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- India Hosts BRICS Foreign Ministers | April 16 Current Affairs; India Sends TB Vaccine to Afghanistan
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Know today’s major current affairs, which are important for students preparing for government jobs…
NATIONAL
1. India to host BRICS foreign ministers
India will host the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting in May. According to the report, India will try to reduce regional tension and take forward the dialogue through this meeting.
- Issues related to security and energy are also likely to be discussed at the BRICS forum.
- Before the BRICS Summit, the chairing country has to hold BRICS ministerial meetings.
- In the BRICS ministerial level meeting, there can be discussions on global conflict (especially the ongoing tension in West Asia), climate finance and sustainable development.
- This BRICS meeting will be held to outline the 18th BRICS Summit (2026).
- On January 13, India officially took over the presidency of the 18th BRICS 2026.
- This year the theme of BRICS has been ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation Corporation and Sustainability’.
- 2026 marks the completion of 20 years of the establishment of BRICS. The first BRICS summit was held in Russia in 2009.
- The name BRICS is made up of the initial letters of its founding member countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
- Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE and Indonesia later became full members of the BRICS Forum.
- India will also host the meeting of foreign ministers of Quad countries in the last week of May.
- Representatives of America, Japan and Australia will attend the Quad meeting.
Quad:
- Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) is an informal forum.
- Quad members include India, America, Japan, Australia. Foreign ministers of member countries may also meet in India in May.
On January 13, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar launched the theme, logo and website of BRICS 2026.
2. Austria’s Federal Chancellor Stocker visits India
On April 15, Austrian Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker reached New Delhi on an official visit to India. Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Raksha Khadse welcomed him at the airport.
- This is Stoker’s first official visit to India.
- Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Raksha Khadse welcomed him at the airport.
- Stoker will meet PM Narendra Modi during this visit.
- In this meeting, there will be discussions on increasing cooperation in business, investment, green technology and important areas.
- Both sides are expected to discuss cooperation in areas like advanced manufacturing, digital innovation and renewable energy.
- Along with this, Stalker will also meet President Draupadi Murmu and Foreign Minister S Jai Shankar.
- In 2024, PM Modi visited Austria. Earlier in 1983, former PM Indira Gandhi had visited Austria.
This is the first visit of Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker to India.
International
3. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will visit Germany
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will go on a three-day visit to Germany from April 21. He will hold talks with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
- Submarine deal will also be discussed between the two heads during this visit.
- During this visit, the Defense Minister may also meet German defense chief ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.
- Singh can also participate in the Defense Investment Summit for technology partnership and investment.
- Submarine deal worth about $10 billion can be a major agenda under Project-75(AI).
- India wants 6 submarines under Project-75(AI), they can stay in water for a long time.
- German company Thyssenkrupp has bid to build it in collaboration with Mazgaon Shipyard Limited.
- During this visit, India will invite Germany to collaborate with India to manufacture submarines, naval J systems, drones and aerospace parts.
In June 2023, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius visited India.
MISCELLANEOUS
4. Government will soon bring Joint Theater Command
The government is going to make major changes in the structure of the three armies. Under this, the Army, Navy and Air Force will now work as a joint theater command.
- According to the report, a blueprint has been prepared under the leadership of Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan.
- The Department of Military Affairs has prepared blueprints based on past military conflicts.
- The blueprint of the Joint Theater Command will now be sent to Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. Then the Cabinet Committee will approve this.
- The extended tenure of CDS General Chauhan is ending at the end of May. After the retirement of General Chauhan, along with CDS, the post of Vice CDS will also be created.
- Defense forces will also expand under the new blueprint. Apart from this, Space and Cyber Command will also be created.
- There will be a Northern Theater Command to deal with the West and China to deal with Pakistan and a Maritime Command will be created to guard the large maritime area of the Indian Ocean.
- Joint Theater Command will be useful in taking decisions in difficult situations like logistics operations and war preparations.
The objective of Joint Theater Command is to bring a single commander for all forces in a theatre.
5. India sent TB vaccine to Afghanistan
On April 14, India sent a consignment of 13 tons of BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin) vaccine and related materials to help Afghanistan’s TB vaccine program.
- This consignment was handed over to the Afghanistan Health Ministry. Its objective is to increase the vaccine programs for children.
- This vaccine comes as a freeze-dried (lyophilized) white powder, which is mixed with a liquid (diluent) before use.
- The shipment is part of India’s ongoing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan amid crises such as floods, earthquakes and conflict.
- Earlier on April 5, India had also sent help for the flood and earthquake victims in Afghanistan.
- Earlier in March, the Indian government had sent 2.5 tonnes of emergency medicines, medical disposables, kits and equipment to Afghanistan.
- This help was given to help the people injured in the Pakistani attack on a hospital in Kabul.
BCG vaccine
- It is a vaccine used to prevent TB.
- This vaccine is given to children.
- Effective in preventing severe forms of childhood TB (such as TB meningitis).
These consignments were handed over to the Afghanistan Health Ministry.
6. Vaas Narasimhan joins the board of AI company Anthropic On April 14, Indian-origin Vaas (Vasant) Narasimhan joined the board of AI company Anthropic. Narasimhan is the CEO of pharmaceutical company Novartis.
- Narasimhan, who is from Pharma, is the first to join AI Anthropic.
- AI is a big need for health science and Narasimhan will work for it.
- Company President Daniela Amodei said that Narasimhan has the experience to implement even complex technology on a large scale in a safe manner.
- Narasimhan received his MD from Harvard Medical School.
- Narasimhan also holds a Master of Public Policy degree from Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
- Narasimhan spent his early career leading programs to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in India, Africa and South America.
- Narasimhan joined pharma company Novartis in 2005.
- Narasimhan promoted research in cancer and gene therapy and was the head of the drug department.
- Narasimhan became CEO of Novartis in 2008.
- Narasimhan incorporated digital technology into healthcare.
- Contributed to global health during the time of COVID-19.
- Novartis is a Swiss global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Basel, Switzerland.
- Novartis is among the world’s largest health services companies, focused on prescription drugs, generics and research-driven innovation.
today’s history
- In 1853, the first passenger train in India ran from Bori Bunder in Mumbai to Thane.
- In 1972, the Apollo 16 mission to the Moon was launched.
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