NATIONAL NEWS
Shekha Jheel Declared India's 99th Ramsar Site (Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh)
• Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, has been recognised as India's 99th Ramsar site, strengthening national wetland conservation efforts.
• With this addition, Uttar Pradesh now has 12 Ramsar sites, the highest number among all Indian states.
• The announcement was made by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, who said the recognition supports biodiversity, livelihoods, climate security, and water conservation.
• Shekha Jheel is an important wetland of western UP and acts as a major habitat for migratory birds during the winter season.
• It lies on the Central Asian Flyway, making it a key stopover point for migratory species traveling across continents.
• Birds recorded in the area include Bar-headed Goose, Painted Stork, and various species of ducks and waterfowl.
• Ramsar status is granted under the Ramsar Convention (1971, Ramsar-Iran) to wetlands of international ecological importance, promoting long-term protection and sustainable use.
• The designation is expected to boost eco-tourism, attracting bird-watchers and nature lovers, while creating local livelihood opportunities through tourism and conservation activities.
Centre May Review 26% Voting Rights Cap in Banks (Banking Regulation Act, 1949)
• The Union government is considering a review of the 26% voting rights limit in banks under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 to attract long-term strategic and foreign investment.
• Currently, even if an investor holds a higher equity stake, their voting power cannot exceed 26%, creating a mismatch between ownership and control.
• Although foreign investors are allowed up to 74% aggregate shareholding in private banks (as per rules), their decision-making influence remains restricted due to the voting cap.
• The issue has gained importance especially in the IDBI Bank privatisation process, where bidders are seeking stronger management control.
• Foreign banks and global institutional investors have been demanding reforms, arguing that higher voting rights would boost confidence and encourage stable capital inflows.
• A high-level banking committee is expected to examine the matter under the broader Viksit Bharat vision, aimed at making Indian banks more competitive globally.
• The committee may include RBI officials and senior PSU bank executives, and its terms of reference are expected to be finalised within three months.
• Since the voting cap is written into the Banking Regulation Act, any change beyond 26% will require a legislative amendment through Parliament, supporting the larger goal of building at least two Indian banks among the world's top 20.
Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI) to Regulate Digital Gaming from May 1, 2026
• India's online gaming sector will enter a new regulatory phase as the Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI) becomes operational from 1 May 2026.
• OGAI has been established under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 to create a uniform and transparent regulatory structure.
• The authority will function under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) as a digital office, ensuring central-level monitoring.
• It will be chaired by the Additional Secretary of MeitY, giving the body direct administrative leadership from the government.
• The authority will also include Joint Secretary-level representatives from ministries like Home Affairs, Financial Services, I&B, Youth Affairs & Sports, and Legal Affairs.
• OGAI will be responsible for identifying, evaluating, and registering online games, including esports titles and skill-based gaming platforms.
• It will check whether gaming platforms operate within legal boundaries and ensure compliance, reducing confusion caused by varying state-level interpretations.
• OGAI will also issue directions on data retention, platform accountability, and compliance standards, aiming to strengthen consumer protection and reduce risks like fraud, misuse, and addiction concerns.
India Targets One Blood Centre in Every District by December 2026
• India has set a national target to establish at least one blood centre in every district by December 2026 to ensure timely availability of safe blood.
• The Health Ministry review found that nearly 10% of districts still lack a blood centre, showing serious infrastructure gaps.
• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare conducted the review through a video conference with all States and Union Territories to assess ground-level performance.
• Evaluation was done across key stages such as licensing/renewal, donor screening and collection, testing for TTIs, storage & processing, and record maintenance.
• Performance was measured through 10 key indicators, using data from platforms like eRaktKosh, BBMS, and CDSCO.
• Major issues included weak licensing compliance, uneven blood donation rates, poor blood component separation capacity, and lack of proper referral systems for infected donors.
• Many blood centres are still not integrated with eRaktKosh and BBMS, reducing transparency and real-time monitoring.
• The government's priority for 2026 includes achieving 100% licensing compliance, strengthening district responsibility, enforcing standard protocols for blood donation camps, and boosting voluntary donations to achieve zero transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) under NACO leadership.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
ICC Confirms Trial of Rodrigo Duterte for Crimes Against Humanity
• Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will face trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) after judges confirmed charges linked to his "war on drugs."
• The ICC (International Criminal Court), based in The Hague, Netherlands, found "substantial grounds" to believe crimes against humanity were committed.
• Duterte is accused of extrajudicial killings between 2011 and 2019, during his time as mayor and later President of the Philippines.
• Prosecutors allege that thousands of deaths occurred as part of a systematic anti-drug campaign, which human rights groups call unlawful.
• ICC judges have allowed over 500 victims to participate in the proceedings, making the case highly significant internationally.
• Duterte argued the ICC has no authority since the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019, but the court ruled it still has jurisdiction as crimes occurred during membership.
• His legal team claimed he is medically unfit due to cognitive issues, but the ICC rejected this after medical review and declared him fit for trial.
• The case has created major political impact in the Philippines, especially amid tensions between Sara Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., with public opinion sharply divided between justice demands and sovereignty concerns.
Türkiye Bill to Restrict Social Media Access for Children Below 15
• Türkiye's Parliament has approved a new Bill to limit social media access for children under 15, reflecting rising global concern over online safety.
• Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram will be required to introduce strict age-verification mechanisms to stop underage account creation.
• The law also mandates parental control tools, allowing guardians to supervise and regulate children's online activity.
• Social media companies will be expected to act quickly against harmful, inappropriate, or dangerous content affecting minors.
• The Bill gained momentum after a tragic school shooting in Kahramanmaras, where a 14-year-old killed several classmates and a teacher, raising concerns about digital influence.
• President Recep Tayyip Erdogan supported the move, stating that certain platforms are damaging children's mental health and privacy.
• The opposition party CHP (Republican People's Party) criticised the Bill, arguing for rights-based child protection instead of bans and warning against excessive state control online.
• Türkiye's move aligns with a global trend, as countries like Australia, Indonesia, France, UK, and Spain are also tightening rules; Türkiye's communications watchdog can enforce compliance through fines and bandwidth restrictions.
UK Passes Landmark "Smoke-Free Generation" Tobacco & Vapes Law
• The United Kingdom Parliament has approved a major tobacco and vapes bill that will stop future generations from legally purchasing tobacco.
• Under the new law, anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 will never be allowed to buy cigarettes or tobacco products legally.
• Instead of keeping a fixed legal age like 18, the minimum age will increase every year, making tobacco access permanently unavailable for younger citizens.
• The government introduced the law to reduce smoking-related health damage and to build a long-term "smoke-free generation."
• Smoking remains a leading cause of preventable deaths, causing around 64,000 deaths annually in England and nearly 400,000 hospital admissions each year.
• The UK government estimates smoking costs the NHS (National Health Service) nearly £3 billion per year, while overall economic loss including productivity is above £20 billion annually.
• The bill also empowers authorities to expand smoking bans to more public areas such as children's playgrounds and spaces near schools and hospitals.
• Stricter control will also apply to vapes and nicotine products, especially to restrict branding and promotion aimed at children, similar to the generational ban approach earlier proposed by New Zealand.
STATE NEWS
Bagalkot University First Convocation: Honorary Doctorates Announced
• Bagalkot University (Karnataka) will award honorary doctorates to S. Nambi Narayanan, Sri Gurumahanth Swami, and Mahesh Bellad during its first convocation ceremony.
• This will be the university's maiden convocation, marking a key milestone for the institution which was established in 2023.
• The ceremony will be held at Darbar Hall, BLDE Association campus, Jamkhandi (Bagalkot district) at 11:30 a.m.
• The university has expanded rapidly and currently has 72 affiliated colleges, offering postgraduate and professional programmes like B.Ed and BP.Ed.
• S. Nambi Narayanan, former ISRO scientist, is being honoured for his major contributions to India's space programme, especially in cryogenic rocket technology.
• Sri Gurumahanth Swami of Chittaragi Shri Vijaya Mahantesha Samsthana Math is being recognised for his contributions in the religious and social sphere.
• Mahesh Bellad will receive the honour for his work in technology entrepreneurship and philanthropy.
• The convocation address will be delivered by Bheemaraya Metri (Director, IIM Nagpur), and dignitaries like Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot (Chancellor) and Higher Education Minister M.C. Sudhakar will attend; the degrees are being awarded honoris causa (without regular academic requirements).
SPORTS
SAFF Women's Championship 2026 in Goa: Pakistan Withdraws, Format Revised
• The 2026 SAFF Women's Championship, to be hosted by India in Goa, will now feature six teams after Pakistan officially pulled out.
• The Pakistan Football Federation confirmed its withdrawal on 23 April 2026, reducing participation from the originally planned seven nations.
• The tournament will be held from 25 May to 6 June 2026 at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Margao (Goa).
• After Pakistan's exit, the competition draw was finalised at the SAFF Secretariat in Dhaka, and teams were divided into two groups.
• Group A includes Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan, while Group B has India, Bangladesh, and Maldives.
• The revised grouping is expected to make the contest more intense, especially in Group B, where hosts India and strong defending champions Bangladesh will compete.
• India remains the most successful team, having won five straight titles (2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2019) and will host the tournament for the second time after Siliguri 2016.
• Bangladesh are the defending champions, having won the 2022 and 2024 editions, and Goa's Margao stadium also holds history as it hosted the 1999 SAFF Men's final, where India defeated Bangladesh.
