Daily Morning Brief - 5 April 2026

India News 

1- Supreme Court Notifies 9-Judge Bench for Sabarimala Review

In a major legal development, the Supreme Court has formally notified a nine-judge Bench to hear the review petitions regarding the Sabarimala temple verdict. The Bench is expected to address broader questions of law concerning the intersection of religious practices and the right to equality.

World News 

2- Airstrikes Near Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Plant

Tensions escalated further as Iranian officials reported a projectile from a US-Israeli strike landed near the Bushehr nuclear facility. While the reactor remains intact, the strike reportedly killed a security guard and damaged support buildings. Tehran has condemned the move as a "dangerous provocation" that risks a nuclear catastrophe.

3- Artemis II Moon Mission Faces Technical Glitch

High above the Earth, NASA’s Artemis II mission encountered a minor setback. The crew reported issues with the spacecraft's waste management system (the toilet) as they accelerated toward the moon. Despite the "messy" inconvenience, NASA confirmed the crew is safe and remains on track to break the distance record set by Apollo 13.

Odisha News 

 4- Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana Launched

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced this new food security scheme. Over 3.28 crore beneficiaries will receive an additional 5kg of free rice monthly, costing the state ₹8,813 crore annually.  

5- Major Hike in Education Reservations

 The Odisha government increased reservation in medical and engineering courses:

ST: 22.5%

SC: 16.25%

SEBC: 11.25% (new quota)

6- Bhubaneswar Metro Project cancelled .

Odisha has officially terminated its agreement with DMRC for the Bhubaneswar Metro. The government cited low ridership projections and is pivoting toward a more sustainable, regionally integrated urban mobility transition plan.  

7- Forest Clearance for Puri International Airport

The Ministry of Environment granted Stage-I forest clearance for the Shree Jagannath International Airport in Puri. This pivotal move allows the diversion of 27.88 hectares of land for the project.