India has proposed to develop a G20 park in New Delhi to symbolize 'togetherness on the path of development' as part of its year-long presidency of the organization. It will showcase sculptures depicting national animals and birds of the G20 countries made with the Waste to wonder concept. The art pieces will be created on-site in a 20-day-long national camp mode from tomorrow and will run till the first of May. Each art piece will be made of scrap and other waste material sourced from the yards of New Delhi Municipal Council and other agencies.

Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan today attended the Indian Air Force Commanders' Conference at Vayu Bhavan in New Delhi today, where he was briefed about the operational readiness of the Air Force. Later, speaking at the Conference, General Chauhan highlighted the need to chart a clear path toward fleet sustenance, while simultaneously taking steps toward increasing indigenization. He also discussed the contours of enhancing integration amongst the three services and the benefits that would accrue from the same.
 
 The theme of this year's three-day Conference which began yesterday is 'Beyond Boundaries: Robust Foundation". The Conference which is held every year involves discussions on the year gone by and the progress made on the path planned for the future. 

Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar today inaugurated the celebration of Rajya Sabha Day 2023 by lighting the lamp at the Parliament House. Speaking at the event, he commended the members of the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha Secretariat for their exceptional talent and emphasized the unique opportunity they have to witness the changing landscape of the country and the leaders who shape it. He also highlighted the significance of celebrating the contributions of the Rajya Sabha to India's democracy and governance.
 
During his address, Vice President Dhankhar cited provisions of the Constitution to explain that Parliament comprises the President, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha, and underscored the importance of unity among all the institutions of democracy.

President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar have greeted all Civil Servants on Civil Services Day on Friday. In a tweet, the President said, their service to the nation has been truly commendable. She added that the civil services have upheld the highest values of public administration, as envisaged by Sardar Patel, and form a framework for good governance.

In his message, the Vice President complimented all Civil Servants for their tireless and commendable efforts in ensuring that developmental benefits reach every citizen of the country. He said their role is all the more important in Amrit Kaal for building a more just, equitable and prosperous India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first Global Buddhist Summit in New Delhi tomorrow. The Ministry of Culture in collaboration with International Buddhist Confederation will host the two-day Summit. Eminent scholars, Sangha leaders and Dharma practitioners from all over the world will attend the Conference. The theme of the  Summit is Responses to Contemporary Challenges: Philosophy to Praxis.

Delegates from about 30 countries will participate in the event and around 171 delegates from foreign countries and 150 delegates from Indian Buddhist organizations will take part. The prime vision of the Summit is to look into the teachings of the Shakyamuni Buddha that have been continuously enriched over the centuries with the practice of Buddha Dhamma.

India and Canada have agreed to work on taking the Defence Relationship to the next level and make defence an important pillar of the Bilateral Relationship. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a telephonic conversation with his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand. The two leaders discussed ways to develop bilateral defence relations, which will be reflective of their democratic ethos and a shared interest in the peace and security of the Indo-Pacific. Mr. Singh welcomed the increased Canadian naval presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Union Minister of  Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav today, April 20, released the white tiger cubs in the arena of white tiger enclosure in National Zoological Park in New Delhi by flagging off. The Minister has named the female cub as “Avani” meaning earth, and the male cub as “Vyom" which means universe. The parentage consists of father Vijay and mother Tigress Sita. These cubs were born in August last year, and are now about 8 months old.

On the occasion, Mr. Yadav interacted with school children to promote Mission LIFE and shared the importance of a sustainable way of living and natural resource conservation. A group of about one hundred students and staff from various schools of New Delhi attended the programme and showed enthusiasm to promote wildlife conservation. After the release of the white tiger cubs, a zoo walk was conducted for the school students.

The Culture Working Group (CWG) under India’s G20 Presidency organised a Global Thematic Webinar on the “Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries and Creative Economy”. This webinar was the third in a series of four that focus on the priority areas as articulated by the CWG. The aim of the webinar was to foster an inclusive dialogue and facilitate an in-depth discussion from an expert-driven perspective.

In his opening remarks, Secretary in Culture Ministry and Chairperson of CWG Govind Mohan emphasised for fostering a vibrant and inclusive cultural ecosystem that values and supports creativity can have positive impacts on individuals, communities, and society. He said, the cultural and creative sector is also a catalyst for change, empowering individuals, and communities, promoting freedom of expression and cross-cultural dialogue. It is, therefore, essential to support this sector and establish an environment where creativity and innovation can thrive.

The third convocation of Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development, Sriperumbudur was held today, April 20. During his Chief Guest address, Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Information and Broadcasting Anurag Singh Thakur appreciated the bold initiative taken by the institute to introduce new and innovative job-oriented academic programs for the youths of India. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the Civil Servants in New Delhi on the 21st of April to mark Civil Services Day. Mr. Modi has constantly appreciated the contribution of Civil Servants towards nation-building and enthused them to work even harder. The programme will serve as an apt platform for the Prime Minister to motivate and inspire Civil Servants across the country so that they may keep serving the nation with the same zeal, especially during this crucial phase of Amrit Kaal.

During the event, he will confer the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration as well. The Awards have been instituted with a view to recognize the extraordinary and innovative work done by districts and organizations of the Central and State Governments for the welfare of common citizens.