NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Retail
inflation drops 18-month low of 4.70 % in April 2023: According to the data released by the National Statistical
Office (NSO), Retail inflation (based on CPI) has been reduced
to 4.70% in April 2023. While Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) has
also reduced to 3.84%, as compared to 4.79% in March 2023 and 8.31%
in April 2022. In April 2023, Rural inflation stood at 4.68%,
while urban inflation was at 4.85%. The Government had mandated the RBI to
maintain retail inflation at 4% with a margin of 2% on either side.
2. AIIMS
ties up with WHO, Duke-NUS for quality control: The
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi
(AIIMS) has collaborated with World Health Organization
(WHO-SEARO) to ensure patient safety and quality control. A core
committee for Patient Safety and Quality at AIlMS is being
constituted for the implementation of advanced patient safety and quality
initiatives. For this initiative, AIIMS will follow the learning
curriculum proposed by WHO in collaboration with Duke-NUS.
3. India's
exports of agricultural products cross Rs. 4 lakh crore mark: Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh
Tomar attended the 8th meeting of Agriculture Ministers of
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries through video
conferencing. During the conference, he informed that India's exports of
agricultural and allied products have crossed four lakh crore rupees. He has
also highlighted India's performance in the agriculture
sector and contribution to global food security with food grain
production.
4. Indian govt to launch faster immigration clearance
scheme for ‘trusted travellers’: With
an aim to reduce congestion at airport check points, Indian government
will soon launch a ‘Trusted Traveller Programme’ for faster
immigration clearance of pre-verified travellers. The new scheme will be
launched for travellers with Indian passports across international airports in
India. The program will be started on a pilot basis at Delhi and Mumbai
airports this year. Later it will be expanded to 15 more international airports
by 2027 and all airports by 2032. For the implementation of the programme at
Delhi airport, three electronic gates, two for arrival and one for departure,
have already been established at the airport. The inititative will help Indian
passport holders to use e-gates and help them avoid que for immigration
clearance.
5. Cisco to begin manufacturing in Tamil Nadu: The technology firm Cisco has
announced its plans to commence manufacturing operations in India,
aiming to establish a more diverse and resilient global supply chain and
support India’s vision of becoming a global manufacturing hub. The company’s
CEO, Chuck Robbins, stated that the manufacturing facility in Tamil
Nadu would generate 1,200 job opportunities. Cisco has set a target of $1
billion in combined domestic production and exports in the upcoming years. Cisco
plans to establish core manufacturing capabilities in India, including testing,
development, logistics, and expanding in-house repair operations. This
investment would facilitate the introduction of cutting-edge technologies to
more people and businesses, thus accelerating India’s transformation into a
leading digital economy.
6. Varanasi’s LBSI airport gets India’s first reading
lounge: The Lal Bahadur Shastri
International (LBSI) Airport, Varanasi (UP) has now become the first
in India to have a free dedicated reading lounge, set up by
the National Book Trust of India. Travellers going to and from the Varanasi
Airport will now be able to read books for free. They can get books on Kashi at
the lounge’s library which also boasts of a collection of literature and books
in many international languages. Apart from these, the lounge has books of
youth authors published under the Prime Minister Yuva Yojana. The lounge has
been established with the assistance of National Book Trust (NBT), an Indian
publishing house and autonomous body under the ministry of education of the
Union government. The NBT will operate this lounge, created near the entrance
point of the airport’s main lobby.
7. Rajiv Dhar appoints as interim CEO & MD of NIIF: Rajiv Dhar has been appointed as
interim Managing Director and CEO of the National Investment and
Infrastructure Fund (NIIF). He succeeds Sujoy Bose who is leaving after holding
the position since 2016. Dhar is currently executive director and chief
operating officer at NIIF, a collaborative investment platform anchored by the
government for international and Indian investors. Dhar, with more than 30
years of experience, has been a critical member of the NIIFL leadership team
since 2017. During this period, he oversaw some key achievements of the
company. He served on the investment committee for all funds managed by NIIFL.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India-Indonesia
bilateral exercise 'Samudra Shakti-23' begins:
The 4th edition of the India-Indonesia bilateral exercise
Samudra Shakti-23 is being organized in Batam, Indonesia from
14-19 May 2023. Aim: To enhance interoperability, jointness, and mutual
cooperation between both navies India Navy has participated with INS
Kavaratti, Indian Navy Dornier Maritime Patrol aircraft, and Chetak helicopter.
While the Indonesian Navy participated with KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda,
CN 235 Maritime Patrol Aircraft, and AS565 Panther Helicopter
2. NASA
Launched the second Super Pressure Balloon:
The US space agency, NASA has launched a
second football-stadium-sized, heavy-lift super pressure balloon
(SPB), under its Scientific Balloon Program, from Wānaka
Airport, New Zealand. The first scientific balloon was launched on April 16,
following five failed attempts last year. Airways (New Zealand’s air navigation
services provider) works with Nasa to launch the balloons, which inflate
fully in flight to 532,000 cubic meters and carry a scientific payload.
3. Oprah
and Arthur C. Brooks co-author a new book on happiness: Oprah Winfrey has co-authored a book titled 'Build
the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier' with author-educator
Arthur C Brooks. The book is expected to be released on September 12, 2023, by
Portfolio Books. This book will introduce readers to the incredible science of
happiness, based on the best research available. Other books by
Winfrey: What I Know for Sure, The Path Made Clear, and Food, Health, and
Happiness
4. 71
million people internally displaced worldwide: IDMC: According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC)'s
annual report, the number of internally displaced people around the
world reached 71 million as of the end of 2022. The number of movements in
which people fled in search of safety and shelter was also unprecedented
in 2022 with a figure of 60.9 million. The conflict in Ukraine triggered
nearly 17 million displacements and monsoon floods in Pakistan
triggered 8.2 million.
5. Ayushmann Khurrana Joins Indian Team as Ambassador for
Special Olympics Journey to Berlin: Bollywood
star Ayushmann Khurrana has been chosen to inspire and support the
Indian contingent participating in the upcoming Special
Olympics for individuals with intellectual disabilities, set to take place
in Berlin from June 16 to June 25. The Special Olympics Journey to Berlin is a
prestigious event that brings together athletes from around the world to
showcase their talents and compete in various sports. By joining as the
ambassador, Khurrana aims to amplify the voices of these athletes and create
greater awareness about their remarkable achievements.
6. 13 May 2023 – World Migratory Bird Day: World Migratory Bird Day is observed
every year second Saturday of May. This year celebrating on 13
May. Objective -To raise awareness about the importance of migratory birds and
the need to conserve them. This bi-annual global event aims to raise awareness
about the importance of migratory birds and their conservation.
The
event is celebrated around the world and typically takes place on the second
Saturday in May and in October each year. The Secretariat of the Agreement on
the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) and the
Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild
Animals (CMS) started it in 2006.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. Indian
shooters Hriday Hazarika and Nancy Mandhotra bag silver medals: Indian shooters, Hriday Hazarika and
Nancy Mandhotra have bagged silver medals in the men’s
and women’s 10-meter air rifle events at ISSF World Cup 2023 in Baku,
Azerbaijan. In the 10m air pistol mixed team, Sarabjot Singh and
Divya TS won gold. Rhythm Sangwan secured a bronze medal in
the women's 25m pistol event. In the overall medals
tally, India finished its campaign second behind China. The
Baku meet is the penultimate stage of the ISSF World Cup 2023.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. PayNearby
launches ‘PayNearby Mall’ for small businesses and consumers: PayNearby, a branchless banking and digital network in India,
has launched a new meta-commerce platform called PayNearby Mall. This
platform is designed to enable easy access to goods and services and
will be integrated with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)
platform. Aim: To upgrade every retailer in its million+ active network
and help them meet the demand of their customers Founder, MD & CEO,
PayNearby: Anand Kumar Bajaj
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Arinze
Ifeakandu wins Dylan Thomas prize 2023:
Writer Arinze Ifeakandu has won Swansea University's Dylan Thomas
Prize 2023 for a “kaleidoscopic reflection of queer life and love in
Nigeria”. Dylan Thomas Prize is a recognition of literary works by authors
aged 39 or under and is one of the most prestigious awards for young
writers. His debut book is God’s Children Are Little Broken
Things', which is a collection of nine short stories on the themes of
queer life, love, and humanity.
2. Jayant Narlikar awarded Lifetime Achievement Award by ASI: Veteran astronomer Jayant Naralikar has been conferred the first Govind Swarup Lifetime Achievement Award instituted by the Astronomical Society of India (ASI). Naralikar, a past president of ASI, was the founding director of the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) and amongst the first to initiate cosmology research in the country. The award is named in honour of Prof. Govind Swarup (1929-2020), widely regarded to be the founder of radio astronomy in the country.
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