GOVERNMENT SCHEMES CURRENT AFFAIRS
GoI Extends National PNG Drive 2.0 till June 2026
- News: Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) extended National PNG Drive 2.0 till 30 June 2026. This is to sustain expansion of Piped Natural Gas (PNG) infrastructure amid global geopolitical disruptions which is affecting energy supply chains.
- Aim: To accelerate domestic PNG connections and boost share of natural gas to 15% in India’s energy basket, while addressing Liquefied Petroleum Gas shortages.
- National PNG Drive 2.0: Launched in January 2026. It focuses on rapid rollout of City Gas Distribution (CGD) infrastructure with targets for PNG-D, PNG-C and CNG stations.
- As of 31 March 2026: CGD entities developed infrastructure for 6.5 lakh connections, supplying gas to 2,457 commercial consumers and 5.29 lakh domestic.
DEFENCE CURRENT AFFAIRS
India Receives First Batch of NEGEV 7 LMGs under Make in India
- News: India received first batch of 2,000 Negev 7 LMGs. This is the start of a 41,000-unit order (signed in August 2024), with 4,000 more units scheduled later in 2026.
- Supplier: PLR Systems (joint venture between Israel Weapon Industries and the Adani Group), becoming India’s first private sector manufacturer of small arms and ammunition, with 50% indigenous production.
About Negev-7:
- It is among lightest 7.62 mm LMGs, featuring semi-automatic and fully automatic modes for CQB and sustained suppressive fire. It is produced under Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India.
- Equipped with Picatinny rails, tritium night sights, and NATO-standard durability, it integrates with vehicles, helicopters, naval platforms, andARBEL system for enhanced targeting, including aerial threats.
INS Aridhaman: India’s Third Nuclear-Powered Ballistic Missile Submarine
- INS Aridhaman will be commissioned as India’s third indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN. This strengthens the country’s strategic nuclear deterrence.
- After induction, submarine will operate under Strategic Forces Command, strengthening India’s sea-based nuclear deterrent.
INS Aridhaman
- The submarine belongs to Arihant-class submarine. It is larger and more advanced than its predecessors INS Arihant and INS Arighat.
- Built under Advanced Technology Vessel programme at Visakhapatnam.
- The 7,000-tonne submarine is powered by an 83 MW Compact Light Water Reactor, enabling greater stealth and endurance.
- A key upgrade is its eight vertical launch system (VLS) tubes, allowing it to carry up to 24 K-15 Sagarika (750 km) or eight K-4 missile (3,500 km) and potentially K-5 missile (~6,000 km).
BANKING | ECONOMY CURRENT AFFAIRS
IRDAI Designates LIC, GIC Re, New India Assurance as D-SIIs for FY26
- Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India designated General Insurance Corporation of India, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), and New India Assurance Company as Domestic Systemically Important Insurers (D-SIIs) for FY 2025-26, with no change from FY 2024-25.
- Separately, IRDAI directed insurers offering policies on digital platforms to conduct self-assessments to ensure compliance with Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) guidelines on prevention of “dark patterns” in online insurance services.
What are D-SIIs?
- They are insurers whose size, market importance, and interconnectedness make them “too big or too important to fail (TBTF)”, as their distress could disrupt domestic financial system and insurance services.
- Such insurers are subject to enhanced regulatory supervision, stronger corporate governance, and robust risk management frameworks due to their systemic importance.
NSE–IGX to Launch India’s First Domestic Natural Gas Derivative Contracts
- National Stock Exchange of India partnered with Indian Gas Exchange Ltd to launch exchange-traded natural gas derivative contracts. This marked the first domestic gas benchmark-based derivatives product in India.
- The contracts will be linked to Gas IndeX of India (GIXI), which is IGX’s benchmark price index that tracks actual domestic natural gas trades across 6 regional delivery hubs on IGX platform.
- Aim: To strengthen India’s natural gas market by providing efficient risk-management and hedging tools for participants e.g. power generators, city gas distributors and fertiliser producers.
- Earlier, Indian participants relied on global benchmarks like Henry Hub and Title Transfer Facility (which carried basis risk for Indian markets).
- IGX: Operating under Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board. It provides gas trading infrastructure.
- NSE: World’s largest derivatives exchange by contract volume in 2025. It adds deep financial liquidity to India’s domestic energy market.
STATES CURRENT AFFAIRS
Uttarakhand Police Conferred President’s Police Colours
- President’s Police Colour was conferred on Uttarakhand Police by Droupadi Murmu, recognising its exceptional service, professionalism, discipline, bravery and dedication over many years. With this honour, Uttarakhand became the 16th Indian state whose police force has received this award.
President’s Police Colour (Also known as “Nishaan”)
- It is the highest national recognition for a state police force.
- It represents long-term excellence in policing; personnel of the honoured force are permitted to wear a special emblem on the left sleeve of their uniform.
- Eligibility: A police force must demonstrate at least 25 years of distinguished service in maintaining law and order,humanitarian response and operational excellence.
- Background: The tradition of President’s Colours began with Indian Navy in 1951, later extended to Army units, Air Force squadrons and police forces as a symbol of honour, discipline and national pride.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CURRENT AFFAIRS
NSIL–Dhruva Space MoU to Develop Solar Panels for Satellites
- New Space India Limited signed an MoU with Dhruva Space to collaborate and focus on the design, manufacture, testing and supply of solar panels for satellites to support India’s growing space industry.
- The partnership aims to meet rapidly rising global demand for satellite solar panels. The space solar cells market is projected to grow from $1.38 billion in 2025 to $1.55 billion in 2026 (12.3% CAGR).
Dhruva Space
- A Hyderabad-based space startup, provides end-to-end space solutions, including satellite buses, deployers for small satellites, launch integration services, ground stations and Solis+ solar panels, offering customised solutions for small satellite missions.
NSIL:
- Commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation under Department of Space.
- A Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) that commercialises technologies from Indian space programme and promotes a vibrant space ecosystem through industry participation in satellites, launch vehicles and space-based services.
ISRO Launches ‘Mission MITRA’ in Ladakh for Human Spaceflight Research
- Indian Space Research Organisation launched Mission MITRA in Leh to study physiological, psychological and operational dynamics of astronauts (Gaganyatris) and ground teams in high-altitude environments.
- Mission Aim: To support India’s Gaganyaan by generating scientific data on crew performance, teamwork, decision-making and communication under operational stress.
About MITRA (Mapping of Interoperable Traits and Response Assessment)
- It is a team behavioural and operational study conducted jointly with the Institute of Aerospace Medicine and defence organisations.
- Conducted at ~3,500 m altitude. The Ladakh environment characterised by hypoxia, cold and isolation serves as a spaceflight analogue to analyse cognitive performance, adaptability and crew–ground coordination crucial for long-duration missions.
SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS
Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 Concluded in Chhattisgarh
- Khelo India Tribal Games 2026, India’s first national multi-sport event dedicated exclusively to tribal athletes concluded in Chhattisgarh. The inaugural Games were held from 25 March to 3 April 2026 across Raipur, Jagdalpur, and Surguja.
- Participants: Over 60,000 athletes from 30 States and Union Territories competed for 338 medals, showcasing tribal sporting talent on a national platform.
- Karnataka emerged as the overall champion, while host Chhattisgarh finished ninth in the final medal tally.
- Games featured seven medal sports (athletics, football, hockey, weightlifting, archery, swimming and wrestling) along with demonstration events ( Mallakhamb and Kabaddi).
- KITG 2026 conducted under Khelo India Programme, the initiative aims to promote grassroots sports, identify talent and strengthen India’s sporting ecosystem.
AWARDS & EVENTS CURRENT AFFAIRS
International Children’s Book Day: 2 April
- International Children’s Book Day is celebrated every year on 2 April. Th day marks the birthday of Hans Christian Andersen, to promote children’s literature and cultivate a love for reading among young readers.
- History: Day was established in 1967 by Jella Lepman and is organised by International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), founded in 1953, which promotes children’s books in 80+ countries.
- Each year, a different IBBY national section sponsors the event, selects a theme and invites an author to write a global message.
- The organisation also administers the Hans Christian Andersen Award, often called the “Nobel Prize of children’s literature.”
- ICBD 2026: It was hosted by IBBY Cyprus with theme “Plant Stories and the World Will Bloom!”, highlighting reading, storytelling and environmental awareness.