April 12, 2026
52 articles published on this date
Before women's quota bill session, PM Modi steps up direct outreach
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stepped up direct outreach to prominent women achievers across various fields ahead of a parliamentary session scheduled for...
Women’s quota: PM Modi seeks support, Opp says no details on delimitation
The Prime Minister wrote to floor leaders of all political parties seeking their support for the amendment to the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Women's Reser...
Elusive deal: On the Iran-U.S. ceasefire talks
A recent editorial analysed the collapse of US–Iran ceasefire talks in Islamabad and argued that diplomatic engagement must continue despite the failure. The...
Tourism and trade: On the Great Nicobar mega-infrastructure project
A recent editorial has highlighted that the ₹81,000 crore Great Nicobar mega-infrastructure project requires broader consensus — among environmental experts,...
Consolidated voters’ list of 9 States and 3 UTs that underwent SIR Phase II trimmed by 10.2%
The consolidated voters' list of 9 states and 3 Union Territories that underwent Phase II of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has been pruned by 10.2%, w...
India rejects China assigning ‘fictitious names’ to places that are part of Indian territory
India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on April 12, 2026, categorically rejected China's latest attempt to assign standardized Chinese names to geographi...
UK Won’t Take Part in Trump’s Planned Blockade of Hormuz Strait
The United Kingdom confirmed it would not participate in the US-led naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz announced by CENTCOM on April 12, 2026. UK officia...
U.S. military says it will start blockade of all ships going to and from Iran on Monday
US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that from April 13, 2026, US forces would begin a naval blockade preventing all ships from entering or departing Irani...
Support Women’s Reservation Bill amendments: PM to parties
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote to the floor leaders of both Houses of Parliament ahead of a special three-day sitting (April 16–18), urging all parties t...
China's 'fictitious names' mischievous, says India
India strongly rejected China's latest attempt to rename 23 places in Arunachal Pradesh, with the MEA spokesperson calling it a "mischievous attempt" to assi...
Mazagon Dock acquires controlling stake in Colombo dockyard for $26.8 m, move will help counter China's control of Lanka port
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), a Navratna Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) under the Ministry of Defence, completed the acquisition of a 51...
First batch of BrahMos made in Lucknow delivered to Army; national security is collective duty of every citizen, not just forces: Rajnath
The first batch of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles manufactured at the new BrahMos Integration and Testing Facility in Lucknow was formally flagged off an...
Cancer courses through the Ghaggar
Villages along the Ghaggar river in Haryana — particularly in Sirsa and Fatehabad districts — are reporting a sharp surge in cancer cases, kidney failure, li...
Delhi-Dehradun Expressway to cut travel time to 2.5 hours: How it compares with flight and train
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway on April 14, 2026 The 210-km, 12/6-lane access-controlled expressway cuts travel time ...
‘Mischievous attempts’: India rejects China’s ‘fictitious names’ to places in Arunachal Pradesh
On April 12, 2026, India formally rejected China's attempt to rename 23 locations in Arunachal Pradesh, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) calling t...
PM Awas houses on forest land: Centre tells SC about safeguards, duties under FRA
The Union government informed the Supreme Court about safeguards under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 for PM Awas Yojana (Gramin) houses being constructed...
RBI proposes ‘Kill Switch’ to secure digital payments: What it means
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed a 'Kill Switch' feature as part of a comprehensive discussion paper on digital payment security, inviting public...
Science Snapshots: April 12, 2026
A digest of notable scientific developments from across domains in April 2026, relevant to UPSC examination Artemis II crewed mission surpassed the record fo...
Retail inflation likely rose 3.5-4% in March
Retail inflation (CPI-based) is estimated to have risen to 3.5–4% in March 2026, driven primarily by food price pressures, according to analyst projections a...
West Asia crisis may push India’s current account deficit to 2% of GDP: Crisil
Rating agency Crisil warned that a prolonged West Asia crisis and elevated crude oil prices could push India's Current Account Deficit (CAD) to approximately...
India’s marine exports surge to ₹62,408 crore in 2024-25, Govt sets ₹1 lakh crore target
India's marine product exports reached ₹62,408 crore in 2024-25, more than doubling from ₹30,213 crore in 2013-14, registering strong long-term growth driven...
From diesel to daylight: How government solar schemes are powering India’s farmers
PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Uttham Mahabhiyan) scheme has enabled over 10 lakh solar pumps to be installed or solarized across India, h...
'Civilisation will die' remarks brought Iran to bargaining table: Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that "A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again" — a direct threat against Ira...
The next energy leap: Replicating ethanol’s success in diesel
Analysts are examining how India can replicate the dramatic success of its Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP) for petrol in the diesel segment, which accounts ...
Call to quantify bat poop nutrition for crops
Researchers and conservationists have called for systematic quantification of the nutritional value of bat guano (droppings) for agricultural use as a natura...
Islamabad talks: U.S. and Iran fail to reach agreement after 21 hours, Vance departs Pakistan
US and Iranian delegations held direct face-to-face talks in Islamabad, Pakistan for 21 hours on April 11–12, 2026, in an attempt to negotiate a ceasefire to...
China sets up new county in Xinjiang near PoK, Afghan border
The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region government of China announced the establishment of a new county named "Cenling" on March 26, 2026. Cenling county is lo...
First-ever life-size Vivekananda statue in U.S. unveiled in Seattle
The first-ever life-size bronze statue of Swami Vivekananda to be hosted by a city government in the United States was unveiled on April 11, 2026, at Westlak...
Iran and Strait of Hormuz: A lone battle for control
With the outbreak of the U.S.-Iran conflict in early 2026, Iran's decades-long strategic leverage over the Strait of Hormuz has moved from theoretical threat...
DMRC launches mid-life refurbishment of Blue Line trains to enhance safety and passenger experience
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) launched a phased mid-life refurbishment programme for its Blue Line trains (Rolling Stock 1 — RS-1 batch). The RS-1 ...
Islamabad talks conclude on a cliffhanger. Iran says Vance-led delegation ‘failed to gain our trust’
Historic face-to-face talks between the United States and Iran, hosted by Pakistan in Islamabad, concluded without an agreement after approximately 21 hours ...
Bangladesh government starts China outreach, to send 20-member delegation this week
The Bangladesh government, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, has initiated a major diplomatic outreach to China, dispatching a 20-member delegation to Bei...
PM Modi to inaugurate Dehradun-Delhi Expressway on April 14
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway on April 14, 2026 The 210-km, 12/6-lane access-controlled expressway cuts travel time ...
Amaravati to host India’s first quantum test facilities on April 14
India's first indigenous quantum computing test beds — named Amaravati 1S (Silicon Spin Qubit) and Amaravati 1Q (Superconducting Qubit) — were launched in Am...
Tax Dept to resume Tiger Global reassessment, says GAAR relief won’t alter SC ruling
The Income Tax department has decided to resume reassessment proceedings against Tiger Global Management's India investments following the Supreme Court's la...
Ceasefire talks fail to restore vessel movement in Strait of Hormuz, fate of 599 ships remain inconclusive
Ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran failed to restore shipping movement through the Strait of Hormuz, leaving approximately 599 ships (includi...
Israel's Ben-Gvir visits flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound (known to Jews as Temple Mount) in Jerusalem on April 12, 2026, declar...
'West Asia war a good opportunity for energy reforms, lower costs for industry'
Economists and industry analysts are arguing that the West Asia conflict, which has exposed India's energy sector vulnerabilities, presents a strategic oppor...
Trump says U.S. to start blockading the Strait of Hormuz immediately
U.S. President Donald Trump announced via Truth Social that the U.S. Navy would immediately begin blockading ships entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz, ...
Rijiju writes to Kharge, says delay in women’s quota law will deny justice to millions
Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju wrote to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, urging him to support the implementation of the Constit...
Vance leaves Pakistan after Iran talks fail to reach a deal
U.S. Vice President JD Vance departed Pakistan on April 12, 2026 after marathon 21-hour negotiations with Iran's delegation in Islamabad ended without reachi...
Advisory to states on crop bonus policy to encourage greater crop diversification: FinMin
The Finance Ministry issued an advisory to state governments asking them to align their bonus and incentive policies for agricultural produce to encourage cr...
'Baseless narratives cannot alter reality': India rejects China's renaming of places in Arunachal Pradesh
On April 12, 2026, India formally rejected China's attempt to rename 23 locations in Arunachal Pradesh, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) calling t...
India-UK free trade pact may come into force from second week of May: Official
Official sources indicate that the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is likely to come into force from the second week of May 2026. The agreement was signe...
As Naxalism ends in Chhattisgarh, ‘highly sensitive’ village thirsty for development gets water
Nelangur village in Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh — once classified as "highly sensitive" due to Naxal activity — has had its classification removed an...
Have to keep our collective promise to women, can’t delay justice: Rijiju to Kharge on quota law
Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju wrote to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, urging him to support the implementation of the Constit...
Rijiju urges Congress to back women’s quota rollout, says delay denies justice
Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju wrote to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, urging him to support the implementation of the Constit...
Patent application filings in India rise 30.2% to 1.43 lakh in 2025-26: Goyal
Patent application filings in India rose 30.2% to a record 1,43,729 in 2025-26 (FY26), up from 1,10,375 in the previous fiscal, according to Commerce and Ind...
Centre raises export duties on diesel, aviation turbine fuel
The Centre sharply raised export duties on diesel from ₹21.5 per litre to ₹55.5 per litre and on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) from ₹29.5 per litre to ₹42 per ...
Prototype fast breeder reactor | Nuclear paradox
India's Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu achieved its first criticality on April 6, 2026 — over 15 years behind its original 20...
Govt sets sail on shipbuilding push with regulator revamp, naval architects
The government is appointing 15 Naval Architects to the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) on a contractual basis to strengthen shipbuilding capabilities....
What is the SIR controversy in West Bengal | Explained
Over 91 lakh (9.1 million) voters were removed from West Bengal's electoral rolls following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise conducted between O...