President Droupadi Murmu today conferred 55 Padma Awards for the year 2023, at the second Civil Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan this evening. She presented three Padma Vibhushan, five Padma Bhushan and 47 Padma Shri Awards.
 
Padma Vibhushan was given to ORS pioneer Dr Dilip Mahalanabis and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav posthumously.
 
The President presented Padma Bhushan to philanthropist Sudha Murthy, theoretical physicist Prof Deepak Dhar, Kannada author Dr. S.L. Bhyrappa and spiritual leader Tridandi Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji. Legendary singer Vani Jairam was given Padma Bhushan posthumously.

The 10th Edition of annual Indian Navy- Sri Lanka Navy bilateral maritime exercise SLINEX-2023 continued on the second day. The participants from Indian Navy, Sri Lankan Navy and Sri Lankan Airfirce concluded Pre Sail Conference to gear up for Sea Phase scheduled to commence from 6th of April. Subject Matter Experts training progressed in areas of Helicopter operation, Underway Replenishment, Damage Control and Fire Fighting.

A grand reception was also hosted by the High Commissioner of India Gopal Baglay, which was attended by several key functionaries of Sri Lankan Government, Senior Defence Hierarchy, MPs, Diplomats and eminent diginitaries in Sri Lanka. Visitors thronged to visit the Indian ships INS Kiltan and INS Savitri which were kept open for public viewing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck held a bilateral meeting in New Delhi today, April 5. During the meeting, both sides reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation to further boost their relationship.
 
Briefing media in New Delhi, External Affairs Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said, the King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck briefed Mr. Modi about the reforms initiatives taken by Bhutan. He said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also reiterated India’s full support for the socio-economic development of Bhutan. He said, both the countries reviewed their bilateral ties focusing on economic and development partnership, trade facilitation measures and cooperation in trade, connectivity, investment, energy and new sectors including space and startups.  

In Telangana, private space vehicle company Skyroot Aerospace has test-fired its 3D-printed Dhawan II engine for a duration of 200 seconds. The engine was developed by the company for its heavier vehicle, Vikram II. The cryogenic engine that was tested yesterday will be used as the upper stage of the updated version of Vikram-II. A cryogenic upper stage instead of a solid fuel stage enhances the payload carrying capacity of a rocket. 

The Skyroot carried out its first sub-orbital flight in November last year. The launch used a single-stage solid fuel Vikram S rocket. The Vikram-1 rocket, the first in the series of rockets being developed by the company, will use three solid-fuel stages to take satellites to orbit. A company release in Hyderabad stated that the Skyroot plans to carry out its first orbital flight by the year-end, with the updated Vikram II rocket scheduled to become launch-ready by next year. This schedule will make the company the first private launcher from South Asia. 

Culture Minister G. Kishan Reddy today called for acknowledging the mutual historical, traditional and ancient links between India and Central Asia and to come together for further strengthening of cultural bonds. Hosting the first India-Central Asia Culture Ministers’ Meeting virtually, Mr Reddy also referred to the eternal teachings of non-violence preached by Buddha. He stated that shared Buddhist heritage is a cherished spiritual bond which needs to be further cultivated and propagated for harmonious relations.

The Culture Ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan also participated in the meeting. The Ministers presented their perspective to take forward their leaders’ commitment to further strengthening cultural cooperation in the region.

President Droupadi Murmu has called for imparting education in Indian languages. Speaking at the 36th convocation of the Indira Gandhi National Open University IGNOU in Delhi, she said world-class knowledge of science could also be learnt through the Indian languages.

Ms Murmu lauded the progress made by women in several sectors, including education. She noted that 55 per cent of the students who received their degrees, certificates and diplomas were women. Around, 2,79,918 students received their degrees, certificates and diplomas.

Mahavir Jayanti is being celebrated across the country today. It is one of the most important religious festivals of the Jain community.

Also known as Mahavir Janma Kalyanak, the day celebrates the birth of Lord Mahavir, the twenty-fourth and the last Tirthankara of the present Avasarpini.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has greeted people on the occasion. In his message, Mr Dhankhar said, Bhagwan Mahavir’s teachings inspire everyone to lead a life of purity, kindness and righteousness.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed happiness over Sagar Setu, the mobile app of National Logistics Portal-Marine. In reply to the tweet by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, the Prime Minister said that he is happy to see tech being leveraged for port-led development and to ensure Ease of Doing Business.

Mr. Sonowal had inagurated the Sagar Setu Mobile App on Friday. The app has been envisaged with deliverables covering several features including Login Module, Service Catalogue, Common Application Format, Letter of Credit and others.

The Registration of the second phase for Yuva Sangam has started yesterday through an online portal. It envisages participation of one thousand youngsters from 23 States and Union Territories of the country, so far.

The Ministry of Education said that under the initiative, a group of 45 to 50 youngsters will be sent to the paired State for the exposure tour.

The tours will be conducted this and next month. The Ministry said, the tour will provide an immersive, multidimensional experience of various facets to the youngsters.

Dr. Sudesh Dhankhar has been awarded Ph.D in Economics for her work on sustainable development and ground water conservation in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan.

The doctorate degree on "Sustainable Development - Assessment of Sustainability of Groundwater Resource and Irrigated Agriculture in Jhunjhunu District, Rajasthan" was awarded to the second lady of India at a Convocation Ceremony on Sunday, at Banasthali Vidhyapith by Kalraj Mishra, Hon'ble Governor of Rajasthan.

Smt Dhankhar, a native of water stressed Rajasthan state, has been actively involved in the field of water conservation, apart from working on other social issues such as women empowerment and minimizing food wastage.