National Affairs

Union Minister Giriraj Singh Releases Report 'Market for Textiles & Clothing: National Household Survey 2024'

On April 6, 2026, Union Minister Giriraj Singh, Ministry of Textiles (MoT), released a study report on Domestic Demand of Textiles titled "Market for Textiles and Clothing: National Household Survey 2024" in the presence of Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary, MoT, in New Delhi.

The survey, conducted by the Textiles Committee, evaluates household demand for Textiles and Apparel (T&A) and serves as a key reference for policymakers and industry.

Key Findings:

NSO Launches Inaugural Annual Survey of Incorporated Services Sector Enterprises

The National Statistics Office (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), officially launched the inaugural Annual Survey of Incorporated Services Sector Enterprises (ASISSE) aimed at developing a comprehensive database of the incorporated (registered) services sector in India.

The survey, rolled out from April 2026, covers incorporated services sector enterprises across all States and UTs, with the reference period being FY 2024-25.

• Target Enterprises: Corporate entities registered under the Companies Act, 1956/2013 or Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) Act, 2008.
• Services Sectors Covered: Trade, transport, hospitality, Information Technology (IT), education, healthcare, among others.
• Methodology: Expected to cover nearly 1.21 lakh enterprises, using the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) database.

GoI Notifies Amaravati as Sole Capital of Andhra Pradesh

The Ministry of Law & Justice (MoL&J) formally notified Amaravati as the exclusive capital of Andhra Pradesh (AP) after both houses of Parliament passed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Act, 2026 and received presidential assent.

• Effective From: The Amendment Act shall be deemed to have come into force on June 02, 2024.
• Key Changes: The AP Reorganisation (Amendment) Act, 2026 amended Section 5 of the AP Reorganisation (APR) Act, 2014, which stated that Hyderabad would remain the common capital of Telangana and AP for 10 years. By inserting the word "Amaravati" into the APR Act, 2014, it nullifies the previous AP government's decision proposing 3 capitals — Amaravati (legislative), Visakhapatnam (executive), and Kurnool (judicial).

India's Indigenously Built Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam, TN Achieves Criticality

On April 6, 2026, India's first indigenously developed 500 Megawatt electric (MWe) Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, successfully achieved first criticality, marking the start of a controlled nuclear fission chain reaction.

This achievement gives a significant boost to the crucial second stage of India's 3-stage nuclear programme.

Indian Army Unveils Technology Roadmap for UAS & Loitering Munitions in Delhi

The Indian Army (IA) unveiled the 'Technology Roadmap for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Loitering Munitions' to strengthen India's self-reliant drone ecosystem and enhance modern warfare capabilities.

A 50-page strategic document was released by Lt Gen Rahul R Singh, Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (Capability Development & Sustenance), at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

• Purpose: Provides long-term clarity on the Indian Army's UAS requirements and aligns operational needs with technological development, guiding industry, academia, and R&D investments toward priority areas.
• Scope: Covers 30 types of UAS and loitering munitions, translating into nearly 80 variants across diverse operational needs.
• Categories: Divided into five segments — Surveillance, Loitering Munitions, Air Defence UAS, Special Role UAS, and Logistics UAS.
• Technology: Includes High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE), Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE), swarm drones, First Person View (FPV) drones, anti-drone systems, Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T), and 'mother-child drone' concepts.

India Adds Record 6.05 GW Wind Power in FY26, Surpassing 56 GW Total Capacity

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) announced that India achieved its highest-ever annual wind energy capacity addition of 6.05 Gigawatt (GW) in FY 2025-26, marking a major milestone in the Renewable Energy (RE) sector.

• Record Growth: The addition surpassed the previous record of 5.5 GW set in FY17 and represents a 46% increase over the 4.15 GW added in FY25.
• Capacity Milestone: India's total installed wind power capacity has crossed 56 GW, strengthening its global position and supporting the target of 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.
• Leading States: Gujarat, Karnataka, and Maharashtra lead installations, supported by favourable policies and hybrid project deployment.

Banking & Finance

Bajaj Alts Gets SEBI Approval to Launch Portfolio Management Services

Bajaj Alternate Investment Management (Bajaj Alts), an arm of Bajaj Finserv Limited, secured regulatory approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to launch Portfolio Management Services (PMS).

• Expansion: The firm consolidated its position as a diversified investment platform, offering comprehensive solutions across Alternate Investment Funds (AIFs) and PMS.
• Target: Through its PMS business, the company mainly aims to target High-Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) and Ultra High Net-Worth Individuals (UHNWIs), offering differentiated strategies supported by deep research and institutional investment processes.
• Key Focus: Strong research and effective risk management, using technology to improve transparency and control risks, with the aim of delivering steady and balanced returns.

RBI Cancels Shirpur Merchants' Co-op Bank Licence Over Poor Finances

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the licence of Maharashtra's Shirpur Merchants' Co-operative Bank Limited over inadequate capital and poor earning prospects, under Section 22 read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation (BR) Act, 1949.

The co-operative bank will cease all banking activities from the close of business on April 06, 2026.

• Key Reasons: The lender failed to comply with several provisions of the BR Act, 1949, including requirements related to capital adequacy and operational conditions.
• Liquidation: RBI has requested the Commissioner for Cooperation and Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Maharashtra, to initiate the bank's winding-up process and appoint a liquidator.
• Depositor Insurance: Every depositor will receive deposit insurance claim amount of maximum Rs 5 lakh from the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC), subject to the provisions of DICGC Act, 1961. As of January 31, 2026, DICGC had insured deposits worth Rs 48.95 crore.

Economy & Business

Morgan Stanley Lowers India GDP Growth Forecast for FY27 to 6.2%

Morgan Stanley lowered its real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) projection for India by 30 basis points (bps) to 6.2% for FY 2026-27, from its previous estimate of 6.5%, due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

• Q1 FY27 Outlook: Projection based on softening of industrial activity, margin compression, and tightening of external financing.

Awards & Recognitions

UP's Divya Singh Becomes First Indian Woman to Cycle to Everest Base Camp in 14 Days

Divya Singh, a 28-year-old teacher from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, created history by becoming the first Indian woman and second woman globally (after Tammat Bil Khoar of Bangladesh) to reach Mount Everest Base Camp (EBC) on a bicycle.

• Support & Management: The expedition was flagged off by Gorakhpur district officials and managed by Rustadventure1.
• Route: Kathmandu (Nepal) to EBC via Saleri, Surke, Phakding, Namche Bazaar, Lobuche, and Gorakshep over 14 days with 10–12 hours of daily cycling.
• Altitude: Reached a height of 5,364 metres (17,560 feet) above sea level under extreme high-altitude conditions.

Appointments & Resignations

Jindal Stainless Appoints Actor Ranveer Singh as Brand Ambassador

Jindal Stainless Limited (JSL), a leading stainless steel manufacturing company in India, appointed renowned actor Ranveer Singh as its first brand ambassador.

• Objective: To enhance awareness, strengthen audience connect, and highlight the importance of stainless steel in everyday life and infrastructure.
• Campaign: Ranveer Singh will feature in campaigns across television (TV), digital, and social media platforms.
• Growth: The company reported an annual turnover of Rs 40,182 crore in FY25. It plans to scale up facilities to reach 4.2 Million Tonnes (MT) of annual melt capacity. As of March 2025, it has 16 stainless manufacturing and processing units in India and overseas (including Spain and Indonesia), and a worldwide network in 12 countries.

Important Days at a Glance