📰 Daily Briefing Thursday, Apr 16

Daily Current Affairs: 16 April 2026

Analysis for 16 April 2026

Anant Swarup appointed Secretary General of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)

[Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry]

Key Updates:

  • Anant Swarup assumed office as Secretary General of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) on 15 April 2026.
  • He is a 1992-batch Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS) officer with over 30 years of experience in public policy, trade remedies, logistics, regulatory reform and international negotiations.
  • His previous roles include Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, Director General of Trade Remedies, Executive Director to the Union Minister of Railways, and First Secretary representing India at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva.
  • He contributed to the National Rail Plan, helped build a large-scale investment pipeline, and launched a real-time passenger grievance redressal platform.
  • He holds an MBA from Amity University and a law degree from Chaudhary Charan Singh University, and has completed specialised courses in international trade law and sustainable infrastructure finance.
  • FICCI stated that Jyoti Vij continues as Director General after this appointment.

Similar Coverage

Kushal Das, former All India Football Federation (AIFF) general secretary, passes away. (Mid of March) ▼
  • Kushal Das died at the age of 66 at a private hospital in Delhi.
  • He served as AIFF general secretary for 12 years before resigning in 2022.
  • Das previously held the post of Chief Financial Officer at the International Cricket Council (ICC) and International Management Group (IMG) India.
  • He played a key role in organising the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup hosted by India.
  • Under his tenure, India secured hosting rights for the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup and the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
  • He facilitated the partnership between AIFF and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) leading to the launch of the Indian Super League (ISL).
Ministry of Culture (MoC) & Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) sign MoU to develop comprehensive strategy for India’s Cultural & Creative Economy (Start of March) ▼
  • The Ministry of Culture (MoC) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) signed an MoU on 25 February 2026 to craft a comprehensive strategy for India’s Cultural and Creative Economy.
  • Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat stated the agreement positions culture as the foundation of economic prosperity.
  • The MoU aims to secure a brighter future for India’s artists and artisans.
  • The Minister highlighted that the MoU can help gain global recognition for Indian cultural products and services.

Samrat Choudhary sworn in as Bihar’s 24th Chief Minister, becomes first BJP leader to hold post.

[Bihar]

Key Updates:

  • Samrat Choudhary took oath as Bihar’s 24th Chief Minister on Wednesday at Lok Bhawan.
  • Governor Syed Ata Hasnain administered the oath of office and secrecy.
  • JD(U) leaders Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav were sworn in as members of the Council of Ministers.
  • Choudhary was elected leader of the BJP legislature party after Nitish Kumar’s resignation.
  • He previously served as Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar from January 2024 and held portfolios including Home, Finance, Health, Urban Development, and Panchayati Raj.
  • Born on 16 November 1968 in Lakhanpur village, Munger district, Bihar.
  • Appointed Bihar BJP president in March 2023, succeeding Sanjay Jaiswal.

Similar Coverage

Samrat Choudhary to be sworn in as Bihar Chief Minister (Mid of April) ▼
  • 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.
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.
Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti Appointed Chairperson of National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) (End of March) ▼
  • Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti assumed charge as the chairperson of the NCBC in New Delhi on 19 March 2026.
  • The NCBC is a constitutional body established to safeguard the rights, welfare, and development of socially and educationally backward classes.
  • Jyoti belongs to the Nishad community, which is categorised under the Other Backward Classes (OBC).
  • The 59-year-old leader served as a Union Minister in the Government of India for ten years from 2014 to 2024.
  • She was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) from the Fatehpur constituency in Uttar Pradesh in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
  • Her previous political experience includes serving as a member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly from the Hamirpur Sadar seat in 2012.
  • She has also held the position of National Joint Secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).
  • Pankaj Chaudhary, the MP from Maharajganj, was appointed as the president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh.
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.

Ismail Omar Guelleh wins sixth term as President of Djibouti.

[Djibouti]

Key Updates:

  • Ismail Omar Guelleh secured 97.8% of the vote in the presidential election.
  • His sole challenger, Mohamed Farah Samatar, received 2.19% of the vote.
  • The election was boycotted by most opposition parties, including the main opposition led by Dahir Ahmed Farah.
  • Guelleh has been in power for 27 years and becomes only the second president since Djibouti's independence from France in 1977.
  • The constitution was amended in November to remove the upper age limit of 75, allowing the 78-year-old to contest.
  • Officials reported over 80% voter turnout among registered voters.
  • The results were released by the interior ministry and await validation by the constitutional council before swearing-in for a five-year term.

Similar Coverage

Yoweri Museveni re-elected as President of Uganda (Mid of January) ▼
  • Yoweri Museveni won a seventh term with 71.65 percent of the vote, defeating main challenger Bobi Wine who received 24.72 percent.
  • Bobi Wine, real name Robert Kyagulanyi, claimed he escaped a police and army raid on his house and remains in hiding while his family is under house arrest.
  • Election observers led by former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan reported intimidation, arrests and abductions targeting the opposition and civil society.
  • A nationwide internet blackout disrupted observation of the vote and increased suspicion, though observers said Election Day itself was peaceful.
  • The Ugandan opposition alleged at least 10 people were killed by police in Butambala, while local authorities reported seven deaths after alleged opposition attacks on a police station.
Somalia signs defence pact with Saudi Arabia amid Gulf rivalries in Horn of Africa (Start of February) ▼
  • Somali defence minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi and Saudi defence minister Prince Khalid bin Salman signed a military cooperation agreement on 9 February 2026 on the sidelines of the World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh.
  • The Somali defence ministry stated the pact focuses on cooperation in training, technical assistance and defence support to strengthen the Somali National Armed Forces and protect Somalia’s airspace and territorial integrity.
  • The agreement was signed around six weeks after Israel recognised Somaliland, the self-declared republic that broke away from Somalia in 1991 and is still claimed by Mogadishu as part of its sovereign territory.
  • Somalia has terminated defence and security agreements with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) while expanding cooperation with other partners including Qatar.
  • The UAE firm DP World is developing the Berbera port in Somaliland, a project Mogadishu says operates with little regard for Somalia’s federal government.
Meghalaya extends Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) tenure by six months (End of March) ▼
  • The Meghalaya Cabinet extended the tenure of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) from 18 April 2026 to 18 October 2026.
  • Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong announced the decision after a virtual Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
  • The extension follows violence in Tura and adjoining areas over a notification barring non-tribals from contesting GHADC elections.
  • Albinush R Marak resigned as chief executive member (CEM) hours before the Cabinet decision, and Dhormonath Ch Sangma was elected the new CEM.
  • The state government will consult stakeholders during the six-month extension to resolve eligibility issues for tribal and non-tribal candidates.

Sanjay Malhotra outlines Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Utkarsh 2029 strategy.

[Reserve Bank of India (RBI)]

Key Updates:

  • Sanjay Malhotra is the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
  • Utkarsh 2029 is the RBI’s medium-term strategy for April 2026 to March 2029.
  • The strategy rests on six pillars: robust regulation, customer-centric and inclusive finance, competitive markets, effective technology, a future-ready organisation, and a global India focus.
  • Project Sa-Mudra aims to modernise currency management under Utkarsh 2029.
  • The central bank will expand the central bank digital currency (CBDC) for more efficient cross-border payments.
  • The unified lending interface (ULI) will be scaled up to widen access to credit.
  • The RBI will develop regulatory frameworks for artificial intelligence and quantum computing in the financial sector.
  • The framework builds on Utkarsh 2.0 foundations, including internationalisation of the rupee and global expansion of UPI.

Similar Coverage

CBDC-Based Food Subsidy Pilot under PMGKAY launched in Puducherry (End of February) ▼
  • The Government of India will launch a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based Food Subsidy Distribution Pilot under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) in Puducherry on 26 February 2026.
  • Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Shri Pralhad Joshi will inaugurate the pilot.
  • Eligible PMGKAY beneficiaries will receive food subsidy as programmable CBDC tokens credited directly to their CBDC wallets issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
  • The tokens will be redeemable exclusively for entitled foodgrains and usable only at authorised Fair Price Shops (FPS) and designated merchants.
  • The pilot integrates the RBI-issued Digital Rupee into the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) framework to create a secure, instant, traceable and programmable subsidy distribution mechanism.
  • Implementing partners include the Government of Puducherry, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Public Financial Management System (PFMS) and Canara Bank as the designated banking partner.
  • Following the Puducherry rollout, the pilot will be expanded in a phased manner to additional beneficiaries and other Union Territories based on performance and outcomes.
Worldline India records UPI transactions at 228.5 billion and QR base crossing 731 million in 2025 (Start of April) ▼
  • UPI processed 228.5 billion transactions in 2025, registering a 33% year-on-year increase.
  • UPI transaction value rose 21% to ₹299.74 trillion in 2025.
  • Average UPI ticket size declined to ₹1,314 in 2025 from ₹1,437 in 2024.
  • UPI QR deployments crossed 731 million in 2025, up from over 633 million in 2024.
  • PoS terminals grew 15% year-on-year to 11.48 million in 2025.
  • Total card transactions reached ₹28.73 trillion in 2025, up 6% year-on-year.
  • Credit card transaction value increased 11% to ₹23.65 trillion in 2025.
  • Credit card transaction volumes rose 27% to 5.69 billion in 2025.
  • Debit card transaction volumes fell 23% and transaction value declined 13% in 2025.
  • Bharat BillPay transaction volumes rose 40% to 3.05 billion in 2025.
  • Bharat BillPay transaction value nearly doubled to ₹14.84 trillion in 2025.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) mandates Unique Transaction Identifier (UTI) for OTC derivatives (Mid of February) ▼
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has mandated the use of a Unique Transaction Identifier (UTI) for all Over-the-Counter (OTC) derivative transactions to improve traceability and systemic risk monitoring.
  • The new framework for UTI implementation is scheduled to become applicable from 1 January 2027.
  • The mandate covers Foreign Exchange (FX) derivatives (forwards and swaps), Rupee interest rate derivatives (overnight index swaps and MIBOR-linked swaps), forward contracts in government securities, and credit derivatives.
  • The Clearing Corporation of India (CCIL) is expected to issue detailed operational guidelines for the implementation of the UTI framework in due course.
  • Responsibility for generating the UTI will follow a waterfall mechanism, starting with central counterparties or electronic trading platforms, and falling back on the trade repository of the CCIL.
  • Routine amendments to derivative contracts will not require a new UTI, but lifecycle events such as novations that create a new reportable trade will trigger fresh identifiers.
  • The RBI had previously issued a draft regarding the UTI requirement in October 2025.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Digital Payments Index rises to 516.76 in September 2025. (Mid of February) ▼
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Digital Payments Index (RBI-DPI) for September 2025 stands at 516.76.
  • The RBI-DPI was 465.33 in September 2024 and 493.22 in March 2025.
  • The index captures digitisation of payments across the country with March 2018 as the base year.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) raises India’s FY27 growth forecast to 6.5%

[International Monetary Fund]

Key Updates:

  • The International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised India’s growth forecast for FY27 to 6.5% from 6.4% projected in January and 6.2% in October last year.
  • Growth is expected to remain steady at 6.5% in 2027-28, keeping India the fastest-growing economy in both years.
  • India’s GDP growth for 2025-26 is estimated at 7.6% based on government projections.
  • The IMF projects India’s inflation to rise to 4.7% in FY27 from 2.1% last year, then ease to 4% in 2027-28.
  • India’s current account deficit is estimated at 2% of GDP in 2026-27 and 1.6% in 2027-28.
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has projected 6.9% growth for this fiscal.
  • The World Bank raised India’s growth outlook for this fiscal to 6.6% from 6.3%.
  • The Asian Development Bank (ADB) revised India’s growth estimate to 6.9% from 6.5%.

Similar Coverage

World Bank (WB) raises India FY27 GDP growth forecast to 6.6% (Start of April) ▼
  • World Bank upgraded India’s FY27 GDP growth forecast to 6.6%, 30 basis points higher than its October 2025 projection of 6.3%.
  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) projects FY27 growth at 6.9%.
  • World Bank expects inflation to rise in FY27 on strong demand, normalising food prices and higher energy prices.
  • Government reduced additional excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹10 per litre and exempted customs duty on critical petrochemical products amid West Asia conflict.
  • India’s new free trade agreements with European Union and United Kingdom will double global market access for domestic firms from one-sixth to one-third of global GDP.
  • South Asia’s 2026 growth forecast revised upwards by 50 basis points to 6.3%, with India driving the region’s outperformance among Emerging Markets and Developing Economies.
International Monetary Fund (IMF) revises India’s FY 2025-26 growth forecast to 7.3% (Mid of January) ▼
  • International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised India’s 2025 growth projection by 0.7 percentage point to 7.3% from 6.6% in October 2025.
  • IMF lifted India’s 2026 growth estimate to 6.4% from 6.2%.
  • World Bank pegs India’s FY2026 growth at 7.2%, an upward revision of 0.9 percentage points.
  • Government estimates India’s GDP growth at 7.4% for FY 2025-26, up from 6.5% last FY.
  • IMF projects global growth at 3.3% for 2026 and 3.2% for 2027.
  • IMF forecasts US growth at 2.4% in 2026, Euro area at 1.3% in 2026 and 1.4% in 2027, China at 4.5% in 2026 and 4.0% in 2027.
  • Global headline inflation seen easing to 3.8% in 2026 and 3.4% in 2027 from 4.1% in 2025.
Fitch Ratings (Fitch) Raises India FY26 GDP Growth Forecast to 7.5% (Mid of March) ▼
  • Fitch Ratings (Fitch) upgraded India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast for the Financial Year 2025-26 (FY26) to 7.5% from the previous projection of 7.4%.
  • The agency revised the India FY27 growth estimate upward to 6.7% from the earlier projection of 6.4%.
  • India’s GDP grew by 7.8% in the third quarter of FY26 and 8.4% in the second quarter, while the FY25 growth was recorded at 7.1%.
  • Global GDP growth is projected at 2.6% for 2026, assuming oil prices do not exceed $70 per barrel.
  • Inflation in India is projected to reach 4.5% by December 2026.
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) maintained the policy rate at 5.25% in February, which Fitch expects to remain unchanged through next year.
  • Brian Coulton serves as the Chief Economist of Fitch.
Moody's Projects India Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Growth at 6.4% for FY27 (Mid of February) ▼
  • Moody's (Moody's) forecasts India's real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will grow by 6.4% in Fiscal Year 2026-27 (FY27).
  • India is expected to record the fastest growth pace among the Group of Twenty (G-20) economies according to the ratings agency.
  • The Economic Survey 2026 projects India's real GDP expansion to range between 6.8% and 7.2% for FY27.
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has raised its growth projections for FY27 to 6.9% for the first quarter and 7.0% for the second quarter.
  • Structural reforms including the rationalisation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and income tax reductions are expected to boost domestic consumption.
  • A trade agreement reached between India and the United States (US) in February 2026 is anticipated to improve conditions for export-linked Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO) and NBCC (India) Limited sign two MoUs for Delhi redevelopment and asset monetisation.

[Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO), National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC)]

Key Updates:

  • HUDCO and NBCC (India) Limited (NBCC) signed two MoUs on 11 April 2026.
  • First MoU covers redevelopment of leasehold plot of approx. 18,830 sq mt at Block No. 25, August Kranti Bhawan, Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi.
  • First MoU includes techno-economic feasibility study, construction, project management, and monetisation of built-up space.
  • Second MoU focuses on asset monetisation for NBCC's self-sustainable model projects.
  • HUDCO will provide funds for ongoing and upcoming NBCC projects with permission of Government of India.
  • NBCC will provide project management and consultancy services under the agreements.
  • Each MoU is valid for 2 years from execution date and is subject to annual review.
  • Either party can exit the MoUs by giving one month's written notice.

Similar Coverage

MoU Signed on 4 February 2026 to Modernise Delhi Prepaid Taxi System (Start of April) ▼
  • A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on 4 February 2026 between Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited (STCL) and Delhi Traffic Police to modernise Delhi’s prepaid taxi services.
  • The MoU covers 34 prepaid taxi booths located at 21 key points in the national capital.
  • Delhi Traffic Police will manage booth operations, recruit staff, verify drivers, ensure passenger safety, and establish a control room mechanism for monitoring and coordination.
  • STCL will handle digital integration, financial management including staff salaries, maintenance of booths, and branding initiatives.
  • As of 23 March 2026, approximately 130 personnel are engaged in various support and operational roles under the cooperative model.
  • STCL operates on a no-profit, no-loss basis under a self-sustaining cooperative framework.
Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs launches National Monetisation Pipeline 2.0 (NMP 2.0) with ₹16.72 lakh crore target (End of February) ▼
  • Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman launched the National Monetisation Pipeline 2.0 (NMP 2.0), projecting proceeds of ₹16.72 lakh crore over five years starting April 2025.
  • Developed by Niti Aayog, the second phase is based on the Asset Monetisation Plan 2025-30 mandate announced in the Union Budget 2025-26.
  • The first phase, NMP 1.0, achieved 89% of its ₹6 lakh crore target during the four-year period from 2021-22 to 2024-25.
  • The total monetisation potential of ₹16.72 lakh crore includes private investments estimated at ₹5.8 lakh crore.
  • The transport sector is expected to raise ₹4.42 lakh crore through the monetisation of 21,300 kilometres of highways, 15 Multi-Modal Logistics Parks (MMLPs), and six ropeways.
  • Estimated sectoral values include Power (₹2.77 lakh crore), Ports (₹2.64 lakh crore), Railways (₹2.62 lakh crore), Coal (₹2.16 lakh crore), and Mines (₹1 lakh crore).
  • Other sector targets include Urban Infrastructure (₹52,000 crore), Civil Aviation (₹27,500 crore), Petroleum and Natural Gas (₹16,300 crore), Warehousing and Storage (₹10,000 crore), Telecom (₹4,800 crore), and Tourism (₹1,200 crore).
  • Specific projects include listing a minority stake in GAIL Gas and the divestment of Airports Authority of India (AAI) holdings in one subsidiary and four joint-venture airports.
  • The pipeline involves auctioning approximately 94 coal mines and leasing 38 land parcels of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) on a long-term basis.
  • Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) will serve as a key mode of monetisation to attract private investment and reduce public debt through capital recycling.
  • The largest portion of proceeds under NMP 2.0 is expected to accrue to the Consolidated Fund of India.
Delhi–Prasar Bharati MoU to build integrated media hub (End of March) ▼
  • The Delhi government signed a memorandum of understanding with Prasar Bharati to develop Delhi as a major media and entertainment industry hub.
  • The agreement was signed between Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) and Prasar Bharati at Bharat Mandapam on the sidelines of the International Film Festival Delhi (IFFD).
  • The project envisions a state-of-the-art integrated film, television, and media hub combining film production, television, and animation, visual effects, gaming, and comics (AVGC) on a single platform.
  • Modern studios, post-production facilities, and AVGC hubs will be developed with emphasis on skill development, training, and innovation.
  • A joint coordination committee comprising representatives from both sides will oversee planning, financing, and implementation.
  • Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra stated that a forthcoming film policy will offer subsidies for shoots in the city and focus on new technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Motilal Oswal Home Finance signs USD 100 million debt deal with Asian Development Bank (ADB) for women-focused, affordable, green housing. (Start of March) ▼
  • Motilal Oswal Home Finance will raise USD 100 million in rupee-equivalent non-convertible debentures from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
  • Part of the funds will provide affordable housing loans to women borrowers.
  • Ten per cent of the proceeds will finance residential units that meet recognised green building certification standards.
  • Women currently account for only 13 per cent of homeowners according to ADB.
  • During the first nine months of FY26 Motilal Oswal Home Finance disbursed Rs 1,303 crore.
  • Gross NPA stood at 1.43 per cent as of December 2025.

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) launches SUPCOMS, e-adjudication portal, and C-SAC platforms

[Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)]

Key Updates:

  • Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairman launched three IT platforms on 24 March.
  • SUPCOMS replaces email-centric interactions and centralises all official communications with external entities.
  • The e-adjudication portal digitally enables quasi-judicial proceedings and allows entities to download Show Cause Notices, submit replies, and attend online hearings.
  • C-SAC is an AI-enabled platform that analyses cyber audit reports submitted on the SI Portal, identifies compliance gaps, and provides risk scores to strengthen cybersecurity supervision.

Similar Coverage

Karnataka Innovation Act to Establish Regulatory Sandbox for Emerging Technologies (End of January) ▼
  • The Karnataka Department of Information Technology and Biotechnology (IT/BT) is establishing a regulatory sandbox framework under the Karnataka Innovation Act to enable the testing and development of emerging technologies.
  • The announcement was made at the 20th edition of the India Digital Summit (IDS) 2026, organised by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) in Bengaluru.
  • The IDS 2026 was conducted under the theme India’s AI Moment: Leveraging the Intelligent Economy.
  • The Karnataka Innovation Authority Act, 2020, provides a legal framework for the temporary relaxation of regulations to promote innovation in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deep-tech.
  • The Internet and Mobile Association of India and Kantar launched the Internet in India Report 2025, which recorded 958 million active internet users in India in 2025.
  • The report highlighted an 8% year-on-year growth in internet users, driven by rural adoption, short-video consumption, e-commerce, and AI usage.
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) grants PMS licence to Bajaj Alternate Investment Management. (Start of April) ▼
  • Bajaj Alternate Investment Management (Bajaj Alts) has received SEBI approval to commence portfolio management services (PMS).
  • The PMS will target high net-worth individuals (HNIs) and ultra high net-worth individuals (UHNIs).
  • Lakshmi Iyer is Group President – Investments and Managing Director & CEO of Bajaj Alts.
  • Jitendra Gohil serves as CIO – Listed Equities at Bajaj Alts.
NITI Aayog projects India’s technology services sector to reach $750–850 billion by 2035 (Mid of February) ▼
  • NITI Aayog released a 10-year roadmap projecting India’s $265 billion technology services sector to scale to $750–850 billion by 2035.
  • The roadmap by NITI Aayog’s Frontier Tech Hub identifies five priority growth levers: Agentic AI, Software and Products, Digital Infrastructure, Innovation-led Engineering, and India-for-India solutions.
  • Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal stated that the government is building an enabling ecosystem combining progressive policy, industry partnership, and inter-ministerial coordination to accelerate innovation.
  • MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan said India is pursuing a full-stack, impact-driven AI strategy covering energy, infrastructure, chips, models, and applications.
  • NITI Aayog CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam described the AI transformation as a generational opportunity to create new value pools and strengthen global leadership.
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) approves AIF, FPI, InvIT, REIT and governance reforms in 213th board meeting. (End of March) ▼
  • The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) held its 213th board meeting in Mumbai on 23 March 2026.
  • SEBI amended AIF Regulations 2012 to allow Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) with no active fund management to retain residual assets for up to 3 years subject to 75% investor approval.
  • SEBI introduced net settlement for Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) in the cash market to cut funding and forex conversion costs.
  • SEBI expanded retail access to Social Impact Funds (SIFs) by lowering minimum investment and easing disclosure norms.
  • SEBI allowed Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) to invest in greenfield projects, hold multiple SPVs, borrow for capex and refinancing, and undertake maintenance expenses.
  • SEBI revised fit-and-proper criteria to bar persons with pending FIRs for economic offences or securities law violations and reduced disqualification period to six months in specified cases.
  • SEBI mandated SEBI staff to liquidate or freeze personal securities holdings, file initial, annual and event-based conflict disclosures, and recuse from decisions when conflicts arise.
  • SEBI approved creation of an Office of Ethics and Compliance (OEC), a digital monitoring system and a whistle-blower framework for stronger conflict-of-interest oversight.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) raises India FY27 growth forecast to 6.9%

[Asian Development Bank (ADB)]

Key Updates:

  • Asian Development Bank (ADB) revised India’s FY27 GDP growth forecast upward to 6.9% from 6.5%.
  • ADB projects India’s FY26 growth at 7.6% and FY28 growth at 7.3%.
  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) also projects FY27 growth at 6.9%.
  • World Bank raised its FY27 India growth estimate to 6.6% from 6.3%.
  • ADB expects FY27 inflation at 4.5% and FY28 inflation at 4%.
  • Consumption is forecast to remain the primary growth driver in FY27.
  • Manufacturing gains are expected from recent trade agreements with the European Union, the United States, and New Zealand.

Similar Coverage

World Bank (WB) raises India FY27 GDP growth forecast to 6.6% (Start of April) ▼
  • World Bank upgraded India’s FY27 GDP growth forecast to 6.6%, 30 basis points higher than its October 2025 projection of 6.3%.
  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) projects FY27 growth at 6.9%.
  • World Bank expects inflation to rise in FY27 on strong demand, normalising food prices and higher energy prices.
  • Government reduced additional excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹10 per litre and exempted customs duty on critical petrochemical products amid West Asia conflict.
  • India’s new free trade agreements with European Union and United Kingdom will double global market access for domestic firms from one-sixth to one-third of global GDP.
  • South Asia’s 2026 growth forecast revised upwards by 50 basis points to 6.3%, with India driving the region’s outperformance among Emerging Markets and Developing Economies.
State Bank of India (SBI) projects India GDP growth at 8.1% for Q3FY26 (End of February) ▼
  • State Bank of India (SBI) forecasts 8.1% GDP growth for Q3FY26 despite global headwinds.
  • High-frequency indicators show strong growth momentum in Q3FY26.
  • Rural consumption remained firm on positive farm and non-farm signals.
  • Urban consumption rose consistently, helped by fiscal stimulus and higher post-festive spending.
  • Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation will release second advance GDP estimates for FY26 on 27 February.
  • Base year for GDP calculation is being updated from 2011-12 to 2022-23.
  • First advance estimates pegged FY26 GDP growth at 7.4%.
  • Economic Survey projects FY26 growth around 7% and FY27 growth in the 6.8-7.2% range.
Crisil Intelligence Forecasts 7.1 Per Cent India GDP Growth for FY27 (Mid of March) ▼
  • Crisil Intelligence expects India's real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth to moderate to 7.1 per cent in FY27.
  • The conflict in West Asia is identified as a downside risk to the economic outlook due to its impact on crude oil and commodity prices.
  • Retail inflation is projected to rise to 4.3 per cent in FY27 from an estimated 2.5 per cent in FY26.
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is expected to hold the repo rate steady in FY27 to focus on transmitting the 125 basis points (bps) rate cut implemented in calendar year 2025.
  • Headline retail inflation is likely to remain close to the central value of the RBI tolerance band.
  • The new Consumer Price Index (CPI) 2024 series has a reduced weight for food, which is expected to contain the upside to headline inflation.
  • Export growth is anticipated to maintain momentum, supported by lower United States (US) tariffs relative to FY26 and robust services exports.
  • Economic growth will be supported by robust private consumption and a recovery in private capital expenditure (capex) driven by emerging sectors.
  • Inflation is expected to normalise assuming a normal monsoon in 2026 and benign food prices.
Fitch Ratings (Fitch) Raises India FY26 GDP Growth Forecast to 7.5% (Mid of March) ▼
  • Fitch Ratings (Fitch) upgraded India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast for the Financial Year 2025-26 (FY26) to 7.5% from the previous projection of 7.4%.
  • The agency revised the India FY27 growth estimate upward to 6.7% from the earlier projection of 6.4%.
  • India’s GDP grew by 7.8% in the third quarter of FY26 and 8.4% in the second quarter, while the FY25 growth was recorded at 7.1%.
  • Global GDP growth is projected at 2.6% for 2026, assuming oil prices do not exceed $70 per barrel.
  • Inflation in India is projected to reach 4.5% by December 2026.
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) maintained the policy rate at 5.25% in February, which Fitch expects to remain unchanged through next year.
  • Brian Coulton serves as the Chief Economist of Fitch.

Amaravati Quantum Reference Facilities (AQRF) launched to build India’s first sovereign quantum hardware ecosystem

[Andhra Pradesh]

Key Updates:

  • Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated the Amaravati Quantum Reference Facilities (AQRF) in Amaravati.
  • AQRF comprises Amaravati 1S located at a private college and Amaravati 1Q located at Medha Towers.
  • The facility is part of the broader Amaravati Quantum Valley project backed by IBM, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
  • The Quantum Valley is expected to attract about $1 billion in investments by 2029.
  • The state targets starting production and export of quantum computers within two years.

Similar Coverage

Andhra Pradesh unveils India’s first open-access quantum computer test beds at Amaravati Quantum Valley (Mid of April) ▼
  • Andhra Pradesh launched two open-access quantum computer test beds under the Amaravati Quantum Valley project.
  • The 1Q test bed is located at Medha Towers and the 1S test bed at SRM University, Amaravati.
  • Both systems use entirely locally developed components and operate at about minus 273°C.
  • Technical support was provided by Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
  • The 1Q test bed was set up by Qubitech and Qbit Force; the 1S test bed uses superconducting technology.
  • Delhi-based QUTE Electronics developed the ultra-low noise power supply systems with six decimal point stability.
  • The mission aims to create 100 quantum algorithms within the next two years.
  • Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu will unveil the facilities on April 14, World Quantum Day.
Andhra Pradesh to unveil India's first open-access quantum computer in Amaravati (Start of April) ▼
  • Andhra Pradesh (AP) will launch India's first open-access quantum computer on 14 April 2026 at the SRM University campus in Amaravati.
  • The quantum computer is a collaborative initiative between SRM University and Qubit Force to provide research and testing access to students and researchers.
  • The state government has established the Amaravati Quantum Valley (AQV) to facilitate indigenous quantum hardware manufacturing, system integration, and algorithm development.
  • AP is the first state in India to implement a dedicated quantum computing policy, with the State Quantum Computing Mission currently operating from Medha Towers in Vijayawada.
  • The project aligns with the National Quantum Mission (NQM) and aims to position AP as one of the top five global quantum hubs by 2030.
  • International Business Machines (IBM), Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) are partnering with the state to establish these computing capabilities.
  • The initiative involves participation from central institutions including the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).
  • Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed stakeholders to achieve domestic manufacturing of quantum computing hardware within the next two years.
BISAG-N and QNu Labs sign MoU to build quantum-resilient cybersecurity solutions (End of January) ▼
  • BISAG-N and QNu Labs have signed an MoU to develop indigenous quantum-resilient cybersecurity solutions.
  • The collaboration aims to strengthen India’s preparedness against future quantum computing threats.
  • The initiative will advance secure digital infrastructure within the country.
Ministry of Science and Technology approves quantum teaching facilities at 23 institutions under National Quantum Mission (Mid of March) ▼
  • The Union government approved establishing quantum teaching facilities or laboratories in 23 academic institutions across India under the National Quantum Mission.
  • 100 more institutions are under consideration for similar facilities to support advanced research and training in emerging quantum technologies.
  • The decision was disclosed during a joint monthly meeting of secretaries of science ministries and departments led by Minister Jitendra Singh.
  • Principal Scientific Adviser Ajay Kumar Sood attended the meeting.
  • The meeting reviewed preparations for the next PSLV mission expected later this year and upcoming satellite launches.
  • Plans for launching the next navigation satellite for the Navy around May were discussed.
  • A large technology exhibition is proposed in New Delhi from May 11 to 13 for National Technology Day celebrations.
  • The exhibition is expected to bring together over 3,000 stakeholders and showcase more than 500 technologies and innovations.
  • The Department of Science and Technology is examining updates to manpower guidelines for project staff to align with the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) framework.

Delhi–Dehradun Economic Corridor inaugurated to boost connectivity and cut logistics costs

[Delhi, Dehradun]

Key Updates:

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Delhi–Dehradun Economic Corridor.
  • The project cost is around ₹12,000 crore.
  • The corridor passes through Ghaziabad, Baghpat, Baraut, Shamli and Saharanpur.
  • Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described the corridor as a gamechanger for western Uttar Pradesh.
  • The corridor is expected to reduce travel time and logistics costs, and connect Saharanpur’s woodcraft, Meerut’s sports goods and regional agricultural produce to global markets.
  • The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) executed the project under the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Similar Coverage

Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) fully completed; freight capacity set to double (Start of April) ▼
  • The Ministry of Railways completed the entire 1,506-km Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) running from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Terminal (JNPT) in Maharashtra to Dadri in Uttar Pradesh.
  • The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) executed the project in phases.
  • A successful trial run on 31 March 2026 on the 102-km balance JNPT–New Saphale section marked full operational readiness of WDFC.
  • The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC), spanning 1,337 km from Ludhiana in Punjab to Sonnagar in Bihar, has already been completed and commissioned.
  • The Union Budget 2026-27 proposed a new Dedicated Freight Corridor linking Dankuni in West Bengal with Surat in Gujarat.
PM Modi inaugurates India's first operational 'ring metro' in Delhi. (Start of March) ▼
  • PM Modi inaugurated the Majlis Park–Maujpur Babarpur section of the Pink Line and the Deepali Chowk–Majlis Park stretch of the Magenta Line.
  • The Pink Line now totals 71.56 km, forming India's first fully operational ring metro encircling large parts of Delhi.
  • Stations on the newly opened Majlis Park–Maujpur Babarpur corridor are Burari, Jharoda Majra, Jagatpur-Wazirabad, Soorghat, Nanaksar-Sonia Vihar, Khajuri Khas, Bhajanpura, Yamuna Vihar and Maujpur-Babarpur.
  • The Deepali Chowk–Majlis Park Magenta Line extension spans about 49 km and includes the elevated stations Madhuban Chowk, Uttar Pitampura–Prashant Vihar, Haiderpur Village, Haiderpur Badli Mor and Bhalswa.
  • PM Modi laid the foundation stone for three Phase V-A corridors: the underground Central Vista corridor (RK Ashram Marg–Indraprastha), the underground Aerocity–IGI Airport Terminal-1 link, and the elevated Tughlakabad–Kalindi Kunj stretch totalling 16.10 km.
  • He inaugurated 2,722 newly built flats and laid the foundation stone for 6,632 additional flats under the General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) redevelopment plan covering Sarojini Nagar, Netaji Nagar, Nauroji Nagar, Kasturba Nagar, Thyagraj Nagar, Sriniwaspuri and Mohammadpur.
  • The overall infrastructure and housing projects launched are valued at about ₹33,500 crore, with over ₹18,300 crore for the two metro corridors.
Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) oversees expansion of 20-plus expressways (Mid of March) ▼
  • Uttar Pradesh has more than 20 expressways operational, under construction, or in the planning stage.
  • Yamuna Expressway spans 165.5 km with six lanes, completed in 2012 at an estimated cost of ₹13,300 crore.
  • Agra–Lucknow Expressway stretches 302 km and reduced travel time between Agra and Lucknow to about three and a half hours.
  • Purvanchal Expressway covers 340 km, connecting Lucknow to Ghazipur and passing through Sultanpur, Azamgarh, and Ambedkar Nagar districts.
  • Bundelkhand Expressway is 296 km long and supports the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor.
  • Ganga Expressway will connect Meerut to Prayagraj over 594 km and is expected to be completed around 2026.
  • Proposed expressways include Lucknow–Kanpur, Ghaziabad–Kanpur, Ayodhya–Varanasi, Gorakhpur–Siliguri, and Gorakhpur–Shamli corridors.
  • Total expressway length in Uttar Pradesh could exceed 3,000 kilometres once upcoming projects are completed.
PM unveils ₹23,550 crore infrastructure projects in Assam's Silchar (Mid of March) ▼
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled projects worth ₹23,550 crore in Silchar, Assam on Saturday ahead of the assembly elections.
  • The ₹22,864 crore access-controlled expressway between Silchar (Cachar district) and Shillong (Meghalaya) is the first of its kind in the Northeast.
  • The 166-km four-lane greenfield high-speed corridor will cut Guwahati-Silchar distance from 295 km to 252 km and travel time from 8.5 hours to around 5 hours.
  • An elevated corridor on NH-306 from Trunk Road near Capital Point to Rangirkhari Point in Silchar will be built at ₹565 crore to ease congestion and improve links with Mizoram, Tripura and Manipur.
  • The PM laid the foundation stone for the ₹122 crore College of Agriculture at Patharkandi in Karimganj district.
  • These projects are part of ₹47,800 crore worth of projects unveiled by the PM in Assam since Friday.

Gujarat Government signs MoU with Allegiance International for Indo-Taiwan Industrial Park with ₹1,000 Crore FDI

[Gujarat, Taiwan]

Key Updates:

  • The Gujarat government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Taiwan-based Allegiance International Co Ltd to develop an Indo-Taiwan Industrial Park in the Sanand-Dholera region.
  • The project aims to attract over ₹1,000 crore in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from Taiwanese industries, specifically in the semiconductor and electronics manufacturing sectors.
  • The initiative is expected to generate approximately 12,000 direct jobs over the next five years.
  • The MoU was signed between the state's Department of Science and Technology and Allegiance International in the presence of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
  • The industrial park is aligned with the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) to strengthen the production ecosystem for semiconductors, electronics, electric vehicles, robotics, and supply chains.
  • The agreement was signed by Simon Lee, Chairman of Allegiance Group and Vice President of the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce in India, and P Bharathi, Secretary of the Science and Technology Department.
  • Gujarat is currently developing semiconductor manufacturing projects worth over ₹1.24 lakh crore.

Similar Coverage

T-Hub and Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) partner to boost India–Japan deep-tech startup exchange. (Mid of March) ▼
  • T-Hub and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) signed a partnership on Thursday to strengthen India–Japan startup collaboration.
  • The collaboration targets sectors including pharma and medical equipment, space and aerospace, defence, mobility, smart infrastructure, deeptech, AI, emerging technologies, and Industry 4.0.
  • Initiatives include startup exchange programmes, corporate open-innovation partnerships, market access support, regulatory guidance, and investor connect platforms.
  • T-Hub will assist Japanese startups, corporates, and investors entering India and help Indian startups expand into Japan.
  • T-Hub’s prior Japanese partners include NEC, Suzuki, Denso, Panasonic, Toyota, and Nitto Denko.
  • T-Hub CEO Kavikrut stated the partnership will create global pathways for startups building from India.
  • JETRO Bengaluru Director General Toshihiro Mizutani said the move will further strengthen Japan–India startup collaboration and innovation partnerships.
Rajasthan Industrial Park Promotion Policy-2026 aims to boost investment and employment. (End of March) ▼
  • Rajasthan government introduced the Industrial Park Promotion Policy-2026 under Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma.
  • The policy seeks to develop world-class industrial parks and position Rajasthan as a reliable and future-ready industrial destination.
  • It aligns with national initiatives like Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat and promotes balanced regional development.
  • Industrial parks will be developed through four models: fully private development, hybrid land-sharing arrangements, and public-private partnership (PPP) mode.
  • Private parks must have a minimum area of 50 acres and at least 10 industrial units.
  • The policy provides 50 per cent reimbursement of expenditure on Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP), subject to a cap, and capital subsidies for infrastructure development.
  • The government will ensure availability of water, electricity, and road connectivity to industrial parks with cost-sharing between the state and developers.
  • Incentives include exemption in electricity duty for renewable energy use, concessions in stamp duty and conversion charges, and a single-window clearance system through the Raj Nivesh Portal.
BHAVYA Scheme: Rs 33,660 crore for 100 plug-and-play industrial parks (Mid of March) ▼
  • The Union Cabinet Committee approved the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA) with an allocation of Rs 33,660 crore.
  • BHAVYA will develop 100 plug-and-play industrial parks across India in partnership with state governments, central PSUs and private developers.
  • Projects will be selected in challenge mode based on PM GatiShakti principles, underground utility corridors, green energy and ease of doing business reforms.
  • The Centre will provide up to Rs 1 crore per acre for six years (FY 2026-27 to 2031-32) to industrial parks of minimum 100 acres.
  • The scheme will facilitate approximately 34,000 acres of investment-ready, plug-and-play industrial facilities at competitive rates.
  • Industrial parks ranging from 100 to 1,000 acres will be supported for core, value-added and social infrastructure.
  • External infrastructure support up to 25% of project cost will be provided to ensure seamless connectivity.
  • BHAVYA aims to benefit manufacturing units, MSMEs, startups, global investors, workers, logistics providers, service sector enterprises and local communities.
Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) invests Rs 35,000 crore to build 10 lakh cars per year plant in Gujarat. (Mid of January) ▼
  • Maruti Suzuki India Limited will invest Rs 35,000 crore to develop a new plant in Khoraj, Gujarat.
  • The new facility targets an annual production capacity of 10 lakh cars.
  • The plant will provide employment to about 12,000 people.
  • The Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) has provided 1,750 acres of land for the plant.
  • Maruti Suzuki India MD & CEO Hisashi Takeuchi handed over the investment letter to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
  • The project is expected to catalyse growth of ancillary units and MSMEs, creating a robust auto manufacturing cluster.
  • Maruti Suzuki currently manufactures 17 models and over 650 variants across its facilities.
  • In 2025, Maruti Suzuki produced over 22.55 lakh units, its highest-ever production in a calendar year.

India and Myanmar sign MoU to construct school in Nay Pyi Taw

[Myanmar]

Key Updates:

  • India and Myanmar signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a Small Development Project to build a school in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar's capital.
  • Kirti Vardhan Singh, India's Minister of State for External Affairs, visited Myanmar and oversaw the MoU signing.
  • Singh engaged with the Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies, the Centre for Peace and Reconciliation, and universities in Yangon to deepen bilateral cooperation.

Similar Coverage

Min Aung Hlaing became President of Myanmar. (Start of April) ▼
  • Min Aung Hlaing assumed the presidency after stepping down as armed forces commander as required by the constitution.
  • The newly-elected parliament that selected him is dominated by military loyalists, with the military guaranteed 25% of seats and its party winning nearly 80% of the rest.
  • General Ye Win Oo succeeded Min Aung Hlaing as armed forces commander.
  • Min Aung Hlaing created a new consultative council that holds paramount authority over civilian and military affairs.
  • Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy won a landslide victory in the November 2020 election before the 1 February 2021 coup.
  • The National Unity Government, operating from resistance-held areas near the Thailand border, rejects the new government and parliament as illegitimate.
India acknowledges covert Myanmar operation in July 2025 through Shaurya Chakra citation (End of January) ▼
  • Shaurya Chakra citation formally acknowledged an Indian Army covert operation inside Myanmar between 11 and 13 July 2025.
  • Lieutenant Colonel Ghatage Aditya Shrikumar of 21 Para (Special Forces) received the award for planning and leading the precision strike.
  • The operation destroyed a fortified militant camp and eliminated nine armed cadres, including senior leaders of an anti-national group.
  • United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) (ULFA-I) had alleged that three of its top leaders were killed in drone and missile strikes in Myanmar’s Sagaing region in July 2025.
  • ULFA-I operates mobile camps along the 1,600-kilometre Indo-Myanmar border and seeks a sovereign Assam through armed struggle.
Food Corporation of India (FCI) and World Food Programme (WFP) sign MoU for rice supply to combat global hunger (Mid of February) ▼
  • Food Corporation of India (FCI) and World Food Programme (WFP) signed a five-year MoU for supply of rice to support global humanitarian operations.
  • FCI will supply 2 lakh tonnes of rice (up to 25% broken) to WFP under the agreement.
  • The price is fixed at Rs 2,800 per quintal up to 31 March 2026 and will be mutually agreed annually thereafter.
  • The MoU was signed by Rabindra Kumar Agarwal, CMD, FCI and Carl Skau, Deputy Executive Director, WFP in presence of Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution.
India and Vietnam elevate tribal cooperation to ministerial level, push for institutional partnership (End of March) ▼
  • India and Vietnam elevated collaboration on tribal and ethnic development to the ministerial level through a bilateral meeting in New Delhi on 18 March 2026.
  • The meeting was co-chaired by Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Shri Jual Oram, and Vietnam’s Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, H.E. Dao Ngoc Dung.
  • This is the first ministerial engagement exclusively focused on tribal and ethnic development between the two nations.
  • The dialogue built on prior discussions led by Smt. Ranjana Chopra, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, and H.E. Y Thong, Deputy Minister of Vietnam, on 17 March 2026.
  • Key areas explored included rights-based approaches to tribal welfare, community-led development models, institutional mechanisms for cultural preservation, and use of digital platforms for tribal outreach.
  • Shri Jual Oram emphasized Vietnam’s pivotal role in India’s Act East Policy and broader Indo-Pacific strategy.
  • India’s tribal population exceeds 104 million people (over 8.6% of the population), while Vietnam is home to 54 officially recognized ethnic groups.
  • A draft Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) aimed at institutionalizing bilateral engagement in tribal and ethnic affairs was reviewed; Vietnam confirmed approval on its side.
  • Vietnam invited Shri Jual Oram for an official visit to formally sign the MoC.
  • The year 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the India–Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Paytm enables biometric UPI payments with Face ID/fingerprint and cardless ATM withdrawals

[Paytm]

Key Updates:

  • Paytm app now allows UPI payments verified by Face ID or fingerprint instead of entering a UPI PIN.
  • Biometric data is neither stored nor accessed by Paytm or the bank.
  • Biometric UPI payments initially support transactions up to ₹5,000 per payment as per NPCI guidelines.
  • Cardless ATM withdrawals support up to ₹10,000 per transaction, with daily limits varying by bank.
  • Users can enable the feature by selecting ‘Pay with Fingerprint’ or ‘Pay with Face ID’ in the Paytm app Settings, choosing the bank account, and completing on-screen biometric authentication.

Similar Coverage

NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) Expands Unified Payments Interface (UPI) Merchant Acceptance in Sri Lanka (Mid of March) ▼
  • NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) has partnered with LankaPay to strengthen Unified Payments Interface (UPI) merchant acceptance across Sri Lanka.
  • The initiative enables Indian travellers to make real-time digital payments by scanning LankaQR codes using UPI-enabled mobile applications.
  • UPI acceptance has been enabled at several establishments including Cinnamon Hotels, Taj Hotels, Barista, Keells Supermarket, and Odel.
  • Indian tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka increased from 4,16,000 in 2024 to 5,31,000 in 2025, accounting for the highest share of total international arrivals.
  • Ritesh Shukla serves as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NIPL.
PhonePe launches RuPay On-The-Go National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) for offline transit payments (Mid of March) ▼
  • PhonePe has launched the RuPay On-The-Go Card, a National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), to enable offline tap-and-pay transactions across public transport services.
  • The initiative aligns with the Government of India’s One Nation One Card vision to digitise public transport payments through a unified mobility platform.
  • The card functions without internet connectivity using a prepaid stored-value model where the balance is stored directly on the card’s chip.
  • Users can load a maximum balance of ₹2,000 on the card, with a limit of ₹500 for individual offline transactions.
  • The initial rollout has commenced with the Hyderabad Metro in partnership with L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Limited (LTMRHL).
  • The card is fully interoperable and can be used across NCMC-enabled public transport systems in cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru.
  • Commuters can purchase the card at Hyderabad Metro ticket counters after a one-time password verification of their phone number.
  • The card supports transactions across various NCMC-enabled services including metros, buses, suburban trains, toll plazas, and parking facilities.
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) grants ZET TPAP licence for RuPay credit-card UPI payments. (End of January) ▼
  • ZET secured NPCI approval for a Third-Party Application Provider licence.
  • ZET integrates UPI payments with credit card rewards using RuPay’s UPI-on-credit-card capability.
  • ZET expects monthly UPI transactions via credit cards to reach about Rs 100 crore.
  • ZET’s platform has around 10 lakh eligible users, nearly 75 percent of whom are first-time credit card users.
  • ZET’s UPI ecosystem is powered by Juspay’s technology stack and enabled through a partnership with RBL Bank.
NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) partners with PayNet to enable UPI acceptance in Malaysia. (Mid of February) ▼
  • NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) signed an agreement with Payments Network Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PayNet) to enable QR-based merchant payments between India and Malaysia.
  • Indian travellers will scan DuitNow QR codes using UPI-enabled apps during the first phase of the rollout.
  • Malaysian travellers will scan UPI QR codes using DuitNow apps in a subsequent phase.
  • The integration will give Indian users access to millions of DuitNow QR acceptance points across Malaysia, including restaurants, retail outlets and tourist establishments.
  • Malaysian visitors will gain acceptance across millions of UPI QR-enabled merchant locations in India.
  • NPCI International Payments was incorporated in April 2020 as a wholly owned subsidiary of NPCI to deploy UPI and RuPay systems overseas.

Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI) Bengaluru attains ISO 15189:2022 accreditation for biochemistry and haematology

[Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS)]

Key Updates:

  • The clinical laboratory at Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI) Bengaluru received ISO 15189:2022 accreditation for biochemistry and haematology.
  • CARI Bengaluru is the first institute under Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) to achieve ISO 15189:2022 accreditation.
  • The laboratory currently holds National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accreditation for 50 test parameters across biochemistry and haematology.
  • During 2025-26 the laboratory conducted over 1.52 lakh investigations serving more than 9,300 patients.
  • Outpatient department footfall at the institute rose from 18,918 in 2021 to over 51,300 in 2026.
  • Laboratory investigations increased from 2,770 tests in 2021 to over 1.55 lakh in 2026.

Similar Coverage

NCERT granted deemed-to-be university status to award own degrees (Start of April) ▼
  • The Ministry of Education, on the advice of the University Grants Commission (UGC), declared the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and its six constituent units as deemed-to-be university under the distinct category.
  • The six constituent units are regional institutes of education in Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Mysuru and Shillong, and the Pandit Sunderlal Sharma Central Institute of Vocational Education in Bhopal.
  • The deemed status prohibits NCERT from commercial and profit-making activities and mandates that all academic programmes conform to UGC norms.
  • NCERT must obtain UGC approval before starting new programmes, off-campus or offshore centres.
  • NCERT has been directed to launch research, doctoral and innovative academic programmes and to participate in the National Institutional Ranking Framework rankings.
  • NCERT must create Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) identities for students and upload their credit scores in digital lockers for reflection in the ABC portal.
NCERT granted deemed-to-be university status (Start of April) ▼
  • The National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has been declared a deemed-to-be university by the Ministry of Education on the advice of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
  • The deemed status covers NCERT and its six constituent units: Regional Institutes of Education in Ajmer, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Mysuru and Shillong, and the Pandit Sunderlal Sharma Central Institute of Vocational Education in Bhopal.
  • NCERT is now empowered to award its own degrees and must launch research, doctoral and innovative academic programmes.
  • All academic programmes must conform to UGC norms and cannot be commercial or profit-making.
  • NCERT must participate in National Institutional Ranking Framework rankings and create Academic Bank of Credits identities for its students.
CA P. V. Narayana Rao appointed as Co-opted Member of ICAI's Sustainability Reporting Standards Board (SRSB) for 2026-27. (End of March) ▼
  • CA P. V. Narayana Rao has been appointed as a Co-opted Member of the Sustainability Reporting Standards Board (SRSB) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) for the term 2026-27.
  • He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1987 and secured a Gold Medal as University Topper in Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) from Kakatiya University.
  • He served as Chairman of the ICAI Warangal Branch in 2015 and as Co-opted Member of the Public Relations Committee of ICAI (Central Council) in 2016.
  • He is currently the Vice President of the Telangana & Andhra Pradesh Tax Bar Association.
  • The Sustainability Reporting Standards Board (SRSB) was established by ICAI in February 2020 to develop sustainability reporting standards aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.
NAAC accreditation freeze for 2024-2025 academic year (Start of April) ▼
  • No university or college received fresh accreditation from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) during the 2024-2025 academic year.
  • NAAC had accredited 1,790 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the 2023-2024 academic year.
  • NAAC received accreditation requests from 2,300 institutions for 2024-2025.
  • As of 14 August 2025, NAAC had accredited 509 universities, 7,783 colleges, and 290 autonomous colleges.
  • This represents less than 20% of about 50,000 colleges and roughly 40% of 1,170 universities in the country.
  • The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill proposes a new Accreditation Council to oversee state agencies, replacing the Bengaluru-based NAAC monopoly.
  • Ten NAAC members were arrested in February 2025 after a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into bribery allegations for granting A++ accreditation to the Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh.
  • A senior education official stated that the revamped accreditation process is expected to restart within a couple of months.

Amelia Kerr wins ICC Women's Player of the Month award for March

[International Cricket Council]

Key Updates:

  • Amelia Kerr captains New Zealand's women's cricket team.
  • She won the ICC Women's Player of the Month award for March.
  • Her award followed performances with both bat and ball against Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Similar Coverage

Arundhati Reddy and Sahibzada Farhan won ICC Player of the Month for February. (End of March) ▼
  • Arundhati Reddy was named ICC Player of the Month for February for her performances in the T20I series in Australia.
  • Reddy took 4/22, 2/30 and 2/35 and finished as the leading wicket-taker with eight wickets at an average of 10.87 and economy of 7.25.
  • India won the three-match T20I series against Australia 2-1.
  • Sahibzada Farhan was named ICC Player of the Month for February for his performances in the men's T20 World Cup.
  • Farhan scored 383 runs in seven T20Is at an average of 76.60 and strike rate of 160.25.
  • He became the first player to register two centuries in a single edition of the T20 World Cup, against Namibia and Sri Lanka.
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.
Laura Wolvaardt wins ICC Women's Player of the Month (Mid of January) ▼
  • South Africa’s captain Laura Wolvaardt has been awarded the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for December.
  • Wolvaardt scored three centuries across formats in the month, including an unbeaten 115 in the opening T20I.
  • She accumulated 255 runs in the ODI series at an average of 127.50 and 137 runs in the T20I series.
Smriti Mandhana retains top spot in women’s ODI rankings, Jemimah slips to 12th (Mid of March) ▼
  • Smriti Mandhana retained the top spot in the latest women’s ODI batting rankings released on Tuesday.
  • Harmanpreet Kaur remained static at eighth spot in the same rankings.
  • Jemimah Rodrigues slipped to 12th position after India lost the three-match ODI series 0-3 against Australia.
  • New Zealand skipper Melie Kerr jumped five places to 11th in the ODI bowler rankings after taking seven wickets in the second match against Zimbabwe in Dunedin.
  • Melie Kerr also climbed one place to fifth in the ODI all-rounder rankings.
  • Brooke Halliday rose eight places to 11th in the ODI batter rankings after scoring 157* from 117 balls in the series opener against Zimbabwe.
  • Maddy Green moved up four spots to equal 22nd in the ODI batter rankings after scoring 67 in the first match and an unbeaten 27* in the second match.
  • Hasini Perera of Sri Lanka rose 15 spots to 28th in the T20I batter rankings following an unbeaten half-century in the third match against West Indies.
  • Imesha Dulani of Sri Lanka climbed 17 rungs to equal 72nd in the T20I batter rankings after an unbeaten 34* in the same match.
  • Kavisha Dilhari of Sri Lanka moved up three spots to 21st in the T20I bowler rankings and two places to 11th in the T20I all-rounder rankings.
  • Afy Fletcher of West Indies climbed four rungs to seventh in the T20I bowler rankings after taking three wickets in the final two games against Sri Lanka.

Sanju Samson wins ICC Men’s Player of the Month for March 2026

[International Cricket Council]

Key Updates:

  • Sanju Samson received the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for March 2026 after his performances in the 2026 T20 World Cup knockout stages.
  • Samson scored an unbeaten 97 against the West Indies in a must-win Super Eights game in Kolkata.
  • He followed with consecutive scores of 89 in the semi-final against England in Mumbai and the final against New Zealand in Ahmedabad.
  • India defended their T20 World Cup title at home, and Samson was named Player of the Tournament.

Similar Coverage

Mitchell Starc and Deepti Sharma Named Leading Cricketers by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack for 2025 (Mid of April) ▼
  • 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.
Arundhati Reddy and Sahibzada Farhan won ICC Player of the Month for February. (End of March) ▼
  • Arundhati Reddy was named ICC Player of the Month for February for her performances in the T20I series in Australia.
  • Reddy took 4/22, 2/30 and 2/35 and finished as the leading wicket-taker with eight wickets at an average of 10.87 and economy of 7.25.
  • India won the three-match T20I series against Australia 2-1.
  • Sahibzada Farhan was named ICC Player of the Month for February for his performances in the men's T20 World Cup.
  • Farhan scored 383 runs in seven T20Is at an average of 76.60 and strike rate of 160.25.
  • He became the first player to register two centuries in a single edition of the T20 World Cup, against Namibia and Sri Lanka.
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.
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.

India wins 17 medals at Asian Wrestling Championships

[Kyrgyzstan, Iran]

Key Updates:

  • India concluded its campaign at the Asian Wrestling Championships in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, with a total of 17 medals.
  • The final medal tally for India consisted of two gold, seven silver, and eight bronze medals.
  • Aman Sehrawat won a silver medal in the Men’s 61 kg freestyle category after a 13-10 loss to Kwang Myong Kim of South Korea.
  • Mukul Dahiya secured a silver medal in the Men’s 86 kg freestyle category, losing 7-0 to two-time Asian champion Kamran Ghasempour of Iran.
  • Dinesh won a bronze medal in the 125 kg division with a 7-1 victory over Shamil Sharipov of Bahrain.
  • The Men’s freestyle team contributed seven medals, while the Greco-Roman wrestlers and the women’s team secured five medals each.

Similar Coverage

Meenakshi Goyat bags silver; Sujeet, Abhimanyou, Sandeep enter gold medal bouts (Mid of April) ▼
  • Meenakshi Goyat added a third silver to India’s tally in the women’s 53kg category at the Senior Asian Wrestling Championships.
  • Meenakshi lost 0-10 against China’s Jin Zhang in the 53-kg final, an Olympic Games weight classification.
  • Monika defeated Hanbit Lee of South Korea 9-0 to win bronze in the women’s 65kg category.
  • Harshita defeated Sevinchoy Polvonova 5-0 to win bronze in the women’s 72kg category.
  • India’s overall medals tally stands at three silver and seven bronze medals.
  • Sujeet (65kg) defeated Abdulmazhid Kudiev of Tajikistan 7-2 in the semi-final and will face Umidjon Jalolov of Uzbekistan in the final.
  • Abhimanyou (70kg) defeated defending champion Ernazar Akmataliev of Kyrgyzstan 6-3 and will face Tumur Ochir of Mongolia in the final.
  • Sandeep Mann (79kg) defeated Somonjon Ikromov of Tajikistan 10-0 in the semi-final and will face Japan’s Keyvan Gharehdaghi in the gold medal bout.
  • Vicky will contest for bronze in the 97kg category after losing 0-2 to Amirali Azarpira of Iran in the semi-final.
  • Ankush will challenge Fuga Sasaki of Japan for bronze in the men’s 57kg freestyle.
India hosts Asian Championship Rifle/Pistol 2026 in New Delhi (Start of February) ▼
  • The Asian Championship Rifle/Pistol 2026 is being held at the Dr. Karni Singh shooting range in New Delhi from 4 February to 13 February 2026.
  • A total of 311 athletes from 20 countries are participating in the 10-day continental competition across junior, senior, and youth categories.
  • India has fielded the largest squad of 118 athletes, while Kazakhstan has the second-largest contingent with 35 athletes.
  • The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) is organising the event with support from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
  • The competition features 30 medal sets and serves as an assessment for the upcoming Asian Games and the World Championships.
  • All finals of the championship are available for live streaming on the FanCode Over-The-Top (OTT) platform.
India tops Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship 2026 with 94 medals (Mid of February) ▼
  • India finished the Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship, New Delhi 2026, at Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range with 94 medals: 51 gold, 23 silver, 20 bronze.
  • On the final day India added six gold, three silver, four bronze medals.
  • Amanpreet Singh won 25m centre fire pistol gold with 589-24x; Gurpreet Singh took silver with 584-20x; Ankur Goel claimed bronze with 570-11x; the trio secured team gold.
  • Suraj Sharma won 25m Pistol Junior gold with 585-25x; Mukesh Nelavalli secured silver with 582-21x; Abhinav Deshwal took bronze with 573-17x; the trio also won team gold.
  • Sift Kaur Samra won 50m Rifle Prone women senior silver with 623.2; Tejaswani Sawant claimed bronze; Yelizaveta Bezrukova of Kazakhstan won gold; Sift, Tejaswani and Manini Kaushik combined for team gold.
  • Dhavalika Devi Nyamurus secured 50m Rifle Prone women junior bronze with 614.1; Prachi Gaikwad, Anuskha Thokur and Devi combined for team gold.

Vishvanath Suresh wins gold at Asian Boxing Championships 2026

[Mongolia, Kazakhstan]

Key Updates:

  • The Asian Boxing Championships 2026 was held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
  • India concluded the tournament with a total of 16 medals, including five gold, three silver, and eight bronze medals.
  • India finished second on the medal table with five gold medals, while Kazakhstan secured the top position with six gold medals.
  • Vishvanath Suresh won the gold medal in the men’s 50kg category by defeating Japan’s Daichi Iwai with a 5-0 scoreline.
  • Sachin Siwach secured a silver medal in the men’s 60kg division after a 2-3 loss to Orazbek Assylkulov of Kazakhstan.
  • Four Indian men, Harsh Choudhary (90kg), Akash (75kg), Lokesh (85kg), and Narender (+90kg), claimed bronze medals.
  • The Indian women’s team topped their medal charts with four gold medals won by Minakshi Hooda (48kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), Priya Ghanghas (60kg), and Arundhati Choudhary (70kg).
  • Jaismine Lamboria (57kg) and Alfiya Pathan (+80kg) achieved silver medals in the women’s competition.
  • Bronze medals in the women’s category were awarded to Nikhat Zareen (51kg), Ankushita Boro (65kg), Lovlina Borgohain (75kg), and Pooja Rani (80kg).
  • Ajay Singh, the President of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), highlighted that all 10 Indian women boxers finished with a medal.

Similar Coverage

7th National Sub-Junior Under-17 Boxing Championship commences in Nagpur (Start of April) ▼
  • The 7th National Sub-Junior Under-17 Boxing Championship commenced in Nagpur on 4 April 2026.
  • Union Minister Nitin Gadkari formally inaugurated the week-long championship.
  • Nearly 600 young boxers, including around 250 girls and 350 boys, are participating.
  • The contingent is accompanied by nearly 180 coaches and team managers along with 70 officials.
  • Competitions will be held across 13 weight categories.
  • The championship will conclude on 11 April 2026.
  • Outstanding performers will be shortlisted for the Indian Under-17 squad to represent the country at the Asian Boxing Championship in Tashkent later this year.
Chandrika Pujari wins gold at World Boxing Futures Cup (Mid of March) ▼
  • India concluded the World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok with a total of five medals, including one gold, three silver, and one bronze.
  • Chandrika Pujari won the gold medal in the women’s 51 kg category by defeating Uzbekistan’s Mardonova Nazokat with a unanimous decision.
  • Gunjan (48 kg) and Joyshree Devi (54 kg) secured silver medals after losing their respective final matches to boxers from England and the United States.
  • L. Ambekar Meetei earned a silver medal in the men’s 50 kg category after losing the final bout to an opponent from Ukraine.
  • Radhamani Longjam secured a bronze medal for India in the 57 kg weight category.
Meenakshi Goyat bags silver; Sujeet, Abhimanyou, Sandeep enter gold medal bouts (Mid of April) ▼
  • Meenakshi Goyat added a third silver to India’s tally in the women’s 53kg category at the Senior Asian Wrestling Championships.
  • Meenakshi lost 0-10 against China’s Jin Zhang in the 53-kg final, an Olympic Games weight classification.
  • Monika defeated Hanbit Lee of South Korea 9-0 to win bronze in the women’s 65kg category.
  • Harshita defeated Sevinchoy Polvonova 5-0 to win bronze in the women’s 72kg category.
  • India’s overall medals tally stands at three silver and seven bronze medals.
  • Sujeet (65kg) defeated Abdulmazhid Kudiev of Tajikistan 7-2 in the semi-final and will face Umidjon Jalolov of Uzbekistan in the final.
  • Abhimanyou (70kg) defeated defending champion Ernazar Akmataliev of Kyrgyzstan 6-3 and will face Tumur Ochir of Mongolia in the final.
  • Sandeep Mann (79kg) defeated Somonjon Ikromov of Tajikistan 10-0 in the semi-final and will face Japan’s Keyvan Gharehdaghi in the gold medal bout.
  • Vicky will contest for bronze in the 97kg category after losing 0-2 to Amirali Azarpira of Iran in the semi-final.
  • Ankush will challenge Fuga Sasaki of Japan for bronze in the men’s 57kg freestyle.
Vijender Singh appointed to Asian Boxing Council (Mid of January) ▼
  • Vijender Singh has been appointed as a member of the Asian Boxing Council.
  • He thanked the Boxing Federation of India for entrusting him with this responsibility.
  • Vijender remains one of India’s most recognisable sporting figures, having won a historic bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Triumphal Arch design unveiled on 10 April

[United States]

Key Updates:

  • The U.S. administration unveiled drawings for a 250-foot Triumphal Arch across the Potomac River on 10 April.
  • The project is intended to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States in July.
  • The Commission on Fine Arts (CFA) is the federal design panel responsible for considering the project's design.
  • The U.S. Treasury Department announced that President Trump's signature will appear on all future U.S. paper currency, marking the first time for a sitting president.
  • The U.S. Treasury Department will produce a $1 coin and a 24-karat gold commemorative coin featuring President Trump's portrait.
  • The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was renamed the Trump-Kennedy Centre in 2025.
  • The Campaign Legal Center (CLC) filed a complaint regarding corporate donations to projects including the White House ballroom and the Trump-Kennedy Centre.
  • Federal law requires a recommendation from the interior secretary or the General Services Administration (GSA) for new commemorative works in the area.

Similar Coverage

Trump's $400 million White House ballroom project faces design criticism (End of March) ▼
  • The New York Times published a critique of President Donald Trump's planned $400 million White House ballroom on Sunday.
  • The 90,000-square-foot ballroom is set to be more than three times the size of the White House.
  • Design flaws highlighted include fake windows on the north side, columns blocking interior views, stairs leading nowhere, and an oversized rooftop.
  • White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, 28, criticised the article and its authors on platform X.
  • Leavitt stated the ballroom will be privately funded and claimed President Trump and his lead architect have built world-class buildings globally.
  • Trump demolished the historic East Wing in October 2025 despite earlier promises to leave it untouched.
  • The National Capital Planning Commission is scheduled to vote on the ballroom project on April 2.
  • About 98 percent of 32,000 public comments received by the Commission oppose the ballroom construction.
  • James McCrery II was removed as chief architect in December after raising concerns over the ballroom's size.
United States to print banknotes bearing sitting President Donald Trump’s signature for 250th anniversary (End of March) ▼
  • President Donald Trump will become the first sitting US president to have his signature appear on US banknotes.
  • Trump’s signature will be printed alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s signature.
  • The first $100 bills with the new signatures will be issued in June 2026.
  • The move marks America’s 250th anniversary and ends the 1861 tradition of featuring only the US treasurer’s signature.
First-ever life-size Swami Vivekananda statue unveiled in Seattle (Mid of April) ▼
  • The first-ever life-size statue of Swami Vivekananda in the United States was unveiled at Westlake Square in downtown Seattle.
  • The bronze statue was sculpted by Indian artist Naresh Kumar Kumawat and gifted by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) to the City of Seattle.
  • Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and Consul General of India in Seattle Prakash Gupta jointly unveiled the statue.
  • The unveiling ceremony was held on the occasion of ICCR Day and is part of India's cultural diplomacy initiatives to strengthen India-US people-to-people ties.
  • Westlake Square, where the statue is installed, sees over 400,000 visitors daily and is located near the Amazon headquarters 'Spheres', the Seattle Convention Centre, and the Seattle Centre Monorail.

Himachal Day observed on April 15

[Himachal Pradesh]

Key Updates:

  • Himachal Day is observed on April 15 every year to commemorate the formation of Himachal Pradesh in 1948.
  • Himachal Pradesh was formed on April 15, 1948, by integrating 30 erstwhile princely states.
  • It became a full-fledged state on January 25, 1971, becoming the 18th state of India.

Similar Coverage

India rejects China’s renaming of places in Arunachal Pradesh (Mid of April) ▼
  • The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) dismissed China’s assignment of new names to locations within Indian territory as mischievous attempts that carry no legitimacy.
  • Official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India categorically rejects any fictitious names assigned by China to places in Arunachal Pradesh.
  • The MEA emphasised that Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India.
Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram Statehood Day celebrated on February 20 (End of February) ▼
  • Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram celebrate their Statehood Day on February 20 every year.
  • The article marks 12 years of transformative change in both states since 2015-16.
  • Arunachal Pradesh recorded a 166% increase in GSDP since 2015-16.
  • Mizoram maintained an average annual real GSDP growth of 10.1% between 2012 and 2022.
PM Modi inaugurates and flags off projects worth Rs 5,450 crore in Assam (Mid of February) ▼
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Assam and launched development projects worth over Rs 5,450 crore aimed at improving connectivity, digital infrastructure, higher education, and urban mobility in the North-East.
  • He landed at the Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on the Moran Bypass in Dibrugarh, the first such dual-use facility in the North-East, developed with the Indian Air Force (IAF) to handle fighter aircraft up to 40 tonnes and transport aircraft up to 74 tonnes.
  • PM Modi inspected the newly built Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu, a six-lane extradosed PSC bridge across the Brahmaputra, constructed at a cost of approximately Rs 3,030 crore, reducing travel time between Guwahati and North Guwahati to seven minutes.
  • He inaugurated the National Data Centre for the North-Eastern Region at Amingaon in Kamrup district, with a sanctioned load of 8.5 MW and average rack capacity of 10 kW, to host mission-critical government applications and serve as a Disaster Recovery centre.
  • PM Modi inaugurated the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Guwahati, adding to higher education infrastructure in the North-East.
  • He flagged off 225 electric buses under the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme, with 100 for Guwahati, 50 each for Nagpur and Bhavnagar, and 25 for Chandigarh, expected to benefit over 50 lakh citizens.

Pohela Boishakh 2026 falls on April 15

[West Bengal]

Key Updates:

  • Pohela Boishakh 2026 will be celebrated on April 15.
  • The Sankranti Moment on Pohela Boishakh is 09:39 AM on April 14, according to Drik Panchang.
  • Pohela Boishakh marks the first day of the Bengali month of Boishakh and symbolises new beginnings, prosperity, and cultural pride.
  • Emperor Akbar introduced a revised calendar combining the Islamic lunar calendar with the Hindu solar calendar to align tax collection with the agricultural harvest season, creating the Fasholi Shan or harvest calendar.
  • Businesses open new account books called 'Haal Khata' on Pohela Boishakh.

Similar Coverage

Rongali Bihu (Assamese New Year) celebrated on April 5, 2026 (Start of April) ▼
  • Rongali Bihu, also known as Bohag Bihu, was celebrated across Assam on April 5, 2026, marking the Assamese New Year.
  • The festival signifies the onset of the spring season and is traditionally linked with the agricultural sowing period.
  • Cultural traditions include the performance of Bihu dance and Bihu geet (songs) along with community feasts.
  • The Gamocha, or Bihuwaan, is used as a primary symbol of respect and affection during the exchange of greetings.
  • Traditional attire worn during the festival includes the Mekhela Chador made of Muga silk, Pat, or cotton.
  • Assam celebrates three types of Bihu: Rongali (Bohag) in April, Kati (Kongali) in October, and Magh (Bhogali) in January.
Baisakhi observed on 14 April 2026 (Mid of April) ▼
  • 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.
Narendra Modi pledges global recognition for Assam's culture (Mid of January) ▼
  • Narendra Modi declared his commitment to ensuring Assam’s cultural heritage receives global recognition.
  • Modi attended the Bagurumba Dwhou event in Guwahati and praised the Bagurumba dance as a living celebration of Bodo traditions.
  • He accused previous Congress governments of neglecting Bodoland and encouraging illegal infiltration for vote bank politics.
  • Modi highlighted the transformation of Assam under BJP governance, attributing peace to the Bodo Peace Accord.
PANCHAM Chatbot and Rural Governance Initiatives Launched by MoPR (End of January) ▼
  • The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) will launch the PANCHAM – Panchayat Assistance and Messaging Chatbot, developed in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
  • MoPR will release the 17th issue of Gramoday Sankalp magazine and the Compendium of Basic Statistics on Panchayati Raj Institutions–2025.
  • The Ministry will introduce the Expert Committee Report on Service Delivery at the Panchayat Level and the PESA Performance and Implementation Rank Indicators.
  • Around 240 panchayat heads, including Sarpanches, Mukhiyas, and Gram Pradhans, will be felicitated for achieving saturation in flagship Central Government schemes.
  • The MoPR tableau for the Republic Day Parade 2026 is themed SVAMITVA Scheme: Aatmanirbhar Panchayat se Samriddh evam Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
  • Nearly 450 special guests, including heads of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Rural Local Bodies (RLBs), will attend the Republic Day celebrations at Kartavya Path.
  • Prizes and certificates will be awarded to winners of the Know Your Constitution Quiz and Essay Competition organised as part of Constitution Day–2025.

Bohag Bihu (Rongali Bihu) celebrated on April 14, 2026

[Assam]

Key Updates:

  • Bohag Bihu, also known as Rongali Bihu, is a major festival celebrated in the state of Assam to mark the beginning of the New Year.
  • The festival signifies the start of the harvesting season and the first day of the Hindu solar calendar.
  • The celebration officially marks the beginning of the spring season and lasts for a duration of seven days.
  • The traditional Bihu dance is a central feature of the festival, performed by both men and women in traditional attire such as dhotis, gamosas, and sarees.
  • Jalpaan, a light breakfast consisting of rice, curd, and jaggery, is a primary ritualistic meal during the celebration.
  • The festival comprises several distinct stages including Raati Bihu, Chot Bihu, Goru Bihu, Manuh Bihu, Kutum Bihu, Mela Bihu, and Chera Bihu.
  • Goru Bihu is a stage dedicated to the agricultural heritage of Assam and the importance of cattle.
  • Manuh Bihu commemorates the start of the Vaishakh month in the Hindu calendar, during which younger people seek blessings from elders.
  • Kutum Bihu, observed on the second day, involves visiting relatives and loved ones for lunch and dinner.
  • Chera Bihu, also referred to as Bohagi Bidai, marks the final day of the Rongali Bihu celebrations.

Similar Coverage

Rongali Bihu (Assamese New Year) celebrated on April 5, 2026 (Start of April) ▼
  • Rongali Bihu, also known as Bohag Bihu, was celebrated across Assam on April 5, 2026, marking the Assamese New Year.
  • The festival signifies the onset of the spring season and is traditionally linked with the agricultural sowing period.
  • Cultural traditions include the performance of Bihu dance and Bihu geet (songs) along with community feasts.
  • The Gamocha, or Bihuwaan, is used as a primary symbol of respect and affection during the exchange of greetings.
  • Traditional attire worn during the festival includes the Mekhela Chador made of Muga silk, Pat, or cotton.
  • Assam celebrates three types of Bihu: Rongali (Bohag) in April, Kati (Kongali) in October, and Magh (Bhogali) in January.
PM Modi to launch Assam Mala 3.0 road projects and PM-KISAN 22nd instalment (Mid of March) ▼
  • PM Modi will perform bhoomi poojan of Assam Mala 3.0 road projects worth over ₹3,200 crore in Kokrajhar district.
  • Under Assam Mala 3.0 more than 900 kilometres of roads will be constructed across Assam.
  • Modi will release the 22nd instalment of PM-KISAN scheme to over 9.3 crore farmers from Guwahati.
  • Eligible farmers receive ₹2,000 directly into their bank accounts under PM-KISAN.
Baisakhi observed on 14 April 2026 (Mid of April) ▼
  • 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.
Assam Govt announces Rs 50 Cr grant to preserve Darrang Koch dynasty heritage (Start of February) ▼
  • Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a Rs 50 crore grant for preserving the heritage of the Darrang kings of the Koch dynasty.
  • The grant was announced during the 516th Biswa Mahabir Chilarai Divas celebrations held at Pipora Dookan in Darrang district.
  • The Chief Minister directed the Darrang district administration and the Public Works Department to immediately implement the heritage preservation project.
  • A 37-foot-high statue of 8th century Koch king Maharaj Krishnanarayan was unveiled at the event.
  • Chilarai Bhawans at Mangaldoi and Golaghat were virtually inaugurated during the programme.
  • Land allotment and construction of an office for the All Assam Koch Rajbongshi Sanmilani at Amingaon were also announced.

Sindhi Bhasha Diwas observed on 10 April 2026

Key Updates:

  • Sindhi Bhasha Diwas is observed annually on 10 April.
  • Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, the Vice-President of India, released the updated version of the Constitution of India in the Sindhi language on 10 April 2026.
  • The updated Constitution was released in two formats: the first edition in Devanagari script and the second edition in Persian script.
  • The Legislative Department of the Ministry of Law and Justice prepared the updated versions through the Regional Languages Officers in the Official Languages Wing.
  • Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice, highlighted the inclusion of the Sindhi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
  • Former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee was recognised for his pioneering efforts in including the Sindhi language in the Eighth Schedule.
  • The event was attended by Shri Vasudev Devnani, the Speaker of the Rajasthan Assembly, and Shri Shankar Lalwani, Member of Parliament (MP).
  • Dr. Rajiv Mani serves as the Secretary of the Legislative Department under the Ministry of Law and Justice.

Similar Coverage

Constitution of India released in Tamil and Gujarati on International Mother Language Day (End of February) ▼
  • Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan released updated versions of the Constitution of India in Tamil and Gujarati at Uprashtrapati Bhavan on International Mother Language Day.
  • The 8th Edition of the Legal Glossary (English–Hindi) was also released alongside the constitutional translations.
  • In the past decade, the Constitution was officially translated for the first time into Bodo, Dogri and Santhali.
  • Last year, the Constitution was released in Nepali for the Nepali-speaking population of India.
  • The Legal Glossary aims to make legal terminology accessible to lawmakers, students, judicial officers, researchers, translators and policymakers.
Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan released 16 Publications Division books on Tamil civilization. (Start of March) ▼
  • Vice-President of India Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan released 16 books on Tamil civilization at Uparashtrapati Bhavan.
  • The books were published by the Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
  • The volumes cover themes including Rameswaram, Sri Ramanuja, Nadukal tradition, Arikamedu, Bhakti literature, natural farming, ancient Tamil instruments, folk deities, Meenakshi Amman Temple, Brihadeesvara Temple, Manimekalai, and Mahavidwan Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai.
  • A trilingual book on Bankim Chandra Chatterjee was also released in Tamil, English, and Hindi.
  • The Vice-President highlighted Tamil freedom fighters Pulithevar, Velu Nachiyar, Veerapandiya Kattabomman, Ondiveeran, Thiruppur Kumaran, Theeran Chinnamalai, Kuyili, Sundaralinganar, and the Marudhu Brothers.
Gujarat UCC report emphasises equal rights, women protection and cultural diversity (Mid of March) ▼
  • The high-level committee on Uniform Civil Code (UCC) for Gujarat submitted its final report to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in Gandhinagar.
  • The committee was headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai.
  • The report suggested a common legal framework for all religions and communities on marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption.
  • The committee prepared the report after detailed study and district visits to collect public opinion.
President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated centenary celebrations of Ol Chiki script. (Mid of February) ▼
  • President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the centenary celebration of the Ol Chiki script organised by the Ministry of Culture (MoC).
  • Ol Chiki script was invented in 1925 by Pandit Raghunath Murmu for the Santhali language.
  • Santhali language was included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India in 2003.
  • President released a commemorative coin and postage stamp to mark 100 years of Ol Chiki.
  • President felicitated 10 achievers from the Santal community for promoting Ol Chiki script.
  • Constitution of India was officially translated into Santhali language in Ol Chiki script and released by President in December 2025.

Doordarshan and ICCR sign MoU for global cultural outreach on April 7

[Doordarshan, Indian Council for Cultural Relations]

Key Updates:

  • Doordarshan (Prasar Bharati) and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on April 7 at Doordarshan Bhawan in New Delhi.
  • The agreement was signed by Doordarshan Director General K. Satish Nambudiripad and ICCR Director General K. Nandini Singla.
  • The partnership aims to strengthen India’s cultural diplomacy by showcasing cultural programmes through television, radio, Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms, and social media.
  • The MoU will remain in force for a duration of three years, with the possibility of extension by mutual consent.
  • The agreement establishes joint ownership of content rights in perpetuity, including digital rights, for both organisations.

Similar Coverage

Delhi–Prasar Bharati MoU to build integrated media hub (End of March) ▼
  • The Delhi government signed a memorandum of understanding with Prasar Bharati to develop Delhi as a major media and entertainment industry hub.
  • The agreement was signed between Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) and Prasar Bharati at Bharat Mandapam on the sidelines of the International Film Festival Delhi (IFFD).
  • The project envisions a state-of-the-art integrated film, television, and media hub combining film production, television, and animation, visual effects, gaming, and comics (AVGC) on a single platform.
  • Modern studios, post-production facilities, and AVGC hubs will be developed with emphasis on skill development, training, and innovation.
  • A joint coordination committee comprising representatives from both sides will oversee planning, financing, and implementation.
  • Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra stated that a forthcoming film policy will offer subsidies for shoots in the city and focus on new technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Ministry of Culture–YouTube MoU to digitally upskill Indian folk artists (End of March) ▼
  • The Ministry of Culture (MoC) and YouTube signed an MoU on 25 March 2026 to train folk, tribal and traditional artists in digital content creation, intellectual property rights, monetisation and audience engagement.
  • YouTube will act as knowledge partner and host specialised training sessions with IGNCA, Sangeet Natak Akademi, National School of Drama (NSD), zonal cultural centres and Kalakshetra Foundation.
  • The initiative will provide recording equipment where feasible, co-develop localised educational material and identify mentors through MoC’s autonomous institutions.
  • A joint task force under the MoC will guide execution and impact assessment of the programme focused on the folk music creative economy.
  • Last year 15 per cent of content created on YouTube in India was watched by global audiences.
ASSOCHAM and ICCC sign MoU to strengthen India-Canada business collaboration (Mid of March) ▼
  • The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and the Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) signed an MoU on Monday during the India-Canada Business Roundtable held in New Delhi.
  • The MoU provides a framework for collaboration to strengthen trade, investment, and economic cooperation between members of both organisations.
  • Both organisations will facilitate exchange of information on trade policies, economic laws, and investment opportunities in India and Canada.
  • Joint initiatives under the MoU include trade missions, business delegations, exhibitions, seminars, conferences, and workshops.
  • Notable attendees included Anil K Agarwal (Past President & Chairman, ASSOCHAM International Council), Kam Rathee (Chair of the Advisory Board, ICCC), Prashant Srivastava (President, ICCC), Kunwar Shekhar Vijendra (Chairman, ASSOCHAM National Council on Education), Ed Jager (Trade Commissioner, High Commission of Canada to India), and Nina Tangri (Associate Minister of Small Business, Government of Ontario).
Upgraded Indian Culture Portal launched with AI chatbot 'Bharti' (Start of March) ▼
  • Ministry of Culture (MoC) Secretary Vivek Aggarwal launched the upgraded Indian Culture portal in New Delhi on 06-03-2026.
  • The portal features an AI-powered chatbot named 'Bharti' integrated with the Government of India's Bhashini platform to respond in 22 Indian languages.
  • It offers 46 curated cultural categories and new sections such as Iconic Battles of India, Folktales of India, Healing Through the Ages, Legendary Figures of India, and Classical Dances of India.
  • The upgraded portal functions as a Progressive Web App (PWA) enabling app-like access across devices without app store downloads.
  • It includes 3D walkthroughs and 360-degree virtual tours of heritage monuments and interactive cultural games, quizzes, puzzles, and crosswords for all age groups.

World Parkinson’s Day 2026: Theme 'Bridge the Care Gap'

Key Updates:

  • World Parkinson’s Day 2026 theme is 'Bridge the Care Gap'.
  • Early-onset Parkinson’s disease (EOPD) accounts for roughly 5–10% of global cases according to a 2025 review in The Lancet Neurology.
  • The Lancet Neurology review highlighted increasing identification of EOPD in younger working-age adults.

Similar Coverage

World Homoeopathy Day 2026 observed on April 10 with theme 'Homoeopathy for Sustainable Health' (Mid of April) ▼
  • World Homoeopathy Day 2026 was observed by the Ministry of Ayush at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on April 10, 2026.
  • The theme for 2026 was 'Homoeopathy for Sustainable Health'.
  • The day marks the birth anniversary of Dr Samuel Hahnemann.
  • Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav highlighted the role of research institutions Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH), and National Institute of Homoeopathy (NIH).
  • Secretary Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha mentioned initiatives like the Ayush Grid for digital integration of the Ayush ecosystem.
Japan becomes first country to approve stem-cell therapies for Parkinson’s disease and severe heart failure. (Start of March) ▼
  • Japan’s health ministry granted manufacturing and marketing approval to Amchepry, Sumitomo Pharma’s iPS cell-based therapy for Parkinson’s disease.
  • The ministry also approved ReHeart, heart muscle sheets developed by medical startup Cuorips, to restore heart function in severe heart failure patients.
  • Both products are expected to reach patients as early as summer 2026, making them the world’s first commercially available treatments using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.
  • Amchepry received conditional and time-limited approval under Japan’s fast-track system that relies on smaller patient datasets than standard drug trials.
  • A Kyoto University-led trial of Amchepry involved seven Parkinson’s patients aged 50-69 who received five million or ten million iPS-derived dopamine precursor cells implanted bilaterally in the brain.
  • During the two-year follow-up no major adverse effects were reported and four of the seven patients showed symptomatic improvement.
World Autism Awareness Day 2026 theme 'Autism and Humanity – Every Life Has Value' (Start of April) ▼
  • World Autism Awareness Day is observed on 2 April every year.
  • The 2026 theme is 'Autism and Humanity – Every Life Has Value'.
  • April is observed as World Autism Acceptance Month by the National Autistic Society.
World Health Day 2026: Together for health. Stand with science (Start of April) ▼
  • World Health Day is observed every year on April 7.
  • World Health Day 2026 theme is 'Together for health. Stand with science'.
  • The World Health Organization (WHO) was founded on April 7, 1948.
  • The first World Health Day was marked by WHO in 1950.