GOVERNMENT SECURITIES

Finance Secretary moots rating state govt debt
Finance Secretary Ajay Seth proposed rating state government securities based on fiscal behavior to encourage financial discipline. He highlighted the need for a market-driven mechanism to differentiate borrowing costs and curb off-budget borrowings. Seth also mentioned India's push for improved governance indicators at the World Bank and emphasized private sector-led growth with government facilitation.

Israel says struck near Syria presidential palace amid Druze clashes
Israel said it carried out an air strike near Syria's presidential palace in Damascus on Friday, warning the country's new Islamist rulers against targeting the Druze minority. Its army carried out strikes near Damascus on Wednesday and threatened to conduct more if the violence against the Druze continues.

KIIT hostel sees second Nepali student death within months of Prakriti Lamsal case that shook India
A Nepali student was found dead in her hostel room at KIIT University, Bhubaneswar. Police are investigating the alleged suicide. The Nepal Embassy has been notified. The Odisha government has offered condolences and promised a thorough probe. This incident follows a similar death earlier this year. Student organizations are demanding a swift and comprehensive investigation.

Water-sharing row: Won't allow more water to Haryana, says Punjab minister Cheema
The BBMB's decision to release 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana has sparked strong opposition from Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who termed it a "robbery" of Punjab's rights. Mann asserted that Punjab will not tolerate this move, accusing the BJP-led Centre and Haryana of uniting against Punjab.

Overseas investors pull Rs 13,359 crore from Indian bonds amid US yield surge and geopolitical tensions
Reversing four months of inflows, April saw a net ?13,359 crore of outflow from the index-eligible fully accessible route (FAR) government securities, the highest monthly exit since India's inclusion in the JP Morgan EM index in July 2024, CCIL data showed. Passive investments often closely track the weightings on global gauges.

Swiggy delivers gold with a guard, mini-locker and bike; leaves the internet shocked: Watch viral video
A video of a Swiggy Instamart delivery agent transporting gold with a security guard holding a mini-locker has gone viral on social media. The clip, widely shared and reshared with humorous captions, shows the guard carrying both the locker and a baton, prompting mixed reactions online. The viral moment coincides with Swiggy's recent partnership with Kalyan Jewellers to deliver gold and silver coins to customers across 100 cities.
Manipur governor reviews law and order situation in the state
Manipur's Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla chaired a high-level security meeting. The meeting assessed the law and order situation in valley and hill areas. Top officials attended the meeting in person and virtually. The Congress party criticized 21 MLAs. These MLAs wrote to the Prime Minister and Home Minister. They requested the reinstatement of a popular government.
Pakistan citizens continue to leave India via Attari, plead for leninecy from Indian govt
Following the Pahalgam terror attack, India canceled visas for Pakistani citizens. Many are now returning via the Attari border. They plead for leniency, stating they are being punished for the attack. One woman, Mufzala, married in Baramulla, is being forced to leave with her children. Another Pakistani national, who came on a short visa, is also being sent back early.
Avaada Group, Maharashtra govt ink pact to set up 3,600 MW pumped storage projects at Rs 15,100 cr
Avaada Group has signed an initial agreement with the Maharashtra government to develop two pumped storage projects with a combined capacity of 3,600 MW, attracting an investment of Rs 15,100 crore. These projects, Pawana Falyan and Sirsala, are expected to generate over 3,800 direct jobs and enhance Maharashtra's energy security by enabling round-the-clock renewable power.
Will tech billionaires move fast and break our brains?
The planned acquisition of Lykos is an example of how tightly entwined a once left-wing psychedelic movement has become with the Trump administration and the tech right. Peter Thiel, who has close ties with many top-level Trump officials, is a major investor in the psychedelic company Atai Life Sciences.
Barring one, all Pakistani citizens repatriated from Uttar Pradesh following Pahalgam terror attack: State government
Following the Pahalgam terror attack, Uttar Pradesh government expelled almost all Pakistani citizens. The central government issued advisories for states to repatriate Pakistani nationals. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered the expulsion. Police escorted the citizens to the border. Uttar Pradesh claims to be the first state to achieve near-complete repatriation quickly. Only one Pakistani national remains, scheduled for deportation soon.
War with Pak only if inevitable, did not say complete no to it: Siddaramaiah
Siddaramaiah's remarks on war with Pakistan sparked controversy. Pakistan media highlighted his statement. BJP leaders criticized Siddaramaiah's stance. He clarified that war should be the last resort. He emphasized the central government's responsibility for security in Kashmir. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar affirmed Congress' commitment to national unity. BJP leaders demanded an apology from Siddaramaiah.
Forces demolish houses of eight militants across Kashmir following Pahalgam attack
Following the Pahalgam tourist attack, authorities in Kashmir demolished homes of six militants and associates. Over 2000 suspects were detained across the valley. Raids and search operations are ongoing in almost all districts. A list of 14 active local militants has been identified. Police are questioning ponywalas for clues. The tourist resort is gradually returning to normalcy.
No real-time or source-based coverage of defence ops: Govt tells media; cites lapses during Kargil war, 26/11 attacks
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued an advisory. It urges media to be responsible while reporting on defence and security. The ministry wants to prevent aiding hostile elements. Real-time coverage and source-based reporting are restricted. The advisory cites past lapses during Kargil, 26/11, and the Kandahar hijacking. Unrestricted coverage had adverse consequences.
Best gilt mutual funds to invest in April 2025
Gilt funds are debt mutual funds that invest in government-securities or G-secs. As per Sebi norms, these schemes must invest 80% of their corpus in government securities. As you see, these schemes invest in government papers or they lend to the government. Therefore, they don’t have any credit risk or they face zero defaults. However, they are extremely sensitive to interest rate changes.
Indian Govt expressed its intention to take even stricter action: Kiren Rijiju after all-party meeting on Pahalgam attack
Following the Pahalgam terror attack, an all-party meeting convened in New Delhi. Kiren Rijiju stressed national unity and the government's firm stance against terrorism. Leaders across party lines united against terrorism. The government decided to hold the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 in abeyance. India has taken strong countermeasures against Pakistan for its support of cross-border terrorism.
Rate cuts bring investors to g-secs, flatten yield curve
Bonds maturing by 2030 have already softened by over 25 basis point beginning of this fiscal year in hope of more rate cuts as inflation has eased, contributing to a significant flattening of the yield curve.
NFO Alert: Groww Mutual Fund launches gilt fund
Groww Mutual Fund has launched the Groww Gilt Fund, an open-ended debt scheme investing mainly in government securities. The NFO is open till May 7. Positioned as a low-risk option, the fund offers potential portfolio diversification, liquidity, and growth amid shifting economic conditions, interest rate changes, and improving fiscal indicators.
Indian bond yields rise on RBI's revised liquidity norms
Indian government bond yields edged up, ending a week-long decline, after the Reserve Bank of India's liquidity management adjustments dampened demand. The benchmark 10-year bond yield reached 6.3365%. Revised RBI guidelines, requiring banks to maintain a buffer on digital deposits, impacted lender demand for government securities. The rise mirrored gains in US Treasuries amid concerns over Federal Reserve policy.
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