NATIONAL NEWS

Chhattisgarh Government Approves Committee to Draft UCC Framework

The Government of Chhattisgarh, led by Vishnu Deo Sai, approved the formation of a high-level committee to prepare a draft framework for implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the State.

The move places Chhattisgarh among States taking steps toward a common civil law framework.

The committee will: study the feasibility of implementing the Uniform Civil Code, prepare a draft framework and examine legal, social, and cultural implications.

The decision marks the initial policy-level step, not immediate implementation of the Uniform Civil Code.

The Uniform Civil Code aims to introduce common civil laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption for all citizens irrespective of religion.

The concept of the Uniform Civil Code is mentioned under Article 44 of the Constitution of India in the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP).

Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) are non-justiciable and implementation depends on legislative action by governments.

With this step, Chhattisgarh joins other States moving toward the Uniform Civil Code, including:

Uttarakhand, which has implemented the Uniform Civil Code,

Gujarat, where the Assembly has recently taken steps related to the Uniform Civil Code.

The initiative reflects a gradual approach toward legal uniformity in personal laws across citizens in line with constitutional guidance under Article 44.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India and Germany Unveil Commemorative Logo

India and Germany officially launched a commemorative logo to mark 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The logo was unveiled during the India-Germany Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held in Berlin, Germany.

The consultations were co-chaired by Vikram Misri, Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs (India), and Dr. Géza Andreas von Geyr, German State Secretary.

The year 2026 marks 75 years of diplomatic ties between India and Germany.

The two nations are also celebrating 25 years of Strategic Partnership in 2026.

The commemorative logo was selected through a joint competition hosted on the MyGov platform.

Participants from both India and Germany were invited to design a symbol representing the countries’ deep-rooted friendship.

During the consultations, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.

A comprehensive review of cooperation was conducted in areas such as trade and investment, defence and security, technology, green and sustainable development, mobility, and people-to-people exchanges.

 

BANKING

FIU-IND and Securities and Exchange Board of India Sign MoU

The Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation against money laundering and financial crimes.

The MoU was signed by Shri Amit Mohan Govil (Director, FIU-IND) and Shri Sandip Pradhan (SEBI Whole Time Member).

The agreement marks a new phase of collaborative intelligence sharing between two key agencies involved in India’s financial security and regulatory system.

Under the MoU, both organisations will share relevant intelligence and database information to detect suspicious financial activities.

It will also establish procedures for reporting by regulated entities and reporting entities to FIU-IND under the Prevention of Money Laundering (Maintenance of Records) Rules / PML Rules.

The MoU enables information exchange with foreign Financial Intelligence Units through the Egmont Principles of Information Exchange.

FIU-IND and SEBI will jointly organise outreach and training programmes to improve Anti-Money Laundering / Combating Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) capabilities of SEBI-regulated entities.

Both agencies will hold quarterly meetings to exchange information and discuss matters of mutual interest while ensuring alignment with international standards.

The cooperation includes assessment of Money Laundering / Terror Financing (ML/TF) risks and vulnerabilities across relevant financial sub-sectors.

Both institutions will identify and disseminate red flag indicators for suspicious transactions to strengthen fraud detection and prevention.

The MoU also covers monitoring compliance with the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), PML Rules, and SEBI guidelines.

Bajaj Allianz Life Launches Nifty 500 Low Volatility Index Fund Under ULIP Scheme

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance has launched the Nifty 500 Low Volatility 50 Index Fund under its ULIP (Unit Linked Insurance Plan)

The fund follows a rules-based passive investment strategy, selecting 50 low-volatility stocks from the broader Nifty 500 universe.

It aims to reduce investment risk while maintaining portfolio diversification across market segments.

The portfolio has a strong large-cap bias (around 79%), with remaining allocation in mid-cap and small-cap stocks.

The fund is benchmarked against the Nifty 500 Low Volatility 50 Index.

Its objective is to deliver steady compounding returns with lower market volatility while still participating in India’s equity growth story.

The New Fund Offer (NFO) for the scheme will close on April 30.

Shriram Finance Arm Receives Reserve Bank of India Approval to Launch Primary Dealer Business

Shriram Finance Limited announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Shriram Overseas Investments Limited has received in-principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to commence Primary Dealer (PD) business.

The approval is conditional, subject to compliance with RBI operational, technical, and infrastructure requirements before final commencement.

Primary Dealers (PDs) are specialised financial institutions authorised by the RBI to act as intermediaries between the central bank and financial markets in the Government Securities (G-Sec) ecosystem.

PDs are responsible for participating in Government Securities (G-Sec) and Treasury Bills (T-Bills) auctions, supporting efficient government borrowing.

They also perform the function of underwriting government securities issuances to ensure smooth market absorption.

Primary Dealers provide liquidity in the secondary market through active buying and selling of government securities.

The PD framework is regulated under RBI guidelines governing market operations and financial stability.

The approval and related disclosures fall under the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015 (SEBI LODR) for transparency in listed entities.

The status of approval is not final, and full operational permission will be granted only after fulfilling all RBI-mandated conditions.

 

ECONOMY

China Becomes India’s Largest Trading Partner in FY26

China emerged as India’s largest trading partner in Financial Year 2025-26 (FY26), with total bilateral trade reaching USD 151.1 billion, according to Government of India (GoI)

India’s trade deficit with China widened significantly to USD 112.16 billion, reflecting a sharp imbalance in bilateral trade.

China has replaced the United States of America (USA) as India’s largest trading partner after the US held the position for four consecutive years (till FY25).

India’s exports to China rose sharply by 36.66% to USD 19.47 billion, indicating improved outbound shipments.

India’s imports from China increased by 16% to USD 131.63 billion, contributing to the widening trade deficit.

The trade deficit with China touched an all-time high of around USD 112.6 billion in FY26, compared to USD 99.2 billion in FY25.

India’s trade with the United States grew marginally, with exports rising 0.92% to USD 87.3 billion, while imports increased 15.95% to USD 52.9 billion.

The trade surplus with the USA declined to USD 34.4 billion in FY26 from USD 40.89 billion in FY25.

India recorded negative export growth with key partners including the Netherlands, UK, Singapore, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Australia, France, South Africa, and Malaysia.

India recorded positive export growth with countries such as the UAE, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Nepal, Brazil, Spain, Belgium, and Vietnam.

India’s imports declined from countries including Russia, Iraq, Indonesia, Australia, Qatar, and Taiwan.

India’s imports increased from countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Germany, Thailand, and Malaysia.

 

AWARDS & PRIZES

Sayani Gupta Named Harvard South Asian “Person of the Year” 2026

Sayani Gupta has been honoured with the Harvard South Asian “Person of the Year” Award 2026 by the Harvard South Asian Association for her impactful contribution to storytelling and representation of South Asian identities at the global level.

The award recognises individuals making significant contributions to South Asian culture, identity, and representation globally.

Sayani Gupta was honoured for promoting inclusive and socially relevant storytelling through her performances.

She joins Vikas Khanna, who received the award in 2025.

Her notable works include: Four More Shots Please!, Article 15, Delhi Crime, Inside Edge and Axone

Her role as Damini Rizvi Roy in Four More Shots Please! received wide appreciation for portraying a modern urban woman’s challenges.

She is also making her directorial debut with the short film Aasmani.

The film is scheduled to premiere at: WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival (April 25, 2026) and Indie Meme Film Festival (April 26, 2026)

The Harvard South Asian Association is a student-led body at Harvard University that promotes South Asian culture, leadership, and global dialogue on identity and representation.

 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Infosys Appoints Carlos Alcaraz as Global Brand Ambassador for Tennis and AI Partnership Initiative

Infosys, a global technology company, has appointed Spain’s men’s World No. 1 tennis player Carlos Alcaraz as its Global Brand Ambassador.

The partnership continues Infosys’ association with tennis legends such as Rafael Nadal (Spain) and Iga Świątek (Poland).

Through Infosys Topaz (AI-first platform), Infosys will collaborate with Carlos Alcaraz and his coaching team to develop AI-driven match analytics.

The collaboration will support personalised performance applications for match preparation and in-game strategy improvement.

The partnership will also extend beyond sports through joint initiatives between Infosys and the Carlos Alcaraz Foundation.

Carlos Alcaraz Garfia is a Spanish professional tennis player and, as of April 2026, is recognised as the youngest male player to complete a Career Grand Slam.

He has won multiple Grand Slam titles, including Wimbledon and the US Open.

Alcaraz became the youngest World No. 1 in ATP rankings in the modern era.

He has also won several ATP Masters 1000 titles, establishing himself as one of the top players in global tennis.

Samrat Choudhary -Chief Minister of Bihar

Samrat Choudhary was sworn in as the 24th Chief Minister of Bihar, becoming the first BJP leader to hold the post in the state.

The oath ceremony was administered by Syed Ata Hasnain at Raj Bhavan, Patna (Bihar).

His appointment marks a significant political shift in Bihar’s leadership.

Samrat Choudhary has been a member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly representing the Tarapur Assembly constituency since 2025.

He previously served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar (2024–2026) in the Nitish Kumar-led government.

The leadership change followed the resignation of Nitish Kumar, who is Bihar’s longest-serving Chief Minister.

Nitish Kumar transitioned to national politics after becoming a Member of the Rajya Sabha.

Senior Janata Dal (United) leaders Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav were sworn in as Deputy Chief Ministers of Bihar.

The development reflects continued cooperation within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar politics.

The transition marks the end of Nitish Kumar’s long tenure as CM, which lasted from February 2015 to April 2026.

 

MoUs & AGREEMENT

India and New Zealand to Sign Free Trade Agreement

India and New Zealand are set to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on 27 April 2026 to strengthen bilateral economic ties, boost exports, improve market access, and enhance cooperation across multiple sectors.

The agreement is expected to attract nearly 20 billion United States dollars in investment over 15 years, marking a significant step in India’s global trade strategy.

India will receive duty-free access on 100% of its exports to New Zealand, benefiting sectors such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, and engineering goods.

India will reduce or eliminate tariffs on about 95% of New Zealand’s exports, including wool, coal, wood, wine, avocados, and blueberries.

India has excluded sensitive sectors such as dairy products, edible oils, and certain agricultural goods to protect domestic farmers and industries.

The agreement is expected to double bilateral trade to 5 billion United States dollars within five years.

The FTA is projected to attract nearly 20 billion United States dollars in investment over 15 years.

The agreement will improve supply chains, export opportunities, and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Under the services sector provisions, New Zealand will provide temporary work visas to around 5,000 skilled Indian professionals per year with a stay duration of up to three years.

The agreement strengthens India’s efforts to expand global trade partnerships and reduce dependence on limited export markets.

The FTA also enhances India’s strategic position in the Indo-Pacific region, promoting long-term economic growth and cooperation between the two countries.

 

APPS & PORTALS

European Union Launches Open-Source Age Verification App

The European Union (EU) has launched an open-source age verification app to confirm users’ age online and regulate access to digital content for minors.

The initiative aims to establish a common standard for age verification as countries increasingly move to restrict minors’ access to social media and harmful online content.

The app was announced by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.

It is designed as a free, easy-to-use digital solution that online platforms can adopt to prevent children from accessing illegal or inappropriate content.

The system requires users to verify their identity using official documents such as passports during the setup process.

The app will work across multiple devices including smartphones, tablets, and computers, ensuring cross-platform compatibility.

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Heritage Day 2026

World Heritage Day, also known as the International Day for Monuments and Sites, is observed every year on 18 April, 2026 to promote awareness about the protection and conservation of cultural heritage worldwide.

The day is supported by the International Council on Monuments and Sites and recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Theme for World Heritage Day 2026: “Emergency Response for Living Heritage in Contexts of Conflicts and Disasters.”

The day aims to highlight the importance of safeguarding monuments, heritage sites, and cultural landscapes across the world.

The observance was proposed in 1982 by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).

It was officially approved in 1983 during the 22nd General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The initiative promotes awareness about the diversity and vulnerability of heritage sites and encourages conservation efforts at global, national, and local levels.

Each year, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) announces a theme focusing on current challenges in heritage preservation.