18th-20th April 2026

1. FIU-India Sign MoUs with SEBI & PFRDA to Strengthen Data Sharing and Curb Financial Crimes
2. MoHFW Hosts First BRICS Health Working Group Meeting in New Delhi
3. WEF April 2026 Data : Global GDP Set to Jump USD 56 Trillion in 5 years
4. World Bank Launches ‘Water Forward’ Initiative to Improve Water Security for 1 Billion People
5. Indian Botanist N. Alim Yusuf Wins WWF Award For Invasive Plants Detection App
6. Bloomberg Billionaires Index 2026: Gautam Adani Overtakes Mukesh Ambani To Become Asia’s Richest Person
7. ISRO’s SAC Collaborates with ATREE for Sustainable Land Management
8. New burrowing Reed Snake Species ‘Calamaria garoensis’ Discovered in Meghalaya
9. Former IOA and WSF President N. Ramachandran Passed Away
10. World Chagas Disease Day – April 14
11. National Fire Service Day – April 14
12. Odisha, NCCR Sign MoU on Marine Spatial Planning under Indo-Norway Initiative
13. Herbalife India and IIT Madras Sign MoU to Establish India’s First COE on Plant Cell Fermentation
14. DGFT Authorizes 17 Banks to Import Gold & Silver Until March 2029
15. World Bank Approves USD 225 Million Loan for Rajasthan Highway Modernization Project
16. CheQ and AU SFB Launch India’s First Co-branded LED Credit Card
17. JSW Steel Board Approves Proposal to Sign Pact with POSCO for JV
18. USA Unveils Space Nuclear Power Plan, Targets Moon Reactor by 2030
19. NASA Announces SpaceX to Launch Rosalind Franklin Rover to Mars 2028
20. NITI Aayog Launches “Divya Bharat: A Window to the Soul of India” Anthology for Tourism Promotion
21. World Quantum Day – April 14
22. World Art Day – April 15
23. Meghalaya Govt Approves Khasi, Garo as Official State Languages
24. CDS Anil Chauhan Flags Off ‘Surya Devbhoomi Challenge 2.0’ in Uttarakhand
25. Odisha to Host India’s First 3D Semiconductor Unit at Info Valley, ₹2,000 Crore Project Launched
26. Sadhvi Satish Sail Crowned Femina Miss India World 2026
27. World Liver Day – April 19
28. Mumbai Hosts Miss Sake India 2026: Nishita Antarkar Wins Prestigious Title
29. Philippines Joins US-Led Pax Silica Initiative to Boost Semiconductor Supply Chains
30. Ahmedabad’s Kankaria Coaching Depot Becomes India’s First ‘Water Neutral’ Railway Depot
31. Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur Launches Vikram Sodhi Centre for AI-Driven Mining Systems
32. Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron Launch Global Maritime Security Initiative for Strait of Hormuz
33. ICC Launches Inaugural Women’s T20I Challenge Trophy 2026 in Rwanda
34. BWSSB Achieves Global ISO 50001 Energy Management Certification, Marking Historic Milestone
35. Rare Night Parrot Sighting Confirmed in Australia, Scientists Call It Major Breakthrough
36. Shubhankar Sharma Returns to Domestic Golf with Victory at Inaugural Boulders Classic 2026
37. World Heritage Day
38. PM Modi to Lead First-Ever CAPF Conference to Strengthen Internal Security
39. Mumbai Cricket Association Becomes First in India to Launch Structured Player Contract Model
40. Chhattisgarh Government Approves High-Level Committee for UCC Implementation
41. Global Innovation Index 2025

National News

India Hosts First BRICS Health Working Group in New Delhi

• What: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare chaired the First Health Working Group Meeting under BRICS in New Delhi to discuss public health cooperation, priority areas, and strengthen collaboration among member countries.
• Tell me more:
  • BRICS 2026 Theme and the meeting’s theme: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability” (BRICS acronym reinterpreted).
  • The meeting identified nine priority areas including tuberculosis research network, regulatory cooperation, early warning system for infectious diseases, digital health architecture, and national public health institutes network.
  • India holds the BRICS Chairship in 2026.
  • The BRICS 2026 logo mixes traditional and modern ideas uses colourful petals to show unity of member countries, places a Namaste symbol for respect, and reflects cooperation, inclusivity, shared growth, and sustainability.

NITI Aayog Launches Divya Bharat Tourism Anthology

• What: National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) launched the anthology “Divya Bharat: A Window to the Soul of India” to promote tourism by presenting India’s diverse destinations through a structured and immersive travel approach.
• Tell me more:
  • This anthology includes collaboration with industry and academic institutions such as Airbnb, Atithi Foundation, Indian School of Public Policy, Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, and Internet and Mobile Association of India.

IIT Kharagpur Launches AI Mining Research Centre

• What: Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur launched the Vikram Sodhi Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence-enabled Geological and Mining Systems with ₹15 crore funding to develop AI-based solutions for mining and geological systems.
• Tell me more:
  • The centre will operate as an independent unit under the Dean of Research and Development at IIT Kharagpur.
  • The funding has been provided by Vikram Sodhi, Vice Chairman of Mineros SA and Managing Partner at Sun Valley Investments (a private firm).

State News

Odisha Launches Marine Spatial Planning Initiative With NCCR

• What: The Odisha government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Centre for Coastal Research under the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences to implement Marine Spatial Planning for integrated coastal management and sustainable use of marine resources.
• Tell me more:
  • Odisha became the first state to implement Marine Spatial Planning in the second phase after Puducherry and Lakshadweep. The initiative of Odisha is part of the Indo-Norway Integrated Ocean Initiative under a 2019 agreement.
  • Marine Spatial Planning manages oceans sustainably, supports blue economy and climate resilience, guides resource use, identifies activity zones.
  • NCCR will study ocean conditions, maps vegetation, and supports policy-making for balanced coastal development.
  • In August 2025, the Odisha government launched the “Odisha Marine Biotechnology Research and Innovation Corridor” (OMBRIC) to promote the use of biotechnology for marine environmental protection and economic development.

World Bank Approves Loan For Rajasthan Highways

• What: The World Bank approved a USD 225 million loan for the Rajasthan Highway Modernisation Project to improve highway efficiency, safety, and resilience, enhance connectivity, and support job creation benefiting over 3 million people.
• Tell me more:
  • The loan is provided by International Bank for Reconstruction and Development with 35-year maturity and 5-year grace period.

Meghalaya Declares Khasi Garo as Official Languages

• What: The Meghalaya cabinet approved the Meghalaya Official Languages Ordinance, 2026, declaring Khasi and Garo as official languages along with English to allow their use in government communication and legislative processes.
• Tell me more:
  • The ordinance will replace the Meghalaya State Language Act, 2005, and recognise Khasi and Garo as official languages representing the state’s two largest tribes.

Odisha to Host First Glass Semiconductor Unit

• What: Odisha will host the ground-breaking ceremony of Heterogenous Integration Packaging Solutions, India’s first advanced glass semiconductor packaging unit, in Bhubaneswar to strengthen semiconductor manufacturing and innovation.
• Tell me more:
  • The project will set up India’s first facility using glass material for advanced chip packaging. Inside this unit, companies assemble semiconductor chips using advanced glass-based technology.
  • Odisha will become the first state to host both a compound semiconductor fabrication unit and a glass-based packaging facility.

Kankaria Depot Becomes India’s First Water Neutral Railway Depot

• Kankaria Coaching Depot in Ahmedabad became India’s first water-neutral railway depot by treating and reusing wastewater through phytoremediation, reducing freshwater use and improving sustainability in railway operations.

BWSSB Receives ISO Certification for Energy Management

• What: Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) became the first water utility in India to receive ISO 50001:2018 certification for its energy management systems.
• Tell me more:
  • Bureau Veritas is a French organisation that issued the ISO 50001:2018 certification to Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB).

Chhattisgarh to Draft Uniform Civil Code Framework

• What: Chhattisgarh government decided to form a high-level committee to prepare a draft Uniform Civil Code to simplify personal laws and promote religious and gender equality in the state.
• Tell me more:
  • The cabinet approved the decision under Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai in Raipur, and retired judge Ranjana Prakash Desai will head the committee preparing the draft.
  • Personal laws currently govern marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, maintenance, and family disputes based on religion, and the initiative aligns with Article 44 of the Constitution of India on Uniform Civil Code.

International News

World Bank Launches “Water Forward” Global Platform

• What: The World Bank Group launched “Water Forward” with partners to improve water security for 1 billion people by 2030.
• Tell me more:

  • The World Bank Group aims to deliver water security to 400 million people by 2030, while combined efforts target more than 1 billion people.

  • The initiative will improve water security by enabling countries to create plans to improve water systems by strengthening institutions, managing finances better, and preparing projects that can attract investment to ensure reliable water services.

  • Partner banks and development finance institutions:

  • Asian Development Bank,

  • Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank,

  • Council of Europe Development Bank,

  • European Bank for Reconstruction and Development,

  • European Investment Bank,

  • Inter-American Development Bank,

  • Islamic Development Bank

  • New Development Bank,

  • OPEC Fund for International Development; and the

  • International Fund for Agricultural Development.

US Launches Initiative for Nuclear Power in Space

• What: The White House started a plan to develop nuclear power systems for space with clear timelines to support missions on the Moon, in orbit, and future travel to Mars.
• Tell me more:
  • The plan involves National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Department of Energy, and Department of Defense working together.
  • NASA will develop a reactor for the Moon with launch readiness by 2030.
  • Department of Defense will work on an orbital reactor for space missions by 2031.

SpaceX’s “Rosalind Franklin Rover Mission” for Mars

• What: SpaceX will launch the Rosalind Franklin rover in 2028 using Falcon Heavy rocket under a mission sponsored by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and led by European Space Agency (ESA) to search for evidence of life on Mars.
• Tell me more:
  • The Rosalind Franklin rover forms part of the European Space Agency ExoMars programme focused on detecting signs of past or present life.
  • The mission aims to search for signs of past or present life on Mars by studying soil samples and analysing organic molecules beneath the planet’s surface.
  • Rover’s landing site will be Mars’ Oxia Planum.
  • This rover of the ExoMars programme is named Rosalind Franklin, a British chemist and X-ray crystallographer whose crucial work on X-ray diffraction images, particularly “Photo 51,” provided the essential evidence for the double-helix structure of DNA.

Pax Silica Initiative of USA

• What: Pax Silica is a United States-led initiative to secure the full technology supply chain, covering critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, and data infrastructure, through cooperation among multiple partner countries.
• Tell me more:
  • In April, the Philippines joined the initiative. The USA and Philippines decided to establish an industrial hub in Luzon, Philippines.
  • Finland also joined as the 14th Pax Silica signatory. It joins fellow signatories Australia, India, Israel, Japan, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

India Invited for Strait of Hormuz Initiative

• What: India received an invitation from the United Kingdom and France to join a maritime initiative to protect navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route.
• Tell me more:
  • The Strait of Hormuz facilitates nearly 20% of global oil trade.
  • British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the situation at the Élysee Palace, Paris, France.
  • The Strait of Hormuz is a vital, narrow maritime chokepoint located between Iran to the north and the Musandam Peninsula of Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the south.
    • The Musandam Peninsula is the mountainous exclave of Oman separated from the rest of the country by the UAE.

International News

World Bank Launches “Water Forward” Global Platform

• What: The World Bank Group launched “Water Forward” with partners to improve water security for 1 billion people by 2030.
• Tell me more:

  • The World Bank Group aims to deliver water security to 400 million people by 2030, while combined efforts target more than 1 billion people.

  • The initiative will improve water security by enabling countries to create plans to improve water systems by strengthening institutions, managing finances better, and preparing projects that can attract investment to ensure reliable water services.

  • Partner banks and development finance institutions:

  • Asian Development Bank,

  • Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank,

  • Council of Europe Development Bank,

  • European Bank for Reconstruction and Development,

  • European Investment Bank,

  • Inter-American Development Bank,

  • Islamic Development Bank

  • New Development Bank,

  • OPEC Fund for International Development; and the

  • International Fund for Agricultural Development.

US Launches Initiative for Nuclear Power in Space

• What: The White House started a plan to develop nuclear power systems for space with clear timelines to support missions on the Moon, in orbit, and future travel to Mars.
• Tell me more:
  • The plan involves National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Department of Energy, and Department of Defense working together.
  • NASA will develop a reactor for the Moon with launch readiness by 2030.
  • Department of Defense will work on an orbital reactor for space missions by 2031.

SpaceX’s “Rosalind Franklin Rover Mission” for Mars

• What: SpaceX will launch the Rosalind Franklin rover in 2028 using Falcon Heavy rocket under a mission sponsored by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and led by European Space Agency (ESA) to search for evidence of life on Mars.
• Tell me more:
  • The Rosalind Franklin rover forms part of the European Space Agency ExoMars programme focused on detecting signs of past or present life.
  • The mission aims to search for signs of past or present life on Mars by studying soil samples and analysing organic molecules beneath the planet’s surface.
  • Rover’s landing site will be Mars’ Oxia Planum.
  • This rover of the ExoMars programme is named Rosalind Franklin, a British chemist and X-ray crystallographer whose crucial work on X-ray diffraction images, particularly “Photo 51,” provided the essential evidence for the double-helix structure of DNA.

Pax Silica Initiative of USA

• What: Pax Silica is a United States-led initiative to secure the full technology supply chain, covering critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, and data infrastructure, through cooperation among multiple partner countries.
• Tell me more:
  • In April, the Philippines joined the initiative. The USA and Philippines decided to establish an industrial hub in Luzon, Philippines.
  • Finland also joined as the 14th Pax Silica signatory. It joins fellow signatories Australia, India, Israel, Japan, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

India Invited for Strait of Hormuz Initiative

• What: India received an invitation from the United Kingdom and France to join a maritime initiative to protect navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route.
• Tell me more:
  • The Strait of Hormuz facilitates nearly 20% of global oil trade.
  • British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the situation at the Élysee Palace, Paris, France.
  • The Strait of Hormuz is a vital, narrow maritime chokepoint located between Iran to the north and the Musandam Peninsula of Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the south.
    • The Musandam Peninsula is the mountainous exclave of Oman separated from the rest of the country by the UAE.

Banking and Economy

DGFT Authorises Banks For Gold Silver Imports

• What: The Directorate General of Foreign Trade issued a notification permitting selected banks, authorised by the Reserve Bank of India, to import gold and silver until March 2029, enabling clearance of pending consignments held at Customs.
• Tell me more:
  • Fifteen banks received permission to import gold and silver, including State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, Punjab National Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank.
  • India permits imports of up to 200 tonnes of gold at 5% concessional duty under the free trade agreement with Dubai.
  • India imported gold worth $72 billion in FY26, recording 24% growth, while silver imports reached $12.1 billion with 150% growth.

CheQ and AU Small Finance Bank Launches India’s First Co-branded LED Credit Card

• What: CheQ partnered with AU Small Finance Bank to launch the CheQ AU Credit Card, introducing an LED-powered tap feature.
• Tell me more:
  • The LED-powered tap feature is a system where the credit card lights up during contactless payment, using the POS terminal’s NFC field, to give instant visual confirmation without requiring a battery.

JSW and POSCO Form JV For Odisha Steel Plant

• What: JSW Steel Limited and South Korea’s POSCO Group signed a Joint Venture Agreement to establish a 6 million tonnes per annum greenfield integrated steel plant in Odisha through Saffron Resources Private Limited.
• Tell me more:
  • Saffron Resources Private Limited will operate as a 50:50 joint venture between JSW Steel Limited and POSCO Group.
  • JSW Steel Limited targets expansion of production capacity to 50 million tonnes per annum in India by fiscal year 2031.

Reports and Indices

World Economic Forum’s Report “Growth in the New Economy: Towards a Blueprint”

• What: The World Economic Forum reported that advances in artificial intelligence, quantum, and other technologies will increase global gross domestic product by about USD 56 trillion over five years, with major contributions from Asia and technology-driven sectors.
• Tell me more:
  • The World Economic Forum released the report “Growth in the New Economy: Towards a Blueprint” highlighting technology-driven economic expansion.
  • China and India will contribute more than one-third of global GDP growth by 2030, while the United States will contribute about one-tenth.
  • Eastern Asia and Southern Asia will contribute nearly half of global growth, while Europe and North America will show slower growth rates.
  • Middle-income countries will contribute 65% of global growth, with upper-middle-income economies leading overall expansion.

Bloomberg Billionaires Index 2026

• What: The Bloomberg Billionaires Index reported that Gautam Adani became Asia’s richest person, surpassing Mukesh Ambani.
• Tell me more:
  • Gautam Adani, Founder-Chairman of Adani Group, secured the 19th global rank with $92.6 billion net worth.
  • Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries, ranked 20th globally with $90.8 billion net worth.
  • Elon Musk held the top global position with $656 billion, followed by Larry Page with $286 billion and Jeff Bezos with $269 billion.
  • The index calculates daily wealth using stock prices for public shares, estimates private company value using comparisons, and adjusts for taxes, debts, pledged shares, dividends, and risk factors.

18th Edition of Global Innovation Index 2025 by World Intellectual Property Organization

• Total economies – 139
• The GII 2025 rankings primarily reflect data from 2023 to 2025 (representing approximately 80 percent of all data points).
• Parameters of Rankings – Institutions, Human capital and research, Infrastructure, Market sophistication, Business sophistication, Knowledge and technology outputs, Creative outputs
• Rankings

• India’s Parameter Rank
  • Institutions: 58
  • Human Capital and Research: 54
  • Infrastructure: 61
  • Market Sophistication: 38
  • Business Sophistication: 64
  • Knowledge and Technology Outputs: 22
  • Creative Outputs: 42
• India’s is ranked number 1 innovative country in the income wise ranking (in lower middle-income group), followed by Viet Nam and Philippines.
• India is also the number 1 innovator in the Central and Southern Asia region, followed by Iran and Uzbekistan.
• This report also provides information on the innovation clusters (specific geographic areas where a high level of innovation activity happens together).

Economies of the top 100 innovation clusters

The top 100 innovation clusters are concentrated in the following economies:

1. China: for the second consecutive year, leads with the most clusters (24).
2. The United States (22) with San Jose–San Francisco as the leading cluster.
3. Germany (7) with Munich as the top cluster.
4. India (4) with Bengaluru as the most innovative cluster.
   • Global innovation cluster rankings – Bengaluru (21st), Delhi (26th), Mumbai (46th), Chennai (84th).
5. The United Kingdom (4) with London as the most significant cluster.

Top innovative clusters in the world

1. Shenzhen–Hong Kong–Guangzhou (China and Hong Kong, China)
2. Tokyo–Yokohama (Japan)
3. San Jose–San Francisco (United States)
4. Beijing (China)
5. Seoul (Republic of Korea)

Defence News

Surya Devbhoomi Challenge 2.0 Flagged Off Uttarakhand

• What: Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan flagged off Surya Devbhoomi Challenge 2.0 in Garhwal, Uttarakhand, a 113-kilometre expedition organised by Indian Army to promote tourism, heritage conservation, and regional development.
• Tell me more:
  • The programme operates under Vibrant Village Programme to boost tourism and generate employment in border villages.

First CAPFs Leadership Conference to be Held in Delhi

• What: The Government will organise the first leadership conference for Central Armed Police Forces officers in Delhi under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss internal security challenges and coordination.
• Tell me more:
  • The conference will be coordinated by the Intelligence Bureau under the Ministry of Home Affairs, after passing the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) General Administration Act, 2026.

Science and Technology

New Reed Snake Species Discovered in Meghalaya

• What: Researchers from institutions in Northeast India and Indonesia discovered a new burrowing reed snake species named “Calamaria garoensis” in West Garo Hills, Meghalaya.
• Tell me more:
  • The study was published in the peer-reviewed journal Taprobanica.
  • The research involved institutions including Help Earth, Cotton University, Assam Don Bosco University, Mizoram University, Zoological Survey of India, and Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency.

Rare Night Parrot Sighting Confirmed in Australia

• What: A study in Ngururrpa Country identified habitat, threats, and conservation methods for the night parrot using audio recorders, camera traps, and satellite data to support its protection. The findings were published in the journal Wildlife Research.
• Tell me more:
  • Night parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis) is an elusive, nocturnal desert bird, important due to rarity and limited population, found in Australia’s interior, especially Ngururrpa Country, requiring dense spinifex habitat for survival.

Herbalife and IIT Madras Launch Plant Fermentation Centre

• What: Herbalife International India Private Limited and Indian Institute of Technology Madras established a Centre of Excellence at IIT Madras Research Park for plant cell fermentation technology to promote research, innovation, and sustainable production of plant-based compounds.
• Tell me more:
  • It is India’s first specialised centre that turns laboratory research on plant cell fermentation into practical products and technologies.
  • A plant fermentation centre is a place where plant cells are grown in controlled conditions to produce useful plant-based substances that are used in medicines, health products, and research.

Awards

Indian Botanist N. Alim Yusuf Wins WWF Award For Invasive Plants Detection App

• What: N. Alim Yusuf, a researcher at Malabar Botanical Garden and Institute for Plant Sciences, received the World Wide Fund for Nature National Award for developing an AI-powered mobile application that identifies invasive plant species in Kerala.
• Tell me more:
  • Invasive plant species are plants that grow in a place where they are not originally from and spread quickly, harming local plants, ecosystems, and biodiversity by taking their space, nutrients, and sunlight.

Sadhvi Satish Sail Wins Femina Miss India

• What: Sadhvi Satish Sail won Femina Miss India World 2026 at the 61st pageant held in Bhubaneswar and will represent India at Miss World 2027 after defeating Rajnandini Pawar.
• Tell me more:
  • Sadhvi Satish Sail hails from Goa and works as a model and entrepreneur, participating in brand campaigns including California Burrito.

Nishita Antarkar Crowned Miss Sake India 2026

• What: Hirohama India hosted the Miss Sake India 2026 contest in Mumbai and crowned Nishita Yogesh Antarkar as the cultural ambassador for Japanese sake in India.
• Tell me more:
  • The event was organised at Robata-Kuuraku, Mumbai by Hirohama India, a Delhi-based consultancy firm, with participation from Japan and India, and the event highlighted Hakutsuru, a globally recognised sake brand.
  • Nishita Yogesh Antarkar is a business owner and certified Visharad Kathak dancer with 16 years of experience. She was crowned Miss Sake India 2025 by Akansha Shrivastava.
  • Now, Antarkar will promote sake culture in India and represent the country at Miss Sake Japan Finals in June 2026.

Important Days

World Chagas Disease Day – April 14

• Theme: Women at the heart: Protecting the Next Generation from Chagas Disease
• Chagas disease is a parasite infection spread by kissing bugs or blood and food, causing mild early symptoms, but later it can damage the heart and digestive system in some people.
• Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis) is a caused by Trypanosoma cruzi parasite, mainly spread by “kissing bugs” (triatomine insects) in Latin America.

National Fire Service Day – April 14

• Theme: “Safe School, Safe Hospital & Fire Safety Aware Society – Together for Fire Prevention”

World Quantum Day – April 14

World Art Day – April 15

World Voice Day – April 16

World Liver Day – April 19

• 2026 Focus – Solid Habits, Strong Liver

World Heritage Day – April 18

• Theme: Emergency Response for Living Heritage in Contexts of Conflicts and Disasters
• In 1982, UNESCO’s General Conference established 18 April as the International Day for Monuments and Sites, in many countries also celebrated as World Heritage Day. The day is promoted by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) globally.

Sports

ICC Women’s Challenge Trophy Begins in Rwanda

• What: International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the inaugural Women’s Challenge Trophy in Kigali, Rwanda, starting April 18, featuring associate member teams to provide competitive match exposure.
• Tell me more:
  • Rwanda will play Italy and Nepal will play the United States of America in opening matches at Gahanga Cricket Stadium.
  • The ICC plans expansion of Women’s T20 World Cup teams to 16 by 2030.

Shubhankar Sharma Wins Inaugural Boulders Classic Title

• What: Shubhankar Sharma won the inaugural ₹1 crore Boulders Classic at Boulder Hills Golf and Country Club in Hyderabad, marking his return to the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India circuit after December 2021.
• Tell me more:
  • Shubhankar Sharma is a brand ambassador of Roundglass Sports.

MCA Introduces Contract System for Domestic Players

• What: Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) introduced a graded contract system for domestic players from the 2026-27 season to provide financial security and structured support to eligible players.
• Tell me more:
  • MCA became the first cricket association in India to implement a player contract system.
  • A graded contract system for domestic players means players are grouped into levels like A, B, and C, and each level gets different fixed yearly payments based on performance and selection.

Memorandum of Understanding

FIU-IND Signs MoUs To Curb Financial Crimes

• What: The Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) signed Memorandums of Understanding with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) to curb money laundering and terror financing.
• Tell me more:
  • FIU-IND and SEBI will share financial intelligence, strengthen reporting under Prevention of Money Laundering Rules, and enhance Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism compliance.
  • FIU-IND–PFRDA will exchange pension sector data, improve suspicious transaction detection, strengthen compliance under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, and enhance Anti-Money Laundering capabilities.

ISRO’s Space Applications Centre and ATREE Sign MoU For Land Research

• What: The Indian Space Research Organisation’s Space Applications Centre (SAC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) to collaborate on research, data exchange, and sustainable land management.
• Tell me more:
  • The partnership will help India reduce land degradation by 2030 and support broader sustainable development goals by improving how land and ecosystems are managed and restored.

Miscellaneous

Former IOA President N Ramachandran Passes Away

• What: Former Indian Olympic Association president N Ramachandran passed away in Chennai at the age of 77, marking the loss of a prominent sports administrator who contributed significantly to squash development in India.
• Tell me more:
  • The World Squash Federation honoured N Ramachandran as its first honorary life member.

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