Daily Current Affairs- 5th April 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 5th April 2026

Cabinet’s advice on grant of remission to convicts is binding on Governor

In the News: The Madras High Court, in a significant judgment, has held that the Governor is bound by the advice of the Council of Ministers while exercising powers under Article 161 of the Constitution in matters relating to remission and premature release of convict prisoners. A full bench comprising Justices A D Jagadish Chandira, G K Ilanthiraiyan, and Sunder Mohan delivered the verdict while answering a reference made to it following conflicting views taken by different benches on the same issue.

Key Points:

• The Judgment: The Madras High Court full bench categorically held that while exercising powers under Article 161 of the Constitution, the Governor is bound by the advice of the Council of Ministers in matters relating to remission and premature release of convict prisoners, regardless of whether he agrees with that advice or not. The bench further held that under no circumstance can the Governor exercise discretion to take a view different from that of the Council of Ministers.
• Article 161 of the Constitution: Article 161 grants the Governor of a state the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites, or remissions of punishment, or to suspend, remit, or commute sentences of persons convicted of offences against state laws. The key question before the court was whether this power is exercised at the Governor's discretion or on the binding advice of the cabinet.
• Background — The Reference: The full bench verdict arose from a reference made after two division benches of the Madras High Court arrived at conflicting conclusions. One bench held that the cabinet's advice is binding on the Governor under Article 161, while another held that the Governor could act on his own discretion. The full bench was constituted to resolve this conflict.
• Supreme Court Precedents Cited: The full bench relied on the Supreme Court's judgment in the Maru Ram case, which categorically held that the Governor is the formal head and sole repository of executive power but is incapable of acting except on and according to the advice of his Council of Ministers. The bench also distinguished the MP Special Police Establishment case, noting that it dealt with sanction to prosecute public servants under Section 197 of CrPC and was not applicable to matters under Article 161.
• Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case — Relevant Precedent: The Supreme Court had earlier, in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, invoked Article 142 to release convict A G Perarivalan after he spent nearly 31 years in prison, holding that the Tamil Nadu Governor's decision to refer the state cabinet's remission recommendation to the President was without constitutional backing. It subsequently extended the same relief to six other convicts — Robert Payas, Jayakumar, T Suthendraraja, Ravichandran, Nalini, and Murugan — who had all spent over 30 years in prison with satisfactory conduct.
• Constitutional Provisions Involved: Article 161 deals with the Governor's pardoning power. Article 142 grants the Supreme Court extraordinary jurisdiction to pass any order necessary to do complete justice in any matter before it. The Governor's general obligation to act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers flows from Article 163 of the Constitution.

OECD lowers India’s growth projection to 6.1% for FY 27

In the News: The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released its Interim Economic Outlook Report for March 2026, projecting India's GDP growth to moderate from 7.6% in FY 2025–26 to 6.1% in FY 2026–27 and 6.4% in FY 2027–28. The downward revision is primarily attributed to rising energy prices driven by the ongoing West Asia crisis, gas rationing disrupting production, and fading fiscal support.

Key Points:

• About the OECD: The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is an intergovernmental economic organisation founded in 1961, comprising 38 member countries. It publishes periodic economic outlooks that assess global and country-level growth, inflation, and policy recommendations. India is not an OECD member but is a Key Partner country.
• India's GDP Growth Projections: The OECD projected India's economy to grow at 7.6% in FY 2025–26, moderating to 6.1% in FY 2026–27 and recovering slightly to 6.4% in FY 2027–28. Growth is expected to remain below 6.5% for the next two fiscals, driven by gas rationing disrupting production activities and fading fiscal support.
• Inflation Outlook for India: The OECD projected India's inflation to rise sharply from 2.0% in FY 2025–26 to 5.1% in FY 2026–27, before easing to 4.1% in FY 2027–28. The surge is attributed to the fading deflationary impact of past food and energy price-reducing shocks, compounded by the recent rise in global energy prices due to the West Asia conflict.
• Impact of West Asia Crisis: Disruption of shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and damage to energy infrastructure have triggered a surge in global energy prices and affected the supply of commodities, including fertilisers. The OECD cautioned about broader risks to global supply chains that could significantly impact India's fertiliser industry.
• US Tariff Relief: The OECD noted that US bilateral tariff rates have declined following a US Supreme Court ruling against levies imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. While this has resulted in significant tariff reductions for several emerging-market economies including India, the overall US effective tariff rate remains higher than pre-2025 levels. The decline in tariffs is expected to provide some support to India's growth.
• Global Growth Outlook: The OECD kept its global growth projection unchanged at 2.9% for 2026 but lowered the 2027 estimate to 3% from 3.1% earlier. Global growth is expected to be supported by strong technology-related investment and production, lower effective tariff rates, and carry-over momentum from 2025, partially offset by rising energy prices and geopolitical uncertainties.

Amul crosses ₹1 lakh crore mark, reports 11% growth

In the News: Amul, the dairy brand owned by the Anand-based Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. (GCMMF), crossed ₹1 lakh crore in total brand turnover in 2025–26, registering an 11% increase over the previous financial year. This milestone comes after Amul was ranked the world's number one cooperative by the International Cooperative Alliance.

Key Points:

• About GCMMF and Amul: The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), headquartered in Anand, Gujarat, is the apex body that markets the Amul brand of milk and dairy products. It operates through Gujarat's 18 district cooperative milk unions and manages branding, marketing, and distribution of the Amul product range across India and international markets. GCMMF is now the largest FMCG organisation in India by turnover.
• Financial Milestone: The total unduplicated revenue of the Amul brand crossed ₹1 lakh crore in 2025–26, growing 11% over the base of ₹90,000 crore in 2024–25. GCMMF itself recorded a sales turnover of ₹73,450 crore in 2025–26, an increase of 11.4% over ₹65,911 crore in the previous financial year.
• Key Statistics: GCMMF has a network of 3.6 million (36 lakh) dairy farmers, collects 31 million litres of milk per day, maintains a product portfolio of over 1,200 product packs, and distributes over 24 billion packs annually across more than 50 countries.
• Global Expansion: During 2025–26, Amul expanded its international presence by launching fresh milk in Europe and the United States. The growth was driven by product expansion, a large distribution network, and changing consumer demand patterns.
• International Recognition: Amul was ranked the world's number one cooperative by the International Cooperative Alliance, a prestigious recognition that underlines the strength of India's farmer-owned cooperative model on the global stage.
• Sardar Patel Cooperative Dairy Federation: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched the Sardar Patel Cooperative Dairy Federation Limited on July 6, 2025, under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies framework, to link dairy cooperatives from outside Gujarat into a national cooperative network — further expanding the Amul model across India.

Iran FM Araghchi warns of contamination risk after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Bushehr nuclear power plant

In the News: U.S.-Israeli strikes hit an area near Iran's Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant on April 4, 2026, killing one security guard and causing damage to a side building. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that continued attacks on the plant could lead to radioactive fallout that would "end life in GCC capitals, not Tehran." The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi expressed deep concern, stating that nuclear power plant sites or nearby areas must never be attacked.

Key Points:

• About the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant: The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant is Iran's only functioning nuclear plant, located in the coastal city of Bushehr, which has a population of 250,000. Work on it initially began in 1975 by German companies but was eventually completed in 2011 by Russia's atomic energy ministry. It is the first nuclear power plant in the Middle East, with one operational reactor — Bushehr Unit 1 — currently providing about 1,000 MW to the national grid. Two additional reactor units are expected to be operational by 2029.
• Radioactive Contamination Risk: A direct strike on the reactor or fuel storage pools would release hazardous radioactive isotopes, particularly Caesium-137, into the atmosphere. These can spread far beyond the release point through wind and water, contaminating food, soil, and drinking water for decades. Close exposure would increase cancer risks significantly. Bushehr is geographically closer to Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar than to Tehran, making GCC nations especially vulnerable.
• IAEA's Position: IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi confirmed no increase in radiation levels following the latest strike but voiced deep concern. He has repeatedly warned that a direct hit on Bushehr could result in a very high release of radioactivity with consequences far beyond Iran's borders, calling for maximum restraint. The IAEA's guidelines prohibit indiscriminate targeting of nuclear facilities and mandate the safety of staff and uninterrupted power supply to prevent reactor core meltdown.
• International Legal Framework: Attacking civilian nuclear facilities during conflict is prohibited under international law. Article 56 (Protocol I) of the Geneva Conventions prevents the targeting of installations containing dangerous forces, including nuclear material. Warring parties are required to differentiate between civilian and military facilities.
• Historical Nuclear Accidents for Context: The 1986 Chornobyl disaster in then-Soviet Ukraine resulted in a massive explosion, killing 30 people immediately, leading to thyroid cancer in about 20,000 others, and forcing the evacuation of over 300,000 people. Japan's Fukushima nuclear reactors melted following an earthquake in 2011, necessitating the evacuation of around 1,60,000 residents.

National Biodiversity Authority launches short term Internship Programme in Biodiversity Conservation and Natural Resources Management sectors for college students

In the News: The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has launched a short-term Internship Programme of up to three months for students pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate courses. The initiative is aimed at offering hands-on, project-based learning through active engagement with NBA programmes, while building capacity and deepening environmental awareness among young learners.

Key Points:

• About the Short-Term Internship Programme: The NBA's newly launched short-term internship is open to graduation and post-graduation students for a duration of up to three months. It is designed to provide project-based, hands-on learning in the fields of biodiversity conservation and natural resources management, enhance employment opportunities for young people in these sectors, and develop participants as future biodiversity ambassadors.
• About the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA): The NBA is a statutory body established under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. It functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and is responsible for regulating access to biological resources and associated traditional knowledge, ensuring equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use.
• Biodiversity Samrakshan Internship Programme (BSIP): In addition to the new short-term programme, the NBA runs its flagship BSIP — a year-long internship that can be extended for up to two additional years. The programme was launched in active partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with the aim of developing a cadre of trained young professionals through hands-on field engagement.
• Current Cycle: The current sixth cycle of BSIP has selected 24 interns and placed them across various State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils for practical exposure in biodiversity conservation.
• First Cycle: The first BSIP cycle (2019–20) was inaugurated on May 22, 2020, during the International Day for Biological Diversity 2020, by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Death Anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

In the News: Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid homage to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his Punyatithi (Death Anniversary) on April 3, 2026, describing the 17th-century Maratha ruler as an "immortal symbol of Indian pride and the protector of national honour." Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also paid their tributes, highlighting Shivaji Maharaj's courage, leadership, and dedication to India's cultural heritage.

Key Points:

• About Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj: Born on 19th February 1630 at Shivneri Fort near Pune, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was the founder of the Maratha Empire and a visionary leader who resisted Mughal rule and championed self-governance. He passed away on 3rd April 1680 at Raigad Fort due to severe health complications.
• Vision of Hindavi Swarajya: At a young age, Shivaji Maharaj took a pledge to establish Hindavi Swarajya — a progressive concept of indigenous sovereignty, ethical governance, and political independence free from foreign domination. He united the masses around the ideals of Swadharma (one's own duty), Swaraj (self-rule), and Swabhasha (one's own language), replacing Persian with Marathi and Sanskrit as the languages of administration.
• Military Genius and Guerrilla Warfare: Shivaji Maharaj is globally recognised for his innovative Guerrilla Warfare tactics known as Ganimi Kava. He fought several major battles including the Battle of Pratapgad (1659), Battle of Pavan Khind (1660), Battle of Surat (1664), Battle of Purandar (1665), Battle of Sinhagad (1670), and Battle of Sangamner (1679). The Wagh Nakh (tiger claws) was the weapon used by Shivaji to kill Afzal Khan in the Battle of Pratapgad in 1659.
• Father of the Indian Navy: Shivaji Maharaj is celebrated as the Father of the Indian Navy for building a robust naval fleet and constructing coastal forts such as Sindhudurg to protect the western seaboard, reflecting his unparalleled strategic acumen and visionary leadership.
• Titles Conferred: He was honoured with titles such as Chhatrapati, Shakakarta, Kshatriya Kulavantas, and Haindava Dharmodhhaarak, reflecting his sovereignty, warrior lineage, and role as a protector of dharma.