The Central government approved the appointment of Justice Arun Palli, who is a judge in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, as the new Chief Justice of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court.

• Last week the Supreme Court Collegium had recommended appointment of Justice Palli, a judge of High Court of Punjab & Haryana, as Chief Justice of High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
• Justice Palli was designated as a Senior Advocate on April 26, 2007. He served as Amicus Curiae in various contentious matters before the High Court, addressing diverse subjects and legal propositions before both Division and Full Benches.
• Justice Palli was elevated to the Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on December 28, 2013. 
• He  has also been serving as the Executive Chairman of the Haryana State Legal Services Authority since May 31, 2023, and was nominated as a Member of the Governing Body of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) on October 31, 2023, for a tenure of two years.
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Mohun Bagan Super Giant crowned a spectacular season by winning the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 championship, defeating Bengaluru FC 2-1 in a thrilling final. With this victory, the club completed a remarkable domestic double, having already secured the ISL League Shield earlier in the campaign.

Higlights

• Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated Bengaluru FC 2-1 in the ISL final.
• Jason Cummings equalized with a penalty before Jamie Maclaren scored a dramatic winner in the 96th minute.
• Former Rangers midfielder came off the bench to assist the winning goal, potentially marking his final game for the club.

Historic Season:

• First team to retain the ISL League Shield title.
• Finished the league stage with a record-breaking 56 points.
• Registered 17 wins and remained unbeaten at home in all 12 games.

Domestic Double: By winning both the Shield and the Championship, Mohun Bagan completed a rare double — a feat few clubs have achieved in ISL history.

Kumudini Lakhia, a pioneering Kathak dancer and choreographer, passed away on April 12, 2025, in Ahmedabad at the age of 94.

• Fondly known as Kumudiniben, she was instrumental in transforming Kathak into a contemporary art form.
• Her innovative approach and dedication to the dance form have left an indelible mark on Indian classical dance.?
• Born on May 17, 1930 in Bombay as Kumudini Jaykar, Lakhia’s journey began early, twirling to film songs as a child under the encouragement of mother Leela, a classical singer.
• At seven, she plunged into Kathak, training under luminaries such as Sohanlal of the Bikaner gharana, Ashiq Hussain of Benaras and Sunder Prasad of Jaipur.
• She was honoured with the Padma Shri (1987), Padma Bhushan (2010) and Padma Vibhushan (2025), India’s second-highest civilian honour, conferred just months before her passing.

Daripalli Ramaiah, popularly known as Vanajeevi Ramaiah, a revered environmentalist and recipient of the Padma Shri award, passed away early Saturday morning( 12 April) at the district headquarters hospital in Khammam. He was 87.

• He died of heart attack at his residence in Reddipalli village in Khammam Rural mandal, Telangana.
• Ramaiah considered tree planting the ultimate mission of his life.
• He is credited with planting over one crore trees over the past six decades.
• He was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2017 for his contributions to environmental conservation.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the demise of Padma Shri Daripalli Ramaiah.

In a strategic move to enhance its brand visibility across India, Milkfed Punjab has introduced 'Veera'—a new mascot for its flagship dairy brand, Verka.

The initiative aims to resonate with consumers nationwide, blending cultural heritage with modern marketing.

Keypoints

• Veera is a cheerful Sikh boy with folded hands, symbolizing Punjab’s culture and hospitality.
• Aims to enhance Verka’s brand identity on the national and international stage.
• Rs. 135 crore investment announced to expand dairy infrastructure and product range.
• Focus on increasing production of lassi, curd, sterilized flavored milk, and fermented items.
• Plans to launch Verka products on e-commerce platforms for wider accessibility.
• Part of a strategic move to modernize marketing and connect emotionally with consumers.
• Verka is India’s 7th largest state milk cooperative under Milkfed Punjab.
• Inspired by iconic mascots like the Amul Girl to boost brand engagement.

India delivered a stellar performance at the first leg of the ISSF World Cup 2025 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, securing second place overall with a total of eight medals.

• The Indian shooting contingent showcased remarkable talent and determination, finishing just behind China in the medal tally.
• India's Overall Medal Tally - Indoa won 8 medals( Gold: 4, Silver: 2, Bronze: 2) with Overall Rank: 2nd (behind China with 11 medals) 
• Vijayveer Sidhu made history by becoming the first Indian to clinch gold in the men's 25m rapid-fire pistol event at an ISSF World Cup. 
• Suruchi Singh, an 18-year-old shooter, showcased exceptional skill by securing both a gold in the women's 10m air pistol and a bronze in the mixed team event alongside Saurabh Chaudhary. 
• The Indian shooting team, with an average age of just 21, demonstrated the depth of young talent in the country, signaling a promising future for Indian shooting sports. 
• The Indian contingent's impressive performance at the ISSF World Cup 2025 sets a strong foundation for the upcoming stages of the competition.
• The next leg of the ISSF World Cup is scheduled to take place in Lima, Peru, from April 13 to April 22, 2025.