Here are today’s key political developments from across India.

India–New Zealand Sign Landmark FTA With Zero-Duty Access

Addressed the India-New Zealand Business Forum along with my friend Mr. @ToddMcClayMP, Minister for Trade & Investment, New Zealand.

The strong participation and ideas shared by business leaders from both sides highlighted the vast potential for deeper trade, investment, and… pic.twitter.com/iBOum6BqEL

— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) April 27, 2026

(@PiyushGoyal/X)

The pact gives Indian exporters full duty-free access to New Zealand, while setting a $20 billion investment target over 15 years.

India and New Zealand signed a landmark Free Trade Agreement on 27 April at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and New Zealand Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay present for the ceremony. The deal gives 100% duty-free access to Indian exports entering the New Zealand market, covering thousands of product categories and creating room for sectors such as textiles, leather, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and services to grow.

The pact also carries a $20 billion investment pledge over 15 years, along with a mobility pathway for up to 5,000 skilled Indian professionals to work in New Zealand for up to three years. For Indian businesses, especially exporters looking beyond the usual markets, this is a fairly big door opening.

Census 2027 Set to Be India’s First Digital Enumeration

The largest-ever census exercise in the world is underway and this time, it has been made digital.

Do participate in this exercise, which is an important national responsibility. #MannKiBaat pic.twitter.com/ah4lkZbfnA

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 26, 2026

((@narendramodi/X))

The upcoming census will use mobile apps, self-enumeration and real-time monitoring to modernise data collection.

Census 2027 will be India’s first census conducted through digital means, with mobile-based data collection, a self-enumeration option and near real-time monitoring through the Census Management & Monitoring System portal.

The government says the exercise will be the 16th census in India’s series and the 8th since Independence. Phase I, the Houselisting and Housing Census, is scheduled between April and September 2026, with each State or Union Territory getting a 30-day window.

Phase II, the Population Enumeration, is planned for February 2027, while snow-bound areas in Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand will be covered earlier in September 2026. The census will also include caste enumeration during the population phase. Individual data will remain confidential under the Census Act.

Sikkim’s Golden Jubilee Gets a Development Push

Prime Minister @narendramodi to visit #Sikkim

✴️PM to participate in the Closing Ceremony of Sikkim’s 50th Year of Statehood Celebrations in #Gangtok

✴️PM to inaugurate, launch and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth over ₹4,000 crore across the… pic.twitter.com/1J8F8Grsbj

— PIB India (@PIB_India) April 27, 2026

(@PIB_India/X)

PM Modi’s Sikkim visit brings statehood celebrations together with new projects across health, education, tourism and connectivity.

Sikkim’s 50th year of statehood is getting a high-profile closing ceremony in Gangtok, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to visit the state on 27 - 28 April. On 28 April, he is expected to visit the Orchidarium before attending the statehood celebrations at Paljor Stadium. The Centre has listed projects worth over ₹4,000 crore for inauguration, launch or foundation-laying during the visit.

The package covers healthcare, education, roads, power, urban facilities, tourism, agriculture and environmental works. Among the named projects are a 100-bed Ayurveda hospital at Yangang, a 30-bed Sowa Rigpa hospital, Sikkim University’s permanent campus, Teesta river bridges, river-pollution abatement works and tourism facilities linked to the Kailash Mansarovar route. A lot packed into one visit, really.

TRAI Public Wi-Fi Consultation: India Looks at Expanding Public Internet Access

𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐖𝐢-𝐅𝐢 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (@TRAI) has released a Consultation Paper on the “Proliferation of Public Wi-Fi Networks in India.”

The paper reviews the… pic.twitter.com/d4kjHOLIcQ

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) April 27, 2026

(@airnewsalerts/X)

TRAI has released a fresh consultation paper on growing public Wi-Fi networks across India, with comments open till 25 May.

India’s telecom regulator has opened a fresh consultation on how public Wi-Fi networks can grow faster across the country. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India released a paper on 27 April on the “Proliferation of Public Wi-Fi Networks in India”, asking stakeholders to comment on policy, deployment and revenue models.

The paper looks at India’s current public Wi-Fi ecosystem, global examples, challenges in expansion, and the role of Central and State governments, local bodies, telecom companies, internet providers and private players. It also examines authorisation, authentication, roaming and billing systems. Written comments are open till 25 May 2026, with counter-comments due by 8 June.

The broader idea is simple: make affordable internet access easier in public places, especially where mobile data alone may not be enough.

Global Delegates Observe India’s Election Management

(@ecisveep/Instagram)

Election officials and observers from several countries watched polling arrangements in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

India’s election process was under an international spotlight through the Election Commission’s International Election Visitors’ Programme 2026. As part of the programme, 32 delegates from 16 countries and International IDEA observed Phase 1 polling arrangements in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. They visited dispatch centres, interacted with election officials, saw mock polls, and watched polling at booths in Chennai, Siliguri and Kurseong.

The Election Commission highlighted arrangements such as webcasting control rooms, ramps, wheelchairs, volunteers, crèche facilities, women-managed polling stations and PwD-managed polling stations.

Earlier, 38 delegates from 22 countries had visited Assam, Kerala and Puducherry, taking the total to 70 delegates from 38 countries and International IDEA. For a country of India’s size, even the logistics become a story.