Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) has officially announced the passing of Shri Debasish Mukherjee, Executive Director (EO to Director HR).

The Maharatna PSU informed the BSE and NSE on April 30, 2026, that Shri Debasish Mukherjee passed away on the same day. The company expressed deep regret in its regulatory filing under Regulation 30 of SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, regarding the change in senior management one level below the Board.

The official intimation stated: “It is with regret to inform about the sad demise of Shri Debasish Mukherjee, Executive Director (EO to Director HR) on 30.04.2026. Accordingly, he ceased to be Executive Director of the Company.”

Southern Railway has formally forwarded the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to the Railway Board, marking a decisive step forward in the long-awaited takeover of the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) by Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL).

This development brings Chennai closer to integrating its two major rail systems, promising seamless connectivity, modern infrastructure, and a transformed commuting experience for millions of residents.

After extensive negotiations, Southern Railway has submitted the draft MoU to the Railway Board for final clearance. Once approved, the Tamil Nadu government and Southern Railway will sign the agreement, initiating the phased integration of the MRTS into the Chennai Metro network.

The Railway Board had granted in-principle approval for the takeover in July 2025. The submission of the draft MoU now moves the proposal into its final administrative stage.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has operationalised the Past Risk and Return Verification Agency (PaRRVA), aimed at enhancing transparency and investor protection in the financial markets.

CARE Ratings Limited has been granted recognition as the PaRRVA, while the National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE) will function as the PaRRVA Data Centre (PDC), as per the framework issued by SEBI on April 4, 2025.

The pilot phase of PaRRVA was launched in December last year. Following its successful completion, the agency will begin regular operations from May 4, 2026. PaRRVA will enable regulated entities such as investment advisers, research analysts, and algorithmic trading service providers to showcase their verified performance. This will also allow investors to access reliable and authenticated performance data, improving informed decision-making. Additionally, regulated entities will be permitted to use PaRRVA-verified performance in their advertisements, in line with SEBI’s regulatory provisions.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has exempted non-deposit-taking Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs) with an asset size of less than 1,000 crore rupees and not availing public funds from registration and reserve fund requirements from July 1, 2026.

The Apex Bank issued a circular in this regard yesterday. The RBI also issued revised directions to Regulated Entities (REs) on Relief Measures in areas affected by Natural Calamities. As per the guidelines, which will come into effect from July 1, 2026, banks have been allowed to extend relief measures to borrowers in natural calamity-affected areas without waiting for individual requests.

It said that banks, at their discretion, may offer relief, such as waiver and reduction of fees and charges for customers in notified natural disaster-impacted regions for a period of one year.

Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth launched the Namo Stall distribution scheme for street fruit and vegetable vendors in Ranchi today. The program was inaugurated by BJP state president Aditya Sahu. In the first phase, five vendors were provided free stalls, each costing around 50 thousand. On the occasion, Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth said the initiative aims to empower small traders and stabilize their livelihoods.

The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) on Monday launched its comprehensive athlete app — MyNRAI — as part of its 75th anniversary celebrations, in the presence of Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

The newly introduced app is being positioned as a one-stop digital ecosystem for athlete management, making NRAI the first fully digitised sports federation in India. It will streamline processes ranging from the onboarding and registration of athletes, to performance tracking, certification, and database management. Notably, the platform will play a central role in managing participants under NRAI’s ambitious grassroots programme.

As part of this initiative, NRAI aims to introduce 7.5 lakh school and college students to shooting before the 2028 Olympics, through a structured '10-shot experience' programme. The outreach will be implemented nationwide in collaboration with institutions like CBSE, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, universities, and various state associations, with the objective of identifying and nurturing future talent.

President Droupadi Murmu extended her greetings to the creator of the Ol Chiki script for the Santali language, Pandit Raghunath Murmu on his birth anniversary today. In a social media post, President Murmu said, the farsightedness and creativity of Pandit Murmu gave a new identity to the Santali language.

She noted that the Ol Chiki script promoted education, literature, and expression in Santali and gave momentum to the overall development of the Santhal community. The President also urged people to draw inspiration from his ideals and resolve to remain committed to the preservation and promotion of the nation’s cultural heritage, while contributing to building a developed and inclusive India.

With strong mop-up from imported goods and year-end stock clearance, Goods & Services Taxes (GST) collections in April rose to an all-time high of ₹2.42 lakh crore. Unlike previous years, this record collection in April was achieved without compensation cess.

Collections in the corresponding month of last fiscal stood at ₹2.33 lakh crore — a year-on-year growth of 8.7 per cent. It may be noted that collections is April reflect goods consumed and services availed in March.

Data from GST portal show that collections from domestic sources is over ₹ 1.85 crore, showing a growth of 4.3 per cent. At the same time, gross import revenue stood at over ₹57,000 crore, showing a growth of 25.8 per cent. Total refund increased by 19.3 per cent taking the net collection to around ₹ 2.11 lakh crore, a 7.3 per cent hike compared to the corresponding month of last fiscal.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has returned 657 antiquities, collectively valued at nearly $14 million, to India following multiple investigations into international trafficking networks. District Attorney Alvin L Bragg Jr announced the restitution during a ceremony attended by Consul Rajlakshmi Kadam from the Consulate General of India in New York.

Authorities recovered the artefacts through ongoing probes into criminal networks linked to alleged trafficker Subhash Kapoor and convicted trafficker Nancy Wiener. Officials highlighted the scale of cultural theft targeting India, noting that more than 600 items were returned in this single operation.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has appointed filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker as the Festival Director for the 57th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), which will be held in Goa.

Gowariker’s association with IFFI spans several decades. The ministry said his appointment reflects his long-standing involvement with the festival and with the evolution of cinematic arts and global film culture.

In a statement issued by the ministry, Gowariker said, “It gives me immense pride and joy to serve as the Festival Director for the prestigious 57th International Film Festival of India, Goa. I feel privileged to have witnessed the evolution of this festival. From attending it in 1984 to continuing my association over the years, right up to 2024, when I served as the Jury President for International Cinema.”