In a major step to advance coal gasification, Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Ltd (BCGCL) and Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) have signed a land leasing agreement for a coal-to-ammonium nitrate project in Lakhanpur, Odisha. The Coal Ministry said the project “marks a historic breakthrough as India’s first coal gasification project to deploy indigenously developed gasification technology by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL).”

The facility is planned as a 2,000 tonnes per day ammonium nitrate plant and will be developed over about 350 acres of land under MCL.

The Indian government's new fuel mandate comes into force today (April 1st 2025), requiring petrol pumps across the country to dispense E20 fuel with a minimum 95 RON octane rating. Applicable across all states and Union Territories, the move marks the next major phase of India's ethanol blending roadmap aimed at cleaner mobility, lower crude oil dependence, and stronger energy security.

95 RON E20 Fuel Rule Comes Into Effect Nationwide
The directive was issued earlier through a February 17 notification by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, instructing oil marketing companies to supply petrol blended with up to 20 percent ethanol. The fuel must also comply with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications to maintain uniform quality throughout the country. The Centre has, however, allowed room for limited exemptions in specific regions or exceptional situations for a short duration if required.

Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) has announced the appointment of Burra Vamsi Rama Mohan as its new Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), effective April 1, 2026.

The decision was approved by the company’s Board of Directors during a meeting held earlier today, following a Ministry of Power order dated March 18, 2026.

Tenure and Appointment Details
Vamsi Rama Mohan has assumed charge with immediate effect and will serve as CMD until July 31, 2030, the date of his superannuation, or until further orders.

Prior to this elevation, he served as Director (Projects) at POWERGRID. The company confirmed that he is not related to any directors or key managerial personnel and is not debarred by any regulatory authority from holding the position.

The Centre has implemented revised waste management rules from April 1. The new guidelines require all households and establishments to segregate garbage into four categories.

Under the updated Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, authorities have expanded the earlier two-bin system, wet and dry waste, into a four-bin framework. This is aimed at improving waste processing and reducing environmental pollution.

Until now, waste segregation was largely limited to two categories:

Wet waste in green bins
Dry waste in blue bins
Under the new rules, waste must be separated into four types using colour-coded bins:

Green (wet waste): Food leftovers, vegetable peels and other biodegradable waste.
Blue (dry waste): Plastic, paper, glass and metal.
Red (sanitary waste): Diapers, sanitary napkins and similar waste.
Black (hazardous/special waste): Bulbs, medicines, paint and e-waste.
The aim is to ensure waste is sorted at the source.

Sanitation workers have been authorised to refuse collection if waste is not properly segregated.

Maharashtra has rolled out a digital upgrade in public transport with the launch of the RuPay-enabled National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) for MSRTC buses on Wednesday (April 2, 2026).

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, in the presence of Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, Transport Minister and MSRTC Chairman Pratap Sarnaik, inaugurated the smart card scheme.

Under this initiative, Aadhaar-linked NCMC smart cards will be distributed to students, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, women, and other concession beneficiaries. “The passengers will be able to avail travel concessions in ST bus services more easily, while ensuring a more digital and transparent travel management system,” said the official from state transport department.

Insurance regulator IRDAI has approved amendments mandating insurers to prepare and present financial statements in accordance with applicable Indian Accounting Standards effective April 1, 2026.

The implementation of Ind AS will be applicable to all categories of insurers — life, general, stand alone health insurers and reinsurers. The amendment sets out the regulatory framework governing the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial statements under Ind AS.

Introduction of Ind AS aims to enhance consistency, transparency and comparability in financial reporting across the insurance sector, in alignment with globally accepted standards, IRDAI said on Monday, announcing approval for the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Actuarial, Finance and Investment Functions of Insurers) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026.

The Indian Navy has received Sanshodhak, the fourth and final Survey Vessel (Large) built under a four-ship project at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE) in Kolkata, the Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday.

The vessel was delivered on March 30, marking the completion of the project contracted in October 2018. The earlier ships of the class — Sandhayak, Nirdeshak and Ikshak — were commissioned between February 2024 and November 2025.

Designed by the Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and built at GRSE, Sanshodhak is equipped to undertake hydrographic surveys in coastal as well as deep-water areas, including mapping harbour approaches and navigational routes. It is also capable of collecting oceanographic and geophysical data for both defence and civilian use.

The IMF-World Bank Group Annual Meetings are held every October, rotating between the institutions' headquarters in Washington, D.C., United States (for two consecutive years) and a selected member country every third year. This rotation reflects regional diversity and global collaboration. In 2026, Thailand has the honor of hosting the Annual Meetings for the second time, following its first hosting in 1991--35 years ago. Thailand is also one of only three countries to have been selected to host the Meetings twice.

The return of this "Olympics of Finance" to Thailand after more than three decades marks a significant milestone in enhancing the country's global image across multiple dimensions. It highlights Thailand's status as a core economic, fiscal, and financial hub in Southeast Asia, while demonstrating its readiness to host a world-class event. This includes robust infrastructure, connected aviation and transportation systems, welcoming tourism ecosystem, integrated work-support services, and a world-class meeting venue, such as the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, the official host venue of the 2026 IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand.

Yamaha Music India today proudly announced the appointment of A.R. Rahman as Brand Ambassador. An Academy Award-winning composer and globally respected musical icon, A.R. Rahman has played a defining role in taking Indian music to international audiences. His journey reflects the global potential of Indian Talent - a vision that aligns with Yamaha Music India’s commitment to nurturing music culture in India. This association marks a significant milestone in Yamaha Music India’s long-term commitment to strengthening India’s music ecosystem.

Mr. Yamamoto Taketoshi, Managing Director, Yamaha Music India, stated: “Music lies at the heart of Yamaha’s philosophy. India’s rich musical heritage deserves global recognition. Through our ‘Made in India’ initiative and our collaboration with A.R. Rahman, we aim to inspire the next generation of musicians and expand structured music education across India.” Mr. Ryoji Maruyama, Sales Unit Head, added: “Our mission extends beyond instruments. We are committed to nurturing music communities through workshops, school collaborations, and rural outreach programs. This partnership reinforces our vision of making music accessible to every aspiring artist.” A.R. Rahman shared: “My musical journey began in India and evolved across global stages. Yamaha has always represented precision and reliability. I am proud to associate with a brand whose legacy is rooted in music excellence and whose ‘Made in India’ focus is making quality instruments more accessible. If we mentor young artists and strengthen music education, Indian music can lead on the global stage, while ensuring the Indian audience has access to globally produced Yamaha instruments as well.” About Yamaha Music India: Established in March 2008, Yamaha Music India Pvt. Ltd. is part of the Yamaha Corporation worldwide group of companies and offers full line of Yamaha musical instruments, and Audio products to India market, with headquarters at Gurugram, Haryana.

In a significant milestone, President Droupadi Murmu has approved the conferment of President of India’s Police Colour award on Odisha Police.

The decision was communicated by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) through a letter to the chief secretary on Monday (March 30).

DGP YB Khurania said the President of India’s Police Colour is awarded only once, further underlining that Odisha Police has been selected for the prestigious honour due to the hard work of the entire police force.

The President’s Police Colour award, also known as ‘Nishaan’, is the highest honour bestowed upon a police force in India, in recognition of its exceptional service, bravery and professionalism. The award serves as a recognition of a state police force’s or Central Armed Police Forces long-term excellence and commitment.