Daily Current Affairs (DCA) 1 April, 2026

Daily Current Affairs Quiz
1 April, 2026

National Affairs

1. IONS Maritime Exercise (IMEX) TTX 2026

Source: TOI

Context:

• The Indian Navy hosted the IONS Maritime Exercise (IMEX) Table-Top Exercise (TTX) 2026 at the Maritime Warfare Centre, Kochi.
• Timeline: Conducted in early 2026 under India’s renewed chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS).

BACKGROUND CONCEPTS

• Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS): Launched by India in 2008, it is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime cooperation among the navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.
• Table-Top Exercise (TTX): A simulated, discussion-based exercise where personnel meet in a classroom-style setting to walk through their roles during an emergency and discuss responses to a particular scenario.
• Net Security Provider: A concept where a nation (in this case, India) takes the lead in maintaining regional stability, conducting HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief), and securing global commons.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Simulated Environment: Unlike live-fire exercises, IMEX TTX 2026 used a war-gaming environment in Kochi, allowing for complex, multi-scenario contingencies without the cost or logistical constraints of ship deployment.
• Broad Participation: Notable participants included France, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Tanzania, highlighting the geographical diversity of the IONS framework.
• Information Sharing: A critical focus of the 2026 exercise was solving “information-sharing challenges,” which is often the biggest hurdle in multinational maritime coordination.

CONCEPTUAL MCQs

Q1. What distinguishes a “Table-Top Exercise” (TTX) like IMEX 2026 from a standard maritime field exercise?

A) TTX involves actual naval combat between participating nations.

B) TTX is a simulated, discussion-based walkthrough of scenarios conducted in a controlled environment without live ship deployment.

C) TTX is only conducted by the Coast Guard and not the Navy.

D) TTX focuses exclusively on traditional state-on-state warfare.

Q2. The IONS framework, under which IMEX 2026 was conducted, was originally an initiative launched by which country?

A) France

B) Australia

C) India

D) Indonesia

ANSWERS

Q1: B (Explanation: A Table-Top Exercise is a theoretical/simulated exercise used to test decision-making and coordination protocols before moving to live, expensive field operations.)

Q2: C (Explanation: The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) was an initiative conceived and launched by the Indian Navy in 2008.)

EXAM RELEVANCE

Exam	Focus Area	Relevance Level
UPSC CSE	GS-2 International Relations; GS-3 Internal Security (Maritime)	High
Defence Exams	Naval Exercises and IOR Security Architecture	Very High

2. Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)

Context:

• A young humpback whale nicknamed “Timmy” has gained international attention after being stranded for a third time in the shallow waters of the Baltic Sea off Germany’s coast.
• Humpback whales are not native to the Baltic Sea. The low salinity and lack of specific prey (like krill) make it an extremely difficult environment for them to survive long-term.

BACKGROUND CONCEPTS

• Baleen Whale: A group of whales (Mysticeti) that lack teeth and instead have “baleen plates”—fringe-like structures made of keratin used to filter small prey from the water.
• Rorqual Family: A specific group of baleen whales characterized by longitudinal skin folds (pleats) running from the mouth to the navel, allowing the throat to expand enormously while feeding.
• Tubercles: The distinctive, knobby bumps on a humpback’s head and jaw, which are actually hair follicles and may help with sensory perception or hydrodynamics.
• IUCN: Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

• Pectoral Fins: Humpbacks have the longest pectoral fins of any whale, reaching up to one-third of their total body length.
• Identification: The underside of a humpback’s tail (fluke) features unique black-and-white pigment patterns, serving as a “biological fingerprint” for researchers.

3. Exercise Dweep Shakti

Context:

• The Indian Armed Forces successfully concluded Exercise Dweep Shakti, a high-intensity, tri-service drill focused on island defense and maritime security.
• Timeline: Concluded in early 2026 under the aegis of the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC).

BACKGROUND CONCEPTS

• Tri-Service Exercise: A joint military operation involving all three branches of the military—the Army, Navy, and Air Force—to ensure they can fight as a single, cohesive unit.
• Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC): Established in 2001, it is India’s first and only Theater Command, where all three services operate under a single unified commander.
• Amphibious Assault: A type of military operation launched from the sea by naval and landing forces against a hostile or potentially hostile shore.
• Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC): Primary maritime routes between ports used for trade, logistics, and naval forces; securing these is vital for national energy and economic security.
• Swarming Drones: A technology where multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) coordinate their actions to accomplish a goal, often used to overwhelm enemy defenses.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Strategic Geography: The exercise utilized the unique terrain of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago to simulate the defense of remote island territories.
• Logistical Speed: A major highlight was “Beach Landing Drills,” where heavy equipment—including tanks and armored vehicles—was moved from naval ships to shore to test rapid deployment capabilities.
• Modern Warfare: The drill featured heavy integration of next-gen tech, specifically electronic warfare suites and swarming drones for reconnaissance and precision strikes.
• Multi-Domain Interoperability: The services tested unified communication protocols to ensure real-time data sharing between fighter jets, warships, and ground troops.

CONCEPTUAL MCQs

Q1. Why is the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) the designated host for Exercise Dweep Shakti?

A) Because it is the only command in India that allows foreign navies to participate.

B) Because it is India’s only Unified Theater Command, specifically designed for tri-service integration and island security.

C) Because it is the only command that possesses nuclear-powered submarines.

D) Because the Army is not allowed to operate in any other coastal command.

Q2. In the context of Exercise Dweep Shakti, what does “Amphibious Assault” specifically refer to?

A) A battle fought entirely underwater using submarines.

B) A coordinated military maneuver launched from the sea to land troops and equipment on a shore.

C) A specialized drill for fighting in high-altitude mountain ranges.

D) An exercise focused exclusively on protecting inland river systems.

ANSWERS

Q1: B (Explanation: The ANC was created to provide a unified command structure for the Army, Navy, and Air Force, making it the natural choice for a “Dweep” (Island) focused tri-service exercise.)

Q2: B (Explanation: Amphibious operations are defined by the transition of power from sea to land, utilizing landing crafts to move ground forces from naval vessels to a beachhead.)

EXAM RELEVANCE

Exam	Focus Area	Relevance Level
UPSC CSE	GS-3 Internal Security; Role of Armed Forces; Strategic Geography	High
Defence Exams	Joint Exercises, Theater Commands, and Maritime Strategy	Very High

4. NASA’s Artemis II

Context:

NASA’s Artemis II mission, scheduled for launch on April 1, 2026, marks the first time in over 50 years that humans will venture beyond low-Earth orbit. Unlike the Apollo missions, Artemis II is a “proving flight”—a 10-day journey designed to test the systems required for a sustained human presence on the Moon.

BACKGROUND CONCEPTS

• Space Launch System (SLS): A 322-foot super-heavy rocket, the most powerful since the Saturn V, designed to carry crew and heavy cargo to deep space.
• Orion Spacecraft: The crew’s command center and home for the 10-day trip, built to withstand extreme radiation and temperatures during lunar transit and high-speed atmospheric re-entry.
• Free-Return Trajectory: A flight path that uses the Moon’s gravity to naturally “loop” the spacecraft back toward Earth without requiring a major engine burn, serving as a built-in safety mechanism.
• Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (ICPS): The upper stage of the SLS rocket used to raise Orion’s orbit and provide the initial push toward the Moon.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• No Landing: Artemis II will not land on the Moon; it will fly approximately 4,600 miles beyond the lunar far side before returning.
• Human Manual Control: For the first time in this configuration, astronauts will take manual control of Orion during specific phases to test handling in deep space.
• Historic “Firsts”: The mission includes the first woman, the first person of color, and the first international partner to travel to the lunar vicinity.
• The “Long Game”: This mission is a stepping stone for the Artemis Base Camp at the lunar South Pole, intended as a permanent testbed for future missions to Mars.

CONCEPTUAL MCQs

Q1. How does the Artemis II mission differ fundamentally from the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 70s?

A) Artemis II is designed to be a one-time “flags and footprints” visit.

B) Artemis II is a robotic mission with no humans on board.

C) Artemis II aims to establish infrastructure for a sustained, permanent human presence.

D) Artemis II will travel to Mars first before looping back to the Moon.

ANSWERS

Q1: C (Explanation: While Apollo was about short-duration exploration, the Artemis program focuses on building a long-term base camp and infrastructure for deep-space travel.)

EXAM RELEVANCE

Exam	Focus Area	Relevance Level
UPSC CSE	GS-3 Science & Tech – Space Missions and International Cooperation	Very High
SSC / State PCS	Science & Technology – Space Exploration Jargon and Facts	High

Banking/Finance

1. RBI Extends Export Credit Relief till June 30 Amid West Asia Crisis

Context:

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has extended “pandemic-style” leniency for trade finance, allowing pre- and post-shipment export credit tenures to run for up to 450 days.
• The “Why”: Initially launched to counter US tariff hikes in November 2025, the relief is now extended due to the confrontation involving America, Israel, and Iran, which has rerouted vessels and inflated freight costs.
• Timeline: The extension applies to all credit disbursements made until June 30, 2026.

BACKGROUND CONCEPTS

• Pre-shipment Credit (Packing Credit): Working capital loans provided to exporters to fund the purchase of raw materials and manufacturing costs before the goods are actually shipped.
• Post-shipment Credit: Finance provided to exporters from the date of shipment to the date of realization of payment from the overseas buyer, bridging the liquidity gap.
• Working-Capital Cycle: The time taken for a company to convert its net current assets and liabilities into cash. Geopolitical strife has “elongated” this cycle for Indian exporters.
• Evergreening of Loans: The practice of granting a fresh loan to a borrower to repay an old, stressed loan to avoid classifying it as an NPA. The RBI explicitly warned that this relief should not be used for evergreening.
• Regulated Entities (REs): This includes all commercial banks, primary urban co-operative banks, state/central co-operative banks, and factoring NBFCs authorized to handle export finance.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Shift in Risk Profile: The RBI’s focus has shifted from protecting “competitiveness” (against US tariffs) to protecting “trade flow” (against West Asia war disruptions).
• MSME Focus: The relief is primarily aimed at MSMEs in textiles, engineering, and chemicals, which are the main drivers of employment but have the least cushion against cash-flow shocks.
• Liquidation Flexibility: Lenders can now “square off” (settle) packing-credit facilities using domestic sales or proceeds from alternative export orders if the original shipment is cancelled or delayed.
• Repatriation Window: The RBI maintained the extension for exporters to realize and bring back foreign exchange earnings within 15 months, compared to the standard 9-month requirement.
• No Blanket Forbearance: Prudential norms remain active; banks must still monitor risks and ensure this is a temporary liquidity measure, not a permanent bailout.

CONCEPTUAL MCQs

Q1. Why is the RBI’s decision to allow “domestic sales proceeds” to settle export packing credit considered a significant relaxation?

A) It allows exporters to avoid paying any interest on their loans.

B) It acknowledges that geopolitical strife may lead to the total cancellation of export orders, allowing firms to stay solvent by selling locally instead.

C) It forces exporters to prioritize the Indian market over international buyers.

D) It converts all export loans into government grants.

E) It converts all export loans into public grants.

Q2. What is the maximum duration allowed by the Reserve Bank of India for pre- and post-shipment export credit under the latest relief measures?

A) 270 days
B) 300 days
C) 365 days
D) 450 days
E) 540 days

Q3. What is the extended timeline for realization and repatriation of export proceeds under the RBI’s relief framework?

A) 6 months
B) 9 months
C) 12 months
D) 15 months
E) 18 months

Q4. Which of the following best explains the RBI’s primary objective behind extending export credit relief till June 2026?

A) To promote capital inflows into India
B) To control domestic inflation
C) To address war-induced disruptions in global trade and logistics
D) To reduce fiscal deficit
E) To increase foreign exchange reserves artificially

Q5. Which of the following practices has the RBI explicitly cautioned banks against while implementing export credit relief?

A) Hedging foreign exchange risk
B) Extending credit to MSMEs
C) Increasing export financing limits
D) Evergreening of loans
E) Providing post-shipment credit

ANSWERS

Q1: B (Explanation: Normally, export credit must be settled via export proceeds. Allowing domestic sale proceeds to settle these loans helps firms that cannot ship their goods due to war or port closures.)

Q2: E (Through domestic sales proceeds or alternative export orders)
Explanation: As a major relaxation, exporters can now square off packing credit using domestic sales or alternate export proceeds, especially when original shipments are cancelled or delayed.

Q3: D (15 months)
Explanation: The standard realization period of 9 months has been extended to 15 months, aligning with the 450-day credit window to ease liquidity stress.

Q4: C (To address war-induced disruptions in global trade and logistics)
Explanation: The extension is primarily aimed at tackling West Asia conflict-related disruptions, including shipping delays, rerouting, and higher freight costs.

Q5: D (Evergreening of loans)
Explanation: The RBI has clearly warned banks not to misuse the relief for evergreening, i.e., issuing fresh loans to hide stressed assets and avoid NPA classification.

EXAM RELEVANCE

Exam	Focus Area	Relevance Level
RBI Grade B	ESI – External Sector; Finance – Credit Policy & NPA Management	Very High
UPSC CSE	GS-3 Economy – Effects of Liberalization, Infrastructure, and Energy	High
SEBI Grade A	Impact on Trade Finance & Corporate Liquidity	Moderate

2. RBI Revised Amendment Directions on Capital Market Exposures

Context:

• The Lead: The RBI has issued crucial clarifications on capital market exposure (CME) limits, setting a system-wide cap on loans for shares and tightening norms for IPO/ESOP financing.
• The “Why”: To restrain excessive short-term speculation, prevent sharp build-ups of leveraged positions, and reduce systemic credit risk during market corrections.
• Timeline: The implementation of these revised directions has been deferred by three months from April 1 to July 1, 2026, following industry representations.

BACKGROUND CONCEPTS

• Capital Market Exposure (CME): The total amount of loans and guarantees a bank extends to individuals or entities for investing in the stock market.
• Acquisition Finance: Credit extended to companies to fund the purchase of another company (M&A). RBI has now expanded this definition to cover mergers and amalgamations.
• Leveraged Positions: Using borrowed money (margin/loans) to purchase securities. While this amplifies gains in a bull market, it leads to rapid, forced selling (unwinding) if prices fall.
• ESOP Financing: Loans provided to employees of a company to help them exercise their Employee Stock Option Plans (buying company shares at a pre-determined price).
• System-wide Cap: Unlike a per-bank cap, a system-wide cap means the borrower’s total debt across all banks in India cannot exceed the limit.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• New Loan Caps: Purchase of Shares/Securities: Capped at ₹1 crore per borrower across the entire banking system.
  • IPO/FPO/ESOP Subscription: Capped at ₹25 lakh per individual (a reduction from the previously suggested higher limits to curb retail speculation).
• Acquisition Finance Guardrails: Banks must now obtain a corporate guarantee from the parent acquiring company if the loan is extended to a subsidiary or an SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle).
• Target Restrictions: Acquisition finance is restricted to deals that result in the control of a non-financial target company.
• Operational Buffer: The 3-month deferment (to July 1) allows banks and intermediaries to fix “operational and interpretational issues” regarding how to track these limits across multiple lenders.
• Risk Mitigation: By moving to an absolute system-wide cap, the RBI prevents “stacking”—where a borrower takes ₹20 lakh from five different banks to bypass individual bank limits.

CONCEPTUAL MCQs

Q1. What is the primary objective of the RBI imposing a “system-wide” cap rather than a “per-bank” cap on share-purchase loans?

A) To increase the interest income for smaller banks.

B) To prevent a single borrower from accumulating high leverage by taking multiple loans from different banks.

C) To encourage individuals to move their savings into Fixed Deposits.

D) To simplify the tax filing process for individual investors.

Q2. Under the revised RBI guidelines, what is a mandatory requirement for a bank extending acquisition finance to a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)?

A) The SPV must be listed on a global stock exchange.

B) The bank must charge a 0% interest rate for the first year.

C) The bank must obtain a corporate guarantee from the acquiring parent company.

D) The target company being acquired must be a financial institution.

ANSWERS

Q1: B (Explanation: A system-wide cap ensures that a borrower’s total exposure to the stock market via debt remains within ₹1 crore, regardless of how many banks they approach, thus limiting systemic risk.)

Q2: C (Explanation: To ensure credit safety, the RBI requires the parent company (the actual acquirer) to provide a corporate guarantee when the loan is technically taken by a subsidiary or SPV.)

EXAM RELEVANCE

Exam	Focus Area	Relevance Level
RBI Grade B	Finance – Financial Markets; Banking Regulations; CME Norms	Very High
SEBI Grade A	Securities Market Intermediaries and IPO Financing	High

3. Supervisory Data Quality Index (sDQI)

Context:

• The quality of regulatory data submitted by Indian banks has improved, with the Supervisory Data Quality Index (sDQI) for Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) rising to 90.9 in December 2025 from 90.7 in September 2025.
• The increase reflects better compliance and improved internal data governance, though gains in accuracy and consistency were partially offset by declines in completeness and timeliness.
• The Exception: Public Sector Banks (PSBs) were the only group to see a dip in their score, falling to 91 from 91.1.

BACKGROUND CONCEPTS

• Supervisory Data Quality Index (sDQI): A framework introduced by the RBI to evaluate the reliability of data submitted by banks. High-quality data is critical for the RBI to perform effective “Supervisory Oversight” and detect systemic risks early.
• The Four Pillars of sDQI:
  1. Accuracy: Ensuring the data reflects the true financial state without errors.
  2. Timeliness: Submitting data within the prescribed regulatory deadlines.
  3. Completeness: Ensuring no mandatory data fields or reports are missing.
  4. Consistency: Ensuring data remains uniform across different reports and time periods.
• Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs): Banks listed in the Second Schedule of the RBI Act, 1934, including Public, Private, Foreign, and Small Finance Banks.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Sectoral Standouts: Small Finance Banks (SFBs) emerged as the top performers with an sDQI of 91.9, achieving perfect scores in accuracy and consistency.
• PSB Struggle: While PSBs still hold a relatively high score (91), their slight decline was attributed to weaknesses in completeness and timeliness, suggesting procedural bottlenecks in data filing.
• Foreign & Private Banks: Foreign banks improved to 90.7, while Private sector banks remained stable at 90.6.
• The Trade-off: System-wide, banks are getting better at making sure the data is “correct” (accuracy/consistency), but are struggling to get the “full picture” (completeness) to the RBI “on time” (timeliness).

CONCEPTUAL MCQs

Q1. Which of the following parameters saw an aggregate improvement across Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) in the December 2025 sDQI report?

A) Completeness and Timeliness

B) Accuracy and Consistency

C) Only Timeliness

D) All four parameters equally

Q2. Small Finance Banks (SFBs) achieved the highest sDQI score (91.9). Which specific areas contributed to this perfect sub-score?

A) Timeliness and Completeness

B) Internal Audit and Human Resources

C) Accuracy and Consistency

D) Loan Recovery and NPA Management

ANSWERS

Q1: B (Explanation: The report explicitly states that while accuracy and consistency improved, the drop in completeness and timeliness weighed on the overall performance.)

Q2: C (Explanation: According to the RBI data, the top performance of SFBs was specifically supported by a perfect score in the accuracy and consistency metrics.)

EXAM RELEVANCE

Exam	Focus Area	Relevance Level
RBI Grade B	Finance – Banking System in India; RBI’s Supervisory Functions	Very High
SEBI Grade A	Data Governance and Regulatory Compliance	Moderate
NABARD	Recent RBI circulars and Banking Indices	High

4. RBI Tightens ECB Reporting Norms: 7-Day Deadline for AD Cat-I Banks

Context:

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has mandated that Authorised Dealer (AD) Category-I banks must submit complete and certified External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) returns to the RBI within seven calendar days of receiving them from borrowers.
• To improve compliance, ensure data integrity, and streamline reporting under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
• Timeline: The new rules are effective from April 1, 2026.

BACKGROUND CONCEPTS

• External Commercial Borrowings (ECB): Loans in India provided by non-resident lenders to Indian residents. These are used to access foreign capital at potentially lower interest rates.
• Authorised Dealer (AD) Category-I Banks: Banks (mostly commercial banks) authorized by the RBI to deal in foreign exchange and handle all current and capital account transactions.
• Form ECB 1: The form used for applying for a Loan Registration Number (LRN) before drawing down the ECB.
• Form ECB 2: The monthly return that captures the actual fund flows (drawdowns and repayments) of the ECB.
• Late Submission Fee (LSF): A penalty framework that allows borrowers to regularize reporting delays by paying a fee rather than facing harsher adjudication under FEMA.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• New Strict Deadline: Previously, there was no fixed deadline for banks to forward returns to the RBI. Now, banks have a strict 7-day window to certify and submit.
• LSF Sequence: The RBI clarified that LSF payments must only be made after the central bank acknowledges receipt of the return. Instructions for payment will be sent via email.
• Penalty Structure: * Form ECB 1: Treated as a return that does not capture fund flows. Penalties for delays are computed based on this classification.
  • Form ECB 2: Delays will attract LSF on a per-return basis. Each instance of delay under a specific Loan Registration Number (LRN) is treated as a separate violation.
• Bank Accountability: AD banks are now directly responsible for monitoring and ensuring that borrowers pay the applicable penalties for any delays.

CONCEPTUAL MCQs

Q1. Under the new RBI mandate effective April 1, 2026, what is the timeline for an AD Category-I bank to submit ECB returns to the RBI after receiving them from the borrower?

A) 15 working days

B) 7 calendar days

C) 30 calendar days

D) Immediately upon receipt

Q2. How will delays in filing Form ECB 2 be treated under the revised LSF (Late Submission Fee) rules?

A) As a single consolidated penalty for the entire year.

B) As a one-time warning without financial implications.

C) On a per-return basis, with each delay under a Loan Registration Number (LRN) treated separately.

D) As a criminal offense under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

ANSWERS

Q1: B (Explanation: The notification explicitly sets a new fixed deadline of 7 calendar days to ensure timely data flow to the central bank.)

Q2: C (Explanation: The RBI has tightened the penalty net by treating every monthly delay (ECB 2) as an independent instance, increasing the cost of non-compliance for habitual laggards.)

EXAM RELEVANCE

Exam	Focus Area	Relevance Level
RBI Grade B	Finance – External Commercial Borrowings; FEMA Regulations	Very High
SEBI Grade A	Foreign Investment and Corporate Debt Regulations	Moderate

Facts To Remember

1. SEBI fines EliteCon  ₹51.2 cr. for alleged insider trading

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) fined Elite Con International, a cigarette-maker, ₹51 crore and banned it from the securities market for allegedly inflating the price of the company’s stock and dumping them on retail investors, gaining ₹51.2 crore, according to an order released on March 31.

2. MeitY Approves ₹7,104 Crore Projects under ECMS 4th Tranche

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology approved 29 projects under ECMS with ₹7,104 crore investment, targeting electronics manufacturing, ₹84,515 crore production, and 14,246 jobs across sectors like telecom, automotive, and IT hardware.

3. Centre Extends PM E-DRIVE Subsidy for Electric Two-Wheelers till July 2026

Ministry of Heavy Industries extended PM E-DRIVE subsidy for e-2Ws till July 31, 2026, offering incentives via VAHAN portal to boost EV adoption, reduce upfront costs, and support green mobility goals.

4. CCRAS Signs MoU with Anuvadini AI for Ayurveda Translation

Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences partnered with Anuvadini AI to translate Ayurveda research into 13 languages using AI, enhancing accessibility and promoting equitable knowledge dissemination.

5. DGCA and GSV Sign MoU to Boost Aviation Skill Development

Directorate General of Civil Aviation signed MoU with Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya to train youth in aviation, launch B.Sc. AME program, and strengthen MRO sector and industry-academia collaboration.

6. MoD Signs ₹1,950 Crore Deal with BEL for Mountain Radars

Ministry of Defence signed contract with Bharat Electronics Limited for mountain radars for IAF, enhancing high-altitude surveillance, early warning systems, and indigenous defence manufacturing.

7. Government Extends PM KUSUM Scheme Deadline to March 2027

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy extended PM KUSUM deadline to March 2027, supporting solar adoption in agriculture with subsidies, reducing diesel dependence, and promoting renewable energy capacity.

8. Centre Keeps Small Savings Scheme Interest Rates Unchanged for Q1FY27

Ministry of Finance retained interest rates on small savings schemes unchanged for Q1FY27, ensuring stability in returns across schemes like PPF, SSY, SCSS, NSC, and KVP.

9. RBI Imposes ₹31.80 Lakh Penalty on Airtel Payments Bank

Reserve Bank of India imposed ₹31.80 lakh penalty on Airtel Payments Bank for non-compliance with financial disclosure norms, based on supervisory inspection findings for FY25.

10. GRSE Delivers Three Warships to Indian Navy

Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers delivered Dunagiri, Sanshodhak, and Agray to Indian Navy, strengthening indigenous naval capabilities in stealth warfare, survey operations, and anti-submarine defence.

11. Former Suriname President Chandrikapersad Santokhi Passes Away

Chandrikapersad Santokhi passed away at 67, remembered for strengthening India ties, economic reforms, and being honoured with Pravasi Bharatiya Samman.

12. SCAP and CSIR-NIScPR Sign MoU for Science Communication

Science City of Andhra Pradesh signed MoU with CSIR-NIScPR to promote science communication, research collaboration, and evidence-based policymaking in science and innovation.

13. Punjab Approves Mukh Mantri Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojana

Punjab government led by Bhagwant Mann approved MMMDSY scheme providing ₹1,000–₹1,500 monthly assistance to women via DBT, benefiting majority of adult women and promoting financial empowerment.

14. Union Minister Dr Virendra Kumar says govt will establish Drug Rehabilitation Centres (Nasha Mukti Kendras) across the country

Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr Virendra Kumar has said that the government will establish Drug Rehabilitation Centres (Nasha Mukti Kendras) across all districts of the country, focusing on rehabilitation and treatment. 

15. World’s largest and first digitallly conducted India’s Census-2027 begins today

The first phase of Census-2027, the world’s largest population census exercise, will begin from today. This will be the 16th Census in the series and the 8th since Independence. The census will be conducted in two phases, House Listing (HLO) and Population Enumeration (PE), with March 1, 2027.

16. India and Algeria hold 7th round of Foreign Office Consultations

The 7th round of Foreign Office Consultations between India and Algeria was held in Algiers on 29 March. 

17. Indian Navy receives Malwan, second Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft

The Indian Navy today received Malwan, the second Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, built by Cochin Shipyard Limited at Kochi. 

18. PM inaugurates Samrat Samprati Museum at Koba; Kaynes Semiconductor OSAT plant in Sanand, Gujarat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Samrat Samprati Museum in Koba, Gandhinagar, on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti.

19. NESTS to celebrate 8th Foundation Day tomorrow at Dr Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi

The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) will celebrate its 8th Foundation Day tomorrow at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi.

20. India emerge as global leader in issuing IRCCs under Nagoya Protocol on ABS

India has emerged as the global leader in issuing Internationally Recognized Certificates of Compliance, (IRCCs), under the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing (ABS).

21. PM SVANidhi Scheme supports street vendors with 17,115 crore loans

A total of over one crore loans amounting to 17,115 crore rupees have been disbursed to street vendor beneficiaries under the PM SVANidhi scheme so far. The scheme was launched in June 2020 to provide collateral-free working capital term loans to urban street vendors. 

22. IndiaSkills National Competition 2025-26 commences in Greater Noida

IndiaSkills National Competition 2025-26, the country’s premier platform to celebrate excellence in skills, commenced today in Greater Noida.