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Visa, HDFC Bank Launches ‘FIFA World Cup 2026 Pixel Credit Card’ In April 2026, Visa, in partnership with HDFC Bank Limited, launched a limited edition of International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup 2026-themed digital credit card, ‘FIFA World Cup 2026 Pixel Credit Card’.In addition, a nationwide ‘Spend & Win’, spending-linked rewards campaign was launched at an event held in Mumbai, Maharashtra.Key Details:Key Segments: The newly launched credit card will cover the bank’s wider payments portfolios like: debit, business and forex prepaid cards.Key Benefits: Under the Spend & Win campaign, eligible customers will get rewards like: match tickets for the FIFA World Cup 2026, themed travel packages, merchandise and shopping vouchers.Availability: The existing Pixel Play customers of the bank will be able to access the new credit card through the PayZapp application (app), while new applicants via the web portal of the bank.FIFA World Cup 2026: The United States of America (USA), Canada and Mexico will host the FIFA World Cup 2026.

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16 Apr, 2026
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Worldline Report 2025: UPI processes 228.5 billion transactions in 2025In April 2026, Worldline SA, a payment technology company, released its annual report titled “India Digital Payments Report- Year 2025 in Review”, stating that India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) processed 228.5 billion transactions in 2025, marking a 33% year-on-year (Y-o-Y) increase from 172.2 billion transactions in 2024.The report further highlighted that the total  value of these transactions reached Rs 299.74 trillion in 2025, consolidating UPI’s position as the default payment method for daily commerce in India.Key Findings:UPI Dominance: The report highlighted that Person-to-Merchant (P2M) transactions increased 34% to 143.82 billion, reflecting UPI dominance in merchant payments.Expansion of Merchant Infrastructure: The report revealed that merchant acceptance infrastructure expanded significantly, with UPI Quick Response (QR) codes increasing to 731.38 million, which marks an Y-o-Y increase of  15%.Decline in ATS: As per the report,the Average Ticket Size (ATS) of all UPI transactions continued to decrease by 9% i.e. from Rs 1,437 in 2024 to Rs 1,314 in 2025, while merchant payments ATS declined to Rs 592, which indicates the digitisation of small ticket purchases.Cards in Circulation: The report showed the total number of cards in circulation were more than 1.62 billion in 2025.

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16 Apr, 2026
Worldline Report 2025: UPI processes 228.5 billion transactions in 2025In April 2026, Worldline SA, a payment technology company, released its annual report titled “India Digital Payments Report- Year 2025 in Review”, stating that India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) processed 228.5 billion transactions in 2025, marking a 33% year-on-year (Y-o-Y) increase from 172.2 billion transactions in 2024.The report further highlighted that the total  value of these transactions reached Rs 299.74 trillion in 2025, consolidating UPI’s position as the default payment method for daily commerce in India.Key Findings:UPI Dominance: The report highlighted that Person-to-Merchant (P2M) transactions increased 34% to 143.82 billion, reflecting UPI dominance in merchant payments.Expansion of Merchant Infrastructure: The report revealed that merchant acceptance infrastructure expanded significantly, with UPI Quick Response (QR) codes increasing to 731.38 million, which marks an Y-o-Y increase of  15%.Decline in ATS: As per the report,the Average Ticket Size (ATS) of all UPI transactions continued to decrease by 9% i.e. from Rs 1,437 in 2024 to Rs 1,314 in 2025, while merchant payments ATS declined to Rs 592, which indicates the digitisation of small ticket purchases.Cards in Circulation: The report showed the total number of cards in circulation were more than 1.62 billion in 2025.
Worldline Report 2025: UPI processes 228.5 billion transactions in 2025In April 2026, Worldline SA, a payment technology company, released its annual report titled “India Digital Payments Report- Year 2025 in Review”, stating that India’s Unified Pay...
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Overview of 9th Indian Ocean Conference held in Port Louis, MauritiusThe 9th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC 2026) was held with the theme “Collective Stewardship for Indian Ocean Governance”, from April 10 to 12, 2026 in Port Louis, Mauritius.About  IOC 2026:Objective : The IOC 2026 aims to bring together key maritime states and stakeholders to strengthen regional cooperation under the framework of Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).Organiser: The 3-day conference was jointly organised by India Foundation (IF) in association with the Government of Mauritius.India’s Representation: India was represented by External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), who visited Mauritius on April 9–10, 2026.Key Engagements: At IOC 2026, he delivered the keynote address, held bilateral discussions with the Mauritian leadership, reviewed India–Mauritius bilateral relations, and engaged with counterparts from participating nations.

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16 Apr, 2026
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IAF and GE Aerospace Sign Agreement to Set Up F404 Engine Depot Facility in IndiaOn April 13, 2026, the Indian Air Force (IAF) signed a strategic agreement with GE Aerospace, an American aircraft engine supplier, to establish an in-country depot facility for F404-IN20 engines used in the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), aimed at enhancing maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities for advanced aircraft engines.Key Details :Key Role: The IAF will own, operate, and maintain the facility, while GE Aerospace will provide the technical inputs, specialized equipment, spare parts and training for IAF personnel.Supply chain: GE Aerospace plans to deliver 20 engines to India by December 2026 to stabilise the supply chain and address delays.Engine: The F404-IN20 is an afterburning turbofan engine (19,000 lb thrust class) for Tejas Mk1 and Mk1A, with a 3-stage fan, 7-stage high-pressure compressor and digital FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control) system.Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) finalized  USD 1 billion (Rs. 8,870 crore) deal with GE Aerospace to procure 113 F404-GE-IN20 jet engines.

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16 Apr, 2026
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Indian Army Launches ‘Radio Sikkim Sundari’ to Boost Border Connectivity in SikkimOn April 12, 2026, the Indian Army(IA)’s Trishakti Corps launched ‘Radio Sikkim Sundari(88.4 Frequency modulation, FM)’, in East Sikkim near the India–China border, marking the first border village community radio station in Sikkim.About Sikkim Sundari:Infrastructure: The station uses Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) and Solar backup for uninterrupted service, while a dedicated encoder enables streaming via the Google Play Store application(app).Significance: The initiative promotes socio-economic development, cultural preservation, and youth empowerment through programs on agriculture, health, and education, while also strengthening last-mile connectivity in border areas under the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP).Other Initiatives: Similar IA initiatives include Radio Sangam (88.8 FM) in Rajouri, Jammu & Kashmir(J&K); Ibex Tarana (88.4 FM) in Jyotirmath, Uttarakhand and high-altitude radio stations in Drass and Kharu in Ladakh.

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16 Apr, 2026
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MoL&E Signs MoUs with Porter, Gigin Technologies to Create Job OpportunitiesOn April 13, 2026, the Ministry of Labour & Employment(MoL&E) signed two strategic Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Porter (SmartShift Logistics Solutions) and Gigin Technologies to boost job opportunities and strengthen digital job matching on the National Career Service (NCS) portal.The agreements were signed in the presence of Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, MoL&E and Vandana Gurnani, Secretary, MoL&E at Shram Shakti Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.Key Details of MoU:Porter (Logistics Sector):Target: Aims to generate approximately 6 lakh opportunities annually and over 30 lakh opportunities by 2030.Focus: Scaling logistics and driving-related roles to provide structured and transparent livelihood avenues for the youth.Gigin Technologies (Gig Economy)Target: Expected to enable the creation of 2–3 lakh verified job opportunities annually over 1.5 lakh employer engagements via the NCS.Technology: Uses Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered ‘Verification Intelligence’ to ensure job listings are authentic, dignified, and credible, reducing the risk of fraudulent postings.Current Portal Scale: As of April 2026, the NCS portal hosts over 7 lakh active vacancies and has registered nearly 59 lakh establishments and 6 crore job seekers.

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16 Apr, 2026
MoL&E Signs MoUs with Porter, Gigin Technologies to Create Job OpportunitiesOn April 13, 2026, the Ministry of Labour & Employment(MoL&E) signed two strategic Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Porter (SmartShift Logistics Solutions) and Gigin Technologies to boost job opportunities and strengthen digital job matching on the National Career Service (NCS) portal.The agreements were signed in the presence of Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, MoL&E and Vandana Gurnani, Secretary, MoL&E at Shram Shakti Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.Key Details of MoU:Porter (Logistics Sector):Target: Aims to generate approximately 6 lakh opportunities annually and over 30 lakh opportunities by 2030.Focus: Scaling logistics and driving-related roles to provide structured and transparent livelihood avenues for the youth.Gigin Technologies (Gig Economy)Target: Expected to enable the creation of 2–3 lakh verified job opportunities annually over 1.5 lakh employer engagements via the NCS.Technology: Uses Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered ‘Verification Intelligence’ to ensure job listings are authentic, dignified, and credible, reducing the risk of fraudulent postings.Current Portal Scale: As of April 2026, the NCS portal hosts over 7 lakh active vacancies and has registered nearly 59 lakh establishments and 6 crore job seekers.
MoL&E Signs MoUs with Porter, Gigin Technologies to Create Job OpportunitiesOn April 13, 2026, the Ministry of Labour & Employment(MoL&E) signed two strategic Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Porter (SmartShift Logistics Solutions) and Gigin ...
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DoP & PMML Signs MoU to Preserve India’s Democratic HeritageOn April 14, 2026, the Department of Posts, under the Ministry of Communication, and the Pradhan Mantri Sangrahalaya(Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library, PMML) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together in preserving and showcasing India’s democratic and national heritage on the museum’s Foundation Day.The partnership will promote awareness through exhibitions, outreach programmes, and co-branded philatelic products, and will also explore setting up a dedicated India Post counter at the museum.Key Events:Philatelic Exhibition : On this occasion, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Ministry of Communications, inaugurated a philatelic exhibition titled ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat: Celebrating India’s Unity and Democracy through Postage Stamps’ at the Teen Murti Estate in New Delhi, Delhi.Picture Post Cards Released: During the event, three sets of Picture Post Cards were released to mark the 4th Foundation Day of PMML, the birth anniversary of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (April 14, 2026), and the Constitution of India.

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16 Apr, 2026
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NITI Aayog Releases Two Reports to Accelerate India’s R&D EcosystemIn April 2026, the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) released two reports titled “Ease of Doing Research & Development in India” and the “Survey Report on Ease of Doing R&D in India” in New Delhi, Delhi,  aimed to enable a more efficient, facilitative, and innovation-driven research ecosystem in the country.The reports were released by  Suman Bery, Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, and Union Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge, IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh,  Ministry of Science & Technology (MoS&T), who was invited as Chief Guest at the event.About the report:Source and Coverage: The key findings of the reports are the outcome of an extensive exercise conducted over a period of  nearly nine months, involving outreach to more than 400 institutional leaders and insights from over 850 distinguished scientists and researchers across the country.Key Pillars: The reports outline actionable recommendations across four key pillars: funding, governance, regulatory frameworks, and research translation. Key Recommendations: Some of the key recommendations of the reports are: strengthening innovation ecosystems, supporting early-stage researchers, boosting private sector investment in R&D and simplifying regulatory and administrative processes.

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16 Apr, 2026
NITI Aayog Releases Two Reports to Accelerate India’s R&D EcosystemIn April 2026, the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) released two reports titled “Ease of Doing Research & Development in India” and the “Survey Report on Ease of Doing R&D in India” in New Delhi, Delhi,  aimed to enable a more efficient, facilitative, and innovation-driven research ecosystem in the country.The reports were released by  Suman Bery, Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, and Union Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge, IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh,  Ministry of Science & Technology (MoS&T), who was invited as Chief Guest at the event.About the report:Source and Coverage: The key findings of the reports are the outcome of an extensive exercise conducted over a period of  nearly nine months, involving outreach to more than 400 institutional leaders and insights from over 850 distinguished scientists and researchers across the country.Key Pillars: The reports outline actionable recommendations across four key pillars: funding, governance, regulatory frameworks, and research translation. Key Recommendations: Some of the key recommendations of the reports are: strengthening innovation ecosystems, supporting early-stage researchers, boosting private sector investment in R&D and simplifying regulatory and administrative processes.
NITI Aayog Releases Two Reports to Accelerate India’s R&D EcosystemIn April 2026, the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) released two reports titled “Ease of Doing Research & Development in India” and the “Survey Report on Ease ...
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Andhra Pradesh Launched India’s 1st Open-Access Amaravati Quantum Reference Facility in AmaravatiOn 14 April 2026, Government of Andhra Pradesh (AP), led by Chief Minister (CM) N. Chandrababu Naidu, inaugurated India’s first open-access Amaravati Quantum Reference Facility (AQRF) in Amaravati, AP, on the occasion of World Quantum Day, marking a major milestone in India’s quantum technology ecosystem.The facility enables testing and certification of quantum hardware while promoting self-reliance and innovation in India’s quantum ecosystem.About Amaravati Quantum Reference Facility (AQRF):Facilities: The AQRF comprises Amaravati 1S at SRM University, Neerukonda, (AP) and Amaravati 1Q at Medha Towers, Gannavaram (AP), serving academic and industry-focused quantum applications respectively.Features: It provides open access to researchers, startups, and industries, enabling testing of processors, cryogenic systems, amplifiers, and control electronics under real operating conditions.Technology: Operating near minus 273°Celsius (C) (absolute zero) for qubit activation, it represents India’s first indigenous full-stack quantum system with about 85% domestically manufactured components.

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16 Apr, 2026
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MoC&I Notifies Rs. 10,000 Crore Startup India FoF 2.0 to Strengthen Deep Tech and Manufacturing StartupsIn April 2026, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I) through the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) notified the establishment of Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 (Startup India FoF 2.0) with a total corpus of Rs. 10,000 crore to strengthen India’s startup ecosystem, especially in deep tech and manufacturing sectors.About Startup India FoF 2.0:Objective: The scheme aims to bridge the funding gap for startups by investing in Securities and Exchange Board of India(SEBI)-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), which further invest in equity and equity-linked instruments of DPIIT-recognised startups.Timeline: The scheme will operate across the 16th and 17th Finance Commission(FC) cycles.Implementation Agency (IA): The SIDBI will serve as the primary IA and a second domestic IA will also be appointed.Approach: To ensure targeted innovation, the Startup India FoF 2.0 utilizes a 4 segmented approach.Selection Process: A Venture Capital Investment Committee (VCIC), comprising industry veterans, will screen the AIFs for selection.Empowered Committee (EC): An EC chaired by Amardeep Singh Bhatia, Secretary of DPIIT will monitor the implementation and performance of the scheme.

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16 Apr, 2026
MoC&I Notifies Rs. 10,000 Crore Startup India FoF 2.0 to Strengthen Deep Tech and Manufacturing StartupsIn April 2026, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I) through the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) notified the establishment of Startup India Fund of Funds 2.0 (Startup India FoF 2.0) with a total corpus of Rs. 10,000 crore to strengthen India’s startup ecosystem, especially in deep tech and manufacturing sectors.About Startup India FoF 2.0:Objective: The scheme aims to bridge the funding gap for startups by investing in Securities and Exchange Board of India(SEBI)-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), which further invest in equity and equity-linked instruments of DPIIT-recognised startups.Timeline: The scheme will operate across the 16th and 17th Finance Commission(FC) cycles.Implementation Agency (IA): The SIDBI will serve as the primary IA and a second domestic IA will also be appointed.Approach: To ensure targeted innovation, the Startup India FoF 2.0 utilizes a 4 segmented approach.Selection Process: A Venture Capital Investment Committee (VCIC), comprising industry veterans, will screen the AIFs for selection.Empowered Committee (EC): An EC chaired by Amardeep Singh Bhatia, Secretary of DPIIT will monitor the implementation and performance of the scheme.
MoC&I Notifies Rs. 10,000 Crore Startup India FoF 2.0 to Strengthen Deep Tech and Manufacturing StartupsIn April 2026, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I) through the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) notified ...
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