The Government has notified the Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 (Startup India FoF 2.0) with a total corpus of Rs. 10,000 crore for the purpose of mobilizing venture and growth capital for the startup ecosystem of the country.
The Startup India FoF 2.0 builds upon the strong performance of the Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS 1.0), which was launched in 2016 under the Startup India Action Plan to address funding gaps and catalyse the domestic capital for startups.
Startup India FoF 2.0 will have a total corpus of Rs. 10,000 crore for commitments to eligible Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) spread across the 16th and 17th Finance Commission cycles.
Investments under Startup India FoF 2.0 will focus on Alternative Investment Funds supporting priority segments including deep tech startups, early growth stage startups supported by smaller AIFs, technology-driven and innovative manufacturing startups, and sector or stage agnostic startups.
National Cadet Corps (NCC), in collaboration with the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) has launched a comprehensive Cyber Security Capacity Building Programme. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between NCC and NIELIT in the presence of DG NCC, Lt Gen Virendra Vats and DG NIELIT, Dr Madan Mohan Tripathi.
The programme will be implemented in two stages. The first stage, Cyber Security Awareness Programme, is a 15-hour online training module designed to provide foundational knowledge of digital literacy, safe internet practices, cyber hygiene, and awareness of cyber threats.
his stage will be open to all enrolled NCC cadets across the country and will be delivered through the NIELIT Digital University platform.
The second stage, Cyber Defender Programme, is an intensive 60-hour offline training designed for selected cadets who qualify through a merit-based screening process.
This stage will focus on hands-on training, real-life simulations, and practical exposure to cyber security tools and techniques, enabling cadets to identify and respond to cyber threats effectively.
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched a dedicated mobile application designed to support and streamline the clinical workflow of Community Health Officers (CHOs) across the country, in a significant step towards strengthening primary healthcare delivery and enhancing digital health services.
The mobile application, developed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), serves as a comprehensive clinical decision-support and job-aid tool for CHOs deployed at Sub-Centre Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (SC-AAMs). It has been designed in alignment with the expanded range of 12 service packages under Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC).
The application provides structured clinical workflows that function as quick-reference checklists for managing patients attending outpatient services at SC-AAMs. It offers practical, step-by-step guidance on patient assessment, including history taking, physical examination, and relevant diagnostic tests, based on presenting complaints.
The Ministry of Labour & Employment signed Memoranda of Understanding with Porter and Gigin Technologies in the presence of Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and Secretary, MoLE, Ms. Vandana Gurnani to expand employment opportunities and strengthen digital job matching through the National Career Service (NCS) portal.
Representative from Gigin highlighted that the platform operates as a multi-sided technology ecosystem, utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), verification intelligence, and omni-channel access to deliver dignified and verified employment opportunities.
The e-NAM digital ecosystem comprises a multi-layered architecture encompassing a web portal, mobile application, dedicated helpline, human support infrastructure, and AI-enabled quality assessment systems. eNAM facilitates farmers’ access to a broader and more diverse pool of buyers, thereby strengthening opportunities for improved price realization.
1,656 mandis integrated across 23 States and 4 Union Territories by March 2026.
Over 1.80 crore farmers, 2.73 lakh traders, and 4,724 Farmer-Producer Organizations were registered on the eNAM platform by March, 2026.
Cumulative trade of 13.25 crore metric tonnes, with a total value of Rs. 4.84 lakh crore, recorded between 2016 and March, 2026.
By March, 2026, 204.76 lakh metric tonnes of agricultural produce had been traded in recent periods, reflecting sustained operational momentum.
247 commodities are covered under mobile-based price information services through the e-NAM app.
PPFAS Asset Management Pvt. Ltd. has received approval from the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) to act as a sponsor for a pension fund under the National Pension System (NPS), marking its formal entry into India’s fast-growing retirement savings space.
With this approval, the fund house will soon begin managing retirement assets of NPS subscribers. The company plans to set up a dedicated pension fund entity, which will be responsible for launching schemes, managing investments, and delivering long-term returns aligned with retirement goals.
The company will now complete regulatory and operational formalities before commencing full-scale pension fund operations.
PFRDA has revised the Investment Management Fee (IMF) under the NPS, effective April 1, 2026, for five years.
The new structure, based on recommendations by a committee led by former SEBI chief U.K. Sinha, continues a slab-based fee model with differentiated rates for government and non-government subscribers.
There is no change in fees for government sector subscribers. The revised framework also retains existing annual charges for pension funds.
Additionally, corporates under NPS will now be reclassified as Government Entities or Legal Entities, improving clarity and alignment with regulatory structures.
PFRDA Chairperson- Sivasubramanian Ramann
In Tennis, Jannik Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(5), 6-3 in the finals of the 2026 Monte-Carlo Masters at Roquebrune-Cap-Martin in France this evening. By clinching the title, Jannik Sinner returned to the top spot in the world for the first time since November 2025.
The new World No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings has won four consecutive Masters 1000 tournaments, becoming just the second man to accomplish the feat (also Djokovic and Nadal). Sinner’s streak dates back to his victory at last year’s Rolex Paris Masters. Including the Nitto ATP Finals, he has now won five of the past six ‘Big Titles’ events.
This was the first time Sinner has won the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. The only Masters 1000 events he has not claimed glory at are Madrid and Rome, which are next on the calendar.
India concluded its campaign at the Asian Wrestling Championships with a total of 17 medals, adding two silver and one bronze on the final day in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
On the concluding day, Olympic medallist Aman Sehrawat won silver after a 13-10 loss to Kwang Myong Kim of South Korea in Men’s 61 kg freestyle category.
On the concluding day, Olympic medallist Aman Sehrawat won silver after a 13-10 loss to Kwang Myong Kim of South Korea in Men’s 61 kg freestyle category. Mukul Dahiya won silver in the Men’s 86 kg freestyle category, losing 7-0 to two-time Asian champion Kamran Ghasempour of Iran. In the 125kg division, Dinesh secured bronze with a 7-1 win over Shamil Sharipov of Bahrain.
With this, India finished with two gold, seven silver, and eight bronze medals. The Men’s freestyle team contributed seven medals, Greco-Roman wrestlers secured five, and the women’s team added five medals to the overall tally.
India’s Ayush Shetty secured silver medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China. Ayush finished as runner-up after losing to China’s Shi Yuqi in the final by 8-21, 10-21. With this victory, Shi Yuqi clinched the title and secured China’s first Men’s Singles gold at the continental event since 2017.
Ayush takes India’s first Men’s Singles silver at the Badminton Asia Championships in 61 years. Earlier, Ayush Shetty stormed into the final after defeating top seed and defending champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand.
Vishvanath Suresh won the 50kg title at the Asian Boxing Championships 2026 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, as Indian men concluded their campaign at the continental meet with a total of six medals - one gold, a silver and four bronze.
Vishvanath Suresh clinched gold after defeating Japan’s Daichi Iwai 5-0 in the final.
Earlier in the tournament, the Indian boxer got the better of reigning world champion and world No. 1 Sanzhar Tashkenbay of Kazakhstan in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Sachin added silver to India’s tally in the men’s 60kg category.
Four other Indian boxers - Harsh Choudhary (90kg), Akash (75kg), Lokesh (85kg) and Narender (+90kg) - settled for bronze.
The Indian boxing squad finished second on the table with five golds, one fewer than Kazakhstan. However, they claimed the most medals across men’s and women’s categories with an overall tally of 16, which includes five gold, three silver and eight bronze.
India’s performance was headlined by the women’s team, which topped the medal charts in the gender with 10 medals, including four gold, two silver, and four bronze.
Among the standout performers in the women's team, Minakshi Hooda (48kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), Priya Ghanghas (60kg) and Arundhati Choudhary (70kg) delivered gold medals for India.
Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain (women’s 75kg) and two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen (women’s 51kg) won bronze medals in their respective categories.
The women’s team also saw strong contributions from Jaismine Lamboria (57kg) and Alfiyan Pathan (80+kg), who secured silver medals, alongside four other bronze medallists.
India received its first shipment of Iranian crude oil after a gap of nearly seven years amid the West Asia tension and US president Donald Trump’s threat of blocking the Strait of Hormuz.
Two supertankers — MT Jaya and MT Felicity — each carrying around two million barrels of crude oil, anchored off Paradip port in Odisha and Sikka port, Gujarat.
This signals a cautious resumption of oil trade between New Delhi and Tehran after the waiver of US sanctions in March.
Paradip port officials said MT Jaya, a Curacao-flagged very large crude carrier (VLCC) with 277,321 tonnes of Iranian crude from Kharg Island, Iran, was secured to single point mooring (SPM-1) at about 3.18 pm.
Women now account for around 26 per cent of India’s total credit system, with their outstanding portfolio expanding nearly five-fold — from Rs. 16 trillion in 2017 to Rs. 76 trillion in 2025, reveals a new report anchored by premier policy think tank Niti Aayog.
Chagas disease, also known as "silent or silenced disease", affects mainly poor people without access to health care or people without a political voice. The disease progresses slowly and often shows an asymptomatic clinical course. Without treatment, Chagas disease can lead to severe cardiac and digestive alterations and become fatal.
The World Chagas Disease Day was celebrated for the first time in 2020.
World Chagas Disease Day is celebrated annually on April 14 to commemorate the date in 1909 when Brazilian physician Dr. Carlos Chagas diagnosed the first human case of the infection in two-year-old Berenice Soares de Moura. The day aims to raise awareness about the neglected tropical disease.
