The Indian government is set to implement the 'One State, One RRB' (Regional Rural Bank) policy to improve operational efficiency, reduce competition, and consolidate the existing 43 RRBs into 28. The Ministry of Finance aims to streamline the functioning of these banks by merging smaller, less efficient ones, with the goal of enhancing their service delivery and cost-effectiveness. This initiative, which is part of a larger consolidation effort, builds on the previous rounds of RRB amalgamation that reduced their numbers from 196 to 43. The policy is expected to improve credit flow, particularly in rural areas, by strengthening RRBs' financial positions and operational frameworks.
Meta, led by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, intensified its efforts in the competitive artificial intelligence landscape and launched its next-generation Llama-4 (Large Language Model) suite. The suite includes three powerful AI models – Scout, Maverick, and Behemoth – each tailored to different multimodal and reasoning capabilities. This strategic release positions Meta to directly compete with leading AI platforms like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini, while also responding to emerging global players like China's DeepSeek.
Rudrankksh Patil Wins His First ISSF World Cup Title
Nine months after failing to make the Indian shooting team for the Paris Olympics, Rudrankksh Patil won his first ISSF World Cup title with a dominant performance in the final of the men's 10m Air Rifle final in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The Maharashtra shooter, only the second Indian shooter to win a World Championships gold after 2008 Beijing Olympics champion Abhinav Bindra, led throughout the eight-shooter final and beat Istvan Peni of Hungary in the gold medal elimination with a score of 252.9.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen Wins Japanese GP
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen led from pole to chequered flag and won the Japanese Grand Prix, his first victory of the 2025 season, with McLaren's Lando Norris second.
Hitesh Gets Gold as India Ends Campaign with Six Medals
The Indian boxing contingent ended its campaign at the World Boxing Cup with an impressive haul of six medals, including a gold won by Hitesh. It was India's first-ever outing in an elite-level international meet organised by World Boxing.
Hitesh became the first Indian boxer to clinch a gold medal in the World Boxing Cup. His opponent Odel Kamara of England was injured and couldn't take to the ring in the 70kg final.
Abhinash Jamwal gave his best against local favourite Yuri Reis in the final of the 65kg category but could not do enough to get a favourable verdict and bagged the silver medal. Four Indians — Jadumani Singh Mandengbam (50kg), Manish Rathore (55kg), Sachin (60kg) and Vishal (90kg) — bagged bronze medals.
The World Boxing Cup: Brazil 2025 was hosted in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil, from March 31 to April 5.
President Droupadi Murmu Gives Assent to Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025
President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, marking a significant shift in the administrative dynamics of Waqf properties in India. The bill, passed after three days of intense debate in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, has stirred nationwide discussions and legal challenges. While the government argues it ensures transparency and accountability, critics claim it potentially violates constitutional principles related to religious freedom.
Karnataka Signs Letter of Intent with Chile to Strengthen Innovation, Technology Ties
In a significant step towards fostering international collaboration in science, technology, and innovation, the Karnataka government announced that it signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with the Government of Chile during the Innovation Summit held in Bengaluru.
The summit was organised as part of the official visit of Gabriel Boric, President of Chile, and his accompanying high-level delegation to India.
Notably, Chile became the first Latin American country to partner with Karnataka under the Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) – a flagship initiative through which the Government of Karnataka collaborates with over 30 countries to promote cross-border innovation, research, and entrepreneurship.
India and Sri Lanka took a historic step in strengthening their bilateral relations by signing a landmark defence cooperation pact, the first of its kind between the two nations. This came almost 40 years after the deployment of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka during the civil conflict. The pact, signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Colombo and his discussions with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, reflects a shared strategic vision and growing interdependence on security and development matters. The pact is part of a wider framework of ten major agreements focusing on defence, energy, digital cooperation, and health, aimed at deepening the partnership between the two neighbouring countries.
INS Tarkash undertakes Passex with New Zealand Navy in Gulf of Aden
Indian Navy's stealth frigate INS Tarkash participated in a Passex with the Royal New Zealand Navy's Anzac-class frigate Te Kaha in the Gulf of Aden.
The Passex involved a range of interoperability drills, including cross-deck landings, cross-boarding, Sea Rider exchanges, and tactical manoeuvres, all integrated with communication procedure exercises.
The exercise provided a valuable opportunity for the two navies to exchange best practices, further strengthen their bilateral maritime cooperation, and enhance interoperability.
World Health Day is annually observed on April 7 as a global campaign to raise awareness of key health concerns and mobilize action for a collective effort to address them.
World Health Day was established by the First Health Assembly in 1948 and has been celebrated since 1950.
Theme for World Health Day 2025 is 'Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures.'
The Express Awards for Women Entrepreneurs 2025 (Express AWE 2025) was held at the President in Mumbai.
The event brought together 13 trailblazing women from diverse fields, each with their own story of courage, determination, and ambition. The sectors included social impact, media and entertainment, sustainability, finance and venture capital, education and skill development, among others. Some of the key winners of the evening included Mallika Srinivasan (Lifetime Achievement), Isha Ambani (Newsmaker of the Year) and Kiran Nadar (Icon of the Year).
Sudarsan Pattnaik Becomes First Indian to Win Fred Darrington Sand Master Award
Renowned Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik became the first Indian to receive the prestigious Fred Darrington Sand Master Award for his outstanding contributions to sand art. The award was presented during the Sandworld 2025 International Sand Art Festival in Dorset, England.
To mark the occasion, Pattnaik created a 10-foot-high sculpture of Lord Ganesha carrying the message of 'World Peace.' The award holds special significance this year (2025) as it commemorates the 100th birth anniversary of legendary British sculptor Fred Darrington. Sudarshan Pattnaik, a Padma Shri awardee from Odisha, has participated in over 65 international sand art festivals and championships.
Delhi Implements Ayushman Bharat Scheme & Became 35th State
Delhi became the 35th state or Union Territory to formally implement the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), a flagship healthcare program by the Government of India. This initiative is a historic milestone for the national capital, as it will now allow Delhi's residents to access the benefits of the scheme. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta hailed the decision as a significant step forward, ensuring that more people would benefit from the program's vast healthcare coverage. Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh criticized the previous AAP government for delaying the rollout and stated that the registration for beneficiaries would start on April 10, 2025. The scheme has been operational in 34 other states and UTs, but Delhi's inclusion marks a crucial expansion, enhancing healthcare access for millions of people in the region.
Haryana Declares Two Harappan Sites as Protected Archaeological Monuments
The Haryana government officially declared two Harappan civilization sites located in Bhiwani district — Mitathal and Tighrana — as protected archaeological sites and monuments. These sites, dating back over 4,400 years, hold immense historical and cultural value, shedding light on the evolution of early agricultural societies, town planning, craft industries, and trade during the Harappan and post-Harappan periods. The sites have now been brought under legal protection through a notification issued by the Haryana Heritage and Tourism Department under the Haryana Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1964. The move aims to safeguard these ancient settlements from encroachment and damage, with fencing and security arrangements to be implemented.
SC Collegium Recommends Appointment of Justice Arun Palli as Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court
The Supreme Court Collegium recommended that Justice Arun Palli of Punjab and Haryana High Court be appointed as the Chief Justice of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court.
The decision came in view of current Chief Justice Tashi Rabtan's retirement on April 9.
Justice Palli served as the Additional Advocate General of Punjab from September 2004 to March 2007. Following this, he was designated a senior advocate in April 2007.
He was elevated to be a part of the Punjab and Haryana HC bench in December 2013.
Justice Palli has been serving as the Executive Chairman of the Haryana State Legal Service Authority since May 31, 2023. He was also nominated as a member of the National Legal Services Authority on October 31, 2023, for a period of two years.
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