NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Ministry of MSME launches CHAMPIONS Portal: The Union Ministry of MSME has
launched CHAMPIONS portal www.Champions.gov.in. The CHAMPIONS
stands here for Creation and Harmonious Application of Modern Processes for
Increasing the Output and National Strength. It is a Technology driven Control
Room-Cum-Management Information System, utilising modern ICT tools for
assisting Indian MSMEs emerge as National and Global CHAMPIONS.. The portal
will work to make the smaller MSME units big by solving their grievances,
encouraging, supporting, helping and handholding. In addition to ICT tools like
telephone, internet and video conference, the system is enabled by Artificial
Intelligence, Data Analytics and Machine Learning.
Note: Union Minister of Micro, Small and
Medium Enterprises: Nitin Jairam Gadkari; Ministers of State (I/C) of Micro,
Small and Medium Enterprises: Pratap Chandra Sarangi.
2.
CSIR Approves Project to develop human monoclonal antibodies (hmAbs) that can
neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in patients: Council of Scientific & Industrial
Research (CSIR) has approved a project for the development of Human Monoclonal
Antibodies (hmAbs) that have the ability to neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in patients.
CSIR has approved the project under its flagship New Millennium Indian
Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI) program. The project aims to generate
hmAbs to SARS-CoV-2 from convalescent phase of COVID-19 patients and select
high affinity and neutralizing antibodies as a therapeutic strategy. will be
implemented by a multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary team comprising of
academic institutes and industry with participants from NCCS, IIT-Indore,
PredOmix Technologies Pvt. Ltd. and Bharat Biotech International Ltd (BBIL).
3.
Bengaluru launches ‘Pranavayu’ programme: Bengaluru City Corporation has
launched ‘Pranavayu’ programme to create awareness on the need to self-examine
the respiratory health of the people as the district has 175 confirmed COVID 19
positive cases. Due to large number of cases in the district, it has been
ordered to execute quarantine as well as surveillance activities including
identifying persons prone to the deadly corona virus infection. It is an
attempt to help people with low oxygen level in their blood to get themselves
checked early before their ailments become fatal. The step is taken as several
deaths due to COVID-19 are reported due to Severe Acute Respiratory illness
(SARI).
Note: Chief Minister of Karnataka: B.S.
Yediyurappa; Governor: Vajubhai Vala.
4.
‘Atal Pension Yojana’ (APY) Marks 5 Year’s of Successful Implementation with
Remarkable Feat of 2.23 Crore Enrolment: ‘Atal Pension Yojana’ (APY), the
flagship social security scheme of Government of India, has completed five
years of successful implementation as on 9 May 2020. The scheme was launched on
09 May 2015 by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for old age income security
particularly to the workers in the unorganised sector. As on 09 May 2020, the
total enrolment under the scheme stood at 2,23,54,028. During the first two years of the launch,
almost 50 lacs subscribers were enrolled. This doubled to 100 lacs in the third
year. The milestone of 1.50 crore was achieved in the 4th year. In the fifth
and last financial year, almost 70 lacs subscribers were enrolled under the
scheme. Under the scheme, the male to female subscription ratio of stood at
57:43, across the country covering all states and Union Territories.
5.
Madhya Pradesh Police Launches First-of-Its-Kind ‘FIR at Your Doorstep’ Scheme:
Madhya
Pradesh Government has launched a unique initiative called ‘FIR Aapke Dwar
Yojana’, under which police officials will go to homes of victims to register a
First Information Report (FIR). This makes, Madhya Pradesh the first state in
the country to implement such an innovative initiative to alleviate the
problems of people in the times of the coronavirus pandemic. The scheme was
launched by Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Dr Narottam Mishra on 11 May 2020 in
Bhopal. The ‘FIR Aapke Dwar’ scheme has been started as a pilot project in 23
Police Stations, which includes one urban and one rural Police Station at 11
Divisional Headquarters. The scheme will continue as a pilot project till
August 31. For this Yojana “Dial 100” vehicle would have trained Head
Constables to lodge FIR. The Minister also launched helpline 'Dial 112' to
facilitate immediate availability of ambulance, police and fire fighting
services.
Note: Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh:
Shivraj Singh Chouhan; Governor of Madhya Pradesh: Lal Ji Tandon.
6.
CSIR-NAL develops Non-Invasive Ventilator to treat COVID-19 patients: CSIR-National
Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) Bangalore has developed Non-Invasive ‘BiPAP’ Ventilator
“SwasthVayu” in a record time of 36 days to treat COVID-19. This ventilator is
a microcontroller-based precise closed-loop adaptive control system with “3D
printed manifold & coupler” and HEPA Filter. It is certified for safety and
performance by NABL accredited agencies. It is cost effective, compact, and
configured with majority of indigenous components.
7.
HRD Minister launches Central University of Odisha Helpline “Bharosa”: Union HRD Minister
Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has launched Central University of Odisha
Helpline “Bharosa”. This helpline has been launched with an objective of
relieving the student community from the distress caused during the troubled
time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Helpline Number 08046801010 was launched through
a virtual platform in New Delhi. The helpline aims at providing Cognitive
Emotional Rehabilitation Services to all University Students of Odisha.
Note: Chief Minister of Odisha: Naveen
Patnaik, Governor: Ganeshi Lal.
8.
Jharkhand Education Dept & Doordarshan launched online classes for
students: Jharkhand
State Education Department and Doordarshan started online classes to provide
school education to students (Class 1 to 12) of the state through
video-thematic lectures with special slots allotted for each class. It will go
live on DD channel and free Dish TV from 10 am to 2 pm for five days a week.
Apart from this, the classes will be available on YouTube channel DD Jharkhand
and DIGI SATH for uninterrupted access by the students as per their
convenience.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Prince Harry-Meghan Markle’s biography to be published in August: The first biopic on
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s life, titled ‘Finding Freedom: Harry and
Meghan and the Making of A Modern Royal Family’ would be published on August
11, 2020. The book is a biopic, written by royal reporters Omid Scobie and
Carolyn Durand. The book aims to portray a couple who continue to inspire many
around the world through their humanitarian and charitable work but are often
inaccurately portrayed. The book reveals details of the couple who stepped back
as frontline royals to settle down in the US in April 2020. The book provides a
glimpse into the lesser-known aspects of their romance and decision to go their
separate way from Buckingham Palace.
2.
International Nurses Day: 12th May: The International Nurses Day is celebrated
around the world every May 12, to mark the contributions and hard work of
nursing staff around the world. The day was created by the International
Council of Nurses, and is celebrated globally since January 1974. This day also
marks the birth anniversary of nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale. She was
the founder of modern nursing and was a British social reformer and
statistician. The theme of 2020 International Nurses Day is ‘Nurses: A voice to
lead – Nursing the World to Health’. The World Health Organization (WHO) has
also designated 2020 as International Year of the Nurse to mark the bicentenary
(200th birth anniversary) of Florence Nightingale.
Note: International Council of Nurses
headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland; International Council of Nurses founded:
1899; International Council of Nurses President: Annette Kennedy.
3.
Israel names a street after Rabindranath Tagore: Israel paid
heartwarming tribute on the 159th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore by
sharing a picture of a street named after him in Tel Aviv. The street starts
right opposite the main gates of Tel Aviv University. The street was named
“Rehov Tagore” where 'rehov' means street. As a symbolic gesture of friendship
with Israel, India renamed the iconic Teen Murti Chowk, a war memorial as Haifa
during the visit of PM Benjamin Netanyahu in 2018.
Note: Capital of Isreal: Jerusalem; Prime
minister of Isreal: Benjamin Netanyahu; The currency of Isreal: Israeli Shekel.
4.
IIM Bangalore, Only Indian Institute to Feature Among top 50 Global B-schools
in FT Executive Education Rankings 2020: The Indian Institute of Management
Bangalore (IIMB) has been ranked among the Top 50 global schools providing executive
education (open plus custom programmes), in the Financial Times (FT) Executive
Education 2020 Rankings released. IIMB is ranked at 45th position in this list.
This is the second time in row that IIMB is featuring in the list. IIMB is the
only Indian management school to feature in this prestigious global list of
executive education providers. The annual list comprised of top 85 B-schools
for custom programmes, top 75 B- schools for open programmes and a combined
ranking for the Top 50 providers of executive education (open plus custom
programmes). IIMB has been ranked at 52nd spot in the custom list, and 55th in
the open programmes. Iese business school, Barcelona (Spain), has topped the
combined table for the sixth consecutive year.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
Para-athlete Deepa Malik announces retirement, to head India’s Paralympic
Committee: Para-athlete
Deepa Malik has announced her retirement from Paralympics games to hold her
post as the president of the Paralympic Committee of India. As per the National
Sports Code, an active athlete cannot hold an official post in any federation.
She has been awarded with Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, Arjuna award (2012)
and Padma Shri Award (2017). She is the first Indian woman to win Silver Medal
at 2016 Summer Paralympics in the shot put. She is also the recipient of 58
national and 23 international medals.
Note: Paralympic Committee of India
Founded: 1992; Paralympic Committee of India Secretary-General: Gursharan
Singh.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
Bank of America Downgrades India GDP Estimate for FY’21 to 0.5%: Bank of America has
revised down their GDP growth estimate for India to 0.5 percent for the current
fiscal year, 2020-21, from its earlier estimate of 1.5 percent. The foreign
brokerage has also estimated the fiscal deficit to come at 5.8 percent of the
GDP in FY21 as against the budget target of 3.5 per cent, after the
government’s move to raise its market borrowing programme for the current
financial year by Rs 4.2 lakh crore.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1.
Bengaluru airport won ‘SKYTRAX award’ for being best regional airport: The Kempegowda
International Airport, Bengaluru has won SKYTRAX Award 2020 for Best Regional
Airport in India and Central Asia. It is for the third time in 4 years that it has
been awarded as the best airport. ‘SKYTRAX Awards’ are based on the World
Airport Survey questionnaires completed by over 100 nationalities during the
6-month survey. The survey evaluated customer experience from check-in,
arrivals, transfers, shopping, security to departure at the gate.
Note: Governor of Karnataka: Vajubhai Vala;
Chief Minister of Karnataka: B. S. Yediyurappa.
DEFENSE
1.
Defence Minister abolished 9,304 post in military engineering services: Union Defence
Minister Rajnath Singh recently approved the abolition of 9,304 posts in the
military engineering services on the recommendation of Shekatar Committee. The
step is taken to enhance combat capability and rebalance defence expenditure of
the Armed Forces. The move will also equip MES with leaner workforce, well
equipped to handle complex issues in the emerging scenario in an efficient and
cost-effective manner.
OBITUARIES
1.
Little Richard, Founding Father of Rock Who Broke Musical Barriers, passes
away: Little
Richard, a founding father of rock & roll whose fervent shrieks, flamboyant
garb, and joyful, gender-bending persona embodied the spirit and sound of that
new art form, died. He was 87. Starting with “Tutti Frutti” in 1956, Little
Richard cut a series of unstoppable hits – “Long Tall Sally” and “Rip It Up”
that same year, “Lucille” in 1957, and “Good Golly Miss Molly” in 1958 – driven
by his simple, pumping piano, gospel-influenced vocal exclamations and sexually
charged (often gibberish) lyrics
2.
Former JDS MP Raja Rangappa Naik passes away: Former JDS MP Raja
Rangappa Naik (61 years) passes away. He had represented the Raichur
constituency (Karnataka) in the Lok Sabha. He had strived hard for the
development of Kalyana Karnataka (old Hyderabad-Karnataka region). Naik was
elected to the Lok Sabha in 1996.
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