Madras HC held that the Governor must follow Cabinet advice while exercising powers under Article 161 of the Constitution.

About Article-161

• Grants Governor power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any convicted person.
• Scope: Applies to offences under the State’s executive jurisdiction. 

NS Taragiri: Nilgiri-class frigate was commissioned today.

• It is the fourth of the seven multi-mission stealth guided-missile frigates built under Project 17 Alpha.

About INS Taragiri

• Propulsion: Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion plant
• Designed for ‘High-Speed – High Endurance’ versatility and multi-dimensional maritime operations.
• Capabilities: Multi role warfare (supersonic Surface-to-Surface Missiles, Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missiles, and a specialised Anti-Submarine Warfare suite).
• Indigenisation: ~75% indigenous, built by Mazagon dock Shipbuilders.

HSBC India Manufacturing PMI fell to 53.9 in March 2026, near a 4-year low due to the West Asia crisis.

• The report noted that new orders and output for manufacturing firms rose at their slowest rates since mid-2022.

About Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI)

• It is a survey-based indicator measuring business conditions using data on orders, output, employment etc. 
• PMI above 50 shows expansion and below 50 indicates contraction.
• Types: Manufacturing PMI and Service PMI.
• Significance: Reflects vulnerability of manufacturing to global shocks.

India’s Multi-Hazard Early Warning Decision Support System (MHEW-DSS) marks a digital transformation in forecasting, strengthening disaster risk reduction and preparedness.

• Increasing availability and access to multi-hazard early warning systems to people by 2030 is one of the goals of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 – 2030.

About MHEW-DSS

• Launched in 2024, it is a webGIS-based digital platform designed to generate weather forecasts, handle large volumes of meteorological data, and deliver timely weather alerts. 
• Developed by: India Meteorological Department under Mission Mausam initiative
• Key achievements: 
  • Coverage: Reaches nearly 80% of India’s population
  • Accurate forecasts: During Cyclone Biparjoy and Cyclone Dana enabled timely evacuation, resulting in zero casualties in Gujarat and Odisha.
  • Automation:  Of over 90% of weather data collection, quality checks, and integration.
  • Received National Award for e-Governance 2025.

Arab League held an emergency session in Cairo over Al-Aqsa closure and prisoner execution law. 

About Arab League (League of Arab States)

• An Intergovernmental organisation encompassing all Arab states in Middle East and North Africa. 
• Mandate: strengthening relations between its member states, coordination of their policies and co-operation while safeguarding independence and sovereignty of each member.
• Established: March 22, 1945, following adoption of Alexandria Protocol in 1944. 
• Members: 22.
• Founding Members: Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan, Yemen.
• Headquarters: Cairo, Egypt.

Government declared NCERT as a deemed to be university.

• Institutions that are ‘deemed-to-be-university’ enjoy academic status and privileges of a university.
• Can be declared by Central Government on advice of UGC. 

About NCERT (Hq: New Delhi)

• Genesis: Autonomous organisation set up in 1961. 
• Ministry: Ministry of Education
• As per National Education Policy 2020, it is nodal agency to develop National Curriculum Frameworks (NCFs) for Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), School Education, and Adult Education.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has directed to bar banks from NDD contracts in rupee. 

About NDD

• Derivative contract where two parties agree on future exchange rate for rupee, but settle the difference in cash, usually in US dollars. 
• These trades take place offshore, outside the control of RBI.
• They were developed in response to restrictions that constrained access to onshore markets and are widely used by foreign investors, hedge funds and global banks who cannot freely access the Indian rupee market.