*17 Apr(Friday)*
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*TODAYS TOP NEWS*
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1. In a striking appeal for bipartisan unity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday told the Opposition to “take the credit” for the women’s reservation push, offering a “blank cheque” to share political ownership, as he urged Parliament to pass the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill and related legislations without delay.
2. The Northern Railway has commissioned Double Distant Signals at Pabli Khas and Meerut Cantt to boost Sectional Speed to 130 kilometre per hour on Ghaziabad-Saharanpur Route. The Ministry of Railways said that the project reached a major operational milestone when a train safely traversed the upgraded section, marking the successful integration of the new signalling and interlocking systems.
3. Mizoram Governor Vijay Kumar Singh today launched the intensive house listing and housing census operations for the country’s first digital census at Lok Bhavan in Mizoram.
4. In Punjab, a high-level workshop was held in Zirakpur today by the National AIDS Control Organisation under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, aimed at reducing HIV prevalence in the state.
5. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath yesterday participated in the inauguration ceremony of two modern security buildings linked to the security of the Gorakhnath Temple complex in Gorakhpur.
6. In Uttar Pradesh, Jal Pakhwada organised from yesterday to 30th April in all schools and educational institutions across the state under the ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan’. The government has taken a unique step in the field of water conservation by linking it directly with schools.
7. In Jammu and Kashmir, in order to offer relief to traders in the Kashmir Valley, particularly fruit growers and handicraft merchants, the Jammu Division of Northern Railway will operate a Joint Parcel Product-Rapid Cargo Service train between Adarsh Nagar in New Delhi and Budgam in Kashmir from April 17.
8. The Telangana Government has launched a significant statewide initiative to bring artificial intelligence literacy to nearly two million students in government schools.
9. The Andhra Pradesh government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) to reduce deaths caused by lightning strikes, particularly in rural areas.
10. Amid rising temperatures across Keralam, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for hot and humid conditions in the state till Sunday.
Heatwave alert for Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, MP; heavy rains across northeast
IMD forecasts heavy rain and storms in Northeast and western Himalayas April 16 to 19, while large parts of central, east and south India face heatwave and very hot conditions.
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*LEGAL REPORT*
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1. The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the preventive detention order passed by the Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB) against Kannada actress Ranya Rao alias Harshavardhini Ranya for allegedly smuggling gold into the country. The Court also upheld the detention of her aide Sahil Sarkariya Jain under the provisions of the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA).
2. Punjab Police’s Counter Intelligence Wing has recovered 4 hand grenades and 2 sophisticated pistols along with ammunition from an accused in Amritsar yesterday, police claim that the module was involved in a recent grenade attack in Chandigarh.
3. The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports concerning alleged incidents of sexual harassment of women at the Tata Consultancy Services BPO unit in Nashik, Maharashtra. In a statement, NCW said it has constituted a Fact-Finding Committee to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident.
4. The Punjab government is seeking the continued detention of MP Amritpal Singh in Assam's Dibrugarh jail, citing security concerns and potential threats to state security as his detention under the National Security Act nears its end.
Amritpal Singh, leader of 'Waris Punjab De', was arrested in April 2023 following the Ajnala Police Station incident and has been detained under the NSA since then.
------- *MISHAPS*------------
1. During an ongoing search operation against Maoists in the Saranda forests of Chaibasa, Jharkhand, police personnel were injured in an IED blast on the second day and are being airlifted to Ranchi for treatment.
2. A winglet of Spicejet aircraft yesterday hit the horizontal tail surface of Akasa Air’s aircraft at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. In a statement, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that the accident happened when Spicejet’s aircraft was taxying in the allocated parking bay.
3. In Uttar Pradesh, 5 people died after being hit by a train in Prayagraj . The accident took place when all the passengers got down to relieve themselves. At that moment, train coming from the other side hit five people, killing all of them.
4. In Andhra Pradesh, eight pilgrims, including five women, one child and two men, were killed and several others injured in a tragic road accident near Chilakaladone village in Kurnool district early yesterday morning.
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*DEFENCE News*
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1. Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, today flagged off the ‘Surya Devbhoomi Challenge 2.0’ in the Himalayan region of Garhwal, Uttarakhand. The event was inaugurated from Badrinath and is being organized by the Indian Army.
The 113-kilometre expedition covers three sacred Kedars-Kalpeshwar, Rudranath, and Tungnath. The initiative aims to promote heritage conservation, tourism, and regional development through adventure sports.
2. *Bay of Bengal Missile Test NOTAM*: India issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) warning for a missile test in the Bay of Bengal region on April 18, 2026, for a designated range of 200 km.
3. *Six P-8I Deal Progresses*: India is moving forward with the acquisition of six additional P-8I maritime patrol aircraft from the US under the FMS route, despite a sharp rise in costs. A proposal is being prepared for Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approval by May 2026. Each aircraft is now estimated at $600 million, pushing the total deal value beyond $3.5 billion.
4. *Sheshnag-150 Swarm Drone Test*: Bengaluru-based NewSpace Research and Technologies tested the 'Sheshnag-150' swarming attack drone in Rajasthan. It demonstrated a 5-hour endurance, a 720 km range, and a CEP (Circular Error Probable) under 10 meters. Carrying a 25 kg warhead for high-value targets, its key feature is swarm capability, enabling 50+ drones to coordinate in real time using a resilient "mother code" system.
5. *Tejas MAX 'Mothership' for CATS*: India's Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) is entering a more advanced phase. A modified Tejas Mk1 twin-seat variant is being prepared to function as the dedicated mothership, designated 'Tejas MAX'. It uses an AI-driven system called ACID (Air Combat Intelligence Development Architecture), enabling a single pilot to control multiple autonomous drones (like CATS Warrior) while maintaining data-link connectivity and battlefield coordination.
6. Army conducts joint operation, destroys 10 bunkers in Manipur.
The operation commenced with two joint columns comprising teams from the Indian Army, CAPF and the Manipur police carrying out the operation on both sides of the highway, respectively.
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✈ *INTERNATIONAL NEWS*
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1. The President of South Korea Lee Jae will pay a state visit to India from 19th to 21st April. He will be accompanied by First Lady Kim Hea Kyung and a high-level delegation comprising Ministers, senior officials and business leaders.
2. PM Modi yesterday held talks with Austrian Chancellor Dr Christian Stocker in New Delhi. During the meeting, India and Austria exchanged several agreements and documents, including an MOU on Food Safety, a Letter of Intent (LOI) on Cooperation and Military Matters, and an LOI on Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism.
3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) Chief Kristalina Georgieva has said that India’s economy is expected to remain resilient even as global growth slows amid war-driven disruptions.
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🌎 *WORLD NEWS* 🌍
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1. In Turkiye, the death toll has risen to ten, after a middle school student opened fire at a school in Turkey’s southeastern province of Kahramanmaras.
2. *US MQ-4C Triton Lost*: The US officially confirmed the loss of an MQ-4C Triton UAV in the Persian Gulf. Valued at approximately $250 million, it costs twice the price of an F-35 5th-generation stealth aircraft.
3. In South Africa, Julius Malema, a prominent opposition leader, has been sentenced to five years after being found guilty of violating firearm laws. The conviction arises from a 2018 incident where he fired a rifle during a political rally.
4. The US Senate has rejected a bill that would have required congressional approval for any further American strikes on Iran.
5. In Pakistan, five coal miners were killed in two separate mining accidents in Bolan and Duki coalfield areas of Balochistan.
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🚣🚴🏇🏊 *SPORTS*
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Indian Premier League 2026
70 T20s
Mar 28 - May 31
(a) MI vs PBKS, 24th Match,
Punjab Kings won by 7 wkts
MI: 195/6(20)
PBKS: 198/3(16.3)
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Arshdeep Singh
(b) Friday, 17 Apr 2026
25th Match • Ahmedabad, Narendra Modi Stadium
Gujarat Titans
Vs
Kolkata Knight Riders
7:30 PM / 7:30 PM LOCAL
Match starts at Apr 17, 14:00 GMT
2. India’s Under-17 men’s football team will play two friendly matches against the United Arab Emirates in Thailand, beginning from 17 April 2026. The second match will be played on the 21st of this month in Samut Prakan, Thailand.
3. In chess, India’s Grandmaster R. Vaishali won the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026 in Cyprus.
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*FINANCE*
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*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
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*BSE SENSEX*
77,988.68 −122.56 (0.16%)🔻
*NIFTY*
24,196.75 −34.55 (0.14%)🔻
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*Rates in Financial Capital Mumbai*
*GOLD* : ₹ 15,500/ 01gm (24 krt)
*SILVER* : ₹ 2,70,000/KG
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*ENTERTAINMENT NEWS*
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1. Dhurandhar 2 becomes the first Bollywood film to cross 15M tickets on BookMyShow, ranking second after Pushpa 2 as the franchise places both films in the Top 5 while Ranveer Singh matches SRK's milestone. The film is produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Aditya Dhar and Lokesh Dhar under the banners of Jio Studio and B62 Studios.
2. A joint team of the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) and Mumbai Police Crime Branch on Thursday arrested a wanted criminal allegedly involved in the firing incident at filmmaker Rohit Shetty's residence in Mumbai.
The accused, identified as Pradeep Kumar alias Gaath, was apprehended from the Chhadami Mattha area on the Agra-Etah road.
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Ⓝⓐⓥⓔⓔⓝ Ⓚⓤⓜⓐⓡ
🇮🇳 *FACTS ABOUT BHARAT* 🇮🇳
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Who damaged Ram Mandir Ayodhya?
In 1528 A.D. Babur came to Ayodhya and halted here for a week. He destroyed the ancient temple and on its site built a mosque, still known as Babur's mosque.
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The *first passenger train* in India ran between Bombay (Bori Bunder) and Thane on 16 April 1853. The 14-carriage train was hauled by three steam locomotives – Sahib, Sindh and Sultan; it carried 400 people and ran on a line of 34 kilometres (21 mi) built and operated by the Great Indian Peninsula Railway.
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*😀Thought of the day*
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Aim for the moon. If you miss, you may hit a star. =======================
* *JOKE OF THE DAY*
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*Work from Home*
*Boss* : "I called you. Your wife picked the phone and told that you were cooking. Why did not you call me back?"😆
*Employee* : "I called you back sir. Your wife picked the phone and told that you were washing clothes"😳😜🤪
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😲 *WHY* ❓❓❓
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*Why it is important of ringing bells in Temple?*
In Hinduism there is special reason behind doing each and every small thing, every rituals is associated with it. There is nothing like that which is done only because it is happening since ancient times. There are also scientific reasons behind performing all traditions.
The temple bell is not just ordinary metal but a scientific bell. It is made of various metals including cadmium, copper, nickel, chromium and Manganese. In which ratio each metal is mixed, this is the most important thing and the real science behind a bell. Every bell is created to produce such a distinctive sound that it synchronizes your left and right brain. When the person rings the bell, then the high sound produced from it lasts for at least seven consecutive seconds, touching the seven chakras of the human body.
The advantage of this vibration is that all the bacteria, viruses and micro-organisms that are coming in its area are destroyed so that the surrounding environment becomes purified.
Therefore, the atmosphere where the bell is rung, the environment always remains pure and sacred. It removes negative forces.
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*LEARN Sanskrit* 🙏🏻
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*क्रुद्ध kruddh* angry
*प्रतिमा, मूर्ति, शिल्प* : statue
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🤔 *HOW IT WORKS* ⁉ =======================
*Hing* comes from the resin of giant fennel plants that grow wild in Afghanistan and Iran. The resin can be kept pure, but in the States, you mostly find it ground to a powder and mixed with wheat.
It is a resin like gum which is extracted from dried sap of the stem and roots of Ferula plant and then crushed in a traditional method, between heavy stones or by a hammer.
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💁🏻♂ *GK TODAY*
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Q: Who is known as the Father of the Indian Constitution?
A: B. R. Ambedkar
Q: What is the national animal of India?
A: Bengal Tiger
Q: Which is the largest continent in the world?
A: Asia
Q: Who was the first Prime Minister of India?
A: Jawaharlal Nehru
Q: What is the chemical symbol of Gold?
A: Au
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*BORN TODAY* 🐣💐
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Chandra Shekhar (17 April 1927 – 8 July 2007) was an Indian politician who served as the 8th Prime Minister of India, between 10 November 1990 and 21 June 1991. He headed a minority government of a breakaway faction of the Janata Dal with outside support from the Indian National Congress.[1] He was the first Indian Prime Minister who had never held any prior government office.
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🙏🏻 *IDIOMS & PHRASES*
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Give someone the cold shoulder
Ignore someone
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*ANTONYMS*
Justice x Injustice
*SYNONYMS*
demolish : destroy
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🛕 *VEDIK GYAN*
(kindly inform, if given info is differ from actual facts🙏🏻) =======================
*Menaka* is considered one of the most beautiful of the heavenly Apsaras. Menaka was born during the churning of the ocean by the devas and asuras and was one of the most beautiful apsaras (celestial fairy) in the world with quick intelligence and innate talent but desired a family.
Vishwamitra, one of the most respected and revered sages in ancient India, frightened the gods and even tried to create another heaven - Indra, frightened by his powers, sent Menaka from heaven to earth to lure him and break his meditation. Menaka successfully incited Vishwamitra's lust and passion when he saw her beauty. She succeeded in breaking the meditation of Vishwamitra. However, she fell in genuine love with him and a baby was born to them who later grew in Sage Kanva's ashram and came to be called Shakuntala. Later Shakuntala falls in love with King Dushyanta and gives birth to a child called Bharata after whom India was first named.
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🧬 *HEALTH CARE: HOME REMEDIES*🩺
( *Note* : These home tips followed in villages/ancient traditions, it is up to you to use it or not🙏🏻) =======================
Kadha is an Ayurvedic home remedy that can protect you, make you stronger from within and also help in fighting seasonal infections.
To make this effective home remedy, you need 2 cups of water, 1 inch of peeled ginger, 4-5 cloves, 5-6 black pepper, 5-6 fresh basil leaves, ½ tsp honey and 2 inch cinnamon stick. You can add mulethi (lecorice) if it is available.
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*🙏 *PLZ SHARE IT* #news #news
