1. PM Modi Inaugurates 3,300 Crore Kaynes Semicon OSAT
Facility in Gujarat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated
a Rs 3,300 crore semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) facility of Kaynes
Semicon at Sanand, Gujarat. The facility has been developed under the India
Semiconductor Mission to boost the country’s semiconductor manufacturing
ecosystem.
2. PM Modi Inaugurates Samrat Samprati Museum on Mahavir
Jayanti in Gujarat: Prime
Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Samrat Samprati Museum in
Koba, Gandhinagar, on Mahavir Jayanti, dedicated to Jain history, Samrat
Samprati’s life, and the message of non-violence. He highlighted that the
museum reflects a confluence of study, spiritual practice, and self-discipline,
and emphasized the need to preserve India’s cultural and knowledge heritage,
including ancient manuscripts.
3. India Pharma 2026 to Be Held in New Delhi on 13–14
April: The Department of
Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, will host the 9th
edition of India Pharma 2026 on 13–14 April in New Delhi, in collaboration
with FICCI and IPA. The event aims to strengthen India’s position as a global leader
in pharmaceuticals and life sciences, highlighting a shift towards
innovation-driven growth in healthcare. The conference will be held on the
theme “Discover in India: Leapfrogging Life-Sciences Innovation”, focusing on
moving from a volume-based to value- and research-driven pharma industry.
4. Dr Thomas Pucadyil Appointed Director of BRIC-NCCS,
Pune: Dr Thomas Pucadyil has
been appointed as the Director of BRIC-NCCS (Biotechnology Research
Innovation Council–National Centre for Cell Science), Pune. He is currently a
Professor at IISER Pune and is known for his research on membrane
integrity-disrupting proteins in cells. He is a recipient of the Shanti Swarup
Bhatnagar Prize (2018) and is a Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy
and Indian Academy of Sciences.
5. POWERGRID Appoints Burra Vamsi Rama Mohan as New CMD
(Effective April 1, 2026) : Power
Grid Corporation of India Limited appointed Burra Vamsi Rama
Mohan as its new Chairman & Managing Director
(CMD), effective April 1, 2026. He will serve as CMD till July 31, 2030
(superannuation), and earlier served as Director (Projects) at POWERGRID.
He replaced Ravindra
Kumar Tyagi.
6. Vice President Releases Sudha Murty’s Book ‘Tides of
Time’ on Bharat’s Parliamentary Murals: The Vice President of India, Shri C. P.
Radhakrishnan, released the book “Tides of Time: Bharat’s History through
Murals in Parliament” authored by MP Smt. Sudha Murty at Samvidhan Sadan,
New Delhi. The book highlights 124 parliamentary mural panels, showcasing
India’s journey from the Indus Valley Civilization to the freedom struggle,
including figures like Maharishi Valmiki, Chanakya, Ashoka, Shivaji Maharaj,
Mahatma Gandhi, and Subhas Chandra Bose.
7. Samrat
Samprati Museum Inaugurated in Gujarat: The Prime Minister of India recently inaugurated the
Samrat Samprati Museum in Gujarat, highlighting the legacy of an important yet
lesser-known Mauryan ruler. The initiative aims to promote awareness of India’s
ancient history, particularly the contributions of Samrat Samprati in spreading
Jainism and non-violence. Samrat Samprati ruled during 224–215 BC and was a
prominent Mauryan emperor as well as the grandson of Samrat Ashoka. He was also
known by other names such as Indrapalit, Sangat, and Vigatashok. His reign is
particularly noted for the propagation of Jainism and the promotion of the
principle of ahimsa (non-violence), earning him the title of ‘Jain Ashoka’.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Willie Walsh Appointed as New CEO of IndiGo: IndiGo has
appointed William Walsh (Willie) as its new Chief Executive
Officer (CEO). He succeeds Pieter Elbers, who has stepped down from the
position. Walsh is currently serving as the Director General of the
International Air Transport Association (IATA).
2. Uchral Nyam-Osor Elected as Mongolia’s New Prime
Minister: Uchral
Nyam-Osor has been elected as the new Prime Minister of Mongolia,
becoming the country’s third leader in just nine months. The previous Prime
Minister, Zandanshatar Gombojav, resigned due to mounting pressure over
corruption allegations.
3. India–Algeria
Talks Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation: The 7th round of Foreign Office Consultations between
India and Algeria was recently held in Algiers, reflecting
the growing diplomatic engagement between the two countries. The discussions
focused on enhancing cooperation in areas such as energy, trade, and regional
security, underlining Algeria’s strategic importance in North Africa.
Algeria is situated in the Maghreb region of North Africa and is the largest
country in Africa by land area. It shares borders with seven countries: Tunisia, Libya, and Niger to the northeast, east, and
southeast respectively, while Mali, Mauritania, and Western Sahara lie to the
southwest, and Morocco to the west. The country also has
a northern coastline along the Mediterranean Sea, which plays a vital role in its trade
and connectivity.
4. Uchral
Nyam-Osor Becomes Mongolia Prime Minister: Mongolia’s parliament has confirmed Uchral
Nyam-Osor as the country’s new prime minister, marking the third leadership
change within nine months. The appointment follows the resignation of his
predecessor amid political deadlock and internal divisions within the ruling
Mongolian People’s Party (MPP). Uchral secured strong parliamentary backing,
receiving 88 votes out of 107 lawmakers, signalling an attempt to restore
governance stability in the resource-rich nation. The resignation of former
prime minister Zandanshatar Gombojav came after prolonged tensions between the
ruling party, opposition Democratic Party and dissenting factions within the
MPP. A boycott of parliamentary proceedings had paralysed legislative
functioning for weeks. His exit is widely viewed as a compromise to ease the
impasse, though underlying political fractures remain unresolved.
5. Snowy
Owl Gets Global Protection Status Under UN Convention: The snowy owl has
recently been granted international protection under the U.N. Convention on the
Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). This move highlights
growing global concern over the declining population of this iconic Arctic bird, driven by climate change and habitat disruptions. The snowy
owl (“Bubo scandiacus”) is a large, striking white bird belonging to the true
owl family. It primarily inhabits the Arctic tundra, characterised by vast,
open, treeless landscapes. However, it is also found in diverse environments
such as coastal dunes, prairies, open moorlands, marshes, and agricultural
fields, particularly during migration or winter dispersal.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth Appointed as Vice Chief of Army
Staff: Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth has taken charge as
the Vice Chief of the Army Staff; he earlier led the Southern Command
during Operation Sindoor. He has succeeded Pushpendra Pal Singh as the Vice
Chief of the Army Staff.
2. MoD Signs ₹1,950 Crore Deal with BEL for Indigenous
Mountain Radars to Boost Air Defence: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a
₹1,950 crore contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for the
procurement of two mountain radars for the Indian Air Force to enhance
border surveillance and detection. These radars are indigenously designed by
DRDO’s Electronics & Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) and will be
manufactured by BEL, supporting the Make in India defence initiative. The radars
are expected to be deployed in Jammu & Kashmir and Nagaland, strengthening
air defence capabilities, counter-drone systems, and national security while
reducing dependency on foreign systems.
3. India Conducts Tri-Service Exercise “Dweep Shakti” to
Strengthen Coastal and Island Defence: India conducted Exercise Dweep Shakti, a
Tri-Service (Army, Navy, Air Force) high-intensity drill aimed at strengthening
coastal and island defence capabilities. The exercise focused on amphibious
assaults, maritime dominance missions, and beach landing operations, testing
the ability to capture and control hostile coastal areas.
4. Indian Navy Inducts INS Sanshodhak: The Indian Navy has
received INS Sanshodhak, the fourth and final Survey Vessel (Large) built
by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE). The earlier ships of
this class—INS Sandhayak, INS Nirdeshak, and INS Ikshak—were commissioned
between February 2024 and November 2025. INS Sanshodhak has been designed by
the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau, marking the completion of the Survey Vessel
(Large) programme.
SPORTS
1. Pankaj Advani Wins Maiden National 9-Ball Pool
Championship Title in Ludhiana: Pankaj Advani won his
maiden National 9-ball pool championship title held in Ludhiana. The multiple-time
world champion defeated Nitin Sharma of Chandigarh in the final
2. Khelo
India Tribal Games Conclude with Karnataka on Top: The Khelo India Tribal
Games concluded in Chhattisgarh with a vibrant closing ceremony
attended by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai. The event also witnessed the
presence of Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao, along with celebrated sportspersons
Mary Kom and Bhaichung Bhutia. The Games brought together tribal athletes from
across India, highlighting sporting talent and promoting inclusivity in
national sports development. Archery competitions witnessed remarkable
performances across categories. Jharkhand’s Komalika Bari clinched gold in the
women’s recurve individual event, while Nagaland secured the top position in the
women’s recurve team category. In the men’s recurve individual event, Arjun
Khara of Odisha won gold, whereas Jharkhand emerged victorious in the men’s
team event, underlining its strength in archery.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Nyaya Setu AI Chatbot with Mascot “Dishika” Launched
at DISHA Programme: Nyaya Setu AI Chatbot, along with its official
mascot “Dishika” was launched at the DISHA programme held at Vigyan
Bhawan. Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan and MoS Law & Justice Arjun Ram
Meghwal unveiled the platform. It is developed by the Digital India BHASHINI
Division and works as a voice-first, multilingual AI legal assistant to guide
citizens on legal processes, rights, and next steps.
2. Gaganyaan
Astronauts Begin Mission Mitra in Ladakh: India’s human spaceflight programme has advanced with the
launch of Mission Mitra in Ladakh, involving four astronauts selected for the Gaganyaan mission. Conducted in a high-altitude, extreme
environment, the initiative aims to simulate space-like conditions on Earth.
The programme reflects a growing focus on human endurance and behavioural
readiness, alongside technological preparedness, as India prepares for future
crewed missions. Mission Mitra, or Mapping of Interoperable Traits and
Reliability Assessment, is designed to evaluate human performance in hostile
environments. Ladakh’s
terrain, marked by freezing temperatures, low oxygen levels and isolation,
serves as an ideal analogue for space conditions. The mission is led by ISRO’s
Human Space Flight Centre in collaboration with private partners, integrating
expertise from scientists, engineers, psychologists and medical professionals.
3. E20
Fuel Mandate Introduced for Cleaner Mobility: The Central Government has introduced a new mandate
requiring petrol pumps to supply E20 fuel with a minimum octane rating of 95
RON. This step is part of India’s broader strategy to promote cleaner fuels,
reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports, and support the transition towards
sustainable energy in the transport sector. E20 fuel is a blend consisting of
20 per cent ethanol and 80 per cent petrol. It
represents an advanced stage in ethanol blending initiatives, aimed at
reducing vehicular emissions and enhancing fuel efficiency. Compared to regular
petrol in India, which typically has an octane rating of 91–92 RON, E20 fuel
offers a higher octane rating of 95 RON, ensuring improved engine performance
and smoother combustion.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. RBI Restricts Non-Deliverable Derivative Contracts in Rupee: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently directed banks to refrain from engaging in non-deliverable derivative (NDD) contracts in the Indian rupee. The move aims to strengthen regulatory oversight and ensure better stability in the domestic currency market, particularly amid concerns over offshore speculative activities influencing rupee valuation. Non-deliverable derivatives are financial contracts in which two parties agree on a future exchange rate for a currency, such as the rupee, but settle the difference in cash instead of physical delivery. Typically, these settlements are made in US dollars. NDDs are widely used in markets where currencies are not fully convertible, allowing participants to hedge or speculate on exchange rate movements without direct access to the currency.
No comments:
Post a Comment