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1) Antares rocket built by Northrop Grumman lifted off from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore carrying the Cygnus Cargo Spacecraft to the International Space Station. Cygnus Cargo Spacecraft: The spacecraft has successfully separated from the rocket and was flying on its way to the space station. Key facts about the Cygnus Cargo Spacecraft: The Spacecraft carried about 7,600 pounds of supplies and scientific experiments to the station. Few of the instruments will be used to examine astronaut’s health in microgravity. The instrument will perform on-orbit detection and quantification of cell surface molecules on a per cell and assess soluble molecule concentration in a liquid sample such as blood, saliva, or urine, thus sparing sample freezing and storing. The experiments will also scrutinise ageing-like changes in many astronauts on the space station, including changes to their arteries, and examine effects of spaceflight on the function of antibody production and immune memory. A NASA study has stated that long-duration spaceflight may change astronauts’ gene expression and pose other health risks. Hence it is necessary to take actions to prevent any damage to astronauts in a planned three-year space journey to Mars in 2030s.

2) The United States Department of Justice has released the special counsel Robert Mueller’s report. The report looks into alleged Russian collusion in the 2016 Presidential elections which saw incumbent US President Donald Trump rise to power. What did the Mueller Report Say? The report titled “Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election” makes the following observations: The Report says that it was unable to clear US President Donald Trump in the matter, stating that the President’s action and intent “present difficult issues that prevent us from conclusively determining that no criminal conduct occurred. President Trump’s campaign team knew they would benefit from Russia’s illegal actions to influence the action, but did not take criminal steps to help. The report states that the Russian government-sponsored efforts to illegally interfere with the 2016 presidential election, but did not find that the Trump campaign or other Americans colluded in those schemes. The report has stated that Mueller declined to subpoena the President because it would “delay” the investigation.

3) Nepal’s first satellite NepaliSat-1 was launched into space from the Virginia-based station of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the US. NepaliSat-1 NepaliSat-1 will start rotating around the Earths orbit to collect information about the country’s topography and Earths magnetic field. The satellite also bears the Nepal flag and logo of Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST). The satellite is equipped with a 5MP camera to capture Nepal’s topography and a magnetometer to collect data related to the Earth’s magnetic field. The images and data will be sent by satellite to the ground station at NAST. The satellite was developed by two Nepalis Abhas Maskey and Hariram Shrestha at Japan’s Kyushu Institute of Technology.

4) President of Israel Reuven Rivlin has formally handed Benjamin Netanyahu his letter of appointment to start building a coalition government following last week’s general election. President has stated that during his consultation with the political parties elected to the incoming 120-seat parliament 65 MPs have recommended you Benjamin Netanyahu as PM whereas 45 members supported his main rivals from the Blue and White alliance led by ex-military chief Benny Gantz and the 10 members of the Arab parties recommending nobody. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to build a coalition of 65 seats comprising Likud (35 seats), the ultra-Orthodox Shas (8), United Torah Judaism (8), Union of Right-Wing Parties (5), Yisrael Beytenu (5) and Kulanu (4). The opposition is expected to comprise Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party (35), Labor (6), Hadash-Ta’al (6), Meretz (4) and Ra’am-Balad (4). For the fifth time, Benjamin Netanyahu is going ahead with the task of putting together the government of Israel. Netanyahu will have 28 days to form a government, with the possibility of a two-week extension at the discretion of the president.

5) The Christian community is observing Good Friday on April 19 to commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ on Calvary. Good Friday is also referred to as Black Friday, Great Friday, Easter Friday or Holy Friday. Good Friday coincides with the beginning of the Jewish festival of Passover. Significance of the Day: Even though the term Good Friday is not present in the Holy Bible, the Christian religious text portrays the story of how Jesus was betrayed by Judas which led to his arrest. Jesus was beaten by the Roman soldiers after being nailed to a cross which he was asked to carry to his site of the crucifixion. Even though the term ‘Good’ associated with Good Friday is a contradiction to the events of this day, people believe that the term is associated with the words ‘pious or holy’. Good Friday is followed by Easter Sunday, the day on which Jesus was resurrected from death.

6) Madras High Court has dismissed two writ petitions filed against the Presidential decision to rescind the Lok Sabha poll notification for the Vellore parliamentary constituency in the wake of complaints of large-scale distribution of cash to voters. Why the Lok Sabha Polls in the Vellore Constituency was cancelled? Lok Sabha election to the Vellore constituency was cancelled following the recovery of a huge amount of cash allegedly from a DMK candidate’s office. The Election Commission had decided to cancel the polls after the district police had filed a complaint against the accused, Kathir Anand (DMK Candidate from Vellore) as well as two party functionaries on the basis of a report from the Income Tax department on April 10. Observation made by the Madras High Court: Writ petitions were filed by AIADMK candidate A.C. Shanmugam and independent candidate K. Sugumar, who sought a direction to the Election Commission (EC) to conduct polls for the Vellore constituency along with 38 others in the State on 18th April. The Supreme Court rejected the petitioners claim that the Constitution does not confer upon the President any power to countermand an election and, therefore, a gazette notification issued by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice notifying the decision of the President to rescind the poll notification should be declared ultra vires. The High Court pointed out that it was the EC that had made the recommendation for countermanding the polls to the President by exercising powers conferred on it under Article 324 of the Constitution, Section 21 of the General Clauses Act of 1897 and other enabling powers aimed at ensuring the conduct of free and fair elections. It was the President who had notified the polls on March 19 on the basis of a recommendation made by the EC and by exercising powers conferred on him under Section 14 of the Representation of the People Act of 1951. Hence President was right in rescinding the notification on the basis of EC’s subsequent recommendation.

7) The government has issued orders to suspend the Line of Control (LoC) trade between Jammu & Kashmir and Pak Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Why did the government suspend LoC trade? The LoC trade was initiated to facilitate the exchange of goods of common use between local populations across the LoC in Jammu & Kashmir. On the contrary, the reports indicated that Cross LoC trade routes were being misused by the Pakistan based elements for funnelling illegal weapons, narcotics and fake currency etc. NIA probes also indicated that a significant number of trading agencies engaged in LoC trade are operated by persons closely associated with banned terror organisations involved in fueling terrorism/separatism. The notification by the Ministry of Home Affairs has stated that it has decided to suspend LoC trade at Salamabad & Chakkan-da-Bagh in Jammu & Kashmir. Further, a stricter regulatory and enforcement mechanism is being worked out & will be put in place in consultation with various agencies and the issue of reopening of LoC trade will be revisited thereafter.

8) India and France will conduct their largest ever naval exercise ‘Varuna’ off Goa coast early May. Varuna 2019: India will deploy its aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya with its MiG-29K fighters and French side would be represented by its aircraft carrier FNS Charles de Gaulle with its Rafale-M naval jets. The exercise will also see participation of FNS Forbin, the FNS Provence and the FNS Latouche Treville, a nuclear attack submarines, the FNS Amethyste, and the tanker FNS Marne from France and diesel-electric submarine INS Shankul, guided-missile destroyer INS Chennai, stealth frigate INS Tarkash and tanker INS Deepak, along with P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft and Dornier-228 planes from India. Varuna is a top-level naval exercise, with intensive dual carrier task group operations and anti-submarine warfare manoeuvres. India-France Defence Cooperation: India and France are working closely to implement their action-oriented joint strategic vision for cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), which was finalised in March 2018. The Military Logistics Agreement with France which provides Indian Navy access to French bases located in the India ocean region including the Reunion Islands near Madagascar and Djibouti on the Horn of Africa and French navy access to Indian ports in the region is now operationalised with French anti-aircraft destroyer FNS Cassard docking at the Mumbai naval port.

9) In a factual report submitted by the state forest department following the directive of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), it has been stated that there are about Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) in the Jaisalmer area of the Desert National Park in Thar. This claim by the Rajasthan Forest Department is contrary to that by the Wildlife Institute of India which had estimated a total population of GIB at 150 for whole India. Fact Box: Great Indian Bustard. Scientific Name: Ardeotis nigriceps. IUCN status: Critically Endangered. Plea before NGT: A petition filed by the Centre for Wildlife and Environment Litigation (CWEL) stating that wind power projects and transmission lines were proving to be a major hazard for the survival of the endangered species in the desert area and most of the wind power projects are located in the natural habitat of the GIB in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Due to their weight, GIBs cannot fly at a high altitude. As a result, they caught in power lines. Even the 30th Forest Advisory Committee report had advised ensuring that transmission lines in the natural habitats of GIBs should pass underground. The petition claimed that the Rajasthan government is not doing enough to conserve the critically endangered species. No effort has been made to install ‘bird diverters’ on these power lines. Further, no measure has been taken to curb the menace of feral dogs and foxes in the park.

10) April 18 was observed as the World Heritage Day 2019 with the theme Rural Landscapes. The theme Rural Landscapes is related to the theme of the 2019 International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Scientific Symposium on Rural heritage to be held at Marrakesh, Morocco in October. World Heritage Site: UNESCO defines a World Heritage Site as a “natural or man-made area or a structure that is of international importance, and space which requires special protection.” Genesis of the World Heritage Day: On 18 April 1982 on the occasion of a symposium organised by ICOMOS in Tunisia, it was suggested to observe the “International Day for Monuments and Sites” simultaneously throughout the world. UNESCO passed a resolution at its 22nd session on November 1983 approving the idea and recommended the member states to examine the possibility of declaring 18 April each year “International Monuments and Sites Day”. This has been referred to as the World Heritage Day. World Heritage Day offers an opportunity to raise the public’s awareness about the diversity of cultural heritage and the efforts that are required to protect and conserve it, as well as draw attention to its vulnerability.

11) World Health Organisation (WHO) has released new recommendations on 10 ways through which countries can use digital health technology which is accessible via mobile phones, tablets and computers to improve people’s health and essential services. Overview of WHO Recommendations: The guideline demonstrates that health systems need to respond to the increased visibility and availability of information. The recommendations advise on everything from how to employ digital tools for birth notifications to implementing health worker decision support tools and using telemedicine to digital health education services. The guidelines are designed to help decision-makers in government health departments; the public health sector and other stakeholders, better understand how digital tools could address their population’s health needs. The guideline emphasises the importance of providing supportive environments for training, dealing with unstable infrastructure, as well as policies to protect the privacy of individuals, and governance and coordination to ensure these tools are not fragmented across the health system. People must be assured that their own data is safe and that they are not being put at risk because they have accessed information on sensitive health topics, such as sexual and reproductive health issues. The guideline underlines the importance of reaching vulnerable populations and ensuring that digital health does not endanger them in any way. The recommendations were based on the two-year-long research by the WHO on digital technologies, including consultations with global experts, so that such tools may be used for maximum impact on health systems and people’s health.

12) President Donald Trump has vetoed the resolution from the US Congress which directed him to end U.S. support for the civil war in Yemen. Why the President has vetoed the Congress Resolution? President trump has stated the following reasons for vetoing the US Congress resolution: Yemen is at a breaking point as 10 million people on the brink of famine. There are more than 100 civilian casualties per week, and Yemenis are more likely to be killed at home than in any other structure. U.S. support for the war between the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and Iran-aligned Houthi rebels was necessary to protect the safety of the more than 80,000 Americans who reside in certain coalition countries. President Trump has called the resolution as an unnecessary and a dangerous attempt to weaken his constitutional authorities. He further stressed that the resolution endangers the lives of American citizens and brave service members, both today and in the future. It was the second veto during his presidency, earlier he had vetoed a congressional resolution which was aimed to reverse the border emergency President Trump had declared in order to secure more funding for his wall between the United States and Mexico.

13) 150 Indian peacekeepers serving with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) were honoured with medals of honour by the United Nations for their dedicated service and sacrifice. United Nations Mission in South Sudan: UNMISS is working to deter violence against civilians by providing a safe and secure environment for South Sudanese people who have fled violence and sought sanctuary at Protection of Civilian sites across the country. UNMISS peacekeepers are also working to facilitate the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance, such as food, clean water, shelter and healthcare, to the millions of displaced people. UNMISS aims to provide a safe and supported environment so that these people can return to their former homes and communities to live safely and with dignity. UNMISS also protects, monitors, investigates, and reports on human rights violations and abuses with a strong focus on the most vulnerable, such as women and children and those who are subjected to sexual and gender-based violence. UNMISS is committed to helping build durable peace in South Sudan. UNMISS is working as a partner at a national and sub-national level with political, religious, traditional and community leaders as well as at grassroots with communities and individuals across the country to advance reconciliation efforts, to strengthen conflict resolution mechanisms and build national cohesion as well as to engage in regional and international peace initiatives. UN Peacekeeping Missions and India: India is one of the top troop-contributing nations to UN Peacekeeping Missions. Till date, more than 200,000 military and police have served under the various peacekeeping missions and 168 Indian military personnel have lost their lives under the UN flag. Currently, India is the second largest contributor of peacekeepers to UNMISS with more than 2,400 military and police personnel currently deployed the mission.

14) Indian Navy and several other agencies involved in coastal defence and maritime security brainstormed over the outcome of the ‘Sea Vigil’ exercise. Sea Vigil Exercise: Sea Vigil was a first of its kind multi-agency drill, covering the entire 7,516 km-long Indian coastline and exclusive economic zone and involving 13 coastal states and Union Territories. The objectives of the Sea-Vigil Exercise were: Simultaneously activate the coastal security mechanism across all states and Union Territories. Evaluate critical areas and processes, including inter-agency coordination, information sharing and technical surveillance. Comprehensively and holistically validate the efficacy of the measures taken since ’26/11′ Mumbai attacks. The large geographical extent, a number of stakeholders involved, number of units participating and the objectives to be met make the exercise an unprecedented one. The debriefing from the Sea Vigil exercise was attended by the officials of the Navy, Indian Coast Guard, central ministries, state governments, union territory administration and intelligence agencies. The feedback from the exercise and deliberations would be presented in the next meeting of the National Committee for Strengthening Maritime and Coastal Security (NCSMCS).

15) Sri Lanka’s first satellite Raavana-1 was launched into space from NASA’s Flight Facility on Virginia’s east shore. Raavana-1: Raavana 1 weights around 1.05 kg and is 1000 cubic centimetres in size. The minimum lifespan of the satellite is around one and a half years and it is expected to be active for five years. Raavana 1 satellite was designed and built at the Kyushu Institute of Technology in Japan by two Sri Lankan research engineers. Raavana 1 satellite’s camera mission is to capture images of Sri Lanka and its neighbouring countries. The Raavana-1 is expected to orbit 400 kilometres away from the earth. The satellite will achieve an active attitude stabilization which ensures that the satellite’s attitude is stable under the influence of external talks. The launch of Raavana-1 marks Sri Lanka’s entry into the global space age.

16) The Face of Disasters 2019 report was released by the Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society (SEEDS). The report is aimed at bringing about a conversation on building a sustainable future, which is beyond response to disasters. Findings of the Report: India is staring at extremes of too little and too much rainfall in 2019. There is a significant drought condition even before the onset of summers. Extreme floods in unexpected locations during the Monsoons are fast becoming a new normal in India. Other disasters are hidden because of slow-onset or they may be affecting ignored populations or occurring at the same time as more high profile disasters. For instance, during the June to September monsoon of 2018, Punjab experienced a “normal” monsoon with rainfall just 7% higher than the average rainfall in the State. But this figure masked the fact that Ropar saw 71% excess rainfall while Ferozepur experienced a 74% shortage. Similarly, eastern Uttar Pradesh saw a minimal shortage of 16% lower than usual. However, Kushi Nagar received 82% less while Kannauj actually had a surplus of 62%. The report also outlines the following eight key areas: Water and the changing nature of disaster risk: A ‘new normal’ of rainfall variability is bringing challenges of too much and too little water, often in parallel. No disaster is ‘natural’: Risks lurking under the radar slip through the cracks because they don’t meet the idea of a ‘natural disaster’. The silent events: The disasters that go unseen leave those affected at even greater risk. Land becomes water (and water becomes land): Changes to the coastline are already affecting livelihood sources and will be hotspots for vulnerability in the future. The complexity of disaster impact: Beyond official ‘damages’, the long-term and uncaptured disaster impacts have life-changing consequences for affected communities. The urban imperative: Risk is rapidly urbanising and will affect everyone. Transformations in the third pole: Himalayan glaciers are melting, with serious implications for the whole region. Planning for what you can’t see: Earthquake risk is looming large under the radar, but are we prepared? Additionally, the report also looks into the changing face of disaster risks and the need to look at ‘disasters’ from a broader perspective, with roots in resource management practices.

17) Bangladesh observed Mujibnagar Day on 17th April. On the Occasion Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina paid tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, in Dhanmondi, Dhaka. Mujibnagar Day: Mujibnagar Day is observed on 17th April because on this day senior leaders of Awami League assembled at Baidyanathtala—a mango orchard that was later named as Mujibnagar—in Meherpur district on April 17, to form the provisional government of independent Bangladesh. The provincial government was formed in the absence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, since he was arrested and flown to Pakistan after Pakistan’s military cracked down on the Bangalis on the night of March 25, 1971. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, famously known as Bangabandhu was declared the first president of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, while Vice-president Syed Nazrul Islam became the acting president in the absence of Bangabandhu. On the occasion Bangladesh paid tribute to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Syed Nazrul Islam and the first prime minister, Tajuddin Ahmad, the first Cabinet Ministers Khandoker Moshtaque Ahmed, M Mansur Ali and AHM Quamaruzzaman.

18) Iran’s Parliament has overwhelmingly approved a bill labelling U.S. forces in the Middle East as terrorist groups. This comes days after U.S. designation of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as terrorist organisation formally took effect. The bill introduced by the Iranian Defence Minister has authorised the government to act firmly in response to “terrorist actions” by US forces and demands authorities use of legal, political and diplomatic measures to neutralise the American move, without elaborating. Since the bill did not elaborate on the measures Iran would take, it remains unclear how the bill’s passage in parliament would affect the Gourd’s activities in the Persian Gulf, where the U.S. Navy has in the past accused Iranian patrol boats of harassing American warships. The Revolutionary Guard’s designation as a terrorist group by the US was the first-ever designation for an entire division of another government. Some hard-liner lawmakers of Iran had demanded listing of the entire U.S. Army and security forces as terrorist organizations.

19) Navies of India and Vietnam held a four-day maritime exercise off Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam with an aim to boost operational cooperation. India-Vietnam Naval Exercise: From the Indian side warships, INS Kolkata and INS Shakti participated in the annual exercise, comprising a harbour and a sea phase. The exercise was undertaken as a part of the ongoing overseas deployment of eastern fleet ships to South East Asian countries. India-Vietnam relations were elevated to the level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016. Enhancing military ties was a key element of talks during the visit of Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang to India in March 2018. Conduction of the bilateral exercise on an annual basis is expected to give a further fillip to the existing strong bilateral relation between India and Vietnam.

20) The Supreme Court on Tuesday admitted for consideration a plea by a couple to lift the ban on Muslim women’s entry into mosques across the country. Based on the plea by a Pune-based Muslim couple the Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Centre, the Waqf Board and the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB). What are the arguments made by the Petitioner? Banning the entry of women into Mosques violates Articles 14 (Equality), 15 (Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth), 21 (Protection of life and personal liberty), 25 (Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion) and 29 (Protection of interests of minorities) of the Constitution. Bar on Muslim women entry to mosques was violative of Article 44 of the Constitution of India, which encourages the State to secure a Uniform Civil Code for all citizens, by eliminating discrepancies between various personal laws currently in force in the country. The petition also laid emphasis on the apex court’s Sabarimala verdict where the Supreme Court had lifted the ban on entry of women into Kerala’s Sabarimala temple stating “Religion cannot be used as cover to deny rights of worship to women and it is also against human dignity. Prohibition on women is due to non-religious reasons and it is a grim shadow of discrimination going on for centuries”. Accepting the petition the Supreme Court had said that “We are only hearing you, and maybe will hear you in the future, because of Sabarimala Judgment.” Current Situation: At present women are allowed to offer prayers at mosques under the Jamaat-e-Islami and Mujahid denominations and women are barred from mosques under the predominant Sunni faction. Even in mosques where women are allowed, there are separate entrances and enclosures for worship for men and women.

21) Using data obtained by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft, scientists have found that Saturn’s largest moon Titan has small liquid lakes that run more than 100 metres deep, perched atop hills and filled with methane. What are the Findings? The findings published in the journal titled Nature Astronomy make the following observations: Titan has landforms akin to Mesas towering above the nearby landscape, topped with liquid lakes more than 300 feet deep comprised mainly of methane. Scientists suspect the lakes were formed when surrounding bedrock chemically dissolved and collapsed a process which occurs with a certain type of lake on Earth. The scientists also observed “phantom lakes” on Titan that during wintertime appeared to be wide but shallow ponds but perhaps were only a few inches deep and evaporated or drained into the surface by springtime, a process taking seven years on Titan. The findings also presented evidence about Titan’s hydrological cycle, with liquid hydrocarbons raining down from clouds, flowing across its surface and evaporating back into the sky which is comparable to Earth’s water cycle. Scientists suspect Titan could potentially could harbour life possibly in the surface bodies of liquid hydrocarbons because of Titan’s complex chemistry and distinctive environments. Titan which is the moon of Saturn has a diameter of 5,150 km and is the solar system’s second largest moon, behind only Jupiter’s Ganymede. It is bigger than the planet Mercury. Titan is the most Earth-like body in the solar system. It has lakes, canyons, rivers, dune fields of organic sand particles about the same size as silica sand grains on Earth.

22) April 17 is observed as World Haemophilia Day. The World Haemophilia Day 2019 is aimed at reaching out and identifying new members of the bleeding disorders community. April 17 is observed as World Hemophilia Day to commemorate the birthday of Frank Schnabel who established the World Federation of Haemophilia in 1963. Haemophilia and its Occurrence: Haemophilia is a medical condition in which the ability of blood to clot is severely reduced. As a result, even a minor injury can cause severe bleeding. It is mostly inherited and is attributed to the defect in the X chromosome. If a girl is born with one defective X chromosome, her other X chromosome can compensate for it. As a result, she will be a carrier of haemophilia but she herself will not suffer from the condition. On the other hand, if both of her X chromosomes are defective she is bound to suffer from haemophilia. If a boy is born with a defective X chromosome, he does not have the second X chromosome to compensate for it. Hence he will suffer from haemophilia. That is the reason haemophilia is more common among men. Britain’s Queen Victoria is the world’s most widely known carrier of haemophilia. From her, the condition spread to a number of European royal families. Hence haemophilia is often referred to as the Royal Disease. Haemophilia A, occurs in about 1 in 5,000 births, while Haemophilia B is even rarer at about 1 in about 20,000 births. According to the World Federation of Haemophilia’s Annual Global Survey 2017, there were over 1.96 lakh persons living with haemophilia across the world in 2017 and India emerged with the highest count at nearly 19,000.

23) The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the ongoing Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) programme phase-4 consisting of five rocket flights during 2021-2024. GSLV Ph-4: The GSLV phase four will enable the launch of two-tonne class of satellites for geo-imaging, navigation, data relay communication and space sciences. The total fund requirement for phase four has been pegged at Rs 2729.13 crores. The cost includes the cost of five Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicles (GSLVs), essential facility augmentation, programme management, and launch campaign, along with the additional funds required for meeting the scope of the ongoing programme. The GSLV continuation programme is expected to meet the launch requirement of satellites for providing critical satellite navigation services, data relay communication for supporting the Indian human spaceflight programme and the next interplanetary mission to Mars. The continuation programme will meet the demand for the launch of satellites at a frequency up to two launches per year. The GSLV continuation programme was initially sanctioned in 2003, and two phases have been completed and the third phase is in progress and expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2020-21.

24) Researchers from the Tel Aviv University, Israel have printed the world’s first 3D vascularised engineered heart using a patient’s own cells and biological materials. Why this is significant? The 3D Heart was made from human cells and patient-specific biological materials. During the process, the patient-specific biological materials served as the bio-inks (substances made of sugars and proteins that can be used for 3D printing of complex tissue models). Even though people had managed to 3D-print the structure of a heart in the past, but those attempts were not with cells or with blood vessels. The heart produced by researchers is about the size of a rabbit’s. Even though many challenges remain before fully working 3D printed hearts would be available for transplant into patients. This successful demonstration underlines the potential for engineering personalized tissue and organ replacement in the future. The challenge now before the researchers is to teach the printed hearts “to behave” like real ones. The cells are currently able to contract but do not yet have the ability to pump. Then they can undertake transplantation into animal models. When successful, there will be organ printers in the finest hospitals around the world, and these procedures will be conducted routinely.

25) Scientists from Ocean University in Qingdao, China and the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England have discovered a bacteria that eats oil. Oil-Eating Bacteria: The oil eating bacteria was discovered in the western Pacific Ocean’s 10,994-meter-deep Mariana Trench. The team from collected samples from the trench. In the samples, they found microorganisms that eat compounds similar to those in oil. The expedition was organised by marine explorer and film director James Cameron. Significance of the Discovery: Hydrocarbons are organic compounds that are made of only hydrogen and carbon atoms. They are found in many places, including crude oil and natural gas. These types of microorganisms which essentially eat compounds similar to those in oil and then use it for fuel can play a significant role in degrading oil spills in natural disasters such as BP’s 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

26) Cricketer Mithali Raj has been named as the goodwill ambassador of the Indian team for the Street Child Cricket World Cup. She will join former captain Saurav Ganguly and IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals in supporting the team India for the Street Child Cricket World Cup. Street Child Cricket World Cup: The first ever Cricket World Cup for street children will take place ahead of the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup in England and Wales. The Street Child Cricket World Cup aims to unite street children from around the world to play in their own international cricket tournament to raise awareness and tackle the widespread stigma and negative treatment they face. Off the pitch, these young people will also make their voices heard and make recommendations to help improve the lives of street children worldwide.

27) The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) has issued the guidelines for monetisation of non-core assets of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and immovable enemy properties. Guidelines for Monetisation of Non-Core Assets: An inter-ministerial group chaired by the secretary of DIPAM will identify the non-core assets of the CPSEs on its own and also on the basis of recommendations of the Niti Aayog. The final call will be taken by the Finance minister-headed panel. Once the panel approves the assets for monetisation, it should be completed within 12 months from the date of approval, failing which the finance ministry may restrict budgetary allocations to the CPSEs. CPSEs can also seek relaxation from the inter-ministerial group of the 12-month deadline for sale of non-core assets. In case of immovable enemy properties, the guidelines said that the assets would be identified for disposal in consultation with the stakeholders including the respective state governments. The amount raised through the sale of non-core assets would form part of the disinvestment proceeds. The government has set a target of Rs 90,000 crore to be raised through CPSE disinvestment in the current financial year.

28) The winners of the 2019 Pulitzer Prizes have been announced. The winners in the category of Letters, Drama and Music are listed below: Fiction: The Overstory, by Richard Powers (W.W. Norton). Drama: Fairview, by Jackie Sibblies Drury. History: Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom, by David W. Blight (Simon & Schuster). Biography: The New Negro: The Life of Alain Locke, by Jeffrey C. Stewart (Oxford University Press). Poetry: Be With, by Forrest Gander (New Directions). General Nonfiction: Amity and Prosperity: One Family and the Fracturing of America, by Eliza Griswold (Farrar, Straus and Giroux). Music: Prism, by Ellen Reid. The Pulitzer Prize is awarded for achievements in newspaper, magazine and online journalism, literature, and musical composition in the United States. Established in 1917 by provisions in the will of Joseph Pulitzer who had made his fortune as a newspaper publisher, the awards are administered by Columbia University in New York City. Prizes are awarded yearly in twenty-one categories. In twenty of the categories, each winner receives a certificate and a US$15,000 cash award and the winner in the public service category of the journalism competition is awarded a gold medal.

29) The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has formed a Central Monitoring Committee to prepare and enforce a national plan to make over 350 river stretches pollution free across the country. River pollution has caused a serious threat to the safety of water and environment. Order of NGT: The committee would comprise representatives of NITI Aayog; secretaries of Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Urban Development and Ministry of Environment; the director general of National Mission for Clean Ganga and the Central Pollution Control Board chairman. The Committee will also coordinate with the River Rejuvenation Committees of the states and oversee the execution of the action plans, taking into account the timelines, budgetary mechanism and other factors. Chief Secretaries of states would be the nodal agency at the state level. NGT directed the Ministry of Environment to consider a policy for giving environmental awards to outstanding persons (natural and juristic) and institutions or states and introducing “dis-incentives” for non-compliant states. The Central Monitoring Committee may consider identifying experts, best practices and models for use of treated water, including plan to supply untreated sewage for a price or otherwise so that the concerned needy party can treat and utilise such water as is reportedly being done at Surat in Gujarat, Nagpur in Maharashtra and Bhilwada in Rajasthan or any other place. Use of polluted water in irrigation is a threat to the health of human beings apart from the aquatic flora and fauna. Hence it is necessary to have a regular hygienic survey of the rivers particularly with reference to pathogenic organisms having an impact on human health directly or indirectly and It is necessary to note that biological health of the rivers is an important aspect. There has to be a regular study of the Indian rivers with regard to biological health and its diversity. The NGT has issued the order after taking note of the article “More river stretches are now critically polluted: CPCB” in the Hindu.

30) The Ministry of External Affairs has set up an Indo-Pacific division in the foreign office. The Indo-pacific division is intended to give a coherent architecture to the Indo-Pacific policy articulated by PM Narendra Modi at the Shangri-La Dialogue in 2018. Indo-Pacific Wing: The Indo-Pacific Wing is currently headed by joint secretary Vikram Doraiswami. The Indo-Pacific Wing is a big step by the government and it is expected to give thrust to the Indo-Pacific centred policymaking. The Indo-Pacific Wing integrates the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), ASEAN region and the Quad. The Indo-Pacific diplomacy of India India has repeatedly placed ASEAN at the centre of its policy. Even the US has recently renamed its Pacific Command to the Indo-Pacific Command as it seeks to give teeth to its Indo-Pacific policy.

31) NASA has announced that SpaceX will fly its Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) planetary-defence mission. The total launch cost for NASA is estimated to be about $69 million. DART: Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) is a planned space probe that will demonstrate the kinetic effects of crashing an impactor spacecraft into an asteroid moon for planetary defense purposes. The mission is intended to test whether a spacecraft impact could successfully deflect an asteroid on a collision course with Earth. DART Planetary-Defense Mission: DART planetary-defence mission will be will launched by the Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California in June 2021. The spacecraft will slam into “Didymoon,” the 540-foot-wide (165 meters) satellite of the near-Earth asteroid Didymos which is located at about 4 million miles from Eart in October 2022. Scientists will observe the impact with telescopes and measure the change in the Didymoon’s orbit around the asteroid. Scientists hope to move it by just a fraction of a per cent off its path, which is enough to deflect any future asteroids off course since Didymos poses no threat to Earth. DART won’t be the first spacecraft to wallop an asteroid. Earlier this month, Japan’s Hayabusa2 probe smashed a copper cannonball into the space rock Ryugu, to unearth pristine subsurface material for study.

32) Seychelles President Danny Faure delivered a speech from deep below the ocean’s surface. Seychelles President made a global plea for stronger protection of the Oceans which are beating blue heart of our planet. The underwater speech comes at a time when many island nations including Seychelles threatened by global warming. Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, off East Africa. Small island nations like Seychelles are among the most vulnerable to the rise in sea levels caused by climate change. The speech was made during a visit to an ambitious British-led science expedition, Nekton Mission exploring the Indian Ocean depths. Nekton Mission: Nekton Mission is aimed at enhancing the humanities knowledge and understanding of the world’s oceans to speed up the protection and governance of our last great wilderness, the deep ocean. Nekton is an independent, not-for-profit research institute working in collaboration with the University of Oxford. Nekton’s missions are undertaken with host nations and combine scientific research, capacity development, ocean governance and public engagement. Nekton Mission in the Indian Ocean named First Descent is a series of expeditions to explore and conserve the world’s most unknown and least protected ocean, the Indian Ocean. The data from the Nekton Mission will be used to help Seychelles expand its policy of protecting 30% of its national waters by 2020.

33) Three teams from India have won awards at the NASA’s annual Human Exploration Rover Challenge which invites high school and college students to build and test roving vehicles for future missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond. Indian Teams Awarded: The team from KIET Group of Institutions in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, won the “AIAA Neil Armstrong Best Design Award”, which recognises systems best designed to meet the Rover Challenge performance requirements. The team from Mukesh Patel School of Technology Management and Engineering from Mumbai, Maharashtra, won the “Frank Joe Sexton Memorial Pit Crew Award” for ingenuity and persistence in overcoming problems during the race as well as the “System Safety Challenge Award”. The team from Lovely Professional University in Phagwara, Punjab, won the “STEM Engagement Award”, presented to the team that best-informed others about rocketry and other space-related topics. Human Exploration Rover Challenge: The annual Human Exploration Rover Challenge of NASA is an engineering design challenge to engage students worldwide in the next phase of human space exploration. The challenge evaluates the teams by mimicking the opportunities, challenges and decision-making that our future planetary explorers will face in interplanetary space.

34) Himachal Pradesh celebrated 72nd Himachal Day on 15th April with gaiety and fervour. Himachal Day is celebrated to commemorate its creation. Genesis of the Himachal Day: Before independence, most of the areas of Himachal Pradesh was part of Punjab state and during that time this region was divided into four different regions such as Chamba, Mandi, Shimla etc. After the independence, in 1948 the state was declared as a union territory. On the 15th April Chief Commission inaugurated this territory and after that this day was celebrated as ‘Himachal Day’ every year. Later in the 1970 the union territory was declared as a separate state. On 25th January 1971, it became the 18th state of the country. The tiny hill-state Himachal Pradesh has developed rapidly after coming into existence on April 15, 1948, following the merger of 30 princely states. Difficult geographical conditions, inaccessible areas and other complexities could not affect the courage of the people.

35) The 4th Resilient Cities Asia-Pacific 2019 Congress is being organised by International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) and hosted by South Delhi Municipal Corporation in New Delhi. The congress will offer cities & regions from Asia-Pacific a variety of innovative solutions that build resilience to climate change at the sub-national level. The congress will host combination of high-level plenaries and technical sessions on the implementation and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and the New Urban Agenda of 2016, while at the same time bringing together experts and practitioners who will share their experiences and encourage cities to take actions on resilience. Objectives of RCAP Congress 2019: To share and learn about good urban resilience practices and showcase innovative ideas, solutions and initiatives To provide local governments with exposure and access to tools and processes that help mainstream resilience considerations into policy and practice. To provide a networking platform to promote concerted and coordinated action in Asia among the main players in the field of urban resilience. To explore tangible opportunities for creating partnerships between local governments and the private sector. To bring together funders and cities and facilitate the match-making between available financial resources and current cities’ needs. The Congress was inaugurated by Vice-President Venkiah Naidu. The outcomes of the RCAP 2019 will be presented in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) Conference to be held in Berlin in June this year.

36) India’s first indigenously designed and developed long-range sub-sonic cruise missile ‘Nirbhay’ from a test range Chandipur, Odisha. Nirbhay Missile: Nirbhay missile has blended missile and aeronautical technologies which allows it to take off vertically like missile and cruise horizontally like an aircraft. The missile has a two-stage missile powered by solid rocket motor booster developed by Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL). Nirbhay Missile has an operational range of 1000 km and can carry warheads of up to 300 kg including nuclear warheads. It can be launched from various kind of platforms. It can travel with a turbofan or turbojet engine and is guided by a highly advanced inertial navigation system. It has the capability to loiter and cruise at 0.7 Mach, at altitudes as low as 100m. It is terrain hugging missile which keeps on encircling the area of its target for several minutes and then hits bull’s eye’ on an opportune time. It is difficult to detect by enemy’s radars. It is capable to engage several targets in a single flight. The guidance, control and navigation system of missile is configured around indigenously designed Ring Laser Gyroscope (RLG) and MEMS-based Inertial Navigation System (INS) along with GPS system. It was the sixth experimental test of Nirbhay missile system and it achieved all mission objectives right from lift-off till the final splash, boosting the confidence of all scientists associated with the trial.

37) The report by the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy (CDDEP) in the US has made the following observations about the antibiotics and their access: Majority of the world’s annual 5.7 million antibiotic-treatable deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. In low- and middle-income countries the mortality burden from treatable bacterial infections far exceeds the estimated annual 700,000 deaths from antibiotic-resistant infections. Even after the discovery of a new antibiotic, regulatory hurdles and substandard health facilities delay or altogether prevent widespread market entry and drug availability. Of 21 new antibiotics which entered the market between 1999 and 2014, only less than five were registered in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa. This indicates that the availability of a certain drug does not ensure its accessibilities in countries that require them the most. Health facilities in many low- and middle-income countries are substandard and lack staff who are properly trained in administering antibiotics. Lack of access to antibiotics is killing more people currently than does antibiotic resistance. The irrational use of antibiotics and poor antimicrobial stewardship lead to treatment failures. This further propagates the spread of drug resistance which, in turn, further narrows the available array of effective antibiotics. Research and development for new antimicrobials, vaccines, and diagnostic tests have slowed down since the 1960s as a profitable investment in this area is limited by low sales volumes, short duration of treatment, competition with established products and less expensive generics, and the possibility that resistance will rapidly emerge.

38) A team of doctors from Greece and Spain have reported the birth of a baby using DNA from three people. The baby boy has inherited the genetic material from two women and a man. How did the new IVF method work? Doctors used an egg from the infertile mother, the father’s sperm and another woman’s egg to conceive the baby boy. The doctors transferred genetic material with chromosomes from the mother to the egg of a donor whose own genetic material had been removed in a process. A similar DNA switching technique was adopted in Mexico in 2016 to avoid transmission of a mother’s hereditary illness to her child. But this case from Greece is unique owing to the fact that for the first time an IVF (in vitro fertilization) technique using DNA from three people has been deployed to allow a mother otherwise unable to conceive to have a child. In-vitro Fertilisation: In-vitro Fertilization is an artificial reproduction technique wherein the process of fertilization happens by extracting eggs, retrieving a sperm sample, and then manually combining an egg and sperm in a laboratory set-up. The embryo(s) is then transferred to the uterus.

39) Telugu poet K Siva Reddy has been selected for the prestigious Saraswati Samman, 2018. He has been awarded for his work Pakkaki Ottigilite which is a collection of poetry. K Siva Reddy was born in 1943 in a farmer’s family in Andhra Pradesh’s Guntur. He is considered as the most renowned modern poets in Telugu. Siva Reddy has also published critical essays on poetry. Pakkaki Ottigilite was published in 2016. It is an anthology of 104 poems in blank verse. It captures the responses of the poet over the years to social change, the evolution of his own self and his dynamic relationship with the world. Saraswati Samman Awards: Saraswati Samman Award was instituted by the KK Birla Foundation in the year 1991. It is given annually for an outstanding literary work written in any official Indian language and published during the preceding 10 years. It carries a cash purse of Rs 15 lakh, apart from a citation and a plaque. Other popular literary awards constituted by the Birla Foundation are Vyas Samman (for Hindi) and Bihari Puraskar (for Hindi and Rajasthani writers of Rajasthan).

40) The Delhi High Court has sought the response from the Cabinet Committee on Security on a plea seeking directions to remove the dual control of Assam Rifles and bring it under the Ministry of Defence. Issue of Dual Control: Assam Rifles which is also referred to as the Sentinels of North East is the oldest paramilitary force of India. The administrative control of Assam Rifles lies with the Home Ministry, while the operational control is with the Defence Ministry. The plea filed by the All India Assam Rifles Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association alleges the dual control as the violation of the rights of the troopers of Assam Rifles. The plea challenges the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961 saying that it places Assam Rifles under the head ‘Police’, which is arbitrary, unreasonable and violates the rights of Assam Rifles ex-servicemen guaranteed under Article 14 of the Constitution of The petition argues since the objective and functions of Assam Rifles were that of military and paramilitary force and its categorisation as a police force was arbitrary, unreasonable and in violation of the rights of its personnel. The petition seeks a grant of pay, allowances, pension (including arrears) and ex-servicemen facilities to Assam Rifles personnel at par with the Indian Army. Acting on the earlier order which had asked the Home and Defence Ministries to hold a meeting to resolve the matter and place before it the decision taken in an affidavit, the Home Ministry had stated that a note had been sent to the Cabinet Committee on Security on the issue. Therefore the Delhi High Court has issued a notice to the Cabinet Committee on Security to explain what decision it has taken on the note forwarded to it by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

41) The Delhi High Court has ruled that Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) prevails over the Bankruptcy Act and insolvency code when it comes to attachment of properties obtained as ‘proceeds of crime’. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had challenged the orders of PMLA appellate tribunal on the pleas of various banks. PMLA Tribunal had held that third parties, banks in this case, which have legitimately created rights such as a charge, lien or other encumbrances, have a superior claim over such properties. Observations made by Delhi High Court: PMLA, Recovery of Debt and Bankruptcy Act (RDBA), Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Securities Interest (SARFAESI) Act and Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) must co-exist and be enforced in harmony. The Delhi High Court has set aside the verdict of the PMLA tribunal and held that the objective of PMLA being distinct from the purpose of RDBA, SARFAESI Act and IBC. RDBA, SARFAESI Act and IBC doesn’t not prevail over PMLA The attachment order under the PMLA will not be illegal only because a secured creditor has a prior secured interest [charge] in the property, within the meaning of the expressions used in RDBA and SARFAESI Act. Also mere issuance of an order of attachment under the PMLA does not ipso facto render illegal a prior charge or encumbrance of a secured creditor, the claim of the latter for release [or restoration] from PMLA attachment being dependent on its bonafides. Delhi High Court has stated that by the virtue of Section 71, PMLA has the overriding effect over other existing laws in the matter of dealing with “money-laundering” and “proceeds of crime”.

42) Mohammed Ishtaye was sworn in as the new Palestinian Prime Minister. He along with 24 ministers took the oath of office before President Mahmoud Abbas. New Government of Palestine: It is the 18th Palestinian government since the establishment of the Palestinian Authority in 1995. Ishtaye and the ministers separately took the oath vowing to respect the law and the Palestinian constitutional system. The new government consisting of 24 ministers has representation from Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Abbas’ Fatah Party, the Palestinian People’s Party, the FIDA party, the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front, in addition to independent figures. Islamic Hamas movement and Islamic Jihad are excluded from the new government since Hamas has been ruling the Gaza Strip since it violently seized control of the coastal enclave from Abbas’ security forces in 2007. The Islamic Hamas movement has slammed the formation of a new Palestinian government is deepening the internal division. Hamas has said that the new government is far from any Palestinian national accord or any legal measure. Criticising the government as further deepening the internal Palestinian division, Hamas has stated that it expects to get representation in the government to strengthen the national unity.

43) India finished its campaign at the Cologne Boxing World Cup 2019 with a haul of five medals. The Cologne Boxing World Cup 2019 was held at Cologne, Germany. Indian Medal Tally: Meena Kumari Maisnam (54kg) won the only gold medal for India in the tournament. It was the only bout of the tournament for the Manipur pugilist Meena Kumari as she had been directly placed in the final due to a smaller draw. Youth world champion Sakshi (57kg) and India Open gold medallist Pwilao Basumatary (64kg) lost their final bouts and finished with silver medals. Pinki Rani (51kg) and Parveen (60kg) won bronze medals after losing their semi-final bouts. Cologne Boxing World Cup earlier known as Chemistry Cup witnessed participation from more than 20 nations and 160 boxers in seven women and ten men weight classes. It is one of the strongest international events in Europe with nearly 50 years of traditions. The first edition was held in 1970.

44) SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket successfully lifted off marking the towering booster’s second flight and its first commercial launch. For the first time, all three of the rocket’s reusable boosters returned safely to Earth. The rocket deployed an advanced communications satellite, Arabsat-6A which will provide internet and communications services to residents of the Middle East, Africa and parts of Europe. Falcon Heavy Rocket weighs more than 3.1 million pounds and is made up of three reusable boosters based on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, which has been ferrying cargo to the International Space Station since 2012. SpaceX: SpaceX is a private American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. It was founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Elon Muskwith the goal of reducing space transportation costs. SpaceX has developed Falcon launch vehicle family and the Dragon spacecraft family to deliver payloads into Earth orbit.

45) After the alerts from the Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has asked manufacturers of 7 common antibiotics to ensure that information related to symptoms/side effects is made available to the general public. CDSCO Order: CDSCO has asked drug manufacturers, to mention in leaflets inserted into drug packets or on promotional literature, information about the adverse reactions of these medicines. Manufacturers of antibiotics Cefotaxime, Ofloxacin and Cefixime; Tranexamic Acid ( used to control bleeding) antipsychotic drug Quetiapine; anti-rheumatoid drug Sulfasalazine and the anti-epileptic medicine Sodium Valproate are instructed to warn patients of the “new” side effects. Pharmacovigilance Programme of India: Pharmacovigilance Program of India (PvPI) was launched in 2010 with a broad objective to safeguard the health of 1.27 billion people of India. Adverse drug Reactions (ADRs) are reported from all over the country to the National Coordination centre of PvPI, which also work in collaboration with the global ADR monitoring centre (WHO-UMC), Sweden to contribute in the global ADRs database. The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), Ghaziabad, (U.P.) hosts the coordination centre for PvPI. The mission of PvPI is to safeguard the health of the Indian population by ensuring that the benefit of the use of medicine outweighs the risks associated with its use.

46) The 2019 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano Press Freedom Prize has been awarded to Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. The jury has recognised their exceptional courage in reporting on alleged human rights violations in the Myanmar’s state of Rakhine. Both Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo had worked hard to pursue a career in journalism that was impossible in the junta era. Their documentary on the taboo topic regarding crimes committed against Rohingyas landed them behind the bars. The Press Freedom Prize 2019 pays a tribute to their courage, resistance and commitment to freedom of expression. UNESCO/Guillermo Cano Press Freedom Prize: The UNESCO/Guillermo Cano Press Freedom Prize recognises outstanding contributions to the defence or promotion of press freedom especially in the face of danger. The prize which carries a reward of $25,000 Prize is funded by the Guillermo Cano Isaza Foundation (Colombia), the Helsingin Sanomat Foundation (Finland), and The Namibia Media Trust. The Prize is named after Guillermo Cano Isaza, the Colombian journalist who was assassinated in front of the offices of his newspaper El Espectador in Bogotá, Colombia, on 17 December 1986.

47) The Ministry of Commerce and Industries has urged the Health Ministry to frame law banning manufacture and sale of e-cigarettes in the country as in the absence of the domestic legislation, it would not be possible to put a blanket ban on its imports. The Ministry of Commerce and Industries has stated that without banning domestic sale and manufacturing of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) through law, it will be an infringement of global trade norms to put an import ban. Electronic Cigarettes: Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes are devices that do not burn or use tobacco leaves but instead vaporise a solution, which a user then inhales. The main constituents of the solution, in addition to nicotine, are propylene glycol. Earlier, the Health Ministry had asked the commerce ministry to issue a notification banning the import of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), including e-cigarettes and flavoured hookah. To put the ban into effect the Commerce Ministry has urged the Health Ministry to frame rules regarding the domestic sale and manufacturing so that the Ministry of Commerce and Industries can go ahead with imposing of the blanket ban on the imports. As per the World Health Organization report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2017, governments of 30 countries which includes Mauritius, Australia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, Bahrain, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have already banned the Electronic cigarettes.

48) Rajouri Day was celebrated on April 13 to commemorate the bravery and valour of the soldiers who laid down their lives for the liberation of Rajouri district. Rajouri Day: Significance and Genesis: The Partition of India and the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India in October 1947 was followed by the First Kashmir War between India and Pakistan. The Pakistani raiders, along with the rebels and deserters from the western districts of the state, captured Rajouri on 7 November 1947. More than 30,000 Hindus and Sikhs living in Rajouri were reportedly killed, wounded or abducted. Rajouri was recaptured on 12 April 1948 from rebels and Pakistan Army personnel who had infiltrated from across the border by the 19 Infantry Brigade of the Indian Army under the command of Second Lieutenant Rama Raghoba Rane. Having destroyed most of the town and killing large number its inhabitants the captors had fled by the time Indian Army entered the town. After the arrival of the Army, some 1,500 refugees who had fled to the hills, including women and children, returned to the town. ‘Rajouri Day’ is celebrated on April 13 every year to commemorate the bravery and valour of the Indian Army soldiers who laid down their lives for the liberation of Rajouri district from rebels and Pakistan Army.