U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order on April 21, directing every single federal agency to work toward environmental justice for all and improve the lives of communities hit hardest by toxic pollution and climate change.

• US President said, the order would deepen work to reverse years of policies. According to media reports, the order will establish a new Office of Environmental Justice within the White House to coordinate efforts across the government.
• It requires federal agencies to notify communities if toxic substances are released from a federal facility. 

Air Marshal Sandeep Singh, a former vice chief of the Indian Air Force, is set to take charge as the military adviser to the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) on April 24, a government official aware of the top appointment .

• Singh retired as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff on January 31, 2023 after a military career spanning almost four decades.
• An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, he was commissioned into the IAF as a fighter pilot in December 1983.
• He has flown several aircraft, and has nearly 4,900 hours of operational and test flying experience on Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, MiG-21, AN-32, Avro, Jaguar and Mirage 2000.
• He also played a key role in the induction, production and weaponisation of the Su-30 MKI aircraft in India.

Mann Ki Baat, a radio programme with Prime Minister Narendra Modi will complete its 100th edition on April 30, Sunday.

• To commemorate the occasion of the 100th Episode of Mann Ki Baat, new Rs 100 coin will be released.
• The coins will be minted under the authority of the Central Government.
• The coin of One Hundred Rupees denomination shall only be issued under the authority of the Central Government on the occasion of “100th Episode of Mann Ki Baat,” the official notification by the Ministry of Finance read.

Mann Ki Baat, a radio programme with Prime Minister Narendra Modi will complete its 100th edition on April 30, Sunday.

• To commemorate the occasion of the 100th Episode of Mann Ki Baat, new Rs 100 coin will be released.
• The coins will be minted under the authority of the Central Government.
• The coin of One Hundred Rupees denomination shall only be coined at the Mint for issue under the authority of the Central Government on the occasion of “100th Episode of Mann Ki Baat,” the official notification by the Ministry of Finance read.

World Creativity and Innovation Day is observed every year on April 21 to create awareness about the importance of creativity and innovation in all aspects of human development.

• The day was adopted by a resolution of the United Nations (U.N.) and designated for April 21 in 2018.
• Creativity and innovation are also vital in achieving the sustainable development goals set out by the U.N.
• Though both terms are often used interchangeably, creativity and innovation are distinct concepts that work hand in hand to achieve the desired end.

Tamil Nadu has put on hold a bill that was passed last week to allow a 12-hour workday from the mandatory eight hours at factories in the state following protests by several political parties and labour unions. 

• Chief Minister M K Stalin said that based on the views expressed by various trade union representatives and political parties on the bill passed in the Assembly on April 21, the process of implementing it had been suspended.
• The government passed the bill last week but it has yet to become law.
• On 21 April, the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed the Factories (Amendment) Act 2023 providing flexible working hours for employees across the state.

According to a formal declaration, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is striving to build around 10,000 kilometres of Optic Fibre Cables (OFC) infrastructure throughout the nation by 2024- 2025.

• This effort aims to speed up the roll-out of cutting-edge telecom technologies like 5G and and 6G and bring internet service to remote areas.
• The National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), a fully-owned special purpose vehicle of the NHAI, would be responsible for putting in place the network of digital roads by creating integrated utility corridors alongside the national highway.
• The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway's 246-km Delhi-Dausa-Lalsot stretch, which has a dedicated three- meter utility corridor for installing optical fibre cables, was recently opened.