NATIONAL NEWS

UNGA President Annalena Baerbock Visits India

Annalena Baerbock, President of the United Nations General Assembly, is visiting India, marking her first visit after assuming office.

The visit highlights India’s growing importance in global diplomacy and multilateral cooperation.

Key focus areas include:

Strengthening multilateralism and adherence to the United Nations Charter

Addressing global challenges such as conflicts, economic instability, and climate change

Promoting cooperation across peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights

She will hold high-level meetings with S. Jaishankar and officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), along with the United Nations country team in India.

Discussions will cover digital governance, global policy coordination, and India’s role in shaping international frameworks.

The visit underscores India’s role as a key supporter of the United Nations, contributing to peacekeeping, sustainable development, and digital innovation.

After concluding her India visit, she will travel to China on April 29–30, where she is scheduled to meet Vice President Han Zheng and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, along with the United Nations country team, reflecting the United Nations’ focus on engaging major global powers.

IRCTC Launches 14-Day Bharat–Bhutan Mystic Mountain Tour

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation launched a 14-day ‘Bharat–Bhutan Mystic Mountain Tour’ from New Delhi.

The tour will be conducted on the Bharat Gaurav Deluxe Air-Conditioned (AC) Tourist Train, offering a rail-cum-road international travel experience.

The itinerary covers Guwahati, Shillong, Cherrapunji and Hasimara, with entry into Bhutan via Phuentsholing.

Key Bhutan destinations include Thimphu (Capital of Bhutan), Punakha and Paro.

The package is all-inclusive, covering train travel, hotel accommodation (3-star category), vegetarian meals, local transport, sightseeing, travel insurance and tour escort services.

Accommodation categories available: AC First Class, AC 2-Tier and AC 3-Tier, equipped with modern amenities and onboard dining facilities.

Cost of the package ranges from approximately ₹1.16 lakh to ₹1.5 lakh per person depending on the class selected.

The initiative aims to promote tourism in Northeast India and Bhutan, enhance cross-border cultural exchange, and strengthen India–Bhutan connectivity.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Logo, Theme and Website for 4th India-Africa Forum Summit

External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar officially launched the logo, theme, and website for the 4th India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-IV) under the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

The IAFS-IV marks a renewal phase in India-Africa relations, following the last summit held in 2015, highlighting continued diplomatic engagement.

The 4th India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-IV) is scheduled to be held on 31 May 2026 in New Delhi, in collaboration with the African Union Commission.

Preparatory meetings of senior officials will take place on 28 May 2026, followed by the India–Africa Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on 29 May 2026, leading up to the main summit.

The logo of IAFS-IV features a Lion superimposed on interlocked maps of India and Africa, symbolizing pride, courage, unity, and shared identity between the two regions.

The theme of the summit is “IA SPIRIT: India-Africa Strategic Partnership for Innovation, Resilience, and Inclusive Transformation.”

The term ‘SPIRIT’ reflects the core values of India-Africa relations, emphasizing shared values, mutual respect, solidarity, and long-term collaboration beyond transactional ties.

 

BANKING

PhonePe Becomes First Unified Payments Interface App to Cross 10 Billion Monthly Transactions in March 2026

PhonePe became the first Unified Payments Interface (UPI) app to cross 10 billion monthly transactions, recording 10.50 billion transactions in March 2026, marking a major milestone in India’s digital payments ecosystem.

It held a dominant 46.4% share by volume and 49.1% share by value, processing transactions worth ₹14.48 lakh crore, as per data from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

Overall, UPI recorded a historic 22.64 billion transactions worth ₹29.53 lakh crore in March 2026, highlighting strong growth in India’s real-time digital payment system.

Google Pay remained the second-largest UPI player, processing 7.53 billion transactions (~33% share), while nearing ₹10 lakh crore monthly transaction value.

Paytm ranked third with 1.77 billion transactions (~7.8% share), significantly behind the top two dominant platforms.

NPCI has set a policy objective to ensure that no single UPI app exceeds 30% market share, but this cap has not yet been enforced due to operational challenges.

The total UPI transaction value crossed ₹29.6 lakh crore in March, reflecting the continued expansion of India’s cashless economy and fintech adoption.

PhonePe and Google Pay together dominate the market with approximately 45% and 33% share respectively, reinforcing a duopoly structure in UPI ecosystem.

Government Sets Up Panel Led by State Bank of India Chairman to Evaluate Risks from AI Platform Mythos

The Government of India (GoI) has constituted a high-level panel under the chairmanship of C. S. Setty, to assess risks arising from advanced AI platform “Anthropic’s Mythos” and recommend cybersecurity mitigation measures.

The decision was taken in a high-level meeting co-chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Ashwini Vaishnaw, highlighting inter-ministerial coordination on AI risk governance.

The panel will evaluate potential threats from AI systems to the banking and financial sector and recommend policy, regulatory, and technological safeguards.

The Indian Banks Association (IBA) has been directed to develop a coordinated response mechanism to address AI-driven cybersecurity threats across banks.

Banks have been mandated to report cyber incidents immediately to Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) for early detection, rapid response, and threat mitigation.

The initiative aims to strengthen cyber resilience, real-time threat intelligence sharing, and overall financial system security in India.

Mythos AI, part of the Anthropic Claude family, represents an advanced AI model with strong capabilities in cybersecurity and autonomous vulnerability detection.

It can identify software vulnerabilities and convert them into working cyber exploits at unprecedented speed, raising global cybersecurity concerns.

The model has a dual-use nature, meaning it can be used for both strengthening cyber defence and enabling large-scale cyberattacks if misused.

Its agentic behaviour allows it to perform multi-step autonomous cyber operations, marking a shift from AI as a tool to AI as an independent actor, increasing systemic risk in digital infrastructure.

The government will engage with banks and technology experts to assess risks and explore defensive applications of AI for cybersecurity strengthening.

 

DEFENCE

INS Sunayna (IOS SAGAR) Reaches Changi Naval Base in Singapore

INS Sunayna (Indian Ocean Ship – IOS SAGAR) arrived at Changi Naval Base, marking its fourth port call under the MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision.

The ship is deployed in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) with a multinational crew from 16 Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs), promoting international maritime cooperation.

Prior to Singapore, INS Sunayna completed port calls at Malé, Phuket, and Jakarta, reflecting regional outreach and engagement.

At Singapore, the ship received a warm welcome, reaffirming strong India–Singapore maritime ties and cooperation.

Shilpak Ambule, High Commissioner of India to Singapore, interacted with the crew, appreciating their role in strengthening maritime partnerships and interoperability under SAGAR vision.

Commander Siddharth Chaudhary, Commanding Officer of INS Sunayna, laid a wreath at Kranji War Memorial and met Col Chuah Meng Soon, Commander of 9th Flotilla, Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) to discuss enhanced maritime cooperation.

The ship was open to visitors, including schoolchildren and social media influencers, providing a first-hand experience of naval life and maritime awareness.

On 27 April 2026, IOS SAGAR crew and the Indian diaspora participated in a run themed “One Ocean, One Mission”, promoting unity and maritime awareness.

The ship is engaging with the RSN through professional and community interactions, including planned visits to Navigation and Damage Control simulators, Information Fusion Centre, and Navy Museum in Singapore.

Additional activities include interaction with think tank personnel onboard, joint Yoga session, and formal deck reception, enhancing stakeholder engagement and exchange of best practices.

INS Sunayna is scheduled to depart Singapore on 29 April 2026, continuing its mission of strengthening maritime cooperation and promoting collective security in the Indian Ocean Region.

 

AWARDS & PRIZES

Sur Jyotsna National Music Awards 2026

The 13th edition of the Sur Jyotsna National Music Awards was held in New Delhi, where veteran Hindustani vocalists Sumitra Guha and Pandit Laxman Krishnarao Pandit were honoured for their contribution to Indian classical music.

The awards aim to promote, preserve, and encourage Indian musical heritage, while supporting both veteran and emerging artists.

The ceremony was held at Dr Ambedkar International Centre in the presence of dignitaries including Ramdas Athawale, Shripad Naik, S. P. Singh Baghel, and Ghulam Nabi Azad.

The event featured performances by Kailash Kher and his band Kailasa, showcasing a blend of classical, folk, and contemporary music.

Instituted in memory of Jyotsna Darda, the awards highlight efforts to preserve India’s intangible cultural heritage.

In 2026, the awards expanded to multiple cities including Nagpur, Nashik, Pune, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and New Delhi, increasing outreach and accessibility.

 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Dilip Kumar Assumes Role as CVO at Steel Authority of India Limited

Dilip Kumar, a senior officer of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME), assumed charge as Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).

He brings over two decades of experience in train operations, rolling stock maintenance, and human resource management within Indian Railways.

Prior to this role, he served as Additional Divisional Railway Manager (ADRM) in East Central Railway and Chief Workshop Manager at Harnaut, Nalanda (Bihar).

He is credited with key innovations, including the first ISO 9001-certified train in ECR, in-situ wheel replacement techniques for wagons, and the Madhubani railway station beautification project.

Awards and Recognition: Recipient of the National Award for Outstanding Services (2016) and the Railway Board’s Certificate of Excellence for Best Innovation (2018–19).

International Exposure: Completed advanced management programmes at INSEAD (Singapore) and ICLIF (Kuala Lumpur), and specialised training in wagon bogie design at American Railway Institute, USA.

 

SPORTS

P. V. Sindhu Elected Chair of Athletes’ Commission

P. V. Sindhu, Olympic medallist, has been elected Chair of the Athletes’ Commission of the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

She has also secured a voting position in the BWF Council, the top decision-making body of global badminton.

She became an official Council member after completing the formal vetting process in late 2025.

She attended her first BWF Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Horsens, Denmark, representing athletes at the highest level.

As a voting Council member, she will:

Participate in policy-making and strategic decisions

Represent the interests of players globally

Contribute to development and governance of badminton

The appointment is significant as an active international athlete rarely holds a voting role in global sports governance.

It strengthens athlete representation and inclusion in decision-making bodies.

BWF President Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul welcomed the move, highlighting that athletes’ voices are central to shaping the future of the sport.

 

APPS & PORTALS

Union Minister Piyush Goyal Unveils Bharat Taxi Ride-Hailing App in Mumbai,Maharashtra

Union Minister of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry,Piyush Goyal launched Bharat Taxi, India’s first cooperative-led ride-hailing platform, in Mumbai, Maharashtra to support auto-rickshaw and cab drivers.

The initiative aims to enhance earnings and welfare outcomes of drivers through a cooperative-based ride-hailing ecosystem.

The Bharat Taxi app provides zero commission, no subscription charges, free insurance cover of ₹5 lakh, and access to MUDRA Loan facilities for drivers.

Bharat Taxi was established in June 2025 by eight national-level cooperative institutions under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002, and was officially launched on 05 February 2026.

The platform has achieved over 25,000 rides per day, reflecting rapid operational growth since launch.

It has onboarded 17 lakh customers, while more than 50 lakh users have availed the service, indicating strong adoption and outreach.

 

MoUs & AGREEMENTS

India And New Zealand Sign Free Trade Agreement To Boost Trade And Investment

India and New Zealand signed a Free Trade Agreement at Bharat Mandapam, led by Piyush Goyal and Todd McClay.

The agreement aims to reduce trade barriers, enhance market access, and strengthen bilateral economic cooperation.

100% duty-free access has been granted for Indian exports to New Zealand, benefiting sectors like textiles, leather, footwear, engineering goods, and processed food, especially Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

India will open around 70% of its tariff lines, while protecting sensitive sectors like dairy, agriculture, and metals through safeguards such as tariff rate quotas.

The agreement provides market access in 118 services sectors, including Information Technology, education, finance, and tourism, along with visa pathways for 5,000 skilled Indian professionals.

New Zealand has committed to investment support of around 20 billion United States Dollars in sectors like infrastructure, renewable energy, and digital services.

The pact will simplify pharmaceutical approvals, enable faster customs clearance, and promote paperless trade systems.

It also supports agriculture, startups, and cultural cooperation, including promotion of AYUSH systems and organic products.

The agreement is expected to boost bilateral trade, exports, employment, and long-term economic partnership between both countries.

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Dance Day

International Dance Day (World Dance Day) is celebrated every year on April 29 across the world to highlight the value, importance, and cultural significance of dance.

The day serves as a wake-up call for governments, institutions, and policymakers to recognize dance as an important art form and its potential for economic growth and social development.

The celebration is promoted globally by the International Dance Council.

It was first introduced in 1982 by the International Dance Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

The date April 29 was chosen to mark the birth anniversary of Jean-Georges Noverre (born in 1727), who was a renowned French ballet master and reformer of modern dance.

The day is observed worldwide through performances, cultural programmes, workshops, and awareness initiatives, encouraging people to appreciate dance and its role in art, culture, and society.