World Health Day 2026 (7 April)

• World Health Day is observed globally every year on 7 April to raise awareness about major global health challenges.

• The day marks the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) on 7 April 1948.

• The theme for World Health Day 2026 is “Together for health: Stand with science”.

• The theme emphasizes the role of scientific research, innovation, and global cooperation in improving health outcomes.

• It highlights the importance of evidence-based policies to tackle health crises effectively.

• It has been reported that every year around 3,00,000 women die due to pregnancy-related complications.

• Nearly 4 million babies die or are stillborn, many of which are preventable.

• This equals approximately one preventable death every 7 seconds.

• Current global trends indicate that nearly 80% of countries may fail to meet the 2030 targets for reducing maternal and newborn deaths.

19 Rajya Sabha Members Take Oath (6 April 2026)

• On 6 April 2026, 19 newly elected and re-elected Rajya Sabha members took oath in Parliament.

• The oath was administered by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, C. P. Radhakrishnan, in the House chamber.

• Several Union Ministers and senior officials attended the ceremony.

• Prominent attendees included Kiren Rijiju and Jual Oram.

• The members who took oath belonged to various states including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Odisha.

• From Maharashtra, leaders who took oath included Ramdas Athawale, Maya Chintaman Ivnate, Sharad Pawar, Ramrao Sakharam Wadkute, and Jyoti Nagnath Waghmare.

• From Tamil Nadu, members included Anbumani Ramadoss and M. Thambidurai.

• Several newly elected members from West Bengal also assumed office.

• From Odisha, three members joined the Upper House, including Dilip Kumar Ray.

• The oath-taking formally marked the beginning of their parliamentary responsibilities and duties.

Yoga Mahotsav 2026 Launched in Maharashtra

• Yoga Mahotsav 2026 has been launched in Lonar, Maharashtra to mark the 75-day countdown to the International Day of Yoga 2026.

• The programme was formally launched on 7 April by the Ministry of AYUSH.

• A major record was created when nearly 5,000 participants performed Trikonasana together, earning an entry in the Asia Book of Records.

• The event was organised by the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga at Chhatrapati Shri Shivaji Maharaj Udyan in Buldhana district.

• The initiative was described as a strong beginning toward the global celebration of yoga and holistic wellness.

• The importance of yoga in improving physical health, mental wellness, and emotional balance was highlighted.

• The concept of Ayush Aahara was promoted, encouraging the use of millets, ragi, and medicinal spices in daily diet.

• A live demonstration of the Common Yoga Protocol was conducted, including asanas, pranayama, and meditation.

• Special initiatives such as Yoga for Air Travel, yoga protocols for non-communicable diseases, and the Yoga 365 campaign were showcased.

• A toll-free helpline providing 14 days of free guided yoga sessions was also highlighted.

• The launch strengthened preparations for the 12th International Day of Yoga, focusing on mass participation, technology integration, and public health awareness.

Uttar Pradesh Launches Special Campaign for Farmer Registry

• The Government of Uttar Pradesh has launched a special campaign to create a ‘Farmer Registry’ across the state.

• The objective of this initiative is to ensure transparency in the distribution of benefits under government schemes for farmers.

• It also aims to make farmers’ access to various welfare schemes simpler and more efficient.

• The campaign will continue until 15 April 2026.

• Special registration camps are being organised at Village Secretariats throughout Uttar Pradesh.

• These camps are being conducted to ensure maximum farmer enrollment in the registry.

• So far, more than 1.72 crore farmers have been registered under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme.

• The state government has noted that several eligible farmers are still not registered.

• The campaign aims to bring all remaining eligible farmers into the Farmer Registry system.

NSO Launches First Annual Survey of Incorporated Services Sector Enterprises

• The National Statistical Office (NSO) has launched its first annual survey focusing on enterprises in the incorporated services sector.

• The survey is being conducted under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).

• It covers incorporated service businesses across all States and Union Territories of India.

• The survey began in April with the objective of building a comprehensive database for the services sector.

• The reference period for data collection has been fixed as financial year 2024–25.

• More than 1.21 lakh companies are expected to be included in this nationwide survey.

• The GSTN (Goods and Services Tax Network) database is being used as the sampling framework.

• The initiative aims to improve the availability, reliability, and quality of statistical data related to incorporated service enterprises.

• An explanatory guide titled “Know Your Survey: A User Guide to the Annual Survey of Incorporated Services Sector Enterprises” has been released.

• The guide has been introduced to help users understand the survey methodology and to promote transparency and public participation.

India Wins 16 Medals at World Archery Para Series, Bangkok

• India delivered a strong performance at the World Archery Para Series in Bangkok, winning a total of 16 medals.

• The medal tally included 7 gold, 5 silver, and 4 bronze medals.

• Payal Nag won gold in the women’s compound event by defeating Sheetal Devi in the final.

• Toman Kumar secured gold in the men’s compound category after defeating Jonathon Milne in the final.

• Bhawna won gold in the women’s recurve event by defeating Phattharaphon Pattawaeo with a dominant 6–0 score.

• Harvinder Singh won a silver medal in the men’s recurve final, where he lost to Kholidin.

• Swati Chaudhary secured a silver medal in the women’s W1 category, losing to Ok Geum Kim.

• Shyam Sunder Swami won a bronze medal in the men’s compound event by defeating Rakesh Kumar, who finished fourth.

Murali Sreeshankar Wins Long Jump Title at Indian Athletics Series 2026

• Murali Sreeshankar won the men’s long jump title at the Indian Athletics Series 2026 in Bengaluru with a best jump of 8.15 metres.

• The event was held at Sree Kanteerava Stadium during the opening meet, marking a strong start to his season.

• His winning jump of 8.15 metres came on his fourth attempt, which proved decisive.

• He was the only athlete in the competition to cross the 8.00 metre mark.

• He also surpassed the Asian Games qualifying standard of 7.91 metres, improving his prospects for international participation.

• In the men’s triple jump, Abdulla Aboobacker secured first place with a jump of 16.82 metres.

• The men’s high jump was won by Sarvesh Kushare, who cleared 2.23 metres.

• In the women’s long jump, Ancy Sojan narrowly defeated Shaili Singh by two centimetres.

• In the men’s javelin throw, Bibin Antony won the title with a best throw of 77.53 metres.