India and New Zealand have signed a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in New Delhi on April 27, marking a significant step in strengthening economic ties between the two countries. The agreement was formalised by Piyush Goyaland Todd McClay, with both sides aiming to expand trade and investment cooperation. Key Announcements / Highlights Duty-Free Access for Indian Exports Under the agreement, Indian exports across all sectors will gain duty-free access to the New Zealand market. Key industries expected to benefit include textiles, garments, leather, footwear, jewellery, engineering goods, and processed foods. Earlier,…

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Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has approved the creation of five new districts in the Union Territory, increasing the total number from two to seven. The decision, announced on April 27, is intended to strengthen administrative reach in one of India’s most sparsely populated and geographically challenging regions. Key Announcements / Highlights Official Statement Announcing the decision, Saxena said the move addresses a long-standing demand from residents and marks a significant administrative step for the region. He stated that creating new districts would bring governance closer to people, particularly in remote…

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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on April 27 condemned a shooting incident in Washington involving former US President Donald Trump, stating that violence has no place in politics. He also urged sustained dialogue to promote long-term peace in West Asia. Key Announcements / Highlights Official Statement Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event in Jammu, Abdullah said such attacks are unacceptable and should not occur against any political leader. He noted that disagreements in politics should be addressed through democratic means rather than violence. Abdullah also highlighted the importance of…

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Indian equity benchmarks, the BSE Sensex and Nifty 50, extended losses for a third consecutive session on April 24, tracking weak global signals and rising crude oil prices. Both indices opened lower and slipped further after a brief recovery during early trading. Key Announcements / Highlights Market Performance Overview The BSE Sensex opened lower and briefly moved into positive territory before reversing course. By around 10:15 a.m., it was trading over 700 points down after touching an early low near 76,800 levels. Similarly, the Nifty 50 opened in the red, rose marginally in initial trades, and then…

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 24 extended greetings to elected representatives across the country on National Panchayati Raj Day, emphasising their role in strengthening grassroots democracy and public service. Key Announcements / Highlights Official Statement In a message shared on social media, Modi quoted a Sanskrit subhashita that translates to the idea that the well-being of leaders lies in the well-being of the people. He explained that public representatives should place citizens’ interests above personal considerations. The Prime Minister also acknowledged the efforts of elected representatives at various levels, stating that their…

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Spanish tennis icon Rafael Nadal made a symbolic return to the court during the Madrid Open, participating in a friendly exhibition match held at the iconic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. The event took place on April 24 as part of promotional activities around the tournament. Key Announcements / Highlights Event Highlights The exhibition featured Nadal teaming up with Thibaut Courtois, goalkeeper for Real Madrid. They faced a pairing of world number one Jannik Sinner and midfielder Jude Bellingham. The event brought together figures from tennis and football, drawing attention to the crossover appeal of the tournament and the stadium’s versatility…

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah on April 24 said the high voter turnout in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 indicates a desire for political change, expressing confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will secure a majority of the seats contested in this phase. Key Announcements / Highlights Official Statement Addressing a press conference in Kolkata, Shah said the high turnout reflects strong public participation and support for the BJP. He thanked voters for turning out in large numbers and described the polling percentage as a sign of shifting political…

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on April 24 paid tribute to noted Hindi poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar on his 52nd death anniversary, recalling his role in shaping national consciousness through literature. The tribute coincided with cultural events in Lucknow marking the legacy of the celebrated writer. Key Announcements / Highlights Official Statement In a message shared on social media, Adityanath described Dinkar as a leading voice of national awareness who used his writings to inspire values such as self-respect, freedom, and social responsibility. He noted that the poet’s work continues to influence generations and remains…

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Polling in the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 saw strong voter participation on April 23, with turnout reaching 62.18% by 1 PM, according to election officials. Voting continued across multiple constituencies amid steady queues at polling stations. Key Announcements / Highlights Constituency-Wise Trends Among the leading constituencies, Samserganj in Murshidabad district recorded the highest participation at 71.07%, followed by Raghunathganj (70.29%) and Chandrakona (69.41%). Suti and Garbeta also reported strong turnout figures above 67%. On the lower end, Chanchal in Malda district recorded 53.81% turnout. Other constituencies with…

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