National Affairs

India, South Korea Sign Pact to Boost Skill Development in Shipbuilding Sector

On April 2, 2026, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) signed a Plan of Implementation (PoI) with South Korea's Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in New Delhi to enhance skill development in India's shipbuilding and maritime sector.

The agreement aligns with the objectives of the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision (MAKV) 2047, aimed at strengthening India's global maritime position.

• Objective: The project, titled 'Support the Establishment of Development Strategies and to Build a Foundation for Skilled and Professional Talents for the Indian Shipbuilding and Marine Sector', aims to modernize the workforce to support economic growth.
• Key Focus Areas: KOICA, along with the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training (KRIVET), will conduct research on India's shipbuilding and marine engineering sectors.
• Implementation: A series of bilateral workshops will be conducted in India and South Korea with participation from industry experts, policymakers, and academic institutions.

MoE Declares NCERT as 'Deemed to be University' Under Distinct Category

On 30 March 2026, the Ministry of Education (MoE), through its Department of Higher Education (DHE), declared the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) as a 'Deemed to be University' under a distinct category as per Section 3 of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act, 1956.

• Constituents: The status covers NCERT along with six constituent institutions:

• Academic: NCERT can now offer Diploma, Undergraduate (UG), Postgraduate (PG), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), and specialised programmes while continuing curriculum development.
• Funds: NCERT shall not divert assets or funds without prior permission from the UGC and Central Government, and must not engage in commercial or profit-making activities.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Releases Commemorative Stamp to Mark 75 Years of PTC Saharanpur

Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Ministry of Communications, released a Rs 5 commemorative postage stamp at Rang Bhawan Sabhagaar, Akashwani Bhawan, New Delhi, to mark the Platinum Jubilee of the Postal Training Centre (PTC), Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

• Legacy: The commemorative stamp, released by the Department of Posts under the Ministry of Communications, highlights the legacy of the PTC, featuring elements symbolising postal services, training excellence, and India's communication network.
• PTC Saharanpur: Established on April 2, 1951, PTC Saharanpur introduced a structured training framework, replacing informal systems and strengthening India's postal network.
• Future Vision: India aims to become a global logistics powerhouse by 2030, with India Post playing a key role.

Goa Govt, Cochin Port Authority Join DoT's 'SAMPANN' to Streamline Pensions

The Government of Goa and the Cochin Port Authority (CPA) signed an agreement for the adoption of SAMPANN (System for Accounting and Management of Pension), the flagship digital pension and financial management platform of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications.

• Signatories: G. Sandepp Kumar Goud, Dy. Office of Controller General of Communications Accounts (CGCA); Kasivishwanath, Chairman of CPA; and Shakeel Ul Rehman Rather, Resident Commissioner, Goa Government.
• Significance: The agreement is expected to strengthen modern, accountable, and citizen-centric governance through reuse of proven national digital platforms.
• About SAMPANN: A cloud end-to-end digital pension management system, designed, developed, and operated by CGCA. It is offered as a Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) solution to departments, state governments, and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).

Union MoS Dr. Jitendra Singh Launches BIRAC-BioNEST Incubation Centre at CFTRI, Karnataka

Union Minister of State (IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh, Ministry of Science and Technology (MoS&T), launched the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council-Bioincubators Nurturing Entrepreneurship for Scaling Technologies (BIRAC-BioNEST) Incubation Centre at the CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CSIR-CFTRI) campus in Mysuru, Karnataka.

• Aim: To nurture entrepreneurial talent in food bioprocessing and biotechnology research.
• Key Role: The facility will facilitate startups in converting innovation ideas into commercially viable technologies. It provides infrastructure, mentorship, and funding support to early-stage biotech startups.
• Other Key Launches: Union MoS Jitendra Singh laid the foundation stone for the hostel complex set up under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) at MG Halli campus of CSIR-CFTRI.

Banking & Finance

RBI Unveils Rs 2.54 Lakh Crore State Borrowing Plan for Q1 FY27

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the indicative borrowing calendar for the first quarter (April–June) of FY 2026-27 (Q1 FY27), under which state governments and Union Territories (UTs) are set to collectively raise Rs 2,54,509 crore.

• Framework: RBI introduced the Benchmark Issuance Strategy (BIS) on a pilot basis this quarter to enhance transparency, provide greater clarity to investors, and stabilise state debt markets by allowing states to issue securities across pre-defined maturity buckets under a pre-announced schedule.
• Pilot States: Nine states participate in the BIS pilot: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.

CASA Ratio Falls to 2-Year Low of 37.9% in Dec 2025 Quarter: RBI Data

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reported that the share of Current Account and Savings Account (CASA) deposits in total bank deposits declined to a 2-year low of 37.9% in the December 2025 quarter, compared to 40.1% in December 2023.

• Savings Decline: The decline was mainly driven by savings accounts, whose share fell by 210 basis points to 28.9%, as depositors shifted to higher-yielding options like equities, Mutual Funds (MFs), and gold.
• Deposit Growth: Bank deposits grew 10% Year-on-Year (YoY) to Rs 239.8 lakh crore, with savings deposits rising 8% to Rs 69.4 lakh crore and current account deposits increasing 10% to Rs 21.4 lakh crore.
• CD Issuance: Certificates of Deposit (CD) issuances by banks reached a record Rs 15.5 lakh crore in FY26, up 17% YoY, as lenders increasingly relied on market borrowings to support credit growth.

Science & Technology

Indian Navy Commissions Third Nuclear-Powered Ballistic Missile Submarine INS Aridhaman

The Indian Navy (IN) commissioned its third indigenously built Ship, Submersible, Ballistic, Nuclear (SSBN), 'INS Aridhaman (S4)', at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

The ceremony was presided over by Union Minister Rajnath Singh (MoD), who also laid the foundation stone for a state-of-the-art Large Cavitation Tunnel (LCT).

ISRO Launches 'Mission MITRA' in Ladakh to Test Crew Safety for Human Spaceflight

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched 'Mission MITRA (Mapping of Interoperable Traits & Reliability Assessment)', a high-altitude analogue mission from Leh, Ladakh, conducted between April 2 and 9, 2026, to gather vital data on crew performance and human factors for India's Gaganyaan program.

The initiative, led by ISRO's Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) in collaboration with Protoplanet Private Limited, aims to simulate space-like conditions to study team behavior, resilience, and communication.

• Objective: A week-long high-altitude exercise testing physiological, psychological, and operational performance under extreme cold, low oxygen (hypoxia), and isolation.
• Crew: Four Gaganyaan astronaut-designates participated at 3,500 metres altitude:

• Operational Interoperability: Targeted to generate vital understanding on team inter-operability between crew (gaganyatris) and ground control teams and effectiveness of decision-making under environmental and operational stress.

Sports

Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 Held in Chhattisgarh; Karnataka Tops with 38 Medals

The inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 (KITG 2026) concluded in Chhattisgarh, held across Raipur, Jagdalpur, and Surguja from 25 March to 3 April 2026.

• Launch: Inaugurated by Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya (MoYAS) in Raipur on March 25, 2026.
• Organisers: Jointly organised by MoYAS, Sports Authority of India (SAI), Indian Olympic Association (IOA), National Sports Federations (NSFs), and the Chhattisgarh State Organising Committee.
• Sports: Seven medal sports — Archery, Athletics, Football, Hockey, Swimming, Weightlifting, and Wrestling — featured along with demonstration sports like Mallakhamb and Kabaddi.
• Medals: A total of 338 medals contested across seven sports disciplines — 106 gold, 106 silver, and 126 bronze — with athletics offering the highest share.

Important Days at a Glance