domain cooperation and Indo-Pacific engagements.
The partnership will facilitate stronger participation of the Indian defence industry in the European market.
An industry-led India-EU Defence Industry Forum will be established with official participation as observers and associating EU member states.
A dedicated annual EU-India Security and Defence Dialogue has been announced.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the Indian defence industry can contribute meaningfully to the EU's 'ReArm initiative' aimed at diversifying suppliers and de-risking dependencies.

SAMPANN platform adopted by Goa government and Cochin Port Authority for digital pension disbursement

[Goa, Cochin Port Authority]

Key Updates:

The Government of Goa and the Cochin Port Authority signed agreements to join the Department of Telecommunications' (DoT) digital platform SAMPANN for pension disbursement.
The signing ceremony was presided over by Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in New Delhi.
SAMPANN, developed by the Office of the Controller General of Communication Accounts (CGCA), is an end-to-end digital platform covering the entire pension lifecycle.
Currently, SAMPANN directly credits pensions for approximately 4.8 lakh telecom pensioners of DoT, BSNL, MTNL, and VSNL.
DoT is offering SAMPANN as a 'Platform as a Service' (PaaS) to other departments, state governments, and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).

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SAMPANN Portal Integrated with DigiLocker to Provide One-Click Digital Access to DoT Pensioners (End of January) ▼

The Office of the Principal Controller of Communication Accounts (Pr CCA), Delhi has integrated the System for Accounting and Management of Pension (SAMPANN) pension portal with DigiLocker.
SAMPANN is a government-run digital platform designed to make pension services easier for Department of Telecommunications (DoT) retirees.
The integration enables pensioners to access key documents such as e-Pension Payment Orders (e-PPOs), gratuity sanction orders, communication sanctions, and Form-16 online.
The SAMPANN platform was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2018.
The platform is developed and managed by the Office of the Controller General of Communication Accounts and handles pension payments and related financial work online.
The platform has digitised the entire pension lifecycle—from initiation and processing of cases to issuance of e-Pension Payment Orders, disbursement, accounting, reconciliation, financial reporting, audit facilitation, and grievance redressal.

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) constitutes high-level committee to enable assured payouts under National Pension System. (Mid of January) ▼

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has constituted a high-level committee to formulate guidelines and regulations for establishing a framework for assured payouts under the National Pension System (NPS).
The committee will be chaired by Dr. M. S. Sahoo, Founder of Dr. Sahoo Regulatory Chambers and former Chairperson of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI).
The 15-member panel comprises experts from law, actuarial science, finance, insurance, capital markets, and academia.
The committee has been established as a standing advisory committee on structured pension payouts.
Its core objectives include formulating regulations for assured payout products, designing an end-to-end framework for transition from accumulation to payout phase, and enabling legally enforceable, market-based guarantees for assured payouts.
The committee will define operational parameters such as lock-in periods, withdrawal limits, pricing methodologies, and fee and cost structures for service providers.
It will establish capital and solvency requirements for providers and examine tax implications for payout options within the NPS architecture.
The committee will develop standardized disclosure norms to prevent mis-selling and align subscriber expectations with market-based guarantees.

ICICI Prudential Pension Funds Management Company launches Swasthya Pension Scheme under PFRDA sandbox (End of February) ▼

ICICI Prudential Pension Funds Management Company introduced the Swasthya Pension Scheme under the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) regulatory sandbox framework.
Subscribers can make multiple withdrawals of up to 25 per cent of their own contributions.
In medical emergencies exceeding 70 per cent of the corpus, premature closure is allowed with payments made directly to the healthcare provider.
For the sandbox phase, the healthcare network is anchored by Apollo Hospitals and services are accessible through the Apollo 24/7 app, pharmacies, hospitals and diagnostic centres.
Physical pharmacies and hospitals under the scheme are currently limited to Bengaluru and Hyderabad during the pilot.
KFin Technologies is the digital partner for the initiative.

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) launches NPS Swasthya pilot for medical corpus (End of February) ▼

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has introduced NPS Swasthya on a pilot basis to help subscribers build a separate health corpus within their pension account.
Any Indian citizen can voluntarily enrol in NPS Swasthya and contribute any amount without an upper limit through their chosen pension fund manager.
Existing non-government NPS subscribers above 40 years can transfer up to 30% of their total contributions from Common Account to Swasthya Account.
Subscribers can withdraw up to 25% of their own contributions per instance for medical expenses after accumulating a minimum corpus of Rs 50,000.
For critical hospitalisation bills exceeding 70% of the Swasthya corpus, 100% lump-sum withdrawal is allowed under the premature exit option.
Withdrawn amounts are paid directly to the Health Benefit Administrator (HBA) or Third Party Administrator (TPA) against valid medical bills, and any surplus is transferred back to the Common Scheme Account.
The scheme operates under PFRDA's Regulatory Sandbox Framework with limited enrollment, and if found unviable, the accumulated corpus can be transferred back to the Common Account without loss.

India and Azerbaijan launch Confidence Building Mechanism during high-level meeting in Baku

[Azerbaijan]

Key Updates:

India and Azerbaijan initiated a process towards a Confidence Building Mechanism (CBM) during a senior-level meeting in Baku.
The Indian delegation was led by the Secretary (West) of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Sibi George, who met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov.
The two nations reviewed bilateral cooperation in the sectors of economic and trade relations, energy, tourism, and education.
Political consultations were conducted between the MEA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, led by Sibi George and Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov.
India expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan for the support provided during the evacuation of Indian citizens from Iran.
The representatives exchanged views on regional and international security issues, including the current tensions in the Middle East.

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India and Algeria hold 7th Foreign Office Consultations in Algiers (Start of April) ▼

The 7th round of India-Algeria Foreign Office Consultations was held in Algiers.
The consultations were co-chaired by Indian Secretary (South) Neena Malhotra and Algerian Secretary General Lounes Magramane.
Discussions focused on political, trade, investment, and cultural exchanges.
Both sides committed to counterterrorism cooperation.
Trade expansion was emphasised in pharmaceuticals, energy, and education sectors.
The meeting followed President of India's historic state visit to Algeria in October 2024.
Both nations pledged to collaborate across multilateral platforms such as the United Nations (UN).
Secretary Malhotra explored hydrocarbon alliances with the Algerian Minister of Hydrocarbons and Mines.
Potential partnerships were explored in Constantine's pharmaceutical and academic sectors.
The next consultation will be held in India.

India and Israel elevate ties to special strategic partnership and advance mutually beneficial FTA (Start of March) ▼

India and Israel elevated their relationship to a special strategic partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel.
Both sides agreed to soon finalise a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
India and Israel signed multiple agreements to expand cooperation in trade, agriculture, energy, cyberspace and digital payment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held extremely fruitful and wide-ranging talks with Israeli President Isaac Herzog to enhance cooperation in education, start-ups, innovation, tech and connectivity.
Modi and Herzog planted an oak tree at the President’s residence as a symbol of friendship and shared future.
Prime Minister Modi addressed the Knesset, becoming the first Indian to speak in Israel’s Parliament.
Modi voiced strong support for the Gaza peace initiative and stated that terrorism anywhere threatens peace everywhere.
The Speaker of the Knesset conferred the Speaker of the Knesset Medal on Prime Minister Modi for his exceptional contribution to strengthening India-Israel strategic relations.

India participates as partner country in G7 Foreign Ministers meeting in France (End of March) ▼

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar represented India at the Group of 7 (G7) foreign ministers' meeting held at Abbaye des-Vaux-de-Cernay, France.
France, the current chair of the G7, invited India, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Brazil to attend the meeting as partner countries.
The EAM addressed the concerns of the Global South regarding energy challenges, fertiliser supplies, food security, and the cascading fallout of the West Asian conflict.
India highlighted the urgent need for United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reforms, streamlining peacekeeping operations, and strengthening humanitarian supply chains.
The EAM emphasised the importance of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and the utility of India's free trade agreements with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the United Kingdom (UK), and the European Union (EU).
India and France agreed to continue close coordination to jointly work towards ensuring the security of the Strait of Hormuz.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed his participation in the annual G7 summit scheduled to take place in Evian, France, from 15 June to 17 June.
The EAM held bilateral talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
Additional meetings were held with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Japan Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, and Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira.
The G7 comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the United States (US), and the EU.
The meeting acknowledged India's current role as the holder of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) presidency.

European Union leaders attend 77th Republic Day of India as Chief Guests and co-chair 16th EU-India Summit (End of January) ▼

President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen paid a State Visit to India on 25–27 January 2026 as Chief Guests for the 77th Republic Day of India.
A contingent of the European Union Military Staff and the European Union Naval Operations ATALANTA and ASPIDES participated in the Republic Day Parade for the first time.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi co-chaired the 16th EU-India Summit with President Costa and President von der Leyen in New Delhi on 27 January 2026.
The EU-India Free Trade Agreement negotiations were successfully concluded during the Summit.
The EU-India Security and Defence Partnership, the first overarching defence and security framework between the two sides, was signed.
The leaders condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025 and the terror incident near Red Fort, New Delhi on 10 November 2025.
The EU-India Joint Comprehensive Strategic Agenda 'Towards 2030' was adopted to advance cooperation across five pillars: prosperity and sustainability, technology and innovation, security and defence, connectivity and global challenges, and enabling factors.

Easter Sunday 2026 falls on April 5

Key Updates:

Easter Sunday 2026 will be celebrated on April 5.
The date is determined by the lunar calendar, falling on the first Sunday after the full moon following the spring equinox.
By the 4th century, church leaders established the date-setting method linking Easter to the spring equinox and the full moon.

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Good Friday 2026 falls on April 3 (Start of April) ▼

Good Friday 2026 is on April 3.
Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ under Pontius Pilate.
The day is also called Holy Friday, Great Friday, or Black Friday.
Catholics may fast with one full meal and up to two smaller meals not equalling a full portion.
Abstinence from meat is practised; milk, cheese, butter, and eggs are normally allowed.

Nowruz 2026 observed in Iran amid fourth week of Iran-Israel-US war (End of March) ▼

Nowruz, the Persian New Year rooted in Zoroastrianism, marks the spring equinox and was celebrated on 21 March 2026.
United Nations (UN) recognises 21 March as International Nowruz Day and UNESCO lists Nowruz as intangible cultural heritage.
The Haft-Seen table displays seven items beginning with Persian letter 'S': sabzeh, seeb, serkeh, samanu, senjed, sekkeh, seer.
Chaharshanbe Suri, a fire-jumping purification rite, is observed on the eve of Nowruz.
In 2026 the Iran-Israel-US war entered its fourth week, killing thousands including civilians and wrecking infrastructure.
Nowruz 2026 coincided with the closing days of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, adding complexity to state and private observances.

Eid Al-Fitr 2026 expected around March 20 (End of March) ▼

Eid Al-Fitr 2026 is expected to be celebrated around March 20, 2026, depending on the sighting of the crescent moon that marks the beginning of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic Hijri calendar.
The first Eid Al-Fitr celebration is believed to have taken place in 624 AD and is associated with the Prophet Muhammad after the Battle of Badr.
Saudi Arabia announced a four-day holiday for private and non-profit sectors for Eid Al-Fitr 2026.

Ram Navami 2026 to be observed on 26 and 27 March (End of March) ▼

Ram Navami, also known as Shri Ram Janmotsav, marks the birth anniversary of Lord Ram, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
The festival coincides with the final day of the nine-day Chaitra Navratri fast.
In 2026, the Ram Navami tithi begins at 11:48 AM on 26 March and concludes at 10:06 AM on 27 March.
The festival will be observed by most devotees on 26 March 2026, while Vaishnava Ram Navami will be celebrated on 27 March 2026.
Key rituals include the recitation of the Ramcharitmanas and the performance of kanya pujan, where young girls are worshipped as forms of Goddess Durga.
Grand celebrations featuring devotional singing and the ceremonial bathing of idols with Panchamrit are held in temples, particularly in Ayodhya.

Rongali Bihu (Assamese New Year) celebrated on April 5, 2026

[Assam]

Key Updates:

Rongali Bihu, also known as Bohag Bihu, was celebrated across Assam on April 5, 2026, marking the Assamese New Year.
The festival signifies the onset of the spring season and is traditionally linked with the agricultural sowing period.
Cultural traditions include the performance of Bihu dance and Bihu geet (songs) along with community feasts.
The Gamocha, or Bihuwaan, is used as a primary symbol of respect and affection during the exchange of greetings.
Traditional attire worn during the festival includes the Mekhela Chador made of Muga silk, Pat, or cotton.
Assam celebrates three types of Bihu: Rongali (Bohag) in April, Kati (Kongali) in October, and Magh (Bhogali) in January.

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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.

Bihar Diwas 2026 three-day cultural festival from March 22-24 (End of March) ▼

Bihar Diwas 2026 celebrations will be held from March 22 to March 24 at Gandhi Maidan, Patna.
Sona Mohapatra will perform on March 22, Shaan on March 23, and Angaraag Mahanta (Papon) on March 24 at Gandhi Maidan.
Pandit Jagat Narayan Pathak will present Dhrupad singing at Sri Krishna Memorial Hall on March 22.
Raminder Khurana will perform Odissi dance and Prachi Pallavi Sahu will present contemporary dance at Sri Krishna Memorial Hall on March 22.
Kamlesh Kumar Singh will sing folk songs and Bhikhari Thakur’s play 'Gabarghichor' will be staged at Rabindra Bhawan on March 22.
Sudipa Ghosh will present a dance-drama based on 'Buddhacharita' at Sri Krishna Memorial Hall on March 23.
Surendra Sharma will lead a poetry session and the play 'Vaijayanti' will be staged at Rabindra Bhawan on March 23.
Additional chief secretary N Vijaya Lakshmi will perform Bharatnatyam at Sri Krishna Memorial Hall on March 24.
Chandan Tiwari will sing folk songs and 'Miracle on Wheels' will be presented by Pasha at Sri Krishna Memorial Hall on March 24.
Alok Raj will host a ghazal and mushaira event at Rabindra Bhawan on March 24.
Local artists and street theatre groups will perform at the cultural pavilion from 10am to 5pm daily during the festival.
An education pavilion, book fair, food court, and heritage stalls by tourism and other government departments will be set up at the venue.

Narendra Modi pledges global recognition for Assam's culture (Mid of January) ▼

Narendra Modi declared his commitment to ensuring Assam’s cultural heritage receives global recognition.
Modi attended the Bagurumba Dwhou event in Guwahati and praised the Bagurumba dance as a living celebration of Bodo traditions.
He accused previous Congress governments of neglecting Bodoland and encouraging illegal infiltration for vote bank politics.
Modi highlighted the transformation of Assam under BJP governance, attributing peace to the Bodo Peace Accord.

Ugadi 2026 celebrated on March 19 (Mid of March) ▼

Ugadi 2026 was celebrated on March 19.
The festival falls on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, the first day of the waxing phase of the moon in the month of Chaitra.
Ugadi marks the traditional New Year for Telugu and Kannada communities and is widely observed in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka.
The word 'Ugadi' combines the Sanskrit words 'Yuga' (age or era) and 'Adi' (beginning).
The main puja is performed in the morning after sunrise.
Abhyanga Snanam, the ritual oil bath, is taken before sunrise.
Ugadi Pachadi, a dish mixing six tastes, symbolises life’s varied experiences: neem flowers (bitterness), jaggery (sweetness), raw mango (tanginess), tamarind (sourness), green chilli or pepper (heat), and salt (balance).
Panchanga Sravanam is the ritual reading of the new year’s almanac predictions covering rainfall, agriculture, economy, and prosperity.

Postal Training Centre Saharanpur Platinum Jubilee Commemorative Stamp Released on 02-04-2026

[Postal Training Centre (PTC) Saharanpur]

Key Updates:

Postal Training Centre (PTC) Saharanpur completed 75 years since its establishment on April 2, 1951.
Union Minister of Communications Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia released a commemorative postage stamp at Rang Bhawan Sabhagaar, Akashwani Bhawan, New Delhi on 02-04-2026.
PTC Saharanpur trains nearly 3,000 employees annually across 56.71-acre campus.
The centre serves postal personnel of eight States and Union Territories in Northern India.
The commemorative stamp is available at Philatelic Bureaus across India and through India Post’s official online portal.

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President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated centenary celebrations of Ol Chiki script. (Mid of February) ▼

President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the centenary celebration of the Ol Chiki script organised by the Ministry of Culture (MoC).
Ol Chiki script was invented in 1925 by Pandit Raghunath Murmu for the Santhali language.
Santhali language was included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India in 2003.
President released a commemorative coin and postage stamp to mark 100 years of Ol Chiki.
President felicitated 10 achievers from the Santal community for promoting Ol Chiki script.
Constitution of India was officially translated into Santhali language in Ol Chiki script and released by President in December 2025.

Department of Posts (DoP) Releases Puppets of India Commemorative Stamp Series (Mid of February) ▼

The Department of Posts (DoP) issued a special set of eight commemorative postage stamps titled Puppets of India on 13 February 2026 at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
The stamps were formally released by Ms. Vandita Kaul, Secretary (Posts), to honour the master puppeteers and the diverse puppetry heritage of India.
The commemorative set features eight regional traditions: Kathputli (Rajasthan), Yakshagana Sutrada Gombeyatta (Karnataka), Daanger Putul (West Bengal), Kathi Kundhei (Odisha), Benir Putul (West Bengal), Pavakathakali (Kerala), Ravanachhaya (Odisha), and Tolu Bommalatta (Andhra Pradesh).
The denomination of each stamp in the set is 500 paise (₹5), with the complete set comprising eight stamps.
The stamp set and associated philatelic products were designed by Shri Sankha Samanta with artistic and textual inputs from Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) and Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA).
The stamps are available at Philatelic Bureaus across the country and through the official online portal www.epostoffice.gov.in.

Army Medical Corps Raising Day observed on 3 April

Key Updates:

Army Medical Corps Raising Day is observed on 3 April every year.
The Army Medical Corps traces its history back to 1764.
The motto of the Army Medical Corps is 'Sarve Santu Niramaya' (let all be free from illness).
India sent 60 Parachute Field Ambulance during the Korean War.

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CISF Raising Day observed on March 10 (Mid of March) ▼

CISF Raising Day is observed on March 10 every year.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) was established on March 10, 1969.
The CISF was created through the CISF Act, 1968 passed by the Indian Parliament.
At inception the force had a strength of just over 3,000 personnel.
CISF works under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The force guards airports, seaports, metro networks, nuclear facilities and government buildings.
CISF Raising Day is marked with ceremonies, parades, cultural programmes, sports activities, blood donation drives and health camps across the country.

NDRF Raising Day observed on January 19 (End of January) ▼

NDRF Raising Day is observed every year on January 19.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was formed on January 19, 2006 under the Disaster Management Act.
The NDRF comprises 16 Battalions based at 68 locations across the nation.

Armed Forces Veterans' Day observed on January 14 (Mid of January) ▼

Armed Forces Veterans' Day is celebrated on January 14 every year.
The day marks the birth anniversary of the Late Field Marshal KM Cariappa, who retired on this day in 1953.
Field Marshal Cariappa was the First Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of the Indian Army.

Union Budget 2026-27: Health Sector Allocation and New Regional Medical Hubs Scheme (Start of February) ▼

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has been allocated ₹1,06,530.42 crore for the 2026–27 fiscal year, marking a 10 per cent increase over the previous year.
The government announced a new scheme to establish five regional medical hubs in partnership with the private sector to function as integrated healthcare, education, and research complexes.
A dedicated allocation of ₹1,000 crore has been made for Allied Healthcare Professionals (AHPs) to add 100,000 professionals over the next five years across 10 disciplines, including Optometry, Radiology, Anaesthesia, OT technology, Applied Psychology, and Behavioural Health.
The allocation for the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) has been increased to ₹9,500 crore from the previous ₹8,995 crore.
Funding for the National Health Mission (NHM) has been raised to ₹39,390 crore for the 2026–27 period, up from ₹37,100.07 crore.
The government plans to train 1.5 lakh caregivers in the coming year for geriatric and allied care services, covering skills such as wellness, yoga, and the operation of medical devices.
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, received an increased allocation of ₹5,500.92 crore.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has been allotted ₹4,821.21 crore, reflecting an increase of approximately 10 per cent.
A second National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS 2) is planned for North India to prioritise mental health.
The National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) has been earmarked ₹350 crore, while the National Tele Mental Health Programme allocation rose to ₹51 crore.

International Day of Conscience 2026: April 5

Key Updates:

International Day of Conscience observed annually on 5 April.
United Nations General Assembly officially proclaimed day in 2019.
2026 theme: 'Acting with Conscience for a Peaceful and Sustainable World'.

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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.

United Nations Observes International Day for the Right to the Truth on 24 March 2026 (End of March) ▼

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 24 March as the International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims on 21 December 2010.
The observance commemorates Monsignor Óscar Arnulfo Romero, a human rights defender in El Salvador who was murdered on 24 March 1980.
The year 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the coup d’état in Argentina, which initiated a military junta dictatorship lasting from 1976 to 1983.
The Joinet/Orentlicher Principles, formally known as the Updated Set of Principles for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights through Action to Combat Impunity, define the right to truth as an inalienable right.
Historical truth-seeking bodies include the National Commission on the Disappearance of Persons (CONADEP) established in Argentina in 1984 and the Commission for the Clarification of Truth in Colombia in 2017.
The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence is Bernard Duhaime.
The UN Special Rapporteur is preparing a report on negationism, revisionism, and politicization for the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
A report regarding emerging technologies in the context of transitional justice will be submitted for the 81st session of the UNGA.

United Nations marks International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness on 5 March 2026 (Start of March) ▼

The International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness is observed every year on 5 March to promote better awareness and understanding of disarmament issues among the public, especially young people.
Global military expenditures reached a record $2.7 trillion in 2024.
An interactive ballot-box installation at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) Rotunda from 2 to 6 March 2026 invites visitors to vote on global spending priorities and reflect on redirecting resources toward education, health, and climate action.
The UN General Assembly has held three Special Sessions on Disarmament (SSOD) that shaped the disarmament architecture, yet a fourth session remains elusive since 1995.
The United Nations Secretary-General’s report titled 'The Security We Need: Rebalancing Military Spending for a Sustainable and Peaceful Future' will be discussed in a virtual briefing on 5 March at 10:15 am Nepal Time.
UNODA Occasional Paper No. 47, 'Revisiting Consensus in Multilateral Disarmament Discussions: Trends, Challenges and the Way Forward', authored by Adedeji Ebo and Katherine Prizeman, will be launched on 5 March at 3 PM EST at the Dag Hammarskjöld Library.
A second interactive ballot-box installation will be held at Schwedenplatz, Vienna, on 5 March afternoon to engage the public on global spending priorities.
On 5 March, the UN Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC) will meet high-school students from the Sacré-Coeur Avépozo Institute in Togo to discuss small arms, light weapons, and autonomous weapons systems.
On 6 March, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) will meet high-school students from Hiroshima, Japan, to discuss its work on disarmament and peacebuilding.
Suzuka Nakamura, a Japanese peace activist and third-generation hibakusha from Nagasaki, was selected as one of the UN Youth Office's 17 Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2025-2027.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres marks International Day to Combat Islamophobia on 15 March (Mid of March) ▼

The International Day to Combat Islamophobia is observed on 15 March.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that the world’s 2 billion Muslims reflect vast global diversity.
Guterres highlighted institutional discrimination, socioeconomic exclusion, biased immigration policies, and unwarranted surveillance against Muslims.
He warned that anti-Muslim rhetoric and hate can lead to harassment and violence against individuals and places of worship.
Governments were urged to take concrete steps to address hate speech, protect religious freedom, and ensure compliance with international human rights law.
Online platforms were asked to eliminate hate speech and harassment based on religion or belief.
In May 2025, the UN Secretary-General appointed the High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations as the UN Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia.