1 India creates history by winning first gold at European Girls Mathematical Olympiad 2026
India achieved a historic feat by winning its first gold medal at the 15th European Girls’ Mathematics Olympiad 2026 held in Bordeaux, France . Shreya Shantanu Mundhada of Mumbai won the gold medal . She was part of the four-member Indian team . Sanjana Philo Chacko of Kerala won the silver medal , and Shivani Bharat Kumar of Tamil Nadu won the bronze medal . India achieved its best-ever performance by finishing sixth among 67 participating countries .
2 Blue Water Sailing Expedition launched
On April 14 , the Indian Army launched its first blue water sailing expedition ‘Samudra Sahas’ from Marve, Mumbai as part of the 200th anniversary celebrations of the Regiment of Artillery . The 520 nautical mile expedition along the Konkan coast will commence from Mumbai and be completed in four stages. The expedition will use a 21-foot Seabird category sailing boat . The expedition will cover a distance of 7 nautical miles, navigating in varying wind conditions. Captain Kshitij Nair and Subedar Prakash Phande will lead the expedition. The expedition is being conducted in collaboration with the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard.
3 World Art Day
World Art Day , celebrated every year on April 15th, was established by the International Association of Art (IAA) in 2012. April 15th was chosen to commemorate the birth anniversary of the great Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci , who embodies a unique fusion of art, science, and innovation. The day underlines the multifaceted nature of art, whether it be painting, music, dance, literature, or architecture. The day is not merely a celebration, but a global movement aimed at spreading the importance of art to every segment of society, protecting the rights of artists, and encouraging creative expression.
4 Himachal Pradesh Day: 15 April
The land of the gods, Himachal Pradesh, is celebrating its Foundation Day . Himachal Pradesh was formed on April 15, 1948, as a Chief Commissioner’s Province by merging 30 small and large hill states . It attained full statehood on January 25, 1971 , but the main foundation day is celebrated on April 15. In 1954, the neighboring state of Bilaspur was incorporated into Himachal Pradesh. Himachal Pradesh remained a Category ‘C’ state of the Indian Union until 1956. In 1956, the States Reorganization Commission recommended the abolition of the practice of classifying states into Parts A, B, C, etc. Himachal Pradesh remained a Union Territory until it attained statehood on January 25, 1971. In 1960, the bordering Chini tehsil of Mahasu district was carved out as a separate administrative unit, and Kinnaur district was formed, increasing the total number of districts. On November 1, 1966, the then Punjab state was reorganized, in which Haryana was formed as a separate state and some hilly areas of Kullu, Kangra, Shimla and Hoshiarpur districts and Dalhousie of Gurdaspur district were merged into Himachal Pradesh and four new districts Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, Kangra and Shimla were created.
5 Samrat Chaudhary sworn in as the 24th Chief Minister of Bihar
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Samrat Chaudhary was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Bihar at Lok Bhavan in Patna . With this, he became the first BJP leader to become the Chief Minister of the state . Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, the party’s most experienced and Nitish Kumar’s most trusted strategist, was appointed Deputy Chief Minister from the JDU quota . Bijendra Prasad Yadav also took the oath of office alongside him . Samrat Chaudhary assumed the reins as the 24th Chief Minister of Bihar . Governor Syed Ataul Hasnain administered the oath of office and secrecy. Following Nitish Kumar’s resignation as Chief Minister of Bihar, his name was officially confirmed. Newly appointed Chief Minister of Bihar, Samrat Chaudhary (Rakesh Kumar) was born on November 16, 1968, in Lakhanpur village, Tarapur block, Munger district. He comes from a distinguished political background. His father, Shakuni Chaudhary, served as a seven-time MLA and MP, while his mother, Parvati Devi, was also a member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly. Samrat Choudhary, who belongs to the backward class (Kurmi community), is considered a strong leader in the state politics who has a hold on the OBC vote bank.
6 Income Tax Department introduces ‘Form 141’, will replace four different TDS forms
The Income Tax Department has introduced Form 141 , a consolidated challan-cum-statement that will replace four separate TDS forms . This new form combines Form 26QB, Form 26QC, Form 26QD, and Form 26QE , which were previously used to file TDS on purchase of property, TDS on rent, TDS on payments made to contractors or professionals, and TDS on transfer of virtual digital assets, respectively . According to the newly amended rules, Form 141 can now be used to deposit TDS on payments of up to ₹50,000 per month and TDS on purchase of property worth ₹50 lakh. Additionally, this form can be used by individuals or Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) to report professional, commission, or contract labor payments exceeding ₹50 lakh in a financial year that are not subject to tax audit.
7 Promoting women empowerment, ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Run’ to be organised in seven cities on April 17-18
With the aim of promoting women empowerment and public participation, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will organize the ” Nari Shakti Vandan Run ” on April 17 and 18, 2026 , in seven major cities across the country . This initiative is considered an important step towards strengthening women’s participation in the vision of a developed India. The run will be held in Delhi, Cuttack, Patna, Mumbai, Indore, Bengaluru, and Jaipur . The event will be held in Patna and Jaipur on April 17, while in Delhi, Cuttack, Mumbai, Indore, and Bengaluru it will be held on April 18. The 2 to 3 kilometer run will be held at prominent public places in the cities, culminating with the distribution of certificates.
8 India’s total exports to grow by 4.22% to over $860 billion in FY 2025-26
India’s total exports grew by 4.22 percent to over US$860 billion in FY 2025-26, covering both goods and services . Meanwhile, imports grew by nearly 6.5 percent to reach US$979 billion . This resulted in a widening of the overall trade deficit to over US$119 billion in the last fiscal year, compared to a little over US$94 billion in FY 2024-25 . According to provisional data released by the Commerce Ministry, total merchandise exports during FY 2025-26 were estimated to be around US$441 billion.
9 USA: Super Typhoon Sinlaku wreaks havoc in the Northern Mariana Islands
A powerful storm, Super Typhoon Sinlaku, caused massive devastation in the US Northern Mariana Islands . According to the US Weather Service, Sinlaku is the strongest tropical cyclone of the year. This severe storm, equivalent to Category 5, hit Saipan and Tinian in the Mariana Islands with sustained winds of about 240 kilometers per hour. Guam also experienced strong winds and heavy rain, causing flash floods.
10 Poila Boishakh celebrated with traditional fervor
11 Reserve Bank of India releases Payments Vision 2028
The Reserve Bank of India released the Payments Vision 2028. It outlines a roadmap for strengthening and expanding India’s rapidly growing digital payments ecosystem. Titled “Shaping India’s Payments Sector,” the document focuses on user empowerment, fraud protection, improving the efficiency of cross-border payment systems, and promoting ease of doing business. Through various initiatives, the document outlines an action plan until December 2028. The central bank will review cross-border payment systems to enhance efficiency and streamline authorizations under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, and the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999. A shared responsibility framework between issuer and beneficiary banks will also be considered to address unauthorized digital transactions.
12 India to host BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Summit
India will host the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in May . According to reports, India will seek to reduce regional tensions and advance dialogue through this meeting. Security and energy-related issues are also likely to be discussed on the BRICS platform. Prior to the BRICS Summit, the chairing country is required to hold BRICS ministerial meetings. The BRICS ministerial meeting is expected to discuss global conflict (especially the ongoing tensions in West Asia), climate finance, and sustainable development. This meeting will be held to outline the framework for the 18th BRICS Summit (2026) . On January 13 , India officially assumed the chairmanship of the 18th BRICS Summit 2026. This year’s theme for BRICS is ” Building for Resilience, Innovation, Corporation, and Sustainability .” 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of BRICS’ founding. The first BRICS Summit was held in Russia in 2009. The name BRICS is derived from the initials of its founding member countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
13 Austrian Federal Chancellor Stocker visits India
On April 15 , Austrian Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker arrived in New Delhi on an official visit to India . He was welcomed at the airport by Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Raksha Khadse. This is Stocker’s first official visit to India. During his visit, Stocker will meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting will focus on business, investment, green technology, and enhancing cooperation in key sectors. Both sides are expected to discuss cooperation in areas such as advanced manufacturing, digital innovation, and renewable energy. Stocker will also meet with President Draupadi Murmu and Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar. PM Modi visited Austria in 2024. Previously, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited Austria in 1983.
14 Vas Narasimhan joins board of AI company Anthropic
On April 14 , Indian-origin Vas (Vasanth) Narasimhan joined the board of AI company Anthropic . Narasimhan is the CEO of pharma company Novartis . Narasimhan, associated with pharma, is the first AI to join Anthropic. AI is a big need for health science and Narasimhan will work for it. Company President Daniela Amodei said that Narasimhan has experience in implementing even difficult technologies safely at a large scale. Narasimhan became the CEO of Novartis in 2008. Narasimhan incorporated digital technology into healthcare. He contributed to global health during the time of COVID-19. Novartis is a Swiss global pharma company headquartered in Basel, Switzerland.
15 Pirojsha Godrej to be the new chairperson of the group
On April 14 , the Godrej Group formally announced its successor. Pirojsha Godrej will be Godrej ‘s new successor. He will assume the position of Chairman of the Godrej Industries Group and Godrej Industries Limited from August 14, 2026. The current Chairman of the Godrej Group is Nadir Godrej, who will retire from his position in August 2026. Nadir’s nephew (son of his elder brother Adi Godrej) Pirojsha Godrej will take over the reins of the Group. After Nadir’s retirement, he will assume the role of Chairman Emeritus of the Godrej Group. Pirojsha currently serves as Chairman of the Group’s Properties, Capital and Ventures business. Pirojsha joined the Godrej Group in 2004 and became CEO of Godrej Properties in 2012.