1 DRDO and Indian Navy successfully launch first salvo of Naval Short Range Anti-Ship Missile
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy successfully launched the first salvo of the Naval Short Range Anti-Ship Missile (NASM-SR) from a naval helicopter platform off the coast of the Bay of Bengal in Odisha . During the test, two missiles were fired from a single helicopter in quick succession , making it the first salvo launch of the advanced air-launched anti-ship missile system. According to data obtained from various range tracking instruments, such as radar, electro-optical systems, and telemetry, deployed at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur , all test objectives were fully achieved. The missiles demonstrated salvo launch capability as well as waterline penetration capability. The NASM-SR missile uses a solid propulsion booster and a long-burn sustainer. All critical sub-systems like seeker, integrated avionics module, advanced navigation and guidance using fibre-optic gyroscope based inertial navigation system and radio-altimeter, along with advanced control and guidance algorithms, high-bandwidth two-way data link and jet-vane control have been indigenously developed by various laboratories of DRDO and Indian industries. The missile system has been developed by the Hyderabad-based Imarat Anusandhan Kendra in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories like Defence Research and Development Laboratory, Hyderabad, High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune, Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, Chandigarh and ITR, Chandipur.
2 Government issues draft notification for proposed amendments to Central Motor Vehicles Rules
The government issued a draft notification outlining proposed amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. According to the notification, the draft updates the technical fuel types under emission and type-approval standards to reflect higher ethanol and biofuel blending targets. Key amendments in the draft notification include revising the hydrogen fuel classification from hydrogen + CN to hydrogen + CNG , increasing the gross vehicle weight limit from 3,000 kg to 3,500 kg in select categories in line with the implementation of E20 , upgrading biodiesel references from B10 to B100 , and standardizing emission testing parameters and technical indications.
3 FIFA rules amended, now Afghan women players will also be able to participate in FIFA competitions
The FIFA Council has approved an amendment to its governance regulations. Under this amendment, Afghan women’s players will be able to participate in official international matches in FIFA competitions . The Afghanistan women’s national football team has not played any competitive international matches since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. This decision is in line with FIFA’s principles of inclusion and non-discrimination, which aim to ensure that players are not excluded due to circumstances beyond their control. FIFA President Gianni Infantino called this a historic step. He said that Afghan women players, including the FIFA-backed Afghan Women’s United Team, can now represent their country in official matches in coordination with the Asian Football Confederation. The FIFA-backed team’s next training camp will be held in New Zealand from June 1 to 9.
4 India won gold medals in junior weightlifting.
On April 28th, India won four gold medals in the Commonwealth Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships . The Commonwealth Games are being held in Apia, Samoa, an independent island nation located in the central South Pacific Ocean. Abhinav Gogoi won gold in the men’s 71 kg category. Previously, Abhinav won gold in the 71 kg category at the Commonwealth Youth Weightlifting Championships in August 2025. Sunil Singh won gold in the men’s 65 kg category by lifting 271 kg. Aisangpha Gogoi won gold in the women’s 58 kg category. Previously, in May 2025, she won gold in the 55 kg category at the Khelo India Youth Games, breaking the national record. Charu Pesi of Arunachal Pradesh also won gold in the men’s 65 kg category at the Universal Cup, an event open to youth and junior athletes.
5 Bollywood actor Bharat Kapoor passes away
Veteran actor Bharat Kapoor passed away on April 27th . He was 80 years old. He appeared in over 200 films in a career spanning four decades. Bharat began his career in 1972 and was well-known for his roles in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. He also appeared in TV serials such as Chandrakanta, Saans, and Rahat . He also appeared in films such as Noorie, Bazaar, Aakhri Raasta, Namak Halal, Ram Balram, and Barsaat .
6 PM Modi inaugurates Ganga Expressway connecting Meerut to Prayagraj
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 594-kilometer-long Ganga Expressway in Hardoi district, Uttar Pradesh . The high-speed corridor is expected to significantly enhance connectivity in Uttar Pradesh, boosting industrial investment, logistics, agricultural marketing, and regional balance. The Ganga Expressway, developed by the Uttar Pradesh Expressway Industrial Development Authority , will connect the western, central, and eastern regions of Uttar Pradesh through a single high-speed corridor. It will be the longest expressway in the state . It will reduce the travel time between Meerut and Prayagraj from approximately 12 hours to approximately six hours. The expressway will pass through 12 districts : Meerut, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Amroha, Sambhal, Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Unnao, Rae Bareli, Pratapgarh, and Prayagraj . It also includes a three-and-a-half-kilometer-long airstrip in Shahjahanpur , which will support emergency takeoffs and landings of Indian Air Force aircraft .
7 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets Gabriela of Ecuador
On April 29 , External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met with Ecuadorian Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld . Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday on a three-day visit to India. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed issues such as trade, agriculture, and capacity building. Ecuador has joined the International Solar Alliance and the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), the process for which has begun. Ecuador is already a member of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). CDRI is a global platform of countries, UN agencies, multilateral banks, the private sector, and academic institutions. During this meeting, S. Jaishankar and Gabriela also reached an agreement on funding for the implementation of Quick Impact Projects. India and Ecuador also signed an agreement to launch an Impact Project, which will further the development partnership between the two countries. The collaboration between India and Ecuador includes working in four sectors. Trade, investment and business are part of it.
8 Cloud Mythos: How effective is this new AI model?
A new model in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) is gaining traction – Claude Mythos . It was developed by Anthropic . It is an advanced Large Language Model (LLM) that is considered particularly capable of completing complex and multi-step cybersecurity tasks . While the model is designed for general use, its greatest strengths are being seen in areas such as cybersecurity, software engineering, and research. The company claims that its capabilities surpass those of previous models. Claude Mythos’s ability to solve complex problems step-by-step makes it distinct from other AI models. Currently, this model is not available to the public. It has been provided only to select companies and developers under Project Glasswing . The company states that its robust cyber capabilities could be misused, so it has been limited in scope. During testing, the model has successfully identified several critical cyber vulnerabilities. It has discovered legacy software bugs, found flaws in browser systems, and exposed security issues in open source projects. However, some independent experts believe that the claims about its capabilities are not yet fully proven.
9 US Pacific Air Forces General Kevin Schneider visits India
On April 27 , the US Embassy announced the seven-day visit of US Pacific Air Forces General Kevin Schneider to India . According to the US Embassy, US Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) General Kevin visited India from April 19 to 25. During this visit, General Kevin discussed strengthening the strategic defense partnership with India and issues related to Indo-Pacific security. During his visit, General Kevin met with Air Chief Marshal AP Singh of the Indian Air Force and spoke with several senior defense leaders, including officers. He also visited the National War Memorial and laid a wreath. With Indo-Pacific security in mind, the heads of state discussed a free, open, and stable Indo-Pacific region. During this meeting, the two leaders discussed cooperation, including increasing interoperability across the air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains. The purpose of General Kevin’s visit is to enhance mutual cooperation between the two countries.
10 Senior IPS officer CV Anand appointed as new Director General of Police of Telangana
Senior IPS officer C.V. Anand has been appointed the new Director General of Police of Telangana . The state government issued orders in this regard. The current Director General of Police, Shivadhar Reddy, is set to retire on the 30th of this month .
11 All India Institute of Ayurveda – ICAENE signs MoU with Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Rajasthan Ayurveda University
The All India Institute of Ayurveda – Incubation Centre for Ayurveda Innovation and Entrepreneurship (AIIA-ICAINE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Rajasthan Ayurveda University, Jodhpur, on April 27, 2026, in New Delhi , to strengthen innovation, research, technological advancement, and entrepreneurship in the Ayurveda sector. Under this MoU, DSRRAU students, researchers, and faculty will be provided with mentorship, consultancy support, training, capacity-building inputs, innovation programs, idea-pitching camps, entrepreneurship-oriented workshops, and structured interactions with industry stakeholders . This collaboration will also include joint ideation camps, innovation challenges, and industry interactions. The agreement has been signed for an initial period of three years.
12 Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 report released: 3635 Panchayats emerge as front-runners
In a significant step towards strengthening grassroots governance and promoting inclusive rural development, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj released the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 report for the financial year 2023-24 on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day, which will be celebrated on April 24, 2026. The report, which serves as a report card for each Panchayat, shows that 3,635 Gram Panchayats (based on overall scores) fall in the leading category , while 118,824 Gram Panchayats (approximately 45.72 percent of participating Gram Panchayats/Traditional Local Bodies) fall in the outstanding category . The areas in which Gram Panchayats have excelled include poverty-free development and improving livelihoods in Panchayats, and healthy Panchayats. Under Theme 1: Poverty-free and Improved Livelihoods in Panchayats, a total of 3,313 Gram Panchayats (GPs)/Traditional Local Bodies (TLBs) across the country have achieved an A+ grade, reflecting their significant performance in poverty alleviation and livelihood generation at the Panchayat level. Similarly, under Theme 2: Healthy Panchayats, a total of 1,015 Gram Panchayats/TLBs have achieved an A+ grade, demonstrating strong results in preventive health care, nutrition awareness, sanitation practices, and community engagement. PAI 2.0 has recorded an exceptional national participation rate of 97.30 percent, with 259,867 Gram Panchayats from 33 States and Union Territories submitting valid data. This is a significant and commendable improvement compared to the 80.79 percent participation achieved under PAI Version 1.0.
13 “Women and Men in India 2025” report released
The Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation (MoSPI) released the 27th edition of its publication, titled ” Women and Men in India 2025: Selected Indicators and Data, ” during the ” Data for Development ” National Consultation Summit held in Bhubaneswar on April 29, 2026. The publication presents a detailed analysis of the status of women and men in key areas such as population, education, health, economic participation, decision-making power, and violence against women . Based on data from various ministries and organizations, the report includes metadata for 50 key indicators, enhancing understanding and clarity of the data. The report aims to understand development trends at the rural-urban, state, and union territory levels through gender-disaggregated data. This will help policymakers and researchers formulate gender-sensitive policies. According to the report, the sex ratio at birth has increased from 904 in 2017-19 to 917 in 2021-23. This indicates improved health and survival rates for women. Gender parity has been achieved in education from primary to higher secondary levels. The gross enrolment ratio for women in higher education increased from 28.5% in 2021-22 to 30.2% in 2022-23 , while for men, this figure increased from 28.3% to 28.9% . The labour force participation rate (LFPR) for those aged 15 years and above has increased significantly. This rate, particularly for rural women, increased from 37.5% in 2022 to 45.9% in 2025 , a significant indicator of women’s empowerment. Between 2017 and 2025, the number of men employed in managerial positions increased by 73.80%, while the number of women increased by 102.54%, reflecting the increasing participation of women in leadership roles.