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Tuesday, Apr 21

Daily Current Affairs: 21 April 2026

Analysis for 21 April 2026

3D Glass Solutions establishes India's first 3D semiconductor packaging unit in Odisha

[Odisha]

Key Updates:

  • The foundation stone for India's first advanced 3D semiconductor packaging unit was laid at Info Valley in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
  • The project is developed by 3D Glass Solutions with an investment of nearly ₹2,000 crore.
  • The facility is expected to produce 70,000 glass panels annually and millions of advanced semiconductor units.
  • Commercial production is expected to begin by 2028, with full-scale operations targeted by 2030.
  • The initiative is part of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).
  • The unit will cater to sectors including data centres, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, telecommunications, automotive technologies, aerospace, and defence systems.

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India’s First Chip Fabrication Plant – Rs 91,000 Cr Investment (Mid of April) ▼
  • The Ministry of Commerce and Industry notified a special economic zone (SEZ) for Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing Private Limited at Dholera, Gujarat.
  • Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing Private Limited proposes an investment of Rs 91,000 crore to set up India’s first chip fabrication unit.
  • The SEZ will cover 66.166 hectares and is expected to generate employment for 21,000 persons.
  • The SEZ is designed to support electronic hardware, software and IT‑enabled services, with dedicated infrastructure and an approval mechanism.
  • The government amended SEZ rules in June 2025, reducing the minimum contiguous land requirement for semiconductor SEZs from 50 hectares to 10 hectares.
  • Four additional semiconductor and electronics component SEZ proposals have been approved: Micron Semiconductor Technology India Pvt Ltd (Rs 13,000 crore, assembly‑testing‑packaging in Sanand, Gujarat), Aequs Group (electronic component manufacturing in Dharwad, Karnataka), Kaynes Semicon Ltd (Rs 681 crore, assembly‑testing‑packaging), and CG Semi Ltd (Rs 2,150 crore, assembly‑testing‑packaging).
Odisha to develop National UAV Test and Innovation Corridor (End of January) ▼
  • Odisha government will establish a National UAV Test and Innovation Corridor.
  • The corridor is intended to create a dedicated airspace for testing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
  • It aims to foster innovation and attract drone manufacturers to the state.
L&T Vyoma inks MoU with Gujarat govt to explore 250 MW green AI-ready data centre at Dholera SIR (End of February) ▼
  • Larsen and Toubro (L&T) Vyoma signed an MoU with the Gujarat Department of Science and Technology during the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.
  • The MoU envisages a 250 MW high-scale, green AI-ready data centre at Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR).
  • L&T Vyoma will invest ₹25,000 crore and aims to operationalise the facility by 2028.
  • The company will conduct a detailed feasibility assessment covering land suitability, infrastructure readiness, availability zones and sustainability parameters.
  • The Government of Gujarat will facilitate the project through its relevant departments.
  • The initiative aligns with the Gujarat IT/ITeS Policy (2022-27) and seeks to position Gujarat as a hub for AI infrastructure, cloud computing and advanced analytics.
  • Gujarat’s Budget has allocated over ₹850 crore for AI and digital governance initiatives.
PM Modi inaugurates Kaynes Technology OSAT facility in Gujarat, pushes full-stack Indian semiconductor ecosystem (Start of April) ▼
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility of Kaynes Technology in Sanand, Gujarat.
  • The Kaynes plant has been built at an estimated cost of Rs 3,300 crore in Sanand GIDC.
  • Intelligent Power Modules produced at the facility will be supplied to a California-based company and a large share of output is booked for export.
  • India’s current global semiconductor market stands at Rs 4.5 lakh crore with a target of reaching Rs 9 lakh crore by 2030.
  • India is a member of the US-led Pax Silica initiative and has launched the National Critical Minerals Mission.
  • The government has announced a Rs 1,500-crore scheme for mineral recycling and a Rare Earth Corridor connecting Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

India and Republic of Korea (ROK) target $50 billion bilateral trade by 2030

[South Korea]

Key Updates:

  • India and the Republic of Korea (ROK) aim to increase bilateral trade from $27 billion to $50 billion by 2030.
  • The two nations decided to upgrade the India-Korea trade agreement by next year.
  • An India-Korea financial forum, an industrial cooperation committee, and an economic security dialogue focused on critical technologies and supply chains will be launched.
  • The India-Korea digital bridge was launched to deepen partnerships in Artificial Intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and information technology.
  • A Korean industrial township will be established to facilitate the entry of Korean Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) into India.
  • The ROK formally joined the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
  • India signed to join the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI).
  • A comprehensive framework for partnership in shipbuilding, shipping, and maritime logistics was signed.
  • Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed for cooperation in the field of ports and for technology and trade for steel supply chains.
  • The two leaders agreed to hold leader-level meetings annually.
  • Meetings of joint commissions led by foreign, finance, and science and technology ministers will be held this year.

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Commerce Ministry data shows China overtakes US as India's largest trading partner in FY26 (Mid of April) ▼
  • Bilateral trade between India and China reached USD 151.1 billion in FY26.
  • India's trade deficit with China widened to USD 112.16 billion in FY26.
  • The United States was India's largest trading partner for four consecutive years until FY25.
  • India's exports to China rose 36.66 per cent to USD 19.47 billion in FY26.
  • India's imports from China increased 16 per cent to USD 131.63 billion in FY26.
  • The trade deficit with China swelled to an all-time high of USD 112.6 billion in FY26, up from USD 99.2 billion in FY25.
  • India's outbound shipments to the United States grew 0.92 per cent to USD 87.3 billion in FY26.
  • India's imports from the United States increased 15.95 per cent to USD 52.9 billion in FY26.
  • India's trade surplus declined to USD 34.4 billion in FY26 from USD 40.89 billion in FY25.
  • China was India's top trading partner from FY13-14 to FY17-18 and again in FY20-21.
  • Before China, the United Arab Emirates was India's largest trading partner.
  • The United States has been India's largest partner since FY21-22.
  • Negative export growth in FY26 was recorded with the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Australia, France, South Africa and Malaysia.
  • Positive export growth in FY26 was recorded with the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Nepal, Brazil, Spain, Belgium and Vietnam.
  • Negative import growth in FY26 was recorded with Russia, Iraq, Indonesia, Australia, Qatar and Taiwan.
  • Positive import growth in FY26 was recorded with the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Singapore, Japan, Korea, Germany, Thailand and Malaysia.
US President Donald Trump raises tariffs on South Korean imports to 25% (End of January) ▼
  • US President Donald Trump announced an increase in tariffs on South Korean imports from 15% to 25% across automobiles, lumber, pharmaceuticals and other reciprocal tariffs.
  • South Korea exported goods worth about $123 billion to the US last year, with car exports accounting for about $30 billion.
  • South Korea’s Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan will visit Washington to meet US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
  • The October deal included South Korea’s pledge to invest $350 billion in the US, partly in shipbuilding.
  • The agreement was submitted to South Korea’s National Assembly on 26 November and is likely to be passed in February.
Ministry of Commerce signs terms of reference to launch PTA with Philippines and FTA with Maldives (Mid of March) ▼
  • India signed terms of reference with the Philippines for a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and with the Maldives for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
  • India’s exports to the Philippines rose 3.11 per cent to USD 2.16 billion in 2024-25, while imports dipped 17.8 per cent to USD 1.17 billion.
  • India’s exports to the Maldives dipped 37.11 per cent to USD 56.88 million in 2024-25, while imports rose 37.14 per cent to USD 118.82 million.
  • The AITIGA Joint Committee has met 11 times; the next review meeting is scheduled for 30-31 March 2026.
  • India-Korea CEPA review began in 2016 and has completed 11 negotiation rounds, the latest in Seoul in July 2024.
  • India has ongoing trade negotiations with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Canada, Australia, Sri Lanka, Peru, Chile, Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and Israel.
  • India signed FTAs with the UK and Oman last year and announced completion of negotiations with the EU and New Zealand.
Ministry of Commerce (MoC) records $27.10 billion merchandise trade deficit for February 2026 (Mid of March) ▼
  • India’s merchandise trade deficit widened to $27.10 billion in February 2026, compared with $14.42 billion in the same month of the previous year.
  • Merchandise exports for February 2026 stood at $36.61 billion, while imports were recorded at $63.71 billion.
  • The cumulative merchandise exports for the April–February 2025–26 period reached $402.93 billion, marking a 1.84% increase from $395.66 billion in the corresponding period last year.
  • The trade deficit for February 2026 narrowed from the $34.68 billion deficit recorded in January 2026.
  • Trade Secretary Rajesh Agrawal stated that exports to West Asia have been impacted by regional conflict and the government is considering support measures for Middle East exports.
  • India has increased its procurement of Russian oil this month to manage volatility in global energy markets.
  • Potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz could impact approximately half of India’s monthly imports, particularly oil and energy-linked shipments.

Geomysore Services India Pvt Ltd develops Jonnagiri gold mine in Andhra Pradesh

Key Updates:

  • The Jonnagiri project in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, is India’s first large-scale private gold mine since Independence.
  • Developed by Geomysore Services India Pvt Ltd, the project is scheduled to begin operations in early May.
  • The mine spans nearly 598 hectares across Jonnagiri, Erragudi, and Pagidirayi villages with investments exceeding ₹400 crore.
  • The project has certified gold resources of 13.1 tonnes, with exploration indicating a potential increase to 42.5 tonnes.
  • At peak capacity, the mine is expected to produce up to 1,000 kg of refined gold annually over the next 15 years.
  • India currently imports over 800 tonnes of gold annually, while Hutti Gold Mines produces approximately 1.5 tonnes per year.
  • The National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) Ltd has focused on overseas gold assets following the closure of Kolar Gold Fields in 2000.
  • The World Gold Council (WGC) reported that gold Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) recorded net inflows of ₹22.7 billion in March and record inflows of ₹316 billion in the first quarter.
  • Total gold ETF holdings rose to 115 tonnes.

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Union Cabinet approves National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) with ₹16,300 crore expenditure and ₹18,000 crore expected investment. (Mid of April) ▼
  • The Union Cabinet approved the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) with an expenditure of ₹16,300 crore and an expected investment of ₹18,000 crore by public sector undertakings (PSUs) and other stakeholders.
  • Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the mission in the Union Budget 2024-25.
  • The NCMM will cover exploration, mining, processing, and recycling stages of the value chain.
  • The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has 195 ongoing exploration projects in FY 2024-25 and plans 227 projects for FY 2025-26.
  • Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL) has acquired 15,703 hectares in Argentina’s Catamarca province for lithium exploration and mining.
  • The government removed customs duties on most critical minerals in the Union Budget 2024-25.
National District Mineral Foundation Summit 2026 to boost development in mining-affected districts (End of March) ▼
  • Union Minister of Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy inaugurated the two-day National District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Summit 2026 at SCOPE Convention Centre, New Delhi.
  • The Summit titled Effective Utilisation of District Mineral Funds for ADP/ABP Areas is organised by the Ministry of Mines (MoM).
  • Union Minister of State for Coal & Mines Satish Chandra Dubey and Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Piyush Goyal, attended the event.
  • The Summit aims to strengthen inter-governmental coordination and identify policy reforms for improving effective and outcome-oriented utilisation of DMF funds in mining-affected districts, particularly in Aspirational District Programme (ADP) and Aspirational Block Programme (ABP) areas.
  • Senior officials from Central Ministries, State Governments, District Administrations, NITI Aayog, and other stakeholders are participating to deliberate on challenges, best practices, and reform measures related to DMF planning, implementation, and monitoring.
  • A Concept Note was shared with DMF States, 306 DMF districts in ADP/ABP areas, and NITI Aayog in January 2026, followed by a virtual national consultation and state-level deliberations.
  • States submitted summarised inputs highlighting key challenges, actionable recommendations, and examples of effective DMF-funded interventions, which informed a Comprehensive Final Note serving as the principal reference document for Summit deliberations.
  • The Summit will focus on effective fund utilisation in ADP/ABP areas, covering governance, transparency, convergence, impact assessment, and performance, with presentations by State representatives, NITI Aayog, and BiSAG-N.
  • A DMF Exhibition on the sidelines showcases successful projects and best practices funded through DMF resources across States, featuring initiatives in health, nutrition, water supply, education, skill development, livelihoods, renewable energy, and infrastructure.
Rare Earth Corridors Scheme: Government support for mining, processing and manufacturing of critical minerals in coastal states (Start of February) ▼
  • Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced government backing for rare earth corridors in Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in Budget 2026 on February 1.
  • The corridors will integrate mining, processing, research and manufacturing of critical minerals.
  • Beach sand deposits in these coastal states contain 13.15 million tonne monazite with 7.23 million tonne in-situ rare earth elements oxide and 1.18 million tonne thorium oxide as on January 29, 2026, according to Department of Atomic Energy data.
  • A scheme for rare earth permanent magnets launched in November 2025 provides an early framework for downstream manufacturing.
India’s First Tailings Policy for Critical Minerals Recovery (End of January) ▼
  • The Ministry of Mines announced India’s first tailings policy to set guidelines for exploration of critical minerals from primary as well as secondary sources like mine dumps and tailings of existing mines.
  • Indian Bureau of Mines, Central Mine Planning & Design Institute and Atomic Minerals Directorate are to conduct sample analysis of dumps and tailings of all existing mines to identify quantity and likely availability of critical and strategic elements.
  • The policy aims to frame a roadmap for recovery of critical minerals from tailings, ensuring increased domestic production and reduced import dependency.

Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) releases FDI equity inflow data for April-December FY26

[Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), Singapore]

Key Updates:

  • The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) reported total foreign direct investment (FDI) equity inflows of $47.87 billion for April-December FY26.
  • Singapore was the top source of FDI equity inflows at $17.6 billion, accounting for a 37% share of the total.
  • The United States (US) and Mauritius were the second and third largest sources, contributing $7.8 billion (16%) and $4.8 billion (10%) respectively.
  • Japan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were also among the top five investor countries.
  • FDI from the Cayman Islands rose to $2 billion from $422 million in 2024.
  • Cyprus invested $1.4 billion compared to $1.2 billion in 2024, while inflows from Luxembourg rose to $545 million from $352.67 million.
  • Investments from China were $6.49 million in 2025, up from $3.73 million in 2024, whereas inflows from Hong Kong fell to $61.4 million from $87.7 million.
  • Computer Software & Hardware was the most attractive sector with $10.7 billion (22% share), followed by the Services Sector (Financial, Banking, and R&D) at 18%.
  • Maharashtra received the highest state-wise inflows at $15.38 billion, followed by Karnataka at $11.15 billion.

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Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) record Rs 22,615 crore inflow in February 2026 (Start of March) ▼
  • Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) infused Rs 22,615 crore into Indian equities in February 2026, the highest monthly inflow in 17 months.
  • FPIs had pulled out Rs 35,962 crore in January 2026, Rs 22,611 crore in December 2025 and Rs 3,765 crore in November 2025.
  • Net FPI withdrawal from Indian equities in 2025 stood at Rs 1.66 lakh crore (USD 18.9 billion).
  • Financial and capital goods sectors attracted significant FPI investment, while the IT sector saw outflows of Rs 10,956 crore.
  • The February inflow was driven by the interim India-US trade deal, correction in domestic market valuations and 14.7 per cent growth in Q3 FY26 corporate earnings.
  • Rupee stability below Rs 91 to the dollar and improving GDP growth prospects support positive FPI sentiment for FY27.
Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) eases FDI rules for firms with up to 10% Chinese shareholding. (Mid of March) ▼
  • Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) notified that overseas companies with Chinese shareholding up to 10% can invest in India through the automatic route, subject to sectoral limits and conditions.
  • The relaxation does not apply to entities incorporated in China, Hong Kong or other countries sharing land borders with India.
  • Earlier, foreign firms with any shareholding link to such nations required mandatory government approval for investments across sectors.
  • The term 'beneficial owner' will carry the same meaning as defined under Section 2(1)(fa) of the Prevention of Money-laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
  • Under PMLA rules, controlling ownership interest refers to entitlement to more than 10% of shares, capital or profits in a company.
  • Investments from entities having any direct or indirect ownership link with citizens or firms from land-bordering nations will have to follow additional reporting requirements under the standard operating procedure prescribed by DPIIT.
  • The decision to ease the norms was cleared by the Union Cabinet last week.
  • The government had earlier tightened the FDI policy through Press Note 3 (2020) on April 17, 2020, to prevent opportunistic takeovers of Indian companies during the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • DPIIT indicated that proposals for FDI from these countries in specified sectors will be considered under an expedited approval mechanism with a 60-day timeline.
  • Countries sharing land borders with India include China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar and Afghanistan.
  • China currently ranks 23rd in FDI equity inflows into India, accounting for 0.32% share, or USD 2.51 billion, between April 2000 and December 2025.
Commerce Ministry data shows China overtakes US as India's largest trading partner in FY26 (Mid of April) ▼
  • Bilateral trade between India and China reached USD 151.1 billion in FY26.
  • India's trade deficit with China widened to USD 112.16 billion in FY26.
  • The United States was India's largest trading partner for four consecutive years until FY25.
  • India's exports to China rose 36.66 per cent to USD 19.47 billion in FY26.
  • India's imports from China increased 16 per cent to USD 131.63 billion in FY26.
  • The trade deficit with China swelled to an all-time high of USD 112.6 billion in FY26, up from USD 99.2 billion in FY25.
  • India's outbound shipments to the United States grew 0.92 per cent to USD 87.3 billion in FY26.
  • India's imports from the United States increased 15.95 per cent to USD 52.9 billion in FY26.
  • India's trade surplus declined to USD 34.4 billion in FY26 from USD 40.89 billion in FY25.
  • China was India's top trading partner from FY13-14 to FY17-18 and again in FY20-21.
  • Before China, the United Arab Emirates was India's largest trading partner.
  • The United States has been India's largest partner since FY21-22.
  • Negative export growth in FY26 was recorded with the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Australia, France, South Africa and Malaysia.
  • Positive export growth in FY26 was recorded with the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Nepal, Brazil, Spain, Belgium and Vietnam.
  • Negative import growth in FY26 was recorded with Russia, Iraq, Indonesia, Australia, Qatar and Taiwan.
  • Positive import growth in FY26 was recorded with the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Singapore, Japan, Korea, Germany, Thailand and Malaysia.
Ministry of Finance reports FDI equity inflow in banking sector fell to $115 million in FY25 (Mid of February) ▼
  • Foreign direct investment (FDI) equity inflow in the banking sector dropped from $898 million in FY23 to $115 million in FY25.
  • Total FDI inflow comprises equity inflow, equity capital of unincorporated bodies, re-invested earnings, and other capital.
  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Master Directions require its prior approval for any share acquisition giving a person 5% or more of a bank’s paid-up capital.
  • Foreign holding in State Bank of India (SBI) stood at 11.07% at end-March 2025, the highest among public sector banks.
  • Canara Bank recorded 10.55% foreign holding, Bank of Baroda 9.43%, Union Bank of India 7.48%, and Punjab National Bank 5.85% at end-FY25.
  • Under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), over 56.31 crore loan accounts amounting to ₹37.31 lakh crore have been disbursed as on 2 January 2026.
  • Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has disgorged ₹665.26 crore through enforcement orders against unregistered investment advisers since 2024.

SBI Research projects India GDP growth between 6.8% and 7.1% for FY27

[State Bank of India (SBI)]

Key Updates:

  • SBI Research projects India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth between 6.8% and 7.1% for FY27.
  • India's growth for FY26 is estimated at 7.6%.
  • For FY27, inflation is projected to average 4.5% and the fiscal deficit is estimated between 4.5% and 4.6%.
  • The report identifies the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) GIFT City as a stable global financial destination.
  • Indian airports may emerge as alternative transit hubs due to airspace risks over parts of the Middle East and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is expected to maintain its current monetary policy status quo.

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Asian Development Bank (ADB) raises India FY27 growth forecast to 6.9% (Mid of April) ▼
  • 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.
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.
Moody's Ratings projects India GDP growth at 7.3% for FY26 (End of January) ▼
  • Moody's Ratings forecasts India's economy to grow by 7.3% in FY 2025-26, up from 6.5% the previous year.
  • India's GDP per capita rose 8.2% year-on-year to $11,176 in FY 2024-25 while headline GDP grew 6.5%.
  • Total insurance premium revenue increased 17% to Rs 10.9 lakh crore in April-November 2025-26, with health premiums up 14% and life new business premiums climbing 20%.
  • The government has raised the foreign investment limit in Indian insurance companies to 100% of capital from 74%.
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.

Vishwa Sutra launched to promote Indian handlooms globally

Key Updates:

  • The Ministry of Textiles launched the ‘Vishwa Sutra – Weaves of India for the World’ initiative.
  • The initiative was developed by the Office of the Development Commissioner Handlooms in collaboration with the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT).
  • A designer collection based on the initiative was presented at the 61st Femina Miss India held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
  • The initiative aims to present Indian handlooms in a contemporary global design framework.
  • It brings together 30 distinct handloom weaves from across the country, each representing a different state, reinterpreted with design inspirations from 30 countries.
  • The initiative highlights the vision of Vocal for Local to Global and the Prime Minister’s 5F framework: Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign.

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Textile Ministry Survey unveils domestic textiles market size at Rs 14.95 lakh crore in 2024 (Start of April) ▼
  • Textiles market size grew from Rs 4.89 lakh crore in 2010 to Rs 14.95 lakh crore in 2024 at 8.3% CAGR.
  • Man-made fibre (MMF) and blended products account for 52.2% of the product basket.
  • Cotton-based products contribute 41.2%, silk 5.2%, and woollen 1.3%.
  • Household sector contribution rose from Rs 4.18 lakh crore in 2010 to Rs 8.77 lakh crore in 2024.
  • Per capita demand increased from Rs 2,119 in 2010 to Rs 6,066 in 2024, marking 7.8% CAGR.
  • Women consumers drive 55.5% of textile purchases against 44.5% by men.
  • Sustainable textiles demand reached Rs 37,000 crore in 2024, with reused/retailored items forming 58%.
  • Rural households consume 58% of technical textiles, urban 42%.
RISA: Timeless Tribal launched to globalise tribal crafts (Mid of March) ▼
  • Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) launched 'RISA: Timeless Tribal' brand at Sunder Nursery to position tribal crafts in premium global markets.
  • Brand name 'RISA' is derived from 'Risa', a traditional handwoven textile of Tripura.
  • First phase covers 10 clusters featuring Eri and Muga silk of Assam, Santal cotton of Jharkhand, Changpa Pashmina of Ladakh, Kotpad cotton of Odisha, Dongria and Toda embroidery of Odisha and Tamil Nadu, and handicrafts Dokhra metal art, Longpi pottery, and Turtuk brassware.
  • Designers Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, Manish Tripathi, Anju Modi, Gaurav Jai Gupta, and Sameera Dalvi onboarded to reposition tribal products in luxury markets.
  • Initiative includes design intervention, capacity building with skill training, infrastructure development of weaving clusters and finishing units, and eco-friendly premium packaging designed by National Institute of Design (NID) Haryana.
Giriraj Singh launched Bharat Tex as Union Minister of Textiles. (Mid of March) ▼
  • Giriraj Singh holds the post of Union Minister of Textiles.
  • He launched Bharat Tex, a global textile event aimed at positioning India as a leading textile, apparel, and fashion hub.
  • Bharat Tex brings together manufacturers, exporters, designers, buyers, and technology providers across the textile value chain.
  • The event showcases India’s capabilities in textile manufacturing, technical textiles, and sustainable fabric and apparel production.
  • It aims to foster industry-wide innovation, international research partnerships, and business linkages for Indian textile exporters.
Giriraj Singh releases report on India's textile recycling market. (Mid of March) ▼
  • Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh released the report titled 'Mapping of Textile Waste Value Chain in India'.
  • The report projects India's textile recycling market to reach USD 3.5 billion by 2030.
  • The report estimates the market could generate around one lakh green jobs.
  • India generates approximately 70.73 lakh tonnes of textile waste annually.
  • Panipat is emerging as a major hub for mechanical textile recycling.

Delhi Semiconductor Policy: Aimed at Investment and Employment

[Delhi]

Key Updates:

  • The Delhi government is drafting the Delhi Semiconductor Policy to position the capital as a hub for semiconductor design, advanced research and development, and assembly and allied activities.
  • The policy is aligned with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).
  • The policy is structured around five key pillars: semiconductor design and intellectual property development; research, development and innovation; manufacturing-enabling activities including Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging (ATMP) and Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Testing (OSAT) along with ancillary industries; talent development and skilling; and strengthening of the startup and industrial ecosystem.
  • The framework envisages financial and non-financial incentives, capital subsidies, and infrastructure development to promote ease of doing business and attract private investment.
  • The policy aims to generate high-quality job opportunities in the fields of chip design, semiconductor research, and advanced packaging.

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Department of Commerce notifies special economic zone for Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing at Dholera (Mid of April) ▼
  • The Department of Commerce notified a special economic zone for Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing Pvt Ltd at Dholera, Gujarat.
  • Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing has proposed an investment of ₹91,000 crore to set up India's first chip fabrication unit.
  • The SEZ will be established on 66.16 hectares of land.
  • The project is expected to generate 21,000 jobs.
  • The government reduced the minimum contiguous land requirement for semiconductor and electronics component sectors from 50 hectares to 10 hectares.
  • Five new SEZs for the sectors have been notified, including CG Semi with a proposed investment of ₹2,150 crore.
  • The notified SEZs also include Kaynes Semicon with a proposed investment of ₹681 crore.
  • Micron Semiconductor Technology India is among the notified SEZs with a proposed investment of ₹13,000 crore.
  • Hubballi Durable Goods Cluster is among the notified SEZs with a proposed investment of ₹100 crore.
India’s First Chip Fabrication Plant – Rs 91,000 Cr Investment (Mid of April) ▼
  • The Ministry of Commerce and Industry notified a special economic zone (SEZ) for Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing Private Limited at Dholera, Gujarat.
  • Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing Private Limited proposes an investment of Rs 91,000 crore to set up India’s first chip fabrication unit.
  • The SEZ will cover 66.166 hectares and is expected to generate employment for 21,000 persons.
  • The SEZ is designed to support electronic hardware, software and IT‑enabled services, with dedicated infrastructure and an approval mechanism.
  • The government amended SEZ rules in June 2025, reducing the minimum contiguous land requirement for semiconductor SEZs from 50 hectares to 10 hectares.
  • Four additional semiconductor and electronics component SEZ proposals have been approved: Micron Semiconductor Technology India Pvt Ltd (Rs 13,000 crore, assembly‑testing‑packaging in Sanand, Gujarat), Aequs Group (electronic component manufacturing in Dharwad, Karnataka), Kaynes Semicon Ltd (Rs 681 crore, assembly‑testing‑packaging), and CG Semi Ltd (Rs 2,150 crore, assembly‑testing‑packaging).
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.
Gujarat Government signs MoU with Allegiance International for Indo-Taiwan Industrial Park with ₹1,000 Crore FDI (Mid of April) ▼
  • 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.

Technology and Policy Expert Committee (TPEC) for AI Governance Support

[Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)]

Key Updates:

  • The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has constituted the Technology and Policy Expert Committee (TPEC).
  • The TPEC is an advisory body designed to provide specialised technical, policy, and strategic expertise to the AI Governance and Economic Group (AIGEG).
  • The TPEC is chaired by the Secretary of MeitY.
  • The committee comprises experts from academic research, the technology industry, and digital policy.
  • The TPEC will provide expert inputs on policy design, regulatory measures, and India's engagements in AI governance across global forums.
  • The AIGEG is responsible for setting the strategic direction and coordinating policy across the government.

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AI Governance and Economic Group (AIGEG) formed for national AI strategy (Mid of April) ▼
  • The Centre announced the formation of the AI Governance and Economic Group (AIGEG) to lead the national AI governance strategy.
  • AIGEG is a high-level inter-ministerial body designed to coordinate the development of AI policy across central ministries and institutions.
  • The body is chaired by Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, with Jitin Prasada, Minister of State for Electronics & IT and Commerce & Industry, serving as Vice Chairperson.
  • Members of AIGEG include the Principal Scientific Advisor, the Chief Economic Advisor, and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog.
  • The body includes secretaries from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Department of Telecommunications, Department of Economic Affairs, Department of Science and Technology, and a representative of the National Security Council Secretariat.
  • The Technology and Policy Expert Committee (TPEC) will support AIGEG by providing expert advisory on global developments, emerging technologies, risks, and regulation.
  • The mandate of AIGEG includes reviewing existing AI mechanisms, studying regulatory gaps, issuing compliance guidelines for firms, and developing a roadmap for AI deployment over the next decade.
  • The AI Safety Institute is designated as the main body responsible for guiding the safe and trusted development and use of AI in India.
  • AI governance guidelines released by MeitY in November last year suggested amending the Information Technology (IT) Act to classify AI systems, create an India-specific risk assessment framework, and establish a national database for AI-related security incidents.
IndiaAI Startups Global Acceleration Programme (ISG) selects 10 startups for Paris residency (Mid of April) ▼
  • The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) announced the selection of 10 startups for the second cohort of the IndiaAI Startups Global Acceleration Programme (ISG).
  • The ISG is developed in collaboration with HEC Paris and Station F, Paris, which is the world's largest startup campus.
  • The programme is a component of the IndiaAI Mission's Startup Financing Pillar and aligns with the National AI Strategy.
  • Selected startups will undergo a three-week online preparatory phase followed by a three-month immersive residency at Station F in Paris.
  • The 10 selected startups are: AI Health Highway India Pvt Ltd (AI-enabled smart stethoscope), Awiros (Vision AI platform), Cognecto (AI-driven infrastructure intelligence), Flaunt (Multimodal AI agents for beauty, fashion, and digital marketing), GreenFi.ai/Climateforce Technologies Pvt Ltd (ESG compliance and risk management), Infiheal Healthtech Pvt Ltd (AI mental health companion 'Healo'), InLustro Learning Pvt Ltd (AI-powered job simulation platform), PredCo (AI compliance for manufacturing), SkyServe/Hyspace Technologies Pvt Ltd (AI infrastructure for Earth and space monitoring), and TestAIng Solutions Pvt Ltd (QA and compliance for responsible AI).
Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) outlay raised to ₹40,000 crore (Start of March) ▼
  • Union Budget 2026-27 increased the outlay for the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS) to ₹40,000 crore to deepen domestic electronics manufacturing capacity.
  • NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery met Tata Electronics MD & CEO Randhir Thakur to discuss scaling electronics production, strengthening resilient supply chains and enhancing India’s participation in global value chains.
  • The policy push aligns with the government’s atmanirbhar Bharat drive in the semiconductor and electronics space.
  • India’s electronics production has risen nearly six-fold in the past eleven years, creating 25 lakh jobs and establishing the country as a major electronics-manufacturing hub.
India AI Impact Summit 2026 releases AI Impact Startup Book mapping 100 deep-tech innovators (Mid of February) ▼
  • The AI Impact Startup Book was launched on the third day of the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
  • The compendium maps 100 high-impact AI-driven solutions across sectors, technologies and geographies.
  • AI innovation is expanding beyond healthcare into foundation models, indigenous AI infrastructure, waste-tech, voice- and vision-based Indian applications, and edge AI integrated with hardware.
  • Nearly 47% of early-stage ventures retain strong local presence, while about 68% of growth-stage startups operate internationally.
  • Shri Abhishek Singh, Director General of NIC, Additional Secretary at Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and CEO of IndiaAI, called the book a repository for ministries and states to evaluate and scale AI solutions.
  • Sushant Kumar, Founder and CEO of Kalpa Impact, highlighted eight insights, noting India is building its own foundation models, AI infrastructure and edge innovation.

Vishwa Sutra launched to promote Indian handlooms globally

[Ministry of Tourism (MoT)]

Key Updates:

  • The Ministry of Textiles (MoT) launched the ‘Vishwa Sutra – Weaves of India for the World’ initiative to promote Indian handlooms globally.
  • The initiative was developed by the Office of the Development Commissioner Handlooms in collaboration with the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT).
  • A designer collection based on the initiative was presented at the 61st Femina Miss India held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
  • The initiative features 30 distinct handloom weaves representing different states, reinterpreted with design inspirations from 30 countries.
  • The project aligns with the Government's vision of Vocal for Local to Global and the Prime Minister’s 5F framework: Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign.

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National Arogya Fair 2026 to promote Ayush medicine systems and farmer livelihoods (End of February) ▼
  • President Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate the National Arogya Fair 2026 at Visava Maidan of Sant Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan in Shegaon, Buldhana, Maharashtra on February 25.
  • The fair is organised by the Ministry of Ayush (MoA) in collaboration with All India Ayurvedic Congress from February 25 to 28.
  • Free health check-ups, consultations and medicines will be provided across Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homoeopathy systems.
  • Farmers from Buldhana district will be encouraged to adopt agroforestry and medicinal plant cultivation for sustainable income.
  • A special programme on 'Ayurvedic Farming, Production and Marketing' is scheduled on February 27 at 3 pm at Visava premises.
National Arogya Fair 2026 inaugurated in Shegaon to promote AYUSH systems (End of February) ▼
  • President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the National Arogya Fair 2026 on 26 February 2026 at Shegaon in the Buldhana district of Maharashtra.
  • The President felicitated six senior Vaidyas during the event in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the field of traditional Indian medicine.
  • The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) has aligned research and drug development guidelines with international standards to enhance global credibility.
  • The fair highlighted the role of AYUSH systems, including Ayurveda, Yoga, and Siddha, in supporting public health and complementing modern medicine.
  • The President emphasised that the cultivation of medicinal plants boosts the incomes of farmers and supports soil conservation while ensuring sustainable raw materials for medicines.

South Korea and India hold summit in New Delhi to boost economic ties

[South Korea]

Key Updates:

  • South Korean President Lee Jae Myung visited New Delhi for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
  • This is the first South Korean presidential state visit to India in eight years.
  • The two countries are seeking to improve their Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
  • The bilateral trade target is to nearly double to $50 billion by 2030, up from $25.7 billion last year.
  • Key areas for cooperation include shipbuilding, artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, finance, and defence.
  • South Korea requested India to expand naphtha supplies to mitigate potential disruptions caused by Middle East tensions.
  • India accounted for approximately 8% of South Korea's naphtha imports last year.
  • According to the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), South Korea had a trade surplus of $12.8 billion last year, with exports worth $19.2 billion and imports of $6.4 billion.

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India and China Hold First Bilateral SCO Consultations on 16-17 April (Mid of April) ▼
  • India and China conducted their first Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) bilateral consultations on 16-17 April following the resolution of the eastern Ladakh military standoff in 2024.
  • Both delegations met with the Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Sibi George, to review cooperation in security, trade, connectivity, and people-to-people ties.
  • The two sides discussed the implementation of decisions made by SCO leaders and the future course of the organisation.
  • China has pledged support for the ongoing BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) presidency held by India.
  • The Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, is expected to visit India for the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting scheduled for 14-15 May.
  • The President of China, Xi Jinping, is anticipated to travel to India in September for the BRICS summit.
  • India reiterated that the original objectives of the SCO are to combat terrorism, radicalisation, and extremism.
  • India emphasised that regional connectivity initiatives must uphold the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity as enshrined in the SCO charter.
US President Donald Trump raises tariffs on South Korean imports to 25% (End of January) ▼
  • US President Donald Trump announced an increase in tariffs on South Korean imports from 15% to 25% across automobiles, lumber, pharmaceuticals and other reciprocal tariffs.
  • South Korea exported goods worth about $123 billion to the US last year, with car exports accounting for about $30 billion.
  • South Korea’s Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan will visit Washington to meet US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
  • The October deal included South Korea’s pledge to invest $350 billion in the US, partly in shipbuilding.
  • The agreement was submitted to South Korea’s National Assembly on 26 November and is likely to be passed in February.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend G7 summit in France from 15-17 June (End of March) ▼
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed his participation in the G7 summit scheduled in France from 15 to 17 June.
  • External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot welcomed Modi’s confirmation during their meeting on the sidelines of the G7 foreign ministers' meeting at Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay.
  • France highlighted India’s contribution to G7 work on macroeconomic imbalances and international partnerships, noting India’s current BRICS presidency.
  • Jaishankar and Barrot agreed to continue close coordination to ensure safety of the Strait of Hormuz amid West Asia conflict-related energy disruptions.
  • French President Emmanuel Macron and PM Modi, during Macron’s 17-19 February India visit, elevated bilateral ties to a 'Special Global Strategic Partnership' and jointly inaugurated the 2026 India-France Year of Innovation in Mumbai.
India participates as partner country in G7 Foreign Ministers meeting in France (End of March) ▼
  • External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar represented India at the Group of 7 (G7) foreign ministers' meeting held at Abbaye des-Vaux-de-Cernay, France.
  • France, the current chair of the G7, invited India, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Brazil to attend the meeting as partner countries.
  • The EAM addressed the concerns of the Global South regarding energy challenges, fertiliser supplies, food security, and the cascading fallout of the West Asian conflict.
  • India highlighted the urgent need for United Nations Security Council (UNSC) reforms, streamlining peacekeeping operations, and strengthening humanitarian supply chains.
  • The EAM emphasised the importance of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and the utility of India's free trade agreements with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the United Kingdom (UK), and the European Union (EU).
  • India and France agreed to continue close coordination to jointly work towards ensuring the security of the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed his participation in the annual G7 summit scheduled to take place in Evian, France, from 15 June to 17 June.
  • The EAM held bilateral talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
  • Additional meetings were held with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Japan Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, and Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira.
  • The G7 comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the United States (US), and the EU.
  • The meeting acknowledged India's current role as the holder of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) presidency.

India and Russia sign Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS) in February 2025

[Russia]

Key Updates:

  • India and Russia signed the Indo-Russian Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS) in February 2025.
  • The RELOS pact came into force on January 12 and was ratified by Russia in December 2025.
  • The agreement allows up to 3,000 troops, five warships, and ten aircraft to be simultaneously stationed in the partner country.
  • The pact is valid for a period of five years and can be extended for another five years if both parties agree.
  • The agreement provides reciprocal access to military facilities, including airbases and ports, granting India access to Russian naval and air bases in the Arctic.
  • The scope of the pact includes joint military exercises, training, humanitarian missions, disaster relief operations, and coordinated missions.
  • Logistics support for warships includes port access, repair services, and the supply of water, food, and technical resources.
  • Support for military aircraft includes air traffic control, aeronautical data, processing of flight requests, use of military navigation systems, parking, and security.
  • Aviation fuel, lubricants, special fluids, and restoration of malfunctioning equipment will be provided on a reimbursable basis.
  • The agreement aims to enhance interoperability between the armed forces and boost defence cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and Arctic regions.

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India Ministry of Defence signs Rs 858 crore contracts for Tunguska missile system and P8I aircraft maintenance (End of March) ▼
  • The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed contracts worth a total of Rs 858 crore to enhance the air and maritime defence capabilities of India.
  • A contract valued at Rs 445 crore was signed with JSC Rosoboronexport, Russia, for the Tunguska Air Defence Missile System.
  • The Tunguska system is intended to strengthen multi-layered air defence against aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles.
  • A maintenance contract worth Rs 413 crore was executed with Boeing India Defense Pvt Ltd for the P8I Long-Range Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft.
  • The P8I aircraft contract involves 100% indigenous content for depot-level maintenance to ensure in-country upkeep for the Indian Navy.
  • The agreements were signed at Kartavya Bhawan-2 in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.
  • The P8I maintenance initiative aligns with the Make-in-India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat programmes of the government.
India and Greece sign Joint Declaration of Intent to strengthen defence industrial cooperation (Start of February) ▼
  • India and Greece signed a Joint Declaration of Intent to strengthen defence industrial cooperation.
  • The agreement was signed after bilateral talks between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Greek counterpart Nikolaos-Georgios Dendias at the Manekshaw Centre.
  • The declaration will pave the way for developing a five-year roadmap for India-Greece defence partnership.
  • Greece will position an International Liaison Officer at the Information Fusion Center-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), Gurugram, to enhance maritime cooperation.
  • A Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan for 2026 was exchanged to chart military engagements between the armed forces of both countries.
  • Both ministers reaffirmed that the India-Greece Strategic Partnership is based on shared values of peace, stability, freedom, and mutual respect.
  • The countries agreed to expand their indigenous defence industries through partnership between India’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and Greece’s ‘Agenda 2030’ defence reforms.
India and European Union sign new security and defence partnership (End of January) ▼
  • India and the European Union (EU) have signed a security and defence partnership pact focusing on maritime domain cooperation and Indo-Pacific engagements.
  • The partnership will facilitate stronger participation of the Indian defence industry in the European market.
  • An industry-led India-EU Defence Industry Forum will be established with official participation as observers and associating EU member states.
  • A dedicated annual EU-India Security and Defence Dialogue has been announced.
  • Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the Indian defence industry can contribute meaningfully to the EU's 'ReArm initiative' aimed at diversifying suppliers and de-risking dependencies.

India and Austria enhance bilateral ties during Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker's visit from 14 to 18 April 2026

[Austria]

Key Updates:

  • Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker visited India from 14 to 18 April 2026, marking the first visit by an Austrian Chancellor in 40 years.
  • The visit represents the first visit to Asia for Chancellor Stocker.
  • India and Austria expanded cooperation in the nursing sector and academic research through a partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi).
  • Bilateral trade between India and Austria is valued at $3 billion.
  • The visit follows the India-European Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement of 2026.
  • Chancellor Stocker was accompanied by a high-level delegation including Economy and Energy Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer.

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Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) and Austria launch Fast-Track Mechanism (FTM) to enhance bilateral trade (Mid of April) ▼
  • India and Austria signed and operationalised the FTM during the India-Austria Business Forum held in New Delhi.
  • The event marked the first official visit by an Austrian Chancellor to India in over four decades.
  • The FTM serves as a dedicated platform for Austrian and Indian investors to resolve operational challenges and improve the ease of doing business.
  • Union Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted reindustrialisation and advanced manufacturing as key drivers for the national economy.
  • Federal Chancellor of Austria, H.E. Dr. Christian Stocker, noted that bilateral trade between the two nations has reached approximately EUR 3 billion.
  • Approximately 160 Austrian firms are currently operating in India.
  • Sustainable development, green technologies, and advanced manufacturing were identified as primary areas for future bilateral cooperation.
  • The proposed India-European Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was cited as a key enabler to create opportunities for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
India and Austria seal 15 deals across defence, counter-terrorism, technology and trade (Mid of April) ▼
  • India and Austria concluded 15 arrangements covering defence, technology, innovation and trade.
  • A Joint Working Group on counter‑terrorism was agreed to be set up between the two countries.
  • A Letter of Intent (LoI) on defence will provide an institutional framework for cooperation in military matters, defence industrial and technology partnership.
  • The defence LoI builds on the India‑European Union (EU) Defence and Security Partnership signed on 27 January 2026.
  • The LoI on counter‑terrorism will advance cooperation and establish a Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted Austria’s tunnelling expertise in projects such as the Delhi Metro and the Atal Tunnel.
  • Modi mentioned collaboration in defence, semiconductors, quantum technology and biotechnology.
India and Spain unveil Dual Year logo and Spain joins Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) (End of January) ▼
  • External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares jointly unveiled the logo for the India-Spain Dual Year of Culture, Tourism and Artificial Intelligence on 21 January 2026 in New Delhi.
  • The unveiling marked 70 years of diplomatic relations between India and Spain.
  • Spain formally acceded to the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) by handing over the signed Declaration of Accession to Jaishankar during the visit.
  • India launched the IPOI in November 2019 at the East Asia Summit in Bangkok, Thailand.
  • Discussions between the ministers covered trade, investment, defence, technology, education and people-to-people ties.
  • Jaishankar thanked Spain for supporting deeper India-European Union cooperation across multiple domains.
India and Israel Upgrade Bilateral Ties to Special Strategic Partnership During Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi's Visit (End of February) ▼
  • PM Narendra Modi concluded a historic two-day visit to Israel, marking the first visit by an Indian leader in nine years.
  • India and Israel agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship to a Special Strategic Partnership.
  • A total of 27 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between the two nations, spanning sectors such as innovation, cultural exchange, manufacturing, and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
  • The two countries announced the establishment of a Critical and Emerging Technology Partnership to deepen cooperation in the technology and innovation sectors.
  • PM Modi and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu committed to finalising a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and holding a government-to-government (G2G) meeting in India.
  • Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and the I2U2 group.
  • PM Modi called on President Isaac Herzog and planted a tree in the Presidential Gardens under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative.
  • The PM visited Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, to pay homage to victims and visited the Book of Names Hall.
  • The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that the leaders explored enhanced cooperation in education, start-ups, quantum computing, and security.

Observer Research Foundation and Research and Information System for Developing Countries launch inaugural BRICS Academic Forum on April 17-18, 2026

[Observer Research Foundation (ORF), Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), BRICS]

Key Updates:

  • The inaugural convening of the BRICS Academic Forum was hosted by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in partnership with the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) on April 17 and 18, 2026, in New Delhi.
  • India assumed the BRICS Chairship on January 1, 2026, with the theme Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.
  • The year 2026 marks two decades since the establishment of BRICS.
  • The BRICS Academic Forum is a Track II platform designed to generate recommendations for leaders ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit.
  • The Forum will host 13 international speakers and multiple convenings across India and abroad in the coming months.
  • Samir Saran serves as the President of ORF and Chair of the BRICS Think Tanks Council, India.
  • Sudhakar Dalela is the Secretary (ER) in the Ministry of External Affairs and India's BRICS Sherpa.

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Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare hosts first BRICS Health Working Group meeting 2026 (Mid of April) ▼
  • The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) chaired the First Health Working Group (HWG) Meeting under the BRICS framework for 2026 in New Delhi.
  • India is the BRICS Chair for 2026, guided by the theme Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.
  • The meeting included delegates from BRICS member countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Indonesia.
  • Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava proposed two new priority areas under India's Chairship: BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyles and Promotion of Mental Health and Wellness.
  • The BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyles focuses on addressing risk factors including unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and harmful use of alcohol.
  • The HWG deliberated on nine priority areas: BRICS TB Research Network, collaboration among BRICS Medical Products Regulatory Authorities, BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for prevention and response to mass infectious diseases, Digital Health Architecture for continuum of care, BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyles, promotion of mental health and wellness, Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM), fight against diseases driven by social determinants of health (DDSDH), and BRICS Network of National Public Health Institutes.
India to host BRICS senior officials meeting bringing Iran and UAE together (Mid of April) ▼
  • India is hosting a BRICS senior officials meeting under its BRICS presidency that will see Iran and the UAE face to face for the first time since the West Asian conflict.
  • The meeting agenda covers broader West Asian and North African issues including Palestine, Syria, Yemen and Lebanon.
  • Iran, the UAE and Saudi Arabia are all BRICS members.
  • BRICS could not issue a statement on the war earlier as consensus eluded it due to differences between Iran and UAE.
  • Egypt, a BRICS member and India's strategic partner, is assisting India to hold the meeting and subsequent events including the foreign ministers' meet in May and the summit in September.
  • Russian support has also been extended to India's BRICS Presidency.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to visit Delhi on 14-15 May for BRICS foreign ministers meeting (Start of April) ▼
  • Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit New Delhi on 14-15 May to attend the BRICS foreign ministers meeting.
  • The meeting will finalise the general outlines of the documents to be submitted to the BRICS summit under India’s 2026 presidency.
  • Lavrov will hold a separate working visit to meet External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and other Indian officials.
Research Advisory Board (RAB) of Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) holds first meeting (End of March) ▼
  • The first meeting of the Research Advisory Board (RAB) of the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) took place to deliberate on national initiatives and governance reforms.
  • The reforms are designed to guide the transformation of BRIC into a cohesive, decentralised national biotechnology laboratory.
  • The RAB is responsible for guiding, reviewing, and monitoring the research activities conducted by BRIC Institutes (iBRIC) and fostering deliberations for developing new missions.
  • Rajesh S Gokhale, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), stated that the RAB should focus on designing mission-focused objectives tailored for a growing bioeconomy.
  • Experts underscored the need to leverage the country’s demographic advantages, biodiversity, and extensive data resources to support the vision of Viksit Bharat.

Blue Origin achieves first landing of reused New Glenn rocket booster

[Blue Origin]

Key Updates:

  • Blue Origin successfully landed the reusable booster of the New Glenn rocket at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
  • The mission was the third for New Glenn and utilised a booster named Never Tell Me the Odds, which had previously flown in November.
  • The rocket carried the BlueBird 7 satellite, owned by AST SpaceMobile, designed for a space-based cellular broadband network.
  • BlueBird 7 is the second satellite in the next-generation Block 2 constellation and features the largest commercial communications array deployed in low-Earth orbit.
  • The BlueBird 7 satellite was placed into a lower than planned orbit and will be de-orbited.
  • Blue Origin announced plans to build a larger and more powerful variant of its rocket called New Glenn 9x4.
  • Blue Origin is developing the Blue Moon lander for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and aims to achieve an uncrewed soft lunar landing, Mark 1, this summer.
  • The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) recently conducted the successful Artemis II lunar flyby.

Similar Coverage

Vast Space to launch world's first private space station Haven-1 in 2027 (Start of February) ▼
  • Vast Space is scheduled to launch Haven-1, the world’s first commercial space station, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in the first quarter of 2027.
  • Vast Space Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Max Haot confirmed the timeline, stating the station relies on existing hardware to avoid development delays.
  • The station is designed as a compact, modular outpost capable of being launched as a single unit.
  • Haven-1 will integrate with the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule to provide essential life-support functions, including oxygen and power.
  • The project follows the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) plan to deorbit the International Space Station (ISS) around 2030.
  • Vast Space has completed the primary structure of the station and plans to conduct a full test campaign with NASA by the end of 2026.
  • NASA intends to transition to privately owned outposts and does not plan to own the next generation of space stations.
European Space Agency (ESA) launches first Celeste satellites from New Zealand to test LEO navigation layer for Galileo (Start of April) ▼
  • The European Space Agency (ESA) launched the first two Celeste satellites aboard a Rocket Lab Electron launcher from New Zealand on 28 March at 10:14 CET.
  • The satellites separated into a quasi-polar low Earth orbit at 510 km and signal acquisition has been confirmed for both spacecraft.
  • Celeste is an in-orbit demonstration mission to assess a complementary LEO layer for Galileo and aims to enable an operational PNT constellation from 2030.
  • The current IOD phase plans 11 satellites in orbit plus one ground spare, totalling 12 satellites to be launched by end-2027.
  • The next nine satellites, scheduled for launch by end-2027, will occupy a 560 km quasi-polar orbit with larger, more advanced payloads and extended frequencies.
  • Two parallel industry consortia lead development: GMV Spain with OHB Germany, and Thales Alenia Space France with Thales Alenia Space Italy, involving over 50 entities.
SpaceX to Launch Falcon 9 with 25 Starlink Satellites from California (Start of February) ▼
  • SpaceX is scheduled to launch a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 25 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
  • According to Indian Standard Time (IST), the launch window is scheduled from 20:47 on February 2, 2026, to 00:47 on February 3, 2026.
  • The mission will utilise a first-stage booster that has already flown 30 times, marking its 31st flight as part of the company’s reusability programme.
  • Following stage separation, the first stage is planned to perform a controlled landing on the Pacific Ocean-based droneship named Of Course I Still Love You.
  • The Falcon 9 is a two-stage reusable rocket whose first stage is propelled by nine Merlin engines using liquid oxygen and rocket-grade paraffin as fuel.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) selects SpaceX Falcon Heavy for ESA Mars Rover Mission (Mid of April) ▼
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has selected the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket to launch the European Space Agency (ESA) Rosalind Franklin rover mission to Mars.
  • The launch is scheduled for late 2028 under the Rosalind Franklin Support and Augmentation (ROSA) project.
  • The launch contract is valued at $175.7 million, which includes the launch service and other mission-related costs.
  • NASA is providing braking engines, electronics, a mass spectrometer, and Radioisotope Heater Units (RHUs) that use the decay of plutonium to generate heat for the rover.
  • The mission was restructured after ESA ended cooperation with Russia, which was originally providing the Proton launch vehicle and landing stage.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launches AI-powered chatbot ABHAY for notice verification

Key Updates:

  • The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will include special QR codes on its notices from May 1 to verify their genuineness.
  • Verification will be conducted through an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot named ABHAY.
  • The ABHAY chatbot is available on the CBI website and checks the agency's database to determine if a document is genuine or forged.
  • The QR codes on the notices will also include the expiry dates of the documents.
  • The initiative was launched by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant at the 22nd D P Kohli Memorial Lecture.

Similar Coverage

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) removes 1.2 lakh misleading finfluencer posts using AI tool Sudarshan (Start of March) ▼
  • Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has removed more than 1.2 lakh misleading social media posts by unregistered financial influencers.
  • SEBI’s in-house AI tool 'Sudarshan' tracks multilingual audio, video, and other content to detect violations.
  • SEBI norms mandate that only entities registered with SEBI can give investment advice.
  • SEBI introduced a pop-up warning that 9 out of 10 investors lose money in options trading.
  • Union Budget raised Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on futures to 0.05% from 0.02% and on options premium to 0.15% from 0.1%.
Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) recognised at Mobile World Congress 2026 for indigenous AI-driven fraud detection solution. (Mid of March) ▼
  • The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) received global recognition at the Mobile World Congress 2026 held in Barcelona, Spain.
  • C-DOT’s indigenous AI-driven fraud detection solution, Fraud Pro, made it a top finalist at the Global Mobile Awards in the category of Best Network Security and Fraud Prevention.
  • The Ministry of Communications stated that the recognition marks India’s growing role in shaping next-generation telecom technologies.
  • The Ministry added that the global acknowledgement highlights India’s capability to develop advanced cybersecurity and fraud prevention solutions for large-scale digital networks.
Razorpay launches AI-powered Agent Studio for payment automation (Mid of March) ▼
  • Razorpay has launched Agent Studio, described as the world’s first artificial intelligence (AI) platform for payments built on Anthropic’s Claude Agent Software Development Kit (SDK).
  • The platform was unveiled at the FTX 2026 event to automate business tasks including dispute resolution, cart recovery, and cash-flow forecasting.
  • Razorpay introduced an Agentic Experience Platform that enables businesses to manage payment operations through natural-language commands instead of traditional dashboards.
  • The AI agents can automatically intervene during abandoned purchases and integrate with third-party platforms such as Shopify, Shiprocket, and WhatsApp.
  • The company is integrating these capabilities into in-app commerce with partners including Zomato, Swiggy, and PVR Inox.
  • The initiative builds on previous developments with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and technology firms Anthropic and OpenAI.
  • The platform allows businesses to complete onboarding by submitting basic details such as Permanent Account Number (PAN) and website information.
Razorpay and Sarvam AI partner to launch voice-led conversational commerce in India (End of March) ▼
  • Razorpay has partnered with the Artificial Intelligence (AI) startup Sarvam AI to introduce voice-led conversational commerce for India's multilingual population.
  • The technology allows users to search for products, place orders, and complete transactions using natural language and Indian languages.
  • The initiative will first go live on the food delivery platform Swiggy via the Indus App.
  • The partnership integrates Sarvam AI's models and agentic stack with Razorpay's agentic payments infrastructure.
  • Razorpay is also developing AI-powered agents for payments using Anthropic's Claude chatbot to manage tasks like recovering abandoned purchases and resolving disputes.
  • Sarvam AI has partnered with EkStep Foundation and AI4Bharat to roll out multilingual voice AI agents under the Listen at Scale initiative.
  • A pilot of the voice assistant has been introduced on The Derma Co's website, allowing users to buy products using voice commands.

Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL) and Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) Sign MoU for Digital Transformation

[Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL), Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC)]

Key Updates:

  • Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL) and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance digital transformation.
  • The partnership focuses on developing solutions in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), cybersecurity, 5G, and Cloud Computing.
  • The collaboration was announced by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
  • The agreement aims to facilitate the creation of turnkey solutions, technology transfer, and the commercialisation of pioneering products.
  • This alliance is part of the broader Digital India initiative to foster innovation and strengthen digital infrastructure.

Similar Coverage

IIT Kharagpur and Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) Sign MoU for Telecom Research and Innovation (End of February) ▼
  • Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) to collaborate on telecom research, standardisation, and innovation.
  • The agreement aims to align academic research with national priorities in the telecom and information and communication technology (ICT) sectors.
  • The two institutions will jointly work on developing standards and conducting research for next-generation telecom technologies, including 5G and future networks.
  • The collaboration will focus on advanced antenna systems and Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) technologies to support 5G and future wireless networks.
  • The partnership involves work on Passive Optical Network (PON) technologies, including standardising network design, improving deployment models, and evaluating performance.
  • The entities will develop electromagnetic field (EMF) monitoring systems and smart Internet of Things (IoT) solutions using AI-based sensor platforms to improve safety standards.
  • TEC serves as India's national body for telecom standards and represents the country at global forums such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) signs MoU with SASMOS HET Technologies to boost indigenous defence manufacturing (Start of March) ▼
  • Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) signed an MoU with SASMOS HET Technologies Limited to strengthen indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities.
  • The MoU was exchanged between BEL chairman and managing director Manoj Jain and SASMOS chairman and managing director H G Chandrashekar in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
  • The collaboration will focus on localising critical components, increasing domestic value addition and strengthening production capabilities as well as exports.
  • The MoU covers high-reliability photonics and fibre optic systems, avionics and mission-critical electronic systems, aerospace-grade interconnect solutions, electro-mechanical assemblies and sub-systems for airborne, naval and land-based platforms.
  • The partnership aligns with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat initiatives aimed at strengthening domestic manufacturing and defence supply chains.
  • BEL shares ended trading 2% higher at ₹469.60 on the NSE and have given a YTD return of 18%.
Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for telecom and cybersecurity collaboration (Mid of February) ▼
  • The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), Gandhinagar, signed the MoU on February 13, 2026, for collaboration in the telecom and cybersecurity domains.
  • The Ministry of Communication informed that C-DOT will establish an Innovation-cum-Experience Centre at the RRU campus to spearhead research and technology development.
  • The collaboration focuses on critical domains including Cybersecurity, Quantum Technologies, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), Machine-to-Machine (M2M) solutions, 5G networks, and Mission Critical Services.
  • The initiative includes training, capacity-building, and skilling programmes to create an industry-ready workforce.
  • Dr Rajkumar Upadhyay, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of C-DOT, highlighted that the MoU aims for self-reliant innovation in telecom and cybersecurity.
Qualcomm completes 2-nm chip tape-out at Bengaluru Development Centre (Start of February) ▼
  • Qualcomm Technologies announced the tape-out of its 2-nanometre semiconductor design at its Bengaluru Development Centre.
  • Tape-out is the final design stage before sending the chip to a fabrication facility for manufacturing.
  • Union electronics and IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated the next target is to build 2-nanometre fabs in India.
  • The milestone follows the government’s announcement of India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 in Union Budget 2026.
  • Qualcomm’s India president Savi Soin noted the achievement as the outcome of over two decades of sustained effort in India.
  • Qualcomm’s largest engineering workforce outside the US is based in India, contributing across design implementation, validation, system integration, and AI optimisation.
  • Qualcomm president and CEO Cristiano R Amon will keynote the India AI Impact Summit scheduled from 16 to 20 February.

Rathi Steel and Power Limited (RSPL) awarded GreenPro ecolabel certification

[Rathi Steel, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)]

Key Updates:

  • Rathi Steel and Power Limited (RSPL) has been awarded the GreenPro ecolabel certification by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
  • The certification was granted for the Rathi Powertech brand of TMT rebars manufactured at the RSPL unit in Ghaziabad.
  • The GreenPro certification is a Type-1 Ecolabel that specifically covers the Fe 550 Grade of TMT rebars.
  • The certified products provide credits for national and international green building certifications, including Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).

Similar Coverage

Tata Steel signs MoU with University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB) to develop low-carbon steelmaking technologies. (Mid of March) ▼
  • Tata Steel signed the MoU with University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB) in Beijing on Monday.
  • Research teams from Tata Steel, Tata Steel Research and Innovation Limited and USTB will jointly work on scrap-based steelmaking, steel waste valorisation, end-product performance, and carbon capture and utilisation technologies.
  • The collaboration will use USTB's academic expertise and its experimental and pilot-scale facilities to test and scale up technologies for industrial application.
  • Subodh Pandey, Vice President - Technology, R&D, NMB and Graphene, Tata Steel, stated that the partnership aims to co-create technologies advancing Tata Steel’s sustainability goals.
  • Prof Shuqiang Jiao, Vice President of USTB, noted that USTB and Tata Steel share a long-standing partnership and will combine USTB's metallurgy and materials science expertise with Tata Steel's industrial strengths.
Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) becomes India's first ISO 50001:2018-certified water board (Mid of April) ▼
  • The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has become the first water utility board in India to be awarded the internationally recognised ISO 50001:2018 certification.
  • The certification was officially issued on April 14, 2026, by Bureau Veritas to formally recognise the board's energy management systems.
  • The certificate honours the BWSSB for maintaining its bulk water supply pumping stations at international standards across three critical locations: TK Halli, Harohalli, and Tataguni.
  • In 2025, the BWSSB became the first water board in India to receive the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification for its piped drinking water supply management system.
Bank of Baroda (BoB) raises ₹10,000 crore via 7-year green infra bonds at 7.10% coupon. (Start of March) ▼
  • Bank of Baroda (BoB) issued its first 7-year green infra bond, raising ₹10,000 crore at a coupon of 7.10%.
  • The issue received bids totalling ₹16,000 crore, allowing full utilisation of the ₹5,000 crore green-shoe option over the base ₹5,000 crore target.
  • Proceeds will finance renewable energy projects—wind, solar, hydro, bioenergy—and energy-efficient infrastructure projects.
  • The bonds were subscribed by domestic institutional investors including life insurance companies, pension and provident funds.
  • Rating agencies Care and ICRA assigned AAA rating to the bond issue.
  • Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) withdrew its proposed ₹8,000 crore NCD issue (₹2,000 crore base plus ₹6,000 crore green-shoe) due to investor-demand mismatch for the 3-year 4-month tenor.
  • SIDBI’s withdrawal is rare and highlights weaker appetite for short-tenor AAA paper at expected fine pricing versus long-duration bonds.
Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL) obtains Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) approval for high-strength steel grades (Mid of March) ▼
  • The Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL) has obtained an extension of its certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
  • The new approval includes four advanced steel grades: ISC 440 LA, ISC 470 LA, ISC 510 LA, and ISC 550 LA.
  • The existing BIS licence for the plant previously covered steel grades only up to ISC 410.
  • The certification standardises High Strength Low Alloy (HSLA) cold-rolled steel produced at the plant under the IS 513 (Part 2) framework.
  • These HSLA grades are designed to meet nationally recognised quality benchmarks for use across critical industrial sectors.

French Institute in India and Paralympic Committee of India launch Para Élan

[Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), International Federation of Inventors' Associations (IFI)]

Key Updates:

  • The French Institute in India (IFI) and the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) launched Para Élan, a three-year initiative for inclusive education through para sports.
  • The programme aims to engage 10,000 students from Indian partner schools to promote inclusion, resilience, equality, and excellence.
  • The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by PCI Vice-President Satya Prakash Sangwan and IFI Country Director Gregor Trumel.
  • The launch event was hosted by French Ambassador Thierry Mathou.

Similar Coverage

Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) forms sub-committee to review private health insurance ecosystem (Start of April) ▼
  • Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has constituted a sub-committee under its Insurance Advisory Committee to undertake a comprehensive review of India’s private health insurance ecosystem.
  • The panel will examine coverage, claims experience, product design, grievance redressal mechanisms, and overall consumer experience.
  • It will recommend regulatory, policy, and operational measures to drive innovation, expand coverage, and improve financial protection for policyholders.
  • The sub-committee will assess healthcare provider networks, hospital tariffs, fraud control mechanisms, and digital infrastructure.
  • It will explore complementarity, portability, and convergence between private health insurance and public health assurance schemes.
  • The panel will incorporate recommendations from working groups set up by the Confederation of Indian Industry, including a joint code of conduct for insurers and healthcare providers and scaling up of the National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX).
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Authorises CRED as Payment Aggregator (Mid of March) ▼
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted final authorisation to CRED (Dreamplug Paytech Solutions Private Limited) to operate as a payment aggregator.
  • The license enables the Bengaluru-based fintech firm to onboard merchants, collect payments on their behalf across instruments, and handle settlements and refunds.
  • CRED and its subsidiaries now hold two RBI authorisations, including the Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) license.
  • The company reported a 16 per cent growth in consolidated operating revenue to ₹2,735 crore in the financial year 2024-25 (FY25).
  • Operating losses for the firm reduced to ₹298 crore in FY25 from ₹609 crore in the previous financial year (FY24).
  • The fintech platform, founded by Kunal Shah, currently maintains a member base of over 1.5 crore.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya delivers keynote at ESIC 75th Year of Service celebrations. (End of February) ▼
  • Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, delivered the keynote address at the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) 75th Year of Service celebrations held at Bharat Mandapam.
  • Ms. Vandana Gurnani, Secretary, Labour & Employment, stated that ESIC has emerged as a cornerstone of India’s social security architecture.
  • ESIC signed an MoU with the National Health Authority to converge the ESI Scheme with Ayushman Bharat–PM-JAY.
  • ESIC signed an MoU with the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) to strengthen quality assurance in laboratories.
ESIC Marks 75th Year of Service with Infrastructure Expansion and NHA-NABL MoUs (End of February) ▼
  • The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) commenced its 75th Year of Service celebrations at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
  • Established in 1952 with 1.2 lakh beneficiaries and one dispensary, ESIC now serves over 15 crore beneficiaries through 166 hospitals, 17 medical colleges, and nearly 1,600 dispensaries.
  • The organisation's footprint currently extends across 713 districts in 36 States and Union Territories (UTs).
  • Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya released a commemorative coin (ESIC@75), the ESIC@75 Coffee Table Book, and launched the Swasthya Rath Initiative.
  • ESIC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Health Authority (NHA) for the convergence of the ESI Scheme with Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).
  • An MoU was signed between ESIC and the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) to improve diagnostic standards and laboratory accreditation.
  • Under the new Labour Codes, ESIC’s mandate includes pan-India coverage and the extension of benefits to unorganised and gig workers.
  • The Ministry of Labour & Employment (MoLE) highlighted that workers aged 40 and above are now mandated to receive annual health check-ups for preventive care.
  • India was recently recognised by the International Social Security Association (ISSA) for excellence in social security administration.
  • ESIC will observe a nationwide Special Services Fortnight from 24 February to 10 March 2026, featuring health camps, preventive screenings, and grievance redressal drives.

World Heritage Day themed "Ancient Art, Modern Challenges: Safeguarding Petroglyphs and Shaping Tourism Circuits in Ladakh"

[Ladakh]

Key Updates:

  • India's first Petroglyph Conservation Park is being established on the banks of the Indus River in Leh, Ladakh.
  • The foundation stone for the park was laid by Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on World Heritage Day.
  • A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for heritage preservation.
  • Nearly 400 sites across Ladakh contain petroglyphs, with isolated carvings along the Indus River and Zanskar River facing significant risk.
  • Some of the oldest petroglyphs in the region contain inscriptions in Sanskrit, Arabic, Chinese, and other ancient languages.
  • The carvings depict early human life, including hunting scenes, animals such as ibex and snow leopards, and Buddhist symbols like stupas.
  • The petroglyphs represent a continuous record of human history from the Palaeolithic Age to later historic periods.
  • These carvings are found in regions including Domkhar, Dah Hanu, Alchi, Chilling, and Tangtse.

Similar Coverage

Ancient rock carvings discovered in Manchirevula rock shelter by Kotha Telangana Charitra Brundam (KTCB) and Climate Front Telangana researchers. (Mid of March) ▼
  • Two petroglyphs carved on a flat rock slab located about 50 feet high inside a rock shelter behind Beerappa Temple in Manchirevula.
  • One carving shows prongs with sharpened tips above a circle and a handle-like shape, interpreted as a trident-circle motif.
  • Researchers state the trident-circle petroglyph resembles the ‘Paanch’ (hand/palm) of the ‘Peeri’ carried during Muharram processions.
  • A second carving depicts the traditional indoor strategy game Daadi Aata, played with 9 pieces (kaayalu), similar to Nine Men's Morris.
  • A comparable Daadi Aata carving exists on Golankonda hill in Alair mandal.
Geological Survey of India (GSI) declares Kalinjar Fort area National Geo-Heritage Site (End of March) ▼
  • The Geological Survey of India (GSI) declared the hill region surrounding Kalinjar Fort in Banda district a National Geo-Heritage Site on 16 March 2026.
  • The site exhibits the Eparchaean Unconformity where 2.5-billion-year-old Bundelkhand granite is overlain by 1.2-billion-year-old Kaimur sandstone.
  • The region lies within the Vindhya Mountain range and contains temples from the Gupta dynasty including the Neelkanth Mahadev temple.
  • GSI installed an information board at the site to highlight its geological importance and historical relevance.
Indian Scientists Trace Ladakh Magmatic Arc Formation to Neo-Tethys Subduction (End of March) ▼
  • Indian scientists traced the Ladakh magmatic arc formation to subduction of the Neo-Tethys Oceanic Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate.
  • The magmatic arc developed prior to the Indian-Eurasian plate collision and produced extensive igneous rocks now dominating the Ladakh region.
  • Study indicates the arc’s evolution contributed crucially to early Himalayan orogeny, crustal growth and mountain uplift.
  • Variations in magma composition and timing revealed by the research provide clues on tectonic processes and geodynamic evolution of the northwestern Himalaya.
Alwar to Host NCR’s First Biological Park with 400 Wild Animals, 81 Species (End of January) ▼
  • The biological park will cover the region from Kati Ghati to Jaisamand and be built on 100 hectares, with 30% developed as a zoo and 70% as green space.
  • A high-tech animal rescue centre modelled on Gir National Park and a modern veterinary hospital will be established within the park.
  • The park will display over 400 wild animals of 81 species, including giraffes from Africa, seven tiger species, lions and cheetahs, alongside lion, tiger and herbivore safaris.
  • A butterfly park showcasing various butterfly species will also be created inside the biological park.

International Day for Monuments and Sites observed on April 18

Key Updates:

  • The International Day for Monuments and Sites, also referred to as World Heritage Day, is observed on April 18.
  • The observance was first proposed by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) during a symposium in Tunisia on April 18, 1982.
  • The General Assembly of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) approved the proposal in 1983 during its 22nd session.
  • The date April 18 marks the anniversary of the Second International Congress of Architects and Technicians of Historic Monuments held in Venice in 1964.
  • The Venice Charter, which established fundamental international principles for the conservation and restoration of monuments and sites, was adopted during the 1964 Venice congress.
  • The event is supported by national committees in over 100 countries.

Similar Coverage

World Art Day observed on April 15 (Mid of April) ▼
  • World Art Day is observed on April 15.
  • The global observation celebrates culture, creativity, and artistic expression worldwide.
  • Science Central museum in Fort Wayne, Indiana, hosted a celebration to explore the intersection of art and science.
  • Local artists featured during the Science Central celebration included Eduar Paz, Ally Peck, Angelina Dolores Possemato, Bonnie “BonJo” Andrews, Megan Wiegand, and Kyla Covington.
World Heritage Day observed on April 18 (Mid of April) ▼
  • World Heritage Day, also known as the International Day for Monuments and Sites, is observed every year on April 18.
  • The theme for 2026 is Emergency Response for Living Heritage in Contexts of Conflicts and Disasters.
  • The day was established by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) in 1982 and later approved by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
  • India is home to numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Taj Mahal and the Ajanta Caves.
World Theatre Day 2026 observed on March 27 with theme 'Theatre and a Culture of Peace' (End of March) ▼
  • World Theatre Day 2026 is observed on March 27.
  • The theme for 2026 is 'Theatre and a Culture of Peace'.
  • World Theatre Day was established in 1962 by the International Theatre Institute (ITI).
  • Willem Dafoe delivers the international message for 2026.
Global Tourism Resilience Day observed on February 17 (Mid of February) ▼
  • Global Tourism Resilience Day is observed annually on February 17.
  • The day was established by a United Nations General Assembly resolution led by Jamaica and first celebrated on February 17, 2023.
  • The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary-General praised Jamaica’s leadership in initiating the day.
  • Over 90 countries have supported the Global Tourism Resilience Day initiative.

Oscar Schmidt Dies, Brazilian Basketball Legend

Key Updates:

  • Oscar Schmidt, a Brazilian basketball icon, passed away on 17 April 2026 at the age of 68 in Santana de Parnaíba, Brazil.
  • He is the all-time leading scorer at the Olympic Games, tallying 1,093 points.
  • He competed in five Olympic editions: Moscow 1980, Los Angeles 1984, Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992, and Atlanta 1996.
  • He finished as the top scorer in three of the five Olympic editions he participated in.
  • He is a member of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and National Basketball Association (NBA) Halls of Fame.
  • He holds a single-game points record of 55 points and a career total of 49,737 points.

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Martial artist and actor Chuck Norris passes away at age 86 (End of March) ▼
  • Chuck Norris, born Carlos Ray Norris on 10 March 1940, was a six-time undefeated World Professional Middleweight Karate champion.
  • He served in the United States Air Force (USAF) during the Korean War, where he began practicing martial arts.
  • He founded a Korean-based American hard style of karate known as Chun Kuk Do and the United Fighting Arts Federation (UFAF).
  • The UFAF has awarded more than 3,300 Chuck Norris System black belts worldwide.
  • He made his film debut in 1968 and starred alongside Bruce Lee in the 1972 film The Way of the Dragon.
  • He played the title role in the television series Walker, Texas Ranger, which aired on the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) for eight years.
  • In 2010, he was named an honorary Texas Ranger by then-Governor Rick Perry and was later named an honorary Texan by the Texas Senate.
Eric Dane dies at 53 after Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) diagnosis. (End of February) ▼
  • Eric Dane passed away following a battle with ALS.
  • He was 53 years old at the time of his death.
  • Dane publicly revealed his ALS diagnosis in April 2025.
  • He was best known for playing Dr Mark Sloan on Grey's Anatomy and Cal Jacobs on Euphoria.
  • He joined the board of Target ALS in December and helped one of its campaigns exceed a $500,000 fundraising target.
  • Time magazine named him one of its 100 most influential people in health for his ALS advocacy.
Gurjant Singh retired from international hockey. (End of March) ▼
  • Gurjant Singh announced his retirement from international hockey during the 8th Hockey India annual awards on 27 March 2026.
  • He won two Olympic medals and scored 48 goals in 130 appearances for India.
  • Persistent back injuries and competition from Abhishek and Sukhjeet Singh influenced his decision to retire.
  • He plans to continue playing in domestic tournaments and the Hockey India League while serving in a government job in Punjab.
Mani Shankar Mukherjee (Shankar) passes away at 92. (End of February) ▼
  • Mani Shankar Mukherjee, popularly known as Shankar, died at the age of 92 on Friday.
  • He was born in 1933 in Bongaon, North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal.
  • Shankar received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2021.
  • Notable works include Chowrangi, Kato Ajanare, Simabuddha, Janaaranya, and Kumkum Prabhu.

Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao Received 9th Prof. M.S. Swaminathan Award For Climate-Resilient Agriculture

Key Updates:

  • Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao received the 9th Prof. M.S. Swaminathan Award For Climate-Resilient Agriculture.
  • The award was instituted by the Retired Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Employees Association in collaboration with Nuziveedu Seeds Limited.
  • The award honours agricultural scientists for bolstering India's food security.
  • This edition of the award coincides with the birth centenary of Prof. Swaminathan, the father of India's Green Revolution.
  • Dr. Rao was recognised for his work in climate-resilient agriculture and natural resource management.
  • His contributions include scaling resource conservation technologies across millions of hectares and developing district-level contingency plans for nationwide agricultural sustainability.
  • The event was attended by former Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu, agriculture minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, Nuziveedu Seeds chairman Mandava Prabhakar Rao, and association president Vidya Sagar Rao.

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Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2026 nominations open from 28 March to 11 May 2026 (End of March) ▼
  • Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP) 2026 nominations opened on 28 March 2026 and will close on 11 May 2026.
  • Nominations, including self-nominations, are submitted online through the Ministry of Home Affairs Awards Portal (https://awards.gov.in).
  • RVP is administered by the RVP Secretariat, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), under the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India (GOI).
  • The awards cover 14 domains: Agricultural Science, Atomic Energy, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Defence Technology, Earth Science, Engineering Sciences, Environmental Science, Mathematics & Computer Science, Medicine, Physics, Space Science and Technology, Technology & Innovation, and Others.
  • Four award categories are Vigyan Ratna (VR) for lifetime achievements, Vigyan Shri (VS) for distinguished contributions, Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB) for scientists up to 45 years, and Vigyan Team (VT) for collaborative teams of three or more researchers.
  • Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, urged institutions and individuals to nominate deserving candidates.
Chiranjeevi Received NTR National Film Award at Gaddar Telangana Film Awards 2025 (Start of March) ▼
  • Megastar Chiranjeevi was conferred with the NTR National Film Award at the Gaddar Telangana Film Awards 2025.
  • The award was presented by the Government of Telangana, with the actor acknowledging Chief Minister (CM) Revanth Anumula and Bhatti Mallu.
  • The NTR National Film Award is named in honour of the legendary Telugu cinema figure, N. T. Rama Rao (NTR).
  • Chiranjeevi was previously honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2006 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2024.
  • Other major winners at the ceremony included Naga Chaitanya, who was named Best Actor, and Rashmika Mandanna, who was named Best Actress.
  • The actor's recent work includes the hit film Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, and his upcoming projects include the socio-fantasy film Vishwambhara and a project with director Srikanth Odela.
Dr Rajendra Prasad and K.K. Thakral receive Padma Shri 2026 for lifelong medical service. (End of January) ▼
  • Dr Rajendra Prasad, former Head of Pulmonary Medicine at King George's Medical University (KGMU), was awarded the Padma Shri 2026.
  • Dr Prasad is recognised as the founder of the Pulmonary Medicine Department at KGMU.
  • K.K. Thakral, an Ayurveda surgeon specialising in Shalya Tantra, also received the Padma Shri 2026.
  • Thakral completed his Ayurvedic education in 1964 from Lucknow and in 1968 from Banaras.
  • Both awardees are residents of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
Dr Nori Dattatreyudu and Four Others Conferred with Padma Awards (End of January) ▼
  • Dr Nori Dattatreyudu, an Indian American radiation oncologist and pioneer in brachytherapy, was announced as a recipient of the Padma Bhushan.
  • Dr Nori Dattatreyudu, who received the Padma Shri in 2015, was appointed advisor to the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments in 2025 for cancer care.
  • Telugu actor Gadde Rajendra Prasad was conferred with the Padma Shri for his four-decade career in cinema and his performance in the international project Quick Gun Murugun.
  • Garimella Balakrishna Prasad was posthumously awarded the Padma Shri for composing music for over 1,000 Annamacharya keerthanas and serving as Asthana Vidwan for Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).
  • Prof Vempati Kutumba Sastry, former Vice-Chancellor of Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, received the Padma Shri for his contributions to Sanskrit scholarship and global promotion of the language.
  • Maganti Murali Mohan, a former Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), was awarded the Padma Shri for his contributions to Telugu cinema and philanthropy.
  • Dr Nori Dattatreyudu was the first physician in the United States to work with a computerised brachytherapy system and received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2014.
  • Prof Vempati Kutumba Sastry served as the president of the International Association of Sanskrit Studies and presided over world conferences in Edinburgh, Kyoto, Bangkok, and Vancouver.

Sadhvi Satish Sail Crowned Femina Miss India World 2026

Key Updates:

  • Sadhvi Satish Sail was crowned Femina Miss India World 2026.
  • The finale of the competition was held in Bhubaneswar.
  • Rajnandini Pawar from Maharashtra was named the 1st Runner-Up.
  • KIIT University provided support to the contestants during the competition.

Similar Coverage

Sudarsan Pattnaik appointed Brand Ambassador for Census 2027 (Start of April) ▼
  • Sudarsan Pattnaik, Padma Shri (2014) awardee and Guinness World Record holder for the tallest sand castle (48 feet 8 inches, Puri 2017), named Brand Ambassador for Census 2027 by the Government of India (GoI).
  • Census 2027 will be the 16th Census of India and the 8th after independence, conducted under the Census Act 1948 by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RGI).
  • Census 2027 is the first digital census in the country and its official mascots are Pragati (female) and Vikas (male).
  • Pattnaik uses sand art for social campaigns on climate change, Covid-19 and children’s rights and has represented India in international art festivals and exhibitions.
Miss Sake India 2026 Crowned in Mumbai on April 17, 2026 (Mid of April) ▼
  • Nishita Yogesh Antarkar from Mumbai was crowned Miss Sake India 2026 at an event hosted by Hirohama India Private Limited (Hirohama India).
  • The competition serves as a platform for cultural exchange and selects a cultural ambassador for Japanese sake in India.
  • Priyanka Sarkar from Bangalore and Sakshi Khari from Delhi were announced as the runners-up of the third consecutive edition of the event.
  • Nishita Yogesh Antarkar, a business owner and Visharad Kathak dancer, will represent India at the Miss Sake Japan Finals in June 2026.
  • The ceremony was attended by the Acting Consul General of Japan in Mumbai, Toshihiro Kaneko, and the Chairperson of the Miss Sake Association, Mika Onishii.
  • The event highlighted Hakutsuru, a prominent sake brand originating from the Kobe region of Japan.
R Vaishali wins FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026 (Mid of April) ▼
  • Indian Grandmaster Vaishali Rameshbabu won the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026 held in Cyprus.
  • Vaishali defeated Kateryna Lagno in the final round to secure the title and a spot in the Women’s World Championship match.
  • She will challenge Ju Wenjun for the world title, becoming only the second Indian woman to do so after Koneru Humpy in 2011.
  • Vaishali’s previous major victories include winning the FIDE Grand Swiss tournament twice and the Women’s Olympiad in 2024.
  • Indian player Divya Deshmukh finished in the bottom two of the standings after drawing her final round match against Bibisara Assaubayeva.
  • In the parallel Open Candidates tournament, Vaishali’s brother Praggnanandhaa finished in seventh place.
SAIL launches nationwide creative contest "सेल-e-BRATION: Steel Built India, SAIL Built Trust" on 30 January 2026 (Start of February) ▼
  • Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), a Maharatna PSU under the Ministry of Steel, launched the contest on 30 January 2026 in collaboration with MyGov.
  • The contest invites Indian citizens to submit 1080p MP4 videos (max 120 seconds) in Hindi or English by 16 February 2026, 11:59 PM IST via the MyGov portal.
  • Participants can choose from four themes: Building India’s Big Dreams, Shield & Star, There’s a Little Bit of SAIL in Everyone’s Life, and Products Everywhere.
  • Top five creators will each receive ₹10,000 cash, a Letter of Appreciation and Certificate from SAIL, and national exposure on SAIL’s official social media platforms.

Asit Tripathy Elected President of Odisha Steel Producers' Association (OSPA)

[Odisha Steel Producers’ Association]

Key Updates:

  • Asit Tripathy, former Chief Secretary of Odisha and Advisor to Jindal Steel, was unanimously elected as the President of the Odisha Steel Producers' Association (OSPA).
  • OSPA is a newly formed collective platform of leading steel and mining companies in Odisha, including Jindal Steel, Tata Steel, Jindal Stainless, JSW Steel, and AMNS.
  • S.K. Popli (IFS, Retd.) has been appointed as the Secretary General of OSPA.
  • The election meeting saw participation from representatives of 15 leading steelmakers and miners.
  • Odisha is India's largest producer of steel and iron ore.

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Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) Election Results 2026 (Mid of April) ▼
  • Tipra Motha won 24 out of 28 seats in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections.
  • The TTAADC governs nearly 70 per cent of the territory of Tripura and covers 20 tribal-reserved seats in the State Assembly.
  • Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma launched a new political entity called One Northeast to foster tribal unity across the region.
  • The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the conduct of ADC village council elections in July after a gap of 10 years.
  • Security deployment for the election counting included 24 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and the Tripura State Rifles (TSR).
Anant Swarup appointed Secretary General of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) (Mid of April) ▼
  • 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.
Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) Election Results April 18, 2026 (Mid of April) ▼
  • Tipra Motha Party won 24 out of 28 seats in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) local body elections.
  • The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured four seats in the council, including two unreserved seats.
  • Tipra Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma launched a new political party named One Northeast.
  • The One Northeast party includes Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and former Nagaland minister Mmhonlümo Kikon.
  • The TTAADC governs approximately 70 per cent of the territory in Tripura and influences 20 tribal-reserved seats in the State Assembly.
  • Security for the counting process involved 24 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and the Tripura State Rifles (TSR).
  • Village council elections for the TTAADC are scheduled to be held in July after a 10-year gap following a Supreme Court (SC) order.
Deen Dayal Upadhyay and Nanaji Deshmukh Panchayat Satat Vikas Puraskar 2025 conferred on three Tripura panchayats (Start of April) ▼
  • Sepahijala district of Tripura ranked best District Panchayat in India.
  • Kanchabari Gram Panchayat topped the Health-Friendly category.
  • Baikunthapur Gram Panchayat placed third in the Women-Friendly category.
  • Winners will receive financial assistance ranging from ₹50 lakh to ₹5 crore.

Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao Received 9th Prof. M.S. Swaminathan Award For Climate-Resilient Agriculture

[Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI)]

Key Updates:

  • Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao received the 9th Prof. M.S. Swaminathan Award For Climate-Resilient Agriculture.
  • The award was instituted by the Retired Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Employees Association in collaboration with Nuziveedu Seeds Limited.
  • The award honours agricultural scientists for bolstering India's food security.
  • This edition coincides with the birth centenary of Prof. Swaminathan, known as the father of India's Green Revolution.
  • Dr. Rao was recognised for his work in climate-resilient agriculture and natural resource management.
  • His contributions include scaling resource conservation technologies across millions of hectares and developing district-level contingency plans.
  • The event was attended by former Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu, agriculture minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, Nuziveedu Seeds chairman Mandava Prabhakar Rao, and association president Vidya Sagar Rao.

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Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2026 nominations open from 28 March to 11 May 2026 (End of March) ▼
  • Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP) 2026 nominations opened on 28 March 2026 and will close on 11 May 2026.
  • Nominations, including self-nominations, are submitted online through the Ministry of Home Affairs Awards Portal (https://awards.gov.in).
  • RVP is administered by the RVP Secretariat, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), under the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India (GOI).
  • The awards cover 14 domains: Agricultural Science, Atomic Energy, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Defence Technology, Earth Science, Engineering Sciences, Environmental Science, Mathematics & Computer Science, Medicine, Physics, Space Science and Technology, Technology & Innovation, and Others.
  • Four award categories are Vigyan Ratna (VR) for lifetime achievements, Vigyan Shri (VS) for distinguished contributions, Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB) for scientists up to 45 years, and Vigyan Team (VT) for collaborative teams of three or more researchers.
  • Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, urged institutions and individuals to nominate deserving candidates.
Chiranjeevi Received NTR National Film Award at Gaddar Telangana Film Awards 2025 (Start of March) ▼
  • Megastar Chiranjeevi was conferred with the NTR National Film Award at the Gaddar Telangana Film Awards 2025.
  • The award was presented by the Government of Telangana, with the actor acknowledging Chief Minister (CM) Revanth Anumula and Bhatti Mallu.
  • The NTR National Film Award is named in honour of the legendary Telugu cinema figure, N. T. Rama Rao (NTR).
  • Chiranjeevi was previously honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2006 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2024.
  • Other major winners at the ceremony included Naga Chaitanya, who was named Best Actor, and Rashmika Mandanna, who was named Best Actress.
  • The actor's recent work includes the hit film Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, and his upcoming projects include the socio-fantasy film Vishwambhara and a project with director Srikanth Odela.
Padma Awards 2026 announced with 131 recipients across Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri categories. (End of January) ▼
  • The Government of India announced 131 Padma Awards for 2026, including 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri.
  • Veteran actor Dharmendra Singh Deol and former Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandhan were awarded the Padma Vibhushan posthumously.
  • Cricketer Rohit Sharma, actor R Madhavan, and Malayalam cinema icon Mammootty featured among prominent awardees across Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan categories.
  • Maharashtra topped the list with 15 awardees, followed by Tamil Nadu (13), Uttar Pradesh (11), West Bengal (11) and Kerala (8).
  • Adman Piyush Pandey received the Padma Bhushan posthumously for contributions to the Indian advertising industry.
  • Techi Gubin, President of Arunachal Vikas Parishad, was named for the Padma Shri in social service.
  • 45 awardees were recognised as ‘unsung heroes’ under the Padma Shri category, including former bus conductor Anke Gowda and paediatrician Armida Fernandez.
  • The Padma Awards are conferred by the President of India and will be presented by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, usually around March–April.
Ministry of Ayush invites applications for Prime Minister’s Awards for Yoga-2026 (End of February) ▼
  • The Ministry of Ayush has invited applications for the Prime Minister’s Awards for Yoga-2026 to recognise exemplary contributions to the development and promotion of Yoga at national and international levels.
  • Each award comprises a trophy, a certificate, and a cash prize of ₹25 lakh.
  • The awards are conferred in two primary categories: Individuals (National and International) and Institutions (National and International).
  • Applications for the awards must be submitted through the National Awards Portal (www.awards.gov.in).
  • The final date for the submission of applications is 21 March 2026.
  • The felicitation ceremony for the award winners will coincide with the International Yoga Conference.

Rakesh Bhanot appointed acting Director General of Competition Commission of India (CCI)

[Competition Commission of India (CCI)]

Key Updates:

  • Rakesh Bhanot, an advisor at the Competition Commission of India (CCI), has been appointed as the acting Director General (DG).
  • He succeeds Ansuman Pattanaik, who was appointed as the additional secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) on March 31, 2026.
  • The CCI has extended the deadline for applying for the full-time DG post until May 5, 2026.
  • The DG's office is responsible for investigating all contraventions against the Competition Act.
  • The DG's office is currently investigating cases involving Indigo Airlines for abuse of dominant position and Google for its practices in digital advertising.
  • Amendments made to the Competition Act in 2023 empower the commission to appoint the DG with prior approval from the Centre.
  • Section 16 of the Competition Act stipulates that the DG and other director generals be appointed from persons of integrity and outstanding ability with experience in investigation and knowledge of accountancy, management, business, public administration, international trade, law, or economics.

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B.P. Singh assumes charge as Director General of Naval Armament (DGONA). (Start of March) ▼
  • B.P. Singh took over as Director General of Naval Armament (DGONA) at Naval Headquarters, New Delhi, on 1 March 2026.
  • He succeeded Divakar Jayant, who superannuated on 28 February 2026.
  • Singh is a 1994-batch officer of the Indian Naval Armament Service (INAS).
  • He previously served as Chief General Manager at Naval Armament Depot (NAD), Mumbai.
  • Singh is a Mechanical Engineering graduate of National Institute of Technology Patna and an alumnus of the National Defence College.
Divakar Jayant assumed charge as Director General of Naval Armament (DGONA) at Naval Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (MoD). (Start of February) ▼
  • Divakar Jayant, a 1991-batch Indian Naval Armament Service (INAS) officer, took over as DGONA on 2 February 2026.
  • He succeeded P. Upadhyay, who superannuated on 31 January 2026.
  • Jayant joined the Naval Armament Organisation of the Indian Navy on 28 December 1992.
  • He is an Electrical Engineering graduate from IIT Delhi and specialises in torpedo life-cycle management.
  • He has served as Chief General Manager and General Manager/Principal Director at Naval Armament Depots in Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, and Alwaye.
Ravi Shankar Chhabi Appointed Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) (End of January) ▼
  • Ravi Shankar Chhabi was appointed as the DIG in the CRPF following an order issued on January 19, 2026.
  • He is a 2007-batch Regular Recruit (RR) officer of the Indian Police Service (IPS) belonging to the Uttar Pradesh cadre.
  • Prior to this appointment, he served as the DIG of Public Grievances at the Director General of Police (DGP) Headquarters in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
  • He performed duties as a Police Observer for the 1-Baramulla Parliamentary Constituency during the 2024 General Elections.
  • His previous assignments include serving as the DIG of Prison Administration and Reforms and as the Superintendent of Police (SP) for the Women Power Line 1090.
Dr Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi reappointed as Drugs Controller (India) at Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) (Start of March) ▼
  • The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved his reappointment on a contractual basis for one year from 1 March 2026.
  • The proposal for re-employment was moved by the Department of Health and Family Welfare.
  • He heads the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) which regulates drug quality, approves new drugs and oversees clinical trials.
  • Dr Raghuvanshi earlier served as secretary-cum-scientific director of the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) from 16 February 2021.

Bhagwandas Raikwar, Padma Shri Awardee and Bundelkhand Martial Art Pioneer, Passes Away

Key Updates:

  • Padma Shri awardee Bhagwandas Raikwar, a pioneer of the Bundelkhand martial art form Akhada, passed away at the age of 82 at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhopal.
  • Raikwar was honoured with the Padma Shri in the Bundeli Martial Arts category under the Unsung Heroes segment during the 2026 Republic Day celebrations.
  • Born on January 2, 1944, he dedicated his life to the preservation of Bundeli martial arts and served as the Ustad (master) of the Chhatrasal Vyayamshala.
  • He is credited with transforming the traditional Akhada and Bundeli martial arts into a format suitable for stage performances.
  • His demonstrations featured combat techniques involving traditional weapons such as the lathi (staff), bhala (spear), dhal (shield), talwar (sword), and trishul (trident).

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Padma Shri Awardee Utsav Charan Das Dies at 80 (Start of March) ▼
  • Renowned Odia folk dancer Utsav Charan Das passed away at the age of 80 in Choudwar, Cuttack.
  • He was a celebrated exponent of Odisha's traditional folk dance form known as Ghoda Nacha (horse dance).
  • The Government of India conferred the Padma Shri upon him in 2020 for his six-decade-long dedication to preserving and popularising the dance form.
  • He was also honoured by the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi for his outstanding contribution to traditional performing arts.
  • Born in Tangimania village and raised in Choudwar, he began his journey in Ghoda Nacha while studying in Class 8.
  • He is credited with training generations of artistes and elevating the rural cultural tradition of Ghoda Nacha to national platforms.
K Pajanivel Conferred Padma Shri Award (End of January) ▼
  • K Pajanivel, a 53-year-old Silambattam exponent from Puducherry, has been conferred the Padma Shri award by the Centre.
  • He has been practicing and teaching the ancient stick-based martial art for 40 years.
  • Pajanivel hails from the rural Poornankuppam area of Puducherry.
  • The award recognizes his efforts in preserving and promoting the traditional martial art form.
  • Silambattam is highlighted for its benefits in improving mental agility, concentration, and self-defence.
Krishnan Raghavan posthumously conferred Padma Shri. (Mid of March) ▼
  • Krishnan Raghavan, pen-name 'Kitna', was posthumously awarded the Padma Shri for 2023.
  • He belonged to the Alu Kurumba tribal community, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) of the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu.
  • The award recognised his role in reviving and popularising the 3,000-year-old Kurumba painting tradition.
  • Fewer than 10 indigenous Kurumba painters remain, with only three knowing the natural colour extraction techniques.
Prof Hermann Kulke passes away at 87; Padma Shri awardee and global voice of Odisha history. (Mid of March) ▼
  • Prof Hermann Kulke, eminent historian and Indologist, died on Tuesday at the age of 87.
  • He was born in Berlin in 1938 and held the position of Professor Emeritus of South and Southeast Asian History at Kiel University in Germany.
  • He was conferred the Padma Shri in 2010 for his contributions to Indology and Odisha studies.
  • Kulke was a founding member and coordinator of the first two Orissa Research Projects of the German Research Council.
  • He completed his PhD in Indology on the temple city of Chidambaram from Freiburg University in 1967.
  • He earned his D.Litt on Gajapati Kingship and the Jagannath Cult from Heidelberg University in 1975.
  • Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo condoled his death and highlighted his pioneering research on Odisha’s heritage.

Balbir Punj passes away as former Rajya Sabha MP and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader

Key Updates:

  • Balbir Punj, aged 76, passed away on April 18, 2026.
  • He served as a former Member of Parliament (MP) in the Rajya Sabha and as a former vice president of the BJP.
  • He was associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) from a young age.
  • He began his career as a journalist in 1971 with the newspaper The Motherland.
  • He served at the Financial Express for two decades.
  • He was the executive editor of The Observer of Business and Politics from May 1996 to March 2000.

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Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury dies at 89. (Mid of April) ▼
  • Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury, former Union Minister, died on 8 April 2026 in Kolkata.
  • He was 89 years old and had been suffering from multiple age-related complications.
  • He was popularly known as Dalu in political circles.
  • He is survived by his wife and son Isha Khan Choudhury, Congress MP from Malda Dakshin.
  • His death marks the end of an era in Malda district politics where he remained a key figure for decades.
PM Modi pays tribute to Shyamji Krishna Varma on his death anniversary (End of March) ▼
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to freedom fighter Shyamji Krishna Varma on his death anniversary today.
  • Shyamji Krishna Varma awakened a new consciousness in the freedom movement with his revolutionary ideas.
  • The Prime Minister noted that the life and ideals of Shyamji will continue to inspire every generation of the country towards national service.
K P Unnikrishnan, former Union minister and seven-term Vadakara MP, died at 89. (Start of March) ▼
  • K P Unnikrishnan died in Kozhikode at the age of 89.
  • He represented Vadakara Lok Sabha constituency for seven consecutive terms from 1971 to 1996.
  • He served as Union minister for Surface Transport, Shipping and Telecommunications in the V P Singh government between 1989 and 1990.
  • He was among the first to raise the Bofors issue in Parliament during Rajiv Gandhi's tenure.
  • He began his career as a journalist with Blitz in Mumbai in the early 1950s.
  • He was a close confidant of Indira Gandhi and managed V K Krishna Menon's 1962 Mumbai Lok Sabha election campaign.
  • He contested and won Lok Sabha elections in 1971, 1977, 1980, 1984, 1989, and 1991 from Vadakara.
  • He lost the 1996 Lok Sabha election after rejoining Congress in 1995.
Shaheed Diwas observed on March 23 and January 30 in India (End of March) ▼
  • Shaheed Diwas is observed annually on March 23 to honour the sacrifice of Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru, and Sukhdev Thapar.
  • The three revolutionaries were executed by the British government on March 23, 1931, for their role in the Indian freedom struggle.
  • India also observes Shaheed Diwas on January 30 to mark the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948.
  • The historical background of the March 23 observance is linked to the 1928 protests against the Simon Commission, which lacked Indian representation.
  • Lala Lajpat Rai, popularly known as Punjab Kesari, died after sustaining injuries during a police lathi charge in Lahore while protesting the Simon Commission.
  • Bhagat Singh defined revolution as an inalienable right of mankind and freedom as an imperishable birthright of all.