Daily Current Affairs and GK | 1 April 2026

Topic: Defence

1. Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited has handed over three naval platforms to the Indian Navy.

• These vessels are frontline naval ships. They are named INS Dunagiri, INS Sanshodhak, and INS Agray.
• This handover marks a significant milestone in the field of indigenous defence production.
• INS Dunagiri is capable of conducting missile strikes. It possesses the capability to engage designated targets.
• INS Sanshodhak is utilized for survey operations. It conducts coastal and maritime surveys.
• INS Agray has been designed for anti-submarine warfare. It can detect and destroy enemy submarines.
• GRSE has constructed a total of 118 warships to date. Of these, 80 warships have been handed over to the Navy.
• These vessels were formally accepted by Rear Admiral Gautam Marwah.

Topic: International Appointments

2. Tom Suozzi appointed Vice-Chair of Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans.

• Tom Suozzi has been appointed as the Democratic Vice-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans.
• The appointment has been announced by Caucus Chairman Ro Khanna to strengthen engagement between the United States and India at the legislative level.
• His elevation reflects years of involvement and advocacy related to India-US relations.
• The role places him in a significant leadership position in fostering bilateral cooperation.
• His past engagements include visits to India and participation in initiatives like the Kartarpur Corridor visit.
• The caucus aims to promote stronger diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between the two nations.
• Suozzi represents a district with a large Indian American population, strengthening his connection with the community.

Topic: National Appointments

3. The major bureaucratic reshuffle approved with new secretaries appointed across ministries.

• A major bureaucratic reshuffle has been approved by the government, and new secretaries have been appointed across several key ministries and departments.
• Chanchal Kumar has been appointed as Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, replacing Sanjay Jaju.
• Sanjay Jaju has been reassigned as Secretary of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region under the reshuffle.
• Bhuvnesh Kumar has been given charge as Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, while Srivatsa Krishna has been moved to the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
• Vir Vikram Yadav has been appointed as Director General of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, succeeding Faiz Ahmed Kidwai.
• Faiz Ahmed Kidwai has been appointed as Additional Secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training.
• Sanjay Lohia has been appointed as Special Secretary in the Department of Financial Services and is expected to take over after the retirement of the current official.
• Abhishek Singh, CEO of the India AI Mission, has been appointed as Director General of the National Testing Agency.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

4. The 7th round of India-Algeria Foreign Office Consultations held to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

• The 7th round of Foreign Office Consultations between India and Algeria has been held in Algiers to review and strengthen bilateral relations.
• The meeting was co-chaired by senior officials from both countries, reflecting continued diplomatic engagement at a high level.
• Satisfaction over ongoing cooperation has been expressed by both sides, and the importance of sustained dialogue has been emphasised.
• Parliamentary cooperation has been encouraged, with Algeria welcoming the formation of the India-Algeria Parliamentary Friendship Group.
• Terrorism in all its forms has been condemned, and a joint commitment to combat this global threat has been reaffirmed.
• India has appreciated the reception extended to its parliamentary delegation visiting Algeria after the Pahalgam terrorist attack.
• Bilateral trade, valued at around 1.7 billion dollars, has been noted to be growing steadily between the two nations.
• Potential for expansion has been identified in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, education, energy, mining, fertilisers, and agriculture.

Topic: Defence

5. Defence Ministry signs ₹1,950 crore contract with Bharat Electronics Limited for mountain radars.

• A contract worth 1,950 crore rupees has been signed by the Defence Ministry with Bharat Electronics Limited for the procurement of mountain radars.
• The agreement has been executed in New Delhi under the Buy (Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured) category.
• The procurement has been aligned with the objectives of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.
• Two advanced mountain radar systems will be supplied to the Indian Air Force under this contract.
• The radars have been designed and developed by the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment under DRDO.
• Manufacturing of these radar systems will be carried out by Bharat Electronics Limited within the country.
• The systems are expected to significantly enhance air defence capabilities in challenging mountainous regions.
• National security will be strengthened through improved surveillance and threat detection capabilities.
• Dependence on foreign defence equipment will be reduced through this indigenous procurement initiative.

Topic: Important Days

6. Utkal Diwas 2026: 01 April

• Utkal Divas is celebrated in Odisha on April 1st.
• Every year, Utkal Divas is celebrated to commemorate the establishment of the state of Odisha on April 1, 1936.
• This important day marks the separation of Odisha from the combined Bihar and Orissa provinces during the British colonial era in India.
• This day is celebrated as the foundation day of Odisha.
• Odisha celebrated its 90th foundation day on 01 April 2026.
• Odisha Day is also called Vishuva Milan. Kalinga, Utakal, Udra, Toshali, and Kosala are names of Odisha in ancient history.
• Odisha is named after the Odra tribe living in its central region.
• 113th Amendment Bill 2011 changed the name of Orissa to Odisha.
• President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have extended their greetings to the people of Odisha on State Foundation Day.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

7. India has emerged as the world's leading nation in issuing Internationally Recognized Compliance Certificates (IRCCs).

• These certificates are issued under the 'Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing.'
• IRCCs serve as official confirmations of compliance with regulatory norms.
• They verify that Prior Informed Consent has been obtained.
• They also confirm that Mutually Agreed Terms have been established.
• These agreements are concluded between the users and providers of genetic resources.
• IRCCs promote transparency in the utilization of biological material.
• They also ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from such utilization.
• Data from the ABS Clearing-House highlights India's strong standing in this domain.
• India has issued 3,561 IRCCs globally. The total number of IRCCs issued worldwide stands at 6,311.
• India accounts for over 56 percent of all certificates issued.
• A total of 142 countries are registered on this platform; however, only 34 of them have issued IRCCs.
• France ranks second in this regard, having issued 964 certificates.
• Other contributing nations include Spain, Argentina, Panama, and Kenya.
• This performance by India reflects the robust implementation of its ABS framework.
• This framework is underpinned by the 'Biological Diversity Act, 2002.'

Topic: Indian Economy

8. The Central Government has approved grants from the 15th Finance Commission.

• These include both 'tied' and 'untied' categories. These funds have been released for the financial year 2025-26.
• The objective is to strengthen local governance systems. These grants assist Panchayati Raj Institutions in carrying out development works at the grassroots level.
• Telangana received over ₹247 crore. This constitutes the first installment. This amount is intended for approximately 12,600 Gram Panchayats.
• Uttarakhand received over ₹91 crore. This constitutes the second installment. This will benefit 13 District Panchayats.
• It will also provide assistance to 95 Block Panchayats. This covers approximately 8,000 Gram Panchayats.
• Maharashtra received over ₹109 crore. This amount was released in two tranches. It includes the withheld portions of both the first and second installments.
• Meghalaya received ₹27 crore. This constitutes the second installment of the 'untied' grants. It pertains to the financial year 2021-22.
• In total, the Central Government has released an amount exceeding ₹2,461 crore. These funds have been distributed among eight states.
• 'Tied' grants were provided to the rural local bodies of Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Sikkim.
• Pending funds were released to Himachal Pradesh. These funds were also released to Odisha.
• These included the amounts allocated to Sikkim. They also included the amounts allocated to Tripura.
• This amount has been released across multiple financial years. Its aim is to promote rural local governance.
• The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has shared detailed particulars regarding the allocations.
• Madhya Pradesh received over ₹945 crore. Gujarat received over ₹764 crore.
• Chhattisgarh received approximately ₹387 crore. Punjab received over ₹332 crore.
• Odisha received over ₹35 crore. Himachal Pradesh received approximately ₹14 crore.
• Sikkim received more than ₹10 crore. Tripura received more than ₹68 lakh.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

9. Three Panchayats in Tripura have secured top positions in the Deen Dayal Upadhyay and Nanaji Deshmukh Panchayat Satat Vikas Awards 2025.

• These awards recognize excellence in sustainable and inclusive rural development.
• The Sepahijala district has been declared the country's best District Panchayat.
• Kanchabari Gram Panchayat secured the first position in the 'Health-Friendly' category.
• Baikunthapur achieved the third position in the 'Women-Friendly' category.
• The award winners will receive financial incentives ranging from ₹50 lakh to ₹5 crore.
• This recognition reflects the tangible improvements made in rural governance and service delivery.
• It also highlights the progress achieved in public health initiatives at the grassroots level.
• This achievement signifies the progress made in women-centric development efforts.
• Overall, it demonstrates Tripura's growing success in the field of sustainable rural development.

Topic: Banking/Finance

10. The Reserve Bank of India has deferred the implementation date for the revised norms regarding Capital Market Exposure by three months.

• The new effective date has been shifted to July 1, 2026, moving it from the previously set deadline of April 1.
• This delay follows requests from banks, market intermediaries, and industry stakeholders who sought additional time to prepare for the changes.
• This updated framework was originally issued in February 2026.
• The objective of these guidelines is to facilitate the financing of corporate acquisitions by Indian companies.
• They also aim to rationalize the limits on lending against shares and related financial instruments.
• This framework promotes a more principle-based approach to lending to participants in the capital markets.
• The central bank has further refined the definition of acquisition finance to explicitly include mergers and amalgamations.
• Such financing will be permitted only if it results in the acquisition of control over a non-financial entity.
• In cases involving holding or parent companies, banks are required to verify the synergy requirements among the subsidiary entities.
• Companies are now permitted to channel the funding secured for an acquisition down to their subsidiaries.
• This provision applies to subsidiaries operating both within India and abroad.
• This change will enable subsidiaries to utilize such financing to acquire target companies.