• National

All electric cars to have green number plates

• The Union Government has asked state transport departments to ensure that all battery-operated vehicles (both existing and new) have green number plates immediately.
• In August 2018, the road transport ministry had introduced the new number plate for all battery-operated or electric vehicles (EVs).
• The transport ministry’s missive to states is aimed at indicating that the government is serious about pushing green mobility across the country.
• The government has done away with permits for vehicles running on battery and other alternative sources of fuel like methanol and bio-fuel.

• National

India ranked 4th in SIPRI

• Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s (SIPRI) report said that India is the world’s 4th biggest military spender in 2018.
• The United States topped the list followed by China and Saudi Arabia.
• France also figures on the list of top five spenders that together accounted for 60% of the global military spending in 2018.

• International

Japan's new Emperor Naruhito ascends the throne

• Japan’s new emperor Naruhito has formally ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne (replacing his father) Akihito, who had abdicated a day earlier.
• Today, In a morning ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, today, Naruhito became the 126th Emperor of Japan.
• A new imperial era called Reiwa, which means order and harmony, has now begun.
• The emperor in Japan holds no political power but serves as a national symbol.

• International

Eric Schmidt left Google board

• Google-parent Alphabet said that Eric Schmidt, who was chief of the internet giant for a decade, will leave the board in June.
• Schmidt stepped down as chairman of the Alphabet board at the start of 2018, remaining a member but shifting to a role as a technical advisor.

• Economy and Business

Bharti AXA Ties Up With Wishfin To Offer Policies Via WhatsApp

• Bharti AXA General Insurance, a private non-life insurer, has tied up with financial marketplace Wishfin’s insurance arm Wishpolicy, to offer two-wheeler insurance to customers via WhatsApp.
• This service option is an instant and additional customer service option for policyholders, apart from Bharti AXA General Insurance’s multiple channels, including its network of branches, customer care and contact centre, dynamic portal, and intelligent chatbot.

• Economy and Business

SEBI Fines NSE Over Rs625 crore In Co-Location Scam

• Markets regulator SEBI directed National Stock Exchange to pay more than Rs625 crore in the case of misuse of its co-location facility.
• SEBI has been probing alleged lapses in high-frequency trading offered through NSE’s co-location facility.
• The amount, if considered with simple interest, would come to little less than Rs1,000 crore.
• If it involves a compound interest, the fine could amount to around Rs1,300 crore.
• Besides, two former chief executive officers, Ravi Narain and Chitra Ramkrishna have been asked to disgorge 25% of respective salaries drawn during a certain period.
• According to the order, the exchange has also been prohibited from accessing the securities market directly or indirectly for six months.

• Sports

Ajinkya Rahane becomes 1st Indian cricketer to join Hampshire

• India Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane (30-year) has become the first overseas player from India to join Hampshire .
• Rahane will replace South Africa batsman Aiden Markram.
• He will play in the County Championship throughout the months of May, June, and July (subject to visa clearance).

• Sports

G Sathiyan Becomes First Indian To Break Into Top-25 of ITTF Rankings

• India’s G Sathiyan has become the first Indian to break into the top-25 of world rankings in Table Tennis.
• Sathiyan rose four spots to be 24th in the latest ITTF rankings, following his impressive sixth place finish in the Asia Cup in Yokohama.
• India’s number one female player, Manika Batra, slipped three spots to be 59th.
• Sharath Kamal Achanta is the only other Indian beside him in the top 50 position who is now 46th place in the list.

• Appointments

Dilip Kumar Appointed As Officer On Special Duty In Office Of Lokpal

• Senior IAS officer Dilip Kumar was appointed as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the office of Lokpal.
• Kumar, a 1995-batch IAS officer of Punjab cadre, is at present joint secretary, National Human Rights Commission.
• He has been appointed for a period of six months on additional charge basis or till a new incumbent joins the post.

• Important Days

International Labour Day being observed today

• The ‘International Labour Day’ is a celebration of labourers and the working classes, promoted by the international labour movement, anarchists, socialists, and communists.
• It takes place every year on 1st May which also matches with the Celtic spring festival.
• The day marks the victory of the workers’ movement for eight hours of work. It also aims to pay tribute to workers sacrifices in achieving economic and social rights all over the world.
• The theme of International Labour Day 2019 is “Sustainable Pension for all: The Role of Social Partners”.

• Miscellaneous

Cyclone Fani: Centre releases advance SDRF funds to 4 states

• Ministry of Home Affairs ordered an advance release of Rs 1086 crore to four states from the State Disaster Response Fund to deal with the preventive measures for cyclonic storm ‘Fani’.
• Under this, the state of Andhra Pradesh will get Rs 200.25 crore while Rs 340.87 crore has been given to Odisha.
• A total of Rs 309.37 crore and Rs 235.50 crore have been allotted to Tamil Nadu and West Bengal respectively.
• The financial assistance has been released to their State Disaster Response Fund to assist them in undertaking preventive and relief measures in response to the cyclonic storm.