03rd April 2026

1. DoT Extends SIM-Binding Deadline for OTT Platforms to 31 December 2026
2. BCGCL and MCL Sign Land Lease Agreement for India’s First Indigenous Coal-to-Ammonium Nitrate Project
3. RBI Approves Emirates NBD’s 60% Stake Acquisition in RBL Bank
4. CSL Delivers Second ASW Shallow Water Craft ‘Malwan’ to IN
5. Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan Releases Sudha Murty’s Book ‘Tides of Time’ on Parliamentary Murals
6. World Autism Awareness Day 2026
7. Meghalaya Sign LoI with Starlink to Boost Digital Connectivity in Region
8. National Maritime Day 2026
9. ECINet KYC Feature Explained
10. International Carrot Day 2026
11. BIRAC-BioNEST Incubation Centre Inaugurated at CFTRI by Dr. Jitendra Singh
12. Newcastle Disease Spread in Europe 2026
13. Meet MAI-Transcribe-1: Microsoft’s Fast, Low-Cost AI Speech-to-Text Solution
14. Indian Navy INS Aridaman: Features, Role, and Strategic Importance Explained
15. Raja Ravi Varma Painting Breaks Records and Became Most Expensive Ever in India
16. India Surpasses Kenya and Russia in Track & Field Doping Cases
17. INS Taragiri Commissioned – What Makes This Warship Special?
18. E20 Petrol India 2026: Nationwide Rollout from April 1 Explained
19. NCERT Gets ‘Deemed University’ Status: What It Means for India’s Education System
20. India Ranks 3rd Globally in Renewable Energy Capacity, Says IRENA
21. IRDAI Retains The Systemically Important Status LIC, GIC Re & New India Assurance
22. India’s Defense Exports Hit Record ₹38,424 Crore in FY2025-26
23. Moodys cuts Indias FY27 growth estimates to 6%

National News

DoT Extends SIM-Binding Deadline for OTT Platforms

• What: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) extended the deadline for SIM-binding implementation by over-the-top (OTT) platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram to December 31 after industry concerns.
• Tell me more:
  • SIM-binding links an OTT app to a specific mobile number, ensuring secure identification and preventing frauds like digital arrests through stronger user verification and a fixed connection between users and numbers.
  • The DoT introduced SIM-binding rules in November 2025 under the Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Rules, 2024, which are a part of the Telecommunications Act, 2023.

MCL Signs Land Lease for Coal Gasification Project

• What: Mahanadi Coalfields Limited and Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Limited signed a land lease agreement to set up a 2,000-tonnes per day coal-to-ammonium nitrate project at Lakhanpur, Jharsuguda, Odisha.
• Tell me more:
  • The Centre has approved an outlay of Rs 8,500 crore to promote coal gasification.
  • Coal gasification converts coal into gas by heating it with limited oxygen, producing useful gases that industries use to make chemicals, fuels, and products instead of directly burning coal.

ECI Promotes KYC Module for Informed Voting

• What: The Election Commission of India (ECI) urged voters to use the “Know Your Candidates” (KYC) module on ECINet platform to access verified candidate details before Assembly elections and by-elections in multiple states.
• Tell me more:
  • ECINet is a digital platform of the Election Commission of India that combines more than 40 election-related services, allowing users to access voter information, candidate details, registration, complaints, and other election services in one place.

BIRAC BioNEST Centre Launched at CSIR-CFTRI Mysuru

• What: The Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) launched the BIRAC-BioNEST Incubation Centre in Mysuru to support food biotechnology start-ups, research, and innovation with assistance from Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC).
• Tell me more:
  • BIRAC: Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is a Not-for-profit, Section 8, Public Sector Enterprise was set up in 2012 by Department of Biotechnology.
  • DBT: The DBT is a department under the Ministry of Science and Technology that manages the development and commercialisation of modern biology and biotechnology in India, and it was established in 1986.
  • CFTRI: The Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) is a food research laboratory in Mysuru, Karnataka, established in 1950 under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ministry of Science and Technology.
    • CFTRI incubation ecosystem has supported 26 start-ups, including physical, hybrid and graduated ventures.

India Launches Nationwide E20 Petrol Supply

• What: India started nationwide supply of ethanol-blended petrol with 20% ethanol under a mandate by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, making E20 the default petrol across states and Union territories.
• Tell me more:
  • The mandate was issued on February 17 under the Essential Commodities Act.
  • E20 replaces E10 petrol and must have a minimum Research Octane Number (RON) of 95. RON means the fuel can resist engine knocking and burn smoothly inside the engine.
  • Vehicles manufactured after April 2023 are compatible with E20 fuel.
  • Older vehicles require monitoring of fuel system components.

NCERT Gets Deemed University Status

• What: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) received “deemed to be university” status, allowing it to design courses, run programmes and award degrees, expanding its role in India’s education system.
• Tell me more:
  • NCERT earlier designed textbooks and curriculum, but now it can run degree and PhD programmes, train teachers, improve research and standardise education, while its expanded role may increase central control over teaching methods.

State News

Meghalaya Signs Starlink Internet Pilot Deal

• What: Meghalaya government signed a Letter of Intent with Starlink India to pilot satellite-based internet in remote hill regions to improve connectivity in sectors like education, healthcare, disaster management, and economic development.
• Tell me more:
  • SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell attended the agreement signing.

Banking and Economy

RBI Approves Emirates NBD Stake in RBL Bank

• What: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved Emirates National Bank of Dubai (ENBD) to acquire up to 74% stake in RBL Bank.
• Tell me more:
  • In accordance with RBI’s approval, the ENBD would acquire and maintain a shareholding of at least 51% of the paid-up share capital of the RBL Bank and the RBL Bank will operate as a foreign bank in India (as a wholly owned subsidiary of ENBD).
  • RBI classified ENBD as promoter, subject to Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) regulations.
    • RBI decides who can own and control a bank, while SEBI regulates shareholding, investor protection, and rules for listed companies.
  • RBI has allowed the deal, but Central Government’s approval is required if ENBD wants to invest more than 49%.
  • Ownership and voting rights are two different things. Hence, ENBD can have higher ownership stakes but its voting rights will be limited to 26% under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
  • RBI required compliance with Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999 and other regulations.

IRDAI Retains Three Insurers as D-SIIs

• What: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) retained Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re) and The New India Assurance Company Ltd as Domestic Systemically Important Insurers for FY 2025-26.
• Tell me more:
  • D-SIIs are insurers whose size, market role and interconnectedness make them critical, as their failure can disrupt the financial system and affect continuity of insurance services in the economy.

Reports and Indices

IRENA’s The Renewable Capacity Statistics 2026

• What: India became the third-largest renewable energy market globally in 2025, according to International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), driven by strong growth in solar and wind capacity additions.
• Tell me more:
  • India added about 45 GW of renewable capacity in 2025.

• India ranked second globally in solar capacity addition after China. India’s total renewable capacity increased to 250.5 gigawatts in 2025 from 175.9 gigawatts in 2023.
• Global renewable share in total capacity rose to 49.4% in 2025.
• Renewable energy accounted for 85.6% of global capacity additions in 2025.

GDP Forecasts

Moody’s Cuts India Growth Forecast to 6%

• Moody’s Ratings reduced India’s growth estimate to 6% from 6.8% for the current fiscal due to West Asia conflict impacting inflation and economic momentum.

Defence News

Cochin Shipyard Delivers Second ASW Vessel

• What: Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) delivered the second Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft named Malwan to the Indian Navy under a ₹6,311 crore contract signed in 2019 to build eight such vessels.
• Tell me more:
  • Malwan takes its name from a coastal town in Maharashtra linked to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
  • Malwan is an indigenously built anti-submarine vessel with over 80% local content, equipped with torpedoes, advanced radars, sonar systems, and capable of surveillance, coastal warfare, and mine operations.

India Inducts INS Aridaman Nuclear Submarine

• What: India inducted INS Aridaman, its third nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) under the nuclear triad system.
• Tell me more:
  • About nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN):
    • INS Aridaman supports India’s nuclear triad of land, air and sea-based nuclear delivery.
    • INS Aridaman weighs about 7,000 tonnes, has eight launch tubes, carries K-15 and K-4 missiles with ranges above 700 km and 3,500 km, and uses advanced reactors for long underwater operations.
    • INS Aridaman carries more long-range nuclear-capable missiles than INS Arihant and INS Arighaat, which were commissioned in 2016 and 2024 respectively.
    • A fourth SSBN is also currently under construction, and, like the Aridaman, will also be able to carry more K-4 missiles owing to its larger size.
  • India’s current submarine fleet:
    • Apart from SSBNs, the Indian Navy operates 16 conventional submarines, including six Kalvari-class built at Mazagon Dock with France’s Naval Group, four Shishumar-class, and seven Kilo (Sindhughosh)-class submarines.
  • Future plans:
    • India plans to build two indigenous nuclear-powered attack submarines, lease one from Russia by 2027–28, construct six AIP-equipped submarines under Project-75I with Germany (ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and India’s Mazagon Dock).
  • India is now part of a select group of countries with nuclear triad capabilities. These include the US, Russia, China, and France.

INS Taragiri Commissioned into Indian Navy

• What: INS Taragiri, a Project 17A stealth frigate, was commissioned into the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam.
• Tell me more:
  • INS Taragiri was designed by Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited. It has more than 75% indigenous content with MSME support and uses modern radar, sonar and missile systems including BrahMos.
  • India depends on sea routes for about 95% of trade and energy security.

India Defence Exports Reach Record High

• What: India’s defence exports reached a record ₹38,424 crore in FY 2025–26, showing over 62% growth from the previous year.
• Tell me more:
  • Defence exports rose from ₹21,083 crore in 2023–24 to ₹23,622 crore in 2024–25.
  • Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) contributed 54.84% of total exports. Private sector contributed 45.16% of total exports.
  • There are a total of 16 DPSUs in India.

Science and Technology

Microsoft Launches New AI Models for Speech and Image

• What: Microsoft launched MAI-Transcribe-1, MAI-Voice-1 and MAI-Image-2 models to improve speech, voice and image generation with faster performance, better efficiency and competitive pricing on Microsoft Foundry.
• Tell me more:
  • MAI-Transcribe-1 quickly converts speech into text across 25 languages, MAI-Voice-1 creates natural and custom voices, and MAI-Image-2 generates realistic images, helping users produce content faster, easier, and more efficiently.
  • Microsoft is integrating these models into Bing and PowerPoint.
  • Microsoft Foundry is a single platform on Azure where developers can build, test, and run AI apps. It gives tools and strong systems to create, manage, and grow AI solutions for businesses.

Agriculture and Rural Development

Newcastle Disease in Poultry Spread in Europe 2026

• What: Newcastle disease spread across multiple European countries in 2026, causing outbreaks in poultry farms, leading to large-scale bird culling and forcing authorities to impose strict control measures.
• Tell me more:
  • Bird culling means killing birds on purpose to stop a disease from spreading.
  • Newcastle disease is caused by a virus called avian paramyxovirus type 1 (APMV-1) and it is highly contagious.
  • Birds show breathing problems, nervous signs like twisted neck or paralysis, green diarrhoea, reduced or abnormal eggs, weakness, dull appearance, and may die suddenly in severe infections.

Awards

Ravi Varma Painting Sets Auction Record

• What: Raja Ravi Varma’s painting “Yashoda and Krishna” sold for ₹167.2 crore at Saffronart auction in Saffronart’s Prabhadevi gallery in Mumbai, becoming the most expensive modern Indian artwork and highest-bid South Asian artwork, purchased by Cyrus S Poonawala.
• Tell me more:
  • Raja Ravi Varma (1848–1909) was among the first Indian artists to use European realism style in Indian mythological and historical paintings, making gods and epic characters appear more realistic, emotional and human-like.

Important Days

World Autism Awareness Day 2026 – April 2

• Theme: Autism and Humanity – Every Life Has Value

Sports

India Tops Global Doping Violations List

• India topped the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) list with 148 ineligible athletes due to doping and related violations, surpassing Kenya and placing ahead of Russia in the latest data till April 1, 2026.

Miscellaneous

Vice President Releases Book on Parliament Murals

• Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book “Tides of Time: Bharat’s History through Murals in Parliament” authored by Sudha Murty at Samvidhan Sadan.

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