Daily Current Affairs: 11 April 2026

Vibhor Jain appointed MD and CEO of Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)

[Open Network for Digital Commerce]

Key Updates:

• Vibhor Jain assumed charge as managing director and chief executive officer of Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) on 7 April.
• He had been serving as acting CEO after former CEO Thampy Koshy quit in April last year and was earlier the chief operating officer of ONDC.
• Rohit Lohia joined as chief business officer and Manoj Thakur as chief technology officer of ONDC.
• ONDC recorded a 127% rise in total revenue to Rs 33.41 crore for 2024-25 while narrowing its net loss to Rs 147.13 crore in the same period.
• The network facilitated 288 million orders between January 2023 and August 2025 and currently has 167,500 retail sellers.

C.D. Gopinath, India’s oldest Test cricketer and member of first-ever Test-winning team, dies at 96.

Key Updates:

• C.D. Gopinath passed away at the age of 96, ending his status as India’s oldest living Test cricketer.
• He was part of India’s first-ever Test victory, an innings and eight-run win over England in Chennai.
• Gopinath played eight Tests between 1951 and 1960, scoring 242 runs at an average of 22.
• Born on March 1, 1930, in Chennai, he scored 4,259 runs in 83 first-class matches at an average of 42.16.
• After retirement, he served as chairman of selectors and managed India’s 1979 England tour.

NASA chief Jared Isaacman responds to 10-year-old Kaela’s request to restore Pluto as ninth planet.

[National Aeronautics and Space Administration]

Key Updates:

• Kaela, a 10-year-old, wrote to NASA requesting Pluto be reinstated as the ninth planet.
• NASA chief Jared Isaacman replied, “Kaela, We are looking into this.”
• Pluto was discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh at Lowell Observatory.
• Pluto was reclassified from planet to dwarf planet in 2006.

Nitish Kumar takes oath as Rajya Sabha member.

Key Updates:

• Nitish Kumar took oath as a Rajya Sabha MP.
• He resigned from his membership of the Bihar Legislative Council after his election to the Rajya Sabha.
• Janata Dal (United) MLC Sanjay Kumar submitted the resignation to council chairman Awadhesh Narayan Singh.
• Kumar had served as Chief Minister of Bihar for two decades.
• His move to the Rajya Sabha completes his service in every legislative house in India.

Harivansh Nominated for Third Term in Rajya Sabha

Key Updates:

• President Droupadi Murmu nominated senior Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) leader Harivansh for a third six-year term in the Rajya Sabha.
• Harivansh currently serves as the Deputy Chairperson of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha), a position he has held since September 14, 2020.
• He previously served his first term as the Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha between August 9, 2018, and April 2020.
• First elected to the Rajya Sabha in April 2014, he has served on the Standing Committee on Defence and the Joint Committee on the Bill to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955.
• The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) holds 141 seats in the 245-member House, including 105 for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), five for the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), and four for the JD(U).
• JD(U) patriarch Nitish Kumar is scheduled to take the oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha and demit office as the Chief Minister of Bihar.

C.D. Gopinath, India’s oldest Test cricketer and member of first-ever Test-winning team, dies at 96.

Key Updates:

• C.D. Gopinath passed away at the age of 96 on Thursday, ending his status as India’s oldest living Test cricketer.
• He was part of India’s maiden Test victory, an innings and eight-run win over England in Chennai, contributing 35 runs in that match.
• Gopinath made his Test debut against England at Brabourne Stadium in 1951 and played his final Test against Australia at Eden Gardens in 1960.
• In eight Tests, he scored 242 runs at an average of 22, with his highest Test score being an unbeaten 50 on debut.
• In 83 first-class matches, he amassed 4,259 runs at an average of 42.16, including nine centuries and 23 fifties.
• After retirement, he served as chairman of selectors and managed the Indian team during the 1979 England tour.
• With his passing, 95-year-old Chandrakant Patankar has become India’s oldest surviving Test cricketer.

UB Pravin Rao named Chairperson of Nasscom Foundation

[Nasscom Foundation]

Key Updates:

• UB Pravin Rao succeeded Rostow Ravanan as Chairperson of Nasscom Foundation.
• Rao previously served as Vice-Chairperson and Chairman of Nasscom.
• He was Chief Operating Officer of Infosys from 2014 to 2021.
• Nasscom Foundation focuses on digital inclusion, employability, women entrepreneurship, and tech-enabled NGO support.
• The Foundation works with corporates, NGOs, government, and ecosystem partners for scalable social interventions.

Jim Whittaker, First American to Summit Mount Everest, Dies Aged 97

[United States]

Key Updates:

• Jim Whittaker, the first American to reach the summit of Mount Everest, died at the age of 97 at his home in Port Townsend, Washington.
• He achieved the historic ascent of the 29,032-foot peak on 1 May 1963, accompanied by Sherpa climbing partner Nawang Gombu.
• He was awarded the Hubbard Medal by former United States (US) President John F Kennedy for his mountaineering achievement.
• Whittaker was the first full-time employee of the outdoor company Recreational Equipment Inc (REI) and served as its second President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) from 1971 to 1979.
• He served as the state chairman for Senator Robert F Kennedy’s presidential campaign and climbed a 14,000-foot peak in Canada with him, which was later named Mount Kennedy.
• His environmental advocacy contributed to the establishment of North Cascades National Park and Pasayten Wilderness in Washington, and Redwood National Park in California.
• He documented his mountaineering experiences and life in his memoir titled A Life on the Edge.

Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approves Sanjay Khanna as Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) chairman & managing director

[Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited]

Key Updates:

• Sanjay Khanna appointed chairman & managing director (C&MD) of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) by Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).
• Khanna, previously director (refineries) at BPCL, will serve until 31 May 2029 or until further orders.
• He is a Chemical Engineering graduate from National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli and holds a postgraduate degree in Finance Management from Mumbai University.
• Under his leadership BPCL will invest ₹75,000 crore over five years, including ₹50,000 crore Bina Petrochemical and Refinery Expansion Project (BPREP) at Bina, Madhya Pradesh.
• Khanna also serves as Director on the Boards of Bharat PetroResources Limited, Petronet LNG Limited and Ratnagiri Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited.

Aluminium Extrusion Manufacturers Association of India (ALEMAI) launches Aluminium Bharat initiative to boost downstream capacity utilisation

[ALEMAI]

Key Updates:

• Aluminium Extrusion Manufacturers Association of India (ALEMAI) launched the ‘Aluminium Bharat’ initiative in New Delhi on 7 April 2026.
• The initiative targets strengthening India’s aluminium value chain that supports over 10 lakh jobs.
• ALEMAI will host ‘Aluminium Bharat 2026’ exhibition alongside Alumex India 2026 at Gandhinagar from 26 to 29 September 2026.
• Midstream and downstream aluminium segments report production decline of 40-50 per cent.
• Installed domestic capacity is 4.2 million tonnes, with extrusion units operating at 1.2-1.3 million tonnes and rolled/flat products at about 1.5 million tonnes.
• Rising raw material and energy costs, limited aluminium scrap availability, and higher input costs versus global peers erode competitiveness.
• Domestic manufacturers face tariff imbalances from low-cost imports benefiting from foreign subsidies and trade agreements.

Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Act, 2026 notified after President’s assent

Key Updates:

• The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Act, 2026 was notified on 9 April 2026 after President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent.
• The Act is an umbrella law regulating recruitment, deputation, promotion and other service conditions for officers of all five CAPFs: Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
• It mandates that 50% of inspector general rank posts will be filled through deputation from the Indian Police Service (IPS).
• A minimum of 67% of additional director general rank posts will be filled through IPS deputation.
• Posts of special director general and director general will be filled through deputation only.
• The legislation follows an October 2025 Supreme Court directive that IPS deputation up to Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) in CAPFs be progressively reduced within an outer limit of two years.

National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) 25th Foundation Day celebrations

[National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation]

Key Updates:

• Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram will lead the 25th Foundation Day celebrations of the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) on Friday.
• The main event will be held at the World Youth Center in New Delhi.
• NSTFDC was established in 2001 as an apex organisation for the economic development of Scheduled Tribes across the country.
• The corporation provides concessional financial assistance for income-generating activities through state channeling agencies.
• Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durga Das Uike and Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs Ranjana Chopra will also attend the event.

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approves ₹40,175.33 crore for Kamala and Kalai-II Hydropower Projects in Arunachal Pradesh

[Arunachal Pradesh]

Key Updates:

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved a total investment of ₹40,175.33 crore for the construction of two hydropower projects in Arunachal Pradesh.
• The 1,720 MW Kamala Hydro Electric Project (HEP) will be developed in Kamle, Kra Daadi, and Kurung Kumey districts with an outlay of ₹26,069.50 crore.
• The Kamala HEP will be implemented through a joint venture between NHPC Ltd (NHPC) and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh.
• The 1,200 MW Kalai-II Hydro Electric Project will be developed on the Lohit river in Anjaw district with an outlay of ₹14,105.83 crore.
• The Kalai-II project will be developed through a joint venture between THDC India Ltd (THDC) and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh.
• The Government of India will provide central financial assistance of ₹750 crore towards the state’s equity share for each of the two projects.
• Arunachal Pradesh will receive 12 per cent free power from both projects along with an additional 1 per cent for the Local Area Development Fund (LADF).
• The Kamala HEP is expected to generate 6,870 million units (MU) of energy, while the Kalai-II project is expected to generate 4,852.95 MU annually.
• Other hydropower projects being developed by NHPC in the region include Subansiri Lower (2,000 MW), Dibang Multipurpose (2,880 MW), and Etalin (3,097 MW).

Union Cabinet clears Rs 1.74 lakh crore proposals including nutrient-based subsidy for Kharif 2026, HPCL Rajasthan refinery expansion, Jaipur Metro Phase 2 and two hydropower projects

[Jaipur Metro]

Key Updates:

• The Union Cabinet approved a nutrient-based subsidy (NBS) scheme worth Rs 41,534 crore for phosphatic and potassic fertilisers for the Kharif 2026 season from 1 April 2026 to 30 September 2026.
• Retail price of DAP (Di-Ammonium Phosphate) kept stable at Rs 1,350 per 50 kg bag.
• Cabinet approved revised cost of Rs 79,459 crore for HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Ltd project in Pachpadra, Balotra district, Rajasthan with HPCL equity contribution of Rs 19,600 crore.
• The 9 MMTPA refinery is scheduled to start commercial operations in July 2026 and is expected to generate about 1 lakh construction jobs and 10,000 direct operational jobs.
• Jaipur Metro Phase 2 covering the 41 km Prahladpura to Todi Mod corridor approved at an estimated cost of Rs 13,038 crore.
• Cabinet cleared Kamala Hydro Electric Project (1,720 MW) at Rs 26,070 crore and Kalai-II Hydro Electric Project (1,200 MW) at Rs 14,106 crore to boost renewable energy capacity.

Skills Outcomes Fund launched to scale outcomes-based financing in India’s skilling ecosystem

Key Updates:

• Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) Jayant Chaudhary launched the campaign to build the Skills Outcomes Fund on 8 April 2026.
• The fund will be anchored by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
• It aims to mobilise public and private capital to scale outcomes-based financing (OBF) and link investments directly to verified employment outcomes for youth from low-income backgrounds.
• The initiative builds on the success of India’s first OBF initiative, the Skill Impact Bond, launched by NSDC in 2021 with an outlay of approximately ₹130 crore.
• The Skill Impact Bond has trained over 34,000 youth across 21 states in 16 sectors for more than 30 job roles, with 92% certified, 76% placed, and 62% retained in jobs.
• The Skills Outcomes Fund will use a blended finance model, supplementing government funding with private sector funding and focusing on employer-led, demand-driven skilling in sectors such as IT-ITeS, BFSI, automotive, healthcare, logistics, green jobs, and electronics.

Indian Army completes Operation HimSetu evacuating over 1,400 stranded in North Sikkim

Key Updates:

• Operation HimSetu evacuated 1,321 tourists and 84 local residents within 48 hours after a landslide-induced bridge collapse near Tarum Chu cut road links to Lachen.
• The Trishakti Corps under the Army’s Eastern Command led the evacuation amid heavy snowfall near the India-China border.
• A foot bridge installed by the Army at the collapse site enabled stranded persons to cross on foot before transport to Gangtok.
• Reception centres provided food, shelter and medical care; Army vehicles towed civilian vehicles across difficult terrain.
• The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) coordinated with the Army and civil administration for road clearance and snow removal.

India elected to three UN Economic and Social Council subsidiary bodies for 2027-2030

[United Nations]

Key Updates:

• India was elected by acclamation to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) subsidiary bodies: Commission on Science and Technology for Development 2027-2030, Committee on Non-Governmental Organisations 2027-2030, and Committee for Programme and Coordination 2027-2029.
• Indian Ambassador Preeti Saran was re-elected to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights for the term 2027-2030.
• The UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) holds an annual intergovernmental forum for discussion on issues affecting science, technology and development.
• The Committee on Non-Governmental Organisations considers applications for consultative status and requests for reclassification submitted by NGOs.
• The Committee for Programme and Coordination reviews the programmes of the United Nations and assists ECOSOC in its coordination functions.
• The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Indian Army Clears Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit for Promotion to Brigadier Rank

Key Updates:

• The Indian Army has cleared Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit for promotion to the rank of Brigadier.
• The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) stayed the retirement of the officer, which was scheduled for 31 March 2026, pending a decision on his statutory complaint.
• The Mumbai National Investigation Agency (NIA) court acquitted the officer and six others on 31 July in the 2008 Malegaon blast case.
• The other individuals acquitted alongside the officer include former MP Sadhvi Pragya, Major (retired) Ramesh Upadhyay, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhankar Dhar Dwivedi, and Sameer Kulkarni.
• The Malegaon blast incident occurred on 29 September 2008 in Maharashtra, resulting in six deaths and 95 injuries.
• The investigation was transferred from the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) to the NIA in 2011.

Indian Army conducts 'Brahmastra' live firing exercise with Boeing AH-64 Apache in Rajasthan

Key Updates:

• The Indian Army conducted a live firing exercise named 'Brahmastra' at the Pokhran Firing Range in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, on 09 April 2026.
• The exercise demonstrated the combat capabilities of the Boeing AH-64 Apache, a multi-role attack helicopter equipped with a 30 mm chain gun.
• The Boeing AH-64 Apache utilised AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missiles and Hydra rockets to strike designated targets during the drill.
• The helicopter features advanced targeting systems including the Longbow radar and night-vision sensors for all-weather and night operations.
• The drill was carried out by the Apache 451 Squadron to test operational readiness and coordination between aircrew and ground maintenance teams.
• The Indian Army highlighted the induction of the Boeing AH-64 Apache alongside indigenous platforms such as the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand and the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Rudra.
• The LCH and ALH, together with the Boeing AH-64 Apache, are designed to provide immediate fire support to land force commanders in network-centric warfare.
• The exercise involved precision strikes using gun ammunition, rockets, and missiles during both day and night simulated battlefield conditions.

India elected to four subsidiary bodies of United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

[United Nations Economic and Social Council]

Key Updates:

• India was elected by acclamation to the Commission on Science and Technology for Development for the term 2027-2030.
• India was elected by acclamation to the Committee on Non-Governmental Organisations for the term 2027-2030.
• India was elected by acclamation to the Committee for Programme and Coordination for the term 2027-2029.
• Ambassador Preeti Saran was re-elected to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights for the term 2027-2030.

March 2026 Arctic ice and global heat hit record lows amid rising El Niño odds

Key Updates:

• Arctic sea ice extent in March 2026 fell 5.7% below normal, the lowest March level ever recorded.
• Global surface temperatures for January-March 2026 ranked as the fourth-highest on record.
• March 2026 became the fourth-warmest globally at 1.48°C above pre-industrial levels.
• Sea surface temperatures (SST) reached 20.97°C, the second-highest ever observed behind the 2024 El Niño peak.
• Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported daily SST levels approaching 2024 record highs.
• US NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information stated March 2026 temperatures were 1.31°C above the 20th-century average, tying 2024 as the second-warmest March.
• All ten warmest March records since 1850 have occurred after 2015.
• Europe recorded its second-warmest March with notably drier conditions.
• Significant heat anomalies occurred across the western United States, much of the Arctic, northeast Russia, and parts of Antarctica.
• Cooler-than-average conditions persisted in Alaska, most of Canada, southern Greenland, and northwest Siberia.
• NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center forecasts an 80% chance of ENSO-neutral conditions through April-June 2026.
• The likelihood of El Niño rises to 61% between May-July 2026 and 85% into September 2026.

Vantara launches world’s first global university for wildlife and veterinary sciences in Jamnagar, Gujarat.

Key Updates:

• Vantara University, the world’s first integrated global university dedicated to wildlife conservation and veterinary sciences, was launched in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
• Anant Ambani, Reliance Industries Executive Director and founder of Vantara, stated that the university is shaped by witnessing animals in distress and recognising the need for greater capability in their care.
• The university will offer undergraduate, postgraduate, fellowship, and specialised programmes across disciplines including wildlife medicine and surgery, nutrition, behavioural sciences, genetics, epidemiology, One Health, conservation policy, and naturalistic animal care environment design.
• The foundation ceremony, conducted in accordance with Hindu traditions, brought together representatives from academia, science, conservation, and public life.

Botanists discover new sedge species Fimbristylis wayanadensis in Kerala's Wayanad

Key Updates:

• Fimbristylis wayanadensis, a grass-like sedge, was discovered in the high mountains of the Western Ghats in Wayanad district, Kerala.
• The plant was found during fieldwork in the Thollayiram forest and Chembra peak areas in late 2022.
• It grows at elevations up to 1,900 meters in transitional zones between rocky landscapes and high-altitude grasslands.
• The species has long leaves taller than or equal to its hairy stems, fewer chestnut-brown spikelets, and larger, smoother nuts with microscopic rectangular patterns.
• It is currently known only from a few scattered high-altitude locations and is classified as "Data Deficient" due to unknown population size.

Jitendra Singh announces Doppler weather radar and seismological observatory for Jammu and Kashmir

Key Updates:

• Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced the establishment of a Doppler weather radar in Doda and a permanent seismological observatory in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir.
• The Doppler weather radar will strengthen weather forecasting capabilities in the region.
• The permanent seismological observatory will improve earthquake monitoring and enhance disaster preparedness.
• Site selection for automated weather stations in Paddar and Machail (Kishtwar) has been completed and installation will begin soon.
• Development of an airstrip in Kishtwar under the UDAN scheme was discussed, focusing on acquiring additional land.
• The proposal for developing a Saffron Park in Kishtwar, pending for 12 years, was reviewed and authorities were directed to finalise land suitability.
• Promotion of cumin seeds under the One District One Product initiative was emphasised to boost local produce.

NTPC signs MoU with Électricité de France (EDF) to explore nuclear power projects in India

[France, NTPC Limited, Électricité de France]

Key Updates:

• NTPC and Électricité de France (EDF) signed a non-binding MoU on 8 April 2026 to explore cooperation in developing nuclear power projects in India.
• The agreement sets a framework for jointly assessing the feasibility of deploying EDF’s European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) technology in India.
• The collaboration covers evaluation of technology suitability for Indian requirements, localisation opportunities, economic and tariff aspects, training programmes, site identification, and technical support.
• NTPC has an installed capacity of more than 89 GW, with 32 GW under construction, and targets 149 GW total capacity by 2032 including 60 GW from renewable energy sources.
• The MoU was signed by Arnada Prasad Samal, CGM (Nuclear Cell), NTPC, and Vakisasi Ramany, Senior Vice President, International Nuclear Development, EDF.

Robot 'Nila' deployed to greet voters at Puducherry polling booth during 2026 assembly elections

[Puducherry]

Key Updates:

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) reported 9.50 lakh eligible voters and 1,099 polling stations for the 2026 Puducherry assembly elections.
• Robot 'Nila', an event-based voting assistance robot with audio feedback, welcomed voters at VOC Government School polling booth.
• Of the 1,099 polling stations, 30 are managed exclusively by women staff.
• Special arrangements including wheelchair facilities and 2,200 young voter volunteers assist elderly and differently-abled voters.

World Homoeopathy Day 2026 observed on April 10 with theme 'Homoeopathy for Sustainable Health'

Key Updates:

• World Homoeopathy Day 2026 was observed by the Ministry of Ayush at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on April 10, 2026.
• The theme for 2026 was 'Homoeopathy for Sustainable Health'.
• The day marks the birth anniversary of Dr Samuel Hahnemann.
• Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav highlighted the role of research institutions Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH), and National Institute of Homoeopathy (NIH).
• Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha mentioned initiatives like the Ayush Grid for digital integration of the Ayush ecosystem.

Archaeological survey of 200 sites in Greece: 2021–2025

[Greece]

Key Updates:

• The Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece (ESAG) identified over 200 ancient sites in the Eretrian plain region of Evia, Greece.
• The archaeological survey was conducted between 2021 and 2025 using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology.
• The discovered sites document continuous human activity spanning a period of 6,000 years, from prehistoric settlements to the end of the 19th century.
• The survey mapped more than 30 square kilometres of land, identifying ancient farms, industrial quarries, and medieval roads.
• Findings include rock-cut olive presses and connections to the Sanctuary of Artemis at Amarynthos.
• Researchers utilised Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to analyse high-resolution 3D terrain maps of buried walls and ancient routes.
• According to the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, the region maintained a persistent agrarian population under Mycenaean, Roman, and Ottoman administrations.

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Shaurya Diwas observed on 09 April

[Central Reserve Police Force]

Key Updates:

• The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) observes Martyrs’ Day, also known as Shaurya Diwas, annually on 09 April.
• The day commemorates the 1965 battle at Sardar Post in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, where CRPF personnel repelled a Pakistani military assault.
• During the 1965 conflict, a contingent of 32 CRPF personnel successfully held off superior enemy forces to protect the post.
• The CRPF has a service legacy spanning 85 years in addressing internal security, terrorism, Naxalism, and natural disasters.
• The motto of the CRPF is identified as One Foremost in the Service of the Nation.

NITI Aayog releases report on women’s credit market in New Delhi

[NITI Aayog]

Key Updates:

• NITI Aayog released the second edition of its report “From Borrowers to Builders: Women and India’s Evolving Credit Market” on 7 April 2026 in New Delhi.
• The report was prepared by TransUnion CIBIL and MicroSave Consulting (MSC) under the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP).
• Women borrowers hold ₹76 lakh crore credit portfolio, accounting for 26% of total system credit.
• Credit exposure of women expanded 4.8 times since 2017.
• Number of credit-active women borrowers grew at a CAGR of 9% between December 2017 and December 2025.
• Credit penetration among women increased from 19% to 36% during the same period.
• Total credit outstanding to women rose from ₹16 lakh crore in 2017 to ₹76 lakh crore in 2025.
• Credit to women business borrowers registered a CAGR of 31% between 2022 and 2025.
• 19% of active Microfinance Institution (MFI) borrowers now hold individual retail or commercial loans.
• Northern states such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh show increased growth in women’s credit access alongside southern and western states.
• The report analysed longitudinal credit bureau data of approximately 16 crore credit-active women and primary research with 161 rural women nano-entrepreneurs.