1.China is the second largest economy, while India will soon be the third largest, besides being the two most populous countries. The future provides an opportunity to shape an emerging Asian century.

2.Indian Navy's frontline frigate INS Tarkash has seized over 2,500 kgs of narcotics in the Western Indian Ocean, officials said on Wednessday.

3.Odisha Deputy Chief Minister and Energy Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo ruled out any plans to provide free electricity to consumers in the State.

4.Odisha Vigilance has arrested Girish Chandra Behera, the in-charge secretary of Durgadevi Co-Operative Society in Balasore district, for allegedly misappropriating government funds amounting to ₹5.80 lakh under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).

5.Taking a pledge to build a prosperous Odisha, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi Tuesday said that ‘Odia Asmita’ (pride), high ambitions and tireless efforts will be the three pillars of his government to carry forward the state.

6.The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has increased toll charges by an average of 4 to 5 per cent on highway sections across the country. The revised toll charges for motorists on national highways across the country have come into effect from Tuesday, a senior highways ministry official told PTI.

7.Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and Sam Altman are signaling the end of the smartphone era. The vision: a world dominated by wearable tech, brain interfaces, and augmented reality. But Tim Cook and Apple aren’t ready to surrender the smartphone throne just yet.

8.Self-styled Godman Asaram, convicted of raping a minor girl, returned to Jodhpur Central Jail Tuesday after his interim bail expired. His lawyers have fi led a bail extension petition, which will be taken up for hearing April 2.

9.In a major setback to Delhi law minister Kapil Mishra, a court Tuesday ordered an FIR to probe his alleged role in the 2020 riots in the national capital.

10.A Mohali court Tuesday sentenced self-styled preacher Bajinder Singh to life imprisonment in a 2018 rape case, observing that Singh committed a heinous offence by misusing his position as a preacher.

11.Over 13,000 square kilometres of forest area -- more than the total geographical area of Delhi, Sikkim and Goa combined -- is under encroachment in 25 states and Union territories that have so far submitted data to the Union environment ministry.

12.The commerce ministry is working on different scenarios to assess the possible fallout of reciprocal tariffs to be imposed by the US administration April 2 on its key trading partners including India, sources said.

13.ISRO Tuesday said it has achieved a breakthrough in the now-casting (weather forecasting) of lightning events over India using data from Indian geostationary satellites.

14.China staged military drills off Taiwan’s north, south and east coasts Tuesday as a “stern warning” against separatism and called Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te a “parasite,” as Taiwan sent warships to respond to China’s navy approaching its shores.

15.The Reserve Bank of India Tuesday said 98.21 per cent of the Rs2000 banknotes have been returned to the banking system, and only Rs6,366 crore worth of such notes are still with the public. On May 19, 2023, the RBI announced the withdrawal of Rs2000 denomination banknotes from circulation.

16.Gross GST collection grew 9.9 per cent in March to over Rs1.96 lakh crore - the second-highest mop-up ever, government data showed Tuesday.

17.Gold prices surged Rs2,000, the steepest in nearly two months, to hit a fresh peak of Rs94,150 per 10 grams in the national capital Tuesday amid persistent buying by stockists and jewellers, according to the All India Sarafa Association.

18.The government has issued a total of 67 tranches of Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) amounting to 146.96 tonnes of gold till 2024-25, Parliament was informed Tuesday.

19.The 15th Odisha State Roller Skating Championship 2025 was successfully organised by Odisha Roller Skating Association (ORSA) at Kalinga Stadium here recently.