NATIONAL
UPDATES:
1. Govt appoints non-executive chairpersons : Finance ministry has
appointed non-executive chairpersons at Punjab & Sindh Bank, Dena Bank
& Central Bank of India, as part of its agenda to reform public sector
banks.Charan Singh, Anjali Bansal & Tapan Ray were appointed as non
executive chairperson of Punjab & Sind Bank, Dena Bank & Central
Bank of India, respectively.These banks have been plagued by mounting bad loans
& massive losses.
2. Collaborative programme on HIV/AIDS research : Governments of India &
Netherlands have launched a collaborative research programme on HIV/AIDS
between India, Netherlands & Sweden.Programme aims to harness research
strengths & diverse expertise across 3 nations to develop better tools to
understand HIV epidemic.It will enable a multitude of cross-learning
opportunities in HIV/AIDS research to address unmet needs & emerging
challenges.
3. India to host the ASEAN India Film Festival : Minister of State for
Information & Broadcasting, Rajyavardhan Rathore will inaugurate the ASEAN
India Film Festival in New Delhi on May 25, 2018.It will be a platform for
people of the film industry of member countries to explore areas of cooperation
in domain of cinema & cultural cooperation.The tagline of the Festival
is proposed to be ‘Friendship through Films’.
4. ‘Nidaan’ software for disease monitoring : A new software, ‘Nidaan’, has
been launched in Rajasthan for presumptive diagnosis and monitoring of seasonal
and non-communicable diseases.“Nidaan” will facilitate online entries of as
many as 46 diseases and healthcare services available for their treatment in
different institutions.
5. Biodiversity award for
Arunachal reserve : An NGO, Singchung Bugun Community Reserve, won the India Biodiversity
Award 2018 in the category of ‘Conservation of wildlife species’The NGO bagged
the prize for its unique endeavor & contributions towards conserving
the rare wildlife resources of that area.The prize was presented by Union
Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change & was conferred
by National Biodiversity Authority.It is expected to help in formulation of
specific action plans for control of diseases.
6. Chandramauli appointed as
Chairman of PCI : Justice Chandramauli Kumar Prasad, who was the former Supreme Court
Judge has been appointed as the Chairman of the Press Council of India (PCI)
for the second time.The decision was taken by a committee of three members,
headed by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu.Justice Prasad had taken over from
Justice Markanday Katju in November, 2014.
7. Samagra
Shiksha scheme for school education : HRD Minister Prakash
Javadekar has launched Samagra Shiksha scheme for school education from
pre-school to senior secondary levels.The scheme focuses on improving quality
of education, enhancing learning outcomes & using technology to empower
children & teachers.The scheme will enhance the use of digital technology
in education through smart classroom & digital boards.
INTERNATIONAL
UPDATES:
1. North Korea dismantled its nuclear test site : North Korea has carried out
demolition of its Punggye-ri nuclear test site in a series of
huge explosions.Destruction of the nuclear testing tunnels at Punggye-ri
is a tangible step toward denuclearization goal that Kim Jong-un agreed to at
the 27 April Panmunjom Summit.North Korea permitted a group of journalists from
Britain, China, Russia, South Korea and US to watch the destruction.
2.1st drone-carried
meteorological data monitor : China has successfully tested its first
drone-carried meteorological data monitor to undertake atmospheric
observations.Dropsonde also known as meteorological data monitor will gather
data such as temperature, humidity, and wind direction and transmit them to
ground receiving devices in real time.Dropsondes can be widely used in
meteorological emergency, disaster & ecological monitoring.
3. Nepal: First country to eliminate Trachoma : Nepal became the 1st country
in south-east Asia to eliminate Trachoma.Trachoma is a kind of chlamydial
infection that happens due to unclean water supply & lack of
hygiene and spreads through contact with nose, throat or eye of infected
person.Nepal government took important measures like providing incentives
to districts & local communities to build latrines in order to improve
sanitation
OTHER
UPDATES:
BUSINESS/ECONOMY:
1. MCX launches India’s first silver options : India’s Multi Commodity
Exchange has launched the country’s first silver options contracts.Five
contracts expiring in June, August, November, February and April with a lot
size of 30 kg were launched.India is the world’s biggest consumer of silver,
which is mainly used for jewellery making in the county.The exchange had
recently launched crude oil and copper options.
BANKING/FINANCE:
1. HDFC bank to offer Digital Loans : HDFC Bank has launched its
Digital Loans against Mutual Funds in partnership with transfer agent CAM.Customers
will be able to leverage their mutual fund portfolio to avail funds for any
emergencies without liquidating their investments.The ticket size of the loans
will range from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1 crore at an interest rate of 10.5 -11%.
2. Anubrata Biswas appointed as MD & CEO : Airtel Payments Bank has
announced the appointment of Anubrata Biswas as its Managing Director &
CEO.Anubrata will be responsible for driving Airtel Payments Bank’s mission of
taking convenient and innovative digital banking services to the doorstep of
every Indian.Airtel Payments Bank was the first payments bank to start
operations in India.
DEFENCE:
1. INSV Tarini Team gets Nari Shakti Puraskar : Nari Shakti Puraskar 2017 was
presented to INSV Tarini Team in Delhi by Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, Minister of
Women & Child Development.Team comprising of 6 Lady Officers, led by
Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi from Indian Navy received the award from the
Minister.Tarini is a part of Navika Sagar Parikrama, a
unique project of Indian Navy which promotes ocean sailing activities in the
Navy.
2. India, Nepal to conduct a
military exercise : Armies of both the nations, India and Nepal will conduct a 2-week long
military exercise ‘Surya Kiran’ in Uttarakhand.The focus of the exercise will be to enhance
cooperation in conducting counter-terrorism operations in mountainous terrain.Around
300 soldiers from both the nations will be participating in this exercise.
3. New Vice Chief of Army Staff : Lt. Gen. Devraj Anbu has been
appointed as the new Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS).He is presently GOC-in-C (General
Officer Commanding-in-Chief) Northern Command.He will replace Lt. Gen. Sarath
Chand who retires on May 31.Lt. Gen. Anbu is expected to be replaced by Lt.
Gen. Ranbir Singh who was the Director General Military Operations (DGMO) at
the time of surgical strikes.
SPORTS:
1. First national sports
university in Manipur : The Union Cabinet has approved an ordinance to set
up the country’s first national sports university in Manipur.The varsity will
be spread over 325 acres in Imphal West district with a cost of Rs 524 crore.The
proposal to set up the national sports university in Manipur was initially
announced by PM Modi, while Rs 100 crore funds for it were allocated in
the 2014-15 budget.
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