” Notes:nalin prabhat, a senior ips officer, has been named director general of india’s national security guard (nsg), responsible for counter-terrorism and counter-hijack operations. serving as additional director general of the crpf in jammu and kashmir, he belongs to the 1992 ips batch of andhra pradesh cadre. appointed by the appointments committee of the cabinet until august 31, 2028, he succeeds daljit singh chaudhary, who held additional charge of the nsg.”

” Notes:the g-7 foreign ministers convened in capri, italy from april 17-19, 2024, led by italian foreign minister antonio tajani. amid iran’s attack on israel and ongoing conflicts in gaza and ukraine, they issued three communiques condemning iran’s actions and pledging sanctions. representatives from eu joined. the ministers urged de-escalation and called upon iran and israel to prevent further conflict. italy, as g7 chair, hosted the crucial diplomatic gathering.”

” Notes:indian navy conducted ‘exercise poorvi lehar’ off the eastern seaboard on april 20, 2024. under flag officer commanding-in-chief, eastern naval command, the exercise aimed to assess the navy’s readiness for maritime security challenges. it involved ships, submarines, aircraft, and special forces. conducted in two phases, it included combat training in real scenarios and successful firings to confirm warhead delivery capability. continuous maritime awareness was maintained with aircraft operating from various locations.”

” Notes:the higher school of economics in russia and the university of delhi signed a strategic cooperation agreement, establishing a joint research hub. new delhi hosted the indo-russian education summit, a landmark event in bilateral relations, with 60 russian universities participating from various regions. the summit aims to enhance educational ties and foster collaboration between india and russia, marking a significant milestone in their partnership.”

” Notes:russian peacekeepers are withdrawing from nagorno-karabakh after azerbaijan regained control from armenian separatists. nagorno-karabakh, also artsakh, is a mountainous region in the south caucasus, claimed by both azerbaijan and armenia since 1917. although internationally recognized as part of azerbaijan, it’s predominantly inhabited by ethnic armenians with their own government. both armenians and azerbaijanis have historical and religious ties to the region, leading to ongoing tension.”

” Notes:the 34th seng khihlang festival concluded in wahiajer, meghalaya. hosted by the seng khasi sein raij, it unifies followers of the khasi indigenous faith. a highlight is the exchange of the monolith, symbolizing unity. this year, wahiajer received it from seng khasi shaid shaid. khasi people, indigenous to meghalaya and parts of assam and bangladesh, celebrate their culture and faith during seng khihlang, showcasing their vibrant community.”

” Notes:prime minister narendra modi inaugurated the 2550th bhagwan mahaveer nirvan mahotsav in new delhi on mahaveer jayanti. he paid homage to bhagwan mahaveer, witnessed a dance drama by school children, and released a commemorative stamp and coin. addressing the gathering, he praised the youth’s dedication to mahaveer’s values, thanked the jain community, and emphasized the event’s significance amidst india’s democratic process and constitutional milestones. modi highlighted india’s enduring civilization and stressed the importance of dialogue and learning from ancient philosophies amidst global conflicts.”

On 20 april 2024 north korea announced the testing of the pyoljji-1-2 anti-aircraft and hwasal-1 ra-3 super large strategic cruise missiles in the west sea of korea conducted a day earlier this test escalated tensions with south korea and the usa the

Notes 17-year-old d gukesh of india after drawing with hikaru nakamura became the youngest male to win the 2024 fide candidate tournament in toronto canada tan zhongyi of china won the womens section gukesh secured with nine points

” Notes:thrissur pooram, a grand temple festival celebrated globally, embodies kerala’s rich culture and diversity. rooted in tradition, it unites people of all backgrounds with music, processions, fairs, and fireworks. lasting seven days, the highlight is the sixth day in the malayalam month of medam, coinciding with the pooram star. established in 1796 by shakthan thampuran, it ensures the continuity of temple festivals. this year, thrissur pooram falls on april 20, showcasing kerala’s vibrant heritage.”