The Free Trade Agreement between India and New Zealand will advance a new Era of Economic Partnership and Opportunity. New Zealand has committed to facilitating investments of 20 billion dollars into India over the next fifteen years.
According to the FTA, a new generation trade deal for Viksit Bharat 2047, encompassing Tariffs, Talent, Investment and Farm Productivity, empowering youth, farmers, women, artisans, and MSMEs, has been agreed upon. The trade includes 100% duty-Free Access across all tariff lines, benefiting diverse sectors.
The FTA promotes India’s AYUSH systems internationally, encourages medical value travel, and positions India as a global wellness hub. The agreement has further given a boost to farms, fisheries and factories through Zero-duty market access on 100 per cent of India’s exports.
To ensure protection for farmers, rural economies and the domestic industry, the Government has excluded key sensitive sectors such as dairy, animal products and agricultural products. The FTA will also boost student mobility through post-study work visas and professional pathways in New Zealand, with no numerical caps on Indian students.
The India-New Zealand FTA stands as a significant step in India’s journey towards becoming a globally competitive, inclusive and resilient economy under the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
UNESCO has added 12 new sites to its Global Geoparks network. The expansion marks another significant milestone in the agency's global effort to preserve Earth's geological heritage while promoting sustainable development.
The designated geoparks are located in China, France, Greece, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Portugal, Russia, Tunisia and Uruguay. The total number of UNESCO Global Geopark sites is now 241, spanning across 51 countries, covering an area of over 882,000 sq km.
The Hon’ble Union Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs, Sh. Manohar Lal Khattar, released the report “Moving Towards Effective City Government – A Framework for Million-plus Cities” by NITI Aayog on 25 April 2026 at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
The event was attended by Urban Development Ministers from more than 10 states, reflecting broad-based participation and commitment to advancing urban governance reforms.
India’s urbanisation is central to achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 and progressing towards a $30 trillion economy. Cities are central to driving economic growth, fostering innovation, and generating employment.
However, their potential remains constrained by structural challenges such as fragmented institutional arrangements, limited devolution of powers, weak financial autonomy, and diffused accountability. Strengthening urban governance is therefore critical to enabling cities to perform effectively.
The report “Moving Towards Effective City Government –A Framework for Million-plus Cities” by NITI Aayog presents a focused roadmap to address these challenges. It emphasises the importance of strengthening institutional foundations alongside sectoral improvements & prioritises India’s million-plus cities as key economic centres contributing significantly to national growth
India and Kenya have signed an MoU on the exchange of pre-arrival information aimed at improving the clearance of goods between the two countries.
The agreement was signed between India’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), on the sidelines of the 10th India–Kenya Joint Trade Committee meeting held in Nairobi.
Through the agreement, customs authorities in both countries will exchange import documentation before cargo arrives, using electronic systems such as the Integrated Customs Management System (iCMS).
This mechanism allows customs to process declarations and manifests before a vessel or plane docks, enabling immediate release upon arrival.
The agreement is expected to enhance customs cooperation, enable faster clearances, improve risk management, and facilitate smoother bilateral trade between India and Kenya.
During the meeting, the two countries also agreed to enhance trade by improving market access and addressing tariff and non-tariff barriers.
They further committed to collaboration in key sectors including pharmaceuticals, agriculture, digital public infrastructure, fintech, energy (including renewable energy), and manufacturing.
Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC), and ONGC Petro additions Ltd (OpaL) have formed a joint venture (JV) company to integrate the petrochemicals marketing of group companies.
MRPL informed stock exchanges on Monday that it received a communication on April 27 from ONGC (the holding company of MRPL) that the Board of Directors of ONGC has approved formation of a JV company with shareholding in the ratio of 50:25:25 by ONGC, MRPL and OpaL, respectively.
MRPL said that the company shall contribute ₹12.5 crore towards equity share capital in the said JV company subject to the approval of the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), under the Union Finance Ministry.
The proposed JV company will integrate the petrochemicals marketing of group companies and bring synergy in their marketing operations.
The JV company will reduce cost and increase revenue through improved pricing mechanism, logistics and grade optimisation and production of speciality grades. Creation of the JV company will also open an opportunity for undertaking third party sales considering import dependency of the nation in certain petrochemicals.
The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) have signed an agreement to transfer governance of shooting Para sport from the IPC to the ISSF. At present, the sport is managed by World Shooting Para Sport under the IPC.
The move is the first formal step towards unifying Olympic and Paralympic shooting under a single global body, with a focus on aligned governance and development.
The transfer will take effect only after approval by ISSF Member Federations at the General Assembly later this year. If ratified, the ISSF will take full charge from early next year. A phased integration is planned over 2027-2028 to ensure stability, with minimal changes to competition structures and qualification systems, including for the LA 2028 Paralympic Games.
Skyroot Aerospace’s orbital rocket Vikram-I capable of launching satellites, was flagged off from the spacetech startup’s facility in Hyderabad by Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to Sriharikota, from where it is likely to be launched, to space, in June.
Designed and developed in Hyderabad, the rocket, the first such privately developed in India, is 23-metre tall or the height of a seven storey building. It can carry a payload of 300 kgs though the company plans to have smaller payloads during the initial launches.
The focus in the initial trial launches will be to get as much data as possible.
After a few launches, we will hit 300 kg payload, co-founders Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka said.
All payloads, however, are booked and the customers will be announced closer to the launch, the former ISRO scientists turned entrepreneurs said.
hile the propulsion parts are already in Sriharikota, the remaining, following the flag off, will be moved there — Satish Dhawan Space Centre — by next week.
Telangana is ranked number one in India in the aerospace sector and hosts facilities of global leaders like Boeing, Airbus and Safran. The State’s aim is to become a global leader in aerospace by 2047.
Sigma Advanced Systems has signed a seven-year agreement valued nearly £300 million (around ₹3,800 crore) with Rolls-Royce to manufacture and supply a wide portfolio of high-precision-engineered, safety-critical components and assemblies for the latter’s aerospace programmes.
The contract provides a long-term revenue stream and stronger visibility over future growth, Sigma said. It is a programme-level partnership delivered through its manufacturing network across India and the UK. The partnership builds on an existing relationship.
With proximity, engineering collaboration, and programme alignment in the UK, the company cements its transition from a system player to a more integrated manufacturing partner capable of handling larger work packages, the company said.
The partnership with Rolls-Royce “validates the investments we have made in building a connected India-UK platform and our focus on quality, reliability and long-term partnerships. We see this as an opportunity to deepen our role in global aerospace programmes while continuing to scale our capabilities across both regions.
An aerospace and defence company with more than three decades of manufacturing experience, Sigma operates across India and the UK, with expansion under way in the U.S. The company works with global aerospace and defence OEMs at the programme level through long-term agreements and delegated responsibilities.
Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena approved the creation of five new districts in the Union Territory, fulfilling the long-pending demand of the people of the region.
He termed the decision a "historic day" for Ladakh.
Mr. Saxena said that with the creation of five new districts — Nubra, Sham, Changthang, Zanskar and Drass — Ladakh will now have seven districts, taking the total number of districts in the Union Territory to seven.
Earlier, Leh and Kargil were the only two districts in Ladakh, the largest Union Territory in terms of area but the second least populous. It has an expanse of 86,904 square kilometres bordering China and Pakistan, with a population of 2.74 lakh, according to the 2011 census.
The Centre bifurcated the erstwhile State of J&K into two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh – on August 5, 2019, when it also abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution that gave special status to the erstwhile State.
After being declared a Union Territory, Ladakh came under the direct administrative control of the Union Home Ministry.
Shri Dilip Kumar, a senior officer of Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME), has assumed the charge of Chief Vigilance Officer in Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) on 27th April, 2026. He brings with him over two decades of experience in train operations, rolling stock maintenance and human resource management.
Shri Kumar has held several key positions in Indian Railways, including Additional Divisional Railway Manager, East Central Railway (ECR) and Chief Workshop Manager, Harnaut, Nalanda, Bihar.
He is credited with a number of innovations such as the first ISO 9001 certified train in ECR, pioneering in‑situ wheel replacement techniques for wagons, and the nationally acclaimed Madhubani railway station beautification project.
A B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from IIT BHU, he has been conferred with the National Award for Outstanding Services (2016) and the Railway Board’s Certificate of Excellence for Best Innovation (2018‑19).
His international exposure includes advanced management programs at INSEAD Singapore and ICLIF Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and specialized training in wagon bogie design at ARI Chicago,USA.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the proposed merger of A1 Agri Global Limited, B.N. Agritech Limited and Salasar Balaji Overseas Pvt Ltd. into BN Agrochem Limited.
The proposed combination, inter alia, relates to the proposed merger of A1 Agri Global Limited (Agri), B.N. Agritech Limited (BNA) and Salasar Balaji Overseas Private Limited (Salasar) into BN Agrochem Limited (BNAC), which will be the only surviving entity, pursuant to Scheme of Amalgamation, which has been approved through board resolution 28th June 2025.
BNAC is involved in the procurement and trading of soyabean oil and palmolein oil.
BNA is involved in the procurement of crude edible oils (sunflower oil, palmolein oil and sunflower oil), followed by refining, repackaging and trading.
Salasar is involved in the procurement of edible oils (Kachchi Ghani Mustard Oil (KGMO), palmolein oil and soyabean oil), repackaging and trading.
Agri is involved in the sourcing, crushing, refining and trading of mustard seeds and mustard oil solely for captive consumption. It is also involved in trading of soyabean seeds, soyabean oil and palmolein oil.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of certain equity share capital of Avendus Capital Private Ltd. by Mizuho Securities Co. Ltd. on a fully diluted basis.
The proposed combination relates to the acquisition of certain equity share capital of Avendus Capital Private Limited (ACPL) by Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd. (Mizuho Securities) on a fully diluted basis.
Mizuho Securities belongs to the Mizuho Financial Group, Japan, Mizuho Securities has worldwide presence with 20 offices globally and broadly operates in four business segments, namely: (a) global investment banking business; (b) global markets business; (c) research (in-depth investment information); and (d) retail and business banking.
Mizuho Securities is present in India, inter alia, through its subsidiary, Mizuho Securities India Private Limited (Mizuho India). Mizuho India was incorporated in 2010 and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) as a merchant banker.
ACPL is a SEBI-registered merchant banker. ACPL is present across four countries, i.e., India, Singapore, the United States of America and the United Kingdom, through its subsidiaries.
In India, ACPL offers mergers and acquisitions advisory, private equity syndication services and equity capital market solutions to clients across six sectors: (a) digital technology & consumer; (b) enterprise technology & services; (c) financial institutions group; (d) healthcare; (e) industrial; and (f) infrastructure.
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal announced that all intellectual property (IP) registrations related to sports—including trademarks, copyrights, patents, designs, traditional knowledge, and geographical indications—will be exempt from fees for a period of three years, effective immediately.
The announcement was made while addressing the World Intellectual Property Day celebrations in New Delhi, themed “IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate!”.
The waiver, announced as a special drive to promote innovation in the sports ecosystem, will apply across all categories of IP.
The Minister also directed that a notification be issued with immediate effect and highlighted that, in addition to the fee exemption, the government will extend facilitation support under existing schemes to assist innovators, students, artisans, and stakeholders in filing and securing IP rights, thereby easing their journey into the IP ecosystem.
The valedictory session of the programme featured the felicitation of the Jammu and Kashmir Ranji Trophy team by Shri Piyush Goyal for their historic performance. The team was honoured for securing a landmark victory after 67 years, including a notable win against an eight-time champion team, Karnataka.
The Minister underscored the importance of the Kashmir willow cricket bat, noting that it represents India’s craftsmanship and IP strength. He highlighted that it is among the first and possibly the only sports-related product from India to have received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, and emphasized the need to promote its manufacturing within Jammu and Kashmir.
In a landmark milestone for India's energy transition and self-reliance, the Ministry of Coal executed Coal Mine/Block Production and Development Agreements (CMDPAs) with successful bidders for four coal mines — marking the first-ever tranche of commercial coal mines in India to carry embedded provisions for Underground Coal Gasification (UCG).
The agreements were executed under the 14th round of commercial coal mining auctions, with Reliance Industries Limited securing the Recherla and Chintalpudi Sector A1 mines, and Axis Energy Ventures India Private Limited bagging the Dip Extension of Belpahar and Tangardihi East coal mines.
These mines spans across the states of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha with two being partially explored and two fully explored mines.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said that for corporate credit cards issued under the joint liability structure, overdue reporting and asset classification will be applicable only to the corporate entity.
In the new asset classification, provisioning, and income recognition directions, the RBI said, “…in cases of corporate credit cards issued under the joint liability structure, overdue reporting and asset classification actions shall be applicable only for the corporate.”
In the notification, the RBI has retained that card issuers shall report a credit card account as 'past due' to credit information companies (CICs) or levy penal charges, that is, late payment charges and other related charges, if any, only when a credit card account remains 'past due' for more than three days.
However, the number of 'days past due' and late payment charges shall be computed from the payment due date mentioned in the credit card statement, as specified under the Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks – Asset Classification, Provisioning and Income Recognition) Directions, 2026, as amended from time to time.
The RBI increased risk weights in the unsecured segment, including credit cards, to 150 per cent from 125 per cent in November 2023 due to increased delinquencies in the segment. The industry grew cautious over the rise in delinquencies, which led to a slowdown in card issuances.
Credit card additions, which grew by 19 per cent YoY at the end of March 2024, saw only 8 per cent YoY growth at the end of March 2025.
Credit card spending in March surged to a three-month high of Rs 2.19 trillion on the back of year-end financial transactions, according to the latest data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
In the financial year 2025-26 (FY26), spending rose by 11.98 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to Rs 23.62 trillion from nearly Rs 21.09 trillion in FY25.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued final guidelines for adopting an expected credit loss (ECL)-based loan loss provisioning framework, marking a significant shift in how banks recognise and provide for credit risk.
The final norms have hardly any changes from the draft norms, released in October last year, as it retained the proposed 5 per cent provision for stage -2 loans even if the banks requested for lower provision.
The Reserve Bank of India unveiled Mission SAKSHAM-a mission-mode, sector-wide, all-India capacity-building training initiative for urban cooperative banks (UCB).
The central bank plans to hold training programmes-offline as well as e-learning courses-for about 1.40 lakh participants across target groups in the UCB sector to enhance their managerial and operational capabilities, improve the compliance culture and strengthen institutional resilience.
These training will cover board members, senior management, heads of risk, compliance and audit functions, and employees working in IT functions and other critical areas.
Uttar Pradesh has become the first State to introduce a ‘warranty’ for the rural drinking water schemes with a mandatory 10-year Operations and Maintenance commitment under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Under the ‘Jal Arpan’ initiative, ownership and management of drinking water schemes have been formally transferred to Gram Panchayats across the country’s most populous State.
Subsequently, water quality monitoring has been expanded with 75 district level laboratories, one state level laboratory and five mobile NABL accredited labs, along with 72 in house labs at water treatment plants. A Citizen Charter under the Public Service Guarantee Act is being introduced to secure consumer rights related to water quantity, quality and service delivery.
