Anjuman-I-Islam's IHM Library

 1.India and New Zealand have signed a historic free trade agreement, described by leaders as a "once-in-a-generation" pact that deepens economic links with added people movement and trade benefits.  This deal goes beyond trade in goods. It also opens new doors for students, workers and everyday buyers in India. Here's how. Follow Markets Live Updates. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-new-zealand-free-trade-pact-indian-students-higher-education-work-study-visa-consumers-benefit-11419608 2.Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 594-km Ganga Expressway on Wednesday. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath was also present on the occasion. Built at an estimated cost of about Rs 36,230 crore, Ganga Expressway is Uttar Pradesh's longest expressway and one of India's biggest greenfield road projects. The six-lane access-controlled corridor, expandable to eight lanes, links Meerut to Prayagraj across 12 districts. It also comes with a much larger ambi...

 1.India and New Zealand are set to formally sign their Free Trade Agreement (FTA) today, April 27, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The ceremony will be conducted by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and New Zealand's Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon had first announced the date of signing. https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/india-new-zealand-free-trade-agreement-2026-explained-13900039.html 2.National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Sunday (April 26, 2026) met UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and discussed measures to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership and the regional situation. The Indian Embassy in the UAE said Mr. Doval conveyed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s greetings to the UAE leader during his official visit to the Arab country. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/nsa-doval-discusses-regional-situation-with-uae-president-al-nahyan/article70910612.ece 3.The highl...

 1.India’s relationship with Africa delivers a message of “stability in a turbulent world,” External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Thursday (April 23, 2026). Speaking at the launch of the theme, website and logo of the upcoming 4th India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-IV), Mr. Jaishankar said India’s ties with Africa are rooted in the common struggle for freedom from colonial rule and highlighted development partnership and capacity building as key areas of collaboration between the two sides. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-africa-ties-signal-stability-in-a-turbulent-world-jaishankar/article70896965.ece 2.Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that the geopolitical instability in West Asia, driven by the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran, is no longer a regional issue, given its far-reaching implications for global energy security, food security, and economic stability. “For a developing country like India, which relies on the West Asian ...

 1.India and the United States will resume negotiations on the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA) on Monday, and Sergio Gor, the US ambassador to India, praised Washington and New Delhi’s continued efforts to finalise a bilateral trade deal, calling it a “win-win” for both nations. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/business/india-us-trade-pact-win-win-for-both-nations-gor/ 2.In this period of global tensions, India and South Korea together send a message of peace and stability, said PM Narendra Modi as he hosted President Lee Jae Myung for bilateral talks and announced a series of initiatives to enhance the special strategic partnership between the two countries. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/trade-and-tech-ties-get-a-boost-as-pm-modi-hosts-korean-president/articleshow/130404609.cms 3.U.S. President Donald Trump has said that he's considering the possibility of a currency swap with the United Arab Emirates to help the West Asian ally secure U.S. dollars, as its oi...

1.India is looking to renegotiate its free trade agreement with South Korea to address the widening trade deficit and make the pact more contemporary, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday. All options are on the table... we may even consider rewriting it into a completely new FTA because it should be more contemporary. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/india-looks-to-renegotiate-trade-pact-with-korea/articleshow/130406422.cms 2.Japan on Tuesday unveiled its biggest overhaul of defense export rules in decades, scrapping restrictions on overseas arms sales and opening the way for exports of warships, missiles and other weapons.The move aimed at strengthening Japan’s defense industrial base marks another step away from pacifist restraints that have shaped its postwar security policy. https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/20/asia/japan-defense-export-arms-sales-intl-hnk 3.The maximum retail price (MRP) on the common man’s alcohol -- whiskey, rum, g...

 1.National Security Adviser Ajit Doval visited Saudi Arabia over the weekend to review the regional situation against the backdrop of the West Asia conflict and to shore up India’s energy security. Doval’s visit to Saudi Arabia on Sunday came close on the heels of external affairs minister S Jaishankar’s trip to the United Arab Emirates and petroleum minister Hardeep Puri’s trip to Qatar. These visits are part of New Delhi’s outreach to key energy suppliers amid disruptions caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nsa-ajit-doval-visits-saudi-arabia-in-outreach-to-key-energy-suppliers-101776648354503.html 2.External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday (April 19) called on South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who is on a State visit to India, and expressed confidence that his upcoming talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi will further strengthen bilateral ties. In a post on X, Jaishankar said, “Honoured to call on President @Jae...

 1.French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the phone and discussed the situation in West Asia, with both leaders stressing maritime security. PM Modi shared details of the conversation on X, saying, “We discussed the situation in West Asia and agreed on the need to urgently restore safety and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” Modi said in a post on X. He added, “We will continue our close cooperation to advance peace and stability in the region and beyond,” underlining growing coordination between India and France. https://www.moneycontrol.com/world/modi-macron-call-for-urgent-restoration-of-navigation-safety-in-strait-of-hormuz-article-13891168.html 2.United Nations, India termed the targeting of commercial shipping during the West Asia conflict as deplorable, strongly urging that unimpeded freedom of navigation and global commerce through the Strait of Hormuz be restored at the earliest. "An aspect of particular concern for Ind...

 1.The government will convene a special three-day session of Parliament beginning Thursday, a sitting expected to be stormy as it moves to introduce three major bills that could reshape India’s electoral architecture and representation system.Signalling a significant reset in how political representation is structured, the government will take up the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026; the Delimitation Bill, 2026; and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026. https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/special-parliament-session-delimitation-bill-womens-reservation-in-focus-bjp-india-bloc-2896804-2026-04-16 2.External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday spoke to his Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa'ar and discussed various aspects of the West Asia crisis amid a US naval blockade of Iran's ports. The external affairs minister also held a phone conversation with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and exchanged views on the situation arising...

 1.United Nations, The legacy of B R Ambedkar and his ardent advocacy for cultivating constitutional morality was honoured at a special event hosted by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN to commemorate his 135th birth anniversary. In his welcome remarks at the event held Tuesday, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni emphasized that Ambedkar's call for cultivating constitutional morality is especially relevant in these troubled times, characterised by political fragmentation and constant conflicts. https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/b-r-ambedkar-s-legacy-honoured-at-un-hq-special-event-101776221846281.html 2.US President Donald Trump called Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday and both “stressed the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and secure”.This is the second time the two have spoken over the phone since the West Asia conflict began on February 28. Their last conversation was on March 24, ...

 1.External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Sunday (April 12, 2026), and discussed the West Asia crisis and its economic impact. Mr. Jaishankar was on a two-day visit to the Gulf nation, which began on Saturday (April 11, 2026). “Conveyed warm greetings of Prime Minister @narendramodi and our gratitude for ensuring well-being of the Indian community during the West Asia conflict,” the External Affairs Minister said on social media after the meeting in Abu Dhabi. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/eam-jaishankar-meets-uae-president-in-abu-dhabi/article70854807.ece 2.India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri discussed furthering energy cooperation with the U.S. in nuclear power and new areas such as coal gasification and LPG exports in his meeting with U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright. Mr. Misri's discussion with Mr. Wright focused on "advancing energy security, deepening bilateral energy trade, and...

 1.India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had a "productive" meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is set to visit India next month.Misri, who is on a three-day visit here, met Rubio at the White House. The two leaders reviewed bilateral relationships, especially trade, critical minerals, defence and the Quad."Welcome to the White House @VikramMisri! Productive meeting with @SecRubio that focused on our bilateral relationship, especially trade, critical minerals, defence and the Quad," US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, who was also present at the meeting, posted on X. https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/foreign-secretary-vikram-misri-meets-marco-rubio-us-diplomat-to-visit-india-next-month-11336494 2.The White House announced on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump will send a high-level delegation led by Vice President JD Vance to Islamabad this weekend for talks with Iran aimed at securing a more durable ceasefire. https://timesofindia.indiatime...

 1.Voting began across Kerala, Assam and Puducherry on Thursday, with early turnout figures till 9 am indicating steady participation. According to the Election Commission of India, Kerala recorded 16.23% turnout, Assam 17.87%, and Puducherry 17.41% in the first few hours of polling.The counting of votes will take place on May 4, when results for all three assemblies will be declared. A total of 140 members will be elected in Kerala, 30 in Puducherry, and 126 in Assam. The electorate comprises 2,69,53,644 voters in Kerala, 9,44,211 in Puducherry, and 2,49,58,139 in Assam. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/state-elections-2026-top-developments-live-bjp-eyes-third-term-in-assam-nda-and-cong-dmk-face-off-in-puducherry-and-a-three-way-contest-in-kerala/articleshow/130130677.cms 2.India will engage the ‘new government’ of Bangladesh and the two sides will ‘deepen’ bilateral ties, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday (April 8, 2026) after External Affairs Mini...

 1.In a significant diplomatic development, Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman is set to visit India from April 7 to 9, marking the first high-level engagement between the two countries following the sweeping electoral victory of the Tarique Rahman-led government in Dhaka. The visit is being closely watched in both capitals as an opportunity to recalibrate bilateral ties and establish a pragmatic framework for future cooperation. https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/dhaka-delhi-reset-bangladesh-foreign-minister-dr-khalilur-rahmans-first-india-visit-signals-new-chapter-in-bilateral-ties-11321667 2.Amidst tensions over U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest threats against Iran and the deadline for a deal set to end, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri arrived in Washington on Tuesday for a three-day visit from April 8. Officials said the visit was scheduled in advance and was expected to review the India-U.S. bilateral ties. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/fs-vikram-misri-t...

 1.With Strait of Hormuz becoming the point of contention between Iran and the US, UAE official Anwar Gargash said any settlement between the two sides must guarantee access through Hormuz, the key oil artery that is essential for 20% of the world's energy transport. Gargash, the diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, said Hormuz cannot be weaponised and stressed that its security is not a regional bargaining chip but a global economic imperative."The Strait of Hormuz cannot be held hostage by any country," Gargash was quoted as saying, https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/cant-hold-it-hostage-uae-says-access-to-strait-of-hormuz-a-must-in-us-iran-ceasefire-deal-101775476312446.html 2.India on Monday achieved a long-awaited milestone in its civil nuclear energy programme as the country's most advanced atomic reactor - the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu - attained criticality, marking the start of a sustained nuclear fission chai...

 1.Agenda for Bangladesh FM visit-Sharing of river water, energy cooperation, the normalisation of visa services, and the war in West Asia are all expected to feature in bilateral talks with Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, who is expected to visit India this week, according to diplomatic sources. This will be the first visit by a Bangladeshi Foreign Minister since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s Government in Dhaka on August 5, 2024, pushed bilateral relations downhill. In preparation for the visit, The Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry held internal meetings on Sunday (April 5, 2026) in preparation for the visit, which is likely to take place between April 7 and 8, sources in Dhaka said. https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/ganga-water-sharing-visas-energy-cooperation-likely-on-agenda-for-bangladesh-fm-visit/article70827467.ece 2.US President Donald Trump said today that he believes there is a "good chance" of making a deal with Iran on Monday, ahead of his deadli...

 1.The first day of self-enumeration under Census 2027 in the national capital on Wednesday saw hundreds of persons including President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking part in the exercise.The exercise, to be concluded on April 15, was kicked off in the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and the Delhi Cantonment Board areas. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-modi-president-murmu-complete-self-enumeration-on-first-day-of-census-2027-11298669 2.Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (April 1, 2026) chaired a special meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to review measures taken by various Ministries and departments, and also discussed further initiatives to be taken in the context of the ongoing West Asia conflict. Cabinet Secretary briefed about the action taken to ensure supply of petroleum products, particularly LNG/LPG, and sufficient power availability, an official release said. https://www.thehindu.com/ne...

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 1.President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday said knowledge must remain dedicated to the service of humanity. Addressing the second convocation ceremony of Nalanda University at Rajgir, Murmu said, “Knowledge will continue to flourish dialogue will endure and education will remain dedicated to the service of humanity.  https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/knowledge-must-serve-humanity-says-president-at-nu-convocation/articleshow/129934373.cms 2.The United States and Israel do not seem to be on the same page about their plans regarding the future of war in Iran. While US President Donald Trump has said Washington could end its military attacks on Iran within two to three weeks, even without a deal from Tehran. https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/iran-war-news-trump-says-us-ready-to-leave-iran-without-deal-israel-indicate-other-plans-11294370 3.Ahmedabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated Kaynes Technology’s semiconductor manufacturing facility in Sanand, Gujar...