Government of India raises gold and silver import duty to 15% from 6% to curb imports.
Key Updates:
The Government of India has raised the import duty on gold and silver to 15% from 6%, comprising a 10% basic customs duty and a 5% Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Indians to avoid buying gold for a year, a rare public call highlighting government concern over pressure on foreign exchange reserves.
The India Bullion and Jewellers Association warned that the duty hike could affect demand as gold and silver prices were already elevated.
Inflows into India's gold exchange-traded funds surged 186% year-on-year in the March quarter to a record 20 metric tons, according to the World Gold Council.
April gold imports hit a near 30-year low due to a 3% integrated goods and services tax (IGST) levy, which had prompted banks to pause purchases for over a month.
Similar Coverage
Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Authorises Banks to Import Gold and Silver (Mid of April)▼
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has authorised 15 banks to import both gold and silver and two banks to import only gold for a period of three years.
The authorisation is effective from April 1, 2026, and remains valid until March 31, 2029.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the list of nominated banks on April 6.
Banks authorised to import both gold and silver include Axis Bank, Bank of India, Federal Bank, HDFC Bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Deutsche Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, and Punjab National Bank.
Union Bank of India and Sberbank are authorised to import only gold.
Due to a delay in the notification, more than 5 metric tonnes of gold and around 8 metric tonnes of silver were stalled for customs clearance.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) records $9.06 billion rise in India's foreign exchange reserves (Mid of April)▼
India's foreign exchange reserves rose by $9.06 billion to $697.12 billion during the week ended 3 April 2026, ending four consecutive weeks of decline.
Gold reserves surged by $7.22 billion during the reported week.
Foreign currency assets increased by $1.78 billion to $552.85 billion in the same period.
Gold prices climbed 4.06% to $4,676 per ounce during the week.
Foreign exchange reserves expanded by $22.72 billion during the previous financial year.
Special Drawing Rights grew by $58 million to $18.7 billion.
India's reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) remained unchanged at $4.82 billion.
Ministry of Commerce and Industry reports India’s January trade deficit at 3-month high of $34.68 billion (Mid of February)▼
India’s merchandise trade deficit widened to a three-month high of $34.68 billion in January 2026, up from $23.43 billion in the same month the previous year.
Total merchandise imports for January rose by 19% to reach $71.24 billion, while merchandise exports grew by 0.6% to $36.56 billion.
Gold imports during the month increased more than fourfold to $12.07 billion, while silver imports rose by 127% to reach $2 billion.
Services exports are estimated to reach a record high of $43.9 billion in January, marking a 26.3% year-on-year increase.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry projects overall exports to reach nearly $860 billion in the current fiscal year, with services exports expected to exceed $410 billion.
Cumulative exports, including both merchandise and services, rose by 6.15% to $720.76 billion during the April-January period.
India’s imports from China were recorded at $108.18 billion during the April-January period of the 2025-26 fiscal year.
Key drivers for goods exports included engineering goods, petroleum products, meat, dairy, and iron ore.
The primary export destinations for Indian goods were the United Arab Emirates (UAE), China, United Kingdom (UK), Italy, and the Netherlands.
Exports to the United States (US) fell by 21.7% to $6.59 billion in January, attributed to the impact of tariff barriers.
Non-petroleum and non-gems and jewellery exports contracted by 0.24% to $32.78 billion in January.
According to the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), total merchandise exports for the April 2025 to January 2026 period fell by 4.4% to $36.6 billion.
Ministry of Commerce (MoC) records $27.10 billion merchandise trade deficit for February 2026 (Mid of March)▼
India’s merchandise trade deficit widened to $27.10 billion in February 2026, compared with $14.42 billion in the same month of the previous year.
Merchandise exports for February 2026 stood at $36.61 billion, while imports were recorded at $63.71 billion.
The cumulative merchandise exports for the April–February 2025–26 period reached $402.93 billion, marking a 1.84% increase from $395.66 billion in the corresponding period last year.
The trade deficit for February 2026 narrowed from the $34.68 billion deficit recorded in January 2026.
Trade Secretary Rajesh Agrawal stated that exports to West Asia have been impacted by regional conflict and the government is considering support measures for Middle East exports.
India has increased its procurement of Russian oil this month to manage volatility in global energy markets.
Potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz could impact approximately half of India’s monthly imports, particularly oil and energy-linked shipments.
Finance Ministry (FinMin) records Public Sector Banks (PSBs) net profit of ₹1.98 lakh crore in FY26
Key Updates:
Public Sector Banks (PSBs) achieved an all-time high net profit of ₹1.98 lakh crore in the 2025-26 fiscal year, representing an 11.1 per cent year-on-year increase.
The aggregate operating profit of PSBs reached ₹3.21 lakh crore, and the aggregate business grew by 12.8 per cent to ₹283.3 lakh crore as of 31 March 2026.
Aggregate deposits rose 10.6 per cent to ₹156.3 lakh crore, while gross advances increased by 15.7 per cent to ₹127 lakh crore.
The gross non-performing assets (NPA) ratio of PSBs declined to 1.93 per cent and the net NPA ratio fell to 0.39 per cent as of 31 March 2026.
Total recoveries amounted to ₹86,971 crore, with the slippage ratio reducing to 0.7 per cent and the provisioning coverage ratio remaining above 90 per cent.
Similar Coverage
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.
All India Distillers’ Association (AIDA) reports ethanol supplies of 515 crore litres
Key Updates:
India's cumulative ethanol supplies reached approximately 515 crore litres during the first six months of Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26, according to the All India Distillers’ Association (AIDA).
The industry has supplied nearly 49% of the total contracted volume of 1,059 crore litres.
Grain-based distilleries contributed approximately 333 crore litres, with maize emerging as the largest contributor at around 182 crore litres, followed by surplus rice/surplus food grain (SFG) at nearly 125 crore litres and damaged food grains (DFG) at approximately 26 crore litres.
Sugarcane-based distilleries supplied nearly 182 crore litres, consisting of sugarcane juice (SCJ) at approximately 130 crore litres, B-heavy molasses (BHM) at around 45 crore litres, and C-heavy molasses (CHM) at nearly 7 crore litres.
Monthly supplies crossed approximately 102 crore litres in December 2025, 95 crore litres in March 2026, and 92 crore litres in April 2026.
Similar Coverage
Ethanol-Blended Petrol (E20) Mandate rolls out nationwide with 95 RON default grade (Start of April)▼
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoP&NG) mandated oil marketing companies to supply ethanol-blended petrol with up to 20 per cent ethanol content across all states and Union territories from 1 April 2026.
The notification issued on 17 February 2026 under the Essential Commodities Act requires the fuel to meet Bureau of Indian Standards specifications with a minimum Research Octane Number of 95.
E20 petrol consists of 20 per cent ethanol and 80 per cent petrol, replacing the earlier E10 blend.
Ethanol feedstock includes sugarcane, maize and other agricultural inputs.
Vehicles manufactured after April 2023 are designed to run on E20 fuel, while older vehicles may require monitoring of fuel system components.
Fuel efficiency may decline by around 3 to 7 per cent due to ethanol’s lower energy content compared with petrol.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service reports Brazil as largest corn exporter to Bangladesh (End of April)▼
Brazil has overtaken India as the top supplier of corn to Bangladesh.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service reported that Brazil accounted for 78 per cent of Bangladesh's total corn imports till February in the 2025-26 marketing year.
India and the United States (US) each held 11 per cent of Bangladesh's corn imports during the same period.
Bangladesh imported nearly 1.5 million tonnes (mt) of corn till February in the 2025-26 marketing year.
The USDA pegged Bangladesh's total corn imports for the 2025-26 marketing year at 1.8 mt, which is 27.2 per cent higher than the previous year.
In calendar 2022, India exported 3.55 mt of maize, of which Bangladesh accounted for 1.82 mt.
India's maize exports to Bangladesh decreased to over 0.55 mt in 2023, 16,266 tonnes in 2024, and 11,991 tonnes in 2025.
The US exported approximately 160,000 tonnes of corn to Bangladesh in the 2025-26 marketing year, returning to the market after a gap since 2018.
India's maize exports have recently gained traction in Nepal and Vietnam.
E20 Petrol Mandate: Nationwide 20% Ethanol-Blended Fuel Roll-Out from 1 April 2025 (Start of April)▼
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) directed that from 1 April 2025 all petrol pumps nationwide must supply E20 petrol containing up to 20% ethanol.
E20 petrol has an octane rating of about 95 RON compared to regular petrol’s 91–92 RON, allowing smoother combustion.
Ethanol for E20 is domestically produced from crops such as sugarcane, maize, and grains, helping cut fuel import costs and support farmers.
Most newer vehicles are E20-compatible, while older vehicles may experience slight drops in fuel efficiency and potential long-term wear on engine components.
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) quality standards apply to E20 fuel across all regions.
Draft Sugarcane (Control) Order 2026: Regulatory Revamp and Ethanol Integration (End of April)▼
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution released the draft Sugarcane (Control) Order 2026 to replace the 1966 regulations.
The draft order recognizes ethanol as a core output of sugar mills and brings khandsari sugar under the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) regime.
For sugar units producing ethanol from sugarcane juice, syrup, and B-heavy molasses, 600 litres of bio-fuel will be counted as equivalent to one tonne of sugar.
The draft rules prohibit the establishment of new sugar factories within a 25-km radius of an existing unit, increasing the distance from the current 15 km.
Under the draft order, mills are required to pay for sugarcane within 14 days of delivery, with delayed payments attracting interest at 15% per annum.
The order integrates by-product valuation for bagasse, molasses, and press mud to align sugar policy with the national biofuel programme.
In the 2024-25 crop year, the total estimated sugarcane production was 43.5 million tonne (MT), with 13.5 MT used for manufacturing jaggery, juices, and khandsari.
Khandsari sugar is primarily manufactured by approximately 370 units located in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra.
Department of Financial Services (DFS) launches USD 1.5 billion Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMIP)
Key Updates:
The Department of Financial Services (DFS) under the Ministry of Finance launched the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMIP) with a total capacity of USD 1.5 billion.
The BMIP is supported by a sovereign guarantee of USD 1.4 billion, equivalent to ₹12,980 crore, to provide maritime insurance amid global geopolitical tensions.
The General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re) will function as the pool administrator, overseen by a newly constituted governing body and underwriting committee.
The pool provides coverage for hull and machinery, cargo, protection and indemnity (P&I), and war risks for Indian-flagged or India-linked vessels.
Under the pool structure, claims up to USD 100 million will be met through pooled capacity, while higher claims will be backed by the sovereign guarantee.
Similar Coverage
Maritime India Foundation signs MoUs with IITs and IMU to establish Maritime Innovation Hubs (Start of May)▼
The Maritime India Foundation, acting as the implementing agency for the Sagarmala Startup Innovation Initiative under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to establish Maritime Innovation Hubs (MIHs).
The MoUs were formalised with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay), and the Indian Maritime University (IMU Chennai) at the Chennai Port Authority.
A subsequent agreement is scheduled to be signed with the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur) to complete the establishment of the fourth innovation hub.
The initiative enters an execution phase to onboard and mentor 36 startups selected to work on 40 innovation projects addressing critical operational challenges in the Indian maritime sector.
The programme aims to drive the modernisation of the sector through indigenous technology solutions in alignment with the national mandates of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India.
Union Cabinet approves Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMI pool) with ₹12,980 crore sovereign guarantee (Mid of April)▼
The Union Cabinet has approved the formation of the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMI pool) to provide insurance coverage for Indian-flagged or controlled vessels.
The Centre has provided a sovereign guarantee of ₹12,980 crore to facilitate insurance for maritime risks including hull, machinery, cargo, protection and indemnity (P&I), and war.
The BMI pool will have a combined underwriting capacity of approximately ₹950 crore, with policies issued by member insurers.
The pool includes participation from reinsurers such as General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re), Allianz-Jio Re, and Valueattics Re.
A dedicated Governing Body will be constituted to oversee the formation and functioning of the BMI pool.
The initiative aims to reduce the high dependence of Indian vessels on the International Group of Protection and Indemnity (IGP&I) Club for third-party liability insurance.
The pool ensures affordable insurance for vessels carrying cargo from any international origin to Indian ports and vice-versa, even in volatile maritime corridors.
NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited (NBBL) onboards Postal Life Insurance (PLI) on Bharat Connect (End of April)▼
NBBL has integrated PLI as a biller under the insurance category to enable premium payments via digital and offline channels.
State Bank of India (SBI) is acting as the Biller Operating Unit for this integration.
PLI is operated by the Department of Posts and services over 1.25 crore active policies.
PLI processes approximately 2.5 lakh transactions daily.
The insurance category on Bharat Connect now includes 65 billers following this addition.
Bharat Connect hosts more than 22,640 billers across over 29 categories and is accessible through over 700 apps and 5 lakh offline agents.
Noopur Chaturvedi serves as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NBBL.
Government of India allows 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in insurance companies via automatic route (Start of May)▼
The Government of India has allowed 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in insurance companies through the automatic route.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), in Press Note 1 (2026 Series), clarified that foreign investment is permitted automatically subject to regulatory clearance by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
Foreign investment in Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) remains capped at 20% under the automatic route, keeping it under a separate framework.
Insurance companies with foreign investment must appoint at least one resident Indian citizen as chairperson, managing director, or chief executive officer to ensure domestic control.
The 100% FDI limit also extends to insurance intermediaries such as brokers, reinsurance brokers, corporate agents, third-party administrators, surveyors, loss assessors, managing general agents, and insurance repositories, subject to IRDAI norms.
Government of India (GoI) increases customs duty on precious metals to 15%
Key Updates:
The GoI has increased the effective import tax on gold and silver to 15% from the previous rate of 6%.
The 15% duty structure comprises a 10% basic customs duty and a 5% Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC).
Customs duty on platinum imports has been raised to 15.4% from 6.4% to contain pressure on foreign exchange reserves during the West Asia crisis.
According to the World Gold Council (WGC), inflows into India’s gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) surged 186% year-on-year to a record 20 metric tonnes during the March quarter.
The GoI previously implemented a 3% Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) on gold and silver imports, leading to April gold imports hitting a near 30-year low.
Similar Coverage
Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Authorises Banks to Import Gold and Silver (Mid of April)▼
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has authorised 15 banks to import both gold and silver and two banks to import only gold for a period of three years.
The authorisation is effective from April 1, 2026, and remains valid until March 31, 2029.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the list of nominated banks on April 6.
Banks authorised to import both gold and silver include Axis Bank, Bank of India, Federal Bank, HDFC Bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Deutsche Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, and Punjab National Bank.
Union Bank of India and Sberbank are authorised to import only gold.
Due to a delay in the notification, more than 5 metric tonnes of gold and around 8 metric tonnes of silver were stalled for customs clearance.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) records $9.06 billion rise in India's foreign exchange reserves (Mid of April)▼
India's foreign exchange reserves rose by $9.06 billion to $697.12 billion during the week ended 3 April 2026, ending four consecutive weeks of decline.
Gold reserves surged by $7.22 billion during the reported week.
Foreign currency assets increased by $1.78 billion to $552.85 billion in the same period.
Gold prices climbed 4.06% to $4,676 per ounce during the week.
Foreign exchange reserves expanded by $22.72 billion during the previous financial year.
Special Drawing Rights grew by $58 million to $18.7 billion.
India's reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) remained unchanged at $4.82 billion.
State Bank of India (SBI) pegs zero-tariff share of India’s farm exports to US at 75% (Mid of February)▼
75% of India’s agricultural exports to the United States will now attract zero tariff, according to a State Bank of India (SBI) report.
USD 1.36 billion worth of Indian agricultural commodities will receive zero additional US duty access.
India holds a USD 1.3 billion agricultural trade surplus with the United States.
Key products set to benefit include rice, spices, oilseeds, tea, coffee and fisheries.
India commands a 24.7% share in US global rice imports, valued at USD 341 million out of USD 1.378 billion total US rice imports.
India’s share in US coffee, tea, mate and spices imports is 2.8%, worth USD 396 million out of USD 14.026 billion total US imports in the category.
India holds a 9.6% share in US fish and aquatic invertebrate imports, supplying USD 1.817 billion out of USD 18.848 billion total US imports.
India’s share in US edible fruit and nuts imports is only USD 39 million out of USD 21.522 billion total US imports.
India’s share in US edible vegetables and certain roots imports is USD 109 million out of USD 12.402 billion total US imports.
India’s share in US prepared vegetables, fruit and nuts imports is USD 192 million out of USD 13.774 billion total US imports.
Across selected categories, India’s agricultural exports to the US total USD 2.894 billion, representing a 3.5% share of overall US imports of USD 81.950 billion.
India-US trade deal locks 18% tariff on $900 billion US global imports, zero duty on $150 billion (Mid of February)▼
India secured 18% tariff on nearly $900 billion worth of US global imports and zero-duty access on $150 billion.
Indian exports to the US stood at $86.35 billion in 2024.
Tariffs on $30.94 billion of Indian goods slashed from up to 50% to 18%.
$10.03 billion of Indian exports now enjoy zero-duty access to the US.
Silk products secured zero-duty access to a $113-billion US market.
Textiles and apparel tariffs reduced from peaks of 50% to 18%.
Machinery and engineering exports tariffs cut to 18% in a $477-billion market.
India’s current machinery exports to the US are $2.35 billion.
$1.36 billion worth of Indian farm exports enter the US with zero additional duties.
Products valued at $1.035 billion assured zero reciprocal tariffs including spices, tea, coffee, fruits, nuts, and processed foods.
Dairy, meat, poultry, cereals, millets, and oilseeds remain fully protected under exemption.
Gems and jewellery tariffs reduced from 50% to 18% for a $61-billion market.
Diamonds and platinum secured 0% duty access covering a $29-billion segment.
Home décor tariffs dropped to 18% for a $52-billion market; 0% duty for $13-billion segment including chandeliers and seats.
Toy sector tariffs cut from 50% to 18% for an $18-billion market.
Leather and footwear industry gains 18% tariff cap in a $42-billion market.
India is the 5th largest exporter of digitally delivered services with exports of $0.28 trillion in 2024, up 10.3% year-on-year.
Zero additional duty access secured for industrial exports valued at $38 billion covering aircraft parts, generic drugs, and elementary auto parts.
Government releases Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data for January-March 2026
Key Updates:
India's urban unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above decreased to 6.6% in the January-March 2026 quarter, while the rural unemployment rate increased to 4.3%.
The overall Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for persons aged 15 years and above stood at 55.5% during the January-March 2026 quarter.
The overall female LFPR for the January-March quarter was 34.7%, with rural female LFPR at 39.2% and urban female LFPR at 25.4%.
The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) for persons aged 15 years and above was 52.8% during the quarter, with urban WPR at 46.9% and rural WPR at 55.7%.
An average of 57.4 crore persons aged 15 years and above were employed in India during the January-March 2026 quarter, comprising 40.2 crore males and 17.2 crore females.
Similar Coverage
Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) reports unemployment rise to 5.1% in March (Mid of April)▼
The unemployment rate rose to 5.1% in March, up from 4.9% in February.
Women faced a higher unemployment rate of 5.3% compared to 5.0% for men in March.
Urban unemployment increased to 6.8% in March from 6.6% in February.
Rural unemployment edged up to 4.3% in March from 4.2% in February.
Youth unemployment (ages 15-29) rose to 15.2% in March, up from 14.8% in February.
Young men's unemployment rate increased to 14.3% in March from 13.7% in February.
Young women's unemployment rate inched up to 17.7% in March from 17.6% in February.
The survey covered 89,234 households and 375,262 individuals across rural and urban areas.
The labour force participation rate (LFPR) slipped to 55.4% in March, down from 55.9% in February.
Male LFPR dipped marginally to 77.4% in March from 77.5% in February.
Female LFPR fell to 34.4% in March, down from 35.3% in February.
Urban LFPR fell to 50.3% in March, down from 50.4% in February.
Rural LFPR declined to 58.0% in March, down from 58.7% in February.
Youth LFPR dropped to 41.6% in March, down from 42.1% in February.
Young men's LFPR fell to 60.9% in March, down from 61.2% in February.
Young women's LFPR declined to 22.3% in March, down from 23.1% in February.
The worker population ratio (WPR) decreased to 52.6% in March, down from 53.2% in February.
Male WPR slipped to 73.6% in March.
Female WPR slipped to 32.6% in March.
National Statistics Office (NSO) records India industrial output growth of 4.1% in March 2026 (End of April)▼
India's industrial output growth, measured by the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), slowed to 4.1% in March 2026.
The National Statistics Office (NSO) revised the industrial growth for February 2026 to 5.1% from the earlier estimate of 5.2%.
The March 2026 growth rate is the weakest since October 2025, when industrial growth was 0.5%.
Manufacturing growth for March 2026 stood at 4.3%, compared to 4% in the previous year.
Power generation expanded by 0.8% in March 2026, compared to 7.5% in March 2025.
Mining output rose by 5.5% in March 2026, compared to 1.2% in the corresponding period last year.
For the full financial year 2025–26, industrial growth was 4.1%, compared with 4% in the previous year.
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) Reports India Unemployment Rate at 4.9% in February 2026 (Mid of March)▼
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data for February 2026.
India’s overall unemployment rate eased to 4.9% in February from 5% in January, based on the Current Weekly Status (CWS).
The female unemployment rate declined to 5.1% in February from 5.6% in January, while the male unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.8%.
Urban unemployment dropped to 6.6% from 7% in the previous month, while the rural unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%.
Youth unemployment in the 15-29 years age group rose slightly to 14.8% in February from 14.7% in January.
The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) remained unchanged at 55.9%, with female LFPR increasing to 35.3% from 35.1%.
The Worker Population Ratio (WPR), or employment rate, rose to 53.2% in February compared with 53.1% in January.
The survey covered 89,333 households and 374,879 individuals across rural and urban areas to track employment activity.
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) records India unemployment rate at 6.5% in 2025 (End of March)▼
India’s unemployment rate declined to 6.5% in 2025 from 7.0% a year earlier under the usual status measure for persons aged 15 years and above.
Urban female unemployment edged lower to 6.4% in 2025 from 6.7% in the previous year.
The aggregate unemployment rate for persons aged 15 and above stood at 3.1% in 2025.
Youth unemployment (15–29 years) eased to 9.9% in 2025 from 10.3% a year earlier.
Share of workers in regular wage or salaried jobs rose to 23.6% in 2025 from 22.4% in 2024.
Employment in manufacturing and services saw an uptick while agriculture’s share declined in 2025.
Nominal earnings rose across categories with female wages growing faster than men’s in self-employment and salaried roles.
Moody's Ratings slashes India GDP growth forecast to 6% for 2026
Key Updates:
Moody's Ratings (Moody's) has reduced India's GDP growth forecast for 2026 by 0.8 percentage points to 6 per cent.
Moody's has lowered the GDP growth estimate for 2027 by 0.5 percentage points to 6 per cent.
The agency projected a growth rate of 7.5 per cent for India in 2025.
India imports approximately 90 per cent of its energy requirements and 60 per cent of its Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) usage.
Coal powers about 70 per cent of India's electricity generation, and the country is increasing imports of Russian crude.
Similar Coverage
S&P Global Market Intelligence (S&P Global) Cuts India FY27 Growth Forecast to 6.6% (Start of May)▼
S&P Global Market Intelligence (S&P Global) has lowered India's economic growth forecast for the financial year 2026-27 (FY27) to 6.6% from an earlier projection of 7.1%.
The revision is driven by risks associated with the Iran war, which may lead to narrowing fiscal space and potential constraints on infrastructure-related capital expenditure.
India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth for the financial year 2025-26 (FY26) is estimated at 7.6% according to official figures.
The debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to rise to 57.5% from 56.1% in FY26, which could delay the long-term target of 49-51% by the financial year 2030-31 (FY31).
The services sector is anticipated to expand its share in the national GDP to nearly 55% by 2030, supported by services-focused free trade agreements (FTAs) and medical tourism.
S&P Global (S&P) and Crisil Lower India’s FY27 GDP Growth Projection to 6.6% (Start of May)▼
S&P Global (S&P) has lowered India’s economic growth projection for the financial year 2026-27 (FY27) to 6.6% from its earlier estimate of 7.1%.
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth for the financial year ended March 2026 (FY26) has been pegged at 7.6%.
Crisil Chief Economist Dharmakirti Joshi stated that disruption in energy supplies is likely to push India’s retail inflation to 5.1% in FY27 from around 2% the previous year.
India’s annual GDP growth averaged 7.3% between FY23 and FY26, while the fiscal deficit was reduced from 9.2% in 2020-21 to 4.4% in 2025-26.
The report noted that Wholesale Price Index (WPI) based inflation is likely to surpass Consumer Price Index (CPI) based retail inflation in the coming months.
Goldman Sachs Cuts India 2026 Growth Forecast to 5.9% (End of March)▼
Goldman Sachs has lowered India’s 2026 growth forecast to 5.9% from its pre-Iran war estimate of 7%.
The bank predicts a 50 basis points increase in policy rates by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) due to currency depreciation pressures.
India’s inflation is projected to rise to 4.6% in 2026 from an earlier forecast of 3.9%, while remaining within the RBI target range of 2-6%.
The Current Account Deficit (CAD) of India is projected to widen to 2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2026 from 1.3% in the October-December 2025 period.
Retail inflation in India rose to 3.21% year-on-year in February from 2.74% in January.
The RBI kept the benchmark repo rate unchanged at 5.25% during its February meeting.
Brent crude prices are projected to average $105 per barrel in March and $115 in April before declining to $80 per barrel in the fourth quarter of the year.
Growth forecasts for other economies were revised to 4.7% for China, 1.9% for South Korea, and 1.8% for Hong Kong.
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the RBI is scheduled to meet earlier next week.
Fitch Ratings (Fitch) Raises India FY26 GDP Growth Forecast to 7.5% (Mid of March)▼
Fitch Ratings (Fitch) upgraded India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast for the Financial Year 2025-26 (FY26) to 7.5% from the previous projection of 7.4%.
The agency revised the India FY27 growth estimate upward to 6.7% from the earlier projection of 6.4%.
India’s GDP grew by 7.8% in the third quarter of FY26 and 8.4% in the second quarter, while the FY25 growth was recorded at 7.1%.
Global GDP growth is projected at 2.6% for 2026, assuming oil prices do not exceed $70 per barrel.
Inflation in India is projected to reach 4.5% by December 2026.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) maintained the policy rate at 5.25% in February, which Fitch expects to remain unchanged through next year.
Brian Coulton serves as the Chief Economist of Fitch.
The Department of Financial Services (DFS) under the Ministry of Finance launched the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMIP).
The BMIP has a total capacity of USD 1.5 billion and a sovereign guarantee of USD 1.4 billion (₹12,980 crore).
The General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re) will act as the pool administrator.
The pool covers hull and machinery, cargo, protection and indemnity (P&I), and war risks for Indian-flagged or India-linked vessels.
Claims up to USD 100 million will be met through pooled capacity, while higher claims will be backed by the sovereign guarantee after exhausting reserves and reinsurance arrangements.
Similar Coverage
Union Cabinet approves Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMI pool) with ₹12,980 crore sovereign guarantee (Mid of April)▼
The Union Cabinet has approved the formation of the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMI pool) to provide insurance coverage for Indian-flagged or controlled vessels.
The Centre has provided a sovereign guarantee of ₹12,980 crore to facilitate insurance for maritime risks including hull, machinery, cargo, protection and indemnity (P&I), and war.
The BMI pool will have a combined underwriting capacity of approximately ₹950 crore, with policies issued by member insurers.
The pool includes participation from reinsurers such as General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re), Allianz-Jio Re, and Valueattics Re.
A dedicated Governing Body will be constituted to oversee the formation and functioning of the BMI pool.
The initiative aims to reduce the high dependence of Indian vessels on the International Group of Protection and Indemnity (IGP&I) Club for third-party liability insurance.
The pool ensures affordable insurance for vessels carrying cargo from any international origin to Indian ports and vice-versa, even in volatile maritime corridors.
NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited (NBBL) onboards Postal Life Insurance (PLI) on Bharat Connect (End of April)▼
NBBL has integrated PLI as a biller under the insurance category to enable premium payments via digital and offline channels.
State Bank of India (SBI) is acting as the Biller Operating Unit for this integration.
PLI is operated by the Department of Posts and services over 1.25 crore active policies.
PLI processes approximately 2.5 lakh transactions daily.
The insurance category on Bharat Connect now includes 65 billers following this addition.
Bharat Connect hosts more than 22,640 billers across over 29 categories and is accessible through over 700 apps and 5 lakh offline agents.
Noopur Chaturvedi serves as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NBBL.
Government of India allows 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in insurance companies via automatic route (Start of May)▼
The Government of India has allowed 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in insurance companies through the automatic route.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), in Press Note 1 (2026 Series), clarified that foreign investment is permitted automatically subject to regulatory clearance by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
Foreign investment in Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) remains capped at 20% under the automatic route, keeping it under a separate framework.
Insurance companies with foreign investment must appoint at least one resident Indian citizen as chairperson, managing director, or chief executive officer to ensure domestic control.
The 100% FDI limit also extends to insurance intermediaries such as brokers, reinsurance brokers, corporate agents, third-party administrators, surveyors, loss assessors, managing general agents, and insurance repositories, subject to IRDAI norms.
National Maritime Day observed on April 5 (Start of April)▼
National Maritime Day is observed in India on April 5 to commemorate the historic voyage of the country's first modern merchant ship.
India possesses a coastline stretching over 7,500 kilometres and handles approximately 95 per cent of its trade by volume through maritime routes.
The Indian Navy (IN) operates Operation Sankalp to maintain a constant vigil and provide security escorts for merchant vessels in the Gulf region.
The Sagarmala Programme is a government initiative designed to modernise ports, improve connectivity, and reduce logistics costs across India.
The India-Middle-East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) is a strategic project aimed at linking India to Europe through maritime and overland routes via the Middle East.
India imports more than 85 per cent of its crude oil, with nearly 80 per cent of its energy imports passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Historical maritime milestones include the Harappan port of Lothal and the naval dominance of the Chola Empire in the Bay of Bengal and Southeast Asia.
The Indian government has implemented strategic visions such as Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) and MAHASAGAR to enhance cooperation in the Indian Ocean.
Major Indian ports mentioned as gateways to trade include Mumbai, Kandla, Visakhapatnam, Chennai, Kochi, Paradip, and Tuticorin.
Advanced naval assets deployed for maritime security and deterrence include the warship INS Surat and the submarine INS Aridhaman.
Judicial Infrastructure Advisory Committee formed to redesign India’s judicial infrastructure for the 21st century
Key Updates:
The Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant announced the formation of the Judicial Infrastructure Advisory Committee to modernise courts across India.
The high-powered panel is led by Supreme Court Justice Aravind Kumar and includes Justice Debangsu Basak (Calcutta High Court), Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra (Punjab and Haryana High Court), Justice Somasekhar Sundaresan (Bombay High Court), Director General of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), and Secretary General of the Supreme Court.
The committee’s mandate focuses on seven priority areas, including the e-courts initiative to eliminate the digital divide and the construction of modern court complexes for 21st-century requirements.
The committee’s findings will form the basis for the CJI to secure substantial financial allocations from the Government of India and state governments.
The panel will identify systemic constraints and propose improvements for facilities used by lawyers and the public, and submit a formal report to the CJI.
Similar Coverage
One Case One Data and Su Sahay AI Chatbot for Judicial Data Integration and Access (Mid of May)▼
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant announced the "One Case One Data" initiative to strengthen judicial data integration and improve public access to court services.
The "One Case One Data" initiative will integrate multi-level information from all high courts, district courts, and taluka courts into a unified system.
The "One Case One Data" initiative aims to create a comprehensive and interconnected digital database to develop an efficient case management system.
The judiciary launched "Su Sahay", an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered assistance chatbot integrated with the Supreme Court website to facilitate easier access to justice and court-related services for litigants.
The "Su Sahay" chatbot was developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) in collaboration with the Supreme Court Registry to provide front-end guidelines and guidance for accessing essential services of the Supreme Court.
Pravindra Singh Chauhan and nine advocates elevated as judges of Punjab and Haryana High Court (Start of May)▼
The Supreme Court (SC) Collegium approved the elevation of 10 advocates as judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on May 4.
The elevated advocates are Pravindra Singh Chauhan, Harmeet Singh Deol, Rajesh Gaur, Minderjeet Yadav, Monica Chhibber Sharma, Puja Chopra, Sunish Bindlish, Navdeep Singh, Divya Sharma, and Ravinder Malik.
Pravindra Singh Chauhan served as the Advocate General of Haryana and was a member of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission.
Other appointments include Rajesh Gaur (Additional Advocate General of Haryana), Minderjeet Yadav (former Deputy Advocate General and former chairman of the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana), and Monica Chhibber Sharma (Senior Deputy Advocate General for Punjab).
Navdeep Singh is a retired Army Major, Divya Sharma served as Senior Panel Counsel for the Union Government, and Sunish Bindlish was the standing counsel for the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).
These appointments will increase the strength of the Punjab and Haryana High Court from 58 to 68 judges.
The sanctioned strength of the Punjab and Haryana High Court is 85 judges, comprising 64 permanent and 21 additional judges.
Finance Ministry (FinMin) empowers Principal Bench of Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) as National Appellate Authority for Advance Ruling (Mid of May)▼
The Finance Ministry (FinMin) has notified the Principal Bench of the Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) as the National Appellate Authority for Advance Rulings.
The notification is deemed to have come into force on April 1, 2026.
The Principal Bench of the GSTAT is located in New Delhi and is constituted under sub-section (3) of Section 109 of the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act.
The Principal Bench consists of a President, one judicial member, and two technical members, with one technical member each from the Centre and State.
The Principal Bench is empowered to hear appeals made under section 101B of the CGST Act to resolve conflicting rulings across different States or union territories.
Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 to increase judge strength to 37 (Start of May)▼
The Union Cabinet approved a proposal to increase the sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court of India from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
The decision facilitates the introduction of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, which seeks to revise the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956.
Article 124 of the Constitution of India provides for the establishment of the Supreme Court and empowers Parliament to determine the number of judges.
The expenditure on salaries, staff, and associated infrastructure for the additional judges will be met from the Consolidated Fund of India.
The judicial strength has been revised multiple times since Independence, including increases to 10 judges in 1956, 13 in 1960, 17 in 1977, 25 in 1986, 30 in 2008, and 33 in 2019.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the Ahmedabad (Sarkhej)-Dholera semi high-speed double-line railway project.
The estimated cost of the project is Rs 20,667 crore.
The 134-km corridor is planned with indigenously developed technology and is scheduled for completion by 2030-31.
The rail line will connect Ahmedabad with the Dholera Special Investment Region, the upcoming Dholera Airport, and the Lothal National Maritime Heritage Complex.
The project is planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and is expected to reduce oil imports by nearly 0.48 crore litres and cut carbon emissions by about 2 crore kilograms.
Similar Coverage
PM Modi inaugurates India's first operational 'ring metro' in Delhi. (Start of March)▼
PM Modi inaugurated the Majlis Park–Maujpur Babarpur section of the Pink Line and the Deepali Chowk–Majlis Park stretch of the Magenta Line.
The Pink Line now totals 71.56 km, forming India's first fully operational ring metro encircling large parts of Delhi.
Stations on the newly opened Majlis Park–Maujpur Babarpur corridor are Burari, Jharoda Majra, Jagatpur-Wazirabad, Soorghat, Nanaksar-Sonia Vihar, Khajuri Khas, Bhajanpura, Yamuna Vihar and Maujpur-Babarpur.
The Deepali Chowk–Majlis Park Magenta Line extension spans about 49 km and includes the elevated stations Madhuban Chowk, Uttar Pitampura–Prashant Vihar, Haiderpur Village, Haiderpur Badli Mor and Bhalswa.
PM Modi laid the foundation stone for three Phase V-A corridors: the underground Central Vista corridor (RK Ashram Marg–Indraprastha), the underground Aerocity–IGI Airport Terminal-1 link, and the elevated Tughlakabad–Kalindi Kunj stretch totalling 16.10 km.
He inaugurated 2,722 newly built flats and laid the foundation stone for 6,632 additional flats under the General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) redevelopment plan covering Sarojini Nagar, Netaji Nagar, Nauroji Nagar, Kasturba Nagar, Thyagraj Nagar, Sriniwaspuri and Mohammadpur.
The overall infrastructure and housing projects launched are valued at about ₹33,500 crore, with over ₹18,300 crore for the two metro corridors.
Indian Railways approves ₹647.58 crore connectivity projects in Gujarat and Bihar (End of March)▼
Indian Railways sanctioned two projects worth ₹647.58 crore on 24 March 2026 to improve connectivity and reduce congestion.
The rail-over-rail flyover at Kosamba, Gujarat, spans 9.20 km and costs ₹344.38 crore to connect the Kosamba–Umrapada gauge conversion section with the Mumbai–Vadodara main line.
The 13.38 km bypass line at Bhagalpur, Bihar, costs ₹303.20 crore and will link Gonudham Halt on the Barahat–Bhagalpur section with Sabour on the Bhagalpur–Sahibganj section.
The Barahat–Bhagalpur section currently operates at over 125 per cent capacity utilisation, causing congestion and requiring engine reversal at Bhagalpur junction.
Rail Multi-Tracking Projects Approved with ₹23,437 Crore Outlay (Start of May)▼
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved three multi-tracking railway projects worth ₹23,437 crore to expand the national rail network by 901 kilometres.
Managed by the Ministry of Railways (MoR), the projects cover 19 districts across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
The approved corridors include the Nagda–Mathura 3rd and 4th Line, Guntakal–Wadi 3rd and 4th Line, and Burhwal–Sitapur 3rd and 4th Line, with a completion target of 2030–31.
Planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP), the projects aim to provide connectivity to 4,161 villages and handle an additional 60 million tonnes of freight per annum.
The initiative is expected to reduce oil imports by 37 crore litres and cut carbon emissions by 185 crore kilograms, equivalent to planting approximately 7 crore trees.
Cabinet clears ₹3,630.77 crore for Jewar airport road connectivity (Mid of March)▼
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the revised total capital cost of ₹3,630.77 crore for greenfield connectivity to Jewar international airport.
The 31.42 km project corridor will provide direct high-speed connectivity from South Delhi, Faridabad and Gurugram to the airport in Uttar Pradesh.
About 11 km of the project will be developed as an elevated highway between DND-Ballabhgarh Bypass and Jewar International Airport at an additional cost of ₹689.24 crore.
The Government of Haryana has agreed to bear ₹450 crore of the elevated corridor cost.
The corridor intersects the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, the Yamuna Expressway, and the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) to enable multimodal transport convergence.
The airport has received an aerodrome licence from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and is expected to start operations soon.
Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal/Lignite Gasification Projects: ₹37,500 Crore Outlay
Key Updates:
The Union Cabinet approved the Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal/Lignite Gasification Projects with a total financial outlay of ₹37,500 crore.
The scheme aims to gasify approximately 75 million tonnes of coal to support the national target of gasifying 100 million tonnes of coal by 2030.
Financial incentives of up to 20% of plant and machinery cost will be provided, capped at ₹5,000 crore for a single project, ₹9,000 crore for a single product (excluding Synthetic Natural Gas and Urea), and ₹12,000 crore for a single entity group.
The programme is expected to mobilise investments between ₹2.5 lakh crore and ₹3 lakh crore and create around 50,000 direct and indirect jobs across 25 projects in coal-bearing regions.
The initiative aims to reduce India's import dependence on liquefied natural gas (LNG), urea, ammonia, methanol, coking coal, and ammonium nitrate.
Similar Coverage
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Secures Order for Coal-to-Ammonium Nitrate Plant in Odisha (Start of May)▼
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has been awarded a large contract by Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Ltd (BCGCL) to construct a coal-to-ammonium nitrate plant in Odisha.
Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Ltd (BCGCL) is a joint venture established by Coal India Ltd (CIL) and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL).
The facility is designed with a production capacity of 2,000 tonnes per day (TPD) to convert coal into chemicals for the mining and infrastructure sectors.
India aims to achieve 100 million tonnes of coal gasification capacity by 2030 under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative to enhance industrial self-reliance.
The gasification technology will be used to produce value-added products including ammonium nitrate, methanol, ammonia, Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG), and fertilisers.
Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) and Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Limited (BCGCL) sign land lease for 2,000-tonnes per day coal-to-ammonium nitrate project. (Start of April)▼
Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) and Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Limited (BCGCL) signed a land lease agreement for a coal-to-ammonium nitrate project at Lakhanpur in Jharsuguda district, Odisha.
The agreement was signed in New Delhi on Wednesday in the presence of Union coal and mines minister G Kishan Reddy.
The project will have a capacity of 2,000 tonnes per day and will come up on 350 acres.
The project has received support of Rs 1,350 crore.
The project will use indigenous technology developed by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL).
Two major contracts have been awarded to BHEL and two others to Larsen & Toubro.
The Centre has approved an outlay of Rs 8,500 crore to promote coal gasification.
Seven coal gasification projects have been finalised, including three where groundbreaking ceremonies have been completed.
Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution Order 2026 streamlines pipeline expansion (Start of April)▼
The Government of India notified the Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution (Through Laying, Building, Operation and Expansion of Pipelines and Other Facilities) Order, 2026 under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 on 24.03.2026.
The Order provides a streamlined and time-bound framework for laying and expanding pipelines across the country, addressing delays in approvals and access to land.
It enables faster development of natural gas infrastructure, including in residential areas, and is expected to accelerate PNG network growth and last-mile connectivity.
The Maharashtra Cabinet approved the Compressed Biogas (CBG) Policy, 2026, with an outlay of ₹500 crore for 2026-27.
The policy aims to convert urban waste, farm residue, agricultural residue, and cattle waste into clean fuel and organic fertiliser.
Biogas plants with a minimum capacity of 200 tonnes per day will be established under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.
The government will provide land on lease, a single-window system for fast-track approvals, and a digital platform to connect waste suppliers and developers.
Urban local bodies will lead the implementation by linking segregated biodegradable waste from cities to biogas plants.
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-IV (PMGSY-IV): ₹1,763.08 crore for rural roads in Madhya Pradesh
Key Updates:
The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) launched the fourth phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-IV) in Bhairunda, Sehore district, Madhya Pradesh.
Under PMGSY-IV, Madhya Pradesh received approval for 973 rural roads covering 2,117.52 kilometres at an estimated cost of ₹1,763.08 crore to benefit 987 habitations.
The Union Government allocated ₹830 crore to Madhya Pradesh from the total indicative PMGSY allocation of ₹18,907 crore for the financial year 2026-27.
A mother sanction of ₹2,055 crore was provided under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) for housing support in Madhya Pradesh.
PM-JANMAN road project approvals worth ₹261.81 crore were handed over, covering 384.34 kilometres and benefiting 168 habitations in backward and underserved regions.
Madhya Pradesh secured first place among large states for completing the highest road length under PMGSY with 90,766 kilometres, while Bihar topped for connecting the highest number of habitations.
Gujarat secured first position in green technology usage in rural road construction, followed by Tamil Nadu and Haryana.
Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal were recognised for outstanding performance in rural road maintenance.
Assam was honoured for completing the highest road length and connecting the highest number of habitations among northeastern and hill states.
Similar Coverage
Jan Suraksha Schemes reach 94.5 Crore Cumulative Enrolments on 11th Anniversary (Start of May)▼
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched three Jan Suraksha Schemes—Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), and Atal Pension Yojana (APY)—on May 9, 2015.
The cumulative enrolments under these three social security schemes reached 94.5 crore as of April 30, 2026, marking their 11th anniversary.
PMJJBY recorded more than 27.43 crore enrolments and settled claims worth over ₹21,500 crore for more than 10.7 lakh families.
PMSBY achieved over 58.09 crore enrolments and settled claims amounting to nearly ₹3,660 crore for over 1.84 lakh families.
APY saw more than 9.04 crore individuals enrolling in the scheme to receive pension support as of April 30, 2026.
PMGSY-IV: ₹1,698-crore rural road projects to be launched in Rayagada, Odisha on May 1, 2026 (Start of May)▼
Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan will launch the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-IV (PMGSY-IV) road projects worth ₹1,698.04 crore in Rayagada, Odisha on May 1, 2026.
A total of 827 road projects covering 1,701.84 kilometres will be undertaken, providing all-weather road connectivity to 898 habitations for the first time.
The launch programme will be held at the IACR Ground in Barijhola, Rayagada.
Chouhan will hand over the PMGSY-IV approval letter to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi during the event.
In Odisha, under previous PMGSY phases, 17,963 roads covering 74,725 kilometres and 707 bridges have been sanctioned, with 17,760 roads covering 71,742 kilometres and 658 bridges completed.
Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) Yojana: Rs 55 per month can secure Rs 3,000 pension (End of March)▼
Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) Yojana is a voluntary, contributory pension programme for unorganised sector workers aged 18-40 years with monthly income below Rs 15,000.
Subscribers contribute monthly amounts ranging from Rs 55 (entry at 18 years) to Rs 200 (entry at 40 years) until age 60 to receive a minimum monthly pension of Rs 3,000.
The government matches the subscriber’s monthly contribution and provides a family pension equal to half of the pension to the spouse after the subscriber’s death.
Workers covered under National Pension Scheme (NPS), Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) scheme, Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) scheme, or income-tax payees are not eligible.
Enrolment is facilitated through Common Service Centres (CSCs) across India using Aadhaar and savings bank account details.
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY-III) Extended with Revised Outlay of ₹83,977 Crore (Mid of April)▼
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, approved the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY-III) until March 2028.
The total financial outlay for the scheme has been revised to ₹83,977 crore, marking an increase from the previous allocation of ₹80,250 crore.
The extension aims to complete rural road and bridge projects to improve connectivity to agricultural markets, higher secondary schools, and hospitals.
Infrastructure works in plain areas and roads in hilly regions are scheduled for completion by March 2028, while bridge construction in hilly areas has been extended until March 2029.
The government will sanction and implement 161 long-span bridges along approved road alignments at an estimated cost of ₹961 crore.
Projects sanctioned before 31 March 2025 that have not yet been awarded are now eligible for tendering and execution under the extended period.
Pakistan, Qatar, and Turkey Discuss Expansion of Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia on 13 May 2026
Key Updates:
Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif announced that Qatar and Turkey could join the existing strategic defence agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement in September 2025, which stipulates that aggression against one signatory is treated as aggression against the other.
The proposed expansion aims to establish a broader regional security and economic framework, frequently described as a potential Islamic North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
A Pakistani military contingent recently arrived at the King Abdulaziz Air Base in Saudi Arabia as part of ongoing joint military and regional security cooperation.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India is closely monitoring the development for its implications on national security and regional stability.
Similar Coverage
China Confirms On-Site Technical Support to Pakistan During Operation Sindoor (Mid of May)▼
China confirmed providing on-site technical support to Pakistan during a four-day conflict with India known as Operation Sindoor.
Technical support was provided by Zhang Heng, an engineer from the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute.
The Pakistan air force operates a fleet of J-10CE jets produced by an AVIC subsidiary.
Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt General Rahul R Singh asserted that China used satellites to monitor Indian military deployment during the conflict.
Reports indicate that China plans to sell the J-35 stealth bomber to Pakistan.
Pakistan puts $1.5 billion weapons sale to Sudan on hold following Saudi Arabia objection (End of April)▼
Pakistan has suspended a $1.5 billion agreement to supply weapons and jets to Sudan.
The deal was put on hold after Saudi Arabia requested its termination and declined to finance the purchase.
The conflict in Sudan involves the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defence pact last year, treating aggression against either nation as an attack on both.
A separate $4 billion deal between Pakistan and the Libyan National Army is also reportedly in jeopardy.
Pakistan launches Operation Ghazab Lil Haq against Afghan Taliban (End of February)▼
Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab Lil Haq on the night of 26-27 February 2026, targeting Kabul, Kandahar, Nangarhar and Paktika.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar claimed 27 Taliban posts were destroyed, 133 Afghan Taliban and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters killed and over 200 injured.
Afghan officials rejected Pakistani casualty figures and earlier claimed 55 Pakistani soldiers killed and 19 outposts captured including a headquarters at Anzar Sar in Khost province.
Pakistan reported two of its soldiers killed and three wounded, while 36 Afghan fighters died in the exchanges.
The clashes centre on the disputed Durand Line border with cross-border firing reported across Paktika, Khost, Nangarhar, Khyber, Bajaur and Waziristan.
Pakistan and China sign three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on 27 April 26 (End of April)▼
Three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between institutions from Pakistan and China during a ceremony held in Changsha.
The ceremony was attended by Asif Ali Zardari.
The Sindh Local Government Department and Loxin Environmental Technology Group signed an MoU to collaborate on a seawater desalination project to increase urban water supply.
An agreement to enhance cooperation in agricultural technology was signed between the Sindh Local Government Department and Longping High-Tech Information Company.
An MoU to support the development of the tea industry and strengthen economic, trade, and people-to-people ties was signed between Muske and Femte Trading Company, Hunan Tea Group, and Jialong International Technology Hainan.
India and Oman to implement Free Trade Agreement from June 1, 2026
Key Updates:
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and Oman, signed in December 2025, is expected to come into force from June 1, 2026.
The FTA will provide duty-free access to 98 per cent of India's exports to Oman, including textiles, agri, and leather goods.
Under the agreement, India will reduce tariffs on Omanese products such as dates, marbles, and petrochemical items.
India and Chile are negotiating to widen the scope of their 2006 Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) to a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
The India-Chile CEPA aims to encompass digital services, investment promotion and cooperation, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and critical minerals.
Chile is the top producer of copper and holds the world's largest lithium reserves.
In 2024-25, India's exports to Chile declined 2.46 per cent to USD 1.15 billion, while imports grew 72 per cent to USD 2.60 billion.
Similar Coverage
Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) to Issue First Credits by October 2026 (End of February)▼
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) announced that India will issue its first carbon credits under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) in October 2026.
The scheme consists of two primary components: a mandatory compliance component covering 800 units in nine sectors and a voluntary offset component.
The BEE has already issued emission targets for approximately 490 units across seven sectors through notifications in October 2025 and January 2026.
The initial phase of the carbon trading operations will exclude the steel and fertiliser sectors, despite them being among the most polluting industries.
A dedicated portal for project registration and participation in the scheme is scheduled to be launched on 20 March 2026.
The Ministry of Power (MoP) is overseeing the draft scheme, which aligns with global designs such as the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).
The first cycle of targets for the 2025-26 financial year will conclude on 31 March 2026, followed by a seven-month period for verification, assessment, and issuance.
Trading of the issued carbon credits is expected to take place between November 2026 and January 2027.
Vishwas Bill 2.0 to Decriminalise 100+ Provisions and ₹15.48 Lakh Crore Capex Proposed for 2025-26 (End of March)▼
The Government of India will introduce the Vishwas Bill 2.0 to decriminalise more than 100 provisions across various laws to enhance the Ease of Doing Business (EODB).
Since 2014, the government has removed over 42,000 compliance requirements and decriminalised more than 3,700 legal provisions, including 180 under the Jan Vishwas Act 2023.
The total effective Capital Expenditure (Capex) for the 2025-26 fiscal year is proposed at ₹15.48 lakh crore, which constitutes 4.3 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The Central Government has allocated ₹11.21 lakh crore as core capital expenditure for 2025-26, amounting to 3.1 per cent of the GDP.
The Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency (MUDRA) loan limit has been increased from ₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh, with 11 public sector banks extending this to existing customers and seven to new customers.
A total of ₹33 lakh crore has been sanctioned under the MUDRA scheme, while the PM SVANidhi scheme has sanctioned ₹14,000 crore across 99 lakh accounts.
The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has established 21 new branches in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) clusters during the 2024-25 period.
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has launched a pilot for the PM Internship Scheme to provide 1.25 lakh opportunities in top companies, attracting over 6 lakh registered applicants.
Under the Stand-Up India initiative, a total of ₹59,000 crore has been disbursed to 2.62 lakh accounts to support entrepreneurship.
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) introduced the trust-based Eligible Manufacturer Importer (EMI) scheme effective 1 April 2026.
Online applications for the EMI scheme open from 1 March 2026 and the facility runs through 31 March 2028.
Approved EMIs can clear imported goods without paying customs duty at clearance and pay the duty monthly under the Deferred Payment of Import Duty Rules, 2016.
Applicant must be a manufacturer-importer with valid IEC, active GST registration, minimum 25 export-import documents filed in previous FY, and annual turnover above ₹5 crore.
Entity must have conducted business for at least two financial years, filed all pending GST return-3B forms, and show positive net worth for last two years certified by a chartered accountant.
Customs commissioners will monitor usage through ICES dashboards and can suspend or revoke approval if eligibility conditions are breached.
Ministry of Commerce signs terms of reference to launch PTA with Philippines and FTA with Maldives (Mid of March)▼
India signed terms of reference with the Philippines for a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and with the Maldives for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
India’s exports to the Philippines rose 3.11 per cent to USD 2.16 billion in 2024-25, while imports dipped 17.8 per cent to USD 1.17 billion.
India’s exports to the Maldives dipped 37.11 per cent to USD 56.88 million in 2024-25, while imports rose 37.14 per cent to USD 118.82 million.
The AITIGA Joint Committee has met 11 times; the next review meeting is scheduled for 30-31 March 2026.
India-Korea CEPA review began in 2016 and has completed 11 negotiation rounds, the latest in Seoul in July 2024.
India has ongoing trade negotiations with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Canada, Australia, Sri Lanka, Peru, Chile, Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and Israel.
India signed FTAs with the UK and Oman last year and announced completion of negotiations with the EU and New Zealand.
Russia tests RS-28 Sarmat heavy intercontinental ballistic missile on 13 May 2026
Key Updates:
Russia successfully tested the RS-28 Sarmat, a heavy Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) designed to replace the Soviet-era R-36M2 Voyevoda.
The RS-28 Sarmat, dubbed 'Satan II' by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), is a silo-based missile with a launch weight exceeding 208 tonnes and a length of approximately 35 metres.
The missile can carry Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRVs), including up to 10 heavy or 16 smaller nuclear warheads, and is capable of carrying the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle.
It reaches speeds of up to Mach 20 (approximately 24,000 kmph) during its terminal phase and has a reported range exceeding 18,000 km.
The system utilises inertial navigation supported by the Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) and began development in 2011.
Similar Coverage
India conducts maiden test of nuclear-capable ICBM off Odisha coast on 9 May 2026 (Mid of May)▼
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted the maiden test of a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) off the coast of Odisha.
The Agni-6 missile possesses a strike range of over 10,000 km and utilizes Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology.
The development of ICBM technology demonstrates mastery in re-entry technology, guidance systems, and complex rocket propulsion.
DRDO and the Indian Air Force (IAF) jointly conducted the first flight-trial of the Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation weapon off the Odisha coast.
The Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation weapon is an indigenous modular range extension kit used to convert unguided warheads into precision-guided weapons.
India conducts second test of long-range hypersonic anti-ship missile off Odisha coast (Start of May)▼
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the second flight test of its long-range hypersonic anti-ship missile (LR-AShM) off the Odisha coast.
The missile has a strike range exceeding 1,500 km and attains speeds up to Mach 10, with an average speed of Mach 5 during its glide phase.
The second trial focused on validating the LR-AShM's two-stage hypersonic glide vehicle configuration.
The LR-AShM can carry multiple payloads and strike both stationary and moving targets using indigenously developed sensors for precision targeting.
The missile programme was developed by laboratories under the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex in Hyderabad in collaboration with multiple DRDO labs and industry partners.
North Korea conducts strategic cruise and anti-warship missile tests on 12 April 2026 (Mid of April)▼
North Korea test-fired two strategic cruise missiles and three anti-warship missiles from the 5,000-ton Choe Hyon-class destroyer.
The tests were conducted off the western coast of the country to verify the integrated weapons command system and the accuracy of upgraded navigation systems.
The strategic cruise missiles recorded flight times ranging from 7,869 to 7,920 seconds, while the anti-warship missiles flew for 1,960 to 1,973 seconds.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the drills were supervised by Kim Jong Un to strengthen the national nuclear war deterrent and naval strike capabilities.
The North Korean administration confirmed the construction of a third and fourth Choe Hyon-class vessel as part of a plan to build two additional destroyers in 2026.
The exercise aimed to train naval crews in missile-launch procedures and verify the anti-jamming performance of the warship's systems.
Pakistan Navy test-fires 'Taimoor' air-launched cruise missile on April 21, 2026 (End of April)▼
The Pakistan Navy successfully test-fired the indigenously developed 'Taimoor' air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) on April 21, 2026.
The Taimoor ALCM is an anti-ship weapon system capable of striking land and sea targets at ranges of up to 600 km.
The test was conducted under the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The Pakistan Navy conducted a live weapon firing of a homegrown ship-launched anti-ship missile on April 16.
In January, the Pakistan Navy fired a surface-to-air missile during a comprehensive exercise in the north Arabian Sea.
India's BrahMos cruise missile has a speed of Mach 2.8–3 and a strike range of 450-800 km.
The BrahMos can carry a 200–300 kg warhead and can be launched from land, ships, submarines, and Su-30MKI combat aircraft.
On May 10, 2025, the Indian Air Force (IAF) used the Barak-8 missile system to intercept and destroy a Pakistani ballistic missile targeting Delhi.
Air Commodore Rohit Kapil of the IAF 45 Wing was awarded the Yudh Seva Medal for leading the Barak-8 interception operation.
Indian Armed Forces set strategic goals for 2047 drawing insights from Operation Sindoor and global conflicts
Key Updates:
The Indian Armed Forces have set strategic goals for 2047, including the formulation of a National Military Strategy and modernising with autonomous technologies under the Atmanirbharta initiative.
The military aims to strengthen deterrence through procurement of intelligent platforms, combat assets, force multipliers, robust border infrastructure, and coastal surveillance.
Strategic priorities include expanding Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA), enhancing space-based Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, and developing robust cyber defence networks.
Long-term goals include establishing unified theatre commands, integrating networks and communication, a joint logistics and inventory management system, and an operations coordination centre.
Plans also involve creating a Defence Geospatial Agency, a Drone Force, a force for cognitive warfare, a full-fledged Space Command, Cyber Command, and expansion of missile defence and air defence systems under mission Sudarshan Chakra.
Similar Coverage
India becomes 5th largest military spender with $92.1 billion expenditure in 2025 (End of April)▼
India is the world's fifth-largest military spender with an expenditure of $92.1 billion in 2025, following an 8.9 per cent increase.
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released the trends in world military expenditure report.
Global military expenditure reached a record $2.89 trillion in 2025, growing by 2.9 per cent for the 11th consecutive year.
The five largest military spenders in 2025 were the United States, China, Russia, Germany, and India.
The top five nations accounted for 58 per cent of total world military expenditure, totalling $1,686 billion.
The global military burden, the percentage of global GDP devoted to defence, reached 2.5 per cent, its highest level since 2009.
On average, governments worldwide allocated 6.9 per cent of their total budgets to the military, amounting to $352 per person.
China is the world's second-largest spender, increasing its budget by 7.4 per cent to $336 billion, marking its 31st consecutive year of growth.
United States military spending fell by 7.5 per cent to $954 billion.
European military spending increased by 14 per cent to $864 billion.
Total expenditure in Asia and Oceania rose by 8.1 per cent to $681 billion.
Pakistan's military spending grew by 11 per cent to $11.9 billion in 2025.
Israeli spending fell by 4.9 per cent to $48.3 billion, while Iran's expenditure dropped to $7.4 billion.
India and Australia hold 10th Defence Policy Talks in New Delhi on May 8 (Mid of May)▼
The 10th Australia-India Defence Policy Talks were held in New Delhi on May 8, led by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad for India and First Assistant Secretary Bernard Philip for Australia.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) noted the establishment of the annual Australia-India Defence Ministers' Dialogue in 2025.
India will make its inaugural participation in Exercise Talisman Sabre and Exercise Puk Puk in 2025.
Both nations reaffirmed maritime collaboration through multilateral engagements including Exercise Milan and Exercise Kakadu.
Defence industrial cooperation initiatives include the first Australia-India Defence Industry Roundtable in Sydney in 2025 and a strategic roundtable held during the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi.
India Unveils Defence Forces Vision 2047 Roadmap for Future-Ready Military (Mid of March)▼
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released the document titled Defence Forces Vision 2047: A Roadmap for a Future-Ready Indian Military in New Delhi on Tuesday.
The roadmap envisages the transformation of the military into an integrated, multi-domain, and agile force capable of deterring adversaries and responding to conflicts.
The vision document was released eight months after a military conflict between India and Pakistan that occurred from May 7 to 10.
A central pillar of the vision is the emphasis on jointness and synergy among the services to promote coordination in planning, operations, and capability development.
The plan prioritises Aatmanirbharta in defence by promoting the development of indigenous technologies and strengthening domestic defence manufacturing.
The roadmap outlines prioritised capability goals across short-, medium-, and long-term timelines to build a world-class defence force by India’s independence centenary.
The document advocates for a whole-of-nation approach that integrates military strength with diplomatic, technological, and economic power to safeguard national interests.
The vision aims to contribute to the goal of a strong and resilient Viksit Bharat by establishing a technologically advanced and combat-ready military.
India plans multi-layered conventional missile force spanning short, medium and long ranges (Start of May)▼
The announcement was made by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh at the ANI National Security Summit 2.0 in New Delhi on 30 April 2026.
Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Samir V Kamat, confirmed that the proposed missile force will include ballistic missiles for short, medium and extended ranges, complemented by cruise missiles and hypersonic systems.
The Pralay short-range ballistic missile has reached final testing stages and is expected to be operational shortly, according to DRDO.
India is developing two hypersonic programmes: a glide missile (nearest initial trials) and a cruise missile with a scramjet engine (awaiting formal approval).
DRDO achieved a milestone by sustaining scramjet propulsion for over 1,000 seconds; converting this technology into an operational missile system would require approximately five years.
IIT Ropar and Dhash Defense sign MoU on 5 May 2026 to develop next-generation all-terrain vehicles
Key Updates:
Indian Institute of Technology Ropar (IIT Ropar) Defence Research and Innovation Foundation (DRIF) and Dhash Defense Systems Private Limited (DDS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 5 May 2026.
The partnership focuses on Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured (IDDM) solutions, including unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), robotic combat vehicles (RCVs), and advanced all-terrain platforms.
The mobility platforms are engineered for operation in extreme environments, including mountainous terrains, forests, desert conditions, coastal regions, and high-altitude conflict zones.
The collaboration aligns with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision and the Make in India framework to reduce dependence on foreign military hardware.
DRIF will provide domain expertise, operational insights, and applied research support to DDS to identify critical technology gaps and operational requirements of the armed forces.
Similar Coverage
India to host North Tech Symposium 2026 in Prayagraj from May 4 to May 6 (Start of May)▼
The North Tech Symposium 2026, themed 'Defence Triveni Sangam', is scheduled to be held in Prayagraj from May 4 to May 6.
The event is organised by the Directorate of Public Relations (DPR) under the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to showcase India’s military and technological capabilities.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will inaugurate the symposium, with Yogi Adityanath and Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh attending as special guests.
The symposium will feature live demonstrations of AI-based surveillance systems, heavy-lift logistics drones, and indigenous artillery systems to promote self-reliance.
The platform aims to connect the armed forces, academia, and defence manufacturers to strengthen the strategic ecosystem and support the Make in India campaign.
Indian Army releases Technology Roadmap for Unmanned Aerial Systems and Loitering Munitions (Start of April)▼
Lt Gen Rahul R Singh, Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Capability Development & Sustenance), released the Indian Army’s Technology Roadmap for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Loitering Munitions (LM).
The roadmap aims to increase long-term visibility of army requirements in UAS and channelise domestic industry, R&D bodies and academia.
Combat roles sought include counter-UAS, loitering munitions, helicopter-launched littoral systems, bomb-delivery drones and mine-laying drones.
Support roles sought include reconnaissance, land survey, electromagnetic jamming, radio relay and long-range logistics.
The mission covers operational needs across Himalayas, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and all intermediate terrains.
Emphasis is placed on boosting MSME and start-up participation in the indigenous drone ecosystem.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) unveils advanced armoured platforms on April 25, 2026 (End of April)▼
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) unveiled two indigenous advanced armoured platforms, one tracked and one wheeled, on April 25 at the Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) facility in Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra.
The platforms were unveiled by Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO.
Both vehicles are integrated with an indigenously developed 30 mm crewless turret and a 7.62 mm PKT gun, and are configured to launch anti-tank guided missiles.
The platforms provide STANAG Level 4 and Level 5 protection using modular ballistic and blast protection systems.
The vehicles feature amphibious capability incorporating hydro-jet systems for crossing water obstacles.
The systems were manufactured through collaboration with Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Bharat Forge Limited, supported by a network of micro, small and medium enterprises.
The indigenous content of the platforms is currently estimated at 65 per cent, with plans to increase it to 90 per cent.
The unveiling involved senior scientists from multiple DRDO laboratories, including the Vehicles Research and Development Establishment, Armament Research and Development Establishment, Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment, and Research and Development Establishment (Engineers).
Indian Army EME and IIT-Madras partner for Nodal Indigenisation Centre (End of March)▼
The Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) of the Indian Army has partnered with the IIT-Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation to develop indigenous military technologies.
A Nodal Indigenisation Centre has been established at Avadi to strengthen the Tamil Nadu Defence Corridor.
The partnership focuses on critical domains including sensing systems, cyber-physical systems, and autonomous technologies.
Major General Lalit Kapoor serves as the Indian Army Commander-Base Workshop Group.
M J Shankar Raman is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the IIT-Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation.
The Corps of EME is the technical backbone of the Indian Army responsible for the maintenance and sustenance of equipment.
Indian Army receives indigenous kamikaze drones and precision munitions on May 12, 2026
Key Updates:
The Indian Army received the UAV-Launched Precision Guided Munition (ULPGM) and AGNIKAA VTOL-1 First-Person View (FPV) Kamikaze Drone under emergency procurement (EP-6).
Both combat systems were designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with Adani Defence & Aerospace.
The ULPGM is a loitering munition featuring a 2-kg warhead and a 1-metre circular error probable (CEP) accuracy for destroying soft and hard targets.
The AGNIKAA VTOL-1 drone has an endurance of 30 minutes, a speed of 60 km/h, and the capability to operate in GPS-denied and electronic warfare environments.
Adani Defence & Aerospace handed over these indigenous systems to the Western Command of the Indian Army after successful high-altitude and electronic warfare trials.
Similar Coverage
Indian Air Force (IAF) initiates Vayu Baan indigenous air-launched drone project (End of March)▼
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has started work on Vayu Baan, the first indigenous air-launched effects (ALE) programme in India.
The project is being led by the Directorate of Aerospace Design (DAD), Gandhinagar, which has issued a request for proposal (RFP) to domestic vendors for design and development.
Vayu Baan is a small, autonomous drone designed to be dropped from a moving helicopter mid-flight to operate as a surveillance asset or a precision-guided munition.
The drone is expected to have an operational range of over 50 km and an endurance of approximately 30 minutes.
The system will feature electro-optical and infrared sensors for target identification and the capability to operate in GPS-jammed environments.
The IAF requires 10 drone units, two airborne control stations, and two ground control stations, with a target for delivery within one year.
India approves Rs 39,000 crore Remotely Piloted Strike Aircraft programme (Start of April)▼
The Defence Ministry approved the Remotely Piloted Strike Aircraft (RPSA) programme, formerly called Ghatak, valued at Rs 39,000 crore.
DRDO will adopt a development-cum-production partner model and invite industry bids to build six prototypes at an estimated cost of Rs 10,000 crore.
Following prototype development, over 60 unmanned stealth fighters will be ordered, sufficient to form four squadrons.
The aircraft are targeted for induction in eight years and will have more than 80% indigenous content.
The stealth drones will be capable of deploying locally developed weapons including future versions of Astra long-range air-to-air missiles and next-generation air-to-ground systems.
The programme is being developed alongside the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft under Vision 2047 to enable manned-unmanned teaming.
Formal tenders to select industry partners for the RPSA project are expected shortly.
India tests Sheshnaag-150 long-range swarm-attack drone with 1,000 km range (Mid of March)▼
Sheshnaag-150 is a long-range swarm-attack drone under development by Bengaluru-based Newspace Research Technologies.
The drone made its maiden flight about a year ago and is currently undergoing testing and development.
It has an operational range of over 1,000 km and can remain airborne for more than five hours.
The platform can carry warheads weighing between 25 kg and 40 kg for precision strikes on infrastructure, vehicles or personnel.
Development gained urgency after Operation Sindoor when the Indian military asked the company to accelerate work on indigenous long-range swarming strike capability.
The drone operates as part of a coordinated swarm-attack system using proprietary control software that enables autonomous target identification, tracking and engagement with minimal human supervision.
Sheshnaag-150 is designed to function even in GPS-denied environments and is likely to adopt a visual navigation system to counter satellite signal jamming.
Indian Army releases Technology Roadmap for Unmanned Aerial Systems and Loitering Munitions (Start of April)▼
Lt Gen Rahul R Singh, Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Capability Development & Sustenance), released the Indian Army’s Technology Roadmap for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Loitering Munitions (LM).
The roadmap aims to increase long-term visibility of army requirements in UAS and channelise domestic industry, R&D bodies and academia.
Combat roles sought include counter-UAS, loitering munitions, helicopter-launched littoral systems, bomb-delivery drones and mine-laying drones.
Support roles sought include reconnaissance, land survey, electromagnetic jamming, radio relay and long-range logistics.
The mission covers operational needs across Himalayas, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and all intermediate terrains.
Emphasis is placed on boosting MSME and start-up participation in the indigenous drone ecosystem.
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and NUS-ISS sign MoU for AI Governance and Digital Leadership
Key Updates:
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and NUS-ISS of the National University of Singapore (NUS-ISS) signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance digital leadership and responsible AI governance for Indian enterprises.
The partnership will jointly deliver the Leadership Programme on Artificial Intelligence and Governance, an executive certification for board members, CXOs, and senior decision-makers.
The MoU was exchanged during the CII Annual Business Summit 2026 held in New Delhi.
The initiative targets training over 100 executives by the end of 2026, with half-yearly programme runs scheduled for 2026, 2027, and 2028.
The CII Global Leadership Centre in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, will anchor the joint programmes, which align with the Digitalisation and Skilling pillars of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Singapore.
Similar Coverage
AI Governance and Economic Group (AIGEG) formed for national AI strategy (Mid of April)▼
The Centre announced the formation of the AI Governance and Economic Group (AIGEG) to lead the national AI governance strategy.
AIGEG is a high-level inter-ministerial body designed to coordinate the development of AI policy across central ministries and institutions.
The body is chaired by Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, with Jitin Prasada, Minister of State for Electronics & IT and Commerce & Industry, serving as Vice Chairperson.
Members of AIGEG include the Principal Scientific Advisor, the Chief Economic Advisor, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog.
The body includes secretaries from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Department of Telecommunications, Department of Economic Affairs, Department of Science and Technology, and a representative of the National Security Council Secretariat.
The Technology and Policy Expert Committee (TPEC) will support AIGEG by providing expert advisory on global developments, emerging technologies, risks, and regulation.
The mandate of AIGEG includes reviewing existing AI mechanisms, studying regulatory gaps, issuing compliance guidelines for firms, and developing a roadmap for AI deployment over the next decade.
The AI Safety Institute is designated as the main body responsible for guiding the safe and trusted development and use of AI in India.
AI governance guidelines released by MeitY in November last year suggested amending the Information Technology (IT) Act to classify AI systems, create an India-specific risk assessment framework, and establish a national database for AI-related security incidents.
Technology and Policy Expert Committee (TPEC) for AI Governance Support (End of April)▼
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has constituted the Technology and Policy Expert Committee (TPEC).
The TPEC is an advisory body designed to provide specialised technical, policy, and strategic expertise to the AI Governance and Economic Group (AIGEG).
The TPEC is chaired by the Secretary of MeitY.
The committee comprises experts from academic research, the technology industry, and digital policy.
The TPEC will provide expert inputs on policy design, regulatory measures, and India's engagements in AI governance across global forums.
The AIGEG is responsible for setting the strategic direction and coordinating policy across the government.
Government unveils India’s first AI governance guidelines ahead of AI Impact Summit 2026 (Mid of February)▼
India released its first comprehensive AI governance guidelines on Sunday, opting for a principle-based framework over a new law.
The framework is anchored in seven principles: trust as foundation, people first, innovation over restraint, fairness and equity, accountability, understandable by design, and safety, resilience and sustainability.
Guidelines apply to AI development and use across healthcare, education, agriculture, finance and governance sectors.
Existing laws such as IT rules, data protection laws and criminal statutes will cover AI-related risks instead of a standalone AI law.
New proposed institutions include an AI governance group for inter-ministerial coordination, a technology and policy expert committee for expert inputs, and an AI safety institute for testing standards and risk assessment.
Developers and deployers must publish transparency reports, disclose AI-generated content, provide grievance redressal, and cooperate with regulators.
High-risk AI applications affecting safety, rights or livelihoods must follow stronger safeguards and human oversight.
The five-day AI Impact Summit 2026 begins on Monday, positioning India as a global voice for responsible and inclusive AI governance aligned with ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.
India unveils first AI governance guidelines ahead of AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi (Mid of February)▼
The Government of India unveiled the nation's first comprehensive Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance guidelines to manage risks while promoting innovation.
The framework is anchored in seven broad principles or sutras: trust, people first, innovation over restraint, fairness and equity, accountability, understandable by design, and safety, resilience, and sustainability.
The guidelines outline the development and usage of AI across key sectors including healthcare, education, agriculture, finance, and governance.
The government proposed the establishment of three new national institutions: an AI governance group, a technology and policy expert committee, and an AI safety institute.
The five-day AI Impact Summit 2026 is scheduled to commence in New Delhi on 16 February 2026.
The framework emphasises reliance on existing legal structures such as Information Technology (IT) rules, data protection laws, and criminal statutes instead of a standalone AI law.
The Delhi declaration is expected to be considered for adoption during the summit to position India as a global voice in responsible AI governance aligned with Viksit Bharat 2047.
High-risk AI applications affecting safety, rights, or livelihoods are required to follow stronger safeguards and maintain human oversight under the new guidelines.
D Y Patil International University (DYPIU) and Dassault Systemes sign MoU for Digital Engineering and Manufacturing Experience Centre
Key Updates:
D Y Patil International University (DYPIU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dassault Systemes to establish a Digital Engineering and Digital Manufacturing Experience Centre in Pune, Maharashtra.
The centre will integrate advanced digital technologies into the Smart Manufacturing curriculum of DYPIU to align with Industry 4.0 demands and the 'Make in India' vision.
The facility will feature three dedicated labs: NextGen Product Innovation Lab, Intelligent Production System Lab, and Virtual Twin and Simulation Lab.
Students will gain exposure to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and technologies including virtual twins, generative design, multi-physics simulations, and digital manufacturing systems.
The partnership includes a three-year Training of Trainers (ToT) programme to equip faculty with expertise in advanced digital manufacturing workflows.
Similar Coverage
Sanjay Jamuar appointed first CEO of Delhi Metro International Limited (DMIL) (End of April)▼
Sanjay Jamuar has been appointed as the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Delhi Metro International Limited (DMIL).
DMIL is a newly set-up arm of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) created to undertake metro projects and Operation and Maintenance (O&M) assignments in India outside Delhi and abroad.
DMIL is mandated to provide advisory services to authorities and lenders for the development and long-term planning of metro and transit systems.
Sanjay Jamuar is a former Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) officer with experience in the UK, USA, France, Middle East, and Europe.
Sanjay Jamuar previously joined DMRC in 1998 as its first O&M employee.
DMRC is currently involved as a consultant for the Dhaka Metro project in Bangladesh.
DMRC handles O&M contracts for the Chennai, Mumbai, and Patna Metro projects.
Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya and DGCA sign MoU to formalise Aircraft Maintenance Engineer education (Start of April)▼
Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya signed an MoU with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in the presence of Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Ram Mohan Naidu on Monday.
The partnership focuses on formalising the education of Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs) to meet global standards.
The MoU aims to resolve professional bottlenecks faced by maintenance staff who possess high-level skills but lack formal degrees.
The university will provide the curriculum and degree certificates to AMEs trained through DGCA-approved organisations.
The Cabinet recently approved an additional Rs 28,000 crore for the UDAN scheme to boost regional connectivity and helicopter operations.
India has 1,700 aircraft on order, double the current fleet, and will require 10,000 to 12,000 additional pilots over the next decade.
Flexible Memorandum of Understanding (Flexi-MoU) Scheme: DGT and Bajaj Auto to Train 1,000 Youth (Start of March)▼
The Directorate General of Training (DGT) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) signed a Flexible Memorandum of Understanding (Flexi-MoU) with Bajaj Auto Ltd. to provide industry-integrated training in advanced automotive manufacturing.
Bajaj Auto will conduct the training at its manufacturing facilities located in Maharashtra and Uttarakhand.
The programme aims to enrol 1,000 trainees in the first year, with structured training durations lasting up to 24 months.
The initiative is aligned with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), and successful candidates will be awarded a National Trade Certificate (NTC).
The Flexi-MoU Scheme requires industry partners to ensure the placement of at least 50 per cent of the trained candidates.
The agreement between DGT and Bajaj Auto is valid for 10 years and includes industry-led practical assessments and DGT-conducted computer-based theory exams.
PM Modi announces India-France Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics and Defence at Kanpur (End of February)▼
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the National Centre of Excellence for Skilling in Aeronautics and Defence at the National Skill Training Institute (NSTI) in Kanpur.
The Centre will operate under the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme implemented by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
France will collaborate in establishing the Centre, which will offer advanced training in aeronautics, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul operations, airport management, and defence production.
A Letter of Intent was exchanged between MSDE and the French government to formalise cooperation under PM-SETU, building on the 2025 Memorandum of Understanding on vocational education and training.
Rahul Dravid joins European T20 Premier League as Dublin franchise owner
Key Updates:
Rahul Dravid is the owner of the Dublin Guardians franchise in the European T20 Premier League (ETPL).
The ETPL is the first International Cricket Council (ICC) sanctioned multi-country franchise T20 competition in Europe, planned for a 2026 debut.
The league is launched in partnership with Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland, and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association.
The ETPL co-founders are Abhishek Bachchan, Saurav Banerjee, Priyanka Kaul, and Dhiraj Malhotra.
The franchise ownership consists of Rahul Dravid (Dublin), Glenn Maxwell and Rohan Lund (Belfast), Kyle Mills, Nathan McCullum and Rachel Wiseman (Edinburgh), Vipul Aggarwal and Chris Gayle (Glasgow), Steve Waugh, Jamie Dwyer and Tim Thomas (Amsterdam), and Jonty Rhodes, Faf du Plessis, Glashin and Samir Shah with Madhukar Shree as managing partner (Rotterdam).
Similar Coverage
RCB sold for $1.78 bn to Aditya Birla, Times of India-led consortium (End of March)▼
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) was acquired for $1.78 billion (around ₹16,600 crore) by a consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group and The Times of India Group, along with Bolt Ventures and Blackstone.
The franchise is being acquired from United Spirits Limited (USL), a subsidiary of Diageo plc.
The transaction is subject to approvals from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the IPL Governing Council.
After the 2026 IPL season, Aryaman Vikram Birla will become chairman and Satyan Gajwani of The Times of India Group will serve as vice-chairman of RCB.
United Spirits had originally bought the Bengaluru franchise in 2008 for $111.6 million (around ₹485 crore).
RCB won the Women’s Premier League (WPL) title in 2024 and its maiden IPL trophy in 2025.
Rajasthan Royals becomes first IPL team sold for over 1 billion USD (End of March)▼
Rajasthan Royals (RR) became the first Indian Premier League (IPL) team to be sold for over 1 billion USD.
The acquisition deal is valued at 1.63 billion USD (Rs 13,500 crore), marking the largest ownership transaction in the history of the IPL.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) originally sold the franchise to Emerging Media Ventures for 67 million USD before the inaugural 2008 season.
The acquiring consortium is led by US-based entrepreneur Kal Somani and includes Rob Walton, the owner of the Denver Broncos.
Kal Somani is the founder of technology firms including IntraEdge and Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms Truyo and Truyo.AI.
Herjit S. Bhalla Appointed Chief Executive Officer of Dabur India (End of April)▼
Herjit S. Bhalla has joined Dabur India as the chief executive officer (CEO) for its India business, effective April 23, 2026.
Mohit Malhotra has been elevated to the role of whole-time director and global CEO of Dabur India.
Prior to this appointment, Bhalla served as the vice-president, Canada and global customers at the Hershey Company.
Bhalla has an over eight-year tenure at the Hershey Company across roles in Canada, Asia-Pacific, West Asia, and Africa.
Bhalla has spent more than two decades in roles at Metro Cash & Carry and Hindustan Unilever (HUL).
Reliance Consumer Products Limited (RCPL) forms Joint Venture with TGI Group for Nigeria market expansion (Mid of February)▼
Reliance Consumer Products Limited (RCPL), the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) arm of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), has signed a definitive agreement to form a majority-owned joint venture with Nigeria-based Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group.
The partnership aims to introduce the FMCG portfolio of RCPL to the Nigerian market by leveraging the manufacturing and distribution network of TGI Group.
The joint venture is intended to expand the global footprint of RCPL, which already maintains a presence across the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa.
TGI Group operates a diversified portfolio including food, agricultural inputs, industrial chemicals, homecare products, and pharmaceuticals.
The agreement is subject to customary legal and regulatory clearances before commencement.
Somnath Amrit Mahotsav and Sardar Dham Inauguration on May 11
Key Updates:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Gujarat on May 10 and 11 to attend the Somnath Amrit Mahotsav.
The Prime Minister will inaugurate the Sardar Dham in Vadodara, Gujarat, on the evening of May 11.
The Somnath Amrit Mahotsav marks 75 years since the inauguration of the restored Somnath Temple by India's first President, Dr Rajendra Prasad.
Earlier this year, the Somnath Swabhiman Parv was held to mark 1,000 years since the first attack on the Somnath temple.
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi stated that the Prime Minister has led the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to electoral victories in various states.
Similar Coverage
PM Modi visits Karnataka and Telangana on May 10, 2026 (Mid of May)▼
The Art of Living, founded in 1981 by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, celebrated its 45th anniversary and the 70th birthday of its founder at the Art of Living International Centre in Bengaluru.
The PM MITRA Park at Warangal, also known as the Kakatiya Mega Textile Park, is India's first fully functional PM MITRA Park operationalising the 5F vision of Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign.
The Zaheerabad Industrial Area in Sangareddy district is being developed under the Hyderabad-Nagpur Industrial Corridor (HNIC) as part of the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the four-laning of National Highway-167 (NH-167) from Gudebellur to Mahabubnagar on the Hyderabad-Panaji Economic Corridor.
Sindhu Hospital in Hyderabad was dedicated to the nation as a 1,500-bed, cancer-focused, multi-super speciality quaternary care not-for-profit institution.
Gujarat Budget 2026-27 allocates Rs 4.08 lakh crore with focus on tourism and sports infrastructure (Mid of February)▼
Gujarat Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai presented a Rs 4.08 lakh crore Budget for 2026-27 with an estimated surplus of Rs 974 crore and no new taxes.
The Budget continued the 5 per cent tax rebate on Motor Vehicle Tax for electric vehicles, providing Rs 210 crore relief to citizens.
Rs 1,278 crore allocated for infrastructure related to the 2030 Commonwealth Games to be hosted by Gujarat.
Rs 1,331 crore total provision for the sports department, including Rs 500 crore for developing Ahmedabad as an 'Olympic Ready City' and for the SVP Sports Enclave.
Rs 165 crore allocated for developing sports complexes in various districts, Rs 100 crore each for Olympic-level infrastructure at Karai and a Para High Performance Centre in Gandhinagar, and Rs 90 crore for a world-class hockey stadium.
2026 declared as 'Gujarat Tourism Year' with Rs 236 crore allocated for enhancing facilities around the Statue of Unity.
Rs 300 crore proposed for the Ambaji Corridor Masterplan and Rs 447 crore for iconic bus stations at Somnath and Ambaji and a multi-modal transport hub at Somnath.
Rs 60 crore for developing Somnath and Shivrajpur Beach as world-class tourist destinations and promoting tourism in the Visavada-Porbandar region.
Rs 95 crore proposed for tourism promotion initiatives including training 1,000 tourist guides and developing facilities at heritage sites.
Rs 16,116 crore allocated under the Swarnim Jayanti Mukhyamantri Shaheri Vikas Yojana, marking a 17 per cent increase over the previous allocation.
PM Modi to launch projects worth Rs 19,000 crore in Vav-Tharad district. (Start of April)▼
PM Modi will visit Gujarat on 31 March to inaugurate or lay foundation stone of developmental projects worth around Rs 19,000 crore in Vav-Tharad district.
Vav-Tharad became Gujarat’s 34th district after being carved out of Banaskantha district in September 2025.
The public event will be held at Nani village near Deesa at Air Force Station.
Projects cover railways, power, defence, urban development and belong to both state and central governments.
CM Bhupendra Patel, Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi and concerned Union ministers will accompany PM Modi.
PM Modi rolls out ₹16,686 crore infra push in Rajasthan (Start of March)▼
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ajmer, Rajasthan on 28 February 2026 and launched 43 projects worth ₹16,686 crore across urban development, drinking water, roads, railways, irrigation, energy and industrial infrastructure.
34 state projects worth ₹8,554 crore cover urban development, public health engineering, public works, energy, water resources and industries departments.
Nine national highway and energy projects worth ₹8,132 crore include two foundation stones and seven inaugurations.
National highway works worth over ₹4,516 crore comprise the four-lane greenfield Bandikui–Jaipur expressway (₹1,207 crore), eight-lane carriageway from NH-76 junction to NH-12 at Ummedpura village under Delhi-Vadodara Access Controlled Greenfield Expressway Package 14, and statewide highway widening.
Urban road projects include the Sanganer Flyover to Malpura Gate elevated road in Jaipur (₹286 crore) and the Mahamandir to Akhaliya Chauraha four-lane elevated road in Jodhpur (₹1,243 crore).
Malbamori–Mangrol–Baran State Highway in Baran district is estimated at ₹322 crore.
Drinking water initiatives comprise four packages of the Nonera Major Drinking Water Project (₹1,021 crore) and five packages of the Parwan Akawad Major Drinking Water Project (₹2,247 crore).
A ₹3,616 crore transmission system for renewable energy evacuation and foundation stones for five 220 kV and two 400 kV grid substations were launched.
Infrastructure and drinking water works in the Jodhpur Pali Marwar Industrial Area were initiated.
Appointment letters were distributed to 21,863 selected candidates including 3,320 Patwaris, 2,291 contractual Junior Technical Assistants and Account Assistants, 2,590 Livestock Assistants, 3,822 Community Health Officers, and 7,357 Public Health Care Nurses, Medical Lab Technicians, Lab Technicians, Nursing In-charges, Nursing Trainers, Nurses and Nurse Grade-II.
PM Modi also launched the HPV vaccination drive for girls aged 9–14 to prevent cervical cancer.
Bhima Mandali caves in Odisha to be developed as Global Heritage site
Key Updates:
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced that the Bhima Mandali caves in the Rairakhol sub-division of Sambalpur, Odisha, will be developed into a premier global heritage destination.
The caves are situated within the Naktideul Forest Range, 92 km from Sambalpur town and 15 km from Naktideul.
The site is believed to be over 10,000 years old, with further archaeological verification potentially dating it back 15,000 to 20,000 years.
The site contains rock paintings and stone inscriptions over 20,000 years old and served as shelter for early humans from the Old Stone Age to the Neolithic period.
The site is associated with the Pandavas from the Mahabharata and named after Bhima, who is said to have built a dam on the Champali River.
Similar Coverage
Inauguration of Sri Guru Bhairavaikya Mandira – 15 April 2026 (Mid of April)▼
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Sri Guru Bhairavaikya Mandira at Sri Kshetra Adichunchanagiri in Mandya, Karnataka.
The inauguration was part of Modi's official visit to Karnataka.
The event was attended by large gatherings of devotees and officials in Mandya district.
Darjeeling Hill Festival showcasing tribal heritage inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu. (Start of March)▼
President Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate the Darjeeling Hill Festival at the Durbar Hall of the Raj Bhavan in Darjeeling, now renamed Lok Bhavan.
The festival is curated by experts from the Indian Museum and involves Indian Museum, Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC), Victoria Memorial Hall, Maulana Abul Kalam Institute of Asian Studies (MAKAIAS), Asiatic Society, universities, public institutions, and non-governmental organisations.
Governor C V Ananda Bose, chairman of the board of trustees at the Indian Museum, conceived the festival.
The exhibition titled ‘Roots and Rhythm’ will display rare artefacts from Indian Museum’s ethnographic collections representing tribal communities across North-East hills, Central India forests, Eastern India, southern highlands, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Indian Museum director Sayan Bhattacharya stated that objects include Adi cane helmets, Naga warrior sculptures, Santhal jewellery, Kondh Dokra effigies, Toda embroidered textiles, and Onge wooden vessels.
A Tribal Art Camp for Darjeeling school students will be organised by Indian Museum, Kolkata to engage youth with indigenous art traditions.
Three-day Itkhori Mahotsav inaugurated in Chatra (End of February)▼
State finance minister Radha Krishana Kishore inaugurated the three-day Rajkiya Itkhori Mahotsav in Chatra on Thursday.
Excise minister Yogendra Prasad and Chatra MP Kalicharan Singh were also present on the occasion.
The ministers launched the official website of Bhadrakali Temple and released a coffee table book.
The first day featured colourful cultural performances, including traditional folk dances.
Various cultural, spiritual and tourism-related activities have been lined up over the next two days.
National Technology Day observed on May 11
Key Updates:
National Technology Day is observed every year on May 11 to commemorate the successful Pokhran-II nuclear tests of May 11, 1998.
The 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, developed by BHAVINI under the Department of Atomic Energy, reached first criticality in April 2026, making India the second country after Russia to have a commercial-scale fast breeder reactor.
India became the fourth nation to achieve a soft landing on the Moon and the first to do so near the lunar south pole through the Chandrayaan-3 mission in July 2023.
Aditya-L1, India's first dedicated solar observatory, was launched in September 2023 and reached its halo orbit around the Sun-Earth L1 point in January 2024.
The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, launched in July 2025, employs dual L-band and S-band radar to monitor Earth's surface changes.
The Gaganyaan mission, expected in the first quarter of 2027, aims to send three astronauts (vyomnauts) into low Earth orbit at approximately 400 km for up to three days.
The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is an indigenous fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter with a prototype rollout targeted for late 2026–2027 and a first flight scheduled for 2028.
Similar Coverage
World Intellectual Property Day observed on April 26 (End of April)▼
World Intellectual Property Day is observed annually on April 26.
The event was established to increase general understanding of intellectual property rights, including patents, trademarks, industrial designs, and copyrights.
The idea for the day was first proposed by the National Algerian Institute for Industrial Property in 1999.
The State Intellectual Property Office of the People’s Republic of China suggested the institutionalisation of the event during the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) General Assembly.
WIPO member states approved the proposal in October 1999.
The date April 26 coincides with the anniversary of the date the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization first entered into force in 1970.
The first official World Intellectual Property Day was held in 2000.
Uttar Pradesh Government Launches 'Tech Youth-Supported Youth' Scheme for Modern Training of Youth (Mid of May)▼
On National Technology Day (May 11, 2026), Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced the state's aim to become India's 'Deep Tech Capital'.
Missions in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) have been launched by the Uttar Pradesh government.
The data center cluster initiative is underway in the state.
The 'Tech Youth-Supported Youth' scheme is ensuring modern training for youth in Uttar Pradesh.
Uttar Pradesh is advancing in drones, quantum technology, green hydrogen, and med-tech under the mantra 'Innovate in UP, Scale for the World'.
India to host North Tech Symposium 2026 in Prayagraj from May 4 to May 6 (Start of May)▼
The North Tech Symposium 2026, themed 'Defence Triveni Sangam', is scheduled to be held in Prayagraj from May 4 to May 6.
The event is organised by the Directorate of Public Relations (DPR) under the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to showcase India’s military and technological capabilities.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will inaugurate the symposium, with Yogi Adityanath and Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh attending as special guests.
The symposium will feature live demonstrations of AI-based surveillance systems, heavy-lift logistics drones, and indigenous artillery systems to promote self-reliance.
The platform aims to connect the armed forces, academia, and defence manufacturers to strengthen the strategic ecosystem and support the Make in India campaign.
World Engineering Day 2026 themed 'Smart engineering for a sustainable future through innovation and digitalisation' (Start of March)▼
World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development (WED) 2026 is recognised by UNESCO and delivered by the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO).
Adani Group has been named the official partner for WED 2026, the first time an Indian organisation has been selected by WFEO for this global platform.
The Khavda renewable energy project in Gujarat, developed by Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) in collaboration with Adani Energy Solutions and Adani New Industries, is highlighted by WFEO as a defining example of India's energy transition.
The Khavda plant is being constructed on 538 square kilometres of barren land in the Kutch region, an area five times the size of Paris.
The project is planned to reach 30 GW capacity by 2029 and is currently the world's largest renewable energy plant under construction.
Kevin Warsh Confirmed as Federal Reserve Chair
Key Updates:
Kevin Warsh was confirmed by the Senate on May 13 as the chair of the Federal Reserve (Fed).
He replaces Jerome Powell as the chair of the Fed.
Warsh was confirmed to a new 14-year term on the Fed's Board of Governors on May 12.
He will serve a four-year term as chair.
Warsh previously served on the Fed's Board of Governors from 2006 to 2011.
Similar Coverage
Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) maintains federal funds rate in 3.5%–3.75% range (Start of May)▼
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is projected to maintain the federal funds rate within the 3.5%–3.75% range.
The Federal Reserve (Fed) last conducted a rate cut in December 2025.
Year-over-year Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation for March 2026 reached 3.3%, surpassing the Fed target of 2%.
Jerome Powell's tenure as Fed Chair concludes on May 15, 2026.
Kevin Warsh, who served on the Federal Reserve Board from 2006 to 2011, has been nominated by President Trump to replace Jerome Powell.
Rohit Jain Appointed as RBI Deputy Governor (Start of May)▼
Rohit Jain was appointed as Deputy Governor (DG) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) by the appointments committee of the cabinet.
His appointment is for a period of three years from the date of joining on or after May 3, 2026.
He replaced T Rabi Sankar, whose tenure ended on May 3, 2026, after receiving two extensions in 2024 and 2025.
Jain had served as an Executive Director (ED) at the RBI since December 2020 and has spent about 30 years at the central bank, handling functions including banking supervision.
Jain became one of the two deputy governors promoted from within the RBI, along with SC Murmu, while the other deputy governors include Poonam Gupta and Swaminathan J.
Vishvajit Sahay assumes charge as Defence Finance Secretary (Start of May)▼
Vishvajit Sahay, a 1990-batch officer of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS), assumed charge as Secretary (Defence Finance) in the Ministry of Defence on 1 May 2026.
Prior to this appointment, he served as the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA).
He is an alumnus of St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi, and a law graduate with over three decades of experience in defence finance and public administration.
His previous key positions include Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser in the Department of Science and Technology, Joint Secretary in the Department of Heavy Industries, Finance Manager in the Acquisition Wing of the Ministry of Defence, and Director in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Within the Defence Accounts Department, he has also served as Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions) in Prayagraj, Joint CGDA, and Special CGDA, and represented India at training programmes at the University of Cambridge and the George C. Marshall European Centre for Security Studies.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approves Jose Joseph Kattoor as South Indian Bank Chairman (End of March)▼
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) sanctioned the appointment of former RBI Executive Director Jose Joseph Kattoor as non-executive part-time chairman of South Indian Bank on 3 February 2026.
Kattoor’s chairmanship is effective 23 March 2026 for a three-year term.
He served at RBI from 1991 to 2023 and led departments including enforcement, corporate strategy, currency, and human resources.
Kattoor has been an independent director on South Indian Bank’s board since 18 July 2024.
Prashant Pise Appointed Ambassador of India to Oman
Key Updates:
Prashant Pise has been appointed as the Ambassador of India to the Sultanate of Oman by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Pise is a 1995 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer.
He succeeds Godavarthi Venkata Srinivas, a 1993 batch IFS officer, in Muscat.
Prior to this appointment, Pise served as the Ambassador of India to the Republic of Slovenia in March 2024.
He currently holds the position of Additional Secretary (Emigration Policy and Welfare) in the MEA.
Similar Coverage
Vikram Doraiswami appointed India's envoy to China (Mid of May)▼
Vikram Doraiswami presented a copy of his credentials to Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China.
Doraiswami is a 1992-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer.
Prior to his posting to Beijing, he served as India's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
He is a Mandarin speaker and has previously served at diplomatic missions in Hong Kong and Beijing.
The appointment comes amid efforts to normalise relations following a military standoff in eastern Ladakh in April 2020.
Priyanka Mittal Appointed Co-Chair of Saudi-India Business Council (SIBC) (Start of May)▼
Priyanka Mittal, Director of KRBL Limited, has been appointed as Co-Chair of the Indian side of the Saudi-India Business Council (SIBC) by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
Dr. Siddeek Ahmed, Chairman of Eram Holdings, has been nominated as Chair of the Indian side of the SIBC.
The SIBC is a bilateral platform jointly established by FICCI and the Federation of Saudi Chambers (FSC).
The SIBC aims to strengthen economic cooperation, enhance trade relations, and facilitate investment opportunities between India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
KRBL Limited is the parent company of India Gate, which is recognised as the World's No.1 basmati rice brand.
R Mukundan elected President of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
Key Updates:
R Mukundan, Managing Director and CEO of Tata Chemicals, was elected President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for 2026-27.
Mukundan succeeds Rajiv Memani as the President of CII.
Suchitra K Ella, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Bharat Biotech, was appointed President-Designate of CII for 2026-27.
Shashwat Goenka, Vice-Chairman of RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, was named Vice President of CII.
Suchitra K Ella was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2022.
Similar Coverage
Kenya’s Musalia Mudavadi to attend 11th Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi (Start of March)▼
Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi will attend the 11th Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi from March 5 to 7, 2026.
The Raisina Dialogue is billed as India’s leading forum on geopolitics and geoeconomics.
During his visit Mudavadi will also participate in the Kenya–India Joint Commission for Cooperation focused on securing concrete bilateral outcomes.
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Finnish President Alexander Stubb will also visit India from March 4 to 7, 2026, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the Dialogue.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb will serve as Chief Guest and deliver the keynote address at the 11th Raisina Dialogue.
United States Deputy Secretary of State to lead delegation at 2026 Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi (Start of March)▼
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau will travel to New Delhi from March 3-6, 2026.
Landau will lead the United States (US) delegation to the 2026 Raisina Dialogue.
He will meet senior Indian officials to discuss bilateral cooperation on defence, critical minerals, and counternarcotics.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb will visit India from March 4 to March 7, 2026, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Stubb will be the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker at the 11th Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi.
This will be Stubb’s first visit to India as President of Finland.
India elected to three UN Economic and Social Council subsidiary bodies for 2027-2030 (Mid of April)▼
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.
CA Prasanna Kumar D elected President of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) for 2026–27, CA Mangesh Kinare elected Vice-President. (Mid of February)▼
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) elected CA Prasanna Kumar D as its 74th President for the 2026–27 term.
CA Mangesh Pandurang Kinare was elected as Vice-President of ICAI for 2026–27.
Prasanna Kumar D served as Vice-President of ICAI during 2025–26.
He was a member of the ICAI Central Council in its 24th, 25th, and 26th Councils.
He chaired the Visakhapatnam Branch of ICAI in 2001–02 and the Southern India Regional Council in 2013–14.
As President, he will chair ICAI’s Executive, Finance, Disciplinary, and Examination Committees and serve as Editor in Chief of The Chartered Accountant journal.
Prateek Yadav passed away
Key Updates:
Prateek Yadav passed away at the age of 38 on May 13, 2026, in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
He was the son of the late Mulayam Singh Yadav, founder of the Samajwadi Party (SP) and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.
He was the stepbrother of the SP chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Akhilesh Yadav.
He was the husband of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Aparna Bisht Yadav.
Aparna Bisht Yadav serves as the Vice Chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh State Women Commission.
Similar Coverage
Dr Gopalrao Patil passes away as former Rajya Sabha member (End of April)▼
Dr Gopalrao Patil, a former Rajya Sabha member and paediatrician, passed away at the age of 94 in Latur, Maharashtra.
He served as a member of the Rajya Sabha representing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) between 1994 and 2000.
He contributed to parliamentary committees on commerce, external affairs, and railways.
He founded the Shiv Chhatrapati Shikshan Sanstha, which runs Rajarshi Shahu College in Latur.
He served as the first president of a branch of the Indian Pediatric Association.
He pursued his medical education from Osmania University in Hyderabad.
Mohsina Kidwai, Congress veteran and former Union minister, passes away at 94. (Start of April)▼
Mohsina Kidwai died at the age of 94, as confirmed by her family.
She won her first election from Barabanki at the age of 28.
Kidwai held Union ministerial portfolios of railways, civil aviation and urban development.
She remained actively involved in Congress organisational work in Punjab, Assam and Chandigarh alongside Sonia Gandhi.
She secured a major electoral victory in the post-Emergency period despite nationwide Congress setbacks.
Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury dies at 89. (Mid of April)▼
Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury, former Union Minister, died on 8 April 2026 in Kolkata.
He was 89 years old and had been suffering from multiple age-related complications.
He was popularly known as Dalu in political circles.
He is survived by his wife and son Isha Khan Choudhury, Congress MP from Malda Dakshin.
His death marks the end of an era in Malda district politics where he remained a key figure for decades.
Actor Pravina Deshpande passes away at 60. (Mid of February)▼
Pravina Deshpande died on 17 February 2026 after a prolonged battle with cancer at the age of 60.
Her cremation was held on 17 February 2026 at 3:00 pm at Hindu Crematorium, Chakala Parsiwada, Andheri East.
She was a member of Cine & TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA) since 2008.
Her Hindi film credits include Ready, Ek Villain, Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran and Jalebi.
Her television appearances include Ghar Ek Mandir, Kumkum – Ek Pyara Sa Bandhan, Karam Apnaa Apnaa and Kulfi Kumar Bajewala.
Her final screen appearance was in the Netflix web series Taskaree.
Swapan Sadhan Bose Dies Former Mohun Bagan President
Key Updates:
Swapan Sadhan Bose, a former president of Mohun Bagan, died at the age of 79 in Kolkata on Tuesday.
He passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest.
He served the club in various capacities, including as secretary and president, for more than three decades.
His administration oversaw the induction of foreign players and the signing of Nigerian striker Chima Okorie.
He played a key role in the 2020 merger of Mohun Bagan with Atletico de Kolkata (ATK).
Similar Coverage
Chandrikapersad Santokhi, Suriname’s ex-President and investigator of 1982 political killings, dies at 67. (Start of April)▼
Chandrikapersad Santokhi served as President of Suriname from 2020 to 2025.
He previously held the post of Minister of Justice and Police from 2005 to 2010.
As a police commissioner, Santokhi led the probe into the December 1982 killings of 15 political opponents.
He chaired the Progressive Reform Party from 2011 after Ramdien Sardjoe’s resignation.
Suriname’s economic stabilisation during his presidency was partly supported by an International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.
His austerity measures included phasing out fuel, water and electricity subsidies, triggering protests in February 2023.
Voters denied him a second term in the May 2025 general election.
Balbir Punj passes away as former Rajya Sabha MP and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader (End of April)▼
Balbir Punj, aged 76, passed away on April 18, 2026.
He served as a former Member of Parliament (MP) in the Rajya Sabha and as a former vice president of the BJP.
He was associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) from a young age.
He began his career as a journalist in 1971 with the newspaper The Motherland.
He served at the Financial Express for two decades.
He was the executive editor of The Observer of Business and Politics from May 1996 to March 2000.
Mohsina Kidwai, Congress veteran and former Union minister, passes away at 94. (Start of April)▼
Mohsina Kidwai died at the age of 94, as confirmed by her family.
She won her first election from Barabanki at the age of 28.
Kidwai held Union ministerial portfolios of railways, civil aviation and urban development.
She remained actively involved in Congress organisational work in Punjab, Assam and Chandigarh alongside Sonia Gandhi.
She secured a major electoral victory in the post-Emergency period despite nationwide Congress setbacks.
K P Unnikrishnan, former Union minister and seven-term Vadakara MP, died at 89. (Start of March)▼
K P Unnikrishnan died in Kozhikode at the age of 89.
He represented Vadakara Lok Sabha constituency for seven consecutive terms from 1971 to 1996.
He served as Union minister for Surface Transport, Shipping and Telecommunications in the V P Singh government between 1989 and 1990.
He was among the first to raise the Bofors issue in Parliament during Rajiv Gandhi's tenure.
He began his career as a journalist with Blitz in Mumbai in the early 1950s.
He was a close confidant of Indira Gandhi and managed V K Krishna Menon's 1962 Mumbai Lok Sabha election campaign.
He contested and won Lok Sabha elections in 1971, 1977, 1980, 1984, 1989, and 1991 from Vadakara.
He lost the 1996 Lok Sabha election after rejoining Congress in 1995.
N Rangasamy sworn-in as Chief Minister of Puducherry
Key Updates:
N Rangasamy, leader of the All India NR Congress (AINRC), took oath as the Chief Minister of Puducherry for a fifth term on May 13.
Lieutenant Governor K Kailashnathan administered the oath of office and secrecy to Rangasamy at Lok Nivas.
The AINRC-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured 18 seats in the 30-member Puducherry Legislative Assembly, consisting of 12 seats for AINRC, 4 for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), 1 for the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), and 1 for the Lakshiya Jananayaga Katchi (LJK).
A Namassivayam of the BJP took oath as a Cabinet minister in the Puducherry government.
Rangasamy won the Thattanchavady constituency and is Puducherry's longest-serving Chief Minister, with previous tenures from 2001 to 2008 and 2011 to 2016.
Similar Coverage
Sunil Bajpai assumed charge as Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Tamil Nadu & Puducherry. (Mid of April)▼
Sunil Bajpai belongs to the 1990 batch of IRS.
He holds a B.Tech in Civil Engineering from IIT Kanpur and an M.Tech in Structural Engineering from IIT Delhi.
He completed his PGDM from IIM Lucknow and holds an LLB degree.
He previously served as Chief Commissioner of Income Tax-5, Mumbai.
He has served as Additional Director of Income Tax in the Directorate of Systems.
He has served as Principal Additional Director General at NADT Regional Campus, Lucknow.
During deputation, he served as Joint Assessor & Collector at Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
He also served as Director at National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), Government of India.
Runiel Debbarma Appointed Chief Executive Member of Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) (Start of May)▼
Runiel Debbarma was appointed as the new Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) by the TIPRA Motha party (TMP).
Debbarma replaced the former CEM Purna Chandra Jamatia.
Bhaba Ranjan Reang was appointed as the chairman of TTAADC, replacing Jagadish Debbarma.
The TTAADC polls were held on April 12 and recorded a voter turnout of over 83%.
The TMP won 24 out of 28 seats in the TTAADC polls, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won four seats.
Lt Gen VMB Krishnan assumed command of Eastern Command. (Start of April)▼
Lt Gen VMB Krishnan took over as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Command on Wednesday.
He succeeded Lt Gen R C Tiwari, who retired at the end of March.
Lt Gen Pushpendra Pal Singh now leads the Western Command after serving as Vice Chief of the Army Staff.
Lt Gen Sandeep Jain assumed command of the Southern Command, succeeding Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth.
Lt Gen Manoj Kumar Katiyar was the predecessor of Lt Gen Pushpendra Pal Singh in the Western Command.
Prasoon Joshi Appointed Chairman of Prasar Bharati (Start of May)▼
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced the appointment of lyricist and writer Prasoon Joshi as the Chairman of the Prasar Bharati Board on 3 May 2026.
Prasoon Joshi has served as the Chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) since 2017 and is a trustee of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA).
He previously held senior leadership roles in the advertising sector, including Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of McCann World Group India and Chairman of McCann World Group Asia Pacific.
Prasar Bharati is India's public service broadcaster established under the Prasar Bharati Act of 1990 and comprises All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD).
The broadcaster has launched the Waves Over-The-Top (OTT) platform to expand its free-to-air digital service offerings in the spirit of public broadcasting.
Susan Elias Appointed First Woman Principal of St Stephen’s College
Key Updates:
Professor Susan Elias, a computer scientist, has been appointed as the 14th principal of St Stephen’s College in New Delhi.
This appointment marks the first time a woman will lead the institution in its 145-year history since its establishment in 1881.
Elias is scheduled to officially assume her role as the head of the college starting from 1 June 2026.
The college was founded by the Cambridge Mission to Delhi, with Canon Samuel Scott Allnutt serving as its founder and first principal.
Elias holds a Bachelor’s degree in computer science and engineering, a Master’s in multimedia technology, and a doctorate in multimedia communications.
Similar Coverage
Susan Coyle Appointed as Chief of Army of Australia (Mid of April)▼
Lieutenant General Susan Coyle has been appointed as the first female commander to lead the Australian Army in its 125-year history.
The appointment was announced by the Defence Minister Richard Marles, with her term as the Chief of Army set to begin in July 2026.
She currently serves as the Chief of Joint Capabilities Group, where she leads the Space and Cyber Domains and National Support for Defence.
Her military career spans over three decades, including deployments to Timor Leste, Solomon Islands, Afghanistan, and the Middle East.
She graduated from the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) and the Royal Military College (RMC) into the Royal Australian Corps of Signals in 1992.
Her previous key appointments include Head of Information Warfare, Commander of Forces Command, and Commander of Task Group Afghanistan.
She has been awarded the Member of the Order of Australia, the Distinguished Service Medal, and the Conspicuous Service Cross.
She is a Distinguished Graduate of the United States Army War College and an alumnus of the Harvard Advanced Management Program.
Supreme Court (SC) Proposes Permanent Woman Vice-President Post in Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) (Start of May)▼
The Supreme Court (SC) has proposed the creation of a permanent vice-president post reserved for women in the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) from 2027 onwards.
For the 2026-27 SCBA elections, the post of secretary remains reserved for women members.
Current reservations in the SCBA include the post of secretary, two posts in the senior executive committee, and three posts in the executive committee for women.
The directions were issued by a bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice K V Viswanathan.
The SC has introduced 33% reservation for women in bar associations, including the SCBA, Delhi High Court Bar Association, and district bar associations in Delhi, and 30% reservation in bar councils.
Saba Shawl became first Kashmiri woman to head Central Jail Srinagar. (Start of March)▼
Saba Shawl was appointed Superintendent of Central Jail Srinagar through Government Order No. 145 Home of 2026 dated March 2, 2026.
She was transferred from her previous role as Staff Officer to the Director General Prisons, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
Shawl cleared the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) examination in 2012 for the post of Superintendent of Police (Prisons).
She holds a master’s degree in social work and earlier worked with the Indo Global Social Service Society.
She had served at Central Jail Kothbalwal in Jammu and Kupwara Jail before her current posting.
Australia appoints first female chief of army in 125-year history (Mid of April)▼
Lieutenant General Susan Coyle will become chief of army in July 2026, the first woman to lead the Australian Army in its 125-year history.
Coyle currently serves as chief of joint capabilities and will replace Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, who has held the post since July 2022.
Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, current chief of the navy, was appointed head of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), succeeding Admiral David Johnston.
Rear Admiral Matthew Buckley will replace Hammond as chief of the navy.
Women comprise 21 percent of the ADF and 18.5 percent of senior leadership roles; the ADF targets 25 percent female participation by 2030.
A class action filed last October alleges systemic sexual assault, harassment, and discrimination against women officers in the ADF.
N. Rangasamy sworn in as Chief Minister of Puducherry
Key Updates:
N. Rangasamy was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Puducherry for the fifth time on May 13, 2026.
Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan administered the oath of office and secrecy at Lok Niwas in Puducherry.
The second National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in the Union Territory includes Ministers A. Namassivayam of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Malladi Krishna Rao of the All India N.R. Congress (AINRC).
N. Rangasamy is the founder of the AINRC and the head of the NDA in the Union Territory of Puducherry.
The Chief Minister approved the extension of ₹3 lakh health insurance coverage to APL families, the establishment of Namo Cancer Hospital at the Indira Gandhi Government Medical College, and land allotment to the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-Madras) and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER).
Similar Coverage
C Joseph Vijay Sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (Mid of May)▼
C Joseph Vijay, founder of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), took oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai.
TVK is the first non-Dravidian party to form the government in Tamil Nadu.
The new cabinet comprises nine ministers: 'Bussy' N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, K A Sengottaiyan, K G Arunraaj, P Venkataramanan, C T R Nirmal Kumar, A Rajmohan, S Keerthana, and K T Prabhu.
S Keerthana is the only woman minister in the cabinet.
Chief Minister Vijay is expected to prove his majority through a vote of confidence on or before May 13.
Suvendu Adhikari Sworn in as Chief Minister of West Bengal (Start of May)▼
Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as the Chief Minister of West Bengal on 9 May 2026.
Adhikari is the first leader from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to hold the Chief Minister's post in West Bengal.
The swearing-in ceremony was administered by the Governor at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata.
The BJP secured 207 seats in the 294-member Assembly.
The ministers sworn in for the cabinet include Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, Ashok Kirtonia, Kshudiram Tudu, and Nisith Pramanik.
Adhikari defeated Mamata Banerjee in the Bhabanipur constituency by a margin of over 15,000 votes and retained the Nandigram seat.
Sunil Bajpai assumed charge as Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Tamil Nadu & Puducherry. (Mid of April)▼
Sunil Bajpai belongs to the 1990 batch of IRS.
He holds a B.Tech in Civil Engineering from IIT Kanpur and an M.Tech in Structural Engineering from IIT Delhi.
He completed his PGDM from IIM Lucknow and holds an LLB degree.
He previously served as Chief Commissioner of Income Tax-5, Mumbai.
He has served as Additional Director of Income Tax in the Directorate of Systems.
He has served as Principal Additional Director General at NADT Regional Campus, Lucknow.
During deputation, he served as Joint Assessor & Collector at Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
He also served as Director at National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), Government of India.
Runiel Debbarma Appointed Chief Executive Member of Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) (Start of May)▼
Runiel Debbarma was appointed as the new Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) by the TIPRA Motha party (TMP).
Debbarma replaced the former CEM Purna Chandra Jamatia.
Bhaba Ranjan Reang was appointed as the chairman of TTAADC, replacing Jagadish Debbarma.
The TTAADC polls were held on April 12 and recorded a voter turnout of over 83%.
The TMP won 24 out of 28 seats in the TTAADC polls, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won four seats.
Dr. Harvansh Chawla Appointed as Chairman of BRISEC Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BRISEC)
Key Updates:
Dr. Harvansh Chawla has been appointed as the Chairman of the BRISEC Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BRISEC).
He is a legal expert specialising in international trade and policy.
Dr. Chawla previously served as the Chairman of the BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BRICS CCI).
His tenure at BRICS CCI involved advancing trade and investment among BRICS+ nations and developing institutional dialogues.
The mandate of BRISEC under his leadership includes enhancing cross-border trade opportunities and facilitating policy dialogues for global business engagements.
Similar Coverage
Jayen Mehta Elected as Chairman of SPCDF (Mid of May)▼
Jayen Mehta has been elected as the Chairman of the SPCDF.
The election for the position of Chairman was conducted unanimously.
Mehta currently holds the post of Managing Director (MD) at the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF).
Justice Ramachandra D Huddar Appointed Chairperson of Admissions Overseeing Committee (Start of May)▼
Retired High Court judge Justice Ramachandra D Huddar has been appointed as the chairperson of the Admissions Overseeing Committee for professional courses in Karnataka.
A notification confirming the appointment was issued on April 28.
The post of chairperson had been vacant for more than one-and-a-half years after the previous chairperson's term ended in October 2024.
The appointment was made in accordance with the provisions of the Karnataka Professional Educational Institutions Regulation of Admissions and Determination of Fee Act, 2006.
The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) had been receiving complaints against private medical, engineering, and nursing colleges regarding the charging of excessive fees.
Om Birla rejigs 4 House panels for 2026-27; most chiefs stay on (Start of May)▼
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla reconstituted four parliamentary committees for the 2026-27 financial year.
The committees were officially reconstituted on May 1, 2026, and will serve till April 30, 2027.
BJP MP Faggan Singh Kulaste was reappointed chairperson of the Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Congress leader KC Venugopal was reappointed chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee.
The Public Accounts Committee consists of not more than 22 members, comprising 15 elected by the Lok Sabha and not more than seven from the Rajya Sabha.
Shashi Shekhar Vempati Appointed Chairperson of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) (Start of May)▼
The Government of India notified the appointment of Shashi Shekhar Vempati as the chairperson of the CBFC for a three-year term effective from the date of joining.
Shashi Shekhar Vempati is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay and a co-founder of AI4India Org, an organisation working to democratise artificial intelligence technology.
Prasoon Joshi, who served as the CBFC chairperson for over eight years, has been appointed as the chairman of Prasar Bharati.
The CBFC functions as a statutory body under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to regulate the public exhibition of films under the Cinematograph Act, 1952.
The organisation is headquartered in Mumbai and maintains nine regional offices in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Cuttack, and Guwahati.