NITI Aayog and UNICEF India signed a Statement of Intent on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a focus on children yesterday. This seeks to formalize a framework of cooperation to launch the first report on the State of India’s Children - Status and Trends in Multidimensional Child Development.

NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Dr Rajiv Kumar said, this new initiative is built on the ethos of SDG attainments for children and ensuring that no child is left behind. He said the child-focused initiative builds on government's effort of monitoring progress through the SDG India Index and Dashboard, which continues to be a unique data-driven initiative for triggering policy action.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will confer Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2021 on Civil Services Day today. 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 people. Ten awards for five identified Priority Programmes will be given this year, while six awards will be given to organizations of Central and State Government and Districts for innovations. Inaugurating the two days event to mark the Civil Service Day in New Delhi yesterday, Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said, earlier the PM Awards for Excellence in Public Administration was based on the individual profile of the officer but now it is based on the flagship programme performance of the individual district. He said, the Narendra Modi government is preparing a vision document for India – 2047. Dr Singh said, during the last eight years, the government has taken a number of revolutionary decisions. He said, this government is not only framing new rules but doing away with the earlier rules and nearly one thousand five hundred rules have been done away with.

President Ram Nath Kovind has given his assent to the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, which empowers the police to obtain physical and biological samples of convicts and of those accused of crimes.

The Act, which replaces the Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920 was passed by Lok Sabha on April 4 and Rajya Sabha on April 6.

Digit Insurance has appointed Jasleen Kohli as the new managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) of the company. The appointment will come into effect from 20 April, 2022. Kohli will take over from Vijay Kumar who held the position since the company was founded in 2017, and will superannuate from the organisation on 19 April, 2022.

Prior to this appointment, Kohli held the position of chief distribution officer (CDO) in Digit and overlooked all sales and distribution channels of the company. With nearly 19 years of experience in the life and general insurance industry, Kohli has been with the company since its inception and is also the first employee of Digit. Prior to this, Kohli was a director at Allianz Technology. “While it will be hard to fill Vijay Kumar’s experienced shoes, I am looking forward to this challenge,” Jasleen Kohli, MD and CEO, said.

The senior Asian Wrestling Championship will begin today in Mongolia. 30 Indian wrestlers, including Olympic medallists Ravi Dahiya and Bajrang Punia, will participate in the event. A total of 20 wrestlers from the men’s team across the Freestyle and Greco-Roman categories and 10 from the women’s team are participating in the event. Sports Authority of India has sanctioned 1.28 crore rupees for the participation of the Indian wrestlers.

The ‘morning practice group’ won’t be the same again. The cream of the crop of youngsters from table tennis clubs in Chennai practised under one roof three times a week. The select few were handpicked by senior pro Achanta Sharath Kamal, an Olympian and medallist at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. Training sessions with Sharath started during the lockdown and continued till date. The trainees shared a close bond with their mentor.

On Sunday noon, the ‘morning practice group’ lost a member. Vishwa Deenadayalan, 18, a cadet and sub-junior national champion, died in a road accident when travelling from Guwahati to Shillong for the Senior Nationals and Inter-state championships.

In her new role, Ms. Sethi coordinates National Security Advisor documentation across the Office of the Vice President.

Shanti Sethi, a trailblazing Indian-American Navy veteran, has joined US Vice President Kamala Harris's office as her executive secretary and defence advisor, according to a media report.

Ms. Sethi, the first Indian-American commander of a major US Navy combat ship, recently joined Vice President Harris’ office, Politico news website quoted vice president's senior advisor Herbie Ziskend as saying.

The Delhi government on Tuesday released an educational song. According to the Delhi government, the song reflects their vision for education and a review of the progress of Mission Buniyaad, which is dedicated to the upliftment of Delhi government schools.

The song is aimed at teaching students studying at Delhi schools about communal harmony, patriotism, and women empowerment along with other concepts and life skills. The song lyrics have been written by Alok Srivastava and the song has been sung by famous singers, Shan and Sneha Shankar.

Delhi’s Education Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia, said that the song aims to answer critical questions about the purpose of education in nation-building.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on the 400th Parkash Purab of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji at the Red Fort in New Delhi on 21st of this month. On the auspicious occasion, the Prime Minister will release a commemorative coin and postage stamp.

Four hundred ragis will perform in the Shabad Kirtan on the occasion. The government is organizing a grand event on 20th and 21st of this month at the Red Fort premises to mark the 400th Prakash Gurupurab of Guru Tegh Bahadur. On the first day of the celebration on 20th April, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will take part in the commemorative event and around 400 children will participate in the Shabad Kirtan on that day. Mr Shah will also inaugurate the Multimedia show ‘The Life and Sacrifice of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’ at the Red Fort.

National Apprenticeship Mela 2022 will be organised across the country in more than over 700 locations on 21st April. Skill India, in association with the Directorate General of Training, is organising the day-long Apprenticeship Mela across the country. Under the initiative, the aim is to support hiring of more than one lakh apprentices and assist employers in tapping the right talent and develop it further with training and providing practical skillsets.

The event will witness participation from more than 4,000 organisations across the country, operating in more than 30 sectors such as Power, Retail, Telecom, IT/ITeS, Electronics, Automotive. In addition, the aspiring youth will have the opportunity to engage and select from more than 500 trades including Welder, Electrician, Housekeeper, Beautician, and Mechanic.