Must ReadNew Zealand to sign FTA with India tomorrow; Luxon calls it ‘once-in-a-generation deal’
India and New Zealand are scheduled to sign a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on April 27, 2026. Termed a 'once-in-a-generation' deal by New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, the agreement will provide New Zealand's agricultural exporters unprecedented access to India's vast consumer market.
Read on Economic TimesDive Into Study Notes
Must ReadCensus 2027: States asked to identify vulnerable areas, keep biased enumerators out
The [Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India] has directed states to identify vulnerable areas prone to threat or interference for the upcoming [Census 2027]. The directive also mandates keeping enumerators with potential social or religious biases out of the field to ensure accuracy and prevent future litigation, highlighting the sensitivity surrounding India's first digital and caste-inclusive census.
Read on The HinduDive Into Study Notes
Must ReadU.S. sanctions waiver on Chabahar port ends on April 26, could signal end of 23-year-old connectivity project
The U.S. sanctions waiver for Iran's [Chabahar Port], which was extended for six months in October 2025, is scheduled to expire on April 26, 2026.
Read on The HinduDive Into Study Notes
Must ReadCensus 2027: self-enumeration window open till April 30, public urged to use online portal
The government has opened a self-enumeration window for Census 2027 via a dedicated online portal, available until April 30 before the physical houselisting phase begins. This marks India's transition to its first fully digital census, allowing citizens to independently register their household data to ensure accuracy and transparency.
Court can reject anticipatory bail but cannot direct accused to surrender: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court recently ruled that while a court has the authority to reject an anticipatory bail plea, it lacks the jurisdiction to explicitly direct the accused to surrender before the trial court. This observation, made by a Bench comprising Justices J.B.
Must ReadIndia plans global diplomatic push across Europe, Africa, BRICS and Quad in May
India is undertaking a massive global diplomatic outreach in May 2026, engaging with Europe, Africa, the BRICS, and Quad nations. Key events include the India-Nordic Summit, the fourth India-Africa Forum Summit on May 31, and the implementation of the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) in October 2025.
Read on Economic TimesDive Into Study Notes
Must ReadWill AAP MPs face disqualification after joining BJP?
On April 24, 2026, Raghav Chadha and six other Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MPs announced their decision to merge with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This defection represents two-thirds of AAP's 10-member strength in the Upper House, triggering a major legal and political debate over the application of the anti-defection law.
Read on The HinduDive Into Study NotesWhat rules govern international waters?
Amid an escalation in geopolitical conflict, Iran recently detained two ships in the Strait of Hormuz in response to the US seizing Iranian-linked vessels. Iran instituted a toll fee and restricted transit for several merchant ships traversing the Strait, significantly impacting global maritime trade flows.
Read on The HinduDive Into Study NotesBack-to-back cub deaths in Kanha put the spotlight on tiger monitoring systems
Two tiger cubs recently died of suspected starvation in the core zone of Madhya Pradesh's [Kanha Tiger Reserve], bringing the state's 2026 tiger death toll to 22. The back-to-back fatalities from the same litter have prompted wildlife activists to question the efficacy of field surveillance protocols.
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ImportantBefore the Iran war, how empires fought for the Strait of Hormuz
The article traces the geopolitical evolution of the [Strait of Hormuz], a critical maritime artery that has been fiercely contested by imperial powers over centuries. Originally dominated by the Portuguese and later the British to secure trade routes to South Asia, its strategic value radically shifted in the 20th century following the discovery of Middle Eastern oil.
Read on Indian ExpressDive Into Study NotesDespite recovery, why Indian stocks are trailing global indices
Despite global indices like the [Nasdaq Composite] and Japan's [Nikkei 225] recovering from the West Asia crisis, Indian stock markets are experiencing a noticeable lag. This underperformance is driven by heavy outflows of [Foreign Portfolio Investment] triggered by India's vulnerability to global crude oil prices and a structural lack of exposure to the booming Artificial Intelligence (AI) sector, which currently drives global market rallies.
Read on Indian ExpressDive Into Study NotesAll caught up!
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