📰 Daily Briefing Tuesday, Apr 14

Daily Current Affairs: 14 April 2026

Analysis for 14 April 2026

Major General Roman Gofman appointed as new Mossad chief

[Israel]

Key Updates:

  • Major General Roman Gofman has been appointed as the next Director of Mossad by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
  • The appointment was approved by the advisory committee on senior appointments chaired by retired Supreme Court President Asher Grunis.
  • Gofman will assume office on 2 July 2026 for a five-year term.
  • He will succeed outgoing Mossad chief David Barnea, whose term ends in June 2026.
  • Gofman has served as Netanyahu’s military secretary for the past two years.
  • He was seriously wounded during the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack while serving as commander of the Tzeelim training base.

Similar Coverage

Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr named successor to Ali Larijani as head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC). (End of March) ▼
  • Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander, was appointed to succeed Ali Larijani as head of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).
  • The appointment was announced on Tuesday by President Masoud Pezeshkian’s deputy of communications via X.
  • Ali Larijani was killed in a US-Israeli air strike earlier this month.
  • Zolghadr served as head of the IRGC’s joint staff for eight years and as deputy commander-in-chief of the IRGC for another eight years.
  • In 2005, he was named deputy interior minister for security and police under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
  • Since 2023, Zolghadr has been secretary of the Expediency Council.
Israel announces readiness for direct talks with Lebanon amid strikes (Mid of April) ▼
  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on 9 April 2026 instructed his cabinet to start direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible.
  • Netanyahu stated the talks will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful Israel-Lebanon relations.
  • Israeli strikes across Lebanon on 8 April 2026 killed more than 300 people and wounded over 1,000, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
  • Lebanon’s cabinet ordered security forces to restrict weapons in Beirut to state institutions alone.
  • Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Fayyad rejected direct negotiations with Israel and demanded an Israeli troop withdrawal and ceasefire first.
  • Since 2 March 2026, Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,888 people and displaced over 1.2 million inside Lebanon, the United Nations reported.
  • US and Iranian delegations are scheduled to meet in Islamabad, Pakistan on 11 April 2026 to discuss ending the five-week US-Israel war on Iran.
Israel severs ties with multiple UN agencies citing bias and hostility (Mid of January) ▼
  • Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa'ar decided that Jerusalem will immediately sever all contact with several United Nations agencies and international bodies.
  • The decision was made after a review of organisations named in the United States' announcement and of Israel's own experience with these bodies.
  • Israel has already severed ties with the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children in Armed Conflict, UN Women, UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).
  • Additional organisations affected include the UN Alliance of Civilisations, UN Energy, and the Global Forum on Migration and Development.
Israel deploys multi-layered missile defence umbrella against Iranian threat (Start of March) ▼
  • Israel’s long-range Arrow-2 and Arrow-3 interceptors engage targets inside and outside the atmosphere and are developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) with Boeing producing the interceptors.
  • David's Sling mid-range system, developed jointly by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and RTX Corp, intercepts ballistic missiles fired from 100–200 km as well as aircraft, drones and cruise missiles.
  • Short-range Iron Dome, operational since 2011, uses radar-guided missiles to destroy rockets, mortars and drones in mid-air and determines whether a rocket will hit a populated area before engaging.
  • A naval version of Iron Dome was deployed in 2017 to protect ships and sea-based assets.
  • Ground-based high-power laser system Iron Beam, developed for over a decade and declared fully operational in late 2025, intercepts UAVs and mortars at lower cost than missile-based interceptors.
  • United States (US) military deployed Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) to Israel in October 2024 to intercept short, medium and intermediate-range ballistic missiles in their terminal phase.
  • US ground-based systems and a US Navy destroyer in the Eastern Mediterranean helped shoot down Iranian missiles fired at Israel in June 2025.
  • Israeli combat helicopters and fighter jets have fired air-to-air missiles to destroy drones heading toward Israel.

Supreme Court (SC) reiterates right to vote and contest elections are statutory, not fundamental rights.

[Supreme Court of India]

Key Updates:

  • Supreme Court bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahadevan set aside Rajasthan High Court orders that had struck down eligibility conditions for District Milk Producers’ Cooperative Unions elections.
  • Verdict dated April 10, 2026 held that neither right to vote nor right to contest election is a fundamental right and both are purely statutory rights that can be regulated by law.
  • Court upheld bye-laws requiring minimum milk supply and operational continuity as valid eligibility criteria, not unconstitutional disqualifications.
  • Supreme Court ruled cooperative societies are not 'State' under Article 12, so writ petitions under Article 226 were not maintainable and statutory remedies under Rajasthan Cooperative Societies Act should have been exhausted first.

Similar Coverage

International Election Visitors’ Programme (IEVP) 2026 showcases Assembly Polls in Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry (Mid of April) ▼
  • The Election Commission of India (ECI) organised the International Election Visitors’ Programme (IEVP) 2026 during the Assembly elections in Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry.
  • A total of 38 delegates representing 22 nations participated in the programme to witness the electoral process firsthand on 8 and 9 April 2026.
  • The delegates observed the systematic movement of polling parties and visited CCTV control rooms monitoring 100 per cent webcasting of polling stations.
  • The visit included the observation of mock polls and the inspection of inclusive facilities such as ramps, wheelchairs, and creches at polling stations.
  • Specialised polling stations managed entirely by women and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) were showcased to the international participants.
  • The IEVP is a flagship initiative designed to foster engagement between the ECI and international Election Management Bodies (EMBs).
National Voters’ Day observed on January 25 (End of January) ▼
  • National Voters’ Day is celebrated every year on January 25 to mark the establishment of the Election Commission of India (ECI) on January 25, 1950.
  • The day was first observed in 2011 and 2025 marks the 14th National Voters’ Day.
  • The minimum voting age in India was lowered from 21 to 18 years by the 61st Constitutional Amendment that came into effect in 1988.
  • Key objectives of the day are to encourage voter registration, promote ethical and informed voting, highlight the importance of free and fair elections, and strengthen democracy through public participation.
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.
Election Commission of India (ECI) to host inaugural India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026 from January 21 to 23, 2026 (End of January) ▼
  • The Election Commission of India (ECI) will host the inaugural India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026 from January 21 to 23, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
  • The theme for the conference is ‘Democracy for an inclusive, peaceful, resilient, and sustainable world’.
  • The 3-day international conference is being organised by the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) under the aegis of the ECI.
  • Almost three dozen member states of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) will participate, including the United States (US), Mauritius, Brazil, and South Africa.
  • The event will feature 42 Election Management Bodies (EMBs) from across the world and more than 90 international delegates.
  • The summit will include 36 thematic groups covering 11 modern international electoral standards and 25 best practices, including the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in elections.
  • Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi, will hold over 40 bilateral meetings with international delegates.

Viktor Orbán concedes defeat as Péter Magyar set to become Hungary’s Prime Minister.

[Hungary]

Key Updates:

  • Viktor Orbán conceded defeat after the opposition Tisza party was projected to win 135 of 199 parliamentary seats.
  • Orbán’s Fidesz party was projected to secure 57 seats based on results with nearly half of votes counted.
  • Péter Magyar, leader of the Tisza party, is on course to become Hungary’s new Prime Minister after Orbán’s 16-year tenure since 2010.
  • European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen posted that Hungary has chosen Europe and the Union grows stronger.
  • U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance joined Orbán in Budapest days before the election to boost his campaign.
  • The EU suspended billions of dollars in funding to Hungary in 2022 over rule-of-law standard violations.

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Yoweri Museveni re-elected as President of Uganda (Mid of January) ▼
  • Yoweri Museveni won a seventh term with 71.65 percent of the vote, defeating main challenger Bobi Wine who received 24.72 percent.
  • Bobi Wine, real name Robert Kyagulanyi, claimed he escaped a police and army raid on his house and remains in hiding while his family is under house arrest.
  • Election observers led by former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan reported intimidation, arrests and abductions targeting the opposition and civil society.
  • A nationwide internet blackout disrupted observation of the vote and increased suspicion, though observers said Election Day itself was peaceful.
  • The Ugandan opposition alleged at least 10 people were killed by police in Butambala, while local authorities reported seven deaths after alleged opposition attacks on a police station.
North Korea holds 2026 Supreme People's Assembly elections (Mid of March) ▼
  • Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) secured 99.93 per cent of votes in the March 15 parliamentary elections.
  • Voter turnout was 99.99 per cent.
  • 0.07 per cent electors voted against the WPK candidates.
  • 0.0037 per cent voters were unable to cast their votes and 0.00003 per cent abstained.
  • The Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) has 687 deputies elected from different regions.
  • For each seat only one candidate selected by the party stands and voters choose 'yes' or 'no'.
Narendra Modi becomes India’s longest-serving head of elected government (End of March) ▼
  • Narendra Modi became the longest-serving head of an elected government in India by completing 8,931 days in office.
  • He surpassed the record of 8,930 days previously held by Pawan Kumar Chamling, the former Chief Minister (CM) of Sikkim.
  • His total leadership period includes serving as the CM of Gujarat from 7 October 2001 to May 2014 and as the Prime Minister (PM) of India since 26 May 2014.
  • He is the first Indian PM born after Independence and the first non-Congress PM to complete two full terms and return for a third.
  • He holds the record for being the longest-serving CM of Gujarat and the PM with the most prior experience as a CM.
  • He has secured three consecutive victories in the general elections held in 2014, 2019, and 2024.
  • He became the first serving world leader to reach 100 million followers on Instagram and has over 30 million subscribers on YouTube and 106 million followers on X.
To Lam elected as Vietnam's president for five-year term. (Start of April) ▼
  • To Lam was unanimously elected as Vietnam's president by all 495 deputies present at the National Assembly session.
  • To Lam holds the dual role of Communist Party Secretary General and state president, consolidating unprecedented power.
  • The parliament will elect a new prime minister later on Tuesday to replace outgoing Pham Minh Chinh.
  • To Lam pledged to maintain peace and stability as the foundation for fast and sustainable growth.
  • He proposed a new growth model targeting double-digit annual growth for the next five years.

Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI) records 30.2% surge in India patent filings to 1.43 lakh in FY 2025-26

Key Updates:

  • Patent applications filed in India rose 30.2% to 1,43,729 in 2025-26 from 1,10,375 in 2024-25.
  • Domestic filings accounted for over 69% of total applications, with Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra leading.
  • Patent filings have climbed every year since 2016-17, when they stood at 45,444.
  • Government measures include reduced fees for startups, small entities, and educational institutions; expedited examination; and pro bono facilitation for Indian startups.
  • Applications are examined under a two-tier system of the Patents Act, 1970, with pre-grant and post-grant opposition provisions.

Similar Coverage

Tracxn reports Indian tech startups raise USD 11.7 billion in FY26, down 18% from FY25 (Mid of April) ▼
  • Indian tech startups raised USD 11.7 billion in FY 2025-26, an 18% decline from USD 14.3 billion in FY 2024-25.
  • Early-stage funding surged 33% to USD 4.8 billion in FY26 from USD 3.6 billion in FY25.
  • India ranked fourth-highest funded country globally in FY26, behind the US, UK, and China.
  • FinTech firms secured USD 2.4 billion in FY26, up 14% from USD 2.1 billion in FY25.
  • Enterprise Applications received USD 3.6 billion in FY26, same as FY25.
  • Late-stage startups raised USD 5.6 billion in FY26, down 38% from USD 9.2 billion in FY25.
  • Seed-stage funding declined 15% to USD 1.3 billion in FY26 from USD 1.5 billion in FY25.
  • India witnessed 13 funding rounds above USD 100 million in FY26, compared to 23 in FY25.
  • India Tech recorded 47 IPOs in FY26, up 52% from 31 IPOs in FY25.
  • Six unicorns were created in FY26, a 50% increase from four in FY25.
Karnataka hosts 39% of India’s 890 GenAI startups as ecosystem triples in H1 2025 (End of January) ▼
  • Karnataka accounts for 39% of India’s Generative AI (GenAI) startups as per Economic Survey 2025-26.
  • India’s GenAI startup count surged threefold to 890 in the first half of 2025 from 240 in the first half of 2024.
  • GenAI startups raised $76.4 million year-to-date across 18 funding rounds as per Tracxn data.
  • Deep tech industry funding rose 78% during calendar year 2024.
  • Karnataka leads the country with 43 State Public Universities supporting the talent pipeline.
  • India’s technology startup ecosystem is ranked third-largest globally.
  • India operates a deep-tech Fund of Funds under the ₹1 lakh crore RDI initiative to finance advanced research.
  • Karnataka’s tier-2 and tier-3 cities are witnessing spill-over growth in deep-tech and advanced manufacturing.
  • India’s space sector is projected to reach $44 billion by 2047 with over 300 startups, with Bengaluru and Belagavi as key hubs.
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) data shows UPI transactions hit record ₹29.52 trillion in March (Start of April) ▼
  • UPI transactions reached an all-time high of ₹29.52 trillion in March 2026, up 10% from ₹26.84 trillion in February.
  • Transaction volume rose 11% to 22.64 billion in March from 20.39 billion in February.
  • Daily UPI transactions in March averaged 730.36 million, marking a 24% increase over the previous fiscal.
  • For FY26, UPI value grew 21% to ₹314.23 trillion and volume surged 30% to 241.616 billion.
  • Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) volume increased 9% to 366 million and value rose 15% to ₹7.4 trillion in March.
  • FASTag transactions grew 4% to 364 million with value up from ₹6,925 crore to ₹7,193 crore in March.
  • Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS) transactions jumped 23% to 111 million and value climbed 24% to ₹31,956 crore in March.
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) records USD 51 billion FDI inflow in six months (Mid of January) ▼
  • India has received foreign direct investment (FDI) worth USD 51 billion in the last six months.
  • DPIIT will organise National Startup Day on January 16, during which 75 Grand Challenges will be launched to foster innovation and problem-solving across sectors.
  • More than 3,000 requests have been received to participate in National Startup Day.
  • 20 National Startup Awards will be presented on National Startup Day to recognise excellence in entrepreneurship.

World Bank (WB) releases USD 340 million for Amaravati Capital Phase-I development

[World Bank, Andhra Pradesh]

Key Updates:

  • The World Bank (WB) has released USD 340 million for the Amaravati Capital Phase-I development in Andhra Pradesh as of April 2026.
  • The WB and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have committed a total of USD 1,600 million for the project, with each entity contributing USD 800 million.
  • The Central Government will fund ₹1,400 crore out of the ₹15,000 crore committed for the capital development.
  • The loan has a 29-year final maturity and a six-year grace period, with repayment scheduled to begin on June 15, 2031.
  • The interest rate for the funding is approximately 8% to 8.5% and will fluctuate based on international rates.
  • The Amaravati Integrated Urban Development Programme (AIUDP) is being implemented under the Program for Results framework, linking disbursements to milestones.
  • Flood management works have achieved over 35% completion across six locations in the capital region.

Similar Coverage

Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2026 to declare Amaravati as state capital (Start of April) ▼
  • The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2026 will be introduced in the Lok Sabha on 1 April 2026.
  • The bill seeks to amend section 5 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014 to designate Amaravati as the capital of Andhra Pradesh.
  • The amendment clarifies that Amaravati includes all areas notified under the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority Act 2014.
  • The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed a resolution on 28 March 2026 requesting the Centre to enact the amendment.
  • The proposed amendment will be effective retrospectively from 2 June 2024.
Urban Challenge Fund approved with Rs 1 lakh crore Central assistance (Mid of February) ▼
  • Union Cabinet approved Rs 1 lakh crore Urban Challenge Fund to support urban infrastructure projects over five years.
  • Cities must raise at least 50% of project cost from market through municipal bonds, bank loans, and public-private partnerships.
  • Fund provides 25% Central assistance for projects where 50% cost is market-raised, covering projects worth Rs 4 lakh crore.
  • Operational period is 2025-26 to 2030-31, extendable up to 2033-34.
  • Projects identified via challenge-based framework covering urban mobility, water supply, sewerage, and legacy infrastructure retrofitting.
  • Credit repayment guarantee scheme of Rs 5,000 crore approved for north-east/hilly states and cities below 1 lakh population, offering Central guarantee up to Rs 7 crore or 70% of loan amount for first-time borrowers.
  • Administrative control of projects remains with state governments and urban local bodies.
Bembla River Project approved with Rs4,775 crore outlay (Mid of January) ▼
  • The Maharashtra cabinet approved Rs4,775 crore for the completion of the long-pending Bembla river project in Yavatmal district.
  • Once completed, the scheme is expected to bring irrigation to 58,768ha of cultivable land across Ner, Babhulgaon, Kalamb, Ralegaon and Maregaon talukas of Yavatmal district.
  • An allocation of Rs89.32 crore was approved for the rehabilitation of Mouza Dhamak village in Amravati district.
Amaravati Quantum Valley to host India's first 133-qubit quantum computer with £600-million investment. (Start of February) ▼
  • Andhra Pradesh government earmarked 50 acres at Uddandarayunipalem village in Thullur mandal for the Amaravati Quantum Valley.
  • The foundation stone was laid on 7 February by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Union Minister for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh.
  • The Valley will house India's first 133-qubit quantum computer through partnerships with IBM, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
  • The project represents a £600-million investment aligned with India's National Quantum Mission.
  • The state will sign memoranda of understanding with nine leading companies during the foundation ceremony.
  • The Quantum Valley building is scheduled for completion by August, with quantum computer installation targeted for December.
  • The initiative is expected to create approximately 88,000 jobs and train hundreds of thousands of students.

Union Cabinet approves National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) with ₹16,300 crore expenditure and ₹18,000 crore expected investment.

Key Updates:

  • The Union Cabinet approved the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) with an expenditure of ₹16,300 crore and an expected investment of ₹18,000 crore by public sector undertakings (PSUs) and other stakeholders.
  • Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the mission in the Union Budget 2024-25.
  • The NCMM will cover exploration, mining, processing, and recycling stages of the value chain.
  • The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has 195 ongoing exploration projects in FY 2024-25 and plans 227 projects for FY 2025-26.
  • Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) has acquired 15,703 hectares in Argentina’s Catamarca province for lithium exploration and mining.
  • The government removed customs duties on most critical minerals in the Union Budget 2024-25.

Similar Coverage

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.
Coking Coal Notified as Critical and Strategic Mineral to Cut Steel Import Dependence (End of January) ▼
  • The government notified coking coal as a 'Critical and Strategic Mineral' under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.
  • The decision follows recommendations of the High-Level Committee on Implementation of Viksit Bharat Goals and policy inputs from NITI Aayog.
  • India holds an estimated 37.37 billion tonnes of coking coal resources, mainly in Jharkhand, with additional reserves in Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh.
  • Coking coal imports rose from 51.20 million tonnes in 2020–21 to 57.58 million tonnes in 2024–25.
  • About 95% of the steel sector’s coking coal requirement is currently met through imports.
  • The amendment adds 'Coking Coal' to Part D of the First Schedule of the MMDR Act, listing it among Critical and Strategic Minerals.
  • Mining of critical minerals is exempt from public consultation and allows use of degraded forest land for compensatory afforestation to encourage private sector participation.
  • Royalty, auction premium and other statutory payments will continue to go to state governments under Section 11D(3) of the MMDR Act.

Department of Posts releases commemorative stamps honouring ISRO's space milestones

[Karnataka, ISRO]

Key Updates:

  • Department of Posts (DoP) released two commemorative postage stamps to mark India's space achievements led by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
  • The stamps depict India's journey from its first satellite Aryabhata to the upcoming Gaganyaan mission.
  • ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to reach the International Space Station, attended the unveiling event in Bengaluru.
  • The stamps and accompanying souvenir sheets highlight India's goal to establish an Indian space station named Bharatiya Antariksha by 2035.

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Postal Training Centre Saharanpur Platinum Jubilee Commemorative Stamp Released on 02-04-2026 (Start of April) ▼
  • 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.
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.
Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla received Ashoka Chakra; Lieutenant Commander Dilna K and Lieutenant Commander Roopa A received Shaurya Chakra. (End of January) ▼
  • President Droupadi Murmu approved Gallantry awards for 70 Armed Forces personnel on the eve of Republic Day 2026.
  • Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission in June last year.
  • Lieutenant Commander Dilna K sailed over 25,600 nautical miles through the Indian, Pacific, Atlantic and Southern Oceans during Navika Sagar Parikrama II aboard INSV Tarini between October 2, 2024 and May 29, 2025.
  • The gallantry decorations include three Kirti Chakras, 13 Shaurya Chakras (one posthumous), one Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry), 44 Sena Medals (Gallantry) (five posthumous), six Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry), and two Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry).
Dr A. E. Muthunayagam Awarded Padma Shri 2026 in Science and Engineering (End of January) ▼
  • Dr A. E. Muthunayagam, a veteran scientist of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, was awarded the Padma Shri 2026 in the field of Science and Engineering.
  • He served as the founding Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) from November 1985 to April 1994.
  • He was the Project Manager for the Vikas engine project, developed with a French aerospace company, and oversaw liquid propulsion systems for the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).
  • He was among the first batch of scientists recruited by Vikram Sarabhai in 1966 for India’s emerging space programme.
  • He held the position of Chairman of the Board of Governors at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras from 2005 to 2008.
  • He previously served as the Secretary of the Department of Ocean Development and Executive Vice-President of the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment.
  • He holds an engineering degree from the University of Madras, a master's from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), a doctorate from Purdue University, and an LLB from the University of Kerala.
  • He is a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) and the Astronautical Society of India (ASI), and a foreign member of the Academy of Cosmonautics, Moscow.

U.S.-Iran talks collapse in Pakistan with no deal as ceasefire clock ticks

[United States, Iran, Pakistan]

Key Updates:

  • Vice President JD Vance led the U.S. delegation for 21-hour talks with Iranian officials in Islamabad, Pakistan.
  • The two-week U.S.-Iran ceasefire remains intact but expires in eight days.
  • Key sticking points were Iran’s nuclear programme and control of the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Iranian parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the U.S. failed to gain Tehran’s trust.
  • Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar urged both sides to uphold the ceasefire and continue dialogue.
  • HRANA reports almost 3,400 people, including over 1,600 civilians, killed in Iran since the war began.
  • President Donald Trump announced an immediate U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz to counter Iranian mining.

Similar Coverage

Iran proposes 10-point peace plan amid United States and Israel attacks and 7 April 2026 deadline (Start of April) ▼
  • Iran has proposed a 10-point peace plan to end the conflict as the United States (US) and Israel intensify military attacks on Iranian territory.
  • US President Donald Trump set a deadline of 8:00 PM Washington time on Tuesday, 7 April 2026, for Iran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
  • The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy corridor through which 20 percent of the world's oil and gas supplies pass.
  • Pakistan is mediating talks in Islamabad and has put forward a 45-day ceasefire proposal to both US and Iranian negotiators.
  • The Iranian 10-point plan includes clauses for ending regional conflicts, a protocol for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, the lifting of sanctions, and reconstruction.
  • A previous 15-point US proposal delivered via Pakistan included a 30-day ceasefire, dismantling of nuclear facilities, and missile limits in exchange for sanctions removal.
  • The US proposal also offered support for electricity generation at the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Recent military strikes on 6 April 2026 targeted Iran’s top university, a major petrochemical plant, and a synagogue in Tehran.
  • The ongoing conflict has resulted in the displacement of 1.2 million people in Lebanon due to Israeli attacks.
  • Iran has increased its uranium enrichment levels to nearly 60 percent purity following the 2021 attack on the Natanz nuclear facility.
  • The United Nations (UN) nuclear watchdog stated that Iran was not currently in a position to manufacture a nuclear weapon.
Israel announces readiness for direct talks with Lebanon amid strikes (Mid of April) ▼
  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on 9 April 2026 instructed his cabinet to start direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible.
  • Netanyahu stated the talks will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful Israel-Lebanon relations.
  • Israeli strikes across Lebanon on 8 April 2026 killed more than 300 people and wounded over 1,000, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
  • Lebanon’s cabinet ordered security forces to restrict weapons in Beirut to state institutions alone.
  • Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Fayyad rejected direct negotiations with Israel and demanded an Israeli troop withdrawal and ceasefire first.
  • Since 2 March 2026, Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,888 people and displaced over 1.2 million inside Lebanon, the United Nations reported.
  • US and Iranian delegations are scheduled to meet in Islamabad, Pakistan on 11 April 2026 to discuss ending the five-week US-Israel war on Iran.
US-Israel Peace Proposal for Iran War on 25 March 2026 (End of March) ▼
  • The United States (US) and Israel initiated a military conflict against Iran on 28 February 2026.
  • United States President Donald Trump proposed a 15-point peace plan delivered to Iran via Pakistan, suggesting a one-month ceasefire.
  • The plan mandates the dismantling of Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities at Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow.
  • The proposal requires Iran to surrender its enriched uranium stockpile to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
  • The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) closed the Strait of Hormuz to shipping at the start of the conflict, later permitting passage for Indian, Pakistani, and Chinese-flagged vessels.
  • Brent crude oil prices rose from a pre-war benchmark of approximately $65 to over $100 per barrel during the hostilities.
  • Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed as the new Supreme Leader of Iran following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on 28 February 2026.
  • The Bushehr civil nuclear plant, located 750 kilometres south of Tehran, is the only commercial nuclear power facility in Iran.
  • The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is the 2015 nuclear agreement from which the US unilaterally withdrew in 2018.
  • The 15-point plan includes the removal of sanctions and the ending of the United Nations (UN) mechanism for reimposing them.
  • The Iranian health ministry reported 1,500 fatalities and 18,551 injuries in Iran as of 25 March 2026.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) cancels plan to operate Islamabad International Airport after President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit to India (End of January) ▼
  • The United Arab Emirates (UAE) scrapped plans to operate Islamabad International Airport days after President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s surprise visit to India.
  • The airport project was under discussion since August 2025 but collapsed after Abu Dhabi failed to find a local partner and reportedly lost interest.
  • The Express Tribune confirmed the cancellation was not officially linked to politics.
  • Saudi Arabia and the UAE are publicly at odds, particularly over Yemen, with Riyadh opposing UAE-backed separatist factions.
  • Pakistan deepened defence ties with Saudi Arabia, aiming to form an 'Islamic NATO' alongside Turkey.
  • During the India visit, the UAE President approved release of 900 Indian prisoners and signed a Letter of Intent for a Framework Agreement on Defence Cooperation with India.
  • Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement in September 2025 treating any aggression against one as aggression against both.

India to host BRICS senior officials meeting bringing Iran and UAE together

[Iran, United Arab Emirates, BRICS]

Key Updates:

  • India is hosting a BRICS senior officials meeting under its BRICS presidency that will see Iran and the UAE face to face for the first time since the West Asian conflict.
  • The meeting agenda covers broader West Asian and North African issues including Palestine, Syria, Yemen and Lebanon.
  • Iran, the UAE and Saudi Arabia are all BRICS members.
  • BRICS could not issue a statement on the war earlier as consensus eluded it due to differences between Iran and UAE.
  • Egypt, a BRICS member and India's strategic partner, is assisting India to hold the meeting and subsequent events including the foreign ministers' meet in May and the summit in September.
  • Russian support has also been extended to India's BRICS Presidency.

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to visit Delhi on 14-15 May for BRICS foreign ministers meeting (Start of April) ▼
  • Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit New Delhi on 14-15 May to attend the BRICS foreign ministers meeting.
  • The meeting will finalise the general outlines of the documents to be submitted to the BRICS summit under India’s 2026 presidency.
  • Lavrov will hold a separate working visit to meet External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and other Indian officials.
India and Azerbaijan launch Confidence Building Mechanism during high-level meeting in Baku (Start of April) ▼
  • 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.
India launches BRICS India 2026 logo featuring lotus and Namaste gesture (Mid of January) ▼
  • India formally launched the logo and official website for its BRICS Presidency 2026 in New Delhi.
  • The logo is inspired by the lotus, India’s national flower, with inner petals forming two hands in a Namaste gesture.
  • Five petals are coloured to represent the founding BRICS members: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
  • External affairs minister S Jaishankar stated the theme underscores strengthening capacities, promoting innovation and ensuring sustainable development.
  • India’s 2026 BRICS chairship priorities are resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability across political-security, economic-financial and cultural-people-to-people pillars.
India and UAE to co-chair 2nd India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi (End of January) ▼
  • The 2nd India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting will be held in New Delhi on Saturday, co-chaired by India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
  • Foreign ministers of 20 Arab League member states and the Arab League Secretary-General will participate in the meeting.
  • The first India-Arab Foreign Ministers’ Meeting took place in Bahrain in 2016, and the current meeting occurs after a 10-year gap.
  • The 2016 meeting identified five priority cooperation verticals: economy, energy, education, media and culture.
  • Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin urged increased Indian participation in Gaza reconstruction and continued support to UNRWA for Palestinian refugees.
  • India has supported Palestinian education through schools in the West Bank and higher education centres in Gaza, some of which were destroyed in the last two years.
  • The Gaza peace plan and regional peace and stability are expected agenda items at the meeting.

Andhra Pradesh unveils India’s first open-access quantum computer test beds at Amaravati Quantum Valley

[Andhra Pradesh]

Key Updates:

  • Andhra Pradesh launched two open-access quantum computer test beds under the Amaravati Quantum Valley project.
  • The 1Q test bed is located at Medha Towers and the 1S test bed at SRM University, Amaravati.
  • Both systems use entirely locally developed components and operate at about minus 273°C.
  • Technical support was provided by Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
  • The 1Q test bed was set up by Qubitech and Qbit Force; the 1S test bed uses superconducting technology.
  • Delhi-based QUTE Electronics developed the ultra-low noise power supply systems with six decimal point stability.
  • The mission aims to create 100 quantum algorithms within the next two years.
  • Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu will unveil the facilities on April 14, World Quantum Day.

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Andhra Pradesh to unveil India's first open-access quantum computer in Amaravati (Start of April) ▼
  • Andhra Pradesh (AP) will launch India's first open-access quantum computer on 14 April 2026 at the SRM University campus in Amaravati.
  • The quantum computer is a collaborative initiative between SRM University and Qubit Force to provide research and testing access to students and researchers.
  • The state government has established the Amaravati Quantum Valley (AQV) to facilitate indigenous quantum hardware manufacturing, system integration, and algorithm development.
  • AP is the first state in India to implement a dedicated quantum computing policy, with the State Quantum Computing Mission currently operating from Medha Towers in Vijayawada.
  • The project aligns with the National Quantum Mission (NQM) and aims to position AP as one of the top five global quantum hubs by 2030.
  • International Business Machines (IBM), Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) are partnering with the state to establish these computing capabilities.
  • The initiative involves participation from central institutions including the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).
  • Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed stakeholders to achieve domestic manufacturing of quantum computing hardware within the next two years.
OmSpace Rocket and Exploration (OSRE) Test-Fires Sounding Rocket in Gujarat (Mid of March) ▼
  • OmSpace Rocket and Exploration (OSRE) successfully launched a 4.2-metre sounding rocket from Bavaliyari near Dholera, becoming the first entity to launch a rocket from Gujarat.
  • The single-stage sub-orbital rocket reached a target altitude of 3 kilometres before executing a safe landing using a dual-parachute recovery system.
  • The mission validated several indigenous technologies, including a 3D-printed torch igniter, a sugar-based solid propellant motor, and a carbon fibre and advanced composites-based airframe.
  • The rocket components were entirely researched, developed, and manufactured in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
  • The launch was conducted with permissions from the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the Airport Authority of India (AAI).
  • The data from this flight will be used to develop Infinity One, an orbital-class reusable launch vehicle currently under development by OSRE.
  • The event was attended by the Gujarat State Science and Technology Minister, Arjun Modhwadia.
Ministry of Science and Technology approves quantum teaching facilities at 23 institutions under National Quantum Mission (Mid of March) ▼
  • The Union government approved establishing quantum teaching facilities or laboratories in 23 academic institutions across India under the National Quantum Mission.
  • 100 more institutions are under consideration for similar facilities to support advanced research and training in emerging quantum technologies.
  • The decision was disclosed during a joint monthly meeting of secretaries of science ministries and departments led by Minister Jitendra Singh.
  • Principal Scientific Adviser Ajay Kumar Sood attended the meeting.
  • The meeting reviewed preparations for the next PSLV mission expected later this year and upcoming satellite launches.
  • Plans for launching the next navigation satellite for the Navy around May were discussed.
  • A large technology exhibition is proposed in New Delhi from May 11 to 13 for National Technology Day celebrations.
  • The exhibition is expected to bring together over 3,000 stakeholders and showcase more than 500 technologies and innovations.
  • The Department of Science and Technology is examining updates to manpower guidelines for project staff to align with the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) framework.
Amaravati Quantum Valley to host India's first 133-qubit quantum computer with £600-million investment. (Start of February) ▼
  • Andhra Pradesh government earmarked 50 acres at Uddandarayunipalem village in Thullur mandal for the Amaravati Quantum Valley.
  • The foundation stone was laid on 7 February by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Union Minister for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh.
  • The Valley will house India's first 133-qubit quantum computer through partnerships with IBM, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
  • The project represents a £600-million investment aligned with India's National Quantum Mission.
  • The state will sign memoranda of understanding with nine leading companies during the foundation ceremony.
  • The Quantum Valley building is scheduled for completion by August, with quantum computer installation targeted for December.
  • The initiative is expected to create approximately 88,000 jobs and train hundreds of thousands of students.

Jannik Sinner beats Carlos Alcaraz to win Monte Carlo Masters 2026

[Monaco]

Key Updates:

  • Jannik Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(5), 6-3 in the Monte Carlo Masters final on Court Rainier III at the Monte-Carlo Country Club in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.
  • The victory gave Sinner his first Masters title on clay and reclaimed the ATP world number one ranking.
  • Sinner became only the second player after Novak Djokovic in 2015 to win the Sunshine Double and Monte Carlo in the same season.
  • This was Sinner’s fourth consecutive Masters 1000 crown and his eighth Masters title overall.

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Jannik Sinner beats Jiří Lehečka to win 2026 Miami Open (Start of April) ▼
  • Jannik Sinner defeated Jiří Lehečka 6-4, 6-4 in the men’s singles final of the 2026 Miami Open on 29 March.
  • The victory gave Sinner the rare 'Sunshine Double' after also winning Indian Wells earlier in 2026.
  • The match was delayed 90 minutes at the start and halted again for 80 minutes in the second set due to rain.
  • Sinner extended his ATP Masters 1000-level winning streak to 34 consecutive sets.
  • The final was played in Florida, United States of America.
Kimi Antonelli wins Japanese Grand Prix to become youngest F1 championship leader (Start of April) ▼
  • Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes won the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka on 29 March 2026.
  • Antonelli became the youngest driver in Formula One history to lead the world championship standings at 19 years old.
  • Oscar Piastri of McLaren finished second and Charles Leclerc of Ferrari third.
  • George Russell of Mercedes, who started the day leading the championship, finished fourth.
  • Lando Norris of McLaren was fifth, Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari sixth, Pierre Gasly of Alpine seventh, and Max Verstappen of Red Bull eighth.
  • The next race is the Miami Grand Prix on 3 May 2026 after Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races were cancelled due to war in the Middle East.
George Russell wins 2026 Australian Grand Prix for Mercedes (Start of March) ▼
  • George Russell (No. 63 Mercedes) won the season-opening 2026 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
  • Russell secured pole position and led a Mercedes 1-2 finish with teammate Kimi Antonelli (No. 12) in second place.
  • Charles Leclerc (No. 16 Ferrari) finished third after Ferrari’s strategy error.
  • Oscar Piastri (No. 81 McLaren) crashed 40 minutes before the start after hitting a curb and did not start the race.
  • The Mercedes power-unit, under scrutiny from rival teams, remains legal and powered Russell to victory.

Meenakshi Goyat bags silver; Sujeet, Abhimanyou, Sandeep enter gold medal bouts

Key Updates:

  • Meenakshi Goyat added a third silver to India’s tally in the women’s 53kg category at the Senior Asian Wrestling Championships.
  • Meenakshi lost 0-10 against China’s Jin Zhang in the 53-kg final, an Olympic Games weight classification.
  • Monika defeated Hanbit Lee of South Korea 9-0 to win bronze in the women’s 65kg category.
  • Harshita defeated Sevinchoy Polvonova 5-0 to win bronze in the women’s 72kg category.
  • India’s overall medals tally stands at three silver and seven bronze medals.
  • Sujeet (65kg) defeated Abdulmazhid Kudiev of Tajikistan 7-2 in the semi-final and will face Umidjon Jalolov of Uzbekistan in the final.
  • Abhimanyou (70kg) defeated defending champion Ernazar Akmataliev of Kyrgyzstan 6-3 and will face Tumur Ochir of Mongolia in the final.
  • Sandeep Mann (79kg) defeated Somonjon Ikromov of Tajikistan 10-0 in the semi-final and will face Japan’s Keyvan Gharehdaghi in the gold medal bout.
  • Vicky will contest for bronze in the 97kg category after losing 0-2 to Amirali Azarpira of Iran in the semi-final.
  • Ankush will challenge Fuga Sasaki of Japan for bronze in the men’s 57kg freestyle.

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India tops Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship 2026 with 94 medals (Mid of February) ▼
  • India finished the Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship, New Delhi 2026, at Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range with 94 medals: 51 gold, 23 silver, 20 bronze.
  • On the final day India added six gold, three silver, four bronze medals.
  • Amanpreet Singh won 25m centre fire pistol gold with 589-24x; Gurpreet Singh took silver with 584-20x; Ankur Goel claimed bronze with 570-11x; the trio secured team gold.
  • Suraj Sharma won 25m Pistol Junior gold with 585-25x; Mukesh Nelavalli secured silver with 582-21x; Abhinav Deshwal took bronze with 573-17x; the trio also won team gold.
  • Sift Kaur Samra won 50m Rifle Prone women senior silver with 623.2; Tejaswani Sawant claimed bronze; Yelizaveta Bezrukova of Kazakhstan won gold; Sift, Tejaswani and Manini Kaushik combined for team gold.
  • Dhavalika Devi Nyamurus secured 50m Rifle Prone women junior bronze with 614.1; Prachi Gaikwad, Anuskha Thokur and Devi combined for team gold.
S G Roshini wins gold at 29th All India National Martial Arts’ Championship 2026 (End of January) ▼
  • S G Roshini, a Class IX student from Vedavalli Vidyalaya, NPS Senior Secondary School in Ranipet (TN), won the gold medal at the 29th All India National Martial Arts’ Championship 2026.
  • The championship was held in Goa on January 25.
  • The event selected promising talent in traditional Indian martial arts including silambam.
Army defends Khelo India Winter Games team championship (End of February) ▼
  • Army defended their Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) team championship title by winning nine gold medals overall, eight in the Gulmarg edition.
  • Himachal Pradesh finished as runners-up in the team championship.
  • Jammu & Kashmir clinched their first gold of KIWG 2026 through Zubaid Ahmad Lone in the men's giant slalom snowboarding event.
  • Bhavani Thekkada Nanjunda of Karnataka won the Nordic women's sprint across 1.5 km.
  • Mayank Panwar of Army was the slalom man of the Games with a pair of gold medals.
  • In the 15 km nordic skiing race, Mohammad Ali (34:21.49 secs) led Army 1-2-3, followed by Padma Namgail (34:36.74 secs) and Sunny Singh (35:16.83 secs).
  • Kajal Kumari Rai of CRPF, Mayank Panwar of Army, and Preeti Thakur of Himachal Pradesh each finished with double gold medals in snowboarding.
Shailesh Kumar wins gold at World Para Athletics Grand Prix New Delhi (Mid of March) ▼
  • Shailesh Kumar claimed gold in men’s high jump T63 with a best jump of 1.84 m at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in New Delhi.
  • The event marked his 2026 season opener after being reigning world champion.
  • More than 200 Indian athletes are competing in the Grand Prix which serves as a key classification event.
  • Asian Para Games is the season’s priority target for Indian para-athletes including Shailesh Kumar.

Sarun Payasingh wins Indian Athletics Series long jump title in Ranchi

Key Updates:

  • Odisha’s Sarun Payasingh won the men’s long jump with a leap of 7.46 m at the fourth leg of the Indian Athletics Series in Ranchi.
  • Maharashtra’s Sarvesh Anil Kushare claimed the men’s high jump title clearing 2.19 m.
  • Railways’ Vithya Ramraj won the women’s 400 m hurdles in 57.02 seconds.
  • Maharashtra’s Aniket took the men’s 100 m in 10.60 secs, followed by Rohan Ghosh (West Bengal) 10.68 secs and Varun Oori (Tamil Nadu) 10.74 secs.
  • Odisha’s Mahendra Santa won the men’s 200 m in 21.96 secs, ahead of Paras (Himachal Pradesh) 22.31 secs and Pijush Ghosh (West Bengal) 22.37 secs.
  • West Bengal’s Md Mahasin Awal topped the men’s 800 m in 1:53.21, followed by Debraj Mallick (West Bengal) 1:53.62 and Vipin Kumar (Uttar Pradesh) 1:54.42.
  • Uttar Pradesh’s Sandeep Pal won the men’s 5 000 m in 14:11.62, ahead of Shivaji P (Reliance) 14:15.15 and Mrunal Sarode (Army) 14:16.84.
  • Reliance’s Krishik M led the men’s 110 m hurdles in 13.72 secs, with Rathish (Reliance) 14.10 secs and Majgul M (Gujarat) 15.15 secs.
  • Rajasthan’s Shakti Singh won the men’s 400 m hurdles in 51.34 secs, followed by Karthik Y (Andhra Pradesh) 51.71 secs and Murad Sirman (Gujarat) 51.78 secs.
  • Maharashtra’s Uttam headed the men’s javelin with 74.85 m, ahead of Naryana Singh (NCOE Patiala) 66.62 m and Arun Modi (Bihar) 64.22 m.
  • Odisha’s Mousumi Roy won both women’s 100 m (11.83 secs) and 200 m (24.79 secs).
  • Haryana’s Bharti claimed the women’s 5 000 m in 16:55.42, followed by Mamta Pal (All India Police) 17:55.45 and Mitali Deepak (Maharashtra) 18:23.04.
  • Navy’s Ancy Sojan topped the women’s long jump with 6.45 m, ahead of Manisha Merel (Odisha) 5.78 m and Bidisha Kundu (West Bengal) 5.73 m.

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Murali Sreeshankar wins India Athletics Series 1 long jump with 8.15m leap (Start of April) ▼
  • Murali Sreeshankar leapt 8.15m to win the men’s long jump at the opening Indian Athletics Series held at Kanteerava Stadium.
  • Sreeshankar, representing NCOE Trivandrum, recorded his winning jump in his fourth attempt.
  • Sunny Kumar of Bihar finished second with 7.90m and Purushotham of Karnataka was third with 7.87m.
  • Ancy Sojan of Reliance won the women’s long jump with 6.54m, followed by Shaili Singh with 6.52m and Moumita Mondal with 6.37m.
  • Tamil Nadu pole vaulter Reagan Ganesh set a personal best of 5.35m to win the pole vault.
  • Tamil Arasu of Railways won the men’s 100m in 10.23 seconds and Giridharani Ravi Kumar of Tamil Nadu won the women’s 100m in 11.53 seconds.
  • Sarvesh Kushare of Maharashtra won the high jump by clearing 2.23m.
  • Jishnu Prasad of BSF won the men’s 200m in 20.76 seconds, with Vishal TK of NCOE Trivandrum second in 20.80 seconds and Tamil Arasu of Railways third in 20.83 seconds.
Ria Solanki wins gold in shot put at national para-athletics championship (End of March) ▼
  • Ria Solanki, 19, won gold in shot put at the national para-athletics championship in Bhubaneswar.
  • She was born without her left hand below the elbow and began training in shot put in 2018.
  • Her mother Sakshi works as a housemaid in Meerut and the family faced severe financial constraints to support her training and nutrition.
Tejaswin Shankar wins heptathlon gold at Asian Indoor Athletics Championships (AIAC) 2026 (Mid of February) ▼
  • Tejaswin Shankar won the gold medal in the heptathlon at the AIAC 2026 with a championship record total of 5993 points.
  • Tejaswin Shankar broke his own national record of 5650 points, set in 2021 in the United States of America (USA), and recorded the second-best score ever by an Asian athlete.
  • Tejaswin Shankar’s victory ended a 16-year wait for an Indian heptathlon medal at the AIAC, the last being PJ Vinod’s bronze in 2010.
  • India finished sixth in the overall medal standings with five medals, comprising one gold, two silver, and two bronze.
  • Tajinderpal Singh Toor secured the silver medal in the men’s shot put with a season’s best throw of 20.05m, finishing behind Chen Chengyu of China who recorded 20.07m.
  • Pooja won the silver medal in the women’s high jump with an indoor national record of 1.87m, sharing the rank with Nadezhda Dubovitskaya of Kazakhstan.
  • Ancy Sojan, who won silver at the Asian Athletics Championships (AAC) last year, claimed the bronze medal in the women’s long jump with a 6.21m leap.
  • J Aadarsh Ram opened India’s medal account at the AIAC 2026 by winning a bronze medal in the men’s high jump event.
  • Tejaswin Shankar also holds the outdoor national records in the decathlon and men’s high jump.
Esha Singh wins 10m air pistol gold at Asian Shooting Championships (Start of February) ▼
  • Esha Singh claimed the women’s 10m air pistol gold at the Asian Shooting Championships held at Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range in Delhi.
  • She defeated silver medallist Ching-yen Chen by a commanding margin of 4.8 points, finishing with a score of 239.8.
  • Singh had deliberately skipped four preceding domestic finals to undertake four days of mental preparation focused on visualising her finals routine.
  • India’s women’s 10m air pistol final also featured double Paris Olympics medallist Manu Bhaker, former world record holder Rhythm Sangwan and three-time 2025 World Cup winner Suruchi Phogat.
  • On the men’s side, 21-year-old Samrat Rana secured the Asian Championships bronze in 10m air pistol, adding to his 2025 World Championship gold and World Cup final medal.

Sawan Barwal breaks Shivnath Singh's 48-year-old marathon national record

Key Updates:

  • Sawan Barwal clocked 2:11:58 at the Rotterdam Marathon to break Shivnath Singh's 1978 national record of 2:12:00.
  • Barwal finished 20th in the elite race; fellow Indian Gopi Thonakal finished 23rd in 2:13:16.
  • The 28-year-old from Joginder Nagar, Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh, achieved the feat in his marathon debut.
  • Barwal won gold in 5,000m and 10,000m at the 2025 National Games in Uttarakhand and 10,000m gold at the 2025 Federation Cup.

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Punjab National Bank (PNB) launches PNB Soldierathon 2026 marathon to honour Indian Armed Forces. (Mid of February) ▼
  • Punjab National Bank (PNB) announced PNB Soldierathon 2026 on its 132nd Foundation Day at its corporate headquarters in Dwarka.
  • The marathon is scheduled for 5 April 2026 under the theme 'Run with Soldiers, Run for Soldiers'.
  • Major Surendra Poonia, VSM and Limca Book Record Holder, was the Chief Guest of the pre-launch ceremony.
  • PNB Managing Director and CEO Ashok Chandra and Executive Director Bibhu P. Mahapatra participated in the event alongside Armed Forces representatives and veterans.
  • The initiative aims to unite citizens, veterans, and fitness enthusiasts to foster national consciousness and fitness.
Blanka Vlasic appointed International Event Ambassador for TCS World 10K Bengaluru 2026 (Start of April) ▼
  • Blanka Vlasic, double Olympic medallist and two-time World Champion, has been named the International Event Ambassador for the 2026 TCS World 10K Bengaluru.
  • The 18th edition of the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) World 10K Bengaluru is scheduled for Sunday, 26 April 2026.
  • The race is a World Athletics Gold Label Race promoted by Procam International.
  • Vlasic won Olympic silver at Beijing 2008 and bronze at Rio 2016, and set a Croatian national record of 2.08 m in 2009.
Paras Dogra becomes second batter to scale 10,000 Ranji Trophy runs (Mid of February) ▼
  • Jammu and Kashmir captain Paras Dogra reached 10,000 Ranji Trophy runs during the semifinal against Bengal at Bengal Cricket Academy ground.
  • Dogra scored 58 in the first innings and shared a 143-run stand with Abdul Samad.
  • Mumbai’s Wasim Jaffer is the only other batter to have previously achieved the 10,000-run mark in the Ranji Trophy.
  • The 41-year-old had already accumulated 10,000 runs in overall First Class cricket before this Ranji milestone.
Murali Sreeshankar wins India Athletics Series 1 long jump with 8.15m leap (Start of April) ▼
  • Murali Sreeshankar leapt 8.15m to win the men’s long jump at the opening Indian Athletics Series held at Kanteerava Stadium.
  • Sreeshankar, representing NCOE Trivandrum, recorded his winning jump in his fourth attempt.
  • Sunny Kumar of Bihar finished second with 7.90m and Purushotham of Karnataka was third with 7.87m.
  • Ancy Sojan of Reliance won the women’s long jump with 6.54m, followed by Shaili Singh with 6.52m and Moumita Mondal with 6.37m.
  • Tamil Nadu pole vaulter Reagan Ganesh set a personal best of 5.35m to win the pole vault.
  • Tamil Arasu of Railways won the men’s 100m in 10.23 seconds and Giridharani Ravi Kumar of Tamil Nadu won the women’s 100m in 11.53 seconds.
  • Sarvesh Kushare of Maharashtra won the high jump by clearing 2.23m.
  • Jishnu Prasad of BSF won the men’s 200m in 20.76 seconds, with Vishal TK of NCOE Trivandrum second in 20.80 seconds and Tamil Arasu of Railways third in 20.83 seconds.

Shi Yu Qi defeats Ayush Shetty to win Badminton Asia Championships men's singles title

Key Updates:

  • Shi Yu Qi of China beat India's Ayush Shetty 21-8, 21-10 in the Badminton Asia Championships final at Ningbo.
  • Ayush Shetty became only the second Indian men's singles player after Dinesh Khanna to reach the continental final.
  • Dinesh Khanna remains the lone Indian singles champion, having won the title in 1965.
  • Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are the only other Indians to lift the trophy, winning men's doubles in 2023.

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Lakshya Sen defeats Victor Lai to reach All England Open Badminton final (Start of March) ▼
  • India's Lakshya Sen, ranked world number 12, defeated Canada's Victor Lai (world number 16) in the men's singles semifinal of the All England Open Badminton Championships 2026.
  • The match lasted one hour and 37 minutes (97 minutes) with a final score of 21-16, 18-21, 21-15.
  • This victory marks Lakshya Sen's second final appearance at the tournament, having previously finished as runner-up in 2022.
  • The tournament is held in Birmingham, England, and is sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
  • Lakshya Sen will face Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei in the final, who advanced after defeating world number two Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand.
  • During the event, Lakshya Sen also secured victories against world number one Shi Yuqi, Hong Kong’s NG Ka Long Angus, and China’s Li Shifeng.
India participates in 2026 Badminton Asia Team Championships (Start of February) ▼
  • The 2026 Badminton Asia Team Championships (BATC) is a biennial continental event scheduled to be held in Qingdao, China.
  • The Badminton Association of India (BAI) confirmed that PV Sindhu withdrew from the women's team due to medical concerns.
  • The Indian women's team is the defending champion, having won the gold medal in the previous edition of the BATC held in Malaysia.
  • India's women's team is placed in Group Y alongside Myanmar and Thailand, while the men's team is in Group C with Singapore and Japan.
  • The men's squad includes Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, Kidambi Srikanth, HS Prannoy, Tharun Mannepalli, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy, Sai Pratheek K, and Hariharan Amsakarunan.
  • The women's squad features Unnati Hooda, Tanvi Sharma, Rakshitha Sree Santhosh Ramraj, Malvika Bansod, Surya Charisma Tamiri, Treesa Jolly, Gayatri Gopichand, Priya Konjengbam, Shruti Mishra, and Tanisha Crasto.
  • The tournament matches will be live-streamed on the Sony Sports Network and the official YouTube channel of Badminton Asia.
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 announces squads for 2026 Badminton Asia Team Championships (Start of February) ▼
  • The 2026 Badminton Asia Team Championships (BATC) will be held in Qingdao, China, from 4 February to 8 February 2026.
  • Lakshya Sen, the World number 13, will lead the Indian men's team which includes HS Prannoy, Kidambi Srikanth, Ayush Shetty, and Tharun Mannepalli.
  • The Indian men's doubles contingent features Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Pruthvi Krishnamurthy Roy, Sai Pratheek K, and Hariharan Amsakarunan.
  • The Indian women's team will defend their title without PV Sindhu, who withdrew due to medical concerns as confirmed by the Badminton Association of India (BAI).
  • The women's singles squad consists of Unnati Hooda, Tanvi Sharma, Rakshitha Sree Santhosh Ramraj, Malvika Bansod, and Surya Charisma Tamiri.
  • The women's doubles team includes Treesa Jolly, Gayatri Gopichand, Priya Konjengbam, Shruti Mishra, and Tanisha Crasto.
  • The Indian men's team is placed in Group C alongside Singapore and Japan, while the women's team is in Group Y with Myanmar and Thailand.
  • The tournament format allows the top two teams from each group to progress to the quarterfinals of the biennial continental event.
  • The event will be live-streamed on the Sony Sports Network and the official YouTube channel of Badminton Asia.

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre observed on April 13

Key Updates:

  • The Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred on April 13, 1919, in Amritsar, Punjab, during the Baisakhi festival.
  • The British colonial government had implemented the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919, infamously known as the Rowlatt Act or the Black Act.
  • The Government of India Act 1919 introduced the system of dyarchy in the provinces, retaining key powers like military and finance under British control.
  • The arrest and deportation of local leaders Dr Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr Satyapal to Dharamshala on April 10, 1919, triggered widespread protests.
  • General Reginald Dyer ordered 50 soldiers armed with .303 Lee-Enfield rifles to fire 1,650 rounds into a crowd of approximately 15,000 to 20,000 people.
  • The British government appointed the Disorders Inquiry Committee, commonly known as the Hunter Commission, to investigate the massacre.
  • The Indian National Congress (INC) conducted an independent inquiry led by Madan Mohan Malaviya and Motilal Nehru.
  • The Hunter Commission official report stated 379 deaths, while the INC inquiry estimated the death toll to be over 1,000.
  • In protest against the massacre, Rabindranath Tagore renounced his Knighthood in a letter to the Viceroy, Lord Chelmsford.
  • Mahatma Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920 as a direct response to the British actions in Punjab.
  • Udham Singh assassinated Michael O’Dwyer, the Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab who sanctioned the action, at Caxton Hall in London in 1940.
  • On April 19, 1919, General Dyer implemented the crawling order, forcing Indians to crawl on hands and knees through a specific street in Amritsar.

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Shaheed Diwas observed on March 23 and January 30 in India (End of March) ▼
  • Shaheed Diwas is observed annually on March 23 to honour the sacrifice of Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru, and Sukhdev Thapar.
  • The three revolutionaries were executed by the British government on March 23, 1931, for their role in the Indian freedom struggle.
  • India also observes Shaheed Diwas on January 30 to mark the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948.
  • The historical background of the March 23 observance is linked to the 1928 protests against the Simon Commission, which lacked Indian representation.
  • Lala Lajpat Rai, popularly known as Punjab Kesari, died after sustaining injuries during a police lathi charge in Lahore while protesting the Simon Commission.
  • Bhagat Singh defined revolution as an inalienable right of mankind and freedom as an imperishable birthright of all.
Martyrs' Day observed on January 30 to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's assassination (End of January) ▼
  • Martyrs' Day is observed every year on January 30 to commemorate the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948.
  • Mahatma Gandhi survived at least five documented assassination attempts before January 30, 8.
  • The first recorded attempt was in 1934 in Pune when a bomb exploded near Gandhi’s car.
  • In 1944, dagger attacks were made on Gandhi during prayer meetings in Panchgani and Sevagram involving Nathuram Godse and his associates.
  • On January 20, 1948, Madanlal Pahwa detonated a bomb at Gandhi’s prayer meeting at Birla House, Delhi, but Gandhi remained unharmed.
  • Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse, a member of the Hindu Mahasabha, on January 30, 1948, at Birla House in New Delhi.
  • Godse and Narayan Apte were executed on November 15, 1949, after trial; other conspirators received prison sentences.
  • Shaheed Diwas 2026 is being observed across India with prayer meetings, a two-minute silence at 11:00 AM, and tributes at Raj Ghat.
Sarhul festival celebrated in Jharkhand on March 21, 2026 (End of March) ▼
  • The Sarhul festival, a significant nature festival for the tribal community, was celebrated in Ranchi, Jharkhand, on March 21, 2026.
  • Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Kalpana Soren participated in the traditional rituals at the Tribal College hostel campus.
  • The festival is dedicated to the worship of nature, reflecting the tribal community’s faith in the natural order as the source of all life.
  • During the celebrations, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) president played the Mandar, which is a traditional drum.
  • The festival serves as an occasion to uphold and pass on ancestral traditions related to the preservation and safety of nature.
Brig. Rakesh Kumar Bora paid tribute to martyrs during foundation day of 5th Bihar Battalion. (End of January) ▼
  • Brig. Rakesh Kumar Bora paid tribute to martyrs on 28 January 2026.
  • The event was held at Bihar Regiment Centre, Danapur in Patna, India.
  • The tribute was part of the foundation day celebrations of the 5th Bihar Battalion.

Supreme Court invokes Article 142 to grant divorce after wife reneges consent

[Supreme Court of India]

Key Updates:

  • Supreme Court of India invoked Article 142 to dissolve the marriage after the wife withdrew consent for mutual divorce.
  • The wife had received Rs 75 lakh as first instalment and Rs 14 lakh for car purchase under the settlement agreement.
  • The court quashed the domestic violence case filed by the wife against the husband and his family members.
  • The bench comprised Justices Rajesh Bindal and Vijay Bishnoi.
  • The husband was directed to pay the final instalment of Rs 70 lakh to the wife.
  • All civil and criminal cases lodged by the couple against each other were quashed by the court.

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Delhi High Court dismisses second wife’s claim to family pension under Pension Regulations for the Army, 1961. (End of March) ▼
  • Delhi High Court Division Bench of Justice V. Kameswar Rao and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora ruled that a void second marriage does not become valid after the first wife’s death.
  • The Court held that family pension under Pension Regulations for the Army, 1961 is payable only to the legally wedded widow.
  • The petitioner had married Late Sepoy Udey Singh between 1970 and 1980 while his first wife Smt. Satwati Devi was alive, rendering the marriage void under Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.
  • The first wife Smt. Satwati Devi died on 13.05.2012, but the Court held that her death does not validate the petitioner’s void marriage.
  • The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) Principal Bench had earlier rejected the petitioner’s family pension claim through order dated 27.11.2025.
  • The Court distinguished the Supreme Court’s Shriramabai judgment, noting that in the present case the first marriage was never dissolved by divorce.
  • The Court confirmed that children from the void marriage were once eligible for family pension but are no longer eligible as they are now adults and married.
  • The writ petition W.P.(C) 2333/2026 was dismissed by the Delhi High Court on 18.02.2026.
Delhi High Court (DHC) reaffirms right to perform last rites as part of dignity under Article 21 (End of February) ▼
  • Delhi High Court (DHC) held that the right to perform last rites of a parent is an essential religious and moral duty protected under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
  • The Court granted four weeks emergency parole to convict Ajmer Singh alias Pinka in W.P.(CRL) 3146/2025 to attend his father’s Tehravi ceremony scheduled for 26.09.2025.
  • Ajmer Singh was convicted under Sections 376/354B/506 IPC and Section 66E of the IT Act, with sentences to run concurrently, and had served about one year nine months fifteen days without prior parole or furlough.
  • Rule 1212 of the Delhi Prison Rules, 2018 limits a single parole spell to four weeks and a total of eight weeks per conviction year.
  • The Court imposed parole conditions: personal bond of Rs 20,000 with one surety, weekly reporting to SHO PS Kanjhawala, residing at disclosed address, keeping mobile operational, and immediate surrender on expiry.
Delhi High Court: Right to perform last rites is part of dignity under Article 21 (End of February) ▼
  • The Delhi High Court (HC) ruled that the right to perform the last rites of a parent is an essential religious and moral duty and a component of the right to dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
  • The ruling was delivered by Justice Ravinder Dudeja in the case of Ajmer Singh alias Pinka v. The State of National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.
  • The petition for emergency parole was filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India read with Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS).
  • The HC clarified that Rule 1212 of the Delhi Prison Rules, 2018, allows a convict to be released on parole for a maximum of eight weeks in a conviction year, with no single spell exceeding four weeks.
  • The petitioner in the case was convicted under Sections 376, 354B, and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 66E of the Information Technology (IT) Act.
  • The Court emphasised that parole jurisprudence in India is humanitarian and reformist, aimed at maintaining family ties and social integration even in cases of grave convictions.
  • The HC observed that denying parole despite verified humanitarian grounds amounts to a mechanical application of rules and defeats the objective of correctional jurisprudence.
Allahabad HC clarifies wife’s degrees no ground to deny maintenance under Section 125 CrPC (Mid of January) ▼
  • Allahabad High Court ruled that a wife cannot be denied maintenance solely because she is highly educated or holds professional qualifications.
  • The court set aside the family court’s order that had rejected the woman’s maintenance plea on the basis of her educational background.
  • The High Court emphasized that potential to earn is not the same as actual earning, and many educated women are unable to work due to household responsibilities.
  • The case has been sent back to the Family Court in Bulandshahr to pass a fresh, well-reasoned order within one month.

Association of Indian Universities National Moot Court Competition 2026 held from Apr 9-11

Key Updates:

  • Banaras Hindu University (BHU) won the Association of Indian Universities National Moot Court Competition 2026 hosted by Integral University.
  • BHU received a cash prize of Rs 25,000 along with trophies and medals.
  • Chandigarh University secured the runner-up position with Rs 11,000.
  • Ram Manohar Lohia University won the Best Researcher award.
  • Army Institute of Law secured the Best Memorial award.
  • Mallika Chadha of Lovely Professional University won the Best Speaker award.
  • Aligarh Muslim University was recognised for inspiring excellence.
  • Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University and Lucknow University were recognised as best regional teams.
  • The competition brought together 40 teams from across India.
  • Preliminary and quarter-final rounds took place on Apr 10.

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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.
Bhubaneswar hosts India's first National Indoor Athletics Championships (End of March) ▼
  • The Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar has been named as the venue for the World Indoor Athletics Championships to be held from 3-5 March 2028.
  • India is hosting its maiden national indoor athletics championship in Bhubaneswar as a preparatory step towards conducting the 2028 global showpiece.
  • The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) worked in coordination with the Odisha government to secure the hosting rights for the 2028 world event.
  • The indoor facility at Kalinga Stadium features a 200m synthetic oval track and a 100m straight track, both compliant with World Athletics Category 1 standards.
  • The national championship consists of 11 events for both men and women, including 60m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m, 60m hurdles, high jump, pole vault, long jump, triple jump, and shot put.
  • Approximately 300 athletes are participating in the national championships, with Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra sending the largest contingents of around 30 athletes each.
  • National record holders Animesh Kujur, Mohammed Afsal, and Praveen Chitravel are among the key competitors in the indoor event.
  • The AFI is also bidding to host the Asian Indoor Athletics Championship in Bhubaneswar in 2028, with a decision expected from the Asian Athletics Association in May.
  • The indoor facility at Kalinga Stadium has a spectator seating capacity of approximately 1700.
Haryana Thunders defeat Delhi Dangal Warriors to win Pro Wrestling League 2026 (Start of February) ▼
  • Haryana Thunders won the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) 2026 title by defeating Delhi Dangal Warriors 5-4 in the final at Noida Indoor Stadium.
  • The final bout was decided in the women's 62 kg clash where Paris Olympic silver medallist Iryna Koliadenko secured a 16-0 technical superiority win.
  • Haryana Thunders received ₹1.5 crore prize money while runners-up Delhi Dangal Warriors got ₹75 lakh.
  • Turan Bayramov of Delhi Dangal Warriors won the Player of the Tournament award worth ₹2.5 lakh for winning all 7 of his bouts in the 57 kg men's category.
  • Neha Sangwan of Haryana Thunders was named Player of the Match for keeping the final alive till the last bout.
  • Ronak of Delhi Dangal Warriors won Fighter of the Match for his performance in the men's 125 kg category.
  • Akshay Dhere of Haryana Thunders claimed the Impact Player of the Match award for strong performance in the 57 kg men's category.
Sashakt Panchayat - Netri Abhiyan and Nirbhay Raho Initiative: ₹4,35,236 Crore Allocated for Rural Bodies (Mid of March) ▼
  • The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) organised a national conference in Delhi to commemorate the first anniversary of the Sashakt Panchayat - Netri Abhiyan.
  • The Nirbhay Raho initiative was launched under the Nirbhaya Scheme to enhance women's safety and leadership in rural governance.
  • The initiative aims to provide capacity building and legal rights training to 14.5 lakh elected women representatives.
  • A total of 17.5 lakh male representatives will be sensitised on gender equality as part of the programme.
  • The financial allocation for rural bodies has been increased to ₹4,35,236 crore for the 2026-31 period.
  • The conference showcased the Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled SabhaSaar platform designed to improve inclusive local governance.

Hungarian General Election Results Sunday

[Hungary]

Key Updates:

  • Péter Magyar and the Tisza party won the Hungarian general election, ending the 16-year rule of Viktor Orbán.
  • The Tisza party is on course to secure 138 seats out of the 199 seats in the Hungarian parliament.
  • Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party won 55 seats, while the far-right Our Homeland party secured six seats.
  • A record voter turnout of 79.5 per cent was recorded during the election.
  • A constitutional majority in the Hungarian parliament requires a two-thirds majority of 133 seats.
  • The system of patronage in Hungary is known as NER.
  • Péter Magyar pledged that his first official trip abroad as Prime Minister would be to Warsaw, Poland.
  • The European Union (EU) has frozen approximately €17 billion in funds for Hungary due to corruption and judicial independence concerns.
  • The EU had previously agreed to provide a €90 billion loan to Ukraine, which Hungary had reneged on.
  • The election victory was compared to the Hungarian revolution of 1848 and the 1956 uprising against Soviet occupation.
  • The state-run media in Hungary includes the M1 TV channel.
  • Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk was among the first European leaders to congratulate the new leadership.

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Nitish Kumar takes oath as Rajya Sabha member. (Mid of April) ▼
  • 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.
Yoweri Museveni re-elected as President of Uganda (Mid of January) ▼
  • Yoweri Museveni won a seventh term with 71.65 percent of the vote, defeating main challenger Bobi Wine who received 24.72 percent.
  • Bobi Wine, real name Robert Kyagulanyi, claimed he escaped a police and army raid on his house and remains in hiding while his family is under house arrest.
  • Election observers led by former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan reported intimidation, arrests and abductions targeting the opposition and civil society.
  • A nationwide internet blackout disrupted observation of the vote and increased suspicion, though observers said Election Day itself was peaceful.
  • The Ugandan opposition alleged at least 10 people were killed by police in Butambala, while local authorities reported seven deaths after alleged opposition attacks on a police station.
North Korea holds 2026 Supreme People's Assembly elections (Mid of March) ▼
  • Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) secured 99.93 per cent of votes in the March 15 parliamentary elections.
  • Voter turnout was 99.99 per cent.
  • 0.07 per cent electors voted against the WPK candidates.
  • 0.0037 per cent voters were unable to cast their votes and 0.00003 per cent abstained.
  • The Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) has 687 deputies elected from different regions.
  • For each seat only one candidate selected by the party stands and voters choose 'yes' or 'no'.
Myanmar coup leader Min Aung Hlaing elected president by pro-military parliament (Start of April) ▼
  • Senior General Min Aung Hlaing won 429 of 584 parliamentary votes cast to become Myanmar’s president.
  • The vote took place in the pro-military parliament on Friday, as confirmed by combined-house speaker Aung Lin Dwe.
  • Min Aung Hlaing led the 2021 coup that ousted Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi.
  • The pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party secured over 80 percent of contested seats in the December–January election.
  • Armed-forces members occupy 25 percent of unelected parliamentary seats.
  • Ye Win Oo, former intelligence chief, succeeded Min Aung Hlaing as commander-in-chief on Monday.
  • China congratulated Min Aung Hlaing and pledged high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.