NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Webinar on “Van Dhan Scheme:
Learnings for post COVID-19”: The
Department of Science and Technology, Government of Rajasthan has organized a
webinar on “Van Dhan Scheme: Learnings for post COVID-19” in assciation with
TRIFED, under the Know Your Scheme-Lecture Series. TRIFED has partnered with
UNICEF to initiate “Van Dhan Samajik Doori Jagrookta Abhiyaan” under which
tribals will be provided with relevant information regarding COVID-19 along
with several guidelines, nationwide and state-specific webinars and
instructions on safety measures to be followed. TRIFED has also assured revenue
of Rs 20k to 30k per person per year through Van Dhan Value addition Scheme’s minimum
support price. TRIFED is also looking towards launching ‘Tech for Tribals’ with
IITs. IIMs, MSME to form an Entrepreneurship Skill Development Program.
2.
MoRTH inaugurates
440 metre-long tunnel in Chamba under Chardham Project: Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India Nitin
Gadkari inaugurated the 440 metre-long tunnel, constructed below the busy town
of Chamba, on Rishikesh-Dharasu road Highway(NH 94) as part of the Chardham
Connectivity Project. The tunnel has been developed by the Border Roads
Organisation (BRO). It will significantly reduce the time taken by travellers
on the Rishikesh-Dharasu and Gangotri stretch of the Chardham Highway and also
avoid congestion in the city of Chamba and open up avenues of socio-economic
development in the region. The Rs 12,000 crore Chardham Project includes
construction of National Highway with approximate length of 889 Km, to connect
Gangotri, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Badrinath. Of this BRO is constructing 250
Km of National Highways leading to holy shrine Gangotri and Badrinath.
Note:
Minister of State in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: V. K. Singh.
3. Rehabilitation package for Amphan
hit West Bengal & Odisha: Rehabilitation
package for the “Cyclone Amphan” hit West Bengal & Odisha was announced by
the Government of India. As part of rehabilitation package, the financial
assistance of Rs 1,000 crore for cyclone hit West Bengal, and Rs 500 crore for
Odisha was announced for immediate relief activities in the two states. Along
with financial assistance, an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of the
dead, and Rs 50,000 for the injured was also announced.
Note:
Chief Minister of Odisha: Naveen Patnaik; Governor: Ganeshi Lal.
Chief
Minister of West Bengal: Mamata Banerjee; Governor: Jagdeep Dhankhar.
4. Power Finance Corporation inks
MoU with NBPCL to fund projects worth Rs 22,000 crore for 225 MW hydro-electric
projects & Multipurpose projects in Madhya Pradesh: The Power Finance Corporation (PFC), a central PSU under
Ministry of Power and India’s leading NBFC has entered into an agreement with
Narmada Basin Projects Company Ltd. (NBPCL), a wholly-owned company of Govt. of
Madhya Pradesh, to fund projects worth Rs.22,000 crore for 225 MW
hydro-electric projects & multipurpose projects in Madhya Pradesh. The
funds will be used for setting up hydroelectric projects of 225 MW and power
components of 12 major multipurpose projects in the state. Some of the major
multipurpose projects to be financed under the MoU are Basaniya Multipurpose
Project Dindori, Chinki Boras Multipurpose Project Narsinghpur Raisen
Hoshangabad, Sakkar Pench Link Narsinghpur Chhindwara, Dudhi Project Chhindwara
Hoshangabad, etc.
Note:
Chairman & Managing Director of Power Finance Corporation: Rajeev Sharma.
Managing
Director of Narmada Basin Projects Company Ltd.: I.C.P. Keshari.
Chief
Minister of Madhya Pradesh: Shivraj Singh Chouhan; Governor: Lal Ji Tandon.
5. NGMA commemorates 115th Birth
Anniversary of Ramkinkar Baij: The
National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) organised a virtual tour to commemorate
the 115th Birth Anniversary of iconic artist Ramkinkar Baij. The virtual tour
was titled as “Ramkinkar Baij | Journey through silent transformation and
expressions” and was conducted in five different themes namely:Portrait, Life
Study, Abstract & Structural Composition, Nature Study & Landscape,
Sculptures. Ramkinkar Baij was the one of the most seminal artists of modern
India. He was honoured with the Padma Bhushan Award by the Government of India
in 1970, for his irrefutable contribution to Indian art.
Note:
Director General of National Gallery of Modern Art: Adwaita Charan Gadanayak.
6. New species of fish discovered in
Tamil Nadu: A new species of small freshwater
fish of the family Cyprinidae has been discovered in Velankanni in Tamil Nadu.
It is a silver-hued fish and is of Puntius species that is locally termed as
Paral’ in Kerala and ‘Kende’ in Tamil Nadu. It has characteristics of
protractible mouth, a pair of maxillary barbels (a sensory organ near the snout),
24-25 lateral line scales and 10 pre-dorsal scales. This fish species belongs
to freshwater and grows at 7 cm.
7. GIS-enabled dashboard CoAST India
launched: GIS-enabled dashboard CoAST India
(Collaboration/Covid Action Support Group) platform has been launched. It
consists of India map reflecting the movement of migrants in real time to
provide them with facilities and relief. It has been developed by India
Observatory in collaboration with Anand-based Forest Ecological Security (FES)
as nodal point. The map matches time and spatial data, on administrative
facilities in the area, transportation and healthcare facilities
8. CSIR-IIIM & RIL to develop
RT-LAMP based test for Coronavirus: CSIR
ties up with Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) to develop RT-LAMP based
COVID-19 diagnostic kit. Reverse Transcriptase-Loop Mediated Isothermal
Amplification (RT-LAMP) is a rapid (45-60min), accurate and cost-effective test
that can be done with indigenous components with minimal expertise and
instrumentation. It is a nucleic acid-based test that will be carried out from
nasal or throat swab sample. It can be done in a basic lab set up like mobile
units or kiosks.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Prem K Nair appointed as Indian
Ambassador to Niger: Government of India has announced
the appointment of Prem K Nair as Indian Ambassador to the Republic of Niger.
Prem K Nair is currently serving as the Consul General of India to Hambantota.
He will take over the position by replacing Rajesh Agarwal.
Note:
Niger is a landlock country of West Africa which is named after the prominent
river Niger.
Niger
Capital: Niamey; Currency of Niger: West African CFA franc; President of Niger:
Mahamadou Issoufou.
2. WFIRST Telescope of NASA renamed
after ‘Mother of Hubble’ Nancy Grace Roman: US
Space agency NASA has announced to name its next-generation space telescop, the
Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST), currently under development, in
honor of Nancy Grace Roman, NASA’s first chief astronomer, who paved the way
for space telescopes focused on the broader universe. The WFIRST Telescope will
now be called Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (or Roman Space Telescope, for
short). It is set to be launched in the mid-2020s. Dr. Nancy Roman is
considered as the Mother of NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, which was launched
30 years ago. It was because of Nancy Grace Roman’s leadership and vision that
NASA became a pioneer in astrophysics and launched Hubble, the world’s most
powerful and productive space telescope The Roman Space Telescope will
investigate long-standing astronomical mysteries, such as the force behind the
universe’s expansion, and search for distant planets beyond our solar system.
It will be the successor to NASA’s Hubble and Webb Telescopes.
Note:
The administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA):
Jim Bridenstine; Headquarters of NASA: Washington D.C., United States.
3. WHO suspends clinical trail of
HCQ on COVID-19 patients: Director
General of World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus suspended
the clinical trial of Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) on COVID-19 patients. The move
came from the study that shows high mortality rate due to the use of HCQ alone
or with macrolide. WHO in order to evaluate the safety and efficacy of drugs
against Covid-19 intitated Solidarity trial that included HCQ. HCQ are
effective for autoimmune diseases and will be suspended temporarily for COVID.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. WHO and IOC ties up to promote
healthy living through sports: World
Health Organization and International Olympic Committee signed an agreement to
promote health through sport and physical activity. The concern come out in the
wake of COVID-19 as it is affecting people with Non communicable diseases like
diabetes, blood pressure, lung disease severely. The partnership will bring
together the sports and health sectors at global, regional and national levels
leaving healthy legacy and value of physical activity in host countries.
(1) The agreement that has been signed will
focus on some of the key areas:
(2) To strengthen collaboration between
Health ministry and sports ministry.
(3) To promote grassroots and community
sports programmes.
(4) To strengthening the legacy of the
Olympics and Paralympics.
(5) To advocacy for physical activity
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. LIC launches “PM Vaya Vandana
Yojana” for senior citizens: Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has
announced the launch of modified Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana, a social
security scheme for senior citizens. This plan starts from May 26 for three
financial years up to March 31, 2023. The policy term is of 10 years and for
policies sold during the first financial year up to March 31, 2021, the scheme
will provide an assured rate of return of 7.40 per cent once a year payable
monthly (which is like 7.66 per cent per annum) for the whole duration of 10
years.
Note:
Head office of LIC: Mumbai, Maharashtra; Chairman of LIC: M R Kumar; LIC
Established: 1 September 1956.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
Facebook launches its Audio-only Calling App ‘CatchUp’: The internal
R&D group of Facebook, the NPE (New Product Experimentation) Team, has come
up with a calling application called Catch-Up. This audio-only unique app has
been developed to coordinate call timings with friends and family members and
enables to set up group calls with up to 8 people. CatchUp won’t need a
Facebook account to use the service and the app works with your phone’s contacts
list.Through this app, user will get to know who all in their contact list are
free to talk, and which contact is offline.The CatchUp app has currently been
launched in the United States for testing purpose.
Note:
Chief Executive Officer of Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg; Facebook Headquarters:
California, US.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Indian-American IBM scientist
Rajiv Joshi wins Inventor of the Year Award:
An Indian-American inventor Dr. Rajiv Joshi has bagged the prestigious Inventor
of the Year award for the year 2020 for his pioneering work in advancing the
electronic industry and improving artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. Dr
Joshi works at the IBM Thomson Watson Research Center in New York. The
$5,000.00 award is presented every year by the New York Intellectual Property
Law Association (NYIPLA) in recognition of the contribution that the invention
has and/or will make towards society as a whole.
Note:
NYIPLA President: Colman B. Ragan; NYIPLA Established: March 7, 1922.
2. Major Suman Gawani Becomes first
Indian peacekeeper to be honoured with UN Military Gender Advocate award: Major Suman Gawani, an Indian Army officer and woman
peacekeeper who has served with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan
(UNMISS), has been selected for the prestigious United Nations Military Gender
Advocate of the Year Award (2019). She is the first Indian peacekeeper to be
given the UN Military Gender Advocate award, for her outstanding contribution
to peacekeeping efforts in the UNMISS. Major Gawani, along with Brazilian Naval
Officer Commander Carla Monteiro de Castro Araujo will receive the award by
United Nations Secretary-General Guterres on May 29, the International Day of
UN Peacekeepers.
Note:
The UN Military Gender Advocate award was created in 2016 to honour the
dedication and effort of individual military peacekeepers in promoting the UN
principles on Women, Peace and Security in peace operations as nominated by
Heads and Force Commanders of peace operations.
DEFENCE
1. Army Commanders’ Conference
commences in New Delhi: The Army Commanders’ Conference has commenced
in New Delhi. It is an apex level biannual event that was earlier scheduled to
be held in April 2020, but was postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic. The 1st
phase of the conference is to be held from 27 May to 29 May 2020 and the second
phase is expected to be held in June 2020. In the first phase of Army
Commanders’ Conference, the apex level leadership of Indian Army will
deliberate on various aspects pertaining to operational and administrative
issues including studies pertaining to logistics and human resources.
OBITUARIES
1. Renowned vocalist Shyamala Bhave
passes away: Classical musician Shyamala G. Bhave
(79 years) passed away. She was well versed with Hindustani and Carnatic music
and was the member of Karnataka Sangeeta Nrithya Academy (1997 to 2001). She is
the music composer in India’s first Sanskrit serial titled ‘Kadambari’ and Adi
Shankaracharya. She was honoured with ‘Ubhaya Gaana Vidushi’ and Karnataka
Rajyotsava Award. She belongs to Bengaluru.
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