The Reserve Bank of India has given its approval to Transcorp International Ltd to issue co-branded prepaid cards.

Saudi Arabia has now abolished death penalty for crimes committed by minors. The individual will now receive prison sentence of no longer than 10 years in a juvenile detention facility.

The scientists from USGS (United States Geological Survey) Astrogeology Science Center, in collaboration with NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and the Lunar Planetary Institute have virtually released the first ever digital, unified, global, geological map of the moon namely “Unified Geologic Map of the Moon”.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced Rs.50,000 crore liquidity support for Mutual Funds (MFs) on 27 April 2020. It approved the funds under the special liquidity facility scheme effective from 27 April. RBI’s move comes after Franklin Templeton’s decision to close 6 debt funds and put redemptions on hold indefinitely.

Global military expenditure growth at 3.6 percent saw its largest annual spike in a decade in 2019 with China and India being the second- and third-largest spenders, after the US, a Stockholm-based think-tank said on Monday

Iran launched its first military satellite called “Noor” into orbit. This launch has raised tensions with the US at a time the two countries are already facing off in the Persian Gulf.

The National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC Ltd.), a Public Sector Undertaking functioning under the Ministry of Power, which is the largest power producer of India has launched the Hydrogen Fuel bus and Car Project for Leh and Delhi and has invited Expression of Interest (EoI) from across the globe for providing 10 electric buses based on Hydrogen Fuel Cell (FC) and the same number of electric cars based on Hydrogen Fuel Cell. The EoI has been issued by NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) Limited, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NTPC.

The Thoothukudi airport in Tamilnadu, near the strategically important Bay of Bengal coast, has been upgraded to level 3 by the Airport Authority of India. This signifies a rise in the operational potentials of the airport and increases the scope of getting more funds for expansion activities.

The airport runway is at present being extended to 3115 metres to enable bigger planes to use it. Plans are also in the pipeline for starting hopping flights to nearby destinations like Trivandrum, Kochi, Madurai etc.

Shilpa Medicare announced the launch of Indian branded generic of Dasatinib, an anticancer drug with a brand name DASASHIL.
DASASHIL is the first branded generic anticancer drug which is used for the treatment of Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML).
The Drug Substance patent on Dasatinib was owned by Bristol-Myers-Squibb and had expired on 12 April 2020.

India on 23 April 2020 participated in a video conference of SAARC health ministers hosted by Pakistan to promote greater regional cooperation to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
India was represented at the conference by Director General of Health Services.
SAARC nations comprise of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The second edition of the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, was released on 22 April 2020.
In the 2020 THE Impact Rankings, 766 universities from 85 countries have been included.
The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings are the only global performance index that assess universities against the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The ranking measure how an institution’s research, outreach and stewardship is delivering against the 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The list has been topped by University of Auckland, New Zealand for the second straight year.

On the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day on 24th of April 2020, three Panchayats in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Union Territory-UT has clinched national awards under separate categories for their outstanding performance in strengthening rural democracy.Union Minister– Narendra Singh Tomar.

The theme for the 2020 World Immunization Week is “#VaccinesWork for All.” The campaign will focus on how vaccines, and the people who develop, deliver, and receive them, are heroes as they work to protect the health of everyone across the globe.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has developed a high-pressure ventilator called VITAL (Ventilator Intervention Technology Accessible Locally) to treat COVID-19 patients.

The Chairman of the International Cricket Council, Shashank Manohar is expected to have his term extended by another two months amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Manohar’s term was expected to end in June but he might get an extension for a couple of months, as the ICC Board meeting will be postponed due to coronavirus.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) is a grade of crude oil like Dubai Crude and Brent. The WTI is known as sweet oil since it contains 0.24 percent sulphur which makes it sweet, and its low density makes it a light oil. It is one of the three benchmarks in oil pricing. The oil is mainly sourced from the Permian Basin in Texas and is a benchmark oil for North America. Context: WTI crude oil was in the news since its price went negative for the first time in history.

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy launched the YSR Zero Interest Loan scheme, under which Rs 1,400 crore has been credited to the bank accounts of 8.78 lakh Self Help Groups (SHGs).

Under the scheme, women SHG members can avail loans of Rs 20,000-40,000 a year. It will benefit over 91 lakh women SHG members across the State. Of the 8.78 lakh SHGs, 6.95 are in rural areas.

April 26 is observed as World Intellectual Property Day.
This day is celebrated to learn about the role that intellectual property (IP) rights play in promoting creativity and innovation.
As per reports, World Intellectual Property Day 2020 places creativity at the centre of attempts to build a green world.
The theme for the year 2020 is ‘Innovate for a Green Future.’

The banking industry has been declared as a public utility service for six months till October 21, 2020 under the provisions of Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.
This would mean that the banking sector would not see any strikes by employees or officers during the operation of the law starting from April 21 till October 21, 2020.

Uttar Pradesh (UP) becomes the 1st state with a software-based in-house facility of virtual courts, where a requisite infrastructure in Allahabad High Court and all district courts of Uttar Pradesh to hear cases through video conferencing as there is lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

Hubble Space Telescope celebrates the 30th anniversary on 24 April 2020.

Sanjay Kothari took oath as Central Vigilance Commissioner of India.

Researchers at the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) Nainital, under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) found that SN 2010kd, a super-luminous supernova stands out with the amount of mass and Nickel ejected during explosion. It is much more than seen in the case of normal core-collapse supernovae.

The ‘e-karyalay’ application has been launched by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to move files and documents without the physical touch to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. The CISF is the national civil aviation security force and guards vital infrastructure of national importance like airports and metros. Additionally to maintain round the clock functioning a data recovery site has been established to ensure the functioning of ‘e-karyalaya’ 24/7.

World Malaria Day (WMD) is commemorated every year on 25 April to recognize global efforts to control malaria.

Theme 2020: Zero Malaria Starts with Me.

This year’s World Malaria Day is marred by the emergence of the COVID-19 outbreak, which further threatens people’s lives and well-being.

The annual World Immunisation Week launched by the World Health Organisation, WHO is observed in the last week of April, i.e. from 24-30 April.
This is annually observed to help vaccinate approximately 20 million children around the world, who are totally or partially deprived of vaccinations.
The theme for the year 2020 is #VaccinesWork for All.

The 11th edition of World Games which is to be held in Birmingham, Alabama, US (United States), unveiled an updated logo and title after being delayed a year because of the Coronavirus pandemic. The World Games 2021 Birmingham has been renamed to World Games 2022 Birmingham.

In Manipur, state government commemorated ‘ Khongjom Day’ at Khongjom War Memorial Complex, Thoubal on 23 April 2020.
The day remembers the people who valiantly fought in the Anglo-Manipuri War in 1891.
The site is about 35 km south of Imphal in Thoubal district where the battle was fought between Manipuri and British.

India is going ahead with a $2.3 billion (about Rs 15,000 crore) deal to manufacture fleet support vessels (FSVs) in collaboration with a Turkish shipyard following a review after questions were raised on Turkey’s links with Pakistan and the recent diplomatic tiff with the Recep Tayyip Erdogan government.

Iranian refugee Alireza Firouzja shocked the world when he upset Carlsen in the final of the $78,000 Banter Blitz Cup in a battle.

Carlsen, the reigning world champion and chess grandmaster may have got a taste of his next world title defence when teenage talent Firouzja knocked him off 8.5 to 7.5 in a marathon series of bullet matches.