Defence
CRPF Valour Day — Battle of Sardar Post (1965)
Observed on 9 April every year; 2026 marks the 61st Shaurya Diwas. Pakistan’s Operation Desert Hawk in the Rann of Kutch was repulsed by 2nd Battalion CRPF — 34 enemy soldiers killed, 4 captured, 6 CRPF personnel martyred. CRPF is India’s largest CAPF, under MHA; established 27 July 1939.
Infrastructure
CCEA Hydro Projects — Arunachal Pradesh
CCEA approved Kalai-II HEP (1,200 MW) on Lohit River, Anjaw District (Rs 14,105.83 crore) and Kamala HEP (1,720 MW) across Kamle, Kra Daadi, Kurung Kumey districts (Rs 26,069.50 crore). Combined investment: Rs 40,175.33 crore; total generation: ~11,700+ MU annually; supports India’s 500 GW non-fossil fuel target by 2030.
Monetary Policy
RBI MPC — 1st Bi-monthly Policy FY27 (April 2026)
60th MPC meeting (6–8 April 2026) under Governor Dr. Sanjay Malhotra; repo rate held at 5.25% (neutral stance); SDF: 5.00%; MSF/Bank Rate: 5.50%. FY27 GDP projected at 6.9% (cut by 50 bps); CPI inflation at 4.6%. Cumulative rate cuts since Feb 2025: 125 bps.
Economy
World Bank — India FY27 Growth Forecast
World Bank raised India’s FY27 GDP forecast to 6.6% (from 6.3%) — highest among major forecasters. India’s FY26 GDP: 7.6% (up from 7.1% in FY25), driven by domestic demand and export resilience. Other forecasts: Moody’s 6.0%, OECD 6.1%, Morgan Stanley 6.2%, ICRA 6.5%. WB President: Ajay Banga; HQ: Washington DC.
Climate
India Withdraws COP33 Hosting Bid (2028)
India withdrew its COP33 (2028) hosting bid on 2 April 2026. PM Modi had originally proposed the bid at COP28 in Dubai (December 2023). COP sequence: COP31 — Türkiye/Australia; COP32 — Ethiopia; COP33 — Asia-Pacific group’s turn. South Korea is the only remaining bidder. India previously hosted COP8 in 2002 in New Delhi. UNFCCC Secretariat: Bonn, Germany.
Gender & Development
NITI Aayog — Women’s Evolving Credit Market Report (2nd Ed.)
Released by NITI Aayog CEO Nidhi Chhibber; women hold Rs 76 lakh crore (26% of total system credit) — a 4.8-fold rise since 2017. Credit penetration: 19% (2017) → 36% (2025); ~16 crore credit-active borrowers (9% CAGR). Nearly 45 crore credit-eligible women still largely unserved. Developed under Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP).
Skill Development
Skills Outcomes Fund (SOF) — MSDE Initiative
Initiated by Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary (MSDE); nodal agency: NSDC (National Skill Development Corporation). Model: Outcomes-Based Financing (OBF) — blending government, private, and philanthropic capital with payments linked to verified employment results. Focus sectors: IT-ITeS, BFSI, healthcare, logistics, green jobs, electronics. Aim: World’s largest OBF initiative.
International
India Elected to Three UN ECOSOC Bodies (April 2026)
India elected by acclamation to: (1) CSTD (2027–2030); (2) NGO Committee (2027–2030); (3) CPC (2027–2029). Ambassador Preeti Saran re-elected to CESCR (2027–2030). Note: CERD is a UN Treaty Body under OHCHR (monitoring ICERD) — NOT an ECOSOC body. ECOSOC: one of the six principal organs of the UN.
Technology
UB Pravin Rao — Nasscom Foundation Chairperson
Appointed 7 April 2026, succeeding Rostow Ravanan. UB Pravin Rao previously served as COO of Infosys; associated with NASSCOM since 2014 (also served as Vice Chairperson and Chairman). Brings 35+ years of technology sector experience. Nasscom Foundation: not-for-profit arm of NASSCOM promoting tech-led social impact and digital inclusion. NASSCOM HQ: New Delhi.
Sports & Personalities
Jim Whittaker — First American to Summit Mount Everest
Jim Whittaker (born 10 February 1929, Seattle; died April 2026, age 97) summited Everest on 1 May 1963 with Nawang Gombu — becoming the 10th climber ever to reach the summit. Later became CEO of REI (1971–1979). Received Hubbard Medal from National Geographic Society. Memoir: A Life on the Edge (1999). Note: First-ever summit (29 May 1953) was by Hillary & Norgay.