NATIONAL NEWS
1.IMF scales down India’s growth projection for current fiscal to 7.3%:-
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has moderately scaled down India’s economic growth projection to 7.3 per cent for the current financial year from its earlier forecast of 7.4 per cent.Despite this, the country will remain the fastest-growing large economy as the nearest competitor China’s growth is pegged at 6.6 per cent, 6.3 per cent and 6.1 per cent for 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively.
2.Online Harms White Paper:-
The UK Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in association with Home Office have released the Online Harms White Paper.The White paper sets out a programme of action to tackle content or activity that harms individual users, particularly children, or threatens our way of life in the UK, either by undermining national security or by undermining our shared rights, responsibilities and opportunities to foster integration.
3.’Desi Bofors’ Dhanush inducted in Army in bid to modernise artillery:-
In an important step towards upgrading the combat power of the artillery, the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) handed over the first six Dhanush 155 millimetre (mm) artillery guns to the army.This is part of an order for 114 guns being delivered by the OFB’s Gun Carriage Factory, Jabalpur.The Dhanush is also called the “Desi Bofors”, having been developed from blueprints supplied by Bofors in the 1980s, when India bought 400 Swedish FH-77B howitzers.
4.Decolourisation of River Periyar:-
The River Periyar in Kerala is again witnessing the decolourisation. The decolourisation of River Periyar which provides drinking water to Kochi city.The pollution control Board (PCB) has attributed the change in colour to the poor quality of water as a result of eutrophication.River Periyar flows in the state of Kerala. It originates in the Western Ghats and flows north for a short distance to Periyar Lake.Periyar Lake is an artificial reservoir created by Mullaperiyar Dam across the river. From the Periyar Lake, tunnel carries water through mountains to the Vaigai River in Tamil Nadu, where it is used for irrigation.
5.1 TS ship to Port of Victoria, Seychelles:- 
The ship-ins Tarangini, INS Sujata, INS Shardul and ICGS Sarathi – first training squadron (1 TS) arrived in Port Victoria, Seychelles on April 6, 2019. Tarangini had left Kochi, while the other three ships had departed from Port Bierra, Mozambique. These three ships went to Mozambique for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief after the Idai cyclone after Operation Assistance. Commodore Varun Panikar welcomed these ships with warm greetings with his colleagues. While coming to the port of ships, the army band in INS Sujata played popular songs. Details of various programs related to ships were given on INS Sujata.On April 7, 2019, yoga programs were organized on 1 TS ships. High commission officials also participated in this. These ships were kept open for excursions. The cabins of the Seychelles Maritime Academy were also included in the ship’s viewers.On April 8, 2019, Captain Varun Singh, senior officer of 1 TS, along with other officials, Ambassador and Foreign Affairs Secretary Mr. Barry P. Fayre, Indian High Commissioner Dr. Ausaf Saeed, Colonel Clifford Razeline, Chief of SPDF Defense Forces and Commander of Seychelles Coast Guard Col Simon Simon Dine met. All the specialized officials appreciated the ships of Indian Navy for assistance in Mozambique. Military personnel receiving marine training also visited Botanical Gardens, Seychelles Maritime Academy and Seychelles Coast Guard Base. Sailors of Seychelles Coast Guard visited INS ShardulOn April 8, 2019 a dinner was organized on INS Sujata. On this occasion, Captain Varun Singh delivered the welcome speech. After this, Ambassador Mr. Barry Fayure said in his speech that India and Seychelles have strong bilateral relations. In the year 2018, he praised India for giving Serens to Dornier as a gift.1 TS ships are at the last stop of overseas deployment. Ship will depart for Kochi on April 10, 2019. Under the deployment, ships first arrived in Port Louis, Mauritius. From there three ships were dispatched to Mozambique for humanitarian aid and disaster relief.
6.India builds maternity hospital in Nepal:-
India has built a 25-bed maternity hospital in Nepal. The hospital has been built under the Government of India’s Small Development Projects Scheme.Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri inaugurated the Chandra Narayan Yadav Memorial Maternity Hospital in Siraha district. The Hospital will provide quality maternity and health care services to the people of 50 Village Development Committees in and around Siraha district. It will also help in reducing maternal and child mortality rate. The Hospital will be run by the Chandra Narayan Yadav Memorial Trust on no profit-no loss basis. The new infrastructure has been constructed with the Government of India’s grant of 26.90 million Nepali Rupees. It has a minor and major OTs, ICU, CCU, rooms for doctors, nurses, store and administration and medical equipment etc. Health is one of the core areas of cooperation between India and Nepal. Several health posts, nursing campuses maternity centres, eye hospitals, naturopathy hospitals have been undertaken under the Government of India’s Small Development Project scheme.
7.Pakistan releases 2200 Sikh pilgrims visa:-
The Pakistan High Commission said on Tuesday that it has issued visa to 2200 Sikhs of India to participate in annual Baisakhi during April 12-21. Visas issued by Pakistan are being seen as a sign of tension between the two countries. This move came about 6 weeks after the Balakot air strikes and later the revenge action by Pakistan.A large number of Sikh devotees go to Pakistan every year under the India-Pakistan Protocol on the visit of religious places. Similarly, Pakistani devotees also come to India. Last week Pakistan announced that it will release 360 Indian prisoners, mostly fishermen, this month as a goodwill.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
8.External Affairs Minister of Maldives: After the involvement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the President Swaleeh’s swearing-in ceremony, the friendship relationship between the two countries on new heights:-
Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid of the Maldives has said that since the involvement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at President Ibrahim Mohammed Swayle’s swearing in ceremony, the friendship between India and Maldives has reached new heights. In a visit to our correspondent, Mr. Shahid said that development cooperation agenda is being implemented rapidly. With the generous support of the Government of India, the Maldive Government has promised people to undertake projects related to water and sewerage facilities.Shri Shahid said that the Government of India has announced the assistance of one billion forty million US dollars to the Maldives. Details of the ongoing projects are being prepared.
SPORTS NEWS
9.IPL: Mumbai Indians register three-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab:-
In IPL Cricket, Mumbai Indians pulled off a thrilling last-ball three-wicket win over Kings Eleven Punjab, at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai last night. The hosts chased down the victory target of 198 runs, powered by Stand-in captain Kieron Pollard’s sensational 83 off 31 balls. Earlier put into bat, the visitors posted 197 for four in 20 overs. Tonight, Rajasthan Royals will take on Chennai Super Kings in Jaipur. The match will start at 8 PM.
10.Dream11 becomes the first Indian gaming company to be a unicorn:-
Dream11, India’s biggest sports game announced the completion of a secondary investment by Steadview Capital, an Asia-focused alternative asset manager.This investment marks Dream11’s entry into the ‘Unicorn Club’ as the first Indian gaming company to achieve this milestone.Dream11 is the market leader with over 50 million users.
BUSINESS NEWS
11.SBI cuts interest rates on home loans:-
The State Bank of India has re-priced home loans up to Rs 30 lakh by 10 basis points.The interest rate on housing loans of such size will now be in the range of 8.6 to 8.9 per cent.The bank has also lowered its lending rates by a nominal five basis points across all tenors.This is the first reduction by SBI in over 17 months.
