April 2026

National and State News 

• India Pharma 2026: Set in New Delhi under the theme ‘Discover in India: Leapfrogging Life-Sciences Innovation.’ 

• Census 2027 Phase 1: Set to begin as India’s first fully digital census exercise using mobile apps and portals. 

• Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code Amendment Bill 2026: Passed by Lok Sabha to streamline the resolution framework. 

• Samrat Samprati Museum: Inaugurated by PM Modi in Gandhinagar to preserve Jain heritage artifacts. 

• Solid Waste Management Rules 2026: Notified by the Ministry to emphasize waste segregation and circular economy. 

• World Buddhist Peace Conference 2026: Held in Hyderabad and Buddhavanam, adopting the Telangana Peace Declaration. 

• Earth Hour 20 years: Marked by the Ministry with awareness activities in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. 

• Mukh Mantri Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojana: Approved by the Punjab Cabinet to provide direct monthly financial assistance to women. 

• Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme: MeitY approved 29 new proposals with a ₹7,104 crore investment. 

• Amaravati Quantum Valley Project: Announced to launch India’s first quantum computer in Amaravati under the National Quantum Mission. 

• Bhavasagara Referral Centre: Designated as the National Repository for Deep Sea Fauna under the Biological Diversity Act. 

• Kaynes Technology Semiconductor Plant: Inaugurated by PM Modi in Sanand, Gujarat to boost chip manufacturing. 

• Andhra Weavers Free Electricity Scheme: Launched by Andhra Pradesh providing free electricity units for handloom and powerloom operators. 

• National Piped Natural Gas Drive 2.0: Extended by the government until June 30, 2026. 

• Amaravati Sole Capital Amendment: Passed by Lok Sabha giving retrospective effect to Amaravati as Andhra Pradesh’s sole capital. 

• Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana: Introduced by the Delhi government to support girl child education, replacing the Ladli Scheme. 

• NCERT Deemed University Status: Granted by the Ministry of Education to enhance advanced research and doctoral programs. 

• SIM Binding Deadline Extended: DoT extended the compliance deadline for OTT platforms to implement SIM binding till December 2026. 

• CBSE AI Curriculum: Launched by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for Classes III to VIII. 

• India SDG Dashboard: Developed by MoSPI and UNRCO as a centralized tracking platform. 

• ECI ‘Know Your Candidates’ Feature: Launched on the ECINet platform ahead of assembly elections. 

• E20 Ethanol-Blended Petrol Rollout: Implemented nationwide across fuel stations from April 1, 2026. 

• RoSCTL Scheme Extended: Extended by the Ministry of Textiles until September 2026 to support textile exports. 

• Fisheries Sector Investment: Reached ₹39,272 crore since 2015, boosting India’s aquaculture and production. 

• Coal Production Milestone: Ministry of Coal crossed 200+ million tonnes production from captive and commercial blocks. 

• Gujarat HC AI Ban: Issued a policy prohibiting the use of AI in judicial decision-making and judgment drafting. 

• Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC): Successfully completed by Indian Railways from JNPT to Dadri. 

• Major Ports Cargo Record: Handled a record 915.17 million tonnes of cargo in FY 2025–26. 

• Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR): Achieved criticality at Kalpakkam, marking a major milestone in India’s three-stage nuclear program. 

• CEC Impeachment Motion Rejected: Both Houses of Parliament rejected the removal motion against CEC Gyanesh Kumar. 

• Wind Power Capacity Record: India added a record 6.05 GW wind power capacity in FY 2025–26, crossing 56 GW total. 

• ASISSE Survey: India launched its first-ever Annual Survey of Incorporated Services Sector Enterprises. 

• UIDAI MapmyIndia Partnership: Enabled authorised Aadhaar centre location services on the Mappls App. 

• India Post Logistics Goal: Aiming to become a global logistics powerhouse by 2030, marking 75 years of PTC Saharanpur. 

• Nagoya Protocol Compliance: India emerged as the global leader in issuing Internationally Recognized Certificates of Compliance (IRCCs). 

• ‘Majha Gaon, Arogyasampann Gaon’: Campaign launched in Maharashtra to strengthen rural healthcare infrastructure. 

• Bhopal Regional Passport Office: Became India’s first to introduce Braille script and sign language services. 

• Telangana Notifiable Disease: Declared cancer as a notifiable disease to establish a centralized registry. 

• India Withdraws COP33 Bid: Officially withdrew its bid to host the 2028 UN Climate Summit. 

• BIMTECH Hermes’ Dialogue 6.0: National-level debate won by IIM Rohtak focusing on global energy security. 

• Puducherry ‘Nila’ Robot: Deployed an event-based interactive humanoid robot at a polling booth during assembly elections. 

• NITI Aayog Credit Report: Released ‘From Borrowers to Builders,’ highlighting women holding a credit portfolio of ₹76 lakh crore. 

• Union Cabinet Approvals: Approved nutrient-based subsidies, Jaipur Metro Phase-2, and HPCL Rajasthan Refinery cost revisions. 

• Arunachal Hydroelectric Projects: CCEA approved Kalai-II and Kamala hydroelectric projects worth ₹40,175 crore. 

• NHAI ‘Arogya Van’ Initiative: Launched to plant medicinal trees along National Highways. 

• Vantara University: Announced in Jamnagar, Gujarat under Anant Ambani for wildlife conservation and veterinary sciences. 

• CPA India Region Zone VII Conference: Concluded in Goa emphasizing inclusive governance and youth participation. 

• Gujarat Police NARIT AI System: Launched as India’s first AI-based investigation tool for NDPS cases. 

• Mundra Port Automobile Hub: Emerged as India’s largest automobile export hub after setting a record of exporting 6,000+ cars in a single vessel. 

• Patent Filings Surge: Rose by 30.2% to 1,43,729 in FY 2025–26 with over 69% domestic filings. 

• Supreme Court Statutory Rights: Ruled that the right to vote and contest elections are statutory rights, not fundamental rights. 

• Swami Vivekananda Statue: First life-size statue unveiled in Seattle, United States. 

• Digital Toll Collection: India initiated transition to fully digital FASTag/UPI toll payments on National Highways. 

• Karnataka Postal Circle ISRO Stamps: Released commemorative stamps honouring ISRO’s space journey. 

• Warangal and Adilabad Airports: Approved by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in Telangana. 

• SARAL AI Platform: Developed by ANRF to convert complex research papers into 18 Indian languages. 

• Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0: Launched with a ₹10,000 crore corpus for deep-tech startups. 

• Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor: Inaugurated by PM Modi to enhance regional economic connectivity. 

• Unemployment Rate Rise: Rose to 5.1% in March 2026 according to NSO data. 

• Karnataka Menstrual Leave Policy: High Court directed implementation of menstrual leave across sectors under Article 21. 

• ITC FSA 3.0 Certification: Became India’s first company to receive Farm Sustainability Assessment 3.0 for wheat and paddy. 

• Cocoa Self-Sufficiency Target: India aims for cocoa self-sufficiency by 2040 to reduce import dependence. 

• Dholera Semiconductor SEZ: Approved by the government for Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing with a ₹91,000 crore investment. 

• Chhattisgarh UCC Committee: Approved a high-level committee to draft a Uniform Civil Code framework. 

• CAPF High-Level Conference: First-ever conference chaired by PM Modi to streamline internal security. 

• Special Parliament Session: Introduced bills for Lok Sabha expansion (to 850 seats) and delimitation reform. 

• Supreme Court Dowry Givers Ruling: Ruled that dowry givers under social coercion cannot be prosecuted as criminals under the Dowry Act. 

• AICTE VAANI 3.0 Scheme: Launched to promote Indian languages in technical education. 

• Women’s Reservation Bill 2026: Defeated in Lok Sabha after failing to secure a two-thirds special majority. 

• Startup Milestone: Over 55,200 startups recognised in FY 2025–26, crossing 2.23 lakh total. 

• Punjab Anti-Sacrilege Bill: Unanimously passed proposing life imprisonment for acts of sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib. 

• Bengaluru Water Board ISO 50001: Became India’s first water utility to receive ISO certification for energy management. 

• Meghalaya Official Languages: Granted official language status to Khasi and Garo alongside English. 

• IIT Kharagpur Mining Centre: Established the Vikram Sodhi Centre of Excellence for AI-driven mining systems. 

• Kankaria Water-Neutral Depot: Ahmedabad coaching depot achieved water-neutral status by reusing wastewater. 

• MeitY AIGEG Group: Constituted the Artificial Intelligence Governance and Economic Group as an inter-ministerial body. 

• Rajya Sabha Vice-Chairpersons Panel: Reconstituted by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat effective April 15, 2026. 

• BRICS Health Working Group: First meeting for 2026 chaired in New Delhi. 

• IIT Madras OmegaBall: Introduced the three-team football format to India. 

• Jamun Genus Origin: Study by Birbal Sahni Institute identified India as the origin and early diversification centre of Syzygium. 

• Ladakh Petroglyph Park: India’s first petroglyph conservation park to be developed at Sindhu Ghat. 

• ‘Vishwa Sutra’ Initiative: Launched by the Ministry of Textiles to promote Indian handloom heritage globally. 

• 3D Semiconductor Packaging Unit: Foundation stone laid in Odisha by 3D Glass Solutions with ₹1,943 crore investment. 

• PMGSY-III Extension: Union Cabinet approved extension of rural road scheme till March 2028 with an increased outlay. 

• Draft Sugarcane Control Order 2026: Proposed increasing the minimum distance between new sugar mills from 15km to 25km. 

• Shekha Jheel Ramsar Site: Declared India’s 99th Ramsar Site located in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. 

• Seafood Exports Record: Reached ₹72,325.82 crore in FY 2025–26 led by frozen shrimp. 

• Online Gaming Rules: New rules under PROGA set to take effect May 1, 2026, establishing the Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI). 

• IIT Ropar Agricultural AI Ecosystem: Launched India’s first AI-based agricultural intelligence ecosystem. 

• Barasingha Sanctuary ESZ: Notified across five districts in Uttar Pradesh for ecological protection. 

• Atal Pension Yojana Milestone: Crossed 9 crore total gross enrolments with record additions in FY26. 

• ‘VM Frames’ Competition: Launched by the Ministry of Culture to mark 150 years of Vande Mataram. 

• Alliance Air Financial Support: Government approved over ₹460 crore loan to revive operations. 

• Konark Sun Temple Conservation: ASI began major conservation work involving sand removal from the Jagamohan. 

• Dhar Safe Cities Project: Selected under Safe Cities Project 2026 to enhance women’s safety. 

• Telecom Technology Scheme Guidelines: Released with a ₹203 crore outlay for 6G and 5G advanced innovation. 

• Eveready Alkaline Facility: Inaugurated India’s only operating alkaline battery manufacturing unit in Samba, J&K. 

• India International Water Week 2026: 9th edition launched by Union Minister C.R. Patil in New Delhi. 

• Census 2027 Helpline: Launched nationwide toll-free helpline (1855) with multilingual support. 

• Andhra Pradesh Mushroom Mission: Launched with a ₹13,000 crore investment to become India’s largest producer. 

• MoEFCC Biodiversity Project: Launched a five-year project (2025–2030) supported by GEF and UNDP. 

• PM-AASHA Expansion & Pulse Procurement: Expanded in Chhattisgarh and launched in Bihar under the Atmanirbhar Pulses Mission. 

• Himadri Anode Material Facility: Commissioned India’s first lithium-ion battery anode production facility in West Bengal. 

• NITI Aayog DPI Roadmap: Launched ‘Digital Public Infrastructure @2047’ targeting a $30 trillion economy. 

• UNGA President Visit: Annalena Baerbock visited India focusing on multilateralism and global cooperation. 

• IRCTC Bhutan Tour: Launched a 14-day ‘Bharat-Bhutan Mystic Mountain Tour’ on the Bharat Gaurav Deluxe AC Tourist Train. 

• Safe Highway Travel Right: Supreme Court declared safe travel on National Highways a fundamental right under Article 21. 

• UP Jal Jeevan Warranty: Introduced a 10-year warranty model for rural water schemes ensuring long-term accountability. 

• NITI Aayog City Government Report: Released ‘Moving Towards Effective City Government – A Framework for Million-Plus Cities.’ 

• APEDA Pilibhit Training Centre: Setting up a ₹15 crore training centre for basmati and organic farming. 

• Sports IP Fee Waiver: Announced a three-year waiver on intellectual property registration fees for the sports sector. 

Government Schemes, Policies  

• Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code Amendment Bill 2026: Passed by Lok Sabha to streamline the resolution framework. 

• Samrat Samprati Museum: Inaugurated by PM Modi in Gandhinagar to preserve Jain heritage artifacts. 

• Solid Waste Management Rules 2026: Notified by the Ministry to emphasize waste segregation and circular economy. 

• Earth Hour 20 years: Marked by the Ministry with awareness activities in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. 

• Mukh Mantri Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojana: Approved by the Punjab Cabinet to provide direct monthly financial assistance to women. 

• Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme: MeitY approved 29 new proposals with a ₹7,104 crore investment. 

• Amaravati Quantum Valley Project: Announced to launch India’s first quantum computer in Amaravati under the National Quantum Mission. 

• Bhavasagara Referral Centre: Designated as the National Repository for Deep Sea Fauna under the Biological Diversity Act. 

• Kaynes Technology Semiconductor Plant: Inaugurated by PM Modi in Sanand, Gujarat to boost chip manufacturing. 

• Andhra Weavers Free Electricity Scheme: Launched by Andhra Pradesh providing free electricity units for handloom and powerloom operators. 

• National Piped Natural Gas Drive 2.0: Extended by the government until June 30, 2026. 

• Amaravati Sole Capital Amendment: Passed by Lok Sabha giving retrospective effect to Amaravati as Andhra Pradesh’s sole capital. 

• Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana: Introduced by the Delhi government to support girl child education, replacing the Ladli Scheme. 

• RoSCTL Scheme Extended: Extended by the Ministry of Textiles until September 2026 to support textile exports. 

• Gujarat HC AI Ban: Issued a policy prohibiting the use of AI in judicial decision-making and judgment drafting. 

• Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR): Achieved criticality at Kalpakkam, marking a major milestone in India’s three-stage nuclear program. 

• Puducherry ‘Nila’ Robot: Deployed an event-based interactive humanoid robot at a polling booth during assembly elections. 

 

 

• Union Cabinet Approvals: Approved nutrient-based subsidies, Jaipur Metro Phase-2, and HPCL Rajasthan Refinery cost revisions. 

• NHAI ‘Arogya Van’ Initiative: Launched to plant medicinal trees along National Highways. 

• Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0: Launched with a ₹10,000 crore corpus for deep-tech startups. 

• Karnataka Menstrual Leave Policy: High Court directed implementation of menstrual leave across sectors under Article 21. 

• Dholera Semiconductor SEZ: Approved by the government for Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing with a ₹91,000 crore investment. 

• Chhattisgarh UCC Committee: Approved a high-level committee to draft a Uniform Civil Code framework. 

• Special Parliament Session: Introduced bills for Lok Sabha expansion (to 850 seats) and delimitation reform. 

• Supreme Court Dowry Givers Ruling: Ruled that dowry givers under social coercion cannot be prosecuted as criminals under the Dowry Act. 

• AICTE VAANI 3.0 Scheme: Launched to promote Indian languages in technical education. 

• Women’s Reservation Bill 2026: Defeated in Lok Sabha after failing to secure a two-thirds special majority. 

• Punjab Anti-Sacrilege Bill: Unanimously passed proposing life imprisonment for acts of sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib. 

• MeitY AIGEG Group: Constituted the Artificial Intelligence Governance and Economic Group as an inter-ministerial body. 

• ‘Vishwa Sutra’ Initiative: Launched by the Ministry of Textiles to promote Indian handloom heritage globally. 

• PMGSY-III Extension: Union Cabinet approved extension of rural road scheme till March 2028 with an increased outlay. 

• Draft Sugarcane Control Order 2026: Proposed increasing the minimum distance between new sugar mills from 15km to 25km. 

• Online Gaming Rules: New rules under PROGA set to take effect May 1, 2026, establishing the Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI). 

• Atal Pension Yojana Milestone: Crossed 9 crore total gross enrolments with record additions in FY26. 

• Dhar Safe Cities Project: Selected under Safe Cities Project 2026 to enhance women’s safety. 

• Telecom Technology Scheme Guidelines: Released with a ₹203 crore outlay for 6G and 5G advanced innovation. 

• Eveready Alkaline Facility: Inaugurated India’s only operating alkaline battery manufacturing unit in Samba, J&K. 

• Andhra Pradesh Mushroom Mission: Launched with a ₹13,000 crore investment to become India’s largest producer. 

• PM-AASHA Expansion & Pulse Procurement: Expanded in Chhattisgarh and launched in Bihar under the Atmanirbhar Pulses Mission. 

• Himadri Anode Material Facility: Commissioned India’s first lithium-ion battery anode production facility in West Bengal. 

• UP Jal Jeevan Warranty: Introduced a 10-year warranty model for rural water schemes ensuring long-term accountability. 

Banking and Financial news 

• Union Bank RBI Penalty: Penalized ₹95.40 lakh for non-compliance on customer protection and IRACP norms. 

• Kisan Credit Card Push: Enhanced digital issuance and credit access for farmers under PSL guidelines. 

• JanSamarth Portal Progress: Processed 41 lakh+ applications worth ₹1.06 lakh crore across multiple welfare schemes. 

• RBI Payments Vision 2028: Unveiled titled ‘Shaping India’s Payment Frontier’ to modernize digital transactions. 

• Small Savings Schemes Interest Rates: Retained unchanged for the June quarter for the ninth consecutive quarter. 

• Airtel Payments Bank Penalty: Penalized ₹31.80 lakh for disclosure non-compliance. 

• Central Bank of India Penalty: Penalized ₹63.60 lakh for KYC and BSBDA norm violations. 

• Moody’s GIFT City Branch: Applied to set up a credit rating branch in GIFT IFSC. 

• CBIC SEZ One-Time Relief: Introduced concessional customs duty relief for SEZ units selling in Domestic Tariff Areas. 

• RBI Capital Market Exposure Deferred: Implementation of revised CME framework deferred to July 1, 2026. 

• IRDAI Ind AS Mandate: Insurers mandated to adopt Indian Accounting Standards from April 1, 2026. 

• Government Floating Rate Bond 2028: Interest rate fixed at 6.17% per annum for the next six months. 

• UPI March 2026 Volume: Recorded 22.64 billion transactions worth ₹29.53 lakh crore. 

• IRDAI D-SII Designation: LIC, New India Assurance, and GIC designated as Domestic Systemically Important Insurers. 

• GST Collections March 2026: Surged 8.8% crossing ₹2.1 lakh crore for an 11-month high. 

• SEBI SETU Platform: Launched as a single-window interface to expand the investment adviser base. 

• CBDT Kar Saathi: Launched an AI-powered assistant alongside a new income tax portal. 

• NSE & IGX Natural Gas Derivatives: Partnered to launch India’s first exchange-traded natural gas futures based on GIXI. 

• RBI Benchmark Issuance Strategy (BIS): Introduced for state borrowings on a pilot basis across 9 states. 

• CASA Ratio Decline: RBI reported CASA ratio dropped to a 2-year low of 37.9% in December 2025. 

• Amul Turnover Milestone: GCMMF crossed ₹1 lakh crore turnover in FY 2025–26. 

• Bank of Baroda Business Milestone: Crossed ₹30 lakh crore global business for the first time. 

• Exclusive Capital Penalty: Penalized ₹10.30 lakh by RBI for leverage ratio breaches. 

• Axis Bank Aadhaar Face Auth: Launched mobile number update facility using Aadhaar facial recognition. 

• BoB ‘bob SAMVAD’: Launched an AI-powered multilingual conversational platform supporting 22 languages. 

• FPI Investment Limits Unchanged: RBI kept FPI limits in G-Secs, SGSs, and corporate bonds unchanged for FY27. 

• Shirpur Merchants’ Co-operative Bank Licence Cancelled: RBI cancelled licence due to weak earnings and capital inadequacy. 

• Moody’s India Growth Downgrade: Revised FY27 GDP growth forecast downward to 6%. 

• RBI Business Correspondent Revamp: Proposed a three-tier delivery structure (Branches, BC-BO, BC-BT) for last-mile banking. 

• PMMY 11 Years: Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana completed 11 years of providing collateral-free loans. 

• Morgan Stanley GDP Cut: Cut India’s FY27 GDP forecast to 6.2% due to West Asia conflict impacts. 

• Bajaj Alternate PMS Approval: Received SEBI nod to launch Portfolio Management Services. 

• Coffee Exports Record: Reached a historic high of $2.136 billion in FY26. 

• Razorpay OpenAI Integration: Partnered to enable agentic payments and instant integration in AI-built apps. 

• SEBI IPO & MPS Extension: Extended IPO approval validity and minimum public shareholding compliance to September 2026. 

• IRDAI Health Insurance Review: Formed a sub-panel to review the private health insurance sector. 

• World Bank India Growth Upgrade: Revised FY27 growth forecast upward to 6.6%. 

• PNB GeM MoU: Signed partnership to offer collateral-free short-term loans to MSMEs via GeM Sahay. 

• DBS Aspire Banking: Launched for India’s emerging affluent segment with zero forex markup. 

• Saraswat Bank Milestone: Crossed ₹1 lakh crore total business becoming India’s largest urban cooperative bank. 

• KreditBee Unicorn Entry: Raised $280 million in Series E funding entering the unicorn club at a $1.5 billion valuation. 

• Canara HSBC Promise 4Wealth: Launched a next-gen ULIP featuring zero premium allocation charges. 

• FIU-IND & I4C MoU: Signed agreement to strengthen the fight against cyber fraud and financial crimes. 

• RBI First Bi-Monthly Policy 2026-27: Kept repo rate unchanged at 5.25% with a ‘Neutral’ stance. 

• NSE & S&P Global Energy: Partnered to launch Platts Dated Brent crude oil derivatives. 

• RBI Cross-Border Remittance Rules: Directed banks to perform near real-time nostro account reconciliation within one hour. 

• PayU & 8B Alliance: Partnered to boost digital payment connectivity between India and Central Asia using UPI. 

• SBI Market Cap Rise: Overtook ICICI Bank to become India’s 2nd-largest bank by market capitalization. 

• Axis Bank Banking Connect: Onboarded onto NBBL platform for interoperable netbanking. 

• Digital Rupee FAQ & Wallet: Highlighted CBDC operational mechanics and retail e-wallet structures. 

• ADB Narayanganj Loan: Approved $115.8 million loan for green urban services in Bangladesh. 

• CSB Bank SMART SAVE: Launched a new dedicated retail savings product portfolio. 

• PFRDA PPFAS Pension Sponsor: Approved PPFAS AMC to act as a pension fund sponsor under NPS. 

• SEBI IT Platforms: Launched SUPCOMS, e-adjudication, and C-SAC platforms for regulatory efficiency. 

• UPI 10 Years: Completed 10 years of transforming India into a real-time digital payment ecosystem. 

• Jio & BoB ‘bob World Lite’: Launched mobile banking for feature phone users on JioPhone Prima 4G. 

• NSE Coal Exchange Name Approval: Reserved ‘National Coal Exchange of India Limited’ via MCA approval. 

• PhonePe & SBI Card Credit Card: Launched co-branded credit card with a zero joining fee offer on RuPay/Visa. 

• ADB India Growth Forecast: Revised India’s FY27 GDP growth forecast upward to 6.9%. 

• RBI Utkarsh 2029: Launched medium-term strategy framework replacing Utkarsh 2.0. 

• RBI NBFC-UL Draft Norms: Proposed revising Upper Layer NBFC identification threshold to assets exceeding ₹1 lakh crore. 

• Paytm Biometric UPI: Introduced biometric authentication for UPI and cardless ATM withdrawals. 

• Non-Life Insurance Premiums Rise: Grew 9.20% in FY26 reaching ₹3.35 lakh crore. 

• India Trade Data FY26: Total exports rose 4.22% to $860 billion while trade deficit widened to $119.30 billion. 

• LIC MyLIC & Super Sales Saathi: Launched new mobile apps to strengthen digital insurance services. 

• DoT & SEBI MoU: Signed to curb telecom-linked financial frauds and investment scams. 

• IMF GDP Upgrade: Upgraded India’s FY27 GDP forecast by 10 bps to 6.5%. 

• FIU-IND & PFRDA MoU: Partnered to combat money laundering and terror financing. 

• FIU-IND & SEBI MoU: Signed intelligence-sharing agreement against financial crimes. 

• SEBI NSO SSE Relaxation: Extended NSO registration validity on Social Stock Exchange to 3 years. 

• Bajaj Allianz Nifty 500 Low Volatility Fund: Launched under ULIP scheme. 

• WPI Inflation March 2026: Rose to 3.88%, hitting a 38-month high driven by crude oil costs. 

• Shriram Finance Primary Dealer: Received in-principle RBI approval to commence primary dealer business. 

• China Top Trading Partner: Emerged as India’s largest trading partner in FY26 with bilateral trade at $151.1 billion. 

• Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool: Approved by Union Cabinet with a ₹12,980 crore sovereign guarantee. 

• DA/DR Hike: Cabinet approved 2% DA/DR hike for central employees and pensioners effective January 2026. 

• APCRDA Amaravati Funding: Secured ₹40,887 crore including plans to raise ₹15,000 crore from World Bank and ADB. 

• NSE Coal Exchange Investment: Received SEBI approval to invest in the proposed coal trading platform. 

• DGFT Gold & Silver Imports: Permitted 17 authorised banks to import gold and silver till March 2029. 

• NABARD Rural Sentiment Survey: Showed 69.5% rural households expect income growth in FY27. 

• World Bank Rajasthan Loan: Approved $225 million loan for Rajasthan Highway Modernisation Project. 

• RBI Currency Notes Exchange Guidelines: Mandated all bank branches to provide free exchange of soiled/mutated notes. 

• FDI Inflows April-Dec FY26: Singapore emerged as top FDI source with $17.6 billion. 

• SBI Research GDP Forecast: Projected India’s FY27 GDP growth between 6.8% and 7.1%. 

• NSE Active Client Decline: Active client base declined 7% to 4.57 crore in FY26. 

• CheQ AU Credit Card: Partnered to launch India’s first LED-powered co-branded credit card. 

• RBI Digital Payments E-Mandate Framework 2026: Consolidated recurring payment rules into a single master framework. 

• SEBI Social Impact Investing: Reduced minimum investment for Social Impact Funds from ₹2 lakh to ₹1,000. 

• Health Insurance Rural Surge: NSSO survey showed rural coverage (47.4%) surpassed urban coverage (44.3%). 

• India-Bhutan JGC Meeting: 7th Joint Group of Customs meeting held in Munnar, Kerala. 

• UNESCAP Survey 2026: Projected India’s economy to grow 6.4% in CY26 and 6.6% in CY27. 

• Income Tax Act 2025 Outreach: Organised in Delhi highlighting provisions for educational institutions and trusts. 

• SBI Balance Sheet Target: Aims to expand balance sheet to 25% of India’s GDP by 2030. 

• ADNIC GIFT City Branch: Received IFSCA approval to set up a reinsurance branch in GIFT City. 

• BSE Housing Finance Index: Launched sectoral benchmark to track housing finance companies. 

• NBBL Postal Life Insurance: Onboarded PLI onto Bharat Connect biller network. 

• IFSCA Foreign Family Office: Granted first registration to a UK-based family office structured as a Family Investment Fund. 

• Karnataka Bank Pine Labs Tie-up: Partnered to expand PoS digital payment infrastructure. 

• MCX Coal Exchange Nod: Received SEBI approval to invest up to ₹100 crore in a proposed coal exchange company. 

• Pay Point India CPS Membership: Became the first private fintech to secure direct RBI Centralised Payment System membership. 

• PNB Kiwi Credit Card: Partnered with Kiwi to launch a RuPay credit card integrated with UPI. 

• Paytm Payments Bank Licence Revoked: RBI cancelled PPBL’s banking licence for serious regulatory violations. 

• SEBI 38th Foundation Day: Celebrated with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launching ‘Mission Jagrook.’ 

• Ebix & Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Bank Penalties: Penalized by RBI for risk categorisation and SAF compliance lapses. 

• Jio Financial & Allianz JV: Signed binding 50:50 agreement for general and health insurance business in India. 

• Maldives Currency Swap: India released ₹30 billion first drawdown under SAARC swap framework. 

• RBI Forex Norms Relaxation: Withdrew certain restrictions on forex dealers in offshore NDF markets. 

• RBI PPI Master Direction 2026: Replaced 2021 framework to strengthen digital wallet security and set net worth rules. 

• Universal Insurance Drive: IRDAI pushing for ‘Insurance for All by 2047’ under global market frameworks. 

• Textile Exports Resilience: Rose 2.1% to ₹3.16 lakh crore in FY26 despite trade pressures. 

• CBIC Courier Export Cap Removed: Removed ₹10 lakh value cap on courier exports to boost e-commerce trade. 

• PhonePe UPI Milestone: Crossed 10 billion monthly transactions in March 2026, capturing a dominant market share. 

• AI Mythos Risk Panel: Government set up a high-level panel under SBI Chairman C.S. Setty to evaluate risks from Anthropic’s Mythos AI. 

• MobiKwik NBFC Approval: Approved by RBI to enter regulated lending through a dedicated subsidiary. 

• SEBI Stockbroker Net Worth Proposal: Proposed new framework to strengthen capital adequacy norms. 

• Bandhan Bank RBI Penalty: Penalized ₹41.8 lakh for KYC and customer risk categorisation deficiencies. 

• HSBC India Equity Downgrade: Downgraded India equity outlook to ‘underweight’ citing inflation and demand concerns. 

• Agriculture Exports Growth: Rose 2.8% to $52.55 billion in 2025–26 amidst global uncertainties. 

International News 

• UNESCO GEM Report 2026: Titled ‘Access and Equity: Countdown to 2030,’ highlighting global education challenges. 

• UN Strait of Hormuz Task Force: Established by Antonio Guterres to protect trade and address regional disruptions. 

• CMS COP15 Brazil: Concluded with 40 new migratory species granted protection under the convention. 

• Russia First Deputy PM Visit: Denis Manturov visited India to co-chair the IRIGC-TEC meeting. 

• UN ECOSOC & Human Rights Committee: India elected to key subsidiary bodies; Preeti Saran re-elected. 

• Stanford University Designated Undesirable: Officially designated by Russia, putting associated citizens at legal risk. 

• India-Mauritius Aid Package: Operationalised $680 million economic projects and launched a Karmayogi Portal. 

• India-Germany Commemorative Logo: Launched to celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations. 

• WEF April 2026 Report: Projected global GDP to rise by $56 trillion over the next five years driven by AI and tech. 

• Bannerghatta Cheetah Exchange: Received four cheetahs from South Africa in exchange for Asiatic elephants. 

• Austrian Chancellor Visit: Christian Stocker visited India, marking the first Austrian Chancellor visit in over 40 years. 

• Vice President Sri Lanka Visit: C.P. Radhakrishnan undertook the first bilateral visit by an Indian VP to Sri Lanka. 

• OCI Eligibility Expansion: Extended up to the sixth generation for persons of Indian origin in Sri Lanka. 

• South Korean President State Visit: Lee Jae Myung visited India, marking the first ROK presidential visit in eight years. 

• Czech Republic Visit: Jitin Prasada co-chaired the 13th India-Czechia JCEC meeting in Prague. 

• UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill: Passed strict laws prohibiting cigarette sales to individuals born on or after January 1, 2009. 

• 4th India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-IV): Logo, theme, and website unveiled by EAM Jaishankar for the upcoming May 2026 summit. 

• Nigeria Green Tax: Introduced a green tax surcharge on high-emission vehicles under 2026 fiscal reforms. 

Awards and Honours 

• International Booker Prize 2026 Shortlist: Featured six translated novels exploring global identity and political struggles. 

• Tripura Panchayat Honours: Won top positions at the Deen Dayal Upadhyay and Nanaji Deshmukh Panchayat Awards 2025. 

• Raja Ravi Varma Painting Record: Yashoda and Krishna sold for ₹167.20 crore, becoming India’s most expensive artwork. 

• Chetak Screen Awards 2026: Dhurandhar won 14 awards while Homebound won Best Film. 

• Anita Chaudhary WWF Award: Honoured with the WWF Machchli National Award for wildlife conservation in Rajasthan. 

• BHU Moot Court Win: Won the AIU National Moot Court Competition 2026. 

• Sayani Gupta Harvard Honour: Named Harvard South Asian ‘Person of the Year’ 2026. 

• Nishita Yogesh Antarkar Crowned: Crowned Miss Sake India 2026 in Mumbai. 

• N. Alim Yusuf WWF Award: Honoured at the ECHO Youth Innovation Summit for developing the ‘NeophyteID’ app. 

• Samriddh Gram WSIS Nomination: Nominated for WSIS Prizes 2026 under the Enabling Environment category. 

• Dr. Ch. Srinivasa Rao Award: Conferred with the 9th Prof. M.S. Swaminathan Award for climate-resilient agriculture. 

• Sadhvi Satish Sail Crowned: Crowned Femina Miss India World 2026 in Bhubaneswar. 

• Goldman Environmental Prize 2026: Awarded to its first-ever all-women cohort of environmental leaders. 

Important Days 

• International Day of Zero Waste (30 March): Observed globally focusing on the theme ‘Food Waste’ for sustainable waste management. 

• Utkal Diwas (1 April): Celebrated to commemorate the formation of Odisha as a separate province in 1936. 

• World Autism Awareness Day (2 April): Observed under the theme ‘Autism and Humanity – Every Life Has Value.’ 

• International Day for Mine Awareness (4 April): Observed with the theme ‘Invest in Peace; Invest in Mine Action.’ 

• National Maritime Day (5 April): Celebrated to honour seafarers, marking the maiden voyage of SS Loyalty in 1919. 

• International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (6 April): Observed under the theme ‘Sport: Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers.’ 

• World Health Day (7 April): Observed under the theme ‘Together for Health. Stand with Science.’ 

• International Romani Day (8 April): Celebrated to promote Romani culture and raise awareness of community challenges. 

• CRPF Valour Day (9 April): Observed as the 61st Shaurya Diwas honouring the Battle of Sardar Post. 

• World Homeopathy Day (10 April): Observed under the theme ‘Homoeopathy for Sustainable Health’ marking Samuel Hahnemann’s birth anniversary. 

• National Siblings Day (10 April): Celebrated to recognise the importance of sibling bonds. 

• National Safe Motherhood Day (11 April): Observed under the theme ‘Equity in Maternal Healthcare: Leaving No Mother Behind.’ 

• Jallianwala Bagh Massacre Remembrance (13 April): Observed annually to remember the 1919 tragedy in Amritsar. 

• Ambedkar Jayanti (14 April): Commemorates the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the chief architect of India’s Constitution. 

• National Fire Service Day (14 April): Observed under the theme ‘Safe School, Safe Hospital and Fire Safety Aware Society.’ 

• Baisakhi, Puthandu, & Bohag Bihu (14 April): Regional festivals marking the harvest season and New Year celebrations across Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and Assam. 

• Pohela Boishakh & Himachal Day (15 April): Celebrated to mark the Bengali New Year and the historic formation of Himachal Pradesh in 1948. 

• World Voice Day (16 April): Observed under the theme ‘Caring for Our Voices’ to highlight vocal health awareness. 

• World Hemophilia Day (17 April): Observed under the theme ‘Equitable access for all: recognizing all bleeding disorders.’ 

• World Heritage Day (18 April): Observed under the theme ‘Emergency Response for Living Heritage in Contexts of Conflicts and Disasters.’ 

• World Liver Day (19 April): Observed under the theme ‘Solid Habits, Strong Liver’ to promote preventive health. 

• National Civil Services Day (21 April): Celebrated to honour civil servants for their contribution to public administration. 

• World Earth Day (22 April): Observed under the theme ‘Our Power, Our Planet’ for environmental sustainability. 

• English Language Day & World Book Day (23 April): Observed by the UN to promote multilingualism, literature, and copyright protection. 

• National Panchayati Raj Day (24 April): Marks the implementation of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act in 1993. 

• World Malaria Day (25 April): Observed globally to raise awareness about malaria prevention and control. 

• World Intellectual Property Day (26 April): Observed under the theme ‘Intellectual Property and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate.’ 

• World Day for Safety and Health at Work (28 April): Promotes the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally. 

• International Dance Day (29 April): Celebrates the cultural significance of dance on Jean-Georges Noverre’s birth anniversary. 

• Ayushman Bharat Diwas (30 April): Promotes healthcare benefits under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana.