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Saturday, Apr 25

Daily Current Affairs: 25 April 2026

Analysis for 25 April 2026

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancels licence of Paytm Payments Bank

[Reserve Bank of India, Paytm Payments Bank]

Key Updates:

  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the banking licence of Paytm Payments Bank on April 24, 2026, under Section 22(4) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
  • The RBI cited that the bank's business was conducted in a manner harmful to depositors' interest and failed to comply with the conditions stipulated in its licence.
  • Paytm Payments Bank received a limited banking licence in 2015 and commenced operations in May 2017.
  • In March 2022, the RBI directed the bank to stop onboarding new customers.
  • The RBI barred the bank from accepting fresh deposits and credits after March 15, 2024, except for interest, refunds, cashbacks, and sweep-ins.
  • As of March 2025, the bank recorded total deposits of ₹13.95 billion and a loss of ₹946.4 million.
  • The RBI announced it would approach the High Court for the winding up of the bank.
  • The parent company of the bank is One 97 Communications.

Similar Coverage

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposes ₹31.80 lakh penalty on Airtel Payments Bank (Start of April) ▼
  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a monetary penalty of ₹31.80 lakh on Airtel Payments Bank Limited for non-compliance with RBI directions on 'Disclosure in Financial Statements'.
  • The penalty action was carried out under section 47A(1)(c) read with section 46(4)(i) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
  • The Statutory Inspection for Supervisory Evaluation (ISE 2025) of the bank was conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2025.
  • RBI found that the bank failed to disclose certain complaints in its annual financial statements for the financial year 2024-25.
  • The central bank stated that the penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated against the bank.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Imposes ₹18.76 Lakh Compounding Fee on Paytm (Start of February) ▼
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a compounding order to One 97 Communications (Paytm) for contraventions under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
  • The RBI imposed a compounding fee of ₹18.76 lakh regarding investments made in Little Internet Private Limited by Little Internet Singapore.
  • The underlying transactions involved an aggregate value of approximately ₹33 crore and pertained to the period between March 2016 and June 2017.
  • The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) terminated FEMA proceedings against Nearbuy India on 19 December after the company paid a penalty of ₹4.28 lakh following an RBI compounding order.
  • Paytm had previously received a show cause notice from the ED for alleged FEMA violations involving transactions worth ₹611 crore linked to the company and its subsidiaries.
  • The parent firm of Paytm was allegedly involved in transactions worth ₹245 crore, while Little Internet and Nearbuy India were linked to contraventions involving ₹345 crore and ₹20.9 crore, respectively.
  • Paytm acquired the hyperlocal discovery and deals platforms Little Internet and Nearbuy in 2017 and subsequently merged the two brands.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancels 36 NBFCs’ Certificate of Registration and accepts surrender of 9 licences in February 2026. (Mid of March) ▼
  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the Certificate of Registration (CoR) of 36 NBFCs in February 2026.
  • Nine NBFCs surrendered their CoR to RBI during the same month.
  • Cancellation dates for the 36 NBFCs range from 16 February 2026 to 24 February 2026.
  • Among the cancelled NBFCs, Excellence Broking & Finance (P) Ltd. had its CoR issued on 1 November 2006 and cancelled on 16 February 2026.
  • Manglam Vanijya Private Limited surrendered its CoR issued on 19 August 2013 and the surrender was accepted on 11 February 2026.
  • KKR India Asset Finance Private Limited surrendered its CoR issued on 29 May 2024 and the surrender was accepted on 23 February 2026.
  • Premier Ferro Alloys & Securities Limited surrendered its CoR issued on 23 October 2003 and the surrender was accepted on 16 February 2026.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposes ₹2.20 crore penalties on Union Bank, Central Bank, Bank of India, Pine Labs (End of March) ▼
  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed penalties of ₹95.40 lakh on Union Bank of India, ₹63.60 lakh on Central Bank of India, ₹58.50 lakh on Bank of India, and ₹3.10 lakh on Pine Labs for regulatory non-compliance.
  • Union Bank of India failed to credit amounts related to unauthorised electronic transactions within 10 working days of notification as of 31 March 2025.
  • Bank of India violated Priority Sector Lending directions by levying ad hoc charges on loans up to ₹25,000 and not paying interest on some matured Term Deposit Receipts until repayment.
  • Central Bank of India breached KYC and Financial Inclusion norms concerning Basic Savings Bank Deposit Accounts.
  • Pine Labs issued full-KYC Prepaid Payment Instruments without completing proper KYC verification during July 2024–May 2025.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service reports Brazil as largest corn exporter to Bangladesh

[Bangladesh]

Key Updates:

  • Brazil has overtaken India as the top supplier of corn to Bangladesh.
  • The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service reported that Brazil accounted for 78 per cent of Bangladesh's total corn imports till February in the 2025-26 marketing year.
  • India and the United States (US) each held 11 per cent of Bangladesh's corn imports during the same period.
  • Bangladesh imported nearly 1.5 million tonnes (mt) of corn till February in the 2025-26 marketing year.
  • The USDA pegged Bangladesh's total corn imports for the 2025-26 marketing year at 1.8 mt, which is 27.2 per cent higher than the previous year.
  • In calendar 2022, India exported 3.55 mt of maize, of which Bangladesh accounted for 1.82 mt.
  • India's maize exports to Bangladesh decreased to over 0.55 mt in 2023, 16,266 tonnes in 2024, and 11,991 tonnes in 2025.
  • The US exported approximately 160,000 tonnes of corn to Bangladesh in the 2025-26 marketing year, returning to the market after a gap since 2018.
  • India's maize exports have recently gained traction in Nepal and Vietnam.

Similar Coverage

All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA) Reports 2.01 Lakh Tonnes Sugar Exports till February 2026 (Mid of February) ▼
  • India exported 2,01,547 tonnes of sugar through February in the 2025-26 marketing year.
  • The central government approved a total export quota of 2 million tonnes for the 2025-26 marketing year, including a recent addition of 500,000 tonnes.
  • White sugar accounted for 163,000 tonnes of total shipments, while refined sugar made up 37,638 tonnes.
  • The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was the top destination with 47,006 tonnes, followed by Afghanistan with 46,163 tonnes, Djibouti with 30,147 tonnes, and Bhutan with 20,017 tonnes.
  • India's sugar production is estimated to rise by 13 per cent to 29.6 million tonnes in the 2025-26 marketing year, excluding diversion for ethanol.
  • The All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA) noted that the additional 500,000-tonne export allocation is on a pro-rata basis and cannot be swapped between mills.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) data shows India displaces China as largest cotton products exporter to US in 2025 (Mid of March) ▼
  • India displaced China as the largest supplier of cotton products such as apparel and home textiles to the United States during 2025.
  • US cotton product imports from India were around 0.6 million tonnes in 2025.
  • US cotton product imports from China reduced to about 0.5 million tonnes in 2025.
  • US cotton product imports remained flat at 3.3 million tonnes in calendar year 2025.
  • US announced several rounds of tariffs on China ranging from 10-125 per cent.
  • Other suppliers gaining US market share include Vietnam, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Mexico and Cambodia.
  • US cotton product imports from China have dropped 60 per cent since peaking in 2010.
  • US retail sales at clothing stores rose 5 per cent to a new record in 2025.
  • Global cotton production for 2025-26 is forecast up 1.1 million bales to 121 million bales.
  • Global cotton consumption is forecast down more than 0.1 million bales to 118.6 million.
  • Global cotton trade is raised by 0.2 million bales to 43.9 million.
  • Global ending stocks are raised nearly 1.3 million bales to 76.4 million.
State Bank of India (SBI) pegs zero-tariff share of India’s farm exports to US at 75% (Mid of February) ▼
  • 75% of India’s agricultural exports to the United States will now attract zero tariff, according to a State Bank of India (SBI) report.
  • USD 1.36 billion worth of Indian agricultural commodities will receive zero additional US duty access.
  • India holds a USD 1.3 billion agricultural trade surplus with the United States.
  • Key products set to benefit include rice, spices, oilseeds, tea, coffee and fisheries.
  • India commands a 24.7% share in US global rice imports, valued at USD 341 million out of USD 1.378 billion total US rice imports.
  • India’s share in US coffee, tea, mate and spices imports is 2.8%, worth USD 396 million out of USD 14.026 billion total US imports in the category.
  • India holds a 9.6% share in US fish and aquatic invertebrate imports, supplying USD 1.817 billion out of USD 18.848 billion total US imports.
  • India’s share in US edible fruit and nuts imports is only USD 39 million out of USD 21.522 billion total US imports.
  • India’s share in US edible vegetables and certain roots imports is USD 109 million out of USD 12.402 billion total US imports.
  • India’s share in US prepared vegetables, fruit and nuts imports is USD 192 million out of USD 13.774 billion total US imports.
  • Across selected categories, India’s agricultural exports to the US total USD 2.894 billion, representing a 3.5% share of overall US imports of USD 81.950 billion.

Eveready Industries India Ltd commissions ₹200 crore alkaline battery plant in Jammu

[Eveready]

Key Updates:

  • Eveready Industries India Ltd (Eveready) has commissioned an alkaline battery manufacturing facility in Samba, Jammu and Kashmir, with an investment of around ₹200 crore.
  • The plant is the only operating alkaline battery manufacturing facility in India.
  • The facility has an annual installed capacity of 456 million units and a peak production capacity of approximately 360 million units.
  • The plant is expected to generate over 500 direct and indirect jobs at full scale.
  • The facility includes a 1 MW rooftop solar installation with an annual generation of around 1.2 million units, a rainwater harvesting capacity of 275 KLD, and a zero-discharge system.
  • The alkaline battery portfolio of Eveready is approaching a 20 per cent market share.

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Waaree Energies to Establish ₹8,175 Crore Lithium-ion Battery Gigafactory in Andhra Pradesh (End of February) ▼
  • Waaree Energies will set up an integrated lithium-ion battery gigafactory at Rambilli in Anakapalli district, Andhra Pradesh.
  • The project involves a total investment of ₹8,175 crore and is expected to generate approximately 3,000 direct jobs.
  • The greenfield facility will have a production capacity of 16 GWh, covering cell manufacturing, battery packs, and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
  • The Andhra Pradesh State Investment Promotion Board, chaired by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, has granted in-principle approval for the project.
  • The facility is designed to support renewable energy expansion, electric mobility, and grid stability while enhancing strategic manufacturing independence.
First Bharat Electricity Summit (BES) concludes with focus on clean energy transition (End of March) ▼
  • The maiden Bharat Electricity Summit (BES) concluded at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, with over 35,000 exhibition attendees, 28 States/Union Territories, 200+ exhibiting companies including 80+ Start-ups, 6,000+ delegates, 300+ speakers, and 100+ conference sessions.
  • India has crossed over 50% non-fossil fuel capacity and targets 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.
  • Union Power Minister Manohar Lal announced that the next edition of BES will be held in 2028 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
  • Three reports were released: Rating Regulatory Performance of States and Union Territories 2025 by Power Foundation of India; Ash Generation and Utilisation at coal/lignite-based Grid Connected thermal power stations for 2024-25 by Central Electricity Authority (CEA); and Establishing a Sodium-ion Battery Ecosystem in India by Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW).
World Engineering Day 2026 themed 'Smart engineering for a sustainable future through innovation and digitalisation' (Start of March) ▼
  • World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development (WED) 2026 is recognised by UNESCO and delivered by the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO).
  • Adani Group has been named the official partner for WED 2026, the first time an Indian organisation has been selected by WFEO for this global platform.
  • The Khavda renewable energy project in Gujarat, developed by Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) in collaboration with Adani Energy Solutions and Adani New Industries, is highlighted by WFEO as a defining example of India's energy transition.
  • The Khavda plant is being constructed on 538 square kilometres of barren land in the Kutch region, an area five times the size of Paris.
  • The project is planned to reach 30 GW capacity by 2029 and is currently the world's largest renewable energy plant under construction.

Punjab National Bank (PNB) partners with Kiwi to expand credit on UPI for 180 million customers

[Punjab National Bank, Kiwi, RuPay]

Key Updates:

  • Punjab National Bank (PNB) has partnered with Kiwi to launch the RuPay-based PNB Kiwi Credit Card.
  • The collaboration aims to introduce credit-enabled Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments to 180 million customers.
  • The PNB Kiwi Credit Card offers fully digital onboarding, UPI integration, and cashback on online transactions ranging from 0.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent.
  • PNB operates over 10,000 branches, with 60 per cent of these located in semi-urban and rural regions.

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Scapia Launches Scapia Pay for RuPay Credit Card Unified Payments Interface (UPI) Payments (Mid of March) ▼
  • Scapia has launched Scapia Pay, an in-app UPI service for rewards with co-branded RuPay credit cards.
  • The service allows users to link Scapia Federal RuPay and Scapia BOBCARD RuPay credit cards for instant UPI payments and rewards.
  • The platform provides features including a custom UPI ID, first-time payment alerts, high-value transaction notifications, and consolidated spend tracking.
  • The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in India processed approximately 20 billion transactions in February 2026.
  • The 2026 Spring Release includes two-click credit card bill payments via the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS).
  • Scapia partners with Federal Bank and BOBCARD to provide co-branded credit cards for domestic and international use.
  • The platform has expanded to include flights, buses, trains, stays, visas, experiences, international airport privileges, and financial services.
Tripura Gramin Bank (TGB) launches first co-branded RuPay Credit Card among Regional Rural Banks (RRBs). (Start of February) ▼
  • Tripura Gramin Bank (TGB) launched its first-ever co-branded RuPay Credit Card in collaboration with sponsor bank Punjab National Bank (PNB).
  • TGB becomes the first RRB among the eight RRBs sponsored by PNB and the first in India to roll out a co-branded RuPay Credit Card.
  • The bank operates through 150 full-fledged branches and 12 ultra-small branches across Tripura.
  • The launch event was attended by Rakhi Biswas, Director (Small Savings, Group Insurance & Institutional Finance), TGB Chairman Satyendra Singh, and Deepak Kumar, General Manager, Punjab National Bank (Head Office).
  • TGB is celebrating its Golden Jubilee year of establishment.
  • The initiative aims to enable customers in rural and semi-urban areas to access modern credit facilities within the RuPay ecosystem.
IDFC First Bank launches secured RuPay credit card with up to 5% cashback and no income proof requirement. (Mid of February) ▼
  • IDFC First Bank has launched the Hello Cashback secured RuPay credit card backed by a minimum fixed deposit of Rs 10,000.
  • The card offers 3% cashback on the first Rs 10,000 of online spends per statement cycle and 5% beyond that, capped at Rs 1,000.
  • A flat 1% cashback applies to UPI payments via the bank’s app, in-store swipes, and essentials including utilities, rent, education, insurance, jewellery, FASTag, Government payments, and wallet loads, raising the monthly cap to Rs 1,500.
  • The credit limit is set at 100% of the fixed deposit, and users continue to earn fixed deposit interest alongside cashback.
  • Joining fee of Rs 1,000 is waived until 31 March 2026; annual fee of Rs 1,000 is waived at Rs 2 lakh spends and halved at Rs 1 lakh spends.
  • The card provides Rs 2 lakh personal accident cover, Rs 25,000 purchase protection, and fuel surcharge waivers.
NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) partners with PayNet to enable UPI acceptance in Malaysia. (Mid of February) ▼
  • NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) signed an agreement with Payments Network Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PayNet) to enable QR-based merchant payments between India and Malaysia.
  • Indian travellers will scan DuitNow QR codes using UPI-enabled apps during the first phase of the rollout.
  • Malaysian travellers will scan UPI QR codes using DuitNow apps in a subsequent phase.
  • The integration will give Indian users access to millions of DuitNow QR acceptance points across Malaysia, including restaurants, retail outlets and tourist establishments.
  • Malaysian visitors will gain acceptance across millions of UPI QR-enabled merchant locations in India.
  • NPCI International Payments was incorporated in April 2020 as a wholly owned subsidiary of NPCI to deploy UPI and RuPay systems overseas.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants Centralised Payment System (CPS) membership to Pay Point India Network

[Pay Point India, Reserve Bank of India]

Key Updates:

  • Pay Point India Network has become the first private-sector fintech to gain membership in the Centralised Payment System (CPS) operated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
  • Access to CPS was previously limited to banks and institutions including National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL), Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC), and stock exchanges.
  • Pay Point India now has direct access to Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) and National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) without relying on partner banks.
  • The company has been assigned its own IFSC code and maintains a current account and a settlement account directly with the RBI.
  • RTGS is used for large-value, real-time transactions, while NEFT supports smaller, retail payments processed in batches.
  • Both RTGS and NEFT operate 24/7 throughout the year.

Similar Coverage

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issues Digital Payments: E-mandate Framework, 2026 (End of April) ▼
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the Digital Payments: E-mandate Framework, 2026, consolidating all existing guidelines on recurring digital payments into a single master framework.
  • The framework applies to recurring domestic and cross-border transactions processed through cards, prepaid payment instruments (PPIs), and Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
  • Customers opting for recurring payment facilities must complete a one-time registration process requiring validation through an Additional Factor of Authentication (AFA).
  • Issuers must send pre-transaction notifications at least 24 hours before the debit, including merchant name, transaction amount, date and time of debit, reference number of the e-mandate, and reason for the debit.
  • Pre-transaction notifications are not required for auto-replenishment of FASTag balances and National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) balances.
  • The RBI retained a threshold allowing recurring transactions of up to ₹15,000 per transaction without additional authentication.
  • Recurring payments of up to ₹1 lakh per transaction without additional authentication are permitted for insurance premium payments, mutual fund subscriptions, and credit card bill payments.
  • No charges may be levied on customers for availing e-mandate services for recurring transactions.
  • The RBI repealed multiple earlier circulars issued between 2019 and 2024 relating to recurring payment processing through cards, UPI, and other digital channels.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants Transcorp International Limited in-principle approval for Centralized Payment Systems (CPS) (Start of February) ▼
  • Transcorp International Limited received in-principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to participate in Centralized Payment Systems (CPS).
  • The approval enables the company to build and operate its payment ecosystem with RTGS and NEFT capabilities.
  • Transcorp will hold and operate a bank account at RBI and be allotted its own IFSC Code.
  • The Board of Directors reviewed the development at its meeting held on 04 February 2026.
  • The company recorded 49% growth in profitability during the quarter ended 31 December 2025 compared to the previous quarter.
  • Profitability for the nine-month period ended 31 December 2025 grew 67% over the corresponding period of the previous year.
  • Transcorp fully repaid all public Fixed Deposits under its Public Fixed Deposit scheme and has NIL outstanding public Fixed Deposits.
  • The company operates with the lowest average debt utilisation, resulting in reduced finance costs.
  • Digital payments and Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) business achieved record high payment volumes monthly.
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.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) grants Paysharp Payment Aggregator-Physical licence (End of January) ▼
  • Chennai-based fintech Paysharp received RBI Payment Aggregator-Physical (PA-P) licence on 21 January 2026.
  • Paysharp had earlier obtained RBI Payment Aggregator-Online (PA-O) licence in August 2024.
  • The company follows a flat-pricing model for merchants across government, B2B enterprises, NBFCs and e-commerce sectors.
  • Paysharp has raised ₹23.5 crore across two funding rounds for product development, regulatory compliance and payments infrastructure expansion.

Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS): Eligibility expanded to final-year students

[Ministry of Corporate Affairs (India)]

Key Updates:

  • The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) is piloting the Prime Minister Internship Scheme (PMIS).
  • Eligibility for the PMIS pilot phase has been expanded to include final-year students in graduate and postgraduate programmes.
  • Eligible students must be between 18-25 years of age to apply for paid internships in top companies through the PMIS portal.
  • Interns under the PMIS will receive a minimum financial assistance of ₹9,000 per month.
  • Applicants are required to submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their respective educational institutions.
  • The MCA formalised these changes in consultation with the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education.
  • The scheme supports the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) regarding experiential learning, student employability, and skill development.
  • The third round of the PMIS pilot phase is currently underway.

Similar Coverage

United States Lawmakers Introduce Keep Innovators in America Act on 23 March 2026 (End of March) ▼
  • United States (US) lawmakers introduced the Keep Innovators in America Act to formally codify the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programme into law.
  • The bipartisan bill was introduced by US Representatives Sam Liccardo, Jay Obernolte, and Raja Krishnamoorthi to provide statutory backing for the post-study work programme.
  • The OPT programme currently allows international students on F-1 visas to work in the US for 12 months, while Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) graduates are eligible for a two-year extension.
  • According to the Open Doors survey for 2024-25, a total of 3,63,019 Indian students were enrolled in US institutions.
  • Participation in the OPT programme among Indian students surged to approximately 1,43,740, making them the largest cohort of international students in the US.
  • The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) stated that international students contribute more than $40 billion annually to the US economy and support hundreds of thousands of jobs.
PM Internship Scheme eases norms, adds new-age sectors and higher stipend (End of March) ▼
  • The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has relaxed CSR obligation requirement for companies to join the PM Internship Scheme.
  • New-age sectors like semiconductors, renewable energy and global capability centres are now eligible under the scheme.
  • The monthly stipend has been raised to ₹9,000 from ₹5,000.
  • Minimum age for candidates lowered to 18 years and maximum age raised to 25 years.
  • Postgraduates and MBAs are now eligible to apply.
  • Internship duration revised to 6 and 9 months instead of one year.
  • Third phase targets about 100,000 internships with over 15,500 offers across 19 sectors and 32 states.
  • Allocation for current fiscal sharply cut to ₹526 crore in revised estimate from ₹10,831 crore budgeted earlier.
PM-SETU Programme gets $830 million World Bank loan to upgrade ITIs (Start of February) ▼
  • World Bank approved $830 million loan for PM-SETU to revamp Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).
  • PM-SETU targets training over 1 million skilled workers annually and mobilising at least $680 million in private investment.
  • Programme adopts hub-and-spoke model: 200 advanced hub ITIs and 800 spoke ITIs district-wide.
  • Loan has 19.5-year final maturity including 4-year grace period.
  • Curricula will be updated and at least 25% of ITI students will be women.
  • Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) with anchor firms will manage government-owned but industry-run operations.
  • Focus sectors include manufacturing, electric vehicles (EVs), artificial intelligence (AI), green energy, textiles, and construction.
MSDE-GATI MoU to deepen coordination in India's global skills mobility ecosystem (Mid of March) ▼
  • Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) signed an MoU with GATI Foundation on 13 March 2026 to strengthen overseas workforce mobility.
  • The MoU was signed in the presence of Smt. Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, MSDE, and Shri Niranjan Kumar Sudhansu, Additional Secretary, MSDE.
  • This is the first Central government partnership for the GATI Foundation.
  • The partnership aims to align national skilling priorities with state-level implementation for overseas employment pathways.
  • Arnab Bhattacharya, CEO, GATI Foundation, stated the goal is to accelerate India’s journey toward becoming the global skills capital by 2047.

Technology Development and Investment Promotion (TDIP) Scheme: ₹203 Crore Outlay

Key Updates:

  • The Ministry of Communications unveiled the revised Technology Development and Investment Promotion (TDIP) Scheme for 2026–31 with an outlay of ₹203 crore.
  • The TDIP aims to strengthen indigenous innovation, fast-track next-generation technologies such as 6G, and elevate India's role in global telecom standard-setting.
  • The scheme provides financial assistance for Indian stakeholders to engage with international platforms including the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), 3GPP, and oneM2M.
  • The revised guidelines expand participation to include startups, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), academia, research institutions, telecom operators, and industry players.
  • Implementation will be carried out through the Telecommunications Standards Development Society India (TSDS India), Telecom Centres of Excellence India (TCOE India), and Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL).
  • The TDIP complements the Telecom Technology Development Fund and the Bharat 6G Mission.

Similar Coverage

Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief Hike: 2% Increase for Central Government Employees and Pensioners (End of April) ▼
  • The Union Cabinet approved a 2% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for central government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners, effective from 1 January 2026.
  • The DA rate has been raised from 58% to 60% of basic pay.
  • The hike benefits approximately 50.46 lakh central government employees and 68.27 lakh pensioners.
  • The annual financial implication on the exchequer is estimated at ₹6,791.24 crore.
  • The revision is based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission.
  • DA and DR are revised twice annually, on 1 January and 1 July, based on the All-India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers published by the Labour Bureau.
  • The December 2025 index data showed a 12-month average of 145.54 points, resulting in a calculated DA rate of 60.33%, rounded down to 60%.
  • The decision was announced by the Ministry of Finance (MoF).
Postal Training Centre Saharanpur Platinum Jubilee Commemorative Stamp Released on 02-04-2026 (Start of April) ▼
  • Postal Training Centre (PTC) Saharanpur completed 75 years since its establishment on April 2, 1951.
  • Union Minister of Communications Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia released a commemorative postage stamp at Rang Bhawan Sabhagaar, Akashwani Bhawan, New Delhi on 02-04-2026.
  • PTC Saharanpur trains nearly 3,000 employees annually across 56.71-acre campus.
  • The centre serves postal personnel of eight States and Union Territories in Northern India.
  • The commemorative stamp is available at Philatelic Bureaus across India and through India Post’s official online portal.
Union Cabinet clears Rs 1.74 lakh crore proposals including nutrient-based subsidy for Kharif 2026, HPCL Rajasthan refinery expansion, Jaipur Metro Phase 2 and two hydropower projects (Mid of April) ▼
  • The Union Cabinet approved a nutrient-based subsidy (NBS) scheme worth Rs 41,534 crore for phosphatic and potassic fertilisers for the Kharif 2026 season from 1 April 2026 to 30 September 2026.
  • Retail price of DAP (Di-Ammonium Phosphate) kept stable at Rs 1,350 per 50 kg bag.
  • Cabinet approved revised cost of Rs 79,459 crore for HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Ltd project in Pachpadra, Balotra district, Rajasthan with HPCL equity contribution of Rs 19,600 crore.
  • The 9 MMTPA refinery is scheduled to start commercial operations in July 2026 and is expected to generate about 1 lakh construction jobs and 10,000 direct operational jobs.
  • Jaipur Metro Phase 2 covering the 41 km Prahladpura to Todi Mod corridor approved at an estimated cost of Rs 13,038 crore.
  • Cabinet cleared Kamala Hydro Electric Project (1,720 MW) at Rs 26,070 crore and Kalai-II Hydro Electric Project (1,200 MW) at Rs 14,106 crore to boost renewable energy capacity.
Union Budget 2026–27 waives customs duty on 17 cancer drugs and cuts TCS on overseas remittances (Start of February) ▼
  • Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman fully exempted basic customs duty on 17 cancer drugs and on medicines, drugs and food for special medical purposes related to seven rare diseases.
  • Tax Collection at Source (TCS) on overseas tour packages reduced to 2% from the earlier 5–20% with no minimum amount.
  • TCS on foreign remittances for education and medical treatment under Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) cut to 2% from 5%.
  • Customs duty on specified manufacturing parts of microwave ovens exempted.
  • Customs duty on personal-use imports by international travellers reduced to 10% from 20%.
  • Export realisation period for textile and leather exporters extended to one year.
  • Basic customs duty raised on low-cost imported umbrellas, ATM/cash dispenser machines and parts, potassium hydroxide, film & broadcasting equipment for foreign crews, imported zoo animals and birds, ammonium phosphate/nitro-phosphate fertilisers and naphtha, coffee roasting/brewing/vending machines, and castor oil cake.
  • Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on futures trading increased to 0.05% from 0.02% and on options premium and exercise to 0.15%.
  • Tax Collection at Source (TCS) on sale of alcoholic liquor, minerals and scrap raised to 2% from 1%.
  • National Calamity Contingent Duty (NCCD) on chewing tobacco and gutkha raised to 60% from 25% while effective duty incidence remains at 25% through notification.

CM-INSPIRE: Financial assistance for UPSC aspirants

[Meghalaya, Union Public Service Commission]

Key Updates:

  • The Meghalaya government launched the CM-INSPIRE initiative to provide financial assistance to candidates appearing for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination.
  • Under the scheme, candidates who qualify for the UPSC Preliminary Examination will receive ₹50,000.
  • Candidates who qualify for the UPSC Mains examination will receive ₹1 lakh.
  • The Meghalaya Administrative Training Institute will serve as the nodal organisation for handling applications and verifying eligibility.
  • The initiative aims to enhance the attendance and pass rates of Meghalaya candidates in the competitive exams offered by the UPSC.

Similar Coverage

Meghalaya government signs Letter of Intent with Starlink India for satellite-based internet pilot in remote hill regions. (Start of April) ▼
  • The Meghalaya government and Starlink India signed a Letter of Intent on Wednesday to pilot satellite-based internet in remote hill regions.
  • The pilot will cover education, healthcare, disaster management, and economic development sectors affected by poor connectivity.
  • Starlink cannot start commercial services in India as it has not been allocated satellite spectrum and must complete security compliance and set up ground infrastructure like earth stations.
  • Chief Minister Conrad Sangma stated that Meghalaya’s rugged terrain makes conventional telecom infrastructure expensive and impractical, leaving large population pockets offline.
  • SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell attended the signing and described Meghalaya’s technology adoption efforts as encouraging.
  • The agreement was signed by Additional Chief Secretary Sampath Kumar; no financial terms were disclosed.
National Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0: ₹1.51 Lakh Crore Outlay for 100% Rural Tap Water Coverage (End of March) ▼
  • The Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) signed a reform-linked Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Meghalaya government under the National Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) 2.0.
  • Meghalaya is the 12th state in India to sign the agreement under JJM 2.0, which was approved by the Union Cabinet on 10 March 2026.
  • The Union Cabinet approved an additional outlay of ₹1.51 lakh crore for the Mission, with approximately ₹67,300 crore allocated in the Union Budget for 2025-26.
  • The national deadline for providing 100 per cent tap water coverage and sanitation has been extended from May 2024 to December 2028.
  • Meghalaya has achieved 83.59 per cent rural tap water coverage and aims to reach 100 per cent coverage by December 2028.
  • The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) stated that Gram Panchayats and Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) will be empowered to manage in-village water supply systems.
  • The MoU was signed by Swati Meena Naik, Joint Secretary of the DDWS, and Praveen Bakshi, Commissioner and Secretary of the Meghalaya Public Health Engineering (PHE) department.
  • Meghalaya adopted a comprehensive Water Policy in 2019 and has constituted a climate council involving multiple departments to address water-related issues.
Assam rolls out Provincialisation Management System (PMS 1.0) portal and Guru Dakshina scheme (End of February) ▼
  • The Assam government launched the Provincialisation Management System (PMS 1.0) portal to streamline provincialisation of venture educational institutions under the Assam Education (Provincialisation of Services of Teachers and Re-Organisation of Educational Institutions) Act, 2017, as amended in 2025.
  • Institutions established before 2006 will be considered for provincialisation and must submit documentary proof through the portal.
  • The government will open around 75,000 teacher and lecturer vacancies this year, with UGC-qualified candidates assured fair opportunities.
  • The Guru Dakshina scheme provides one-time financial assistance to teachers who missed earlier provincialisation due to lack of certificates or eligibility issues, and they will receive preference marks in future recruitment.
Assam Government launches Provincialisation Management System (PMS 1.0) for Venture Educational Institutions (Mid of February) ▼
  • The Government of Assam launched the Provincialisation Management System (PMS 1.0) to streamline the process of provincialising venture educational institutions.
  • Chief Minister (CM) Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated the digital platform at Lok Sewa Bhawan to ensure transparency in the provincialisation of teaching and non-teaching staff.
  • The portal operates under the framework of the Assam Education Act, 2017, which was recently updated as the 2025 Amended Act.
  • The initiative includes special budgetary provisions for teachers of schools and colleges established after 2006 for the first time.
  • Educational institutions are required to register on the portal using the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) code for schools or the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) code for colleges.
  • The system facilitates digital screening and automated verification of institutional data to reduce manual errors and administrative delays.
  • Since 2011, over 57,000 teachers have been provincialised across primary, secondary, and college levels in the state of Assam.
  • The eligibility criteria for the provincialisation process were notified in the Government of Assam Gazette on 30 December 2025.

India welcomes Japan's review of Three Principles on Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology

[Japan]

Key Updates:

  • India welcomed Japan's review of the Three Principles on Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology to expand bilateral defence cooperation and industrial collaboration.
  • The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the move aligns with the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.
  • The review aims to ease constraints on defence exports, allowing transfers under tighter but more flexible conditions, particularly to trusted partners.
  • Both nations committed to deepening practical cooperation in line with their Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation.
  • Defence engagement between the two countries includes the 2+2 dialogue, joint exercises, and maritime cooperation.
  • The shift is expected to facilitate technology sharing, supply chain integration, and the co-development of defence platforms.

Similar Coverage

Japan relaxes arms export rules to sell lethal weapons to 17 countries (End of April) ▼
  • Japan has relaxed restrictions on arms exports, allowing the sale of lethal weapons to 17 countries with which it has defence agreements, including the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK).
  • The previous restrictions limited arms exports to five categories: rescue, transport, warning, surveillance, and minesweeping.
  • The policy change was announced under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who assumed office in October 2025.
  • A ban on arms sales to countries involved in conflict remains in place, except for those that have defence pacts with Japan.
  • Japan's Self-Defence Forces (SDF) participated as combatants for the first time in annual war games between the US and the Philippines.
  • Japan's post-World War Two constitution, written in 1947, contains Article 9 which renounces war.
  • Previous shifts in defence policy include the 2014 relaxation of the blanket ban on military sales by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the 2023 allowance of finished lethal weapon exports by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Australia and Japan sign $7 billion stealth warship deal on 18 April 2026 (Mid of April) ▼
  • Australia and Japan signed a $7 billion defence contract for the supply of advanced stealth warships to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
  • Japan will deliver the first three upgraded Mogami-class frigates starting from 2029, while eight additional vessels will be constructed in Australia.
  • Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) secured the contract to build the initial ships in Japan, winning over Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems.
  • The upgraded Mogami-class frigates will feature a range of 10,000 nautical miles and be equipped with a 32-cell vertical launch system.
  • The vessels are designed to carry surface-to-air and anti-ship missiles and will be capable of operating MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.
  • Australian construction of the frigates will take place at the Henderson Defence Precinct in Western Australia, creating approximately 10,000 skilled jobs.
  • The agreement includes provisions for training and operational coordination between the RAN and the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF).
  • Both nations are members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) grouping, which also includes India and the United States (US).
India and Russia sign Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS) in February 2025 (End of April) ▼
  • 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.
State Bank of India (SBI) and MUFG Bank Ltd. (MUFG) sign partnership to strengthen India-Japan economic corridor (Mid of March) ▼
  • State Bank of India (SBI) and Japan-based MUFG Bank Ltd. (MUFG) have signed a strategic partnership agreement to advance bilateral financial collaboration.
  • The alliance aims to strengthen the India-Japan economic corridor by leveraging the domestic reach of SBI and the global network of MUFG.
  • The partnership focuses on facilitating cross-border capital flows and supporting sustainable economic growth for businesses in both nations.
  • Collaboration will target specific sectors including Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) advisory, Aviation finance, and Real Estate finance.
  • The agreement includes cooperation on trade finance, retail banking solutions, and identifying financing opportunities for Indian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
  • The initiative aims to support Japanese corporates expanding in India and Indian enterprises pursuing growth in Japan and other global markets.

Turkiye passes bill to restrict social media access for children under 15

[Turkey]

Key Updates:

  • Turkish MPs passed a bill restricting social media access for children under 15.
  • The legislation mandates that social media platforms install age-verification systems and provide parental control tools.
  • Digital platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram must block children under 15 from opening accounts.
  • Online gaming companies are required to appoint a representative in Turkiye to ensure compliance with the new regulations.
  • Penalties for non-compliance include fines and internet bandwidth reductions imposed by Turkiye's communications watchdog.
  • Australia implemented social media restrictions for children under 16 in December, resulting in the revocation of approximately 4.7 million accounts.
  • Indonesia introduced regulations banning children under 16 from digital platforms that could expose them to pornography, cyberbullying, online scams, and addiction.
  • Spain, France, and the United Kingdom are also considering or taking measures to restrict children's access to social media.

Similar Coverage

Indonesia bans children under 16 from YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox (End of March) ▼
  • Indonesia on Saturday began implementing a government regulation that bans children younger than 16 from access to digital platforms that could expose them to pornography, cyberbullying, online scams and addiction.
  • Indonesia became the first country in Southeast Asia to ban children from having accounts on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox.
  • Indonesia’s Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid said the government has instructed all digital platforms operating in Indonesia to immediately bring their products, features and services into compliance with applicable regulations.
  • The regulation will apply to around 70 million children in Indonesia — a country with a population of about 280 million.
  • Elon Musk’s X on its Indonesia Online Safety Information page gives 16 as the minimum age required for users in the country.
  • Google-owned YouTube said it supports the Indonesian government’s effort to create an effective, risk-based framework that addresses online harms while preserving access to information and digital opportunity.
  • TikTok said that it will take the necessary steps in line with regulatory expectations and continue to strengthen the safeguards, as well as keep Indonesian community in the platform informed as further guidance becomes available.
  • Restrictions on social media access for children under 16 first began in December in Australia, where social media companies revoked access to about 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to children.
French National Assembly approves social media ban for children below 15 years (End of January) ▼
  • The French National Assembly passed a bill banning children below 15 years from social media by 130 votes to 21.
  • The bill mandates age-verification mechanisms compliant with European Union law to enforce the ban.
  • President Emmanuel Macron aims to implement the ban before the start of the next academic year in September.
  • Social media platforms must deactivate non-compliant accounts by 31 December.
  • The legislation extends the existing smartphone ban in junior and middle schools to high schools.
  • Australia was the first country to ban children below 16 from social media platforms in December.
  • The United Kingdom, Denmark, Spain, and Greece are also considering similar bans.
  • A 2024 Harris Interactive survey showed 73 percent of the French public supported the ban for those below 15 years.
Karnataka Social Media Ban for Children Under 16 (Start of March) ▼
  • Karnataka government proposed a ban on social media usage for children under 16 years during the state budget presentation.
  • Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the ban to prevent adverse effects of increasing mobile usage on children.
  • The ban was part of the 17th state budget with a total outlay of ₹4,48,004 crore.
  • Karnataka IT Minister Priyanka Kharge had earlier indicated the state was exploring restrictions on social media access for children.
  • Andhra Pradesh government had earlier considered banning mobile phone usage in schools.
  • Goa IT minister stated the state is examining restricting social media use for children below 16 years due to digital addiction and cyberbullying concerns.
Spain announces social media ban for children under 16 at World Government Summit (Start of February) ▼
  • Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a ban on social media platforms for children under the age of 16 at the World Government Summit (WGS) in Dubai.
  • The Spanish government will require platforms to implement age verification systems and introduce a bill to hold social media executives accountable for illegal and hateful content.
  • Australia implemented a world-first social media ban for children under 16 on 10 December, leading to the removal of approximately 4.7 million accounts.
  • French lawmakers approved a bill banning social media for children under 15, which is scheduled for discussion in the Senate.
  • The United Kingdom (UK) and Denmark are also considering legislative measures to restrict social media access for children.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung conducts three-day state visit to India on 19 April 2026

[South Korea]

Key Updates:

  • South Korean President Lee Jae-myung arrived in India for a three-day state visit, the first by a South Korean leader in over eight years.
  • The visit aims to advance the India–South Korea Special Strategic Partnership, a status elevated in 2015.
  • President Lee Jae-myung, who took office in June 2025, will hold a bilateral summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House.
  • The bilateral talks will focus on expanding cooperation in semiconductors, defence production, green energy, trade, and the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
  • The South Korean President is scheduled to attend a business forum at Bharat Mandapam and meet President Droupadi Murmu.
  • The Special Strategic Partnership between New Delhi and Seoul covers cooperation in manufacturing, technology, infrastructure, and defence.

Similar Coverage

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to visit India from Feb 18-22 (End of February) ▼
  • Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will undertake a five-day visit to India from 18 to 22 February.
  • He will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 21 February and review the entire gamut of bilateral relations.
  • President Lula will participate in the AI Impact Summit in India from 19 to 20 February.
  • He will be accompanied by about 14 ministers and a large delegation of top CEOs of Brazilian companies.
  • The accompanying ministers will have meetings with their Indian counterparts and the CEOs will participate in a business forum during the visit.
  • This will be President Lula's sixth visit to India; his first visit was in 2004 as Guest of Honour for Republic Day and his last visit was for the G20 Summit in September 2023.
  • India and Brazil share a Strategic Partnership since 2006 and Brazil is India's largest trading partner in Latin America.
India and South Korea sign 16 MoUs on 20 April 2026 to enhance trade and technology ties (End of April) ▼
  • India and South Korea signed 16 Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) on 20 April 2026, focusing on e-mobility, green energy, and advanced manufacturing.
  • The two nations aim to double bilateral trade from $27 billion to $54 billion by 2030, targeting an annual growth rate of approximately 18 per cent.
  • Priority sectors identified for cooperation include semiconductors, electronics, e-mobility, green energy, shipbuilding, and digital trade.
  • An India-Korea Industrial Cooperation Committee has been established with four working groups covering trade, industry, strategic resources, and clean energy.
  • Both countries are working to upgrade the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which was originally signed in 2009.
  • The partnership envisions the establishment of a Korea-specific industrial township in India with plug-and-play infrastructure to boost investment.
  • Cooperation was established under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement to enable carbon market collaboration through the trading of emission reductions.
  • India and South Korea reiterated their respective net-zero targets of 2070 and 2050.
  • Diplomatic relations between India and South Korea were established in 1973.
  • Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal stated that the first tranche of a bilateral trade agreement between India and the United States is almost finalised.
India Vice President CP Radhakrishnan visits Sri Lanka on 19-20 April 2026 (Mid of April) ▼
  • Vice President CP Radhakrishnan embarked on a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka from 19-20 April 2026.
  • This marks the first bilateral visit by an Indian vice president to Sri Lanka.
  • The Vice President will meet the President of Sri Lanka Anura Kumara Disanayaka and the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Harini Amarasuriya.
  • The visit includes interactions with Tamil leaders and the Indian-origin Tamil community from the Northern and Eastern regions of Sri Lanka.
  • The Vice President will address the Indian diaspora in Colombo and virtually hand over houses to beneficiaries under the third phase of the Indian Housing Project.
  • With the completion of the third phase, the total number of houses for Tamil communities will reach 50,000.
  • A fourth phase of the Indian Housing Project is currently building 10,000 additional houses.
  • The itinerary includes a visit to Nuwara Eliya to inspect Indian Housing Projects and interact with the local Tamil community.
South Korea and India hold summit in New Delhi to boost economic ties (End of April) ▼
  • 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.

India and Sri Lanka conduct 4th joint diving exercise from April 21-27, 2026

Key Updates:

  • The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Nireekshak, a diving support and submarine rescue vessel of the Indian Navy (IN), arrived at the port of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  • The vessel is participating in the 4th India-Sri Lanka joint diving exercise scheduled from April 21-27, 2026.
  • The ship is commanded by Commander Sailesh Kumar Tyagi.
  • Under the Indian government's Aarogya Maitri initiative, the ship will present two BHISM cubes to the Sri Lankan authorities.
  • The IN will hand over 50,000 rounds of 9 mm ammunition to the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN).
  • The maritime engagement is aligned with the vision of MAHASAGAR to foster stability, cooperation, and collective growth in the Indian Ocean Region.

Similar Coverage

India's INS Nireekshak arrives in Sri Lanka for training and maritime cooperation (End of April) ▼
  • The Indian Navy (IN) ship INS Nireekshak arrived in Sri Lanka for a training visit and Operational Turnaround (OTR).
  • The visit is aimed at strengthening maritime cooperation between India and Sri Lanka.
  • The ship was welcomed by the Sri Lankan Navy at the port of Colombo.
NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) Expands Unified Payments Interface (UPI) Merchant Acceptance in Sri Lanka (Mid of March) ▼
  • NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) has partnered with LankaPay to strengthen Unified Payments Interface (UPI) merchant acceptance across Sri Lanka.
  • The initiative enables Indian travellers to make real-time digital payments by scanning LankaQR codes using UPI-enabled mobile applications.
  • UPI acceptance has been enabled at several establishments including Cinnamon Hotels, Taj Hotels, Barista, Keells Supermarket, and Odel.
  • Indian tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka increased from 4,16,000 in 2024 to 5,31,000 in 2025, accounting for the highest share of total international arrivals.
  • Ritesh Shukla serves as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NIPL.
NITI Aayog and Atal Innovation Mission launch ATL Sarthi and Mentor India Academy in Telangana (Start of April) ▼
  • NITI Aayog and the Atal Innovation Mission launched the ATL Sarthi and Mentor India Academy in Telangana.
  • The initiative will provide structured mentorship and institutional support to 379 Atal Tinkering Labs in the state.
  • Vardhaman College of Engineering has been onboarded as the nodal institution for Telangana under the programme.
  • The programme clusters ATLs regionally and connects them with local institutions for continuous mentorship, teacher training, and startup support pathways.
  • The rollout builds on AIM’s national mission of establishing over 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs across India.
9th Indian Ocean Conference – 10 to 12 April 2026 (Mid of April) ▼
  • The 9th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC 2026) was inaugurated in Port Louis, Mauritius and will run from 10 to 12 April 2026.
  • The conference is organised by India Foundation in association with the Government of Mauritius under the theme “Collective Stewardship for Indian Ocean Governance.”
  • Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam was the Chief Guest at the inaugural session.
  • External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar delivered the keynote address.
  • Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi also addressed the session.
  • On 9 April, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar met Mauritius Prime Minister Ramgoolam and President Dharambeer Gokhool, conveying greetings from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
  • A Letter of Exchange on a Special Economic Package was signed, reaffirming India’s commitment to Mauritius’ infrastructure development, health and security.
  • Eleven India-supported High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) were inaugurated across Mauritius covering sustainable development, energy, sports and infrastructure.
  • The iGOT Karmayogi portal, India’s flagship civil services capacity‑building platform, was launched exclusively for Mauritian civil servants – the first such launch for any partner country.
  • University Grants Commission of India (UGC) and the Higher Education Commission of Mauritius exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding.
  • A royalty cheque of USD 45,000 was handed over to Mauritius for the sale of nautical charts.
  • A Renal Transplant Unit was inaugurated at the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital in Mauritius.
  • An AYUSH Centre of Excellence is slated for completion in Mauritius.
  • The final lot of e‑buses was handed over to support sustainable public transport in Mauritius.
  • An Indian public sector enterprise is developing Mauritius’ first floating solar power project.
  • India will soon appoint a Defence Attaché in Mauritius – the first Defence Attaché for the country.
  • A Government‑to‑Government agreement for the supply of oil and gas to Mauritius is in its final stages.
  • On the sidelines, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar met Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Seychelles Foreign Minister Barry Faure, former Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Bhutan’s Foreign Minister D.N. Dhungyel and Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal.
  • The conference aligns with India’s Neighbourhood First policy, Vision MAHASAGAR, and the Global South commitment.

Ministry of Jal Shakti to host 9th India International Water Week (IIWW) in September 2026

[Delhi]

Key Updates:

  • The Ministry of Jal Shakti will host the 9th India International Water Week (IIWW) from September 22-26, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
  • The theme for the IIWW is Climate Resilient Water Management.
  • Conceptualised in 2012, the IIWW is held biennially to advance innovation, global partnerships, and knowledge-sharing in water governance.
  • The event will comprise 49 sessions with participation from 11 country delegations, six Union Ministries, and 16 States and Union Territories.
  • The IIWW will feature thematic forums including the Global Water Leaders Forum, Business Forum, Country Forum, Youth Forum, and Startup Forum.
  • The event will run alongside the Second International Water Sanitation and Hygiene Conference 2026.

Similar Coverage

Noida International Airport Phase I inaugurated by PM Modi (End of March) ▼
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Phase I of Noida International Airport at Jewar, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh on 28 March 2026.
  • Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) granted the Aerodrome License to Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL) under the Public Use category for all-weather operations.
  • Phase 1 developed at an investment of around ₹11,200 crore by YIAPL, a wholly owned subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG, under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model with the Government of Uttar Pradesh and the Government of India.
  • Concession period commenced on 1 October 2021 for 40 years.
  • Airport designed for initial passenger handling capacity of 12 million passengers per annum, scalable up to 70 million passengers per annum.
  • Airport features a 3,900-metre runway, Instrument Landing System (ILS), and advanced airfield lighting for all-weather, round-the-clock operations.
  • Airport aims to operate as a net-zero emissions facility with energy-efficient systems and environmentally responsible practices.
Raj Unnati Initiative: Rajasthan CM Reviews Projects and Schemes Worth ₹2,000 Crore (End of January) ▼
  • Chief Minister (CM) Bhajanlal Sharma chaired the first meeting of the Raj Unnati initiative to review seven projects and two schemes involving an estimated expenditure of ₹2,000 crore.
  • The CM directed the implementation of a cashless alternative model for the PM Suryaghar 150 Units Free Electricity Scheme (PM Suryaghar) to accelerate rooftop solar installations.
  • Instructions were issued to complete the annual verification of beneficiaries under special disability pensions and the Palanhaar Scheme to release pending payments.
  • Infrastructure projects reviewed include the Hira Pura Bus Terminal in Jaipur, land acquisition for the Ajmer–Chanderia broad-gauge railway doubling project, and the establishment of girls’ military schools.
  • The review encompassed the development of solid waste processing plants, faecal sludge treatment plants, and sports and health infrastructure.
  • The CM mandated the use of the Rajasthan Sampark Helpline for verifying grievance redressal and ordered the replacement of burnt or faulty transformers within a prescribed time frame.
  • District Collectors were instructed to expedite land allotment for development projects and ensure tenders are issued promptly after allocation.
Bharat Steel 2026 scheduled for 16-17 April at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi (Start of March) ▼
  • Bharat Steel is India’s premier annual steel industry event convened under the Ministry of Steel, Government of India.
  • The 2026 edition will be held on 16 and 17 April 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
  • Stall booking for the event is currently open.
  • Russia, Oman, Australia, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, South Korea, Mozambique, Brazil and Sweden are listed as International Partners.
  • Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand and Maharashtra are listed as State Partners.
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and Infrastructure Projects worth ₹5,650 Crore (Mid of March) ▼
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for development projects worth approximately ₹5,650 crore in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, on March 11.
  • The Union Cabinet approved the declaration of Madurai Airport as an International Airport to enhance tourism and trade in southern Tamil Nadu.
  • Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), 89 rural roads spanning 370 km will be inaugurated to improve connectivity to markets, schools, and healthcare facilities.
  • The foundation stone will be laid for the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) City Gas Distribution (CGD) Network in Nilgiris and Erode districts at an investment of over ₹3,680 crore.
  • The BPCL project aims to provide Piped Natural Gas (PNG) connections to over 8.8 lakh households and establish more than 201 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations.
  • A lubricant plant by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) with a capacity of 672 Thousand Metric Tonnes Per Annum (TMTPA) will be dedicated at Manali, Chennai, at a cost of ₹1,490 crore.
  • The Prime Minister will flag off two Amrit Bharat Express trains and other rail services to strengthen connectivity between Tamil Nadu and states including Telangana, Karnataka, and Kerala.
  • A foundation stone will be laid for a greenfield bypass on National Highway 81 (NH-81) near Gangaikonda Cholapuram.

National Panchayati Raj Day observed on April 24

Key Updates:

  • National Panchayati Raj Day is celebrated annually on April 24.
  • The theme for National Panchayati Raj Day 2026 is “Sashakt Panchayat, Sarvangeen Vikas" (Empowered Panchayats, Holistic Development).
  • The day commemorates the implementation of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992, which came into effect on April 24, 1993.
  • The Panchayati Raj system operates on a three-tier structure: Gram Panchayat (village level), Panchayat Samiti (intermediate level), and Zilla Parishad (district level).
  • e-GramSwaraj is an online platform aimed at improving transparency and efficiency in Panchayat administration.
  • The observance aligns with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and the goal of becoming a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047.
  • Panchayat elections are held every five years, with at least 50% of seats reserved for women, Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
  • India currently has 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats, 6,687 Panchayat Samitis, and 666 Zilla Panchayats.
  • National Panchayati Raj Day has been an annual event since its establishment in 2010.

Similar Coverage

Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) Launches Say No To Proxy Sarpanch Campaign (Mid of March) ▼
  • The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) launched a nationwide social media campaign titled Say No To Proxy Sarpanch to combat the practice of proxy representation in Gram Panchayats.
  • The campaign aims to empower elected women Sarpanches and raise awareness against male relatives, often called Sarpanch Pati or Pradhan Pati, exercising authority in their stead.
  • Launched on International Women’s Day, the initiative is being conducted in collaboration with state panchayati raj departments and will continue until 18 March 2026.
  • The MoPR had previously formed an advisory committee in September 2023, following a Supreme Court order, to address the issue of proxy participation.
  • The committee’s report, titled Transforming Women’s Representation and Roles in Panchayati Raj Systems and Institutions: Eliminating Efforts for Proxy Participation, recommended enforcing exemplary penalties for proxy leadership.
  • Proposed measures include a robust reporting mechanism through helplines, women's watchdog committees for confidential complaints, and whistleblower rewards for verified cases.
  • The report was based on extensive consultations and four intensive regional workshops involving 14 States.
National Voters’ Day observed on January 25 (End of January) ▼
  • National Voters’ Day is celebrated every year on January 25 to mark the establishment of the Election Commission of India (ECI) on January 25, 1950.
  • The day was first observed in 2011 and 2025 marks the 14th National Voters’ Day.
  • The minimum voting age in India was lowered from 21 to 18 years by the 61st Constitutional Amendment that came into effect in 1988.
  • Key objectives of the day are to encourage voter registration, promote ethical and informed voting, highlight the importance of free and fair elections, and strengthen democracy through public participation.
Karmayogi Sadhana Week 2026 launched to enhance civil-service capabilities (Start of April) ▼
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Karmayogi Sadhana Week 2026 on 2 April 2026.
  • The initiative promotes the mantra 'Nagrik Devo Bhav' for citizen-centric governance.
  • The week-long programme unites ministries, states, and training institutions for national capacity building.
  • Activities include webinars and workshops themed around Technology, Tradition, and Tangible Outcomes.
PANCHAM Chatbot and Rural Governance Initiatives Launched by MoPR (End of January) ▼
  • The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) will launch the PANCHAM – Panchayat Assistance and Messaging Chatbot, developed in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
  • MoPR will release the 17th issue of Gramoday Sankalp magazine and the Compendium of Basic Statistics on Panchayati Raj Institutions–2025.
  • The Ministry will introduce the Expert Committee Report on Service Delivery at the Panchayat Level and the PESA Performance and Implementation Rank Indicators.
  • Around 240 panchayat heads, including Sarpanches, Mukhiyas, and Gram Pradhans, will be felicitated for achieving saturation in flagship Central Government schemes.
  • The MoPR tableau for the Republic Day Parade 2026 is themed SVAMITVA Scheme: Aatmanirbhar Panchayat se Samriddh evam Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
  • Nearly 450 special guests, including heads of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Rural Local Bodies (RLBs), will attend the Republic Day celebrations at Kartavya Path.
  • Prizes and certificates will be awarded to winners of the Know Your Constitution Quiz and Essay Competition organised as part of Constitution Day–2025.

Herjit S. Bhalla Appointed Chief Executive Officer of Dabur India

[Dabur]

Key Updates:

  • Herjit S. Bhalla has joined Dabur India as the chief executive officer (CEO) for its India business, effective April 23, 2026.
  • Mohit Malhotra has been elevated to the role of whole-time director and global CEO of Dabur India.
  • Prior to this appointment, Bhalla served as the vice-president, Canada and global customers at the Hershey Company.
  • Bhalla has an over eight-year tenure at the Hershey Company across roles in Canada, Asia-Pacific, West Asia, and Africa.
  • Bhalla has spent more than two decades in roles at Metro Cash & Carry and Hindustan Unilever (HUL).

Similar Coverage

Vibha Padalkar reappointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of HDFC Life Insurance Company (End of April) ▼
  • The Board of Directors of HDFC Life Insurance Company (HDFC Life) approved the re-appointment of Vibha Padalkar as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for a five-year term effective September 12.
  • The appointment received clearance from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) and approval from shareholders at the Annual General Meeting.
  • Padalkar joined HDFC Life in 2008 and was instrumental in the company's successful listing in 2017.
  • She is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales.
  • She serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Life Insurance Council.
  • Padalkar received the 'CA Business Leader - Large Corporates - BFSI' award at the 15th ICAI Awards.
  • She has been honoured by the ET Prime Women Leadership Awards, IMA India, and was named 'Businesswoman of the Year' at the Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence 2025.
  • Her other recognitions include Business Today's 'Top 30 Most Powerful Women in Business' (2018-2023, 2025), 'Timeless Icons' (2024), Fortune International's 'Most Powerful Women in Business' (2021), Fortune India's 'Most Powerful Women in Business' (2021-2025), Business World's 'Most Valuable CEOs' (2022, 2023), Business World's 'Most Influential Women in Business' (2022), and India Today's 'The She List' (2024).
Baroruchi Mishra appointed Managing Director & CEO of Hindustan Oil Exploration Company Ltd (HOEC). (End of February) ▼
  • Baroruchi Mishra will assume charge as Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Hindustan Oil Exploration Company Ltd (HOEC) from 1 April 2026.
  • The Board approved Mishra’s appointment for a term of three consecutive years from 1 April 2026, subject to shareholder approval.
  • Current Managing Director Ramasamy Jeevanandam will cease to hold office at the close of business hours on 31 March 2026.
  • The Board, on 25 February 2026, also approved Mishra’s redesignation as Non-Executive Non-Independent Director effective the same date, subject to shareholders’ nod.
  • Dr. Jagadip Narayan Singh was appointed Additional Director (Non-Executive Independent) and Chairman for a five-year term, subject to shareholder approval through postal ballot.
IndusInd Bank appoints Arijit Basu as Part-time Chairman for three years (End of January) ▼
  • IndusInd Bank has appointed Arijit Basu as an Additional Director in the category of Non-Executive Independent Director and Part-time Chairman for a three-year term starting 31 January 2026.
  • Arijit Basu will succeed Sunil Mehta, whose tenure as the Part-time Chairman and Director of the bank concludes on 30 January 2026.
  • The appointee is the former Managing Director (MD) and Board Member of State Bank of India (SBI) and former MD and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SBI Life Insurance Company.
  • He has previously served as the Chairman of the Board of HDB Financial Services Ltd, which is a subsidiary of HDFC Bank.
  • Arijit Basu holds a master’s degree in arts from the University of Delhi and has completed the Certified Associate course of the Indian Institute of Bankers.
  • He currently serves as an Independent Director for Prudential Plc, Peerless Hospitex and Hospital Research Centre Ltd, and CleanMax Enviro Energy Solutions Ltd.
  • The appointment follows the earlier exits of former CEO Sumant Kathpalia and Deputy CEO Arun Khurana amidst investor criticism over accounting lapses in 2025.
  • IndusInd Bank shares fell by 10% last year, making it the worst-performing stock on the private bank index, which rose nearly 16% during the same period.
  • The bank stated that the appointment is in line with the regulatory disclosures of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

Rajneesh Karnatak, Debadatta Chand and Ashutosh Choudhury granted tenure extensions as Bank CEOs and Executive Director

[Bank of India, Bank of Baroda]

Key Updates:

  • The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved the tenure extensions via an official order dated April 22.
  • Rajneesh Karnatak received a three-year extension as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bank of India (BoI) beyond August 28, 2026.
  • Debadatta Chand received a three-year extension as MD and CEO of Bank of Baroda (BoB) beyond June 30, 2026.
  • Ashutosh Choudhury received a three-year extension as Executive Director at Indian Bank beyond May 2, 2026.
  • The approvals were cleared following proposals from the Department of Financial Services under the Ministry of Finance.

Similar Coverage

Sanjay Agarwal reappointed as MD & CEO of AU Small Finance Bank. (Mid of February) ▼
  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved Sanjay Agarwal’s reappointment as MD & CEO of AU Small Finance Bank for three years from 19 April 2026.
  • AU Small Finance Bank’s board had approved his reappointment on 17 October 2025 and shareholders on 26 December 2025.
  • Agarwal first became MD of AU Financiers on 14 February 2008 and MD & CEO of AU Small Finance Bank on 19 April 2017.
  • This will be his third consecutive RBI-approved term after the bank’s conversion to a small finance bank.
Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approves Sanjay Khanna as Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) chairman & managing director (Mid of April) ▼
  • Sanjay Khanna appointed chairman & managing director (C&MD) of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) by Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).
  • Khanna, previously director (refineries) at BPCL, will serve until 31 May 2029 or until further orders.
  • He is a Chemical Engineering graduate from National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli and holds a postgraduate degree in Finance Management from Mumbai University.
  • Under his leadership BPCL will invest ₹75,000 crore over five years, including ₹50,000 crore Bina Petrochemical and Refinery Expansion Project (BPREP) at Bina, Madhya Pradesh.
  • Khanna also serves as Director on the Boards of Bharat PetroResources Limited, Petronet LNG Limited and Ratnagiri Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited.
IndusInd Bank appoints Arijit Basu as Part-time Chairman for three years (End of January) ▼
  • IndusInd Bank has appointed Arijit Basu as an Additional Director in the category of Non-Executive Independent Director and Part-time Chairman for a three-year term starting 31 January 2026.
  • Arijit Basu will succeed Sunil Mehta, whose tenure as the Part-time Chairman and Director of the bank concludes on 30 January 2026.
  • The appointee is the former Managing Director (MD) and Board Member of State Bank of India (SBI) and former MD and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SBI Life Insurance Company.
  • He has previously served as the Chairman of the Board of HDB Financial Services Ltd, which is a subsidiary of HDFC Bank.
  • Arijit Basu holds a master’s degree in arts from the University of Delhi and has completed the Certified Associate course of the Indian Institute of Bankers.
  • He currently serves as an Independent Director for Prudential Plc, Peerless Hospitex and Hospital Research Centre Ltd, and CleanMax Enviro Energy Solutions Ltd.
  • The appointment follows the earlier exits of former CEO Sumant Kathpalia and Deputy CEO Arun Khurana amidst investor criticism over accounting lapses in 2025.
  • IndusInd Bank shares fell by 10% last year, making it the worst-performing stock on the private bank index, which rose nearly 16% during the same period.
  • The bank stated that the appointment is in line with the regulatory disclosures of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approves R. Vijay Anandh as MD & CEO of City Union Bank for three years. (Start of February) ▼
  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) conveyed approval through a letter dated 9 February 2026.
  • Appointment effective 1 May 2026 for a period of three years.
  • R. Vijay Anandh is currently Executive Director of City Union Bank.
  • Appointment subject to approval by City Union Bank shareholders.
  • City Union Bank Q3 net profit rose 16% year-on-year to ₹332 crore.
  • Net interest income increased 28% to ₹752 crore in Q3 from ₹587.7 crore a year ago.
  • Gross non-performing assets declined to 2.17% from 2.42% quarter-on-quarter.
  • Net NPAs eased to 0.78% from 0.90% sequentially.
  • City Union Bank shares closed 1.25% lower at ₹288.80 on NSE.

Parminder Singh appointed CEO of Reliance Enterprise Intelligence Ltd

[Reliance Enterprise Intelligence Limited]

Key Updates:

  • Parminder Singh has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Reliance Enterprise Intelligence Ltd (REIL).
  • REIL is a joint venture between Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and Meta Platforms.
  • REIL was incorporated in India on October 24, 2025.
  • The company focuses on developing, marketing, and distributing sovereign Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions for Indian enterprises.
  • RIL holds a 70% stake in REIL, while Meta Platforms holds the remaining 30% equity.

Similar Coverage

Santhosh Viswanathan appointed Vice-President and Managing Director for Asia Pacific and Japan at Intel. (Start of April) ▼
  • Santhosh Viswanathan previously served as Vice-President and Managing Director of Intel India.
  • He will now oversee business operations, brand, and customer engagements across the Asia Pacific and Japan region.
  • Earlier, Viswanathan led Intel operations in Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.
  • He also served as Global Director of Operations in the United States, overseeing sales operations strategy and planning for Intel's global sales organisation.
  • Intel stated that Viswanathan helped position India as a key growth market during his tenure as India head.
Baroruchi Mishra appointed Managing Director & CEO of Hindustan Oil Exploration Company Ltd (HOEC). (End of February) ▼
  • Baroruchi Mishra will assume charge as Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Hindustan Oil Exploration Company Ltd (HOEC) from 1 April 2026.
  • The Board approved Mishra’s appointment for a term of three consecutive years from 1 April 2026, subject to shareholder approval.
  • Current Managing Director Ramasamy Jeevanandam will cease to hold office at the close of business hours on 31 March 2026.
  • The Board, on 25 February 2026, also approved Mishra’s redesignation as Non-Executive Non-Independent Director effective the same date, subject to shareholders’ nod.
  • Dr. Jagadip Narayan Singh was appointed Additional Director (Non-Executive Independent) and Chairman for a five-year term, subject to shareholder approval through postal ballot.
IndusInd Bank appoints Arijit Basu as Part-time Chairman for three years (End of January) ▼
  • IndusInd Bank has appointed Arijit Basu as an Additional Director in the category of Non-Executive Independent Director and Part-time Chairman for a three-year term starting 31 January 2026.
  • Arijit Basu will succeed Sunil Mehta, whose tenure as the Part-time Chairman and Director of the bank concludes on 30 January 2026.
  • The appointee is the former Managing Director (MD) and Board Member of State Bank of India (SBI) and former MD and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SBI Life Insurance Company.
  • He has previously served as the Chairman of the Board of HDB Financial Services Ltd, which is a subsidiary of HDFC Bank.
  • Arijit Basu holds a master’s degree in arts from the University of Delhi and has completed the Certified Associate course of the Indian Institute of Bankers.
  • He currently serves as an Independent Director for Prudential Plc, Peerless Hospitex and Hospital Research Centre Ltd, and CleanMax Enviro Energy Solutions Ltd.
  • The appointment follows the earlier exits of former CEO Sumant Kathpalia and Deputy CEO Arun Khurana amidst investor criticism over accounting lapses in 2025.
  • IndusInd Bank shares fell by 10% last year, making it the worst-performing stock on the private bank index, which rose nearly 16% during the same period.
  • The bank stated that the appointment is in line with the regulatory disclosures of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
Reliance to invest Rs 10 lakh crore in AI compute, green energy and applications (End of February) ▼
  • Reliance Industries and Jio will invest Rs 10 lakh crore over seven years to build India’s sovereign AI infrastructure, scale green energy and develop affordable AI applications.
  • Jio Intelligence will create gigawatt-scale data centres and a nationwide edge network, with a 120 megawatt campus under construction in Jamnagar, Gujarat scheduled to go live in the second half of 2026.
  • Reliance will utilise up to 10 gigawatts of green power surplus anchored by solar projects in Kutch, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh to power the AI infrastructure.
  • Jio Shikshak provides AI-powered teaching assistance in 22 Indian languages, Jio Arogya AI delivers first medical guidance in under five minutes on any phone, Jio Krishi offers voice-first farm advisory to 140 million farmers, and Jio Bharat IQ serves as a voice-first AI companion.
  • Jio Intelligence will follow five principles: AI for deeptech and advanced manufacturing, multilingual AI across Indian languages, responsibility and data residency, job creation through high-skill work, and ecosystem building with enterprises, startups, IITs, IISc and research institutions.

General Upendra Dwivedi inducted into International Hall of Fame of US Army War College

[United States, US Army War College]

Key Updates:

  • General Upendra Dwivedi, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), was inducted into the International Hall of Fame of the US Army War College (AWC) in Pennsylvania.
  • General Dwivedi is the third Indian head of the army to receive this honour, following General V K Singh and General Bikram Singh.
  • During his visit to the AWC at Carlisle Barracks, General Dwivedi addressed faculty and international student officers on leadership, professional military education, and security dynamics.
  • General Dwivedi was accorded a Guard of Honour at Fort Shafter, the headquarters of the United States Army Pacific, in Hawaii.
  • He held discussions with General Ronald P. Clark, the Commanding General of the US Army Pacific, to strengthen India-US defence cooperation.
  • The visit follows recent trips to the US by Air Chief Amar Preet Singh and Navy chief Dinesh Tripathi.

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KG George, 1965 India-Pakistan War Veteran and Vir Chakra Recipient, Dies at 95 (Start of March) ▼
  • Retired Lance Havildar K G George, a veteran of the 1965 India-Pakistan War, passed away at the age of 95 in Kottayam, Kerala.
  • He was a recipient of the Vir Chakra, which is the third highest wartime gallantry award in India.
  • George served in the Indian Army's Corps of Signals, a unit that was established on 15 February 1911.
  • He was cited for restoring disrupted communications in the Wagah Sector in Pakistan under persistent enemy shelling between 6 and 10 September 1965.
  • On the night of 8 and 9 September 1965, he established a vital line of communication from Brigade Headquarters to forward battalions during an enemy attack.
  • Born in February 1931 in Kerala, the veteran was recognised for displaying courage and devotion to duty of a high order during his military service.
India: COAS General Upendra Dwivedi flags off culmination ceremony of Bharat RannBhoomi Darshan D2D Expedition at National War Memorial, New Delhi (End of February) ▼
  • Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi flagged off the culmination ceremony of Bharat RannBhoomi Darshan D2D Expedition at the National War Memorial in New Delhi.
  • The 22-day expedition covered approximately 3,400 kilometres, starting from Dwarka on 3 February 2026.
  • Led jointly by the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Border Security Force (BSF), the expedition traversed key locations across Gujarat and Rajasthan to honour war heroes and showcase India’s military heritage.
President approves gallantry and service medals for Indian Coast Guard personnel on 77th Republic Day (End of January) ▼
  • President of India approved Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for ADG Donny Michael, PTM, TM.
  • DIG KS Sitaram received the Vishisht Seva Medal.
  • P/Nvk ME Saumyaranjan Behera was awarded the Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak.
  • IG Iqbal Singh Chauhan and IG Datwinder Singh Saini received the President's Tatrakshak Medal for Distinguished Service.
  • Late Comdt Rakesh Kumar Rana, Late Comdt JG Vipin Babu and Late P/Nvk RP Karan Singh were posthumously conferred the Tatrakshak Medal (Gallantry).
  • Comdt JG Shailendra Singh Bisht, P/Nvk RP Gautam Yadav and P/Nvk RP Banti Kumar received the Tatrakshak Medal (Gallantry).
  • Tatrakshak Medal (Meritorious Service) was awarded to DIG Vinod Kumar Parmar, DIG Arun Kumar Bhardwaj, DIG Sudhakar Patil, Comdt Indu P and Adh RO Tapas Kumar Banerjee.
President Droupadi Murmu announced gallantry medals for 70 Armed Forces and security personnel. (End of January) ▼
  • President Droupadi Murmu announced 70 gallantry medals on the eve of the 77th Republic Day 2026.
  • The awards include one Ashok Chakra, three Kirti Chakras, 13 Shaurya Chakras, one Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry), 44 Sena Medals (Gallantry), six Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry) and two Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry).
  • Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (Air Force) received the Ashok Chakra.
  • Major Arshdeep Singh (Army), Naib Subedar Doleshwar Subba (Army) and Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair (Air Force) were awarded the Kirti Chakra.
  • Six of the 70 gallantry awards were given posthumously.

Srikanth Velamakanni Appointed Chairperson of National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom)

[National Association of Software and Service Companies]

Key Updates:

  • Srikanth Velamakanni, cofounder and group CEO of Fractal, has been appointed as the Chairperson of the National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom).
  • He succeeds Sindhu Gangadharan, Managing Director of SAP Labs India, who completes her term as Chairperson in April 2026.
  • Kishor Patil, CEO and Managing Director at KPIT, has been elected as the Vice Chairperson of Nasscom.
  • Srikanth Velamakanni previously served as the Vice Chairperson of Nasscom and as an Executive Council member for over six years.
  • Velamakanni will work with Nasscom President Rajesh Nambiar and the Executive Council to steer the industry's agenda.

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UB Pravin Rao named Chairperson of Nasscom Foundation (Mid of April) ▼
  • UB Pravin Rao succeeded Rostow Ravanan as Chairperson of Nasscom Foundation.
  • Rao previously served as Vice-Chairperson and Chairman of Nasscom.
  • He was Chief Operating Officer of Infosys from 2014 to 2021.
  • Nasscom Foundation focuses on digital inclusion, employability, women entrepreneurship, and tech-enabled NGO support.
  • The Foundation works with corporates, NGOs, government, and ecosystem partners for scalable social interventions.
Rajya Sabha reconstitutes panel of Vice‑Chairpersons (Mid of April) ▼
  • The Rajya Sabha reconstituted its panel of vice‑chairpersons on Thursday, with effect from 15 April.
  • Six members were nominated to the panel: Dinesh Sharma, S Phangnon Konyak and Ghanshyam Tiwari of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP); Phulo Devi Netam of the Indian National Congress (Congress); M. Thambidurai of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK); and Sasmit Patra of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).
  • Members of the panel preside over the House when both the Chairman and Deputy Chairman are absent.
  • While presiding, panel members exercise the same powers as the Chairperson, including maintaining order, regulating debate and ensuring smooth functioning of the House.
  • Unlike the Deputy Chairman, panel members do not hold a permanent constitutional office and preside on a rotational basis.
Narayan Ramachandran heads PFRDA (Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority) constituted 9-member SAARG committee. (End of January) ▼
  • Narayan Ramachandran, former country head and CEO of Morgan Stanley India, chairs the SAARG committee formed by PFRDA.
  • The committee includes former whole-time member Ananth Narayan, Motilal Oswal Co-founder Raamdeo Agrawal, DSP Mutual Fund MD & CEO Kalpen Parekh, and First Global Founder & CMD Devina Mehra.
  • PFRDA mandates the SAARG committee to review and modernise the National Pension System (NPS) investment framework within 9 months.
  • The panel will benchmark NPS guidelines against leading global pension systems and the evolving Indian investment ecosystem.
Government appoints Kompella Venkata Ramana Murty as Whole-Time Member of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) (Mid of March) ▼
  • The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Kompella Venkata Ramana Murty as a whole-time member of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for a period of three years.
  • Murty is a 1991-batch officer of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) and previously served as the Additional Controller General of Defence Accounts.
  • The appointment increases the total number of whole-time members on the SEBI board to four, alongside Sandip Pradhan, Kamlesh Chandra Varshney, and Amarjeet Singh.
  • Tuhin Kanta Pandey is the current Chairman of SEBI, having assumed the position on March 1, 2025.
  • The SEBI board structure consists of a chairman, four whole-time members, and four part-time members representing the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), the Ministry of Finance, and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
  • Murty previously served as a part-time member on the SEBI board as a representative of the MCA.

Rajesh Kumar Agarwal assumed charge as Director (Finance) of Power Finance Corporation (PFC)

[Power Finance Corporation]

Key Updates:

  • Rajesh Kumar Agarwal assumed charge as Director (Finance) at the state-owned Power Finance Corporation (PFC) on April 23, 2026.
  • His tenure is for a period of five years from the date of assumption of charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
  • Prior to this appointment, he held the post of Executive Director (Finance) at PFC.
  • He has over three decades of experience in the power and financial sectors and has been with PFC since 2009.
  • He holds a Bachelor's degree in Commerce (Honours) and is a Member of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India.
  • His experience at PFC includes Corporate Accounts, Taxation, Fund Management & Banking, Lending Policy Compliance, Restructured Assets Management, Fund Raisings, and Loan Disbursement.

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Burra Vamsi Rama Mohan Appointed Chairman & Managing Director of Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) (Start of April) ▼
  • Burra Vamsi Rama Mohan has assumed charge as the Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID).
  • The appointment was approved by the Board of Directors following an order issued by the Ministry of Power on March 18, 2026.
  • His tenure as CMD will continue until July 31, 2030, or until the date of his superannuation.
  • Before this elevation, he served as the Director Projects at POWERGRID and has over 33 years of experience in the power transmission and telecom sectors.
  • He previously served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Powergrid Teleservices Limited and was a founding member of the Regulatory Cell at POWERGRID.
  • POWERGRID is a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) that operates one of the largest electricity transmission networks in the world.
Deepak Gupta assumed charge as chairman and managing director of GAIL (India) Limited. (Start of March) ▼
  • Deepak Gupta took over as chairman and managing director of GAIL (India) Limited on Sunday.
  • He replaced Sandeep Kumar Gupta who superannuated on February 28.
  • Gupta joined GAIL as Director (Projects) in February 2022 and will serve up to February 28, 2029.
  • He is a mechanical engineer from Delhi College of Engineering and has 32 years of prior experience at Engineers India Limited (EIL).
  • Under his leadership GAIL completed the Dabhol breakwater project of Konkan LNG, enabling all-weather operations.
Amarendu Prakash resigns as Chairman and Managing Director of Steel Authority of India (SAIL). (Start of April) ▼
  • Amarendu Prakash submitted his resignation on 2 January 2026 and ceased to be a member of the SAIL board from 1 April 2026.
  • The Ministry of Steel approved his resignation effective 1 April 2026.
  • Krishna Kumar Singh, Director (Personnel) of SAIL, has been given additional charge as CMD for three months from 2 April 2026 to 1 July 2026 or until a regular appointment is made, whichever is earlier.
  • SAIL reported a consolidated net profit of ₹374.03 crore for the third quarter of the previous financial year.
Harsharan Kaur Trehan became Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) Director (Commercial). (End of February) ▼
  • Harsharan Kaur Trehan assumed charge as Director (Commercial) of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) on 21 February 2026.
  • She is the first woman technocrat to reach board level in PSPCL.
  • Her appointment order was issued on 20 February 2026 by Basant Garg, Secretary, Power, Punjab Government, for a two-year tenure.
  • Trehan had earlier become the first woman Engineer-in-Chief of PSPCL in May 2021 and retired from that post in October 2022.
  • She joined the erstwhile Punjab State Electricity Board as an Assistant Engineer in 1987 after graduating from Delhi College of Engineering.

Vivek Tripathi appointed Executive Director of AU Small Finance Bank

[AU Small Finance Bank, Reserve Bank of India]

Key Updates:

  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the appointment of Vivek Tripathi as Whole-time Director and Executive Director of AU Small Finance Bank.
  • The appointment is for a period of three years, effective from April 24, 2026.
  • Tripathi has been associated with AU Small Finance Bank since 2014 and currently serves as the Chief Credit Officer.
  • He has over two decades of experience in the financial services sector, having previously worked with ICICI Bank, Reliance Capital, and the Aditya Birla Group.

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Ravindra Jadeja appointed as brand ambassador of City Union Bank. (End of March) ▼
  • City Union Bank appointed Indian cricketer Ravindra Jadeja as its primary brand ambassador on 16 March 2026.
  • The two-year agreement was executed in association with Baseline Ventures India Private Limited.
  • The announcement was made under Regulation 30 read with Schedule III of SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.
  • The disclosure was submitted to National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) under scrip code CUB and to Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) under scrip code 532210.
  • City Union Bank is a private sector bank headquartered in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu.
Sanjay Agarwal reappointed as MD & CEO of AU Small Finance Bank. (Mid of February) ▼
  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved Sanjay Agarwal’s reappointment as MD & CEO of AU Small Finance Bank for three years from 19 April 2026.
  • AU Small Finance Bank’s board had approved his reappointment on 17 October 2025 and shareholders on 26 December 2025.
  • Agarwal first became MD of AU Financiers on 14 February 2008 and MD & CEO of AU Small Finance Bank on 19 April 2017.
  • This will be his third consecutive RBI-approved term after the bank’s conversion to a small finance bank.
Vinay Muralidhar Tonse Appointed as MD & CEO of YES Bank (Start of February) ▼
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the appointment of Vinay Muralidhar Tonse as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of YES Bank.
  • The appointment is for a tenure of three years, effective from the date he assumes charge.
  • The appointment is subject to the approval of the shareholders of the bank.
  • Tonse will succeed Prashant Kumar, whose current extended tenure as the MD & CEO is scheduled to end on April 5, 2026.
  • Tonse previously served as the Managing Director (Retail Business & Operations) at the State Bank of India (SBI) until November 30, 2025.
  • The bank confirmed that Tonse is not debarred from holding the office of a director by any order of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) or any other authority.
Sarvesh Ranjan promoted to Chief General Manager of Union Bank of India. (Start of February) ▼
  • Sarvesh Ranjan assumed the post of Chief General Manager at Union Bank of India on 1 February 2026.
  • He succeeded Bhaskara Rao Kare who superannuated on 31 January 2026.
  • Prior to promotion, Sarvesh Ranjan was serving as General Manager in the same bank.
  • He presently heads the Central Reconciliation, Transaction Monitoring and Anti-Money Laundering departments of Union Bank of India.
  • Sarvesh Ranjan is an engineering graduate with nearly 30 years of banking experience.
  • He has completed leadership programmes at the University of Applied Sciences (Switzerland), ISB Hyderabad and IDRBT Hyderabad and holds IT and cyber security certifications.

Shiv Ratan Agarwal passes away as founder of Bikaji Foods International

[Bikaji]

Key Updates:

  • Shiv Ratan Agarwal was the founder and promoter of Bikaji Foods International.
  • He passed away at the age of 75.
  • He transformed the traditional Bikaneri snacks business into the internationally recognised Bikaji brand.

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Kushal Das, former All India Football Federation (AIFF) general secretary, passes away. (Mid of March) ▼
  • Kushal Das died at the age of 66 at a private hospital in Delhi.
  • He served as AIFF general secretary for 12 years before resigning in 2022.
  • Das previously held the post of Chief Financial Officer at the International Cricket Council (ICC) and International Management Group (IMG) India.
  • He played a key role in organising the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup hosted by India.
  • Under his tenure, India secured hosting rights for the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup and the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
  • He facilitated the partnership between AIFF and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) leading to the launch of the Indian Super League (ISL).
Inderjit Singh Bindra, former BCCI president, passed away. (End of January) ▼
  • Inderjit Singh Bindra died at the age of 84.
  • He served as president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from 1993 to 1996.
  • Bindra was president of the Punjab Cricket Association from 1978 to 2014.
  • The PCA stadium was renamed IS Bindra Stadium in 2015 to honour his administrative work.
  • He played a key role in organising the 1987 Reliance Cup, the first World Cup held outside England.
  • In 1994 he approached the Supreme Court of India to break Doordarshan’s monopoly on cricket broadcasting.
Biren Singh Engti passed away at 81, former Union Minister and five-time Lok Sabha MP. (Mid of March) ▼
  • Biren Singh Engti, veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister, died at the age of 81 in a private hospital in Guwahati.
  • He represented the Diphu constituency in Lok Sabha five times.
  • Engti served as chief executive member of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council.
  • He served under the Rajiv Gandhi government.
  • Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and State Congress president Gaurav Gogoi condoled his death.
IndusInd Bank appoints Arijit Basu as Part-time Chairman for three years (End of January) ▼
  • IndusInd Bank has appointed Arijit Basu as an Additional Director in the category of Non-Executive Independent Director and Part-time Chairman for a three-year term starting 31 January 2026.
  • Arijit Basu will succeed Sunil Mehta, whose tenure as the Part-time Chairman and Director of the bank concludes on 30 January 2026.
  • The appointee is the former Managing Director (MD) and Board Member of State Bank of India (SBI) and former MD and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SBI Life Insurance Company.
  • He has previously served as the Chairman of the Board of HDB Financial Services Ltd, which is a subsidiary of HDFC Bank.
  • Arijit Basu holds a master’s degree in arts from the University of Delhi and has completed the Certified Associate course of the Indian Institute of Bankers.
  • He currently serves as an Independent Director for Prudential Plc, Peerless Hospitex and Hospital Research Centre Ltd, and CleanMax Enviro Energy Solutions Ltd.
  • The appointment follows the earlier exits of former CEO Sumant Kathpalia and Deputy CEO Arun Khurana amidst investor criticism over accounting lapses in 2025.
  • IndusInd Bank shares fell by 10% last year, making it the worst-performing stock on the private bank index, which rose nearly 16% during the same period.
  • The bank stated that the appointment is in line with the regulatory disclosures of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

Lisa Gill appointed Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court

[Andhra Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh High Court (India)]

Key Updates:

  • President of India Droupadi Murmu appointed Justice Lisa Gill as the Chief Justice (CJ) of the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
  • Justice Lisa Gill will assume office on April 25, 2026.
  • The appointment was made in consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
  • She succeeds Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur, who retires on April 24, 2026.
  • Justice Lisa Gill was appointed as a puisne judge of the High Court last month.

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Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari Appointed Chief Justice of Madras High Court (Start of March) ▼
  • The President of India appointed Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari as the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court following the recommendation of the Supreme Court (SC) Collegium.
  • The SC Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, recommended the appointment in a meeting held on 26 February.
  • Justice Dharmadhikari succeeds Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava, who retired from the position on 5 March.
  • He is currently serving as a judge of the Kerala High Court, having been transferred there from his parent Madhya Pradesh High Court in April 2025.
  • The transfer to the Kerala High Court was approved by the President under Article 222 of the Constitution of India.
  • Justice Dharmadhikari was first appointed as an additional judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in April 2016 and took oath as a permanent judge on 17 March 2018.
  • Born on 9 July 1966 at Raipur, he practised law in civil, criminal, and constitutional branches for 24 years in the Madhya Pradesh High Court before his elevation to the bench.