The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Constitution 106th Amendment Act, 2023) was defeated in the Lok Sabha on Friday after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) failed to secure the two-thirds majority required to pass a Constitutional amendment bill.
The Bill proposed a 33 per cent (one-third) reservation for women in the Lok Sabha, state legislative assemblies, and the Delhi legislative assembly. As per the Bill, Lok Sabha seats were to be increased to 816 from the current 543 to "operationalise" the women's reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census.
Out of 489 members present, 278 voted in favour, while 211 voted against the proposed amendment. None of the members abstained from voting.
The Reserve Bank of India will conduct a seven-day variable rate reverse repo (VRRR) on Friday for a notified amount of Rs 2 trillion, "in view of the surplus transient liquidity conditions prevailing", the central bank said.
The liquidity surplus in the banking system — as measured by banks parking funds in the RBI’s liquidity adjustment facility window — was Rs 5.2 trillion on Wednesday. The surplus has been over Rs 5 trillion for the last few days.
The RBI conducted a similar auction on April 10, 2026, for a similar amount.
The weighted average call rate (WACR) was 5.11 per cent today, compared to 5.09 per cent at the previous close. The Reserve Bank of India’s variable rate reverse repo (VRRR) auction received robust demand from banks on Friday, with bids totalling Rs 2.28 trillion against a notified amount of Rs 2 trillion.
Tycoon Gautam Adani has overtaken fellow Gujarat business czar Mukesh Ambani to become Asia's richest person, as a sustained rally in shares of his ports-to-energy conglomerate lifted his net worth.
With a net worth of $92.6 billion, Adani surpassed Ambani, whose fortune stands at $90.8 billion, to become the richest person in India and Asia, according to the latest billionaire rankings.
Adani, founder of his eponymous group, oversees India's largest private seaport network, is the country's biggest renewable energy producer and private airport operator, and ranks among the world's largest coal traders. He is currently ranked No. 19 on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which tracks the world's 500 richest individuals and is updated daily.
The first edition of the biannual Naval Commanders’ Conference 2026 concluded in New Delhi on Friday (April 18, 2026) after four days of deliberations on operational readiness, emerging security challenges and future force development.
A key highlight of the conference was the release of the Indian Navy Maritime Security Strategy (INMSS-2026) by the naval chief.
Aligned with Defence Forces Vision 2047 and Indian Navy Vision 2047, the strategy outlines India’s maritime security priorities for the coming decade, factoring in disruptive technologies, organisational reforms and the changing character of warfare.
On the sidelines, the Navy hosted ‘Sagar Manthan’, bringing together senior leadership and domain experts to deliberate on defence R&D reforms and enhancing industry participation in capability development.
World Heritage Day is being observed globally today. This day promotes awareness about the diversity, vulnerability, and importance of cultural and natural heritage.
World Heritage Day, also known as the International Day for Monuments and Sites, is celebrated annually on 18 April to encourage the protection and conservation of historical sites.
The theme for this year is “Emergency Response for Living Heritage in Contexts of Conflicts and Disasters”, which focuses on strengthening resilience and protecting cultural heritage sites and traditions from crises. Celebrations on this day include visits to monuments, conferences, educational programmes, and photo exhibitions.
Bollywood Actress Sayani Gupta has been named as the 2026 Person of the Year by the Harvard South Asian Association in recognition of her outstanding contribution to film, storytelling, and representation. She is scheduled to be formally felicitated at Harvard University later this month.
The Harvard South Asian Association annually presents the Person of the Year award to individuals who have significantly shaped South Asian identity and representation in public life.
India’s food regulator has barred the use of ashwagandha leaves and their extracts in an attempt to tighten oversight of a key ingredient in multiple wellness products, Mint reported on Saturday.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has clarified that only the roots of ashwagandha and their extracts are permitted for use in health supplements and related products, directing states to take action against violations.
The market for ashwagandha is estimated at $928.5 million in 2026, with the larger nutraceutical sector said to be worth about $38.77 billion and projected to hit $84.99 billion by 2033, the report said.
Brazil’s Oscar Schmidt, one of the most prolific scorers in basketball history, has passed away. He was 68. Schmidt, who had been hospitalized in the São Paulo metropolitan area after feeling ill, breathed his last yesterday after a long battle with a brain tumor.
Schmidt, a Hall of Fame inductee in 2013, had played a 30-year professional career in Brazil and Europe and retired in 2003. He represented Brazil in five Olympic Games and four World Cups, holding all-time scoring records in both competitions.
