*20 Apr(Monday)* *Vedic Ritu/* Vasant *Drik Ritu* : Vasant (Spring) पक्ष :: *Shuklapaksh* (In Purnimanta calendar) *Vikram Samvat - 2083* *Month* : Vaisakha 18, (In Amanta calendar) *Shaka Samvat - 1948* *Month* : Vaisakha 03 *Tithi :* Chaturthi/ Panchami *Nakshatra*: Rohini, Mrigashirsha *Rahu* : 07:40 AM – 09:15 AM *Yamaganda* : 10:50 AM – 12:25 PM ________________________ *TODAYS TOP NEWS* --------------------------------------- 1. The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY-III) beyond March 2025 till March 2028, reinforcing the government’s focus on rural connectivity and infrastructure development. 2. The Government of India has expanded the scope of the Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF) scheme by including Egypt and Jordan among the eligible countries. 3. The Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh has launched a traditional Ladakhi uniform for commercial drivers following the intervention of the Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena. 4. Campaigning for assembly polls has intensified in West Bengal with senior leaders of various political parties conducting a series of rallies and roadshows in the final days leading up to polling. 5. The government said that domestic LPG cylinder deliveries remain normal against bookings, with more than 53.5 lakh cylinders delivered yesterday. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said over 39 thousand PNG consumers have surrendered their LPG connections through the MYPNGD.in website. 6. The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises has trained over 2,500 beneficiaries in the use of artificial intelligence tools under the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana. The initiative aims to empower traditional artisans and craftspeople by enhancing their livelihoods and business potential through technology. 7. The Supreme Court has issued a series of pan-India guidelines to enhance road safety, observing that expressways must not become corridors of danger due to administrative lapses or infrastructure gaps. 8. India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heatwave conditions over Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand for today. --------------------------------------- *LEGAL REPORT* --------------------------------------- 1. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Deputy Director General at the Airworthiness Directorate of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), along with another person, in an alleged bribery case. The accused persons have been identified as Mudavath Devula, a Deputy Director General (Airworthiness Directorate) at the DGCA headquarters in Delhi. 2. The Opposition parties have decided to again move a motion seeking Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s removal in Parliament. This comes after the Opposition defeated the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which sought to redistribute Lok Sabha seats on the basis of the 2011 Census to expedite the implementation of women’s reservation. 3. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh accuses Congress of blocking Nari Shakti Vandan Act. The Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, popularly known as the Women's Reservation Bill, 2023 (ISO 15919: Nārī Śakti Vandan Adhiniyam), was introduced in Lok Sabha on 19 September 2023 during the special session of Parliament.This legislation seeks to allocate 33 percent of the seats in the directly elected Lok Sabha, State legislative assemblies and Delhi legislative assembly for women. 4. The Delhi High Court will on Monday (April 20, 2026) hear a plea by the ED challenging the trial court’s order that refused to take cognisance of its charge sheet against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and others in the National Herald-linked money laundering case. 5. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) intensified its ongoing special drive to remove unauthorised encroachments along roadsides, clearing a total of 653 encroachments across the city on Saturday. ------- *MISHAPS*------------ In Tamil Nadu, 21 people are reported to have been killed following a blast at a firecracker factory at V. Muthulingapuram in Virudhunagar district. A total of 30 workers were present in four rooms at the unit at the time of the explosion. --------------------------------------- *DEFENCE News* --------------------------------------- 1. The Indian Air Force has initiated the procurement process for a compact Micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) system for its elite Garud Commando Force, aimed at boosting surveillance and operational capabilities in challenging environments. 2. The Indian Army's K-9 Vajra self-propelled howitzers are receiving a major survivability upgrade to counter loitering munitions and FPV drones. The upgrades include an indigenous Remote Weapon Station (RWS) that fires programmable air-burst rounds, guided by EO/IR sensors for automated target tracking. It will also feature passive protection, such as foldable modular cope cages and slat armor. 3. HAL is exploring the development of unmanned cargo variants of the ALH Dhruv and the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH). These are intended to support heavy military logistics to forward posts along the LAC (Line of Actual Control) and LoC. --------------------------------------- ✈ *INTERNATIONAL NEWS* --------------------------------------- 1. Vice President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan yesterday announced a series of measures aimed at strengthening ties with the Indian-origin Tamil community in Sri Lanka, focusing on welfare initiatives and cultural linkages. The Vice President made the announcement while addressing the members of the Indian community in Colombo. A key announcement was the extension of the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) scheme up to the sixth generation, along with simplified documentation norms. 2. Former Union Minister and a leading figure of the Bharatiya Janata Party in West Bengal, Dinesh Trivedi, is expected to be the next Indian envoy to Bangladesh. 3. The Central has announced the creation of the ‘Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool’ (BMI pool) on Saturday (April 18, 2026), with a sovereign guarantee of Rs 12,980 crore to ensure uninterrupted maritime insurance coverage for Indian trade. The coverage includes hull, machinery, cargo, protection and indemnity (P&I) and war. 4. The Ladakh Union Territory Administration has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lulu International to export approximately 1,000 metric tonnes of Ladakhi apricots to international markets this season, marking a substantial increase from the 1,500 kilograms exported over the past two years. 5. India and Austria have strengthened their economic partnership by launching a bilateral Fast-Track Mechanism (FTM) during the India-Austria Business Forum held in New Delhi. The initiative aims to improve investment flows, resolve business-related challenges, and deepen bilateral trade ties. 6. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold wide-ranging talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in New Delhi, focusing on boosting strategic and economic ties between the two countries. 7. India and the United States will resume trade negotiations on the first phase of their proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) today. The talks will be held from April 20 to 22 in Washington, DC. Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, Darpan Jain, is leading the Indian delegation. 8. India summoned the Iranian ambassador after two Indian crude oil vessels were forced to reverse course in the Strait of Hormuz following warning shots fired by the Iranian Navy. India has lodged a strong official protest over the incident. --------------------------------------- 🌎 *WORLD NEWS* 🌍 --------------------------------------- 1. China completes an underwater tunnel beneath the Yangtze river, enabling bullet trains to run at speeds of up to 350 kmph. 2. US President Donald Trump said that US representatives are traveling to Islamabad in Pakistan for negotiations with Iran. --------------------------------------- 🚣🚴🏇🏊 *SPORTS* --------------------------------------- Indian Premier League 2026 70 T20s Mar 28 - May 31 (a) Sunday, 19 Apr 2026 28th Match • Kolkata, Eden Gardens Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Rajasthan Royals Kolkata Knight Riders won by 4 wkts RR; 155/9(20) KKR: 161/6(19.4) PLAYER OF THE MATCH Varun Chakaravarthy (b) 29th Match • Punjab Kings Vs Lucknow Super Giants Punjab Kings won by 54 runs PBKS: 254/7(20) LSG: 200/5(20) PLAYER OF THE MATCH Priyansh Arya (c) Monday, 20 Apr 2026 30th Match • Ahmedabad, Narendra Modi Stadium Gujarat Titans Vs Mumbai Indians 7:30 PM / 7:30 PM LOCAL Match starts at Apr 20, 14:00 GMT 2. South Africa Women defeated India Women by 8 wickets in the 2nd T20I on April 19, 2026, at Kingsmead, taking a 2-0 series lead. India was restricted to in 20 overs, with South Africa comfortably chasing the target in 17.1 overs. Chloe Tryon was named Player of the Match, while Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus secured the win with fifties. 3. Ajit Agarkar will continue as chairman of the senior selection committee, with the BCCI extending his contract by one year. 4. In shooting, Asian Games medallist Shiva Narwal and shotgun shooter Sabeera Haris will spearhead a 71-member Indian contingent at the ISSF Junior World Cup 2026, in Cairo. 5. The All India Council for Technical Education has launched the 3rd edition of the AICTE-VAANI scheme (Vibrant Advocacy for Advancement and Nurturing of Indian Languages). The initiative aims to promote the use of Indian languages in technical education and research, helping students. -------------------------------------- *FINANCE* --------------------------------------- *INDIAN RUPEE VALUE* 💷 *GBP* ₹123(Approx) € *Euro* : ₹107(Approx)  *USD* ₹ 92(Approx) 🇨🇦 *Canada* :CAD ₹67 🇦🇺 *Australia* : ₹ 65 🇦🇪 *UAE Dirham* : ₹ 25 *🇨🇳 China Yuan ¥* : ₹ 13 🇲🇻 *Maldives Rufiya* : ₹ 6.00 🇧🇹 *Bhutan ngultrum* : ₹ 1.00 🇳🇵 *Nepal Rupee* : ₹ 0.63 🇧🇩 *B'desh Taka** : ₹ 0.70 🇵🇰 *Pak Rupee* : ₹ 0.32 🇱🇰 *Sri Lanka Rupee* : ₹ 0.29 --------------------------------------- *BSE SENSEX* 78,493.54 +504.86 (0.65%)🌲 *NIFTY* 24,353.55 +156.80 (0.65%)🌲 --------------------------------------- *Rates in Financial Capital Mumbai* *GOLD* : ₹ 15,400/ 01gm (24 krt) *SILVER* : ₹ 2,65,000/KG 1. Cabinet approves 2% DA and DR hike for central govt employees, pensioners from January this year. 2. The Union Cabinet gave approval for the creation of a domestic insurance pool, named Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool, with a sovereign guarantee of 12,980 crore rupees to facilitate continuous maritime insurance coverage. --------------------------------------- *ENTERTAINMENT NEWS* --------------------------------------- Hombale Films has released the first poster of Mahavatar Parshuraam, the second film in the Mahavatar Cinematic Universe. Hombale Films dropped the poster and first glimpse of Mahavatar Parshuram on Instagram. Directed by Ashwin Kumar, the film is part of the planned seven-part animated Mahavatar Cinematic Universe, based on the ten avatars (incarnations) of Vishnu. --------------------------------------- Ⓝⓐⓥⓔⓔⓝ Ⓚⓤⓜⓐⓡ 🇮🇳 *FACTS ABOUT BHARAT* 🇮🇳 ======================= Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) is the capital of India's West Bengal state. Founded as an East India Company trading post, it was India's capital under the British Raj from 1773–1911. Today it’s known for its grand colonial architecture, art galleries and cultural festivals. ======================= *Thought of the Day* ======================= Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud ======================= * *JOKE OF THE DAY*  ======================= Chintu took a knife & wrote his Girlfriend's name on his hand. After 5 mints he started crying loudly. *Friend* : Is it paining?🤔😟 *Chintu* : No, shit Its spelling mistake.😜🤪 ======================= *😳WHY❓❓❓* ======================= *What is the reason for sudden fainting?* Fainting is usually not a sign of a serious health problem, but it can be. The most common reason for fainting is a sudden drop in blood pressure, which reduces blood flow and oxygen to the brain. ======================= *LEARN Sanskrit*🙏🏻 शैलकूट - Mountain Peak ======================= 🤔 *HOW IT WORKS* ⁉ ======================= Maida is made from the endosperm: the starchy white part of the grain. The bran is separated from the germ and endosperm which is then refined by passing through a sieve of 80 mesh per inch (31 mesh per centimeter). Maida Finely milled without any bran, refined, and bleached, it closely resembles cake flour. Maida is used extensively for making fast foods, baked goods such as pastries, bread, several varieties of sweets, and traditional flatbreads. Owing to this wide variety of uses, it is sometimes labeled and marketed as "all-purpose flour", though it is different from all-purpose flour. ======================= 💁🏻‍♂‍ *GK TODAY* ======================= *Galileo di Vincenzo* Bonaiuti de' Galilei was an Italian astronomer, physicist and engineer, sometimes described as a polymath, from Pisa. Galileo has been called the "father of observational astronomy", the "father of modern physics", the "father of the scientific method", and the "father of modern science ======================= *BORN TODAY* 🐣💐 ======================= Nara Chandrababu Naidu (born 20 April 1950) is an Indian politician and the chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly. ======================= 🙏🏻 *IDIOMS & PHRASES* ======================= Rain on someone's parade To spoil something ======================= *ANTONYMS* Approached x Receded *SYNONYMS* consecutive ~ successive ========================= 🛕 *Spiritual Knowledge* (kindly inform, if given info is differ from actual facts🙏🏻) ======================= *why do banyan tree🌳 worshipped in Santana Dharma*⁉ Banyan tree is one of the most venerated trees in Santana Dharma. It has the ability to grow and survive for centuries. Saints, Sages and hermits use to meditate under these trees including Buddha . Banayan/Peepal/Neem tree releases oxygen even at night via Crassulacean Acid Metabolism(CAM) process and during day time via well known photosynthesis process. ======================= 🧬 *HEALTH CARE: HOME REMEDIES*🩺 ( *Note* : These home tips followed in villages/ancient traditions, it is up to you to use it or not🙏🏻) ======================= *WEARING OF COPPER* *Unless there is no allergy to the metal, wearing a pure copper bracelet or ring can work wonders to the energy* levels and immunity of the body. a. Joint stiffness and Joint pain. b. Mineral absorption. c. Increasing cardiovascular health. d. Healthier immune system. e. Anti-aging. ======================= #news #news #News Views