Archives April 2026

Paradip (Odisha), Apr 10 (BNP): The Paradip Port Authority (PPA), in partnership with CEMS, has successfully completed the first batch of its CSR-supported skill development initiative focused on training youth from Odisha for industry-ready careers.

Under the programme, 25 participants were awarded certificates in Supply Chain Management, gaining practical skills relevant to the maritime and logistics sectors. The training aims to improve employability and prepare candidates for opportunities in key logistics centres such as Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Bengaluru.

Officials said the initiative is designed to strengthen job readiness by providing focused, industry-aligned training and bridging the gap between academic learning and workforce requirements.

The certificate distribution event was attended by Paradip Port Authority Chairman P.L. Haranadh, along with senior port officials. Commander Gopi Krishna Sivvam (Retd.), Chief Operating Officer of CEMS, also participated in the programme.

The initiative is aimed at building a skilled talent pool to support the growing needs of India’s logistics and maritime sectors, while also contributing to youth empowerment in the region.

New Delhi, Apr 10 (BNP): The government’s ‘Womaniya’ initiative has recorded significant expansion, with over 2.1 lakh women-led micro and small enterprises (MSEs) registering on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) in FY26.

According to official data, these enterprises secured around 13.7 lakh orders, with total contracts worth more than ₹28,000 crore awarded during the year. This represents a 27.6% year-on-year growth, reflecting rising participation of women entrepreneurs in government procurement.

The initiative enables women entrepreneurs and self-help groups (SHGs) to directly supply goods and services to government buyers through the GeM platform, improving market access and reducing dependence on intermediaries.

Women-led enterprises accounted for 5.6% of total GeM orders, comfortably exceeding the government’s 3% procurement target for women entrepreneurs.

The scheme supports sectors such as handicrafts, handloom, jute, coir, home décor, and office furnishings, where women-led businesses have a strong presence. At the ground level, district administrations and training institutions are conducting onboarding drives, workshops, and capacity-building programmes to improve seller participation.

Officials said the digital system—from registration to payments—ensures transparency, efficiency, and ease of doing business for women entrepreneurs, helping them scale operations and gain wider market visibility.

They added that ‘Womaniya’ is not just a procurement platform but a step towards enhancing economic independence and strengthening women’s participation in formal markets.

Mumbai, Apr 10 (BNP): The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed a set of enhanced security measures aimed at strengthening the safety of digital payment systems amid a sharp rise in fraud cases driven largely by social engineering tactics.

According to the proposal, the central bank is considering layered safeguards, including delayed processing of certain transactions, stronger authentication mechanisms for vulnerable users, and tighter monitoring of bank accounts to detect suspicious activity more effectively.

The move comes as digital payment frauds have increased in recent years, with criminals often exploiting users through deceptive calls, messages, and online manipulation rather than technical hacking.

Under the proposed framework, banks and payment service providers may also be required to adopt more proactive fraud detection systems and improve real-time monitoring of high-risk transactions.

The RBI said the objective is to strike a balance between convenience and security, ensuring that the rapid growth of digital payments is not undermined by rising fraud risks.

The proposed measures are part of the regulator’s broader efforts to strengthen trust in India’s fast-expanding digital payment ecosystem.

Apr.10 (BNP): Iran has announced that no more than 15 vessels per day will be permitted to pass through the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, following a ceasefire agreement reportedly reached with the United States.

According to TASS, which cited an unnamed senior Iranian official, the restriction will be implemented as part of controlled maritime operations aimed at maintaining stability in the region amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway approximately 34 km wide between Iran and Oman, serves as a vital global shipping route connecting the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean. It facilitates the transit of nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies, along with essential commodities such as fertilisers and other goods.

The imposition of a daily vessel cap is expected to significantly impact global shipping traffic and energy markets, with industry stakeholders closely monitoring the situation. Experts warn that any prolonged restriction could disrupt supply chains and lead to volatility in global oil prices.

While the move signals a partial easing of tensions under the ceasefire framework, the controlled access highlights the continued strategic sensitivity of the region and its importance to global trade and energy security.

Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh), Apr 10 (BNP): The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully completed the second Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-02) for the upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission, marking another important milestone in India’s crewed space programme.

The test was conducted at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, and focused on validating the crew module recovery system, a critical safety mechanism that ensures the safe return of astronauts during re-entry and landing.

The crew module is the capsule that will carry astronauts during the mission, and the air drop tests are designed to simulate real landing conditions. These trials help engineers assess parachute deployment, stability of the capsule, and overall performance under different emergency scenarios.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh congratulated ISRO on the achievement, noting it as a key step forward for India’s first human spaceflight mission, which is targeted for next year.

The second test follows the successful completion of the first Integrated Air Drop Test conducted in August 2025 at the same facility.

Air drop tests are an essential part of mission validation, where a dummy crew module is dropped from an aircraft or helicopter to replicate the final phase of spacecraft descent. These experiments test critical systems such as parachute deployment, controlled descent, and safe splashdown under varied conditions.

With the success of IADT-02, ISRO has further strengthened the reliability of its crew safety systems, bringing the country closer to launching astronauts into space under the Gaganyaan programme.

Indore, Apr 10 (BNP): CasaDigi, a global player in luxury residential intelligence, in partnership with DigiValet, has inaugurated its flagship Experience Centre in Indore, marking a major step in showcasing advanced integrated automation across residential, hospitality, healthcare, and commercial spaces.

Designed by reD Architects, the new centre introduces an immersive concept titled “Maestro of Immersive Design,” aimed at redefining how smart environments are experienced and understood.

Unlike a conventional showroom filled with screens and interfaces, the Indore Experience Centre has been developed as a fully functional interactive space. It demonstrates how intelligent systems can operate seamlessly in the background, enabling a more intuitive and fluid user experience.

The company said the philosophy behind the centre is to shift from reactive automation to proactive intelligence, where technology anticipates user needs rather than simply responding to commands.

Visitors to the centre can experience real-time applications of smart automation in living spaces, highlighting how integrated systems can enhance comfort, efficiency, and convenience.

CasaDigi noted that the launch represents a significant milestone in its vision to transform modern living through intelligent, design-driven technology solutions.

New Delhi, Apr 10 (BNP): The Commerce Ministry has held a series of high-level meetings with exporters and key stakeholders to address rising challenges in packaging, shipping, and port operations amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia.

The meetings were chaired by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal and attended by Shipping Secretary Vijay Kumar, along with representatives from shipping lines, ports, Export Promotion Councils (EPCs), and commodity boards.

Officials said the discussions focused on disruptions in maritime trade following escalating tensions in the West Asia region, which have impacted vessel movement and shipping routes, especially on key international corridors.

Exporters flagged several concerns, including delays in shipments, logistical bottlenecks, and rising operational costs affecting overall export performance. Export Promotion Councils have been directed to submit detailed feedback on port-wise issues to enable targeted policy responses.

In a separate review, industry representatives highlighted a sharp rise in packaging material costs, driven by increased petrochemical prices. This has led to an estimated 50% surge in packaging costs over recent weeks, further squeezing export margins.

The ministry said it is actively monitoring the situation and engaging with stakeholders to ensure continuity in trade operations and minimise supply chain disruptions.

New Delhi, Apr 10 (BNP): India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has completed a remarkable decade of growth, transforming the country’s digital payments landscape and becoming one of the world’s most widely used real-time payment systems.

According to data from Tracxn, shared with ETBFSI, UPI transactions have surged from just 18 million in its early phase to 219 billion transactions, marking a nearly 12,000-fold increase in volume over the past 10 years. In value terms, the platform has expanded more than 4,000 times, highlighting its massive adoption across the country.

Developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), UPI has played a key role in advancing India’s digital economy by enabling instant, secure, and low-cost money transfers through mobile phones.

Over the years, the system has evolved from a simple peer-to-peer transfer tool into a comprehensive payments ecosystem used for merchant payments, bill settlements, e-commerce transactions, and everyday financial activity.

Experts say the rapid rise of UPI reflects India’s strong push towards financial inclusion, with millions of first-time users entering the formal digital banking system. Its ease of use, interoperability, and zero or low transaction costs have been key drivers of adoption.

Today, UPI stands as one of India’s most significant digital public infrastructure successes, reshaping how individuals and businesses transact across the country and gaining global attention for its scale and efficiency.