NATIONAL NEWS

Unique Identification Authority of India Partnered with MapmyIndia

The Unique Identification Authority of India signed an agreement with MapmyIndia to enable the display of authorised Aadhaar centres on the Mappls App.

The initiative was announced by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and the facility is expected to be available in the coming months.

The feature will help users locate the nearest authorised Aadhaar centres using the Mappls App, improving accessibility to Aadhaar-related services.

Users will also be able to identify services available at specific Aadhaar centres, including: Adult enrolment, Child enrolment, Address update services and Mobile number update services

Once operational, search results on the Mappls App will directly guide users to authorised Aadhaar centres, ensuring accurate navigation and service availability information.

MapmyIndia will integrate UIDAI-provided Aadhaar centre data into the Mappls platform to enable:

Accurate digital mapping

Distinct listing of authorised Aadhaar centres

Improved transparency and service accessibility for citizens

India Post Aims to Become Global Logistics Powerhouse by 2030

Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated that India Post is rapidly transforming into a major logistics powerhouse and aims to become a global player by 2030.

The statement was made during the release of a commemorative postage stamp marking 75 years of the Postal Training Centre Saharanpur (PTC) in New Delhi.

The Minister highlighted that PTC Saharanpur has played a crucial role in training nearly 2.5 lakh postal employees over the past 75 years, instilling values such as service, efficiency, accuracy, and “Nation First, Service First”.

The institute currently trains around 30,000 personnel annually, contributing significantly to capacity building in the postal sector.

The Minister described PTC Saharanpur as an institution that transforms employees into dedicated “Karma Yogis” committed to national service.

During the event, the Government of Goa and the Cochin Port Authority signed an agreement to onboard onto the System for Accounting and Management of Pension (SAMPANN) platform.

SAMPANN is an integrated online pension management system for pensioners of the Department of Telecommunications, providing:

End-to-end digital processing, sanction, and disbursement of pensions directly to bank accounts

Online grievance redressal mechanism

Digital profile management and transaction records

The platform enhances transparency, efficiency, and service delivery for telecom pensioners across India.

Maharashtra Launched “Majha Gaon, Arogyasampann Gaon” Campaign

The Government of Maharashtra launched the “Majha Gaon, Arogyasampann Gaon” (My Village, Healthy Village) campaign on the occasion of World Health Day to improve rural healthcare services, sanitation, and preventive health infrastructure.

The campaign was launched in Mumbai by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis with an outlay of ₹65.25 crore to strengthen healthcare accessibility in villages.

A short film and information booklet explaining the objectives and implementation strategy of the campaign were released during the launch event.

The campaign aims to strengthen rural healthcare systems, ensure availability of quality medical services near villages, and promote self-reliance in managing local health challenges.

The initiative focuses on preventive healthcare measures, including: Improving cleanliness and sanitation, Ensuring safe drinking water availability, Strengthening wastewater management systems and Promoting proper nutrition

The campaign targets the control of communicable diseases and lifestyle-related diseases through community-based interventions.

Special emphasis has been placed on improving: Maternal health, Child health, Mental health and Lifestyle disease prevention

Committees have been formed at State, district, and village levels to monitor implementation and ensure effective execution of the campaign.

Villages achieving prescribed health standards will be recognised with the title “Arogyasampann Gaon”, encouraging community participation and performance-based improvement in rural health indicators.

The campaign is designed as a people’s participation movement to strengthen public involvement in improving health outcomes across rural Maharashtra.

 

BANKING

RBI Proposes Revamp of Business Correspondent Model

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed a revamp of the Business Correspondent (BC) model to strengthen last-mile banking delivery and financial inclusion.

The draft framework introduces a three-tier banking delivery structure: Bank Branches, Business Correspondent–Banking Outlets (BC-BO), and Business Correspondent–Banking Touchpoints (BC-BT).

The RBI has proposed classification of BCs into two categories (BC-BO and BC-BT) based on their functions, service scope, and operational structure, along with uniform wage and remuneration standards.

BC-BOs will function as fixed-point service units, offering branch-like banking services with minimum working hours of 4 hours per day for at least 5 days a week.

In contrast, BC-BTs will operate without fixed timings and will handle smaller-value transactions only, providing flexible and limited banking services.

Both BC-BOs and BC-BTs will work exclusively for a single bank, ensuring better control and accountability in service delivery.

The RBI has also proposed uniformity in commission and remuneration structures, where BC-BOs will receive fixed + variable pay, while BC-BTs will receive only variable payouts.

The Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) will design a benchmark-linked remuneration framework, with incentives partly based on customer satisfaction levels.

The draft norms propose including Business Facilitators (BFs) under the BC framework and phasing out the BF category by September 30, 2026, requiring transition into the BC system.

Banks will be required to conduct strict due diligence on BCs, including financial strength, governance standards, and operational capability assessments before onboarding.

The draft is based on recommendations of a multi-agency committee comprising RBI, Department of Financial Services (DFS), IBA, and NABARD, aimed at improving efficiency and financial inclusion delivery mechanisms.

Bajaj Alternate Investment Management Limited Receives SEBI Nod to Start Portfolio Management Services

Bajaj Alternate Investment Management Limited (Bajaj Alts) has received regulatory approval from Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to launch Portfolio Management Services (PMS).

Portfolio Management Services (PMS) is a service where professional experts manage investments (stocks, bonds, etc.) based on investors’ goals and risk appetite.

The approval enables the company to expand into listed equities through PMS offerings, in addition to its existing Alternate Investment Funds (AIFs)

With this move, Bajaj Alts strengthens its position as a diversified investment platform, offering solutions across both AIFs and PMS segments.

The PMS business will primarily target High-Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) and Ultra High-Net Worth Individuals (UHNWIs), focusing on customised and differentiated investment strategies.

The company will offer actively managed equity portfolios, backed by research-led investment processes and structured risk management frameworks.

The key focus areas include strong research, effective risk management, and use of technology to enhance transparency and risk control, aiming for steady and balanced returns.

This development reflects a growing trend of investor preference towards customised strategies and active portfolio management, especially in equity markets under evolving conditions.

With the addition of PMS, Bajaj Alts joins a growing pool of asset managers diversifying across multiple investment products, amid increasing competition in the wealth and asset management industry.

Razorpay Partners with OpenAI

Razorpay has partnered with OpenAI to enable seamless integration of payment systems into AI-built applications, allowing developers to embed payments directly into apps within minutes and simplify monetisation of AI products.

The collaboration introduces the concept of “agentic payments”, where AI systems can autonomously initiate and complete financial transactions, making commerce more automated and intelligent.

Under this integration, developers using OpenAI’s Codex platform can connect Razorpay’s payment infrastructure via its MCP Server, enabling instant payment activation and faster product monetisation.

The system allows developers to move from idea to revenue-generating applications in minutes instead of days, by removing traditional payment setup complexities.

Razorpay is also integrating its services with ChatGPT, enabling businesses to manage payments, settlements, refunds, and reconciliation through conversational prompts instead of dashboards.

This allows users to track transactions, verify bank statements, and check refund status using simple AI commands, improving efficiency and user experience in financial operations.

The initiative is part of Razorpay’s broader push toward AI-driven commerce and automated financial ecosystems, enhancing developer and business accessibility to digital payments.

With India processing over 20 billion UPI transactions monthly, the collaboration positions AI-built applications to achieve monetisation from day one, leveraging India’s large developer ecosystem and digital payment infrastructure.

The launch of agentic payments, developed in collaboration with OpenAI and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), aims to make AI-driven transactions seamless, autonomous, and highly scalable.

 

DEFENCE

Indian Army Releases Technology Roadmap for Unmanned Aerial Systems and Loitering Munitions in New Delhi

The Indian Army (IA) has 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.

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

The purpose of the roadmap is to provide long-term clarity on UAS requirements, align operational needs with technological development, and guide industry, academia, and Research and Development (R&D) investments toward priority areas.

The scope of the roadmap covers 30 types of UAS and loitering munitions, translating into nearly 80 variants to meet diverse operational needs.

The roadmap is divided into five key categories: Surveillance, Loitering Munitions, Air Defence UAS, Special Role UAS, and Logistics UAS.

It incorporates advanced technologies such as 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.

 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Secretary of Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC)

Tejveer Singh (IAS: 1994 batch, Punjab Cadre) has assumed charge as Secretary of the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC) under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.

On the occasion, he was welcomed by Nivedita Shukla Verma (outgoing Secretary, DCPC) along with senior officials of the department.

Prior to this appointment, Tejveer Singh served as Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Technical Education and Industrial Training, Government of Punjab, reflecting his extensive administrative experience.

He has also held several key roles in the Government of Punjab, including Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and Secretary to the Chief Minister, and has served as District Magistrate in multiple districts.

In a parallel development, Nivedita Shukla Verma has been appointed as Secretary of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.

She will also hold additional charge as Secretary of the Department of Pensions and Pensioners’ Welfare, strengthening administrative coordination and governance reforms.

Chief Operating Officer of Oversee Global Delivery Operations

Sunil Fernandes has been promoted to the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Coforge, reflecting the company’s focus on strengthening operational capabilities and accelerating AI-driven services.

Fernandes will continue to report to CEO and Executive Director Sudhir Singh while taking on expanded responsibilities.

In his new role, Fernandes will oversee global delivery operations and critical internal functions including administration, facilities, and IT services, ensuring high-quality outcomes for clients.

A key priority will be driving the adoption of AI-native practices across engineering, service delivery, and internal workflows to improve efficiency and innovation.

He brings over three decades of industry experience and has been Coforge’s Chief Delivery Officer since 2024, leading a comprehensive transformation of the delivery framework.

Prior to Coforge, Fernandes held senior leadership positions at Accenture, Infosys Technologies, and Cognizant Technology Solutions, gaining global experience in technology services.

 

SPORTS

World Para Archery Series Final 2026

Payal Nag from Odisha created history by becoming the first quadruple amputee in the world to win an international gold medal in para-archery.

She won the gold medal at the 2026 World Para Archery Series Final held in Bangkok during her first senior international competition on 4 April 2026.

In the final match, she defeated Sheetal Devi with a score of 139–136 to secure the gold medal.

Payal Nag belongs to a village in Balangir district, where she was born into a financially weak family, with her father working as a daily-wage labourer.

At the age of eight years, she suffered a severe electric shock accident, resulting in the loss of both arms and both legs, after which she stayed in an orphanage and gradually rebuilt her life.

Her determination gained public attention when a video of her painting using her mouth became widely recognised, highlighting her resilience and talent.

Her sporting journey began after coach Kuldeep Kumar Vedwan identified her potential and trained her at the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Archery Academy, located in Katra.

She uses a specialised prosthetic support system, pulling the bowstring with the shoulder and mouth using a trigger mechanism, making her technique unique in international para archery.

Para Archery is governed globally by the World Archery Federation.

In India, initiatives such as the Khelo India Para Games play an important role in promoting para sports participation among youth.