National Affairs

MoEFCC Designates 'Bhavasagara' as India's First National Repository for Deep-Sea Fauna

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) officially designated the Bhavasagara Referral Centre at the Center for Marine Living Resources & Ecology (CMLRE), Kochi, Kerala as India's first National Repository for Deep-Sea Fauna.

This recognition was granted under Section 39 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, designating the centre as a key national facility for the conservation, research, and documentation of India's rich deep-sea biodiversity.

Key Functions:

• Maintain Secure Custody: Preserves representative biological samples as voucher specimens along with essential data, including Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) sequences, for future scientific use.
• Hold Type Specimens: Serves as the official custodian of newly discovered deep-sea species from Indian waters.
• Capacity Building: Promotes expertise in deep-sea taxonomy in line with the United Nations (UN) Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030).

India Emerges as Global Leader in Issuing IRCCs under Nagoya Protocol on ABS

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), announced that India has emerged as the global leader in issuing Internationally Recognised Certificates of Compliance (IRCCs) under the Nagoya Protocol.

As per the data from the Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) Clearing-House, India has issued 3,561 IRCCs out of a global total of 6,311, accounting for more than 56% of all certificates issued worldwide.

• Limited Global Participation: Only 34 countries out of 142 countries registered on the ABS Clearing-House have issued IRCCs.

• Key Driver: India's leading position represents the effective implementation of the country's ABS framework under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

MoSPI Develops India SDG Dashboard in Collaboration with UN Resident Coordinator Office

In April 2026, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) in partnership with the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office (UNRCO) developed the India Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Dashboard.

• Purpose: The dashboard acts as a centralized data platform, designed to monitor the progress of SDG indicators.
• Aligns with: India's SDGs-National Indicator Framework (NIF).
• Key Initiatives: The e-Sankhyiki portal provides time-series data on key macroeconomic indicators, while the Advance Release Calendar (ARC) ensures timely and transparent dissemination of statistical data on the MoSPI website.

MoE & CBSE Launch AI and Computational Thinking Curriculum for Classes 3–8

The Ministry of Education (MoE) in collaboration with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) launched a new curriculum on Computational Thinking (CT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Classes 3 to 8, to be implemented from the 2026–27 academic session.

The MoE released three key documents — the curriculum, a teachers' handbook, and learning materials.

Grade-wise Approach:

• Focus Areas: Foundational concepts of AI, coding, data handling, logical reasoning, and algorithmic thinking at the elementary and middle school levels.
• Alignment: The curriculum aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023.

DoT Extends SIM-Binding Deadline for OTT Platforms to 31 December 2026

In April 2026, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), under the Ministry of Communications, extended the deadline for Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms to implement Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)-binding by 31 December 2026.

The move revised the earlier 90-day compliance timeline issued on 28 November 2025, which came into effect from 1 March 2026.

• Approach: The DoT replaced the earlier six-hour automatic logout rule with a risk-based mechanism where sessions are terminated only in suspected fraud cases.
• Framework: The directive was issued under the Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Rules, 2024, within the Telecommunications Act, 2023 framework that replaced the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885.
• SIM-Binding: Requires OTT applications to remain continuously linked to a mobile number, preventing use without an active SIM and aiming to curb cybercrimes like digital arrest scams and financial frauds while enhancing user verification.

BCGCL and MCL Sign Land Lease Agreement for India's First Indigenous Coal-to-Ammonium Nitrate Project

On April 1, 2026, Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Limited (BCGCL) and Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL), signed a landmark land lease agreement for setting up India's first indigenous coal-to-ammonium nitrate project at Lakhanpur, Odisha.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy (Ministry of Coal and Ministry of Mines) and Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, in New Delhi.

• Coal Gasification: Converts coal into synthesis gas (syngas) for producing chemicals, fuels, and fertilizers.

International Affairs

CMS COP15 Concluded Successfully in Brazil with 40 New Species Being Accorded Protection

The 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) was held under Brazil Presidency from 23 to 29 March 2026 in Campo Grande, Brazil.

During the conference, a total of 40 species, subspecies, and populations were newly included or reclassified under Appendices I and II, of which 16 are found in Brazil.

• Overview: CMS COP15 brought together representatives from 132 countries and the European Union (EU) under the theme "Connecting Nature to Sustain Life."
• Global Concern: According to the 'State of the World's Migratory Species Report 2026', nearly 49% of migratory species populations are declining and around 24% face the risk of extinction.
• Future Developments: Brazil assumed the presidency for the next three years, while Germany was announced as the host of COP16 in 2029 to mark the 50th anniversary of CMS.

Banking & Finance

IRDAI Approves Ind AS Framework for Insurers from April 1, 2026

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) approved the IRDAI (Actuarial, Finance and Investment Functions of Insurers) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 at its 135th Authority Meeting.

• Implementation: Mandates the preparation and presentation of financial statements by insurers in accordance with applicable Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS), with effect from 1 April 2026.
• Applicable to: All categories of insurers including Life, General, Standalone Health Insurers, and Reinsurers.
• Parallel Reporting: Regulations provide for parallel reporting for a period of 2 years — financial statements prepared in accordance with Ind AS and under the existing accounting framework.
• Expert Group: IRDAI constituted a joint expert group on Ind AS, chaired by the Whole Time Member (WTM) (Finance and Investment), currently Mr. Rajay Kumar Sinha. The group shall remain in force for 2 years from the date of constitution.

Appointments & Resignations

Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth Assumes Charge as Vice Chief of the Army Staff

On April 1, 2026, Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) Dhiraj Seth assumed the office of the 49th Vice Chief of the Army Staff (VCOAS) of the Indian Army (IA).

• Position Hierarchy: The VCOAS is the second-highest-ranking officer in the Indian Army and the senior-most Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS).
• Function: Serves as a senior adviser to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and manages strategic planning and operational logistics.

Acquisitions & Mergers

RBI Approves Emirates NBD's 60% Stake Acquisition in RBL Bank

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved Emirates NBD's acquisition of a 60% stake in RBL Bank, through a preferential allotment of equity shares, in a deal valued at around Rs 26,853 crore.

The approval also covers the merger of existing operations of Emirates NBD in India with RBL, subject to requisite regulatory clearances.

• Acquisition Process: Emirates NBD will launch an open offer to buy a maximum 26% of RBL's voting share capital at Rs 280 per equity share. The mandatory offer will include around 415.58 million shares.
• Key Change: Upon completion, Emirates NBD will be designated as a promoter of RBL Bank, which will become its largest subsidiary outside India.
• Regulatory Status: The deal is now pending clearance from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
• About RBL Bank: Formerly known as Ratnakar Bank Limited, it is a private sector bank established in 1943 and headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Science & Technology

CSL Delivers Second ASW Shallow Water Craft 'Malwan' to IN

Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL), a Schedule A Miniratna company under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW), delivered the second anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft (ASW-SWC) 'Malwan' to the Indian Navy (IN).

The handover ceremony included the signing of the protocol by Dr. Harikrishnan S, Director (Operations), CSL, and Commander Pravin Kumar Tiwari, Commanding Officer (Designate), INS Malwan, at CSL, Kochi, Kerala.

NASA Launches Four Astronauts on World's First Crewed Lunar Mission 'Artemis II'

In April 2026, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched the Artemis II mission from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, using the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion crew capsule, sending four astronauts on a crewed test flight to the Moon's vicinity — marking the first human journey beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972.

Crew Members:

• Aim: To orbit the Moon and safely return to Earth while testing spacecraft systems, crew performance, deep-space operations, life-support systems, and safety in a high-radiation environment.
• Program: Artemis II is the first crewed mission under NASA's Artemis program, launched in 2017 to advance human lunar exploration.
• Key Achievements:
• Jeremy Hansen becomes the first Canadian astronaut to participate in a lunar mission.
• Christina Koch holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman (328 days).
• Victor Glover becomes the first person of color on a lunar mission.
• Mission Details: Nearly 10-day journey, traveling about 4,06,000 km (2,52,000 miles) — the farthest distance for human spaceflight, surpassing Apollo 13.

Books & Authors

Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan Releases Sudha Murty's Book 'Tides of Time' on Parliamentary Murals

On April 1, 2026, Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book 'Tides of Time: Bharat's History through Murals in Parliament' authored by Sudha Murty, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), at Samvidhan Sadan, New Delhi.

The volume, published by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, documents the visual archives of Parliament while showcasing India's civilizational journey through its murals.

• Content: The book covers 124 mural panels (including 58 commissioned in 1954) tracing history from Mohenjo-daro of the Indus Valley Civilization to Independence in 1947.
• Legacy: The murals reflect India's traditions of dialogue, diversity, and continuity, portraying Bharat as the 'Mother of Democracy', rooted in systems like Vaishali and the Kudavolai system.
• Symbolism: Heritage elements like the Sengol reflect "Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi", linking tradition with modern governance.

State News

Meghalaya Signs LoI with Starlink to Boost Digital Connectivity in Region

In April 2026, the Government of Meghalaya signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Starlink India, a satellite internet service by SpaceX, aimed at boosting internet connectivity across the state, particularly in remote areas.

With this, Meghalaya became the 3rd Indian state after Maharashtra and Gujarat to collaborate with Elon Musk's satellite internet venture.

• Signatories: Sampath Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of Meghalaya, and Gwynne Shotwell, President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of SpaceX, in New Delhi.
• Focus Areas: Satellite-based internet services across key sectors such as education, healthcare, disaster management, and economic development.
• Key Benefits: Boost economic opportunities and strengthen governance through improved digital connectivity.

Important Days at a Glance