NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. PM Modi Inaugurates 594-km Ganga Expressway: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 594-km-long Ganga Expressway, the longest expressway in Uttar Pradesh, connecting Meerut to Prayagraj. The expressway has been developed by the Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA) to boost connectivity and regional development. It passes through 12 districts, including Meerut, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Amroha, Sambhal, Budaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Rae Bareli, Pratapgarh, and Prayagraj. A key strategic feature is a 5 km airstrip in Shahjahanpur, designed for Indian Air Force emergency landing and take-off operations.
2. Ladakh Expands to 7 Districts as LG Vinai Kumar Saxena Approves Creation of Five New Districts: Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena approved the creation of 5 new districts in Ladakh, increasing the total from 2 to 7 districts. Earlier, Ladakh had only Leh and Kargil; the newly created districts are Nubra, Sham, Changthang, Zanskar, and Drass. The proposal was cleared by the Ministry of Home Affairs under Amit Shah (August 2024); Ladakh became a Union Territory in 2019 after the bifurcation of Jammu & Kashmir.
3. EPFO to Launch E-PRAAPTI Portal for Easy Tracking and Access of Inactive PF Accounts: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is set to launch E-PRAAPTI (EPF Aadhaar-Based Access Portal for Tracking Inoperative Accounts) to help users manage old and inactive PF accounts. The portal will use Aadhaar-based verification, enabling secure and easy login for users to access their EPF details. It will allow users to identify, track, and access inoperative EPF accounts, even if they are not linked with a UAN (Universal Account Number).
4. NITI Aayog Launches DPI @2047 Roadmap to Drive India’s $30 Trillion Viksit Bharat Vision: The NITI Aayog launched the “Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) @2047” roadmap to achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. The roadmap was unveiled by Suman Bery and Ajay Kumar Sood.
Under Viksit Bharat 2047, India aims to become a $30 trillion economy with a per capita income of $18,000. DPI initiatives already contribute around 1% of GDP, with the potential to rise to 4% by 2030, boosting digital-led economic growth. The roadmap outlines a two-phase strategy—DPI 2.0 (2025–2035) for livelihood-led growth and DPI 3.0 (2035–2047) for broad-based prosperity, with current focus on DPI 2.0 across eight key sectors.
5. 10th National Public Health Summit to Be Held in Chandigarh: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will organise the 10th National Summit on Good and Replicable Practices and Innovations in Public Health Systems in Chandigarh. The summit will be inaugurated by JP Nadda.
6. 1 May – Maharashtra Day: 1 May is celebrated as Maharashtra Day, marking the formation of the state of Maharashtra in 1960. The state was created after the division of the bilingual Bombay State into Maharashtra and Gujarat on linguistic basis.
7. QS MBA Rankings 2026: IIM Bengaluru Tops India: The QS Executive MBA Rankings 2026 have reaffirmed the global standing of Indian management education, with IIM Bengaluru emerging as the highest-ranked business school from India. Despite a slight drop in its global position, it remains the only Indian institute to feature among the world’s top 100, underlining its continued leadership in executive education. IIM Bengaluru has secured the 64th position globally in the Executive MBA category. The institute has maintained its dominance in India, supported by strong performance in key indicators such as employer reputation and career outcomes. Its consistent ranking reflects robust industry connections, strong alumni networks, and high-quality executive programmes.
8. Karnataka Launches Digital Grievance System for Gig Workers: In a landmark step towards safeguarding the rights of platform-based workers, the Karnataka government has launched India’s first dedicated digital grievance redressal mechanism for gig workers. The initiative aims to formalise dispute resolution for a rapidly expanding workforce that has largely functioned without structured legal support. The system has been developed by the Karnataka Platform-based Gig Workers’ Board in collaboration with the Department of e-Governance. It marks a significant policy intervention in addressing the concerns of gig workers, including those engaged with ride-hailing, food delivery, and other digital platforms. The move positions Karnataka as a pioneer in labour reforms tailored to the gig economy.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India and Kenya Sign MoU to Enhance Customs Cooperation and Speed Up Trade Clearance: India and Kenya signed an MoU on the exchange of pre-arrival customs information to improve the clearance of goods and boost bilateral trade. The agreement was signed between the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) during the 10th India–Kenya Joint Trade Committee meeting in Nairobi. It enables electronic sharing of import data before cargo arrival (via iCMS), ensuring faster clearances, better risk management, and smoother trade cooperation.
2. UAE Announces Exit from OPEC and OPEC+ Effective May 1: The United Arab Emirates announced its exit from OPEC and OPEC+ effective May 1, reducing OPEC’s membership to 11 countries. The decision was driven by the UAE’s concern over production quotas, which it felt limited its ability to fully utilise and monetise its oil production capacity.
3. 1 May – International Labour Day: 1 May is observed as International Labour Day to honour the contributions and rights of workers worldwide. The day has its origin in the Haymarket Affair, which advocated for an 8-hour workday. It highlights issues like fair wages, workers’ rights, and safe working conditions, and is celebrated in India as ‘Antarrashtriya Shramik Diwas’.
4. India to Host Vietnam President To Lam Visit: India will host Vietnam’s President To Lam on a state visit from 5 to 7 May, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties. The visit comes at a crucial time as both nations seek to deepen cooperation across strategic, economic, and regional domains. President To Lam, who also serves as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers and senior officials. This will be his first state visit to India since assuming office in April 2026. He is scheduled to receive a ceremonial welcome and engage in key diplomatic meetings during his stay.
5. India included in USTR Priority Watch List: India’s inclusion in the United States Trade Representative (USTR) Priority Watch List in 2026 has renewed focus on global concerns over intellectual property (IP) protection. The designation reflects perceived shortcomings in how certain countries safeguard patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets. Alongside India, nations such as China, Russia, Chile, Indonesia, and Venezuela have also been flagged, indicating broader systemic concerns in emerging and major economies. India’s placement signals persistent US concerns over issues such as patent protection, enforcement delays, and barriers to market access for IP-intensive industries. Sectors like pharmaceuticals, digital content, and technology are often at the centre of these disputes. While India has undertaken reforms, the US believes gaps remain in implementation and enforcement.
6. PM Modi’s Europe Visit to Focus on Energy Security: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a four-nation visit to Europe next month, with energy security emerging as a central theme of the diplomatic tour. The visit comes amid evolving global energy dynamics and India’s push to diversify its energy partnerships while strengthening strategic ties with European nations. The upcoming visit will cover key European countries, aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation across sectors such as trade, technology, and clean energy. The trip is expected to include high-level meetings with political leaders, business representatives, and multilateral institutions to deepen India’s engagement with the European region.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. India Plans Multi-Layered Missile Defence Expansion: India is advancing plans to develop a comprehensive multi-layered conventional missile force covering short, medium, and long-range systems. The announcement reflects a broader push to strengthen national security capabilities and enhance deterrence amid evolving geopolitical challenges. The initiative is being complemented by efforts to expand indigenous defence manufacturing under key strategic programmes. The proposed missile architecture aims to provide integrated coverage across varying threat ranges. Short-range systems will address tactical battlefield needs, while medium and long-range missiles will enhance strategic deterrence. This layered approach ensures flexibility in response and strengthens overall defence preparedness. Officials emphasise that such diversification is critical in addressing modern warfare requirements.
2. IN-SLN DIVEX 2026 Strengthens Maritime Ties: India and Sri Lanka have deepened naval cooperation through IN-SLN DIVEX 2026, held in Colombo from 21 to 28 April. The fourth edition of the bilateral diving exercise focused on underwater operations, joint rescue capability and maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region. The Indian Navy deployed INS Nireekshak, a Diving Support and Submarine Rescue Vessel, for the exercise. Diving teams from both navies took part in harbour and open-sea drills to improve coordination and operational familiarity. The exercise included advanced deep-sea diving and mixed gas diving drills. Divers successfully conducted operations beyond 55 metres, strengthening joint skills in underwater search, rescue and salvage missions.
SPORTS
1. PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates Six BCCI Indoor Cricket Academies Across Northeast India: PM Narendra Modi inaugurated six indoor cricket academies under the Board of Control for Cricket in India expansion programme in Northeast India. The academies are located in Rangpo (Sikkim), Doimukh (Arunachal Pradesh), Imphal (Manipur), Madan Kurkalang (Meghalaya), Aizawl (Mizoram), and Dimapur (Nagaland). The initiative aims to strengthen cricket infrastructure and promote sports development in the Northeast region.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Google to Invest $15 Billion in AI Hub at Visakhapatnam as Naidu and Vaishnaw Lay Foundation Stone: Chandrababu Naidu and Ashwini Vaishnaw laid the foundation stone for the Google Cloud India AI Hub in Visakhapatnam. Google will invest $15 billion, making it one of the largest FDI projects in India, with a 1 GW data centre capacity spread over ~600 acres. The project will be developed in Tharluwada, Adavivaram, and Rambilli, and executed by AdaniConnex and Airtel Nxtra, with completion targeted by September 2028.
2. Maharashtra Approves AI Policy 2026: The Maharashtra Cabinet has approved the Artificial Intelligence Policy 2026 with a planned investment of ₹10,000 crore to strengthen the state’s AI ecosystem. The policy aims to promote innovation, create jobs, support industries and position Maharashtra as a leading artificial intelligence hub in India. The policy targets the creation of 1.5 lakh employment opportunities across sectors linked to artificial intelligence. Electronics, Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence Minister Ashish Shelar said the main objective is large-scale employment generation and stronger economic growth through technology-driven development. Under the policy, the state will establish six AI Excellence Centres and five AI Innovation Cities. These centres will focus on research, skill development, startup support and industry collaboration. The innovation cities are expected to attract investments and strengthen Maharashtra’s digital economy.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Flipkart, Axis Bank & PayU Introduce Biometric Authentication for Card Payments, Replacing OTP System: Flipkart, Axis Bank, and PayU have introduced biometric authentication for card payments on the Flipkart platform. Axis Bank cardholders can now approve transactions using fingerprint or Face ID, replacing the traditional OTP (One-Time Password) system. Wibmo manages authentication, while PayU handles the payment infrastructure, ensuring a more secure and seamless payment experience.
2. Bank of Baroda Launches Indian Sign Language Video Call Support to Enhance Inclusive Banking Services: Bank of Baroda launched Indian Sign Language (ISL) support via video calls at its Contact Centre to assist customers with hearing or speech impairments. The service is available across five platforms: website, mobile banking app, WhatsApp Banking, Phygital Branches, and ADI (GenAI-powered chatbot). Customers can choose ‘Video Call with Sign Language’, where trained ISL interpreters provide real-time assistance, enhancing inclusive and accessible banking services.
3. RBI Eases Relief Norms for Disaster-Affected Borrowers: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced revised guidelines allowing banks and financial institutions to extend relief measures to borrowers in disaster-hit areas without requiring individual requests. The new framework, effective from July 1, 2026, aims to ensure timely financial support and reduce procedural delays during natural calamities. Under the updated directions, lenders can proactively offer relief to all eligible borrowers in notified disaster areas. Borrowers, however, retain the option to opt out within 135 days from the date of calamity declaration. This move simplifies access to financial assistance and ensures that affected individuals and businesses receive immediate support without administrative hurdles.
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