Daily Current Affairs: 15 April 2026

Analysis for 15 April 2026

Sunil Bajpai assumed charge as Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Tamil Nadu & Puducherry.

[Tamil Nadu, Puducherry]

Key Updates:

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.

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SAMARTH Panchayat Portal: Dhamtari Becomes First District to Collect Property Tax Online (End of January) ▼

Dhamtari district in Chhattisgarh has become the first in India to launch online property tax collection through the SAMARTH Panchayat portal.
The digital initiative was rolled out at Sankara gram panchayat in Nagri block, making it the first gram panchayat in India to establish an end-to-end digital payment system.
The system allows rural citizens to pay taxes from their homes using a Unified Payments Interface (UPI) linked online payment gateway.
The initiative is being implemented across nearly 400 gram panchayats in Dhamtari to simplify administration and reduce pending tax arrears.
The Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) Secretary, Vivek Bhardwaj, stated that the system provides gram panchayats with an independent source of revenue to promote financial self-reliance.

Ravichandran Purushothaman elected Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Southern Region Chairman for 2026-27 (End of March) ▼

Ravichandran Purushothaman has been elected as the Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Southern Region for the term 2026-27.
His election was announced in the article without specifying the exact date of election or assumption of office.
The article does not mention his predecessor or any specific agenda for his tenure.
No additional details about his previous roles or organisational affiliations are provided in the article.

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

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

Income Tax Act, 2025 to replace 1961 Act from 1 April 2026 (Start of February) ▼

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the Income Tax Act, 2025 will come into force from 1 April 2026.
The new Act is revenue-neutral with no changes to existing tax rates or slabs.
The legislation cuts overall text volume and number of sections by nearly 50% compared with the 1961 Act.
A single 'tax year' concept replaces the distinction between 'previous year' and 'assessment year'.
Taxpayers can claim TDS refunds even if returns are filed after the due date without penal charges.
The deadline for revising returns has been extended from 31 December to 31 March.
A six-month foreign asset disclosure window is offered to small taxpayers like students, tech professionals and NRIs for income or assets below a specified threshold.
TCS reduced to 2% on overseas tour packages and on remittances for education and medical purposes under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme.
For property transactions involving non-residents, TDS can be deducted using the buyer’s PAN-based challan instead of requiring a TAN.

Centre proposes 850-seat Lok Sabha expansion with 33% women’s quota from 2029 elections.

Key Updates:

The Centre circulated three bills on 16 April 2026: Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, Delimitation Bill 2026, and Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill 2026.
Article 81 amendment will expand Lok Sabha from 543 to around 816 seats with an upper cap of 850.
The women’s reservation will create roughly 273 reserved seats, advancing implementation to the 2029 polls instead of 2034.
A three-member delimitation commission led by a current or retired Supreme Court judge and including Election Commission of India (ECI) representation will redraw constituencies.
The bills require a two-thirds majority in Parliament and ratification by at least 50% of states for passage.
Reserved seats for women will be rotated across constituencies in every election cycle.
The quota will apply to Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry, with ECI acting as delimitation authority for 24 vacant assembly segments in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The reservation will initially last 15 years unless extended by a future law.

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Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam Amendments Approved to Reserve 273 Lok Sabha Seats (Start of April) ▼

The Union Cabinet approved a draft amendment bill to operationalise the Women’s Reservation Act, aiming for implementation by the 2029 general elections.
The proposed amendment modifies the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023, also known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.
Under the new proposal, the total number of Lok Sabha seats is expected to increase from 543 to 816.
A total of 273 seats, which is approximately 33% of the proposed total, will be reserved for women.
The reservation will follow a vertical quota system to ensure representation within Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) categories.
The government plans to conduct the delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census instead of waiting for the 2027 Census.
A special three-day sitting of Parliament has been scheduled from 16 April to 18 April for the introduction and passage of the amendment bill.

Census 2026 boosts Home Ministry budget; Intelligence Bureau allocation jumps 74% (Start of February) ▼

The Union government allocated ₹5,762 crore for Census 2026 set to begin on 1 April.
The overall internal security budget rose by 9.5% to ₹2.55 lakh crore.
Central police forces CRPF, BSF, ITBP and CISF will receive the bulk of the funds.
Intelligence Bureau (IB) allocation surged 74% from ₹3,893.35 crore to ₹6,782.43 crore.

VB-G RAM G Scheme Launched with ₹95,692.31 Crore Outlay in Budget 2026 (Start of February) ▼

The Centre has allocated ₹95,692.31 crore for the rollout of the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar Aajeevika Mission (Grameen) (VB-G RAM G).
The VB-G RAM G scheme promises 125 days of work in a year and is set to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
An allocation of ₹30,000 crore has been made for MGNREGA, which will continue until the new scheme is implemented and pending works are completed.
The total expenditure for VB-G RAM G is expected to reach ₹1,51,000 crore when including contributions earmarked by state governments.
The Department of Rural Development has received a total allocation of ₹1,94,368.81 crore, marking an increase of approximately 3.5 per cent compared to the previous year.
The Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) has been earmarked ₹54,916.70 crore for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) has been allocated ₹19,000 crore, while the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) received ₹19,200 crore.
Based on the recommendations of the 16th Finance Commission, panchayats will receive an additional ₹55,990 crore.
The Department of Land Resources has been allocated ₹2,654.33 crore for the 2026-27 period.

Uttar Pradesh Budget 2026-27 allocates Rs 9.13 lakh crore with focus on education, urban growth (Mid of February) ▼

Uttar Pradesh finance minister Suresh Khanna presented a Rs 9,12,696.35 crore budget for 2026-27, registering a 12.2% rise over the previous year.
Capital expenditure accounts for 19.5% of the total outlay.
Fiscal deficit capped at 3% in line with the 16th Finance Commission's recommendations till 2030-31.
All primary schools to be upgraded into 'Smart Schools' under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.
Rs 580 crore earmarked to establish girls' schools in blocks without Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas.
Nearly 50 lakh tablets and smartphones distributed under Swami Vivekananda Yuva Sashaktikaran Yojana.
Rs 3,500 crore allocated under Chief Minister's Urban Expansion and New City Promotion Scheme for planned urbanisation.

Susan Coyle Appointed as Chief of Army of Australia

[Australia]

Key Updates:

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.

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Captain Hansja Sharma Becomes Indian Army's First Woman Pilot of Rudra Armed Helicopter (End of January) ▼

Captain Hansja Sharma, aged 27, became the first woman in the Indian Army qualified to fly the Rudra armed helicopter.
She topped her training at the Combat Army Aviation Training School (CAATS) in Nashik and became the first woman to receive the Silver Cheetah Trophy for best combat aviator.
She commanded the 251 Army Aviation Squadron at the 2026 Army Day Parade held in Rajasthan on 15 January.
During the parade, she led the showcase of the HELINA missile system, highlighting the role of women in combat aviation.
She also secured the top position in the 107th Air Traffic Management course at the Air Force Academy (AFA).
Born on 9 March 1998 in Jammu, she is a former National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadet who studied Zoology at the University of Jammu.

Simran Bala becomes first woman from Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri to join Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and will lead all-male contingent on Republic Day. (End of January) ▼

Simran Bala, 26-year-old Assistant Commandant in Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), hails from Nowshera sector of Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir.
She will lead an all-male CRPF contingent of over 140 personnel during the Republic Day parade on Kartavya Path in New Delhi on 26 January 2026.
Bala is the first woman from Rajouri district to join CRPF as an officer.
Her family stated that she represents the third generation in their family to serve the nation in uniform.

Nivedita Dubey assumes charge as Member (HR) at Airports Authority of India (AAI). (Start of February) ▼

Nivedita Dubey assumed charge as Member (Human Resources) at the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
She became the first woman to serve on the Board of AAI.
Her previous role within AAI was Regional Executive Director for the Eastern Region.
She brings over 30 years of experience spanning airport operations, administration, and people management.

Indian Navy frigate INS Nilgiri joins Exercise Kakadu 2026 sea phase in Australia (End of March) ▼

INS Nilgiri is participating in the sea phase of Exercise Kakadu 2026 in Australia during its deployment to the Western Pacific.
Exercise Kakadu is a multilateral maritime exercise hosted by Australia that brings together navies from across the Indo-Pacific region.
The exercise aims at strengthening interoperability, cooperation and maritime understanding among participating navies.
The Indian Navy will commission its latest stealth frigate Taragiri (F41) on 3 April 2026.
Taragiri, built under Project 17A by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited in Mumbai, has over 75 per cent indigenous content.
The 6,670-tonne Taragiri is equipped with surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missile systems and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar Commemorated as Chief Architect of Indian Constitution

Key Updates:

India observed Ambedkar Jayanti, also known as Bhim Jayanti, on 14 April 2026 to honour the contributions of Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar.
Dr Ambedkar, born in 1891 in Mhow, served as the chief architect of the Indian Constitution and was the first Law Minister of India.
He was the first Dalit to earn a doctorate in economics from abroad, having pursued higher education at Columbia University and the London School of Economics (LSE).
The day is observed as a gazetted public holiday across India and coincided with regional festivals including Baisakhi and Vishu.
As a jurist and economist, Dr Ambedkar led the drafting of the Constitution to safeguard the rights of marginalised communities and promote social justice.

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Shaheed Diwas observed on March 23 and January 30 in India (End of March) ▼

Shaheed Diwas is observed annually on March 23 to honour the sacrifice of Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru, and Sukhdev Thapar.
The three revolutionaries were executed by the British government on March 23, 1931, for their role in the Indian freedom struggle.
India also observes Shaheed Diwas on January 30 to mark the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948.
The historical background of the March 23 observance is linked to the 1928 protests against the Simon Commission, which lacked Indian representation.
Lala Lajpat Rai, popularly known as Punjab Kesari, died after sustaining injuries during a police lathi charge in Lahore while protesting the Simon Commission.
Bhagat Singh defined revolution as an inalienable right of mankind and freedom as an imperishable birthright of all.

Purple Fest held at Rashtrapati Bhavan to celebrate Divyangjan (Mid of March) ▼

Purple Fest was organised by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE), Government of India.
Over 8,000 Divyangjan visited Amrit Udyan which was opened exclusively for them during the day-long celebration.
President of India Smt Droupadi Murmu witnessed cultural performances by Divyangjan at the Open Air Theatre in the President’s Estate.
The President stated that the Constitution of India’s Preamble establishes ideals of social justice, equality of status and dignity of the individual, and Directive Principles grant Divyangjan the right to education, work and public assistance.

Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan released book 'Chalice of Ambrosia: Ram Janmabhoomi – Challenge and Response' authored by Shri Surendra Kumar Pachauri. (End of January) ▼

Vice President of India Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book at the Vice President’s Enclave.
The book is authored by former Secretary to the Government of India Shri Surendra Kumar Pachauri.
The Supreme Court verdict of 2019 on Ram Janmabhoomi was described as a historic turning point by the Vice President.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust mobilised over ₹3,000 crore through a crowd-funded campaign.
The Dhwaja-rohan ceremony of 25 November 2025 was recalled as a deeply emotional national moment.

B R Ambedkar inspires oppressed Roma community in Hungary through dedicated school and translated texts.

[Hungary]

Key Updates:

Tibor Derdak co-founded the Dr Ambedkar School in Miskolc, Hungary, 20 years ago to serve the long-oppressed Roma community.
The school operates under a brass plaque inscribed in Hungarian and Hindi, and an Ambedkar statue stands near its building.
Derdak translated Ambedkar’s writings, including the Pune Pact and stories from Chandalika, into Hungarian to reproduce Ambedkar’s impact.
The Roma flag adopted at the 1971 World Roma Congress near London features a dharma chakra proposed by an Indian diplomat, symbolically linking the Roma to India.
Graduates like Kuru Janos, who arrived with Class 6 education and later attended university in Budapest, return as local leaders or school staff.
In villages where the school works, girls increasingly view education as possible and early motherhood is declining.

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International Romani Day observed on 8 April (Start of April) ▼

International Romani Day is observed every year on 8 April.
The day marks the anniversary of the first World Roma Congress held on 8 April 1971 at Cannock House boarding school, South London.
The Congress was attended by 23 Romani delegates of the International Gypsy Committee representing 10 countries.
The Congress adopted a flag featuring a sixteen-spoked red chakra on a green field and blue sky, and an anthem titled 'Gelem gelem'.
The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) states that the day commemorates Romani existence, culture, and rights.

Hungarian General Election Results Sunday (Mid of April) ▼

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

Viktor Orbán concedes defeat as Péter Magyar set to become Hungary’s Prime Minister. (Mid of April) ▼

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

T K Oommen Passes Away as Renowned Sociologist and Padma Bhushan Awardee (Start of March) ▼

Renowned sociologist, writer, and former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) professor T K Oommen passed away in Gurugram, Haryana, at the age of 88 on 27 February 2026.
He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian award, in 2008.
He served as a member of the Sachar Committee, which was appointed to study the social, economic, and educational status of Muslim communities.
Oommen was the chairman of the advisory committee of the Gujarat Harmony Project, aimed at rebuilding Hindu-Muslim harmony after the 2002 riots.
He served as the 12th President of the International Sociological Association (ISA).
In 2007, he was awarded the title of Professor Emeritus at JNU.
He served as a University Grants Commission (UGC) National Sociology Lecturer and worked as a visiting professor at the University of California and Berkeley in the USA.
He completed his BA in Economics from the University of Kerala in 1957 and his MA in Sociology from the University of Pune in 1960, followed by a PhD in 1965.

Supreme Court seeks Centre and states' response on PIL over RTE Act and NEP 2020 implementation.

Key Updates:

Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notices to Centre, all states and Union Territories on PIL by advocate Haripriya Patel.
PIL alleges uneven implementation of Right to Education (RTE) Act across states since its enactment over a decade ago.
Petition highlights disparities in National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 rollout with states following different timelines and approaches.
Plea urges bringing pre-primary education within enforceable ambit of RTE Act to ensure foundational learning rights.

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Supreme Court Recognises Menstrual Health as a Fundamental Right under Article 21 (Mid of February) ▼

The Supreme Court (SC) of India recognised access to menstrual health as a fundamental right under Article 21, expanding the constitutional meaning of life and dignity.
A Bench led by Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan reframed menstrual health and hygiene as an enforceable constitutional entitlement rather than a matter of welfare or budgetary discretion.
The ruling mandates all government and private schools to provide free oxo-biodegradable sanitary products to girls in classes 6 to 12.
Schools are required to ensure access to functional girls’ toilets equipped with covered disposal bins, soap, clean water, and menstrual hygiene management corners.
The judgement aligns sanitation and dignity with the Right to Education (RTE) under Article 21A and the principle of substantive equality under Article 14.
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and State Councils of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) are directed to integrate gender-responsive curricula.
District Education Officers are tasked with conducting annual inspections and collecting anonymous student feedback to monitor ground-level compliance.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is designated to provide nationwide oversight for the implementation of these directives.
Private institutions are subject to the ruling, and non-compliance may result in penalties such as derecognition.

Haryana to launch CM Shri Schools for quality education under CBSE framework (End of February) ▼

The Haryana government is set to introduce CM Shri Schools modeled after the central government's PM Shri Schools.
These institutions will operate under the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) framework and aim to embody the National Education Policy-2020 (NEP-2020).
The schools will focus on providing quality education, holistic development, and building 21st-century skills to serve as benchmark institutions.
The Education Department of Haryana has reserved 25% of entry-level class seats in private schools for students from Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).
According to Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda, 11,803 students were admitted to private institutions under the EWS reservation scheme last year.

Supreme Court Stays University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026 (End of January) ▼

The Supreme Court (SC) of India stayed the University Grants Commission (UGC) (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, citing concerns that they could divide society.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi ordered that the 2012 Regulations will continue in force under Article 142 until further orders.
The SC directed the Central Government to constitute a committee of eminent jurists to address the issue and obtain court approval for its setup.
Petitioners challenged Section 3(1)(c) of the regulations for defining discrimination only against members of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) while excluding the general category.
The court flagged the omission of ragging as a specific form of discrimination and expressed concern over provisions indicating separate hostels, classrooms, or mentorship groups.
The 2026 Regulations were developed following a 2019 petition seeking anti-discrimination mechanisms in higher education institutions.

Supreme Court seeks Centre and EC reply on biometric voter authentication PIL

Key Updates:

The Supreme Court of India (SC) issued notice to the Election Commission of India (EC) and the Central Government on a PIL filed by Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay.
The PIL requests creation of a nationwide fingerprint and iris biometrics database for voter authentication at polling booths to curb bogus, proxy and ghost voting.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi stated that implementing biometric authentication is not feasible for the imminent elections but sought the respondents’ views for future parliamentary and assembly polls.
The petitioner contended that current voter identification relies on voter ID cards and manual verification, which are prone to misuse because of outdated photographs, clerical errors and absence of real-time validation.

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Gujarat High Court (HC) AI Policy Prohibits Use in Judicial Decision-Making and Judgment Drafting (Start of April) ▼

The Gujarat High Court (HC) introduced a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy during a conference of district judiciary judges.
The policy prohibits the use of AI for authoring, generating, or substantially composing any judgment, final order, or binding legal ruling.
AI is barred from being used in judicial reasoning, bail sentencing considerations, fact-finding, or the evaluation and categorisation of proof.
The policy restricts AI to administrative roles, metadata-driven case allocation, and legal research of principles to improve justice delivery speed.
Judges and court officers are held personally responsible for the accuracy and appropriateness of any AI-generated content issued under their names.
The policy prohibits entering sensitive data into AI tools, including names, addresses, identifying information of parties, and privileged communications.
AI tools are permitted for code generation for Information Technology (IT) department tasks and drafting circulars or notices already in the public domain.

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

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

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

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

Supreme Court of India (SC) refuses voting rights to 34 lakh West Bengal residents with pending electoral roll appeals.

Key Updates:

The Supreme Court of India (SC) bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi declined to permit 34 lakh appellants excluded from West Bengal electoral rolls to vote in the 2026 polls while their appeals remain pending.
The Court was hearing petitions challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal and a suo motu case on the gherao of judicial officers in Malda district.
Chief Justice Surya Kant stated that allowing excluded persons to vote would undermine the voting rights of those already included in the rolls.
Justice Bagchi clarified that appellants whose appeals are allowed by 9 April will be included in the electoral roll even if the decision comes shortly after the 6 April list publication.
The bench directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the West Bengal government to continue security for judicial officers until elections conclude and to withdraw protection only by further Court orders.

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

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

International Election Visitors’ Programme (IEVP) 2026 showcases Assembly Polls in Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry (Mid of April) ▼

The Election Commission of India (ECI) organised the International Election Visitors’ Programme (IEVP) 2026 during the Assembly elections in Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry.
A total of 38 delegates representing 22 nations participated in the programme to witness the electoral process firsthand on 8 and 9 April 2026.
The delegates observed the systematic movement of polling parties and visited CCTV control rooms monitoring 100 per cent webcasting of polling stations.
The visit included the observation of mock polls and the inspection of inclusive facilities such as ramps, wheelchairs, and creches at polling stations.
Specialised polling stations managed entirely by women and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) were showcased to the international participants.
The IEVP is a flagship initiative designed to foster engagement between the ECI and international Election Management Bodies (EMBs).

Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2026 to Revert to Ballot Papers for Local Polls (Start of February) ▼

The Karnataka Cabinet approved the introduction of the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2026, to replace Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with ballot papers for local body elections.
The amendment aims to ensure transparency and confidentiality in the election process for local authorities including Gram Panchayats.
The State Election Commission (SEC) will be entrusted with the responsibility of independently preparing and revising electoral rolls for local bodies.
The SEC conducts polls for rural local bodies such as Zilla, Taluk, and Gram Panchayats, and urban local bodies including Municipal Corporations and Town Panchayats.
Upcoming elections for five city corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) are scheduled to be held using ballot papers after May 2026.

Supreme Court clarifies Merit-Based Allocation for Reserved Category Candidates (Mid of January) ▼

The Supreme Court ruled that reserved category candidates who score above the general category cutoff must be adjusted against unreserved seats.
The Court stated that the 'unreserved' category is an open pool based strictly on merit, not a quota for general candidates.
The judgment emphasized that such merit-based adjustment is required under Article 14 and Article 16 of the Constitution.

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation releases March CPI inflation at 3.4%

Key Updates:

India’s retail inflation quickened to 3.4% year-on-year in March from 3.21% in February under the revised CPI series with 2024 base year.
Rural inflation stood at 3.63% and urban inflation at 3.11%.
Food inflation rose to 3.87% in March from 3.47% in February.
Inflation in electricity, gas and other fuels category was 1.65%.
Garlic inflation was -10.18%, onion -27.76%, and potato -18.98%.
Silver jewellery inflation was 148.61% and gold, diamond and platinum jewellery inflation was 45.92%.
Housing inflation was 2.11%, clothing and footwear 2.75%, restaurants and accommodation services 2.88%, health 1.75%, and information and communication services 0.82%.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has projected CPI inflation at 4.6% for FY27 with quarterly estimates of 4.0% in Q1, 4.4% in Q2, 5.2% in Q3, and 4.7% in Q4.
Under the revised CPI basket, food and beverages weight declined to 36.75% and housing, utilities, and fuel-related categories weight rose to 17.7%.

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Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) reports CPI inflation at 3.2% for February 2026 (Mid of March) ▼

India’s retail inflation quickened to 3.2% in February 2026, a 10-month high, according to data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on 12 March 2026.
CPI inflation was last higher in April 2025 at 3.3%.
Food and beverages inflation rose to 3.35% in February 2026 from 2.1% in January 2026.
Inflation in ‘paan, tobacco and intoxicants’ increased to 3.5% in February 2026 from 2.9% in January 2026.
Core inflation, excluding food & beverages and electricity, gas & other fuels, remained unchanged at 3.4% between January and February 2026.
Inflation in ‘personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods & services’ stood at 19.6% in February 2026, up from 19.02% in January 2026, driven by higher prices of precious metals.

Government of India (GoI) reports Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation at 2.13% for February (Mid of March) ▼

The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) based inflation rose to an 11-month high of 2.13% in February, compared to 1.81% in January and 0.96% in December.
Manufactured products, which carry the largest weight in the WPI basket, saw inflation rise to 2.92% in February from 2.86% in January.
Inflation in primary articles, including agricultural commodities and minerals, increased to 3.27% in February from 2.21% in January.
Food inflation grew to 1.85% in February as compared to a 1.41% gain recorded in January.
Fuel and power inflation remained in negative territory at -3.78% in February, though the index for this category rose 1.17% on a month-on-month basis.
Crude petroleum and natural gas prices rose by 4.17% during the month, while non-food articles increased by 0.83%.
India’s retail inflation for February was recorded at 3.21% prior to the impact of the West Asia conflict.

Government extends Reserve Bank of India (RBI) 4% retail inflation target framework till March 2031 (End of March) ▼

Government extended the mandate for Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to maintain retail inflation at 4% with a tolerance band of 2 percentage points on either side for another five years ending March 31, 2031.
The flexible inflation-targeting framework was first introduced in 2016 and retained earlier in March 2021.
The inflation target remains at 4% with an upper tolerance level of 6% and a lower tolerance level of 2%.
Retail inflation rose to 3.21% in February from 2.74% in the previous month according to latest official data.
India formally adopted the inflation-targeting regime in 2016 when the six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) headed by the RBI governor was tasked with keeping annual retail inflation aligned to the 4% target until March 31, 2021.
Average inflation in India has moderated to around 4.9% since adoption of flexible inflation targeting compared with 6.8% in the pre-framework period under the current data series.

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) releases January 2026 CPI at 2.75% under new 2024=100 base (Mid of February) ▼

Retail inflation stood at 2.75 per cent in January 2026 under the new Consumer Price Index (CPI) series with base year 2024=100.
Year-on-year inflation based on the All India CPI (Base 2024) for January 2026 stood at 2.75 per cent (provisional) compared with January 2025.
The corresponding inflation rates were 2.73 per cent for rural areas and 2.77 per cent for urban areas.
Food inflation based on the Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) stood at 2.13 per cent, with rural food inflation at 1.96 per cent and urban food inflation at 2.44 per cent.
Housing inflation for January 2026 stood at 2.05 per cent, with rural housing inflation at 2.39 per cent and urban housing inflation at 1.92 per cent.
The new CPI series replaces the earlier 2012 base and is based on the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2023-24.
The revised framework adopts 12 consumption divisions in place of six earlier groups, in line with the Classification of Individual Consumption According to Purpose (COICOP) 2018 framework.
The total number of weighted items has increased to 358 from 299 earlier, with goods items rising to 308 from 259 and services items increasing to 50 from 40.
The series introduces rural house rent for the first time and strengthens coverage of modern consumption patterns such as online services and cleaner fuels like CNG and PNG.

Samrat Choudhary to be sworn in as Bihar Chief Minister

[Bihar]

Key Updates:

Samrat Choudhary was unanimously elected leader of the NDA legislative party.
Choudhary will take oath as Chief Minister of Bihar.
Nitish Kumar proposed Choudhary’s name and gave his blessings in the NDA legislative party meeting.
The BJP is the single largest party in the 243-member Bihar assembly with 89 MLAs.
The NDA has 202 members in the Bihar assembly.

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Chanchal Kumar appointed Information and Broadcasting Secretary (Start of April) ▼

Chanchal Kumar, a 1992-batch Bihar cadre IAS officer, was appointed Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on 31 March 2026.
Sanjay Jaju moved from Information and Broadcasting Secretary to Secretary, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.
Rohit Kansal, 1995-batch AGMUT cadre, appointed Secretary, Department of Rural Development after Shailesh Kumar Singh’s superannuation.
Bhuvnesh Kumar, 1995-batch Uttar Pradesh cadre, appointed Secretary, Ministry of Tourism replacing Srivatsa Krishna.
Srivatsa Krishna appointed Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs replacing Chandra Sekhar Kumar.
Chandra Sekhar Kumar appointed CEO, National Rainfed Area Authority under Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
Bharat Harbanslal Khera appointed Officer on Special Duty, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
Abhishek Singh shifted from Director-General, National Informatics Centre to Director-General, National Testing Agency under Ministry of Education.

Sunetra Pawar set to become Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister. (End of January) ▼

Sunetra Pawar, wife of late Ajit Pawar, is set to take oath as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will hold a legislature party meeting at Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai to finalise her position as legislature party leader.
If appointed, Sunetra Pawar will become the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
Sunetra Pawar is currently a Rajya Sabha MP and not a member of either house of the Maharashtra legislature.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that the BJP will support any decision taken by the NCP regarding the Deputy Chief Minister post.
Ajit Pawar, former Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, died in a plane crash near Baramati airport in Pune district.

Nitish Kumar takes oath as Rajya Sabha member. (Mid of April) ▼

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

Nitish Kumar resigns from Bihar Legislative Council (End of March) ▼

Nitish Kumar submitted his resignation letter as Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) which was accepted by Council Chairman Awadhesh Narayan Singh.
He was elected to the Rajya Sabha on March 16 and filed nomination papers in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Nitish Kumar has been a member of the Bihar Legislative Council since 2006 and was elected for a fourth consecutive term in May 2024.
Under constitutional provisions, he can remain Chief Minister of Bihar for up to six months without being a member of either House of the state legislature.
He has served as Chief Minister of Bihar almost continuously since 2005 and has held the post on no fewer than 10 occasions.
The National Democratic Alliance, led by Nitish Kumar, won 202 seats in the November 2025 Bihar elections.

Maharashtra makes Marathi compulsory for taxi/auto driver licences

[Maharashtra]

Key Updates:

Maharashtra government will enforce Marathi language proficiency for all licenced auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers from 1 May 2026.
Drivers unable to read, write or speak Marathi may face cancellation of permits under the statewide verification drive.
Verification will cover all 59 regional transport offices (RTO) and deputy RTOs through tests and on-ground inspections.
Rule 24 of the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules 1989 already mandates working knowledge of Marathi for public service vehicle licences.

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National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026 Notified to Impose Double Toll for Defaults (End of March) ▼

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) notified the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) (Second Amendment) Rules, 2026, to strengthen toll compliance.
Under the new regulations, the unpaid toll fee for missed FASTag payments shall be twice the original amount.
Users who settle their dues within 72 hours of receiving an e-notice are required to pay only the original toll amount without any additional penalty.
A grievance redressal mechanism has been introduced requiring authorities to resolve cases within five days, failing which the claim for unpaid fees will lapse.
If dues remain unpaid beyond 15 days and no dispute is pending, the outstanding amount will be recorded in the VAHAN system.
The amendment aims to support the transition towards a seamless, barrier-free tolling ecosystem on India’s national highways.

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

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

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

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

Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill 2026 passed to prevent coercive conversions (Mid of March) ▼

The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly passed the Freedom of Religion Bill 2026, introduced by the Mahayuti government to curb religious conversions involving coercion, inducement, fraud, or deception.
The legislation mandates that individuals intending to convert to another religion must provide a formal notice 60 days in advance.
Under the provisions of the bill, the burden of proof to demonstrate that a religious conversion is lawful rests entirely on the accused.
Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis stated that the bill provides specific legal provisions currently lacking in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) regarding unlawful conversions.
The CM noted that similar laws have already been enacted in 12 other states, including Odisha, Karnataka, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Arunachal Pradesh.
The bill was supported by the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) (Sena (UBT)) but faced opposition from the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) (NCP (SP)), Samajwadi Party (SP), and Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI (M)).
Opposition parties demanded that the bill be referred to a joint select committee for public review and suggestions, alleging it violates the right to privacy and Article 25 of the Constitution.
The motion to pass the bill in the assembly was moved by the Minister of State (MoS), Pankaj Bhoyar.

Uttar Pradesh hikes interim minimum wages by up to 21% effective April 1, 2026

[Uttar Pradesh]

Key Updates:

Uttar Pradesh government announced an interim increase in minimum wages for unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled workers effective April 1, 2026.
Workers in Noida and Ghaziabad districts will receive the highest hike of 21%.
Workers in other municipal corporation districts will see a wage rise of nearly 15%.
Workers in remaining districts of Uttar Pradesh will receive a wage increase of 9.21%.
The government clarified that rumours of a Rs 20,000 statewide minimum wage are baseless.

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Uttar Pradesh signs Rs 200-crore MoU with RAILONE GmbH to boost rail infrastructure (Start of March) ▼

The Uttar Pradesh government signed a Rs 200-crore MoU with Germany-based RAILONE GmbH during Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya’s visit to the company’s manufacturing plant in Germany.
The MoU aims to provide Uttar Pradesh with access to advanced technology, high-quality standards and international expertise in rail infrastructure.
The initiative targets strengthening connectivity, building a robust transport network and accelerating industrial development in Uttar Pradesh.

NITI Aayog sanctions Rs 1.55 crore for RISE centre in NTR district (End of March) ▼

NITI Aayog has sanctioned Rs 1.55 crore for the Rural Innovations Incubation, Skelling and Entrepreneurship (RISE) centre at Ibrahimpatnam in NTR district.
The RISE centre is located at Guntupalli in Ibrahimpatnam mandal, one of the two aspirational blocks in NTR district.
The centre aims to empower women and transform rural women into entrepreneurs in line with the Swarnandhra Vision @2047 and One Family - One Entrepreneur initiative.
Funds will be utilised for AI-based skill surveys, skill development, training programmes, and infrastructure creation in Ibrahimpam block.
A detailed report on the RISE centre plan was sent to NITI Aayog and approved by a special committee.

Government of India Approves Wage and Pension Revision for PSGICs, NABARD, and RBI (End of January) ▼

The Government of India has approved a 12.41% hike in the wage bill for Public Sector General Insurance companies (PSGICs), effective from August 2022.
The revision for PSGICs incorporates a uniform family pension rate of 30% and an increase in NPS contribution from 10% to 14% for employees who joined after April 2010.
The total financial implication for the PSGIC wage and pension revision is approximately ₹8,170 crore, benefiting 46,322 employees, 23,570 pensioners, and 23,260 family pensioners.
The PSGICs covered under the revision include National Insurance Company Ltd (NICL), New India Assurance Company (NIACL), Oriental Insurance Company (OICL), United India Insurance Company (UIICL), General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC), and Agriculture Insurance Company of India Ltd (AICIL).
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) will implement a hike of approximately 20% in pay and allowances for all Group 'A', 'B', and 'C' employees.
The government has approved a 10% enhancement in pension and family pension on basic pension plus dearness relief for Reserve Bank of India (RBI) retirees, effective from November 1, 2022.
The RBI pension revision results in an effective enhancement of the basic pension by a factor of 1.43 for 30,769 beneficiaries, including 22,580 pensioners and 8,189 family pensioners.
The NABARD revision is expected to benefit approximately 3,800 serving and former employees.

Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) provides first tap water connections to Nelangur village in Chhattisgarh

Key Updates:

The Government of India implemented tap water connections in the remote village of Nelangur in the Abujhmad region of Chhattisgarh under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
The water supply system in Nelangur utilizes a solar pump to lift water from the source and distribute it directly to homes through pipelines, reducing dependence on electricity.
The project covers all 35 families in the village, providing water access to a total population of 115 people.
Nelangur is located in the Narayanpur district, situated approximately 52 kilometres from the district headquarters and 8 kilometres from Kuwakodi village in Maharashtra.
Infrastructure development in the area includes the ongoing construction of National Highway 130D (NH 130D) to facilitate economic activity.
A functional anganwadi has been established in the village, and a concrete school building is currently under construction.

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Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) Organises AMRUT Mitra Mahotsav to Expand Women-Led Water Governance to 5000 Cities (Mid of March) ▼

The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) hosted the AMRUT Mitra Mahotsav at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, to celebrate the leadership of women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in urban water services.
The event was chaired by the Union Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal, with participation from over 1000 women and 300 officials from 30 States and Union Territories (UTs).
The Government of India announced a vision to expand the AMRUT Mitra model from the current 1900 cities to 5000 cities to ensure deeper penetration of women-led governance.
Currently, more than 45,000 SHG members are actively engaged as AMRUT Mitras across 1910 cities in 34 States and UTs under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0 (AMRUT 2.0).
AMRUT Mitras from Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka shared narratives on water quality testing and community mobilisation.
The Union Minister launched the AMRUT Mitra Best Practices Compendium to document successful interventions in urban water management.
Treated wastewater reuse has been identified as a major priority under AMRUT 2.0 as cities shift towards a circular and sustainable water economy.
SHG women are being integrated into emerging services including digital water management systems, smart metering, data-based monitoring, and Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns.
The AMRUT Mitra model involves women in operational roles such as billing and collection, Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) operations, and the operation and maintenance of water assets.

Narmada canal-based drinking water project reaches Sundra village after 728 km (Mid of April) ▼

Narmada canal water originating from Amarkantak hills in Madhya Pradesh has reached Sundra village in Barmer district after travelling 728 km.
Sundra, located along the India–Pakistan border in Rajasthan, has received clean potable drinking water through taps for the first time since Independence.
The Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) project aims to supply water to more than 200 villages in the region.
The project infrastructure includes 16 large water storage reservoirs, several pumping stations, and over 80 elevated service reservoirs.

Amrit Sarovar campaign creates 70,000 water bodies nationwide. (Start of April) ▼

The Amrit Sarovar campaign has led to the creation of 70,000 water bodies across the nation.
Nearly 5 million artificial water harvesting structures have been built under the eleven-year-old water conservation campaign.
Vangmun village in Tripura's Jampui Hills has installed rooftop rainwater harvesting systems in almost every house.
Over 1,200 farmers in Koriya district of Chhattisgarh have built small recharge ponds and soak pits in their fields.
400 families in Mudhigunta village of Mancherial district, Telangana, constructed soak pits in their homes improving groundwater levels and reducing waterborne diseases.

Three inland waterways projects on Brahmaputra inaugurated (Start of March) ▼

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated three projects on National Waterway-2 (River Brahmaputra) on 27 February 2026 at Chowkidingee Playground, Dibrugarh.
The projects comprise the Customs and Immigration Complex at Bogibeel, the Customs and Immigration Complex at Dhubri, and the renovated Heritage Building of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) at Dibrugarh.
The Bogibeel complex integrates customs, immigration and IWAI administrative functions within a single tourist-cum-cargo terminal to facilitate trade under Indo-Bangladesh Protocol routes.
The Dhubri complex is positioned as a strategic gateway for cross-border commerce with Bangladesh and Bhutan in western Assam.
Under the National Waterways Act 2016, twenty rivers in the Northeast have been declared National Waterways, with Brahmaputra (NW-2), Barak (NW-16), Dhansiri (NW-31) and Kopili (NW-57) being actively developed.

Mitchell Starc and Deepti Sharma Named Leading Cricketers by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack for 2025

[Australia]

Key Updates:

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc was named Leading Cricketer in the World by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack for 2025 after taking 55 wickets in 11 Test matches at an average of 17.32.
Indian women’s all-rounder Deepti Sharma was named Leading Cricketer in the World by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack for 2025 and was India’s Player of the Tournament in their first ODI World Cup victory.
India defeated South Africa by 52 runs in the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup final.
Deepti Sharma scored 215 runs at an average of 30.71 and took 22 wickets at an average of 20.40 in the 2025 ODI World Cup.
In the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup final, Deepti Sharma scored 58 runs off 58 balls and took 5 wickets for 39 runs in 9.3 overs.
Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, and Mohammed Siraj were included in Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year for their performances in the five-match Test series against England that ended 2-2.
Shubman Gill scored 754 runs at an average of 75.40 with four centuries in the 2025 India-England Test series.
Ravindra Jadeja scored 516 runs at an average of 86.00 in the 2025 India-England Test series.
Rishabh Pant scored 479 runs at an average of 68.43 in the 2025 India-England Test series.
Mohammed Siraj took 23 wickets at an average of 32.43 in the 2025 India-England Test series.
Shubman Gill received the Wisden Trophy for the outstanding individual performance of the year for scoring 430 runs in the second Test at Edgbaston.
Abhishek Sharma was named Leading T20 Player globally after scoring 1602 runs in 40 matches at an average of 41.07 and a strike rate of 202.01 in 2025.
Haseeb Hameed was the sole English player named among the Five Cricketers of the Year after scoring 1,258 runs at an average of 66.00 for Nottinghamshire in the County Championship.

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Mitchell Starc bags ICC Men's Player of the Month award for December (Mid of January) ▼

Australia's Mitchell Starc has been named as the winner of the ICC Men's Player of the Month award for December.
Starc took 16 wickets and scored 139 runs across three Tests in December during the Ashes 2025-26 against England.
He beat West Indies' Justin Greaves and New Zealand's Jacob Duffy for the award.

Sahibzada Farhan wins ICC Men's Player of the Month for February 2026 (End of March) ▼

International Cricket Council (ICC) named Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan ICC Men’s Player of the Month for February 2026.
Farhan scored 383 runs in seven matches (six innings) at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in Sri Lanka at an average of 76.60.
He hit two centuries and two half-centuries and finished as the tournament’s highest run-scorer.
Farhan became the first batter to score two centuries in a single edition of the men’s T20 World Cup, with tons against Namibia and Sri Lanka.
He broke Virat Kohli’s longstanding record for most runs in a single T20 World Cup edition.
Farhan reached a career-high second position in the ICC Men’s T20I batting rankings after scoring a century against Sri Lanka in Pallekele.
He shared a record 176-run partnership with Fakhar Zaman, the highest for any wicket in T20 internationals.
Last Pakistan male player to win the monthly ICC award was Haris Rauf in November 2024.

India defeats New Zealand to win ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 (Mid of March) ▼

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a cash reward of ₹131 crore for the senior men’s Indian team following their victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in the final held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
India became the first team in the history of the tournament to retain the title and the first to win the championship three times.
The Indian team posted a record finals score of 253 for five, featuring Sanju Samson’s 89 runs.
Jasprit Bumrah was named Player of the Match in the final for his bowling figures of four for 14.
Sanju Samson was adjudged Player of the Series for scoring a total of 321 runs in five innings.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) awarded the winners USD 2.34 million (₹21.5 crore) and the runners-up USD 1.17 million (₹10.75 crore).
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the reward, which is an increase from the ₹125 crore reward announced in 2024.

BCCI Naman Awards 2026 honour Shubman Gill, Smriti Mandhana and domestic stars (Mid of March) ▼

Shubman Gill won the Polly Umrigar Award for Best International Cricketer (Men) 2024-25.
Smriti Mandhana won the Best International Cricketer (Women) 2024-25 for the fifth time.
Roger Binny, Rahul Dravid and Mithali Raj received the Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award.
Harshit Rana won Best International Debut (Men) 2024-25.
N Sree Charani won Best International Debut (Women) 2024-25.
Deepti Sharma took the most wickets for India Women in ODIs during 2024-25.
Ayush Mhatre (Mumbai) won the Lala Amarnath Award for Best All-rounder in Domestic Limited-Overs Competitions 2024-25.
Harsh Dubey (Vidarbha) won the Lala Amarnath Award for Best All-rounder in Ranji Trophy 2024-25.
Ira Jadhav (Mumbai) won Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy for Best Woman Cricketer (Jr Domestic) 2024-25.
Shafali Verma (Haryana) won Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy for Best Woman Cricketer (Sr Domestic) 2024-25.
Yashbardhan Singh Chauhan (Madhya Pradesh) topped wicket-takers in U16 Vijay Merchant Trophy 2024-25 Elite Group.
Kishan Sarkar (Tripura) topped wicket-takers in U16 Vijay Merchant Trophy 2024-25 Plate Group.
Shanthanu Singh (Uttar Pradesh) topped run-scorers in U16 Vijay Merchant Trophy 2024-25 Elite Group.
Pritam Raj (Bihar) topped run-scorers in U16 Vijay Merchant Trophy 2024-25 Plate Group.
Hemchudeshan J (Tamil Nadu) topped wicket-takers in U19 Cooch Behar Trophy 2024-25 Elite Group.
Arkajit Roy (Tripura) topped wicket-takers in U19 Cooch Behar Trophy 2024-25 Plate Group.
Nitya J Pandya (Baroda) topped run-scorers in U19 Cooch Behar Trophy 2024-25 Elite Group.
Ragavan Ramamoorthy (Puducherry) topped run-scorers in U19 Cooch Behar Trophy 2024-25 Plate Group.
Vicky Ostwal (Maharashtra) topped wicket-takers in U23 Col. C K Nayudu Trophy 2024-25 Elite Group.
Dipjyoti Saikia (Assam) topped wicket-takers in U23 Col. C K Nayudu Trophy 2024-25 Plate Group.
Macneil H N (Karnataka) topped run-scorers in U23 Col. C K Nayudu Trophy 2024-25 Elite Group.
R Jashwanth Shreeram (Puducherry) topped run-scorers in U23 Col. C K Nayudu Trophy 2024-25 Plate Group.
Harsh Dubey (Vidarbha) topped wicket-takers in Ranji Trophy 2024-25 Elite Group.
Suchith J (Nagaland) topped wicket-takers in Ranji Trophy 2024-25 Plate Group.
Y V Rathod (Vidarbha) topped run-scorers in Ranji Trophy 2024-25 Elite Group.
Snehal Kauthankar (Goa) topped run-scorers in Ranji Trophy 2024-25 Plate Group.
Mumbai Cricket Association won Best Performance in BCCI Domestic Tournaments 2024-25.
Ulhas Gandhe (Vidarbha C A) won Best Umpire in Domestic Cricket 2024-25.

Australia appoints first female chief of army in 125-year history

[Australian Defence Force]

Key Updates:

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.

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Coforge promotes Sunil Fernandes to Chief Operating Officer (COO). (Start of April) ▼

Sunil Fernandes has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Coforge.
Fernandes will oversee global delivery and key Coforge operations including admin, facilities and internal IT services.
He will continue to report to Coforge CEO and Executive Director Sudhir Singh.
Fernandes has served as Coforge’s Chief Delivery Officer since 2024.
He previously held leadership roles at Accenture, Infosys Technologies and Cognizant Technology Solutions.

Harsharan Kaur Trehan became Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) Director (Commercial). (End of February) ▼

Harsharan Kaur Trehan assumed charge as Director (Commercial) of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) on 21 February 2026.
She is the first woman technocrat to reach board level in PSPCL.
Her appointment order was issued on 20 February 2026 by Basant Garg, Secretary, Power, Punjab Government, for a two-year tenure.
Trehan had earlier become the first woman Engineer-in-Chief of PSPCL in May 2021 and retired from that post in October 2022.
She joined the erstwhile Punjab State Electricity Board as an Assistant Engineer in 1987 after graduating from Delhi College of Engineering.

Nivedita Dubey assumes charge as Member (HR) at Airports Authority of India (AAI). (Start of February) ▼

Nivedita Dubey assumed charge as Member (Human Resources) at the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
She became the first woman to serve on the Board of AAI.
Her previous role within AAI was Regional Executive Director for the Eastern Region.
She brings over 30 years of experience spanning airport operations, administration, and people management.

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

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

North Korea conducts strategic cruise and anti-warship missile tests on 12 April 2026

[North Korea]

Key Updates:

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.

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North Korea tests ballistic missiles with cluster-bomb warheads (Start of April) ▼

North Korea conducted a three-day testing spree starting Monday, firing multiple missiles including Hwasong-11 ballistic missiles armed with cluster-munition warheads.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff detected missiles launched Wednesday flying 240–700 km before falling into the sea, and at least one projectile fired Tuesday from near Pyongyang.
Japan's Defence Ministry confirmed none of the Wednesday weapons entered its exclusive economic zone, while the US military stated the launches posed no immediate threat to the United States or its allies.
North Korean state media claimed the cluster warhead system can reduce to ashes any target covering 6.5–7 hectares with the highest-density power.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is scheduled to arrive in North Korea on Thursday for a two-day visit.

Iran Claims Deployment of Qader Cruise Missile Against United States Aircraft Carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (End of March) ▼

The Qader cruise missile is a shore-based anti-ship weapon developed by Iran to target naval vessels such as warships and tankers.
It is an upgraded version of the Noor missile, which is based on a Chinese missile design.
The missile has a reported operational range of between 120 and 300 kilometres.
It carries a warhead containing approximately 200 kilograms of high explosives.
The system utilizes a turbojet engine and employs a sea-skimming flight path at low altitudes to avoid radar detection.
In its final phase, the missile uses active radar guidance to lock onto and strike moving targets.
The United States (US) Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln is protected by the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), Sea Sparrow missiles, and Aegis defence systems.
Iran previously claimed that the carrier was targeted on 1 March 2026 using four ballistic missiles launched by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

United States tests Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base (Start of March) ▼

The United States Air Force Global Strike Command launched an unarmed LGM-30G Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile at 11:01 p.m. Pacific Time on 3 March from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
The missile, designated GT 255, carried two test re-entry vehicles that traveled thousands of miles to a pre-determined target at Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
The test launch was scheduled years in advance and was not conducted in response to current world events, according to the Office of Public Affairs of the Air Force Global Strike Command.
The LGM-30G Minuteman III is a silo-launched, surface-attack intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of more than 9,650 kilometers and a speed of approximately 24,000 kilometers per hour at burnout.
The current force structure comprises 400 Minuteman III missiles assigned across three missile wings: the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming; the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana; and the 91st Missile Wing at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota.
The Air Force plans to replace the Minuteman III with the LGM-35A Sentinel to modernize the land-based leg of the US nuclear triad.

China unveils Type 096 Tang-Class ballistic missile submarine on January 14 (End of January) ▼

China has unveiled the most significant upgrade to its undersea nuclear capability with the unveiling of the Type 096 Tang-Class ballistic missile submarine on January 14.
The Type 096 has a submerged displacement estimated between 15,000 and 20,000 tonnes, placing it squarely in the strategic category of the United States (US) Navy’s Ohio-class and upcoming Columbia-class submarines.
The submarine is expected to carry up to 24 JL-3s, which reportedly have a 6,000-mile range, allowing it to target the US without leaving home waters.
The vessel features a pressurised water-cooled nuclear reactor that drives the propulsion system via a steam turbine arrangement and a single shaft.
The Type 096 is equipped with raft-mounted machinery, hull isolation systems, and quieter propeller technologies or pump-jet propulsion to minimise acoustic signatures.
The submarine is armed with six 533 mm torpedo tubes capable of deploying wire-guided, high-speed Yu-6 torpedoes with a range of more than 18 miles and speeds up to 60 knots.
Analysts have likened the Type 096 to Russia’s Borei-class submarines, suggesting that Russian technical support may have helped accelerate progress in vibration and noise control.

Puthandu (Tamil New Year) observed on 14 April 2026

Key Updates:

Puthandu, also known as Varusha Pirappu or Tamil New Year, will be celebrated on 14 April 2026.
The festival marks the beginning of the Tamil Shaka Samvata 1948 and the start of the month of Chithirai.
The Sankranti moment for 2026 is recorded at 09:39 AM, marking the sun's transition into the zodiac sign of Aries (Mesha).
The origins of Puthandu are traced back to the Sangam period, which occurred between 300 BCE and 300 CE.
Traditional rituals include decorating homes with Kolam (rangoli) made of rice powder and preparing a Puthandu Tray containing fruits, flowers, coins, and a mirror.
Specific festive dishes prepared include mango pachadi, vatha kuzambu, sundal, and payasam to symbolise the balance of life's experiences.
The traditional greeting exchanged during the festival is Puthandu Vazthukal.

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Navroz (Parsi New Year) observed on March 21 (End of March) ▼

Navroz, the Parsi New Year, is observed on March 21.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah extended official greetings on Navroz and incorporated the Faravahar symbol, a significant emblem of the Zoroastrian faith.
India’s Parsi community numbers nearly 60,000 individuals and maintains deep historical roots in Gujarat.
Amit Shah represents the Gandhinagar constituency in Gujarat.

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

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

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

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

Gudi Padwa 2026 celebrated on March 19 (Mid of March) ▼

Gudi Padwa 2026 is celebrated on March 19, 2026.
Pratipada Tithi begins at 06:52 AM on March 19, 2026 and ends at 04:52 AM on March 20, 2026.
Gudi Padwa is mainly celebrated in Maharashtra and Goa by the Marathi and Konkani communities.
The festival falls on the pratipada tithi of shukla paksha in the month of Chaitra.
Gudi Padwa marks the beginning of the harvest season and is celebrated as Marathi New Year.
According to Hindu scriptures, Lord Brahma created the universe on this day.
Primary rituals include early holy bath, oil bath, rangoli, neem-jaggery dish, worship of Lord Brahma, yajna, hawan, bamboo stick flags, raising a Gudi, and distributing prasadam, cumin seeds, and gram lentils.

Baisakhi observed on 14 April 2026

Key Updates:

Baisakhi is an ancient harvest festival celebrated in northern India, particularly in the Punjab region, to mark the ripening of rabi (winter) crops such as wheat.
The festival marks the Solar New Year, known as Mesha Sankranti, and falls on 14 April 2026.
It commemorates the formation of the Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur Sahib on 13 April 1699.
The day is associated with the Jallianwala Bagh massacre which occurred at Jallianwala Bagh in 1919.
The religious Sikh New Year, known as Nanakshahi, begins in the month of Chet (March).
Traditional celebrations include folk dances such as bhangra and giddha, community fairs (melas), and religious processions called Nagar Kirtans.
Devotees participate in seva (selfless service) and langar, a community meal offered to all regardless of background.

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Bharat Tribes Fest 2026 concludes in Delhi on Sunday (Start of April) ▼

Bharat Tribes Fest 2026, organised by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in association with Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), concluded on Sunday at Sunder Nursery in New Delhi.
The 19-day festival recorded a footfall of over 1.5 lakh visitors and multi-crore sales.
More than 200 stalls were set up with participation from over 300 tribal artisans and representatives from more than 75 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras.
Top-performing tribal artisans and sellers were felicitated across ten categories including pottery, cane and bamboo, jewellery, cuisines, textiles, and forest-based products.
The RISA brand was launched on March 18 by Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram and Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur.
The festival featured 17 live craft demonstrations and over 30 tribal food stalls with more than 120 tribal chefs presenting traditional cuisines.

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

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

GCWAS-2026: President Highlights SHE Marts and 6 Crore Lakhpati Didi Target (Mid of March) ▼

President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the three-day Global Conference on the Role of Women in Agri-Food Systems (GCWAS-2026) in New Delhi on 12 March 2026.
The United Nations (UN) has declared 2026 as the International Year of Women Farmers to promote leadership roles for women across the agri-food value chain.
The Union Budget 2025-26 introduced SHE Marts (Self-Help Entrepreneur Marts), which are community-owned retail outlets to be established in every district for Self-Help Group (SHG) products.
The National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) has set a target of creating 6 crore Lakhpati Didis earning over ₹1 lakh annually, with over 3 crore women already achieving this status.
Under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana—National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), over 10 crore rural households and 90 lakh SHGs have been mobilised.
The Jan Dhan Yojana has reached 570 million bank accounts, of which 56% are held by women, while women constitute 68% of all Mudra loan beneficiaries.
The Namo Drone Didi scheme provides drones to women SHGs to facilitate precision agriculture and reduce drudgery in the farm sector.
The President highlighted 'Sarlaben', an Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered initiative inspired by the government livestock care vision, as a tool for women farmers.
The government has conferred Padma Shri awards on women farmers from the states of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Bihar.
Key attendees included Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Director General M L Jat, and Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Authority (PPVFRA) chairperson Trilochana Mohapatra.

Pongal 2026 observed on January 14, 2026 (Mid of January) ▼

Pongal is a four-day Hindu harvest festival dedicated to the Sun God that marks the beginning of Uttarayan, the sun’s journey northward.
Thai Pongal and Makar Sankranti both fall on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, with the Sankranti Moment occurring at 03:13 PM.
The festival includes four specific days: Bhogi Pandigai (Jan 13), Thai Pongal (Jan 14), Mattu Pongal (Jan 15), and Kaanum Pongal (Jan 16).
The traditional sweet dish Pongal dates back to the Chola dynasty, with recipes appearing in temple inscriptions from the Chola and Vijayanagara Empire periods.
The AIFF announced that the 2025-26 Indian Super League (ISL) season will be recognized by the AFC.
Nasa's crewed lunar mission, Artemis II, is scheduled for a February 6 liftoff.

Ambedkar Jayanti to be observed on 14 April 2026

Key Updates:

Ambedkar Jayanti, also known as Bhim Jayanti, will be observed on 14 April 2026 to mark the 135th birth anniversary of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.
Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (1891–1956) served as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution and is popularly known as the Father of the Indian Constitution.
He was born on 14 April 1891 in Mhow, which is currently located in the state of Madhya Pradesh.
Dr. Ambedkar was a prominent jurist, economist, and social reformer who advocated for Dalit rights, women's rights, and labour welfare.
Major memorials dedicated to him include Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur and Chaitya Bhoomi in Mumbai.

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

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

Vice President releases book "Chalice of Ambrosia: Ram Janmabhoomi – Challenge and Response" on January 21, 2026 (End of January) ▼

Vice President of India Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book titled “Chalice of Ambrosia: Ram Janmabhoomi – Challenge and Response”, authored by former Secretary to the Government of India Shri Surendra Kumar Pachauri.
Shri Nripendra Mishra serves as the Chairman of the Construction Committee of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust led a crowd-funded campaign that mobilised over ₹3,000 crore from devotees worldwide.
The Dhwaja-rohan ceremony of the Shri Ram Mandir was held on 25 November 2025.
The event was attended by Shri Vinod Rai, former Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, and Shri Deepak Gupta, former Chairperson of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan released book 'Chalice of Ambrosia: Ram Janmabhoomi – Challenge and Response' authored by Shri Surendra Kumar Pachauri. (End of January) ▼

Vice President of India Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book at the Vice President’s Enclave.
The book is authored by former Secretary to the Government of India Shri Surendra Kumar Pachauri.
The Supreme Court verdict of 2019 on Ram Janmabhoomi was described as a historic turning point by the Vice President.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust mobilised over ₹3,000 crore through a crowd-funded campaign.
The Dhwaja-rohan ceremony of 25 November 2025 was recalled as a deeply emotional national moment.

Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan released coffee table book 'Atal Bihari Vajpayee: The Eternal Statesman' authored by Vijay Goel. (End of February) ▼

Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan released the coffee table book 'Atal Bihari Vajpayee: The Eternal Statesman' at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre.
The book is authored by Shri Vijay Goel and contains rare photographs, archival material and personal anecdotes of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Shri Radhakrishnan served as a Member of the 12th and 13th Lok Sabha during Vajpayee’s tenure as Prime Minister.
The release event was attended by Bihar Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Haryana Governor Ashim Kumar Ghosh, Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde, former Union Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, and Vice Chairman of Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti Vijay Goel.

Boiler blast at Vedanta power plant in Chhattisgarh

[Vedanta]

Key Updates:

Ten workers were killed and 23 injured in a boiler explosion at Vedanta Limited power plant in Sakti district, Chhattisgarh.
The explosion occurred in the afternoon and three victims died on the spot while others succumbed in hospital.
Injured workers were admitted to hospitals in neighbouring Raigarh district.
The boiler unit is operated and maintained by NGSL (NTPC GE Power Services Limited), a subcontractor of Vedanta.
Sakti Collector Amirt Topno confirmed the updated toll and Sakti Superintendent of Police Prafull Thakur reported preliminary figures of nine dead and 15 injured.
Chhattisgarh chief minister expressed condolences and stated that strict actions will be taken against responsible entities after investigation.

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Sulphuric Acid Plant–3 (SAP–III) inaugurated at IFFCO Paradeep unit in Odisha (Start of March) ▼

Union home and cooperation minister Amit Shah dedicated the newly commissioned Sulphuric Acid Plant–3 (SAP–III) at the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) unit in Paradeep, Odisha.
The new plant has been established at an estimated cost of around ₹700 crore and has a production capacity of about 2,000 metric tonnes per day.
IFFCO bought the Paradeep plant in 2005 for ₹2,577 crore and its production capacity has increased from 7.5 lakh metric tonnes to about 22 lakh metric tonnes.
IFFCO benefits nearly five crore farmers across the country and has a turnover of over ₹41,000 crore, profit exceeding ₹3,800 crore, and net worth of more than ₹28,000 crore.

Nitish Kumar announces ex gratia after Nalanda temple stampede. (Start of April) ▼

Eight women died in the stampede at Maa Sheetla Mandir in Maghra village, Nalanda district, Bihar.
The incident occurred during Tuesday morning prayers when overcrowding and inadequate security triggered the stampede.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar sanctioned Rs 6 lakh ex gratia for each deceased’s next of kin, comprising Rs 4 lakh from the Disaster Management Department and Rs 2 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
Bihar Sharif Assistant Superintendent of Police Noorul Haque confirmed the death toll and stated that rescue operations were underway.

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre observed on April 13 (Mid of April) ▼

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

Indian Army Clears Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit for Promotion to Brigadier Rank (Mid of April) ▼

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