At a Glance
- 01Sovereign Gold Bonds are government securities denominated in gold, offering an alternative to holding physical gold.
- 02The Women's Reservation Bill, also known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, proposes to reserve 33% of seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies for women.
- 03Delimitation is the process of redrawing boundaries of parliamentary and assembly constituencies to represent changes in population.
- 04The Ken-Betwa River Linking Project is an initiative to transfer water from the Ken River to the Betwa River, both tributaries of the Yamuna, to address water scarcity in the Bundelkhand region.
- 05The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Oman and Iran, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, and is a crucial route for global oil supplies.
Economy & Development
Gold loans have become India's second-largest retail credit product, with their share in the retail credit portfolio increasing significantly between March 2022 and December 2025, according to a TransUnion CIBIL report. The origination value of gold loans has risen substantially since Q1 2022, and the average ticket size has also increased.
The IMF has raised India's economic growth forecast for FY27 to 6.5%, citing stronger-than-expected performance in 2025 and improved trade, particularly with the US, as well as strong domestic demand.
ICRA projects that food inflation in India may surpass 4% in April 2026, driven by rising prices in vegetables, edible oils, and ready-made food segments, partly due to unrest in the Middle East.
The Centre is considering launching a low-cost credit card scheme for micro businesses, offering unsecured cards with limits up to ₹5 lakh and annualised interest rates around 18%.
RBI announced a redemption price of ₹15,009 per unit for Sovereign Gold Bonds 2019-20 Series V, offering investors a significant return over the issue price.
Telangana recorded the highest inflation rate among Indian states/UTs in March, while Mizoram reported the lowest.
Indian Polity & Governance
The Centre has proposed increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 850, with a draft bill circulated to MPs, potentially paving the way for the Women's Reservation Bill.
PM Modi met with Mallikarjun Kharge to seek support for fast-tracking the implementation of the Women's Reservation Act, emphasizing it as a collective responsibility.
Amit Shah has advocated for the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Women's Reservation Bill) highlighting it as a necessity and the rightful due of Indian women.
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin has cautioned the Centre against the proposed delimitation exercise, warning of protests if it disadvantages the state or favors northern states.
Supreme Court Justice N Kotiswar Singh stated that India cannot be confined to a single religious identity, emphasizing its inclusive and plural character.
International Relations
China's export growth experienced a sharp decline in March, attributed to rising transportation costs due to the Iran war, which affected global demand.
After India's statement, China stated that Arunachal Pradesh was illegally set up by India and is actually Zangnan, which is China's territory.
Pakistan is seeking financial assistance from Saudi Arabia and China following a request from the UAE to repay a $3 billion loan.
A US-sanctioned, China-linked oil tanker crossed the Strait of Hormuz despite a US naval blockade.
Iran has demanded reparations from several Gulf nations for allegedly enabling US-Iran aggression.
Environment & Ecology
India is projected to become the world's second-largest solar market in 2026, having rapidly added 50 GW of solar capacity recently.
A new species of burrowing reed snake, Calamaria garoensis, has been discovered in Meghalaya's Garo Hills, highlighting the region's biodiversity.
Thousands of tribal women protested against the Ken-Betwa river link project in Madhya Pradesh, citing forceful evictions and demanding adequate compensation.
A rare albino humpback whale, Siale, has been sighted, generating excitement among wildlife enthusiasts.
Science & Technology
Scientists have detected a powerful and distant cosmic signal, a hydroxyl megamaser, originating from colliding galaxies 8 billion light-years away, using the MeerKAT radio telescope.
Ukraine claims its soldiers accepted the surrender of Russian soldiers from unmanned robotic systems, marking a first in the conflict.
The US is reportedly lagging behind Russia and China in the development of AI-powered drones, partly due to China's manufacturing capabilities and Russia's battlefield testing.
Other
Flipkart has appointed Sharon Pais as the new CEO of Myntra.
The Karnataka government has banned fried and processed snacks at official gatherings to promote healthier eating habits.
Baisakhi, a major harvest festival, is celebrated across Punjab and by Sikh communities, commemorating the founding of the Khalsa Panth.
The Income Tax Department has introduced Form 141, a unified challan-cum-statement replacing several previous TDS forms.
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