Defence & Security

INS Taragiri commissioned — The fourth Nilgiri-class stealth frigate (Project 17A) was commissioned at Visakhapatnam on April 3, 2026 in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), it displaces 6,670 tonnes, carries BrahMos supersonic missiles and MRSAM air-defence systems, and has over 75% indigenous content.

Four warships inducted in 48 hours — INS Dunagiri (5th P-17A frigate, GRSE), INS Sanshodhak (survey vessel), INS Malwan and INS Agray (ASW shallow water crafts) were inducted on March 30–31, 2026, marking one of India’s largest simultaneous fleet expansions.

Economy & Finance

RBI bans Rupee NDD contracts — The Reserve Bank of India directed banks to stop participating in Non-Deliverable Derivative contracts on the rupee, citing concerns over offshore speculation distorting domestic forex price discovery. The rupee recovered from below ₹95 to ₹93.10/USD following the directive.

GAAR amendment for pre-2017 investments — The CBDT notified that General Anti-Avoidance Rules will not apply to income from transfer of investments made before April 1, 2017, resolving ambiguity triggered by the Supreme Court’s Tiger Global ruling (January 16, 2026).

RoSCTL Scheme extended — The Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies Scheme for apparel and garment exports extended to September 30, 2026.

Petrochemical customs duty exemption — ~40 petrochemical products exempted from customs duty until June 30, 2026; revenue cost ~₹1,800 crore; aimed at offsetting West Asia freight disruptions.

MSME TEAM Initiative — Sub-scheme under RAMP (World Bank-supported) targeting 5 lakh micro and small enterprises for ONDC onboarding and e-commerce integration; ₹277.35 crore outlay over 3 years.

Polity & Governance

Nyaya Setu AI chatbot launched — Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan launched the Nyaya Setu chatbot and mascot “Dishika” under the DISHA programme on April 1. Developed by DIBD (BHASHINI), it supports 36 text and 23 voice languages to democratize access to legal information.

SAMPANN platform adopted — The DoT’s digital pension management system adopted by Goa government and Cochin Port Authority, showcasing its scalability as a model for digital governance.

Form 6 voter enrolment controversy — Allegations of large-scale Form 6 additions of migrants to West Bengal voter rolls ahead of state elections raised concerns about electoral integrity; ECI scrutiny invoked under Article 324.

International Relations

Min Aung Hlaing elected Myanmar President — Myanmar’s military-backed parliament elected coup leader Min Aung Hlaing as the 11th President, winning 429/584 votes; he stepped down as Commander-in-Chief to comply with constitutional requirements.

India sends rice to Burkina Faso — 1,000 metric tonnes of rice dispatched as humanitarian aid to Burkina Faso where 4.5 million face food insecurity due to Sahel Islamist insurgency.

UNIFIL peacekeepers killed — Three Indonesian peacekeepers serving with UNIFIL in south Lebanon killed, reigniting debate on mandate and safety of UN peacekeeping missions.

Uchral Nyam-Osor — Mongolia PM — Mongolia’s parliament confirmed Uchral Nyam-Osor as the 33rd Prime Minister, the third leadership change in nine months.

Science & Technology

Antariksh VC Fund — SEBI-registered Category II AIF sponsored by SIDBI Venture Capital, backed by IN-SPACe, set to begin investing in private space startups from Q1 FY2027.

ISRO YUVIKA 2026 — ISRO opened registrations for its 3-week residential space education programme for Class 9 students; priority for rural students.

Multi-Hazard Early Warning System — Under Mission Mausam (MoES), IMD’s new system extends forecast lead time from 5 to 7 days with 90%+ automated data processing.

Environment & Ecology

E20 fuel mandate — Petrol pumps mandated to supply E20 fuel (20% ethanol blended petrol, minimum 95 RON) as India pushes toward its 20% blending target under National Biofuel Policy 2018.

Rice’s Whale — ESA exemption — Trump administration granted a national security exemption from the Endangered Species Act to permit offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, threatening the critically endangered Rice’s whale (fewer than 100 individuals).

Gangotri National Park reopens — The park in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand (2,390 sq. km) reopened after winter closure; home to snow leopard, brown bear, and the Gangotri Glacier, a primary source of the Ganga.

Newcastle Disease alert — Avian paramyxovirus spreading across Europe (Poland, Germany, Spain, Belgium); UK raised risk level to medium; India monitoring for trade implications.

History & Culture

Samrat Samprati museum inaugurated — A museum dedicated to Samrat Samprati — the Mauryan Emperor (c. 224–215 BCE) who spread Jainism across South and Southeast Asia and built ~1,25,000 temples — inaugurated at Koba, Gandhinagar on Mahavir Jayanti.

Geography

Earthquake Lights — Rare electrical-discharge light phenomena observed near small earthquakes in Turkey and Greece, reviving scientific interest in using them as potential precursor signals for early warning systems.

Facts Corner

  • INS Taragiri displacement: 6,670 tonnes; builder: MDL
  • Project 17A total: 7 frigates (4 MDL + 3 GRSE)
  • RoSCTL extended to: September 30, 2026
  • GAAR applicable from: April 1, 2017; tax benefit threshold: ₹3 crore/year
  • Nyaya Setu: 36 text + 23 voice languages; developed by DIBD (BHASHINI)
  • Rice’s Whale population: fewer than 100 individuals; IUCN: Critically Endangered
  • Gangotri NP area: 2,390 sq. km; district: Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand
  • Samrat Samprati: grandson of Ashoka; built ~1,25,000 Jain temples
  • Antariksh VC Fund type: SEBI Category II AIF; sponsor: SIDBI Venture Capital
  • MSME TEAM Initiative outlay: ₹277.35 crore (2024–2027); implementing agency: NSIC
  • Mission Mausam: forecast extended from 5 → 7 days; >90% automated data collection
  • Min Aung Hlaing votes: 429/584; Myanmar’s 11th President
  • UNIFIL established: UNSC Resolution 425, March 1978
  • Burkina Faso aid: 1,000 MT rice; 4.5 million people in food insecurity