NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Six Heritage Sites added to India’s UNESCO World Heritage sites Tentative List:
The
Union Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel recently announced that around six
cultural heritage sites have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
With this, the total number of sites in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Tentative list has increased to 48.
The following six places have successfully
entered the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.
(1) Ganga Ghats of Varanasi,
(2) Temples of Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu,
(3) Satpura Tiger Reserve in Madhya
Pradesh,
(4) Maharashtra Military Architecture
(5) Hire Benkal Megalithic site,
(6) BhedaghatLametaghat of Narmada Valley
in Madhya Pradesh
2.
Jharkhand ranks first in implementation of Smart City Mission schemes: Jharkhand has
clinched the 1st Position among the 36 States & UTs of India based on the
progress of implementation of Smart City projects, Rajasthan came second in the
rankings. The rankings were released by the Ministry of Housing & Urban
Affairs (MoHUA). At the same time, Jharkhand’s Capital Ranchi has risen to 12th
position in terms of progress of the ongoing mission plans in 100 cities. On
the other hand, Delhi is at number 11 in the list of States and Union
Territories and Bihar at number 27 and New Delhi Municipal Corporation is at
number 41 and Bihar Capital Patna at 68th position in the list of cities.
Earlier, there was a system of issuing
ranking in one month, fortnight, week by the Smart City Mission. But, now these
rankings are updated frequently through the online process. In this ranking,
the implementation and progress of the schemes run by the Smart City Mission
are the basis and the points for various tasks are determined.
Note: Chief Minister of Jharkhand: Hemant
Soren; Governor: ShrimatiDroupadiMurmu.
3.
Google floats News Showcase in India with top publishers: Google has
announced the launch of its global licensing programme News Showcase in India.
Google has sealed agreements with 30 Indian publishers to offer access to some
of their content. Amid mounting pressure from the global media fraternity
asking for a fair price and advertising share from technology platforms.
In February, the Indian Newspaper Society
(INS) had also asked search engine Google to compensate newspapers for the use
of content published by them and sought a larger share of its advertising
revenue. The content from these publishers will begin to appear in dedicated
News Showcase story panels in Google News and on Discover pages in English and
Hindi. The support for more local languages will be added in the future. It
will also pay participating news organizations to give readers access to a
limited amount of paywalled content.
About the Showcase: Showcase pays news
publishers for their content online and also allows partnering publishers to
provide limited access to pay-walled stories for users. Showcase, which is live
in more than 12 countries working with over 700 publishers, is a part of
Google’s $1 billion investment towards supporting quality journalism.
Note: Google CEO: SundarPichai; Google
Founded: 4 September 1998, California, United States; Google Founders: Larry
Page, Sergey Brin.
4.
National Gallery of Modern Art launched Audio-Visual Guide App: On the occasion of
International Museums Day 2021, the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) has
launched the Audio-Visual Guide App. The app will enable museum viewers to listen
to anecdotes and stories related to the Indian modern art exhibited at the
Gallery. It has been launched to provide a better way of viewing the museum to
visitors. International Museums Day is observed every year on 18 May.
National Gallery of Modern Art: It was founded in
1954. It is the premier art gallery under the Ministry of Culture. It has a
collection of art of more than 2000 artists.
Note: Minister of State (IC) of the
Ministry of Culture: Prahalad Singh Patel.
INTERNATIONALUPDATES:
1.
India climbs to 3rd spot on EY index: India has moved a notch higher at the
third spot on EY’s Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index due to
exceptional performance on the solar photovoltaic (PV) front. India has moved
one position above (3rd) from the previous index (4th), this is primarily
because of the exceptional performance on the solar PV front. The US retains
the top position on RECAI 57, China has remained a buoyant market and maintains
the second position. India also committed to setting up 450 GW for renewable
energy power capacity (installed) by 2030 in the recent climate summit hosted
by the US.
2.
India is the 2nd largest insurance-technology market in Asia-Pacific: India is the
second-largest insurance technology market in Asia-Pacific and accounts for 35
per cent of the $3.66 billion insurtech-focused venture capital invested in the
region, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data. The data showed
that at least 335 private insurtechs are operating in Asia-Pacific, with about
122 of them disclosing $3.66 billion in aggregate capital raised via private
placement deals. China and India are collectively home to nearly half of
private insurtech companies in the APAC region and attracted about 78 per cent
of the investments. Insurance technology investors are attracted to India since
it is one of the fastest-growing insurance markets in the world.
3.
World Turtle Day: 23th May: The World Turtle Day is observed on May 23 every year
by American Tortoise Rescue, a nonprofit organization. The day is celebrated to
raise awareness among people to protect turtles and tortoises and their
disappearing habitats around the world. The day is being celebrated since 2000
by American Tortoise Rescue, a nonprofit organization established in 1990 for
the protection of all species of tortoise and turtle. The theme of 2021 World
Turtle Day is “Turtles Rock!”.
Note: Founders of American Tortoise Rescue:
Susan Tellem and Marshall Thompson; American Tortoise Rescue is located in
Malibu, California; American Tortoise Rescue was founded in 1990.
4.
International Day to End Obstetric Fistula: 23th May: Every year, United
Nations (UN) International Day to End Obstetric Fistula is marked on 23rd May
since 2013 to promote action towards treating and preventing obstetric fistula,
a condition that affects many girls and women during childbirth in developing
countries. The day is being observed to significantly raise awareness and
intensify actions towards ending obstetric fistula, as well as urging
post-surgery follow-up and tracking of fistula patients. Obstetric fistula is
one of the most serious and tragic injuries that can occur during childbirth.
The theme 2021: “Women’s rights are human rights! End fistula now!”. In 2003
the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and its partners launched the global
Campaign to End Fistula, a collaborative initiative to prevent fistula and
restore the health of those affected by the condition. The day was officially
recognised in 2012.
Note: United Nations Population Fund
Headquarters: New York, United States; United Nations Population Fund Head:
Natalia Kanem; United Nations Population Fund Founded: 1969.
OTHER UPDATES:
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
RBI imposes penalty on City Union Bank, 3 other lenders: The RBI has imposed
monetary penalty on City Union Bank, Tamilnad Mercantile Bank and two other
lenders for contravention of certain directions issued by the central bank. A
penalty of Rs 1 crore has been imposed on City Union Bank Limited for
contravention of/non-compliance with certain provisions contained in the RBI
(Lending to MSME Sector) Directions, 2017 and the circulars on the Educational
Loan Scheme and Credit Flow to Agriculture – Agricultural Loans – Waiver of
Margin/Security Requirements. In another statement, the RBI said it has imposed
a penalty of Rs 1 crore on Tamilnad
Mercantile Bank for non-compliance with certain provisions of directions issued
by it on the Cyber Security Framework in Banks.
Other banks:
(1) The Reserve Bank of India also imposed
a penalty of Rs 90 lakh on NutanNagarikSahakari Bank, Ahmedabad for
non-compliance with directions Interest Rate on Deposits, Know Your Customer
(KYC) and Circular on Frauds Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism.
(2) The apex bank has also imposed a monetary
penalty of Rs 10 lakh on Daimler Financial Services India Private Limited, Pune
for non-compliance with certain provisions of the directions issued by RBI
contained in ‘Reserve Bank Commercial Paper Directions 2017’ and ‘Non-Banking
Financial Company – Systemically Important Non-Deposit taking Company and
Deposit taking Company (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2016’.
Note: RBI 25th Governor: Shaktikant Das;
Headquarters: Mumbai; Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
CCI approves sale of YES Bank’s MF subsidiaries to GPL Finance: Competition
Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of YES Asset Management
(India) Limited (YES AMC) and YES Trustee Limited (YES Trustee) by GPL. GPL
Finance and Investments Limited (GPL) will acquire 100% equity shares of YES
AMC and YES Trustee.
GPL will acquire Yes Mutual Fund and become
its sole sponsor. It is registered with the Reserve Bank of India as a
non-deposit taking and non-systemically important Non-Banking Financial Company
(NBFC). GPL is classified as an investment company. It is part of White Oak
Group, an investment management and investment advisory group founded by Mr
Prashant Khemka. YES AMC and YES Trustee belong to YES Bank Limited group. YES
AMC acts as an asset management company/investment manager to YES Mutual Fund.
Note: YES bank HQ: Mumbai, Maharashtra; YES
bank MD & CEO: Prashant Kumar.
2.
India’s Adani Green to buy SoftBank-backed SB Energy in $3.5 billion deal: Indian renewable
energy company, Adani Green Energy Ltd (ADNA.NS) would buy SoftBank Group
Corp-backed (9984.T) SB Energy Holdings Limited for an enterprise value of $3.5
billion. It would buy the 80% stake held by SoftBank Group Capital Limited and
the rest owned by Indian conglomerate Bharti Global Limited in a cash deal. The
deal would allow Adani Green to achieve its targeted renewable portfolio of 25
gigawatts (GW) four years ahead of its expected timeline.
Note: Adani Group Founder: Gautam Adani;
Adani Group Founded: 20 July 1988; Adani Group Headquarters: Ahmedabad.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1.
Suresh Mukund becomes 1st Indian to win annual ‘World Choreography Award 2020′: The Emmy
Award-nominated Indian choreographer Suresh Mukund, has won the 10th Annual
‘World Choreography Award 2020’, (also known as Choreo Awards), becoming the
first Indian to win the prestigious honour. He won the award in the ‘TV REALITY
SHOW/COMPETITION’ category, for his work on the hit American TV reality show
‘World of Dance’. Mukund is the director and choreographer of the Indian dance
crew ‘The Kings’, which won the 2019 season of World of Dance. The World
Choreography Awards, famously known as the “Oscars of Dance”, takes place every
year, in Los Angeles, to showcase the most innovative and original works by the
world’s best choreographers featured in television, film, commercials, digital
content, and music videos.
DEFENCE
1.
INS Rajput to be decommissioned on May 21: The first destroyer of the Indian
Navy, INS Rajput, will be decommissioned on May 21. It was commissioned on 04
May 1980. After rendering service for 41 years, it will be decommissioned at
the Naval Dockyard of Visakhapatnam. INS Rajput was built by Russia in the 61
Communards Shipyard. Its Original Russian name was ‘Nadezhny’. INS Rajput
served for both Western and Eastern Fleets and its first commanding officer was
CaptGulabMohanlalHiranandani. It is the 1st Indian Naval Ship to be associated
with an Indian Army regiment – the Rajput Regiment. It participated in many
operations including Operation Aman, Operation Pawan, Operation Cactus, etc.
OBITUARIES
1.
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister JagannathPahadia passes away: Senior Congress
leader and former Rajasthan chief minister JagannathPahadia has passed away due
to COVID-19. He served as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan from 6 June 1980 to
14 July 1981. Apart from this, he was also a former Governor of Haryana and
Bihar.
2. Former NSG Chief JK Dutt, Who Led 26/11 Counter-Terror Ops, Passes Away: J.K. Dutt, former Director-General of the National Security Guards (NSG) who headed the force during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, passed away due to COVID-19 related complications. JK Dutt saw counter-terror and rescue efforts during operation Black Tornado in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. The NSG condoled the death of the 1971 batch IPS officer of the West Bengal cadre who served the force from August 2006 to February 2009. He also served in various positions in the CBI and the Central Industrial Security Force.
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