India’s seafood exports rose to a record Rs. 72,325.82 crore (US$ 8.28 billion) in FY 2025–26, with volumes reaching 19.32 lakh metric tonnes, according to provisional data released by MPEDA.
Frozen shrimp remained the primary growth driver, contributing Rs. 47,973.13 crore (US$ 5.51 billion), accounting for over two-thirds of total export earnings.
Shipments of shrimp grew 4.6% in volume and 6.35% in value, reinforcing its dominance in India’s marine products export basket.
The United States retained its position as the largest export destination, with imports totalling US$2.32 billion. However, shipments to the US declined by 19.8% in volume and 14.5% in value, reflecting primarily the impact of reciprocal tariffs.
This decline was offset by robust growth in alternative markets such as China, EU and Southeast Asian countries. Exports to China, the second-largest destination, rose 22.7% in value and 20.1% in volume. The European Union posted strong gains, with exports increasing by 37.9% in value and 35.2% in volume.
Southeast Asia also recorded significant expansion, with growth of over 36.1% and 28.2% in value and volume, respectively. Exports to Japan grew 6.55% by value, while those to West Asia showed a marginal decline of 0.55%, due to the turmoil in the region during the fag end of the financial year.
In terms of logistics, the top five ports—Vizag, JNPT, Kochi, Kolkata and Chennai—accounted for nearly 64% of total export value, highlighting their continued importance in India’s seafood export supply chain.
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupender Yadav announced the designation of Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, as a Ramsar site, taking India’s total to 99 and the State’s tally to 12.
Highlighting the ecological importance of the site, Shri Yadav said Shekha Jheel acts as a crucial stopover on the Central Asian Flyway, providing a vital habitat for migratory birds such as the Bar-headed Goose, Painted Stork and various ducks during the winter season. The Minister also encouraged people to visit the site.
The 7th Joint Group of Customs (JGC) Meeting between India and Bhutan was held on 20th–21st April 2026 in Munnar, Kerala. The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Yogendra Garg, Special Secretary and Member (Customs), Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Government of India, and Mr. Sonam Jamtsho, Director General, Department of Revenue and Customs,
Ministry of Finance, Royal Government of Bhutan.
India and Bhutan share close and longstanding trade relations, with India being Bhutan’s largest trading partner, accounting for nearly 80% of Bhutan’s total trade. Bilateral trade between the two countries exceeded $1.9 billion in FY 2024–25, registering a growth of over 46% compared to the previous financial year.
During the meeting, both sides held detailed discussions on a range of priority areas, including Coordinated Border Management (CBM); Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on pre-arrival exchange of customs data; strengthening of anti-smuggling mechanisms through intelligence sharing and enforcement cooperation; digitization of customs processes;
and facilitation of transit cargo movement under the Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS). The meeting also discussed and reviewed issues like improvement of border infrastructure, enhancing trade facilitation and harmonization & streamlining of customs procedures.
The Republic of India and the Republic of Korea, hereafter referred to as "the two sides,” agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation to address global sustainability challenges through practical collaboration in climate change, maritime and Arctic issues.
The Government has expanded the list of eligible destinations under RELIEF – Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation, a time-bound intervention under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM).
RELIEF was launched on 19 March 2026 as a targeted intervention to support Indian exporters affected by extraordinary freight escalation, heightened insurance premia and war-related export risks arising from disruptions in the Gulf and wider West Asia maritime corridor.
RELIEF is being implemented through ECGC as the nodal agency and includes support for insured exporters, facilitation of insurance cover for upcoming shipments, and reimbursement assistance for eligible MSME exporters facing extraordinary freight and insurance surcharge burdens.
In addition, through a Policy Circular dated 15th April 2026, the Government has clarified the scope of Component II of RELIEF, which pertains to ECGC insurance support. It has been clarified that exporters obtaining a fresh ECGC Whole Turnover Policy on or after 16 March 2026 shall also be eligible for support under Component II.
This clarification is aimed at ensuring greater clarity and facilitating wider participation of exporters, particularly new policyholders.
The above measures reflect the Government’s continued assessment of evolving trade and logistics conditions in the region and its commitment to respond to emerging challenges faced by exporters.
India’s biggest bank wants to grow even bigger. State Bank of India (SBI) plans to expand its balance-sheet to about 25 per cent of the country’s GDP by 2030 from about 20 per cent now.
The state-owned bank, which has been doubling its balance-sheet roughly every six years, is eyeing an improvement in its market share by one per cent in each of the 800 districts in the country in FY27 in the run-up to its balance-sheet expansion goal, per plans laid out by the bank.
Each district will be treated as a distinct growth unit with strategies tailored to local opportunities, said senior executives versed with the bank’s roadmap.
Aronyak Ghosh became India’s 95th Grandmaster as he achieved his final norm at the Bangkok Chess Club Open 2026.
The Kolkata-based player scored seven points from nine rounds to finish tied for first place.
The National Rapid champion, who earned his first GM norm at the Sants Open in 2023 and his second at the Annemasse Masters in 2024, took two more years to earn his third and final norm to gain the title.
Aronyak had qualified for the FIDE World Cup in Goa 2025, in which he beat Poland’s Mateusz Bartel in the first round before losing to America’s Levon Aronian.
This year’s prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize has been awarded to six grassroots environmental activists from around the world for their efforts to fight climate change and save biodiversity.
For the first time since the prize was created in 1989 by philanthropists Richard and Rhoda Goldman, all recipients of the award are women: Iroro Tanshi, from Nigeria; Borim Kim, from South Korea; Sarah Finch, from the United Kingdom; Theonila Roka Matbob, from Papua New Guinea; Alannah Acaq Hurley, from the United States; and Yuvelis Morales Blanco, from Colombia.
Sometimes described as the “Green Nobel”, the Goldman Prize recipients are chosen from each of the world’s six primary regions. They each receive $200,000 in prize money.
Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has introduced OmegaBall in India through a pioneering initiative, marking the sport’s first-ever entry into the country. Building on this milestone, the institute is also proposing to establish the IIT Madras OmegaBall Club at the National level to spearhead its development and wider adoption.
Marking this launch, Institute Gymkhana and Office of Dean (Students) organized an inter-college OmegaBall tournament at Campus Football Field today (17th April 2026).
The Reserve Bank allowed card issuers to map existing e-mandates to reissued cards.
In the consolidated directions on digital payments governing the e-mandate framework, the central bank directed issuers to provide details of the grievance redressal in a post-transaction notification to the customer.
The changes in instructions on e-mandates were based on feedback from stakeholders, the RBI said.
The notification also said no charges shall be levied on customers for availing of the e-mandate facility for recurring transactions, and an acquirer shall ensure compliance with directions by merchants onboarded by them.
As per consolidated directions, the RBI said an appropriate dispute redressal system shall be put in place by the issuer to facilitate the customer to lodge grievances, and RBI instructions on limiting liability of customers for unauthorised transactions shall be applicable to recurring transactions under e-mandates as well.
The central bank said recurring transactions may be authorised without additional factor of authentication (AFA) up to Rs. 15,000 per transaction.
Transactions above this amount shall be subject to AFA.
Payment of insurance premiums, subscription to mutual funds, and credit card bill payments may be made without AFA up to Rs. 1 lakh per transaction, the central bank said.
The Reserve Bank of India partially rolled back some of the measures announced on April 1 that had barred banks from offering rupee-linked non-deliverable forwards, after stability returned to the foreign-exchange market.
Under the revised rules, banks can now undertake certain related-party transactions, including cancellation and rollover of existing contracts and deals via the back-to-back route. The revised instructions take effect immediately.
The General Assembly designated 22 April as International Mother Earth Day through a resolution adopted in 2009.
Since then, the United Nations celebrates this observance through the Harmony with Nature initiative, a platform for global sustainable development that celebrates annually an interactive dialogue on International Mother Earth Day.
The UN Conference on the Human Environment 1972 in Stockholm marked the beginning of a global awareness of the interdependence between people, other living species and our planet, as well as the establishment of World Environment Day on 5 June and the UN Environment Programme.
Former Rajya Sabha member and noted paediatrician Dr. Gopalrao Patil passed away in Maharashtra's Latur city on April 21, 2026.
He was 94-years-old.
He served as a Rajya Sabha member from the BJP between 1994 and 2000 and contributed to key parliamentary committees, including commerce, external affairs, and railways.
Patil was also a visionary educationist. He founded the Shiv Chhatrapati Shikshan Sanstha, which runs Rajarshi Shahu College in Latur.
His free medical services in rural areas had earned him the affectionate title of 'Devmanus' among locals.
He also received several awards for his contributions as a paediatrician.
