April 02, 2026
145 articles published on this date
RBI Bans Non-Deliverable Rupee Derivatives to Curb Offshore Speculation
The Reserve Bank of India issued a circular on April 1, 2026, prohibiting Authorised Dealers (ADs — primarily banks) from offering Non-Deliverable...
UK and 40+ Nations Mobilise Against Iran's Strait of Hormuz Blockade
The UK convened a virtual meeting of foreign ministers from over 40 countries — including France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan, and the UAE — to coordinate...
Six ISRO Missions Remain Unfulfilled as March 2026 Deadline Passes
At least six planned ISRO launches remain unexecuted as the self-imposed March 2026 deadline passed, reflecting a broader pattern of mission delays that has...
Nuclear Fusion's Cost Promise Under Scrutiny: Experts Find Learning Rate Projections Too Optimistic
Two studies published in the journal Nature Energy (2026) challenge prevailing assumptions about the economic viability of nuclear fusion power plants....
India Pushes for Preferential Market Access in US, Calls Itself a 'Sweet Spot' Economy
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, speaking on the sidelines of the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) held in Yaounde, Cameroon (March...
Government Grants Zero Customs Duty on 40 Petrochemical Products Till June 2026 Amid West Asia Disruptions
The Ministry of Finance announced a full customs duty exemption on approximately 40 petrochemical feedstocks and polymers, effective April 2 to June 30...
AAP Removes Raghav Chadha as Rajya Sabha Deputy Leader Over Party Discipline Breach
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) removed Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha from the post of Deputy Leader of the AAP parliamentary group in the Rajya Sabha, replacing...
Parliament Passes Jan Vishwas (Amendment) Bill 2026, Decriminalising 717 Provisions Across 79 Laws
Both houses of Parliament passed the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 — Lok Sabha on April 1 and Rajya Sabha on April 2, 2026, both by voice...
First-Ever Motion to Remove CEC Filed as Bengal Poll Controversy Deepens
TMC MP Derek O'Brien criticised the absence of action on the opposition's no-confidence motion against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar...
India Raises 'Unimpeded Transit Passage' at 60-Nation Meet Calling for Hormuz Reopening
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri represented India at a UK-hosted virtual meeting of over 60 nations convened to explore diplomatic and operational pathways...
SEBI Proposes Reintroduction of Open Market Share Buybacks via Stock Exchanges
SEBI issued a consultation paper on April 2, 2026, proposing the reintroduction of the open market route for share buybacks — allowing listed companies to...
Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme Row Erupts in Rajya Sabha Over Jal Shakti Minister's Remarks
Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil sparked a major controversy in the Rajya Sabha by declaring that over ₹1 lakh crore spent on Telangana's Kaleshwaram Lift...
Rising Steel Prices Squeeze India's Engineering Manufacturers
India's engineering manufacturers are facing significant margin pressure as domestic steel prices remain elevated, squeezing production costs in sectors...
Telangana Delists RTA m-Wallet App to Integrate with National Vahan and SarathiPlus Platforms
Telangana's Transport Department has delisted its state-level RTA m-Wallet app — a first-of-its-kind digital transport payment platform — as part of a move...
Tamil Nadu Argues Legislature Has Full Power to Strip Governor of Vice-Chancellor Appointment Role
The Tamil Nadu government told the Madras High Court that the state legislature is fully empowered to transfer the power to appoint Vice-Chancellors (VCs)...
States Pause SC Sub-Classification Legislation Pending Supreme Court Clarification
Several state governments are deferring legislation to create internal quotas (sub-classification) within the Scheduled Castes (SC) reservation, while...
Madras High Court: Governor Bound by Cabinet's Advice, Cannot Act Independently
The Madras High Court held on April 2, 2026, that the Governor of a State is bound by the aid and advice of the State Cabinet in the appointment of...
Operation Sindoor: How Security Imperatives Intersect With Domestic Realities
Analysis and commentary are circulating about Operation Sindoor — India's May 2025 tri-service military operation against terrorist infrastructure in...
Rajnath Singh Chairs Second IGoM Meeting on West Asia Crisis Response
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the second meeting of the Informal Group of Ministers (IGoM) on April 2, 2026, at Kartavya Bhawan-2, New Delhi, to...
UN Security Council Weighs Resolution Authorising Defensive Force to Secure Strait of Hormuz
Bahrain, backed by the Gulf Cooperation Council and over 22 signatory nations, circulated a draft resolution at the UN Security Council that would authorise...
India's Manufacturing PMI Falls to 53.9 in March 2026: Lowest in Nearly Four Years
The HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell to 53.9 in March 2026 from 56.9 in February, marking the weakest manufacturing expansion...
DGFT Imposes Import Restrictions on Gold, Silver, and Platinum Articles to Curb FTA Misuse
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) revised the import policy for all articles of gold, silver, and platinum jewellery (under Customs Tariff...
40-Nation Coalition Forms to Reopen Strait of Hormuz as US Steps Back
More than 40 countries participated in a virtual meeting on April 2, 2026, hosted by British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, to coordinate measures to...
India Seeks Preferential US Market Access as Bilateral Trade Talks Advance Post-MC14
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal stated that India is seeking preferential access to the US market as a core objective of ongoing bilateral trade...
India Inc Seeks Export Ban on Raw Material Inputs and QCO Relief Amid West Asia Conflict
Indian industry associations have approached the government seeking export bans on key raw material inputs to prevent domestic shortages created by the...
Government Waives Customs Duty on 40 Petrochemical Products Till June 2026
The Finance Ministry reduced customs duty to nil on 40 key petrochemical products, effective April 2, 2026, with the exemption valid until June 30, 2026....
India's Calibrated Economic Response to the Iran War Shock
The government has rolled out a targeted package of economic measures to blunt the impact of the Iran war on India's economy, avoiding sweeping market...
Parliament Passes Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill 2026, Decriminalising 717 Minor Offences
Parliament passed the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 — Lok Sabha on April 1, 2026, and Rajya Sabha on April 2, 2026. The Bill amends 784...
India Invokes MLI Anti-Abuse Rule to Challenge Jane Street's Singapore Tax Benefits
India's income tax department issued a draft assessment order challenging treaty benefits claimed by Jane Street's Singapore arm for financial year 2023-24....
India's Defence Exports Hit Record Rs 38,424 Crore in FY26, Surging 62.7%
India's defence exports reached an all-time high of Rs 38,424 crore in FY2025-26, a 62.7% jump from Rs 23,622 crore in FY2024-25. The milestone exceeds the...
Shubhanshu Shukla Celebrates Artemis II Launch, Highlighting India's Growing Space Collaboration
Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla expressed enthusiasm over the April 1, 2026 launch of NASA's Artemis II mission from Kennedy Space Center...
Indian Navy Escorts Tankers Through Strait of Hormuz as Defence Minister Assures No Fuel Crisis
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh assured the nation that there is no shortage of fuel or gas in India, citing active Indian Navy escort operations for oil and...
India-China Trade Expansion Talks Resume: First Since 2019 RCEP Exit
India and China have resumed formal discussions on trade expansion — the first such engagement since India walked out of RCEP negotiations in November 2019....
Maharashtra Pushes for SC Sub-Classification After Supreme Court's Landmark 2024 Ruling
The BJP-led Maharashtra government is working to implement sub-classification within Scheduled Caste (SC) reservations, following the Supreme Court's...
Central Vista Redevelopment: 3,609 Trees Transplanted, 1,545 Perished
The government has disclosed in Parliament that 3,609 trees were transplanted for Central Vista redevelopment projects, of which 1,545 — approximately 42.8%...
Haridwar Meat and Eggs Ban: Constitutional Questions on Municipal Powers vs Fundamental Rights
The Haridwar Municipal Corporation has proposed extending a ban on the sale of meat and eggs within the civic area of Haridwar, Uttarakhand — a city with...
Rajya Sabha Erupts as Rijiju Hints at Special Session for Women's Reservation Bill
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju dropped strong hints in the Rajya Sabha that the government intends to introduce 'a very significant bill' in a...
Vande Bharat Sleeper Train: Indo-Russian JV Kinet Railway Solutions Completes Prototype
Kinet Railway Solutions, the Indo-Russian joint venture between Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) and Russia's Transmashholding (TMH), has completed the...
Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train: Progress on India's First Undersea Rail Tunnel
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project's undersea tunnel construction is progressing, with the 21-km tunnel section between Bandra-Kurla...
Bank Locker Thefts in PSBs: 40 Cases in Five Years Under RBI's Revised Liability Framework
Over 40 cases of locker theft have been reported in public sector banks (PSBs) across India during the five-year period from FY2020-21 to FY2024-25....
India Condemns Attacks on UNIFIL Peacekeepers in Lebanon, Cites UNSC Resolution 2589
India strongly condemned attacks on United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, calling for accountability and the...
J&K Hydropower Row: Political Storm Over NHPC Project Handover and Resource Rights
On 27 March 2026, the Jammu and Kashmir government signed an implementation agreement with NHPC Ltd for two new hydropower projects — Uri-I Stage-II (240...
Rajnath Singh Warns Pakistan: Any Misadventure Will Invite Unprecedented and Decisive Action
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh issued a stern warning to Pakistan at the Sainik Samman Sammelan in poll-bound Kerala, stating that any misadventure from...
India's Defence Exports Surge 62.66% to All-Time High of Rs 38,424 Crore in FY2025-26
India's defence exports reached an all-time high of Rs 38,424 crore in FY 2025-26, a 62.66% jump over the previous year's Rs 23,622 crore, as announced by...
US Labels India's Online Content Takedown Mechanism 'Politically Motivated' in 2026 Trade Report
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) published its 2026 National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report on March 31, identifying India's online...
Customs Duty Exempted for 40 Petrochemical Products Amid West Asia Crisis
The Central Government on April 2, 2026, issued a notification exempting customs duty on 40 petrochemical products to protect domestic supply chains...
IRDAI Directs Insurers to Curb Dark Patterns in Digital Insurance Sales
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) issued a directive on April 2, 2026, instructing all insurance companies operating...
Tamil Nadu's Pioneer Initiative: SHG Members Directly Build PMAY Houses
Tamil Nadu has pioneered an initiative where women Self-Help Group (SHG) members are directly involved in the construction of houses under the Pradhan...
Telangana Waqf Board Moves to Digitise 6,700 Properties on UMEED Portal
The Telangana Waqf Board has announced plans to list approximately 6,700 properties on the UMEED portal, part of the national effort to digitise and verify...
Akka Mahadevi Jayanti: Celebrating the 12th-Century Veerashaiva Poet-Saint of Karnataka
Akka Mahadevi Jayanti 2026 was celebrated in Kalaburagi (formerly Gulbarga), Karnataka, on April 1 — observed on Chaitra Pournami (the full moon day of the...
Kerala Positioned to Comply with New Solid Waste Management Rules 2026, Say Experts
Experts have assessed Kerala as well-positioned to comply with the new Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026, which came into force on April 1, 2026...
Yamuna: The River That Became Stagnant: Pollution, Policy Failures, and Ecological Crisis
A detailed assessment by Down to Earth documents the Yamuna's transformation from a living river to a stagnant, ecologically dead waterway due to...
India-Australia ECTA Marks Four Years: Exports More Than Double to $8.5 Billion
India's exports to Australia more than doubled in the four years since the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) came into force...
Raja Ravi Varma's "Yashoda and Krishna" Sets Indian Art Auction Record at $17.9 Million
Raja Ravi Varma's oil painting 'Yashoda and Krishna' (c. 1890s) was sold for $17.9 million (approximately ₹167.2 crore, including buyer's premium) at a...
Hormuz Crisis Chokes Global Shipping as Freight Rates Soar Fivefold
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, following Iran's closure of the waterway in response to US-Israeli strikes on February 28, 2026, has caused freight...
Hormuz Disruption Creates Fertiliser Stress; Kharif 2026 Outlook Uncertain
The West Asia conflict and Strait of Hormuz blockade are creating significant stress in India's fertiliser supply chains, with serious implications for...
India Agrees to Extended WTO E-Commerce Moratorium, Resists Plurilateral Framework Without Safeguards
At the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) held in Yaounde, Cameroon (March 2026), India agreed to an extended moratorium on customs duties on...
India's 100% Helium Import Dependence: A Strategic Vulnerability for the Semiconductor Era
Ashok Chandak, President of the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA), has warned that India is 100% import-dependent for helium — a...
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri Represents India at UK's 35-Nation Hormuz Summit
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri attended a UK-convened virtual summit of 35 countries on April 2, 2026, to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which has...
Nandyal MP Seeks UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Tag for Ahobilam Paruveta Utsavam
The Member of Parliament from Nandyal constituency (Andhra Pradesh) has formally sought UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) recognition for the...
India Seeks Preferential Market Access in US Trade Deal Negotiations
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal stated that India is pushing for 'preferential market access' in its ongoing trade engagement with the United...
Iran Fires Missiles at Israel as Trump Threatens Sustained Strikes
Iran launched missile attacks against Israel in response to US President Donald Trump's threats of 'weeks of strikes' against Iran's nuclear and energy...
Over 6 Lakh Indian Passengers Return from West Asia amid Ongoing Conflict
The Indian government announced that over 6 lakh (approximately 6,24,000) passengers have returned to India from West Asia since February 28, 2026, as the...
Artemis II Completes Perigee Raise Burn, Sets Course for Translunar Injection
The Artemis II crew successfully completed the perigee raise burn on April 2, 2026 — a 43-second engine firing of Orion's service module main engine that...
CEC Report: Lack of Inter-State Coordination Has Led to Rampant Illegal Sand Mining in Chambal
The Central Empowered Committee (CEC), a Supreme Court-appointed oversight body, submitted findings to the Supreme Court that the root cause of rampant...
Government Exceeds FY26 Indirect Tax Collection Target of ₹15.52 Lakh Crore
The Central Government has exceeded its FY26 Revised Estimate (RE) for indirect tax collections of ₹15.52 lakh crore, achieving approximately 101.2% of the...
Tea Board Plans Cloud-Based Auction Platform Amid Industry Concerns Over Transition
India's Tea Board is planning to migrate tea auctions to a cloud-based digital platform to improve efficiency and transparency in commodity trade. The move...
India Sharpens Foreign Media Outreach Strategy in Post-Operation Sindoor World
India is developing a new foreign media outreach strategy in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor (May 2025), the three-day Indian military operation against...
Coal Production from Captive and Commercial Mines Crosses 200 MT in FY 2025-26
India's captive and commercial coal mines produced 210.46 million tonnes (MT) in FY 2025-26, crossing the 200 MT milestone for the first time — a 10.22%...
India Leads 16-Nation Maritime Initiative IOS SAGAR Amid West Asia Tensions
INS Sunayna set sail from Mumbai on April 2, 2026 as the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR, carrying naval personnel from India and sixteen friendly foreign...
India-China Trade Ministerial: First Meeting in 7 Years, India Pushes for Balanced Trade
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao on the sidelines of the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in...
Iran Vows 'Crushing' Attacks on US and Israel; IRGC on High Alert
Iran pledged 'crushing' retaliatory attacks against the United States and Israel in response to Trump's threats of sustained military strikes against...
IFFCO Plans to Replace 10% of Conventional Fertilisers with Nano Products in 3–4 Years
IFFCO Managing Director K J Patel announced plans to replace at least 10% of conventional fertilisers with nano fertiliser products in India within the next...
West Bengal SIR Row: Supreme Court Orders NIA Probe After Judicial Officers Held Hostage in Malda
Seven judicial officers conducting Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls were held hostage for over nine hours by a mob in Malda district...
Governor Bound by Council of Ministers' Advice on Release of Convicts: Constitutional Position
The Supreme Court has reiterated the settled constitutional position that the Governor is bound by the advice of the Council of Ministers when exercising...
India's Russian Crude Purchases Hit 9-Month High as Gulf Supplies Collapse
India's crude oil imports from Russia climbed to a 9-month high of approximately 1.96 million barrels per day (mbpd) in March 2026, sharply up from 1.04...
Finance Ministry: Indirect Tax Exceeds FY26 Revised Estimate, Caution Flagged for FY27
The Finance Ministry confirmed that indirect tax collections have exceeded the FY26 Revised Estimate (RE) of ₹15.52 lakh crore — with the overall...
Budget Session Adjourned: Parliament to Reconvene April 16 to Raise Lok Sabha Seats to 816
The Budget Session of Parliament was adjourned on April 2, 2026, but the government has announced it will reconvene on April 16 for a brief two-to-three day...
LIC, New India Assurance and GIC Re Retain D-SII Status Under IRDAI Framework
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has continued to designate Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), The New India...
India Joins UK-Led 35-Nation Talks to Reopen Strait of Hormuz
India participated in a UK-convened virtual summit of 35 countries focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively shut since late...
Government to Assess Revenue Impact of Tax Concessions Granted Amid West Asia Crisis
The Union government has initiated an assessment of the fiscal impact of recent tax concessions — including customs duty exemptions on petrochemicals and...
CAPF Amendment Bill Passed by Lok Sabha Amid Opposition Walkout Over IPS Deputation Controversy
The Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026, was passed by the Lok Sabha with the opposition staging a walkout, protesting the...
Telangana Bans Paraquat; Nationwide Ban Demands Grow Over Parkinson's Link and No Antidote
The Telangana government issued a notification on March 31, 2026, imposing a 60-day ban on the sale, stocking, distribution, and manufacturing of Paraquat...
India's Rare Earth Magnet Push: Rs 7,280 Crore Scheme, Pre-Bid Meeting Set for April 7
The government has opened global bids to set up rare earth permanent magnet manufacturing units under a Rs 7,280 crore incentive scheme sanctioned by the...
Maldives, Sri Lanka and Others Seek Exemption from Trump's Reciprocal Tariffs
The United States announced sweeping 'reciprocal tariffs' on April 2, 2026 — dubbed 'Liberation Day' by President Trump — targeting trading partners across...
NASA's Artemis II: First Crewed Mission to Lunar Vicinity in 50 Years
NASA's Artemis II mission launched from Kennedy Space Center on April 1, 2026 at 6:35 PM EDT — the first crewed mission to travel beyond low Earth orbit...
Supreme Court Calls Sand Mining Mafia "Modern Dacoits of Chambal" in Landmark Case
The Supreme Court of India, hearing a suo motu case on illegal sand mining in the National Chambal Sanctuary, described the sand mining mafia as 'modern...
Government Rolls Out Exporter Relief Package Amid Gulf Conflict Trade Disruptions
The government announced full customs duty exemption on 40 specified critical petrochemical feedstocks and polymers, effective April 2 to June 30, 2026...
US Imposes 26% Reciprocal Tariff on India: Sector-by-Sector Impact Analysis
On April 2, 2026 — dubbed 'Liberation Day' by US President Donald Trump — the United States announced a sweeping set of 'reciprocal tariffs' on imports from...
India Signals Readiness to Cut Import Duties and Regulate Exports to Protect Domestic Supply
India's trade ministry signalled readiness to cut import duties and, where necessary, curb exports to ensure adequate domestic supply of essential goods...
Road Ministry Revamps Price Escalation Mechanism for Highway Projects
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways announced a temporary compensation mechanism for highway developers to offset commodity price volatility...
India's Palm Oil Imports Hit 3-Month Low as Global Prices Spike
India's palm oil imports fell to approximately 689,000 metric tonnes in March 2026, the lowest level since December 2025 and down nearly 19% from 847,689...
India Stands Alone at WTO MC14, Rejects China-Led Investment Facilitation for Development Pact
At the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) held in Yaoundé, Cameroon (March 30 – April 2, 2026), India was the sole dissenting voice against...
India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement: Implementation Imminent
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal announced that the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), signed on July 24, 2025, is likely to come...
UPI Sets All-Time Record with 22.64 Billion Transactions in March 2026
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) recorded 22.64 billion transactions in March 2026 — its highest-ever monthly volume since launch in April 2016, according...
Centre Pushes States on Fertiliser Black-Marketing and MSP Procurement; 9.25 Crore Farmer IDs Created
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan chaired a virtual meeting with state agriculture ministers ahead of the Kharif season, directing states to...
Parliament to Reconvene on April 16 to Expand Lok Sabha Seats and Implement Women's Reservation
Parliament's Budget Session, originally scheduled to conclude on April 2, has been adjourned with an announcement that both Houses will reconvene on April...
Government Exempts Customs Duty on 40 Petrochemical Products Till June 30 Amid West Asia Crisis
The Ministry of Finance, effective April 2, 2026, granted a full customs duty exemption (Basic Customs Duty reduced to zero) on 40 critical petrochemical...
Government Signals Major Bill Ahead as Rajya Sabha Rejects Adjournment Motion
The government indicated that a 'very important' bill would be introduced in Parliament soon, signalling active legislative business ahead. The Rajya Sabha...
Census 2027: India's First Digital Census Begins with Self-Enumeration Drive
India's Census 2027 officially began on April 1, 2026 with the launch of the self-enumeration phase — the first time in Indian census history that citizens...
FCRA Amendment Bill 2026 Stalled in Parliament Amid Opposition Protests
The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 was listed for passage in the Lok Sabha on April 1–2, 2026, but was not taken up for discussion...
Mandatory Recycled Plastic in Packaging: India Tightens Circular Economy Rules
India has made the use of recycled plastic in packaging mandatory, with specific targets for different categories of plastic packaging taking effect from...
Rupee Posts Sharpest Single-Day Gain in 12 Years After RBI Curbs Forex Speculation
The Indian rupee appreciated sharply — gaining up to 1.8% to trade at 93.14 per US dollar on April 2, 2026 — its biggest single-day gain since September...
Navy Chief Reveals Indian Naval Forces Were Minutes Away From Sea Strike on Pakistan During Operation Sindoor
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi disclosed on April 1, 2026, at a naval investiture ceremony that Indian naval forces were positioned in the...
India's Defence Exports Reach Record Rs 38,424 Crore in FY26, Up 62.7%
India's defence exports in FY 2025-26 reached a record Rs 38,424 crore (approximately USD 4.6 billion), a 62.7% surge over the previous fiscal year's Rs...
West Asia War and the Shadow of 1973: How Today's Oil Crisis Compares
The ongoing West Asia conflict, which has led to a partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz and sent Brent crude prices above $100/barrel, has drawn...
West Asia War: Five Strategic Implications India Must Navigate
Analysts have identified five key takeaways from the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign against Iran that have direct and significant implications for...
Artemis II: Humans Return to the Moon After More Than 50 Years
NASA's Artemis II mission lifted off from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on April 1, 2026, carrying four astronauts on the first crewed journey beyond low...
Artemis II: A Symbol of Diversity and a Tool for Moon's Future
NASA's Artemis II, launched April 1, 2026, represents both a symbolic milestone — the most diverse lunar crew in history — and a practical test mission...
Manufacturing PMI Dips to 45-Month Low of 53.9 in March Amid Global Disruptions
India's Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell to 53.9 in March 2026 — the lowest in 45 months (since June 2022) — from 56.9 in February. The...
Pakistan as Iran War Mediator: India's Strategic Absence from West Asia Diplomacy
Pakistan has emerged as the primary diplomatic intermediary between the United States and Iran in the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign against Iran...
India-Russia Step Up High-Level Engagement Amid West Asia Tensions
Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov undertook a two-day visit to New Delhi (around April 2-3, 2026), his second high-profile visit in recent...
Artemis II: First Crewed Lunar Mission in 50 Years Reaches Orbit
NASA's Artemis II mission launched on April 1, 2026 at 6:35 pm EDT from Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center, Florida — the first crewed mission to fly...
Artemis II: First Crewed Lunar Mission in Over 50 Years Reaches Orbit
NASA's Artemis II mission launched on April 1, 2026, from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, aboard the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket — the first crewed...
Trump's Address on Iran War: Escalation Signals, Nuclear Threats, and Oil Price Surge
US President Donald Trump delivered a primetime national address on the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, signalling that operations would...
Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2026: Parliament Recognises Amaravati as Sole Capital
Parliament passed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, formally recognising Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra...
India's Defence Exports Cross Rs 38,424 Crore in FY26; US Remains Top Buyer
India's defence exports for FY2025-26 reached Rs 38,424 crore — a 62.66% increase over FY25's Rs 23,622 crore — setting a new all-time record. The United...
India's Manufacturing PMI Falls to 45-Month Low of 53.9 in March 2026
India's manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell to 53.9 in March 2026, down from 56.9 in February — the weakest reading since June 2022...
Rajya Sabha Passes Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025
The Rajya Sabha passed the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, completing the bill's parliamentary journey after the Lok Sabha passed it...
CBDT Clarifies GAAR Will Not Apply to Investments Made Before April 1, 2017
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) amended the General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR) on March 31, 2026, clarifying that GAAR will not apply to income —...
Venezuela's Oil Exports Reach 6-Year High as Indian Refiners Fill the China Gap
Venezuelan crude oil exports touched 890,000 barrels per day in March 2026, the highest level since December 2019, as Indian refiners emerged as the...
RBI Cracks Down on Offshore Rupee Speculation with Tough NDF Market Restrictions
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) rolled out some of its toughest currency market measures in over a decade, targeting speculative trading in the offshore...
iPhones in Deep Space: NASA's Historic Technology Policy Shift on Artemis II
For the first time in spaceflight history, NASA has authorised astronauts to carry personal iPhones beyond Earth's orbit, with the Artemis II crew taking...
FCRA Amendment Bill Triggers Political Storm in Kerala as Church Opposes Changes
The proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 triggered a significant political storm in Kerala, with the state's major church...
CBIC Waives Full Customs Duty on Critical Petrochemical Feedstock and Intermediates
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) waived full customs duty on a comprehensive list of critical petrochemical products, effective April...
Why India Is Pushing Piped Natural Gas: The PNG vs LPG Question Explained
The Central Government has issued the Natural Gas and Petroleum Products Distribution Order, 2026, mandating a time-bound transition for households in areas...
GE Aerospace Delivers Sixth F404-IN20 Engine for Tejas LCA-Mk1A, But Misses Annual Target
GE Aerospace delivered the sixth F404-IN20 engine to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Tejas LCA-Mk1A programme, but missed its revised annual...
CBIC Removes Import Duty on 41 Petrochemical Items to Stabilise Supply
The Ministry of Finance, through CBIC, announced full customs duty exemption on 41 critical petrochemical products effective April 2, 2026, valid until June...
FCRA Amendment Bill 2026: Stalin Calls It "Direct Attack" on Minority Institutions
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin condemned the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, calling it 'a direct attack on Christian NGOs...
India's Defence Exports Reach Record ₹38,424 Crore in FY 2025-26
India's defence exports touched an all-time high of ₹38,424 crore in FY 2025-26, a 62.6% jump over the previous year's ₹23,622 crore. The Defence Minister...
Shubhanshu Shukla at Artemis II Launch: India's Moment in Deep Space History
Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla was present at Kennedy Space Center to witness the Artemis II launch on April 1, 2026 — an occasion he...
India's Economy Shows Resilience: GST Crosses Rs 2 Lakh Crore, UPI Hits Record Despite Gulf War
India's GST collections crossed the Rs 2 lakh crore mark in March 2026 for the first time — touching Rs 2,00,064 crore gross (8.8% year-on-year growth) —...
Over 37,700 Indian Workers Died Abroad in Five Years; Gulf Nations Account for 86%
Government data tabled in Parliament reveals that 37,740 Indian workers died while working abroad between 2021 and 2025 — an average of over 20 deaths per...
Raja Ravi Varma's 'Yashoda and Krishna' Sets Indian Art Auction Record at Rs 167 Crore
Raja Ravi Varma's oil painting 'Yashoda and Krishna' sold for Rs 167.2 crore (approximately $18 million) at Saffronart's Spring Auction on April 1, 2026 in...
Mahabodhi Temple Management Dispute Raised in Rajya Sabha; SP Demands Buddhist Control
Samajwadi Party's Rajya Sabha member Ramji Lal Suman raised the Mahabodhi Temple management issue during Zero Hour in the upper house on April 2, 2026...
Indian Cities' Heat Action Plans Must Address Night-Time Temperatures, Study Warns
A new study published ahead of the 2026 summer season finds that India's existing city-level Heat Action Plans (HAPs) are significantly under-prepared for...
Customs Duty Exemption on Critical Petrochemical Products Amid West Asia Crisis
The government granted full customs duty exemption on critical petrochemical products to ensure supply stability and provide cost relief to domestic...
Supreme Court Calls Out Bengal's "Law and Order Breakdown" After Judicial Officers Held Hostage
The Supreme Court took serious cognisance of the 9-hour gherao of seven judicial officers conducting Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in...
Customs Duty Exemption on Critical Petrochemical Products Amid West Asia Supply Disruptions
The Ministry of Finance, through the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), granted full customs duty exemption on a wide range of critical...
Tamil Nadu CM Stalin Condemns FCRA Amendment as Attack on Minority Institutions
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin issued a strong condemnation of the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, calling it a...
Bengal Judicial Officers Held Hostage Over Voter Roll Deletions; Supreme Court Intervenes
Seven judicial officers conducting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls were gheraoed by protesters for approximately 9 hours at the...
Supreme Court Calls West Bengal "Most Polarised State" After Judicial Officers Gheraoed in Malda
Seven judicial officers — including three women — who were deployed in Malda's Kaliachak 2 Block Development Office to adjudicate electoral roll (SIR)...
Supreme Court Sets April 7 Deadline for 60 Lakh Bengal Electoral Roll Claims
The Supreme Court, while hearing the West Bengal Special Intensive Revision (SIR) case, noted that judicial officers deployed as Election Registration...
Operation Sindoor: Indian Navy Was Minutes Away from Sea Strike on Pakistan, Reveals Naval Chief
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi has publicly disclosed that the Indian Navy was minutes away from launching a sea-borne strike on...
India's Defence Capital Budget of Rs 1.86 Lakh Crore Fully Utilised in FY2025-26
The Ministry of Defence fully utilised its revised capital expenditure allocation of Rs 1.86 lakh crore for FY2025-26, marking the second consecutive year...