Border Infrastructure Push Recasts Connectivity in Rajouri’s Frontier Villages
The larger Rajouri picture shows that this is part of a wider frontier infrastructure build-out rather than a stand-alone project.
Kautilya
Women Account for Nearly One-Third of CSE 2025 Successes, Says Jitendra Singh
According to the latest CSE 2025 data cited by the minister, 299 of the 958 recommended candidates are women. Dr Singh said this marks a notable rise from roughly 20% about a decade ago, indicating a steady expansion in women’s participation in one of the country’s most competitive examinations.
Cabinet Approves Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool with Rs 12,980 Crore Sovereign Guarantee
According to the official release, India’s maritime sector handles more than 70% of the country’s trade by volume and nearly 95% by value, making reliable insurance access strategically important. The new pool is intended to stabilise trade flows, ease cost pressures on exporters and logistics operators, and provide cover for ships carrying cargo between India and international ports in both directions.
Cabinet Clears 2% Dearness Allowance Hike for Central Employees, Pensioners from January 2026
According to the official release, the annual financial impact of the increase on the exchequer will be about Rs 6,791.24 crore. The move is expected to benefit nearly 50.46 lakh Central Government employees and around 68.27 lakh pensioners across the country.
Cabinet Extends PMGSY-III Till 2028, Raises Outlay to Rs 83,977 Crore
As part of the decision, the government extended the deadline for completion of roads and bridges in plain areas, along with roads in hilly areas, till March 2028. For bridges in hilly regions, the completion timeline has been stretched further till March 2029. The Cabinet also cleared the way for works sanctioned before March 31, 2025 but still unawarded to be taken up for tendering and execution.
Kamewa Waterjets Give India’s NGMV Programme a High-Speed Edge
A major propulsion milestone came on 8 April 2026, when the Norwegian Technolgy Enterprise Kongsberg Maritime announced that it had signed a contract to supply 18 large Kamewa waterjets for the Indian Navy’s NGMV programme
Ukraine Security Chief Meets NSA Ajit Doval as India Reiterates Call for Dialogue
The engagement is notable because it keeps India-Ukraine strategic communication active at a senior level even as New Delhi continues to balance its ties with both Kyiv and Moscow. According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Doval reiterated India’s “principled position” and its focus on a peaceful resolution, signalling continuity rather than any abrupt policy shift.
Paras Defence-Northstar Pact Targets A Critical Gap in India’s Aerial-Refuelling Ecosystem
The agreement, signed on April 15, 2026, establishes a 10-year exclusive framework for supplying, integrating, and sustaining air-to-air refuelling equipment for the Indian Armed Forces.
India Showcases Maritime Security Leadership at Global Border Security Forum in Vienna
The three-member Indian delegation was led by Additional Director General Anand Prakash Badola. At the conference, India shared its best practices in handling complex maritime security challenges, including surveillance, inter-agency coordination, and the use of technology to secure long coastlines and maritime zones.
India, China Hold First SCO Bilateral Consultations in New Delhi
During the discussions, the two sides exchanged views on implementing decisions taken by SCO leaders and on the future direction of the organisation. The MEA said both countries agreed to continue and consolidate mutual cooperation and consultations on SCO-related issues, signalling an effort to keep institutional dialogue active even as the broader relationship remains carefully managed.