The White House has launched a new federal initiative to accelerate the use of nuclear power systems in space, setting ambitious deadlines for reactors that could power missions on the Moon, in orbit, and eventually on journeys to Mars.

The guidance, issued by the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), says space nuclear systems are essential for America's long-term presence beyond Earth.

In a public statement, OSTP said: “Nuclear power in space will give us the sustained electricity, heating, and propulsion essential to a permanent presence on the Moon, Mars, and beyond.”

India and China have taken another step forward in rebuilding engagement, holding their first bilateral consultations on Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) matters in New Delhi. This is another high level engagement amid continued momentum on resolving the long-pending Line of Actual Control (LAC) dispute.

The two-day dialogue between delegations led by India’s SCO National Coordinator, Ambassador Alok A Dimri, and his Chinese counterpart, Ambassador Yan Wenbin, focused on aligning positions within the SCO framework, but its timing underscores a larger strategic shift. The engagement comes as deliberations over the West Asia crisis continue. It is also important how India and China have been cautiously moving from confrontation to calibrated cooperation following years of military standoff in eastern Ladakh.

The Government has notified a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to be set up by Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing Private Limited at Dholera, Gujarat, marking the establishment of India’s first chip fabrication plant.

Spread over 66.166 hectares, the SEZ will focus on electronic hardware, software and IT/ITeS, and is expected to generate employment for around 21,000 people. The facility will feature enabling infrastructure and a dedicated approval mechanism aimed at streamlining operations and logistics.

The development comes as part of the government’s broader push to strengthen India’s semiconductor and electronics manufacturing ecosystem through reforms in the SEZ framework. Amendments to the SEZ Rules, 2006, notified in June 2025, reduced the minimum land requirement for such projects, introduced flexibility in encumbrance norms, allowed inclusion of free-of-cost supplies in net foreign exchange calculations, and permitted domestic sales in the domestic tariff area on payment of applicable duties.

The Central Government has brought the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, which provides for 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, into force with effect from April 16, 2026, even as Parliament is debating fresh constitutional amendments relating to delimitation and the implementation of women's reservation.

The Ministry of Law and Justice issued a notification yesterday, appointing April 16, 2026, as the date on which the provisions of the Constitution (106th) Amendment 2023 shall come into force.

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has decided to implement annual contracts for its players, effective from the 2026-2027 season onwards. The MCA has decided to introduce Grades A, B, and C, where players will be remunerated and the proposal was passed during the recent Apex Council meeting.

Grade A players will be paid between 12 lakh to 20 lakh per annum, Grade B cricketers will be paid between 8 lakh to 12 lakh, while Grade C players will get 8 lakh rupees. “We had earlier promised that MCA will bring up the contract system, and we have finalised it in the last Apex Council meeting. A lot of thought has gone into it, and we have tried to cover each area. All players don’t get the opportunity to play in the IPL. This contract will help many players of today’s time who play all formats of the game for Mumbai,” MCA President Ajinkya Naik said.

India and New Zealand will sign a free trade agreement (FTA) on April 27 here, an official said on Thursday.

The free trade pact aims to provide tariff-free access to the island nation's market for domestic exporters' goods and will bring in USD 20 billion in investment over the next 15 years.

The two countries on December 22 last year announced the conclusion of negotiations for the trade deal which aims at doubling bilateral trade to USD 5 billion in the next five years.

The official said that the pact will be signed on April 27 in Bharat Mandapam after a meeting of the India-New Zealand Business Forum.

The Supreme Court on Thursday (April 16) held that a woman or his family members could not be subjected to proceedings under the Dowry Prohibition Act for 'giving' dowry based on the averments made by them in their complaint against the 'dowry takers'.

A bench consisting of Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice K. Vinod Chandran dismissed an appeal filed by a husband who sought to have an FIR registered against his wife and her family.

The husband argued that because his wife had admitted to providing dowry in her own legal complaint against him, she had effectively confessed to a crime under Section 3 of the Dowry Prohibition Act (DP Act), which penalizes the "giving" of dowry. However, the court rejected his attempt to use her allegations as a basis for criminal proceedings against her.

In an unprecedented move, the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) will be preparing to participate in a landmark high-level conference that will bring together the top leadership of India’s internal security apparatus. The conference will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself, a first of its kind, signalling a strong push towards unified strategic thinking across the forces.

Senior officials familiar with the matter confirmed that the gathering is designed to give CAPF leadership a common platform to deliberate on their evolving mandate in the face of rapidly shifting internal security threats. From insurgency and left-wing extremism to the growing menace of cyber-enabled risks, the changing threat landscape has made coordinated responses more critical than ever.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore, in collaboration with the Mehta Family Foundation (MFF), will introduce an undergraduate programme in Environmental Economics and Sustainable Engineering (EESE) from July 2026. The programme aims to integrate climate science, environmental economics, and engineering under one umbrella, according to the press release. The EESE programme is expected to admit 30 students through the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced.

The programme is structured around three primary areas — environmental economics and policy, energy systems and battery technology, and water and climate systems, as per IIT Patna. It also places strong emphasis on systems modelling, data-driven decision making, and regular environmental monitoring, while providing internship opportunities across renewable energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors. This will lead to career opportunities in industries such as climate technology, sustainable infrastructure, ESG strategy, policy advisory, and green finance, as stated in the release by IIT.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday called for collective adoption of a set of nine behavioural commitments by the citizens in the country’s march towards progress.

Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Sri Guru Bhairavaikya Mandir in Adichunchanagiri Mutt in Mandya district, near Mysuru, on Wednesday, Mr Modi placed before the people nine resolutions aimed at strengthening social responsibility, health, sustainability and self-sufficiency.

He urged people to prioritise water conservation stressing upon optimum utilisation of available water resources.